Category: Game Picks

It’s Madness!!

During this first day of MARCH MADNESS, upsets galore!! Midwest three-seed Georgetown out of Washington D.C., playing a Midwest first round game in Providence Rhode Island (what?) lost to 14-seed Ohio.

Meanwhile, West four-seed Vanderbilt out of Tennessee, playing in San Jose, California (makes sense) was upset at the buzzer by 13-seed Murray State.

After that game in the same gym, an East Regional game (huh?) pairing 11-seed and Pac-10 tournament champion Washington upsetting the East six-seed Marquette Golden Eagles.

Georgetown should’ve been in the East Regional playing in Providence, Rhode Island.

Vanderbilt should’ve have been in New Orleans instead of San Jose playing in the South Regional.

Washington, already playing in San Jose, but in the East Regional, should’ve been in the West Regional playing in San Jose.

But let’s get back to the Marquette University Golden Eagles out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Back before being “politically correct” became the norm, her athletic teams were known as the Warriors.

Marquette was the Warriors in the early 1970s when Al McGuire led Bo Ellis and Butch Lee to a National Basketball Title beating Dean Smith and North Carolina.

I bring this up because of an episode of “That 70’s Show,” which takes place in Milwaukee, I recently happened to catch on FX. The episode was about the teens in the cast going to visit the University of Wisconsin and Marquette. The guys went to visit the WU in Madison, while the girls went to visit MU in Milwaukee.

In the Marquette scenes of the show, athletic posters adorned some of the walls. They read “Marquette Golden Eagles”. WRONG! In the 70s, Marquette was referred to as the “Marquette Warriors.”

Typically on shows revolving around a certain period of time back in our history, like “That 70’s Show,” have behind the scenes staff that’s required to make sure all posters, names, mascots anything that is used on camera coincides with what they were in the time period the show re-creates.

“That 70’s Show” staff either didn’t do their homework. Or, they felt, to remain politically correct, and not offend anyone, they let the “Marquette Golden Eagle” slide for this instance thinking no one would catch the mistake.

Sorry “That 70’s Show”. But, I’m the one who pays attention to details like that especially since it’s a sports name issue.

My thought is being a “Warrior” isn’t something offensive or politically incorrect. It describes a proud defender. Considering that is sometimes how we refer to our own Men and Women in uniform, I think “That 70’s Show” blew it.

With that said, I’ll still watch “That 70’s Show”.  I love that show!!

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Syracuse: Top Seed in the West Region. What?

Take out your brackets and work with me on this one. I, absolutely, love March Madness, especially the first two weeks when, Thursday thru Sunday, you have wall-to-wall college basketball from, depending on what region you’re in, early morning to the wee hours of the late night………… morning.

The regions, and seeding in those regions, are the issue. Having the West, Midwest, South and East Regions makes no sense anymore considering teams from every one of those regions sometimes don’t even play in their respective regions anymore. They add up the frequent-flyer mileage crossing the country, to and from all different regions, if they should happen to be fortunate enough to get to the Final Four, which happens to be in the North (Indianapolis), a region that’s not even represented in the March Madness scheme of things, at least on a “bracketology” map.

However, teams from the North are represented in March Madness. See what I mean!!

For instance, the top-seeded team in the West Region this year is Syracuse. That’s in the Northwest corner of New York state……on the east coast. The Orange plays its first West Region game Friday…………in Buffalo………in the northern part of New York State. Meanwhile, Gonzaga out of Spokane, Washington is seeded eighth in the West. The Bulldogs’ first West Region game is also Friday……………in Buffalo, New York! I KNOW! If you’re not a college hoops fan, your only thought is…………WHAT THE……!!!

Here’s another one for you non-college hoops geeks. Buffalo’s also hosting first and second round games in the East Region. The East Regional Semi’s and Finals are in Syracuse, New York. So, how is it that the Syracuse Orange aren’t the top-seed in the East. Kentucky is. By the way, Spokane Washington is hosting Midwest and South Regional first and second round games. But the “Zags” are nowhere to be found. Well, you can find ‘em. They’ll be in Buffalo.  You get the picture.

“Who’s on First. What’s on Second. I Don’t Know’s on third. Tomorrow’s your Pitcher and he’s throwing to Today (catcher).”

What?

Used to be the top teams from each region WERE from each region and you had to win YOUR region to get to where ever the Final Four happened to be. That was “back in the day” when the tournament was only 16 and 32 teams. UCLA won 10 National Championships under college hoops coaching god, John Wooden. The Bruins came out of the West region every time.

Of course, NOW, it’s all about TV and money…………yada, yada. Get the best teams in, regardless of region. That’s fine with me. So, NOW, you can be from the University of California……………the regular-season Pacific 10 Champion, on the West Coast……………and you’re seeded eighth in the South Region and have to play your first round game in Jacksonville, Florida. At least they have Jacksonville’s region right.

Wait! Now, the NCAA College Basketball Suits are discussing the possibility of expanding March Madness from the current 65 teams to 96! DON’T DO IT!!! March Madness is already expanded. The extra teams/games are called CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS!! ESPN calls it CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK!

If you’re going to expand March Madness Games for another week, there’s no excuse to NOT HAVE A PLAYOFF in the College Football Bowl Sub-Division (1A). I’ll stay away from that one for now.

There are 16 seeds in each of the four regions. Top four seeds in each are the favorites to advance to the national “Sweet 16.”

But, when you look at the top four seeds in the West Region, not one school is from out West. The top four West seeds are:

1. Syracuse (New York) – Big East regular-season champion
2. Kansas State (Kansas) – Big 12 regular-season runner-up
3. Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) – Big East regular-season runner-up
4. Vanderbilt (Tennessee) – Lost in SEC Tourney quarter-final

Both the Pac-10 regular-season and conference tournament champions aren’t in the West Region. We discussed West Coast Conference regular season champion Gonzaga playing in the West Region where they belong. But not in Buffalo! WCC tourney champion St. Mary’s isn’t in the West region.

There are a total of 14 teams out of the West region of the country in March Madness this year. Yet not one is seeded in the top four of the West Region. The primary men’s college basketball conferences in the West:

1. The Pacific-10 – Washington, California

2. The Mountain West – BYU, UNLV, San Diego St., New Mexico

3. Conference USA – UTEP, Houston

4. Western Athletic – Utah St., New Mexico St.

5. West Coast – St. Mary’s, Gonzaga

6. Big West – UC Santa Barbara

7. Big Sky – Montana

Based on seedings in other regions, New Mexico is the highest at three in the East. They should be the top four seed in the West. Also based on the top 25 where New Mexico and St. Mary’ reside, all should be in the West region. Even though the Pac-10 had an “off year”, seems to me Washington and/or Cal should be in the West region.

All I’m suggesting is all regions should have a team/teams from that region in the top-four seeds.

With all that said and suggested, it should be another great March Madness………………that ends the first weekend in April. Huh?

Oh. Here’s my FINAL FOUR:

West Region – Kansas State
Midwest Region – Kansas
East Region – Kentucky
South Region – Duke

Final Game: Kansas and Kentucky

National Champion: KANSAS

Of course I’ve probably put an unintended curse on all four teams and I’ll be completely shut-out in the Final Four. But, that’s why it’s called March Madness……………………that ends the first weekend in April.

What?

Well. Anyway……………ENJOY THE GAMES.

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Hey NFL! Did You Watch the Gold Medal Hockey Game and Learn!!

The National Football League should really take a long, hard look at the Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Championship Game and the way it was broadcast.

The Game is part of the Olympic Event. The game doesn’t exist without the event. No six hours of hype before the event. No analyzing the same thing over and over again. No looking for stories to fill time that border on tabloid journalism.

NBC said the game was going to be live in all time zones, noon Pacific, three Eastern time. Five minutes to set the scene. Then they drop the puck. Plain and simple.

Intermissions between periods were the standard 10 to 15 minutes tops, just like the other tournament games and the same as regular season and post-season NHL games. No doubling each intermission to accommodate a “mini-concert” featuring The Who, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney … and certainly no “wardrobe malfunction” to worry about either.

The game is about the teams and players … which the NFL seems to have a problem understanding when it comes to the Super Bowl. Every other game during the season, including all playoff games and the conference championships, don’t divert from the usual routine of 15 minutes at halftime.

Except for the Super Bowl which has a 45 minute intermission to milk the event for everything it can by putting on a mini-concert. That takes players and teams out of the routine each is used to based on the symmetry of halftimes during the season.

That’s unfair to the players and teams, especially the ones that have to dig themselves out of a two touchdown hole, to have to sit and wait an extra half hour to get used to the hitting and speed of the game again after that extended “down time” between halves.

Whereas the Gold Medal Championship Game is part of the “Olympic Event”, it’s the opposite with the Super Bowl. Without the Super Bowl Game, there is no Event.

The Event is the Game with the participating players and teams having priority over glorified “variety shows with over-the-hill bands“. Everything else is just a glorified “tail-gate party”. An expensive one at that.

NFL, just tee it up and play!!

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Saints Ice SB XLIV on Tracey Porter Pick, Beat Colts, 31-17

Under five minutes left in Super Bowl 44. Saints up 24-17. “St. Peyton Manning” and the Colts driving for the tying score. That’s when New Orleans defensive back Tracey Porter reads Manning’s eyes and steps in front of Indy receiver Reggie Wayne and intercepts the pill going the other way 74 yards for the winning touchdown.

Below is an excerpt from my Super Bowl 44 prediction posted Saturday:

“It’s hard to go against Peyton Manning and the Colts because Manning is a surgeon on the field cutting up the league’s best defense for 377 passing yards and three TD’s in the AFC Championship. But Brees and the Saints can light it up as well. So, it’s about the defenses. Because Freeney, the Colts monster pass-rusher, will be much less than 100%, I think the Saints’ opportunistic defense might have the edge and will come at a third straight future hall-of-fame QB with a bull-rush causing turnovers which, ultimately, will be the difference in the game. That plays right into New Orleans’ hands.”

Thank You! Those hands belonged to Tracey Porter of the Opportunistic Saints Defense working their eighth turnover of the post-season. It iced the Saints first Super Bowl championship. The Saints are a deserving team who played the best during the playoff run. Think about it.

The Saints defense stopped three sure hall-of-fame quarterbacks in consecutive games, driving one to retire…..maybe two. Arizona’s Kurt Warner, who decided to hang it up after a vicious hit delivered by the Saints defense. Minnesota’s Brett Favre, who may retire….again…then unretire….again, and Indianapolis’ Peyton Manning.

Got to give it up to Saints quarterback and Super Bowl 44 MVP Drew Brees who completed 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. The moment with his son after the game was priceless. How about head coach Sean Payton. Going for the win TWICE. Unsuccessful towards the end of the first half going for it on fourth and goal. Then, after The Who’s halftime extravaganza, opens the second half with a successful on-side kick that gave the Saints momentum. You might say it was “very Boise St. of coach Payton” to go for broke. The Saints out-played the Colts from the second quarter on out-scoring Indianapolis 31-7 after falling behind 10-0 in the first.

Congratulations to the World Champion New Orleans Saints, the people of the “Big Easy” and the entire state of Louisiana. Never though I’d ever see the Saints win a Super Bowl. WHO DAT!

“Bloop Single”

*Let’s try it again. Super Bowl XLV (45) at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas.  Minnesota over San Diego.

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Super Bowl XLIV (44)

Sun Life Stadium – Miami, Florida

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (NFC 15-3) +5 vs. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (AFC 16-2) OVER/UNDER 56.5pts

Plenty of story lines in this one. New Orleans’ “First Family of Football”, the Manning’s, will be pulling for Indianapolis and the Colts second Super Bowl Title in four seasons because, of course, quarterback Peyton Manning is Archie’s son. Archie, of course, is the former Saints quarterback who’s been with the Saints organization for 39 years, now as a broadcaster. In case you were wondering, he won’t be in the radio booth Sunday.

The Saints will be making their first Super Bowl appearance in the 43 year history of the franchise. Just five years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the “Big Easy”, quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints are carrying, not just a team, the entire city of New Orleans and surrounding areas that were devastated by the storm.

OK. Let’s look at the numbers because this game could be like a “pinball machine” going crazy with bells ringing and points flying. The Saints have the league’s top offense averaging just under 32 points per game. Brees was the league’s top rated passer throwing for 4,388 yards and 34 touchdowns. The Colts ranked seventh overall in offense scoring 26 points per game. Manning was right behind Brees throwing for 4,500 yards and 33 touchdowns. The advantage could go to the Saints because their running game ranked sixth in the league while the Colts’ ranked dead last. The Saints averaging about 131 yards a game using a trio of backs featuring former USC Heisman Trophy winner, Reggie Bush. The Colts only averaged about 80 yards a game on the ground featuring LSU product Joseph Addai who was effective in the “Red Zone” scoring 10 TD’s off the run putting him sixth in the league. So far this post-season, Indy hasn’t scored on the ground relying on Manning’s golden arm while the Saints have totaled three TD’s from land in the playoffs.

Defensively, both teams are classic “bend, but don’t break” teams allowing yardage between the 20’s and tightening up when opponents get in that red zone.  The Colts have been impressive during the playoffs after ranking eighth in scoring defense during the regular season giving up an average of 19 points per game. They’ve pretty much shut down both the Baltimore Ravens and, after allowing yardage and two touchdowns in the first half, dominated the New York Jets in the AFC Championship shutting them out in the second half.  But, all-pro defensive end Dwight Freeney is going to be hampered because of a severely sprained right ankle that occurred against the Jets.

The Saints ranked 20th in the league during the season allowing 21 points per contest.  The Saints like to gamble on defense and are opportunistic having forced 39 turnovers during the regular season and seven during the playoffs. New Orleans Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams likes to go after the quarterback. They knocked a couple of future hall-of-famers out forcing Arizona QB Kurt Warner out of the divisional playoff game and into retirement, then ganging up on Minnesota’s Brett Favre. The Vikings amassed double the yardage the Saints totaled in the NFC Championship. Five turnovers were the difference.

It’s hard to go against Peyton Manning and the Colts because Manning is a surgeon on the field cutting up the league’s best defense for 377 passing yards and three TD’s in the AFC Championship. But Brees and the Saints can light it up as well. So, it’s about the defenses. Because Freeney, the Colts monster pass-rusher, will be much less than 100%, I think the Saints’ opportunistic defense might have the edge and will come at a third straight future hall-of-fame QB with a bull-rush causing turnovers which, ultimately, will be the difference in the game. That plays right into New Orleans’ hands. This game will be something like, 43-38. A Colts turnover or two will be the difference. SAINTS, 43-38.

MISSED PLAYOFFS: LOS ANGELES*
*15 years, 22 weeks and counting.  Expect a big announcement in the next week or two about Los Angeles returning to the NFL as early as next season.

Remember, use my picks to wager $$$ at your own risk. If you lose, I had nothing to do with it. If you win beaucoup $$$, a 10% tip would be cool.  But, I’m realistic. This is just for your entertainment…or not, and for me to keep my sports “mojo” going until “I’m back in the saddle”. Remember the league’s unofficial motto…“ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAY, MONDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY OR SATURDAY“…………

“Bloop Singles”

What an incredible Hall-of-Fame class that will be inducted in Canton, Ohio in the Summer. The “Magnificent Seven” features two of  the greatest who ever played the game.  San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice, who also played for Oakland, Denver and Seattle in his 20 year journey to three Super Bowl Titles and becoming the all-time leading  receiver in history. Dallas Cowboys running back Emmett Smith, who finished his career in Arizona, won three Super Bowls as well and is the all-time leading rusher in league history.

Joining them for induction August 7th at the Hall, former New Orleans Saints linebacker Ricky Jackson, former Washington Redskins offensive lineman Russ Grimm, Denver Broncos running back Floyd Little, Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman John Randle and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.

Two glaring names didn’t make this year’s cut. Wide receivers Tim Brown of the LA/Oakland Raiders and Chris Carter who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Minnesota Vikings. Sure shots for the class of 2011.

No Kobe. No Bynum. No problem. Remember. Lakers coach Phil Jackson calls the 82 game regular season the “marathon” that prepares you for the “sprint” that is the playoffs. No worries.

I don’t know about you. But, to me, Super Bowl Sunday is the TRUE end to the Holiday Season. ENJOY!!

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Dunleavy “Clips” Himself

So Mike Dunleavy’s the winningest coach in franchise history with a record of 215 wins against 325 losses in seven years as the Los Angeles Clippers head coach. Looks more like he’s the losingest.

Dunleavy stepped down earlier today as the Clippers head coach after a promising eight game road-trip crashed and burned. Hoping to win enough of the eight to give the Clips a shot at reaching the .500 mark by this month’s All-Star Game in Dallas, Los Angeles’ other team finds themselves seven games under .500 falling to 12th in the Western Conference.

Dunleavy’s resignation had to happen after the Clippers lost to the two worst teams in the league during the just completed road-trip, at New Jersey and at Minnesota, in back-to-back games by a combined 30 points. There’s no excuse for that with a team that has playoff talent even without number one overall draft pick Blake Griffin who’s out for the season with a broken knee-cap. You’ve got one of the four best centers in the league in Chris Kaman, one of the league’s best defensive players in forward Marcus Camby and the starting guard tandem is truly one of the better ones barring injury with second year guard Eric Gordon (who’s had problems keeping clear of those lately) and Baron Davis. Throw in Al Thorton or Rasual Butler at the other forward and that’s a playoff starting five.

Assistant Kim Hughes will take over as interim head coach for the remaining 32 regular season games while Dunleavy retains his position as the teams general manager.

Although highly unlikely, making the playoffs still isn’t out of reach for the Clippers. They’ll need to string some wins together for a shot at it. However, it looks more like another trip to the draft lottery. They have plenty of cap space to go after a marquee free agent next year with some believing even Cleveland’s LeBron James might make his way to the Clippers. For that to happen, they’ll need to dump more salaries for more space to entice LeBron to make the leap. So, look for GM Dunleavy to trade Marcus Camby, who’s in high demand by other teams, to a contender by the February 18th trade deadline.

As far as possible head coaching candidates for the Clips, how about Byron Scott. He’s available after being canned by New Orleans earlier in the season. Makes plenty of sense to get the former NBA coach of the year. He played in L.A. with the Lakers during the Showtime Era of the 1980’s. Many think he’s the successor to Phil Jackson on the Lakers bench. I think the Lakers will promote from within, naming either assistant Jim Cleamons or Brian Shaw head coach, to keep that “Triangle Offense” going after the Zen Master rides off into the Montana Sunset for good.

How about former Clippers guard Sam Cassell, who has openly campaigned to be the Clippers head coach. I think that could be a good move. He’s a former player a few of the current Clips have played with, including the 2006 team that came within a win of the Western Conference Finals. Yeah, the Clippers were just five wins from making the NBA Finals just four seasons ago.

Interesting to see who GM Dunleavy and owner Donald Sterling tab as the new coach to guide the Clippers, with the healthy Blake Griffin, beginning next season. In the meantime, Donald. You really ought to think about what KNBC 4 Sports Director Fred Roggin suggested a few weeks back. Change the name of the team, the colors and uniforms and start over. The “Clippers Curse” thing just won’t go away.

“Bloop Single”

-ESPN.com’s Shelley Smith is reporting that 13 year-old quarterback David Sills accepted a scholarship offer from USC football coach Lane Kiffin.

-YES! I said 13 year-old!!  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!

-Sills plays for Red Lion Christian Academy in Bear, Delaware. RLCA was in Los Angeles this past November for a couple of games and, obviously, caught the eye of some college scouts. WHAT??

-Get ready for a big announcement regarding Los Angeles and the NFL the week after Super Bowl  44.  Let’s just say, L.A.’s ready for some pro football AGAIN….FINALLY!!

Answer to trivia question:  Before Miami last week, which main-land city was the last to host a Pro Bowl Game?   Los Angeles, 1979. The NFC won 13-7 at the Memorial Coliseum.

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Unfinished Business. Don’t Go Anywhere, Brett!

I don’t know about you, but I had a blast watching 19-year veteran Brett Favre play quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings this year. I was really hoping the Vikings would get by the Saints and into the Super Bowl because I’d pay the $1000 ticket price to see Favre and Peyton Manning duel for a  championship. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be…………….this year.

Brings me to this. The 40 year-old future hall-of-fame “gun-slinger” needs to come back for his 20th season, the one year left on his two-year contract, and finish the job getting the Minnesota Vikings to Super Bowl XLV….win or lose.  One more run, Brett.

The Vikings were the better team in their 31-28 NFC Championship Game over-time loss to New Orleans.  The Norsemen out-gained the Saints almost two to one. Problem is, you really can’t expect to win with five turn-overs and a “12-man on the field penalty” that takes you out of  game-winning field goal range. Don’t get me wrong, the Saints are worthy champions. They were the more “opportunistic” team taking advantage of those Viking miscues. That’s part of a run to a championship.

Back to Favre. I understand most fans are tired of his “un-retiring act” the past two summers and don‘t want to go through that again. So, Favre should just stay un-retired. Let’s be honest here. The Green Bay Packers wanted him to retire because Aaron Rogers’ time is now.  That’s quite evident. But, back then, at 38 years of age, and now at 40, it’s clear Favre’s not done at all.  Even last year with the New York Jets, until that shoulder injury undermined what looked like a Jets playoff run. Statistically, he had his best season as a pro this year guiding the Vikes to the NFC Title Game. He threw a career-best four touchdowns in Minnesota’s 34-3 pasting of the Dallas Cowboys in the division playoff game. Favre, virtually, had the Vikings on South Beach until that “CFL moment” and subsequent interception crashed and burned the Vikings Super Bowl plans. You know what, he was smiling all the way having fun.

If you ask me, if Favre’s having fun and, considering the inevitable bumps and bruises a quarterback takes, stays relatively healthy, why shouldn’t he come back. Like he said in his press conference after the title game loss, he’s got nothing to prove. No matter what happens from now on, Favre’s proved all us sports pundits wrong.  He’s finishing on top. Favre’s an entertainer and we should all expect nothing but the best in entertainment if we’re going to plop in our easy chairs on Sunday afternoons.  Favre’s fun to watch.

Fact is, Farve is still one of the best at his position.  32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL.  The best right now….. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, Carson Palmer, Philip Rivers. Only one I’d take over Favre…… Peyton. Same goes with Arizona’s Kurt Warner. If healthy, he should come back too.  If Favre doesn’t come back, who will the Vikings have at quarterback….Tarvaris Jackson? That didn’t work. Sage Rosenfels? Maybe back to  John David Booty. I don‘t think so..

Anyway, didn’t hall-of-fame QB/K George Blanda play until he was 45 years old. I remember watching him take apart Tom Landry’s Cowboys after Ken Stabler couldn’t go for the Oakland Raiders……love handle’s, pot-belly, wrinkles, gray hair and all!! Come on, it was the 1970’s. Athlete’s didn’t take care of their bodies back then like they do now. Favre’s still in top-shape.

ESPN NFL blogger Adam Glazer hit the nail on the head earlier this week when he said Vikings head coach Brad Childress should get Favre a personal trainer and let him enjoy summer vacation with his family. Then, show up at training camp for the final pre-season game and be ready to rock and roll. Favre doesn’t need six weeks of training camp anymore. Come on, look at what he did showing up last summer with about two weeks left .

It’s not as if he‘s playing like an aging Johnny Unitas, the Colts legend looking like a has-been his final season with the Chargers. As long as Favre’s healthy, and barring crucial turn-overs and penalties, he‘s the Minnesota Vikings shot at the Super Bowl. But please, Brett……no un-retiring this time!

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Eric’s NFL Conference Championship Game Picks

LAST WEEK: 1-3 (4-4 overall)

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

#5 NEW YORK JETS +7.5 @ #1 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (over/under 39 points)
-Safe to say the Colts won’t “tank” this re-match while Jets players should hug every Colts player prior to kick-off for this opportunity to play for a shot at the Super Bowl. The Christmas Gift was delivered December 27th when, with a 14-0 record, home-field secured for the playoffs and a 15-10 lead over the Jets, who needed to win to keep post-season hopes alive, Colts coach Jim Caldwell pulled all his starters in the third quarter. Jets jumped at the opportunity scoring 19 unanswered points for a 29-15 win.

Don’t be fooled. The Jets belong. They’ve won seven of their last eight including the two playoff wins thanks to the league’s best defense and top running game anchored by that monster offensive line. Over the last eight games only the Colts have scored more than 14 on New York. Rookie Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan has his team playing patient football, evident in last week’s division win over high-powered San Diego. Aided by some Chargers missed field goals, New York’s defense surrendered just seven points through three quarters frustrating the Bolts. Meanwhile, on offense, the Jets rookie tandem of Sanchez and RB Shonn Greene “broke” through a worn-out Chargers defense scoring 17 straight on their way to a 17-14 win. In the two playoff wins, Greene’s carried the rock 44 times for 263 yards and two touchdowns while Sanchez has completed 24 of 38 passes for 282 yards, two scores and a pick.

QB and MVP “St. Peyton Manning” and the Colts are 3-0 in the post-season against Rex Ryan defenses beating the Baltimore Ravens the previous two post-seasons with Ryan as their defensive coordinator. Ironically, the Colts beat Baltimore, 20-3 last week to get to the title game against Ryan’s Jets and will be much more patient against the New York’s “D“ than the Chargers. Looking at stats, the Colts should be the logical under-dog in this one ranking last in the league in rushing, 7th overall offensively, and 24th against the run, 8th overall defensively. A little deceiving because those stats are reflective of what happens between the 20’s. The Colts rely on the pass to get to the end zone but once they get inside the “Red Zone”, they can punch it in with RB Joseph Addai who ran for 10 scores during the season tying him for sixth overall. Obviously, Manning’s Golden Arm and speedy receivers are thee “WMD‘s” for the Indy Offense. Jets all-pro DB Darrelle Revis can only cover one guy per play. Colts defense can play the run when it has to. They only gave up 87 rushing yards to the Ravens last week, after Baltimore ran all over New England the week before, and 307 total points during the season, 7th fewest in the league. They have to stop New York’s ground game and make Sanchez beat them. Colts have one of the top pairs of all-pro defensive ends in Dwight Freeney (13.5 sacks) and Robert Mathis (9.5 sacks). Jets better be able to run or Sanchez will be in trouble.

Anyway, did you know this is the first time a conference championship game features a Super Bowl Re-Match? Yup. Before the AFL-NFL merger in 1971, the heavily-favored Baltimore Colts represented the NFL losing to Joe Nammath’s AFL Jets, 16-7 in Super Bowl III in Miami. In another ironic twist, the winner of Sunday’s AFC Title Game earns a trip to Miami for Super Bowl XLIV. Did you, also, know Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez has as many playoff wins as Nammath did his entire career (2.…Nammath’s Super Bowl win‘s counted as a Championship game win). Sanchez will have to wait and win at least two, if not three, more playoff games to have a shot at a Super Bowl.
COLTS, 16-7 (just for fun).

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

#2 MINNESOTA VIKINGS +3.5 @ #1 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (O/U 52.5 pts)
-THE BIG EASY’S GONNA BE ROCKIN’!!! The season’s two highest scoring teams going at it for a berth in the Super Bowl.

Vikings QB Brett Favre became the first 40 year old QB to win a playoff game in Minnesota’s 34-3 win over Dallas last week. Here’s what’s even more incredible. In his storied 19 year hall-of-fame career, that was the first time Favre threw four touchdown passes in a playoff game. He’s loving life because he’s got so many offensive weapons. Favre throws to Sidney Rice, who caught three of those four TD’s last week, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Percy Harvin (barring a migraine) and TE Visanthe Shiancoe who caught 11 TD’s during the season. Oh! I forgot. Favre can also hand it off to 1,000 yard rusher Adrian Peterson who tallied a league-leading 18 rushing touchdowns this season. He’s the difference to me because Peterson can take pressure off Favre’s shoulders by taking off against the league’s 25th ranked overall defense. That’ll open up the passing game.

Defensively, the Vikings are maliciously quick and fast. DE’s Jared Allen and Ray Edwards combined to sack Cowboys QB Tony Romo six times last week and were in his face for 25 of his 42 pass attempts. The Vikings led the league with 48 sacks during the season with Allen topping the league with 14.5. That’s key.

Saints QB Drew Brees also has some incredibly potent weapons. WR’s Marques Colston and Robert Meachem both scored nine TD’s during the season. He’s also got TE Jeremy Shockey from THE U. He’s got running backs Reggie Bush, Mike Bell and Pierre Thomas who all scored at least five TD’s as well during the season. Brees is going to have to pass quickly to these guys to avoid the Vikings pass rush. Bush had a stellar game in last week’s 45-14 win over Arizona. But that was against a Cardinals defense that became the first team in playoff history to allow 45 points in consecutive post-season games. Vikings “D” is a different story.

As for the Saints “D”, they were able to disrupt immobile Cardinals QB Kurt Warner last week with a bull rush because he’s a “stay at home pocket passer”. Not Favre. He creates on the run and can kill you in or out of the pocket…even at 40 (BTW, if I were Favre, I‘d picked up the option on the second year of his contract and come back next year. I say, let him play as long as he can and has fun). If Saints DT Sedric Ellis can stop Peterson and force Favre to make bad throws, which he’s done before, then the Saints secondary, led by Favre’s ex-Packers teammate Darren Sharper (also a former Viking) can take over. 11 different Saints secondary defenders combined for 26 interceptions during the season. I see Adrian Peterson having a huge day opening up the Vikes “O”. But, the Saints are at home in the SuperDome, so they’re going to be able to work some quick passes for big gains.

Anyway, Brett Favre won his only Super Bowl ring in the SuperDome leading Green Bay to a Super Bowl XXXI win over New England. The “Big Easy’s” hosted nine Super Bowls. But, this will be the first time it’s hosted the NFC Championship game. This will be the Saints second NFC Title Game appearance in four years having lost to the Bears in Chicago in 2006. Sticking to my NFC pick and score.
VIKINGS, 30-27 in OT.

That means it’ll be INDIANAPOLIS against MINNESOTA in the Super Bowl February 7th. But, wouldn’t be too surprised if the JETS and/or the SAINTS were headed to Miami. I’ll just stick with the VIKINGS and COLTS.

MISSED PLAYOFFS: LOS ANGELES*
*15 years, 20 weeks and counting. Expect a big announcement the week after the Super Bowl about Los Angeles returning to the NFL as early as next season.

Remember, use my picks to wager $$$ at your own risk. If you lose, I had nothing to do with it. If you win beaucoup $$$, a 10% tip would be cool. But, I’m realistic. This is just for your entertainment…or not, and for me to keep my sports “mojo” going until “I’m back in the saddle”. Remember the league’s unofficial motto…“ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAY, MONDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY OR SATURDAY“…………

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Eric’s NFL Divisional Playoff Picks

LAST WEEK: 3-1

AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

Saturday, January 16th
#6 BALTIMORE +6 @ #1 INDIANAPOLIS (OVER/UNDER 44pts)
-Colts will be playing their first meaningful game in about a month after tanking on a possible perfect season to win the Super Bowl. HUH???? You need to run the ball well and play some monster defense if you want to play deep into the post-season. Sounds like the Ravens. LB Ray Lewis and that “D” destroyed Tom Brady and the Patriots offense last week. Meanwhile, on offense, Raven RB’s Ray Rice and Willis MacGahee ran through the Pats “D” like a scorching knife through butta, baby!!!

Simply put, the Ravens are HOT having won four of their last five including last week’s 33-14 Wild Card win over New England. In their regular-season meeting, Colts eecked out a 17-15 win. Colts QB “St. Peyton Manning” completed 22 of 31 passes for 299 yards, a TD and two picks. History shows Indy loses its “MOJO” with a playoff bye week going 0-3 in games following the week off. Couple that with the two losses to end the regular season taking the proverbial “pedal off the metal”, doesn’t look good for the Colts. MOJO’s gone again while the Ravens have plenty of it.
RAVENS, 23-20.

Sunday, January 17th
#5 NY JETS +7 @ #2 SAN DIEGO (O/U 42 pts)
-How about the J-E-T-S JETS, JETS, JETS?!?!?!?!? They have the blue-print for a championship team. They have the league’s top defense and top running game. Jets did a number on the Bengals in last week’s, 24-4 Wild Card win in Cincy. DB Darrelle Revis is considered the best in the league. RB Thomas Jones ran for just over 1400 yards and 14 TD’s during the regular season. But he’s got bad knees and only had 34 yards in the win.

Rookie QB Mark Sanchez is playing solid. All he has to do is hand-off. Jets are in trouble when Sanchez has to pass. 12 TD’s and 20 INT’s during the season. If they’re behind they’re in trouble. They’re in over their heads against the Bolts. Too much balanced fire-power. QB Philip Rivers ranked third in the league in passing. He’s got a trio of big receivers (Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd & Antonio Gates) that’ll give the Jets “D” fits. Chargers are now a passing team. But they’ve got balance on the ground with some guy named LaDainian Tomlinson and his little buddy, Darren Sproles. They’re top-10 defensively and their special teams are the best around. This is the year the Bolts play in the final game of the season.
CHARGERS, 38-10.

NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

Saturday, January 16th
#4 ARIZONA +2 @ #1 NEW ORLEANS (O/U 57pts)
-If you thought last week’s Green Bay/Arizona game was a shootout, be ready for a repeat. Two teams with incredible fire-power and mediocre defense. Although, both aren’t that bad. Last week, the Cardinals defense gave up a lot of yardage and points. But they came up big when they had too. Early in the game, a couple of picks resulted in 14 points. In overtime, a fumble resulted in the game-winner. They went with the flow.

Saints were rolling and winning shoot-outs as well. Once they suffered a couple of injuries in their secondary, they lost three straight to end the season. Not good. They’re back at full strength. Cards QB Kurt Warner and Saints QB Drew Brees will put up the points. Ultimately, like last week, it’ll come down to who wins the turn-over battle. So hard to pick against the Saints in the Superdome. But, they really haven’t played in a month. The Cards are battle-tested having gone to the big game last year. Believe it or not, their defense is better than last year’s that fell 4 points shy of the World Championship. This is also going over-time.
CARDINALS, 38-35 (OT).

Sunday, January 17th
#3 DALLAS  +2.5 @ #2 MINNESOTA (O/U 45.5pts)
-Wow, this one brings back memories of Roger Staubach’s “Hail Mary” game-winner to Drew Pearson at freezing Metropolitan Stadium in 1975. More like nightmares for me. Cowboys beat the Rams in L.A. the following week with a super Bowl berth on the line, 37-7. Left at halftime and got home in time to see the last five minutes. UGH! But, I digress.

Could be a “Hail Mary” that decides this one. 40 year old Vikes QB Brett Favre came out of retirement to Minnesota for this reason. He is the “missing piece” to a Vikings Super Bowl title. I believe that. Doesn’t mean they’ll get it done. Cowboys are hot with QB Tony Romo (who I still think is the most over-hyped and over-rated QB in league history) has exorcised his December Demons with huge wins over New Orleans, and two over Philadelphia. The key is the Cowboys running game. If they run the ball 30 times using Marion Barber and Felix Jones, it takes all that pressure off Romo. When they don’t, Romo’s skiddish and the Cowboys get shelled.

Favre has the league’s most imposing running back in Adrian Peterson. There’s also Chester Taylor. Those guys run, Favre will have all day to throw to guys like Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin. Both defenses are stellar. Cowboys are anchored by LB DeMarcus Ware. The Vikings are led by DE Jared Allen. Vikings got away from their winning formula for a couple of games. /they woke up at halftime of that Monday Nighter against Chicago scoring 30 points in the loss and destroyed the New York Giants the following week in the finale, 44-7. That’s 77 points in six quarters. Vikings are all back on the same page. Look out!!
VIKINGS, 31-17.

MISSED PLAYOFFS: LOS ANGELES*
*15 years, 19 weeks and counting.

One last thing. Although the Pete Carroll Era’s over at USC, what fun it was when they were so dominant. Everyone tuned in to see how much they’d beat someone by every week, or we got to see the unbelievable upset by some David over the Trojan Goliath. It’s perfect timing for him to go back to the NFL and the Seattle Seahawks will benefit from his energetic style. USC will be fine with Carroll disciple Lane Kiffin taking over the reins. Until L.A.’s new NFL team(s) are up and running, Carroll will make NFL Sunday more interesting for us, especially if the Water-Birds score points like Carroll’s SC teams did.

Remember, use my picks to wager $$$ at your own risk. If you lose, I had nothing to do with it. If you win beaucoup $$$, a 10% tip would be cool.  But, I’m realistic. This is just for your entertainment…or not, and for me to keep my sports “mojo” going until “I’m back in the saddle”. Remember the league’s unofficial motto…“ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAY, MONDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY OR SATURDAY“…………

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Eric’s NFL Playoff Picks

Alright, it’s playoff time. Wild Card weekend kicks-off Saturday. Before I get to all that, here’s a look at my pre-season picks (I adjusted around week 12. But these are my actual pre-season ones.);

AFC Playoffs
Wild Card Playoff Games
COLTS over Titans
BENGALS over Ravens

AFC Division Playoff Games
CHARGERS over Bengals
PATRIOTS over Steelers

AFC Championship Game
CHARGERS over Patriots

NFC PLAYOFFS
Wild Card Playoff Games
EAGLES over Saints
CARDINALS over Packers

NFC Division Playoff Games
-VIKINGS over Eagles
-CARDINALS over Giants

NFC Championship Game
VIKINGS over Cardinals

SUPER BOWL XLIV
CHARGERS over Vikings

Not too bad. Anyway, here we go.

AFC Wild Card Games
Saturday, January 9th
(5) NY JETS (9-7) +3 @ (4) CINCINNATI (10-6) OVER/UNDER 34.5 pts
-Re-match of last weeks season finale that closed the books on Giants Stadium with the Jets shutting out the Bengals, 37-0. Bengals “took a knee” late in the first half. They say you need a strong defense, and a strong running game to win in the post-season. Both teams have that. The Jets have the league’s top defense and running game. So, what. This one’s in Cincy and the Bengals have the better, more seasoned former USC QB. At this stage, I’ll take Carson Palmer and his offensive weapons over Mark Sanchez. Actually, I don’t think it’ll be that close. How about something like 27-10, BENGALS

Sunday, January 10th
(6) BALTIMORE (9-7) +3.5 @ (3) NEW ENGLAND (10-6) O/U 43.5
-These teams played at “The Razor” early in the season. A healthy Patriots squad eecked out a 27-21 win when a Ravens receiver forgot he was supposed to catch the ball when he’s all alone in the end-zone. Now, the Patriots are banged-up big-time. WR Wes Welker is out after tearing an ACL and MCL in his right knee in New England’s 34-27 season-ending loss at Houston. QB Tom Brady’s playing with a broken ring-finger on his throwing hand (I’ll refrain from the super-model jokes) and the defense isn’t 100% either. Baltimore entered last season’s post-season as the six-seed and made it all the way to the AFC Championship. LB Ray Lewis and the Ravens always believe this is their time and that they can beat anyone. Especially a banged-up Patriots squad. 23-17, RAVENS

(1) INDIANAPOLIS (14-2) 1st round bye
(2) SAN DIEGO (13-3) 1st round bye

NFC Wild Card Games
Saturday, January 9th
(6) PHILADELPHIA (11-5) +4 @ (3) DALLAS (11-5) O/U 45
-Re-match of the season-finale at “The Jerry” with Cowboys shutting out the Eagles, 24-0. I gotta give it the most over-hyped and over-rated (that’s my opinion) QB in league history, Tony Romo. His December Deamons are gone. He’s been quite clutch in the Cowboys run to the NFC East Title. The running game’s re-surfaced to take some pressure off Romo. The defense is playing well at the right time. The Pokes are peaking. Meanwhile, the Eagles look really good if QB Donovan McNabb and WR DeShaun Jackson can connect on about three big plays a game. They’ll have two. This one won’t be a shut-out and it‘ll be closer. But the result will be the same. 30-21, COWBOYS.
Sunday, January 10th
(5) GREEN BAY (11-5) +2.5 @ (4) ARIZONA (10-6) O/U 47.5
-Another re-match of a season-finale. This one the Packers took, 33-7, in Glendale beating a Cardinals team that sat everyone except the cheerleaders. I’d say they got sacked. But, I’d get slapped. Anyways, this could be the game of the weekend. You’ve got the Packers peaking at the right time with Pro Bowl QB Aaron Rodgers playing just as well as….Brett Favre. The offensive line is protecting him much better. That defense is stopping almost everyone. The running game will have to do. Meanwhile, the defending NFC Champion Cardinals have looked so-so at times. That’s how they looked going into last year’s post-season and almost won the whole enchilada. Future Hall-of-Fame QB Kurt Warner will be ready with his assortment of WR’s and RB’s although Anquan Bouldin sprained an ankle in the season-ender. He’ll be fine. The Cardinals defense is much better than last year’s that made it to the Super Bowl. This one’s gonna be really close. But, I gotta go with the Cardinals and the veteran Warner. Although he has much experience and took good notes form his Obi-Wan Kanobi (Favre), Aaron Rodgers hasn’t played in this type of game yet. 35-23, CARDINALS.

(1) NEW ORLEANS (13-3) 1st round bye
(2) MINNESOTA (12-4) 1st round bye

MISSED PLAYOFFS: LOS ANGELES*
*15 years, 18 weeks and counting.

Remember, use my picks to wager $$$ at your own risk. If you lose, I had nothing to do with it. If you win beaucoup $$$, a 10% tip would be cool.  But, I’m realistic. This is just for your entertainment…or not, and for me to keep my sports “mojo” going until “I’m back in the saddle”. Remember the league’s unofficial motto…“ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAY, MONDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY OR SATURDAY“…………

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