Marshall avoids 2nd-year slump with the Terriers

Throughout the history of college sports, second-year players have often had a tougher time than they seemed to as freshmen.

Who knows why? Maybe it's that teams focus on them more, or they do not catch anyone by surprise again.

This syndrome has been deemed the "sophomore slump." Well, former Greenbrier star Eric Marshall is showing no signs of taking a step back in 2004-05. The 6-foot-4-inch guard, now at Wofford University, is having a solid second season.

After coming off the bench last year as a freshman, he has earned a starting job in the Terriers back court this season.

The team has posted a win over Auburn and lost by two points in overtime at UGA and by six points at Tennessee. Wofford is 8-6, having lost three straight games.

Marshall, however, has really played well of late. He has scored 14 and 12 points in his past two games and has scored in double figures in four of his past five contests. He scored a season-high 17 in a win over Jacksonville State. He has scored eight or more points in all but four of the team's games. Two of those contests he played sparingly because of foul trouble. Also, he is beginning to log more minutes as the team gets into the meat of its Southern Conference schedule.

Marshall is averaging 8.6 points, two rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest.

2 out of 4 ain't bad

All right, so I picked Green Bay to advance to the Super Bowl, and I thought the Colts would battle the elements and knock off New England.

Obviously, those picks stunk, but my Steelers remain alive (barely). Also, I did pick the Eagles to get to the NFC title game. I know, I'm reaching a bit.

The bottom line is that the Steelers have a shot to get back to the Super Bowl, and, for me at least, that is all that matters. As for the predictions for this week: It will be an all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl.

The Falcons won't be able to run for 5,000 yards against Philly as they did against the Rams.

In the AFC, everyone is thinking the Patriots have re-established themselves as the team in the AFC. Not so. The Steelers got their bad game out of the way, and they will take care of business.

Philadelphia 24, Atlanta 13

Pittsburgh 23, New England 17