TItle Game Preview, Carmelo Trade, Nnamdi Free

Versus



Auburn and Oregon play for the National Title tonight.  Here's the statistical comparison between the two teams. 
National Rankings


Total Offense: Auburn 7, Oregon 1

Total Defense: Auburn 55th, Oregon 25th

Scoring Offense: Auburn 4, Oregon 1

Scoring Defense: Auburn 54, Oregon 12
 
Rushing Offense: Auburn 5, Oregon 4
 
Rushing Defense: Auburn 10, Oregon 16
 
Passing Offense: Auburn 67, Oregon 49
 
Passing Defense: Auburn 106, Oregon 51
 
Turnover Margin: Auburn 32, Oregon 7
 
What Happens Tonight:
The Ducks have a big edge in the secondary with Cliff Harris and Talmadge Jackson III.  Harris also gives Oregon a big advantage in the return game.  Both teams have been off for almost 6 weeks, so you have to imagine that the timing might be off a bit in the passing game.  I think the Ducks lack of size up front is less of a factor because Auburn does not really run many power sets settling in to the spread more times than not.  It's been damn near impossible to stop Cam Newton though.  I think the offenses get off to a slow start before the Ducks make their typical 2nd half charge.  Final Score: Oregon 38 Auburn 34
 
 
 

A strange lack of production in 2010 from Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha caused his contract to void for the 2011 season. The Raiders avoid the requirement that they pay Asomugha in 2011 the equivalent of the franchise tender for quarterbacks, a number that’s expected to exceed $17 million next year.  Previous performance by Asomugha pushed the 2011 salary, fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the league year, to the greater of $16.874 million or the quarterback franchise tag, and the void arose not from Asomugha achieving certain production goals in 2010, but from Asomugha not achieving them.  Asomugha is now an unrestricted free agent, but don't count on the Texans breaking the bank to get him.  Just keep staring at the jersey above as a sign of what could have been.

As if the Rockets 16-21 record wasn't enough to make you cringe, the chances of acquiring Carmelo Anthony appear to have gone away too.  The Nets/Nuggets/Pistons are closing in on a blockbuster trade that would send Carmelo Anthony, Chauncy Billups, and Rip Hamilton to the Nets.  The Pistons would receive Troy Murphy and Johan Petro.  The Nuggets would get Devin Harris, Anthony Morrow, Derrick Favors, and two #1 draft picks. The Nets would be left with the following lineup:

PG: Billups
SG: Hamilton
SF: Anthony
PF: Humphries
C: Lopez
Bench: Farmar, Outlaw, Vujacic, Shelden Williams

This is a total cash dump by the Pistons with little coming in return.  The Nuggets actually get a pretty nice package of players in return, especially if Favors develops into anything.