By Tony Ballejos

To say that home grown Redondo based family man and professional combatant John Marsh looks like a fighter is a vast understatement. If a brilliant DNA geneticist, or better yet, film director James Cameron was to CGI create the perfect human fighting warrior specimen; muscular, Brahma bull-like strength and physique, a lightning fast and forward offensive—yet bobbing defensive style, punches that move in blurs, big (6’ 0” 230 lbs.), yet like Iron Mike Tyson in his prime, compact and hard to hit. All this, of course would have to be seriously honed and melded with bone crushing grappling and jiu-jitsu skills, the sum total of Cameron’s digital creation would probably favor this world class Mixed Martial Arts competitor and Redondo Beach Gym (Triton) co-owner. It would be one of Cameron’s great heroic creations because adding to the mix, and in contrast to a significant number of ruffians who compete in the MMA, Marsh is articulate, kind of shy, razor sharp and charismatic. Like the late-great Alexis Arguello, a rare gentleman in a sport filled with literally the toughest and baddest dudes on the planet.
A life long South Bay and Beach Towns native, John’s Father Terry owned Marsh Welding on Rosecrans in Hawthorne with his brother and John’s Uncle Larry . He is half German and half Mexican and attended Hawthorne High where he was a straight arrow Varsity wrestler and then went on to compete in the sport at El Camino College where he studied Business. After College, Marsh worked security for Grammy Award winning Rapper Producer Dr Dre along with local security pro and noted instructor Mike Sherod. He also worked a management stint at a Wireless Company where he was fortunate enough to meet his future wife, Emily. By the early nineties the world of Martial Arts was about to change radically, thanks, in large part to an expansive family of Battling Brazilians. Very soon, the veritable ‘call to action’ harkened, and the call proved far too overwhelming for the stifled corporate employee and overworked body guard.
The UFC (The Ultimate Fighting Champion) was the first event and the impetus for the booming sport of Mixed Martial Arts. A spectacularly exciting and violent, “no holds barred” sport that pitted different styles of Martial Arts against each other and soon overshadowed traditional boxing in mainstream popularity. By the early nineties the people were getting bored with traditional boxing and its lazy Lennox Lewis’ and Michael ‘Less Is’ Moorer’s safety first style. Paramount to that, the flagrantly corrupt promoter Don King controlled most of the sport’s top fighters, which had fans questioning certain decisions and the politics of the sport. We wanted straight-up, non-convoluted, non-stop blistering action, and lots of it. When Brazilian jiu-jitsu and vale tudo practitioner and businessman Rorian Gracie hooked up with erstwhile ad executive Art Davie, along with Wow Promotions and SED, they put on the first pay per view UFC competition in 1993, the fans were hungry for it. Privy for the first time to Rorian’s half brother, the amazingly gifted, scrappy and relatively diminutive 27 year old and now South Bay based Royce Gracie, the world was enthralled and fascinated by his ability to force into submission top Martial Arts competitors that outweighed the 178 pounder by as much as 80 lbs. The Gracie Style of jiu-jitsu, also known internationally as Brazilian jiu-jitsu, was amazingly effective at using bigger opponents own weight against themselves, as Royce so vividly proved. At this point, John Marsh knew his days were numbered in the corporate world and shadowing overpaid Rappers.
The incredible, legitimately mythic story of the legendary, four- generation, infinitely large and exceptional brood of ground-breaking Brazilian jiu-jitsu and vale tudo competitors, the Gracies, would be too unbelievable in narrative and as characters in a film or novel. The seemingly hyperbole fable would project as way beyond plausible because of the family members accomplishments, the shear sizzling volume and the sibling macho poetry of the tale, yet astonishingly, it is entirely true. There are currently about 50 active world class fight competitors that can connect their chromosomes directly to the original brothers Carlos Sr. and the late great (deceased 2009) Helio Gracie and their Father Gastão Gracie Sr. This unparalleled fight dynasty began in 1914 with Carlos Sr., as the oldest boy, being given private secular jiu-jitsu lessons from well known Japanese expert and Good Will Ambassador Mitsuyo Maeda as a favor to Gastão for his kindness to the insecure Japanese immigrants that arrived in Brazil in the early part of the 1900’s. Carlos Sr. in turn gave lessons to Helio, who was the youngest and because of his slight frame and ill health was known as the runt of the litter. Helio just watched his four brothers train for a few years until one day he took over one of Carlos’ student’s lessons—who ironically preferred Helio to Carlos. Paradoxically, Helio’s undersized physical stature was the key to the invention of the Gracie Style of jiu-jitsu, in that he had to come up with effective techniques that would compensate for his lack of strength and size, that or be murdered by Carlos Sr. Gastão and Carlos’ fortuitist relationship with Mitsuyo Maeda and later Helio’s genesis of the Art were the original embers that ignited far and away the greatest and largest family of Martial Arts competitors the world will ever know. By the early 90’s they had already made a global name for themselves by self producing a series of videos, The Gracies in Action and featuring The Gracies and their customized style of jiu-jitsu defeating various Martial-Arts masters. Concurrently, Marsh had never stopped training and studying Martial Arts, wrestling and boxing. He was working out hard and absorbing everything he could from the most respected instructors and competitors in the industry, like local instructor Bo Hershberger whom he trained with for 15 years. He also learned Ground Striking techniques from noteworthy teacher John Sibbald. After seeing Royce compete he longed to fight as a professional and intrigued with The Gracie Style jiu-jitsu and MMA, he completed the transition at 23 years of age as Marsh, unbeknownst to him at the time, would become one of the significant pioneers of the new sport. He made his pro depute thereafter.
Marsh wracked up an impressive six submission wins in his first six fights—a remarkable achievement in this brutal and hyper-competitive sport. To put this in perspective, even the great Randy Couture lost two of his first 6 fights by submission and still went on to world shaking accolades. Marsh was soon beating established top ranked competitors like 260 lb. Wesley ‘Cabbage’ Correira by unanimous decision. By this time, Marsh more than realized his dream of a winning MMA record and studying under, not only Royce Gracie, but three-time former heavyweight champion and two-time light-heavyweight champion of the UFC the aforementioned Randy Couture. Eventually he acquired his black belt in jiu-jitsu and was loaning his magnificent skills to organizations such as the UFC, Pride, and now defunct IFC, Marsh, a devoted family man with two kids, Wyatt 8 and Sydney Jane 5, felt the most satisfaction from teaching his Mixed Martial Arts and Eastern thinking slanted philosophy to all interested students.
Marsh is a firm believer in the pacifist warrior code of a disciplined mind and body composed with extreme level driven training, does more for young souls (male and female) in dealing with negative cultural influences then just about any other kind of treatment. A dedicated Martial Arts practitioner can be given a great tool to fend off any inclination towards alcohol or harmful substances, even self-destructive behavior. The cathartic release as well as the mental and emotional satisfaction a person, young or old, experiences because of this choice of disciplined lifestyle is Zen-like and only tangible by experiencing it. Once this happens the practitioner is usually transformed and captivated for life. And it was this very Zen-like life philosophy and his desire to share it with the adults and young kids coming up that brought this man to establish Triton Mixed Martial Arts Training Center in conjunction with Triton Apparel, his MMA teaching facility in South Redondo Beach, housed inside Gold’s Gym on 200 N Harbor Drive. A stylish and well equipped, glass-walled facility, Triton has been expanding its student base at an extraordinary tempo since its inception recently. With well known and talented partners and MMA instructors like El Segundo PD Captain and SWAT trainer Mitch Tavera as well as Mike Sherod, the classes and private sessions are filling faster each week and plans are underway to expand the facility. John and Mitch Tavera have eight competitive professionals in their stable that are trained under The Triton banner, including Swedish welterweight Marcus Kowal who Marsh and Mitch steadfastly believe will be champ within a few years, and light heavyweight Greg Schmidt. Still technically active as a pro, Marsh plans on competing once again in the near future and to witness his savage yet economical flurries and thunderous Ground Striking techniques, he appears, to this observer to be, at 39 years of age, at peak performance level and with each battle tactic seems to convey Triton’s Mantra of “Impose Your Will.’ His overall style and proficiency scream out an acknowledgement to his mentor trainers and influences. Men like Mitch Tavera, Royce Gracie, Randy Couture and Mike Tyson whose prime year’s style of boxing closely resembles Marsh’s.
Marsh’s surprising creative vision and stock passion are perfectly suited to promote his Triton Apparel Brand, a super-hip and imaginative line of Urban, Sports and Training wear that have already proved immensely popular locally. Moreover, investors have been lined up for establishing several boutique Triton MMA training Centers across So Cal and beyond. Each will promote and teach not only the Marsh style of MMA, but a form of life training that can literally only be cultured on the mats and in the stimulating shrines of these increasingly popular American dōjōs.

For those interested in finding out more about Triton’s training Programs, call 310.748.8006.

Tony Ballejos

Tony Ballejos is a Redondo Beach based writer, artist and filmmaker who competed as an amateur boxer at The Fabela Chavez Boxing Center in Carson.

This post was submitted by tony ballejos.

Following their victory Villa will have to wait to see which of the Manchester sides they will face in the final of the competition. The simple fact that the Midlands side have already made it through to the final will mean they are favourites in the Carling Cup final betting, but whoever their opponents are Villa will have to make sure they tighten up at the back if they want to lift the trophy. I just hope the game is as entertaining.

This post was submitted by Ian Coulson.

This whole situation started just a couple of days ago when the New York Post reported that Arenas and his teammate Javaris Crittenton drew guns on each other in the locker room before practice over a gambling debt. Arenas quickly denied pulling a gun on his teammate and from there the stories continued to surface. Other reports were that Arenas placed three unloaded guns on a teammates chair by their locker to play a joke on them, and that Arenas was just storing the unloaded guns in his locker because he did not want them in his home with his daughter. No matter what the real story is having a firearm inside an NBA arena is a very serious matter and one that everybody knew Stern would not take lightly.

To make matters worse Arenas continued to joke around about the matter not only by making jokes to the media but also in pregame introductions “Agent Zero” decided to use his fingers as guns and point them at his teammates as a joke. Arenas talked to the media after the Wizards game Tuesday and here is what he had to say. “I didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. “All I want from the media is an apology for slandering.” Arenas also went on to say that he was more scared of David Stern then the authorities because Stern is “mean.” Well you can better believe that Stern was already not too happy with the whole situation and with Arena’s attitude it was not going to be a pretty ending to this whole entire thing. And with that said Stern wasted no time suspending Arenas and had this to say about the suspension. “The possession of firearms by an NBA player in an NBA arena is a matter of the utmost concern to us,” Stern said. “Although it is clear that the actions of Mr. Arenas will ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse, his ongoing conduct has led me to conclude that he is not currently fit to take the court in an NBA game.”

The suspension is without pay but it turns out that might be the least of his problems. Along with Arenas facing legal action, it is now starting to like the Washington Wizards are ready to be done with Arenas for good. The Wizards strongly backed the decision to suspend their all-star guard and made it sound like it was a relief that they could finally put this situation behind them. It also would not be a surprise if Washington looked into voiding his contract. It is a rare thing that happens in the NBA but with a matter as serious as this it is definitely something that could happen. Just two years ago the Wizards signed Arenas to a six year 111 million dollar contract and since that time he has failed to live up to his end of the deal. Whether it is because of injuries or off the court issues Arenas has went from being one of the faces of the league to a guy who is now on the outside looking in. One thing is for sure it looks like it will be a while before we see “Agent Zero” inside an NBA arena again.

This post was submitted by Dustin Phifer.

The NCAA post-season kicks off December 19^th, with 33 games being played in a three week span. Seniors will get their last hurrah, and teams will attempt to end their season on the winning side, in the hopes of improving recruiting that follows afterwords. The Sportmeisters will preview each of the 33 games that lie ahead, and provide our predictions as well. Let’s get to it!

Poinsettia Bowl, December 23rd, 8:00 PM, San Diego, California

No. 23 Utah (9-3) vs. California (8-4)

About Utah: The Utes came into 2009 with high hopes after knocking off Alabama in the Sugar Bowl last season. Those hopes began to fade after a loss to Oregon in the third week. Six straight wins followed, but Utah ended their season with losses to BYU and TCU, removing any shot of an Mountain West Conference title, and relegating them to a lower bowl than they expected. However, they are still playing with the hopes of a ten win season. They boast a top 20 defense (314.7 yards per game), which will be effective against Cal’s offensive weapons. Their pass defense is one of the best, holding opponents to a mere 172.83 yards per game in the air. Senior DB Robert Johnson is a shutdown corner, with 66 tackles, five interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and two defensive touchdowns on the season. Junior RB Eddie Wide leads the MWC with 1033 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. He will be expected to keep the pressure off of Freshman QB Jordan Wynn, who won the starting job near the end of the season. Wynn’s top target is Senior WR David Reed (75 catches for 1085 yards and five touchdowns). Look for Utah to rely heavily on Wide and the defense to methodically take out Cal, without putting Wynn in too many tough spots.

About California: Cal started off hot at 3-0, before managing only six points in their next two games, both losses. They bounced back, winning five of six, before ending their season on a low note against Washington. Nevertheless, they are bowl eligible, and are hoping for a completely healthy squad coming in. That starts with the potential return of Junior RB Jahvid Best, a potential Heisman candidate who was injured in a November loss to Oregon State. He has 867 yards and 12 touchdowns in only nine games this season. His backup, Sophomore RB Shane Vereen, has filled in admirably, rushing for 830 yards and ten touchdowns. Junior LB Mike Mohamed (104 tackles, one sack, three interceptions, one forced fumble) leads a defense that is 27^th in the nation in run defense (117.08 yards per game). That is important as they aim to keep the ball out of Wide’s hands, and force Wynn to throw the ball more often.

The Matchup: Utah is 11-3 in their bowl history, currently owning the nation’s longest bowl winning streak, at eight.

Cal is 10-8-1, riding a four game bowl winning streak and a seven game appearance streak. Cal is also 4-2 against Utah, but the Utes won the last matchup in 2003 31-24.

With Cal’s ability to stop the run, Utah will have to rely heavily on their defense to force turnovers, gaining favorable field position for the young Wynn. However, behind Senior DE Tyson Alualu and Junior DE Cameron Jordan (12.5 sacks combined in 2009), Wynn will need to keep from getting flustered and turning the ball back over.

Utah’s rushing defense is only 57^th in the nation (141.33 yards a game), allowing ample opportunity for Best and Vereen to shine. Should Utah try to cheat up and stack the box, that should open Junior QB Kevin Riley to some wide open receivers. Riley has been a solid QB, but has thrown five of his six interceptions in November and December, and his accuracy can be suspect at times.

The Prediction: Utah develops an amazing rush defense, and allows Wynn to get some great field position. Utah 17-10.

This post was submitted by The Sportmeisters.

The NCAA post-season kicks off December 19^th, with 33 games being played in a three week span. Seniors will get their last hurrah, and teams will attempt to end their season on the winning side, in the hopes of improving recruiting that follows afterwords. The Sportmeisters will preview each of the 33 games that lie ahead, and provide our predictions as well. Let’s get to it!

Hawaii Bowl, December 24th, 8:00 PM, Honolulu, Hawaii

Southern Methodist University (7-5) vs. Nevada (8-4)

About Southern Methodist: What a difference a year can make! After hiring former Hawaii Coach June Jones, who promptly led the Mustangs to a 1-11 record in 2008, SMU is back in bowl country. It was scary for a while, as they had hit 3-4 by midseason, and were looking at another losing record. Instead, SMU won four out of its last five games to make themselves bowl eligible for the first time in 25 years. When Coach Jones left Hawaii for SMU, he brought his pass-heavy offense with him. They were effective in the passing game, throwing for 267.17 yards a game (28^th in NCAA FBS), but it was their running game that kept the Mustangs motoring towards the finish. Junior RB Shawnbrey McNeal rushed for 1125 yards and nine touchdowns, a rarity for a run-and-shoot offense. His ability to gain yards (5.2 yards per carry) helped SMU when starting QB Bo Levi Mitchell went down with an injury. That forced Freshman QB Kyle Padron into the role, and he responded with a 5-1 record in six starts, throwing for 1462 yards, eight touchdowns, and four interceptions. Senior WR Emmanuel Sanders is eighth in the nation with 101.25 receiving yards a game. They rank in the bottom half of the primary defensive statistics, so SMU will rely heavily on their offense, and turn the game into a shootout.

About Nevada: An 0-3 start, including an opening day 35-0 loss against Notre Dame, doesn’t give too many teams hope of making a bowl game. Win eight in a row, and that changes everything. Even a season ending loss to rival Boise State still makes Nevada a tempting team at 8-4. Nevada won their games using a rushing attack that is rivaled to no one. The number one team in the nation in rushing (362.25 yards per game), the Wolfpack boasts an unprecedented three 1,000 yard rushers. On top of that, all three rush for over seven yards a carry. Junior RB Vai Taua (1345 yards, 10 touchdowns), Junior QB Colin Kaepernick (1160, 16 touchdowns), and Senior RB Luke Lippincott (1034 yards, nine touchdowns), are the three pieces of the rushing tri-pod. Kaepernick also contributed 1865 passing yards and 19 touchdowns, which all add up to the nations number two offense overall (521.58 yards per game), and fifth highest scoring offense (40.58 points per game). Taua’s 122.27 rushing yards a game is ninth in the nation. They too, will look to make this game a high scoring affair, but keep the clock running by using the run game exclusively, though they will be without Lippincott, who is out with a toe injury.

The Matchup: SMU returns to the same site they played their last bowl, when they won the Aloha Bowl in 1984. They are 4-6-1 all time in bowl history.

Nevada is currently mired in a three bowl game losing streak, since winning their first ever appearance at the Hawaii Bowl in 2005. They are 3-6 all time in bowl games. Nevada also holds a 3-2 advantage in matchups against SMU.

Even without Lippincott, the combination of Taua and Kaepernick should be formative, especially in their popular “Pistol” package. For an SMU squad that usually gives up 169.17 yards per game on the ground, that spells big trouble. Should SMU find a way to stack the box and hold the duo to minimal gains (which is difficult in itself), Kaepernick will look to keep the defense honest with play-action passes, then looking to some quick outs with single coverage on the sideline.

For Padron, he benefits against facing the second worst team in NCAA FBS passing defense (Nevada gives up 284.3 yards a game). So even if Nevada can handle McNeal, Padron should find Sanders plenty, moving big chunks down the field.

The Prediction: Nevada has too many offensive weapons, with the Pistol formation, Option, and Kaepernick’s ability to throw and run. Nevada wins 54-49.

This post was submitted by The Sportmeisters.

The NCAA post-season kicks off December 19^th, with 33 games being played in a three week span. Seniors will get their last hurrah, and teams will attempt to end their season on the winning side, in the hopes of improving recruiting that follows afterwords. The Sportmeisters will preview each of the 33 games that lie ahead, and provide our predictions as well. Let’s get to it!

Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, December 26th, 1:00 PM, Detroit, Michigan

Ohio (9-4) vs. Marshall (6-6)

About Ohio: The Bobcats roll into their bowl as the MAC East Champions, but ultimately lost their championship matchup against Central Michigan. Before that loss, they won four games in a row. Ohio doesn’t boast a prolific offense or defense, but they know how to get the ball back. They are first in FBS with 36 forced turnovers, led by Junior LB Noah Keller (137 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, interception). Senior LB Lee Renfro also contributed 105 tackles on the season, along with two sacks. The Bobcats boast three receivers with at least 500 yards and five touchdowns; Senior WR Taylor Price (735 yards, five touchdowns), Junior WR LaVon Brazill (689 yards, six touchdowns), and Junior WR Terrence McCrae (534 yards, eight touchdowns). Senior QB Theo Scott (2258 yards, 19 touchdowns), is expected to have recovered from the ankle injury he sustained prior to the MAC Championship. Ohio has the benefit of playing a disheveled Marshall squad with a new coach, so the weapons they possess should work in their favor.

About Marshall: The Thundering Herd stumbles into a bowl game, winning one of their last four just to qualify for bowl eligibility. Add to that the abrubt resignation of Coach Mark Snyder (21-37 in five years), and Marshall fans probably have minimal hopes. Nevertheless, Defensive Coordinator Jimmy Burrows is preparing a squad that, despite being in the lower half of most offensive categories, still boasts a 1,000 yard rusher. Junior RB Darius Marshall has 1,054 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season, even while missing the last two games of the season with injury. He is expected to play, however. Junior LB Mario Harvey is the heart and soul of the defense, contributing 105 tackles and five sacks. Holding onto the ball and playing smart ball is the only way Marshall has a chance at victory.

The Matchup: Ohio is in their fourth bowl game, first since 2007, and are still looking for their first victory. They look for their first ten win season since 1968, also the last time they won the MAC.

Marshall is back in the bowls for the first time 2004, as they look for their first win since 2002. They hold a 5-2 record in bowl games. Ohio holds the all-time advantage, 29-17-6.

With Darius Marshall back, the Herd have a chance. Ohio has given up 145.08 yards a game on the ground, and with Ohio’s ability to create turnovers, keeping the ball on the ground opens up more options. For one, it allows an offensive line that has given up 23 sacks on the season a chance to take pressure off of QB Brian Anderson. Now, should Ohio fight back with run blitzes, look for Anderson to take a few shots with single coverage on the outside. Again, though, he needs to be aware of a Marshall defense that has 20 interceptions on the season.

For Ohio, their key is the rappaport that Scott possesses with Price, Brazill, and McCrae. Any one of them can turn a short pass into a touchdown, and it forces Marshall to be creative in their defensive schemes. Too many double teams on one person will open up more weapons on the rest of the field.

The Prediction: Ohio is the better team, and that will be shown early and often. Marshall will attempt to keep it close with his running attack, but Ohio’s speed and weapons take the game 38-14.

This post was submitted by The Sportmeisters.

The NCAA post-season kicks off December 19^th, with 33 games being played in a three week span. Seniors will get their last hurrah, and teams will attempt to end their season on the winning side, in the hopes of improving recruiting that follows afterwords. The Sportmeisters will preview each of the 33 games that lie ahead, and provide our predictions as well. Let’s get to it!

Meineke Car Care Bowl, December 26th, 4:30 PM, Charlotte, NC

No. 17 Pittsburgh (9-3) vs. University of North Carolina (8-4)

About Pittsburgh: The Panthers had BCS hopes heading into their showdown with Big East leader Cincinnati, as a win would have given them the tie-breaker, and most likely an Orange Bowl Berth. Unfortunately, the Panthers lost their second straight Big East game after starting 9-1, and fell to the Meineke Car Care Bowl. The success of Pittsburgh hinges directly on the rushing game. True Freshman Dion Rogers kept defenses looking silly all season, en route to 1640 yards and 16 touchdowns. His 136.67 yards per game is third in the nation in rushing. Senior QB Bill Stull turned his season around after a tumultuous Junior campaign, where he threw nine touchdowns and ten interceptions. Behind an offensive line boasting three Seniors, Stull threw for 2470 yards with 21 touchdowns against eight interceptions. Sophomore WR Jonathon Baldwin was the primary benefactor of Stull’s improved play, with 54 catches for 1080 yards (20.0 yards per catch average), and eight touchdowns. These three are the biggest factors in Pittsburgh being 16^th in scoring in NCAA FBS (33.17 points per game). The Panthers aren’t all offense, however. Their defense knows how to get to the QB, as evident by their 3.75 sack per game average (first in FBS). Junior DL Greg Romeus lead the team with eight sacks, and also contributed 40 tackles (10.5 for loss). That pressure is key on them giving up 20 points a game, and the continuation of that, along with their solid offense, will spell victory and end their season on a high note.

About North Carolina: The Tar Heels had high hopes entering 2009, and started off resembling a team with a BCS mission, going 3-0 for the first time since 1997. Losses in three of their next four, including three conference games, destroyed those hopes, but winning four of their next five brought their record to a bowl qualifying 8-4. UNC requires the effectiveness of their defense, as their offense is in the bottom half of all major categories, including a dismal 107^th in total offense (311.42 yards a game). Their defense, on the other hand, is sixth in total defense, giving up only 267.25 yards a game. Leading the efforts are Sophomore DL Robert Quinn with 49 tackles (19 for loss), 11 sacks, and six forced fumbles. Junior DB Kendric Burney is a total package, with 48 tackles (4.5 for loss), one sack, and five interceptions, including two returned for touchdown. Considering the offense only manages a paltry 24.3 points per game (81^st in NCAA FBS), the defense’s ability to hold opponents to 16.92 points (13^th in NCAA FBS), is a big reason why they sit here today. It is also the best shot North Carolina has at winning the bowl game.

The Matchup: Pittsburgh is 10-15 in bowl games, currently sitting on a three game losing streak. This is their second straight year in a bowl. They are 0-1 in Meineke Car Care Bowl appearances.

North Carolina is 12-14 in their bowl games, and are also on a losing streak, having lost their last two appearances. They are also 0-2 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl (losses in 2004 and 2008). North Carolina currently holds the series advantage, 4-2, with the last matchup a Tar Heel victory in 2000.

The key matchup in this game is arguable the Pittsburgh offense, led by Lewis, versus the North Carolina defense. However, Pittsburgh’s defense can and most likely will reign havoc on the North Carolina offense and Junior QB T.J. Yates (1953 yards, 12 TDs, 14 interceptions). The pressure led by Romeus will no doubt force Yates into rushed throws and potential turnovers. This will give Pittsburgh great field position for Lewis to run roughshed.

The Prediction: Pittsburgh has weapons on both sides of the ball, and provided they snap out of their funk from the last two games, they will win handily, 45-14.

This post was submitted by The Sportmeisters.

The NCAA post-season kicks off December 19^th, with 33 games being played in a three week span. Seniors will get their last hurrah, and teams will attempt to end their season on the winning side, in the hopes of improving recruiting that follows afterwords. The Sportmeisters will preview each of the 33 games that lie ahead, and provide our predictions as well. Let’s get to it!

Emerald Bowl, December 26th, 8:00 PM, San Francisco, CA

No. 24 University of Southern California (8-4) vs. Boston College (8-4)

About USC: Despite having a true Freshman at QB, the stakes, and expectations, were still high for a USC team that has owned the better part of this decade. Even after a week three upset to Washington, the Trojans still had solid BCS hopes, defeating ranked teams such as Ohio State, California and Notre Dame. Then, the wall hit. USC lost three of its next five games, all to Pac-10 opponents, to fall completely off the BCS radar and relegated to the Emerald Bowl.

For a team that had finished second nationally in defense the past two seasons, this years squad was a far cry from that. After losing a number of players, including their entire linebacking corps to the NFL draft, the Trojans were 43^rd in defense (342.83 yards per game). Leading the team was Senior Safety Taylor Mays, with 91 tackles and one interception. No other player on the team had 70 or more tackles. However, USC does get pressure, finishing 16^th in NCAA FBS in tackles for loss (7.08 per game) and 17^th in sacks (2.75 per game).

The Trojans were also just mediocre on the offensive side of the game, finishing outside the top 30 in all major categories, including scoring (64^th with 26.67 points per game). The lone bright spot was Junior RB Joe McKnight, who finished with 1014 yards and eight touchdowns. Junior RB Allen Bradford also contributed eight touchdowns and an 8.17 yard per carry average. True Freshman QB Matt Barkley shined early on in the season, including a 380 yard, two touchdown performance against Notre Dame. However, he faded down the stretch, throwing for under 200 yards in four of his last five games. In that same five game period, he threw seven of his 12 interceptions. USCs plan has to be allowing McKnight to run the offense, with Barkley managing, and using the QB pressure to force turnovers, allowing for a short field.

About Boston College: The Eagles weren’t given much hope, picked to finish last in the ACC Atlantic Division, behind such teams as Florida State and Wake Forest. However, behind a rookie coach in Frank Spaziani, and the raucous cheering of LB Mark Herzlich (out for the season while battling cancer), Boston College made some heads turn. Conference losses to Clemson and Virginia Tech hurt, but heading into the end of the season, the Eagles still had a chance. That shot was gone with a loss to North Carolina, but Boston College still ended their season as a team no one expected to be here.

The Eagles struggle offensively, falling into the bottom half of most offensive categories. They too, have a True Freshman QB leading their way, except theirs is 25 years old. Former minor league baseball player Dave Shinskie took the reigns from Freshman Justin Tuggle during the Wake Forest game, and held onto the spot ever since. His numbers aren’t spectacular (1823 yards, 14 touchdowns, 13 interceptions), and they reflect the struggles the offense has. The lone bright spot comes from Sophomore Montel Harris, who rushed for 1355 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Defensively, not many expected Boston College to challenge, with the losses of Herzlich and DT B.J. Raji, now in the NFL. Instead, the Eagles were 15^th in rushing yards allowed, giving up only 104.42 yards a game. The defense also held opponents to only 19.42 points a game, 18^th in NCAA FBS. True Freshman Luke Kuechly, filling in for the injured Herzlich, played like a man possessed all season long. His 142 tackles (12.5 for loss), sack and interception were good enough to name him ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. No other defender came within half of his tackles. For Boston College to win, they will have to rely on their defense, especially the run defense, and force USC to use Barkley to make decisions, instead of game managing.

The Matchup: USC is 31-16 in their storied bowl history, currently in a three game winning streak within their nine straight bowl appearances. However, this is the first time since 2002 they are not playing in a BCS Bowl Game.

Boston College is 13-7 in bowl games, riding an 11 game appearance. Last years loss to Vanderbilt had snapped an eight game bowl winning streak.

USC is currently 2-0 against Boston College, playing a home and home back in 1987 and 1988.

The game’s ultimate matchup is going to be McKnight vs. Kuechly, within the USC Offense vs. Boston College Defense. However, Bradford could play a spoiler in that matchup, and with both USC RBs having speed to go side to side, Boston College could have some trouble keeping them within the tackles and limiting their yards. Both teams need to keep their QBs from turnovers and questionable throws.

The Prediction: USC will use their defensive pressure to get to Shinskie and Harris, and with the weapons they do possess on offense, should get enough out of Barkley for the win, 35-21.

This post was submitted by The Sportmeisters.

As the holidays approach, what teams are going to give their fans Super Bowl dreams for Christmas?

Distraught Dallas in December

One team hasn’t lost in December since their QB took the reigns, a 16-0 record. The other team is 5-9 since their QB has been the December starter. Can you guess who won when they faced off Sunday?

The San Diego Chargers, behind Phillip Rivers, ran their winning streak to eight games, improving to 10-3, after beating the Dallas Cowboys 20-17. Two long scoring drives broke a 10-10 tie, and allowed the Chargers to methodically destroy a Cowboys team who is looking for answers on their own. For Dallas, despite a no-turnover performance from QB Tony Romo, they have now slipped to second in the NFC East, and could be on the verge of missing the playoffs. That would ultimately seal the end for Coach Wade Phillips.

Trouble in Paradise?

The New England Patriots are 8-5, leading the AFC East, and just defeated the Carolina Panthers 20-10 to improve to 7-0 at home. So why is there so much turmoil?

The Patriots have been nowhere close to the 2006 squad that eviscerated opponents. Instead, they’ve lost close games in their fourth quarter, and could very well still miss the playoffs, with both the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins a game back. Recently, players have started grumbling, and it has affected their on the field play.

Four players were sent home Wednesday after being late, one of those being Randy Moss. Now we hear he was not putting forth a maximal effort, and it showed in a one catch, 16 yard performance. Linebacker Adalius Thomas was another member who missed the meeting, and after his bad mouthing of Coach Bill Belichick, watched the victory from the bench.

If the Patriots are expected to go deep in the playoffs, they need to quickly get on the same page. Players need to give 100% and buy into the coach’s message, or else all is lost.

Playoff Predictions

Every week until the end of the season, I’ll update my playoff predictions.

AFC (with current record):

1. Indianapolis Colts (13-0): AFC South Division Champions, first round bye, home field throughout playoffs

2. San Diego (10-3): AFC West Division Champions, first round bye, home field for Divisional Round

3. Cincinnati Bengals (9-4): AFC North Division Champions, home field for Wild Card Round

4. New England Patriots (8-5): AFC East Division Champions, home field for Wild Card Round

5. Denver Broncos (8-5): Wild Card

6. Miami Dolphins (7-6): Wild Card

NFC (with current record):

1. New Orleans Saints (13-0): NFC South Division Champions, first round bye, home field advantage throughout playoffs

2. Minnesota Vikings (11-2): NFC North Division Champions, first round bye, home field for Divisional Round

3. Arizona Cardinals (8-4): NFC West Division Champions, home field for Wild Card Round

4. Philadelphia Eagles (9-4): NFC East Division Champions, home field for Wild Card Round

5. Green Bay Packers (9-4): Wild Card

6. New York Giants (7-5): Wild Card

Contenders and Pretenders

The playoff picture is getting clearer, so who is in the snapshot?

The Philadelphia Eagles have now won four in a row, their most recent a 45-38 offensive performance against the New York Giants. The Eagles now control the NFC East, with a one game lead over the Dallas Cowboys.

The Green Bay Packers have won five in a row, and while the NFC North might be out of range, they are in good control to lock up a wild card spot. They won Sunday, 21-14, over division rival Chicago Bears.

Pretenders come in all shapes and sizes:

The Pittsburgh Steelers keep slipping, and have all but guaranteed a January at home. They lost to the lowly Cleveland Browns 13-6 on Thursday night.

This post was submitted by The Sportmeisters.

The 2009 Heisman Trophy presentation is Saturday night, December 12^th. In recent years, the Heisman committee has gotten away from their comfort zone of junior and senior Quarterbacks, Running Backs, and Wide Receivers or Defensive Backs that return punts and kicks. Underclassmen such as QB Tim Tebow in 2007 and QB Sam Bradford in 2008 won as Sophomores.

This year, aside from Tebow’s third straight nomination, a true defensive player, DT Ndamukong Suh from Nebraska, hopes to be the second ever true defenseman to win the Heisman. He would be following Michigan CB Charles Woodson, who was also the last defensive player to be nominated, in 1997. RB Mark Ingram from Alabama, hopes to spoil that party and become the third straight underclassmen to win. QB Colt McCoy from Texas is back for the second straight year, looking for his first trophy, and RB Toby Gerhart of Stanford rounds out the group, making five finalists for the first time since 2004.

We’re now going to look inside at all five finalists, and make the official Sportmeister Heisman pick at the end.

QB Tim Tebow, Senior, University of Florida Gators

Tebow, the 2007 winner and 2008 finalist, makes history already, being the first ever player to be nominated three times. He led the Florida Gators to a 12-1 record, losing in the SEC Championship, but still clinching a BCS berth in the Sugar Bowl. He is the sentimental favorite, being a huge draw in college football, but his stats are still a far cry from 2007. Critics will point to his 2413 passing yards and 18 touchdowns as far cries from his previous two years, as well as a lack of solid performance against big time opponents. He failed to throw for over 300 yards at all during the season, and in two games (Tennessee and Ole Miss), did not throw for a touchdown. He was a beast on the ground, with 859 yards rushing, but scored only 12 touchdowns (25 in 2007). He did rush for over 100 yards twice, which is a strong mark for a Quarterback. It was noticeable that he missed previous weapons such as WR Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy, but for a team with high expectations, Tebow did live up to the hype. His SEC Championship performance (247 yards, one touchdown one interception, 63 rushing yards) could hurt him with voters on the fence.

DT Ndamukong Suh, Senior, University of Nebraska

He’s already taken home a number of honors (All-American, Lombardi Award, Bronco Nagurski Award), but the top prospect in the 2010 NFL Draft is looking at making his own mark on history. Should Suh win, he would become the first DT to win the Heisman, and merely the second true defensive player (not a kickoff and/or punt returner) to win the trophy. Suh’s resume speaks high enough that he could walk out a winner on Saturday. He recorded 82 tackles and 12 sacks, including 4.5 sacks during the Big 12 Championship. He had an astonishing 19.5 tackles for loss, with at least two on four different occasions. He’s taken home quite a bit of hardware already, and with his performance during Nebraska’s near-upset of Texas in the Big 12 Championship, Suh has the potential to walk out with one more trophy, especially if he grabs enough of the regional voters in his area.

QB Colt McCoy, Senior, University of Texas

The 2008 finalist, McCoy probably has the most ground to make up after his sub-par Big 12 Championship performance, along with other below-average games. With Suh in the running as well, McCoy could be shut out two years in a row. His numbers are down from 2008, when he scored 45 touchdowns (34 passing, 11 rushing), but he did throw for 3,512 yards, which will help him over Tim Tebow in the voting. He threw for 300 yards plus five times, including 470 against UCF, but also threw for under 200 yards four times, including 127 against Oklahoma, and, most recently, 184 against Nebraska. He rushed for 348 yards (down from 561 the previous season), but with 175 coming in one game, that means he rushed for 173 yards in 12 games, a mere 14.4 yards per game. He had three games with negative rush yards, including, once again, the Big 12 Championship Game. If McCoy doesn’t win out, I’m sure he won’t be too upset, as long as he wins the BCS Championship against Alabama. Should he lose to Alabama RB Mark Ingram, he might have some extra motivation, ala QB Vince Young against Heisman winners Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush in 2005. Texas fans might not be too upset then if he loses out Saturday.

RB Mark Ingram, Sophomore, Alabama

Ingram blew up in 2009, doubling his rushing yards (728 in 2008, 1542 in 2009), and more than quintupling his receiving yards (54 in 2008, 322 in 2009). He also had 18 total touchdowns. He was a big key to Alabama’s undefeated season, and in big games, he stepped up to the plate. He recorded eight games of more than 100 yards rushing, including a career high 246 against South Carolina. While he didn’t always hit paydirt (four game without a rushing touchdown), his ability to grind out yards was key in wearing down defenses. Against nationally ranked teams such as Virginia Tech and LSU, Ingram really shined, rushing for over 140 yards in each game. His most recent performance, in the SEC Championship, might have sealed the trophy for the Sophomore. He scored three touchdowns and ran for 113 yards in dismantling then No. 1 Florida, clinching a spot in the national title game. With two Sophomores winning in the past two years, that stigma has been removed, and Ingram has just as much of a chance as anyone else.

RB Toby Gerhart, Senior, Stanford University

Gerhart did not start the season on many Heisman voter’s lists, but he let his actions on the field prove them otherwise. The Senior was a key component in Stanford’s run at the Pac-10, rushing for over 100 yards in ten of his 12 games, including three games of over 200 yards on the ground. He scored at least one touchdown in 11 games, and just like Ingram, when the stakes were high, Gerhart performed. Against ranked opponents such as USC, Oregon, Oregon State, and Arizona, he had 620 of his 1,736 yards, and ten of his 26 rushing touchdowns. Despite an amazing resume that rivals the other finalists, Gerhart might struggle to get votes. Most voters do not see West Coast games (especially East Coast voters), and he did not really begin to register until Stanford’s dismantling of USC. Nevertheless, he ended his season as strong as it started, and has a viable shot to be Stanford’s first Heisman winner since Jim Plunkett in 1970.

Based on the stats and the information, this is the official Sportmeister’s Heisman Vote:

1. Mark Ingram
2. Toby Gerhart
3. Ndamukong Suh
4. Colt McCoy
5. Tim Tebow

Ingram was a key factor in Alabama running the table, which Gerhart, despite more rushing yards, had four losses, including an ugly non-conference defeat to Wake Forest. Ingram was a threat in the running and receiving game, and his most recent performance in the SEC Championship was enough to put him over the top. McCoy and Tebow both earned their spots based on last year’s performance, but neither lived up to the hype of 2008. Suh had a great season, but in the end, it just was not enough.

My vote is just one, who do you think deserves the trophy, and the accolades that come with it?

This post was submitted by The Sportmeisters.