The Lon's Picks (a little late)

Disclaimer: using Glantz-culver line instead of sportingbetusa.com line

Today
Favorite Underdog
N.Y. Jets +3.5 over Minnesota

Baltimore -11.5 over Cleveland

New England -11 over Houston

Miami +1 Buffalo

Pittsburgh -3 over Carolina

New Orleans -9.5 over Washington

Jacksonville -3.5 over Tennessee

Chicago -13.5 over Tampa Bay

Philadelphia +5.5 over N.Y. Giants

Green Bay -5 over Detroit

Arizona +2.5 over Denver

San Diego -8.5 over Kansas City

Oakland -3 over St. Louis

Cincinnati +3 over Indianapolis

The Lon is back with his Phat picks!

Ravens (+3) over Chiefs
I'm tired of the Ravens screwing me. I'm taking the Ravens on the road!

Falcones (-3.5) over the Bucs
I'm a little worried here....it seems OBVOIUS that the Falcones win here, and they've been losing those games all season.

Vikes (+1) over Lions
It's the freakin' Lions.

Titans (+1) over the Texans
It's the freakin' Texans.

Giants (-2.5) over Panthers
What is Weinke??? 39 yrs. old???

Cowboys (-7) over Saints
This is a LOT of points, but I like the 'Boys.

Jets (-4) over Bills
Geux Jets!!!!!!

Colts (+1) over Jags
10-2 team getting a point?

Eagles (-2) over Skins
Jeff Garcia is driving a gay bandwagon!

Bengals (-11) over Raiders
This line really needs to be doubled to be tempting.

Pats (-3.5) over Dolphins

Niners (-4) over Pack

'Hawks (-3) over Cards

Broncos (+7) over Chargers
I think the Broncos keep it close.

Bears (-6) over the Rams
The Lon's sources tell him Brian Griese took half the snaps in practice this week!

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES

In case you couldn't figure it out, the Title of this post is where UK finds itself in the Nation's Top 25. Here is the current top 5 in the Top 25:

1.UCLA
2. Pitt
3. North Carolina
4. Alabama
5. Ohio State

Unranked UK has hung in with 2 of those top 5 away from Rupp Arena, eventually losing both games, with the loss to UCLA being a razor thin margin regardless of what the scoreboard said at the end. Yet the Commonwealth is FREAKING OUT because of those 2 losses. Message boards are buzzing and daily columns staking out different positions are being written.

And The Lon has a message for everyone: CALM THE FUCK DOWN!!! Based on everyone's early-season (over)reaction, I thought I had forgotten about 30-40 National Titles UK had won. But then I checked out the records(http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/mens/history), and saw that UK went 20 years between their 1958 & 1978 Titles, followed immediately before an 18 yr. gap before their 1996 Title. UK won a Title 8 years ago, in 1998, under the very same coach they have now, meaning that if UK "lives up to its history," we are a least a decade away from UK's next National Championship.

"They" say Tubby doesn't get enough McDonald's All-Americans, when almost all the McDonald's All-Americans we have gotten recently (Jason Parker, Rae Carruth, anyone!) have been disasters, AND Tubby's best teams since 1998 rarely had McDonald's All-Americans playing prominent roles. "They" say Tubby can't recruit...and in the same breath campaign for Tubby to play the freshmen...that he JUST RECRUITED.

This is not to say we should not demand success from UK Basketball, of course we should. But Tubby is not posting a losing record (like under Eddie Sutton), Tubby runs a clean program and graduates many of his players, and until the emergence of a national powerhouse in Florida, Tubby was dominent in the SEC, so lets not throw the baby out with the bath water, folks. Take a deep breath, root for (not bash) the team you purport to love, and wait and see how things play out.

UK Loses, but Not Because of Morris

This is Randolph Morris. He was pretty much the only player that should be holding their head up high after Saturday's game in Chapel Hill. Actually, Bobby Perry, you had a good game too. Everyone else? Well, at least they kept the internets busy. Let's look at my Big Five keys to victory and try to see where UK went wrong.

1. Force Turnovers- This was what I thought would be the most important, and it turns out I was right. UK had a season high 22 turnovers (including a record tying seven from Joe Crawford) and UNC only had 8 (or 9, don't remember). This is what cost UK the game, period. They executed enough of their game plan to win, but the margin of error was small and giving the ball away like you were Santa Claus visiting an orphanage was a killer. How to fix it? Not sure, but I continue to be completely under impressed with Ramel Bradley and Crawford. More playing time for the freshmen sounds like a broken record, but at the very least Jasper needs to be out there. And if the 3's are not falling, like for instance on Saturday, Porter should be out there as well. Meeks did not do so hot, but he had very little time.

Stay out of Foul Trouble- Mission Accomplished. And although there were some questionable calls (Bradley's intentional foul, allowing loose balls to become rugby scrums, waiving the dribble rule for Tyler Hansbrough) the refs did not lose this game. In fact, if we could have gotten the ball into Morris more, perhaps Hansbrough would have fouled out, or at least been in more foul trouble.

Offensive Execution- UK shot a high percentage, but that was mostly b/c of Morris. The 3-point shooting was atrocious, and Bradley.......well, he is trying so hard to NOT be a shoot first point guard that he is not looking for his shot at all. This could be solved by moving him from PG, but at this point I don't think Tubby will do that. This gets a C. UK actually just needs more shots in general, even at a slower pace.

Defense- They played good D in that UNC shot a low percentage, BUT they did not force turnovers and allowed a large number of wide open 3's. If UK continues to allow wide open 3's, they will continue to lose to good teams.

Upperclassmen, push, pull, or get out of the way- Perry helped. That's it. Woo was worthless and Sheray Thomas. I just can't even talk about him right now. I cannot think of one good reason why he played twice as many minutes as Perry Stevenson. None, zip, zero.

UK did out rebound UNC and Morris completely and utterly dominated Tyler Hansbrough. He may very well win the National Player of the Year, but consider me unimpressed. In TH's defense, he is only 6'9'' and is more of a "4" than a "5". Morris's height really got to him, and even without Morris I think Carter would have also held him to a below average game. That is how much I think taller people bother him. In fact, the best player on UNC, without a doubt, is Brandan Wright. Hopefully, he will be in the NBA next year.

UK plays Chatanooga on Tuesday and has an opportunity to rattle off a couple weeks worth of quality wins, provided they can take care of Indiana and louisville. And if they can't? It's going to be a long, long year.

The Michael Strahan/Hot Dog Picks

This is Michael Strahan. He is an asshole. Let there be no doubt. Strahan is a straight up asshole, calling Plaxico Burress a quitter on his radio show and then lashing out at a reporter for asking Plax for a comment. The reporter did not create the controversy, Strahan did. And if you are going to yell at a reporter in front of a bunch of cameras, at least put your hotdog down for a few minutes you giant douche. Anyway, Jeremy Shockey may make some outrageous comments, but at least he stands by them. I like Shockey. I don't like anyone else on the Giants, including Tiki Barber, who I suspect is a giant douche.

So, here are the picks!

Cowboys -3 over Giants

Now, Shockey thinks they will win. And if he said it, then you know he believes it. However, the Giants are imploding and the 'Boys, with Tony Romo, are exploding. TO will have two TDs, Shockey will have one, and Eli will have at least one horrific pick, probably coming at a key moment in the game. When will the Giants turn to J-Lo?

Vikes +9 over Bears

I just feel like the Vikes think they have something to prove. The story about Rex Grossman smack talking gurantees a couple of picks. The only thing that worries me is that Brad Johnson is still the QB for the Vikes. He is not playing that well. And that is a polite understatement.

Steelers -7 over Bucs

Two bad teams playing what will be a bad game. I think Pitt is looking to save a little face after the embarassment at Baltimore.

Rams - 6.5 over Cardinals

Two more bad teams, although the Rams are less bad. As long as Dennis Green is still coaching the Cards, I will not be picking them. Look for Steven Jackson to have a good game.

Titans +7.5 over Colts

This is risky. Last time the line was much larger and the Titans were a surprise. But, after watching Vince Young play like college Vince Young is exciting. And since the Colts cannot stop the run, look for VY to do a little running. The Colts really don't care as long as they win. And they will win.

Jags in a pick'em over Dolphins

Peter King thinks the Fins are one of the best teams. I disagree. The Jags had a stinker of a game in Buffalo. They won't have back to back stinkers.

49ers +7 over Saints

The New Orleans magic is fading fast, and despite the best efforts of U2 and Green Day, the Saints are not going anywhere. Frank Gore will have a good game, and although it will be almost seven years too late, at last Gore will defeat (Reggie) Bush.

Falcons +1 over 'Skins

Could this be a TJ Duckett revenge game? Not likely. The better question is if Vick will have more yards passing or rushing. I am going to go with passing, but just barely.

Chiefs -5 over Browns

Cleveland- This ship be sinking. If Larry Johnson is done whining about Dick Vermiel's lack of blackness, then he will be all over Cleveland like fire on a like.

Pats -13.5 over Lions

Maybe, just maybe, this will be the week they fire Matt Millen. Not likely, but I refuse to think Jon Kitna is going to light up a Belichick defense.

Chargers -6 over Bills

Shawne Merriman returns from a steroid suspension. And no one cares. If this was baseball this would have been on the cover of Sports Illustrated and ESPN the Mag.

Jets in a pick'em over the Pack

Brett Favre plays just bad enough to lose. But not so bad that the commentators stop slurping him.

Texans +3 over Raiders

The Raiders have a good defense, but they shouldn't be giving points to anybody in the NFL or Ohio State.

Seahawks +4 over Broncos

I don't think Jay Cutler will be successful in his first start, but in the long run this is the best choice. Hasslebeck and Alexander continue to be healthier and improve.

Panthers -3 over Eagles

The Eagles may start AJ Feely. It shouldn't matter, but Carolina is kind of Jekyll and Hyde. Regardless, without McNabb the Eagles are not going to win a lot of games.

There you go. I am off to IHOP. When I get back, I will look back at the UK/UNC game.

The Kid

NFL Picks

This picture has nothing to do with my NFL picks for Thursday night, but I love GOB.

Anyway, one game tonight between the Bengals and the Ravens. The Ravens won at Baltimore by six, thanks to some early Bengal turnovers. I still don't think the Ravens are for real, and Carson Palmer finally looks to have turned the corner. Ocho Cinco has a history of good games against Baltimore, despite the presence of Ed Reed and Chris McCallister. How crazy is that that Ray Lewis is maybe the 5th best player on Baltimore's D. The line is Cincy -3. If the Ravens were favored, this would be a no-brainer. I would take the Bengals. The Bengals giving points......not so sure.

What would GOB do? More than likely, go with the pick that makes no sense.

Bengals -3

-The Kid

Can UK Beat UNC???

Remember this guy, Tayshaun Prince? He was awesome. Remember when he hit a three-pointer from half court against UNC at Rupp? Yeah that was awesome too. He won’t be playing for UK this Saturday. That is totally not awesome.

If anyone watched the North Carolina v. Ohio State game last night, then they realized these two teams are freakishly athletic. And they are talented. In the past, simply one of these would be a danger to the Cats, but in the 06/07 year when I am still not sure how athletic or talented UK is, it could be the recipe for a blowout. However, I would also say that UNC is more athletic and talented than Gonzaga, and the Zags beat them, albeit on a neutral court. That being said, the Cats can beat UNC, but a few things need to happen. Let’s go to the BIG FIVE!!

Force Turnovers- This is extremely important. In an up-tempo game against an incredibly athletic OSU squad, UNC only had 11 turnovers. UK needs to double that (and not then split it in half). Is this possible? Yes. Crawford has shown he can be a strong defender, although it requires a max effort he rarely gives. Jasper has also shown an ability to generate steals. Bradley could be a better half-court defender than Rondo, that jury is still out, but this would be a nice game for him to at least make a defensive statement. Part of me thinks that maybe we should start out with the press, but the other part of me worries that is simply playing into UNC’s hands.

Stay Out of Foul Trouble- The return of Jared Carter is good if only for the reason it gives us another post player. Last time UK played in Chapel Hill UNC shot 40 free throws and UK shot 16. If that happens on Saturday, there is no way in hell we win the game. Brandan Wright, who I personally think is the most talented member of the Tar Heels, is an aggressive shot blocker and against OSU was in foul trouble. If Tyler Hansbrough starts out on Morris we need to feed the big fella Vin Diesel style, i.e.Fast and Furious. Any foul trouble for them is better for us. My biggest fear is that Karl Hess is reffing the game and/or Morris has two fouls within the first ten minutes. Either one has a pretty good chance of happening.

Offensive Execution- UNC gives up points. They are concerned with pushing the ball and accumulating 100 possessions (nearly impossible, despite ESPN continuing to hype it). They have allowed other teams to score, or at least to shoot, relying on their rebounders to turn your misses into their points. So, it will not be enough to simply get shots, but we must take advantage of these shots. I am all for an up-tempo game from UK, but not at the expense of forgetting to get the ball to our best offensive player, Randolph Morris. Those streaks where he doesn’t touch the ball are the ones where UNC will be running the other way for easy layups. In the past, Randolph has responded well to big challenges (UConn, Cincinnati) and I hope he knows outplaying Hansbrough will go a long way toward how NBA scouts see him.

Defense- This kind of goes with turnovers, but beyond forcing those UK needs to control the scoring in the paint. They did a good job against CoC, but CoC doesn’t have Hansbrough and Wright. Not to mention a parade of All-Americans off the bench. Can UK do this? Yes. Will they? That remains to be seen.

Upperclassmen Need to Push, Pull, or Get Out of the Way!- I, and most of the Wildcat Faithful, am about finished with Sheray, Woo, and Bobby Perry. My biggest fear is that Tubby will feel like he needs veterans in the line-up for a tough road game and stick with them long enough to dig UK a big hole. If they continue to not bring anything to the table, I am ready to take my lumps with the freshmen now and hope it prepares them for the rest of the season.

So there you go, a BIG FIVE plan to upset the Tar Heels. If UK can somehow pull this off, I recommend sending Mark Coury to the rafters of the Dean Dome to light fire to their Helms Championship banner. I still cannot believe they have that hanging. But that is another topic, for another time.

--The Kid

The Lon's View

Honestly, our seats were so good that I was distracted by everything but the game: Rob Bromley trying to weasel his way into the huddle; trying to figure out if Chuck Ellinger's crew is intentionally, or unintentionally, trying to look like the Channel 4 News Team from "Anchorman;" trying to figure out what the deal was with the weird-looking guy next to Ashley Judd's was; trying to figure out where the "Bluehearts" were; blocking out the lame chants of the male cheerleaders; wondering why our drumline is cool, but our band stinks; wondering where Chris Cross was, and if he considers Solid Platinum a "family business;" wondering whether UK's "glad-handing" President Lee Todd was going to try to shake my hand without a clue who I was (he did not); and the other time was spent ogling the Dance Cats.

I did notice that Randolph Morris is good, Joe Crawford is slow and is going to lead the SEC in charges, and that we're not exactly fluid on offense.

I also witnessed the lowest class thing I have ever seen a UK player do (Jamal Magliore was always 1st class; don't kid yourself Nate Johnson), when "I'm from Brooklyn" leaped from his seat on the bench, to run the length of the bench to scream in the ear of an opposing player in the corner lining up a 3-pt. jumpshot. Maybe this happens all the time, but it can't happen like this (maybe a "Noonan!"); I couldn't believe he didn't get "T'ed Up" and/or that Tubby didn't flip out. Disappointing.

UK 77- CoC 61

So, a big win for the Cats tonight as the College of Charleston goes down 77-61. So, how did UK do with my "Five Points of Emphasis"? Let's look...

1. Defense- I wanted a shooting percentage below 45 and not a lot of points in the paint. Well, CoC shot 32% from the field and UK outscored them in the paint 42-20. So this is a YES.

2. Rebounding- I wanted +10 it ended up 46-37 UK. That is only +9. What can I say, I'm a hard grader. This is a NO.

3. Assists to Turnovers- I wanted +10, which is actually a little unrealistic. UK had 17 assists to 19 turnovers. That is not good, so this is a big NO.

4. Points scored- I wanted 75-80. At halftime I thought there was no way in hell they would get there, and I was thinking about curving it to the high 60s. Lo and behold, Mark Coury hops off the bench and the next thing I know, UK has 77 points on 47.6% shooting. If I just told you the final score and shooting percentage and you didn't watch the game, you probably would have taken it. As it stands, UK missed a few gimmies and shot 61% from the free throw line, about 10% below their season average. This could have easily been over 80. A big YES.

5. Upperclassmen step up- This is a HUGE NO. Sheray Thomas played 26 minutes and finished with 2 points and 4 rebounds. Perry Stevenson played 16 minutes and had 14 points and 4 rebounds. Mark Coury doubled Sheray's offensive output. Bobby Perry was 3-10 from the field. Woo looked lost and according to Rob Bromley was hearing about his lack of toughness/rebounding/etc from Tubby in the huddle. Our senior class totaled 9 boards and 9 points. Our freshmen, including Coury, had 29 points and 16 boards. With more minutes, that will go up. With more minutes for the seniors? Probably not going to get much more.

A big game Saturday at UNC. It will take a more consistent offensive and defensive effort, but tonight proved that, at least in spurts, UK can be a very good team at both ends of the court.

The Lon attended the game, and I am curious to hear his views.

UK versus College of Charleston

As UK prepares to play the College of Charleston it is clear that Wildcat Nation is restless. A 3-2 record coming out of Maui was not what people had in mind, especially with the blowout loss to Memphis having almost a week to linger in our collective conscious. Nonetheless, the season must go on and UK PM (Post Maui) begins with the CoC. So, the CoC appears to be a solid mid-major with a good head coach. They bring an identical record (3-2) and a high scoring point guard, Dontaye Draper. Assuming you expect UK to win (I do and Vegas has them as a 12.5 point fave) what else would constitute success tonight. In my humble opinion, beyond a victory here are the five things I want to see:

Defense- Specifically, the points in the paint. In Maui, UK gave up more points in the paint (146) than any team, including D-II Chaminade. A lot of that was due to poor interior defense on backdoor cuts, horrific transition D, and the inability of our guards to apply any pressure. Connected to this, I would like UK to hold CoC to under 45% shooting. I don’t care if Draper scores 30 points, as long as it takes him 30 shots to do it.

Rebounding- This should be at least a +10 margin

Assists/TOs- Once again, I would like to see a +10 margin.

Points scored- UK is averaging about 70 points per game. That needs to be higher. CoC can put the ball in the basket, so this should be an up-tempo game. UK’s average needs to be between 75-80 and that should start tonight. At least 75 points scored

Upperclassmen step up- I was going to limit this to Bobby Perry, because he is the one upperclassman that I actually believe can step up and do more, on offense and defense. However, if Sheray Thomas is going to start, then he needs to step up as well. You may as well throw Woo and Jared Carter in there. This team will NOT be successful if Randolph Morris is the only front court player that is above average. Thomas, Perry, Woo, and Carter need to at the very least be slightly above average.

So, in a few short hours we should be able to see if the Cats achieve my goals. Of course, as always, the most important thing is the “W”.

The Kid

No Defense + No Rebounding = No Wins

It is some point late in the 2nd half, but it is already clear that UK is going to lose. The only question is how much. (Update: 73-53 about 7 minutes left)

In Maui, UK has looked lost on "D", giving up dunks, layups, and wide open 3s. Memphis was completely dominated on the boards by Georgia Tech, and tonight they are completely dominating UK. I can only assume that if we played G-Tech they would outrebound us 75-5.

So, now what? This could be a very, very long year if this play continues. UK plays North Carolina in 1 1/2 weeks, and I didn't think UK had a good chance before. Now, I am worried UK will get embarrassed. If this team does not improve, it is going to get very ugly in the LEX.

Turnovers. Tasty, but Deadly!

UK lost to UCLA last night 73-68. And, I guess, there are some positives you can take out of the game. The Cats were, at one point, down by 17 points. UCLA is the 5th ranked team in the country. Derrick Jasper came off the bench with the rest of the freshmen and provided a spark, scoring 25 of UK's 30 first half points.

Unfortuntaely, UK had 17 turnovers, with eight of those coming from their point guards, Ramel Bradley and Jasper. That, along with some poor interior defense, is why UK lost. And it is something that needs to be fixed. But how? Should UK abandon the Bradley as a PG experiment this early? Should Jasper be installed as the starter now? I'm not sure, but Jasper is a better PG right now than Bradley. Bradley is by far a better shooter, from the 3 point and free throw line, but Jasper has better point guard skills. A big thing with this team is "chemistry" and benching Bradley could cause that to blow up big time. But, the team needs to win. So, it will be interesting. To say the least.

Personally, I like a Jasper/Bradley/Crawford/Stevenson/Morris startingn line-up with Perry coming off the bench. I think he is more likely to do it for the good of the team, and not let it become a chemistry problem. Memphis will be a big test for this team. They had the late game last night and now, instead of playing again at 10, they will hoop it up at 4:30. Memphis is athletic, but apparently not a strong jump shooting team. We may see a lot of zone.

Who Gets Leied? Who Gets the Pupu Platter?

UK has never lost in the first round of the Maui Classic (or is it Invitational) and after Monday's game with DePaul this still holds true. So, looking back at this 87-81 win, lets hand out some leis, but also a couple dishes of the Pupu platter (which I know is Chinese, but come on, it is fun to say).

The Leis:

Randolph Morris- 20 points and 9 rebounds. Jay Bilas may want Randolph to take it up strong, but he is a better shooter than a power player. Morris will bring the power game every now and then, but more often than not you will see the fall aways. I wouldn't mind seeing a few more offensive rebounds, but after three games his lowest rebound total is 9. I will take that every time.

Joe Crawford- After the first half, he was well on his way to the Pupu platter. Then he started to board (4) and hand out assists (6). After that the points started coming.

Ramel Bradley- If you were expecting Ramel to be a text book point guard. Well, I'm sorry. You obviously have never watched him play. I mean, he is from Brooklyn (Did you know that? He so rarely mentions it). This is what Ramel at point guard looks like. And I like it. He also got jobbed on a traveling call late in the second half on what was an excellent defensive back like steal.

Bobby Perry- First good game of the season. Nice pull up J.

WOO- The game's MVP. Woo and Sheray Thomas are seniors whose production can be described as sporadic at best. Despite this, everyone loves Woo and everyone hates Sheray. No idea why. I do know that Monday night was the best game Woo has played since last year's UL game.

The Pupu:

Defense (Everyone)- This defensive effort was Mike Archer-esque. I don't want to dwell on it, but it was a stinker. If they play like that against UCLA, they will not win.

Questions:

Not good or bad. Just questions.

1. Why didn't the freshmen play more in the 2nd half?

2. Why did Sheray Thomas play as much as he did? Even before Stevenson's fouls?

3. Seriously, I know I already mentioned it, but what the hell was up with the defense?

Predictions for tonight:

UK wins. By a little. Low scoring game.

Seriously? Izzo?

OK, I will be the first to admit that I thought this was a joke at first. Tom Izzo as the football coach at Michigan State seemed like, well, a joke. Kind of like last year when Michigan fans doctored photos of Tommy Amaker as the Michigan football coach because, if nothing else, he could beat Ohio State. But no, people were seriously considering Izzo as the football coach, and Izzo didn't exactly stop them.

When Michigan State lost to Notre Dame this year, ESPN announcer Kirk Herbstreit said, "That's Michigan State" or something along those lines. When I heard a dumb ass idea like taking a successful basketball coach and moving him to a sport where he has NEVER coached. Well, that's Michigan State.

Jeter Goes Down

The Kid is back, still recovering from a rough weekend. As a participant in The Hour of Power (or as The Lon likes to call it 'Power Hour') I was still feeling the effects up to 48 hours later. I guess I don't have the bounce back-a-bility I once had. Anyway, with the holidays approaching, and my motivation for work decreasing, I decided to hit on a few random news stories today.

This guy ( I put him in the middle just to mix it up) is your American League MVP, and it probably isn't even the best player on the Twins. I personally would give it to Johann Santana or Joe Mauer. Anyway, the surprising thing is that he beat Derek Jeter, the greatest man in the history of the world, or at least that is what I have heard. I don't want to be a Jeter-hater, but as a regular season MVP, I just don't think he has the numbers. And I know it is "Valuable" and not "Outstanding", but there is a certain expectation of numbers, and I do not think Jeter makes the cut. Now, he was on my fantasy baseball team, and I realized how great his season was, but when you look at the other guys on the list (Ortiz, Mauer, Dye) Jeter's power numbers pale by comparison. A-Rod, who everyone agerees had a bad year, had more HRs and more RsBI. Same for Giambi.

So, congrats to the voters for not being swept away with the Jeter hype. It is now time for those in the media, and you know who you are, to start the "Was there a Jeter backlash?" storyline. And if there in fact was, then the people complaining about were the ones who triggered it.

Isn't it weird???

The Lon here. What does Drew Bledsoe feel like, being evicted from his 3rd starting QB job in about 5 years? What's even weirder, with the possible exception of J.P. Losman, apparently, young QBs learn greatness from Drew by watching him and learning what NOT to do. Hard to believe a Div. 1-AA afterthought can make the Cowboys look like worldbeaters with the "addition by subtraction" of removing Bledsoe. It is kind of like the hyper-fertility The Lon's ex-girlfriends experience after break-ups, when most get knocked up within 6 months. But does that analogy make me Drew.......

The Lon's Power Picks

There was a crew of 4 heros last night that completed an old school "Hour of Power" (which, by the way, should not be called "Power Hour"). As one of the powerful, I will now give you my power picks, because I'm not groggy at all:

Raiders (+9) over CHiefs

Colts (PICK 'EM) over Cowboys
The first "pick 'em" in recent memory, got to go with the undefeated team.

Bengals (+3) over Saints

Steelers (-4) over Browns

Eagles (-13) over Titans
Inconsistent Eagles need to TCB.

Ravens (-3.5) over Falcones
Fine, Ravens; just fine. I'll pick you OK...just quit screwing me.

Panthers (-6.5) over Rams
Panthers at home should be OK.

Bills (+2.5) over Texans

Pats (-6) over Packers

Bucs (-3) over Skins

Bears (-5.5) over Jets

Phins (-3) over Vikes
The Dolphins are suddenly frisky.

Lions (+2) over Cards
The dogs are all covering, right?

Seahawks (-3) over 49ers

Chargers (+2.5) over Broncos

Jags (-3.5) over Giants
Two of the most schitzo teams square off...I'll take the home team.

UK v. Miami (OH)---Opening Night

Well, I was hoping to come on here after a big blowout win over the Redhawks of Miami. Unfortuntaely, I am here to give some views on a 57-46 win that was, as the saying goes, a lot closer than the scoreboard is showing. Normally, I might be on catspause.com or listening to a post-game call in show, but I just don't feel like putting up with the negativity this early in the season. And trust me, even though I haven't officially checked, the negativity is there. So, first I want to talk about some of the positives.

1. Perry Stevenson- When they signed, this freshman was not someone a lot of people thought would contribute much this season. But, a suspension of Sheray Thomas and the injury of Jared Carter has opened up the door and Perry Stevenson has busted through with The Bloc Party (Did you know that was Bloc Party in the pic? ) and he is not leaving any time soon. Perry (Or, as Dave Baker and Martin Newton kept trying to shove down our throught "Pac-Man") finished with only two points and five boards, but he added seven blocked shots. There is no way this kid, as long as he stays healthy, doesn't average at least 3 blocked shot per game. This kid is good, and by the end of the year he will be better.

2. Randolph Morris - 12 points and 10 boards. The point total is not very impressive, but 10 boards is what this guy need to average. Of course, b/c of foul trouble, he only played 22 or some minutes. What will help the points per game is more involvement early in the game. There is no reason for the guards not to get him the ball early and often. I am not sure how many times RM had double-digit rebounds last year, but in my opinion it needs to be an every game occurence.

3. Joe Crawford- 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists. Joe may have saved the day in the first half. He hit the three, he drove, he got on the boards and four assists out of a 2G is pretty nice. I would love to see Joe put up this kind of line every game. He has the talent and I think this year he is poised to shine.

4. Jodie Meeks- 7 points, 4 boards. Could have been better, but he had some really nice rebounds. Kenny Walker on 590 AM (yes, I broke down and am listening to a call-in show) called him a "mini-Kelenna Azabuike" and that sounds about right. Although I prefer the Keith Bogans comparisons.

5. 2nd half defense- After the first 15 minutes of the game, the UK defense really did a great job shutting down the Redhawks half court game.

And for tonight, that is about it. The negative include turnovers (espescially by Bradley), lack of ball movement, nothing on the stat sheet for Derek Jasper, free-throw shooting, and rebounding in the first half.

The Cats have another game on Friday night against an even lesser opponent, Mississippi Valley State. Hopefully, they will cruise. After that it is off to Maui. I was feeling optimistic about that trip, but now.............Well, if they can get past DePaul, the game against UCLA should give us a much better idea of where this team is.

The Kid is out!

Lonnie's Picks

Chiefs (+2) over Phins (Lock of the Week)

Jags (-10.5) over Texans

Bengals (+1.5) over Chargers

Falcones (-8) over Browns

Ravens (-7) over Titans

Colts (-12) over Bills

Saints (+6) over Steelers

Eagles (-8) over Skins

Bears (+1) over Giants

Vikes (-5) over Packers

Pats (-10.5) over Jets

49ers (+6) over Lions

Broncos (-8.5) over Raiders

Rams (+3) over Seahawks

Cowboys (-6.5) over Cards

Bucs (+9.5) over Panthers

Pete Weber NFL Picks from The Kid

This is professional bowler Pete Weber. Why is he here? Because the UK Wildcats are going bowling, baby!!! Yesterday's big win over the vaunted Commodores of Vanderbilt gives the Cats six wins and, as of right now, second place in the SEC East. Pretty crazy. You know what else is crazy? My NFL picks. Underdogs in the past four weeks 27 out of 33 underdogs have covered AND won outright, at least according to the Sports Guy on ESPN. Keeping that in mind, this week's picks are going to throw caution to the wind. And if you want to complain about it on a beautiful day like Bowling Day, which I just made up, then I can only say the same thing Coach Brooks told the media, "Picky! Picky! Picky!"

Here are the picks!!

Jags -10 over Texans

David Garrard is the reason here. These two teams played a couple of weeks ago, and Byron Leftwich's health was a big reason. I think the Jags are looking for revenge. So, I declare this the first official REVENGE GAME!! That is normally The Lon's special, but I have claimed it. Deal with it Lonnie!

Bengals +1 over Chargers

The Chargers are a better team and the Bengals are in turmoil, with infighting and threats from Ocho Cinco to go play football for Arsenal (that would be soccer for most Americans). So, the only logical pick is the Bengals. I'll be honest, this makes no sense, but hey UK in second place in the SEC East doesn't make much since either.

Browns +8 over Falcons

I think the ATL will win this game, but the Browns are a good enough team to hang around, and the Falcons are a bad enough team to let them. Charlie Frye is trying to take the title of most productive rushing QB from Vick, but the only place he leads is rushing TDs. So, my guy tells me the Falcons, but my gut is full of Starbucks right now, so I'm not sure it can be trusted.

Ravens -7 over Titans

I think the Ravens are overrated and the Titans have one of the better coaches in the NFL. Therefore, it makes total sense to pick the other way. Steve McNair is still bitter about his departure from Tennessee, so this is the second REVENGE GAME of the week.

Colts -12 over Bills

The year may be going crazy, but I can't rationalize the Bills hanging with Indy. So of course you should bet the house on Buffalo. OK, that is kind of straddling the fence, stick with the Colts.

Saints +5.5 over Steelers

So, earlier this week on Inside the NFL on ESPN, they were debating nominees for coaches of the year. One of the talking heads threw out New Orleans coach Sean Payton. The other responded, and I am paraphrasing here, "Yeah, but you get the sense there is something else going on there with that team." Actually, I can tell you what's going on with that team. They have a much better coach, a much better quarterback, two healthy/productive running backs, and a much better wide receiving corps. Do you know why they dumped Donte (The Human Hamstring Pull) Stallworth? Marques Colston. Sean Payton deserves all the credit in the world, and if people deny it because of some "magic" or something going on, that is ridiculous. Unless, of course, they have a "magic" standings. If they did, the Steelers would probably be in last place.

Redskins +7 over Eagles

This is another game where I am going against my initial judgement. The Eagles have stunk since beating the Cowboys, and the Redskins, well, they aren't that good either. Remember when everyone thought the NFC East was the toughest conference in the NFL? Good times.

Bears +1 over Giants

It's the FLEX GAME bitches!!! Ya hear that, FLEX GAME! Are you excited? FLEX GAME! How about now? No? OK. I don' think the Bears lose two games in a row, and I have visions of multiple picks from Eli Manning.

Packers +5.5 over Vikings

The Vikes looked good early in the year, but seem to have stalled out. Favre is still playing well, and some of the credit needs to go to new head coach Mike McCarthy. Favre has not been making the same stupid decisions he did the past couple of years. Of course, since I've said that, he will probably throw five picks today.

Jets +10.5 over Pats

This is probably not going to happen, mainly b/c Belichick really, really doesn't like Eric Mangini. Because of this, I am picking the Jets. There is some New Jersey mojo going on, and perhaps the Jets are poised to rise in the "Magic" standings.

Lions +6 over 49ers

The Lions are coming on strong, but Rod Miranelli and Matt Millen could still probably be fired. Mike Martz is poised to take over this team, and while he is a good offensive coordinator, as a head coach, really, a team can do better.

Broncos -9 over Raiders

The Raiders are terrible, Mike Shanahan loves to blow them out, and Tatum Bell is healthy. I don't see any other way this can play out.

Rams +3 over Seahawks

Seneca Wallace has played better than expected since taking over in Seattle, but the Rams almost won against a healthy Seattle. Therefore, they should definitely win against a banged up Seattle.

Cowboys -6.5 over Cardinals

First Tony Romo wins the Dallas job and now he is possibly dating Jessica Simpson. For comparison purposes, Drew Bledsoe just saved a lot of money on his car insurance.

Bucs +9.5 over Panthers

One last underdog pick to close out the weekend. I don't really think Tampa Bay can win, but why the hell not. On a weekend that saw UK give up 600 yards of offense to Vandy and still win by 11 points, anything can happen.

Let's get real people...

The Lon here. Here's a news flash: The Lon is 31 years old. He practices law. He hasn't climbed anything in 12-13 years, but on Saturday, I got 45-50 phone calls, texts, voicemails, and e-mails saying "I hope I see you on UK goalposts when I watch the highlights of the UK win over Georgia."

What made them all the more ridiculous was that I got these messages in Long Island and Manhattan, where I was for the entire weekend for an alumni soccer game. But even if I HAD been at the game, The Lon ain't climbing on no goalposts. COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The "Go Cats!" edition

I have not missed a Kentucky home game in a long time. I skipped a friend's birthday not to miss one. The one game I miss...they tear down the goalposts. Unreal. Go Cats, I guess.


Rams (-3) over Chiefs
The Chiefs line is always a mystery, I still am enough on the Rams' bandwagon to bang them here.

Bengals (+3) over Ravens
I STILL do not trust the Ravens(although reality may have to trump soon). And the Bengals can't be as bad as they've looked, can they?

G-Men (-13) over Texans
I have no clue what to expect from the G-Men, but what the heck.

Jags (-9.5) over Titans
The jags have been up-and-down, but I'm still backin' em'!

Cowboys (-3) over Skins (LOCK OF THE WEEK)

Packers (+3) over Bills
I'm riding the brief Favre renaissance.

Saints (+1.5) over Bucs
They might be mortal, but I'm still bangin' em.

Falcones (-5.5) over Lions (SECOND LOCK OF THE WEEK)
THe ATL is lookin' good.

Bears (-13.5) over Dolphins
Easy decision.

Vikes (-4.5) over 49ers

Chargers (-13) over Browns

Broncos (+3) over Steelers
This line makes no sense. Which means the Steelers will blow out the Broncos.

Colts (+3) over Pats

Raiders (+7.5) over Hawks

Goal Post Picks

On a weekend that UK can beat UGA and tear down the goal posts, then maybe I can actually pick some winners in the NFL. So, let's give it a try...

Rams -3 over Chiefs
The Rams are a good team, and the Chiefs are Larry Johnson. I am not sold on Damon Huard, but I am sold on Steven Jackson. Plus, this game is at St. Louis.


Bengals +3 over Ravens
I have been saying for most of the year that something was wrong with Carson Palmer. The Lon has mocked me, others have said the problem is with the line, but I stand steadfast. This morning, Ron Jaworski confirmed my initial opinion. Breaking down the tape, it is clear that opponents are diving at Palmer's legs and this has caused some bad mechanics. Basically, he is lifting his right leg in order to try and protect his left leg. In the past, the Bengals WRs have had very good games against the Ravens. I just don't think the Ravens are a good team, so the Bengals and the points is the pick.

Giants -13 over Texans
13 is a big number, and if Sage Rosenfelds (Sage Rosenfelds!!! WTF!!) has another big game, then the Texans could cover. The Giants are a far better team, however, and their pass rush will not allow Sage Rosenfelds (Sage Rosenfelds!!! WTF!!) the time to hurt them.

Titans +9.5 over Jags
Here is my upset pick of the week. David Garrard does give Jax a better offense than Leftwich, at least that is what the experts say. But, the Titans have shown the ability to hang around better teams than the Jags.

Cowboys -3 over Skins
If the last game was my upset pick, then I guess this is my LOCK OF THE WEEK. The Romo Revolution is in full swing and since Santana Moss is out, there will be no fluke final five minute victory like last year.

Packers +3 over Bills
At the beginning of the year, Buffalo looked decent. Now, they look like crap. Even an aging Brett Favre is better then JP Losman. This game will probably be a shootout and I'll take Favre in that situation.

Saints -1 over Bucs
Drew Brees is not going to have two bad games in a row, and the Bucs appear to be coming down from their Bruce Gradowski high. Reggie Bush may/may not play in this game, but he really has not been much of a factor.

Falcons -5.5 over Lions
I still am not quite sure if Vick has turned the corner and become a complete quarterback, but I am pretty sure the Lions are terrible so it doesn't really matter for this game. And, seriously, Matt Millen still has a job! The "Fire MIllen" moment appears to have slowed down for now, despite the fact the Lions still suck. I miss it, so hopefully this will trigger a new wave.

Bears -13.5 over Dolphins
I heard this week that Nick Saban is contemplating returning to Michigan State, a job he held before his stint at LSU. I don't know about you, but that kind of screams failure to me. Will he lose the genius tag? I hope so.

Vikes -4.5 over 49ers
At the beginning of the year, I thought the 49ers were going to be something. At the very least, an exciting team capable of throwing some points on the board. That appears to have settled down. The Vikes looked worse than terrible (Lions-esque?) against the Pats on Monday night, but they are better than that.

Chargers -12.5 over Browns
I really hope Shawne Merriman runs on the field in a steroid rage and slaps Kellen Winslow, Jr upside his head. Someone really needs to give that kid a huge glass of Shut-the-fuck-up. Ideally, Antonio Gates finishes with a huge game and Winslow has zero catches.

Broncos +3 over Steelers
The Raiders are bad, but at least they have a decent defense. The Broncos have a better defense, and a much better offense, and the Steelers should be worried. Is it possible that Big Ben gets yanked for Charlie Batch? If he has two first halr picks, I think it happens.

Colts +3 over Pats
If this game was in the playoffs, I would pick the Pats. But, it is early November and the Colts will win. Remember, the Colts beat the Pats last year during the regular season, rather convincingly. Adam Vinatieri is now a Colt and a game winning kick from him would be rather sweet.

Raiders +7.5 over Seahawks
This is a REALLY bad Monday Night game. Especially when compared to the Colts/Pats game on Sunday night. The Raiders have a good D and the Seahawks are without Hasslebeck and Alexander. This will be a low scoring affair, so take the points.

The Lon is too embarrassed by his previous picking performances, so I would be SHOCKED to actually see him post.

Oops!

Forgot about the Chiefs and the Seahawks. I'll take the Seahawks +5. What the hell, why not?

Surprise Bitch! It's The Lon's picks.

Titans (-3) over Texans
Never know what to expect from the Texans, but I like the Titans here.

Jags (+7.5) over Eagles
Jags may be better with Garrard.

Falcones (+3.5) over Bengals
Bengals O-Fence has been struggling.

G-Men (-9) over Bucs
Against the advice of a friend of a friend, I'll take the G-Men.

49ers (+16.5) over Bears
After Grossman's last game, I think 16.5 is a lot of points.

Packers (-4) over Cards
The Cards have given up.

Chiefs (-5) over the Seahawks
The Seahawks are misssing their RB & QB.

Saints (-2) over the Ravens (LOCK OF THE WEEK)
The Ravens have NO CHANCE. Go Saints!

Rams (+9) over Chargers
9 seems like too many against the frisky Rams.

Steelers (-9) over Raiders
Is every line 9 pts this weekend?

Jets (+2) over Browns (UPSET SPECIAL)
I'm surprised the Jets are dogs here.

Broncos (-3) over Colts
I like Denver's D and their running game here.

Cowboys (+4.5) over Panthers
Romo's improved QB play is enough for a cover here.

Pats (-2) over Vikes
I like the Vikes, but not here.

Some Good Lookin' Picks from The KID!

This chick to the left, Adrienne, is a cheerleader for the Philadelphia Eagles. She is hot. And so are these picks! Alright, that was a horrible segue. But, before the picks, I was listening to a gambling radio show Saturday morning, and I forgot how hilarious these things are. First, they throw out a lot of games that they know are "gurantees" or "locks", and if you call in they will give them to you. Then, they spend the rest of the time congratulaing each other for all their wins last weekend. Seriously, there was almost 20 minutes straight of backslapping each other over the Rutgers/Pitt game. And that's it. No analysis, nothing. Just, we got some picks, and let's talk about our awesome picks from last week. And it was an hour show. And I listend to the final 45 minutes. I am not proud of myself.
But hey, it was either that or the old guy on 1300 talking about race horses.


And now...................................the picks!!

Eagles -7.5 over Jags
This one is for the attractive young lady up top. Byron Leftwich is out, and that is probably a good thing for the Jags. The Eagles, however, are probably still a little pissed over losing on a last second 62 yard field goal by Matt Bryant of Tampa Bay, who promptly had an official "Day" in the city after the kick. Of course, Ronde Barber, who returned two INTs for TDs, got nothing. Except more Peter King schlobbin' his brother's knob. Tough to be Ronde.

Bucs +9 over Giants
I don't have an irrational hatred of the G-men like The Lon, but I do think they are a good team. The Bucs, however, have been playing better since convicted felon Bruce Gradowski took over at QB (Disclaimer: As far as I know, Bruce is not a convicted felon, but he looks very mean and a little scary in his official pic). Eli will thrown a least 1 int, but also 2-3 TDs. Nine points is a little too much against an improving defense.

Bengals -3.5 over Falcons
To be honest, if not for the words of Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson) I probably would have picked this one the other way. However, if Ocho Cinco is going to gurantee some TDs and a victory, count me on the bandwagon.

Titans -3 over Texans
Wow. The Titans are a favorite. This is kinda amazing, and to be honest a red flag that I sould avoid picking them like the plague. Add this to every Fantasy Football Guru advising you to pick up Vince Young and play him this week, this game feels like one of those where everyone is picking one way, so it almost has to happen the other way. But, the Titans are coached by Jeff Fisher and I think he is one of the best coaches in the NFL.

49ers +16 over Bears
This line is just too high. I know the 49ers have some problems and the Bears will probably be looking to make a statement after their close victory over the Cards, but 16 is just too much. And here's why. The 49ers will throw the ball and Chicago has some problems with their Pass Defense. Add the fact that All-Pro safety Mike Brown is out for the year and 16 points should be enough for Alex Smith and Co.

Packers -4 over Cards
The Brett Favre renaissance continues. At least until they play some tough teams. The Cards are falling apart before our very eyes, and Matt Leinart may be a little distracted by the fact that his hot ass baby mama just gave birth. Oh, and Zona sucks, so that is a good reason to pick the Pack as well.

Saints -1.5 over Ravens
The Saints are better than the Ravens. There is really not much more to say here. I believe, at the end of the season, the Ravens will be third in their division behind the Bengals and the Steelers. Brian Billick, who gave a few backhanded compliments to New Orleans earlier this week, deserves to lose big. let's hope he does.

Rams +9.5 over Chargers
So, here's the deal. Shawne Merriman is one of the best, if not the best, defensive players in the NFL. And he tested positive for steroids. And..........no outrage. None. No big deal. However, for Major League Baseball or even Lance Armstrong, this is front page news, not sports front page, but the real news front page. Of course, it came out earlier this year that several of the Carolina Panthers that played in the Super Bowl were probalby on steroids and no one really cared. So, Traditional Media, I don't want to hear anymore about baseball players or Lance or that other biker dude who was on steroids until you show the same level of anger towards the NFL. So, that is pretty much why I am choosing the Rams. If I learned anything from Mr. T when I was younger, it is to pity fools who use drugs.

Steelers -9 over Raiders
Even with Charlie Batch at QB, if he gets the start, the Steelers are a much better team in all facets of the game than the Raiders. The big question, is Art Shell the worst coach in the NFL? Interesting........I'm not sure, but a ranking of NFL Head Coaches will be up on the blog soon.

Jets +2 over Browns
This line is a little surprising, but I guess since the game is in Cleveland the Browns get the nod. Don't be fooled, the Jets are better. This is a big week for Jets RB Leon Washington. If he has another big week, than Fantasy teams all over the country will be tripping over themselves to add him.

Colts +3 over Broncos
Quite possibly the biggest game of the year so far. Have the Broncos puposely been holding stuff back on Offense in preparation for their bigger games? Does the addition of Booger mean the Colts can stop the run? Will Jay Cutler see the field? I don't have a lot of confidence in Denver scoring points, so although they have a much better defense than the Colts, giving Peyton Manning 3 points should be enough for a victory.

Cowboys + 4.5 over Panthers
I am predicting a "Romo-lution" for Dallas. Look for T.O. to have a big game and the team will be a little more fired up with a little more firey QB. Also, look for Drew Bledsoe to sulk and pout and generally be a bigger dick than T.O. has been perceived to be. If T.O. had made some of the comments that Bledsoe has made, they would still be yelling about it on "Around the Horn".

Pats -2 over Vikes
I don't know when the "Flex" option kicks in for choosing games, but the Colts/Broncos matchuup really should have been the Sunday or Monday nighter. As it is, the Pats are the most consistent good team out there. I don't think they are the best, but they haven't thrown in the clunker games that some of the other "good" teams have. And they're better than the Vikes.

It's Dicky's World, We Just Live In It!

40
So, after talking the talk, what did Dicky Lyons, Jr. do? He walked the walk. After getting in trouble (because I can only assume Rich Brooks is worried about his team having confidence and actually being fired up for a game) Dicky finished the Miss St. game with a career high 8 catches for a career high of 117 yards and one of the best TD catches in UK football history. Unfortunately, it was not on TV, so if you have not caught it on the local news or the Rich Brooks show, keep your eyes on youtube. Anyway, after this career day where he backed up everything he said, how was Dicky rewarded? He was put off limits from the media. That's great. Seriously. A kid has one of his best days as a college football player, and the coach is still so angry about some comments, that to be honest were that not inflammatory, that he keeps him locked away from the opportunity to bask in the glow of his tremendous performance.

I only wish Rich Brooks showed this type of anger toward Defensive Coordinator Mike Archer, who led the defense to their 29th consecutive game against D-IA teams being outgained in total yards.

Down with Dicky

Do you see this young man to the left, busting out the Andrew MacGregor patented "sidewinder"? (I was serious about the patent. Dicky, if you read this, please contact Andrew "Crime Dog" MacGregor. Thank you). Anyway, that is Dicky Lyons, Jr., starting widereciever for the University of Kentucky Wildcats. Now, since he plays for UK, of course we are all "Down with Dicky", as opposed to being "Down with Dick", which was the original title for this post, but I was worried about the Google traffic. But this week, more than usual, Dicky needs our back. Click on the title, and you can read the article in today's local Lexington daily newspaper (whose name I refuse to say), about UK Head Coach Rich Brooks and his reaction to Lyons' comments earlier in the week. Those comments...

We've got to have it (the game), we want to have it, we should have it, and I think we will have it. I don't think we should lose this game. Coach Brooks has been telling us that they're a good team and saying all the right things, but I really feel like we're better. I feel like we can get our backups in; I want to play that type of game. I want to do to them what LSU did to us (in a 49-0 loss).

Now, I call that confidence. I call that belief in yourself and your team. That is the type of "we're gonna kick your ass" attitude that I want to see in my sports teams. Brooks' reaction?

Confidence is one thing; stupidity is another.

Seriously. How many times has Brooks talked to Tom Leach after ANOTHER disappointing UK beatdown and talked about how we weren't ready, or needed to hit them in the mouth, or any other litany of excuses. You know what I like about Lyons? He is trying to fire up his teammates. Brooks? I don't know what the hell he is doing.

For punishment, Lyons had to run extra windsprints after practice. And the best part? Some of Dicky's teammates joined him for the runs. You know why? Because they respect this kid. In fact, I plan on going to the gym today and doing some extra sprints myself. You know why, cause I got Dicky's back.

Did Dicky regret his comments and the tempest in a teapot they inspired?

I'm definitely going to be more careful with my words, but it's nice to see my teammates have my back," Lyons said. "It was team unity that I hadn't seen in awhile. It got everybody fired up. It got Coach fired up. It was a fun day.


Do you have Dicky's back? Then get your ass out there and run some freakin' sprints!

In this case, Chip Cosby says it best....

Just another case of Dicky being Dicky.

The Lon's late-breaking picks

Broncos (-4.5) over Browns
Not sure I get this line.

Skins (+8.5) over Colts
I'm sure I'll regret this.

Vikings (+6.5) over Seahawks
Hawks haven't impressed w/o Alexander.

Cards (-3) over Raiders
Pick against the raiders until they beat an NFL team.

Cowboys (-3) over G-Men
I have no clue what to expect out of either the G-Men or Atl. at this point. None.

The Good German Goes Gambling!

So, you may wonder who, exactly are The Known Caucasians and what do they look like? Lucky for you myheritage.com has the answer to that question. According to this very entertaining website yours truly, The Kid, looks like Dallas Maverick superstar Dirk Nowitzki. The Lon, however, looks like Joe Pesci. Poor Lon. Of course, I am not mentioning the pics I uploaded where the website said I looked like a girl. Anyway, here are the picks!!

Chargers -5.5 over Chiefs
The beatdown the Kansas City Chiefs took last week is going to linger like a hangover after a keg party. You know it's bad when the announcers are talking about how embarrassing it is and the first quarter is not even over. It doesn't help that the Chargers are the best team in the NFL. Question, does Herm Edwards survive the season? Probably, but I don't predict a long tenure/ Hopefully, we will get a crazy Herm press conference soon.

Pats -5.5 over Bills
The Bills seem, sometimes, just good enough to scare someone. In week one, they scared the Pats. That won't happen again. You may be able to surprise Belichick and crew once, but it is not gonna happen twice. I wouldn't mind if it did though. I am getting kinda tired of the Pats, Belichick, Brady, etc. Too bad their division is soooooooo bad.

Steelers -2.5 over Falcons
Are the Steelers back? Maybe. Are the Falcons overrated? Probably. Am I going to answer any question in a clear and concise fashion? Possibly. Look for a lot of running and some passing from the Steelers, not the Falcons. And that is why the Steelers will win.

Packers +5 over Dolphins
Did you know that last week, half of the underdogs won STRAIGHT UP? Pretty crazy. Despite that, this is the first upset I am picking. Miami is really bad. How bad? So bad that Joey Harrington, who is only playing slightly better than Dante Culpepper, which is like saying that he is playing slightly better than a corpse, is being looked upon as some sort of savior. Provided Brett Favre is not seeking to show Rex Grossman how to REALLY blow up during a game, I expect the Pack to win.

Eagles -5.5 over Bucs
Philly really frustrates me. Somedays, like Dallas, they look unbeatable. Then other days, like against the Saints, they look average, at best. This game could prove interesting. If Bruce Gradowski was this good all along, why did Gruden ever play Simms? I still think the Eagles' blitz will win the day.

Lions +3.5 over Jets
It is possible that the Lions are actually beginning to click with the Martz offense. I still don't think Jon Kitna is the answer, but Roy Williams and Kevin Jones are playing like they did in college, and that is good for Lions fans. Last week, I thought all the Detroit karma was centered around the Tigers. Maybe I was wrong.

Panthers +3 over Bengals
The Lon and I are debating what's wrong with the Bengals. I say something is off with Carson Palmer while The Lon points at the offensive line. Either way, the offense is not up to par and that is bad news for the Bengals. The Cincy D will get one or two picks on Jake D., but they will also give up one or two long TDs. Chad Johnson wants to throw it deep (shocker!), but Marvin Lewis is a little too conservative for that.

Broncos -4.5 over Browns
This is a story that has been discussed way too often, so why not throw it out there once more. A lot of the players for the Broncos used to play for the Browns. They sucked donkeys for the Browns and are a top defense for the Broncos. What The Fungus?!?!?!? Tatum Bell will have a big day, so Jake Plummer will not be put in the position to lose this game.

Redskins +9 over Colts
This is an upset pick, but one with some thought behind it. Indy has a lot of trouble stopping the run. Clinton Portis is a great running back. Therefore, I see some clock control that keeps this game close. Or, Peyton could throw for 400 yards and 4 TDs on a piss poor Redskin defense. I am leaning more toward the Portis option.

Seahawks -6.5 over Vikes
The Vikes have an underrated defense, but the Seahawks are still riding that amazing win against the Rams. This brings me back to the controversial call at the end of that game. First, I complimented Ed Hochili, then I said he was wrong, and now, according to John Clayton, he was right. And then, later on, it appears he might have been wrong. Who knows? All I know is that the NFL is going to change the rule to probably make it easier to understand.

Cards -3 over Raiders
A lot of people are predicting that the Cardinals will be so upset by blowing that sure win against the Bears that the funk will help the Raiders achieve their first, and probably only, win of the season. This would be true, except for the fact they are playing the Raiders. If they were playing any other team in the NFL, and some of the teams in the NCAA, I would go against the Cards. But, the Raiders are....well....is there anything they're good at? Seriously.

Giants +3 over Cowboys
What a great Monday Night game! The Giants have looked good against the Redskins and the Falcons, but now were are starting to see that those teams, especially the Skins, are not that good. Dallas looked terrible against the Eagles, and for one half not so good against Houston, but that second half was nice. Look for the loudmouths, Shockey and Owens, to have big game. Also, be prepared for the onslaught of Tiki talk. Will he retire? Should he have mentioned it this early in the season? Should he be in the Hall of Fame? The answers: 1. Yes. 2. No. 3. No.
Tiki has a future in news/announcing, and not just football. I think talking about it this early is a little bit of an unnecessary distraction. His numbers do not warrant the HOF. Curtis Martin of the Jets has a better argument than Tiki. As does Thurman Thomas, who did not make it in. Tiki appears to be a nice guy. That is not enough for the HOF, so Peter King, go buy some Starbucks and stop talking about it.

Don't Look Back in Anger

Some closing thoughts on Week 6 in the NFL.

Chargers 48-19 over 49ers
This wasn't much of a surprise. Today, Peter King of si.com said that Phillip Rivers was going to the Pro Bowl. He's right. He is currently the #1 ranked QB in the AFC, and with Tom Brady having a down year, Rivers and Peyton appear to be the cream of the AFC crop. I picked this one right, although there was a little more scoring than I thought on SD's side.

Jets 20-17 over Dolphins
The Jets almost blew this, but thanks to the reverse jinx I put on them they won. Although the record shows I picked Miami, I am still claiming this as a victory. The reverse jinx was the plan all along. BTW, sitting at BW-3's with The Lon, I correctly called "Wide Right" on Mare's potential game tying field goal.

Steelers 45-7 over Chiefs
The highlight for me was seeing Larry Johnson tackle Troy Palomaleulalula??? by his hair. At least TP did not complain, although his little bitchy Steeler teammates were going nuts. I'm sorry, but the NFL is completely anal about EVERYTHING their people wear, but dudes can run around with hair all over the damn place?!? As for how my prediction went. See Charlie Murphy below.


Seahawks 30-28 over Rams
A very exciting game featuring two offenses hitting on all cylinders. Torry Holt was unbelievable and the officials did a great job of explaining what happened at the end of the game. Oh, and I picked this one right.
*******UPDATE*******
So, apparently, the official pulled a Charlie Murphy and was WRONG! WRONG! And the Rams got screwed.

Titans 25-22 over Skins
I didn't pick this one, but I was rooting for the Titans the whole game. People, Jeff Fisher is one hell of a football coach. If the Titans are dumb enough to get rid of him, teams will be tripping over themselves to sign him up. Meanwhile, DC continues to implode. When will we see Jason Campbell? And what happened to the DC defense?

Saints 27-24 over Eagles
Once again, another wrong pick for me. Just when I think Philly may be the best team in the NFL, they come out and do something like this. They have lost two games (Giants and this one) to teams they should have beaten. But, how can you root against the Saints? Also, when are they just going to move Reggie Bush to WR?

Lions 20-17 over Bills
Another Charlie Murphy for me. WRONG! WRONG! Roy Williams put on a show and Kevin Jones FINALLY looked like a good running back. Too bad Matt Millen gets to celebrate, beyond that good win for Detroit. Lions fans should enjoy it, they will probably only get a few more all season.

Giants 27-14 over Falcons
The best college football game of the weekend. I got this one right, although I did not predict 600 rushing yards. Hey. What did The Lon have to say about this game???

Falcones (-3) over GiantsThis is easy money...the G-Men suck.

Oh yeah. Good call.

Cowboys 34-6 over Texans
I should have gone with my brain and not my heart. The Drew Bledsoe implosion I so desired has been put off for another week or so. At least T.O. got three TDs. That helped my fantasy league.

Panthers 23-21 over Ravens
If you had Week 6 in your "When will Steve McNair get hurt" pool, YOU WIN! At least I got this one right. Although two fluky TDs by Kyle Boller made it interesting.

Broncos 13-3 over Raiders
Sorry Denver. You cannot be the best team in the AFC when you only score 13 on the Oakland Raiders. At home. RUMOR ALERT- I read on the "internets" that Jay Cutler has a torn rotator cuff (If I remembered where, I would give a link. I think it was the aol.fanhouse) Anyway, that may be the reason Jake Plummer still has a job.

As far as Monday night? We shall see.

About Some of My Picks

POSTED EARLIER:

Chiefs +6.5 over SteelersSomething is wrong in Pittsburgh. I am not quite sure what it is. Wait, yeah I am. It is the fact that Big Ben is a walking disaster area and it is quite possible that a grand piano could fall on him while I am typing this. In fact, I am flipping over to si.com real quick to make sure that didn't happen...................nope, still OK. I think this will be a close low-scoring game, so I am taking the Chiefs and the points.

WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Missed one

Panthers (+3) over Ravens (UPSET SPECIAL)

The Lon's picks.....Lonnie-style!

BenGals (-5) over Bucs
Bucs are due for a win, but I think the BenGals are too.

Skins (-12) over Titans
You know my stance on the Titans, although they almost won the last time they had a double-digit line.

Cowboys (-13) over Texans
Look for Drew Bledsoe to try and "get well" against the pathetic Texans.

Lions (+1.5) over Buffalo
2 Crappy teams....I'm taking the home team getting pts.

Falcones (-3) over Giants
This is easy money...the G-Men suck.

Saints (+3) over Eagles
Saints at home getting pts. Eagles are good, so don't go crazy here.

Jets(-2.5) over Miami
Go Jets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

49ers (+9.5) over Chargers
49ers @home, a lot of pts, and Martyball.

Steelers (-6.5) over Chiefs
The Chiefs line is weird every week, seems like a few too many pts., but the Champs have to win a few games this year, don't they?

Broncos (-14) over Raiders
Shanahan HATES the Raiders. They will run trick plays up 35-0.

Bears (-11) over Cards
The Cards covering wouldn't shock me, but you've got to go with Da' Bears here.

NFL Picks, Scrooge McDuck Style!

Do you want to swim around in cash like my main man to the left here, Scrooge McDuck? If so, then just scroll through The Kid's picks and get ready to go swimming around in $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!

Bengals -5 over Bucs
I am a little disappointed that former Buc Dexter Jackson will probably not be playing, as earlier this week he was telling anyone who would listen that the Bucs decline on defense was because he had left. Anyway, I expect Chad Johnson to finally have a Chad Johnson game and the Bucs MAC QB will throw a few pick, because that is what the Bengals do. Who Dey! PS> For $100 and a 12 pack of Bud, suspended Bengal WR Chris Henry will watch this game at your house with you. However, he may need a ride home. And if you give it, keep the windows rolled down.

Skin -10.5 over Titanics
Don't let their valiant effort against the Colts fool you. The Titans are not good. Hammerin' Hank explained it thusly, "The only reason the Titans hung around is because Indy cannot stop the run. Washington can stop the run." Of course, Hammerin' Hank had an Oakland Raider type week last week, so take it for what it's worth.

Cowboys -13 over Texans. Fuck it, Texans +13 over Cowboys!!!!
While I was typing this I changed my mind. Sure, the Texans have no pass rush and a terrible pass defense, but in my mind I am rooting for a total Drew Bledsoe meltdown. I want it. I need it. So, Mario Williams. This is the game for you to step up and show the world something. Get after Drew! Picture him as every journalist in America that bitches and moans about the Texans taking you over Reggie Bush. This is your game Mario. Don't let me down.

Bills -1.5 over Lions
Is Matt Millen still running the Lions? If so, Buffalo is the pick. All the Detroit mojo is centered around the Tigers. Sorry Lions. Although, Jim Leyland is available today to coach your team. Seriously, he couldn't do worse.

Rmas +3 over Seahawks
My favorite NFL story of the week involves former special teams captain for Seattle, and current St. Louis Ram, Isaiah Kacyvenski. The Shawks cut him last Friday to carry an extra RB, with the promise they would call and resign him on Monday. Well, during that time Rams Head Coach Scott Linehan saw his name on the wire and signed him to a contract. Seattle Head Coach Mike Holmgren was not happy. But hey, that's life in the NFL. There is no loyalty and the reason is the NFL Player's Union has absolutely zero balls (just like The Lon! Zing!). The owners hold all the cards and you gotta get paid! Congrats to Kacyvenski for screwing over the Seahawks, b/c given the opportunity, they would screw him. So, I am picking the Rams based solely on kharma.

Giants +3 over Falcons
This is a tough game to pick. The Falcons are coming off the bye, are balanced, and are at home. The G-men are coming off a dominating victory over the rival Redskins. At this point, I think NY is the better team. The ATL has had a little trouble punching it in and their kicker is 72 years old. Of course, the NY kicker is Jay Feely.

Eagles -3 over Saints
This is an odd line. The Eagles are VERY good and the Saints are just good, with a few lucky break wins under their belt. I would take the Eagles up to 7.5 here, so -3 looks like a gift. Of course, this could be the game Reggie Bush explodes, but I doubt it.

Panthers +3 over Ravens
I will keep screaming it until everyone agrees, but the Ravens areNOT THAT GOOD! If I have to hear one more freakin' announcer talk about how Steve McNair has "finally given them an offense" I am going to start jabbing steak knives into my ears for relief. Here are some stats. The Ravens have the 13th best offense in the AFC, 29th best overall. They are behind Tennessee, Houston, Mami, and the Jets. McNair is the 26th ranked QB. They are STILL bad on offense. And the Panthers will beat them.

Dolphins +2.5 over Jets
Remember that post I made about the Jets being good. Forget it. I am done with them after that Jax game. Joey Harrington is the man! And his official NFL picture looks like Jon Heder.
Of course, you can expect the Jets to prove me wrong, b/c they hate me for some reason.

Chargers -9.5 over 49ers
This line is a little interesting, b/c the 49ers can score. But they have not seen a defense like the Chargers. Shawne Merriman will be doing his little "Turning out the lights" dance several times today and the Chargers will crush the 'Niners.

Chiefs +6.5 over Steelers
Something is wrong in Pittsburgh. I am not quite sure what it is. Wait, yeah I am. It is the fact that Big Ben is a walking disaster area and it is quite possible that a grand piano could fall on him while I am typing this. In fact, I am flipping over to si.com real quick to make sure that didn't happen...................nope, still OK. I think this will be a close low-scoring game, so I am taking the Chiefs and the points.

Broncos +14 over Raiders
I have to believe Oakland would not be this bad if Al Davis was still alive (Full disclosure, I stole that joke from about 54 people that have done some variation on it for the past month or so). Normally, 14 is a lot of points. But not when you are playing the Raiders. Even Jake Plummer cannot blow this, and he can blow a lot of things (ZING!)

Bears -11 over Cardinals
Dear Mr. Leinart,

Welcome to the NFL.

Yours truly,

Brian Urlacher and Tommie Harris

Big Blue Madness

So, I was at a rehearsal dinner last night and had to tape the "Big Blue Madness". I have to admit, this may have actually been the way to go. I was able to FFW through a lot of the "filler" such as the clogging (i have to admit, it was not nearly as bad as i thought it was going to be) and the intro and scrimmage of the women's team. Don't get me wrong, I love the ladies, they really rev my engine (thanks to Brian Fantana), but that is not what I tuned in to see. I had heard Mason, the PA guy for the Pistons, on the radio during an afternoon run, and I was extremely excited to see the 2006-2007 Cats. Later, I will give a more in depth look, meaning I will watch the rest of the scrimmage, but first I just want to say something about Perry Stevenson and his number. Perry will wear #21. This means, for the last eight years, #21 has been worn by the skinniest guy on the team. Tayshaun Prince, Shagari Alleyne, and now Perry Stevenson. Is there some sort of weight limit for #21? If Perry bulks up, will he have to wear a different number? It is all very confusing. And Mark Coury? I definitely miss the goggles.

Where's Kid Rock?

As I watch the Detroit Tigers continue their march to the World Series (seriously, Oakland. What happened? Is this the same team that dominated the Twins? I mean.....come on) one thing I have noticed is the noticable absent of the Detroit celebs. Now, I will admit I have not watched EVERY minute of the LCS, but I have watched enough to notice that Kid Rock and Eminem, two celebs that seemed to always be around the Detroit Pistons, have not made their way onto our great nation's airwaves. What are they waiting for? Maybe the World Series? Is it too early? What do the Tigers have to do to get Kid Rock away from banging Pam Anderson and out to a 30 degree baseball game. Oh. I may have just answered my own question.

The Kid (Not to be confused with Kid Rock)

All You Need to Know About the Oakland Raiders

So, I was playing around on Youtube.com and saw this video. Just click on the title of this post, and you will learn all you need to know about this year's Raiders.

The Kid

The Lon sets you straight

Thanks for your picks "Le Gay Farie;" time to let a non-pillow biter pick, and set things "straight."

On to the picks:
Colts (-18) over Titans
Kudos to Vegas (& more correctly, the public) for making the line interesting. Week 5 is when the lines start making some sense usually, and the gambling gets really tough. To take the Titans here, you have to believe that Peyton Manning is not going to run up the score in a nationally-televised game, after the Colts' O looked average against the Jags and Jets.

Skins (+5.5) over Giants
Really don't know what to expect out of the G-Men...I think both these teams stink, G-Men may win, but seems like too many points after getting DESTROYED by Seattle. I'm going to stay away from this one though.

Vikes (-6.5) over Detroit
Umm, I'm not going to put money on Detroit while Matt Millen is there (unless they get +26 @ home)

Saints (-7) over Bucs
Saints lost a tough game last week to a good Panthers team. Saints are at home facing a winless team, with a QB I've never heard of. You do the math.

Rams (-2.5) over Packers
Unless you believe that Favre's neck stinger means he'll get knocked out of the game in the 1st quarter, take the Rams. The juice you have to give to bet the Rams this morning means EVERYONE is taking the Rams here (which scares me a little...)

Pats (-9.5) over Phins
Joey Harrington is starting today for the Phins. That means he's perceived to be an upgrade for the Phins' big off-season signing.

Bears (-9.5) over Bills
I'm going to buy a cowboy hat to wear on Da Bears' bandwagon.

Panthers (-7.5) over Browns
I don't like that extra .5, but you have to think the Panthers will kick ass at home in this spot.

Jags (-6.5) over Jets
Love my Jets, but this could be brutal to watch. The Jags made the Colts look silly 2 weeks ago.

Chiefs (-3.5) over Cards
A Leinart rescus would not shock me here, but I have to go this way after both teams' efforts last week.

49ers (-3.5) over Raiders
Raiders are not good; their 1st win will come at homes.

Eagles (-1) over Cowboys
This is put up or shut up time for Donovan McNabb. The Eagles are better than the Cowboys, and he needs to stomp the 'Boys here to save his rep. I am, of course, secretly rooting for T.O. to light the Eagles up just for the effect on the Philly fans.

Steelers (+3) over Chargers (UPSET SPECIAL)
I did not like Rivers' performance against the ravens last week.

Broncos (-5.5) over Ravens
I know what I said last week, but I PROMISE the Ravens actually suck.

T-I-P'S from The K-I-D!

I missed last weekend on account of Old Style, but The Kid is back! Let's pick some winners...

Titans +18.5 over Colts
That is not a type. That is an 18.5 point spread. In an NFL game. Despite the fact that the Titans are the worst team in the league, I just cannot in good conscience give 18.5 points to another professional team. So, maybe Vince Young thinks he's at Texas and makes a few plays. Maybe Pac-Man Jones pulls a gat and shoots Peyton Manning in the leg. Who knows? The crazy thing about this line is that it has stayed steady all week, meaning a lot of people have absolutely zero problem picking the Colts. But not The Kid!

Skins +4.5 over Giants
When The Lon makes his picks, you can be sure he will mention that A. The Giants hate their coach and B. The Skins coaches cannot coach. Both may be a little bit true, but the B. Is starting to look less and less. Based on their game against Jax last weekend, the Skins "O" could be turning the corner. The G-Men give up A LOT of yards and points. This should be high scoring and since both teams are close, I will take the dog.

Vikes -6.5 over Lions
The only reason I am taking the Vikes is because they are at home. Also, they have a better coach. And a better quarterback. Actually, there appear to be quite a few reasons I am taking the Vikes. Speaking of the Lions, during ESPN College Gameday, in Gainesville, FL, Saturday morning, there were a few "FIRE MILLEN!" signs. There was also a sign saying "CORSO LOVES COCK" with a drawing of a unit in place of the actual word. It doesn't have a lot to do with the game, but it was funny.

Saints -6.5 over Bucs
New Orleans, but like New Jersey, is sort of surprising in their goodness. Sean Payton, after being sorta fired in New York then resurrecting his career in Dallas, has proven to be an effective coach, and Drew Brees is proving, perhaps, better than a lot of us thought. Tampa Bay is starting a rookie quarterback, and based on how crappy Chris Simms played before having his spleen knocked out of him, this guy has got to be pretty bad. As of 11:30 Sunday morning, Rich Gannon was still retired. Bold predicition: Reggie Bush scores his first NFL touchdown today.

Rams -3 over Packers
This one took awhile. Although I mock him a lot, Brett Favre is having a pretty good year. However, the team is just bad. The Rams are not much better, but I like the Rams WRs running over and around the Green Bay secondary. So, Rams are the pick.

Dolphins +10 over Pats
This is the big upset. I think the Pats will win, but the Dolphins will cover. The Inferno is going to be the 3rd QB today, and, believe it or not, I think Joey Harrington will make this team a little better. Dolphins coach Nick Saban is a former Belichick guy and playing the Pats tough is how he built his rep last year. Of course, it is always risky to bet against Tom Brady, but if DEREK JETER!'s team can lose three straight game in the playoffs, Brady can have a bad day against Miami.

Bills +10 over Bears
Maybe this should be my upset. Pretty much the same thinking as above. Bears will win, but Bills will cover. Too good defenses mean no blowout.

Panthers -7.5 over Browns
At some point, Carolina has to start playing like the Super Bowl pick they were before the year started. Why not today? Cleveland is a good bad team. Meaning, they are a bad team, but better than Oakland, Tenn, Zona, etc. Regardless, Steve Smith is healthy, the Panthers are at home, and the Browns are going to lose. By at least 8. Hopefully.

Jets +7 over Jags
I just had a post earlier this week where I talked about how the NYJets were surprisingly good this year. After doing that, I can't turn around and pick against them. The Jags have a good defense, but they have a lot of questions on offense, as well as some injury issues. Eric Mangini and his man boobs will win this game.

Chiefs -3.5 over Cards
Remember earlier in the year, when the Dolphins were Super Bowl contenders and Arizona was EVERYONE'S sleeper? Man August was nice. Anyway, despite having a great fantasy team on offense, Zona apparently forgot to actually sign on offensive line. And take it from somebody who watches UK football, an offensive line is kind of a necessity in the game of football. So, despite the fact that Herm Edwards has completely killed the Chiefs explosive "O", the Chiefs are still good enough to roll over the Cards. However, I would really appreciate it if Mudslide Dennis Green can get Edge a couple of TDs. My fantasy team really needs it.

49ers +3.5 over Raiders
There are only three valid reasons for watching this game: 1. You're a Radier fan (meaning you are probably in jail) 2. You're a 49er fan 3. You have money on the game. On the bright side, all the offensive players on both teams should have big fantasy days.

Cowboys +2 over Eagles
You may not be aware of this, but apparenlty Dallas plays Philly in Philly. Did you know that Terrell Owens (aka TO) once played for Philly? And now he plays for Dallas? I wish I could find an NFL pregame show that would effectively cover this angle. Anyway, the big question is, will Brian Westbrook play? The Eagles did not need him last week, but if they want to win this game they will. However, it won't be enough. Look for a BIG DAY from TO. That is provided, of course, an Eagles fan does not shoot him. Don't laugh, that is totally a possibility.

Chargers -3.5 over Steelers
Call me crazy, but I still think that San Diego is the best team in the AFC. Hey, off topic, but Joe Buch on FOX just introduced the baseball highlights with this, "Now, the bad news in Detroit." Bad news? Seriously. Maybe to Yankee fans and FOX executives, but for everyone else, it is GREAT news. At the UK/USC football game last night, one of the biggest ovations came when the PA guy announced the score of the Tigers/Yankees game. Suck it Joe Buck!

MNF Broncos -4 over Ravens
The Ravens may go undefeated and win the Super Bowl, but you still will not be able to convince me they are a good team.

There you go. The Lon and his picks will be here soon, but there really is no reason to read them. The guy couldn't pick his way out of a paper bag. (I have no idea what that means)