The Confused American Voter

A "Slate" article today caught my eye. As 2006, 2008, and now 2010 show; American voters are fickle, but also uncertain when it comes to what exactly they want. They want cuts, but not cuts to their Social Security or Medicare. They might be okay with tax hikes; as long as they don't have to pay a lot more. They are often not sure whether a policy was passed during the latter stages of the Bush administration or the early stages of the Obama administration (i.e. TARP). All and all, the confused electorate is causing elected officials a good deal of worry especially if they might be challenged in a primary in 2012. Annie Lowry's article paints a picture of an American voter that is dazed and confused. A state that makes it hard for politicians to know if the electorate wants choice A or B cause one day they want A and the next they want B.

Now for a trip through the mindset of America's current electorate at large:

Tax cuts, unemployment benefits, business uncertainty, rising gas prices, another dip in housing prices, joblessness, debt, holiday shopping: These are the issues at the forefront of the polled American's mind. And all of this economic turmoil has left the polled American worried—worried and confused.

Money troubles rank first, by a huge margin, on the polled American's list of concerns. Granted, her income has improved a bit of late, but it has failed to increase meaningfully in real terms in more than a decade, and her finances have worsened year-on-year. She is earning just shy of $50,000 annually—and, as money really does buy happiness, up to a point, she would breathe easier if she were taking home fatter paychecks. She is worried about paying the rent. She is worried about the country's yawning deficit. She is worried about America's lack of jobs. She is worried about a double-dip recession. She doesn't even want to think about her retirement. For all those reasons, this holiday season, she will be more judicious about using her credit cards—she's been abusing them lately—and gift-shopping in general.

Along with the polled American's personal finances, taxes loom large in his mind. He has, somewhat uncharacteristically, followed the tax fight in Washington closely. He has no idea the Obama administration gave him a huge tax break in 2009. Still, he is firm in his conviction that he does not want his income taxes to go up this year, deficit be damned, and would not mind it at all if Congress hiked them for billionaires. So what is he making of the recent tax compromise, or third stimulus? (He tends to forget about the first one.) It's the $64,000 question, in Washington at least. And early signs are that he likes it, on balance. He supports the two-year tax-cut extension, if not the compromise for the fat cats, and supports the other measures contained within it, like the unemployment benefits.

But the polled American is not sure whether the government should be doing so much to aid the economy in the first place. And, for her, all bets are off if the tax compromise becomes known as Stimulus 3.0 (or 2.0). She barely liked the 2009 stimulus when Congress passed it, and she certainly does not like it now. (The financial regulatory reform bill? She's made her peace with that.) Yet, in an enduring example of the polled American's propensity for containing multitudes, she likes virtually all of the elements of stimulus, such as the tax breaks, unemployment insurance, infrastructure investment, and bolstered food stamps—a case of the parts besting the sum, apparently. And she thinks the country needs more of those provisions. She also supports an increase in the minimum wage.

At the same time, the polled American is concerned about Washington's yearly deficits and the bloated national debt. He believes it is "crucial" for politicians to tackle those issues. But he does not think they are the most important thing. When you ask him to rank his concerns, he says that immediate economic problems are more pressing than longer-term ones. (The polled American tends to discount the future, though.)

So how does the polled American think we should tackle the deficit issue? He knows that programs need cuts—tax hikes alone can't, and shouldn't, pull the country out of this mess. But he wants Washington to leave Social Security and Medicare well enough alone. And he hesitates to bring the ax to energy, health, or education programs. That said, he supports several provisions proposed by the president's debt commission—like shrinking the federal workforce, cutting federal salaries, closing overseas bases, and ending the tax deduction on home mortgage interest. And one program to really trim is America's generous foreign aid. The polled American thinks the government ships a quarter of our budget overseas, and thinks we should spend only $1 of every $10 helping out other nations. (In reality, the foreign aid amounts to less than 1 percent of the federal budget.)

One thing the polled American does not think the country needs is more bailouts. He hates bailouts. He wishes Barack Obama—it was him, right?—had not given all those bankers all that cash. They didn't need it. He's not big on those Timothy Geithner or Ben Bernanke cats, either, even if he does trust them on the economy more than you might think. He despises the Federal Reserve, even more than he hates the IRS. He thinks it's the Fed that needs auditing, though that might be because he hates the word federal. Those federal workers, for instance? He does not like them. He thinks they are overpaid and probably less qualified than private-sector workers. (He does love astronauts, though, and thinks we should send them to Mars.)

The polled American tends to think little of Congress and is lukewarm at best on the White House. Of late, she has reassessed the presidency of George W. Bush—and it looks pretty good compared with the Obama administration. (All in all, she likes Kennedy the best and Nixon the worst, as usual.) She can't shake the worry that Barack Obama is secretly a Muslim, even if she knows better. Then again, when asked by the pollmeisters, she tends not to be perfectly sure whether the sun revolves around the Earth, or the other way around.

Taking the long view, the polled American remains worried. She believes China has the world's strongest economy now. But despite her fears, the polled American remains characteristically sunny. Things are bad now, she says. But she believes the American Dream exists. She thinks she might even be living it. One way or another, she definitely thinks it is possible, with hard work more so than luck. Just don't ask her how to do it.

College Football Week 15/Pre-Bowl Games Power Rankings

The fourteenth week provided the final games of the "regular season" and Oregon and Auburn emerge from the season's brutal stretch poised to face off for the national title.

TOP 25 (Entering Week 15/bowl season)
Rank(last week)
1)(1) Oregon
2)(2) Auburn
3)(3) TCU
4)(4) Wisconsin
5)(5) Stanford
6)(6) Ohio State
7)(7) Michigan State
8)(8) Arkansas
9)(9) Boise State
10)(10) LSU
11)(11) Oklahoma
12)(12) Virginia Tech
13)(14) Missouri
14)(15) Alabama
15)(16) Nevada
16)(17) Nebraska
17)(13) South Carolina
18)(18) Texas A&M
19)(19) Oklahoma State
20)(20) Utah
21)(22) Mississippi State
22)(23) West Virginia
23)(NR) Hawaii
24)(21) Florida State
25)(NR) Connecticut

Dropped out of the top 25: Northern Illinois, Arizona

College Football Week 14 Power Rankings

The thirteenth week provided big hits and big finishes. The dust settled with one of the four unbeatens, Boise State, falling in overtime to Nevada after a missed field goal in both the fourth quarter and overtime. TCU might the third wheel as Oregon and Auburn now have the inside track to the BCS title game.

TOP 25 (Entering Week 14)
Rank(last week)
1)(1) Oregon: at Oregon State
2)(3) Auburn: vs #13 South Carolina (SEC Title Game)
3)(4) TCU: IDLE
4)(6) Wisconsin: IDLE
5)(7) Stanford: IDLE
6)(8) Ohio State: IDLE
7)(11) Michigan State: IDLE
8)(12) Arkansas: IDLE
9)(2) Boise State: vs Utah State
10)(5) LSU: IDLE
11)(13) Oklahoma: vs #17 Nebraska (Big 12 Title Game)
12)(14) Virginia Tech: vs #21 Florida State (ACC Title Game)
13)(15) South Carolina: at #2 Auburn (SEC Title Game)
14)(16) Missouri: IDLE
15)(9) Alabama: IDLE
16)(19) Nevada: at Louisiana Tech
17)(17) Nebraska: vs #11 Oklahoma (Big 12 Title Game)
18)(18) Texas A&M: IDLE
19)(12) Oklahoma State: IDLE
20)(21) Utah: IDLE
21)(22) Florida State: vs #12 Virginia Tech (ACC Title Game)
22)(25) Mississippi State: IDLE
23)(NR) Northern Illinois: at Miami (OH)
24)(20) Arizona: vs Arizona State
25)(NR) West Virginia: vs Rutgers

Dropped out of the top 25: North Carolina State, Iowa

Are GOP focused on economy...or social issues?

If one were to gauge the mood of the electorate this year, beyond the feeling of apathy for politics as usual; most would say that the economy was the most important issue. However, if one were to listen and I mean really listen to some campaigns and speeches; you would hear and see several candidates more concerned with other issues and areas. If you heard many Tea Party candidates talk like a Sharon Angle or Christine O'Donnell, you would quickly see that their social stances are far right of the majority of middle America aka Independents. Several Independents flipped from voting Democrat in 2008 to Republican in 2010 mainly due to the economy and jobs and the lack of major positive changes. Nonetheless, that did deter several conservative or far right candidates from focusing on abortion, Medicare, unions, or unemployment benefits. Among the right or base of the Republican Party there seems to be a disdain for the idea of social programs that can be viewed as government hand-outs or freebies if one were to use the scope used by such individuals.

The unrest with the economy drove the pessimistic electorate and lo and behold, the Republicans were able to not only reclaim the House majority, but picked up 20 more seats than needed to regain that majority. The victory was the biggest in a midterm election in 70 years. What the electorate in many areas that can be considered swing districts or potential battlegrounds did not realize was that they were blindly choosing the alternative. Many voters heard the social conservative stances of several candidates. Some agreed with them while others chose to pretend they did not hear the candidates' stances and focused more on what the candidate might do for the economic situation. Essentially, social conservatives shielded their controversial opinions or goals with a bad economy. They voiced to voters that the election was about the economy and candidates should not be largely criticized on their social stances since the electorate needed to shift the leadership and control in Congress to potentially shift and upgrade the economic climate.

The effects are going to be felt beyond Capitol Hill and Washington. Republicans not only made gains in both houses of Congress, but picked up multiple governor's mansions in key presidential states like Pennsylvania and Ohio while maintaining power in Florida by a razor thin majority. Furthermore, in states like Wisconsin, the power not shifted with governors, but many state legislatures also flipped from Democrat to Republican. What that all means is not only will the U.S. House seem a more conservative agenda being crafted, but in states with Republican control in both the executive and legislative branches; there could be dramatic changes ahead if party officials get their way.

Thus, the table is now set for what could be a rocky two years as Republicans are in position to not only say "no", but govern at the state and national level. And, they will largely govern based on social issues early as opposed to what they said they were running on: fixing the economy. It will probably not take too long before key Democratic achievements like the Affordable Care Act will be targeted. If one were to take a snapshot of the mood of the electorate two weeks ago, they would see six in ten voters voting with the economic recession as their primary concern. Beyond the often debated and talked about health care reform, no other social matter registered more than a minor blip on the electoral radar this year.

However, states will see their Republican governors and Republican state legislatures look to slow down the implementation of aspects of health care reform. Moreover, whether it be preventing funding for clinics that provide care to women including abortions or slow down equal rights progress in some states that involves gay marriage, conservative changes are ahead.

To put the shifts and changes into perspective:

Before the midterm elections, Democrats controlled 27 state legislatures outright. Republicans were in charge in 14 states, and eight states were split. (Nebraska, which has a single legislative chamber, is officially nonpartisan). Today, Republicans control 26 state legislatures, Democrats 17, and five have split control. In New York, officials are still determining who is in charge in the state Senate. Republicans control more legislatures than they have since 1952.

Millions and billions were poured into races to elect conservative candidates with the hopes of a more conservative agenda being implemented at the state level and potentially at various levels at the national level. Groups led by individuals like the Koch brothers and Karl Rove did not necessarily lead a Republican revolution ala Ronald Reagan or Newt Gingrich, but something much further right that speaks to the conservative wing having their own radical social agenda that they have accused President Obama and the Democrats of during the last two years.

Also, just as some Democrats misinterpreted 2008 as a reason to govern with little restrain; expect Republicans to misjudge the election as a mandate for them when many Democratic and Independent voters voted Republican because they saw them as the less of two evils in a given race. Liberals are bracing themselves for battles and a conservative social agenda that might be openly accepted in some states, but could face public backlash in others.

It will be a balancing act as one scans the country to see which Republicans act cautiously in order to not lose control in two years and which ones roll the dice with a mandate that does not exist and tune out the same voters they complained Democrats were ignoring.

College Football Week 13 Power Rankings

The twelfth week provided a few top 25 battles with little major changes to the national title picture. The top for the most held fort with only Nebraska dropping a field goal battle to rising Texas A&M.

TOP 25 (Entering Week 13)
Rank(last week)
1)(1) Oregon: vs #20 Arizona
2)(2) Boise State: at #19 Nevada
3)(3) Auburn: at #9 Alabama
4)(4) TCU: at New Mexico
5)(5) LSU: at #11 Arkansas
6)(6) Wisconsin: vs Northwestern
7)(7) Stanford: vs Oregon State
8)(8) Ohio State: vs Michigan
9)(9) Alabama: vs #3 Auburn
10)(11) Michigan State: at Penn State
11)(12) Arkansas: vs #5 LSU
12)(13) Oklahoma State: vs #13 Oklahoma
13)(14) Oklahoma: at #12 Oklahoma State
14)(15) Virginia Tech: vs Virginia
15)(16) South Carolina: at Clemson
16)(17) Missouri: vs Kansas
17)(10) Nebraska: vs Colorado
18)(21) Texas A&M: at Texas
19)(18) Nevada: vs #2 Boise State
20)(22) Arizona: at #1 Oregon
21)(24) Utah: vs BYU
22)(NR) Florida State: vs Florida
23)(NR) North Carolina State: at Maryland
24)(23) Iowa: at Minnesota
25)(25) Mississippi State: at Mississippi

Dropped out of the top 25: USC, Miami (FL)

College Football Week 12 Power Rankings

The eleventh week did not have a lot of flare, but some battles in the SEC were a highlight of the weekend. As the season nears its end, four teams still remain flawless.

TOP 25 (Entering Week 12)
Rank(last week)
1)(1) Oregon: IDLE
2)(2) Boise State: vs Fresno State
3)(4) Auburn: IDLE
4)(3) TCU: IDLE
5)(5) LSU: vs Mississippi
6)(6) Wisconsin: at Michigan
7)(7) Stanford: at California
8)(8) Ohio State: at #23 Iowa
9)(9) Alabama: vs Georgia State
10)(10) Nebraska: at #21 Texas A&M
11)(11) Michigan State: vs Purdue
12)(12) Arkansas: at #25 Mississippi State
13)(13) Oklahoma State: at Kansas
14)(14) Oklahoma: at Baylor
15)(18) Virginia Tech: at #20 Miami (FL)
16)(21) South Carolina: vs Troy
17)(19) Missouri: at Iowa State
18)(22) Nevada: vs New Mexico State
19)(23) USC: at Oregon State
20)(25) Miami (FL): vs #15 Virginia Tech
21)(NR) Texas A&M: vs #10 Nebraska
22)(16) Arizona: IDLE
23)(17) Iowa: vs #8 Ohio State
24)(15) Utah: at San Diego State
25)(20) Mississippi State: vs #12 Arkansas

Dropped out of the top 25: Florida

The next best 5 for Week 12:

Florida State: at Maryland
Florida: vs Appalachian State
North Carolina State: at North Carolina
Northwestern: vs Illinois
Baylor: vs #14 Oklahoma

College Football Week 11 Power Rankings

The tenth week gave us some big matchups including two top ten battles with #3 TCU taking down #6 Utah and #9 LSU giving #5 Alabama its second loss of the year.

TOP 25 (Entering Week 11)
Rank(last week)
1)(1) Oregon: at California
2)(2) Boise State: at Idaho
3)(3) TCU: vs San Diego State
4)(4) Auburn: vs Georgia
5)(9) LSU: LA-Monroe
6)(7) Wisconsin: vs Indiana
7)(12) Stanford: at Arizona State
8)(8) Ohio State: vs Penn State
9)(5) Alabama: vs #20 Mississippi State
10)(10) Nebraska: vs Kansas
11)(16) Michigan State: IDLE
12)(17) Arkansas: vs UTEP
13)(18) Oklahoma State: at Texas
14)(11) Oklahoma: vs Texas Tech
15)(6) Utah: at Notre Dame
16)(13) Arizona: vs #23 USC
17)(15) Iowa: at Northwestern
18)(20) Virginia Tech: at North Carolina
19)(14) Missouri: vs Kansas State
20)(21) Mississippi State: at #9 Alabama
21)(19) South Carolina: at #24 Florida
22)(22) Nevada: at Fresno State
23)(NR) USC: at #16 Arizona
24)(NR) Florida: vs #21 South Carolina
25)(NR) Miami (FL): at Georgia Tech

Dropped out of the top 25: North Carolina State, Baylor, Florida State

The next best 5 for Week 11:

Baylor: vs Texas A&M
Texas A&M: at Baylor
Florida State: vs Clemson
Penn State: at #8 Ohio State
North Carolina: vs #18 Virginia Tech

College Football Week 10 Power Rankings

The ninth week saw some stability as the top teams held fort in the rankings.

TOP 25 (Entering Week 10)
Rank(last week)
1)(1) Oregon: vs Washington
2)(2) Boise State: vs Hawaii
3)(3) TCU: at #6 Utah
4)(4) Auburn: vs Chattanooga
5)(5) Alabama: at #9 LSU
6)(6) Utah: vs #3 TCU
7)(8) Wisconsin: at Purdue
8)(9) Ohio State: IDLE
9)(12) LSU: vs #5 Alabama
10)(15) Nebraska: at Iowa State
11)(11) Oklahoma: at Texas A&M
12)(13) Stanford: vs #13 Arizona
13)(16) Arizona: at #12 Stanford
14)(10) Missouri: at Texas Tech
15)(18) Iowa: at Indiana
16)(7) Michigan State: vs Minnesota
17)(14) Arkansas: at #19 South Carolina
18)(20) Oklahoma State: vs #24 Baylor
19)(19) South Carolina: vs #17 Arkansas
20)(22) Virginia Tech: vs Georgia Tech
21)(23) Mississippi State: IDLE
22)(NR) Nevada: at Idaho
23)(NR) North Carolina State: at Clemson
24)(NR) Baylor: at #18 Oklahoma State
25)(17) Florida State: vs North Carolina State

Dropped out of the top 25: Miami (FL), USC, Florida

The next best 5 for Week 10:

USC: IDLE
Syracuse: vs Louisville
Miami (FL): at Maryland
Florida: at Vanderbilt
Maryland: vs Miami (FL)

College Football Week 9 Preview

A third week, a third No. 1 falls. Oklahoma was stunned on the road against Missouri as the Tigers landed possibly the biggest win in the program's history.

Looking at the top 5 games I highlighted, I went 3-2 and now am at 30-10 on the year after eight weeks. Arkansas quickly rebounded after being run over by Auburn. While Wisconsin's hard fought victory over Ohio State the week before certainly prepared them for Iowa's gritty play. However, Iowa fell just short and the Badgers might be on the road to the Big Ten title and much more.

In possibly a bigger shootout than expected, Nebraska rebounded by outscoring Oklahoma State, one of the country's highest scoring offenses. That type of performance shows the versatility of the Cornhuskers. That leads me to Missouri, who used crafty offense and key defensive plays to shock Oklahoma. The two Big 12 squads tested each other and Missouri's heart was too much for Oklahoma's talent.

Finally, in another SEC classic; Auburn found another way to win a tough close game as they outlasted LSU. It was as physical as expected and QB Cam Newton continues his rise.


Now on to Week 9 with a bunch of big games.

Games featuring top 25 teams/some that might be interesting:

Thursday, October 28
No. 16 Florida State at North Carolina State: Florida State is continuing to reestablish themselves as a national power. However, NC State is fully capable of shocking the Seminoles at home.

Friday, October 29
West Virginia at Connecticut: This one could ultimately decide the winner of the Big East.

Saturday, October 30
Texas Tech at Texas A&M: This one can either be a big scoring affair or a field goal battle.

No. 1 Auburn at Mississippi: Auburn is the new #1 and the bullseye is now on them. In the SEC, there are no off weeks.

Michigan at Penn State: Both are in the second tier of the Big Ten, but the play of both will be like the two are fighting for a conference title.


And of course, the top 5 games to watch this week.

Top 5:

5) Georgia at Florida: Both are playing below their usual standards. South Carolina seems to be the driver's seat, but the winner could find themselves ready to slide into the top spot in the SEC East if South Carolina falters. This rivalry is usually high paced. The Gators seem to have the slightly better squad this time around. PREDICTION: FLORIDA

4) No. 25 Baylor at Texas: This is a weird reversal of fortunes game. Texas enters as the underdog and are playing at home on top of that. However, they were not favored against a much better Nebraska and shocked and many observers. Baylor is a program on the rise and this could provide a statement for them in the conference. With all that said, Texas will fight, but Baylor does enough to claim a victory that can help build their program. PREDICTION: BAYLOR

3) No. 2 Oregon at No. 24 USC: USC would love to play spoiler for Oregon as they cannot challenge for a national title. The skill players will play fast and provide headaches for the Trojans' defense. The game will be close early, but Oregon's talent will separate the two. PREDICTION: OREGON

2) No. 5 Michigan State at No. 18 Iowa: Michigan State is having one of its best seasons, but a loss on the road to Iowa can trip up their big hopes and dreams this year. Essentially, the Spartans control their own fate in the Big Ten and the right conditions could land them in the national title game. It will be a grind it out type of game. Iowa goes up late before Michigan State sinks an even later dagger. PREDICTION: MICHIGAN STATE

1)No. 6 Missouri at No. 14 Nebraska: Missouri shocked Oklahoma last week. Now they must refocus to avoid being beaten by Nebraska and having a letdown. The Tigers will be tested just as much again this week by another tough defense. The Cornhuskers have also shown an ability to score a lot too. Missouri will certainly bring their best again, but they will need to build a big advantage to prevent a letdown. However, Nebraska keeps it close and does enough on both sides of the ball late to slide by Missouri. PREDICTION: NEBRASKA

Can Auburn break the trend of No. 1's losing? How will Missouri play this week after beating Oklahoma? The winding road nears November and the big picture will start to look a lot more clear.

College Football Week 9 Power Rankings

The eighth week featured a few big matchups including #5 Auburn over #7 LSU.

TOP 25 (Entering Week 9)
Rank(last week)
1)(1) Oregon: at #24 USC
2)(2) Boise State: vs Louisiana Tech
3)(3) TCU: at UNLV
4)(5) Auburn: at Mississippi
5)(6) Alabama: IDLE
6)(8) Utah: at Air Force
7)(10) Michigan State: at #18 Iowa
8)(11) Wisconsin: IDLE
9)(12) Ohio State: at Minnesota
10)(19) Missouri: at #15 Nebraska
11)(4) Oklahoma: vs Colorado
12)(7) LSU: IDLE
13)(14) Stanford: at Washington
14)(13) Arkansas: vs Vanderbilt
15)(17) Nebraska: vs #10 Missouri
16)(16) Arizona: at UCLA
17)(15) Florida State: at North Carolina State
18)(9) Iowa: vs #7 Michigan State
19)(20) South Carolina: vs Tennessee
20)(18) Oklahoma State: at Kansas State
21)(21) Miami (FL): at Virginia
22)(22) Virginia Tech: IDLE
23)(25) Mississippi State: vs Kentucky
24)(NR) USC: vs #1 Oregon
25)(NR) Florida: IDLE

Dropped out of the top 25: West Virginia, Texas

The next best 5 for Week 9:

Nevada: vs Utah State
Syracuse: at Cincinnati
Michigan: vs Penn State
North Carolina State: vs #17 Florida State
Baylor: at Texas

College Football Week 8 Preview

One week after Alabama fell as the top team in the nation, Ohio State followed suit by losing to Wisconsin in a smash mouth win for the Badgers. The pressure now falls to Oklahoma to keep that top spot for at least a week.

Looking at the top 5 games I highlighted, I went 3-2 and now am at 27-8 on the year after seven weeks. Florida suffered its third loss as they could not get enough going against Mississippi State as the Bulldogs landed a major victory for their program. Things were also tight in a "minor" Big Ten matchup as Iowa put another dragger in Michigan's season.

As predicted, Texas was able to somehow put the tough losses behind them and shock Nebraska. Nebraska now falls behind Oklahoma in the race for the Big 12's top spot and potential place in the title game. Texas might be able to use this win as momentum.

Speaking of momentum, Ohio State quickly lost any they had as the new number one team. Wisconsin used their biggest advantage: their offensive line and running game to their advantage. They wore out Ohio State and took control by the 4th quarter.

Lastly, Arkansas could not keep up with Auburn in what turned out to be a shootout of sorts with overall 100 points scored between the two team. Auburn QB Cam Newton continued to shine while Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett could not do enough to keep up with Newton.

Now on to Week 8 with a bunch of big games.

The top 5 games to watch this week.

Top 5:

5) Mississippi at No. 23 Arkansas: There is something about SEC games. They tend to be close, feature drama, and a few spectacular plays. The Razorbacks will be hungry to avenge the loss to Auburn. PREDICTION: ARKANSAS

4) No. 13 Wisconsin at No. 15 Iowa: Wisconsin is coming off knocking off No.1 Ohio State. They need to bring the same intensity against Iowa. The Hawkeyes have a good mix on both sides of the ball, but Wisconsin's offensive line and running game should set the tone again. PREDICTION: WISCONSIN

3) No. 16 Nebraska at No. 14 Oklahoma State: This one will feature a very good Nebraska defense against a potent Oklahoma State offense. Which side of the ball sets an early advantage could give themselves the necessary edge needed to win this type of game. Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon will be the top target for the Cornhuskers defense to focus on and how they play him will also go a long way in shaping this one. A couple of big plays separate the Cowboys. PREDICTION: OKLAHOMA STATE

2) No. 1 Oklahoma at No. 11 Missouri: Oklahoma finds themselves in the dreaded #1 spot in the polls. Something that has doomed Alabama and Ohio State in back to back weeks. The Tigers certainly have the talent and should make this one interesting. The Sooners have multiple weapons that will pose problems for the Tigers' defense, who are often underrated. That defense holds up most of the game before folding late. PREDICTION: OKLAHOMA

1) No. 6 LSU at No. 4 Auburn: The SEC once again is in the top matchup spot. This one will have different paces and physical play. Auburn QB Cam Newton will be balanced out by LSU's few big playmakers. Auburn will be in another seesaw match that once again features them doing enough late. PREDICTION: AUBURN

A lot continues to be on the line this week. Oklahoma is looking to avoid being the third #1 team to lose. LSU and Auburn could be battling for crucial positioning in the national title hunt. And, upsets are always on the forecast.

College Football Week 8 Power Rankings

The seventh week provided us with the second straight week of a #1 falling as Ohio State joined Alabama.

TOP 25 (Entering Week 8)
Rank(last week)
1)(2) Oregon: vs UCLA
2)(3) Boise State: IDLE
3)(4) TCU: vs Air Force
4)(5) Oklahoma: at #19 Missouri
5)(7) Auburn: vs #7 LSU
6)(8) Alabama: at Tennessee
7)(9) LSU: at #5 Auburn
8)(10) Utah: vs Colorado State
9)(13) Iowa: vs #11 Wisconsin
10)(14) Michigan State: at Northwestern
11)(18) Wisconsin: at #9 Iowa
12)(1) Ohio State: vs Purdue
13)(11) Arkansas: vs Mississippi
14)(15) Stanford: vs Washington State
15)(16) Florida State: IDLE
16)(17) Arizona: vs Washington
17)(6) Nebraska: at #18 Oklahoma State
18)(20) Oklahoma State: vs #17 Nebraska
19)(24) Missouri: vs 4 Oklahoma
20)(12) South Carolina: at Vanderbilt
21)(22) Miami (FL): vs North Carolina
22)(NR) Virginia Tech: vs Duke
23)(NR) West Virginia: vs Syracuse
24)(NR) Texas: vs Iowa State
25)(NR) Mississippi State: vs UAB

Dropped out of the top 25: Florida, Nevada, Michigan, Oregon State

The next best 5 for Week 8:

Florida: IDLE
Nevada: IDLE
Michigan: IDLE
USC: IDLE
North Carolina State: IDLE

College Football Week 7 Preview

After five weeks of seeing a couple top teams fall, the top team in the nation finally dropped in week six. South Carolina sprung the upset over the defending champion Alabama Crimson Tide. They used their run game and turned the defensive tables on Alabama. Ohio State now is poised in the driver's seat with Alabama's fall.

Looking at the top 5 games I highlighted, I went 4-1 and now am at 24-6 on the year after six weeks. Stanford was able to bounce back, but still struggled at times outlasting USC. The same feeling of outlasting their opponent was felt by Michigan State. They did enough when it mattered to get by Michigan. The Wolverines opened the year with a shocking start, but now look to be back around the middle of the pack in the Big Ten.

There was no close, down to the wire feeling in a game that usually has it. Florida State looked like a superior team in Miami as they took down the Hurricanes. However, the SEC restored the tight game factor to close out the day. First, LSU went on the road and was able to use a few key plays to deliver a second loss to the Tim Tebow-less Gators. The mode in Gainesville seems a bit different as they now fall behind the winner of the game of the weekend. That winner was South Carolina, which shocked most out of Tuscaloosa. The Tide seemed to have control of the game at points, but the Gamecocks never gave up and kept fighting. It might a leading contender for game of the year even.


Now on to Week 7 with a bunch of big games.

Games featuring top 25 teams/some that might be interesting:

Saturday, October 16
No. 20 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech: This one has the very good potential to feature lots of scoring.


And of course, the top 5 games to watch this week.

Top 5:

5) Mississippi State at No. 22 Florida: This one could be interesting purely based on Mississippi State's good defensive efforts at times this year. If they can stymie Florida's at times slow offense, they might be able to upset the Gators in the Swamp. The Gators barely survive a surprising nail biter. PREDICTION: FLORIDA

4) No. 15 Iowa at Michigan: The Big House will be a little less excited after a crushing loss to Michigan State, but they can put a wrinkle in Iowa's path to the Big Ten title. It should still be a tough road game for Hawkeyes, but they will do enough like Michigan State did to outlast Michigan's somewhat one dimensional offense. PREDICTION: IOWA

3) Texas at No. 5 Nebraska: Despite the fact that Texas enters with two losses, this one should and will be close. The Cornhuskers are in a very good spot to leap a couple teams to find themselves playing for a national title. That is why the pressure will be high for Nebraska because they should win the Big 12 North, but that is not what you play for Lincoln, NE. Call it a hunch or simple pride, but Texas does enough and forces a couple of big turnovers. PREDICTION: TEXAS

2) No. 1 Ohio State at No. 18 Wisconsin: Ohio State is the new #1 after Alabama's loss and must beware of their reign only lasting a week. Wisconsin plays smart and tough and their run game wears out the best teams when it gets going. This will be low scoring early and the pace will pick up a bit before slowing down again. The fast pace that could develop after halftime might allow Ohio State QB Tyrelle Pryor to score a couple times. Wisconsin fights back, but falls just short. PREDICTION: OHIO STATE

1) No. 12 Arkansas at No. 7 Auburn: The SEC finds itself once in the game of the week slot. This time Arkansas heads to Auburn. This one should be a track meet with two red hot quarterbacks when they are on. Auburn QB Cam Newton has been more consistent in big moments this year than Arkansas QB Ryan Mallet. The Razorbacks could have and probably should have upset Alabama, but Mallet cost them a win. Newton does a few special things with the ball and puts this one away. PREDICTION: AUBURN

More great action and Ohio State is the prime team on upset alert this week as the top team in the nation.

NFL Week 6 Power Rankings

The top two remain intact while there is some shuffling with the Saints and Packers suffering rough losses. The Chiefs fell to the Colts and there is no more unbeatens after only 5 weeks.

Here is how the rankings stack up for Week 6:

Week 6
Rank (Last week)
1)(1) Baltimore Ravens (4-1): They seem to have their running game back and will duel it out with Pittsburgh for now for bragging rights.
2)(2) Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1): They return from a break with their quarterback in position to make a run against the league.
3)(5) New York Jets (4-1): Another good game by the defense as QB Mark Sanchez has yet to make a bad mistake.
4)(6) Atlanta Falcons (4-1): They are doing enough of the right things and now find themselves in great position in the NFC South with the Saints sliding.
5)(8) New England Patriots (3-1): They come off the break with a new yet old receiver replacing WR Randy Moss.
6)(9) Indianapolis Colts (3-2): Was not pretty at times, but efficient enough for them.
7)(11) Chicago Bears (4-1): Despite horrid quarterback play, their defense and HB Matt Forte were more than enough.
8)(3) New Orleans Saints (3-2): They must continue to ask where their fast paced offense is.
9)(4) Green Bay Packers (3-2): Things are starting to unravel and injuries are piling up.
10)(10) Kansas City Chiefs (3-1): A tough first loss to swallow, but they kept QB Peyton Manning from throwing a touchdown.
11)(7) Houston Texans (3-2): Their defense looked like they were a shell of their potential selves.
12)(17) Washington Redskins (3-2): This team continues to show some grit and got a big win.
13)(20) Tennessee Titans (3-2): They took advantage of a sloppy Cowboys team.
14)(18) New York Giants (3-2): Another solid defensive game has to have them thinking they can win the NFC East with this style of play.
15)(21) Philadelphia Eagles (3-2): Not bad, but not great in terms of their offensive performance.
16)(14) Miami Dolphins (2-2): They return from a bye with some work to do.
17)(16) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1): They continue to surprise the league by already matching last year's win total.
18)(23) Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2): They did what they were supposed to do: beat up on a bad team.
19)(26) Arizona Cardinals (3-2): They found a way to get to QB Drew Brees and steal a big win.
20)(12) Minnesota Vikings (1-3): Another victory taken away by an error by QB Brett Favre despite his second half.
21)(13) Dallas Cowboys (1-3): The panic button might be about to be hit very soon if they don't start playing like a contending team.
22)(15) San Diego Chargers (2-3): The up and down ride for their season continues.
23)(19) Cincinnati Bengals (2-3): They are still missing a few pieces to complete games.
24)(22) Denver Broncos (2-3): They need more production from their running game and defense.
25)(28) Oakland Raiders (2-3): They finally broke the strangle hold the Chargers had on them for 7 years.
26)(24) St. Louis Rams (2-3): QB Sam Bradford has probably loss his top weapon for the season.
27)(25) Seattle Seahawks (2-2): They had a week off and come back with a new weapon at running back.
28)(30) Detroit Lions (1-4): Talk about getting their first win.
29)(27) Cleveland Browns (1-4): Their quarterback situation is banged up and have Pittsburgh ahead.
30)(29) San Francisco 49ers (0-5): More costly mistakes lead to another loss.
31)(31) Carolina Panthers (0-5): Doesn't seem to matter who starts at quarterback, the results are the same.
32)(32) Buffalo Bills (0-5): More of the same as they can't seem to find a way to win.

3 teams remain without a win and two 1-3 squads (Dallas and Minnesota) are set to face up in a big game at this point in the year for both.

A view from a conservative perch

Sometimes as a moderate or realist, it is tricky to comprehend how certain liberal or conservatives politicians or commentators think. They offer opinions that reflect their ideologies, but are they just the best perspectives for their side? During this chaotic primary season, we have seen base voters especially and most prominently conservative voters choosing candidates that might not be the strongest in a general election. Winning base voters is only half the battle as to win competitive elections, you need to appeal to Independents and even some opposing party voters. House races allow more conservative or more liberal candidates to thrive. But, some House districts do provide a tense matchup and one must monitor how extreme they get with their believes. That is taken further in Senate races, where you definitely have to campaign for votes outside of your base in the majority of races.

So, to allow a little perspective into the conservative mind; I turned to Marc Thiessen and a pair of articles written by Thiessen. Both of Thiessen's articles point to staying true to your ideology despite better party prospects if conservatism is not the only option. Thiessens's opinion has been shared by other conservatives as they will almost certainly the U.S. House back, but their pure ideology stance might cost the Republicans the U.S. Senate; something they are okay with.

The first article by Thiessen spoke of true conservatives in the U.S. Congress. One of the last surprises of the primary season was Christine O'Donnell's victory over Congressman Mike Castle (R-DE-AL) in the Republican primary in Delaware. Her victory was made possible due to much outside support including Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC). Members of the "establishment" were not exactly happy with DeMint's move. However, for those like Thiessen; he was embracing a "true conservative". Someone who does not fall under that label for many like Thiessen is Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). Murkowski lost the Republican primary in Alaska to Joe Miller, the Tea Party candidate; but is going to run as an Independent. That decision does not sit well with conservatives who fall more in line with DeMint's thinking and actions. Murkowski lost and that should be reason enough for her to fade into the background.

For conservatives like Thiessen, Murkowski should be attacked the same way DeMint was. She should be viewed as an Independent and not a member of the Republican minority in the U.S. Senate. He points to others like Charlie Crist in Florida doing the same thing and betraying the party for their own personal interests. Thiessen's analysis is part of the hazed view on that perch because Republican primary voters are not the only voters voting in states like Alaska or Florida this November. That is why Murkowski is running: she represents a comprehensive group of the voting electorate while Miller only truly appeals to the conservative base voters that paved the way to his victory. Plus, one must always consider complacency as several Murkowski voters stayed home not giving Miller a chance; the opening he needed to close the gap so fast.

For true conservatives, it is candidates like Murkowski who are dividing the party as opposed to the Tea Party candidates. It has been the Tea Party and their energy at the base of the Republican Party that is giving Republicans the opportunity to regain the U.S. House and/or the U.S. Senate this fall. Thus, when comments regarding Tea Party candidates costing more victories; Thiessen and others find that hard to believe.

It is best to stick to ideologies and principles. That is what leads to Thiessen's second piece. Having a majority without true conservatives is not the desired result for those supporting the conservative movement this year. It would be better to still be the minority with a growing number of conservatives in Congress. Conservatives dedicated to cutting spending and not conducting business as usual. That is what candidates like Castle in Delaware represented. Or what Murkowski represents in Alaska.

As Thiessen sees it, the Tea Party and conservatives around the country are reshaping not only the country in their minds, but reforming the Republican Party. The Republican Party has committed some faults over time that bring about outsider candidates in so many primaries. It is where the energy is driven and at the core of more conservative candidates winning primaries. So are more viable than others, but a few losses are worth it if over the next couple election cycles a conservative majority is elected to the U.S. Congress.

Being in the minority in the Senate is not terrible if there is close to 50/50 membership from both parties. Having more than 40 seats associated with the minority party allows it to filibuster and prevent legislation from being "rammed through". That is why minimal gains is an accepted outcome because more conservatives like a Rand Paul in Kentucky or Marco Rubio in Florida would rein in the Democratic control.

The Olympia Snowes or Susan Collinses are viewed negatively amongst conservatives because they have voted with Democrats in the past. Potentially new senators like Paul or Rubio would be much less likely inclined to flip as easily on matters important to conservatives.

Thiessen views the results of 2010 with primary challengers will force more moderate Republicans to gauge what they do because they could end up like Castle and others falling short in party primaries due to more challenges from the far right.

Ultimately as Thiessen sees it from his perspective:

Bottom line: Positive change in the Senate does not depend on the GOP taking the majority in November. Besides, even if Republicans were to win the House and Senate, President Obama is not likely to respond by declaring "the era of big government is over." The only way to end the era of big government is to elect a majority of fiscal conservatives. If that requires a few election cycles, so be it.

That seems to be what the view from the conservative perch is becoming and is. Democrats tend to bend on their ideologies when necessary while Republicans are only becoming more and more tied to their ideology. It is an all or nothing strategy that Thiessen and others like DeMint are willing to stick to. It might reap some successes or some failures, but it is staying true to their base. That seems to be the ultimate takeaway as the Republican Party is being reformed too much by their far right and conservative base.

College Football Week 7 Power Rankings

The sixth week gave us a few more top 25 matchups including #18 South Carolina knocking off #1 Alabama as the Tide seek a repeat championship.

TOP 25 (Entering Week 7)
Rank(last week)
1)(2) Ohio State: at #18 Wisconsin
2)(3) Oregon: IDLE
3)(4) Boise State: at San Diego State
4)(5) TCU: vs BYU
5)(6) Oklahoma: vs Iowa State
6)(7) Nebraska: vs Texas
7)(8) Auburn: vs #11 Arkansas
8)(1) Alabama: vs Mississippi
9)(9) LSU: vs McNeese State
10)(10) Utah: vs Wyoming
11)(11) Arkansas: at #7 Auburn
12)(18) South Carolina: at Kentucky
13)(13) Iowa: at #23 Michigan
14)(16) Michigan State: vs Illinois
15)(18) Stanford: IDLE
16)(21) Florida State: vs Boston College
17)(12) Arizona: at Washington State
18)(20) Wisconsin: vs #1 Ohio State
19)(14) Florida: vs Mississippi State
20)(23) Oklahoma State: at Texas Tech
21)(22) Nevada: at Hawaii
22)(15) Miami (FL): at Duke
23)(17) Michigan: vs #13 Iowa
24)(NR) Missouri: at Texas A&M
25)(NR) Oregon State: at Washington

Dropped out of the top 25: West Virginia, Air Force

The next best 5 for Week 7:

West Virginia: vs South Florida
Air Force: at San Diego State
Virginia Tech: vs Wake Forest
Texas: at #6 Nebraska
North Carolina State: IDLE

NFL Week 5 Power Rankings

Once again there is a shift at the top as Baltimore jumps Pittsburgh after a 17-14 win. The top ten had a bit of shuffle overall with most notably Indianapolis slipping after another loss. The Chiefs remain as the last unbeaten coming off a bye.

Here is how the rankings stack up for Week 5:

Week 5
Rank (Last week)
1)(3) Baltimore Ravens (3-1): They find themselves in a nice position in their division and the league despite not so great play from stars like QB Joe Flacco and HB Ray Rice.
2)(1) Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1): A tough loss to Baltimore, but they will get back Big Ben and should be a serious threat with that defense.
3)(4) New Orleans Saints (3-1): Another close win has to have them worried about their slow offense.
4)(5) Green Bay Packers (3-1): Their offense has been missing a step without HB Ryan Grant.
5)(6) New York Jets (3-1): Three straight division wins have them in the AFC East driver's seat.
6)(7) Atlanta Falcons (3-1): Close wins show mettle as they struggled early and still won.
7)(9) Houston Texans (3-1): They get LB Brian Cushing back and might be able to make some serious moves in the AFC South.
8)(10) New England Patriots (3-1): They were vastly improved on defense and special teams against the Dolphins largely due to SS Patrick Chung.
9)(2) Indianapolis Colts (2-2): Another tough loss in the division has them at .500.
10)(15) Kansas City Chiefs (3-0): They will get the chance to prove if they are for real against the Colts.
11)(8) Chicago Bears (3-1): The health of QB Jay Cutler might be in jeopardy due to the bad play of the offensive line.
12)(16) Minnesota Vikings (1-2): They need to start picking up some wins despite a tough schedule or face a tough climb out of a deep hole.
13)(17) Dallas Cowboys (1-2): They come off a break and need to pick up where they left off.
14)(11) Miami Dolphins (2-2): Back to back tough losses in the division at home will make the climb to the division crown that much tougher.
15)(19) San Diego Chargers (2-2): They continue to at least rebound big time after a bad loss. They just need to win two in a row now.
16)(18) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1): They have kind of slid by so far, but their schedule will continue to test if they are for real.
17)(22) Washington Redskins (2-2): A nice win for QB Donovan McNabb against his former team.
18)(23) New York Giants (2-2): Their defense looked like their '07 version destroying QB Jay Cutler all night.
19)(12) Cincinnati Bengals (2-2): A sluggish offense needs to be fixed if they are to repeat last year's success.
20)(13) Tennessee Titans (2-2): This team continues to play up and down.
21)(14) Philadelphia Eagles (2-2): The quarterback carousel will continue again.
22)(24) Denver Broncos (2-2): A big day for QB Kyle Orton has this team somewhat back on track.
23)(25) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2): They got a big kick at the end to stun the Colts.
24)(26) St. Louis Rams (2-2): 2 wins in a row can build confidence for the team and its young quarterback.
25)(20) Seattle Seahawks (2-2): Their strangle hold over the Rams has been released.
26)(21) Arizona Cardinals (2-2): They have been beaten badly in losses this year and wins haven't been that good either.
27)(31) Cleveland Browns (1-3): A big victory as they finally finish a game.
28)(27) Oakland Raiders (1-3): Some more predictable mistakes that some injuries aren't helping.
29)(28) San Francisco 49ers (0-4): The only solace they have is their division is not strong.
30)(29) Detroit Lions (0-4): Not enough balance in Motown.
31)(30) Carolina Panthers (0-4): This team looks like they are in disarray; somewhat unusual for them.
32)(32) Buffalo Bills (0-4): They continue their division woes losing 3 games already.

Another top ten matchup this week featuring the 2-2 Colts vs the 3-0 Chiefs. Four teams still don't have a win.

College Football Week 6 Preview

Intense conference rivalry games highlight the docket last week. Two top ten teams fell out of the top ten largely based on the fact that they were facing a top ten team. Another powerhouse in recent years, Texas, took another tough hit with the loss and eliminated their chances of going back to the national title game barring a crazy two months ahead.

Looking at the top 5 games I highlighted, I went 4-1 and now am at 20-5 on the year after five weeks. Iowa had little trouble at home with Penn State as costly mistakes only contributed to the ease for the Hawkeyes. While in another Big Ten battle, the Michigan State Spartans outlasted the Wisconsin Badgers. It was everything the Iowa-Penn State battle was not. Michigan State looks to be a surprise team this year and both Wisconsin, who just lost to them, and Ohio State, a perennial Big Ten conference winner, know their capabilities. It creates a three team race with Iowa potentially as fourth dark horse in that conference.

And speaking of conference races, for much of the last decade Oklahoma and Texas have jockeyed for the right to be crowned Big 12 conference champions. The winner of the annual Red River Shootout has normally gone onto represent the South division in the conference in the conference title game and most times tends to go a BCS bowl game. Despite Texas' loss before the game, the hype was still high and the game tightened up at multiple occasions before Oklahoma's talent advantage and experience came through when it counted.

Another recent heated rivalry was about as much as a dud as Penn State-Iowa. Florida and Alabama are the last two national champions. Alabama did not have to deal with Florida QB Tim Tebow this year and it showed as they had little trouble moving the ball and dominating the Gators as they take a big step to potentially defending their title.

Finally, Stanford and Oregon was a tale of two halves. The first half looked like a Stanford rout, but their advantage quickly disappeared and Oregon was the team doing the destruction. The Ducks found ways to solve Stanford QB Andrew Luck's hot start and showed why they could find themselves as one half of the national title game. Despite the loss, Stanford could still find themselves in that same picture or least run the table.


Now on to Week 6 with a bunch of big games.

Games featuring top 25 teams/some that might be interesting:

Saturday, October 9
No. 11 Arkansas v Texas A&M: Arkansas is looking to rebound after a tough loss to Alabama and A&M has shown much improvement. Arkansas QB Ryan Mallet might be the difference in this one, but a mistake or two again could spring a big win for the Aggies.

Pittsburgh at Notre Dame: Their records are not flashy, but they have had some heated battles in the past. They both come in desperate for a win and it will likely bring out some very good football.

Oregon State at No. 9 Arizona: Arizona has an attack defense and a very good quarterback with QB Nick Foles. Oregon State entered the year with some promise. The fact that it is a conference matchup will make this matchup one to watch as it should come down to the wire.


And of course, the top 5 games to watch this week.

Top 5:

5) USC at No. 16 Stanford: USC has taken a bit of a step back the last couple years after dominating the Pac-10 for much of the decade. The Trojans are playing for pride this year after NCAA violations. QB Andrew Luck and Stanford are looking to recover after a tough blowout to Oregon. USC would love to play spoiler to Stanford especially considering Stanford cost USC a shot a national title a few years ago. Stanford has a bit more talent and the better quarterback. PREDICTION: STANFORD

4) No. 17 Michigan State at No. 18 Michigan: This battle for Michigan usually involves Michigan trying to challenge for a Big Ten crown with Michigan State trying to spoil their season. The two squads are very close in talent and skill now with Michigan State possibly having the edge. Michigan QB Denard Robinson will need to utilize all his abilities if they are to put the Spartans away. The Spartans defense against Robinson could be the key point of the matchup. After last week, Michigan State looks like a tough-minded team to beat. PREDICTION: MICHIGAN STATE

3) No. 23 Florida State at No. 13 Miami (FL): This has been a prime battle in the state of Florida for years. The kicker has often factored in these games in the past. Florida State looks to be on the way back as does Miami (FL), which adds to this game. QB Christian Ponder of Florida State vs QB Jacory Harris of Miami (FL) might be the ultimate x-factor in this one. Harris has had flashes of greatest, but comes up short in big games. The Hurricanes are at home, but something tells me the Seminoles will have a few surprises under new head coach Jimbo Fisher. PREDICTION: FLORIDA STATE

2) No. 12 LSU at No. 14 Florida: The Tigers and Gators are the winners of three of the last four BCS title games. The Swamp will be hyped up as these top SEC squads have a lot at stake. A loss by LSU would put them behind Alabama for a shot at SEC West while Florida would suffer its second loss and virtually be fighting for a top bowl game. The Tigers and especially their head coach Les Miles seem to play scrappy and do just enough. The lack of experience like last week will rear its ugly head again and the Tigers edge out a big road victory. PREDICTION: LSU

1) No.1 Alabama at No. 19 South Carolina: Alabama does not catch a break after surviving big SEC battles with Arkansas and Florida as they now go on the road to face South Carolina. South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier has turned around the Gamecocks and led by freshman HB Marcus Lattimore this team could trip up Alabama. The Tide is road tested and road tough. They somehow got past Arkansas on the road and they will need to be resourceful, but a late score and big defensive effort will allow them to survive again. PREDICTION: ALABAMA

As the season continues forward, the SEC has a couple big matchups that could shape the title game.

College Football Week 6 Power Rankings

The fifth week saw multiple top 25 matchups with a big one in the SEC with #1 Alabama over #7 Florida.

TOP 25 (Entering Week 6)
Rank(last week)
1)(1) Alabama: at #18 South Carolina
2)(2) Ohio State: vs Indiana
3)(5) Oregon: at Washington State
4)(3) Boise State: vs Toledo
5)(4) TCU: vs Wyoming
6)(8) Oklahoma: IDLE
7)(7) Nebraska: at Kansas State
8)(9) Auburn: at Kentucky
9)(11) LSU: at #14 Florida
10)(12) Utah: at Iowa State
11)(13) Arkansas: vs Texas A&M
12)(14) Arizona: vs Oregon State
13)(15) Iowa: IDLE
14)(7) Florida: vs #9 LSU
15)(16) Miami (FL): vs #21 Florida State
16)(24) Michigan State: at #17 Michigan
17)(18) Michigan: vs #16 Michigan State
18)(19) South Carolina: vs #1 Alabama
19)(17) Stanford: vs USC
20)(10) Wisconsin: vs Minnesota
21)(23) Florida State: at #15 Miami (FL)
22)(NR) Nevada: vs San Diego State
23)(NR) Oklahoma State: at LA Lafayette
24)(NR) West Virginia: vs UNLV
25)(NR) Air Force: vs Colorado State

Dropped out of the top 25: USC, Texas, Penn State, North Carolina State

The next best 5 for Week 6:

Missouri: vs Colorado
USC: at #19 Stanford
Texas: IDLE
Oregon State: at #12 Arizona
Kansas State: vs #7 Nebraska

College Football Week 5 Preview

The SEC highlighted the action in Week 4 and Alabama looked great behind the HB Mark Ingram as they pressured Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett and escaped a tough road battle with a win. While QB Cam Newton continued to impress as Auburn downed South Carolina. The Tide remain on top and after this weekend, it looks like it will take a great game to down them.

Looking at the top 5 games I highlighted, I went 5-0 and now am at 16-4 on the year after four weeks. Oklahoma needed everything in the tank to outlast a late effort by Cincinnati. The Bearcats dug too deep of a hole and showed signs that they might have a down year after two great years. West Virginia suffered a similar fate as Cincy as they could not do enough to trip up LSU, who did not play very sharp at times.

Before the SEC doubleheader is addressed, the play of Boise State against Oregon State showed the country that the Broncos could show up and play with the "big boys". They used a lot of their toolkit against the Beavers and silenced the Rodgers brothers. Boise State will need to play consistent and they might be there waiting if enough top teams fall along the way.

Getting to the SEC doubleheader, Alabama and Auburn both looked strong against Arkansas and South Carolina, respectively. The Tide used their defense and Ingram to wear out the Razorbacks. There were multiple opportunities for Mallett to win it for Arkansas, but he felt short each time. Auburn's Newton, on the other hand, found the right holes in the Gamecocks to overtake the effort by USC freshman HB Marcus Lattimore.


Now on to Week 5 with a bunch of big games.

Games featuring top 25 teams/some that might be interesting:

Thursday, September 30
Texas A&M at Oklahoma State: This is a better than average Thursday night showdown. Both have capable offenses especially the Cowboys. QB Brandon Weeden to WR Justin Blackmon could be said a couple times.

Saturday, October 2
Washington at No. 18 USC: Washington has played USC close the last couple years even upsetting them once. USC is playing for pride this year and might fall into a trap at home.


And of course, the top 5 games to watch this week.

Top 5:

5) No. 22 Penn State at No. 17 Iowa: This one sets up to be an old school Big Ten matchup. Iowa has the edge playing at home and features more experience around the board. Those factors will be the difference as the Nittany Lions will make a couple costly mistakes. PREDICTION: IOWA

4) No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 24 Michigan State: This one will feature bruising running and could feature a lot of lead changes. Ultimately, Wisconsin's line and wear down style of offense will catch up with the Spartans. PREDICTION: WISCONSIN

3) No. 8 Oklahoma vs No. 21 Texas: A week ago, I would have said this would be a big top ten battle. However, Texas fell to UCLA and fell in the polls. Nonetheless, a win by the Longhorns would even things out with Oklahoma in the record columns. For that reason, the Sooners have more to lose especially considering they still have their other top rival, Oklahoma State, down the road. This one has one sided in the last decade with Oklahoma owning things followed by Texas owning things. In this one, Texas lacks the experience and playmakers Oklahoma has and that will be the difference and what will close for three quarters. PREDICTION: OKLAHOMA

2) No. 7 Florida at No. 1 Alabama: Florida won in 2008. Alabama won in 2009. The two are top title contenders again and the winner will take a big step in gaining a shot at another title. The Gators have struggled at times on offense this year. That could ultimately play the biggest factor in this SEC grudge match. HB Mark Ingram has looked great since coming back from an offseason injury. He will set the pace and the defense will again rise up at the right moments in what could be a close one. PREDICTION: ALABAMA

1) No. 9 Stanford at No. 4 Oregon: The big game of the week features two potent Pac-10 offenses. This one has shootout written all over it. QB Andrew Luck is starting to emerge as a top player in the country and will be against another pair in QB Darren Thomas and HB LaMichael James. One or all three could be invited to New York City in December for a chance at the Heisman Trophy. You don't want to miss a minute of this one! With all that said, Stanford gets the ball last and comes up short. PREDICTION: OREGON

Another pair of big games highlight the action as the top teams will slowly begin to fall out of the title picture.

NFL Week 4 Power Rankings

After the Saints struggled this past week, a new team is at #1. A few other movements among the top 10. Teams like Dallas and Minnesota finally picked up wins while the Buccaneers finally suffered a loss.

Here is how the rankings stack up for Week 4:

Week 4
Rank (Last week)
1)(5) Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0): 3 wins and 3 great defensive efforts. They just might go 4-0 before Big Ben returns.
2)(4) Indianapolis Colts (2-1): Their defense is still figuring things out, but that guy QB Peyton Manning is still a field general.
3)(6) Baltimore Ravens (2-1): They needed a lot of WR Anquan Boldin to survive the Browns.
4)(1) New Orleans Saints (2-1): They now know the Falcons are for real.
5)(2) Green Bay Packers (2-1): Too many costly mistakes against too good of team.
6)(7) New York Jets (2-1): Another nice divisional victory has to have them walking around on top of the world.
7)(10) Atlanta Falcons (2-1): A victory over the Saints says that they are to be feared in the division and the NFC.
8)(14) Chicago Bears (3-0): They were pressuring the Packers into mistakes and are making a claim at being a contender in 2010.
9)(3) Houston Texans (2-1): A humbling loss puts this team back about where they have been in the past.
10)(8) New England Patriots (2-1): Their defense should worry many fans.
11)(9) Miami Dolphins (2-1): They had a few chances, but could not make the big plays in the 4th quarter.
12)(11) Cincinnati Bengals (2-1): This potentially great offense has flickered at best.
13)(15) Tennessee Titans (2-1): They were all over the Giants in all phases.
14)(16) Philadelphia Eagles (2-1): They got a nice tune up before QB Donovan McNabb comes back to town.
15)(20) Kansas City Chiefs (3-0): They continue to make surprising plays and get by.
16)(17) Minnesota Vikings (1-2): They enter the bye with the confidence of a win.
17)(18) Dallas Cowboys (1-2): A crucial victory against their in state rival of sorts.
18)(21) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1): As expected, they had a tough go against the Steelers and the schedule does not really let up.
19)(12) San Diego Chargers (1-2): Their slow start this year looks a bit worse than usual.
20)(26) Seattle Seahawks (2-1): A couple big returns stunned the Chargers.
21)(25) Arizona Cardinals (2-1): They still have a good shot to the win division after a gift victory.
22)(13) Washington Redskins (1-2): They gave the Rams a lot of opportunities and paid for them.
23)(19) New York Giants (1-2): They continued to make foolish mistakes and cause penalties and turnovers.
24)(23) Denver Broncos (1-2): Yet another rough loss to the Colts.
25)(24) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2): It was like they didn't show up and let QB Mike Vick just waltz around the field.
26)(29) St. Louis Rams (1-2): Getting that first win against a division rival is that much sweeter.
27)(27) Oakland Raiders (1-2): Costly missed kicks kept them from an easy win.
28)(22) San Francisco 49ers (0-3): This team is continuing to underachieve based on many observers' standards.
29)(28) Detroit Lions (0-3): They are still some time away from being relevant after another bad loss.
30)(30) Carolina Panthers (0-3): New quarterback, same stagnant offense.
31)(31) Cleveland Browns (0-3): Another close game, yet another loss though.
32)(32) Buffalo Bills (0-3): More problems continue and now QB Trent Edwards has been saved from those problems.

As Week 4 starts, 3 teams remain unbeaten and 5 sit without a win. There are surprises all around the league early on so far. A big top 5 matchup of the Steelers against the Ravens highlights Week 4.

College Football Week 5 Power Rankings

The fourth week was highlighted by a top 10 matchup and the top 5 is still standing with a few movements; most notably Texas.

TOP 25 (Entering Week 5)
Rank(last week)
1)(1) Alabama: vs #7 Florida
2)(2) Ohio State: at Illinois
3)(3) Boise State: at New Mexico State
4)(4) TCU: at Colorado State
5)(7) Oregon: vs #17 Stanford
6)(7) Nebraska: IDLE
7)(9) Florida: at #1 Alabama
8)(8) Oklahoma: vs #21 Texas
9)(14) Auburn: vs Louisiana-Monroe
10)(11) Wisconsin: at #24 Michigan State
11)(12) LSU: vs Tennessee
12)(13) Utah: IDLE
13)(10) Arkansas: IDLE
14)(16) Arizona: IDLE
15)(17) Iowa: vs #22 Penn State
16)(18) Miami (FL): at Clemson
17)(19) Stanford: at #5 Oregon
18)(20) Michigan: at Indiana
19)(15) South Carolina: IDLE
20)(21) USC: vs Washington
21)(7) Texas: vs #8 Oklahoma
22)(23) Penn State: at #15 Iowa
23)(25) Florida State: at Virginia
24)(NR) Michigan State: vs #10 Wisconsin
25)(NR) North Carolina State: vs Virginia Tech

Dropped out: West Virginia, Oregon State

The next best 5 for Week 5:

West Virginia: IDLE
Oregon State: IDLE
Air Force: IDLE
Nevada: at UNLV
Oklahoma State: vs Texas A&M

Health Care Reform gets its 6 month check-up

March 23, 2010: The Affordable Care Act was signed into law after months of debates, votes, and conversations/battles.

It now six months later and a good time to assess the bill once again as it still remains a hotly debated topic. It is fodder for political ads and campaigns for this year's elections. Candidates are running against it while very few of those who voted it are running on it. September and the six month mark the beginning of some of the initial parts of the bill taking effect. That is where Drew Altmire comes in as he takes a closer look at health care reform after six months of it being enacted.

Below is his commentary:

Six months after its enactment, there are two totally different stories to tell about the health-reform law. The public remains split on the law largely along traditional partisan lines. Confusion and misperception are rampant, with more than a third of seniors still thinking the law contains "death panels" (it does not). Yet beneath the political battle lies a success story of early implementation: The federal government that many regard as sluggish and ineffective has turned major elements of the legislation into reality right on schedule.

Since the bill's passage, the Department of Health and Human Services has set up a program to help people with preexisting health conditions get coverage through state or federal high-risk pools; established a program to help employers provide health insurance to early retirees; issued rebates to help pay drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries stuck in the "doughnut hole"; provided tax credits to small businesses to provide insurance coverage; and created a consumer-friendly Web site, http://HealthCare.gov, that rivals anything coming out of Silicon Valley (where our organization is based).

Several popular provisions take effect Thursday. They include allowing adult children up to age 26 to be on their parents' insurance; banning lifetime benefits caps and loosening annual limits on insurance coverage payouts; prohibiting insurance companies from kicking people off of their policies when they get sick; and requiring that newly purchased insurance policies cover preventive services at no cost to patients.

Still, our monthly polling finds the public split on the law, with 49 percent in favor vs. 40 percent against in September and the rest undecided. Public sentiment about health reform has shifted within a narrow band since the spring, with slightly more in favor in some months and slightly more against in others. For many who oppose it, the law reflects deeper discontent. When we asked people who said they were angry about the law why they were angry, the vast majority reported that, more than being upset with the law itself, they were angry about the general direction in Washington. Meanwhile, with a few notable exceptions -- such as requiring that people have insurance -- the law's major provisions appear to be very popular with the public.

The provisions that will touch the most people -- an expansion of Medicaid, new insurance marketplaces in every state, tax subsidies for working people without insurance, guaranteed access to insurance and the hotly debated requirement that almost everybody purchase coverage -- do not come until 2014. And eventually, real-world experience with these changes will trump political argument when the public renders its verdict on the law.

Consider what happened when a Republican-controlled Congress created the Medicare drug benefit in 2004. Three times as many seniors opposed the law as favored it, and many liberals criticized the legislation as a first step toward privatization of Medicare, just as some conservatives call current health reform a government takeover. Within three years, though, supporters of Medicare Part D outnumbered detractors as it became clear the program was working well and helping seniors afford their medicines. The new health-reform law represents a much bigger change than the Medicare drug benefit was and may work out differently, especially if Republicans succeed in their efforts to block full implementation. But if the reform continues on pace, as happened with Part D, the law's fate will be determined not by the early political debate but by how people believe the law is working for them and their families and friends once its major elements are implemented.

At the six-month mark, the politics of health reform remain as ugly as ever, but implementation of the law's benefits and changes has been a success story so far. There is a lot of heavy lifting still to come.


As Altmire presents it, this will continue to be a feeling out process and it begins to affect individuals, companies, and the health industries; more will certainly unfold in more definite terms. For now, it looks like it the more people, they more they might learn they like it especially those who start to see the benefits starting today.

Does a group need a leader to be powerful?

Often whether it be politics, business, or most settings where multiple groups function; there is usually a leader-based structure. Businesses and corporations have CEOs. School groups elect presidents or chairs. Committees in Congress all have heads and both Democrats and Republican have chairs and leaders in Congress, at the national level, and at the state level.

That is why at times it is asked: Does the Tea Party need a leader to fulfill "their mission"? Do they need a leader to affective campaign for candidates and lobby amongst both parties especially the Republicans to get their issues and their voices heard?

That is where a recent Washington Post article comes into the equation.

Since its early days in late 2008, the Tea Party has largely been based on grassroots energy and the mobilizing energy allowed the group to build a voice that has injected itself in the political discourse and has been a growing x-factor in multiple primaries this year. However, as this group has grown; conservative-leaning interest groups have taken noticed and have provided extra energy and millions of dollars. Those dollars have provided pushes for multiple Tea Party-backed candidates and enabled several upset victories slating more conservative candidates in general election races this fall. But, through it all; they have embraced a regional system where there are multiple leaders of different state and region Tea Parties. Their desire for that structure is based in the belief of small government and allowing everyone to have a voice; or a protection of their freedom of speech.

Despite successes, many wonder what could be different if they had a main leader. Would they be able to generate better campaign strategies? Would they increase primary victories and subsequently, potentially general election victories.

A lack of a leader and a goal are weaknesses that can be contributed to counteracting much of the strength of the grass roots organization the Tea Party enjoys. The Tea Party was planning to hold its own convention, but changed its mind due to some disagreements with the Tennessee-based group planning the Las Vegas gathering.

Something also thrown in the shuffle is the way the group lobbies against what "the establishment" represents, but still needs to raise funds that often come through channels linked to "the establishment". They must "grin and bare it" almost if they truly want to be able to take the grass roots energy and back that up with the money needed to win large scale elections. Hence, they must question if their ideologies have to be put aside in order to take the next step.

Of the major national tea party groups, Tea Party Patriots most closely resembles a grass-roots organization. The nonprofit group does not run a political action committee and does not endorse candidates. At least 2,800 local groups are affiliated with it, but Tea Party Patriots does not tell them what to do or whom to vote for.

The movement is based more getting conservatives out to vote and not necessarily always advocated for a candidate. The Tea Party has been able to allow outside groups to do the damage to candidates they oppose while letting their preferred candidates try to file in the gaps.

The money that is raised will certainly be put towards a final push for candidates in November. But, there is a sense amongst many in the Tea Party that they must "pace" themselves in order to maintain their stability after November. They will have two more years before President Obama is up for reelection and if they truly want to "take their country back"; they will need to monitor resources in order to relevant in two years.

Thus, as the campaigns speed up as November nears; more than some wonder how effective the group is without a leader. So far, the Tea Party has succeeded under a fractional leadership style with multiple "patriots" guiding the way. Grassroots movements sometimes just need the right mix of energy. Plus, outsider groups' money does not hurt when it comes to negating the lack of a strong leader at the helm.

College Football Week 4 Preview

After three weeks, it looks like Alabama and Ohio State are positioning themselves for a possible showdown in January. Others are also showing quite skill and look to be ready if one or both squads fall. Chief among them is uprising Pac-10 Stanford and non-automatic bid conference teams Boise State and TCU. Until further notice, chalk is looking good early.

Turning to the top 5 games I highlighted, I went 4-1 and now am at 11-4 on the year. Auburn and Clemson traditionally have a heated non-conference rivalry between tiger teams. QB Cam Newton's coming out party continued as he led his team to another victory. Similar excitement was witnessed in Lansing as Michigan State continued their luck against the Fighting Irish in a quarterback duel filled with injuries. Notre Dame showed a lot in defeat and might be on the run to reclaiming some of their glory.

Florida and Texas, two recent national title game participants, continued their quest for answers with new quarterbacks and youth. After two weeks of struggles, they got back in the groove against rivals in their conferences. The "main event" of the week was a nailbiter late as Arizona QB Nick Foles showed that he might the best quarterback in a quarterback heavy conference. He was aided by a great defensive effort from his defense.


Now on to Week 4 with a bunch of big games.

Games featuring top 25 teams/some that might be interesting:

Thursday, September 23
No. 19 Miami (FL) at Pittsburgh: These former Big East rivals are looking to position themselves to be a top national team. Both have shown signs in the last couple years. They have sparks on offense and one should not expect the best defensive game.

Friday, September 24
No. 4 TCU at SMU: SMU had a breakout year last year and could be a decent test for TCU. If TCU struggles here, it could provide an early blip if they want to play for the national title in January.

Saturday, September 25
North Carolina State at Georgia Tech: Georgia Tech's offense is fast and furious and the NC State Wolfpack have the potential to score a lot too. The option run by Tech is exciting to watch and this ACC battle could be interesting.

No. 16 Stanford at Notre Dame: Notre Dame is coming off a tough loss while Stanford led by QB Andrew Luck looks very hot on offense. After the duel in Lansing, Notre Dame will need to duplicate that to possibly knock off Stanford.


And of course, the top 5 games to watch this week.

Top 5:

5) No. 8 Oklahoma at Cincinnati: The Sooners could be poised to reclaim the Big 12 throne now that QB Colt McCoy no longer roams the Texas sidelines. Cincy is looking to replace their quarterback and maintain top status in the Big East without coach Brian Kelly. This one has the potential to be close largely due to the fact that Oklahoma is playing on the road. Top teams face one or two road tests a year and this might be one of those for QB Landry Jones and the rest of the team. However, they will make a couple key plays late to secure the win. PREDICTION: OKLAHOMA

4) No. 22 West Virginia at No. 15 LSU: West Virginia is battling for a chance to go to a BCS bowl game on behalf of the Big East and face possibly one of their biggest challenges in the last few years. Baton Rouge at night is one of the toughest places to play and LSU looked geared up and ready to spread it out and play tough SEC defense. West Virginia does possess a spread option offense that could keep LSU stars like CB Patrick Peterson on their toes at times. Unless West Virginia sets the tone early, it could be a long one. But, it should be somewhat close in the end. PREDICTION: LSU

3) No. 3 Boise State at No. 24 Oregon State: Boise State has been looking to make a statement on the national stage the last few years. They upset Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl a few years back and have knocked off a few top teams along the way. However, they still are asked to prove themselves. Going to Oregon State is another step on the way to respect. The Beavers have the Rodgers brothers who pose problems for defenses and the environment will be hostile. The Broncos possess a balanced squad that can score and stop teams. Expect a statement. PREDICTION: BOISE STATE

2) No. 12 South Carolina at No. 17 Auburn: The undercard matchup in the SEC doubleheader. Auburn under QB Cam Newton looks dangerous at times while Steve Spurrier has provided a spark for the Gamecocks led by a talented quarterback-running back tandem. This one could be a grinder for 30 and come down to a drive or two in the 4th. Newton's athleticism could provide the difference in the end. PREDICTION: AUBURN

1) No.1 Alabama at No. 10 Arkansas: This top ten battle is amplified by the fact that it is a SEC conference battle. Alabama's path to a repeat could face one of its toughest obstacles this week. QB Ryan Mallett is talented enough to dice apart this very good Alabama defense. That battle could decide the game. If Arkansas can slow a Alabama offense that features Heisman Trophy winner, HB Mark Ingram; they could spring the upset even though they are at home. The Tide makes one extra play in the end on defense to win it. PREDICTION: ALABAMA

As the season nears the end of the first month and the BCS rankings are a couple weeks away, some top teams will be on guard for an early trip up that could cost them. Alabama has the most to lose this weekend.

NFL Week 3 Power Rankings

Some shake up in the top 10 again with the top 2 still intact. A few surprising 2-0 teams and a few surprising 0-2 teams.

Here is how the rankings stack up for Week 3:

Week 3
Rank (Last week)
1)(1) New Orleans Saints (2-0): It was not pretty, but they showed enough poise to hold off the 49ers when it counted.
2)(2) Green Bay Packers (2-0): They took advantage of a bad Bills team all day.
3)(7) Houston Texans (2-0): They needed some luck at the end and a bit of skill to remain unbeaten.
4)(5) Indianapolis Colts (1-1): They took out their Week frustrations all night against the Giants.
5)(8) Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0): Their defense is back to form and could be a bad sign for the league once their offense is back intact.
6)(3) Baltimore Ravens (1-1): They might have run out of steam after their Monday night win or a few bad calls could have contributed to the loss as well.
7)(11) New York Jets (1-1): They showed that they can regain focus after a tough loss and make a divisional statement.
8)(4) New England Patriots (1-1): A big letdown by QB Tom Brady and the offense in the second half cost them a winnable game.
9)(14) Miami Dolphins (2-0): They have two tough division games ahead that can establish the AFC East front runner.
10)(13) Atlanta Falcons (1-1): That type of play on offense could spring them the NFC South crown.
11)(15) Cincinnati Bengals (1-1): The AFC North is still in sight again after a tough division victory.
12)(12) San Diego Chargers (1-1): Beating up the Jaguars should help after their Week 1 upset.
13)(16) Washington Redskins (1-1): They had the Texans beat and let them off the hook.
14)(23) Chicago Bears (2-0): This team is starting to show potential for a balanced attack on both sides of the ball.
15)(9) Tennessee Titans (1-1): They ran into a tough Steelers defense and HB Chris Johnson got shut down.
16)(18) Philadelphia Eagles (1-1): QB Mike Vick will be depended on to keep defenses confused.
17)(6) Minnesota Vikings (0-2): They continue to miss a big play guy like WR Sidney Rice.
18)(10) Dallas Cowboys (0-2): Another dud of a performance for a team that is supposed to compete for a Super Bowl.
19)(17) New York Giants (1-1): They looked even sloppier this week.
20)(24) Kansas City Chiefs (2-0): They have a good chance to get to 3-0 against a shaky 49ers team.
21)(29) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0): Might be the biggest surprise at 2-0. Tough test against Steelers this week.
22)(21) San Francisco 49ers (0-2): Keeping the defending champions close should build confidence.
23)(25) Denver Broncos (1-1): They are still a bit of enigma in terms of their talent.
24)(19) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1): Their defense was sliced apart by the Chargers.
25)(20) Arizona Cardinals (1-1): They are starting to wish they had a solid quarterback.
26)(22) Seattle Seahawks (1-1): A big letdown after their opener.
27)(28) Oakland Raiders (1-1): It was not the greatest win, but it still counts.
28)(27) Detroit Lions (0-2): Another close ending resulting in a loss.
29)(30) St. Louis Rams (0-2): They have come close to being 2-0.
30)(26) Carolina Panthers (0-2): A change at quarterback couldn't hurt.
31)(31) Cleveland Browns (0-2): They keep games close, but lack the talent to seal the deal.
32)(32) Buffalo Bills (0-2): They are scrambling for answers at multiple areas.

Some good games ahead this week including a 2-0 Steelers vs a 2-0 Buccaneers. 8 teams are undefeated and 8 teams are still to win.

U.S. Senator gives voters a piece of his mind on way out

Most times it is the voters that are the ones that can express their blunt opinions. Politicians might believe many things, but for their political future; they must walk a tightrope that involves being politically correct. They are not able to return the verbal favor to voters. However, when one is voted out of office; they are clear of that fence and can truly speak their minds. Utah Republicans told Senator Bob Bennett, with a well above 90% conservative record over three terms in the U.S. Senate, that he had overstayed his stay in the U.S. Senate from one of the more conservative states. His TARP vote in 2008 likely was one of the biggest factors in his dismissal by the Republican voters at their state convention.

Now with his term slowly drawing to end over the next few weeks, Bennett is coming back at the public and their limited understanding of the political arena and nuances of being in Congress.

As Jordan Fabian from the Hill reported:


The public has "no understanding" of what Congress does and has unrealistic expectations of its members, outgoing GOP Sen. Bob Bennett (Utah) said recently.

In a wide-ranging interview with NBC News posted Monday, Bennett, whom Utah Republicans declined to renominate in May, knocked down the image of the Senate as the world's greatest debating body and said that most work is done in committee and behind closed doors. He also suggested that much of the business senators deal with is not of interest to them.

"They [members of the public] have no understanding of what we do. They expect that we spend most of our time on the Senate floor debating," he said. "The image of Webster and Calhoun and Clay changing the course of the republic with a brilliant speech is still in their minds. Particularly since the advent of television in the chamber, Senate speeches are more and more irrelevant."

Bennett said that floor speeches are meant to create "snippets to show up in the nightly news that we hope will change the attitude of the people," not influence colleagues.

Since his defeat, Bennett has given a series of interviews in which he directed criticism at the upper chamber and his own party.

Bennett reiterated Monday that he believes the GOP uses slogans too heavily and does not have a coherent set of ideas to lay out to voters in the November midterm elections. The senator has also taken aim at GOP right-wing elements who largely opposed his reelection bid.

The third-term senator relayed a story about a supporter of Mike Lee, the Tea Party-backed candidate who defeated him in the primary. The supporter reportedly said at the Utah Republican convention that he could see Lee giving influential speeches on the Senate floor about the Constitution.

That notion is laughable, Bennett said, "because he’s going to spend his time sitting in that chair listening to lobbyists and constituents and staffers telling him the details of legislation, much of which he doesn’t care about, but that he’s going to have to — at least when constituents are around — demonstrate some kind of interest in, rather than standing on the floor like an ancient prophet declaring the beauties of the Constitution and discovering that he had influenced nobody."

But the Utah senator said that energy on the right wing will likely benefit the Republicans. He said that his message was "wrong" in this electoral climate and Democrats underestimate the impact it could have on the midterms.

"I think it’s going to win back the House and could easily win back the Senate," he said.

Bennett praised several past and present senators from both parties with whom he was close and whom he respected.

He named his Banking Committee colleague, Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), with whom he drafted a bipartisan healthcare bill. He also said he had a "very close, personal relationship" with now-Vice President Joe Biden and called Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) a "worthy opponent."

The only current GOP senator Bennett praised was Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R). The Kentuckian, he says, "understands exactly what has happened to the Senate, the changes that have occurred from [former Senate GOP leader Bob] Dole to McConnell."

Bennett said that the hardest thing to accomplish in Congress today is "building a consensus ... because by the time you get [a bill] to the floor, substance is pretty well out of the equation and they’re now playing politics."

Even though he has described the current political environment as divisive, Bennett said that today's politics are not as bitter as they were in the 1970s.

"No. Because I’m old enough to remember Vietnam," he said. "I'm old enough to remember the bitterness. Well, the bitterness of Watergate."

College Football Week 4 Power Rankings

The third week did not provide any major fireworks and the top teams remain pretty much intact.

TOP 25 (Entering Week 4)
Rank(last week)
1)(1) Alabama: at #10 Arkansas
2)(2) Ohio State: vs Eastern Michigan
3)(3) Boise State: vs #24 Oregon State
4)(4) TCU: at Southern Methodist
5)(7) Oregon: at Arizona State
6)(7) Nebraska: vs South Dakota State
7)(6) Texas: vs UCLA
8)(9) Oklahoma: at Cincinnati
9)(10) Florida: vs Kentucky
10)(12) Arkansas: vs #1 Alabama
11)(11) Wisconsin: vs Austin Peay
12)(13) LSU: vs #22 West Virginia
13)(14) Utah: vs San Jose State
14)(16) Auburn: vs #15 South Carolina
15)(17) South Carolina: at #14 Auburn
16)(24) Arizona: vs California
17)(8) Iowa: vs Ball State
18)(15) Miami (FL): at Pittsburgh
19)(19) Stanford: at Notre Dame
20)(20) Michigan: vs Bowling Green
21)(18) USC: at Washington State
22)(21) West Virginia: at #12 LSU
23)(22) Penn State: vs Temple
24)(25) Oregon State: at #3 Boise State
25)(23) Florida State: vs Wake Forest

Dropped out: None

The next best 5 for Week 4:

Pittsburgh: vs #18 Miami (FL)
Michigan State: vs Northern Colorado
Georgia Tech: vs North Carolina State
Air Force: at Wyoming
Fresno State: at Mississippi

NFL Week 2 Preview

Week provided excitement from game 1 to game 16. The Saints held off the Vikings to celebrate a win alongside celebrating their Super Bowl win once last time. While the Chiefs ended the first week stunning the Chargers with a late defensive stop and some great special teams. In between, some teams like the Jets looked flat while others like the Texans amazed us with their play.

In the four featured games, the Saints did not look especially great on offense, but the way they started the 1st and 3rd quarters were enough to hold off the Vikings, who were a few plays away from ruining the Saints' night. While on Sunday afternoon, the Texans got one of their wins and it came against divisional tormentor, the Colts. HB Arian Foster made a huge statement racking up over 200 yards on the ground and gives the team a ton of confidence for 2010. And on Sunday night, the Cowboys looked pretty bad. Followed by Monday night's even worse offensive effort by the Jets. The Cowboys in all likelihood should have beat the Redskins if it were not for either a risky play before halftime or a hold on the final play, which would have resulted in the game winning touchdown. But, the Jets' bravado and ego took a big hit by losing to the Ravens, the more complete team. Baltimore was patient enough on offense to find the holes in the Jets' otherwise tough defense. All four losers will certainly look to use week 2 to redeem themselves. Besides the Chargers, the 49ers were probably the other team that looked pretty bad getting spanked by the Seahawks to start the year.

I ended up going 2-2 among those games. I went 9-3 in the other games bringing my record to 11-5; a good start.

Now to turn to Week 2's slate of games.

TOP 4 OF THE WEEK

New England Patriots at New York Jets: This rivalry has reached a different level since Rex Ryan has become head coach of the Jets. The two squads split last year's series with the Patriots winning the division again. However, the Jets ended going further. This one will feel personal. The key matchup will be QB Tom Brady and WR Randy Moss against the Jets' blitzing defensive front seven and CB Darrelle Revis in the secondary. Brady has had a tendency to find holes in defenses over the years with screens and slants patterns where someone like WR Wes Welker thrives. For the sake of this battle, the Jets struggled on offense last week and will be hard pressed to slow down New England's offense the way they were able to contain Baltimore's to a degree. The Jets' lose another close one. PREDICTION: Patriots

Sunday Night: New York Giants at Indianapolis Colts: Its the rematch of four years ago between the brothers Manning. Peyton bested Eli last time and things expect to be close again. Both did not look especially great to start the year as the Giants got a defacto win while the Texans for one of the very few times beat the Colts in a key division game. The lights will be bright as both quarterbacks should rebound for less than stellar performances. The Giants' offense seems to lack a certain punch while the Colts need to get HB Joseph Addai more involved. Peyton again gets the better of Eli. PREDICTION: Colts

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals: The two competed in physical battles last year with the Bengals surprising the Ravens in both. The Ravens were able to weather the Jets' defense while Cincinnati's offense looked exposed. It was definitely not clicking as planned. The Ravens' offense should be able to open up a little more against a defense that will probably try to blitz like New York, but doesn't have the same mix of talent. A Ravens victory put a little distance early between two of the top contenders AFC North and possibly the AFC. In a physical one again, the Ravens edge out another one. PREDICTION: Ravens

Monday Night: New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers: The Saints opened up their title defense with a big win over the Vikings while the 49ers looked like garbage and unprepared. Not that the Saints played especially well either. They largely won on a big play to start each half. The game is in San Francisco and gives the 49ers a little boost. Since it is a prime time game, expect Mike Singletary to have his squad ready to play better. However, the Saints have one too many weapons and make timely big plays. That will be the difference here with a couple trick plays and one or two bombs by QB Drew Brees. PREDICTION: Saints


THE REST

Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans: The Steelers shocked some with their win over the Falcons with a big play by HB Rashad Mendenhall in overtime. The Titans and especially HB Chris Johnson looked to be in mid season form like the way they ended 2009. This might become a ground and pound type of game where Mendenhall and Johnson will battle for yards and points. The passing games of both will be slow and steady. Tennessee will go from playing Oakland's porous defense to playing a stacked Pittsburgh defense. Some questioned whether Pittsburgh could maintain high play without QB Ben Roethlisberger, but their defense might have been not acknowledged enough. A late play that leads to a turnover by Pittsburgh's defense might seal another victory. PREDICTION: Steelers

Miami Dolphins at Minnesota Vikings: Miami was lucky to escape their battle with Buffalo with a win while Minnesota might miss WR Sidney Rice more than some thought as they struggled in a loss. There is a great deal of pressure on the Vikings, but the Dolphins know they can't trip up early if they want to keep pace with the Patriots and Jets. The Vikings' defense will likely have the first half as their offense will likely try to figure out the Dolphins' defense early. However, QB Bret Favre rarely have back to back bad games even at this point in his career. He used his unorthodox play late to win. PREDICTION: Vikings

Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons: The Cardinals barely escaped against St. Louis while the Falcons barely lost to Pittsburgh. The Falcons' offense did not look like it was on cylinders, but facing Arizona might solve that. They often say this is a quarterback league and there is a big gap between the two starting ones in this game. QB Matt Ryan to WR Roddy White was probably the brightest spot in the Week 1 loss and expect them to shine again while QB Derek Anderson has not developed a rapport with star WR Larry Fitzgerald yet. The Falcons' balanced attack will be too much. PREDICTION: Falcons

Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns: In possibility the biggest shocker of Week 1, the Chiefs beat the Chargers largely great special teams and key running plays. They will likely have some similar success against the Browns' defense. They have their own pretty good return game led by KR/PR Josh Cribbs. QB Jake Delhomme managed the game fairly well last week in a loss. He will need to manage the game again if they are to get in the win column. However, this young Kansas City team might be better than some expected coming into the year. PREDICTION: Chiefs

Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys: Chicago is 1-0 and Dallas is 0-1, but very likely their records could be swapped. A controversial play late allowed a Lions' touchdown to not count and allow the Bears to escape. While the Cowboys were leading going into the half, but QB Tony Romo decided to throw a risky pass that got picked off and returned by CB DeAngelo Hall and returned for a touchdown. Momentum is key especially in division games and Dallas lost theirs and gave away to Washington. The Cowboys will be under pressure to avoid an 0-2 start with Super Bowl expectations with the big game being hosted by the city of Dallas this year. The Chicago offense exploded and might be able to uncover holes in Dallas' secondary that LB DeMarcus Ware can't cover up. Cowboys will play desperate and escape a late Chicago rally. PREDICTION: Cowboys

Philadelphia Eagles at Detroit Lions: Philadelphia's season took a quick twist in the second half of their first game with the injury to QB Kevin Kolb and entry of QB Mike Vick. Vick nearly orchestrated a comeback victory. While the Lions almost started the year with a win and seem to be a better balanced team that is not going to be an easy win for the Eagles. A close first half begins to turn into a two touchdown victory for the Eagles under the dynamic play of Vick. PREDICTION: Eagles

Buffalo Bills at Green Bay Packers: The Bills did enough to almost win last week, but playing Green Bay will be a greater challenge. QB Aaron Rodgers should have a big game and get all his weapons involved. They will depend more on the pass now that HB Ryan Grant is lost for the year. This game would be a great chance for them to test out replacement backs. PREDICTION: Packers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers: This one will be a contest with young quarterbacks, who are not polished. The Panthers looked really bad in defeat while the Bucs did enough to win. QB Josh Freeman is better at managing the ball and turnovers by either QB Matt Moore or QB Jimmy Clausen for the Panthers will turn the ball over and that will be enough again for a Bucs win in what should be a close divisional battle. PREDICTION: Buccaneers

Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos: Seattle might have had one of the best overall games last week as they dominated San Francisco. Denver loss a heartbreaker to Jacksonville in a back and forth battle. QB Kyle Orton played especially well and might have found a star in the making in WR Brandon Lloyd. The two will need to get going early to set the same pace and tone as last week. WR Mike Williams was given a second NFL live in Seattle and he might be a breakout star in their offense with what seems like a healthy QB Matt Hasselback. Denver's experience in a close one last week will pay off as this one will be tight late with a late score by Orton. PREDICTION: Broncos

St. Louis Rams at Oakland Raiders: The Rams lost a close division game with Arizona while Oakland look lost at best to start the year. QB Sam Bradford showed a good mix of caution and potential that will pay off as the year continues. Oakland will probably play better, but St. Louis should be able to hold off any Oakland late charge once they get the lead. Rams in a mild upset. PREDICTION: Rams

Houston Texans at Washington Redskins: Both teams provided shocking wins. The Texans must be on a confidence high after beating the Colts while the Redskins won barely their own division rival. QB Donovan McNabb played well enough, but if he enters a duel with QB Matt Schaub; he might not have enough talent to match Schaub's corp led by WR Andre Johnson. HB Arian Foster burst on the scene and was the driving force for the Texans last week. He might be the x-factor in this one. PREDICTION: Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars at San Diego Chargers: San Diego might be about to begin another rough start to a year. They came out flat against Kansas City while HB Maurice Jones-Drew did enough to carry the Jaguars to win over Denver. QB Phillip Rivers will due enough to rebound, but it will be close based off their play of a week ago. PREDICTION: Chargers

The excitement of Week 1 should carry over led by a sibling battle and headlined by an AFC East showdown between the Patriots and Jets.