Friday Smorgasbord (Plus Week 9 Picks)

It has been a long week in The People’s Quarterback home as we get used to a crying baby and almost no sleep. With that, I have done very little writing this week so I have a ton of thoughts stored in the old memory bank. Let’s get some of those out in a Friday smorgasbord. Week nine NFL picks can be found at the end and let me tell you it was nice to get back on the winning side of things last week.

· Auburn and Oregon control their own destiny for a BCS title game appearance with Boise State and the TCU/Utah winner nipping on their heels. But for my money Alabama is still the best team in the country. Here’s hoping that Alabama wins out and meets Oregon for the National Championship in what would be one of the most anticipated championships in some time.

· Those that are against a NCAA football playoff system often site the importance of the regular season as one of the major reasons. That argument never made sense to me. Wouldn’t the Ohio State, Stanford, Wisconsin, Arizona and a bunch more regular seasons be that much more important if they were trying to battle their way into an eight or twelve team playoff. Sure we may lose the drama of one game here or there like the undefeated Michigan-Ohio St. clash a few years back but we would pick up about two dozen more do-or-die type games on the back end of the schedule. How much more exciting would the rest of Pitt’s season be if they had the inside track in the Big East to the playoffs and not just some trip to the Fiesta Bowl for an example?

· For the record, I am in favor of a playoff system AND bowl games. There is no reason that an eight or twelve (my particular favorites) team playoff cannot exist with the other bowl games played around them. Some argue that a playoff would take away from the importance of the other bowl games but that is bunk. The same people (fans, alumni, students, hard-core college football fans and gamblers) would be interested in the Gator or Pinstripe Bowl with or without a playoff. The real problem is deciding how to run the playoff system, which includes creating as much revenue as the current BCS bowls and how to divide it amongst the teams and conferences. I think these are problems that could easily be solved with time and effort and eventually more money could be made for the universities, but Presidents and Athletic Directors are afraid to turn away from a sure thing.

· With all do apologies to Kellen Moore, who is having a fantastic season for Boise State, the Heisman race at this point looks like a two man race between Cam Newton and LaMichael James. Unless one or both suffer an injury or their production severely drops off over the final few games, I’m guessing you will be seeing of these two young men holding the trophy in New York. I would vote for Newton right now.

· The Pirates are set to hire their new manager any day now and unless Clint Hurdle, currently the Texas Rangers hitting coach and former Colorado Rockies manager, knocks the Pirates’ management team’s socks off, it looks like former minor league coordinator Jeff Banister is going to get the job. Talk about hiring a “yes” man. General Manager Neil Huntington knows that it is his job that is next on the line and that his ability to keep it ties directly to the improvement of the big league club. I guess he wants to leave no chances with a manager who will do exactly as he says. I am sure Bob Nutting will not mind this hire either as Banister is sure to be the lowest paid manager in baseball.

· Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants for winning the World Series. The Giants won on great pitching, timely hitting, and a good amount of luck. People hate to hear the word luck involved with sports, especially when it is their favorite team, but the role it plays cannot be overstated enough. This is doubly true in playoff baseball where short series and small sample sizes are all that matters. Maybe if we begin using the word randomness, as I have heard some people refer to it by, it would become more accepted.

· One guy on the Giants that has nothing to do with luck is rookie catcher Buster Posey. The Pirates passed on Posey to select Pedro Alvarez, a move that now looks foolish in hindsight despite the promising rookie season Alvarez put in. Posey is very possibly the game’s second best catcher already at the young age of 23 behind only Joe Mauer.

· Randy Moss is slowly but surely forcing his way out of the NFL. I own Moss on two fantasy teams so I am hoping his move to Tennessee works out but if the reports of Moss’ behavior in Minnesota are true how many more teams are going to take a chance on a guy whose talents are already beginning to wane.

· That being said, Moss is still a game changer. If Randy’s head is on straight and he can stretch defenses and draw coverage away opening holes for Chris Johnson and throwing lanes for Vince Young, the Titans just got a whole lot more dangerous in the crowded AFC picture.

· Troy Polamalu spoke out this week about Commissioner Roger Goodell and his office having too much power. I say amen to that. Goodell’s ability to suspend, fine and basically do whatever he wants to players for both their on-field and off-field behavior should be a major sticking point for the Player’s Association in the upcoming labor negotiations.

· I am all for protecting player’s safety and while I thought the fine for James Harrison’s hit on the Browns receiver was excessive and borderline, I could at least understand it. Fining Harrison for his late hit on Drew Brees this past week simply does not make sense to me. How can you fine a guy for what I consider a normal football play? Sure, Harrison was a split second late, I agree, and the flag was thrown. Why is this action finable? Are guys going to get fined for holding? How about chop blocks, those are pretty dangerous? Harrison’s hit was not blatantly late or with harmful intentions, it was an illegal football play that deserved a flag and that’s it.

· On to this week’s NFL picks…Last week I went 7-6 (51-61-5 overall), finally getting on the winning side after three consecutive losing weeks. Hopefully I can carry that momentum over for this week and the rest of the season.

(Home Team in Caps)

ATLANTA (-8.5) over Tampa Bay – Because the Falcons are off of a bye week, at home where they’ve won 12 straight with Matt Ryan at QB, and the Falcons could be the class of the NFC.

Miami (+5) over BALTIMORE – Because the Dolphins have yet to lose a road game and can exploit the Ravens’ suspect secondary.

Chicago (-3) over BUFFALO – Because everyone thinks this is the game the Bills are finally going to win and because it is being played in Canada, not Buffalo.

CAROLINA (+6.5) over New Orleans – Because a home win on Halloween night is not going to rope me back in to believing the Saints are back.

New England (-4.5) over CLEVELAND – Because Bill Belichick loves taking out revenge on former employees like Eric Mangini.

New York Jets (-4) over DETROIT – Because the Jets are too good and too well coached not to bounce back in a big way.

HOUSTON (+3) over San Diego – Because San Diego should not be giving anyone points on the road especially with Tweedledee and Tweedledum catching the football.

MINNESOTA (-8) over Arizona – Because I am not sure if Arizona will complete more passes to Cardinals or Vikings.

New York Giants (-7) over SEATTLE – Because Charlie Whitehurst is starting at quarterback for the Seahawks and there is a good chance he does not finish it against this Giants pass rush.

Kansas City (+2.5) over OAKLAND – Because the Chiefs have won seven straight in Oakland and are a little further along in their rebuilding effort.

Indianapolis (+3) over PHILADELPHIA – Because Jim Caldwell has never lost to an NFC team since taking over the Colts and because the AFC is that much better than the NFC.

GREEN BAY (-7.5) over Dallas – Because the Cowboys have quit.

Pittsburgh (-4.5) over CINCINNATI – Because Carson Palmer stinks.