As it turned out what I thought as I went to sleep Saturday night with Penn State behind (21-7), (they actually trailed Wisconsin (28-7), but rallied to win), did manifest.
It will be Alabama vs Washington and Ohio State vs Clemson in the “semis,” of the 4 team playoff that will determine the 2016 season college football national champion.
As discussed yesterday, the selection committee in my opinion got it right in denying Penn State a spot in the ‘offs, despite beating Ohio State and winning the Big Ten. They had 2 losses, while Ohio State had but one.
Additionally Ohio State won at powerful Oklahoma and certainly on paper, is a better team.
I just about hit the opening lines on the New Year’s Eve day and night semis. As I thought going to sleep Saturday, (alone one thinks about those things, not other. Alas, despite some good non dating site “efforts,” including one meeting a beautiful, vibrant woman in an elevator, I fear I will be alone on New Year’s Eve-(will I watch?) Ohio State opened as a 3 point favorite vs higher seed Clemson.
I thought Alabama, which “buried” me all season going (6-0) vs my predictions and (10-2) vs the spread would be 14 point “faves” vs Washington. The Tide opened as 15 point favorites.
First of all, how pathetic I am in not only going (0-6), vs the great Alabama team ,but in not seeing Penn State outright vs Wisconsin, which was lucky to win the Big Ten title tilt vs Iowa last season.
Also why not vs Clemson, which very likely will be in the 4 team ‘off, but won by 7 as 11 point favorites vs virginia Tech in the ACC title tilt last night.
Only one loser/loser/ underdog vs a winner/winner/favorite this week.
That is in the Jim Nantz tilt, his beloved Houston getting say six plus points at Green Bay. Why that game (6-5) Houston (so help me, on NPR singer Rizzo said she went to the “U” of HOUSTON just as I typed HOUSTON) at (5-6) Green Bay and not for example, (8-3) K.C. at (7-4) Atlanta?
The reason is Nantz gets what he wants, the allure of Lambeau Field (who cares! and I love tradition but not at the expense of going in what is a more important game matching teams with a significantly better combined record) and his beloved Houston.
I will give slight nods to both the Chiefs now getting only 4 points, I took 6, and the Lions getting say 7 at New Orleans. Both favorites can score in a pinball machine type manner, so as always be careful!
Try the “dogs.”
The late college football expert Beano Cook is clearly relevant, concerning the college football overview and the decision today, as to whom will be in the 4 team playoff, an entity Mr. Cook opposed.
Still reeling from the election results and a supporter of Barack Obama, I do agree with Beano, one who opposed Mr. Obama, that both the 4 team playoff and Mr. Obama’s support thereof are things I oppose.
In addition to myriad mistakes, CBS commentator Gary Danielson forgot to mention, even once, the most important reason Ohio State could, and I believe should be ahead of Penn State, despite the fact Penn State won both the Big Ten crown and the head to head meeting.
That is the fact Ohio State has one loss and Penn State has two. Beano would have agreed and not just because with Pitt “roots,” he was decidedly anti-Penn State.
Beano pictured above would have “destroyed” his bookie this season, cashing bets this season on “anti team” Penn State to go “over” in wins, make and win the Big Ten title and would be “alive” with an unfortunately realistic shot at making the 4 team playoff.
God (up there talking with Beano), only knows the odds on Penn State winning it all, but though Beano would have “let it ride,” anyone with Penn state to win it all could hedge a bit and gain something.
One more thing, God might be aware of the many good things I do. Certainly I hope so. However, Beano on God’s agenda because of Penn State, has pointed at me saying what he said on earth.
He is a good guy but like the “water torture.” It is “water torture,” as since Beano died in the middle of the 2012 season, I could have altered how close the Sword of Damocles/poverty is to me, by betting his anti teams, Penn State and Notre Dame the “right way.”
As Beano always said “you have to be willing to lose.” I remain many days late and so, so many dollars short and likely always will.
The other classic, controversial divisional round/slots game between the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders took place after the 2001 regular season, on a snowy January 2002 night at New England.
Future Hall of Fame players, Tom Brady and Adam Vinatieri began their ascent to greatness that night, the former getting a big break after a potential game ending fumble, the latter kicking an incredibly clutch and difficult field goal to tie the game after the non fumble, so called “tuck rule” by Brady that kept N.E. alive.
As the Raiders did 25 years earlier after surviving the also 2nd slot/div game vs N.E., the Pats, in that the first year of Saturday night “slots” tilts, went on to win their first Super Bowl.
I recall the New York crowd, at an event honoring the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, rooting for the Pats. It was Oakland that was still deemed “evil” and the Pats with the youthful Brady, were the sentimental choice.
Things have changed of course and while the Raiders have floundered, save their Supe loss season the next year in ’02, New England continues with one of the great sustained periods of great play, in certainly pro football, if not sports history.
“Sustained excellence” was the motto and achievement of earlier Raiders’ teams with executive Al “Yutzi” Davis, engineering the effort.
Now with a long way to go (5 reg games) and “N.E.” again rocked by an injury to a great player, tight end Rob Gronkowski, the two teams top the AFC with (9-2) marks. Perhaps they will meet in either the “slots” or even the AFC title tilt.
“Anniversary friendly,” 15 and 40 years later, it is nice to look forward, back and at the often symmetrical story, history manifests.
Alabama is a truly great college football team under coach Nick Saban(o).
Last year though they won the title, the Tide allowed late ‘back door” touchdowns in the SEC title tilt and national title game and failed to cover “el” spread.
This year they have rewarded their bettors with a (9-2) mark, destroying schmucks like me who bet or predict vs them.
Additionally when they clearly no covered and “laid down’ a bit vs a Tennessee Chattanooga team that should never be on the ide schedule, there was no line.
In veteran announcer Verne Lundquist’s last SEC title tilt and maybe his last game ever, Bama no covers Florida (31-14).
I am (0-5) predicting vs Alabama this season.
Certainly no lock here!
In two consecutive college football seasons, 1990 and 1991, the mythical college football national title was shared.
In 1990 Colorado and Georgia Tech shared the pre BCS or 4 team playoff, mythical crown.
A year later, now “anniversary number friendly” 25 years ago, the Washington U. Huskies and Miami Hurricanes, (their 4th title in 9 seasons) shared the title.
While first of all, nobody knows what would have happened and second, Wash was a very good team, I still feel safe in saying the “Canes” had the more impressive season, simply because they won at top ranked Florida State, as an underdog on November 16, 1991.
Now the Huskies control, or seem to control their fate, as far as playing for the crown.
They need three wins, a likely one tonight, as 7 plus point favorites vs Colorado (just realized the Buffs shared one of the two consecutive “shares” a “time” ago–a cousin, one of many who rudely do not return phone calls, was ahead in the time share concept, years ago) in the Pac 12 title tilt tonight and two more if they qualify for the 4 team playoff that now determines the title winner.
Who knows about the playoff, maybe (even) if Wash gets in (even) with a win, but after two “evens,” some odds.
Tonight: Wash 33 Colorado 30.
If Wash wins, they get in. (the four team playoff that is.)
The only dogs I really know are sports underdogs and that they are a better choice than favorites.
Thus please understand I could easily be wrong, but the cute puppy above does look like a huskie??
I say the game tonight looks like the Wash Huskies in a no cover win.
I will protect with “Col” money line because I could not stand either Michigan, especially Michigan with sore loser, horribly conservative football wise vs Ohio State coach Jim Harbaugh or Penn State (for different reasons) getting in the playoff.
P.s. In this year of horrible “antis,” and knowing how good Mich and yes Harbaugh can be, I truly fear Mich is a legitimate threat to Alabama or any other team they might encounter in the playoff.
Think Ohio State 2 years ago with the brilliant runner, Ezekiel Elliott, a player NFL fans might know a thing about.
Yesterday, I actually watched a so called “fantasy” sports show called “Game Time Decisions,” in which the host and a guest were predicting sports outcomes regarding the betting line.
Neither the host nor his guest were particularly arrogant, though the host began to be when giving his picks at the end.
The guest would not bet/predict the Golden State vs Houston NBA tilt, but stated with certainty, the Warriors would win the game.
He must have some Mike Francesa “blood,” most of the so called, chalk first handicappers do, as his “certain” statement regarding a “GS” win ended with the Houston Rockets soaring higher, on a “high” scoreboard, (132-127).
Both talked about Dallas minus 3 with little regard for a Dallas win and no cover (i.e. Dallas winning by 1 or 2 points).
The Cowboys are (11-1), winners of 11 straight games but now “just” (that is a tremendous record as well) (9-3) vs the spread, winning (17-15) at Minnesota, which after a (5-0) start has lost 6 of 7 games, to fall to a (6-6) record.
After 5 games of the NFL season, the Minnesota Vikings had a (5-0) record. Tonight they take a mere (6-5) record, into their home tilt with the Dallas Cowboys.
Dallas has won 10 straight games, after losing their opening game at home to the New York Giants, by one point.
In all likelihood, only the (8-3) Giants have a realistic chance to keep the Cowboys, deemed a non playoff team when Tony Romo was injured, from being the NFC one seed.
However with Dak Prescott at quarterback, Dallas which no covered “Wash” last Thursday, has been obviously most impressive with rookie Ez Elliott, leading the way, a superb offensive line doing the same for him.
Tonight the Cowboys are 3 point favorites and I just hope it is Al Michaels and not Mike Tirico as the lead announcer although in either case Cris Collinsworth’s non stop talking, gushing, phony,”aw shucks,” not important words, will be shoved down our collective throats.
Both teams played last week on “Turkey Day,” each “losing” to the “spread” (not the one, many in this country “gorged” on while others right here in the United States do not have enough to eat), by a fraction of a point.
Some good football only notes concerning some Cowboys and NFL history in the next post, before tonight’s tilt. I will also offer a prediction.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who, in my opinion, should have received, not presented title rings to the Cleveland Cavaliers, for unjustly suspending Dray Green for game 5 of last year’s title series, wants gambling on NBA games.
I do not think that is a good idea. Last night, having been denied a 10 to 1 payout the night before, when the Warriors won by 5 points vs the underdog Hawks, I did not “money line” any NBA tilts.
This is akin to not taking one’s medication and the results of not one, not two, but three big underdogs (two double figure “dogs”) winning OUTRIGHT, and not having anything to show for it, are devastating.
The 7 plus point Bucks (never “bucks” for me, “nada” on Trump to ease the pain, little on the Ottawa Redblacks, “nada” on Ms. Helm vs Rousey, “nada” on the Cubs when down down (3-1) and not enough but at least some, on two more “antis”/underdogs, the Pey Manning Broncos and the Cavs) won at home vs the Cavs.
The 10 plus point underdog Brooklyn Nets upset the Clippers, in Brooklyn.
If that was not enough, the Magic, “barked” outright as 12 plus point underdogs, in San Antonio.
Since I did not bet any, I can only approximate the “money lines” and offer the odds of all three teams that won, doing so were conservatively (not having “gambling man” and he did say one needs “to take a gamble in life” and credit him for doing so, Trump, at 5 to 1 for “emotional protection” will haunt me forever, which is a long time) TWO HUNDRED FORTY FIVE, to one.
I did the math based on Bucks (plus 250), Nets (plus 600) and Magic (plus 900) on a Kohl’s “flyer.” (Philly won last night also) and in utter despair, I can not (even) shop there.
Well Dad, I just can never “leave one out” (in this case THREE) can I? Sure I am not a degenerate, not even close, but while I can stay away from tracks, casinos and lotteries (all disgusting, government sanctioned entities, that give unfair odds) which is not easy, I can not avoid knowing sports results.
Thus as the therapist, who did not help one bit when Mom died, devised, I can and seemingly “must” bet small (one dollar often is the case), on what I believe will happen.
Last night I failed to do so and as the rainy, depressing day begins, Trump elected, empty, alone, unfulfilled, the added burden of this, is much to bear.
However, I will!
Forty years ago, the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots each an original AFL team, and one sans a Super Bowl victory in the 10 such games played to that point in time, met in a late afternoon classic in the 1976 “slots”/divisional round.
The great Oakland quarterback, Ken Stabler, denied entry into the no longer glorious NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio (still worth visiting), another “shonda” (a Yiddish word for disgrace, a word Mr. Stabler learned in heaven where he and fellow “hard living” great quarterback Bobby Layne share “drinks” with such as actors, all Roberts–Mitchum, Ryan and Young, discussing how the theme of the 1947 movie they were in, “Crossfire” about ignorant hate of those different, in that instance Jewish people, is sadly and horrifically relevant today, more so with the presence of a “white supremacist” on the “elected” president’s team), despite gimpy knees, rolled into the end zone for the game winning touchdown vs the underdog Pats, who surely covered the spread in defeat. (I did not know of such things then and also loved football. Things change, but, alas ignorant hatred of those different is a disgraceful, veritable “energizer battery,” evoking a Stephen Bishop hit song, in this the “run on” of “run on ” sentences, going “on and on.”)
However, to this day controversy hangs over the Oakland win, which was followed by easy playoff wins en route to the only “Supe” ever won (only appearance as a head coach in such game either) by that “overblown parody of himself,” John Madden. The former coach noticed the improving 1981 “Hack” Giants passed the ball on first down, as was dubbed an analytical genius, by the largely ignorant, go for the “sizzle” (think the otherwise very, very intelligent Mike Lupica), sports media.
On a third down play, the Patriots’ Raymond Hamilton (yes I know his nickname) was called for roughing the passer, the key play to keep the winning drive for an eventual Supe winner going.
Twenty five years later, the two teams met in another classic, controversial, “div” playoff game. More on that one in a future post.
Andy B Sports 