Yesterday, defending champion and top ranked, Alabama, Clemson and Notre Dame completed (12-0) regular seasons.
Ohio State ripped Michigan and now has a shot at making the 4 team playoff.
I did predict the 4 plus point underdog Ohio State team to cover.
Today the 9 point favorite Indianapolis Colts will win but not cover.
Indy 23 Miami Dolphins 16.
One prediction today.
50 years after Ohio State’s rout of Michigan which helped them win the ’68 mythical crown–I note Woody Hayes went for 2 way up in the game and Michigan made him and Ohio State pay the next year.
Today Michigan a 4 plus points favorite finally wins again at Ohio State.
However, it will be a close game.
Michigan 27 Ohio State 23.
The recently deceased Ron Johnson was a star on that ’68 Michigan team.
It is truly sad news that the fine actress, Margot Kidder passed away at the far too young age of 69.
She was a beautiful woman, best known for her role as Lois Lane in a number of Superman movies, with another great talent and person, lost far too young, Christopher Reeve.
Add George Reeves, who played Superman and more important, a “wink/wink” “Clark Kent” and lament grows regarding Superman circumstances.
I was fortunate to have met Ms. Kidder, who bravely battled bipolar disorder and look below as a picture often worth a thousand words, summons just a few–if only!
Believe me, Margot Kidder pictured with Andy B. above, saw the light.
She battled bravely “here,” her presence, intelligence and talent shining through.
One prediction for today in pro football.
It is foolish to keep bucking the high scoring New Orleans Saints.
However, I will.
The 13 point underdog Atlanta Falcons will play well, perhaps score two consecutive times without New Orleans and Mr. Brees touching the pig, (i.e. the end of the half and on the first possession of the second half) and cover the high spread.
New Orleans 30 Atlanta 23.
Lindsey (the great broadcaster, Lindsey Nelson, who among other things in an epic career, interviewed Lindsay (Mayor John V.), after the Mets LCS’d the Atlanta Braves to grab the ’69 N.L. Pennant) introduced the Rheingold ad, without citing the sponsor’s name.
“In New York where there are more Irish people than in all of Dublin,”– do you remember it and when pitches were not missed and there was no non stop talk, from so called “game analysts?!”
Jonathan Schwartz, recently punished disproportionately severely, had a great commentary on listening to the scoreboard being “run down,” while still engaging in conversation or at least “listening,” to a female companion, while driving on a baseball filled afternoon.
I loved the “scoreboard and when it was checked,” and on “this” August 25th, 1965 night, with hindsight as much as 53 years later, Ken McMullen homered and Claude Osteen pitched. That in the next season, after they were traded to opposite leagues for each and others.
Ditto Frank Robinson and Milt Pappas, the season before the epic, similar inter league trade.
One can never get enough of the great talent of Buddy Hackett.
Toward that happy thought, here is an appearance by Mr. Hackett on the iconic television show, “What’s My Line.”
Click below to view Buddy Hackett on “What’s My Line.”
What’s My Line? – Buddy Hackett; Joey Bishop [panel] (May 13, 1962)
I will add a nice, random observation, however, let’s start with the fact it will be the Calgary Stampeders (they won (22-14) as 5 point faves vs Winnipeg yesterday) vs the Ottawa Redblacks (they ripped the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as three plus point faves) in the Grey Cup (title) game next Sunday.
Calgary has been established as a 4 point favorite in the game, which quite often is so entertaining and enhanced by snow on the field.
A nice gentleman named Chris, citing the fact he does not like the “hold music” just put the phone down and quickly came back to help. That is good customer service.
The latest line was such (Clemson minus 29 plus points) that I was correct in predicting they (Clemson) would not cover the spread yesterday, in their tilt yesterday vs Duke. Clemson won (35-6).
Thus I was (2-1) as I correctly almost “guaranteed” Alabama would not cover vs The Citadel, but also predicted Notre Dame would “no cover” Syracuse.
Speaking of “guarantee,” have you seen Joe Namath, once an Alabama player, in his commercial regarding extra Medicare benefits. He “guarantees” them, these 50 years after another “guarantee” (he did so regarding and before, the Jets second ‘offs win, enough for the ’68 crown, the one vs the Colts, who needed but failed to get a third).
Also the (35-6) score reminds me of Alabama’s win over Ohio State on bowl day following the ’77 season. It was not enough as Notre Dame “vaulted” over them to the crown.
That episode of injustice still haunts me and while the 2018 version of Notre Dame, surely would be a huge underdog vs Alabama, if and perhaps when they meet, I do “fear” this improved, (11-0), but again let them have faced conference play, Notre Dame team.
Those CFL predictions: Ottawa Redblacks to cover a three points plus spread vs Hamilton (Tiger-Cats) and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, a 5 point “underdog,” to upset the Calgary Stampeders.
NFL: The New Orleans Saints favored by 7 plus, need a late field goal, to edge the Philadelphia Eagles.
Perhaps it is a sad commentary, that the point spreads are now openly discussed, in the once sacrosanct New York Times.
Yet this week, it is worth noting that Alabama and perhaps Clemson will “no cover” big spreads.
Alabama favored by 53 points wins (40-0) vs The Citadel.
Clemson struggles a bit and wins (35-18) as a 4 touchdown plus favorite vs Duke.
Oh what Beano would have won on the projected wins total of over 9 and a half wins for Notre Dame! They are/were favored each game, save Michigan, and on paper those two will join the top 2, (Alabama and Clemson) in the 4 team (joke of) playoff.
However, there are still games to be played!
Could/would Notre Dame a 10 point “fave” at Yankee Stadium today, vs Syracuse, have survived the S.E.C. or even the Big Ten, in my opinion, of course not, but they will survive “Syr,” (34-27) today.
Tomorrow some CFL playoff semi-final predictions and maybe one or two in the NFL.
Fifty years ago today on November 16, (volatile, tragic, issue driven) 1968, I chanted the Torah and Haftarah (Haftorah is apparently an alternate spelling) at my Bar Mitzvah.
The next day was the party and I guess I could show you all the well wishes that now seem like so many kenahoras (jinxes), some written by those who actually did things far worse than “jinx’ me. (Below you see “kanahora” is also an acceptable spelling.)
Yet, let me consider my efforts, how proud my parents and grandmother were and credit Rabbi Joseph Wise for instilling in me, the confidence needed to complete the task.
Please, some of that now!!
I chanted regarding the death of Sarah, Abraham’s wife, “shown” above with husband and child Isaac.
A long time to conceive a child for them and my folks.
That day 50 years ago brought them joy.
Click below for a nice article pertaining to Yiddish words.
Andy B Sports 