Quick Picks: Week 10

There are three -- count 'em -- three good games this week.  What a season it's been.  Let's get to it...

Bengals @ Steelers

-The Steelers are gooood.  That's really all there is to it.  The Steelers D should be able to suppress CedBen.  Chris Henry is out for the year and Andre Caldwell isn't enough of a threat to steer coverage away from Ocho.  Although I think the Bengals defense should be able to keep them in the game, it's like Jon Gruden said on Monday Night Football:  the way the Steelers close out games is masterful.  Look for Mendenhall to grind down an exhausted defense in the 4th quarter.  Steelers roll on 23-17.

Eagles @ Chargers

-This is a tough one to gauge.  If the Eagles want to win this one, they're going to have to do something Andy Reid seems to have no interest in doing anymore -- running the football.  San Diego has one of the best pass defense's in the league, but are allowing 130 yards a game on the ground.  Brian Westbrook seems to be doing alright and should play on Sunday.  My advice to Coach Reid is to give the Chargers a healthy dose of Westbrook and McCoy early in the game so McNabb can sell the play-action later on to bomb it deep to DeSean and/or Maclin.  Another key to this game is going to be 3rd downs.  The Eagles have been amongst the worst in the league at converting on 3rd down this year and it's certainly hurt them.  The Chargers, on the other hand, are amongst the worst in the league at preventing 3rd down conversions.  Philip Rivers should look to LDT and Sproles for quick screens early on to make the Eagles hesitate on their blitzing schemes.  If they can do that, Rivers should have a field day with his weapons.  The Eagles secondary only has one starter taller than 5'10", (Sean Jones at 6'1"), and should have trouble matching up against 6'5" Vincent Jackson, 6'4" Antonio Gates, and 6'5" Malcolm Floyd.  Should be a good one.  I'm gonna give the Bolts the edge though.  Chargers win 28-24.

Patriots @ Colts

-I know the Ravens and Browns are the Monday Night game, but something tells me this is the actual "Game of the Week."  It's almost foolish to try to predict this one.  I'm throwing all the stats out the window because when these two teams play each other, none of that stuff matters.  Peyton gets rid of the ball so fast; the younger defenders on the Pats will have no idea where he's going with it and the veteran players will be too slow to get to it.  44 is the combined age of the Colts starting rookie cornerbacks and you know Randy Moss has gotta be licking his lips thinking about that.  The Colts can talk about the great job Melvin Bullitt's done filling in, but he's no Bob Sanders.  There's a very real chance that Brady can and will pick apart that secondary.  The best shot the Colts have is to keep constant pressure on the Tinman with Mathis and Freeney.  I'd certainly love to be wrong about this one because it kills me to say this.  The Pats win the aerial assault 38-31.

Here's two more quick freebies for you...

Cowboys @ Packers

-The Packers just aren't very good at football.  I can't wait to see what The Matador (Daryn Colledge) has in store for this week.  I say he only "Ole's!" himself into allowing Demarcus Ware to get four sacks.  The Packers defense could definitely stop Tony Romo, but that would involve a pass rush -- something else they don't have.  Woodson will shut down Roy Williams while Al Harrass gives up 350 yards to Kilometers Austin.  If you see me on Sunday, punch me in the face because I'd prefer that to watching this game.  (Note: If you actually see me on Sunday, please don't punch me in the face -- that's the meal-ticket.)  Cowboys win 45-(-6) -- don't worry, we'll find a way.

Bears @ 49ers

-I'm feeling a little clairvoyant today.  I keep getting these images in my head about this game.  I see Frank Gore having a big day -- maybe 104 rushing yards and a touchdown.  I see Matt Forte somehow running the ball worse than he usually does.  I think he'll have 20 carries for only 41 yards with no touchdowns.  Lastly, I see Jay Cutler...  Wow, do I see Jay Cutler.  I see four...no...FIVE interceptions!  The last one coming at a crucial point in the game, perhaps the last play of the game in the endzone??  I don't know.  These visions just seem so real and clear to me.  Call me Nostradamus, but I think the Niners win this one 10-6.


Boy, it always starts out short and just keeps getting longer -- (that's what she said, I know).  No Sleepers or Worries this week because the games are just that terrible.  I mean, what would you like me to say?  Yes, Chris Johnson is a good start against the Bills.  I think you'll be alright starting Brees against the Rams, but you might want to reconsider Jamal Lewis against the Ravens.  Enjoy Weak 10...

-Dave

PS - About that Forte picture, you'd be amazed what the internet can come up with when you search pictures for "Matt Forte Sucks."  Although I do realize it's inaccurate.  Surely he's still averaging 3.4 ypc, but the line about the one touchdown must have come before his big two-touchdown game against the Browns.

Noah Gold, Ladies and Gentlemen...

No idea if that's a great question because I don't watch enough nor know enough about college football.  I'm no BingBong historian, but I think this will go down as the shortest response to a Burner question in the site's illustrious history.

Don't vote for me this week.  That sucked. 

-Noah

Conspiracy indeed

Oh I think there's definitely some truth to this theory.  There's all sorts of evidence validating it too.  Some of the calls UF and Bama have gotten this year have been downright awful.  The freshest one in my mind is of course the interception that wasn't called in last week's LSU-Bama game.  To me it looked like the LSU player had his feet in bounds, (yes, I said "feet" even though I know college football only requires one foot to be in bounds...that's how bad of a call it was).  You can say the LSU player hadn't secured the ball when he had that first foot down if you'd like, but that's irrelevant in the grander scheme of this theory. 

There is also, of course, last week when Urban Meyer was fined $30,000 for making a relatively harmless comment about the officials possibly missing a late hit call on Tim Tebow against UGA -- a comment made on the Wednesday after the game took place, four days later.  You can argue that it is the job of the SEC to make sure coaches don't criticize the judgment of the officials, but it's just a little peculiar that in that same UF-UGA game Brandon Spikes was caught trying to gouge out the eye of UGA runningback Washaun Ealey and the SEC only suspended Spikes for half of his next game.  It just seems that with those two incidents the SEC really went out of their way to ensure no other coaches critique their referees while ensuring at the same time that UF doesn't go an entire game without their best defensive player.

The real shame of it is that I love the SEC.  I think it's a great football conference because of it's ultra-competitive nature and consistently strong programs, but if this is the lengths it's willing to go to to ensure a spot in the National Championship game then it really is a shame.  Although one could also argue that they are victims of a broken system, (the BCS in general), and that it's not entirely the SEC's fault.  One could also go a step further and say that the SEC conspiracy is merely hiding under the umbrella of a much larger BCS conspiracy.  You can't honestly tell me the BCS is licking their lips at the possibility of a Cincinnati-TCU championship game.

-Dave

Burner of the Week

"BingBong, what do you guys think about these talks of an SEC conspiracy that have been going around? About how the SEC is having the refs call games in favor of Alabama and Florida so they'll both be undefeated when they face each other in the SEC Championship game and pretty much guarantee a spot for one of them in the BCS Championship game." Les M., Baton Rouge


Great question, Les. There certainly seems to be a lot of evidence working in favor of that theory. What do you think BingBong; is the SEC plotting for a Bama/UF showdown at the Georgia Dome?

-bingbongsports

Today's Burner has been Postponed due to Lack of Hustle...

...deal with it.

I hope everyone got the Heavyweights reference. If you didn't, then seriously, what have you been doing with your life? Anyway, this week's Burner has been pushed back until tomorrow when all our contributors can participate. The good news is you all have one more day to get in your emails for this week's topic. Remember to send them on in to bingbongsports@gmail.com.

-bingbong management

Lugie's List 11/10: UH UH PLAYOFFS?!

A few teams in the NFL crapped the bed Sunday and really hurt their chance at making the playoffs. Still a ton of football to be played but…

1. See my point last week about the Packers and Giants beating up on bad teams to start the year. Let's start with the Packers who blew an 11 point 4th quarter lead to the 0-7 Josh Freeman led Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (re-reading last sentence… really?... REALLY?!) Anyone still in a survivor leagues or placing a 3-team teasers Sunday collectively vomited after Freeman threw the go-ahead touchdown pass. To boot, the Alanis Morrissette moment of the week has to be the Bucs wearing the jerseys worn during their NFL-record 26 game losing streak from 1976-1977. The life equivalent would be me putting on my old corduroy pants and over-sized orange Abercrombie sweater and going back to high school to date the prom queen (18 years of age for the purposes of this hypothetical).

2. On a related note, Dave Silverstein, BingBongSports writer, producer and head of the pornography division has neither been seen nor heard from after the Aaron Rodgers pick 6 that ended the game Sunday. If you know where he is please call 1-800-FAVRE.

3. The next team on the chopping block – The New York Football Giants losing their fourth straight game. As well as their defense played the for the first 58 minutes, the Giants couldn't get a stop when it mattered. Rivers picked them apart over the middle during that last minute drive, sending the Giants into a free fall going into the bye week. With games still left against the Falcons, Broncos, Cowboys, Eagles and Vikings, things do not look good in Giant-land.

4. Oh Mr. Matt Leinart. It seems like it was just yesterday when you were getting boy band ass at USC, being drafted as the franchise QB of the Arizona Cardinals and sharing a hot tub on draft night with Cameron Diaz, Lindsey Lohan, Kobe Bryant and the Dali Lama (who you kicking out of your hot tub? And I'm not suprised how easy it was to find a picture of Leinart in a hot tub). After watching his 0-1, 1 INT line Sunday subsequently causing the Cardinals to bring back Kurt Warner who threw for a measly 5 TDs, I couldn’t help but reflect on how far Leinart has fallen from being the man.

5. Impressive win for Alabama Sunday over LSU. I know they were at home, but they came back in that game against a tough LSU defense, and by the end I was finally convinced they are worthy of top team status with Florida.

6. Congrats to reader Jimmy Shilladango from Jacksonville, Florida for winning the “How long ‘til Gilbert Arenas creates a controversy by disagreeing with a proven veteran coach yet again” Office Pool. November 8th if you are scoring at home.

7. Betting Trend: The Washington Redskins and New York Knicks are a lock to lose every first half line (Reason: Vegas can’t set the first half line bigger than half the game line). Then at halftime, both teams are a lock to cover the second halftime line (Reason: the betting community has so little faith in these two teams to not just lay down and die after being down big at the half that the line is never set correctly). My motto has always been - if your team is going to suck for an entire season, why not profit?

8. I hate to say it but if I have to hear Jay-Z perform Empire State of Mind one more time at a Yankee event, I’m going to lose my mind. A modern day anthem for New York City has been so overplayed in the last 2 weeks that it is entering Soldier Boy territory of annoyingness. Shawn Corey Carter, hate to break to you buddy but you did not make the Yankee hat famous and you do not actually play for the New York Yankees. Why are you riding on a float down Broadway?

9a. Congrats to Noah Gold (so sexy) on being able to legally chase ambulances for a living! MBN to have a career as I try to make it as a blogger. And I hate to burst your nerd-bubble, but the ‘loser of the week’ award goes to me. A) Halo is cooler than going to any club/lounge in the Meat Packing District and B) Did you watch Sister Act during two different showings on TNT Saturday night? Didn’t think so.

9b. And you thought I’d go the entire column without linking the article title - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwq7BYOnDrM

10. Sunday Night TV Ratings: Dexter: A-; Californication: B+; Curb B+; Bored to Death C-, Season: D+ (ok, it grew on me a little the last two weeks – enough to get me to watch the beginning of Season 2)

-Steve Lugerner

A Weeklong Glass Case of Emotion

Been getting (fake) emails up the yin yang from disgruntled BingBong enthusiasts wondering where my intelligent, sarcastic, handsome articles have been over the past week or so. Well, I am here to tell you I am back, and to give you a taste of what my life has been like the past week.

Let me preface this by saying that, by this point in the year, rumors among the recent law school graduates (read: nerds) were that the bar results for New York and New Jersey would be coming any day.

Monday 11/2

I break my own cardinal rule and hate myself for it. Brad (who was celebrating his 27th birthday) and Tino were planning on going out to a bar in Madison to watch Game 5 of Yankees-Phillies. Those that know me know my thoughts on going out for big sporting events: I don't heart it. My home-road splits would make Bill James have a stroke.

But, it was my buddy's birthday and the Yankees did have a 3-1 lead. This difference legitimately played a role in my choice to go out that night. Had it been 2-2 or had the Yankees been facing elimination, there's a 99% chance I would've gone straight home.

As it turns out, AJ Burnett pooped himself on three days rest (a move which I did not agree with but can't fault Girardi for going for it). And Tino, Brad, and I decided to go back to the apartment in the 5th inning. And the Yankees outscored the Phillies after we made that move. Coincidence? Please.

No bar results yet.

Wednesday 11/4

If my life was a golf tournament, this was "moving day." The day at work was tense. That day, on the New York Bar website, a note was posted that New York bar results would be released the next morning. Simply reading this message made my heart pound. Not only that, the New Jersey Bar website stated that its results would be released Monday 11/9 at 4pm. So there it is. Oh and one other thing. There was a Game 6 of the World Series going on in the Bronx.

Once again, I break my own rule and meet up with Brad, Tino, and Jeff at the Famished Frog in Morristown. The place is packed with Yankee fans. The Bud Lights are going down like water. Hideki Matsui, a player I've probably castigated more than any other this season, became unconscious and carried the Yankees. While all this was going on, as much as I was enjoying the march toward #27, my mind was racing. My summer of hell was going to culminate in a mere 10 hours. I didn't make mention of this during the game because it was neither the time nor the place. But, needless to say, I was able to watch a lot of the post-game because I was unable to sleep.

Thursday 11/5

Log into my computer. Click on Internet Explorer. No results. Refresh. No results. Refresh. No results. This would go on for many minutes until I finally was notified of the link to check the results. I was alone in my office. My hands were shaking like Brad Lidge with a three run lead. I slowly typed in my ID number and other relevant contact information. The screen goes completely blank. A message appears. My eyes are darting all over the place looking for any sign of hope. After quickly scanning the page, I read more slowly. And it's GOOOOOOOOOD!

I felt like Tiger sinking a 40 foot eagle chip-in without Steve Williams. I simply put my arms in the air and silently yelled to myself like Jerry and George did when they were offered to do a pilot for NBC. To channel my inner Mike Francesa: this was huu-yuuuge.

Friday 11/6

With a busy weekend on tap, I stay in with a roommate who shall remain nameless (to protect his identity) and played Halo for the first time in about 6 months. For 3 hours. Unrelated note: I'm single.

Saturday 11/7

Met up with a couple friends from RU to celebrate the passage of the New York bar. Eventually, we'd meet up at McCarthy's in Hoboken to celebrate Tino's birthday. Dollar drafts all night is alright by me. The night would culminate by taking a car service home, with a large pepperoni pie in tow. College.

Sunday 11/8

Tino and I head to Giants Stadium to take in the Giants-Chargers game on an unseasonably warm November day that turned into night. We end up sitting in front of an adorable mother who, when the Giants had a 1st and 25 following a penalty, exclaimed, "What is 1 and 25??? Is that even possible???"

Well the game itself was great for the first 59+ minutes. Then Phil Rivers decided he was mad the Giants traded him on draft day in 2004 I guess. Giants head into the bye week sizzling hot riding a 4 game losing streak. Awesome. Oh, and New Jersey results are coming in less than 24 hours.

Monday 11/9

Rumors were flying that the results would come before the 4pm promise to avoid having the site crash from all the traffic at one time. That's all I needed to log onto the site. Check for results. Refresh. Refresh. Refresh. Nothing.

So, I go on with my day, watching the clock like I was a 5th grader in a late afternoon social studies class. I wish I could've had Alex Mack or Hiro Nakamura to fast forward time to get me to 4pm. Just a brutal wait.

3:57. 3:58. 3:59:01. 3:59:32. 3:59:59. 4:00:01. Refresh. It's up. And...IT'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! It's a sweeeeeeeeeep! This time, I pop out of my chair and pace back and forth, giving double Chris DiMarco fist pumps. I'm pleased my home state for which I have so much pride didn't let me down.

The summer of hell (a.k.a. studying all day, never getting on the golf course) all of a sudden became worth it. My era of studying for exams came and went. I can be a real person again. I'm not sure whether that is actually something to celebrate or not.

Anyway, there's my week. A 27th championship for the New York Yankees. A Friday night staying in playing video games. An actual social night out on Saturday. A beautiful night at Giants Stadium sullied by a last minute 1 point loss. And two big clicks of the "Refresh" icon.

It feels good to be back. Trust me...the battle between GG and The OC will be waged soon.