Saturday, January 30, 2010

Tails Never Fails

Number of SEC wins for the Hogs: 2
Days Texas stayed ranked at #1: 1.5
Number of picks I got right last week: 2
First Superbowl trip ever for a franchise (and after a terrible hurricane destroyed the entire city and everyone thought the team would leave): Priceless!

In an earlier post I said that I'm not very good at making picks. Well, I was wrong, at least when it comes to the picks I made last weekend in the NFL Playoff games. I picked Indy and New Orleans to win. Indy won in convincing fashion. At the beginning of the game, the Jets were outplaying them and I briefly thought the underdogs might do it again. Then Manning started being...well, Manning...and the Colts are going to another Superbowl.

As for New Orleans...what can be said about a team that has never been to a Superbowl in the history of the franchise? They didn't play well enough to win last weekend, yet when the clock ran out, the score was even and they had a chance to win it in overtime. The Vikings played horribly, turning the ball over 5 times. Favre was harassed all night long, he was pressured and he ended up on the ground too many times to count. He had a chance to win it for his team at the end of regulation, but he did what he always does...he threw an ill-advised pass and it was intercepted. (Big surprise! After all, this is Brett Favre we're talking about.) To make matters worse, the Vikes called Heads during the coin toss for overtime. Haven't they ever heard that "tails never fails" when it comes to overtime? Apparently not, and the Saints got the ball. They drove the field, had some help with some calls from the officiating crew, and got the GW FG to send them to the Superbowl. The Saints are the Aint's No More!!! I anticipate the Superbowl will be a thriller. (At some point, I will get into the differences of NFL and NCAA overtime rules.)

Well, Texas stayed at #1 for all of a day and a half before losing to Kansas State, then to U Conn, then to Baylor today. Is Texas headed for major trouble? Will they get back on track and start winning? I can understand losing to Kansas State, but U Conn and Baylor? My buddies in Burnt Orange are giving me heartburn lately every time they step on the hardwood. Dexter Pittman is a beast and a force to be reckoned with, but when will he and the rest of the team start playing like Texas basketball should? I'd prefer sooner rather than later. If only Rick Barnes would take my call...

After Arkansas lost in terrible fashion, they played a great game against Mississippi State, at home, and won. Fortson had 30+ 2nd half points to lead the Hogs to the much needed win. The Hogs were set to take on the Rebels of Ole Miss this afternoon, but a Thursday night ice/winter storm caused difficulties in travel and the game has been postponed until tomorrow, Sunday. This Arkansas basketball team seems to have more personalities and mood swings than a menopausal woman, so my question is this...which Arkansas team will show up tomorrow against the Rebels? (On another note, will HDN be in attendance? I'm just saying...)

Lots has happened in the world of sports in the last week. I didn't even mention the retirement announcement from Kurt Warner, Serena wins the Australian Open, and the Pro-Bowl is this weekend. I think having the Pro-Bowl BEFORE the Superbowl is stupid. I also think the NFL requiring the players from the Colts and the Saints to be at the game is stupid. They aren't going to play so why make them fly to Miami, stand on the sidelines, then fly back home only to turn around and fly BACK to Miami the very next day to practice for the big game? Incredibly asinine, but Roger Goodell is doing the same thing Rick Barnes is...he isn't taking my calls! I understand that the winning Pro-Bowl players get $45,000 to attend and the losing players get $22,500 but to these guys, that's pocket-change and the disadvantages are far greater if they are required to attend...again, JMO.

So, I'll end this posting by making another pick for the Superbowl. I pick...


New Orleans!

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