(3) Notre Dame - (2) Clemson (-10.5) (55.5)
The playoff fuss this year was about Georgia getting bounced just for losing to Alabama in the SEC final, with the argument being something like: 'Georgia is really good and played Alabama as well as anyone has played them in years and we all know Notre Dame isn't that good'. I can dig that argument, in my final poll I had Notre Dame 5th behind Georgia and Oklahoma. But, Notre Dame beat every team they played this year, going undefeated has to be worth something, right? The haters say that their schedule wasn't that good....well, wait a second...their schedule was way tougher than Clemson's! Clemson hasn't played a good team all year! Notre Dame beat Michigan, Northwestern, Stanford, Virginia Tech and Syracuse and the traditional powerhouses (though they both kinda sucked this year) Florida State and Southern Cal; Clemson's best W's are no better than Notre Dame's (does a scuffling save at Texas A&M get you all worked up?), so if we're so set on Georgia, why wasn't there an argument to dump Clemson? Because we've seen Clemson beat Alabama before and we've seen Notre Dame lose to Alabama before, but those are specious arguments, they have nothing to do with what will be on the fields today. After all that, I gotta say I'm as guilty as everyone else: I think Clemson has better talent and better coaching and I just assume that what they can put on the field will be superior to Notre Dame. But I could be--we all could be--totally wrong about that. I'd love to see Notre Dame have a nice run here in the playoff, but no one believes that will happen and neither do I. I'll say Clemson 31-21 (Notre Dame and the under).
(4) Oklahoma - (1) Alabama (-14) (79.5)
Oklahoma has their usual unstoppable offense but this year's defense was not up to snuff; they're top 4 in record only, realistically this team does not look to present much challenge to Alabama. The question with Alabama all year long is roughly: are they really that much better than everyone else or will they fold if they actually face some real competition? Georgia put a bit of a scare into them at the SEC final but Bama coolly made the necessary corrections and got it done. I think Oklahoma's offense is even better than Georgia's and will score points on Alabama for a while. But OU's defense isn't going to stop Alabama, so it's only a matter of time before the Tide seizes control and puts the game away, though I can see this game still being fun into the 4th quarter. I'll say Alabama 44-31 (Oklahoma and the under).
(So I went with the dog and the under in both games, even though I expect the favorites to win rather easily...? Hmmm...we'll see how that goes)
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Thursday, December 20, 2018
2018-19 NFL (Week 15)
Games I watched (some of):
Chargers 29-28 Chiefs
Great game! Rivers threw a bad interception (he had his guy, just under threw the pass) on the opening drive, which the Chiefs quickly turned into a TD and it felt like this was gonna be vintage Chiefs. But the Chargers were able to sludge up that Chief attack (hmmm, has anyone done that this year?), keep the game kinda close and Rivers was able to move the ball on the mediocre Chiefs D (hmmm, maybe that defense's best game all year, no?). But when the Chiefs went up by two TD's early in the 4th, again it felt like they were gonna sneak away with the W. But Rivers was brilliant down the stretch and quickly got the Chargers a chance to win. And, yes, going for two at the end was the right play--even if it didn't work!--and the ballsy move paid off. Big big big W for the Chargers and tough L for the Chiefs (who didn't play badly), this might've swung the division and that is mind blowing considering how great the Chiefs have been all season long.
Packers 17-24 Bears
The Bears was better, not wildly better but enough better, and I sat there waiting for Rodgers to pull it out in the end...and...nah, that wasn't gonna happen. The Bears D is really really good, Trubisky is pretty good, the rushing attacks comes and goes, but in a parity season, the Bears have as good a shot as anyone at winning it all (yeah, "it all"!). The Packers are officially done for the season, they got a little bit of a bump after dumping Coach McCarthy but that last L to the Cards finished them off, I guess they shut down Rodgers, start evaluating player by player, I'd be surprised if they even came close to winning another game this year.
Raiders 16-30 Bengals
The Bengals are not good but they're playing hard right now and that'll keep them in games (keep an eye on them to cover spreads in the next coupla weeks). The Raiders are not good but...uh....they still have pretty cool uniforms.
Pats 10-17 Steelers
Surprised at how mediocre the Pats have been this year and this game was the highlight: the O line was not good, Edelman and Gordon dropped passes, Brady had the most inexplicable interception I've ever seen from him, and the defense did not rise to the occasion. That said, they still had their shot down the stretch (the last two drives, actually) to get it done, so it's not like the Steelers dominated anything. The Steelers have moments where that offense rises up and makes plays but not with any reliability and the D is shaky at best. The Steelers are still in the playoff race but that is kinda surprising, they'll need to beat suddenly feisty division foes to reach the post-season (and I'm not sure they get it done). The Pats have been down all year but they're still gonna be a tough out in the playoffs.
Eagles 30-23 Rams
Fun game! The Eagles had everything go their way, the Rams had everything fall apart for them. The Eagles had to go with Foles instead of Wentz and it was a nice shot in the arm for the Eagles--though they've been playing a little better lately. The popular theory on the Rams is that they frontloaded all their big signings and have no depth and now injuries are starting to cut into their efficiency--and I agree. They dominated for the first ten weeks or so but they've been very beatable lately, the vanilla offense is suddenly not at all impressive, the gambling on special teams isn't working, the defense is thin beyond the pass rush. The Rams are still good and have the ability to win games going forward but they look like they're slumping at the wrong time.
Other results (surprising):
Browns 17-16 Broncos
The Broncos had a nice stretch there where they looked like a legit playoff team but they still suck on the road and their lack of quality has brought them back to earth. The flipside is the Browns: they've got some talent but they're still young and they were sandbagged by a brutally awful coach for the first half of the year. Moving on from that dead weight has brought this team to life and they're playing much better down the stretch. Can the Browns actually make the playoffs? Nah, not seeing it, but the fact that they're hung around as long as they did is pretty miraculous (finally a good time to be a Browns fan again!). Not sure what the Broncos do for the rest of the season, not sure what's wrong with this team, they've had pleasant surprises on both sides of the ball but I reckon they'll make changes this off-season.
Saints 12-9 Panthers
The Saints have taken their foot off the gas in recent weeks and they're clearly not as good on the road, but I kinda thought the opportunity to dust off a division foe would bring out the best in them. Instead it seems like it was Cam Newton's questionable shoulder that sealed the victory for them. The Panthers are officially done, mailing it in from here (doubt they'll be covering any more spreads). The Saints are dominant at home, arguably the best team in the league and likely to finish 1st in the NFC....but...they're very beatable on the road and match up poorly against some folks they'll likely run into in the playoffs (I think the Seahawks and Bears could be troublesome for them, for example). I like the Saints, but I'm no more bullish on their chances than any number of other teams.
Other results (not so surprising):
Texans 29-22 Jets
The Texans have a good D and a good QB (I'm a big Watson fan) and a 9-game winning streak under their belt...so why are they so mediocre? I'm inclined to think they're pretty good and can be dangerous in the post-season but they are no dominant in any way and that's a little odd. I think they're gonna make the playoffs and be a tough out and this is a wide open year, so anything can happen (but is anyone betting on the Texans right now?). The Jets are spunky, they're just not any good, seems like they've got their QB but they'll need a new coach, so that'll keep the fans busy in the off-season.
Cards 14-40 Falcons
The Cards suck. The Falcons suck, too, but really they've just been exceptionally unlucky with injuries and when given the chance to run it up on a lame team at home, well, that's what happened. The Cards have their QB but not much else, they'll be busy in the off-season. The Falcons' injuries so warped their season that it's hard to tell what they need going forward, hard to see what the off-season looks like for them.
Lions 13-14 Bills
When two crappy teams get together, take the team that plays in Buffalo in December. Took them to the final play of the game to pull out the W, but the Bills got it. Yea! The Bills have a pretty good D (as always), a pretty good special teams (as always), a pretty good coach (I like McDermott), seem to have their QB (haven't had one of those in a while), just need to shore up that O-line (which, except for last year, has sucked for as long as anyone can remember) and bring in some skill players (they've had those over the years but never when they had a QB), they might be ready to take a run at the slipping-down Pats, right? The Lions have always sucked and frankly I think they've shown some spunk, if that defense becomes as good as it's supposed to be, they can be a real pain in the ass squad.
Cowboys 0-23 Colts
The Colts started slow but they're peaking at the right time, gonna be a tough out in the playoffs (they're not in yet but I like their chances) and are moving in the right direction for the first time in a few years. The Cowboys, too, have been playing better lately but they're still quite capable of laying an egg on the road and that's what happened here. The Cowboys are still in the driver's seat to take their division but they can have any more games like this.
Dolphins 17-41 Vikings
Dolphins suck on the road, this is not a shock. The Vikings ought to be better than they are and every once in while they actually are. The Dolphins are technically still in the playoff hunt but I'm not feeling their chances; the Vikings are, too, and I think they've got a good shot at being a real pain in the ass for someone.
Titans 17-0 Giants
The Giants are...man, they're the Giants...they're gonna replace Eli with Flacco, draft a QB in the 4th round and then declare that they're ready to take over the world. (Seriously, don't be at all surprised if they do all that) The Titans are weird, man, sometimes they look really good on both sides of the ball, other times they look like little kids fighting in the cafeteria. The Titans are still around, if the Colts and Texans mess around, the Titans could sneak in (but, unlike every other team I've mentioned so far, I don't like their chances to do anything in the playoffs).
Redskins 16-13 Jags
These teams both suck, looks like the Jags sucked a little more this week.
Bucs 12-20 Ravens
The Bucs are not good but they're playing loose right now (some bad teams mail it in, some teams play hard down the stretch and surprise people, Bucs could be one of those latter squads) but the Ravens at home are not going down to sub-standard teams like this. I gotta feeling the Ravens overtake the Steelers, we'll see.
Seahawks 23-26 (OT) Niners
Called it. The Seahawks have been playing well lately, seem to be getting their identity back on defense, Russell Wilson is moving the ball well, they've got their eyes on the playoffs, their momentum in positive....meanwhile, the Niners suck balls. But, it's a division game, anything can happen, man. You know the right thing for the Niners to do is roll over, take the L, get a better draft position and write this horrible nightmare season off. Yeah, but football players don't think like that, they see a chance to catch a division foe unfocused and they wanna piece of that. Good for the Niners, this W does absolutely nothing for them as an organization...except everyone feel much much better for one week. I still like the Seahawks to squeeze into the post-season (as the Eagles and Redskins melt out of their way).
2 weeks to go:
AFC
(in) Chiefs, Chargers, Texans, Pats; (one's in/one's out) Ravens/Steelers; (I think one's in/one's out) Colts, Titans; (out) Dolphins, Broncos, Browns, Bengals, Bills, Jags, Jets, Raiders
Looks to me like: Chargers/Texans bye; Chiefs @ Ravens; Colts @ Pats
NFC
(in) Saints, Rams, Bears; (probably in) Cowboys, Seahawks, Vikings; (probably out) Eagles, Redskins; (out) Packers, Panthers, Bucs, Giants, Lions, Falcons, Cards, Niners
Looks to me like: Saints/Rams bye; Seahawks @ Bears; Vikings @ Cowboys
Chargers 29-28 Chiefs
Great game! Rivers threw a bad interception (he had his guy, just under threw the pass) on the opening drive, which the Chiefs quickly turned into a TD and it felt like this was gonna be vintage Chiefs. But the Chargers were able to sludge up that Chief attack (hmmm, has anyone done that this year?), keep the game kinda close and Rivers was able to move the ball on the mediocre Chiefs D (hmmm, maybe that defense's best game all year, no?). But when the Chiefs went up by two TD's early in the 4th, again it felt like they were gonna sneak away with the W. But Rivers was brilliant down the stretch and quickly got the Chargers a chance to win. And, yes, going for two at the end was the right play--even if it didn't work!--and the ballsy move paid off. Big big big W for the Chargers and tough L for the Chiefs (who didn't play badly), this might've swung the division and that is mind blowing considering how great the Chiefs have been all season long.
Packers 17-24 Bears
The Bears was better, not wildly better but enough better, and I sat there waiting for Rodgers to pull it out in the end...and...nah, that wasn't gonna happen. The Bears D is really really good, Trubisky is pretty good, the rushing attacks comes and goes, but in a parity season, the Bears have as good a shot as anyone at winning it all (yeah, "it all"!). The Packers are officially done for the season, they got a little bit of a bump after dumping Coach McCarthy but that last L to the Cards finished them off, I guess they shut down Rodgers, start evaluating player by player, I'd be surprised if they even came close to winning another game this year.
Raiders 16-30 Bengals
The Bengals are not good but they're playing hard right now and that'll keep them in games (keep an eye on them to cover spreads in the next coupla weeks). The Raiders are not good but...uh....they still have pretty cool uniforms.
Pats 10-17 Steelers
Surprised at how mediocre the Pats have been this year and this game was the highlight: the O line was not good, Edelman and Gordon dropped passes, Brady had the most inexplicable interception I've ever seen from him, and the defense did not rise to the occasion. That said, they still had their shot down the stretch (the last two drives, actually) to get it done, so it's not like the Steelers dominated anything. The Steelers have moments where that offense rises up and makes plays but not with any reliability and the D is shaky at best. The Steelers are still in the playoff race but that is kinda surprising, they'll need to beat suddenly feisty division foes to reach the post-season (and I'm not sure they get it done). The Pats have been down all year but they're still gonna be a tough out in the playoffs.
Eagles 30-23 Rams
Fun game! The Eagles had everything go their way, the Rams had everything fall apart for them. The Eagles had to go with Foles instead of Wentz and it was a nice shot in the arm for the Eagles--though they've been playing a little better lately. The popular theory on the Rams is that they frontloaded all their big signings and have no depth and now injuries are starting to cut into their efficiency--and I agree. They dominated for the first ten weeks or so but they've been very beatable lately, the vanilla offense is suddenly not at all impressive, the gambling on special teams isn't working, the defense is thin beyond the pass rush. The Rams are still good and have the ability to win games going forward but they look like they're slumping at the wrong time.
Other results (surprising):
Browns 17-16 Broncos
The Broncos had a nice stretch there where they looked like a legit playoff team but they still suck on the road and their lack of quality has brought them back to earth. The flipside is the Browns: they've got some talent but they're still young and they were sandbagged by a brutally awful coach for the first half of the year. Moving on from that dead weight has brought this team to life and they're playing much better down the stretch. Can the Browns actually make the playoffs? Nah, not seeing it, but the fact that they're hung around as long as they did is pretty miraculous (finally a good time to be a Browns fan again!). Not sure what the Broncos do for the rest of the season, not sure what's wrong with this team, they've had pleasant surprises on both sides of the ball but I reckon they'll make changes this off-season.
Saints 12-9 Panthers
The Saints have taken their foot off the gas in recent weeks and they're clearly not as good on the road, but I kinda thought the opportunity to dust off a division foe would bring out the best in them. Instead it seems like it was Cam Newton's questionable shoulder that sealed the victory for them. The Panthers are officially done, mailing it in from here (doubt they'll be covering any more spreads). The Saints are dominant at home, arguably the best team in the league and likely to finish 1st in the NFC....but...they're very beatable on the road and match up poorly against some folks they'll likely run into in the playoffs (I think the Seahawks and Bears could be troublesome for them, for example). I like the Saints, but I'm no more bullish on their chances than any number of other teams.
Other results (not so surprising):
Texans 29-22 Jets
The Texans have a good D and a good QB (I'm a big Watson fan) and a 9-game winning streak under their belt...so why are they so mediocre? I'm inclined to think they're pretty good and can be dangerous in the post-season but they are no dominant in any way and that's a little odd. I think they're gonna make the playoffs and be a tough out and this is a wide open year, so anything can happen (but is anyone betting on the Texans right now?). The Jets are spunky, they're just not any good, seems like they've got their QB but they'll need a new coach, so that'll keep the fans busy in the off-season.
Cards 14-40 Falcons
The Cards suck. The Falcons suck, too, but really they've just been exceptionally unlucky with injuries and when given the chance to run it up on a lame team at home, well, that's what happened. The Cards have their QB but not much else, they'll be busy in the off-season. The Falcons' injuries so warped their season that it's hard to tell what they need going forward, hard to see what the off-season looks like for them.
Lions 13-14 Bills
When two crappy teams get together, take the team that plays in Buffalo in December. Took them to the final play of the game to pull out the W, but the Bills got it. Yea! The Bills have a pretty good D (as always), a pretty good special teams (as always), a pretty good coach (I like McDermott), seem to have their QB (haven't had one of those in a while), just need to shore up that O-line (which, except for last year, has sucked for as long as anyone can remember) and bring in some skill players (they've had those over the years but never when they had a QB), they might be ready to take a run at the slipping-down Pats, right? The Lions have always sucked and frankly I think they've shown some spunk, if that defense becomes as good as it's supposed to be, they can be a real pain in the ass squad.
Cowboys 0-23 Colts
The Colts started slow but they're peaking at the right time, gonna be a tough out in the playoffs (they're not in yet but I like their chances) and are moving in the right direction for the first time in a few years. The Cowboys, too, have been playing better lately but they're still quite capable of laying an egg on the road and that's what happened here. The Cowboys are still in the driver's seat to take their division but they can have any more games like this.
Dolphins 17-41 Vikings
Dolphins suck on the road, this is not a shock. The Vikings ought to be better than they are and every once in while they actually are. The Dolphins are technically still in the playoff hunt but I'm not feeling their chances; the Vikings are, too, and I think they've got a good shot at being a real pain in the ass for someone.
Titans 17-0 Giants
The Giants are...man, they're the Giants...they're gonna replace Eli with Flacco, draft a QB in the 4th round and then declare that they're ready to take over the world. (Seriously, don't be at all surprised if they do all that) The Titans are weird, man, sometimes they look really good on both sides of the ball, other times they look like little kids fighting in the cafeteria. The Titans are still around, if the Colts and Texans mess around, the Titans could sneak in (but, unlike every other team I've mentioned so far, I don't like their chances to do anything in the playoffs).
Redskins 16-13 Jags
These teams both suck, looks like the Jags sucked a little more this week.
Bucs 12-20 Ravens
The Bucs are not good but they're playing loose right now (some bad teams mail it in, some teams play hard down the stretch and surprise people, Bucs could be one of those latter squads) but the Ravens at home are not going down to sub-standard teams like this. I gotta feeling the Ravens overtake the Steelers, we'll see.
Seahawks 23-26 (OT) Niners
Called it. The Seahawks have been playing well lately, seem to be getting their identity back on defense, Russell Wilson is moving the ball well, they've got their eyes on the playoffs, their momentum in positive....meanwhile, the Niners suck balls. But, it's a division game, anything can happen, man. You know the right thing for the Niners to do is roll over, take the L, get a better draft position and write this horrible nightmare season off. Yeah, but football players don't think like that, they see a chance to catch a division foe unfocused and they wanna piece of that. Good for the Niners, this W does absolutely nothing for them as an organization...except everyone feel much much better for one week. I still like the Seahawks to squeeze into the post-season (as the Eagles and Redskins melt out of their way).
2 weeks to go:
AFC
(in) Chiefs, Chargers, Texans, Pats; (one's in/one's out) Ravens/Steelers; (I think one's in/one's out) Colts, Titans; (out) Dolphins, Broncos, Browns, Bengals, Bills, Jags, Jets, Raiders
Looks to me like: Chargers/Texans bye; Chiefs @ Ravens; Colts @ Pats
NFC
(in) Saints, Rams, Bears; (probably in) Cowboys, Seahawks, Vikings; (probably out) Eagles, Redskins; (out) Packers, Panthers, Bucs, Giants, Lions, Falcons, Cards, Niners
Looks to me like: Saints/Rams bye; Seahawks @ Bears; Vikings @ Cowboys
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
2018-19 NBA Pointless Trade Idea
Kings get: Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz, Mike Muscala; Sixers get Bogdan Bogdanovic, De'Aaron Fox, Willie Cauley-Stein
Kings would get a fascinating project on a rookie contract (Fultz), a bonafide gonna-be superstar (Simmons) also still on his rookie deal and an expiring veteran (Muscala). Fultz gets back to the West Coast in a low-pressure media town; Simmons becomes the undisputed king of Kings, the centerpiece of the team for at least the next 5 years; Muscala walks next summer leaving that much more salary cap to dangle for free agents.
Going forward they'd have a core of Simmons, Fultz, Hield, and Bagley and they'd still have a pile of talented youngsters (Yogi Ferrell, Harry Giles, Justin Jackson, Frank Mason, Skal Labisserie) to fill out the roster. Next summer they'd have roughly $55m to offer for free agents: how about DeAndre Jordan, Nikola Mirotic and Tobias Harris to go with the youth? Or a collection of reasonably priced vets like Patrick Beverley, Ed Davis, Trey Lyles, Elfrid Peyton and Al-Farouk Aminu. The Kings don't have their draft pick for 2019 (1st or 2nd round, if I'm not mistaken), but after that they keep picks for the foreseeable future. This gives the Kings a legit star to build around going forward with an interesting collection of youth that can still bloom and a pile of money for free agents.
Sixers trade away two #1 picks (one a consensus superstar in the making, the other quickly becoming a cautionary tale) but get back a dynamic lovable PG (Fox), a DPOY-esque freak athlete to fit between Butler and Embiid (Cauley-Stein) and an under appreciated ball handler, playmaker and 3-point threat (Bogdanovic). This gives them a core of Fox, Reddick, Butler, Cauley-Stein, Embiid with McConnell, Bogdanovic, Korkmaz, Landry Shamet. Wilson Chandler and Amir Johnson coming off the bench.
In the off-season the first priority would be re-signing Butler, Cauley-Stein and McConnell (and possibly Justin Patton), but parting ways with Reddick, Johnson and Chandler would leave them with about $40 million to spend. They'd be a young team (not unlike the Kings) with a strong core of Fox/Butler/Embiid, a bench with McConnell, Cauley-Stein and Bogdanovic and a nice collection of youth (Shamet, Korkmaz, Zhaire Smith, Bolden, possibly Patton) on the bench.
You may think trading Simmons away is madness, but though he's already a terrific player, his lack of scoring is kinda frightening and I think Fox can be almost as good as Simmons (and probably even more fan-friendly) Bogdanovic and Cauley-Stein are both under appreciated; Fultz has to go and Muscala is not a building block, so those are basically sunk costs, adding Simmons brings back three young players that can thicken the Sixers rotation without skipping a beat.
Who says no to this deal?
Kings would get a fascinating project on a rookie contract (Fultz), a bonafide gonna-be superstar (Simmons) also still on his rookie deal and an expiring veteran (Muscala). Fultz gets back to the West Coast in a low-pressure media town; Simmons becomes the undisputed king of Kings, the centerpiece of the team for at least the next 5 years; Muscala walks next summer leaving that much more salary cap to dangle for free agents.
Going forward they'd have a core of Simmons, Fultz, Hield, and Bagley and they'd still have a pile of talented youngsters (Yogi Ferrell, Harry Giles, Justin Jackson, Frank Mason, Skal Labisserie) to fill out the roster. Next summer they'd have roughly $55m to offer for free agents: how about DeAndre Jordan, Nikola Mirotic and Tobias Harris to go with the youth? Or a collection of reasonably priced vets like Patrick Beverley, Ed Davis, Trey Lyles, Elfrid Peyton and Al-Farouk Aminu. The Kings don't have their draft pick for 2019 (1st or 2nd round, if I'm not mistaken), but after that they keep picks for the foreseeable future. This gives the Kings a legit star to build around going forward with an interesting collection of youth that can still bloom and a pile of money for free agents.
Sixers trade away two #1 picks (one a consensus superstar in the making, the other quickly becoming a cautionary tale) but get back a dynamic lovable PG (Fox), a DPOY-esque freak athlete to fit between Butler and Embiid (Cauley-Stein) and an under appreciated ball handler, playmaker and 3-point threat (Bogdanovic). This gives them a core of Fox, Reddick, Butler, Cauley-Stein, Embiid with McConnell, Bogdanovic, Korkmaz, Landry Shamet. Wilson Chandler and Amir Johnson coming off the bench.
In the off-season the first priority would be re-signing Butler, Cauley-Stein and McConnell (and possibly Justin Patton), but parting ways with Reddick, Johnson and Chandler would leave them with about $40 million to spend. They'd be a young team (not unlike the Kings) with a strong core of Fox/Butler/Embiid, a bench with McConnell, Cauley-Stein and Bogdanovic and a nice collection of youth (Shamet, Korkmaz, Zhaire Smith, Bolden, possibly Patton) on the bench.
You may think trading Simmons away is madness, but though he's already a terrific player, his lack of scoring is kinda frightening and I think Fox can be almost as good as Simmons (and probably even more fan-friendly) Bogdanovic and Cauley-Stein are both under appreciated; Fultz has to go and Muscala is not a building block, so those are basically sunk costs, adding Simmons brings back three young players that can thicken the Sixers rotation without skipping a beat.
Who says no to this deal?
2018-19 NFL (Week 14)
Games I watched (some of):
Jags 9-30 Titans
Blow out, no fun, game over quick. The talk is that the Jags quit but I'd say they just weren't good enough to stop the Titans offense from the git-go. Henry's 99 yard run is the play of the year!
Saints 28-14 Bucs
The Bucs looked good early on and the Saints were scuffling. But the Saints blocked a punt early in the 3rd quarter and then dominated from then on. The Saints are mortal...and they can turn it around and whomp yo ass in a moment, too. Saints at home are gonna be tough to beat. The Bucs kinda looked for the first half but once the Saints turned up the heat, they couldn't hang.
Bengals 21-26 Chargers
Sloppy game. The Chargers were better throughout but they never could take over the game. The Bengals are in fuck-it mode: they've got too many injuries to win games, I think Coach Lewis is gone, so everyone's just auditioning for next year--which can be fun for the fans. The Chargers kinda took the week off and still got the W, that strategy doesn't always work.
Eagles 23-29 (OT) Cowboys
Boring game for three quarters +, then become a super fun game late. The Cowboys were better, moved the ball, but kept turning it over or stalling late in the drive, while the Eagles never got much offense going. Then in the 4th, they both started burning up and down the field on each other. If the Eagles played this way all the time, they'd be charging into the playoffs but they've been tentative and sloppy all year (can't convert on 3rd down) and looks like they're shutting Wentz down; kinda sorry season. The Cowboys are rounding into shape, still struggling at times on offense but they're gonna be a tough out in the playoffs.
Rams 6-15 Bears
The Rams just never got going, Goff was off, Gurley hardly touched the ball, felt like the Rams were playing possum or trying to shorten up the playbook instead of coming in balls out. The Bears D is really good, man, that pass rush is fierce. Trubisky is a maddening QB, looks good for a while then floats balls over the middle out of the blue, if he keeps the turnovers down to a minimum, the Bears can win games in the post-season.
Other results (surprising):
Pats 33-34 Dolphins
Not a shock to see the Pats lose in Miami, they kinda do that a lot actually, but the manner in which the L went down was eye-opening: 70 yard fluke play with multiple laterals is not the kind of play that beats a Belichik D very often. The Dolphins are not particularly good, especially on the road; the Pats are fine, gonna be a tough out but they are definitely not the favorite in the AFC this year.
Broncos 14-20 Niners
The Broncos were looking pretty good over the last month, they were getting back into the playoff race, felt like a trip to San Fran was winnable, not sure where they faltered. Good W for the Niners, their season has basically just been contractual obligation since Jimmy G went down, not much chance of them being competitive week to week, so any good play must feel pretty good to them. The Broncos need to win out, don't see that happening.
Steelers 21-24 Raiders
The Steelers are a naturally sloppy team, when that offense shows up they can beat anybody but when they don't they can lose to anyone. Case in point: Oaktown Raiders. Remember when the Raiders were on the way up? That was, like, two years ago...how'd they go from coming to ugh so quick?
Other results (not so surprising):
Jets 27-23 Bills
Good W for NYJ, pulled it out late in a road division game, felt like it was going to OT but they went for it, good for them. Both these teams are pretty bad this year, so this result doesn't mean much but the Jets gotta feel good about the W.
Panthers 20-26 Browns
Man, the Panthers had it in their hands, but they've been dreadful for the last month. Their playoff chances looked to be in the bag not long ago, now they are almost certainly out. The Browns, on the other hand, are actually still playoff-eligible, getting rid of Hue Jackson was a godsend for this team. They're not making the playoffs but they've been getting better all year and they're going to end the season on a good note, which is a good thing for a young team. Panthers, on the other hand, might be looking for a new coach.
Falcons 20-34 Packers
Yeah, I get it: the Packers are not good. But neither are the Falcons. Throw in that the Falcons aren't built to play outdoor in the cold on grass and this result should not be shocking even though the Packers just ditched their coach. The Packers still have a chance to go on a run and get into the playoffs but it just doesn't feel like its gonna happen this year. The Falcons were wrecked by early injuries and just kinda flailed around all year, the problem with that is you can't tell how good/bad they actually are, so no telling what they'll do in the off-season.
Ravens 24-27 (OT) Chiefs
Looked like a fun game. Chiefs badass offense (and crappy defense) against the Ravens badass defense (and crappy offense). Yeah, this result looks about right, though the Chiefs at home perhaps should've made shorter work of the Ravens. But the Ravens are a veteran squad, they know how to sludge up even the bestest of offenses. The Ravens are gonna be a tough out in the playoffs (seems like they're in, especially if the Steelers don't bother to win any more games) and the Chiefs are likely the favorite, though that defense really is pretty sorry.
Giants 40-16 Redskins
Ha! The Redskins are down to their 3rd string QB and the Giants have finally given up on life--which is their best chance to win apparently.
Colts 24-21 Texans
The Texans had a 9-game winning streak but this is a division game, anything can happen and in the grand scheme of things this was probably the right outcome.
Lions 17-3 Cards
Two bad teams having a bad game.
Vikings 7-21 Seahawks
These are two teams that I've been wrong about all year long: I thought the Vikings were balanced and set to take off this season (but they've been up and down, at best) and I thought the Seahawks were aging and on the way out (but they've shown great resilience and creativity). I was wrong about the Seahawks because I underestimated how impactful a good coach/good QB combo can be; I was wrong on the Vikings because I overestimated how good their coach/QB combo actually is. This was a playoff game: I think the Seahawks and the Vikings are out.
3 weeks to go:
AFC
(In) Chiefs, Chargers, Texans, Pats; (I think they're in) Ravens; (in the hunt for the last spot) Steelers, Titans, Colts; (probably out) Dolphins, Broncos; (out) Browns, Bengals, Bills, Jags, Jets, Raiders
NFC Playoffs
(In) Saints, Rams; (probably in) Bears, Cowboys; (I think they're in) Seahawks; (in the hunt for the final spot) Vikings, Packers, Panthers; (probably out) Eagles, Redskins; (out) Bucs, Giants, Lions, Falcons, Cards, Niners
Jags 9-30 Titans
Blow out, no fun, game over quick. The talk is that the Jags quit but I'd say they just weren't good enough to stop the Titans offense from the git-go. Henry's 99 yard run is the play of the year!
Saints 28-14 Bucs
The Bucs looked good early on and the Saints were scuffling. But the Saints blocked a punt early in the 3rd quarter and then dominated from then on. The Saints are mortal...and they can turn it around and whomp yo ass in a moment, too. Saints at home are gonna be tough to beat. The Bucs kinda looked for the first half but once the Saints turned up the heat, they couldn't hang.
Bengals 21-26 Chargers
Sloppy game. The Chargers were better throughout but they never could take over the game. The Bengals are in fuck-it mode: they've got too many injuries to win games, I think Coach Lewis is gone, so everyone's just auditioning for next year--which can be fun for the fans. The Chargers kinda took the week off and still got the W, that strategy doesn't always work.
Eagles 23-29 (OT) Cowboys
Boring game for three quarters +, then become a super fun game late. The Cowboys were better, moved the ball, but kept turning it over or stalling late in the drive, while the Eagles never got much offense going. Then in the 4th, they both started burning up and down the field on each other. If the Eagles played this way all the time, they'd be charging into the playoffs but they've been tentative and sloppy all year (can't convert on 3rd down) and looks like they're shutting Wentz down; kinda sorry season. The Cowboys are rounding into shape, still struggling at times on offense but they're gonna be a tough out in the playoffs.
Rams 6-15 Bears
The Rams just never got going, Goff was off, Gurley hardly touched the ball, felt like the Rams were playing possum or trying to shorten up the playbook instead of coming in balls out. The Bears D is really good, man, that pass rush is fierce. Trubisky is a maddening QB, looks good for a while then floats balls over the middle out of the blue, if he keeps the turnovers down to a minimum, the Bears can win games in the post-season.
Other results (surprising):
Pats 33-34 Dolphins
Not a shock to see the Pats lose in Miami, they kinda do that a lot actually, but the manner in which the L went down was eye-opening: 70 yard fluke play with multiple laterals is not the kind of play that beats a Belichik D very often. The Dolphins are not particularly good, especially on the road; the Pats are fine, gonna be a tough out but they are definitely not the favorite in the AFC this year.
Broncos 14-20 Niners
The Broncos were looking pretty good over the last month, they were getting back into the playoff race, felt like a trip to San Fran was winnable, not sure where they faltered. Good W for the Niners, their season has basically just been contractual obligation since Jimmy G went down, not much chance of them being competitive week to week, so any good play must feel pretty good to them. The Broncos need to win out, don't see that happening.
Steelers 21-24 Raiders
The Steelers are a naturally sloppy team, when that offense shows up they can beat anybody but when they don't they can lose to anyone. Case in point: Oaktown Raiders. Remember when the Raiders were on the way up? That was, like, two years ago...how'd they go from coming to ugh so quick?
Other results (not so surprising):
Jets 27-23 Bills
Good W for NYJ, pulled it out late in a road division game, felt like it was going to OT but they went for it, good for them. Both these teams are pretty bad this year, so this result doesn't mean much but the Jets gotta feel good about the W.
Panthers 20-26 Browns
Man, the Panthers had it in their hands, but they've been dreadful for the last month. Their playoff chances looked to be in the bag not long ago, now they are almost certainly out. The Browns, on the other hand, are actually still playoff-eligible, getting rid of Hue Jackson was a godsend for this team. They're not making the playoffs but they've been getting better all year and they're going to end the season on a good note, which is a good thing for a young team. Panthers, on the other hand, might be looking for a new coach.
Falcons 20-34 Packers
Yeah, I get it: the Packers are not good. But neither are the Falcons. Throw in that the Falcons aren't built to play outdoor in the cold on grass and this result should not be shocking even though the Packers just ditched their coach. The Packers still have a chance to go on a run and get into the playoffs but it just doesn't feel like its gonna happen this year. The Falcons were wrecked by early injuries and just kinda flailed around all year, the problem with that is you can't tell how good/bad they actually are, so no telling what they'll do in the off-season.
Ravens 24-27 (OT) Chiefs
Looked like a fun game. Chiefs badass offense (and crappy defense) against the Ravens badass defense (and crappy offense). Yeah, this result looks about right, though the Chiefs at home perhaps should've made shorter work of the Ravens. But the Ravens are a veteran squad, they know how to sludge up even the bestest of offenses. The Ravens are gonna be a tough out in the playoffs (seems like they're in, especially if the Steelers don't bother to win any more games) and the Chiefs are likely the favorite, though that defense really is pretty sorry.
Giants 40-16 Redskins
Ha! The Redskins are down to their 3rd string QB and the Giants have finally given up on life--which is their best chance to win apparently.
Colts 24-21 Texans
The Texans had a 9-game winning streak but this is a division game, anything can happen and in the grand scheme of things this was probably the right outcome.
Lions 17-3 Cards
Two bad teams having a bad game.
Vikings 7-21 Seahawks
These are two teams that I've been wrong about all year long: I thought the Vikings were balanced and set to take off this season (but they've been up and down, at best) and I thought the Seahawks were aging and on the way out (but they've shown great resilience and creativity). I was wrong about the Seahawks because I underestimated how impactful a good coach/good QB combo can be; I was wrong on the Vikings because I overestimated how good their coach/QB combo actually is. This was a playoff game: I think the Seahawks and the Vikings are out.
3 weeks to go:
AFC
(In) Chiefs, Chargers, Texans, Pats; (I think they're in) Ravens; (in the hunt for the last spot) Steelers, Titans, Colts; (probably out) Dolphins, Broncos; (out) Browns, Bengals, Bills, Jags, Jets, Raiders
NFC Playoffs
(In) Saints, Rams; (probably in) Bears, Cowboys; (I think they're in) Seahawks; (in the hunt for the final spot) Vikings, Packers, Panthers; (probably out) Eagles, Redskins; (out) Bucs, Giants, Lions, Falcons, Cards, Niners
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
2018-19 NFL (Week 13)
Games I watched some of:
Saints 10-13 Cowboys
I kinda had this: I thought the Saints would struggle, Cowboys would be up after 3 quarters, then the Saints would come back and steal it late (because that's who they are). Well, the Saints forgot to come back and win it but otherwise I wasn't that surprised by this. The Saints are so-so on the road (don't let that shellacking in Cincy fool ya) and they naturally are a win-it-late kinda team anyway, so farting around for three quarters in a tough road game shouldn't be a shock. Throw in that the Cowboys have been playing better lately (I thought their pass rush looked great against the Saints) and they have a swagger since their division foes are rapidly falling apart. I'm a little surprised the Saints didn't find a way to win--they are the better team--but I still think they're in the playoff pole position (and I would take them to pummel the Cowboys if the meet in the post-season).
Broncos 24-10 Bengals
This is the meeting of the Broncos aren't that bad and man, the Bengals suck! The Broncos have a workmanlike offense and that killer D they sported a few years back looks like it is finally returning. They've gone from overrated to underrated and that makes them kinda dangerous this time of year. As for the Bengals, okay I'll say it: time for Marvin Lewis to go. When you bring in Hue Jackson just to get smoked by the team that just ran him outta town...and there's talk that Hue might replace Marvin?!? Man, bad things are going down in Cincy. They would be better off by cleaning house in management (I'd move on from that GM, too) and giving the whole facility a fumigation.
Bears 27-30 (OT) Giants
Remember the Eli Principle: he makes good teams bad and bad teams good. So when you think the Bears are gonna roll over this crappy Giants team, nope, that's the time to put your chips on blue. The Bears came in without Trubisky (he's the new John Elway, you know) but still had plenty enough to move the ball on the Giants, but they didn't; thought that Bears pass rush would make mincemeat of Eli and that sorry O-line, but they didn't. So is this just Eli's veteran savvy picking apart an overconfident squad or are the Bears not quite ready to win? (Hmmm, I'll take both)
Vikings 10-24 Pats
Chargers 33-30 Steelers
Another result that came to pass, though when the Steelers came out fast, I thought maybe I misjudged it. But then the Steelers attack kinda dried up and the Chargers had all the momentum in the 2nd half. That final FG fiasco was reminiscent of something I noticed earlier this year: the Steelers defense has the amazing ability to either commit a penalty or incite a penalty from the other side, like no unit I can recall in all my football watching days. Fun game, disappointing performance for the Steelers but really cemented the Chargers' status as one of those teams that can go deep in the post-season.
Other results (surprising):
Cards 20-17 Packers
Ohhhh, fuuuuudddggge! Well, Mike McCarthy was gonna get it at some point, losing to a bad team that was a 14 point underdog at home seems like a pretty good point. The Cards are still not any good, the Packers are officially done for the year. So who do you like as the new coach? Urban Meyer? (not seeing it) Jim Harbaugh? (maybe) Josh McDaniels? (maybe but I kinda like the Bill Belichick theory instead) Joe Philbin? (no--shit, I'd have Bobby Petrino!) Bruce Arians? (seems like he wants the Browns job, right?) How about Hue Jackson--you know he knows how to coach!
Panthers 17-24 Bucs
Bad L for the Panthers, I really don't understand why they're sputtering so badly right now. The Bucs are really not a good team and this was a good chance for the Panthers to right the ship, get their offense going and get a division W on the road...and they let it get by them. The Panthers are capable of beating anyone or losing to anyone, but they've been less then an up-and-down squad lately.
Colts 0-6 Jags
Wtf? I don't get this one at all. Okay, maybe the Jags D had a good game again but, man, that offense has nothing going for it, how did the Colts fail to outscore them?
Other results (not so surprising):
Ravens 26-16 Falcons
The Falcons really should be better, even with their debilitating injuries on defense. They're done for the year, not sure where they go from here: can they just re-up this year's team and hope for better health or is it time for a tear down? The Ravens are just kinda hanging around, just like every year. I'm not quite sold on Lamar Jackson just yet but he's getting wins, so I guess they gotta keep riding him. The Ravens still have a shot at the post-season but it might be easier to catch the Steelers than the get the wild card.
Rams 30-16 Lions
Yeah, that's about right.
Bills 17-21 Dolphins
Division game between two mediocre teams. Dolphins probably should've handled this game a little better but they got the W.
Browns 13-29 Texans
Yeah, that's about right. Personally I believe in the Texans, I've liked Deshaun Watson all year long and that pass rush is rounding into shape, they're gonna be a tough out for somebody. The Browns have been playing better but this is a tough road game for them.
Jets 22-26 Titans
I'd like to see the Titans dominate a game (they whooped the Pats but that's their only one of those all year long), they're good enough to win more games than they lose but not good enough to really be any good. The Jets suck in every way.
Chiefs 40-33 Raiders
The Chiefs really need to worry about that sorry defense. That amazing offense is gonna be good enough to outscore most opponents but that D is not good and it's gonna hurt them at some point.
Niners 16-43 Seahawks
I was wrong about the Seahawks, I thought they were done but they've got a good QB and a good coach and that duo can keep mediocre team alive. If the Vikings and Panthers continue to struggle, the Seahawks are gonna sneak into the playoffs--good for them! It's been a long season for the Niners and they got so little out of Jimmy G that they're still not even sure what they've got. Man, a tough tough season for the Niners.
Redskins 13-28 Eagles
Division game, nothing would've surprised me. This sounds about right.
Saints 10-13 Cowboys
I kinda had this: I thought the Saints would struggle, Cowboys would be up after 3 quarters, then the Saints would come back and steal it late (because that's who they are). Well, the Saints forgot to come back and win it but otherwise I wasn't that surprised by this. The Saints are so-so on the road (don't let that shellacking in Cincy fool ya) and they naturally are a win-it-late kinda team anyway, so farting around for three quarters in a tough road game shouldn't be a shock. Throw in that the Cowboys have been playing better lately (I thought their pass rush looked great against the Saints) and they have a swagger since their division foes are rapidly falling apart. I'm a little surprised the Saints didn't find a way to win--they are the better team--but I still think they're in the playoff pole position (and I would take them to pummel the Cowboys if the meet in the post-season).
Broncos 24-10 Bengals
This is the meeting of the Broncos aren't that bad and man, the Bengals suck! The Broncos have a workmanlike offense and that killer D they sported a few years back looks like it is finally returning. They've gone from overrated to underrated and that makes them kinda dangerous this time of year. As for the Bengals, okay I'll say it: time for Marvin Lewis to go. When you bring in Hue Jackson just to get smoked by the team that just ran him outta town...and there's talk that Hue might replace Marvin?!? Man, bad things are going down in Cincy. They would be better off by cleaning house in management (I'd move on from that GM, too) and giving the whole facility a fumigation.
Bears 27-30 (OT) Giants
Remember the Eli Principle: he makes good teams bad and bad teams good. So when you think the Bears are gonna roll over this crappy Giants team, nope, that's the time to put your chips on blue. The Bears came in without Trubisky (he's the new John Elway, you know) but still had plenty enough to move the ball on the Giants, but they didn't; thought that Bears pass rush would make mincemeat of Eli and that sorry O-line, but they didn't. So is this just Eli's veteran savvy picking apart an overconfident squad or are the Bears not quite ready to win? (Hmmm, I'll take both)
Vikings 10-24 Pats
Pretty even game for about three quarters but the Vikings offense stalled and the Pats were able to take hold of the game. I think the problem with the Vikings is Kirk Cousins: he isn't bad, he doesn't injure the team but he doesn't elevate the team either, he is the 15th best QB in the league, which isn't awful but isn't really good either. Otherwise I still think the Vikings are one of the best teams in the league but the Packers and Panthers and Redskins falling apart is the only way they get into the playoffs. As for the Pats, they can still beat people in the playoffs, I guess, but this is one of the weaker offenses they've had in the Brady years.
Chargers 33-30 Steelers
Another result that came to pass, though when the Steelers came out fast, I thought maybe I misjudged it. But then the Steelers attack kinda dried up and the Chargers had all the momentum in the 2nd half. That final FG fiasco was reminiscent of something I noticed earlier this year: the Steelers defense has the amazing ability to either commit a penalty or incite a penalty from the other side, like no unit I can recall in all my football watching days. Fun game, disappointing performance for the Steelers but really cemented the Chargers' status as one of those teams that can go deep in the post-season.
Other results (surprising):
Cards 20-17 Packers
Ohhhh, fuuuuudddggge! Well, Mike McCarthy was gonna get it at some point, losing to a bad team that was a 14 point underdog at home seems like a pretty good point. The Cards are still not any good, the Packers are officially done for the year. So who do you like as the new coach? Urban Meyer? (not seeing it) Jim Harbaugh? (maybe) Josh McDaniels? (maybe but I kinda like the Bill Belichick theory instead) Joe Philbin? (no--shit, I'd have Bobby Petrino!) Bruce Arians? (seems like he wants the Browns job, right?) How about Hue Jackson--you know he knows how to coach!
Panthers 17-24 Bucs
Bad L for the Panthers, I really don't understand why they're sputtering so badly right now. The Bucs are really not a good team and this was a good chance for the Panthers to right the ship, get their offense going and get a division W on the road...and they let it get by them. The Panthers are capable of beating anyone or losing to anyone, but they've been less then an up-and-down squad lately.
Colts 0-6 Jags
Wtf? I don't get this one at all. Okay, maybe the Jags D had a good game again but, man, that offense has nothing going for it, how did the Colts fail to outscore them?
Other results (not so surprising):
Ravens 26-16 Falcons
The Falcons really should be better, even with their debilitating injuries on defense. They're done for the year, not sure where they go from here: can they just re-up this year's team and hope for better health or is it time for a tear down? The Ravens are just kinda hanging around, just like every year. I'm not quite sold on Lamar Jackson just yet but he's getting wins, so I guess they gotta keep riding him. The Ravens still have a shot at the post-season but it might be easier to catch the Steelers than the get the wild card.
Rams 30-16 Lions
Yeah, that's about right.
Bills 17-21 Dolphins
Division game between two mediocre teams. Dolphins probably should've handled this game a little better but they got the W.
Browns 13-29 Texans
Yeah, that's about right. Personally I believe in the Texans, I've liked Deshaun Watson all year long and that pass rush is rounding into shape, they're gonna be a tough out for somebody. The Browns have been playing better but this is a tough road game for them.
Jets 22-26 Titans
I'd like to see the Titans dominate a game (they whooped the Pats but that's their only one of those all year long), they're good enough to win more games than they lose but not good enough to really be any good. The Jets suck in every way.
Chiefs 40-33 Raiders
The Chiefs really need to worry about that sorry defense. That amazing offense is gonna be good enough to outscore most opponents but that D is not good and it's gonna hurt them at some point.
Niners 16-43 Seahawks
I was wrong about the Seahawks, I thought they were done but they've got a good QB and a good coach and that duo can keep mediocre team alive. If the Vikings and Panthers continue to struggle, the Seahawks are gonna sneak into the playoffs--good for them! It's been a long season for the Niners and they got so little out of Jimmy G that they're still not even sure what they've got. Man, a tough tough season for the Niners.
Redskins 13-28 Eagles
Division game, nothing would've surprised me. This sounds about right.
Sunday, December 2, 2018
2018-19 NCAA Football (Week 14)
Games I watched (some of):
(10) Washington 10-3 (17) Utah
Yeah, that game was as boring as the score would indicate. The winning TD was a flukey pick-6, otherwise there was no offense--NO OFFENSE--in this game at all. This was two mediocre offenses against two okay defenses. Washington gets a Rose Bowl birth, where I reckon they'll get spanked by a so-so Ohio State squad. Pac-12 was really nothing special this year and this championship was pretty much the perfect capper of the season for the conference.
(5) Oklahoma 39-27 (9) Texas
Probably Oklahoma's crappiest game of the year--they played better in their L to Texas earlier in the year. The Sooners started the game by trying to go low-key, which was exactly what Texas was planning on--really? How is it that Texas was perfectly situated for that? Oklahoma really never did get their offense going but still managed to grind up the Horns. Texas is a nice team, moving in the right direction but they weren't as good as Oklahoma at any point this season (well, except for that week they beat them, I guess....).
(7) Central Florida 56-41 Memphis
Man, UCF really dug themselves a hole but it is a tribute to that overwhelming offense that they spotted a tenacious Memphis squad two quick TD's, sputtered through the first half and still easily covered the spread. Kinda impressed with Memphis that they put up that kind of fight, but once UCF got their feet under them, this game was over. I'm impressed, I'm ready to see Central Florida against a for-real opponent--especially in a year when everyone is playing for 2nd place anyway.
(1) Alabama 35-28 (4) Georgia
I was impressed with Georgia for the first three quarters, but honestly I thought Bama's WR's dropped a lot of balls in the 1st half, missed a lot of plays they would normally make and that's basically what kept UGA in the game. Bama going to their 2nd string QB (who would be an all-American at any other school) for the comeback just shows how much better they are than everyone else this season. UGA did their best, kept the game spicy but they're just not as good as Bama (and if Bama played better this wouldn't have been that close).
(6) Ohio State 45-24 (21) Northwestern
Buckeyes did enough to hold the lead, Northwestern looked like they were going to make a game of it early in the 2nd half but Ohio State still has enough big play ability to easily sock the game away. Northwestern played hard, I liked their moxy, but even as mediocre as Ohio State has been this season, they still have more than enough talent to easily take this game.
Didn't see
(2) Clemson 42-10 Pittsburgh
Yeah, this was predictable, Pitt was up and down all year long while Clemson plowed their way through an undefeated season without even trying hard.
(19) Boise State 16-19 (23) Fresno State
Two tough squads, ones to keep an eye on during the bowl season.
(24) Iowa State 27-24 Drake
Not a strong finish for Iowa State. Guess they only get it up for the tough games.
My final rankings
(1) Alabama (duh)
(2) Clemson (can they beat Bama? I dunno, maybe)
(3) Oklahoma (that offense is really good, they can give Bama or Clemson a game at least, though I don't see them beating either)
(4) Georgia (hung tough with Alabama for 3/4 of a game, more impressive than most everyone else this weekend)
(5) Notre Dame (solid, workmanlike Irish squad, they'll be Clemson's toughest opponent all year, they might could knock them off, we'll see)
(6) Central Florida (I'd rather see them than anyone else in a big game)
(7) Ohio State (after they throttle Washington they'll be the most uninspiring, unimpressive, luckiest 13-1 Rose Bowl-winning Big 10 champion I ever saw)
(8) nobody (LSU has 3 L's, Washington has no offense, Michigan blew their chances, Penn State and Florida weren't all that great this year, if Kentucky wins at Tennessee this would be their spot but they didn't get it done, either--we don't need an 8 team playoff, people! We don't need it!)
(10) Washington 10-3 (17) Utah
Yeah, that game was as boring as the score would indicate. The winning TD was a flukey pick-6, otherwise there was no offense--NO OFFENSE--in this game at all. This was two mediocre offenses against two okay defenses. Washington gets a Rose Bowl birth, where I reckon they'll get spanked by a so-so Ohio State squad. Pac-12 was really nothing special this year and this championship was pretty much the perfect capper of the season for the conference.
(5) Oklahoma 39-27 (9) Texas
Probably Oklahoma's crappiest game of the year--they played better in their L to Texas earlier in the year. The Sooners started the game by trying to go low-key, which was exactly what Texas was planning on--really? How is it that Texas was perfectly situated for that? Oklahoma really never did get their offense going but still managed to grind up the Horns. Texas is a nice team, moving in the right direction but they weren't as good as Oklahoma at any point this season (well, except for that week they beat them, I guess....).
(7) Central Florida 56-41 Memphis
Man, UCF really dug themselves a hole but it is a tribute to that overwhelming offense that they spotted a tenacious Memphis squad two quick TD's, sputtered through the first half and still easily covered the spread. Kinda impressed with Memphis that they put up that kind of fight, but once UCF got their feet under them, this game was over. I'm impressed, I'm ready to see Central Florida against a for-real opponent--especially in a year when everyone is playing for 2nd place anyway.
(1) Alabama 35-28 (4) Georgia
I was impressed with Georgia for the first three quarters, but honestly I thought Bama's WR's dropped a lot of balls in the 1st half, missed a lot of plays they would normally make and that's basically what kept UGA in the game. Bama going to their 2nd string QB (who would be an all-American at any other school) for the comeback just shows how much better they are than everyone else this season. UGA did their best, kept the game spicy but they're just not as good as Bama (and if Bama played better this wouldn't have been that close).
(6) Ohio State 45-24 (21) Northwestern
Buckeyes did enough to hold the lead, Northwestern looked like they were going to make a game of it early in the 2nd half but Ohio State still has enough big play ability to easily sock the game away. Northwestern played hard, I liked their moxy, but even as mediocre as Ohio State has been this season, they still have more than enough talent to easily take this game.
Didn't see
(2) Clemson 42-10 Pittsburgh
Yeah, this was predictable, Pitt was up and down all year long while Clemson plowed their way through an undefeated season without even trying hard.
(19) Boise State 16-19 (23) Fresno State
Two tough squads, ones to keep an eye on during the bowl season.
(24) Iowa State 27-24 Drake
Not a strong finish for Iowa State. Guess they only get it up for the tough games.
My final rankings
(1) Alabama (duh)
(2) Clemson (can they beat Bama? I dunno, maybe)
(3) Oklahoma (that offense is really good, they can give Bama or Clemson a game at least, though I don't see them beating either)
(4) Georgia (hung tough with Alabama for 3/4 of a game, more impressive than most everyone else this weekend)
(5) Notre Dame (solid, workmanlike Irish squad, they'll be Clemson's toughest opponent all year, they might could knock them off, we'll see)
(6) Central Florida (I'd rather see them than anyone else in a big game)
(7) Ohio State (after they throttle Washington they'll be the most uninspiring, unimpressive, luckiest 13-1 Rose Bowl-winning Big 10 champion I ever saw)
(8) nobody (LSU has 3 L's, Washington has no offense, Michigan blew their chances, Penn State and Florida weren't all that great this year, if Kentucky wins at Tennessee this would be their spot but they didn't get it done, either--we don't need an 8 team playoff, people! We don't need it!)
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