tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323002802024-03-07T12:22:24.496-06:00College And Pro BallHot Sports Opinions and Various Other CommentsJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.comBlogger711125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-42307074139667910552009-01-30T21:28:00.001-06:002009-01-30T21:30:09.838-06:00Super Bowl XLIII<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUeuVzWd8EprrQIZA2AHOsmeWac_V3q2sj1CH8_4mPfaim5lHBwn5AmugCZP8S-Nf_XqWxsdfXAS99ZjIP8HAu6X6SR8tql6u287vVS2jY0S5NaYFXFObk8Yk5L0Jyy5593rp/s1600-h/super+bowl.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 116px; height: 97px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUeuVzWd8EprrQIZA2AHOsmeWac_V3q2sj1CH8_4mPfaim5lHBwn5AmugCZP8S-Nf_XqWxsdfXAS99ZjIP8HAu6X6SR8tql6u287vVS2jY0S5NaYFXFObk8Yk5L0Jyy5593rp/s400/super+bowl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297294998474124002" /></a><br />That’s a lot of Roman numerals…<br /><br />Picks for Championship Sunday: 1-1<br />Playoffs: 4-6<br />Overall: 169-96-1<br /><br />Raymond James Stadium in Tampa hosts Sunday’s Super Bowl between the AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals. The Steelers are contenders every year to appear in this game. The Cardinals had their second winning season since moving to Phoenix 20 years ago. <br /><br />The Steelers have an efficient offense and a suffocating defense. The Cardinals have possible Hall of Famers on the offensive side of the ball in Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald. This is going to be a fun game when the Cardinals have the ball.<br /><br />I thought the Cardinals would lose their first playoff game, and have picked against them in every playoff game to date. Nothing changes here, though I would love to see the Cardinals close the deal and win a championship. The Steelers have a better defense and are more consistent. Defense wins championships. The Steelers earn a record 6th Super Bowl title. Pick: PittsburghJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com74tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-40883273882998914232009-01-17T10:52:00.000-06:002009-01-17T10:53:21.695-06:00NFL Picks: Championship SundayLast Week: 2-2<br />Playoffs: 3-5<br />Overall: 168-95-1<br /><br />And then there were four. These are especially heady times in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as the area’s three teams all have a chance to go to the Super Bowl, with the Steelers and Ravens playing each other and the Eagles traveling out to Arizona. Did you know that Harrisburg is closer to Baltimore than it is to Pittsburgh or Philadelphia? On to the picks…<br /><br />NFC<br /><strong>Philadelphia at Arizona</strong>: Hell has definitely frozen over. The formerly sad-sack Cardinals find themselves hosting their second playoff game in three weeks, after not hosting one since the Truman administration when they played in Chicago. They find themselves hosting the Eagles, who were a mediocre team before coach Andy Reid briefly benched QB Donovan McNabb before putting him back in the starting lineup. The Cardinals have discovered defense in the playoffs, or at least enough to allow Kurt Warner and company to outscore opponents. I love Kurt Warner, and I’d love to see the Cardinals win, but I don’t see it happening. The Eagles are the hot team here. Pick: Philly<br /><br />AFC<br /><strong>Baltimore at Pittsburgh</strong>: These two teams despise each other. The Steelers have won two close games over the Ravens this season. Normally, it’s really hard for a team to beat another good team three times in one season. But, the Ravens have been playing for 15 consecutive weeks, since their bye week was moved to Week 2 due to the rescheduling of their game in Houston due to Hurricane Ike. The Ravens should have enough in the tank to make this a good game. However, the Steelers will make one fewer mistake and win a trip to their seventh Super Bowl. Pick: PittsburghJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-15400813698434840302009-01-12T06:51:00.003-06:002009-01-12T06:56:00.445-06:00A Need For Slight Change<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlliJ1Vhr9W89xJxLYJAY_JTss6B66ZGY90SnJEvubEqATiDktlj1XNCEq1F0JDwkxXyK1IJ4z2XYGKWrdJnkKUezNLTpxf0Ee6zacpi4g9KbrBHq6MYhXBowiJkrteoxijdJ/s1600-h/new+nfl+logo.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlliJ1Vhr9W89xJxLYJAY_JTss6B66ZGY90SnJEvubEqATiDktlj1XNCEq1F0JDwkxXyK1IJ4z2XYGKWrdJnkKUezNLTpxf0Ee6zacpi4g9KbrBHq6MYhXBowiJkrteoxijdJ/s400/new+nfl+logo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290389558529129266" /></a><br />This year’s NFL playoffs have been interesting, to say the least. The visiting team won three of four games this weekend, and has won five of the eight games played to date. Parity in the league has contributed to the lack of home field advantage. However, don’t be surprised to see the league tweak the seeding system for the playoffs in future years.<br /><br />Cases in point: the Arizona Cardinals and San Diego Chargers. The Cardinals finished 9-7 and the Chargers finished 8-8. Both teams made the playoffs by winning weak divisions. The NFL rewards division winners with a home game in the first round of the playoffs. So, both teams hosted teams with better records in the first round of the playoffs: the Cardinals hosted 11-5 Atlanta, while the Chargers hosted 12-4 Indianapolis. Both teams won their first round games over teams that had much better regular seasons. It can be argued that the Falcons and Colts were penalized for not winning divisions that happened to have a stronger team in it.<br /><br />The NFL could very well seed playoff teams based solely on record. If they were to do so, the AFC could have been seeded thusly:<br />1) Tennessee<br />2) Indianapolis (tiebreaker, due to their win over Pittsburgh)<br />3) Pittsburgh<br />4) Baltimore (tiebreaker, due to their win over Miami)<br />5) Miami<br />6) San Diego<br /><br />In this scenario, the Chargers would have traveled to Pittsburgh for a first round game, while the Dolphins would have traveled to Baltimore. The Colts would not have been penalized for being in the same division with the Titans, but would have been rewarded for winning 12 games.<br /><br />In the NFC, a similar scenario exists. By applying this proposal, the NFC would have been seeded thusly:<br />1) New York Giants<br />2) Carolina<br />3) Atlanta<br />4) Minnesota<br />5) Philadelphia<br />6) Arizona<br /><br />The Cardinals would have still played the Falcons, only in Atlanta. The Eagles would still have traveled to Minnesota. In addition, a situation like what happened with the Cardinals could have been avoided. Arizona clinched the awful NFC West with three games to play, and had very little chance to move up in the seedings, but were guaranteed a home game. Thus, they played lethargically in their last three games, including an annihilation in the snow at New England. The Cardinals would have been forced to continue to try to earn a home game in addition to the division title they had already won. This would have improved competition in the final weeks of the season. Plus, under this seeding plan, the Eagles would host the upcoming NFC championship game since they have a better record than the Cardinals.<br /><br />Another argument is made by fans of the New England Patriots, who sat at home with an 11-5 record: why not let the teams with the best records in the playoffs, period? That is a valid point. However, with the divisional schedule, it is best to reward the winner of a division with at least a trip to the playoffs. A home game is icing on the cake, but the division winner must be rewarded in order to bring some integrity to divisional play, especially with unbalanced schedules. Otherwise, divisions are only means for scheduling and nothing else.<br /><br />At least the NFC East can’t cut a deal for its third place team to meet the fourth place team from the AFC West in a meaningless bowl game in Birmingham or Shreveport..Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-89277151656083086692009-01-09T21:06:00.003-06:002009-01-09T21:20:43.687-06:00Some Sanity, Please<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUT6OakBW4qzHAOJk18BbdHcPKYeY35lLEG79_dUW3D8Ox1JRJAYzx3RHcS4acWJ5yaL3i_dsnSOpc0XnHYoHo2i2Jm8pS7EHBrl4Uk1oipEoH3iyMpC1VpgzId4TjxIDljxK/s1600-h/OU+2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUT6OakBW4qzHAOJk18BbdHcPKYeY35lLEG79_dUW3D8Ox1JRJAYzx3RHcS4acWJ5yaL3i_dsnSOpc0XnHYoHo2i2Jm8pS7EHBrl4Uk1oipEoH3iyMpC1VpgzId4TjxIDljxK/s400/OU+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289497188376462306" /></a><br />In the aftermath of a loss in any big game in any sport, fans of that team come unglued. In this country, nowhere is that more apparent than in college football. Millions of fans buy tickets, travel long distances, and donate large sums of money to support the school of their choice. Coaches reap a lot of the benefit of that interest, with six and seven figure contracts to coach young men on their way to the NFL and/or college degrees. With the steep increase in pay comes a steep increase in expectations. While some of those expectations are warranted, some fans have outrageous demands that they place on coaches, much more than they experience in their everyday lives at their own jobs or with their own families.<br /><br />I was reminded of this Thursday night, as my Oklahoma Sooners lost yet another national championship game, 24-14 to the Florida Gators. The sentiment I am about to explain is not limited to OU fans, but also applies to fans of Ohio State, Texas, Florida, or any other big-time college program you can name. Combined with the anonymity of the Internet, anyone with a computer and a Web connection can get behind a keyboard and post some hot but absolutely stupid opinions about any subject, including a great football coach. <br /><br />OU has now lost five BCS bowl games in a row. It would be just as easy to insert Ohio State and Jim Tressel in this conversation, as they have lost three BCS bowl games in a row.<br /><br />After Thursday night’s game, I visited a leading OU fan message board. There were some OU fans calling for the resignation of Bob Stoops. How asinine! Somebody was drinking too much. In the last ten years, Stoops has only won six conference championships, won one national championship, and played for three others. In addition, his teams’ success has resulted in unprecedented financial success for the OU athletic department. Yet for some, that’s not enough. Especially when said team has lost five BCS bowls in a row. Some fans expect a national championship every year, or their self-importance is wounded. Many of these are the same type of fans that jump on the bandwagon of whatever team happens to be good at the time. There is a good chance these people were nowhere to be seen when John Blake was leading the Sooners to records of 3-8 and 5-6, and Oklahoma had little hope of a return to national relevance. Many are derisively referred to by Oklahoma State fans as “Wal-Mart” Sooner fans, or fans that have never set foot on the campus but bought a shirt at Wal-Mart and adopted the team because they live there and the team is successful. Some of these types of fans, on the other hand, are actually graduates of the school. I cannot properly explain how silly this is. A newspaper writer in Oklahoma in the 1950’s explained it to his editor much better, though in a very politically incorrect way: “<a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=skFXK5hFvhkC&pg=PA50&lpg=PA50&dq=how+much+rice+can+a+chinaman+eat&source=web&ots=m_B-0dlbJP&sig=cqpX2-ygAGJ5Go58MIiDLRUhBfY">How much rice can a Chinaman eat?</a>”<br /><br />There should be reasonable expectations for a highly paid coach. Coaches like Bob Stoops, Texas’ Mack Brown, Ohio State’s Jim Tressel, and others like them are expected to contend for conference and national championships every year. That is reasonable when a coach is making upwards of 2 and 3 million dollars per year. At that level, consistent and consecutive seasons of 8-4, 7-5 or even worse are unacceptable. Just ask former Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer, among others. However, it is totally unreasonable and outrageous to expect a coach to win a national championship every year. It takes some good fortune on top of talent and strategy to actually win a national championship.<br /><br />I’m not happy that OU is not currently successful in big-time bowls. However, I’m not willing to throw this group of coaches off the bridge because they had the audacity to lose big games. <br /><br />Bob Stoops isn’t going anywhere. If he does, it’ll be on his own terms. To expect OU to force him out is a totally ridiculous idea, and isn’t going to happen. <br /><br />Note: I didn’t go to OU. However, I have a college education, and have been on the OU campus more times than I can count, sometimes for academic reasons. I even went to games when John Blake was the head coach and the team often couldn’t line up properly. I’m not a Wal-Mart Sooner fan.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-48420356368323993852009-01-09T20:50:00.003-06:002009-01-09T20:59:10.899-06:00NFL Picks, Divisional RoundNFL Picks, Divisional Playoff Round<br /><br />Last Week: 1-3<br />Playoffs: 1-3<br />Overall: 166-93-1<br /><br />Just like that, we’re down to eight teams in the NFL playoffs. That number will be cut in half after this weekend’s games. Here are yet more picks, for entertainment purposes only:<br /><br /><strong>AFC</strong>:<br /><strong>Baltimore at Tennessee</strong>: The Titans are the top seed in the playoffs, but have the unenviable task of playing the stout Ravens. It is usually safe to pick one visiting team in this round of the playoffs, and the Ravens are the best road team this week. Pick: Baltimore<br /><br /><strong>San Diego at Pittsburgh</strong>: Five weeks ago, the Chargers were 4-8. Now, they find themselves still alive in the playoffs after a stunning overtime victory over the Indianapolis Colts. When these teams met last, the Steelers won a tight 11-10 contest over the Chargers. Between nagging injuries, cold weather, and the Steelers’ bye last week, the Chargers don’t stand a chance. They’ve made a great run, though. Pick: Pittsburgh<br /><br /><strong>NFC</strong>:<br /><strong>Arizona at Carolina</strong>: How did this become the Saturday night game? The Cardinals have had their best season in eons, but, like the Cardinals, their good fortune runs out this weekend. The trip is too far east, and the Panthers are too good. Pick: Carolina<br /><br /><strong>Philadelphia at New York Giants</strong>: Once again, the service areas on the New Jersey Turnpike aren’t safe with these teams running loose. Philly has made a great run in the last month. The Giants appear to have peaked, but have a week’s rest and home field. Giants gain some energy back this week. Pick: New YorkJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-46108151900479440802009-01-02T21:24:00.002-06:002009-01-02T21:25:52.588-06:00NFL Picks, Wild Card WeekendLast Week: 13-3<br />Regular Season Total: 165-90-1<br /><br />32 NFL teams have narrowed themselves down to 12. Eight teams play this weekend in the first round of the NFL playoffs. This means there are only four games to pick. Two of the last three Super Bowl winners came out of this round, so it is not a given that this week’s survivors will be plastered next week. This is the NFL, so anything can happen. The better games are definitely in the AFC. The NFC games will be good for naps or chores.<br /><br /><strong>AFC</strong><br /><strong>Indianapolis at San Diego</strong>: The two hottest teams in the league meet in a rematch of last year’s divisional round game won by the Chargers. The Colts have won eight in a row to finish 12-4. The Chargers were once 4-8, but got hot in December to finish 8-8 and win the AFC West. The way both teams have been playing, it’s too bad someone has to lose this game. The Colts are way too good. Pick: Colts<br /><br /><strong>Baltimore at Miami</strong>: Last year, both teams stunk. Miami really stunk, going 1-15, with their only win coming over the Ravens in overtime. Turn the clock to this year, where both teams have impressed many by making the playoffs. The Dolphins were especially impressive, going from 1-15 to 11-5. The Ravens have already won once in Miami this season. The Dolphins have had a great run, but it ends Sunday in Miami. Pick: Baltimore<br /><br /><strong>NFC</strong><br /><strong>Atlanta at Arizona</strong>: The Falcons went from zeroes to heroes this season by going 11-5 behind rookie QB Matt Ryan. The Cardinals are hosting their first playoff game since they were known as the Chicago Cardinals. They won the awful NFC West almost by default. The Falcons are a better team than the Cardinals, especially after the Cardinals cruised after clinching the division early. Pick: Atlanta<br /><br /><strong>Philadelphia at Minnesota</strong>: The Eagles embarrassed the Dallas Cowboys last week, bringing great joy to Cowboy haters everywhere by knocking them out of the playoffs in grand style. The Vikings are a dangerous team at home. Can they make the home dome advantage work for them? Sure. Pick: MinnesotaJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-9858454306358783952008-12-31T21:21:00.004-06:002009-01-01T00:23:57.286-06:00Bowl Picks, Part 3Bowls To Date: 12-10<br />Season: 231-93<br /><br />The bowl season drags on and on. Next up is New Year’s Day. Once upon a time, New Year’s Day was a celebration of college football. You had the Cotton Bowl when it was a big game. You had the Rose Bowl, when it was an excuse to prepare for the really important game that night. Then, you had the Orange Bowl, which usually featured a Big 8 team and/or Miami playing for a national championship. Ok, not every year, but it sure seemed like it. Now, there is a glut of meaningless games on New Year’s Day and spreading to the days after. There is only one game that counts, and it is on January 8.<br /><br /><strong>Outback Bowl, January 1, Tampa: Iowa vs. South Carolina</strong>: Slow Big Ten team plays underachieving SEC team. Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier was once quarterback for an NFL team in Tampa. They went 0-14. He’ll do better on New Year’s Day. Pick: SC<br /><br /><strong>Konica Minolta Gator Bowl, January 1, Jacksonville: Nebraska vs. Clemson</strong>: Middle of the road Big 12 team meets middle of the road ACC team. It won’t be great TV, but they’ll sell plenty of tickets and fill plenty of hotel rooms. Pick: Clemson<br /><br /><strong>Capital One Bowl, January 1, Orlando: Georgia vs. Michigan State</strong>: See Outback Bowl-slow Big Ten team plays underachieving SEC team. That’s right, the Bulldogs underachieved, having lost to both rivals in Florida and Georgia Tech. Still, they should be able to handle the Spartans. Pick: Jawja<br /><br /><strong>Rose Bowl presented by Citi, January 1, Pasadena, California: USC vs. Penn State</strong>: Once again, USC is in the Rose Bowl, and once again, a Big Ten team loses the Rose Bowl. Penn State should be able to keep it close, but SC’s defense should keep Penn State’s offense out of the end zone for most of the game. Pick: USC<br /><br /><strong>FedEx Orange Bowl, January 1, Miami: Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech</strong>: This really is a BCS bowl game. None of the other BCS bowls wanted either of these teams, but the Orange Bowl gets the national championship game this year, so they’re stuck with this matchup. VT came out of a gaggle of evenly balanced teams in the ACC. Cincinnati dominated the Big East this year. Pick: Cincy<br /><br /><strong>AT&T Cotton Bowl, January 2, Dallas: Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech</strong>: Ole Miss surprised the SEC and the world this season in their first year under Houston Nutt. Tech has won 11 games for the first time in the history of man. Make that 12. Pick: Tech<br /><br /><strong>Liberty Bowl, January 2, Memphis: Kentucky vs. East Carolina</strong>: Zzzz. Did you know this is Kentucky’s third bowl in a row? So-so SEC team vs. champion of Conference USA. Give me the SEC. Pick: Kentucky<br /><br /><strong>Sugar Bowl, January 2, New Orleans: Alabama vs. Utah</strong>: Bama has to be disappointed after running the table in the regular season before losing to Florida in the SEC championship game. The Utes had an awesome year, going undefeated to represent the non-BCS world in one of the $17 million BCS bowl. This won’t be as bad as Hawaii’s game last year against Georgia, but don’t look for the ’06 Boise State team to show up, either. Pick: Alabama<br /><br /><strong>International Bowl, January 3, Toronto: Buffalo vs. Connecticut</strong>: Somebody has to go to Toronto in January for a bowl game. It may as well be two snowbound schools. At least the game is indoors. Buffalo won the MAC in Turner Gill’s third year as coach. UConn is becoming a bowl regular. The Bulls have had a great run, but UConn knows what they’re doing here. Pick: UConn<br /><br /><strong>Fiesta Bowl, January 5, Glendale, Arizona: Texas vs. Ohio State</strong>: The Longhorns are really, really mad that they came out on the wrong end of the Big 12’s three-way tiebreaker for the South division championship. They really do have a case to be in the national championship game. On the other side of this matchup is Ohio State, winners of 10 games and a regular to this game in the desert. The Buckeyes had a nice season in the Big Ten, but they’re no match for Texas. Pick: Texas<br /><br /><strong>GMAC Bowl, January 6, Mobile, Alabama: Tulsa vs. Ball State</strong>: Ball State had a great season, going 12-0 before being upset by Buffalo in the MAC championship game. Since then, head coach Brady Hoke has flown the coop for the warmer climes at San Diego State. Tulsa had a great year, as well, winning 10 games. Tulsa has faded a bit at the end of the season, losing three of their last five games. Pick: Ball State<br /><br /><strong>BCS National Championship Game, January 8, Miami: Oklahoma vs. Florida</strong>: Get ready to stay up all night for this one, as there will be lots of offense here. Both teams have Heisman trophy winners. Both teams won premier conferences. Bob Stoops has national championship rings from both schools. As a Sooner fan, I cannot review this game objectively. Sooners win national championship number 8. Pick: OUJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-17840519792433803052008-12-28T21:48:00.002-06:002008-12-28T22:49:06.081-06:00Bowl Picks, Part 2Bowls to date: 6-6<br />Season: 219-83<br /><br /><strong>Papajohns.com Bowl at Birmingham, December 29: N.C. State vs. Rutgers</strong>. I think I’ll be doing other things Monday afternoon. Besides, I prefer Pizza Hut or Domino’s to Papa John’s. When we last saw Rutgers, they were hanging 63 on Louisville. Pick: Rutgers<br /><br /><strong>Valero Alamo Bowl at San Antonio, December 29: Missouri vs. Northwestern</strong>. Tigers have to be disappointed with this season. They managed to win the Big 12 North, but that’s about like winning District 1-5A in Texas high school football. Missouri expected a lot more from this season. Northwestern rang up a lot of points in the Big Ten this year. Expect a lot of scoring in this one. Pick: Northwestern<br /><br /><strong>Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl at Boise, Idaho, December 30: Maryland vs. Nevada</strong>. Somebody has to go to this bowl, played on Boise State’s blue turf. Pick: Maryland<br /><br /><strong>Texas Bowl at Houston, December 30: Rice vs. Western Michigan</strong>. Another bowl slot that the Big 12 could not fill due to lack of teams. Neither of these teams have a sexy name, but both are actually pretty good. Plenty of good seats available. Pick: Rice<br /><br /><strong>Pacific Life Holiday Bowl at San Diego, December 30: Oklahoma State vs. Oregon</strong>. This bowl is known for high-scoring shootouts, and this promises to live up to that reputation. OSU has three losses, all to teams ranked in the top 8 in the nation. Oregon has already beaten one orange-clad OSU: their archrival Oregon State. Pick: OSU<br /><br /><strong>Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl at Fort Worth, December 31: Houston vs. Air Force</strong>. Rematch of a game played earlier this season, won by Air Force and played in Dallas due to Hurricane Ike. Cougars hope to have a less stressful trip to the Town of the Cow. It’s hard to beat a team twice. Pick: Houston<br /><br /><strong>Brut Sun Bowl at El Paso, December 31: Pittsburgh vs. Oregon State</strong>. I wonder if my wife would like it if I bought some Brut? Oregon State had a great run in the Pac-10, including an upset win over USC. Pitt is coming around. Pick: Oregon State<br /><br /><strong>Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl at Nashville, December 31</strong>: Boston College vs. Vanderbilt. Vandy is in its first bowl game since the Reagan administration, and only has to travel across town to get to it. Boston College has made a living in minor bowl games, winning eight consecutive bowls while never making it to the BCS. Vandy better enjoy the trip to the Opryland hotel, because the game won’t be much fun for them. Pick: BC<br /><br /><strong>Insight Bowl at Tempe, Arizona, December 31</strong>: Kansas vs. Minnesota. The Glen Mason Bowl. Mason formerly coached at both schools. This year, KU survived numerous injuries and a murderous Big 12 schedule to qualify for a bowl game. Minnesota won 7 of their first 8 games before collapsing down the stretch. Pick: KU<br /><br /><strong>Chick-Fil-A Bowl at Atlanta, December 31</strong>: Georgia Tech vs. LSU: I like chicken. I like Chick-Fil-A. Tigers went 7-5 one year after winning a national championship. Yellow Jackets won 9 games in their first season under Paul Johnson, including a win over archrival Georgia. One team is headed up, the other is headed down. Pick: Ramblin’ WreckJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-80137967347688531582008-12-26T21:45:00.002-06:002008-12-27T11:17:37.250-06:00NFL Picks, Week 17Last Week: 10-6<br />Season: 152-87-1<br /><br />It’s the most fun week of the season. While a handful of teams know their post-season destiny and are resting starters accordingly, a whole bunch of teams are slugging it out for their playoff lives this week. It’s shape up or turn in the pads for a lot of NFL teams. Plus, a team has a date with infamy on Sunday unless something really strange and positive happens for them.<br /><br /><strong>Dallas at Philadelphia</strong>: The Cowboys suffered a bone-headed loss last week to the Ravens, and find themselves going into a den of wolves as they play the Eagles in Philly. There is no bigger game in Philadelphia than the Cowboys’ yearly visit. Combine that with the Eagles’ slight playoff chances and the Cowboys’ must-win situation, and the Philly fans will be loaded for bear, especially with a late game. As inconsistent as the Cowboys have been this season, they have played their best with their backs against the wall. Pick: Dallas<br /><br /><strong>St. Louis at Atlanta</strong>: The Falcons have been the surprise of the year. They still have a chance at a division title and a #2 seed in the NFC playoffs, with a win and a Carolina loss. They should have little problem against a putrid Rams team. Pick: Atlanta<br /><br /><strong>New England at Buffalo</strong>: The Pats can win a division title with a win against Buffalo. The Bills had been in hibernation for several weeks before upsetting the Broncos in Denver last week. Can the Bills ruin another team’s season this week? No. Pick: New England<br /><br /><strong>Kansas City at Cincinnati</strong>: The Mega Suck Bowl. The Bengals have shown signs of life in recent weeks, and play a bad Kansas City team to close out the season. Pick: Cincy<br /><br /><strong>Detroit at Green Bay</strong>: The Lions, with a loss, will finish 0-16. A loss would make them one of the worst, if not the worst, teams in NFL history. The Packers let one slip away Monday night in Chicago. They won’t allow themselves to lose to the awful Lions. Pick: Green Bay<br /><br /><strong>Chicago at Houston</strong>: The Bears have used defense and special teams to win the last three games in a row and to place themselves within spitting distance of a division title. The Texans laid an egg in Oakland last week, but have recovered well from an 0-4 start. Texans ruin the Bears’ playoff hopes. Pick: Houston<br /><br /><strong>Tennessee at Indianapolis</strong>: This is a great matchup that will have the look and feel of a pre-season game. Neither team can improve their playoff position with a win. Which team has better scrubs? Pick: Tennessee<br /><br /><strong>New York Giants at Minnesota</strong>: The Giants clinched home field advantage in the NFC playoffs last week with a comeback win over the Panthers. The Vikings need a win to clinch the NFC North division title. The Giants will play to win, but the Vikes need it more. Pick: Minnesota<br /><br /><strong>Carolina at New Orleans</strong>: Panthers blew a big lead last week in New York, and need to come up big against the Saints in order to win the NFC South. Look for lots of points here. Pick: Carolina<br /><br /><strong>Cleveland at Pittsburgh</strong>: Yuck. Browns have not scored a touchdown in over a month. Steelers should roll. Pick: Pittsburgh.<br /><br /><strong>Oakland at Tampa Bay</strong>: A few years ago, these teams met in a Super Bowl. Not this year. The Raiders have a surprising four wins. The Bucs need a win plus some help to make the playoffs. The Bucs will do their part. Pick: Tampa Bay<br /><br /><strong>Jacksonville at Baltimore</strong>: Ravens need a win to make the playoffs. Jaguars have their bags packed for the off-season. Pick: Baltimore<br /><br /><strong>Miami at New York Jets</strong>: Big, big game in the AFC East. Depending on the Patriots’ result in the early game, this will either be for a division title or a mere wild-card berth. There is also a chance that neither team will make the playoffs. Can the Dolphins win a big game in cold weather? The trends favor them. Pick: Miami<br /><br /><strong>Seattle at Arizona</strong>: Mike Holmgren’s last game as coach of the Seahawks. Cardinals play their third game in a row with nothing to gain. Ugly game in the making. Pick: Arizona<br /><br /><strong>Washington at San Francisco</strong>: What was once a promising season for the Redskins has melted down. Still, the Redskins beat the Eagles last week and severely damaged their playoff chances. The 49ers have a chance to win their 7th game of the regular season. Pick: 49ers<br /><br /><strong>Denver at San Diego</strong>: What goes around, comes around. Denver beat the Chargers in the first game of the season, with a questionable call enabling the Broncos to hold on for a victory. The Broncos have now lost two games in a row with a chance to clinch the AFC West title. Make that a third. The Chargers finish 8-8 and win the division in spite of themselves. Pick: San DiegoJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-83638334389833876982008-12-19T15:23:00.003-06:002008-12-19T21:44:07.121-06:00Bowl Picks, Part 1Week of December 6: 5-5<br />Season: 213-77<br /><br />There are 34 bowls this year. This means that every team in the Football Bowl Subdivision with a winning record made it to a bowl game. If rewarding excellence is the purpose of bowl games, then some of these games are an absolute joke. What these games provide are a way to fill some hotel rooms and to give some cities some publicity on national TV. And, they provide programming for ESPN. Some of these games are glorified exhibitions between mediocre teams. Others are great matchups.<br /><br />The first of three installments of bowl picks:<br /><br /><strong>EagleBank Bowl, Dec. 20, Washington, D.C. Navy vs. Wake Forest</strong>. This amounts to a home game for Navy against a team that the Midshipmen upset earlier in the year. My question is: who wants to go to a bowl game at RFK Stadium in D.C. in December? That’s not exactly a garden spot. Wake Forest gets revenge. Pick: Demon Deacons<br /><br /><strong>New Mexico Bowl, Dec. 20, Albuquerque. Fresno State vs. Colorado State</strong>. The first edition of this bowl that does not feature the hometown Lobos. Fresno State has been to bowl games before, while the Rams have made a major improvement this year. Pick: Fresno State<br /><br /><strong>magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl, Dec. 20, St. Petersburg</strong>. Memphis vs. South Florida. The latest bowl to be played in a baseball stadium, this new bowl is sponsored by a tool that allows you to plug your phone into a computer. Ok, at least it’s not sponsored by LoJack. Who wants to watch a bowl game between Memphis and USF? Ugh. Pick: USF<br /><br /><strong>Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl, Dec. 20, Las Vegas. Arizona vs. BYU</strong>. Did you know Las Vegas got three inches of snow yesterday? This is BYU’s fourth consecutive trip to this bowl. I wonder how this bowl would do without BYU in it. Zona finally gets to a bowl in Mike Stoops’ fifth year. The Mountain West has had its way against the Pac-10 this year. That won’t change in this game. Pick: BYU<br /><br /><strong>R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Dec. 21, New Orleans</strong>. Southern Miss vs. Troy. Southern Miss makes a bowl game in a rebuilding year. The men of Troy, Alabama once again won the Sun Belt conference. Troy is a little better than Southern Miss. Pick: Troy<br /><br /><strong>San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, Dec. 23, San Diego</strong>. TCU vs. Boise State. There’s something wrong when a matchup between the 8th and 11th ranked teams in the nation occurs two days before Christmas in a bowl named for a credit union. At least it’s in San Diego. This game has greatness written all over it. Can the Broncos go 13-0? I don’t know. Pick: TCU<br /><br /><strong>Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, Dec. 24, Honolulu. Notre Dame vs. Hawaii</strong>. It’s pretty sad when Notre Dame can royally suck and still get a trip to Hawaii. Problem is, they’re playing Hawaii on their home field. It’ll feel just like a BCS bowl in one way for the Irish: they’ll lose. Pick: Hawaii.<br /><br /><strong>Motor City Bowl, Dec. 26, Detroit. Florida Atlantic vs. Central Michigan</strong>. Yuck. There are some bad bowls out there, and this is one of them. Florida Atlantic went 6-6, played in the worst conference in college football, and still made it to a bowl. There’s something wrong with this picture. Central Michigan had it going this year in the MAC before losing to Ball State and Eastern Michigan. Pick: Central Michigan<br /><br /><strong>Meineke Car Care Bowl, Dec. 27, Charlotte. West Virginia vs. North Carolina</strong>. Good matchup bound to sell lots of tickets in Charlotte. Tar Heels were one of the better teams in a dreadfully balanced ACC. West Virginia was favored to win the Big East, but ended up here. Pick: North Carolina<br /><br /><strong>Champs Sports Bowl, Dec. 27, Orlando. Wisconsin vs. Florida State</strong>. Badgers nearly lost their last game to Cal Poly. Seminoles showed signs of improvement this year, but aren’t quite where they want to be. Pick: FSU<br /><br /><strong>Emerald Bowl, Dec. 27, San Francisco. Miami vs. California</strong>. Canes visit the City by the Bay. Hopefully, they’ll have a good sightseeing trip, because there’s no way they’ll beat Cal out there. Pick: Cal<br /><br /><strong>Independence Bowl, Dec. 28, Shreveport. Northern Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech</strong>. How did the 6-6 Huskies get into this bowl? The former executive director of the bowl now works for NIU. This is a really lame matchup, brought about because the Big 12 and SEC each sent two teams to the BCS and didn’t have enough teams left for the Indy Bowl to pick. Somebody has to win this game. Pick: TechJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-32518429591193738932008-12-18T21:03:00.002-06:002008-12-18T21:08:24.126-06:00NFL Picks, Week 16Here are more picks from 30,000 feet. Once again, Thursday night’s game will start before I post. However, that game has an overwhelming favorite, so this week’s picks will not be adversely affected.<br /><br />Last week: 9-7<br />Season: 142-81-1<br /><br /><strong>Baltimore at Dallas</strong> (Saturday): The NFL Network brings us the last game ever at Texas Stadium. The Cowboys kissed and made up with each other, at least for one week, while beating the Giants in an ugly 20-8 game. The Ravens, on the other hand, lost a heartbreaker to the Steelers last week in Baltimore. The Cowboys have also lost a heartbreaker late in the game to Pittsburgh. The Ravens are good, but it would be totally wrong for the Cowboys to lose the last game at the Stadium With The Hole In The Roof. Pick: Dallas<br /><br /><strong>Indianapolis at Jacksonville</strong> (Thursday): The Colts are the hottest team in the league. The Jaguars have given up the season. Irresistible force meets movable object. Gee, I wonder who’s going to win this game? Pick: Indy<br /><br /><strong>Pittsburgh at Tennessee</strong>: Possible preview of the AFC championship game. The Titans were stunned last week by the Texans. The Steelers have pulled two exciting wins out the hat in recent weeks, over Dallas and Baltimore. Go with the home team. Pick: Titans<br /><br /><strong>Miami at Kansas City</strong>: The Chiefs found another way to lose on Sunday, giving up two touchdowns to the Chargers in 82 seconds before missing a long desperation field goal try. Now, the Dolphins visit Kansas City with a chance to make the playoffs. Can the Chiefs finish someone off? Don’t bet on it. Pick: Miami<br /><br /><strong>Arizona at New England</strong>: The Cardinals were atrocious last week in a 35-14 loss to Minnesota. They now face another week with nothing to gain. That’s the result of winning the awful NFC West by default. The Patriots keep plugging along and still have a chance to win the AFC East. This pick is so easy. Pick: New England<br /><br /><strong>Cincinnati at Cleveland</strong>: The Mega Suck Bowl. The only way this game could be worse is if Detroit were involved. Both teams have stunk up the joint this year, though the Bengals got a win last week over the Redskins. The Browns haven’t scored a touchdown in a month, and have lost both parts of their two-headed quarterback monster. Does someone have to win this game? Do Browns’ season ticket holders have to sit in the cold to watch this game? Do they have to play this game? Do I have to pick a winner? The answer to those questions is yes. Pick: Cincy<br /><br /><strong>Philadelphia at Washington</strong>: One team is going up, the other is going down. Pick: Philly<br /><br /><strong>San Francisco at St. Louis</strong>: The Suck Bowl. This is not quite to the level of Mega Suck, but almost. The Rams lost last week at home to the Seattle Seabags. Ugh. The 49ers are headed nowhere as well. Pick: San Francisco <br /><br /><strong>Atlanta at Minnesota</strong>: These teams could see each other again in two weeks in the first round of the playoffs. The injury bug is starting to hit the Vikings, but they’re at home. Pick: Minnesota<br /><br /><strong>New Orleans at Detroit</strong>: The Saints are playing out the string, but face a test on Sunday: keeping from becoming the first team to lose to Detroit this season. The Lions are 0-14, but aren’t as bad as their record indicates. I’m going to go out on a limb here. There will be no 0-16 team in the NFL this year. Pick: Detroit<br /><br /><strong>Carolina at New York Giants</strong>: The Giants have been hammered hard by injury and have lost their last two games. The Panthers have played as well as anyone in the league. This game is for home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Giants get well at home on a cold December Sunday night. Pick: Giants<br /><br /><strong>New York Jets at Seattle</strong>: The Jets face a classic trap game as they go to the Northwest to play a bad team with nothing to lose. New York is 0-3 this year in previous trips to the West Coast, including losses to the putrid 49ers and Raiders. The Jets have everything to lose, as the AFC East division title is in sight. The Jets revert to form this week and become the same old Jets. They’ll find a way to lose this game. Pick: Seattle<br /><br /><strong>Houston at Oakland</strong>: The Texans have come out of nowhere to win four in a row. They now head to Oakland to play the sad-sack Raiders. Make that five in a row. Pick: Houston<br /><br /><strong>Buffalo at Denver</strong>: It would be fitting if Denver got a snowstorm this weekend with the Bills in town. The Bills threw a game away last week, and can’t wait for this season to be over. The Broncos have another chance to clinch the AFC West this week. They get the job done. Pick: Denver<br /><br /><strong>Tampa Bay at San Diego</strong>: The Bucs lost a heartbreaking overtime game last week in Atlanta, severely impairing their playoff chances. They now have to head to the West Coast to play a mercurial Chargers team. Will the men in pewter have anything left? Who knows? Pick: San Diego<br /><br /><strong>Green Bay at Chicago</strong> (Monday): Monday Night Football returns to the shore of Lake Michigan for the resumption of one of the league’s great rivalries. The Packers have nothing left to play for but pride. The Bears are trying to keep pace with the Vikings for the NFC North crown. It’ll be really cold in Chicago on Monday night. Pick: BearsJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-91579715142148517372008-12-11T20:11:00.001-06:002008-12-11T20:18:46.175-06:00NFL Picks, Week 15These picks are being made at 30,000 feet somewhere over the southern United States before Thursday night’s game, so I have no idea of the outcome before I make this post.<br /><br />Last week: 11-5<br />Season: 133-74-1<br /><br /><strong>New York Giants at Dallas</strong>: Giants return to the scene of last year’s upset playoff win at Texas Stadium. This year, the Giants have rolled through the regular season to win the NFC East. The Cowboys have been hit with injuries and inconsistency. The Cowboys are also coming off a heartbreaking loss in Pittsburgh, when the Steelers returned a Tony Romo interception for a touchdown with two minutes left in the game. Dallas needs this one a lot worse. Pick: Dallas<br /><br /><strong>New Orleans at Chicago</strong> (Thursday): Southern team (and dome team) goes north for a frigid Thursday night game on the shores of Lake Michigan. Good luck. Pick: Chicago<br /><br /><strong>Buffalo at New York Jets</strong>: Freefalling Bills visit the Jets, who are looking to end a two-game skid of their own. Pick: Jets<br /><br /><strong>Tennessee at Houston</strong>: It’s been 10 years since the Titans were the Oilers. The NFL’s best team returns to the city of its origin. Texans are looking to play spoiler. Tough pick. Pick: Tennessee<br /><br /><strong>Seattle at St. Louis</strong>: The Suck Bowl. Two awful teams slug it out to stay out of the cellar of the NFC West. Pick: St. Louis<br /><br /><strong>Tampa Bay at Atlanta</strong>: One of the better games of the week. Winner will look good for a wildcard playoff berth, while the other will be in danger of missing the playoffs. Pick: Atlanta<br /><br /><strong>San Francisco at Miami</strong>: The 49ers are getting a little better, but so are the Dolphins. Pick: Miami<br /><br /><strong>Detroit at Indianapolis</strong>: Puhleeze. The awful Lions are on a collision course with infamy and 0-16. The Colts are one of the hottest teams in football. Pick: Colts<br /><br /><strong>San Diego at Kansas City</strong>: The disappointing Chargers visit the young Chiefs. The Chiefs are better than 2-11, but not by much. The Chargers are playing for coach Norv Turner’s job. Go with the Fighting Tyler Thigpens. Pick: Chiefs<br /><br /><strong>Washington at Cincinnati</strong>: The Redskins visit the second-worst team in the league. The Redskins have problems of their own, but should be able to handle the Bengals. Pick: Washington<br /><br /><strong>Green Bay at Jacksonville</strong>: At least this game isn’t in Green Bay. Two teams with nothing to play for. Pick: Green Bay<br /><br /><strong>Minnesota at Arizona</strong>: NFC North leader visits NFC West champion. That’s right, the Cardinals are champions of something for the first time since 1975. Cardinals continue to roll. Pick: Arizona<br /><br /><strong>Denver at Carolina</strong>: Denver is in first place in the AFC West despite a lack of defense. The Panthers can actually clinch home field throughout the playoffs by winning the rest of their games. Pick: Carolina<br /><br /><strong>New England at Oakland</strong>: Yuck. Any game involving the Raiders should be called Yuck. The Pats should win this one. Pick: New England<br /><br /><strong>Pittsburgh at Baltimore</strong>: The Steelers stole one last week at home against Dallas, while the Ravens owned their backyard rival Redskins. Pick the home team here. Pick: Ravens<br /><br /><strong>Cleveland at Philadelphia</strong> (Monday): Donovan McNabb now knows that there are ties in the NFL, but this one shouldn’t need overtime. The Browns have been a major disappointment this year. Pick: PhillyJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-12800530100961708292008-12-07T22:49:00.002-06:002008-12-07T22:50:59.799-06:00A Load of BCS<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbrh9NXsdugl99aTcUIV5xZi-M4QCOV2fCOFSow8gdJzlhLOGLFKtB9DRCjd8UdKmJ7m_z_1cvrrBIJFcLfJXIzE1aoVYRcOLDQN0qylp8FAY6T_vc-UGDExJL82oydtDWNnx/s1600-h/bcs.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 207px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbrh9NXsdugl99aTcUIV5xZi-M4QCOV2fCOFSow8gdJzlhLOGLFKtB9DRCjd8UdKmJ7m_z_1cvrrBIJFcLfJXIzE1aoVYRcOLDQN0qylp8FAY6T_vc-UGDExJL82oydtDWNnx/s400/bcs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277277207649039010" /></a><br />The pairings for the BCS are set. As expected, there are a lot of happy people in Florida and Oklahoma. There are a lot of upset people in Texas. The rest of the country is indifferent to the results of a sham of a system designed more to generate money for bowls and certain conferences than to determine a true national champion.<br /><br />Some thoughts on the various BCS matchups:<br /><br /><strong>Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati</strong>. Not too long ago, these schools were members of the Metro conference for basketball and other sports, and independents in football playing each other every year. Fast forward 20 years, and these two schools are playing each other in a big-money bowl. On the field, it’ll actually be a pretty good game. However, it is a TV ratings disaster in the making. Plus, how many people are going to pay $125 per ticket to see Virginia Tech play Cincinnati? Good luck filling the stadium for this one. This is the price the Orange Bowl pays for hosting the national championship game a week later. VT won a very balanced but mediocre ACC. Cincinnati won an equally mediocre Big East going away. Both teams would finish 5th or worse in the Big 12 South, and it is questionable if either would win the North. Boise State would beat both teams by at least two touchdowns. So would Texas Tech. Flip a coin for a winner here. Picks will be made in a future blog post.<br /><br /><strong>Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Utah</strong>. The Crimson Tide are back on the map in Nick Saban’s second year, going undefeated before losing the SEC championship game to the Florida Gators. Utah, in the meantime, went undefeated and won an underrated Mountain West conference. This will be a pretty good game.<br /><br /><strong>Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State vs. Texas</strong>. The Buckeyes are here on the strength of their large traveling fan base, their huge alumni base, and their ability to draw a TV audience. Their second place finish in the Big Ten is not impressive due to the weakness of that conference. The Big Ten is definitely stronger in the classroom than on the field. Texas, on the other hand, has a case to be in the national championship game. The Longhorns were the only team to defeat Oklahoma, and were a last-second touchdown pass away from going undefeated. This is the most attractive matchup of the non-championship BCS bowls.<br /><br /><strong>Rose Bowl: USC vs. Penn State</strong>. Penn State is this year’s sacrificial lamb put up by the Big Ten to be slaughtered by USC. 5:00 Central Time on New Year’s Day would be a good time to eat your black-eyed peas, as USC will have this one well in hand by then.<br /><br /><strong>BCS National Championship Game: Oklahoma vs. Florida</strong>: Look for lots and lots of points in this one. Both teams are averaging over 50 points per game, and won the two dominant conferences in college football: the Big 12 and SEC. There is a possibility of a matchup of Heisman Trophy winners here, with Florida’s Tim Tebow and OU’s Sam Bradford. That is, if Bradford does what many expect and wins the Heisman on Saturday night. OU is looking to break a string of four consecutive losses in BCS games, including losses in the championship game in 2003 and 2004. This blog would love to see a rematch of OU and Texas in this game. However, Florida is very deserving of their spot here.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-51374485531811870872008-12-07T14:24:00.004-06:002008-12-07T14:31:35.917-06:00Cool Uniform of the Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IjuHy0ngQ52CY2jEdWj1w2U_9cGVUd03wOuCJdP4cLqwIWh_8JXCJDs6snQP90Yy5jDvMoUZrWSuBfyZCw1eHqLfFWlfMNy7rFiAx3gDc3bFHbJEcZoOrOlo_zhcGDRkZ4po/s1600-h/army.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 332px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IjuHy0ngQ52CY2jEdWj1w2U_9cGVUd03wOuCJdP4cLqwIWh_8JXCJDs6snQP90Yy5jDvMoUZrWSuBfyZCw1eHqLfFWlfMNy7rFiAx3gDc3bFHbJEcZoOrOlo_zhcGDRkZ4po/s400/army.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277148412416931394" /></a><br />Credit must be given where credit is due, and this blog will do just that when it is warranted.<br /><br />Saturday, Nike rolled out a great uniform design that works for one and only one team. The United States Military Academy, aka Army, rolled out these black and camouflage uniforms for their annual grudge match with Navy. The helmets and pants are camouflage, as are the numbers and lettering on the black jersey. On the back of the jersey, in place of the name plate, appears the quote "Honor. Duty. Country.". On one pants leg appears the Army quote, "Boots On The Ground", while "West Point" appears on the other leg.<br /><br />No other team should try to duplicate this look. However, for Army, this is an awesome look. These guys look ready to head for the Middle East and kick the crap out of a bunch of terrorists.<br /><br />Army lost the game to Navy in a big way, 34-0. However, they won the uniform battle.<br /><br />Go Army.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-49111120040661672472008-12-04T12:13:00.002-06:002008-12-04T12:15:49.346-06:00NFL Picks, Week 14Last Week: 10-6 (.625)<br />Season: 122-69-1 (.712)<br /><br /><strong>Dallas at Pittsburgh</strong>: The Cowboys have rescued their season with three consecutive wins following the pinkie injury to Tony Romo. Now they head into the Steel City for a matchup with the Super Bowl contender Steelers. Tough matchup for Dallas. However, this is a Cowboys homer blog. Pick: Dallas<br /><br /><strong>Oakland at San Diego</strong> (Thursday): The NFL Network got a dud game this week. It’s a good thing it’s only available to about 30% of the United States. Pick: San Diego<br /><br /><strong>Jacksonville at Chicago</strong>: Struggling warm-weather team goes to the Great White North of Chicago in December. Good luck with all that. Pick: Chicago<br /><br /><strong>Minnesota at Detroit</strong>: Could this be the week the Lions get a W? Don’t count on it. Pick: Minnesota<br /><br /><strong>Houston at Green Bay</strong>: Mediocre warm-weather team goes to the Great White North of Green Bay in December. Good luck with all that. See Jacksonville vs. Chicago. Pick: Green Bay<br /><br /><strong>Cincinnati at Indianapolis</strong>: The Colts have righted the ship, and now host the woeful Bengals. Pick: Indy<br /><br /><strong>Atlanta at New Orleans</strong>: The Falcons are the surprise of the year in the NFL. They continue to roll in a shootout. Pick: Atlanta<br /><br /><strong>Philadelphia at New York Giants</strong>: The Giants’ star receiver literally shoots himself in the foot, but they roll right along. Pick: Giants<br /><br /><strong>Cleveland at Tennessee</strong>: The Browns are another disappointing team, and lost their second quarterback of the season last week due to injury. The Titans have a good chance to go to the Super Bowl. Pick: Titans<br /><br /><strong>Miami vs. Buffalo</strong> at Toronto: The Bills play the first of a series of regular season home games in Toronto over the next five years. They’ve struggled so much in recent weeks that they had to leave the country. The Dolphins are a pleasant surprise this year. Pick: Miami<br /><br /><strong>Kansas City at Denver</strong>: Will there be any defense in this game? Pick: Denver<br /><br /><strong>New York Jets at San Francisco</strong>: The 49ers look for their second consecutive win. The Jets are trying to reassume control of the AFC East. The Jets are a better team. Pick: Jets<br /><br /><strong>New England at Seattle</strong>: Patriots should roll over this shell of a once-excellent team. Pick: New England<br /><br /><strong>St. Louis at Arizona</strong>: Cardinals return home where they are a much better team. Pick: Arizona<br /><br /><strong>Washington at Baltimore</strong>: Winner gets bragging rights to the entire state of Maryland. Redskins are walking into a lions’ den. Pick: Baltimore<br /><br /><strong>Tampa Bay at Carolina</strong> (Monday): Great game for Monday Night Football. Both teams are tied for the NFC South division lead. Winner will be in good position to win the division. Pick: CarolinaJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-85031390326989865682008-12-02T22:06:00.002-06:002008-12-05T08:20:25.439-06:00College Picks, Week 15Last week: 16-4 (.800)<br />Season: 208-72 (.742)<br /><br />This is Championship Weekend. It is as close as college football gets to playoff competition. Large conferences use this weekend to hold championship games. More importantly to athletic departments, they generate huge sums of cash. Non-revenue sports cost a lot of money, and these championships help pay for them. In addition, the Big East and Pac-10 have moved some games to this weekend for TV exposure. Plus, Army and Navy meet for their annual showdown. If you like college football, this is your weekend.<br /><br />Just 10 picks this week…<br /><br /><strong>Big XII Championship at Kansas City: Oklahoma vs. Missouri</strong>: The Sooners arrive in Kansas City as the beneficiaries of a slight bump in the BCS computers, placing them in this game ahead of Texas. Missouri is the best of a mediocre bunch in the Big 12 North, despite losing a week ago on this same field to archrival Kansas. Strange things can happen in conference championship games, so don’t count Mizzou out, especially on a cold night in Kansas City. Nonetheless, OU is on a gigantic roll. Pick: OU<br /><br /><strong>SEC Championship at Atlanta: Alabama vs. Florida</strong>: A virtual national semifinal. Florida has been impressive since a September loss to Ole Miss. Alabama has gone 12-0. Many think it is a foregone conclusion that Florida is going to win going away. Vegas agrees, making the Gators 9 ½ point favorites. However, Alabama is undefeated for a reason. Tide shocks the world once again. Pick: Alabama<br /><br /><strong>ACC Championship at Tampa: Boston College vs. Virginia Tech</strong>: The ACC was nothing if not balanced this season. 10 teams are bowl eligible, and every team lost at least three conference games. BC and Tech survived the tiebreakers in the two divisions and make the trip to Tampa. The conference hopes to draw a better crowd in Tampa than they did in Jacksonville last year for the same two teams. Pick: BC<br /><br /><strong>MAC Championship at Detroit (Friday): Ball State vs. Buffalo</strong>: The Cardinals are undefeated at 12-0, and have moved up to 12th in the latest BCS standings. They are the real deal. On the opposite sideline are the Buffalo Bulls. Before former Nebraska great Turner Gill arrived as coach, Buffalo was the worst program in college football. It is a miracle that they are bowl eligible within four years of Gill’s arrival. A bigger school needs to hire him. In the meantime, it’s the year of the Cardinals. Ball State should roll again. Pick: Ball State<br /><br /><strong>Conference USA Championship: East Carolina at Tulsa</strong>: Both teams made noise earlier in the year, and finished with enough to make it to the championship game. The West division was strongest this year, with similar offensive results to their cousins in the Big 12 South. Tulsa was the best of those teams, and is playing at home. Pick: Tulsa<br /><br /><strong>Army vs. Navy at Philadelphia</strong>: The annual classic returns to Philly, and Navy once again has a better team. Both teams will win when fighting terrorists and other enemies of the state. Only one team will win this game, however. Pick: Navy<br /><br /><strong>USC vs. UCLA</strong>: The Trojans will wear red jerseys in the Rose Bowl on Saturday. USC coach Pete Carroll is willing to lose a timeout in each half to honor the previous tradition set by the schools when both played at the Coliseum. What a stupid NCAA rule, as teams should be able to wear whatever color they want as long as they are not the same as their opponents. Outside of this, there’s not much else to this game. USC should roll. Pick: SC<br /><br /><strong>Arizona State at Arizona</strong>: Both teams would like to be better. The Sun Devils need a win to become bowl eligible, while the Wildcats need a win to achieve a winning season at 7-5. Pick: Arizona<br /><br /><strong>South Florida at West Virginia</strong>: The Disappointment Bowl. This game was originally scheduled as a de facto Big East championship game. Instead, these teams are trying to save face. Don’t trust a team from Florida traveling north in December. Pick: West Virginia<br /><br /><strong>Pittsburgh at Connecticut</strong>: Two Big East bowl-eligible teams do battle in a season-ender. UConn is tough at home. Pick: UConnJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-10482493238157697642008-12-01T18:45:00.003-06:002008-12-01T22:33:52.436-06:00Ugly Uniform of the Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbzp5MHn_-lnb9lKqe4SPN-pI5Oh7Uz_eXetEo36ocJqVCnQS8EIb5GgfeJWfOUc3VfEG96PRclBjRVeTaXcyXgkxrk1rTXqZ94-6H5HAJmBbM3_Za5eKhTlZfUWBrJwDTT0d/s1600-h/mizzou.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbzp5MHn_-lnb9lKqe4SPN-pI5Oh7Uz_eXetEo36ocJqVCnQS8EIb5GgfeJWfOUc3VfEG96PRclBjRVeTaXcyXgkxrk1rTXqZ94-6H5HAJmBbM3_Za5eKhTlZfUWBrJwDTT0d/s400/mizzou.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274988707257839394" /></a><br />Last Saturday, the Missouri Tigers broke out these threads in their annual rivalry game against Kansas. The Tigers came out on the short end of a 40-37 loss played in the sleet in Kansas City.<br /><br />The game was great, but the uniforms are as ugly as the weather they played in. It looks like something my high school wore in the 80's, only Mizzou's has some white trim on it. The only thing worse was when Missouri last broke out gold uniforms, in a 1984 home date with Notre Dame. That day, the Tigers wore gold pants with the gold jerseys. Interestingly enough, they lost that day, too. Maybe the Tigers won't wear these again any time soon.<br /><br />These uniforms are really bad. We won't be subject to them Saturday night in the Big 12 championship game, since the North team wears white when the championship game is played in the North. These jerseys look like puke.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-73909693428158458022008-11-30T22:42:00.001-06:002008-11-30T22:46:49.408-06:00Breaking Ties Is Hard To Do<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLYpMIhHcYnUISV3AssDlw_Ji7TrxHTtnPW2dzqva5agJUKsz1-MH3kE44a8xUOiNXS57dhDPS0unLARGM1KL-dsI7gah0q0oyiEhyo-ywcXtcVUxDJjq9d-2PsFFfOWBPRqm/s1600-h/big+12.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 61px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLYpMIhHcYnUISV3AssDlw_Ji7TrxHTtnPW2dzqva5agJUKsz1-MH3kE44a8xUOiNXS57dhDPS0unLARGM1KL-dsI7gah0q0oyiEhyo-ywcXtcVUxDJjq9d-2PsFFfOWBPRqm/s400/big+12.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274678242851122738" /></a><br />There is going to be a Big 12 championship game Saturday night in Kansas City, and Oklahoma is going to be in it. The Sooners used a 61-41 win at Oklahoma State to impress enough of the BCS computers to pass Texas in this week’s BCS ratings, enabling OU to win the league’s 5th tiebreaker over Texas and Texas Tech for the spot in Kansas City against the Missouri Tigers. (Wait, that’s a basketball score! The two schools have scored fewer points in basketball games against each other!)<br /><br />The involvement of hard drives and statistical formulas provides a fitting end to the greatest season in the short history of the Big 12. OU, Texas, and Tech ran up point totals that would make the best video gamer proud. Not far behind them was Oklahoma State. The Cowboys were the fourth best team in the South division, but would have won the North. Heck, the Cowboys would have won the ACC, the Big East, and a few other conferences. <br /><br />OU, Texas, and Tech were ESPN and ABC’s dream. The ABC Saturday night crew spent a lot of time this fall in Texas and Oklahoma, as that is where the best matchups were. It’s not that there was a lack of defense here. It’s just that the offenses were so good that nothing could stop them. These four teams gave fans plenty of reason to spend money to attend games and to make time to watch them on TV.<br /><br />Teeth are gnashing and mouths are wailing tonight in the city of Austin, as the Texas Longhorns came out on the wrong end of this tiebreaker. They have good reason, as Texas beat OU in Dallas, 45-35. The wildcard in this scenario is that there is a third team in this scenario, Texas Tech, that finished with the same record as OU and UT. If the head-to-head result between OU and UT matters, then so does the head-to-head matchup between UT and Tech. By the way, Tech won that game, 39-33 in Lubbock. OU’s later pounding of the Red Raiders does not take away from Tech’s great season or their role in the tiebreaker.<br /><br />Is there a better way to break the tie? Perhaps. The SEC and ACC drops the third team from the tie if said team is more than 5 places below the higher-ranked team in the BCS standings. That would not happen here, as Tech is ranked 7th behind OU’s 2nd and UT’s 3rd. Maybe the three schools should do what high schools in Florida do: meet at a neutral site on a Tuesday night, play one quarter each against each other, and let the two top teams play a final quarter for all the marbles. Just kidding, as this would be logistically impossible. A more logical solution would be for the three coaches to meet at a truck stop in Wichita Falls and flip coins. Or, draw straws. Or, better yet, play Rock, Paper, Scissors. Ok, with as much money as these teams generate and these coaches make, they could meet at the Grand Hyatt at DFW Airport. The truck stop would make for better TV, though. Kinda like the real story in the book, Friday Night Lights. To sum it up, there’s not a good way to break a tie between three really good teams.<br /> <br />There is hope for the Longhorns. OU could very well lose to Missouri Saturday night in Kansas City. And, the Longhorns could very well stay ahead of Florida if the Gators defeat #1 Alabama in the SEC championship game. Both of these scenarios would give Bevo a trip to Miami for the national championship game.<br /><br />The BCS is good for nothing but controversy. So is anything involving OU and Texas.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-71740456950457276052008-11-25T13:29:00.002-06:002008-11-25T13:36:23.795-06:00NFL Picks, Week 13Last week: 7-9 (first losing week of the year..yuck!)<br />Season: 112-63-1 (.639)<br /><br /><strong>Seattle at Dallas</strong> (Thursday): The Cowboys have won two in a row since the return of Tony Romo. Make that three, as the Seahawks make a nice addition to Thanksgiving dinner for Dallas. Pick: Dallas<br /><br /><strong>Tennessee at Detroit</strong> (Thursday): The Titans suffered their first loss on Sunday at the hands of the Jets. No worries, as they follow that up with a game against the dreadful Lions. There is no way the Lions are as bad as the worst team in NFL history, the ’76 Buccaneers. They’re getting close, though. Pick: Tennessee<br /><br /><strong>Arizona at Philadelphia</strong> (Thursday): Kurt Warner and the boys head East for Thanksgiving to face a team in turmoil. Eagles coach Andy Reid benched QB Donovan McNabb during Sunday’s loss to the Ravens, only to re-insert him as the starter for this game. Home teams have an advantage in a short week, as do East Coast teams hosting teams from the West. Pick: Philly<br /><br /><strong>San Francisco at Buffalo</strong>: The Niners are pretty awful, and now get to experience Western New York in November. What a lovely time for the guys from the City By The Bay. The Bills hung half a hundred on Kansas City last week. Pick: Buffalo<br /><br /><strong>Carolina at Green Bay</strong>: The Packers were at the wrong end of a blowout on Monday night in New Orleans. Nonetheless, this is a tough trip for the Panthers. If Carolina can win this one, they’re the real deal. Pick: Green Bay<br /><br /><strong>New Orleans at Tampa Bay</strong>: Break up the Saints! They’ve won two in a row! The Bucs are still very much in the playoff chase, and should be able to handle the Saints at home. Pick: Tampa Bay<br /><br /><strong>Miami at St. Louis</strong>: The Dolphins came down to earth last week as they were plastered by the Patriots, 48-28. No need for the Dolphins to worry, because the Rams are one of the worst teams in football. Pick: Miami<br /><br /><strong>New York Giants at Washington</strong>: Another big rivalry from the greatest division in football, the NFC East. The Redskins just keep plugging along. The Giants are much better than they were last year, when they won the Super Bowl. However, even good teams lose once in a while. Pick: Redskins<br /><br /><strong>Indianapolis at Cleveland</strong>: Don’t look now, but that’s the Colts you see in the rear view mirror chasing down the rest of the NFL elite after a slow start. The Browns have been nothing short of a disappointment this year. Pick: Indy<br /><br /><strong>Baltimore at Cincinnati</strong>: Chalk this one up as a W for the visitors. Pick: Baltimore<br /><br /><strong>Atlanta at San Diego</strong>: The Chargers lost yet another close game Sunday night to the Colts, and now must face the turnaround team of the season, the Falcons. The Chargers’ misery continues. Pick: Atlanta<br /><br /><strong>Pittsburgh at New England</strong>: The Patriots are in a desperate position as they try to keep up with the Jets in the AFC East. Meanwhile, the Steelers are tough to beat anywhere. Pick: New England<br /><br /><strong>Kansas City at Oakland</strong>: Yuck. Perhaps the biggest rivalry in the old AFL now matches two of the worst teams in the league. With that being said, the Raiders surprised the Broncos with a whipping last week. Can they win two in a row? Yes. Pick: Oakland<br /><br /><strong>Denver at New York Jets</strong>: The Broncos have an awful defense, and now must visit the Meadowlands, where the ageless gunslinger, Brett Favre, resides. Favre played in a Super Bowl against the Broncos during the Clinton administration. Pick: Jets<br /><br /><strong>Chicago at Minnesota</strong>: Battle for first place in the mediocre NFC North. Vikings find a way to win at home. Pick: Minnesota<br /><br /><strong>Jacksonville at Houston</strong> (Monday): Another disappointing team is the Jaguars. The Texans won last week, and usually do well at home against the Jags, even when the Jags are good and the Texans are bad. Pick: HoustonJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-46459268950865158842008-11-25T12:57:00.001-06:002008-11-25T12:59:41.137-06:00College Picks, Week 14Last Week: 12-8 (.600)<br />Season: 192-68 (.738)<br /><br />In many ways, this is the biggest weekend of the college football season. Big rivalries are being played this weekend. Bowl bids are on the line. Spots in the BCS National Championship Game are at stake. The only guarantee is that something really strange will happen.<br /><br /><strong>Oklahoma at Oklahoma State</strong>: The Sooners, fresh off a 65-21 beatdown of Texas Tech, visit Stillwater to take on the Cowboys. As always, this is OSU’s Super Bowl, but the Cowboys actually have a pretty good team this year. This is a dangerous game. A win gives OU strength of schedule points in the BCS computers, possibly enough to pass Texas in the standings for a trip to the Big XII championship game. This will be quality television on Saturday night. That’s good, because you can’t buy a ticket to this one unless you buy OSU season tickets. It’s a lot cheaper to stay home and watch and listen to Brent and Kirk. Pick: OU<br /><br /><strong>Texas A&M at Texas</strong> (Thursday): Poor Aggies. The worst A&M team in a quarter-century has to visit Austin when the Longhorns need BCS style points. If you don’t get enough turkey at dinner on Thanksgiving, you’ll get more of it from this game. Pick: Texas<br /><br /><strong>Baylor at Texas Tech</strong>: The Red Raiders went home with their heads between their legs after the butt-kicking they took in Norman last week for their first loss. Baylor will show up and represent themselves. Tech will be on the rebound, though, and should be dangerous. Pick: Tech<br /><br /><strong>Colorado at Nebraska</strong> (Friday): Believe it or not, the Huskers can win their eighth game of the season by beating the Buffs. They should be able to do so with relatively little problem. Pick: Nebraska<br /><br /><strong>Kansas vs. Missouri</strong> at Kansas City: A disappointing season ends for the Jayhawks at Arrowhead Stadium. After losing two mid-season games to Texas and Oklahoma State, the Tigers have feasted on Big 12 North opposition. They’ll do so again while awaiting their chance to mess up the BCS next week in the Big 12 championship game. Pick: Mizzou<br /><br /><strong>Auburn at Alabama</strong>: The Iron Bowl. Tommy Tuberville better have an iron posterior, because his seat is hot after this debacle of a season. All will be well on the Plains if War Eagle can upset the hated Tide. Auburn has won five in a row in this series. Bama looks to erase that record of futility while they keep their undefeated season alive. There is way too much going Bama’s way. Pick: Alabama<br /><br /><strong>Florida at Florida State</strong>: The Seminoles finally had a great game last week as they plastered Maryland on the road. They’ll need another one this week at home if they want to beat the Fighting Tim Tebows and truly mess up the BCS. At least a couple of Big 12 teams will be rooting for them. Even in Tallahassee, though, the Gators are too good. At least this year, they are. Pick: Florida<br /><br /><strong>Oregon at Oregon State</strong>: With a win, Oregon State can go to the Rose Bowl for the first time since the days of leather helmets. It hasn’t been quite that long, but it’s been long enough for the Beavers. As far as the Ducks are concerned, which set of ugly uniforms will they wear this week? Pick: Oregon State<br /><br /><strong>Georgia Tech at Georgia</strong>: This game is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re going to get. Both teams have looked awesome at times. At other times, they’ve been pretty mediocre. Go with the home team here. Pick: Georgia<br /><br /><strong>South Carolina at Clemson</strong>: No matter how much Clemson seems to disappoint on a yearly basis, they usually seem to find a way to beat the Gamecocks. USC-East ought to be able to win this game. They’ll find a way not to. Pick: Clemson<br /><br /><strong>Virginia at Virginia Tech</strong>: The Hokies actually have a chance to come out of the scrum in the ACC to advance to the ACC championship game. All they need to do is beat the Cavaliers. Virginia has looked really good at times, and really awful at times. Pick: Hokies<br /><br /><strong>Maryland at Boston College</strong>: The Eagles have a chance to survive the other half of the ACC to make the championship game with a win. They got a big road win last week at Wake Forest, while the Terps laid a big egg at home in being squashed by Florida State. It’s really cold in Boston at this time of year. Pick: BC<br /><br /><strong>West Virginia at Pittsburgh</strong>: The Backyard Brawl. Both teams have shown flashes of brilliance. Both teams have also shown flashes of inconsistency. The Mountaineers will be looking for revenge, after the Panthers knocked them out of a shot at last year’s national championship. Pick: Pittsburgh<br /><br /><strong>Western Michigan at Ball State</strong> (Tuesday): Ball State is still undefeated, but must face a strong and dangerous Western Michigan team. The Cardinals are kings of the mid-week MAC games. Give them another one. Pick: Ball State<br /><br /><strong>Houston at Rice</strong>: The battle for the Bayou Bucket is also a battle for the Conference USA West division championship. If you like offense, this is your game. Pick: Rice<br /><br /><strong>LSU at Arkansas</strong> (Friday): These teams play for a trophy that looks like a golden boot, but is really the states of Arkansas and Louisiana on top of each other. Both teams will be glad to end this season. LSU has more talent, though they have struggled of late. Pick: LSU<br /><br /><strong>Notre Dame at USC</strong>: Yawn. When Notre Dame loses this game, they’ll be 6-6. What bowl will pick them in spite of that record? Some bowl will, and that game will be ugly. Not as ugly as this will be, though. Pick: SC<br /><br /><strong>Kentucky at Tennessee</strong>: Phil Fulmer’s farewell as coach of the Vols. Rocky Top bounced back last week to beat Vanderbilt. Kentucky is bowl eligible, but still hasn’t beaten the Vols in a coon’s age. They won’t win this year, either. Pick: Tennessee<br /><br /><strong>North Carolina at Duke</strong>: Blue Devils have won four games this year, and have a chance to spoil the Tar Heels’ season. Carolina was embarrassed last week by rival N.C. State, 41-10. The Heels won’t let that happen two years in a row. Pick: UNC<br /><br /><strong>Vanderbilt at Wake Forest</strong>: Both teams are looking for more respect and a better bowl. Vandy has been slipping in the second half of the season, while Wake lost a nail-biter at home last week to Boston College, most likely costing themselves an appearance in the ACC championship game. The Deacons are a little better than Vandy. Pick: Wake ForestJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-66135762432904212722008-11-20T17:54:00.003-06:002008-11-20T18:08:29.508-06:00Ugly Uniform of the Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8EvXpF20I_BHpXz12LitIRIwpuPravEqmojAOzpqNyllCsNuM1s0qYsIV0BR7cQIL85bljeu-Lrl_82xWzXY1_pS_iXXflF5gQaf7Mtx5ew4MlW_8b-_G-a-wLAyuHcdk30s/s1600-h/ugly.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8EvXpF20I_BHpXz12LitIRIwpuPravEqmojAOzpqNyllCsNuM1s0qYsIV0BR7cQIL85bljeu-Lrl_82xWzXY1_pS_iXXflF5gQaf7Mtx5ew4MlW_8b-_G-a-wLAyuHcdk30s/s400/ugly.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270895936706970882" /></a><br />Wednesday night, ESPN2 showed a great game between Ball State and Central Michigan. Ball State stayed undefeated with a win over the two-time defending MAC champions.<br /><br />The Chippewas broke out these never-worn uniforms for this special game on national television. The jerseys are described as "Vegas Gold". My question is: which part of Vegas? This jersey looks like it is straight from one of the not-so-nice casinos in Vegas.<br /><br />To add insult to injury, or vice versa, Central Michigan lost the game. They sure didn't get any Vegas luck with the Vegas jerseys.<br /><br />Maroon is a good color for them. They need to stick with it.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-68674542810113794652008-11-20T08:24:00.001-06:002008-11-20T08:26:07.245-06:00NFL Picks, Week 12Last Week: 12-3-1<br />Season: 105-54-1<br /><br /><strong>San Francisco at Dallas</strong>: The Fighting Mike Singletarys visit the Stadium With The Hole in the Roof. Dallas saved their season last week in Washington. Marion Barber runs all over the 49ers. Pick: Dallas<br /><br /><strong>Cincinnati at Pittsburgh </strong>(Thursday): The Bengals are coming off of a rare tie. They’re still awful. Steelers roll. Pick: Pittsburgh<br /><br /><strong>Houston at Cleveland</strong>: This game brought to you by Continental Airlines. The Texans aren’t very good. I’m picking against them until they win. Pick: Cleveland<br /><br /><strong>Buffalo at Kansas City</strong>: The Chiefs are getting close, but just aren’t closing the deal. The Bills lost another tight game last week against Cleveland, and are fading. Pick: Kansas City<br /><br /><strong>New England at Miami</strong>: A suddenly huge game in the AFC East. The Dolphins have already multiplied last year’s win total by six. Make that seven. Pick: Miami<br /><br /><strong>New York Jets at Tennessee</strong>: Big, big game between two first-place teams. Titans remain undefeated for another week. Pick: Tennessee<br /><br /><strong>Philadelphia at Baltimore</strong>: Winner gets bragging rights to the huge state of Delaware. Pick: Ravens<br /><br /><strong>Tampa Bay at Detroit</strong>: The Lions are going to beat someone, sometime. I don’t know if it’ll be this week, though. Pick: Tampa Bay<br /><br /><strong>Minnesota at Jacksonville</strong>: The Jags are one of the season’s biggest disappointments. The Vikings return to Florida after losing last week in Tampa. Pick: Jacksonville<br /><br /><strong>Chicago at St. Louis</strong>: The Rams are awful. Bears get a road win. Pick: Chicago<br /><br /><strong>Oakland at Denver</strong>: Raiders are absolutely pathetic. Pick: Denver<br /><br /><strong>Carolina at Atlanta</strong>: Battle for first place in the NFC South. The Falcons are one of the better stories in the NFL this year. Pick: Atlanta<br /><br /><strong>New York Giants at Arizona</strong>: Another battle between two first-place teams. Can the Cardinals win a big game at home? Against my better judgment, yes. Pick: Arizona<br /><br /><strong>Washington at Seattle</strong>: The Seahawks have gone to the birds this year. Make that dogs. Pick: Washington<br /><br /><strong>Indianapolis at San Diego</strong>: Must-win game for both teams. Both teams have slipped this season, though the Colts have looked better in recent weeks. Chargers come through, at least this week. Pick: San Diego<br /><br /><strong>Green Bay at New Orleans</strong>: Whatever the over-under is in this game, take the over. Look for lots of points in this one. Pick: Green BayJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-60918640180594114492008-11-19T19:22:00.002-06:002008-11-22T10:12:50.202-06:00College Picks, Week 13Now is the time when all of this starts to get good. Conference championships, bowl bids, national championship game appearances, and pure bragging rights will be decided over the next three weeks. Here is this week’s 20 fearless picks:<br /><br />Last week: 13-7<br />Season: 180-60<br /><br /><strong>Texas Tech at Oklahoma</strong>: The latest and possibly greatest of a series of gargantuan matchups in the Big 12 South. A Tech win would send them to the Big 12 championship game and a possible trip to the national championship game. An OU win would create a possible three-way tie for the Big 12 South title, sending the team with the highest BCS ranking to Kansas City to play Missouri. OU has lost two, count ‘em, two home games in the 10 years of the Bob Stoops era. Pick: OU<br /><br /><strong>Iowa State at Kansas State</strong>: Plenty of good seats are available as the Cyclones and Wildcats battle for the Big 12 North cellar. K-State is in the market for a new coach, as well. Which team will get up for this stinker of a game? Pick: Iowa State<br /><br /><strong>Miami at Georgia Tech </strong>(Thursday): The Canes suddenly have control of their own destiny in the ACC Coastal division. Which means, they’ll lose, as all the other teams have done in that league when faced with a similar situation. It is forecast to be cold in Atlanta on Thursday night. Pick: Tech<br /><br /><strong>Michigan at Ohio State</strong>: Michigan is having its worst season since Henry Ford started building cars. The Buckeyes are out for blood, and won’t feel sorry for the mediocre Wolverines. This is a no-brainer. Pick: TOSU<br /><br /><strong>Michigan State at Penn State</strong>: This is the Big Ten championship game. Penn State goes to the Rose Bowl with a win. Michigan State needs help. The Spartans would most likely be co-champions of the Big Ten with a win, but would lose a tiebreaker to Ohio State. That is, if they don’t get unlikely help from Michigan. The Lions can start booking trips to California. Pick: Penn State<br /><br /><strong>Indiana at Purdue</strong>: The only thing on the line in this game is the Old Oaken Bucket. Indiana has been awful this year. Purdue has only been mediocre. Pick: Purdue<br /><br /><strong>N.C. State at North Carolina</strong>: This is the ACC, which means anyone can win, and usually does. Carolina is just a little better, and is playing at home. Pick: UNC<br /><br /><strong>Tennessee at Vanderbilt</strong>: Tennessee lost to Wyoming. How in the world are they going to beat Vanderbilt in the Commodores’ best season in 25 years? Pick: Vandy<br /><br /><strong>Air Force at TCU</strong>: A TCU win gives the Frogs yet another 10 win season. Pick: TCU<br /><br /><strong>Ole Miss at LSU</strong>: Ole Miss has improved this year. LSU pulled the biggest comeback in school history last week to beat Troy. Pick: LSU<br /><br /><strong>Boston College at Wake Forest</strong>: Huge matchup in the ACC Atlantic division. BC won last week in Tallahassee, where the Deacons also beat Florida State earlier in the year. Can the Eagles win two road games in a row? No. Pick: Wake<br /><br /><strong>Stanford at California</strong>: The Big Game. In High School Musical 3, Gabriella accepted an academic scholarship to Stanford. Her boyfriend Troy, on the other hand, accepted a basketball/music scholarship to Cal. Pick: Cal<br /><br /><strong>Illinois at Northwestern</strong>: The Illini have been disappointing this season, while the Wildcats have had a great year, and could be playing somewhere on New Year’s Day. Pick: Northwestern<br /><br /><strong>BYU at Utah</strong>: The Holy War. BYU can still get a share of the conference title, while Utah can go to a BCS bowl with a win, capping an undefeated season. Pick: Utah<br /><br /><strong>Oregon State at Arizona</strong>: Last season, Oregon traveled down to Tucson with a chance for a national championship. They lost. Now, Oregon State goes down to the desert with a chance to go to the Rose Bowl. Tucson is where dreams go to die. Pick: Arizona<br /><br /><strong>Iowa at Minnesota</strong>: Two weeks ago, the Gophers lost the Little Brown Jug to Michigan. Last week, the Gophers lost Paul Bunyan’s Axe to Wisconsin. This week, they play Iowa for Floyd of Rosedale, a bronze pig. The pig goes back to Iowa City. Pick: Iowa<br /><br /><strong>Pittsburgh at Cincinnati</strong>: The Bearcats are staring a BCS bowl in the face, while coach Brian Kelly is flirting with the Tennessee job. Still, the Bearcats have been impressive this year while rotating quarterbacks due to injury. Pick: Cincy<br /><br /><strong>Florida State at Maryland</strong>: The Terps kept their conference title hopes alive last week with a game-winning field goal to beat North Carolina. The Seminoles are still just one of many ACC teams with approximately the same record, a far cry from the decade of the 90’s in Tallahassee. Pick: Maryland<br /><br /><strong>Washington at Washington State</strong>: The Apple Cup. This year, it would be more accurately known as the Rotten Apple Cup. U-Dub is 0-10, while Wazzu is 1-10 with only a win over Portland State. Wazzu has allowed less than 50 points to only two Pac-10 opponents. UW hasn't been quite as bad, but the Huskies have only been competitive in one game, a 28-27 loss to BYU. If you want to see some bad football, tune in to Fox Sports Net at 12 PM Pacific. Pick: U-Dub<br /><br /><strong>Yale at Harvard</strong>: In the Ivy League, this is simply called, “The Game”. Harvard can win the Ivy League with a win. Pick: HarvardJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-11437824183141054302008-11-17T19:14:00.001-06:002008-11-17T19:16:30.196-06:00Learning On The Job...After 10 Years!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JqyhkEZfGQE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JqyhkEZfGQE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Donovan McNabb is in his 10th year as a quarterback in the National Football League. Until yesterday, he did not know that a regular season game could end in a tie. He learned it the hard way, as the Eagles and Bengals played to a 13-13 tie. In this video clip, he mentions his lack of knowledge of regular season overtime.<br /><br />Unbelievable!Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32300280.post-34252190807435157532008-11-12T20:40:00.001-06:002008-11-12T20:43:02.169-06:00NFL Picks, Week 11Bye weeks are history, and every team is playing every week from now until the end of the season. Here are 16 big ones:<br /><br /><strong>Dallas at Washington</strong>: The Cowboys come off a much-needed bye week, but are thrown directly into the fire as they travel to D.C. to play the Redskins. Washington shocked the Cowboys in Irving in September. Dallas gets QB Tony Romo back from injury. Or, they hope so. Pick: Dallas<br /><br /><strong>New England at New York Jets</strong>: The NFL Network gets a great matchup for Thursday night. Both teams are 6-3. This is where the Jets’ acquisition of Brett Favre pays off. Pick: Jets<br /><br /><strong>New Orleans at Kansas City</strong>: Yuck. The Chiefs are improving, but don’t have anything to show for it in the win column, especially after losing a heartbreaker last week in San Diego. RB Larry Johnson returns this week after sitting out due to a plethora of personal issues. Chiefs get win #2 this week. Pick: KC<br /><br /><strong>Philadelphia at Cincinnati</strong>: The Bengals are awful. Enough said. Pick: Philly<br /><br /><strong>Baltimore at NY Giants</strong>: The Ravens will see how they stack up against a good team. The Giants keep rolling on. Pick: Giants<br /><br /><strong>Minnesota at Tampa Bay</strong>: Both of these teams are bad on the road and good at home. The Bucs are at home. Pick: Tampa Bay<br /><br /><strong>Chicago at Green Bay</strong>: Both teams are fighting for a playoff spot from the NFC North. This matchup is pretty even, so give the edge to the home team. Pick: Packers<br /><br /><strong>Oakland at Miami</strong>: Senile owner Al Davis took play-calling responsibilities away from offensive coordinator Greg Knapp this week. Is Al going to call plays himself? Will the Raiders make the trip to South Florida? Pick: Miami<br /><br /><strong>Detroit at Carolina</strong>: Daunte Culpepper makes his first start for the Lions. The Panthers are a good team. This might be ugly, but the Panthers will win. Pick: Carolina<br /><br /><strong>Denver at Atlanta</strong>: Look out for the Falcons. They’re for real. Pick: Atlanta<br /><br /><strong>Houston at Indianapolis</strong>: Last time these teams met, the Texans blew an 18 point lead in the last six minutes of the game. Indy is a lot better now. Pick: Colts<br /><br /><strong>Arizona at Seattle</strong>: The Cardinals won a wild one on Monday night, and now travel to the Great Northwest. The Cardinals can’t let success go to their head. Pick: Arizona<br /><br /><strong>St. Louis at San Francisco</strong>: The Suck Bowl. Both teams are bad. The Rams gave up 47 to the Jets last week, and it could have been worse. San Francisco should have won Monday night in Arizona. They win this week. Pick: 49ers<br /><br /><strong>San Diego at Pittsburgh</strong>: The Chargers are underachieving in a big way. They now have to go to Pittsburgh, where the Steelers were upset last week by the Colts. Pittsburgh bounces back. Pick: Pittsburgh<br /><br /><strong>Tennessee at Jacksonville</strong>: Titans roll on. Pick: Tennessee<br /><br /><strong>Cleveland at Buffalo</strong>: Bragging rights to Erie, Pennsylvania are on the line here. Shoot, bragging rights to all of Lake Erie are on the line in this game. Pick: BuffaloJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16912161043262819433noreply@blogger.com4