A cornucopia of football for Thanksgiving

I think I irked some folks with my divisional split of the Big Ten (Great Midwest) I did it the way I did for geographic proximity and to keep rivals (at least most of them) together. Like I’ve said, if you have a better split or a better addition than Notre Dame (No I won’t put Cincinnati in the mix) I’d like to hear it.

The Pro game Previews are first up, many people complain that the Lions no matter how bad are always on Thanksgiving. The last time the Lions did not play on Thanksgiving was 1940, the last time the Cowboys didn’t play on Thanksgiving was 1977. The NFL added a third game last year to get more teams involved in the Thanksgiving game. Here are your Thanksgiving picks with the rest of the week 12 picks to be posted on Friday.

NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 12

Thursday November 22

Packers (9-1) @ Lions (6-4)
Ford Field, Detroit 12:30 (FOX)
Favorite Packers by 3½
Fast Fact The Packers sport their best record after ten games since 1962, they came into that game unbeaten and lost to the Lions on Thanksgiving 26-14 for their only loss that year
The Pack are flying high, while the Lions are cooling off fast. This has all the makings if a classic trap game for the Pack. The Lions supposedly play great on Thanksgiving, but that is more myth than reality, they have lost 5 of their last 6 on Turkey day including the last 3 in blowout fashion. It won’t be a blowout, but the Lions won’t win.
Pick-Green Bay

NY Jets (2-8 ) @ Cowboys (9-1)
Texas Stadium; Irving TX 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Cowboys by 14
Fast Fact This is the Jets first Thanksgiving appearance since 1985 when they lost 31-20 in Detroit
The Jets stunned the Steelers in OT, but all they did was raise the Pokes’ radar. Romo and Owens went ballistic on the decent Redskins secondary one may be frightened to see what they might do to the Jets porous defense.
Pick-Dallas


Colts (8-2) @ Falcons (3-7)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta 8:15 (NFL Network)
Favorite Colts by 11½
Fast Fact This is the Falcons first Thanksgiving Day appearance
The Colts are reeling, as they try to limp to another AFC South title. The Falcons scare no one but themselves and Joey Harrington will get the start for the Falcons. This game will be the perfect excuse to let the tryptophan take hold and nap. The Colts are indeed hurting but they have enough to beat the woeful Falcons
Pick- Indianapolis


Like the Thanksgiving spread you’re sure to overindulge on I now present a cornucopia of college games for you to feast on

#11 Southern Cal (8-2) vs. #6 Arizona State (9-1)
Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ 8:00 Thursday ESPN
Fast Fact If the Sun Devils win out they will go to their first Rose Bowl since 1997Why You Should Watch: While not an all or nothing Pac-10 championship, this game may be a better alternative than the snoozer of a pro game on NFLN. Or if you’re like me, the only football game on since NFL Network isn’t on my cable system. SC needs some help to get back to Rose Bowl while Arizona State is in full control of its destiny. USC’s Chauncey Washington ran for 220 yards against Cal, but J.D. Booty needs to have a solid game against a decent Sun Devil Defense

Arkansas (7-4) at #1 LSU (10-1)
Tiger Stadium; Baton Rouge, LA 2:30 Friday CBS
Fast Fact LSU Has won the past four meetings in the “Battle for the Boot”
Why You Should Watch If you can stomach all the speculation about Les Miles going to Michigan, this is a good chance to see a fly by the seat of their pants Tiger squad. This is a team that leaves opponents in game way too long and Darren McFadden is the type of ball control sledgehammer back that could make things rough for the Bayou Bengals.

#19 Boise State (10-1) at #15 Hawai’i (10-0)
Aloha Stadium , Honolulu, HI 9:00 Friday ESPN
Fast Fact This is the highest that two WAC teams have been coming into a matchup since Colorado State faced Utah in 1994.
Why You Should Watch This game is for the WAC title and if the Rainbow Warriors win, can continue to make a case for gaining a coveted BCS slot. Boise State’s chances of getting a BCS slot are slim, but this game will be an entertaining shootout. Colt Brennan is more likely to start this critical game, but has never beaten the Broncos in 3 starts. Taylor Tharp and Ian Johnson are the offensive keys for Boise State and as they go so will the Broncos.

#8 Virginia Tech (9-2) at #16 Virginia (9-2)
Scott Stadium; Charlottesville, VA 12:00 Saturday ESPN2
Fast Fact The Hokies have won the Commonwealth Cup each of the last three years
Why You Should Watch The stakes are high in the game as the winner goes to Jacksonville to face Boston College in the ACC title game. The Cavs have won an NCAA record five games by two or fewer points and have yet to lose in Charlottesville. Led by Chris Long, son of NFL great Howie the Cavs have a stout defense and have allowed only 17.5 ppg. The Hokies aren’t the most offensively efficient team, but are their usual robust defensively. This will be the game for the defensive minded.

#18 Tennessee (8-3) at Kentucky (7-4)
Commonwealth Stadium; Lexington, KY 1:30 CBS
Fast Fact The Vols have won 12 straight games in Lexington and 22 straight over the Wildcats
Why You Should Watch The Vols have a shot at the SEC title game if they can beat the maddeningly inconsistent Wildcats. Andre Woodson’s Heisman hopes evaporated a while ago but he’s still very capable and the Wildcats would like nothing more than to break their lonnnng losing streak against the Vols.


#20 Connecticut (9-2) at #3 West Virginia (9-1)
Mountaineer Field; Morgantown, WV 3:30 ABC
Fast Fact West Virginia has the Big East’s best scoring offense (39.2) UConn has its best scoring defense (14.2)
Why You Should Watch The Big East title will be decided here as the Mountaineers are still eyeing a BCS title shot. UConn would love to complete a dream season with a BCS bid by winning. Steve Slaton and Pat White were the cogs in the Mountaineers critical win over Cincy last week and will be key factors here. If Tyler Lorenzen can keep the Huskies offense on the field for long stretches, which means the Mountaineers offense isn’t. They have a punchers chance.

Florida State (7-4) at #12 Florida (8-3)
Florida Field, Gainesville FL 5:00 CBS
Fast Fact: Since 1990, the team that has the rushing yardage edge is 16-2-1
Why You Should Watch If only just to catch the dynamic and exciting Tim Tebow who has 26 passing TD’s and 20 rushing TD’s and must be accounted for on every play. Florida State LB Geno Hayes boldly predicted that Tebow is “Goin’ Down”. The Noles defense only gives up a shade under 100 yards rushing a game (99.5) and that in itself will present a heady challenge to Tebow who will have team leading wide out Percy Harvin who missed the past two games with a sinus infection.

#2 Kansas (11-0) vs. #4 Missouri (10-1) Bandits 5 Star Matchup
Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City, MO 8:00 ABC
Fast Fact Both teams are gunning for their first conference title in almost 40 years (Kansas 1968, Mizzou 1969)
Why You Should Watch The oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi has two teams that are the nation’s biggest surprises. For the first time in their 116 meetings both have over ten wins and the winner goes to San Antonio to face Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship. The winner also keeps their BCS title game hopes alive. Mizzou QB Chase Daniel is the Heisman contender that may be short on height but is a dynamic leader of the Tigers and has the impressive numbers to boot Daniel’s 3590 passing yards and 30 touchdowns pace the sixth ranked Tiger offense. Meanwhile redoubtable Jayhawk soph Todd Reesing has tossed a school record 30 tds himself. This game will be the antithesis of the aforementioned Virginia-Virginia Tech game; The Jayhawks average a remarkable 45.8 points a game; The Tigers an impressive 42.5 Blink and you might miss a score.

And you thought with all the football going on, I'd miss the chance to give Daps and Slaps??? You should know betta!

Phat Dap
This weeks dap goes to Chester Taylor, who is becoming the forgotten man in the Vikings running game. He quietly stepped into the void left by the injury to dynamic rookie and rushed for 146 yards and 2 TD’s to help the Vikes bounce back to down the Raiders. Taylor is making sure that the Vikes weak offense isn’t totally anemic. Also I have to give one to Terrell Owens and Randy Moss, both known for their occasional malcontent statues, they have stepped up their games and both caught 4 touchdown passes each in leading the Pokes and Pats to the best records in the NFL Though I do it grudgingly I have to give one to Brett Favre who is making the haters that said he should retire look foolish. He seems to be taking to the grizzled vet leading the kids role pretty nicely. That matchup between the Pack and Pokes a week after Thanksgiving will be the biggest game to ever be shown on NFL Network.

Head Slap
With apologies to my peeps that are devoted Bama fans. I have to give a resounding head slap to Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban. His comments comparing Alabama’s loss to 9/11 and Pearl Harbor were ill-timed and just plain bad. I can understand that you would want to rally your team after a devastating loss to a supposed weaker school like Louisiana-Monroe, but keep in mind that while football maybe life for some, its never life or death. Saying your team needed to rally it spirit and be more unified is fine, but there should be better ways to compare that a national tragedy.

I’m going to start work on the Bandit’s soon to be world famous Chocolate Graham Cracker Cherry Cheese Pie. If you want the recipe, drop me a line. From my side of the computer to yours, I wish you and your fellow sports fans a sumptuous and festive Thanksgiving!!!