NEWS » elancon.Andrew Marc

The third College Football Playoff rankings had barely been released before Bill Hancock, the CFPs executive director, reiterated that the system is working.We are confident, Hancock said Sunday, that four is the right number.But eight is so much more fun! And it seems that the majority of fans want the playoff to expand! And every playoff in every major American sport has eventually grown bigger!I dont anticipate any discussion about expansion, Hancock said.Hancock is a prince of a guy, but when it comes to college footballs postseason, hes the smiling sheriff of the fun police. Just because the sports decision-makers arent interested in exploring an eight-team playoff doesnt mean we cant drum up one.Why eight teams? Many believe eight is the sweet spot for the college football playoff: more national representation but not too much, and only one more round of competition.What would an eight-team playoff look like this season? The exercise is part reality and part subjectivity.To acknowledge the selection committee members, we will use their top four: No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Ohio State and No. 4 Washington.Now, the fun part: We pick the next four!They are: No. 5 Penn State, No. 6 Michigan, No. 7 USC and No. 8 Oklahoma. Despite a 39-point loss at Michigan Stadium, Penn State is ahead of the Wolverines because of its overall profile (wins over Ohio State, Wisconsin, Temple and Iowa) and conference championship. USC didnt win its conference or division but has two better wins -- Washington and Colorado -- than anything on Oklahomas résumé. Plus, outside of Alabama, USC is the team no one wants to play.The first four out: Wisconsin, Florida State, Colorado and Western Michigan.Heres how a hypothetical eight-team playoff would look this year.No. 1 Alabama (13-0) vs. No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2) The Sooners want to show theyre not the same team that started 1-2, and coach Bob Stoops always craves chances to take down the SECs best. The game features the nations most dominant defense against a surging Oklahoma offense featuring quarterback Baker Mayfield, running backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, and transcendent wide receiver Dede Westbrook. It would take a lot for Oklahoma to win, but the Sooners have the type of offense -- coordinated by Lincoln Riley -- that tends to give Alabama trouble. Crimson Tide wide receivers Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart would look to attack a vulnerable OU secondary.No. 2 Clemson (12-1) vs. No. 7 USC (9-3) Who wouldnt want to see this matchup? It has it all: game-changing quarterbacks in Clemsons Deshaun Watson and USCs Sam Darnold, NFL-ready wide receivers in Clemsons Mike Williams and USCs JuJu Smith-Schuster, solid running back play, and elite cornerbacks in USCs?Adoree Jackson?and Clemsons Cordrea Tankersley. If you like speed and highlights, this game will not disappoint. Clemson has been on the big stage much more often than USC in recent years, but the Trojans showed at Washington that they are coming back strong.No. 3 Ohio State (11-1) vs. No. 6 Michigan (10-2) Yes, we get to see The Game again. It wont be quite the same at a neutral site (unless the hypothetical playoff begins on campus, which isnt a bad thing at all), but these teams are so evenly matched that drama is inevitable. Michigan had the right blueprint to beat Ohio State the first time around. If quarterback Wilton Speight?could take better care of the football against an opportunistic Buckeyes defense, the Wolverines likely would advance. Ohio State would once again lean on Malik Hooker, Marshon Lattimore,?Raekwon McMillan?and the defense, as well as veteran signal-caller J.T. Barrett, to beat its archrival for the second time and advance to the semifinals.No. 4 Washington (12-1) vs. No. 5 Penn State (11-2) We debated these two through the night and into Sunday, but in an eight-team playoff, the Huskies and Nittany Lions settle it on the field. Underrated quarterbacks Jake Browning (Washington) and Trace McSorley (Penn State) lead big-play offenses with excellent running backs -- Washingtons Myles Gaskin and Lavon Coleman, and Penn States Saquon Barkley -- and perimeter threats in John Ross III?and DaeSean Hamilton. Washington has the more decorated defense, highlighted by Budda Baker and Sidney Jones in the secondary, but Penn States defense gave Ohio State fits and steadily improved as the season went along. Forest Able Jersey Signed . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. Wholesale NBA Jerseys . The giant slalom world champion slipped during her first run in the morning, landing on her back and then twisting forward before getting her leg caught in the protective material on the side of the slope. https://www.cheapnbajerseysjustwholesale.com/jack-coleman-jersey-signed/ . Vaives lawyer Trevor Whiffen claims the former 50-goal man wasnt provided with a copy of the claim beforehand and that he would not have agreed to the allegations made against the NHL had he been asked to review its contents. NBA Jerseys China . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. NBA Jerseys 2020 . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. Which team will be most active?Jerry Crasnick:?The White Sox. There has been a lot of speculation surrounding Chris Sale, and White Sox GM Rick Hahn will take advantage of having all 30 teams under one roof as a chance to hold an open auction for Sale and other veteran pieces at the meetings. Along with Sale, Hahn can discuss Todd Frazier, David Robertson and Melky Cabrera with other clubs. There are a lot of ways they can go, one competing executive said.Scott Lauber:?Most clubs were awaiting a resolution on the collective bargaining agreement before getting on with their offseason business, so there wont be a shortage of activity next week. But with the winter meetings taking place in their own backyard, the Washington Nationals are positioned to make a few big splashes. They will almost certainly sign a marquee closer and could get into a tug-of-war with the neighboring Baltimore Orioles over free-agent catcher Matt Wieters. Dont count the Nats out of the Chris Sale derby, either.Andrew Marchand:?The?Houston Astros?do not seem done yet. Not only will they sign Edwin Encarnacion, but I think they will add a few more spare pieces to make themselves legit World Series contenders.Doug Padilla: It remains uncertain if the Chicago White Sox will make a deal at the winter meetings, but even if they dont, the front office of Rick Hahn and Kenny Williams will be mighty busy. Sale is the big trade prize, but other White Sox stars such as?Jose Abreu and Jose Quintana could get plenty of attention as well. The White Sox know how to work the winter meetings, proving to be one of the biggest buyers two years ago. Now it looks like their turn to sell big.Jesse Rogers: The Tampa Bay Rays will be active as they continue an overhaul of their roster. Stuck in a deep division, theyll sell off their starting pitching and perhaps closer Alex Colome, setting their sights on competing in the coming years.Adam Rubin:?With the collective bargaining agreement now in place and clarity on spending penalties, look for the?Red Sox?to be active. Boston needs a DH to succeed David Ortiz.?Red Sox president Dave Dombrowski also could be active on the trade front.Mark Saxon: The Astros will be the most active team because they appear intent on spending money to improve and could benefit most by a move or two. They were better than they appeared last season and theyre in a very winnable division.One big prediction for the week?Jerry Crasnick:?The Cubs acquire Chris Archer in a trade with Tampa Bay. Archer strengthens the Chicago rotation as the Cubs gear up to make a run at another world championship. He also gives the Cubs long-term protection in the event Jake Arrieta leaves through free agency next winter. Jorge Soler, a superfluous piece in Chicago, will give Tampa Bay a young power outfield bat, and the Rays can choose from a menu that includes Ian Happ, Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease to stockpile a nucleus of young talent.Scott Lauber:?Never mind that the Astros already have signed outfielder Josh Reddick and traded for catcher Brian McCann. Theyre angling for at least one more headline-grabbing move, and after reportedly making a strong bid for Yoenis Cespedes this week before the free-agent outfielder re-signed with the New York Mets, theyre poised to throw big bucks at Encarnacion.Andrew Marchand:? Sale is traded to ... the?Dodgers. The Dodgers have the prospects to get this deal done. Teaming Clayton Kershaw and Sale for the playoffs could bring Los Angeles its first World Series since 1988. For the White Sox, this is a great time to rebuild and maximize trading Sales reasonable contract.Doug Padilla:?If there is one thing that gets the blood pumping at baseballs annual winter meetings, it is a blockbuster trade. So well predict a grand three-team deal of some variety, perhaps with Sale moving away from the White Sox, or Zack Greinke being dealt out of?Arizona.dddddddddddd Well even go as far as to say that not only will starting pitching be included in a three-team blockbuster, but so will late-inning relief help as teams run from the sticker shock that available free-agent closers Kenley Jansen, Aroldis Chapman and Mark Melancon are revealing.Jesse Rogers: Encarnacion will sign with the Yankees, who return to the free-agent market where they made headlines for so many years. Encarnacion will serve as a veteran bat and presence on a team featuring young talent for the first time in years.Adam Rubin:?With Cespedes having re-signed for four years at $110 million, the Mets have a glut of outfielders. And that means either Jay Bruce or Curtis Granderson likely will be traded -- with a decent possibility it happens during the winter meetings. Both are in the final year of their contracts in 2017. Bruce is owed $13 million, and Granderson is owed $15 million. Currently, the Mets have Cespedes, Bruce, Granderson, Michael Conforto, Juan Lagares and Brandon Nimmo under control for next season.Mark Saxon: ?The?Cardinals?will make one major free-agent signing and one major trade within the next 10 days based on a conversation that starts at the winter meetings. The team will have a whole different feel by the holidays.Of the big closers (Jansen, Chapman, Melancon), which will sign first (and where)?Jerry Crasnick:?Melancon signs first, with?San Francisco.?Some executives think the Dodgers are poised to make news and bring back Jansen on a multiyear deal, but Melancon to the Giants continues to make a lot of sense. San Francisco made a serious bid to acquire Melancon from Pittsburgh at the non-waiver deadline, but a deal failed to materialize. Upgrading the back end of the bullpen remains the top priority for Brian Sabean and Bobby Evans.Scott Lauber:?All along, it has been presumed that Chapman will become the highest-paid closer ever. Why, then, shouldnt he set the market? The Yankees, Nationals, Chicago Cubs and Giants are among Chapmans suitors. The Nats will get him, leaving plenty of options for Jansen?and Melancon.Andrew Marchand:?I have Chapman signing first with ... the Dodgers. Los Angeles wanted Chapman last season, but the domestic violence allegations scuttled the Dodgers deal with the?Reds?at last years winter meetings. This year, they get Chapman, who would replace Jansen.Doug Padilla: The prediction here is that Melancon is the first to sign from this group, as Jansen and Chapman duel to the end to see who will take the record-breaking deal for a closer. Desperate for late-inning bullpen help, we will predict that the Giants take the leap first and land Melancon, who had a combined 47 saves last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Nationals, not to mention a sparkling 1.64 ERA. Nobody finished more games than the 67 Melancon wrapped up last season.Jesse Rogers: Jansen will set the closer market, staying out west as either the Dodgers or Giants wont let him leave the state. But which team will secure his services? The Dodgers might have the edge being the incumbent, but the Giants are more desperate. Look for San Francisco to outbid any suitors, signing Jansen to a huge deal and giving Chapman an idea of what he can get from the Yankees.Adam Rubin:?After helping lead the Cubs to the World Series, Chapman returns to the Yankees -- who, like the Red Sox, now have clarity on the CBA and can proceed with their plans. The big question: Will Chapman actually command $100 million?Mark Saxon:?Melancon will sign first, perhaps with the Colorado Rockies, which will clear the way for Jansen and Chapman?-- perhaps the two best short relievers in baseball -- to sign with other teams. ' ' '