Clement’s Weekly Picks and Prognostications…Week 14

In case you haven’t noticed, a few things have seemed to ring quite true in recent weeks of my picks:
-I never touch a Jets game.
-I far too often mention AFC South teams (particularly Tennessee)
-I love taking the road dogs
-I always really mess up a game every two or three weeks.
-I’ll mock some idiotic player, this week Randy Moss, for pretending to be all about the team and class when he’s only been doing it for the last couple weeks he’d been winning.

However, I’ve also been on an incredible streak picking collegiate games [18-6 after two perfect weekends of picks]. In fact, if I had two or three more picks a week (who else loved the Pitt Panthers getting almost 30 points in the ‘Backyard Brawl’), my record would be staggering. Especially considering it’s spreads I’m dealing with and not straight up.

NFL Picks: [24-15-1]
NY Giants @ Philadelphia [-3]











Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Call me crazy, but why are the Eagles consistently considered ‘favorites’? Their record at home is far from impressive and their quarterbacks fall along the same lines. While the Giants barely escaped Chicago with a 4th-quarter comeback victory, it was still a solid early December victory. Bury the Eagles alongside the Redskins in the NFC East cellar and take the Giants with the easy W.

Pittsburgh @ New England [10.5]













Credit: Yahoo! Sports

As soon at the Pats went down 10-3 to Baltimore on Monday night, you knew the light in Tom Brady’s head would go off. He’d march downfield however he needed to, make important 3rd down plays, and the Pats would draw penalties (real and perceived) on Ravens cornerbacks. In fact, it happened all night. While I HATE the Pats (especially Rodney Harrison’s taunt to Brian F. Billick), they’re THAT good. Though Pittsburgh swept divisional foe Cincy the night before, they’re not the ones to stop the Pats – especially in Foxboro – as Roethlisberger will continue his struggles versus the Pats as their disgusting march towards 19-0 sadly continues.

San Diego @ Tennessee [Pick’em]













Credit: Yahoo! Sports

With a much-needed victory at home against Houston, Tennessee clung to its wild-card hopes behind the arm of Vince Young and the return of a healthier Albert Haynesworth. Suddenly, at 7-5, the Super Chargers have seemed to seize control of the AFC West. While the chance at a playoff bye is all but lost, San Diego needs to get on a roll quickly. Although the Titans have the secondary to keep them in the game, the Chargers will make an extra play or two on defense and take the much-needed road victory.

3 Must Starts and Must Sits
START
…Last Week…
Donte Stallworth: He made enough plays in the first half to merit a 3rd-wideout start.
Chester Taylor: While he played second fiddle to A-Pete, he still got that much-deserved TD.
LJ Smith: I have to stop plugging in these “gut-shot” tight end starts.

…This Week…
Lee Evans: The Miami D is ready to be torched yet again.
Sidney Rice: Gotta love those iffy 3rd-wideout plays.
Reggie Bush: Don’t you dare sit the same guy you reached on way too high in your fantasy draft.

SIT
…Last Week…
Steve Smith: How does he not get one of the 2 Carolina TD receptions?
Donovan McNabb: DNP. Feeley was a bad start too.
Laurence Maroney: This is a fantasy DUD, plain and simple.

…This Week…
Reggie Williams: Nope, nope, nope.
Warrick Dunn: It’s about that time to shut down the “home-builder”.
Sage Rosenfels/Matt Schaub: Avoid whomever is playing the QB position in Houston.

I wish I could say more, but then you’d think I was rambling.

Until next time...

Pre-BCS Selection Show Banter

With the Bowl Championship Series set to unveil its selections around 7pm tonight, there’s still plenty of time for analysis, debate, banter and projections.

So let’s ditch the top 8 rankings and go straight into the top 5 games of the FBS postseason.

I’ll try and remove bias, ignore gloating about a 3-0 championship weekend of predictions and put together the best non-playoff lineup I can think up.

…Important notes to consider…
*Hawaii’s comeback victory over Washington pushes out a second Pac-10 team, Arizona State.
*Missouri is out due to being the 3^rd legit team from the Big XII to garner a potential BCS bid.
*Florida is out due to being the 3^rd/4^th legit team from the SEC to garner a potential BCS bid.

LSU vs. Georgia Debate Highlights:
*LSU lost @ Kentucky and at home to Arkansas.
*Georgia lost @ Tennessee and at home to a then-ranked South Carolina.
*LSU lost both games in triple overtime.
*Georgia was crushed by the Vols and narrowly lost to a then top-10 Gamecocks team.
*Georgia defeated Kentucky.
*LSU defeated South Carolina and Tennessee (in 1-touchdown games).
*Both teams defeated Florida.
*Georgia didn’t play Arkansas.
*Both teams were 6-2 in the SEC (Georgia the East & LSU the West).
*Out-of-conference for the Bulldogs were Oklahoma State, Western Carolina, and Troy.
*Out-of-conference for the Tigers were Virginia Tech, Middle Tennessee, and Tulane.
*LSU leapfrogged idle Georgia & Kansas in the AP/USA Today polls to become the #2 team (behind Ohio State). Georgia was #3.

So where will Georgia be dancing next?
BCS Title Game? Sugar? Fiesta? Rose? Orange?
Credit: Yahoo! Sports

BCS National Championship Game:
[BCS #1] Ohio State vs. [BCS #2] LSU

WHY?
Ohio State went 11-1 and is the easier selection with only 1 loss (at home to a BCS-bound Illinois team). As for LSU, despite having 2 losses (just like Georgia), they appear to have enough support in the polls (released around 2:30 pm today) to re-enter the national title game picture. However, in my humble opinion, Georgia is clearly the hottest team in the nation right now and deserves, even when not playing in the SEC Title game, the #2 spot. Frankly, I just don’t believe LSU is better right now. Any USC pundits need be reminded the loss to Stanford crippled their title hopes.

Orange Bowl:
Virginia Tech [ACC Champ.] vs. West Virginia [Big East Champ.]

WHY?
It’s the easiest selection, will sell a TON of tickets and matches up traditional conference representatives in their traditional bowl. Did I mention how many tickets, Pat White or not, this game WILL sell.

Fiesta Bowl:
Oklahoma [Big XII Champ.] vs. Kansas [At-large]

WHY?
Despite both teams being in the Big XII, this game could answer a lot of pundits’ questions. However, I personally hate the matchup. I’d much rather see LSU/Georgia shifted out here and Hawaii take on Kansas in the overachieving Sugar Bowl. However, LSU/Georgia in the Sugar is all but a lock (especially the Tigers). Arizona State probably lost out more than anyone with Hawaii’s comeback victory. Apologies to Dennis Erickson and company.

Rose Bowl:
USC [Pac-10 Champ.] vs. Illinois [At-large]

WHY?
Who could pass up a traditional Big Ten/Pac-10 matchup in the Rose Bowl? USC wins their half and is the best potential draw. While Illinois isn’t the best traveling squad, it’s an amazing story and they slide right past Michigan (despite losing to the Wolverines) and avoid the Capital One bowl.

Sugar Bowl:
Georgia [At-large] vs. Hawaii [At-large]

WHY?
LSU, not Oklahoma, seems the easiest bet to sneak past Georgia (they didn’t play) to secure the second spot in the BCS Title game. While Georgia could be snuck out west to Tempe to avoid an all-Big XII matchup, the Sugar will gladly take a regional SEC team who's been there recently (lost to WVU two years ago in a shootout). Hawaii is the weakest at-large, but should be ecstastic to see a BCS bowl game for the first time in school history. While I hate to see Missouri drop out of the BCS, Hawaii deserves this spot after going undefeated (WAC or not). Amazing how Missouri goes from #1 BCS all the way down to the Cotton Bowl.

Although wouldn’t this be nicer…
…taking in six-conference champs and two automatic bids (regardless of conference affiliation)…

#1. Ohio State [Big 10]
#2. LSU [SEC]
#3. Georgia [At-large]
#4. Oklahoma [Big XII]
#5. USC [Pac-10]
#6. Va. Tech [ACC]
#7. West Virginia [Big East]
#8. Hawaii [At-large]

Until next time…

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5 FBS Questions: Salvation Saturday Edition

Note: FBS is formerly known as Division 1-A of collegiate football.

Anybody want it?
Source: GeoCities

1) Will the QB tandem of junior Sean Glennon and freshman Tyrod Taylor propel Va. Tech to its first ACC title in only its third year in the conference?

2) How much havoc will the battered and bruised Glenn Dorsey be able to cause today when lining up against Tennessee QB Erik Ainge?

3) Will anyone make a move on the Heisman and enter the Downtown Athletic Club as a clear cut favorite?

4) Could Georgia vault its way into the national championship game without even playing in the SEC Title game?

5) Will Missouri be the next #1, and West Virginia the next #2 facing an unranked opponent at home, to lose this weekend?