PV’s Upset Specials: Week 10

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It was a slight rebound with a 2-2 record last week, which should have been 3-1 if the Rams were not so poorly coached. As predicted the running game was in full order with Jackson busting off 130 plus, but bonehead plays by the defense cost the Rams the game.

Straight up: 8-6
Spread: 10 – 6

This weeks upset specials:

Lions over the Bears (-2.5) – I can’t even believe the Lions are underdogs this week? Have the odd makers not been paying attention to how well teams coming off the bye weeks have been playing? The Bears upset the Eagles last week following the week off, and the Eagles had a flawless game plan against the Cowboys with the extra week off in what turned into a beating. The Bears will suffer the same fate. Lions win easily at the Flying Saucer Field. Also, did someone catch Bears fever?

Rams over the Browns (-2.5) – The Rams will make me right this weekend and beat the Browns. Steven Jackson will run wild again.

Colts over the Jaguars (-2.5) – The Colts will get their first win this week over the Jacksonville Jaguars. This should the team the Colts defense has been waiting for to make their team look good.

Falcons over the Saints(-.5) – The Falcons are getting their mojo rising and the Saints are starting to look more like the ‘aints each game. They gave the Bucs a chance to win last week. The Falcons will over match the Saints, but there should be a lot of points in this one.

Good luck everyone!

PV’s Upset Specials: Week 9

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This week I try to rebound coming off a rough week with only calling the Giants against the Dolphins correctly. I would have been 2-2 if Houston did not choose to kick a field goal with: 20 left already up by a touchdown. At least in the Cowboys loss Rob Ryan took full blame for it and saved me ranting about it this week on the blog; terrible defensive plan. My season totals took a bit of hit this week.

Straight up: 6-4 (only picked two last week)
Spread: 8 – 4

This weeks upset specials:

Buccaneers over the Saints (-7.5) – I’m going to repurpose this one saying once again the Bucs will upset the Saints this week. In the first meeting the Buc won 26-20 and they will win again by running it down the Saints throats. Freeman has been in a bit of a funk the Bucs, but expect him to have a nice game throwing the ball.

Rams over the Cardinals (-4.5) – The Rams have found their running game again with a healthy Steven Jackson, and they will continue to run him 30 plus times thus given Sam Bradford wide open receivers to throw to in man coverage. Rams will win quite easily this week.

Ravens over the Steelers (-3.5) – This game will be decided by a field goal either way, but the Ravens will find a way to win this one after coming off a huge come from behind victory last weekend. Two solid defenses square off in this one, but I think both teams will score a lot of points.

Jets over the Bills (-1.5) – Jets defense is coming on and the other Ryan will put together a good defensive scheme to shut down the Bills running game. If that happens it should be an easy day for the Jets. J-E-T-S! JETS!

Good luck everyone!

If Tebow/Suh is ultimate battle of Good & Evil, Evil will prevail

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By all media accounts, Denver Broncos’ new starting QB Tim Tebow is the favorite son of the Son of God.  Since his days as a Florida Gator journalists and broadcasters have practically knocked each other over to anoint him as the second coming of Christ despite the only marginal talents he displays on the field. The most famous and egregious example came from FOX announcer Thom Brennaman who spewed this most nauseating tribute during the 2009 BCS National Championship: “If you’re fortunate enough to spend five minutes or 20 minutes around Tim Tebow, your life is better for it.“

By contrast, Lions’ imposing DT Ndamukong Suh has begun to get the reputation of being the NFL’s dirtiest player.  Whether or not that characterization is just, this Sunday’s Broncos/Lions matchup could be billed as the ultimate battle of Good vs. Evil.

In his first NFL start against Miami last week, Tebow proved both his critics and proponents right by looking like anything but a professional quarterback, yet he found a way to win.  Tebow went an abismal 13 for 27 for a mere 131 yards, but he was able to lead the Broncos to two TDs in the final 2:44 to tie the game and eventually win on a long field goal in overtime.

Strict analysis of his tangible abilities prove Tebow is not up to the challenge of being an NFL quarterback.  However, his disciples point to his intangibles as what sets him apart as he always seems to find a way to win.  So the Tebow debate remains unsettled after last week’s performance, but that will change tomorrow when the Lions and the demonized Suh come to Mile High.

Suh has been fined $42,500 over his first two seasons for varying degrees of questionable hits and general nastiness. Last week, Suh was even accused of taunting Atlanta’s Matt Ryan as the QB writhed in pain after his own lineman rolled up on his ankle.  A few Falcons whined to the media afterwards claiming Suh mockingly called out, “Get the cart!”  But perhaps he knew Ryan was embellishing a bit because he was able to make a miraculously quick recovery and was back on the field just two plays later.

Regardless, the notion that Suh is too nasty for pro football is laughable.  Does anyone think like Jack Lambert, “Mean” Joe Greene or Dick Butkus would have any issues with his play? Anyone who thinks Suh needs to take it down a notch needs to look at the past and realize he is emulating the greats in the sport’s history.

For the first time Tebow will face a truly menacing defensive line led by Suh that should cause plenty of turnovers and dispel the messianic Tebow myth.  If anyone wants to characterize this Sunday’s Bronco/Lions game as a battle of Good vs. Evil, go ahead. Is Suh evil? Yes he is. Get used to it.

PV’s Upset Specials Week 8

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Another 3-1 week last week puts my record for the year at 6-2 straight up and 7-1 against the spread. Against the spread is what we’re going to talk about this week as I only have two straight up upsets this week, but have two against the spread.

Cowboys over the Eagles (-3.5) - Cowboys will win this one without the use of the spread since they’ve found a running game. I know DeMarco Murray ran for 253 yards against a terrible Rams team, but 253 against the Rams translates to 100 yards against a decent team. The Eagles defense has been manhandled this season by larger more physical team like the Cowboys, Dez Bryant should be able to feast all day long. Cowboys by at least a touchdown.

Seahawks over the Bengals (-2.5) - The Seahawks have a way of playing just well enough against team they are evenly matched up with and they are pretty evenly matched with the Seahawks. Seahawks win a close one.

Dolphins over the Giants (-9.5) - This is a spread pick, although this game has upset written all over it I believe the Giants will win by seven. Dolphins definitely cover the 9.5 points.

Jaguars over the Texans (-9.5) – Again, we have a case here where this game will be much closer than the 9.5 points. Jack Del Rio will have his team ready to play and keep the Texans running game in check. When the Texans get one-dimensional they tend to lose games, but they will able to win a close one against the Jags.

PV’s Upset Specials Week 7

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If you’re reading this then you may know that I was 3-1 last week straight up and 4-0 against the spread. If you did a $20 four team parlay with my picks you won about $400, so congrats. I picking on some of the same teams this week, but it’s the tough part of the schedule for teams.

Jets over the Chargers (-1.5) - The Jets are getting their swagger back and they will paste Philip Rivers and the Chargers coming off the bye week. The Chargers defense has enough holes that will allow Mark Sanchez and the Jets’ offense to have a good day. The Jets defense will create at least three turnovers in this one. Jets by 10.

Buccaneers over the Bears (-0.5) – This is basically a pick ‘em, but with the Bears as favorites the Bucs will win this one by at least a touchdown. Their defense will confuse Jay Cutler and will stymie the Bears running game. I’d also be surprised if Devon Hester gets a return in this one.

Falcons over the Lions (-3.5) – This should be a well-played football without an angry handshake at the end. This will be a high scoring affair as the Falcons defense has been able to stop very little, but the difference in this one will the running game of the Falcons. The Falcons will control the clock to keep their porous defense off the field as well as Megatron and Matt Stafford. This game will not be decided by more than three points either way. Falcons by a field goal.

Texans over the Titans (-3.5) – The Texans are getting no respect from the odds makers this week, but they have a superior team to the Titans. The Texans will get the offense back on track this week, and Wade Phillip’s defense will of enough to confuse the Titans and create trouble for Chris Johnson’s running game. Texans by a touchdown.

BONUS:

Colts over Saints (-13.5) - The Colts are not going to win, but they are going to cover the spread. The Colts still have a good defense and the Saints will not win by two touchdowns. That’s a straight up spread pick.

BCS computers become self-aware; spontaneously generate playoff system

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It has become so painfully obvious college football needs a playoff system to everyone (except the corrupt cabal of big conference commissioners, of course) that even the computers have rebelled against their masters like HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey ["I'm sorry BCS Executive Director Bill Hancock, I'm afraid I can't do that."] and created a de facto Final Four.

The first BCS poll of the year was revealed on Sunday and, much to everyone’s surprise, the computers actually got it right on the first try. LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are truly the top four teams in the county. But even more serendipitous is that LSU vs. Alabama on November 5th and OU vs. OSU on December 3 will create what amounts to a national semi-final.

So let’s look at the BCS Final Four. The seeding doesn’t really mean anything as things stand right now, but LSU is more than qualified to be the nation’s best at 7-0 with victories over four Top 25 teams including a neutral-site victory over my pre-season National Champion pick Oregon and a road win over #16 West Virginia.  Les Miles and crew aren’t afraid to play anyone anywhere and have been justly rewarded for it.

It’s hard for this B1G fan to admit, but the SEC is simply the best conference in college football. Period. One only has to look at the last five National Champions to know it’s true.  And as much as it pains me, Prick Saban’s 7-0 Alabama squad deserves the second slot with thee victories over Top 25 teams.

Oklahoma certainly deserves it’s #3 ranking with the best road win of the year at an incredibly hostile Florida State as well as a convincing blowout win over Red River rival Texas.

Where things get a bit contentious is at the #4 spot. Arguments could be made for Wisconsin, Stanford and most strongly for 7-0 Clemson with three victories over Top 25 teams, but Oklahoma State gets the nod for several reasons.  The Cowboys simply have more quality wins than Wisco and Stanford thus far. Clemson might have the resumé to possibly supplant OSU, but the Tigers suffer by being ranked #8 in the AP, USA Today Coaches’ and Harris polls—two spots behind the Ok. State in each. As for Boise State, a win over a mediocre Georgia team and nothing else to hang it’s hat on just doesn’t cut it.

Of course, the only way this virtual Final Four all works out in the end depends on each of the quartet remaining unbeaten until and after their impending semi-final battles. Even if it does happen, the BCS is still fatally flawed and corrupt.  This lucky break doesn’t change that.