The (11-1) Los Angeles Rams have a fraction of a game lead over the New Orleans Saints for the NFC “1” seed at the “three quarter pole”/after 12 games of the 16 game NFL season.
L.A. can clinch a first round bye and a home division round game with a win at (8-4) Chicago (Bears), in a Sunday night game, that was moved to night to accommodate television, never mind that the home fans likely will or even might face frigid conditions.
Even if “Chi” prevails on Sunday, the Rams will still most likely host a home “div” round game for the first time in 15 years.
They have not hosted one in L.A. since 1985. (The Rams, who started in Cleveland, played as the St. Louis Rams from 1995-2015).
The 4 team college football playoff semi-finals are set.
In the first tilt at about 4 P.M. Eastern Time on Saturday December 29th, second rated and (13-0) Clemson will face third rated and (12-0) Notre Dame.
Next at about 8 P.M. it will be top rated and defending champion, (13-0)Alabama vs fourth rated and (12-1) Oklahoma.
Both Alabama and Clemson are big favorites in those games.
The great player, Tommy McDonald, whom we lost this year played on great Oklahoma teams coached by Bud Wilkinson in the 1950’s.
I believe McDonald’s Oklahoma teams never lost a game!
We probably will never know if Alabama needed yesterday’s Jalen Hurts led/Georgia going conservative, missed field goal, foolish fake punt, (35-28) win vs Georgia to make the four team ‘off.
They are, if not the best team, certainly the highest rated team. Clemson, with the second highest rating, Notre Dame with nowhere near the top two rating and probably Oklahoma, will join Alabama in the four team ‘off.
Georgia would be big favorites vs Notre Dame and likely “faves” vs Oklahoma, even Ohio State, but they lost two games, albeit in the best conference and will not, nor deserve, to make the ‘off.
Two names have double meanings at least, after Bama’s perhaps needed SEC Title game win. Tua Tagovailoa got hurt and Jamel Hurts came in and led Alabama’s win, which hurts Georgia.
Next Georgia coach, Kirby Smart was not very, in fact not at all, as his play calling, as was the case in the title tilt loss to Alabama, again turned conservative.
That is until a foolish fake punt call, that was anything but. (Conservative or smart).
There are still questions and I could easily be wrong but I think Alabama and Clemson will be pretty big favorites vs Oklahoma and Notre Dame respectively in the playoff semi-finals a “long” 4 weeks from yesterday.
Today, as many as four teams control their destiny as far as making the four team college football playoff, which has its semi-finals 4 weeks hence on December 29th and its title game on Monday January 7th.
Certainly the winner of today’s Alabama vs Georgia (SEC Title) game will be in the ‘off, likely and I believe rightfully, Alabama would/ should be in, even if they lose today.
Clemson is in with a win, a very likely occurrence as huge favorites vs Pittsburgh, in the ACC Title tilt.
Oklahoma seems to have the inside track over Ohio State for the final spot, should form hold and both they and Alabama win, even if Ohio State wins at night, vs Northwestern in The Big Ten title game.
At noon Eastern time, the same starting time as in the Texas regular season win vs Oklahoma, the teams meet in their first same season redux since 1903. (the regular season clash between the teams is called “The Red River Shootout,” the Red Sox won the first modern World Series in 1903 and again this year).
Somehow Notre Dame does not have to play a risky 13th game and their (12-0) record virtually assures, they will be in the 4 team ‘off for the first time.
“Oklahoma” a classic show and movie and pictured above are Shirley Jones and I believe, Gordon MacRae.
Two predictions on conference title games being played tonight.
Buffalo 30 Northern Illinois 23 in the MAC (Mid-American Conference) Title game.
Utah to upset Washington in the PAC-12 title tilt.
Utah 31 Washington 30.
There will be a great deal of conference title game(s) football on television today and tomorrow.
One of my favorite players is Tony Oliva.
He was a great hitter and won three American League batting crowns.
He won consecutive batting crowns in 1964 and 1965.
Six years later, Pedro “Tony” Oliva won another in 1971.Oh could he hit!
Tony deserves serious consideration for the Baseball Hall of Fame.
He was that good!
Tony Oliva, pictured above.
Click below as Minnesota radio station KSTP announces the Twins had won their first Minnesota pennant and first for the franchise since the third and last Washington Senators’ (for that matter any Washington baseball team) pennant in 1933.
KSTP Breaking News! Minnesota Twins clinch the 1965 AL pennant! 9/26/1965 radio aircheck
The announcer is Don DuChene. There will be more about him in future posts.
Both New York metropolitan NFL teams have disappointing (3-8) records, producing questions about each team and decisions that need to be made.
I found some good and different answers from some girls, who dance at the fabulous Rick’s Cabaret New York.
Click below to view some Rick’s Cabaret New York girls’ comments on New York Jets’ coach, Todd Bowles.
Rick’s Cabaret New York Girls Comment on NY Jets Coach
Tomorrow night, there is a battle between NFC division leaders, as both the (10-1) New Orleans Saints and (6-5) Dallas Cowboys play on Thursday for the second straight week.
New Orleans has won 10 straight games, after losing its opening game, at home, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
They have a half game lead over the L.A. Rams, (also (10-1), but the Saints own the tiebreaker, having beaten the Rams. (Last season the Rams won the tilt between the two teams) for the top NFC seed.
The Cowboys have won three straight games and are considered ahead of Washington, also (6-5) for the NFC East lead and what likely would be the NFC four seed. (At the moment, Dallas is (3-1) in division play, Washington is (2-1).
The Saints are unbeaten on the road, however, prefer to get the top seed and avoid any playoff road games.
After losses in the previous two CFL/Grey Cup (named for Lord Grey, who donated the trophy in 1909), title games, the Calgary Stampeders won the title two days ago, with a (27-16) victory vs the Ottawa Redblacks.
Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who won regular season honors as well, threw two touchdown passes and was named the game’s outstanding player.
Terry Williams had the game’s big and most important play, a 97 yard (the CFL has a 110 yard field) punt return touchdown with one second to play in the first half.
Calgary lost in the title game to the Toronto Argonauts last year and to a third year, Ottawa Redblacks team, in 2016.
Sadly, there was no live television coverage provided by ESPN, which showed the game on a long delay.
Yesterday, the New England Patriots, in a bid for an incredible ninth consecutive and 13th home slots/division round game, in the 17 seasons in which Tom Brady played (he was injured in the first game of the ’08 season and did not return to action), gained a game on the now (7-3-1) Pittsburgh Steelers and lead them by a fraction of a game, for the coveted (at least) “2” seed and a home “div round” game.
The Kansas City Chiefs with a (9-2) mark lead (8-3) New England by a fraction of a game for the top seed in the AFC. New England won vs “K.C,” and owns the tiebreaker.
Houston (Texans) the other AFC division leader seeks their 8th straight win tonight, after losing their first three games.
Tonight (7-3) Houston plays at home vs the (5-5) Tennessee Titans, who once were the Houston Oilers.
The moon orbits the earth and the Pats roll on in the AFC East.
Andy B Sports 