This 14th week of NFL pig brings 2 Supe and 4 entity (3 NFL Conference and of the last AFL title tilt) rematches.
Tonight in a redux of the 9th Super Bowl, telecast by NBC with Curt Gowdy and won (16-6) by Pittsburgh, I predict the (5-7) Minnesota Vikings will cover the spread as 3 point favorites vs the (6-5-1) Pittsburgh Steelers.
The other Supe rematch is one of teams that clashed in both the ’81 and ’88 seasons. In each, the S.F. 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, no covering the second and winning it on a Joe Montana to John Taylor touchdown pass, very late, I believe in the last minute of the fourth quarter.
The (6-6) 49ers are visiting the (7-5) Bengals with the “Cincy” minus 1 line pretty much the same one as in an “at Cincy” 1987 game in which, inexplicably a decision by the recently deceased Sam Wyche, gave Joe Montana a chance to throw a game winning last play touchdown to Jerry Rice.
(8-4) Kansas City (Chiefs) hosts the (6-6) Las Vegas Raiders in a redux of the last AFL Title Game, in which underdog K.C. won by 10 points, (17-7) at Oakland, the predominant home of the Raiders in their 62 season existence. Kansas City, once the Dallas Texans, are 10 point favorites this time.
In the lone AFC title tilt redux, the (8-4) Tennessee Titans, who won in Jacksonville as underdogs to gain entry into the “Alfalfa” Michaels 1999 Supe, won on the # by the favored then St. Louis, Rams, meet the (2-10) Jacksonville Jaguars.
Twice each the Chicago Bears and Green BayPackers, as well as the Dallas Cowboys and “Wash” football team met in semis.
The Bears and Packers splitting the two tilts (Chi won an unscheduled Westen Conference title ‘off in route to the ’41 crown while GB in Rodgers’ lone title to date won the NFC title tilt at Chicago in ’10).
Wash won both home title tilts vs Dallas, 10 years apart in ’72 and ’82 before winning the subsequent Supe vs Miami (Dolphins) in the latter and losing to the (17-0) Dolphins in the former.
It was an awful week, it looks as if Brad is gone, teams buy, either the wrong guys get into the tarnished Baseball Hall (compiler, other than ’66, never impactful Jim Kaat) others too late (Minnie Menoso, who once told me he would want his family not to accept it and Buck O’Neill. Of course no Pete and idiots I hear say Pete changed his bets based on Bill Gullickson and that type pitching), so very little details save Alabama seeking a repeat crown is a roughly 2 TD “fave” vs Cincinnati while Georgia, beaten by ‘Bama last week but knowing they were in, no matter, are 8 (get it 8–ode to Bob Loebman) vs Louise Fox’ Michigan.
Oh did I mess up this season as Michigan and Cincinnati were incredible winners, the former going (11-2) against the spread.
This weekend the champions, one not that great, the other two all-timers in their category, were in Atlanta.
Alabama, in the almost unprecedented situation of being a near touchdown dog and of course are defending champions, who (41-24’d) Georgia and now are in the semis. Citing Nick Saban(o), (oh Gross, Ethan the Bradley seemingly imminent death and people “barring” others, something first 3 letters epitomized and hurt this sensitive, good soul, who waited uptown 7 hours, having seen Brad yesterday, is a lesson. Most people do NOT heed that lesson!!) and his many titles.
Ditto the great Tom Brady (not so great this day for first half Bucs’ bettors yesterday, but of course they covered vs me and not picked here, Atlanta–I did pick the Steelers here, however I lost on Atlanta and won next to “nada” on the Sreelers. The main thing is that I bet small, essentially watched none and realize the waste in having watched all the many years) and defending champion Tampa Bay (Bucs) as they won (30-17) (-11) at Atlanta and certainly have a shot at a repeat crown.
The 88 win(s) Braves of course are “housed” (Tom House caught #715, hit by Henry Aaaron and in the first baseball season after Mr. Aaron’s death, his Braves won it all!!)
Play in the 17 games/18 weeks 2021 NFL season has moved into the 13th week and one Supe rematch and four semi-final such games are on the schedule.
In a redux of the 1983 season Super Bowl, when the then L.A. Raiders crushed the Washington team (That “Wash” team, a la last year’s Chiefs, were defending champions, on an incredible roll, that got beaten decisively in the game in which victory would have meant a repeat crown), the now (6-5) Las Vegas Raiders are slight favorites vs the (5-6) Washington team, now sans the offensive nickname (I did not think Indians to be offensive and certainly not Braves or Chiefs. I also realize the horrible injustice dealt the people who were here/on this continent first) they had for that Supe and many years before and after.
Elsewhere, the big game on Monday night matches (8-4) New England, a 2 plus point(s) u/dog at (7-4) Buffalo.
It is a rematch of the 1963 AFL East playoff/AFL semi, in which the then Boston Patriots defeated the Bills, only to be routed in the subsequent title tilt by the Keith Lincoln, Tobin Rote led San Diego Chargers.
There are two AFC and one NFC title game rematches ahead.
In the frozen weather, 1981 AFC title tilt, the Cincinnati Bengals with their 6 time NFL champion (five with the Packers and one as a reserve for the Cowboys which was Dallas’ first crown, having been denied in heartbreaking losses to the Packers, with Gregg and Herb Adderly, another “Pack” player who adorned that ’71 Dallas Cowboys’ roster) as a player, coach, (his face protected with what looked like Vasalene, as shown by NBC (Richard Enbear, better known as Dick Enberg, on the telecast) won vs the then San Diego Chargers, a franchise making a second “appearance” in my usual, tangential post. The Bengals lost in the subsequent Supe to the 49ers and Joe Montana, in a game played in Pontiac, Michigan.
This week (7-4) Cincy is a FG/3 point “fave” vs the now (6-5) L.A. Chargers (they were the L.A. Chargers in their first season in 1960 before moving to S.D.).
Later in the day with “Pooh” Nantz, in a not so hot national ‘cast, (8-3) very fortunate Baltimore (Ravens) visit the (5-5-1) Pittsburgh Steelers. A prediction: As 5 point “dogs,” the Steelers will at least cover, something they did as faves in winning the 2008 AFC Title Game at home vs the Ravens. They no covered but won their 6th Supe (only the Patriots, also with 6, have that many) vs Arizona in the subsequent “Alfalfa” Michaels Supe, with still there Ben Roethlisberger hitting game MVP Santonio Holmes, who made a brilliant catch, for the winning score.
The lone NFC Title game redux this week is where the 2013 NFC Title Game, a Seattle Seahawks win vs the S.F. 49ers was played (all four semis rematches have the same home team–Buffalo, Cincy, Pittsburgh and Seattle). (6-5) S.F. (49ers) seem to be surging while (3-8) Seattle, is finally having a terrible year under Pete Carroll (he will go down as an excellent coach, with an undisputed title in both college and pro pig, but an underachiever, as failures in short yardage situations, cost he and his team repeat crowns, first with USC vs Texas in the ’05 college title game and then with “Sea” vs New England in the 2014 season Super Bowl). SF is a 3 plus point(s) fave in the “Moutt” Harlan tilt.
The Carroll Seattle title was secured in the 2013 season Supe as the Seahawks routed Denver as Peyton Manning again “disappeared” in a big game.
Only Betty White, among the actors that played major long running characters (John Amos, himself a superb actor, could be considered, depending on long running?) from the great “Mary Tyler Moore Show” is still alive.
Before she appeared, her husband Alan Ludden was referenced as having been one who signed a chain letter. Remember those?
I watched the “MTM” show faithfully, only to miss the gushing finale as good friend Brad Weiner and I saw “Peter Paul and Mary” in concert that Saturday night in 1977.
Gushing but composed now, here is hoping Brad will be okay.
The horrible times and events of my micro and macro life have one positive, in that regret for not knowing, appreciating and experiencing a musical great such as Stephen Sondheim, who died last week at age 91, comes into great focus.
Music and shows is where I “ought to be” (I got worse than allergic from the stink of big $ sports) and oh what great ones Mr. Sondheim contributed.
Stuff, i.e. pictures and videos, are taken down here, my greatest praise to you Mr. Sondheim is going out and hopefully to better, I will try to immerse into your gifts to us. You will help me fight the pain as you also were unique and had personal standards.
Unlike so many especially me, you got great work out there, in your case in unbelievable volume and quality that will resonate for all time.
Thank you in advance for helping me.
Click below to view Judy Collins singing Mr. Sondheim’s classic song, “Send In The Clowns.”
Only the top ranked, (12-0) Georgia Bulldogs, who are looking to join their fellow state, Braves, in winning a second Georgia based crown (they won led by then freshman and now Trump backing, Herschel Walker in ’80, the year “another bargain,” Ronald Wilson Reagan, ascended to the U.S. presidency), are assured a spot, in the upcoming 4 team college football ‘offs.
Unlike the Braves, who struggled and had at best a slightly better than average regular season as the low wins total of 88 will attest, Georgia has been dominant going (12-0) and I would say, at least (9-3), maybe (10-2) vs the spread. They are (-220)/11 to 5 favorites to title.
Yesterday, in the roughly 15 minutes past noon start in snowy Ann Arbor (the pro wrestler Bobo Brazil was from Benton Harbor, Michigan), Hassan Haskins scored 5 touchdowns, the first player to achieve that in the long great Mich/Ohio State rivalry, as (bet from 8) the touchdown underdog, (11-1) Michigan team won (42-27) vs Ohio State, the team at least on paper, that had the best chance at topping Georgia, which I state early on, is far from unbeatable.
Thus it is almost certain that Ohio State is out of title contention, while Michigan, in a “be careful” game vs Iowa for the Big Ten crown, would secure a playoff spot, likely the second highest, if near touchdown “fave” Georgia beats Alabama, probably the second if ‘Bama, a truly fortunate survivor at Auburn yesterday, upsets the “Dawgs,” in the CBS SEC title tilt next Saturday around 4 Eastern Time (How’s that for a promo?), if it prevails vs the Hawkeyes. I will project “Mich” to be a TD favorite. They are 10 plus points favorites, as it turns out.
Next, I cite (12-0) Cincinnati, seeking to be the first non Power 5 Conference team to make the ‘offs, seemingly would do so with a win vs a good Houston team. They opened as 10 point favorites in the tilt.
Aforementioned Alabama, once a “cover machine,” but this year a tightrope walking, no cover team, almost certainly needs to beat Georgia, to get in the ‘offs, in a bid to defend their title.
Oklahoma State, one would think and I guess hope (it is the usual some dinero, if it is Notre Dame and one day I will “grow up” and root for it, in the meantime take Cincy and Mich for a very small profit) is next in line, if it wins the Big 12 title tilt as roughly 6 point “faves” vs Baylor, and say Alabama, if not Cincy or Michigan loses.
Notre Dame, it would seem, but remember they are Notre Dame (one reason the late Beano, who could afford it and I, who really can not, do what we did/do), need losses by 2 of the following four teams, Michigan, Cincinnati, Alabama and Oklahoma State to again make the ‘offs, where I believe they would be a dangerous opponent for any team, including currently top ranked Georgia. Am I just paranoid? Surely credit Brian Kelly (a transaction this week involved a namesake and remember he coached Cincinnati to an undefeated “reg,” I believe) with a good job coaching Notre Dame.
Who knows? Sadly, without cashing big dogs, Michigan and spread covering Auburn, I still care.
Sean Payton, with his team down 14 points and roughly 7 minutes to play in last week’s tilt at Philadelphia elected to kick a field goal.
He won the Supe in ’09 with the Saints, boldly starting the second half with an onside kick. Since then not only no titles but home playoff losses in 3 straight seasons.
I “knew” about him when vs Seattle in a 2010 season wild card round game, Payton went field goal, down 7 with about 5 minutes, at most to play.
In all likelihood tomorrow is the first time all 6 Thursday holiday NFL game participants enter such a tilt having lost in the previous week (all last Sunday).
The day starts with a not so hot Bears at Lions tilt.
Next Dallas is a touchdown plus “fave” at home vs the Las Vegas Raiders.
At night, a meaningful Bills at Saints game.
Remember all six teams lost, with only the Lions, a 13 point underdog in a (13-10) loss at Cleveland, covering the spread in defeat.
On a lighter note, what a year for Giannis, a title and all that goes with it, including final round MVP and now, better late than never, learns a different type of “dunk.” See below.
#MadMyGirlDidntTellMeSooner #NewBedtimeSnackNo vitriol, no put downs.
Maybe Mr. Kennedy is greeting a great admirer, and class gentleman, Sherman Drusin, beloved husband of June, father of Dawn and Cammy, whom we lost between years 57 and 58.
June guided us/her third grade class through that day, 58 years ago. Now she and all of us must summon the strength to go on.
It would be easier, if in the words of Bernie Taupin, as sung by Elton John, about another John (Lennon), also senselessly killed by bullets (this is not vitriol, to say it rages on!), if President John “could come out” and HELP!
The Beatles did then, who/what might now, in these “hold grudges” “no reach across the aisle times?!”
Even the superb TCM host, Eddie Muller missed this one.
In both the seminal “On The Waterfront,” and the excellent film “Johnny O’Clock,” characters played by the superb actor Lee J. Cobb are involved in “giving odds.”
I will not “spoil” either film, however, some will know what I mean, others check it out.
Andy B Sports 