HEADLINES
1) Boise State barely escaped Tulsa last night, pulling out a 28-21 win on the road. If Boise State goes undefeated, should they play in the national championship game despite struggling against Tulsa?
Ben: It depends on what the rest of the top teams do. I will say this, if they are undefeated, they should play in a higher bowl then USC. If you are going to use the logic that because they didn't play anyone they can't play in the national title game, then teams that lose to unranked teams should be immediately eliminated. The Gators should have been eliminated last year or USC this year because they've lost to unranked teams. Boise State beats teams they are suppose to and some teams they aren't (ie Ducks and Sooners). I'm a fan of giving the underdog a chance, and I think Boise State can perform when given the chance. If things fall right, they could get in the title game -- but guys like Boz won't allow that to happen voting-wise.
Boz: No. The rest of their schedule is very weak. They needed to crush Tulsa just like Oklahoma did earlier this month. I still think they get a BCS bowl game, but their national championship hopes are out of the question. I understand that the game was on the road and it's hard to blow everybody out every game, but all of those one loss teams are going to be building their resume by beating stronger teams. I like Boise State and I feel bad that they can go undefeated and not get a championship bid, but I agree with the situation.
2) Joe Torre has named Clayton Kershaw as the starter for game one of the NLCS against the Philadelphia Phillies, making him the third youngest pitcher to start game one. Is this a good move?
Ben: Yes. The Dodgers don't have a true ace, even though Chad Billingsly was strong for about 3 or 4 months of the season. I think Kershaw was pitching the best late in the season, and I think his stuff is pretty solid. Another thing is that he pitched the best during the NLDS and the Dodgers bullpen is strong, so even if he does get into trouble, they can dig themselves out.
Boz: Yes. He is their best strarting pitcher so therefore he should start game one and get the most starts during the series. Yes, he is young, but I believe that he can perform during pressure situations. He won the division-clinching game against the Rockies in the final regular-season series of the game. He's a tough left-handed pitcher who could shut down the strong left-handed bats in the Phillies line-up. He matched Adam Wainwright pitch-for-pitch in the NLDS, showing that he has really matured throughout the season.
3) A Bay area pit bull advocacy group says that the Eagles stated that Michael Vick would decline their invitation to visit eight of his former pit bulls when the Eagles visit the Raiders this Sunday? If you were Vick, would you visit the pit bulls?
Ben: No. The only thing this can do is give photo ops to groups that want to make a mockery of Vick. Look, I like the idea that Vick is rehabilitated and think that if things were ideal Vick should probably stop and visit -- but there are plenty of groups that have used Vick as a launching pad to more publicity and I don't think we need anyone parading around Eagles headquarters with recent Vick photos around pitbulls.
Boz: Yes. I think that this would show people that Vick has changed and it would be an opportunity for him to show that he is sympathetic for his past actions. Apparently, the pit bull advocacy group had set it up for Vick to view the dogs from behind a glass, therefore not violating his parole. If I were Vick, I would feel that this would go along with his plan to show people a new Michael Vick. I worry that the Eagles are not allowing him this opportunity because they don't want a distraction during the season. This is something that Vick needs to do. Go see the dogs, shed some tears and change peoples perception of Michael Vick.
4) A day after Redskins owner Dan Snyder said he would like Jon Gruden to be his next coach, Redskins players have asked the fron office to back head coach Jim Zorn for the rest of the season. What do you think of the head coaching situation?
Ben: Everything Dan Snyder has done is helping break down the Redskins franchise. Why would you say that? Seriously. How does that help your situation? If you want Gruden, then fire Zorn and try to hire Gruden. Don't play this game that "I want a different guy, but I've got to pay this guy I've currently got, so I'm going to make his life miserable for the next few months until the only thing I can do is fire him". I don't think Snyder is helping his team at all, and it only stunts the growth of the team in general.
Boz: I know that the Redskins are very successful this season with a 2-3 record and losses to both the Lions and the Panthers. However, it seems that Zorn still has the support and respect of his players, which goes a long way with head coaches. In my opinion, coaches need to go when they lose that respect and support. If the players are happy with Zorn, then he should stay throughout the season. He'll be gone after the end of the season, but I agree with the players and think that he should get the support of front office as well for now. However, my tone could change if he loses at home this Sunday against the Chiefs.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICK 'EM
Last week Ben: 2-4 Boz: 5-1
Season Ben: 26-13 Boz: 22-17
1) Illinois at Indiana (Saturday, 6 p.m.)
Ben: ILLINOIS. I've got to believe that the Fighting Illini put up a little bit of a fight this season.
Boz: ILLINOIS. There is probably only two teams worse than Illinois in the Big Ten. Indiana is one of them.
2) Missouri at No. 16 Oklahoma State (Saturday, 8:15 p.m.)
Ben: OKLAHOMA STATE. The Cowboys have an explosive offense and Missouri is still developing talent that has lapses in concentration. Ok State rolls in this one.
Boz: OKLAHOMA STATE. Missouri is just too much of a finese team and they don't have enough defense to stop the Cowboys.
3) No. 8 Cincinnati at No. 21 South Florida (Thursday, 6:30 p.m.)
Ben: CINCINNATI. The Bearcats defense is good, and they are a sneaky talented team. I'll take the Bearcats on the road tonight.
Boz: SOUTH FLORIDA. The Bulls looked real good in their win over Florida State in Tallahassee. The home team seems to always win these Thursday night Big East match-ups.
4) No. 11 Iowa at Wisconsin (Saturday, 11 a.m.)
Ben: IOWA. The Hawkeyes have impressed me throughout the season and I think they walk into Camp Randall and shut the Badgers up. The defense is fantastic and they're only going to run into problems down the line against the Buckeyes.
Boz: WISCONSIN. Iowa showed some weaknesses last week against Michigan and Camp Randall is a real tough place to play at. I got the Badgers in a close one.
5) No. 6 USC at No. 25 Notre Dame (Saturday, 2:30 p.m.)
Ben: USC. C'mon, really? The Trojans OWN the Irish lately, and I can't believe that changes this year.
Boz: NOTRE DAME. I'm taking a risk here with the Irish because USC has the better defense. I'm hoping that Jimmy Clausen and the offense will outscore freshman QB Matt Barkley.
6) No. 4 Virginia Tech at No. 19 Georgia Tech (Saturday, 5 p.m.)
Ben: VIRGINIA TECH. The Hokies and Beamer-ball are legit. That early season stumble against 'Bama is a tough loss, but at least they've learned and grown from that. GT's offense is tough to stop, although it is boring to watch, but the Hokies can handle it.
Boz: VIRGINIA TECH. I'm slowly but surely become a believer of the Hokies. This will be a tough one on the road, but the Hokies defense brings home a win.
7) No. 20 Oklahoma at No. 3 Texas (Saturday, 11 a.m.)
Ben: TEXAS. I'll take the Longhorns because they have a more consistent team. I'm not 100% sure who has the better quarterback, but I think the Longhorns have a better team. It'll be a good one, but Mack Brown pulls it out.
Boz: TEXAS. The Longhorns are the better team offensively and defensively. Plus, I think Colt McCoy wants revenge after not getting to the championship game and losing out on the Heismann to Sam Bradford despite beating Oklahoma during the regular season.
8) No. 22 South Carolina at No. 2 Alabama (Saturday, 6:45 p.m.)
Ben: ALABAMA. Spurrier is a great coach, but Nick Saban gets better talent and I think that's the best thing a college coach can do, is get great talent. Saban gets 'Bama through a tough game against the Gamecocks.
Boz: ALABAMA. I like what Spurrier has the Gamecocks doing this season but they are no where near the level of the Crimson Tide. The Alabama defense is just too tough and I can't wait for the 'Bama/Florida matchup later on this season.
HAPPY HOUR
Ben: Happy 37th Birthday Fred Hoiberg. The "Mayor of Ames" was a fantastic guard for the Cyclones and made a small impact with my Indiana Pacers. Essentially, he was a career bench player with mediocre numbers, but I always remember him, and that's special. Plus, how awesome is that nickname?
Boz: Happy 21st Anniversary to Kirk Gibson. On this day in 1988, an injured Gibson hit a two-out, two-run pinch-hit home run off of Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series for a 4-3 Dodgers win. Gibson hobbled around the base paths with his fist in the air, accompanied by Vin Scully's famous call of "I can't believe what I just saw!"
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