NFL Handicapper Week 7

Falcons at Lions (-3.5)

Lost in the skirmish that was the coaches’ postgame handshake after the Lions’ last game was the fact that they did not look that good at all.  And I know I was going against him last week in my family fantasy league, but how do you not throw to Calvin Johnson EVERY TIME down by the goal line? And this is coming from someone who’s single least favorite play in all of football is the goal line fade.

Pick: Falcons

Bears at Buccaneers (PK)

London does not want to see these two teams play, come on NFL.  You know what would be more entertaining? If the Bucs actually used that ship they have to fire cannonballs while Devin Hester tried to maneuver his way across the field like Pac-Man without getting hit.  Maybe make the cannonballs water balloons or something so he doesn’t actually get injured.

Pick: Bears

Seahawks at Browns (-3.5)

I believe Charlie Whitehurst is going to get the start for the Seahawks in place of injured Tavaris Jackson.  This is good to hear, because now not only do we have the second coming of Jesus in one game at quarterback, but also a man who looks like Jesus in another.

Pick: Seahawks (and to win)

Broncos at Dolphins (-2.5)

The Dolphins, who are winless, have lost 11 of their last 12 at home, and are starting a backup quarterback, are favored in this game.  Normally I would say that this would be perfectly acceptable against my team, however, with all the Tebow returning to Florida hoopla, and the honoring the 2008 Florida Gators team, is there really any doubt that Tebow is going to lead the Broncos to a victory here? I just can’t see us losing this game. Sorry. Most confident I’ve been in a long time about the Broncos.

Pick: Broncos (and to win)

                       

Chargers at Jets (+1.5)

I like Rex Ryan.  I think he is a fascinating figure, a great defensive mind, and a surprisingly successful head coach thus far.  But did anyone else realize how stupid his comment was on Norv Turner?  Take away the part about that it could be true and think about it for a second.  He said that he would have a couple rings if he was their coach because those (the Chargers teams of 2007, 08, and 09) were stacked.  Well, that team of 09, that was stacked, lost to your team in the playoffs…so not only is it a shot at Norv Turner, in a way it’s a shot at the players on the Jets team of 2009, because they apparently weren’t as good as the stacked team in San Diego.  And, as most of those players are still on your team, you have also obtained two of those key pieces from the stacked San Diego teams in LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Cromartie.  What, then, do you say to them? “Hey man if the three of us were in San Diego right now we probably could have won a Super Bowl.” Which, again, could be taken as a shot to his current players.  The whole thing just doesn’t make sense to me, as I’m sure this explanation did not make sense to you.

Pick: Jets (and to win)

Texans at Titans (-3.5)

Yo what is with these 1:00 games?  This is the fourth straight game that is harder to pick without the line than with it.  Also, even though I think Houston is eventually going to win this division, can anyone else believe that with a win, Tennessee will have a 2 game lead in the division and a route to a home playoff game? Strange times, indeed.

Pick: Texans

Redskins at Panthers (-2.5)

What the hell, man? Cam Newton’s not supposed to be favored.  I’m supposed to bet on Cam to come within the spread, not cover it.  I like new things in life, but when it comes to football picking I like trends.  This pick worries me.

Pick: Panthers

Steelers at Cardinals (+3.5)

Three and a half? Really? (looks left) (looks right) (looks left again) Ok. I’ll bite.

Pick: Steelers

Chiefs at Raiders (-3.5)

So apparently Carson Palmer is not starting, which means we get the Chiefs versus Kyle Boller pay-per-view matchup that we have always wanted.  Also, can we all just laugh at the Raiders again for making this trade? It’s been awhile, I want to make sure it isn’t in bad taste to do so yet.  Ok good.

Pick: Chiefs

Rams at Cowboys (-12.5)

I saw a stat somewhere that the last however many Cowboys games have been decided by one score or less.  I think the actual stat was more accurate with their exact numbers, but who really goes to this blog for numbers…let alone, at all?

Pick: Rams

Packers at Vikings (+8.5)

I was going to write an article about how I think that Green Bay has a legitimate shot to go 16-0 this season (although Adam Schefter pretty much beat me to the punch…so I decided to scrap it).  In said ghost article, I talked about if they avoid let downs in a couple of select games, they have a real shot to do it. Note: This is not one of those games. 

I really only saw 3 games where I think GB could struggle.  The first was the game at San Diego, but the good news for them about this game is that it comes right after their bye week, so they have extra time to prepare (although so far this season, the bye week has not been kind to teams, which I think the football media is blaming on the new rules).  The other big road game was the Giants game on December 4^th.  I obviously think the Packers are way better than the Giants, but it isn’t really the best matchup, plus the hype of that game is going to be ridiculous.  To me, the trap game on the Packers schedule is not the Turkey Bowl showdown that I was worried was going to be the best game of the season (which is routinely the game that goes on while my family is stuck in traffic trying to get to my aunt’s house, but usually doesn’t matter because either Brady or Manning is dropping 5 touchdowns on the Lions…this year it will be Rodgers… Hey everybody, let’s just put the best quarterback every year against the Lions at 12:30 and watch him carve up both the Lions’ D and Adam’s fantasy team like Uncle John is doing to the turkey, only except said QB is not hammered).  The trap game is the game before that; at home to the Tampa Bay Bucs.  Solid team, too young to realize that they shouldn’t have a chance, good at everything but not great at anything, enough of a pass rush to disrupt Rodgers, plus Green Bay may be thinking about Detroit 4 days later.  Just a thought.  

Anyway, I had a pretty solid article on it, but now it’s just stream of consciousness mumbo jumbo all over the place rambling.  You can thank Adam Schefter.

Pick: Packers

Colts at Saints (-13.5)

The Colts are on ANOTHER primetime game?  How long until flex scheduling?

Pick: Colts

Ravens at Jaguars (+7.5)

Ravens fans have to really like their chances this year.  Everyone in the AFC seems beatable, you may actually get that home playoff game this year (and maybe even a …bye week??) the defense is the best it has been in awhile, and Ray Rice is having his best season in the pros.  Plus, check out this for a schedule: at Jax, vs. Arizona, then the rematch at Pittsburgh,  plus four games against the Bengals and Browns, a Seattle game, the Colts most likely w/o Manning and only a matchup against brother Jim’s Niners and San Diego that could be potential losses.  Honest worst case scenario looks like 12-4, maybe 11-5. 

Pick: Ravens

Last week:

Spread: 8-5

Straight Up: 11-2

                                    

Overall:

Spread: 48-42

Straight Up: 62-28

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World Series Prediction

"Oh wow Romo! It really was Cardinals in 6 AND Rangers in 6 just like you said it would be! You really are a genius! Boy, someone in need of a sports writer/broadcaster/analyst/blogger/reporter/coffee bitch should hire you!" says the collective reader.

Last year, I wrote a combination post on the NBA preview and the World Series.  This year, I get to dedicate my entire post around this time to the latter, thanks to NBA disagreements.  

 

Just like last year, here it is, in pictures.

Game 1:

Game 2:

Game 3:

Game 4:

Game 5:
















Game 6:

Game 7:

Oh wow. Those were some..whew...those were some awesome pictures weren't they??
But seriously, when there's no football on, college or pro, or if there's no marquee hockey game, or if you're all caught up on Boardwalk Empire, The Walking Dead, and How To Make It In America... this should be a series worth watching.


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NFL Handicapper Week 5

Eagles at Bills (+2.5) 

I am all for the Bills being good this year.

Also, if you want to be crowned a world champion, the easiest way to do so is to beat a Philadelphia sports team in the playoffs.  Seriously.  This formula has worked for now the Yankees, SF Giants, Packers, Penguins, Blackhawks, and Bruins.  In the spirit of that, and the fact that the baseball playoffs are pretty wide open, and the fact that both the Brewers and Tigers have looked very beatable this postseason, I’m also going with Cardinals in 6, Rangers in 6, and then Cardinals in 7.

Pick: Bills (and to win)

Bengals at Jaguars (-2.5)

Andy Dalton versus Blaine Gabbert.  From those names two years ago I would have guessed that this would be a first round tennis match for the right to play Rafael Nadal. Actually, come to think of it, those are two great tennis names.  I’m not even sure why I’m sticking with this but it just sounds right to me.

Pick: Bengals (and to win)

Titans at Steelers (-7.5)

Chris Johnson has done almost nothing so far this year.  He does not figure to do much again this week against the Steelers defense.  Also, the Steelers offensive line problems are so bad that Ben Roethlisberger has more protection with coeds than he does in the pocket.  Yeah, take that, Ben.

Pick: Titans

Raiders at Texans (-6.5)

Al Davis passed away yesterday.  (moment of silence).  I guess that means Hue Jackson’s job is just a little bit safer than it was the day before.

Pick: Raiders

Cardinals at Vikings (-2.5)

I like the Vikings to finally win. 

Also, props to the Arizona Diamondbacks for having a great season, and showing some life in the series against the Brewers.  I miss when my baseball team had little pressure on them to win, and am secretly jealous that while our seasons ended up with the same result, their fans can feel good about it, while I am stuck thinking that I just saw the last hurrah of the Phillies’ playoff runs. 

Pick: Vikings

Saints at Panthers (+5.5)

I love picking the Panthers with points.  Cam Newton might not be winning many games, but he is winning games against the spread, and that’s really all that matters, right?

Pick: Panthers

Seahawks at Giants (-9.5)

The NFC East is quite weak this year.  The Giants have only really looked good in one game so far this year.  Of course, that’s one more than the Seahawks have looked good in, but still.

Pick: Giants

Bucs at 49ers (-1.5)

These two teams are both 3-1.  Are either of them for real? I actually think so, but the Niners have more of a chance to make the playoffs thanks to being in the NFC West.  Also, on Monday night the Rays and Bucs both played at home…I’m not sure how the fans there were able to choose which game to not go to.

Pick: Bucs (and to win)

Jets at Patriots (-9.5)

I’ll be honest, I didn’t watch most of the Jets/Ravens game last Sunday, but I did flip back during a commercial in the Phillies game.  In that short amount of time, I saw Flacco throw an interception, and then on the next play I saw Sanchez throw a pick-6.  So, yeah, I pretty much saw that game in a nutshell.

Pick: Jets

Chargers at Broncos (+4.5)

Sometimes being a sports fan is cruel.  Like, in the span of 7 days, my teams (Broncos and Phillies, for those of you who don’t know) went a combined 1-4 with the lone win coming on pinch-hit Ben Francisco home run.  But sometimes you just have to believe things will go your way even though you have no evidence for it whatsoever, thus the way I’m picking this game.

Pick: Broncos (and to win)

Packers at Falcons (+5.5)

The Falcons need this game, especially after what happened to them last year in the playoffs to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.  Also, a friend of mind posted a fine blog piece on Tom Brady versus Aaron Rodgers and their potential to break 50 passing touchdowns this year.  I thought it was good, but I would add that I think Drew Brees has a better shot than either of them because (a.) he doesn’t have to face the Jets twice a year, (b.) he is only 2 behind Rodgers and 3 behind Brady, (c.) he plays all his home games in a dome whereas Brady and Rodgers will have to play December home games in the cold, and (d.) nobody throws more often than the Saints…in fact their running game consists of Mark Ingram up the middle, and screen passes to Darren Sproles.

Pick: Falcons

Bears at Lions (-5.5)

Hello Mr. Cutler, meet Mr. Suh.

Pick: Lions

Last Week:

Spread: 6-10

Straight Up: 10-6

Overall:

Spread: 33-31

Straight Up: 42-24

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NFL Handicapper Week 4

Bills at Bengals (+3.5)

Last week the Bills won against the mighty Patriots whom they haven’t beaten since the Red Sox’s shortcomings weren’t hilarious.

Pick: Bills

Panthers at Bears (-6.5)

Cam Newton won his first NFL game last week, but surprisingly didn’t have one of his best statistical games.  Jay Cutler on the other hand knows all about winning despite poor stat lines.

Pick: Panthers (Bears win)

Titans at Browns (-1.5)

Holy crap, one of these teams is going to be 3-1?  It seemed like only weeks ago these teams were either losing to the Bengals at home or losing to the Luke McCown-led Jaguars…oh wait, that was just weeks ago.

Pick: Browns

Lions at Cowboys (-3.5)

The Cowboys botched more snaps last week than a person without thumbs.  That joke sounds offensive, but just imagine someone without thumbs trying to snap.  Comedic genius if you ask me.

Pick: Cowboys

Vikings at Chiefs (+1.5)

This is an early showdown of teams that should just tank for Andrew Luck.  So look for the Vikings to do the opposite of their last 3 games and fall behind early and then comeback to win.

Pick: Vikings

Redskins at Rams (PK)

To say the Rams haven’t looked quite as good as many have thought would be to say that some thought the Rams would look good this year.  But the good news is that if they win this game, they only need to win about 3 more to wrap up the NFC West.

Pick: Redskins

Saints at Jaguars (+7.5)

So Blaine Gabbert took a safety in his first NFL possession, and then had to deal with monsoon-like conditions the rest of the game.  So since a player’s first game in the NFL is what we should all expect from him going forward, expect a lot of safeties and bad weather.

Pick: Saints

49ers at Eagles (-6.5)

Oh dear, the dream team is 1-2.  And also, the team I predicted to finish 5-11 is 2-1.  Both of these teams better get it together.

Pick: Eagles

Steelers at Texans (-3.5)

These just don’t feel like the same Steelers that last year made it to the Super Bowl.  These also don’t seem like the same Texans that, well, never make the playoffs.

Pick: Steelers (Texans win)

Sun 4:05 PM

Falcons at Seahawks (+4.5)

One of my cool upsets that I picked correctly last week was the Seahawks to win over the Cardinals. This week, I like the Falcons to beat the Seahawks.  Come to me for all your bird-on-bird matchup questions.

Pick: Falcons

Giants at Cardinals (+1.5)

The Giants went into Philly and handled their business.  Now they head into Arizona to take on the former Philly QB.  And then later in the year they may or may not play the Vikings and beat up McNabb too for the trifecta.

Pick: Giants

Sun 4:15 PM

Broncos at Packers (-13.5)

Did you know that the Broncos have lost their two games by a total of 6 points? Did you know that that is really all I have to hang my hat on?

Pick: Broncos (Packers win)

Patriots at Raiders (+4.5)

Tom Brady threw as many interceptions in last week’s game as he did all last regular season.  Meanwhile, Hue Jackson looks like he might be a fully capable head coach, so don’t expect to see him come back next season.

Pick: Patriots

Dolphins at Chargers (-8.5)

I still have Tony Sparano in the “who will get fired first” poll… although Norv Turner is still coaching the Chargers, so I guess there is no such thing as guarantees.

Pick: Dolphins (Chargers win)

Sun 8:15 PM

Jets at Ravens (-3.5)

Rex Ryan returns to his former place of employment.  Derrick Mason returns to his former place of employment.  Bart Scott returns to his former place of employment. Jim Leonard returns to his … ah screw it, you get the picture.

Pick: Jets (and to win)

Mon 8:30 PM

Colts at Buccaneers (-9.5)

Remember that Monday night game a few years back where the Colts were down a bagillion points to the Bucs and came back in the fourth quarter and won it on a field goal that Mike Vanderjagt hit off of the post and in? Yeah, that won’t happen this time.

Pick: Bucs

Last week

Spread: 11-5

Straight Up: 14-2

Season

Spread: 26-22

Straight Up: 32-16

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Baseball Playoff Preview

September 28, 2011. The last day of the regular season in baseball.  The day that 30 teams play their 162 and final game of the season.  It usually does not mean much except for maybe one or two teams, sometimes none at all.  But this year, there was more.  This year, on that day, it was the craziest end of the regular season I can remember.

Simply put, days like this past Wednesday are why I watch sports.  Four games, where four teams needed the win to stay in the playoff hunt, force a tie-breaking game #163, or pack their bags and book tee times.  Two teams looking to put the exclamation point on an incredible last-month comeback, and two teams looking to hold off epic collapses.  

I don’t need to remind you what happened (especially to you, Boston and Atlanta fans).  And I couldn’t, really.  The outcomes speak for themselves.  No collection of words can fully capture the madness that was two extra-inning affairs, one bottom-of-the-ninth rally, and the millions of sports fans flipping back and forth between all three games (would have been four…thanks Cardinals for not getting the memo and just straight up dominating…in fairness though, you were playing the Astros) to see who was in, and whose season had just ended.

It was September Madness.  I can only hope that October will now be just as fun.

First round predictions:

RAYS vs RANGERS

I just can’t really see the Rays winning this series. Although I couldn’t see them getting in to the playoffs, so why not prove me wrong again?  I think it’s very evenly matched as the Rays hitting is underrated, but you can’t ignore Texas’ .900+ collective OPS in the month of September (that’s like having a 1-9 team of Albert Pujols, courtesy of Jayson Stark).  It could go 5, but what are the odds that the same series does that two years in a row…?

RANGERS in 4

TIGERS vs YANKEES

The Tigers have also been hot in September, particularly offensively.  But Verlander has been hot all season, and should be a shoe-in for the Cy Young.  The Yankees meanwhile clinched the hardest division in baseball and did so basically on the strength of their hitting.  If this were the Twins, I wouldn’t even bother thinking twice about it, but something about the Tigers is telling me that we may be in for an early Bronx exit.  Overall I still believe the Yankees lineup is still too good from top to bottom, and if they take game one against Verlander, I do not see a way the Tigers come back from that.

YANKEES in 5

                                                                                                                                                      

DIAMONDBACKS vs BREWERS

The Diamondbacks are a great story.  No one predicted them to win that division (not even me, despite them being my sleeper team).  Their come-from-behind game on Tuesday (the day before all the ridiculousness) was something that you had to see to believe.  But the Brewers, unlike most of the teams in the NL West, can hit.  Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun are both MVP candidates and always have come up with clutch hits when their team needs it most.  Throw in the fact that the cervaceros have three aces compared to the DBacks one, and you have a Cinderella that is about to see both hands on the 12.

BREWERS in 3

CARDINALS vs PHILLIES

The Cardinals remind me of the 2007 Rockies.  For Phillies fans, that is not good news.  The Cardinals are crazy hot right now, barely got in the playoffs, only have one good starter but for some reason, everyone has crazy numbers against Philadelphia.  This team would no doubt in my mind also sweep the 2007 Phillies.  But here’s the thing.  The 2011 Phillies are not the 2007 Phillies.  This year, if you didn’t know, the Phillies have not one ace, but four.  The series will be hard fought, and it definitely will not be easy, and I can already prepare for the offense to score 3 runs or fewer in every game… But I just can’t objectively think that other than the game where Carpenter is pitching, can you really give the edge in a single game to the Cardinals?  I don’t have too much confidence in this, but I’m going with:

PHILLIES in 5

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