1. The Jazz will have a dismal season as the lack of on-court experience and leadership take their toll. The Jazz will trade one of their two lottery picks for veteran leadership. They will cave to pressure use the late first round draft pick they get in return on a local star (see #10).
2. 2012 will be last time BYU and Utah will meet on the football field.
3. In Conference realignment, Utah State will leave the WAC for the MWC and the WAC will become a non-football league that includes Utah Valley.
4. Utah State will win the WAC Championship in football. They will get a rematch against Ohio in the Potato Bowl.
5. The Red Rocks will win the PAC-12 gymnastics championship.
6. Weber State/Southern Utah will become a fierce rivalry. The T-Birds will surprise the Big Sky Conference in their first season and earn a trip to the FCS playoffs.
7. BYU will go 11-1 in football in the regular season, but a loss to Utah and soft late-season schedule will keep the Cougars out of the BCS. BYU will play Wyoming in the Poinsettia Bowl.
8. Utah will finish 5-7 will fail to earn a bowl bid.
9. Ron L. Smith's first season as Weber's head coach will be a disappointing 4-7
10. Damien Lillard will continue to play basketball in Utah in 2012-13, but it will not be for Weber State.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Weber State 2012 schedule finalized
Here is Weber State's official 2012 football schedule.
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| * Conference Games One note, the Southern Utah game, which both schools hope to hold at the Neutral Rio Tinto Statdium in Sandy Utah will take place in Cedar City in 2012. The hope for the two schools is that this neutral game will take place on the first weekend in October. That date will not be given to WSU/SUU by the Big Sky Conference until 2014. My initial impression is that another 5-7 season is in the works. |
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
What if the NFL playoffs were held today...December 27, 2011
NFC Playoff Picture
Division Champions
East--New York
North--Green Bay*
South--New Orleans**
West--San Francisco**
Wildcard--Detroit***,Atlanta***
Tie Breakers:
-New York and Dallas have the same record. Currently, New York has the advantage because they defeated the Cowboys on December 11. They play this Sunday. The winner will be the division champion and there will be no need for a tie breaker.
-New Orleans and San Francisco have the same record and have not played each other. They both have the same division record. San Francisco has the better conference record and has the first-round bye.
Notes:
*Green Bay has won their division and will have the home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
**New Orleans and San Francisco have won their respective divisions
***Atlanta and Detroit have earned wild-card births to the playoffs.
Current Bracket
Detroit at New York winner to play at Green Bay
Atlanta at New Orleans winner to play at San Francisco
Games that matter this weekend
-Detroit at Green Bay--For the Packers, this is a pre-season game. The Lions need this game to ensure that they will face the NFC East champion in the first round. If the game becomes a blowout, expect that both teams will empty their benches in the 4th quarter.
-San Francisco at St. Louis--SF needs this game to ensure a 1st-round bye. St. Louis is trying to avoid qualifying for the first pick in next year's draft.
-Carolina at New Orleans--The Saints need to win this game should the 49ers stumble to get the 1st-round bye.
-Tampa Bay at Atlanta--The Falcons need to win in case the Lions stumble to avoid the likelihood of playing New Orleans again in the first round of the playoffs.
-Dallas at New York--Division championship and playoffs are on the line. This game is really a play-in game to the playoffs. This game has been flexed into the Sunday Night NBC schedule.
Games that do not mean all that much this weekend.
Chicago at Minnesota
Washington at Philadelphia
Seattle at Minnesota
AFC Playoffs
Division Champions
East-New England*
North-Baltimore***
South-Houston**
West-Oakland
Wild Card--Pittsburgh***,Denver
Tie Breakers:
-Baltimore and Pittsburgh have the same record. The Ravens have won both regular-season meetings between the two teams and are the current division leaders.
-Oakland and Denver have the same record. They split their regular season games. They have the same division record and and same conference record. Oakland is ahead of Denver in point differential and is the division leader.
-Denver and New York have the same record, but the Broncos won their only regular season meeting.
Notes:
*New England has won the AFC East division, but has not yet won the right to host the AFC Championship game.
**Houston has won the AFC South Division and will host a first-round game
***Pittsburgh and Baltimore have clinched no worse than a wildcard game.
Current Brackets:
Pittsburgh at Oakland winner to play at New England
Denver at Houston winner to play at Baltimore
Games that matter this weekend
-Buffalo at New England--The Patriots need this game to ensure that they can host the AFC Championship game.
-New York at Miami--The Jets can still make the playoffs if they win this game.
-Baltimore at Cincinnati--The Raven need to win to clinch the division championship and if the Patriots stumble, they can host the AFC Championship game.
-Pittsburgh at Cleveland--If the Steelers win, they can win the division if Baltimore loses and they can host the AFC Championship game if both Baltimore and New England lose.
-Denver at Kansas City--The Broncos will make the playoffs if they win.
-San Diego at Oakland--The winner will be in the playoffs. Both teams have the tie break over Denver. Oakland by a 15-point differential and San Diego by conference record. If Denver loses, the winner of this game wins the division. Oakland, with a victory, wins the division regardless of what Denver does. If Denver loses, Oakland will be in the playoffs, even with a loss. San Diego must win to make the playoffs.
-Indianapolis at Jacksonville--The Colts need to lose and need St. Louis to win in order to get the 1st pick in next years draft. Indy's winning streak, so far, gives that pick to the Rams.
The only AFC game that is not that important is Tennessee at Houston. The Texans can no longer improve their playoff position.
Division Champions
East--New York
North--Green Bay*
South--New Orleans**
West--San Francisco**
Wildcard--Detroit***,Atlanta***
Tie Breakers:
-New York and Dallas have the same record. Currently, New York has the advantage because they defeated the Cowboys on December 11. They play this Sunday. The winner will be the division champion and there will be no need for a tie breaker.
-New Orleans and San Francisco have the same record and have not played each other. They both have the same division record. San Francisco has the better conference record and has the first-round bye.
Notes:
*Green Bay has won their division and will have the home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
**New Orleans and San Francisco have won their respective divisions
***Atlanta and Detroit have earned wild-card births to the playoffs.
Current Bracket
Detroit at New York winner to play at Green Bay
Atlanta at New Orleans winner to play at San Francisco
Games that matter this weekend
-Detroit at Green Bay--For the Packers, this is a pre-season game. The Lions need this game to ensure that they will face the NFC East champion in the first round. If the game becomes a blowout, expect that both teams will empty their benches in the 4th quarter.
-San Francisco at St. Louis--SF needs this game to ensure a 1st-round bye. St. Louis is trying to avoid qualifying for the first pick in next year's draft.
-Carolina at New Orleans--The Saints need to win this game should the 49ers stumble to get the 1st-round bye.
-Tampa Bay at Atlanta--The Falcons need to win in case the Lions stumble to avoid the likelihood of playing New Orleans again in the first round of the playoffs.
-Dallas at New York--Division championship and playoffs are on the line. This game is really a play-in game to the playoffs. This game has been flexed into the Sunday Night NBC schedule.
Games that do not mean all that much this weekend.
Chicago at Minnesota
Washington at Philadelphia
Seattle at Minnesota
AFC Playoffs
Division Champions
East-New England*
North-Baltimore***
South-Houston**
West-Oakland
Wild Card--Pittsburgh***,Denver
Tie Breakers:
-Baltimore and Pittsburgh have the same record. The Ravens have won both regular-season meetings between the two teams and are the current division leaders.
-Oakland and Denver have the same record. They split their regular season games. They have the same division record and and same conference record. Oakland is ahead of Denver in point differential and is the division leader.
-Denver and New York have the same record, but the Broncos won their only regular season meeting.
Notes:
*New England has won the AFC East division, but has not yet won the right to host the AFC Championship game.
**Houston has won the AFC South Division and will host a first-round game
***Pittsburgh and Baltimore have clinched no worse than a wildcard game.
Current Brackets:
Pittsburgh at Oakland winner to play at New England
Denver at Houston winner to play at Baltimore
Games that matter this weekend
-Buffalo at New England--The Patriots need this game to ensure that they can host the AFC Championship game.
-New York at Miami--The Jets can still make the playoffs if they win this game.
-Baltimore at Cincinnati--The Raven need to win to clinch the division championship and if the Patriots stumble, they can host the AFC Championship game.
-Pittsburgh at Cleveland--If the Steelers win, they can win the division if Baltimore loses and they can host the AFC Championship game if both Baltimore and New England lose.
-Denver at Kansas City--The Broncos will make the playoffs if they win.
-San Diego at Oakland--The winner will be in the playoffs. Both teams have the tie break over Denver. Oakland by a 15-point differential and San Diego by conference record. If Denver loses, the winner of this game wins the division. Oakland, with a victory, wins the division regardless of what Denver does. If Denver loses, Oakland will be in the playoffs, even with a loss. San Diego must win to make the playoffs.
-Indianapolis at Jacksonville--The Colts need to lose and need St. Louis to win in order to get the 1st pick in next years draft. Indy's winning streak, so far, gives that pick to the Rams.
The only AFC game that is not that important is Tennessee at Houston. The Texans can no longer improve their playoff position.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
What if the NFL playoffs were held today...December 20, 2011
Current NFL Playoff Picture as of December 20, 2011
NFC
Division Leaders...
East...Dallas
North...Green Bay*
South...New Orleans**
West...San Francisco*
Wildcard...Detroit, Atlanta
NFC Home Field...Green Bay
*Green Bay and San Francisco have already won their respective divisions.
**New Orleans will have no worse than a wildcard birth.
Brackets...
Detroit at New Orleans winner to play at San Francisco
Atlanta at Dallas winner to play at Green Bay
Tie Breaker...Atlanta defeated the Lions during the regular season and will play the division champion with the weaker record in the opening round.
AFC
Division Leaders
East...New England*
North...Baltimore**
South...Houston*
West...Denver
Wildcard...Pittsburgh**, New York
AFC Home Field...New England
*New England and Houston have already won their respective divisions
**Baltimore and Pittsburgh will have no worse than a wildcard birth
Brackets...
New York at Houston winner to play at Baltimore
Pittsburgh at Denver winner to play at New England
Tie Breakers...
Baltimore defeated Pittsburgh in both their regular season matches is the division leader as a result.
Baltimore defeated Houston in their only meeting and would get a first round bye as a result.
NFC
Division Leaders...
East...Dallas
North...Green Bay*
South...New Orleans**
West...San Francisco*
Wildcard...Detroit, Atlanta
NFC Home Field...Green Bay
*Green Bay and San Francisco have already won their respective divisions.
**New Orleans will have no worse than a wildcard birth.
Brackets...
Detroit at New Orleans winner to play at San Francisco
Atlanta at Dallas winner to play at Green Bay
Tie Breaker...Atlanta defeated the Lions during the regular season and will play the division champion with the weaker record in the opening round.
AFC
Division Leaders
East...New England*
North...Baltimore**
South...Houston*
West...Denver
Wildcard...Pittsburgh**, New York
AFC Home Field...New England
*New England and Houston have already won their respective divisions
**Baltimore and Pittsburgh will have no worse than a wildcard birth
Brackets...
New York at Houston winner to play at Baltimore
Pittsburgh at Denver winner to play at New England
Tie Breakers...
Baltimore defeated Pittsburgh in both their regular season matches is the division leader as a result.
Baltimore defeated Houston in their only meeting and would get a first round bye as a result.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Report on the Bowls
It was a cardiac bowl season for Utah Sports fans...there was one heartbreaking loss and two exciting wins.
Utah State
Once again this season, the Utah State Aggies were not able to hold onto a 4th quarter lead and dropped a 24-23 decision in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise this evening. USU took a 23-10 lead with 5 minutes remaining in the game, but were not able to hold off the Bobcats, who scored with just seconds remaining in the 4th quarter.
Utah State
Once again this season, the Utah State Aggies were not able to hold onto a 4th quarter lead and dropped a 24-23 decision in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise this evening. USU took a 23-10 lead with 5 minutes remaining in the game, but were not able to hold off the Bobcats, who scored with just seconds remaining in the 4th quarter.
MVP: RB Michael Smith
For next season
Utah State has not won 8 games in a season since 1979 and will attempt to do so next year, as well as winning a conference championship. Gone will be Nevada, Hawaii and Fresno State with Texas State and Texas San Antonio in their place. The first question will be if Robert Turbin will be back. He was not been come to a decision, but has filed evaluation papers, according to KSL. Michael Smith will graduate and will not be back either. Kerwynn Williams, however, should be.
BYU
The Cardiac Cougars struck again, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 11 seconds on the clock after it appeared that they were lining up to spike the ball and run a play with the clocked stopped. The final score came on a short touchdown pass from Riley Nelson to Cody Hoffman. The play they ran is called Red Alert, and it was called on the field by the gutsy Nelson and not by the coaching staff. It is a play that will go down in Cougar lore behind Jim McMahon's 'Hail Mary' against SMU and Steve Young's catch and run on a half-back pass from Eddie Stinnett against Missouri.
MVP: WR Cody Hoffman
For next season
There are a few Cougars that graduate and will move on. Two offensive lineman, including the gutsy Matt Reynolds move on. But most of the skilled stars will be back including receivers Cody Hoffman and Ross Apo and quarterback Riley Nelson. On defense, super star Kyle Van Noy has two years of eligibility remaining. The 2012 schedule is a little on the soft side and BYU would have to run the table to get anything better than the Poinsettia bowl.
Utah
The Utes equaled the Cougars in the cardiac arrest department in their bowl victory. On 4th and 14 with under 3 minutes remaining, Jon Hays found DeVonte Christopher for a 28-yard touchdown pass. The conversion would tie the game in send the game into overtime. Utah came away with a 30-27 win after John White IV scored from 8 yards out. The off-maligned Hays had a solid game and was key to the Ute comeback. He would throw 3 touchdown passes and only one interception. The Utes trailed 24-10 midway through the 4th quarter.
MVP: QB Jon Hays
For next season
The Utes lose one very key player, but not someone on the field...Offensive Coordinator Norm Chow has accepted the head coaching position in Hawaii. For the Utes, they hope that Jordan Wynn will return next season from injury, but they have Chase Peterson coming from high school. And the Utes will have to contend with a now-eligible USC who figures to be the beast of the PAC-12 south.
Utah State has not won 8 games in a season since 1979 and will attempt to do so next year, as well as winning a conference championship. Gone will be Nevada, Hawaii and Fresno State with Texas State and Texas San Antonio in their place. The first question will be if Robert Turbin will be back. He was not been come to a decision, but has filed evaluation papers, according to KSL. Michael Smith will graduate and will not be back either. Kerwynn Williams, however, should be.
BYU
The Cardiac Cougars struck again, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 11 seconds on the clock after it appeared that they were lining up to spike the ball and run a play with the clocked stopped. The final score came on a short touchdown pass from Riley Nelson to Cody Hoffman. The play they ran is called Red Alert, and it was called on the field by the gutsy Nelson and not by the coaching staff. It is a play that will go down in Cougar lore behind Jim McMahon's 'Hail Mary' against SMU and Steve Young's catch and run on a half-back pass from Eddie Stinnett against Missouri.
MVP: WR Cody Hoffman
For next season
There are a few Cougars that graduate and will move on. Two offensive lineman, including the gutsy Matt Reynolds move on. But most of the skilled stars will be back including receivers Cody Hoffman and Ross Apo and quarterback Riley Nelson. On defense, super star Kyle Van Noy has two years of eligibility remaining. The 2012 schedule is a little on the soft side and BYU would have to run the table to get anything better than the Poinsettia bowl.
Utah
The Utes equaled the Cougars in the cardiac arrest department in their bowl victory. On 4th and 14 with under 3 minutes remaining, Jon Hays found DeVonte Christopher for a 28-yard touchdown pass. The conversion would tie the game in send the game into overtime. Utah came away with a 30-27 win after John White IV scored from 8 yards out. The off-maligned Hays had a solid game and was key to the Ute comeback. He would throw 3 touchdown passes and only one interception. The Utes trailed 24-10 midway through the 4th quarter.
MVP: QB Jon Hays
For next season
The Utes lose one very key player, but not someone on the field...Offensive Coordinator Norm Chow has accepted the head coaching position in Hawaii. For the Utes, they hope that Jordan Wynn will return next season from injury, but they have Chase Peterson coming from high school. And the Utes will have to contend with a now-eligible USC who figures to be the beast of the PAC-12 south.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
NBA Preview...
Here is my early picks for the NBA this year...
Eastern Conference
Division winners....
Atlantic...New York
Central...Chicago
Southeast...Miami
Standings...
The Great
1. Miami
2. Chicago
3. New York
4. Boston
The Good
5. Orlando
6. Atlanta
7. Philadelphia
8. New Jersey
The Bad
9. Detroit
10. Indiana
11. Milwaukee
12. Cleveland
13. Charlotte
The Ugly
14. Washington
15. Toronto
(Man, I originally wrote "The Bad" over Detroit).
Western Conference
Division Winners
Southwest...Dallas
Northwest...Oklahoma City
Pacific...Lakers
Standings
The Great
1. Lakers
2. Dallas
3. San Antonio
The Good
4. Oklahoma City
5. Phoenix
6. Golden State
7. Clippers
8. Houston
9. Utah
10. Denver
11. Portland
12. Memphis
The Bad
13. Minnesota
14. Sacramento
The Ugly
15. New Orleans
Eastern Conference
Division winners....
Atlantic...New York
Central...Chicago
Southeast...Miami
Standings...
The Great
1. Miami
2. Chicago
3. New York
4. Boston
The Good
5. Orlando
6. Atlanta
7. Philadelphia
8. New Jersey
The Bad
9. Detroit
10. Indiana
11. Milwaukee
12. Cleveland
13. Charlotte
The Ugly
14. Washington
15. Toronto
(Man, I originally wrote "The Bad" over Detroit).
Western Conference
Division Winners
Southwest...Dallas
Northwest...Oklahoma City
Pacific...Lakers
Standings
The Great
1. Lakers
2. Dallas
3. San Antonio
The Good
4. Oklahoma City
5. Phoenix
6. Golden State
7. Clippers
8. Houston
9. Utah
10. Denver
11. Portland
12. Memphis
The Bad
13. Minnesota
14. Sacramento
The Ugly
15. New Orleans
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Saving the WAC...Montana and Montana State
I am seeing many tweets that say that Montana and Montana State may be warming up to the idea about joining the WAC, I am not certain that this is in play. If this happens, it is going to have to happen soon. The WAC is really on the verge of being a non-football conference and will need quick action if it is going to remain a football conference. Here is a summary of what has changed since Montana said no to the WAC about a year ago.
-The Big Sky Conference has hyper expanded and added North Dakota and Southern Utah as full-time members and has also added Cal Poly and UC Davis as football only members. This has broken the rivalry that Montana and Montana State have had with two other original BSC members, Weber State and Idaho State.
The only original Big Sky Conference football team that Montana will play every season is Montana State. The other 2 original Big Sky Conference members have moved on. Gonzaga has dropped football and become a member of the West Coast Conference. Idaho has moved on to the WAC. If Montana and Montana State join the WAC, they will be re-united with old long-time rival Idaho and perhaps, it's a long shot at best, take Weber State with them.
With the Big Sky Conference now stretching from Eastern North Dakota to the Central Coast of California, there really is no travel advantage the Big Sky has over the WAC.
-Montana got a taste of Big Time College Football this year by going to Tennessee. In the WAC, the pay day for these type of games can double.
-The WAC no longer has Hawaii, a very expensive place to travel to, and may even lose Louisiana Tech. The WAC is becoming a more travel friendly place to play.
-The WAC has added Texas San Antonio and Texas State and the entire state of Texas is laden with football recruits.
-If the WAC holds on the Utah State, they could become a two-bid NCAA conference again. The Big Sky Conference will likely never have an at-large NCAA bid.
-The WAC is getting Boise State back for Basketball and other non-football sports. Boise State is another former Big Sky Conference Rival. Boise State was in the Big Sky Conference from 1970 to 1996.
-From the looks of things, BYU will still need a scheduling agreement with the WAC unless they join the Big 12. Montana and Montana State are both former BYU rivals before both Treasure State schools were dropped to the small college division of college football.
Montana and Montana State have until June to make up their minds if they want to transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision by 2013. But the WAC has until it loses two more schools to get them. If it is going to happen, it needs to happen soon.
-The Big Sky Conference has hyper expanded and added North Dakota and Southern Utah as full-time members and has also added Cal Poly and UC Davis as football only members. This has broken the rivalry that Montana and Montana State have had with two other original BSC members, Weber State and Idaho State.
The only original Big Sky Conference football team that Montana will play every season is Montana State. The other 2 original Big Sky Conference members have moved on. Gonzaga has dropped football and become a member of the West Coast Conference. Idaho has moved on to the WAC. If Montana and Montana State join the WAC, they will be re-united with old long-time rival Idaho and perhaps, it's a long shot at best, take Weber State with them.
With the Big Sky Conference now stretching from Eastern North Dakota to the Central Coast of California, there really is no travel advantage the Big Sky has over the WAC.
-Montana got a taste of Big Time College Football this year by going to Tennessee. In the WAC, the pay day for these type of games can double.
-The WAC no longer has Hawaii, a very expensive place to travel to, and may even lose Louisiana Tech. The WAC is becoming a more travel friendly place to play.
-The WAC has added Texas San Antonio and Texas State and the entire state of Texas is laden with football recruits.
-If the WAC holds on the Utah State, they could become a two-bid NCAA conference again. The Big Sky Conference will likely never have an at-large NCAA bid.
-The WAC is getting Boise State back for Basketball and other non-football sports. Boise State is another former Big Sky Conference Rival. Boise State was in the Big Sky Conference from 1970 to 1996.
-From the looks of things, BYU will still need a scheduling agreement with the WAC unless they join the Big 12. Montana and Montana State are both former BYU rivals before both Treasure State schools were dropped to the small college division of college football.
Montana and Montana State have until June to make up their minds if they want to transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision by 2013. But the WAC has until it loses two more schools to get them. If it is going to happen, it needs to happen soon.
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