Football Future-see 2012: Week 3

Record

Week 1…..8-1

Week 2…..5-0

Week 3…..2-3

Overall..…15-4

Review/Preview:
A perfect week already. I had Florida over A&M by 4. They won by 3. Kansas State laid a heavier beating on Miami than I predicted. Savannah State kept the game close for about fifteen seconds against FSU. I had LSU winning 42-10…they won 41-3. And Georgia went into “the Zou” and left with the W. Yeah, I picked a couple of easier games and no real upsets. But that changes this week. I’ve got two upsets on the board this week, with two all-SEC games, to SEC-non-conference games, and the obligatory Notre Dame report, because apparently if you choose to cover college football you have to mention Notre Dame at least once every ten minutes…Notre Dame.

The Games:

1 Alabama at Arkansas.....CORRECT

Arkansas stumbled and then tumbled. They tripped up against Louisiana-Monroe in overtime, and then fell from #8 to unranked in one week. QB Tyler Wilson was injured in the game, and his status is not yet known for Saturday. Alabama, though, doesn’t care. The Tide ripped through Michigan in week one and then showed mercy to Western Kentucky in week two. I doubt very seriously that Saban and his team are looking past Arkansas and at their next opponent: Florida Atlantic.
FINAL SCORE: Alabama 41, Arkansas 21

18 Florida at 23 Tennessee.....INCORRECT

Here is your first upset special, if you choose to call it that. I think Tennessee is better than Florida in almost every aspect of the game, and especially at QB. Tyler Bray is a beast. Florida settled on a quarterback, went to Kyle Field, and beat Texas A&M in a rather close game. The momentum from that win may carry the Gators, but at Knoxville, look for UT to W-I-N.
FINAL SCORE: Tennessee 28, Florida 17

Florida Atlantic at 7 Georgia.....CORRECT

Florida Atlantic is 1-1 on the year, with a 4-point-win over Wagner and a 14-point-loss to Middle Tennessee. They play Georgia on Saturday, and then they go to Alabama next week. In other words, it’s not a good time to be an FAU fan. Georgia walked out of Columbia proving the doubters wrong and hanging 41 points on SEC-newcomer Missouri. Georgia is getting better, having averaged 43 points per game this season. As the suspended defensive players return you’ll see just how strong these Dawgs actually are.
FINAL SCORE: Georgia 56, Florida Atlantic 13

14 Texas at Ole Miss.....INCORRECT
Here is your other upset special for the week. First glance, and historical knowledge, would say to take Texas all the way. But Ole Miss is averaging 283 rushing yards and 268 passing yards per game, totaling to nearly 39 points per. Texas is not nearly as balanced. The Longhorns give up only about 10 points per game while Ole Miss is giving up 19, but this game will still be closer than you might think. Given that it is in Oxford, and it’s the first time in a long time that Texas has stepped into an SEC stadium, I think the potential is all over this game for an upset.
FINAL SCORE: Ole Miss 24, Texas 21 in OT

20 Notre Dame at 10 Michigan State.....INCORRECT
This may be the best game of week three. Notre Dame is energized and has the ND faithful really hoping for a great season. Michigan State is like a blue collar worker. No one is really paying them the attention they should be getting. Well, after this week, that changes. Sparty will knock off Notre Dame, cement themselves in the top ten, and then look to start owning the Big Ten.
FINAL SCORE: Michigan State 28, Notre Dame 24

Football Future-see 2012: Week 2

Record
Week One ..... 8-1
Week Two .... 5-0
Overall ......... 13-1

The Games

Miami at 21 Kansas State .....CORRECT
This is a tough game to pick, because I'm not completely sold on Kansas State, but neither am I sold on Miami. I think the 'Canes give this one a good go, but K-State should pull away in the fourth.
FINAL SCORE: Kansas State 27, Miami 20

Savannah State at 6 Florida State .....CORRECT
I know this is an easy call, but it's more of an ego thing than anything. I'm trying to see how close I can get on this score. Savannah State just gave up 84 points to Oklahoma State, who was picked by only 67.5 points. FSU is picked by 70.5 points. The Seminoles have never really been known for their mercy, and they may just hang 100 points on Savannah State, but I have a feeling the foot comes ff the gas sometime around halftime.
FINAL SCORE: Florida State 77, Savannah State 0

7 Georgia at Missouri .....CORRECT
Georgia didn't exactly look great in scoring 45 points against Buffalo. Then again, it was the first game, a few players were suspended and hurt, and it took the team some time to work out the kinks. Georgia's defensive front is likely to win the battle along the line of scrimmage. It'll be a nail-biter, but the Dawgs win in the end.
FINAL SCORE: Georgia 28, Missouri 24

Washington at 3 LSU .....CORRECT
This may be a surprisingly tough non-conference game for LSU, but I doubt it. QB Zach Mettenberger has the LSU faithful full of hope. I'd say this game stay close until the half, after which LSU steadily pulls away.
FINAL SCORE: LSU 42, Washington 14

24 Florida at Texas A&M .....CORRECT
The Aggies get their first taste of SEC action, welcoming the somewhat anemic Gators to Kyle Field. Florida settled on a QB, and although they weren't great against Bowling Green, Florida has still played a game to get things settled don on both sides of the ball. Texas A&M saw their first game postponed thanks to Hurricane Isaac. They've not had the chance to work out the kinks. I think this gives Florida the advantage.
FINAL SCORE: Florida 28, Texas A&M 24

Football Future-see 2012: Week 1

The Reason:

Every college football season one of my favorite things to do is try to predict the winners of several games. I usually do five games per week, but opening week gets ten. Looking back at past seasons, I’ve been pretty good and picking straight up winner/loser. That said, it took until last season for me to have the “perfect week” of 5-0. Then I did it again, and again, and again. I had four perfect weeks last season.

So….the rules… I pick the games, and tell you who will win. By that, I mean I predict a score. The score selection is just for fun. If I pick Georgia to beat Buffalo 56-10, and Georgia actually wins 48-14, I still count that as a correct pick.

As the weekend progresses I'll update this post to account for correct and incorrect picks. With any luck (which I don't believe in) I'll have ten correct picks this week. Let the game(s) begin!

The Games:

9 South Carolina at Vanderbilt - CORRECT

An SEC East showdown that “highlights” the opening evening of play for the 2012 season. James Franklin has given the Commodores reason to believe, and South Carolina is carrying a chip on their shoulder from last year. The Gamecocks need a fast start and some breaks to go their way to reach Atlanta in December. Vanderbilt is just looking to keep building momentum.

FINAL SCORE: South Carolina 28, Vanderbilt 21

Texas A&M at Louisiana Tech **POSTPONED until Oct. 13**

SEC Newcomer Texas A&M faces a decently tough challenge in week one, as Louisiana Tech is being talked about as a BCS dark horse this season. A&M, though, now plays in the premiere BCS conference, which means you have to bring a premiere BCS defense to the table to hang with your new conference mates.

FINAL SCORE: Texas A&M 24, Louisiana Tech 20

24 Boise State at 13 Michigan State - CORRECT
This Boise State team is vastly different from the Boise State team that faced off against Georgia in a hastily thrown together kickoff game last season. The bulk of the offensive firepower is gone. Michigan State is breaking in a new QB, but that shouldn’t stop Sparty from beating up the Broncos.
FINAL SCORE: Michigan State 27, Boise State 14

Buffalo at 6 Georgia - CORRECT
Okay, so we know I’m a Georgia fan, and as such Georgia always ends up on my prediction list, regardless of opponent. Buffalo might be a decent football team, but Georgia is coming out of the gate with something to prove. The last line I saw on this game has UGA as a 37 point favorite. Maybe Mark Richt takes the binders off the offense this year and lets the team score some points.
FINAL SCORE: Georgia 56, Buffalo 10

Notre Dame at Navy - CORRECT
Rick Reilly caused a bit of a firestorm when he wrote that Notre Dame was not deserving of its perks. I agree with him, but I also understand that Notre Dame didn’t heap unto itself those things, but they were given to the Irish by others. Now, Notre Dame goes to Dublin to face off with Navy. There is gimmickry to this move, but it will still be fun to watch. Also, the game kicks off at 9am Eastern time, so that means that September 1st will be college football all day long. I’d love to pick Navy, but I think ND has enough weapons on offense to win this one.
FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 27, Navy 20

14 Clemson vs. Auburn - INCORRECT

Call me crazy if you want, but this is your upset alert game. Clemson, like Florida State…and frankly every team in the ACC…hold a spot in my mind of “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Auburn is breaking in a new coordinator or two, but their new Defensive Coordinator is Brian Van Gorder, formerly of the Atlanta Falcons, who averaged nearly 11 wins per season in his tenure with the team. That’s not easily accomplished in today’s NFL. Auburn hopes that experience translates well to the speed of the SEC. Still, look for Auburn to pull the upset over Clemson.

FINAL SCORE: Auburn 26, Clemson 24

Tennessee vs NC State - CORRECT
The Volunteers have a coach on the hot seat. Derek Dooley needs a good season. It doesn’t have to be a national title or even a conference title. But he needs at least 9 wins, maybe 10, and a solid bowl game berth to solidify his job security. NC State gets a national spotlight game to start the season. I don’t look for the Wolfpack to make much noise in the ACC, but who knows. A win here could start the ball rolling on a good season for either team. Still, look to Rocky Top for the win.
FINAL SCORE: Tennessee 24, NC State 17

Hawaii at 1 USC - CORRECT
The Men of Troy come off their postseason ban and vault immediately to the #1 Spot in the polls. It doesn’t seem like that long ago that Hawai’i was playing big time football, but since the Sugar Bowl debacle against Georgia, the Warriors have fallen off the map. Don’t look for USC to show any mercy in this contest, as Lane Kiffin wants to establish dominance over the polls early.
FINAL SCORE: USC 63, Hawaii 7

8 Michigan vs 2 Alabama - CORRECT
It is safe to say that this game is the marquee match-up of the weekend. The defending National Champion Crimson Tide square off with the surging Wolverines. Michigan wants to establish itself as a Top Ten power, and to do that requires at least not letting Alabama run roughshod over you. The joke at the end of last season was that the LSU team bus was stuck at the stadium, after the NC Game, because an Alabama fan painted a 50-yard line in front of it. The Tide can do that to you. The scary thing is, they might be better this year than last year.
FINAL SCORE: Alabama 31, Michigan 20

Georgia Tech at 16 Virginia Tech
The big ACC match-up of opening weekend pits the Jackets and the Hokies against one another. Georgia Tech wants to prove it belongs, but Frank Beamer’s Hokies play a very-much smash-mouth style of defense. Georgia Tech likes to run the ball, as that is the staple o Paul Johnson’s offense, but against this defense that won’t be enough.
FINAL SCORE: Virginia Tech 27, Georgia Tech 17

2012 Record
Week 1 ........... 7-1

NFL Preview Edition: 2012

Training Camp has begun and the season comes not long after. Even though football’s off-season has grown shorter and shorter over the last few years, it’s still too long…for football fans, that is. We miss the touchdowns, the field goals, the smashmouth defenses and juggernaut offenses. We miss the Cinderella stories of teams who have no business reaching the playoffs getting hot and riding that momentum all the way to the Super Bowl.

This season, all roads lead to New Orleans and a date with destiny on February 3, 2013 in Super Bowl XLVII (that’s 47 for you non-roman-numeral types.) On that night, the champions of the NFC and AFC will meet in what will likely become the most watched television event of all time…a record no to be topped probably until Super Bowl XLVIII. You see, Super Bowls tend to have the highest viewing audience. Some people watch because they love the game. Some watch because they love the commercials.

So without further ado, let’s slam headlong into the playoff predictions that will surely prove false.

AFC Playoff Teams
The following list contains the teams that the Right Wing predicts will make the playoff for the AFC. Also included are a prediction of record and a synopsis of why we think they’ll make the playoffs.

The #1 Seed: New England Patriots, with a record of 13-3. The Patriots play in the AFC East, and while the Dolphins and the Bill are not yet a threat to them, the jets could possibly put up a fight, but don’t count on it.

The #2 Seed: Houston Texans, with a record of 12-4. The Texans play in a weak division and they’ll make the most of it. If this team had been able to make their playoff run with Matt Schaub last year instead of TJ Yates, we’d probably be talking about the Super Bowl Champion Houston Texans. But injuries are part of the game, so we’ll see how Houston rebounds.

The #3 Seed: Baltimore Ravens, with a record of 12-4. The Ravens play in one of the toughest divisions in the NFL. QB Joe Flacco has progressed well, but the defense has carried this team, and will continue to carry them…at least for this season.

The #4 Seed: Denver Broncos, with a record of 10-6. Denver made the free agent coup of the century, somehow convincing Peyton Manning, he of the potentially fragile neck, to shun a warmer weather team and come to the mile high city. The Broncos have a good cast of young players, and could make some noise in the playoffs.

The #5 Seed (wild card): Pittsburgh Steelers, with a record of 11-5. The Steelers will trade wins with the Ravens this year, and both Steelers and Ravens will sweep the Bengals and Browns. The Steelers have a good QB and a solid, though aging, defense. This could be the last hurrah for the Steelers as currently composed.

The #6 Seed (wild card): San Diego Chargers, with a record of 9-7. The Quarterback class of 2004 lands the top three QBs in the playoffs at the same time. Chargers QB Phillip Rivers is the only member of that Top 3 Class to not win a Super Bowl. The Chargers will be better this year than last, but it won’t translate to playoff success. Added bonus, 15-year-veteran Takeo Spikes is on the Chargers roster. He’s never even played in a playoff game. Let that sink in. He’s been in the league 15 years and never played in a playoff game.

Dark Horse: Kansas City Chiefs, with a record of 9-7. The Chiefs could very well go in over the Chargers. Their biggest issue last year was health. If the Chiefs stay healthy, they could make a playoff run this year.

Dark Horse #2: Buffalo Bills, with a record of 9-7. The Bills finished 6-10 last year, but they started 5-2. Injuries took their toll. But this last offseason the Bills added former #1 overall pick Mario Williams, and their defense looks formidable. If the offense can click, Buffalo will be on the fringe of the playoffs. (See Off The Cuff Predictions below.)

Dropping Out: Cincinnati Bengals, with a record of 8-8. The Bengals will take a step back this year, but they’re getting better, and could really challenge in the North if the roster comes together over the next two or three years.

How the Playoffs Will Play Out:
Wild Card Round: Baltimore over San Diego, Pittsburgh over Denver
Divisional Round: Baltimore over Houston, New England over Pittsburgh
Conference Final: Baltimore over New England


NFC Playoff Teams
The following list details the NFC teams we think will reach the playoffs. Also included are projected record and a synopsis of why they are where we think they are.

The #1 Seed: Green Bay Packers, with a record of 14-2. Green Bay is a machine, and a well-oiled one at that. Aaron Rodgers is one of the best QBs in the game, and the Packer offense is reaching juggernaut status. The only question is the defense, but Green Bay averaged scoring 35 points per game in 2011. Not many teams can hang with that potent an offense.

The #2 Seed: San Francisco 49ers, with a record of 12-4. The 49ers dominated the West last year, and will do much the same this year. QB Alex Smith is out to prove something, as he felt slighted by the team’s pursuit of Peyton Manning. San Francisco will once again win the West.

The #3 Seed: Atlanta Falcons, with a record of 11-5. The Falcons have a chance to wrestle the South Division away from reeling New Orleans, who took a beating from the bounty program allegations. The Falcons are 43-21 since Mike Smith and Matt Ryan came to town, but they’ve yet to win a playoff game. This team is too good for such a trend to continue.

The #4 Seed: New York Giants, with a record of 10-6. The defending Super Bowl champs weren’t a great team last season, but they got hot when it counted. Eli Manning proved he can be a clutch quarterback. The NFC East is a division that can produce two or three playoffs teams as easily as it can produce one that squeaks in.

The #5 Seed (wildcard): Dallas Cowboys, with a record of 9-7. Tony Romo finally guides the Cowboys to the playoffs, though as a wild card team. But don’t look for the surprises to end there. This Cowboys team could make some noise in the postseason.

The #6 Seed (wild card) Detroit Lions, with a record of 9-7. The Lions have to get their roster under control. Far too many players have been arrested, with CB Aaron Berry being arrested for the second time in a month just recently, leading to his release by the team. The Lions have a really good QB and the best WR in the game. Get the roster together and under control, though, and this team could eventually challenge Green Bay for NFC North supremacy.

Dark Horse: Carolina Panthers, with a record of 8-8. I know, a .500 team isn’t usually counted a dark horse, but Carolina may be one of the best .500 teams you’ll see. Cam Newton set records as a rookie and shows every indication that he’ll be better this year. I still think they miss the postseason this year, but watch out in the future.

Dark Horse #2: Seattle Seahawks, with a record of 9-7. Seattle will be the next best team in the NFC West, but they’ll still be three games back of San Fran. The Seahawks brought in Matt Flynn on a 3-year contract, but rookie QB Russell Wilson had the better showing in preseason game 1. If the QB situation is settled as quickly as possible, they could contend for a Wild Card spot. The defense alone is good enough for that.

Dropping Out: New Orleans Saints, with a record of 9-7. The Bountygate scandal proves too much for New Orleans to deal with. Head coach Sean Payton is out for the year on suspensions, and several players and coaches have felt the wrath of Roger Goodell. This year, the NFC South is the Falcons’ for the taking.

How the Playoffs Will Play Out:
Wild Card Round: Atlanta over Seattle, Dallas over New York
Divisional Round: Atlanta over San Francisco, Green Bay over Dallas
Conference Final: Green Bay over Atlanta

Super Bowl: Green Bay over Baltimore

Of-the-Cuff Predictions
Brandon Weeden will start game one of the 2012 season for the Cleveland Browns, barring injury. (NOTE: I’m leaving this one on my list, even though the Browns have already announced this. I wrote that sentence about two weeks before the announcement, and I’ve been delaying this preview edition until week two of the preseason.)

The Carolina Panthers will win 8 games, but none against Atlanta and New Orleans.

Buffalo will hand New England a loss this year.

Mocking the 2013 Draft
Yes, we’re nearly a year away from the 2013 NFL Draft, but if we’re predicting the playoffs that don’t start until January, surely we can take a stab at mocking the top ten picks in the draft. Obviously this is just conjecture. This long offseason between the Super Bowl and the start of preseason play leaves fans wanting for football information. So we make up games like this…

First Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars
Selection: Matt Barkley, QB, USC
Synopsis: Barkley is a solid QB, which Jacksonville needs. Sadly for Jacksonville (the city), Jacksonville (the team) may shortly be on their way to Los Angeles.
Who they should pick: Matt Barkley

Second Pick: Oakland Raiders
Selection: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
Synopsis: Oakland has a tendency to pick the wrong person at the wrong time. Not that Mingo is a bad pick, but given the needs of Oakland…I’m sure the Raiders would say “We’ve got Carson Palmer, so we’re good at QB.” Still, picking a QB at this point might be the better option.
Who they should pick: Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas

Third Pick: Miami Dolphins
Selection: Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU
Synopsis: The ends of LSU’s defensive line come off the board in back-to-back fashion. The Dolphins stand in dire need of a football team, but pass rushers is a certain area of importance.
Who they should pick: Sam Montgomery or Barkevious Mingo

Fourth Pick: Indianapolis Colts
Selection: Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia
Synopsis: Indy begins the defense rebuilding efforts. Don’t look for the Colts to be strong in 2012, meaning a high first rounder, which is where Jones projects. Jarvis Jones is a beast, recording 13.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss as a linebacker in Georgia’s 3-4 scheme which often saw him stepping up into almost a DE role.
Who they should pick: Jarvis Jones and don’t think twice

Fifth Pick: St Louis Rams
Selection: Robert Woods, WR, USC
Synopsis: The Rams have to get some perimeter help for Sam Bradford. If the Oklahoma QB continues to regress, though, don’t put it past the Rams to reach out and snag another QB right here.
Who they should pick: the best wideout on the board, or Tyler Wilson (QB-Ark) if Bradford falters

Sixth Pick: Minnesota Vikings
Selection: Keenan Allen, WR, California
Synopsis: Minnesota is also a threat to move...or was, before the state came through to keep the team in place. Now, they just have to solve a sick offense that can’t figure out how to score. They have Adrian Peterson, but without a threat on the edge, the running game will be nothing more than two yards and a cloud of dust.
Who they should pick: Robert Woods, if available

Seventh Pick: Arizona Cardinals
Selection: Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas
Synopsis: The Cardinals have Kevin Kolb, who has yet to prove his worth in light of his contract. Knowing that, the Cardinals front office decides that Wilson is a good fit, and with receivers like Fitzgerald and newcomer Michael Floyd, he’ll have a perimeter game that may be the best in the league.
Who they should pick: Wilson, or if he’s gone, Logan Thomas (QB-VT)

Eighth Pick: St. Louis Rams (from Washington)
Selection: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
Synopsis: The Rams hold Washington’s first round pick thanks to the Robert Griffin trade last draft. The Rams have to at least consider going offense-defense in round one when they have two picks. Lotulelei seems one of the best regarded defensive players in the 2013 class.
Who they should pick: another good option for the Rams would be Manti Te’o (LB-ND)

Ninth Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Selection: Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina
Synopsis: The Bucs have focused on defense lately, but you have to score bunches of points to win in the NFC South. Lattimore is a good value at nine, and gives them a strong running threat.
Who they should pick: if they stay with the defense mentality, David Amerson (CB-NCState) is a good pick here

Tenth Pick: Kansas City Chiefs
Selection: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
Synopsis: The third QB of the 2013 class goes to KC, who is over the Matt Cassel experiment. Jones has had a wonderful career at Oklahoma, and may translate well to the NFL. (Yes, I know I had Kansas City as a dark horse and going 9-7 this year. The middle of the pack will be pretty tight this year.)
Who they should pick: Get the QB while you can.

The Mid-Summer College Football Preview Edition

We are less than 60 days away from the first game of the 2012 college football season. Any cursory reading of my blog will prove that college football is probably my favorite sport. And now, with the number of 24-hour news channels and the internet sites, college football is a year-round venture. Whether it's students being kicked off teams for weapons charges (Isaiah Crowell) or coaches filing for bankruptcy (John L. Smith)...and that's just in the SEC.

So now it's time to put together the Right Wing Mid-Summer College Football Preview. Of course, I'll revise these picks a week or so before the season actually starts.

Preseason Conference Rankings (The Top 4):
4. Big XII
There is a total of ten teams in the Big XII, and even though the conference just lost Texas A&M and Missouri, they added TCU and West Virginia. The Big XII is a rather geographically contained conference...except WVU, which is over 800 miles from its nearest conference rival.
Key Games: Michigan vs Ohio State, Wisconsin vs Nebraska

3. Big Ten
The Legend and Leaders (still horrible division names) contain some rather good teams. Penn State may get the death penalty, but Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Nebraska are all good. Ohio State, under the leadership of Urban Meyer, looks to bounce back strong as well.
Key Games: Oklahoma vs Texas, TCU vs West Virginia

2. PAC-12
USC is no longer postseason banned, meaning the PAC-12 has regained one of its power teams when it comes to making noise at the end of the season. Stanford will likely be down, but Oregon is still a strong team.
Key Games: Oregon vs Stanford, USC vs Oregon

1. SEC
Of course. Six straight National Championships, the last of which saw two SEC teams square off, and the addition of Texas A&M and Missouri, keeps this conference at the top of the ranking.
Key Games: Alabama vs LSU, Georgia vs South Carolina

PreSeason Top 10
For the Record, I hate Preseason top tens. So I'll be offering up something new this season, along with the Football Future-see posts, I'll provide my own weekly top ten, but not until week six. I figure it will take six weeks to get a clear picture of what each team is bringing to the table. So sometime after October 7, look for the Right Wing College Football Top Ten.
10. Arkansas
9. South Carolina
8. Michigan
7. West Virginia
6. Georgia
5. Oregon
4. Oklahoma
3. Alabama
2. USC
1. LSU

Conference Championship Games...or Champions
Some conferences have enough teams (12 or more) to justify a conference championship game under NCAA regulations. The conferences that don't tend to play a larger conference schedule (9 games instead of 8), to determine an overall winner. The Championship Games are predicted below, with the winner noted in italics.
ACC Championship Game: Florida State vs Virginia Tech
Big Ten Championship Game: Wisconsin vs. Michigan
Big XII Champion: Oklahoma
Big East Champion: Louisville
PAC-12 Championship Game: Oregon vs USC
SEC Championship Game: Georgia vs LSU

Way Way Way Way Too Early Bowl Projections:
National Championship Game: LSU vs. USC
Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs. Texas
Rose Bowl: Michigan vs. Oregon
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Florida State
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Louisville
Cotton Bowl: Arkansas vs. West Virginia
Chick-fil-A Bowl: South Carolina vs. Georgia Tech
Capital One Bowl: Alabama vs. Nebraska
Outback Bowl: Florida vs. Wisconsin
Gator Bowl: Vanderbilt vs. Michigan State

ObamaCare is Constitutional (from a certain point of view)

On September 20, 2009, during an interview with George Stephanopoulos, President Barack Obama said rather explicitly that the individual mandate was NOT a tax. On the morning of Thursday, June 28, 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that the individual mandate was constitutional...under the authority Congress has to lay and collect taxes.

Democrats are rejoicing. Nancy Pelosi says they made history. Apparently they are collectively forgetting that their leader, Barack Obama, said that the mandate was not what the Supreme Court said it was.

Personally, I was sick today. No, I was at work. I worked more than 8 hours today. But as more and more information came out, I grew more and more ill. At first, everyone reported that it had been struck down. I was happy. Then, the real news hit. The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of upholding the law. Chief Justice John Roberts, a typically reliable conservative, joined the liberal wing of the court in favor. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, not exactly known for her conservative views, stated that she would've allowed the mandate as part of the commerce clause. As it stands, the law passed as a part of Congress's taxing authority.

Understand this: The federal government has now been gifted a level of power never before seen in a government such as ours. The federal government can now legally mandate a private citizen purchase a specific product. If that citizen chooses not to, then they can be held liable and subject to a monetary fine.

This is different from auto insurance, so don't let anyone tell you that they are the same. Auto insurance is completely voluntary. If you purchase a car with the voluntary intent of driving on public roads then you must have auto insurance. If you live in a city where you don't need a car, or if you only plan to drive on your own property, nowhere near public roads, then you don't need insurance.

The individual mandate forces private citizens to purchase health insurance. Now, I'm all for people being insured. But if the purpose of this bill was to provide affordable insurance, then it seems to me we've gone about it the wrong way. If you want to control the price of insurance, you don't accomplish that by forcing people to buy insurance. My first step would've been tort reform and an elimination of frivolous lawsuits.

Then you can work on controlling the price and leading everyone toward getting insured. Now though, you have to buy insurance, and if you don't, maybe because you cannot afford it, you'll be fined. But remember, Obama said that is not a tax. The Supreme Court disagreed, but he said no tax.

By the way, this whole thing came about under some very nasty circumstances. The bill was rammed through Congress. Nancy Pelosi said we had to pass the bill so that we could find out what was in it (so much for transparency,eh?). John Conyers said it was authorized by the Constitution's non-existent Good & Welfare Clause. Pelosi, when questioned about what part of the Constitution authorized Congress to force private citizens to buy a product, responded "Are you serious? Are you serious?"

Yes, ma'am, we are serious. You changed the rules to pass the law by reconciliation. You treated every American as if we were too stupid to understand what you were doing. You lied to us. You passed off this bill under a deceptive guise. And now you have what you want. You can legally force private, once-free citizens to purchase a product under penalty of law.

What's next, fining someone for not buying enough vegetables? Fining someone for not buying the Chevy Volt? This is a Pandora's Box that Congress did not need to open.

I'm not a Republican by any stretch, but I'll say this. I hope, and pray, that Mitt Romney wins the White House and the the GOP takes both chambers of Congress. It's the only way to end this monstrosity before it's too late. If not, then mark this date down. Because this was the day that the Supreme Court delivered the ruling that will be most destructive to our future as a nation.

Obama vs. Romney

Mitt Romney secured the Republican Nomination for Presidential Candidate. Barack Obama will be the Democratic Party candidate, barring some cataclysmic change in the party. Ron Paul is still hanging on; flat out refusing to bow out of the race. I support most of Dr. Paul’s positions, though I fear him a bit too weak on foreign policy. But enough of that…

Now that we know who the candidates are (note that I’m being realistic, there is no way a third-party candidate wins in this country) let’s proceed to who should be our next President and why.

Barack Obama is currently serving as President. He was elected in 2008 and assumed office in January of 2009. Reading previous entries in this blog, you could easily see that I do not support President Obama. I find his policies disturbing. I believe him to be a Marxist, and by his own admission he gravitated toward Marxist professors in college.

The national debt was nearing $5.8 Trillion when George W. Bush took office in January 2001.
The national debt was $10.6 Trillion the day Obama took office in January 2009.
Today, with over seven months to go in Obama’s first term, the national debt is $15.7 Trillion.

Let’s do some math. That means that George Bush added $4.8 Trillion to the debt in eight years. Barack Obama has added $5.1 Trillion in less than four years.

What should’ve been the keystone legislation of the Obama White House, the Health Care overhaul, has been nothing short of disastrous for Obama. The legislation now sits before the Supreme Court, who will decide the Constitutionality of the Individual Mandate. If the Mandate is deemed Unconstitutional, the entire legislation may be thrown out. This is the same law that John Conyers (D-MI) told us was Constitutional under the Good and Welfare Clause (which doesn’t exist). This is the same law that Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told us had to be passed so we could find out what was in it, which was a direct contradiction of Obama’s own campaign promise of putting every bill online for five days prior to signing. That promise, by the way, remains mostly broken.

With the mandate going before the court, Obama stepped up the rhetoric, stating that it would be “unprecedented” and “extraordinary” for the Court to strike down a law. Apparently, the Constitutional Law professor forgot that the Supreme Court has been striking down laws since the early 1800s. He also warned of such power being wielded by unelected officials. Yet his own presidency, which was originally touted by the media as the paragon of transparency, is rife with czars and unelected officials put in place by executive fiat, with no Congressional oversight.

Prior to becoming president, Obama was a Senator for Illinois, and prior to that he was a state Senator. Along the way, it has been common practice for Obama (and not saying that no one else subscribes to this method) to dig up either legal problems from his opponents past or “character” issues to hurt them. His rise to state Senate saw his Primary opponent hit with “leaked” divorce records. In the general election, when facing Jack Ryan, Obama was in for a fight. That is, until records of Ryan’s divorce and custody battles hit the media. Two up, two down.

Enter present-day Frank Vandersloot, currently serving as a co-chair of national finance for the Romney Campaign. Vandersloot lives in Idaho and is the CEO of Melalucea, Inc. Uh-oh. He doesn’t support Obama…and let’s face it, Romney doesn’t have divorce records and the only “character” issue they’ve struck against him, a supposed bullying incident from 50 years ago, hasn’t stuck. So the Obama Campaign launches a series called “Behind the Curtain” that details the unscrupulous nature of Romney donors. Shortly after the “BTC” article, the Idaho County Courthouse near the Vandersloot residence received a request for court information about certain issues of Vandersloot’s past, including divorces and a work-related incident.

This is how Obama fights, so get used to it.

When it comes to other issues concerning Obama, it seems as though we have what is being dubbed a "Composite" President. He has several different versions of his conversion to Christianity, with no in depth knowledge of what he converted from. For over fifteen years, Obama's publisher listed him in publication materials as being born in Kenya. The publisher claimed it to be a "fact-checking" error, but even if that is the case, the material was provided by someone to be fact checked.

Mitt Romney, on the other hand, actually has executive experience. He was governor of Massachusetts. By Southern Republican standards, Romney is rather liberal. By national standards, Romney is actually fairly moderate. 

Romney's work for Bain Capital is the subject of anger for Democrats. He co-founded the investment firm in 1984. Businesses the Bain invested in would often endure layoffs soon after Bain entered the picture, but added jobs are difficult to estimate, as Bain was very private in dealing with their investors. Romney's personal wealth is accounted around $250 Million. That would make him one of the richest Presidents in history.

Of course, lately the left has decided that personal wealth makes you evil. The rich, who already shoulder more of the tax burden than anyone else, are accused of not paying their fair share. So obviously Romney is accused of being one of the evil rich. He "faux pas-ed" several months back by saying he liked firing people. While the wording was inappropriate, given the economic situation, I understand the sentiment. The greatest thing about a capitalist system is that people can pick and choose who provides them services and products. Deciding that someone will no longer provide you a good/service is akin to firing them, as they will no longer be paid by you.

I don't agree with all that Romney has done and some of his policies while governor don't sit well with conservatives. But his moderate stance will probably play well with Independents.

So the choice is this:

Obama: A self-proclaimed Marxist admirer who unable to run on merit, has to use his opponent's private lives to defeat them. He claims to not be a big spender, but he has added $5 trillion to the national debt. He's on pace to be the first President in history to suffer no net job growth in his first term. He claimed that his policies would cause energy costs to skyrocket (given that gas prices are nearly triple what they were when he took office, it's easy to see that to be the case) and that he sought to bankrupt the coal industry. In his first book, Obama referred to a six month stint in the private sector as time spent "behind enemy lines."

Romney: A man who has actually created jobs and has executive experience. Romney embraces the private sector as the driving force in job creation, not government. His moderate policies would chart a far better course for this nation than Obama.

Formula 1, New York, and the long lost Fifth Beatle

The Formula 1 season is a thing of beauty, so long as you don’t mind fly-away races in far-flung places like Singapore, Shanghai, Yeongnam, and Bahrain. The typical season starter, at least in my experience, is the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, New South Wales, Australia. From there, the season schedule twists and turns through Malaysia, China, and (sadly) Bahrain. After the race at Bahrain, the European schedule typically kicks off, with races at Catalunya, Monaco, and sometimes Istanbul Park.

This year, after Monaco, the boys with the fast cars go to Montreal, so at least it’s in alphabetical order. After the Canadian Grand prix it’s back to Europe, and more specifically, the European Grand Prix at Valencia. That’s right, Spain gets two Grands Prix within six weeks of each other.

The point is, the schedule keeps growing. When I first came into F1 in 2008, the schedule was comprised of 18 races, ending on November 2. This season, a mere four years later, the schedule is comprised of twenty races, ending on November 25. The reasoning behind this growth is simple, as Bernie Ecclestone (he of the “fifth Beatle” moniker) has realized the rich fields of the US can be tapped by F1. The 2012 season will ostensibly see the first US Grand Prix in many years, run on the Circuit of the Americas, currently under construction just southeast of Austin, Texas.

But we all know Bernie, and we know Bernie is a schemer. He has always wanted a race in New York City, or at least a race overlooking New York City. Well, recently he got his wish, as several factors came together to produce the Port Imperial Circuit, a street circuit on the west side of the Hudson. I’ll admit, I’m not much of a street circuit fan, but this one looks different. The streets in the US are wider than streets in Europe, so the overtaking chances will likely be higher. The course is a 3.2-mile, 19 turn monster with an overall elevation change of 150 feet, instantly giving it one of the greatest elevation changes on the calendar (Spa-Francorchamps has over 300 feet of elevation change).

Still, this is Bernie Ecclestone. Fifth Beatle has now reported that the New York race might not happen. He did the same thing with the Circuit of the Americas, reporting that it might not take place. He did the same thing, to an extent, with Yas Marina at Abu Dhabi. He’s a man who, in lieu of drama, creates his own. The Port Imperial Circuit is not due for a race until 2013. The track surface, minus curbing and walls, already exists, and yet Bernie has already cast a pall over the entire affair.

I often wonder how Formula 1 is even still alive, given that Fifth Beatle is constantly acting as though the entire infrastructure of the “Apex Motorsport” is on the verge of collapse. We’re led to believe, per Bernie, that the US is incapable of handling Formula 1. Well, naturally, that’s his belief, as he tells himself every day, without a shred of evidence, that F1 will fail in America.

Now, word is flying that Valencia and Catalunya will begin alternating hosting the Spanish Grand Prix. France is returning to the schedule soon, with the Circuit Paul Ricard poised to enter the calendar. Sadly, this will cause the Belgian Grand Prix to occur only every other year, as they will alternate. That saddens me to no end, as Yas Marina and Bahrain will both be on the schedule every year, but Spa will not. Yet, this is Bernie's F1.

Formula 1 Predictions Revisited

We are less than two weeks away from the start of the 2012 Formula 1 season, which means it is time for the Right Wing Formula 1 Season Predictions!

First Driver to be Replaced: Narain Karthikeyan
I know that it seems odd that Karthikeyan even got a ride this season, but he does bring loads of money to the table for the team. Still, his skill level is not quite that of the other drivers on the circuit. Look for HRT to cut him loose sometime around Round 5.

Surprisingly, it is looking more and more like Massa will be the first replaced, or at least the first confirmed to be replaced.

First Driver to become a Replacement Driver: Sebastian Buemi
This is just an off-the-cuff prediction, as Buemi is a Reserve Driver for Red Bull Renault, and if my first prediction is true, then HRT would be hiring his services away. I think, though, that Buemi is too good a talent to sit out for long.

Will the Bahrain Grand Prix happen? No.
I should qualify that answer by saying that the Grand prix is still on the calendar, but I can see a situation very similar to Indianapolis 2005. Unless the political situations in the Middle East rapidly improve by April 20, I think several teams will sit this one out. It may be the only time that HRT or Marussia get a victory…or even a point.

INCORRECT, kinda...The grand prix happened, and it almost saw a few teams withdraw. The F1 community has since taken a bit of a beating in the press for allowing the race to take place.

Will the United States Grand Prix happen? Yes.
The Circuit of the Americas is still being built, the builders, developers, and moneymen are still arguing, and Bernie still looks like a rejected member of a Beatles cover band. That said, you have to think even Bernie Ecclestone realizes that getting a Grand Prix in the US is too good an opportunity to miss. And I know the plan right now involves getting the Grand Prix to the Port Imperial street circuit in 2013 or 2014, but COTA might be one of the better Tilke tracks outside of Istanbul Park. You can’t deny race fans that kind of excitement.

Will we have a more exciting championship hunt than last season? Yes.
Forgiving the fact that Vettel ran away from the pack last year, the races were darned exciting. The rain-infused Canadian Grand Prix last year was one of the best races ever. And this year, testing showed that the top flight teams are separated by only 1 second on lap times. With six former World Driver Champions on the circuit, it has to be more exciting.

This is already proving true. We've had four different winners in four races.

Can Kimi Raikkonen make a splash in his return with Lotus(Renault)? Absolutely.
I like Raikkonen and fully expect good things from him. I doubt that Lotus can compete for the championship, but stranger things have happened. Seriously, did anyone in 2009 think that Ross Brawn would double up the titles after buying his team one month before the season started? Raikkonen has set some fast lap times. He’ll be on the podium within the first 5 races. CORRECT, Both Lotus cars were on the podium at Bahrain, with Raikkonen finishing third.

Who wins the Constructor’s Championship? Red Bull Renault
This may be one of the tighter Constructor’s Championship races we’ve seen in some time. McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes are all looking for the top spot. I’m picking Red Bull because they know what it takes to get it done, and they have two of the most consistent drivers on the circuit.

Red Bull currently holds a nine point lead over McLaren Mercedes after four races.

Who wins the Driver’s Championship? Lewis Hamilton
The last time Lewis Hamilton won the World Driver’s Championship, his team lost the Constructor’s Title. Hamilton has taken some hits lately and a rebound season is in order. He has as much or more talent than anyone on the circuit, and like Vettel and Schumacher, he’s great in the rain. He might start slow, but he’ll begin to pick up momentum in China, where he always races well. It’ll be close, though, with Vettel just missing out on three straight driver’s titles.

After 4 races, Lewis is four points behind Seb Vettel for the points lead.

Random Predictions (that will most likely be wrong):
-Nico Rosberg will win a race this season. CORRECT, Rosberg won at China
-Mark Webber will not win a race this season. I'm doubting this prediction, as it appears to be anyone's race this season.
-Caterham will score its first point by the mid-point of the season. This is looking doubtful, as Caterham seems to have taken a step back this season.
-Kimi Raikkonen will take the Lotus car to victory at Spa-Francorchamps. If Bahrain was any example of what a Raikkonen-piloted Lotus can do, I'll stand by this. Kimi is good in Belgium.
-The Constructor’s Championship will be decided with one race remaining. So long as different drivers keep winning, or at least keep splitting wins evenly, this prediction looks solid.
-Ferrari will fail to reach the podium in the first five races. INCORRECT, Alonso won at Malaysia

One Simple Question

It doesn't take a Constitutional Law Professor to see that government is inept. It is not unpatriotic to say that. In fact, it is the most patriotic thing the founders could imagine. The Declaration of Independence, written during the colonies' dissension from Great Britain, states:

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

The Declaration of Independence goes on to say:

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

That's patriotism. Being patriotic does not mean being loyal to the government, it means being loyal to the country. Somewhere along the line our government came to the conclusion that they no longer work for us, even though we elect them, and we pay their salaries. Now, they believe they know better than us. They are smarter than the average citizen. They know better than us how to spend our money. They know better than us how to protect us.

But let's be honest. Government is beyond inept. Our current government (say, covering the last ten years or so) exemplify this state of being. The George W. Bush administration brought us to new, unfortunate and frankly sad, levels of spending. After the attacks of 9/11, Bush and the Congress led us into two wars. Regardless your feelings on these wars, they were justified by the intelligence of the time. Remember, though, that under Bill Clinton, through the orders of Jamie Gorelick, walls of separation were built between the factions of the intelligence community. Bush and Congress added around $4.7 Trillion to the national debt in a span of eight years.

Enter Barack Obama. He assumed the office of the President with a completely Democratically controlled Congress. The Senate, still controlled by Democrats to this day, has not passed a budget in over 1000 days. Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV), actually said it would be "foolish for Democrats to offer a budget plan." When pressed about their lack of budget action, liberal politicians and pundits resort to two arguments. The first is that Republicans are obstructionists and won't allow a budget to pass. They usually temper this argument by saying that Republicans want to see America fail. The second argument is that of White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew, saying that the Senate needs 60 votes to pass a budget. This is a deliberate misrepresentation of truth, as a budget can be passed with a simple majority. The 2009 budget passed by a vote of 48-45.

The Obama Administration and Congress has seen over $5 Trillion added to the national debt in just over three years. Obama has appointed numerous czars and cabinet positions, but then he scolds the Supreme Court, basically warning unelected judges that it was extraordinary and unprecedented for the court to overturn Obamacare, a law he claimed was passed by a strong majority of Congress. The law wasn't passed by a strong majority. If anything, it was lucky to have a majority of Democrats in place at the time, because it got no Republican votes. And also, the Supreme Court has been overturning laws it deems unconstitutional for over 200 years, so it is not extraordinary and unprecedented.

Recently, the Obama Administration started to move against farmers, preparing to make it illegal for children to work in certain places on farms. To enforce the law, the government would send agents to farms to guarantee that children stayed safe. Even a supporter of Obama has to see that this was a gross overstep of Congressional authority, and the backlash forced the Administration to step back from this position and allow families to conduct business on their farms as they have for the last two hundred years.

The Administration told us that the stimulus had to be passed to keep unemployment below 8%. It is currently 8.2%, and that's U4 unemployment, the most commonly cited statistic. The U6 unemployment is actually around 15%. The Administration has gone to religious institutions and organizations and told them that they have to provide contraceptives through their insurance, regardless of their conscience in the matter. This is an administration that has passed a healthcare overhaul law that forces American citizens to purchase a product, the first time Congress has ever assumed that much power in the daily lives of the American people, and if you don't buy the product you face fines or jail time.

Now, I titled this post "One Simple Question," so here it is:

You know that government is inept. You know that government wastes money like no other. So why on earth would you want a bigger, stronger government?

Pro Bowl Ponderings

The NFL League Office has reportedly decided to shelve the Pro Bowl. Let’s be honest, the Pro Bowl was an offensive exhibition game, with defensive players just standing around. There was no hitting, there was no pass defense, and the score to the last Pro Bowl was AFC 59, NFC 41. That’s an Arena League score, not an NFL score.

And lately the players have been dropping out like crazy. None of the Super Bowl team players will be there, because they have a bigger game one week later. Several major stars are usually preparing to get back to health after the long grind of a season. It is an honor to be selected to the Pro Bowl. It was becoming a rarity to actually see the selected player at the event.

So I came up with a plan. Instead of shelving the Pro Bowl, move it to a different point in the season. The first preseason game is the NFL Hall of Fame Game. On August 5, 2012, the recently-lackluster Arizona Cardinals will play the suspension-depleted New Orleans Saints. Or rather, the fourth string of each team will play the majority of the game. This is the game that honors the Hall of Fame. So it seems like a good place to showcase the top-flight talent of the current NFL.

Take the Pro Bowl voting of the previous season and play the Pro Bowl in place of the Hall of Fame Game. This move would accomplish several things. It would better represent the sport as whole, rather than having guys play the majority of the game who will not see a single snap during the season, barring injury. It would bring back the casual fan who only watches for the superstars. It would allow the NFL to honor some of their retired coaches by using them during the game. I would love to see a Pro Bowl, at the Hall of Fame, with Bill Cowher on one sideline and Tony Dungy on the other.

I admit, this will likely never happen. Every professional sport has some form of an All-Star Game. The NFL is the most popular of the major professional sports, but their All-Star Game is among the worst. Part of that is due to league mandates, which have essentially turned the Pro Bowl into a flag football contest. Still, it would be interesting to see in practice, at least once…

Mocking the Draft 2012

It's that time of year again...the NFL Draft. I love the Draft. I'll watch as much as I can. If the Draft came on at 3am, I'd probably get up to watch. I'm not sure why, but I just love the picks, the deals, the surprise moves. At this point, there is no surprise about the first two picks of this draft. Andrew Luck is going first, Robert Griffin III is going second. Then the fun begins. Here is my mock of the first ten picks, plus the hometown Atlanta Falcons' first pick (#55 overall)

First Pick: Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck, QB (Stanford)Sources are saying that Indianapolis has already informed Luck that he will be taken first overall. The Stanford QB is hailed as the best prospect since John Elway. Indianapolis can’t go wrong taking Luck, nor would they be mistaken in taking RG3, either.

Alternate pick: NONE

Second Pick: Washington Redskins (Trade from St. Louis)

Robert Griffin III, QB (Baylor)

The ‘Skins traded up for this exact purpose. Granted, they gave away the far to get RG3, but if Griffin even comes close to matching his potential, the Redskins have a franchise QB for years to come. The biggest problem is fitting a mobile QB like Griffin into a methodical offense that Mike Shanahan likes to run.

Alternate Pick: NONE

Third Pick: Minnesota Vikings

Matt Kalil, OT (USC)

The Vikings want to trade. They want out of the third spot very badly. But it won’t happen. The Dolphins wouldn’t trade up this far for Tannehill when they can land him later on. And the Browns look like they’ll spend another season with Colt McCoy. So if you’re there, and you’re the Vikings, you’re crazy if you don’t take Kalil. He’s easily the best O-Lineman in the draft.

Alternate Pick: Trent Richardson or Justin Blackmon

Fourth Pick: Cleveland Browns

Trent Richardson, RB (Alabama)

The Cleveland strategy this year may be “Play Flat for Matt,” just as Indy last year decided to “Suck for Luck.” Matt Barkley, the USC QB, is already being touted as the consensus #1 next year. So this year, grab him a weapon. Running Backs usually last about 5-6 years in the NFL. By taking Richardson now, and giving him a year to learn, you have a steady safety net for Barkley next year.

Alternate Pick: Justin Blackmon or Morris Claiborne

Fifth Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Morris Claiborne, CB (LSU)

Tampa Bay is making a lot of changes, and they need to be able to compete in an otherwise loaded NFC South. Six games a year are played against Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, and Cam Newton. If you don’t have a strong secondary, those guys will chew you up. Claiborne is the best Corner in the draft. Sure, he bombed the Wonderlic, but we’re asking him to break up passes, not design NASA rockets.

Alternate Pick: Trent Richardson or Matt Kalil

Sixth Pick: St. Louis Rams

Justin Blackmon, WR (Oklahoma State)

The Rams have their Quarterback of the future in Sam Bradford. They now have a stockpile of picks thanks to the Redskins. A weapon for Bradford is in order, and Blackmon fits the bill.

Alternate Pick: Morris Claiborne

Seventh Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars

Michael Floyd, WR Notre Dame

The Jags seem set on making Blaine Gabbert a starting QB in the NFL. To do so, they need to offer him protection in the form of a lineman, or a weapon to target downfield. Michael Floyd is basically Justin Blackmon, just a little taller and maybe not as polished, talent-wise.

Alternate Pick: Justin Blackmon or Melvin Ingram

Eighth Pick: Miami Dolphins

Ryan Tannehill, QB (Texas A&M)

Peyton Manning? Swing and miss. Matt Flynn? Swing and miss. Alex Smith? Strike three, you’re out. Three QBs visited Miami this off-season, and three QBs left for the much preferred climates of Denver, Seattle, and San Francisco. Miami needs a franchise QB. They may join Cleveland in the “Play Flat for Matt” sweepstakes, but Tannehill looks to be the pick here.

Alternate Pick: Melvin Ingram or Michael Floyd

Ninth Pick: Carolina Panthers

Melvin Ingram, DE (South Carolina)

Ingram is too good to pass up. He’s basically a local talent, having played in Columbia. He’s terrorized SEC offenses for the last couple of seasons. If Ingram gets past Jacksonville, I can’t imagine Carolina passing on him as well.

Alternate Pick: Luke Kuechly or Stephon Gilmore

Tenth Pick: Buffalo Bills

Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)

Buffalo loves a Big Ten lineman, especially a corn-fed O-Lineman from Iowa. The Bills need to protect their QB, and Reiff is a good fit for that.

Alternate Pick: Michael Floyd or Luke Kuechly

Fifty-fifth Pick: Atlanta Falcons

David Wilson, RB Virginia Tech

The Falcons have holes in their defensive secondary, but they also have a Tight End to replace and a running back requiring an heir apparent. Wilson was the 2011 ACC Player of the Year, and had a rather strong combine performance. Atlanta would probably be overpaying for UGA Tight End Orson Charles at this point, but if Charles is available when the Falcons pick at No. 84, don’t be surprised if Atlanta grabs him then. The Falcons may look to upgrade their defense through free agency.

Alternate Pick: Kelechi Osemele or LaMichael James

What Hope and Change Look Like After 3 Years...

Nearly 88 million Americans are out of work. Unemployment is dropping because we don't count those who simply give up. If you counted those who gave up looking for work, along with those still looking but unemployed, then true unemployment is around 19%. Even then, unemployment just dropped from 8.3% to 8.2%. Big time stuff there. In the black community, under 57% of men over the age of 20 have a job. Less than 60% of college graduate are able to find a job.

Around 14% of the nation is on food stamps.

More debt has been added to this country in three years under Obama than was added in eight years under Bush.

25% of US homeowners are "under water."

Grocery prices are rising at an alarming rate.

When George Bush left office gas was $1.84 per gallon, down from its high of about $3.65 or so, and every Democrat who could find face time blamed Bush for the gas prices. Now that gas is $3.94 per gallon (and $7/gallon in places in California), we're told that it is not the President's fault. Even though this Administration's own Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu, said that we needed to get gas prices here to the same levels as Europe ($8-$10 per gallon).

Obama himself stated that under his energy policies, energy costs would necessarily skyrocket.

Then again, Valerie Jarret told us that Obama would be "ready to RULE from day one" (emphasis added). I guess this is what Democrat rule looks like. Of course, all you have to do to see what Democrat rule looks like is look at Chicago and Detroit.

Another Set of Random Insensitivities

- We thought George W. Bush was bad. We really did. Most of us with any knowledge of foreign policy cringed whenever he "cowboy'd" up. And his spending? Wow, I thought Republicans were for smaller government, but Bush and his administration really raised the bar on government spending...that is, until Barack H. Obama. In just three years, Obama has seen more debt added to this nation than Bush did in eight years. The Congress was under majority Democrat control for most of that time.

And Obama has a penchant for something most Presidents don't do in public. He loves scolding the Supreme Court. He did it during a State of the Union Address after the Citizens United ruling. Now, the Court is debating and ruling on ObamaCare, which is without doubt the landmark of Obama's political legacy. Trouble is, the centerpiece of the legislation, the individual mandate to purchase health insurance, might not be Constitutional. If the Court rules the mandate unconstitutional, then the entire law could be struck down.

Remember, this was a law that was rammed through Congress. It took some political wrangling for Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi to see the legislation to the President's Desk. Pelosi went so far as to mock a reporter who asked about the constitutionality of the bill. John Conyers made up Constitutional Clauses to allow Congress the power to require American citizens to purchase a product. He even admitted that he hadn't read the whole bill (honestly, who had? it was 2700 pages and the Democrats rammed it through with barely time to vote on it).

Now Obama says that the Supreme Court should be careful in this situation. His exact words: "Ultimately, I am confident that the Supreme Court will not take what would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress... " Let me clarify a few things. First, this law was not passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress. The law barely scraped through both chambers. It received no Republican votes. Secondly, Mr. President, it is the JOB of the SUPREME COURT to overturn laws that it deems unconstitutional. That's part of the balance of power in this nation. And since when is it unprecedented for the Supreme Court to overturn a law? They've been overturning laws since 1803. That's 209 years of practice. The Court is already unhappy with President Obama for his childish behavior in comparison to other Presidents. You want to scold the Court? Fine, do it behind closed doors. Don't air your dirty laundry on the floor of the House.

- The Trayvon Martin case just keeps going. Personally, I love how no one is rushing to judgment without the facts. Okay, that bit of sarcasm aside... Let's get the whole case from the police before we start saying the following:

"Travyon was hunted down like a rabid dog. He was shot in the street. He was racially profiled."

"I really personally believe this is a hate crime."

"He was executed for WWB in a GC...Walking While Black in a Gated Community."

Those three quotes come from elected officials in our federal government. Our President took time out of his busy day to say that if he'd had a son, his son would look like Trayvon. So much for an unbiased approach. Yet none of them mentioned a white teenager in Kansas City being attacked and set on fire by two black teenagers. Not one of them mentioned that NBC news had "selectively edited" the 911 call to make George Zimmerman seem like a racist.

Understand, I'm not trying to sound racist. I don't think it is racist to point out the differing response to these cases. In both instances, a young man was attacked. In one instance a young white man was attacked by two young black men. In the other instance, a black man was attacked by an older half white / half Peruvian man. Only one of these two instances drew the attention of the media, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and our President.

-One last thing on the Martin case... have you noticed how George Zimmerman is constantly referred to as a "white Hispanic?" He has a white father and a Peruvian mother. Barack Obama has a white mother and a black father, yet no one calls him a "white African-American." Just a thought.