Somebody Convince Me...

Ok, it’s a big week in the Goar household since “Lost” came back, but sports-wise, I find myself in that transitional period between college football, the NFL, the NBA, and college basketball.

LSU had a rough season in football but looks to have a promising recruiting class on the way. The Hornets are buzzing along but still missing a piece of the puzzle they need to ascend to that next level.

LSU’s basketball team, led by new coach Trent Johnson, may have a bright future and is showing signs of life in the SEC after playing an easy out-of-conference slate.

Oh, and the Super Bowl’s coming up. With all of this whirling around my tiny brain, there are certain truths I have come to accept as I have already begun anticipating the 2009 college football season.

It’s up to you to convince me I’m wrong. So please help me out here.

Can someone convince me:

1) That as much as I think the Cardinals can pull the upset in the Super Bowl, the Steelers will roll.

I think the Cards have all the tools to hang with Pittsburgh. They have a wily veteran at QB who’s been there before. They possess the hottest WR in the NFL right now, a decent running game, and a solid defense (most of the time).

But more importantly, just like last season, they are hot at the right time. With no real rooting interest in this one, I want to see a competitive Super Bowl. So why do I get the feeling Steel town rolls by three scores or more??

2) That as an NFL Coach/Owner, I want James Laurinaitis as my first-round pick.

It’s a no-brainer that my Saints need some help on defense. Linebacker, cornerback, and free safety are the most glaring needs.

Some mock drafts I’ve seen have the Road Warrior Jr. going to New Orleans. So convince me why Laurinaitis would be better than any of these fits if available, as I am unsure of Laurinaitis’ NFL effectiveness:

Macolm Jenkins-CB Ohio State (I may get inappropriately excited if he’s still around at pick No. 14. I can dream, can’t I?)

Aaron Curry LB-Wake Forest (I think his stock is too high to fall to the Saints)

Either Brian Cushing or Rey Maualuga LB-USC (Saints need more help at ILB if Vilma doesn’t re-sign, but honestly, either of these guys could fit in)

Vontae Davis CB-Illinois, D.J. Moore CB-Vanderbilt (Saints need a corner who will be consistent)

3) That Florida doesn’t take back-to-back football National Titles.

Talk about a split or who had rights to the ’08 championship all you want, but the Gators are a worthy head upon which the crown sits.

Instead of Tebow ascending into the NFL (or heaven), he’s coming back for his senior year. So is the Gators' entire two-deep defense that shut down one of the most prolific scoring offenses in recent memory.

The Gators have a schedule that may line up well. On the road, UF only has potential traps at LSU or South Carolina, but there’s no reason to believe that Florida would drop either of those (they have a bye before the LSU game, by the way).

They get Tennessee and Florida State in the Swamp, and of course, the cocktail party in J-ville with a Georgia team that loses their marquee players on offense.

No 'Bama, Auburn, or Ole Miss on the schedule could mean this team goes into the conference championship game undefeated. Make your arguments now for Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, or LSU to be their opponent, but would it matter?

Florida’s best shot at losing may not happen until Pasadena, and we’ve seen what Urban Meyer can do with some time to prepare for a big game.

Of all my preconceived notions, this one is hardest one to shake. The Gators aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

4) There’s a Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco in Matt Stafford or Mark Sanchez.

Here’s the thing with Ryan and Flacco: They didn’t go to absolutely horrible teams. The Falcons picked up Michael Turner, who was a great fit at RB, and the defense was serviceable.

Baltimore also had some pieces in place to carry this team to the playoffs before Flacco arrived.

If Detroit picks a QB with the first pick, chances are that guy won’t light the world on fire because of the lack of talent around him. But who of the two guys do you like?

Stafford has been compared to a Ryan Leaf, as being someone who has the physical tools but is missing the intangibles. I think that comparison is unfair to Stafford, unless he loses his mind.

Sanchez didn’t exactly get a vote of confidence from coach Pete Carroll for entering the draft, but some are saying he will develop into the better quarterback after some time in the league.

I think Stafford becomes the better QB with some NFL coaching, but neither will make an impact right away. What say you???

5) If Notre Dame doesn’t improve in ’09, then sorry, Charlie.

Here’s a quick rundown of the games Notre Dame should definitely lose in 2009:

USC at home

Other than that, the Irish have a shot at everyone. They start the season with Nevada, go to Michigan, and then host Michigan State.

Now, that game against the Wolverines might be tough on the road if Rich Rodriguez can improve his team, but ND will probably be an early favorite, even on the road.

The Spartans follow their in-state rivals on the dance card to take on the Irish in South Bend, which hasn’t been a problem for MSU recently. This could be a potential loss, so let’s say worst-case scenario, Notre Dame starts 1-2.

The Irish should take care of Purdue and Washington in the next two before dropping another one to USC. Meaning right now, worst case, they’re 3-3.

Then they get BC in South Bend, who will have a new coach in the “Which Catholics Does God Love More” Bowl. (It’s okay, I can say that. I’m Catholic.)

This could potentially be a loss as well, so let’s count it as one, and we get the tally to 3-4. But after this game, ND gets WSU, Navy, Pitt (without McCoy), UConn, and Stanford.

With giving the competition the benefit of the doubt with some early contests, let’s assume the Irish run the table. There are some toss-up games, but all in all, this Notre Dame team should go 8-4 at worst.

Trade a loss to Michigan for a loss at Stanford, or what have you, but eight wins is more than reasonable for this team. So it should be improvement for the Irish in 2009.

Right?

If not, then start your Pope Urban-to-South Bend talk, because Charlie Weis will be looking for another job.

6) The Lakers and Celtics don’t meet again in the NBA Finals.

My NBA knowledge isn’t on par with my college football knowledge, but from what I’ve seen, I don’t think there’s a way someone else besides these traditional rivals end up vying for a title again.

I actually think the Celtics can be vulnerable at times. Plus, going back-to-back is always a tough task.

Cleveland and Detroit will always be in the mix, and I like Orlando and Atlanta this year, but in a best-of-seven, I just don’t see it. If the Celts get decent point guard play from Rondo, then they’ll be fine in the East.

The West is more competitive, but with Bynum back, the Lake show seems like a force to be reckoned with. I just don’t see teams like the Spurs, Hornets, Nuggets, Rockets, Blazers, and Suns being able to handle Bynum and Gasol on the inside and Kobe everywhere else.

When the Lakers’ role players are filling it up beyond the arc, then they are unstoppable. I think even they have Boston’s number this year. And I’m no Lakers fan.

These are just some of the little nuggets floating around in my noggin for now, let me know if you agree or disagree.