sports...random thoughts,opinions,etc.

[grusse]

final weekend for NFL and most games this week have some meaning for at least one team.

Team Canada has #1 in their group for the medal games

Raptors are off to a tough start,but the roster has changed big time.

CFP has the semis tomorrow,both Alabama and Clemson heavy favorites.

Before the CFP it seemed like every yr there was contro as to the rankings.
The playoff has stopped much, but not all, of that, as Texas A&M is saying they s/b in the mix

Happy New Year to everyone!

 

[grusse]

if the teeth-gnashing over the jr tournament is over let's consider other sporting events

I feel for Giants' fans after that disgraceful tactic by coach Pederson, putting in a QB who I doubt many(any?)viewers would have heard of
when the game was still winnable with Hurts under center.
His comment that he was "trying to win" is laughable

Playoffs this wkend

Saints over Bears seems a lock, tho' the Saints seemed almost jinxed the last 3 playoffs
Bills over Indy.Buffalo might have the best chance of knocking off KC in the AFC champ game?
T Bay over Washington.The fact that a team from the NFC (L)East is hosting a playoff game is a head-shaker
Seahawks should prevail here, even if Goff is playing for the Rams.Seattle's D is much improved from its early struggles
Tho' Pittsburgh has struggled after starting 11-0, I think they will get by the Browns, who have been hit with more covid woes of late
Tennessee-Baltimore s/b the closest contested.Even tho' they're the road team I believe the oddsmakers have the Ravens as slight fav's?
Baltimore has won 5 or 6 on the trot but I don't think I can go against the Titans, at home, with Derrick Henry.

I am quick to state I am not betting on any of these games,lol.

Interested to hear thoughts and predictions from others.

Almost forgot......I look for Alabama to revail over Ohio State in the CFB championship.

Enjoy the games!

 

[PuntMeister]

The shit show in D.C. today may be fake news. It’s just a conspiracy theory, but rumour has it that the demonstrators who stormed the capital were actually just world junior team USA fans who wanted their victory to be declared The Miracle in (somewhere cold snd North that we can’t remember). I do feel sorry that the mostly white team USA gold performance won’t get the mention in the US media it deserves. Oh well, Wild Card weekend and beer awaits.

 

[grusse]

The shit show in D.C. today may be fake news. It’s just a conspiracy theory, but rumour has it that the demonstrators who stormed the capital were actually just world junior team USA fans who wanted their victory to be declared The Miracle in (somewhere cold snd North that we can’t remember). I do feel sorry that the mostly white team USA gold performance won’t get the mention in the US media it deserves. Oh well, Wild Card weekend and beer awaits.

do you have predictions for Wild Card Wkend?

 

[PuntMeister]

do you have predictions for Wild Card Wkend?

Well as a matter of fact, I do.
I feel the winners will be:
-Bills (looking very good)
-Seahawks (if Wilson throws the ball instead of getting sacked every 3rd play)
- Buccs (don’t like them, but Brady and Co. are on a strong run)
- Titans (Henry outruns Jackson)
- Saints (shocked Bears are even there)
- Browns / Steelers coin flip. I’ll go with the Browns just cuz they’re hungrier and I hate the Steelers (except Claypool of course), and give the Dawgs credit for making the playoffs.

Other predictions?

 

[BobbyMcgee]

Colts with upset
Hawks in a blow out
Bucs it’s Brady

Sunday
Steelers 17-0 vs Browns at Hienz
and then I don’t care

 

[Diablo]

Good games by Indy and WFT in losing efforts. The bad hawks (offense) showed and masked a decent effort by the defense ? we'll see what tomorrow brings.

 

[PuntMeister]

I was wrong about the Titans. Full points to the Ravens. Nicely done boys.

Yes, WFT showed well—just couldn’t pull off the upset.

Browns—ya baby! Chubb/Hunt/Landry and great 1st half D holds on tor the W! Happy for them, and nice fuk-you to Big Ben. 500yds but 4 Int’s. Ba-bye to the old dick that has stupid Will Farrel jowels.

Bills solid as expected.

Hawks???? Hello Russell, throw the fucking ball you douchebag slow-mo!. Time to clean QB and Coach off this wretched disappointment.

Bucs & Saints showed they got what it takes. Watch out for Brady!

Good football weekend ?

 

[PuntMeister]

Next weekend, Punt picks:

- Chiefs over da miracle Browns. Could be a weird one, but can’t count the champs out. Kelse and Hill need to be on point.

- Bills over Ravens. I know, mis-judged the Ravens once, but the Bills mojo is strong.

- Saints over Bucs. Could go Brady’s way, but I’d rather N’orleans Brees-es to a win in the battle of swan songers.

- Packers over Rams. Rogers destined for a dance-off with Mahomes.

Already getting my korean wings ready for this one...

 

[grusse]

quite the footie weekend.
As I stated in my post I wasn't about to bet on my predictions, good thing cuz I was 50%
Punt did well at 4 of 6.

I was surprised Indy took the Bills to the last play.good game
Rams defense shut down the Seahawks, Wilson was 11 for 27 passing, not a recipe for success.
T Bay always seemed in control vs WFT, NO same over Chi, altho' Da Bears shot themselves in the foot,i.e. sure TD dropped,mindless penalties,etc.

Ravens held Henry to 40 yards rushing, put your hand if you saw that coming.

Finally, the nitecap....what a 1st quarter, 28-0 before the end of the quarter!Gobsmacked,lol.

On to the next round....

Altho' the road teams won 4 of 6 last weekend, I can't go against any of the home teams next weekend.

The Browns run is going to hear the clock strike midnight in KC.The Chiefs might start a bit rusty,as a lot of starters will be 3 weeks between
games,sitting out the last week of the season and the bye week,but should be back in sync quickly.

Lamar Jackson is always a threat but I think these Bills are the real deal and will limit him.

Bucs-Saints might be the best watch of the round, I'm going Saints in a close one.

I don't give the Rams much hope at Lambeau, Rodgers&Co are looking damn good.

More thoughts and predictions?

 

[Man in Submission]

I am a huge Bucs fans from my days living on St. Pete Beach. Thrilled we got back to the playoffs for the first time in over a decade and good job to actually win a post-season game. But the little run ends here. The Bucs got destroyed twice by the Saints in the regular season, with the second game (in Tampa) an absolutely humbling destruction on the Sunday night national TV game of the week. We just don't match up well with the Saints. They owned the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball in the 2 meetings and unfortunately I see more of the same on Sunday. if the Bucs get Ronald Jones back healthy it will boost the running game and take some pressure off Brady. I think the Bucs keep it closer this time but like the Saints in a 27-20 type game.
Rams at Packers: This will be closer than you think especially if Donald can play for the Rams. That defensive line is arguably the best in football and will put pressure on Rodgers. The injury report will be important but as of now I'd lean Packers in a 24-22 type dogfight.
Ravens at Bills: This one is going to be classic. Two gifted young QB's, good all around teams, I think the Bills being at home and being more explosive in the passing game (Diggs was a tremendous pickup), I give Buffalo the edge 34-30.
Browns at Chiefs: Lot of key factors here - will the Browns get their cornerbacks and coaches back from covid, how sharp will Mahomes be after getting the last game of the regular season off plus the first-round bye in the playoffs. Both teams will score, but the Chiefs probably pull it off as Mahomes > Mayfield when it comes down to crunch time. That's a helluva two-headed monster in the backfield for the Browns with Hunt and Chubb though. KC 41 Cleveland 33.

 

[Man in Submission]

How about some NHL divisional predictions (top 4 in each division make playoffs in revamped covid format):
Canadian: 1 Montreal 2 Toronto 3 Calgary 4 Edmonton .... 5 Vancouver 6 Winnipeg 7 Ottawa (like what the Habs did in off-season)
East: 1 Philly 2 Pittsburgh 3 Boston 4 Rangers .... 5 Washington 6 Islanders 7 Barfalo 8 New Jersey (scary good division)
West: 1 Colorado 2 St Louis 3 Vegas 4 Minnesota ... 5 Anaheim 6 Arizona 7 Los Angeles 8 San Jose (what a garbage division)
Central: 1 Dallas 2 Tampa 3 Carolina 4 Columbus ... 5 Nashville 6 Florida 7 Chicago 8 Detroit

 

[grusse]

quite the weekend in the NFL

Puntmeister was 4 for 4 ,well done.

Packers looking to me to be the team to beat, strong in all areas.
That 14point swing play was huge...Ravens looked set to tie 10-10 with a TD, instead a 101 yd pick 6 makes it 17-3, backbreaker.

Chad Henne an unlikely hero for KC.I wonder how Mahomes will be next Sunday, concussions can linger on.
Even with healthy Mahomes,the Bills just might??

Battle of the legends goes to Brady.

I'm going to wait a bit before predicting anything, I missed on Sun nite, I thought Saints would prevail.

I haven't got into hockey much,will do so after Super Bowl.
Having said that, I believe the North division will not see much separation from #1-#6, with rebuilding Ottawa a bit adrift.

Man in Submission has interesting predictions.
Any more?

 

[BobbyMcgee]

quite the footie weekend.
As I stated in my post I wasn't about to bet on my predictions, good thing cuz I was 50%
Punt did well at 4 of 6.

I was surprised Indy took the Bills to the last play.good game
Rams defense shut down the Seahawks, Wilson was 11 for 27 passing, not a recipe for success.
T Bay always seemed in control vs WFT, NO same over Chi, altho' Da Bears shot themselves in the foot,i.e. sure TD dropped,mindless penalties,etc.

Ravens held Henry to 40 yards rushing, put your hand if you saw that coming.

Finally, the nitecap....what a 1st quarter, 28-0 before the end of the quarter!Gobsmacked,lol.

On to the next round....

Altho' the road teams won 4 of 6 last weekend, I can't go against any of the home teams next weekend.

The Browns run is going to hear the clock strike midnight in KC.The Chiefs might start a bit rusty,as a lot of starters will be 3 weeks between
games,sitting out the last week of the season and the bye week,but should be back in sync quickly.

Lamar Jackson is always a threat but I think these Bills are the real deal and will limit him.

Bucs-Saints might be the best watch of the round, I'm going Saints in a close one.

I don't give the Rams much hope at Lambeau, Rodgers&Co are looking damn good.

More thoughts and predictions?

it AIN’T footie

 

[BobbyMcgee]

How about some NHL divisional predictions (top 4 in each division make playoffs in revamped covid format):
Canadian: 1 Montreal 2 Toronto 3 Calgary 4 Edmonton .... 5 Vancouver 6 Winnipeg 7 Ottawa (like what the Habs did in off-season)
East: 1 Philly 2 Pittsburgh 3 Boston 4 Rangers .... 5 Washington 6 Islanders 7 Barfalo 8 New Jersey (scary good division)
West: 1 Colorado 2 St Louis 3 Vegas 4 Minnesota ... 5 Anaheim 6 Arizona 7 Los Angeles 8 San Jose (what a garbage division)
Central: 1 Dallas 2 Tampa 3 Carolina 4 Columbus ... 5 Nashville 6 Florida 7 Chicago 8 Detroit

Canucks and Oilers currently BLOW

 

[grusse]

this is the funnest week for the gridiron action,imo.
Seems the NFC and AFC champeenship games are often better than the Super Bowl, tho' last yr's SB was great.

I might be overestimating the Pack and underestimating TBay, but I think Rodgers&co. will win by a td.

I've been going back&forth on Chiefs-Bills......Mahomes' health is a factor.....cleared of symptoms, but,the area of concussion
is still largely unpredictable.....1 hit and who knows?
Also, it might be a neck/nerve issue?
Rookie RB Edwards-Hilaire(sp?) has been out for some time with high-ankle sprain and WR Sammy Watkins also questionable.

The Chiefs have been winning but haven't looked as dominant the last 6 weeks or so.
And, the Bills had trouble with both Indy&Balt....they've looked beatable.

KC are the champs til someone beats them and they're at Arrowhead so I'll go with them,but a Bills win would not surprise.

I think the Canucks deserve a space of their own for ppl to voice concerns.
Slow start but still early days.

 

[grusse]

spent 6plus hrs yesterday watching it-ain't-footie.

Not sure what coach Lafleur was thinking,down 31-23, under 3 minutes, chance to tie,and he elects to kick a FG,makes it 31-26
and he STILL needs a TD.
Reminded me of a similar brain-fart by then-Eskimos(still ok to say that?lol)coach Jason Maas.
Very similar situation in a West Final vs Calgary.Maas went for the FG,late in the 4th quarter, and he also still needed the TD.

The strategy failed in both cases.
The Pack managed to pick Brady off 3 times in the 2nd half but only managed 6 pts off the turnovers.

Buffalo got off to a 9-0 start,6 pts of which was a gift,thx to a fumbled punt leading to 1st and goal.
And then, like the 2019 playoffs, the Chiefs woke up.
3 TD drives in the 2nd quarter turned things around and silenced boisterous supporters in the pub where I watched the 1st half.
Bills put up some pts when it was 38-15 and the hay was in the barn.

So, SB on Feb.7...for the 1st time a team will play for the Lombardi Trophy in their home stadium.KC early 3 pt fav's.

Wondering what others thought of the games?

And other comments,eg Canucks,NHL,etc.

 

[grusse]

SB LV is here!

Dunno how Chiefs' re-jigged O-line will handle Bucs' pass rush,which will test Mahomes' mobility, especially with the turf-toe injury,
which, surprisingly, to me at least, got little,if any, attention in the media.
Maybe I'm overestimating its severity?Apparently serious enough for off-season surgery?

Most of the injured on both sides are expected to play.
How well recovered Edwards-Hilaire is could be a difference-maker.5'7",205 lbs, brick s..thouse,can carry tacklers...when he's 100%.
Sammy Watkins,if he plays, gives Mahomes another target besides his top two of Hill and Kelce.
Watkins burned Richard Mouth-of-the-West Sherman to set up the go-ahead TD in last yr's SB.

Altho' he's been rarely targeted so far I expect Gronkowski to see footballs today, especially if Brate is reduced due to a back injury.
Brady also has a variety of WR's,assuming Brown plays.Godwin had at least cpl drops vs the Pack but is still dangerous.

I'm also wondering how much the accident involving Reid's son will be a distraction.
How could this not be distracting for Andy Reid as a father?Maybe he can block it out at least for a few hrs during the game?

I've been going back&forth on this, waiting for injury reports,etc.
I'll pick Chiefs to win by a coat of paint, i.e. not to cover the 3 pt betting line.I also expect them to go Over the 56 or 56.5(?)over/under.

Totally irrelevant but I wasn't surprised that T Bay, being Home Team(its NFC's turn)chose to wear white.
in the 12 SB's between 2004-2016 seasons team wearing white won 11 of the 12, incl Brady's Patriots 3 times.
Think #12 nmight've suggested going with white?

Still time for others' predictions!

Enjoy the game, s/b a classic!

 

[grusse]

Well, SB LV is in the books.

T Bay scoring 31 pts not surprising, KC held to 9 pts and kept out of the end zone constitutes a surprise,imo.

Another thread has many posts about Brady being GOAT,no need to add to something already well covered.

Might be time to consider the Canucks' woes....likely no shortage of opinions and suggestions to remedy the problems.
Looking at the standings in today's Province, the Canucks led the league in scoring with 49 goals, but also led
in goals allowed with 60.

Its early but seems like Habs,Leafs&Jets will be jockeying for 1,2, and 3 spots, while Flames,Oilers&Canucks scramble for the #4
playoff spot.

 

[Real Sonny Burnett]

Bell shut down a bunch of their sports radio stations all across the country including 1040 here in Vancouver.