FIVE DAYS OF FOOTBALL-MY FORECAST & THE OFFICE POOL PICKS
We've got some great college matchups this week & as usual, I have a few opinions on them.
#17 Texas A&M at Texas
Thursday night 7PM ESPN
A&M trying to stay alive for the Big-12 Championship game while the Longhorns need a win to become bowl eligible. Plus this in-state rivalry is one of the longest running, most heated in college football. Texas didn't have a 100-yard rusher until last week, this is the biggest difference as I see it, Aggies can run & pass, Horns too one dimensional.
West Virginia at Pittsburgh
Friday 11AM ABC
The "Backyard Brawl" is normally a pivotal game for national rankings, the Big East crown & BCS bowl bids. This year neither are even ranked, the Big East is garbage, so the game has really lost it's luster.
#2 Auburn at #11 Alabama
Friday 1:30PM CBS
I think it ends right here for Auburn. As electric as Cam Newton & the Tiger offense has been, their defense just doesn't stack up here. The Tide has more offensive weapons to offset Newton & their defense is far superior. Nick Saban will put together a defensive gameplan to hold Auburn under 24-points. That will be an Iron Bowl winner for Bama.
Colorado at #15 Nebraska
Friday 2:30PM ABC
The Buffaloes go for their third straight win under interim coach Brian Cabral. Bo Pelini tries to stay out of the limelight & right his team after their loss at A&M. I'd love to see the Huskers go down in flames to a losing team, but it just won't happen. Nebraska will play for the Big-12 title on their way out the door.
#21 Arizona at #1 Oregon
Friday 6PM ESPN
This is a game being hyped but I don't see Zona having much of a chance. Way too erratic this season. The Ducks might struggle but they'll win regardless.
#4 Boise State at #19 Nevada
Friday 9:15PM ESPN
Huge game for both teams, the BCS standings & a possible berth in the BCS title game for the Broncos. Chris Ault's pistol offense has been a handful in every game this season. QB Colin Kaepernick is Cam Newton-like running & passing. Nevada can score on anyone, held under 35 only twice this season. Boise's passing game is better, but the Wolfpack has shown they can run the ball well, regardless of the opponent. The difference as I see it is Boise's defense. I think they can hold Nevada under 27-points while scoring 35+. The Broncos will already know the outcome of the Auburn-Alabama game before this one kicks off but I doubt it will make any difference, Boise by at least 13.
Kansas vs #14 Missouri @ Arrowhead
Saturday 11:30AM FOXSports
Unless Colorado rises up & beats Nebraska, even with the hated rivalry, this doesn't shape up as much of a game. Tigers by 4 scores.
#5 LSU at #12 Arkansas
Saturday 2:30PM CBS
Can the "Mad Hatter" Les Miles run his team's record to 11-1? Can Bobby Petrino lead the Razorbacks to their best record in years, winning #10? Terrific QB with a hot hand in Ryan Mallett against an LSU defense that is particularly stingy against the pass. Should be a very entertaining game.
Oregon State at #6 Stanford
Saturday 6:30PM Versus
I'm a big fan of Mike Riley, Jaquizz Rodgers & the Beavers but Jim Harbaugh has Stanford in line for an at large BCS bowl bid. Stanford QB Andrew Luck will be the 1st player selected in April's draft should he decide to make himself available.
#13 Oklahoma at #9 Oklahoma State
Saturday 7PM ABC
The total Vegas hung on this game, 66 1/2 points, will fall woefully short in my opinion. Both teams are loaded with NFL-quality offensive skill position players. OSU has a very porous pass defense but I'm picking the Cowboys. Mike Gundy doesn't have a great track record against Bob Stoops, but I think it's their year & OU has not played well on the road this season, losing at Mizzou, A&M & barely escaping Cincinnati with a 2-point win over a 4-6 Bearcat team.
When was the last time the Georgia Tech-Georgia game featured two unranked teams struggling to become bowl eligible? How about an unranked Florida Gator team vs. #22 Florida State in a meaningless game? Or Notre Dame at USC, both unranked, only the Irish being bowl eligible. Even the Michigan-Ohio State game carries little chance of being a competitive contest. Throw in 5-6 Texas in a must-win game Thanksgiving night so the Horns can go bowling & it's a Who's Who of college football all kicked to the side of the road at the same time.
Here's one that left me scratching head. ESPN's Bruce Feldman reported the #2 ranked high school offensive lineman, Cyrus Kouandijo of Hyattsville Maryland, has a strange "final 5" schools he's considering. Alabama, Iowa, Miami, USC(no surprises so far) & New Mexico. What? New Mexico? The 1-10 New Mexico Lobos that will get buried by TCU this Saturday by something approaching 50-points? Yeah, the New Mexico team. Kouandijo said "I like coach Locksley a lot, he is a real cool guy." The Mike Locksley who got suspended for sexual harassment? The coach who punched out one of his assistants at practice? The Mike Locksley who has a sparkling 2-21 record? That Mike Locksley? If this kid signs with New Mexico, the red flags will fly.
Joe Paterno said Tuesday he wants to return for the 2011 season. The 83-year old JoePa has 401 wins at Penn State, his teams have become irrelevant in both the BIG TEN & nationally, tho they complete winning seasons & go to bowl games.
Now for the pros.
New Orleans at Dallas
Thanksgiving Day 3:15PM FOX
Three weeks ago this looked to be a laugher, but after Wade Phillips was fired, interim coach Jason Garrett has the Cowboys on a modest 2-game winning streak. More importantly, Dallas is competitive again, players know they're competing for their future. Rookie Dez Bryant has become the Cowboys best playmaker the past month. The Super Bowl Champs won't go down without a fight, but I like the Cowboys here on Turkey Day.
Tampa Bay at Baltimore
Sunday Noon
I doubt Josh Freeman will be so kind to throw back-to-back picks as Brian St. Pierre did last week, both were returned for touchdowns & were a reason the game ended 37-13. This should be an excellent game, Raheem Morris has the Bucs playing hard every snap, every week, but winning in Baltimore will be a very tall order.
Philadelphia at Chicago
Sunday Noon
Here is Philly's trap game. Coming off two major wins against divisional opponents, the Eagles will face another excellent defense & I can see the bears squeaking out a win Sunday.
Green Bay at Atlanta
Sunday Noon
I picked the Packers for my NFC Super Bowl team & Atlanta as my NFC South champs. Aaron Rodgers has been superb just about every start & their defense lead by Charles Woodson & Clay Mathews has held up despite numerous injuries. Bottom line, the Falcons are a staggering 18-1 with Matt Ryan at QB in their dome. Nuff said, but a must-watch game.
San Diego at Indianapolis
Sunday 7:20 NBC
Chargers have won 4 of last 5 vs the Colts. But they continue to have injury woes in their receiving corps. Patrick Crayton suffered a dislocated wrist Monday night, Legedu Naanee & Randy McMichael have touchy hamstrings. All-pro TE Antonio Gates didn't play Monday night & his status for Sunday isn't known yet, he has a severe foot injury. Longtime holdout Vincent Jackson was activated Tuesday, which will help Phillip Rivers. But at the end of the day, when have the Colts lost 2-straight? Especially when that 2nd game is at the Lucas Oil Dome in Indy. RB Joseph Addai returns this week & that should give the running game a major boost.
San Francisco at Arizona
Monday 7:30 ESPN
This qualifies as the worst primetime game on the NFL's schedule this season. If you haven't put up your Christmas tree, this might be a good time.
Terrell Owens continues to show his stupidity via the social networks as well as on the TV show he & Chad #85 have on Versus. When discussing Richard Seymour's $25K fine for popping Ben Roethlisberger, Owens spouted this gem "I liked it, he'd probably do it again for another $25K, it just shows you how soft Ben really is." This from a guy who has displayed alligator arms several times this year, whiffs on tackles regularly & is a member of a 2-8 team that laid down Sunday while the Bills scored 35-unanswered points to win in Cincinnati. He also mentioned how the Jets' CB Darrelle Revis was "just an average cornerback in the league, nothing really special." The Bengals play New York Thanksgiving night on the NFL Network.
The Tennessee Titans signed a third quarterback Tuesday after putting Vince Young on injured reserve. Their QB depth chart now shows rookie Rusty Smith as the starter, newly signed Chris Simms as the backup & injured Kerry Collins as #3. I'm thinkin' it's just about all over but the cryin' in Tennessee.
The Office Pool Picks:
New England at Detroit(Thurs)
New Orleans at Dallas(Thurs)
Cincinnati at New York Jets(Thurs)
Tennessee at Houston
Tampa Bay at Baltimore
Jacksonville at New York Giants
Carolina at Cleveland
Pittsburgh at Buffalo
Philadelphia at Chicago
Minnesota at Washington
Green Bay at Atlanta
Kansas City at Seattle
Miami at Oakland
St. Louis at Denver
San Diego at Indianapolis
San Francisco at Arizona
MNF Total 38 points
#17 Texas A&M at Texas
Thursday night 7PM ESPN
A&M trying to stay alive for the Big-12 Championship game while the Longhorns need a win to become bowl eligible. Plus this in-state rivalry is one of the longest running, most heated in college football. Texas didn't have a 100-yard rusher until last week, this is the biggest difference as I see it, Aggies can run & pass, Horns too one dimensional.
West Virginia at Pittsburgh
Friday 11AM ABC
The "Backyard Brawl" is normally a pivotal game for national rankings, the Big East crown & BCS bowl bids. This year neither are even ranked, the Big East is garbage, so the game has really lost it's luster.
#2 Auburn at #11 Alabama
Friday 1:30PM CBS
I think it ends right here for Auburn. As electric as Cam Newton & the Tiger offense has been, their defense just doesn't stack up here. The Tide has more offensive weapons to offset Newton & their defense is far superior. Nick Saban will put together a defensive gameplan to hold Auburn under 24-points. That will be an Iron Bowl winner for Bama.
Colorado at #15 Nebraska
Friday 2:30PM ABC
The Buffaloes go for their third straight win under interim coach Brian Cabral. Bo Pelini tries to stay out of the limelight & right his team after their loss at A&M. I'd love to see the Huskers go down in flames to a losing team, but it just won't happen. Nebraska will play for the Big-12 title on their way out the door.
#21 Arizona at #1 Oregon
Friday 6PM ESPN
This is a game being hyped but I don't see Zona having much of a chance. Way too erratic this season. The Ducks might struggle but they'll win regardless.
#4 Boise State at #19 Nevada
Friday 9:15PM ESPN
Huge game for both teams, the BCS standings & a possible berth in the BCS title game for the Broncos. Chris Ault's pistol offense has been a handful in every game this season. QB Colin Kaepernick is Cam Newton-like running & passing. Nevada can score on anyone, held under 35 only twice this season. Boise's passing game is better, but the Wolfpack has shown they can run the ball well, regardless of the opponent. The difference as I see it is Boise's defense. I think they can hold Nevada under 27-points while scoring 35+. The Broncos will already know the outcome of the Auburn-Alabama game before this one kicks off but I doubt it will make any difference, Boise by at least 13.
Kansas vs #14 Missouri @ Arrowhead
Saturday 11:30AM FOXSports
Unless Colorado rises up & beats Nebraska, even with the hated rivalry, this doesn't shape up as much of a game. Tigers by 4 scores.
#5 LSU at #12 Arkansas
Saturday 2:30PM CBS
Can the "Mad Hatter" Les Miles run his team's record to 11-1? Can Bobby Petrino lead the Razorbacks to their best record in years, winning #10? Terrific QB with a hot hand in Ryan Mallett against an LSU defense that is particularly stingy against the pass. Should be a very entertaining game.
Oregon State at #6 Stanford
Saturday 6:30PM Versus
I'm a big fan of Mike Riley, Jaquizz Rodgers & the Beavers but Jim Harbaugh has Stanford in line for an at large BCS bowl bid. Stanford QB Andrew Luck will be the 1st player selected in April's draft should he decide to make himself available.
#13 Oklahoma at #9 Oklahoma State
Saturday 7PM ABC
The total Vegas hung on this game, 66 1/2 points, will fall woefully short in my opinion. Both teams are loaded with NFL-quality offensive skill position players. OSU has a very porous pass defense but I'm picking the Cowboys. Mike Gundy doesn't have a great track record against Bob Stoops, but I think it's their year & OU has not played well on the road this season, losing at Mizzou, A&M & barely escaping Cincinnati with a 2-point win over a 4-6 Bearcat team.
When was the last time the Georgia Tech-Georgia game featured two unranked teams struggling to become bowl eligible? How about an unranked Florida Gator team vs. #22 Florida State in a meaningless game? Or Notre Dame at USC, both unranked, only the Irish being bowl eligible. Even the Michigan-Ohio State game carries little chance of being a competitive contest. Throw in 5-6 Texas in a must-win game Thanksgiving night so the Horns can go bowling & it's a Who's Who of college football all kicked to the side of the road at the same time.
Here's one that left me scratching head. ESPN's Bruce Feldman reported the #2 ranked high school offensive lineman, Cyrus Kouandijo of Hyattsville Maryland, has a strange "final 5" schools he's considering. Alabama, Iowa, Miami, USC(no surprises so far) & New Mexico. What? New Mexico? The 1-10 New Mexico Lobos that will get buried by TCU this Saturday by something approaching 50-points? Yeah, the New Mexico team. Kouandijo said "I like coach Locksley a lot, he is a real cool guy." The Mike Locksley who got suspended for sexual harassment? The coach who punched out one of his assistants at practice? The Mike Locksley who has a sparkling 2-21 record? That Mike Locksley? If this kid signs with New Mexico, the red flags will fly.
Joe Paterno said Tuesday he wants to return for the 2011 season. The 83-year old JoePa has 401 wins at Penn State, his teams have become irrelevant in both the BIG TEN & nationally, tho they complete winning seasons & go to bowl games.
Now for the pros.
New Orleans at Dallas
Thanksgiving Day 3:15PM FOX
Three weeks ago this looked to be a laugher, but after Wade Phillips was fired, interim coach Jason Garrett has the Cowboys on a modest 2-game winning streak. More importantly, Dallas is competitive again, players know they're competing for their future. Rookie Dez Bryant has become the Cowboys best playmaker the past month. The Super Bowl Champs won't go down without a fight, but I like the Cowboys here on Turkey Day.
Tampa Bay at Baltimore
Sunday Noon
I doubt Josh Freeman will be so kind to throw back-to-back picks as Brian St. Pierre did last week, both were returned for touchdowns & were a reason the game ended 37-13. This should be an excellent game, Raheem Morris has the Bucs playing hard every snap, every week, but winning in Baltimore will be a very tall order.
Philadelphia at Chicago
Sunday Noon
Here is Philly's trap game. Coming off two major wins against divisional opponents, the Eagles will face another excellent defense & I can see the bears squeaking out a win Sunday.
Green Bay at Atlanta
Sunday Noon
I picked the Packers for my NFC Super Bowl team & Atlanta as my NFC South champs. Aaron Rodgers has been superb just about every start & their defense lead by Charles Woodson & Clay Mathews has held up despite numerous injuries. Bottom line, the Falcons are a staggering 18-1 with Matt Ryan at QB in their dome. Nuff said, but a must-watch game.
San Diego at Indianapolis
Sunday 7:20 NBC
Chargers have won 4 of last 5 vs the Colts. But they continue to have injury woes in their receiving corps. Patrick Crayton suffered a dislocated wrist Monday night, Legedu Naanee & Randy McMichael have touchy hamstrings. All-pro TE Antonio Gates didn't play Monday night & his status for Sunday isn't known yet, he has a severe foot injury. Longtime holdout Vincent Jackson was activated Tuesday, which will help Phillip Rivers. But at the end of the day, when have the Colts lost 2-straight? Especially when that 2nd game is at the Lucas Oil Dome in Indy. RB Joseph Addai returns this week & that should give the running game a major boost.
San Francisco at Arizona
Monday 7:30 ESPN
This qualifies as the worst primetime game on the NFL's schedule this season. If you haven't put up your Christmas tree, this might be a good time.
Terrell Owens continues to show his stupidity via the social networks as well as on the TV show he & Chad #85 have on Versus. When discussing Richard Seymour's $25K fine for popping Ben Roethlisberger, Owens spouted this gem "I liked it, he'd probably do it again for another $25K, it just shows you how soft Ben really is." This from a guy who has displayed alligator arms several times this year, whiffs on tackles regularly & is a member of a 2-8 team that laid down Sunday while the Bills scored 35-unanswered points to win in Cincinnati. He also mentioned how the Jets' CB Darrelle Revis was "just an average cornerback in the league, nothing really special." The Bengals play New York Thanksgiving night on the NFL Network.
The Tennessee Titans signed a third quarterback Tuesday after putting Vince Young on injured reserve. Their QB depth chart now shows rookie Rusty Smith as the starter, newly signed Chris Simms as the backup & injured Kerry Collins as #3. I'm thinkin' it's just about all over but the cryin' in Tennessee.
The Office Pool Picks:
New England at Detroit(Thurs)
New Orleans at Dallas(Thurs)
Cincinnati at New York Jets(Thurs)
Tennessee at Houston
Tampa Bay at Baltimore
Jacksonville at New York Giants
Carolina at Cleveland
Pittsburgh at Buffalo
Philadelphia at Chicago
Minnesota at Washington
Green Bay at Atlanta
Kansas City at Seattle
Miami at Oakland
St. Louis at Denver
San Diego at Indianapolis
San Francisco at Arizona
MNF Total 38 points
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