Guaranteed to win 10 games this week, or my picks for the rest of the season are free.
@ Cincinnati over Miami
For some reason I will continue to pick the Bengals.
@Dallas over Jacksonville
Forget Kolb and Vick, the real QB controversy will be Romo/Kitna after Kitna turns the season around for the Cowboys. Or at least get a win against the Jaguars.
Washington over @ Detroit
Because Donovan always plays well against bad defenses. And I thought Drew Stanton was starting at QB for the Lions.
@Kansas City over Buffalo
Can KC hold on to the AFC West for the entire season? Right now, you would have to say yes. It doesn't look like the Chargers are going to make their late season turnaround again.
@ St. Louis over Carolina
Eh, I just wouldn't pick the Panthers to win back to back games this season.
@NY Jets over Green Bay
A popular Super Bowl pick before the season, the Packers got a big win they needed last week, and they're back on track to win the NFC North. But I can't pick them in New Jersey.
Denver over San Francisco
And the London crowd will go crazy over this one.
@ San Diego over Tennessee
I just can't see the Chargers being 2-6 bad. And I can't see the Titans being 6-2 good.
Seattle over @Oakland
Oakland scored 59 points last week. That means they probably won't score anymore points for the next 4 weeks.
@ New England over Minnesota
You think if Brett could go back in time, he would just retire as a Packer, when everyone still liked him, when everyone thought he was a good family man, and when everyone everywhere wasn't tired of hearing about him? Although it wouldn't shock me to see Randy Moss have a huge FU game to the Patriots here.
Tampa Bay over @ Arizona
Bucs coach Raheem Morris said his team is the best in the NFC. This should probably persuade me not to pick the Bucs, but I have their defense in fantasy this week.
@ New Orleans over Pittsburgh
The Saints have to put a good game together here right? The funny part is that their defense has been defense, but the opposing defense keeps scoring TDs off of Drew Brees INTs. Time to flip some tables Drew.
@ Indianapolis over Houston
Peyton Manning at home on a Monday night against a team that beat him this season. This is a lock.
Last week: a terrible 7-7
Overall: 64-40
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Phillies Off-Season
This might come as a shock to some of you, but Philadelphia sports fans have a tend to overreact. Judging by the fans reaction to the Phillies loss in the NLCS, you would think they lost 100 games this season.
Truth is, this is a team that didn't have a single every day player perform better than their average this season, except Carlos Ruiz. As Ruben Amaro said, if they Phillies had hit this season like they did in 2008 or 2009, they probably would have won 110 games. That's really not an exaggeration considering how terrible some of the team's hitting slumps were this season, and they still won a MLB high 97 games.
So where do the Phillies go from here? By some suggestions, they should trade Ryan Howard, trade Chase Utley, trade Jimmy Rollins, waive Raul Ibanez, keep Jayson Werth, and pretty much blow up the team. This is obviously ridiculous. Here's what's going to, or at least should, happen.
-The Phillies won't resign Jayson Werth
The writing's been on the wall with this one for a while. Before the Phillies started to get hot after the all-star break and acquired Roy Oswalt, Werth was very close to being traded. The Werth situation now is no different than the Pat Burrell situation after 2008. Now, Werth is a much better all-around player than Burrell, and coming off a better season than Burrell had in '08. And yes, the Phillies will miss the power that he brought from the right side. However, corner outfielder isn't the most difficult of positions to replace. Werth is a very good player, but I can guarantee he won't be worth (no pun intended) the kind of contract Scott Boras will get him from, most likely, the Red Sox.
- No one else of significance is leaving the team
Chase Utley is not getting traded. Ryan Howard is not getting traded. Raul Ibanez is not going anywhere, even if the Phillies probably want him to. The opening day lineup will be the same as last year's, minus Jayson Werth.
Everyone's mad at Howard because of how the NLCS ended. Yes, he should have swung, but that was a great pitch that definitely started outside and caught the outside corner. I have a feeling that after this debacle, Howard's going to come back better than ever next season.
Same can be said for Utley. He never could really get it going at the plate or in the field after injuries this season. But you know no one's going to work harder than him in the off season. He'll be ok.
The guy I'm most worried about is Rollins. He's been on the decline since his MVP season. However, 2011 will be the last year of his contract, so if he bounces back next season, great, if not, he'll be gone.
-What happens in LF and RF?
Ibanez will still get the lion's share of the stars in left field, unless he mirrors his performance from the first half of last season. Dom Brown will likely be the starting RF on opening day, but of course this leaves the Phillies with a ton of left handed bats. I'm still not convinced Ben Francisco is an everyday player, but I'd give him more starts in left and right next season. One guy that also needs to be considered is John Mayberry. He hit .267 with 15 HR, 67 RBI, and 20 SB in Triple A last season, which isn't exactly amazing, but as a right handed bat, I think he should get a shot to show what he can do in the majors.
-Keep Chad Durbin
Yes, that Chad Durbin who blew NLCS game 4. That aside, he's been a reliable right-handed reliever, and he's a guy worth keeping. JC Romero will most likely be gone, so the Phils will have to hope that Antonio Bastardo can be their main left-hander out of the pen, because there's not too much money left to find someone else.
-Have open competition for the 5th starter
Halladay, Oswalt, Hamels, and Blanton are locked in as the first four. The 5th starter is probably going to be Kendrick, but I hope the Phillies seriously consider Vance Worley. We know what we're going to get from Kendrick: a record around .500 with a 4.50 ERA. Worley might not be any better, but we're not sure that'll he be any worse either. The Phils should give him a shot to see if they have something with him. And sorry, Jamie Moyer will most likely not be back.
-Don't panic
The Phillies still have one of the top 2 rotations in the league (the Giants are up there), and we all know how this lineup can perform when at their best. I can't see another season where everyone in the lineup has a down year, along with all the injuries the team suffered through. They'll make it back to the playoffs next year, even if it's just on their pitching alone. Making it back to the World Series will depend on how the team hits in the playoffs. The Giants will probably enter 2011 as the NL favorites, and maybe that's a good thing for the Phils. They just didn't seem hungry this season like they have in the past few. As the "underdogs", hopefully we'll still be watching baseball at this point next year.
Truth is, this is a team that didn't have a single every day player perform better than their average this season, except Carlos Ruiz. As Ruben Amaro said, if they Phillies had hit this season like they did in 2008 or 2009, they probably would have won 110 games. That's really not an exaggeration considering how terrible some of the team's hitting slumps were this season, and they still won a MLB high 97 games.
So where do the Phillies go from here? By some suggestions, they should trade Ryan Howard, trade Chase Utley, trade Jimmy Rollins, waive Raul Ibanez, keep Jayson Werth, and pretty much blow up the team. This is obviously ridiculous. Here's what's going to, or at least should, happen.
-The Phillies won't resign Jayson Werth
The writing's been on the wall with this one for a while. Before the Phillies started to get hot after the all-star break and acquired Roy Oswalt, Werth was very close to being traded. The Werth situation now is no different than the Pat Burrell situation after 2008. Now, Werth is a much better all-around player than Burrell, and coming off a better season than Burrell had in '08. And yes, the Phillies will miss the power that he brought from the right side. However, corner outfielder isn't the most difficult of positions to replace. Werth is a very good player, but I can guarantee he won't be worth (no pun intended) the kind of contract Scott Boras will get him from, most likely, the Red Sox.
- No one else of significance is leaving the team
Chase Utley is not getting traded. Ryan Howard is not getting traded. Raul Ibanez is not going anywhere, even if the Phillies probably want him to. The opening day lineup will be the same as last year's, minus Jayson Werth.
Everyone's mad at Howard because of how the NLCS ended. Yes, he should have swung, but that was a great pitch that definitely started outside and caught the outside corner. I have a feeling that after this debacle, Howard's going to come back better than ever next season.
Same can be said for Utley. He never could really get it going at the plate or in the field after injuries this season. But you know no one's going to work harder than him in the off season. He'll be ok.
The guy I'm most worried about is Rollins. He's been on the decline since his MVP season. However, 2011 will be the last year of his contract, so if he bounces back next season, great, if not, he'll be gone.
-What happens in LF and RF?
Ibanez will still get the lion's share of the stars in left field, unless he mirrors his performance from the first half of last season. Dom Brown will likely be the starting RF on opening day, but of course this leaves the Phillies with a ton of left handed bats. I'm still not convinced Ben Francisco is an everyday player, but I'd give him more starts in left and right next season. One guy that also needs to be considered is John Mayberry. He hit .267 with 15 HR, 67 RBI, and 20 SB in Triple A last season, which isn't exactly amazing, but as a right handed bat, I think he should get a shot to show what he can do in the majors.
-Keep Chad Durbin
Yes, that Chad Durbin who blew NLCS game 4. That aside, he's been a reliable right-handed reliever, and he's a guy worth keeping. JC Romero will most likely be gone, so the Phils will have to hope that Antonio Bastardo can be their main left-hander out of the pen, because there's not too much money left to find someone else.
-Have open competition for the 5th starter
Halladay, Oswalt, Hamels, and Blanton are locked in as the first four. The 5th starter is probably going to be Kendrick, but I hope the Phillies seriously consider Vance Worley. We know what we're going to get from Kendrick: a record around .500 with a 4.50 ERA. Worley might not be any better, but we're not sure that'll he be any worse either. The Phils should give him a shot to see if they have something with him. And sorry, Jamie Moyer will most likely not be back.
-Don't panic
The Phillies still have one of the top 2 rotations in the league (the Giants are up there), and we all know how this lineup can perform when at their best. I can't see another season where everyone in the lineup has a down year, along with all the injuries the team suffered through. They'll make it back to the playoffs next year, even if it's just on their pitching alone. Making it back to the World Series will depend on how the team hits in the playoffs. The Giants will probably enter 2011 as the NL favorites, and maybe that's a good thing for the Phils. They just didn't seem hungry this season like they have in the past few. As the "underdogs", hopefully we'll still be watching baseball at this point next year.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
2011 NBA Predictions
Time for predictions for everyone's favorite league. I actually did some research this time around.
East
1. Miami
2. Orlando
3. Chicago
4. Boston
5. Atlanta
6. New York
7. Milwaukee
8. Indiana
9. Philadelphia
10. Washington
11. Cleveland
12. Charlotte
13. Detroit
14. New Jersey
15. Toronto
West
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Portland
3. Dallas
4. Utah
5. Oklahoma City
6. San Antonio
7. Houston
8. Denver
9. Phoenix
10. New Orleans
11. Memphis
12. Golden State
13. Los Angeles Clippers
14. Sacramento
15. Minnesota
Playoffs
Miami over Indiana
Orlando over Milwaukee
Chicago over New York
Boston over Atlanta
LA Lakers over Denver
Portland over Houston
San Antonio over Dallas
Oklahoma City over Utah
Miami over Boston
Chicago over Orlando
LA Lakers over San Antonio
Oklahoma City over Portland
Miami over Chicago
LA Lakers over Oklahoma City
Finals
Miami over LA Lakers
East
1. Miami
2. Orlando
3. Chicago
4. Boston
5. Atlanta
6. New York
7. Milwaukee
8. Indiana
9. Philadelphia
10. Washington
11. Cleveland
12. Charlotte
13. Detroit
14. New Jersey
15. Toronto
West
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Portland
3. Dallas
4. Utah
5. Oklahoma City
6. San Antonio
7. Houston
8. Denver
9. Phoenix
10. New Orleans
11. Memphis
12. Golden State
13. Los Angeles Clippers
14. Sacramento
15. Minnesota
Playoffs
Miami over Indiana
Orlando over Milwaukee
Chicago over New York
Boston over Atlanta
LA Lakers over Denver
Portland over Houston
San Antonio over Dallas
Oklahoma City over Utah
Miami over Boston
Chicago over Orlando
LA Lakers over San Antonio
Oklahoma City over Portland
Miami over Chicago
LA Lakers over Oklahoma City
Finals
Miami over LA Lakers
Monday, October 25, 2010
Hope is on the Way
I know we're all depressed right now....but hope is on the way.
DUKE BASKETBALL, LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN
Friday, October 22, 2010
Week 7 Picks
Well that was a strange, strange game last night. The sequence in which the Phillies scored their first two runs was one of the wierdest I've ever seen in sports. First, you have Chooch getting hit by a pitch, and because he's Chooch, he barely flinches. Then, the Roy Halladay foul ball. That wasn't even close to being fair. If people want a rallying cry over why replay should be used in baseball, it's right there. Not that I'm complaining. Not only was it a foul ball, but Ibanez was miraculously safe at third, and Halladay didn't even run out of the box. If he had, it would have been the shortest infield single of all-time.
Also, Pat Burrell has lost all of his fans in Philadelphia.
Then the Chase Utley catch to end the 7th inning. I still have no idea how he hung on to that, and I imagine we'll get plenty of GIFs of Chase awkardly diving through the air. Not that Chase can ever do anything awkward.
Of course, to quote Winston Wolf in Pulp Fiction, let's not start blank-ing each other's blanks just yet. The Phils still need to get back-to-back wins against two pretty good pitchers, and the hitting is still not quite there yet. But the Giants have lost their momentum, and one gets the feeling that maybe the Phils have finally figured out how to play this team.
Let's go to the picks
@ Atlanta over Cincinnati
One would think that the Falcons would be ready to play after getting destroyed by the Kolb Express. And Carson Palmer's personal vendetta to destroy my fantasy teams year after year will continue.
Washington over @ Chicago
Donovan typically played well when playing in his hometown. And the Bears offense is a mess right now.
Philadelphia over @Tennessee
The Kolb Express is ready to steamroll another defense this week. I don't want to get into a Vick/Kolb debate, but for a guy who can't throw the deep ball, Kolb threw some really nice ones last week didn't he?
@Kansas City over Jacksonville
Speaking of Vick, wouldn't he look great in a Jaguars jersey right about now. A team that desperately needs a QB and a way to sell some tickets, I'm sure they'd give the Eagles at least a 2nd round pick for Vick right now. Make it happen.
Pittsburgh over @Miami
Defnitely has upset potential written all over it, but I can't pick against the Steelers considering how well they're playing right now. I can't see Chad Henne getting anything done against their D.
@ New Orleans over Cleveland
The Saints seem to be the Saints again. Sorry Cleveland.
@ Tampa Bay over St. Louis
A battle of two overachieving teams this season, I give the edge to Tampa because they're at home and have a defense that creates turnovers; a problem for a rookie QB to be facing.
San Francisco over @ Carolina
Carolina has to win a game at some point this year, but that doesn't mean I ever have to pick them. They look like a team that has already given up on the season.
@ Baltimore over Buffalo
Yeah, this one just isn't fair.
@ Seattle over Arizona
The Barr asked me who he should pick last week in the Seattle-Chicago game, and I told him Seattle never plays well on the road. Well Seattle won, and for some reason the Barr won't let me hear the end of it. Maybe it's because he went 7-7 last week, I went 10-4 and now hold a comfortable 8 game lead over the Barr in the Buttler family picks. Someone needs some Boston Cream Pie.
@ Denver over Oakland
Finally, the Great Tim Tebow saw some action last week, and as expected, he dominated. God Bless.
New England over @San Diego
Because I refuse to pick the Chargers anymore until they win a game.
Minnesota over @ Green Bay
The Packers just aren't playing well right now. And the Vikings know they have to play well because there's a good chance Favre will be forced into retirement soon for some LOL text messages he sent. I'll have to ask Lonnie if he was CC'd on those texts.
@ Dallas over NY Giants
The Cowboys have to win a game again sometime this year, right? At home Monday night against a Giants team who is due for a bad game, seems like as good a time as any. Of course, the Cowboys will lose if Tony Romo plays as poorly as his brother has been for the baseball Giants.
Last week: 10-4
Overall: 57-33
Also, Pat Burrell has lost all of his fans in Philadelphia.
Then the Chase Utley catch to end the 7th inning. I still have no idea how he hung on to that, and I imagine we'll get plenty of GIFs of Chase awkardly diving through the air. Not that Chase can ever do anything awkward.
Of course, to quote Winston Wolf in Pulp Fiction, let's not start blank-ing each other's blanks just yet. The Phils still need to get back-to-back wins against two pretty good pitchers, and the hitting is still not quite there yet. But the Giants have lost their momentum, and one gets the feeling that maybe the Phils have finally figured out how to play this team.
Let's go to the picks
@ Atlanta over Cincinnati
One would think that the Falcons would be ready to play after getting destroyed by the Kolb Express. And Carson Palmer's personal vendetta to destroy my fantasy teams year after year will continue.
Washington over @ Chicago
Donovan typically played well when playing in his hometown. And the Bears offense is a mess right now.
Philadelphia over @Tennessee
The Kolb Express is ready to steamroll another defense this week. I don't want to get into a Vick/Kolb debate, but for a guy who can't throw the deep ball, Kolb threw some really nice ones last week didn't he?
@Kansas City over Jacksonville
Speaking of Vick, wouldn't he look great in a Jaguars jersey right about now. A team that desperately needs a QB and a way to sell some tickets, I'm sure they'd give the Eagles at least a 2nd round pick for Vick right now. Make it happen.
Pittsburgh over @Miami
Defnitely has upset potential written all over it, but I can't pick against the Steelers considering how well they're playing right now. I can't see Chad Henne getting anything done against their D.
@ New Orleans over Cleveland
The Saints seem to be the Saints again. Sorry Cleveland.
@ Tampa Bay over St. Louis
A battle of two overachieving teams this season, I give the edge to Tampa because they're at home and have a defense that creates turnovers; a problem for a rookie QB to be facing.
San Francisco over @ Carolina
Carolina has to win a game at some point this year, but that doesn't mean I ever have to pick them. They look like a team that has already given up on the season.
@ Baltimore over Buffalo
Yeah, this one just isn't fair.
@ Seattle over Arizona
The Barr asked me who he should pick last week in the Seattle-Chicago game, and I told him Seattle never plays well on the road. Well Seattle won, and for some reason the Barr won't let me hear the end of it. Maybe it's because he went 7-7 last week, I went 10-4 and now hold a comfortable 8 game lead over the Barr in the Buttler family picks. Someone needs some Boston Cream Pie.
@ Denver over Oakland
Finally, the Great Tim Tebow saw some action last week, and as expected, he dominated. God Bless.
New England over @San Diego
Because I refuse to pick the Chargers anymore until they win a game.
Minnesota over @ Green Bay
The Packers just aren't playing well right now. And the Vikings know they have to play well because there's a good chance Favre will be forced into retirement soon for some LOL text messages he sent. I'll have to ask Lonnie if he was CC'd on those texts.
@ Dallas over NY Giants
The Cowboys have to win a game again sometime this year, right? At home Monday night against a Giants team who is due for a bad game, seems like as good a time as any. Of course, the Cowboys will lose if Tony Romo plays as poorly as his brother has been for the baseball Giants.
Last week: 10-4
Overall: 57-33
Monday, October 18, 2010
NLCS Outlook: Stop Pitching to Cody Ross
Through two games of the NLCS, we are all squared at one game apiece. It's not too surprising of an outcome, although most would have probably though that if the series was 1-1, it would be because Halladay won game 1 and Oswalt lost game 2, but we got the reverse instead. Here are some thoughts heading into Game 3:
- Cody Ross. Unbelievable. He can take his stupid bald/beard combo and his little hop-step and GTFO. Cody, you're not Sammy Sosa, stop hopping. Seriously though, Ross has basically been the Giants entire offense (except a Pat Burrell fly ball that should have been caught and a Juan Uribe double). I'm going to make a bold prediction: Cody Ross will NOT hit another home run in this series.
If that's true, then the question becomes where does San Fran get their offense from, especially if Uribe doesn't play. Buster Posey has looked like a rookie, Aubrey Huff hasn't done anything, and I wouldn't count on too much more from Burrell. So if the Phils can avoid giving up more than one long ball a game, I can't see the Giants scoring more than 2-3 runs per the rest of the series.
- That being said, the Phils offense has continued to struggle. They once again did what they've been doing best all season: capitalizing on fortunate opportunities. If you make an error against the Phillies, or if a bad call goes against you, the Phils will make you pay for it. But they have to start hitting more consistently. I'm also not crazy about the way Charlie is setting up the lineups considering the way some guys are hitting right now. Here's what I would do:
Against righties:
1. Victorino
2. Polanco
3. Utley
4. Howard
5. Werth
6. Ibanez
7. Ruiz
8. Rollins
Against lefties:
1. Victorino
2. Polanco
3. Utley
4. Werth
5. Howard
6. Ruiz
7. Ibanez
8. Rollins
The only change I make in the right-handed lineup is moving Rollins down to 8. It's not just a demotion because of how he's been hitting (last night's big double aside), but it also breaks up the speed in the lineup.
I didn't like how Charlie had the lineup set last night against a lefty. Polanco is a perfect 2 hitter, but he's not an ideal 3 hitter. A 3 hitter needs to have some power. Also, Utley isn't so bad against lefties that he needs to hit at 2 instead of 3. I would put Werth in the clean up spot then, in order to break up Utley and Howard. Ruiz and Ibanez would follow, to again break up the lefties. I doubt Charlie would ever move Howard out of the 4 spot, but I think it would be a good move.
- I like the Phillies pitching matchups the next 2 games. Hamels has been brilliant, and Matt Cain has been hit around by the Phils in the past. Blanton vs Bumgardner in game 4 might seem like an advantage for the Giants, but remember, Blanton has pitched well in big spots before, and Bumgardner is still a rookie. However, if the Phils do lose game 3, I wouldn't be surprised if Charlie called on Halladay for Game 4. Obviously, the Phillies couldn't afford to go down 3-1 in the series.
- I still like my prediction of Phillies in six games. Everyone was freaking out after game 1, but it's not like many of us thought the Phillies would sweep this series. If the Phillies can capitalize on the opportunities the Giants give them, they should be able to score the 3-4 runs in each game they need to win.
- Cody Ross. Unbelievable. He can take his stupid bald/beard combo and his little hop-step and GTFO. Cody, you're not Sammy Sosa, stop hopping. Seriously though, Ross has basically been the Giants entire offense (except a Pat Burrell fly ball that should have been caught and a Juan Uribe double). I'm going to make a bold prediction: Cody Ross will NOT hit another home run in this series.
If that's true, then the question becomes where does San Fran get their offense from, especially if Uribe doesn't play. Buster Posey has looked like a rookie, Aubrey Huff hasn't done anything, and I wouldn't count on too much more from Burrell. So if the Phils can avoid giving up more than one long ball a game, I can't see the Giants scoring more than 2-3 runs per the rest of the series.
- That being said, the Phils offense has continued to struggle. They once again did what they've been doing best all season: capitalizing on fortunate opportunities. If you make an error against the Phillies, or if a bad call goes against you, the Phils will make you pay for it. But they have to start hitting more consistently. I'm also not crazy about the way Charlie is setting up the lineups considering the way some guys are hitting right now. Here's what I would do:
Against righties:
1. Victorino
2. Polanco
3. Utley
4. Howard
5. Werth
6. Ibanez
7. Ruiz
8. Rollins
Against lefties:
1. Victorino
2. Polanco
3. Utley
4. Werth
5. Howard
6. Ruiz
7. Ibanez
8. Rollins
The only change I make in the right-handed lineup is moving Rollins down to 8. It's not just a demotion because of how he's been hitting (last night's big double aside), but it also breaks up the speed in the lineup.
I didn't like how Charlie had the lineup set last night against a lefty. Polanco is a perfect 2 hitter, but he's not an ideal 3 hitter. A 3 hitter needs to have some power. Also, Utley isn't so bad against lefties that he needs to hit at 2 instead of 3. I would put Werth in the clean up spot then, in order to break up Utley and Howard. Ruiz and Ibanez would follow, to again break up the lefties. I doubt Charlie would ever move Howard out of the 4 spot, but I think it would be a good move.
- I like the Phillies pitching matchups the next 2 games. Hamels has been brilliant, and Matt Cain has been hit around by the Phils in the past. Blanton vs Bumgardner in game 4 might seem like an advantage for the Giants, but remember, Blanton has pitched well in big spots before, and Bumgardner is still a rookie. However, if the Phils do lose game 3, I wouldn't be surprised if Charlie called on Halladay for Game 4. Obviously, the Phillies couldn't afford to go down 3-1 in the series.
- I still like my prediction of Phillies in six games. Everyone was freaking out after game 1, but it's not like many of us thought the Phillies would sweep this series. If the Phillies can capitalize on the opportunities the Giants give them, they should be able to score the 3-4 runs in each game they need to win.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Week 6 & LCS Picks
I refuse to do power rankings at least for another few weeks, since the craziness of the NFL season so far has pretty much rendered them useless. Instead, straight to the picks.
@Chicago over Seattle
As I said, Seattle on the road = the worst team in the NFL. The Bears will be 5-1. Still not that great.
@Green Bay over Miami
How the Packers didn't score 40 points against the Redskins last week is amazing. They pretty much marched up and down the field on them, but came away with no points several times. Things aren't looking great in Green Bay with several injuries, including a banged up Aaron Rodgers. I still think they should be able to handle the Dolphins at home.
San Diego over @St. Louis
The Rams bandwagon blew up in flames after being pummelled 44-6 to the Lions. The Chargers had an equally bad week, losing to the Raiders. No idea what to expect from the Chargers, but I have to pick them here.
Baltimore over @New England
A tough game to pick. I think the Patriots will miss Moss more than they think. Even if he wasn't cathing passes, he was the number one attention grabber of the defense for the entire game. And I don't think the return of Deion Branch is going to help too much. It'll take time for the Patriots to figure out their new offense, and the Ravens aren't a good team to do that against.
@ NY Giants over Detroit
I hate to say it, but the Giants have looked like the best team in the NFC over the last two weeks, probably even the NFL. Of course, they looked awful for the first three weeks. The Lions have looked solid every week, but only have one win to show for it. This'll probably be a high scoring game, but the Giants are just better.
@Philadelphia over Atlanta
Atlanta is 4-1, but they haven't exactly wowed anyone. I'm not too scared of Matt Ryan against the Eagles defense, but Michael Turner is definitely worth worrying about. If the Eagles can keep him just somewhere around the 100 yard range, and if Kevin Kolb doesn' t get killed with King Dunlap as his left tackle, then the Eagles should be able to pull this one out.
@Pittsburgh over Cleveland
The return of my main man, everyone's favorite bro, Mr. No Means Yes, Big Ben. Of course, he's payed his dues to the NFL, is a changed man, and everything else we will surely hear about him this weekend. It's gonna be great if he leads the Steelers to the Super Bowl, and everyone talks about what a great story it is, and how Big Ben is redeemed. Can't wait for that.
New Orleans over @Tampa Bay
Amazing that the Saints lost to the Cardinals last weekend because of three non-offensive TDs. They have no wake up one of these weeks, right? And the Bucs can't be 4-1 good, right?
@Houston over Kansas City
KC's defense put up a valiant effort against the Colts last week, but the offense didn't show up. Houston looked miserable against the Giants last week. I have to figure it will be a bounce back game for the Texans, and another tough road loss for the Chiefs.
NY Jets over @Denver
A tough game to pick, because I just get the feeling it will be one of those strange 4 o'clock games that Jim Nantz and Phil Simms will call where the home team always wins. But I can't pick against the Jets right now with their offense playing as well as it is.
@San Francisco over Oakland
The 49ers and Alex Smith looked great at some points last Sunday night against the Eagles, particularly in the beginning and end of the game. The rest of the game, they looked awful. Smith almost got benched for David Carr. Yes, that David Carr. Still, I can't pick the Raiders on the road.
@Minnesota over Dallas
Easily the most interesting game of the weekend, and the teams are a combined 2-6. The team that loses will be in serious trouble, and the coach's job will most likely be in jeopardy. These were the two NFC favorites going into the season, and the loser will probably miss the playoffs. There's a ton of talent on both teams, but their defenses have been shaky, their QBs are gunslingers, and their coaches often have very confused looks on their faces. I give Minnesota the edge because I think Moss will have a huge game.
Indianapolis over @Washington
Give the Redskins credit, they keep winning, although they have had no right to in the last two games. An ugly win counts as much as a pretty win though. I don't think they'll have the same kind of luck against the Peytons on Sunday night though.
Tennessee over @Jacksonville
This is the Monday night game? Really?
Last week: 7-7
Overall: 47-29
And now, baseball
Yankees over Rangers in 6 games
The Rangers surprised me by beating the Rays. They didn't even hit like they usually do; it was their pitching that carried them. I knew Cliff Lee would get it done, but I didn't think they would get much after him. Same can be said about the Yankees. Sabathia was actually their worse pitcher in their series agains the Twins. The Rangers can certainly beat the Yankees, but you kinda get the feeling like the Rangers are just happy to have made it this far. Unfortunately, the Yankees know how to do this.
Phillies over Giants in 6 games
The Phillies swept the Reds, but it's not all good news. They should have lost game 2, and really 99 times out of 100 they would have. The bats didn't look good all series after scoring four runs early in game 1. Halladay and Hamels were obviously brilliant; Oswalt had a rough start but I'm not too concerned about him. The Giants got fortunate against the Braves as well, using errors and a questionable call in game 1 to win that series. But their pitchers have been (almost) as good as the Phillies. How could you pick against the Phillies though? The only edge the Giants can claim to have is in the bullpen, and they got beat around by the Braves, whlie the Phillies bullpen was great in game 2 against the Reds after Oswalt struggled. The Phillies still have a slight edge in starting pitching, even taking into account Blanton vs Bumgardner, and their lineup is head and shoulders above the Giants. Put in the home field advantage as well, and this should be another Phillies victory.
@Chicago over Seattle
As I said, Seattle on the road = the worst team in the NFL. The Bears will be 5-1. Still not that great.
@Green Bay over Miami
How the Packers didn't score 40 points against the Redskins last week is amazing. They pretty much marched up and down the field on them, but came away with no points several times. Things aren't looking great in Green Bay with several injuries, including a banged up Aaron Rodgers. I still think they should be able to handle the Dolphins at home.
San Diego over @St. Louis
The Rams bandwagon blew up in flames after being pummelled 44-6 to the Lions. The Chargers had an equally bad week, losing to the Raiders. No idea what to expect from the Chargers, but I have to pick them here.
Baltimore over @New England
A tough game to pick. I think the Patriots will miss Moss more than they think. Even if he wasn't cathing passes, he was the number one attention grabber of the defense for the entire game. And I don't think the return of Deion Branch is going to help too much. It'll take time for the Patriots to figure out their new offense, and the Ravens aren't a good team to do that against.
@ NY Giants over Detroit
I hate to say it, but the Giants have looked like the best team in the NFC over the last two weeks, probably even the NFL. Of course, they looked awful for the first three weeks. The Lions have looked solid every week, but only have one win to show for it. This'll probably be a high scoring game, but the Giants are just better.
@Philadelphia over Atlanta
Atlanta is 4-1, but they haven't exactly wowed anyone. I'm not too scared of Matt Ryan against the Eagles defense, but Michael Turner is definitely worth worrying about. If the Eagles can keep him just somewhere around the 100 yard range, and if Kevin Kolb doesn' t get killed with King Dunlap as his left tackle, then the Eagles should be able to pull this one out.
@Pittsburgh over Cleveland
The return of my main man, everyone's favorite bro, Mr. No Means Yes, Big Ben. Of course, he's payed his dues to the NFL, is a changed man, and everything else we will surely hear about him this weekend. It's gonna be great if he leads the Steelers to the Super Bowl, and everyone talks about what a great story it is, and how Big Ben is redeemed. Can't wait for that.
New Orleans over @Tampa Bay
Amazing that the Saints lost to the Cardinals last weekend because of three non-offensive TDs. They have no wake up one of these weeks, right? And the Bucs can't be 4-1 good, right?
@Houston over Kansas City
KC's defense put up a valiant effort against the Colts last week, but the offense didn't show up. Houston looked miserable against the Giants last week. I have to figure it will be a bounce back game for the Texans, and another tough road loss for the Chiefs.
NY Jets over @Denver
A tough game to pick, because I just get the feeling it will be one of those strange 4 o'clock games that Jim Nantz and Phil Simms will call where the home team always wins. But I can't pick against the Jets right now with their offense playing as well as it is.
@San Francisco over Oakland
The 49ers and Alex Smith looked great at some points last Sunday night against the Eagles, particularly in the beginning and end of the game. The rest of the game, they looked awful. Smith almost got benched for David Carr. Yes, that David Carr. Still, I can't pick the Raiders on the road.
@Minnesota over Dallas
Easily the most interesting game of the weekend, and the teams are a combined 2-6. The team that loses will be in serious trouble, and the coach's job will most likely be in jeopardy. These were the two NFC favorites going into the season, and the loser will probably miss the playoffs. There's a ton of talent on both teams, but their defenses have been shaky, their QBs are gunslingers, and their coaches often have very confused looks on their faces. I give Minnesota the edge because I think Moss will have a huge game.
Indianapolis over @Washington
Give the Redskins credit, they keep winning, although they have had no right to in the last two games. An ugly win counts as much as a pretty win though. I don't think they'll have the same kind of luck against the Peytons on Sunday night though.
Tennessee over @Jacksonville
This is the Monday night game? Really?
Last week: 7-7
Overall: 47-29
And now, baseball
Yankees over Rangers in 6 games
The Rangers surprised me by beating the Rays. They didn't even hit like they usually do; it was their pitching that carried them. I knew Cliff Lee would get it done, but I didn't think they would get much after him. Same can be said about the Yankees. Sabathia was actually their worse pitcher in their series agains the Twins. The Rangers can certainly beat the Yankees, but you kinda get the feeling like the Rangers are just happy to have made it this far. Unfortunately, the Yankees know how to do this.
Phillies over Giants in 6 games
The Phillies swept the Reds, but it's not all good news. They should have lost game 2, and really 99 times out of 100 they would have. The bats didn't look good all series after scoring four runs early in game 1. Halladay and Hamels were obviously brilliant; Oswalt had a rough start but I'm not too concerned about him. The Giants got fortunate against the Braves as well, using errors and a questionable call in game 1 to win that series. But their pitchers have been (almost) as good as the Phillies. How could you pick against the Phillies though? The only edge the Giants can claim to have is in the bullpen, and they got beat around by the Braves, whlie the Phillies bullpen was great in game 2 against the Reds after Oswalt struggled. The Phillies still have a slight edge in starting pitching, even taking into account Blanton vs Bumgardner, and their lineup is head and shoulders above the Giants. Put in the home field advantage as well, and this should be another Phillies victory.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Week 5 Picks
Oh yeah, there's football this weekend too.
@Buffalo over Jacksonville
The Bills have to win one game this year. At home against a Jacksonville team coming off a huge win, seems as good a time as any.
@Cincinnati over Tampa Bay
Admit it, you're going to watch the TOcho show at least once. Too bad it's on Versus where no one can see it.
Atlanta over @Cleveland
If Cleveland hadn't won last week, I might pick them here. But they're not a team that'll win twice in a row this season.
@Detroit over St. Louis
The year's most anticipated game. Detroit is 0-4, St. Louis is 2-2, but you could definitely make the argument that Detroit has played better.
@Indianapolis over Kansas City
Like I said, Kansas City might have a chance in this game if the Colts hadn't lost last week. You know Peyton would take his laser, rocket arm and play defense and special teams for the Colts to win this. He should coach too. And call his own play by play.
Green Bay over @Washington
Ah Donovan playing against the Packers. Bring back some good memories. Mostly of ridiculous Eagles losses.
Chicago over @Carolina
Absolutely I have the upmost faith in Todd Collins to lead the Bears to victory in a road game. Or I made my picks before the news he was starting over Cutler. Either one.
@Baltimore over Denver
All we need is for Ray Lewis to spontaneously combust Kyle Orton in order for Tim Tebow to get on the field. It can happen.
@Houston over NY Giants
Finally I don't feel compelled to pick the Giants.
New Orleans over @Arizona
Say what you want about Matt Leinart, but wouldn't he be a better option at QB right now than Max Hall? I miss when the Cardinals were terrible.
@Dallas over Tennessee
Which Dallas team will show up? Probably the one that's good enough to beat Tennessee. Although I wouldn't mind the one with Tony Romo throwing 4 INTs.
San Diego over @Oakland
This is exactly the type of game the Chargers lose early in the season. However, I can't in good conscience pick the Raiders no matter what the reason.
Philadelphia over @San Francisco
On the road, Sunday night, West Coast, against a team that's desperate for a victory. Yeah, I really don't like this too much. Go Phillies.
@NY Jets over Minnesota
Over/Under on number of games it takes for Favre/Moss to completely blow up? One half.
Last Week: 9-5
Overall: 40-22
@Buffalo over Jacksonville
The Bills have to win one game this year. At home against a Jacksonville team coming off a huge win, seems as good a time as any.
@Cincinnati over Tampa Bay
Admit it, you're going to watch the TOcho show at least once. Too bad it's on Versus where no one can see it.
Atlanta over @Cleveland
If Cleveland hadn't won last week, I might pick them here. But they're not a team that'll win twice in a row this season.
@Detroit over St. Louis
The year's most anticipated game. Detroit is 0-4, St. Louis is 2-2, but you could definitely make the argument that Detroit has played better.
@Indianapolis over Kansas City
Like I said, Kansas City might have a chance in this game if the Colts hadn't lost last week. You know Peyton would take his laser, rocket arm and play defense and special teams for the Colts to win this. He should coach too. And call his own play by play.
Green Bay over @Washington
Ah Donovan playing against the Packers. Bring back some good memories. Mostly of ridiculous Eagles losses.
Chicago over @Carolina
Absolutely I have the upmost faith in Todd Collins to lead the Bears to victory in a road game. Or I made my picks before the news he was starting over Cutler. Either one.
@Baltimore over Denver
All we need is for Ray Lewis to spontaneously combust Kyle Orton in order for Tim Tebow to get on the field. It can happen.
@Houston over NY Giants
Finally I don't feel compelled to pick the Giants.
New Orleans over @Arizona
Say what you want about Matt Leinart, but wouldn't he be a better option at QB right now than Max Hall? I miss when the Cardinals were terrible.
@Dallas over Tennessee
Which Dallas team will show up? Probably the one that's good enough to beat Tennessee. Although I wouldn't mind the one with Tony Romo throwing 4 INTs.
San Diego over @Oakland
This is exactly the type of game the Chargers lose early in the season. However, I can't in good conscience pick the Raiders no matter what the reason.
Philadelphia over @San Francisco
On the road, Sunday night, West Coast, against a team that's desperate for a victory. Yeah, I really don't like this too much. Go Phillies.
@NY Jets over Minnesota
Over/Under on number of games it takes for Favre/Moss to completely blow up? One half.
Last Week: 9-5
Overall: 40-22
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
NFL Power Rankings- Week 4
Josh Scobee's 59 yard field goal to lift the Jaguars to a victory over the Colts pretty much summed up the NFL season so far. This has been one of the strangest starts to an NFL season in recent memory. We have no idea who's really good, somewhat of an idea of who's really bad, and absolutely zero clue about how it all plays out in the middle. With that in mind, here's my feeble attempt to make Power Rankings for this week.
32. Bills 0-4
This one was easy. The good news for Bills fans is that they definitely won't be losing a Super Bowl this year.
31. Panthers 0-4
They came thisclose to upsetting the Saints in New Orleans, so it's not all bad. Jimmy Clausen was decent, so maybe there's a little bit of hope for the future.
30. 49ers 0-4
Yes, they're 0-4. But they almost beat the Saints and Falcons. They honestly might be the best team in the NFC West still. Yes, we're back to bashing the NFC West.
29. Browns 1-3
Just like last year, they'll get uppity every once in a while and win a game here and there. They now have the second best Peyton in the NFL, so that's something.
28. Raiders 1-3
Could Bruce Gradkowski be the future at QB? No, not really. But they're (sorta) getting better.
27. Cardinals EDIT: apparently the Cardinals are 2-2 instead of 1-3. Doesn't really change much.
Has any team taken a nose dive this season quite like the Cardinals? Who knew how important Kurt Warner was to this team (besides his wife, of course).
26. Lions 0-4
Have had close games against the Bears, Eagles, Vikings, and Packers. They might be the best 0-4 team ever.
25. Seahawks 2-2
Seahawks at home: a respectable team that would win the NFC West easily and could give a team a scare in the playoffs. Seahawks on the road: the worst team in the NFL.
24. Rams 2-2
If the playoffs started today, the Rams would be the 3rd seed in the NFC. I think that just about sums up the season so far.
23. Jaguars 2-2
I would like to think the Jags inspired play against the Colts is partially due to my ripping of them week after week. At least partially.
22. Titans 2-2
Like I said, the very definition of an 8-8 team.
21. Broncos 2-2
Kyle Orton is playing too well. I think we'll need some divine intervention to get Tebow on the field. Luckily, Tim has friends in high places.
20. Bucs 2-1
I have no idea how good they are, but they're still 2-1, so you can be in the top 20, Bucs.
19. Redskins 2-2
They're not a good team. I give them props for actually realizing when the game started unlike the team they were facing, but they're not a good team.
18. Dolphins 2-2
So much for the Dolphins being on the level of the Jets and Pats. Luckily, Chad Henne still looks like a pretty good QB.
17. Bengals 2-2
For some reason, the biggest story in Cincinatti is that T.O got 200 yards, not the fact that they lost to one of the worst teams in the league. I wonder if T.O realizes this yet.
16. Giants 2-2
Tiki Barber pretty much just pulled a heel turn on Giants fans. They should have given him a mic at the stadium so he could rip them some more. And Jim Ross could be yelling in the background, "NOOOO NOOOO BY GAWD.....WHO IS THIS MAN".
It looks like the Giants will be inconsistent all season, just like the ....
15. Eagles 2-2
Two players did well for the Eagles on Sunday: Sav Rocca and David Akers. That's about it. I'll be the first to admit Kolb did not play well, as he was obviously scared to make mistakes (I wonder why), but he was one of a long list of problems for the Eagles on Sunday. No one could tackle. The offensive line should just be completely replaced by guys who won't commit penalities. LeSean McCoy killed the Eagles momentum with a fumble. Jason Avant, it was a tough catch to make, but c'mon man.
Bottom line: they're a young team who will look great one week, and terrible the next.
14. Vikings 1-2
I think they went up in the rankings by having a bye week. Game at the Jets on Monday night will show how good they are.
13. Cowboys 1-2
Same here. With how inconsistent the NFC East is looking, you have to pick the most talented team to win it, and it's still the Cowboys.
12. Bears 3-1
Yeah, that's more like how the Bears will really be this season.
11. Chargers 2-2
Pretty much by default, they looked better than just about any team on Sunday.
10. Colts 2-2
Really Colts, the Jaguars? Really? Can you imagine how bad this team would be without Peyton Manning? Even if you put a decent QB in his place, let's say Joe Flacco, they would probably be the worst team in the league.
9. Chiefs 3-0
The Chiefs were probably more upset about the Colts loss than anyone. Beating the Colts at home, coming off an embarrasing loss will be a near impossible task. But if the Chiefs win, they'll be number 1 here next week.
8. Falcons 3-1
Barely squeaked out a win against the 49ers. The Falcons are wild card team good, but they really don't seem like much of a threat other than that.
7. Texans 3-1
Unlike the Colts, the Texans beat a team they should have beaten on the road, even though the Raiders played a lot better than expected. Maybe we should consider the Texans to be the favorite in the AFC South now.
6. Patriots 3-1
Now that was the Patriots team we all know and love/hate. And they maybe even found a semblance of a running game with the ultimate RB tandem, Benjarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead. Yes, you read that right.
5. Saints 3-1
Yes, they're 3-1, but those have been three ugly wins. You've gotta think they'll wake up eventually, but if not against the Panthers, then against who? Ok, they're playing the Cardinals next week, never mind.
4. Packers 3-1
What I said about Peyton Manning and the Colts also applies to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. They would be awful without him. With him, they're the favorite in the NFC to this point.
3. Steelers 3-1
Can't blame them too much for losing a close game against the Ravens with their 4th QB. Now that everyone's favorite bro will be back after the bye week, look out.
2. Ravens 3-1
Not the prettiest of wins, but they're starting to put it together. Steelers/Ravens might be the best NFL rivalry we have going today. They'll be back and forth for the AFC North all season.
1. Jets 3-1
Take away their week 1 clunker, and they've easily looked like the best team in the league. The defense is still great, their offense is looking better every week, and they'll get Santonio Holmes back soon. As Rex Ryan would say, well this is a family blog so I can't say what he would say.
32. Bills 0-4
This one was easy. The good news for Bills fans is that they definitely won't be losing a Super Bowl this year.
31. Panthers 0-4
They came thisclose to upsetting the Saints in New Orleans, so it's not all bad. Jimmy Clausen was decent, so maybe there's a little bit of hope for the future.
30. 49ers 0-4
Yes, they're 0-4. But they almost beat the Saints and Falcons. They honestly might be the best team in the NFC West still. Yes, we're back to bashing the NFC West.
29. Browns 1-3
Just like last year, they'll get uppity every once in a while and win a game here and there. They now have the second best Peyton in the NFL, so that's something.
28. Raiders 1-3
Could Bruce Gradkowski be the future at QB? No, not really. But they're (sorta) getting better.
27. Cardinals EDIT: apparently the Cardinals are 2-2 instead of 1-3. Doesn't really change much.
Has any team taken a nose dive this season quite like the Cardinals? Who knew how important Kurt Warner was to this team (besides his wife, of course).
26. Lions 0-4
Have had close games against the Bears, Eagles, Vikings, and Packers. They might be the best 0-4 team ever.
25. Seahawks 2-2
Seahawks at home: a respectable team that would win the NFC West easily and could give a team a scare in the playoffs. Seahawks on the road: the worst team in the NFL.
24. Rams 2-2
If the playoffs started today, the Rams would be the 3rd seed in the NFC. I think that just about sums up the season so far.
23. Jaguars 2-2
I would like to think the Jags inspired play against the Colts is partially due to my ripping of them week after week. At least partially.
22. Titans 2-2
Like I said, the very definition of an 8-8 team.
21. Broncos 2-2
Kyle Orton is playing too well. I think we'll need some divine intervention to get Tebow on the field. Luckily, Tim has friends in high places.
20. Bucs 2-1
I have no idea how good they are, but they're still 2-1, so you can be in the top 20, Bucs.
19. Redskins 2-2
They're not a good team. I give them props for actually realizing when the game started unlike the team they were facing, but they're not a good team.
18. Dolphins 2-2
So much for the Dolphins being on the level of the Jets and Pats. Luckily, Chad Henne still looks like a pretty good QB.
17. Bengals 2-2
For some reason, the biggest story in Cincinatti is that T.O got 200 yards, not the fact that they lost to one of the worst teams in the league. I wonder if T.O realizes this yet.
16. Giants 2-2
Tiki Barber pretty much just pulled a heel turn on Giants fans. They should have given him a mic at the stadium so he could rip them some more. And Jim Ross could be yelling in the background, "NOOOO NOOOO BY GAWD.....WHO IS THIS MAN".
It looks like the Giants will be inconsistent all season, just like the ....
15. Eagles 2-2
Two players did well for the Eagles on Sunday: Sav Rocca and David Akers. That's about it. I'll be the first to admit Kolb did not play well, as he was obviously scared to make mistakes (I wonder why), but he was one of a long list of problems for the Eagles on Sunday. No one could tackle. The offensive line should just be completely replaced by guys who won't commit penalities. LeSean McCoy killed the Eagles momentum with a fumble. Jason Avant, it was a tough catch to make, but c'mon man.
Bottom line: they're a young team who will look great one week, and terrible the next.
14. Vikings 1-2
I think they went up in the rankings by having a bye week. Game at the Jets on Monday night will show how good they are.
13. Cowboys 1-2
Same here. With how inconsistent the NFC East is looking, you have to pick the most talented team to win it, and it's still the Cowboys.
12. Bears 3-1
Yeah, that's more like how the Bears will really be this season.
11. Chargers 2-2
Pretty much by default, they looked better than just about any team on Sunday.
10. Colts 2-2
Really Colts, the Jaguars? Really? Can you imagine how bad this team would be without Peyton Manning? Even if you put a decent QB in his place, let's say Joe Flacco, they would probably be the worst team in the league.
9. Chiefs 3-0
The Chiefs were probably more upset about the Colts loss than anyone. Beating the Colts at home, coming off an embarrasing loss will be a near impossible task. But if the Chiefs win, they'll be number 1 here next week.
8. Falcons 3-1
Barely squeaked out a win against the 49ers. The Falcons are wild card team good, but they really don't seem like much of a threat other than that.
7. Texans 3-1
Unlike the Colts, the Texans beat a team they should have beaten on the road, even though the Raiders played a lot better than expected. Maybe we should consider the Texans to be the favorite in the AFC South now.
6. Patriots 3-1
Now that was the Patriots team we all know and love/hate. And they maybe even found a semblance of a running game with the ultimate RB tandem, Benjarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead. Yes, you read that right.
5. Saints 3-1
Yes, they're 3-1, but those have been three ugly wins. You've gotta think they'll wake up eventually, but if not against the Panthers, then against who? Ok, they're playing the Cardinals next week, never mind.
4. Packers 3-1
What I said about Peyton Manning and the Colts also applies to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. They would be awful without him. With him, they're the favorite in the NFC to this point.
3. Steelers 3-1
Can't blame them too much for losing a close game against the Ravens with their 4th QB. Now that everyone's favorite bro will be back after the bye week, look out.
2. Ravens 3-1
Not the prettiest of wins, but they're starting to put it together. Steelers/Ravens might be the best NFL rivalry we have going today. They'll be back and forth for the AFC North all season.
1. Jets 3-1
Take away their week 1 clunker, and they've easily looked like the best team in the league. The defense is still great, their offense is looking better every week, and they'll get Santonio Holmes back soon. As Rex Ryan would say, well this is a family blog so I can't say what he would say.
Monday, October 4, 2010
MLB playoffs preview
I'm going to pretend that football doesn't exist today and instead focus on the MLB playoffs now that they matchups have been set.
NLDS
Phillies vs Reds
The Reds remind me of the Phillies from a few years ago when they won their first of 4 straight NL East titles. Good young pitching and strong young lineup led by a power hitting first baseman. However, the key word there is young. Like the Phillies from 2007, the Reds aren't quite ready to make a deep run into the postseason. The Phils will feast the on the three right handed starters the Reds will trot out, and H2O should be able to contain the Reds lineup.
Phillies in 3
Giants vs Braves
These teams are pretty evenly matched on paper. The difference will come down to the Giants home field advantage. The Braves have been great at home, but not so great on the road. This'll be a series in which the home team wins every game.
Giants in 5
ALDS
Twins vs Yankees
The big question in this series is who is going to pitch for the Yankees after Sabathia? The Twins starters (Liriano, Pavano, and Duensing) won't blow you away on paper, but they've been solid all season. The Twins might have the biggest home field advantage of any team, given they're playing in Minnesota in the Fall, meaning plenty of below freezing games. I picked the Twins at the beginning of the season, so
Twins in 5
Rays vs Rangers
The Rangers have certainly had a good season, but they almost won the AL West by default. With Cliff Lee not pitching at his best lately, and Josh Hamilton banged up, I don't think this'll be much of a series. The Rays pitching after David Price (James Shields and Matt Garza) is a bit inconsistent, but they should get the job done here.
Rays in 4
NLCS
Phillies vs Giants
This matchup will be all about the pitching. Halladay vs Lincecum, Oswalt vs Cain, Hamels vs Sanchez. Even if you put the pitching as a wash, the Phillies lineup holds the advantage over the Giants lineup, despite their improvement throughout the season. A tough series for the Phils, but they'll pull it out.
Phillies in 6
Rays vs Twins
A very tough series to predict. The Rays have the potentially better pitching, but again, Shields and Garza are inconsistent. The Rays may have a slight advantage on offense, but the Twins have been quietly efficient all season. I have a feeling the Rays pitching will ultimately let them down, and I picked the Twins at the beginning of the season, so
Twins in 7
World Series
Phillies vs Twins
A potentially scary series for the Phillies, since they got beat around by the Twins in interleague play this year, at home. Of course, that was back in the portion of the season when the Phillies weren't really the Phillies. What this series might ultimately come down to us the NL winning the All-Star game this year. It's hard to imagine the Phillies losing a series in which they have home-field advantage, considering the way they've played at home since August. Did you really think I would pick anyone else?
Phillies in 6
NLDS
Phillies vs Reds
The Reds remind me of the Phillies from a few years ago when they won their first of 4 straight NL East titles. Good young pitching and strong young lineup led by a power hitting first baseman. However, the key word there is young. Like the Phillies from 2007, the Reds aren't quite ready to make a deep run into the postseason. The Phils will feast the on the three right handed starters the Reds will trot out, and H2O should be able to contain the Reds lineup.
Phillies in 3
Giants vs Braves
These teams are pretty evenly matched on paper. The difference will come down to the Giants home field advantage. The Braves have been great at home, but not so great on the road. This'll be a series in which the home team wins every game.
Giants in 5
ALDS
Twins vs Yankees
The big question in this series is who is going to pitch for the Yankees after Sabathia? The Twins starters (Liriano, Pavano, and Duensing) won't blow you away on paper, but they've been solid all season. The Twins might have the biggest home field advantage of any team, given they're playing in Minnesota in the Fall, meaning plenty of below freezing games. I picked the Twins at the beginning of the season, so
Twins in 5
Rays vs Rangers
The Rangers have certainly had a good season, but they almost won the AL West by default. With Cliff Lee not pitching at his best lately, and Josh Hamilton banged up, I don't think this'll be much of a series. The Rays pitching after David Price (James Shields and Matt Garza) is a bit inconsistent, but they should get the job done here.
Rays in 4
NLCS
Phillies vs Giants
This matchup will be all about the pitching. Halladay vs Lincecum, Oswalt vs Cain, Hamels vs Sanchez. Even if you put the pitching as a wash, the Phillies lineup holds the advantage over the Giants lineup, despite their improvement throughout the season. A tough series for the Phils, but they'll pull it out.
Phillies in 6
Rays vs Twins
A very tough series to predict. The Rays have the potentially better pitching, but again, Shields and Garza are inconsistent. The Rays may have a slight advantage on offense, but the Twins have been quietly efficient all season. I have a feeling the Rays pitching will ultimately let them down, and I picked the Twins at the beginning of the season, so
Twins in 7
World Series
Phillies vs Twins
A potentially scary series for the Phillies, since they got beat around by the Twins in interleague play this year, at home. Of course, that was back in the portion of the season when the Phillies weren't really the Phillies. What this series might ultimately come down to us the NL winning the All-Star game this year. It's hard to imagine the Phillies losing a series in which they have home-field advantage, considering the way they've played at home since August. Did you really think I would pick anyone else?
Phillies in 6
Friday, October 1, 2010
Week 4 picks
@ Atlanta over San Francisco
When a coach who likes to drop his pants for inspiration names a player captain (Vernon Davis) who was kicked off by said coach during a game two seasons ago, you know there's something wrong with your team.
NY Jets over @ Buffalo
When you cut the QB you started in week 1 after week 3, you know there's something wrong with your team. And despite their Hard Knocks appearance, it's getting easier and easier to dislike the Jets every week.
Cincinatti over @ Cleveland
I have to wonder what sports talk radio in Cleveland is like right now. Sports in Cleveland right now are probably worse than Philadelphia in the mid to late 90's. The Phillies were terrible, the Eagles were terrible, the Sixers were the Sixers, Flyers-one Stanley Cup appearance. Cleveland just lost their best (or second best behind Jim Brown) athlete of all-time in his prime. The Indians are awful and have nothing to hope for. And the Browns, first they leave for Baltimore and win a Super Bowl there, and now after coming back to the league, they've been atrocious. And there's very little hope there unless Colt McCoy turns into Bernie Kosar. I think they'd even take Tim Couch back right now. Just remember Cleveland, you're not Detroit.
@ Green Bay over Detroit
The only way the Packers lose this game is if they commit 18 penalties, drop two interceptions on the opponent's last drive, and fumble on their last drive, taking away $160 from me in the process. Oh wait.
@Tennessee over Denver
Josh McDaniels, give the people what they want. We want Vince Young vs Tim Tebow. We want 30 MINUTES FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIVES. God Bless.
Seattle over @St. Louis
Do I really want to pick the Seahawks on the road? No. But I already turned in my picks, so I'll take this one inevitable loss.
@New Orleans over Carolina
If you're in a suicide pool, this is probably the safest pick you'll get all season. If you're in a pool where you actually have to commit suicide if you lose, this is probably the safest pick you'll get all season.
Baltimore over @Pittsburgh
Charlie Batch can get it done against Tampa Bay's defense, but I don't think he'll have the same kinda luck against Baltimore. If the O/U on this game was 20, I'd probably take the under.
Houston over @ Oakland
Let the Houston hype machine start all over again after the pound the Raiders. You know after the way they lost last week, the Raiders have probably just given up on the season at this point.
Indianapolis over @ Jacksonville
Amazingly, Peyton Manning is off to the statistically best start of his career. Amazingly, the Jaguars might get 30,000 fans for this game. What is it with Florida fans? The Marlins don't get anybody, even when they're good. We've heard all week about how the Rays can't get anybody, even when they're about to win the AL East. I would imagine the Jaguars have the smallest fan base of any team in the NFL. Are there really that many more things to do in Florida? Besides being really hot and/or old?
@Philadelphia over Washington
I'm a bit worried about this game because a) Everyone's picking the Eagles b) Donovan, in general, played well against the NFC East.
But most of all, reason c) Karma is completely against the Eagles in this game.
In one corner, you have Donovan, who had haters in this town from the second his name was called by Paul Tagliabue. Who was criticized throughout his career for almost any reason possible (he runs too much, he doesn't run enough, he smiles too much, he chokes, he doesn't care about losing, he's inaccurate, he throws at the ground, he's not a leader, he's too goofy, he pukes, he ran T.O out of town, he's not a West Coast QB, A.J Feeley is better, Jeff Garcia is better, Kevin Kolb is better, I think that about covers it). Are some of those criticism justified? Sure, but by the way, he's only the best QB in franchise history.
In the other corner, you have Michael Vick. I won't get into it, but yeah, I would say karma favors the Redskins.
@ San Diego over Arizona
Picking San Diego before week 8 is never a good idea, but neither is picking a Derek Anderson led team on the road.
@ NY Giants over Chicago
Giants, you reeled me in again. At home, Sunday night, team desperate for a win against a team coming off a huge win. I hate you Giants.
New England over @ Miami
This game answer a lot of questions. Is New England still a top contender? Can Miami compete for a playoff spot? Why does Miami have back-to-back home primetime games? Can Tom Brady's hair get more feminine?
Last week: 11-5
Overall: 31-17
When a coach who likes to drop his pants for inspiration names a player captain (Vernon Davis) who was kicked off by said coach during a game two seasons ago, you know there's something wrong with your team.
NY Jets over @ Buffalo
When you cut the QB you started in week 1 after week 3, you know there's something wrong with your team. And despite their Hard Knocks appearance, it's getting easier and easier to dislike the Jets every week.
Cincinatti over @ Cleveland
I have to wonder what sports talk radio in Cleveland is like right now. Sports in Cleveland right now are probably worse than Philadelphia in the mid to late 90's. The Phillies were terrible, the Eagles were terrible, the Sixers were the Sixers, Flyers-one Stanley Cup appearance. Cleveland just lost their best (or second best behind Jim Brown) athlete of all-time in his prime. The Indians are awful and have nothing to hope for. And the Browns, first they leave for Baltimore and win a Super Bowl there, and now after coming back to the league, they've been atrocious. And there's very little hope there unless Colt McCoy turns into Bernie Kosar. I think they'd even take Tim Couch back right now. Just remember Cleveland, you're not Detroit.
@ Green Bay over Detroit
The only way the Packers lose this game is if they commit 18 penalties, drop two interceptions on the opponent's last drive, and fumble on their last drive, taking away $160 from me in the process. Oh wait.
@Tennessee over Denver
Josh McDaniels, give the people what they want. We want Vince Young vs Tim Tebow. We want 30 MINUTES FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIVES. God Bless.
Seattle over @St. Louis
Do I really want to pick the Seahawks on the road? No. But I already turned in my picks, so I'll take this one inevitable loss.
@New Orleans over Carolina
If you're in a suicide pool, this is probably the safest pick you'll get all season. If you're in a pool where you actually have to commit suicide if you lose, this is probably the safest pick you'll get all season.
Baltimore over @Pittsburgh
Charlie Batch can get it done against Tampa Bay's defense, but I don't think he'll have the same kinda luck against Baltimore. If the O/U on this game was 20, I'd probably take the under.
Houston over @ Oakland
Let the Houston hype machine start all over again after the pound the Raiders. You know after the way they lost last week, the Raiders have probably just given up on the season at this point.
Indianapolis over @ Jacksonville
Amazingly, Peyton Manning is off to the statistically best start of his career. Amazingly, the Jaguars might get 30,000 fans for this game. What is it with Florida fans? The Marlins don't get anybody, even when they're good. We've heard all week about how the Rays can't get anybody, even when they're about to win the AL East. I would imagine the Jaguars have the smallest fan base of any team in the NFL. Are there really that many more things to do in Florida? Besides being really hot and/or old?
@Philadelphia over Washington
I'm a bit worried about this game because a) Everyone's picking the Eagles b) Donovan, in general, played well against the NFC East.
But most of all, reason c) Karma is completely against the Eagles in this game.
In one corner, you have Donovan, who had haters in this town from the second his name was called by Paul Tagliabue. Who was criticized throughout his career for almost any reason possible (he runs too much, he doesn't run enough, he smiles too much, he chokes, he doesn't care about losing, he's inaccurate, he throws at the ground, he's not a leader, he's too goofy, he pukes, he ran T.O out of town, he's not a West Coast QB, A.J Feeley is better, Jeff Garcia is better, Kevin Kolb is better, I think that about covers it). Are some of those criticism justified? Sure, but by the way, he's only the best QB in franchise history.
In the other corner, you have Michael Vick. I won't get into it, but yeah, I would say karma favors the Redskins.
@ San Diego over Arizona
Picking San Diego before week 8 is never a good idea, but neither is picking a Derek Anderson led team on the road.
@ NY Giants over Chicago
Giants, you reeled me in again. At home, Sunday night, team desperate for a win against a team coming off a huge win. I hate you Giants.
New England over @ Miami
This game answer a lot of questions. Is New England still a top contender? Can Miami compete for a playoff spot? Why does Miami have back-to-back home primetime games? Can Tom Brady's hair get more feminine?
Last week: 11-5
Overall: 31-17
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