ideal image, ideal image, laser hair removal, hair removal, laser hair removal, upper lip laser hair removal

Oregon State @ Washington:  The Beavers will need to dispose of a Husky team that most are predicting in the top third of the conference on the road to get to their bye week in position to control their fate down the stretch.  While the Beavers play Arizona a week earlier and also on the road, no one believes someone will run the table in conference so a loss would not be devastating to their hopes.  Follow that loss with a lackluster showing in Seattle a week later, however; they will watch their fate slip out of their grasp before the calendar turns November.

All-Everything Quarterback Jake Locker should keep things interesting on Montlake this season

The game wouldn’t be on the list if both teams weren’t looking serious as contenders and Jake Locker is enough of a threat to put the Dawgs in that category.  The Huskies certainly need to beat USC in LA for morale and psychological reasons, but this game is against a team that can actually win the title themselves so a head to head victory would play huge in the Pac-10’s convoluted tiebreak scenarios.  With trips to Arizona, Oregon, and Cal on the back side of the schedule, holding serve at home is going to be huge for a Washington team that is still unproven around Locker.  Beat the Beavers, who have finished one game away from the Roses the past two seasons and own a six game winning streak in the series, and suddenly the Montlake Jake for Heisman campaign blows up and the self-proclaimed “sleeping giant” is awakened.

The New Farm is smaller, but still every bit as intimidating as the original

Arizona @ Stanford:  The Cats took another step lastseason under Mike Stoops and were a double OT melee loss to Oregon away from clinching the school’s first Rose Bowl berth.  They are the most underestimated of the teams looking to fill the post-USC power vacuum but a victory on The Farm 2.0 against another contender in Stanford and the conference will be forced to take notice.  Even without dismissed WR Delashaun Dean, the Cats have depth and proven targets for Foles at the skill positions on offense and the defense is anchored by Trevin Wade, who picked a team high five passes in 2009.

As a certain college football show host says:  “You don’t just walk into Stanford Stadium, and push around the Cardinal!”  While the atmosphere is not enough to make the controller shake on your ps3, the danger of the small game feel is always there for the visitors on a trip to Palo Alto.  It may not matter if they play the game underwater the way Andrew Luck looked for most of 2009.  He makes all the throws and has touch that cannot be taught and has great creatability when the play breaks down.  If the Cardinal can replace the production of Heisman finalist and absolute horse Toby Gerhert, and that’s a broad shouldered if, they will still have plenty to play for when this one rolls around.

Stanford @ Oregon:  Luck and Co. check in again at number three not only because they are one of the most dangerous offenses in the conference but also because they were able to do enough to get past the Ducks last season.   While most of the damage (try 38, 223, and 3, which topped his single game carry total by 9) was done by the departed Toby Gerhart, it was the long strikes Luck was able to hit in the passing game that ultimately proved too much to overcome.  The defense gave up 42, but when it mattered they got the stops they needed and that is something the Ducks D could not say and they did that after losing starting MLB Clinton Snyder earlier in the week to an injury.  All that was last season though and now the Cardinal have a chance to prove they can beat a contender on the road not as 41 point underdogs, but a team everyone is expecting and ready for.

Whoever is getting the QB reps should be mostly worked out by this time game and the Ducks will need stability out of their offense against a team that hung 51 on them last season in their only Pac-10 loss.  Up until this point the Ducks biggest test will be their trip to Knoxville in week 2 but Tennessee has their own issues and Oregon should be strongly favored even on the road.  Most expect them to be undefeated heading into this home conference test and with a schedule that offers no breaks in the final four weeks, getting off to a strong start will be critical to staying in the race.

The Zona Zoo

USC @ Arizona:  I know, I just said another game wasn’t under consideration because it involved SC and they can’t officially earn a conference title regardless of how many games they win, but this is their biggest chance all season to play spoiler.  Every program in the conference is still trying to assert themselves longterm and take advantage of the sanctions against the Trojans, but no other program has won back to back conferences since 1990 and 1991 when Washington did it and Oregon’s outright titles last season and in 2001 are the only ones not to go to USC in the last decade.  If the Trojans are able to win this one it will likely cripple Arizona’s title hopes.

Since we are talking history, Arizona won their only share of a conference title in 1993 when they shared it with the two LA schools.  The Bruins ended up in the Grandaddy after beating USC in the finale and already having defeated the Cats earlier that year.  Last season Mike Stoops got the Wildcats as close as they have been since.  With Stanford the week before and a late season bye on the horizon before a rematch with Oregon, this game is a dangerous one for Arizona because they will be playing for their season against a team with nothing to lose.  With the final game being against a fledgling ASU program, beating USC could really give Arizona a stranglehold on the conference at this point in the season.

The Ducks are always public enemy number 1 in Corvallis, but last year's game has heightened the stakes in the rivalry

Oregon @ Oregon State:  Last season’s Civil War was the first with the Roses on the line and look for this season to feature the second.  Oregon is strong enough and has the athletes ready to step in and contribute in order to compensate for an untested QB.  Both Costa and Thomas are green in terms of game experience, but they both have multiple years of experience in Chip Kelly’s spread-option system and dynamic weapons around them and five returning starters on the O-Line.  The defense has a couple guys in new places in Eddie Pleasant and Dion Jordan, but overall they are loaded with experience and have talented enough depth to keep people fresh.  Not having to face Sean Canfield, who took control during the middle quarters of last year’s game, should help out too.

Revenge is a dish best served cold and the Beavers will be looking to serve up a couple huge helpings when the Ducks come calling in early December.  The last two years have ended in agony for Beaver fans at the hands of the hated Ducks.  Both times the Beavers have entered with a chance to break through and go to Pasadena and both times the Ducks have been there.  If OSU wants, like stanford, to take the step from darling to contender, they need to win this game.  Ryan Katz will have an entire season under his belt and will get his first taste of action in the CW at home and with the benefit of perhaps the two most explosive players in the conference in the Rodgers brothers.  Steven Paea caused major problems for the Ducks in last year’s game with his strength and ability to get a hand on the football when it’s left unprotected.  The OSU defense has really been the downfall the past two seasons when Mark Banker’s group was just shredded two years ago and then outmaneuvered in the second half last year.  Another defensive letdown with Roses on the line could put the heat on Banker who has yet to find an answer for Chip Kelly’s schemes.

The Ducks ended 2009 with their first outright conference title in eight years and while many feel the program is on the cusp of taking another step, Jeremiah Masoli being dismissed from the program poses another major challenge for a team already certain to be tested throughout the Pac-10 schedule.  If even the transgressions of the handful of student-athletes involved with the law in the offseason is symptomatic of complacency within the locker room, Duck fans could be in for a very long season.

This image should be fresh in the minds of the Ducks and be plenty motivating for 2010

It is hard to imagine they would have already forgotten the odds they overcame to earn a trip to Pasadena last season; there was the opening night bed-wetting on ESPN followed by what up until then seemed unthinkable, something exponentially more embarrassing happening as LeGarette Blount pulled a, well a Legarette Blount.  It took a defensive score after a kick return score to beat UCLA after slogging around without Masoli for a half and double OT to send the Zona Zoo for an angry and awkward walk off the playing surface in Tucson, and a second half comeback  in a rivalry game against Oregon State.  Then of course there was the Rose Bowl itself.  The Ducks were pushed around, outplayed, and out executed against a superior team with a superior quarterback.  With a chance to win the school’s first Rose Bowl in the modern era, they were unable to get the job done.

The dethroning of USC on Halloween night was impressive, but Stanford and Ohio State revealed a seamy underbelly and what (outside of the quarterback decision) is the most important fix for the Ducks before 2010, defending the power-running game.

The starting corps is loaded with experience (17 returning starters) and the two-deep is solid enough to provide the necessary support but in no way is this team talented or imposing enough to just show up.  If the Ducks have spent the offseason soaking it up while the rest of the conference has been focused on ripping their crown things will deteriorate quickly (think 2004 or 2006 quickly).  But if a few guys making terrible choices (repeatedly in one man’s case) is just that, then the Ducks could at least begin to live up to their 2010 hype.

Cliff Harris had his best performance of 2009 against UCLA

In the final weeks leading up to the Ducks season opening game against New Mexico on September 4, I  will take a look at some of the most important things that need to be addressed for the Ducks to repeat as Pac-10 Champions.

#15:  The Young and the Restless

The Ducks enter 2010 having lost their enforcer (TJ Ward), their most underrated player (Willie Glasper), and probably the best overall football player on the team in Walter Thurmond III.  The rotation figures to go at least 7 deep this season and it is the CB spot opposite Talmadge Jackson III that is the most intriguing.  The good news is that not only is Nick Allioti stocked with young talent, but many of those youngsters were forced to step in during 2009 when Ward, Glasper, and Thurmond each missed significant time.

Sophomore CB Cliff Harris was picked on by Nick Foles and Arizona and targeted for portions of his true freshman campaign, but also showed flashes with an interception of demi-God Jake Locker and progressed enough to lead the team in pass breakups, despite appearing in only 8 games.  John Boyett filled in for TJ Ward by leading the team in tackles and Javes Lewis was productive if not consistent at two positions after the rash of injuries and provides flexibility and depth that 2009 showed can make all the difference.

Then there are the Freshman: James Scales, Terrance Mitchell, Dior Mathis, and Erick Dargan are all big-time recruits with the speed and athleticism to succeed in the wide-open Pac-10.  It is likely the Ducks will need at least one of the three corners to emerge and contend for reps during 2010 and the development of the four could also pay dividends on special teams.  The move of Eddie Pleasant from LB to Rover will also bolster depth and should keep the freshman from being thrown into the fire before they are ready.

Tiger Woods has arrived in Augusta, scene of his greatest triumphs, looking to get his life back on track after his fall from grace just over four months ago amid a sex scandal of grand proportions.  Despite hopes that this week could focus on his return to golf, yet another mistress came out from behind close doors.  Number 18 if you are still counting.  This time its his 22 year old next door neighbor Rachel Coudriet.

Woods And His Mistresses Invade Augusta National

With more illicit details about his sexual behavior hitting the front pages of the newspapers and online blogs, Woods will tee off tomorrow in hopes of gaining some cover from the golfing world.  Given the PGA has provided cover for him so consistently over the years, it might be the best choice for Woods at this juncture.

While this Master’s weekend should be about golf, it will unfortunately be Tiger, 24/7 with the PGA protecting its top asset.

Lets get down to brass tacks here.  Numerous people on the tour were aware of Tiger’s misbehavior long ago and did nothing to tame it.  You cannot hide being a philanderer and with Tiger’s public visibility, he can’t just go out and meet chicks like an average guy.  People were helping make the arrangements on his behalf, feeding his sickness.

He has been enabled by everyone around him including the PGA, tour members, caddies, sponsors and more, and words at a press conference will ever be believed that others didn’t aid and abet.  You just can’t hide this kind of stuff on your own.  They traded their souls for money by burying the secret that circled Woods like a vulture.

For years, many fans like myself had concern withs Tiger being the ambassador of the sport.  For whatever reason, many of us just didn’t like him.  The guy always seemed to get a pass on his bad attitude on the course.  Announcers would pass it off as his competitive fire.  Today we know it was because he had disdain for all of those around him.  Regardless, everyone just followed him around with a bucket in hopes that some spare change would fall from his pockets.

Of all of those that have enabled Woods, it is the PGA that should be most ashamed.  The organization just passed over the rank and file in the organization to spit shine Woods shoes.  They shouldn’t even attempt to say they knew nothing…we all know they did.  From making him the poster boy to cutting him significant slack for not playing a full schedule, the PGA consistently looked past Woods’ transgression within the sport to keep the big dollars flowing around him.

Now that the bloom is off the rose, we can finally hope that the PGA will take action to even the playing field on the golf course.  For years, Woods has had an unbelievable edge against the competition due to course designs.   The PGA has protected their prized asset.  With his big swing, Woods has been able to slam the ball over the hazards that others have to layup to.  This often left most his competitors hitting a 4 iron while Woods grabbed his pitching wedge.   The PGA during Tiger’s triumphant run has been hesitant to diminish the stock of its big money asset by setting a few more bunkers out the and forcing Woods to hit into the green at the same distance of other golfers.

Here’s hoping the PGA can finally get it right and finally make Tiger prove he is the best golfer rather than just the straightest long hitter in the game.  Since the is never going to be money flowing behind Tiger anymore, its time for the PGA to get it right and toughen the courses on Woods.

The Atlanta Braves are picking up right where they left off after a sizzling September to close last season, blasting the Chicago Cubs for a 16-5 opening day victory.  The day was highlighted by budding-superstar rookie Jason Heyward, who lived up to the hype by connecting on a three-run homer in his first major league at bat.  A perfect start to manager Bobby Cox final season before heading into retirement.

Heyward Leads Braves To Victory

The day belonged to Jason Heyward.  After ripping the cover off the ball at every level off the minor leagues, Heyward left the Braves’ organization no choice but to give him the starting nod, supplanting starter Matt Diaz in right field.

Beating out Diaz was no easy task, as he batted .313 with 13 homers in 2009 after supplanting Jeff Francoeur and sending him packing to the New York Mets

Heyward jumped from Single A to Triple A in 2009,  bringing along with him comparisons to baseball greats Ken Griffey and Alex Rodriguez who arrived in the big leagues early.  At age 20, Heyward stands 6′4″ and 220 pounds.  He has multiple tools, hitting for average, hitting for power and stealing you a base when you need it.

The next big star.

Heyward and his teammates have the radar set on the Philadelphia Phillies.  While the Braves made a number of moves to improve in the offseason with the acquisitions of Melky Cabrera, Troy Glaus and Billy Wagner, they have coupled budding stars with seasoned veterans to make a big run in 2010.

On the otherhand, the Phillies stood pat.  They swapped Cliff Lee for Roy Halladay, which is just an even swap and they added an aging Placido Polanco to replace Pedro Feliz.  With the biggest problem being their bullpen, the Phillies chose not to fill that hole and enter 2010 with a bullpen believed to be worse than one of baseball worst pens in 2009.  And struggling closer Brad Lidge has started the season on the DL.

If Opening Day is a sign of things to come, the Phillies may be struggling to keep up with the Braves in 2010.  While the Phillies have made it to back to back World Series, they did so in unimpressively in many baseball insiders eyes.  Thanks to an unbalanced schedule that increases the number of divisional games to 18, the Phillies were able to tee off on the struggling NL East teams.  In contrast, St. Louis and Chicago had to struggle to get into the playoffs in the much tougher NL Central and the Dodgers and Rockies had to fend for their lives in the NL West.  The Phillies benefited tremendously with 72 games against their NL East combatants.

The Phillies won’t have that luxury this season thanks to the Braves, as well as the improved Florida Marlins and New York Mets.  During the Phillies’ World Series Championship run they recorded a losing record against winning-record teams and in 2009 they posted just a breakeven record against the best team’s in baseball.   The shortened rotation and rosters in the playoff disguised an incomplete team that struggled over the course of 162 game season.  At 19 players, the Phillies are the best team in baseball.  At 24 players, they are just slightly better than average.

The Phillies now have more competition that will gnaw at the weaknesses by making the regular season more grueling.  With the increased prominence of the Braves and other NL East teams, the Phillies no longer have rollover games against Triple A laden squads.  The glaring holes at the back of the rotation and in the bullpen will be ever present for the Phillies this year and Jason Heyward, along with his Braves, are ready to take their place at the top of the heap.

Coach K will be looking for his fourth National Title tonight.

Tonights NCAA Basketball game features a team with a storied history versus a team looking for a Cinderella story ending that no one could of envisioned.

Duke will be looking for their fourth national championship ,while Butler will be looking for their first. Even though Butler has not loss in over three months and have been ranked in the top ten all year, they are decided underdogs on home turf and will be looking to shock the sports world tonight in Indianapolis.

Duke i s playing their best basketball of the year. In their last victory over West Virginia, they showed a true team effort and all their players know their role. The big three of Nolan Smith, Jon Scheyer and Kyle Singler all played great last game. If they play as well tonight, it will be a long night for the Butler Bulldogs. These players can beat you both inside and outside ,and Butler will have to play tenacious defense to keep these players at bay. Add to the fact that Coach Mike Krzyzewski has called this the closest team he has ever coached, and you have a team that is going to be very tough to beat. Coach K has also expressed how much he truly loves this team. Duke has a lot going for them tonight both on and off the court.

Butler has used their defense to secure a spot into tonight’s championship game. They grinded out a victory over Michigan State on Saturday night. They are lead by their superstar Gordon Hayward. Hayward will need to carry the offensive load to try to match the fire power of Duke’s offense. Point guard Shelvin Mack will need to manage the tempo of this game possession by possession to keep Duke form having the ball. This will be crucial and a must to pull off the upset. Center Matt Howard is questionable with a concussion. Butler will need his defense and rebounding. If he dopes not play, they will need a minor miracle to win. Butler needs a lot of things to go right to come out victorious tonight.

I would love to see Cinderella win tonight, but I do not think it will happen. Duke has too much offensive fire power and continuity for Butler to handle. Duke wins championship  number four.

One thing that you can usually count on each April is one prediction…the New York Yankees being the team to beat in Major League Baseball.  2010 will be no different, with the Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays scrambling for second place and hoping for the Yankees to stumble.  The likelihood of a stumble this season appears slim, but that is why they play the games.

Jeter Looks For One More Ring

New York Yankees

The reigning World Series champs returned to their late 1990s form and displayed pure dominance during the playoffs as they kicked aside the Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angels and Philadelphia Phillies en route to their 27th championship.  Last year’s team had very few holes and they left little question as to who was the best team.

During the offseason, they Yankees didn’t sit idly by and revamped their roster for a run at back-to-back titles.   Aging All-Stars Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui were bid adieu along with starting CF Melky Cabrera.  Replacing these key components are OF Curtis Granderson, DH Nick Johnson and P Javier Vasquez.  Within the shakeup, they Yankees placed their left field fortunes in the hands of OF Brett Gardner with veteran free agent signee Randy Winn as a parachute.

No question, the Yankees offensive output will be down, but even with the departures, they’ll likely still put up huge numbers and possibly lead the league in most offensive stat categories.  The improvements come in the pitching rotation where they plugged the hole in the fifth starter position and returned Joba Chamberlain to the bullpen where he is better served.  Javier Vasquez and Phil Hughes will hold down the 4th and 5th starter spots for the best pitching rotation in baseball.  And should they get the expected 7 inning quality start, Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera will combine together again to close the door on any ideas of a late-run rally.

Key Additions: OF Curtis Granderson, 1B/DH Nick Johnson, OF Marcus Thames, P Javier Vazquez, OF Randy Winn

Key Subtractions: Melky Cabrera (OF),  Johnny Damon (OF), Hideki Matsui (DH),  Xavier Nady (OF), Chien-Ming Wang (P), Phil Coke (P), Brian Bruney (P)

Prediction: 102-60 (World Series Champs)

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox once again were the bridesmaids in the AL East in 2009, assuming their familiar position of watching the Yankees from the hindside.  After a strong start to the season led by Jason Bay, the Red Sox fizzled as their starting pitching fell apart and their offense went quiet.  Limping into the playoffs, the Los Angeles Angels made quick work of the Sox and sent them home for an early fall vacation.

The Red Sox went to work in the offseason, opening their wallets and spending big to secure free agents that will plug the holes which troubled them in 2009.  The big acquisition was John Lackey, whom Red Sox fans hope will be the Yankee killer he was in Los Angeles.  Despite recent injury woes, the Red Sox unloaded a huge contract on a pitcher that has flown under the radar for most of his career.  In Boston, he will be unable to avoid the spotlight and how he responds to the glare will be the big story in Beantown.  A player known to unleash on his teammates that make errors, Lackey will be under a microscope early and often.

Offensively, the Red Sox have major question marks.  The loss of Jason Bay is huge, especially when you replace him with journeyman Mike Cameron.  Bay was the lifeblood of last year’s offense, carrying the team of his back as David “Big Papi” Ortiz watched his skills evaporate as he came down from his steroids abuse behavior.  While Victor Martinez brings some added pop to the lineup, his hitting is already beginning to tail of with age and his ability to call a game behind the plate pales in comparison to Jason Varitek.   The left side of the infield is brand new, as Adrian Beltre and Marco Scutaro bring less than adequate pop to a struggling lineup.

The Red Sox changes really came off unbalanced.  The pitching staff was less of an issue than the bats in the field and they went for the arms in the free agency.  Acquisitions like Cameron and Beltre are unlikely to payoff and the Red Sox will struggle to earn second place in the division.

Key Additions: John Lackey (SP), Mike Cameron (OF), Adrian Beltre (3B), Marco Scutaro (SS)

Key Losses: Jason Bay (OF), Billy Wagner (RP)

Prediction: 90-72

Tampa Bay Rays

The biggest disappointment of 2009 was without a doubt the Tampa Bay Rays.  With huge expectations on their shoulders, the team got off to a rocky start and never recovered.  The starting pitching was average, the batting was underwhelming and the bullpen was a disaster.  It was a fraction of the performance from a team that surprised the baseball world and finally broke through in 2008.

Despite the issues, the Rays held pat during the offseason, being their usually frugal selves.  The main move was to secure Rafael Soriano, who will without question help them maintain a few more leads than they did in 2009.  But keeping up with the Yankees and Red Sox required more than hoping the young players will improve significantly after a poor campaign.  The pitching staff is anchored by Matt Garza and Jamie Shields, but the Rays success will hinge on the growth of Jeff Niemann, David Price and Wade Davis.  The offense can plate runs, but they aren’t going to knock the cover off the ball, so their success will ultimately reside on their bullpen delivering, which is unlikely.

Key Additions: Rafael Soriano (RP)

Key Losses: Akinori Iwamura (2B)

Prediction:  85-77

Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles finally look to be moving in the right direction in hopes of breaking the annual losing record streak that has stretched now for 13 years.   The Orioles made a few nice veteran additions during the offseason that will likely blend well with the stream of young future stars that the Orioles are banking their success upon.  The young offensive core is led by Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, Matt Wieters and Nolan Reimold.  On the mound, the Orioles have a legitimate AL Rookie of the Year candidate in Brian Matusz.

For the first time in many years, Orioles fan have some optimism that is well deserved.  The team should improve significantly over a lost 2009 campaign and set itself up to be a future contender in the AL East.

Key Additions: Kevin Millwood (SP), Mike Gonzalez (RP), Garrett Atkins (1B), Miguel Tejada (3B)

Key Losses: None

Prediction:  75 – 87

Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays cut ties with GM J.P. Ricciardi after a host of awful contract extensions and inability to develop a minor league system to build for the future.  Ricciardi’s tenure has likely set this team on a direction to be the cellar dwellars for the next few years as they rebound from his poor decisions.

In the offseason, the big move was sending Roy Halladay on his way to a winning ballclub for minor-league prospect and budding star pitcher Kyle Drabek.  Unfortunately for Jays fans, Drabek is at least one, perhaps two years away from making it to the bigs, as is Brett Wallace, the budding third base prospect that was the other keystone of the Halladay trade.

For the Blue Jays just to stay out of the cellar, everything will need to go right.  With a below average pitching staff and struggling offensive output, the Jays will find a 4th place AL East finish to be a huge accomplishment.

Key Additions: Alex Gonzalez (SS), Kevin Gregg (RP)

Key Losses: Roy Halladay (SP), Rod Barajas (C)

Prediction:  64-98

Talk about a guy that needs some love.  Donovan McNabb has been the headline of the sports world the last two days as word leaked out that the Philadelphia Eagles were accepting offers for the Pro Bowl quarterback, as well as his sidekicks Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick.  And thankless Eagles fans are eager to cheer for his departure.

McNabb's Days Are Numbered in Philly

Philadelphia is a disappointing sports town that just doesn’t seem to understand how to field a winner.  The Eagles are the saddest of the group, having not produced a champion since 1960.  While the team puts up wins, they haven’t delivered in the clutch.  And to put this all on one guy’s shoulders in McNabb is classic Philly style.

After being profusely booed on NFL Draft Day in 1999, you knew that McNabb’s days in Philly were going to be rocky.  But he rose to the challenge and delivered more wins in franchise history than any other quarterback before him.  As it reads today, he is ranked 20th  in wins and 7th in winning percentage for his career among all NFL quarterback.

Not too shabby for a bum that is perceived as the root to the team’s problems.  Those wins and stats assure him a place in Canton upon his retirement.

Placing blame in Philly is a national pastime and it is amazing how Andy Reid consistently never gets the light shone on him except for when one of his kids run afoul with the law and gets sent to jail.  It’s been Reid’s football philosophy, not McNabb’s performance that have led to the big game let downs.   Andy Reid doesn’t believe in the running game and this is the true reason for the losses.  The Eagles are easy to game plan for because they throw the ball every down and never leave the defense guessing.

Now the countdown is on.

The Eagles want a draft pick within the Top 42 spots of the draft in return for this future Hall of Famer quarterback  that is no longer deserving of leading the team he brought to prominence.  McNabb has made it known that he doesn’t want to play for the Raiders or Bills, but his desires will take a backseat because he is not going to a winner unless Brett Favre retires, which is unlikely.

For McNabb, he should want to take on the challenge of resurrecting a struggling squad, just as he did in Philly.  It shouldn’t be about going to a team that gives him a chance at a Super Bowl.   That ship sails as soon as he leaves the Eagles, as the Eagles are his bench chance at Super Bowl glory if they show a willingness to place talent around him.  His goal should be to remind the Philly fans of what they once had as Kevin Kolb leads them into the abyss while he turns around an NFL doormat all by himself.

Tonight’s matchups in the NCAA tournament has some intriguing games and are worth taking a closer look. Here is the way I see these four games playing out…

Midwest Region

Can Northern Iowa keep their Cinderella story going?

Tennessee vs. Ohio State

This game comes down to who  has the most dominant player between the two. Ohio St. has possibly the best player in the tournament in Evan Turner.  Turner is the type of player that can carry his team on his back. The Buckeyes have taken care of business so far and is a team focused on the Final Four with Kansas being knocked out of their region. Both teams have a lot of talent, but the Buckeyes have the outside shooting along with Turner that will be the difference in this game.

Prediction: Ohio State

Northern Iowa vs. Michigan State

Northern Iowa is becoming the Cinderella story of this tournament with their recent victory over the top seeded Kansas Jayhawks. They have all the ingredients that it takes to win this game and get to the Final Four ala George Mason a couple of years ago. They have a lot of momentum and confidence that should carry them to victory. The Spartans showed some resiliency in their victory over Maryland inspite losing their best player Kalin Lucas. No Lucas and a couple of more beat up players spells a loss. Northern Iowa keeps the slipper on.

Prediction: Northern Iowa

South Region

St. Mary’s vs. Baylor

St. Mary’s is another intriguing story in this tourney and  are coming off a impressive victory over Villanova. They are a patient, good shooting team that make good decisions on offense.. They will need to play their offensive best against a very good and athletic defensive team in the Baylor Bears. Baylor has won their first tournament games in 60 years. Baylor came in as a number three seed and are playing near home in Houston. The combination of being near home and hunger will propel them to victory.

Prediction: Baylor

Duke vs. Purdue

Duke has looked impressive on the defensive side so far and will pair up against another stellar defensive team in Purdue. Purdue is another team that has showed resiliency in their two close victories including their last one against Texas A+ M  in overtime.They have advanced without their star Robbie Hummel. Duke will make it too hard on Purdue to score, and Hummel will be sorely missed in this one. Duke should roll in this one.

Prediction: Duke

Hopefully these games are both exciting and competitive. These type of matchups make March Madness live up to the hype year after year.