BCS Bowl Predictions

I haven't spent as much time on college football as I have the NFL. And that's on purpose. I do enjoy college football but I don't follow it closely enough (not like I do NFL) to be able to comment on the plethora of college teams that play each year. Sure, there are teams that have a shot at a bowl game and those who don't, but college football has never been my sports forte. I went to a division III school (Go DePauw Tigers! Beat Wasbash!) so I don't know what it was like to be a student at Notre Dame, USC, Alabama, Florida, etc.

Just a random note. I remember specifically, one year, when I was in 7th grade, I had spent the holidays in California (was still a St. Louis girl at the time). The Bowl games all happened (at least the big ones) on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. My uncle had 3 TV's set-up so that on New Year's Day we could catch all of the games. When I got back to St. Louis, my 7th grade teacher did a trivia contest during class and I was able to answer correctly to every team that won a bowl game that year. That's when I knew something was wrong with me...just kidding.

So, bowl game predictions. I'm not as educated as I would like to be on these teams but am going to give it a shot anyway.

Louisville Vs Florida

Honestly? I think this could be a close game but I really don't know. My gut tells me Florida, because it's Florida.

Northern Illinois Vs Florida State

The Discover Orange Bowl? Wasn't it sponsored by someone else? Doesn't matter, all of these Bowl games have sponsors. They're just moneymakers. Anyway, here I've gotta go with Florida State. I love the midwest, but I think Florida State will have a bit of homefield advantage here. Plus, Northern Illinois State? Really?

Oregon Vs Kansas State

The Fiesta, I mean Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Both teams have had amazing seasons. Both thought to perhaps end up in the national title game. Here, it is very hard to say but I like Oregon here. I think Kansas State has done wonderfully this year but they showed some flaws when they lost games and lost their chance at going to the title game. I take Oregon here.

Wisconsin Vs Stanford

Stanford wins. No diss to Wisconsin, but Stanford wins here. I admit, I am surprised at how Stanford has been able to bounce back after losing both Harbaugh as coach and Luck but they had a lot of good things going on this season. 

Notre Dame Vs Alabama

Ahh yes, the BCS National Title Game. Saban vs Kelly. The unbelievable Notre Dame Fighting Irish reaching #1 in the BCS Poll. The national pundits seem to be in Alabama's favor. I get it. I do. But who know what? Notre Dame has found a way to win, even win they had their backs to the wall. So I'm going to go with Notre Dame here. 

That's all I have. We'll see in January how these predictions turned out!

Thanks for reading.

NFL Playoff Picture & More

Happy Holidays sports fans!

Again, I apologize for the delay in posts. I've been super busy with work, the holidays and so forth that I just have really gotten behind on trying to get out a weekly post. Every day at work I sit in front of a computer for 8 hours so sometimes when you get home the last thing you want to do is, well, get on a computer.

So. A lot has happened in this month of December in the NFL. As of today, the AFC playoff picture is set. The NFC? Has been a crazy wild ride and we won't know the full picture for another week. There will still be several teams with something to play for in Week 17 which is fantastic for the fans.

On a somewhat random sidenote, it looks like I am about to win my first fantasy football championship game. I've been playing fantasy football for at least 6 years now and have been commissioner of several leagues, have made it to the playoffs relatively consistently, and have made it to the championship game at least twice before this year, always finishing second. I was in 3 leagues this year, made it to the playoffs in two (just missed the one by one spot - ouch), lost out in one league in the first round, and am in the championship game in my work league. At this point, unless my opponent comes up with 40 points (which is possible with Lynch and Crabtree playing though it's now the 4th quarter and it's not looking too good), it looks like I will win. Special kudos to the following players: Aaron Rodgers, Jamaal Charles, Mikel Leshoure, Eric Decker, Wes Welker, Marques Colston and Matt Prater. Thing that kills me is I sat the Rams D which put up 19 points. The 49ers D right now, which I started? 2. Now that the Giants are out of the playoffs? The scariest team to face undoubtedly, is the Seattle Seahawks.

At the beginning of the season I made playoff predictions. Let's see how I've done shall we?

AFC EAST

Division Winner Prediction: New England Patriots

Actual Division Winner: New England Patriots

This one was likely the easiest one to predict. The Pats struggled early but came back strong, not that it really mattered as the Pats hardly had much competition in the division. The Bills and Miami are going to finish mediocre, which is where we thought they would be. I whiffed on the Jets though. I thought they might have a shot at a wild card spot and even though they did manage to stay in contention through this week they have just been awful. How this team managed to beat the Rams is beyond me. Jets are going to have to make some major changes for next season - it's time to clean house.

AFC NORTH

Division Winner Prediction: Baltimore Ravens

Actual Division Winner: Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens have somewhat quietly won their way into the playoffs. After Ray Lewis suffered an injury that benched him for the season, there were many questions about this Baltimore team and they just weren't talked about as much in the national sports media. I don't think they are as good as last season, and I see them struggling against New England or Denver, but they did look good tonight against the Giants. Perhaps moving Caldwell to OC and finally getting Ray Rice back into the game will make a difference.

I also mentioned that I thought the Bengals would contend for a wild card spot and guess what? Right again. Bengals have a tough road ahead of them though. Dalton hasn't been as sharp lately and in order for the Bengals to have a hope of advancing the passing game needs to be spot on.

AFC SOUTH

Division Winner Prediction: Houston Texans

Actual Division Winner: Houston Texans

This one was pretty much a no-brainer - I think every sports media pundit predicted the Texans to win the division. Though the Colts certainly gave them something to compete with for awhile there, which I totally whiffed on and had no idea that this Colts team, one year after winning only 2 games, would be 10-5 at this point and a wild card playoff team. They were not even in my thoughts as a potential wild card team. You have to give credit to Andrew Luck, Chuck Pagano and his staff, and a team that just seems to believe they can win. It also tells me just how bad Curtis Painter was at QB. Sure, the Colts gutted a good chunk of the offense but they kept a good amount of players from last year and the defense didn't change much. I always thought Curtis Painter looked like he should be competing for the US Surfing Championship, not the NFL.

Curtis Painter = Sean Penn ala Fast Times at Ridgemont High?

AFC WEST

Division Winner Prediction: Denver Broncos

Actual Division Winner: Denver Broncos

The AFC Worst, I mean West, seemed like a bit of a crap-shoot at the beginning of the season. No one was quite sure if Peyton was in the form we all know Peyton to be, and the rest of the division seemed to have talent that was just all sub .500/.500 caliber. What many of us didn't predict and I certainly did not was how the Broncos would just simply take this division like it was a walk in the park. Questions about Peyton Manning? He's as good as he has been and has a really good chance at getting to the Superbowl. I have to say I'd love to see it. I've always been a huge fan of Peyton and it would just be so great to see him go back to the Superbowl after everything that's happened.

NFC EAST

Division Winner Prediction: NY Giants

Actual Division Winner: TBD Cowboys or Redskins

This division. Honestly. Giants are officially out of playoff contention so I big time whiffed here. I did pick the Cowboys and Eagles as potential wild card contenders which the entire NFC East was at one point but Philly has just been awful. Michael Vick, talented as he is, just can't stay healthy. RGIII needs to pay attention to this, because he's already been hurt this season and missed games, to many fantasy football fans dismay.

The Cowboys-Redskins game has been moved to next week's Sunday Night Game so we'll have to wait until then to find out who wins this division and see how the wild card shapes up. At this point, I'm not sure who to pick but I'm leaning a bit toward the Redskins, if RGIII can stay healthy. 

NFC NORTH

Division Winner Prediction: Green Bay Packers
Actual Division Winner: Green Bay Packers

I said in my prediction post that I didn't think the Bears were good enough to top Green Bay, and to prove my point the Packers beat the Bears both times this season. The Packers had a bit of a rough start but managed to pull it together later in the season. For awhile there, it looked like the Bears might take the division. Now, they are fighting for a wild card spot. In the NFC, we won't know for sure until next week. One team I really whiffed on was the Vikings. Really. Congrats to Adrian Peterson, the likely Comeback Player of the Year. He will likely hit 2,000 yards next week, but needs over 200 yards to beat Eric Dickerson's record. Vikings are still alive in the playoff hunt and the Bears. But after tonight's win against the 49'ers, Seattle has clinched a spot. So the window is thinning.

NFC SOUTH

Division Winner Prediction: Atlanta Falcons
Actual Division Winner: Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons were the popular pick here, and now we all know why. Falcons are red hot right now. QB Matt Ryan has been outstanding. Tampa Bay and the Panthers ended up...just mediocre. I honestly thought the Panthers would be a bit better but Cam Newton showed some true colors this year. For one, the attitude needs to change if he expects to stay long term in the NFL. No one likes a diva. Doing Superman moves in the endzone? Come on (though I've seen worse touchdown dances. Hmm, that would be a good blog. Top NFL touchdown dances. The Bob-N-Weave would certainly be in there. Have a suggestion? Let me know). The Saints struggled, which was expected, but they're going to manage to end their season respectably. Just makes you wonder how they would have done if Bounty Gate hadn't happened. Perhaps they'd be in the playoffs and giving Atlanta a run for their money in the division.

NFC WEST 

Division Winner Prediction: San Francisco 49'ers
Actual Division Winner: San Francisco 49'ers OR Seattle Seahawks

The NFC West, which used to be referred to the NFC Worst, is hardly that. I expected the 49'ers to be where they are, but expected them to have a commanding division win by now. I 100% whiffed on the Seahawks."Seattle has a top ranked defense and I think will be a scary team once all of the offense holes are filled but can Russell Wilson really lead them to offensive greatness this season?" Answer? Yes, he can. Never expected them to be as good as they have been. They are now clearly the scariest team in the NFC to face, and I doubt any playoff team wants to go to Seattle to play. They are lights out at home.

The Rams were better, as I predicted, and I didn't expect them to do better than 9-7. They are 7-7-1. So I think I was pretty close there. I like a lot of what Jeff Fisher's influence has brought to this team and expect them to be a bigger force to recon with next season. I still like Bradford, though I have my doubts. I would like to see a full season with strong healthy receivers (I love Ammendola, but he's injury prone). They also could use a little extra help on the O-line. Like seeing Kendricks and Givens developing into potential stars. I didn't expect this to be their year but next year? It's going to be interesting.

WILD CARD

AFC Wild Card Predictions: Jets, Steelers

Actual AFC Wild Card: Colts, Bengals

NFC Wild Card Predictions: Saints, Eagles

Actual NFC Wild Card: TBD, but none of the above

I 100% whiffed on my wild card predictions, wow. Not even close. All of the teams I picked are out. Guess we'll have to see how the NFC picture turns out next week.

BCS Bowl Predictions in my next post. Thanks for reading.