December 29th, 2011
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This game will be a homecoming of sorts for Bob Stoops.
The former Iowa Hawkeye football player will face off against his alma mater when he brings his Oklahoma Sooners to the Insight Bowl to face the Hawkeyes. Although Stoops has coached Oklahoma for 13 years, he has never played his former school.
In fact, the only time these two storied programs hooked up came in the 1979 season opener, when Barry Switzer’s Sooners beat Hayden Fry’s Hawkeyes 21-6 in Norman.
Our latest Insight Bowl odds list Oklahoma as 14-point favorites, while the total has been posted at 58 points.
Iowa
Iowa started 3-1, then 5-2, but has alternated wins and losses in each of the last six games, finishing the regular season with a 20-7 loss at Nebraska. The Hawkeyes have been 1-4 away from home, with two of the losses by a total of four points.
The Hawkeyes rate 42nd in the nation in defense (23 points per contest), giving up 388 yards per contest (228 through the air, 160 via the run) while recording 20 sacks and generating 18 turnovers – with two being taken back for scores (Tanner Miller and Shaun Prater, interceptions).
James Morris anchors the defensive unit with 105 stops (adding an interception), while Christian Kirksey has 103 stops (two forced fumbles, sack, interception, fumble recovery). Mike Daniels has seven sacks with 62 stops, while Miller has three picks, 71 stops and a forced fumble and Prater has four forced fumbles to go with 46 stops.
Iowa ranks 53rd nationally in points scored (29 ppg) while compiling 379 yards per game (236 passing, 143 rushing). James Vandenberg has completed 59 percent of his passes for 2,806 yards with 23 TDs and six picks. The offensive line has allowed 26 sacks.
Marvin McNutt is the best receiver with 78 catches (33 more than any other player) for 1,269 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Marcus Coker leads the ground attack with 1,384 yards and 15 touchdowns on 4.9 yards per attempt.
Oklahoma
After a 6-0 start, Oklahoma is just 3-3 in their final six games and are coming off a 44-10 loss to their in-state rivals Oklahoma State. OU is 4-2 as a visitor, but has lost the past two games to ranked teams (Baylor, OSU).
Oklahoma rates 10th nationally in points (40 ppg) while totaling 532 yards per contest (365 through the air, 167 via the run). Landry Jones has connected on 63 % of his throws for 4,302 yards and 28 touchdowns with 14 interceptions. The offensive line has given up nine sacks.
Ryan Broyles (out for the season: knee injury) was the top receiver with 83 catches (25 more than any other player) for 1,157 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Roy Finch and Dominique Whaley (out for the season: ankle injury) led the ground attack with a combined 1,228 yards and 12 touchdowns on 5.6 yards per attempt.
On defense, Oklahoma ranks 37th in the country in points allowed (23 ppg), allowing 384 yards per contest (244 via the pass, 140 on the ground) while recording 37 sacks and enticing 25 turnovers – four of which have gone back for scores (Jamell Fleming, Tom Wort and David King, fumbles; Demontre Hurst, pick).
Aaron Colvin and Travis Lewis pace the defense with 80 and 79 tackles, respectively, adding two forced fumbles, two recoveries and a pick combined. Frank Alexander has 8.5 sacks and three forced fumbles, adding 51 tackles, a pick and a fumble recovery, while Tony Jefferson has four interceptions, 67 tackles, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
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Written by Anthony Moretti on December 29th, 2011 with comments disabled.
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The Sugar Bowl is likely to be a great matchup. A pair of the more decorated schools in history, and a pair of the toughest defensive units in the nation this year, will face off in New Orleans when Michigan of the Big Ten takes on ACC runner-up Virginia Tech.
This bowl will be the first-ever played between the teams.
Our Sugar Bowl odds have Michigan as a 2.5-point spread favorite, while the over/under has been set at 50.5 points.
Michigan
Michigan ended their regular season with three consecutive victories, the last a 40-34 rivalry win against Ohio State to win 10 games under first-year coach Brady Hoke, ending up second in the Big Ten Legends Division (6-2). The Wolverines were 2-2 as a visitor, getting beat by Michigan State and Iowa.
The Wolverines rate seventh in the country in points against (17 points per contest) and surrender 318 yards per contest (189 via the pass, 129 via the run) while recording 28 sacks and enticing 27 turnovers – three of which were taken back for scores (Brandon Herron and Courtney Avery, fumbles; Herron, pick).
Kenny Demens anchors the defense with 86 stops (22 more than any other player), while Ryan Van Bergen has five sacks and three fumble recoveries. Thomas Gordon has four fumble recoveries, and Avery and J.T. Floyd each have two picks.
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech reached the conference title game once again (7-1, won Coastal Division), but had their seven-game victory streak broken with a 38-10 defeat to Clemson. Virginia Tech is 6-1 as a visitor, winning the first six such games. Both of Tech’s defeats this season came versus Clemson.
The Hokies rate eighth in the nation in points against (17 ppg) and allows 314 yards per contest (206 through the air, 108 on the ground) while recording 38 sacks and generating 22 turnovers.
Antone Exum anchors the defense with 85 stops and two forced fumbles, while James Gayle has a team-high seven sacks. Jayron Hosley has three picks and two forced fumbles.
The Hokies rate 55th in the nation in scoring (28 ppg) while generating 416 yards per game (227 through the air, 189 on the ground).
David Wilson anchors the running game with 1,627 yards and nine TDs on 6.1 yards per carry, while Logan Thomas completes 59 percent of his passes for 2,799 yards and 19 TDs with nine interceptions. The offensive line has given up 15 sacks. Jarrett Boykin leads the receivers with 57 catches for 731 yards and five TDs, while Danny Coals has 52 grabs for 787 yards and three scores.
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Written by Anthony Moretti on December 29th, 2011 with comments disabled.
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This year’s Rose Bowl will showcase two very similar programs in recent history. One found itself in this bowl a season ago (Wisconsin) while the other played for a national championship. The Ducks made this bowl two seasons ago but has dominated its conference the past three seasons.
The Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio will showcase Big Ten champion Wisconsin facing Pac-12 champ Oregon in Pasadena. This will mark the fifth all-time game between the two programs, with the Badgers owning a 3-1 series lead. However, the Ducks won the last game in Eugene, 31-28, back in 2001.
Our current Rose Bowl odds show Oregon -6 and the over/under at 72 points.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin earned their second consecutive Rose Bowl invite by winning the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game with a 42-39 final over Michigan State. The Badgers come into this game riding a five-game win streak, which came on the heels of two consecutive defeats, which came after a 6-0 start. The Badgers were 4-2 as a visitor this season, winning the past three on the road.
Wisconsin is one of the few teams to be ranked in the top-10 nationally in both scoring offense and defense.
The Badgers rank fourth nationally in scoring offense (45 points per game) while compiling 467 yards per game (237 rushing, 230 passing). Montee Ball leads the offense by anchoring the running game with 1,759 yards and 32 scores on 6.4 yards per attempt, while James White adds 683 yards and six scores on 5.1 yards per attempt.
Russell Wilson has connected on 72 % of his attempts for 2,879 yards and 31 touchdowns with three picks. The offensive line has allowed 23 sacks. The main receiving targets are Nick Toon and Jared Abbrederis, who have combined for 106 catches for 1,636 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The Badger defense rates a stellar sixth in the country in defense (17 ppg) and surrenders 293 yards per game (155 via the pass, 138 via the rush) while recording 23 sacks and enticing 24 turnovers – one taken back for a touchdown (Derek Landisch, fumble).
Mike Taylor paces the unit with 137 stops, while Chris Borland has a team-high four forced fumbles with 131 total stops. Louis Nzegwu has 4.5 sacks, while Shelton Johnson and Antonio Fenelus each have four picks.
Oregon
The Ducks endured a season-opening defeat to LSU, then won nine in a row before a home defeat to USC, then ended the year with 98 points scored in victories against Oregon State and UCLA to take a third consecutive conference championship. The Ducks were 4-1as a visitor this season, winning the last four such contests.
The Ducks rate third in the nation in points (46 ppg) while gaining 515 yards per contest (296 on the ground, 219 through the air). LaMichael James leads this ground attack with 1,646 yards and 17 touchdowns on 7.4 yards per attempt, while Kenjon Barner has 909 yards and 11 touchdowns on 6.3 yards per tote.
Darron Thomas connects on 61 % of his throws for 2,493 yards and 30 touchdowns with six interceptions. The offensive line has surrendered 12 sacks. De’Anthony Thomas is the main receiving target with 42 catches for 571 yards and nine touchdowns, while Lavasier Tuinei has 40 grabs for 441 yards and eight touchdowns.
Defensively, the Ducks rank 48th in the nation in scoring defense (24 ppg) and give up 381 yards per game (244 passing, 137 rushing) while compiling 43 sacks and forcing 27 turnovers – three of which were returned for TDs (Boseko Lokombo and Michael Clay, three interceptions).
John Boyett leads the defensive unit with 91 tackles and two blocked kicks, while Clay has 89 stops and a team-best two forced fumbles. Dion Jordan has 7.5 sacks, Eddie Pleasant has three interceptions and Brandon Hanna has three fumble recoveries.
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Written by Anthony Moretti on December 29th, 2011 with comments disabled.
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I never gave much thought regarding knockoff or clone golf clubs I understood that they around but I just felt these were cheaply manufactured. But I found out they were practically the original be it Ping, Nike, TaylorMade, Calaway or any others.
The way I got started with this, being just retired from the Fire Dept, I thought I’d try golf again. I played while i was young but family,work and everyday life got in the way. It had been a long time since I had used a club. One day walking thru discount store I saw a marked down set of clubs, good old Dunlap, so I figured why not these were cheap enough,and so i bought em.
Fast forward 2 or 3 months later I was doing alright golfing at least once a week, doing OK with my WalMart clubs. I thought what I need is a nice driver so after checking around I decided I needed,not wanted but needed, a Nike driver, hey if it was good enough for Tiger had to help me.
And so i went down to my local Sports Authority and hit a couple of balls using a Nike Sumo, I could tell this is what I really need. So i came home with my Nike Sumo after spending just under $300. Now 3 or 4 months back on the courses and I’m beginning to think,I don’t like the sound of this club. There was nothing wrong with the club I drove very well using it and when I didn’t it wasn’t the clubs fault. But it was the sound it made when you hit the ball with it. It had a metal sound and I didn’t like it at all, I even had a some other golfers say it had a weired sound.
Now what was I going to do no way I could go spend $300 on another club. So checking on the good old INTERNET I found clone golf clubs. Somehow I wound up at the Golf Discount Center having decided thatI wanted a TaylorMade R9 driver. After a couple of emails back and forth I was assured that there clone clubs were made with the same material and workmanship as the name brand. In fact quite often they come from the same manufacturer. They also carried a 30 day guarantee if I didn’t like them they could be returned.
I forget exactly what i paid on my club $99 or $129 however a lot more affordable then the $300 or $400 for TaylorMade R9. This was more like what I wanted to spend and the club looks same as the real thing. After using the driver for a while I purchased the clone TaylorMade R7 clubs. My yardage increased by 20 yards on every iron and besides that on the course people would inquire from me how I liked the new TaylorMade R7 clubs. I would tell them that they clone golf clubs and then sometimes I didn’t based on how it was.
So in case you are in the need or want of new clubs and within a budget checkout clone golf clubs or The Golf Discount Center they have clones of Ping, Nike, TaylorMade and Callaway which are their most popular. I’m not saying the Name Brands aren’t worth it if you re able to afford $1500-$2000 to get a set of clubs I am sure you’ll get your moneys worth.
I became an Affiliate of The Golf Discount Center because of my experience visit my siteGolf Tips Now to find out more about Clone Golf Clubs.
Written by Mike Rady on December 29th, 2011 with comments disabled.
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1. Keep your head down – This is not only bad for your game it is bad for your body. One of the big keys to striking the ball well is to rotate thru the shot. If you are concentrating on “staying down” you will never be able to clear all the way thru the shot. Not to mention that if your body is trying to rotate thru and your eyes are stuck to the ground, you are putting tremendous torque on your neck…ouch!
2. Keep your left arm straight – If you focus on keeping your arm straight you will create too much tension in your arms and it will be difficult release the club properly. You do want your left arm extended but relaxed. The extension gives you the maximum arc and the relaxed muscle allows you to go faster, equating to more distance.
3. Position of the Ball – Most players play the ball too far forward with the driver and too far back with short irons. The ball position is formulated by a triangle shape of your arms/hands/shoulders + the location of club face in relation to the shaft + small adjustment to allow proper angle of ascending or descending. The drive is slightly upswing, so the ball is a bit forward, and the iron is slightly downswing, so the ball is slightly at back. But for the entire set, the ball will move about 4 inches only. That is from Sand wedge and all the way to the Driver.
4. Swing the Club Down the Line – The swing is a circle, more like an ellipse. In order to swing down the line, the club needs to travel in a straight line. This cuts the centrifugal force of the swing, robbing you of distance. It also affects the ability to square the clubface. Straight lines in the swing blocks the ball to the right. Think about swing the club around you then down the line.
5. Hitting Down makes the Ball Go Up – Hitting the ball upward will make the ball go up and hitting the ball downward will make the ball go down. If there is a tree in front of you and you need to go over it, you’ll be hoping for a good lie so that you can lean back and swing up to make the ball go over the tree. Remember not to hit the ball down. The fact is all clubs except the driver are made to strike the ball on a descending blow, but it is actually the loft that will make the ball go up and not the angle of striking. A good example to make the ball go up is to pinch the ball between the clubface and the ground. This will give you a clean contact that will help you on making the ball go up.
To know more about Golf Downswing visit Dade Rick Milton’s site which is Golf Academy to help you more about golf.
Written by Dade Rick Milton on December 29th, 2011 with comments disabled.
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