Redskins at 49ers: The Brotherhood Of The Falling Pants

Washington Redskins (8-7) at San Francisco 49ers (6-9)
4:15 p.m. Candlestick Park
It’s time for the last four quarters of football for the Washington Redskins. It will be more than eight months before we live to pass this way again. Until then, we’ll have the NFL playoffs (consisting of at least two teams that are worse than Washington), a Super Bowl winner, the NFL draft, the last round of free agency with a salary cap, mini-camp, training camp, sleep-away camp and preseason. Then, and only then, will we see the Redskins back on the field. That’s sort of depressing.

At the beginning of the season, I said the Redskins would go 9-7. I think most people would have been happy with 9-7. If you considered the fact that the Redskins had a rookie coach, a young quarterback, an aging offensive line, no defensive live and six games against the best division in football, 9-7 would have seemed very good.

So why does the season feel like a disappointment? Well, when you start 6-2, the playoffs are kind of expected. With wins at Dallas and at Philadelphia in their pocket, most fans figured that even the Redskins couldn’t blow a shot at the playoffs. There was the easier second half schedule. There were automatic wins against Cincinnati and San Francisco sitting there. All the Redskins had to do was scratch across a couple of more victories, and they would have been in. But then the offense went to crap, they somehow lost to the Bengals, and now the road game in San Francisco means absolutely nothing. Just one more win somewhere along the way, and all the Redskins would have had to do today is beat a bad 49ers team. They can still beat a bad 49ers team today, but it doesn’t make a difference.

On the plus side, the Redskins have shown that despite a rookie head coach, they can compete in the tough NFC East. I don’t think this team is going to be worse next season. I’m glad that Dan Snyder has decided to stay with Jim Zorn. He deserves at least one more season to prove he is an NFL caliber coach. You don’t get to 9-7, or even 8-8, on accident. Give Zorn the offseason to bring in more of his players and give him time to adjust to the league and then we’ll see where the team is.

As for personnel, this is going to be an important offseason for the Redskins. They don’t have a lot of free agents, but they’re probably not going to have much room under the salary cap. Resign Pete Kendall if at all possible. Despite two balky knees, Kendall has been one of the best linemen on the team. He has at least one more good season left in him. Any defensive lineman that can rush the quarterback needs to be added. The Redskins may also want to consider spending the money on Andre Johnson or Anquan Boldin. I know that spending more money on receivers seems like a waste. However, I think it’s clear that Santana Moss can’t stay healthy long enough to be considered a #1 receiver in the NFL. Pony up the cash to sign Johnson and Boldin, demote Moss to #2 and have him return punts. Then either cut Antwaan Randle El or find a creative way to use him in the offense. In the draft, the Redskins need to spend just about every pick they have on offensive or defensive line players. I know it’s not sexy and won’t excite the fans, but it’s what needs to be done. Finally, Snyder needs to fire Vinny Ceratto as soon as possible. Tomorrow would be preferable. Mike Holmgren doesn’t want to coach anymore, but I think if the check was big enough, he’d love to be a general manager. With his buddy Zorn as the coach, this would be a perfect situation for a smart football man like Holmgren. Let’s make this happen, Danny.

In review, it’s hard to call this season a disappointment or success. The Redskins didn’t go 4-12 or 5-11 like every expert and analyst thought they would. Winning in Dallas and in Philadelphia is always fun. Sweeping the Eagles is even better. But after a 6-2 start, 8-8 or 9-7 and a meaningless final game is not what the fan base had in mind. So in other words, 2008 was typical Redskins. Not bad enough to be really bad, not good enough to contend for a title.

The Redskins close out with a trip to the Bay Area. The San Francisco 49ers still have all kinds of problems. They started the season with Mike Nolan as head coach. Nolan had a somewhat successful season (finishing around .500) three years ago, and had been living off that until he was fired in late October. The Niners tapped Mike Singletary as interim head coach. Singletary then immediately dropped his pants in front of his players in some bizarre motivation tactic. Not exactly what grown men want to see.

However, the pants removing has sort of worked for Singletary and the 49ers. Since Singletary took over, the Niners are 4-4 (4-4 with a bullet...two of the wins were against the Rams) and have actually begun to resemble a football team. Even more surprising is the play of former Maryland star Shaun Hill, who has actually begun to resemble a NFL quarterback. The 49ers defense has toughened up. A game against San Francisco no longer means playing an opponent with an apathetic attitude and it no longer means an automatic two-score win. Even better for Singletary is the extension he is about to receiver. It’s been reported that after a meeting with the owners, they were so impressed with Singletary that they will hire him to be the 49ers full-time head coach. Now, I’m not sure how hard it is to impress the 49ers ownership. As long as you can convince them that you are going to win a minimum of five games and have players that appear as if they actually care, you can probably coach San Francisco. Add in a pants-dropping, and the job is all yours.

Despite the recent improvements, this is still a team the Redskins should have no problems with. The 49ers defense may be playing better recently, but they have nowhere near the talent to be able to keep up with the Redskins offense. Then again, I said the same thing about St. Louis and Cincinnati. If the Redskins had played up to caliber in those two games, they would have already clinched a playoff spot. Instead, the Redskins allowed a huge opportunity to go by the waste side. It’s going to be another long winter, spring and summer until we see the burgundy and gold again.

NFL Week 17: The Search For Meaningful

The final week of the regular season is upon us. And there are 10, count them, 10 games with playoff implications. All of the games have implications on my records, which have not been all that pretty this season. I come into week 17 with a 139-85-1 record overall and a 114-106-6 record vs. the spread. There aren't too many layups this week to pad the records, so please do not use the following for gambling purposes.

Oakland Raiders (4-11) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6)(-12)
1:00 p.m. Raymond James Stadium
The Bucs have done a great job playing themselves out of a playoff spot. Nonetheless, Jon Gruden has done a tremendous job with this team. Eventually, he’ll have to use one of his other five quarterbacks since I don’t think Jeff Garcia has another decent year left in the tank. Here’s hoping for a win, which would knock the Eagles out of the playoffs.
Pick: Buccaneers

Detroit Lions (0-15) vs. Green Bay Packers (5-10)(-10)
1:00 p.m. Lambeau Field
The Lions have come too far to ruin their imperfect season now. I bet they give the Packers a game, but in the end, Detroit will do the only thing they’ve done well all season: lose.
Pick: Packers, Lions cover

New York Giants (12-3) vs. Minnesota Vikings (9-6)(-7)
1:00 p.m. Metrodome
Despite what Tom Coughlin says, there is no way the Giants are going to play as if this game matters to them. If they were smart, they’d want the Vikings in the playoffs. Assuming Dallas wins, if I were the Giants, I’d rather have Minnesota play Dallas in the first round instead of Chicago. If the Bears host Dallas, the Cowboys would probably win and play the Giants in the 2nd round. I’m not sure that the Giants want to deal with Dallas again. However, a Minnesota win in the first round means the Giants probably get the Cardinals-Falcons/Panthers winner in the 2nd round. That would be a much more favorable matchup. Did any of that make any sense?
Pick: Vikings

Chicago Bears (9-6) vs. Houston Texans (7-8)(-3)
1:00 p.m. Reliant Stadium
I’m still recovering from that confusing Giants-Vikings preview. Anyway, I think the Bears win this game but miss out on the playoffs anyway. I think that’s best for everyone, since no one really wants to be subjected to their offense in the postseason.
Pick: Bears

Carolina Panthers (11-4)(-3) vs. New Orleans Saints (8-7)
1:00 p.m. Louisiana Superdome
With Drew Brees chasing a record, and with the Panthers almost certainly suffering from a let down after choking against the Giants, it will most likely result in Carolina losing the division.
Pick: Saints

St. Louis Rams (2-13) vs. Atlanta Falcons (10-5)(-14)
1:00 p.m. Georgia Dome
For the sixth straight season, it appears that last season’s last place team in the NFC South will win the division. And this is probably the most improbable of those six teams. No one, and I mean no one, gave the Falcons to do anything this year. So congrats to Mike Smith and company. Good for them.
Pick: Falcons

Kansas City Chiefs (2-13) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (3-11-1)(-3)
1:00 p.m. Paul Brown Stadium
This is why I hate doing these write-ups in week 17. What’s the point of talking about a game featuring teams with a combined 5-24-1 record? Well, nothing more needs to be said then.
Pick: Chiefs

Tennessee Titans (13-2)(-3) vs. Indianapolis Colts (11-4)(-3)
1:00 p.m. Lucas Oil Field
Despite the combined 24-6 record, this is another pointless game. The Titans are locked into the top seed and the Colts are locked into the 5th seed. This game would have a whole lot of potential if Peyton Manning would actually play more than the first half. There’s a good chance these two teams play in the 2nd round of the playoffs. Until then, we’ll have be satisfied with an exhibition game.
Pick: Colts

Cleveland Browns (4-11) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4)(-11)
1:00 p.m. Heinz Field
It appears as if Romeo Crennel is going to keep his job. I’m not sure how he managed to accomplish that. The Browns were supposed to be this season’s break out team. Not only did they not break out, they broke down completely. I understand the injuries at quarterback, but they weren’t exactly world beaters before those occurred.
Pick: Steelers

New England Patriots (10-5)(-6) vs. Buffalo Bills (7-8)
1:00 p.m. Ralph Wilson Stadium
Bill Belichick for coach of the year? I think you could definitely make an argument for him. I said after Brady’s injury, that we would know more about the Belichick-Brady duo and who was more important. I think we found out this season that Bill Belichick may actually be as gifted as all the analysts say he is. However, I think we also see that Tom Brady’s importance to New England and “greatness” as a quarterback is over-exaggerated. He’s merely in the right system. If a quarterback who hadn’t made a start in seven years could lead New England to a 10-win season, anyone could.
Pick: Patriots

Dallas Cowboys (9-6) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (8-6-1)(-1.5)
4:15 p.m. Lincoln Financial Field
Even though I want to see the Eagles win and both of these teams miss the playoffs, something tells me that Dallas is going to take care of business and Tony Romo may actually win a game that matters. Regardless, Eagles fans may want to enjoy the last game of the Donovan McNabb era before he suits up in Chicago next season.
Pick: Cowboys

Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10) vs. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)(-11)
4:15 p.m. M&T Bank Stadium
This smells like a let down game for the Ravens. It really does. Jacksonville has played very well the last couple of weeks, and the Ravens are already looking into their potential first round matchup. Overlook Jacksonville at your own peril.
Pick: Ravens, Jaguars cover

Miami Dolphins (10-5) vs. New York Jets (9-6)(-3)
4:15 p.m. Giants Stadium
While it would be great if Chad Pennington could be the one to end Brett Favre and the Jets season, I doubt it will happen. Sure the Dolphins won in Foxboro. But the Meadowlands in December is a lot different than New England in September. I just don’t see Miami winning the division.
Pick: Jets

Seattle Seahawks (4-11) vs. Arizona Cardinals (8-7)(-7)
4:15 p.m. University of Phoenix Stadium
It was nice to see Mike Holmgren get a win in his final home game. Holmgren has long been one of my favorite coaches (despite his obsession with the West Coast Offense). Now I only wish that Dan Snyder would shell out the money to make Holmgren the Redskins next GM. Goodbye Vinny Ceratto, hello competent management.
Pick: Cardinals, Seahawks cover

Denver Broncos (8-7) vs. San Diego Chargers (7-8)(-8)
8:15 p.m. Qualcomm Stadium
The losing coach in this game should be fired. Mike Shanahan has done nothing since John Elway retired. He’s had talented teams, and he’s played in a weak division, and he’s done nothing. Also, if you allow a team that was 5-8 at one point to win your division, that’s disgraceful. On the other sideline stands Norv Turner, who shouldn’t have a job to begin with. Even with the loss of Shawne Merriman, that defense has way too much talent to be so porous. And how is it possible for an offense with LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates to struggle so much? The fact that the winner of this game will be allowed to go to the playoffs is disgusting. Despite the Chargers giving eight points, when in doubt, I go against Norv Turner and Philip Rivers in meaningful games.
Pick: Broncos

Of the 10 meaningful games, the Redskins-49ers matchup is not one of them. But we'll discuss it briefly tomorrow

Eagles at Redskins: Different Season, Same Story

Philadelphia Eagles (8-5-1) at Washington Redskins (7-7)
4:15 p.m. FedEx Field
Well, it was another disappointing week to go along with a disappointing two months. Was it that surprising to see the Redskins lose to Cincinnati? No, it really wasn’t. So what if half of the Bengals wins came against the Skins. That’s typical. When the Redskins screw things up, they usually do it in grand fashion. And last Sunday was no different. The game turned on one or two plays, just like most of the Redskins losses this season have.

Let’s flash back to October 12th. The Redskins were nursing a 17-16 lead over the winless Rams. The Skins defense allowed Marc Bulger to complete a 43-yard pass to rookie Donnie Avery. Kareem Moore never blitzed like he was supposed to, Leigh Torrence (who is thankfully no longer with the Redskins) never looked up for the ball, and the completion allowed the Rams to kick the game-winning field goal. Combine that play and the bizarre Pete Kendall fumble that led to a Rams touchdown, and that loss to St. Louis came down to two plays.

Back on November 3rd, the Redskins were hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers. Washington was up 6-0 early in the 2nd quarter against a Pittsburgh offense that had done nothing. Ben Roethlisberger threw a short pass out in the flat. The pass was thrown right to the chest of Carlos Rogers. And of course, instead of intercepting the pass and running untouched for the score, Rogers dropped the interception. Instead of a 13-0 game, the Redskins allowed the Steelers to hang around until Pittsburgh woke up in the 2nd half and dominated the rest of the game.

The loss to Dallas a week later was just as bad. There wasn’t one specific play, but a host of close plays that together swung a 14-10 loss. Despite Tony Romo struggling with his broken finger, the Redskins couldn’t stop the Dallas quarterback on their game-winning touchdown drive. They also couldn’t stop Marion Barber once during the Cowboys final drive to run out the clock. Also, the Skins couldn’t take advantage of the multitude of opportunities that Dallas gave the Skins offense. The Redskins had great field position during most of that game, but could only manage 10 points.

The loss to New York ended up 23-7, so it’s hard to make a case that one play changed the game. But early in the 3rd quarter, the Giants were up 13-7 when Eli Manning threw a duck 30 yards downfield. DeAngelo Hall was in perfect position for the pick and a very good return until Shawn Springs ran into him trying to intercept the ball himself. Instead of Redskins ball around midfield in a six point game, the Giants went on to score and put the game out of reach.

The end of the Ravens game was very similar to the end of the Dallas game. After the Redskins spotted the Ravens 14 points because of turnovers, the Skins put themselves in position to tie the game in the 4th quarter. However, they couldn’t get Le’Ron McClain off the field when it mattered most. So along with the Clinton Portis fumble that was returned for a touchdown, the inability of the defense to get off the field late in the game cost the Redskins another loss.

Finally, last week against Cincinnati, the Redskins had two chances at the Bengals goal line to tie the game at 17. They gave it to Mike Sellers twice. Why? I’m not sure. Portis is supposed to be the star running back. Why wouldn’t you give it to him at least once? In any case, Sellers fumbled at the goal line (even though it looked like his forward progress was stopped) and the Redskins never had another shot to tie the game.

Of their seven losses, six of them came down to one or two plays. This is typical of the Redskins going all the way back to the Norv Turner era. You rarely see the Redskins lose by 20+ points. They lose games to great teams, good teams, average teams and bad teams by the slimmest of margins. It’s been the same way for over 15 seasons, and even though this season started differently, it ended up no differently. Can the Redskins beat the Eagles? Sure. Will they? Probably not. Does it matter? Thanks to a handful of plays that didn’t go their way…no, it won’t matter at all.


Now for the rest of week 16. I was 12-3 last week, bringing the overall record to a more respectable 133-77-1. Against the spread I was 7-7-1 and the yearly record is now 109-96-6. Here are the picks, don’t gamble using these predictions. Home teams in bold.

SATURDAY

Cowboys (9-5)(-5) over Ravens (9-5)

SUNDAY

Steelers (11-3)(-2) over Titans (12-2)
Dolphins (9-5)(-3.5) over Chiefs (2-12)
Patriots (9-5)(-7.5) over Cardinals (8-6)
Buccaneers (9-5)(-4) over Chargers (6-8)
Bengals (2-11-1)(+3) over Browns (4-10)
Saints (7-7)(-7.5) over Lions (0-14)
49ers (5-9)(-5.5) over Rams (2-12)
Jets (9-5)(-3.5) over Seahawks (3-11)
Texans (7-7)(-7) over Raiders (3-11)
Broncos (8-6)(-7.5) over Bills (6-8)
Vikings (9-5)(-3) over Falcons (9-5)
Panthers (11-3)(+3.5) over Giants (11-3)

MONDAY

Bears (8-6)(-4) over Packers (5-9)

Redskins at Bengals: Now Is The Winter Of Our Discontent

Washington Redskins (7-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-11-1)
1:00 p.m. Paul Brown Stadium
The losing continues, the season remains on a downward spiral and a winning streak appears unlikely. I did say at the beginning of the season that I expected the Redskins to finish 9-7 and miss the playoffs by a game. That appears to be what will happen. But when you start 6-2 and win two division road games, a 4-4 finish combined with a playoff birth becomes the minimum expected. At midseason, the expectations changed. As did the Redskins effort.

The Redskins never really had a chance to win this ballgame, and as usual, it had little to do with their opponent. The Ravens defense was everything it was advertised. But so was the Ravens lousy offense, which really only produced 10 points. The Redskins spotted Baltimore 14 points in the first five minutes of the game, and it went downhill from there. After that, it looked like the Skins were being coached by Romeo Crennel. They took no chances, very few shots downfield, and the play-calling was predictable. I know the team is banged up, I know the Ravens D is good, and since I was in attendance, I know that Jason Campbell had to deal a football that was frozen solid thanks to Arctic-like temperatures. That doesn’t mean you don’t go for it once and awhile at midfield on fourth and short. That doesn’t mean you throw downfield (over 20 yards) once in the entire game. That certainly doesn’t mean you take out one of the premier running backs, who is also one of the best pass blockers in the league, in the 2nd quarter. Jim Zorn has a lot of explaining to do after this loss, and he hasn’t done so.

The decision to bench Portis is certainly a curious one. Zorn claims it was because Ladell Betts is a better pass blocker and knew the protection schemes better. And since the Redskins fell behind early, that meant more passing. Any Redskins fan know that isn’t true. Portis may not have the best work ethic in the world, but he’s an outstanding blocker. He flattened Mathias Kiwanuka twice in the opening game against the Giants. He never shies away from a block, and that’s part of the reason Portis gets hurt all the time. Even when he isn’t carrying the ball, he’s getting hit. Betts on the other hand, has shown himself to be nothing more than an average pass blocker. I’m not sure where Zorn got this idea from, but he couldn’t be more wrong.

So far this season, we’ve seen Zorn come in and have immediate success. Then we saw the NFL adjust to his style. He has yet to counter that adjustment. This is NOT a fire Jim Zorn statement. I am not even close to entering the fire Jim Zorn camp which has grown the past month. I’m just stating the facts. He has not adjusted to the league’s adjustment. Some coaches learn how to do that quicker than others. Some coaches never learn it. It is unlikely that Zorn will do it this season. He needs to be given at least one more year to prove he can adjust to the NFL now that the NFL has adjusted to him. Remember, he’s still won seven games (and will likely get at least one more win) in his rookie season as a head coach. That’s pretty good and much better than what most experts said he would do.

That said, his failure to adjust to the NFL in the second half of the season is likely the factor that will keep the Redskins out of the playoffs. A close second is the injury bug that continues to decimate the team. Chris Samuels, welcome to the injured list. Who knows if Jon Jansen will be ready to go? Chris Horton showed a lot of promise and potential this season, but I doubt he sees the field again in 2008. Those are just a couple of the new injuries the Redskins have had to deal with this week.

Fortunately, the Redskins face a team that has a hundred times the problems they do. The Cincinnati Bengals check in with a 1-11-1 record and a top 3-4 draft pick waiting for them April. The Bengals defense is young, but was expected to be more talented than last year’s version. They haven’t been. Like the Redskins, their offensive line is in shambles. Cincy never found a replacement for Rudi Johnson at tailback. Finally, Carson Palmer has missed most of the season with injuries. Palmer’s absence has led to Ryan Fitzpatrick getting his second chance to start in the NFL. Fitzpatrick not being qualified to be an NFL quarterback has neutralized the Bengals best two players: Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmrmxyzptlkramalamadingdongazadah. The Bengals offense stinks. The defense stinks. Marvin Lewis won’t survive the mess. When Palmer went down, the Bengals went from a 6-7 win team to a team that probably won’t get more than two.

I was actually able to keep an entry short! How about that. Anyway, the Redskins need to pound the middle of the Bengals defense. Their front seven is terrible, easily the worst front seven the Redskins have faced since the St. Louis game. I doubt the Redskins will take shots downfield, but the patient offensive approach should work in this game as long as the Redskins don’t get in their own way. Defensively, all the Skins have to do is allow Fitzpatrick to make his own mistakes, and they should get a win. If they somehow manage to screw this one up, than the fire Jim Zorn camp will grow much larger for the Skins final home game next week.

NFL Week 15: When Do I Get My Contract Extension?

Well, in some good news, I was 12-3 last week. Including my loss this last Thursday, that bumps my record to 121-74-1. Against the spread I was 10-5 (but I was right on Thursday). So that puts me at 102-89-5 for the season. Don't use the following picks for any actual gambling purposes.

SUNDAY

Green Bay Packers (5-8)(-2.5) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9)
1:00 p.m. Alltel Stadium
Even if Brett Favre was still in Green Bay, there’s probably nothing he could have done last week as Houston put up 24 points and 549 total yards at Lambeau Field. Still, Favre probably wouldn’t have lost a must-win game against the Texans at home.
Pick: Jaguars

Detroit Lions (0-13) vs. Indianapolis Colts (9-4)(-17)
1:00 p.m. Lucas Oil Field
Don’t look now, but the longest winning streak in the NFL belongs to the team I picked to win the Super Bowl. Hint: it isn’t the Lions.
Pick: Colts

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-4) vs. Atlanta Falcons (8-5)(-3)
1:00 p.m. Georgia Dome
Despite getting run over by Carolina, I think Tampa has enough to make sure that the other contender in the NFC South checks out of the playoff competition this week. Then again, Michael Turner is better than either Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams.
Pick: Buccaneers

San Francisco 49ers (5-8) vs. Miami Dolphins (8-5)(-6)
1:00 p.m. Dolphin Stadium
The only West Coast team to win a game in the Eastern Time Zone this season? That would be the 49ers. I don’t think lightning will strike twice, especially during an early start against a team that controls its own destiny.
Pick: Dolphins

Seattle Seahawks (2-11) vs. St. Louis Rams (2-11)(Even)
1:00 p.m. Edward Jones Dome
Doesn’t it seem that this is the fourth time these two teams have played each other this season? I guess that’s the only way either one of them won two games.
Pick: Seahawks

Buffalo Bills (6-7) vs. New York Jets (8-5)(-7.5)
1:00 p.m. Giants Stadium
The worst move of the NFL season may have been the Bills decision to give Dick Jauron a raise and a contract extension only six games into the season. Since then the Bills are 1-6, lost games to the awful 49ers and Browns, and scored six points in their last two contests. Maybe they should have made a decision at the end of the season.
Pick: Jets, Bills cover

Tennessee Titans (12-1)(-3) vs. Houston Texans (6-7)
1:00 p.m. Reliant Stadium
A Houston win wouldn’t surprise me here. They’ve been feisty all season. After two ugly losses to Tennessee and Pittsburgh to open the season, they’ve only had one lopsided loss since then. Everything else has either been a win or a close loss. So it should be a one score game.
Pick: Titans

San Diego Chargers (5-8)(-5.5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (2-11)
1:00 p.m. Arrowhead Stadium
This is a game San Diego should win. Which means Norv Turner will probably find a way to lose it. By the way, no one is making a big deal about LaDainian Tomlinson having a really subpar season. Could he have taken too many hits already?
Pick: Chargers

Minnesota Vikings (8-5) vs. Arizona Cardinals (8-5)(-3)
4:05 p.m. University of Phoenix Stadium
Yet another chance for the Cardinals to prove that they can beat a good team and that they aren’t simply the smartest kid on the short bus in the NFC West. Something tells me their defense won’t be ready for Adrian Peterson.
Pick: Vikings

Denver Broncos (8-5) vs. Carolina Panthers (10-3)(-7.5)
4:15 p.m. Bank of America Stadium
Speaking of smart kids on the short bus: You’re Denver Broncos everyone! The 5th seed in the AFC looks to have an automatic first round win. And while this game reeks of a letdown game for Carolina, I’ll take the East Coast team to hold on.
Pick: Panthers

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) vs. Baltimore Ravens (9-4)(-2.5)
4:15 p.m. M&T Bank Stadium
I’m pretty sure Mike Tomlin and company won’t allow Joe Flacco to have all day to throw the ball like a certain team that just embarrassed themselves last Sunday Night. The Steelers own the Ravens as of late, and I don’t see that changing here.
Pick: Steelers

New England Patriots (8-5)(-7) vs. Oakland Raiders (3-10)
4:15 p.m. Oakland-Alamada County Coliseum
The Jets blew their chance in the Black Hole to come away with a win. That will probably be the game that costs them the division. I fully expect the Patriots to come away with a win if Matt Cassel plays following the death of his father. If not, this pick is changed. You can’t count it. As for now…
Pick: Patriots, Raiders cover

New York Giants (11-2) vs. Dallas Cowboys (8-5)(-3)
8:15 p.m. Texas Stadium
Both of these teams are showing chinks in the armor, some more so than others. I came on here ready to talk about the newest Terrell Owens situation. But really, I don’t care. I really don’t. All I’ll say is that I told you so. And the Cowboys are favored in this one? Yeah, whatever.
Pick: Giants

MONDAY

Cleveland Browns (4-9) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (7-5-1)(-14)
8:30 p.m. Lincoln Financial Field
Ok people, the Eagles are not this good. Sure they beat New York, but they just tied Cincinnati a couple of weeks ago. It’s the same team that benched Donovan McNabb in the middle of their ugly loss to Baltimore. They are still very capable of laying an egg.
Pick: Eagles, Browns cover

Ok, if the Redskins can’t get on track against the Bengals…I just give up then.

Redskins at Ravens: A Beltway Divided, Cannot Stand

Washington Redskins (7-5) at Baltimore Ravens (8-4)
8:15 p.m. M&T Bank Stadium
In 1984, the Colts left Baltimore. That should have been the end of professional football in the city and the end of this story. Unfortunately, it wasn’t and it isn’t.

For the first time since 1978, the Redskins will make the 30-minute trip up I-95 and play a regular season game in Baltimore. The Colts are long gone, but the obnoxious Baltimore fans that rooted for them are not. For the fans in Charm City, this game is seen as some sort of grudge-match. I’m not entirely sure why. Baltimoreans (or, as I like to refer to them, Baltimorons) seem to blame the Washington Redskins for their 13 long years without a professional football team.

First of all, the Redskins had nothing to do with Bob Irsay sneaking the Colts off to Indianapolis in the middle of the night in a blizzard. I realize that Ravens fans still blame Irsay and curse his family to this day. And I do sympathize with them. If I was on the other end, and my team was taken away from me, I would be angry too. You want to hate Irsay? Go right ahead. Want to hate his kids? A little much, but understandable.

The thing is, I will never be on that end. The Washington Redskins are never going anywhere. The city wouldn’t allow it. If Dan Snyder, or a future owner, tried to pull the same stunt that Irsay did, Redskins fans by the hundreds of thousands would chain themselves to the Redskins Park entrance and would never have allowed the Mayflower trucks to leave. Not that Snyder ever would, but Skins fans would never allow it. If the Redskins were to somehow sneak out, I’m pretty sure that the fans would find a way to drag them back. Again, not like it would ever happen. We take pride in our football team, something that Baltimore didn’t do in the 1980’s. They took the Colts for granted. Baltimorons will tell you that the Colts left the city because Irsay didn’t get his brand-new stadium. They’ll tell you that Irsay was greedy and unrealistic. This is a half-truth.

Years before the Colts left, the attendance figures for the franchise had been steadily declining. The fans had been staying away in large numbers. Also, Memorial Stadium was falling apart. The franchise deserved better than the decaying old stadium that was right next door to the Baltimore projects. To make matters worse, when it became apparent that the city was not going to build a new stadium or upgrade the old one, and it was obvious to everyone that worked for the team, city and state of Maryland that Irsay was going to move the team, Baltimore legislatures tried to steal the team from Irsay using eminent domain. To some, Irsay sneaking out of town in a snow storm was seen as the ultimate snake-like action. It was actually a brilliant business move. If he hadn’t left immediately, the Colts would have been forced to stay in Baltimore, playing at a decrepit old stadium in a terrible neighborhood and losing millions of dollars since Baltimorons weren’t going to games. What option did Irsay have? Was Bob Irsay completely honest with the city? No. Was he easy to work with? No. But the city of Balitmore never wanted to build a new stadium, and didn’t really care if the Colts left until they actually did. Now who is really at fault here?


Most franchises don't wake up one morning and decide to move to beautiful Indianapolis. The Colts were not one of those franchises.

I don’t think many Baltimorons blame the Colts leaving on the Redskins. There are those who believe that Skins owner Jack Kent Cooke was one of the loudest voices in convincing Irsay to move. There is absolutely no evidence of that. The people who actually believe that are in the minority, so it’s not worth arguing about

However, the next 13 years turned the city bitter. Baltimore’s hatred went from Irsay, to the NFL, then narrowed in on the Redskins. They were an easy target. Who stood to gain the most after the Colts left? The Redskins. It opened up a major city that happened to be right next door. The NFL had no problems putting the city of Baltimore in the Redskins sphere of influence. And why should they? Cooke quickly started a marketing campaign, and contrary to popular belief, did a pretty good job converting a good portion of Colts fans into Redskins fans. There are several people I know personally from the Baltimore area that are Redskins fans because their parents are converted Colts followers.

Despite the Redskins success on the field and marketing in Baltimore proper, the majority of Baltimore’s football fans were left without a team. They were too angry at the Irsay’s to continue rooting for the Colts. They were too embarrassed to be forced into rooting for big brother down the road. So for the next decade, the NFL was dead in Baltimore, and the former Colts fans spent their fall Sundays at home sulking.

In 1993, the NFL went through their first expansion process since the Colts move. For most of the proceedings, Baltimore and Charlotte were thought to be the two favorites. So when Jacksonville was awarded the team instead of Baltimore, there was another outcry by the Inner Harbor. Instead of blaming the NFL, the Baltimore writers blamed Cooke. Again, there’s no direct evidence to support the belief that Cooke was the one who made sure Baltimore didn’t get the team. But let’s assume that he was. Like Irsay before him, that would be a smart business move. For years, the NFL had been eating away at the Redskins market. The Redskins used to be the “team of the south”. But then the Dolphins were put in Miami. The Saints and Falcons moved in to their markets. Tampa Bay entered the league in 1976. The Redskins had already lost a lot of the market that was traditionally theirs. So when the NFL wanted to put a team directly to the North and directly to the South, what was Cooke supposed to do? Be happy with the D.C.-Richmond corridor? No, he fought for his team, his franchise and his fans. He was only able to stave off the execution for three more years, but it was three more years of greater profits for the Redskins. He did what was right by his team, and people shouldn’t hate Cooke for that.

Since Cooke became the villain, a lot of the good he did in Baltimore was undone. The Redskins lost a bunch of their northern fans over the course of the next three seasons. The time had come for Baltimore to get another team. But instead of going the expansion route, Baltimore stole their team from Cleveland. It is one of the greatest ironies in sports over the last few years. Baltimore, a city that longed complained about Bob Irsay and Indianapolis stealing their team, did the exact same thing to Cleveland 13 years later. And no one seems to mention this. No, the Browns didn’t sneak out in the middle of the night. However, Art Modell lied to the city of Cleveland about staying, unlike Irsay who had been pretty straight forward with Baltimore. Baltimore claims it took in a team that’s city had abandoned it. That’s a complete lie. They spent more money than the city of Cleveland could have to bring the old Browns to Baltimore. Cleveland was willing to build a new stadium. They were willing to invest in the Browns. But with the Rust Belt going through poor economic times, and the city of Baltimore enjoying a brief rejuvenation, Cleveland could not afford what Baltimore was offering. That’s stealing a team. That’s the pot calling the kettle black. I’m usually indifferent to Ravens fans (more on that in a minute), but when they still bitch about Indianapolis stealing their team, I will always bring up the fact that they did the same thing in 1996 to the city of Cleveland. The old Browns were more a part of Cleveland than the Colts were ever a part of Baltimore. That was evidenced by the fact that the NFL wasted no time in guaranteeing an expansion franchise for the city and promising to keep the Browns history and colors in Cleveland. That is something that no other league has been willing to do to this day. The NFL, one of the most cutthroat businesses in this country, felt so bad for the city of Cleveland and the raw deal that was taking place because of that scumbag Art Modell and the city of Baltimore. That is stealing a team. Let the city that is without sin cast the first stone.

So that’s some of the reason that Baltimore hates the Redskins. They blame Jack Kent Cooke for the 13 years between the Colts and Ravens. They also hate Washington out of pure jealousy. And I can see why. Washington D.C. is a fabulous city. It has the Capitol, the Washington/Lincoln/Jefferson Memorials, the White House. It has the greatest zoo this side of San Diego. The Smithsonian Museums are renown around the globe. It is one of the most affluent cities in the country. It is home to the federal government of the United States. It is the most powerful city in the world.

That’s a lot to live up to for the people of Baltimore. They are sandwiched between Washington to the South, and both historic Philadelphia and financial New York to the North. Other than the area directly around the Inner Harbor and Camden Yards, Baltimore is a slum. Sure, there are bad parts of D.C. But there are plenty of nice places as well. In Baltimore, if you are away from the Inner Harbor after dark, run. Run as fast as you can and as far as you can. Other than the National Aquarium, and a couple of old ships sitting in polluted waters, Baltimore doesn’t have much to offer. I can see the inferiority thing. I get it, I really do. That’s got to be tough to deal with everyday, knowing a city 30 miles down the road is so much nicer than yours. Which is part of the reason why the Ravens fans have built this game up so much.

From my end, I actually liked the Ravens when they first moved here. I thought it’d be kind of nice to have another team in the area. But then the Ravens starting winning, and their fans became more obnoxious than usual. I’ll be the first to admit that since moving to the area, the Ravens have had more overall success than the Redskins have over that same time period. However, over the course of 76 seasons, 71 of them in the District, there are few franchises that can even begin to compare themselves to the Redskins. The Packers and Bears are probably the only two that clearly surpass the Redskins in terms of both winning and history. The Giants franchise is neck and neck. The Ravens are a spec on the horizon. One Lombardi Trophy is nice (right, Eagles fans?), but three of them are much better. Not to mention two additional NFL Championships. So I tire of hearing about how great the Ravens are. They aren’t even the best NFL organization in the state of Maryland. The citizens of Baltimore let their team leave in 1984. They should never have been allowed to get a 2nd franchise. Personally, I believe once the Colts left Baltimore, then Baltimore should have be given and stayed in the domain of the Washington Redskins.

The reason that this game is a big deal for me, other than the playoff implications, is the fact that I have to work in a station that is split between Redskins and Ravens fans. So hearing crap for the rest of the season and beyond if the Ravens win wouldn’t be desirable. Other than that, I really don’t openly root against the Ravens. I like John Harbaugh, a lot more than Brian Billick. Joe Flacco seems like a nice enough kid. I just don’t care enough about them. The Redskins are too busy playing the Cowboys, Eagles and Giants twice a year to worry about a team they play once every four seasons. Sure, I’d love to beat the Ravens tomorrow. But other than the hassling I’d get at work, it wouldn’t be a huge deal. I’d be much more concerned with the Redskins playoff hopes than Ravens fans.

However, as I mentioned, the Ravens fans have built this game up to be their end all, be all. That might not be a good idea considering the last time that happened. I believe it was January 2007 when the Indianapolis Colts played a divisional playoff game in Baltimore. It was the grudge match of all grudge matches. The Colts embarrassed the Ravens on their own field. The Ravens have also had a tough time recently in primetime games, despite the fact that they’ve had some decent teams in the last five seasons. The Steelers basically own the Ravens when it comes to playing night games. Sure, the Redskins have had their own problems when the Sun goes down, but I wouldn’t put so much weight on one game against a team in the opposite conference if I were a Ravens fan.

As for the game itself, I don’t think the Redskins will win, but certainly have a good chance. I don’t think I’ve seen one person all week take the Redskins to win. Remember, this is still a Ravens team quarterbacked by a rookie. Flacco has shown some signs of being an NFL quarterback, but he’s also made plenty of foolish mistakes. He’s been pretty good since mid-October, but I’m sure that has more to do with playing the Raiders, Browns, Texans and Bengals than anything that Flacco is doing. The Ravens, as a whole, have only played 5 good teams this season (Steelers, Titans, Colts, Dolphins and Giants). They are 1-4 in those games. The Steelers game was close, but the Ravens never really had a chance to win it. The Colts and Giants destroyed them. If it weren’t for some questionable personal foul calls against Tennessee, the Ravens probably would have beaten the Titans. But, that’s what happens when your defensive unit is known for taking cheap shots and playing dirty. Refs tend to call more penalties against you. So the Ravens kind of brought that loss upon themselves. Anyway, the Ravens have not looked good against good teams, and have beaten bad teams pretty handedly. The Redskins may not be at the level of the four teams the Ravens have lost to, but they are much better than most of the teams Baltimore has beaten. This will be one of the best secondaries that Flacco has faced so far. So Flacco having a “rookie game” wouldn’t be all that shocking.


They're both playing like rookie QB's. Unfortunately, only one of them is actually a rookie QB.

The problem for the Redskins, as usual, is the offense. Clinton Portis has about 26 different injuries. Santana Moss is still not 100%, and it’s shown in the play-calling since the Detroit game. The Redskins offense can no longer stretch the field. The offensive line is getting very old, very quickly. Jason Campbell is starting to get that deer in the headlight look a bit too often. And now the Redskins have to play the NFL’s 2nd ranked defense. Doesn’t bode well. The Redskins defense is going to have to win this game with turnovers and field position. If the Skins defense can force Flacco into rookie mistakes, that will make things much easier on the injured offense.

Despite the bleak outlook, I’ll be in attendance in full Redskins garb on Sunday Night. It’s going to bitter cold, so bundle up kids. And regardless of what happens, I can take comfort in knowing that I’ll be able to leave Baltimore and return home to a superior city after the game is over.

NFL Week 14: The NFC South Rises Again

A 9-6/9-6 week puts me at 109-70-1 overall and 91-84-5 against the spread on the season. As always, don't use the following picks for any gambling purposes.

THURSDAY

Oakland Raiders (3-9) vs. San Diego Chargers (4-8)(-9.5)
8:15 p.m. Qualcomm Coliseum
The Norv Watch is officially on. The Chargers got dominated at home by a Falcons team that had to come across the country. Add that to the fact that the Chargers have lost five games this season in the final minute, and doesn’t look good for ol’ Norv. I’ve heard several analysts blame the struggles on the players and the injury to Shawne Merriman. When your team loses five games in the last minute, that’s coaching. That has little to do with the players.
Pick: Chargers, Raiders cover

SUNDAY

Cincinnati Bengals (1-10-1) vs. Indianapolis Colts (8-4)(-13.5)
1:00 p.m. Paul Brown Stadium
No, the Colts won’t win their division. Yes, they’ll have to win on the road. But do you really want to face this team when they’re healthy? Indy has three games coming up against terrible teams. They’ll be the five seed and travel to Denver, then probably Tennessee. I like their chances.
Pick: Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8) vs. Chicago Bears (6-6)(-6)
1:00 p.m. Soldier Field
Jack Del Rio’s name continues to hop around the hot seat. That makes absolutely no sense to me. I think he’s done a remarkable job in Jacksonville with limited offensive weapons. The Jags have had a ton of injuries. Del Rio deserves at least one more season to right the ship.
Pick: Bears

Houston Texans (5-7) vs. Green Bay Packers (5-7)(-6)
1:00 p.m. Lambeau Field
Mike McCarthy is one coach who should be on the hot seat. He, along with the Packers GM, did a terrible job with the Brett Favre situation in August. Since then, he’s wasted a pretty talented roster of a team that played in the NFC Championship game last season. Plus, his play-calling has become almost as predictable as Jim Zorn’s.
Pick: Texans

Cleveland Browns (4-9) vs. Tennessee Titans (11-1)(-13)
1:00 p.m. LP Field
It’s going to get much, much worse for Romeo Crennel before it gets better. In fact, it’s not going to get better at all. Maybe he can find work next year back in New England.
Pick: Titans

Minnesota Vikings (7-5)(-8) vs. Detroit Lions (0-12)
1:00 p.m. Ford Field
If the Lions are going to win any of their remaining games, this is the one. They face a Vikings team fresh off a huge win and prime for a letdown. Gus Frerotte is bad enough and inconsistent enough that he can struggle against any team. Plus, the Vikings two defensive tackles, the strongest part of a mediocre defense, have just been suspended for the remainder of the regular season. However, the Lions are still the Lions.
Pick: Vikings

Philadelphia Eagles (6-5-1) vs. New York Giants (11-1)(-7)
1:00 p.m. Giants Stadium
Justice is blind. Almost a year to the day that Sean Taylor is killed trying to protect his family, Plaxico Burress is able to walk away from a self-inflicted gun wound that was made possible by a multitude of dumb decisions by Burress himself. Now, you try to tell me how in the world that’s fair. Hopefully jail time is in the future for Burress and Antonio Pierce.
Pick: Giants

Atlanta Falcons (8-4) vs. New Orleans Saints (6-6)(-3)
1:00 p.m. Louisiana Superdome
The Falcons keep winning, and I keep picking against them. We’ll talk about this more later in the week, but you can keep the Flacco-Harbaugh combination in Baltimore. They at least have a veteran defense. The Matt Ryan-Mike Smith combination in Atlanta has been the most impressive tandem in the league this season. There is no other reason the Falcons should be 8-4 and closing in on the playoffs.
Pick: Saints

New York Jets (8-4)(-4) vs. San Francisco 49ers (4-8)
4:05 p.m. Candlestick Park
Anyone who didn’t believe me when I said the Jets were not a viable contender in the AFC, only has to go back and look at their game tape against the Broncos. That did not look like a playoff-worthy team on either side of the ball. Despite the small line, I’m going to split the difference here. The Jets already lost once in the Bay Area, no reason they can’t lose again.
Pick: Jets, 49ers cover

Miami Dolphins (7-5) vs. Buffalo Bills (6-6)(-1)
4:05 p.m. Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario
The Bills season was done the minute they lost to Cleveland. Now the only advantage they have against Miami - the Buffalo winter - will be negated since they’ll be playing indoors a few hundred miles away in Toronto. Playing a game in Canada doesn’t look so smart now, eh?
Pick: Dolphins

Kansas City Chiefs (2-10) vs. Denver Broncos (7-5)(-9)
4:05 p.m. Mile High Stadium
I’d like to state again how unfair it is that the Broncos are 7-5 and can cruise to a division title. Meanwhile, the Falcons are 8-4 and are in third place in their division, while the Redskins are 7-5 and have already been eliminated from any chance of winning the East.
Pick: Broncos

New England Patriots (7-5)(-4.5) vs. Seattle Seahawks (2-10)
4:05 p.m. Qwest Field
I’ve already sort of picked the Jets to win on the West Coast this week. Probably not a great idea to pick two eastern teams to do it. Still, Seattle is awfully bad this season.
Pick: Patriots

St. Louis Rams (2-10) vs. Arizona Cardinals (7-5)(-14)
4:15 p.m. University of Phoenix Stadium
Something tells me that the Cardinals will finally be able to clinch their division. Took them long enough.
Pick: Cardinals

Dallas Cowboys (8-4) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)(-3)
4:15 p.m. Heinz Field
Easiest money line of the week. You have the Pittsburgh Steelers, fresh off an impressive performance in New England, coming back home where they are nearly unbeatable, playing a Dallas team that struggles outside of Texas, and they’re only favored by a field goal. That makes no sense. I know that Vegas is in love with the Cowboys as much as the media is, but that line is incredibly stupid.
Pick: Steelers

MONDAY

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-3) vs. Carolina Panthers (9-3)(-3)
8:30 p.m. Bank of America Stadium
Every time the Panthers have had a chance to make a statement this season, they’ve failed. That 9-3 record looks good, but it includes wins over Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego and Detroit. Their best win was home against Atlanta back in September, and last time they played Tampa they were blown out. Jake Delhomme is back to being erratic. Jonathan Stewart has shown little of the promise he flashed back in the pre-season. The defense has been inconsistent. I’ve really soured on the Panthers in the last few weeks.
Pick: Buccaneers

Coming up, the Redskins continue to lose important home games. So it’s a good time to hit the road. Well, sort of. If you count Baltimore as a road trip. Oh, is it time for the Battle of the Beltways already? You wouldn’t be interested in that, would you?

Maryland Basketball: [vacated]

Michigan Wolverines (5-1) at
Maryland Terrapins (4-2)
Comcast Center - College Park, MD
ACC/Big Ten Challenge

This past weekend, we saw the best of Maryland and the worst of Maryland. We saw what they are capable of…good, bad and really ugly. Maryland is going to be a team that relies completely on jump shots. If the shots fall, they have enough shooters to compete with any team in the country. If they don’t, and I have a feeling that they won’t for the majority of games this season, they can lose to any team in the country. That’s not an understatement. I mean any team in the country. The lack of a consistent inside game is going to be tough to watch this season.

Maryland started the Old Spice Classic with a surprising win against a very good Michigan State team that was missing most of it’s inside power. Goran Suton didn’t play. Raymar Morgan was in foul trouble all game. The freshman Delvon Roe still isn’t close to healthy. The Terps were able to play MSU without the Spartans’ greatest strength. Maryland also hit 7 threes in the game. They shot well, didn’t get dominated inside, and won rather handedly.

The next two games were a microcosm of what Maryland fans better get used to this year. Maryland went 1-for-13 for three against a Gonzaga team with three players over 6-8. They got dominated on the glass, and Greivis Vasquez couldn’t carry the team for more than a half. But even in a loss, good came out of it. Maryland got a chance to play a Georgetown program that’s been ducking the Terps for the last 15 years. After seeing the game, one wonders why?

Maryland repeated the same mistakes they made against Gonzaga. They started out by missing 8 of their first 9 shots. They couldn’t hit open threes. And they couldn’t keep the Hoyas off the backboard. Compounding the problems, Vasquez had an awful game and no one stepped up to carry the team. The result: a 75-48 thrashing that was one of Maryland’s worst performances since the 2000 2nd round NCAA game against UCLA. Again, you have to wonder why Georgetown and Little Racist III refuse to come to College Park once every two seasons. That win sure doesn’t hurt recruiting.

The worst thing that could have happened to Maryland was beating Michigan State. Sure, it got the Terps a quality win. However, for a program that may need more quantity of wins rather than quality wins, it forced Maryland to face two teams they were not ready to play. I hate to by cynical, but I would much rather have seen Maryland lose to MSU, then get a chance to beat Oklahoma State and Wichita State. Sure, the Terps don’t walk away with a great win, but they may have walked away from the tournament with a 5-1 record and two wins against teams that will easily be in the top 75 of the RPI.

Now Maryland has a very interesting week ahead of them. This Sunday, they play in the BB&T Classic in a building they rarely have success in and against a team they rarely play well against. George Washington is going to struggle mightily this year, but they still have the talent to become the second local team to beat Maryland in an 8-day span. More on them later. The Terps must first get past Michigan in the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge (or as it should be called, the ACC’s annual beatdown of the Big Ten).

Michigan should serve as a warning to all in Maryland’s program to how far a powerhouse can fall. 15 years ago, Michigan was a basketball power. They made Final Fours routinely and the NCAA tournament every year. Even though several of those titles were later stripped and vacated, and the Fab Five were discovered to be one of most highly-paid college basketball teams of all time, Michigan was a household name in hoops. Then, they disappeared. The program rapidly went downhill, and it all can’t be blamed on NCAA sanctions. Michigan’s gone through several unsuccessful coaching changes, and hasn’t been nationally, or even locally, relevant for a long time. This could be the fate of Maryland basketball if they don’t pull out of this four-year tailspin. It is possible to go from the top of the game to the bottom. Teams like Arizona, Connecticut and North Carolina are common. But so are teams like Michigan and Arkansas. Maryland, along with Syracuse, is in danger of joining the second group. I don’t expect Maryland to become another powerhouse, but this program has access to too much talent to be lumped in with the latter group.

The Wolverines seem to be slooooooowly pulling out of their doldrums. It started by firing Tommy Amaker, who had minimal success (1 NCAA tournament in four seasons) at Seton Hall before being wooed to Ann Arbor. Michigan saw that “Dook pedigree” and couldn’t resist. Amaker achieved nothing worth noting during his six seasons with Michigan. During Michigan’s recent raid of West Virginia head coaches, they plucked John Beilein from Morgantown. It seems that he has the program on the right track. Other than Western Kentucky’s upset of Louisville, and Maryland’s win over MSU, Michigan’s win over UCLA has been one of the early season’s biggest surprises. The Wolverines then hung tough with the Dookies for about 30 minutes in their preseason tournament before falling.

However, Michigan has some of the same problems Maryland has. They are young, they are inexperienced and they lack team balance. Just 10 days after beating UCLA, Michigan needed overtime to beat Savannah State, a team that is routinely one of the worst in Division 1-A. Michigan is almost completely reliant on two players. Unlike the Terps, who rely on a bevy of guards, the Wolverines at least have one decent big man. DeShawn Sims is good enough this year for 15 points and 8 boards a game. Their star attraction, 6-4 guard Manny Harris, is also averaging 8 rebounds a game to go along with 22 points and 4 assists (presumably, most of those go to Sims). As for the rest of Beilein’s team? No one has averaged more then five points a game or five rebounds a game. That’s especially concerning considering that other than Sims and Harris, four other players see over 20 minutes of playing time and two others see over 15 a game. This is an offense, and defense, with two proven players and not a whole lot else.

Despite the fact that Maryland won’t be able to stop Sims inside, they shouldn’t be dominated on the boards in this game. I think after a few days of rest, the Terps will have their legs back under them and will hopefully hit a few more jump shots. Maryland’s depth should also be a factor since they get much more from their bench. Plus, after the whipping they suffered in the last two games, their heads won’t be so big after pulling out the upset on Thursday. Combine that with Maryland’s great record in this Challenge, especially at home, and I think it adds up to close Terps win.

Maryland 72
Michigan 65