Thursday, October 28, 2021

O5 conference play in week 9

 AAC:  Cincy deserve all the press it can get , however SMU(7-0, 3-0 ) /Houston(6-1, 4-0)  matchup this week should be a good one. I don't think Houston's D can slow down SMU's QB T. Mordecai(187-263, 2320 YDS, 29 TD, 7 INT)  SMU 34 Hou 29
CUSA: UTEP's only loss is to Boise St and FAU looked like a new team in a blowout W over Charlotte last week. I'll take Taggart's kids at home . FAU 26 UTEP 22
MAC: Only one MAC game slated and it's in Buffalo this week. Bowling Green has disintegrated since beating Minnesota last month and Buffalo has been doing ok. Buffalo 17 BG 16
MWC: Fresno St QB Haener will toss a few TD passes and help the Bulldogs give San Diego St its first loss. Fres 24 SDST 19
Sunbelt: Is App St back after beating CCU? Can Bowden keep ULM on a roll after wins against Liberty and South Bama? I'll roll Charles Rodgers throwing two TD passes in a ULM win. ULM 23 App St 20
Oct 31
I was wrong on SMU who couldn't contain Tune(HOU), and Buffalo  who couldn't stop Matt MacDonald(BG).
I was correct on  FAU who held back a late UTEP rally, Fresno who handed SDST its first loss, and Appy who rolled ULM .
Nov 3, 2021
Ex USC coach Clay Helton was hired to helm Georgia Southern(Sunbelt) .  Undefeated Cincy(AAC) got F'D in the polls for no valid reasons. 

Thursday, October 21, 2021

O5 Conference play in week 8

 A late start this week spared me from picking Coastal Carolina, who was upset 30-27 in SunBelt play   last night by App St.. Appy made some corrections after being crushed by ULL last week.
Sunbelt: So, I'll roll with ULL  to remain undefeated in conference play with a 34 -20 win over Ark St.
MAC:  Jay Ducker won't repeat  go for 210 yards like he did last week for NIU but he'll get over a 100 to keep NIU undefeated in MAC play. NIU 26 CMU 23
MWC: The undefeated SDST Aztecs are coming off a shaky win over SJST and should slow down Air Force RB Brad Roberts enough for a 20-16 win.
CUSA: C. Reynolds,  who has passed for 1314 YDS and 15 TD, will lead Charlotte a 34 29 win over FAU.
AAC: The "Tuned" up Cougars will handle the  Pirates this week.  HOU 37 ECU 31 Clayton Tune will toss a few TD passes for Houston.
Oct 22, 2021
Off to a rocky start 1-1. Charlotte was outplayed by FAU who was too fast for them everywhere  in a 38-9 win. I was right on ULL but it took a he!! of a rushing performance from these two Cajuns: C. Smith 24 carries 238yards 2 TDs . M. Johnson 17 carries 150 yards 2 TDs. ULL 28 Ark St 27
Oct 24, 2021
I finished 4-1. NIU get a last minute FG to get by CMU  39-38. Houston need a defensive TO to survive ECU 31-24 in OT. SDST held off AFA 20-14.

Thursday, October 14, 2021

O5 conference play in week 7

Sunbelt:  If I had completed this blog earlier in the week, I would 've picked App St to beat ULL and been wrong.    Texas St Bobcats(2-3, 1-0 Sunbelt) 23  Troy Trojans(3-3, 1-1 Sunbelt) 20.Troy has played  better in OOC games but I'm sniffing upset here.
AAC: Cincinnati (5-0, 1-0 AAC)  30  UCF(3-2, 1-1 AAC) 19  Ridder rides on and won't be slowed down by Gus' Knights
CUSA: UTEP (5-1, 2-0 C-USA) 27 Louisiana Tech(2-3, 1-0 C-USA) 20. I'll take UTEP at home despite LA Tech hanging close in its three losses to Miss St, SMU, and NC St
MAC: Kent State(3-3, 2-0 MAC) 30 Western Michigan(4-2, 1-1 MAC) 27. In the QB battle, Crum will have a slightly better game than Eleby and get the W.
MWC: Nevada(4-1, 1-0 MWC) 39  Hawai'i (3-3, 1-1 MWC) 38 . Hawaii  will roll into Reno, NV feeling great after its upset of Fresno St but will lose a nailbiter in aerial duel  in which Strong edges Cordeiro.
Oct 17, 2021
Picks' review: Correct on Cincy, UTEP, and Nevada   Wrong on TX St, WMU
Sunbelt- K. Vidal (25 CAR, 162 YDS, 2 TD) was a big key for Troy plus the Trojans intercepted three of McBride's passes, one a pick 6 in the 4Q.
AAC- Cincy outplayed  UCF in every facet of the game for a 56-21 W
CUSA: Deion Hankins ran for two first-quarter touchdowns for UTEP earned in a 19-3 win
MAC: Eleby's passing and Tyler's rushing(169 yards) were major factors in the WMU's 64-31 blowout of Kent St.
MWC: Big game for Carson Strong NEV(34-54, 395 YDS, 2 TD) in a 34-17 win but quite a stat line Dae Dae Hunter HAW(8 CAR, 174 YDS, 2 TD), too.
I'm going to keep my eye on UL-Monroe of the SunBelt after they hung on to beat Liberty 31-28
Oct 18, 2021
AAC is raiding the CUSA as it moves away from the northeast to the southeast and southwest continues. AAC has plans to invite: Florida Atlantic, Charlotte, North Texas, UTSA, Rice and UAB. Temple remain the most northern AAC city, 
These six teams won't improve the level of hoops play. I like the Charlotte/ECU  potential AAC rivalry.
Oct 23, 2021
 Sunbelt claims they have USM for 2023 and they're coming for Marshall, ODU, and James Madison (1AA)






Tuesday, October 5, 2021

O5 Mixed Bag in week 6

 I'm focusing more on conference games this week but there remains some intriguing OOC games this week, too.
CUSA: UTSA (5-0, 1-0 CUSA) has impressive win over Illinois and Memphis and will squeak by Western Kentucky(1-3, 0-0 CUSA) led by B. Zappe (133-183, 1712 YDS, 16 TD, 2 INT). UTSA 36 WKU 32
CUSA: North Texas (1-3, 0-2 CUSA) has played poorly, but they 'll put a scare in Missouri(2-3, 0-2 SEC) who has stumbled in the past two weeks. Missouri 22 NT 19
MAC: Western Michigan (4-1, 1-0 MAC) has won four straight since losing to Michigan(B10) and will hold off Ball St(2-3, 0-1 MAC)    by a score of 24-22
AAC: East Carolina (3-2, 1-0 AAC) has surprised a few folks this season and QB Holton Ahlers 
(101-170, 1266 YDS, 7 TD) has been a major reason.  UCF(2-2, 0-1 AAC) has lost two in a row and Coach Gus will pull out some new tricks to get back on track at home . UCF 37 ECU 27
Oct 10, 2021
CUSA: Harris(6 TD passes) and Zappe(5 TD passes) put on a show as  expected. UTSA got by WKU 52-46. Austin Aune (16-26, 305 YDS, 4 TD) did his best for UNT, but their slow start hurt them in a 48-35 loss to Missouri. (2-0) for me
MAC: Wrong on WMU. Plitt threw four TD passes for Ball St in a 45-20 win over WMU.
AAC: Johnny Richardson (16 CAR, 104 YDS, 1 TD) had a solid day for UCF in a 20-16 win over ECU. Right on this one so 3-1 for the weekend.
O5 Side notes -Surprised that: Marshall needed OT to beat ODU. Boise St handled BYU.  Memphis lost again , this time to Tulsa.



Thursday, September 30, 2021

Dealing those Cards MLB 2021

 It finally happened: The Cards lost a game, which ended a 17 game winning streak that earned them a wild card slot. Tyler ONeill was a big reason with 7HR, 21RBI and .310 BA in his last 15 games. They didn't have enough time to catch the Brew Crew who just lost one of their best relievers , Devin Williams, who punched a wall with his throwing hand out of anger after having "a few drinks" following Sunday's celebration of the team clinching the NLC, is likely out for the playoffs. I'm uncertain why he was angry. Braves clinched the NLE. Dodgers and Giants clinched playoff bids and neither has sealed the deal on the NLW. 
TB won the ALE and CWS took the ALC. Astros(92-66) will have to lose out for the M's to tie them in the NLW clinched. Then  comes the battle for the remaining slots





Oct 2
M's and Yankeees lost . Bosox and and  Jays won.
Tyler O'Neill hit his 33rd and 34th homers of the season  and threw out the potential go-ahead run in the ninth inning for the Cardinals last night. This is his fourth MLB season. He was drafted by the Mariners in round 3 of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft from Garibaldi SS (Maple Ridge, BC).
Oct 3
Yanks lost .Other three won including Seattle. Mitch Haniger's 39th HR helped the  M's stay alive in AL wild-card race, Good luck with the tiebreaker formula this evening.  NYY  and Boston are 91-70. Jays and Ms are 90-71.
Oct 4, 2021
Judge and Devers come through in the ninth for respectively, the Yucks and Bosox. Rays should beat the wild card game winner. The Dusty/Larussa series is a tough call
Giants hang on to win the NLW which sends the Dodgers to the WC game against the Cards.
The Battle of the Bs, Brewers\Braves in the other series.
Oct 9. 2021
Jekyl and Hyde Red Sox in one game They went up in inning1, got grand-slammed in the same inning , then roared back to win 14-6 at TB.
Oct 14, 2021
Cards make the playoffs three straight season and fire Schildt due to philosophical differences. It gets better . To do it, the Cardinals had to ask MLB for permission to announce significant news on the day of a post-season game because GM Mozeliak claimed he didn't want to leave the ex MGR hanging for a week until the next open day. yeah, right!
Oct 21, 2021
The Padres plan to interview Shildt but will want to know reasons he was let go by the Cardinals. So far, Shildt has not publicly bad-mouthed the Cards.
Oct 25, 2021
Enter Marmol (35), who was named the Cards first-base coach in 2017 before taking over as bench coach in 2019. Mozeliak is still offering a bunch of mularkey for the coaching change, and it sure looks like a lot of back stabbing
Dec 3, 2021
I guess will get baseball in 2022. Hopefully, the lockout is only a negotiating ploy.
The Red Sox traded Hunter Renfro to the Brewers for Jackie Bradley, and minor-league infielders Alex Binelas and David Hamilton. I guess this trade was about highly rated minor-leaguer Binelas.
Ex Cards MGR Shildt remains unemployed.
Dec 24, 2021
MLB TV was chatting up Scott Rolen, a 3B for Jays, Reds, Phils, and Cards, for HoF. Nope, solid pro, not Hof.
Buck Showalter hired by the Mets. I liked what he did for my O's, but when he left, I thought he was running on empty. Maybe a few years off has filled up his tank.
Jan 13, 2022
The Minnesota Twins will retire the uniform number(36) of former pitcher Jim Kaat, who was recently elected to the Hall of Fame along with former Twins teammate Tony Oliva. Twins gave my O's a tough time in the mid 1960s.
Feb 17, 2022
Mike Shildt will deal primarily in on-field issues and umpiring in his new job working for MLB Senior Vice President Michael Hill
March 1, 2022
Manfred is as lame as Biden. MLB is close to canceling games. Also, this doesn't mean the MLBPA doesn't deserve blame.
April 13, 2022
Schildt got a job as the Padres 3B coach and apparently he's a racist. Giants black coach Antoan Richardson, who was ejected last night , accused Shildt of yelling an expletive at him that "reeked undertones of racism." Schildt said "You need to control that motherf---er" to the Giants' dugout . AR's interpretation: he referred to me as 'that motherf---er,' as if I was to be controlled or a piece of property or enslaved. World continues to get goofier.
June 9, 2022
Chicago Tribune headline Fire Tony La Russa? Not happening, so Chicago White Sox fans need to learn to just deal with it..
Chisox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf is one of La Russa’s buddies so he isn't is not going anywhere.
June 10, 2022
 Right on cue: Rather than allow Sousa to continue against Tre Turner with a 1-2 count in his favor, La Russa called for an intentional walk.
June 12, 2022
Loud chants of "Fire Tony!" broke out at Guaranteed Rate Field as manager Tony La Russa and the Chisox blew a five-run lead at home and lost to the Rangers 11-9 in 10 innings on Saturday. Has anyone interviewed Donaldson?
June 26, 2022
Sweet for my O's(34-40) to take 3 of 4 from Larussa's Sox(34-37) in Chi-Town
July 31, 2022
I wonder if Donaldson is grinning. Chisox shortstop Tim Anderson has been suspended for three games and fined by MLB as punishment for making contact with home-plate umpire Nick Mahrley on Friday night. LaRussa thinks TA has a case, no surprise there. Hey Anderson, you're a good player but no Jackie Robinson.
Oct 14, 2022
Catching up on this blog : Larussa will retire for good this time. White Sox may get better now.
Cards eliminated by the Phillies quickly. Schildt , the Padres 3B coach, is still busy
Bruce Sutter, former Cub and Cardinal, died at age 69,.
He was originally a 21st round pick by the Senators in the 1970 draft, but did not sign with Washington.
Oct 26, 2022
Miami Marlins hire Skip Schumaker, Cards bench coach, as new manager. Mattingly did well with what he had in Miami, oh well.


O5 vs Independents in week 5

 Coan is probable  for ND but Ridder is ready for Cincy (AAC). Bearcats  tear out a close one 27-25.
Utah St(MWC), who  barely avoided being shutout by Boise St last week in a 27-3 loss, will lose 30-16 to BYU,  who has beaten three Pac 12 teams this season.
UAB(CUSA) has played well except for the trouncing by Georgia, but I don't think they 'll be able to contain  Malik Willis, the Liberty QB. LIB 31 UAB 24
Ball St (MAC) will have trouble containing Army's QB Christian Anderson, their leading rusher. Army 26 Ball St 17.
Toledo(MAC) will win 33 28 at UMass.
San Jose St(MWC) will host New Mexico St and win 22 -19
Oct 2
BYU's running game made a big difference in last night 's 34-20 win over Utah St. Plus they have 6'6 TE - #IsaacRex
Oct 3
Ball St 28 Army 16.The only wrong pick  was Army. Ball St jumped out to an early 21-0 lead and Army never made it back. 
LIB 36 UAB 12 here's Wallis stat line :  Yds-Pa287 TD-Pa1 Yds-Ru144 TD-Ru2
Cincy 24 ND 13 : Big day  for Ridder plus the Bearcats D was stellar
Toldeo 45 UMass  7 
SJST 37 NMST 31. Spartans won  w/o   the injured Starkel at QB.

Thursday, September 23, 2021

O5 OOC play in week 4

N. Starkel (63-123, 937 YDS, 6 TD, 4 INT) takes his San Jose St(MWC)  team  to play Western Michigan(MWC) led by K. Eleby (58-93, 702 YDS, 5 TD). In a battle of productive QBs WMU , who upset Pitt last Saturday , will survive 31-30.
In a battle of two former SWC teams , SMU(AAC) will give TCU(Big12) a tough matchup but fall 28-24. 

Tanner Mordecai SMU(81-111, 1023 YDS, 16 TD)has been productive and one of his TD passes was a final second Hail Mary TD pass in a win over La Tech last Saturday.

Tulane(AAC) has scored some points in losses to Oklahoma and Ol Miss while UAB(CUSA) scored one TD in a loss to Georgia, but the Blazers will keep this a low scoring game and prevail 19-16.

Just heard: Tennessee paid an additional $100,000 to not play Army in 2022.  Army  was supposed to get $1.4 million for the game but was paid a $500,000 buyout to cancel the agreement. Akron(MAC) will replace them and be paid $1 million.  Army hasn't filled the schedule slot yet. Vols' folks claim Fulmer got the ball rolling on this. It's a chicken-sh^t move.
Sept 26, 2021
One for three for this weekend. UAB 28 Tulane 21 Starting qbs, Hopkins (UAB) , Pratt (TUL) each threw three TDs
Another game with 3 TDs QBs: Mordecai lead SMU over TCU and Dugan by a score of 42-34. Also, Bentley rushed for 153 yards and TD for the Mustangs in the Dallas area "bowl"
Starkel and the Spartans laid an egg in a 23-3 loss to WMU
In a day filled with upsets and near upsets, how about  Bowling Green(MAC) defeating Minnesota(b10) 14-10

DI Baseball peek in April 2024

 UC Irvine 24-4 (10-2 Big West) Joichiro Oyama 5HR 28RBI 4SB ULL 24-8 (11-1 Sun Belt) LP Langevin has four saves. Eyes on WKU who just kno...