NFC WEST

Easily the worst division in football. The 49ers are a good team but outside of that, there’s not much talent in the NFC West. San Fran should ride this terrible division to a good record and possibly a high seed in the NFC playoffs.

1. San Francisco 49ers (11-5) – I think Alex Smith is going to play well this season and with a good defense, the 49ers are going to be in the playoffs. Frank Gore should have a huge year behind a strong offensive line and allow the 49ers to host a home playoff game in January. This is a huge step for a largely young, yet talented team.

2. Seattle Seahawks (6-10) – The key to their season is keeping Matt Hasselbeck healthy. If he is, they’ve got a shot to make waves in the division since it’s so weak. This is a tough team to read because it’s hard to know how Pete Carroll will transition back to the NFL. He could have them very competitive or searching for answers.

3. Arizona Cardinals (5-11) – Derek Anderson can’t inspire confidence in the desert. While his preseason looked good, the end of his time in Cleveland was ugly. The loss of linebacker Carlos Dansby is going to hurt the defense. He was a leader and always seemed to be in the right spot at the right time when they needed someone to make a play.

4. St. Louis Rams (2-14) – The Rams have the least talent of any of the NFL’s 32 teams. Steve Spagnuolo took over a team a year ago that didn’t have much in the cupboard. Sam Bradford has shown some encouraging signs late in the preseason but will that translate to the regular season? He needs to find a way to get players to step up every week for them to even be competitive. Luckily they’ve got a couple games they should be able to win on the schedule this year.

BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Larry Fitzgerald (WR – Cardinals)

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Patrick Willis (LB – 49ers)

BEST HEAD COACH: Ken Whisenhunt (Cardinals)

BEST OFFENSIVE ROOKIE: Rodger Saffold (OT – Rams)

BEST DEFENSIVE ROOKIE: Earl Thomas (SS – Seahawks)

NFC SOUTH

This division is a mixed bag. They have two very good teams and two not so good teams. It should see their two good teams make the playoffs and possible go deep in the postseason with the Saints serious contenders to defend their title.

1. New Orleans Saints (11-5) – The defending champs open the season with the target on their back. They have to take each team’s best shot every week. Darren Sharper is injured and he’s not going to be easy to replace. He was such a big time playmaker and leader on that defense last year. If he can get healthy you could see them make a return Super Bowl trip. The offense should be spectacular again. They return all the key pieces and should be high scoring once again.

2. Atlanta Falcons (11-5) – Michael Turner is back healthy and the offensive line has looked good. This team should be run first and hope to set up play-action to get Tony Gonzales and Roddy White the ball downfield from Matt Ryan. The question is the defense. Can it be effective on third down and get teams off the field? I think Atlanta is ready to have a good season. If they stay healthy, they’ll be in the playoffs and might win a game there too.

3. Carolina Panthers (5-11) – Carolina has some rookies that looked good in the preseason. I think Jimmy Clausen should see the field in relief of Matt Moore at some point this season. The rookie out of Notre Dame is NFL ready and should get a shot when Carolina is out of playoff contention. They lost Julius Peppers in the offseason to free agency but another rookie, Greg Hardy could step up and fill the void. He’s shown flashes in the preseason of being a guy who can get in the backfield and make plays. Matt Moore played well most of last year after taking over for Jake Delhomme, if he can keep it going the Panthers could get to 8-8 but I doubt it.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12) – Just a team that needs more talent. They need consistent playmakers on offense. Rookie Gerald McCoy could flourish on the defense. QB Josh Freeman showed some promise as a rookie and they’ve got to hope he progresses this year. It looks to be another long season in Tampa Bay and you’ve got to wonder if they regret firing Jon Gruden a couple years ago.

BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Drew Brees (QB – Saints)

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: John Abraham (DE – Falcons)

BEST HEAD COACH: Sean Peyton (Saints)

BEST OFFENSIVE ROOKIE: Brandon LaFell (WR – Panthers)

BEST DEFENSIVE ROOKIE: Gerald McCoy (DT – Buccaneers)

NFC NORTH

The division will feature Brett Favre’s return to Lambeau but it won’t have the same cache it did last year, nor should it have the same result. The Packers look ready to supplant the Vikings as the kings of the division.

1. Green Bay Packers (14-2) – It’s going to be a big year for the Packers. They lost a shootout in last year’s wildcard round to the Cardinals but learned what playoff football is about. They know they can’t afford to start slow. The defense has some young guys who’ve looked good in the preseason but can they carry that over now that games count. The offense should be the best in the league. Their line is improved and Aaron Rodger should have another monster season.

2. Minnesota Vikings (9-7) – Injuries have left questions on the offensive side of the ball. Can Brett Favre play another 16 game season? Who will step up and fill the role of Sidney Rice for the first half of the season? Will Percy Harvin be able to play? They’ve got a difficult schedule and with the offensive injuries the Vikings take a step back during the regular season. They should still be a playoff team though as the defense will try to step up and help while the offense gets healthy.

3. Chicago Bears (7-9) – Can Mike Martz keep Jay Cutler from taking a pounding each week? He’s got to call plays that develop quicker than most of Martz’s arsenal does because the Bears don’t have much at receiver and the line is too inconsistent to allow Cutler to just sit back and wait five seconds to make a play. They need short, quick routes that get a receiver open and let the receiver make the play. The defense should be solid as usual with the addition of Julius Peppers and the return of Brian Urlacher. It’s hard to see the Bears as a winner this year without knowing how the Martz/Cutler partnership works.

4. Detroit Lions (4-12) – The Lions will be much better on the field than their record indicates. I think they’ve going to be very competitive but they’re still young and have to learn how to win games in the NFL. Ndamakong Suh is a force and will be disrupting the opposition’s offense all season. Matthew Stafford should so improvement again this year and he’ll hope rookie Jahvid Best can make an impact on the offense as well. If you’re a Lions fan you should have hope this year but they won’t be in the playoff hunt until next season.

BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Aaron Rodgers (QB – Packers)

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Jared Allen (DE – Vikings)

BEST HEAD COACH: Mike McCarthy (Packers)

BEST OFFENSIVE ROOKIE: Jahvid Best (RB – Lions)

BEST DEFENSIVE ROOKIE: Ndamakong Suh (DT – Lions)

NFC EAST

Once again the NFC East is a stacked division. These teams will once again beat up on each other and not leave any in good shape for the playoffs. You don’t often see one team trade their starting QB to a division foe but Philly sent McNabb to the Eagles. I questioned that move a great deal, not their getting rid of him but that they must know something we don’t.

1. Dallas Cowboys (10-6) – The Cowboys are again under the gun to perform this year. Winning a playoff game last year kept a lot of these guys around for another run. However this preseason the offense has looked inept. The Cowboys just have too much talent to not win games. I think they’ll eventually get it all together and win this division but will they be able to win in the playoffs?

2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8) – Andy Reid pulled the trigger on bumping Kevin Kolb to starting QB in Philly and sent Donovan McNabb to division rival Washington. Kolb looks ready and has the young talent around him to put up a lot of points this season. Questions are on the defense. Can they get back to the intense pressure they used to put on teams a couple years ago. The Eagles have a tough schedule and will need the defense to make plays to pull some games out to have any chance at the playoffs.

3. New York Gaints (7-9) – Brandon Jacobs is the key to their season. If he comes out and lowers his head to start running people over again, the Giants could be a playoff team. Their defensive looked much improved in the preseason. I don’t like the loss of Antonio Pierce but adding Keith Bullock should help. The Giants will be competitive each week but lack the big play ability to make it back to the playoffs.

4. Washington Redskins (4-12) – Big changes in D.C. as Mike Shanahan was brought in as head coach and Donovan McNabb is the new signal caller. Shanahan has been repeatedly bumping heads with his best defensive player, Albert Haynesworth, which has to be wearing thin in the locker room. I think Haynesworth will end up being traded in the next few days since Shanahan has said he won’t start against the Cowboys on Sunday. On offense, they just don’t have the big play threat that will open the field for McNabb. Even though things have changed in Washington, the results will stay the same.

BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Tony Romo (QB – Cowboys)

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: DeMarcus Ware (LB – Cowboys)

BEST HEAD COACH: Andy Reid (Eagles)

BEST OFFENSIVE ROOKIE: Trent Williams (OT – Redskins)

BEST DEFENSIVE ROOKIE: Brandon Graham (DE – Eagles)

It’s great to have football back! The first weekend of college football is in the books and it had some great story lines and tremendous performances. Let’s recap how the Macho Rhino Top 25 did this weekend:

On my picks for week 1 I went 19-3. I missed on Washington, Navy and Pittsburgh. Not a bad start but I don’t like picking any games incorrect.

1. Alabama beat San Jose State 48-3 – The Tide rolled this week.
2. Boise State beat 8. Virginia Tech 33-10 – WOW what a game! Boise looked like it was melting in the humidity in the second half but when it came time to win, Kellen Moore made great throws and got the W for the Broncos.
3. Ohio State beat Marshall 45-7 – The Ohio State offense looked spectacular and should make for a great game on Saturday against Miami.

4. Miami beat Florida A&M 45-0 – Jacory Harris had a big game and the Canes were far superior to their opponents this week.

5. Texas won at Rice 34-17 – Texas wasn’t too impressive but still won comfortably.

6. Florida beat Miami (OH) 34-12 – A very sloppy game from the Gators. The post-Tim Tebow Gators have some work to be done but this is a talented team that will get better each week.

7. Iowa beat Eastern Illinois 37-7 – The Hawkeyes had no trouble dispatching the overmatched FCS team.

9. TCU beat 16. Oregon State 30-21 – A great game that saw both teams make big plays. A big win for TCU to keep their hopes alive of a run to the BCS Championship.

10. Wisconsin won at UNLV 41-21 – Early turnovers kept this game close but the 
running game took over.
11. Oregon beat New Mexico 72-0 – New Mexico is absolutely terrible. To give up 59 points even against an outstanding offense like Oregon is awful.

12. Nebraska beat Western Kentucky 49-10 – Taylor Martinez started at QB and looked great. The defense gave up a lot of yards to a team that didn’t win a game last year. 

13. Auburn beat Arkansas State 52-26 – New Auburn QB Cam Newton scored 5 touchdowns. Auburn has to be a little concerned with their defense.

14. Oklahoma beat Utah State 31-24 – This one went to the wire which can’t be a good sign for the Sooners. Their defense needs to step up this week against the Seminoles.

15. Pittsburgh lost at Utah 27-24 (OT) – A back and forth game that went to overtime. A tough loss for Pitt but a great win for the Utes.

17. Arkansas beat Tennessee Tech 44-3 – Tennessee Tech led 3-0 and then Arkansas scored 44 unanswered points in quarters two and three.

18. Florida State beat Samford 59-3 – The Jimbo Fisher era is off to a good start. Now he’s got his first big test as FSU heads to take on the Sooners.

19. LSU beat 21. North Carolina 30-24 – I give a lot of credit to Butch Davis for getting his team back in this game at halftime and they came very close to a huge come back after trailing 30-10.

20. West Virginia beat Coastal Carolina 31-0 – Mountaineers had no trouble in this one.

22. Penn State beat Youngstown State 44-14 – Penn State trailed 7-3 at the end of the first quarter before pouring it on the rest of the game.

23. Washington lost at BYU 23-17 – Nice game from Riley Nelson of BYU throwing for a couple of TD’s in this one. The Cougar defense pitched a shutout in the second half securing the W. 24. Georgia Tech beat South Carolina State 41-10 – The Yellow Jackets looked great as Josh Nesbitt anchored the triple option attack yet again.
25. Navy lost to Maryland 17-14 – Navy just gave this game away to the Terps. Maryland jumped out 14-0 and then Navy kept driving down to turn it over in the red zone. Navy has to be embarrassed by their performance in this game. Big win for the Terps though and so much for my prediction of an undefeated season for the Midshipmen.

It was not a good week at Ole Miss or Kansas. Both lost to FCS teams at home. Ole Miss squandered a 31-10 lead while KU only mustered 3 points in Turner Gill’s debut. Huge disappointments to start the year for both. On the flipside, Michigan’s season opener couldn’t have gone much better. Denard Robinson was very impressive leading the Wolverine’s offense to a 30-10 win. Rich Rodriguez must have taken the first deep breath of his career in Ann Arbor.

The Big East is not off to a good start and is starting to show how out of date the BCS is also. Preseason conference favorites Pitt and UConn lost their openers and while on the road they weren’t to rank teams. The Mountain West showed its strength with Utah beating Pitt and then TCU beating Oregon State. The Mountain West doesn’t have the automatic bid to the BCS though like Utah. They need to add them next year especially since they will add Boise State.

Just want to give a mention to the second best game of the weekend before I get to the weekly awards. East Carolina won this shootout 51-49 against Tulsa as it went back and forth most of the game with double digit lead changes. The Pirates pulled it out on a last second play to get new coach Ruffin McNeill a victory in his debut.

The season’s off to a good start and it looks like there’s a lot of parity this year. We’re heading to a weekend with some big games that will solidify a couple more teams as legit national title contenders. I can’t wait for Saturday! Tune back in Thursday to www.MachoRhino.com for our picks on week 2 of the college football season.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Boise State 33, Virginia Tech 30 – This has been hyped for months now and it was fantastic! We got great games coming up this next weekend but it’s going to be hard to top this one. Tyrod Taylor was excellent for Virginia Tech but the Broncos solved him at the end and got the last minute TD to win. I can’t say enough about these two teams but they put on an instant classic for sure.

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Jacksonville State – The FCS went on the road in the SEC and beat Ole Miss. That’s a win of a lifetime.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Denard Robision (QB – Michigan) – Huge start to the season as he passed for 186 on 19-22 and ran for 197 yards.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Keenan Robinson (LB – Texas) – A sack, interception and fumble return for a touchdown is a great start to the season.

Top 5 Games Coming Up This Weekend:
Miami at Ohio State
Florida State at Oklahoma
Georgia at South Carolina
Penn State at Alabama
Michigan at Notre Dame

AFC WEST
This is a real strong division but due to the way the schedule breaks for them giving the teams here a bit of an inflated record as they’ll face the weak NFC West.

1. San Diego Chargers (10-6) – It’s not been a good offseason for the Chargers. They’ve got holdouts with their left tackle Marcus McNeil and WR Vincent Jackson who’s suspended for the first three games anyway. LaDanian Tomlinson was sent out of town and the Chargers moved up to draft Ryan Matthews. He’s looked good in the preseason. They’ve still got Phillip Rivers to guide them and make the plays when they need it so he’ll get them back to the playoffs.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (9-7) – Dwayne Bowe showed up in great shape and looks like he’s finally ready to take over as the go-to receiver they’ve lacked in KC for years now. They had a draft that has brought a ton of speed to the team. Rookie Dexter McCluster will be one to watch as he’s being used in a variety of ways. Eric Berry should strengthen the secondary but the Chiefs will have to find ways to pressure the quarterback. The combo of Thomas Jones and Jamal Charles should combine for over 2200 yards.

3. Oakland Raiders (8-8) - JaMarcus Russell is out, Jason Campbell is in as the starting QB. He’s been banged up in the preseason but should provide the steady hand they’ve need at the position for the past few seasons. Having Campbell gives the team the confidence, he won’t throw the game away for them. They’ll still need to find receivers who can be consistent in catching the ball. If they do, they’ll be in the playoff hunt.

4. Denver Broncos (5-11) – Trading Brandon Marshall has really left this team with a lack of playmakers on offense and then the defense lost Elvis Dumervil. His production and impact on a game simply can’t be duplicated and will leave a gigantic hole on that side of the ball. Josh McDaniel will have to find a way to get his team to make plays and I’m sure he’ll find some creative ways to get rookie QB Tim Tebow involved as well. Kyle Orton will have to lead the offense to a lot of points to win games.

BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Phillip Rivers (QB – Chargers)

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Nnamdi Asomugha (CB – Raiders)

BEST HEAD COACH: Norv Turner (Chargers)

BEST OFFENSIVE ROOKIE: Ryan Matthews (RB – Chargers)

BEST DEFENSIVE ROOKIE: Eric Berry (DB – Chiefs)

AFC SOUTH
This is the toughest division in football. They have three very good teams that’ll have to battle for a playoff spot. The Colts are just a dominant force that isn’t easy to stop. This division is stocked with the best offensive skill players in the league as they have the best QB in Peyton Manning, the best RB in Chris Johnson and the best WR in Andre Johnson. There should be great divisional games in the AFC South this season.

1. Indianapolis Colts (14-2) – The Colts are going to again put up a huge regular season. Pierre Garcon should continue on a great year he had last year. I like the drafting of Jerry Hughes a ton. He should wreck havoc as opposing offenses are already focused on Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.

2. Tennessee Titans (11-5) – Chris Johnson thinks he’s gonna get 2500 yards this year but I can’t see it. That would be hugely impressive but 2000 is realistic. The Titans were tremendous in the second half of last year and I think it’ll continue. They’ve got one of the best coaches in the league and should be in the playoffs this year.

3. Houston Texans (10-6) – It’s a make or break season in Houston. The Texans must make the playoffs or there will be changes next year including a new coach and QB. I think the young players on defense will gel and this will be a top 10 defense that will get them in the playoffs this year. On offense, they should finally have a running game to compliment the passing game but they’ll rely on Matt Schuab to Andre Johnson when they need a big play.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11) - Jacksonville just doesn’t have the talent to compete in this division. Even though Maurice Jones-Drew should again have a good season, he won’t get a lot of opportunities because this team will be playing from behind. As usual, the question is can Jacksonville get production from the passing game.

BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Peyton Manning (QB – Colts)

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Dwight Freeney (DE – Colts)

BEST HEAD COACH: Jeff Fisher (Titans)

BEST OFFENSIVE ROOKIE: Damian Williams (WR – Titans)

BEST DEFENSIVE ROOKIE: Jerry Hughes (LB – Colts)

AFC NORTH
The division features three good teams this year that should beat down the Browns. The suspension of Ben Roethlisberger will impact the division in a big way as it’ll put the Steelers off to a 1-3 start and put them in third place. The Ravens should be the class of the division as they loaded up at the receiver position and should have the best offense they’ve had in Baltimore.

1. Baltimore Ravens (12-4) – I’m concerned about the defense without Ed Reed. He’s out at least the first six games and possibly more. If he’s back healthy they could be a Super Bowl team. I love what they did on the offensive side of the ball adding Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh will give Joe Flacco consistent targets and should open up holes for Ray Rice. The Ravens will lean more on the offense this year than ever before.
2. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) – The Bengals will be good but they’re playing a first place schedule this year and that’s going to put them in a tough spot. Also, does the TO/Ocho Cinco situation stay calm the entire year. If it does and Cedric Benson plays like he did last year, then they could be back in the playoffs.
3. Pittsburgh (8-8) - It’s going to be another disappointing year for the Steelers as they’ll miss the playoffs again. The four game suspension of Ben Roethlisberger puts them in a hole that they just won’t be able to climb out of this year. The defense should be stellar as expected but the offense will need to get Big Ben back to start winning.
4. Cleveland Browns (2-14) – This team just doesn’t have a lot of talent. I think Eric Mangini will be gone at the end of the year. I don’t like adding Jake Delhomme and I think would be better off going with Colt McCoy. It’s going to be a long year in Cleveland but at least you’ve got a shot at one of the QB prospects coming out next year.

BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Ray Rice (RB – Ravens)

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: James Harrison (LB – Steelers)

BEST HEAD COACH: John Harbough (Ravens)

BEST OFFENSIVE ROOKIE: Jermaine Gresham (TE – Bengals)

BEST DEFENSIVE ROOKIE: Joe Haden (CB – Browns)

AFC EAST
1. New York Jets (13-3) – The team made changes to a roster that made it to the AFC Championship last year. I think getting Revis back will keep their defense the best in the league and as long as Mark Sanchez plays steady at QB, they’ll be tough to beat. I don’t like the loss of Thomas Jones but with LaDanian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene, they should still have a solid running game.
2. Miami Dolphins (9-7) – Adding Brandon Marshall should be a huge help to Chad Henne. He’ll stretch the field and open up holes for still a good running game. They’ll need to stay healthy with those running backs though. They’ve got a tough schedule but should be able to challenge for a playoff spot.
3. New England Patriots (8-8) – The Pats have a very difficult schedule and there are a lot of questions for them opening the season. Wes Welker says he doesn’t feel right yet. Will the offensive line be able to keep Brady upright? Can the defense stop opponents? Injuries and inexperience on the defensive side of the ball leave a lot of holes. I think the Pats are watching the playoffs this year.
4. Buffalo Bills – They’ve got a stable of running backs now and Chan Gailey should find ways to utilize explosive rookie C.J. Spiller. They passing game is still a question and the defense will need to be able to hold the opposition down because the Bills can’t win shootouts.

BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Brandon Marshall (WR – Dolphins)

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Darrelle Revis (CB – Jets)

BEST HEAD COACH: Bill Bellicheck (Patriots)

BEST OFFENSIVE ROOKIE: Rob Grankowski (TE – Patriots)

BEST DEFENSIVE ROOKIE: Jared Odrick (DE – Dolphins)

The Macho Rhino Top 25 Heading to Week 2 of the 2010 College Football Season

Boise State and Virginia Tech both moved up in this week’s rankings. They should they’re good teams and had the guts to step up and play quality competition instead of whooping up on a cupcake. These rankings are fluid week to week so impressive wins and even performances in a loss are rewarded.

1. Boise State
2. Alabama
3. Ohio State
4. Miami
5. Virginia Tech
6. Texas
7. Iowa
8. TCU
9. Florida
10. Oregon
11. Wisconsin
12. Nebraska
13. Auburn
14. Oklahoma
15. Florida State
16. Arkansas
17. Utah
18. Oregon State
19. LSU
20. West Virginia
21. Penn State
22. Georgia Tech
23. Pittsburgh
24. Michigan
25. BYU

The preseason is over and it’s time for the “real” football to begin. We’ve seen a shift since our training camp power rankings. The Saints are still on top but with holdouts still going on with some contenders and injuries hitting others, there’s been a change behind the defending champion Saints. Without further delay, here are our 2010 NFL Power Rankings heading to week 1 of the season:

1. New Orleans Saints – A team still with a ton of weapons and Drew Brees looks like he’s still got the same mojo from last year. The Darren Sharper concern is big on their repeat hopes though. He was such a difference maker in their defense last year.
2. Indianapolis Colts – Peyton Manning looked tremendous despite the conflict with umpire placement. That will get sorted out and shouldn’t impact regular season games or it’s going to look ridiculous for the NFL.
3. Baltimore Ravens – Anquan Boldin seems to be fitting in nicely with Joe Flacco. The offense in Baltimore should put up a lot of points and keep defenses off balance.
4. Green Bay Packers – They could have the best offense in the league this year. Aaron Rodgers is tremendous. If the defense steps up, the Super Bowl is a definitely possibility.
5. New York Jets – Mark Sanchez is the key to the season. If he can play steady all year, they should be one of the best teams in the league. Oh yeah and Darrelle Revis needs to play.
6. Minnesota Vikings – The Sidney Rice injury is huge. He was Favre’s go-to receiver last year and now Percy Harvin may be week to week on if he’ll be able to play with health problems. If they’re back to 100% by January, they’ll be contenders.
7. Cincinnati Bengals – This team looks good. Carson Palmer should have the most talent around him of his career and it’s on him to lead them to a win in the playoffs.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Matt Ryan looks like his rookie year again and if Michael Turner stays healthy this team could go deep in the playoffs.
9. New England Patriots – If Wes Walker stays healthy, their offense will be outstanding again. The defense needs young players to step up and make an impact now.
10. Dallas Cowboys – Their offense has looked putrid in the preseason. They’ll get back on the same page but they better do it fast as their division won’t be easy and they can’t afford a slow start.
11. San Diego Chargers – Phillip Rivers is still there and is the most underrated QB in the league. He just makes plays. Rookie Ryan Matthews has looked good so far but they need their holdouts to play or they will be watching the second weekend of the playoffs again.
12. San Francisco 49ers – I like this team. They should win their division easily this year. Alex Smith will be the difference for them.
13. Philadelphia Eagles – The defense looks like it’s improved over last year. The offense is still a well oiled machine even with the new cogs replacing Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook.
14. Houston Texans – This is a big year for the Texans. Another year that ends outside the playoffs will probably mean the end of Gary Kubiak and Matt Schaub in Houston. Look for Andre Johnson to catch 100+ passes for 1500 yards…again.
15. Tennessee Titans – Chris Johnson keeps talking how he’ll run for 2500 yards. I think he’ll be near 2000 again this year but the Titans will need Vince Young to play well to have any hope of making the playoffs in a difficult division.
16. Miami Dolphins – Chad Henne to Brandon Marshall will be the most common phrase in Miami this season. They need Ronnie Brown to stay healthy and keep running the wildcat with such success. I think they’re still a step below the Jets and Patriots in the division though.
17. Oakland Raiders – If Jason Campbell is healthy, you’ll see a much better Raiders team. I think they’ve finally got the confidence that their QB won’t throw their game away and that should lead to the Raiders challenging for a playoff spot.
18. New York Giants – A new defensive coordinator is trying to return them to the way they played back when they won the Super Bowl a few years ago.
19. Kansas City Chiefs – They’ve got a ton of speed now and hope their young players can make plays. Lookout for rookies Dexter McCluster and Eric Berry.
20. Washington Redskins – Donovan McNabb will do well in Mike Shanahan’s offense. Does Albert Haynesworth become a problem during the season?
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – No Big Ben for a month hurts. That’s a quarter of the season and will probably make the difference in having a winning season or preparing for the draft in Janaury.
22. Denver Broncos – The loss of Elvis Dumervil is devastating. The pressure he generates on the opposition can’t just be duplicated. Will Josh McDaniel stick with Kyle Orton or is there a 3-way circus at QB in Denver this season?
23. Chicago Bears – The Mike Martz and Jay Cutler union is one to watch this season. You know Cutler can make any throw but will Martz put him in the positions to make them or get sacked?
24. Carolina Panthers – Can Matt Moore play like he did last year? They’ll have the running game which should ease his burden and look out for rookie Greg Hardy on defense.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars – It’s the same story with Jacksonville again this year. Can they get plays in the passing game? If they do, they could be 8-8, if not, they’re back in the top 10 of the draft.
26. Arizona Cardinals – The uncertainty at quarterback is looming over this team and they’ll need the defense to carry them.
27. Detroit Lions – Ndamakong Suh is a beast. He’ll greatly improve the defense and the offense looks to have explosive potential. They’re still young and have to learn how to win.
28. Cleveland Browns – Which Jake Delhomme shows up? One that took Carolina to a Super Bowl or the one we saw last year continually throw the ball to the other team?
29. Seattle Seahawks – I don’t see much out of the Seahawks this year. Pete Carroll has to upgrade the talent and get the team to stay healthy. Luckily they get two games against the Rams so they’ve got a shot at a few wins.
30. Buffalo Bills – The Bills have one of the best running back groups in the league now but outside of that, there’s a lot of holes. Playing in the tough AFC East will make for a long year.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – They need more talent. They’re young and just don’t seem head for anything more than 3 wins this year.
32. St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford has been up and down but looked to at least be progressing through the preseason. He’s gonna see more complicated defensive schemes and a line that can’t keep him upright for long. They will be back at the top of the draft next year.

Week 1 of the 2010 college football season opens tonight! It’s time for my picks for the games involving Macho Rhino’s Top 25 teams. This season I will make my picks on Thursday or prior to the start of the first game involving a Macho Rhino Top 25 team. I will link to “experts” and see how my picks do against there’s each week also.

1. Alabama vs. San Jose State – Even without the injured, returning Heisman winner Mark Ingram, the defending champs should roll in their opener. The starters will get to pad their stats some before being able to watch from the sideline in the fourth quarter. Alabama 55, San Jose State 3
2. Boise State vs. 8. Virginia Tech – This one is the big one. The game everyone will be watching Monday night as the Broncos travel to Washington D.C. to take on the Hokies. If the Broncos can win it sets up a run towards the BCS and hopefully a shot at the national championship, a loss is a crushing defeat. Boise won’t have seen a runner like Ryan Williams but Kellen Moore will guide their offense to a victory. Boise State 28, Virginia Tech 24
3. Ohio State vs. Marshall – Terrelle Pryor should kick off his Heisman campaign with a huge game. I’d look for over 300 yards total offense from him as the Buckeyes win easily. Ohio State 34, Marshall 7
4. Miami vs. Florida A&M – Jacory Harris and the Canes have big expectations for the first time in years and should put up big numbers in this one. The Canes will get a lead and put the subs in so they don’t risk injury heading in to next week’s huge game at Ohio State. Miami 49, Florida A&M 7
5. Texas at Rice – Rice is no match for the Longhorns. Luckily for Rice, the rest of the season gets easier but they open with an ugly loss. Texas 55, Rice 6
6. Florida vs. Miami (OH) – Last year’s seniors who were some of the most successful in college football history are gone leaving huge shoes to fill at several positions for the Gators. Not much to worry about though as Urban Meyer has a roster stocked with supreme talent. Florida 42, Miami (OH) 13
7. Iowa vs. Eastern Illinois – While the Hawkeyes have struggled in openers in the past, this one shouldn’t be much of a problem. Their defense should control a good FCS team and put the offense in good position for several scoring drives. Iowa 38, Eastern Illinois 10
9. TCU vs. 16. Oregon State – This is the second biggest game of the weekend as BCS crasher TCU looks to defeat one of the favorites to win the Pac-10 this season. TCU returns several starters from a very good team last year that went 12-1. Oregon State brings back Jacquizz Rodgers, one of the best runners in the country. This one takes place at Cowboys Stadium so while it’s technically a neutral site game, the crowd should be overwhelmingly behind the Horned Frogs. Andy Dalton will make plays to get his team a tough victory. TCU 31, Oregon State 28
10. Wisconsin at UNLV – Wisconsin opens up on the road in Vegas against an overmatched Runnin’ Rebels. John Clay runs wild in this game as the Badgers O-line simply dominates. Wisconsin 35, UNLV 10
11. Oregon vs. New Mexico – Oregon will break in a new QB but should have no trouble against the Lobos. LaMichael James has a huge game and carries them to an easy W to start the year in Eugene. Oregon 45, New Mexico 6
12. Nebraska vs. Western Kentucky – The Huskers will boast one of the country’s best defenses again this year but the questions are on offense. Can they get consistent play at QB to challenge not just for the Big XII title but make them national title contenders? Western Kentucky isn’t the type of team to use as a measuring stick. Nebraska 38, Western Kentucky 3
13. Auburn vs. Arkansas State – Auburn debuts new QB and Florida transfer Cam Newton. He’s a dynamic run/pass threat who should thrive in the spread offense at Auburn. There might be some kinks to work out this game which is the only Arkansas State has. Auburn 41, Arkansas State 13
14. Oklahoma vs. Utah State – Utah State is trending upward but they’re way out of their league in this one. The Sooners are out to prove last year was a fluke and should dominate this game. Oklahoma 38, Utah State 7
15. Pittsburgh at Utah – Pitt travels across the country for a dangerous opener against a good Utes team. Pitt comes prepared with Dion Lewis and a great offensive attack. It’s not going to be an easy place to have a QB making his first start but Lewis should find enough holes to let Pitt leave with a win. Pittsburgh 28, Utah 27
17. Arkansas vs. Tennessee Tech – This one should get ugly fast. The Razorbacks will unleash Ryan Mallett and crew against a FCS team that will be lucky to stay within 50. Arkansas 63, Tennessee Tech 6
18. Florida State vs. Samford – Jimbo Fisher starts his tenure at the helm of Florida State against the school Bobby Bowden began his coaching career with. Mickey Andrews retired as defensive coordinator and Mark Stoops has taken over that role now. Samford is in this for the paycheck and a big loss. Christian Ponder throws four touchdowns. Florida State 41, Samford 3
19. LSU vs. 21. North Carolina – UNC has had to deal with controversy in the offseason regarding player eligibility while Les Miles has had to hear he might be out after this season if they don’t win more than they did last year. Miles is a great bowl coach and I think will treat this game in Atlanta as such and find a way for his team to pull it out. With suspensions looming for UNC, I can’t see them being 100% focused on this game and LSU will be. LSU 16, North Carolina 10
20. West Virginia vs. Coastal Carolina – The Chanticleers will be greatly overmatched by the speed of West Virginia. Look for Noel Devine to rack up 150 yard before allowing the backups to see some action. West Virginia 56, Coastal Carolina 7
22. Penn State vs. Youngstown State – Evan Royster will run wild in this one as the Nittany Lions beat up one a FCS team. Youngstown needs to just try to get a touchdown which there were unable to do in two games against FBS teams last year. Penn State 42, Youngstown State 6
23. Washington at BYU- Jake Locker has to know how big of a game this is for his Huskies. He’s the multi-talented QB leading Washington to take on the Cougars. BYU will be replacing Max Hall and has had success recently against the Pac-10. This game becomes a back and forth affair and I’m going to go with Locker to make a play in the fourth that sets up the win. Washington 31, BYU 30
24. Georgia Tech vs. South Carolina State – Another mismatched FCS team going for the payday this Saturday. The triple option is hard enough to defense when you have top shelf athletes. Tech will run all over their outmatched competition. Georgia Tech 56, South Carolina State 3
25. Navy at Maryland – The Midshipmen will run all over Maryland in this one and should cruise to a win. Not the start Coach Fridge is looking for this year. Navy 31, Maryland 10

Each week I’ll also make three bonus selections of intriguing games outside of our top 25.

Missouri vs. Illinois – The last chapter of this rivalry for the foreseeable future ends in St. Louis this Saturday. Missouri had the shocking loss of running back Derrick Washington to suspension last week while Illinois is trying to improve on a hugely disappointing season last year. The Tigers should be fine in this one without Washington, they’re a pass first team and as long as Blaine Gabbert stays healthy for four quarters of this one, he should dissect the Illini defense like he did last year. Illinois is starting what’s likely Ron Zook’s last year and they’ve got holes to fill at many positions from last year’s team. While the new blood may improve them, it’s unlikely to make a huge jump from last year. Missouri 34, Illinois 14

Connecticut at Michigan – This fall UConn has high hopes. They’ve got the schedule and team they think can challenge for the Big East Championship. Michigan desperately needs to win this game. A loss will be a blow to Rich Rodriguez and keep the talk of his dismissal as coach at the forefront for at least another week. I think Michigan has eight win potential this year as Rodriguez has players who understand his system now and some playmakers who can execute it. This is a game that will motivate both teams as they know a win will be a confidence boost. I think it ends up being a back and forth game and I’ve just got a feeling the Wolverines will find a way to win at home. Michigan 27, Connecticut 24

Northwestern at Vanderbilt – Bobbie Caldwell gets his first shot and leading the Commodores on the sideline against the visiting Wildcats. He’s only had a little over a month to get his message across to the team since taking over. Pat Fitzgerald thinks his Wildcats are ready for a big season, hoping they can challenge the top tier of teams in the Big Ten. Northwestern showed they could play with the SEC last year in taking Auburn to overtime in their bowl game. They should have no problem with Vandy. Northwestern 28, Vanderbilt 17

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August 31 was the second biggest day in MachoRhino.com history! Thank you to everyone who’s been checking a look at what’s going on here and telling others about MR. Now you can see what everyone’s been looking at here on the site in the month of August. Here are the top 10 most popular features from the past month:

10. Dude, Nicole Michelle is Hot!

9. The Nooner Knockout (August 10) – Shannon Richards

8. The Nooner Knockout (August 10) – Heather Morris

7. Dude, D’Avia Lavae is Hot!

6. The Nooner Knockout (August 9) – Angelina Christina

5. Dude, Claudia Romani is Hot!

4. Dude, Katy Marie is Hot!

3. Macho Rhino’s August Bikini Contest

2. Macho Rhino’s 2010 Football Preview

1. Macho Rhino’s Summer Survivor

By Action Gabby (actiongabby@machorhino.com)

Getting pulled over by the fuzz is a grueling experience, even turning innocent drivers into quivering sacks of guilt. Every aspect of being pulled over is unpleasant, and the negative feelings seem to cling to you long after the whole ordeal is over–ticket or not. Getting pulled over is one of the most universally despised experiences. Ever (the second most universally despised experience is tripping in public). And it can only get worse if you’ve been boozing or if you’re carting around some illegal bounty, at which point you’ll be begging the officer for a ticket. Lives can be ruined in just a few tense minutes, which is why I put together a few tips to keep in mind when you spot a cop in your rearview mirror.

1) Don’t Ever Say “2”

If you’ve made the retarded, dangerous and sadly common decision to drink alcoholic beverages and then convince yourself that your drunk ass is “good” to drive, then you better be prepared to be ass-rammed by the law, should you get caught and/or swerve yourself into an accident. However, if you’ve had a few and don’t smell like the inside of a Bud Light can, you might be able to avoid the grand shafting of a DUI. When the scary policeman asks how many you’ve had that evening – don’t say “2”.
If the officer is asking how many you’ve had, its presumed that he already knows you’ve been boozing. “2” drinks in cop language translates to “totally sloshed”. (“Its not mine” translates to “how did you find that?!”) This can be tricky if you really only had two drinks, you might have to suck it up and say you had three of the girliest drinks in the house (i.e. fuzzy navel).

2) R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Don’t laugh, don’t cry, don’t be rude. Cops enjoy pulling you over. Don’t make them enjoy giving you a ticket. Show them the respect that their meager amount of authority affords them and everything should be fine. Also, there is no need to be a kiss-ass. Getting in good with the cops does not mean you have to compliment the officer on how shiny their badge is. Answer the nice policeman’s questions like a good maggot. Arguing? Not a good idea. Snide remarks? No. Quiet adulation? That’s a little much. People underestimate the value of shutting the fuck up and doing exactly what the man with the gun says. This isn’t GTA.

3) Don’t Give Them A Reason

Son of Sam was caught because of a broken taillight. Let that sink in for a second, I’ll wait. If you’re going to do some heinous shit, or if there is heinous shit in your car, give your car a quick once over to make sure nothing’s broken, no lights are out and there isn’t a dead body hanging out of your trunk. As I mentioned before, cops revel in pulling you over. Why? Because they are bored. And being bored is probably the best motivator to fuck with people. Cops are no different. They have nothing to do and that little light above your license plate is out – you just have them a reason to ruin your day. So while you’re being hauled away for possession, remember that you should have checked that taillight before ridin’ dirty.

4) Be Afraid, But Not Very Afraid

A healthy fear of the police is normal and expected. They carry weapons, they have authority to use them and their word is better than yours. But they’re not Robocops, they’re still human. So when a cop starts following you, try to stay calm and just keep doing what you’re doing. The old adage that cops can only follow you for so long is not true, a cop can follow you for so long as they damn well please. However, city cops can only follow you to the city limits, so leaving dodge by sundown might be the answer in a stalker cop scenario. Even innocent persons lose their cool when being tailed by the 5-0 – not using their turn signals, going way under the speed limit. These are all things the cops are waiting for just to pull you over and break up the monotonous life they call “protecting and serving”. Stay calm, goddamnit. They’re just people…with tasers.

5) Probable Cause

This phrase is one of the most powerful because it represents an invisible barrier between the cops and whatever nefarious surprises await in your car. They cannot rummage around in the garbage you call a vehicle unless they have probable cause to do so. Now, probable cause can mean a lot of things. If the officer even smells something fishy, they can (technically) call that probable cause. Unless you’re a fisherman.
If an officer asks you if they can search your vehicle, they’re not being polite, they just don’t have the magic words. Ask them if they have probable cause to search (hopefully not in a sweaty, guilty sounding way). More than likely, they’ll back off if they don’t have any and you’ll be on your way. If you reek of illegal activity, however, you ma want to spritz on some AXE or whatever the hell guys are assaulting my nostrils with these days.

Disclaimer: Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that all cops are bored, vindictive jerks. Just a lot of them.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Police the rest of Macho Rhino likes you and doesn’t want to get sent to jail. Please let us be. Thank you officer.