Countdown to XLII and the Hot 5

Princess Katie lives in the Phoenix area and loves football, but she is awestruck by the number of people that are in town for the Super Bowl. She asked me how all these people are going to fit into the University of Phoenix Stadium. When I told her that not all that are in town go to the game, she giggled and said, they're like the folks at the Hannah Montana concert, they just wanna be in the area. Leave it to an 11 year old to put it in perspective.
I'll post my indepth analysis on the game either Wednesday or Friday (I've got class on Thursday and no time) but thats the only thing you'll hear from me about it. Like the old Fred Wesley and the JB's song the media is "Doing It To Death." I am already sick of hearing about the so-called secretive status of Tom Brady's ankle and I'm tired of hearing the Giants babble about getting no respect. I am already tired of the hype and hoopla that goes with the game, and I remember a simpler time when the Super Bowl was something you watched late on a January Sunday and watched the winning coach get carried off the field. I remember the first Super Bowl I really paid attention to, Super Bowl 16. I was still developing a love for football and only really paid attention to it because the local area team the Bengals were in it. This game started at 4PM and was done about 7:30, I remember 60 Minutes being on afterwards, now the Super Bowl is an all-day event, drawn out over a full day for maximum ratings and buildup. But I'll tell more of my Super Bowl stories later in the week. For the time being lets turn our focus to college basketball and the Bandit Hot 5

Bandits Hot 5
1 (tie) Kansas (20-0, LW-1) Jayhawks barely outscored their football counterparts in similarly frightening beatdown of Nebraska
1 (tie) Memphis (17-0, LW-2) Held off a game Gonzaga team, cushy schedule provides no tests till Vols come callin' on 2/23.
3. Duke (17-1, LW 5) I detest the Dukie fans, but this team is tough and talented.
4. North Carolina (19-1, LW 4T)BC and Fla. State are mere warmups for the showdown with their hated rivals next week
5. UCLA (18-2, LW NR) Oregon Twostep was a sleepwalk dance, Bruins may get a tougher test with Arizona teams in LA.
Dropped out: Washington State (lost to Arizona) , Tennessee (lost to Kentucky)

The Next 5
Georgetown (16-2), Tennessee (17-2), Michigan State (18-2), Texas (16-3), Washington State (17-2)
Dropped Out: Indiana (Lost to UConn)

The Super Bowl Preview is on deck, Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Daps, Slaps and other random musings

I live and die with my beloved alma mater, The University of Cincinnati. Last season was the longest, 11-19 and 2-14 in the Big East, when the regular season ended with another loss at West Virginia, the powers that be in the Big East basically said that Cincy was felina non grata, cat not welcome to the Big East Tourney in New York. This season looked to start the same way with dishearening losses to lightweights like Belmont and Bowling Green. But the Bearcats have nicely rebounded with a road win at Louisville (The Cats were winless on the road in Big East play last year) and home upsets of Pitt and Villanova. The Cats had a 12 point lead on UConn, not a Big East power this year but a dangerous team nonetheless. The Cats would continue to turn heads with their strong Big East start at 5-2. The Cats instead blew the lead and despite a late basket to give a slim one point lead Rashad Bishop committed a rather silly foul in the backcourt to give the Huskies the free throws, they were made and despite a couple of decent looks, the Cats dropped a tough one to the Huskies 84-83.
Now I'm not laying blame on Bishop, he played a decent game. The Cats made a number of careless turnovers and played sloppily at times. I'm banking on the Cats to at least make the Big East tourney and possibly qualify for the NIT this year. I know that is a comedown from the 14 straight NCAA appearances the Cats made from 1992-2005, but this team has the talent, however raw to get to the postseason. I want to see that happen.
Ok, enough of my rants on my beloved alma mater. I feel like I have to address comparisons of the postseasons in college football and basketball. I have heard the argument that a playoff in college football would make the regular season meaningless and that the college basketball season is a boring prelude to the tourney. Those that argue that did not see the Baylor-Texas A&M game last night 116-110 in quadruple overtime...
Check that number 5 OVERTIMES
That number of overtimes isn't an NCAA record (my alma mater Cincinnati beat Bradley in a 7 overtime epic in December of 1981) but it was a Big 12 record and watching that game with both teams leaving everything out on the floor. If you think that these games are meaningless and boring, you need to check your pulse. Now I admit that I dont really get into the swing of college basketball until the new year. I have no desire to see Duke beat up the little sisters of the poor or Kentucky beat up on Gardner-Webb and San Diego (Oh wait a minute, UK lost to both of those tomato cans, my bad) The conference play showcases the real battles and games, and the occasional non-conference game in the middle that has really good teams are always fun to watch. Those that say that the college basketball season is nothting special to watch and that the teams have nothing to play for need to take another look.

Some people cant let things die out...
Tiger Woods had to outright state that he was cool with Kelly Tilghman and did not go off on her lynch remark. He had little to say about the Golfweek cover, which like a lot of people I think the subject is dead. But here comes Jim Brown chastisizing Woods on not speaking up more on the lynching subject. Woods has a tendency to be robotic at times, but in his defense I think that Woods should not have to be the spokesman on every touchy subject that comes down the pike. He spoke out on Tilghman's comments saying that he did not believe that they were malicious in their intent. It should be left alone. It reminds me of a situation that I was in when I was in junior high, I flirted with a girl not knowing that she was dating some guy who was bad enough to pound me into the ground. I took a chance and went to this guy and apologized to him and his girl cause I didn't know that they were dating. The guy shurgged it off and said it was cool and he appreciated the apology. Another guy heard it and said "You gonna let him off the hook?" He later tried to jump me saying if the guy wasn't gonna kick my butt, he would. Needless to say he wasn't nearly as tough as the guy I apologized to and I knocked his block off. But like others that won't let something die out when it clearly has, this person tried to restart and issue that clearly was resolved. Brown should mind his business.


Ok I know its a day late but here is the weekly Phat Daps and Head Slaps of the Week

PHAT DAP
Though its a bit on the quirky side, I have to give one to Ron "Fang" Hunter coach of IUPUI, he is coaching against Oakland University tonight barefoot, to raise awareness for children in need. His stated goal is raise enough funds to send 40,000 shoes to children in Africa as part of the Samaritan's feet organization. If you want to learn more about Hunter's project go to www.samaritansfeet.org Though the methods are a bit kooky, I have to give Hunter dap for raising awareness and going to a great length to do so.



HEAD SLAP
I would like to give one to ESPN and TMZ.com who are delving into the type of tabloid journalism that is getting to be a real nuisance these days. TMZ.com who has a tendency to skulk about to stir up rumors and innuendo took pics of Pats QB Tom Brady who had a protective boot on his foot. Brady was visiting his girlfriend in New York on his off day. Now TMZ jumping on this is one thing, but ESPN to report the pics and run wild as if Brady was actually seriously injured is irresponsible. ESPN should know better, but they have gotten to the point where they feel that they are the unchallenged authority on sports. ESPN should report the news and facts along with discussion on these, not stir up rumors and sink to the rumor mongering level of a gutter website like TMZ who normally preys on the hollywood party type.
But this weeks head slap kind of pains me, cause I kinda have a crush on her. Dana Jacobsen of ESPN's First Take got herself suspended for a week for getting rather plastered and making a host of derogatory comments about catholics and Notre Dame at the Mike & Mike celebrity roast last week. Now I can't fault someone for knocking Notre Dame. Knocking the overhyped self-righteous football university is ok with me. Anyone who knows about the radio/TV sports morning talk show knows that Mike Golic is a Notre Dame Alum and regularly takes his lumps on the woes of the Irish. It is also a well known fact that in a roast most everything is going to be fair game to get cracked on, but leave the religion out of it. Jacobsen who otherwise is a good reporter and a fine talk show host should be thankful that the insensitive remarks didn't get her canned. This isn't the time to be out of work, believe me.

Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Show Shocka! G-Men stun the Pack and other milestones

The headline says it all, and I'll be the first in line to apologize to Eli Manning. I have to admit that I was one of a number of pundits that wasn't big on Eli Manning. After the "I don't want to play for a loser" pout I really had no love for him. My pops put it best, We dont need his whiny (expletive), we had Ryan Leaf. I was hoping he fell flat on his face as playing in New York would in kind eat him up. But after his sterling performance in the NFC title game, I am ready to apologize. I've said it before, no one will mistake Eli for Peyton as their games are totally different. But no one will dog his pedigree. He played the game with guts and determination. He will always look like a lost puppy, I've given up on thinking that he will ever get anything more than that, but damn. Manning pplayed fearless and everytime the Pack would score and the Lambeau faithful would rise up in cold thunder, Eli would shut them up with a well managed drive. No rocket throws, but the occasional precison sniper pass that seemed to always get the G-Men to a first down. It wasn't pretty but it was played with a gutty aplomb. Give the kid some love, he earned the win.
I watched the game at my local watering hole, figuring that I'd endure the braying of the local chapter of Packer fans. As the game seesawed back and forth. I kept hearing these fans keep making annoyed sounds. It was as if, how dare Eli Manning dare play such a good game. He's overdue for a rushed throw or a dumb mistake. Then it turned to even dumber quotes.
"I think the NFL is scared to let the Packers win."
"Favre would beat Brady in the Super Bowl, the NFL doesn't want that."
"The Refs are giving the Giants all the breaks."
Nevermind the fact that their hero Favre was making a host of puzzling decisions and throws, nevermind the Pack kept making one dumb penalty after another. I would point that out and immediately get shouted down. "Shut up you stupid Viking fan, you're just hating on the Pack like usual." I thought it pointless to make the point that I picked the Pack to win, I just sat and watched the Giants miss chance after chance to bury the Pack. When Tynes missed the game winner at the end of regulation. The bar erupted in cheers, there was no way that the Pack would lose in OT.
"Home in OT, the Pack won't lose."
I decided again that it would be fruitless to remind the Pack fans that the last NFC Title game that went OT was lost by the home team (My '98 Vikes)
The Pack won the toss in OT and I silently thought run the ball, play it close to the vest and wear the G-Men defense down.
Favre throws an INT 2 plays into the OT.
I stood up from the bar and paid my tab, as the stunned Pack fans watched in disbelief. I said loud enough to be heard. "Thats ballgame, next pass Favre throws will either be in July or when they retire his number." I got a number of hateful stares, but the look on the faces of the fans there told me that they knew I was right. I heard a forlorn retort
"Manning will crack under the pressure, Coughlin won't let Tynes try another field goal after two misses."
I stood at the door of the bar when Tynes came out for the 47 yarder. When he kicked it, I simply shouted. "Good Night Green Bay." I've seen enough good field goal kicks to know when its over. The kick split the upright and I let out a chortle as I turned. And I heard a glass hit the door as it was closing behind me.
I know there are a lot of classy Pack fans, but it was fun to torment them a little.
Oh and the Pats slogged through a ho-hum game to go 18-0. You are going to hear so many "Giants have no chance." stories for the next two weeks I wont even acknowledge them beyond my words previous. The G-Men have a punchers chance, but I doubt that Hoodie man will let his team lose focus enough to let them take a swing. I'll preview the game next week.
I'm joining the ranks of those pundits starting to slowly switch to college basketball. Here is the initial Bandit Hot 5, posted every Monday from here to the end of the conference tourneys. Next week if there is a shakeup, I'll post who was where last week.

KJ's Hot 5

1. Kansas (18-0) Better team in a better conference, Jayhawks are the most dangerous team in the nation
2. Memphis (17-0) I dont care that both major services have the Tigers #1, playing in the weak C-USA still holds them back.
3. Tennessee (16-1) The meat and potatoes part of the schedule is coming, but the Vols are a tough squad
4. North Carolina (18-1) Now you didn't think anyone would go perfect in the ACC, did you
5. (tie) Washington State (16-1) Wazzu is looking tough out west, but there still is an Arizona and an Oregon trip to make
5 (tie) Duke (15-1) I'm a notorious Duke hater, but they are a 1 point loss at Pitt from being unbeaten. The next two roadies (Va. Tech & MD) will be a true test.
Next 5 UCLA (16-2), G-Town (14-2), Indiana (16-1), Michigan St (16-2). Wisconsin (15-2)

Is that enough to chew on?

Before I step out, I have to make remembrance of the King Holiday. I would hope that everyone here took at the very least a minute to gage how much Dr. King meant to this country and how far this country has come because of the groundwork that he laid, there is so much more to be done but at least there is a path to follow. I was in junior high when the holiday was made a national one, but I was lucky enough to be in an area where the holiday was already celebrated. So much that still needs to be done, but I think it is great that we can celebrate the work of a great man.

Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans

Dumb Decisions and the AFC/NFC Title Game Previews

I have my usual plethora of info on the respective conference title games but I have to weigh in on a touchy subject.
When I heard about the comment that Kelly Tilghman of Golf Channel made about Tiger Woods, I was incredulous. I couldn't believe that someone would outright say that Woods should be lynched. I caught a replay of the comment and groaned. It was clearly obvious that Tilghman was trying to be off the cuff and funny. If she had of said something like: "A bunch of them tie him up and hide him in a closet." the comment would have been overlooked as another dumb attempt at an anchor trying to be funny. But saying lynch awoke flames. As a black man I am very aware of the history of lynching in this country. I also am aware that this country has come very far in its race relations. I took the comment pretty much the same way Tiger Woods did, I shrugged it off as a stupid comment. Woods openly said that he forgave Tilghman for the comment and believed that Tilghman was not racist or trying to be racist in that comment. Golf Channel suspended Tilghman for two weeks, which I thought was an appropriate punishment. I did not equate this comment to the hurtful comments that shock jock Don Imus made last April.
Now if that was it, I doubt that I would write anything more. GolfWeek Magazine decided to take it a step further. They put a picture of a noose on its cover.
When I saw it, I was to say the least stunned.
I don't play golf, aside from on my Playstation2. I have no need to read GolfWeek so they were in no danger of ever counting me as one of their readers before this incident. But this cover was insensitive and down right rude and crude. Now while Tilghman's comments could have been seen as insensitive, they were done on live tv and can be clearly explained away as off the cuff. What GolfWeek did was stupid. The PGA Tour threatened to pull all its advertising and was urging many of its partners to do the same. Was this a PC move? No, it was the RIGHT move. Dave Seanor, editor and VP of the magazine was fired and GolfWeek is in full damage control. GolfWeek may have been trying to spark a discussion, but the photo of a hangmans noose was out of line and I think that the pepole that were responsible got what they deserved. The column written in the magazine said to keep Tilghman's comments in context were just as inane. The issue while inflammatory and very sensitive was seeming to die down, especially since Woods had publicly expressed his support for Tilghman. But Golfweek tried to fan the flames to sell mags and that is wrong. I'll be willing to bet Kelly Tilghman had a good private laugh at these bozos, her comments didn't cost her employment.
Well now that we've covered the dumb decisions that people make and what it costs them, lets look at the Conference Championships.

And now there are four left, a pair of upsets took the NFC's top seed and the defending Super Bowl Champ out of the running. These games are matchups of four of the older franchises in the their respective conferences. They are also rematches of week 2 games that were routs by the Pats and Pack. Both will be played in frosty conditions with the reward a trip to the desert for the 42nd Super Bowl. Odds provided by Yahoo Sports and are for entertainment and comparison purposes only.



NFL SCHEDULE – CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND

Sunday, January 20

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
San Diego Chargers (13-5) @ New England Patriots (17-0)
Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA 3:00 (CBS)
Favorite Patriots by 13
Fast Facts NE-The Pats are only the third team to win 18 games in a season (San Fran 1984, Chicago 1985) but the only one to do so without a loss. SD-This is the first time since 1994 the Chargers have won multiple games in the postseason.
How They Got Here: The Chargers defeated the Titans 17-6 in the Wild Card Round and defeated the Colts 28-24 in the Divisional Round
The Patriots had a first round bye as the AFC’s #1 seed and defeated the Jaguars 31-20 in the Divisional Round
Playoff History The Patriots defeated the Chargers in the 2006 Divisional Round 24-21; The Chargers defeated the Patriots 51-10 in the 1963 AFL Championship (Both games played in San Diego)

The Chargers are a surprise entrant, boasting a stunning road upset of the defending Super Bowl champ Colts. Looking to avenge a divisional round upset from the previous year, the Chargers have an impressive offense. This offense is hurting as both QB Philip Rivers and RB LaDainian Tomlinson are slowed with knee injuries. Add the fact that All-Pro TE Antonio Gates is still nursing a bad toe and you have an offense that looks to be at less than full strength. But hold the phone, super subs Billy Volek, Michael Turner and Darren Sproles have filled in gamely at crucial times and while not the real thing are capable replacements. The Pats are well…all that. Tom Brady dinked and dunked the Jags into submission last week and after the first play of the game was not touched all night. If the Chargers don’t get to Brady he will pick them apart. Randy Moss is 0-2 in conference title games and despite the messy legal situation he may find his way into, he is still the most dangerous offensive player on the field. Shawne Merriman is one of a host of solid defensive players that the Bolts have but CB Antonio Cromartie is the most underrated, he will have to keep Moss contained, but then again there is the problem of Wes Welker and if the Pats decide that they want to run, Laurence Maroney has touchdown threat potential.

Plain and simple, while the Chargers are talking a good game, they are like Billy Conn before his 1941 bout with Joe Louis, he talked and boasted about what he was going to do to the Brown Bomber. When Louis was asked to respond, he simply said “I’m gonna show up, show up on time and be ready to fight.” Louis knocked out Conn in the 13th round. Don't believe the hype about the Moss incident being a distraction, Hoodie man will have his Pats focused and ready. The Chargers have been talking as if the Pats should fear them, and while the Pats respect the Bolts potential, they have their eyes on a larger prize and a hobbled Bolts squad won’t be able to stop them.
Pick-New England


NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
New York Giants (12-6) @ Green Bay Packers (14-3)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay 6:30 (FOX)
Favorite Packers by 7
Fast Facts NYG-The Giants are 3-0 in NFC title games, but this is their first NFC Championship they are playing on the road. GB-The Packers are 4-0 in NFC/NFL title games.
How They Got Here: The Giants defeated the Buccaneers 24-14 in the Wild Card Round and defeated the Cowboys 21-17 in Divisional Round. The Packers had a first round bye as the NFC #2 Seed and defeated the Seahawks 42-20 in the Divisional Round.
Previous Playoff Meetings: Giants defeated Green Bay 23-17 in 1938 NFL Title Game. Packers defeated Giants 27-0 in the 1939 NFL Title game, 14-7 in the 1944 NFL title game, 37-0 in the 1961 NFL title game and 16-7 in the 1962 NFL title game.

The Packers were expecting to travel to Dallas so Brett Favre could slay one of his last pro demons. The G-Men messed that plan up and the Pack get to welcome Eli and the G-Men to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. I'm not sure if legendary NFL Films voiceover man John Facenda ever said frozen tundra but this game will likely look like something straight out of the archives. The Pack have developed a once dormant running game as Ryan Grant overcame early fumbles to get stronger as the game and snow wore on Favre's leadership is paying mass dividends as it seems that he has grown confident in the playmaking abilities of Donald Driver and Greg Jennings who have grown into a formidable receiving duo. The Giants will have their hands full trying to contain them. R.W. McQuarters will have to make big hits int he G-Men secondary The underrated defense of the Pack shook off a pair of possessions deep in their own end to shut down the Seahawks.
The G-Men have rode the unspectacular yet effiecent play of Eli Manning to a pair of road playoff wins, but the solid running of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw have been the real reasons the Giants offense have been playing well, they continue to keep Manning in managable situation where he doesn't need to win the game on his own. The Giants defense brings pressure at all times, Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan are ends that have to be accounted for at all times.
If the Packers can keep the Giants running game bottled up and force Manning to win the game on his own, they will carry the day. The Pack have to also keep Favre upright, if he isn't hurried he should be able to pick on a so-so Giant secondary who aside from McQuarters is rather ordinary. The Giants need to establish the run and keep the game balanced. Manning has been using Kevin Boss nicely and Amani Toomer is his usual scoring threat. If the G-Men can keep pounding the ball they could steal the game.
The way I see it, Favre sees this as his last best shot to get to the Super Bowl and the chance to get their via the Lambeau faithful will be too much for the G-Men to overcome. It'll be a tight game, but Manning will make a mistake that will doom the G-Men and the Pack book a trip to the desert.
Pick-Green Bay

Last Week 1-3
Playoff Total 5-3
Overall Total 168-96

Enjoy the games, and as always your comments and feedback are most appreciated. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Midweek Musings and the Phat Dap/Head Slap

Its the anitcipation that is killin me. That and the overkill analysis that ESPN is doing. I'm just getting tired of everyone and their brother giving their spin on the respective conference championships. I mean, I am going to analyze the games on Friday but the spin and re-spin on it is getting to be a little much. That said, I will refrain from putting a lot of spin on the war of words coming from the Chargers so far this week. But I dont think it too good an idea to poke an already known dangerous junkyard dog.

Before I drop my Phat Dap/Head Slap of the week. I wanted to give a coming preview. Besides football being a big love of mine. I love basketball. If you have read my thoughts on my profile you know that I like college basketball immensely. I like pro basketball somewhat, but my once favorite team the Timberwolves traded my favorite player to a team that I cannot root for. Sorry Celt fans I grew up detesting the Green and White, I respect them but I cant bring myself to root for them. But my real passion is college basketball.
There are few things that are more exciting than a college basketball game, I'm fortunate to live in an area that is a hotbed of hoops. I can point in virtually any direction on the compass and be no more than 2.5 hours from a basketball school. Cincinnnati, Xavier,Miami of Ohio, Dayton, Wright State, Butler, Ohio State, Kentucky, Louisville (ick), Indiana are all a decent drive from me. I could realistically go to a different basketball venue every day of the week and see some of the best teams in the country. So after the local interests in pro & college football die down (In this area they quiet down they dont die off) The interest in college ball heats up. There is a pro basketball team in the area to be sure. The Indiana Pacers have a loyal following, and the Cavs draw some interest on this of the state only because of LeBron James but by and large the focal point is about college basketball.
I have been known as a football prognasticator and that I'm proud of, but soon my focus will turn to college basketball and the spec sheet.
What is this? My breakdown of the coming March Madness. I love the tournament, but I espcecially love the scramble for the 65 berths. So after the Super Bowl analysis, twice a week until selection sunday you will be able to see my takes on who I think will and will not get in the tournament. I did this on my other blog for the last three years and last year I got 62 teams correct of 65 right. (I didn't see Miami of Ohio making its run to the tourney, for example)I'm not as detailed as some. I have no idea of what the matchups in the tourney, but I love to speculate on who will get in. The fun isn't picking the obvious ones, its the ones on the proverbial bubble that are the most fun to spec on. So get ready, I'm already reading up on teams and watching more games than a rational person should. I'll keep you abreast on who to watch and the players you might not know that you will undoubtedly hear cats like Bill Raftery, Sean McDonough and Len Elmore cooing over. This is hype you need to believe, the spec sheet is coming!
Ok, now that we have that bit of advertisment out of the way. Its time to give out this weeks award.

PHAT DAP
I usually loath to give credit to Packers in any way, but I have to give one to Ryan Grant who shook off a nasty case of the fumbles to rush for 201 yards and 3 scores in the Packers rout of the Seahawks. See kids, good things happen when you keep ya head up. I also have to give one to Billy Volek, ask the Colts if he is still in this league. Volek stepped in for a hurt Philip Rivers and led the Chargers on a game winning drive in the noisy din that is the RCA Dome. You have to give dap for a cat always being on the ready. The final dap of the week goes to Eli Manning, I know I've been one that has been knocking him for a good part of the year, but he has come through like a champ leading his G-Men to a stunning upset of the Pokes. No one will ever mistake Eli for older brother Peyton, but his efficent play has gotten the Giants to the NFC title game, somewhere no one expected them to be.

HEAD SLAP
Wade Phillips could get one for his clueless comments about how the Cowboys were still the better team after being beaten by the Giants. Uh, Wade did you check the scoreboard? And you do realize the Packers are NOT coming to Dallas this Sunday??? And I could give one to Philip Rivers who was yapping at Indy fans after his Chargers pulled the stunning upset. First of all, Phil you were on the sideline for the winning score so though you contributed mightily you weren't the key element. Second, there is a thing called winning with class. You win, you just smile and extend an index finger, yapping with fans is stupid and makes you that much more of a target. And one should go to the Indy fans that booed the little girl that won the Pass, Punt and Kick contest and had the nerve to be wearing a Pats jersey. I thought that Colts fans had a little more sense that to do that. The Pats will have this young lady at the coin toss at the AFC title game so she can get the cheers she rightfully deserves.
But this weeks Head Slaps go to two people that should know better. Adam Pacman Jones who you would think would have the fool sense enough to stay out of strip clubs considering the trouble that it gets him. He has allegedly sucker punched a lawyer in a strip club. Thats bad enough but then sucker punching a female lawyer, Pacman is rapidly blowing his chances of ever doing what made him the money to be able to frequent such high end establishments. Though the lawyer who made the allegations has just recently dropped the allegations. One has to wonder why Jones would even put himself in that situation. The other slap goes to someone that I cant figure out how he can be so stupid. Our old buddy OJ Simpson who against good sense tried to contact a co-defendant in his armed robberyt case. He tried to pass a message through his bail bondsman who turned the message over to prosecutors. Simpson's idiotic act got him a nice reward, a doubling of his bail from $125K to $250K. Hey OJ, you are already a marked man in this country anyway, its bad enough that you are to soon be on trial for armed robbery, you aren't helping yourself in any manner by doing stupid stuff that draws the ire of the court. Both of these knucklehead need to take this slap upside the head and stay home to stay out of trouble.

The conference championships will be previewed Friday, Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Divisional Round Madness

See thats what I get...
You would think I would know better than to flaunt my wisdom. I go from a Penthouse 4-0 on wild card weekend to a 1 bedroom basement apartment 1-3 this past weekend. Geez, I mean the Colts cant stop Billy Volek?
If you tell any right thinking, rational football fan that the Chargers would be without LT for half of the game, Rivers for the last quarter and a have a hobbled Antonio Gates on the road in Indy, they say Colts walkover.
Chargers 28 Colts 24...
Damn.
Wait I can explain, Eli and Peyton decided to switch teams for a week, cause I know that wasn't Eli playing poised and calm in Dallas. Leading the G-Men to a last minute drive to tie the score at the half. What's that? It was Eli?
Whoa.
And before I get anymore flak from Packer fans. I'll apologize. But on the real for real, after the Seahawks jumped out 14-0 everyone was thinking. Oh snap, the Seahawks could pull the upset. Then Ryan Grant got over his fumbleitis and the Pack rolled off 6 straight scoring possessions and that was that. I knew it was fated for the Pack to win when the snow started to fall heavily. Packer hater that I am, I had to say that was just too cool to watch.
The Pats...what can you say?
Tom freakin' Brady. You cant even be that good on Madden. I tried. Brady was playing out of his mind. The Jags were game, they were bound and determined to keep Moss from hurting them and aside from a critical drive sustaining catch during the Pats first offensive series he was not a factor. But the Pats are just so relentless and the Jags hung tough for a half, but just seemed to wear down, when the Pats went up 28-17 late in the third, you could look at the Jags and tell they were done. Jack Del Rio has a squad that will be a force in the AFC for years to come, but this year they were simply outgunned.
So now we're down to four and lets look at the other teams that were eliminated.

Dallas
The Pokes didn't lose because of Romo's dalliance with Jessica Simpson, they lost becuase their offensive line kept letting Osi Umineyora and Michael Strahan into their backfield. Romo was on the run or on his back all day. Wade Phillips is a lot like his daddy, Bum Phillips was, he can coach a team all year, get them into January and he finds a way to lose it. Could a 13 win coach lose his job?

Indianapolis
The Colts should have had that game won, but it seemed that even with more than a few questionable calls going their way, they couldn't close the deal. Marvin Harrison's fumble cost them a chance to really put the Bolts behind the 8-ball early, Harrison's showed a lot of rust and it hurt. Where was Joseph Addai? Manning had that look on his face like he used to when he was at Tennessee, he looked as if he had done all he could but the parts around him let him down.

Seattle
Paging Shawn Alexander...
The Hawks lack of a running game was their downfall, Matt Hasselbeck while a gutty game QB was throwing all day and the Pack knew that without a real running game that he was dead meat. Shawn Alexander was a non-factor and the Hawks proud defense simply got worn down by the battering ram running of Ryan Grant.

I'll preview the matchups on Friday and have my usual Phat Dap/Head Slap on Wednesday and the spec sheet is coming back soon as well. If you've been here since the beginning you know how that goes...
Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Thoughts on Jones, Clemens and the NFL Divisional Round

I know I had lambasted Savannah State in my Phat Dap Head Slap the other day, but this one takes the cake. Saint Louis was held to 20 points last night by George Washington.
20 Points total, as in the whole game!
That futility set a modern day D-1 record, 20 points in an era with the 3 point line and with a shot clock to speed up the game. I remember when Dean Smith used to whistle and put up four fingers and everyone knew that the scoring would stop instantly. With the advent of the shot clock the only thing that could hold down scoring was the team itself. And the Billikens did it missing at one point 23 consecutive shots. They had more fouls than field goals, going 7-48 from the field. You know Rick Majerus is thinking, I came back for this? With that kind of shooting I think Savannah State would be teaching the Billikens how to shoot. Good night!

How many times must I stress, that the feds don't play?
Disgraced sprinter Marion Jones was sentenced today to six months behind bars for lying to federal prosecutors about her steroid uses and her part in a check writing scam. Her lawyers were hoping for leniecy, like probation or house arrest. But as I've said time and time again, when the Feds get involved they dont play. Jones' fall from Olympic superstar to broke and disgraced figure is complete. I was one of the few that held a wait and see attitude about the then allegations of her drug use. She was busted and compounded the fact by trying to cover it up and lie about it. This is a sad ending to story that could and should have went so much different. Jail might seem a little harsh but its sending a clear message out, the Feds don't play. Deal 'em up straight or you get dealt with.

I mentioned before that I had some thoughts on one Roger Clemens and as the scenario and story keeps changing I remain conflicted. Clemens is more or less being convicted in the court of public opinion. Whether he did or didn't use PEDS remains to be seen, but it is dismaying to me that Clemens is in a damned if he does or doesn't situation. If he defends himself he gets blasted.
"He waited too long to defend himself."
If Clemens had've come out the same day as the Mitchell report with a press conference, I could have seen the media blasting Clemens saying things of why did him come out so fast? He must be trying to hide something.
"The recorded phone call sounds shady"
In this instance, it does but I can't fault Clemens for trying to put as much as he can up to try to defend himself. Clemens said it best in the 60 Minutes interview. "How do you prove your innocence?" Clemens now bears a real burden of proving himself. This whole PEDS mess stirred up by the Mitchell report will only dissolve into a mess of allegations, accusations and he said she said they said. Do I think that PEDS use happened? Yes, can it be proven? Other than by word of mouth? No. The bigger picture is how these players will be viewed in the future. It seems that Mark McGwire will continue to stand at the doors of Cooperstown, locked out. Will the same happen to Bonds? As things continue to thresh out things will get clearer but the rampant speculation and pot stirring is just plain annoying. I will wait till this hearing in Congress to make any judgement. I'm not the only one that has an opinion of course, but might I suggest reading my homegirl terrigirl's latest post, it is an eloquent piece on her thoughts on steroids and their use, You might accuse me of being a shill or pimp for her writing, but I think it my duty to alert folks on good stuff to read, after you read my stuff of course . Please don't get it twisted, I never have advocated the use of PEDS, I just want there to be tangible proof.

Now lets delve into action on the field. Now we have 8 teams left on the road to Glendale, Arizona and all the teams that are left are high quality. Of the remaining teams only the Jaguars have not been in at least one Super Bowl and only them and the Seahawks do not have mutliple Lombardi Trophies so the remaining field is rich in history and talent.

NFL SCHEDULE – Divisional Playoffs Weekend

Saturday, January 12

NFC Divisional Playoff
Seahawks(11-6 #3 Seed NFC West Champs) @ Packers(13-3 #2 Seed NFC North Champs)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay 4:30 (FOX)
Favorite: Packers by 7½
Fast Facts Sea- 1-6 in road playoff games, with the 6 losses all in row and current. GB-Brett Favre has thrown a TD in 16 straight postseason games, an NFL record
Previous Postseason Meeting: Packers defeated Seahawks 33-27 in OT in the 2003 Divisional Round
How they got here: Packers earned a bye as NFC #2 seed, Seahawks defeated Redskins 35-14 in wild card round
The Seahawks rallied to roll late on the out of gas Redskins last week, but now have to face some old demons in Green Bay. The Seahwks still wince at Matt Hasselbeck's "We want the ball we're gonna score" blast at the start of overtime in their previous playoff meeting. Hasselbeck threw the winning score, but it was the Packers Al Harris who ran into the end zone with the touchdown on the interception. The Seahawks are older and wiser now and have plenty of playoff experience. Something that the Pack, save ageless Brett Favre, do not have. The erratic play of Shawn Alexander has turned the once reliable Seahawk running game into a liabilty. Hasselbeck will have to win the game with his arm. The Pack are a feel good story of the year, and its tempting to say that Favre wills his team to a win, but there is always an upset in the Divisional round and this, not the sexy pick of the G-Men is it.
Pick-Seattle


AFC Divisional Playoff
Jaguars (12-5, #5 Seed AFC Wild Card) @ Patriots (16-0 #1 AFC East Champs)
Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, MA 8:00 (CBS)
Favorite: Patriots by 13½
Fast Facts NE 9 straight home playoff wins, last home playoff lost was in 1978 Jax- 0-4 all time in Foxboro
Previous Postseason Meetings Patriots 28 Jags 3 in 1996 AFC Championship, Jags 25 Patriots 10 in 1998 Wild Card Round, Pats 28 Jags 3 in 2005 Wild Card Round
How They Got Here: The Pats earned a first round bye as the AFC #1 seed, The Jags defeated the Steelers 31-29 in the Wild Card Round
Unless the Pats win out the 16 wins previous will be a millstone. Simply put the high-powered Pats offense has been nearly impossible to slow down much less stop. Tom Brady is racking up every offensive award that can be given out, Randy Moss has returned to the superfreak mantra he had in Minnesota. But Moss and Brady aren't the total story. The ballhawking big play ability of the Pats defense can and will cash in on most mistakes an offense make. The Jags play a grinding offense that keeps the mistakes down. David Garrard is growing up fast and proved he had big game mettle with a daring do or die run late in the wild card game at Pittsburgh, he has the confidence of his team and he has them unafraid of any venue. Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew are a devestating one-two running punch and if the Jags can force feed them to the Pats defense, keeping their electric offense off the field this game will stay low scoring and close. Can the Jags spring the upset?
No. They'll make a mistake and the Pats are money making an opponents mistake pay dividends in spades. The game will be close but the Pats are getting the hang winning tight ones.
Pick-New England

Sunday, January 13

AFC Divisional Playoff
Chargers (12-5, #3 Seed, AFC West Champs) @ Colts (13-3, #2 Seed AFC South Champs)
RCA Dome, Indianapolis 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Colts by 9
Fast Facts SD-The Chargers 17-6 win over the Titans was the franchises first playoff win since 1994, Ind- The Colts have the longest active postseason streak, making the playoffs every year since 2002
Previous Postseason Meeting Chargers beat Colts 35-20 in the 1995 Wild Card Round
The Colts may have been the team most happy to see the Pats go 16-0, it let them go 13-3 with little fanfare and let them keep the underdog mantra despite the fact that they are the defending Super Bowl Champs. The Colts have overcome a multitude of injuries the key injury being the extended absence of Marvin Harrison. The Colts have adjusted their offense in his stead and have continued to play strong. The Chargers shed their recent playoff woes with an ugly but effective win over the Titans last week. Many pundits would have predicted a loss if they had have known that all-world RB Ladainian Tomlinson would only be held to 42 yards, but the Chargers got a suprisingly solid start from Philip Rivers and used a steady second half surge to overcome and early deficit. The Colts are a tough team to figure, Peyton Manning is his usual big number self and the defense has benefitted from the full time play of All-Pro DB Bob Sanders but this team looks like its ripe for an upset. The Chargers made Manning look bad in their regular season meeting picking him off six times. I cant see that happening again. The Colts have a pretty good RB themselves in Joseph Addai and Manning has dependable weapons in Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez. I think the Chargers will miss Antonio Gates more than they let on and the Colts may not shut LT down but they can slow him down enough to make Philip Rivers beat them and for him to do so on the road is a much tougher task, especially if Gates is unavailable or plays not at 100%
Pick-Indianapolis

NFC Divisional Playoff
Giants (11-6, #5 Seed NFC Wild Card) @ Cowboys (13-3 #1 Seed, NFC East Champs)
Texas Stadium; Irving, TX 4:30 (FOX)
Favorite Cowboys by 7½
Fast Facts NYG- Have won eight straight road road games, no team in NFL history has ever won nine straight Dall-Have not won a playoff game since 1996
First Postseason Meeting
Tony Romo is now figuring out how big a deal being the Cowboys starting QB is, his much publicized weekend holiday in Cabo with ingenue Jessica Simpson has been the talk of way too many outlets. Romo has presented a calm front in the face of this, but his real concern should be the playing status of Terrell Owens who has been fighting a high ankle sprain. The Pokes need both Romo to be focused and Owens to be at least a fairly healthy target to get this win. Eli Manning in comparison looks happy to have a mountain of pressure off of his shoulders as he is in essence playing with house money after his solid play in leading the G-Men in a wild card round win over the Bucs. While Eli will never be mistaken for his older brother, he is playing with a confidence and presence that makes the G-Men a dangerous opponent. I've been known to knock Eli and on the other hand when every one is calling him a bum, I cut him some slack. The G-Men are the sexy pick to knock off the Pokes. The rumor monger and haters want Romo to play bad again so they can spend the winter knocking his relationship with Simpson. Who Romo is kicking it with is of little concern to me. The G-Men are good and play well on the road, I just don't see Eli Manning putting up good numbers on the Pokes underrated defense. It'll be tight but the G-Men's road winning days end here.
Pick-Dallas

Last Week 4-0

Have a great weekend and I will be sure to review the fallout from this round of football action on Monday. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

The Coaching Carousel goes round and round

First of all I wanted to clairify some things I said.
Yes I was very surprised by Joe Gibbs' sudden resignation and I did hint that the impetuous Dan Snyder might have been behind it. I was unaware that Gibbs had a seriously ill family member. That may have been an underlying cause to his sudden departure. I still think that Snyder may have pushed, but given the situation and stress Gibbs may have been under it wouldn't have taken much cajoling for him to leave. In any case, I still think Gibbs is a class act and he left the Redskins in a much better shape than he found them. Prayers and good wishes come from this side of the keyboard to him and his family.
The rumors are spinning wildly that the Falcons have put out feelers for one Pete Carroll. This is a disaster waiting to happen. Yes, Carroll has pro coaching experience, but the Falcons are a major rebuliding project. I fail to see the reason why Carroll would leave the empire that he has built at USC. I remember when Carroll got to SC and the Trojans were a joke. Now USC is about as close to a pro team as one could have in LA. Carroll owns that city and as dispassionate as Angelinos are about...well everything, they love Carroll and the national power he has built in SoCal. If I'm in his position, I'm staying and continuing to fortify my empire. Name me one former college coach that isn't named Jimmy Johnson that has succeeded in the pro game? No, you ninny Barry Switzer don't count (I was 21 when Switzer was hired as the Pokes coach and I could have coached that team to a Super Bowl win.) Carroll should stay at SC, but you know as well as I do how this story will end. Carroll wil get seduced by the supposed power and prestige of the pro game and be introduced as the Falcons head coach within the next 7-10 days. This after denials that he is leaving.
Meanwhile in Baltimore and Miami, the Tuna and Ozzie respectively are carefully sifting through the candidates. Rumors run rampant that Tony Sparano (I want so badly to call him Soprano) and Jason Garrett of the Cowboys are at top of the wish list. Either way both teams are major rebuilds. Washington is a playoff team and a coach like Bill Cowher could step in like he did in Pittsburgh and keep this veteran team really sharp. Though he steadfastly denies it, I have a feeling that he covets the Carolina Panthers (I laughed out loud when old senile Woody Paige called them the Carolina Cougars, the old ABA team, on ESPN's Around the Horn.) job and is just waiting for Panthers owner Jerry Richardson to ax John Fox.
Ok, I'm getting dizzy on the carousel. Lets step off here and check out the Phat Dap/Head Slap of the Week

PHAT DAP
I have a couple to give out this week. I know its piling on, but one has to go to the LSU Tigers who ignored the hype surrounding the BCS title game and the oh poor us bleatings of Ohio State to roll to a convincing win. Knock Les Miles as a riverboat gambler all you want he had his Bayou Bengals ready to play. They shrugged off the initial punch by Ohio State to score 31 points on their next five possessions to win. Too bad Miles is staying at LSU I would have loved to see him coaching Michigan to give old sweta (sic) vest a run for his loot. Not like Rich Rodriguez won't but you know if Miles was on the opposite sideline every year it would eat at Tressel.
An additional dap goes to Xavier University. No, I haven't been smoking anything and yes Xavier is still my alma maters crosstown rival in basketball. But when Rivals.com gave talented point guard Drew Lavender its "Mid-Major Player of the Week Award" Xavier told Rivals.com to keep the award that it didn't want it. Atlantic 10 commish Linda Bruno backed Xaviers stance. Xavier though a small school (actually its bigger than a couple schools in so-called power conferences) has always been a tough team to deal with. Its response that to Rivals.com that "People who come here and see us and what we're about and know what we've accomplished in 25 years would struggle to put any 'mid' label on us," Xavier athletic director Mike Bobinski said. "We've been to 17 NCAA Tournaments. We've had 20 20-plus win seasons. Our arena has been filled to 96 percent capacity. We've had 11 BCS conference home-and-homes in the last six years. That's not 'mid' anything." Growing up in Cincinnati, I've always thought of Xavier as a team on equal footing with UC both teams are solid basketball schools and have been for a while. I say bravo to Xavier's resistance to being pigeonholed into a label and refusing a "pat on the head" Rivals.com said it wanted to recognize a player from a smaller school. Here's an idea just give a player of the week and do your homework on all the schools not just the glamour or power conferences.

HEAD SLAP
There are usually a number I cold give out. First to media that is blowing this whole Tony Romo-Jessica Simpson thing way out of proportion. So they are dating, so they went to Cancun over the Cowboys bye weekend. Who cares? I know I'm stoking the fire, but what or who Romo does is none of my concern. I'm not a Cowboy fan and it irritates me that some in the media are trying to lay blame on Simpson for having Romo (allegedly) sprung so much that his play has suffered. Give it a bleepin rest...
But I'll give this weeks award to the Savannah State basketball team. They weren't supposed to give Kansas State much of a fight, but to score 4 points TOTAL in the second half??? They trailed 37-21 at the half and then went absolute zero cold. The Tigers went 1 for 23 shooting in the second half. This team was actually coming off a win to a known opponent having beat Southern Miss (dont they feel like idiots now) 61-56. El Bandito is sending this team some shooting drill videos and a head slap.

The NFL Divisional previews are coming and will be posted Friday. The subplots are many and the matchups will be good and your humble scribe will be happy to break them down for you. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Should have known better and Gibbs makes a surprise exit

I admit it...I drank the Kool-Aid.
I fell into the lockstep drumbeat of the banter of the Buck fans that said this is our year, we won't let someone get the drop on us again.
I was swayed by the talk of Tressel and the so-called experts that said that last year was a fluke, that Ohio State learned its lesson and was not going to be beaten by LSU a team that was nowhere as fast as Florida was.
I made the pick and had buyers remorse.
I've been on this site 4 months and ninety posts, I've been railing at the Bucks, dogging them for their soft schedule and saying that when they played a solid team outside of the Big Ten they would be exposed. Still I picked the Bucks, figuring that they were due.
Like the old song by Richard Marx. "Shoulda Known Better."
When Beanie Wells cutback through a nice gap and raced 65 yards for a score, I thought "Uh Oh. Just like last year." The Bucks scored early last year and looked like they were full of confidence. The Gators parried that blow and fell on them with a fury. But still I slugged down my beer and munched on my wings, listening to the frenzied Buck fans at my local tavern. I tried to rationalize and warn the Buck fans that they should comeback with a sustained drive to further quiet the crowd. Then there was an errant snap by LSU on their first drive. The Tigers punted and the Bucks looked like they were in a real position to bury the Bayou Bengals early. The Bucks got a field goal and were up 10-0.
"This ain't last year!" I heard
"Lets bury them early!"
"The SEC is so overrated!"
I shook my head and knew that ten points early is something that can be erased. LSU did just that and the Buck fans got real quiet. Poised to take the lead, the Bucks had a field goal try blocked and then I saw it.
The look.
The "here we go again" look." I sat back in my chair and told my tablemates, "The Bucks had better not let LSU score six before they do, or they're in gumbo." I got a round of dirty looks that was framed more by worry and cold realization that I was right than contempt. The Tigers indeed scored again, and with shocking and sudden swiftness the Bucks came apart. Not like last year where the Gators ran by the Bucks like they were standing still but with a slow and methodical precision. The Tigers kept pounding the Bucks, beating them to the punch time and time again and the Bucks while not seeming a step slower seemed like they were getting muscled around. James Laurinitas has 18 tackles, when a linebacker is leading your team in tackles something is wrong, it usually means that the runners are getting past your first line of defense. LSU scored 31 straight points and after scoring to make it 31-10, the tavern began to clear out. I got my share of dirty looks and nasty under the breath comment about me being "a wet blanket." or "a jinx" I had someone tell me that because I was wearing a University of Cincinnati pullover that I brought bad karma. Hey did I mention that I thought the Bucks would win?
In any case, the Bucks were beaten. The Tigers were the better team, and they brought problems that the Bucks could not answer. Matt Flynn was not flashy, but his effiecent play kept the Bucks guessing all night and he was rightly named the games most outstanding player. Some Buck fans would like to lay blame somewhere. It has to be someones fault, their man Tressel couldn't have been outcoached. In my opinion he wasn't. Todd Boeckman was under a heavy rush all game and was often picking himself of the turf. It wasn't any kind of bias, the Tigers were 118th in the nation in penalties but committed few of them last night, the Bucks had a number of personal fouls and a lot of them were silly preventable ones. Witness the 15 yard facemask after a catch and a personal foul on an unneeded shove. The Bucks were simply beaten by the better team that after having a month to heal the walking wounded exhibited that they were better. The Bucks have nothing to hang their head about, they deserved to be in the title game, but someone had to lose.
And for those that think that I'm gloating over a Buck loss and think that they may have gotten some sort of comeuppance, I'm not. I did think that your team would win. So stop looking to play the blame game and focus on 2008.

I heard the news this morning and was shocked to hear that Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs was resigning his duties. I wonder if Gibbs resigned or is being pushed out by hyper impatient owner Dan Snyder who thinks that he can lure Bill Cowher into DC. I think that Snyder is like how George Steinbrenner was 30 some years ago. Impatient, impetuous and baadly desiring a title to salve his mammoth ego. He sees the rebirth of his hated rival Dallas Cowboys and their egomaniac owner and the possibility of them getting to a Super Bowl and it drives him nuts. He figures if he can push the old coach out while the opportunity is there to get a big name like Cowher he will do it. Gibbs, the portrait of a classy and respected coach deserves better. I don't think this resignation was entirely his idea.

Back tommorrow with the Clemems fallout and the Phat Dap/Head Slap
Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

The BCS Grand Finale and a side note to Buck Fans

I'd like to think that my college football prognasticating is getting better with a pair of correct ones to finish up before the title game...hold up Tulsa just scored again.

The weekend was also spade tight as every pro prediction came down as your humble scribe predicted it would. I never thought I could depend on Eli Manning and he'd come through like a champ. As much as I detest the Steelers I was troubled by the play calling of Mike Tomlin late in the Jags-Steelers game. But no matter what call he made on that 3rd and 6 run or pass he would have gotten roasted for it had it not been successful. But to not only fail to stop a timeout depleted Jags team on 4th and 2 but to let David Garrard run for 32 yards was shameful. Wait a minute... Tulsa just scored again...The Redskins were just about to add another chapter to their winning for Sean story when Shawn Suisam missed a chip shot field goal and the Skins just fell apart, letting the Seahawks take not one but two backbreaking picks get took to the house was sad. I hate to say it but the Skins quit in that final quarter. I'll have the preview of the divisional round on Friday.

This whole sordid affair with Roger Clemens is getting messier and messier. Clemens went on 60 Minutes and answered the charges that were leveled at him. Mike Wallace didn't throw softballs at him, but they weren't hard highones either. Then at the press conference it seemed that ESPN watchers were highly skeptical. Clemens is in a no-win situation. If he vocieferiously denies the allegations as he is doing, he "looks guilty" If he does like Barry Bonds has been doing and simply refusing to answer the charges until made to he looks guilty for not defending himself. No one knows who is telling the truth and Congress is going to have to get involved again, because baseball is looking more and more like the buffoon that can't keep its own house clean. I'll detail more thoughts on this later in the week.

You know what the fun things is about irritating Buckeye fans are? Many of them are so used to someone doggin on them they don't even know when they are being given a backhanded compliment. I got a nasty comment on my last post because I was growing tired of the "poor pitiful us" mentality I had been hearing from Buckeye coaches, players and apologist...err fans. I had merely stated that I felt that the Bucks as the top rated (rightfully so in my opinion) team in the country that instead of trying to play the persecuted underdog role instead have a "takin' care of business" mentality. Memo to Buck fan, your team is NOT an underdog. Your team has played well enough to merit its selection to the BCS title game, I grew annoyed by the "Oh it might as well be a road game." blatherings I was hearing. Correct me if I'm wrong here.
Did OSU win on the road in a dome? Yes at Minnesota
Did OSU win on the road at a ranked team Yes at Purdue and at Penn State
Did OSU win on the at a non conference team? Yes at Washington
Did OSU win on the road at a historically tough, hostile venue? Yes @ Michigan.
So if OSU did all that and consider themselves title material...WHY ARE YA'LL CRYIN'??? If the Bucks have accomplished the aforementioned, winning in New Orleans despite a pro LSU crowd should be a task that can be done. All I've said from the word go is if the Bucks are the championship material that they claim they are. Go out and win the damn thing and no one will have a thing to say.
Now that I have that off my chest lets look at the matchup.
ALLSTATE BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#2 Louisiana State (11-2) vs #1 Ohio State (11-1)
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans 8:00 (FOX)
Favorite LSU by 4
Fast Fact Both teams are vying to be the first team to win multiple BCS titles
Both teams are a bit of surprise to be in this game, needing ill-timed losses by teams that were ranked ahead of them at one time to gain entry to this game. Ignore the carping you hear from Athens and Los Angeles, the two best teams are here. Ohio State is a lunchpail type of team. Todd Boeckman is not superstar QB, but is effiecent and has the gamesmanship that keeps the Bucks out of perilous situations. Boeckman has a pair of Brians: Robiskie and Hartman as dependable targets Chris "Beanie" Wells is a darting slashing running back who is a scoring threat from anywhere on the field. The Bucks offense while effiecent isn't a point a minute offense, they are the methodical wear you type, but
The defense is the Bucks real calling card. DE Vernon Gholston and LB James Laurinaitis are hard hitting, fast pursuing defensive players who are game changers, the latter being a Butkus award winner. Both Gholston and Laurinatis demand attention at all times. To say that this unit is stingy on giving up points is a massive understatement. This team while not the most high scoring doesn't need to be since their defense is so miserly on giving up points itself. The Bucks problem is the same as it was last year and painfully proven against Illinois, they have trouble with mobile teams.
Louisiana State is a high risk high reward team. Jacob Hester gets the most press, but Keiland Williams is a sleeper back who could be utilized effectively. The Tigers have a bit of a QB quandry with Ryan Perrriloux and Matt Flynn sharing duties. Both are smart and handle the offense well. Early Doucet is a talented but underused wideout who OSU CB Malcolm Jenkins will likely be assigned to.
The Tiger defense starts with the emotional play of all everything Glenn Dorsey who in turn opens up things for talented LB Ali Highsmith. This defense can be run on though and if Wells hits it the right way it could be trouble.
In the end, its the Tigers hi-wire act versus the supposed underdog Bucks. The Tigers gambling nature could backfire on them. The Bucks need to start fast and avoid turnovers to take what could be a crowd leaning to LSU though from what I've heard the crowd in the Big Easy has been split. I picked Ohio State to win last year and felt foolish for betting on the Bucks. Fool me once...I can't get over the Tigers getting run over by Darren McFaddden and have to think that Beanie Wells could do the same thing. I see a tight game the Bucks pull out a grinding win and 12 months of having to hear Buck fans lord about how great this "scrappy underdog" team is. I should know better and will probably hate myself for this pick but...
Pick-Ohio State

Previous Pick Set 2-1
Overall 15-17

And no the winner regardless of who it is should NOT have to wear an asterisk or share its title with anyone...

I'll comment on how I'm dealing with a Buck win or loss, on the continuing Clemens saga and have the return of the Phat Dap/Head Slap on Wednesday or Thursday. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

NFL Wild Card Picks & More Apologies???

I guess I'm going to be issuing apologies throughout the bowl season as Kansas won an exciting Orange Bowl over a BCS jinxed Virginia Tech last night. I still say that despite their solid season that the Jayhawks should not have been in the BCS sponsored Orange Bowl. I'm not knocking Kansas mind you, I just feel that it was wrong for Kansas to lose to Mizzou in what amounted to the Big 12 North title game, and then get a BCS bid after Mizzou lost in the Big 12 championship to Oklahoma. In my humble opinion the BCS matchups should have been

Rose
USC vs Georgia

Orange
Va. Tech vs. Mizzou

Sugar
Hawai'i va Oklahoma

Fiesta
West Virginia vs. Michigan

BCS Championship
Ohio State vs. LSU

Notice that I left Illinois out, they finished 3rd in the Big 10 and got to a BCS bowl? How is that?

I would have sent the Jayhawks to the Cotton Bowl to face (and likely beat Arkansas) and Illinois would have gotten clobbered by Florida in the Capital One Bowl.

Also, since I live in Ohio I get my overdose of Buckeye coverage, I'm already getting sick of hearing the poor pitiful us carping from the Ohio State fans and to some extent the players who are whining that they are the underdog with an unfair burden of having to beat LSU in its own backyard. If my memory serves me correct Ohio State is the #1 team and if they are the champion that they like to say that they are (something that they do so often) they should be ready to go into any venue and win. Not everything will be cooked up to your liking Buckeye nation, deal with it and play. If you're the champion that you say you are, you will win regardless of where and who you play.

Hey, thats just my humble opinion so lets look at the NFL now. Oh and I know I forgot to put my Phat Dap and Head Slap in on Wednesday. I'll bring that back next week.


I gave capsules on each teams strengths and weaknesses now its time to get down to business. New England, Indy, Dallas and Green Bay all sit on their respective couches and barcoloungers this week and let "the lower creatures" fight it out for the right to come to their cribs and houses of pain next weekend. I remember when the wild card weekend was two games on Sunday that usually featured a 9-7 vs a 10-6 team that would be fodder for a divisional champ the next week. Now the last two Super Bowl winners have played that extra game in the wild card round and used it as a springboard to the Super Bowl. The top seeded team in either conference hasn't won the Super Bowl since 2003 and only three times in the past ten years, so history is actually against the teams sitting out this weekend.
As usual the odds are provided courtesy of Yahoo Sports and are for entertainment and comparison purposes only.

Saturday, January 5

NFC Wild Card Game
Redskins (9-7 Wild Card, #6 Seed) @ Seahawks (10-6 NFC West Champ, #3 Seed)
Qwest Field, Seattle 4:30 (NBC)
Favorite Seahawks by 3½
Fast Facts The Seahawks beat the Redskins 20-10 in the 2005 NFC Divisional round. Over the last four games the Redskins have given up a league best 71.8 yards rushing a game.
The Redskins come into this game on a serious roll, having needed to win every game after a 5-7 start to get here. They have used the resurgence of Todd Collins and the redoubtable running of Clinton Portis to win their last four and are the keys to a Redskin vicotry. The Seahawks won an extremely weak NFC West for the fourth straight time, they will look to the solid play of Matt Hasselbeck who has had to compensate for the disappointing play of Shawn Alexander. The Seahawks will look to their rowdy home crowd, the Seahawks were 7-1 at home to give them a boost. This game smacks of an upset waiting to happen, but I cant see the Redskins riding their emotions this long.
Pick-Seattle


AFC Wild Card Game
Jaguars (11-5 Wild Card #5 Seed) @ Steelers (10-6 AFC North Champs, #4 Seed)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh 8:00 (NBC)
Favorite Jaguars by 2½
Fast Facts The Steelers are hosting their first playoff game since losing the 2004 AFC Championship to the Pats. The Jags set an AFC playoff record for points in their last playoff win (62-7 vs Miami in the '99 AFC Divsional round)
The Jags are not a typical warm weather team, they are built for a ground pounding down and dirty type game. Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor provide an excellent 1-2 punch in the Jags running game. David Garrard is a solid game manager who has a sneaky good arm. The Steelers are their usual battle tested team, but they are hurting. Najeh Davenport is being counted on to fill in for the injured Willie Parker and the offensive line is hurting as well. Factor in a host of injuries on the defensive side including walking wounded Troy Palomalu and the Steelers look lucky to have held off the Browns for their divisional title. The Steelers are by no means a pushover but the Jags outslugged a healthier Steeler squad in the snow three weeks ago, I don't see why it cant happen again. Ignore all the yapping that has begun to emanate from tthe Steelers saying that the Jags won't sneak up on them again, they won't have to.
Pick-Jacksonville


Sunday, January 6

NFC Wild Card Game
Giants (10-6 Wild Card, #5 Seed) @ Buccaneers (9-7 NFC South Champs, #4 Seed)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Buccaneers by 3
Fast Facts Jeff Garcia is facing the Giants in the playoff with his third different team (SF, 2002, Phil 2006) Eli Manning is 0-2 in the playoffs.
The Giants impressed many with their strong play against the Pats, but then you are left to wonder are they able to get up emotionally for the Bucs. The inconsistent play of Eli Manning is the one thing that will dog the G-Men. Brandon Jacobs provides tough inside running while the emergence of Ahmad Bradshaw as a chance of pace provides critical depth. The Bucs are a hard team to figure out, they lack a real threat a RB, Earnest Graham is decent but hardly a super threat. Jeff Garcia is a battle tested vet, but his inconsistent play and the lack of a real threat at WR make you wonder how this team got nine wins. The two teams have been yapping at one another and Ronde Barber's comments about Eli Manning were about as ill-timed as one could get. The Bucs are plenty tough in the playoff at home, but the Giants are playing well and are 7-1 on the road. Eli may not be the hero in this game, but he won't be the goat.
Pick-New York Giants


AFC Wild Card Game
Titans (10-6, #6 Seed) @ Chargers (11-5 AFC West Champs, #3 Seed)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego 4:30 (CBS)
Favorite Chargers by 10
Fast Facts The Chargers have lost their last three home playoff games, The Titans have never won a playoff game on the west coast
The Chargers started slow but have gained momentum and roll into the postseason having won 10 of their last twelve after a 1-3 start. Someone clued Norv Turner in to the fact that he had an all-pro RB on his roster and that he needed to use him a few times. Philip Rivers while not flashy has developed into a fairly effective game manager and the Chargers underrated but solid defense has played well led by the superior play of Shawne Merriman. The Titans needed every break that they got to get to the postseason. A weak running game, Vince Young erratic play and a Jekyll and Hyde tendency had them at 6-5 after a devestating blowout loss in Cincinnati. The Titans ground out four wins in their last five and snuck past the Browns to snatch the last playoff berth. One can never be sure of which team will show up. This is the same team that has these same Chargers behind the eight-ball in Nashville a few weeks ago and blew a 14 point lead to lose in OT. That team was a lot healthier, they won't get the opportunity to jump on the Chargers again. Look for the Chargers to establish a strong presence from LT and use their fast pursuing defense to pressure a hobbled Vince Young into a mistake or three.
Pick-San Diego

Last Week 12-4 (Upset and Lock Correct)
Regular Season Total 163-93(.637 correct)(15-2 Locks, 5-12 Upsets)

I'll review the weekends games on Monday and give an indepth preview of the BCS title game. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Apologies are in order and NFL Playoff Odds

I should pen an open letter to the teams, fans and supporters of Mizzou, West Virginia and Michigan I really didn't think that any of those teams would show up for their respective bowl games. Especially West Virginia after Rich Rodriguez's messy exit and hiring at Michigan after their head coach retired under pressure. And I thought Mizzou would pout after getting shafted out of a BCS berth.
Boy was I wrong.
Michigan finally played like the strong team that they were supposed to be in the preseason and outgunned Florida. I should know better than to pick a Heisman winning QB.
Mizzou took its BCS snub out on Arkansas and ran them out of the Cotton Bowl. Who was that masked man that made the performance of Darren McFadden look so very average. If you had of told me that Chase Daniel would only have 136 yaards passing, I'd have said that the Tigers would have gotten stomped. Instead Tony Temple carried them on his back with a shocking 281 yards and 4 scores to lead the Tigers to a shockingly easy rout of the Hogs.
And finally may I offer a mea culpa to West Virginia who in spite of the departure of their coach and the injury to their top running back Steve Slaton, the Mountaineers ran roughshod on the Sooners who are fast becoming a BCS punch line. Pat White and Noel Devine just kept running and running and running and flat ran the Sooners out of the Fiesta Bowl. The win virtually earned Bill Stewart a head coaching job in Morgantown, and though I think that Stewart is s decent hire it might not have been the best hire. I'm sure that WVA in such a hurry to put the Rodriguez mess behind them but still have some continutity to his succesful tenure grasped at the first thing that looked appealing. I personally think that Terry Bowden would have been a better choice but Mountaineer nation seems pretty enthused by the win and the hire. Best of luck to them.

Time to step it up, step it up. It's Playoff Time!-Chuck D on Janet Jackson's song New Agenda

From 32 to 12 now the fun begins, all teams are legit Super Bowl contenders. No 8-8 backing in thankfully all but 2 of the teams having won at least ten games

Lets look at all 12 teams and the chances that Princess Katie will see their fans in her area the first week of February.



AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE (teams listed by playoff seeding)

New England Patriots AFC #1 Seed
Head Coach Bill Belichick 16-0 AFC East Champs
Strengths: The passing game of Tom Brady is simply frightening. The addition of a revitalized Randy Moss has seemed to add octanes to an already potent offense. Brady's 50 touchdown passes, 23 to Moss is only a part of the story. Wes Welker's team record and AFC co-leading 113 catches give Brady a dangerous secondary weapon to throw to. The defense while a bit rubbery can make the big play. Vets Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau lead a smart savy squad and though he may play a bit on the dirty side at times Rodney Harrison is a big hitting big play force in the secondary
Weaknesses: If the Pats have one, its under utilized running game. Laurence Maroney is a solid running back but has under 1000 yards on the year. The Pats simply have no real use for his talents, but he can be a factor.
Odds on getting to Arizona: 5-2

Indianapolis Colts AFC #2 Seed
Head Coach Tony Dungy 13-3 AFC South Champs
Strengths: The potent offense led by the incomparable Peyton Manning is as good as it gets. Few if any QB's are as prepared as Manning. Reggie Wayne has stepped up nicely in the absence of Marvin Harrison who has been bothered by a knee injury all season. The full season health of Bob Sanders in the Colts secondary has been a real plus.
Weaknesses: The injury bug has bitten and hard, if the Colts want to get through the monsters in the Northeast they need to have all hands on deck.
Odds on Getting to Arizona 3-1

San Diego Chargers AFC #3 Seed
Head Coach Norv Turner 11-5 AFC West Champs
Strengths: When Turner realized that he had a future hall of famer at his disposal the Chargers really got rolling. LaDainian Tomlinson is the heart and sould of the Chargers offense. Philip Rivers is decent but is also smart enough not to force the action.
Weaknesses: The Chargers are playoff jinxed, despite having three sucessive home playoff games they have won none and Norv Turner has little postseason experience.
Odds on getting to Arizona 8-1

Pittsburgh Steelers AFC #4 Seed
Head Coach Mike Tomlin 10-6 AFC North Champs
Stregnths: The defense keeps the rugged Steelers in many a game, and Big Ben Roethlisberger is a savvy QB that does what is needed to get his team in to scoring opportunities. Big Ben's favorite target Hines Ward is always a threat from anywhere on the field.
Weaknesses: This is another team that has been hit haard by the injury bug. This is a team that is dangerously thin at key positions and leaves Tomlin no room poor play. The loss of Willie Parker hampers the once potent running game. Najeh Davenport, while capable in short bursts may not be the long term playoff answer.
Odds on Getting to Arizona 20-1

Jacksonville Jaguars AFC #5 Seed
Head Coach Jack Del Rio 11-5 AFC Wild Card
Strengths: This is a team that can and will run you into the ground. Vet Fred Taylor and youngster Maurice Jones-Drew are scoring threat from anywhere on the field. The defense is underrated but full of ballhawking potential
Weaknesses: David Garrard is young and the playoffs can be brutal to young QB's
Odds on getting to Arizona 15-1

Tennessee Titans #6 Seed
Head Coach Jeff Fischer 10-6 AFC Wild Card
Strengths: Head coach Jeff Fischer has been to the playoffs and has the wherewithal to keep his realatively young team composed
Weaknesses: Vince Young while showing flashes of potential has regressed from his breakout rookie year, also this team is battling numerous injuries that a young team can ill afford
Odds on getting to Arizona 25-1


NATIIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

Dallas Cowboys #1 Seed
Head Coach Wade Phillips 13-3 NFC East Champs
Strengths: Start from the potent offense and a defense that seems to make the big play when need be. Tony Romo is maturing into a big play QB and if Terrell Owens is healthy they are a deadly combo. Jason Witten is fast growing into an elite TE and a dependable checkdown for Romo
Weaknesses: This is a team that despite winning 13 games is maddeningly inconsistent. They leave teams in games that they should blow out and have a nasty tendency to mind wander at times.
Odds on getting to Arizona 3-1

Green Bay Packers NFC #2 Seed
Head Coach Mike McCarthy 13-3 NFC North Champs
Strengths: A year after fighting the rumors that he was over the hill Brett Favre has once again reminded football pundits why he is one of the elite QB's As he goes so will the team. Donald Driver is the possession man while young Greg Jennings is a valuable deep threat.
Weaknesses: The emergence of Ryan Grant has covered a serious flaw in the Packers offense and curiously this is a team that doesn't play well in the cold. The fact that they may have to go to Dallas where Favre has never won is also a big hurdle
Odds on getting to Arizona 2-1

Seattle Seahawks NFC #3 Seed
Head Coach Mike Holgren 10-6 NFC West Champs
Strengths: Matt Hasselbeck is one of the most underrated QB's in the game, he has developed into a gutty, savvy QB and if the Seahawks are to make any noise in the playoffs it will be on his play. The defense while not full of big names and big plays can step up when needed.
Weaknesses: The noticeable drop off of Shawn Alexander has hurt a once dominant running game.
Odds on getting to Arizona 12-1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC #4 Seed
Head Coach Jon Gruden 9-7 NFC South Champs
Strengths: A strong Jeff Garcia, battled tested and playoff savvy will be the rock that the Bucs must lean on if they want to get
Weaknesses: This is a young team and the lack of a credible running game (Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham are decent but not gamebreakers) may hurt them if Garcia starts slow
Odds on getting to Arizona 25-1

New York GiantsNFC #5 Seed
Head Coach Tom Coughlin 10-6 NFC Wild Card
Strengths: A hard charging defense led by ageless Michael Strahan and the emergence of Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck give the G-Men a real presence. Brandon Jacobs has potential and young Ahmad Bradshaw is developing into a capable backup
Weaknessses: The inconsistent play of Eli Manning is a serious bugaboo. He played well in the season ending loss to the Pats, but one can never be sure if he will play tough or scared and one bad game in January could be a teams last game of the year.
Odds on getting to Arizona 15-1

Washington Redskins NFC #6 Seed
Head Coach Joe Gibbs 9-7 NFC Wild Card
Strengths: A deep team unity after the death of Sean Taylor and the emergence of Todd Collins gave the Skins a fierce closing rush that got them to the playoffs. Clinton Portis is reemerging as an elite back at the right time.
Weaknesses: One has to wonder how long they can ride emotion, the Skins have an tendency to play inconsistent and that is dangerous come playoff time.
Odds on getting to Arizona 20-1

I'll preview the matchups for the Wild Card Weekend tomorrow. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

2008...Lets Get Started

Didn't get drunk, didn't end up with a lampshade on my head on New Years Eve. I just watched football, basketball and hockey all day on New Years. Though it does seem like there are less games on New Years than it used to be.
Now you know why I stick to picking Pro games instead of college games, I'm not making excuse for the plethora of incorrect picks. I should have known better than to pick any entity associated with Bobby Petrino, and I apologize to Michigan. I should have had more faith.
Was I the only one that was seriously digging on the Winter Classic yesterday? That was the essence of cool and radical. Outside game, in the elements. I've been to Buffalo and know how the weather is up there in the winter. The NHL could use pub like this more often. The game might have dragged some with all the resurfacing of the ice but it was a fun game to watch. I still maintain that hockey is better to watch live though.
Wait a minute... USC and Georgia just scored again.
Everyone here knows about how much I detest the political machine that is the BCS, never more was the flaws exposed than last nights pair of snooze fests that were the Rose and Sugar Bowls. I watched truncated versions of Kill Bill rather than sit through those abominations. USC & Georgia should have been facing off, Hawai'i should have had Mizzou to play and Illinois should have been in the Cotton. Each of those snooze fests would have looked a lot better with those matchups. And Mizzou would have been rightly rewarded with a BCS trip.

There are a few more college bowls to look at still

TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL
#4 Oklahoma (11-2) vs #9 West Virginia (10-2)
University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ 8:00 (FOX)
Favorite Oklahoma by 6
Fast Fact: West Virginia will be coached by interim coach Bill Stewart, interim coach are 0-5 so far in bowl games this year.
Oklahoma returns to the scene of a painful loss. Last year they were the victim of Cinderella Boise State and their stirring gadget play laden comeback. This team comes in to this years BCS bowl game on a roll and with a better offense than they had last year, averaging 43.8 points a contest 3rd in the nation. The Mountaineers are still reeling from their shocking upset from Pitt that cost them a BCS title shot and the sudden departure of Rich Rodriguez to Michigan. Steve Slaton is still a marquee back but he has had a couple of so-so games. The Sooners can counter with tailback Patrick Allen and the efficent passing of Sam Bradford. I think the Sooners are the better team and the Mountaineers while talented are still in turmoil over their former coaches sudden exit.
Pick-Oklahoma

Thursday January 3

FEDEX ORANGE BOWL
#3 Virginia Tech (11-2) vs #8 Kansas (11-1)
Dolphins Stadium, Miami 8:00 (FOX)
Favorite Virginia Tech by 3
Fast Fact This is Kansas first bowl game in January since the 1968 Orange Bowl
A lot of pundits, including myself think that Kansas should be apologizing to the college football world for getting invited to the Orange Bowl. They lost a Big 12 North Showdown with Mizzou for their first loss, but despite not getting to their conference title game still get a BCS bowl bid. Kansas is plenty entertaining scoring better than 44 points a game. Todd Reesing has the arm to get the Jayhawks up and down the field but he faces a formidable task dealing with Frank Beamer's legendary tough Hokie defense that gives up but 15.5 points a game.
I've always had mad respect for the Hokies and while the Jayhawks are a feel-good story, they are not ready for the big-play ballhawking, roughneck highspeed defense the Hokies bring.
Pick-Virginia Tech

Saturday January 5th

INTERNATIONAL BOWL
Ball State (7-5) vs Rutgers (7-5)
Rogers Centre; Toronto, Canada 12:00 (ESPN)
Favorite Rutgers by 10
Fast Fact Rutgers has qualified for 3 straight bowls the longest streak in school history
The Scarlet Knights were an preseason dark horse to make a BCS bowl, but fell hard. They still have the breathtaking running of Ray Rice and a defense that can force a turnover or three. They will present a real test for one of the better college QB you've never heard of. Nate Davis has thrown for over 3300 yards and 27 touchdowns. The Knights can pound the ball and control the clock, a deadly combination.
Pick-Rutgers

Sunday, January 6th

GMAC BOWL
Bowling Green (8-4) vs Tulsa (9-4)
Ladd-Peebles Stadium; Mobile, AL 8:00 ESPN
Favorite Tulsa by 4.5
Fast Fact Bowling Green has been to three bowls in five years
Both these teams like to throw and then some, Golden Hurricane QB Paul Smith has thrown for 4753 yards and 42 TDs, The Falcons counter with Tyler Sheehan who has thrown for over 3100 yards and 23 scores. This is not a game for the defensive minded. I think the Falcons will have trouble with Tulsa's spread offense and not keep up with the wild scoring that will keep the scoreboard operator quite buy.
Pick-Tulsa

Previous Pick Set 5-7
Overall 13-16

I'll preview the NFL playoffs tomorrow and give you each teams chances of getting to Glendale for the Super Bowl. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!