Monthly Articles: April 2010

Lookin at Lucky may be the favorite in the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday but he does not have a favorable post position as he will start from the rail. With Eskendereya out of the Derby, the odds are a lot more wide open than they would have been. Lookin at Lucky…

2010 Independents Football Preview by Jim Feist Notre Dame Fighting Irish It didn’t take long for Notre Dame to sour on abrasive Charlie Weis, so they got rid of him and try Brian Kelly, who turned Cincinnati into a powerhouse. Kelly has established a reputation for building winning teams, having compiled a 160-55-2 record in…

2010 Big East Football Preview by Jim Feist The college football season is fast approaching, the best time of the sports calendar. In order to make accurate college football predictions from week to week, one needs to delve deep into all the offseason changes and additions, not only with players but the coaching staffs. Here…

by Big Al McMordie You need talent, of course, to advance in the NBA playoffs. You need defense, too. Another key that is sometimes overlooked is a four letter word for postseason success: T-E-A-M. I thought of that this weekend as the young Oklahoma City battered the Lakers to tie their series 2-2. Oklahoma City…

The Western Conference Playoff series between the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns changed with just over four minutes left in Game 4 as Portland star guard Brandon Roy surprised everyone by entering the game. Just eight days after having knee surgery, Roy returned to the Blazers and ignited the fans, the team and he…

by Jim Feist The NBA playoffs are rolling along, which is a good time to revisit an old sports adage:  Defense wins championships. Look at some recent Super Bowl winners. Look at some recent Super Bowl winners. You might not realize this, but Colts QB Peyton Manning didn’t have a stellar postseason four years ago,…

The Dallas Mavericks will look to take a 2-0 lead in their NBA playoffs series against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night (9:35 p.m. ET, TNT). The Mavericks won 100-94 in Game 1 and San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich was not pleased with many of his players. “I think we’ve got to have…

2010 Big 10 Football Preview by Jim Feist Ohio State Buckeyes No one likes to get blasted in a championship game, but how about twice? That’s what Ohio State has been through in two of the last four years. You might say 2006 was the year of the Buckeyes, whipping Notre Dame in a January…

2010 Big 12 (North) Football Preview by Jim Feist Nebraska Cornhuskers The Huskers were all-offense under Bill Callahan, but now they are back to the power-defense under coach (and former defensive coordinator) Bo Pelini. The 2009 defense was a beast, allowing 11 ppg, paving the way for a 10-4 SU, 9-5 ATS season. They were…

by Scott Spreitzer There was a fly in the ointment a year ago in the NBA playoffs: The Orlando Magic. They were a good young team that surprised the basketball world by upsetting the Cleveland Cavaliers. Actually, they really dominated the series, punishing the Cavaliers in the low post, which was the reason the Cavs…