I've Got A Feeling

Not to jinx our favorite College Basketball team, but I have a good feeling about the Illini's match up with North Carolina. Prediction? Pain! Also, Illinois gets the win, 78-71.

Ouch

After going 0-2 with my upset picks last week, I've been ordered to take a break (even though I really like Seattle over Kansas City). Adding insult to injury, I picked Boise State over Nevada on Friday. The Burwitz Curse is alive and well.

OSU President Talks BCS

In case you missed it, here's what Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee had to say about schools like Boise State and TCU possibly playing for the title:

"I do know, having been both a Southeastern Conference president and a Big Ten president, that it's like murderer's row every week for these schools. We do not play the Little Sisters of the Poor. We play very fine schools on any given day...So I think until a university runs through that gauntlet that there's some reason to believe that they not be the best teams to be in the big ballgame."

Just for the record, this is the same Ohio State team that played Ohio, Marshall, and Eastern Michigan earlier this year. They also played conference games against Indiana (4-7), Purdue (4-7), and Minnesota (2-9). That's some "gauntlet."

Giving Thanks

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the thousands of readers who view this "microwriting site" each and every day. Your countless letters and emails warm my soul. During this time of gratitude and appreciation, I'm extremely thankful that the Cubs didn't give Victor Martinez four years, $50 million.

The Money Round

My apologies for the recent lack of activity, but I've been locked away furiously studying NFL statistics and trends. You think it's easy picking weekly upsets? This is a serious job, performed by serious people. OK, maybe not. Anyway, my crack team of advisers is helping me get ready for the last few weeks of this bizarre but compelling season. I don't want to toot my own horn, but this feels like the week I achieve perfection. So ladies and gentlemen, I present "the money round:"

• San Francisco over Tampa Bay: Who would have dreamed that a third-string quarterback could save Mike Singletary's season. Troy Smith has the 49ers back on track, eliminating many of the mistakes of his predecessors. Despite an embarrassing 0-5 start, the Niners are back in the playoff hunt. A win over the Bucs today will get them one step closer.
• NY Giants over Philadelphia: Mike Vick has to come back to Earth sooner or later. I pick sooner, and I think the Giants athletic front four will frustrate and harass the Comeback Kid. Look for Eli and company to control the clock and the game with a balanced attack.

Color Me Confused

So let me get this straight.

First, the Redskins bench Donovan McNabb with two minutes to go in a close game. After the loss, they tell the media that he wasn't as familiar with the two-minute offense as Rex Grossman (yes, that Rex Grossman). Next, they inform reporters and fans that McNabb wasn't in good enough shape to run the two-minute drill. Finally, they blame the benching on a hamstring injury.

Now, just when it looks like the Skins have soured on McNabb as their present and future QB, they turn around and hand him a $78 million contract extension. And you thought the Randy Moss story was strange?

Two More For Week 10

You gotta love those Cleveland Browns. Great win over New England last week. So, if it ain't broke...

• Cleveland over NY Jets: I'm all in with the Browns! I love the defense. I love the running game. I don't love the idea of starting a rookie QB, but Colt McCoy is hanging in there so far. As for the Jets, you know my feelings about Mark Sanchez. I'll take Cleveland in a field goal fest.
• Denver over Kansas City: The Chiefs are obviously better than the Broncos, but playing on the road in Denver is usually tough sledding (the Oakland Raiders may not agree, but that's OK). Logic suggests that KC will run all over the orange and blue, but my Spidey Sense is tingling on this one. The young Chiefs are on the move, but they'll hit a speed bump this week.

So Many Stories

For some strange reason the NFL media is focused on the same tired stories: Randy Moss, the underachieving Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, helmet-to-helmet hits. Here are a few "no-brainers" they must have missed...

• The 6-2 Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan and company are undefeated in the dome and have a good shot at home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Falcons remaining schedule includes St. Louis, Seattle, and Carolina twice.
• The 5-3 KC Chiefs: I knew Todd Haley was a good coach, but I never thought he would turn this team around so quickly. The upstart Chiefs lead the league in rushing and feature a lightning-quick defense. A division title could be right around the corner.
• Philip Rivers: This guy is simply amazing. His receiving corp is racked with injuries, but Rivers keeps piling up Marino-like numbers. Or maybe Marino piled up Rivers-like numbers.
• Arian Foster: Did you know that the Texans RB leads the NFL in rushing yards with 864? Oh yeah, he's also scored 10 touchdowns and is averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Foster has to be in the MVP conversation.
• Clay Matthews: Despite missing Green Bay's week-six match up with Miami, Matthews leads the NFL with 10.5 sacks. The sky is the limit for this rising star. Now if he could just find a decent barber.

Where Will Lee Land?

I know everybody is on the Yankees' bandwagon, but my money is on the Rangers re-signing Cliff Lee. Despite a goofy manager, this team has the potential to be very good for a very long time. Look for the Rangers front office to throw the bank at their lefty ace and bring him back to Arlington.

Week 9 Upsets

We're really shaking things up this week. After all, you have to bet big to win big!

• Detroit over NY Jets: As talented as the Jets are, Mark Sanchez is still a big question mark to me. If the surging Lions front line can slow down the Jets running game, the turnovers will be there for the taking. I love the Lions (led by superstar WR Calvin Johnson) at home this week.
• Cleveland over New England: The Browns seem to be improving every week, and the Pats are due for a clunker. Cleveland's D should keep this one close, so look for the Man-Genius to steal one from his mentor.

I almost took Dallas over Green Bay, but I just couldn't pull the trigger. Sooner or later the Cowboys are going to erupt. Maybe it will be week 10 vs. Eli and the Giants.

NBA Round-Up

A few standout story lines so far this season (in no particular order)...

• The 5-0 Atlanta Hawks: The balanced Hawks have six players averaging double figures, plus a seventh at 9.0 PPG. Josh Smith and Al Horford are becoming quite a tandem, and Joe Johnson is solid as usual. I know the "experts" are handing the East to Boston or Miami, but this should be a dangerous squad come playoff time.
• The 3-1 Dallas Mavericks: Why do we always forget about these guys? They still have Super Dirk, Caron Butler, and the two Jasons (Kidd and Terry), plus they added the always intriguing Tyson Chandler. They won't take the West, but another 50-win season looks likely.
• Monta Ellis: Through four games, Ellis is averaging 30 points and six assists for Golden State. He's shooting it at a 55-percent clip, including 40 percent from three-point land.
• Rajon Rondo: I had to include a Celtic. How about 17 assists per game? Forget the "Big Three." Rondo is the key to Boston's success this year.
• John Wall: So far so good for the Wizards rookie point guard (24 PPG, 10 APG, 4 SPG). He needs to cut down on the turnovers, but the sky is the limit for Mr. Wall. It's hard to believe that he just turned 20.

Who Wants Moss?

It gets a little stranger every day in Minnesota. Three weeks after acquiring Randy Moss for a third-round pick, the Vikings cut him loose. After Sunday's debacle, I can't really blame them.

So who's lining up for his services? One team that better be in the mix is the Chicago Bears. Cutler's receiving corp is truly awful. Moss may not be the player he used to be, but he would definitely help the dying Cutler.