Let’s see, a powerful Baltimore team, a big favorite vs the New York Jets.
That is the case in tonight’s Thursday night game in Baltimore, with the Ravens a two touchdown favorite vs the Jets.
Of course, the situation evokes memories of the third Super Bowl, when the 18 point(s) underdog Jets upset the Baltimore Colts, giving the AFL its first Super Bowl win in three tries.
Tonight: Baltimore wins, does not cover the spread: (23-14).
Matt Snell stood out in the Jets’ (16-7) win in that third Super Bowl. He scored their lone touchdown.
The (11-2) Baltimore Ravens are very likely to be the AFC top seed for the first time.
Baltimore, which has won games vs current AFC “5” seed (9-4) Buffalo, current NFC “1” seed (11-2) San Francisco and current AFC “2” seed and defending champion, (10-3) New England, all in the last 5 weeks, has a magic number of two (either Baltimore wins or New England losses) to gain the top seed.
This week both Baltimore and New England are top heavy favorites, the Ravens a 14 point “fave” vs the (5-8) New York Jets on Thursday night, while “N.E.” is roughly a 10 point favorite at (1-12) Cincinnati (Bengals).
Above are insignias for the 16 AFC teams.
Perhaps noteworthy, second row, left to right: Patriots, Browns (to me, not the NFL, the Ravens are the original Browns’ franchise) and the Ravens.
For some reason, LSU was deemed the top team, in a rare case where, at least on paper, the top ranking before the college football playoff matters.
The lines on the two semi-final games to be played on Saturday December 28th, 61 years after the famed 1958 NFL Title game (the Giants lost that game and last night’s infinitely less important one (23-17) in overtime), reflect that.
Top ranked LSU, avoiding third rated and defending champion, Clemson, is a 13 point favorite vs 4th rated Oklahoma.
Meanwhile, Clemson is a two plus point(s) favorite vs Ohio State.
The great player, LSU legend, Billy Cannon either played on a championship team or won The Heisman Trophy, each year from (1958-1961).
Cannon taking passes from George Blanda helped the Houston Oilers win the first two AFL crowns in 1960 and 1961.
At LSU, he helped them win the title in 1958 and won the Heisman Trophy in 1959.
60 years later, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow is almost certain to win this year’s Heisman Trophy and avoiding Clemson has made LSU, the top choice to win the title.
“One November Yankee” (performances through December 29th at 59E59 Theater) is a well written, probing, insightful, play, with two wonderful actors, Stefanie Powers and Harry Hamlin. Joshua Ravetch both wrote and directs.
Ms. Powers and Mr. Hamlin, each of whom remembered for fine television roles on “Hart to Hart” and “L.A. Law” respectively, certainly prove their “acting chops,” with thoroughly entertaining performances, as three pairs of siblings, all affected by a tragic small plane crash.
The story is nicely interwoven by Mr. Ravetch, the son of Ms. Powers’ junior high school English teacher, with the plane, “One November Yankee” literally and figuratively occupying the stage.
More and more, the references have resonated as I think back, while the subject and relationships of siblings, always fascinating to me, a person without one, has been “hit out of the park” by Ravetch, Hamlin and Powers.
I highly recommend seeing “One November Yankee,” which I believe will enrich your thoughts on life’s fragility/”fine line,” providing some laughs (we all need them) along the way.
Click below for more information, including that, regarding purchasing tickets.
One November Yankee – 59E59 Theaters
Harry Hamlin and Stefanie Powers, pictured above, each give marvelous performances in “One November Yankee.”
(12-1) Oklahoma almost certainly will join the three (13-0) teams, LSU, Ohio State and defending champion Clemson in the 4 team college football playoff.
That playoff will commence with two semi-final games, three weeks from yesterday on Saturday December 28th and conclude with the title game on Monday night January 13th.
The three unbeaten teams will be seeking their third title of the century, while Oklahoma, the team considered with the least chance to “title,” and the one that gone the longest sans a title (their last one was in 2000), will be seeking a second in this century.
The great coach, Bud Wilkinson won multiple national crowns with Oklahoma in the 1950’s.
After 13th ranked (11-2) Oregon disposed of 5th rated (11-2) Utah in last night’s Pac 12 title tilt, the “set up” is there for ABC’s coverage of the Big 12 title game (one loss Oklahoma a 9 point favorite vs one loss, Baylor). That game begins around noon, Eastern Time.
In all likelihood, the winner of that game coupled with an LSU (a touchdown favorite) win vs Georgia in the CBS/SEC title tilt, will make the 4 team college playoff. That game begins around 4 P.M. Eastern Time.
It is almost certain they will be joined by the three undefeated teams, LSU, Ohio State (top ranked and big favorites vs Wisconsin in tonight’s BIG Ten title tilt on Fox) and Clemson (4 touchdown favorites vs Virginia, in tonight’s ABC/ACC title tilt).
Georgia’s lone national title came in 1980. By far, their biggest play was a “Buck” Belue to Lindsay Scott 92 yard touchdown pass in the last minute or so, vs Florida.
Click above to view it, with Georgia broadcaster, Larry Munson’s immortal, colorful, great call.
I am glad that I woke up (12:30 A.M. Eastern Time), put on MeTV and watched an episode of “The Twilight Zone,” followed by two episodes of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.”
These two excellent anthology shows, that first aired say sixty years ago were tremendous.
Rod Serling hosted “The Twilight Zone,” while Mr. Hitchcock did so for the show that bears his name.
Last night/this morning such notables as Albert Salmi, Russell Johnson (playing a “Professor” type character, later he would be “The Professor” on “Gilligan’s Island) that on “The Twilight Zone” and Robert Horton (“Alfred Hitchcock Presents”) were cast members.
Both teams have (6-6) records, however the Dallas Cowboys, 3 point favorites tonight in Chicago vs the Bears, are nice sized favorites to make the NFL playoffs while the Bears are decided underdogs to do so.
In tonight’s clash in Chicago, Dallas after a loss at home on Thanksgiving to the (9-3) Buffalo Bills, I say will win vs the Bears , a team that won in Detroit also last Thursday.
Dallas 20 Chicago 17.
My Bears/Cowboys “link” is Mac Percival, pictured above.
He once booted game winning field goals in consecutive weeks for the Bears (1968) while also kicking for Dallas.
There are some big NFL games on the slate for week 14, once the last week of a 14 game NFL “reg” conducted sans bye weeks.
A pair of (10-2) teams, the S.F. 49ers and New Orleans Saints meet in “The Crescent City”/New Orleans.
The Saints are slight 2 plus point(s) favorites. For the second straight week, Kevin Burkhardt will be the lead broadcaster on the Fox Network’s biggest Sunday tilt as Joe Buck again will work Thursday and not Sunday.
Other “huge” games are (10-2) Baltimore (Ravens) visiting (9-3) Buffalo (Bills) and a redux of last season’s great AFC title tilt as (8-4) K.C. (Chiefs) sojourn to face the (10-2) Patriots at their New England home, where they have emerged victorious in 21 straight games (four being playoff contests).
Baltimore, with 4 NFL crowns (two each for the Colts, who are now in Indianapolis and the Ravens) has great NFL history.
Gino Marchetti, pictured above, is a big part of that history.
“The Irishman” with its roster of film greats, is well worth the 3 plus hours running time, as they are filled with excellent dialog, acting and scenes.
Robert DeNiro plays Frank Sheeran, whose story unfolds in the Martin Scorsese directed film, that is so relevant regarding this country’s makeup.
Al Pacino also is great, portraying Teamsters leader, James Riddel Hoffa while Joe Pesci as Pennsylvania crime boss Russell Bufalino, delivers (as always), when given crackling scenes to play.
Harvey Keitel and Anna Paquin, are two among many, in a tremendous supporting cast.
“The Irishman” is based on Charles Brandt’s 2004 book, “I Heard You Paint Houses.” The screenplay was written by Steven Zaillian. Music by: Robbie Robertson.
One more: Among the myriad producers of the film is Irwin Winkler. I will have more on his great career as such, in a future post.
Andy B Sports 