Auburn Preview

#7 Auburn



Our Dominate365 countdown to college football continues 62 days until Vandy and South Carolina! Number seven in my SEC power poll is the Auburn Tigers. Two years ago the Tiger where National Champions, but last year was a rebuilding year as most of the talent on the title team when on to play on Sundays. Now in 2012 everything is shaping up to be a transition year. Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn took the head coaching job at Arkansas State and Defensive coordinator Ted Roof has made his way to (not so) Happy Valley to run the Penn State defense. With new coordinators comes new systems offensive coordinator Scot Loeffier who we don't know a lot about because he only has one year experience in this role, but last year as Temples OC he lead them to the 7th best rushing offence in the nation. So can a strong ground attack be on its way to the plains? On Defense Chizik hired veteran DC Brain VanGorder who has years of experience in the college and in the league. Auburn should see better defensive play once VanGorder gets his players in. 

Okay let’s look beyond the coordinators and look at the talent on the field. The million dollar question is what kind of play will Auburn get out of there QB (who ever it might be)? Kiehl Frazier looks to be the future, but last season in the bowl game when Clint Moseley got hurt the Auburn coaches elected not to go with Frazier (could be telling). Looking at the numbers Frazier was 5 out of 12 for 34 yards %41 with 2 picks. Clint Moseley who took over last season, but wasn't extremely effective 66 out of 108 for 800 yards %61 with 5 TD's and 3 picks. I don't expect Chizik or Loeffier to be in any hurry naming the starter for Clemson. The strength of this team will be in the trenches.

Returning Starters: 18

Offense: 7

Defense: 9

ST: 2

Schedule and Predictions

·  Clemson ( in ATL) ? L

· @ Mississippi State ? W

· Louisiana Monroe W

· LSU L

· Arkansas ? L

· @ Ole Miss W

· @ Vanderbilt ? W

·  Texas A&M ? W

· New Mexico State W

· Georgia L

· Alabama A&M W

· @ Alabama L

W = Win / L = Loose / ? Swing Game



The season will hinge on how players adjust to the new systems and what kind of play they get from their QB. I think they will split their first two games, but both are very losable. The Arkansas game could be a win as it is at home and coming off a bye week, but I still think Arkansas will be able to out shoot them. But perhaps the most important stretch on Auburn's 2012 schedule will be the at Vanderbilt and Texas A&M at home in back to back weeks. I think these are both losable, but both are must wins. I think Auburn will go 7-5 maybe 8-4 if they beat Arkansas coming off the bye.





-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13

Vanderbilt the new Stanford?

Believe it or not but Vanderbilt is a raising program in the SEC. The Commodores have always been a doormat team to most of the SEC, but that is soon to change. I'm not saying Vanderbilt will ever be on the level of Alabama, Florida, LSU etc... but could they reach Stanford like success?

Stanford and Vanderbilt share some inherited challenges, as they both have very high academic standers and not every kid can just enroll and play football. The difference right now in the two schools is Stanford football has went from 1-11 in 2006 to 12-1 by 2010! Okay I know Andrew Luck is a once in a lifetime player for most teams and chances of Vanderbilt getting that lucky are very slim, but Stanford laid the out the blueprint to take it to the next level  for schools like Vanderbilt.

The buck stops at the top Jim Harbaugh took over a team that just came off a 1-11 season and slowly changed the mindset of the team. The next part of the blueprint was recruiting. A great coach can get his team an extra win or two, but at the end of the day if you lack talent then you will lack W's. When Harbaugh took over at Stanford in 2007 their Rivals class ranking was 51st in 08 it was 50th, but as the mind set changed so did recruiting as they jumped up 30 spots in 2009 to snag the 20th best class, and by 2012 they had the 5th best class according to Rivals.com. What Harbaugh did at Stanford and was Shaw has the task of keeping up has been nothing but amazing in college football.

It’s very evident that Vandy has picked up a copy of this blueprint. James Franklin took over a team in 2011 that had just finished their 2nd 2-10 season in a row! Before Franklin the Commodores where 90th in recruiting in 2008, 09 71st, 10 61st, 11 70th. In come Franklin and his first class jumped up 44 spots to 26th and this year’s class is ranking higher than teams like Oklahoma and Nebraska at 15th! In only his second year on the job Franklin has managed to change the mind set in Nashville; took them to a bowl game; recruiting is leaps and bounds better; they have even agreed to add on to their stadium.

Yes Vanderbilt is on track to be at the same level as Stanford, but the X-factor is the SEC which Stanford doesn't have to deal with. Vanderbilt isn't going to be a 12-1 team, but 8-4, 9-3 under Franklin is only a matter of time.

Welcome to SEC football Vanderbilt



-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13

Missouri Preview

We are 69 days away from the start of the college football season, and on that note it's time for Dominate365's latest SEC Power Poll preview. The Missouri Tigers check in at number eight as they get ready for their first year of SEC play.

#8 Missouri

 The Missouri Tigers have the lowest number of returning starters of any SEC team, but they are lead by the best dual threat QB in the SEC in James Franklin. Last years Tigers offence was 12th best in the nation, and Franklin accounted for 3846 yards of it, but the Tigers wasn't going up against SEC defences. Speaking of defence last year you have look way on down the list to 61st in total defence before finding the Tigers. For Mizzou to have a good season in the SEC they will need to get over the cultural shock and toughen up fast.

 Returning Starters: 13

Offence: 5

Defence: 6

ST :  2

Predictions

• Southeastern Louisiana W
• Georgia L
• Arizona State W
• @ South Carolina L
• @ UCF W
• Vanderbilt ? W
• Alabama L
• Kentucky W
• @ Florida L
• @ Tennessee ? W
• Syracuse W
• @ Texas A&M ? L

W - Win / L - Lose / ? - Swing Game

I have the Missouri Tigers going 7-5 overall and 3-5 in SEC play in their first year in the SEC. They do have three swing games that are too close to call, but I think they will win two of the three. If Franklin wasn't returning I wouldn't give them much of a shot a going to a bowl game, but Franklin is a game changer at QB.

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13

Top College Running Backs for 2012

Top Running Backs for 2012



10. LSU's Running Backs By Committee. Ware, Ford, Blue, and Hilliard make up what is easily the best running back stable in the country. LSU will be able to plug in any of them at any time. They all like to run down hill playing smashmouth football. This will allow LSU to keep fresh legs and big rushing numbers.



November 11, 2011 - Source: Butch Dill/Getty Images North America



9. Eddie Lacy: The next Alabama Crimson Tide running is known for his spin move, but he will need more tools in 2012 to make up for the loss of Trent Richardson, but 2011 Lacy who was battling a turf toe still racked up 674 yards on only 95 carries.

8. Rex Burkhead: The powerful Cornhusker carried the ball 284 times last year for over a thousand yards. Burkhead is a throwback hard noised back that gets stronger as the game goes on.

 7. Christine Michael: This Aggie doesn't need a 12th man to rack up the yards. He didn't play in four games last year but ranked up almost 900 yards. In the Arkansas game Michael's rushed for over 230 yards!

6. Kenjon Barner: The Senior Duck will not have to share carries with LaMichael James this season and should easily break the 1000 yars rushing mark. Every year at Oregon Barner has average at least 6 yards pre rush!

5. Knile Davis: After missing all of the 2011 season with injury you can be sure that Davis will be hungry to make up for lost time, but will he be a step slow as he ties to come back? What we do know is in 2010 he was almost unstoppable, and if the same Davis returns in 2012... watch out.

4. Ray Graham: The Pitt Panthers are on their 3rd coach in three seasons and Graham will once again be leaned on to carry not just the ball, but the team on his back. Last season Graham ran for almost a 1000 yrds before getting injured missing the last five games of the season.

3. Stepfon Taylor: As we start the era after Luck players like Taylor will be asked to handle an even bigger load. I could see Taylor going for more than 1500 yards this year with out Luck.

2. Marcus Lattimore: Once again another running back who's 2011 was cut short due to an injury, but Lattimore was well on his way to passing 1000 yards in 11 and he will pass it in 2012 if he can stay healthy.

  

1. Montee Ball: The Touchdown machine who racked up 33 TD's in 2011 earning him a spot in Heisman finals. Ball will be looked at even more in 2012 as Russel Wilson has moved on the NFL. I look for Ball to make a return trip to NYC as he should get close to last years 1923 yards.  

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13 

Mississippi State Preview

We are 76 days from the start of the college football season, and like every Friday it's time for the Dominate365 SEC Power Ranking.

#9 MISSISSIPPI STATE

We are now in year four of the Dan Mullen era at Mississippi State so far he's 21-17, but many believe he's truly one of the best coaches in the SEC. So lets be honest does being just above .500 at Miss State make you a great coach? For me the jury is still out. Miss State will have a good defence in 2012 bringing back 7 starters from last years group which ranked 35th in total defence, but they will be missing Fletcher Cox. To me the key to their season lays in the hands of how good can this Dan Mullen offence be? They lose QB Chris Relf and RB Vick Ballard, also they will need to rebuild their O-Line. Tyler Russell has experience at QB, but has never played with a lot of consistency.

 

Returning Starters 2012

Offense 5

Defence 7

ST       1

2012 Schedule & Predictions

• Jackson State W
• Auburn ? L
• @ Troy W
• South Alabama W
• @ Kentucky W
• Tennessee ? W
• Middle Tennessee W
• @ Alabama L
• Texas A&M ? W
• @ LSU L
• Arkansas L
• @ Ole Miss W

W -Win / L - Lose / ? - Swing Game

I'm calling for Mississippi State to finish 8-4. They have 3 really important swing games all of which are at home so I'm going to give them two out of the three, so 9-3 isn't out of reach for the Bulldogs. Mullen is an offensive mastermind, and I think he will be able to get the best out of Russell as the full time starter.

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13

Alabama Recruiting News

Recruiting News The Tide uses a scholarship on a long snapper and picks up Cole Mazza a 2 star out of Backersfield Ca. The two star was once committed to UCLA before switching to Bama. Mazza also had offers from UTAH, Washington State. (6-14-2012) 

 Team Rankings as of 6-8-2012

• Rivals Class Ranking: 2nd
• Scouts Class Ranking: 5th
• 247 Class Ranking: 1st
• ESPN Class Ranking: 3rd

Alabama commitments for 2013

• Reuben Foster LB 6'2" 228lbs Stars --> Rivals: 5/ Scouts: 5/ 247: 5 
• Jonathan Allen DE 6'3" 225lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 5
• Altee Tenpenny RB 5'11" 200lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Cooper Bateman QB 6'3" 190 Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Maurice Smith DB 5'11" 179lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Bradley Bozeman OL 6'5" 315lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 3  
• Raheem Falkins WR 6'4" 192lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 4
• Grant Hill OL 6'6" 315lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• OJ Howard TE 6'5" 221lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Tyren Jones RB 5'8" 185lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Ardarius Stewart ATH 6'3" 190lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts:4/ 247: 4
• Andy Dodd OL 6'4" 324lbs  Stars --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 4
• Anthony Averett ATH 6'1" 175lbs --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 4
• Deon Johnson ATH 6'0" 170lbs --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 4
• Darius Paige DT 6'3" 275lbs --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 3
• Parker McLeod QB 6'2" 189lbs --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 3 
• Leon Brown OT 6'6" 315lbs --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: NR/ 247: NR
• Cole Mazza OL 6'1" 240lbs --> Rivals: 2/ Scouts: 2/ 247: 2

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @PatrickpAla13



Auburn Recruitiing Updates

Recruiting News

Auburn picks up Lemond Johnson a versatile 3 star athlete out of Florida for 2013 (6-13-2012) 

Auburn picks up  a tall speedy DE for 2013 in Tashawn Bower (6-12-2012)

Auburn's Team Rankings as of 6-14-2012

• Rivals Classs Ranking: 11th
• Scouts Class Ranking: 10th
• 247 Class Ranking: 10th
• ESPN Class Ranking: 9th

Auburn Recruits 

• Dee Liner DE 6'2" 264 Stars --> Rivals: 5/ Scouts: 5/ 247: 4
• Cral Lawson DE 6'2" 253 Stars --> Rivals: 5/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Trey Johnson LB 6'1" 220 Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Earnest Robinson WR 6'3" 200 Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Tashawn Bower DE 6'5" 241 Stars --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 4
• Jeremy Johnson QB 6'6" 215 Stars --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4 
• Cameron Toney LB 6'3" 225 Stars --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 4
• Arshad Jackson TE 6'6" 239 Stars --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 3
• Lemond Johnson ATH 6'1" 190 Stars --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 3
• Jahmere Irvin-Sills DB 5'10" 173 Stars --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 3 
• Kamryn Melton DB 5'10" 165 Stars --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 3
• Jarrad Davis LB 6'2" 200 Stars --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 3 
• Jimmy Hutchinson K 6'2" 175 Stars --> Rivals: 2/ Scouts: NR/ 247: 3

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13

Both sides of Birmingham could support the NBA!!!

Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News wrote a very interesting article --> How Does Mayor William Bell Think Birmingham can support NBA? Based off of an interview done on 97.3 The Zone morning show Smashmounth Radio Network where Bell talked about trying to bring the New Orleans Hornets to Birmingham and went into detail about letting the NBA know if they was to expand Birmingham has a group in place that would look to bring a team to the city. Yes that's right a NBA team in the city of Birmingham. This discussion sadly has brought out Birmingham ugly side, the side that keeps us from ever winning a beauty contest.

Part of the city's skyline is Red Mountain with Vulcan standing tall over the city. On one side of Vulcan's overlook you can see the skyscrapers of a city who has seen good and bad days, turning to the east signs of steel industry that used to be the heart beat of the city, looking to the south "over the mountain" you can see the rich suburbia, and more commercialize areas of the metro. What an out of towners wouldn't know is that Red Mt is much more than a mountain it's a WALL that divides the city. People who live "over the mountain" think downtown Birmingham is to dangerous, to much crime and hobos. They like to say they wouldn't take their kids down there at night. I'm not going to say crime doesn't happen in downtown, but what I will say is that I've walked downtown day and night with zero problems. I went to UAB which takes up most of the south side of the city, and not once have I even heard a gun shot. This stereotype that downtown B'ham is nothing more than a dumpy ghetto is sad, un-true, but worse it's what keeps this city down.

What people fail to see is if Birmingham goes down so does Hoover, Vestavia, Homewood, Mountain Brook. If Birmingham goes up so does Hoover, Vestavia, Homewood, Mountain Brook! Birmingham is the center of the wheel, Hoover, Irondale, Gardendale, Bessemer etc... are only the spokes. WE ARE THE SAME METRO!

Okay back to my original point Birmingham can support a NBA team! Sure there will be haters saying its a wast of tax payers dollars to build a nice arena is the "downtown ghetto", but they can stay at home in their shell. Now go back up on Vulcan and just look down at the city and only the city, look close.... what do you see? Crime? Hobos? Bullets shooting in the air? or do you see lots of development???? Loft apartments have popped up over the last ten years by the hundreds! Old building have been ripped down and replaced by a green space and water AKA railroad park. A shiny new state of the art Childerns Hosptial treats some of the sickest kids in the world. Construction workers look like ants as the new downtown baseball stadium raises up from the ground. One of the largest parks in the country is opening phase one of Red Mt Park. Lastly over by where a new NBA Arena would be located a new luxury hotel and Marketplace entertainment district is almost ready to open its doors.

Maybe it's just me, but I've never seen a ghetto with luxury hotels. Like it or not Downtown Birmingham is growing, and it's finally making ground on it's rival city's, and one day your going to look down from Vulcan and see a proud city. So yes Jon Solomon, and everyone else who said Birmingham is dreaming if they think we could support an NBA team... Your Wrong, Birmingham Can!   

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @PatrickAla13

The Auburn Shooting

(Update: 6-12-2012)

 We now know most of the facts, and are fears where confirmed. Six young people where shot at the Universtiy Heights Auburn Apartments near the campus of Auburn Universtiy, sadly three lives where taken off this earth too soon. 

 What we know

Former players Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips where two of the three killed, also non football player Demario Pitts was tragicly shot to death.

Eric Mack a current Auburn Football players was shot in the hip and has since been releast from the hosptial.

 John Robertson was shot and transfered to UAB. Robertson is in critial condision and fighting for his life. Robertson had no connection to the football team.

Xavier Moss was also shot but was non life threatening and has been relasted from the hospital. Moss also had no connection to the football team. 

 What we don't know 

DESMONTE LEONARD

22 year old Desmonte Leonard is being charged withe the shooting but is still on the loose and it thought to be armed and extreamly danguos! If you see Leonard or have any information on his whereabouts please call 911.

Please pray for the familys of Christian, Phillips, and Pitts. As a father I can't imagin having my son taken from me like that, and they will need all the help in the world to every attempt to recover. Also please pray John Robertson who's still fighting to make a full recovery. 

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @PatrickpAla13

--------------------------------------------



 (Writen at 8am on 6-11-2012)

This is still a very much developing story, but what we have confirmed right now is three players shot and at least one confirmed dead. There is a second player who is reported to have passed away, but as of this writing that is unconfirmed.

Ed Christian a offensive lineman from Valdosta, Ga. is the confirmed dead player.

Here is the video from the crime scene in Auburn VIDEO 

All of the latest details can be found at Alabamas13.com

Prayers to the Auburn Football team and to the Family of the victims.

 -Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @PatrickpAla13

Bama addeds a few more commits now up to 17

 (6-11-12) Over the last five days Alabama has added two more commitments. Frist you had the 29th best pro style QB Parker McLeod the 3 star is out of Marietta, Ga. Mcleod is the second QB commitment for the 2013 class. Big Bad Leon Brown commited to the Tide over the weekend Brown is a JUCO from ASA College in Brooklyn, NY. Saban has said in the past that he only offers JUCO's if he has plains for them to have a role right away. Brown is 6'6" 315 lbs and could be a big time O-Tackle.  

 Team Rankings as of 6-8-2012

• Rivals Class Ranking: 3rd
• Scouts Class Ranking: 6th
• 247 Class Ranking: 1st
• ESPN Class Ranking: 3rd

Alabama commitments for 2013

• Reuben Foster LB 6'2" 228lbs Stars --> Rivals: 5/ Scouts: 5/ 247: 5 
• Jonathan Allen DE 6'3" 225lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 5
• Altee Tenpenny RB 5'11" 200lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Cooper Bateman QB 6'3" 190 Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Maurice Smith DB 5'11" 179lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Bradley Bozeman OL 6'5" 315lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 3  
• Raheem Falkins WR 6'4" 192lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 4
• Grant Hill OL 6'6" 315lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• OJ Howard TE 6'5" 221lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Tyren Jones RB 5'8" 185lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Ardarius Stewart ATH 6'3" 190lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts:4/ 247: 4
• Andy Dodd OL 6'4" 324lbs  Stars --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 4
• Anthony Averett ATH 6'1" 175lbs --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 4
• Deon Johnson ATH 6'0" 170lbs --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 4
• Darius Paige DT 6'3" 275lbs --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 3
• Parker McLeod QB 6'2" 189lbs --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 3 
• Leon Brown OT 6'6" 315lbs --> Rivals: NR/ Scouts: NR/ 247: NR

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13 

Texas A&M Preview

We are now 83 days from the start of the 2012 college football season and its time to revile my latest  school on my SEC power rankings. Coming in at number 10 is SEC newbie Texas A&M Aggie's.

#10 Texas A&M

I think Texas A&M will be a nice fit into the SEC style of play, but there's a lot of transitions taking place down in College Station. Learning their way around the SEC will be challenging enough plus a new coaching staff who will still be learning their players, and putting in their system. They say it's home of the 12th man and for them to have a great first year in the SEC they might need 14 men. Not all is bad in Aggie land they return 9 starts from last years offence that finished the season ranked 7th in the nation for total offence. The issue here is their key player in 2011 QB Ryan Tannehill now plays for the Miami Dolphins. Softmore Jameill Showers and incoming freshman four star Matt Davis out of Houston will be battling for the starting job. Their Defence will need to improve to SEC levels they where 59th in total defence in 2011. They bring in former Marshal head coach Mark Snyder to run the Defence, and I look for it to improve under his watch in time, but they will be young this season. I look for A&M to have good offences numbers and maybe some improvements in defence. Last season they finished 7-6, but those 6 losses where all really close games. 

Returning Starters 16

• Offence 9
• Defence 6
•        ST 1

Predictions for 2012

• @ La Tech W
• Florida L
• @SMU W
• South Carolina State W
• Arkansas L
• @ Ole Miss W
• LSU L
• @ Auburn L
• @ Miss State ? L
• @ Alabama L
• Sam Houston State W
• Missouri ? W

W win / L lost / ? Swing game

I think they will start out okay at 3-1, but then its welcome to the SEC time with LSU, Auburn, Miss State, Alabama all in back to back weeks ouch. They have two swing game which I think they will spilt putting them at 6-6 on the season. If I was an Aggie with all the adjusting that will be taking place I think 6-6 and a bowl game should be considered a good season.

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @PatrickpAla13

Game 7, who's the real big 3? #NBAPLAYOFFS

Before we look forward and try and predict game 7 of the eastern conference finals lets take a look back to see if games 1-6 have really shown us anything.

Game 1: The Heat started out in control and stayed in control. The Celtics struggled to shoot the ball all night, and there was never really a ball game. Heat up 1-0

Game 2: Rondo (or if your the Mayor of Boston you would call him Hondo) played the best game of his career. To Boston it was a must win game as going down 2-0 seemed at the time to big of a hill to clime. The Celtics hit the Heat with everything they had that night, but it still wasn't enough (some would say the got robbed by the refs) as Miami pulled out a close one in overtime. Heat up 2-0

Game 3: Some including my self thought that the ageing Celtics put everything they had into game 2, and might get swept, but game 3 looked more like game one. Except this time it was reversed with the Celtics controlling the whole game that never really got close.  Heat up 2-1

Game 4: This became a very important game for the Celtics as they needed to hold home court to have any shot in this series, but really both teams played a little sluggish. The Celtics gave up a big lead and the Heat looked discombobulated trying to close out the game which ended up going to overtime. The Celtics where able to take the lead, but the Heat would have one last shot to for the win, but once again missed. Heat and Celtics now tied up 2-2

Game 5: This can be the most important game outside of game 7. If you win this game you take control of the series when tied up 2-2 and you only have to win one of your next two. It was played back down in Miami that was sure to be rocking. The Heat jumped out to a quick start and got up a good lead, but the Celtics keep grinding and exploded on a 16-1 run to close out the 3rd. This would set up a close game that would be coming down to the wire. Paul Pierce who had been struggling all night hit a 3 right in Lebrons James face to seal the deal and put the Celtics in control. Celtics up 3-2

Game 6: With the Celtics coming back home on a three game winning streak and a chance to close it out and head on to the finals one would only assume it was the Celtics game to lose. Lebron James though reminded us why his nickname is King because that's what he was last night. He mean mugged the whole game as he knocked down shot after shot racking up 30 by half time. On the other end the Celtics just didn't have it shooting wise, it was one of those games where nothing would fall. The Heat rumped the Celtics in this one. Celtics and Heat tied up 3-3

On Saturday night game 7 will take place and what kind of game can we expect? Will it be like games 1,3, & 6 (very one sided and not much of a contest)? or will it be like games 2,4, & 5 (extremely close going down to the final shot or overtime)?

I think its going to be just like game 2 and I'm not talking about the end result it could go either way, but I think this is where Boston is at their best and I think the Heat will answer the challenge just like they did in game 2. If we was to have a third overtime game in game series then this series could go down as one of the best in history. No matter what it's been an epic battle.

To answer the title question of the blog who is the real big 3? As you know the Celtics started the calling Pierce, Garnett, and Allen the BIG 3 (Rondo has really replaced Allen in that grouping now), but when Miami brought in James and Bosh to go along with Wade they started calling their group the BIG 3. So one must ask the question who's the real BIG 3? If the Celtics win tonight at their age then I think no question they are and will always be the first and real BIG 3. If Miami wins then I don't think they can officially take the title as the true BIG 3, but they will be on their way, but a championship must take place for their legacy to be implanted as a 3 man unit.

 -Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter PatrickpAla13

Win game five, win the series? #NBAPLAYOFFS

Both conference finals are tied up 2-2 between the Heat vs Celtics and Spurs vs Thunder. So how BIG is game five? I say its HUGE! If the road teams (Celtics and Thunder) where to win on the road in game five it would set them up to take the series in game six at home. If either one of them loses game five then there only other chance to steal one on the road would be in game seven, and I don't think either of them want that.

If the home teams (Heat and Spurs) take care of business in game five and protect there house then it would relieve a lot of pressure off of them putting them back in the drivers seat again. All they would have to do after that is just win one of the next two games and take the series.

This is why game five is so important to all four teams, its the last real turning point in the series.

For the Celtics they will need their bench to play as well as they have played the last two outings. They don't need Rondo to go off like he did in game two, but they need some triple doubles out of him down the stretch. Pierce will need to stay in games and stop fouling out, and Allen ankles will have to hold up down the final run.

Keys for the Heat will be getting Bosh back in to game form, He's supposed to be coming back for game five but will there be any rust and will be at 100%? Wade will have to be more consistent, there have been long portions of the game where he's been non existing. James seems to be carrying this team, but when he goes to the line it hasn't been pretty. Chalmers has played well in the thus far and will need to keep it up.

Thunder's keys will be to play some defence on the road, the last game in San Antonio the Spurs hung 120 on them. There a young team who hasn't been in lot of these situations before unlike the Spurs so down the stretch they will need to keep there heads in the game. Being the younger team though will give them some energy help in a game six or seven (there less likely to run out of gas)

Spurs won 20 games in a row before losing the last two to the Thunder, so there's no question they no how to get it done. That's going to be there key factor leaning on there experience, they have been here many times before. I think they will need to be able to extend there defence out a little bit from last game the Thunders bigs where left all long time after time from about 15' feet out.

Right now it's to hard to call a winner in any of these games, but which ever teams win game five I think will hold a very strong advantage and history will back me up on that.

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13

Can the Tide win the most Titles in one year?

In January Alabama's Football team lifted the crystal ball winning it's 14th National Title, but also the 1st of many during this historic banner year for the University of Alabama. So far to date the Tide has 3 National Championships in 2012 Football, Gymnastics, and Woman's Golf.

Today the Men's Golf Team will face off vs Texas for the National Championship ironically it takes place just a few miles away from the Rose Bowl where Alabama and Texas faced off for a football title in 2009. If the Men's golf team has the same luck as the football team and beats the Longhorns they will win Alabama's 4th title of the year.

Softball semifinals start today for Alabama as they face off against Cal today at 2:30pm, if they win that game then they will move on to the National Championship best of three series. If the softball team wins its next three games it will be the first softball title for the SEC, but also Alabama's 5th of the year!

So will be five be enough to break a all time record for championships? No that record belongs the 1992 Stanford athletic program winning titles in Woman's Basketball, Men's Gymnastics, Men and Woman's Diving, Men's Tennis, and Volleyball.

But at least the tide has the most Football National Championships at 14.

 -Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13

Vanderbilt Preview

We are now 92 days away from the start of college football, and today preview is my number #11 in my SEC power poll the Vanderbilt Commodores. A quick up date #14 Kentucky #13 Ole Miss #12 Tennessee  

#11 Vanderbilt

James Franklin has brought a new attitude to Vandy in a very short amount of time. The dores have started to believe that they can win and that there no longer a doormat to the rest of the SEC. Going 6-7 in year one wouldn't be thought of as a good season at most schools, but for anytime Vandy gets to the 6 win mark it's big. I look for Franklin to back that up with another 6 or 7 win season in 2012. What he will need for that to happen is to keep improving there offence which was 98th in the nation last season. They was solid on defense finishing 18th in total D. Really what the dores need is a little luck on there side as they where kind of snake bit a few times last year. 

2012 Returning Starters 

Total 18

Offense 9

Defense 7

ST 2

365 Predictions 

•  VS South Carolina L
• @ Northwestern ? L
• VS Presbyterian W
• @ Georgia L
• @ Missouri ? L
• VS Florida L
• VS Auburn ? L
• VS U-Mass W
• @ Kentucky W
• @ Ole Miss W
• VS Tennessee ? W
• @ Wake Forest ? W

L- Loose / W- Win / ? Swing Game

I think Vandy will start a little slow, but everything sets up for them to finish really strong. I'm calling for them to go 6-6, but as you can see by the questions marks they have five swing games. What I'm calling a swing game is a game that could easily be won or lost. If some how they won all five swing games they would be looking at an epic 9-3 season up in Nashville, but I don't see them pulling that off.

- Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13