![]() Day in and day out Big XII Basketball never seems to disappoint with what they seem to offer for us College Hoops nuts to watch. From top to bottom Big XII is one of the most loaded conferences in all of college hoops. Sitting in dead last in The Big XII is Texas Tech at 11-10 and (1-7) in Big XII play. Lets not forget though this 11-10 Texas Tech team beat then #9 team Iowa State 78-73. I am not saying the Big XII will rattle off seven straight titles over a span of seven years. College basketball is far less predictable than college football. If the Big XII did not have a double round robin, there could be a serious case for possibly eight teams in The NCAA tournament. It's the constant beating of each other that makes me draw the comparison to the SEC in football. Last year Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi St. all were exceptional teams. Except there was one problem, they all had to play each other. There are currently ten teams in the Big XII, all of which are a least one game above .500. In the latest Joe Lunardi bracketology report, there are currently eight teams representing the Big XII. Big XII should be well represented in the tournament, and well deserved.
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After Urban Meyer wins his first national championship with the Buckeyes he now faces a challenging decision. Who will be the starting quarterback next year? Should he let Braxton Miller, J.T Barrett or Cardale Jones start at quarterback? I would not want to be Urban Meyer come the start of next season. The best way to look at this is through the pros and cons of each player.
1. Braxton Miller at least before his injury was a very quick quarterback who had a decent arm. His ability to make a quick decision to go down field or to take off and run for 20 yards is incredible. On the other hand, a running quarterback is more likely to get hurt. Quarterbacks are not as big as running backs who have trained to take those big hits. Sometimes he tries to do way too much in one play and he causes a turnover. Never the less I think he should at least have a chance to start. 2. J.T Barrett is not as quick as Braxton but, has a larger arm. He's a bigger threat down field who can see plays develop and is not afraid to stay in the pocket. If the offensive line fails he can still gain a good chunk of yardage. Before Michigan deliberately injured J.T's ankle, he was on track to win the Heisman trophy. Which is the greatest award in college football. J.T without a doubt deserves another chance to show he can repeat last season's numbers. 3. Cardale Jones has the best arm by far. Why do you think he's nicknamed "12 gauge"? Along with a superb arm, he can take a hit. At two hundred and fifty pounds he's no little quarterback. He's probably the slowest of the three but , can truck his way through the middle or bounce to the outside for a first down. After playing three games and winning the national championship, he definitely deserves a shot at the starting role. If I were Urban Meyer I would test all three quarterbacks and give them all at least one shot to start. Find out who works best with the offense and which quarterback can take them to another championship. It all comes down to this. The biggest event in North America. The tradition that has continued for 48 years and counting. The Super Bowl. This years match-up includes plenty of drama (that I don't care about) that will surely hype the game up to exponential levels. Each staff member will now give their insight on and predictions of the game:
The All Star game starters were announced last week on Sunday and lo and behold, someone not named Lebron James was actually the top vote getter. and very deserving at that I might add. The player I am eluding to is Steph Curry, the smooth jump shooter who has handles like Spider Man in those youtube videos (if you know what I'm talking about you should be nodding your head in agreement right now). Curry is very deserving and may just be the MVP of the league when all is said and done. The other very well deserving pair is the Gasol brothers. Pau must have found the fountain of youth somewhere in Chicago and Marc is finally getting recognized for the stud that he is. The list of starters continues with Blake Griffin, Anthony Davis, Lebron James, Kyle Lowry, John Wall, Carmelo Anthony, and Kobe Bryant. Wait wait wait. Kobe?? And Carmelo?? Sorry New Yorkers but Carmelo does not deserve to be starting. Any player with a team that currently has 8 wins should not be starting. Kobe of course will always be Kobe but its about time some other person was voted into the starting lineup. Kobe's time is over. What about a Klay Thompson or a Damian Lilliard? Come on America, it's time to let go. Next year I hope to see the most deserving players start, not the most famous and well known. Still, just like always, the All Star game will be the best pickup game of the year and I will of course be very entertained.
![]() Every year, part of the storied tradition of the Super Bowl is dreaming up the most ridiculous and idiotic prop bets imaginable. Classic prop bets include the color of the Gatorade bath and the winner of the coin toss. Here at Rational Fanz, however, we like to get a little more creative than that. So, without further ado, here are your official Super Bowl 49 Rational Fanz Prop Bets. How many obscene gestures will Marshawn Lynch Make? Over/Under: 1.5 How many words will Marshawn Lynch speak during media day? Over/Under: 20.5 Length of Bill Belichick's Hoodie: Cut Off(3/2) Full Length(3/1) 3/4 Length(7/1) Half Length(12/1) In the MVP's speech who will be the first one he thanks? Teammates(3/2) God(5/1) Fanz/City(15/2) Coach(12/1) Family(12/1) Owner(12/1) Other(2/1) Will Bill Belichick smile during the game on camera? Yes(3/2) No(1/2) How many times will the announces refer to the "Deflategate"? Over/Under 3.5 Will Marshawn Lynch be fined for any incident on media day? Yes(9/2) No(1/3) Will the jersey number of the first touchdown be odd or even? Odd(1/1) Even(1/1) How many unused timeouts will be there by both teams combined at halftime? Odd(1/1) Even(1/1) How Long will the National Anthem be? Over/Under 2 minutes 2 seconds Will the first commercial be for a beverage product? Yes(1/1) No(1/1) Will the first commercial feature an animal? Yes(1/1) No(1/1) ![]() Vikings- Nate- La'el Collins (OT) Mason- Shaq Thompson (CB) The Vikings should find a cornerback here to help the secondary and to possibly replace Captain Munnnerlyn. Browns- Nate- Kevin White (WR) Mason- Trae Waynes (CB) The Browns need some serious help at the corner position they should take one take here. Saints- Nate- Dante Fowler JR (DE) Mason- Dante Fowler JR (DE) Saints are a valid playoff team next year they should just take best available Dolphins- Nate- Randy Gregory (DE) Mason- Andrus Peat (LT) The Dolphins should just take best available 49ers- Nate- Iko Ekpre-Olomu (CB) Mason- Benardrick Mckinney (ILB) The 49ers look pretty solid they should just take best available Texans- Nate- Brett Hundley (QB) Mason- La'el Collins (OT)- The Texans need some serious offensive line help they should draft Collins to shore up their line. Chargers- Nate- Trae Waynes (CB) Mason- Alvin Dupree (DE)- The Chargers are almost there as a legit threat in the playoffs they should draft a DE to help their underwhelming defensive line Chiefs- Nate- Sammie Coates (WR) Mason- Kevin White (WR)- The Chiefs wide receiving core is absolutely terrible they absolutely need one here Browns- Nate- Gerrod Holliman (FS) Mason- Eddie Goldman (DT)- Browns should take something they're fairly weak at here, even though he may be a bit of a reach. Eagles- Nate- Marcus Peters (CB) Mason- Brett Hundley (QB)- Nick Foles is reported to be on his way out the Eagles probably need a quarterback here ![]() First of all congratulations to Coach K on his 1000th career win after his win over St Johns today. That's a huge accomplishment in the college hoops world, which may never be hit again by any other coach. What a week in college basketball. The Big XII continues to be one of the best conferences to stay up until midnight to watch, even when you have a test the following morning. For the most part everything went as chalk this week. IU easily handled Maryland in Assembly Hall earlier this week, but then is beat by Ohio State. Many top teams had some scares this week needing late runs to pick up the win. This week we polled all six of our writers. Some notable polls include: Nate putting Gonzaga ahead of undefeated Virginia, Nathan's omission of VCU, and Taj putting Indiana all the way at number 15. So this week's top 25: #1 Kentucky (150)- Another week no losses #2 Virginia (143)- Another week behind Kentucky #3 Gonzaga (135)- Gonzaga is a great team with only one loss they deserve this spot. They should be in contention for another #1 seed under Kevin Pangos #4 Villanova (132)- A tough loss for the Wildcats against Georgetown. They need to bounce back against DePaul on Sunday to stay high #5 Duke (128)- I don't believe Duke should be behind Villanova right now Duke has only lost those two games this year while Villanova basically got blown out this week against Georgetown #6 Wisconsin (122)- Wisconsin has got a nice BIG 10 record at 6-1, one of the many teams with 2 losses #T7 Notre Dame (111)- Notre Dame just scared probably all of their fans, going into overtime against middle of the pack ACC for North Carolina St. they're still sitting good at 19-2 though #T7 Arizona (111)- Arizona is another two loss team, one of the many. They shouldn't fret about trying to get a #1 seed just yet teams ahead of them will probably take care of themselves if Arizona just keeps on winning they'll be there #9 Louisville (99)- Louisville has been stellar all season against inferior competition, but against high level competition Louisville hasn't played that well. #10 Kansas (92)- Kansas has always been a leader of the Big XII this year is no different. #11 Iowa State (91) #12 Maryland (78) #13 Utah (77) #14 North Carolina (75) #15 Wichita State (67) #16 VCU (52) #17 West Virginia (48) #18 Texas (47) #19 Northern Iowa (41) #T20 Baylor (40) #T20 Oklahoma (40) #22 Indiana (32) #23 Seton Hall (19) #24 Dayton (15) #25 Oklahoma St (7) ![]() Last year Indiana basketball as a collective unit was just straight trash. IU Basketball went 17-15 and 7-11 in Big Ten play following a season where the y were a #1 seed in the NCAA Basketball Championship and had high hopes for 2013-2014. Notre Dame went 15-17 with a 6-11 ACC record. Purdue went 15-17 as well with a 5-13 Big Ten Record. Many ESPN, Bleacher Report writers thought basketball was "Dead" in Indiana. Even some IU Fans were calling for Tom Crean's head saying he should be fired and hire then Knicks coach Mike Woodson. Mike Woodson is currently the assistant coach of The Los Angeles Clippers. I'm sure he would be more than happy to take the IU job now if some fans still want him. Indiana is the hot spring of high school basketball. Indiana High Schools have 4 of the top 5 high school gyms in the country in terms of size. So why Don't Indiana teams fair well in college basketball? Last year Indiana sent no team to the "Big Dance", which is pretty pitiful to be honest. Well this year is completely switched from last year. Last Year Indiana's big 3 schools in a power six conference went 47-49 as a whole which is not bad, but should have been better. This year that same unit is currently 47-14 matching last years win total with a whopping 35 less losses. It's only late January and Indiana basketball is thriving. Indiana looks to have at least two teams in the NCAA Tournament in Notre Dame and Indiana. Butler sitting at 14-6 is a possible third. They are currently a #7 seed in Joe Lunardi's latest bracketology. That's a huge improvement from 0 to 3 teams in the tourney. Jerian Grant for Notre has played exceptional this season after being declared academically ineligible last season. He averages 16.8 points with 6.4 points this season. Yogi Ferrel has also really stepped up as a leader of a young IU team with no seniors. Indiana Basketball is back on the upswing which is great news for all you Hoosiers Fans. Indiana should rise up in the rankings after last nights win over #14 Maryland at Assembly Hall. Indiana Basketball is not dead! ![]() Andy Dalton is in the pro bowl. Andy Dalton. He had 3,398 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions in 2014. Those might have been good numbers in 1975, but today, they aren't exactly note worthy. Andy Dalton has been futile in the postseason. Every year since 2011 Andy Dalton and the Bengals have refused to show up on Wildcard weekend. He shows flashes of brilliance and talent that give Bengals fans hope, and then he goes and throws 3 interceptions in the first half against the Buccaneers. Dalton and A.J. Green light up the field and set the league on fire. Then Green gets injured and Dalton throws for a measly 155 yards in a 17 point loss to the Colts, a team that couldn't stop a nose bleed. One year he throws for 33 TD's, the next he throws for 19. There is only one conclusion: Andy Dalton is average. Not only is he average, he is the single most average quarterback in the NFL. This conclusion is the basis for the Dalton Scale: since Andy Dalton is the most average quarterback, every quarterback in the NFL can be measured in terms of Andy Dalton (Either positive (better than Andy Dalton) or negative (worse than Andy Dalton). Here is a taste of my very first Dalton Scale: .Aaron Rodgers: +30.1 Tom Brady: +29.4 Andrew Luck: +25.6 Russell Wilson: +25.6 Cam Newton: +10.2 Ryan Tannehill: +3.3 Andy Dalton: 0 Jay Cutler: -1.5 Colin Kaepernick: -2.1 EJ Manuel: -8.4 Johnny Manziel: -23.7 Geno Smith: -35.2 Ryan Leaf: -109.8 MAX SCHERZER
So far in the MLB Offseason, many blockbuster deals have been made. The deal that makes the most noise is the Max Scherzer to the Nats on a seven-year deal worth $210 million with a $50 million signing bonus. The bonus is the biggest bonus ever given in MLB history. The Nats already have a stacked pitching staff including Jordan Zimmerman, Doug Fister, Tanner Roark, Gio Gonzalez and ace Stephen Strasburg. The Nationals are fresh off an NL East crown, but a heartbreaking loss to the Giants put a damper on their season. Scherzer, age 30, out together a great season last year, going 18-5 and a 3.15 ERA. His 2013 season saw a 21-3 record with a 2.90 ERA. I think that this deal will work out for the Nats and it will also boost their already loaded rotation. One problem is Scherzer's age. At 30, he may only have a few good years left, but he can provide immediate success. OVERALL GRADE: A JON LESTER The longtime BoSox pitcher, and short time A's pitcher signed a six-year $155 million deal with the Cubbies this offseason. Lester earns a $30 million bonus as well. Lester will add a great deal talent to the Cubs, who are lacking at the starting pitcher position. I watched the Cubs play the Rays this summer, and the Cubs starter was Trevor Wood who pitched 6 innings of 4-hit 1-run ball. Wood pitched well, but the Cubs needed a leader at the pitching position and now they have one. Jeff Samardzjia was the ace, but they dealt him away so they were obviously lacking. Lester provides leadership for a young rotation and pen, and he gives them a much needed ace. Boston had the opportunity to take him back, but they laid low, didn't offer him enough, and now he's in Chitown. OVERALL GRADE: A- JOE MADDON Maddon is not a player, but he is still a high profile offseason acquisition. Maddon was the Tampa Bay manager from 2006 through 2014 and he led them to an AL title in 2008. Maddon left the Rays using his opt-out clause of his contract then signed with the Cubs. He signed a five-year deal, worth $25 million. Maddon is a great skipper and has the leadership capabilities to take the Cubs to the playoffs. The Cubs front office has started assembling a team for Maddon, (see Jon Lester) and if all goes as planned, I see the Cubs in the playoffs in two years on a wild card. OVERALL GRADE: A |
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