United Move On

Javier Hernandez punched Manchester United's ticket to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

It may not have been the prettiest showing from Manchester United earlier today against League One opponent Southampton at Saint Mary’s Stadium, but the 2-1 result is what was expected. This is nothing new to United this week however, as it took until the second half for United to defeat Blackpool 3-2 on the road during the last frantic ten minutes after being down 0-2 for most of the match.

This afternoon, Southampton took a 1-0 lead into the break amid some weak defending and some lackadaisical play all around. It may have been the quickest first half I can remember watching in quite some time. All snoozing aside, Michael Owen was able to find the net along with Javier Hernandez to pull out the win and move on to the next round.

United look poised to compete deep into not only domestic contests but also the upcoming European UEFA Champions League. The side today may have been slightly weakened with Rooney, Berbatov, Van Der Sar, Vidic, and Ferdinand all on the bench, but was able to grind out a win while getting some rest for those top players.

The draw for the next round will be coming up quickly as United also must focus on reclaiming the Premier League title all while preparing for their round of 16 match up against Olympique Marseille. United will be favorites to win the domestic club title along with moving on to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League, so long as Berbatov can keep his pace he is currently on.  At the moment he is the odds on favorite for the Golden Boot with a league leading 20 goals, which nearly a half a dozen have come in the last two matches.

The next task at hand will be remaining five points clear of second place Arsenal by returning to Old Trafford and picking up all three points against Aston Villa on Tuesday. Look for a stronger squad out of the field to ensure United say in the drivers seat for the Premier League title.

Big Saturday

Freshman Quarterback Taylor Martinez, the first to start a Nebraska season opener/Photo courtesy Eric Francis (Getty Images)

First, a word about last week’s opener against Western Kentucky.  For a team coming in to Memorial Stadium on a 20 plus game losing streak, you would expect a score of 49-10 or more.  However, if you watched the game and kept your eye on the stats, you’ll see a few chinks in the armor for the Nebraska defense.  The Blackshirts yielded 179 yards on the ground along with giving up an average of 4.5 yards per carry.  Against teams later in the season who will control the ball with the run it might make you a little nervous, and it should, at least a little.

The #6 Huskers have some questions on defense with the departure of once in a decade talent Ndamukong Suh heading to the NFL.  Also big tackling players like Phillip Dillard and Larry Asante playing on Sunday doesn’t help much either.  Top it all off with our two starting linebackers for this year on the bench with injury, stopping the run could be an Achilles heel.  Junior college transfer LaVonte David had 13 tackles, but in his post game press conference head coach Bo Pelini was not happy with his performance saying he missed multiple assignments.  This weekend Idaho will come to Lincoln and won’t be much of an indicator as to if this deficiency can be easily fixed, or if it is something we will see all season.

Under Pelini, albeit only two seasons, the second game of the season has been a bit of a struggle.  San Jose State in 2008 and Arkansas State in 2009 were a bit of a letdown after some strong opening performances.  The Vandals might give some similar headaches with Nebraska possibly looking ahead to next Saturday’s match up with Jake Locker and the Washington Huskies in Seattle, which is never an easy place to play.

Outside of Lincoln this weekend, it is stacking up to be huge if you’re a college football fan.  If games like Florida State against Oklahoma, Penn State versus Alabama and Miami at Ohio State aren’t enough to get you excited, I think the U.S. Open is still going on.  Not to mention, unrated but still intriguing to watch, Michigan traveling to South Bend, Ind. to face Notre Dame.  Just a quick note on the last game mentioned there, I listen to the ESPNU College Gameday podcast throughout the season.  One day of the week host and ESPN.com writer Ivan Maisel talks with Beano Cook.  You remember Beano right?  ESPN used to dust him off and drag him in front of a camera several years ago to blather on about, well, God only knows.  You’re parents and grandparents will remember him from stints on ABC and NBC.  Old Beano is convinced if the Irish win their first six games, they’ll be playing for the national title in January.  They’re only receiving votes at this point,  and playing in a bowl should be the only thing this team is concentrating on.  Period.  I just wanted to point out that Beano is very, very old and talks about Notre Dame a lot.  He still even pronounces it No-tra, as opposed to No-ter like everyone else.  It’s not the 40′s anymore Beano, and Frank Leahy has been dead for awhile.  Interesting to note, Leahy is from O’Neill, Nebraska.  Oh, and Knute Rockne wasn’t Catholic either.

Alright, I missed the party for Week one, but here we go with Big 12 picks first, then two big non-conference games.  This year we’ll keep it efficient.

#15 Georgia Tech @ Kansas: GT 38 – KU 10

Idaho @ #6 Nebraska: Nebraska 42 – Idaho 12

Colorado @ Cal: Cal 27- CU 21

#17 Florida State @ #10 Oklahoma: OU 28 – FSU 24

Iowa State @ #9 Iowa: Iowa 35 – ISU 17

McNeese State @ Missouri: Mizzou 49 – McNeese State 7

Troy @ Oklahoma State: OSU 45 – Troy 14

Buffalo @ Baylor: BU 37 – Buffalo 3

Louisiana Tech @ Texas A&M: Aggies 42- Techies 10

Wyoming @ Texas: Horns 56 – ‘Boys 13

Missouri State @ Kansas State: Cats 42 – Bears 0

Texas Tech @ New Mexico: Raiders 42 – Lobos 7

#18 Penn State @ #1 Alabama: Tide 35 – Nittany Lions 7

#12 Miami @ #2 Ohio State: Bucks 24 – Canes 21

Sleeping Giant

Ortiz waits to see if his dinger goes over the fence. AP Photo Courtesy/Chris O'Meara

Boston are taking a page out of rival New York’s playbook.  The notorious sluggish start to the eventual torrid summer campaign that routinely punched the Bomber’s ticket to the postseason.  The Red Sox, it would seem, are copying this strategy.

Whether this was predetermined is to be proven.  More than likely the tepid beginning to the year was not orchestrated by manager Terry Francona.  However, it is hard to argue the fact that the Sox are currently looking like the solid team many predicted they would be.

Boston still remains seven and a half games back of division leading Tampa, although after last night’s 6-1 drubbing and current 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Sox seem to be getting back on track.