Bell Carries Michigan State to Victory Over Boise State

Michigan State tailback Le'Veon Bell had 50 touches for 265 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. (Gregory Shamus)

Michigan State and Boise State were set to battle Friday night in East Lansing. Both teams are expected to do well this season, but they also have some uncertainty offensively. New quarterbacks are at the helm for both teams. Junior Andrew Maxwell was named the Spartans starting quarterback after spending two years under the mentoring guidance of former Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins. The Broncos' starting quarterback is junior Joe Southwick. Prior to the beginning of tonight's game, no one could know for sure what to expect.

Michigan State relied on tailback Le'Veon Bell early on and continued to do so as the game wore on. With 7:47 left in the first quarter, Bell carried the football into the endzone from one yard out to make it 7-0 Michigan State. Before the quarter came to a close, the Broncos and Spartans exchanged field goals to make the Michigan State lead 10-3.

Midway through the second quarter, Maxwell was under pressure from the Broncos blitz when he made a poor decision. He threw into a traffic jam of people, where Boise State sophomore safety Jeremy Ioane picked off the pass and returned it 43 yards for the touchdown. Broncos kicker Michael Frisina converted his second field goal of the half to give Boise State its first lead of the game. That lead held steady, so at halftime the Broncos still led 13-10.

The second half saw both teams driving back and forth, but coming up empty in the points department. In the fourth quarter, Michigan State finally drove into the red zone. From five yards out, Bell rushed into the endzone for his second touchdown of the game. Now trailing 17-13, Boise State tried to recover, but their drive stalled on fourth down. Michigan State got the ball back with 6:32 left in the game. Bell and the Spartans proceeded to run out the clock to win the game 17-13.

It was a hard fought game by both teams. Michigan State appeared to be the better team in nearly every aspect of the game. As I hinted at earlier, Bell was an absolute workhouse from start to finish. He rushed the ball 44 times for 210 yards. He also caught six passes for 55 yards. This means that Bell amassed a grand total of 265 yards on 50 touches. The Boise State offense as a whole only achieved 206 yards of total offense on 56 plays. The concern for the Spartans has to be the play of Maxwell at quarterback. The three interceptions and poor decisions he made were simply too many. Maxwell should continue to improve, but it is definitely something to keep an eye on for weeks to come.

College Football Week 1 Preview and Predictions

If #8 Michigan is going to upset #2 Alabama, quarterback Denard Robinson will have to have the game of his career. (Matthew Stockman)

Each Thursday night during the college football season, I will preview my top five games of the weekend and give my predictions. Special shout-out to South Carolina quarterback Conner Shaw, who with an injured shoulder led the Gamecocks to a 17-13 comeback victory at Vanderbilt tonight.

5. Tennessee vs. North Carolina State - 7:30 PM EST (Friday), ESPNU/WatchESPN

The last time these two schools played was 73 years ago. Much has changed from then. This game though could be a sign of things to come for both teams the rest of the season. Tennessee would prefer to forget last season. After stud wide receiver Justin Hunter went down in week three against Florida, the Volunteers finished 3-7 in their last ten games, with two of those wins coming over Buffalo and Middle Tennessee State. Conversely, North Carolina State ended last season playing their best football. The Wolfpack finished finished 6-2 in their last eight games, including an blowout upset of then-No. 8 ranked Clemson 37-13 and a win over Louisville in the Belk Bowl.

Tennessee's offense took a considerable blow with the departure of All-SEC wide receiver Da'rick Rogers. They do still have other solid talent at the wideout position led by Hunter and JUCO transfer Cordarrelle Patterson. Of course, the biggest question mark is likely the man who is trying to get them the ball, quarterback Tyler Bray. Even though this is Bray's third year as a starter, he has yet to win a football game outside the state of Tennessee. He appears to have all the tools, but has yet to have the toughness and composure to lead the Vols to a big win yet. The running back positions and the defense as a whole are a bit of question marks as well.

N.C. State's offense will be confidently led by quarterback Mike Glennon. Last season, Glennon threw for 3,054 yards and 31 touchdowns. The rest of the Wolfpack offense is loaded with talent and experience, especially the offensive line, which returns four out of five starters. The Wolfpack secondary is the foundation of their defense. Cornerback David Amerson and safety Earl Wolff are the cornerstones of that secondary. The Volunteers are going to have a difficult time moving the ball through the air on Friday night against N.C. State.

Prediction: N.C. State 31 Tennessee 20

4. #14 Clemson vs. Auburn - 7:00 PM EST (Saturday), ESPN/WatchESPN

For the third consecutive season, these two sides square off. The winner has gone on to do big things each season. In 2010, Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton led Auburn to the 27-24 overtime victory as part of their route to a National Championship run. Last season, it was Clemson who overcame a 21-7 deficit to beat Auburn 38-24. They went on to start the season 8-0 and won the Atlantic Coast Conference title.

Clemson will be without star wide receiver Sammy Watkins due to suspension (drug arrest). This means that more of the offensive weight will fall on the shoulders of quarterback Tahj Boyd and tailback Andre Ellington. After giving up an incredible 505 yards in their humiliating 70-33 loss to West Virginia in last year's Orange Bowl, Clemson knew they would have to improve on defense to have a chance at winning the ACC again. New defensive coordinator Brent Venables has established a zone scheme and worked on the group's flexibility. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for them to click as a unit.

Last season was a rebuilding one for Auburn. They hope that this season some of their young stars are ready to shine and to build upon the university's rich heritage. Sophomore Kiehl Frazier won the starting quarterback job for at least week one against Clemson. Frazier was a highly regarded recruiting prospect out of high school. He is a dangerous dual threat quarterback. Frazier will quickly begin to receive comparisons to his predecessor Newton before long. Auburn fans hope he can establish that type of legacy before his time there is done.

Prediction: Clemson 27 Auburn 17

3. Georgia Tech @ #16 Virginia Tech - 8:00 PM EST (Monday), ESPN/WatchESPN

The ACC Coastal Division "championship" could be this game in week one. The winner of this game has gone on to represent their division in the ACC Championship Game each of the past seven seasons. The Hokies have won the past two matchups against the Yellow Jackets. This year is no exception because Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech are among the favorites to win the ACC again. The winner will get a huge advantage,

Georgia Tech's triple option offense will be led by senior quarterback Tevin Washington. Washington led the team last season with 986 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. The tailback duo of Orwin Smith and David Sims should add to the attack as well. The Yellow Jackets hope that they have improved enough on defense to make a difference. The defensive core should be led by linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu. He had six sacks last season, but he has to keep his emotions in check.

Last season, Virginia Tech seemed to slowly improve just as their quarterback Logan Thomas did as well. Thomas has the talent to lead the Hokies to victory. In the backfield, redshirt freshman Michael Holmes is set to get the bulk of the carries. Holmes is highly regarded, but we will have to see how he fares when the spotlight is shining. The Hokies always seem to rely on a solid defense. This year is no exception. Players such as cornerback Kyle Fuller need to step up and make big plays to slow down Georgia Tech's option attack.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 20 Georgia Tech 17

2. #24 Boise State @ #13 Michigan State - 8:00 PM EST (Friday), ESPN/WatchESPN

These two teams actually have quite a bit in common going into this new season. Last season, both Boise State and Michigan State had very successful seasons, winning a combined 23 wins, including their respective bowl games. Both teams also have to replace the most successful quarterbacks in school history and talented tailbacks with unproven backups.

Junior Joe Southwick was named the starting quarterback for Boise State. He played in limited action last season. Southwick will rely on the help of sixth-year tailback D.J. Harper. While this is first season as the Broncos' primary back, Harper did rush for a season-high 125 yards and two touchdowns against TCU last season. Matt Miller and Mitch Burroughs, the Broncos' top returning wide receivers, should also help to provide reliable targets for Southwick to look for when in need.

Michigan State's newly named starting quarterback is Andrew Maxwell. He got to be former Spartans quarterback Kirk Cousins' primary understudy the past two seasons. Maxwell will undoubtedly rely upon junior tailback Le'Veon Bell. While this is Bell's first season as the Spartans' primary back, he did rush for 948 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. The Spartans return one of the Big Ten's best defenses this year. Defensive end William Gholston is primed to wreak havoc on the Broncos' offensive line.

Prediction: Michigan State 20 Boise State 13

1. #8 Michigan vs. #2 Alabama - 8:00 PM EST (Saturday), ABC

A top-ten matchup in week one sees two of the BCS favorites squaring off with a lot of pride on the line. While the vast majority of the Top 25 teams are enjoying cupcake games, Michigan and Alabama are set to battle in a game that has huge national championship implications. Both teams are coming off huge seasons. Alabama throttled LSU in the BCS National Championship Game last season. Head coach Nick Saban is looking to build a dynasty in Tuscaloosa. In his first year in Ann Arbor, head coach Brady Hoke transformed Michigan from a floundering, mediocre team into Sugar Bowl victors. The talent was already there, they just needed the guidance to get there.

Michigan is going to need even more wise counsel from Hoke if they are going to have a shot at upsetting Alabama. The talent is there to make it happen. Senior quarterback Denard Robinson is among the preseason favorites to win the Heisman. The ever dangerous dual threat, Robinson improved drastically as a passer last season. The one part of his game that he needs to continue to work on, especially against Alabama, is turning the ball over. Robinson has never faced a defense as good as Alabama's, but if he is able to find room to run and limits his mistakes, Michigan has a chance to win. Another big factor for the Wolverines is the playing status of tailback Fitzgerald Toussaint. On Tuesday, Toussaint plead guilty to driving while visually impaired, stemming back to an arrest over the summer. His playing status is unclear for Saturday's game. If Toussaint does play, he could be a big x-factor in deciding the outcome of the game.

When looking at Alabama's offense, the thing that sticks out of the most is the extremely talented offensive line. Led by center Barrett Jones, the offensive line could end up featuring as many as three All-Americans. They will definitely be a huge help to the guys playing behind them. Junior quarterback AJ McCarron may not be flashy like Robinson, but he obviously knows how to win football games. Tailbacks Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon should share the bulk of the work for the backfield. The Crimson Tide defense remains as solid as ever. One guy in particular to keep an eye on is safety Robert Lester. Not only will he play a crucial role in containing Robinson, but he is also known for his ability to intercept passes well. Lester will be primed and ready in case Robinson does make a mistake.

Prediction: Alabama 24 Michigan 20

Harper Homers Twice But is Ejected in Nationals Win

Nationals young phenom Bryce Harper had his first multi-homer game of his career, but was also ejected in the ninth inning. (Marc Serota) 

The NL East-leading Washington Nationals had been in a bit of a slide going into tonight's series finale at the Miami Marlins.They had lost five in a row and saw their lead over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East shrink to four games. Before tonight's game, Nationals manager Davey Johnson decided to give his players a pep talk. They had only totaled six runs during the five-game losing streak. This is not the time of year for the lineup to start going cold.

The Nationals responded to Johnson's message in a big way. They went off on the Marlins pitching to the tune of 8 runs on 14 hits. Their young hitting phenom, Bryce Harper, led the way offensively with two homers, making the game his first multi-home run game of his career. The accomplishment was great, but things went south in the ninth inning. Harper ended up hitting a ground ball that turned into a double-play. After he was called out at first base, he spiked his helmet and nearly hit first base umpire C.B. Bucknor. Bucknor rightfully ejected Harper immediately. After the game, Johnson told reporters that Harper lost his temper and was verbally reprimanded for his behavior.

The Nationals listened to Johnson's advice about hitting. Now, it is time for Harper to listen to what Johnson has to say to Harper about his temper tantrums. They are immature, embarrassing, and have no place in the game of baseball. Harper must learn to mature and to control his feelings. The Nationals need Harper in their lineup. There's no question about that. But if he is subjecting his place in the lineup to injury, ejection, and suspension, he is not doing what is best for his ballclub. Harper needs to mature and grow up. He needs to realize that when he does, he will become a more complete and better player.

Stud Wide Receiver Mike Wallace Reports to Steelers Camp

Mike Wallace will look to build on last season when he had 72 receptions for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns. (Jared Wickerham)

With less than two weeks until the start of the NFL regular season, Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Wallace finally decided to report to Steelers camp. Drafted as a third round pick out of Mississippi, Wallace thrived as a deep threat in the Steelers offense. In his rookie campaign, he led the NFL in yards per catch (19.4) Wallace's second season saw an increase in total yards (1,257) and yards per game (21.0). His numbers did drop last season, but that was likely due to the increased attention and number of double teams he drew from opposing secondaries.

During the offseason, Wallace sought the long-term deal he thought he deserved. The Steelers warned him that they would not negotiate during training camp. Additionally, they were not in the financial position to offer him the long-term deal Wallace desired. Instead, they offered him a one-year contract tender worth approximately $2.7 million. Wallace declined to sign it and decided to refuse to come to training camp. The two sides have not discussed a long-term deal since July 25.

Wallace finally decided to end his holdout today and sign the contract tender. The two sides do still have the option to try and work out a long-term deal before the regular season begins. The Steelers have a longstanding policy of not discussing long-term contracts during football season. Regardless, Wallace is back with the Steelers. His impact is already being felt by the organization. Fellow wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders told reporters, "We definitely understand the business side of things, and we don't worry about that too much. But as far as in the offensive room, we've missed his personality, and we've missed what he brings to the table."

Many people around the league wonder what Wallace can bring to the table this season. He missed the vast majority of training camp, which is a time where offensive rapport and chemistry is established. However, Wallace already knows many of the players and should fit in to his role without any real difficulty. Lack of conditioning was another concern, but reports coming from Florida seem to put those concerns to rest. Wallace was there to work out all summer with highly-regarded trainer Tom Shaw.  A final concern that has been expressed is whether or not Wallace will be able to pick up new offensive coordinator Todd Haley's offense. Reports are stating that Wallace has had a copy of the playbook all summer. Additionally, Wallace relies so much on his speed that his actual route running tends to be more simplified.

The Steelers offense is better because of Wallace. His dangerous speed not only helps the rest of the receiving corps, but also opens up running lanes for the backfield. Steelers starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will undoubtedly work with Wallace to get him up to speed on the offense and on the same page with him. Of course, any time the offense gets better, the defense subsequently benefits as a result. The Steelers were patient with Wallace as he worked out his differences. Now, they are rewarded by becoming a far superior team now going into the regular season.

King Felix Keeps Amazing Streak Going With Shutout of Twins

Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez smiles after finishing his complete-game shutout of the Minnesota Twins. (Jim Mone)

Tonight, the Seattle Mariners traveled to Target Field to take on the Minnesota Twins. Two very different pitchers were on the mound. The Mariners had their ace Felix Hernandez ready to go. Hernandez is of course one of the best pitchers in all of baseball and is only twelve days removed from throwing a perfect game. The Twins countered with a young, 23-year-old Aussie named Liam Hendriks. Hendriks has had his ups and downs this season as a starting pitcher. He has been sent back down to Triple-A twice this year and is still looking for his first major league win in 14 career starts.

As the game got underway, Hernandez quickly found his cruise control. Unexpectedly, Hendriks began to match him pitch for pitch. Both had shutouts going through seven innings of work. Hendriks had only needed 68 pitches to make it through his first six innings. He was locked in as never before. In the top of the eighth inning, Hendriks made one small mistake. He threw a fastball that caught a little bit too much of the plate. The problem is that the batter, Mariners right fielder Eric Thames, got enough of it to hit it out of the park for a solo home run. Meanwhile, Hernandez finished off what he started. In the bottom of the ninth, he induced a double play ball off the bat of Twins first baseman Justin Morneau to seal the Mariners 1-0 victory.

While Hernandez does have the ability to blow one away with his fastball, he also has the ability to use finesse and control to get the job done. The latter is what he did tonight. King Felix induced a staggering 16 ground ball outs compared to only five strikeouts and three flyouts. Mariners shortstop Brandon Ryan, who gets to observe from behind the working ace, explained how it works to reporters after the game. He said, "It's a different kind of great. He's not trying to throw 96 by you. He's letting the action and location dictate."

King Felix has been incredibly dominate lately, but it is not just because of this performance or the perfect game he threw. Over his last fourteen starts, Hernandez is 9-0 with a 1.40 ERA and five shutouts. No other pitcher in baseball even has an ERA of under 2.00 during this span. In his last 109 inning pitched, King Felix has only given up two home runs.  No other pitcher has given up that few even in a minimum of 60 innings pitched. Hernandez's five shutouts since mid-June is the most any Major League pitcher has thrown in an entire season since Tim Belcher in 1989.

Hendriks pitched the game of a lifetime matching one of the best in baseball. He might not have earned his first major league win, but this performance has to build his confidence as a pitcher. Hendriks has nothing to be ashamed of for how he pitched in any way. Meanwhile, King Felix continues to pitch unbelievably well. His current streak is not only dominant, but historic in many different ways. One can consider so many amazing statistical accomplishments of Hernandez. One last one to consider is that in his 27 starts this season, he has given up one earned run or less in 16 of those starts. King Felix is no doubt one of the best pitchers in baseball. He reminded us why once again tonight.

Rookie Russell Wilson Named Seahawks Starting Quarterback

Seahawks rookie quarterback Russell Wilson played so well in the preseason that he won the starting quarterback job. (Jamie Squire)

The Seattle Seahawks were excited when they were able to get former Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. They thought they got great value considering where the pick was made. Despite leading the Badgers to the Rose Bowl in his senior year, Wilson's draft stock fell because he was thought as too undersized to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. When the Seahawks went out and signed free agent quarterback Matt Flynn, it appeared that Wilson would be forced to battle out the backup job with incumbent Tavaris Jackson. However, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll made it clear that all three quarterbacks would get an equal shot at the starting job.

As training camp got underway, Wilson was able to pick up the Seahawks offensive playbook more quickly than expected. He clearly benefited from playing in a West Coast offensive system in college. Wilson spent his first three years at North Carolina State before transferring for his senior year to Wisconsin. In his final year, he was named first-team, all-Big Ten quarterback.

Wilson's maturity was evident to the Seahawks coaching staff right away. Carroll told reporters, "He is so prepared. He doesn't seem like a first-year player. He seems like he's been around. He gets it, he understands, and he is a tremendous leader in that way. He doesn't do anything but the right thing in all of his work and his preparation and his competitiveness has been demonstrated again."

Flynn got the starts in the first two weeks of the preseason against the Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos. He had his share of ups and downs in both games. Wilson came in during the second half of both games. He played quite well, but he was playing against backups in that stage of the game. Wilson's real test came when he was given the start last Friday night at the Kansas City Chiefs. All he did was complete 13 of 19 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson's quarterback rating on the night was an impressive 134.8. He also rushed for 58 yards as well. Flynn did not play against the Chiefs due to a sore elbow.

When one looks at Wilson's preseason numbers as a whole, one cannot help but be impressed by his performances. He went 35 of 52 (63.7%) for 464 yards and five touchdowns. Wilson's 119.4 quarterback rating led the league among eligible qualifiers. His only blatant mistake of the preseason was an interception in the end zone against the Titans. Other than that, Wilson had an impressive preseason from start to finish.

Therefore, it came as no surprise that Carroll named Wilson the Seahawks starting quarterback for the season opener at the Arizona Cardinals on September 9. Flynn will surely be disappointed to be relegated to yet another backup role, but he did not earn the starting job, and his injury certainly didn't help the situation in any way. The Seahawks traded Jackson to the Buffalo Bills for an undisclosed draft pick. I am excited to see how Russell Wilson does as the Seahawks starter this season. You can't help but root for a guy that almost everyone seemed to say couldn't make it as a starter in the NFL.

Goodlettsville Advances to LLWS Championship in Thriller

Goodlettsville's Lorenzo Butler celebates one of his three home runs he hit in his team's 24-16 win over Petaluma. (AP Photo) 

The Goodlettsville (Tenn.) Little League All-Stars appeared to be moments away from a berth in the Championship Game of the Little League World Series. With a 15-5 lead over Petaluma (Calif.), they were just three outs away from the huge win. However, the boys from Petaluma refused to go down. They slowly chipped away at the lead. When Danny Marzo flied out to center field for the second out, Petaluma still trailed 15-11. The next batter, Bradley Smith, came up with a clutch RBI double. The clutch hitting wasn't over for Petaluma. Kempton Brandis crushed a two-run bomb to pull Petaluma to within one run. The incredible comeback was completed when Hance Smith hit a solo shot to tie the game up 15-15. The game was suddenly headed to extra innings.

Despite blowing their ten-run lead, Goodlettsville wouldn't let themselves get discouraged. Their first six batters reached base to score five runs before they even got one out. Goodlettsville scored two more runs before Jayson Brown hit a two-run homer to cap off their offensive explosion in style. In total, they combined for nine runs on seven hits to take a 24-15 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, Logan Douglas got a run back on an error by Goodlettsville. A murmur could be heard from the crowd as they wondered if Petaluma had another improbable comeback in them. It turns out they did not as Bradley Smith struck out for the final out, sealing Goodlettsville's 24-16 win.

As if the game wasn't amazing enough, one player in particular had an extraordinary, record-setting game at the plate. Goodlettsville would not have won the game if had not been for Lorezo Butler's incredible performance. Butler hit a trio of three-run home runs to lead the way for Goodlettsville's offensive barrage. His nine RBIs set a new Little League World Series record, and his three home runs tied a single-game record of its own.

The game was superb in every way. Well unless you were one of the pitchers. Regardless, the players from both teams should be proud. They showed great heart and desire to win. The teams' combined 40 runs set another new LLWS record. Butler's performance on this kind of stage was phenomenal. In fact, his day at the plate was so big that he was even trending on Twitter during one point in the game. Goodlettsville now advances to play Tokyo, Japan in the Championship Game. If that game is anything like this one, we are going to be in for a treat to be sure.