Wahoo Wire

Thursday November 12

NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat

I know it is very, very early in the NBA season and thus most of these games don’t matter that much. Regardless, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat are easily two of the top five teams in the Eastern Conference. LeBron James and Dwayne Wade are also easily two of the most exciting players to watch in the league. With two good teams and two superstars this is easily the game of the week in this early NBA season. Wade will look to continue his streak of having the team high in points as he has had the team high for all six games this season for the Heat. James will look to continue his streak of having the team high in assists as he has had the team high in all seven games this season for the Cavaliers. Based on the inconsistency of the Cavaliers and the fact they will play back to back nights in Florida against top Eastern Conference teams (they play the Orlando Magic the night before) while the Heat play the terrible Washington Wizards and then have a day off, expect the Heat to take this one.

Friday November 13

College Basketball: Morehead State at Kentucky

Much like the NBA, college basketball is just starting up, making the rankings almost useless and the games not very good. Most of the big time programs are playing much weaker teams to prepare for their conference games. Kentucky is no different. Though Morehead State at Kentucky will not even be a close game, the reason this game is on this hallowed list of what to watch for this week is because it will be the first real game for the freshman point guard (soon to be) sensation John Wall. He was ranked #1 for point guards for the Class of 2009 and was in the top 2 in the nation overall (depending on the source he was one or two). Wall can jump out the gym, is a great passer, has nice handle and finishes beautifully. You don’t have to take my word for it check out one of his high school video compilations here. He’s even predicted to be the number one pick in the NBA draft in June 2010 according to nbadraft.net. Along with the introduction of John Wall to everyone on the collegiate level, this game marks the start of the new other John’s era; John Calipari. After impressive runs with UMass and Memphis (and an unimpressive run sandwiched between the impressive runs with the New Jersey Nets), the 50 year old Calipari will look to bring national championships back to the program that currently has the most wins in college basketball history and the second most national championships.

Saturday November 14

World Cup Qualifying UEFA Playoffs, first leg: France At Ireland

This game is easily the best of the four UEFA playoff games with Russia likely to crush small Slovenia, Portugal more than likely to run all over even smaller Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Ukraine versus Greece not really featuring a side nearly as exciting as either France or Ireland. Unfortunately there is a cloud of unfairness surrounding these games with UEFA changing up the draw rules. Instead of randomly selecting who would play, the top four teams were ranked and then randomly drawn an opponent from the four remaining teams. This allowed UEFA to be sure that Portugal France and Russia wouldn’t be playing each other and thus giving them an easier chance to make it to the World Cup in South Africa this coming summer. Of course when things are not left to chance there is no such thing as the “luck of the irish”, so Ireland not only drew 2006 World Cup Finalist France but have to play the second and final leg at France. After missing out on the European Championships in 2008 and 2004 as well as the World Cup in 2006, Ireland looks doomed to miss out on yet another major championship. The Irish are a scrappy side and did well to get here though, so they can’t be ruled out until the full 180 minutes (and extra time) has been played. That said, expect a draw at best for the first leg and for France to secure itself a place in South Africa at the end of the second leg.

College Football: Iowa at Ohio State

Iowa were nicknamed the cardiac kids after come back victories after being down to start the fourth quarter against Northern Iowa, at Penn State, at Michigan State and versus Indiana. They were off to their best start in school history with whispers of winning the Big Ten and even being in the BCS title game. Then they played a mediocre Northwestern at home. After looking like they were going to cruise to victory having gone up 10-0, one ankle crushing forced fumble in the endzone during the second quarter has all but ended Iowa’s hopes for their first outright title since 1985 and their first title since sharing it with Michigan in 2004. With Quarterback Ricky Stanzi now needing ankle surgery, Iowa will be without its most important offensive piece this Saturday. Ohio State has had a different story. After barely beating Navy and barely losing to USC to start the season, Ohio State has crushed their opponents save a slip up miserable Purdue in mid-October that threatened to possibly end their streak of four consecutive Big Ten titles. Now this game looks to be the decider in the Big Ten. With Ohio State basically at full strength and at home while Iowa is without their prized quarterback, expect Vegas to have undervalued the spread on this game as the Buckeyes crush and assure themselves a fifth consecutive Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl bid.

Sunday November 15

NFL: New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts

I know that Monday Night Football’s matchup between the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the surprising start Denver Broncos was a hard game not to put on this list, but the NFL game of the week has to go the game with its top two quarterbacks facing off. Reigning MVP Peyton Manning will look to keep the Indianapolis Colts perfect as they host the New England Patriots. In the past ten years, these two teams have the most wins in the regular season; with the Colts having six more wins overall. After two slip up losses for the Patriots, they look like they have finally found a rhythm. Both losses were away games though, making this away game all the more crucial for the Pats to establish themselves as more than just good at home. The Colts are one of two undefeated teams still left at week 10 along with the New Orleans Saints. The past two games though they have been very unimpressive and walked away with victories over the mediocre San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans by the skin of their teeth. They also haven’t really faced another solid team yet. This game will be a good measuring stick for both teams involved. I thought during the 2007-8 season that Manning for sure would stop the Patriot juggernaut that went undefeated in the regular season, this year I think Tom Brady will stop the Colts. Expect a close game but for the only remaining undefeated team in week 11 to be the Saints.