Swanson knows an impressive showing against from corse178's blog
(STATS) -- The pressure of the last two games cant compare to what Sam Houston State now faces. Ray Bourque Jersey . This is the one where its time to prove the doubters wrong.And for the scoreboard operator to be extremely busy.In a clash of the countrys highest-scoring offenses, the Bearkats are the underdogs despite being atop the STATS Top 25 mainly because they must head into a chilly, unfriendly environment Friday night to face James Madison in the FCS quarterfinals.Itll be cold, itll be dark, itll be perfect, Dukes coach Mike Houston said.Sam Houston State (12-0) has long been No. 1 in the polls, steamrolling every opponent during a regular season it capped with a 59-23 rout of Central Arkansas in a de facto Southland Conference title game. Yet, a mostly unimpressive schedule led to only a No. 5 seed for the playoffs, and maybe the selection committee felt somewhat justified after the Bearkats narrowly escaped with a 41-36 win over Chattanooga to open the playoffs.Unlike those last two wins, the Bearkats now wont have the luxury of playing at home in the warmth of Huntsville, Texas. Besides having to go on the road because James Madison (11-1) is the higher seed at No. 4, temperature at kickoff in Harrisonburg, Virginia, should be in the 20s for a prime-time game being played in front of a national TV audience on ESPN2.Its also a big step up competition-wise. The Dukes went 9-0 in CAA Football -- a tougher conference than the Southland -- and suffered their only loss on the road to FBS foe North Carolina.Plus, the Bearkats havent seen an offense that can be anywhere near as potent as theirs -- until now.This is probably without doubt the most in terms of looking in the mirror, said Sam Houston States K.C. Keeler, the Eddie Robinson Award winner as the STATS FCS Coach of the Year. This is gonna be a team we think were playing our equal.Keelers squad leads all of college football with 53.1 points per game, and the only team within five points of that average is the Dukes at 48.3. The over/under for the game is an eye-opening 84 1/2.Sam Houston State has the bigger name at quarterback in Jeremiah Briscoe, a favorite to win the Walter Payton Award after setting an FCS single-season record with 57 touchdown passes. The junior has thrown for 4,459 yards for a Bearkats offense that leads the nation with 570.4 yards per game.He has a very quick release, he has very good accuracy and he has a very, very strong arm, Houston said. I mean, that ball gets there in a hurry. So you get a guy like that surrounded with the weapons that they have, thats why they put up almost arcade-like numbers.The Dukes have a signal-caller who has become nearly as dangerous in Bryan Schor.In his last four full games -- he missed 1 1/2 games last month with a shoulder injury -- Schor has put up Briscoe-like numbers with 17 touchdown passes and one interception while averaging 307 yards through the air. Plus, Schor is more of a dual threat with 522 yards and nine TDs on the ground this season.He and Briscoe are the two best quarterbacks in the country probably, Keeler said. His accuracy is uncanny. His ability to throw the ball away and get himself out of trouble.... Obviously, I think I have the best quarterback in the country, but (Schor) might be a close No. 2. And Im biased because I live with our kid every day.It was actually Schor who was statistically better last week, going 30 of 37 for 371 yards and five TDs as James Madison totaled 567 yards in a 55-22 win over New Hampshire. Briscoe matched him with five TD passes and threw for 363 yards, but he completed just 20 of 40 passes and the Bearkats were held to a season-low 421 yards.Briscoe was sacked six times, two fewer than the number of times he was dropped during the entire regular season.Its that kind of physicality that Houston feels will be a deciding factor.I firmly believe that you get in these ballgames, middle of December, cold weather, a lot of stakes on the line, if you have a team that has that kind of identity, you got a shot, he said. I expect our guys to go out and play with a lot of heart and intensity Friday night, and I expect it to be a very physical ballgame. Torey Krug Bruins Jersey . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Terry OReilly Jersey . - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before it even began.http://www.authenticbruinsnhlhockey.com/jakub-zboril-jersey/ . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times.Can the undefeated Chris Weidman bring an end to UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silvas run at the top? Once again, TSN Radio 1290s Jordan Cieciwa and TSN.cas James Lynch are going head-to-head with their picks for this weekends UFC 162. Anderson Silva (c) vs. Chris WeidmanMiddleweight Championship James Lynch, TSN.ca (@lynchonsports): Middleweight kingpin Silva defends his title for the first time since July 2012, as he squares off with the Serra-Longo Fight Team member Weidman. As expected, the buildup for this fight has focused solely on the resume of the New York native, receiving endorsements from Chael Sonnen and UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. “The All-American” has looked nothing short of spectacular during his five-fight UFC tenure defeating the likes of Demian Maia and most recently Mark Munoz, whom he knocked out with elbows at UFC on FUEL 4. Weidman is also an interesting style matchup for Silva, being a former NCAA Division 1 wrestler, which could pose problems for the Brazilian Jiu-jitsu black belt. Two big questions surround Weidman heading into this fight. Has he been impressive thus far in his career? Or is it a matter of easier opponents, considering the fact he hasnt had to face the likes of Vitor Belfort or Michael Bisping in earning this title shot at UFC 162. The second question is how will a year long layoff, injuries and the devastation he faced last fall with Hurricane Sandy in his native New York, affect his mental state going into this fight. Add this all up and it doesnt bode well for the Ring of Combat veteran. Weidman no doubt has the style to beat Silva, but I think 38-year-olds superior striking and slick submission skills will be too much for the 29-year-old. Silva via second round TKO Jordan Cieciwa, TSN Radio 1290 (@Fitcityjordan): I have been watching a lot of video on Weidman. I dont see it. Hes not showing anything that will give Silva any trouble. Now the question becomes, does he surprise us all with a trick? Is there something that in Weidmans short career he hasnt put on display? Truth is, he could be a lot more dangerous than I give him credit for. His pedigree is outstanding, and the people pumping his tires know a thing or two about fighting. The only thing that has given Silva any trouble is solid wrestling. Weidman spends a lot of time in the wrestling world. His only chance is to dominate the ground game, take Silva down, and stay absolutely mistake free. Silva is a robot. He will not get rattled and he will capitalize on any mistake. This possibly could be the worst match up to date for Chris Weidman, and I truly believe he is in over his head. Silva via third round TKO Frankie Edgar vs. Charles Oliveira Lynch: The former UFC lightweight champion looks for his first win at featherweight as he matches up against the once promising 23-year-old Oliveira. While the UFC doesnt come close to boxing in regards to booking mismatches, this is really Edgars fight to lose. Since Oliveira made an impressive UFC debut, submitting Darren Elkins at UFC LIVE 2, his career has been very lackluster. Losses to Jim Miller, Donald Cerrone and most recently Cub Swanson have proven that the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts biggest struggle seems to be a step up in competition. While the Southpaw does have a decent height and reach advantage over the New Jersey native in this fight, I dont think hell be able to match the speed, power and wrestling prowess that Edgar will inflict. After losing three straight fights I believe the 31-year-old will be able to stop his younger adversary, sometime in the second round for the win. Edgar via second round TKO JC: Edgar is one of the best in the business, and now hes I the weight class where he will be as big as his opponent. Charles Oliveira has yet to really impress consistently. He has been in the cage with some of the best in the business, but he hasnt won any of those fights. Oliveira has two great weapons in his arsenal. He has a quality black belt in jujitsu, and he fights left handed. That south paw stance wont be too much for Edgar, and that will be the problem. Oliveira isnt known for striking, Edgar is. Frankie can also wrestle and that is the kryptonite for most BJJ Blackbelts. Edgars losing streak should come to an end with some excellent ground and pound. Edgar via second round TKO Tim Kennedy vs. Roger Gracie Lynch: Two Strikeforce imports faceoff for the first time, as jiu-jitsu wizard Gracie goes to war with former U.S Military Sergeant Kennedy. Like many who have transitioned from submission wrestling to MMA, Gracie has found success amassing an impressive 6-1 record, with his onlyy blemish coming at 205 pounds to former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion King Mo back 2011. Patrice Bergeron Bruins Jersey. While he doesnt have the experience of his American opponent, he does possess a five-inch height and reach advantage over the Jackson Winklejohn product. No doubt the 31-year-old will look to take this fight to the canvas and aim to submit the Texas native, but thats easier said than done. Kennedy has never lost via submission during his 21-fight career, even in losses to submission aces Jacare Souza and Jason “Mayhem” Miller. Despite the size advantage and Gracies decorated ground game, I think Kennedys wrestling and superior standup will be enough for him to earn a unanimous decision victory. Kennedy via unanimous decision JC: Im a huge Tim Kennedy fan, and I dont know why. Its definitely not because he is out of the Jackson MMA camp, I dont like how they train their fighters. Strictly from the sports growth perspective. I think its the fact that he is Military through and through, he speaks his mind, and backs it up on a regular basis. The problem I see with Kennedy winning this fight in a knockout fashion or ending this at all is that Gracie has the ability to get this to the mat and start to dominate there. If not dominate, at least escape the danger of having a very aggressive Kennedy gunning for the KO. The fact the Gracie has a five-inch height advantage will also play into this. It will be difficult to close the distance. Kennedy will be the aggressor and that will get him the win. Kennedy via unanimous decision Mark Munoz vs. Tim Boetsch Lynch: Two fighters coming off losses look to legitimize their relevance in the middleweight division, as Kings MMA wrestling coach Munoz matches up with “The Barbarian” Boetsch. Aside from Swanson vs. Siver, this may be the most competitive matchup on the main card with both fighters being high-level, decorated wrestlers. After being brutalized by Weidman in his last fight and having a long layoff due to injury, no doubt Munoz has a disadvantage heading into this contest. Boetsch meanwhile looked uninspired in loss to Costa Philippou and in his victory over Hector Lombard. This time around, I see Boetsch coming out strong, similar to the fighter we saw take out Yushin Okami back in 2012 in what many called the comeback fight of the year. Boetsch via unanimous decision JC: If you have been following Munoz as of late you will know he has been battling some demons. The elbow injury took him to a place he has never been mentally. Having had the pleasure of working with a few guys up at Team Reign I can tell you that Munoz has a team around him that has rallied to support their boss. Weidman definitely picked him apart, as a fan of Munoz I chose to believe thats because of injury and mental state. Both these fighters have looked a lot better in their careers than their last fights would suggest. My hope for this fight is to see the old “Barbarian” take on the “Filipino Wrecking Machine” we used to know. If these two show up at their best, we will see an excellent fight. Munoz via split decision Cub Swanson vs. Dennis Siver Lynch: One thing you can bank on, its doubtful this fight will go to a decision as both fighters have 28 finishes between the two of them. A string of bad luck and injuries have kept Silver on the sidelines since December, and “The Menace” knows a win over Swanson, who is currently riding a four-fight win streak, will certainly propel him up the featherweight rankings. The Jackson-Winklejohn product Swanson knows an impressive showing against the German fighter will inch him closer to a title shot with Jose Aldo. Physically these two fighters match up very similarly, however if Swanson can avoid the power of his adversary and take this fight to the mat, the 29-year-old should have his hand raised at the end of this fight. Swanson via third round submission JC: Swanson has been impressive and growing as a fighter in his last four appearances. Jackson-Winklejohn arent always the best thing for fighters, in the case of Cub, they have been improving him as a well-rounded fighter. With that said, I really believe that Dennis Siver has what it takes to stop Cub Swanson. Cub has a very unique striking style. Im sure Dennis Sever will be ready for it, and pick him apart. Siver via second round TKO Undercard Picks Lynch: Leben, Parke, Gonzaga, Barboza, Baczynski, Pierce JC: : Leben, Parke, Herman, Barboza, Baczynski, Mitchell Agree or Disagree? Let us know what you think in the comment section or hit us up on twitter with your own #UFC162 picks. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
The Wall