I arrived this morning and have had a great time thus far - I spent a lot of time in Chicago as a kid. My parents grew up and eventually met here, and many of my relatives are still in Illinois. I have some very fond memories of this place.
Everyone has the Big Ten Network here, so today I watched Michigan/Michigan State with a friend of a friend and ate too much pizza, had sushi at O Y SY on Michigan Avenue, and have been attempting to take pictures of the night skyline, much to the disapproval of my camera.
I am totally wound up on adrenaline for tomorrow's game. I've been having a hard time concentrating at work for several days now; I'm like a little kid on Christmas Eve, unable to sleep, giddy with anticipation, and generally wacky. Absolutely nothing in the world can do this to me quite like the promise of seeing my favorite team in the morning. From the literary/journalistic standpoint, however, when I'm nervy and twitchy like this, I generally have a hard time coming up with anything witty to say and instead default to tight end jokes and making fun of the Lions/Jake Delhomme/People with funny names, so a brief entry highlighting two of the early college games - and Second and One's picks for tomorrow- sounds like a safe bet.
Nobody Bites the Dust, Except for Purdue, Who Just Bites : The BCS computer has been re-programmed, and besides Michigan (whom nobody thinks should have been ranked #22 anyway), having the Tate Forcier Show cancelled in East Lansing, everyone who was favored to win...actually won. Statistically, however, Purdue, after losing to Oregon by two points, has blown its next four games by seven points or less. In 2008, Purdue, after losing to Oregon by six, went on to drop four of its next five games. Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?
Truly Special Special Teams: Down by four and 4th and inches on their own 16 yard line, Michigan punter Zoltan Mesko* decided it was a perfect time for a fake punt. Those experienced with what to do on 4th down likely all called out in unison "He did WHAT?!" upon reading. Mesko attempted to run through a crease, and the play imploded from eighteen different directions as a herd of Spartans closed the hole and tackled Mesko behind the line of scrimmage. The result: turnover on downs and instant field goal, just add water! While I admire the guy's fortitude, for heaven's sake, there is a time when you should actually just punt, already! Michigan went on to lose the game in overtime, proving that despite the bright maize stripes on their helmets, their dominant color vs. the Spartans is blue.
That's a Penalty?: At the end of the 4th quarter, Notre Dame executed two consecutive goal line stands against Washington, who just couldn't punch it in no matter how hard they tried. The second goal line stand, however, arose as as result of a "roughing the snapper" penalty against ND when Washington gave up and attempted to kick for three. How exactly does one go about "roughing the snapper?" Poking his eyes out from across the neutral zone?
Watch the Game, Already!: After Washington finally kicked and tied the game 30-30, one of the NBC announcers went on to extol both teams' "phenomenal defense." Um...both teams scored thirty points on each other! What defense? Had the game been tied at 3-3 at this point, it would be phenomenal defense. I would have said "Both teams have phenomenal offense, and both think that 'defense' is what you build around "de farm."
And now, my picks for tomorrow's NFL matchups:
Cincinnati @ Cleveland: Are the Bengals for real? After upsetting both the Packers and the Steelers, they have all of the momentum on their side. Carson Palmer looks decent, and who knows what kind of ridiculous celebrations are in order if Chad Ochocinco scores. Cleveland, reeling from a nauseating crushing by Baltimore, has switched Brady Quinn for Derek Anderson. However, they still haven't put the ball into the end zone for almost a month, and are 31st in points, 32nd in total yardage, 31st in pass yardage, and 29th on the ground. Despite the possibly refreshing personnel change, I will take Cincinnati.
Seattle @ Indianapolis: Seattle is still hurting physically, and is mentally demoralized by being sucker-punched by Chicago last week. QB Matt Hasselbeck is unlikely to start, and several linemen are out. The Colts are looking for their 13th straight victory, with Peyton Manning leading the AFC in passer rating (is he amazing or what?). The 'Hawks and Colts haven't matched up well before, with Seattle winning three of the last four, but the game is in Indy, thus factoring Seattle's uppity "12th man" from the equation almost entirely. Indianapolis by at least 7, but expect hilarity as the question of "which team has the bigger headcase kicker?" is answered. Also, are we going to see ugly uniforms? Uglier throwback uniforms?
New York Jets @ New Orleans: Imagine two trains traveling at high speeds toward each other. They then collide spectacularly, stunning bystanders and throwing sparks and smoke into the air in their devastating wake. It's not a disaster movie, it's the battle of the red-hot 3-0s! This is the contest to watch! Sanchez is Sensational, Brees is Bombastic, both teams run well, and both Ds are fantastic! I honestly don't know what to expect here, and I waver back and forth between a low-scoring defensive slugfest, and an offensive shootout. However, as the Jets struggled in the home stretch against the Houston Oilers Tennesee Titans last week, I will pick New Orleans.
Detroit @ Chicago: And we conclude with the centerpiece of my weekend. Both teams are jacked on momentum. Detroit finally eeked one out and no longer carries the stigma of being that team that loses every week. Chicago has proven that they can get their act together and win where it counts, and Cutler is finally starting to develop a fine chemistry with his receiving corps. Nonetheless, Chicago has yet to open up a running game this season. Will Matt Forte finally open the door, despite Detroit's rush defense ranking a surprising 16th? Where Detroit might hurt is that while Cutler has been around the league for a while and knows how to play at a pro level, Matt Stafford begins his 4th NFL game as is a rookie who makes rookie mistakes, leaving the Lions' offense rather amorphous, if not still somewhat shaky - Picture a Lion cub that has just been born. Tiny, staggering, closed eyes, baby steps, learning to hunt - this is the Lions' offense now. If they can win a few more this season, the next few years may see this cub growing into a frightening, roaring, NFC North predator. However, a lion cub will not survive a mauling by full-grown bears. I pick Chicago.
Well, goodnight football fans! Remember kids, if you think that...ah, heck with it. Bear down!
EDIT: (10:51 CMT) Perhaps I spoke way too soon about the upsets. #17 (Miami) has knocked off #8 (Oklahoma) by a single point, and UTEP (whoever that is) is up 10 on Houston (#12). Will we need a re-boot after all?
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