Clement's Weekly Picks and Prognostications...Week 12

After a tripleheader of NFL action on Thanksgiving and a Pac-10 showdown with major Rose Bowl and BCS implications to close out the day, it almost seems greedy to ask for more this weekend. It also never hurts to have a 4-0 performance in predictions.

Greed is good, remember!

With the number of upsets this season, largely from unraked teams...
perhaps a playoff is already occurring weekly.
Credit: ESPN.com

NFL Picks: [20-13-1]
Philadelphia @ New England [-22]










Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Whether McNabb plays or not may turn out to be irrelevant. He’s put together only two games of note this season (Detroit & @Washington) that would merit any non-Charles Barkley-driven praise (he’s fantastic!). Don’t even get me started on what the Patriots did last Sunday night in primetime (7 TDs on their first 7 drives). With McNabb’s status completely up in the air and the Pats seemingly ignoring the talent of Laurence Maroney, I’ll still take the Pats to cover this eye-popping number.

Washington @ Tampa Bay [-3]












Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Seemingly a yearly matchup, it’s rare that the Bucs enter this game a favorite. Showing signs of maturity, Redskins QB Jason Campbell may be opening up the offense just in time to save the struggling Skins. Ronde Barber will have a tough task with an improving Santana Moss lining up next to him. Jeff Garcia typically plays the Skins well, so avoid spending the dough, but pick the Bucs to cover somehow, someway.

Houston @ Cleveland [-3.5]











Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Anyone else think this would be a game pitting two teams without losing records? Despite losing twice to the Steelers, the Browns are legitimate AFC North contenders. Seriously. Houston is jam-packed into an AFC South that has no teams with a losing record. That will change after the Dog Pound witnesses another impressive Browns W.

NCAA Picks: [13-6]
#17 Boise State @ #14 Hawaii [-4]













Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Both teams are clinging to the hope of a BCS game spot. While the loser may leave the top 25 altogether, I believe the winner has a legit claim to a potential Sugar Bowl at-large bid. As for the game, the health of Colt Brennan worries me. However, since the turf isn’t blue, I’m taking the Rainbow Warriors (even at a pesky 4 points).

#3 Missouri vs. #2 Kansas [-2] {in Kansas City, MO}












Credit: Yahoo! Sports

The game of the year…is this? Don’t laugh. If you haven’t seen either team, definitely make it a point to check out this matchup in primetime on ABC. Both field incredibly talented QBs, have a heavy influx of underclassman talent and the coaches are larger than life. Well, one of them definitely is. Easy jokes aside, I’m taking Missouri. While neither team has been here often, the Tigers will be the next team (even though they’re ranked) to knock off the #2 team in the country.

3 Must Starts and Must Sits
START
…Last Week…
Chester Taylor: Duh. Every fantasy “expert” knew it.
Ryan Grant: A workmanlike 20 carries for 88 yards…but a TD would’ve been the icing on the cake.
Brandon Jones: Guess who caught a TD on Monday Night Football?

…This Week…
Santana Moss: Yep, it’s time to start pegging him as your #3 wideout for a week.
Leonard Pope: He’ll return to the endzone this weekend. I know it!
Bernard Berrian: Maybe not 100+ yards, but he’ll have a deep TD catch this weekend.

SIT
…Last Week…
Patrick Crayton: Just about zippie.
Nate Burleson: He just had to catch a TD.
Kevin Jones: The Lions rushing offense stinks. And that’s being very friendly.

…This Week…
Steve Smith: Healthy or not…sit him.
Donovan McNabb: Healthy or not…sit him.
Laurence Maroney: Healthy or not…sit him.

Until next time…