FINALLY, I'M BACK ON WITH NEWS ON JOEPA, JIM TRESSELL, BRIAN SCHOTTENHEIMER & MY CHAMPIONSHIP PICKS
After waiting nearly 9-hours for my host, GoDaddy.com, to get their server issues worked out, I'm back online. First time in three years they've gone down for more than 2-hours worth of maintenance. Usually it's my cable provider who leaves me high & dry. Anyway, let's get on with some very sad breaking news.
Joe Paterno is gravely ill according to a number of sources. Family members & close friends were summoned to the hospital to say their goodbye's. The 85-year old Paterno has complications from lung cancer & his chemo treatments. Sadly, a number of reputable news organizations, led by CBS Sports, reported his death earlier this evening based on a blog that reports everything Penn State. The editor of that blog, onwardstate.com, has already resigned & retractions & apologies have been issued all over the place. The Paterno family was said to be very upset with the reports by CBS Sports that Paterno had died. I certainly understand their anger.
When Ohio State canned Jim Tressel, or he resigned, depending on who you believe, did you have any idea he'd end up as an NFL coach less than a year later? The disgraced former coach is the only person to receive a second interview with the Indianapolis Colts for their now vacant job. Considering Jim Caldwell was just fired last Wednesday, it seems likely Tressel was interviewed about the job before Caldwell was even canned. Because everyone in the NFL will be arriving in Indianapolis in the next 5-7 days for Super Bowl 46(not big on Roman numerals, but for you purists, XLVI), you can expect the Colts to have a coach in place by week's end. It's considered bad form to interrupt Super Bowl week with anything other than Super Bowl stuff.
Former Jets' offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was hired by the St. Louis Rams to fill the same position on Jeff Fisher's new coaching staff.
So who's going to win tomorrow? Here's my take on both games....can you say rematch?
Baltimore at New England 2PM CST CBS
Las Vegas line - Patriots -7 1/2 total of 49 1/2
Look for heavy doses of Ray Rice, when the Ravens ran the ball 25 or more time this season, they were 12-0. When they ran it less than 20-times, they lost all four games. Rice is the key tomorrow, not Joe Flacco. If Baltimore can run the ball effectively, it will take a load off the quarterback's shoulders & he could be very successful. The second question deals with pressuring Tom Brady, as in can the Ravens force him to throw before he wants to? Considering they never touched Houston's T.J. Yates last week, I question their ability to get to Brady. It's going to fall on Terrell Suggs & Haloti Ngata to get in Brady's face. As much as I like John Harbaugh, I respect Bill Belichick even more as a game plan strategist & in-game tactician. Plus the Pats have a huge advantage at QB & at all the receiver positions. The Ravens surprised them at Foxboro in 2009, I don't think it will happen again tomorrow. New England 27 Baltimore 17
New York Giants at San Francisco 5:30PM CST FOX
Las Vegas Line - Forty-Niners -2 1/2 total of 43 1/2
I got on the Giants a few weeks ago & then chickened out in Green Bay. Frisco shocked the world with the double-4th quarter comeback against the Saints last Saturday. There are some similarities in the two matchups. Like the Saints, the Giants have a quarterback with a hot hand & a bevy of dangerous receivers & like the Saints, the Giants don't scare San Francisco when they run the ball. The big difference in this game from last week will be the Giants' defense, which unlike the Saints, is playing lights-out football right now. This is the best they've played all season & also the most healthy they've been. Unlike the Niners, the Giants have a 7-man rotation on their defensive line & all 7 plus OLB Mathias Kiwanuka can get after the QB. Jim Harbaugh has to be sweating the matchup between his right tackle Anthony Davis & NY DE Justin Tuck. If he isn't up to the task, the Niners will have to keep someone in the backfield to help out or to chip Tuck on their way out of the backfield. These two met in week 10 when two Eli Manning interceptions turned the game & Frisco won 27-20. The Giants were really banged up on defense at that time, things have since changed. It should be noted the Niners were held to just 77-yards rushing in that game. Just like Green Bay last year, the Giants got red-hot at the right time. New York 24 San Francisco 23
Don't forget the big radio broadcast of "Rich's Football Report" Monday evening at 6:08 CST on KRMS radio 1150AM or by live internet stream on the station's website at krmsradio.com. We'll have two different Super Bowl contests, a totally new contest Monday night followed by our traditional "Predict the Score" contest a week from Monday. Two chances to win some great prizes, Hope you'll be listening & give us a call locally at 302-7000 or toll free at 877-330-1150 to participate in the discussion & the great contests. Enjoy the games!
Joe Paterno is gravely ill according to a number of sources. Family members & close friends were summoned to the hospital to say their goodbye's. The 85-year old Paterno has complications from lung cancer & his chemo treatments. Sadly, a number of reputable news organizations, led by CBS Sports, reported his death earlier this evening based on a blog that reports everything Penn State. The editor of that blog, onwardstate.com, has already resigned & retractions & apologies have been issued all over the place. The Paterno family was said to be very upset with the reports by CBS Sports that Paterno had died. I certainly understand their anger.
When Ohio State canned Jim Tressel, or he resigned, depending on who you believe, did you have any idea he'd end up as an NFL coach less than a year later? The disgraced former coach is the only person to receive a second interview with the Indianapolis Colts for their now vacant job. Considering Jim Caldwell was just fired last Wednesday, it seems likely Tressel was interviewed about the job before Caldwell was even canned. Because everyone in the NFL will be arriving in Indianapolis in the next 5-7 days for Super Bowl 46(not big on Roman numerals, but for you purists, XLVI), you can expect the Colts to have a coach in place by week's end. It's considered bad form to interrupt Super Bowl week with anything other than Super Bowl stuff.
Former Jets' offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was hired by the St. Louis Rams to fill the same position on Jeff Fisher's new coaching staff.
So who's going to win tomorrow? Here's my take on both games....can you say rematch?
Baltimore at New England 2PM CST CBS
Las Vegas line - Patriots -7 1/2 total of 49 1/2
Look for heavy doses of Ray Rice, when the Ravens ran the ball 25 or more time this season, they were 12-0. When they ran it less than 20-times, they lost all four games. Rice is the key tomorrow, not Joe Flacco. If Baltimore can run the ball effectively, it will take a load off the quarterback's shoulders & he could be very successful. The second question deals with pressuring Tom Brady, as in can the Ravens force him to throw before he wants to? Considering they never touched Houston's T.J. Yates last week, I question their ability to get to Brady. It's going to fall on Terrell Suggs & Haloti Ngata to get in Brady's face. As much as I like John Harbaugh, I respect Bill Belichick even more as a game plan strategist & in-game tactician. Plus the Pats have a huge advantage at QB & at all the receiver positions. The Ravens surprised them at Foxboro in 2009, I don't think it will happen again tomorrow. New England 27 Baltimore 17
New York Giants at San Francisco 5:30PM CST FOX
Las Vegas Line - Forty-Niners -2 1/2 total of 43 1/2
I got on the Giants a few weeks ago & then chickened out in Green Bay. Frisco shocked the world with the double-4th quarter comeback against the Saints last Saturday. There are some similarities in the two matchups. Like the Saints, the Giants have a quarterback with a hot hand & a bevy of dangerous receivers & like the Saints, the Giants don't scare San Francisco when they run the ball. The big difference in this game from last week will be the Giants' defense, which unlike the Saints, is playing lights-out football right now. This is the best they've played all season & also the most healthy they've been. Unlike the Niners, the Giants have a 7-man rotation on their defensive line & all 7 plus OLB Mathias Kiwanuka can get after the QB. Jim Harbaugh has to be sweating the matchup between his right tackle Anthony Davis & NY DE Justin Tuck. If he isn't up to the task, the Niners will have to keep someone in the backfield to help out or to chip Tuck on their way out of the backfield. These two met in week 10 when two Eli Manning interceptions turned the game & Frisco won 27-20. The Giants were really banged up on defense at that time, things have since changed. It should be noted the Niners were held to just 77-yards rushing in that game. Just like Green Bay last year, the Giants got red-hot at the right time. New York 24 San Francisco 23
Don't forget the big radio broadcast of "Rich's Football Report" Monday evening at 6:08 CST on KRMS radio 1150AM or by live internet stream on the station's website at krmsradio.com. We'll have two different Super Bowl contests, a totally new contest Monday night followed by our traditional "Predict the Score" contest a week from Monday. Two chances to win some great prizes, Hope you'll be listening & give us a call locally at 302-7000 or toll free at 877-330-1150 to participate in the discussion & the great contests. Enjoy the games!
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