TOP FIVES
NFL
1. Saints — No one can beat them, not even themselves. For a second straight week they had to overcome four turnovers, although this time it wasn’t as messy. The Saints are a perfect example of everyone doing their job and doing it efficiently. Which is perfect considering they have only three games left on their schedule against above .500 teams (Patriots, Falcons, Cowboys). Undefeated?
2. Colts — They have won their last 18 regular season games. How’d that go for the last team that did that? Maybe it’s just me but I swear every game they look slightly worse. You beat the Niners by 2. Really?
3. Packers — I’m really tired of the Favre tirades so I’m just gonna comment on the defense. The Vikings defense had six sacs……wait for it……in the first half. In the most hostile setting we will have all year. Incredible, gold star for you guys.
4. Broncos — To help put this week’s loss in to context: In the last three weeks, they have beat 3 playoff contenders (Dallas, New England, San Diego). Feel better?
5. Steelers — Scratch that. They have to play the Steelers this coming Monday. The key is going to be the Steelers defensive ends. With injuries to the starters they could end up having to draw pretty deep to fill these positions.
NCAA
1. Gators — After a few weeks of dragging their feet against lesser opponents they were hitting on all cylinders this week against Georgia.
2. Texas — In eight games the Longhorns have forced 26 turnovers. That’s astounding, especially since last season they only forced 16…..all year. The rest of the season is a shoo-in, it would just be a lot prettier, BCS speaking, if Florida or Alabama lost.
3. Alabama — The Tide had this week off after last week’s struggles. It’s a good thing too, a good LSU comes to town this week and would love to recede the tide (ya, I just made that pun).
4. Iowa — They came back from something like 21 points down to win by something like 18 points. Look, it doesn’t matter. The Hawkeyes are playing amazing football, but they’re not the big name school that’s usually at the top. If this was a fair sport, teams like this would have a chance to fight for the title.
5. Days of Thunder — I just realized it’s on HBO and am excited. This movie is like a car wreck, you just can’t help but watch. What an ever appropriate analogy.
THOUGHTS
Outside of the 7-0 and 6-1 teams, I think the Ravens are the scariest team to have to play. They are 4th in points scored a game, and rank in the top third of total offense, defense, and points allowed. Their three losses have came by a total of 11 points (6, 3, 2). The fourth ranked offense in the NFL and the “thrives in pressure” Joe Flacco still have some surprises left in store for us this season.
Assuming the Ducks win out, who doesn’t think they deserve at least a one in four shot at the national title. It’s interesting to know that had Oregon lost to anyone else besides Boise State, they would be sitting at the #4 spot in the BCS rankings. That fact there should point out Boise State’s strength, especially after the winged ones’ systematic dissection of USC. I could really go on but then it turns into another of my long-winded monologues about a playoff system.
Just a postscript…. The Ducks have the coolest jerseys.
- Duke won their third straight football game last weekend. The first time that’s happened in close to 15 years.
- Did anyone see that tackle Ed Reed of the Ravens made? He put that kid on a one way trip to last week. Wrecked ‘em.
- The Giants are sinking faster than the Titanic.
- Can you really congratulate a team who just won its first game this late in the season? What do you say? Well Rams, you still suck but at least you’re still better than the Bucs’.
- Good job Bears, you beat another mediocre team.
AWARDS
The “Better Late Than Never Award”
The Illini. Seriously? Of all teams. I’ll take it.
The DeLorean Award
The Tennessee Titans. Our first double recipient gets honors for finally starting Vince Young. And for realizing they should have done it much sooner.
The Golden Glove Award
Tom Cable, Raiders coach.
AGAINST THE MAT
Strikeforce (the other MMA promotion, no not that one — the one with the Russian) is set for a CBS primetime event this Saturday. The headlining fight is seeing Fedor Emelianenko take on Brett Rogers. Rogers is an amazing brawler and aggressive enough to take it to Fedor. The problem is that to get close to Fedor you need to know people. These people are his right and left fists. Once it gets beyond that the all around skills of the number pound for pound fighter in the world that is Emelianenko will break him.
Beyond that the only other fight worth watching is the Jake Shields and Jason Miller fight. Miller is a good grappler but Shields is a great grappler.
NBA
It’s early in the season, so let’s do a quick rundown of the top five in the league.
1. Celtics — Rasheed Wallace is looking like a good fit here, especially as a fill-in for Garnett.
2. Nuggets — They get here behind Carmelo Anthony’s 38 point average.
3. Magic — Ryan Anderson, a throw away in the Vince Carter trade, is making a noticeable difference.
4. Suns — Does Steve Nash ever show his age?
5. Heat — Jermaine O’Neal is living up to his promise of playing in an all star form.
BETTING PARLOR
Last week saw a 1-3 in the pros and 0-2-1 in the NCAA.
Season: Pro (10-7); NCAA (4-6-2)
Titans (+4) over 49ers. Vince Young’s stock continues to rise.
Cowboys (+3) over Eagles. The last Eagles win was a Burp
Colts (-9) over Texans. Colts are going to look strong here.
TEXAS (-13) over UCF Easy Money, Guaranteed.