In case you missed in the world’s oldest teenager and beachcomer Jimmy Buffett is recovering from a fall from a stage. Finishing up a tour down under Jimmy went off the stage head or face first….ouch. By all accounts, while he was slightly injured, it appears he is on the road to recovery. Summer wouldn’t be the same without his concerts…
Of all the football Sundays in all the world this Sunday has always been my favorite. More than the Superbowl, and more than those wonderful New Years Days of old when a college bowl game meant something special. The four teams left in the tournament are the best of the best. The one’s who have shown up in the big games. This is why players make the millions they do; to play bigger than the weather when it counts the most.
Just a quick note: Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Cris Carter, Dermontti Dawson, Richard Dent , Chris Doleman, Marshall Faulk, Charles Haley , Chris Hanburger, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin , Andre Reed, Les Richter, Willie Roaf, Ed Sabol, Deion Sanders , and Shannon Sharpe . Is this the fattest Hall of Fame final roster in recent memory? Who would you leave off?
Okay let’s look at some games:
Bears (+3) over Packers. I’m not sold on the Packers. Philadelphia had a banged up defense and a coordinator who game planned badly after loosing “the room” mid season and yet had Michael Vick thrown the ball 6 feet further the Pcakers lose that game. They looked good last week against a Falcon team that should have played better. I know Aaron Rodgers is playing lights out, but take him out and the Pack is just an average team. The Bears have three things I like: A better running game, Peppers, Harris and Urlacher on defense, and the worst field in football since the Vet blew up. Players slip and fall at solder field who aren’t wearing Bear blue and orange. The Bears know what shoes to wear and how to run on that disaster field. Three things. Like three points. When the snow flurries come you’ll think somewhere Poppa Bear Halas is sitting next to Walter Payton retelling the tall tales and loving it. Bears here.
Steelers (-3.5) over the Jets. Sorry Steeler fans. The only thing surer than the kiss of death all year has been the kiss of yours truly when picking games. I know I loved the Jets all year, but this isn’t a spite pick. Last weeks game between the Jets and Patriots reminded me of Larry Holmes-Mohammad Ali. You thought Holmes had a real chance to win, but you expected so much more from the champ; just like I expected so much more from the Pats. I don’t see the Steelers not showing up in a big game. I see the Steelers winning the whole thing. In my mind it comes down to Roethlisberger or Sanchez. Sorry Steeler fans. Black and gold is my pick.
Enjoy the games
Your prognosticator.
Was that Seattle game fun last Saturday? Nothing like a great upset to make the whole wild card weekend come alive. Then the upsets kept coming. This weekend will be different. Look for the home teams to win. That week off to mend wounds and tweaked ankles and extra film study is too much of an advantage. The question is by how much do the home teams triumph? Well, let’s take a look:
Ravens (+10 ½) over Steelers. Relax yinsers. The Steelers will win this one. It’s just that the last 8 games have been decided by 4 points or less (actually 6 of the eight by a field goal). What about this Steeler offense would make you believe they can light it up on this Raven Defense? Ravens keep it close enough .
Falcons (-2) over Packers. The Packers almost blew it Sunday in Philadelphia. David Akers missed two field goals (one a gimme). Had Michael Vick tossed the last ball to Riley Cooper 5 feet farther the Eagles are in Atlanta. The Packers may still be the sexy pick, but the Falcons will be the NFC sacrifice to the Patriot Dynasty in Dallas. Falcons here.
Bears(-10) over Seahawks. Double Digit Dogs at home in November and December cover 88% of the time. Conversely in January the opposite is true. Double Digit dogs on the road fail to cover 92% of the time. The fun leaked out of the Seahawks balloon this week. Da Bears.
Patriots (-10) over Jets. Rex Ryan like his old man has to make the games personal. It goes over big with the fans. It goes over big with the other coaches, too, who have no problem closing their minds to the fact they’re running up the score. The next time Bill Belecheck shows any compassion will be the first. Looks like a long day for Fireman Ed. Patriots.
Enjoy the games. It’s the best time of the year.
The prognosticator
“Playoffs! Playoffs? You want to talk about Playoffs? Playoffs?” Good ol’ Jim Mora. Now there was après conference. Be aware of the new overtime rule jut in time for the playoffs. You think the tuck rule was mind numbingly inconvenient? Now if the game goes to overtime, it’s not so sudden death. If the receiving team after the coin flip only kicks a field goal on the first possession the other team gets a possession. However if the team that wins the coin toss scores a touchdown on their first possession the game is over. There is the potential for all sorts of goofy stuff here. Can you imagine Rex Ryan after the Jets kick a field goal attempting an on sides kick because if the Colts cough it up that’s their possession and the game is over. If the Colts cheerleaders are dancing barefoot ol’ Rex just might have that sort of brain cramp. It’s also a eek where all the talking heads get to concentrate on a few games and not many, so they can over think. It makes for entertaining TV sometimes, but it can also make for annoying co workers who are looking for ammunition to pester you. Let’s take a look at this weekes action. Remember any losses incurred by relying on the following information is not the responsibility of me, The Mountain, Entercomm Communications, Entercom Northeast, their properties or subsidiaries.
Eagles (-2.5) over Packers. The Packers are the Sexy pick. The Eagles laid an Egg against the Vikings and then the second stringers gave up the ghost against the cowboys with :55 seconds left. All of those talking heads picking Michael Vick as the MVP now have broken ankles from jumping off the bandwagon. Aaron Rodgers ahs made everyone forget Brett Who? (pull your pants up, dude.) Well looking at the history the Packers are 3-7 ATS their last 10 playoff games and that includes their Superbowl win. The are also3-7 ATS their last 10 against Philadelphia (4t and 26 anyone?) But the tell tale sign here is the money line. Remember the spread is not a prediction of the game, it’s a prediction of how people bet. The money line is what Vegas really thinks; and it reads Packers +125, Eagles-145. That means wager $100 on the pack and you win $125, but you have to wager $145 on the Eagles to win $100. Vegas likes Michael Vick, Me too,
Ravens (-3) over Chiefs. Yeah I really liked the chiefs to win the division. I am not sure if they match-up well enough against the Ravens. If you never saw Ray lLewis play in person its hard to explain the intensity he brings. Even though he’s getting old, he is still ferocious and he still OWNS the middle of the field. You can’t practice against it. I’m not sure the Chiefs will match the intensity. Oh, the money line? Ravens -170, Chiefs +150. Ravens here.
Colts (-3) over Jets. The bottom line is the Jets need a big game from Mark Sanchez. Not a huge game, just 5 more plays, 5 more throws. The problem is Mark Sanchez hasn’t played well at all the past few weeks, at one point Rex Ryan (aka crazy head) openly talked about almost benching the quarterback, Don’t buy the talk about the Jets being the more physical team. I was at the Linc this year when the Colts were in town. They are the dirtiest team in the league, bar none. The money line also favors the Colts. Me too,
Saints (-11) over Seahwks. Keep in mind if the ’85 Bears could lose a game anyone can. Two eye openers here: Of the seahwaks 9 losses all of them were by 15 points or more. When they lose they get blown out. That may be the craziest stat I’ve heard in a long time. The Saints just so you know are 1-8 ATS against teams with losing records. That may seem to balance things out. Oh, but then there’s the money line. Brace yourself: Saints – 600 Seahwaks +450. That is wager $100 on Seattle and if they win you get $450. But you have to wager $600 on the saints to win $100. Rooting for the Saints is about as much fun as rooting for the Lions over the Christians in the coliseum. Not much fun, but the inevitable winners.
That’s how I see it. Enjoy the games
Your prognosticator
Maybe it was because of the great sax bit or just the longer intro that as a DJ you could talk over, when DJ’s did that kind of thing, but Baker Street was always one of my favorite songs, so much so I purchased the album just because of the single.
At the time I didn’t know that Gerry Rafferty was part of Steelers Wheel but I always liked Stuck in the Middle with You. Good song, not great…that took on a new life when it was used in the movie Resevoir Dogs, a flick I haven’t seem.
Well you know know Gerry died recently due to liver problems and many have written about his work. However a friend of mine, Andy Palumbo from WNEP, came up with the best line about Baker Street in his blog of Jan. 5th and I quote: “Do yourself a favor. Get yourself a good copy of “Baker Street” and a great set of headphones. I mean a quality pair. “Baker Street” has to be one of the best headphone songs ever.”
