The Choosen Ones

Ladies and Gentleman strap yourselves in for what is going to be a huge sports weekend, or you could call it a what up weekend. The most underrated event of the weekend, maybe because it is my favorite, is the Ryder Cup. The Americans are heading into hostile environment, and Tiger is going to hear the worst of it.  In college football there are five match ups of top 25 teams, and some of the biggest match ups of year. The NFL games are not as epic as in past weeks ,but they have the best rivalry in the past five years, Ravens Steelers, and Donovan McNabb’s returns to Philly, I can hear it now, BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, why are we booing? I don’t know it really makes no sense, but we are philly and that’s just what we do! Baseball will be wrapping up their regular season with the best postseason races lying in the national league. All in all if you are a sports fan, I hope you don’t have a lot of plans.

Ryder Cup: The most underrated event of the weekend by far! To bad it is being played  in  Wales and the rounds begin at 2:30 in the morning, or is it? Sounds like a perfect opportunity to go to the bar, and come back going strong into the morning with a little golfing patriotism. Sign me up! 13 of the top 15 players in the world are playing this weekend, 7 on the American squad 6 on the European Squad. The Europeans are going to have a huge home course advantage as they remember what kind of atmosphere Paul Azinger and his squard made Valhalla two years ago, I was there it was freaking awesome. The Europeans have a tough squad at Wales course that suits their game. However, Tiger has so much to prove, and I expect his game to be that much better since last time we saw him. This is America, I am America, and some how some way America is able to smuggle that golden trophy back to America.

America 14 1/2    Europe 12

College Football:

21 Texas vs. 8 Oklahoma: Texas was embarrassed last weekend at the hands of UCLA. Not a great loss to pick up the weekend before the Red River Rivalry. Texas is going to have to pick up the run defense if they have any shot at stopping DeMarco Murray. Oklahoma has not looked that great this season either, they had close games with Utah State and Air Force. The only time they looked really dominate was when they welcomed an overrated Florida State team. Despite both teams being ranked in the top 25, the stock is way down this year for this rivalry. In the end Landry Jones is better than Garret Gilbert, and DeMarco is better than whoever Texas has running the ball, Oklahoma hands Texas their second straight loss.

Oklahoma 27   Texas 17

11 Wisconsin vs. 24 Michigan State

Is their any team more underrated than the Wisconson Badgers? Is their a bigger sleeper for Heisman than John Clay? Michigan State will be playing with an inspirational boost as they welcome back their head coach from a mild heart attack, but It is going to be all Wisconsin this weekend. This will be a break out game for the badgers as they fight for some national respect.

Wisconsin 38 Michigan State 14

7 Florida vs. 1 Alabama

This is the game Florida has been hooting and hollering all summer about. They want their revenge from the loss in the SEC Championship game last season. Now that the game is finally here, do the Gators still want it? Alabama picked up a huge road win last weekend,  coming from behind to beat Ryan Mallet and Arkansas. Florida unveiled a very familiar offense last weekend against Kentucky. They took quarterback/ fullback/ Receiver, Tim Burton, and threw him into the Tim Tebow like spread offense. Burton was very successful on the day, racking up 6 TD. However I question the timing of Urban Meyer unleashing this weapon because now Nick Saban can scheme for Burton. In the end to much Ingram and Richardson for Flordia.

Alabama 31 Florida 20

9 Stanford vs. 4 Oregon

Well we know the Oregon duck is straight rocked up after the amount of push ups he has had to do this year, but are the Ducks physical enough for this one? This is the classic game in style clashes, speed vs. strength, physicality vs. finesse. The Oregon Ducks run the spread option unlike any team in the country. However, Stanford’s offensive line run and pass blocks like any team in the country. This is a huge stage for Stanford Quarterback, Andy Lucky, to showcase his talents Saturday night. If Andy is as good as everyone has hyped him up to be, he will show it this Saturday. These two teams are so evenly matched, but Eugene will be rocking and rolling into the night.

Oregon 48 Stanford 35

NFL

Ravens vs. Steelers: Today’s NFL is all about scoring points, and passing yards, but this game is all about who hits the hardest and the most often. It is to soon to give this match up the rivalry label, but this match up over the past five years have produced some epic game.  If Ed Reid goes for the Ravens this weekend it will only make the game that much better. The Steelers are coming into this game playing as if they could throw wedding crashers Vince Vaughn in at quarterback and still win games. The Ravens defense comes into this game with a chip on their shoulder after letting Patrick Hillis run all over them last week. I don’t expect anything less than a thrilling game, but this is the week the Steeler’s quartback position catches up to them.

Ravens 17   Steelers 10

Redskins vs. Eagles: Does Donovan McNabb really think the Eagles won’t boo him? The Eagles Booed Santa Clause, and Donovan isn’t coming into the Linc to give out gifts, or magic fairy dust. Donovan McNabb, no matter what he says, is coming into this game to rub in Andy Reid, and the Eagles faces that they should have not gotten rid of him. They should have not slapped him in the face by trading him in the division. Despite having virtually no weapons, Donovan is going to find a way to put up big numbers against this very young Eagles defense. On the other side, Mike Vick is going to take a small step back. He will still play very respectable, but not to the tune of 300 yards passing and account for 4 or 5 TDs.

Redskins 31   Eagles 27

Patriots vs. Dolphins:

Huge game for both of these teams as they battle for AFC East positioning.  Both teams have already lost to the Jets, and at this moment the two teams are playing for second and a wild card spot.  The Dolphins defense has been solid through two games, while the Patriots defense has looked young and very confused. I just fell that these two teams are second tear teams. Bill Belichik is the x factor in this one.

Patriots 31 Dolphins 27

Baseball  Push:

Alright this may be the biggest homer portion of the column, but this is what is going to happen. As of right now the Braves are two games up on the Padres for the wild card. The Braves welcome in the Philies for a three game series, while the Padres welcome in the team they are battling for the NL West crown, Giants. The Philies teams will be taking it easy, and resting a bunch of players as they get ready for the postseason. The Braves will not see Roy Dueces, Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt. Cole Hamels is not going to pitch the entire game on Saturday. The Giants are still battling the Padres for the division, therefore it is a much harder road for the Padres to win three games. It is just a numbers game but the Braves are two games up,  playing a Philies team that really doesn’t give a damn. Braves Clinch the Wild Card Saturday, while the Giants have to much pitching for the Padres.