2009 College Football Preview - SEC West

Alabama Coach Nick Saban enters his third season as Alabama Coach. Will the Crimson Tide have what it takes to win the West?

We've already estabished the SEC East reigns supreme. But who will contend with them in the SEC West?

SEC West Predictions

1) Alabama Crimson Tide
Key Returning Players: RB Rolando McClain, DE Brandon Deaderick, LB Dont’a Hightower, LB Brandon Fanney, LB Cory Reamer, CB Javier Arenas, CB Kareem Jackson.
Key Losses: QB John Parker Wilson

Key Games: Va. Tech; @ Ole Miss; LSU

Record Prediction: 11-1 (7-1 in SEC)

Nick Saban's Crimson Tide ran the table last year in the SEC only to lose to eventual champ Florida in the SEC Championship and the Sugar Bowl to Utah. This year, QB will be an issue as John Parker Wilson is gone. Taking over will be Greg McElroy, an intelligent QB that hasn't had a lot of playing time but should provide solidity to the position. This team is the best in the West unless Houston Nutt knocks them off like they did Florida last season.

2) Mississippi "Ole Miss" Rebels
Key Returning Players: QB Jevon Snead, RB Cordera Eason, RB Brandon Bolden
Key Games: Alabama; LSU
Record Prediction: 10-2 or 9-3 (6-2 or 5-3 in SEC)

The Ole Miss Rebels under first year coach Houston Nutt shocked the SEC world when they beat Florida last year. With Alabama the only team in their way, Ole Miss could be a force to be reckoned with in the SEC West. With the return of QB Jevon Snead, the Rebels have one mission: to make it to Atlanta and the SEC Championship game. Only speedbumps I see are the usual suspects of Alabama and LSU. In any case, it's going to be a two team race for the SEC west title.

3) Louisiana State Tigers (LSU)

Key Returning Players: RB Charles Scott
Key Losses: QB Ryan Perriloux
Key Games: @ Georgia; Florida; @ Alabama; @ Ole Miss
Record Prediction: 9-3 or 8-4 (5-3 or 4-4 in SEC)

The LSU we all knew is long gone. In a sense of rebuilding, the Tigers are looking for a QB in the absence of Ryan Periloux. With that uncertainty, the Tigers may fall short of my predictions of 9-3 or 8-4. Without a leader for the offense, it is going to be a long season for Tiger fans. RB Charles Scott needs to show what he's made of. It is essential that Scott’s emergence continues and that he is able to post at the very least similar numbers to what he posted last season if not numbers that are superior. I see sure losses to Georgia, Florida and Alabama. If they beat Ole Miss, their season might be salvaged.

4) Arkansas Razorbacks

Key Returning Players: QB Ryan Mallet (Transfer - Michigan), RB Michael Smith, DT Malcolm Shephard.
Key Games: Georgia; @ Alabama; @ Texas A&M; @ Florida; @ Ole Miss; @ LSU
Record Prediction: 7-5 or 6-6 (3-5 in SEC)

Bobby Petrino jumped the sinking NFL Atlanta Falcons ship after Michael Vick was found guilty and headed to Arkansas, leaving Atlanta halfway through their NFL season. Petrino's first year was a rocky one as the Razorbacks struggled to get things going. This season should be an improvement with new QB Ryan Mallet and returning RB Michael Smith. But with a minefield in their schedule of Georgia, Alabama, Texas A&M, Florida, Ole Miss and LSU, I don't see them finishing better than 7-5 and going to a bowl. Petrino has a lot of work ahead of him and this season will be a step in the right direction.

5) Auburn Tigers

Key Returning Players: QB Kodi Burns, S Mike McNeil and S Zac Etheridge.
Key Losses: Defense - Sen’Derrick Marks, Chris Evans, and Jerraud Powers.
Key Games: West Va.; @ LSU; Ole Miss; Furman; @ Georgia; Alabama
Record Prediction: 4-8 (2-6 in SEC)

Gene Chizik. Huh? Former Iowa State reject to coach one of the most notable college programs? Auburn is hurting. After a lackluster year last season, Tommy Tuberville was run out of town. Chiznik has a lot of work the next few seasons to get Auburn back on the map. This season does not look forgiving as they play key games @ LSU and @ Georgia with Alabama coming to Auburn. Just think Tiger fans, in a few years your team will be back. Just be patient. It could be worse. You could be Mississippi State.

6) Mississippi State Bulldogs

Key Returning Players: RB Anthony Dixon, JUCO Transfer DT Pernell McPhee.
Key Games: LSU; Georgia Tech; Florida; Alabama; Ole Miss
Record Prediction: 3-9 (1-7 in SEC)

Former University of Florida coordinator Dan Mullen has his work cut out for him. In his first head coaching job, he inherits a rusty Bulldog team that rised up then crashed down under Sylvester "No Halftime Adjustments" Crum. Returning RB Dixon should help them on offense but their schedule is brutal as they play Florida, Georgia Tech, Alabama and Ole Miss. Losing season for the Bulldogs but be sure that this coach is going to steer the ship and bring Miss. State back to glory.

Prediction: It's a toss up between Alabama and Ole Miss for the SEC West crown. Lot's of teams in rebuilding.

SEC Championship: Alabama/Ole Miss Vs. Florida/Georgia

Let the football season begin!

2009 College Football Preview - SEC East

Can Georgia win without runningback Knowshon Moreno (top) and QB Matthew Stafford?

This is the start of the 2009 College Football Preview on The News According to Chris. We start the 2009 College Football Preview with Part 1 of the SEC Preview.

The last three seasons have been glorious for the SEC. Florida won the National title in 2008 and 2006 while LSU wrapped it up the 2007. No other conference has ever won 4 straight titles. Will the SEC be the first? Let's take a look out East.

SEC EAST PREDICTIONS

1) Florida Gators

Key Returning players: All of their Defense and QB Tim Tebow

Key Losses: RB/WR Percy Harvin

Key Games: @ LSU; Georgia; FSU

Predicted Record: 11-1 (7-1 in SEC)

The 2009 Florida Gators look to be one of the greatest teams college football has ever assembled. The odds on favorite to repeat as National Champions, Tebow goes for his last hurrah as Gator QB. Now Tebow winning his second Heisman? That remains to be seen but I don't see it happening when he has Texas QB Colt McCoy and Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford on his heels. This team is solid but I can see this team slipping up as well. Remember when Georgia was picked to win it all in 2008? If you buy into the hype, you'll get burned. Also look for Urban Meyer to be watching Notre Dame closely. If Charlie Weis has another bad year, Meyer will take his dream job with the Irish.

2) Georgia Bulldogs

Key Returning Players: QB Joe Cox, RB Caleb King, WR A.J. Green

Key Losses: QB Matthew Stafford and RB Knowshon Moreno

Key Games: @ Okla. State; LSU; @ Florida; @ Georgia Tech

Predicted Record: 11-1 or 10-2 (7-1 in SEC)

The mighty Georgia Bulldogs were picked to win it all in 2008. But injuries to their offensive and defensive lines caught up to them when they played Florida last season and got rocked. This season looks to be different. Although not as strong on offense as last season, the Bulldogs boast a lot of experience in their lines. If the linemen can stay healthy and not get injured, this team could surprise some people and sneak into the SEC Championship. In 2005, Georgia was a sleeper team that got in and won the SEC Championship. At runningback, Georgia has three capable backs in King, Thomas and Samuel. Their schedule looks solid as they get the week off before Florida while the Gators run through three games without a rest when Georgia comes to Jacksonville. With the experience and leadership of QB Joe Cox, the dawgs look to shock the SEC and the world.

3) Tennessee Volunteers

Key Returning Players: CB/FS Eric Berry, QB Jonathan Crompton, WR Gerald Jones
Key Games: UCLA; @ Florida; Georgia; @ Alabama; @ Ole Miss
Predicted Record: 7-5 or 6-6 (4-4 or 3-5 in SEC)

Lane Kiffin. Never has a coach seen so much press before a ball was even snapped. Not even coaching his first game yet, Kiffin has made headlines. Whether it's recruiting middle schoolers or ripping off his shirt to pump up his team, you can tell this isn't going to be your grandfathers Vols. With Jonathan Crompton inheriting the QB role, this offense is not going to be very consistent. The only hope the Vols have is with their Heisman-sensation free safety Eric Berry. Hard to judge where this team will end up. If the offense is terrible, a losing season is inevitable. However, if they click they could go as high as 8-4. Two of their first three games are going to be tough as they play UCLA and then go to Florida for their "Welcome to the SEC Lane Kiffin" thrashing.

4) Kentucky Wildcats

Key Returning Players: QB Randall Cobb, CB Trevard Lindley
Key Games: Florida; Alabama; @ Georgia; Tennessee
Predicted Record: 8-4 or 7-5 (3-5 in SEC)

The Kentucky Wildcats are coming off three straight bowl victories: Back-to-back Music City and the Liberty Bowl last season. Can they keep the bowl streak alive? I think they can if QB Randall Cobb is consistent and the play of CB Trevard Lindley is nothing short of extraordinary. However, their SEC schedule is frightening with Alabama then Florida in back to back weeks. Also, will this be the year Kentucky snaps their quarter century losing streak to Tennessee? Coach Brooks has a great thing going. Now he needs to kick it up a notch and go for the SEC Championship.

5) Vanderbilt Commodores

Key Returning Players: RB Jared Hawkins, CB Myron Lewis

Key Losses: CB D.J. Moore

Key Games: @ LSU; Ole Miss; Georgia; Georgia Tech; @ Florida

Predicted Record: 7-5 or 6-6 (3-5 in SEC)

For the first time in a quarter century, Vandy made a bowl game and won it. It was close though as they ripped through the opening half of the 2008 season only to fizzle and barely get the bowl game. Vandy lost a lot of key players but have enough returning to hammer out another bowl-eligible season.

6) South Carolina Gamecocks

Key Returning Players: QB Stephen Garcia, RB Eric Baker

Key Losses: K Ryan Succup, Defense Jasper Brinkley, RB Mike Davis

Key Games: @ NC State; @ Georgia; Ole Miss; @ Alabama; Florida; Clemson

Predicted Record: 5-7 or 4-8 (2-6 in SEC)

When Steve Spurrier came to Columbia, S.C. in the fall of 2005, the school was abuzz with exctiement. This was the man who resurrected the Florida Gators and made them the powerhouse Urban Meyer has today. Now, the honeymoon is over and Spurrier is not the firecracker coach he once was. With the numerous discipline problems and the difficulties of recruiting against the Florida's and Georgia's of the SEC, Spurrier looks to be in the twilight of his career. I mean let's face it, he was never going to get the great recruits that those SEC powerhouses get. Coming off a 7-6 season, S.C. has a schedule that has two ACC opponents they will most likely lose to: N.C. State and Clemson. They also have to play Alabama and Ole Miss from the SEC West. Succup will be missed as their special teams are going to be something to keep an eye on all season long.

RESULT: It's going to be a battle between Georgia and Florida. The Gators are capable of tripping up and Georgia having the week off before this battle puts the advantage towards them. SEC East winner will be one of these teams with the rest lagging far behind. The winner here will win the National Championship.

Pitino disgraces 'Big Blue Nation', Louisville Cardinals

Rick Pitino should step down as coach of the Louisville Cardinals for disgracing them and 'Big Blue Nation'

Never in a million years Rick Pitino. The coach who rebuilt a Kentucky Wildcat basketball program in shambles after years of controversy. The man who led them to the 1996 National Championship and 1997 Runner-up in the NCAA Tournament. The man who failed at the NBA level only to come back to coach Louisville and revive their struggling program. The man who we now know lied to everyone about his character and who he really was.

To say I am in shock is an understatement. One of the greatest coaches in all of college basketball has now been found to have had consensual sex with a waitress in a restaurant and then paid her $3,000 to get an abortion when she found out she was pregnant. This woman, Karen Sypher, then tried to extort more money out of Pitino which led to the FBI investigation arresting her for extortion.

Sypher is definitely in the wrong when she tried to extort $10 million dollars or else she would tell the media and Pitino's wife. But the fact that Pitino A) Committed Adultery and B) Ended the life of a child for his "convenience" really doesn't bode well when it comes to respect and character. Both of those have now crumbled.

What does Pitino need to do? Well, according to Pat Forde of ESPN "Nothing. He hasn't violated anything NCAA wise so he should be fine to continue coaching." OK Pat. Guess we should forget about all the trouble he has caused Louisville since early this year when the extortion plot came to light. Pitino is a distraction to the school and his players. He is a liability now as well as some nut could try something drastic that would make this situation much worse than it really is. He needs to step down as coach and go into hiding for a while.

"Big Blue Nation" is stunned by this news. Growing up on Big Blue Basketball, I remember every year. The way Pitino took this program and brought it back to prominence. When he stepped away after the 1997 National Championship loss, I was devastated. Who was going to fill his shoes? Tubby Smith did the job and won the 1998 title. On the outside, Pitino looked like the typical Italian in fine suits, having a loving family and was a devoted Catholic. Now that this story is out there, I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't a Catholic for much longer.

As the world turns, we will find out more about this story. But in my heart of hearts as a die hard Big Blue fan, I have to say that I have lost every ounce of respect I ever had for him. As Forrest Gump said "That is all I have to say about that."

UPDATE 8/13: Rick Pitino read a statement last night clarifying he did not pay for an abortion, just medical coverage for Sypher. He apologized to everyone and his family and said he hopes to continue coaching Louisville as long as they want him.

Despite Economic Crisis, Capitals Raise Ticket Prices

Washington Capitals Owner Ted Leonsis raised ticket prices significantly for the 2009-10 NHL season (Courtesy Photo)

It's August and already the Washington Capitals are making headlines. With season tickets locked up the Caps are now focusing on "mini-plans" to help keep the money rolling in. They also have decided to make a pricing level depending on the significance of the game: Red, White or Blue.

Goodbye are the days you could buy tickets for a family of 4 for $10 each in the Eagle's Nest and get a great night of hockey and food for under $100. Now, the lowest price for those Eagle's Nest tickets will be $45 and go up as high as $85 per ticket during specific games like Pittsburgh, San Jose, etc. In the midst of a recession and economic turmoil, that is going to alienate the regular joes and families from coming to even one game per season. Sure there are people out there who can afford to pay for this and since that is the case, Ted probably doesn't care as long as the team makes $$$.

I know the payroll is out of this world thanks to Ovechkin, Backstrom and company and that money needs to be made to pay them (also see the Caps Convention for $40 a ticket in Sept.) But I think this is an extreme increase in ticket prices. I thought it was bad when the Eagle's Nest went up to $25-$35 last year. Now to be over $45 a ticket? Also, the 6-pack game plan from last year at $175 is now a 5-game plan and costs $225, an increase of $50 over last season! For one less game? How can you justify that Ted?

Here is a comparison to last season with this season:

Single-Game Tickets

2008-09: Tickets ranged from $25 to $200

2009-10: Tickets will now range from $45 to $280

Ticket Plans

2008-09: 6-game plans - starting at $175 on up

2009-10: 5-game plans - starting at $225 on up

Thank goodness for HDTV because that's where I will be for most of the season. Hopefully the Caps will not get rid of the Bar Crawl or other special discounts to where going to a game is bearable.

"Funny People" brings the laughs

Ira (Seth Rogan) and George (Adam Sandler), sporting a Kentucky Wildcats shirt, talk humorously to a doctor in "Funny People" (Photo Courtesy of Universal Pictures)

When Judd Apatow directs and writes a movie, it is sure to be a hit. With his only flop being producer of the quasi-Johnny Cash comedy "Walk Hard" (now a cult classic on DVD), Apatow's golden touch in Hollywood has been nothing short of amazing. His smart, witty and hilarious writing make his films enjoyable from beginning to end. For his third film, Apatow reunites with Seth Rogen and teams him up with a comedy legend in his own right: Adam Sandler.

Sandler is no stranger to the dramatic side. In P.T. Anderson's "Punch-Drunk Love," Sandler played a guy who was tired of settling for the void in his pathetic life and finds love with Emily Watson. In "Reign Over Me," his greatest and most powerful role to date, Sandler plays a man who loses his wife and two daughters on September 11 and how he's trying to cope with this loss after finding friendship with an old college roommate.

This time, Sandler is playing aging comedian George Simmons, a very successful yet self-involved stand-up comedian who learns that he has an incurable blood disorder and is given less than a year to live. Ira Wright (Weiner is his actual last name) (Rogen) is a struggling up-and-coming stand-up comedian who works at a deli and has yet to figure out his onstage persona. One thing these different men have in common is that neither of them have any close friends. One night, George takes notice of Ira when they perform at the same club and he hires him to be his semi-personal assistant and opening act at his performances. George and Ira form a close bond as George teaches Ira how to win the crowd and Ira helps the dying George find closure in his legacy. However, when George learns that his disease has gone into remission and an old flame (Leslie Mann) reenters his life, his recent near death experience inspires him to reevaluate what is important to him and what truly gives meaning to his life.

The Good

• Rogen and Sandler had really good chemistry in this movie. Very funny performances.
  
• The stand-up comedy was genius. The only part of the movie not written by Apatow were the stand-up scenes. Great writing and routines.
  
• Cameos by some famous Hollywood stars like Eminem, Ray Romano and especially James Taylor make this movie even more funny.
  
• Eric Bana stole the show as the Aussie husband of George's old flame. His hilarious antics really made the movie laugh out loud funny.
  

The Bad

• Apatow's first movie since the 2007 comedy hit "Knocked Up," the story in this film was great up until it turned to the direction of every single movie made about a man who regrets a decision in his life regarding a woman. It never ends well no matter how many times you do it.
  
• Jonah Hill and Jason Schwartzman were really not that funny. All the good clips from them can be seen in the preview.
  

Rating: 3 stars out of 4 stars - Apatow still makes a great movie despite the story bombing towards the end. Sandler was spot on and had his best role in quite some time. Worth the price of admission.