Picks N' Such

The game last night was not very good, except for about 10 minutes right near the end. I guess it isn't the BCS's fault that McCoy got hurt, although for some reason I feel like there was a a conspiracy afoot. Because the BCS title game has been good like 2, maybe three times since its conception (which HAD to have been some type of forced sexual assault). And the BCS doesn't care because they claim to make money hand over fist regardless. So they saw the results of the Get Together and resolved to prove a point to the fair readers of this blog, that they will do whatever the fuck they want, and you will like it.

Other thoughts on the game:

- Made this comment last night to my a few others: "When the second half started, Mack Brown looked alot like Bud Kilmer right before the second half of the championship game on "Varsity Blues" and I though for sure Colt McCoy would coach the second half.

-Not sure if it was a coincidence or not, but there was a smoking hot chick sitting next to Colt McCoy's dad that I'm guessing was Colt's woman. Good work.

-Alabama was still better than Texas.

-That Gilbert guy was 5/24 passing at one point.


-Nick Saban is a dick. Even after he wins a "National Championship"

NFL

The plan this weekend is as follows: 1) Stay up late playing video games and/or continuing to trudge through "The Book of Basketball"; 2) Sleep in relatively late Saturday (like 9 a.m. is considered "late" these days); 3) Drink coffee, surf Internets; 4) Pretend to be helpful in house chores; 5) Watch Bucky v. Purdue/CU v. Wichita St.; 6) Watch football for 7 hours; 7) sleep; 8) coffee; 9) watch football for 7 hours.

This weekend is not as good as next weekend will be (especially if the Pack doesn't fuck this up), but it is going to be good anyway. Playoff football is finally here. I asked my wife the other day if she knew what we were doing this weekend. Her response "I don't know". I said, "I know. We are watching football for 14 hours. So don't make other plans."

I have a hard time envisioning a scenario that doesn't involve Jarrett Bush or a kickoff return for a touchdown where the Packers don't beat the Cardinals. Even if I pretend I never saw the Packers' starters destroy the Cards starters for a quarter in two meaningless games, I still think the Packers are better all around. Offense: I think this is the only thing that could slant to the Cardinals, but you pretty much know what you are going to get from the Pack. Warner might throw for 400 yds and 5TDs (all against Bush) or he might throw 4 picks and fumble twice. The Packers defense is much, much better than the Cards. Special Teams is probably in the Cards favor but only because of Crosby. I expect a relatively high scoring affair. I'm going to say 31-23 Pack. We will know on Sunday who our 2nd round opponent will be with a win. I can't mentally handle another Packers v. He Who Shall Not Be Named game. Even though the Packers are playing better now.

TERRIBLE PICKS

I'm not really sure what is considered "good" in picking games. My assumption would be somewhere around 50% would be acceptable if you picked every game. I am now unacceptable this season after getting raped last week.

Last Week: 6-10
Season: 113-114-4
All-Time: 247-240-6

Cin (-2.5), Phi (+4), Bal (+3), GB (Pk)

Really?

In my continued quest to do no actual work, I came across this nugget. Is this for real? Wisenhunt is "irked" that Mike McCarthy wanted to actually do something productive with the three hours on Sunday afternoon? If he had such a problem with it, I have an idea for you: DON'T FUCKING LET IT HAPPEN. The Packers chose not to fuck around. The Cardinals weren't interested. So what, it is the Packers fault that you got your ass kicked? And to use the term "to have the audacity"? It was outrageous and audacious for the Packers to not play all of its backups for 4 quarters? Its not like the Packers were playing St. Mary's Burn Center. Last I checked, the Cardinals were a NFL team, and a pretty damn good one. While the argument sounds alot like St. Mary's Burn Center bitching when UNC beats them by 70 in basketball, it holds no weight.

Also, the idea that Rodgers was throwing to "pass He Who Shall Not Be Named for second on the all-time list" is retarded. If this was true, why wouldn't he have stayed in to throw for another 24 yards (or whatever it is) to pass Lynn Dickey for first????

If this is true, Wisenhunt should be embarrassed. If he was looking for a way to piss me (and probably the Packers) off, he just found one. Here's to hoping the Packers get up by four TDs again on Sunday, and continue to put it on them.

Sorry

I would like to apologize to Mike McCarthy and/or Ted Thompson. Whichever one I said should be fired after the Tampa Bay loss. (I think I said McCarthy). I was wrong. Anyone that said they expected 11-5, especially after that ridiculous Tampa game is a liar.

The NFL can't be real happy with how things turned out in the wild card, from the standpoint that THREE of the four games are repeats of LAST WEEK! What are the odds of that happening? The Cowboys-Eagles I suppose isn't that strange since they play in the same division. Just awkward. Also, the NFL can't be real happy because this week was one of the worst weeks of NFL football in recent memory. The only game that both mattered, and was ever close was Pittsburgh/Miami. And it turned out neither team even got in. Just some horrendous football. Finally, that whole "let's add two more regular season games" thing, sounds good in theory, until you consider how shitty 25% of the games are the last two weeks already. I guess it probably would just move those two shitty weeks to the end in most circumstances. The NFL is just so fucking violent that I'm not sure how you can expect teams not to save guys for the playoffs. We'll see I guess.

The media was fairly um, wrong when they said the Packers were going to play on Saturday. It was WIDELY speculated all week that this was the case. I'm not sure I like waiting until Sunday afternoon again, but at least the game can't ruin my entire weekend if they lose.

You can't take anything away from this game really. The Cards had no interest in being there, and some of the Packers did. I'm a little unhappy with Rodgers playing as late as he did, but he wasn't injured so maybe it will be for the best. I like the Packers in this one.

One last thing. I LOVE how Fox called Dallas the "hottest team in the NFC" BEFORE they beat Philly. Even though they only one two straight (after losing like three or four in a row immediately prior to that lengthy, lengthy winning streak). Then after the Philly game, they throw up the "hottest team" graphic using only the last three games. This is despite the fact that Green Bay was 7-1 in their last 8, and Philly was 6-2. No media bias there at all.

Another last thing. He Who Shall Not Be Named is not out for stats. Exhibit #1: Going for it on fourth and goal up 34-0 and throwing the ball.

Lazy Sunday

I don't expect today's game to be good or important. I think we will see alot of Matty Flynn and Matty Lienart. This is assuming that the Queens don't shit one down their leg. I've got 24-21 Cards if the game is unimportant. 35-20 if it is. And it will mean nothing for next week. My butthole is already tingling for playoff football.

How Good Was It?

That was a goddamn fantastic Super Bowl. The twists, the turns, the comebacks, the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, the blown calls, Matt Lienart, Brenda Warner, this game had it all. I'm a little disappointed at the outcome, because I'm getting pretty sick of the Steelers historically. But its mostly just sour grapes that the Packers haven't been able to stay championship good. It got me thinking: How good was this Super Bowl? So I took the time to rank the Super Bowls that I can recall at all. (Super Bowl XX in 1986 is the first one I have any recollection of.)



24: XXXII: Terrell Davis 31, Green Bay 24. Unequivocally the worst Super Bowl I've ever seen. Seriously though, fucking Elway did nothing but run too slow to not get helicoptered into the end zone. This replay and Elway's teeth haunt my dreams.



23:XXIV: San Francisco 55, Denver 10. Never close, although it could be ranked higher because Elway's teeth were prominently involved.



22:XX: Chicago 46, NE 10



21:XXIX: SF 49, SD 26. Stan freaking Humphries started a Super Bowl!



20:XXVII: Dal 52, Buf 17. Only because of the Leon Lett play.



19:XXII: Was 42, Den 10. That second quarter was unreal.



18:XXXV: Bal 34, NYG 7. Only because I was drunk.



17:XXXIII: Den 34, Atl 19. Mile High Salute v. Dirty Bird.



16:XXXVII: TB 48, Oak 21. Only because I was really, really drunk.



15:XXI: NYG 39, Den 20.



14:XL: Pit 21, Sea 10. Seattle fans are STILL bitching about this game. Jerome Bettis is still from Detroit.



13:XLI: Ind 29, Chi 17. Only because Chicago lost.



12:XXX: Dal 27, Pit 17. Neil O'Donnell started a Super Bowl!



11:XXVIII: Dal 30, Buf 13.



10:XXVI: Was 37, Buf 24. Buffalo lost a shitload of Super Bowls.



9:XXXIX: NE 24, Phi 21. McNabb has a tummy ache.



8:XXXIV: STL 23, Ten 16. One. More. Yard.



7:XXXVIII: NE 32, Car 29. Nipple Gate!



6:XXIII: SF 20, Cin 16. I was heartbroken after this one. I was a huge fan of the Icky Shuffle.



5:XXV: NYG 20, Buf 19. The basis for Ray Finkle.



4:XXXVI: NE 20, STL 17. HUGE upset at the time. Last second field goal.



3:XLIII: Pit 27, Ari 23. Only because Arizona didn't score at the end.



2:XLII: NYG 17, NE 14. Probably the biggest upset I've ever seen. Pats fans were all over themselves about being the best team ever. The Patriots DOMINATED all year. The Tyree catch.



1:XXXI: GB 35, NE 21. C'mon. Did you think it would be anything else? I would probably sleep with Desmond Howard if he offered.

Super Sunday!

So today there is finally football on again. And if that is wrong, I don't wanna be right. The pregame shows begin in like 30 minutes, and will repeat everything they've talked about for the past two weeks. My wife has to work today, so I will be firmly planted in front of my TV watching it, since there isn't anything else on. Creighton made the questionable decision to schedule at game at 2 p.m., so I will check that out. Otherwise, it is nothing but blowing hot air about a football game, and the discussion about how the economy is destroying the Super Bowl because the Playboy party got cancelled. This year is the first year that I can remember that I haven't had some kind of plan for today. Inevitably my wife will get a bug up her ass that we need to have a party like the day before, and she ends up inviting a bunch of people over, but she has to work this year, and if you think I'm putting that shit together, you are crazy. Her work schedule even takes away the possibility of going over to a relatives' house. In fact, I only have like 2 beers in the refrigerator. I will probably have to muster up at least enough energy to get to Shopko Express to buy some beer. But there won't be any special meals or snacks going on, which will be wierd. Anyway, I think the Steelers win, I think they force Warner into some bad throws, and shut down Arizona's not so vaunted run offense. Big Ben will do just enough on offense, and the Steelers win 27-17.
Last week: 2-0
Playoffs: 6-4
Season: 134-125-7

OTHER:

Is it safe to panic about the Badgers yet? Not that winning at Northwestern is ever a given (noplace in the Big 10 is), but they have to win somewhere at some point. How many teams have ever lost six in a row and got an at-large bid? I'm going to guess the list isn't real long. They've got to go 7-2 the rest of the way in my calculation, and win at least one in the Big Ten tourney. I came to the realization last night that I hate almost every member of the Badgers:

-7th year senior Marcus Landry has been one of the most disappointing recruits in recent memory. He was supposed to be the next Alando Tucker. He turned into the next Ray Nixon.

-9th year junior Travon Hughes. Shows flashes, but also does some really stupid things (i.e. taking 25 foot jump shots with 13 seconds left on the shot clock).

-Jason Bohanon: reminds me more and more of Tanner Bronson every day. If you are 5'9", you better be able to shoot the three better than 35.5%.

-Krabbenhoft: actually don't hate him. He is what he is, but when he is probably your best player, you are in trouble.

-Nankivil, Leuer, Taylor, Wilson: should all get more playing time in my opinion.

I am done making excuses for the tough schedule, and large number of "good" losses. You can't rely on moral victories at some point.