Thanksgiving Football! As always, these games are pretty terrible. Even the addition of an NFL network game hasn't come through. This season has been so wacky, basically, that almost everyone's predictions are way off, so we get nationally televised stinkers like Bengals-Jets. Plus, the NFL has to shoehorn the Lions and the Cowboys into every Thanksgiving, even though I stretch to imagine many people would be so offended if those games were replaced with GOOD games, besides some self righteous Cowboys fans. Still, most people will end up watching them. It's football, it's thanksgiving, and thats how it works.
New England (-6.5) at Detroit
New England is on a roll, having beat Pittsburgh and Indianapolis in successive weeks. Tom Brady has looked very impressive in spreading the ball around, the offense is back to it's old devilishly good ways, and the defense is steadily improving. Meanwhile, the Lions can't beat the Bills. So I'll give the edge to the Patriots, who should take this one easily. Pats win and cover.
New Orleans (-3.5) at Dallas
Why is the spread so low? Sorry that I'm not quite buying into the Dallas revival at this point-2 games does not make a brand new team. The Saints seem to have gotten back on track after a rough start to the season, and I foresee them ripping up Dallas' terrible pass defense. Saints win and cover.
Cincinnati at NY Jets (-9)
I watched Cincinnati last week, and any team that gives up 35 unanswered to the Bills stands no chance of staying with the Jets. The Jets have been playing close games lately, but I can't see this one being close with the total ineptitude of the Bengals. Jets win and cover.
Onto College Football. With 2 weeks remaining in the season, (one of which is conference championships), the BCS has reached a critical point. A loss by Auburn this week (against Alabama, so it is very possible) or Oregon (less likely) would vault one of the non-AQs into the championship game. A loss by LSU in the next two weeks would virtually guarantee that a non-AQ (Boise or TCU) would play for the final. This is so exciting. Money is what keeps the ridiculous BCS system in place. A championship game involving one or TWO (dream situation) non-AQs would likely draw the least amount of money in the history of the BCS. And that might be the catalyst for playoffs in college football. If you want that at all to happen, Auburn or Oregon AND LSU must lose. (I say LSU because I'm sure if Auburn/Oregon lost that LSU might vault Boise/TCU...never doubt the BCS in being able to get a big name team in the finals). The fan side of me, though, is rooting for Oregon to stay in, because Oregon is the most exciting team in football. So, a Boise-Oregon showdown would a) be a great game and b) not draw much money. Perfect. As long as the BCS's pocketbook is hit, real change is possible.
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