The NoTex Rant: Weekend TV Preview

- Big time preview of Saturday's game with #1 USC tomorrow.

- Here's your schedule for the weekend. Keep this schedule and you won't have to talk to a wife/girlfriend for 60 hours.

Tonight

West Virginia (-16.5) at Maryland - ESPN - 6:30 pm
West Virginia has not impressed me in the least. They've been able to score points against inferior teams, but have not been able to play defense worthy of a top 5 team. Maryland is a tough team at home, always plays good defense, and loves Thursday night games.
Pick - Maryland +16.5

TCU (-8) at Air Force - CSTV - 7:00 pm
I'm a big believer in going against a mid-major team the week after they play a top team. And Texas was able to have some success by wearing the TCU defense, which is the MO of Air Force. They beat Utah on the road last week, which impresses me in the mid-major world. Give me the points.
Pick - Air Force +8

Friday

Oklahoma St. (-10) at Troy - ESPN2 - 7:00 pm
A QB controversy is brewing in Stillwater. Bobby Reid injures his ankle last week and his fill-in plays great. Now there are rumblings that Reid, after a mediocre start, needs to be benched. My guess is he's feeling the pressure and is rushing back from injury this week in order to save his job. Not good. Let's keep the underdog theme going here.
Pick - Troy +10

Saturday -
A pretty weak batch of 11:00 AM games, but from 2:30 on, get on your couch, risk getting baboon ass, break out the Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey, and get ready for 11 straight hours of great matchups.

Central Michigan at Purdue (-21) - ESPN2 - 11:00
Purdue's defense may suck, but they have a potentially elite offense that has been lights out the first 2 weeks. The matchup may suck, but you'll be entertained by this offense.
Pick - Purdue -21

Iowa (-17.5) at Iowa State - Versus - 12:30
Iowa State absolutely sucks. On the level of Duke and Temple. Take Iowa HUGE.
Pick - Iowa -17.5

Texas Tech (-28) at Rice - FSNSW - 2:00
Texas Tech will finally put a full game together with offense and defense.
Pick - Texas Tech -28

Notre Dame at Michigan (-7.5) - ABC - 2:30
In the past I would say always take Michigan at home against a rookie QB, but this year? Who knows? Still, I think Notre Dame sucks that bad, so give me Michigan to finally cover and win a freaking game.
Pick - Michigan -7.5

Tennessee at Florida (-7.5) - CBS - 2:30
A classic SEC matchup, was the game of the year in the 90's. The swamp is one of the best home field advantages in all of college football, and makes it a must watch just for that reason, to see how loud and crazy the stadium can get. I'm going with Tennessee b/c I can't see either team being able to blow the other out. Also take the under.
Pick - Tennessee +7.5

Ohio State (-4) at Washington - ESPN - 2:30
I just hope this Washington bandwagon doesn't take a sharp turn this weekend and I get thrown off. I'm officially on it. That QB Jake Locker is a running and throwing machine. Ohio State is overrated and from the Big 10. Upset special of the day, #10 goes down.
Pick - Washington +4

Texas (-18.5) at Central Florida - ESPN2 - 2:30
Texas looked like garbage in the 1st half against TCU, and then athletes took over in the 2nd half. Central Florida has beat a major team on the road (NC State), so that counts for something with me. Give me the points, not calling upset, but I can see a 14 point game.
Pick - Central Floria +18.5

UCLA (-14) at Utah - ESPNU - 4:00
Utah has disappointed me big time this year. I thought with an athletic, experienced QB that was finally healthy, they might potentially be a Boise State-type of team. How I was wrong. UCLA is stout as hell and finally has an Offensive Coordinator able to take advantage of their offensive talent.
Pick - UCLA -14

Arkansas at Alabama (-3) - ESPN - 5:45
Arkansas is hurting. McFadden and their top WR Monk will play injured, but the defense will be missing 2 starters. Alabama was one of my sleeper teams this year because of their defense and enough returning talent on offense to be decent. On the other side, Arkansas was one of my overrated teams, so of course I'm taking Bama at home by a field goal.
Pick - Alabama -3

Louisville (-6.5) at Kentucky - ESPN Classic - 6:30
Maybe this is on EPSN Classic because of the high probability it will be an 80-75 final score. Rarely do these offensive showdowns live up to the hype, but this has a great chance to do it. A top 5 team only a touchdown favorite on the road to an unranked team? Louisville's on borrowed time with that shatty defense. This will be my first chance to see Andre Woodson, apparently the SEC's best QB, an ESPN 1st All-American, and the next highly drafted QB. I wouldn't know because I've never seen him. Should be the most entertaining game of the day. The Kentucky Bourbon Bowl. I'll drink some Blanton's Whiskey to honor this game.
Pick - Kentucky +6.5

USC (-10) at Nebraska - ABC - 7:00
I haven't been able to think/concentrate all week because of this game. This hasn't happened in a while. I believe the last time was in 2001, when Oklahoma came to town and it was #1 vs. #2. I was a wreck. And I'll be a wreck Saturday waiting for this game. Preview tomorrow. It needs its own day on the blog.

Boston College at Georgia Tech (-7) - ESPN2 - 7:00
Ok, so they beat a shatty Notre Dame team and killed a 1-AA? Hold off on all of this hype for Georgia Tech. BC has beaten Wake Forest (an underrated team) and another conference foe (NC State). I'll take those skins along with all the returning talent. Give me BC and the points against an always overrated Tech team.
Pick - Boston College +7

CROWN GAME
Florida State (-4) at Colorado - ESPN - 9:00
Colorado's 2nd straight week in the Crown Game. They came out firing last week in the first half, building a 14 point lead, only to fade faster than I did after a full day of drinking whiskey in Lubbock. I hate Florida State, think they suck, and have to take Colorado at home. Depending on the outcome of the USC/Nebraska game, I'll either be staring blankly at the TV watching the 2nd half of this game, or taking celebratory shots of a $200 bottle of Crown Royal Extra Rare.
Pick - Colorado +4

Sunday

Indy (-7) at Tennessee - CBS - 12:00
Indy looked damn good last week. That defense looked stout as hell. Not this week. I'm a VY believer and he'll keep them in this thing, like he did both times last year against Indy. Take the dog at home.
Pick - Tennessee +7

Dallas (-3.5) at Miami - FOX - 3:00
This won't be close. Dallas's defense may suck, but Miami couldn't score on Celina HS. Romo continues to build his RomoSexcual Fan Club and nails J Lo and Gloria Estefan after the game.
Pick - Dallas -3.5

Kansas City at Chicago (-12) - CBS - 3:00
I couldn't believe how pitiful KC looked last week. Chicago's defense might shut them out. Any team with Damon Huard at QB can't have a rosy outlook on their season.
Pick - Chicago -12

San Diego at New England (-3.5) - ESPN - 7:15
Can't wait to hear Bill Simmons' defense of Belicheck and his cheating ways. As much as I couldn't stand Belicheck before, I now despise him even more. Give me San Diego just to spite Simmons and his premature crowning of this team as the best ever.
Pick - San Diego +3.5

- T-New and Greg Ellis back at practice. Newman more likely to suit up Sunday.

Cowboys' Newman, Ellis back at practice

12:01 AM CDT on Thursday, September 13, 2007
By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News
cwatkins@dallasnews.com

IRVING – The Cowboys' battered defense received some positive news Wednesday afternoon when cornerback Terence Newman and outside linebacker Greg Ellis returned to practice.

A day earlier, the Cowboys lost one of their veteran starters for the season when nose guard Jason Ferguson was placed on injured reserve with a torn right biceps muscle.

But coach Wade Phillips said it was encouraging for Newman (partially torn right plantar fascia) and Ellis (bursitis in left Achilles' tendon) to get back on the practice field after missing the season opener.

Newman practiced in shoulder pads with the scout team to test his foot. Jacques Reeves, who started in place of Newman in the season-opening victory over the New York Giants, worked with the first team.

Newman, who said he won't speak to media until Friday, is a vital cog to a Cowboys secondary that was partly to blame for allowing 438 total yards, two catches of 25 or more yards and 16 receiving first downs to the Giants.

The cornerback would only smile when asked if he's playing against Miami on Sunday.

"He moved around pretty well, had a nice interception," Phillips said. He's "still not completely comfortable moving in certain directions, but he wanted to get out there and see what he can do, so we'd know where he is and what his limitations are."

Ellis did some light individual drills during practice. He said he's still in pain, but it's more manageable than before. He also said Britt Brown, the Cowboys' associate athletic trainer, is taping his foot differently to give him more comfort.

"It's week-to-week," Ellis said before practice. "I'm still having problems with it, and I'll see what I can go fight through. I'd love to be out there this weekend, I'd have loved to be out there last weekend, but it's kind of moment-to-moment as far as practice."

Ellis, who didn't practice in pads, said he wants to practice fully today, but that will depend on how his surgically repaired Achilles' feels.

Ellis was cleared to practice in individual drills at the start of training camp, but he stopped less than 30 minutes into the session because when he was engaged with a blocker he felt pain pushing off. He pushed off during the early portions of practice Wednesday and didn't seem to have problems.

"I'll just see what happens," Phillips said regarding Ellis' practice status for today.

Ellis most likely would have to practice in pads at least a full week before he participates in a game. The team wants to see how he copes with the pain and handles blockers and then figure out what to do with him on the field.

He could make his debut Sept. 23 at Chicago.

"I got nine years of practice in," Ellis said. "But the drop steps are still kind of new to me, but rushing the passer, I do that against my wife, so I can do it; that's not a question."

First-round pick Anthony Spencer is the starter in place of Ellis. The Cowboys could bring Ellis off the bench on passing downs until he gains more strength in his heel.

Having Ellis, the team's second-best pass rusher, should help a unit that had no sacks from its starters Sunday night. The only sack came from backup nose guard Jay Ratliff, who is now a starter.

The Cowboys had six quarterback pressures, with starting outside linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Spencer combining for four.

The pressure on the quarterback could increase with Ellis' presence.

Defensive end Chris Canty compares Ellis' status to Michael Jordan when he was sick during Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz.

"When Mike had the flu, he went for [38]," Canty said. "That's G-Money [Ellis]. That's what he is to this team."

- Devin Harris extended 5 more years, 6 if you count next year. Now give him the F'ing reins and let him go. He's a #5 pick, going into his 4th year, stop it with the 25 minutes a game bit. Stop pulling him after a bad play. Let the dude play, it will only help him and the team. They're now officially committed to him, now show it on the court.

Mavs sign Harris to five-year extension

11:32 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 12, 2007
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News esefko@dallasnews.com

The Mavericks consider Devin Harris one of the cornerstones for their future. They proved that Wednesday by agreeing to a lucrative five-year contract extension with the 6-3 point guard.

Harris, entering his fourth season, will earn $3.99 million this season. According to a source, the extension will kick in for the 2008-09 season and is worth more than the five-year, $42.6 million deal Milwaukee point guard Mo Williams signed recently.

That would put Harris' salary around $8 million in the first year of the extension, presuming 10.5 percent raises through the life of the contract.

"Devin, along with Josh [Howard], those guys will carry the baton for us into the future," president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said. "Devin's deal was something we were hopeful of getting done so that it doesn't have to be weighing on his mind this season.

"Devin definitely wanted to be here, and the feeling was mutual."

The negotiations between Nelson, owner Mark Cuban and Henry Thomas, Harris' agent, were going slowly, Nelson said, until things began to move rapidly Tuesday and Wednesday.

Harris, 24, was the fifth overall draft pick in 2004, coming to the Mavericks in a draft-night trade with Washington.

Harris averaged career highs last season with 10.2 points, 3.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 26 minutes per game. He was one of the few Mavericks who had a strong series in the first-round upset loss to Golden State, averaging 13.2 points and five assists.

Harris is expected to be the full-time starter this season at point guard. The Wisconsin product has increased his scoring and assists in each of his first three seasons.

"All he has to do now is just play," Mavs coach Avery Johnson said. "You look at what the Spurs did with Tony Parker. They signed him to an extension, and it's paid dividends for them. Devin, we think, has a enormous amount of talent and potential."

Harris, along with Howard, who signed a four-year extension last summer that kicks in this season, are locked up long term. The team also signed Jerry Stackhouse earlier in the summer to a three-year contract and has Dirk Nowitzki locked up for four more seasons and Jason Terry for five more.

- The Good

- The Bad

- Now that I'm at least a partial-season ticket holder, I'm allowed to batch about the Stars. I haven't seen the sweater yet, but the team will reveal some new ones today. The rumored new look is shown above. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to uniforms. I hate it when teams switch looks in order to appease to the MTV/pop culture crowd. See: the Univ. of Miami, the Star's ugly black alternates that were canned, the Seattle Seahawks, the Buffalo Bills, the Seattle Sonics 96-era uni's, the Detroit Pistons turquoise disaster, Vancouver's new look, etc. Give me tradition and stability.

I thought the Stars had a great looking sweater that would rank up there with some of the best in the league. They were the types of sweaters that were new but yet classic along the lines of Detroit, Toronto, Boston, Chicago, etc. Very unlike the rest of the NHL teams that come out with new sweaters. They're usually ugly and forced. Why are they changing a good thing???

I'm not saying that Turco photo is a bad look. It's not just horrible, actually would probably grow on me. I just love their current sweater, I think it's on the fringe of top 5 in the league. We'll see if the photo up top is in fact the new sweater, and if so, bad move considering they didn't need a change to begin with.

Stars set to reveal worst-kept secret

New uniforms will be revealed Friday, but news has already leaked

11:29 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 12, 2007
By MIKE HEIKA / The Dallas Morning News
mheika@dallasnews.com

As secrets go, this one has sprung more leaks than a 1980s goalie.

Want to know what the Stars' new uniforms are going to look like? You could wait until 6 p.m. Friday and see the official unveiling at American Airlines Center.

Or jump in chat rooms or on message boards, including one on the Stars' Web site, where you can see players have been photographed by fans' cellular phones while testing the uniforms, the Stars' youth select teams have already worn the new sweaters in a local tournament and goalie Marty Turco wears the new threads on a commercial running in Canada.

"It was a long time to try to keep a secret," Stars president Jim Lites said. "There were too many factors involved."

The NHL is switching its uniform to the technologically advanced RBK system this season, and many teams have taken the opportunity to change their look – the Stars included.

Out are the old star-shaped sweaters, and in are simpler lines. Out is much of the green that has been a base color in recent years, and in is a uniform heavy on black and white.

Decisions on the style of uniforms were pretty much in place by last season's All-Star Game, played at AAC, so keeping the prototypes in the dark was no easy task. Players needed to see them. So did marketers. And the Stars needed to have sweaters for such things as preseason photos and commercials.

That's why the team first considered releasing the designs at the NHL entry draft in June.

The problem is, while Reebok could provide plenty of uniforms for team purposes, it could not produce enough for the fans. So the Stars had to make a decision: release a jersey they weren't yet able to sell, or wait until stores were filled with merchandise.

The Stars chose to wait, and understood the risks. So when the youth select teams wore a replica of the uniforms in a Labor Day tournament, Lites could only shrug.

"I mean, we couldn't make them get two sets of uniforms," he said. "It was simple logistics."

And when the message boards went crazy, the Stars just had to grin and bear it. In fact, they even threw out hints to their all-black home uniforms by telling fans, "Black is the new green," on invitations for the unveiling.

Still, they believe Friday's event will have plenty of buzz.

"While there are glimpses of the jersey out there, nobody has really seen it up close," said Rob Scichili, the team's senior director of communications. "These uniforms are very impressive when you see them in person, and we're very excited about them."

- My Top 5 Uni's by Sport

- NHL

#1