OSUBB loses to FAU, Blue Jackets attendance, and Encarnacion to the Tribe???

Ohio State disaster vs FAU: Matta has to be held accountable!!
I said on Sunday that after a solid performance at Virginia that this Buckeye team could shake things up a little this year. Before yesterday's game, the KenPom basketball power index gave Ohio State 97% chance of beating Florida Atlantic. Ohio State lost 79-77 in overtime, and the Bucks were 4-20 from outside the 3 point line. This isn't the first time OSU has played terribly vs an unknown non-conference opponent. They didn't look ready to play vs NC Central, early on against Navy, Farleigh Dickinson and yesterday. This team lacked energy and wasn't ready to play. What does this likely have to do with? Coaching. I have been a big defender of Thad Matta, but he must be held at least somewhat accountable for this pathetic outing last night.
Blue Jackets low attendance: here is the reality
The Blue Jackets are only ONE point out of 1st in the Metro division, but they only drew just over 11,000 on Monday night vs the Coyotes, and the CBJ is 27th in the league in attendance. Here is the reality of the situation, the Blue Jackets in Central Ohio have a small, but a very supportive core of fans/season ticket holders who have kept the team from being in relocation conversations with teams like Florida and Phoenix. But the average Central Ohioan is not a Jackets fan, and fan bases aren't build by success in November/December. I don't believe the attendance issues will be solved this season, it can be if the Blue Jackets make the playoffs, and win a playoff series. Only success in the playoffs will turn this town into a solid hockey market (which this area has the potential to be).
Encarnacion to the Indians? Why not!!
After the World Series, I was pretty resigned to the belief that the Indians wouldn't resign Mike Napoli. He had a career year while on a one year contract, and understandably he has a higher price tag this offseason. However, I love Napoli, but he is 35 years old and I am of the belief that last year is the best we will get from him. There have been rumors of him going back to the Tribe, the Indians are potential suitors for former Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion, who in my opinion is an upgrade over Napoli. Encarnacion is 33 years old, and has more years left in him. He is a DH/first baseman, which Cleveland will likely need because Carlos Santana's contract is up at the end of next  season. He is supposedly looking for a multiyear contract.

Quick stuff on Ohio State FB/BB, Blue Jackets, Browns bye, MLB CBA

Pretty anti-climactic weekend in College Football
Washington blew out Colorado, Alabama smashed Florida, Clemson held off Virginia Tech (the only real suspense of this conference championship weekend) and Penn State mounted a huge comeback against Wisconsin, although that game would turn out to have no bearing on the CFP. The Top 4 was what you would expect it to be (Ohio State and Clemson may be flipped, but because Alabama with the #1 seed chose to play in Atlanta, that relegated OSU/Clemson to the Fiesta Bowl which makes the 2 seed/3 seed debate irrelevant). I will preview the Fiesta Bowl for our Buckeyes later in the month. The only thing I took away from the committee is that they are resistant to putting two loss teams in the playoff, and the number of losses may take precedence over head to head/conference championships.
Blue Jackets-Coyotes on Saturday night: what a game it was!!
Even on championship Saturday in College Football, last night I drew most of my attention to the boys in Union Blue. The CBJ had a franchise record 58 shots-FIFTY EIGHT SHOTS!!!-during the game Saturday night in Glendale, Arizona. The CBJ won 3-2 in a shootout. The Jackets dominated most of the game, but somehow found themselves down 2-1 in the third. Phoenix goalie Mike Smith stood on his head last night, and we didn't tie the game until Wennberg scored just ahead of the 2 minute mark in the 3rd period. Don't sell CBJ backup goalie Curtis McElhinney short as well, he made a save on a 2 on 0 in overtime, and then another save on a one timer 5 seconds later off of a turnover by Sam Gagner. CMac is a great backup goalie, but the Jackets will ride and die with Sergei Bobrovsky as they should. Bob will no doubt start Monday night's game at home vs these same Arizona Coyotes.
Ohio State Hoops: we may have some fun this year
Sure, the way OSUBB lost to #6 ranked Virginia was disappointing, as JaQuan Lyle had eight turnovers, and OSU once lead by 16. Jae'Sean Tate and the Buckeyes dominated UVA in the paint, and OSU scored 36 1st half points against one of the best defensive teams in the country. This Buckeye team won't be in the company of elite teams of OSU history, but we will have more fun this year than we thought we would.
Browns bye week
The Browns have a bye this week, and I will take a bye week from the Berea Circus myself. I'll have a recap of the game next week vs the 4-7-1 Cincinnati Bengals (the game is in Cleveland).
The stupidest rule in sports is no more!!!
As part of the new collective bargaining agreement, starting in 2018, home-field advantage in the World Series will no longer be decided by which league wins the All Star Game. This rule is in my opinion, the single dumbest rule in sports. OK, it did give the Indians home field advantage vs the Chicago...Oh no. This just made me think of Game 7 again (I cannot and will not bring myself to watch the highlights of that game).

What We Learned From Tuesday Night's CFP Rankings + Jackets In Colorado Tonight

There really were not any surprises from the College Football Playoff Committee's rankings on Tuesday, as expected, the rankings were Alabama #1, Ohio State #2 after beating Michigan, Clemson stayed at #3, and Washington remained at the 4th spot after a winning handily on the road at Washington State.

There may be some chaos on championship weekend starting tomorrow night, but Kirby Hocutt who is the CFP Committee Chairman (and also the Athletic Director for Texas Tech) on Tuesday night made comments on ESPN that shed some light on the committee's thinking.

Hocutt: "The margin between #4 Washington and #5 Michigan is very, very small"

Michigan is still alive. I'd give them at least a 60-40 chance of getting the 4th and final spot if Colorado does beat Washington on Friday night (I do believe that Colorado has no chance, especially considering their 17 point loss to the Wolverines). While Hocutt's statement does give UM fans hope, there is no way Michigan overtakes Washington if the Huskies take care of business vs Colorado. What I don't like here is in my opinion, there is no doubt that brand/name recognition is a factor here. Michigan is a big name program that plays a lot of 3:30/8:00 games on ABC, while Washington is a west coast team that many times plays at 10:00 PM while many have gone to sleep. 

Hocutt: "They (Ohio State and Penn State) aren't close in the eyes of the committee"

Great news for us Buckeye fans. Ohio State is 90% safe. I said a few weeks ago on Twitter that a Penn State-Ohio State scenario with PSU winning the Big Ten concerned me (because OSU would have two strikes against them with head to head, and the Nittany Lions being a conference champion). But after hearing these comments, I am not not anymore, and also knowing that there is no way OSU will not get in if Wisconsin wins on Saturday (which may very well happen).

Blue Jackets at Avalanche, 9:00 PM, Pepsi Center, Denver, CO on Fox Sports Ohio

The Avs beat the Blue Jackets 3-2 in overtime the last time the two teams met on Nov 21. Colorado is in last place, and the Jackets had a disappointing effort that night, our power play was ineffective, turnovers and the CBJ weren't crisp passing the puck the whole game. The Avalanche have been plagued by lack of depth at the defensive position, which has lead to their misfortunes, along with the sudden resignation of head coach Patrick Roy early in the year.