Ringer, Romo, Red Sox & Routs

Red Sox fans must have been feeling like Linus waiting for the Great Pumpkin. David Ortiz couldn’t hit a lick in the league championship series and barely blasted the ball in the division series against Anaheim. Last night, however, he erupted with a vengeance as the Boston Red Sox shell-shocked the raw Rays from Tampa Bay. The Fenway faithful found fascination in a ferocious flood back win. Down by seven runs in the seventh, Boston clawed back, scoring eight runs over the final three innings. Their Great Pumpkin Big Papi led the charge with a towering homerun off Rays’ reliever, Grant Balfour. Why Joe Maddon decided to pull Scott Kazmir after a brilliant performance is baffling, but you have to credit Boston for finally flipping the switch on. Game 6 is going to be great.

So Tony Romo wants to play on Sunday against St. Louis despite breaking his pinky finger. The Cowboys’ fumbling quarterback would be wise to take a backseat at least for the week. It is not necessary to play hurt against a beat up Rams team. The Cowboys are good enough to win with Romo sidelined for Sunday. The Rams’ defense will know Romo is playing with a broken finger and pick on him all day.

Remember the name Ringer. Javon Ringer. No, it’s not the newest line of men’s fragrance in your local department store. He’s the star running back for the Michigan State Spartans. Ringer has 14 rushing touchdowns, which leads the nation this season. Michigan State is the 20th ranked team in college football and boasts a 6-1 record. The 6-1 Ohio State Buckeyes will play in East Lansing Saturday in a feature Big 10 game. Both are undefeated at 3-0 in the conference and both have excellent running backs. The Buckeyes are favored to win this road game, which makes me wary. Next week, Ohio State plays Penn State in what very well could be the Big 10 Championship determining game. I fear the team will be looking ahead to that game just like they did the week before playing out in Southern California. That time, they almost lost to an inferior Ohio team. Perhaps there were other factors (no Beanie Wells) for that squeaky win, but beware of the upset. I have this feeling OSU is going to lose the game and Javon Ringer is going to run wild on the defense. Quarterback Brian Hoyer is probably just as effective as Pryor is at this stage. Beanie Wells and Ringer are game changers and if Ringer outshines Beanie, Mark Dantonio’s Spartans will win. They can control the clock and time of possession with Ringer just like OSU can do (but often does not) with Wells. Michigan State is scary because they do not make many errors. The team does not turn the ball over but they are not good at defending the pass or run. If Ohio State is going to win this game, it will be on offense. Therefore, Pryor has to be more decisive with his passes and stop hesitating to make the big plays. Tressel has provided him with the options and this game would be a great opportunity to try a few of them out before facing Penn State in a week.
Here are a few more college games to keep an eye on:
Florida State won a close game, coming back to defeat NC State last night. Chief Osceloa should be proud of these Seminoles for putting together a 5-1 season thus far. I can’t say he would be too proud of the athletic department at FSU with all the infractions they are facing this week. Apparently, student athletes taking a course entitled, “Music of World Cultures” has been the focal point of a scandal. The NCAA is cracking down on the program and taking away scholarships, as they should. Division I athletes have plenty of perks academically and athletically. I’ve always believed it a privilege to play sports in college. Athletes do not deserve special treatment of extra benefits just because they are on a sports team. Kudos to a FSU for their third straight victory last night though.
Texas hosts Missouri in the clash of the colossal offenses. Chase Daniel is going to light up the Longhorns like a Jack-o-lantern in Texas. That doesn’t declare a Missouri win because Texas’ Colt McCoy we know can throw the ball with the best of them too. He has pinpoint control and a great arm. Look for the number one to go down again this week however. Missouri wins a close, high scoring game.
Alabama is number two? Ok, so Nick Saban has his team very focused. The running Crimson Tide and John Parker Wilson play the Ole Miss Rebels this week in what should result in another win. Jevon Snead is a quarterback who needs to limit his picks. He’s thrown the same number of touchdown passes and intercepted balls (9).
The Georgia Bulldogs are hard to read but I think they will beat surprising rising Vanderbilt this weekend in Athens. Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno solidify the Georgia offense. Stafford has thrown for 8 scores and Moreno has three 100 yard games as his running back. The Bulldogs don’t lose or win pretty but they have held a #10 ranking. They did beat Tennessee this year, but that doesn’t tell you much. Vanderbilt is going to bench starting QB Chris Nickson. Nickson will be replaced by Mackenzi Adams, who brings a double whammy act as a rusher. He has 6 rushing touchdowns. Vandy is looking to avenge for last season’s heartbreaking loss when the ‘Dogs scored on a final play field goal.
North Carolina vs. Virginia. Another upset. I liked the Tar Heels all season long, but they are going to lose to Virginia in a rout.

Parting points: “You’re Gonna Go Far Kid” by the Offspring is spinning in my system.