Thoughts on NFL, BCS and more

Playoffs!!! Don't talk about Playoffs!!
See, I bet you were assuming I'd open by talking about the NFL or as like to call it, the only game of football that matters but instead I'll open with my thoughts on the BCS and College Football in general. So Auburn is the apparent "National Champion" for this season in college football. Great!! I'm sure it was a real struggle through that grueling tournam.........Oh but it was apparent they were the best when they beat TCu...... Yeah.....seems none of that happened. Yeah, unfortunately the two teams were picked by a group of computers almost 40 days in advance of the game while the hype machine at ESPN exploited their images for millions of dollars.

It doesn't make sense, How can you be considered legitimate when you have 130 some odd teams in Division 1 college football when only the big major conferences are up for consideration for the title. TCU and Boise St. could have played 100 games and won them all by 50 and never would have been given a chance to play for the title.The Fact is unless you come from the money conferences like the SEC and Big 10 or thr Pac-10 you have no shot to play for the title. Instead. we have some lovely parting gifts for you backstage furnished by Rice-a-Roni and Cuisinart. Also, you can get an all expenses paid trip to Mobile,Alabama for the "Beef O'Brady's Bowl" The NCAA claims they have the students best interest in mind. Ok. If that's the case, How much of the 10's of millions of dollars in revenue generated in these games goes towards the athletes and school facilities. How come these bowl games have CEO's with six figure salaries?Bottom line, I'm bored with it, I didn't watch one second of this game and I'm glad, glad you hear. Get a playoff and then get back to me.

Playoffs!!! for real this time.
Ok time to talk real football. Here is the breakdown
Seattle at Chicago (-10)
If someone said to me at the beginning of the season that the Bears were going to host a playoff game and be giving 10 points to their opponent, I would have laughed that person out of the building with my patented BAHAHAHAHA.I was wrong. The Bears were tough this season and took care of this division in surprisingly easy fashion. There is a concern because Seattle already went on the road and beat Chicago once this season. It stands to reason they can do it again. For that I say they cover the 10 points but will lose the game in a tight one 24-21. Bears win.

Green Bay at Atlanta (-2.5)
Practically a pick 'em with a slight edge to the Falcons according to Vegas. It has been trendy to take Green Bay in this game and I too on my friends blog thought Green Bay but I am going to amend my initial gut pick and take Atlanta to win this game. Two reason why, one, Matt Ryan has only lost twice at the Georgia dome including quality wins this season over Green Bay and Baltimore. Ryan is a cool customer and taking nothing away from Aaron Rodgers, Atlanta is just better. Two. Mark Schlereth took Green Bay on ESPN, I think that guy is an idiot and refuse to agree with him on anything. If he told me the sun set in the west, I would believe it sets in the east. 31-24 Falcons

New York at New England (-9)
Back in February this year I took the jets as the team to come out of the AFC for this season. I said because I wasn't sure what New England had in the tank. I was wrong on new England. The jettison of Randy Moss and emergence of Danny Woodhead and a couple of rookie tight ends and the return of Belichick "the mad genius". Rex Ryan has been talking a good game and the rest of the Jets have been brash and loud. Sounds great but the loudest guy in the room is often the most worried guy in the room. Give me new England to cover the 9 points in what might be the most lopsided game of the round. 35-14 Pats.

Baltimore at Pittsburgh (-3)
What a slobberknocker this is going to be. A defensive struggle between two teams that truly don't like each other. I look at history here. The Ravens and Steelers always play close, always play in a low scoring game and if it's the playoffs the Steelers always win. Give me Big Ben and Mike Tomlin and the points . 17-10 Pitt.

Enjoy the games. The long blog is coming soon. Enjoy today

It Could be Worse......Right?

I heard it all this week from jubilation about the Vikings chances for the Super Bowl to the feeling of inevitability that we were somehow destined to lose. The same talk was coming from New Orleans, Was it their time or were they destined to be the "Aints" for life. It was the proverbial irresistible force meeting the immovable object and something had to give. Unfortunately for Vikings fans, we gave yet again.

Every loss takes on a life of their own. I think of '98 when Dennis Green opted to take a knee before halftime and left time and time-outs and most likely points on the table. Gary Anderson misses the big kick and we lose. I always treated 2000 like you treat the rebound girlfriend in high school. It was ok but you know it wasn't going to end well and your head was still in a haze from the last girl. This was different. It wasn't that hot girl you had in '98 but she had personality and experience and showed you things you hadn't seen before and for a little while you thought this could be the one. Ah but alas for Vikings fans this relationship ended a lot like the others leaving you a little older, a little more jaded and unsure if you will ever find the right one.

However to Vikings fans, let me be clear. This was on the players. Not the coaches or the officials or the crowd noise or the late hits or the booth reviews or the overtime rules or anything. It was on the players who played. The biggest stat in football is turnovers. The Vikings turned it over 5 times. They fumbled 6 times. They had 12 men in the huddle late in the game with a 45 yard field goal all but in the bag. Bottom line, we had 60 minutes to win this game and we didn't and when you don't get it done in regulation you leave it all up to chance. A coin toss and even then only about 60 % of the teams who win the toss actually win the game. Its not the officials, I felt they called about as fair a game as they could. Meacham caught the ball in my opinion and the two ball spots were too close to overturn. The coaches called a good gameplan, the guys just didn't execute. It was Peterson and Favre and the O-line and the D-line who put little to no pressure on Drew Brees all game. Instead of getting mad at the wrong people, you should shake it off and tip your hat to Sean Payton and The Saints for doing what some people thought would never happen.

It could be worse Vikings fans. We could be Pittsburgh Pirates fans, we could have no football team at all........oh wait. I probably shouldn't say that either.