Ranking the 3-Team Markets Part 2 of 3

by jonesg17, posted in MLB, NBA, NHL

Well here comes part two of my big 4 market rankings. This one will focus on the six markets that have three franchises. If you have not read my rankings of the markets with 1 team or 2 teams you can do so here. A refresher on how my rankings were determined-

There are a few rules I followed in my rankings and are as follows:

  1. Each market is divided into a classification (1 team, 2 teams, 3 teams, 4 teams) — similar to how high school sports are divided–in order to make it easier to compare.
  2. MLB and NFL playoff appearances are weighted slightly more because NHL and NBA playoffs have over half of the teams in their leagues in the playoffs.
  3. For the NBA, NHL and NFL, I use the 2009-2010 seasons as the start of the decade, because the champion of each was crowned in 2010. For example, the Saints were Super Bowl champions in 2010.
  4. Markets only include teams in the metro area (for example I did not include Green Bay with Milwaukee and Sacramento with the Bay Area.

6 Tampa, Florida (NFL, MLB, NHL)

Largely kept out of misery by the Lightning’s resurgence in the last half of the decade, Tampa still is last in this edition. The Lightning won the President’s Trophy just last season and made a Stanley Cup appearance in 2015 only to fall to the Chicago Blackhawks. Playoff appearances in 11’,14’,15’ and 16’ as well as division titles in 2018 and 2019, have made the Lightning the pride and joy of Tampa. Considering their financial circumstances, the Rays have made a respectable effort the last 10 years, making the playoffs three times and winning the AL East in 2010. They weren’t able to get out of the ALDS in any of their tries. Then theres the Bucs. Zero playoff appearances since 2010 but I will say Jameis Winston does make for some must watch TV.

5 Atlanta, Georgia (NFL, MLB, NBA)

Compared to a lot of other places, Atlanta did not have a terrible decade as far as their professional sports teams go. They might have moved up this list if the Falcons had a 31-3 lead instead of a 28-3 lead late in the 3rd quarter. Either way they made a Super Bowl 51 appearance, won the NFC South 3 times and had two wild card berths. The Atlanta Hawks also made the playoffs eight straight years from 2010-2017 and were the one seed in the Eastern Conference in 2015 before getting swept by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Braves moved to a shiny new ballpark in 2017 and have hosted playoff games in 2018 and 2019. Two losses in the wild card game (10’ & 12’) and 3 losses in the NLDS (13’,18 & 19’) has left many fans frustrated with the state of Atlanta sports.

4 Toronto, Ontario (MLB, NHL, NBA)

With hockey being king in Canada, you would thing a team from Canada would have won the Stanley Cup recently but unfortunately the Montreal Canadiens championship in the most recent team to do that in 1993. More of the same has came from the Toronto Maple Leafs as they have made four playoff appearances with zero series wins. The city is starved for a hockey winner and Auston Matthews might be the guy to do it. Moving on to the Blue Jays where they made the ALCS in 2015 & 2016 but nothing farther. Both of those seasons coming as the only postseason appearances for the Jays. Kawhi Leonard and the rest of the Raptors gave a championship to a starved city. It had been since the Blue Jays won in ironically enough 1993, since the city had a parade. The Raptors had made the playoffs every year since 2014 but with Kawhi gone, it’s hard to see Toronto repeating.

3 Cleveland, Ohio (NFL, MLB, NBA)

Similar to the Bucs of Tampa Bay, the Cleveland Browns did not crack the playoffs once in the last ten years. As a matter of fact they did not have a single winning season and managed to go 0-16 in the 2017-2018 season. The Indians came within one win of a World Series title in 2016 before losing in game 7 to the Chicago Cubs. Along with that pennant in 2016, they won three straight AL Central titles and made an appearance in the wild card game in 2013. The Cavaliers put Cleveland out of their misery making five playoff appearances, five division titles, four Eastern Conference Championships and ended the championship drought for the city in 2016 by erasing a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors. Ironically about five months later the Indians blew a 3-1 lead to the Chicago Cubs.

2 Houston, Texas (NFL, MLB, NBA)

Houston has enjoyed playoff success by all three of their teams. Starting with the Houston Texans who have only been in existence since 2002. They have won six division titles since 2010 and have four playoff wins, however they have failed to advance past the divisional round. The Rockets have made the playoffs every season since 2013 and winning the Southwest division in 2015, 2018 as well as 2019. The rockets have not made it all the way to the NBA finals having lost to the warriors in the Western Conference finals in both 2015 and 2018. In 2017 the Astros gave Houston its first title since the rockets won back-to-back in the mid-1990s. Up until 2015 the Astros may have been the worst team in Major League Baseball. Winning the wild card game in 2015 and then three straight division titles from 2017 through 2019. They were able to turn those playoffs appearances into two AL Pennants and the World Series crown in 2017.

1 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (NFL, MLB, NHL)

The Pirates ended a 20-year playoff drought in 2013 and made two other wild card appearances in 2014 and 2015. They haven’t been to the playoffs since 2015 and it seems to have taken a turn for the worst this last season with all the clubhouse chaos and executive turnover. For being the second most successful team in the city over the last decade, the Steelers faired extremely well. They started off with a Super Bowl appearance in 2010 and had four AFC North titles and two more wild card berths. They did not finish below 8-8 over the entire decade which would put them at 45 games above .500 for the decade. The Penguins had one of the most impressive decades of any NHL team. They made the postseason every single season while winning their division twice. On top of the 10 postseason appearances they won the Stanley Cup back-to-back seasons in 2016 and 2017. The city of Pittsburgh has always had a rich tradition of sports success and the 2010’s carried the torch for another 10 years.

Thank You Matt Rhule

by Clayton Neider, posted in NCAA Football

Thank you Matt Rhule. Thank you for taking the chance on a broken program. Thank you for stepping in and being the leader Baylor Football needed. Thank you for building a program that Baylor Nation can be proud of. Thank you for giving us hope again.

Matt Rhule has been the hottest coaching name in sports in the past couple of weeks. He has accepted a head coaching position at the Carolina Panthers. He struck a deal for 7 years, 60 million dollars with incentives up to 70 million. I could not be happier for him and his family.

I was lucky enough to give some tennis lessons to his son and the thing that was very evident is that he is a family man first. His son loved everything tennis and football related. It was clear that Coach Rhule is a dad to his children and a husband to his wife before he is a coach.

1-11. The 2017 football season is one I will never forget. I was at every home game and was wondering if this guy could turn it around. Against my better judgement I trusted him in these moments of absolute failure but he told us of a better time ahead. He talked about a time where Baylor would be contending for a Big 12 Championship. Baylor nation was just too blind to whole heartedly trust the process.

The bad times make you appreciate the good times. This last season could not have been more sweet. Standing in Mercedes Benz stadium after the crushing loss to Georgia I looked back and was proud of how far the Baylor Bears had come. This was in large part due to Matt Rhule.

Matt Rhule, Baylor Nation is sad to see you go. Many are grumpy and angry but we will always remember what you have done for this program. We will always remember how you instilled strength, hard work, and consistency. We will always remember the 2019 season with a shot at the playoff. We will remember your vision for Baylor Football and the young men that you had a huge impact on. We will always remember your dedication to your family first and your love for the game of football.

Baylor Nation thanks you and wishes you the best at the Carolina Panthers.

Top-10 2020 College Football Games to Look Forward to

by colewest86, posted in Uncategorized

Just like that College Football is nearly over for the 2019-2020 season. We can all start sulking thinking about going without College Football for the next seven months. Well the only appropriate reaction is to start gearing up towards next season because what else are we going to do…. watch golf or something?

Next season offers up some great games that we do not normally get. Here are the top-10 games to look forward to for next college football season.

10. Mississippi State at Ole Miss (Week 13)

Coming in first at #10 is the good ole Egg Bowl. Before people disagree with this one, just remember that Lane Kiffin and Mike Leach are now the coaches. Both coaches have had success elsewhere, and also never fail to bring drama into the fold in college football. Last year’s Egg Bowl featured a player pretending to pee like a dog on the field… and that was without Mike Leach. This year’s Egg Bowl should bring a lot more hype.

9. Texas at LSU (Week 2)

Well if you have not heard the news… it is almost preseason meaning Texas is back, and so is Sam Ehlingher apparently. Not sure where he was going to go in the first place.. but nevertheless this will most likely be a top-10 matchup thanks to the AP Poll voters. Last year’s matchup turned out to be a shoot-out thriller. This year in Death Valley may not be as close, but at least if it is not, then social media users around the country get the opportunity to spam “horns down” across Twitter.

8. Oklahoma vs Texas (Week 6)

At #8 is the Red River Rivalry. This game always serves as classic show down between two blue-bloods that always serves to be an entertaining game. Look at for quarterbacks, Sam Ehlinger, and whichever transfer OU gets to face off in the Cotton Bowl stadium. The winner will most likely make it to the Big-12 championship.

7. Penn State at Michigan (Week 5)

Before anyone argues that this should be Michigan at Ohio State, I wanted to put games in here that will actually be a close score in the 2nd half. Penn State will travel to Ann Arbor. This will be a great BIG-10 matchup as winner will have the luxury of losing to Ohio State on College Gameday most likely.

6. Georgia vs Florida (Week 9)

This is a key matchup of the SEC East powerhouses. Each year it seems like these teams are the two that are at the top of the SEC East. 99% that the winner of this game will go onto the SEC championship, and may just have a shot at the College Football playoffs.

5. Clemson at Notre Dame (Week 10)

This is one of the biggest matchups of the year. Why you may ask? Because Clemson and Notre Dame will finally play a worthy opponent. Clemson will have a tough opponent at the end of their schedule as they will have to win at Notre Dame to have another undefeated regular season. On the other side, Notre Dame has the opportunity to send a message to the College Football Playoff Committee as they could upset possibly the best team in College Football.

4. Ohio State at Penn State (Week 8)

Arguably the biggest matchup between BIG-10 teams of the year. Penn State played Ohio State the closest out of all the other teams in the regular season. Penn State fell just 28-17, but now the game will be in Penn State’s stadium giving them an advantage. Hopefully having the game at home can make this game one of the best of the year.

3. Georgia at Alabama (Week 3)

It is simply a blessing we get this game this year. Normally, we have to wait until the SEC Championship to see these teams play, but this year we get to see them battle it out in just the 3rd week. These SEC powerhouses only play in the regular season once ever six years. It will serve as an early opportunity to make a statement to the College Playoff Committee.

2. Alabama at LSU (Week 10)

Coming in at #2 is the showdown for the SEC West. Both teams are losing their starting quarterbacks to the draft. Last year, this game was one of the best football games all year after LSU beat Alabama 46-41. Will LSU be able to hold onto the SEC West or did Alabama decide to just take only a year off? This will serve as a high-profile matchup as winner will most likely go to the SEC championship game.

1. Ohio State at Oregon (Week 2)

This serves as the top game to look forward to in the 2020 season because we are getting the Rose Bowl in September. The best team in the PAC-12 will face the best team in the BIG-10. It is the biggest out of conference game of the year considering this game could possibly ruin one’s teams shot at the College Football Playoffs in just the 2nd week of the season. Make sure to mark your calendar for this game.

Chiefs vs Texans Playoff Preview

by Brady Vaughan, posted in NFL

The NFL playoffs are off to a sizzling start with two of the four Wild Card round games going into overtime, a Tennessee Titans victory over the Patriots in Foxborough, and another heartbreaking loss for the New Orleans Saints at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings.

This upcoming weekend, my beloved Kansas City Chiefs and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes II take on the Houston Texans and stud quarterback Deshaun Watson, who essentially willed his team to victory by being great last week against the Buffalo Bills.

For starters, these two teams played back in Arrowhead Stadium, the site of Sunday’s divisional round matchup,  back in Week Six of the regular season in early October. The Texans won that matchup 31-24. In that game, the Texans out-gained the Chiefs 472 yards to 309 yards. The Texans also ran for 192 yards and also got 35 first downs in that game while the Chiefs only ran for 58 yards and got 20 first downs. However the Texans did turn the ball over three times compared to KC’s two turnovers, two of which were Deshaun Watson interceptions.

However, I believe none of that matters this time around. The Chiefs were without a significant number of starters for that matchup, including starting DT Chris Jones, starting OL Andrew Wylie and Eric Fisher, starting WR Sammy Watkins, starting LB Anthony Hitchens as well as LB Dorian O’Daniel. Furthermore starting CB Kendall Fuller left midway through the second quarter with an injury, and star WR Tyreek Hill was just coming back from his injury. QB Patrick Mahomes also twisted his ankle during the game which hindered his ability to escape the pocket and extend plays. Simply put: the Chiefs were wounded.

That is not to say that the Texans were not without their own injuries. Starting WR Kenny Stills missed the game the last time these teams met as well. Stills had a decent regular season, hauling in 40 catches for 561 yards and 4 TD’s. It’s not the type of numbers that will wow any one person, but those numbers are respectable and force defenses to pay attention to him, which opens up more targets and takes more attention away from guys like Deandre Hopkins and Will Fuller.

Below are three keys to the game for both teams that I believe will go a long way in determining the outcome of this game.

KEYS TO THE GAME FOR THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: 

  • Kansas City must convert on 3rd down. They convert on average 47.6% of their third downs throughout the season. The Texans ate up roughly 40 minutes of game clock last time these teams met. That cannot happen if the Chiefs expect to win this game. Converting on third down and extending drives will ensure the Texans do not have the ball for that long this time around.
  • Kansas City must stop the rushing attack of the Texans. They rushed for 192 yards last time they met. The Chiefs defense has played well lately, giving up only an average of 95 rushing yards over the last six weeks.
  • Kansas City must pressure Deshaun Watson consistently throughout the game. Deshaun takes the most sacks out of any QB in the league, but there were two games this season in which he was not sacked. One of those games was when he last faced the Chiefs in Week Six. The Chiefs must pressure Watson and sack him a couple of times in order to find success in this game. Having DT Chris Jones back and adding DE Terrell Suggs to the defensive line this time around should help the Chiefs be able to do so.

KEYS TO THE GAME FOR THE HOUSTON TEXANS:

  • Protect Deshaun Watson. Contrary to one of the keys for the Chiefs, Houston must protect Watson. He has been under pressure for much of the season. When he was not sacked against the Chiefs, Watson threw for 280 yards and one TD while also running for 42 yards and two TD’s. The less pressure Watson is under, the more time he has to make better decisions and throw the ball accurately to his receiving core.
  • Contain the Chiefs running game. The Texans must try to make the Chiefs one dimensional. Now forcing Patrick Mahomes to drop back and throw with all those weapons around him might not sound like a bad idea to all the Chiefs fans, but I believe Houston should aim to make the Chiefs one dimensional. This allows the Texans defense to more accurately defend against the deadly passing attack Kansas City possesses. If the Texans stop the Chiefs’ run game, this will allow guys like DE JJ Watt, DE DJ Reader, and LB Whitney Mercilus to pin their ears back and go all out on rushing the quarterback in order to attempt forcing Mahomes into some bad decisions.
  • Get all three main wide receivers involved. The Chiefs are missing rookie standout safety Juan Thornhill, who tore his ACL against the Los Angeles Chargers in the regular season finale for the Chiefs. This forces second year safety Armani Watts to step into a bigger role. Watts has not seen as many reps as Thornhill, and I believe the Texans should try to take advantage of that by stretching the field vertically against the Chiefs’ secondary. Hopkins is one of the top three receivers in the league in my book, so he obviously needs to be involved, but the play of Will Fuller and Kenny Stills could go a long way to determining the outcome of this game.

PREDICTION:

The Chiefs are 10 point favorites according to Vegas, but I think it’ll be closer than that. I think the Chiefs convert on third down to help keep the Texans offense off the field for less than 40 minutes (which is how long they were on the field last time these teams met). However, I like Houston’s ability to challenge the Chiefs’ defense, who has been good as of late, but has not faced the best QB’s the last six weeks. While the Chiefs did face Tom Brady in Foxborough, they also faced an aging Phillip Rivers (twice), rookie Drew Lock, Derek Carr, and Mitchell Trubisky. Deshaun is definitively better than most of those quarterbacks, but I believe the Chiefs defense will play better than last time these teams met. The Chiefs will limit the Texan’s rushing attack and will create some pressure on Deshaun. Mahomes will have his full compliment of weapons and a way improved defense behind his back. Add in the home field advantage, and I see the Chiefs walking away with the win. I’ll take Kansas City to win 27-20. 

As always, you can find me on twitter as @bradyvaughan30

NFL Playoff Preview and Picks

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in NFL

The NFL playoffs are upon us and each playoff team has hopes of making it to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida to partake in Super Bowl LIV. Like a typical college student, I procrastinated on this assignment thus, there won’t be too much in-depth analysis on each playoff team. However, I will be giving my playoff predictions which will culminate with who I believe will be holding the Lombardi Trophy come February 2nd, 2020. Let’s start with the AFC.

AFC:

6. Tennessee Titans v. 3. New England Patriots: Will the Patriots dynasty end this year? It is becoming more and more likely. However, I have the utmost faith that they will not fall at the hands of Ryan Tannehill and the Tennessee Titans. The Patriots defense is just too good and its Tom Brady and Bill Belichik in Foxborough. Give me the Patriots winning in a close one.

5. Buffalo Bills vs. 4. Houston Texans: Will the Texans choke once again in the playoffs? I wouldn’t doubt it. This Bills team has surprised everyone this year and is playing very good football at the moment. However, the Texans activated J.J. Watt this week and it looks like he is in line to play which will bring much needed energy to the home crowd at NRG. I think Deshaun Watson makes enough plays down the stretch to give the home team the victory.

4. Houston Texans vs. 1. Baltimore Ravens: Coming off a very close win against the Bills, the Texans season will end when they visit the Ravens. Lamar Jackson and Co. will continue their brilliance and will roll in this one.

3. New England Patriots vs. 2. Kansas City Chiefs: In a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship game, I believe Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid get their revenge and officially put an end to the Patriots’ dynasty. While the Pats’ defense will keep them in the game, their abysmal offense, which has hindered them all season, will be the final nail in the coffin. Give me the Chiefs at Arrowhead.

2. Kansas City Chiefs vs. 1. Baltimore Ravens: Yes, I am boring choosing the top 2 seeds to face off in the AFC championship. However, these are the 2 best teams by far in this conference. The Ravens have just looked so impressive all season and it is tough to abandon the ship now. While both teams will put up points, the Ravens have the far better defense which will make enough stops to win them the game. For the first time since winning it all with Joe Flacco in 2013, the Ravens will play in the Super Bowl.

NFC:

6. Minnesota Vikings vs. 3. New Orleans Saints: The Vikings are a very dangerous team and were the game to be played at U.S. Bank Stadium, I’d confidently choose them to prevail. However, its Drew Brees and Sean Payton at the Superdome. After last year’s crushing loss to the Rams in the NFC Championship, the Saints are hungry and motivated. In another thriller, similar to the 2018 divisional round matchup between the 2 teams, I like the Saints to get their revenge on the Vikings.

5. Seattle Seahawks vs. 4. Philadelphia Eagles: I have been riding the Seahawks train since the 2019 season began and if you have been following my Picks from God you know I hate to bet against Russell Wilson. However, it is very hard to beat a team twice in a season and the Seahawks have looked very vulnerable these last few weeks. The Eagles magically flip a switch in the playoffs and I like the home underdogs at Lincoln Financial Field. The Seahawks just have too many injuries on the offensive line for my liking. Due to one of the dumbest rules in sports, the Eagles have home-field advantage and I believe that will be one of the main difference makers in the contest.

4. Philadelphia Eagles vs. 1. San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers win this game by 3 touchdowns. They have just looked so impressive this whole season. Further, the Eagles will be coming off a very close game at home which will take every ounce of manpower. I think the 49ers defense wreaks havoc on Carson Wentz and Jimmy G has his way with the Eagles secondary. 49ers roll.

3. New Orleans Saints vs. 2. Green Bay Packers: Am I really picking against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in one of the harshest weather conditions in all of sports? Yes, I am. Like I said earlier, the Saints are hungry and motivated. This pick makes no logical sense especially after reviewing Drew Brees stat lines in cold-weather games. But I truly believe this is the Saints year and I think their offense does just enough to salvage a win in the tundra.

3. New Orleans Saints vs. 1. San Francisco 49ers: It is tough to beat a team twice in a season and it took everything the 49ers had earlier in the season to knock off the Saints on the road. Yes, the Saints will be coming off a very hard fought win in Lambeau, but Drew Brees is hungry for another Super Bowl and will have his team prepared. The 49ers are the better overall football team and logically this pick doesn’t make sense. But I think the Saints have a massive chip on their shoulder and come out victorious by the bay.

Super Bowl:

New Orleans Saints vs. Baltimore Ravens: This game will have plenty of hype as it will be the old vs. the new in a QB battle between Drew Brees and Lamar Jackson. The big game will not disappoint and fans will get more than they bargained for. In an all-time classic, I think the veteran Brees outlasts newcomer Jackson. Neither team will lead by more than a FG and I think Brees connects with WR Michael Thomas late in the 4th quarter to give the Saints the win. After last year’s incredible heartbreak, the Saints will lift the Lombardi Trophy high as winners of Super Bowl LIV.

Trust The Coin

by Clayton Neider, posted in Action

Sports gambling is stupid, idiotic, and you will always lose money, but I freaking love it. Any new tactic or insight I can gain into the world of sports gambling is huge. What if I told you that winning bets and making money is simple? Flip a coin.

Gamblers love to think they have locks and that they are smarter than Vegas. The simple truth is that they are not. Every gambler when looking at spreads may think oooooo that spread looks good. This is music to the ears of any Sportsbook. The reality is that Vegas sets the spread to a mathematical 50/50. So if you think that a spread looks good and that a certain team will for sure cover, think again.

The reason for this topic is my experience in a NFL game Pick/em league this season. There were 10 people in it and we picked 5 games a week. Every Wednesday night our commissioner sent the spreads for every NFL game that week. We would then choose 5 of those games to bet the spread. This allowed us to choose spreads that we thought looked “good”. I started out really hot leading the league in the first week. I felt good, I boasted and by Week 4 my pride had gotten the best of me. I was dead last.

I had no hope going into Week 6 and so instead of using my own knowledge I turned to a higher power, “THE COIN.” I thought that a coin couldn’t do any worse than me and so I would do coin flips for Week 6. I would flip a coin for each game to see if I would bet on it and then I would flip one to choose which team I took. In the first week I went 4-1. And from this point on I used “THE COIN” for the rest of the season. I wouldn’t do any research, any stat checking, or any other measures that I used to do. I would simply “Trust The Coin.”

Fast forward to Week 16 and I am on top by 2.5 games in prime position to win. I had only done coin flips for previous weeks. I was 10-14 with my own knowledge and with the coin I ended up going 36-22-3(3 pushes). The coin had given me a win percentage of 62%.

I ended up winning my league by a half a game with an exciting finish in Week 17. I won the league because of Jameis Winston’s pick 6. That shut out everyone else and I had won my league by flipping a coin.

The spread is truly a 50/50. Vegas does an amazing job at using data analytics and stats to come up with these spreads. It is crazy how close these spreads are time and time again. So many times I have just lost a bet by a point or two. There needs to be a good reason to take a certain team by the spread, otherwise it is just a coin flip. If you ever need/want gambling advice from me, I will say 3 words to you, “Trust The Coin”.

A Season To Be Thankful For

by colewest86, posted in NCAA Football

Last night, #7 Baylor fell to #5 Georgia 26-14 in the Sugar Bowl. The Bears now fall to 11-3 on the season. Baylor’s loss in the Sugar Bowl was deflating as Georgia held a 2+ score lead for most of the game, and Baylor lost for the second time in row.

As a Baylor fan myself, it was a tough pill to swallow watching my quarterback leave the game with a scary injury, and favorite team get beat on the field in a New Year’s Six Bowl. Scrolling through Twitter, it was not hard to find frustration from fans regarding the game. Leaving my seat at the end of the game, I felt dejected with a sour taste of losing. It was not until as I was leaving the stadium, that I found myself smiling seeing the insane amount of Baylor fans that made the trip to New Orleans that caused me to reflect on the season as a whole.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

While the season certainly did not end the way Baylor fans wanted it to, this is still a season to be THANKFUL for. It is easy to only focus on the most recent event, but lets not forget all what Baylor Football accomplished this season.

“I know it’s ‑‑ I know it’s painful for our guys, but they can’t let that deter what they’ve done this season.”- Coach Matt Rhule.

First only two years after a 1-11 season, Matt Rhule lead Baylor to an astounding 11-3 not only tying the record for the highest amount of Baylor wins in a season, but making it the 6th time in history that Baylor football has achieved a double-digit win season. The football games themselves were also highly entertaining featuring 3 games that were overtime thrillers. 7 of the 11 games were one-score games with 3 of those with game winning or tying drives by Baylor’s offense in the final minutes.

Baylor Football also brought national attention back to the university as they finished the season ranked #7 in the nation, was amidst the College Football Playoff conversation for majority of the season, and brought ESPN’s College Gameday back to Waco for the first time since 2015. Most college football analysts predicted Baylor to finish anywhere from 4th-8th in the Big-12. Baylor surpassed those expectations and finished 2nd in the Big-12 earning them a spot in the Big-12 championship game, their first appearance in the championship game era. Some analysts did not even expect Baylor to make a bowl game. Matt Rhule and the Bears just responded by going to the Sugar Bowl for the first time since 1957.

In addition, the Bears also brought excitement, and energy back to Baylor Football. This team put on a show each and every game bringing fans back to games. After averaging the lowest attendance per home game ever in McLane Stadium in 2018, this year’s Baylor Football broke the record for the largest attendance in McLane Stadium history with 50,223 in their game against Oklahoma. They also recorded the 3rd largest attendance ever in McLane in their win over Texas, and 8th largest in their win in the overtime thriller against Texas Tech for homecoming.

I think Matt Rhule said it best in the press conference after the Sugar Bowl:

“As I told them, we were picked to not even been here. We got to the championship game. We got to the Sugar Bowl……I’m very, very, very proud of what we did this year, very grateful for these guys to my left and for our seniors for what they’ve done.”

With most of their starters projected to return, Baylor is predicted to have another impressive season, and be in the running for a Big-12 championship. The Bears will start the 2020 season off on September 5th against the Ole Miss Rebels in Houston.

Patriots Playoff Preview and Outlook

by Brian Murray, posted in NFL

For the first time in 9 seasons, the most dominant team in all of sports will play on NFL Wild Card weekend.

So yeah, it’s not ideal, the Pats got beat at home by a 5-11 Dolphins team and lost the first round bye. On the bright side though we’re in the playoffs, we’re onto Tennessee, and it’s a new year and new season. Everyone knows things get different in New England during January and February. This is the real football season for the Pats.

I’m not going to dwell on the loss to the Dolphins for a few reasons. First is that it is what it is – we lost. Second is that it has happened before, and third is that the Pats are in the playoffs and they aren’t. So enjoy the beach fellas.

Anyways the loss hurts more than just a regular loss because the Pats lost the first round bye. It’s not a huge deal in my opinion but it opens the door for more injuries and leaves less time for already existing injuries to heal.

I know for a fact that Julian Edelman, who has undisclosed but probably serious injuries to his shoulder and ankle could’ve used an extra week to rest. Jon Jones and Jason McCourty, each dealing with groin injuries could’ve used those days as well. A few O-lineman have been banged up as well, but hey, it’s football.

So, let’s move onto this weekend, the Wild Card game against the Tennessee Titans in Foxborough.

Ever since Ryan Tannehill took over in Tennessee, the Titans have really been rolling. Not only is Tannehill the highest rated QB in the NFL since he’s been starting, wide receiver AJ Brown is not only the leading rookie receiver in the NFL, but also the leading receiver in the league. This Titans offense is no joke, I expect Brown to draw coverage from Gilmore plus another defender for the whole game. The Pats will no doubt have to take away the best offensive target through the air.

Now, let’s talk about the Titans best player. Running back Derrick Henry. The Titans offense is essentially built off of Henry. They want to play smashmouth bruising football, and Henry is just the back to do that. He’s 6’3″ 240, has run for 1,540 yards this year and added another 206 through receptions. This guy can break a tackle from any linebacker and then immediately turn on the jets and go 75 yards in a blink of the eye. I expect containing Henry to be at the top of the Pats’ defensive gameplan. We simply cannot have another game like the Dolphin’s game where they dominate the time of possession and move the ball down the field chunk by chunk.

On the offensive side I’m mostly concerned about the health of Edelman and the offensive line. Edelman is obviously banged up and was pretty much a non factor against the Dolphins. If the Pats are going to make a deep run this year they’re going to need legendary performances from #11.

Tom Brady also needs to find a way to make it work. I know all the talk this year has been “he doesn’t have weapons” and “nobody can get open”. I’m done with that talk. It’s the playoffs – time to show up and play as hard as you can with what you’ve got. Tom’s made it work with lesser than average receiving corps his whole career. The time for excuses is over, go out and make it work.

With that being said, if the Pats are going to have a consistent offensive attack it’s going to be on the ground. I thought Sony Michel had a good game against the Dolphins and gained good chunks of yardage when he had the blocking. He’ll probably be leaned on a good bit. I still would like Rex Burkhead to be used more robustly. He also had a good game against the Dolphins, but didn’t get enough touches to make a big impact.

All in all, I’m pretty nervous for this one. The team that showed up against the Dolphins looked dispassionate, low energy, and uninspired. I’m hoping that the opposite team shows up this Saturday.

Keep the faith.

LFG.

Top 10 of 2019: #1

by tjkgolfer, posted in 2019, Top 10
  1. Tiger Woods wins 2019 Masters.

In potentially the most iconic win of Tiger’s career, “final round red” has never been so fitting. As Woods walked off the 18th green moments after winning the 2019 Masters and capping one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, he flipped his putter to the ground. Seconds later, Woods lifted and hugged his son, Charlie, bringing back memories of the emotional embrace that a young Tiger and his father, Earl Woods, shared at Augusta after Tiger won his first Masters 22 years ago.

This past year was a major season, no pun intended, for Tiger Woods. Woods beat out Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele, and Brooks Koepka by one stroke to attain his fifth green jacket and card his 82nd PGA Tour win. Amidst Tiger’s final putt, an NBC Golf Channel announcer stated “A Return to Glory.” There is simply no other way to put it. In one of the most emotional finishes in tournament history, the 43-year-old Woods—playing like his young self in his 1997 win at Augusta National—came from behind to win the 83rd Masters Tournament by one stroke. Woods’ fifth Masters win moved him past Arnold Palmer, and puts him one behind Jack Nicklaus for the most green jackets in PGA history.

As a big Tiger Woods fan, this was without a doubt one of my favorite career highlights of him—one that I will never forget. Growing up in an era where I get to watch the greatest golfer to ever walk the greens win his fifth Master’s Tournament and get his 82nd win is an honor I will cherish forever. Every single PGA Tour player’s life has been, in some way, impacted for the better (or worse if you’re below Wood’s name on the leaderboard). From a young Rory McIlroy watching Tiger on his dad’s TV in Ireland to an accomplished Brooks Koepka praising Woods’ talented career, Tiger Woods will forever be an icon to the game of golf at every level.

Top Ten of the Decade: #1

by noblequy, posted in Decade, Top 10

THE #1 SPORTS MOMENT FROM THIS LAST DECADE:

Iron Bowl 2013 “The Kick Six”

THERE GOES DAVIS!!! DAVIS IS GOING TO RUN IT ALL THE WAY BACK!!! THEY’RE NOT GONNA KEEP THEM OFF THE FIELD TONIGHT!

Even just by reading, you can hear, in your head, these words being proclaimed loud and proud in an ecstatic deep southern accent by Auburn sportscaster, Rod Bramblett, that gives you goosebumps as you recall the moment when, in the 2013 Alabama- Auburn rivalry game, Alabama attempted the last second 57 yard field goal that would literally just fall short and would project Auburn into the last National Championship of the BCS era. It is one of those moments where people remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when it occurred.

The “Kick Six,” as it has become popularly known as, while an incredible play in it of itself, can not be fully appreciated without some background information to help people fully grasp the significance of that play. First off, Gus Malzahn was in his first year of his head coaching career at Auburn, and had managed to turn an Auburn team that went 0-8 in conference play, in the previous year, to being a national title contender in the next, all in one year. The manner he did so was incredible, squeaking out wins by a score or less against multiple division opponents (24- 20 Mississippi State, 30-22 Ole Miss #24, 45-41 at Texas A&M #7), and just the week before Alabama, Auburn kept their championship hopes alive as QB Nick Marshall, on  4th & 18, with 36 seconds left, from their own 27 yard line, lobbed up a pass that was deflected off a Georgia DB but then fell into the arms of Auburn receiver Ricardo Louis for the go ahead, winning score that would send Auburn into the Iron Bowl 10-1 against undefeated Alabama for a shot at the SEC Championship and a National Championship.

Never before had an end of season rivalry game, with its history and hate already embedded into it, have so much riding on it, on a national stage. Alabama had cruised into Jordan- Hare Stadium on an 11-0 record, crushing the competition with hopes of a 3rd national title as in as many years. Auburn, while hoping to keep its miraculous season going, was projected as the underdog, at home by 10 ½ points, with most of the country picking Alabama to go in and win and preserve their undefeated season. However, once the game began, point spreads and predictions fell to the wayside as two collegiate heavy weights started trading blows as there were multiple lead changes. The game remained tight and tied going into the 4th quarter before Crimson Tide senior quarterback, A.J. McCarron, threw a 99 yard TD pass, the longest play in Alabama history, to super star wide receiver, Amari Cooper, to go up 28-21.

GIF by Bleacher Report

With 2:32, the Auburn defense made a critical stop on their own 27 yard line, as they blocked  Cade Foster’s, senior Alabama kicker out of Southlake, TX, 3rd FG attempt that day, which would’ve put the Crimson Tide up by 2 possessions and made the game nigh impossible for Auburn to come back in. After six consecutive hand offs to Auburn RB Tre Mason, Nick Marshall finally pulled the ball back and sprinting to his left, drew the Alabama defenders in pursuit of him, and then tossed it to a wide open receiver Sammy Coates for a 39 yard touchdown pass, tying the game up at 28-28 with 32 seconds left. Auburn had executed the 2 minute drill to perfection and now looked poised to take the game into OT.

GIF by Bleacher Report

But then, Alabama running back, T.Y. Yelden, on 2 consecutive draw plays against Auburn in the prevent defense, ran all the way to the Auburn 38 yard line and stepped out of bounds when the clock showed 0:00, and it looked like Auburn would force the game into OT. However, Nick Saban fiercely argued that Yelden had been pushed out by Auburn cornerback, Chris Davis (recognize the name?), with a second remaining, and after further review, the clock was reset to 0:01, much to the angst of the Auburn crowd. To everyone’s surprise, Saban elected to go with a 57 yard FG attempt instead of a Hail Mary, and to everyone’s further surprise, sent in redshirt freshman kicker, Adam Griffith, instead of the starting senior, Foster, to conduct the kick. And here, the stage has now been set for the most dramatic and memorable sports moment of the decade.

Adam Griffith lined up for the kick and made a very decent kick, just falling short of the goal post into the waiting arms of deep return man Chris Davis, the same Chris Davis that had forced out T.Y. Yelden out with 1 second remaining that had set up this situation. Once Davis caught it, the rest is history as he returned the ball for 109 yards, sprinting past the Alabama players and tightroping the sideline, to send the Auburn Tigers into the SEC Championship, past the vaunted defending back-to-back nation champion Crimson Tide. The call made by Auburn sportscaster, Rod Bramblett, captured and immortalized the moment perfectly:

“ Chris Davis is going to drop back into the end zone in single safety. Well, I guess if this thing comes up short he can field it and run it out. Alright, here we go. 56-yarder, it’s got—no, it does not have the leg. And Chris Davis takes it in the back of the end zone. He’ll run it out to the 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 45—There goes Davis! (White shouts “Oh my God!”) Davis is going to run it all the way back! Auburn’s gonna win the football game! Auburn’s gonna win the football game! He ran the missed field goal back! He ran it back 109 yards! [fans streaming onto the field] They’re not gonna keep them off the field tonight! Holy Cow! Oh, my God! Auburn wins! Auburn has won the Iron Bowl! Auburn has won the Iron Bowl in the most unbelievable fashion you will ever see! I cannot believe it! 34–28!     ”

Courtesy of Auburn Football

It was in that moment, when the world became Auburn fans; an improbable, unbelievable season, riddled with comebacks, tight scores, and answered prayers capped off by the most improbable of all victories. A season where being the underdog and rising to the challenge defined who they were and forged them to become who they would be. Too many, this moment and the call made was as iconic as Al Michaels “DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES” call when another massive underdog team, the 1988 United States’ Olympic hockey team took down the seemingly invincible Soviet hockey team, to put them in the gold medal round and win it all. For Auburn, and many college football fans, this might be the greatest collegiate sports moment of all time, if not in all sports. It was this game where I discovered my love for college football; as a 17 year old junior in high school, looking into the process of college applications for the first, this game set off my excitement for the sport, and while I did not end up going to Auburn (Gig Em baby), the “Kick Six” was burned into my memory for all of time.  It is moments like these that makes sports so great. To see the improbable, the impossible being done. To see a collection of young people get together and work so hard, to give so much of themselves, all for just an opportunity, a chance at being great.