Christmas comes LATE…for the BCS

So you’ve spent up every last penny of your gift cards, gas cards, and Christmas cash, and the entire holiday season seems like a distant memory.

Not so fast.

Despite the NFL Playoffs being a crapshoot, there’s still one vice left…the Bowl Championship Series.

Five games with plenty to offer - even if it is not in the form of a playoff system.

So without any playoff scenarios or any continued whining about who is playing where (I wanted WVU vs. Va Tech!), let’s take a look at what’s left on our college football plates.

Why not trust a guy whose regular season finished something like…
NFL Picks: 32-15-2
NCAA Picks: 18-6

Tuesday, January 1^st:
The Rose Bowl
#13. Illinois vs. #6. USC [-14.5]


















Here's your sleeper 1st Round RB for the '08 Draft.
Credit: Yahoo! Sports

As disrespected as any team, Illinois finished the season strongly (including the noteworthy win in Columbus against a then-unbeaten Buckeyes team) and allowed the Rose Bowl to have its annual Big Ten/Pac-10 showdown. While last year’s USC/Michigan affair was a flop, don’t count out the talent of Juice Williams and company, especially RB Rashad Mendenhall, who is expected to be selected early on Day 1 of the NFL Draft if he decides to leave early. It’s also only fair to commend National Coach of the Year Ron Zook on rebuilding Illinois into a legit Big Ten contender again. Ditto can be said for Pete Carroll never losing his team despite being served a few more losses (okay, it was only 2) than they expected. While I like USC to win, the team lacks the true playmakers it had in years past. That’s why Illinois keeps it close enough to bust this pesky spread.

Should’ve Been: Illinois vs. USC. [Call me crazy, but I like this matchup.]

Tuesday, January 1^st:
The Sugar Bowl
#10. Hawaii vs. #4. Georgia [-7.5]

















A UGA win may lead to a pre-season #1 ranking next year.
Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Much like last year’s Boise State team, Hawaii has a ton to prove with its BCS selection. While most of the nation knows of June Jones and is fascinated over the draft stock and prospects of Heisman-contender Colt Brennan, there is still a ton of talent on this Rainbow Warrior squad. The same has to be said for the red-hot Bulldogs, who were a Tennessee loss away from potentially playing LSU for a spot in the BCS Title game. Alas, freshman phenom RB Knowshown Mereno will try his best to dictate a power running game, thus keeping the ball out of the hands of Brennan for a Bulldog victory. However, I love rooting for the little guy. So while UGA will enjoy the win, Brennan will be the real star as he keeps it under one possession as the clock ticks to zero.

Should’ve Been: LSU vs. Missouri [The battle of the ‘almost’ teams.]

Wednesday, January 2nd:
The Fiesta Bowl
#11. West Virginia vs. #3. Oklahoma [-7.5]














Can QB Pat White stay healthy the entire game?
Credit: Yahoo Sports!

Still reeling from the loss at home during the Backyard Brawl and the loss of their head coach, what is most important for WVU’s chances are the health of junior QB Pat White and the number of carries they can give to forgotten stud RB Steve Slaton. Since neither seems likely to completely rebound against such a suffocating Sooners D, this game may turn ugly late thanks to precocious freshman QB Sam Bradford, a ferocious group of running backs and electric wide receiver Malcolm Kelly. Sorry Mountaineer fans, the off-season will only get tougher after this double-digit thumping.

Should’ve Been: Oklahoma vs. Georgia [Perhaps the nation’s two youngest elite teams.]

Thursday, January 3rd:
The Orange Bowl
#8. Kansas vs. #5. Virginia Tech [-3.5]

Which Va. Tech QB will see the majority of the snaps?
Credit: Yahoo! Sports

It’s time to stop pining for the Missouri Tigers and acknowledge an amazing season for the Jayhawks. Or is it? Tech is returning the majority of their talent, outside of key defensive playmakers (Brandon Flowers, Victor “Macho” Harris, etc.) and could use an Orange Bowl victory to propel them to a potential pre-season top-5 ranking next fall. What remains most interesting isn’t how the Hokies D mastermind Bud Foster handles the spread offense. Instead, it’s how the Hokies balance QBs Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor. I’ll take Beamerball’s experience in this game, which will be far more entertaining than many outside of Lawrence expect it to be.

Should’ve Been: West Virginia vs. Virginia Tech [Rekindling a lost rivalry.]

Monday, January 7th:
The BCS Championship Game













At least someone is waiting until Monday morning to make my prediction...
Credit: Yahoo! Sprots

Should’ve Been: [Wait and see…]

Wait, what this? No score? No teams? No analysis? No picks!?!?

While we all know it’ll be the Bayou Bengals (aka Tigers of LSU) and the Buckeyes (of “The Ohio State”), we won’t pick a winner until game day.

Check back on Monday, January 7^th for that goodie.

Until next time…

---

5 Questions Going Into Week 17

As most of us know by now, the New England Patriots made history last night (thanks in large part to a not-so-surprising 23-0 second half run) in the Meadowlands, defeating the New York Giants 38-35 to finish their regular season with a perfect 16-0 mark.















Congratulations...you've officially sickened me with your greatness.
Credit: Yahoo! Sports

As for the rest of Week 17...

1. How many snaps will Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison see in tonight's primetime matchup against, currently posessing the AFC 6-seed, the Tennessee Titans?

2. Will returning wideout Terry Glenn be healthy enough to impact BOTH today's matchup in Washington and the playoff picture for the Dallas Cowboys?

3. Statistically speaking:
A) Will A-Pete or Brian Westbrook be able to catch LT's rushing title lead?
B) Will TJ Houshmanzadeh (9 catches) or Reggie Wayne (71 yards) surpass respective NFL-leaders Wes Welker and Randy Moss?
C) Can Jason Witten (8 catches) break the NFL's record for most receptions by a tight end?
D) Who do you have in the race for the most sacks: Patrick Kearney, Mario Williams, Jared Allen or DeMarcus Ware?

4. Is this the last game Donovan McNabb will play in an Eagles uniform?

5. Any chance the Browns "lay on the sword" and further damage the 1st-round pick the aforementioned perfect Patriots inherit from the lowly 49ers?

Clement’s Weekly Picks and Prognostications…Week 17

Blame the holidays, blame the traffic, blame the end of a semester, blame whatever you want. During Week 16, for many of us (not me this season), it was the culmination of a fantasy season and I was MIA.

And not the crappy Sri Lankan-born singer either.

But fear not, as Week 17 offers us two playoff spots in the NFL up for grabs AND 5% of fantasy leagues that – for reasons beyond my understanding – end their seasons in Week 17.

We will be making playoff picks and transitioning into college basketball picks in the coming weeks; however, not even a single mention will be made in accordance with Fantasy NFL Playoff Leagues. Except for that one, of course.

NFL Picks: [28-15-2]
New England @ NY Giants [+14.5]














How many suckers drafted Stallworth before Moss?
Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Couldn’t the spread be 16? We have heard anything and everything possible about the Pats and this season of greatness (and yes, it’s been beyond great). The real question is will Tom Brady and Randy Moss hook up for two more record-breaking TDs before they sit. 16-0 will be a special moment in the Meadowlands, spread or not, just not for the Patri-haters.

San Francisco @ Cleveland [-10]












Anybody else think he looks like a brother of Will Smith?
Credit: Yahoo! Sports

San Fran is blowing a top 5 pick for New England (poor Pats, will they ever catch a break?). Interestingly enough, Cleveland can lose this game and still visit the 3-seed next weekend. Although, it is underreported that if the Titans and Colts freakishly tie, the Browns need to win. Since Romeo Crennel is bound to know this, don’t bet for one second that the Browns won’t deliver a blowout victory in Week 17.

Tennessee @ Indianapolis [+6.5]













Has there ever been a playoff-QB with a worse TD to INT ratio?
Credit: Yahoo! Sports

On Sunday night, the Titans will know – just as they do right now - what they need to do to secure the 6-seed in the playoffs: WIN. With that being said, the Colts are likely to sit anyone and everyone possible. While everyone is asking about Marvin Harrison, I want to know how rusty Anthony Gonzalez, Raheem Brock and Robert Mathis might be after a bye week? While the Titans are the riskiest bet east of New Orleans, go with them, albeit hesitantly, to cover.

Dallas @ Washington [-9]


















How many Week 17 Fantasy GMs are starting Glenn?
Credit: Yahoo! Sports

I could make things easier and tell you that I believe New Orleans and Minnesota will win, but neither will, which means the ‘Skins could very well already have a wild-card berth locked up before they play. If only the NFL wanted real drama and pegged one of the other two NFC wild-card contenders at 4pm as well. It won’t matter, as the Skins will win. As for covering? Barely. In fact, by a point.

3 Must Starts and Must Sits
START
…Final Week…
Tom Brady: Don’t sit him. The touchdown record means more than he’ll ever admit, even he only plays the 1^st half.
Greg Jones: While Jones-Drew and Taylor are likely to sit in the 2^nd half, Jones will get plenty of muck yardage throughout Week 17.
Kenton Keith: If you were wise and held onto the backup, this is the week to truly enjoy what he can do. While he may not put up Addai-like numbers, he’s the best spoiler the Titans D will face.

SIT
…Final Week…
Terry Glenn: Nobody knows how healthy he is or how much Dallas cares about this game. Not a good idea.
Vince Young: Huh? I just don’t think he’s the right start; especially, with so many other options available this weekend.
Ahmad Bradshaw: It’s tempting for the big play, but the Pats will neither face any injuries nor any chance of not seeing 16-0.

Happy New Years to all. Be safe!

Until next time…

2008 NCAA Tournament Projections -- December 25, 2007

[EDITOR’S NOTE: This version follows the projection/prediction model.]

Since the first PHSports NCAA Tournament Projection following the start of the new campaign, which took shape in the middle of November, much has not been done to the top eight teams, save Louisville. As for the Cardinals, the loss of nearly their entire frontline to injuries and suspension and inconsistent guard play has put them on the periphery of this edition. Tennessee no longer carries the 1- or 2-seed distinction, but their hard-fought win against Xavier did a lot for team morale. They were struggling before being informed that Duke Crews will have an indefinite absence from the floor due to an unspecified heart condition.

Among the 1s, North Carolina and Memphis have played like the top teams and Kansas is not far behind. Despite the home loss at Pauley against an upstart Texas squad by led by my Big XII Player of the Year pick DJ Augustin, the Bruins have played well without and with a less-than-healthy Darren Collison.

The lesson of the week is: Do not refer to your opponent as “just another team”. Even if you shower praise on them, which Georgetown’s Roy Hibbert did not do, it can be taken grossly out of context and your team be wiped with the floor. Perhaps, Roy Hibbert is just another 7’2” guy.

The surprise packages so far this season to this point have to be Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and Miami (FL). That list could easily include the list of St. Mary’s (does anyone else notice how much pub Patrick Mills is getting?) and Sam Houston State, who I admittedly know nothing about beyond the box scores. Speaking of Pitt, how will head coach Jamie Dixon adjust tactics to make up for the season-ending injury to senior forward Mike Cook? How will Vanderbilt new boy Andrew Ogilvy react to unwelcoming crowds in Knoxville, Gainesville and Lexington? And yes, I’m saying it here. Miami-FL will be this year’s Clemson. Their perfect storm will come to an end starting in mid-January. Book it.

In most of the one-bid conferences, I am sticking to my preseason guns. Why? It’s a one-off, and unless another squad is developing an exceedingly unavoidable product, then I can live being wrong until about the end of January.

Moving forward to the last four teams in the mix, the loss of point guard Farnold Degand could preclude a period of doom and gloom for the Wolfpack. Something has to give with Brandon Costner’s horrendous start to the season. While I really like UConn and what Seton Hall has done so far, including a ninth Big East team was incongruent with the conference's RPI ranking, so I rolled with the next best non-Big East teams, Brigham Young (weak RPI, but competitive in defeats to UNC and Michigan State) and Wisconsin (average squad that will take shape in Big Ten season). Meanwhile, Arkansas has done exactly squadoosh to deserve inclusion, but I am including them on their talent alone. John Pelphrey had better start coaching soon or else we’ll be hearing a chorus of boos in Hog Heaven sooner than Bobby Petrino sends an instant message to Frank Broyle [sic] to inform him that he’s leaving Fayetteville.

If you have any questions, comments, or just wish to send a shout, shoot me a line at phashemi@gmail.com. As always, feel free to comment on the board.

The Seedings
1: North Carolina (ACC), Memphis (C-USA), UCLA (Pac-10), Kansas (Big XII)
2: Michigan State (Big Ten), Duke, Texas, Georgetown (Big East)
3: Washington State, Pittsburgh, Marquette, Tennessee (SEC)
4: Arizona, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Butler (Horizon)
5: Ole Miss, Miami-FL, Oklahoma, Southern California
6: Indiana, UMass (A-10), Providence, Rhode Island
7: Stanford, Virginia, Baylor, Gonzaga (WCC)
8: Xavier, Louisville, Villanova, Ohio State
9: St. Mary’s, Clemson, Syracuse, George Mason (Colonial)
10: Creighton, Utah (MWC), Dayton, West Virginia
11: Oregon, Kansas State, North Carolina State, Brigham Young
12: Kent State (MAC), Southern Illinois (MVC), Sam Houston State (Southland), Siena (Metro Atlantic)
13: Wisconsin, Arkansas, Davidson (Southern), UC-Santa Barbara (Big West)
14: Holy Cross (Patriot), Winthrop (Big South), Hampton (MEAC), New Orleans (Sun Belt)
15: New Mexico State (WAC), UM-Baltimore County (America East), Yale (Ivy), Oakland (Summit)
16: Austin Peay (Ohio Valley), Montana (Big Sky), East Tennessee State (Atlantic Sun), Sacred Heart (Northeast), Grambling (SWAC)


IN: Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Miami-FL, UMass, Rhode Island, Baylor, St. Mary’s, Creighton, Dayton, West Virginia, Brigham Young, Sam Houston State, Siena, UM-Baltimore County

OUT: Florida, UConn, Kentucky, St. Joseph’s, Duquesne, Mississippi State, Alabama-Birmingham, Illinois, Utah State, Georgia, Virginia Commonwealth, Loyola (MD), Northwestern State, Vermont


Last Four In: North Carolina State, Brigham Young, Wisconsin, Arkansas
Last Four Out: Seton Hall, UConn, Minnesota, Florida
Next Four Out: Boston College, Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky


Summary (Multi-Bid Conferences Only in Order of Percentage)
Pac-10: 6/10 – UCLA, Washington State, Arizona, Southern California, Stanford, Oregon
Big XII: 6/12 – Kansas, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Baylor, Kansas State
ACC: 6/12 – North Carolina, Duke, Miami-FL, Virginia, Clemson, North Carolina State
Big East: 8/16 –Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Marquette, Providence, Villanova, Louisville, Syracuse, West Virginia
Big Ten: 4/11 – Michigan State, Indiana, Ohio State, Wisconsin
SEC: 4/12 – Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Arkansas
A-10: 4/14 – UMass, Rhode Island, Xavier, Dayton
Missouri Valley: 2/10 – Southern Illinois, Creighton
Mountain West: 2/10 – Utah, Brigham Young
West Coast: 2/10 – Gonzaga, St. Mary’s

Tuesday FourCast: Week 16

A lot of talk in recent weeks in the FourCast has focused on one key principle: constants.

Whether it be the demise of the Dolphins, the unblemished everything of the Patriots, the resurgence of the Browns (anybody else realize Braylon Edwards has 15 TDs this season?), the unfathomable December the ‘Skins have had, or the unpredictability of the NFL as a whole (anybody else peg Green Bay as 35-7 losers this weekend?).

All we do know now is that five spots in each of the conferences are locked up. In fact, we know the top 5 seeds, in order, in the NFC. Ditto for the two byes in each conference. All that awaits us is who will be visiting Seattle next weekend (Washington is in the driver’s seat with Minnesota and New Orleans hoping for a slip-up next week with Dallas in-town) AND whether the Titans or Browns will be visiting San Diego or Pittsburgh.

The only thing more coveted this holiday season than a Wii,
may be the 6th playoff spot in each conference.
Credit: Nintendo.com

1. Backing into the Playoffs
All of next week will be about one key question: “How much will you play your starters in Week 17?” This question will be asked primarily to the following:

A] New England & NY Giants [15-0 vs. an inconsistent Eli and banged up Plexico]
B] Indianapolis & Dallas [Playing two teams sitting in the 6-seed.]
C] Pittsburgh & San Diego [How important is the 3-seed in the AFC?]

Of course, the main question on my mind has to be, “When will media pundits realize that certain teams need to rest players (i.e. Plaxico Burress), while others need players to keep improving (i.e. Philip Rivers) and others just need all the time they can get (i.e. Terry Glenn)?” There’s never a clear-cut answer to any question in sports, specifically any relating to Week 17.

2. A-Pete is UP, A-Pete is DOWN
Anybody else notice how sure-thing Rookie of the Year RB Adrian Peterson, especially following his injury, seems to either go for 27 yards or 277 on Sundays? While the carries are split with Chester Taylor, it still goes to show that even with a dominant line and a ton of talent, what can really put you into a box is the fact that your opponent’s have zero respect for your QB, wideouts and “passing game”. Memo to the Vikings: snap up as good a tight end, with speed over size to give whomever your QB may be a reliable target over the middle (see Jason Witten’s impact on Tony Romo). In case you’re worried, you can tab plenty of talent at the position in either in the first 2 rounds of the draft (i.e. Chris Cooley) or via free agency (Desmond Clark).

3. MVP…for Moss???
While the award seems signed, sealed, and delivered to Tom Brady, I wonder how the voting for #2 will go down? Randy Moss? Tony Romo? Brett Favre? Peyton Manning? While Brady may see 50 TDs before the end of the 1^st half in the Meadowlands, don’t be surprised if Moss has an equally impressive 23 touchdown receptions. But before you go too gaga (and you should), remember the record he’s breaking: Jerry Rice’s 22-TD season in 1987. What’s the big deal about that record from the former Dancing with the Stars runner-up? Well, besides the eye-dropping number itself back in 1987, realize that the “San Francisco Treat” did it in 12 games. Yep, 12 games.

4. Resurrection
How ironic is it that the two most dangerous teams entering the playoffs could involve the last two noteworthy Redskins coaches? We, of course, know all about the return of Joe Gibbs and the return of the ‘Skins under Todd Collins of all QBs. After their highly impressive win in Minnesota, the ‘Skins face a road they may just be able to travel. Winning at Seattle, at Dallas, and at Green Bay isn’t illogical. That is, especially, if they can overcome turnovers,. Not to mention, if TO isn’t 100% and Green Bay isn’t submerged in ice in late-January. Nevertheless, do not doubt for one second that Dallas will be playing harder than normal to avoid being aligned in such a fate. As for the other Redskins coach in question, I wouldn’t be exactly thrilled playing a team with LT, Antonio Gates, Shawne Merriman and second-year phenom CB Antonio Cromartie. Of course, they do have the mixed bag who is that Philip Rivers guy.

The entire staff at PHSports.com would like to wish all of our loyal readers and visitors a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday season!

Picks will return this Friday...alongside Week 17 fantasy-analysis.

Tuesday FourCast: Week 15

Fifteen weeks are in the books and one constant remains. There are no constants in the NFC, except for the NFC West being completely worthless. In the AFC East, it was "redemption" for the Patriots who doubled up on the Jets. In Miami, the Dolphins transitioned from unprecedented futility to precedented futility. In the NFC East, actual redemption took place as the Eagles and Redskins avenged home losses against the Cowboys and the Giants, respectively. That takes us to my first point.

#1: Keep Bringing Your Significant Others, Tony Romo!

If you listened to the real media, you would believe wholeheartedly that Tony Romo never repeats a mistake twice. First of all, that was wrong prior to Sunday's shocking home defeat to my Eagles. Secondly, he brought his significant other to a home game against the Eagles for the second straight year … and his fantasy owners are cursing him as I type. Last year, it was Carrie Underwood – 2 INTs and a 48.3 completion percentage. On Sunday, it was Jessica Simpson - 3 INTs and a 36.1 completion percentage. If he had the Giants receivers, he might have dipped below 20%. All jokes aside, the home loss to the Eagles had profound implications to the Cowboys resolve last season and we may see a similar fate in January.

#2: The Two Teams in the AFC That You Don't Want to Play …

Not named the New England Patriots are the Jacksonville Jaguars and the San Diego Chargers. Sadly, they may have to play each other in the opening round of the NFL Playoffs. Right now, both teams are simply stomping a mud hole into their opponents with regularity. If they wanted to, the Chargers could've had three 100-yard rushers on Sunday against the lowly Lions. As for the Jags, they racked up 200 rushing yards against Pittsburgh, who for years have been among the league's best in stopping the run. Not to mention, they just refuse to turn the ball over. No matter how the last two weeks shake out, absolutely no team wants to face either team.

#3: Unlikely Playoff Team

Believe it or not, the Minnesota Vikings have the inside track at the 6th seed in the NFC. It's crazy. Once at 3-6, the Vikings were shut out by Green Bay and without the services of their all-world rookie running back. Not to mention, their head coach, who bears a resemblance to Red Forman on That '70s Show, comes from the Ozzie Guillen School of Message Filtration. With his coaching future hanging in the balance, Brad Childress gathered the troops and stuck to his guns. They ran the ball. They stopped the ball. They scored on defense. That is Vikings football. And that, my friends, is why the Vikings – who we had pegged for exactly two wins – stand at 8-6. That's not a misprint.

#4: Believe-land

Three years ago, I came to the conclusion to the Cleveland Browns franchise was cursed. Being wildly tactful, I shared this with everyone who beared any association with the city that rocks according to one Drew Carey. Most didn't disagree, and if anyone followed how many centers they went through during the 2006 season, they'd agree. Three years later, I'm eating crow again and Cleveland continues to find new ways to win. In Week 11, Phil Dawson's game-tying kick defied physics when it hit the curved center support behind the crossbar and landed in the endzone. In Week 15, Jamal Lewis celebrated his second-straight 100-yard game in a wild snowstorm against Buffalo, who, off of two consecutive victories, seemed to be in pole position given the elements. Last year, Cleveland lost all of their close games. This year, the Browns are 9-3 in games that are decided by two scores or less. Why? Because Cleveland is now Believe-land.

Pay’s Pick & Roll - December 16, 2007

Flying in Dayton

In previous seasons, Dayton had the talent but just couldn’t put it together when it mattered most. So far this season, the Flyers (8-1) have already won at Louisville, Holy Cross and Miami-Ohio. Their only loss occurred a month ago at the Patriot Center, where George Mason is 5-0. Brian Roberts (18.7 ppg) is Mr. Everything for the Flyers and leads the team in points, minutes and assists. Freshman forward Chris Wright gives the team some much-needed muscle underneath.

While Louisville has disappointed early in the season largely due to injuries in the frontcourt and the ineffective play of Edgar Sosa, Freedom Hall is a very tough place to play, let alone win. Whether Dayton head coach Brian Gregory can keep this consistent string of play going will hinge on the regularity of frontcourt contributions.

The next five games – all at home – will go a long way in determining if the Flyers are worthy of A-10 Championship consideration or NIT fodder.

Dayton’s next five games:
Dec 19: vs. American
Dec 22: vs. Loyola (MD)
Dec 29: vs. Pittsburgh
Jan 2: vs. Akron
Jan 9: vs. Rhode Island

5 NFL Questions Going Into Week 15

Well, as everyone knows, Week 15 already has two games in the books and one head coach on the outs. To this point, everyone, their mother, their father, and their third cousin once removed on the father’s side has had a negative thought aimed towards Bobby Petrino, who has made us all forget for at least a second about Nick Saban’s dearth in loyalty. In this man’s opinion, Petrino took advantage of a broken system in college football that rewards disingenuous coaches for their undying devotion to the green. This leads us into the first question …

1. How will the Falcons respond on the field to the shock exit of former head coach Bobby Petrino?

2. On a level from 1 to 10, how upset do you think New England Patriots Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli (AKA “The Architect”) was that the lowly 49ers won a game and likely took the Patriots out of the top four picks in next April's NFL Draft?

3. What’s the name of that NFL head coach who wanted to get rid of all bad behavior in Minnesota? What’s the name of that NFL head coach who will likely start safety Dwight Smith following misdemeanor marijuana possession?

4. Will the Pittsburgh Steelers be able to stop the run without the vital services of Aaron Smith against the Jacksonville Jaguars? If so, can Dick LeBeau dial up the right blitz packages to stifle Jags QB David Garrard?

5. Did you tell anyone that the Buffalo/Cleveland game was meaningful to the playoffs back when the schedules came out? Liar.

Clement’s Weekly Picks and Prognostications…Week 15

I must admit I was a little downtrodden this weekend, largely in part due to the absence of college football. While the games don’t get me as excited as they once did, I missed the picks - especially, the correct ones.

However, professional football has begun its playoff push. We had a basic playoff elimination game last Thursday (Chicago losing to Washington) and plenty others.

In fact, several division champions (Cowboys, Packers, Seahawks) were crowned and a wild-card spot was essentially clinched in the NFC and AFC (Giants and Jaguars).

You can also reasonably pencil in Tampa Bay in the NFC South, Indy as champs of the AFC South, and then, it gets interesting.

Did You …
-Believe Trent Edwards would be making a playoff push for a wild-card spot?
-Ditto for Tarvaris Jackson?
-Ever believe we could see 16-0 and 0-16 in the same season?
-Have a QB toss 45 TDs and come 4th in MVP voting (Tony Romo)?
-See LT deface a teammate mere hours before a 60 Minutes special promoting him as a class act?
-Envision Derek Anderson and the Browns making a realistic push for 11-5?

Whether you did or didn’t, it’s predictions time!

NFL Picks: [26-14-2]
Buffalo @ Cleveland [-5.5]

















Credit: Yahoo! Sports

At 7-6 and 8-5 respectively, both squads are neck-deep in the thick of the wild-card race. The Browns may have more to win, but the Bills obviously have more to lose. With an important tie-breaker possibly coming in hand for the victor, I always look to two things -- momentum and the location. While Buffalo is sizzling, the Browns will be at home and their big offense will easily outscore the Bills.

Washington @ NY Giants [-4.5]














Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Clinging to their playoff lives, the Skins walked away last Thursday with a hard-fought victory and a 10-day lay-off in between games. The Giants walked away with a W (which may have been more an Eagle loss); yet effectively clinched a wild-card spot. Likely the five seed, the Giants will have plenty to play for in the upcoming weeks. However, I don’t expect the Giants to cover this spread, even at home.

Arizona @ New Orleans [-3]














Credit: Yahoo! Sports

While the NFC South is likely the possession of the Buccaneers, both of these squads are fighting for their playoff lives this weekend on Bourbon Street. As inconsistent as any pair of teams, the Saints offense needs to score first while the Cardinals need their big-play wideouts to remain healthy this weekend. I’ll get bit again likely, but the ‘Aints are the pick this weekend.

3 Must Starts and Must Sits
START
…Last Week…
Lee Evans: Betting against the Dolphins is the second safest bet all year.
Sidney Rice: Not so much…
Reggie Bush: His replacement Aaron Stecker was a decent last-second plug.

…This Week…
Plaxico Burress: Injuries or not, he’s too lethal a target.
Aaron Stecker: Speaking of him…
Anthony Gonzalez: Manning knows he’ll need this guy down the stretch, healthy Harrison or not.

SIT
…Last Week…
Reggie Williams: Strike one.
Warrick Dunn: Foul ball. Strike two.
Texans QBs: Strike three…I’m out.

…This Week…
Todd Collins: There are a lot of QB issues out there, but don’t start him (even in a 2QB league).
Jerry Porter: Not even in a flex position would I start him this week.
Chris Henry: Another flex guy who isn’t worth the risk this season.

Until next time…

Light after the Darkness in Sports...

With the Mitchell report mere hours from release, a lot of fans are sweating out how many of their beloved superstars will be named (or unnamed).

Sadly, this will likely be one of the darker days in recent sporting history. At least as far as Major League Baseball is concerned.

Yet, even if the Mitchell Investigation only names names – and lacks true punishment outside of public contempt – it’s going to be just another sounding boom against sports.













Things haven’t been so peachy lately for more than just Dolphins fans.
Credit: ViewImages

Shaun Taylor’s death, the Phins chasing 0-16, the ‘Spygate scandal, overhyped boxing pay-per-view showdowns, STEROIDS in baseball, the New York Knicks, inflated payrolls and paychecks, Bryant Gumble on the NFL Network, the nauseating pro-Brady love of Phil Simms, the sickening love John Madden has for his boo (Brett Favre), Chris Berman in general, weekly talk of cheap-shots in the NFL (Terrance Newman the latest), Greg Oden’s pre-season injury, hockey being relegated to the VS. network, the writer’s strike (repeats of primetime shows during commercials of games is NOT good), and on and on.

Point is: sports is taking more than a few shots to the body.

The knockout isn’t looming, but it’s only a few rounds away.

However, I’m taking a stand. In fact, you might say I’m protecting sports with a stiff left jab. Maybe even a right cross. Why? Because there’s still hope. Somewhere, somehow.

Let’s tackle 4 sports, at least endearing to my heart, that could be saved…

National Football League:
Divisional-Round Playoffs Imagine this lineup two weeks into the playoffs…
Seattle @ Green Bay (Let’s just hope Hasselbeck and the Hawks get it into OT again.)
Minnesota @ Dallas [The 6th seed rolls into Big D for a re-match with a healthy A-Pete/Taylor combo at RB.)
San Diego @ New England (Take 2 for LT, Merriman, and Norv in Foxboro against a 16-0 team.)
Pittsburgh @ Indianapolis (Take 2 for the Colts at home in the playoffs against Big Ben and Polamalu.)

Major League Baseball: Johan Santana to the Yankees, Dan Haren to the Red Sox
While the constant Yanks/Sox talk is completely overblown and overdone, if you’re going to do it…do it right. The Yanks ship Hughes/Cabrera/prospects to the Twins for the 2-time Cy Young winner. Ditto for the Sox sending Lester/Crisp/prospects to the A’s for Haren. Jacoby stays in CF at Fenway.

Here are your new rotations… Red Sox: Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, Dan Haren, Daisuke Matsuzake, Tim Wakefield
Yankees: Johan Santana, Chien Ming-Wang, Andy Pettite, Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy

National Basketball Association: The Heat make a playoff PUSH
Anybody else intrigued by this potential playoff matchup?
Eastern Conference: #1. Boston vs. #8. Miami

Oh yeah, dismantle the Knicks and rebuild from scratch. Ban both owner James Dolan and Coach Thomas from MSG, too. FOREVER!

Boxing: Free fights...sort of.
While Mayweather/Hatton proved to be more hype than hope, at least HBO’s 24/7 program is worth every penny. In fact, it’s the only reason since the Sopranos left to check out HBO (outside of The Wire, of course).

Long story short, HBO Boxing (not PPV) needs five fights:
1) Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe.
2) Kenny Pavlik vs. Jermaine Taylor
3) Floyd Mayweather vs. Miguel Cotto
4) Oscar De La Hoya vs. Ricky Hatton
5) Heavyweight unification: Whatever it takes.

It’s not an end-all solution, but it’s a start.

Until next time…

Tuesday FourCast - Week 14

Interesting week in the NFL. There was a light mix of drama, division clinchers and great QB play. The Patriots are still undefeated. The Flounders...er...Dolphins are still winless. And the referees are calling the games like a bunch of blind zebras. Let's cut to the chase.

1. L.T. goes T.O.

What does L.T. think? Just because he throws a touchdown pass every few games, he thinks Rivers should throw nothing but touchdowns? Rivers is by no means a Favre, Brady or Manning. Tomlinson cannot expect impeccable play. Sure, watching your QB throw away a game is frustrating, but you have to stand by your man. I like L.T., but when Rivers sat next to him on the bench and L.T. stood right up with that scowl on his face, I lost a little respect for him. Looks like L.T. still needs to mature. I wonder if there would have been a different scene in that fake kiss-and-make-up press conference after the game, if they had lost. Did they think they were fooling anyone? This is how it started for T.O. and Jeff Garcia, and we all know where that ended. At this point, the situation is in the hands of Norv Turner. Far from a disciplinarian, Turner would be well-advised to stray from his normal behavior, and nip this in the bud right away.

2. The Purple People Beater

Going into the 2006 NFL draft, Tarvaris Jackson was a bit of an enigma. He had, arguably, the strongest arm in the draft, yet regardless of his accuracy at Alabama State, the jury was out on his accuracy once he makes the jump to the NFL. In week two, he threw four interceptions, following that up with a week 6 & 7 where his completion percentage was below 40 percent. Things were not looking so good. However, in the last four games, Jackson deserves at least some of the credit for the four game win streak. While his TD numbers aren't amazing (4 TDs, 2 Ints), his accuracy is the most impressive. He has completed 61 of 83 passes during that stretch for a very accurate 73% completion percentage. After the first half of the season, many thought the Vikings would have to target another QB in the draft. However, Jackson looks to be their "QB of the Future" again.

3 - Can I Be A Head Coach?

This week, we saw another coaching mistake that arguably made it very difficult for their team to win. Last week, we saw Hall of Fame Coach Joe Gibbs call consecutive timeouts to give the opposing team an easy shot at a game-winning field goal. This week, we saw a lack of judgment by a coach who was considered a Mangenius last year. Mangini went against the odds. He had three timeouts left, and plenty of time, yet he went for a second onside kick in a row. At 4th and 10, they could have gone for the first down, and even if they missed, they would have their opponent pinned with their backs to the end zone. Yet, they chose to kick a FG. Both the Redskins and the Jets could have different head coaches on their sidelines next year; however, Mangini probably deserves another chance.

4. Vick gets 23 in the Pound...

...and he deserves every minute of it. I also love the little bit that the judge threw in there, making it a 23-month sentence and not a 24 month sentence. With two years of good behavior, Vick could have served less than 23 months, but now that he won't serve a two-year sentence, he will actually spend more time in the pound than if he had received 24 months. Now the question is: Will Vick ever make it back to the NFL? The answer depends on several factors. First and foremost is how long Goodell bans Vick once his prison sentence is over. Another factor is who will be the Falcons QB when Vick is eligible to return. Lastly, who will want a rusty QB in his 30s, who hasn't played in 2-3 years, and wasn't accurate in the passing game to begin with? Unfortunately, we will see one of the best talents to ever grace the league go to waste. Fortunately though, we removed another criminal from the streets.

Pay’s Pick and Roll - December 9, 2007

The Tucson Barometer

In a conversation with a co-worker earlier this week, she mentioned that in grade school, a teacher once referred to her as “The Barometer”. Be it as it may, this teacher could determine if course material went over students’ heads by examining my co-worker’s non-verbal communication.

Of course, this had absolutely nothing to do with college basketball, but it’s a perfect segue to the University of Arizona, who had their own atmospheric test on Saturday as they faced Illinois at the house that Jordan built – The United Center.

It’s one thing to go on the road and face another quality team from another power conference. It’s an entirely different thing though to have a game that starts at noon … Eastern time. Feel free to add that you’re a group of young men, aged mostly between 18 and 20, who just found out that the guy you committed to is taking the year off to deal with, of all the things in the world, a divorce.

Knowing all of this and having an opponent that pulled no punches, Arizona battled back from multiple double-digit deficits to overcome the Illini in overtime. Though the Wildcats were the beneficiaries of poor free throw shooting from the opposition as well as a missed timeout call by Nic Wise when the Wildcats had none, the 2005-06 and 2006-07 likely would not have fought back that many times.

Though the road gets only tougher with alternating home and road bouts prior to Pac-10 play against the likes of Fresno State, UNLV, San Diego St. and Memphis, Arizona won a game away from home against another team who will be fighting for one of the 34 at-large bids. Not to mention, they did it without playing particularly well, save Jordan Hill. Given their schedule and overabundance of youth, tests will arise, but right now, there are few clouds in the Tucson sky.

Pay’s Pick & Roll – December 8, 2007

Since before the college basketball season, I have thought about having a short daily post highlighting a topic or two … or however many I like. Unfortunately, a demanding work schedule put those wishes to rest for the first few weeks of the season.

Enter Pay’s Pick & Roll.

How does it work? I pick a college basketball topic and I roll with it. It’s that simple. The goal is for it to be a daily post, but reality will win out and I can live with that.

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Early ACC Dominance: To Be Translated in March?

Save the three teams located in the Triangle area, the ACC was not expected to make plenty of noise this season. However, Miami, whose football program has taken a nosedive, has the top basketball RPI ranking … NATIONALLY. Sure, Morgan State and Alabama State will not have RPI Top 100 rankings come March, they have them now. Add the now-annual pre-conference surge by Clemson and the ACC boasts four undefeated teams. In fact, there’s only one team (Where are you, Thaddeus and Javaris???) in the conference that does not possess a winning record.

Though I expect the Pac-10, one-third of the conference won preseason tournaments. If that’s not a message to the rest of the country and the preseason media darlings, the Pac-10, then I don’t know what is.

Tournament. It will be a rat race in the With all of this said, I will be hard-pressed to see more than six teams from the ACC dancing in March. Why? Barring severe health issues, North Carolina and Duke WILL finish with at least 12 wins - a feat that was achieved by exactly zero teams in the conference last season. This will result in a bevy of teams who will finish with 6-8 conference wins prior to the ACCACC pack; and, in some cases, the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee may take a chance on a veteran mid-major school with a lesser name.

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...

Tuesday FourCast - Week 13

Whew. What a week. It goes without saying that my heart, my thoughts and my prayers go out to the family and friends of Sean Taylor. That he gave his life for the safety of his girlfriend and his daughter casts a different light on what truly is important in this world. So, although I make some slight mention of this tragedy later on in the FourCast, it truly is with a heavy heart that I must focus on the more trivial side of things.

1. Good Eli, Bad Eli

It generally seems that right around this time of year each season, one quarterback starts to get singled out for his inconsistency. Last season, it was Rex Grossman, and this year, that honor is bestowed upon Eli "Daddy's Boy" Manning. Eli is fortunate to play on a fairly decent team. His Giants have a solid defense, good receiving targets in Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey and are able to run the ball even with no-names, like Derrick Ward, starting games. Unfortunately for Giants' fans, it seems as though each game depends on which Eli shows up at key junctures.

This past week, we saw bad Eli for the first 3 quarters against, ironically, Rex Grossman's Bears. However, Giants Nation breathed a collective sigh of relief when good Eli decided to show up for the last couple of drives and led his team to victory. The only question that remains is, how long will good Eli stick around?

2. Dysfunction in Times of Despair

The NFL will continue to mourn the tragic loss of Sean Taylor for a while. As a Redskins fan, I will keep on mourning for even longer. And though most people expected the team to play motivated on Sunday, I expected a weary team, with their hearts ripped apart by massive emotions, that would try to put the exhaustive pain behind them for three hours. The failed red-zone attempts and general weak play did not surprise me. I knew that the emotional week would have a more negative impact on their play than positive. What did surprise, and dismay, me was the lack of cohesion and unity among the coaching staff. With such a massive tragedy befalling this group of young-ish players, the coaches needed to present a unified front and provide the leadership and hope for the players to look up to. Instead, the head coach knew nothing in advance about the moving tribute given by the defense of starting with only 10 players. Further, the season-long lack of continuity in offensive playcalling was evident throughout, especially in the redzone. Finally, Joe Gibbs' "Chris Webber" moment sealed the lack of leadership and preparation that has become a hallmark of this season. I wish that the loss of such a great leader in Sean Taylor would have done more to inspire the "real" leadership of this storied franchise.

3. Homefield Advantage?

Last night, the New England Patriots played in cold and windy conditions, and even saw a few flurries during their game. They played a team that was thirsty for a win and who threw everything they had at the Pats. Hmmm … that sounds an awful lot like the AFC playoff games this January in Gillette Stadium. The conditions did nothing but hurt New England’s aerial attack, and lead to an uninspired near-loss to a more deserving Ravens squad. If this is how the Pats played in “New England” weather, maybe they should ask the NFL to let them play their playoff games on the road. As windy and cold as Baltimore was on Monday night, we all know that Massachusetts can get much colder and much windier. And when that happens, how will King Brady deliver the ball to Sir Moss, Sir Welker and the rest? As Paymon pointed out six weeks ago, Belichick needs to shore up his running attack if the Pats want to have a better chance at surviving the season undefeated.

4. Morning (Nor)wood

8 carries, 94 yards. 6 carries, 33 yards. 6 carries 39 yards. 6 carries, 87 yards. A 6.4 yard per carry average through 13 weeks of the NFL season, and Jerious Norwood is still Atlanta’s second running back. Whatsupwitdat?!?!? Sure, Warrick Dunn’s 3.2 ypc average is nice and mediocre, which is better than the rest of the Falcons’ squad this season, but that still does not explain why Norwood has yet to get double-digit carries in a game this year. Maybe I’m just bitter because I’ve had Norwood on my fantasy bench for two consecutive seasons, but I look at the numbers and when I compare Dunn to Norwood, stats can’t be lying to me. Speak up Falcons fans! Don’t you want your Norwood?

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 NFL Questions Going Into Week 13

After a week-long hiatus, the NFL Questions have returned with a vengeance.

1. First and foremost, how will the Washington Redskins respond to the tragic passing of their dear friend and best player Sean Taylor?
2. Which team – the Giants or Lions – will stop their slide today?
3. Can Steven Jackson reach the century mark against Atlanta?
4. If Carolina loses today versus San Francisco, will there be pink slips?
5. The Denver/Oakland rivalry is well-documented and Shanahan-igans are expected. Which coach will out-think not only his counterpart but himself today en route to defeat?

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?