Last night’s (6-7) Miami win which snapped New England’s 14 game road win skein and 8 game such streak this season, likely will not matter in the seeding race.
The winner of this week’s tilt at Pittsburgh, between the (11-2) Steelers, who have high wired 3 straight win/no covers, the latest (39-38) vs the still likely in the ‘offs (7-6) Baltimore Ravens, in which Pitts quarterback Ben Roethlisberger became the first NFL quarterback to thrice throw for over 500 yards in a game, and (10-3) New England (Patriots) will lead the one seed race and very likely win it.
Jacksonville (Jaguars) is (9-4) a game ahead of the Tennessee Titans in the AFC South race. If “Jax” wins out (they host Houston, visit improving San Francisco before a trip to Tennessee for a game that might decide the AFC South if not have more ‘offs implications. Then again that tilt might mean little).
On Saturday night, NFL Network beams us likely the game that will decide the AFC West as the (7-6) now L.A. Chargers, winners of 7 of their last 9 games visit Kansas City (Chiefs), a team that had lost 6 of 7 games before a (26-15) home win vs now (7-6) Oakland with their “good luck” and once team announcer, Kevin “Mout” Harlan presiding.
The Titans did win the earlier game at Jacksonville so if they win the season finale vs “Jax” and tie in the standings, the AFC South would go to them.
If K.C. prevails Saturday night, they would have a very likely insurmountable one game and a fraction lead over the Chargers, having won the earlier tilt.
Now Ben and the Steelers can all but wrap up the AFC one seed with a win vs New England on Sunday. They can not clinch the one seed even with a victory, unless Jacksonville loses.
Earlier today, doing the “kid around” news that has marked WFAN even as WNBC with Mike Breen, Chris Lopresti ERRED saying Pittsburgh could clinch the AFC one seed, with a victory.
It is truly amazing what can happen, when I do not back my predictions with “coin of the realm.”
Two more wins, making my predictions (16-4), a cool 80 percent and with the help of massive snow, I nearly was correct saying that there would be a tie.
For the record, now (6-7) Arizona my main pick, won outright vs (8-5) Tennessee, not needing the plus 3.
Also in a late game, (4-9) Denver eased vs the (5-8) Jets.
True there was a storm, but I nearly called the first tie game of the NFL season, as it looked as though now (7-6) Buffalo and (3-10) Indy would tie, but LeSean McCoy broke loose late in the maximum 10 minute overtime period, for a spread covering touchdown, as “Buff” won (13-7).
Tomorrow an AFC update, later in the week one in the NFC and I will talk “slots”/divisional round as only I can.
I lived it, ate it, still (can’t) sleep it, but IT amounts to nothing.
Last week as I often do, I rolled up the dispensed paper towel after drying my hands, said “Silk” (for the great Jamaal Wilkes, who had 37, the night Earvin had 42 to lead an L.A. title) and shot the towel into the garbage opening. Nobody saw me do so.
If a man has undeniable talent, but gains nada–is not that a waste, but surely it is not garbage.
Stick with me, not so much for my picks, but for great notes as the NFL season has 3 weeks plus tonight’s tilt (I will say 11 point favorite New England wins, but no covers (31-23) at Miami), remaining and then the ‘offs.
Over 37 years have passed since Jamaal “Silk” Wilkes scored 37 (far better known: Earvin had 42) points, as the Lakers won their second L.A. title on May 16, 1980.
I watched in room 302 of a Howard Johnson’s? hotel in L.A. and in those days before Janet Jackson’s boob was exposed (big deal and I looked the other day, there was something covering her nipple. Of course gratuitous violence can be shown!) and the events of 9-11-2001–the radio and television were in sync.
Hence, I fondly recall that when “Silk” shot, the great Lakers’ broadcaster, Chick Hearn, called all his 20 foot shots, “the layup,” and often it manifested, 37 points being the proof!
Last Sunday, as stated here more than once since this one, now upon us, Derrick Henry turned left end and raced 75 yards for a touchdown, that covered the spread for Tennessee vs Houston.
The result was a rare loss on one of my football predictions here.
Usually, a team that so called “burn covers,” especially in that manner, (theoretically once Henry had the first down, the only chance of his Titans losing the game were if he kept running) does not the following week.
I say that happens this week. (8-4)Tennessee a 3 point favorite, just gets by (5-7) Arizona, by a (17-16) score.
Mike Francesa again was (3-1) on his “picks” last week. This week he “gives out” the (9-3) Rams minus say 2 vs (10-2) Philadelphia, in the Fox tilt beginning around 4:25 Eastern Time, the (6-6) Packers minus 3 vs the (0-12) Browns (for some seemingly inexplicable reason, “Cleve” retained Hue Jackson as head coach) and at night, the (10-2) Steelers minus 5, vs the (7-5) Baltimore Ravens.
Now (8-5) Atlanta was a last week loser/loser and originally an underdog vs a last week winner/winner (the latter in the back to back words vs the spread in each case. I could have saved words explaining that), but were bet to favorite status, before covering (9-4) New Orleans.
I will give a slight nod to one of the three loser/loser/underdogs playing this week. The team is (3-9) Denver, which started the season (3-1), plus one and a fraction vs a (5-7) New York Jets team, that was perceived to win at most 3 games and has been highly competitive in most of their games this season.
The other two are Cleveland and Philly, both vs the also hot Francesa.
I do not think Green Bay, even with a returning, great but Not as Tom Brady, (Joe Buck seriously implied he was after GB took Dallas, the week before Rodgers was injured), will make the ‘offs.
However, ‘they’ may want a still in contention Pack team for a Saturday night December 23rd tilt, vs currently (10-2) Minnesota. Hence no prediction favoring Cleveland, which could always lose by one or two points, backing both “theories.”
Before the season, a “proposition bet” on whether there would be a tie game in the NFL this season, favored, fairly strongly as I recall, that there would be at least one such outcome.
The overtime period had been decreased from 15 minutes to ten, obviously making a tie, more likely. Thus far, no NFL ties, but I, so hot with no money involved, say there will be one, dare I say today.
The great Leroy Kelly, pictured above, led the “real” Browns to a home victory vs the Packers essentially, 48 years ago on Sunday December 7th (relevant numbers 28 and now 76 since “a day that will live in infamy.”).
If only “Super,” (the great Pat Summerall) and the very talented Charlie Jones, were still hosting “This Week In The NFL.”
“Super”/Summerall cited the fact that Browns’ win vs the Packers in ’69 was their first in 13 years.
Oh let me vent, but in a mostly “above the belt” way.
Brian Cashman of Connecticut and his descendants can not resist more. They want it, they get it!
As another from Connecticut, Carly Simon sang “I haven’t got time for the pain.”
Just over 40 years after affecting sports balance by annexing Reggie Jackson, (another went under 18 points in a loss to similar and in a 5 man sport, Golden State last night) the Yankees have done similar, regarding Giancarlo Stanton, with help from their “chosen one,” new Marlins’ co owner, Derek Jeter.
Yet other than the name “Stanton,” surely no relation–though we and all things are “related,” it does not bother me.
Odd that the player most responsible in turning their “buy all, disliked Steinbrenner mantra into one of seeking “home grown,” far more palatable, even for anti-Yankees fans, Mr. Jeter, is part of a decided return to buy, buy, buy even if it was a so called “trade.”
Neither Jeter, (so good, perhaps great as a player) and recently revered disproportionally by fans of another “Holy Trinity team” (I read it “hardass,” see Richard Kiley’s great portrayal of a Notre Dame football fan in “Looking for Mr. Goodbar”) the New York Giants, Eli Manning, (surely NOT a great), are heroes.
They get paid beyond words and transparently represent to these type fans, something pure, something to wash away sport’s bad taste.
Sorry you have lowered your standards.
Some worship Mike Francesa, who in shameful fashion, will be honored by being able to “do” his penultimate show at the Paley Center this week.
This is not Joe DiMaggio and certainly not Walter Cronkite and why oh why, as the snow falls, did our standards have to fall so precipitously as well?!
Expect “Jacob Marley” from Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” (pictured above) soon— Messers Cashman, Jeter, and Stanton.
To think, Frank Messer was such a good announcer (he “radio’d” in fine fashion, the ’64 NFL Title tilt, for the Baltimore audience).
The actor portraying “Jacob Marley” pictured above is the great Leo G. Carroll, who also played the title role (not a ghost) in another ghost themed movie, “Topper.”
As stated I did not want to be right (now my Saints to win the NFC South “prediction” is less likely to manifest) but of course (lately my default phrase as noted by Mike W.) ’twas another exact margin Falcons by 3 and just 4 points off an exact score.
Even with the Henry spread covering run that snatched (14-3), I am (14-4) with 5 exact margins, one exact score and some near misses on other “exact scores.”
The Saints still lead the “div” and the other “vs Atlanta” game is in New Orleans, on the day before Christmas.
A win last night would have virtually assured a Saints “div” title now though still favored, the (9-4) Saints are in a battle for NFC South honors with (8-4) Carolina, whom they defeated twice and hence own the tiebreaker and (8-5) Atlanta.
Why George Springer of the champion Astros? First of all, they won it, why not?
Why in a football post? The ‘Stros won their first title in their 56th season! The San Francisco Giants won their first Bay Area crown 56 years after their last one in New York (1954-2010). I do not have to tell you how long the San Francisco Bay Area’s Joe DiMaggio’s hitting streak was (FIFTY SIX games)!
Things end at 56, sadly Abraham Lincoln’s and my grandfather’s (also an Abraham, for whom I am named) life.
Maybe, after 56 seasons sans a title, either the Philadelphia Eagles or Minnesota Vikings, currently the teams with the top 2 NFC records, will win one this season.
Again there was incredible betting line movement on an NFL game.
The (7-5) Falcons, once 2 point underdogs, are 2 point favorites vs the (9-3) New Orleans Saints.
It is a big game for New Orleans, bigger for Atlanta. I really hope I am wrong here.
Falcons 24 Saints 21
Tom Dempsey Pictured Above.
I had watched long time Syracuse coach, Jim Boeheim’s press conference after a game at Madison Square Garden, honoring the memory and cause of Jim Valvano.
My mind flashed to memories, most prominent of which was the fact Boeheim played guard at Syracuse University, along with the great Dave Bing.
A “play” on an historical speech by President Roosevelt on December 8, 1941—-tomorrow December 7th, is the 5th anniversary of a post I wrote concerning Dave Bing.
Click below to read that post.
- Dave Bing: A Life of Challenge on December 7, 2012
I will not get to see the end, but you will be able to do so.
There is a great movie on TCM, titled “Clash By Night,” which has Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Ryan and 26 year old (her character says she is 20) Marilyn Monroe in its cast.
Watch it or look for it again, as I will do. It will be well worth it.
Paul Douglas in a baseball movie, “Angels in the Outfield,” is excellent in the film, while more baseball/Marilyn romance as she is with a “Joe” in the film, played by a then newcomer, Keith Andes.
That is why they call it gambling! It would not have been Houston outright, (even that was more than possible, when after 3 “procedure” penalties cost them 15 yards, they converted on 4th and 19 to be first and ten around the “Tenn” 30, with less than 2 minutes left, but was almost certain to be a “Hous” cover to make me (14-3) in the past three weeks, as Houston was to lose (17-13), as 7 point underdogs.
However, in an all-time type horror loss, a man named Henry “O’d” me for cash and pride, scooting 75 yards for a “Tenn” cover.
Again that is why they call it gambling! Thank goodness, the amount was small and so what if I go (30-3) or to honor Robert Moses “Lefty” Grove (31-4) on this site, yet it hurts as good and bad lessons so often do.
The great short story writer, O Henry pictured above.
It is truly “mind blowing” what can happen, when one does NOT back one’s predictions with real bets.
I believe I am (13-3) (Ohio State was more than a six point favorite when I made the prediction) vs the spread, with some exact picks in the last 3 weeks.
WFAN’s Mike Francesa whose reading of “copy” is a another example of our society’s fall, has been doing well on his predictions.
This week he “touts” (Cosell wrote of him being one, but look at him now as soon he will drive a Brink’s Truck into his personal sunset, only to return, I am sure) two” faves,” Atlanta minus 3 and New Orleans minus 5 and two underdogs Seattle plus 5 (now 4) when he predicted and Cincy plus 5 on Monday night.
One prediction for me, this I will bet for some real money, so watch it lose.
I say Houston, a touchdown underdog will win outright, with “underdog” and actually decent announcer, Greg Gumbel “presiding” at Tennessee.
Going from the insidious subculture of gambling, to AFL/AFC history, the Houston Texans’ opponent is Tennessee (Titans).
Once the Titans were the Houston Oilers and once the New York Jets were the New York Titans.
Far better to “What’s My Line” than to speculate about the betting LINE!!
Andy B Sports 