LCB NFL Picks: Divisional Round

Saturday Games
Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints @ 4:30 on FOX:
Let me pose a hypothetical situation for you:
The year is 1996 and you're at a ski lodge with family enjoying the three day weekend. You are a big football fan and pretty pissed you have to spend time with your family instead of watching football. But since you have to go, you decide that you will make the most of it, while also deciding to move from the bunny slopes to the blue square runs. For most of the day you are doing pretty well, that is, until your big brother/sister decides to ruin your day by cutting you off. You manage to change direction in time to avoid a collision with your sibling. But what you don't realize, is that there is now a tree right in front of you and you hit it head on. Your immediately knocked out and somehow you have slipped into a coma. The Doctors and your parents can't come to a conclusion on what to do, so your left on life support for years and years. All of a sudden you wake up, and it's 2010 and the first thing you see is this game on one of the hospital televisions. What aspect of this situation is harder for you to grasp? That you have been in a coma for 14 years or that these two teams are this close to the Super Bowl? Saints 35, Cardinals 28.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Indianapolis Colts @ 8:15 on CBS:
I was watching Cold Pizza yesterday (I know, I don't know why I do it to myself either.) when they posed one of the dumbest questions I have ever heard on ESPN. And for a company that employs both Colin Cowherd and Skip Bayless, that's saying a lot.

The question: "Is Peyton Manning cursed in the playoffs?" In all honesty, that was the question. They later expanded on it, showing the Colts failures when receiving home-field advantage (0-3). But what they are overlooking is he and the Colts won a (pardonnez-mois s'il vous plait) fucking Super Bowl. And no matter how many scenarios a team has failed in, if they have won a championship, they are not cursed. If they lose this game, it won't be because they are cursed. It will be because they weren't the best team on the field. Baltimore 18, Indianapolis 28.

Sunday Games
Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings @ 1:00 on FOX:
The Vikings were dominant for the better part of the season, but struggled for much of the last four games. The Cowboys have been rolling and looked unstoppable last weekend. The blowout over the Giants obviously pumped up the Vikings and it'd be hard for the Cowboys not to be excited over their play. But should they be? The only game the Vikings looked good late in the season was against the Giants, and by week eleven they had already given up on their season. In the last five games the Cowboys are 4-1, having lost to the Chargers and beaten the Saints, Redskins, and the Eagles twice. But in all of their wins, how many of those teams were playing at the top of their game? The Saints packed it in the minute they clinched home-field advantage. The Redskins couldn't manage to play hard for an entire game all season long. And the Eagles offense left sometime around week twelve. So which team with false bravado wins? I'll take the team with Purple Jesus. Minnesota 35, Dallas 28.

New York Jets vs. San Diego Chargers @ 4:40 on CBS:
I really have no feelings on this game either way. So here's that LT "Electric Glide" video everyone has been talking about:

Since this is the best thing involving either team, I'll take the Chargers beating the Jets 21-14.

LCB NFL Picks: Week Sixteen

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots @ 1:00 on CBS:
This game has playoff implications for both teams, which would appear to make it an important game. If the Jaguars win, they keep their glim hopes alive. If the Patriots win, they clinch their division.  But if, somehow, both teams manage to make it in to the playoffs, should we care? The Patriots will most likely host the wild-card round, but if they win they would be forced to go on the road where they are 2-5 on the year. Making their chances at actually making a difference in the playoffs lower than they have been in over a decade. The Jaguars have been inconsistent all year, and like the Patriots they stink on the road (2-4). If they managed to sneak into the playoffs, they would be on the road in the wild-card round in what would almost certainly be a loss. So should we care about this game based on playoff implications between two teams who will eventually lose anyways?  I say nay. But since I have to make a pick, I like the Patriots to end the Jaguars chances this weekend with a 35 to 21 victory.

Denver Broncos vs. Philadelphia Eagles @ 4:15 on CBS:
The Bronco's were, at one point, 5-1. They are now 8-6. I've said this a million times and I'll say it again; watching the Broncos go from contenders to failures is one of the most enjoyable things in sports. It's akin to Christmas morning, but every Sunday. Eagles 42- Broncos 28.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins @ 8:20 on NBC SNF:
For Redskins fans, this dismal season from their favorite team has given them almost nothing to look forward to (apart from the weekly song from Chris Paul and the offseason) and that is something I can identify with as a follower of the Raiders. No matter how many idiotic signings these two owners make, we come back for more punishment, fully knowing they may never learn from their past mistakes. So why do we do it? Why do we emotionally invest in teams with owners that lack the foresight to realize their many failures are theirs and theirs alone? I don't know. But I do know, even after another long mistake filled season, we will all be back next season asking for more. Dallas 35- Washington 14.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears @ 8:30 on ESPN MNF:
Last week, the QB that is constantly celebrated for being "just like a kid out there" proved that kids can sometime act like brats. Defying his coaches pleas like a 10 year-old refusing to eat his spinach. He then shared his defiance with the media, taking away the focus of a miserable loss and placing it on this rift between QB and coach. The melodrama in Minnesota is said to be over, but that shouldn't be the focus in the first place. The question should be "Why was he trying to bench him in a 7-6 game?" The Vikings haven't clinched a first round bye yet. Making many wonder, why a quarter of rest would be more important than getting an entire week off? I don't know what Brad Chilldress was thinking when trying to pull Favre, but I know it was a terrible idea. I also don't know why Favre felt compelled to share this argument with the media. Was he trying to save face from his face plant on national TV? I don't know, I just can't wait for this rift to become a full-on hate fest. Minny 28, Chi-town 24.

LCB NFL Picks: Week Fifteen

Miami Dolphins vs. Tennessee Titans @ 1:00 on CBS:
Chris Johnson's amazing season at a glimpse:

• NFL's leading rusher with 1,626 yards; 2nd is Steven Jackson with 1,271
• Averages 6 yards per carry and 125.1 per game
  
• Carried the ball 272 times, 1 fumble
• 11 rushing touchdowns
• Twenty times he has ran for over 20 yards, leading the league. Purple Jesus is 2nd with eleven 20+ yard runs. He leads the league with seven 40+ yard runs, 2nd is Frank Gore with four.
  
• He has broken the 100 yard mark in 9 games, with his best being against Jacksonville where he ran for 228 yards. In the four games he didn't reach 100 yards, Kerry Collins was starting.
• 42 receptions for 391 yards and 2 touchdowns. 

Yeah, I'll go with the team that has him on their roster. TEN 42, MIA 31.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. San Diego Chargers @ 4:05 on CBS:
I read on Deadspin earlier this week that Carson Palmer has been handing the ball off (irregardless of what side the running back goes-weak or strong) with his right hand. He has no choice in the matter since he injured his left earlier this season. During the two month period he has fumbled the ball a mere 4 times, and I'm not positive how many of those are due to sacks or hand-offs. Either way it is a pretty remarkable feat and I can't imagine too many other QBs with the skills to pull this off successfully with any consistency. For this and this alone, I'll be going with the Bengals in this game. CIN 18, SD 14.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Carolina Panthers @ 8:20 on NBC SNF:
Am I the only one waiting for Favre to return to his form of late 2007 and late 2008 by throwing interception after interception all the while reminding us why retirment seemed like such a good idea the first two times around? If it's going to happen, this would normally be the game. I say would, because this is the time of year where his age starts to show a little more. It's a long season, he has taken some hits, still hasn't missed a game, etc, etc. But the Panthers aren't very good and I am confident that they will be decimated by Purple Jesus and the Vikings. Oh well, here is to another week of waiting. MIN 28, CAR 10.

New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins @ 8:30 on ESPN MNF:
Earlier this week Vinnie Cerrato stepped down from his position as the executive vice-president of football operations for the Redskins. In what seemed like minutes after his press conference the Redskins had his successor, former Tampa Bay GM Bruce Allen (son of former Skins head coach George Allen). Obviously with the quick turnaround between the two men we can safely assume there wasn't a lot of time for other interviewees, which would presumably place them in non-compliance with the Rooney Rule. The NFL and the Redskins have stated that they were in compliance, but I find it hard to believe they ever took the other candidates seriosuly.

Since the NFL says they were in compliance, I don't have a problem with what the Redskins did but I do with how this rule is executed. The Redskins got the man they wanted and they did what the NFL asked of them, so there should be no beef with how they went about getting Allen. But the lack of a forced extended time period between the fired and hired is terrible, and it allows front offices across the league to do the interviews just for show. To put it simply, they are just going through the motions.

I think we can all agree that this is rule has great merit, despite the terrible execution. I think we can also agree that the league would be better suited improving the rule. In my opinion, if the NFL wants this to be a successful they should enact a two to three week gap between personnel changes. This forced downtime would essentially make them follow both the letter and intent of the policy, instead of just the former. If it doesn't change, the impact of the Rooney Rule will be hardly noticeable and we will be asking ourselves why this rule is in place at all. Anyways, I'll take the Redskins to win. Lately they are playing inspired football and if not for a terrible kicker, they would be on a 3 or 4 game winning streak. WAS 21, NY 17.

LCB NFL Picks: Week Fourteen

Denver Broncos vs. Indianapolis Colts @ 1:00 on CBS:
Langston: If the Colts win on Sunday, they will set a record by winning 22 consecutive regular-season games, and they will clinch the AFC's top seed. If the Broncos win, oh, who cares? This game is all about the Colts continuing on their path to perfection. If they lose, it will be considered an upset. If they win, it will be expected. I'll go with the expected because one team has Peyton while the other has Neckbeard. Colts 35, Broncos 27.


San Diego Chargers vs. Dallas Cowboys @ 4:15 on CBS:
Langston: Last week, I made reference to the Cowboys falling into a football abyss, since the calender says December. I was joking, I really didn't expect it to happen for the third or fourth or whatever year in a row. But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy it. In a league with so much parity, it's actually one of the things I've grown accustomed to, and it's quite comforting to know that the Cowboys will choke away their division lead by turning into a bad college team once Novembers over. So, for that, I thank you Tony Romo. Chargers 28, Cowboys 21.


Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants @ 8:20 on NBC SNF:
Langston: The Eagles have won three straight in this rivalry match-up. If they can win a fourth, the Giants will most likely be watching the playoffs from the comfort of their living rooms. Philadelphia would be two games up on New York with three games left and own the tiebreaker over the Giants for any playoff spot. DeSean Jackson is back from his concussion, but won't be joined by Brian Westbrook. Leonard Weaver will probably get a majority of the carries with McCoy getting a fair share of his own. Which is why I'm taking the Giants. They finally got Brandon Jacobs going and they pummeled the Cowboys. I see the Jacobs train rolling along en route to a victory. Giants 21, Eagles 17.


Arizona Cardinals vs. San Fransisco 49ers @ 8:30 on ESPN MNF:
Langston: During the Heisman Trophy presentation, ESPN managed to interrupt the ceremony to tell you about this game. I'm not saying they aired commercials during the 1-hour program-- they did-- but I'm telling you they had Chris Fowler actually plug the game from the stage. I don't know if I am the only the one, but I can't imagine a more inappropriate time for them to advertise a game. This will be remembered as the greatest night of Mark Ingram's life, and in the middle of those wonderful memories he will remember that this game was somehow part of his glorious night. Shameful. Anyways, I'll take the Niners winning 24-17.

LCB NFL Picks: Week Twelve

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans @ 1:00 on CBS:
Langston: Over the past couple seasons, the teams that have given the Colts the most problems have been their divisional foes. They have issues with the Jaguars and Titans because they have one of the worst run defenses in the league, all thanks to their faith that Bob Sanders will actually be healthy. The issues with the Texans stem from an inability to stop Andre Johnson from reaching the endzone. However most of the games with the team from Houston end up coming down to a field goal. With how last week ended on Monday night, I can't imagine Gary Kubiak is too excited with that possibility. Indy 35, Houston 32.
 
Drody: I expect the Colts will keep rolling in this game. I don't see anything stopping them except themselves. In this game, I expect a high scoring affair. The question now is how far the Colts really go in their undefeated season. I think they make it through the reagular season. Colts win this one 42, Texans 24

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. San Fransisco 49ers @ 4:05 on CBS:
Langston: Everything about this game would make it seem like a good game; Both teams are still in the playoff hunt, Patrick Willis and MJD are (as always) playing like men possessed, and there is always the outside chance that Mike Singletary gets so mad steam shoots out of his ears. But this game will probably turn out to be one of two things; a blowout or an offensive struggle. Neither are too inviting, and that's exactly why I will be taking a nap during the 4 o'clock games this week. SF 21, JAX 17.

Drody: When did the Jaguars get good this year? I just remember them looking horrible at the beginning of the season, but now they are in the playoffs? I mean they have the 6 seed as of today? Really when did that happen. I do know the 49ers are bad, so I'm taking the Jaguars to win this one on the road. Jags 24, 49ers 10

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens @ 8:20 on NBC SNF:
Langston: From reading stories about the Ravens, you would think Joe Flacco was going through a sophomore slump and the losses should be blamed on his play. But from taking a cursory glance at his receiving options, it's amazing he has done this well. Apart from Mason, this a pretty sorry lot. (To be fair, Ray Rice has turned into a great receiving threat and Todd Heap is his typical consistent self. Yes, that consistency includes being hurt.) I can't imagine too many other QBs playing to a 89.1 rating with this core, and it's exactly why the journo's covering the Ravens should cut Bert a little slack. If they want a direction in which to point their finger, they should aim for Cam Cameron. BAL 17, PIT 10.
 
Drody: So no Big Ben in this one, at least that's what I'm reading, so that drastically changes this one. I bet the Ravens pull this one out at home, winning with the defense. Expect a low scoring affair in Baltimore with the Ravens winning a close game and keeping their playoff hopes alive for a little bit longer. Ravens 10, Steelers 7

New England Patriots vs. New Orleans Saints @ 8:30 on ESPN MNF:
Langston: For the past two weeks, all the analysts have talked about was the fourth down "gamble" by Bill Belichick. I used the quotations because I think he did the right thing. The Colts were playing so well in the second half, I think they would have scored from any spot on the field. Anyways, thank goodness this game is here to move the talking heads away from the failings of the Patriots in that game. Don't get me wrong, I love it when the Patriots and their hooded leader are questioned. But this story was dead the Tuesday after and they beat it so far into the ground I'm sure your annoyed I even brought it up. Either way, with this game on the slate, we will get a short break from the nonstop discussions of their blunder. And for that, we should all be very thankful. Patriots 35, Saints 28.

Drody: Finally, a Monday night game in which it actually seems like a game of the week, one I might actually watch with no rooting interest. I think the Pats will end the Saints winning streak this week. I feel like Belichek has something up his sleeve for this game, in which he will stop the potent Saints offense. Pats 24, Saints 17

LCB NFL Picks: Week Nine

Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts @ 1:00 on CBS:
Langston: The Texans have turned into one of the best offenses in football in the past couple of weeks. But with Owen Daniels hitting the IR and Steve Slaton having his problems holding onto the ball, the offense won't be as explosive. But I don't see the decline happening this week. Afterall Indy's defense is pretty terrible and surprise, Bob Sanders is hurt again. Though the Colts have found a great third option in rookie WR Austin Collie, allowing them to continue their offensive exploits of the past decade with ease. One that has allowed "Everyone's MVP" Peyton Manning to throw for 300 ypg week-after-week. So this will be another shoot-out with the last team scoring taking the win, and that team will be the unbeaten Colts. Indy 42, Houston 38.

Drody: Big divisional match up with the Texans going to Indy to try and make up some ground against the leader Colts. I know I've said this multiple times this year about multiple teams, but the Colts just seem to have "it" this year. What that means in the long run, I'm not sure, but I do think the Colts will win this one pretty easily. Colts 27, Texans 12

San Diego Chargers vs. New York Giants @ 4:15 on CBS:
Langston: San Diego is coming off a bye week and should be well rested as they try to stay in the AFC West race with the Broncos. The Giants have finally shown that they aren't really good, losing three straight and looking downright pathetic in last weeks blowout loss against the Eagles. Essentially both teams need this win to save their shot at the playoffs. But thanks to the long trip out east for the Chargers, I like the Giants to bounce back with Brandon Jacobs finally eclipsing the 100 yard mark. New York 35, San Diego 21.

Drody: With 3 losses in a row, I feel that the Giants are slowly losing their footing in a tight NFC race. Not just the division, mind you, but for the playoffs in general. They need to win this one. The Chargers also are fighting for relevancy in their league. I think the Giants pick this one up in a close one. Being at home is the main advantage to me, and I see Eli having a big game. Giants 34, Chargers 30

Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles @ 8:20 on NBC:
Langston: I have no real grasp on the quality of either team in this game. The Cowboys have played great in recent weeks, but I haven't got to see them play. The Eagles have had two huge wins in a row, and their offense has proven they can score at any moment from any spot on the field. However I saw them lose to Oakland, which has clouded my judgment whenever I see them on the field. I'll take the Eagles, because they have DeSean Jackson. Philly 28, Dallas 27.

Drody: Langston said he takes the Eagles because they have DeSean Jackson, and I agree with that statement. When I got offered Maurice Jones-Drew and DeSean Jackson in a fantasy trade for Randy Moss and some scrubs, I jumped at the chance. DeSean Jackson is good, that's the bottom line. I don't have a good feel for either of these teams right now, so I'm gonna go with the Eagles winning, Eagles 24, Boys 17

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos @ 8:30 on ESPN MNF:
Langston: I understand that both of these teams have played well this season and that this is an awesome match-up in comparison to most of the Monday night games, but I have absolutely no interest in watching this game. Just like the World Series, I wish this game could have both teams leaving with a loss. That's not happening, and I will begrudgingly watch it anyways. Steelers 24, Denver 21.

Drody: Big AFC matchup in Denver. Can I just say something about the Ryan Clark situation though? So Ryan Clark almost DIED the last time he played in Denver. He lost two organs because of the elevation of the city. And he wants to play there again? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? That is about the dumbest thing I have ever heard. And all the bull crap about "wow, this guy really is putting his team first." is also just some dumb stuff. The team needs to put Ryan Clark first and say that his life is more important that one lousy football game. Seriously. Steelers pull the upset in Denver, as the Kyle Orton magic gradually dissipates as the season drags on. Steelers 17, Broncos 3

LCB Picks: SEC Games of the Week

Tennessee vs. Alabama @ 3:30 on CBS:
Langston: There are a lot of reasons for someone to pick Bama to win the battle of "The Third Saturday in October"; Ranked #1 in the country, they have the best defense in the country, Mark Ingraham, Crompton, it's being played in Tuscaloosa, etc, etc. However there are a couple reasons for UT fans to believe the Vols actually have a shot at this; Alabama's QB Greg McElroy hasn't been very sharp since his nearly perfect game against Arkansas, having completed just 46 percent of his passes with no touchdowns and two interceptions. The pressure of being ranked number one against UT, something they haven't been since 1980, could cause them to play tight in the opening quarters. They run a pro-style offense. The same style offense UGA employs, and failed to get inside the 30 for the entire game with against UT. So as you can see, there is a smatter of hope for Vol fans. But Bama has Mount Cody, and that man is a force. Plus, I picked against UT in the UGA game, and that turned out pretty well. Bama 24, UT 17

Teach: I have a student named Lance in my 6th period. He's got a solid B right now. He's a die hard Tennessee fan. Dallas, on the other hand, has a solid D, and is a die hard Alabama fan. Whenever he writes his name on an assignment, he follows his John Hancock with the words "Roll Tide Roll," and the Tide will roll this week. I agree with the AP poll; this is the best team in the country, and they'll defeat the Vols 31-17 this week, behind their defense and running game, and it very well could be 'Bama's success on the field that's making it so hard for Dallas to do any homework over the weekend.

Auburn vs. LSU @ 7:30 on ESPN2:
Langston: This is starting to look like the NFL picks, where the best games aren't really that great. Maybe it's because there are only two teams in the SEC that really stand out. Or maybe it's due to the lack of pro caliber QBs currently starting in the SEC. Oh well, the defense and running games are still better than any other conference and once Tebow is gone, it will revert back to being a 6 team race. I like LSU in this game, thanks to Les Miles. Who seems to win all the time, despite his teams' QBs. LSU 34, Auburn 27.

Teach: Auburn started the year off 5-0, and they looked like a possible speed bump for this year's BCS. Then they played some actual teams, and they are now sitting at 5-2, 2-2 in the SEC. They lost by 21 on the road to Arkansas, who should have beaten Florida last week, which is respectable, but then they turned around and lost to Kentucky by a touchdown at home. Auburn isn't great, but they're not terrible either. Chris Todd has thrown 12 touchdowns and only two interceptions, and their starting running back Ben Tate averages 5.7 yard per carry. The problem is these stats have come against mediocre to subpar competition; the team's biggest win is against West Virginia. Meanwhile, LSU has a win at Georgia and only lost to Florida 13-3. LSU also has a defense built better than a New Orleans levy. Maybe that was a bad comparison, but this team has only allowed teams to score over 20 points twice all season. LSU wins 20 to 10, earning the right to call Auburn the Kittens for a second straight year. Meow.

Deckfight Game of the Week
Vanderbilt vs. South Carolina @ 7:00 on ESPNU: Almost forgot about writing this up, because well everyone forgets about Vanderbilt this time of the year, mainly because they're 2-5 and have averaged 7.3 points against SEC teams this year, according to this. The young'uns on a team like South Carolina will not tell the old media guy at the paper that they will not "look past" Vanderbilt, but in fact they will "look past" Vanderbilt. At 5-2, USC still has a decent bowl game to play for, and I'm sure Spurrier has found some "bulletin board material" (do they really still use bulletin boards?) about how Vandy upset the sixth-ranked Gamecocks in 2007. I also liked the Gamecocks better when their quarterback was Smelley, just because I think that's funny. Smelley.

I was at the game last week for a loss to the Bulldogs and it sucked, though I counted a lot of North Face jackets in the crowd and we drank $3 hot chocolate out of styrofoam cups while watching the cars go past on West End and my friend stuffed a Jimmy John's sub in his pants and he made it through the gates unscathed.

I feel like Spurrier will want to put on an exhibition.

USC 42 Vandy 14

LCB NFL Picks: Week Six

Last week Drody showed some consistency with his predictions, going 2-2 and leading him to a 4-4 record since his arrival in week five. I improved after a horrendous week four, but only enough to match Drody's mark of 2-2, giving me a record of 3-5 since week five and 11-9 on the year.


Quick Reminder: We are just picking winners and will ignore the spreads, so keep that in mind when you head to your local bookies to place your bets. Also, keep in mind, we may or may not actually know what we're doing in picking these games.



New York Giants vs. New Orleans Saints @ 1:00 on Fox:
Langston: This game is expected to be a preview of the NFC Championship game, and is easily the game of the week. Both teams are undefeated, with the respective offenses carrying the load. But only one of these teams has the number one ranked defense, I'll take that team. Giants 28 Saints 24.

Drody: I think this is going to be an amazing game. Both of these teams have been just dominating opponents so far, on both sides of the ball. I think New Orleans is going to be jacked up a little more for it though, since they are the home team. I think NO pulls this one out in a high scoring affair. Now, this doesn't mean I think New Orleans is the better team, I just think they win this match up being at home. Saints 35, Giants 24


Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks @ 4:05 on Fox:
Langston: The fact that this is the best game at 4 o'clock this week, proves bye weeks should be saved for weeks 8 and 9. Why put us through these bad games for such a long part of the season when you can have half the league take week 8 off and the other week 9.

The Cardinals have dominated this series of late, winning four out of the last five. But the Seahawks are really good when Hasselbeck is healthy, just ask Jacksonville. 'Hawks win and the Cardinals continue down the familiar path of mediocrity for recent Super Bowl losers. Cardinals 17, Seahawks 24.

Drody: Wow, this is really the best game at this time? How miserable. Well, if I have to pick a winner, I'm gonna go with the Seahawks at home. I think this Seahawks team will probably win their division, as long as Hasselbeck can stay healthy all year long, or at least most of the year. Now, winning the division also probably means they will be 8-8, but whatever. Seahawks 17, Cardinals 10


Chicago Bears vs. Atlanta Falcons @ 8:20 on NBC SNF:
Langston: I have watched three of the four Bears games, and I know absolutely nothing about them apart from the typical information provided in a media guide. They have won three straight, their offense is getting better with every game, and I suspect a lot of the Windy City's newborns will either be named Johnny or Knox. But like I said I still know almost nothing about this team. Are they good or are they just above average? I don't know. What I do know is the Falcons can score on any defense in the league, and I expect it will be tough for the Bears to keep pace. Falcons 35, Bears 28.

Drody: As an unabashed Bears fan, I of course have to pick them. After last year's heartbreaking loss in Atlanta, the Bears want revenge. They want to win this game to show all those experts keeping them at 12 in their power rankings are wrong. They want to prove that they are the best team in the NFC north. At least, that's what I'm hoping they are trying to prove with a win here. I think this will actually be a high scoring affair, Bears 38, Falcons 30


Denver Broncos vs. San Diego Chargers @ 8:30 on ESPN MNF:
Langston: Kyle Orton is the starting QB for an undefeated team that's ranked 6th in total offense. Let me repeat that. Kyle Orton is the starting QB for an undefeated team that's ranked 6th in total offense. KYLE ORTON. This has to stop. San Diego 21, Denver 17.

Drody: This is one of those games that the Chargers need to win, to prove that they are still the team to beat in the AFC west. Although, I'm not sure if Phillip Rivers will still be able to be his asshole self, without Jay Cutler on the other sideline to mouth off at. I mean, really, who is gonna waste their time talking trash to Kyle Orton? I mean, he doesn't scare anyone. Either way, the Chargers pull this one out, Chargers 10, Broncos 3

LCB NFL Picks: Week Five

Drody had a decent debut with his picks, going 2-2 last week. I on the other hand, did not. I did the last thing you should ever do when gambling, picking teams you want to win, leading me to a terrible 1-3 record. Yet I don't want to focus on my past failures, so let's get to this weeks games.

Quick Reminder: We are just picking winners, and will ignore the spreads. So keep that in mind when you head to your local bookies to place your bets. Also keep in mind, we may or may not actually know what were doing in picking these games.


Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens @ 1:00 on CBS:
Langston: Through the first four weeks, the Ravens have been playing the best football in the AFC, and if not for the Tom Brady rules they would be undefeated. Their offense looks like an entirely different unit this year and the following are the biggest reasons why; Flacco has gone from game manager to franchise quarterback, the wide receiving unit actually consists of more than Derrick Mason and Todd Heap and lastly McGahee decided it's time to stop impregnating and start scoring. The defense has regressed a little bit, but it's not very noticeable when the offense is scoring the way it is. I like the Ravens to bounce back in a big way, winning this game 24 to 10.

Drody: The new order of the AFC north? That's what is on the line in this game. Both of these teams hope to distance themselves from the Steelers and be on their way to a division championship. The Ravens look to bounce back after a loss to the Pats last week, while the Bengals are continuing to prove themselves against top opponents. I think the Bengals want this one more, after last weeks nail biter against the Browns. I think the Bengals pull this one out though, Ochocinco scores a couple and the Bengals keep on a roll. Bengals 17, Ravens 10

Atlanta Falcons vs. San Fransisco 49ers @ 4:05 on Fox:
Langston: For me, this is the hardest game to peg. For each team's strength, the other has an equal counterattack. The 49ers biggest strength is their defense, the Falcons is their passing attack. The 49ers offense is started by the running game, the Falcons defense is best at stopping the run. I really have no idea how this game will play out, but I like the Falcons to win. I just don't see the Niner defense and special teams combining for three touchdowns again. Atlanta 24, San Fransisco 14.

Drody: This is an interesting game for me. Personally, I don't think either of these teams are as good as their records/ other peoples projections say them to be. It's an interesting game to see if either of these teams are for real. I think the 49ers will win their division, but it's because they are in a terrible division. I think the NFC south is down in general this year, besides the Saints. Since that's the case, and this game is in San Fran, I think the 49ers win this one easily. 49ers 28, Falcons 17

Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans @ 8:20 on NBC SNF:
Langston: Since the departues of Albert Haynesworth and Jim Schwartz, the Titan defense has turned into one of the worst in the NFL. Through four games they have allowed 108 points, good for bottom five in the league. That doesn't bode well for a team hosting one of the best scoring offenses in the league in primetime. I like Peyton to throw for 300 again, the Titans to consider playing Vince Young, and the Colts to win. Indy 42, Tennessee 10.

Drody: This game is a joke. Tennessee is terrible, the Colts are good. Peyton leads the Colts to a sound victory. I wish I had Peyton for fantasy purposes this week, but I don't, so that sucks. Colts 35, Titans 3

NY Jets vs. Miami Dolphins @ 8:30 on ESPN MNF:
Langston: The Dolphins may be playing at home, the Dolphins may have one of the best rushing attacks in the league, and they may have a chance at winning this game. But I don't buy it. The Jets defense is suffocating. The offense is well balanced. And they have an unmatched swagger. With all of these attributes, how could the Jets not win? Jets 35, Dolphins 28.

Drody: Another game on national tv that is not a good game. People are saying the Dolphins are liable to win this one, that they're due or something like that. I don't buy it. I think the Jets defense handles the Dolphins back up quarterback, and the Jets pull out the victory to keep them in the driver's seat for the AFC east. Jets 24, Dolphins 10

LCB NFL Picks: Week Three

San Fransisco 49ers vs. -6.5 Minnesota Vikings @ 1:00 on FOX:

Langston: In my opinion, this is the game of the week. It consists of my four favorite players to watch not named Peyton or Nmamdi; Frank Gore, Purple Jesus, Patrick Willis, and Jared Allen. I like the Niners and their third ranked run defense, to force Favre to throw. Leading the Niners to an upset win over the Vikes, 17-14. Though if Gore doesn't play or is slowed by his injury, the Vikings will roll.

Miss LCG: My favorite rule in circle of death is the viking rule, where each player has to act like their rowing a viking boat and the last one that has to do so drinks. So I am picking the Vikings. There really is no reason other than that, well, I am to die for when I wear the color purple. Minnesota 21 San Fran 17

Miami Dolphins vs -5 San Diego Chargers @ 4:00 on CBS:

Langston: The Chargers should be 0-2 right now. In week one, they were outplayed by a Raiders team who got lucky to beat the Chiefs last week. They blew it last week calling a dive play in the redzone with a player who does his damage on the outside and most of their starting line on the DL. They could have thrown a screen to tiny Darren or gone with a play-action pass, but no, Norv called a dive play against one of the better defenses in the league. The Dolphins shouldn't be 0-2. With 3:17 left on the clock, they decided to run the worst 2 minute drill I've ever seen not involving the Philadelphia Eagles. They wasted 15 seconds before deciding to call a time-out, they called short pass plays, they ran the ball with under a minute and no time-outs, and their QBs hail mary from the 35 yard line didn't even reach the endzone; all helping lead them to the loss. 

With these two facing off with their terrible clock management and play-calling, it should be tough to watch and is a real toss-up. Since San Diego is tough against the run and will force Pennington to make more of an effect on the game, I like the (and I don't see that impact being particularly positive) Chargers win 17-10.

Miss LCG: Any team, where the players are forced to wear turquoise, deserves a little back-up support when their winless. So I got the Dolphins winning this one. San Diego 21 Miami 28

Indianapolis Colts vs. -3 Arizona Cardinals @ 8:20 on NBC:
Langston: There is no reason the Colts should have won last week. The Dolphins controlled the clock and embarrassed their run defense. The Colts only had the ball for 15 total minutes but thanks to Peyton and the previously mentioned worst 2-minute drill ever (not involving Philly), they still won. This week I see the Colts run defense stepping it up (Beanie and Hightower aren't as hard to stop Ronnie and Ricky), giving them a win over the Cardinals 38-21 and a 3-0 record.

Miss LCG: I feel like I owe the Cardinals a big apology. I am not a big fan of cardinals, or birds for that matter (eagles don't count in my book). Due to this prejudice against this feathered creature, I didn't pull for them in the Super Bowl. And now I feel partly responsible for their shortcomings in the biggest game of their franchises history. So to make up for it, I got the Cardinals beating the Colts 21-20.

Carolina Panthers vs. -8.5 Dallas Cowboys @ 8:30 on ESPN MNF:
Langston: Jake Delhomme managed not to throw the game away last week, yet they still lost to the Falcons. The Cowboys opened the stadium in style with a monumental collapse, aided by a lot of errant Romo passes. I anticipate this game being fun to watch due to the high probability that both QBs will turn the ball over at the worst possible moment. I got Delhomme making the last mistake, giving the Cowboys the bounce back they desperately need. Boys 21-Panthers 14.
Miss LCG: ROAAARRRR Panthers 14 Cowboys 10

LCB Picks: SEC Games of the Week

Arkansas vs. -15.5 Alabama @ 3:30 on CBS :
Langston: I was watching "Full Color Football" on Showtime, it's a documentary mini-series on the AFL. On the episode that aired Friday, it focused on the Chargers and the Bills, showing how different the paths were for the two teams successes in the early '60's. The Chargers based on an overpowering offense and the Bills with a shut-down defense.There are two reasons that I bring up this show. Firstly, because if you have a chance you should watch the show. Secondly, because they showed a lot of clips of Jack Kemp throwing the ball 40 or 50 yards with an effortless motion. It was almost as if he was just in his back-yard throwing with some friends. I bring up the latter point because it reminds me of how it looks when Ryan Mallet throws the ball. It's as if he's only messing around until he finds something better to do.

As for the game, I can see Mallet and Childs connecting a couple times to keep the game close enough to beat the spread. But Alabama's held their past two opponents to 62 combined yards rushing, and with that type of defense, I can't imagine them losing to a team that allowed 52 points last week. Tide 45 Hogs 28.

Teach: Arkansas looked really good in the first half of their game against Georgia, but, once they stopped getting turnovers, they lost their lead. Still, I came away impressed with the Razorback offense, especially 6'3" wide receiver Greg Childs. Talent wise, players like Childs give Arkansas a chance in this game, but I can't see them pulling off a road win in Bobby Petrino's first year as coach against Nick Saban's #3 Alabama. Alabama's defensive line looked devastatingly good against Virginia Tech in the season opener, and the Tide can't afford to drop this game with Ole Miss and LSU still left on the schedule: Alabama 31 Arkansas 17.

Arizona State vs. -7 Georgia @ 7:00 on ESPNU :
Langston: This one is pretty simple. Georgia's been tested against top flight opponents and come out on top in two straight games. Arizona State is 2-0 but hasn't played anyone worth mentioning. Georgia won last year's game in Tempe 27-10, outgaining the Sun Devils 461-212 in total yards and 176-4 on the ground. Arizona State is 3-27 against top 25 opponents and 0-4 against SEC opponents. Add it all up and you get a Georgia victory, though I think State has the chance to keep it close enough to keep Dawg fans sweating. UGA 35 ASU 27.

Teach: Eventually, Georgia's lack of a defense will cost them, but it won't happen against ASU. Joe Cox is a real college quarterback and that's made Georgia an entertaining team, if not a real contender. Wide receiver A.J. Green is moonlight on the water, and his growth begs the question about how good this offense might have been if either Matthew Stafford or Knowshon Moreno had stayed one more year. I expect Georgia to win this game 38-28, but what I hope to see some signs of improvement on the defensive end; after all, three of UGA's next four games include #7 LSU, going to Tennessee, and a match-up with #1 Florida.

Deckfight Game of the Week
Vanderbilt vs. -6.5 Rice @ 8:00 on CSS:

There's a coy familiarity with these teams. They don't know one another, yet they know one another. Like Vietnam Vets, they know what each has gone through, the horrors that the other side has seen. None of the players on either team ever dreamed of playing at their respective schools; they grew up dreaming of playing at Texas or LSU or Tennessee or Arkansas and now here they are. Once they realized how good they weren't going to be, they filtered through the recruiting letters and their parents said, "you will get a good education, I don't care if you get beat up every weekend."

So these teams will go easy on one another, as their "respective" fans are secretly listening to the results of their own state's UT. Vandy needs a win here for them to stop the skid off the side of a cliff. And I know nothing of Rice, but will make a guess in Vandy's favor nevertheless.

Vanderbilt 35 Rice 24.

LCB NFL Picks: Week Two

-3.5 New England Patriots vs. New York Jets @ 1:00 on CBS:
Langston: This game should show if the Patriots going younger on defense was the right move for this season. There are a lot of holes to fix on that side of the ball, and if the Jets defense can be effective with the blitz, I like the Jets chances to keep this close. Despite these circumstances, I think Brady wins this game, and Sanchez hits his first bit of adversity in the Big Apple. Patriots 21-Jets 14. Though if I was a Jets fan, I am feeling pretty good about the future. Sanchez seems to improve every time he takes the field and Rex Ryan seems to have the right combination of bravado and astuteness to lead the Jets to success.
Miss LCG: Was I the only one that noticed that puzzled look on the faces of Patriot fans last weekend? They appeared as if they were simultaneously asking themselves, "Whats up with the new logo?" I like the Jets to win this game 28-20, with the game ball going to their blitz heavy defense.

-3 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Chicago Bears @ 4:00 on CBS:
Langston: When I first looked at this game, I thought the Steelers would win handily. But after closer inspection, I realized that both teams have a lot of corellation between them. Both teams will be without their best defenders. Both offenses will likely rely on the pass to win games this season. And both teams need to see more production out of their respective running games. But only one of these teams has James Harrison, and that's why I'm going with the Steelers, 35-31.
Miss LCG: They say the best things in life are free. For me, one of those things, is watching the Steelers lose. Bears 38- Steelers 35.

-3 New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys @ 8:20 on NBC:
Langston: I wasn't overly impressed with either team last weekend, and have no real inclination of what we can expect in this game. But Tony Romo is 4-0 against the Giants in his last four regular-season games, and the Cowboys have the best record in the NFC for home openers. So I'll go with that, Cowboys 38-Giants 28.
Miss LCG: Last week my Skins lost to the Giants, but they did manage to hold Brandon Jacobs to 46 yards and the Giants to only 103 rushing yards, which means the Giants and Jacobs will run all over the 'Boys--you can only contain him for so long. Giants win 20-10.

-3 Indianapolis Colts vs. Miami Dolphins @ 8:30 on ESPN MNF:
Langston: Last week Miami looked terrible against the Falcons. I'm not sure if that was opening day gitters, but I'm guessing it's because the wildcat has been neutralized. The Colts barely got by the Jags thanks to two turnovers in the first half. But they still managed to outplay a talented football team. They also play very well on Monday Night and in road openers, having won seven of their last eight Monday night games and their last four road openers. I think Peyton and his posse of receivers get it going and improve on those two impressive stats en route to a blow-out win, 42-17.
Miss LCG: This one is pretty simple. Peyton or Pennington? Colts win 48-28.

LCB NFL Picks: Week One

Sunday's Games
+6.5 Redskins vs Giants @ 4:15 on Fox:
Langston: This a rematch of last year's Thursday night opener, where the Redskins decided to continue throwing short of the first down markers on 3rd down and ended up losing 16-7. A lot has changed since that game: Plax is in jail, the Redskins tried to get any other QB they could and failed, Eli got paid, and Derrick Ward left for Tampa Bay. However, not that much has changed. Jason Campbell still needs to prove that he can be a consistent QB week-to-week, while the Giants still have a great defensive front and a punishing running game. I like the Giants to skate by 24-17.
Miss LCG: I got to meet Jason Campbell the other day. I saw the calm in his eyes, the confidence in his posture, and felt the strength in his grip. There is no way I don't take the Skins to exact revenge in the opener. Plus, he signed my jersey, so I believe that makes me contractually obligated to pick them. Skins 31- Giants 24. HAIL!!

+4 Bears vs Packers @ 8:20 on NBC:
Langston: This game should be fun to watch, and will probably be the best NFL game of the weekend. Both teams are built on the pass, with decent running games, raising the chances for a shoot-out, something that this rivalry isn't accustomed to seeing. This will also be the first time we get to see if the Vandy connection for the Bears will pay off. I think it will, at least with Cutler and Bennett playing together again. Thanks to Deckfight's article, I ended up drafting Bennett on both of my fantasy teams. Here's hoping I didn't waste the pick. Bears 28- Packers 24.
Miss LCG: The Packers have the better defense, the better receivers, and home-field advantage. Packers 30-Bears 21.

Monday's Games

+11 Bills vs. Patriots @ 7:00 on ESPN:
Langston: New England has beaten Buffalo 11 straight and 16 of 17, including 38-7 and 56-10 back in 2007. Tom Brady is back. The Bills fired their OC about a week ago and they cut their starting LT that was supposed to replace their former Pro-Bowl LT. Oh yeah, no Marshawn Lynch. Add all of that together and you a get a no-brainer. Pats 42- Bills 28.
Miss LCG: I'm sold. Patriots roll 38-Bills 14.

-9.5 Chargers vs. Raiders @ 10:15 on ESPN:

Langston: I don't know why the NFL keeps scheduling the Raiders in season openers. The past two times they played on Monday Night Football, they were embarrassed. Even with Seymour helping out on defense, I don't see too much changing. Plus, I'm trying this new thing out, where I think the Raiders will lose every game they play, which gives me the opportunity to be surprised if they do win and emotionally unchanged when they lose. Chargers 35-Raiders10

Miss LCG: As the girlfriend, it's hard to pick against Langston's teams, but the Lakers already won a championship this year and the Dodgers are probably headed to the playoffs for a second straight season; so he needs a bad team in his life. Plus, the Raiders have a lot of chinks in their armor. Chargers 20- Raiders 7

LCB Review: 2009 NBA All-Star rosters

About two weeks ago the NBA all-star starters, as voted on by the fans, were announced. Late last week after the coaches made their selections, the reserves were announced. Both all-star teams are loaded with big names and big talent, but did the right guys get in? Who got snubbed and who owes the fans a debt of gratitude?

Eastern All-Stars	Western All-Stars
- Allen Iverson (Detroit)	- Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers)
- Dwyane Wade (Miami)	- Chris Paul (New Orleans)
- LeBron James (Cleveland)	-Tim Duncan (San Antonio)
- Kevin Garnett (Boston)	- Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix)
- Dwight Howard (Orlando)	- Yao Ming (Houston)
Joe Johnson (Atlanta)	Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas)
# Jameer Nelson (Orlando)	Shaquille O'Neal (Phoenix)
Ray Allen (Boston)	Brandon Roy (Portland)
Danny Granger (Indiana)	Chauncey Billups (Denver)
Paul Pierce (Boston)	Pau Gasol (L.A. Lakers)
Chris Bosh (Toronto)	David West (New Orleans)
Devin Harris (New Jersey)	Tony Parker (San Antonio)
Rashard Lewis (Orlando)

-denotes starter

# denotes injury, will not play

Teach:

I don't really understand the All-Star game. I don't think fans should vote. Also, they should stop categorizing the selections by position. They should just take the best players from each conference. I think it would be awesome to see five big men playing five guards.

Anyway, there's no way AI should be on the team, much less starting. I would swap Danny Granger for AI in the starting lineup, even if they do play different positions. I think Granger is the only reason the Pacers have 20 wins, and AI is one of the reasons that the Pistons might find a way to miss the playoffs. The only thing that made AI relevant was his scoring, and he's not doing that this year. They've jumped the shark. Watching the Pistons now is like watching Scrubs on ABC.

I would then take AI off the team entirely, and give his bench spot to Mo Williams. The Cavs deserve to have two guys on the All-Star team. Mo averaged 18ppg with the Bucks last year, and he's putting up 17 ppg this year. He's a good player in his own right, not just because he's playing with Lebron.

The last change I would make to the East roster is that I would swap Rashard Lewis for his teammate Hedo Turkoglu. Lewis averages 18 ppg and about 6 rpg. The Turk puts up 17 ppg, 5 rpg, and 5 apg. He's a better all-around player, and it's his versatility that might allow this team to survive the Jameer Nelson injury, which is sign from Hera to Dwight "Hercules" Howard that he really is cursed to play in the Lebron James era.

The first change I would make to the West roster would be to kick Shaq off the team, mainly because he doesn't play every night. I like the strategy, but it's annoying. Having Shaq in the All-Star game is like having Mariano Rivera start an All-Star game in baseball.

Tim Duncan should be the starting center, not the starting power forward. He jumps center, and he plays center, unless one wants to argue that Matt Bonner is the Spurs center. Duncan played power forward for most of his career, but he's been a center since last year. Moving Duncan to center would mean that Yao Ming goes to the bench.

I would also swap Dirk Nowitzki and Amare Stoudamire. Dirk's an MVP. Amare's a guy who isn't even the first guy on his own team to get double-teamed. Dirk's averaging 5 more points a game, and his team has a better record. If the playoffs started today, the Suns wouldn't even be in the playoffs. Their franchise is run by Michael Scott. All they do is have meetings.

Al Jefferson should have David West's spot. David West is a solid player, but let's face it. If he wasn't dating everyone's best friend Chris Paul, we wouldn't be calling him up to hang out.

After doing this, I realize that the NBA really should do a Big Men vs. Little Men All-Star game.

Imagine Duncan, Nowitzki, Dwight Howard, Yao, and Shaq lining up against Paul, Kobe, Tony Parker, Roy, and Wade. The first guy off the bench for the Big Men would be KG, and I don't know who Lebron would play for. He's his own category.

Langston:

For the most part I think the coaches and fans combined to make pretty great line-ups for both squads. However a couple names jump out at me for the wrong reasons, I don't know if it is due to a lack of imagination or just a love for someone's play in the past but some of these players don't deserve the chance to call themselves an all-star this year. The first thing that boggles my mind is how a team like the Suns who are in danger of missing the playoffs have two all-stars, and neither of them are Steve Nash. Amare deserves a spot in the lineup, yet fans are complaining about his numbers but he stills put up 21 ppg and grabs about 8 rebounds a game. That is not a down year that is the Shaq-effect. Shaq took away the pick and roll game that made the Suns so tough to play, he takes up space in the paint that was typically Stoudemire's roaming area, and he takes possessions away from Amare as they have to keep the fat man happy. So I would take off Shaq and follow Teach's path by starting Dirk over Amare. Granted Shaq is having a decent season, but he sits once every 3 or 4 games. All-stars show up every night, Shaq doesn't, therefore Shaq is no all-star. Plus Amare is better than Shaq in almost every statistical category, and that includes games played. Shaq would be replaced in the line-up by none other than Al Jefferson, who is having the best statistical year out of any center (23 ppg and 11 boards) in the west. His numbers may be inflated due to the lack of talent around him, but he has showcased his skill and toughness all season long. After replacing Shaq with Jefferson, I would then insert Jefferson into the starting line-up and put Yao on the bench.

The next player I would take off would be David West, I totally agree with Teach's point of view on the subject. Overall he is a decent player, but without Chris Paul I don't think any of us would remember him after what he did at Xavier. I would replace West with Kevin Durant, who is scoring his tail off for a terrible team in a new city. He is scoring 25, a little under 7 boards, 3 assists, and a steal per game. Though his great scoring hasn't helped the Thunder win more games (their record is a dismal 13-38), can you imagine how bad they would be without him?

Now I will move on to the east, where the line-up problems start with Allen Iverson. He is having a down year in almost every category and instead of making the Pistons better; he has helped turn them into a .500 team. I would replace A.I. in the starting line-up with Devin Harris, who is one of (if not) the only reason(s) the Nets are in the playoff hunt. I would then replace A.I. on the roster with Mike Bibby, who has helped turn a young and dangerous team into a contending team. They surprised everyone last year in the playoffs pushing the Celtics to the brink of elimination. Now they sit as a fourth seed, giving them a real chance to make some head-way in the playoffs. And a lot of that can be attributed to the addition of Bibby.

Teach was right about Rashard Lewis, but he shouldn't be replaced by Hedo. I think the spot would be better filled by David Lee, who is scoring just two less than Lewis a game but grabs 5 more rebounds. He also is helping lead the Knicks back to relevancy. Without his heady play and hustle, what would the Knicks be? Most likely they would be in the same boat as the other cellar dwellars, playing for the services of Blake Griffin and (at best) headed towards a twenty win season. In summation, the only players I think have no reason to be near the festivities in Phoenix are Shaq and Iverson. I understand why the other players mentioned were either over-looked or rewarded.

LCB NFL Picks: The Super Bowl

+ 6.5 Arizona Cardinals (12-7) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (14-4) @ 6:00 pm on NBC Sunday, Feb. 1st;

Langston:
Over the past week or so I have been coming across lame youtube videos from fans of both the Cardinals and the Steelers. Most of these videos fall into one of the following categories; a) terrible b) embarrassing c) funny d) disturbing e) sacrilegious and in the rare occurrence f) all of the above. So with no rooting interest in this game, despite the ranking system I made pre-playoffs and a wanton need for Steeler fans to end up like this bama, I decided the rare video that made me laugh and supply me with nightmare fuel would make me root for the other team. So congratulations Cardinals fans, thanks to the following clip I have decided to pull for your team. But don't pat yourselves on the back, thank Captain Creepy from the sea lab.

Cardinals 28 Pittsburgh 24

LCG:
All-around the Steelers are the better team; they have the playoff/Super Bowl experience, they have the better defense, the Dirt Nasty of kickers, and the core of their offense has played together for a while now. The Cardinals are an upstart team that seemed to be on the brink for the past four seasons, and now they have finally broken through in a big way. They are a true underdog in every sense of the word, the only thing they have over the Steelers in this game is Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner. They are the last team anyone could have expected to be in the Super Bowl, but here they are warts and all. I haven't picked them to win one game all season long, making me one of thousands that continued to doubt them all the way up to their recent trip to Tampa. When the Redskins aren't on, I love to root for the scrappy underdog. But I haven't picked them all year. Its a tough choice but when it's all said and done I think the team from the city of Pittsburgh will be hoisting the Lombardi trophy for the sixth time. A good offense fills the seats while good defense fills the trophy case. Pittsburgh 17 Arizona 7.

Teach:
The safe pick would be the Stillers. The franchise may be the class of the NFL, and they don't have a fanbase--they have a religious following. When Brady went down, I told a coworker of mine that her Stillers were now the team to beat, and they've been solid all year. They have a stingy defense, a solid running game, a Super Bowl winning quarterback, and a Super Bowl MVP at wide receiver, in Hines "57 ways to score" Ward, so I'm going with the Cardinals. I don't like safe. Safe is boring. Whenever Cards are involved, I like to lay it all on the line. Let it ride. Larry Fitzgerald is the best player in football right now, an Ace in the hole. Kurt Warner has as many rings as Big Ben, which means he's got a poker face, and Big Ben looks more like a ticking time bomb than a precision time piece. Seriously, he may be the second best quarterback on his team. Arizona wins 31-27, and Public Enemy leads the Super Bowl march:

"I'm countin' down to the day deservin'

Fittin' for a King
I'm waitin' for the time when I can

get to Arizona."

We'll ignore Chuck D's thoughts on urinating all over the state because that was like a whole 18 years ago when their football team deserved to be urinated on. Do we give Obama or Whisenhunt credit for this change?

Berndon:

I really want to say that Arizona is going to win. I hate Pittsburgh. Not the city per se, as my bro is currently studying and living there. But I honestly get annoyed as shit with all the Pittsburgh fans around Fredrock. I don't like Big Ben. I don't like Hines Ward. I don't like Omar Epps(Mike Tomlin). I just think that they have much more big game experience and will be able to move the ball at will. Willie Parker has come back to provide the balance that they need. Look for him to break a big run or two, and even if Ward isn't at full speed, look for a big touchdown from Santonio Holmes. The D will put pressure on Warner, making the Warner-Larry Fitz combo less effective. Fitz and Boldin will still get numbers, but the Steelers will win, 31-14.

Drody:
So as a new resident of Pittsburgh, I'm picking the Steelers to win. And instead of going into why they are gonna win, or defenses of any of that crap, I'll tell you why I want them to win. I want the Stillers to win, because this place will absolutely go insane. Pittsburgh is a place where schools are already delayed 2 hours on Monday, because of the Super Bowl, and now that the "kids will be up late" and don't want attendance down. It is a place where the mayor of the city changes his name from Ravenstahl to "Steelerstahl" because the Steelers are playing the Ravens, and doesn't want to be labeled as a Ravens fan. Every friday, all workplaces allow black and gold and Steeler jerseys as proper dress. I went into a bagel shop this morning, they had black and gold bagels for sale. These people don't root for their team like the rest of the country. They live and breath black and gold. So, here's to the Steelers winning the big one, because honestly, I don't know if I want to see how this city would react to a loss, especially to Arizona. Steelers win 24-17.

Mid-Season College BBall Recap Part Deux

Picking up where I left off, we start with:

14.Davidson: I'm not sure whether or not this Davidson team will do the same damage they did last March. It's probably a combination of not being able to sneak up on people anymore, playing a tough schedule, and not having Jason Richards playing point guard, leaving the team out of the Top 25. That being said, they're still 17-3, but does Stephen Curry have anymore magic for another March run? My guess would be no. He doesn't have as good of a cast around him and has to do too much in being the primary distributor and scorer. Teams know that if they shut him down or hold him in check, they'll win.

13.Gonzaga: The Zags had a big win last night against conference foe St.Mary's. They hit a little bit of a slump, but Josh Heytvelt has been great inside. They have really good offensive balance, and are once again on the rise.

12.Tennesee: Another team that started off well, and has cooled off a bit. They still can win the SEC, but they really miss Chris Lofton's outside ability. Cameron Tatum and Scotty Hopson being able to shoot outside will be a big key for the Vols in March. They're still really athletic and could give teams fits in the Dance.

11.Purdue: Another boring Big Ten team that, even though it doesn't always look pretty, they're sitting at 16-4. I'm not sold on them for later on however. The lack of a true go-to guy will hurt them.

10.Notre Dame: Luke Harangody is a player of the year candidate, but the Irish have fallen off and them some. Georgetown and Notre Dame look to be the first casualities of the brutal Big East. They seemingly play a ranked team every game. If they continue to slide, they might slide right into the NIT. Kyle McAlarney and others need to hit from outside, easing the load on the big white boy in the paint.

9.Pitt: Despite losing to Villanova Wednesday, Pitt has been great so far. They've followed the Panther template of tough grind it out D, with timely scoring to go 18-2. Keep an eye on Jermaine Dixon in the second half. He's an athletic wing who's can lock down the other teams scorers, and has been hitting some 3's. Sam Young and Dejuan Blair need one other consistent scorer to help them, so if he emerges, they could be in the Final Four.

8. Memphis: I think I had these guys a little high in the beginning. They will clean up on the weak ass CUSA schedule, so we might not know much until the tourney. They're athletic as they usually are, and Tyreke Evans has been as good as advertised. Beating Tennessee proves they might be a factor.

7. Duke: Gerald Henderson has been making the leap and then some. Coupled with Kyle Singler's work on the glass, the Blue Devils have been slightly suprising. They need to get more consistency out of Nolan Smith and Greg Paulus to avoid another early-round upset.

6.UCONN: These guys just kill people on the boards, with Jeff Adrien and Hasheen Thabeet averaging double figure boards. Getting Stanley Robinson back added another force inside. They get a big test in Louisville on Monday. I'm still a little concerned about their guard play.

5.Michigan St.: I think the Spartans are the class of the Big Ten. Kalin Lucas has become the team's best player, while they come at people with a lot of depth, as they go about 10 deep. They traditionally rebound and play D, but they can light it up outside with Lucas, and Durell Summers. They should at least make the Elite 8.

4. Texas: The Longhorns have underachieved a little bit. A.J.Abrams started out hot, but has cooled off. Daimon James seemingly takes about 5-6 bad shots a game. That being said, outside of Oklahoma, they are the next best team in the Big 12. They are athletic and can run, plus they can shoot from the outside. They have an outside shot of winning the league and getting about a 3 seed.

3.UCLA: It's looking like the Bruins run of Final Four appearances will end this year. They've underachieved and it can mostly be attributed to a lack of offensive firepower. Darren Collison hasn't played as well as was thought at the beginning of the year, and no one else has really stepped up. I look for UCLA to go out of the tourney early.

2.Louisville: I really love these guys in the frontcourt. Terrence Williams,Earl Clark,and Sanardo Samuels are probably the best frontline in the game. I really hate their guards. Edgar Sosa is not the point guard you want if you have serious title aspriations. They've been on fire, and Sosa has been playing better, but I really think this will hold them back later on.

1. UNC: The Heels started off on fire, then cooled off a little, but look to have gotten their swagger back a little. Hansborough has regressed a little, but they're still loaded and I still feel ( I might be biased) that they're still the favorite to win it all. Wayne Ellington has been playing a lot better, and they'll need him and Ty Lawson to be the best guard tandem in the country to cut the nets down.

Mid-Season College BBall Recap

Now that we're almost at the end of January, it's time to take a look at my first ever preseason college basketball rankings and see, as of right now, how I did. Here were the rankings.
25. Villanova
24. Florida
23. Georgetown
22. USC
21. Oklahoma
20. Wisconsin
19. Arizona St.
18. Kansas
17. Miami Fla.
16. Xavier
15. Marquette
14. Davidson
13. Gonzaga
12. Tennessee
11. Purdue
10. Notre Dame
9. Pitt
8. Memphis
7. Duke
6.UConn
5. Michigan St.
4. Texas
3. UCLA
2. Louisville
1. UNC

Teams I definitely missed on:
Wake Forest: Wake was on the cusp of making my top 25, but I didn't know how good they actually were obviously. Jeff Teague has been the player of the year in ACC and might be a First Team All-American. They are huge inside, and are a number 1 seed in the latest projections.

Syracuse: Injuries to Andy Rautins and Eric Devendorf killed them last year, but having seen them personally, they're impressive. They have to get to ball inside to Onuaku and Jackson more, but they'll be around in March.

Clemson: I underestimated the ACC a little bit in hindsight. Clemson has gotten great inside play from Trevor Booker, and even if they do their usual fade in the second half, they should still be dancing.

Butler: I had Gonzaga and Xavier right, but I thought Butler lost too much last year to get back to an elite level. Matt Howard and Frosh Shelvin Mack have them back in the top 15.

Minnesota: Tubby Smith is a great coach, and I don't remember Minnesota being relevant like this since the Bobby Jackson-led Final 4 team. Big test against the Illini on Thursday.

St.Mary's: I did mention that they would push the Zags, but I didn't think they would be this good. Patty Mills is legit, and the others have stepped up as well.

Illinois: I knew nothing about them other than that MJ's kid plays for them, but especially as of late, they've really come on. Demetri McCamey can light it up, and Chester Frazier has turned from the worst pg in college basketball to being a steady leader.

Now, on to what i did, and didn't get right.


25. Villanova: The Cats have been in the top 25 all season, but might not stay there for long. They've beaten all the teams they should have, but haven't beaten any of the top Big East teams yet. Dante Cunningham has been their best player, and they still have good guards, but they need to beat Pitt tonight, or someone else in the top 10 to be taken seriously.

24. Florida: The Gators had some early losses but they're still 17-3. Calathes has been big for them, and they have a lot of offensive balance. They should win the SEC.

23. Georgetown: What's going to determine how far Georgetown advances is if they can find some consistency from the outside. When they're hitting, they can be dangerous. Monroe has been great for them, and is an extremely versatile big. Dejuan Summers has also been really good. They're in a little bit of a funk right now, but they can right the ship and be a factor.

22. USC: The Trojans have been a disappointment. As of right now, they're one of Bracketology's "Last 4 out." The Pac-10 has been a little better than advertised with Cal, Washington, and Stanford playing well. Demar DeRozan hasn't been the top player in his Frosh class as advertised. Wisconsin and USC were probably my biggest misses in my poll.

21. Oklahoma: In contrast to USC, I definitely underestimated these guys. I talked about how I didn't really know why Blake Grifin was so highly-touted, but now I know. He's been a player of the year candidate, averaging a double-double. They have gotten excellent guard play from freshman Willie Warren, Tony Crocker, and Austin Johnson. They have everything set up for a Big 12 Championship and a Final 4 berth.

20. Wisconsin: The Big 10 has been a lot better than expected, and the Minnesota's and Illinois' of the world have passed the Badgers as of right now. They're penciled in as an 11 seed right now, but with an 12-8 record, they need to get to hot. Winning games like last night against Purdue at home would have helped, and if they keep losing they'll be NIT-bound.

19. Arizona St. The Devils have been right around the spot I had them at from the beginning. They have a great chance at winning the Pac-10, having already beaten UCLA in overtime. James Harden is averaging about 22 a game, and the cast around him has been steady. This could very well be a Sweet 16 team.

18. Kansas: Kansas has been predictably up and down a little bit, but they're still 15-4 and still second in the Big 12 behind the Sooners. Right now, they're a 6 seed, and if Cole Aldrich keeps playing as well as he has, and the Freshmen continue to get better, they'll be around in March.

17. Miami Fla: The Canes have been disappointing. They're down to 3-4 in the ACC, with a 14-6 overall record. They lost an important game at home to emerging Virginia Tech, and need to win games against these type of teams to get to the tourney.

16. Xavier: I was hesitant at having them this high in the beginning, but Xavier has predictably been cruising through the A10 slate. They too have beaten everybody they should have beaten so far, but I'm still troubled by how god-awful they looked against Duke. They might not get another test on the schedule until the tourney, so I'm predicting they will stay around the top 10, but will go down early in March.

15. Marquette: The Warriors fell out of the top 25 for a couple of weeks, but since the Big East play has started, they've been one of the hottest teams in the land. Wesley Matthews has really raised his game, Jerel McNeal is also a Big East POY candidate, and Dominic James has been referred to as "a Barry Sanders type athlete." James has seemed a lot steadier than in years past. I'm still troubled by the lack of a post presence, but with these guards, they might not need it to get to Detroit.


Later on, I'll tackle the top 14, and I'll try not to kill my Tar Heels too badly.