BenMaller.com - Ben's Takes

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Quincy Carter can't play QB in the NFL. Big Ben takes some time out to explain why the Cowboys are going to stick with Carter despite the fact that he stinks. Get Ben Maller's inside info on the FoxSports.com website. Keyword: Big Ben

Ben also gives you his hot sports opinions on the big college football games and NFL weekend. permalink

Thursday, September 12, 2002

Big Ben Maller's Five Star College Pick of the Week

(16) Marshall (1-0) at (11) Virginia Tech (2-0)

The Line: Virginia Tech - 11 1/2

Site: Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va

Insider Notes: Tech has won 18 of the last 20 games at Lane Stadium and is 140-59-6 there all-time. Byron Leftwich returns for his encore season, despite garnering serious NFL attention after throwing for well over 4,000 yard in 2001. Going back to last season Leftwich has thrown for more than 400 yards and 4 TDs in 4 straight games. VT RB Lee Suggs has scored at least 1 TD in each of his last 15 games. Virginia Tech is 16-12 in its last 28 games against ranked teams under Frank Beamer.

Big Ben's Breakdown: If Byron Leftwich has any chance to win the Heisman Trophy he's going to have to have a monster night for the Thundering Herd. Leftwich torched the Arkansas State defense to the tune of 469 yards passing in the season-opener, throwing four TDs and completing over 65 percent of his passes (27-of-41). Virginia Tech is a team that has won in the past with defense and special teams.

The Hokies defense is going to have its work cut out for them against the best pro prospect among college QB's. Tech has allowed a mere 7.5 points per game, on 220.5 yards of total offense. The difference in this game is going to be a poor Thundering Herd defense. The Hokies should be able to run the ball at will and despite having to play backup QB Bryan Randall should be able to put up a big point total.

Ben Maller's Pick The Hokies will pull away in the 2nd half and cover the 10 1/2 point spread.

BenMaller.com's Final Score: Virginia Tech 41, Marshall 24 permalink

Monday, September 09, 2002

Monday Morning Quarterback

Dave Campo should be fired as coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Losing to an expansion Houston Texans team is the low point for Cowboys football since they went 1-15.

It was Campo's choice to go with the incompetent Quincy Carter as his QB and it was his choice not to pull him when he played like he was the QB at Baylor.

The Cowboys and Bengals looked like they didn't pay any attention during training camp.

If Buffalo can work on their kickoff return coverage they could win a few games. The Bills just got Chad Morton a job in the NFL for the next few years.

I had questions about the Chicago Bears but they looked pretty good in coming back to beat the Vikings. How about Marty Booker, eight receptions for 198 yards and a TD not a bad way to start the season.

Steve Spurrier is off and running with the Redskins putting up 31 points in an eight point win against the Cardinals. Its the system that makes the players with Spurrier. Shane Mathews looked like he was in a Gators uniform again with 327 yards passing and three touchdowns, the best day of any NFL QB.

Spurrier is 4-0 in new-team debuts. Tampa Bay of the USFL and Duke and Florida in college also won the first game with the genius.

"The Curse of the Benbino" My lock of the week the Bengals not only lost to the Chargers the 34-6 final was the worst home-opening loss in Cincinnati franchise history.

I picked the Rams to get to and win the Super Bowl. That said I wouldn't mind seeing Mike Martz fall on his face. Martz took over a super bowl champion and needs a kick in the ass before his head explodes.

Its going to be hard to find a bigger dumbass this season that Dwayne Rudd of the Browns. Rudd tossed his helmet downfield, thinking he had sacked Kansas City's Trent Green to end the game. But he failed to watch the play and didn't see that Green had flipped the ball to tackle John Tait, who rumbled 28 yards to the Browns 25. Rudd was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, setting up Morten Anderson's 30-yard field goal with no time showing to give the Chiefs an improbable 40-39 win.

Did you know? Green Bay's Brett Favre tied Terry Bradshaw's NFL record by improving to 67-12 in home starts after a 37-34 overtime victory over Atlanta.

Priest Holmes is at it again for the Chiefs. He could be the greatest free agent signing in NFL history. Holmes lead the AFC in rushing a year ago and had 122 yards and a team record tying four touchdowns in a week one win against the Browns.

What happened to that great Jets defense? Travis Henry who was often tackled by his shadow last season ran for a career-high 149 yards and three TD's against the "Losing Bets"

Who says that Rodney Peete can't get it done anymore. The Panthers beat Baltimore 10-7 for there first win in 364 days and John Fox is a genius as the new coach that is until next week.

Quote of NFL week one ``Now they can go back to Dallas and have a hard-knock life. We ruined their season.'' Houston defensive end Gary Walker, after the expansion Texans upset the Dallas Cowboys 19-10.

Jon Gruden and the Bucs are in trouble if Michael Pittman is their best option at tailback.

Tennessee is 1-0 but they are in trouble because defensive end Jevon Kearse broke his left foot on the second play from scrimmage against the Eagles and will be out for at least six weeks.

College Weekend

After watching Miami beatup Florida in there house it makes me think the battle in college football is to see who the Canes will play in the Fiesta Bowl. Miami is an NFL machine. It looked like they have another five players who are future pro football players.

Saturday morning a fan of the Canes listening to my radio show in Miami called in to say that Willis McGahee was a better RB then Edgerrin James. After watching what he did to Florida that's not as crazy as it sounds.

Ron Zook should have never been hired as coach of the Gators. I said it the day it happened and I'm still saying it. If Steve Spurrier is still coaching Florida that score is different.

Oklahoma pulled a Florida State. Remember when the Seminoles let Iowa State storm back in the season opener after a big first half lead? The same thing happened to Bob Stoops team against Alabama.

The Sooners are in trouble on offense with QB Jason White out for the season with a torn up knee. Nate Hybl is not a capable backup to lead the OU offense.

UCLA is 1-0 and the Bruins will most likely keep on winning for Bob Toledo. Then in the second half of the season they will fall apart like they always do. Leopards don't change there spots.

If their is any hope for the future of UCLA football it rests on the shoulders of Drew Olson the freshman QB who could be a stud as soon as next season.

That west coast offense is really running well for Notre Dame. The Irish are 2-0 and have yet to score an offensive touchdown. Michigan is going to take them apart this weekend.

Philip Rivers is getting no national play because he goes to NC STATE but don't forget the name. Rivers had five TD's against Navy and ran for another score.

Kentucky's Jared Lorenzen is my favorite college QB. Its great to see a man near 300lbs lead the teams offense.

I can hardly wait for this upcoming weekend's action. Washington State plays at Ohio State and Michigan at Notre Dame are just a couple of the games to look forward to.
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