Clay Bucholz's Demise Continues

Remember when Clay Bucholdz (left) threw a no-hitter in his second career start? Ya, me neither. The one-time phenom was sent down to Double A Portland after a terribly disappointing one-month stint in the big leagues. The demotion of the 24-year old Bucholz was a startling act from the Red Sox, who suffer from a starting rotation that is quickly becoming paper-thin. The final straw came against the same team that he threw his epic no-hitter against – the Orioles. This time around, Baltimore wasn’t so kind, putting up five runs on Bucholz in 2 2/3 innings. His latest loss makes him 0-7 in his last nine starts, a streak that started all the way back in May.

Amid all the life-without-Manny talk since the trading deadline, Boston’s glaring weakness has become its pitching, both in the bullpen and the starting rotation. Ever since Jason Bay was acquired, the guy’s been on a tear offensively, putting up comparable numbers to what Manny would have done. In a little over two weeks of service for the defending champs, Bay is hitting .347 with 4 home runs and 18 RBI. Even with those tremendous numbers, he will continue to be scrutinized just because of the man he’s replacing. The team’s pitching, however, hasn’t been as impressive, but hasn’t been sufficiently criticized. Who could forget last week’s 19-17 slugfest against the Rangers last week where Boston nearly blew a 10-0 first-inning lead? Charlie Zink was making his first career start that night, but still couldn’t handle that much run support. The Red Sox pulled a deaf ear on that one because they pulled the W; lately, with Bucholz, there haven’t been many wins to divert his sub-par pitching.. It’s gotten that bad for the Red Sox.

Ace Josh Beckett has been nothing like his postseason self of 2007 where he proved that he might be the guy in baseball you would turn to win Game 7 of a World Series. His dominant form has been missing this year as his 11-9 record and 4.34 ERA suggest. He’s shown flashes of dominant form throughout the year, but has allowed five or more earned runs in six starts. That’s far too often for the team’s supposed ace and perennial Cy Young contender. It’s been difficult all year long GM Theo Epstein and Jim Francona to find a reliable five-man rotation that works, especially with Curt Schilling being MIA throughout. It’s gotten so bad that Epstein hopelessly searched the waiver wire and plucked Paul Byrd from thin air. His 7-11 record, 4.55 ERA, and pitiful 56 K’s reek of desperation from a team looking for a fifth starter, or middle-reliever for October.

Bucholz was supposed to be the guy to step into that role, at least for now, where he could pitch meaningful games before he would inevitably become one of the team’s go-to guys in the rotation. His fellow no hitting, but cancer-surviving, and World Series clinching counterpart Jon Lester (right) has taken that position right from under him by winning 13 games so far in 2008. Lester has become everything Bucholz was expected to be, but with a little less hype. He’s been nothing short of spectacular this season, leading Red Sox in innings pitched (167.2) and ERA (3.17). Since Bucholz’s no-hitter on September 1st of last year, Lester has won Game 4 of last year’s Fall Classic, pitched his own no-hitter, and become Boston’s solid number three starter behind Beckett and Dice-K . Dice-K has been terrific this season; he and Lester are the sole reasons the starting rotation has put Boston at the top of the wildcard standings.

Throughout Bucholz’s ordeal over the last three months, the Red Sox have been very patient with him. He’s been offered numerous opportunities to reassert himself in the big leagues, but he’s failed miserably each time. Before being sent to the DL in May with a broken fingernail, Bucholz had a 5.53 ERA and his team was 2-6 in his starts. Despite this, he took the ball every fifth day until he got injured. Since returning from the minors on July 11, it’s gotten worse. Bucholz has personally taken the loss on five of his seven starts, sitting at 2-9 for the year. During that time, Boston has lost three games on the surging Rays, who are starting to take the drama out of the AL East race,

It would be in the best interest of the Red Sox to shut down Bucholz for the rest of the season. Epstein and Francona have given the kid numerous chances to earn his spot on the roster, and he’s proved to a devastating detriment. The Red Sox are good enough to win the wildcard without Bucholz. They thought with Bucholz, it would allow them to overtake Tampa Bay, earn a division title, and be in good position for a repeat. Those dreams are quickly fading away, and the Red Sox should just try to move on for now.

A Phelps-Like Performance From Bolt

The Olympics has been searching for a star now that Michael Phelps has completed his domination of the swimming program in Week 1 of the 29th Summer Olympics. Enter Usain Bolt, the newest transcendent star to emerge with the world eyes watching. The Jamaican sprinter became the first person in 24 years to complete the 100 and 200 meter double Wednesday night (Beiijing time), blazing past the competition with a 19.30 in his signature event to blow by his second place finisher by over a half second.

Bolt's time in the 200 broke Michael Johnson's old mark of 19.32 set in the Atlanta Games of 1996, and made him the first person ever to break world records in both the 100 and 200 in the same Olympics. Three days ago, the 21-year old Bolt ran a historic 9.69, despite celebrating and pounding his chest with the race still in progress. If he would have run the race in its entirety, it's possible Bolt could have run the race at a sub-9.5 pace, a truly remarkable thing to think about when comparing it to old mark of 9.72, set by Bolt himself four months ago. He's only been running the 100 for a little over a year, and will undoubtedly have a great chance of lowering the mark in the future.

There was no pre-finish antics from him in the 200, but the result was still the same: another world record. His historic double may not have the quantity of Phelp's eight gold medal performance, but it sure has the quality. Phelps broke seven world records in his eight events, a superb achievement, but one that has precedent. In '72, Mark Spitz won seven golds, and matched Phelps by setting seven world records. No man in the history of the Olympics has dominated these two events like Bolt.

Even though he's criticized as a slow starter, Bolt makes up for in a hurry. He has a knack for finding a gear, seemingly out of nowhere, in the middle of a race to leave the fellow sprinters in his wake. Much like Phelps, Bolt understands how to manage a race, even one that lasts a mere 10 seconds, and knows when that untouchable bit of acceleration is needed. And when he does turn it on, there's no greater specatacle. At 22, it's safe to say his prime is still in front of him, a truly scary thought, which could see the incredible marks he has already set get even better.

With Bolt's stunning performance, and a great start from their women, Jamaica has become the epicenter of the sprinting universe. They swept all three medals in the women's 100 meter dash, with Shelly Ann-Fraser taking gold in a personal best 10.78 seconds, and Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart tying for the silver. For a nation of nearly 3 million, or about a tenth of California, it's been a summer to remember to say the least.

NFC East Preview

Our NFL Preview switches gears and moves to the NFC, starting with the East, a division that was the conference’s strongest last season. It had the league’s top team (Cowboys), the eventual Super Bowl winner (Giants), a Cinderella playoff story (Redskins), and, according to Donovan McNabb, the best 8-8 team in football history (Eagles). The division figures to be just as tough this season, with every divisional game full of passion and a true hatred for their opponent. Dallas has gotten better on paper, signing Adam Jones to bolster the secondary and drafting speedster Felix Jones to replace the departed Julius Jones. New York is guaranteed to be everyone’s favorite enigma this year; some believe they are headed toward mediocrity while others see them extrapolating their historic playoff run over a full 16-game schedule. Either way, it’s guaranteed to be interesting.

With Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs departing, new coach Jim Zorn has big shoes to fill in the nation’s capital, but his creative offensive mind should allow Jason Campbell to become comfortable as the team’s starting quarterback in Year 2. In Philadelphia, things always seem to go wrong in one way or another for Donovan McNabb. He believes this will be a breakout year for his squad, but they key, as always, will be if he can stay healthy. McNabb hasn’t played a full season since 2004, one of many reasons why he will be under extreme pressure.


1. Dallas Cowboys
Head Coach: Wade Phillips

In going 13-3 last year, “America’s Team” put on a glamorous display, and confirmed themselves as one of, if not the, most talented team in the NFL. In all phases of the game, the Cowboys have stars that rival any other team’s personnel. Start at quarterback where Tony Romo has become a consensus top-5 quarterback around the league, despite not winning a single playoff game. He’s had some rough moments in his two career playoff games, but has proven time and again that he has the mental capacity to handle it. If you need proof, just look at Week 5’s Monday night encounter against Buffalo. Romo’s got a great offensive line blocking for him, a great mix of power and speed at running back with Marion Barber and Jones forming an intriguing duo, and a great set of receivers, headlined by Terrell Owens and Jason Witten. This unit will score plenty of points and make life easy for an already talented defense.

Largely overshadowed by the star-studded offense, the Cowboys have built a gritty defense that has become one of the league’s most underrated units because of a strong linebacking core and a treacherous secondary. DeMarcus Ware is the unquestioned leader at outside linebacker and is a freak that can kill you with his pass rush or his pass coverage ability. At 26, he’s got a bright and dominant future in front of him. Owner Jerry Jones made a bold move to sign Adam Jones, but saw a need for depth in the secondary and pounced on the opportunity. It will take some time for Pacman to his bearings under him, but his presence will have quarterbacks thinking twice about attacking him. With 13 Pro-Bowlers, the Cowboys the talent to win it all, but it will come down to whether or not this team can keep it together during crunch time if they hope to lift the Lombardi Trophy when it’s all said and done.
The Lounge Says: 13-3


2. New York Giants
Head Coach: Tom Coughlin

Eli Manning forever cemented his place in history, with his terrific play in the postseason, but questions still linger as he heads into 2008. Has he truly turned the corner and become an elite quarterback that can be brilliant over 16 weeks? Or is he still the erratic gunslinger that is as inconsistent as he is talented? More than likely, he’s in the middle, which would still put the Giants in great position to contend. Manning has developed a nice rapport with Plaxico Burress , and will have an experienced offensive line to give him the time he needs to set up his favorite target. A full season of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw should help as well giving the Giants a chance to have the league’s fourth best rushing attack again.

The defense is where New York won their Super Bowl. Up front, the defensive line terrorized opponents all year long, leading the NFL in sacks, including a record-tying 12 against the Eagles in Week 4. Michael Strahan has moved on, but Osi Umeniyora has spent enough time under him to understand the swagger and attitude it takes to be a lead on defense. Strahan’s departure will allow Justin Tuck to play an even larger role in ’08, a fact that will make Giants fans mouths water. Tuck deserved some serious MVP consideration for the way he got in Tom Brady’s grill during the Super Bowl, and will now have the chance to play on the majority of downs. Him and Umeniyora form the league’s toughest duo at defensive end. The rest of the defense will follow the line’s lead, but will have to deal without linebacker Kawika Mitchell and Gibril Wilson in the secondary. Asking for a repeat may be asking too much, but New York will definitely be playing meaningful football in January with a chance to do just that.
The Lounge Says: 11-5


3. Philadelphia Eagles
Head Coach: Andy Reid

It was another frustrating season for the Eagles, who missed out on the playoffs for the second time in three years, putting their coach and star quarterback on the hot seat. The Eagles are no longer McNabbs team; they belong to Brian Westbrook, who has been the team’s MVP during his quarterback’s absence. Westbrook led the NFL in yards from scrimmage a season ago, and set a franchise record with 90 catches. You can expect a similar sort of season, regardless of who’s under center. The team’s problems begin in trying to find legitimate receivers to keep defenses honest. Kevin Curtis had a solid season in his first year with the Eagles, but is not a prototypical #1 receiver. He would be most effective alongside a true top-line wide receiver, like ex-Eagle Terrell Owens. Unfortunately, that doesn’t exist and the passing offense will suffer because of it.

Philadelphia’s big splash came in the secondary where they brought in Asante Samuel to shore up the cornerback position. Samuel will do great things as the team’s lockdown defender, but his mate as safety, Brian Dawkins, has an air of uncertainty surrounding him. A six-time Pro-Bowler, Dawkins has seen his skill set fade slowly, and isn’t the intimidating presence he once was. That will put more pressure on Samuel, who leads the NFL with 16 picks in the last two years. The front seven is an above-average unit, anchored by pass rusher Trent Cole, who is coming off his first Pro-Bowl appearance. The linebackers are a young, but promising group, that could be the difference between making this a good defense and a great one. Even if this defense is a top-10 unit like it was last year, McNabb’s health issues and lack of options in the passing game will leave his team on the outside looking in.
The Lounge Says: 8-8


4. Washington Redskins
Head Coach: Jim Zorn

Led by Todd Collins, Washington made a stunning run to sneak into the playoffs after battling adversity throughout the year. Entering this year, Collins is out, and Jason Campbell is back in. Campbell has all the tools to be an effective quarterback in this league, but always seems to find hiccups along the way. Inheriting Zorn’s entirely new offense will be the latest new challenge heading his way, which should be a red flag considering he threw 12 TD’s against 11 interceptions in 2007. His top receiving threat will come at tight end from Chris Cooley, who’s become a favorite target of Campbell’s, but isn’t an elite playmaker yet. Clinton Portis is still a 1,000 yard back that could reach double digits in TD’s, but the deterioration of receiverrs Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El will make it difficult for Campbell to make a noticeable jump.

The defense was always a top-10 unit under the direction of Gibbs, but will have its hands full to reach those heights. Up front, the defensive line is aging, with all four starters pushing 30; end Phillip Daniels is 35 and tackle Cornelius Griffin is approaching 32. It may be wise for Zorn to resort to youngsters Kedric Golston and Anthony Montgomery to provide some depth for his older personnel. Last season, the defense played like they had a chip on their shoulder after the tragic loss of Sean Taylor. Their intensity was at a staggering level towards the end of the season, and it helped spark their four game winning streak to close the year. There’s no such luck this season, and there’s too many holes to expect a repeat performance of that inspiring run.
The Lounge Says: 6-10

Can CC Win the Cy Young?

It was just another day at the office for Brewers stud pitcher C.C. Sabathia. He threw a complete game, his fifth in nine starts with Milwaukee, striking out nine with a combination of filthy off-speed pitches and straight gas for the 9-3 win over the Astros. He didn’t have his best stuff, scattering 11 hits and three runs (two earned), but still got the job done convincingly. He had to get out of some tense moments all night long, and got by All-Star Lance Berkman with the sacks packed to finish the game. It tells you how high he’s set the bar when we're analyzing as good a start as that. Sabathia has been nothing short of superb since he joined the Brew Crew on July 7th.

With the win Sabathia is 8-0, and has been the single most important reason that the Brewers have evolved into a contender during the past month. Sabathia had a rough start to the season, but since May, he’s been the best pitcher in baseball. The Brewers took a risk to get him, beating out several potential suitors, and have been reaping the benefits. Ace Ben Sheets has slowed tremendously over the past month and is only 1-4 since Sabathia was acquired from the Indians. The Brewers haven’t missed a beat during Sheets’ troubles, going 23-14 over that stretch to put themselves five games up in the wildcard. You can give all the credit to Sabathia, a guarantee for the Brewers, who have had the lead or been tied at the end of each one of his starts since he got there. His arrival has been the obvious catalyst for the Brewers making up six games on St. Louis during his time.

Most of his starts have been like last night’s where the Brewers coasted to victory. At the end of all his starts, he’s been coasting, finishing up blowouts of 9-1, 7-1, and 5-0. Milwaukee has outscored their opponents 51-18, and lost only once in a game that Sabathia started. The Brewers have been a confident club each time Sabathia has taken the mound, and it’s not hard to see why. The 6-4 loss to the Cubs on July 28th, a start where Sabathia got his only no-decision, was the first of four straight losses the Brewers would have at Wrigley Field. The sweep dropped them out of a first place tie. Facing tremendous adversity with that and a very public clubhouse altercation between Manny Parra and Pricne Fielder a few days later, the Brewers bounced right back to win eight straight. Sabathia provided two sterling starts during that critical winning streak, allowing one run over 16 innings. That’s the mark of a team leader, something that’s been missing in Milwaukee.

Sabathia’s midseason lift for the Brewers is eerily reminiscent of Rick Sutcliffe in 1984. Sutcliffe was a struggling pitcher on the Cleveland Indians, and the organization unloaded him across leagues to the Cubs. His addition turned Chicago into a division winner, mostly because of his 16-1 record that led to him winning the Cy Young. Through nine starts, Sabathia has been Sutcliffe’s equivalent, flashing a gaudy record while helping his team gain six games on the Cardinals in the standings to emerge as safe wild-card leaders. Six games with the Cubs remain, so overcoming their five game deficit won’t be impossible. These symmetries should be more than enough to begin discussing Sabathia as a viable Cy Young candidate.

With over a month left in the season, Sabathia still has plenty left to show, but is halfway there. Brandon Webb will be an extremely tough obstacle, but is probably the only legitimate one in a stacked field. He leads the majors with 18 wins and has a solid 2.85 ERA, numbers that make him the favorite, especially because Arizona is in playoff contention. But, after that, Sabathia is definitely the best of the bunch. Tim Linececum, 24, and Edinson Volquez, 25, have been great all year, but each pales in comparison in the standings. They would have a much better chance against a weaker field of opponents, but with Webb and Sabathia dominating in games that mean something, Linecum and Volquez shouldn’t be in the conversation. With six games against the Cubs in their last 12, the Cy Young could be a legitimate possibility for Sabathia come September.

A Comprehensive Preseason College Football Poll

Many believe preseason rankings in college football are pointless. We know nothing about any of the teams because it’s hard to determine just how much the loss of quality players from the top teams are going to hurt. An extensive effort is made to rank the recruits of incoming classes, but even that doesn’t translate to the field. Notre Dame has had a top-10 recruiting in the last three years, but would be lucky to reach eight wins. Assessing the impact of departures and additions is as hard to understand as the concept of the BCS itself.

Yet despite all these logical arguments against a preseason poll, they are conducted and will inevitably have a significant impact on who ends up making it to the BCS Championship Game. Need proof? Just ask Auburn, who went undefeated in 2004 and didn’t get anywhere near the national championship because USC and Oklahoma, the top two teams in the preseason won all their games. It didn’t matter that the Sooners were annihilated, – which made their spot in the Orange Bowl even more suspicious -- they were still considered the second best team the entire season.

While the Coaches and the Associated Poll are the only actual components of the Bowl Championship Series formula, I’ve taken a total of nine preseason polls from various media outlets and preseason magazines to compile a comprehensive list of the top 25 teams heading into the 2008 season, which begins in less than two weeks. In addition to the Coaches and the AP, I’ve used six preseason magazines (Sports Illustrated, Athlon, The Sporting News, ESPN, Lindy’s, and Rivals). For the last poll, I’ve included the preseason poll from a site called the BCS Fan Pollster.

The BCS Fan Pollster recruits fans from all over the country to chime in with their own polls on a week-to-week basis. After a probationary four-week period, fans are able to become an “Official Pollster” whereby their rankings are included in the overall poll that makes up the BCS Fan Poll. I recommend any college football to check out the site as it’s a great forum to discuss college football and be a part of a cool feature that accounts for the fan’s perspective.

Without further ado, here’s a look at what we got based on the conventional point system (25 points for a first-place spot, 24 for second, etc.).


1. Georgia (7 #1 selections, 220 points): The Bulldogs missed only five possible points from the nine different preseason polls, with Rivals putting them at the second spot and Athlon dropping them to five. It will be a difficult road if the Bulldogs want to end the year here, with the brutal SEC and a road game at Arizona State.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Georgia Southern



2. USC (1 #1 selection, 212 points): Rivals awarded the Trojans their #1 spot as coach Pete Carrol goes for the program's sixth straight Pac-10 title. Starter Mark Sanchez has already suffered an injury in preseason workouts, which could prove problematic for the early season showdown with the next team on the list.
First Game: 8/30 @ Virginia


3. Ohio State (211 points): The Buckeyes were the most consistent team, being ranked either second or third on every poll. There's no doubt that they are one of the nation's best, but they will have a hell of a time trying to shed their label as first losers, which has followed them after consecutive championship game beatdowns from stronger SEC competition.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Youngstown St.


4. Oklahoma (196 points): The Sooners also have a BCS-curse following them, with four straight loses since their Rose Bowl win over Washington State in 2001. However, Bob Stoops has his team among the nation's best again, and with a manageable schedule, this team is good enough to run the table.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Chattanooga


5. Florida (1 #1 selection, 188 points): The Gators were the only other team to receive a first place selection, with Athlon Sports awarding it to them. It's hard to argue with that assessment, with Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin returning, but like Georgia, their conference makes running the table a true challenge. The matchup against those Bulldogs on November 1st will be one of the must-watch games of the year.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Hawaii


6. Missouri (183 points): With Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin returning, you can bet the Tigers won't be a one-year wonder. This talented group won't get much time to ease in their schedule, however, as they play Rose Bowl participant Illinois in the game to watch in the first week of the college football season.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Illinois


7. LSU (164 points): The defending champions are in the midst of breaking in new starter Andrew Hatch, but he hasn't won the quarterback position yet. Sophomore Jarret Lee is also a possible option for Les Miles to turn to. There's no room for error because FCS champion and darling Appalachian State await in Week 1, and you would be foolish to think that another seismic upset is impossible.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Appalachian State


8. West Virginia (156 points): With Pat White and Noel Devine returning, the Mountaineers will again have one of the nation's most feared rushing attacks. It remains to be seen whether or not their offense will be as imaginative now that the genius of the spread, Rich Rodriguez, has moved. Some don't seem to think so as Sports Illustrated put WVU at 14th in their rankings.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Villanova


9. Clemson (154 points): Clemson has had the talent to win the ACC for awhile now, but this year they enter as the clear favorite to win the school's first conference title since 1991. Running backs CJ Spiller and James Davis form a ridiculous duo that will be a handful for any defense to deal with.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Alabama


10. Auburn (142 points): With Tommy Tuberville's squad sneaking into the top 10, that makes four teams from the incredible SEC. The Tigers were as high as seven by Rivals and SI, but The Sporting News had them all the way down at 18. That was the biggest disparity seen from any team in the top 10.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Louisiana-Monroe


11. Texas (133 points): In the two years since they won a classic national title with Vince Young, the Longhorns have had solid seasons, but back-to-back three loss campaigns have made fans in Austin a little restless. Mack Brown needs his team to beat Oklahoma, but tricky games against Missouri, Texas Tech, and Kansas make another three loss season likely.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Florida Atlantic


12. Wisconsin (119 points): The Badgers have been a mark of consistency in the Big Ten, totaling 40 wins over the last four years. They have the talent to match that again this year, with 1,200 yard rusher PJ Hill coming back, but unproven Allan Evridge takes over at QB. His play could be the difference between a good year and a great one.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Akron


(t) 13. Kansas (107 points): You could argue the Jayhawks had a stake at the national championship as they ended the season as the nation's best one-loss team, coming off their Orange Bowl victory for the program's first BCS win (Hawaii was the only other one loss team but was out of contention after their Sugar Bowl loss to Georgia). Replicating that historic peroformancewould truly make Mark Mangino a genius.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Florida International


(t) 13. Texas Tech (107 points): The Red Raiders run-and-shoot offense definitely inflates statistics, but sophomore receiver Michael Crabtree is easily one of the nation's best. He is a bona fide Heisman candidate. If this team can play a little bit better defense, they could be a top-1o team this year.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Eastern Washington


15. BYU (99 points): The consensus is that this is the mid-major that has the best chance of crashing the BCS. It's hard to argue with that assessment as the Cougars have gone undefeated in the Mountain West each of the last two seasons, and have a winnable non-conference slate of Northern Iowa, Washington and UCLA.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Northern Iowa


16. Arizona State (95 points): The Sun Devils were a pleasant surprise in the Pac-10, winning 10 games. However, their 1-3 record against top-25 competition begs for improvement. If Dennis Erickson wants to lead his team to the next level, they're gonna have to win games like their September 20th encounter with top-ranked Georgia.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Northern Arizona


17. Tennesee (69 points): It's no secret that coach Phillip Fulmer is on the hot seat as this season approaches. The Vols shouldn't have much trouble until they host Florida in a game that should be labeled as a must-win. UT hasn't been to a BCS bowl game since 2000 and probably won't reach there unless they can beat the hated Gators.
First Game: 9/1 @ UCLA


18. Virginia Tech (68 points): The Hokies enter the season as the favorite in the Coastal Division of the ACC, but they should watch their back for North Carolina, an up and coming program under Butch Davis. Frank Beamer's teams have always won the games they were expected to, but fallen short in the marquee games. This year, that game probably won't come until the ACC Championship.
First Game: 8/30 @ East Carolina


19. Illinois (67 points): Ron Zook has created a rising program with his talented recruiting classes. The Illini made rousing progress a year ago, but realized how much work is left when they were humbled at the Rose Bowl. Juice Williams will still be one of the most exciting young players in the nation, and you can expect this team back in a major bowl once again.
First Game: 8/30 @ Missouri


20. Oregon (61 points): With Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart gone, the Ducks have some large holes to fill offensively. When Dixon got hurt last year, Oregon fell off a cliff. This year, there's a battle brewing between Nate Costa and Justin Roper for that spot. Expect Roper to start. The question mark at running back is more certain, with Jeremiah Johnson looking primed for a big season.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Washington


21. South Florida (55 points): The Bulls had to be a little star struck when they got all the way to #2 in the nation last year, but the point remains that they will be a factor in the Big East. Matt Groethe and George Selvie are the leaders of this team, and fiery head coach Jim Leavitt will have this team threatening 10 wins again.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Tennessee-Martin


22. Penn St. (29 points): Over the last decade, this program has made more headlines with the shenanigans of head coach Joe Paterno rather than the performance of the football team. With at least three teams expected to be in front of them in the Big Ten, it will be hard for the football team to earn headlines.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Coastal Carolina


23. Wake Forest (23 points): The Demon Deacons backed up their Orange Bowl appearance, with another solid nine win season last year. Wake doesn't have the talent to compete with Clemson at the top of the Atlantic Division of the ACC, but could be an upset over them from landing in the BCS again.
First Game: 8/28 @ Baylor


24. Pittsburgh (18 points): The Panthers' 5-7 season could not have ended any better when they dashed West Virginia's championship hopes with a memorable victory in the Backyard Brawl. This year, they have 17 returning starters, led by LeSean McCoy and an intimidating defense. If a couple of brakes go there way, the Backyard Brawl could decide the Big East Championship.
First Game: 8/30 vs. Bowling Green


25. Alabama (14 points): Year 2 of the Nick Saban Era must go better than the first after the Crimson Tide tanked toward the end of the year, finishing 7-6. With a highly touted recruiting class coming in, there's no excuses now. Unfortunately, the SEC is tough and Saban won't sniff the BCS for awhile.
First Game: 8/30 @ Clemson

AFC West Preview

Today we conclude with our AFC previews and turn our attention out west where the Chargers overcame a slow start to blow past the other three teams in their division. Without their three biggest stars on offense, San Diego played the undefeated Patriots tough in the AFC Championship before falling 21-12. With Phillip Rivers, Antonio Gates, and LaDainian Tomlinson working their way back to full strength, the Chargers are expected to be right back in the mix for the Super Bowl once again this season. The Denver Broncos had their first losing season since the season after John Elway retired, and Mike Shanahan, entering his 14th year, is firmly on the hot seat. Jay Cutler is considered a trendy breakout candidate, but it will be intriguing to see how he handles the three-game suspension of his favorite target Brandon Marshall to begin the season.

At the bottom of the division sit the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, who both went 4-12 last year. Oakland drafted Darren McFadden in a curious move made by Al Davis, considering they have 1,000 yard rusher Justin Fargas and healthy Michael Bush coming back from injury. The Raiders will be very young at the skill positions, but have a great defense that should help them be a little more competitive than last year. The Chiefs, meanwhile, have a real issue at the top with their quarterbacks. Neither Brodie Croyle nor Damon Huard seems like the answer as the team’s season ending nine game losing streak suggests. One-time stud Larry Johnson may become the new Shaun Alexander, a great runner who just has too many miles to remain productive.


1. San Diego Chargers
Coach: Norv Turner

San Diego shook off their supposed playoff curse, winning two postseason games for the first time since their Super Bowl season of 1995. After starting a disappointing 5-5, they won their next seven games before falling to the Patriots one game short of the Super Bowl. This year, with the core of the offense back, the Chargers should get off to a much better start this year, which could be critical come January. They have the good fortune of hosting the AFC’s last two champions, the Patriots in Week 6 and the Colts in Week 12. San Diego has owned the Colts, winning both of their meetings last year, including the final game played at the RCA Dome. The game with New England could decide who gets home field advantage.

The Chargers have become one of the league’s best teams through the work of an offense that relies heavily on the game’s best running back and tight end, and an opportunistic defense that habitually makes things easier for their offense. Forcing an NFL-high 48 turnovers, San Diego won their division, despite being outgained, a product of their defense setting the offense up for easy points, or even scoring themselves. The Chargers aren’t lacking for star power, and with LT leading the offense and Cromartie leading the defense, expect another exciting playoff run.
The Lounge Says: 14-2


2. Denver Broncos
Coach: Mike Shanahan

Last year was a disappointing year for the Broncos, who just couldn’t put a consistent stretch together, and finished 7-9. The under-achieving season included head-scratching losses to Lions, Bears, and Raiders. Even with Jay Cutler’s 20 touchdown passes and 88.1 QB rating, the offense struggled to score week in and week out. There were times when Cutler and the offense was clicking, like in a Week 7 win over the Steelers, but more often than not, there were those days when the offense would get shut down. Too often, the passing game was too reliant on Brandon Marshall and it left the offense much too predictable. Cutler needs another receiver to step up, especially in the first three games, which includes games against the Chargers and Saints. One bright spot could come from running back Selvin Young, who averaged 5.2 yards a carry in eight starts. His emergence could really take the pressure off Cutler.

Defensively is where the Broncos really took a step back. They were 19th overall in defense, but fell all the way down to 28th in points allowed. There aren’t many young quarterbacks that can be successful with a defense that pitiful. The unit got older in a hurry, and the organization decided to cut ties with John Lynch and Ian Gold. Those transactions issue in a new era for the defense, which brought in Boss Bailey and Dewayne Robertson to strengthen the linebackers. The secondary should be strong as well with Champ Bailey and Dre Bly forming a terrific duo. If the line can get to the quarterback, there’s potential for immediate improvement from a unit that sagged last year. The offense is young, and the defense is in a state of transition; all signs point to a return to the playoffs next year.
The Lounge Says: 7-9


3. Oakland Raiders
Coach: Lane Kiffin
Al Davis has never been one to shy from star power, and bringing in Darren McFadden creates an expensive, but unproven, backfield of JaMarcus Russell and Run-DMC that are the first pieces to an improved offense. Davis splurged a little more by bringing in Javon Walker to shore up a group of wide receivers that were part of the second worst passing attack in the league. Walker has expressed his interest to walk away from the game; you can’t blame him, either. He’s been through the death of a teammate in his arms, and a mugging in Vegas. You have to wonder how much of his heart is in football, which will present a big problem for the Raiders.

On defense, there’s no question that the Raiders are led by corner Nnamdi Asomugha, who’s quickly become one of the best players at his position. With the addition of DeAngelo Hall, Oakland has the chance to have one of the best secondaries in the entire league. The front seven is anchored by Derrick Burgess, who is primed to return to his Pro Bowl form of 2005 and 2006 now that he doesn’t have to deal with a calf injury that slowed him down all year. Burgess will be the team’s most effective pass rusher, but will be joined by Tommy Kelly and Gerard Warren, who will be the team’s run stuffers. The defense should continue to improve, and help the Raiders win more games as a result. Oakland is making strides, and could be back in playoff contention sooner than most think.
The Lounge Says: 6-10


4. Kansas City Chiefs
Coach: Herman Edwards

Entering April’s draft, there were many things the Chiefs had to address, but to their credit, they put together a set of picks to rival anyone else’s. They unloaded Jared Allen, and received more draft picks to work on some of their pressing needs. This has created a young nucleus that will take time to develop before this team can contend for the postseason. Offensively, the Chiefs have some nice pieces, with Dewayne Bowe, Tony Gonzalez, and Larry Johnson at the skill positions. Johnson and Gonzalez will be spotted by a couple of nice rookies who can contribute right away. Jamaal Charles and Brad Cottram were snagged within four picks of each in the third round, and were great value picks. The Chiefs are still looking for a quarterback to get the ball in the playmakers hands. It is expected to be Brodie Croyle, but he is 0-6 as a starter in his career.

With Allen’s departure, Glenn Dorsey was drafted with the fifth pick to add some toughness to the defensive line. Despite his injuries, Kansas City had Dorsey extremely high on their draft board, and were fortunate to land him. Derrick Johnson, who is now the team’s strongest defensive player, will lead the linebackers; he has improved with each year in the league. Johnson had four sacks, 94 tackles, and two forced fumbles, in addition to getting the first two interceptions of his career. The defense’s weaknesses will be in the pass rush department, which could leave the young secondary on an island on occasion. Kansas City is one of the youngest teams in the league, and will be stuck with the inevitable growing pains that are associated with it. They will need some more quality drafts before they can sniff the playoffs again.
The Lounge Says: 4-12

On Wednesday, we will begin the NFC divisional previews in the NFC East.

AFC South Preview

Today, the Sports Lounge’s NFL preview brings us to the AFC South, arguably the toughest division in football. Last season, it joined the NFC East as the only divisions that had multiple teams make the playoffs, with each sending three to the postseason. Houston finished last in this stacked division, but made promising strides under first year coach Gary Kubiak to finish a franchise-best 8-8. They’re thinking about taking the next step this season, but it certainly won’t be easy. Even with a troubling offseason for the Colts, which included a troubling shooting involving Marvin Harrison and the bursa sac injury of Peyton Manning, the five-time defending division champions remain the favorite once again.

That’s not to say that the Jacksonville Jaguars aren’t nipping at the bud to unseat them, turning the corner as one of the league’s elite with a road playoff win against the Steelers. They still need some receivers to step up and spread the field vertically, but they got two things that every team needs to be successful: a stout defense and a thunderous running game. Tennessee had a very good year, winning 10 games and getting to the playoffs, but if they can find a way to match that this year, it would be an impressive feat. Vince Young hasn’t been spectacular in his two years in the league, and will need to make immediate progressions as a passer for the Titans to remain competitive in the AFC South.

1. Indianapolis Colts
Coach: Tony Dungy

Following a triumphant Super Bowl XLI victory, the Colts ended their final season in the RCA Dome with yet another bitter loss in the playoffs, falling to a shorthanded Chargers team 28-24. With no major personnel turnover, there’s no reason this team can’t go 13-3 again, but everyone around them is getting better and this team can’t seem to shake those devastating playoff loses. On offense, the Colts had to deal without Harrison for the final 12 games of the season, allowing Anthony Gonzalez to step up and develop a rapport with Manning. Reggie Wayne is now the team’s top target, but with Harrison healthy and Gonzalez emerging, Indy should have a wonderful trio for Manning to throw to. The team’s offensive line has been tremendous throughout Manning’s career; Joseph Addai has also benefited and is a top-5 back in the league. All of this makes it a formality that the Colts will once again have one of the NFL’s best offenses.

Defense is where the Colts made their most drastic improvement last season. Riding the momentum from their great performance in the playoffs, Indianapolis became the league’s third best unit, with Bob Sanders emerging as the game’s top defensive player last season. The strong defense snuck up on everyone who thought the Colts were a one-dimensional team that relied on their offense. They won’t have the luxury again this season, but the vast array of talent and Dungy’s defensive genius will ensure the unit is great once again. This year is likely to be Dungy’s last before he steps down, and it will feature another playoff appearance.
The Lounge Says: 12-4


2. Jacksonville Jaguars
Coach: Jack Del Rio

Last season was a breakout year for Del Rio and the Jaguars as the team won its first playoff game in seven years and played the undefeated Patriots tough in the divisional round. David Garrard turned in a solid season as the team’s unquestioned starter at quarterback, and the running back tandem of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew combined for 1,970 yards and 14 touchdowns. Disgruntled wide receiver Matt Jones was released, continuing the team’s search for quality receivers. Jerry Porter and Troy Williamson were brought in for relief, but neither has proved they could handle being a #1. It remains to be seen if the Jaguars can develop a passing attack to keep defenses honest.

Defense has been the team’s heart and soul in their ascendancy in the AFC. Marcus Stroud was sent away to the Bills, but draft picks Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves will bring in young and fresh bodies to the defensive line. New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is in the midst of installing a new system for the defense, which should make a tough unit even better. Firmly entrenched as one of the AFC’s top teams, the Jaguars will only consider this season a success if they can pass the Colts and make a run at the Super Bowl. The gap is getting closer, but they haven’t reached that summit yet.
The Lounge Says: 11-5


3. Houston Texans
Coach: Gary Kubiak

With a new coach and new quarterback, the Texans experienced their best season ever and it could have been better if injuries didn’t derail stud receiver Andre Johnson. Johnson has become one of the league’s most underrated receivers; he actually averaged more yards per game than anyone in the league, but only played nine games. Matt Schaub also had trouble staying on the field, but backup Sage Rosenfels was terrific throwing 15 touchdowns with a 84.1 rating. The running backs are deep, with veterans Ahman Green and Chris Brown at the top of the depth chart. They will function as a tandem, with Green struggling to stay healthy last year. Rookie Steve Slaton figures to see some playing time as well, and could be a real sleeper for this team in the future. If this unit can stay healthy, there’s potential for greatness.

Mario Williams had to deal with unrelenting scrutiny following Houston’s decision to draft him ahead of Reggie Bush. The Texans look like geniuses now that Williams has become one of the NFL’s top defensive players. His emergence has been the spark for a defense that is slowly getting better. DeMeco Ryans, the second round pick in Williams’ year, has become a load and is the leader of the linebacking core. Ryans and Williams figure to be the leaders for this unit for a long time to come. The defense still needs at least one more playmaker before it can become as strong as their rivals in this defense-heavy division. Making progress in this division isn’t easy, and the Texans are going to have wait a little while longer before they will be good enough to make the postseason for the first time.
The Lounge Says: 8-8


4. Tennessee Titans
Head Coach: Jeff Fisher

Vince Young had a successful second year in the league, leading Tennessee to the playoffs for the first time since 2003, but his statistics don’t support that. In fact, they say the contrary. Young threw 17 interceptions and only accounted for 12 touchdowns, while having a mediocre 71.1 QB rating. Last season, the Titans stayed afloat because of a rushing attack that was led by LenDale White and Chris Brown. With Brown departed to division rival Houston, rookie Chris Johnson was brought in as the team’s speed runner. Johnson has impressed in training camp and should get ample playing time to strut his stuff. The problem on offense is the lack of weapons in the wideout core. Justin Gage and Roydell Williams are the best of the bunch, but combined to have less catches than Wes Welker.

Led by Albert Haynesworth, the Titans were a playoff team because of their fifth ranked defense, especially the defensive line. Jevon Kearse and Kyle Vanden Bosch are two of the best ends around, and complement Haynesworth very well. The team’s ability to stop the run has helped keep the team competitive, even with a sagging offense. The rest of the defense is solid as Tennessee was in the top ten in the NFL in total defense, rush defense, pass defense, and scoring defense. That will be a hard act to follow, but this unit is up for the challenge. This franchise took three steps forward a year ago, but expect them to take two steps back this year, with a challenging schedule and an unimpressive signal caller.
The Lounge Says: 7-9

On Friday, we will finish up the AFC as we move to the AFC West.

Spain Escapes Host Country's Upset Bid

Upstart China, who showed flashes of inspired play in their Olympic debut against the U.S., nearly pulled the first shocker of the tournament, blowing a 14-point fourth quarter lead against gold medal contender Spain to fall 85-75 in overtime early Tuesday morning. The surprising Chinese used a barrage of stellar outside shooting to build the large lead, but wilted under the pressure as the more experienced Spanish squad broke them down in the final moments of regulation with speed and pressure defense. Once the game reached overtime, the vastly more seasoned and talented Spanish side blew right past the shell-shocked hosts, whose hopes of reaching the medal rounds took a devastating blow.

With Argentina aging quickly and tanking their way through the opening game of the preliminaries, Spain is now considered the favorite to oppose the U.S. in the gold medal game in 12 days. Their victory in the last major international competition at the 2006 World Championships confirms their status as the top obstacle standing in front of Kobe Bryant and the rest of Team USA. With a nice blend of established NBA talent, including Pau Gasol and Jose Calderon, and a crop of exquisitely talented youngsters, led by 17-year old Ricky Rubio and Rudy Fernandez, this Spanish squad has the goods to upset the U.S. juggernaut.

In the first half of their tilt against China, the talented Spaniards had a difficult time matching the intensity of their hungry opponents. All the hustle plays and loose balls were going against them, and it seemed as if the Chinese couldn’t miss a shot from the outside. Entering the 4th quarter trailing 61-49, Spain finally managed to find their footing, and put on a display to please their fans back home. Rubio’s intense defense disrupted China’s offense, and the Gasol brothers abused Yao Ming inside to turn things around. Marc Gasol’s acrobatic shot over Yao Ming with 20 seconds left brought Spain to a 72-72 tie heading into OT, and his brother Pau handled the rest in the extra frame, getting Ming to foul out on his way to a 29 and 8 performance.

The Spanish have had a historic year in the world of sports, winning their first European Championship in football in 44 years to go along with Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre and tennis hero Rafael Nadal sweeping the French Open and Wimbledon on his way to the #1 ranking, which he inherits on Monday. The basketball team is looking to continue the Spanish Armada on the sports world and earn the country’s second medal in basketball. Coach Aito Garcia Reneses and the Spanish team enter the Beijing games looking to make amends for a tragically inadequate showing in Athens four years ago.

After going 5-0 in pool play, Spain had the unlucky task of facing the U.S. in the first round of the knockout stages. Team USA played their best game of the 2004 Olympics and won the game 102-94 on their way to winning the bronze, despite losing three games in the competition. The Spanish finished 6-1, but had to settle for seventh place, a bitter end to an otherwise impressive tournament and enough evidence to prove how meaningless pool play really is for the strong teams. Pau Gasol finished as the leading scorer in 2004, but would like nothing more for his improved team to finish the job against the U.S. this time around.

The host country will have a hard time bouncing back from this loss even though they have already played the two strongest teams in their group. Games against Greece and Germany still remain, with China having to beat one of them to have any hopes of advancing. The Chinese have hit 20 3-pointers in their first two games, shooting that has allowed them to remain competitive with the two best teams in the world, – against the United States, it only worked for a half – but their inability to incorporate Ming in the offense has hurt them. The national team used its time without Ming to become a perimeter-oriented team, and they have struggled when the 7-6 center has been in the game. Through two games, he’s only averaging 12 points, while getting pushed around inside on defense.

As I mentioned earlier, pool play for nations like the U.S. and Spain is really irrelevant, but their upcoming match-up on Saturday morning should be a real treat to watch. You can expect both teams to take the game very seriously, with Team USA no longer accepting mediocrity, and the Spanish craving for redemption. That must-watch game may only be a prelude to a possible showdown in the final.