Morning Cup of Coffee: A Daily Take On The Sports World

The November 15, 2009 Edition

What an incredible day of sports I enjoyed Saturday!

While there were not many big football games, there was a lot of excitement.

My day started off watching the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets play the Duke Blue Devils. Georgia Tech had a lot on the line as a win over Duke placed them in the ACC Championship game.  Tech started off slow, falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter but in typical Jacket fashion, they went on an offensive roll and this time scored 49 unanswered points. Final score: Georgia Tech 49 Duke 10. On the road. Is it just me or does head coach Paul Johnson have his boys in the national championship discussion? Lots of teams in front of them but they are playing as well as anyone in country right now.

Big Ten games rarely keep my interest due to the style of play but the Iowa Hawkeyes at Ohio State Buckeyes was a true high stakes poker match, with the birth to the Rose Bowl up for grabs. To be honest, leading into the game I thought Iowa had no shot after losing quarterback Ricky Stanzi last week but that kid James Vandenberg played an inspired game. It kept me on the edge of my seat until OSU finally came away with the win in overtime. Kudos to Jim Tressel for getting his troops to right the ship and salvage what looked like a down season.

I did catch snipets of Florida Gators at South Carolina Gamecocks tilt. Now that game was ugly! I have no idea how Steve Spurrier does not clutch his chest with Stephen Garcia at quarterback. With a ton  of talent, Garcia still has issues with decision making and  coming up with the big play. I also came away thinking how much of a down year it is in college football this year, with Florida being number one for the bulk of the season. This is not a dominant Florida team at all.

TCU Horned Frogs may be the best team in the country. Again, they dismantled another opponent. This time destroyed a ranked Utah team, 55-28. While they are still ranked number four in the country, why are they still talked about on the outside looking in right now?

They have pounded two ranked teams, beat a now hot Clemson team in Death Valley and wiped out the probable CUSA champion. Florida has only beaten one ranked team and has struggled against several other opponents. Texas has also beaten two ranked teams but I would say BYU and Utah are every bit as good, if not better, than Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

Coach of the Year Gary Patterson. Don't waste time even considering anyone else at this point.

My final take on the day's college football; oh have the mighty fallen. Southern California and Notre Dame have come unglued at the hinges. While both are talented they have come up short on where it matters most, and that is the scoreboard. I personally thought after watching how the Irish rolled against Hawaii last year at years end that their offense would be dominant enough to make a run to a BCS bowl. Oh well......

Anyone up for a BCS playoff system? If there was ever a year we needed it it would be this one.

On the NBA front, Brandon Jennings has got to be the biggest individual story in the early season. Watching him put up 55 points last night was incredible! Watching him do what he did reminded me of young Allen Iverson. Will Jennings be Answer II? Time will tell.

As of today, there is little doubt in my mind the Atlanta Hawks are the best team in the NBA. They have so many weapons offensively they just look too hard to stop. Jamal Crawford has made a huge impact, along with Josh Smith's willingness and renewed commitment to play more like a power forward and less like a small forward. Barring injury they may very well reach the NBA finals.

Finally, Manny Pacquiao. What more can be said about this guy. In an incredible display of skill and power, he overcame a size disadvantage and pounded Miguel Cotto into submission. Now the only fighter to win world titles in seven weight classes, he has a record I don't think will ever be broken. Now if we can only get Floyd Mayweather from under his bed and in the ring to fight the Pacman. It would truly be the biggest fight of the new millennium.

Finishing my last sip of coffee:

Take the New Orleans Saints (-14.5) and the points on the road against the St. Louis Rams. That just does not seem fair.

Until tomorrow morning live sports!