BenMaller.com - Ben's Takes

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This week Ben Maller explains why Randy Moss is an idiot. If you wonder why Moss has such a bad rap, you should check out the Moss spoiled athlete rap sheet. Also Ben gives you his hot sports opinions about this weekend's NFL games.

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Thursday, September 26, 2002

Big Ben Maller's Five Star Thursday Pick

(4) Florida State (4-0) at Louisville (2-2)

The Line: Florida State -14 1/2

Site: Papa John's Cardinal Stadium -- Louisville, Kentucky.

Insider Notes: The Seminoles have won 18 straight when a back goes over the century mark. Greg Jones has done so in 5 of the last 6 contests. Florida State has had trouble defending the pass, ranking 104th in the nation (out of 117 schools) at 261.0 per game. Ironically, the Seminoles are giving up more yards through the air then they are gaining (259.3). Florida State has won its first 4 games under Bobby Bowden 15 times since he came to Tallahassee in 1976. Four times (1991, 1996, 1997 and 1999) the Seminoles won at least 10 straight to open the season.

If you don’t count the annual games against Florida and Miami, this is only the third non-conference game on an opponents’ home field in school history (FSU was an independent until 1992). Besides Florida and Miami, the Seminoles have played only at USC in 1997 and Notre Dame in 1993 sine joining the ACC.

Damien Dorsey of Louisville is second in the nation in punt returns at 24.71.

Big Ben's Breakdown: The Seminoles defense scares me in this game. FSU has done a good job of stopping the run but has allowed a boat load of yards through the air. If the Cardinals are to have any chance in this game then QB Dave Ragone is going to have to play the game of the year. Ragone called this game his Super Bowl.

Louisville's defense has done a good job against the run but they haven't played a team as good as Florida State. Look for the Seminoles to jump out to a big first half lead while the Red Birds hang around. Despite being 4-0 the Noles have not killed teams like in years past. This is a chance on national television to make a statement.

Ben Maller's Pick Florida State -14 1/2

BenMaller.com's Final Score: Florida State 37, Louisville 17 permalink

Monday, September 23, 2002

Monday Morning Quarterback

By Ben Maller

No team in the NFL has played better the last two weeks then the Philadelphia Eagles. Donovan McNabb has played even better so far this season then last year.

I wanted to throw my remote control at the television screen when Joe Theisman was defending Gus Frerrote of the Bengals during a horrible first quarter. Has Theisman ever ripped a quarterback in his life?

Michael Vick has done nothing in his NFL career. After watching ESPN last night you would think that Vick is better than Brett Favre.

The worst backup quarterback in the league without a doubt is Danny Wuerffell with the Redskins.

Jimmy Johnson said on Fox Sports that he's not interested in the Lions coaching or GM jobs. I wonder who they will turn to in the motor city when the M & M boys are fired. Dennis Green the former Vikings coach is a guy that comes to mind.

The five best teams in the NFL right now: 1.) Dolphins, 2.) Saints 3.) Patriots 4.) Broncos 5.) Raiders

New England has done a great job of moving the ball around. This is an amazing stat: Nine different Patriots have scored a TD through three games -- Troy Brown, Antowain Smith, David Patten, Kevin Faulk, Daniel Graham, Deion Branch, Donald Hayes, Cam Cleeland and Christian Fauria.

If Drew Bledsoe was with the Bengals they would be 2-1 right now.

I guarantee that week four's Monday Night Game will be the lowest rated of the entire season. John Madden and Al Michaels get to broadcast the Baltimore Ravens against the Denver Broncos. Now that's must not watch football.

The J-E-T-S... Suck Suck Suck Update: In their last to games the New Yorkers have been outscored 74-10 by the Patriots and Dolphins.

It's had not to make the playoffs when you get off to a good start. I'm guessing though that nobody thinks that Carolina and San Diego will make the playoffs despite 3-0 starts.

My friends in the Burgh often say I'm to hard on Kordell Stewart and the Steelers. I'll say this. No quarterback had a better weekend than Stewart.

Michael Pittman is not an everydown feature back in the NFL. Remember that when you watch tonight's Monday night game between the Rams and Bucs. I said this the day he signed in Tampa and I'm sticking to it.

The NFC South is the best division in football. I better say that now because it won't last. The Panthers & Saints are tied at 3-0 with the Bucs and Falcons also in the division. I recall when the realignment was announced everyone said that Tampa would own this division. Oops.

Should their be a Mike Holmgren death watch in Seattle? The Seahawks are off to their worst start since 1996, and head coach Holmgren is 15-20 in two-plus years.

How bad is the Texans offense you ask. Houston has not scored a touchdown since Corey Bradford's catch with 13:47 remaining in the fourth quarter against Dallas in Week 1.

Many people felt that Chris Carter was a problem with the Vikings last season. The problem looks to be Randy Moss who was at it again with Daunte Culpepper on Sunday. Culpepper threw four interceptions and i'm guessing Moss had some kind words for him.

College Football

The luck of the Irish is definitely back at Notre Dame. The Irish should be 2-2 or 1-3 now and they find themselves at 4-0. Arnaz Battle made the Michigan State secondary look like the three stooges on that late TD run.

Its amazing how the rain on Saturday only seemed to effect Tennessee and not Florida. I was shocked that the Gators won the game, let alone blow out the Vols in Rocky Top.

Same old sorry ass bruins. UCLA has no excuse for losing and being blown out by Colorado.

It looks now like the Virginia Tech vs. Miami game to end the season will be the game of the year in college football.

I'm upset that SC lost to Kansas State. I was looking forward to going to the showdown this weekend between the Trojans and unbeaten Oregon State.

Michigan's offense is a joke. Their is no excuse for scoring only 10 points in a home game against Utah.

La Tech was able to move the ball against the Penn State defense with a spread offense. I wonder if anyone in the Big 10 is going to try that attack to beat Joe Paterno's club.

Just when you thought it was safe to pump up Ohio State they almost lose to Cincinnati. Nice job Buckeyes.

BenMaller.com's Heisman List: 1.) Maurice Clarett Ohio State, 2.) Willis McGahee, Miami 3.) Seneca Wallace, Iowa State.
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