Now that the BCS(Bull Crap Series) has finished, its time to get serious about our favorite collegiate sport. Imagine, a big time NCAA sport with actual playoffs, imagine still an eventual champion being decided by, not computers, but the performance of actual players. Oh yes, its NCAA hoops season, my favorite time of year. At this point in the season the powerhouses have been established, and we've had some unexpected teams pull to the head of the pack. Most notably Wake Forest. Behind the tremendous play of second year guard Jeff Teague, the Demon Deacs are 14-0 and poised to make a return to becoming a legitatmate final four contender. If wake wins their next two conference games, i don't think there will be another team more deserving of the #1 ranking. The ACC as a whole has got to be the elite conference this year, with Clemson also undefeated thus far, a prolific Duke team with only one lose, and a Tarheel team that despite two losses will be as tough as anyone in the country down the stretch. The Big East also has several teams looking to play well into March, Uconn with strong senior leadership and diaper-dandy Kemba Walker, a talented Syracuse team, and of course the Current #1 ranked Pittsburgh. Yep, there's a chill in the air and March will be here before we know it, I just love the "Madness." Who cares about foosball anyway?
By guest columnist Philip from THE SCENE
Friday, January 16, 2009
Championship Round
Okay so clearly I made my picks last week on opposite day, sorry I forgot to mention that. So since we all now know about the opposite day thing we can say I went 4 for 4. Really though I don’t know why I didn’t pick the Eagles, but I stand by the other picks.
Well this week we get to see who will meet in the Super Bowl. Should be two good games too.
NFC
Arizona vs Philadelphia — I still really want to say that the Eagles are gonna make some stupid mistake that will cost them the game, but it hasn’t happened yet so maybe it wont. So all things being equal Arizona has a great offense and Philadelphia has a great defense. Most people will tell you that defense wins championships and I will be one of those people. Defense wins championships! The Eagles defense is playing almost as good as the Super Bowl Bears the past 3 games, but they don’t have a Rex Grossman to lose the game for them like the Bears did. So as good as the Cardinals have looked in games that matter I just think the Eagles are playing too good right now. Take the Eagles Sunday.
AFC
Pittsburgh vs Baltimore — I'm just not happy with either of these two teams, they both are lacking so much on the offensive end. Of course the Steelers can be a good offensive team and if Willie Parker can run the ball then that will help the passing game a lot. So here is what we know the Ravens are going to bring it with there D. They’ll try to put Big Ben on his back as much as possible. I think the secondary is good enough to support a lot of blitzing because they should be able to hold the Pittsburgh receivers in coverage. I think Pittsburgh’s O-line will bend and then break and if that happens Pittsburgh will not score more then 13 points. I think Baltimore will have a very hard time scoring on the Pittsburgh defense, but if they just run the ball and don’t turn it over then they should win a close low scoring game. So I’ll take the Ravens.
Well this week we get to see who will meet in the Super Bowl. Should be two good games too.
NFC
Arizona vs Philadelphia — I still really want to say that the Eagles are gonna make some stupid mistake that will cost them the game, but it hasn’t happened yet so maybe it wont. So all things being equal Arizona has a great offense and Philadelphia has a great defense. Most people will tell you that defense wins championships and I will be one of those people. Defense wins championships! The Eagles defense is playing almost as good as the Super Bowl Bears the past 3 games, but they don’t have a Rex Grossman to lose the game for them like the Bears did. So as good as the Cardinals have looked in games that matter I just think the Eagles are playing too good right now. Take the Eagles Sunday.
AFC
Pittsburgh vs Baltimore — I'm just not happy with either of these two teams, they both are lacking so much on the offensive end. Of course the Steelers can be a good offensive team and if Willie Parker can run the ball then that will help the passing game a lot. So here is what we know the Ravens are going to bring it with there D. They’ll try to put Big Ben on his back as much as possible. I think the secondary is good enough to support a lot of blitzing because they should be able to hold the Pittsburgh receivers in coverage. I think Pittsburgh’s O-line will bend and then break and if that happens Pittsburgh will not score more then 13 points. I think Baltimore will have a very hard time scoring on the Pittsburgh defense, but if they just run the ball and don’t turn it over then they should win a close low scoring game. So I’ll take the Ravens.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
NFL Playoffs: Round 2
Well 3 out of 4 aint bad. I’ll give the Chargers credit for playing a great game. It’s strange to think Indy played good enough defense to win, but the offense let them down. Well anyway that was then, now lets look at who the old gut thinks will win this weekend.
AFC
Titans vs Ravens — Well the Ravens really showed what they could do verses Miami, this team is a turnover machine. I don’t think the Titans played bad enough down the stretch to discount what they did all season along. Just look at Arizona, once they were in the playoffs they stopped showing up, but boy did they show up in a big why once it started counting again. I just can’t see the Titans not winning this first game. Remember it’s a lot harder to force turnovers when the team is running the ball 60% of the time and I think that’s what the Titans will do Saturday. So I’ll for sure take the Titans.
Steelers vs Chargers — After the way the Chargers played their first game you’d have to say they have a good chance of winning this game. The Steelers O line has been bad all year long and sort of thing really stands out come playoff time. I would have taken Pittsburgh if Indy would have won as I had predicted, but I just really like what I see from the Chargers defense. As good as both these QBs can be this game will be won on the defensive side of the ball. Take the Chargers in a big upset.
NFC
Panthers vs Cardinals — I still love the Panthers this year. Their first match with the Cardinals was a close come from behind win. I don’t think this one will be as close. Arizona did a good job with their running game last week, but this wont be the case this week. Can the Cardinals win with just the passing game? Can the Panthers stop Arizona’s passing game? Carolina should be about to run the Cardinals into the ground. Smart money is on Carolina.
Giants vs Eagles — The popular pick here will be the Eagles, the Giants have been playing just bad enough to lose this game. Although if you’ve seen the Eagles play this season it’s time for them to do something stupid. This is always a good game and should be a good game this weekend, but I really think that whatever the stupid thing that the Eagles do will cost them the game this weekend. So as much as I don’t believe in the Giants I have to pick them this week.
AFC
Titans vs Ravens — Well the Ravens really showed what they could do verses Miami, this team is a turnover machine. I don’t think the Titans played bad enough down the stretch to discount what they did all season along. Just look at Arizona, once they were in the playoffs they stopped showing up, but boy did they show up in a big why once it started counting again. I just can’t see the Titans not winning this first game. Remember it’s a lot harder to force turnovers when the team is running the ball 60% of the time and I think that’s what the Titans will do Saturday. So I’ll for sure take the Titans.
Steelers vs Chargers — After the way the Chargers played their first game you’d have to say they have a good chance of winning this game. The Steelers O line has been bad all year long and sort of thing really stands out come playoff time. I would have taken Pittsburgh if Indy would have won as I had predicted, but I just really like what I see from the Chargers defense. As good as both these QBs can be this game will be won on the defensive side of the ball. Take the Chargers in a big upset.
NFC
Panthers vs Cardinals — I still love the Panthers this year. Their first match with the Cardinals was a close come from behind win. I don’t think this one will be as close. Arizona did a good job with their running game last week, but this wont be the case this week. Can the Cardinals win with just the passing game? Can the Panthers stop Arizona’s passing game? Carolina should be about to run the Cardinals into the ground. Smart money is on Carolina.
Giants vs Eagles — The popular pick here will be the Eagles, the Giants have been playing just bad enough to lose this game. Although if you’ve seen the Eagles play this season it’s time for them to do something stupid. This is always a good game and should be a good game this weekend, but I really think that whatever the stupid thing that the Eagles do will cost them the game this weekend. So as much as I don’t believe in the Giants I have to pick them this week.
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