Weekend Wrap-Up-World Series of Poker Edition-Monday Night Football Prediction

We usually start with the football weekend, but I have to start off with a quasi non-sports story.

The World Series of Poker held their final table for the Main Event on Saturday night. Now called the "November Nine", you would think that this is where you would find the best skill level involved in the game.

No chance of that.

Long story short, the two players that made the worst moves on the table for 18+ hours, were rewarded by going against one another tonight Heads-Up for the bracelet. Darvin Moon and Joe Cada both literally sucked out and got gifts put into their laps to advance for the multi-million dollar first prize, and immortal fame in the poker world.

Cada, who could wind up being the youngest person to win the Main Event, two times played a hand over-aggressive Pre-Flop, had his tourney on the line against an overpair, and hit his own set. That right there is roughly 60-1 to happen. He also got a gift, from Moon.

Moon, who obviously is the ultimate "dead money" player to ever hit the Final Table, somehow survived in a tourney that is mostly skill and some luck. Well, Moon proved that it can be mostly luck and no skill. Moon's play had most pros shaking their heads, and even got Phil Gordon to say about one of Moon's hands as, "That was a gift.", and others whispering "That's about the worst play I've ever seen".(BTW, excellent coverage by the ESPN.com guys on the blog for the final table.)

Poker hit the mainstream a few years back when a string of ameteurs started to win the Main Event, starting with Robert Varkonyi, and of course, Chris Moneymaker. This is the first year that the WSOP could of really hit a higher level of popularity, if Phil Ivey (The Tiger Woods of poker), was at least heads up in the event or even won it all. It has been awhile since a top pro won it all, and would of given Poker a real superstar, excluding Phil Hellmuth of course, who is the best self-promoter since Muhammad Ali.

Prediction for the Heads-Up? Well, Cada does know how to play the game. He just sometimes is way over-aggressive, which is a trait most online players have. That will also be his major advantage over Moon one on one. Cada also has the chip lead. Barring a meltdown by Cada, I cannot see Moon beating the 21 year old kid on skill alone.

Cada the winner of the bracelet, breaking Peter Eastgate's record from last year.

Monday Night Football Prediction:

I will give the full Weekend Wrapup late tonight, but I had to give the game tonight. Should be a smashmouth game. Both defenses are top 5, and can expose the other offenses weaknesses.

The Steelers should give a healthy dose of Rashard Mendenhall tonight, and make Kyle Orton play from behind.

Pittsburgh Steelers 17, Denver Broncos 13

NFL Preview and Predictions-AFC

AFC East

New England Patriots 13-3
Miami Dolphins 8-8
New York Jets 7-9
Buffalo Bills 5-11


The Pats run away with this divison by Week 6, although trading DL Richard Seymour really does hurt their Super Bowl chances this season. Tom Brady airs it out all over the place and Randy Moss and Wes Welker both have Pro Bowl seasons. If the Pats get any sort of running game, expect them to put up 500 points this season and they will look like a video game on offense.

The Dolphins had a very nice run last season, and they are well-coached. Only problem is, the schedule gets tougher this year and you can not expect career years again from Chad Pennington and Joey Porter. OT Jake Long, last years #1 overall pick is a stud, and will be taking his annual trip to Hawaii.

The Jets are the team of the future in this divison. New Head Coach Rex Ryan brings an attitude to this team that was much needed. They will field a top defense this season, but rookie QB Mark Sanchez will have his growing pains. Expecting Matt Ryan in this situation is asking for too much. This team in 2010 though, especially in a potential uncapped season, watch out.

How do I say this without hurting anyones feelings? The Bills are a mess. They have one of the worst Head Coaches in football in Dick Jauron, their best player, RB Marshawn Lynch is suspended for the first 3 games, and they decide to bring in the 2nd biggest soap opera in the NFL next to Brett "Days of Our" Favre, in Terrell Owens. And to top it off, their recently fired Off. Coordinator told the media that Jauron basically wanted a Pop Warner Football offense. Expect a long, cold season up north.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens 12-4
Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5
Cincinnati Bengals 7-9
Cleveland Browns 3-13

The Ravens lost some players on defense, especially LB Bart Scott, S Jim Leonhard, and of course, Def. Coordinator Rex Ryan to the Jets this offseason, but with LB Ray Lewis and S Ed Reed out on the field, they basically already have two coaches out on the field. The offense will be much improved with QB Joe Flacco getting more exerience and the emergence of RB Ray Rice, who looked great in the preseason.

The defending champs are still going to be a mjor threat. The Steelers bring back one of the staunchest defenses the league has ever seen, led by OLB James Harrison and S Troy Polamalu. I am just worried that the running game is not entirely there, and Big Ben is due for a lengthy 3-5 game absence from all the hits he take in the pocket for keeping the ball in his hands too long.

This is a big season for Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis. This team has underachieved for several seasons, and may be on the hot seat for his job. He does get back QB Carson Palmer, who was hurt most of last season. The only person even more happy to have Palmer back then Lewis, is WR Chad "Twitter" Ocho Cinco, who should have a solid bounce back season. They are at least fun to watch on HBO though.

This year in Cleveland, we get to see Round two of Man-Genius. New Head Coach Eric Mangini comes over from New York to attempt to clean up this mess. Only one thing, he has probably already this mess even worse by getting maybe 65 cents on the dollar for the 5th overall pick that wound up being Mark Sanchez, questionable drafting, and not even announcing a starting QB until the last second. Brady Quinn should win the job, but we will have to deal with Braylon Edwards with the dropzees, and RB Jamal Lewis hitting the hole slower than a stoner thinks.

AFC South

Indianpolis Colts 11-5
Houston Texans 10-6
Tennessee Titans 9-7
Jacksonville Jaguars 5-11

QB Peyton Manning and the Colts have their hands full this season. This is by far the toughest divison in the AFC, and Manning has to go this season for the first time without Canton-bound WR Marvin Harrison. He still does have WR Reggie Wayne and TE Dallas Clark to toss the pigskin to. Rookie RB Donald Brown takes Joseph Addai's starting spot by Week 5 and shines.

The Texans are the "it" team to finally take that rise up to playoff status. They have a ton of firepower on offense with QB Matt Schaub, RB Steve Slaton, and All-World WR Andre Johnson. The keys for this team is simple. Can DE Mario Williams and Co. keep teams to 20 points a game? Can Schaub stay healthy? If both answers are yes, they could take the divison. If both answers are no, then probaly another 8-8 season.

The Titans come into this season losing their best player in DT Albert Haynesworth to Washington, when he signed a contract that will pay him enough to eat cheeseburgers for the rest of his days. They have a tough schedule to boot, having to play both teams from last years Super Bowl, in Pittsburgh and Arizona, plus New England, Seattle, and San Diego the final week of the season. The Titans will have to grind out wins this season, but they are use to that.

I do not think Jags Head Coach Jack Del Rio survives this season. The Jags have alot of question marks on both sides of the ball, and they are really putting all the weight on the shoulders of RB Maurice Jones Drew. The offensive line is going to be kind of green as well, with the Jags taking OL in the draft, including 1st round pick, Eugene Monroe.

AFC West

San Diego Chargers 13-3
Oakland Raiders 7-9
Kansas City Chiefs 5-11
Denver Broncos 4-12

This divison is all Chargers. If they do not go at least 5-1 within this divison, there should be a firing line on the coaching staff. The offense is just loaded, with QB Phillip Rivers, RB LaDainian Tomlinson, TE Antonio Gates, and WR Vincent Jackson. The defense should be much improved with having a full training camp under Defensive Coordinator Ron Rivera and getting back OLB Shawne Merriman back from injury. They may lose him by Week 5 to a new strain of herpes though after encountering Tila Tequila though.

After the Chargers, it is like getting second place by default. We will go with the Raiders. Yes, I know they are a joke of an organization, but lets look at the positives for a change. They can run the ball effectively. They do have the best CB in football in Nnamdi Asomugha, and they just traded for DL Richard Seymour, who will help the DLine emmensely, both on and off the field.

Kansas City is going in the right direction, but it will take some time. They got their QB in Matt Cassel, and they are rebuilding that defense the right way, but that OLine is young and pretty awful. Actually, losing TE Tony Gonzalez to Atlanta via trade hurts Cassel the most, as he would've had a safety net.

Now, the Broncos are a team that is not going in the right direction. New Head Coach Josh "Mini-Belichick" Mcdaniels has flipped this franchise upside down in a few months. He handled the Jay Cutler situation poorly, and now, he may be doing an even worse job with WR, and crybaby Brandon Marshall. The defense is going into the 3-4 this season, and Mcdaniels does not have the personnel yet for that scheme to be successful. It is going to be a long season in Denver, at least they will get a potential Top 5 pick right? Oops, did Mcdaniels screw that one up as well? That pick is Seattle's.

Playoffs:

Wild Card Round: Indianpolis Colts over Pittsburgh Steelers
                       
                            Baltimore Ravens over Houston Texans

Divisonal Round: San Diego Chargers over Indianpolis Colts

                           Baltimore Ravens over New England Patriots

AFC Conf. Champ.: Baltimore Ravens over San Diego Chargers