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.