USC rolls, The NFL's dilemma and Week 12 NFL picks

Hold up was, USC that good or Arizona State that inept last night? If USC had played that way the entire season, we'd be asking who the Trojans would play in the BCS title gmae. The Trojans looked crisp and efficent in throttling the Sun Devils who looked as if they had a bad case of stage fright last night. USC is out of the BCS title picture, but still is trying to get to the Rose Bowl. I hope that they do, they will make a much better opponent for Ohio State that Oregon would. Sorry Duck fans, but OSU would slaughter the Ducks and do it with the quickness.

I posted the college games that you should watch but I have one more that you should check out. Delaware takes on Delaware State in the first round of the NCAA 1-AA playoffs (I can't remember what the alternate name of it is)but this is the first ever meeting of these two schools. Delware State has long wanted a matchup between the schools that are less than an hour apart. Delaware who has won 1-AA titles has been long reluctant to schedule Delaware a historically black school. Delaware claims that the reasons are purely schedule driven and not racial. Something that Delaware State greets with skepticism. But now the Blue Hens and Hornets will meet for the first time ever with much on the line. This is reminiscent of when Kentuck and Louisville did not play each other for years until being forced to when bracketed together in the NCAA tourney. The two schools then began a very popular series. If you want to check out a really good matchup. Check this one out on ESPN at 1:30 today.

In the pros, the storm clouds are gathering for another week of overblown hype as the 10-1 Pack will face off against the 10-1 Pokes in the game of the Century part 2. Problem is, most of the country outside of the Dallas Metroplex and Wisconsin won't see it. Since NFL Network is not on many basic cable systems and the NFL rules mandate that games that are being shown on cable outlets like ESPN or NFLN are shown simulcast on free tv, but the reason I'm annoyed is the carping of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Jones, a cat I've never really liked is yowling that people should drop their cable system that doesn't carry NFLN and get satellite or a cable system that does carry it. He specifcally spoke of AT&T's satellite system but quickly added "or go over to another cable system." Jones went from being an owner being frustrated about his team not being seen in one of their biggest games of the year to a shill for a satellite provider and that is flat out wrong. I imagine that many people like myself want to see the Packers-Cowboys game next Thursday, but I don't have NFL network and Time Warner isn't budging on their stance on carrying it. NFLN wants to be on a basic tier, but is charging the cable companies premium fees to carry it. Companies like Comcast and Time Warner don't want to pass the charges on to every subscriber so they want to carry NFLN on a premium tier and make it an extra package. Time Warner is having the same fencing match with the Big Ten Network. So unless you live in Dallas or Wisconsin, you better find out which of your favorite sports bars has NFL Network. That is different from Sunday Ticket. Don't say that you weren't warned in advance.

For the rest of my Week 12 picks, if you heard a sigh of relief coming from this end is me finally seeing more than half of my picks coming through last week. Though I should have known better thatn to trust the Steelers with a lock. No thanks to either Detroit for the faith I was starting to show them either. But when add the layups that I got on Turkey day and things may be shaping up for another good week (knock on wood). Submitted for your review and approval are this weeks picks. Odds again provided for entertainment and comparison purposes, so if you blow the christmas shopping money on these lines, its your fault.



Sunday, November 25

Bills (5-5) @ Jaguars (7-3)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Jaguars by 8
Fast Fact The Bills 56-10 loss to the Pats last Sunday was their worst loss in franchise history.
David Garrard has given the Jags a needed boost, while the Bills are still rubbing their collective rears after getting the woodshed treatment from the Pats. If the Bills RB MarShawn Lynch is still a no-go with a high ankle sprain, things could get rather ugly. The Jags have more weapons and play tough at home.
Pick-Jacksonville

Texans (5-5) @ Browns (6-4)
Browns Stadium, Cleveland 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Browns by 3
Fast Fact The Texans are 3-0 when Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson are both in the starting lineup
A sleeper of a matchup, the Texans are quietly jelling with the return of Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson. Meanwhile, the Browns have the makings of an offensive juggernaut. Not Patriots-like but they can score. The Texans are still not the most fearsome road team and I’m hesitant to pick against the Browns at home now
Pick-Cleveland

Vikings (4-6) @ Giants (7-3)
Giants Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Giants by 7
Fast Fact Giants coach Tom Coughlin achieved his 100th regular season win last week
The G-Men are trying hard to shake their second half slump tendencies and looked solid in a crucial road win in Detroit. The Vikings are in no rush to get Adrian Peterson back, with the solid play of Chester Taylor. I’m not sipping on the stuff, I’m having bad visions of Eli Manning picking on the Vikings suspect pass defense.
Pick-New York Giants

Saints (4-6) @ Panthers (4-6)
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Saints by 3
Fast Fact The Panthers are trying to avoid their first four game losing skid in three years.
Both teams are the definition of inconsistent and are awfully hard to figure out. Vinny Testaverde still has the starting job over David Carr for now. The Saints need to get better games out of Reggie Bush. The Panthers have yet to win at home, I think that streak ends here.
Pick-Carolina

Raiders (2-8 ) @ Chiefs (4-6)
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Chiefs by 5½
Fast Fact The Chiefs have won six straight against the Raiders in Kansas City
These two longtime rivals face off in a battle to see who’s team is more anemic. The Chiefs haven’t won since they last faced the Raiders. As much as I’m tempted to say the Raiders will spring the upset, especially since the Cheifs offense is getting more and more anemic by the second. I'll stay with the home team and kick myself if the Raiders spring the upset.
Pick-Kansas City

Seahawks (6-4) @ Rams (2-8 )
Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Seahawks by 3
Fast Fact The Rams won their 500th game in franchise history last week by beating the 49ers
The Rams have been playing much better and the game edge the Seahawks usually have with Shaun Alexander is gone with him a continued question mark with a sprained knee Add the possibility that Matt Hasselbeck may be unable to go due to badly bruised ribs, the Rams look more like the team that could get an easy win. If the Rams keep the Seahawks tough defense from getting to Marc Bulger, they may steal a win.
Pick-St. Louis (Upset Special of the week)

Titans (6-4) @ Bengals (3-7)
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Titans by 1½
Fast Fact The Bengals allowed a season low 247 yards last week vs. Arizona, but turned the ball over five times in the 35-27 loss.
The Bengals are sinking into bickering and in-fighting while the Titans are trying to fight off an ill-timed slump. The Titans offense will find the Bengals soft defense a welcome tonic. The Bengals will find the sledding a bit easier offensively if DT Albert Haynes worth is a no-go. But there is the small problem of the Bengals trying to stop the irrepressable Vince Young.…good luck on that one let me know how it turns out.
Pick-Tennessee

Redskins (5-5) @ Buccaneers (6-4)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Buccaneers by 3½
Fast Fact This the fifth straight season these teams have played each other. The Bucs winning the last two meetings.
These teams are still contending for playoff spots, the Bucs win and they put a stranglehold on the NFC south, while the Skins are trying to reel the Giants in front of them in the wild card race. Jeff Garcia’s steady play have the Bucs playing well, and RB Earnest Graham’s play have garnered him the starting job to keep. The Skins are still enduring the growing pains of Jason Campbell and playing the ball hawking, big-hitting Bucs defense doesn’t help
Pick-Tampa Bay

49ers (2-8 ) @ Cardinals (5-5)
University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ 4:05 (FOX)
Favorite Cardinals by 10½
Fast Fact The Cards are looking for their first three game win streak in five years.
Remember when the Niners were the dominant team, they have slumped badly and the Cards are itching for a chance to exact revenge for their season opening loss, No matter who the QB is for the Cards, they will be markedly better than whoever gets the starting nod for the Niners. A rare chance for the Cards to be the bully here and they wont get caught looking past the Niners toward bigger matchups with a good Browns team and a showdown with the Seahawks.
Pick-Arizona

Ravens (4-6) @ Chargers (5-5)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Chargers by 9
Fast Fact LaDainian Tomlinson needs one more rushing touchdown to extend his NFL record streak of 10 td seasons to seven
The Chargers played a rather ugly game last week in Jacksonville while the Ravens were bedeviled yet again by field goals. The Ravens defense has suddenly aged and their offense is a joke. LT gets his and the seat gets even warmer under Brian Billick
Pick-San Diego

Broncos (5-5) @ Bears (4-6)
Soldier Field, Chicago 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Bears by 1½
Fast Fact 1984 was the last time the Bears beat the Broncos in Chicago
The Broncos are in first in spite of themselves. The Bears are trying to keep Wreck Grossman from self destructing the team again. The loss last week wasn’t his fault to be fair. Both teams pay that kind of muddling game that makes this game hard to call, the consistently inconsistent play of Grossman and Broncos QB Jay Cutler have at times made their teams ride a roller coaster. I’ll bank on the Broncos better running game to carry the day
Pick-Denver

Eagles (5-5) @ Patriots (10-0)
Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, MA 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Patriots by 22
Fast Fact Win or lose, this will be the first time in NFL history that there are three teams 10-1 or better at the same time
The Eagles may not have the services of Donovan McNabb. Wait…did you hear that? It was what slim chance the Eagles had of upsetting the Patriots evaporating.
Pick-New England (Lock of the Week)


Monday, November 26

Dolphins (0-10) @ Steelers (7-3)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Steelers by 16
Fast Fact Dolphins LB Joey Porter is 4th on the Steelers all-time sack list with 60, but only has 1½ sacks in Miami
Speaking of Porter, do you think he wishes he was still in the Steel City. The Dolphins are an absolute mess, offensively boring and defensively putrid. Bad news having to face a stunned and angry Steelers squad coming off a humiliating loss to the sorry Jets. Roger Goddell may be on standby to act like a ref covering up the battered Fins early in the fight after the beating they’re gonna get.
Pick-Pittsburgh

Thursday: 3-0
Last Week: 11-5 (Lock & Upset incorrect)
Overall: (Thursday games not included) 98-62 (9-2 Locks, 3-8 Upsets)

I'm not going anywhere a mall today, I'm just gonna veg out on the couch and watch the football. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!