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      2010 NFL Week 14 Picks

      December 12, 2010 /
      CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 28: (L-R) J'Marcus Webb and Roberto Garza of the Chicago Bears await the snap of Olin Kreutz against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field on November 28, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Eagles 31-26. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

      Packers (8-4) @ Lions (2-10), 1:00PM ET
      With all the bad weather going around this Sunday in the NFL, if you’re going to take an over it better be in a dome. The over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings between these two teams and 7-3 in the last 10 games in Detroit. The combination of Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings has nearly been unstoppable over the past month and I don’t see Chris Houston and the rest of Detroit’s suspect secondary slowing the pair down. Drew Stanton gave the Lions’ offense a lift last week and if Jahvid Best can get it going against an inconsistent Green Bay run defense, then Detroit should be able to move the ball somewhat. I like the over.
      THE PICK: OVER 46.5

      Dolphins (6-6) @ Jets (9-3), 4:15PM ET
      The Jets should play much better Sunday than they did in New England on Monday, but I’m still confused as to why they’re a 5-point favorite. The Dolphins have struggled with New York over the years but they’re 5-1 on the road this season and covered in five of those six games. They’re also fighting for their playoff lives and bad weather is expected in the New Jersey area, which could make for a tight game. With how bad the Jets’ defense looked on Monday, it’s hard to like them giving up this many points. Chad Henne needs to play with more consistency and it would be nice if Brandon Marshall were available for this game, but I like Miami anyway. Their defense should keep Mark Sanchez and the Jets’ running game in check.
      THE PICK: DOLPHINS +5

      Patriots (10-2) @ Bears (9-3), 4:15PM ET
      A snowstorm supposedly hit Chicago Saturday night and the wind could reach up to 30mph by game time. But the bad weather shouldn’t be a factor for the Patriots, who are used to snow and wind at this time of year. That said, I think the Bears are being undervalued here. They’ve played extremely well over the past month and they love playing the role of underdogs – especially at home. If Mike Martz doesn’t try to get cute with his playcalling (i.e. calling a bunch of vertical passes in bad weather with Jay Cutler as his quarterback), then I like the Bears to win outright. Cutler has been excellent at the short-to-medium-range passes this year so Martz needs to keep it there. The Pats have scored 45 points the past two weeks, but that trend stops today.
      THE PICK: BEARS +3

      Falcons (10-2) @ Panthers (1-11), 1:00PM ET
      I hate this line and it has almost caused me to move off the Falcons several times throughout the week. And the Titans’ fluke backdoor cover (perhaps the worst backdoor cover in the history of backdoor covers) on Thursday night against the Colts doesn’t help matters. That said, this is the biggest mismatch on the board and seeing as how the Falcons came awfully close to losing to the Bucs last week and forking over their one-game lead in the NFC South, I think we’ll see a focused Atlanta team on Sunday. Matt Ryan won’t throw two picks like he did last weekend and Carolina can expect a heavy dose of Michael Turner. It’s high-time the Falcons’ defense steps up again and turns in a solid performance. Again, the backdoor cover scares me but the Falcons can beat the Panthers by a touchdown and a field goal right? Right?!
      THE PICK: FALCONS –7.5

      Season Record: 22-25-1

      External Sports, NFL

      Metrodome roof collapses, Giants-Vikings game moved

      December 12, 2010 /
      MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 05: Sidney Rice of the Minnesota Vikings catches a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills at the Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on December 5, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

      Jay Glazer of FOX Sports is reporting that the Giants and Vikings will not be able to play at the Metrodome after the stadium’s roof collapsed early Sunday morning. The game was already moved being moved to Monday because of bad weather in the area, but now the Metrodome won’t be ready until Wednesday.

      Multiple alternative stadiums are being considered, including the Colts’ home at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Lions’ home digs at Detroit’s Ford Field, and University of Minnesota’s new TCF Bank stadium. The NFL will try to find a new venue so the game can still be played on Monday night.

      This is something that may not seem like a big deal, but dig deeper and you realize the ramifications for both teams. The Giants have a huge game coming up next Sunday against the Eagles and their routine has been shot to hell. They stayed in Kansas City on Saturday night because of the bad weather in the Minneapolis area and now their game with the Vikings will be shifted to Monday. That means a shorter week of practice and preparation for the Philadelphia game, and they still have to get past Minnesota first.

      For the Vikings, they’re hanging onto slim playoff hopes as it is and now their home field advantage in this game is gone. The Giants have the better team and now get to play the Vikings on a neutral field.

      It’ll be interesting to see where they move the game. One would think that the Vikings would rather have it in one of the domes, but maybe they want to keep the game in Minnesota and hang onto whatever home field advantage they have left.

      External Sports, NFL

      Chiefs reward Jamaal Charles with new contract

      December 11, 2010 /
      DENVER - NOVEMBER 14: Running back Jamaal Charles of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up prior to facing the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on November 14, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Chiefs 49-29. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

      The Chiefs and running back Jamaal Charles have agreed to a five-year, $32.5 million contract with $13 million guaranteed. Charles’ 1,137 rushing yards this season tie him with Chris Johnson and rank him third behind Arian Foster and Maurice Jones-Drew for most rushing yards in the NFL.

      The new deal works for both sides, as the Chiefs lock up one of the league’s most dangerous runners and Charles is now able to hit free agency at 28 (two years before the dreaded age of 30 for running backs). Now the Chiefs can turn their attention to locking up outside linebacker Tamba Hali, who is an impeding free agent.

      In other Kansas City-related news, quarterback Matt Cassel is listed as doubtful for Week 14. That means Brodie Croyle will start under center for the Chiefs in their important battle with division rival San Diego on Sunday. Croyle hasn’t seen action since Week 13 of last season.

      External Sports, NFL

      Terrence Williams gets demoted to D-League and finds inspiration

      December 11, 2010 /
      April 07, 2010 Milwaukee, WI. Bradley Center..New Jersey Nets Terrence Williams brings the ball up the court, Williams had 6 points coming off the Nets bench..Milwaukee Bucks won over the New Jersey Nets 108-89. Mike McGinnis/CSM.

      Funny story out Springfield, Massachusetts, via ESPN:

      Williams, 23, had just been sent down to the NBA D-League’s Springfield (Mass.) Armor — punishment for being late to Nets practices, shootarounds and meetings — when he encountered Gonzalez, an Armor ballboy.

      “I was nervous,” said Gonzalez, who approached Williams before his first game with the Armor. “But I just wanted to help him. I thought to myself, ‘Wow I’m actually meeting an NBA player, and I wanted to give him a heads up.’

      “I told him, ‘You made a mistake and you shouldn’t feel like you’re down here because you’re not a good ballplayer. You need to learn from it.’ If I was him, I wouldn’t want to be down here. I’d do anything to stay in the NBA.'”

      Williams gave his recollection of the conversation to the Newark Star-Ledger.

      “I was like, ‘Do you watch the NBA?’ ” said Williams, who was called up Tuesday and played 26 minutes against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday. “He said, ‘Yeah, you’re one of the players I [like to] watch. Why would you blow it?’

      “I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ He said, ‘Why would you want to have an attitude, and be late — the simplest things you can control? And you get to be in the NBA? I would die to do that, so don’t blow it.’

      “That’s a [13]-year-old telling me that,” Williams told the Star-Ledger, adding that his mother had called him in tears after his demotion, asking if he had been kicked out of the NBA. “So I think that and my mom crying was what really got to me. So down there, I decided to take everything serious, like I was here, as far as practicing and playing in a game.”

      On one hand, it’s a shame that it took this demotion and these words from a 13-year-old to convince Williams to shape up. Players with his kind of talent often live in a bubble and don’t realize how a bad attitude is perceived by the regular joe, who would die to play in the NBA. The Nets are just asking him to be on time for his job, which is something that every single working person in this country has to do.

      On the other hand, it’s nice that Williams didn’t brush the kid off or give him any attitude. He had a conversation with the ballboy and that conversation opened his eyes. Hopefully, he’s a changed man.

      Williams rejoined the Nets on 12/9 and scored six points in 26 minutes on 3-of-8 shooting.

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA

      UFC 124 Picks & Predictions

      December 11, 2010 /
      NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 27: UFC fighter Georges St-Pierre (R) battles Dan Hardy (L) during their Welterweight title bout at UFC 111 at the Prudential Center on March 27, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey. St-Pierre won by Unanimous Decision at 5:00 of the 5th round. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

      UFC 124 takes place tonight from Montreal and the main event features a contest for the UFC Welterweight contest. Here are my picks for this UFC PPV.

      UFC Welterweight Championship Bout – Georges St. Pierre (20-2) vs. Josh Koscheck (17-4): This is a rematch from a bout in 2007 that St. Pierre won by unanimous decision. Koscheck has the skills to beat St. Pierre but lacks the big-fight experience and overall composure that St. Pierre brings to the octagon. Look for GSP to come out wanting to strike and Koscheck looking for takedowns, as each wants to come out showing strength in what is their perceived weakness. Ultimately I think St. Pierre has more skills and will out-class Koscheck an score a fourth round submission by choke.

      UFC Heavyweight Bout – Stefan Struve (23-4) vs. Sean McCorkle (10-0): McCorkle has been making waves for his trash talk, but he still is young to the UFC while Struve has experience in the octagon and has good skills to compare to a grappler like McCorkle. I think Struve will handle a fast start from McCorkle and then find a way to finish him via choke in the third round.

      UFC Lightweight Bout – Jim Miller (18-2) vs. Charles Oliveira (14-0): Oliveira has had a great start to his UFC career, but I think he runs into a bad matchup with Miller, who is a superior wrestler that will be able to get him to the ground and control him while avoiding Oliveira’s slick submissions. I like Miller to dominate the fight on the ground and score a decision win.

      UFC Lightweight Bout – Joe Stevenson (36-11) vs. Mac Danzig (20-8-1): Stevenson has been showing improvement over his last few fights but he needs a win, as he has lost three of his last five bouts. Danzig has lost four of his last five bouts and needs a win to stay in the UFC. His desperation should bring out his best efforts while Stevenson should also be on top of his game. Ultimately, Stevenson is the better wrestler while the two are comparable in striking, so that should be enough to earn him the decision win.

      UFC Welterweight Bout – Thiago Alves (22-6) vs. John Howard (14-5): This fight should be a slugfest as both men are at their strongest working their muay thai striking. Alves has better form while Howard has better power but the key to this fight is that Howard is coming off a fight where he dominated by a lesser opponent than Alves while Alves hasn’t struggled with strikers in his career. Alves should be able to work leg kicks and tire Howard before finishing him with a barrage in the third round.

      External Sports, UFC

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