More Jameis Winston Drama, the Rise of Cleveland, and Game Picks

Notre Dame at Florida State is the biggest game of the college football weekend, but the contest seems to have taken a backseat to the most recent waves of controversy surrounding Jameis Winston. I wrote a few weeks ago, after Winston was suspended for the Clemson game for standing on a table and yelling an obscene phrase, that his biggest problem was that he was an immature kid, a knuckle head who was one because he’d been enabled to be one by the adults around him. Currently, he’s under investigation for signing autographs for money (which is an extremely dumb rule, but still, you have to follow it), and he’s also at the center of a federal investigation into the school’s handling of the rape allegation against him. You can read more about the Jameis Winston controversy here, but if the reports are true, Florida State acted criminally, and the adults around Jameis continued to do what they’ve always done, which is enable him to be a knucklehead, and maybe even be someone who got away with rape. And they did all of this so they could keep him eligible and win a few games? Really?

 

#5 Notre Dame at #2 FSU (victor in CAPS)

 

I don’t even really want to write about this game, just because it feels so trivial in comparison to what has transpired on that campus, but I just have a feeling that FSU is going to physically overwhelm Notre Dame on Saturday night. Don’t forget that this is the same Fighting Irish team that gave up 43 points to a bad North Carolina team only a week ago. Earlier in the week, I remembered two years ago when, in a similar situation, Notre Dame traveled to Oklahoma on a Saturday night. The entire country expected the Irish to get trampled by the Sooners, but they shockingly dominated Oklahoma the entire night. They controlled the clock, pounded the ball with the running game, and played extremely well on the defensive side of the ball.

 

However, shortly thereafter, I remembered two important details:

 

1. The 2014 Seminoles are much better than the 2012 Sooners.
2. The 2014 Irish are significantly worse than the 2012 Irish. The 2012 team would’ve never given up more than 40 points to a mediocre team. They saved that for Alabama in the national title game.

 

Florida State is much better than Notre Dame, despite all of the off the field problems. They’ll win comfortably on Saturday night.

 

#21 Texas A&M at #7 ALABAMA

 

Remember how much of a “genius” Lane Kiffin was a few weeks ago when the Crimson Tide dropped 42 points on Florida? What happened? Did he get dumb all the sudden? I’d argue he’s always been an idiot, but that might just be because he stabbed the Tennessee program through the heart. Regardless, the Alabama offense has really struggled the last few weeks. They only managed 10 offensive points against Ole Miss, and they were only able to put up 14 against Arkansas. 24 points in two weeks? Lucky for the Tide, they get to play the revolving door defense that is Texas A&M this week. If they can’t light that “defense” up, then Kiffin should probably never get a job as an offensive coordinator again.

 

Speaking of the Aggies, has their been a more meaningless game that’s happened this year than A&M’s dominating win over South Carolina on the opening Thursday of the season? Since then, we’ve learned that the Gamecocks actually aren’t that good (they lost to Kentucky and an extremely offensively limited Missouri team. They also surrendered 34 points to Vanderbilt, who would struggle to move the ball on a team full of blind guys), and that Texas A&M is the same school it’s been since Kevin Sumlin got there. Yeah, great, they move the ball, but they can’t stop anyone. I’m actually not a huge fan of Sumlin as a coach. Sure, his offenses are explosive, but this is his 7^th year as a head coach (4 at Houston and 3 at A&M) and he’s had seven bad defenses. Can we really call him a “genius” (as some have suggested) when he can’t figure out that side of the ball? And it’s not like they’ve completely dominated the SEC or anything, as he’s just 12-8 in conference games.

 

They’ll be 12-9 after this weekend. Alabama has struggled with this match up the last two years, but the Aggies aren’t quarterbacked by Johnny Football this year. Kenny Hill has played very well, but it won’t matter on Saturday. The Tide are at home, and I have to believe they’ll be able to get out of their offensive funk this week. They’re too talented on that side of the ball, and Blake Sims won’t have to worry about having pass rushers in his face the entire game, because the Aggies don’t have any. This will be a high scoring game, but Alabama will be able to get more stops, and they’ll win.

 

Tennessee at #3 OLE MISS

 

I’m sorry Vol Nation. I really am. I wish I could make a case in my head to pick the Vols. But I can’t. They travel to Oxford, the Rebels have one of the best defenses in the country, and Bo Wallace more than likely won’t throw three or four interceptions that will keep Tennessee in the game, because he’s actually done a great job of taking care of the ball this year. I just don’t see how Tennessee will be able to consistently move the ball on Saturday. If the offensive line couldn’t keep Worley upright last Saturday against Chattanooga, why would I have any reason to believe that would change tomorrow against the Ole Miss? The Rebels will dominate the line of scrimmage, and I see them winning comfortably. Once again, it will be another Saturday of disappointment as a Vol fan.

 

Other college picks

 

#14 Kansas State at #11 OKLAHOMA

#10 GEORGIA at Arkansas

Kentucky at LSU

#15 Oklahoma State at #12 TCU

MISSOURI at Florida

#23 STANFORD at #17 Arizona State

NFL

 

BROWNS at Jaguars

 

Last week, I stupidly picked the Jaguars to beat the Titans. What a dumb thing to do. I remember having reasons as to why I picked Jacksonville, but I conveniently forgot about one thing; it’s Jacksonville. Picking the Jaguars is kind of like punching a sleeping bear in the face. Maybe I’ll get away unscathed (meaning the Jags win), but I probably won’t. And even if I do, I’m still an idiot for doing it. Just remind me of this the next time I write something like, “I actually really like Jacksonville this weekend” or, “I see the Jaguars taking it on Sunday”.

 

But enough about the Jags. This is about the Browns. Looking at the Browns next three (Jacksonville, Oakland, and Tampa Bay), there’s a realistic chance that Cleveland could be 6-2 at the halfway point. If they could pull that off, this would be the greatest year in Cleveland sports in a long time. They improbably got LeBron to return, and they’d be 6-2, fighting for a playoff spot. What? Plus, they may have found that franchise quarterback they’ve been missing for so many years in Brian Hoyer. Things could not be going better for the city at the moment.

 

Then again, it’s still Cleveland. This is the city that hasn’t won a championship since 1964. It’s the same city that went through “The Drive” and Earnest Byner’s fumble in back to back AFC Championship games. It’s the same city that hasn’t won the World Series since 1948, and has had two devastating baseball defeats in recent memory (losing the 1997 World Series on the final at bat to the upstart Marlins, as well as blowing a 3 games to 1 lead against the Red Sox in the 2007 ALCS). It’s also the same city that’s been tortured and torched by Michael Jordan, as well as the city that LeBron walked away from in a heartless and cold way. Wouldn’t it be the most Cleveland thing possible to blow this game on Sunday, lose the next two, and instead be 3-5 at the halfway point?

 

I’m not picking Jacksonville this week, because that’s suicidal (much like punching a sleeping bear in the face), but I wouldn’t be shocked if the Browns went down there and blew it.

 

BENGALS at Colts

 

I probably haven’t given the Colts enough credit this year for being good (they’re 4-2), but I think Andrew Luck deserves a lot more praise than the team does. Make no mistake; this is not a good Colts team. They have no pass rush, and they aren’t an exceptional rushing team (16^th in the league in yards per game). Luck has just been great this year (66.2 completion percentage, 17 TDs, 1,987 yards), and they’ve quietly won 4 straight games. The Bengals have looked average at best the last two weeks, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, as the supposedly limited Patriots’ and Panthers’ offenses have torched Cincy the last two weeks. They’re also going to be without A.J. Green this week, which will hurt their chances.

 

So why am I picking the Bengals? Because I still think they’re a really good team. And while missing Green will hurt, they still put up 37 points last week on a Carolina defense that is much better than anything the Colts can trot out there. Plus, if you just compared the rosters of the two teams, there’s no comparison between the level of talent on the Bengals and the Colts. Cincinnati’s way better at the line of scrimmage and in the secondary. The Colts just have Luck. And for a lot of weeks, that would be enough. But it won’t be this week. The Bengals will get back on track.

 

49ers at BRONCOS

 

Denver has had an extremely tough schedule early in the 2014 campaign. They’ve played Indy, at Seattle, Arizona, and they had to fly all the way across the country to play the Jets last week, which wasn’t an easy game. They have the Niners this week, and then they’ll be rewarded with San Diego on Thursday. What a gauntlet to start the season! But I like how they’ve responded to it. San Fran seems like they are on their way back to being the Niners we all know and love, as they’re playing great defense again, running the ball effectively, and getting a few “WOW” plays from Colin Kaepernick every game. Interesting how all that locker room and Harbaugh controversy have died down now that they’re winning.

 

Will the Niners be able to consistently get pressure on Manning? That’s the question for Sunday night. The Jets were able to hang around because they were in Manning’s face the entire day. Denver is one of the worst rushing teams in the league (they’re 26^th in yards per game), meaning Manning’s going to be dropping back a lot. If they can generate a consistent pass rush, and control the clock with the running game when they have the ball, they can really make it tough on Denver. But I don’t think either of those things will happen. Denver’s defense has really impressed me this year. They won’t get bullied by anyone. Plus, San Fran still isn’t completely healthy on the defensive side of the ball, and that secondary, which is almost completely different from last year’s unit, has only played 6 games together. They, as a unit, haven’t faced a force like Manning yet. Denver will win on Sunday night.

 

Other NFL picks

 

Jets at PATRIOTS

Vikings at BILLS

Falcons at RAVENS

Panthers at PACKERS

Dolphins at BEARS

Saints at LIONS

SEAHAWKS at Rams

Titans at REDSKINS

Chiefs at CHARGERS

 

Giants at COWBOYS

CARDINALS at Raiders

TEXANS at Steelers

Enjoy football this weekend. You deserve it.