Florida vs. Georgia, Texas vs. Texas Tech, NFL, NBA

Before I get to talk this week's games, I'd like to bring up last week's. First, what happened in that Penn St./Ohio St. game? I know it was a defensive game, but I don't think either team's defense is that good.

Do you think Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma, USC, Florida or every other top team not in the Big Ten won't light both of these teams up? I certainly don't think so.

Penn St., I applaud you for ramming the ball down Ohio St.'s throat with Daryl Clark out and score late to seal the game. But that won't cut it when it counts. Enjoy your bye week. You'll need it.

Florida Vs. Georgia

Florida is winning this game big. I'm talking running up the score stuff. Remember that entire team celebration you guys did last year when you beat Florida?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj_yqJtmE2w

Basically the only reason Florida isn't undefeated is because they missed an extra point against Ole Miss. Their average margin of victory is 35 points. Demps is averaging nearly 12 yards a carry and Tim Tebow has been playing well.

Side conversation: anybody else think he will carry the Florida tradition of quarterbacks and be absolutely terrible as a pro? I sure do. Long live Danny Wuerffel.

Texas Vs. Texas Tech

If you told me that Texas won this game big or lost big, I would believe you. If you told me Tech won big or lost big, I would believe you. Tough game to call. This isn't the usual Texas Tech team and this isn't the usual college football anymore.

Texas has played 3 tough games in a row. They barely pulled that one out and their schedule "easy" after this game. Tech has been building up for this game and licking their chops. They're ready enough, they're good enough and they're at home. I'm taking Tech to win this one.

The rest of college football looks a bit uneventful, unless one of the top teams blows it. I think the Nebraska/Oklahoma game could be interesting out of pride, but Nebraska ain't what they used to be.

NFL

There are 17 teams with either 3 or 4 losses at this point, and 16 are playing this week. We're (pretty much) at the halfway point now. These teams need to define themselves and get to or get over a .500 winning percentage.

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills

Brett Favre was the goat and then the hero of last week's game. Buffalo struggled in that loss Miami. Chad Pennington threw for 300 yards! That doesn't bode well with the Favre passing attack. I'll take the Jets in this game.

Green Bay at Tennessee

Well, Tennessee put me in my place last week. I knew their defense was good, but I didn't know it was that good or that mean. Ouch. Their smash mouth offense and timely passing attack is tough to beat.

That said, Tennessee, 8-0? No way. THIS is the week that Kerry Collins stinks it up. It HAS to be. Just has to be. Remember when everyone was trying to sell us Jake the Snake Plummer in his Denver days? Same story. Green Bay gets win number 5.

Miami at Denver

Denver got smoked two weeks ago. Miami looked pretty good against Buffalo and passed their way to victory. Unfortunately, Denver had a timely bye week to get their offense read and maybe pretended to draw up a defense during it.

I like Denver in this game simply because Denver is a tough place to play. Miami is tough though. Maybe that AFC isn't so paltry after all, huh?

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants

This game should be a blowout. Problems for Dallas: Romo's out, Brad Johnson's in, T.O., suspect defense, and so on. New York just had that comeback win against Pittsburgh (in Pittsburgh). They're the defending champs looking to smack Dallas around.

When divisional teams play each other, all bets are off, especially in the NFC East. I picked against Dallas last week, but I won't do it this week. They seem to have an identity at the moment (run the ball, short passing game, their defense played well last week). Dallas it is. You heard it here first. And of course, I'll be wayyyyy wrong.

New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts

Do you remember when this game was serious prime time? In just a year, it's actually kind of sad. The Patriots are 5-2, but without Brady, this game doesn't have the same feel. And the Colts are just trying to get back to .500 and get in the playoffs.

The Colts just aren't very good right now (key words, "right now", they still care me). They could very easily be 1-6 (thanks to that sorry Vikings game and the Sage Rosenfels Air Show). They've got way too many injuries. Manning hasn't found his timing quite yet. Marvin Harrison isn't himself. Bob Sanders and Joe Addai might play, but they're beat up.

The Patriots win another close game in Lucas Oil Stadium.

Pittsburgh at Washington

I like this match-up. The Redskins play like the Steelers used to with a heavy running attack and an opportune quarterback. The Steelers have "gone rogue" you might say. They're spreading it out, allowing sacks, not running as consistently as they used to, etc.

Funner to watch, but not Steeler football. But...The Steelers blew it last week with that bizarro safety snap thing. They should have beaten New York and they're going to beat Washington. The 'Skins just aren't dynamic enough and the Steelers D will force Campbell to finally make a mistake or 3. Steelers it is.

NBA thoughts:

I'll be nice and say the Lakers looked scary good. I watched both of their first two games and their second time was pulling off some serious showtime. That team can run and gun and even played a little defense (won't happen in June, but I said I'd be nice, for now).

I was told Greg Oden is Sam Bowie 2.0. That's an insult to Sam Bowie. At least he played 5 full seasons (along with his injury-plauged other seasons). I just want Oden to play and have a long career (or at least a play 20 games for crying out loud), but man, he was limping around even before he hurt himself.

Be sure to watch the Celtics play the Bulls Friday night on ESPN. Derrick Rose looked awesome in his first game and the Celtics are ready to defend that title. That was an emotional win against the Cavaliers.

I loved that Hack-a-Shaq moment and Poppavich giving Shaq the thumbs up. Shaq, hit your free throws man! It's cheap, but if you can't hit your free throws (at least more than half of them), I can't feel sorry for you. The Hornets looked great against the Suns tonight, by the way. I miss James Posey.

We've got a Rockets coming out of the West prediction on my comments list (Tim) and man they looked good tonight. Artest almost got involved in a fight, but that seemed to fire him up and he went on a scoring binge. If he doesn't murder anyone, the Rockets really could take the West. The Lakers coulda used a guy like that.

World Series

Congratulations to the Phillies for winning the worst series in recent memory (I won't say all-time; hyperbole like that is uncalled for). The Rays weren't able to duplicate that power display that they pulled on the Sox.

You can go ahead and dismiss the "they'll be back talk." Remember the Rockies? Didn't think so. They'll crap the bed next year and then the team will split up, signing lucrative deals elsewhere.

Let the Manny-Mania off-season begin.

So tell me know what your picks and thoughts are so I can go ahead and disagree with you.

~Vic