Week 3 College Bowl Picks

International Bowl
Rutgers vs Ball St.
Line: Rutgers by 10
Rutgers has been up and down this year, but I think their big offensive line will be able to pound the ball on offense and get enough pressure on Nate Davis to cruise to an easy victory. Rutgers 42, Ball St. 14
Watchability: *

GMAC Bowl
Bowling Green vs Tulsa
Line: Tulsa by 4
An exciting shootout is inevitable as Bowling Green and Tulsa run the same exciting spread offense. Tulsa's is just more exciting and diverse. Expect a shootout and an exciting precursor to the BCS Championship game. Tulsa 38, Bowling Green 31
Watchability: **

Outback Bowl
#16 Wisconsin vs #18 Tennessee
Line: Tennessee by 2
Wisconsin is not your stereotypical Big 10 team. If the last two years have taught us anything, they have enough team speed to compete with most SEC schools, as victories over Arkansas and Auburn in the last two years have proven. While Tennessee has the speed, Wisconsin should control the tempo with their big offensive line and smother Erik Ainge with their pressure. Wisconsin 21, Tennessee 19
Watchability: ****

Cotton Bowl
Arkansas vs #6 Missouri
Line: Missouri by 3
The way these two offenses run, expect a huge abundance of points. On one side, Missouri will have their hands full with the combination of Darrin McFadden and Felix Jones. On the other, Arkansas will have trouble stopping the Missouri spread attack captained so brilliantly by Chase Daniel. In the end though, it's hard to trust the Razorbacks' hot-and-cold QB play. Missouri 31, Arkansas 24
Watchability: ****

Capital One Bowl
Michigan vs #12 Florida
Line: Florida by 10.5
This could possibly be the biggest mismatch out of all the bowl games. Michigan's disappointing year has been highlighted by inconsistent QB play and spotty defense. Florida's spread attack will run circles around the Wolverine defense and Tim Tebow will justify the Heisman hype with another 200-100 game. Florida 38, Michigan 14
Watchability: ****

Gator Bowl
Texas Tech vs #20 Virginia
Line: Texas Tech by 6
Chris Long is the type of pass-rusher who can disrupt a team's entire passing offense and that's what I have a feeling he'll do against the Red Raiders. By putting pressure on Graham Harrell, he'll throw off his rhythm and keep Tech from moving the ball consistently. Offensively, the Cavs will play an efficient, mistake-free game and control the clock against the undersized Red Raider defense. Virginia 23, Texas Tech 17
Watchability: ***

BCS BOWLS

Rose Bowl
#13 Illinois vs #7 USC
Line: USC by 14
We kick off the BCS feast with an intriguing Pac 1o-Big 10 matchup. The Trojans have healed up and overcome their midseason funk, but Illinois has shown drastic improvement in year 3 under Ron Zook. I think they have the athletes to go up and down the field with USC, but ultimately, the Trojans' depth will be too much for Illinois. USC 24, Illinois 21
Watchability: ****

Sugar Bowl
#10 Hawaii vs #5 Georgia
Line: Georgia by 7.5
One of the biggest things I noticed when watching Hawaii is how good their athletes are. These guys are no joke, their receivers could play for just about any school in the country and they have some linemen that play with loads of intensity. Georgia is very good and as hot a team as there is in the country, but what they'll find is that you can't underestimate Colt Brennan's heart, and he'll make enough plays to keep it close. Georgia 34, Hawaii 28
Watchability: ****

Fiesta Bowl
#9 West Virginia vs #4 Oklahoma
Line: Oklahoma by 7
West Virginia comes into this game reeling after blowing a shot at the National Title game with an embarrassing home loss to Pitt and watching their coach jump ship before their BCS game. OU is playing at as high a level as anyone in the country. They thumped Missouri in the title game and should rough up the already-banged-up duo of Pat White and Steve Slaton.
Oklahoma 38, West Virginia 21
Watchability: ****

Orange Bowl
#8 Kansas vs #3 Virginia Tech
Line: Virginia Tech by 3.5
What Mark Mangino has done with this Kansas team is nothing short of miraculous. With their spread attack, I think they can give the Hokies a lot of problems on defense. LSU exposed their weaknesses early in the year and VT hasn't faced an offense that good in ACC play. They're in for a rude awakening. Kansas 34, Virginia Tech 31
Watchability: ****

BCS Championship Game
#1 Ohio St. vs #2 LSU
Line: LSU by 4
This controversial title game is the end result of one of the wackiest years ever in college football. If any season cries for a playoff to be instituted in college football, this is it. With our current system, though, these are the de-facto #1 and #2 teams in the country. Ohio St. brings a tough defense to the table, but LSU has so many weapons at RB, not unlike the Illini team that beat OSU at home earlier this year. If OSU has the same kind of trouble against LSU's attack, they'll have to score a lot of points to keep up with the Tigers. LSU needs to jump on the Buckeyes early and force them to play from behind, where their offense is less effective because they can't rely on running the ball. LSU 34, Ohio St. 27
Watchability: *****


Week 2 vs Spread 8-5
Week 2 Striaght up 9-4
Season vs Spread 12-9
Season Straight up 16-5

Week 17 NFL Predictions

New England at New York Giants
Line: Patriots by 13.5
Even though conventional wisdom suggests the Giants rest their starters, I can't help but think they'll be using this as a tuneup for playoff competition. The key is not to be so emotionally expended that they'll flame in round 1. The Pats' trek to an undefeated season has gotten a little rocky and the GMen will give them everything they have. Patriots 27, Giants 20

Buffalo at Philadelphia
Line: Eagles by 7.5
The Birds have nothing to gain by winning, just optimism going into next year. A strong finish means you'll probably see another year of McNabb. Philly just needs to get playmakers at receiver and they're a playoff team next year. Eagles 27, Bills 14

Carolina at Tampa Bay
Line: Panthers by 2.5
Tampa's got a nice little team, I just don't see them getting any further than the second round this year. Panthers 24, Buccaneers 20

Cincinnati at Miami
Line: Bengals by 2.5
They were so dangerously close to making history, but even if the Pats break their mark, at least the Fins didn't get skunked this year. That's cause for a little optimism, right? Bengals 24, Dolphins 10

Dallas at Washington
Line: Redskins by 9
I have to give major props to the Redskins. The fact they made the playoffs after Taylor's tragic death and Gibbs's ill-timed brainlock is a tribute to their character. Redskins 23, Cowboys 3

Detroit at Green Bay
Line: Packers by 5
The one concern the Packers should have going into the postseason are their last two losses against Dallas and Chicago. Favre displayed the wildness that has led to some recent Packer meltdowns in postseason play. Packers 27, Lions 17

Jacksonville at Houston
Line: Texans by 6.5
OK, so they didn't make the playoffs, but hey, the first .500 season in Texans' history is as good as a lock as the Jags tune up for their first round rematch with Pittsburgh. Texans 24, Jaguars 14

Chicago at New Orleans
Line: Saints by 1.5
Maybe this week the Bears try the Devin Hester experiment. We've seen them struggle enough with the forward pass, why not line him up under center? Who else did you have in mind? Urlacher? Saints 21, Bears 10

Pittsburgh at Baltimore
Line: Steelers by 3
Chuck Batch returns! Too bad he won't have most of the starters with him. Somehow I think Pitt's coasting through this one. They're screwed in the playoffs though without Parker. Ravens 10, Steelers 3

Seattle at Atlanta
Line: Falcons by 2.5
For Seattle to make their mark in the postseason, Alexander has to dig down deep and find his 2005 mojo again. Falcons 20, Seahawks 14

Cleveland at San Francisco
Line: Browns by 11.5
There's no nice way to put it, Cleveland blew their one chance to be more than a chronic failure. Next year, the schedule gets tougher and playoffs are no guarantee in the deep AFC. Browns 31, 49ers 10

Minnesota at Denver
Line: Vikings by 3
Another team that made a whole bunch of noise for nothing. At the end of the day, the same thing that everyone was worried about, erratic QB play, turned out to be the Vikes' achillies heel. Vikings 38, Broncos 21

San Diego at Oakland
Line: Chargers by 8
Is there any doubt that Sapp quit on the season when he got tossed last week? Oh, and thank God for parity. Oakland made a miraculous turnaround from 2-14 to...4-12. Chargers 28, Raiders 24

St. Louis at Arizona
Line: Cardinals by 6
Nothing, not even them being the Cardinals, can stand in the way of a .500 season. Not on Mr. Brenda Warner's watch! Cardinals 20, Rams 17

Kansas City at New York Jets
Line: Jets by 6
I know Herm took a lot of crap in NY, but lets be honest, the Jets would be better than 3-12 if he were coaching there. Mangini (and Weis for that matter) owe every dollar they've made to Belicheck. Jets 13, Chiefs 10

Tennessee at Indianapolis
Line: Titans by 6.5
Hey, gotta give the Titans credit. They hung in there when everyone thought they'd collapse and snatched away Cleveland's playoff spot in the last couple weeks. No way they lose when Jim Sorgi's playing a half and Marvin Harrison's only playing a series. Titans 24, Colts 10

Week 16 vs spread 8-8
Season vs spread 119-116-9
Week 16 straight up 10-6
Season straight up 149-75

College Bowl Picks Week 2

Champs Sports Bowl

#14 Boston College vs Michigan St.

Line: Boston College by 4

MSU has the kind of dynamic offense BC is not used to facing. They pass as well as they run and they're one of the top rushing teams in the nation. Meanwhile, BC's offense has been figured out to a large degree. If you jam their slow-footed receivers and put pressure on Matt Ryan, their attack suddenly becomes very average. MSU is an under-the-radar team that could give BC lots of problems. Boston College 20, Michigan St. 17
Watchability: ***

Texas Bowl

Houston vs TCU

Line: TCU by 4.5

Sometimes, the Bowl committee misses on matchups, but this is definitely not one of those cases. We get an old school SWC matchup in the Lone Star state. TCU wins too as the Cougars still recover from knife wounds in their backs thanks to Art Briles jumping ship to Baylor before the season ended. TCU 17, Houston 10
Watchability: **

Emerald Bowl

Maryland vs Oregon St.

Line: Oregon St. by 5

The long travel will likely wear out Maryland and OSU is playing at a stadium close to their home turf, so they'll have a distinct home field advantage. OSU also plays the run surprisingly well, proving they're not your typical soft Pac 10 defense. I want to go with Maryland, but they're just too inconsistent. Oregon St. 24, Maryland 20
Watchability: ***

Alamo Bowl

Penn St. vs Texas A&M

Line: Penn St. by 5.5

From a defensive standpoint, PSU is the kind of team that can make A&M completely one-dimensional. If they can take away the running game early and if Anthony Morelli can just manage the game, PSU will come out of San Antonio with a solid bowl victory to end their year. Penn St 20, Texas A&M 10

Watchability: ***

Meineke Bowl
#25 Connecticut vs Wake Forest
Line: Connecticut by 2.5
This matchup features two of the best young coaches in America, as Randy Edsall has resurrected the Huskies to a 9-3 record and split of the Big East title following a 4-8 season. Meanwhile, Jim Grobe has proven last year's ACC Title was no fluke by leading the Deacon Demons to an 8-4 year and a second straight bowl appearance. Having played in a BCS game last year, I think WFU will play with the kind of intensity the Huskies aren't accustomed to and take advantage of the home field. Wake Forest 23, UConn 17

Watchability: ***

Liberty Bowl
Central Florida vs Mississippi St.

Line: Central Florida by 3

The big reason to watch this game is Kevin Smith, another C-USA RB along with Chris Johnson who has the talent to be a 1st round NFL Draft pick. He's on pace to shatter the college rushing record now that he's coming back for his senior season. Mississippi St. has faced lots of good RB's in the SEC, but not one as good as this guy. Central Florida 31, Mississippi St. 27

Watchability: ***

Independence Bowl
Colorado vs Alabama

Line: Alabama by 3

At least there's always the NFL on Sunday. Good thing, I doubt I'll be stuck watching this clunker between .500 teams. It's interesting too, it seems like the Independence Bowl is notorious for games like this. Maybe they should step up their advertising and get better corporate sponsors. Alabama 20, Colorado 16

Watchability: *

Armed Forces Bowl
Air Force vs California

Line: California by 3.5

The Golden Bears were at one point the #2 team in the country. Hard to believe that now, but after finishing the season 1-6 and suffering through a series of injuries, here they are. If they can't beat the bottom feeders in the Pac 10, they don't stand a chance against Air Force. Air Force 24, California 14

Watchability: **

Sun Bowl

Oregon vs #21 South Florida

Line: South Florida by 6.5
We'll call this the "I once was #2, remember? Bowl." South Florida came bursting out of the gate like gangbusters, winning their first six games. They included an impressive overtime win in Auburn and a home win over West Virginia. After getting upset by Rutgers, however, USF would drop its next two and fall out of the top 25. Oregon, meanwhile, continued to surge after USF fell, climing as high as #2 before Dennis Dixon tore his ACL and OU lost to Arizona, ending their hopes of a national title and sending them into a three-game freefall. It's a shame too, I really thought Oregon was going to represent the Pac 10, but with all the QB problems they're having, they'll likely end the year with 4 straight losses. South Florida 34, Oregon 20
Watchability: ***

Humanitarian Bowl

Georgia Tech vs Fresno St.

Line: Georgia Tech by 6
Don't adjust your TV screen, the Humanitarian Bowl is back and the blue turf blamed for twelve seizures in this country will once again be occupied. By the way, isn't it interesting that Georgia Tech hired Paul Johnson now when it would have made perfect sense to hire him last year to coach the option game and save them from Reggie Ball's butchery of the forward pass? Georgia Tech 38, Fresno St. 17
Watchability: **

Music City Bowl
Florida St. vs Kentucky

Line: Kentucky by 10
Watching FSU's descent has been truly sad. What happened at FSU with the 20 suspensions would have gotten any coach fired instantly, but the institution protects Bobby Bowden, who's completely lost control of the program. It's too late to turn things around, this short-handed Noles team won't stand a chance against the exciting young Wildcats and their cannon-armed QB, Andre Woodson. Kentucky 35, Florida St. 14
Watchability: ***

Insight Bowl
Indiana vs Oklahoma St.

Line: Oklahoma St. by 4
I may watch this game only for the 200 clips they show of Mike Gundy's outburst, which has to be the most colorful media tantrum a coach has ever thrown, better than even the hissy fits Jim Mora and Denny Green famously threw. This one had heart, as you could clearly see this guy was ready to blow a gasket after the reporter printed an unfavorable story about starting and then-struggling QB Bobby Reid. The great irony, of course, is that the same QB he was defending is now on the bench and the offense runs better with Zac Robinson starting. Oklahoma St. 30, Indiana 24
Watchability: **

Peach Bowl
#23 Auburn vs #15 Clemson

Line: Clemson by 2.5
Outside of Texas-ASU, this could be the highest-quality Bowl game of all the pre-New Years matchups. I think Auburn's defensive line can hold Clemson's running attack in check and control the clock as well, forcing Cullen Harper to beat them. They'll win in what should be a defensive slugfest. Auburn 17, Clemson 13
Watchability: ****

Week 1 vs spread 4-4
Week 1 straight up 7-1

Week 8 NBA Rankings

1. Boston Celtics (22-3) (1) It's Christmas time and everyone deserves a gift. I'll start out by giving Kendrick Perkins a custom-made flat frame bed, not the foldout kind that's liable to injure your feet.
2. Detroit Pistons (20-7) (3) For Rasheed Wallace, a stress ball shaped like Tom Donaghy's head. Now you can squeeze it any time a call doesn't go your way, thus saving you money so you can get that gray spot taken care of. Just make sure David Stern doesn't catch on, he might fine you.
3. San Antonio Spurs (19-7) (2) For Bruce Bowen, new shoes with an improved arch support that allows you to bounce right back off the floor into a defensive stance after flopping.
4. Dallas Mavericks (19-9) (5) For Dirk Nowitzki, a non-refundable plane ticket back to Germany in mid-May, about the time his team gets eliminated from the playoffs.
5. Los Angeles Lakers (18-10) (7) For Phil Jackson, a flapping dickey to go with that bright red bowtie he was sporting on Christmas.
6. Phoenix Suns (19-9) (4) For Steve Nash, a Sampsonite Briefcase for him to take with him on road trips in case he wants to go into full Lloyd Christmas mode.
7. New Orleans Hornets (17-10) (8) For Chris Paul, some tweezers to clean and maintain that unibrow of his.
8. Orlando Magic (18-11) (6) For Rashard Lewis, an entire Bowlflex set so he can bulk up to play in the paint more.
9. Portland Trail Blazers (16-12) (13) For Greg Oden, a knee brace to help him rehab for next year, when Portland emerges as a true title contender.
10. Denver Nuggets (16-11) (10) For Allen Iverson, a Jason Kidd jersey he can sport in press conferences to lure the disgruntled PG out of New Jersey.
11. Golden State Warriors (16-12) (11) For Stephen Jackson, an extra compartment to hide the gun in case he decides to go P Diddy in the club again.
12. Atlanta Hawks (14-12) (17) For any Hawks' player under 21 (that'd be over half the roster, right?) another XBox 360 for those long, clubless nights on road trips.
13. Indiana Pacers (15-13) (16) For Troy Murphy, one-on-0ne sessions with Tony Robbins to resurrect his game and his confidence.
14. Utah Jazz (15-14) (14) For Andrei Kirilenko, a prostitute from Russia so he can get the most out of his one-free nookie a year pass.
15. Toronto Raptors (15-14) (9) For Sam Mitchell, a translator in case some of his international players can't understand him in practice and game situations.
16. Washington Wizards (13-13) (12) For Deshawn Stevenson, a beard-trimmer in case he finally realizes he can't compete with Drew Gooden.
17. Cleveland Cavaliers (13-16) (19) For Anderson Varejao, a gig on the Simpsons as Sideshow Bob's long lost twin brother.
18. Houston Rockets (13-15) (15) For Tracy McGrady, some pimpin' new suits to wear on the sidelines in case he misses another 30 games with his usual assortment of injuries.
19. Sacramento Kings (11-15) (18) For Brad Miller, some Sean John pants and a Fubu jacket with a gold chain.
20. New Jersey Nets (12-15) (22) For Jason Kidd, a giant UHaul moving van for whenever the team decides to trade him.
21. Milwaukee Bucks (11-15) (23) For Yi Jianlan, a new agent that will keep LA, Golden St, Miami, New York and Chicago out of the inevitable no-trade clause his second contract will have.
22. Charlotte Bobcats (10-15) (25) For Sean May, a book on the South Beach diet so he can stay in shape while he rehabs his knee.
23. Philadelphia 76ers (11-16) (20) For Reggie Evans, some Latex gloves in case he gets a hankerin' for some groping during a game.
24. Chicago Bulls (9-16) (21) For John Paxson, a fathead poster of LaMarcus Aldrige the next time someone asks him why he couldn't get one good post player with three lotto picks and a ton of cap space.
25. Los Angeles Clippers (9-17) (24) For Mike Dunlevy, five extra roster spots in case the injuries keep piling up.
26. Miami Heat (8-20) (26) For Pat Riley, a year's supply of mousse so he can still look good even as his team continues to struggle.
27. Seattle Supersonics (8-20) (28) For Kevin Durant, a giant wrist band in case he develops arthritis from shooting too much.
28. Memphis Grizzlies (8-19) (27) For Mike Miller, a WNBA jersey the team should force him to wear until he loses that affemanine haircut.
29. New York Knicks (8-19) (29) For Eddy Curry, a giant glazed basketball so he actually tries to rebound.
30. Minnesota Timberwolves (4-22) (30) For Kevin McHale, the giant pinkslip that Knick fans keep trying to give Isiah since he's completely sabotaged his franchise.

Week 16 NFL Picks

Pittsburgh at St. Louis
Line: Steelers by 8
Was it just me or could Greg Jennings have called a fair catch on that TD pass from Favre? I mean, no one was within 30 feet of him. I haven't even heard my boy D's reaction. He laughs hysterically every time he sees soft defense, so I know he got something to say about that. Steelers 28, Rams 13

Dallas at Carolina
Line: Cowboys by 10.5
I'm sorry, but after TO made those Jessica Simpson comments and ESPN went on its latest anti-TO spazz, I just can't take anything they say seriously. Not that I ever did. I mean, did an entire network miss the real story? Romo sucked because he busted up his throwing thumb, not because Jessica was there. Cowboys 17, Panthers 10

Cleveland at Cincinnati
Line: Browns by 3
Despite his best efforts, Jamal Lewis could not save my Fantasy team from a 1st round humiliation in large part due to Romo's garbage game. Nonetheless, he should run all over the Bengals the same way he used to in B-More as the Browns continue to make the Steelers sweat out their division title. Browns 31, Bengals 21

Green Bay at Chicago
Line: Packers by 8.5
The last time these teams met in Chicago, Rex Grossman posted a 0.0 QB rating. Any chance Kyle Orton posts a negative QB rating? Is that even possible? Sid Luckman is rolling in his grave. Packers 31, Bears 10

Houston at Indianapolis
Line: Colts by 7
I'm sorry, but Mario Williams got ROBBED! Thank God Jay Taylor will probably skip out on the Pro Bowl to get some Honolulu poon, giving Super Mario another opportunity to represent. On a sider, I sincerely apologize. The Texans' front office knew what they were doing the whole time when they took him over Reggie and Vince. Colts 21, Texans 16

Kansas City at Detroit
Line: Lions by 4.5
The Lions have mailed it in the past six weeks, but I think they have enough to win against KC, who's going to be lousy next year because this isn't that great a draft and they have about a zillion positions to upgrade. Lions 24, Chiefs 14

Miami at New England
Line: Patriots by 22
Yes, I know what you're thinking. And no, it isn't happening. It was nice for the Fins to get their first win of the season, but after this week, the 72 Dolphins will be crying into their beers as the Pats move one week closer to 16-0. Patriots 24, Dolphins 7

New York Giants at Buffalo
Line: Giants by 2.5
Eli is going into the tank and Buffalo is another of those good non-playoff AFC teams. With Lynch healthy again, Buffalo will have enough offense to get by the flagging Giants, who are primed for another late season fade. On a sider, how dumb is Coughlin calling 52 passing plays in 25 mph wind? Bills 16, Giants 13

Oakland at Jacksonville
Line: Jaguars by 13
I was admittedly waffling deciding between the Jags and Steelers (thank you Jack & Coke, you bring out the truth). The fact is, this is the team in the AFC (other than New England) that NO ONE wants to face in the playoffs. Jaguars 27, Raiders 10

Philadelphia at New Orleans
Line: Saints by 3
They don't have much of a shot, but the Saints can win out and afterwards, they'll let the dominoes fall where they may. It's good to see the running game working again, but the guy gaining 100 yards is not the #2 pick in the draft, it's Aaron Stecker. Saints 21, Eagles 13

Washington at Minnesota
Line: Vikings by 6.5
Washington's been winning on pure guts in the last two, but it stops here. They can't pass enough to take advantage of the Vikes' secondary and face the NFL's #1 run D. The only thing keeping me from taking 6.5 is the simple fact Tavaris Jackson is capable of keeping both teams in the game. Vikings 17, Redskins 13

Atlanta at Arizona
Line: Cardinals by 10
In the wake of Petrino abandoning the team, Chris Redman misrepresents Louisville with a stellar 34 yard passing performance. On a sider, 23 months seems a bit extreme, but in two years, Mike Vick's comeback will garner as much hype as Tyson's when he got out of prison. Cardinals 24, Falcons 17

Baltimore at Seattle
Line: Seahawks by 10
Billick got an extension yet he still can't get a QB who has a concept of the forward pass. It is nice to see Troy Smith playing well though, but I don't think it should be enough to earn him an extension. Seahawks 17, Ravens 13

New York Jets at Tennessee
Line: Titans by 9
Vince deserves a lot of credit. Seriously. With this kind of margainal talent, how he's gotten them to a winning record is a story in itself. Maybe in this draft, the Titans will actully surround him with actual talent. Titans 27, Jets 17

Tampa Bay at San Francisco
Line: Buccaneers by 6
The Bucs finally returned a kickoff for a TD for the first time in franchise history. On that note, picture these teams 20 years ago and at no point are you thinking that Tampa will be favored by 6 on the road against the Niners and most people think they should be favored by more. Buccaneers 30, 49ers 10

Denver at San Diego
Line: Chargers by 8.5
The Chargers are another of those dangerous teams no one wants to play in the postseason. The talent they have has finally managed to overcome Norv's terrible coaching and their newfound running game should run circles around the Broncos. Chargers 31, Broncos 17

Week 15 vs spread 9-7
Week 15 straight up 11-5
Season vs spread 111-108-9
Season straight up 139-69

College Bowl Picks Week 1

Poinsettia Bowl
Utah vs Navy
Line: Utah by 7
Hey, Alex Smith was the #1 pick in the draft. And Steve Smith for a time was considered the best wideout in football. So don't hate on the Utes. They get a little NFL buzz once in a blue moon. Utah 34, Navy 17
Watchability: *

New Orleans Bowl
Florida Atlantic vs Memphis
Line: FAU by 3
My alma mater is in a Bowl game for the first time in its six year history. And favored! Lets go Burrowing Owls! Schnellenberger was the one who built the Miami program from scratch and he's got a good thing going in Boca Raton. FAU 28, Memphis 24
Watchability: *

PapaJohns.com Bowl
#22 Cincinnati vs Southern Miss
Line: Cincinnati by 11
The Big East was a good conference this year. In all honesty, Cincy deserves better and I thought they'd get better after a 9-3 season. Cincinnati 35, Southern Miss 21
Watchability: **

New Mexico Bowl
New Mexico vs Nevada
Line: New Mexico by 2.5
The rating of this game outside of the state of New Mexico will be 0.1. Of course, as much of a football junkie as I am, I may be in that percentile. New Mexico 31, Nevada 24
Watchability: *

Las Vegas Bowl
#17 BYU vs UCLA
Line: BYU by 2.5
Ahh BYU, the school of many a great passer from Steve Young to Ty Detmer to John Beck. If the Bruins couldn't hang with the Utes, no chance these Coogs are takin it easy on them. BYU 38, UCLA 10
Watchability: **

Hawaii Bowl
#24 Boise St. vs East Carolina
Line: Boise St. by 11
How much you wanna bet Chris Peterson was told right after his team lost to Hawaii they got a Bowl invitation, then he kept his guys in Hawaii? I mean is it really that horrible to lose the WAC when you get this for a consolation prize? Boise St. 41, East Carolina 17
Watchability: **

Motor City Bowl
Purdue vs Central Michigan
Line: Purdue by 8
I stole this from an LSU fan's blog, but it's true no matter who posted it. Dan LeFevour had a better year than Tim Tebow statistically and had the grave misfortune of playing for a MAC team, where he was doomed to a career of obscurity unless he had freak athleticism a la Randy Moss or a cannon arm a la Ben Roethlisberger. Purdue better be on upset watch. It's not like Big 10 competition is that much better than the MAC. Purdue 24, Central Michigan 20
Watchability: **

Holiday Bowl
#11 Arizona St. vs #19 Texas
Line: Texas by 2
The talent level rises considerably when these two teams take the field. Texas's defense has been up-and-down all year, but the play of Jamaal Charles lately has been impressive, and if the Horns can establish the running game, they'll win this thriller game in shootout fashion. Texas 38, Arizona St. 31
Watchability: ****

Week 7 NBA Rankings

1. Boston (20-2) (1) Never good news when you start to hear about Ray Allen and ankle problems.
2. San Antonio Spurs (18-6) (2) It was one thing to lose Duncan, but now without Parker, the Spurs will fall back into the pack.
3. Detroit Pistons (17-7) (3) It's a contract year, so you know Maxiell is playing every game like his life depends on it.
4. Phoenix Suns (18-7) (4) The win in San Antonio was nice, but keep in mind who wasn't playing in that game.
5. Dallas Mavericks (17-9) (7) If they can beat Phoenix and the Clippers, first place maybe right around the corner.
6. Orlando Magic (17-9) (5) With a tougher schedule ahead starting with the Texas Two Step, the Magic are picking a bad time to slump.
7. Los Angeles Lakers (15-9) (8) Kobe did wind up playing in Chicago this year, just not for the team the Bulls fans wanted him to play for.
8. New Orleans Hornets (15-10) (6) Paul keeps this team afloat as they continue to battle through injuries.
9. Toronto Raptors (15-11) (12) Matchup tonight with Portland features two of the most exciting young teams in the league.
10. Denver Nuggets (14-10) (10) Nene needs to come back soon, as this team is suffering defensively without him.
11. Golden State Warriors (14-11) (9) An inspired 4th quarter rally helps the Warriors to a rare win over the Lakers.
12. Washington Wizards (13-10) (14) Now with AD out, the Wizards need Haywood, Jamison and Butler to continue to step up their games, maybe even more so with depth at PG so lacking.
13. Portland Trail Blazers (13-12) (18) The more they win, the more their confidence grows and the last few drafts are really paying off with Webster, Roy, Outlaw and Aldrige spearheading this eight-game winning streak.
14. Utah Jazz (14-12) (11) The struggles continue as Harpring and Okur miss time with injuries.
15. Houston Rockets (12-12) (13) If the Rockets would start hitting their threes, the floor would open up again, but being 28th in the league in 3-point percentage isn't cutting it.
16. Indiana Pacers (13-12) (17) The good news is O'Neal posted back-to-back 20+ point efforts and maybe if his health is right, he can open up more space for Dunlevy and Granger.
17. Atlanta Hawks (12-12) (16) If someone deserves credit for the Hawks' surprising turnaround, it's Anthony Johnson, who's veteran leadership at the PG spot has allowed youngsters Stoudamire and Law to develop while he's led the team to a 10-6 record as a starter.
18. Sacramento Kings (10-14) (20) If they just had a front line, they'd be in playoff contention, but give Salmons and Udrih a lot of credit for filling in so well for Bibby.
19. Cleveland Cavaliers (11-14) (15) They're 2-8 since the 9-6 start, but even with LeBron back, they must find their identity on the defensive end to get back in the playoff race.
20. Philadelphia 76ers (10-14) (19) You knew after the GM change the Andre Miller trade rumors would start.
21. Chicago Bulls (8-14) (21) When Nocioni plays well, the energy level of the team goes up, and lately, he's been a big spark off the bench.
22. New Jersey Nets (10-15) (23) As the listless efforts pile up, so do the trade rumors for Jason Kidd.
23. Milwaukee Bucks (10-14) (24) The Bucks need to start playing with the same fluidity away from home, where they have an 8-2 record.
24. Los Angeles Clippers (9-15) (22) Am I reading that right? Chris Kaman is averaging 14 rebounds per game???
25. Charlotte Bobcats (8-14) (26) MJ may have gotten the better of Dumars on the court, but Dumars has made up for it by ripping him off in the front office. How does Walter Hermann's name even come up in a Nazr Mohammed trade?
26. Miami Heat (7-17) (25) If they tank now, they'll get OJ Mayo or Derrick Rose to team up with Wade and Shaq next year.
27. Memphis Grizzlies (7-17) (27) They definitely have something going for them in the backcourt, now if only they could get Pau and Darko to rebound a lot more.
28. Seattle Supersonics (7-18) (29) Durant's first game in New York was a beauty as he torched the Knicks for 30.
29. New York Knicks (7-17) (28) Speaking of the Knicks, shouldn't those fans stop wasting all their energy on Isiah and go after the real culprit of the team's putridity, James Dolan?
30. Minnesota Timberwolves (3-20) (30) It hasn't looked this bad since the Doug West/JR Rider era.

Week 15 NFL Predictions

Denver at Houston
Line: Broncos by 1
A fun matchup between Shanahan and his ex-assistant Gary Kubiak. While the receivers are sure to make handfuls of athletic plays, this game will likely come down to whoever can run the ball more effectively. I'll give the slight advantage to Houston only because Denver's run defense has been so consistently bad all year. Texans 23, Broncos 17

Cincinnati at San Francisco
Line: Bengals by 8.5
Who made this line? How is a 5-8 football team a near double-digit favorite on the road? On a sidenote, I can see how the NFL Network thought this would be a good matchup at the beginning of the season. This game is not the reason to order that channel. Bengals 21, 49ers 17

Arizona at New Orleans
Line: Saints by 3.5
So much for the Cardinals making the playoffs, but hey, there's always next year. And you know Marques Colston's a great receiver when he's putting up numbers while the rest of the Saints receivers continue to drop passes left and right. Saints 27, Cardinals 17

Atlanta at Tampa Bay
Line: Buccaneers by 13.5
Atlanta will be completely out of sorts after their head coach stabbed them in the back with just three games to go in the season. With the Birds playing for next year, the Bucs should cruise to an easy W and lock up the division, capping an impressive last-to-first transition that's beginning to become common in the NFC South. Buccaneers 24, Falcons 3

Baltimore at Miami
Line: Ravens by 3.5
One more game. Then we get the crazy opposites game, with one team chasing history with an undefeated season and another chasing a different, more futile type of history. Bottom line, if the Dolphins can't beat the Ravens (no reason to think they can), they will not win a game this year. Ravens 6, Dolphins 0

Buffalo at Cleveland
Line: Browns by 5.5
This game is pivotal for playoff positioning. Buffalo just keeps finding ways to win games they shouldn't even be involved in while Cleveland's high-octane offense continues to click on all cylinders. I'll go with Cleveland here, playing behind the emotion of their home crowd. The Bills are still relatively young and a year away. Browns 24, Bills 20

Green Bay at St. Louis
Line: Packers by 9.5
The Pack should have no trouble stopping St. Louis with a rookie QB, as they're clicking on all cylinders with the running game working for the first time all year. Packers 31, Rams 0

Jacksonville at Pittsburgh
Line: Steelers by 3.5
Jacksonville runs the ball, but Pittsburgh takes away the run. Advantage Steelers. And while I like David Garrard, I don't think he can get the job done without a running game against the nasty Steelers' D. While Jacksonville will be game, they won't have enough to pull the road win here. Steelers 20, Jaguars 13

New York Jets at New England
Line: Patriots by 23.5
The Pats are 0-2 against the spread when given 20+ points. That's why I'm hesitant to take this gargantuan line, even if it is against Eric Mangini and the Jets, the same team Belicheck got caught cheating against. Patriots 38, Jets 17

Seattle at Carolina
Line: Seahawks by 7.5
With the division wrapped up, Seattle still brings out the starters in an effort to maintain the highest seeding possible. They shouldn't have any trouble with the woeful Panthers, who would have trouble scoring against a nine-man defense. Seahawks 24, Panthers 10

Tennessee at Kansas City
Line: Titans by 4
A gimme win for Tennessee, as the Chiefs have been flat out terrible since a 4-3 start and now are banged up and listless on offense. Even their defense is having breakdowns, as evidenced by the 34-point shellacking they took at Denver last week. Titans 24, Chiefs 14

Indianapolis at Oakland
Line: Colts by 10.5
This youthful Oakland squad will merely serve as fodder for the suddenly red-hot Colts, who continue to dominate defensively while the offense regroups and heals up in time for the playoffs. The scary thing for New England is they may face this same team in the AFC Title game with Marvin Harrison. Colts 42, Raiders 23

Detroit at San Diego
Line: Chargers by 10
After losing to the Cowboys in such heartbreaking fashion, I think it's safe to say the Lions' ship has sunk. They haven't run the football effectively in five weeks and have literally stopped believing in the running game. Meanwhile, their defense has gotten burned out from spending too much time on the field and is in for a long day with LT lining up in the backfield. Chargers 35, Lions 10

Philadelphia at Dallas
Line: Cowboys by 10.5
In a heated divisional rivalry, the Eagles will be game, but TO will again prove to be too much as he finally gets his redemption once and for all against the team that dumped him. So getcha popcorn ready! Cowboys 31, Eagles 24

Washington at New York Giants
Line: Giants by 4.5
That may have been the first time in his whole career that Todd Collins actually looked like a real, live NFL QB. Too bad it won't last. Not against the Giants' D anyways. This is another silly line. How is it that the Giants are favored by less than 5 points against a Todd Collins-led team? Giants 23, Redskins 3

Chicago at Minnesota
Line: Vikings by 10
The Vikings just keep getting better every week and Tavaris Jackson's confidence continues to grow. Meanwhile, the Taylor-Peterson 2-headed monster is working perfectly and the Vikings' D has been nothing short of outstanding. They're a lock to cover against the woeful Bears, even if the spread is double digits. Vikings 31, Bears 10

Week 13 vs spread 12-4
Week 13 straight up 15-1
Season vs spread 102-101-9
Season straight up 128-64

Week 6 NBA Rankings

1. Boston Celtics (17-2) (3) Perkins's foot injury has to qualify as one of the more bizarre injuries in sports. Next time, he should just buy the flat-frame and not the foldout bed.
2. San Antonio Spurs (17-4) (1) Ginobili puts up back-to-back 37's, picking up the scoring slack with Duncan sidelined.
3. Detroit Pistons (15-6) (5) It hasn't been the most grueling stretch, but winning 7 of their last 8 puts Detroit firmly on top in the Central.
4. Phoenix Suns (16-6) (3) Fatgiue sets in at the end of a long road trip as the Suns drop one to the T-Wolves, then inexplicably fall at home against the Heat.
5. Orlando Magic (16-6) (2) One thing about Orlando is that while the front court is strong, their backcourt is streaky and didn't play well on the homestand with Nelson having a nothing game against Atlanta and Bogans limping around with a bruised knee.
6. New Orleans Hornets (14-7) (7) Four of five Hornets' starters are battling injuries, but at what point does it catch up with them?
7. Dallas Mavericks (14-8) (8) Howard carries reeling team with a career-high 47 points in a big home win against the Jazz.
8. Los Angeles Lakers (12-8) (10) If Ariza can make a difference off the bench, the Lakers may have added yet another versatile backup to creatch matchup problems.
9. Golden State Warriors (12-9) (11) The Warriors took a break from their usual high-paced theatrics to ugly out a 96-84 decision over the Duncan-less Spurs.
10. Denver Nuggets (13-8) (9) George Karl and Avery Johnson wore mics and I missed it? Man, it would have been classic unintentional comedy too!
11. Utah Jazz (13-9) (6) Jazz D has been struggling mightily in four-game slide which includes a demoralizing road loss to the TD-less Spurs.
12. Toronto Raptors (12-10) (12) TJ Ford's spill has that horrible sense of deja vu. Lets just hope it's not serious.
13. Houston Rockets (11-11) (13) Yao needs to look in the mirror before calling anyone soft.
14. Washington Wizards (11-10) (18) Jamison, perhaps the most underrated good player in the league, has picked it up with 21 and 10 a night while Arenas sits.
15. Cleveland Cavaliers (10-12) (15) Having LeBron back is one thing, but if the Cavs can get big games out of Larry Hughes, they could make another run in the East.
16. Atlanta Hawks (10-11) (20) Josh Smith has been the biggest catalyst behind the Hawks' surprisingly good play.
17. Indiana Pacers (10-11) (17) So I guess trading Jackson and Artest did a lot to clean up the Pacers' image, eh Larry?
18. Portland Trail Blazers (9-12) (25) The Blazers' latest hot streak includes a rare road win over the Jazz.
19. Philadelphia 76ers (8-13) (27) Well, at least they look good against horrible teams like the Knicks.
20. Sacramento Kings (8-12) (19) A couple weeks after getting an article in SI, Kevin Martin suffers a groin injury. All this talk about the Madden Curse and people still sleep on the SI jinx.
21. Chicago Bulls (7-12) (26) Is that a misprint? The Bulls really scored 123 points? Was the game 58 minutes long?
22. Los Angeles Clippers (8-12) (21) This team still has somehow managed to stay afloat admidst injuries.
23. New Jersey Nets (9-13) (14) Things may have officially hit rock bottom with a home loss to the Clips. Kidd's days are numbered.
24. Milwaukee Bucks (8-12) (16) The road trip started off ok, but four losses and a delayed flight later and the Bucks are in a tailspin.
25. Miami Heat (6-15) (28) Could back-to-back victories, including a road win against Phoenix, be a sign that the Heat's fortunes may be turning?
26. Charlotte Bobcats (7-12) (23) It seems hard to believe now that it was Okafor, not Dwight Howard, who won Rookie of the Year.
27. Memphis Grizzlies (6-15) (22) You mean Conley hasn't even cracked the starting lineup yet?
28. New York Knicks (6-14) (24) Can the starting center of the Knicks please explain how Quentin Richardson averages a board a game more than he does?
29. Seattle Supersonics (5-17) (29) This week we find out if the Sonics are indeed basketball's worst team with the Knicks and TWolves on the horizon.
30. Minnesota Timberwolves (3-16) (30) I know why Walker is suddenly playing well. You get traded from sunny Miami to frigid Minnesota and see how hard you'll work to get out of there.

Week 14 NFL Predictions

Chicago at Washington
Line: Redskins by 3
I'm a little disappointed the Skins weren't able to get it done against Buffalo in the name of Sean Taylor, but I nonetheless feel it will happen this week against Chicago in what should be a charged up Thursday Night atmosphere at FedEx Field. I would also like to add I'm impressed by the classy tribute the Skins made to Taylor by starting the Buffalo game with 10 players on the field. Redskins 20, Bears 14

Carolina at Jacksonville
Line: Jaguars by 10.5
When these teams started out in 95, I bet they'd have no idea that in 12 years, they'd reach five conference title games and a Super Bowl. Jacksonville's still playing at a high level while Carolina is going through a down year, starting a QB with a longer career than their franchise's entire existance. Jaguars 31, Panthers 10

Dallas at Detroit
Line: Cowboys by 11
It's really a shame Detroit couldn't keep up the magic after their 6-2 start. If this team has any pride at all though, they'll give Dallas their best game. After all, they couldn't do any worse after last week's embarrassment against the Vikings. Cowboys 34, Lions 31

Miami at Buffalo
Line: Bills by 7
Yes, it is still very possible that the Dolphins could go winless after they blew a golden opportunity against the Jets. Who would have thought both winless and undefeated could take place in the same year and in college football, the only undefeated team plays off the mainland. Yes...it's been a year like no other in football. Bills 13, Dolphins 10

New York Giants at Philadelphia
Line: Eagles by 3
I was right. Cartman turned down that AJ Feeley card for a reason. As far as the Giants go, they're not great yet, but they showed they can win a tough road game in cold weather and a hostile environment by winning in Chicago last week and I think that'll be big for them going into this game against an Eagles team fighting for their playoff lives. Giants 20, Eagles 17

Oakland at Green Bay
Line: Packers by 10
It's a matchup between the league's most ridiculously-dressed fans. In Green Bay, they travel in masses and wear styrophome cheese helmets, while in Oakland, they wear black and spray-paint their faces silver with more eye-liner than a Long Island hooker. So who looks the most ridiculous? Gotta be the Oakland fans. At least in Green Bay, men don't wear makeup. Packers 31, Raiders 17

Pittsburgh at New England
Line: Patriots by 10.5
If the last two weeks have shown us anything, it's that the New England defense is really showing signs of age. If AJ Feeley and Kyle Boller can throw on this defense, imagine what Roethlisberger will do. Last week, for the first time, their passing attack actually looked fairly average. It's becoming evident that you can blitz Tom Brady and at least keep him out of rhythm. We know Pittsburgh loves to blitz and they have the #1 defense in the NFL. They pick the perfect time to catch the Patriots, when they're their most vulnerable. Patriots 21, Steelers 20

Tennessee at San Diego
Line: Chargers by 1
If the Chargers' D has shown anything, it's that they have a world of trouble with freak athletes. Adrian Peterson was one and Vince Young is another. If his receivers don't let him down this week, he could have a monster game against the streaky Chargers' D. Titans 28, Chargers 21

St. Louis at Cincinnati
Line: Bengals by 6.5
It's the Brock Berlin show! That's right, the guy who ruined the UM program is getting his first (and hopefully last) start in an NFL game. So Stephen Jackson, meet those 8-in-the-box defenses again. Bengals 28, Rams 3

Tampa Bay at Houston
Line: Buccaneers by 3
Just a hunch, but I suspect this is the week Tampa's injuries catch up with them. Houston may have lost Schaub, but Sage Rosenfels has proven more than capable as a backup and as long as he's got Andre Johnson, the numbers will be there. Texans 17, Buccaneers 13

Arizona at Seattle
Line: Seahawks by 7
Are the Cardinals really in the playoff race this late in the year? Believe it! And their last three games after this look like pushovers. Seattle is pulling away, but I've seen them fold in the face of prosperity before, so there's no reason it can't happen this time. Seahawks 23, Cardinals 20

Minnesota at San Francisco
Line: Vikings by 8.5
Take the Vikings at all costs down the stretch. Outside of Dallas, this maybe the team playing the best football in the NFC as of this moment. Their running game is clicking, their passing game is starting to work, and they've got the kind of finish to the schedule that 10-6 teams are made of. Vikings 31, 49ers 10

Cleveland at New York Jets
Line: Browns by 3
Cleveland was hosed on a bad call last week, but have otherwise been positioning themselves for a run at the Wild Card at the end of the year. In an interesting battle between former Belicheck assistants, Crennell will call checkmate on Mangini's thoughts of an upset by giving him a heavy dose of Jamal Lewis. Browns 24, Jets 20

Kansas City at Denver
Line: Broncos by 6.5
Denver's gotta win this one. No way they let a woeful Chiefs team come into Invesco and win. It would just be too embarrassing. While their defense has failed against most teams, they had their way with the banged-up Chiefs in their last matchup. Broncos 30, Chiefs 10

Indianapolis at Baltimore
Line: Colts by 9
After literally getting punched in the stomach with last week's heartbreaker against New England, Baltimore will still be feeling the side-effects against an Indy team that's healing up and starting to peak at the right time. New England may be the undefeated team, but lets still not forget who the defending champs are. Colts 34, Ravens 17

New Orleans at Atlanta
Line: Saints by 4.5
No Mike Vick. No Reggie Bush. I'm sorry, what was the reason to watch this game again? Bad week in sports. Saints 16, Falcons 10

Week 13 vs Spread 5-11
Week 13 Straight up 9-7
Season vs Spread 90-97-9
Season Straight up 122-70

Week 5 NBA Rankings

1. San Antonio Spurs (15-3) (1) Big Shot Bob is back! Sixty more games until he gets to hit those backbreaking threes at the end of important playoff games.
2. Orlando Magic (16-4) (2) Howard now has two games with over 20 rebounds in the past three.
3. Boston Celtics (14-2) (3) Celtic opponents have failed to reach 80 in 2 of the three games since the Cleveland loss.
4. Phoenix Suns (14-4) (4) Now Amare's starting to break out big, his latest masterpiece being a 42-point, 13-rebound effort against the Pacers.
5. Detroit Pistons (12-5) (8) After a tough road trip, the Pistons are clicking again, having won their last four games by an average margain of almost 24 points.
6. Utah Jazz (13-6) (5) The Jazz get put to the test with the Texas Two-Step coming up this weekend against the Spurs and Mavs.
7. New Orleans Hornets (12-6) (9) The Hornets get a big home win against Dallas that will hopefully get them moving in the right direction.
8. Dallas Mavericks (12-6) (6) After skating by against lesser opponents, the Mavs get a real test with the Spurs on the road followed by the Nuggets and Jazz at home.
9. Denver Nuggets (11-7) (11) No reason a team with the athletes Denver has should ever let up 127 points in a game.
10. Los Angeles Lakers (10-8) (13) While Odom's production has been sagging, Radmonovic has picked up the slack.
11. Golden State Warriors (9-8) (16) They're above .500 and still climbing in the West.
12. Toronto Raptors (10-8) (14) To prove what kind of depth the Raptors have, they won by 19 without Bosh, Ford or Bargniani.
13. Houston Rockets (9-9) (10) Their inconsistency stems from the fact that they can't find a reliable #3 scorer after McGrady and Yao.
14. New Jersey Nets (9-9) (17) Bringing Carter off the bench to spark the second unit seems to be working for the Nets.
15. Cleveland Cavaliers (9-10) (7) Without LeBron, it's a miracle when this team scores more than 80 in a game.
16. Milwaukee Bucks (8-8) (12) Bogut's game has improved since he started shaving his head.
17. Indiana Pacers (9-10) (19) How much longer can Dunlevy and Granger continue to carry the load while O'Neal works his way into shape?
18. Washington Wizards (8-9) (15) After what he went through in his rookie year, it's great to see Blatche not only playing, but improving and getting more minutes.
19. Sacramento Kings (7-10) (24) The Kings might set a record by the end of the year for "most random guards to score over 20 points in a game."
20. Atlanta Hawks (7-10) (21) Getting a veteran PG for Josh Childress wouldn't be such a bad move at this point.
21. Los Angeles Clippers (6-10) (18) They've seemingly fallen back to earth since their surprising 4-1 start.
22. Memphis Grizzlies (6-11) (25) Navarro had a four-game stretch as a starter in which he averaged 18.7 ppg, proving the Grizz got a real find.
23. Charlotte Bobcats (6-10) (20) They've been free-falling since the heartbreaker against the Celtics.
24. New York Knicks (5-11) (26) Isiah's future on the Knicks' sidelines gets bleaker by the day.
25. Portland Trail Blazers (6-12) (23) Outlaw helps end the Blazers' 0-9 road start with some last-second heroics against the Grizzlies.
26. Chicago Bulls (4-11) (28) Trading for Kobe would only make things worse, as Deng and Gordon are the only bright spots in the Bulls' dismal start.
27. Philadelphia 76ers (5-12) (27) Billy King was finally let go, which leads me to ask why now and why not three years ago?
28. Miami Heat (4-13) (22) If this team gets any older, Shaq may have to turn his mansion into a retirement home for current Heat players.
29. Seattle Supersonics (3-15) (30) With a 35-point explosion against the Pacers, Durant has officially broken out.
30. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-14) (29) On some nights they may surprise a team or two, but this team just doesn't have the talent to compete for 48 minutes on most nights.

Week 13 NFL Predictions

Green Bay at Dallas
Line: Cowboys by 7
There were two games of real significance thus far, and they were Cowboys-Patriots and Colts-Patriots. This matchup, however, could be the decisive factor in who gets home field advantage in the NFC. In a dream matchup of QB's between Brett Favre and Tony Romo, Green Bay actually seems to match up pretty favorably with Dallas, as they'll be able to spread the field out and attack the secondary provided they can contain the 'Boys defensive front. While Romo and Dallas will be game, you can never bet against a legend like Favre, his 0-8 record in Texas Stadium nonwithstanding. Packers 28, Cowboys 24

San Francisco at Carolina
Line: Panthers by 3
Now back to the games that matter much less. It was good to see the Niners finally show some signs of life on offense against the Cardinals. But a repeat effort? I've been down on Carolina all year, but until I see the Niners string together two consistent offensive performances, I'll go with, yes, even the Panthers. Panthers 17, 49ers 13

Jacksonville at Indianapolis
Line: Colts by 7
Another game of significant importance in the AFC South, the toughest division in football hands down. The Jags have been playing at a high level the past three weeks and are more than capable of turning this game into a slugfest. Indy is slowly healing, but unless their entire offensive line is intact, they'll have problems moving the ball against Jacksonville. Colts 17, Jaguars 14

Detroit at Minnesota
Line: Vikings by 3.5
Three straight losses have brought the Lions back to earth after a 6-2 start. Meanwhile, the Vikings have somehow stumbled back in the NFC Playoff race after a 41-17 shellacking of the Giants. Now, they've got their rookie sensation possibly coming back, and that could be enough to spark them to a victory and back to .500 in the suddenly-crowded NFC North. Vikings 24, Lions 17

San Diego at Kansas City
Line: Chargers by 5
As badly as the Chiefs have played the last few weeks, and they've been pretty horrid, I can't trust a streaky San Diego offense in potentially horrible weather. Norv's offense can't move when the sun is shining anyways. Chargers 19, Chiefs 17

New York Jets at Miami
Line: Dolphins by 1.5
Last week, it took the worst weather imaginable and an unplayable field to get a 3-0 game. This week, these two anemic offenses may accomplish that on their own without bad weather. Dolphins 3, Jets 0

Buffalo at Washington
Line: Redskins by 6
R.I.P. Sean Taylor. It's tragic to see such an amazingly talented player get taken out in the prime of his life. I'll always remember the colossal hits and the reckless effort and intensity he brought every Sunday. Now those traits are only memories after his life was taken from him by a gunshot on that fateful evening of November 25, 2007. For such a catastrophic event to take place now almost seems to trivialize the 3-game losing streak the Redskins have been on. They may win on Sunday, but ultimately, the team still must work together to overcome the huge void he leaves behind. Redskins 24, Bills 14

Houston at Tennessee
Line: Titans by 3.5
Think Vince is tired of taking the blame for his team's struggles? Now he has a chance to take out his frustaurations on the team that never should have passed him up. *tsk* *tsk* *tsk* how you disappoint me Texans! I thought you were a sleeper this year! Titans 17, Texans 10

Atlanta at St. Louis
Line: Rams by 4.5
Remember when this game was entertaining, back when Michael Vick and Marshall Faulk were playing? Is there even a reason to watch this now? Rams 13, Falcons 10

Seattle at Philadelphia
Line: Eagles by 3
The Eagles' close loss to the Patriots was no fluke, as they've shown a marked improvement in the last three weeks with Brian Westbrook transforming into SuperBack and carrying the team on his shoulders. Seattle is a hit-or-miss team that seems to fold in the face of prosperity, so I'll go with an Eagles team that seems to be coming together at the right time. Eagles 20, Seahawks 14

Cleveland at Arizona
Line: Cardinals by 1
Cleveland is emerging as the true surprise team in the NFL and their amazing trio of JLew, Winslow and Edwards continue to leave their mark on opposing defenses. This seems like a trap game, but not if the Browns continue to run the football, as they did last week against the Texans. Browns 31, Cardinals 21

Denver at Oakland
Line: Broncos by 3.5
Denver has to be asking itself how they let the Chicago game get away, but they should clean up against the annual divisional anchor, the Oakland Raiders. I said anchor becuase I get tired of writers referring to the last place team as a "doormat." Anchor just sounds better to me. Broncos 27, Raiders 20

Tampa Bay at New Orleans
Line: Saints by 3
Tampa's D has been rock solid all year and the Saints have been up-and-down. Meanwhile, the Saints will once again get worked over on the ground, thanks in large part to one of my key contributors, Earnest Graham. Buccaneers 21, Saints 13

New York Giants at Chicago
Line: Giants by 2
The Giants' disturbing loss to the Vikings could have a lingering effect, as they may head into a late-season swoon again if Eli underperforms down the stretch. They're going to have enough trouble beating a desperate Bears team in horrible weather. Bears 16, Giants 13

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
Line: Steelers by 7
One thing is evident from watching the last two Steeler games: they are having problems on the offensive line. They're not running the ball the way we're used to and are relying entirely too much on Roethlisberger. Cincinnati's defense has also shown signs of life recently and their offense is finally coming together, so Pittsburgh could be in for a dogfight. Steelers 27, Bengals 24

New England at Baltimore
Line: Patriots by 20.5
Did the Eagles finally get the blueprint for beating the Patriots or did New England just play their worst game of the season? I'll give New England the benefit of the doubt, after all, hearing all this negativity from the media should be enough to motivate them back to their A-game against the Ravens. Patriots 38, Ravens 10

Week 12 vs Spread 10-6
Week 12 Straight up 11-5
Season vs Spread 85-86-9
Season Straight up 113-63

Week 4 NBA Rankings

1. San Antonio Spurs (12-3) (1) After lighting up the Spurs, Beno Udrih was heard to quote "Jacque Vaughn?? Are you serious??"
2. Orlando Magic (13-3) (5) How long does Turkoglu keep up this hot streak of his?
3. Boston Celtics (11-2) (2) After beating the Bobcats at the buzzer on a miracle 3, Allen has a very unclutch moment, missing two FT's against the Cavs.
4. Phoenix Suns (11-3) (3) Suns get outgunned by the Warriors, snapping an 8-game winning streak.
5. Utah Jazz (10-5) (6) In a 3-game stretch against Paul, Billups and Marbury, Williams averages 19.6 ppg and 9.6 apg
6. Dallas Mavericks (9-5) (4) Dallas's defense breaks down in a three-game swoon capped off by an embarrassing home loss against the Arenas-less Wizards
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (9-6) (16) LeBron is taking charge again with a triple-double on Sunday and a 38-point effort against the C's.
8. Detroit Pistons (8-5) (9) When do Johnson and Stuckey start getting a chance? Seems like the Pistons always stash a few talents like this at the end of the bench.
9. New Orleans Hornets (10-6) (8) When the Hornets plummet back to .500, they'll be looking back and wondering how they let Minnesota beat them on their home floor.
10. Houston Rockets (8-7) (11) They're fine as long as TMac is healthy, but did they really upgrade the roster if they still can't win with him hurt?
11. Denver Nuggets (9-6) (7) Bad starts have been the biggest factor behind the Nugs' latest 2-game skid.
12. Milwaukee Bucks (7-5) (12) Bucks get caught napping against the Sixers after a pair of impressive wins against Dallas and Cleveland.
13. Los Angeles Lakers (8-6) (10) No more negative Youtube comments from Kobe about Andrew "bleeping" Bynum, who's averaging a double-double a month into the season.
14. Toronto Raptors (7-7) (15) Where did Jamario Moon come from?
15. Washington Wizards (7-7) (14) By now, you would think they're used to playing without Arenas.
16. Golden State Warriors (6-7) (22) In winning six of seven since their 0-6 start, the Warriors are once again a team to fear because of all the offensive weapons they can throw at you.
17. New Jersey Nets (7-8) (18) Three straight wins to finish out their Western swing, then the Nets lay an egg at home against the Grizzlies.
18. Los Angeles Clippers (6-7) (13) The injuries are starting to finally catch up with them.
19. Indiana Pacers (7-8) (19) Tinsley hasn't looked this good since his rookie year.
20. Charlotte B0bcats (6-8) (17) To lose the way they did against Boston has to be a flattening feeling for the young Bobcats.
21. Atlanta Hawks (5-8) (20) Win in Minnesota and Miami, but couldn't complete a sweep of the NBA dregs by beating Chicago.
22. Miami Heat (4-10) (25) Stan Van Gundy gets a good measure of revenge when his Magic team mopped the floor with Riley's Heat.
23. Portland Trail Blazers (21) Jack has found his offense since being moved to the bench in favor of Steve Blake.
24. Sacramento Kings (5-9) (23) The combination of Garcia, Udrih and Salmons has eased the loss of Bibby.
25. Memphis Grizzlies (5-9) (24) Pau needs to step it up, Mike Miller is averaging more boards a game than he is.
26. New York Knicks (4-9) (28) See what happens when you motivate Marbury? Now he just needs to keep this up to get the Knicks back to respectability.
27. Philadelphia 76ers (4-9) (27) Watching Dalmebert and Evans play is literally like watching paint dry.
28. Chicago Bulls (3-10) (26) What has happened to Kirk Hinrich? Granted he was a little overrated to begin with, but he's never played this badly.
29. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-10) (30) When do Brewer and Green start getting real minutes?
30. Seattle Supersonics (2-13) (29) Why doesn't this team just start Delonte West at SG and move Durant to his natural position of SF?

Week 12 NFL Predictions

Thanksgiving day record vs spread 2-1
Thanksgiving day record straight up 3-0

New Orleans at Carolina
Line: Saints by 2.5
It's a tribute to Steve Smith's maturity that he hasn't come into the locker room with a machine gun and shot up the place. His talent is being wasted on this miserable, QB-less team. Saints 23, Panthers 17

Tennessee at Cincinnati
Line: Titans by 1.5
The ultimate get-well game for a struggling Titans' offense. They should be able to establish a flagging running game against the horrid defense of the Bengals. One would only hope, anyways. Titans 21, Bengals 17

Houston at Cleveland
Line: Browns by 3.5
The Texans have a date with destiny, but as much as I've backed them all year, I'm seeing the Browns as the team doing all the things the Texans were supposed to be doing this year. Prove me wrong, Texans, and I will jock you hardcore down the stretch. Browns 24, Texans 20

Buffalo at Jacksonville
Line: Jaguars by 8
The public is going with Jacksonville, but need I remind you how unpredictable this team has been in the past? They seem to be at their worst when faced with prosperity and this is a desperate Bills team trying anything to climb back into the playoff hunt. Jaguars 20, Bills 17

Oakland at Kansas City
Line: Chiefs by 5
I can't even trust this Chiefs team against the woeful Raiders. Their offense is that pitiful. Plus, this is an AFC West matchup, where you pretty much throw all the records out the window. So...when do the Raiders tank and start playing JaMarcus Russell? Chiefs 13, Raiders 10

Minnesota at New York Giants
Line: Giants by 7
Just a hunch. Plus, there are way too many outright favorites. You know at least one of them has to slip up. Plus, the Vikings match up very well with the Giants because they can take away the run. Giants 17, Vikings 14

Seattle at St. Louis
Line: Seahawks by 3
While Seattle has been maddeningly inconsistent all year, their defense is starting to step it up and the running game is slowly coming together. I'm not calling them contenders yet, but they should make quick work of their weak divisional foes. Seahawks 24, Rams 17

Washington at Tampa Bay
Line: Buccaneers by 3
Joe Gibbs should plan on going back to NASCAR next year, as he simply isn't getting the job done with this team. Meanwhile, the Bucs extend the theory that finishing last in the South is the quickest way to winning that division. Does this mean I pick the Falcons next year? Buccaneers 16, Redskins 10

San Francisco at Arizona
Line: Cardinals by 10.5
Could the Cardinals actually be making a push towards the divisional crown and a rare playoff appearance? They're still the Cardinals, I won't take a double-digit spread because it's still the Cardinals. Cardinals 14, 49ers 7

Denver at Chicago
Line: Bears by 2
The Broncs get another favorable QB matchup their secondary can exploit. Plus with San Diego pissing away every chance to put the division out of reach, they're right back in the race and they'll continue sinking the Bears' ship. Broncos 20, Bears 13

Baltimore at San Diego
Line: Chargers by 8.5
This Chargers' team has been unpredictable this year, but the Ravens are sinking and sinking fast. Their defense is aging and their offense is just plain miserable. While lightning doesn't always strike, the Chargers play with a lot more emotion at home and generally take care of business. Chargers 31, Ravens 17

Philadelphia at New England
Line: Patriots by 25
This Patriots team, honestly, has me changing all the rules. A 25 point spread seems impossible to cover, but this is a team that just keeps pushing the bar higher and higher and amazingly exceeding it on a consistent basis. What's scary is those early-season blowouts don't even compare to what they're doing now. And AJ Feeley's starting. Cartman didn't even want his football card. Patriots 66, Eagles 10

Miami at Pittsburgh
Line: Steelers by 16
On the other side of the token, I doubt Pittsburgh has another sloppy meltdown like they did against the Jets. I hope Joey Porter's happy in Miami being a few million dollars richer. My only question is how much money is he stealing from that organization? Steelers 38, Dolphins 17

Week 11 vs Spread 8-7-1
Season vs Spread 75-80-9
Week 11 Straight up 12-4
Season Straight up 102-58

Week 3 NBA Rankings

1. San Antonio Spurs (10-2) (2) Orlando gave them a scare for one half, but the Spurs remain triumphant.
2. Boston Celtics (9-1) (1) One day after a thrilling loss to the Magic, the C's throttle the Warriors to get back on track.
3. Phoenix Suns (10-2) (3) 47 points in a quarter and 80 in a half??? There's the old Phoenix team we knew and loved!
4. Dallas Mavericks (9-2) (5) They've answered major challenges with wins over the Spurs and Rockets in the past week.
5. Orlando Magic (10-3) (9) Even in a loss, Howard shines against Duncan with a 34-point, 16-rebound performance.
6. Utah Jazz (8-4) (6) Williams scorches Kidd to halt a two-game losing streak.
7. Denver Nuggets (8-4) (10) Cleaning up against NBA pasties before bowing to the Clippers.
8. New Orleans Hornets (9-4) (8) Hornets-Jazz is that ironic twist game. The one that leaves you asking why these teams can't swap nicknames.
9. Detroit Pistons (7-4) (4) The western swing is over and despite a 2-3 record, the Pistons stay atop the Central.
10. Los Angeles Lakers (7-4) (15) Kobe's not scoring as much, and it's giving Odom more of an opportunity to flash his true talent.
11. Houston Rockets (6-6) (7) So much for all the offseason buzz, this team still doesn't have a reliable clutch scorer.
12. Milwaukee Bucks (6-4) (19) When this team's shooting the ball well, they're tough to beat.
13. Los Angeles Clippers (6-4) (11) Kaman is averaging 18 and 14 and truly blossoming as a player.
14. Washington Wizards (6-5) (27) A week against bottom feeders has helped the Wizards resurrect their season.
15. Toronto Raptors (6-6) (12) Just think how much better they'll be when Bosh finally starts playing at the level he's capable of.
16. Cleveland Cavaliers (6-6) (13) Hughes has spent almost as much time injured as he has playing since joining the Cavs.
17. Charlotte Bobcats (6-5) (17) G-Force has finally blossomed into a full-blown 20-point scorer.
18. New Jersey Nets (5-7) (14) Need an explanation for losing? Why is the Nets' PG averaging more blocks per game than Nenad Kristic?
19. Indiana Pacers (5-7) (18) O'Neal is losing a step, which has to be alarming to the Pacers.
20. Atlanta Hawks (4-7) (21) Big Al Horford is a beast on the boards and gradually getting better on the offensive end.
21. Portland Trail Blazers (4-8) (16) Still haven't figured out how to win on the road yet, but playing surprisingly well for a young team.
22. Golden State Warriors (3-7) (28) Jackson couldn't have picked a better time to come back and spark this flagging team.
23. Sacramento Kings (4-8) (26) Kevin Martin is the one 25+ ppg scorer that makes you scratch your head and ask "How does he score that much?"
24. Memphis Grizzlies (3-8) (23) With Lowry and Conley starting to flourish, it may not be long before Stoudamire has to find a new job.
25. Miami Heat (2-9) (25) You have to give Wade credit for handling Shaq's occasional lethargy a lot better than Kobe did.
26. Chicago Bulls (2-8) (22) The Knicks gave the Bulls two freebies and they blew them on Thomas and Noah? Where did they think they were getting their frontcourt scoring from, Ben Wallace?
27. Philadelphia 76ers (3-7) (24) Louis Williams should be getting the starting job since Green can't hit the broad side of a barn.
28. New York Knicks (2-9) (20) At what point does Dolan just cut his losses and sell this multi-million dollar disaster?
29. Seattle Supersonics (2-10) (30) Durant's got the total package, he just needs to shoot it better and it's hello superstardom.
30. Minnesota Timberwolves (1-8) (29) How anyone can forgive McHale for essentially giving away KG for next-to-nothing is beyond me.