The (9-2) New Orleans Saints got out of Atlanta with a win and now can “shoot for the moon” in the NFC standings.
They have a one and a half game lead in the NFC South and still have two games left with the second place Carolina Panthers.
The Saints face the Seattle Seahawks next week and with a win would actually take the lead for the NFC one seed.
I think the Saints will eventually be the NFC two seed. If the Panthers keep the pressure on and win as 4 point favorites at Miami tomorrow, who knows they may “steal” the division and be at least the NFC two seed.
A College and a Pro Prediction: Alabama looking forward to its “Iron Bowl” showdown with Auburn, will not win “that big” vs Tennessee Chattanooga. On Sunday night, the New England Patriots will pull a minor upset and win a home game vs the Denver Broncos.
I will have other predictions for this weekend’s games tomorrow and/or Saturday.
Last week the record was one win, one loss and one tie. The tie easily could have been called a win but let’s keep it all in perspective please.
Tonight I predict the New Orleans Saints will struggle vs the Atlanta Falcons. This was to be an important game, a gem on the Thursday night schedule.
It is important for the Saints as they fight for a divisional crown and favorable playoff seeding.
It is important that the Falcons make a big effort tonight. I say they will. Saints win in a close game.
The Seattle Seahawks now have a commanding three and a half game lead in the NFC West. They are (10-1) and are off this week.
The New Orleans Saints aided and abetted by a roughing the passer penalty, that more or less decided its win vs the San Francisco 49ers, are now (8-2).
That leaves them a game ahead of the Carolina Panthers, who also benefited from a call–this a non call of pass interference, on the last play of their win vs the New England Patriots.
The Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears are both (6-4) and lead the NFC North.
Meanwhile the Philadelphia Eagles, with the incredibly efficient Nick Foles (16 touchdown passes and no interceptions) at the quarterback controls, are (6-5) and lead the Dallas Cowboys by one half game in the NFC East.
Nick Foles
The Denver Broncos won (27-17) as 8 point favorites vs the Kansas City Chiefs. Each team is now (9-1) and tied for first place in the AFC West.
The New England Patriots, despite a tough loss at Carolina vs the Panthers, still have a two game lead in the AFC East.
The Indianapolis Colts are a prohibitive favorite to win the AFC South. They have a three game lead.
The Cincinnati Bengals bounced back from two tough losses and eased vs the Cleveland Browns last week. Then the Bengals got help from the Chicago Bears.
In a game that was delayed over an hour due to bad weather, Chicago defeated the Baltimore Ravens. Thus Cincinnati has a two and a half game lead in the AFC North.
The Alabama Crimson Tide never were really in danger of losing but also never threatened to cover the big spread winning (20-7) at Starkville, Mississippi vs 24 point underdog, Mississippi State. (I was right about the point spread, making me (1-1) this week)
Florida State more than kept pace ripping Syracuse. Both Ohio State and Baylor remained unbeaten but will need help to get into the title game.
USC won at home vs Stanford while Duke is building quite a story with its resurgent football team. Yesterday they won as three point underdogs vs Miami of Florida.
I am definitely no longer all that interested in individual baseball awards. In 1962, Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda and Tom Davis all had great batting years.
The Dodgers’ Maury Wills stole a then record 104 bases and was 1962 N.L. MVP.
All the talk of “Boston Strong” and how this team (the 2013 Red Sox) banded together is annoying, especially when one considers the horrible decision Jim Leyland made in not having a left handed pitcher face David Ortiz in game two of the ALCS.
If Ortiz is retired or even if he does not homer, it is likely the Red Sox lose not only game two but the ALCS.
I have to realize however, that luck plays a part in most things and as stated here before the Red Sox do deserve credit.
By the way, I have always liked the Red Sox and only feel bad that such great or near great players as Carl Yastrzemski, Dwight Evans, Bill Buckner, Fred Lynn, Jim Rice, and Luis Tiant never even won one title while this decade Red Sox, nowhere near as good, have won thrice.
Twice in a game seven of the World Series, the Red Sox dissipated a (3-0) lead and lost to a great 108 win regular season team.
In 1975 the Cincinnati Reds won it all while in 1986 the 108 win, title team was the New York Mets.
The Indianapolis Colts took a major step toward the AFC South crown by overcoming a (14-0) deficit and beating the Tennessee Titans (30-27).
The odds-makers got it right as the Colts were 3 point favorites. Conversely, I am (0-1) this week as the game was high scoring.
The Colts have three interesting road games left starting next week at Arizona vs the surprising (5-4) Cardinals. I project the Colts to be the AFC three seed and while likely at least a year away, could be a viable threat this season.
One team the Colts hope to catch are the New England Patriots, who lead Indy by a half game in the overall AFC standings.
This week after their bye, the Patriots play on Monday night at the Carolina Panthers. Next Sunday night the Pats host the Broncos. (NBC, taking advantage of its option to choose the top game for prime time viewing, again took the marquee game from CBS, hence the game was moved to a night start). On paper, at least, two tough games for New England.
I certainly know my place but after three correct predictions last Sunday (it was my birthday), let’s try a few more for this week.
First, it would seem that Alabama and Florida State are on a collision course to meet for the national title. I say somehow and surely I know not when, that one or both teams will lose before the title game.
This week Alabama will win but not cover the near 4 touchdown spread vs Mississippi State.
Tonight in the pros, a relatively low scoring game between the Colts and Titans.
On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers bounce back and win outright, as three point underdogs, at New Orleans vs the Saints.
The Denver Broncos set up their “showdown” game vs the Kansas City Chiefs next week, by winning (28-20) as 7 point favorites at San Diego, vs the Chargers.
The (8-1) Broncos are about a touchdown favorite vs the (9-0) Chiefs. NBC got the game moved to Sunday night which likely means no San Francisco at New Orleans telecast in the New York area.
Despite being routed by the St. Louis Rams, the Indianapolis Colts still have a two game lead in the AFC South. The Jacksonville Jaguars at one point, nearly two touchdown underdogs, won their first game, (29-27) at Tennessee vs the Titans.
That leaves Tennessee two games out and their Thursday home clash vs the Colts lost a great deal of appeal with the two game difference still intact.
The Baltimore Ravens survived a terrible play that allowed the Cincinnati Bengals to force overtime and won (20-17) vs Cincy.
That leaves the Bengals one and a half games ahead of both the Ravens and Cleveland Browns. Cincinnati is a six point favorite as they play Cleveland, in Cincinnati this week.
Again the NFC update begins with the Seattle Seahawks, who not only won impressively, but increased their lead in the NFC West.
The Seahawks are (9-1) after avenging a divisional round loss to the now (2-7) Atlanta Falcons. Later in the day, the (6-3) Carolina Panthers upset the (6-3) San Francisco 49ers giving Seattle a two and a half game divisional lead.
At night the New Orleans Saints went to (7-2) ripping the Dallas Cowboys. That result along with the Philadelphia Eagles win at Green Bay vs the Packers, who played without quarterback Aaron Rodgers, leaves the Cowboys and Eagles tied with mediocre (5-5) records atop the NFC East.
The Detroit Lions took over the top spot in the NFC North with a win at Chicago vs the Bears. Detroit at (6-3) has a one game advantage on both Chicago and Green Bay.
As I predictions the Rams and Panthers pulled upsets while the Denver/San Diego game did “go under” the total.
Andy B Sports 