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.
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.”
Andy B Sports 