NYE College Games

More NCAA Bowl Picks

Music City Bowl

(www.musiccitybowl.com)

NC State (7-5) vs Vanderbilt (8-4)

Vandy 31-24

Sun Bowl

(www.sunbowl.org)

USC (7-5) vs Ga Tech (6-7)

USC 40-14

Liberty Bowl

(www.libertybowl.org)

Iowa State (6-6) vs Tulsa (10-3)

Tulsa 44-30

Chick-fil-A Bowl

(www.chick-fil-abowl.com)

LSU (8) (10-2) vs Clemson (14) (10-2)

LSU 27-17

NFL Regular Season Reaches Final Week....

Some playoff spots still available

The NFL regular season comes to an end on Sunday with some teams still vying to extend their season into the playoffs. Last week, I had a huge 13-3 record boosting my season ledger to 136-104. Here we go with my picks for the week.

Tampa Bay @ Atlanta

Atlanta 30-14

Oakland @ San Diego

San Diego 27-17

NY Jets @ Buffalo

Tebow Time is over!!

Buffalo 24-21

Baltimore @ Cincinnati

Both teams are playoff bound...

Cincy 30-27

Chicago @ Detroit

Lions play spoilers!!

Detroit 30-20

Jacksonville @ Tennessee

Tennessee 34-24

Houston @ Indianapolis

Another playoff tune up...

Houston 24-20

Carolina @ New Orleans

New Orleans 38-34

Philadelphia @ NY Giants

Slim chance of a repeat for Super Bowl Champs...

NY Giants 21-13

Cleveland @ Pittsburgh

Pitt 31-17

Arizona @ San Francisco

San Fran 20-10

St. Louis @ Seattle

Seattle 30-21

Green Bay @ Minnesota

Peterson may miss out on the rushing record but a playoff berth will cushion the disappointment!!

Minnesota 31-27

Miami @ New England

New England 35-24

Kansas City @ Denver

Denver 40-14

Dallas @ Washington

This one finally means something again...both teams will pull out all of the stops in a fight for the division title and playoff berth. Hail to the 'Skins and RGIII!!

Washington 34-21

Back next week with playoff picks...

More College picks....

Big Bowl Saturday...

Though I have missed a few days and games...I'm back with some more NCAA Bowl Picks for Saturday.

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

(www.armedforcesbowl.com)

Rice (6-6) vs Air Force (6-6)

Fairly even match but you have to go with the Service Academy in this one right?

Air Force 35-31

New Era Pinstripe Bowl

(web.pinstripebowl.com)

West Virginia (7-5) vs Syracuse (7-5)

Was a Big East conference game until this season. West Virginia started strong but totally fell apart...they do like to blow teams out in bowl games though...

WVa 41-22

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

(www.kraftbowl.org)

Navy (8-4) vs Arizona State (7-5)

Navy may be more disciplined and prepared for this one.

Navy 38-34

Valero Alamo Bowl

(www.alamobowl.com)

Texas (23) (8-4) vs Oregon State (13) (9-3)

Texas is having problems....

Oregon State 31-14

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl

(www.fiestabowl.org/buffalo-wild-wings-bowl)

TCU (7-5) vs Michigan State (6-6)

Not a lot to see here!!

TCU 24-20

Back with more soon...

Pizza, Pizza pick!!!

Little Caesar's Bowl

(www.littlecaesarspizzabowl.com)

Western Kentucky (7-5) vs Central Michigan (6-6)

Fairly even matchup...guess I'll go with the locals since the game is in Detroit!!!

Central Mich 34-32

Christmas Eve Pick....

Quick One!!

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl

(www.sheratonhawaiibowl.com)

Fresno State (9-3) vs SMU (6-6)

Not a lot to ramble on about with this one...besides it is nearly 2am in Australia soooo......

Fresno State 38-20

Week 15 NFL Picks....

Playoff Spots for Christmas

The final weekend of NFL games for 2012 has a few key games that will help clear up the playoff picture. Earlier today Atlanta clinched the home advantage for the NFC by beating Detroit.

Last week, I had a 10-6 week and am now 123-101 for the season. No need loligagging around...to the picks:

San Diego @ NY Jets

Both are afterthoughts at the moment and off season questions are cropping up.

San Diego 27-20

New Orleans @ Dallas

Saints get to be spoilers!!

New Orleans 42-31

Tennessee @ Green Bay

Green Bay 31-20

Indianapolis @ Kansas City

Indy 35-20

Buffalo @ Miami

Miami 34-30

Washington @ Philadelphia

Redskins rolling to playoffs??

Washington 28-17

Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh

Bengals finally get a big one?

Cincy 24-21

St. Louis @ Tampa Bay

St. Louis 21-13

Oakland @ Carolina

Carolina 33-20

New England @ Jacksonville

New England 42-10

Minnesota @ Houston

Vikings need it but Texans are at home.

Houston 31-27

Cleveland @ Denver

Denver 38-7

Chicago @ Arizona

Arizona 17-13

NY Giants @ Baltimore

Flip the switch Giants .... go on do it!!

NY Giants 20-10

San Francisco @ Seattle

Best game of the week....taking Seattle at home...

Seattle 20-17

Done for now...until next week....

Saturday Games....

Saturday Night Special NFL Game

Saturday's NFL game:

Atlanta @ Detroit

The Falcons visit Detroit after their big win over the New York Giants in their last game. It could be a dangerous proposition facing a Lions team that is basically playing for pride as the season closes.

This week I may just tip the Lions for an upset.

Detroit 28-23

And in NCAA play: 

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

(www.neworleansbowl.org)

East Carolina vs Louisiana - Lafayette

This is essentially a home game for LA-Lafayette but East Carolina provides a quality opponent. The Pirates will be slightly more polished and should take a close one.

East Carolina 37-24

MAACO Bowl Las Vegas

(www.lvbowl.com)

Washington vs Boise State (19)

This one should be renamed the Boise State Invitational as the Broncos make their third straight appearance in the game.

Washington did not have the best of seasons and hope to end on a positive note...oddly these to meet to start the season next year in Seattle

This time around though...Boise State for the win.

Boise State 40-22

All until later in the weekend....

Quick One

Beef O'Brady's Bowl kicking off....

Picking Central Florida over Ball State 34-27!!

The first of my Bowl picks

I missed the first couple of bowl games but I will kick off my Bowl Predictions with the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl . The game reunites former conference foes Brigham Young (7-5) against San Diego State (9-3).

San Diego State has not lost a game since late September and will be playing essentially a home game against the Cougars. BYU has been inconsistent offensively this season and may not have enough fire-power to stay with the Aztecs.

San Diego State 37-23

Week 15 NFL...

Playoff Jostling Continues

Last week's 9-7 effort was not the best but it moved me to 113-95 for the season as the final three weeks begin.

There are a few teams battling for playoff spots so the next few weeks will be interesting!!

NY Giants @ Atlanta Falcons

Maybe the Falcons bounce back??

Atlanta 34-27

Carolina @ San Diego

San Diego 31-21

Minnesota @ St. Louis

Rams have been quietly achieving...

St. Louis 24-20

Jacksonville @ Miami

Miami 38-23

Green Bay @ Chicago

Who knows...coin flip and which Cutler shows up factor??

Chicago 24-23

Washington @ Cleveland

Washington 24-20

Denver @ Baltimore

The Broncs hit the wall.

Baltimore 21-17

Indianapolis @ Houston

Houston 35-24

Tampa Bay @ New Orleans

New Orleans 38-34

Detroit @ Arizona

Detroit 26-22

Seattle @ Buffalo

Bills for the surprise win

Buffalo 24-14

Pittsburgh @ Dallas

There will be a lot of smack talked by fans/friends of mine who are supporters of these teams...Facebook should be littered with it today!!

Pitt 31-24

Kansas City @ Oakland

Oakland 24-20

San Francisco @ New England

Bright lights win for the 'Niners!!

SF 34-31

NY Jets @ Tennessee

Tennessee 20-14

OK...good luck to me...back next week...

Bengals step into Thursday night spotlight...

Cincy visits Phily for Thursday game

The Cincinnati Bengals visit Philadelphia Thursday night looking for a win to keep their playoff chances alive. Cincy comes in from a tough loss to Dallas last weekend. The Eagles picked up a win last week and may pose a problem.

Cincinnati 30-23

Back with the rest of the weekend picks soon....

NFL enters Final 4 weeks....

Week 14 NFL picks

After a 7-9 record in Week 13 predictions, my record for the season is 104-88. Not my best effort so in the final four weeks, I'm looking for a 10 win a week effort!! One can wish!!

I got off to a good start thanks to Denver's win on Thursday night so here we go with the rest of the picks:

Atlanta @ Carolina

Atlanta 31-24

San Diego @ Pittsburgh

Ok Chargers, I do not go with blind loyalty this week!!

Pittsburgh 28-20

St. Louis @ Buffalo

Buffalo 27-23

Dallas @ Cincinnati

Both teams are battling for playoff spots....going with the home team.

Cincy 23-21

Kansas City @ Cleveland

Cleveland 30-27

Tennessee @ Indianapolis

Indy 34-20

Chicago @ Minnesota

Both teams need a win...again go with the home team.

Minnesota 24-21

Philadelphia @ Tampa Bay

Tampa Bat 31-24

Baltimore @ Washington

RG III may get the Skins through in a close one.

Washington 20-14

NY Jets @ Jacksonville

NY Jets 27-17

Miami @ San Francisco

San Fran 27-13

Arizona @ Seattle

Seattle 20-13

New Orleans @ NY Giants

Wake up time for the Giants!!

NY Giants 38-27

Detroit @ Green Bay

Surprise on the frozen tundra!!

Detroit 30-28

Houston @ New England

Texans need a win on the road against fellow conference heavy weight and get it!!

Houston 24-21

That does it for this week...fingers crossed!!

Championship Saturday for VHSL

Virginia High School Football Championship Games

I have been away from my predictions high school wise for a few weeks but am back for "Championship Saturday"!!!

I finished 155-61 in my Blog Picks for the season and 196-100 on VarsityCast in the Roanoke Times newspaper. 

Anyhow...congrats to all of the finalist and good luck from DownUnder....here are my picks:

Division 1

George Wythe vs Honaker

Both teams enter at 13-1 on the season, while I'm slightly familiar with GW, I do not have any idea about Honaker...so going with the ones I know.

George Wythe 23-21

Division 2

Essex vs Goochland

Essex 30-13

Division 3

Brookville vs Monroe

Essentiall a home game for Brookville....looks like another title for the Bees.

Brookville 35-14

Division 4

Heritage vs Briar Woods

Again...essentially a home game for Heritage but they will not fair as well as Brookville...

Briar Woods 26-7

Division 5

Lake Taylor vs Stone Bridge

Two unbeaten teams vie for the crown

Lake Taylor 20-14

Division 6

Ocean Lakes vs Bird

Again two undefeated teams go at it...flip a coin!! LOL!! Oh, I have a friend who teaches at Ocean Lakes!!

Ocean Lakes 24-22

So long for this high school season ... see you in August 2013!!

Thursday Night NFL

Broncos visit the Black Hole

While it may not be as intimidating as it once was, a visit to Oakland can be a season altering affair. This week with the Thursday night spotlight shining, the Denver Broncos pay a visit to the Raiders. 

I do not really see an upset but you never know...

Denver 23-14

Week 13 NFL Picks

Will Week 13 Be Lucky?

Well I had a break even 8-8 week last week and enter Week 13 with a 97-79 prediction record for the season so far. There is a mixed bag of games this weekend with Sunday's action surely to be sombre after the tragic events surrounding the death of Kansas City linebacker Jovan Belcher. More details on his death are here .

Now on to the picks:

Cincinnati @ San Diego

Yes, I am a loyal Chargers fan until the end!!! 

San Diego 27-21

Jacksonville @ Buffalo

Buffalo 28-24

Seattle @ Chicago

Chicago 24-17

San Francisco @ St. Louis

Will not be a tie this time...

San Francisco 34-20

New England @ Miami

New England 35-24

Arizona @ NY Jets

Arizona 19-17

Indianapolis @ Detroit

Detroit 34-28

Minnesota @ Green Bay

Green Bay 38-31

Houston @ Tennessee

Houston 23-14

Carolina @ Kansas City

Will be a tough day in KC

Carolina 30-13

Tampa Bay @ Denver

Upset of the week

Tampa Bay 28-27

Cleveland @ Oakland

Oakland 24-20

Pittsburgh @ Baltimore

Baltimore 27-14

Philadelphia @ Dallas

Who knows!! Coin Flip!! LOL!!

Dallas 20-17

NY Giants @ Washington

Skins hang on this time!!

Washington 30-27

That will do it for this week!!

Thursday night NFL

Atlanta-NOLA kick off weekend

New Orleans makes the trek to Atlanta looking for a win in the Thursday night NFL game this week. Atlanta have been the Cardiac Crew this season with several close wins on their way to a 10-1 record. New Orleans will need to pretty much win out and hope for help if they want to make a postseason appearance this year.

Keeping with their present form, I'll have to go with the Falcons to pull this one out.

Atlanta 30-28

Back with more picks over the next few days.....enjoy the game...

Sunday NFL predictions

Thanksgiving Weekend continued

After last weeks 9-5 finish, I'm at 89-71 for the season but after going 1-2 on Thanksgiving Day I need to get a few more right!!

Atlanta @ Tampa Bay

Bucs need this one and could just get it!!

Tampa Bay 28-27

Baltimore @ San Diego

C'Mon Chargers!!

San Diego 23-21

Minnesota @ Chicago

Chicago 27-21

Oakland @ Cincinnati

Cincy 31-20

Pittsburgh @ Cleveland

Pittsburgh 17-13

Buffalo @ Indianapolis

Indianapolis 30-24

Denver @ Kansas City

Denver 35-21

Seattle @ Miami

Seattle 24-21

Tennessee @ Jacksonville

Tenessee 41-27

St. Louis @ Arizona

Arizona 20-14

San Francisco @ New Orleans

San Fran 27-17

Green Bay @ NY Giants

Time for the sleeping giants to wake up....

NY Giants 34-28

Carolina @ Philadelphia

Philadelphia 28-24

Until next week.....

Thanksgiving Day picks....

Not just any Thursday!!!

There are a couple of extra NFL games and an NCAA affair on for the Thanksgiving holiday Thursday.

Here are my predictions:

NCAA:

TCU @ Texas (16)

Both teams are Bowl eligible with Texas looking to upgrade their level of participation by getting another win. Their first "conference" battle with the Frogs since the old Southwest Conference days.

Tipping Texas this season.

Texas 36-31

NFL:

Houston @ Detroit

Lions are looking for some holiday magic against the Texans....give them a little!!

Detroit 24-20

Washington @ Dallas

Great holiday matchup, though most are touting Dallas to make a playoff run...I'll go against tradition and tip RGIII and crew.

Washington 28-24

New England @ NY Jets

Tipping a slight upset in this one...

NY Jets 30-28

That does it for the holiday clashes...back later with more...

NFL Predictions---Need a better record this week!!

Recovery needed after last weeks effort!!

A paltry 6-8 effort for NFL Predictions last week has left me with an 80-66 record for the NFL season thus far.

No need to go on about it...straight into the picks!!

Arizona @ Atlanta

Falcons look to bounce back after suffering their first loss.

Atlanta 34-21

San Diego @ Denver

Chargers need to bounce back from loss to Broncs earlier in the season....

San Diego 24-20

Cleveland @ Dallas

Cowboys win two in a row???

Dallas 24-13

Green Bay @ Detroit

Detroit needs this one!!

Detroit 34-31

Cincinnati @ Kansas City

Cincy 21-14

Philadelphia @ Washington

Washington 28-27

Tampa Bay @ Carolina

Tampa Bay 23-21

Jacksonville @ Houston

Houston 45-20

NY Jets @ St. Louis

St. Louis 27-21

New Orleans @ Oakland

Oakland 28-24

Indianapolis @ New England

New England 38-30

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh

Ravens may have just enough to get by in Pittsburgh.

Baltimore 16-13

Chicago @ San Francisco

San Fran 27-17

All for now...