Former Husky to Start for 49ers Sunday

In his time as a Washington Husky, Cody Pickett rewrote the program’s record books and even set a few Pac-10 records too. In the NFL, he has yet to even have much playing time since being drafter last year by the San Francisco 49ers.

This weekend he will get his shot.

When the season started, Pickett was playing special teams and was basically the fourth quarterback on the San Francisco roster. However, with injuries to both Alex Smith and Ken Dorsey, he will be starting for the first time in his career.

During last Sunday’s game, Dorsey went down to his injury and in came the former rodeo champ to chants of “Cody! Cody! Cody!”

Hopefully he’ll be hearing those same chants at the end of the game on Sunday too.

Huskies Pick 4th in Pac 10 by Media

Pre Season Pac 10 Media Poll:
1. Arizona (23) 325
2. Stanford (9) 294
3. UCLA (2) 263
4. Washington 238
5. California 212
6. Oregon 183
7. Oregon State 132
8. USC 87
9. Washington State 86
10. Arizona State 50

I can't really argue with that poll, at least not as far as where the Huskies are placed right now. I certainly think that they have the ability to finish higher than fourth, but with so many inexperienced players on the roster right now it’s going to take some time to figure how good this team actually is. If the new guys gel and Brandon Roy and Bobby Jones can be as good as I really think they can be then 4^th should be the lowest this team should finish. However, if things don’t go quite as well I don’t think it would be out of the realm of possible for Cal or Oregon to pass them up.

Looking at the conference this season, I see five tournament teams. I think Arizona and Stanford are a lock at this point. My other three are UCLA, Washington, and Cal. With Leon Powe and transfer Omar Wilkes, I see them as a serious contender in the Pac 10.

Miami @ Virginia Tech

In 1999, Michael Vick led undefeated Virginia Tech past Miami and into the second ever BCS national championship game. Back then, the Hurricanes were climbing their way back to the top of the college football world after crippling sanctions brought the proud program all the way down to 5-6 just two years earlier.

This time around, Miami (6-1) has joined Virginia Tech back up among the ranks of the college football elite, and they are looking to put an opening season loss to Florida State behind them and march onto their first conference title since they joined the ACC and a sixth national championship.

However, the Hokies (8-0) counter with another Vick at the helm of their offense to slow down the surging Hurricanes.

Marcus Vick is going to have to follow in his brother’s footsteps—a task he has been trying to do since he first stepped on campus in Blacksburg, Virginia—if Virginia Tech wants another shot at the national title.

While Vick and Devin Hester—Miami’s dynamo punt returner—are the most exciting players in this contest, the match up comes down to a pair of defenses that claim statistical supremacy over the rest of the country. Virginia Tech’s 9.1 points per game tops the nation while the Hurricane’s 221.6 yards per game does the same.

College Football

With the first two weeks of the college football season out of the way, here are my observations thus far. First, I will give you my thoughts on seeing the first two Washington Husky games.

Games last four quarters in football
Well, the Huskies are again 0-2. After next week they should be 1-2 when they play Idaho, but I don't see another easy win on the schedule.

However, after the first two weeks there have some very interesting developments. What was the biggest weakness last season has become what looks to be the strength of the football team this year. Isaiah Stanback's play at quarterback and the all around play of the numberous recievers has been taken to a much higher level this year. In the pocket or scrambling out of it, Stanback looks calm and confident.

As for the recievers, Sonny Shackelford and Craig Chambers seem to be the real go-to-guys this season. Shackelford really emerged yesterday as a big play guy against California, lets see if he can keep it up.

The secondary on the other hand... We knew it was going to be shaky going on with two brand new starters, but I didn't think it would be this bad.

Two weeks in and championship hopes dashed
Ohio State lost, but they look good. I could see them in the championship game with one loss. They have a lot of team speed. Ted Ginn looked good, but dare I say that Santonio Holmes looked better?

This could be Texas' year with Vince Young at the helm. Oklahoma is not good, so if they can avoid an upset they could be undefeated going into the Big 12 championship game.

Charlie Weis may be the coach at Notre Dame right now, but he's coaching Tyrone Willingham's players.

Florida State will lose, but will Virginia Tech? Marcus Vick has looked as good as advertised.

The Urban Meyer era in Florida has started out well. The big test comes this week against Tennesee.

The four Big 10 championship contenders is down to the most unexpected one... Purdue. If they can get past Iowa, their schedule favors an undefeated season.

Heisman Hype
1. Vince Young (270 pass yds/76 rush yds/2 td/2 int): Vince just might be the one to take the Longhorns to the title game.
2. Matt Leinert (Bye): Can last year's winner win two straight? I doubt it.
3. Reggie Bush (Bye): Most electifying player in college football may not even be the best running back in the Pac 10... Marshawn Lynch?
4. Omar Jacobs (428 yds/5 td/1 int): Jacobs is no longer an overlooked QB, he's a legitimate heisman candidate.
5. Chris Leak (219 yds/2 td/0 int): I've always like Leak, and in Meyer's system it will put him right into the conversation.

Darkhorse contender: Marcus Vick (172 yds/3 td/1 int) -- As go the Hokies, so will go Vick's heisman campaign.
Back in the Conversation: Adrian Peterson (54 car/283 yds/4 td) -- Will be hard for Peterson to win it if the Sooners don't right the ship.

Back in action!

After a long absence I am coming back to posting on the blog on a regular basis.

With basketball season slowly approaching, I will be getting back into the college side of things, but I will also touch on other sports as well. At least until basketball season begins, I will shift some of the attention to college football as well.

Pac-10 Awards and the fall of the Unbeaten

I would have posted this yesterday, but the Huskies game was just too damn depressing. Anyways, first I am going to list my Pac-10 Awards and Teams I like at the bottom.

Pac-10 Awards
Player of the Year: Ike Diogu
Arizona State is nothing without Ike on it this year. With him, they almost made the tournament.
Freshman of the Year: Jordan Farmar
As much as it pains me to do it, he has been the best rookie in the Pac this year.
Coach of the Year: Lorenzo Romar
He has turned Washington from conference doormat to conference powerhouse in a year and a half.

All Pac-10 Team:
Nate Robinson
Tre Simmons
Will Conroy
Ike Diogu
Salim Stoudamire
Dijon Thompson
Channing Frye
Chris Hernandez
Dan Grunfeld
David Lucas

Teams I Like:
Only one team this week!
Ohio State: I called it on Friday that they would beat Illinios (check out my power 16 below). They are a good team, but a self-imposed postseason ban is the only thing keeping them out the tournament this season. The put the explanation point on their season today.

Final Regular Season Power 16

One last Power 16 before the postseason begins:

The No. 1 Seeds:
Illinois (29-0): They remain right here until they lose to Ohio State.
North Carolina (25-3): Let's go Duke!
Wake Forest (25-4): UNC, Duke, and Wake Forest are off the charts, but the rest of the ACC is well quite dreadful. The Big East is better from top to bottom.
Kentucky (23-3): Won yet ANOTHER SEC title.

The No. 2 Seeds:
Duke (22-4): Sheldon Williams is easily the defensive player of the year. Don't believe me? Look at the stats.
Washington (24-4): If they keep shooting like they did yesterday and Lorenzo Romar will be returning to St. Louis.
Boston College (23-3): The Eagles lose two straight games to good teams, they fall to a three seed in most places...
Kansas (22-4): ...Kansas does it three straight times and they are still rated higher. What?

The No. 3 Seeds:
Arizona (24-5): Wildcats-Huskies part three in Los Angeles is going to be a good one.
Louisville (25-4): No late season collapse this year? Still have a chance against DePaul.
Michigan State (21-5): Hoosier daddy?!
Gonzaga (23-4): Need to gain steam going into the NCAAs. In other words, don't lose in the WCC tourney again.

The No. 4 Seeds:
Connecticut (20-6): Mark my words: No repeat this year.
Syracuse (24-5): One thing you need to know about the Orange: Hakim Warrick.
Oklahoma (22-6): The Big 12 is tough this year, and the Sooners have been up to the challenge.
Pacific (24-2): The Tigers are the next Gonzaga.

Tomorrow: My picks for Pac-10 awards.