Boise State loses; Auburn and Oregon move closer to BCS Championship Game

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.

Additional Football Picks

Tennessee +7 vs. HOUSTON

Miami +3.5 vs. OAKLAND

Football Picks

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.  


Last Week: 9-6-1
Overall: 65-45-3

Happy Thanksgiving

Football picks to follow.

Bill Russell to receive medal of freedom

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.

Weekend Football Picks

College

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


Last Week: 5-8
Overall: 56-39-2

What's wrong with the Miami Heat?

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.

Here is how they will do it.

Weekend Watching: Sunday Night Football

Sunday Night Football on NBC, Sunday at 8pm ET.

From nbcsports.msnbc.com

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.

Google Chrome is awesome

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.

Source: www.oneweb20.it

Weekend Football Picks

College

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


Last Week: 5-8
Overall: 56-39-2