FOOTBALL FRIDAY!!!!

A huge weekend of football that I am really looking forward to, but let me remind you that each week you can check out the NFL power rankings as Nick Pozek, Jon Lamb, and myself see fit @ www.bigpozstake.blogspot.com

Let me get to 3 College football thoughts and than a huge NFL weekend:
1. I am really looking forward to watching ESPNs film The U detailing the rise of the Miami Hurricane football program in the 1980s.
2. The Heisman Trophy will be presented on Saturday, and while you know who I voted for, I am interested to see who the actual voters picked. My guess is Mark Ingram but Colt McCoy wouldnt shock me. Im holding out hope that Ndamunkong Suh wins it.
3. As you all know, Notre Dame is trying to wake up the echos with a new coach. Brian Kelly was hired away from Cincinnati to lead a program that has been average over the past decade or so. Brian Kelly is a fine coach, but if you are an Irish fan you have to ask yourself is he really that much better than Charlie Weis? Im not too sure if he is. And I want to tell all the Irish fans that if Kelly has 1 good year he is not the next Knute Rockne. Give him some time, let him get established and we will revisit if he is a good hire in 5 years.

As for Cincinnati where do you go from here? Brian Kelly did turn that into an attractive job, but they will not land a big name. The players have ever right to be upset with him for leaving. I would be. I wish these players all the luck in the world because they have their hands full in the Sugar bowl against Florida with or without Kelly.

Enough ramblings on college football. This week starts the fantasy playoffs for most Fantasy Football leagues and what better way to start it off that the Cleveland Browns upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers? I dont know where to begin on this one, it is such a shock. First off, we have to answer the question did Cleveland win or did Pittsburgh lose? Pittsburgh lost, no doubt about it. The Browns are pathetic and the Steelers couldnt block anybody. I have never seen a Steelers team not give effort and they played like they did not want to be there. Big Ben must have some post concussion syndrome because he went down if the wind blew too hard (I have seen him take carry 11 defenders only to keep fighting and complete the pass as he avoided a sack). It is shocking to me the effect Troy Polamalu can have on a team, but I really believe he is the reason Pittsburgh has lost 5 in a row. When he was out there for a full game the Steelers are 3-0 with all 3 wins coming by double digits. Without him they are 3-7 with all 3 wins coming by a combined 21 points and losses to such powerhouses as Kansas City, Oakland, and the Browns. Everybody wave to Pittsburgh, because their season is done.

As for the Browns, why did you win? You ruin your chance at drafting King Kong (Ndamunkong Suh, DT, Nebraska) and now were probably looking at drafting in the 3-5 range. Good effort though. Maybe the Browns have figured out a formula for success. In each of the 2 wins this season, Browns quarterbacks have combined to complete 8 (EIGHT) passes (2 for Anderson in the shootout @ Buffalo, a whopping 6 for Quinn last night). My hope for the Browns is that they are able to find the right GM to lead the organization for the next 10-15 years and we can find the right mix of players to field a competitive team.

Let me take this opportunity to bash the NFL Network and the leagues handling of TV games. I never found myself wanting Direct TV more than this season and let me tell you why. The NFL Network is not available on most cable packages and if it is the cable company refuses to pay the surcharge the NFL Network demands in order to air the games. Take last night for example, WOW (my cable company) has the NFL Network but when the NFL Network is airing a live broadcast of a game the channel is blocked out because WOW does not want to pay the surcharge. Ridiculous. And than, last Sunday after the thrilling Bengals - Lions game Fox goes to extended coverage of the Saints - Redskins game. Im thinking this is great, I get to see the last 4 minutes of a great game. Wrong. I get to see the Redskins kicker miss a chip shot field goal to ice the game and than it gets interrupted by announcer saying that we must watch pregame of the Cowboys - Giants game. Ridiculous. Joe Buck is fine and all but Id rather watch a thrilling conclusion of a game in which a team is trying to remain undefeated (which the Saints did in overtime) than Joe Buck rant for 5 minutes about how bad the Cowboys have been in the month of December. Say it with me - Ridiculous! My point here is that I should not have to go to a bar or pay a large sum of money by purchasing Direct TVs NFL Package in order to watch the games I want to. Its common sense to air the best games, no fan wants to get stuck watching a 5 touchdown blowout (like we have been multiple times this year). Stop fining players and make some changes fans want to see Mr. Goodell. Thanks.

After that rant..... happier topics.

Huge game between the San Diego Chargers and the Dallas Cowboys in the House that Jerry Built. Over the past 3 years the San Diego Chargers have been one of the best teams in the month of December (with a 10-0 record). Over the past 3 years the Cowboys have been pathetic (3-6). So naturally San Diego will be favored, right? Wrong - they are 3 point underdogs. Very interesting.... This game should be a shootout with Rivers and Romo cooking. I expect a very close game but I will pick the Cowboys and give the points because I think Vegas knows best.

The Colts look to set an NFL record by winning their 22nd straight regular season game by playing host to everybody's favorite paper tiger the Denver Broncos. While Denver has been hot, I can not envision them going and winning this game on the road. Interesting stat for you - during Indy's 21 game win streak the visitor is 16-5 against the spread. Ill take the Broncos getting 7.

The other perfect team, the New Orealans Saints, are traveling to a banged up Atlanta team. I expect that the Saints had their wake up call last week against the Redskins. Drew Brees said maybe this is their destiny. I am rooting for them, and I think theyll remain perfect and beat the Falcons.

For my Stone Cold Steve Austin (If i played against Tim Tebow you know my eye black would say Austin under my right eye and 3:16 under my left eye) lead pipe lock of the week: Cincinnati +6.5 @ Minnesota. The Cardinals exposed the Vikings in their win last Sunday night. Enough of Brett Favre running around like a conquering hero. He collapsed last year in December and I expect it again this year. Brett Favre will turn the ball over if you make him throw it enough times. Arizona stopped the run, which is something Cincy has done all year. And the Vikings have a banged up offensive line, and Cincy has a similar ball hawking secondary as the Cardinals have. I fully expect the Bengals to win the game and if Vikings to pull off the miracle, I think it will be by a closer margin than a touchdown.

Good luck to all those teams starting your fantasy playoffs this year and as always enjoy the games!