Sweet 16: Duke Vs Oregon

Nothing delights me more than to watch the apoplexy of “sports experts” who pour over stat sheets, rosters, schedules, standings and won-loss records trying to analyze which men’s college basketball teams are the best in the nation.

Season after season they are flummoxed when they discover that the ACC is the best in the country.  This year has proven to be no different except this year the conference set a record by advancing six teams to the Sweet 16.

Tonight my beloved Duke Blue Devils will meet on the hardwood against the Oregon Ducks at the Honda Center in Anaheim.  After traveling cross-country to get to the Honda Center, Duke will face one of their toughest opponents yet in 6-foot-10 Dillon Brooks a shot-blocking monster and damned good 3-point shooter.

After winning their 5^th national championship last March, Duke had massive turnover when several players went pro at the end of the tourney.  It stood to reason that the Devils would be in a rebuilding mode.

Duke’s depth on the court suffered a huge blow when Amile Jefferson broke his foot in December during practice forcing him out for the remainder of the season, but you shouldn’t count them out because they still have the last of the Plumlee brothers, Marshall, and he ain’t no slouch.  Let’s also not forget about Brandon Ingram who has the skinniest “get-away sticks” in college BBall.  Take Brandon and Grayson Allen and you’ve got one helluva spread-the-floor offense and a pretty decent man and zone defense.

Allen is a beast on the floor.  His FT average is 84% and he averages 22 points per game.  He’s dominating from beyond the arc for tres.

The Ducks are hoping that the Blue Devils’ 0-4 all-time record for tournament games played in the Pacific Time Zone will be a factor tonight.  Come on, man.  You don’t think Coach K is going to let that be a factor again do you?

The Ducks are the last PAC-12 team standing in tourney play.  The pressure on them is going to be intense.

GO BLUE DEVILS!

Ohio State Vs Oregon For The National College Football Championship

I loves me some good ‘ol college football.  The wind went out of my sails when Ohio State upset my beloved Alabama Crimson Tide 42-35 on New Year’s Day.  It is because of that that I will be rooting for the Oregon Ducks in the CFP Championship.

The game kicks off at 8:30 PM ET from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX and will air on ESPN.

I have never followed Oregon football, but I’ve heard it said often that they are “soft” and are a “finesse” team.  Oregon has a record of 70-10 since 2009 and only Alabama has a better record (72-9).

Ohio State is the underdog in this game according to many sports “experts” but it’s important to remember they defeated the Ducks 26-17 in the 2010 Rose Bowl.  If Oregon goes with a hurry-up offense those big ‘ol defensive linemen for the Buckeyes won’t be able to keep up.  They’ll be grabbing their knees and sucking wind most of the game.

I predict the Bucs will be cryin’ on the plane ride back to Columbus and that will make me happy.

GO DUCKS!

And because no football post would be complete without some pom-poms, here is a lovely Duck cheerleader.

Sophie’s Slacker Saturday

Today is Saturday and there’s no Bama game.  My beloved Crimson Tide has a bye this week.

I will be relegated to watching the SEC games involving teams Bama will face after they whip the LSU Tigers on Saturday, November 8th.

No. 2 Florida State managed to survive a half-time 21-0 deficit against Louisville to win 42-31 on Thursday.  I’ll have to set up the TV’s picture-in-picture to watch No. 3 Auburn take on No. 4 Ole Miss at 7:00 PM, Arkansas playing No. 1 Mississippi State at 7:15 PM and peek in once in a while on Stanford vs. No. 5 Oregon at 7:30 PM.

I don’t have to tell you I’m rooting for the Rebels, Hogs and Cardinal to pull the win against the Tide’s competition for the College Football Playoffs that will lead to crowning a national champion.

One can safely say that the current rankings will surely change after today.  What will matter is the decision the Selection Committee makes on December 7th.

Meanwhile, my furkid Sophie will do what she does best—look adorable while snoozing on the couch beside me as I enjoy some honest-to-God smashmouth football.