The Third Annual Tryptophan Edition

Washington Redskins (5-5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4)
1:00 p.m. Raymond James Stadium
As I’ve done the past couple of years, I take a brief vacation for the Thanksgiving holiday. So everything for this week will be in one short and sweet little summary.

The Redskins played remarkably well considering how many players they were missing. A loss is a loss, but with six games remaining, and the final playoff spot only one game away with the collapsing Detroit Lions being the one’s holding it down, I feel pretty confident that the Skins can get it.

Obviously not covering Terrell Owens was a mistake. This is where Sean Taylor was missed. If Taylor is playing, he pops Owens in the mouth early in the game and we don’t hear from T.O. the rest of the way. Pierson Prioleau, Reed Doughty and Leigh Torrance don’t have the same drawing power as Taylor. With Taylor in, the Redskins win that game. Oh well, we’ll see in December if he’s the difference maker.

Now it’s the Redskins fourth trip to Tampa in three years. They’ve lost both regular season games but won the wild-card playoff game. Two years ago it was the questionable Mike Alstott two-point conversion. Last year it was Jason Campbell’s first NFL start. The Redskins have been close to wins twice, but weren’t able to get it done for one reason or another (I’m glad they got that problem fixed for this season…eesh).

Jeff Garcia is a good quarterback, despite being 48. He’s still plowing along and making plays without a running game and with Joey Galloway being his number one receiver. It may be wise to cover Galloway this weekend. The T.O. defense didn’t work so well.

Even with Ronde Barber and Derrick Brooks still playing effectively, this isn’t your older brothers Tampa defense. It is vulnerable, especially deep, and if the Redskins mix some running in with the passing they did last week, they should be fine. It is a must win game however. The first real must win game of the season. I don’t see the Redskins reeling off five straight victories like they did in 2005. So the Skins can’t afford to drop below .500. If they do, it’s going to be a slightly depressing December.

As for the rest of the NFL, I went 11-4 last week. That brings the record up a little more:
Overall: 98-52 (65%)
Vs. Spread: 88-55-7

As for the picks:
THURSDAY
Lions (+3.5)
Cowboys (-14)
Colts (-11.5)
I’ve learned never to pick against either Detroit or Dallas on Thanksgiving. No team likes to play a short week on the road.
SUNDAY
Bears (-2)
Titans (PK)
Jaguars, Bills Cover (+8)
Chiefs (-5.5)
Browns (-4)
Seahawks (-3)
Giants, Vikings cover (+8)
Saints (-2)
Cardinals, 49ers cover (+10.5)
Chargers (-9)
Patriots, Eagles cover (+23)
MONDAY
Steelers, Dolphins cover (+16)
By far the largest line I’ve ever seen with the Eagles plus 23. I think that will go down a little bit during the week, but there’s nothing I can do about.





Maryland Terrapins (3-1) vs.
Missouri Tigers (3-1)
Spirit Center - Kansas City, MO
CBE Basketball Classic

Now for Maryland basketball. Real quick here. I wasn’t surprised about the multitude of turnovers or the horrific shooting night from three. I wasn’t surprised that Maryland lost to a very, very good team. I was surprised that despite all their mistakes, and with both of their forwards fouling out, that the Terps were only a couple of possessions out of the game with a couple of minutes to remaining. UCLA had a rough shooting night themselves, but the Terps hung tough and turned what should have been a blow out loss into a competitive game. By the way, I’m now a huge Josh Shipp fan, but I can’t stand Kevin Lowe. He got every call on both ends of the floor. Guys, he’s a freshman, not a senior. He shouldn’t be getting the calls yet. He shouldn’t be allowed to grab and push off for every rebound.

I would really hope the Terps win this consolation game against Missouri. If nothing else, it will help the RPI like the game against UCLA did. Mike Anderson has done a great job of cleaning up former Dookie Quinn Snyder’s mess at Mizzou. He’s turned the Tigers around very quickly and they’re probably a team that will make the NCAA’s this season. DeMarre Carroll, a transfer from Vanderbilt, is their stud big man. He’s averaging over 20 a game. Stefhon Hannah and Keon Lawrence form a solid backcourt that do two things well. One, how to shoot the three. Two, get the ball inside to Carroll.

The Tigers played a fast-paced game last night against Michigan State and lost by three. It’s going to be tough for them to turn it around in less than 24 hours and play a Maryland team that didn’t run all that much against UCLA. I think we’ll see a lot of turnovers from Mizzou (and probably Maryland as well) and the Terps will win this one only because the Tigers are going to be tired.

Maryland 77
Missouri 74

That’s it for me, have a great Thanksgiving. Talk next week.