Does the year in the Championship help or hurt? And what about Reading and the others who are coming up?
207137
u cant b sure that if they escape relegation, they'll struggle again... u must keep in mind that teams 4 the lower division r also gettin promoted... these teams will struggle more than a team like wes brom... n if these kind of teams escape relegation, they'll hav enough financial power 2 buy newer n better players 2 strengthen their squad... \nif they get relegated, all their star player will move out.. jus like norwich for eg. Dean Ashton moved 2 West Ham..
158975
Amen Sister!\n\nI am happy as a lark in mid-june!\n\nA few years back they started the season 4-0 and ended up 72-90. So I am not saying they are going to win the WORLD Series, but I am enjoying it while it lasts.\n\nJustin Verlander starts today, and he's got a good arm. he's a flame thrower...I'd love to see them 5-0. But I dont want to jinx them by saying they will win.\n\nWe got some young good arms. Bondermen should have a break out year, and hopefully win 15-20 games. kenny rodgers will be a good influence on the young arms (just keep him away from any and all cameramen!!! lol).\n\nShelton usually doesnt hit for power, more for average. So this is just a phase he's going through. If he can hit close to .300 (or better) I'd be happy.\n\nIf Mags can stay healthy all year, along with Guillen we should be ok. Polanco is awesome, he just hits the baseball almost everytime he's up. You can count on him being at or above .300 this year.\n\nIf Pudge has the same kind of year he had in 2004, that would be great.\n\nInge is much better hitter when he doesnt catch.\n\nGranderson has speed, but needs to work onhis outfield play.\n\nMonroe is good.\n\nOf course the trick is too put ALL THINGS together at the same time.\n\nThe baseball season is a marathon (162 games), so it's still way to early to tell. But so far I like what I see.\n\nGiving where The Tigers have been at over the last 14 years. if they win 79-80 games I would be happier than a lark in mid-june!\n\nWe haven't had a winning season (.500 or better) in 12 years. This could be 13. \n\nAnd please dont get me started on the owner, he is more concerned with his other team to even care about The Tigers.\n\noh Wow! Did I just babble? Sorry, but I love MY TIGERS! MY TIGERS! MY TIGERS!\n\nI am happy to see them in 1st place, but I know it won't last.\n\nThanks for letting me babble!
75257
I can understand the pressure you and your team are facing. I've been worried about my Syracuse Orange making it or not. I was able to find this info on ESPN.com.\n\nCalifornia [17-8 (11-5), RPI: 59, SOS: 93]\n\nTheir conference record looks good, but their RPI is iffy and strength of schedule isn't one to be proud of. They just lost to Washington which hurts their resumé, but if they can win the rest of the way, they can still make it.
449802
dont start the schedule debate crap, add up usc's opponents record and average them out and do the same for florida and floridas is better without a question(western carolina or not)\n\nand by the way florida will probably be in the national title picture for at least the next 2 or 3 years, they got this kid named tim tebow, you must have never heard of him, but i guarantee u will, and by the way they also got pery harvin, riley cooper, jarred fayson, derrick harvey, brandon james all those kids are freshman or soph's. so i would watch out for the next few years, this team is loaded\n\nGO GATORS
525637
I'm sorry, but I think Charlton are going to The Championship.  They just don't look that good and I don't think that anything they do is going to get them out of the bottom three.  I'm pretty sure that Newcastle will find their form eventually and get up to mid-table.  West Ham and Blackburn are looking bad but they should be able to pull it out without worrying about relegation.  To me that leaves Charlton, Sheffield and Watford.
204567
I care about it.  It's definitely not boring when you are in the stadium, and when you are watching good teams play.  In fact, the average score has been increasing for the last five years.  It should be more interesing than before.
656053
We can't say...officially. But we try to move the dates up (opening sooner) rather than back.  For the improvements, well, we'll have to keep you in suspense for that - don't want to tip our hand. But stay in touch with the team at our sports blog - http://360.yahoo.com/ysportsblog
477782
Nope, not getting back to glory days\nb
283953
I thought I would never say this but I'm going to be a Cardinals fan next year.  Of course they will do good.  They were and explosive offensive team this year.  They built on that during this off season.  They will still be a little shaky on defense but they will be fun to watch when they have the ball.  I look for Matt to be rookie of the year and for James to rush for 1000+ yards again making this one of the defensive coordinators worst nightmares come this fall and winter.
269829
To all those who have answered in the negative, my response is who would of thought that the past five world champions would have been the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels, Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago White Sox?  Especially when many believed the final two were "cursed" and would never win the championship again.  \n\nIt all boils down to three things.  The first is talent, especially in the areas of pitching and defense.  So far, the Tigers have excelled in both.  If (and that little word can be the biggest in the English language) they keep up both as they have so far, then they are a very serious contender for the championship.  \n\nSecondly is coaching.  Jim Leyland is a proven veteran manager, who has proven he can develop talent and win championships.  He has surrounded himself with an excellent coaching staff, that has the ability to get the most of of the availiable talent the team has.  The Tigers have nothing to worry about in this category.  \n\nThe third is maturity and team focus.  The Tigers have kept an even keil so far, as they have gone about their business.  Pudge Rodriguez is once again offering his veteran leadership, and the addition of Kenny Rogers has not only strengthened their pitching staff what he has done on the field, but also how he has mentored others on the staff off the field to reach their potential.  \n\nDo I think the Tigers will win the World Series?  I will say they definitely have a strong chance to, but it is too early in the season to see if their current success will continue into the heart of the summer, especially when they have to face teams like the Red Sox and Yankees.  The White Sox are the team to beat in their division, and, in there earlier series this year, Chicago showed Detroit why they are the defending World Champs.  If, in August, the Tigers have the same winning percentage that they do now, and have shown they can beat the three previously mentioned teams, then my answer is Yes, I do believe the Tigers will win the World Series.  But, like I said eariler, that little word "if" can be the biggest word in the English language.
443997
Nothing would be wrong with it. It would diminish the importance of the regular season, but only slightly.\n\nYou really couldn't go with guaranteed spots to the conference winners though (point in case, look at the Big-12 and ACC this year). You'd still have the controversies because you'd have to select the participants based on where they are in the polls, while giving preference to a team who is a won their conference.\n\nIf you want a purer form of a post-season  in NCAA football, you'd have to seed teams based on their body of work like they do for college basketball. By taking the top 8 rated teams in the BCS and letting them duke it out through late December on consecutive Saturdays, you would end up with a conclusion to the college season around the same date as it is now, without interfering with the NFL playoffs. \n\nBy the way, Kimtastic... Louisville and Rutgers are in the Big East (one of the "power conferences") so they wouldn't have been left out of that scenario. The other teams you mentioned, if they played a tough enough schedule (with every non-conference game against big time opponents), they would get consideration.\n\nAnd, Christopher H, Michigan came in 2nd in the Big Ten (they beat Wisconson head to head).\n\nAgain, Kim, Rutgers is in the Big East... under the plan proposed, they would be in as the conference winner (the Big East conference champ has a guaranteed BCS bowl bid, making them one of the "power conferences"). As far as a WAC school goes... You're telling me that if Boise State (WAC school, currently #8 in the BCS) loaded their schedule with Michigan, Ohio State, and USC, and beat all 3 of them, they wouldn't be playing for the title this year? Stop being foolish.\n\nIn the last couple of years, Kim, USC has played at least one Mountain West or WAC opponent each season (except this year). Michigan and Ohio State always play schools from the MAC. Florida does too (WAC, Mountain West, Conf. USA, Sun Belt). Boise State generally gets at least one game per year against opponents from major conferences (in particular, the Pac 10). So yeah... I do think that the major powers are willing to play smaller schools, even though those little schools get trounced.  In fact, last year after playing Cal, USC brought Fresno State into the Collesium, and beat them. Your logic is just flawed.\n\nEven in generalization, you can't support your point of view. There are countless other major programs that schedule the same way that Mich., OSU, USC, Florida, etc. do. No matter how wide you want to cast your net, you're not going to find anything that would lend credence to your arguement. Sometimes Kim, when you're wrong... you're just wrong.
493646
Tell the other teams to stop losing (see Louisville, Rutgers, etc.) after them and USC wouldn't have moved up.  That's the system.\n\nWith that being said, a true champion won't be decided until there is a playoff system.  I'm not holding my breath though.
158255
have you ever had a look at the playoffs bracket? they use the word seed because when you take a look at the team bracket the winning team will advance to the next level and so a line will be drawn showing which team advanced, kinda like a seed growing.
366758
There's no trouble just a possible rematch with UM. Tressel is an excellent coach with a very talented team at his command. I predict another championship year for the Buckeyes no matter who they play in January.\n\nGO BUCKEYES !!!
367566
Bowl Championship System\n\nControversy because at the end of the year, there are always more then two teams that deserve a shot at the national title.\n\nShould stay the way it is because, well most analysts use the reason of this way every game counts. One loss, you are more then likely not going to get in. Two losses you are out 99.9% of the time. That is unlike any other sports system in the any sport.\n\nShould be eliminated because it doesn't always have the correct two teams in the championship game, subjective though, and some teams play different at the end of the year then in the beginning so you don't always have the best teams up in the polls.\n\nAlternative would probably be a playoff system. More then likely the top 8 teams in the polls have a one and out playoffs. 1v8, 2v7, 3v6, 4v5 and then continue until you got a championship.
271024
If soon doesn't mean within the next 2 years then you can make an arument for just about any team: "Within the next 3-5 years, Team X will be something to watch". When you're inviting MARCUS VICK to your mini-camp, you're smelling a little desperate. Daunte Culpepper must prove himself without Randy Moss or Nate Burleson, and Chambers and Booker ain't no Moss/Burleson. Ronnie Brown will get his chance, but he had as many fumbles lost as TD's last year. Hopefully he ain't been hanging with Ricky in the offseason. O-line is a little sketchy, Secondary has LOTS of question marks, so...a lot of ifs. Then again, it seems lots of teams turn ifs into positives these days. But I would expect the team to take a step back this season while Saban gets more players under his system and shakes the rest out...There are LOTS more teams with LOTS more potential for the near future than Miami though.
521215
Neither.  I would put in another team like maybe Cal, Texas, or even the winner of the SEC Championship game.  Rutgers still has West Virginia to play-a game I think they'll lose.  The best of the Big East isn't really ready yet for the big-time.  They aren't complete teams right now.  They don't play the "big dogs" all year long, but since they are competitive, can "boost" their standings.  \n\nEither way, it's a tough decision.  I pick Florida or Texas.\n\nBesides, going undefeated in the BCS doesn't mean you'll play for a national championship.  Two years ago, Auburn, Boise St., and Utah were all undefeated, but they didn't get to play. USC beat OK in the championship. In fact, Boise State may be undefeated again this year.