Boise State gave away a shot at the BCS National Championship, or at least the Rose Bowl, by losing to Nevada, 34-31 in overtime, yesterday. Auburn and Oregon survived tough opponents in moving one step closer to the BCS National Championship game.
Right now, the sexy national championship game is Auburn and Oregon. I think Oregon wins that match-up.
I would like to see BCS reform (see: Fixing the BCS). I like results that make the BCS look bad. Boise State and TCU winning do just that. So, moving right along, it is very possible that a one-loss Big 10 team will be left out of the BCS in favor of far inferior conference winners. The ACC and Big East representatives also make the BCS look bad. That could make for one craptacular Orange Bowl. I vote we change that to the Rotten Tomato Bowl.
If you think all this is ugly, just wait and see what happens if South Carolina wins the SEC title over Auburn. All hell breaks loose - that's what. Do we get TCU in the championship game? Or does the BCS pick a single one-loss team from amongst the many to play for the championship? Who gets left out of the BCS altogether? A one-loss Auburn? Nope. The LSU - Arkansas winner? Yup.
I'm conflicted. I want to see Arkansas beat LSU and go to the Sugar Bowl. That would not be possible if South Carolina beats Auburn. But if LSU beats Arkansas, then all bets are off. I'll want South Carolina beat Auburn and create BCS chaos.
Meanwhile, Boise State's reward for almost going undefeated could be a trip to, wait for it...Boise.
No use calling this "Weekend Football Picks" anymore, since games begin Wednesday or Thursday. I don't really research this much. The picks are basically based upon "institutional knowledge", meaning my best guess. I try to pick all the top match-ups for college, even though I freely admit that if I were at a sports book, there are a lot of games I would simply stay away from. The odds are whatever I pull off of FOX Sports.
College
TEXAS +3.5 vs. TEXAS A&M PITTSBURGH -2 vs. West Virginia Auburn +4.5 vs. ALABAMA Arizona +19.5 vs. OREGON Boise State -14 vs. NEVADA Michigan +16.5 vs. OHIO STATE Louisiana State (LSU) +3.5 vs. ARKANSAS (at Little Rock) FLORIDA STATE - 2 vs. Florida South Carolina -3 vs. CLEMSON STANFORD -13.5 vs. Oregon State Georgia Tech +13.5 vs GEORGIA Oklahoma +3 vs. OKLAHOMA STATE
Last Week: 4-3-1 Overall: 27-29-1 NFL
New England -7 vs. DETROIT DALLAS +4 vs. New Orleans Cincinnati +8.5 vs. NY JETS Pittsburgh -7 vs. BUFFALO Minnesota 0 vs. WASHINGTON ATLANTA 0 vs. Green Bay CLEVELAND -11 vs. Carolina NY GIANTS -8 vs. Jacksonville Kansas City 0 vs. SEATTLE St. Louis +4 vs. DENVER Philadelphia -3 vs. CHICAGO Tampa Bay +9 vs. BALTIMORE INDIANAPOLIS -2.5 vs. San Diego ARIZONA 0 vs. San Francisco
Miami vs. OAKLAND and Tennessee vs. HOUSTON - No line, so maybe I'll check back closer to game time.
People sometimes speak of the three people they would like to have dinner with, or play a round of golf with. I haven't really given it much thought; Bill Russell would probably be one of the three living people I would choose.
I have watched and read a fair amount about him. I read Second Wind, written by him. He is more than just a great basketball player. At this point, he is one of those people who has been the best in his chosen profession, seen the worst of America, made his fair share of mistakes, and become a wise and eloquent voice in society. It was announced that Russell is being awarded the medal of freedom, the highest civilian honor awarded in the US. Former President George H.W. Bush is amongst the other recipients.
Iconoclasts did an episode with Russell and Samuel L. Jackson, where Jackson visits Russell's home, and they (you guessed it) play a round of golf together. That show can be pretty good.
Bill Russell is considered the greatest winner in professional basketball. This is a different kind of award, also well deserved.
Wisconsin -4 vs. MICHIGAN Pittsburgh -2.5 vs. USF Ohio State -3 vs. IOWA MIAMI +2.5 vs. Virginia Tech Stanford -6.5 vs. CAL NORTHWESTERN +8 vs. Illinois Arkansas -3 vs. MISSISSIPPI STATE Nebraska -2.5 vs. TEXAS A&M
Last Week: 4-4 Overall: 23-26 NFL
MIAMI -1 vs. Chicago CINCINNATI -4.5 vs. Buffalo DALLAS -7 vs. Detroit TENNESSEE -6.5 vs. Washington Arizona +7.5 vs KANSAS CITY Green Bay -2.5 vs. MINNESOTA NY JETS -5 vs. Houston PITTSBURGH -9 vs. Oakland Baltimore -10 vs CAROLINA JACKSONVILLE +3 vs. Cleveland Atlanta -3 vs. ST. LOUIS New Orleans -12 vs. SEATTLE Tampa Bay +4 vs. SAN FRANCISCO NEW ENGLAND -3 vs. Indianapolis NY Giants +3 vs. PHILADELPHIA SAN DIEGO -9.5 vs. Denver
The Miami Heat, aka "the greatest team in the history of basketball", lost to the Boston Celtics for the second time this year to fall to 5-4 on the season. It's a little to early to make the statement that this is what their season is going to be like. Get back to me at playoff time when it matters. But right now, this is the baseline, from which they can make changes and improve.
Reggie Miller identified many issues during last night's TNT broadcast. For the Heat, I'm sure it's a little overwhelming, but they know it as well. So give it time, and this team will be a lot better than it is today.
This will be one of the most telling games in a strange NFL season. The Steelers have survived injuries and the suspension of Ben Rapeburger, having only lost to Baltimore and New Orleans. Meanwhile, the Patriots start as many as four rookies on defense, traded Randy Moss, and got thumped by the Cleveland Browns last week. Losing kicker Stephen Gostkowski for the season hurts. I'm a Patriots fan, so last weekend was not enjoyable. I picked the Patriots (+5), because, when all else fails, take the points.
I'm generally way behind the times on new technology. So, not surprisingly, I am more than two years behind on Google Chrome. I downloaded it on my office computer at the suggestion of our IT guy. I have been playing with it for a couple of days, and it's awesome - at least better than my old browser, Internet Explorer 8.
Cnet has a recent review, so here is the techno-babble (link). You can download the software from them, or from Google.
Miami -3 vs. GEORGIA TECH Kansas State +13 vs. MISSOURI AUBURN -7 vs. Georgia Penn State +18 vs. OHIO STATE Mississippi State +13 vs. ALABAMA South Carolina +6.5 vs. FLORIDA Stanford -4.5 vs. ARIZONA STATE TEXAS +5 vs. Oklahoma State Last Week: 4-2 Overall: 19-22 NFL
ATLANTA -1 vs. Baltimore Tennessee -2 vs. MIAMI Detroit +2.5 vs. BUFFALO NY Jets -3 vs. CLEVELAND Houston +1 vs. JACKSONVILLE Carolina +7.5 vs. TAMPA BAY Minnesota 0 vs. CHICAGO Cincinnati +8.5 vs. INDIANAPOLIS DENVER +1 vs. Kansas City Dallas +15.5 vs. NY GIANTS ARIZONA -3 vs. Seattle St. Louis +6 vs. SAN FRANCISCO New England +5 vs. PITTSBURGH Philadelphia -3 vs. WASHINGTON
One of my old favorites is from Treehouse of Horror III, "The Clown Without Pity". It's a Twilight Zone parody, where Homer buys a Krusty the Clown doll which comes to life.
This is what I didn't say, didn't know, or happened subsequent to my most recent posts.
This is a lazy way to blog.
1. Posting an e-mail chain is also a lazy way to blog.
2. MLB playoff picks were pretty spot-off (link). I liked the SF Giants / Texas Rangers World Series. I'm happy for both teams. SF played well just to get in the playoffs and their pitching was phenomenal. Texas beat the Yankees, who had high priced former Rangers, Mark Teixeira and F***Rod, so that's always a good thing.
3. Brian Wilson is an absolute riot. Search some of his antics and you will laugh. He was on Leno last night. See clip below.
4. I am working on a poker post, playing big pocket pairs, AA, KK, QQ. Not happy with it yet and haven't had time to edit.
5. East Bound and Down, Season 2 ends Sunday. I have a different Weekend Watching post.
6. I wish I spent this NFL season in Vegas. I would have made some serious money on NFL picks. That is what I have aways been best at picking. Not bad at college basketball. Do not use my college football or other picks for anything that involves money. Or try the George Costanza "Opposite Theory". Can't embed like I want, so here is link:
George : Excuse me, I couldn't help but notice that you were looking in my direction.
Victoria : Oh, yes I was, you just ordered the same exact lunch as me.
( G takes a deep breath )
George : My name is George. I'm unemployed and I live with my parents.
Victoria : I'm Victoria. Hi.
7. Blake Griffin is averaging 17 pts. 10 reb. per game, but the Clippers are still the Clippers. They won their last game to move to 1-4.
8. John Wall has also had a nice start to his career. The Washington Buzzards are still the Washington Buzzards.
9. I voted at around 1:00pm and there were three other voters in the gymnasium of my local church. I was voter # 296 for the day. I'm lucky to be in and out in minutes. Went with my girlfriend and her family at 7:00pm. It took about a half-hour, so there was a lot of interest in these mid-term elections.
10. I have political viewpoints, but I don't want this blog to be about politics and religion, so I will try to keep those views to myself. It's not that I don't want to offend - I couldn't care less about that. It's just I'd rather not write about those topics.
11. I am still waiting to try the In-N-Out Burger recipe at home.
12. A team doesn't get better on the field by trading or waiving Randy Moss. But sometimes talent is overshadowed by the player being a petulant turd. If that is the case, then, by all means, get rid of the guy.
Georgia Tech +13 vs. Virginia Tech
MICHIGAN -3 vs. Illinois
GEORGIA -43.5 vs. Idaho State
Texas Christian (TCU) -4.5 vs. UTAH
Alabama -6.5 vs. LSU
Arkansas +4 vs. SOUTH CAROLINA
Last Week: 2-4 Overall: 15-20
NFL
BALTIMORE -5 vs. Miami
New Orleans -6.5 vs. CAROLINA
NY Jets -4 vs. DETROIT
Arizona +10 vs. MINNESOTA
ATLANTA -10 vs. Tampa Bay
Chicago -2.5 vs. BUFFALO
New England -4 vs. CLEVELAND
HOUSTON +2.5 vs. San Diego
SEATTLE +7.5 vs. NY Giants
Indianapolis +1 vs. PHILADELPHIA
Kansas City +1 vs. OAKLAND
Dallas +9 vs. GREEN BAY
