NFL Picks

PHILADELPHIA -8 vs. Washington
Atlanta -11 vs. TAMPA BAY
San Francisco -10.5 vs. ST. LOUIS
Chicago +1 vs. MINNESOTA
GREEN BAY +3.5 vs. Detroit
NY GIANTS -3 vs. Dallas
NEW ORLEANS -8 vs. Carolina
Tennessee -2.5 vs. HOUSTON
Baltimore -2 vs. CINCINNATI
Pittsburgh -7 vs. CLEVELAND
Indianapolis +4 vs. JACKSONVILLE
MIAMI -2 vs. NY Jets
NEW ENGLAND -10.5 vs. Buffalo
OAKLAND -3 vs. San Diego
Kansas City +3.5 vs. DENVER
Seattle +3 vs. ARIZONA

Last Week: 4-12
Season:  112-116-11

8 Patriots Named to Pro Bowl

The Patriots had eight players named to the Pro Bowl (LINK).

Clippers - Warriors Live Game Diary

I never thought I would be able to sit through an entire Clippers - Warriors game.  Yet here I am writing about one - on Christmas Night.

The game doesn't start for an hour and a half, so I'm killing time with the Bears - Packers football game and an extended pregame notes section (between pieces of pecan pie).

Merry Christmas

Watching the Celtics and getting ready to start the ham at halftime.

30 Thoughts On 30 Teams

I always say that I am a Celtics fan more than an NBA fan.  I'll watch any Celtics game, but probably not any random game on tv.  The Clippers and Lakers are "local" here in Vegas, so those games are on the regional FOX Sports channels.  Will watch some Clippers, probably not the Lakers. 

I like this sort of thing - and since I did one for baseball and football (see the archives), here are random thoughts on all 30 NBA teams.

Atlanta Hawks - Paying Joe Johnson max. money is a mistake they'll be paying for a long time.

Boston Celtics - I don't have a good feeling about this season.  If they make it to the playoffs in one piece, quoting KG, "anything is possible".

Charlotte Bobcats - No idea what is going on in Charlotte.  So Michael Jordan and I have something in common.

Chicago Bulls - Just extended Derrick Rose for max. money.  Should be good for the next half-decade, at least.

Cleveland Cavaliers - Rebuilding.  At least they have the ability to get better.

Dallas Mavericks - Lost a lot off of their championship team.  They could still make changes and get back tot he finals.

Denver Nuggets - Also-rans since losing Carmelo Anthony.  Didn't help that some of their players left for China during the lockout.

Detroit Pistons - Team in disarray.

Golden State Warriors - Should trade Monta Ellis.

Houston Rockets - Devastated by losing Yao and having the Chris Paul to Lakers deal overturned.  

Indiana Pacers - Sleeper.

LA Clippers - Fun to watch.  How good, I don't know (I think good).  Look like they want to throw an alley-oop on every play.

LA Lakers - See Boston Celtics.  Wake me up when the playoffs arrive.

Memphis Grizzlies - Nice run last season.  May not get any better than that.

Miami Heat - Favorites to win it all. 

Milwaukee Bucks - Don't like the look of this team.  Would not want to hang my hat on Brandon Jennings being my go-to guy.

Minnesota Timberwolves - See Indiana Pacers. Sleeper.

New Jersey Nets - They're going to throw money around.  We'll see who takes it.  Good for them (Williams, Howard, shooter).  Bad for them (Not Williams and Not Howard).

New Orleans Hornets - About the only fun thing here will be watching Eric Gordon run amock until  it's his turn to leave town.

New York Knicks - Carmelo is good.  Not sure they can trust Amare to stay healthy long enough to contend.

Oklahoma City Thunder - See Chicago Bulls.  Should be good for the next half-decade, at least.

Seattle Supersonics - Should still exist.  One of the most disgusting things I have seen in sports during my lifetime.

Orlando Magic - Dunno until Dwight Howard situation is resolved.

Philadelphia Sixers - Meh.

Phoenix Suns - Steve Nash, otherwise Meh.

Portland Trail Blazers - Too bad about Brandon Roy...and Greg Oden...

Sacramento Kings - May not be all that good, but at least they'll be interesting.  Jimmer, Evans, Cousins...

San Antonio Spurs - Window closing?  Duncan is one of the best ever.

Toronto Raptors - At least they're in Canada, where I won't be seeing them very often.  

Utah Jazz - Mediocre.

Washington Wizards - Poor man's LA Clippers (yeah that sounds weird).  Wall, McGee,, Crawford and Vesely represent young potential that may or may not ever turn into a winner.

NFL Picks

Thought I may have another good week before Baltimore and Pittsburgh let me down.  I'll take those losses because they mean the Patriots are currently the top seed in the AFC.

Houston -6 vs. INDIANAPOLIS
Oakland +2 vs. KANSAS CITY
Denver -2.5 vs. BUFFALO
TENNESSEE -7 vs. Jacksonville
Arizona +4 vs. CINCINNATI
NEW ENGLAND -9.5 vs. Miami
Cleveland +13 vs. BALTIMORE
NY JETS -3 vs. NY Giants
WASHINGTON -6 vs. Minnesota
Tampa Bay +7.5 vs. CAROLINA
St. Louis +16 vs. PITTSBURGH
DETROIT -2.5 vs. San Diego
San Francisco -2.5 vs. SEATTLE
DALLAS -1.5 vs. Philadelphia
Chicago +13.5 vs. GREEN BAY
NEW ORLEANS -6.5 vs. Atlanta

Last Week: 8-7-1
Season: 108-104-11

College Bowl Picks

Here are the rest of the pre-New Year's Bowls.  The New Year's Bowls through the BCS National Championship game will be posted around December 29.

Marshall +4 vs. Florida International

TCU - 9.5 vs. Louisiana Tech

Boise State -13.5 vs. Arizona State

Southern Mississippi -6.5 vs. Nevada

North Carolina +4.5 vs. Missouri

Purdue -2.5 vs. Western Michigan

NC State -2 vs. Louisville

Toledo -3 vs. Air Force

Texas -3 vs. California

Notre Dame +3 vs. Florida State

Baylor -9.5 vs. Washington

BYU - 2.5 vs. Tulsa
Rutgers -2 vs. Iowa State
Mississippi State -6.5 vs. Wake Forest
Iowa +14 vs. Oklahoma
Texas A&M -10 vs Northwestern
Georgia Tech -3 vs. Utah
Illinois -2.5 vs. UCLA
Vanderbilt -1 vs. Cincinnati
Auburn -1.5 vs. Virginia

Bowls to Date: 1-2
Season: 48-39-2

Holidays in Vegas

I took my camera out to take a few pictures of holiday decorations in some of the strip casinos.

Patriots - Broncos Live Diary

Pregame

What looked like an absolutely wretched group of early games has turned out to be pretty interesting.  I'm watching the Chiefs try to put away the undefeated Packers.  The score is 12-7 and the Chiefs are on the Packers 5 yard line.  They have moved the ball, but not been able to convert to touchdowns.

4:51 - The Packers are in real trouble now.Jackie Battle rushes in from 1 yard for the touchdown.  19-7 Chiefs.

And the Colts are leading Tennessee 20-13.

My predictions from a few weeks ago were that the Packers do not go undefeated (regular season) and the Colts remain win-less.  So I'll be right on GB, wrong on Indianapolis.

1:47 - Packers scored, but now the Chiefs are killing the clock.  TV is reviewing an earlier play by KC that could have been ruled a touchback.  I would have challenged if I was Green Bay.

1:34 - Chiefs have been running all over GB at the end, so the Chiefs should now be able to run out the clock.

Nice job Romeo.  Final: Chiefs 19   Packers 14.

Now the question is, could this loss be the best thing to happen to Green Bay?  Maybe.  I don't feel like giving that much thought right now.

Didn't think Buffalo would roll over at home against Miami.  Everything else makes sense.

Patriots - Broncos should be starting in a couple minutes.

For the record, I pick Patriots -7.5.  Patriots 30  Broncos 13.

So let the Tebowing begin...

Football Picks

College Bowls

Temple -6.5 vs. Wyoming
Utah State -2.5 vs. Ohio
San Diego State -4 vs. UL Lafayette

Last Week: 0-1
Season:  47-37-2

NFL

Dallas -7 vs. TAMPA BAY
Washington +6.5 vs. NY GIANTS
Green Bay -13.5 vs KANSAS CITY
New Orleans -6.5 vs. MINNESOTA
Seattle +4 vs CHICAGO
BUFFALO -1 vs. Miami
Carolina +6 vs. HOUSTON
Tennessee -6.5 vs INDIANAPOLIS
Cincinnati -6.5 vs. ST. LOUIS
OAKLAND +1 vs. Detroit
New England -7.5 vs DENVER
NY Jets +3 vs. PHILADELPHIA
ARIZONA -6.5 vs. Cleveland
Baltimore -2.5 vs. SAN DIEGO
Pittsburgh +2.5 vs. SAN FRANCISCO

Scary all the road picks, especially the favorites.  Also all the 6.5 spreads.  They are curent Hilton or MGM Grand lines as of me writing this (Pitt-SF is Bodog).  (LINK)

Was horribly wrong about Thursday Night Football.  To be honest, I changed my mind on the Jags because of what they did to Tampa last week.  Shouldn't have gone against my initial judgment.  So I'm 0-1 this week to date. 

Thursday Night Football Pick

Will do the rest of the NFL and early bowl picks soon.

Jacksonville +12 vs. ATLANTA

Falcons win, but do not cover...

Last Week: 11-5
Season: 100-97-10

Michael Jackson: THE IMMORTAL World Tour

Many people are too young to know, or have forgotten, how brilliant a performer Michael Jackson was in the 70's and 80's.  There was a time when he was the best in the world.  His singing, stage performance, and artistic creativity were brilliant.  Jackson collaborated with the some of the greatest musicians and guitarists to enhance his music.  I, like most people, never saw him perform live.

Over the years, much has tarnished Jackson's legacy.  There are also places where the greatness of Michael Jackson are highlighted and preserved.  I had the opportunity to experience one of those last night.

I went to Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson: THE IMMORTAL World Tour at Mandalay Bay Event Center.  The show opened recently, in Montreal, and will be in various cities before taking up residency at Mandalay Bay in 2013.  I purchased tickets a month ago because I was really excited to see the show.  Since, I have emails for discounted tickets.  My expectations for the show were very high.

Spoiler Alert:  This post contains information and opinions about the performance, as well as a video courtesy of Cirque du Soleil.  I try not to reveal too much.

Football Picks

NFL


PITTSBURGH -14 vs. Cleveland
BALTIMORE -16.5 vs. Indianapolis
Houston +3 vs. CINCINNATI
Oakland +11.5 vs. GREEN BAY
NY JETS -9 vs. Kansas City
Minnesota +8 vs. DETROIT
New Orleans -3.5 vs. TENNESSEE
Philadelphia +3 vs. MIAMI
New England -8 vs. WASHINGTON
Atlanta -2.5 vs. CAROLINA
JACKSONVILLE +1 vs. Tampa Bay
San Francisco -3.5 vs. ARIZONA
Chicago +3.5 vs. DENVER
SAN DIEGO -7 vs. Buffalo
NY Giants +3.5 vs. DALLAS
SEATTLE -4.5 vs. St. Louis

Last Week: 8-7-1
Season: 89-92-10


College


Navy -7 vs. Army (at Landover, MD)

Last Week: 4-2
Season: 47-36-2

Top Ten Reasons San Diego State and Boise State are joining the Big East

The media is reporting that The Big East Conference will be adding five schools, including San Diego State and Boise State for football only.

Right off the top, this makes perfect sense.  But all joking in place, here are the Top Ten Reasons San Diego State and Boise State are joining the Big East.

10. Schools hope to supplement current endowment with frequent flyer miles.

9.  San Diego State is tired of all the seventy-degree, cold weather football games in November and December.

8.  Boise State aspires to one day have a "last place in the Big East" caliber basketball program.

7.  Schools get to renew their long-standing football rivalries with Rutgers and UConn.

6.  The SEC would not take them.

5.  Nobody studies geography in college anymore.

4.  Hope to expand current recruiting base to football hotbeds such as Maine and Vermont.

3.  Southwest flies west to most Big East destinations, with only a short layover - in London.

2.  Should feel right at home after the Big East rightfully loses its automatic BCS bid.

and the #1 reason San Diego State and Boise State are joining the Big East is...

1.  Always wanted to compete for a berth in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium, against the 8th place team from the Big 12.

College Bowl Match-ups

College bowl match-ups were announced today.  I'll probably break the picks up into before and after New Year's Day games.  Before that, here are a few first impressions from looking at the schedule.

Manning, Luck, and the #1 Draft Pick

The Colts - Patriots game is at 10am Sunday and not on local tv, so no there won't be a live diary this Sunday. I'll probably watch the game at the MGM sportsbook.  I'd have plenty of good material for this game between recent rivals, but instead I'll unload some of it here.