Weekend Wrap-Up

We started the Weekend Wrap-Up the other night by adding the Cotto-Pacquiao fight to the NFL Picks since it was fresh in the mind. I am convinced Manny Pacquiao is a V (ABC TV show). He cannot be human.

The Wrap-Up will come after the Monday Night Game tonight.

Prediction:

Do I even need to spell this one out? A hungry Ravens team that desperately needs to win to stay involved in the playoff talk, or, the single most pathetic roster of talent in the NFL?

Our boy, and Rutgers alum Ray Rice has his coming out party on National TV tonight. 170 Total Yards and three scores.

Balitmore Ravens 34, Cleveland Browns 9

College Football Picks of the Week

This is the week where the men separate themselves fro, the boys. Midway point of the season, and now we can see where the powerhouses truely are, as well as finally getting a real grasp on the Heisman favorites. Before I mention my picks, I need to get this one off my chest.

As of right this second, Tim Tebow is NOT a Heisman candidate! He has done squat on the field so far. I am tired of the media, espeically ESPN, pounding this kid down our throats purely based on reputation. When he starts putting up huge games, then we can discuss him. Until then, no more Heisman talk for Tebow. No one is bringing up Sam Bradford for Heisman on rep are we?

Now, your picks for the week:

Pittsburgh 16, Rutgers 6 - It is going to be cold, windy, and rainy in NJ for tonight's conference tilt. I just do not trust Rutgers after getting waxed by Cincy, then playing an Ultra-Soft Charmin month long schedule.

Texas 28, Oklahoma 20 - Sam Bradford did look good in his return, but like the BYU game, is going to see some serious pressure from teh Longhorn front four against his weak, inexperienced OLine. Colt Mccoy knows he needs this one to become the front runner for the Heisman.

Ohio St. 45, Purdue 23 - Purdue can score, but they could not stop a flag football team from Syosset Long Island.

Iowa 24, Wisconsin 16 - This could be a serious Upset Alert, but I am hoping the Hawkeyes can somehow pull this one out, just like they have been doing week after week. It is not pretty, but it is getting done.

Florida 38, Arkansas 23 - Tim Tebow better have a big game against such a weak defense. He needs one of those 250 yards passing and 3 TDs, with 80 yard rushing and 2 TDs. Although, if he does that, the braintrusts at ESPN might cream in their pants.

Nebraska 45, Texas Tech 28 - This line went from 5.5 to 11 for a reason. The reason is that the Cornhusker front four can get enough pressure on the Red Raiders that they can sit 7 defensive backs into coverage. Big game for Roy Helu Jr.

Virginia Tech 41, Georgia Tech 31 - I am starting to think that the Hokies are the 2nd best team in the country. All they needed for to open up the offense a bit, and Tyrod Taylor has been playing superb.

Kansas 54, Colorado 23 - Can we please get some Todd Reissing Heisman love somewhere? The guy has been overlooked for three years now. Always in the shadow of Mccoy, Bradford, Chase Daniels, and the Texas Tech QB assembly line. Just go take a look at Reissing's stats the past 3 years.

Alabama 20, South Carolina 10 - I saw this line and said "17 points??" I am going to bite. I do not think Bama can run wild on this good defense. They will win, and it will be a big win, over a ranked team.

Missouri 42, Oklahoma St. 31 - UPSET SPECIAL! No Dez Bryant? No Kendall Hunter? No win against real competition. My national title game team is toast, and we can see the steam in the sky from T. Boone's ears.

And, finally...

Notre Dame 34, USC 31 - UPSET OF THE YEAR! Remember in my orginal College Football Preview that I said I could not wait to see USC just destroy the Irish? Well, I do not think that will happen anymore. Why?

USC is not as good as advertised. They are injured, and they are starting a Frosh. QB that looks very shaky at times. The most important reason I feel this upset coming though is...

This is the game where Jimmy Clausen wins or loses the Heisman. I think he wins it here. Clausen goes bonkers against USC, no Mccoy or Tebow legendary games are going to top this.

Last Week: 7-4

Season: 38-26

Weekend Wrap-Up

Is it just me, or does meaningful games in the last weekend of Major League baseball's regular season make it a much better sports weekend?

The Twins, needing to give the Royals the broom over the weekend, which included beating the future CY Award winner Zack Greinke, did so to force a play-in game against the reeling Detroit Tigers. Thanks to the Vikings, and the Days of Our Favre, the game will be Tuesday, which gives the Tigers a bit of an advantage, considering how hot the Twins bats are. We will be watching that one for sure.

Of course, the Tigers would be alot happier if star slugger Miguel Cabrera was not coming home drunk in the middle of a pennant race at 5am in the morning, fighting with his wife until 6 am, escorted out of his house by the police, then have to be picked up by Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski at 7:30am. Cabrera is lucky, if his coach was Tom Cable, he would have alot more than just scratches on his face.

Since the end of the baseball season is here, the Awards goes to:

AL MVP - Twins C Joe Mauer- Imagine what his stats would of been if he did not miss a month?

AL CY -  Royals Zack Greinke- Felix Hernandez made it close, but 2.16 ERA and 240 strikeouts on that team is just absurd.

AL Manager of the Year - Twins Ron Gardenhire- About two weeks ago, this pick would of been Rangers Ron Washington, but this stretch run the Twins have put up tipped me over to the other side.

AL Rookie of the Year -  Oakland Closer Andrew Bailey - I know relief pitchers do not get much love from this vote, but Bailey was by far the most dominant rookie of this class. The numbers back that up. Beats out Rick Porcello in my eyes, although the media are total victims for the spotlight.

NL MVP - Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols - Do I really need to go into this one? Thank you.

NL CY - Cardinals Adam Wainwright - Alot of good candidates for this one, but Wainwright has the horse that survived the stretch run. Tim Lincecum could not finish strong, same with teammate Matt Cain. Wainwright's teammate Chris Carpenter had a great year, but even he would admit that Wainwright is the man here.

NL Manager of the Year - Rockies Jim Tracy - Took over a cellar dweller mid season, and turned them into a playoff team. When you go 74-40, you are doing something special.

NL Rookie of the Year - Phillies SP JA Happ - This was the toughest decison for me, as Tommy Hanson is unbelieveable, and I hate the Phillies. Overall though, Happ does deserve the award. A sub 3 ERA in that sandbox is pretty damn good.

Finally getting off of baseball, and before we get into the football weekend, just how pathetic is it that NBA TV is showing PRACTICES of NBA teams??? That is right, PRACTICES! The NBA is dull enough until the last quarter, and they are telling me that there is a market for televised practices? Allen Iverson is now wants to go to practice.
It is not fair when Peyton Manning is in Arcade Mode. Watching the Seahawks-Colts game yesterday, it just seemed like before going out in the field, someone would pop a quarter into Manning, and it was like some 12 year old kid running up the score with a joystick. Unreal.

Steve Smith leads the NFL in Receptions and Receiving Yards. He even did it without punching a teammate. Wait a second, wrong Steve Smith. The loudmouth lunatic is not even the best WR with his own name anymore. How the mighty how fallen.

With all the press the New Orleans Saints offense gets, their defense is pretty damn good. They just destroyed one of the better OLines in football against the Jets. They did it with a ton of blitzing. Are you hearing that out in Tennessee? Paging Mr. Cecil!!! Bring more than four men at a time, otherwise, it is your ass.

I still dunno what is the bigger shock to me. The Titans 0-4, or the Broncos 4-0. I think someone put some acid in my Spam.

After getting humiliated by Virginia Tech, the Miami Hurricanes redeemed themselves with a huge win at home against Oklahoma. After those first 4 grueling game, 3-1 is a nice place to be for a program trying to reclaim their old glory.

Congrats to California and Houston. Both programs are the co-winners of the biggest fraud award for this season so far. Cal was suppose to be a powerhouse, and has been pummeled like chopmeat by Oregon and USC in consecutive weeks. Houston was ranked too high for their bridges, but 58 points to UTEP??? The same UTEP team that got hammered by Texas the week before? At least we will not hear the press crying that they are getting overlooked now.

What a catch by Georgia WR AJ Green in the 4th quarter of that great game between LSU. The offical that tossed that excessive celebration penalty should never officate another college football game again. That was one case where an offical played God, and dictated the outcome of a game. SEC, do the right thing.

Speaking of shady nonsense in college football, the Polls have Iowa moving up after 1 spot in the AP and 3 in the Coaches Poll after barely beating Arkansas St. Nice work, I would harp on that even more, if not for the fact that Virginia Tech somehow mysteriously leapfrogged Boise St. in the Polls after struggling against Duke.  Now, I am a Rutger's football fan, can I cut a check to some of these pollsters and see Rutgers #22 next week? This is not a joke, I think I really could.

Last thing on college football before the Monday Night pick. Is there anymore important game for the Heisman this year than Notre Dame against USC in a few weeks? That is the make or break game for Jimmy Clausen. With a great game, he can become to frontrunner in a star-studded year.

Monday Night Pick of the Week:

The only thing the schedule makers messed up was that this game should of been in Lambeau. Cut the tension with a knife tonight, as The Days of Our Favre finally get a crack at his old franchise, the Packers.

The storyline will be Favre against Aaron Rodgers, but this game will more about if the Packers can stop Adrian Peterson. I do not think they can, but the Packers will be smart to just air it out, and let their best playmaker Greg Jennings try to take over. This has shootout written all over it. Last one with the ball wins.

Packers 31, Vikings 28.