Since I did so “well” on my college predictions going (1-3), (at least I warned you) let’s try two or three pro predictions this week.
The Carolina (Panthers), who have Ernie Accorsi as a consultant, is probably a year away from really big strides. It will be a tall task to win at San Francisco vs the 49ers this week. However, I predict SF 27 Carolina 24, making it a Carolina spread win.
Another intriguing late game is Denver (Broncos) visiting San Diego to play the Chargers. I will say that the game will have less points than expected.
Finally, I will pick the St. Louis Rams to at least keep it close, and perhaps upset the Indianapolis Colts. If I lose all three I promise to “suffer” and listen for more than a minute to Mike Francesa or worse leave the sound on for Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock on Thursday night football.
The pressure is on!
“Fix Me Jesus,” now playing at the Abingdon Theatre is a moving, well written play about a woman breaking loose from what holds her back in both her personal and professional life.
The play is set in Dallas, Texas in 1986 with flashbacks that include the fateful day in 1963, now almost 50 years ago, that President Kennedy was killed.
The setting is a Nieman Marcus store and as the lead character “Annabell Armstrong” searches frantically for the “right dress,” much of her life is revealed in the aforementioned flashbacks.
“Fix Me Jesus,” written by Helen Sneed, deftly touches on the political climate of 1986 as “Annabell’s” story is revealed.
There are also revelations that truly assess the old ways regarding women going back to 1963 especially in Dallas and it all is relevant today.
Polly Lee is both stunning and truly vulnerable as “Annabell” showing the audience her true struggle to break away from her clinging parents and beyond “old world” grandmother.
Kate Froemmling makes a dazzling professional debut as the young “Annabell,” we see in many flashbacks.
The entire cast is solid under the able direction of Sam Pinkleton and includes Lori Gardner, Lisa McMillan, Lee Roy Rogers and the lone male, Mitch Tebo as “Dr. Maxwell Feld.”
The play runs through November 24th at Abingdon Theatre located at 312 West 36th Street. It is truly worth seeing as I was able to really “invest” in Annabell and her worthy struggle.
First of all, I said that I would apologize, and I do so, as three of my four predictions were wrong. I said each would be a high scoring game but neither Baylor/Oklahoma nor Stanford/Oregon had “enough” scoring. In other words, the total points went under the perceived total when I implied/predicted over the total.
I was also wrong regarding Baylor, which ripped Oklahoma, winning (42-13) as two touchdown favorites. The Baylor Bears now might be in the title race.
However, the big news is that Stanford correctly picked by me to stay close, again scored an outright victory vs Oregon.
This would again seem to knock the Ducks, perhaps “sitting ducks” when playing Stanford, out of the title race. Last year Stanford won at Oregon and did knock the Ducks out of the race.
At this point, last night’s big winner was Florida State, which now would seem to control their own destiny regarding a title shot.
Top ranked Alabama faces a test vs LSU on Saturday night while Ohio State which also benefited from Oregon’s loss, is idle this week.
There are two really interesting college football games tonight.
Oregon travels to Palo Alto, California hoping to avenge last year’s defeat vs Stanford. That defeat cost the Ducks a chance to play for the national title.
Also tonight Baylor is over a two touchdown favorite vs Oklahoma. When was the last time that happened?
I think both games will be competitive but remember last week Florida State was a big (3 touchdown) favorite vs Miami and covered the spread, something Brent Musburger pointed out on the air.
Baylor favored by 15 will win by 10 points. Oregon favored by 10 points will win in overtime. Each game will be high scoring. I apologize in advance but will “grade” myself on a future post.
Again last week the Seattle Seahawks escaped with a victory as big favorites in their contest. The Seahawks were down (21-0) to fellow 1976 expansion team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but rallied for a (27-24) overtime victory.
The Seahawks are (8-1) and lead the San Francisco 49ers by one and a half games in the NFC West. The Bucs, gallant in defeat, are “walking the plank” at (0-8).
Two teams have one game division leads in the NFC. In the NFC East, the Dallas Cowboys at (5-4) lead the Philadelphia Eagles by one game.
Last week the (5-3) Carolina Panthers gained a game and now trail the (6-2) New Orleans Saints by a game in the NFC South.
The Chicago Bears, a 10 point underdog, won at Green Bay (Packers) last night. That scrambles the NFC North as the Bears, Packers and Detroit Lions all stand at (5-3).
While the Chiefs and Broncos are in a battle for the AFC West crown, three other teams enjoy 2 game division leads in the AFC.
The Chiefs repeated their 1966 AFL Title game win at Buffalo by winning (23-13) yesterday. The Broncos had a bye. K.C. will go to Denver on November 17th with a (9-0) record. The (7-1) Broncos are “an opening touchdown choice” at San Diego next week.
The New England Patriots went to (7-2) the day after Boston celebrated a third Red Sox crown in 10 seasons, by ripping the (2-6) Pittsburgh Steelers. That is good for a two game lead over the surprising New York Jets, who are (5-4) after an upset win vs the New Orleans Saints.
The Indianapolis Colts, playing in their second straight Sunday night tilt, overcame a (21-3) halftime deficit and went to (6-2) with a (27-24) win at the (2-6) Houston Texans. The Tennessee Titans won at the St. Louis Rams (bad week in St. Louis sports) and are two games behind.
Two is the operative number concerning the Cincinnati Bengals and the AFC North. The Miami Dolphins scored a two point safety in overtime to drop the Bengals to (6-3) this past Thursday night. However, it is still good for a two game lead over the (4-5) Cleveland Browns, who dropped the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens to (3-5), with a (24-18) win at Cleveland.
The Ravens have two titles since moving the great Cleveland Browns’ franchise to Baltimore. Hence this win is little solace for the still mediocre “new” Browns and the city of Cleveland. The city is sans a sports title since the glorious ’64 Browns won (27-0) vs the Baltimore Colts in that year’s title game.
Here are some rare college football predictions. Please keep in mind my predictions have not been so good.
I think Alabama will win relatively easy vs LSU this coming week. My feeling is that Alabama may have trouble with say Missouri, in the SEC Title game.
Oregon, it says here will go to Palo Alto, California this Thursday night and avenge last year’s defeat at the hands of Stanford. That home loss to Stanford kept Oregon out of the national championship game last season.
Florida State, so impressive in its home win vs the Miami Hurricanes last night, will need help to get into the title game.
Another team that needs help to get into that game is Ohio State. However, the Ohio State team may complete another unbeaten season under coach, Urban Meyer. If it happens it will be two in two seasons under Meyer.
Urban Meyer
The baseball tournament, which played for 20 straight days at one point, had ended the day before. Free to roam the vast, often wasteland of television, it was great to find and watch a “marathon” showing of the great anthology series “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” on “Antenna TV.”
What a great series this was and I spent several nice hours watching some compelling episodes. All included appearances both before and after the “play,” by the one and only Mr. Hitchcock.
Among the great guest stars that I saw were Robert Duvall at the beginning of his great career and the inimitable Claude Rains near the end of his legendary career.
The theme music which is Charles Gounod’s “Funeral March of a Marionette” can be described as an addictive “listen” but also a huge step up the musical ladder for my untrained ear. In short, fabulous!”
It was suggested to be the show’s theme music by Hitch’s (who am I to call him Hitch?!!) long time musical collaborator, Bernard Herrmann.
It was quite a treat to see these shows in rapid succession. Thank you, “Antenna TV.”
Denied a World Series win for 86 years (1918 until 2004), the Boston Red Sox now have three such wins in a 9 year/10 season span.
The Red Sox won game six by a (6-1) score last night vs the St. Louis Cardinals, clinching the World Series at home for the first time in 95 years.
The game six star was Shane Victorino, whose 3 run double in the bottom of the third inning opened the scoring and put the Red Sox ahead to stay.
He also had the big hit when the Red Sox clinched this year’s pennant also in a game six home win, that in the ALCS vs the Detroit Tigers.
Prior to this year, Victorino was in two World Series as a Philadelphia Phillie. In 2008, the Phils defeated the Rays. However, in 2009, the Yankees defeated the Phillies. In that one Victorino grounded out to end the series.
Last night, pitcher John Lackey got the victory, allowing one run in six and two thirds innings. In doing so Lackey became the first hurler to start and win a World Series clincher for two different teams; the other game being for the 2002 Anaheim Angels.
Coincidentally, in the Angels title clinching win by Lackey there also was a three run double that broke a tie and put Lackey’s team ahead to stay en route to the title clincher.
As cited, in the game last night, Victorino had the three run double. 11 years earlier, a fine player, Garret Anderson stroked the all important three run double for Lackey’s Angels.
Shane Victorino
John Lackey
Tonight in game six of the World Series, the Boston Red Sox will attempt to clinch the title at home for the first time in 95 years.
That’s right, 1918 was the last time the Red Sox clinched the title at home.
It is nowhere near as powerful a drought since the Red Sox ended an 86 year title drought by winning the 2004 World Series (on the road). They also won the title in 2007 (on the road) thus will be seeking a third title in a nine year span tonight.
The atmosphere tonight at Fenway Park in Boston will be just a little greater because it has been so long since the Red Sox clinched a world title at home.
Alas, unlike 2004 and 2007, when the Red Sox had (3-0) series leads going into their potential title clinching games, this is only a (3-2) series lead. Thus only tonight do the Red Sox have a chance to clinch, but no chance to be eliminated.
Fenway Park
Andy B Sports 