Friday: Super Bowl Prediction

The weekend has arrived! And it’s time to preview this weekend’s biggest games.

Apparently there’s a big game in the NFL Sunday, so let’s start with that one.

The Marquee Matchup

Super Bowl, Denver vs. Seattle, Sunday, 5:25 p.m. (CST), FOX:

This is a dream matchup for me. The No. 1 offense vs. the No. 1 defense. The game’s best quarterback vs. the game’s best cornerback. Two of the best coaches in the game going head-to-head. It’s what every sports fan wants. Denver is the favorite by three points, mainly because it steamrolled through the regular season and playoffs. Seattle, on the other hand, gutted out most of its wins, using tough defense and a bruising run game. It’ll be an intriguing battle to say the least.

Seahawks corner Richard Sherman respects Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, but hasn’t backed down from his statement earlier in the week, saying the future Hall of Famer throws “ducks.” Granted, Manning’s arm strength probably isn’t the same as it once was, but expect him to challenge Sherman Sunday. If we know anything about Manning, he’s always going to let his play talk for him.

That won’t be the only matchup worth watching. How about the Seattle pass rush vs. the Denver offensive line? Manning has yet to be sacked this postseason, a reason why his numbers remain out of this world. Or how about the Bronco defense vs. Marshawn Lynch? Manning has been great in the playoffs, but Lynch has been just as good. The Broncos will have their hands full trying to stop the Seattle running back.

All right, it’s time for a prediction. I think Manning and Denver’s offense score some points. However, Seattle controls time of possession throughout, with Russell Wilson being a fantastic game manager. The Seahawks defense halts a Manning drive in the final minute and Lynch runs for over 100 yards and a couple touchdowns to claim the MVP award. Seattle 28 Denver 24.

Second Tier

No. 17 Duke @ No. 2 Syracuse, Saturday, 5:30 p.m., ESPN:

Believe it or not, there are other games this weekend. And this college basketball game is a pretty good one. For the first time these two legendary programs will face off as conference foes. The Orangemen enter the game undefeated, while Duke is coming off a win against No. 18 Pittsburgh. This game is all about the freshmen. Syracuse’s Tyler Ennis (12.4 points per game, 5.4 assists) is the most underrated freshmen in the game and Duke’s Jabari Parker (18.8 ppg) will likely be a first team All-American selection. The key factor in this game though will be C.J. Fair. Parker tends to struggle on defense and Syracuse’s best player could have himself a heck of a game Saturday. The Orange stay undefeated. Syracuse 81 Duke 76.

Might Get Interesting

No. 6 Kansas at No. 25 Texas, Saturday, 3 p.m., ESPN

The Jayhawks might be the hottest team in college basketball right now, but expect a fight from the Longhorns Saturday. Texas has won five straight, including wins against its last three ranked opponents. Kansas is the best team it’ll face yet, but the fact that the Longhorns are at home makes a difference. Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid lead the way for the Jayhawks but the difference in this game will be Perry Ellis. He led the way in a win against Iowa State earlier this week, and seems to be the difference maker in most games. I think Kansas wins, but it’s going to go down to the wire. Kansas 76 Texas 74.

Things I Missed

-Check out my game story from Nebraska’s win against Indiana last night.

-NBA All-Star teams have been selected. Here are the rosters.

-Cool discussion by Outside the Lines’ Bob Ley with wounded veterans who participated in the NFL alums vs. wounded veterans’ football game.

-President Obama claims the Sochi Olympics are safe after some speculation.

Thanks for reading! Have a great weekend everyone!

Reach me at: award6344@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @_andrewward

Nebraska basketball: Huskers knock off Hoosiers

NEBRASKA 60 INDIANA 55

Player of the Game:

Terran Petteway- It doesn’t matter how many points he has. And it doesn’t matter how he gets his points. Terran Petteway is going to take over a game in the second half. He hit a jumper to give Nebraska the lead in the second half Thursday. He shook off a defender with a nasty crossover to knock down a step back 3-pointer with just under two minutes to go in the game, giving Nebraska it's biggest lead of the game. He rebounds. He might be the team’s best defender. He even dished out 3 assists Thursday, a career high. This game is just another argument for him to receive first team All-Big Ten votes. Yeah, he was that good Thursday.

Key Stat:

Rebounding- Indiana outrebounded the Huskers 20-8 in the first half, en route to 10 second chance points . It was a different story in the second half though. Nebraska came out and outrebounded the Hoosiers 14-9 after halftime, but that was only part of it. Noah Vonleh, the Big Ten’s leading rebounder at almost 10 boards a game, finished with only 3 Thursday. Indiana also had one second chance point the entire second half. It was a complete transformation for the Huskers after halftime, and it was a huge difference in the contest.

Play of the Game:

I mention this in my game story (check it out in tomorrow’s Daily Nebraskan), but Nathan Hawkins hit a massive jumper from behind the arc late in the game. The crowd practically begged him to shoot it, and he didn’t disappoint. The shot tied the game at 46 and sparked a 7-0 Nebraska run, which gave the Huskers the lead for good. It was HUGE shot for a kid that made only one of his six 3-pointers before Thursday’s matchup.

Quotes Worth Mentioning:

 “After the last two nights, it would appear that Psalm 37, 'The meek shall inherit the Earth. The first shall be last and the last shall be first', kinda feels like the Big Ten right now, doesn’t it? The other line that we always use, of course, is 'If you’re going to get down, get down early.’” – Nebraska coach Tim Miles’ opening statement Thursday

“No. Did you? I just think it was lack of awareness and to what was working for us. We played hard. We got a little quiet. We didn’t have as much being ready to be on the attack. Again, you have to stay really disciplined. It doesn’t matter what sport it is.” –Indiana coach Tom Crean on whether there was a Hoosier letdown in the second half

“We came a long way from where we were at the beginning of the year. Tonight, we were down 32-19. At the beginning of the year we probably would’ve fallen apart. But today we stayed together. We have come a long way.” –Petteway on team’s improvement

“They’ve been great, especially now that the conference season has started. We really feed off of them. The place gets rocking in here.” –Shavon Shields on Pinnacle Bank Arena crowd

Other Notes

- The 16-point deficit is the largest Nebraska has overcome this season and second-largest deficit overcome under Tim Miles. The largest was 19 points against Iowa last season.

-Nebraska’s win tonight marks the first time the Huskers won consecutive games in conference since joining the Big Ten. 

-Nebraska’s 19-point first half is the Huskers; lowest first-half total of the season. 

-Nebraska improves to 10-1 at Pinnacle Bank Arena and has won 12 of its last 13 home games dating back to last season

-Also, had a chance to talk to Nebraska freshman Nathan Hawkins Thursday. What a great representation of the Nebraska program. He was nothing but genuine and honest with me. I understand why Miles speaks so highly of him. I'll probably have a story on him within the next couple weeks. 

Finally, I apoligize there hasn’t been a notes package from Nebraska’s last two games. I’ve been a little lazy. It won’t happen this season. 

Thanks for reading!

Reach me at: award6344@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @_andrewward

Wednesday: Top 5 pure NBA scorers in my generation

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Wednesday Top 5.

You may have notice Kevin Durant has been on a roll as of late. He’s scored 30 points or more in his last 11 games. This brings out an interesting topic for my rankings this week: The top pure scorers in the NBA in my generation.

I’m just 22 years old, so these rankings (and all my rankings) will come from only the years I’ve been alive, 1991-present. The reason being I don't want to rank players and teams that I haven't witnessed. 

So here we go with this week's Top 5.

1.     Kobe Bryant: He’s had an injury-filled season this year, but no one can deny his dominance throughout his career. He's averaged 25 points a game in his career. He ranks fifth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, about 500 points away from the great Michael Jordan. How do you know Bryant is on his game? His face turns into a scowl that makes opponents shiver.

2.     Michael Jordan: I didn’t get to see a lot of Jordan while growing up, since retired when I was seven, but what I do remember seeing was spectacular. There is no one that can compare to Jordan’s relentless style. Bryant might have that attitude sometimes, but Jordan perfected it. He bullied his way to the rim and finished with acrobatic, graceful layups or jump shots. He ranks fourth on the all-time scoring list and finished his career averaging 30 points a game.

3.     Kevin Durant: This is only his seventh season, but he’s already one of the NBA’s all-time greats at scoring the basketball. He’s currently on an 11-game streak of 30 or more points a game. Only Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady have longer stretches in their careers. Even LeBron James has been impressed with Durant’s ability. KD can do it all. Shoot the 3-point shot, drive to the rim, finish with authority and knock down the mid-range jumper. He’s got the complete arsenal. It’ll be interesting to see where he ends up among NBA legends.

4.     Allen Iverson: The guy could just flat out score. Whether it was crossing a guy up or hitting a fade away jumper from behind the arc, Iverson was by far one of the more entertaining players to watch. He ranks 21^st all time in scoring and averaged 26 points for his career. He helped redefine the point guard position as well, being the first score-first point guard of his era.

5.     Tracy McGrady: There are a lot more names I could put on this list, but McGrady makes the cut. He was one of my favorite players growing up and when he was in his prime, boy could he score. He averaged 32 point points in a season once. Thirty-two! That’s incredible. The moment I remember best of McGrady was when he scored 13 points in 35 seconds to beat the Spurs in 2006. Just an unbelievable scorer in all aspects of the game offensively.

Top Videos

-Check out this Sports Science comparing LeBron and Durant.

-How about Doug McDermott’s performance last night? He capped it with a game winner.

-Here’s the best from Super Bowl Media Day from the Seahawks and the Broncos.

-Not a video but a note from Nebraska basketball. Deverell Biggs was dismissed from the team Tuesday. Here are my thoughts on the situation.

Thanks for reading, and let me know if I missed any scorers that you wanted to see on this list.

Reach me at: award6344@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @_andrewward

Monday: Other sports should take notes from NFL Pro Bowl

Welcome back from the weekend everyone!

We had Michigan continue its winning streak with a big win against Michigan State, Tiger failed to make a cut and the Miami Heat knocked off San Antonio in a NBA Finals rematch.

But lets talk about the Pro Bowl.

For those of you who didn’t watch at least a little of the NFL’s version of the All-Star game, you missed out.

The new rule changes added to the game more than I ever thought they would. The fantasy draft between Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders instead of separating the teams by conference was fantastic.

Teammates like the Chiefs’ Derrick Johnson and Jamaal Charles, the Browns’ Josh Gordon and T.J. Ward and the Panthers’ Mike Tolbert and Luke Kuechly were hammering each other on the field.

Even getting rid of kickoffs and starting each quarter with a different team added some flare to the game. It forced the squads to play in the two-minute offense at the end of quarters. This didn’t mean more points—the final score was only 22-21 Team Rice—it just meant more excitement.

It was something you never see in the Pro Bowl. There was an actual competitive effort in this game. Compare that to what happened the last couple years. The fans actually got their money’s worth in this game.

I liked the fantasy draft so much, why not try it in all the other major sports?

Think about it.

The MLB All-Star game would benefit the most.

Who wouldn’t want to see Detroit’s Justin Verlander against Miguel Cabrera? Or the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw against Yasiel Puig? Don’t tell me for a second that Cabrera or Puig want a shot at getting a hit against their All-Star teammates.

How about the NBA All-Star game?

The league would sell out whatever arena it played the game. Just picture Steph Curry and LeBron James on the same roster. Or James and Chris Paul. Or James and Kevin Durant.

OK, the last one probably would never happen, but you get the idea. You line up James with any Western All-Star and it would be must-see television.

Also, teammates going against each other would add entertainment as well. Durant against Russell Westbrook. James against Dwayne Wade. Talk about some interesting basketball.

I’m not saying the NFL’s system is perfect. There is still risk to injury. Players aren’t going to play at 100 percent all the time.

But the NFL has the right idea. All-Star games aren’t for the players, their for the fans. So make it worth their while.

Hot Reads

-Interesting stuff from Richard Sherman about race in sports. 

-Michigan stays undefeated in the Big Ten, are they a Final Four threat?

-The Heat have faced a lot of pressure this season, but a win against the Spurs Sunday silenced the critics a little. 

-An upset in the Australian Open. 

-It's Super Bowl week! Here's a look at the game's biggest stars that never made the game. 

Thanks for reading everyone. As usually, feel free to comment or shoot me a message with suggestions. Have a good start to your week!

Reach me at: award6344@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @_andrewward

Friday: College basketball predictions

Happy Friday everyone! We got a HUGE weekend of college basketball. So lets get to my predictions.

The Marquee Matchup

No. 21 Michigan at No. 3 Michigan State, Saturday, 6 p.m., ESPN:

No matter how well these teams are playing, this game always seems to provide drama. And this edition should be no different. The Spartans limp into Saturday night’s matchup with injuries to starters Adreian Payne and Brandon Dawson. The former might play against the Wolverines but Dawson is out four to five weeks with a broken hand. That’s not good for Michigan State because Michigan might be the hottest team in basketball. The Wolverines have won eight straight since losing to No. 1 Arizona by two points. Nik Stauskas is the favorite to win the Big Ten Player of the Year, averaging a conference best 18.5 points a game. The key to this game will be the Spartan guards. Keith Appling and Gary Harris are two of the best in the country, but they will have to carry the offensive load heavily in this one, especially if Payne can’t play. This one is tough to call. The Spartans have the home court advantage, but I’m going to go with the upset here. The Wolverines are playing too good of basketball. They take control of the Big Ten. Michigan 81 Michigan State 75.

Second Tier

No. 22 Kansas State @ No. 16 Iowa State, Saturday, 12:45 p.m., ESPN 3:

Iowa State needs this win. It started 14-0 before dropping the last three games of conference play, including a disappointing defeat at Texas. Kansas State seemed to be rolling through Big 12 games until it ran into the same problem the Cyclones did at Texas. This is an intriguing matchup of two completely different squads chasing Kansas for conference supremacy. Iowa State hangs its hat on 3-point shooting, but has been terrible from behind the arc during its losing streak. The Wildcats like to pound the ball inside to their big man, Thomas Gibson. Kansas State has the better conference record, but I like Iowa State to get back in the win column at home. Iowa State 85 Kansas State 75.

Might Get Interesting

No. 10 Iowa at Northwestern, 11 a.m., Saturday, Big Ten Network:

The Hawkeyes are coming off a tough road loss at Michigan earlier this week. They host No. 3 Michigan State on Tuesday. They kicked the crap out of Northwestern earlier this year. So this game might be a little bit of a trap for Iowa. But watch out for the Wildcats. They’ve won three of their last four, becoming probably the biggest surprise in the Big Ten thus far. It’s never easy to win on the road either, especially against the conference’s second best defense. I still like the Hawkeyes in this one though, but I think it’s going to be a lot closer than the first time these squads played. Iowa 60 Northwestern 56.

Things I Missed

-Nebraska missed an opportunity last night at Penn State.

-USA basketball rosters have been posted.

-Same with the NBA All-Star game starters.

-The Pro Bowl draft seemed to be a success with Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice picking the squads.

-Terrorist threats and poor facilities haunt the Winter Olympics. Vladmir Putin wants to prove his country’s athletic prowess.

-Cool feature on Vince Lombardi's impact on his hometown community.

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend everyone!

Reach me at: award6344@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @_andrewward

Wednesday: Top 5 mid-major teams most likely to make a Final Four run

Happy Hump Day! And it’s time for this week’s Top 5.

With Creighton’s drubbing of No. 4 Villanova on Monday, Wichita State’s undefeated season and San Diego State’s emergence into the top 10, this edition of Top 5 is: Mid-major teams most likely to make a Final Four run.

1.     Wichita State, 19-0, Missouri Valley: This one didn’t take much time to think about. The Shockers are undefeated and have Final Four experience all over the floor. They boast a potential first-round NBA draft pick in forward Cleanthony Early, who leads the team at 15.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. The guards are also spectacular, in particular Fred VanVleet, who averages 13 points and almost six assists a game. The one thing I have against Wichita State is the strength of schedule. The only team they’ve played in the current top 25 is St. Louis. But the fact that the Shockers are still undefeated is impressive on its own. They have a good chance of snagging a No. 1 seed come tournament time.

2.     San Diego St., 16-1, Mountain West: Just look at the resume. Wins against Creighton, Marquette, Washington and at Kansas. The Aztecs only loss this season was to No. 1 Arizona in their second game of the season. Xavier Thames is a legitimate candidate for All-American, but he’s not the reason SDSU is ranked seventh in the nation. That would be because the Aztecs only give up 55.7 points per game, second in the country. That kind of suffocating defense will lead them far into March, when buckets become extremely hard to come by.

3.     Creighton, 16-3, Big East: The Blue Jays technically aren’t a mid-major team anymore, but since this is their first year in the new conference I’m putting them on this list. The reason why Creighton has a shot at the Final Four is Doug McDermott. Barring any sort of injury, the guy is a shoo in for the Wooden Award given to the best college basketball player in the country. He’s the most efficient scorer in the nation, scoring 25 points a game on 50 percent shooting. Another reason Creighton can make a run: 3-point shooting. Just look at Ethan Wragge’s performance Monday night. Watch out if this team gets hot in March.

4.     St. Louis, 17-2, Atlantic 10: The Billikens only losses this season were to No. 8 Wisconsin and No. 5 Wichita State by a combined 11 points. Not a bad resume. St. Louis is probably the most experienced group in its conference, with five seniors and a redshirt junior on roster. However, other than the two losses to top-10 opponents, the Billikens haven’t played many quality teams. But with the experience they have, they are still a significant threat to make a deep March run.

5.     Massachusetts, 16-1, Atlantic 10: The Minute Men seem to have a game that goes down to the final shot every week. They’ve won four games decided by a three points or less. In addition to those narrow victories, UMass has also won a handful of games by less than 10 points. The teams it is beating aren't all that impressive, but the 13^th ranked Minute Men continue to find waysto win, which is why they made this list. Also, four guys on their roster average in double figures. That's tough to stop no matter who you are playing. 

Top Videos

-This is a phenomenal story about Baylor’s Isaiah Austin.

-Another great ESPN piece about a brother at the X Games and a brother watching out for the other.

-Top plays from Tuesday. 

-Not a video, but the Yankees won the bidding war for Japanese ace pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. He signed a 7-year contract worth $155 million.  

Thanks for reading!

Reach me at: award6344@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @_andrewward

Nebraska basketball: Notes from upset against No. 17 Ohio State

Nebraska 68 No. 17 Ohio State 62

Player of the Game:

Shavon Shields- The sophomore captain finally came alive after a slow start to conference play. Shields scored 18 points on 6-for-12 shooting, but it was the way those points came that made it seem like he was out of the slump. He attacked the basket instead of settling for mid-range jump shots. He looked more like he did at the beginning of the season. “I liked that older Shavon Shields out there,” teammate Terran Petteway said. “I hope that guy stays for a while.”

Key Stat:

Nebraska made 20-of-26 free throws, including 14-of-16 in the final two minutes of the game. Not bad for a team that shoots 71 percent as a team. It was only a two-point game with two minutes to go before the Huskers pulled away from the charity stripe.

Play of the Game:

Ohio State’s Aaron Craft got the better of Deverell Biggs most of the night. Craft forced Biggs to commit six turnovers and Biggs showed visible frustration. But with about four minutes to go, Biggs stole the ball from Craft and then scored on a layup over him to give Nebraska a 47-46 lead.

Check out Nebraska fans rushing the court.  

Quotes worth mentioning:

“You have to respect this league. It’s tough.” –Ohio State coach Thad Matta on team’s four-game conference losing streak

“This is a phenomenal crowd. We’ve been to a lot of place and this is one of the best in the Big Ten.” Matta on Pinnacle Bank Arena

“Our crowd is the reason we’re 8-1 at home. At one point tonight, we couldn’t even hear the whistle it was so loud in here.” Petteway on Pinnacle Bank atmosphere

“I’ve lost way more than this. I’ve been 0-16 in conference before. So no, I wasn’t worried about the season unraveling.” Nebraska coach Tim Miles on previous five-game losing streak

“I’ll probably make him clean my office with a toothbrush since you can’t run him.” Miles on Petteway’s eight turnovers

Other notes:

-Nebraska outrebounded the Buckeyes 33-27.

-The Huskers scored 38 points in the pain compared to 26 for Ohio State.
-The win snaps a 15-game losing streak to ranked opponents for Nebraska. 

-Nebraska improves to 9-8 overall and 1-4 in the Big Ten. Ohio State falls to 15-4 and 2-4.

That's it from me. Check out the Daily Nebraskan for the game story by my colleague Nedu Izu. 

Reach me at: award6344@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @_andrewward

Monday: Let Richard Sherman be Richard Sherman

Hope everyone had a good weekend! I know plenty happened in the sports world. Peyton Manning knocked off his arch nemesis to go to the Super Bowl, Seattle clawed its way to New York with a win against its own rival and college basketball provided some shake ups with a surging Kansas squad.

-But lets talk about Richard Sherman.

The Seahawks’ defensive back has received quite a bit of negative attention about his interview rant after Seattle’s win against San Francisco on Sunday. Twitter blew up. Sports writers have called the interview anything from “classless” to “immature.”

The way I see it though, Sherman acted the way he’s always acted. He is—like he proclaims to Erin Andrews in the interview—the best corner in the NFL, playing against a mediocre receiver in Michael Crabtree. Sherman’s words not mine, but I agree.

Sherman is a talker. It frustrates players, forcing them to perform poorly most of the time. He plays the game with a passion and ferocity that goes unmatched.

Yes, he probably shouldn’t have acted the way he did, but how would you feel if you had to answer a question right after the biggest play you have ever made?

Joe Posnanski explains it best, referring to former Chiefs running back Priest Holmes. Football is a battle, and its players are warriors. So how do you expect these players to calmly compose them after playing an entire game trying to conflict physical pain on an opponent?

In today’s age of political correctness, I liked what Sherman said. Not because it was the right thing to say, but because he told the truth. He didn’t change his personality to give a generic answer. He spoke from the heart after an emotional win. It was a breath of fresh air compared to some of the other things said by players in that situation. 

Was it needed? Probably not. Did I chuckle a little when I heard it? Absolutely. But good for Sherman to remain that same person during the interview. 

This incident shouldn’t take away from Sherman’s incredible rags-to-riches story either. He should be a role model to kids not because of his mouth, but because he has worked his way to the very top of the NFL pyramid.

Sherman’s trash talk will be just one of the story lines as we build up to the Super Bowl.

Also, take a look at a couple stories about the incident. Sherman even wrote an essay explaining himself. Here's one from Grantland and Bleacher Report as well. 

-Speaking of the Super Bowl, the Seahawks opponent—the Denver Broncos—cruised in probably the most disappointing football game I’ve seen in a while.

The Patriots looked like they were asleep for three and a half quarters. There was no question which team was going to win that game. Tom Brady looked terrible until the last New England rally in the fourth quarter.

That being said, kudos to Peyton Manning and the Broncos. They were the team to beat all year in the AFC and they accepted the challenge en route to a trip to the Super Bowl.

I can’t wait for this one.

Hot Reads

-Kansas is back in the Top 10 of college basketball, thanks to the play of Joel Embiid. 

-Speaking of college basketball, here are the latest rankings.

-Huge fight this weekend in the NHL. 

-You think your job is tough? Try working with two of the best quarterbacks of all time on a regular basis. 

Thanks for reading!

Friday: Prediction time, NFL Conference Championship style

Happy Friday everyone! It’s time to breakdown the weekend. I’ll pick two or three BIG games, look at some of the key matchups and predict the winner.

This week, it’s all about the NFL conference championships.

AFC; New England @ Denver, 2 p.m. (CST), CBS

1.     Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady: Let’s be honest, this is what this game is all about. ESPN Radio personality Collin Cowherd said it best on his show a couple weeks ago; we have to stop giving Manning a free pass. Yes, he’s going to be one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game. But his postseason record and his record against Brady, which stands at 4-10 all time, taints that legacy. If Manning wins Sunday afternoon and then wins the Super Bowl, he might be considered the greatest ever. The same goes for Brady, who already has three Super Bowl rings. But Manning needs to win this game more.

2.     Denver passing game vs. New England secondary: There’s no secret to how the Broncos torch their opponents. It’s through the air. Denver led the league in passing by more than 30 yards per game. New England ranked just 21^st in pass defense this season. But the secondary came up big in pressure situations against the league’s top offenses, including a win against Denver. The Patriots also dominated Andrew Luck and Indianapolis, forcing three interceptions. If New England wants a win, Aqib Talib, Alfonzo Dennard and company need to play well.

3.     Denver front seven vs. New England running attack: LeGarrete Blount ran all over Indianapolis last week, rushing for more than 250 yards and four touchdowns. He seems to have kick started the entire Patriot rushing attack. Denver’s defense ranks only 25^th in the league in rush defense, giving up more than 100 yards a game. This matchup will be crucial. If the Patriots can establish the running game that means they can control time of possession and keep Manning off the field.

4.     Prediction: These teams produced the best game of the season earlier. They are both so similar, but I just have a hunch about this one. Tom Brady’s bunch dominates the line of scrimmage and Manning throws a crucial interception late. Patriots 31 Broncos 28.

NFC: San Francisco @ Seattle, 5:30 p.m. (CDT), FOX

1.     Marshawn Lynch vs. San Francisco front seven: Nobody runs on the 49ers defense like Lynch. The Seahawks running back has three 100-yard games in six attempts in his career. The San Francisco defense has only given up two other 100-yard rushers in 42 games since Lynch was traded to Seattle. Last time Lynch played San Francisco in Seattle, he tallied 98 yards and went for three touchdowns in a Seattle route. Look for a little San Francisco revenge in this one.

2.     Seattle secondary vs. Collin Kaepernick: Kaepernick probably still has nightmares about his performance the last time he traveledto Seattle. He threw three interceptions that game and didn’t even complete half of his passes. However, he has been playing significantly better since, but he will face his greatest challenge in the Seahawks secondary. Richard Sherman and company are the best in the business, giving up just 172 passing yards a game this season. Kaepernick will have to look for ways to use his legs in order to loosen up the tight Seattle coverage.

3.     Pete Carroll vs. John Harbaugh: These teams are practically mirror images of each other. Both play great defense and run the ball. This game will come down to the better-coached team, and there are two great ones here. Carroll and Harbaugh may have different methods of coaching, but they both do one thing similarly: they win. How will this game be won? A little trickery in the offense? A bad play call that leads to an easy score? This will be a fascinating chess match between two phenomenal coaches. 

4.     Prediction: The 49ers are hot right now, and everyone is telling me that they will win this one. But my gut is telling me to go a different direction. Marshawn Lynch runs for 100 yards and Russell Wilson leads a game-winning touchdown drive in the final minute. Seattle 21 San Francisco 17.

Things I missed:

Stuff that I didn’t get a chance to mention during the week.

-I wrote about Shavon Shields struggles on offense for the Nebraska men’s basketball team earlier this week.

-Check out this feature about the guys who snap the ball to Manning and Brady.

-The Wooden award is Creighton's Doug McDermott’s to lose.

Thanks for reading! And have a great weekend!

Wednesday Top-5: Who are the top NBA Draft prospects in college basketball?

It’s Hump Day everyone, and that means its time for my Wednesday Top-5.

Every Wednesday, I’ll rank five players, teams or anything else I find interesting.

So this week’s Top-5 is: NBA Draft prospects in college basketball.

1.     Andrew Wiggins, Kansas, Fr. (15.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg): The No. 1 recruit a year ago should be the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft. I’ve been nothing but impressed with the 6-foot-8 forward from Canada. He’s done nothing but improve since the season began, much like 15^th ranked Kansas. He’s not as polished offensively as some of the other prospects, but the kid already has an NBA-like step back jumper and is as explosive as it gets when attacking the rim. He’s only 200 pounds as well. Imagine what he’ll be like with that athletic ability and a little more muscle on him. It’s scary to think about.

2.     Joel Embiid, Kansas, Fr. (10.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.6 bpg): With all due respect to Wiggins, Kansas’ Final Four hopes rest squarely on the lean shoulders of Embiid. The kid is an animal. I’m talking the next Dikembe Mutombo. You know, the guy in those Geico commercials. Embiid influences the game in so many ways. He’s got phenomenal feet in the low post. He rebounds with a vengeance. And he is an enforcer around the rim. Just talk to Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg, who’s team lost to the Jay Hawks Monday night. The thing is, Embiid has an upside only Wiggins can match. And he’s been playing basketball for a just few years. Watch out for this kid.

3.     Jabari Parker, Duke, Fr. (18.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg): Out of all the freshmen in college basketball, Parker might be the most offensively refined. He can shoot. He can drive. And he can finish with authority. The thing that might limit his draft stock though is his size and quickness. Right now, he plays mostly power forward and center for the Blue Devils, but at 6-foot-8, 235 pounds, he’ll be looking more at small forward in the NBA. However, because of his shooting ability and creativity with the basketball, I think he’ll still end up a star in the league. He just doesn’t have the huge, star potential that Embiid and Wiggins possess.

4.     Marcus Smart, Oklahoma St., Soph. (17.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4.1 apg, 2.6 spg): Wait…a sophomore made this list? In today’s age of one-and-done freshmen in college basketball, Smart decided to return for his sophomore season. And so far it seems like the right decision as Oklahome State ranks in the top-10. Smart is a big point guard (6-foot-4) that will succeed almost immediately in the NBA. It’s his decision-making (2-to-1 assist to turnover ratio) and leadership that impress me the most. Sure, there are a lot of guys who can score with ease, but Smart just makes his teammates so much better when he’s on the floor. He’ll be a great addition to any NBA roster.

5.     Julius Randle, Kentucky, Fr. (16.9 ppg, 11.1 rpg): It’s hard to find a big man in college basketball with a low post game like Randle’s. He’s got fantastic footwork and when he plays with intensity, noone can stop him down low. At 6-foot-10, 250 pounds, Randle is a man inside. He’s left-handed as well, which for some reason gives defenders fits. NBA scouts need to look at his attitude though. He tends to disappear in games. It could be because his young teammates have problems feeding him the ball. Or it could be his mind just isn’t there sometimes. But when it’s there, Randle is near impossible to stop.

Top Videos:

Every Wednesday, I’ll post three to five videos that I found interesting, exciting or just weird this week.

-Full court hook shot? Is there anything Steph Curry can’t do?

-OK, I guess this kid can do it too. 

-Indiana upsets No. 3 Wisconsin in Bloomington.

-Check out how Arkansas upset No. 13 Kentucky last night with an emphatic dunk.

Make sure to check The Warden out Friday for some NFL predictions. Thanks for reading. 

Reach me at: award6344@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @_andrewward

Monday: Who are the contenders in Big Ten hoops?

Welcome to The Warden.

This is a blog about anything sports. Football, basketball, baseball, hockey, even soccer. If there’s a hot topic in any sport, I’ll talk about it every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Since I live in Lincoln, Nebraska, and cover the Nebraska men’s basketball team, there will be a slight slant in Nebraska athletics. However, that does not mean I’ll shy away from national topics.

So let’s talk Big Ten basketball.

I ranked the teams today in the Daily Nebraskan and I’ve come to the conclusion that the conference has five legitimate title contenders.

No. 4 Michigan State and No. 3 Wisconsin are the clear favorites right now. Both teams are just tough. Nothing seems to rattle them. The Spartans tend to play to the level their competition, as was seen in an overtime win against mediocre Minnesota, but don’t think for a second that Tom Izzo doesn’t have that squad playing at a championship level in March. And Wisconsin remains one of four undefeated squads in the country playing the way that it always does: not turning the ball over and shooting the three well.

No. 11 Ohio State and Michigan are a level behind those squads, mainly because they make too many youthful mistakes, though they are both extremely talented.

The team that I have on a level ahead of the Buckeyes and Wolverines but still behind Wisconsin and Ohio State is No. 14 Iowa.

The Hawkeyes looks good. Real good, especially coming off a win yesterday at Ohio State to improve to 3-1 in the Big Ten.

They are long, deep and explosive. The frontcourt of Aaron White (6-foot-9), Melsahn Basabe (6-foot-7) and Adam Woodbury (7-foot-1) will give any team in the country fits. The Hawkeyes are also only 12 points away from being undefeated. All three of their losses were against top-10 teams, including Wisconsin.

The key to whether Iowa makes a run at a Big Ten crown and the Final Four is point forward Roy Devyn Marble. The senior is having a conference player of the year caliber season so far, averaging 16.4 points, four rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. If he continues to play this well, the Hawks will be tough to beat in March.

Hot reads:

Every Monday, I’ll post some stories that I found interesting over the weekend. These can be anything from articles to photo galleries to random videos. Here are the goods from this weekend.

-Seattle plays for the NFC title Saturday thanks in large part to its secondary.

-Doug McDermott and Creighton continue to roll through the new Big East.

-Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady for the AFC title Sunday. Here’s a photo gallery of some of the best moments in the rivalry.

-The Lincoln Journal Star analyzes the future of Nebraska football.
-New college basketball rankings came out today. 

One more thing, I’m open to feedback. I’m new to this blog thing so any suggestions about topics or format will not go unnoticed. Thanks for reading and happy Monday!

Reach me at: award6344@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @_andrewward