Week17 Picks

The football gods have been so unkind to me this season. With the exception of a mutt-like wild card run through one league and a totally unexpected domination of another league my 2005 season has been the pits. My picks and prognastication has been similarly uneven. The minute I whine about 10-6 weeks, I get an 8-8. That will teach me to keep my yap shut.

Points to Ponder The San Diego Chargers were eliminated from playoff contention last week with their 20-7 loss to Kansas City in a sloppy Arrowhead. The AFC breathes a sigh of relief as the Chargers have logged wins against no fewer than four playoff bound teams (NE, NYG, Wash, Ind) That was a team no one wanted to see in the playoffs.

The Bills stunning upset of the Bengals was aided by a first a Kickoff return and Interception return for a TD by the same person. Doing that in Madden isn't the same

Monday Night Football isn't over, its just moving to ESPN in 2006. The 555 episode run is the longest for a sports program and the 2nd longest for a regular TV show (behind the indomitable 60 Minutes) The Jets started and ended the shows ABC tenure by the same losing score of 31-21 (In 1970 they lost to the Browns and lost to Pats Monday) that they kicked off MNF.

The playoff picture cleared up quite a bit over the weekend. Almost all of the divisions got locked up, Except for the NFC East where the G-men are in and either the Skins or Pokes will join them.

There are by my count three playoff spots and four teams trying to get them. Week 17 should be fun With the Pats win over the Jets (one of the few that I got right)

The Pats are at .500...let me explain before you call me a moron. The Pats are 354-354-9 lifetime since their inception in 1960. This is the first time they've been at that mark since 1969 when they were 60-60-9. (No ties in 35 years...) Thats a lot of bad football, recent history not withstanding. They were as far below as 54 games below .500 in 1994. I wonder how long it would take the Bengals to get out of the hole they are in??? Don't get me started on the Cards.

Artest: Who's sorry now? Ron Artest is the biggest idiot this side of TO, after all he went through, The petulant Pacer forward wants out, then after realizing that no one really wants the trouble, wants back in. There are some bridges you can't burn, and Artest burned them. He might join Spree as talent malcontents that are looking for work,

Now on to the picks:
NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 17

Saturday, December 31
Denver (12-3) @ San Diego (9-6)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego-4:30 CBS
Favorite- Chargers by 11
All the Chargers can do is play spoiler for other teams, Denver got an unexpected Christmas present when the Bengals lost to the Bills and handed them the coveted bye week seeding. The Broncos will likely rest many of their key starters, making the Chargers the best 10 win team not to make the playoffs. Fast Fact: Mike Anderson's 1014 yards continues the long string of thousand yard Bronco RB's, consider that that before Terrell Davis started the current streak of 1000 yard rushers the Broncos only had three in the fifteen years previous.
Pick-San Diego

NY Giants (10-5) @ Oakland (4-11)
McAfee Stadium, Oakland-8:00 ESPN
Favorite- Giants by 10
The G-Men have a tough situation, stay healthy enough to fly back cross country for the playoffs. A win gets the G-Men a division title and a home playoff game, while a loss sends them to another road game. The Raiders want it all to be over. Fast Fact:Tiki Barber is a longshot at best to catch Shaun Alexander and be the first G-Man to win the NFL Rushing title since 1951
Pick-New York Giants

Sunday, January 1

Arizona (5-10) @ Indianapolis (13-2)
RCA Dome, Indianapolis-1:00 FOX
Favorite-Colts by 7
The Colts have other things on their minds besides a bad Cardinal squad. They'll play hard enough to ensure that they are in a full blown slump prior to their first round playoff bye. Fast Fact:Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James and Marvin Harrison will finish with over 3,500, 1000 and 1000 yards passing, rushing and receiving respectively for the third straight year and the sixth time since becoming teammates in 1999.
Pick-Indy

Baltimore (6-9) @ Cleveland (5-10)
Browns Stadium, Cleveland-1:00 CBS
Favorite-Ravens by 3
In the Modell Bowl, the question remains which of these young QB's will show that their recent solid play is the real deal? The Browns Charlie Frye or the Ravens Kyle Boller? Fast Fact: The Ravens have won 4 of the past 5 of this emotionally charged series. Pick-Baltimore

Buffalo (5-10) @ NY Jets (3-12)
The Meadowlands; East Rutherford, NJ-1:00 CBS
Favorite-Bills by 2
The Bills are feeling better about themselves after springing a surprise upset on the playoff bound Bengals. The Jets??? They are still dreaming of Matt Lienart in home colors. They still have a slim chance of getting Reggie Bush. This could very well be Herman Edwards last game as the Jets coach, rumors are very strong that he is contemplating a jump to friendlier pastures in KC. This game will give him more thought to leaving Gotham Fast Fact: The Jets need to score 24 points to avoid their worst scoring season since going to a 16 game schedule in 1978
Pick-Buffalo

Carolina (10-5) @ Atlanta (8-7)

Georgia Dome, Atlanta-1:00 FOX Favorite-Panthers by 4 Carolina badly needs this win, to get in to the postseason. Atlanta wants to play spoiler. One wants to think that in front of their home crowd, the Falcons will play tough, but the Panthers know that a win gets them into the playoffs and possibly the NFC South crown if things go right so they will rely on their punishing D to make life hard on Michael Vick. Fast Fact: The Falcons have never had back to back winning seasons in their franchise history, a win here would achieve that. Pick-Carolina

Cincinnati (11-4) @ Kansas City (9-6)
Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City, MO-1:00 CBS
Favorite-Chiefs by 8
The Bengals want to tune up for the playoffs and keep their starters healthy. They do not want to go in with a two game losing streak, but they face a daunting task in a Chiefs squad that has a slim playoff chance and wants to send their rumored outgoing coach out a winner. If the Bengals can slow down a rampaging Larry Johnson (8 straight 100+ yard games) they can get the ball into the hands of their potent offense and pick on the Chiefs bad secondary. Look for Jon Kitna to use this game as an audtion to other teams that they can find some use out of him in 2006. Fast Fact: The Bengals seek to match their franchise high in wins with 12, in which they made the super bowl both times
Pick-Cincy

Detroit (5-10) @ Pittsburgh (10-5)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh-1:00 FOX
Favorite-Steelers by 14
The Steelers are rolling and need only a win over a hapless Lions team that packed it in a long time ago to make the playoffs. This will be one long party for Steeler fans as this is their last home game of the season. If the Steelers get any kind of a sizable lead look for Big Ben and the Bus to be given rest in preparation for a possible showdown with the Bengals on wild card weekend. Fast Facts: Hines Ward is 65 receiving yards from cracking the 1,000 yard mark for the 5th straight year. The Lions have not won in Pittsburgh since 1955
Pick-Pittsburgh (survivor)

Miami (8-7) @ New England (10-5)
Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, MA-1:00 CBS
Favorite-Patriots by 6 The Pats will rest many of their key players as this is a meaningless game. The Fins will look to complete their startling improvement from their four win campaign of 2004. Fast Fact:Even if he doesn't play against the Fins, Tom Brady will be the first Patriot to lead the NFL in passing yards.
Pick New England

New Orleans (3-12) @ Tampa Bay (10-5)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa-1:00 FOX
Favorite-Bucs by 14
The Bucs got a dramatic win over the Falcons and need only to beat the sleepwalking Saints to get in to the playoffs and possibly win the NFC South. All this in front of a happy home crowd. What more could Chucky want?
Fast Fact: The Bucs are seeking to make their first playoff appearance since steamrolling the Raiders in the Super Bowl three years ago.
Pick-Tampa Bay

Seattle (13-2) @ Green Bay (3-12)
Lambeau Field; Green Bay, WI-1:00 FOX
Favorite-Packers by 5
The only question here is if Shaun Alexander will play any and break the TD record he holds with Priest Holmes. Matt Hasselbeck can say that they are going to score today and not sound like the idiot he was in the 2003 playoffs. The old sentiment in me wants to send Brett Favre out in a blaze of glory in possibly his last game as a Packer. I've tried that tack twice before and been burned, I won't go for three. Fast Fact: Seattle has set a franchise record for wins, but has the longest dry spell of any team in playoff wins. They haven't won a playoff game since beating Denver in the AFC Wild Card game in 1984
Pick-Seattle

Houston (2-13) @ San Francisco (3-12)
Monster Park, San Francisco-4:05 CBS Favorite-Texans by 3
The Reggie Bush Bowl comes down to who can make the most mistakes. The Texans will probably do like they have all season, mess up their big chance. If the Niners win, look for Reggie Bush to suddenly get a desire to stay in school. If the Texans win, Reggie Bush could very well be going to New Orleans.
Fast Fact: Don't bother looking for any history or rivalry in this matchup, This is the first meeting between these teams. The Texans have now played all the other 31 teams in the NFL.
Pick-San Francisco

Tennessee (4-11) @ Jacksonville (11-4)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville-4:05 CBS
Favorite-Jags by 4
The Jags, locked into the #5 slot will likely rest their starters. Byron Leftwich might get a little playing time to knock the rust off, but the Jags gain little by playing their starters. The Titans play teams tough, but can rarely seal the deal. This will be the case yet again. Fast Fact: Jeff Fisher is the 2nd longest tenured coach in the NFL (Bill Cowher is the dean) This is the first time he has had back to back double digits loss years Pick-Jacksonville

Chicago (11-4) @ Minnesota (8-7)
H.H.H. Metrodome, Minneapolis-4:15 FOX
Favorite-Vikings by 4
This was shaping up to be a big game, but the Bears won knocking the divisional implications out, and the Vikings lost knocking any playoff implications out. The Bears comfortably slated in the #2 NFC playoff seed will rest their starters and the Vikes will go 9-7 and miss the playoffs again. Fast Fact: The Bears are the first team other than the Packers to win the NFC North since it was created in 2002
Pick-Minnesota

Washington (9-6) @ Philadelphia (6-9)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia-4:15
FOX Favorite-Redskins by 8
Normally I'd say that Philly would like nothing more than to deny their bitter divisional rivals the chance to get to the playoffs, but after their stinkeroo against the Cardinals they have officially mailed it in. The Skins despite a number of distractions (Mark Brunell's health, the incessant caring from LaVar Arrington and the goofiness of Clinton Portis) are focused and are bearing down on a playoff berth. Fast Fact: The Redskins are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999 in Joe Gibbs' second season. They made the playoffs in Joe Gibbs' second season the first time he coached the Redskins Pick-Washington

St. Louis (5-10) @ Dallas (9-6)
Texas Stadium; Irving, TX-8:30 ESPN
Favorite-Cowboys by 12 By the time this game kicks off, the Pokes will already know their playoff fate. (Likely out) They will then play this game like they want to be anywhere but there and Tuna will whine that he has nothing left to accomplish and retire (for another year or so) Fast Fact: In sharp contrast to the Falcons who have never had back to back winning seasons in their history, Bill Parcells has not had back to back losing seasons in his coaching career.
Pick-Dallas
Last Week: 8-8 Overall:
152-88 (blog) 150-90 pick group

Bowl Games to watch Some but not all of the pertinent bowl games are on January 2 as the college game has deferred its traditional new years slot to the pro games. Here are a couple to watch as you continue to recover from your New Years overindulgence.

Sugar Bowl
Georgia Dome, Atlanta-8:00 ABC
West Virigina (10-1 Big East Champs) vs Georgia (10-2 SEC Champs) The Bulldogs get the luckiest of lucky breaks. UGA is but 100 miles from the Georgia Dome where this years game is to be played, since the Superdome is still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Expect a tough game from these two defensive minded squads, but it'll be almost a home game for the Bulldogs

Outback Bowl
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa-11am
Iowa (7-4) vs Florida (8-3)
Iowa wouldn't mind a win less heartstopping that the hail mary that beat LSU in this game last year. While Urban Meyer looks to calm the wolves that are howling because the Gators were long ago out of the running for any kind of championship.

Fiesta Bowl
Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe- 4:30p ABC
Ohio State (9-2) vs Notre Dame (9-2)
Fiesta Bowl organizers are giddy about this big name matchup, but this game is deceptively one sided. The Bucks have big game expereince and playing in the rugged Big 10 gives them the trench warfare knowhow that the Irish with their soft schedule lack.
Pick-Ohio State

Gator Bowl
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville-12:30p NBC
Louisville (9-2) vs Va. Tech (10-2) The would-be bullies of the Big East take on a former Big East bully now ACC heavy. It'll be fun to see if stud LB Elvis Dumeril can get a bead on quicksilver QB Marcus Vick. This could be a shootout.

Whatever your plans are for the weekend, be safe and have a prosperous and happy new year.

Week 16 Picks

You can never trust the Packers, period. Am I bitter? A bit, you would like to think that I can get past my hatred of that team in Wisconsin and appreciate the solid playing career of Brett Favre. The Packers then lay a green and gold egg and lose 48-3 to the Ravens who wouldn't know an offense if it hit them in the face multiple times. When Favre is throwing balls that Deion Sanders (Is he still in this league??) Consider there were two separate four and three game stretches where the Ravens didn't score 48 points total. Oh well, I should be happy that the Pack is back in the crapper, but I can dare to dream that Brett Favre will have that last golden game against the Bears and blow up their playoff plans. Its a wild dream, but hey. 10-6 last week is pattern I wish I could break out of. There are too many games that make you scratch your head and are too close to call, but I give it a shot. Once again, humbly submitted for your approval are this weeks picks. NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 16 Saturday, December 24 Atlanta (8-6) @ Tampa Bay (9-5) Raymond James Stadium-1:00 FOX Favorite-Bucs by 3 Both teams are fighting for their playoff lives, though the Bucs are in better shape neither can afford another loss. Atlanta has never had back to back winning seasons in their team history. With Carolina on their docket, that is still in question. Both teams can pound the rock and a repeat of November 20th 30-27 thriller could be on tap, but the Bucs are much better than the 28-0 thumping that they got last week and the Falcons aren't much better than the loss they took at Chicago. The Bucs put their playoff run into overdrive here. Fast Fact: For all the hand wringing about Michael Vick's stats, he threw for over 300 yards the last time he faced the Bucs. Don't think it will happen again. Pick-Tampa Bay Buffalo (4-10) @ Cincinnati (11-3) Paul Brown Stadiium-1:00 CBS Favorite-Bengals by 13 Someone needs to ask Takeo Spikes how it feels to play on a winner. What? He left the Bengals two years ago? You say that the Bills haven't had a winning season since he got there. Damn, one could only wish that Corey Dillon had suffered the same fate. But at least Dillon didn't throw potshot at Cincy, like Spikes did. It is refreshing to see him and Big Fatty...er Daddy Wilkinson in the non-playoff purgatory. In any case, the Bengals want to stay crisp for their imminent playoff appearance. If the AFC North champs get a sizable lead early, you won't see Carson Palmer or Chad Johnson much late. The Bills have no defensive presence and their offense is spotty at best. Most teams get a lead and dare the Bills to throw their way back into the game, something they can't do. Fast Fact: The last time the Bengals beat the Bills was the 1988 AFC Championship game. The Bills can only pray the game is as close as that one was. Pick-Cincy Dallas (8-6) @ Carolina (10-4) Bank of America Stadium; Charlotte, NC-1:00 FOX Favorite- Panthers by 5 That once smug look that was on Tuna and Jerry Jones face has evaporate as the Pokes have lost three of four and have fallen way behind in the playoff race. Carolina is bearing down hard on the NFC South title and is no sort of giving mood. Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker have 7.5 sacks apiece and can cause all sorts of mischief with their hard-hitting ball hawking talents. With the Pokes spotty offensive line and a lead-footed Drew Bledsoe to feast on, the lights are about to go out on the Pokes' playoff hopes. Fast Fact: The Panthers have beaten the Cowboys in 2 of their three meetings in Charlotte, both those wins were in the playoffs. Pick-Carolina Detroit (4-10) vs New Orleans (3-11) Alamodome; San Antonio, TX -1:00 FOX Favorite-Saints by 3 The offical who cares game of the week, pits two teams that have quit for different reasons. The Lions looked like they wanted to be elsewhere in their debacle loss to the Bengals. The Saints just want it all to be over. Neither team will know how to react for a large crowd. The Saints still have the ability to score, though Todd Bouman (St. Cloud State grads should not be NFL starters) is now at the helm. The Detroit defense can stiffen at times, but their offense has only averaged 11 points on the road. Not a good sign Fast Fact: The Saints don't like their dome away from dome, they have lost their last two in San Antonio. The Motor City Kitties are the perfect tonic for that problem Pick-New Orleans Jacksonville (10-4) @ Houston (2-12) Reliant Stadium, Houston-1:00 CBS Favorite-Jags by 6 The Jags seem to struggle against teams that they should be taking to the woodshed and the Texans are feeling a bit froggy after thumping Arizona, damaging their chances in the Reggie Bush sweepstakes. Nevertheless the Jags offense does enough under David Garrard and the Texans don't have the offense to stand up to the punishing attack of the Jags D. Fast Fact: The Jags are the only team that the Texans have an overall winning record against at 4-3. The Jags are a good bet to even that mark. Pick-Jacksonville. NY Giants (10-4) @ Washington (8-6) FedEx Field; Landover MD-1:00 FOX Favorite-Redskins by 3 The Skins, left for dead a couple weeks ago have slugged their way back into the fringes of playoff contention, and are aching to get revenge for the 36-0 humilation that the G-Men hung on them in week 8. The Giants have the pedal to the floor and are playing solid, they've won close one more often than not and with a playoff berth in reach would love to slam the coffin on their divisional rival. Fast Fact: Tiki Barber broke theGiants team record for rushing in a season. With two games to go he has 1,577 yards bettering his old mark of 1,518. If he gets on a roll like he did last week. Clinton Portis will have another 4 carry 9 yard performance and the Skins will be doomed. Pick-New York Giants Pittsburgh (9-5) @ Cleveland (5-9) Browns Stadium, Cleveland-1:00 CBS Favorite-Steelers by 7 Give Romeo Crennel credit for keeping his charges playing hard. They might have also found their quarterback in the form of Charlie Frye, he will get a stern test from a rugged Pitt defense that has given up but 12 points in the past two games. The Steelers have picked themselves up smartly and are poised to make a late playoff dash, they will continue to use the formula that works. A heavy dose of running and keeping Ben Roethlisberger from taking any real hits. Fast Fact:Beleive it or not, the Browns actually lead the Steelers in the overall series 55-52. The Steelers will continue to close that gap much in manner that they have lately winning their last four meetings by an average 11 points. Pick-Pittsburgh San Diego (9-5) @ Kansas City (8-6) Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City, MO1:00 CBS Favorite-Chiefs by 1 One of the better early matchups has two teams needing a win to keep their dwindling playoff hopes alive. KC is all but dead if they lose and still might be if they win. SD need to win and get a bit of help, but they still have an outside chance of winning the AFC West. Both teams want to establish their will early and use their running game. Though LaDainian Tomlinson is banged up, Michael Turner might be able to pick up some of the slack. If the Chiefs keep the game close they can utilize Larry Johnson in the same way. The Chargers are not intimidated by hostile crowds as they went in to Indy and handed them a stunning upset. They will need more of that same steely resolve to win in one of the toughest venues in the NFL. Fast Fact: Larry Johnson has filled the void left by Priest Holmes injury quite capably, he has rushed for 100+ yards in each of the past seven games. They'll need another strong performance to hold off a Charger squad desperate for a win. Pick-San Diego San Francisco (2-12) @ St. Louis (5-9) Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis-1:00 FOX Favorite-Rams 9 The Niners have nosed back in the lead in Reggie Bush sweepstakes, they'll be aided by a Rams team that is trying to avoid its 1st 10 loss season since 1998, back when they were the "same ol sorry a** Rams" They're time of elite status is for all intents and purposes over. The Rams will want to avenge their shocking season opening loss and get Ryan Fitzpatrick some good experience Fast Fact: Speaking of losses, the Niners have double digit digits losses in 5 of the past 7 years. Thats a trend that won't change anytime soon. Pick-St. Louis Tennessee (4-10) @ Miami (7-7) Dolphins Stadium, Miami-1:00 CBS Favorite-Dolphins 5.5 Isn't ironic that the Fins win and get eliminated? They are getting to be one of the better young team in the league and a team to watch next year. That does them no good now, but they will finish strong against a weak Titans team playing out the string. Chris Chambers gets his turn to pick on the young Titans secondary and he will have his way. Fast Fact: The Titans have lead at the half in each of their past three road games, and have lost all three scoring a grand total of seven points. The Fins aren't an offensive juggernaut, but they have enough to put on the Titans Pick-Miami Philadelphia (6-8) @ Arizona (4-10) Sun Devil Stadium; Tempe, AZ-4:05 FOX Favorite-Cards by 1 Philly wants to prove that they aren't a drab team, but they're in the land of irrelavants right now. The Cards are hopeless. Will Denny Green last long enough to get his one time draft pick Daunte Culpepper?. Philly will sit back in a deep zone and dare the Cards to run. With Arizona's running game but a rumor. The Eagles will do all they can to make live miserable for backup Josh McCown Fast Fact: The winner of this game will take the lead in this series, its currently tied at 53 with 5 ties. Philly has a chance to at least salvage some pride out of a nightmarish season. Pick-Philly Indianapolis (13-1) @ Seattle (12-2) Qwest Field, Seattle-4:15 CBS Favorite-Seahawks by 8 Super Bowl XL preview??? In name only. Both teams will be resting starters and will want to show each other nothing in the happenstance that they might meet again in Detroit in 6 weeks. The Colts will no doubt be playing with heavy hearts for their coach who lost his son. The Seahawks will try to get to Peyton Manning early, if they do and get a lead, they'll gladly give the ball to Shawn Alexander all day and let him chase Priest Holmes TD record. Fast Fact: Both teams are riding long winning streaks, the Seahawks have won nine straight regular season games at Qwest Field; While the Colts are the definition of a rude guest having had won their last seven road games. The Colts will show nothing and will likely rest Manning and Harrison who are nursing injuries. Wonks like JT the Brick will say the Colts are slippin', but they will still have a say-so in the playoffs/ Pick-Seattle Oakland (4-10) @ Denver (11-3) Invesco Field @ Mile High, Denver-4:15 CBS Favorite-Broncos by 12.5 The Broncos need no slips as they try to hold off the Bengals for the coveted #2 seed and the playoff bye week. The Raiders look haven't been in a game in four weeks. As long as Jake Plummer doesn't try to get cute, the Broncos will use their multi-facted running game and wait paitently for the Oakland offense to self-destruct. Fast Fact: The road team has won each of the last four meetings, that will not be the case this time. Pick-Denver Sunday, December 25 Chicago (10-4) @ Green Bay (3-11) Lambeau Field, Green Bay-5:00 FOX Favorite-Bears by 6 The devil in me wants to say that Wreck...er Rex Grossman will boo-boo on himself on the fabled frozen tundra. But seeing how the Packers have...uh...packed it in. My dreams of a showdown game between the Vikes and Bears will be that, just a dream. How I hope to be wrong on this pick, but I know better. Look for the Bears to grind out the clock and keep Grossman on a short leash. The Bears will simply sit back and wait for Favre to force it, which he will with a non-existant running game and take the ball back. Fast Fact: One of the leagues oldest rivalries, these teams have played nearly 200 games. The Bears lead the series 86-78-8 Pick-Chicago Minnesota (8-6) @ Baltimore (5-9) M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore-8:30 ESPN Favorite-Ravens by 3 The Ravens are full of vigor after taking the Pack back o' the woodshed. They don't get it nearly as easy against an angry Minnesota team who got embarrassed in their crib by the Steelers. The Vikes still harbor playoff dreams however slim they are getting as the Bears will have likely clinched the NFC North by the time this game kicks off. The Vikes will still need wins to try to stay in the wild card hunt. Fast Fact: After being a one of the worst teams on the road in recent years, the Vikes are riding a three game road winning streak Pick-Minnesota Monday, December 26 New England (9-5) @ NY Jets (3-11) The Meadowlands; East Rutherford, NJ-9:00 ABC Favorite-Patriots by 6 Take a long last look, as this is the last Monday Night game on ABC. The football institution moves to ESPN next year where I fear that it will not be as big a deal. The new Sunday Night game will be on NBC and I doubt it will be as hyped up as all the Monday Night games were on ABC. Oh there is a game and it will be a snoozer, the Pats are all but locked into the #4 seed and the Jets are dreaming of Matt Linehart under center. Fast Fact: The Jets are glad to be at home, as they went 0-8 on the road this season, the last time they went winless on the road was 1964. That next year they got Joe Namath. Could another star power QB in the making? Pick-New England (survivor) Last week 10-6 Overall 142-82 (pick group) 144-80 (blog) If I don't see you personally, I want to wish a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa or Happy Holiday season no matter what you beleive don't believe whatever. Its just my seasons greetings for you and your peeps. I'm appreciate you reading my prognastications weekly. And for those that got the NCAA spec sheet last year, it'll drop again in February. For all those that don't know I got 63 of the 65 teams right. Joe Lunardi of ESPN should be so lucky!.

NFL Top 12

The playoff picture gets muddier as the weather gets colder. There are some truths though Indy is in, funk what you saw in the loss to the Chargers the Colts are still the team to beat, period. Cincy is in to the delight of their long suffering fans. They are finishing strong and will be a tough out in the playoffs New England is in, they are far from finished and will have to be dealt with Denver is in, but looking over their shoulder trying to hold off a hard charging Bengals squad that covets the #2 seed they hold. Seattle is in and a win from clinching home field advantage

Every playoff team will have at least 10 wins, the division winners will have at the very least 10 or 11 there will be no punks in this Super Bowl chase.

Dallas damaged its playoff chances by getting blasted in Washington, Tuna looks like he might give it up soon

Minnesota is on life support, they will need help to get to the postseason

Chicago despite being in the drivers seat in the NFC North is sitting on a QB controversy and it might cripple their playoff chances.

The NFC South is still a mess, but the Panthers might be taking control

The Jags and Steelers are in control of their own destiny to get to the playoffs

No one wants to deal with the Chargers now.

With those truths esposed, lets look at the Hot 12 in the NFL


1) Indy 13-1 last week 1 AFC South Champs, #1 seed in AFC playoffs(Lost to San Diego 26-17, next at Seattle) No such thing as a good loss, but Peyton and Co need not the added weight of perfection in going for 1st Super Bowl in Indy

2) Seattle 12-2 2 NFC West Champs (Beat Tennessee, 34-23 next vs Indy) This won't be a Super Bowl XL preview, both teams will be extremely vanilla

3) Cincinnati 11-3, 4 AFC North Champs (Beat Detroit 41-17, next vs Buffalo) Don't wanna hear 1990 again, 15 years of frustration vanishes. And still can get that prized 1st week playoff bye

4) Denver 11-3, 3 clinched playoff spot (Beat Buffalo 28-17 next vs Oakland) Looked sloppy before putting away dispirited Bills, a slipup could put them in #3 AFC spot

5) Carolina 10-4 5(Beat New Orleans 27-10 next vs Dallas) Locking down the NFC South

6) New York Giants 10-4, 7 (Beat Kansas City 27-17 next at Washington) Need to stay in NFC East top slot, they won't survive wild card malestrom

7) Chicago 10-4, 6 (Beat Atlanta 16-3 next at Green Bay) Ugly wins beat pretty losses, but its the wrong time for a QB controversy

8) New England 9-5, 9 (Beat Tampa Bay 28-0 next vs New York Jets) Quietly rounding into postseason form

9) San Diego 9-5, NR (Beat Indy 26-17 next at Kansas City)
The team no one wants to face in the postseason

10) Pittsburgh 9-5, 12 (Beat Minnesota 18-3 next at Cleveland) Easy road to the playoffs (at Cle, vs Det)

11) Tampa Bay 9-5 11(Lost to New England 28-0, next vs Atlanta) Bucs Freeze in the cold but still controls its playoff destiny

12) Minnesota 8-6, 10 (Lost to Pittsburgh 18-3, next at Baltimore) Bad time to take a tough loss, time is running out.

Dropped Out Dallas, 9 8-6 lost to Washington next at Carolina Tuna spoiled: Pokes get blasted by Skins and are on playoff life support

Week 15 Picks

10-6? I'm fading fast in my picks. There were some to be sure I should have known better than to pick the Texans and it annoys me that the Pokes get all the late calls. But no one saw the Dolphins beating the Chargers in San Diego (Liar! No you didn't) Anyway, things have cleared up a bit in the NFL playoff race, The Patriots and Bengals need only to win to clinch division titles and guaranteed home playoff games (wouldn't a Pats Bengals playoff game be interesting? Alas, they're on the opposite side of the playoff bracket) The Bengals might be division champs before they even finish the first quarter of their matchup with Detroit. If Pittsburgh loses to Minnesota, the Bengals clinch and since the Bengals play a late game at Ford Field, they could be celebrating their 1st division title since 1990. The NFC is a still a bit of mess, with only the Seahawks having clinched a playoff spot and division title two weeks ago, The Bears and Giants are closing fast on playoff spots, but not division titles and the NFC South is anyone's call. Still there are some good games and snoozers. The Reggie Bush sweepstakes run as follows: Houston 1-12 (Hey Kris Brown, nice shank!) San Francisco 2-11(Kevan Barlow says they're set at RB, ummm yeah) New Orleans 3-10 (I'd stay in school if I had to go here.) New York Jets 3-10 (They're blowing it with this winning streak!!! Hello? You're supposed to lose the games!) With Houston looking to clean house after the rebuilding scheme of Dom Capers, is that Dan Reeves in the wings there its anyone guess who the Texans might take, and Frisco looking a like a ghastly shell of their once dominating self. Its hard to handicap who will do what when the draft order is established. One thing I'm glad to see is that neither my beloved Vikes nor the Bengals are in this discussion. With no college football on Saturday the NFL spreads out it schedule and this week and 12/31 there will be pro games on Saturday. Week 16 has all but two games on Saturday to keep a host of games from being played on Christmas. Nevertheless, humbly submitted for your review and approval are this weeks picks. NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 15 Saturday, December 17 Tampa Bay (9-4) @ New England (8-5) Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, MA-1:30 FOX Favorite-Patriots by 4.5 Tom Brady is starting to settle into a groove and the Pats aren't winning pretty, but they are winning and thats all that matters in December. The Bucs need this win badly to keep pace in a vicious NFC playoff scramble. Look for the Pats to try to shut down the Bucs strong ground game and dare young QB Chris Simms to beat them. It has been long documented that the Bucs are not the best of cold weatther teams. Since it looks like it will be the typical northeast type of weather at the Razor and the Bucs will get cut. Pick-New England Kansas City (8-5) @ NY Giants (9-4) Giants Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ-5:00 CBS Favorite-Giants 3 The Giants and Chiefs are both coming off of tight road games. The G-men let a bad Philly team hang around before finally getting the win. The Chiefs blew a 4th quarter lead by letting Drew Bledsoe pick them apart and a chance to force OT when Lawrence Tynes pushed a last second field goal attempt to the right. The continued maturation of Eli Manning continues and he will shine against a battered Chiefs secondary. Larry Johnson might get his, but if the G-Men get a decent lead he will be no factor Pick-Giants Denver (10-3) @ Buffalo (4-9) Ralph Wilson Stadium; Orchard Park, NY-8:30 ESPN Favorite-Broncos 8 This is not the best time to be in upstate New York, but the Broncos aren't worried about the cold and the Bills aren't worried about the playoffs. Someone should go find Takeo Spikes and ask him what its like to play for a "true playoff team" Ooops thats right, he has never done it. The Broncos can lock up a playoff spot and aren't in the mood to let a bickering Bills team hang around. Pick-Denver Sunday, December 18 Arizona (4-9) @ Houston (1-12) Reliant Stadium Houston-1:00 FOX Favorite-Cardinals 1 These two teams have never played each other and after this meeting one will wonder why they were on each others schedule. Kurt Warner can put up the big numbers and usually the other team can get the points back in spades and just wait for the inevitable Warner brain cramp. This won't be the case against a Texan squad that after the shank job last week is already pre-producing Reggie Bush jerseys. Dan Reeves was recently hired by the Texans as a consultant and you'd think he'd be in line for the job, but seeing how much work this team needs, he might just stay retired. Pick-Arizona Carolina (9-4) vs New Orleans (3-10) Tiger Stadium; Baton Rouge, LA-1:00 FOX Favorite-Panthers 7 Paybacks a mutha! The Panthers were the unwilling victims of a Saints feelgood story in the season's first week. Now on the hunt for a playoff spot, they have no use for being the foil for another upset. Add to boot that they looked terrible in getting spanked by the Bucs, it all spells a long afternoon in the Bayou for the 20,000 that will spread out amongst the cavernous SEC venue. Pick-Carolina NY Jets (3-10) @ Miami (6-7) Dolphins Stadium, Miami-1:00 CBS Favorite-Dolphins 7.5 The Fins showed some gumption by damaging the Chargers playoff hopes with a gritty win in San Diego. The Fins multi-pronged running game is showing steady improvement as Ronnie Brown continues to make a name for himself and Ricky Williams is turning into a valuable trade commodity with a return to his brusing running style. This bodes bad for the Jets, feeling good after a thumping of the Raiders. They put together a good game, but they won't get the kinds of breaks against the Dolphins who still have a glimmer of hope of securing a playoff spot. Pick-Miami Philadelphia (5-8) @ St. Louis (5-8) Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis-1:00 FOX Favorite-Rams 3.5 The Rams who were trying to lock up a playoff berth trampled an Eagles team resting their starters last year. How things have changed neither team is going anywhere but home in three weeks and trying to pick up the pieces of a once promising season. The Eagles to their credit are still playing realtively tough (The Monday night debacle against Seattle notwithstanding). The Rams are trying to ride the rookie arms of Ryan Fitzpatrick and the redoubtable running of Steven Jackson. That should be enough to hold off a prideful Eagles team who make a MASH unit grimace. Pick-St. Louis Pittsburgh (8-5) @ Minnesota (8-5) H.H.H. Metrodome, Minneapolis-1:00 CBS Favorite-Steelers 3 The Steelers are coming off a badly needed win over a good Bears team while the Vikings are further distancing themselves from their early season debauchery and debacles with a six game winning streak. The health of Ben Roethlisberger will remain a question for the balance of the season while their suddenly inconsistent running game has hurt. The Vikes haven't won pretty but the steady leadership of Brad Johnson gets the job done and have the Vikes in serious contention for the playoffs. The Steelers are a tough road team, but the dome conditions will test the compsure and mettle of Roethlisberger. Add to boot the Steelers have played the fewest games indoors in the past five years and it will spell trouble for the road team. Pick-Minnesota San Diego (8-5) @ Indianapolis (13-0) RCA Dome, Indianapolis-1:00 CBS Favorite-Colts 7.5 The Chargers got caught looking ahead to this game and damaged their playoff chances by losing to a beatable Miami team. The Colts locked up the division and home field advantage by winning an easier than it looked game against the Jags. The question for the Colts is how long do they play their starters. Many pundits want the Colts to take an L here. But I see Manning, Harrison and James playing deep into the game. The Chargers are good, but the Colts are clearly on another level. Like I've said the Colts will get beat, but not this week. The Chargers will be another victim on the close but no brass ring lineup the Colts are making. Pick-Indy Seattle (11-2) @ Tennessee (4-9) The Coliseum, Nashvilee-1:00 FOX 3 points in eight quarters...thats how much the Seahawks have given up in their last two games. That does not bode well for a Titans squad searching for some offense. Shaun Alexander should have fun going through the Titans defense that has been punished by the like of Rudi Johnson, Jerome Bettis, Fred Taylor Edgerrin James, and Larry Johnson. Pick-Seattle San Francisco (2-11) @ Jacksonville (9-4) Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville-1:00 FOX Favorite-Jags 14.5 The Jags are in a bad mood, having not backed up their tough talk of beating the Colts and the poor Niners will feel their wrath. Alex Smith has thrown more INT's this season (9) than he did in his collegiate career at Utah and has yet to throw a touchdown pass. This is not a good situation to be put in against a ballhawking, roughneck defense that the Jags possess. This game will get ugly in a hurry. Pick-Jacksonville Cincinnati (10-3) @ Detroit (4-9) Ford Field, Detroit-4:05 CBS Favorite-Bengals 7 The Bengals played down to their opponent when they let a so-so Browns team hang around till the end. This will not be the case this week against a Lions team that look frightenly like the old Bungles of years past. The Bengals excorise any and all demons of the bad old days with a bounce back game by Carson Palmer and if Rudi Johnson gets rolling against a soft Lions interior, look out. Pick-Cincinnati (survivor pick) Cleveland (4-9) @ Oakland (4-9) McAfee Coliseum, Oakland-4:05 CBS Favorite Raiders 3 The Browns played way over their heads in giving the Bengals a hard time last week and the Charlie Frye will continue to learn how to play in hostile enviroments. The Raiders played down to their opponent, looking like clowns in a pitiful performance in New York against the Jets. Black Hole or not, the Raiders have mailed it in and Romeo Crennel will continue to drop hints why this team is much improved. The Browns will steal a game or two down the stretch and this will be one of them. Pick-Cleveland Dallas (8-5) @ Washington (7-6) FedEx Field; Landover, MD-4:15 FOX Favorite-Cowboys 3 For the first time in a long while a late-season Redskins-Cowboys game with meaning. The Pokes got away with an undeserved win against the Chiefs while the Skins keep hanging 'round the fringes of the wild card chase. I know everyone says I have a irrational hatred of Tuna and the Pokes, but they've beaten no one of any consequence on their schedule save two AFC teams and the Giants and struggled to win all of them. The Skins are guilty of their own winnable game letdowns, but I have that feeling that they would love to throw a big monkey wrench in the Pokes postseason plans. Drew Bledsoe is due for another brain cramp game. Pick-Washington Atlanta (8-5) @ Chicago (9-4) Soldier Field, Chicago-8:30 ESPN Favorite- The Falcons despite a badly needed win over the Saints Monday are hurting. Dynamic QB Michael Vick is suffering through bruised ribs which could limit his mobility. Look for the Falcons to lean even more on the speedy tandem of Warrick (Git-er) Dunn and TJ Duckett. The Falcons have played very few games in December or later in cold weather. Though the last time they did, they walked out with a stunning upset over the Packers in the 2002 playoffs. The Falcons are a better team now than they were then and the Bears are starting to doubt themselves after being manhandled by the Steelers and noticing the Vikings charging hard in their rearview. The Bears can only live so long on a stout defense, when the offense dries up like its doing, you're in trouble. Pick-Atlanta Monday, December 19 Green Bay (3-10) @ Baltimore (4-9) M&T Bank Stadium-9:00 ABC Favorite-Ravens 3 The Pack gamely slugged their way to an overtime win against Detroit and they won't need a lot of points to push around a Ravens team that is allergic to offense and whose defense is not up to its usual high standards. The Pack will try to use hot rookie Samkon Gado often and hope he doesn't pull another 7 carry, 8 yard MNF boo-boo job like he did against the Vikings 4 weeks ago. Kyle Boller is a joke, and Brian Billick might lose his job banking on him. This might be Brett Favre's last Monday Night go-round (Though knowing me as a hardcore Vikings fan, you'd be surprised to hear me say I hope its not) he might jsut decide to shine one more time under the lights. Pick-Green Bay Last Week 10-6 Overall: 134-74 (blog) 132-76 (pick group) 20 Days till the USC-Texas showdown!!! Officially now known as the game of the millenium (At least so far)

Turkey Day Picks

The weekend starts early this week on one the best football weekends of the year short of New Years. Watch the pros on Thursday, College on Friday and Saturday and more Pros on Sunday. Thats a football sammich that this scribe will dig into quicker than the turkey leftovers! Last week was so-so, after a rocky start in the early games I swept all the late games (Sorry Cincy, I just had a feeling) the Sunday Night game (a gimme) and the Monday Night Game (So much for Favre's monday night magic) to finish over .500 for the week. The docket of games is a bit tougher this week. Enjoy the turkey and the holiday! Week 12 SCHEDULE Thursday, November 24 Atlanta (6-4) @ Detroit (4-6) -12:30 Fox Ford Field Detroit Both teams seem to be heading south, Detroit looks like it has given up while the Falcons can't catch a break in close games. The Lions usually play their turkey day game relatively tough, so this game will be close. But the ATL needs a win badly to stay in the NFC South race and the Lions have that "whens this gonna be over" look already Pick-Atlanta Denver (8-2) @ Dallas (7-3)-4:15 CBS Texas Stadium; Irving, TX This has all the makings of a Thanksgiving classic. Denver is a roll and Dallas has that swagger about them once again. This game will be a lot better than the last couple of Dallas turkey day snoozers. Jake Plummer went from a turnover machine to a model of efficency and the Pokes offense while unspectaclar is solid. The Broncs will use their better diversified offense to control the clock and force the Tuna to do what he loathes doing, airing it out to catch up. Pick-Denver Sunday, November 27 Baltimore (3-7) @ Cincinnati (7-3) Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati-1:00 CBS The Ravens are flying high after outslugging the Steelers in OT, but are catching the Bengals at the wrong time. The men in Stripes are looking for someone to take their frustrations out on after losing a shootout to the Colts. The Ravens won't be able to get away with offensive ineptitude against the Bengals, they have too many weapons and if the Bengals move the ball against the Ravens like they did against a good Colts defense, they won't have to worry if 37 will be enough to win. Pick-Cincinnati Carolina (7-3) @ Buffalo (4-6) Ralph Wilson Stadium; Orchard Park, NY-1:00 Fox Pity the poor Bills, they have to fly back cross-country after taking an awful beating at the hands of the Chargers and face an angry Panthers team that was humiliated by the Bears. You think JP Losman had a hard time against the Chargers defense, it'll be tougher in spades against a top flight Panthers defense. Pick-Carolina Chicago (7-3) @ Tampa Bay (7-3) Raymond James Stadium, Tampa-1:00 Fox At season's start, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone that would've thought that this would be a matchup of the NFC's top teams. Da Bears aren't flashy and are sock you in the mouth type team that win games ugly. The Bucs have put up 30 or more points in their past two games and the Cadillac seems to running good again. The Bucs will try to jack up the score, they cannot try to play a slug it out game with Da Bears, the slower this game is the more it favors Chicago. Pick-Tampa Bay Cleveland (3-7) @ Minnesota (5-5) HHH Metrodome, Minneapolis-1:00 CBS Both teams are feeling good about themselves after wins. The Browns stunning shutout of the Dolphins raised some eyebrows, but they were facing a one-dimensional Dolphin team. They now face a Viking squad who are finding their sea legs and have won three in a row. The Vikings will remind no one of their offensive prowess of days gone by, but they will do enough to beat the Browns who still are trying to figure out to win away from Cleveland Pick-Minnesota New England (6-4) @ Kansas City (6-4) Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City, MO-1:00 CBS At the beginning of the season, this looked like a matchup of playoff contenders of the first rank. Now its a matchup of playoff contenders trying to stay in the hunt.The Pats are dominating a weak AFC East, while Chiefs are struggling to stay afloat in the murderous AFC West. The Pats may have found a new running threat with the bullish while the Chiefs haven't lost a step with the redoubtable Larry Johnson filling in capably for the injured Priest Holmes. This game is a toss-up, but the Chiefs can pick on a weak Pats secondary and while Tom Brady is more than capable of holding his own in this matchup. The Pats defense is not what it used to be and the Chiefs will exploit that advantage Pick-Kansas City San Diego (6-4) @ Washington (5-5) FedEx Field; Landover, MD-1:00 CBS The Skins are reeling having had dropped 5 of their last 7 and are fading fast. The Chargers have to make another trip to the East Coast, but they have too much offense for the Skins to cope with. Joe Gibbs will look and see LaDainian Tomlinson and wistfully rememeber days gone by. Pick-San Diego San Francisco (2-8) @ Tennessee (2-8) The Coliseum; Nashville-1:00 Fox The Niners gave the Seahawks all they could handle but lost, the Titans gave the Jags all they could handle but lost. Why do I get the feeling that this will be a 13-3 game? Pick-Tennessee St. Louis (4-6) @ Houston (1-9) Reliant Stadium, Houston-1:00 Fox Finally, a team that the Rams can pick on. The Rams looked listless in a shocking loss to the Cards. The Texans??? Heh, Heh. You don't really think that they will give the Rams trouble do you? Pick-St. Louis Jacksonville (7-3) @ Arizona (3-7) Sun Devil Stadium; Tempe, AZ -4:05 CBS Arizona is feeling good about itself after thumping the Rams, but the degree of difficulty gets much steeper with a tough Jags team that is still trying to position itself for a playoff run. Good teams don't trip in games like this and the Jags won't stumble here. Pick-Jacksonville Miami (3-7) @ Oakland (4-6) Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland-4:05 CBS This used to pack a punch. Like I said used to. The Fins are looking punch drunk and the Raiders offense is punchy at best, and punchless at worst. The Dolphins look lost outside of Florida and the Raiders have just enough to keep it that way Pick-Oakland Green Bay (2-8) @ Philadelphia (4-6) Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia-4:15 Fox At seasons beginning this was a rematch of two elite teams. The Eagles whalloped the Pack 48-17 last year in much happier times. The Eagles are lost, but they should have more than enough to be able to slap around the Pack, who despite the heroic efforts of Brett Favre are looking like that they are done for the season. Pick-Philadelphia NY Giants (7-3) @ Seattle (8-2) Qwest Field, Seattle-4:15 Fox An unlikely top matchup at seasons beginning, the G-Men and Seahawks can put up points a plenty. But I'm still just not sold on the G-Men getting it done on the road against a tough Seattle team that seems to have found its stride and behind Shawn Alexander is rolling to the playoffs. Pick-Seattle New Orleans (2-8) @ NY Jets (2-8) The Meadowlands; East Rutherford, NJ-8:30 ESPN Yet another worthless Sunday night game between two worthless teams. Games like this make me want to start checking out Desperate Housewives... In any case the Jets packed it in a long time ago and are just looking for warm bodies to play QB. I don't know if they have called Jeff George or Kordell Stewart yet., The Saints have their own set of problem but will win just because they are at least playing harder and have more talent. Pick-New Orleans Monday, November 28 Pittsburgh (7-3) @ Indianapolis (10-0) RCA Dome, Indianapolis-9:00 ABC The week's best matchup by far. The Colts passed their first test, outgunning a game Bengals squad. The Steelers look confused and fell to a Ravens team that scares only itself. The Colts scored 45 against a good defense with a good offense. The Steelers have a good defense, but a pathetic offense. Not a good combo versus an Indy team in its own crib. Pick-Indy Last Week 9-7 Overall 99-61(blog) 96-64 (pick group) College Games to Check Out #2Texas @ Texas A&M Kyle Field; College Station, TX 12:00 Fri-ABC Vince Young will try to counteract the Reggie Bush hype by leading his Longhorns in a beatdown of their in-state rivals. The fabled 12th Man of Aggies lore will be of no help in this game. This might not be the close contest that one would hope for, but its a good chance to see the redoubtable Young do his thing. Arkansas @ #3 LSU Tiger Stadium; Baton Rouge, LA 3:00 Fri-CBS Lots at stake here, LSU wraps up a trip to the SEC Title game with a win here and Arkansas is relishing its role as potential spoiler. LSU hasn't lost since losing an OT heartbreaker vs Tennessee and has played with a vengence all season, not a good sign for a young Razorback squad. Florida (7-3) @ Florida State (7-3) Florida Field, Gainesville-Sat 3:30-CBS A late season non-conference game that has little national implications but loads of intrigue and team animosity. Urban Meyer can salvage some pride here by knocking off his in-state nemesis South Florida (6-3) @ Connecticut (4-5) Rentschler Field; Stoors, CT-3:30 ABC This ain't a misprint. A big Big East game between two squad looking to make a statement in their first network televised game. Both teams have flown under the radar but are solid squads. UConn can get into bowl contention with a win here and South Florida dares to dream of a BCS berth. Don't laugh, the Bulls have made the jump from non-existance to Div 1-A in a hurry and done it well. A win here sets up a showdown with West Virginia in a game that was postponed by Hurricane Wilma.

Vote For Bush...Reggie That is.

I'm a Bush man...I'm a huge Bush supporter. I'd vote for Bush...I think he is one of the greatest... Just in case you think I've gone crazy, I'm speaking of Reggie...not Dubya who is the front runner now for the Heisman trophy, sorry Matt you won't win a second Heisman. I'm not sure if you stayed up late to see it, most folks east of the Mississppi didn't see the bravara performance turned in by Reggie Bush of USC Saturday night against Fresno State. 513 all purpose yards and he was the reason that the Bulldogs didn't pull off the shocking upset. Fresno State gave the Trojans all they could handle and then some. But in the end they had no answer for Reggie Bush and USC stayed unbeaten with a 50-42 shootout win. For all the naysayers that are bleating that USC's exposed as a weak defensive team, you are giving no credit to a fine Fresno State offense. I warned you that USC wouldn't roll over the Bulldogs and the days of 30 and 40 point wins were gone. The Trojans get a week off to prep for UCLA and a win here gets them to the Rose Bowl. Texas still has to beat A&M and win the Big 12 championship in Houston on 12/3, which they should do. Watching the Colts-Bengals game Sunday was like watching a video game. The action was fast and furious and the scoring was almost non stop. In the end the Colts remained unbeaten and the Bengals gained a lot of respect. Coach Marvin Lewis bristled at the talk of a "moral victory" But short of a win this was the result the Bengals wanted. They lost, true but they did not disgrace themselves. They didn't play like the scared punks like they did against the Steelers and I think given the rematch, they can and will beat them.

Power 5
1) USC (11-0, last week 1, beat Fresno State 50-42, next 12/3 vs UCLA) Bush is a beast as Trojans outgun a game Bulldog squad, has a week off before date with arch-rival Bruins.

2) Texas (10-0, 2 off next vs Texas A&M 11/25 Post-Thanksgiving meeting with tradtional rival all that stands between Horns and history

3) LSU (9-1, 4 beat Ole Miss 40-7 next vs Arkansas 11/25) Remember these guys??? The Tigers throttle an overmatched opponent, win vs rival might get them to SEC Championship

4) Penn State (10-1, 5 beat Michigan St 31-22, next TBD) Joe Pa is too old, the game has passed him by. For the record, I never said it and the Nittany Lions are laughing their way to a BCS bowl game

5) Virginia Tech (9-1 NR, beat Virginia 52-14, next vs North Carolina)
Uh oh, its them Hokies again. Slammed in-state rival and win vs hapless Tar Heels gets them to ACC championship

Dropped Out Miami (9-2, 3 lost to Ga. Tech 14-10 next vs Virginia) Picked a bad time for offense to go brain dead, chances for outside shot at ACC title and BCS bowl bid shot to pieces

The Tigers can clinch a spot in the Southeastern Conference championship by beating Arkansas at home Friday. Virginia Tech will play Florida State in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game if the Hokies beat North Carolina on Saturday.
LSU is already ahead of Penn State in the polls, but the Tigers trail in the Nittany Lions in the computers. LSU’s computer rating could get a nice boost with a win over Georgia in the SEC championship game on Dec. 3 in the Georgia Dome.

The Turkey Day picks and predictions will be ready on Wednesday, the line for the game will be left off of the Thanksgiving Day game unless I can get the odds from ESPN. I'll add more info on the games on Friday. So if you see things change, you'll know why.

A Year after the palace brawl

Its been a year since the Palace Brawl and folks are still talking about it. You remember an early season matchup nationally televised between two teams that had played a tough 7 game series the previous spring and the Pacers were winning this matchup over the Pistons when all hell broke loose. It started when Ben Wallace and Ron Artest got into a scuffle late in the game. There was the customary pushing and shoving, but Artest who is known as a quick tempered individual actually walked away and laid across the scorers table. It was a funny pose at first glance. The calm Artest looking relaxed and saying "Ya'll ain't baiting me into a fight. I'ma chill over here." Then a cup of ice hits him from the stands. Artest jumps up and charged into the stands. He passed the person who really threw the cup and instead belted a laughing patron who looked surprised as anyone the Artest was actually in the stands. You could see the fan laughing, then mouth the words "Oh, not me not me!" Before Artest slugs him, the guy who threw the cup jumps on Artest from behind. I'm not in anyway excuse Artrest's actions. He was suspended for the rest of the 04-05 season and rightfully so. The Pacers struggled to make the playoffs at 44-38 but got to the conference semis before losing to Detroit. But the fact that people are still talking about it and the impact on the game boggles the mind Will TO get his job back...does anyone care? why are we even talking about it?

Week 11 Picks

11 weeks in and only the Texans, Ravens, Jets and Packers are prepping for the Leinart/Bush Sweepstakes My picks have gotten better and better as time goes on, I can't expect to have 13-1 weeks all the time. Though the Skins let me down by blowing that lead and I should have known that the Vikes would make me look foolish when I didn't pick them, but lets be real no one saw that coming. In any case the picks will follow soon enough for this week. No more bye to deal with so the football junkies can get their full fix from here on in. College football is having its traditional rivalry week, with the exception of the Army-Navy and USC-UCLA game most of the storied rivalries are on tap this week. Though none of the big boys in the BCS mix are facing any real true test, these games should be top notch and I'll give you a couple to keep your eye on after the pro picks after a few observations on the sports world I find it hard to believe but I'm giving dap to Bud Selig, seriously. The shady o'grady car salesman (Thats what he was before he owned the Brewers and then became MLB commish) came up with a steroids/drug program with some teeth and one that make sense. 50 games for the first offense, 100 games for the second (both suspensions without pay) and in the words of columnist Mike Lopresti Pete Roseville for the third, a lifetime ban but players can apply for reinstatement after two years. Do you think anyone will get to that point? I don't, 1/3 of the season without pay hits the ball players where it hurts the most, in the wallet. Thats enough of a deterrent. The MLB players Union is in a corner, if they don't ratify this they'll look bad in the court of public opinion. I usually ignore basketball until the first of the year, I feel like both pro and college basketball matters little until the calendar turns and all the patty cake games in the college games are out of the way and the pro game has shook the pretenders out but I have to give props to one team and I know it will make some people grit their teeth, but lets give phat dap to... The Los Angeles Clippers! No seriously this team is not only playing well, but they have a better record than their more heralded roomies at the the Staples Center. The Lake Show with all the talk about Phil being back and Kobe being a leader the Lake Show has delved into their usual. Kobe wanting to be Jordan and Phil already looking like he's questioning his sanity for coming back. Well he can comfort himself in the thought that at least he's not coaching the Knicks. On the for real tip has anyone really given any thought to the college basketball season? As a UC alum, its been hard to really get up for the season. And no, you UK fanatics it isn't because you think I'm worried that the Cats will take lumps in the Big East. Maybe its because this football season is still playing itself out. Check back with me next month and I'll have something to say. Anyhoo, I'll keep my rants and ravings brief, submitted for your review and approval are this weeks picks. NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 11 Sunday, November 20 Arizona (2-7) @ St. Louis (4-5) Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis-1:00 FOX Favorite-Rams by 9.5 The Rams are losing games that they should win, and winning games that they should lose. I hate picking games like this, but I have a feeling that the Rams will pick apart the Cards D with a more healthy offense. The Cards while strong in the passing game has a running game that no one fears, which the Rams know they can sit back and wait for their former QB Kurt Warner to try to force the ball and make mistakes. The Rams offensive balance should more than make up for the deficits that they have in the secondary. Pick-St. Louis Carolina (7-2) @ Chicago (6-3) Soldier Field, Chicago-1:00 FOX Favorite-Panthers by 3 If you like defenses, this is a game you'll love. Both teams bring slobberknocker defenses and prefer to keep the scoring low. The problem with Da Bears is that they have no real offense to utilize. Kyle Orton cannot be trusted to lead an offense and with no tangible running game that spells trouble against a hard charging, lightning quick Panther defense. The Panthers while no offensive juggernaut is capable of moving the ball with Stephen Davis and Jake Delhomme directing passes to the capable hands of Steve Smith. The Bears need only make a couple of mistakes and the Panthers will cash them in and put the Bears behind the 8-ball. Pick-Carolina Detroit (4-5) @ Dallas (6-3) Texas Stadium; Irving TX-1:00 FOX Favorite-Cowboys by 8 The Tuna must be living right, he gets the Eagles when they are down in mouth after the TO situation and then they get the Lions who everyone knows that Joey Harrington will not have back to back good games. The Pokes defense while a bit undersized are for the Lions a big step up from picking on a sorry Cards secondary. Roy Williams will not let Harrington get away with the kind of throws he made a week earlier. Dallas knows in the airtight NFC East they can ill afford any slipups and they won't do that here. Pick-Dallas Jacksonville (6-3) @ Tennessee (2-7) The Coliseum, Nashville-1:00 CBS Favorite-Jags by 4 This game reeks of an upset, The Titans like to run and the Jags have all sorts of trouble stopping the run. The problem is the Titans have no credible passing game, no disrepect to an old pro like Steve McNair but the poor boy has no one to throw it to. The Jags are full of question marks though, especially if Fred Taylor isn't a go or not 100% dealing with an ankle injury. Byron Leftwich will try to get the ball to the dependable Jimmy Smith but something tells me that the Jags are waaaay overdue for a brain freeze game. Dare to go out on a limb, but this will be the upset special of the week Pick-Tennessee Miami (3-6) @ Cleveland (3-6) Browns Stadium, Cleveland-1:00 CBS Favorite-Browns by 2 The Fins make a cold weather city stop and school of thought is that they'll do poorly, not so in my school. The Browns have a puny offense and the Fins D is stout enough to have an easy go at it. Look for the increasingly hard to handle Ronnie Brown and the resurgent Ricky Williams to be the focal point of the Miami offense and pound the ball at the Browns D. Pick-Miami New Orleans (2-7) @ New England (5-4) Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, MA-1:00 FOX Favorite-Patriots by 9.5 This game reeks of upset potential as well. The Saints are refreshed after a badly needed bye week and the Pats buckled but didn't break in a tight contest in Miami. The Saints have the potential for an aerial show with Joe Horn and Donte' Stallworth stretching the field, but Aaron Brooks is the Webster's defintion of inconsistent. Though all signs point to a Pats team ripe for an upset. I can't see them losing back to back at The Razor. The Saints will make it interesting however. Pick-New England Oakland (3-6) @ Washington (5-4) FedEx Field; Landover, MD-1:00 CBS Favorite-Washington by 5.5 Both teams can put up the points, but the Raiders have a weaker secondary. With a healthier Randy Moss and Lamont Jordan the Raiders can better utilize a play-action passing game. The Redskins are getting tougher and tougher to beat at home and the Raiders aren't very good outside the black hole. If Clinton Portis gets his roll on, it could be a long day for the Silver and Black Pick-Washington Philadelphia (4-5) @ NY Giants (6-3) Giants Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ-1:00 FOX Favorite-No Line No DMcNabb, No TO, facing a Giants team that is angry over the stunning loss to the Vikes andremembering what happened to the Skins when their team patriarch Wellington Mara passed knowing that the G-Men are again playing with heavy hearts after losing team co-owner Lawrence Tisch to brain cancer. All one has to say to Philly is "Best of luck, my friend!" Pick-New York Giants Pittsburgh (7-2) @ Baltimore (2-7) M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore-1:00 CBS Favorite-No Line Does it matter who the QB is for the Steelers? Not really, they can put up enough points to run the Ravens out who have no idea who to turn to to QB their squad. Jamal Lewis looks lost and the Steelers will take every advantage they can. The Ravens have had massive trouble getting the ball into the end zone having gone 2 games with out scoring a touchdown. Even at home, doing that against a Steelers D will be lethal. Pick-Pittsburgh Tampa Bay (6-3) @ Atlanta (6-3) Georgia Dome, Atlanta-1:00 FOX Favorite-Falcons by 6 One of the better early games, the winner stays with in distance of the red-hot Carolina Panthers while the loser suddenly gets desperate. The Falcons came up woefully flat against a bad Packers team while the Bucs look to build on their last minute win over the Redskins. The Falcons want to get a lead early and not only pound the ball with their strong running game, but force Chucky to depend on Chris Simms to pass their way back in the game. Simms has yet to prove he can win in a hostile enviroment and the Georgia Dome will be hostile as any venue you can find. Pick-Atlanta Seattle (7-2) @ San Francisco (2-7) Monster Park, San Francisco-4:05 FOX Favorite-Seahawks by 11.5 I don't trust the Niners as far as I can throw them. In road games they are dead meat, but they play teams in the Old Candlestick tough. The Seahawks are trying to bear down for a playoff push and the Niners are but a speed bump in the way. The Niners have a puny offense and while the Seahawks are not that strong a defensive team, they shouldn't have a realShawn Alexander will have his way running through the leaky Niners defense and the Seahawks will use his running and a ball controlling offense to pound the Niners into submission. Pick-Seattle Buffalo (4-5) @ San Diego (5-4) Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego-4:15 CBS Favorite-Chargers by 10 This is a game that both these teams need badly to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Chargers are riding the redoubtable Landainian Tomlinson to wins and have rediscovered the budding talent that they have in TE Antonio Gates. Betting on the Bills is risky. One cannot be sure if JP Losman's solid performance against the Chiefs was a one time thing or a sign of things to come. The feeling is here that it was a one time fluky performance. Buffalo for better or worse has to ride or die with Losman's growing pains with Kelly Holcombe out and they go down hard here to a no-nonsense Charger squad that is trying to keep Denver in its sights and Kansas City off its back in the tight AFC West. Pick-San Diego Indianapolis (9-0) @ Cincinnati (7-2) Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati-4:15 CBS Favorite-Colts by 5 The big game of the week has two high-powered offenses and two better than advertised defenses. The Colts are no stranger to big games like this, but one has to wonder if the Bengals will get stage fright again. Their last two highly advertised games against Jacksonville and Pittsburgh resulted in losses. The critics say that both teams have built their records on the backs of weak competition. We'll see which team is the real deal. The Colts cannot afford to have the type of special teams gaffes that they got away with against Houston as Cincy will cash those opportunites like welfare checks. The Bengals on the other hand can't be pushed around like they have been in losses and the Colts have the pushers on both sides of the ball. This game will be a shootout and though this one I won't be sad if I'm wrong. I can't see the Bengals pulling a repeat of their upset of Kansas City from 2003. The Colts have too many weapons and the Bengals have a little more growing to do. Pick-Indy NY Jets (2-7) @ Denver (7-2) Invesco Field @ Mile High, Denver-4:15 CBS Favorite-Broncos by 13 The Jets continue their death march with another hostile venue trip against a playoff bound squad. The Broncos will do little to ease Herm Edwards pain and wishing that this season would be over. With the Jets puny offense, it will be soon. The Broncos are trying to keep the distance between themselves and pursuing teams from KC and San Diego. With a tough trip to Dallas on the docket four days after this one, the Broncos will pounce on the Jets early to avoid any real struggle and get prepped for a Thanksgiving battle. Pick-Denver Kansas City (5-4) @ Houston (1-8) Reliant Stadium, Houston-8:30 ESPN Favorite-Chiefs by 6.5 I'm annoyed that the Texans who have all the personality of field turf have a second primetime game. It still speaks volumes that the NFL still think of the Bengals as a lop-eared mutt, that gets hidden away from sight. That said, the timing of this game could not be worse. the Texans despite their scrappy effort against the Colts are out of their league and the Chiefs angry over a poor showing against a Bills team that they should have beaten are in no mood to play nice. This game will be a repeat of the last time the Texans were on Sunday Night, uggggly and over quick. Pick (Survivor of the week)-Kansas City Monday, November 21 Minnesota (4-5) @ Green Bay (2-7) Lambeau Field; Green Bay, WI-9:00 ABC Favorite-Packers by 4 Please everyone stop with the "Oh its Brett Favre's last game on monday night and he's going to go off." I have a hard time believing that Brett Favre will just fade away after this season considering the number of injuries that his team has had to deal with. That said, the Vikings have pipe dreams of getting back into the weak NFC North race. The Packers will be plenty fired up and the game will be tight, but the Vikes have just enough talent to hang on. Pick-Minnesota Last Week 10-4 Overall: 90-54 (blog) 87-57 (pick 'em group) College Games to watch Ohio State @ Michigan Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI-1:00 ABC Both teams have an outside shot at winning the Big Ten title, though they need Penn State to lose. But both teams could be at the bottom of the conference and this game would still be a high drama, tension filled contest. The Bucks rode the high-wire play of Ted Ginn Jr. to a rout of Michigan who went to the Rose Bowl anyway, neither team will go there this year as the BCS championship is there this yeat, but bragging rights are still on the line and its fun to watch each teams fans go out of their way to irritate one another Alabama @ Auburn Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL-3:30 CBS Called the Iron Bowl, this one the the SEC's best known and fiercest rivalries. The names in this rivalry are a who's who in college football from Bo Jackson to Bear Bryant to Pat Sullivan to Joe Namath this game drips with history and drama. These teams have more mascots and nicknames than should be allowed. Auburn will answer to Tiger or War Eagle, Bama is the Crimson Tide but their mascot is an elephant. Auburn currently holds a three game winning streak over a weakened Bama squad, do you think the revitalized Crimson Tide wants to change that? Cal @ Stanford Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto CA-7 ABC People remember this matchup for the Stanford band running on the field prematurely in 1982 as Cal pulled off an improbable multi-lateral kickoff return. (I've watched the replay and all the laterals were legal) Many forget that the play cost Stanford QB John Elway his lone shot at going to a bowl game (There were considerably less bowl games then) Cal is a lot better this year than the Cardinal but one can never tell in rivalry games like this one and in front of their home crowd anything can happen.

Another Post???

Don't ask me why I've been making more entries now than in recent memory. Some things haven't changed for me. Quick Hits Sheryl Swoopes announced that she was gay, so what. She is still one of the best b-ball players that I've ever seen. I saw her drop 47 on Ohio St. in the NCAA championship game a few years back and still think it was one of the baddest primetime performances ever. I saw her constantly torment the Minnesota Lynx. I had courtside seats for one game and after draining another three. I stood up and screamed. "Swoopes, ya killin' me!" She just winked at me as she ran past and every time after when she'd drain a shot, she'd look over at me and wink again. That's what I think of when I hear about her. I could care less what she does off court as long as it doesn't involve illegal activity. Its her business.

Wheres TO Gonna GO?

I had went to bed thinking it was a done deal. The Tuna betrayed me again and the Cowboys play flat again in a game that I had picked them to win. I get up this morning and was shocked to find that the Cowboys scored two late TD's 14 seconds apart and stun the Eagles 21-20. This all but assures the Eagles will miss the playoffs for the first time since Donavon McNabb's rookie year. McNabb made a horrible mistake in this game throwing a pass that Roy Williams picked off and went 46 yards for the winning score. The pass was so ill timed, I could have picked it off and went 20-30 yards with it. You let an all-pro like Williams get something like that... The Eagles are adjusting badly to life without TO, having dropped 2 tight games. Would he have made a difference? More than likely, but we'll never know. The Eagles may now wish that they had just suspended TO for a game or fined him a game check or something. Now you ask me, was the punishment justified? I thought it was a bit harsh, but the precedent had been set when the Bucs sat Keyshawn Johnson after Jon Gruden tired of his bitching. The Eagles figured that sitting TO down would be the best case. They might be hurt in the short term but they will be a better team for it. Speaking of a girl named Suzy (sorry for the Tribe Calle Quest reference) The spec now goes to where the locaquacious receiver will land now. You can eliminate all but three teams according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen Miami, Denver and curiously Dallas where Keyshawn Johnson has been since last season. Miami wouldn't work cause their QB situation is a mess and it would be a hot second before TO started up again. Denver is an interesting scenario. You know that Shanahan likes to take a gamble or ten. Pokes owner Jerry Jones wasn't shy about expressing his interest in TO despite his showboating on the Cowboys Logo at Texas Stadium a few years ago. Albert Pujols had better win the MVP. Derek Lee is a nice story and had a good year and Andruw Jones is a stud/pimp in his own right, but Pujols is simply put the best player in baseball not named Bonds.

BCS Thinks they've got it right

The thing I hate the most about traveling is that you never realize how much driving takes out of you...after a busy weekend watching college and pro football, your humble scribe may be draggin a bit but still ready to give you fresh insight on the sporting world. Another team falls from the unbeaten ranks and the BCS is shrill in its cries "See we were right, it works itself out!" Alabama's offense (or lack of it) fianlly caught up to them and LSU beat them in a thrilling OT classic. So now there are two. Texas, who are making sure no one even thinks of dropping them from the second spot that they hold and are more or less whiling the time until they have to get up for a big game. Though it would bode well for any team that is on their slate to not say a word bad about the Longhorns. The win clinched the Southern Division in the Big 12 and gets them to championship game in Houston on Dec. 3, likely against Colorado a team they have already beaten. On the Pro side, the Giants are cruising along and there are whispers of an all-Manning Super Bowl. What happens? The Vikings run a punt, a kickoff and an interception back for scores. The first NFL team to do so and spring a 24-21 upset. The Falcons are an NFC elite team, but they fall victim to the woeful pack 33-25, which means the Packers still have scored more points than they have given up and are 2-7. Some things don't change though, the Colts yawned as the Texans tried to hang close, score on their 1st drive of the second half to close the game to 21-14, but the Colts zipped right back down the field and answered their TD with a "gotcha back" one of their own and won 31-17 they're next opponent will be a lot harder to run off than that.

Power 5

1 USC (10-0Last week 1 beat Cal 35-10, next vs Fresno St)
Cal breaks the streak! The streak of 50 point games that USC had, no one said anything about beating them. The teams get tougher now

2 Texas (10-0 2, Beat Kansas 66-14, next at Texas A&M 11/25) Horns put a frighteningly brutal beating on Kansas in (Vince Young's??) home finale, Aggies get almost two weeks to think about what kind of beating they'll get.

3) Miami (8-1 4, beat Wake Forest 47-17, next vs Ga Tech )
Looked bored in stomping Wake, hurricanes did their brethern no favors as this game is in what should have been a bye week to prep for Virginia,

4) LSU (8-1, NR beat then #3 Alabama 16-13 in OT, next at Ole Miss) Two week layoff from SEC play didn't hurt them, still in line for SEC title game and BCS shot

5) Penn. St (9-1,5 on a bye, next vs Michigan St.) Win here gives them Big 10 title outright and BCS berth

Dropped Out Alabama
(9-1, 3 lost to LSU 16-13 in OT, next at Auburn) Lack of offense caught up to Tide, Yearly grudge match vs archrival still has high stakes

Keep an Eye on
Va Tech (8-1, next vs Virginia) Out of Championship picture but can win out and get to ACC title game)

A-Rod wins the MVP...why? he had great numbers but the Yankees were the same bickering Bronx Zoo that they have been for a while, Papi Ortiz was the thinking mans choice for the MVP, though nowhere near as polished in the media as the glib, media friendly Rodriguez is. The thought that my beloved Twins traded him away annoys me to no end.

Sooner or Later Ya'll Gonna Listen To Me...

I hate to say...I hate to say it, Its probably me-Sting

No actually it was me.

With the exception of the Titans-Browns game that was a self described toss up. I just seemed like every game that I pick came down the line, just like I said they would. You laughed at me when I said that the Vikes would handle the Lions, sneered at me when I said the Bengals would shoot down the Ravens and snickered when I said not to worry about the Skins that they would get it done against Philly. Hmmm it seemed that all of them came down right.
And did you enjoy those games that I told you to watch besides that Va. Tech/Miami snoozer?
Sooner or later you'll listen to me.

Big Shakeup in the Power 5 of course with Miami throttling the Hokies they move up, but not past Bama. The hell with what the AP says.

1) USC (9-0 Last week 1, beat Stanford 51-21 next vs Cal)
Steamrolled Cardinal, the curve starts to get steeper as they face a good Cal squad that was ranked as recently as last week.

2) Texas (9-0 2, beat Baylor 62-0, next vs Kansas)
The Longhorn massacres continue, pity the poor Jayhawks who face a huge comedown after 1st win over Nebraska since the stone age.

3) Alabama (9-0 4, beat Mississippi St 17-0, next vs LSU)
How long can the Tide live on their defense??? The Tide will have to do a lot more to beat a damn good Bayou Bengal team.

4) Miami (7-1 5, beat Va Tech 27-7 next at Wake Forest)
The U brought the pain and made Marcus Vick look human, but they will be behind any unbeaten team

5) Penn St (9-1, beat Wisconsin 35-14 next at Michigan St 11/19) A second (literally) from being undefeated and in the championship mix.

Dropped Out
Va Tech (8-1 lost to Miami 27-7, next at Virginia)
Canes shatter national title dreams, but a ACC title and BCS slot is still very much in their hands

Keep an eye on...
LSU (7-1 beat Appalachian St. 24-3, next at Alabama)
Still in the mix for an SEC title berth

Fell off the map
UCLA (7-1 lost to Arizona 52-14)
Bruins ruined by flat performance in the desert, all they can hope for now is to spoil SC's run

Now for my seemingly weekly Notre Dame rant Since when does beating 2nd rate teams from the power conferences get you a BCS bid. Oh okay, the Irish beat Tennessee who beat LSU and and they beat Michigan who beat Penn St, right and okay wait a minute they played USC closer than any other school, ya feelin' me??? Actually I'm not... The Irish while not to be commended for their solid season, have lost twice. You're going to tell me that the Irish are better than Ohio State??? Or better than Oregon, or UCLA or Texas Tech or Georgia or even West Virginia. All these teams are in the elite conferences that Irish Boosters say that they're team plays. Lets substitute Ohio State for Michigan and West Virginia for Pitt and Penn State for Purdue and UCLA for Washington and Georgia for Tennessee and we're not having this conversation. I double dog dare you to name me a team that Notre Dame has played that is any good besides USC. Close losses don't count. No one is giving Penn State any BCS championship dap, even though they lost to Michgan on the last play. No one is thinking about Va. Tech or UCLA now after suffering blowout losses. The Hokies and Bruins will only get in a BCS if and only if they can beat Fla. St and USC in their conference championship and season finales respectively. Notre Dame will try to benefit from the possiblilty of teams ahead of them in the BCS like LSU, Alabama , Ohio State Michigan, Auburn and LSU taking losses. Its not wishing and hoping the aforemention six teams play each other. Notre Dame is counting on these losses combined with their 3 expected wins over cream puffs Navy, Syracuse and Stanford to boost their record to 9-2 and then whine that they are deserving of a BCS bowl bid and that they "are back" Notre Dame will get in a bowl game and get against a real team in the BCS mix and get their hats handed to them in a blowout loss while a more deserving team goes to the Carquest or Holiday Bowl. Notre Dame will be good if not great real soon, but their time is not now. Memo to UCLA win the ones in front of you before you talk about knocking the champs off. How are supposed to be a title dark horse when you let Arizona...Arizona??? not only beat you but take you out back of da woodshed. There might be some truth to the rumor that UCLA was heard screaming in Tucson Saturday "Poppa, don't hit me no more!" The sound you hear between thwacks was the air going out of UCLA's claim to be a legit team.
Anyhoo, due to limitiations in posting I'll be posting 2-3 times a week and post a football prevue for the rest of the NFL season after that...we'll see.

Week 8 Picks

Long awaited and anticipated, your humble scribe submits his picks and other random thoughts for your approval, disection and discussion Last weeks picks were just about on the money (No one saw that Niners upset) and for those that think that I was cribbing my picks from another source, step back. I'd like to think that great minds think alike, but there are always those that will hate on consistency. Especially when you have a 10-4 week.
This is the next to last week for the byes after next week the real stretch run begins in the NFL and most fantasy leagues, except for me in a couple leagues where my records will not merit a mention.

Before the picks this week, I have to soapbox a bit on the college game. I love college football for different reasons than I love the NFL. The pagentry and atmosphere of the college game is like no other. If you've ever been to the Big House in Ann Arbor, or strolled on the massive campus of OSU before games or took in a game down south (where they take the game deadly serious) or seen games in California where they may look laid back, but they get into their games with the same fervor as any region in the country you know the traditions are like no other. The NFL is simply put the big show and while it has its own merits it has more of a corporate feel to it, but you know that the champion is always settled on the field. There are no computers or polls or other off field element that can ruin it. That is the one thing that I hate, that you are rooting for a team to take a loss so that you can have only two teams, possibly undefeated teams playing for a national championship. Don't you think that the average Joe Six Pack football fan would love to see these undefeated teams play in a knockout tournament for a national title?

So I'm going to hit up a theory for a playoff, don't give me that tired bleating from the college presidents and bowl game wonks. The next president I hear say, it takes away from study and exam time I will want to beat about the head and shoulders. This plan will work. First of all have your conference championship games in the first weekend of Decemeber. The winners of these games join the outright winners of conferences in a 16 team tourney you play these games every saturday in December (3 or 4 Saturdays) you get down to two teams which you can play either the open week between the NFL conference championship and the Super Bowl or New Years Day. The other bowls can be rewards for other teams and you rotate the championship among the Big 4 with the other three acting as semifinal sites. Seed the teams with a selection show similar to the NCAA March Madness, sit back and watch the fun. The networks are happy, because it means more TV revenue. The schools get possibly 2 extra home dates all the teams get cuts of the money and the fans are happy because they get a true champion. I know there is a lot of politics (read moneyed interests) that would prevent this simple solution and some people would squawk about the so-called travel difficulties, but it can be done. I'll step off the soapbox and give you my picks again humbly submit

Sunday, November 6

Atlanta (5-2) @ Miami (3-4)
Dolphins Stadium, Miami-1:00 FOX
Favorite-Falcons by 2
This could be a rather tricky matchup. This is one of those who's gonna show up games. The Dolphins could be the squad that went toe-to-toe with Carolina and beat them or the squad that looked lost against Kansas City. Atlanta, well rested after its bye will look to pound the ball with their multi-faceted running game. This will come down to who can control the clock more. I think that the Falcons have that capability and their defense will be a little fresher.
Pick-Atlanta

Carolina (5-2) @ Tampa Bay (5-2)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa-1:00 FOX
Favorite-Panthers by 1
This is an intriguing matchup, The Bucs are full of potential but we all know Jon Gruden has no patience for rookies which throws the QB situation all out of whack. The Panthers are not to be messed with having laid a serious beatdown on the Vikings. In a battle of hardened defensive squads, the edge goes to the more offensively balanced squad
Pick-Carolina

Cincinnati (6-2) @ Baltimore (2-5)
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore-1:00 CBS
Favorite-Bengals by 3
Some wonks say that because the Ravens caught the Steelers in a sleepwalk mode on Monday that it bodes well for their defense. The two headed running attack the Ravens have in Chester Taylor and Jamal Lewis could very well give the Bengals problems. The problem is that Anthony Wright had the game of his life against the Steelers and they still lost. Wright won't get away with the risky throws that he made Monday night against a very confident Bengals secondary. The Bengals offense is growing more and more confident every week and with the Ravens secondary hurting they could put up good numbers. Don't believe the hype that says that the Ravens will bully the Bengals like years past. The Bengals will go into their bye with a solid win.
Pick-Cincinnati

Detroit (3-4) @ Minnesota (2-5)
H.H.H Metrodome, Minneapolis-1:00 FOX
Favorite-Lions by1
Call me a hopeless optimist, but the Vikings look better right now. The wily veteran Brad Johnson takes the reigns of an offense struggling to find its way. They catch a Lions team at the right time, questioning itself after a heartbreaking loss and wounded. Joey Harrington gets the start, and the Vikes will try bait him into mistakes and cash in on them. Only because the Vikes seem to play better at home do they get the edge here and the Lions havent played good on the road since...ummm
Pick-Minnesota

Houston (1-6) @ Jacksonville (4-3)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville1:00 CBS Favorite-
Jaguars by 11
Break up the Texans! They get off the schneid, but have to face a Jags team that wants to stay in playoff contention. Funny thing is that the Texans have the overall series edge at 4-2 and held the Jags to 6 total points in their last two meetings. Safe to say that ain't gonna happen this time.
Survivor/Lock of the Week Pick-Jacksonville

Oakland (3-4) @ Kansas City (4-3)
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO-1:00 CBS
Favorite-Chiefs by 4.5
Harken back to the the old AFL days with this timeless matchup. Expect the KC faithful to be at their vocal best. The Raiders while showing flashes of some offensive brillance will have to put up big numbers to offset the numbers that the Chiefs can put up. The Chiefs will follow much the same formula that won the matchup earlier this year, ball control and grinding the clock. For some reason the Raiders seem to be shying away from utilizing Randy Moss, even if he isn't playing at 100%.Simply put, the Raiders don't have the firepower to keep up.
Pick-Kansas City

San Diego (4-4) @ NY Jets (2-5)
The Meadowlands; East Rutherford, NJ-1:00 CBS
Favorite-Chargers by 6.5
Somebody in the scheduling office must have had a vendetta against Marty Schottenheimer or the Chargers as this is the 3rd of 5 cross country trips that they have to make this year. All that travel is catching up to them as their play has gotten sloppier by the week. It won't matter much against a beaten up Jets squad just looking for a QB to make it through a game. The Jets won't confirm or deny rumors that former Jets QB's like Richard Todd, Boomer Esiason, Pat Ryan or Joe Namath are taking calls from Herm Edwards about the QB job. The Chargers should go into their long awaited bye week on a high note and spend the time on hold with their airline getting their frequent flier miles.
Pick-San Diego

Tennessee (2-6) @ Cleveland (2-5)
Browns Stadium, Cleveland-1:00 CBS
Favorite-Browns by 3
Heres a game that even the fans of the respective teams wanna skip. The Browns lost a very winnable game to the formerly winless Texans and the Titans got smacked by the Raiders. Toss a coin here, but I think that the Titans have a little more ability to run the ball and the Titans defense is stronger against the run. This should allow them to get to Trent Dilfer and not let him expose the Titans young secondary.
Pick-Tennessee

Chicago (4-3) @ New Orleans (2-6)
Tiger Stadium; Baton Rouge, LA-4:05 FOX
Favorite-Bears by 3
The Saints are mailing it in, having played like they were asleep last week against the Dolphins. The Bears while not the most spectular offensively will play it close to the vest and grind it out which keeps things simple for Kyle Orton. The Saints on the other hand have a negligible running game and that is not good against a fast improving Bears defense. That in turn leaves Aaron Brooks wide open to get punished and he makes bad decisions often. The Bears will use their OT win over Detroit as a springboard for a playoff run and the Saints will be only a speed bump. Pick-Chicago

NY Giants (5-2) @ San Francisco (2-5)
Monster Park, San Francisco-4:05 FOX
Favorite-Giants by 11
The G-Men are riding high after their emotional win over the Skins. The Niners have had reason to smile as of late after their upset of the Bucs. But thats where they story ends. The Niners are throwing any willing volunteer out to QB and that does not bode well against a hard-charging Giants secondary. The Giants have more weapons than the Bucs did last week and five field goals by the Niners won't cut it.
Pick-New York

Seattle (5-2) @ Arizona (2-5)
Sun Devil Stadium; Tempe, AZ-4:05 FOX Favorite-Seattle by 4.5 On paper this is a serious mismatch. What few Cards fans there are in Arizona are already looking at the game times for Suns and Coyotes games. That said Shawn Alexander will continue to audition for a mammoth contract and the Cards, a team that he has run well against in the past will be willing stand ins for his screen test.The Seahawks defense will try to hammer the Cards talented but under utilized WR corps as the Cards running game is non-existent. Pick-Seattle

Pittsburgh (5-2) @ Green Bay (1-6)
Lambeau Field; Green Bay WI-4:15 CBS
Favorite-Steelers by 6
The Steelers are set to kick around the Pack who played Cincy tough last week. The Steelers have only to establish that bruising ground game and they will have no need to worry about Charlie Batch having any kind of influence on the outcome. Brett Favre, God love him, he tries like a scout. The Pack simply have no weapons to throw at a mean Steelers defense. Even without Big Ben and the Bus, the Steelers are the better team and play better on the road.
Pick-Pittsburgh

Philadelphia (4-3) @ Washington (4-3)
FedEx Field; Landover, MD-8:30 ESPN
Favorite-Redskins by 1
Both the teams are enigmas. Washington is a Jekyll and Hyde team one week they look like an offensive juggernaut the next week they are simply offensive. Philly used to be able to count on their defense and Donovan McNabb's wily offensive maneuvering to win ball games. That is simply no longer the case. With TO hurting and McNabb a question mark, the Iggles are below one dimensional. Can the Skins capitalize? I think that they can only because they are in the "confines" of FedEX they can pull out the win.
Pick-Washington

Monday, November 7

Indianapolis (7-0)@ New England (4-3)
Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, MA-9:00 ABC
Favorite- The unquestioned game of the week and probably one of the most hyped games of the year. The Pats have become the pro version of the Florida Gators to Peyton Manning. The one team he has had trouble with amd that matchup will be scruntinized and analyzed ad infinitum till kickoff. The Colts are a lot stronger now than in the past and the Pats while still very dangerous do not have the sheen of invincibility that they have had in years past. Though clearly energized by the return of redoubtable LB Tedy Bruschi, the Pats still lack the big playmakers at critical positions, the abscence of Richard Seymour underscores this point. Also the Pats are nowhere near as strong in the secondary as they were in years past. An injured Rodney Harrison and Ty Law's depature will make things much easier for the Colts offense. and lets face facts Peyton is seriously due. The Colts balance offensively and suddenly mad tight defense will get it done.
Pick-Indy

Last Week 10-4
Overall 67-49

BYE WEEK: Buffalo (3-5) Dallas (5-3) Denver (6-2) St. Louis (4-4)

College Games to watch this weekend

#5 Miami @ #3 Virginia Tech 7:45 Saturday Lane Stadium; Blacksburg, VA- ESPN One of the biggest games of the season is a battle for control of the ACC. Both teams are defensive oriented so this will have an brawling look and feel to it from the word go. Marcus Vick is an electrifying presence who is just as fast as his big brother and has a better arm. He will go into the teeth of a hard-hitting Canes defense that prides itself on shutting down offenses. This game will turn on one or two big plays and Frank Beamers squad is overdue for a special teams highlight film moment. If the Hokies win here, only Florida State will be in the way of a unbeaten Hokie season.

#23 Cal @ #16 Oregon
Autzen Stadium; Eugene, OR 3:30 ABC
I have family in California and my half brother is a Cal alum and talks endlessly about his Bears, they have a tough road trip to Eugene to take on a once beaten Ducks squad that hung tough with USC. If you can get to a sports bar that has a college gameplan package to watch this matchup, you'll see a couple of teams that you usually don't get too much pub on .

#14 Wisconsin @ #10 Penn State
Beaver Stadium; University Park, PA-3:30 ABC
The Big Ten is all kinds of wide open this year. The Badgers and Nittany Lions battle for control of the Big 10. Just because the Big 2 aren't involved doesn't mean that this isn't a heavyweight matchup. Penn State has its famous ball control and slobberknocking defense. Wisconsin has a big play defense and an offense that can beat you so many ways.