NFL Week 12 Preview

Two out of the three Thanksgiving games yesterday were predictably abysmal. The Lions showed promise early when the Packers fumbled the opening kickoff and Matthew Stafford led them in for the touchdown. After that, it was all Green Bay all afternoon. The Packers defense played very well, forcing 4 interceptions from Stafford yesterday and one of which was returned for a touchdown. The Packers offensive line probably had their best game of the season as they only allowed one sack and protected Aaron Rodgers all day long. This allowed Rodgers to pass for 348 yards and 3 touchdowns, absolutely torturing the Lions secondary and forcing them to lick their wounds over Thanksgiving dinner. Every year, I always think that in spite of how bad the Lions are, they will somehow put together an incredible performance on Thanksgiving that demonstrates the pride and honor of the organization. And every year, I am always let down in one way or another. I hope that Stafford is the savior of the organization. I really do because then we will finally be able to see a Thanksgiving game in Detroit worthy of our time. The same thing applies to the Dallas Cowboys. They were predictably awesome yesterday against a confusing Oakland Raiders team. What was interesting about this game is that the Raiders offense played better than expected. Bruce Gradkowski has 200 yards passing, a touchdown, and did not turn the ball over. The only problem is that they couldn't get any points on the board. Because of that, the Cowboys were able to jump out to a 17-0 halftime lead and never looked back. They knew that they had put up enough points against the Raiders and that all they had to do was coast until the end of the game. Tony Romo had a very nice game as expected, throwing for 309 yards and connecting with Miles Austin and Roy Williams for two touchdowns. The Dallas running game also picked itself up yesterday as Felix Jones, Tashard Choice, and Marion Barber all had at least 60 yards rushing. That's a very nice division among the three backs and they could use that effort if they want to contend with the Vikings and the Saints. This was a game that the Cowboys were expected to win and they did not disappoint as they head into next week's showdown with the New York Giants.

Speaking of the Giants, their game against the Denver Broncos was the most surprising result that emerged from the NFL last night. The Giants were nowhere to be found last night. Sure, there were people on the sidelines wearing the blue and the red with NY attached to the sides of their helmets. But where were the playmakers? Hmm, where were they? I will tell you where they were. They were stuck in New York getting an early start on Thanksgiving dinner because they did not show up last night. Watching the Giants last night was like watching a team hooked on tryptophan. They were lackadaisical at best. Yet lackadaisical is too kind a word to describe last night's performance. The Giants were absolutely HORRIBLE!!! There was no passion on either side of the ball. There was no fire from anyone on the sidelines. There was no sense of urgency from a team that had just come off a dramatic overtime win and seemed ready to turn the ship back in the right direction. Kudos to the Denver Broncos last night for doing everything they were supposed to do. They stopped the run against a pitiful offensive line. They got pressure on Eli Manning and forced him to make errant throws to his receivers. Kyle Orton was able to move the ball methodically without any pressure from the Giants defense. And Brandon Marshall made sensational catch after sensational catch. Everything bad that could possibly happen to the Giants happened last night against the Broncos. And they are a team right now that is simply not ready to contend for a playoff spot. They are now on the precipice of a massive collapse. A loss to the Dallas Cowboys next week will all but seal their doom. In the meantime, the Broncos are right back in the thick of things and have a favorable schedule down the road that could secure them 10 wins or more. Josh McDaniels has his team believing again, proving once more that winning and winning decisively cures all ills.

And now, on to my preview of the NFL's remaining games for Week 12

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons

I think this is where the Falcons' season begins to turn around. As I've mentioned before, four of their remaining six games are at home and they play four teams that have sub-.500 records. The Buccaneers are one of those teams and they play them twice before the season ends. The Falcons were able to move the ball very well last week despite the fact that they lost in overtime. QB Matt Ryan was firing on all cylinders in the final moments of that game, connecting with TE Tony Gonzalez which sent the game into overtime. And I am convinced that if the Falcons had won the coin toss, then they would be going into this game with a 6-4 record and sitting pretty in terms of playoff contention. Look for Matt Ryan to continue his strong play against an inexperienced Buccaneers secondary. The key to their game offensively will be if Jason Snelling starts again in place of Michael Turner and is able to be as effective as he was against the Giants last week. If Snelling is productive, that will allow for the Falcons to open up some playaction and start mixing and matching against the Buccaneers defense. Also, look for the Falcons to have a strong defensive outing and to consistently put pressure on rookie QB Josh Freeman. Freeman will be able to make some plays but certainly not enough to steal a game in the Georgia Dome. Falcons win 31-16

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills

The Dolphins saved their season last week with a very convincing win over a seemingly resurgent Carolina Panthers team. Now they travel up to Buffalo to face a Bills team that has been in disarray all season. Ricky Williams had an outstanding game last week against the Panthers. But let's see if he can do it again. Let's see if Ricky can prove that he can be the one who carries the Dolphins on his shoulders all the way to the playoffs. Last week was an excellent first step in the right direction. And against a depleted Bills defense, I expect another big day out of Williams barring any setbacks. I also expect the Dolphins to keep on limiting the Wildcat and allow for Chad Henne to open up the passing game a little more. This will allow for the Dolphins to become more dangerous offensively and will force the Bills to start worrying about the quarterback a little more than the running game. I expect the Dolphins to put up a sound defensive effort against Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Buffalo running game. They should be able to stop Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch, both of whom only managed to rush for 53 yards combined last week against the Jaguars. The key to the game will be if that young Dolphins secondary can stop T.O. and the Buffalo receiving game. They cannot allow Owens to get open downfield and they cannot allow themselves to get hurt by the big play. If they do that, then this game will be too close for comfort for a Miami team looking to maintain position in the playoff hunt. I don't expect the Dolphins to let this one slip away, not when they have a key division showdown next weekend against the Pats. Dolphins win 27-13

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals

God help the Cleveland Browns in this game. Last weekend was their moment to shine against the Detroit Lions. They jumped out to a 24-3 early and somehow managed to give that one away. They then were up by 6 with no time remaining on the clock. Stafford fired a desperate Hail Mary into the end zone which was intercepted. Game Over right? WRONG!!! PASS INTERFERENCE!!!!! ONE MORE PLAY!!!!! And what happens? Stafford connects and the Lions steal one from the Browns. These are the things that summarize the Browns season. Even when they play well, they still find ways to lose the game because they do not have enough motivating leadership to guide them all the way to the end. And now they travel to Cincinnati facing off against an angry and embarrassed Bengals team. This game will not even be close. And if it is, that might be the biggest surprise of the weekend. Look for the Bengals defense to come out and just hamstring the Browns offense from start to finish. Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson, it doesn't matter who starts at quarterback. This is a game the Bengals know they need to have. And after last week's terrible loss to the Raiders, this has now become a game the Bengals want to have. The Browns might be able to limit the Bengals on the scoreboard for a while. However, the Bengals defense will not let the Browns sniff the end zone on Sunday. And in the end, the Bengals will do their best to leave no doubt on the sidelines once the game is over. Bengals wins 24-0.

Seattle Seahawks at St. Louis Rams

This is a game that would have been more interesting had Marc Bulger not fractured his leg and was out for the remainder of the season. But even with Bulger out, I am still not entirely sold on the Seahawks coming in and winning this game. The Seahawks are a team that have not played well all year. Injuries on both sides of the ball have crippled this team and in spite of many key players returning to action, they simply have not gotten the job done. The Seahawks are 0-5 on the road this season. But that doesn't mean anything because the Rams are 0-5 at home. But the Rams are a team that is playing hard for Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo. This is a team that is doing whatever it can to get a win. Can you say the same about the Seahawks right now? They have been disappointing in all phases offensively, lacking a sound running game that can provide a greater balance for the passing game. WR T.J. Housmanzadeh is definitely regretting not signing with the Vikings this offseason. And the Seattle defense simply hasn't shown up on the road this season. So what do I expect from this game? I expect Steven Jackson to run the ball like a wild man. But since Seattle is very good at stopping the run, and the Rams do not have an effective quarterback that can open up the passing game, I have to give the edge to the Seahawks this weekend. But believe me, my confidence in them is like the weight of tossing a coin. Seahawks win 20-17

Carolina Panthers at New York Jets

These are two of the most disappointing teams in the NFL right now. As mentioned above, the Panthers were a team on the rebound before their devastating loss to the Miami Dolphins last week. Jake Delhomme reverted back to his old ways and coughed up the football in a crucial situation. The Panthers defense could not stop the running game of the Dolphins and dug themselves a hole they simply could not get out of. This week, they face a New York Jets team that has been the epitome of disappointment all season long. They have now lost 6 of their last 7 games and are on the verge of becoming the cellar dwellers of the AFC East should they not start winning games soon. The Jets have the worst quarterback in the NFL right now. All the promise that Mark Sanchez showed in the first three games of the season has now been undercut by the fact that he cannot hold on to the football. Ball security is key to being a successful NFL quarterback. And if Sanchez is going to succeed in this league, he is going to have to learn that as soon as possible. Luckily, he is only a rookie and he has plenty of time to learn. But for now, consider every Jets game from here on in a toss-up game because the wild card will always be the GQ quarterback. In this particular game, look for the Jets to try to establish the run with Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene. They will try to limit Sanchez as much as possible so as to ensure that he does not throw interceptions. The Panthers defense must stop the run in this game and force Sanchez to throw the ball and win the game through the air. And that will be a tough task for the Jets if they do not establish dominance at the line of scrimmage. As for the Panthers offense, Delhomme must take care of the football as well and make clean throws in order to establish the aerial attack of Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad. They also need Deangelo Williams to have a big game against a Jets defensive line that is weaker without the presence of DL Kris Jenkins. I have a funny feeling that the Jets will be able to shut down the running game and that Delhomme will throw a crucial interception late in the fourth quarter that leads ironically to a Sanchez game-winning drive. Jets win 24-21.

Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles

The Redskins did everything right last week except win the football game. They shut down a talented Cowboy offense and were shutting them out until the final two minutes of the game. This is a concern for the Redskins. They have to be able to finish games off in order to start garnering some respect in the NFL. This year has been especially disappointing for the Redskins in that there have been some games where they've had leads going into the fourth quarter but subsequently blew those leads and could not get another score on the board before the game ended. Last week was just another one of those games. The Redskins defense is certainly talented enough to keep their team in the game the entire way. But their offense has trouble putting points on the board and QB Jason Campbell turns the ball over in crucial situations. This week, they get the Philadelphia Eagles on the road. The Eagles are an inconsistent football team that loses games because of the lackadaisical play calling of Andy Reid. And right now, they are a one-dimensional football team. RB Brian Westbrook is out indefinitely and we're not sure if LeSean McCoy can carry the running game consistently for the remainder of the season. So the Redskins know going in that the Eagles are going to pass the ball, which means they have to put pressure on Donovan McNabb and make sure that he does not have time to get throws off. If they do that, then the Eagles will be forced to rely on McCoy to keep having breakout games on a regular basis. However, McNabb is a versatile quarterback. His ability to scramble out of the pocket and still matriculate the ball down the field is uncanny. He will find DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin and he will connect with them down the field. The Redskins are going to have to play spectacular defense to keep up with Philly in this game. And they will need Jason Campbell to step up and make big plays when it counts. This is a division game and it will be close. But in the end, the Eagles will pull away and notch another important victory. Eagles win 23-13.

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans

I would feel more comfortable predicting the upset in this game had the Texans beaten the Titans last week. But of course, that did not happen. The Texans are one of the most confusing teams in the NFL. It seems like they will give you outstanding efforts on the football field every time. It seems like they are able to compete with the very best in the game. It seems like they have the talent on both sides of the ball to make the playoffs. So then why are the Texans losing football games they should win? They are the definition of underachievement this year in the NFL. There is no excuse why this football team should be sitting at 5-5 with the weapons they have on offense and the speed they have on defense. But yet, here they sit. And who comes marching into Reliant Stadium on Sunday? That would be the undefeated Indianapolis Colts, a team that has already defeated the Texans once this season and has had their number for a very long time. So then why am I sitting here mulling over the idea of an upset? Because the Colts have been holding on to that perfect record by the skin of their teeth lately. Their average margin of victory over the last four games is 5 points. They have not been blowing out teams and I don't expect them to do so on Sunday. The Texans also have the talent to match the Colts offensively. WR Andre Johnson is certainly the most underrated receiver in the NFL and is arguably the best receiver in the NFL. When he and QB Matt Schaub are on target together, they are as lethal as any QB/WR duo in the league. The key to this game for the Texans will be if Steve Slaton and Ryan Moats will be as lethal as the Texans passing game. Will the offensive line be able to shut down Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis for long stretches of time in this game? Or will the Colts defense inflict its will and completely dominate the line of scrimmage? If the Colts win up front, the Texans are not going to win this game on Sunday. But if its back and forth all day, then we are destined for a shootout. And who are you going to take in a shootout? Jon Gruden calls him The Sheriff and rightly so. You take Peyton Manning any day of the week. It will not be the Colts defense that seals the victory this week. This week will be vintage Peyton leading the Colts to that game-winning drive that maintains perfection and shuts the door on the Texans' playoff chances. Colts win 27-24.

Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers

The Chiefs are coming off their biggest win of the season against the Steelers. They are riding high with a little bit of energy and confidence, believing they can now play with any team in the NFL. The Chargers will swiftly eliminate that confidence. QB Matt Cassell and WR Chris Chambers have made for a very nice combination on the offensive side of the ball for the Chiefs. And RB Jamaal Charles picked up the slack left by Larry Johnson, acting as a vital part to the Chiefs' success last weekend. This weekend will not be as successful. The Chargers are the hottest team in the NFL right now. They are coming off a decisive victory over the Denver Broncos. LaDainian Tomlinson is playing his best football in a long time and is looking like the L.T. of old. And for the Kansas City Chiefs, that is a really bad thing. Combine that with Philip Rivers, who is making great decisions with the football and has been a great manager of the game for the Chargers. His stats are not flashy a la Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. But he gets the job done when the game is on the line and is truly one of the most passionate quarterbacks in the NFL today. Look for Rivers and Tomlinson to have good games against the Chiefs on Sunday. And look for the Charger defense to have another outstanding effort. Chris Chambers will be determined to have a good game against his former team. But don't count on it. The Chargers are well on their way to the playoffs and will most likely get there riding high on an 11-game winning streak. Chargers win 31-10

Jacksonville Jaguars at San Francisco 49ers

This is a very difficult game to predict simply because its not being played in Jacksonville. The Jaguars are one of the hottest teams in the NFL right now, squeaking by opponents and thrusting themselves smack dab in the middle of the playoff hunt. Maurice Jones-Drew is having an incredible season as the feature back for the Jaguars, using his strength and quickness to overpower defensive players and find his way into the endzone. And for a Jaguars offense looking for an identity, Jones-Drew has provided them with a dangerous weapon in the backfield. The question mark with the Jaguars all season has always been how effective the passing game can be. Granted, Mike Sims-Walker has emerged as a breakout receiver this season. And Torry Holt has brought stability to a receiving core that was very lackluster before the season began. But when it comes to the latter stages of the season, when it comes to these kinds of games that they should win, will these receivers step up and make plays down the field? And that is what makes this game very interesting. The 49ers are very talented on the defensive side of the ball and will be relying on them to win this game on Sunday. San Francisco has demonstrated that if their defense does not play well, then they will not win the football game because their offense does not have enough explosiveness to dig themselves out a hole and come back to win the game. They are a running team first and foremost and in order for them to be more dynamic on offense, Alex Smith cannot be their quarterback of the future. As for this game right here, look for the Jaguars to move the ball effectively against the 49ers defense. Look for Jones-Drew to find the end zone early and for the Jaguars to distance themselves on the scoreboard. This will force Smith to throw the football early and for the 49ers to get away from their offensive game plan, which will be to attack the Jaguars defense with Frank Gore. The Niners will be forced to play catch up, which is something they haven't been good at all season. Jaguars win 23-14.

Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings

This is a game that would have been far more interesting earlier in the season. I'm sure the schedule makers did not foresee the Chicago Bears falling into oblivion before they met Favre and company. But sadly, that is where we stand as of today. The Bears all but lost their season last Sunday on a Jay Cutler interception no less. So what are they playing for now? Pride? Victory? What are these terms for the Bears? They have not played for either all season long. Why should they start now? Jay Cutler has been arguably the worst quarterback in the NFL this season. His gunslinging mentality has cost the Bears many a game that they possibly should have won. But Cutler is not the only problem the Bears have. Their inability to establish the running game all season has forced Cutler to throw the ball more than he wants to. Rookie sensation Matt Forte is going through a sophomore slump, managing just one 100-yard rushing performance this entire season. And for a team that is committed to running the football and establish dominance at the line of scrimmage, Forte has let his team down in a big way this season. Also, the Bears have been mediocre on the defensive side of the ball all season. The loss of Brian Urlacher hurt them profoundly and they have not been the same since. Offenses face the Bears defense and are no longer intimidated by them. Tommie Harris is not the same player he once was, preventing the Bears from truly stuffing the middle. The Bears secondary is accustomed now to giving up the big play when it counts, which forces Cutler into pressure situations he is uncomfortable with. And this week, they get a Vikings team that is perhaps playing the best football in the NFL right now. Brett Favre is known for making big plays and is having an MVP season with 21 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Adrian Peterson has been Adrian Peterson. The Vikings offensive line is one of the best in the NFL being led by G Steve Hutchinson. And their defense is also one of the best in the game, with two veteran run stuffers in the Williams boys and one monster linebacker in Jaret Allen. The Bears are outmatched against the Vikings this weekend, and it will show on the football field. Look for Cutler to keep throwing interceptions. Look for Favre to have a big day zipping the ball to Percy Harvin and Sidney Rice. Look for Adrian Peterson to have a stellar performance against an average Bear defensive line. And look for the Vikings to plow their way to 10-1 in decisive fashion. Vikings win 34-13.

Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans

This is one of the most interesting games of the weekend. You have a Cardinals team that has been perfect on the road all season long. And you have a Titans team that has won four in a row since starting the season 0-6. Something's gotta give in this game. Which one will it be? I'm inclined to go with Arizona in this game. And here's why. Granted the Titans have been playing some of the best football in the NFL right now. Chris Johnson is tearing it up offensively, leading the league in rushing over the first 10 weeks of the season. Vince Young has returned in a big way, managing the game really well for the Titans on offense and making plays when he has to. The difference between the Vince Young of old and the Vince Young right now is that he is not turning the football over. Young is not making mistakes with the football and this is doing wonders for his confidence. He feels like he can take this team to the promised land because the Titans are not relying on him to do all the work. But here is why I think the Titans will lose this game. The Cardinals are ranked 8th in the league in stopping the run. That has been the strength of their defense all season long. Their commit their energy to stopping the run and force teams to pass the ball on them. I think the Cardinals will be so committed to stopping Chris Johnson offensively that Vince Young will be forced to make plays down the field and win the game in the clutch. Is he up to doing that? Yes, he led the Titans down the field on a game-winning drive last Monday. But can he do it consistently? The Cardinals are ranked 27th in the NFL in passing defense so Young might have plenty of opportunities to do so. Also, while the Titans are ranked 9th in the NFL in stopping the run, they are ranked 31st in passing defense. That will spell doom for the Titans on Sunday. Kurt Warner will dissect the Titans secondary and will find Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston over the middle and down the sidelines many times on Sunday. The Cardinals will put their share of points on the board and should be successful at stopping Chris Johnson. The key will be for Vince Young to find his receivers when it counts and to match the Cardinals on the scoreboard. Can he do that? I don't think so. Cardinals win 31-20.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens

This game just got far more interesting and perhaps more beneficial for the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. Reports out of Pittsburgh indicate that Ben Roethlisberger will sit Sunday, which means that Dennis Dixon will make his first-career start in the NFL. And guess who's on the welcoming committee for Mr. Dixon? Ummm that would be Ray Lewis anchoring an angry Ravens defense that did enough to lead their team to victory last weekend against the Colts. This is going to be an emotional game for the Ravens coming off that tough loss to Indy. They want and need this game in the worst way. And with Roethlisberger out on Sunday, the Ravens have a chance to put the Steelers season in dire straits. Look for the Steelers to get back to what they do best, which is run the football. Will Rashard Mendenhall be able to carry the load and establish a presence on the offensive side of the ball? He's going to have to do that if the Steelers are going to win this game on the road. If he can't do that, then the Steelers will be forced to rely on Dixon to air it out on the sidelines and scramble out of the pocket. And being that this is his first NFL start and he is facing a defense known for their intensity and perseverance, Head Coach Mike Tomlin does not want to put Dixon in that position. However, the Steelers are getting some help from the Ravens because their offense has seemingly been unable to put the ball in the end zone. Joe Flacco has not thrown a passing touchdown in his last three outings, which means that the Ravens will also be committed to running the football. The Steelers have the best rush defense in the NFL right now and should be able to contain Ray Rice and/or Willis McGahee at the line of scrimmage. This will force Joe Flacco to find the end zone and get his team in position to put points on the scoreboard. This is going to be a low scoring game. The team that puts one touchdown on the board will emerge victorious. Which one will it be? Recent history favors the Steelers in this game, but the loss of Big Ben hurts them immensely. Dennis Dixon is unproven whereas Joe Flacco has been tested in big-game situations. Both teams are fighting to maintain their position in the playoff race. Its too close to call....I'm gonna go with the Steelers by a field goal in what should be a defensive struggle from start to finish. Steelers win 13-10.

New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints

The game of the week....that's an understatement right there. This is perhaps the game of the year. In one corner, you have the challenger. From the Big Easy, with a undefeated record of 10-0 and looking to make that run at perfection, the Bayou Bloodhounds, the New Orleans Saints!!! In the other corner, the champion. From Foxboro, Massachusetts. A team that has already made that run at perfection and is looking to play the role of spoiler, the Boston Cream Pies, the New England Patriots. This is a game that will test the might of the Saints in a big way. In order to be the best, they are going to have to beat the best. And the Patriots are one of the very best in the NFL. This is a team that should have handed the Colts their first loss two weeks ago. This is a team that is red hot on the offensive side of the ball. Tom Brady has worked out the mechanical problems that plagued him at the start of the season and has returned to performing at the level we expect him to. Not only does he have Randy Moss to air it out to downfield, but he also has Wes Welker, the best slot receiver in the NFL today. Welker has emerged as a beast on the offensive side of the ball. He is an unstoppable force that Brady loves to connect with over the middle because defenses are so focused on containing the deep threat in Randy Moss. If the Saints are going to win this game on Monday night, they will need to shut down Wes Welker. And that is going to be very tough to do. Laurence Maroney had a good game last week against the Jets. He will need to be effective once more against the Saints and provide balance to the Patriots offensive strategy. But I'm not worried about the Patriots scoring points because they will certainly get their fair share on Monday night. What I'm worried about is how that potent and lethal Saints offense will respond against a Patriots defense that will throw everything but the kitchen sink at Drew Brees and company. Bill Belichick will have his defense well-prepared and ready for the Saints on Monday night. The key for the Saints will be with their running game. Will Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell be able to find their running lanes up the middle and stretch it out for big plays? If they do, this will open up the door for Drew Brees to start confusing the Patriots as much as possible and to start airing it out to his weapons downfield. The key for the Patriots will be if they can get pressure on Brees and force him to get rid of the ball a lot quicker than he would want to. They also need to be aggressive against the Saints receiving core and will need to go after the football as much as possible. If the Saints are able to stretch the field decisively with their receivers, and if Drew Brees has enough time in the pocket to make his throws, then the Saints will win this game hands down. But I expect a strong performance from the Patriots defense. Granted the Saints will get on the scoreboard and will be riding that home crowd all night long. But in the end, I think it comes down to Brady, Moss, and Welker in the final two minutes with the game on the line. Would you really pick the Saints defense to make a big stop in that situation? If they do, then the Saints will come out of Monday night as the best team in the NFL. But I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt to Gisele's love muffin. Undefeated season gone...perfection ruined. Patriots win 27-24.

That's all for now. Enjoy this weekend in sports. Should be a great one.

NCAA Football Week 13 Top 5

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. But in terms of sports, the holiday weekend is just beginning. Week 13 of NCAA Football is officially known as Rivalry Weekend. It is traditionally the weekend where college football's most intense rivalries are renewed and players leave it all on the field against opponents they hate the most. This weekend features the infamous Backyard Brawl between Pittsburgh and West Virginia, the Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn, and the Battle for the Legends Trophy between Notre Dame and Stanford. If you want to see football the way it was meant to be played, then look no further to Rivalry Weekend in college football. Black Friday supersales have nothing on just curling up on the couch with a bag of chips and watching these kinds of games. So without further adieu, I present to you the Top Five for Rivalry Weekend 2009.

#5 Clemson at South Carolina

Played annually since 1909 and known as the Battle for the Palmetto State, the Clemson-South Carolina football game is one of the oldest and most bitter rivalries in college football history. Sparks fly and tensions rise whenever these two teams step on the football field. Look for it to be no different this year. Clemson is ranked 18th in the nation and features an Heisman Trophy candidate in RB C.J. Spiller. They don't really have a lot to lose this weekend against a South Carolina team that has been very disappointing this season. Steve Spurrier has tried very hard to bring the South Carolina program to national prominence and respectability. However, working in the SEC Conference certainly has its drawbacks for the Ole Ball Coach. Recruits usually prefer The Swamp of Gator Nation or the Bayou of Tiger Town, choosing either to go to Florida, LSU, or Alabama rather than seeking out that Gamecock head gear. But that's beside the point. South Carolina circles this game on their schedule every year. They want to beat Clemson more than Steve Spurrier wants to beat Florida. That is why I think this game will be closer than the experts think. South Carolina will not stop C.J. Spiller from getting to the end zone. But I think their defense will be able to shut down the Clemson aerial attack to a point where they give their offense a chance to match Clemson's scoring output. Look for sophomore quarterback Stephen Garcia to make some key plays against the Clemson secondary to keep South Carolina in the game for the better part of the day. However, when it comes to crunch time, Clemson will find a way to win by forcing South Carolina to make mistakes and cough up the football. Clemson wins 34-23.

#4 Utah at BYU

This is the only game this weekend featuring two ranked opponents, both of whom got spanked by #4 TCU. Aptly referred to as The Holy War, the Utah-BYU rivalry has gotten extremely competitive over the last few years due to the resurgence of the two programs. Both teams have been integral to the rise of the Mountain West conference in terms of BCS respectability. Last year, Utah upset Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and BYU upended Oklahoma to kick off this season. So you cannot say that this game is not devoid of its share of talent. I expect a high-scoring game on Saturday night with Utah matching BYU stride for stride on the offensive side of the ball. But because everyone knows I love home-field advantage, I expect BYU senior quarterback Max Hall to get that late touchdown which puts BYU ahead for good. I also expect a big game out of Utah QB Jordan Wynn because I think the BYU defense will do a great job of shutting down Eddie Wide and the Utah running game. Utah will be forced to pass the ball a lot more than they want to but I think their receivers will be able to find seams down the middle of the field that will lead to big plays offensively. This will keep Utah in the game until the very end. But I also expect a wonderful game out of Max Hall and perhaps a good day from RB Harvey Unga, who has had a tendency this season to break out in big games. BYU will keep Utah in the game, but in the end veteran leadership and the unbridled will to win will be the difference in the game. BYU wins 37-34.

#3. Alabama at Auburn

THE IRON BOWL!!!!! One of the most bitter and intense rivalries in all of college football. There is so much on the line for Alabama in this game. And Auburn would love nothing better than to ruin Nick Saban's perfect season. Saban made a statement last year by crushing Auburn 36-0 at home and snapping Alabama's 6-game losing streak to the Tigers. Things are different this time around. Saban has not yet defeated Auburn on the road, which is what he will have to do if he wants that showdown with Florida in the SEC Championship Game to have greater meaning. And Auburn is under new management. Gene Chizik has done a great job in his rookie season as Head Coach. And what a statement he would make if he were able to upset an Alabama team that is better-coached and better-equipped on both sides of the ball. Alabama has to take Auburn seriously. They cannot overlook them as they prepare for the Gators next weekend. If they do, then the Tide will not be rolling to Pasadena and a shot at the national title. Will they slip up? I highly doubt it. Saban is one of the best coaches in all of college football. He will have his team physically and mentally prepared for an Auburn team that will treat this like a national championship game. RB Mark Ingram will be ready to inflict his will on an Auburn defense ranked next-to-last in the SEC in rush defense. QB Greg McElroy will manage the game effectively, putting the ball in the hands of Ingram and making a big play to WR Julio Jones once in a while. And the Alabama defense will be ruthless and stingy, forcing Auburn QB Chris Todd to lose his composure in the pocket and throw crucial interceptions down the stretch. The wild card for Auburn will be if RB Ben Tate will be able to find his running lanes and make enough cutbacks to outrun the Alabama speed demons. But with Terrence Cody and Josh Chapman stuffing the middle, it will be tough on the Auburn offensive line to consistently maintain their blocks and allow for Tate to break free in the open field. I expect an impressive performance defensively from Alabama and that will be the difference in this year's Iron Bowl. Alabama 23, Auburn 9

#2 Pittsburgh at West Virginia

THE BACKYARD BRAWL!!!!!! The name itself gives you reason to watch this game. Lately there seems to be so much on the line whenever these two teams get together. That is certainly no different this year. Pittsburgh is 9-1 and ranked 9th overall in the nation. They have gone through their conference schedule with ease and survived a late rally from Notre Dame two weeks ago. But in these final weeks of the season, we will begin to find out what Pittsburgh is really made of. Tonight's game is part one of a two-part season finale for the Panthers as they travel to Morgantown to battle West Virginia. Head Coach Dave Wannstedt has to tread softly with this game, making sure that his team remains focused on the task at hand. Their Big East showdown with Cincinnati looms large in the foreground and I wouldn't be surprised if Pittsburgh falls under pressure against a talented West Virginia football team. RB Noel Devine has not had a 100-yard rushing game since the Mountaineers defeated UConn three weeks ago. And in last year's Backyard Brawl, he was held to just 12 carries for 17 yards. If West Virginia is going to win this game, Devine will need to break out a couple of very long runs and give the Mountaineers many opportunities in the red zone. And they will need to put points on the board against a Pittsburgh defense that can put pressure on the quarterback and can stifle the running game when it wants to. West Virginia QB Jarrett Brown is not the kind of playmaker that Pat White was when he ran the offense. I expect Pittsburgh to do a good job at containing him. But will they be able to stop Devine? As for the Pittsburgh offense, look for Wannstedt to feed the ball to freshman RB Dion Lewis, who has had a stellar season running behind an extremely talented offensive line. If they can inflict their will against West Virginia's talented but underachieving defense, then Lewis will have another huge game and Pittsburgh will cruise on to its showdown with Cincinnati for the Big East title. It will be a very close game and a fascinating one to watch. But look for Pittsburgh to sneak away with the victory in Morgantown. Pittsburgh 27, West Virginia 20

#1 Nevada at Boise State

That's right. NEVADA AND BOISE STATE!!!! This is the most important game of the weekend and it occurs late tonight at around 10:30 PM on ESPN2. Why is this the most important game of the weekend? Because in watching ESPN all week, which is what I do every week and I love doing it, this is the game that the college football experts and announcers can't stop talking about. Why? After starting out 0-3 with tough losses to Notre Dame and Missouri, what has Nevada done? No, they have not faded away into obscurity. They have won 8 games in a row and have won them convincingly. They have been an offensive juggernaut, scoring at least 50 points in four of their last five games. And the last two times they have played Boise State...they almost beat them. In particular, the last time they came to the blue turf of Bronco nation (which is where they will play this game tonight), the final score was 69-67. No, that is not a misprint. 69-67!!!!!!!!! That's a college basketball score not a college football score. And to make this game even more enticing, Boise State is undefeated. And they haven't exactly been blowing opponents away throughout the season. The final scores may reflect differently, but Boise State has had a tendency to keep teams in the game as much as possible. They cannot do that against Nevada tonight. Nevada is riding a tidal wave of momentum into this game. They know they can hang with Boise State on the blue turf. And they are looking to play the role of BCS buster tonight in a big way. If Boise State should lose, their undefeated season is over...their BCS title berth gone. So much is on the line for them tonight and they are very happy that the game is at home because even though Nevada can hang with them on the blue turf, Boise State never loses on the blue turf. In order for Nevada to win this game tonight, they will need strong offensive showings from QB Colin Kaepernick and RB Vai Tua. Both have performed remarkably all season long and they will need to be nothing less than sensational tonight to hang with Boise State. The Nevada defense is not going to shut down Boise QB Kellen Moore. Moore is going to find his receivers and he is going to reach the end zone many times tonight. The key for the Nevada defense will be if they can stop him in the final minutes when the game is on the line and Nevada needs one more score to notch that upset victory. This will be a high-scoring game and it will be the game of the weekend, certainly one to watch with a bag of chips and a remote in your hand. Who will be the one to score last? I have a funny feeling that it could be Nevada...but I can't go against Boise State at home on the blue turf. Boise State 45, Nevada 42

Check back later for my NFL Week 12 preview. Alabama and Auburn are playing right now so if you see this, be sure to watch that game on CBS. Bye bye for now.

NFL Thanksgiving Preview 2009

There are many NFL fans out there who would love to see the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys removed from the Thanksgiving spotlight in favor of more competitive games. But let's think about that for a minute. It's not the NFL's fault that the Lions have never even sniffed the playoffs since Barry Sanders retired. It's not the NFL's fault that Matt Millen crippled that team and left it for dead by selecting Joey Harrington as their franchise quarterback in 2002. And it's certainly not the NFL's fault that the Lions are still a long way from not serving as turkeys on the field every year. But they are making progress. QB Matthew Stafford has shown signs of brilliance at times this year, particularly last week when he threw for 422 yards and 5 touchdowns against the Browns in an epic come-from-behind win. And if NFL fans are patient enough, then the Lions will eventually deliver a great season while riding the curtails of their new franchise quarterback. Until then, the NFL should schedule easier competition for the Lions as they continue to rebuild. That way, fans will not have to turn off their TV's by halftime to go off and enjoy Thanksgiving dinner. Unfortunately, that might happen again this year. At the end of last week's game against the Browns, Stafford separated his shoulder and is doubtful Thursday against the Packers. What does that mean? Daunte Culpepper will most likely start for the Lions, which means the game might be significantly less competitive than originally planned. However, the Packers are depleted right now on both sides of the ball and Aaron Rodgers has been like a sitting duck all season behind that weak offensive line. So if the Lions can play intense defensive football and force Rodgers to act uncomfortably in the pocket, it will give their offense a chance to move the ball and hopefully make this game an interesting Thanksgiving matinee. But trust me, this game would be more fascinating if Stafford was able to make his start. Packers win 34-17.

CORRECTION: Turns out Stafford is going to start today against the Packers, which means the game could be interesting after all. As to how long he'll play or how effective he'll be, that remains to be seen. Packers still win though.

The NFL should do the exact opposite with the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have not faced a team that had a .500 winning percentage or higher going into Thanksgiving since 2005. And they will not be facing one this season either. How can the NFL possibly let that happen to America's team? For the past four seasons, the NFL has ruined the marquee Thanksgiving game by scheduling opponents that the Cowboys should easily manhandle. Tomorrow's game is no different against the Raiders. In spite of their dramatic win over the Bengals last weekend, the Raiders are still the Raiders. They are still starting Bruce Gradkowski at quarterback and they are still a disoriented and dysfunctional organization from top to bottom. They can give you a competitive game once in a while but the one thing that always kills the Raiders is that they are a very inconsistent football team. They are never able to give strong efforts for consecutive weeks at a time and as a result, one cannot look at tomorrow's game with high expectations. The Raiders play when they want to play. They do not perform with a sense of purpose or urgency on a week-to-week basis. This is why you cannot expect the Raiders to go in there and upend the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. Even though the Cowboys offense has struggled recently, you have to figure that they will come together in front of a national audience against a weaker opponent. You have to figure that Tony Romo will find a way to break out of his offensive slumber and have a big game tomorrow afternoon. And you have to figure that America's team will not let themselves get embarrassed before they face the brunt of their remaining schedule. Cowboys win 31-13.

As I mentioned before in my last blog, the Denver Broncos are on the precipice of losing their entire season. They are literally hanging off the edge of a cliff spanning a mile high, with one more loss all but ready to send them jumping. The locker room is divided. Brandon Marshall and Knowshon Moreno are at each other's throats. Josh McDaniels needs to get his team under control. What better way to do it against the New York Giants on Thanksgiving night. Kyle Orton has slowly snapped back to reality over the last four weeks. But he is going against a Giants defense that cannot get pressure on the quarterback and always seems to give up the big play on 3rd and long or in very crucial situations. If the Broncos are going to win this game, they will need Orton to make some big plays down the stretch and get back to not turning the football over. They will need Marshall and Moreno to set aside their differences and work together to provide lethal running and passing attacks. And they will need the defense to play with the same kind of passion and tenacity that was evident in the first 6 games of the season. If they can put pressure on Eli Manning against an average Giants offensive line, and if Brian Dawkins and Champ Bailey can shut down the Giants receiving core, then the Broncos have a good shot to win on Thanksgiving night. But they need to get back to their roots. They need to be patient and productive on the offensive side of the ball and they need to keep Eli at bay for most of the night. They've lost four in a row. They need a momentum swing in the worst way. Sounds like the Broncos are the Giants of this week. Will they be as fortunate and get a victory? It will be close, but I'm saying the Giants win it in the final minute. Giants 24, Broncos 20


That's it for now. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Enjoy tomorrow's games and I'll have the rest of Week 12 previewed on Friday. Til then, I leave you with this...

Week 11 NFL Recap

Week 11 of the NFL season featured a Sunday of wild and intense finishes. There were many games that went down to the wire, some of which included unexpected winners. There is still a lot of football left to be played, with key playoff positions still up for grabs and several teams tossing their names into the ring of fire. However, there are some teams that have a lot of question marks on both sides of the ball, struggling mightily to control that seed of doubt gradually entering into their minds. With that, I turn to the two biggest surprises of Week 11: the Steelers losing to the Chiefs in OT and the Bengals losing to the Raiders 20-17. Let us begin with the defending world champions. It is clear from this past weekend that the Steelers are very different and weaker defensively without safety Troy Polamalu. There is no longer a presence in the middle of the football field when facing the Steeler defense. Opposing receivers are not intimidated to run across the middle and find seams behind the Pittsburgh corners because quite frankly, Polamalu isn't there to knock them on their behinds. As a result, the linebackers and defensive line are forced to carry the load and get pressure on the quarterback before he releases the football. They didn't do enough of that Sunday against Matt Cassell and the Chiefs. Cassell was able to connect with 7 different receivers, throwing touchdowns to TE Leonard Pope and RB Jamaal Charles. The Steelers also could not stop newly-acquired WR Chris Chambers, who caught 4 passes for 119 yards. The Steeler defense kept the Chiefs in the game for most of the day. And in the end, Big Ben's 398 yards passing and 3 touchdowns was not enough to overcome errors on the defensive side of the ball and on special teams. The Steelers special teams has now allowed a NFL-record 8th straight kick return for a touchdown. And for a team that is supposed to be among the elite in the NFL, that is simply unacceptable. To add to the Steeler woes, Big Ben went down with an apparent head injury in overtime on Sunday. To make matters worse, their backup Charlie Batch suffered a broken wrist and is now out for 6 weeks. So who do the Steelers turn to? Dennis Dixon? No, they can't do that. Not when they're in the middle of a playoff race. So what do they do? They turn to Big Ben of course. He may not have a concussion, but he might be suffering headaches after next Sunday's showdown with an angry Ravens defense. It will be interesting to see what happens to the Steelers from here on in. Will they persevere with Big Ben at the helm and overcome the weaknesses of their defense and special teams? We shall see...

Turning our eyes out West, we saw the Cincinnati Bengals literally give one away to the Oakland Raiders. In my Week 11 preview, I mentioned that this could be a possible trap game for the Bengals and that is exactly what it turned out to be. Coming off a big win against the Steelers on the road last week, the Bengals were looking primed to ease through the next three games before facing their next big opponent in the Vikings. And seeing as the Raiders had benched JaMarcus Russell in favor of Bruce Gradkowski, I didn't see any chance of the Bengals letting this one get away. So what happened out there in Oakland? When the Bengals jumped out to a 14-0 lead on two short runs by Carson Palmer, it seemed like the Raiders were not going to put up much of a fight. But a 10-yard strike from Gradkowski to TE Zach Miller kept the Raiders in the game at halftime. A 52-yard field goal from Sebastian Janikowski cut the lead to 4 and pushed Oakland even closer on the scoreboard. When the Bengals recovered a fumble by RB Michael Bush late in the 3rd quarter, their biggest mistake was not putting it in the endzone and settling for the field goal. A touchdown on that possession would have surely given momentum back to the Bengals and would have crushed any chance of a potential Raider comeback. The Bengals would struggle against the Raider defense in the 4th quarter, unable to put more points on the board and ice their 8th win of the season. And the Bengal defense, which has played very well throughout the season, allowed Gradkowski to march down the field and tie the game at 17. An uncharacteristic fumble by Andre Caldwell gave the ball back to Oakland in the final minute of the game. Janikowski nailed the field goal, and the Raiders achieved the upset victory. So how do we analyze this loss for the Bengals? Do we look at it as just a blip in their schedule and not as a cause for concern? I like to think that since their next two games are against the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions (who ironically had the most competitive game this past weekend), it will be easy for the Bengals to eliminate that feeling of doubt with two swift and decisive victories over lackluster opponents. I think the Bengals still have that confidence that they can hang with the best of the best. They've proven that by sweeping both the Steelers and the Ravens this season. I think the main question is will they be able to handle the pressure of winning in the playoffs? Will they be able to overcome their inexperience and just go out and play football like they've done all year? That remains to be seen. But as of right now, the Bengals are still one of the best teams in the NFL. A loss to the Raiders does not change that.

One could argue that the Giants victory over the Falcons last Sunday was their biggest win of the season. It was a game the Giants needed to have, especially since they hadn't won in over a month and received massive help last weekend from the Cowboys and Eagles. Eli Manning had his best game of the season, going 25/39 for 384 yards and 3 touchdowns and leading his team down the field in overtime to set up a 36-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes. What to take away from this game for the Giants? After emerging from their bye week, it seems like the offense is focused on becoming a more pass-oriented unit simply because Brandon Jacobs has not been as effective this year as he has in the past. Jacobs has not had a 100-yard rushing game all season and the Giants cannot afford to keep waiting for him to break out. As a result, we are witnessing the development of young receivers like Steve Smith and Mario Manningham. Both receivers have had stellar seasons offensively and if the Giants are going to contend for the playoffs, both Smith and Manningham are going to have to step it up in big-game situations. However, the biggest concern for the Giants rests with their defense. They were up 31-17 with just under 6 minutes to go on Sunday and could not shut down Matty Ice and the Falcons offense to seal the win. And quite frankly, if the Falcons had won that coin toss in overtime, then they're winning the game. Momentum was on their side in a big way going into overtime and it slipped away when the coin landed on Heads. The Giants defense has a lot of problems right now. They can't get any pressure on the quarterback, they can't stop anyone on 3rd down, and the secondary always gives up the big play. Can they fix these problems in such a short time span? The Giants are obviously not sure and are thus developing ways to effectively put points on the scoreboard. They realize they are going to have to put 20 or 30 points on the board each week because they do not trust their defense right now to shut down anyone. The Giants are on thin ice right now. Will they let this season slip through the cracks? As for the Falcons, don't count them out just yet. Of their six remaining games, four of them are at home and they play much better at home than they do on the road. They will need to upset either Philadelphia or New Orleans to get to 10-6 and lucky for them, both of those games are at home. The rest of their schedule features winnable games against the Bucs twice, the Jets and the Bills. The season isn't over for the Falcons. Time for them to bring back the Dirty Bird!!!!

As for the two undefeated teams, both of them are hanging by a thread to maintain their perfect records. The Colts received a daunting challenge from the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. The Ravens defense was able to contain Peyton Manning for the most part, only allowing 299 passing yards and forcing two interceptions. However, the Ravens offense was not able to take advantage of five opportunities where they could have put the ball in the end zone. Five opportunities, five field goals by Billy Cundiff. Ravens QB Joe Flacco was once again held without a touchdown and was intercepted by Colts LB Gary Brackett in the final moments of the game to end a possible game-winning drive. Ironically, it is the Colts defense that has allowed the team to remain undefeated for so long. They had the big 4th down stop last week against the Patriots and the huge interception of Joe Flacco this week to keep themselves on the path to perfection. But the Colts cannot rest easy. They face a tough Texans team that can hang with them offensively. They are going into a hostile environment against a division rival, which means the Texans will be licking their chops to ruin the Colts' perfect season. But in order for the Texans to win that game, they will need kicker Kris Brown to actually make a field goal in a clutch situation. Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson will match the Colts stride for stride on Sunday. But when the game is on the line and the Texans need that field goal, will Kris Brown be the hero or will he continue to be the goat? As for the Saints, they got a decent effort from the Bucs on Sunday especially in the first half. But Drew Brees was simply too much for the Bucs to handle on Sunday as he threw for 187 yards and 3 touchdowns. The New Orleans defense played great on Sunday, forcing 4 turnovers from rookie QB Josh Freeman and bringing back the Bucs back down to Earth. But the Saints will not be facing Josh Freeman on Monday night when they host the Patriots. Instead, they will be getting a 3-time Super Bowl winning and future Hall-of-Fame quarterback in Tom Brady. And if there's any game on the rest of their schedule that the Saints could lose, it is most definitely this one. The Saints will need the entire city of New Orleans on their side if they are going to defeat the Patriots on Monday night. Drew Brees will need to be perfect against the Patriots defense because Brady will most definitely bring his A-game with such lethal weapons in Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Expect a high-scoring game on Monday night. And if Brady gets the ball in the final two minutes with the game on the line...Who dat say they gonna beat them Saints? It will be the Patriots.

The deja vu comeback was completed on Sunday as the San Diego Chargers upended the Denver Broncos 32-3. The game was never close as Chris Simms was taken out after the first series and replaced by Kyle Orton, who didn't do much better. Brandon Marshall was held to just 3 catches for 26 yards. Knowshon Moreno had 10 carries for 80 yards but also had a crucial fumble in the game. Both Orton and Simms turned the ball over and gave the Chargers opportunities to get on the scoreboard. It was basically a grind-out game for the Chargers as four field goals by Nate Kaeding and touchdowns by LaDainian Tomlinson and Matt Tolbert allowed them to pull away and make the Broncos surrender in the end. The Chargers are playing with a fire and a passion that did not exist at the beginning of the season. They are winning games in convincing fashion but are also winning games in the 4th quarter where it counts. And if you look at the rest of their schedule, it is not inconceivable that the Chargers could finish with an 11-game winning streak. There is a three-game stretch where they play Dallas, Cincinnati, and Tennessee all in a row. But all of those are winnable games for a team that is just beginning to harness their talent and focus it in the right direction. Look for the Chargers to make a big splash in the coming weeks. As for the Broncos, they are all but done. They are a very different team right now than they were when they started out 6-0. The offense is very stagnant right now, with Kyle Orton coming back down to Earth and the running game not being as effective as it once was. The defense has completely fallen apart, with players starting to turn on each other and dividing the locker room. The Broncos face a must-win game against the Giants on Thanksgiving night. Can rookie head coach Josh McDaniels bring his team back together and make them believe that their season is not lost? A win against the Giants will go a long way in restoring their faith because right now, they are sitting a mile high and not finding anything.

I'm not going to bash the Jets this week except to say that their season is absolutely over and their quarterback has a lot to learn before he becomes the next Joe Namath. I would love to see the Tennessee Titans win 10 straight after starting 0-6. RB Chris Johnson has been absolutely sensational this season. He has 1,242 yards rushing and 8 touchdowns in just 10 games this season, which is simply remarkable. And the way Vince Young is playing right now, along with the fact that the defense appears rejuvenated, it would be awesome if the Titans could run the table the rest of the way and make the playoffs. Will it happen? Probably not. But that would be much better than having either the Colts or Saints go undefeated. The Dallas Cowboys should not have won that game on Sunday against the Redskins. The Redskins defense did a great job all day of shutting down Tony Romo and containing Marion Barber and the Dallas running game. But the Redskins could not finish the job in the end as Romo rolled left and found Patrick Crayton in the middle of the end zone. A late interception by QB Jason Campbell doomed the Skins and sent them packing out of Dallas. The one thing to take away from this game is that the Dallas Cowboys did not play their best football on Sunday. In fact, they might have played their worst football on Sunday. But they still found a way to win the game. That is what separates a good team from a great team. I'm not saying the Cowboys are a great team because they certainly haven't played like one the last two weeks. But when you win games that by all accounts you should lose, that says a lot about where this team might be headed. On the other hand, the Bears are not headed anywhere as Crybaby Cutler once again served as the goat. Down 24-20 with just under two minutes to play, Cutler was given the ball at his own 21-yard line and was told to march his team to victory. It could have been Cutler's moment to shine. It could have righted the ship for what has been a dismal season for the Bears. What happens? Sean Jones intercepts Cutler at midfield, the Bears lose another heartbreaker. What else needs to be said? The Bears wanted a quarterback and got a turnover machine in return. Cutler has always been known as a gunslinger. He takes chances and certainly isn't afraid to throw the ball down the field. The problem is that he takes too many chances and it has led to a disastrous season for the Pro Bowl quarterback. At 4-6 right now, the Bears will need a miracle to make the playoffs and will need Cutler to stop turning the ball over. Neither look likely as the Bears will close a book on what has been a painful and excruciating season. As for the Eagles, they got a surprisingly good game from RB LeSean McCoy. If they can continue to balance that out with the passing game, then the Eagles will be a dangerous threat for the remainder of the season. If they get away from that and make Donovan McNabb pass the ball 50 times a game, then the Eagles will subside into the quiet night and lose games that they probably should win. I don't expect that to happen though as the Eagles will be there nip and tuck the rest of the way riding on the wings of Mr. Chunky Soup himself Donovan McNabb.

That's it for now. No Hump Day Walkaround this week but expect a NFL Thanksgiving preview sometime tonight.

NCAA Football Week 12 Reaction

I was in Boston this weekend so I was unable to catch anything but highlights, but I thought I'd just offer a quick reaction to what happened in Week 12 of college football. What we basically learned is that Charlie Weis will be out of a job very soon and Urban Meyer will not be the next head coach at Notre Dame. That was an absolutely terrible loss for the Fighting Irish this weekend because it was a game they absolutely had to have to at least try to save face on an already disappointing season. They were playing a UConn team that had been struggling recently after the death of CB Jasper Howard so if you want to say that UConn was motivated to win one for Howard, well you could say that about all the other games they've played without him. This was a game that Notre Dame was in control of early. Jimmy Clausen's 8 yard pass to Golden Tate, along with Clausen's 1 yard TD run, put the Irish up 14 early in the 2nd quarter. But the Irish defense, which has indeed been their greatest weakness this season, allowed the Huskies back in the game with Jordan Todman's 43 yard dash for a score and a late field goal making the game 14-10 at halftime. Motivation turned at that point as the game was nip and tuck the rest of the way. The Irish could not extend their lead against a UConn defense ranked 68th in the nation. And even though Notre Dame played surprisingly well in the 2nd half, a late field goal pushed the game into overtime. Both teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime, the Irish settled for a field goal, and UConn scored on a 4 yard touchdown run by Andre Dixon to win the game 33-30. So where do the Irish go from here? They got one game remaining against a much-improved Stanford team that will be angry after losing to Cal this week. So you're most likely looking at a 6-6 record with another appearance in a lesser bowl game for Weis and company. And Charlie Weis said it best during his press conference this week. "I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to fire me because 6-5 is simply not good enough". It is definitely not good enough, not for a Notre Dame team that can hang with any major team in the nation offensively. On the defensive side of the ball, Notre Dame is mediocre at best. Their last three coaches have been unable to solve Notre Dame defensively. And the academic demands of the school are drawing recruits away and pushing coaches into an uncomfortable position where they cannot necessarily get everyone they want. So what will become of Notre Dame in the future? They need a big name head coach (which they will not get) to turn this program around and to make it nationally prominent again. They need athletes who will perform up to their standard on the football field. They need playmakers and they need them on a consistent basis. I don't doubt the effort Notre Dame is putting on the football field, but effort does not guarantee you wins. This is a Notre Dame team without any pride or any heart. And they haven't had that in quite a while. Weis showed promise when he took USC down to the wire a few years ago. Notre Dame got excited and will now bite the bullet for their excitement. They need to show patience now because if they don't, then Notre Dame will never rebuild and will remain an average football team at best, relying on the strength of their storied history to undeservingly get into BCS bowl games.

In other action this week, we saw Oregon stave off a challenge from an Arizona team that has had an incredible season in the Pac-10. The game was back-and-forth all night long with QB Nick Foles leading Arizona back from an early 14-point deficit to put them up 24-14 early in the 3rd quarter. But as expected, the Arizona defense had trouble containing Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli all night long as he threw for 3 touchdowns and ran for 3 touchdowns. They absolutely had no answer for him and could not contain LaMichael James at all either as he ran 19 times for 117 yards. But Foles kept Arizona alive throughout the game, going 30/46 for 314 yards and throwing 4 touchdowns passes. But at the conclusion of the 2nd overtime, it was Masoli who carried Oregon on his back to seal the victory and a possible Rose Bowl appearance should they beat Oregon State in two weeks. Kudos to Arizona for putting up a hell of a fight offensively against an impressive Oregon team. They unfortunately ended up on the wrong side of a game that could have gone either way because both defenses chose not to show up on Saturday night. Oregon controls their own destiny now. With a victory over Oregon State, they will meet Ohio State in the Rose Bowl on January 1st. And with Oregon State ranked 16th in the nation, that will be no easy task because it is a rivalry game and both teams will be hungry for that victory. I don't expect Oregon to book their trip to Pasadena so easily. Most definitely a game to watch in the coming weeks.

Elsewhere in the Pac-10, Stanford had no answers for Cal's backup running back Shane Vereen the other night as he absolutely torched the Cardinal defense for 193 yards on 42 carries and 3 touchdowns. And Vereen is not even their premier running back. For the Stanford defense, that is incredibly embarrassing to have the backup completely manhandle you at the line of scrimmage and basically allow for the Cal offense to control the pace of the game. Stanford hung tough though on the legs of RB Toby Gerhart, who ran the ball 20 times for 136 yards and scored 4 times. So it wasn't like Cal was blowing Stanford out early in the game, thereby making it unwatchable. The difference in the game ended up being the quarterback play as Cal QB Kevin Riley was able to manage the game for his offense and simply let Vereen take control at the line of scrimmage. Stanford QB Andrew Luck had a horrible game and threw the late interception that sealed the game for Cal. This was a game that the Golden Bears had to have simply because it showed that they could perform in a big game and with a win over Washington, gives them a decent shot at a New Years' Day bowl game. As for Stanford, they get a reeling Notre Dame team at home next weekend and should be able to get to 8-4 with no real problems, closing the book on a season of incredible development and vast improvement while also opening the doors on a potentially exciting future for the Stanford football program.

The biggest blunder of the week came in the LSU-Ole Miss football game this weekend. Everything that Ole Miss had to do to win the football game on Saturday was done. Jevon Snead didn't play outstanding but also didn't turn the football over. Dexter McCluster ran the ball 24 times for 148 yards and even threw a touchdown, backing up his outstanding performance last week against Tennessee with another outstanding performance. LSU blew an 8-point lead in the 3rd quarter by allowing McCluster's touchdown pass, a field goal, and a 3-yard TD run from Jesse Grandy. LSU QB Jordan Jefferson cut the lead to two on a 25-yard strike to WR Reuben Randle but could not convert the two-point conversion. And it seemed like LSU was on its way to a crushing defeat as Jordan Jefferson fired a desperate Hail Mary into the Mississippi night. To his surprise...THE BALL WAS CAUGHT!!!! What happened then, well you have to hurry down the field because the clock is running. There's too little time remaining to get the field goal unit on the field so you have to fire the ball into the endzone right? WRONG!!!! Les Miles instructs Jefferson to hurry the offense to the line of scrimmage so they can spike the ball. Time is running out, the game is nearing its end, will they get there in time? Jefferson gets there, spikes the ball, one problem...NO TIME LEFT ON THE CLOCK!!!! GAME OVER!!!!! LSU LOSES!!!!!! And what ensues after the game is another game in general...THE BLAMING GAME!!!!! Miles throws Jefferson under the bus by telling the press he didn't tell Jefferson to spike the ball. Apparently, Miles was signaling the official for a timeout but "I didn't relate that to the official apparently and that was the mistake." WHAT!!!!!! HOW DO YOU LET THAT HAPPEN!!!! YOU'RE THE HEAD COACH!!!! Miles admitted after the game that "the management at the back end of the game was the issue...It's my fault that we didn't finish first in that game." Again, YOU'RE THE HEAD COACH!!!! You are supposed to plan for every situation imaginable in the game. That is why YOU ARE THE HEAD COACH!!!!! You see there's very little time on the clock. The field goal unit could not get on the field in time, you have to tell your quarterback to go for the win, not spike the ball. That's horrible time management, that's poor play calling, that's just absolutely terrible head coaching. And to throw your quarterback under the bus like that...that's a shame. As a coach, you are expected to prepare for every situation imaginable. Miles wasn't expecting that pass to be completed and what happened...chaos ensued, panic surrounded, time ran out, the game...was over. And so too was LSU's shot at a 10-win season.

That's it for now...check out my pro football column tomorrow. Bye bye for now

NFL Week 11 Preview

Turns out I was completely wrong about last night's Dolphins-Panthers game. Ricky Williams was able to successfully run the ball against the Carolina defense, carrying it 22 times for 119 yards and scoring twice. This put less pressure on Chad Henne as he threw the ball only 29 times, completing 17 for 172 yards and a touchdown. The Dolphins abandoned the "Wildcat" for the better part of the first half and did not use the formation until they scored their second touchdown, putting them ahead 14-3. However, Ricky Williams was still able to run the ball effectively and received help from Jake Delhomme who unsurprisingly led his team to within three points of the Dolphins last night but simply could not get the job done. So much for the Panthers rebounding this season. However, if Ricky Williams can hold it together for the remainder of the season, then the Dolphins have as good a chance as anyone to make the playoffs this year. They definitely won't win the division...but a wild card berth is not totally out of the question at this point.

As far as this Sunday goes, not too many stellar games on the tube. In fact, many of the games should be considered easy winnable games for the teams in contention for the playoffs this year. We may have to look to some of the meaningless games this weekend in order to find the most competitive. But even in those games we won't find much. Look at Cleveland vs. Detroit. This past monday has proven to me that the Browns may be the most dysfunctional team in the NFL. Yes, even more dysfunctional than the Al Davis funhouse out there in Oakland. I mean, look at that team. They have absolutely no offense. Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn are puppets of master "Mangenius", who is looking less and less like a genius every time the Browns take the field. He is trying to perform a great magic act every week by making all teams prepare for both quarterbacks. The problem with Mangini's deceptive tactics is that neither quarterback is very good. There is no spark to that team, no fire, no sense of urgency with every play. They embarrass themselves every week to the point where the press is asking Mangini if he should bring in LeBron James to save the franchise. I mean seriously where is the pride in Cleveland? Where are the ruthless mongrels of the dog pound? All we get every week are chihuahuas taking the field. This week, they get the Lions. And I think the Lions are gonna blow them out because the Browns are simply that awful. They need help and they need it right away and it's not going to come from King James or Jim Brown or anyone like that. It's gonna have to come from within. And the sooner the Browns realize that, the better off they'll be. As for Sunday, Lions in a landslide. You can mark that down.

I will now give you a quick breakthrough of how I think Sunday's games will end up...

Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys

This is a game the Cowboys should win and quite probably will win. But it won't be as decisive a victory as one would think. And here's why: The Redskins are fierce division rivals and they just came off an impressive win over a Broncos team that has truly fallen from grace. They may not have Clinton Portis but the Redskins are going to be pumped up against the Cowboys; treating it like a playoff game as they will play hard for lame duck coach Jim Zorn. In order for the Cowboys to win this game, they need to get their focus back. They need Romo to hook up with Miles Austin again. And they also need him to keep connecting with Roy Williams. The Dallas defense actually played well last week and against a bad Redskins offense, they should come up big. The key to the game is whether or not Dallas will be focused and hungry for a win. If they are, they will win hands down. If they're not, I still think they'll win but it'll be very close. Cowboys win 24-13

San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers

To me, this is a toss-up game because both of these teams have been very erratic lately. The 49ers are coming off a season-saving win against the Bears but did not really play well on offense in that game. The Packers are also coming off a season-saving win against the Cowboys and left a lot of emotion out on the field in front of a packed Lambeau Field. If the offensive line can protect Aaron Rodgers (and they haven't all year) and give him time to throw to Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, then the Packers will win easily. But if Frank Gore torches the Packer defense for something like 23 carries for 120 yds and a couple scores, and Alex Smith starts connecting with Michael Crabtree, then the 49ers will get the upset. I don't know about this one, but since I like home-field advantage, Packers win 28-17.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs

Despite the loss of Troy Polamalu, the Steelers are going to march into Arrowhead Stadium looking to take care of business on Sunday. They are angry, they are hungry, and they are going to take out their frustration on a Chiefs team that has struggled all year and barely beat the Raiders last week. Look for James Harrison to eat up Matt Cassell on Sunday, leading the Steeler defense as they overwhelm the Chiefs offense. Look for Big Ben to have a big day through the air, connecting with Santonio Holmes and new sensation Mike Wallace for a couple touchdowns. Easy win for the Steelers as they cruise to 7-3. Steelers 27, Chiefs 10

Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants

This is a game that both teams have to win. The Falcons have lost 3 of their last 4 and were embarrassed last weekend out in Carolina. Matt Ryan has not played well recently and the onus will be on him to connect with Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez because RB Michael Turner may be out with an ankle injury. But honestly, if the Falcons lose this game on Sunday, its not the end of the world for that team. Sure they will be 5-5 but they have many winnable games the rest of the way with their toughest games (Philadelphia and New Orleans) both played at home. I think they could still finish 10-6 and go into the playoffs with a full plate of confidence. But this is a game the Giants need to have. It's at home, they were given a big break last week from the Cowboys and Eagles. They need to get back to running the football and their defense needs to come out and show some pride. And with Aaron Ross coming back, the Giants might be able to do that and score the big victory. Giants 24, Falcons 17

New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Saints have struggled recently against teams they should beat easily. The Panthers gave them all they could handle in the Superdome. The Rams gave them all they could handle in St. Louis. And now its the Bucs turn. Ever since Josh Freeman took the starting job, the Bucs have started to look decent offensively. However, since their defense can't stop anybody, expect the Saints to just light up the scoreboard on Sunday. Drew Brees has not played that well lately and he will need an ego booster in this game especially going into next week's showdown with the Pats. I think he has a great day on Sunday, but the Bucs will keep it close because the Saint defense is banged up. They just signed Chris McAlister because two of their cornerbacks are injured and Darren Sharper sat out last week's contest. The Saints get the win, but it will be closer than the experts think. Saints 34, Buccaneers 24

Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars

The Bills abandoned their season this week by firing coach Dick Jauron. They weren't going anywhere with Jauron but owner Ralph Wilson decided it was time to say "hey, better luck next year." Perry Fewell's first order of business: to start Ryan Fitzpatrick Sunday against the Jaguars. The only justice I see in this is that T.O is now in his own personal hell. The only way it could get worse for him is if he played for the Browns or the Raiders. Owens isn't catching his fair share of balls and the hyped-up passing game of the Bills has been an absolute failure this season. The Bills have not had an efficient rusher this year and their defense just got shredded by Chris Johnson and the Titans. The Jaguars, on the other hand, are coming off a big win against the Jets and are sitting pretty at 5-4. They have four winnable games over the next month before heading into their battle with Indy at home. If they can sweep those games and have Maurice Jones-Drew carry the team on his shoulders, the Jags will be the surprise team of the NFL season. And I think they start off with a nice victory over the Bills on Sunday. Jaguars 28, Bills 16

Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens

A lot of people are thinking that this is the week the Colts will lose their first game. And at first, I thought the same thing. But after watching the Ravens struggle against the Browns on Monday night, I am convinced that this is not the game where perfection ends for Peyton and company. The Ravens defense looked impressive Monday night, but it was against the Browns. If you look collectively over the course of this season, the Ravens defense is not what it used to be. Sure they still have Ray Lewis and Ed Reed making plays and leading the team. But in big games this season, their defense has simply not showed up. They've lost tough games to Cincinnati, gave up 33 points in a heartbreaker to Minnesota and 27 in a heartbreaker against the Pats. Not to mention their offense cannot score enough points to outlast the Colts. Joe Flacco has not thrown a touchdown pass the last two weeks. And he really needs to do that if he's gonna lead the Ravens to victory on Sunday. I feel the only way the Colts lose this Sunday is if they come up flat after their huge win last week over the Pats. But I think Peyton won't let that happen. Colts 24, Ravens 20

Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings

This is an easy one. The Seahawks have definitely not played up to their potential this season. Crucial injuries on the defensive side of the ball, combined with a lackluster season from Matt Hasselbeck, has left the Seahawks on the outside looking in in the NFC West. They are 0-4 on the road this season and have not been close in any of those games. And they're going up against Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson on Sunday. Look for the Vikings defense to shut down Hasselbeck and company and look for Peterson to have a monster day against a defense that quite simply has missed their flights to every road game this season. Vikings 34, Seahawks 17

Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams

The Rams played very hard and very tough last week against the Saints, leaving it all on the field and not holding anything back. Can they put up the same kind of effort against another tough offense this week? Perhaps...but the Cardinals have been perfect on the road this season. And Kurt Warner seems to be lighting it up lately, finding connections with his receivers in Fitzgerald, Boldin, and Steve Breaston. Beanie Wells is also starting to become a valuable addition in the backfield for the NFC Champions as well. In order for the Rams to win, they will need more stops on defense than what they had last week against the Saints. And they will need both Steven Jackson and Marc Bulger to have big days offensively. That is a tall order for a team that has only won 1 game this season. But head coach Steve Spagnuolo has his team playing hard. And if fans in St. Louis are very patient enough, then things will start to turn for the Rams eventually. But not on Sunday. Cardinals 31, Rams 20

New York Jets at New England Patriots

This is a game that the Jets need to have. This is also a game that the Patriots want to have. The Patriots are obviously very angry and very frustrated about last week's loss to Indianapolis, a game they controlled all night long and should have won easily. But somehow they lost. And now New England fans are bickering and mumbling about the genius of Belichick and the greatness of Brady. Same thing goes for the Jets as well. Jet fans are not happy about Rex Ryan crying in the locker room. Nor are they happy with their overrated defense and their playboy quarterback. So this division game is huge on so many levels and both teams will want it bad. For that reason, I think this game will not be a blowout. It will be closer than the spreads are letting on and the Pats may have to claw and scratch to get a victory. Both teams will be motivated to play. Both teams will be motivated to win. But in the end, the Patriots survive and all will be well in Foxboro for now. Patriots 27, Jets 17

Cincinnati Bengals at Oakland Raiders

This could potentially be a trap game for the Bengals but don't count on it. Coming off a huge emotional win at Pittsburgh last week, the Bengals are now flying high and have a very easy schedule the next three weeks before heading up to Minnesota. Their key this week will be not to lose focus against a very lackluster, very disappointing Oakland team. The game is on the road in Oakland, a place where the Raiders can play hard when they want to. Just look at what they did to the Eagles earlier this season. The problem with Oakland (among their many problems) is that they cannot score at all. And since they have just benched JaMarcus Russell for pretty much the remainder of the season barring any injury, don't look for them to be scoring a lot of points anytime soon. I think the Raider defense plays well on Sunday and keeps Cincinnati at bay for a while. But when it starts to go deeper in the 2nd half, look for the Bengals to pull away on the arm of Carson Palmer and the legs of Cedric Benson. Bengals 23, Raiders 3

San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos

This is the game of the week in my opinion but I have a feeling it's not going to be close. It is deja vu all over again only this time it's a little bit earlier in the season, which means there's still time for the Broncos to turn their season around. The Broncos have lost three games in a row, including a tough loss last week to the Redskins. The Chargers have won four in a row, including a lucky win over the Giants two weeks ago. Last time this happened, the Chargers came out and destroyed the Broncos on both sides of the ball. I pretty much expect the same thing to happen again, especially since Kyle Orton may not be able to go and the Denver defense has lost its edge and its fire over the past three weeks. Look for Philip Rivers to find Vincent Jackson many times throughout the day. And look for LaDainian and Sproles to eat up the Broncos run defense. Chargers 34, Broncos 13

Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears

This is a very tough game to predict because both teams are in desperate need of a victory. For the Eagles, Brian Westbrook could be out for the rest of the season, which means that Andy Reid will get to do what he loves to do: Pass the Ball!!! Expect McNabb to throw the ball constantly against a Bears defense that has not played well recently but I don't expect the Eagles to tear it up offensively. In order for the Bears to win, they need to not only contain the Eagles passing game, but they also need their quarterback to step up and lead. Crybaby Cutler needs to stop turning the ball over and he needs to simply put the ball in the hands of Devin Hester and Johnny Knox and make big plays up and down the field. Matt Forte needs to establish himself on the ground and the Bears have to come out and play with a little pride. This is the perfect opportunity for them to do that. It's a nationally televised game. Their season is on the line. What's it gonna be? Bears 23, Eagles 20 on a field goal by Robbie Gould.

I won't predict the Monday night game between the Titans and Texans until Sunday night because I'm running late. Going to Boston this weekend to hang with some close friends. Enjoy the weekend of sports. Hopefully my colleagues put some stuff up as well.

NCAA Football Top 5 Week 12

This is a column that won't last too long simply because the college football season is almost over. However, I thought I would just offer my analysis on what I think are the Top 5 games this weekend in college football. And I always like to start from the bottom up so let us begin with...

#5 Ohio State at Michigan

Normally, this is a game that you would see on the top of my list come this weekend in November. Yet as i pointed out disappointingly the other day, the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry is caught in a kind of stalemate right now. One team is significantly better than the other on both sides of the ball, that being the Buckeyes of course. They are on their way to the Rose Bowl come New Years' Day and would love nothing better than to go into Michigan and just pound on their most hated rival. I don't see this game being close at all, unless of course Michigan comes out and plays with a little pride and heart. But even then, I still don't see them upsetting the champions of the Big Ten. The key to the game will be for Tate Forcier to limit his mistakes and try to be consistent throwing the football against a very talented but very young Ohio State defense. And that is a lot to ask from the freshman sensation. I do expect Terrelle Pryor to have a decent game in Ann Arbor, possibly throwing and running the ball into the end zone about 3 or 4 times. And in the end, it will be Ohio State overpowering Michigan 31-9

#4 Penn State at Michigan State

The last time Joe Paterno rolled into East Lansing with his group of Nittany Lions, Penn State ended up losing the game 35-31. Paterno seemingly got his revenge last year by absolutely destroying a Michigan State team that was ranked 15th in the nation by a score of 49-18. But I'm sure that in the back of his 78-year old mind Paterno remembers that crushing defeat two years ago at the hands of the Spartans, and he would love nothing better than to go back to East Lansing and get a big win, thereby ending the regular season with a 10-2 record and a possible BCS At-Large bid. However, as much as Paterno remembers losing that game two years ago, so too do the Spartans remember getting manhandled last year in Happy Valley. And Michigan State has been playing well lately, scoring 30 points in each of their last three games (albeit against Minnesota, Western Michigan, and Purdue) and almost upsetting a very good Iowa team. They just became bowl-eligible last week with their comeback win over Purdue so a victory over Penn State would do a lot to impress bowl committee members. The key for Michigan State will be for quarterback Kirk Cousins to keep his team in the game, which he has done so by not turning the ball over lately (only 1 INT in his last 5 starts). And the Michigan State defense has to find a way to contain QB Daryll Clark and RB Evan Royster. If they are able to do that and limit Penn State offensively, then they will have a good shot to win. Will they win? Absolutely not. Penn State wins 34-17

#3 LSU at Ole Miss

This is a game that Ole Miss is surprisingly favored in but not by much, only 3 points. And I like to think this is one of those games where home-field advantage plays a lot into the spread. As people around me know, I am a firm believer in the power of home-field advantage and I really do think it can have the ability to decide a crucial game where everything is on the line and teams are fighting for their very lives. You could say that Ole Miss is fighting for a little respect in the very deep, very talented SEC conference. And what a better way to get it than to upset #8 LSU at home before a capacity crowd. If Ole Miss is gonna win this game, they are going to have to rely on Jevon Snead to be very accurate with the football and to not make many mistakes against a defense that can get pressure on the quarterback with all that speed. However, I think what will ultimately decide the outcome of this game will be whether or not Dexter McCluster can have another outstanding game like the one he had against Tennessee. If he can find lanes, make cutbacks, and control the pace of the game by running the ball against the LSU defense, then Ole Miss will walk away victorious on Saturday. Will they do it though? I don't think so. LSU wins 34-24

#2 California at Stanford

Everybody remembers the famous 1982 game between Cal and Stanford. For those of you who don't, basically Stanford was about to win the game over Cal and of course the band was out on the field just yearning to celebrate a terrific victory. Cal's Kevin Moen started out with the ball, and after a series of laterals and lobs, ended with the football in the end zone and the win for the Golden Bears. Will this Saturday's showdown between Cal and Stanford live up to the wildness and the controversy surrounding that 1982 game? Probably not, but we still should see a very entertaining game featuring a Cal team looking for some respect within the Pac-10 and a newly revamped, very talented Stanford team. Every time it seems like Cal is about to make its move in the conference, they always shoot themselves in the foot. This year has featured times where their offense disappeared in showdowns against Oregon and USC. And after a three-game winning streak when it seemed like Cal was about ready to seize control of their own destiny, they fumble themselves against Oregon State. Yet once again we see the same picture as they came back the following week and upset 17th-ranked Arizona at home. And now they travel to Stanford, a team that has soundly defeated both Oregon and USC in the past two weeks with spectacular offense and very few mistakes. If Cal is going to make a statement in the Pac-10, its gonna have to be now. Finishing their season with wins over Stanford and Washington will give them a 9-3 record, a possible New Years' Day bowl game, and an outside chance at a BCS At-Large. But don't count on it. Stanford's offense has been unstoppable over the last two weeks. Coach Jim Harbaugh has this team right where he wants them to be. And if they hadn't lost to Arizona earlier in the season, we would be talking about a possible Rose Bowl showdown against Ohio State with this team. Still, staring a possible 9-3 season in the face with winnable games against Cal and Notre Dame (both of which are at home) means an incredible season for the Cardinal and a program well on its way to returning to national prominence. In case you couldn't tell, Stanford wins this weekend 38-21.

#1. Oregon at Arizona

Who would have thought at the beginning of the season that this matchup between Oregon and Arizona would be the most important game of Week 12 NCAA Football? Probably not you and definitely not me. It is strange to see USC completely fall apart here in the end of the season. But I think its awesome because for the first time in a long time we are able to see a different Pac-10 team in the Rose Bowl Game. And I don't know about you, but that is a big relief because I'm tired of seeing USC dominate every Big Ten team they face in the Rose Bowl every year. It's good to know that Ohio State will at least get a competitive game from one of these two squads. Basically, if Oregon wins this game on Saturday, they all but clinch their trip to Pasadena and a showdown with the Buckeyes. However, if Arizona finds a way to win at home and win out, then they will be the ones booking passage to Pasadena. To me, that is a very tall order for an Arizona team that has been very decent throughout the year but quite frankly, has not been tested on a very consistent basis. Their only big win so far this season has come against Stanford, a victory that is looking more and more impressive as the weeks progress. Their only other major opponent this year was Iowa, a game that was very competitive from start to finish but also a game that was mainly controlled by the Iowa defense. And in each of their three losses this year, Arizona has been unable to control the opponent's running game on defense, allowing over 100 yards rushing in their three losing efforts. It will be a tough task for Arizona to contain Oregon running back LaMichael James, who has rushed for over 1,100 yards this season and has been a vital part to Oregon's success. Not to mention trying to stop QB Jeremiah Masoli who has been an absolute playmaker in nearly every game this year. The odds are stacked against the Wildcats? Can they pull through in the final stages of the season? Can they survive showdowns with Oregon and USC? I don't think they can...Oregon wins 45-24