NY Jets @ Cincinnati Bengals
Spread: Bengals, -2.5
o/u: 33.5
There is no possible way you should expect a repeat of last week's 37-0 Jets win. The Bengals will be playing the starters who rested because of injuries last week, and that alone changes the complection of this game. That being said, gametime conditions are expected to be very similar to last week. Expect a lot of running, with some passes thrown in, probably in the red zone. And the Jets are the better running team, and the better defensive team.
Pick: Jets 24 - Bengals 17
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
2010 BCS National Championship Preview
1 Alabama vs 2 Texas
Favorite: Alabama, -4
Finally, after waiting through a month of meaningless game, the BCS title game is here. On one side, we have Texas. Colt McCoy is the winningest QB in college football history. However, for all his wins, this is the first time he's led Texas to a Big XII championship. As usual, Texas had one of the best offenses in the nation this season, and they'll obviously try to open things up early. Alabama had one of the nation's top defenses, Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram on offense, and are coming off beating season-long favorite Florida. And in case you missed it, they held Florida's "high-powered" offense to just 13 points. In fact, Alabama has allowed 20 points just twice this season, to Kentucky and Auburn. Nebraska laid out a gameplan to keep the Texas offense out of the endzone when they allowed only 13 points in the Big XII title game. You can bet 'Bama has been studying and studying that game ever since.
Pick: Alabama 31 - Texas 17
Favorite: Alabama, -4
Finally, after waiting through a month of meaningless game, the BCS title game is here. On one side, we have Texas. Colt McCoy is the winningest QB in college football history. However, for all his wins, this is the first time he's led Texas to a Big XII championship. As usual, Texas had one of the best offenses in the nation this season, and they'll obviously try to open things up early. Alabama had one of the nation's top defenses, Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram on offense, and are coming off beating season-long favorite Florida. And in case you missed it, they held Florida's "high-powered" offense to just 13 points. In fact, Alabama has allowed 20 points just twice this season, to Kentucky and Auburn. Nebraska laid out a gameplan to keep the Texas offense out of the endzone when they allowed only 13 points in the Big XII title game. You can bet 'Bama has been studying and studying that game ever since.
Pick: Alabama 31 - Texas 17
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
2010 Orange Bowl Preview
9 Georgia Tech vs 10 Iowa
Favorite: Georgia Tech, -5
I don't like Georgia Tech. I think they've been overrated all season. They can run the ball well, and beyond that they aren't very good. Their defense gives up 24.8 points per game, a stat hidden by the fact that weak ACC defenses couldn't stop their running game. Iowa's Big Ten opponents weren't much better, but they did beat Penn State, and one of their two loses came against an Ohio State team that played very strong at the end of the season. Iowa also probably has a better defense than any team Tech has faced this season.
Pick: Iowa 27 - Georgia Tech 17
Favorite: Georgia Tech, -5
I don't like Georgia Tech. I think they've been overrated all season. They can run the ball well, and beyond that they aren't very good. Their defense gives up 24.8 points per game, a stat hidden by the fact that weak ACC defenses couldn't stop their running game. Iowa's Big Ten opponents weren't much better, but they did beat Penn State, and one of their two loses came against an Ohio State team that played very strong at the end of the season. Iowa also probably has a better defense than any team Tech has faced this season.
Pick: Iowa 27 - Georgia Tech 17
NFL 2009 Season Wrap-up
Boy, this was a crazy season, wasn't it?:
I Guess We Saw This Coming:
Indianapolis Colts
Did anyone really think things would be different this season? Sure, Jim Caldwell is in his first year as their head coach, but it isn't like they just grabbed some guy off the street. He spent the six previous seasons on the Colts coaching staff. Of course, there are those who say Peyton Manning is the real coach of the team. The may be true of how the offense plays on the field, since he makes so many adjustments and play changes at the line, but it's Caldwell and his staff that had to get this team prepared every week. He had a team that has been great every regular season, that hes been with for six seasons already, and that he simply had to prepare for every game. Going 14-0 may have been a surprise only in that they played so many close games. Really, the Colts have been the best team in their division for years, and the winningest team of the decade. As long as they keep things together, they should be expected to be the NFL's best team almost every year.
I Guess We Saw This Coming:
Indianapolis Colts
Did anyone really think things would be different this season? Sure, Jim Caldwell is in his first year as their head coach, but it isn't like they just grabbed some guy off the street. He spent the six previous seasons on the Colts coaching staff. Of course, there are those who say Peyton Manning is the real coach of the team. The may be true of how the offense plays on the field, since he makes so many adjustments and play changes at the line, but it's Caldwell and his staff that had to get this team prepared every week. He had a team that has been great every regular season, that hes been with for six seasons already, and that he simply had to prepare for every game. Going 14-0 may have been a surprise only in that they played so many close games. Really, the Colts have been the best team in their division for years, and the winningest team of the decade. As long as they keep things together, they should be expected to be the NFL's best team almost every year.
Monday, January 4, 2010
2010 Fiesta Bowl Preview
4 TCU vs 6 Boise State
Favorite: TCU, -7.5
So here we are, in the college football postseason, and instead of being in a playoff, the #1 scoring offense in the nation takes on the #1 defense in an essentially meaningless game. Lets behonest here, no one will confuse TCU with an offensive powerhouse, and they don't need to be one. Boise State scored the more points per game than anybody else, and TCU is right behind them. All the talk has been on their defense, but the Horned Frogs have put up 40.7 points per game, good for a third-place tie with Texas. Boise hasn't played a defense as tough as TCU's, and that will make the difference. Last year, when these teams met in the Poinsettia Bowl, TCU won, 17-16. This year, they have a better offense, and that should make for a higher score.
Pick: TCU 38 - Boise State 24
Favorite: TCU, -7.5
So here we are, in the college football postseason, and instead of being in a playoff, the #1 scoring offense in the nation takes on the #1 defense in an essentially meaningless game. Lets behonest here, no one will confuse TCU with an offensive powerhouse, and they don't need to be one. Boise State scored the more points per game than anybody else, and TCU is right behind them. All the talk has been on their defense, but the Horned Frogs have put up 40.7 points per game, good for a third-place tie with Texas. Boise hasn't played a defense as tough as TCU's, and that will make the difference. Last year, when these teams met in the Poinsettia Bowl, TCU won, 17-16. This year, they have a better offense, and that should make for a higher score.
Pick: TCU 38 - Boise State 24
NFL Sunday Recap - End of the Regular Season Edition!
Ok, so after taking a week off for the post-Christmas/New Year period, its time to look at some playoff teams:
NFC Top Seeds:
New Orleans Saints
The Saints looked great for 14 weeks, the terrible the last three. Of course, they weren't helped by sitting Drew Brees this week. They managed to finish in the top six of every major team offensive category, but 20th or worse in every defensive category. Their plan should have been to work on their mistakes in the final game of the season, then take the week off. Instead, the rested players and lost to the Carolina Panthers, 23-10. They have two weeks to fix things now, but that also means two weeks for rust to collect. The only good knews they have right now is that they can't play Dallas, the team that gave them their first loss, as their first opponent. That news actually isn't all that great when you consider that their potential opponents are Green Bay, Philly, and defending NFC Champ Arizona.
NFC Top Seeds:
New Orleans Saints
The Saints looked great for 14 weeks, the terrible the last three. Of course, they weren't helped by sitting Drew Brees this week. They managed to finish in the top six of every major team offensive category, but 20th or worse in every defensive category. Their plan should have been to work on their mistakes in the final game of the season, then take the week off. Instead, the rested players and lost to the Carolina Panthers, 23-10. They have two weeks to fix things now, but that also means two weeks for rust to collect. The only good knews they have right now is that they can't play Dallas, the team that gave them their first loss, as their first opponent. That news actually isn't all that great when you consider that their potential opponents are Green Bay, Philly, and defending NFC Champ Arizona.
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