Happy Thanksgiving

A Happy Thanksgiving to all. I'm very thankful this year for a lot of things. My family and friends foremost. I don't know what I would do without all of you. My health, my job and all the wonderful students I get to work with every day. I hope and pray that all of you have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving.

“By seeing the seed of failure in every success, we remain humble. By seeing the seed of success in every failure we remain hopeful.” -Mel Ziegler

So I was a bit off. Okay, not even close. Sometimes your gut is just wrong. In this instance I’m glad I was off. Not only did the Packers beat the Vikings last week which I predicted so inaccurately but in that win A-Rodg and Greg Jennings got me 72 points combined. Enough for me to score 183 points in fantasy. It was one of those perfect storm days where everything just goes right. 8 of my 9 players scored over 14points. Ridiculous. One of the reasons I love Fantasy Football. One week you score 50points and the next week you score 183 points. The person I beat this week scored 80 some but I kind of wish he would have scored like 150. Too beat someone when they score 150 points is a great feeling. So much for me being humbled. Anyway, I degress. Back to the predictions. While I missed on the Packers/Vikings game I was correct on the other 3 in depth predictions. The Steelers, Patriots and Eagles all won their games. In the overall predictions this weeks winner was Timmy who was 14-2, followed by Topher who was 13-3 and Ford who was 12-4. Sadly I finished the week at 9-7. The overall scores are listed below. On to this weeks games.

Picks for Week 12
NE @ DETROIT
The Patriots are rolling right now and I don’t see how the Lions are going to be able to stop them. The Lions have been competive in most of the their games this year but I don’t see the Patriots stumbling today. Even if Tom Brady who is questiable for the game doesn’t play. In the last 6 Thanksgiving Day games the Lions are 0-6 and have been outscored 213-74. They’ve scored over 13 points just once in that time. I think the Patriots pour it on today. 35-10.

NO @ DAL
Both teams come into today on a roll. The Saints have won 3 straight and the Cowboys are 2-0 after changing coaches. The Cowboys are 9-2 all-time against the Saints at home all thought the Saints had won 5 in a row against the Cowboys until last years 24-17 Cowboys win in New Orleans. I think the Cowboys winning streak comes to an end against the Saints. One more interesting stat. Over the last 2 seasons the Saints are 5-1 in national TV games. Their one loss coming to the Cowboys last year. Saints win 35-21.


CIN @ NYJ
T.O. said this week that Darrelle Revis is an average cornerback. We’ll find tonight just how average he is. Or perhaps we will find out how average Carson Palmer has become. The Bengals have the 23rd worst rush defense in the league. The Jets have the 4th best offense running the ball. I don’t think Mark Sanchez will have to do much in this game for the Jets to win. I think it will be close as most of the Jet’s games are. Jets 24-20.



GB @ ATL
This game should be a lot of fun too watch as 2 of the best teams in the NFL match up. The Packers defense has given up 1 touchdown in the last 3 games. The Falcons are averaging 31.5 points in their 4 game winning streak and Matt Ryan is 18-1 at home. Something has to give. Falcons win 21-17.

_____________________SPA____Topher___Timmy____Ford
N.E. at Det______________N.E.___N.E.______N.E.______N.E.
N.O. at Dal______________N.O.___Dal______N.O.______N.O.
Cin at NYJ______________NYJ____NYJ_____NYJ______NYJ
G.B. at Atl______________Atl_____Atl______G.B.______G.B.
Pit at Buf_______________Pit_____Pit______Pit_______Pit
Car at Cle ______________Cle_____Cle______Cle______Cle
Jac at NYG______________NYG____NYG____NYG______NYG
Min at Was______________Min____Min_____Was______Min
Ten at Hou______________Hou____Ten_____Hou______Hou
Mia at Oak______________Oak____Oak_____Oak______Oak
K.C. at Sea______________Sea____K.C.______K.C._____K.C.
Phi at Chi_______________Phi____Phi______Phi______Phi
STL at Den______________STL____STL_____Den_______Den
T.B. at Bal______________Bal_____Bal______Bal______Bal
S.D. at Ind______________IND____Ind______Ind ______Ind
S.F. at Ari______________Ari_____S.F.______Ari______Ari

_________________________________________________

Last Week ______________9-7____13-3______14-2_______12-4

Season Total_____________18-11____20-9______14-2______20-9

You Know What Really Grinds My Geers

This might come as a surprise to some people but I am fairly competitive. I also tend to get agitated quite easily. I decided for this week’s blog to list some of these things in sports that really irk me. I would love to hear about anything else in sports that irritate you. Below I’ve also listed my picks for this week. My buddy Tim has joined the picks segment of my blog. I told him that he would be a week off but I believe he is confident he will catch the other 3 of us in wins by the end of the year. Have a great end to the week.

Analysts who say a particular game is “A must win game” when it isn’t.

The NHL

People who say small market teams can’t compete in Major League Baseball. Rangers, Padres and Reds were in the bottom 11 of payrolls at the beginning of last year. That’s 2 division winners and another who led their division most of the year.

People who say there is no parity in baseball. Since 1980, 18 different franchises have won the World Series. Since 2000 half of the MLB teams have made the World Series. Since 2000 nine different teams have won the World Series. How much more parity can we have?

People at sporting events who scream things like, “I could do a better job blocking then these guys.” Really? You weigh 120 pounds. I would like to see you try and block a 350 defensive lineman. Really I would.

People who say, “How can you watch Professional Wrestling? Don’t you know it’s fake?” You know what? It is scripted. You know what else is. Law and Order: SVU, Criminal Minds and How I Met your Mother. I probably shouldn’t watch hose shows either?

Any time Shannon Sharpe speaks

People who say NASCAR is lame because all they do is go around in circles. It’s the same things as saying football is boring because all they do is run up and down the field.

People who talk during the National Anthem

Announcers who can’t pronounce New Orleans correctly. Learn how to say it Al Michaels.

When I’m all excited to watch my NFL or college team play and they replace it with another game half way through because my team is ahead by so many.

When a caller calls into a radio show and asks a question. The announcers spend 5
minutes trying to answer the question but never actually do.

Anytime Jim Rome speaks

When someone is speaking about a different team sucking and then they refer to the Oakland Raiders in the same article.

Bob Stoops. Period.


PICKS FOR WEEK ELEVEN

Green Bay @ Minnesota
I don’t really see how the Packers lose this game. Minnesota has everything working against them. The player are revolting against the coach. Their 57 year old quarterback (who I still believe is the “Man”) has a bum ankle and a bum shoulder. The Packers defense has given up 2 touchdowns in the last 10 quarters. I just don’t know how the Vikings win this game. But they will. Vikings 24-21

Oakland @ Pittsburgh
The Oakland Raiders are in first place in their division after 9 weeks of football. The last time the Raiders were 5-4 in a season was 2002. That season they won 9 out of their last 10 games and went to the Super Bowl. Not quite sure this team is at that level yet but they are playing much better as of late. Steelers win at home but it’s close. Steelers 35-34

Indianapolis @ New England
This is the 8th straight year these 2 teams are playing. The Patriots hold a 4-3 advantage over the colts with the average margin of victory being by only 2 points. Both teams are coming off close games. With the Colts missing many key players and the game being at Gillette Stadium where the Pats are 4-0 I see this contest going in the Pats favor. New England wins 31-28.

Giants @ Philadelphia
Which Giants team are we going to see. The team who won 5 in a row or the team that got destroyed by the Cowboys at home. The Giants wins this year have come against Carolina, Houston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit and Seattle. The best 2 teams they’ve played record wise, the Colts and Titans both beat the Giants and outscored them 67-24. The Eagles were rolling on offense on Monday night and I believe it will continue on Sunday night. Eagles 40-28.

_____________________ SPA____Topher___Timmy___Ford
Chi at Mia______________ Mia ____Chi______Chi______ Mia
Buf at Cin_______________Cin ____Buf______Cin______ Buf
Det at Dal_______________Det ____Dal______Dal______Dal
Was at Ten______________Ten____Ten_____Ten______Ten
Ari at K.C._______________KC____ KC______KC_______KC
G.B.at Min ______________Min____GB______GB______GB
Hou at NYJ______________NYJ____NYJ_____NYJ_____NYJ
Oak at Pit_______________Pit_____Pit______Pit ______Pit
Bal at Car_______________Bal_____Bal______Bal______Bal
Cle at Jac_______________Cle_____Jac______Jac______Cle
T.B. at S.F.______________SF_____TB______TB_______TB
Sea at N.O.______________NO____NO______NO_______NO
Atl at STL______________Atl_____STL_____Atl________Atl
Ind at N.E.______________NE_____NE______NE_______Ind
NYG at Phi______________Phil____ NY______Phi ______Phil
Den at S.D.______________SD_____ SD______SD_______SD

_________________________________________________

Last Week ______________9-4____7-6______0-0_______8-5

Season Total_____________9-4____7-6______0-0_______8-5

Good week to be a sports fan

Sometimes the stars a line and all seems right in the world. My high school won their 26th straight game and their 2nd State football championship in a row, Nebraksa beat Kansas to move closer to a trip to the Big 12 Championship game and the Raiders beat the Chiefs to go into the bye week only ½ game behind Kansas City for the division lead. Life is great in Pat’s sports world. I also had the privledge to play “Arena Football” and some outdoor football this week with kids from the Boys and Girls Club. At first this group of 6th graders wanted to play tackle. I’ve always dreamed of plaing tackle football with a 12 year old and lighting him up but when it came down to it I just couldn’t do it. I had my chances but for whatever reason I didn’t think flatting a 95 pound kid was in the best interest of my job.

So I’ve decided to make some predictions weekly about the upcoming NFL week. I’ve never really tried to make predictions before or at least not where others could see it. To make this more interesting I’ve decided to seek the help of a few friends in giving their predictions as well. Each week my buddies Ford and Chris will be helping to give their predictions. For a few games I will also be giving a more in depth prediction. Onto this week’s games.

DET @ BUF
Buffalo has lost the last 3 games by 3 point each and all of them have been against potential playoff teams. Detroit will be out Mathew Stafford this week and possibly the season. Bills win 28-17

MIN @ CHI
The “Man” brought the Vikes back last week and may have helped save their season. Cutler was only sacked once last week but it was also against the Bills. Chicago has the 3rd ranked defense against the run. With Adrian Peterson limited I think Favre puts up a lot of passes which will cost the team a few interceptions. Bears 35-31.

NYJ @ Cle
Peyton Hillis will have a hard time running against the Jets defense. The Jets will pressure Coly McCoy all day. Mark Sanchez will do enough for the Jets to win. Jets 21-10

CIN @ IND
While the Bengals have been competitive in most of their games I don’t see this one being that way. Colts win easy and send the Bengals to a 6th straight defeat. Colts 38-17

TEN @ MIA
Chad Pennington gets the start for Miami. He doesn’t have the arm strength that Henne has and it will show. Miami is 0-3 this year at home. That record will go to 0-4. I believe Moss will have an impact on the game even if he doesn't catch a lot of balls. Titans 24-17

NE @ PIT
New England gave up 230 yards rushing last week to the Browns. Theri defense will play better but their offense won't do enough against the tough Steeler defense. Steelers at home 28-24



____________________ PAT____ TOPHER____FORD
DET @ BUF__________BUF____BUF________BUF
MIN @ CHI__________CHI_____MIN________CHI
NYJ @ CLE__________NYJ_____CLE________NYJ
CAR @ TB___________TB______TB_________TB
HOU @ JAC__________JAC_____JAC________HOU
CIN @ IND___________IND____IND_________IND
TEN @ MIA__________TEN____TEN_________MIA
KC @ DEN___________DEN____KC__________DEN
DAL @ NYG_________NYG____DAL_________NYG
SEA @ ARI__________ARI_____ARI__________ARI
STL @ SF____________SF______SF___________STL
NE @ PIT____________PIT_____NE___________PIT
PHI @ WAS__________PHI_____PHI__________ PHI