Day: December 30, 2005

Saturday
Broncos @ San Diego(11)
Hunh? The Chargers are out no matter what, and Denver has the #2 seed no matter what. I don’t see why the spread should be 11. Broncos.

Giants(9) @ Oakland
The G-Men need to win to clinch the division and could actually entirely miss the playoffs if they lose. And since when does a Turner-coached team step it up late in the season? Giants.

Sunday, 1:00
Cardinals @ Indy(6.5)
Game over by halftime. Indy.

Ravens(3) @ Cleveland
Baltimore is just better.

Bills(1) @ New Jersey Jest
The Bills looked really good last week in beating the Bengals–they may be playing for their coach’s job, so I say they’ll take the Jest.

Panthers(4) @ Atlanta
The Panthers need it, I’ll give the points.

Lions @ Pittsburgh(13.5)
No picking the Lions for me.

Dolphins @ New England(5.5)
In New England in crappy weather? I’ll take the champs.

Saints @ Tampa Bay(13.5)
The Saints mailed in the season a long time ago and the Bucs need to win to get in. Yeah, lots of points, but the Saints are horrible.

Seahawks @ Green Bay(4.5)
Come on, the Seabags second team is better than the Packers, plus Alexander wants the TD record. Seabags.

Sunday, ~4:10
Texans(1.5) @ San Francisco
The Reggie-bowl! The Niners blew it last week by winning, but the problem is that they need Bush a lot more than the Texans do–what Houston needs is an o-line, not a running back. Niners will be more motivated to lose, so I’ll take Houston.

Titans @ Jacksonville(3.5)
Jags are the #5 seed no matter what happens in this game. Nobody of consequence will play for Jax. However, the Titans are so bad that the #2 Jax squad still covers this.

Bears @ Minnesota(4)
The Vikings are out no matter what. The Bears are the #2 seed no matter what. Since the Bears have a bye, they’ll play some of their guys just to keep the rust off. The Vikings will mail it in as Tice is done no matter what happens here; Chicago.

Redskins(7.5) @ Philly
Washington is fighting for their playoff lives but the Iggles want to salvage some dignity. Still, the Iggles suck and the Redskins have been beating people up lately. I’ll take the Skins.

Sunday ESPN
Rams @ Dallas(12.5)
Damn that’s a lot of points, and the Rams have no reason to care. Still, the Cowboys are so inconsistent; I’ll take the huge number.

Ack, I’m sure the Music City Bowl has started, but I haven’t seen anything yet, I promise!

12/30 Music City: Virginia vs. Minnesota(6.5)
My inclination is to not trust the Gophers based on their performance in bowls the last couple years, so there you go.

12/30 Sun: Northwestern vs. UCLA(3)
This game will be a shootout, and I’ll take UCLA.

12/30 Independence: South Carolina(4) vs. Missouri
Spurrier with time? Also, ack to the Big XII North. I’ll take the Gamecocks.

12/30 Peach: Miami(6.5) vs. LSU
Can’t like a backup QB in a bowl game–Miami.

12/31 Car Care: South Florida vs. NC State(4)
The Car Care Bowl? Seriously? Ugh. Anyway, I like the ACC this year in the bowls, so I’m with the Wolfpack.

12/31 Houston: TCU(3) vs. Iowa State
I will be at this game. TCU by a mile, they’re actually good, while ISU backed in–another pick against the Big XII North.

1/2 Cotton: Texas Tech(3.5) vs. Alabama
The Red Raiders have a gaudy record, but a bunch of those games were 1AA teams and teams from the Big XII North. I’m taking the points and Bama.

1/2 Outback: Iowa vs. Florida(1.5)
Seems like this was a bowl matchup recently, doesn’t it? Dunno. Anyway, nice small spread, I’ll take the Gators.

1/2 Gator: Louisville vs. Virginia Tech(8)
I’ve seen Louisville on TV this year, and I have not been impressed at all. I see no reason why Tech won’t steamroll.

1/2 Capital One: Wisconsin vs. Auburn(11)
Wow, that’s a lot of points. Auburn is certainly the better team, but Wisconsin will keep it closer than that.

1/2 Sugar: West Virginia vs. Georgia(6.5)
Bulldogs. Stadium will be packed with UGA fans, easy victory.

1/2 Fiesta: Ohio State(4.5) vs. Notre Dame
A game I can miss between two teams I hate. OSU has played pretty well in bowls with Tressel at the helm, and I think ND is overrated. Thus, I will give the points.

1/3 Orange: Penn State(10) vs. Florida State
What a crappy matchup, Penn State was jobbed of a good opponent when VT faltered. JoePa wants to make a statement and FSU will be outmanned, but the spread is pretty big. I say the Lions win by less than ten.

1/4 Rose: USC(7.5) vs. Texas
Southern Cal is certainly getting a lot of hype on this, but Texas is pretty good. I don’t see USC’s defense having an answer for Vince Young. On the other hand, I don’t see anybody on Texas with answers for Leinart and Bush. Pac10 looked shaky with Cal only over BYU by a little and the Ducks losing the Holiday Bowl. Still, I think the Longhorns go down, and USC covers.