NFL Draft 2011: Cam Newton Says Criticism of Him Is "Ammunition"

Cam Newton is still the topic of most conversations where the NFL Draft is concerned and, for good reason, people continue to wonder if can get it done at the next level. The same sorts of questions plagued one Tim Tebow who, against all odds, ended up being a first-round pick in 2010.

Cam Newton, if I may be so bold, is a better quarterback prospect—physically—than Tim Tebow was at this stage and, adding even more creme to the coffee, he has some nice intangibles that are hard to overlook when you are considering building a franchise—including confidence in himself and a fierce need to prove every single one of his doubters wrong.

That said, there is no reason, yet, to believe that Newton will be able to do that given the questions surrounding his ability to read defenses, take snaps from under center (consistently), and transition from the "simple" offense he ran at Auburn to the more complex one he will likely execute at the pro level.

Even still, he remains optimistic that he is much better than his critics keep telling us he is and, in the end, he will kill us all with his ability and success at the next level.

Check his one-on-one interview with John Gruden:



For the record, the last quarterback Jon Gruden selected in a draft was Josh Johnson—just saying—yet
he has given Newton his seal of approval saying, "I think Cam Newton's the best player in the country...I agree with the Heisman Trophy people that gave him the award. He's got everything I'm looking for.''

While there can be no denying Newton as one of the best players in this year's draft, does that necessarily mean he will be the best quarterback? Is he a better quarterback prospect than Blaine Gabbert or Ryan Mallett? At this point does he even have to be?

Mallett is still battling character questions after  admitting he used drugs while at Arkansas and, just this morning, skipped out on a meeting with the Carolina Panthers due to illness (illness that's rumored to be due to a hangover). Which, if that's true, he is looking a lot less like a pro prospect than a massive problem—a la Ryan Leaf.

As for Gabbert, well, he may have some believers still hanging onto his potential as a No. 1, but the his spotlight seems to fade with each new Cam Newton interview, article, or editorial. Gabbert just hasn't been able to maintain public attention he seemed to have coming up to the NFL Combine. 

While some have already stated that Gruden is not qualified to make an assessment of any potential prospect's talent at the next level, you still have to respect a guy who is better known for telling it like it is than blowing smoke up your rear, so Gruden just joins a few others in the NFL camp who feel that Newton is the real deal.

As for the rest, I suggest Newton keep that gun handy—I see plenty more "ammunition" headed your way.

Related articles

• Cam Newton: Further Exposed by Jon Gruden's Coach 'Em Up Segment (football.rawsignal.com)
• Dilfer calls Cam Newton no-brainer for Bills (football.rawsignal.com)
• Broncos take final look at Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert (profootballtalk.nbcsports.com)
• Jon Gruden gushes about Cam Newton (profootballtalk.nbcsports.com)

Careful, Cam, Someone Might Think You've Got A Big Head

Cam Newton may need to temper that god-like complex he's developed since leading the Auburn Tigers to a national championship, winning the Heisman, and securing a million dollar endorsement deal with Under-Armour. If there's one thing people don't like, it's an arrogant SOB and, despite his intention, Newton came off as such when making the following statement to Sports Illustrated's Peter King—as revealed via King's Twitter account last night,

an "icon", eh? Alrighty then. However, if that wasn't enough, he had this to say about his one-year of college domination, "I don't want to sound arrogant but I did something in one year people couldn't do in their whole collegiate careers."

Yeah, okay. Well, perhaps the one thing you didn't do in that one year is learn a little bit about humility. And, for the record, you didn't win that national championship all by yourself—Nick Fairley, Michael Dyer, and a few other guys on that team made a contribution as well.

Wow, a No. 1 pick you definitely will not be—hope you're ready to sit in the green room for a few slots past that point.

Jeez, some people. I don't mind confidence in one's ability, but this is borderline narcissism in my humble opinion and Newton would do well to keep his egoist ways in the parking lot when he starts his rounds of interviews at the combine this weekend if he expects his stock to rise even the slightest bit.

Cam Newton and Under-Armour Make A Deal

Under-Armour must have a lot of faith in what Cam Newton can do for them, and their brand, after offering the Heisman winner $1 million to endorse their athletic training products—beating out Nike for his services.

While some are predicting that Newton could go be a Top 5 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, it is much more likely that his name in the public arena already dwarfs whatever his actual draft position turns out to be.

As for Nike, they tried to get in on the Newton sweepstakes, but they obviously felt comfortable that they had enough in their coiffures to remain atop the sports apparel, and shoe mountain, if he didn't jump on board. Under-Armour, however, needed a name to push their brand forward and there isn't a hotter name out there right now than Cam Newton currently. The high degree of public interest in him will only trend higher between now and the NFL Draft (April 28-30) and that can only help Under-Armour.

Related articles

• Under Armour Looks for the Cam Newton Effect (UA, NKE) (247wallst.com)
• Cam Newton signs largest endorsement deal for rookie ever (thegrio.com)

Mark Emmert: Either You Don't Get It Or You're Just Plain Ignorant

Mark Emmert never ceases to amaze the masses with his gift of diplomacy.

In an article, published today, by CBSSports.com, Emmert is quoted to have said the following regarding the whole Cam Newton debacle:

"...Getting it right is often in the eye of the beholder. The cases we saw this fall were highly controversial and highly debatable. I understand that, and some of them were even enormously frustrating to me.

"I said very loud and clear that I think it's absolutely a fundamentally wrong for a father to try to sell the services of his son or daughter to the highest bidder, to a university. We ought never to allow that to happen, but yet, having not anticipated that, we didn't have any rule or structure that said it was a violation of any of our rules. I found that grossly inappropriate that didn't have a structure in which we could say, 'No, you can't do that.' [emphasis added].

"There was no evidence that money had changed hands and there was no evidence that Auburn University had anything to do with it. We would up making a decision that felt to many people morally objectionable, but that fit the facts and the circumstances.

"We find ourselves making those kinds of judgment calls often." 

Is this guy serious, or what? Correct me, anyone, if I'm wrong, but didn't Southern Methodist University receive the NCAA's "death penalty" for paying players—both on their roster and prospectively as recruits?

Does that not count as a precedent? Surely if a university is not allowed to give money to it's players, then said players handlers should not be allowed to seek payment from the university in order to secure that player's services—it's not a tough jump for a logical person to make.

Granted, there is nothing in the rules that says "parents can't pimp players" but, come on, some of this stuff is common sense and, if nothing else, the act of allowing a "pay-for-play" scheme to go unpunished simply because you want to protect the NCAA's tarnished image under your watch—yes, this means you Mr. Emmert—is an act of irresponsibility.

Emmert certainly has his hands full now, what with all the loopholes people will start to find in the vague, prejudicial rules of the NCAA, but he can thank himself for making his life a lot more difficult at the top.

Related articles

• Mark Emmert, flailing away (blutarsky.wordpress.com)
• NCAA president Mark Emmert pledges transparency in wake of Cam Newton scandal (sports.espn.go.com)
• NCAA president: Tougher parent rules needed (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

NFL Draft: Cam Newton Is Making The Most of The Media Attention

Photo Credit: ROSS D. FRANKLIN/AP

Cam Newton won't be the No. 1 pick in this years NFL Draft—that's a certainty—however, that hasn't kept him or his father from pulling out all the stops to make him as attractive a prospect as possible.

Currently, depending on what mock draft you use, Newton could go as high as No. 13, or as low as No. 28. That said, the Newton's are banking on driving the former Auburn quarterback's stock a bit higher between now and draft day.

Reportedly, Cecil Newton has already arranged for his son to be groomed by the self-professed "quarterback builder", George Whitfield Jr—whose biggest claim to fame, at least in the pro ranks, is the work he did with Ben Roethlisberger at the start of the 2010 season, while the two-time Super Bowl winner was serving a four-game suspension.

Whitfield is the owner of Whitfield Athletix, a private quarterback training facility, which boasts such clientele as Akili Smith, Hunter Cantwell, and Chase Clement—among others. Whitfield is a former Arena Football quarterback who never seemed to find much success at the pro level as a player. At 32, he's dedicated himself to building the Whitfield Athletix brand and, so far, he's proven to be a better businessman than ball player.

Will all the publicity and media cow-towing pay off for the Newton's? Right now it's hard to say, but Cam is certainly turning a few NFL heads already just a week shy of the Combine and that has to be a reason to feel optimistic.

Related articles

• Trent Dilfer of Cam Newton workout: "Phenomenal" (profootballtalk.nbcsports.com)
• Cecil Newton schedules media workout for son Cam (sportingnews.com)
• Cam Newton to work with Ben Roethlisberger's QB tutor before NFL draft (sports.espn.go.com)

Auburn Is Selling Freeze-Dried Turf To Commemorate Their BCS Victory

So, Auburn fans, how deep is your love? Is it deep enough to shell out 99.99 for a piece of dirt—wait, sorry—I mean, freeze-dried turf? It's a lovely item that comes packaged in a block of plastic with an overhead shot of the field where your championship Tigers played their way to a Sears Trophy.

Well, if you're hankering to get that dirt freeze-dried turf on your shelf before the start of the 2011 season, go ahead and go "all in", Auburn begins taking pre-orders February 4.

It certainly looks authentic (not really), Tiger fans. I mean, wow, this is a piece of the field where Nick Fairley and Cam Newton ran, tackled, and passed (at least that's what the product info says) so who cares if it looks like it could've come from Gene Chizik's lawn, right? You're getting a piece of history (I guess).

I kid, I kid. Have at it, Tiger fans, enjoy your moment.

Photo Credit: Auburn Tigers Online Turf Store

NFL Draft: Can Cam Newton Play His Way Into The No. 1 Spot?

Andrew Luck has made the decision to return to Stanford for his senior year—forget the money, give him the degree—good for him. However, that now means the Carolina Panthers have a decision to make about which player deserves to be taken No. 1 overall.

Enter Cam Newton—playing in the Fiesta Bowl this Monday night—is it possible that if he performs well in that game, he'll be able to vault himself into the No. 1 spot on draft day?

The problem won't be his resume. He's clearly proven himself to be a great talent, and a game-changer, but is he technically sound enough to be a starter in the NFL from day one?

He hasn't taken many snaps from under-center this season, at Auburn, and that gives some pause when considering his overall ability to execute a pro-style offense at the next level.

Even so, his athletic ability and instincts with the football would make him the type of quarterback that the Panthers—especially if both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart remain healthy—could use to bolster their stagnant offense.

Carolina needs a spark now more than ever, and if Newton decides to leave early—which many assume he will—there is little reason to doubt he won't be taken in the first round, possibly in the Top 15.

So the only question is his worthiness as a possible No. 1.

If Carolina decides Newton is too great a risk, they could always look to A.J. Green (the star wide receiver for the Georgia Bulldogs)—who has remained mum on his future—but is also thought by many to be on his way to the NFL.

Carolina's current star receiver, Steve Smith, is as unhappy with the direction the team has gone in of late, and the thought of him being in a Panthers uniform much longer looks to be a long shot. Green is projected to be a phenomenal pass-catcher at the next level, and could step into the role of the Panther's number one guy at wide receiver—should Smith exit this year or the next.

The sleeper in this could be Nick Fairley, the big-time defensive tackle out of Auburn.

The Panthers need a guy who can make opposing quarterback's nervous and help neutralize the run game—Fairley could be that guy and he would be a welcome addition to a defensive line that has a lot of nice pieces, but lacks that one explosive piece to complete it.

Carolina has a decision to make about their future, starting with the head coach, and with Luck out of the equation, that future just added a few more question marks.

Related articles

• Andrew Luck returns to Stanford (profootballtalk.nbcsports.com)
• Andrew Luck skipping NFL draft, will return to Stanford Cardinal (sports.espn.go.com)

College Football ATS Picks: South Carolina Looks To Knock Off Florida State

The biggest game on the national menu will take place in the Georgia Dome this evening as Florida State locks up with South Carolina for the rights to a 10-win season—the first either team will have seen in quite some time.

South Carolina has fresh memories of their last trip to the Dome—a 56-17 beat down at the hands of Cam Newton and the Auburn Tigers—however this game won't bear any resemblance to that one.

Florida State quarterback, Christian Ponder, is expected to make his triumphant return, but he's no Cam Newton and the Seminoles won't have a Nick Fairley to terrorize quarterback Stephen Garcia.

South Carolina has plenty of weapons at its disposal—from freshman running sensation Marcus Lattimore to future NFL draft pick, Alshon Jeffery—not to mention a defense that is tough against the run and well-rested coming into the contest.

Florida State has shown brilliance on both offense and defense this season, but there are questions about the consistency of both units. Can the Seminoles contain the Gamecock's rushing attack for a full 60 minutes?

Will Christian Ponder be ready to come back at full-strength and infuse the Seminoles' offense with the leadership it needs to win the game?

Both teams have plenty to play for so the only question truly is 'who wants it more'?

ATS picks follow. All lines are courtesy of VegasInsider.com. The 'Lady' is 8-9 in ATS bowl picks thus far.

South Florida at Clemson, Meineke Car Care Bowl: Clemson (-5.5)

Clemson isn't a world-beater, but they field a very tough defense and it's tough to imagine that the Bulls will have an answer for anything the Tigers throw at them today—Da'Quan Bowers should be in for another big game.

The Lady's Pick: Clemson to cover

Notre Dame at Miami Hurricanes, Sun Bowl: Miami (-2.5)

Flip a coin in this game as neither side is in the best shape coming into the contest.

The Irish lost many of their games this season due to inconsistent play and key injury. However, they want to finish the year strong and reset for 2011.

As for Miami, coach Shannon is gone, and it is unclear how many players will be motivated to play their best brand of football without their guy on the sideline.

It's a tough one to call, but the return of Jacory Harris might be the difference in this one.

The Lady's Pick: Miami to cover

Central Florida at Georgia, Liberty Bowl: Georgia (-6.5)

Pay attention to the way Georgia plays the run in this one. The Knights are a strong rushing team behind the trio of Ronnie Weaver, Jeff Godfrey, and Latavius Murray and five of Georgia's six losses this season came as a result of poor run defense biting them in the backside.

As for the Knights, they will have the tough task of defending a Georgia passing game that features, arguably, the best wide receiver in the country in A.J. Green. Look for Aaron Murray to take to the air early in this one—hopefully opening up some room for Washaun Ealey and Carlton Thomas to make a play or two against a tough Knights run defense.

The Lady's Pick: UCF to cover

Florida State at South Carolina, Chick-Fil-A Bowl: South Carolina (-3)

Florida State will see the return of Christian Ponder, but unless the Seminole defense can find an answer for a healthy Marcus Lattimore and a determined Alshon Jeffery, that won't matter much.

While both teams sport good run defenses, the edge has to go to the Gamecocks here as they will likely be the most motivated to play well today—erasing the debacle of the SEC Championship from their memory.

The Lady's Pick: South Carolina to cover

Related articles

• Florida State vs. South Carolina Pick, Point Spread & Betting Trends: December 31st 2010 (touthouse.com)
• 2010 SEC Bowl Previews (blogcritics.org)
• Chick-Fil-A Bowl, South Carolina Vs. Florida State: Two Near-BCS Teams Do Battle In Atlanta (sbnation.com)

CFB Rumors: Gus Malzahn Still Mulling Over Vanderbilt Job—Seriously?

Announcer: Hey Gus, your team just won the SEC Championship, your quarterback is a Heisman Trophy Winner, your team is 13-0, and on their way to Arizona to play in the National Championship Game...what are you going to do now. 

Gus: I'm going to Tennessee?

Announcer: Huh?...What did you say?

Gus: I'm going to become the next head coach at Vanderbilt!

*record scratches*

Okay, enough with the jokes. Seriously, folks, if Gus Malzahn's best offer is a head coaching job at Vanderbilt, then he should hold out for something better.

This is in no way meant to offend the fine alumni of Vanderbilt University, but, your football team is awful. They've been awful for a long time and, due to the academic restraints placed on them via entry requirements, that isn't likely to change anytime soon.

That said, why on earth would Gus Malzahn take his offense, and his recruiting wares to a program that has become a perennial doormat in the SEC (13-67 over the last 10 years)? Does he feel that his stock is as high as it can possibly get at the moment?

After all, Auburn averaged better than 40 points per game this season using Malzahn's scheme—with the right personnel. However, he's not likely to get the same result at Vanderbilt as he will be competing with Tennessee for the state's best players and could find it difficult to pitch a perennial loser to a guy who wants to build an NFL resume.

On the other hand, if he wants a challenge, then Vanderbilt would definitely be the place to go. Since joining the SEC in 1933, the Commodores are 102-351-15—not including their dismal 2010 record. Have at it, Gus. If Dan Mullen can do it, why can't you?

Quite honestly, though, he's better off staying where he is and seeing how things shake out after 2011. More job openings, with a much higher profile, are likely to become available at that time and, if Auburn manages to stay relevant without Cam Newton (many feel the Heisman winner will bolt for the NFL this season), then he will have proven that he's not a one-trick pony.

That alone would pay dividends.

Hold out for something better, Gus. Vandy definitely isn't Disneyland. 

Related articles

• Gus Malzahn Leaves Auburn to Coach Vanderbilt (thebiglead.com)

Friday Snapshot: Gene Chizik As Possible Candidate for UF Job?

Obviously, the fine fans of Auburn University are drinking the Gene Chizik kool-aid—their press included. There is at least one journalist who believes the Florida Gators should consider hiring the, once ridiculed, coach for their football coaching vacancy. That's an interesting thought considering that most people aren't buying his success.

If you remove the talents of Cam Newton from Auburn this season, how many of you really believe that would a) be undefeated, b) on their way to a BCS National Title berth, or c) have a player worthy of Heisman consideration?...Yeah, didn't think so.

Gene Chizik didn't become a genius overnight. He struck gold with Cam Newton and Cam Newton excelled under the offensive scheme of Gus Malzahn. Sure, the stellar play of Michael Dyer, Nick Fairley, and Michael Dyer didn't hurt, but let's not be naive about Newton's impact on this team.

And, for those of you who don't buy the 'one-player-can-make-a-difference' argument, just look at how far the Gators have gone minus Tim Tebow. Even better, what would Ohio State have been without Maurice Clarett—in his one season? Georgia without Herschel in 1980?

Certainly, none of those players led their team to a national title every year, but they definitely placed them in the conversation.

Chizik is still Chizik. Until he duplicates this feat minus Cam Newton, to many, he will still be the guy that Auburn fans booed at the airport.

-And, speaking of misguided expectations, what is all this chatter about Mark Richt being under pressure to win the East now that Meyer is gone? Seriously, in what universe should THAT be an expectation?

While it's understandable that Georgia fans should expect better of this team in year two of the 3-4 defense, under the leadership of Aaron Murray, and minus the anchor that was Dave Van Halanger, it's a mighty big leap to take for any one to start believing Georgia is heading to the SEC Championship Game in 2011.

For one, South Carolina has proven it is better with Marcus Lattimore. He''ll be in season two—stronger and more experienced—will Georgia have an answer for him? Secondly, if both A.J. Green and Justin Houston make their expected exits for the NFL, who will take their places?

Rantavious Wooten, Tavarres King, and Marlon Brown have been flashing their "potential" for years, will they suddenly be able to fulfill it?

Will the running backs be better than this season? And, before you answer that, consider the fact that both Shaun Chapas (one heckuva a lead blocker), and Fred Munzenmaier are both graduating.

That said, there may need to be more tempered enthusiasm in the Bulldog Nation. By no means is an SEC Championship impossible, but the expectation of one is a dangerous proposition this early in the game.

-Some fans will go to any lengths to support their team. Ron Pettichord, a guy who says he's not really a "die-hard [Oregon] Ducks fan" has decided to postpone his heart surgery so that he can be sure to take in the BCS National Title game.

Not for nothing, but, that's what they made DVR's for, right? Seriously...some people.

-

Related articles

• Auburn's Cam Newton: I've done nothing wrong (sportingnews.com)

Urban Meyer Says He "Had Oregon Ranked No. 1 For Quite Some Time"

There was a collective head-scratch when people found out that Urban Meyer was the ONLY SEC head coach who did not rank the Auburn Tigers No. 1. Some perceived it as sour grapes—Meyer was just mad that Auburn was winning with his cast-off quarterback.

While others didn't feel Urban needed to make any explanation at all. He had his vote, he used it on Oregon—it is what it is.

Well, Urban Meyer finally let the world know exactly why he dismissed Auburn in favor of Oregon, here's what Meyer had to say about his decision not to vote Auburn No. 1:

"It could have been 1A, 1B,'' Meyer said. "I watched that SEC Championship game and to say they are not the best team in America would be incorrect. I have not watched Oregon as much, earlier in the year I did. I've had Oregon ranked No. 1 for quite some time now. And it's just like when we were up there in the rankings _ unless you deserve to lose that ranking _ that's no disrespect to Auburn obviously. But it's 1A, 1B in my mind. I just had Oregon No. 1 for a longer period of time.''

Okay, Urban...whatever you say, buddy.

Alshon Jeffery on Auburn: They Aren't Great...It Was Just Their Day

Talk about having sour grapes.

South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery skipped the normal, sportsmanlike, commentary and simply decided to let the world know how he really felt after his team got spanked by the Auburn Tigers this afternoon—56-17.

When asked what he thought about Auburn, Jeffery stated that "...we could have won that game. I wouldn’t say they were a complete team. It was just their day." And, if that weren't enough, he had this to add "...I wouldn’t say they’re a great team. To me, ain’t nobody a great team."

It would be nice to see what a great team looks like in Alshon's world because, in the world of the real, Auburn comes pretty darn close. They completely dismantled South Carolina's defense—simply picked it to pieces. 


The Tigers defense was on point from snap one and they made it difficult for the South Carolina offense to find it's rhythm at any point during the game.


As for their offense, Cam Newton was Cam Newton—just as he's been all season He went beast all over the Gamecocks tonight—contributing 407 yards of total offense and six touchdowns. The Gamecocks had absolutely no answer for him or his favorite target all season, Darvin Adams. 


His performance tonight all but puts a guarantee on him winning the Heisman in a matter of weeks. There is simply not a better player in the nation than him right now.


As for Jeffery, his comedy didn't end with those comments about Auburn's lack of greatness. No, he had the good grace to explain away his ineffectiveness by stating that we should "talk to Coach about that."

Wonder how the ol' ball coach will feel about that one? Last we checked, it wasn't Spurrier who was out there running routes and getting punked by Auburn's secondary. If anything, Jeffery might have thought he was in for a big game again based on the success he had in their first meeting. 

Unfortunately, Auburn had a plan for him this time and it worked to perfection. 


Don't worry, Alshon, there's always next year. 


*All quotes courtesy of Wes Rucker.

College Football ATS: Can South Carolina Defeat Auburn This Time Around?

After a 13-7 haul last weekend, the 'Lady' finally was able to get above that elusive .500 (79-76) mark. So, with that goal met, and only a few games left to go before championship football and bowl season begin, this site now shifts to picking ATS winners for the next few weeks—every game, every match-up.

The slate this weekend will be a small one, but the biggest one, for those of us who live in the southern part of the country, is likely to be tonight's game between Auburn and South Carolina. South Carolina nearly pulled the upset over the Tigers in their first meeting, but the Cam Newton show took over late in the game—with a little help from a mistake-laden Stephen Garcia—and sealed the win for the Tigers.

So, the natural question this weekend has to be, can Auburn do it again?

At stake for them is a trip to the BCS National Championship game, while South Carolina is hoping to win its first ever SEC Championship. If either feat takes place, both coaches will be lauded as pure genius as it only took one player to make their teams come to life.

For Steve Spurrier, his capture of South Carolina's biggest in-state running back prospect since George Rogers—Marcus Lattimore—has been the catalyst behind the Gamecock's resurgence. Popular opinion has always been if Spurrier could ever find a good back, he might be able to make a little more noise in the SEC East. Lattimore not only exceeded expectations but, in week two, he made his glorious presence felt against a Georgia Bulldog team that often got the better of their match-up.

However, it was his 212-yard, three touchdown performance against Florida that really made heads turned. The Gamecocks had finally arrived and Steve Spurrier has found his man for, presumably, the next three years.

As for Gene Chizik, Cam Newton has been the difference. The SEC's best player has been a menace to all opposing defenses, scurrying and passing his way into record books on his way to leading Auburn to an undefeated season.

If he can make it happen one more time, the Tiger faithful are likely to see their season end with a championship—a national one.

That said, let's jump into the picks for this week:

1. Miami (OH) at Northern Illinois: Northern Illinois (-14.5)

The Huskies enter this game on a nine game winning streak and, during that time, they have been absolutely dominant at home. By contrast, the Redhawks have played many of their games close to the vest and often only manage to win in the final minutes. That said, the Redhawks are prepared for a battle, if need be, even against the No. 1 ranked scoring offense in the conference. This should be a tight one. 

The Lady's Pick: Miami (OH) to cover.

2. Pittsburgh at Cincinnati: Cincinnati (-1.5)

Pittsburgh was embarrassed by West Virginia last week, while the Bearcats were summarily dispatched by Connecticut. Both teams were thought to be Big East factors at the start of the season—neither has impressed. So, this game is about who has enough motivation to come on the field and salvage a disappointing season.

The Lady's Pick: Pittsburgh to cover.

3. Rutgers at West Virginia: West Virginia (-21)

West Virginia is on a roll and Rutgers has been terrible—against just about everybody. It's time for the Scarlet Knights to go back to the drawing board. By contrast, the Mountaineers will just be approaching this game with a win on their mind.

The Lady's Pick: West Virginia to cover.

4. UConn at South Florida: South Florida (-2.5)

The Huskies have been hard to peg this season. They are either lights out or awful. However, South Florida has been equally enigmatic—particularly B.J. Daniels. If the big quarterback, with the talented arm, and fluid mobility can find his groove, he can be the most dangerous man on the football field for the Bulls. That said, if he gets rattled or fails to hit his marks, he can be every bit the disaster.

The Lady's Pick: South Florida to cover.

5. Utah State at Boise State: Boise State (-43)

Clearly, the better team on the field will be the Broncos. However, 43 points just seems ridiculous given the fact that the Broncos are no longer playing for much. Will they have enough energy or motivation to shellac another bad football team?

The Lady's Pick: Utah State

6. Nevada at Louisiana Tech: Nevada (-7.5)

The Wolfpack are coming off a huge win against Boise State and this game may be just an after-thought to them at this point—usually a dangerous mindset to have. However, Colin Kaepernick is not likely to let the Bulldogs break his team's stride.

The Lady's Pick: Nevada to cover.

7. Southern Cal at UCLA: USC (-6.5)

Lane Kiffin will be on the hot seat before too long as it will take a miracle for him to explain how this Trojan team isn't at nine wins—considering the perceived ease of their schedule to start the year. Either way, the Bruins are either as bad as they've looked all or just playing possum. No clue if it's the former or the latter but, in this game, it's probably just safe to go with USC.

The Lady's Pick: USC to cover.

8. Oregon at Oregon State: Oregon (-16.5)

The Beavers play very well at home and they won't be looking to lay down against these Ducks—no matter how good everyone says they are.

The Lady's Pick: Oregon State to cover.

9. Florida State at Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech (-3.5)

The Hokies are a better football team, overall, than the Seminoles. Their experience and the leadership of Tyrod Taylor will be the difference here.

The Lady's Pick: Virginia Tech to cover.

10. Auburn at South Carolina: Auburn (-5)

The Auburn Tigers are nowhere near the same team that the Gamecocks nearly defeated back in week four. Nick Fairley has become a dominant force on the Tiger's defensive line and, despite the ineptitude of Auburn's secondary, the front seven of Auburn can wear down an offensive line like nobody's business.

If that happens, Garcia will be in trouble as his best games seem to happen when Marcus Lattimore is finding space and being effective—Auburn shut Lattimore down the first time. Can they do that again?

The game will come down to line play and Auburn simply has the best of that match-up on both sides of the ball.

The Lady's Pick: Auburn to cover.

The Lady's Luck Picks:

11. Washington over Washington State (NL)


12. Idaho (-13) over San Jose State


13. UNLV (+34.5) at Hawaii


14. Florida Atlantic (-4.5) vs. Troy


15. Middle Tennessee (+5) at Florida International

16. Central Florida (-9) vs. Southern Methodist


17. Oklahoma (-4.5) vs. Nebraska

NCAA Clears Cam Newton, But Punishes Father—What The Hell?

Here's the gist of the NCAA's conversation with Cam Newton on Tuesday:

NCAA Representative: Your daddy, Cecil, asked for money. 

Cam Newton: I don't know anything about that, sir. 

NCAA Rep: Alrighty then, now that we've cleared that up—good luck on Saturday.

Okay, maybe it didn't happen quite like that, but you have to wonder what the hell the NCAA was thinking when they decided Cam Newton was free of any guilt. Honestly, not to say that any of us were flies on the wall, but Newton's decision to attend Auburn was made by his father—that's been documented.

That said, how likely is it that Cam knew nothing about what his daddy was doing with Mississippi State? Does the NCAA really expect a rational individual to believe that Cecil Newton was pimping his son to the highest bidder, yet his son didn't realize he was being pimped?

If they do, then that's naivete to the fullest extent.

In addition, what kind of horrific precedence does this decision leave for the rest of college football's "amateur" athletes. Should they all just start using the Shaggy defense whenever they're approached about a potential scandal—just say, "it wasn't me":



Seriously, if Auburn saw fit to deem him ineligible on Monday, then there was plenty enough there to keep him that way for more than just 48-hours. This same NCAA took three weeks to investigate A.J. Green's jersey incident, yet they need less than three days to deem Cam Newton fit to play—even with knowledge that his father was soliciting money on his behalf.

That's ridiculous.

If Cam Newton was unaware of what his daddy was doing, fine, then in all honesty, he shouldn't be penalized. However, that's not how the NCAA claims to work. Ignorance of wrong-doing doesn't exempt you from punishment—or so they say. 

In response to the NCAA's decision, SEC Commissioner, Mike Slive had this to say, "The conduct of Cam Newton’s father and the involved individual is unacceptable and has no place in the SEC or in intercollegiate athletics...the actions taken by Auburn University and Mississippi State University make it clear this behavior will not be tolerated in the SEC."

(scratches head)...How exactly does it do that, Mike? All this proves is that if you're doing well and making the NCAA, and the SEC a ton of money, we're willing to overlook your transgressions. If Auburn were 0-11, and not in the BCS picture, would the outcome have been as favorable?

Lets be honest here, this is as much about the SEC maintaining its foothold as it is about doing things the right way. The NCAA, the SEC, nor the Heisman Trophy committee give a rats patoot about Cam Newton or his daddy. They just don't want another Reggie Bush situation on their hands this soon—they're protecting themselves from the negative backlash such a decision could have caused.

Nothing more.

Shame on them all for being the biggest pimps in college football.

One thing is certain, if Auburn goes on to win this weekend and compete for a national title, there will be changes to the NCAA's rules prior to the 2011 season. The loopholes their mind-boggling act leaves in its wake are too obvious to be overlooked, and they cannot allow them to remain if they expect any integrity to be maintained in this sport.

That is, of course, assuming there ever was any.

Related articles

• NCAA clears Auburn star Cam Newton to play (cnn.com)

College Football ATS Picks: Can Nevada Stop Boise State's Winning Streak?

The Lady fared a bit better last week—thank goodness—going 10-5 on the day and moving the overall record to 66-69. The drive towards a strong finish ends with this week's slate, so let's not waste any more time.

Most lines are courtesy of VegasInsider.com (the Auburn/Alabama line is from Vegas.com since VegasInsider.com had no line as of late Thursday evening) and are current as of Thanksgiving Day.

1. West Virginia at Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh (-3)

This game is hard to predict, honestly, because both teams have shown they can be either really good or dreadfully bad. That said, the home field advantage has to be the difference here.

The Lady's Pick: Pittsburgh to cover.

2. Louisville at Rutgers: Louisville (-3)

Both teams enter this game with a losing streak and only one of them will have a bowl bid to gain by winning.

The Lady's Pick: Louisville to cover.

3. Auburn at Alabama: Alabama (-4.5)

Auburn is good, there is no way around that fact, and no team has had an answer for Cam Newton this season. As good as the Alabama defense has shown it can be this year, it seems unlikely that they have enough left in the tank to face another team coming off a bye week with a ton of momentum and an eye towards the brass ring.

The Lady's Pick: Auburn to cover.

4. UCLA at Arizona State: Arizona State (-12.5)

UCLA has not played well on the road and Arizona State seems to play at another level inside Sun Devil Stadium—remember how tight they played Oregon?

The Lady's Pick: Arizona State to cover.

5. Colorado at Nebraska: Nebraska (-16.5)

Sure, the Buffaloes manhandled Iowa State last week but, let's face it, Iowa State isn't nearly as good as advertised and Colorado is really this bad. With or without Taylor Martinez leading the charge, the Cornhuskers should have no problem controlling the tempo or the end zone in this one.

The Lady's Pick: Nebraska to cover.

6. Arizona at Oregon: Oregon (-19)

Oregon plays lights out at home. This week will not be any different.

The Lady's Pick: Oregon to cover.

7. Boise State at Nevada: Boise State (-14)

This game will actually be the biggest test Boise has faced, in-conference, all season as Nevada resembles something closer to a Division-I football team—much unlike the patsies the Broncos have come up against all year. That said, it will still be a bit surprising if the Wolfpack pulls out the win (especially given the overall dominance Boise has in this series).


The Lady's Pick: Nevada to cover.

8. Michigan at Ohio State: Ohio State (-17)

If Michigan had anything that closely resembled a defense, this game might actually be a bit closer—particularly if you could have any faith that Denard Robinson would both play and finish the game. However, given the fact that neither the latter or the former has been likely over the last few weeks, it's hard not to see Ohio State and Terrelle Pryor dominating this game.

The Lady's Pick: Ohio State to cover.


9. Indiana at Purdue: Purdue (-3)

Purdue showed some signs of life last week against a stout Michigan State team and this has to be one of those games where the bragging rights could give the Boilermakers just enough motivation to, finally, get another win.

The Lady's Pick: Purdue


10. Kentucky at Tennessee: Tennessee (-3)

Tennessee seems to have found the right guy to lead their offense in Tyler Bray, and if their defense can find a way to play hard, in an SEC contest, for the full 60 minutes, they should have no problem getting win number six on Saturday.

The Lady's Pick: Tennessee

The Lady's SUPERSIZED Luck Picks (time to go all-in to get above .500)


11. Clemson (+2.5) vs. South Carolina


12. Connecticut (-1) vs. Cincinnati

13. Wisconsin (+23) vs. Northwestern


14. Vanderbilt (-5.5) vs. Wake Forest


15. Iowa (-15.5) at Minnesota


16. Virginia Tech (+23) vs. Virginia


17. Utah (-9) vs. BYU


18. Stanford (-13.5) vs. Oregon State


19. Arkansas (-3.5) vs. LSU


20. Penn State (+1.5) vs. Michigan State

SEC Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week 11

See week ten here.

1. Cam Newton, Auburn (12/15 for 148 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. 30 carries for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns) vs. Georgia.

Newton continues to be the driving force behind the high-powered offense of the Auburn Tigers. His ability to distract and destroy defenses has led to the success of other talented players like Michael Dyer and Onterrio McCalebb—making Auburn a tough proposition for any team this season.

2010 stats: 135/198 for 2,038 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 206 carries for 1,297 yards and 17 touchdowns. 

2. Aaron Murray, Georgia (15/28 for 273 yards and 3 touchdowns) at Auburn. 

Give Murray his due, he played some tough football on Saturday and, despite the outcome, Georgia fans have to feel good about the future with Aaron Murray standing behind center. Now, if they could just get the offensive line working more consistently so he doesn't get killed...

2010 stats: 173/285 for 2,580 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. Four rushing touchdowns. 

3. Tyler Bray, Tennessee (18/34 for 323 yards and 3 touchdowns) vs. Ole Miss.

Listen...ya hear that? That's the sound of Derek Dooley wading in a pool of satisfaction—he just found Tennessee's next starting quarterback.  See ya, Matt Simms—been nice knowing ya.

2010 stats: 62/114 for 950 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

4. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (19/26 for 215 yards and 5 interceptions) vs UTEP. 

UTEP looked like they might make a game of in Fayetteville in the early-going, but Mallett killed that dream on the next play...and then the next...and then the next, etc. as he led the Razorbacks to 35-points on five successive offensive possessions.

2010 stats: 212/315 for 2,967 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 

5. Greg McElroy, Alabama (12/18 for 227 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs Mississippi State. 

McElroy had two big passes in the second quarter to put the Tide comfortably ahead of the Bulldogs and help put an exclamation point on a solid win for Alabama.

2010 stats: 170/246 for 2,231 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.

6. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (15/23 for 232 yards and 1 touchdown) vs. Vanderbilt. 

Thanks to some nice running by Randall Cobb (10 carries, for 170 yards, and 2 touchdowns), Hartline didn't have to do too much to lead the Wildcats to victory. It also didn't hurt that they were playing Vanderbilt, a team that, at this point, just needs this season to be over.

2010 stats: 237/361 for 2,906 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 

7. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (15/22 for 156 yards and 1 rushing touchdown) at Florida.

When your featured back is killing the opposing defense for 212 yards and 3 touchdowns, there is little you have to do except not be careless with the football. Garcia owes Marcus Lattimore all the glory for being the primary reason the Gamecocks finally won an SEC Eastern Division Championship.

2010 stats: 166/245 for 2,221 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. 

8. John Brantley, Florida (16/31 for 130 yards and 1 touchdown) vs. South Carolina. 


Willing to make a bet that not many Florida Gator fans believed John Brantley would be this ineffective when the 2010 season began. This system is not made for a player of Brantley's skill-set. It doesn't matter what Adazzio does, Brantley doesn't fit and everyone knows it—including Urban Meyer and John Brantley.

2010 stats: 172/282 yards for 1,746 yards, 8 touchdowns, and  7 interceptions.

9. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (10/26 for 128 yards and 1 rushing touchdown) at Kentucky. 

Larry Smith is probably ready to get the heck out of Nashville after this season. He still has one more year to play but, after seeing a coaching change, numerous injuries, and getting the gift of an anemic offense, he can't be too thrilled about what 2011 has to offer.

2010 stats: 106/220 for 1,106 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. Four rushing touchdowns. 

10. Tyler Russell/Chris Relf (12/23 for 150 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) at Alabama.

Mississippi State's offense has been suspect all season, to be honest, and they finally ran out of time against a Tide defense that was determined to play well on Saturday—despite the knowledge that Auburn was taking their SEC West title.

11. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss (7/18 for 80 yards and 3 interceptions) at Tennessee.

 Masoli looked pretty awful on Saturday. Of course, it didn't help that his offensive line had no answer for a swarming Tennessee defensive front. He was pressured and punished all day long as Tennessee coasted.

2010 stats: 128/229 for 1,601 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. 99 carries for 468 yards and 4 touchdowns. 

12. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (4/10 for 51 yards) vs. Louisiana-Monroe. 

Ya know, they say if you can't say anything nice, then say nothing at all.

2010 stats: 79/146 yards for 815 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 88 carries for 304 yards and 5 touchdowns. 

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Either You're With Richt or You're Against Him—It's That Simple

At this point, the Georgia Bulldog faithful are drawing a line in the sand and, quite frankly, it's coming down to one question: Are you a Mark Richt supporter or a Mark Richt detractor? Period. There is no gray area, there are no compromises, and there is no room for further discussion.

If you listen to the media, Richt should be gone yesterday. People like Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC)  have all but laid out a simple plan for why Richt should accept his fate and move on.

But, Bradley is just looking for blog hits. Don't think for one minute he actually cares about the state of the Georgia football program. The longer Mark Richt stays around, the more material

Bradley has to produce for the contingent that are looking for a reason to believe their feelings towards Richt are valid.

A pot-stirrer is a pot-stirrer—it doesn't matter what kitchen he/she is standing in.

That said, at some point, you have to decide, as a fan, what you feel is best for your beloved program. If you love Georgia football, then you are no more right if you want Richt to stay, than you are wrong if you want him to leave. It's a matter of personal opinion and, both sides, have legitimate arguments.

The pro-Richt side will point to the last ten-years, the change in coaching, the lack of A.J. Green to start the season, the bad defensive playcalling of the previous regime, etc. The anti-Richt side will point to the SEC record of the last three-years, the poor recruiting class of 2009, the perceived refusal of Richt to hire/fire based on performance not personal relationships, etc.

There is no winning no matter what side of the fence you stand on, yet, the argument still rages on.

However, it must be said, the parallel that so many want to draw with Phillip Fulmer seems irrelevant. No offense to the Vols, but, is that what you want as a Georgia fan? Seriously? Because, last check, Tennessee hasn't been that much better without Fulmer than they were with him.

Tennessee might get back to being a power in another year or two, but, do Bulldog fans really want to follow the Vol's trajectory? Is that, in your mind, the better option?

Or, more disturbingly, those same fans are now pointing to what Gene Chizik is doing at Auburn in just his second full season. Well, should we point out the obvious? Let's do for the heck of it: Cam Newton is the difference.

Gene Chizik got the best player in the nation to play in Gus Malzahn's high-powered offense.
Take Newton out of the equation and Auburn isn't undefeated.  Those close wins against Kentucky, Mississippi State, South Carolina, and LSU are nulled.

Don't bother second-guessing it, Newton made those wins happen—no question.

Mark Richt has become a divisive figure within the Bulldog nation and that's a pity because, if not for all his early success, there wouldn't be the thinking that Georgia could do better. He's as much a victim of his prior success as he is his recent failures—go figure.

In the end, Mark Richt is the head coach at the University of Georgia until further notice and, personally, I stand behind him.

Why?...Well, because until he's fired or resigns—in my opinion—he's Georgia and, quite frankly, so am  I.

Does that mean you are wrong for wanting him gone—if you do? No, it simply means we'd have to agree to disagree and, honestly, that shouldn't be a problem.

Georgia Bulldogs Football:Will Georgia's 2011 Class Be Boom or Bust?

Georgia is 5-6.

We can talk all we want about near-misses, bad calls, the absence of A.J. Green, and the plethora of injuries that always seem to plague the Bulldogs on both sides of the ball—the fact is this is a 5-6 team that may or not be bowl eligible at the end of the season.

That said, what happens with recruiting now that the season is nearly done? To this point, none of the big fish have given their commitment to Mark Richt and that has to be a bit of a concern to those of you who are hoping for a big class to offset the disappointment that was 2009.

As a disclaimer, it has to be said that this site has no "insider" information on where guys like Ray Drew, Isaiah Crowell (although that photo can't be comforting—better hope that's an Atlanta Braves hat), or Jay Rome will be signing come February.

However, it doesn't take much research to get an idea that Georgia's record could become a factor in their final decisions.

Jay Rome has been fairly quiet for some time now, but Georgia is in the mix with several schools—including Clemson, Alabama, and Tennessee. The feel is it will still come down to Clemson (his father's alma mater) and Georgia. Georgia has Rome's family first attitude in their favor—only slightly—as coach Richt is lauded for the family atmosphere he fosters at Georgia. Furthermore, Rome could feel more comfortable remaining in-state.

Isaiah Crowell is an Alabama lean but he was wearing, what appeared to be, an Alabama hat at the Auburn game on Saturday. Crowell was in attendance at the game with his teammate, Gabe Wright—a player who many already feel will sign with Auburn come February. Crowell stated that Alabama held a slight lead over Georgia, but is now considering Auburn as well—he was very impressed with the gameday atmosphere at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Ray Drew has been as even-keeled as you would hope, but he was open in his support of Cam Newton after the Auburn game on Saturday—saying as much on his facebook page—although he did stress that his message of support had nothing to do with his football considerations.

Malcolm Mitchell continues to vascillate between Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, and it could come
down to which school offers the best atmosphere on his official visit—he plans to take one to each school after the season.

Georgia currently has 16 verbal commitments, and a potential Top 10 class if they can close on a few of the guys mentioned above. However, the chatter surrounding Mark Richt's job security hasn't helped matters much, and the Bulldogs now have to wager on a win against Georgia Tech to secure a bowl bid—not exactly the dream season the fans were hoping to see.

It's still a long way until February and plenty can happen before that time, but Georgia needs to hunker down on the recruiting trail—they cannot afford to miss big again this year.

ESPN's Bob Griese: "I Would Not Vote For Cam Newton"

Bob Griese was asked—today during ESPN's broadcast of the Northwestern/Iowa game— if he would feel comfortable giving Cam Newton his Heisman vote—given the circumstances. He had this to say:

"Yeah, you know, as a voter, I'm a little bit concerned with what I'm hearing, especially on top of all this with the Reggie Bush situation and all that. My feeling right now is, there's just too much going on, and then, especially with the Auburn people coming out and saying, well we have "no comment"—where they have been commenting before. I would not vote right now and, if I had to vote, I would not vote for Cam Newton."

The controversy with the Auburn star took an interesting turn last night when, yet, another unnamed "source" came forth and confirmed that Cecil Newton did indeed solicit his son to Mississippi State in exchange for signing a letter of intent.

The story has not been confirmed or denied by any of the involved parties but, according to a story published by Mark Winne (an admitted Auburn alum) of WSB-TV, Cecil Newton admitted that he asked Mississippi State for money—without his son's or his wife's knowledge. Furthermore, Newton, allegedly, claimed that his son is clean of any wrongdoing.

All of this has led to doubts about Newton's eligibility to play in today's game.

Auburn has issued a firm "no comment" about the matter and has said nothing since the report on yesterday.

Kenny Rogers: "I Didn't Talk to Cam, I Talked To Mr. Newton"

Kenny Rogers laid all his cards on the table this afternoon on ESPN 103.3 FM's Ian Fitzsimmons Show. In that interview, he made it clear that Cecil Newton—Cam Newton's father—initiated the pay-for-play conversation—not him.

Furthermore, Rogers stated that the Newton's knew he was approaching Mississippi State for money and any thing said otherwise is, essentially, untrue. 

Now that Rogers has come forth to offer his account of the situation, we a"know" the following:

1) Cecil Newton approached Rogers with the idea of soliciting his son's services for money.

2) Rogers never personally approached John Bond to ask him for said money (an amount Rogers states was between $100,000 and $180,000.

3) Cam Newton may or may not have been made aware of what his father was doing.

4) Bill Bell, a Mississippi State booster, was contacted, on behalf of Cecil Newton to request the money.

5) Auburn's involvement in this whole mess is still not understood or known. Rogers could not confirm or deny that the Tigers paid to get Newton—his knowledge ends with what transpired between himself and Mr. Newton.

The natural question now is, what can be done with this information?

The main sticking point for the NCAA is whether or not Cam Newton, or Auburn University, had any knowledge of what Mr. Newton's dealings were with Mississippi State boosters, coaches, or otherwise.  If they can connect those dots with any consistency, they can make a decision on the appropriate actions to take. As of now, it is still he said/he said and there is little than can be done with that.

Either way, the water just got a whole lot hotter for the Tigers now that Rogers has, essentially, passed the buck back to Mr. Newton and his gang of merry men.

That said, if you've followed this story closely, two things are liable to be nagging at your noggin right now—assuming you're just a casual observer. First, why is everyone so intent on bringing this story to light now—10-months after it was reported to the NCAA?

How has a scandal of this scale escaped scrutiny for nearly a year?

Even more, would any one be so intent on solving the mystery if the Tigers were tanking and Cam Newton were playing bad football?

Secondly, who can you believe at this point? Everyone has proven to be a liar.

Cecil Newton now has at least two people on record stating he asked for money. There is also proof that Mr. Newton made the decision to go to Auburn, despite knowledge that a Mississippi State booster was willing to pay the amount he requested.

Was that because Auburn paid more or because, as Mr. Newton would later say, he didn't want his son to become a "rented mule" at a school like Mississippi State where, despite the presence of Dan Mullen, he was bound to be playing with a lesser talent pool?

All Rogers did by coming forward is bring about more questions, more speculation, and more finger-pointing. 

This whole thing stinks and, unfortunately, for Gene Chizik and Cam Newton, it's the story that just doesn't want to go away.