UNC is going to be just fine

UNC opened up in the Bayou of Louisiana against Tulane University with a 95-75 win. I'll be the first one to admit I had so many questions about this team, this program. After coming up short in heartbreaking fashion just a couple months ago in the National Championship game there is so much left to be sorted out. Although it was a game that UNC should win, tonight showed who the Tar Heels will be. The Tar Heels opening up on a road is a cruise control win showed that they are going to keep being resilient. It's no debate that they miss Brice Johnson and Marcus Paige. How can you not miss a First Team All-American and the heart of your heart for the past four years? However, the Tar Heels talked all off season about this being a season fueled by avenging that loss to Villanova. They have spoke all summer and fall about the bad taste they have from that game and how it is going to push them through this season, I can't disagree with the way they looked tonight. Joel Berry II and Justin Jackson looked the part of Paige and Johnson. They need to be for this Tar Heel team to be successful. The duo combined for 50 points and more importantly were the calming forces for the team. Anytime the games momentum went Tulane's way Berry or Jackson was there to make a big shot. Jackson and Berry did what they need to do, what they expect themselves to do, but other Tar Heels made promising contributions.

Tony Bradley for starters. Bradley, the lone McDAA freshman was huge tonight. His first half was great. He plays just like Brice Johnson and looks to be another great big to come through the Tar Heel program. Isaiah Hicks is always overlooked, but he was the most impressive outside of Berry and Jackson. Hicks is going to grab rebounds and be efficient around the rim, that's a given, but what stuck out to me was the way he defended. Hicks has been known as a foul happy player during his career and tonight was definitely a refreshing change in his style of play. He also hit a couple jump shots which will only help UNC's offensive flow. Meeks was his usual self, up and down at times but he always rebound and had a QUIET 15 and 7. Kenny Williams played a great role defensively and on the boards for the Heels as he got his first start of his career due to the absence of Theo Pinson. Nate Britt was Nate Britt, reliable. The freshman all looked well except for Seventh Woods who looked nervous at times but that shouldn't be something to be concerned about. The player that is probably the most of overlooked on this team is Luke Maye, he was a monster on the boards. 

All in all it's just game one and the optimism from me will  likely fluctuate more than the Dow Jones after a Trump election. But this team will be fine. They will struggle at times but come ACC play they should be close to getting Pinson back and will be a top 15 to top 10 caliber team. This team can make another run and try to get redemption. Also, it is great to have College Basketball back, one of the better time of the year in sports. Judging by the games on opening night, it should be a good one.

Let's revisit my CFB preview

At the end of August I was one of many who wrote a piece previewing and predicting the outcome of the College Football season. I want to preface this piece by saying one thing. Man was I wrong on so many fronts, but I am not ashamed by it one bit. This is proof that sports are unpredictable and the imperfections prove to be pure. This season has three weeks left, THREE! It has already been an incredible year and we still have three weeks of what could be filled with an enormous amount of chaos.
Jumping right into it here is where I was wrong. I was wrong for picking Dalvin Cook as the Heisman winner for more than the obvious reasons. The obvious being that while FSU may be a good team, they aren't amongst the elite and have no shot at the title which I think you need to have. Whether that is fair or not is another discussion. Also, Clemson is running the table which is the speculation I put on Cook winning the Heisman. Finally, another reason I was wrong is due to the fact that we finally know what type of coach Jimbo Fisher is, he is a quarterback first coach and he is going to ride his guy to the end. FSU had the perfect opportunity this year to ride Cook over and over again. Instead of taking their poor OL and focusing on run blocking and riding your horse, you have depended on a redshirt freshman in Francois to lead your team behind a terrible passblocking OL. So that's that and I was wrong on that. I already put out my take on this but I'll reiterate, Lamar Jackson should win the Heisman and it shouldn't even be a debate.
I was also wrong in the ACC. While my UNC pick for the coastal is a hurricane played game away from absolutely being a reality, the Tar Heels are still not dead even though I believe they will not get lucky enough to make it to the ACC title game. However FSU being a little less than what I thought they would be has led to me missing the prediction as the ACC winner. Clemson will win out and go to be college football playoff.
The next wrong prediction of mine was the Pac 12. I will admit I downplayed Washington going into the year, I completely overlooked them and I'm so happy they've proven me wrong. Washington is an exciting team to watch. It's Boisie State in purple and gold while also having better personnel. They are fun to watch. The are currently sitting at number four and barring an upset, should win out and go to the playoff.
Finally, I was kinda wrong of the SEC. While technically my picks are still in place I was still wrong. First of all Florida will not and does not deserve to win the East. I hope somehow UT or even UK make it into the SEC title game. While all three will be walking into an absolute blood bath my gators do not deserve to win and over the next three weeks of the season will prove this true.

Now let's talk about where I was right. My Big Ten and Big 12 prediction were almost perfect. OU is going to end up winning the Big 12 and my Michigan over Ohio State is still in play. Ohio State could definitely shake things up and knock off Michigan but I think the Wolverines will run the table.

We have three weeks left in he regular season and just like the rest of you I can't wait to see what unfolds. At this point I'm rooting for absolute chaos. The way the world is going right now it all but seems inevitable.

Florida is in trouble

The fan in me is coming out and I am going completely against my hot takes article from a couple weeks ago. I honestly don't care. Many of you probably could care less, but here it is, the Florida Gators are in trouble and downward spiraling in a hurry. Coach McElwain was brought in to change one thing, the offensive level of play for Gators football. None would care about the facilities, or the culture of the program, or even losing if the Gators would just be able to score. Problem is, the offense hasn't improved at all. Okay I take that back, with Will Grier this offense looked amazing, very complex, moving the ball at will, and all other things considered to be needed for a good offense. But Grier is gone, we can argue til the cows come home about that situation, but the problem is, is that he is never coming back. Until this past Saturday Coach McElwain had won every game with HIS starting quarterback so it was hard to argue with the ugly wins. All that has changed. This team lost its first game with their QB and the problems can no longer be ignored. They have stepped up and beat one good team in his tenure so far and it just so happened to be a night game, in the swamp, with Grier. They have yet to win a meaningful game on the road, they have looked poor in every game this season outside of Kentucky and Missouri, every game. They lost the last four out of five games to end the season last year and guess what, I fear the same will happen this year. If I am being quite honest, I predict the gators will lose the next three games of the season which will put them at 6-6 heading to a terrible bowl, where they could even lose that one. The defense is next level, they have studs all over the field, but they have been bit by injuries and stay on the field too long to have the energy to be lock down. The Gators are in trouble and as a fan it is sad to see. Even if they do muster up a win this weekend they will lose to LSU and FSU, miss out on the SEC title game and lose their bowl game. I believed in McElwain, last year he took risks and at least went out swinging, this year he seems in over his head, he says the right things, but even he seems worried. The offense is terrible I don't care how you want to spin it, you have to be able to put a better product than Muschamp did and right now he hasn't. Outside of the six games with Grier this team has been 10-6 post Will Grier and could easily be 6-10 since then, maybe worse. To top it off, he is starting Austin Appleby at QB this weekend against South Carolina. I've already seen that, he looked terrible agaisnt Tennessee, and below average in his win the week after agaisnt Vanderbilt. I understand that him and Del Rio "have experience," but their experience stinks and every one knows it. It seems to me like he is in over his head and is making safe decisions so that he can explain himself after he has a terrible year next year and gets canned. He came in with confidence and has since lost it. The program has lost it already. When you have one job to do being hired you better do that one job, because it is not going over well in Gainesville. I hope for the best, but it seems as if all is lost.

One of the Heisman candidates is stealing votes from those who have a shot.

Here it comes again, every year the Heisman race becomes more and more of a JOKE. It's like a broken record on repeat and the hype surrounding it keeps it continuing. If you have been keeping up with most college football media outlets the four Heisman front runners are as followed; Jake Browning, Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson, and Jabrill Peppers.
I'll go ahead and be the one to say it. It's not a popular nor a well received take by me, but Jabrill Peppers is not a Heisman candidate. I understand where everyone is coming from with this pick, but the days of a defensive player winning the Heisman are longgg gone. The game is offensive friendly and football is better for it. By no means am I discrediting Jabrill Peppers as a football player.  He is a first round draft pick with elite and unique talents. A Heisman trophy winner, he is not. Yeah he has scored some touchdowns on offense, yeah he returns punts for touchdowns, you know who else did? Devin Hester, minus the offensive touchdowns, and had Miami put him in goal line/red zone situations I would bet his speed and athletic ability would've correlated to him scoring some offensive touchdowns. Most recently, Sammy Watkins. I understand he wasn't a defensive player first, however here me out. Watkins return kick off returns and punts just like Peppers, if we want to get into so did CJ Spiller. Both were given the recognition they deserve, but not Heisman winners. Oh, and keep in my mind, those were offensive studs on great teams and they still didn't get it. Even with the bias being on offensive players.
Want more?
Okay, Jabrill Peppers is a defensive back/safety/linebacker, in fact, this year he has lined up at linebacker and safety more so than last year. I'll go ahead and spit some facts really quick. Michigan plays a zone defense. Which is why Jabrill Peppers has a high number of tackles. He is there at the second level as a fourth and fifth linebacker on running plays and short route passes. That's not arguable. Here comes the fun part. Call me a homer but I'm going to use Jalen Tabor as my argument. Let me finish it first please.
Defensive Career Stats
Jabrill Peppers:
2014- 8 tackles, 0 INT, 0 FF, 0 FR(3 games played)
2015- 45 tackles, 0 INT, 0 FF, 0 FR(12 games played)
2016- 44 tackles, 0 INT, 0 FF, 0 FR(through 8 games)
Jalen Tabor:
2014- 31 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF, 2 FR
2015- 40 tackles, 4 INT (2 for TD), 0 FF, 0 FR
2016- 12 tackles, 3 INT (1 for TD), 0 FF, 0 FR

Jalen plays in a man to man scheme being left 1 on 1 80%+ of the time he is on the field. I get this isn't a career long achievement award but for a man who is a defensive player first while also keeping in min the defensive schemes they play in, his numbers don't match those of Tabor who even missed a game this year. Tabor has put up a 1/4 of Peppers point total without having the benefit of his coach letting him return punts or line him up inside the 10 and run jet sweeps or have a wildcat package for him. Tabor is a first round draft pick as well and I'm not going to go as far in saying Tabor is a better overall football player than Peppers, but I will say is Tabor isn't even close to being thought of to be a Heisman candidate and his team has one loss. (Nor should he be a Heisman candidate). I understand Peppers is playing mainly LB this year but the argument is still valid. For him to have an argument for the Heisman his defensive numbers HAVE to be godly, and they aren't. So why Peppers? I get it guys, the Heisman isn't supposed to go to the best offensive player on one of the best teams, it's meant to go to the best football player. While in theory that sounds good, it's simply not the case. Football is just like any other sport. You score more than the other team, you win. If Peppers was taking balls to the house on defense and playing more than 10% of the snaps at RB for Michigan.  I might start considering it. It's a sexy and different choice for Heisman which is why some people have jumped on, but it's not practical or correct. Lamar Jackson, Jake Browning, Deshaun Watson have a much better argument and case than Peppers. Take Lamar off Louisville, are we even talking about them? Browning at Washington, does Washington beat Utah without him? Watson does nothing but win and has better numbers this year than he had at this point last year and many thought he should've won. What about Fournette? If LSU keeps winning it will be because of him and the numbers will be there with him missing 2-3 games. What about Jalen Hurts from Bama? Dude is a freshman and leads his team with great numbers. Want a defensive guy? How about Jonathan Allen from Bama, god-like numbers as a DL with points put up. And turnovers forced.
Moral of this rant is simple. Peppers is a phenomenal, franchise turning player. However, he is not a Heisman candidate, let him win all the other awards for special teams and the Butkus award, but don't let him steal votes from those who actually need them. Can we please stop this before he wastes a seat in New York.

Enough with the hot takes, NCAA football fans

Alright, pay attention! We have a HUGE problem in this country! Oh, no I'm not talking about our country's politics, I'm talking about our sports. We live in a society where not all teams are treated equally, where one loss can mean you're overrated or where one win can catapult you into the week 7 playoff standings. It is an issue that is in desperate need of fixing. I have a solution, stop living in the moment as a sports fan! I'm not innocent on this either, I often find myself going back and forth (especially for my teams). If this season has taught me anything it's that we cannot be prisoners of the moment.

Here are some examples and allow me to follow these examples with some reasons why people need to chill out on labeling every team. 

Remember Les Miles? While LSU has looked like a better, more cohesive unit since his departure I think they win all the games they have won so far with Miles. the point I'm getting at is the name Tom Herman. He was the hot name and overwhelming choice to be the head coach at the end of this year. I don't want to challenge his coaching ability because I have absolutely no credibility to do so, however, since then Houston has lost two games they had no business losing. Maybe it is because he is planning to leave, but can it also be that he can't motivate from week to week? Or maybe he doesn't have all the answers to college football like we thought? I don't know those answers, but right now I'm staying away from Herman if I'm LSU. He needs different personnel than what is at LSU right now anyways. He needs a fast offense line that can pass block well, not a slow run blocking O line. A quarterback would also help. 

How about Auburn? Three weeks ago they were a terrible team and Gus Malzahn was probably out the door. Now they at least look the part of a top 10 team and have been considerably better. Plus how bad were they to begin with? Their two losses are to Clemson and Texas A&M, granted both were at home but both are also at least top 15 teams. Again another example of living in the moment. Those are just two examples off the top of my head that show how we as fans can be prisoners of the moment far too often than not. 

Let me hit you with some reality and reason on why you again need to stop crowning champions and playoff teams after seven weeks. 

First of all I'm not buying that there will be a two loss team in the playoff, many analysts who get paid to talk about this sport and fans have already marked it down that a two loss team will get in and its easy to see who they are talking about. LSU, Auburn and Tennessee. It won't happen. LSU has the following left on their schedule in this order, Bama at home, Arkansas away, Florida home, and Texas A&M away. They have looked great the past three games, but remember who they have beat. Missouri, Southern Miss and Ole Miss; Ole Miss might be consider a good win, but I am saying no its not, two weeks ago I made the mistake saying Ole Miss is the second best team in the SEC and an outside playoff contender, but that loss at Arkansas ended their season. So Saturday night you had a deflated Ole Miss team who is playing for nothing against a rejuvenated LSU team who had their horse back. I won't take away from them that they have looked great, but let's be rational about their wins. Then you have Auburn. Auburn looks better than anyone in the SEC outside of Bama. They have two losses though and have this as their remaining schedule, Ole Miss away, Vandy at home, Georgia away, Bama A&M home and Bama away. All look to be relatively easy outside of Bama. Auburn has the best chance out of anybody if their is a two loss team to get in. Tennessee has the easiest schedule of the three two loss SEC teams, but they could possibly not win their division. However, as bad as the fan in my thinks Florida winning out, reality is different. Tennessee's chance to make it in is that A&M continues to win, Florida loses one more game, and they somehow pull off an upset in the SEC title game. 

The biggest reason why I don't see it happening is that only an SEC team can get in with two losses and all of these scenarios would have Bama losing at least once. It won't happen. LSU would have to win out and hope Bama also loses to Auburn. Auburn would have to win out, and I just gave you the scenario for Tennessee, who I even think is losing one more game, but that is for another conversation. 

Here is another reason why it won't happen. Unless absolute chaos happens it is looking more and more like the PAC 12 is going to have an undefeated team, the Big 12 has two teams undefeated right now that could make the possibility of having an undefeated team possible. The ACC has Clemson playing their biggest game of the year this week against FSU and if they are to get past that, they will win out and go. The Big Ten has Michigan and Nebraska right now and both look like they are headed for an undefeated title game barring a loss by either one. Look, I know it sounds cool, but it won't happen, no way a two loss team gets in. Ohio State could end up with a Big Ten title and one loss, Bama could have one loss and an SEC title if the cards fall right if they slip against LSU, Louisville needs Clemson to lose twice, but they could have one loss and an ACC title. Sorry but too much has to happen and I don't care how great they look right now, it just isn't enough for me to say that its almost certain there will be a two loss team. 

There is SO MUCH that is still going to happen before November 30th comes around. The top ten, hell the top 25 is going to be dramatically different. Can we just agree to enjoy and take the wins and losses for what there worth? They are apart of an overall resume that can be debated on after the regular season and conference championships are decided. For now, stop being a prisoner of the moment.

NBA is almost back...I'm here for it

MLB postseason is starting to reach its end, the NCAA and NFL football seasons are in full swing, so why not get ready to add another sport to the already full plate of a sports fan. The NBA season begins October 25th and I for one could not be more excited. The NBA is often looked at as boring and methodical. Lack of defense and too heavy leagues are the reasons I usually get from the uninterested. This is not for those people. This is for those who appreciate the profound skill of these professional basketball players.
Let's see where do I start?! There are so many storylines going into this particular season. Kevin Durant is on the Warriors in case you haven't heard! (sarcasm). The West is deep, but due to a spread of good teams, few elite teams. The East is a lot more interesting and gradually getting deeper as a conference. Two of the leagues big market teams project to be "interesting" in the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers. Oh and that guy named LeBron James, he is and his team are poised to defend the title with NO pressure whatsoever on them.

So let's have some predictions shall we? I'll give you my predictions for the upcoming NBA season. If these are anything like my college football or NFL predictions go ahead and start laughing.

Western Playoff Teams (not by seeding):
Warriors
Clippers
Thunder
Spurs
Trail Blazers
Grizzlies
Rockets
Jazz
Eastern Playoff Teams (not by seeding):
Cavs
Raptors
Celtics
Pacers
Knicks
Bulls
Hawks
Pistons/Bucks/Heat
Western Conference Finals:
Warriors vs. Spurs
Eastern Conference Finals:
Cavs vs. Celtics
NBA Finals:
Warriors vs. Cavs Round 3
NBA Champion:
Cavs

MVP: LeBron James
Coach of the Year: Brad Stephens/Bill Donovan
Scoring Title: Russell Westbrook
Comeback Player: Blake Griffin
Rookie of the Year: Kris Dunn

The popular pick for MVP is Westbrook but I'm not buying it. His team will be a low seed and I think  a secocnd round exit on the playoffs. LeBron hasn't held the MVP trophy in a while and he is playing with NO pressure at all for the first time in his whole career, that's frightening.
Go ahead and call me bias on the Celtics, I know they haven't made it out of the first round the past two years but this isn't about experience. They have a deep roster and added veteran talent and have one of the top 5 coaches in the league. I have been wishing the past two years for a playoff birth from them and now I am expecting a 2 or 3 seed.
Westbrook will barely win the scoring title while also having a terrible FG percentage. Harden was my next pick for that title and I think he now goes from one of the best SG to one of the best PG. the Rockets may give up 100 points every night, but they will score 115.
Kris Dunn is my pick for ROTY only because Jaylen Brown won't get the minutes to as well as Brandon Ingram. I did not agree with the Jaylen Brown at number 3 for the Celtics, but man was I wrong and the world will soon see why. This kid will be around for a long time. He might end up being the best one out of this whole draft. By the way, the Timberwolves will be good but I don't see them beating out the Jazz and Rockets for the final two spots. I wouldn't be surprised if they make it in though.
Finally, the Warriors will have bumps and chemistry issues. The shots are going to come from KD and Curry plain and simple, I want to see how that sits with Draymond and Klay as time passes. But they will find their way and make it to the Finals again. That's where the Cavs show how and why they won last year. It's about size and pace of play. LeBron is going to again dictate the pace of game and punish them in the paint even more so than he did last Finals. They have no answer. If the Warriors are hot shooting throughout the series then I could see them winning it all but I think the Cavs play too good of defense for that to happen. The Cavs have no pressure at all even though they are the ones defending the crown. The Warriors have everything to lose, including KD. Here is my theory, take it as you may, but if the Warriors lose, KD will leave. If they win, he will stay and take less money for Curry to resign as well. A lot of intriguing storylines heading into this season to say the least. Can't wait to see how it plays out.

The SECOND BEST time of the year in sports is happening right now

In case you are misinformed or late to the party. Sports are at one of its two peaks right now. It's obvious that sports go on all year long, but there are two primetime periods for the sports world and one is happening right now. Baseball is in its postseason and about to begin their version of the final four which are the league championship series. You have both college football and the NFL in the middle of their respective seasons. One is halfway over and one is a week beyond a quarter of the way over with. Finally, in roughly two weeks the NBA is back which will be followed by college basketball.

So many good storylines going on in each of the big three respective sports as well. In the MLB postseason you have the dominant Cubs continuing to grow and pursue a title, the Blue Jays have let go of a horrible September and can't lose, the Indians battling injuries just manhandled the favored Red Sox, and no one really cares about the Dodgers/Nationals series because the winner will have to lose to the Cubs. In college football the playoff picture is starting to come to frutition; however I believe the top 25 will look completely different come the first week of November. In the NFL you have only one undefeated team that remains where this point last year we still had what? 4-5 teams still undefeated? And then in basketball you have two seasons about to begin where you arguably just had the best NBA Finals to recent date happen as well as the best national championship game in NCAA. I know what some of you are saying. Umm Kyle, how does it get better? It's simple, March. March through May is by far the best time for sports and if you disagree then we'll just have to agree on disagreeing even though you're wrong. Be excited sports fans and enjoy. Unless your teams suck like mine. Then just try to live vicariously through others.