As always, home team listed first, all times Eastern. No games of the week this weekend, but more leagues are coming back. There will be a full ranking coming on Monday!
English Premier League
Note: Five Premier League games have been called off so far due to terrible weather in England. The matches are: Hull City v Chelsea, Liverpool v Tottenham, Burnley v Stoke City, Sunderland v Bolton, and Fulham v Portsmouth. There may be more postponements before all is said and done. The weather is so bad that not one League Two or Conference match will be played.
10:00 ET Saturday
(T4) Arsenal v Everton
Wigan Athletic v (T12) Aston Villa
12:30 ET Saturday
Birmingham v (T4) Manchester United
8:30 ET Sunday
West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Scottish Cup (Round 4)
Hamilton Academical v Rangers
Spain’s La Liga
14:00 ET Saturday
(9) Sevilla FC v Racing Santander
11:00 ET Sunday
Deportivo La Coruna v Osasuna
Xerez v (16) Valencia
13:00 ET Sunday
(2) Real Madrid v Mallorca
15:00 ET Sunday
Tenerife v (1) Barcelona
Italy’s Serie A
12:00 ET Saturday
AS Roma v Chievo Verona
14:45 ET Saturday
(6) Inter Milan v Siena
9:00 ET Sunday
(22) Fiorentina v Bari
Genoa v Catania
Napoli v Sampdoria
14:45 ET Sunday
(T12) Juventus v (7) AC Milan
Coupe de France (9th Round)
13:00 Saturday
AS Monaco v Tours
14:45 ET Saturday
(8) Bordeaux v Rodez Aveyron
Strasbourg v Lyon
11:30 ET Sunday
Trelissac FC v Marseille
Greek Super League
9:45 ET Saturday
FC Xanthi v Panathinaikos
7:30 ET Sunday
Olympiakos v Larissa
Portuguese Liga
15:15 ET Friday
(T24) Braga v CD Nacional de Madeira
16:15 ET Saturday
Rio Ave v (23) Benfica
15:15 ET Sunday
FC Porto v Uniao de Leiria
Friday, January 8, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Andre Dawson is Voted into the Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame announcements were made today, and a big congratulations goes out to Andre Dawson!! Dawson was the sole player voted in, while Bert Blyleven and Roberto Alomar were just on the outside. Here is a run-down of Dawson and some of those who did not make it in.
Andre Dawson – 77.9% of the vote
This was Dawson’s 9th year on the ballot and he has been getting more and more support every year. Dawson was an 8 time all star and won the Rookie of the Year award in 1977 and the MVP on a last-place Cubs team in 1987. He was a fantastic fielder as well, winning 8 Gold Gloves from 1980-1988. Dawson is one of three players all-time with 400 HR and 300 SB, with only Willie Mays and Barry Bonds. In his career, Dawson had 438 HR, 2774 H, 1591 RBI, 314 SB, and he hit .279/.323/.482/.806. Statistics-minded baseball people (including myself) will cringe at the .323 OBP, but his rare combination of power and speed is certainly worthy of Hall of Fame induction.
Bert Blyleven – 74.2%, 5 votes short
Bert Blyleven has been on the ballot for an excruciatingly long 13 years. The last four years he has received 53.3, 47.7, 61.9, and 62.7% of the vote, and it appears he will be inducted next year as he was only 5 votes short this year. From 1960-2009, Blyleven had the 3rd most shutouts (7th most complete games), 5th most strikeouts, and 4th most 200+ IP seasons. The “Average Hall of Fame Pitcher” According to Baseball-Reference.com has a career 251-175 record with a 2.95 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. Blyleven had a 287-250 record with 3.31 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, which accounting for the eras pitchers pitched in, is not all that bad. Also according to Baseball-Reference.com, the ten most similar pitchers to Bert Blyleven are (in order) Don Sutton, Gaylord Perry, Fergie Jenkins, Tommy John, Robin Roberts, Tom Seaver, Jim Kaat, Early Wynn, Phil Niekro, and Steve Carlton. All of those except John and Kaat are Hall of Famers, which says that Blyleven is in the company of Hall of Famers based on his numbers. He has nothing to worry about, as it would take a miracle for him to not get inducted next season, and he will deserve his induction when it happens.
Roberto Alomar – 73.7%, 8 votes short
In his first year on the ballot, Roberto Alomar came agonizingly close to being elected into the Hall of Fame. Alomar was the consummate five-tool player, and in his career he amassed 2724 hits, 210 HR, 474 SB, 12 (consecutive) all-star appearances, 10 Gold Gloves (most ever for a 2B), and 4 Silver Sluggers while hitting .300/.371/.443. There aren’t necessarily any eye-catching numbers but he is in the top 15 all time in hits, HR, RBI, AVG, and SLG among second basemen. He was considered by some to be a sure-fire Hall of Famer and probably did not get elected this time around due to the somewhat foolish belief of players not deserving to be a “first-ballot Hall of Famer.” There was also the spitting incident, in which he spat in the face of umpire John Hirschbeck and then after the game said Hirschbeck was bitter because one of his sons had died of ALD and another was just diagnosed. Eventually Alomar apologized publicly and donated $50,000 to ALD research and all was well between the two. This incident may have led some voters to not vote for Alomar due to the “high integrity and character” criteria. Still, like Blyleven, Alomar will almost certainly be inducted into the Hall next year.
Jack Morris – 52.3%
Jack Morris was the MVP of the 1991 World Series, which his Twins won over the Braves in 7 games. Morris made three starts and went 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA, 23 IP, and a 1.17 WHIP. The most famous of those starts was game 7, where he threw 10 innings of shutout ball as the Twins won in the 10th on a Gene Larkin single. This is the moment that defines Morris’ good, but not great career. Morris was in the top 5 in the league in ERA only twice, and both times he was in 5th. Similarly, he was only in the top 5 in WHIP twice, once in 4th and once in 5th. He has career numbers of 254-186 with a 3.90 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, averaging 157 K, 88 BB, and 242 IP per season. This is Morris’ 11th year on the ballot and this is just his first time receiving above 50% of the vote. For Morris to get in he will have to get in with the weak classes of the next two years, as there are huge classes coming in 2013 and 2014.
Barry Larkin – 51.6%
Larkin had an injury-prone but accomplishment-filled career. For his career, he hit .295/.371/.444 with 198 HR, 379 SB, 2340 H, an MVP award in 1995, 12 all-star appearances, 9 Silver Sluggers (most ever for a SS), and 3 Gold Gloves. He may have won more Gold Gloves but the beginning of his career coincided with the end of Ozzie Smith’s, and Smith may have won some based on reputation more than merit late in his career. In 1996, Larkin joined the 30-30 club with 33 HR and 36 SB to go along with a .977 OPS, the only season in which he hit more than 20 HR. Larkin should make the Hall in short time.
Andre Dawson – 77.9% of the vote
This was Dawson’s 9th year on the ballot and he has been getting more and more support every year. Dawson was an 8 time all star and won the Rookie of the Year award in 1977 and the MVP on a last-place Cubs team in 1987. He was a fantastic fielder as well, winning 8 Gold Gloves from 1980-1988. Dawson is one of three players all-time with 400 HR and 300 SB, with only Willie Mays and Barry Bonds. In his career, Dawson had 438 HR, 2774 H, 1591 RBI, 314 SB, and he hit .279/.323/.482/.806. Statistics-minded baseball people (including myself) will cringe at the .323 OBP, but his rare combination of power and speed is certainly worthy of Hall of Fame induction.
Bert Blyleven – 74.2%, 5 votes short
Bert Blyleven has been on the ballot for an excruciatingly long 13 years. The last four years he has received 53.3, 47.7, 61.9, and 62.7% of the vote, and it appears he will be inducted next year as he was only 5 votes short this year. From 1960-2009, Blyleven had the 3rd most shutouts (7th most complete games), 5th most strikeouts, and 4th most 200+ IP seasons. The “Average Hall of Fame Pitcher” According to Baseball-Reference.com has a career 251-175 record with a 2.95 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. Blyleven had a 287-250 record with 3.31 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, which accounting for the eras pitchers pitched in, is not all that bad. Also according to Baseball-Reference.com, the ten most similar pitchers to Bert Blyleven are (in order) Don Sutton, Gaylord Perry, Fergie Jenkins, Tommy John, Robin Roberts, Tom Seaver, Jim Kaat, Early Wynn, Phil Niekro, and Steve Carlton. All of those except John and Kaat are Hall of Famers, which says that Blyleven is in the company of Hall of Famers based on his numbers. He has nothing to worry about, as it would take a miracle for him to not get inducted next season, and he will deserve his induction when it happens.
Roberto Alomar – 73.7%, 8 votes short
In his first year on the ballot, Roberto Alomar came agonizingly close to being elected into the Hall of Fame. Alomar was the consummate five-tool player, and in his career he amassed 2724 hits, 210 HR, 474 SB, 12 (consecutive) all-star appearances, 10 Gold Gloves (most ever for a 2B), and 4 Silver Sluggers while hitting .300/.371/.443. There aren’t necessarily any eye-catching numbers but he is in the top 15 all time in hits, HR, RBI, AVG, and SLG among second basemen. He was considered by some to be a sure-fire Hall of Famer and probably did not get elected this time around due to the somewhat foolish belief of players not deserving to be a “first-ballot Hall of Famer.” There was also the spitting incident, in which he spat in the face of umpire John Hirschbeck and then after the game said Hirschbeck was bitter because one of his sons had died of ALD and another was just diagnosed. Eventually Alomar apologized publicly and donated $50,000 to ALD research and all was well between the two. This incident may have led some voters to not vote for Alomar due to the “high integrity and character” criteria. Still, like Blyleven, Alomar will almost certainly be inducted into the Hall next year.
Jack Morris – 52.3%
Jack Morris was the MVP of the 1991 World Series, which his Twins won over the Braves in 7 games. Morris made three starts and went 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA, 23 IP, and a 1.17 WHIP. The most famous of those starts was game 7, where he threw 10 innings of shutout ball as the Twins won in the 10th on a Gene Larkin single. This is the moment that defines Morris’ good, but not great career. Morris was in the top 5 in the league in ERA only twice, and both times he was in 5th. Similarly, he was only in the top 5 in WHIP twice, once in 4th and once in 5th. He has career numbers of 254-186 with a 3.90 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, averaging 157 K, 88 BB, and 242 IP per season. This is Morris’ 11th year on the ballot and this is just his first time receiving above 50% of the vote. For Morris to get in he will have to get in with the weak classes of the next two years, as there are huge classes coming in 2013 and 2014.
Barry Larkin – 51.6%
Larkin had an injury-prone but accomplishment-filled career. For his career, he hit .295/.371/.444 with 198 HR, 379 SB, 2340 H, an MVP award in 1995, 12 all-star appearances, 9 Silver Sluggers (most ever for a SS), and 3 Gold Gloves. He may have won more Gold Gloves but the beginning of his career coincided with the end of Ozzie Smith’s, and Smith may have won some based on reputation more than merit late in his career. In 1996, Larkin joined the 30-30 club with 33 HR and 36 SB to go along with a .977 OPS, the only season in which he hit more than 20 HR. Larkin should make the Hall in short time.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Sitting Starters Should Cost $$$
The past two weeks we've heard a lot about whether or not NFL teams should sit their starters when they have clinched everything there is to be clinched. Now we're seeing the NFL's Competition Committee meet to discuss the issue and come up with possible incentive to playing your starters all season. Quite frankly that's garbage, no one should have to be persuaded to play their best players to win a game, they are paid a ton of money for that purpose alone. Reports are out there that some possible ideas to get teams to play all their starters are giving them a compensation draft pick at the end of the first round or if you play all your starters throughout the season, the league will reward you with a better playoff seeding.
While both of those would provide great incentive to play all your starters, you know what will really keep the stars of the NFL on the field? Money. No, not giving teams money for playing their starters, but taking money from teams who bench their starters. Sports today operate as a business and in business the thing that speaks the loudest is money. By withholding revenue from teams or flat out fining teams, the NFL sends the message to teams that the product they have is expensive entertainment and they want to give the fans the experience equal to the cost.
While both of those would provide great incentive to play all your starters, you know what will really keep the stars of the NFL on the field? Money. No, not giving teams money for playing their starters, but taking money from teams who bench their starters. Sports today operate as a business and in business the thing that speaks the loudest is money. By withholding revenue from teams or flat out fining teams, the NFL sends the message to teams that the product they have is expensive entertainment and they want to give the fans the experience equal to the cost.
Now clearly there would be exceptions to this because if a player is hurt or banged up then he has every right to sit out and get healthy to help his team win a championship. But if a player is a regular starter and healthy then he needs to be out there. And if teams lie about who is and isn't hurt and it's later found out that they did lie then the fine would have to be more severe.
Draft picks and playoff seedings might seem like a good idea to some people, but in all reality it makes a mockery out of the NFL. A team shouldn't get anything extra for playing its best players for an entire season. Front office personnel and head coaches are paid to bring in the best talent, coach the best talent, and win football games and when they make moves where the best talent isn't playing they need to be fined for it.
Weekend Soccer Roundup
There were not enough games in big leagues again this weekend for another edition of rankings, so they will make their much anticipated comeback next weekend! Also, Blaine happens to be in Japan at the moment (follow his blog here) where apparently the internet is not as reliable and/or available so that makes him sending rankings and keeping up with the football world more difficult. In any case it was still a fun weekend in soccer with FA Cup 3rd round matches and a round of La Liga in Spain.
-Leeds United stunned Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford in FA Cup action. As described last Thursday, this is a huge historical rivalry and Leeds United is not your average League One team. Jermaine Beckford scored a neat 19th minute goal and Leeds were able to hold off some late attacks from Manchester United for the great win. Leeds simply out-played a high quality Manchester United squad that included Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov and quality youngsters Danny Welbeck and Gabriel Obertan on the wings. Welbeck and Obertan were removed for Antonio Valencia and Ryan Giggs in the 57th minute, but it was not enough for Manchester United.
-Chelsea defeated Watford 5-0 at home and Arsenal enjoyed a good 2-1 win at West Ham. Liverpool was held to a 1-1 draw at Reading, leading to a money-making replay at Anfield that cash-strapped management will not be upset about.
-Preston North End dismantled Colchester United 7-0 at home with 5 second half goals including a second half hat trick for Jon Parkin. Preston North End is currently without a manager after the sacking of Alan Irvine on December 29th.
-Aston Villa defeated Blackburn Rovers 3-1 at home and Wigan Athletic won 4-1 at home against Hull City in matches of Premier League sides.
-Remaining Premier League team results (home team listed first): Bolton Wanderers 4-0 Lincoln City, Fulham 1-0 Swindon Town, Middlesbrough 0-1 Manchester City, Milton Keynes Dons 1-2 Burnley, Nottingham Forest 0-0 Birmingham, Portsmouth 1-1 Coventry City, Stoke City 3-1 York City, Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Peterborough United, Tranmere Rovers 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers.
-The only Premier League team to bow out to a non-Premier League team was Manchester United, while Liverpool still needs to hold of Reading in a replay.
- The lowest team left on the Football League ladder is League Two Accrington Stanley, who has yet to play their 3rd round tie against League One bottom-dwellers Gillingham. The lowest team that has already advanced to the 4th round is Brighton, who is in 20th in League One. Brighton won 1-0 at League Two Torquay United.
-Barcelona and Real Madrid were both held to draws in La Liga, 1-1 home to Villarreal and 0-0 at Osasuna, respectively, so Barcelona is still on top of La Liga by two points over Madrid.
-Celtic and Rangers played to a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park, so Rangers still lead the Scottish Premier League by 7 points over Celtic, with one more game played.
FA Cup Draw
Draw for the 4th round, home team listed first. Matches to be played the weekend of January 23rd. Replays of 3rd round matches will be played January 12th and 13th.
Accrington Stanley/Gillingham v Fulham
Aston Villa v Brighton
Bolton Wanderers v Sheffield United/Queens Park Rangers
Bristol City/Cardiff City v Leicester City
Everton v Nottingham Forest/Birmingham City
Millwall/Derby County v Brentford/Doncaster
Notts County/Forest Green Rovers v Wigan
Portsmouth/Coventry City v Sunderland
Preston North End v Chelsea
Reading/Liverpool v Burnley
Scunthorpe United v Manchester City
Southampton v Ipswich Town
Stoke City v Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United
West Bromwich Albion v Plymouth/Newcastle
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crystal Palace
-Leeds United stunned Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford in FA Cup action. As described last Thursday, this is a huge historical rivalry and Leeds United is not your average League One team. Jermaine Beckford scored a neat 19th minute goal and Leeds were able to hold off some late attacks from Manchester United for the great win. Leeds simply out-played a high quality Manchester United squad that included Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov and quality youngsters Danny Welbeck and Gabriel Obertan on the wings. Welbeck and Obertan were removed for Antonio Valencia and Ryan Giggs in the 57th minute, but it was not enough for Manchester United.
-Chelsea defeated Watford 5-0 at home and Arsenal enjoyed a good 2-1 win at West Ham. Liverpool was held to a 1-1 draw at Reading, leading to a money-making replay at Anfield that cash-strapped management will not be upset about.
-Preston North End dismantled Colchester United 7-0 at home with 5 second half goals including a second half hat trick for Jon Parkin. Preston North End is currently without a manager after the sacking of Alan Irvine on December 29th.
-Aston Villa defeated Blackburn Rovers 3-1 at home and Wigan Athletic won 4-1 at home against Hull City in matches of Premier League sides.
-Remaining Premier League team results (home team listed first): Bolton Wanderers 4-0 Lincoln City, Fulham 1-0 Swindon Town, Middlesbrough 0-1 Manchester City, Milton Keynes Dons 1-2 Burnley, Nottingham Forest 0-0 Birmingham, Portsmouth 1-1 Coventry City, Stoke City 3-1 York City, Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Peterborough United, Tranmere Rovers 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers.
-The only Premier League team to bow out to a non-Premier League team was Manchester United, while Liverpool still needs to hold of Reading in a replay.
- The lowest team left on the Football League ladder is League Two Accrington Stanley, who has yet to play their 3rd round tie against League One bottom-dwellers Gillingham. The lowest team that has already advanced to the 4th round is Brighton, who is in 20th in League One. Brighton won 1-0 at League Two Torquay United.
-Barcelona and Real Madrid were both held to draws in La Liga, 1-1 home to Villarreal and 0-0 at Osasuna, respectively, so Barcelona is still on top of La Liga by two points over Madrid.
-Celtic and Rangers played to a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park, so Rangers still lead the Scottish Premier League by 7 points over Celtic, with one more game played.
FA Cup Draw
Draw for the 4th round, home team listed first. Matches to be played the weekend of January 23rd. Replays of 3rd round matches will be played January 12th and 13th.
Accrington Stanley/Gillingham v Fulham
Aston Villa v Brighton
Bolton Wanderers v Sheffield United/Queens Park Rangers
Bristol City/Cardiff City v Leicester City
Everton v Nottingham Forest/Birmingham City
Millwall/Derby County v Brentford/Doncaster
Notts County/Forest Green Rovers v Wigan
Portsmouth/Coventry City v Sunderland
Preston North End v Chelsea
Reading/Liverpool v Burnley
Scunthorpe United v Manchester City
Southampton v Ipswich Town
Stoke City v Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United
West Bromwich Albion v Plymouth/Newcastle
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crystal Palace
The Road to Miami: Who Will Play in the Super Bowl?
Saturday is the start of the NFL Playoffs and we have 3 of the 4 games this weekend as rematches from last weekend. Here's how I see the playoffs shaking out:
Wild Card Weekend
Cincinnati Bengals over New York Jets: I know the Jets took it to the Bengals last night, but I think Cincinnati was looking to rest more starters than to win. I know Chad Ochocinco was held in check by Darrelle Revis, but I think Ochocinco breaks out of Revis Island this Saturday and the Bengals defense loads the box to force Mark Sanchez to throw the ball for the Jets to win.
Dallas Cowboys over Philadelphia Eagles: This is an interesting game to pick, I'll say it right now that I just flat out don't like the Cowboys but they have been playing well as of late and I think they'll find a way to win a playoff game.
Baltimore Ravens over New England Patriots: The loss of Wes Welker is huge for the Patriots and I think it will make this game even easier for the Ravens to win. Expect the Ravens to pound the ball with Willis McGahee and Ray Rice.
Green Bay Packers over Arizona Cardinals: We've seen lately that when teams get hot they are very dangerous in the playoffs. It's hard to argue that the Packers aren't the hottest team in NFC or NFL for that matter. A top 5 defense coupled with the weapons on offense make the Packers an extremely dangerous team.
Divisional Round
Baltimore Ravens over Indianapolis Colts: I don't think the Colts are going to be sharp after basically giving their starters 3 weeks off. That paired with the Ravens' defense and running game, I like Baltimore to advance to the AFC Championshp Game.
San Diego Chargers over Cincinnati Bengals: If the Packers aren't the hottest team going into the playoffs then it has to be the Chargers. Phillip Rivers has played extremely well and will make it hard for anyone to go into San Diego and win.
Minnesota Vikings over Dallas Cowboys: The Vikings look to have figured out what was bothering everyone, or at least realized to cover it up for the playoffs and come together. Playing at home will help immensely, and the Vikings should win.
Green Bay Packers over New Orleans Saints: As a Bears fan it pains me to pick the Packers over the Saints, but again, they're clicking on offense and defense and the Saints are struggling.
Championship Weekend
San Diego Chargers over Baltimore Ravens: Ron Rivera has improved the Chargers defense and when you get to the playoffs a running game and a defense is what is needed to win and the Chargers and Ravens both have that by the boatloads. I think playing at home will benefit the Chargers and I think Phillip Rivers will make a few more plays than Joe Flacco and that will be the difference.
Green Bay Packers over Minnesota Vikings: I'm not even factoring in how difficult it is to beat the same team three times because I don't think these are the same Green Bay Packers as when the Vikings played them. The offensive line has played a lot better for the Packers and I think the aggressiveness of Favre and the fumleitis that Adrian Peterson is prone to will hurt the Vikings at some point.
Super Bowl Sunday
San Diego Chargers over Green Bay Packers: Did you really think I'd pick the Packers to win it all? Child Please! While I don't like Phillip Rivers, I think he's a good quarterback and will cement himself in people's minds that he is a very very good quarterback and he belongs in the conversation with Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers, and Jay Cutler as the next tier of great quarterbacks behind Brady and Manning as the game's elite.
Wild Card Weekend
Cincinnati Bengals over New York Jets: I know the Jets took it to the Bengals last night, but I think Cincinnati was looking to rest more starters than to win. I know Chad Ochocinco was held in check by Darrelle Revis, but I think Ochocinco breaks out of Revis Island this Saturday and the Bengals defense loads the box to force Mark Sanchez to throw the ball for the Jets to win.
Dallas Cowboys over Philadelphia Eagles: This is an interesting game to pick, I'll say it right now that I just flat out don't like the Cowboys but they have been playing well as of late and I think they'll find a way to win a playoff game.
Baltimore Ravens over New England Patriots: The loss of Wes Welker is huge for the Patriots and I think it will make this game even easier for the Ravens to win. Expect the Ravens to pound the ball with Willis McGahee and Ray Rice.
Green Bay Packers over Arizona Cardinals: We've seen lately that when teams get hot they are very dangerous in the playoffs. It's hard to argue that the Packers aren't the hottest team in NFC or NFL for that matter. A top 5 defense coupled with the weapons on offense make the Packers an extremely dangerous team.
Divisional Round
Baltimore Ravens over Indianapolis Colts: I don't think the Colts are going to be sharp after basically giving their starters 3 weeks off. That paired with the Ravens' defense and running game, I like Baltimore to advance to the AFC Championshp Game.
San Diego Chargers over Cincinnati Bengals: If the Packers aren't the hottest team going into the playoffs then it has to be the Chargers. Phillip Rivers has played extremely well and will make it hard for anyone to go into San Diego and win.
Minnesota Vikings over Dallas Cowboys: The Vikings look to have figured out what was bothering everyone, or at least realized to cover it up for the playoffs and come together. Playing at home will help immensely, and the Vikings should win.
Green Bay Packers over New Orleans Saints: As a Bears fan it pains me to pick the Packers over the Saints, but again, they're clicking on offense and defense and the Saints are struggling.
Championship Weekend
San Diego Chargers over Baltimore Ravens: Ron Rivera has improved the Chargers defense and when you get to the playoffs a running game and a defense is what is needed to win and the Chargers and Ravens both have that by the boatloads. I think playing at home will benefit the Chargers and I think Phillip Rivers will make a few more plays than Joe Flacco and that will be the difference.
Green Bay Packers over Minnesota Vikings: I'm not even factoring in how difficult it is to beat the same team three times because I don't think these are the same Green Bay Packers as when the Vikings played them. The offensive line has played a lot better for the Packers and I think the aggressiveness of Favre and the fumleitis that Adrian Peterson is prone to will hurt the Vikings at some point.
Super Bowl Sunday
San Diego Chargers over Green Bay Packers: Did you really think I'd pick the Packers to win it all? Child Please! While I don't like Phillip Rivers, I think he's a good quarterback and will cement himself in people's minds that he is a very very good quarterback and he belongs in the conversation with Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers, and Jay Cutler as the next tier of great quarterbacks behind Brady and Manning as the game's elite.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Last Bowl Picks of the Year
This miserable experience is nearly over, we have 4 games left starting tomorrow night and heading to Thursday night.
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: TCU (-7) over Boise State: In the game that should have never been scheduled I like TCU to win and to win fairly easily. I really think the Horned Frogs would play either Alabama or Texas extremely tough and even possibly win. Defense wins championships and in this case defense will win the Fiesta Bowl.
FedEx Orange Bowl: Iowa (+5) over Georgia Tech: I'm still not entirely sure how Georgia Tech is favored in this game, but they are and I think it's a mistake. Iowa's defense led by Pat Angerer and Adrian Clayborn will be able to contain the vaunted triple option of the Ramblin' Wreck. The Hawkeyes are fully healthy on offense and expect the offense to click against a subpar Yellow Jackets defense.
GMAC Bowl: Central Michigan (-3) over Troy: I'm not analyzing this game because this game should not be played in between BCS games.
CITI BCS National Championship Game: Texas (+4) over Alabama: I still have no idea who is going to win this game but I think the 4 points is too high and I see this game definitely coming down to a field goal. I think this game will rival the excitement that the Texas-USC 2006 Rose Bowl had.
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: TCU (-7) over Boise State: In the game that should have never been scheduled I like TCU to win and to win fairly easily. I really think the Horned Frogs would play either Alabama or Texas extremely tough and even possibly win. Defense wins championships and in this case defense will win the Fiesta Bowl.
FedEx Orange Bowl: Iowa (+5) over Georgia Tech: I'm still not entirely sure how Georgia Tech is favored in this game, but they are and I think it's a mistake. Iowa's defense led by Pat Angerer and Adrian Clayborn will be able to contain the vaunted triple option of the Ramblin' Wreck. The Hawkeyes are fully healthy on offense and expect the offense to click against a subpar Yellow Jackets defense.
GMAC Bowl: Central Michigan (-3) over Troy: I'm not analyzing this game because this game should not be played in between BCS games.
CITI BCS National Championship Game: Texas (+4) over Alabama: I still have no idea who is going to win this game but I think the 4 points is too high and I see this game definitely coming down to a field goal. I think this game will rival the excitement that the Texas-USC 2006 Rose Bowl had.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Why New Year's is the Best Single Day for Sports
A lot of people argue that April and October are the best months for sports because in April you have the conclusion of March Madness, Opening Day in baseball, NFL Draft, NBA, and now the NHL all in action. October has playoff baseball, and there is college football and NFL action starting up. While both of those months are great in the world of sports, sitting here on my couch on New Years Day got me thinking that today could be the greatest day of the sports year. Here are the reasons:
New Year's Day Bowl Games: Before the college football that we know today where if you go .500 you will be playing in a bowl game, there were only a handful of teams playing in the postseason in college and most of the premier games were played on New Year's Day. Even though there are way too many bowl games now, the majority of the best ones are still played on January 1. If we have to sit through these bowl games in the future, I want to see all the BCS games moved to January 1, it would make this great day even better.
Winter Classic: This is the one thing that the NHL has gotten 100% right, moving one game outdoors a year is a great way to honor the way so many players started their hockey careers. There has been talk about adding a second Winter Classic game and I'd be all for it as long as it was also on New Year's Day and one of the games was always played somewhere in Canada.
College Basketball: This may just be an anomaly, but West Virginia and Purdue are set to play today in a battle of top ten teams. Having a marquee college basketball game on the first day of the year is awesome, there is something special about college sports and having both college football and basketball on TV is a great way to relax after a long night the night before. Watching college athletes compete in sports they love is truly enjoyable to watch because they are playing for the love of the game, not because they are being paid millions and millions of dollars.
Having a day full of sports is great, having the first day of a new year full of sports is just a spectacular way to start a new year that will be full of great sports moments. Happy New Year to everyone!
New Year's Day Bowl Games: Before the college football that we know today where if you go .500 you will be playing in a bowl game, there were only a handful of teams playing in the postseason in college and most of the premier games were played on New Year's Day. Even though there are way too many bowl games now, the majority of the best ones are still played on January 1. If we have to sit through these bowl games in the future, I want to see all the BCS games moved to January 1, it would make this great day even better.
Winter Classic: This is the one thing that the NHL has gotten 100% right, moving one game outdoors a year is a great way to honor the way so many players started their hockey careers. There has been talk about adding a second Winter Classic game and I'd be all for it as long as it was also on New Year's Day and one of the games was always played somewhere in Canada.
College Basketball: This may just be an anomaly, but West Virginia and Purdue are set to play today in a battle of top ten teams. Having a marquee college basketball game on the first day of the year is awesome, there is something special about college sports and having both college football and basketball on TV is a great way to relax after a long night the night before. Watching college athletes compete in sports they love is truly enjoyable to watch because they are playing for the love of the game, not because they are being paid millions and millions of dollars.
Having a day full of sports is great, having the first day of a new year full of sports is just a spectacular way to start a new year that will be full of great sports moments. Happy New Year to everyone!
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