Thursday, December 16
San Francisco 49ers at San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers (7-6) are in a tight battle with the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC West division title. A loss to their neighbors to the north would place the Bolts in a position to need a lot of help to reach the 2010 AFC Playoffs. A 49ers (5-8) loss would keep them in second place and probably mean that they would need to win both of their remaining games to reach the playoffs. If you have been in a coma and just woke up, that is not not a typo. The 49ers are 5-8 and will not be eliminated with a loss. I am sure the NFL Network executives are thrilled.
Advantage: Chargers
NCAA Men's Basketball:
McNeese State Cowboys at LSU Tigers
McNeese visited LSU in football earlier this year in what was, as most expected to be, a rent-a-win for the Tigers. Intuitively, your expectation of this in-state battle on the hardwood may be similar. However, after the LSU suffered a heartbreaking loss to in-state behemoth Nicholls State last month and coming up short at home in overtime in an early December showdown with Big South Conference juggernaut Coastal Carolina, Tiger fans may wish to arrive early to not miss one moment of what could be high drama at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge.
Advantage: LSU
Friday, December 17
Miami Heat at New York Knicks
There are no moral victories in sports, but the New York Knicks earned a near moral win in last night's dramatic last-half-second loss to the Eastern Conference leading Boston Celtics. This just in: the Knicks are relevant again. Winners of 12 of their last 14 games, Amare Stoudemire and his teammates will try to cool of the heat index generated by LeBron James and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat. The Knicks showed the league a lot of heart and a lot of improvement over past years, but the Heat are surging, with key players that know how to win in big matchups.
Advantage: Heat
Saturday, December 18
NCAA Men's Basketball:
Kansas State Wildcats (6) vs Florida Gators (24)
Any game involving colorful Kansas State Head Basketball Coach Frank Martin should be televised...nationally...with a coach's cam in the corner of the screen throughout the broadcast. Martin may be the only coach in the history of college basketball so charismatic that he could punch the referee in the face and the ref would respond by thanking Martin. Unfortunately, I cannot find any TV listings of this Metro PCS Orange Bowl Classic matchup of two Top 25 teams in Sunrise, Florida. This is a profound loss to the television-viewing sports fan.
Advantage: Kansas State
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| Kansas State Coach Frank Martin 3 |
I am sure many of you scrolled directly to Sunday, and I cannot blame you. The NFL playoff race is beginning to take shape and you do not want to miss any of these critical matchups.
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
This is not the game of the week, but could be the main event, after the earlier fisticuffs of Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson and Titans cornerback/goon Cortland Finnegan in the first meeting of these 5-8 teams in Houston. The Texans have played with a pulse against good opponents while the Titans' pulse appears to have left the building with Vince Young.
Advantage: Texans
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| The best way to win a fight, Mr. Finnegan, is not to run your face into the other guy's fist. 1 |
Atlanta Falcons at Seattle Seahawks
The Falcons (11-2) travel to Seattle (6-7), where the Seahawks are 4-2 at Qwest Field. The Falcons are fighting to keep the New Orleans Saints from controlling their own destiny in the NFC South division race. The Seahawks are also trying to remain in first place and retain a modicum of respect for the NFC West.
Advantage: Falcons
New England Patriots at Green Bay Packers
This could be a titanic battle of possible Super Bowl contenders or another Patriots (11-2) landslide. The Packers (8-5) hopes for this Sunday Night Football matchup, and perhaps their entire season, likely hinges on the status of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who suffered a concussion in last week's loss to the Detroit Lions. The Packers are at a slight disadvantage if Rodgers can go. With Matt Flynn at the controls, the Packers can chuck this game into the "L" column like real life patriots chucked 18th century British tea into the Boston Harbor.
Advantage: Patriots
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts
The AFC South Division Champion is likely decided in this game. I often say, "Don't bet against Peyton Manning," but I am betting against the Colts (7-6). The Colts' defense gives it up faster than a witness being waterboarded by Jack Bauer from "24". The running game has vanished more quickly than Harry Houdini. And Peyton Manning, while he will get his stats, will not be fooling the Jaguars (8-5) defense if he has to throw the ball close to 50 times, as he has often in 2010. This does not bode well for a QB who has had trouble with turning the ball over lately.
Advantage: Jaguars
New Orleans Saints at Baltimore Ravens
The Saints, with the returns of Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas to the lineup and the emergence of Chris Ivory (the "Ivory Tusk") as a Mack truck with legs, have looked invincible offensively during their six game winning streak. The Ravens' defense has long had a reputation for invincibility, but has been just "excellent" in 2010, with the occasional chink in the armor in the secondary. The Saints defense is markedly improved over 2010 while Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco looks like the second coming of "Broadway" Joe Namath one week and Joe the Plumber the next week.
Advantage: Saints
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants
This game should decide the NFC East. There are only two teams that have found a way to contain Eagles (9-4) quarterback Mike Vick, let alone stop him: the Chicago Bears and New York Giants (9-4). Can the Giants pull off a repeat? Maybe they can; maybe they cannot. But the Giants have a big hole in their offense, losing wide receiver Steve Smith for the season with a knee injury. The Giants are at home, but Vick and the Eagles are 1) blazing hot and 2) healthy.
Advantage: Eagles
New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers
This is the game of the week. Rex Ryan's offense needs to pull out of its tailspin immediately or the coach may be at home eating "a Goddamn snack" in January. As it stands, the Jets (9-4) chances of winning the AFC East are "slim" to "none" with "slim" leaving the building. Facing the Steelers (10-3) defense is not exactly good medicine for a struggling offense with a second year quarterback in Mark Sanchez. Doing so at Heinz Field, A.K.A. "the Big Ketchup Bottle," in December could be poison.
Advantage: Steelers
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| You don't want to get too used to this, Rex. 2 |
Dallas Mavericks at Orlando Magic
Could this early season matchup be a preview of the NBA Finals? I would not bet the farm on it, but I would not bet the farm against it, either. This is a made for television matchup with Dwight "Superman" Howard and the Magic matching wits with Dirk Nowitski and the Mavs. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said, in an interview on the Dan Patrick Show this morning, that Nowitski will be remembered as one of the 10 greatest players in NBA history when he retires. Perhaps you should try playing a little defense, Dirk. Just try standing in Howard's way as he charges to the basket. That will make a believer out of me. Alright...no it won't.
Advantage: Magic
NCAA Men's Basketball
UNLV Running Rebels (22) vs Kansas State Wildcats (6)
1) UNLV is relevant again. 2) Now you can see Frank Martin on television (ESPN2). 3) Get your popcorn ready!
Advantage: Kansas State
Wednesday, December 22
Just three more days 'till jolly old St. Nick arrives! Leave out some milk, cookies, and the remote (for these goodies).
Maaco Bowl Las Vegas
Utah Utes (19) vs Boise State Broncos (10)
This matchup between two of the princes of BCS busting square off in the desert. Boise quarterback and Heisman finalist Kellen Moore gets one more opportunity to put his stamp on an explosive season (with over 3,000 passing yards) and Boise kicker Kyle Brotzman gets one final opportunity to remove the bone from his throat when he choked by missing two chip shots against Nevada, costing the Broncos a shot at the BCS Championship Game. Utah is not unbeaten, but will still serve as worthy competition before it moves to the PAC-12 in 2011.
Advantage: Boise St.
NCAA Men's Basketball
Missouri Tigers (12) vs Illinois Fighting Illini (14)
from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri
Two Midwestern heavyweights square off along the Mighty Mississippi River in an early season matchup of two probable upper seed March Madness participants. This game will be nationally televised on ESPN2. Great TV for the college basketball junkie before he can get his fix of in-conference rivalry games.
Advantage: Missouri
NCAA Men's Basketball
Texas Longhorns (25) at Michigan State Spartans (15)
Two coaching mainstays in Rick Barnes of Texas and Tom Izzo of Michigan State go head to head. This could be a preview of a regional final as Michigan State seems to always have the juice in March and Texas is in a division in a conference void of many tough opponents. Michigan State is at home and looks as sharp as they have every year. This is going to be a tough challenge for the Horns. This game will be on ESPN2, so College Hoops Guy should have plenty to occupy his attention next Wednesday night.
Advantage: Michigan State
Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!
1) Image from memoriesofdaysgoneby.com
2) Image from tauntr.com
3) Image from rushthecourt.net
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