The Predicament of the Baseball Hall of Fame

Former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli once said, “The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.” Legacy and immortality are very difficult to quantify, but no matter how adamantly baseball players profusely deny it, they care about how the public looks back on their playing career. Juxtaposing the legacies of players from vastly different eras is quite an onerous task (just imagine trying to compare the careers of catchers Mike Piazza and Roy Campanella) and it has become even more difficult because of the recent performance-enhancing drug (PED) implications that will forever pollute the indelible image of baseball. However, comparing different ballplayers is a large reason why fans are so enamored by the game and the Baseball Hall of Fame serves as the representative platform for the judgment and assessment of players’ careers. 

The Hall of Fame voters recently made a statement when they elected to shun any player from entering the hall, who they had suspected might have used PEDs. The task of the Hall of Fame electors is to essentially answer the question, “Do the statistics compiled by a certain player along with his intangibles show evidence that he is amongst the greatest of his era?” The voting for the Hall of Fame is certainty not a perfect science and the sports world was left in pure dejection after there were no inductees to the hall for just the first time since 1996 and only the second time in over 40 years since 1971. However, players that used PEDs should not have been voted in baseball’s most prestigious club as the “memory of their name” will always be identified with tainting baseball’s legacy and their drug usage has certainty not left an “inheritance of a great example.”

Players that used or alleged used PEDs were not on a level playing field with the rest of their counterparts on the diamond. The unprecedented statistics that ballplayers like Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, and Roger Clemens were able to amass over the careers need to be looked at with a grain of salt, as their numbers are completely inflated due to their drug usage. 

Some fans argue that while Mark McGwire may have taken steroids, the performance enhancing drugs didn’t teach him how to catch up to a fastball or how to hit a breaking ball. However, anybody who makes it to the MLB is obviously good enough to contend with the greatest players in the world, and PEDs give major leaguers an extra edge, which could propel them from an average player to one of the most dangerous in the league. For example, in 2010 Melky Cabrera hit .255 with the Atlanta Braves and knocked out just 4 home runs. However, when he began to take steroids, his batting average leaped all the way up to .346 and he hit a career high 18 home runs two seasons ago. 

Steroids allow baseball players to build endurance, strength, and muscle, such as Barry Bonds, who went from a speedy 185-pound outfielder on the Pittsburgh Pirates to a stocky 230-pound power hitter on the San Francisco Giants. PEDs also allow players to recover from injury at a much faster rate. Andy Pettite, who testified in court that Roger Clemens told him in 1999 or 2000 that he was using steroids, has admitted that he was able to return quicker from elbow surgery because of human growth hormone usage. 

With all this in mind, voters were justified in their decision to not elect players like Bonds or Clemens into the Hall of Fame because steroids gave them an unfair advantage over the other players in the league.

The Baseball Hall of Fame is a museum that shows the history of America's national pastime, and honors the careers of the most outstanding ballplayers of all-time. Some people contend that by not putting players like Bonds and Clemens into the hall, the voters are neglecting a major part of baseball's history. However, just because the Hall of Fame may not induct steroid guys into its elitist fraternity, doesn't mean that players connected to PEDs won't have any part in the hall in terms of its artifacts, videos, and photos. The paradoxical nature of PEDs is that Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa's home run chase to catch Roger Maris's single-season home run record in 1998 was one of the most exhilarating events in baseball history, and it brought the game back to the forefront of sports after its embarrassing strike in 1994. However, McGwire and Sosa didn't do it the right way, which is damning to their own careers as well as to the history of baseball.

More than any other sport, baseball is a numbers game and its fans cherish its past history and stats. If somebody says 71,838 (the NFL career passing yards record set by Brett Favre) or 38,387 (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA all-time scoring record), very few fans would know the significance of those statistics. When somebody says the number “56,” baseball fans immediately think of Joe DiMaggio’s hit streak in 1941, while “714,” the number of home runs Babe Ruth hit in his career, is revered by fans. Numbers are sacred in baseball, which is why the steroid era has infuriated so many people, as PED usage has tainted the game.

Although many people agree with the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s (BBWAA) decision to not elect PED users into the hall, that doesn’t mitigate some of the other head-scratching judgments that the journalists from the organization have made in their Hall of Fame voting history. While a preponderance of the writers are very fair and accurate voters, it is baffling that some of the journalists still refuse to elect players into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot. The fact that Willie Mays, arguably the greatest baseball player ever, and Stan Musial, by many accounts the greatest left-handed hitter of all-time, were both left off more than 20 Hall of Fame ballots in their first year of eligibility is an absolute abasement and disgrace.

Furthermore, statistics are set in stone once a ballplayer ends his career, and it is up to the writers of the BBWAA to determine if a player is Hall of Fame worthy. It makes little sense how Andre Dawson could receive 67 percent of votes in his 8th year on the Hall of Fame ballot, but the next year receive more than 77 percent of the Hall of Fame votes. Dawson's career was cemented once he retired from baseball in 1996, so it is puzzling that "The Hawk" can receive an additional 50 votes from one year to the next when nothing about his baseball career actual changed.

We should get some Hall of Fame clarity next year when Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Frank Thomas are all eligble for the ballot. Maddux (355) and Glavine (305) are both 300 game winners, and Frank Thomas is one of just 9 players along with Willie Mays (.302 BA, 660 HR), Babe Ruth (.342 BA, 714 HR), Ted Williams (.344 BA, 521 HR), Hank Aaron (.305 BA, 755 HR), Jimmie Foxx (.325 BA, 524 HR), Mel Ott (.304 BA, 511 HR), Manny Ramirez (.312 BA, 555 HR), and Alex Rodriguez (.300 BA, 647 HR) to have hit 500 home runs and have a career average of at least .300. Hopefully, the writers will do everybody justice by voting in all three of the deserved first ballot Hall of Famers next year.

Adrian Peterson Deserves The NFL MVP Award

As the NFL playoffs head to the Divisional Round and we reflect on the outstanding season in the league, it is hard to say that this year was anything less than extraordinary. The variety of intriguing storylines such as the success of the rookie quarterbacks and the historic record chases by Adrian Peterson, Calvin Johnson, and J. J. Watt created a tremendous amount of interest across the league. Like every year, the great individual and team performances were mixed with a multitude of bizarre moments such as the replacement officials simultaneous catch ruling in the Packers-Seahawks game or Jim Schwartz illegal challenge on a play that was already getting reviewed. The 2012-2013 NFL season was a year to remember.

The NFL MVP award has become a glorified honor for the best quarterback in the league the last 20 years. Since 1994, the award has been captured by 15 quarterbacks including both Peyton Manning and Steve McNair when they split the honor in 2003, and just 5 running backs. There is no doubt that the NFL is driven by the quarterback position and that the league has become reliant on the vertical passing game. While the play of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers shouldn't be overlooked, Adrian Peterson deserves the MVP award this season.

The fact that Peterson tore his ACL and MCL in December of 2011, and returned for the first week of this season, makes his entire year that much more special. Although Peterson started out the season a little slow for his standards and had just one 100-yard rushing game through the first 6 weeks of the season, he ran for at least 100 yards in 9 of his last 10 games and averaged nearly 160 yards and a touchdown per game over that stretch. If you don't even take Peterson's first 6 games into account, he still would have been the 2nd leading rusher in the league. While Peterson's 2,097 yard season was just 9 yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record, he still became just the 7th running back to ever rush for 2,000 yards along with O.J. Simpson, Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis, Jamal Lewis, and Chris Johnson, and he accomplished the feat just a year removed from a horrid knee injury.

Peterson's value to the Vikings in their surprising run to the playoffs can not be understated or minimized, as a preponderance of Minnesota's offensive attack was contingent upon AP. With a passing game that was dead last in the NFC in yards per game and a weak receiving core, especially after Percy Harvin was sidelined with an ankle injury, Peterson carried the load for the Vikings week-after-week. Despite the fact that defenses knew Peterson was going to get the ball, his rare combination of power and speed was unable to be corralled all season long. In the Vikings week 17 victory over the Packers to send them into the playoffs, Peterson carried the ball a career high 34 times and rushed for 199 yards and a touchdown despite 7 or 8 Packers in the box for the vast majority of the game.

Obviously, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers all have very compelling cases for the MVP award as well. Manning completely transformed a Broncos offense and his command of the team and his consistency was astounding. Brady had another typical Tom Brady year, as the New England quarterback didn't throw an interception in 11 of 16 games this season. Finally, Aaron Rodgers led the league once again in quarterback rating and had a very impressive 39-8 touchdown to interception ratio. However, the award should still go to Peterson, as he had one of the greatest single-season efforts in running back history.

Chip Kelly's Offensive System Can Work In the NFL

Over the past ten years, the NFL has seen a dramatic transformation in the way the game is played and it is no longer your father's league. With a bevy of new rules benefiting the vertical passing game, teams are throwing the ball at a historic rate. For example, Detroit Lions quarterback Matt Stafford attempted 727 passes this season, which is an average of more than 45 passes per game. Furthermore, old NFL cliches are becoming quickly outdated. The notion that rookie quarterbacks need time to develop and can't play right away and that college coaches can't be successful in the pros is being discredited. Rookies Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, and Russell Wilson all led their respective teams to the playoffs and Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weeden both had fairly good years. In the NFC West, two former college coaches, Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll, both led their teams to the playoffs and the Bucs showed promise this season under former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. The NFL is quickly molding into a new type of league and Oregon head coach Chip Kelly and his unique offense could definitely be very effective.

Although the college and pro games are obviously played at much different speeds, it would not be prudent to discredit the success that Chip Kelly has had at Oregon. Since Kelly was named the head coach in 2009, the Ducks have had an incredible record of 46-7 (33-3 in conference) including four straight appearances in BCS bowl games, which has only been matched by Miami, USC, and Ohio State since 1998. Kelly has run the most dynamic offensive system in the country with the Ducks, which makes his NFL coaching prospects so enticing. In each of the last three years, Oregon has finished the college football season in the top five of rushing yard per game, yards per game, as well as points per game, which displays just how proficient the Ducks have been on offense. Despite the undeniable talent gap between the pros and college, the collegiate game is swiftly becoming much more advanced and the difference between the NFL and college game has never been smaller. Although Kelly's success with the Ducks certainly doesn't mean that he will experience the same feats in the pro game, it is an indication that his offensive attack can work at the next level.

One of the main criticisms of Chip's spread offense is that it can only prosper with a quick and mobile quarterback under center and a speedy running back along side him in the backfield, which is what Kelly has had at Oregon. While Chip's high-powered offense would definitely flourish with a duel threat quarterback like Cam Newton, RGIII, or Russell Wilson, it can still be very effective with a pocket passer. Kelly's offensive system is predicated on its tempo more than anything else and therefore if Kelly had a quarterback that lacked mobility, he would just increase the pace of the team's offense. For example, Kelly has made numerous visits to the New England Patriots, upon Bill Belichick's request, to show the team his up-tempo offensive style. With their no-huddle and faster pace, the Patriots led the league with an average of 74.4 plays per game, which in comparison was almost 14 more plays per game than the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants ran during the season. Kelly's offense is all about tempo and speed, which is starting to become a popular trend in the NFL, and this exemplifies why so many league executives are attracted to him.

The Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, and Philadelphia Eagles have all set up meetings with the Oregon coach, and all three of the clubs seem to be very interested in his services. Each of the teams could use an offensive revamp, as they all finished outside of the top 20 in points per game this season. Aside from the promising improvements that Kelly could bring on the offensive side of the ball, his "win the day" mantra of playing hard every day, and the fact that all of his players seem to very much like him as a coach, could bring a much needed cohesion to an NFL team, especially one with the talent level of the Philadelphia Eagles.

What I Am Thankful For In Sports

There are clearly a lot of things to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Day: your family, your friends, the men and women who fight to protect this country, twitter, and obviously sports. While most Americans associate Thanksgiving with turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes, my Thanksgiving is dominated by football, even if the Lions and Cowboys, who have both hosted Thanksgiving Day games every year since 1978, have only won a combined 3 division titles in the last 15 years. With a feast of games on Turkey day (pun intended) including three big NFL matchups (Texans-Lions, Redskins-Cowboys, Patriots-Jets) and a newly installed college football in-state rivalry (TCU-#16 Texas), the Thanksgiving Day action should fill the bellies of hungry football fans (last pun, I promise). Here is what I am thankful for in sports on this 391st Thanksgiving Day.

Despite the fact that the LA Kings championship run as an eight seed was incredible to watch last year, I am thankful for the NHL lockout because now America doesn't have to pretend that we actually care about hockey. For the National Hockey League to be locked out for the 3rd time since 1994 and the 2nd time in the last 8 years is an absolute disgrace. I would advise Gary Bettman, who has dealt with more labor stoppages since he became NHL Commissioner in 1993 than ever imaginable, to not travel to Canada anytime in the near future.

I am thankful that Chelsea fired Roberto Di Matteo because at this rate, I have a chance to become the Blues manager. The European Champions, who fired Di Matteo a little more than six months after he completed the FA Cup and Champions League double, have had more managers since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003 than Egypt have had Presidents. The London club have now had 9 different managers in a six year span since September of 2007 (Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Ray Wilkins, Guus Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti, Andre-Villas Boas, Roberto Di Matteo, and Rafa Benitez). In fact, neither one of their last two managers, Andre-Villas Boas or Roberto Di Matteo, lasted 10 months with the job. Good luck to Rafa Benitez because looking at Chelsea's past managerial history, come a year from now, he will likely be watching the Chelsea games from his couch like the rest of us.

I am thankful for Cleveland sports teams because whenever I am feeling down in the dumps about the Red Sox, I remember that it could be worse: I could be a Cleveland sports fan. The Browns have made the playoffs just twice in the last 23 years, while the Indians and Cavaliers have lost superstars left and right including CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez, and some guy named LeBron James. Cleveland sports teams are like a sequel to a bad movie; you think that they might improve, but they just wind up terrible once again.

I am thankful that J.J. Watt is a pro football player because he is much too talented and way too hard of a worker to be delivering pizzas in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Watt, who I kid you not, worked for pizza hut after he dropped out of school because he no longer wanted to play tight end for Central Michigan, is now one of the most dominant defensive ends in the NFL, and he is the front-runner to win the Defensive Player Of The Year Award at the mid-season mark. The former Wisconsin standout (he transferred to the Big Ten school in 2008 and played 2 years there) deflects more balls at the line of scrimmage than anybody else in the NFL and his 13.5 sacks are 2nd most in the league, only behind San Francisco's Aldon Smith (15).

I am thankful that Novak Djokvoic is the world's number 1 ranked tennis player. While I enjoy watching the Serbian's mastery on the court, it is a nice bonus that his girlfriend, Jelena Ristic, is a spectacle to see on her own. Since Ristic is shown on TV more than Rob Ryan during the Cowboys games, it is undeniable that Djokovic brings the total package to his matches. But in all seriousness, Djokvoic deserves a lot of credit for reclaiming the number 1 ranking from Roger Federer and winning the year end ATP World Tour Finals.

As hard as this is for me to say, I am actually thankful that #1 Notre Dame is undefeated because outside of Gainesville nobody wants to see #4 Florida in the BCS National Championship Game. The Gators, whose offense has looked so anemic this year that you wonder how they have only lost one game, would likely wind up in the National Championship if they were to beat #10 Florida St. and Notre Dame were to lose to USC. This Florida team, which at home needed two touchdowns in the last two minutes to beat Louisiana-Lafayette, would not be able to score against any of the top college football teams.

I am thankful that Andrew Bynum's hair is one of the main talking points of the early NBA season; now if only the big 7 footer could get onto the floor for the 76ers. Although Bynum should have a nice role in Doug Collins's offense, the injury prone center is still suffering from right and left knee setbacks, which could keep him out until January. Hopefully, Bynum can return to action for Philadelphia shortly, because then people can start talking about Bynum and basketball, along with his hair of course.

Andrew Bynum then

Andrew Bynum now

But enough about me already. What are other people in sports thankful for?

Toronto Blue Jays fans are thankful for their new best friend, Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria. After Loria decided that he was fed up with the Marlins large payroll, his fire sale saw the team's two best pitchers (Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle) and star shortstop (Jose Reyes) head north of the border to Toronto. Now that the Marlins shed nearly 150 million dollars in the mega-trade and their opening day payroll is currently projected at less than 40 million (in comparison the Padres and A's are arond 55 million) it is evident that Loria cares less about his team than a male audience cares about the new Twilight movie.

Washington Redskin fans are thankful that they now have a real quarterback with Robert Griffin III. Nothing against Jason Campbell, Tood Collins, Rex Grossman, and John Beck, but the Skins haven't had a real quality quarterback since the Stone Age. Ok, more like Joe Theismann in the 1980's but it feels like forever. Not only is RGIII the most dynamic quarterback to ever play in the NFL, but his Heisman Trophy socks were beyond awesome. In any case, Washington should be thankful for their rookie sensation.

Although the Luck vs RGIII debate will rage on for years, we can all agree that Griffin trumps Luck in the sock department.

Finally, Tim Tebow is thankful for God, but who didn't know that one already.

Under the Radar College Basketball Teams To Watch

It doesn't take a brain surgeon or an ESPN expert to predict most of the top college basketball teams by the end of the season. As evidenced by the last few years, most, if not all of the teams that are ranked inside the preseason top 15, remain a legitimate National Championship contender throughout the college basketball campaign. Last season, all the Elite Eight teams were ranked in the preseason top 13 (North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio St., Syracuse, Florida, Louisville, Baylor, and Kansas) and Pittsburgh, UCLA, Arizona, and Texas A&M were the only preseason top 25 teams that failed to make the Big Dance.

Although the top teams at the onset of the season are almost always in contention to make a run at the title, there are always a few teams that fly under the radar and surprise everybody during March Madness. While the common examples of the shocking NCAA tourney runs include George Mason in 2006 and VCU in 2011, there are often teams from major conferences that aren't expected to have a great season and perform well above expectations. Last year two Big East teams, Marquette and Cincinnati, were not expected to be one of the top five teams in their own league, but both made runs to the Sweet Sixteen. Xavier and North Carolina St., despite both finishing their respective seasons with 12 losses, also made surprising trips to the Regional Semifinals as double digit seeds.

In opposition to how the BCS and chaos go hand in hand, you can expect the same stability at the top of college basketball once again this year, as top clubs like Indiana, Louisville, Michigan, Duke, and Florida should all wind-up with top seeds in the tournament. However, as always, you can expect a bevy of overlooked teams to fare far better than expected.

Oklahoma St. Cowboys:

Since Eddie Sutton resigned as head coach of Oklahoma St. due to his alcohol related medical issues, the Cowboys have not been relevant in college basketball. The program, which has a storied tradition that goes back to the days of coaching legend Henry Iba, have been waiting to restore themselves in the increasingly friendly Big 12, especially with the departure of Missouri and Texas A&M. Despite getting just a handful of votes in the preseason polls, the Cowboys should be in contention for their second Big 12 title since they joined the conference 16 years ago in 1996.

The job that Cowboys head coach Travis Ford has done in recruiting has given the fans in Stillwater their biggest hope for a successful season since they reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2005. Ford, who played in college at Missouri and then Kentucky, has been able to lure two straight top ten recruits down to Stillwater. Two years ago, small forward Le'Bryan Nash, who was rated #10 by the ESPN recruiting rankings, picked Oklahoma St. over Kansas and Baylor. Last year, shooting guard Marcus Smart, who like Nash was rated #10 by ESPN, picked Oklahoma St. over Oklahoma and Texas. The combination of Nash and Smart has proved to be lethal in the early season for the Cowboys.

Le'Bryan Nash, who shared Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors with Baylor's Quincy Miller last year, is one of the most athletic players in the country and is a big time scorer, especially when he can get into the lane. Nash is complimented by the all around game of Marcus Smart. Not only is Smart a terrific shooter, but he can also see the floor exceptionally well. The two playmakers have combined for an average of nearly 34 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists through the team's first four wins over UC Davis, Akron, Tennessee, and North Carolina State.

Anybody who watched Oklahoma St. manhandle #6 NCST in the Puerto Rico Tipoff Final saw the threat that the Cowboys pose to any team they play. Nash and Smart are two of the best players in the country and will be the catalysts for the Cowboys very underrated squad all season long.

Maryland Terrapins:

In ESPN The Magazine's "College Hoops Tip-Off" issue, the Maryland Terps preseason ranking was 111th overall, which slotted them behind schools like North Dakota State, Middle Tennessee, Wagner, and Tennessee State. The same magazine projected Maryland to finish 9th in the ACC, only ahead of Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, and Boston College. Despite losing their top two scorers, Terrell Stoglin and Sean Mosley, the Terps will far exceed their low preseason expectations.

Not only does Maryland have a consistent distributor at point guard with Pe'Shon Howard, who is averaging nearly 8 assists through the team's first four games, but the Terps also have one of the best players in the country that very few people have even heard about. Alex Len, a 7-1 center from Ukraine, is a dominant force in the post for the Terps and he is already showing dramatic improvements from last season. The future NBA lottery pick is one of the most skilled big men in the country and he showed in his performance against #3 Kentucky, where he had 23 points and 12 rebounds in a tight 3-point Maryland loss, that he is dealing with the physicality of playing down low much better than he did last year.

The NCAA's decision to grant former Xavier small forward Dezmine Wells immediate eligibility has been a huge bonus for Mark Turgeon and his team. Wells, who was a top 50 ESPN recruit last year and has immense potential, can do everything on the floor and provides a toughness that Maryland has lacked the past couple of years. Wells, along with talented shooting guards Nick Faust and Seth Allen and highly touted freshmen Jake Layman and Shaquille Cleare, will be the key components for a Maryland team that failed to make the tourney last season.

If the Terps can get some solid contributions from their supporting cast, they have a great chance of rounding out the top 4 of the ACC behind the highly ranked Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels, and North Carolina State Wolfpack.

Pittsburgh Panthers:

Pitt has been a mainstay at the top of college basketball and the Big East ever since Jamie Dixon took over the program in 2003. In his first 8 years as head coach of the Panthers, Dixon led the team to at least 24 wins every season except for 2004, and the club reached the Big East tournament championship game four times. Dixon's incredible record of 214-58 in his first eight years as the program's head coach, is evidence of Pitt's ascension to the top of college basketball.

Despite being a preseason top 10 team in 2011, the Panthers had a very uncharacteristic season last year, as they finished 5-13 in the Big East, their worst conference record since 1999. Although the Panthers were unranked in the preseason polls following their disappointing 2011 campaign, Pitt should return to their dominant Big East ways this season.

While Pittsburgh will miss the three point shooting of point guard Ashton Gibbs, who led the team in scoring the last three seasons, Tray Woodall now has the opportunity to run the show for the Panthers. Woodall is a very unselfish guard and when he does decide to pull up, he is a very effective mid-range and three point shooter. Along with Woodall, veteran big men Talib Zanna and J.J. Moore will provide consistent scoring for the Panthers.

So many people, like myself, are looking at Pittsburgh as a surprise club this season due their key additions of Trey Zeigler and Steven Adams, who should fit nicely with the other veteran pieces on the team. Zeigler, who played at Central Michigan last year and averaged 15.8 points and 6.7 rebounds, chose to transfer to Pitt rather than Duke or UCLA and was granted an NCAA waiver to play right away because his dad was fired as head coach of the Chippewas in March. Although Zeigler is still fitting in with the Panthers and could improve his jump shot, he is one of the most versatile guards in the country. Adams, who was the #6 overall recruit in this year's class according to ESPN, is a big seven foot body and can rebound with the best in the country. Although it may be a little early to expect Adams to shine offensively, he will be a big presence on the defensive side of the floor for the Panthers, especially with his ability to block shots.

The Jets Should Start Tim Tebow

Timothy Richard Tebow. Just uttering the name of the former Heisman Trophy winner steers up controversy, emotions, and heated arguments amongst fans and naysayers. Never in the history of the NFL has a backup quarterback, who has completed just 5 passes through the first 10 weeks of the season, been the talk of every radio show and television newscast in the country. Mark Sanchez has had to answer more questions about Tim Tebow than anybody could have imagined when Woody Johnson and Mike Tannenbaum traded for the polarizing QB from the Broncos back in March.

Although Rex Ryan continues to say Tebow will have an expanded role in the Jets offense, week after week Tebow is only on the field for a few snaps each game. With the Jets sitting in a 3-6 hole and in grave danger of being out of playoff contention with 5 or 6 games left in the season, it is time they turn the ball over to Tebow. Not only does the two-time college National Champion give the Jets a wide range of play choices with his dynamic ability to both pass and run, but Mark Sanchez has played so poorly the last couple of weeks that the Jets absolutely need a change behind center.

The struggles of Mark Sanchez, especially in the last two Jet losses, is the main reason gang green need to make a change at quarterback. If the Jets do in fact make a switch behind center, it would be more about Mark Sanchez losing his role due to his poor play rather than Tim Tebow taking over the quarterback job.

There have been glimpses this season where we have seen an effective Mark Sanchez, specifically in the Jets 29-26 overtime loss to the Patriots in Foxboro. Although the Pats secondary does rank dead last in the AFC in passing yards allowed per game and has been getting torched all season, Sanchez looked in rhythm with his receivers and was throwing the ball on time all game long.

However, moments of promise have been few and far between for Sanchez and the team's offense. Aside from the Patriots game, the Jets passing attack has been extremely lackluster. No team in the NFL fears gang green's air attack whatsoever, as only the Jacksonville Jaguars have thrown for less yards in the AFC than the Jets. Sanchez is also the only NFL starting quarterback to have thrown for less than 140 yards in more than two games this season, as he failed to eclipse the 140 yard mark in games against the Steelers, 49ers, Colts, and Seahawks. Not only has Sanchez held on to the ball for too long in the pocket, which has resulted in sacks and turnovers, but the former USC quarterback's accuracy has also failed him, as he ranks dead last in the league with a 52 percent completion percentage.

As a duel threat quarterback, Tebow can bring unique qualities to the Jets that the inept offense has been lacking all season long. Although Mark Sanchez is mobile in the pocket and can move around to evade sacks, Tebow can extend plays like no other quarterback in the NFL, which would allow the Jets poor receiving core more time to create separation down the field. Tebow's running ability would also prove to be a weapon for the Jets rushing attack, which is averaging just 3.8 yards per carry through nine games. With defenses keying on Tebow's running prowess and stacking the box, it would leave openings in the secondary for the Jets much-maligned receivers as well.

Obviously, Tebow has his limitations as a passer. Although his ability to throw the deep ball is very underrated, his accuracy is a source of concern. However, Tebow would bring something different to a Jets offense in need of a change, as the offensive attack has sputtered all season long.

While Mark Sanchez deserves the lion's share of the blame for the Jets 3-6 start, there have been a multitude of failures for the Jets not only on the field, but in management as well as in the front office.

Frankly, the Jets just don't have the talent that was there when they reached the AFC Championship game in back-to-back years in 2009 and 2010. While the Jets "ground and pound" style was in the top four of the NFL in both of their playoff years, only four other AFC teams have rushed for fewer yards per carry than the Jets this season. While Thomas Jones and LaDainian Tomlinson were proven running backs, Shonn Greene is nowhere near a top flight NFL back. The Jets also have limited talent and big play ability with their wide receivers. Whereas in 2010 gan green had Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery, and Brad Smith at their receiver positions, with Holmes out for the season this year, the Jets receiving core of Stephen Hill, Chaz Schilens, Jeremy Kerley, and Clyde Gates is almost laughable to think about. Although Stephen Hill, who the Jets drafted in the second round from Georgia Tech, has electrifying speed, he has dropped far too many passes in his rookie campaign.

The Jets coaching staff has also miss managed their use of Tebow in their "wildcat" package. The former Florida QB has not had nearly enough snaps to make the plays that he is capable of making, as the Jets continue to use their dynamic playmaker for just seven snaps per game. Also, when Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano does use Tebow behind center, he is way too conservative with his play selection. Rather than let Tebow sit in the pocket and observe the field and allow him to make plays, Sparano continues to have Tebow fake the ball to the running back and run it straight up the gut, which every defense player is expecting, for three or four yards.

If Jets owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum brought Tebow in to be a factor rather than to sell hot dogs, PSL's, and make the back pages of the news, than why has Tebow's role been so small in the offense? Also, if Tebow is going to be rarely used, why bring him into the fold and create a tremendous amount of pressure on Mark Sanchez?

If the Jets fail to beat the St. Louis Rams this week, their season will essentially be all but over and considering how poorly Sanchez has played in the Jets last two losses to the Dolphins and Seahawks, gang green need to turn to Tebow. With the Jets three games out in the AFC East as well as three games behind the Steelers and Colts in the AFC Wild Card, it is now or never for New York.

The Most Surprising Teams In College Football

We are just past the mid-way point of the college football season and several teams have performed just as well as people thought they would at the beginning of the season, most notably Alabama and Oregon. While a handful of teams have been really disappointing such as Arkansas, Michigan St., and Virginia Tech, there have also been a couple of surprise teams, specifically undefeated Oregon St. and Mississippi St. and Big 12 darling Texas Tech.

#7 Oregon St. - 6-0 (4-0 in the Pac-12):

Before the college football season began, most people assumed that a team from Oregon would be heading into the last week of October unbeaten. While Oregon have cruised through their first 7 games without a blemish on their record, their rivals just up north in Corvallis have also shocked the college football world with a 6-0 start. Although the Beavers still have to get by Washington, Arizona St. #17 Stanford, and California, there is a definite possibility that the winner of the Civil War game in Eugene will move on to play in the Pac-12 Championship Game and possibly even the BCS title game.

The impressive play of Oregon St. has been such a surprise to the country because of how poorly the team played last season. Mike Riley's club finished the 2011 season with a woeful 3-9 record, which included an embarrassing loss at home to FCS school Sacramento Sate in non-conference play. However, Sean Mannion looks greatly improved behind center in his second year as the teams starting quarterback and the Beavers defensive unit has not let up more than 7 points at home this season.

The Beavers have had really good quarterback play from both their starter Sean Mannion and their backup Cody Vaz. Mannion began the season by throwing a touchdown in each of the team's first 4 games and had a 379 yard performance in a win on the road against UCLA and a 433 yard game against Arizona in Tucson. When Mannion was sidelined for two games due to a knee injury, Cody Vaz stepped in and the offense didn't miss a beat. Vaz threw for 323 yards and added 3 touchdowns in a 42-24 rout over BYU, a team that has held four of its eight opponents to seven points or less.

#11 Mississippi State Bulldogs - 7-0 (3-0 in the SEC):

Mississippi St. Athletic Director Scott Stricklin better be ready for a nerve-wracking off-season, as the Bulldogs head coach, Dan Mullen, is going to be one of the most desirable names in all of college football. Mullen, who was the offensive coordinator at Florida from 2005 to 2008, has led Mississippi St. to a very surprising 7-0 start, especially considering the team was 2-6 in conference play last season and lost their starting quarterback Chris Relf and star running back Vick Ballard.

Although the Dwags offense has been better than expected, the team's calling card is their stout defense. The Bulldogs may have the best defensive backfield in the country, as Johnthan Banks and Darius Slay are two of the nations best cornerbacks. Banks and Slay, who are tied for the 4th in the FBS with 4 interceptions, are apart of a Bulldogs secondary that has held five of their seven opponents to less than 175 yards passing.

Despite starting out the season 7-0 for just the second time in school history, and playing in the vaunted Southeastern Conference, the Mississippi St. Bulldogs are ranked outside the top 10 and many people consider them the 4th best team in their own 7 team SEC division. Aside from college football phonetics, not many people even know that the Bulldogs are one of the few remaining unbeaten teams. A large reason for their lack of national attention has been the Bulldogs lack of a major win, as the club's 4 non-conference victories (Jackson St., South Alabama, Troy, Middle Tennessee) are obviously nothing to brag about, and their 3 SEC wins are against teams who have yet to win a conference game (Auburn, Kentucky, Tennessee). Although they have had a fairly easy schedule through mid-October, the Bulldogs have still only allowed more than 14 points in two of their seven contests and they have won by double-digits in every one of their 7 victories. Dan Mullen's squad will have a chance to prove themselves in their next 3 games, as they travel to Tuscaloosa to take on #1 Alabama this weekend, then return to Starkville to play #20 Texas A&M, and then finally travel to Death Valley to play #6 LSU in early November.

#14 Texas Tech Red Raiders - 6-1 (3-1 in the Big 12):

In Tommy Tuberville's second season in Lubbock, Texas Tech had its worse year since it became a member of the Big 12. The Red Raiders didn't appear in a bowl game for the first time since Spike Dykes's last year as the school's head coach in 1999 and the team lost 7 games for the first team in over two decades since 1990. TTU also finished with just 2 conference wins, their fewest league wins since they joined the Big 12 in 1996. However, Tuberville's ball club has drastically turned things around this year, as the team's offense is one of the most explosive attacks in the country and has propelled the Red Raiders to an impressive start including two Big 12 wins against ranked opponents (West Virginia and TCU).

Texas Tech quarterback Seth Doege leads one of the most high powered offenses in all of college football. The Red Raiders have scored more than 40 points in five of their seven games and Seth Doege leads the nation with a whopping 28 touchdown passes, which is about 4 per game. The gun slinging quarterback is averaging over 360 yards passing per game as well, which is the 4th most in the FBS. Doege, who threw for 499 yards and 6 touchdowns against West Virginia and 318 yards and 7 touchdowns against TCU, is very well suited to run the Raiders fast paced spread attack. The senior QB completes a high percentage of his passes (70.8 percent, which is 5th best in the nation) and isn't overly turnover prone, as he is averaging just 1 pick for every 40 passing attempts.

Although the Texas Tech offense will get most of the praise and accolades for the program's strong start, the improvement of the team's defense has been the biggest change from last year's disappointment. The Tech defense shut down Geno Smith and the dangerous West Virginia passing game in their 49-14 victory over the Mountaineers two weeks ago and are allowing just over 21 points per game, which is very solid considering their offense can put up so many points.

College Football Storylines Through The First 4 Weeks Of The Season

Due to the wackiness of the NFL because of the poor officiating of the replacement referees, the opening month of the college football season has flown a little bit under the radar. The countywide initiative to bring back the regular NFL refs has overshadowed an exciting opening four weeks of football across the FBS. Here are the biggest storylines in college football entering week 5 of the season:

#1 Alabama Is The Clear Cut Number 1 Team In The Nation:

Despite losing five defensive All-Americans, (linebackers Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw, cornerbacks Dre Kirkpatrick and DeQuan Menzie, and safety Mark Barron) four of which were selected in the top 35 of the NFL draft, the Alabama defense is once again revamped and reloaded with their outstanding talent and speed. Led by their strong linebackers Nico Johnson and C.J. Mosley, the Crimson Tide are replacing Penn St. as linebacker U, as their base 3-4 defensive scheme allows their linebackers to roam around the field and make big plays. The Tide's secondary has also looked much better than expected in their first four games. Dee Milliner has played very well for the defending National Champions, as the defensive back is providing a shutdown corner for the Crimson Tide. In four games this season, Alabama has allowed a total of 21 points and they have forced at least 3 turnovers in three of their four victories. The Tide's most impressive defensive performance was their mauling of Michigan in the opening week of the season, as they made Denard Robinson look like a shell of himself and held him to 27 rushing yards, his second lowest rushing total since he took over the starting job as a sophomore in 2010.

Although Nick Saban's defense is getting a lot of love, and deservingly so, the Tide's offense, much like last year, is steadily pacing the team's play. Despite the loss of Heisman Trophy finalist Trent Richardson, the Tide have had no trouble running the ball with their terrific offensive line and their running back tandem of powerful Eddie Lacy and freshman speedster T.J. Yeldon. Alabama's running back duo has been a great compliment to the consistent play of quarterback AJ McCarron, who has yet to throw an interception in four contests.

Although Alabama still have their big matchup with SEC west rival #3 LSU in Baton Rouge in early November, the Tide have a really good chance to become the first outright back-to-back National Champion since Nebraska pulled off the feat in the mid 1990's.

#2 Oregon and #9 West Virginia Have The Two Most Explosive Offenses In The Country:

Despite losing their starting quarterback Darron Thomas and their all-time leading rusher LaMichael James, Oregon's offense may be better than it was last season. Marcus Mariota, who has replaced Thomas behind center, is one of the fastest quarterbacks in the country and is a perfect fit for Chip Kelly's spread offense. Not only can the illusive Mariota use his feet whenever he gets into trouble, but the true freshman is also a better pure passer than Thomas. In the backfield, Kenjon Barner, who is the Ducks every down back, is as good as any running back in the country. The senior showed his workhorse ability in the Ducks 42-25 win over Fresno St., as he ran for 201 yards and 3 touchdowns on 34 carries. While Barner does a lot of the heavy lifting, De'Anthony Thomas is the Ducks home run hitter, as the electrifying playmaker is a threat to take it to the house anytime he touches the ball. Thomas is averaging more than 11 yards per run, which is the best in the country, and nearly 13 yards per catch, and has taken 7 of his 38 offensive touches (nearly 20 percent) for touchdowns. If Thomas gets into open space, watch out, because the "Black Mamba" can make anybody miss with his unbelievable quickness and speed.

While Oregon's offense is predicated on the run, Dana Holgersen and his West Virginia Mountaineers rack up huge chunks of yards through the air. Led by early season Heisman Trophy front-runner Geno Smith, the Big 12 newcomers have a great chance of winning the conference title in their first year in the league. Smith, who leads the nation in completion percentage and touchdowns, and is second in the country in quarterback rating, has looked very poised in the pocket for the Mountaineers, and has been astoundingly accurate. Smith has a bevy of receivers on the outside of the field and Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey are arguably the best wide receiver tandem in the country along with USC's Robert Woods and Marqise Lee. As we saw in the Orange Bowl last year, Tavon Austin can make a play out of anything, and his quickness makes him a very difficult down the field receiving threat to cover. Although it remains to be seen if West Virginia's defense will be able to hold up against high-powered Big 12 attacks, the team's offense will certainly put up a lot of points.

#10 Notre Dame, #11 Florida, #12 Texas, and #14 Ohio St. Are Returning To Prominence:

While programs like Oregon, Oklahoma St., Michigan St., and Boise St. have stated their place amongst the top college football institutions over the past couple of years, longtime football powerhouses like Notre Dame, Florida, Texas, and Ohio St. have really struggled to regain their position amongst the top teams in the country. However, the Irish, Gators, Longhorns, and Buckeyes have all started out the 2012 season without a loss.

Despite having an inexperienced secondary due to the season-ending injuries to cornerback Lo Wood and safeties Austin Collinsworth and Jamoris Slaughter, the key to Notre Dame's 4-0 start has been the solid play of their defensive unit. Notre Dame rank 4th in the country in points against at 9 per game, as the Irish held Michigan St. and Michigan to a total of 9 points, while forcing a combined 7 turnovers in the 2 games. Linebacker Manti Te'o has been so impressive and impactful in the early season for the Irish that his name has even been thrown into the Heisman Trophy ring. Despite the deaths of his girlfriend and grandmother, Te'o, who chose to return to Notre Dame for his senior season, decided to play in the games against Michigan St. and Michigan, and had a combined 20 tackles and 2 interceptions in the victories. Whether it is stopping the run or dropping back into pass coverage, Manti Te'o makes plays all over the field. As crazy as it sounds, Notre Dame is back in the top 10 for the first time in 6 years since 2006.

After a mediocre 7-6 (3-5) first year in Gainesville, Will Muschamp has led the Florida Gators to their first 3-0 start in conference play since they won their first National Championship with Urban Meyer in 2006. A big reason behind the Gators success has been the consistent quarterback play of sophomore starter Jeff Driskel. Although Florida came into their first game without a clear cut number 1 QB, Driskel has taken over the job with his stellar play through the Gators first 4 games. Driskel hasn't made a lot of mistakes, as he has only thrown 1 interception, and he has been very poised and accurate in the pocket, as his completion percentage of 69.6 is the highest for any quarterback in the SEC. Along with his accuracy, Driskel can extend plays and drives with his ability to run for first downs and big yardage. Florida finally have a solid offense to go along with their very dependable defense. However, the road ahead is a very difficult one for the Gators, as they still have to play #3 LSU, #6 South Carolina, #5 Georgia, and #4 Florida St.

Although it has not been publicized as much as some of the other college football struggles, the Texas Longhorns have failed to return to the top of the Big 12 since they reached the National Championship Game in 2009. With a 13-12 record over the last two seasons, the Longhorns 3-0 start is very encouraging, even if their victories have been over Wyoming, New Mexico, and Ole Miss. David Ash has taken full control of the starting quarterback role and the Longhorns offense has looked devastating. Ash, who has the unique skill set of a big arm and the ability to use his legs and run, is complimented by the two-headed running attack of Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron, while High School Player of the Year Johnathan Gray will steadily get more carries as the season progresses. Although five of Texas's nine conference games could be against ranked teams, the Longhorns can definitely contend for a Big 12 title.

After Braxton Miller threw for 207 yards and ran for another 161 against Miami (OH), sliced apart UCF for 141 yards on the ground and 3 touchdowns, and hit Devin Smith on a 72 yard pass with 3 minutes left to knock off Cal, Ohio St. head coach Urban Meyer said, "Braxton has more talent [then Tim Tebow]. Tim is probably more of a grinder." While too many people wouldn't go that far (except for maybe Tebow hater Merril Hoge), Miller has shown that he is the perfect quarterback for Urban Meyer's spread system. Braxton is one of the fastest, if not the fastest quarterback in the country, and his speed is such a threat when he is running the option or scrambling around the pocket. Although Ohio St. will not be able to play in the postseason this year due to the NCAA violations that took place under Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes are likely the best team in the Big 10.

The Big Ten Is Off To Another Rough Start:

Ever since Ohio St. was crushed by Florida and LSU in consecutive BCS National Championship Games in 2006 and 2007, the Big Ten has struggled to reclaim its place as the best college football conference along with the always dominate SEC. Last year the Big Ten finished the season with just 3 teams ranked inside the top 20 and their overall conference bowl record was a disappointing 4-6.

The Big Ten is off to another slow start this year, as the league has just 1 win over a ranked opponent (Michigan State's victory over Boise St.) and Ohio St. is the only team from the conference ranked inside the top 20 of the AP poll. In non-conference play, Michigan St. and Michigan both lost to Notre Dame, while UCLA, likely the 5th best team in the Pac-12, knocked off one of the Big Ten favorites, Nebraska. Wisconsin, which has represented the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl the past two years, lost to Oregon St., probably the 4th best team in the Pac-12, and has not looked good in any of its victories. The Badgers have been unable to dominate teams on the ground like they have done in the past, and Maryland transfer Danny O'Brien and freshman Joel Stave have both struggled behind center. Nothing against Minnesota and Northwestern, but when they are the only bowl eligible teams (Ohio St. is not bowl eligible) still undefeated in your conference after 4 weeks, there is a problem.

The Packers Defense Proved A Lot In Their Win Against The Bears

Despite becoming just the 6th team in NFL history to finish the regular season with at least 15 wins, (along with the 1984 San Francisco 49ers, the 1985 Chicago Bears, the 1998 Minnesota Vikings, the 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers, and the 2007 New England Patriots) everything wasn't chocolate and roses for the Green Bay Packers defense. While Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense was praised for their record-shattering season, the team's defense was not anyway near the club's offensive prowess.

It is fair to say that the teams playing the Pack last year were almost always trailing by the second half, so the opposing clubs were forced to throw the ball and match the Packers offense output. Due to the proficiency of the green and gold offense, opposing teams had to expand their offense in order to not get to far behind, and that made life much more difficult for the Packers defense. 

However, with their lethal offense, the Packers defense just had to be in the middle of the road amongst NFL teams, but their defensive unit really struggled to find its form last year.

Although the Packers defensive numbers were a little inflated because teams racked up yards when they were well down in the second half, the green and gold were still dead last in the NFL in defensive yards per game (411.6) and passing yards per game (299.8). 

Not only did the Pack have major trouble in the secondary, but they also had real problems getting to the quarterback. Only the Tennessee Titans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had less sacks than the Packers last year, which sorely missed defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, who went to the Eagles in free agency. Jenkins's absence on the d-line had a direct affect on B.J. Raji as well as Clay Matthews, as they both faced more and more attention and double teams. After combining for 30 sacks in 2010, Matthews and Raji didn't even reach double figures in their combined sack total last year.

While many people, including myself, thought that the Packers were going to be significantly better on defense in 2012, they showed little improvement in their 30-22 week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field.

Although Clay Matthews came back to life with 2.5 sacks and Charles Woodson certainly didn't look like he was in his 15th year in the league, the team's defense still showed major signs of concerns. Picking on cornerbacks Jarret Bush and either M.D. Jennings or Jerron McMillian (whichever one was in the game), Alex Smith completed 20 of 26 passes and had 211 yards and 2 touchdowns. Frank Gore also averaged 7 yards per carry and the 49ers racked up 186 yards on the ground. 

Going into their week 2 game against the Bears with a 0-1 record, the Packers, and specifically their defense, was facing tremendous pressure to put up a big performance, and they did just that against their long time division rival from the Windy City.

In their 23-10 Thursday night victory at Lambeau, the Packers made a loud statement to the league that they could win games behind their defense and without a huge night from their MVP Aaron Rodgers. Although Cedric Benson had a nice game on the ground with 81 yards and Donald Driver reached the end zone in his 14th straight year in the league, the night was all about how good the Packers defense looked against a quality Bears offense.

Chicago, who were coming off of an impressive 41 point performance against the Colts, where their new offense acquisitions, Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, and Michael Bush, had a combined 4 touchdowns, were shutdown by the Packers. 

Although the Pack definitely benefited from the Bears o-line struggles, specifically at left tackle with J'Marcus Webb, they proved that they have a very dynamic pass rush. Jay Cutler, who will likely see Clay Matthews in his nightmares for the next week, had no time in the pocket to survey the field for his receiving threats, and was constantly getting pressured and hit. Green Bay sacked Cutler 7 times, their most sacks in a game in 7 years, and Clay Matthews was all over the field and was credited with 3.5 sacks on Cutler, the most by a Packer since Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila had that many in 2005.

The Packers relentless pressure on Cutler forced the Bears QB to make several poor decisions, which led to 4 interceptions and allowed the Packers secondary to have their best performance in more than a year. Cutler never looked comfortable in the pocket, which really helped the Packers defense. Tramon Williams, who had 2 interceptions, held Brandon Marshall to 24 yards on 2 catches, which is just the third time in the last four and a half years that Marshall has not had at least 3 catches in a game. The Packers also limited the Bears to 4.1 yards per carry, as the Bears longest run of the game was a 12 yard QB scramble by Jay Cutler.

The Pack showed their ability to be one of the top defenses in the league and they will have a chance to follow up their terrific performance with another one next week when they take on the Seattle Seahawks and rookie quarterback Russell Wilson on Monday Night Football.

The SEC Will Finally Be Knocked Off Its Championship Pedestal This Year

The SEC has reigned supreme over college football for the past 6 years. As shown by Florida in 2006 and 2008, LSU in 2007, Alabama in 2009 and 2011, and Auburn in 2010, college football has been controlled by the Southeastern Conference, and quite frankly, no other league has been anywhere close.

In the 2006-2007 season for example, Ohio St. came into the National Championship Game with Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith at quarterback and a team that strolled through the Big Ten with an average margin of victory of more than 26 points in conference games. But the title game was never close, as Florida took the victory 41-14 and illustrated the disparity between the SEC and everybody else.

In fact, the SEC was so dominate last year that two teams from the league, LSU and Alabama, met in the National Championship Game, marking the first time since college football went to a national championship setup 20 years ago in 1992 that two teams from the same conference were playing for all the marbles.

With 5 SEC teams (Alabama at #2, LSU at #3, Georgia at #6, South Carolina at #9, and Arkansas at #10) ranked in the top 10 of the preseason AP poll, many people expect the SEC to make it 7 straight National Champions out of the conference. However, this is finally going to be the year that a team outside the Southeastern Conference walks away BCS National Champion.

A major reason that it will be tough for an SEC team to win the national title is because of the unprecedented depth of the conference. With the additions of Missouri to the SEC East and Texas A&M to the SEC West, the league is going to be ruthless week in and week out. Aside from Kentucky in the east and Ole Miss in the west, every team in the conference has a legitimate top 25 caliber squad. With at least 5 national championship contenders in the league, it is going to be very difficult for a team to run the gauntlet in the conference because of the demanding nature of every team's schedule. 

#9 South Carolina for example, has a brutal 5 game stretch during the season where they play #6 Georgia, followed by #3 LSU in the Bayou, then #23 Florida in the Swamp, and finally games against Tennessee and #10 Arkansas back home in Columbia. Yes that's right, the Gamecocks could conceivably play 3 top 10 teams in a 5-week span. Talk about tough sliding. 

Meanwhile, LSU, who lost in the National Championship Game to Alabama last year after beating the Crimson Tide during the regular season, have a daunting conference slate as well. The Tigers have a stretch in October and November where they take on #23 Florida in the Swamp, return home for a game against #9 South Carolina, then travel to College Station to take on Texas A&M and the 12th man, and finally return home to play a title game rematch against #2 Alabama. And oh yeah, they have to finish off the season in Fayetteville against #10 Arkansas. Even an LSU fan, who is used to having a difficult schedule, will realize that it will be very tough to finish the year undefeated.

While the SEC clubs will be knocking each other out of the title race, teams from other leagues will have much easier paths to Miami. For instance, #7 Florida St. has just one top 15 team on their entire schedule (Clemson) and 5 of their 8 conference games are against teams who didn't finish with a winning record last year (Wake Forest, Boston College, Miami, Duke, and Maryland).

Aside from just scheduling, most importantly, there are a lot of quality teams outside of the SEC, specifically Oklahoma and West Virginia from the Big 12, and USC and Oregon from the Pac-12.

There is no way around it, Oklahoma had a lackluster 2011 season. Despite being the preseason number 1, the Sooners finished the year ranked outside the top 15, as they lost to Texas Tech at home for the first time since 1996 and lost to Oklahoma St. by 34 points, the Cowboys biggest beat down of the Sooners in the Bedlam rivalry since 1945.

However, the #4 Sooners are going to have a chip on their shoulders after their massively disappointing season last year, and with a potent offense, they are a very dangerous team. Landry Jones, who will likely end up in the top 5 in college football history in both career yards and touchdowns, is as good as any quarterback in the country and he will lead a Sooners offense as dynamic as any in the nation.

The other Big 12 team that could cause some trouble and is a sleeper pick for the National Championship is #11 West Virginia, as the Mountaineers have an electrifying offensive attack. We all know that Dana Holgorsen loves to put points up on the board and there is little doubt in anybody's mind that the Big 12 newcomers will be able to do just that.

Geno Smith, who set the West Virginia passing yards record last year, has two of the best threats in the country on the outside of the field with Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin. Austin, who was one of just 8 receivers to catch 100 balls last season, is as quick as any receiver in the country and he and Smith form arguably the most lethal duo in all of college football.

Luckily for the Mountaineers, they get #22 Kansas St., #20 TCU, and #4 Oklahoma all at home in Morgantown.

Once Matt Barkley announced his decision to return to Southern Cal for his senior year, the Trojans were going to be one of the most popular picks, if not the most popular pick, to win the National Title. Although #1 USC do not have a lot of depth, as they are still feeling the ill effects of the NCAA sanctions placed on them in 2010, they have a majority of their starters returning on both sides of the ball.

Led by safety T.J. McDonald, the Trojans defense will be better than people expect it to be, but with all the star power on the offense end of the ball, the defense doesn't have to be Alabama-like.

With the addition of Penn St. transfer Silas Redd, USC will have a strong running game to go along with the best receiving core in college football, as Robert Woods and Marquise Lee are big-time playmakers on the outside of the field.

Few schools can lose their starting quarterback (Darron Thomas) as well as their all-time leading rusher (LaMichael James) and return the next season as a top 5 club, but that is exactly the position the #5 Oregon Ducks are in, and they could very well be better than they were last season.

Marcus Mariota, who dazzled for the Ducks at their spring game, won the starting QB job over Bryan Bennett this summer, and the dual threat redshirt freshman is the perfect fit for the Ducks offense, as he can make plays with both his arm and his feet.

Although LaMichael James will no longer be in the backfield for the Ducks, Kenjon Barner is as good as a replacement as you will find in college football. Only three running backs in the FBS, who had as many carries as Barner, had more yards than the Oregon back, showing that with more rushing opportunities, Barner can run for a lot of yards.

Finally, the Ducks have the best home run hitter in all of college football with De'Anthony Thomas. The speedster can make a huge play any time he touches the ball with his electrifying quickness, as he showed in the Rose Bowl with his 91-yard touchdown run as well as his 64-yard touchdown run in his only two carries of the game.

Finally, the two SEC teams who are most likely to win the National Title, #2 Alabama and #3 LSU, have a lot of question marks.

Although Alabama will once again have a very solid defense, there is no way the Crimson Tide will be able to replace 6 defensive players, 3 of which were selected with the first 25 picks in the NFL draft, that easily. Not only are they going to miss key components of their secondary with cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick and safety Mark Barron gone, but the Tide are going to struggle without linebackers Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw, as the Crimson depended on the ball-hawkers to make so many tackles and plays around the field.

LSU was hit with a serious blow to their championship dreams when Heisman Trophy candidate Tyrann Mathieu was kicked off the team due to his violation of the team's substance abuse policy. Anybody who watched LSU's season last year will tell you that you can't underestimate the impact that Mathieu had on the Tigers run to the BCS title game. Although the Honey Badger was not even the best cover corner on the team last year, no player in the country made more game changing plays then Mathieu. With an offense that is not anywhere near as potent as others in college football, the Honey Badger made play after play either by forcing a turnover or returning a punt on special teams to keep LSU in games, and his absence will definitely be felt.

A lot of questions remain about this upcoming college football year, and I am as pumped as anybody for the season to begin. Although we will have to wait until January to see who is holding the Crystal Ball as the BCS National Champion, I think its fairly safe to assume one thing about the title winner; It will not be a team out of the Big East.