Bleacher Report - Articles by Michael Glaessner

Week 17 NFL Predictions

Michael Glaessner — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 02:37:04 -0500

They're the NFL's feel-good story and with a win today in New York, the Miami Dolphins, who have already set a record by being the first team in history to win double-digit games after a one-win season, finish an improbable division-winning season.

They've won seven of their previous eight since a 2-4 start and have done so thanks to the timely passing of Chad Pennington and the awesome pass-rushing of Matt Roth and Joey Porter.

They went unconventional with the Wildcat offense and Tony Sparano has pulled every rabbit out of his hat. Does he have a few more tricks up his sleeve next week? He'll need to with the season on the line.

Oakland at Tampa Bay

Line: Buccaneers by 13

Tampa will take care of business in all likelihood. They'll have to after blowing a golden opportunity to clinch against the Chargers. Buccaneers 31, Raiders 20

Detroit at Green Bay

Line: Packers by 11

The 0-16 season comes full circle in Lambeau Field. The Lions had a chance to avoid history last week against the eliminated Saints and completely blew it. Now, there's no hope and the winless season is imminent. Packers 28, Lions 20

New York Giants at Minnesota

Line: Vikings by 7

The Giants may be playing all their starters, presenting a challenge to the Vikes. Another challenge will be winning without the Williams brothers, and the Vikes didn't look good in getting blown out by the Falcons. Even if the Giants have clinched, it'll take a mammoth effort from the Vikes to get it done. Vikings 27, Giants 23

Chicago at Houston

Line: Texans by 3

Houston gets it done and finishes .500 for the second season in a row, spoiling the faint playoff hopes of the Chicago Bears. Texans 23, Bears 21

Carolina at New Orleans

Line: Panthers by 2

They got their 11 wins, now the Cardiac Cats still must clinch with the red-hot Falcons still on their tails. 11-0 home records within the division are never wrong though, plus Brees is unstoppable at home. Saints 41, Panthers 27

St. Louis at Atlanta

Line: Falcons by 14

Yes, it is possible that the Dirty Birds can clinch the No. 2 seed, and if such is to occur, it'll continue the tradition of the last-place NFC South team finishing first. Falcons 31, Rams 10

Kansas City at Cincinnati

Line: Bengals by 2.5

The Chiefs may be the greatest 2-13 team in NFL history. The number of close games they've lost is absolutely astounding. Chiefs 23, Bengals 20

Jacksonville at Baltimore

Line: Ravens by 11

They've taken care of business all year, so why should blowing out Jacksonville be any different? Ravens 20, Jaguars 7

Tennessee at Indianapolis

Line: Titans by 3

Vince Young vs Jim Sorgi? I'll go with Vince, thank you very much. Titans 27, Colts 20

Cleveland at Pittsburgh

Line: Steelers by 11

Cleveland will get negative yards and probably score negative points against the Steelers. Steelers 21, Browns 0

New England at Buffalo

Line: Patriots by 5.5

The Pats won in the snow last week, Buffalo is a tough opponent, but they'll put a little pressure on Miami by taking care of business in Buffalo. Patriots 26, Bills 23

Dallas at Philadelphia

Line: Eagles by 1.5

The Cowboys season is on the line, and they have never shown character in that situation. Why would they start this week? Eagles 27, Cowboys 24

Miami at New York Jets

Line: Jets by 3

The Jets have pissed their season away, and the Fins keep improving every week. This week, they make history, tying the Colts for the greatest turnaround in one season in NFL history. Dolphins 24, Jets 21

Seattle at Arizona

Line: Cardinals by 7

There will be two 8-8 teams in the playoffs this year. These Cardinals are so fraudulent, they might as well be counterfeit. Seahawks 28, Cardinals 26

Washington at San Francisco

Singletary's boys will rally to 7-9, while Zorn's Skins tumble out of post-season consideration. 49ers 30, Redskins 21

Denver at San Diego

Line: Chargers by 8

The Broncos' collapse will be complete after this Sunday. Chargers 34, Broncos 27

Week 16 vs Spread 6-9

Week 16 Straight up 8-7

Season vs Spread 129-110-3

Season Straight up 152-89-1

Week 16 NFL Predictions

Michael Glaessner — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 12:11:29 -0500

With two games to go in the season, the once-invincible Giants are losing their swagger as quickly as they gained it. A pair of listless efforts against divisional rivals Philadelphia and Dallas have let everyone back into the race and their stranglehold on the NFC is loosening.

All season long, the team managed to avoid distractions and injuries. Brandon Jacobs has missed the last two games and the running game has gone flat. Plaxico Burress's absence from the field has also caught up with the Giants as they don't have a playmaker in the red zone.

The once awesome offensive line has gotten nicked with injuries, a major reason for them surrendering eight sacks in a Sunday night loss to the Cowboys. Facing the Panthers and Vikings to finish the season, the Giants now must rediscover the magic that propelled them to their unlikely Super Bowl upset of the Patriots and an 11-1 start.

Maybe adversity is what the Giants need, though, and they'll use these last two weeks to their advantage in what is a tight race for home-field advantage.

Baltimore at Dallas

Line: Cowboys by 5.5

The Cowboys appear to be peaking at the right time, contrary to the Giants. Their defense has been exceptional against the run the past two weeks and Tony Romo finally had a decent game in a big spot with his two-TD effort against the GMen.

He won't play that well against the Ravens' rugged defense, but I think Dallas will limit the Ravens by stopping the run and forcing Joe Flacco, a 42 percent passer on the season, into a lot of 3rd-and-longs.

Cowboys 10, Ravens 6

Pittsburgh at Tennessee

Line: Steelers by 2

The Steelers are on top of their game in the most important stretch of the season, while the Titans are slowly being exposed as a pretty good team that took advantage of a woefully weak schedule.

In their loss to the Texans, they failed to run the ball effectively. Houston is one of the worst rushing defenses in football, so how do they fare against a team that's great against the run like Pittsburgh?

If they can't run the ball, Kerry Collins will get snowed in by the Steeler blitz, giving Pittsburgh great field position. They'll also have a much easier time running the ball against a Titans' D that's missing Albert Haynesworth.

Without the big man to anchor the defensive line, Willie and Mewelde will find holes against this defense, control the clock, and take over 1st in the AFC.

Steelers 20, Titans 13

Miami at Kansas City

Line: Dolphins by 3.5

The Fins are winning, but they haven't done so impressively. The Chiefs, meanwhile, have consistently beaten the spread but failed to win close games outright. Last week's meltdown against the Chargers is pretty much their season in a microcosm.

I'm sure they'd love to take out some of that aggression on the Dolphins and spoil their playoff hopes, which hang on winning the AFC East.

Chiefs 16, Dolphins 13

Arizona at New England

Line: Patriots by 8

Weather will play a huge factor in snowy Foxborough, where the Cardinals will be out of their element. A passing game won't work in these conditions, especially since the Cardinals will be throwing downfield into 18 mph winds with the snow hurting their traction.

Patriots 24, Cardinals 17

Cincinnati at Cleveland

Line: Browns by 3

The Bengals at least put up a respectable effort against the Redskins. The Browns have gotten worse with each passing week, they have a coach who knows he's cooked, and their offense is a disaster with a past-his-prime RB and a noodle-armed QB. Points will be at a premium, and it has nothing to do with defense.

Just really inept offense.

Bengals 7, Browns 5

San Francisco at St. Louis

Line: 49ers by 5

The 'Niners are playing hard and while their 5-9 record doesn't reflect it, they've been more professional and competitive in games and should continue that trend by winning in St. Louis, who is out of the playoff mix and looking to get a top five pick.

49ers 31, Rams 17

New Orleans at Detroit

Line: Saints by 7

These last two games are literally the most important games in the history of the Lions' franchise. They will determine whether or not this 0-14 ballclub can avert the indignity of becoming just the second team in NFL History to finish a season winless.

They came so close in the last two weeks, I think this week they finally get it done against a Saints team that would have been a playoff team if not for their anemic 1-6 road record.

Lions 29, Saints 28

San Diego at Tampa Bay

Line: Buccaneers by 3.5

Their comeback against the Chiefs not withstanding, this Chargers team has been awful and woefully unprepared all year on the road, so it's hard to imagine them winning against a great home team like Tampa, especially since Tampa needs every win to clinch that last playoff spot in the NFC.

Buccaneers 24, Chargers 17

Philadelphia at Washington

Line: Eagles by 4.5

The Redskins are cooked, speaking of which, their colossal meltdown against the Bengals followed by a distraught Jim Zorn denouncing his coaching abilities says it all. Perfect timing for the Eagles, who also need every win they can get to make it into the postseason.

Eagles 31, Redskins 13

Atlanta at Minnesota

Line: Vikings by 3.5

Without Pat Williams (alleged steroid user: KARMA! KARMA! KARMA!), the Falcons will be able to let "Burner" Turner loose. Of course, the Falcons are no great shakes against the run either, so AD will trample them so long as Childress feeds him the rock.

Who knows? Maybe he'll start to think his team can pass just because they lit up one of the worst secondaries in the world.

Falcons 21, Vikings 20

New York Jets at Seattle

Line: Jets by 3.5

The Jets are lucky to be 9-5. If not for Dick Jauron calling for a QB rollout with J.P. LostMan (who fumbled away the go-ahead TD) even though Marshawn Lynch was tearing up the Jets defense, they'd be on the brink of elimination.

The Jets are 0-3 on the West Coast, and that includes a loss to the Raiders. The Seahawks are playing decent football, despite their shoddy record.

By default, it's looking like the Pats could win the division without Tom Brady, and that's not saying much about the AFC East.

Seahawks 21, Jets 17

Houston at Oakland

Line: Texans by 7

This is the perfect game for a Texans offensive explosion. Steve Slaton will slash and gash the Raiders overpriced defensive line. Matt Schaub will control the action by completing pass after pass to one-man-wrecking-machine Andre Johnson.

And the Texans will clinch their second straight eight-win season by disposing of the pitiful Raiders, whom they've never lost to in the history of their franchise.

Texans 27, Raiders 13

Buffalo at Denver

Line: Broncos by 6.5

Denver's defense is anemic and Buffalo ran the ball incredibly well against the Jets. They should again capitalize against a team that should know by four o'clock if they've won the division and will probably mail it in until the postseason, entering the playoffs as an 8-8 division winner against the 12-4 Colts.

Bills 24, Broncos 17

Carolina at New York Giants

Line: Giants by 3.5

To answer my own question, I love the Panthers, they've done exactly what they've set out to do, winning their 11th game of the year. Yet, winning tomorrow night against the Giants puts them in the drivers seat in the NFC.

While the Giants have struggled the past two weeks, they get it done against Carolina, as they're able to crowd the line of scrimmage more against a team that lacks a good TE, forcing Delhomme to throw over the top against their stifling blitz and keeping eight guys in the box to ground the real Slash and Dash.

If Jacobs can play, it should prove to be a huge boost, as Wind and Fire look better with Earth back.

For the record, the 11-5 eventual NFC South champs will wrap up their division next week with a bonus win No. 12.

Giants 20, Panthers 17

Green Bay at Chicago

Line: Bears by 4

I haven't called one Packers game right since their obliteration of the Bears in Week 11, and it's because I severely underestimated how ridiculously soft their defense actually is.

Now that Orton is relatively healthy, the Bears will get retribution on the team that spanked them at Lambeau a month ago.

Bears 24, Packers 10

Week 15 vs spread 8-7-1

Week 15 Straight up 12-4

Season vs spread 123-101-3

Season Straight up 144-82-1

NBA Power Rankings Week 7

Michael Glaessner — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 09:47:43 -0500

1. Boston Celtics (25-2) (1)

With home games against the Knicks and Sixers (who have losing records) the winning streak could hit 19 by their Christmas day showdown with the Lakers

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (22-4) (2)

The Cavs' blowout win in Denver is a real statement and a testament to the team's improvement. When LeBron left the game in the second quarter, the Cavs built the lead to 20 and effectively put the game out of reach.

3. Los Angeles Lakers (21-4) (3)

Not playing at an elite level after struggling at home to beat the Knicks and losing on the road to the Heat, LA must turn up the defense as the schedule gets a lot tougher with road games against the Magic and Hornets and a road game against the Celtics.

4. Orlando Magic (20-6) (4)

Winning in Utah without Howard?? I'm becoming more and more convinced that last year was no fluke and the start of a period of domination in the Southeast Division.

5. New Orleans Hornets (15-7) (7)

Protect the ball at all times around Chris Paul. His consecutive-games-with-a-steal streak hit 106 against San Antonio, setting an all-time record.

6. Houston Rockets (17-9) (8)

With Battier and TMac finally healthy, Adelman is experimenting with his lineup by bringing Artest off the bench. So far, the results have been excellent.

7. Utah Jazz (17-11) (11)

If Boozer wants a bigger contract, this is not the way to go about doing it. Don't say you're "opting out" when you're hurt and your backup is outplaying you.

8. Denver Nuggets (17-9) (5)

Remember when Carmelo's teams used to beat LeBron's? Those days are a distant memory, as LeBron's Cavs have improved to the point where their talent dwarfs that of Denver's and LeBron has evolved into a full-blown superstar and phenominal two-way player while Carmelo is still a decent jump shooter who doesn't rebound or play defense.

9. Portland Trail Blazers (17-10) (6)

Roy just keeps getting better and better as he was unstoppable in an amazing 52-point effort against Phoenix.

10. San Antonio Spurs (15-10) (9)

The offense of the Spurs is still too inconsistent to get it done in close defensive struggles, as they lack a pure shooter to win games in the 4th quarter.

11. Atlanta Hawks (16-10) (14)

It would have been a perfect week if not for an emotionally draining loss at home to the Celtics, with whom the Hawks are trying to establish a strong rivalry.

12. Detroit Pistons (14-10) (16)

The Pistons need Maxiell to make more of an impact if they want to compete in the Eastern Conference.

13. Phoenix Suns (15-11) (15)

The Suns' defense is still bad with the coaching change, but the rebounding has also gotten worse.

14. Miami Heat (13-12) (12)

After stumbling back to .500, Wade kept the team afloat by pouring in 35 against the Lakers, including two key blocks in the last 10 seconds to help preserve a 2-point win.

15. New Jersey Nets (13-12) (13)

Harris removes any doubt that the Mavs thoroughlly got ripped off in the Jason Kidd trade with 41 huge points against his ex-team.

16. Dallas Mavericks (14-11) (10)

Cuban's insider trading methods apparently didn't work when he made the panic trade for Jason Kidd.

17. Philadelphia 76ers (12-14) (20)

Lost in the disappointing season has been the impressive play of Mareese Spreights, who's certainly proving to be worth the first round investment.

18. Chicago Bulls (12-14) (17)

It looks like Deng is rounding back into form after a slow start to the season.

19. Milwaukee Bucks (12-16) (21)

While his scoring has dropped since November, there is no doubt Luc Richard Mbah ah Moute is proving to be a pain in the ass to play against.

20. New York Knicks (11-15) (18)

Nasty Nate! Nobody on the court plays with a bigger heart than the little guy, he is the one guy who works hard on every possession and is flourishing under D'Antoni.

21. Toronto Raptors (10-16) (19)

I'm not sure being a one-man team with a last place record is quite what Colangelo had in mind when he assembled this roster, but the Raptors' big performers from last year need to step it up or this rebuilding effort will be all for naught.

22. Los Angeles Clippers (8-18) (28)

The Clips have picked it up this week with four wins in their previous five games, including back-to-back stunners against Portland and Houston.

23. Indiana Pacers (9-17) (22)

Now injuries create another obstacle in what's beginning to look like a lost season for the Pacers.

24. Charlotte Bobcats (9-18) (25)

Augustin got his revenge against Derrick Rose after being shut down and humiliated in the Elite Eight by outscoring him 29-6 in an overtime win over Chicago.

25. Memphis Grizzlies (9-17) (23)

With Mayo also handling Rose, he's making a stronger and stronger case for Rookie of the Year as the two will continue to provide a handful of spectacular plays this season.

26. Sacramento Kings (7-20) (26)

When two of your top three scorers have missed more than half the teams' games, it's little wonder why you can't win consistently.

27. Golden State Warriors (7-20) (24)

The defense was bad, we knew this going into the season, but the Warriors' offense has gotten worse and worse as Crawford adds nothing to the team outside of being yet another one-on-one player with horrible shot selection.

28. Washington Wizards (4-20) (27)

One loss away from tying a franchise record for the worst start in franchise history, so imagine how much worse they'd be without Jamison and Butler.

29. Minnesota Timberwolves (4-21) (29)

Just think, if they kept Mayo, they'd at least be as good as Memphis is right now.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder (3-24) (30)

Westbrook, who's finally earning a starting spot, has been one of the Thunder's few bright spots and the unsung PG outside of Rose and Mayo in what is proving to be a potent PG draft.

Week 15 NFL Predictions

Michael Glaessner — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:00:58 -0500

This is why you gotta love parity.

Eventually, it'll help even the most downtrodden of franchises if they choose to make intelligent football decisions, which the Arizona Cardinals have finally done.

For the first time since 1948, the Cardinals will be hosting a playoff game and the stadium will be rocking. They've done so with Kurt Warner playing like the touchdown machine of old, with two of the most exciting receivers in the game, and with one of the most promising young coaches in the game.

The Cardinals are an inspiration (are you listening, Bengals and Lions fans) that no matter how bad you blow, if you draft talented players and wait for your division to deteriorate, you always have a shot as long as you play competitively. If you think those games the Cardinals played at the end of last season "didn't matter" when they were fighting to finish the year at .500, you don't know much about football.

Who are next year's Arizona Cardinals? Look at the teams finishing the year strong and you'll start figuring out clues.

(Nobody won anything off the Bears-Saints game, except Vegas of course)

Green Bay at Jacksonville
Line: Packers by 2

Both teams have pretty much quit on their season. Neither plays great defense, although the Packers at least have a somewhat effective offense. As for Jacksonville, as bad as the Packers' defense is, when I start seeing Jacksonville make a commitment to running the football, I'll begin to take them seriously. Packers 24, Jaguars 21

Detroit at Indianapolis
Line: Colts by 17

One thing I don't get is if you're the government, why try and bail out Ford and GM knowing the money won't make it past the desk of the President and CEO? That's like the NFL trying to bail out the Lions, which we know isn't happening. Maybe the NFL knows something the government doesn't. If we pump money into you and remain incompetent, it's your own damn fault! Ford cars and trucks and Lions season tickets must be affordable for the common man--nobody will buy a crappy, unaffordable product! Colts 31, Lions 17

Washington at Cincinnati
Line: Redskins by 7

Good thing the Redskins get a "bye week" to sort out their offense. Clinton Portis is an integral part of the Redskins' offense, so he must be involved early and often for the Skins to be successful.

On a side note, what's higher, Ryan Fitzpatrick's Harvard GPA or his NFL QB rating? Redskins 27, Bengals 7

Tampa Bay at Atlanta
Line: Falcons by 3

Tampa's lack of size was exposed against Carolina as the Panthers routinely pushed them back at the line of scrimmage. It doesn't get easier in the Dirty South, as the Falcons are competing for that last playoff spot. If Tampa's DT's aren't healthy, Burner Turner should bowl over them and add to his league-leading TD total of 14.

As for Tampa's offense, I have no idea how a team with a weak-armed QB and slow receivers scores as much as they do. While Tampa is decent at running the ball, they'll have a tougher time doing so against eight-man fronts, as the Falcons will be daring Garcia to throw deep.

NFC South home teams are 10-0 in the division this year; expect that trend to continue. Falcons 23, Buccaneers 17

San Francisco at Miami
Line: Dolphins by 6.5

The Dolphins win and they win ugly--that's been their MO all year, so expect nothing different this week.

The 49ers should give Miami good competition; ever since Shaun Hill took over the starting job, the Niners have had a competent passing game. Hill doesn't take sacks or throw interceptions, two things Martz wonderboy JT O'Sullivan was doing routinely as the Niners' QB. As a result, SF looks respectable on offense.

The way San Francisco has played in the second half of the season, it'd be an injustice not to give Mike Singletary a full-time coaching gig. Dolphins 20, 49ers 17

Seattle at St. Louis
Line: Seahawks by 2.5

It's another RF-MO (resistable force-moveable object) matchup. The Rams' defense has been a sieve all year, allowing all comers to improve their stats, fantasy value and offenses in general. Even an offense as anemic as Seattle's has treated their D like the "Welcome" Doormat that they are, as their running game had its only real success of the season in a Week 3 victory.
If I waste another cliche on this topic, then I probably have way too much time on my hands. Seahawks 17, Rams 10

Buffalo at New York Jets
Line: Jets by 7.5

The story for the Jets is the same as it's always been: they have to run the football to win games.

New York had the formula down pat when they exploded to an 8-3 start, but back-to-back losses have put them back into a first place tie with the Pats and Dolphins. They still hold the tiebreaker edge and essentially control their own destiny; playing a Bills team that's banged up on defense with JP "Lost, Man" at QB couldn't be better timing.

The Jets should get back on track as long as they remember the bread and butter that got them to 8-3: running the football and stopping the run. Jets 27, Bills 17

San Diego at Kansas City
Line: Chargers by 6

Amazingly, the Chargers still have a bleak chance at winning the division despite the massive amounts of talent Norv Turner has squandered.

I don't know if LaDanian Tomlinson is finished, but he's looking more and more like Emmitt Smith post-1996, where he gets two yards behind a crater-sized hole and falls down to avoid further damage to his body. This has put more pressure on the Chargers' passing attack--this team wasn't really built to beat teams that way. Chargers 28, Chiefs 25

Tennessee at Houston
Line: Titans by 3

Could the Texans be next year's Arizona Cardinals?

Houston's biggest problem all year was at QB, but Matt Schaub answered that with a strong performance in his comeback at Green Bay, throwing for over 400 yards. The Texans are clicking on all cylinders, with Steve Slaton playing out of his mind in the past few weeks and Andre Johnson making his mark as the NFL's best receiver. Johnson is a one-man wrecking machine--running over defensive backs and drawing double coverage on almost every possession, making Kevin Walter and Owen Daniels viable weapons in the passing game.

If Houston continues to play at a high intensity level, there's no reason to think they can't upset even the mighty Titans, who are 12-1 but have also feasted on a weak schedule to hit that mark. Texans 27, Titans 24

Pittsburgh at Baltimore
Line: Ravens by 2.5

Points will be at a premium in this slobber-knocking divisional showdown.

What it comes down to, ultimately, is quarterbacking. Both running games will be neutralized, so each passer will be asked to carry a bigger burden against a fierce, blitzing defense. That's where I trust Ben Roethlisberger more. Joe Flacco has played incredibly well as a rookie, exceeding many peoples' expectations, but he'll be humbled once more by the Pittsburgh defense.

I could see "Joe-Flac" actually outpassing Big Ben in this game, but Roethlisberger should win by making more big plays in the fourth quarter, where he has the most experience. Steelers 16, Ravens 13

Denver at Carolina
Line: Panthers by 7.5

The fearsome Panthers are on the prowl once again.

The "Cardiac Cats" racked up more yards rushing in one game than the Lions and Bengals have on the season combined, proving they're a superior feline breed. As for the Broncos, they can score a lot of points--this we know--but can they stop anyone? If Carolina can get 300 yards rushing against Tampa, is it unrealistic to think this future 11-5, Division-winning team can't get about 600 against that soft-ass D? Panthers 42, Broncos 30

Minnesota at Arizona
Line: Cardinals by 3

Arizona's strengths exploit the Vikings' weaknesses. They're a terrific passing team and the Vikings are in the bottom 10 in pass defense. Their strength is stopping the run, while they rarely have to rely on the running game with all the talented receivers they have.

Meanwhile, I know Adrian "AD" Peterson will be up and running, but can you really trust Minnesota in a close road game starting Tavaris Jackson? Cardinals 24, Vikings 20

New England at Oakland
Line: Patriots by 7

SportsCenter did a Top 10 last night, the Top 10 Heisman Trophy winners of all-time. Interestingly, three of them are ex-Raiders, so maybe this is what Oakland needs to pursue in the draft. Unfortunately, it looks like all of this year's candidates are QB's and Oakland just invested half the team payroll in super-bust JaMarcus Russell. So much for that theory. Patriots 24, Raiders 3

New York Giants at Dallas
Line: Cowboys by 3

Last Sunday's effort was the Giants' sloppiest of the season. Yet, despite being so badly outplayed by the Eagles, they could have very easily won the game had they just caught Eli Manning's passes.

Dallas looked like a team that was starting to mature as they held Pittsburgh in check for three and a half quarters, building a 13-3 lead. After the Steelers came back and tied things up at 13, however, Tony Romo froze up in the clutch, throwing a pick-six that put Pittsburgh ahead, and later missing his favorite target, Jason Witten, by about 30 feet on 4th and 10.

The problem isn't just Romo--it's the whole team. When the stakes are down and their backs are against the wall, the Cowboys haven't shown the character and resiliency to fight back. Until we see that attribute, I have no problem picking Big Blue to dash the playoff hopes of this one-time Super Bowl contender. Giants 31, Cowboys 24

Cleveland at Philadelphia
Line: Eagles by 14

This will be the Browns' 4th nationally televised game of the year; yet, they've oddly looked like a competent team on Monday Night Football. They beat the defending-champion Giants and won a close game in frigid Buffalo, and with the Eagles coming off their biggest win of the season, maybe they'll come out a little flat against a team they expect to blow out by three touchdowns. Eagles 16, Browns 6

Week 14 vs Spread: 8-8
Week 14 Straight up: 9-7
Season vs Spread: 115-94-2
Season Straight up: 132-78-1

NBA Power Rankings: Week Six

Michael Glaessner — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:35:35 -0500

1. Boston Celtics (20-2) (1) In what was supposed to be a big West showdown, the Celtics made the Blazers look like a second-tier squad by smothering them defensively.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (19-3) (3) The starters are getting much-needed rest during this win streak, as the Cavs are usually in control by the end of quarter three.

3. Los Angeles Lakers (18-3) (2) The Lakers' suspect D is still a concern, but more so down the road if they should meet up with Boston again.

4. Orlando Magic (17-5) (5) Turkoglu's miracle three against Portland proves to be key in helping Magic start their West swing 2-0.

5. Denver Nuggets (15-7) (6) For the Nuggets to remain contenders, they must improve on a 4-6 record against teams with winning records.

6. Portland Trail Blazers (15-8) (4) From a "guaranteed bust" a month ago to leading all rookies in double doubles with seven in just fourteen games? Not a bad stretch for Mr. Oden.

7. New Orleans Hornets (12-6) (8) The Hornets landed a decent backup for Paul in Antonio Daniels as part of a 3-team trade.

8. Houston Rockets (14-8) (7) Artest is now going down with an ankle injury, putting more emphasis on the Rockets backups to step up.

9. San Antonio Spurs (13-8) (13) The Spurs' offense has suddenly opened up with three straight 100+ point games, including 133 in a double-OT thriller win over Dallas.

10. Dallas Mavericks (11-9) (14) Barea is taking advantage of increased minutes and has had a huge week, averaging 18.3 ppg and 4.7 apg as the Mavs creep back into the division race.

11. Utah Jazz (14-9) (10) With Williams and Boozer still healing, the Jazz are right in position to take over first at just a game and a half out.

12. Miami Heat (12-9) (15) Emeka Okafor, congratulations, you've just been added to Dwayne Wade's poster collection.

13. New Jersey Nets (11-9) (16) Lopez will see a starting job in his immediate future if he keeps performing at a high level.

14. Atlanta Hawks (12-9) (11) For the Hawks to build off their strong start, they must get better production out of their bench.

15. Phoenix Suns (13-10) (12) Trading Bell and Diaw, who are excellent defenders, for another defenseless scorer in Jason Richardson seems like a suspect trade.

16. Detroit Pistons (11-9) (9) With three straight losses to sub-.500 teams, the Pistons are making it tougher on themselves to pick up ground after a slow first quarter of the season.

17. Chicago Bulls (10-11) (22) Hughes is starting to hit his shot, which will be huge for his confidence as the young Bulls continue to push for playoff contention as the season progresses.

18. New York Knicks (10-12) (18) The short-handed Knicks continue to overachieve, as they won in New Jersey for the third consecutive time.

19. Toronto Raptors (9-12) (19) With a pair of flat efforts against the Cavs and Jazz, Triano knows he has his work cut out whipping this soft Raptors team into shape.

20. Philadelphia 76ers (9-13) (20) Cheeks's job will be in jeopardy, fair or not, if he can't find a way to get results out of the considerable talent the team's inherited.

21. Milwaukee Bucks (9-15) (21) The Bucks D was invisible on their three-game Western road trip, as they were handled by the Lakers, Suns and Warriors.

22. Indiana Pacers (7-14) (17) The schedule is doing Indiana no favors, but the team will not improve until they learn to close out games.

23. Memphis Grizzlies (7-15) (27) Mayo has scored in double figures in the first 20 games of his NBA career, the longest such streak since...wait for it...LARRY BIRD!

24. Golden State Warriors (7-15) (24) Getting Ellis back will help, but it'll only improve the team offensively. They'll theoretically lose less since they'll be able to score more.

25. Charlotte Bobcats (7-15) (23) As little sense as the trade made for the Suns, how does Charlotte expect to replace Richardson's scoring with two guys who haven't been effective on offense since D'Antoni left?

26. Sacramento Kings (6-16) (26) The Kings have to be surprised themselves over beating the Lakers, but they won't have much luck winning back-to-back when they travel to Staples.

27. Washington Wizards (4-15) (28) 31 percent?? Wow, is that even possible? Stevenson might be the worst starter in the NBA.

28. Los Angeles Clippers (4-17) (29) Camby and Randolph should pad their stats as much as possible, when Kaman gets back, they won't score nearly as much.

29. Minnesota Timberwolves (4-17) (25) Wow, McHale did run Wittman out, and it happened about a week faster than I thought.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder (2-21) (30) After blowing a 20-point lead against Memphis and losing, the Thunder are on pace to set the NBA's All-Time worst record. We'll keep you posted as the season progresses.

Week 14 NFL Predictions

Michael Glaessner — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 01:46:05 -0500

The playoffs are four games away and one of these teams will celebrate a championship in about two months. Which one will it be?

In the AFC, the Steelers and Titans look like the dominant teams while the Ravens and Colts, likely divisional runner-ups and current Wild Card leaders, will look to spoil the season on the Jets and Broncos.

Meanwhile, in the NFC, the Giants are running away with the NFC East and the conference in general.

The Panthers and Buccaneers play a pivotal game in Carolina that will likely determine who wins the NFC South and gets the first-round bye. Then there's the Cowboys, a team with the talent to win it all that just needs to somehow find the chemistry and toughness to win important games.

If the NFC North winner* and the Cardinals are the other two divisional winners, we'll be looking at possibly four Wild Card upsets in the first round.

* Whoever sucks the least between the Vikings, Packers and Bears.

Cincinnati at Indianapolis

Line: Colts by 13.5

http://walterfootball.com/freenflpicks2008_14early.php

The preceeding link should tell you the importance of Jeff Saturday. There is an 11 point scoring differential when he's not in the lineup. That's huge, and the reason Indy's offense was stagnant last week against the Browns, failing to score an offensive touchdown for the first time in the Peyton Manning era. Thankfully, for the second week in a row, Indy faces an inept offensive squad, so they may not have to score too much to win.

Colts 19, Bengals 7

Jacksonville at Chicago

Line: Bears by 6.5

Jacksonville looked positively sad against Houston, as if they've completely quit on the season, which I believe they have. There were many running plays on which Steve Slaton was able to slash through the defense untouched. Matt Forte should have no trouble doing the same, meaning the Bears won't have to lean on Orton this week to win a game for them.

Bears 28, Jaguars 20

Houston at Green Bay

Line: Packers by 6

Houston is looking like an up-and-coming team, but they're still young and bringing back a rusty Matt Schaub into frigid Lambeau. This game means too much to the Packers; their backs are against the wall and they're desperate, so I think they get it done against Houston as they have a bit more offensive firepower.

Packers 24, Texans 17

Cleveland at Tennessee

Line: Titans by 14

Braylon Edwards won't drop any of Dorsey's passes. They'll all fall five yards short of him as he finishes his routes. Cleveland's QB's are dropping like flies as Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn are both out for the year. That's not a good sign going against the rugged Titans defense.

Titans 27, Browns 3

Minnesota at Detroit

Line: Vikings by 10

Will the Lions finally win a game? Interestingly, this is the team they came the closest to beating, almost pulling out an ugly 12-10 slopfest in Minnesota. I predict that luck finally shines on the city of Detroit. It has to after the millions of layoffs in the auto industry. Let's just call it Culpepper's revenge.

Lions 28, Vikings 27

Philadelphia at New York Giants

Line: Giants by 5.5

Heading into next week's showdown in Dallas, the Giants move a step closer to clinching the division as they sink a long-time nemisis in the Eagles. I just can't trust the Eagles offense, last week's shredding of a porous Cardinals team was a mirage. It won't happen again against Big Blue, a team that can take you out of your element running the football and make you one-dimensional.

Giants 20, Eagles 10

Atlanta at New Orleans

Line: Saints by 3

Just how long before people finally get the memo smacked across their forehead? The Falcons are for real! I for one will back an 8-4 team that has won every game it "wasn't supposed to win." Now, with the playoffs in their sights, Matt Ryan will out play Drew Brees in a shootout to catapult the Dirty Birds one step closer to achieving the improbable.

Falcons 38, Saints 37

New York Jets at San Francisco

Line: Jets by 3.5

The Jets are coming off a disappointing loss to Denver and going into the final months of the season, they rebound with an important road victory in San Francisco. The truth is, they shouldn't have lost to Denver except for Mangini's one-sided play-calling, which featured only 16 runs against the abysmal Denver run defense. Mangini finally gets it done out on the West Coast.

Jets 27, 49ers 24

Miami vs Buffalo (Toronto)

Line: Bills by 1

Going all the way past the Canadian border doesn't bode well for the warm weather Dolphins. Buffalo should keep its slim playoff hopes alive on a neutral field that seems to favor them...although barely if JP "Lost, Man" has to start at QB.

Bills 16, Dolphins 13

Kansas City at Denver

Line: Broncos by 8.5

Upset alert! One thing about this Broncos team is that they can't handle prosperity. The last three home games they've lost and failed to cover, yet the last three road games they've won outright. Kansas City was playing hard before finally breaking through with a win against Oakland and the way they moved the ball last time against Denver, they'll be coming into this game with a lot of confidence, especially with Larry Johnson back and being nice to women again.

Chiefs 31, Broncos 30

St. Louis at Arizona

Line: Cardinals by 14

Since Stephen Jackson is back, it's time to start giving the Rams a little bit of credit, especially against a pillow-soft Cardinals defense. Fortunately for the Cardinals, the Rams defense isn't much better either. They were able to shred them running the football with Tim Hightower and they're not even a great running team. Plus, I'm pretty sure Warner has a good record against his former team.

Cardinals 38, Rams 28

Dallas at Pittsburgh

Line: Steelers by 3

The Cowboys are a terrific offensive team with a great aerial attack and a ground game that can slice and dice defenses to death, but if Barber isn't healthy for the Pittsburgh game, it won't be close. Outside of the Titans and Giants, Pittsburgh might have the best defense in the NFL and they will waste no time pressuring Romo and smashing the Cowboy receivers like clay pigeons. If they win the battle up front, which I think they will because Dallas's offensive line has been suspect this year, they win the game.

Steelers 20, Cowboys 13

New England at Seattle

Line: Patriots by 6.5

Great revenge game for the Pats, who need this game for playoff reasons and get a pushover opponent that's banged up and waiting for Week 17 to end.

Patriots 27, Seahawks 9

Washington at Baltimore

Line: Ravens by 5.5

The Redskins bring a banged up Clinton Portis into Baltimore for the Beltway battle. Chances are, they'll be limping home by the end of the contest. The Redskins simply haven't been the same since winning consecutive games in Dallas and Philadelphia, going 3-5 and covering the spread just once. Meanwhile, the Ravens have won six of the last seven, the lone defeat being to the Giants, and have done so with defense, running and timely passing, which they'll continue to display against Washington.

Ravens 28, Redskins 10

Tampa Bay at Carolina

Line: Panthers by 3

A pivotal week ends with my biggest sleeper being put to the test. Can the Cardiac Cats win this all-important divisional showdown with the Bucs and reclaim prominence in the NFC South, or will they fall into a possible second place tie with the Falcons and slug it out to the finish line? All signs point to the Panthers and their physical rushing attack to man up against the Bucs' competitive but undersized defensive front and get the job done! A record of 11-5 and the division title are in their sights!

Panthers 24, Buccaneers 20

Week 13 vs Spread 9-7

Week 13 Straight up 11-5

Season vs Spread 107-86-2

Season Straight up 123-71-1

(Chalk up Raiders and Chargers as a loss, I was going to take Oakland to cover, which they obviously didn't. Don't distrust me based on that information though...)

Week Five NBA Power Rankings

Michael Glaessner — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:10:59 -0500

1. Boston Celtics (18-2) (2)

In winning the redemption game against the Pacers and do so in such convincing fashion, the Celtics revealed a new offensive dimension with Rajon Rondo dominating in triple-double fashion.

2. Los Angeles Lakers (15-2) (1)

This is why winning 70 games is so tough. When you have a 15-point fourth quarter lead, you can NOT take your foot off the accelerator. The '96 Bulls never did.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (15-3) (3)

This start Cleveland is having is just too good to believe. I still think they're a trade away from being taken seriously as a championship team.

4. Portland Trail Blazers (14-6) (5)

Their depth is unbelievable. It's like you bring in the second unit, and you never lack a quality scorer, ball handler, or distributor.

5. Orlando Magic (14-5) (4)

They'll have to tread water until their back court heals, but the schedule gets a lot tougher in the next month when they face a bulk of West teams.

6. Denver Nuggets (13-6) (12)

Did I mention Billups was making a difference? He really does bring balance to a roster that had talented players who weren't getting the ball enough (I wonder why?)

7. Houston Rockets (12-7) (8)

Not a bad record considering their nucleus hasn't played one full game together all season.

8. New Orleans Hornets (10-6) (10)

He's a decent scorer when he's on, but when he's not, like right now, MoPete goes completely AWOL. Just ask Raptor fans.

9. Detroit Pistons (11-6) (6)

The reality is, this is a second-tier team and Dumars is taking a huge risk banking on LeBron to come into Detroit and save everything.

10. Utah Jazz (12-8) (9)

When your best three players are missing time with injury, you're going to struggle. Meanwhile, Millsap's trade value has never been higher.

11. Atlanta Hawks (11-6) (13)

The Hawks' patience with Marvin Williams is starting to pay off as he's rewarding them with terrific three-point marksmanship. Although he's still no Chris Paul...

12. Phoenix Suns (11-8) (11)

Amare needs to step up! Shaq's too old to carry this team.

13. San Antonio Spurs (9-8) (7)

Ugly losses to Houston and Detroit unmask the team's true offensive flaws. They just can't score when you rough up Ginobili and Parker and clog Duncan's movement in the paint.

14. Dallas Mavericks (9-8) (14)

There's no way Howard and Terry can keep this up. If they're on your fantasy team, trade 'em now!

15. Miami Heat (10-9) (16)

If Beasley looks like an average rookie, it's because the two guys he got picked between are way ahead in the Rookie of the Year race.

16. New Jersey Nets (9-8) (17)

So there you have it. That is exactly why you don't trade a young talent like Devin Harris for a past-his-prime PG like Jason Kidd.

17. Indiana Pacers (7-11) (21)

They've played a grueling schedule and already have wins over Boston, LA and Houston. Watch for them to be a playoff sleeper as the schedule gets easier.

18. New York Knicks (8-10) (20)

Duhon and Harrington are reborn in the Big Apple, the former finally proving his worth as a defender and game-manager and the latter taking over as the No. 1 scorer when finally getting the ball in his hands consistently.

19. Toronto Raptors (8-9) (15)

Firing Sam Mitchell now seems a bit premature, don't you think? He must have said something wrong to Colangelo after his team surrendered 132 points to Denver.

20. Philadelphia 76ers (8-11) (18)

They're still underachieving badly after barely looking competitive against the Lakers and Celtics and losing to the Bulls at home.

21. Milwaukee Bucks (8-12) (22)

Keep in mind, Bogut, Redd and Jefferson have yet to play together. It's not like this team doesn't have talent.

22. Chicago Bulls (8-11) (19)

Losing to a Bogut-less Bucks team should tell you the Bulls have no inside presence.

23. Charlotte Bobcats (7-11) (24)

Let me just say that you couldn't be given a bigger gift than getting Minnesota and OKC on back-to-back nights. I know they beat the Pacers and hung tough with Boston, and I know Larry Brown teams traditionally start slow and then pick it up but I'm still not sold on the 'Cats. Indy (same record) beat three teams in this week's top 10 this year. The Bobcats? One, an injury-depleted Jazz team.

24. Golden State Warriors (5-13) (23)

Does defense exist in northern California? Hard to believe, but trading Harrington actually made them worse on defense and that's hard to do.

25. Minnesota Timberwolves (4-13) (25)

Kevin Ollie found his way into the starting lineup? Great rebuilding plan McHale, but your ship is sinking and as bad as the job market is, you're definitely at risk for unemployment.

I fully anticipate the Randy Wittman firing cop-out in the next three weeks, followed by the 50-something loss season, followed by the owner doing a serious job evaluation...if you even last to the end of the year.

26. Sacramento Kings (5-15) (26)

Holy whiteness! Have we ever had the white twin towers before? Theus might employ the only two good American Caucasian centers in the entire league.

27. Memphis Grizzlies (4-14) (27)

Conley for Outlaw? I hope the Grizz aren't serious with dumb deals like that.

28. Washington Wizards (3-13) (28)

It truly hurts to watch Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, two of the NBA's true good guys, have to suffer on this abortion of a roster.

29. Los Angeles Clippers (3-15) (29)

Thornton looks good, as most players who took six years to get through college should.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder (2-17) (30)

Was this year's strategy to fool the fans into thinking they were putting an expansion team on the floor? At least Presti knows how to draft and trade for expiring contracts.

Week 13 NFL Predictions

Michael Glaessner — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:23:06 -0500

How fortunes can change quickly. Lets just ask Plaxico Burress. The man that caught the winning TD to end the Patriots' run at an undefeated season has seen everything go wrong this year.

First there was an ugly contract dispute. Then there was Burress snoozing in film sessions and getting suspended. When he was on the field, his production suffered, and with a nagging hamstring injury, Burress found himself in a club in downtown Manhattan.

He accidentally shot himself in the hip and will likely miss some time. It's a sad day as we've witnessed the downfall of one of the NFL's promising receivers in the prime of his career.

One can only hope Burress has a speedy recovery. How the Giants deal with his distractions will determine if this team can repeat.

San Francisco at Buffalo

Line: Bills by 6.5

The elements will play a huge role in this game, as it's unlikely that a young Niners' team from the West Coast is able to deal with the howling winds in Buffalo.

The Niner defense is reeling, having given up an average of 28.2 ppg. Buffalo is coming off a 54-point outing against the Chiefs and there's no reason their offense should stall against the Niners. Bills 38, 49ers 24

New Orleans at Tampa Bay

Line: Buccaneers by 4

Until a win in Kansas City, the Saints had yet to break through with a road victory. Tampa, meanwhile, has been much stronger at home than away, and with Carolina's loss putting them back in a first-place tie, the Bucs should capitalize by slowing the Saints' vaunted, record-setting passing attack. Buccaneers 31, Saints 17

Carolina at Green Bay

Line: Packers by 3

I haven't gone against the Panthers all year, but after their disturbingly bad defensive effort against the Falcons, I'm throwing caution to the wind. They looked horrid in winning against the Raiders and Lions, and it finally caught up with him.

The Cardiac Cats may yet rebound, finish 11-5 and win the division, but I can't pick them playing in Green Bay against a desperate Packers' team that, at 5-6, knows it can't afford a home loss, lest they surrender their own division-winning hopes. Packers 30, Panthers 20

New York Giants at Washington

Line: Giants by 3.5

If recent trends are any indication, Burress will handle his problems off the field and the Giants will keep on winning. Even without Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward has proven to be a very talented back, as he showed last week against Arizona.

The Giants are loaded on offense and moving the ball freely. The Redskins, on the other hand, may not have the offensive firepower to keep up with this juggernaut.

If they can't establish the run, take an early lead and sit on the ball, which will be hard to do against the Giants' stifling run defense with an injured Portis anyhow, the Redskins have no chance. Giants 31, Redskins 21

Miami at St. Louis

Line: Dolphins by 8

The Rams' season has gone completely into the tank, with Stephen Jackson perpetually unhealthy and the passing game suffering as a result.

Miami still has a shot at the playoffs and if they have matured as a team from last year, they'll have no problem winning a game they're pretty much supposed to win. Dolphins 28, Rams 13

Baltimore at Cincinnati

Line: Ravens by 7

The Bengals beat the Jags, tied the Eagles, and came within two minutes of covering against Pittsburgh.

They're a fairly safe bet right now, as they appear to have finally adjusted to Fitzpatrick at QB, and their defense is playing about as respectably as it can, keeping the team from being completely blown out. Ravens 21, Bengals 14

Indianapolis at Cleveland

Line: Colts by 5

The Browns' season is in shambles and the Colts have plenty to play for at 7-4 and in the mix for a Wild Card berth.

They should handle Cleveland's abysmal defense with the running game reemerging as the force that carries them when Manning isn't tearing defenses apart.

On a side note, Norv Turner does not deserve a job after spotting Manning 1:30 to drive his team down the field for a game-winning FG instead of draining the clock and going for it on fourth-and-short with his team trailing 20-17. Colts 31, Browns 10

Atlanta at San Diego

Line: Chargers by 5

Continuing on Norv, the fact is, he's a gutless coach. You have LaDainian Tomlinson on fourth-and-short, why not go for it?? If you play for the tie with that kind of talent, you really deserve to lose.

If he can't get his team motivated now, the Chargers' whole season is a lost cause. Chargers 24, Falcons 20

Denver at New York Jets

Line: Jets by 8

The Jets are on a roll, having dismantled the Titans a week after a gut-wrenching victory in Foxboro. They've been running the ball at will and managing games with Brett Favre and should continue to do so against the Broncos.

So why do they struggle to cover? Well, Denver has a great passing attack. The Jets' strength is against the run, and Denver doesn't rely on it very much with the injuries to every RB they've tried to start.

The Jets surrendered 400 yards through the air against Matt Cassel. They could have given up more against the Titans if they hadn't dropped every pass thrown their way.

Denver has enough of a vertical attack to put pressure on the Jets' secondary and keep the game close. Jets 30, Broncos 27

Pittsburgh at New England

Line: Patriots by 1

Matt Cassel has done one thing Tom Brady hasn't: he's thrown for back-to-back 400-yard games. There won't be a third against the Steelers' blitzing defense, but the presence of Moss and Welker should be enough to bail Cassel out when he's under pressure.

Speaking of pressure, Roethlisberger better hope his line can protect him, because if the Pats get pressure on him, he won't be able to exploit the Pats' secondary, especially with all the hits he's taken. Patriots 21, Steelers 17

Kansas City at Oakland

Line: Raiders by 3

The Raiders will have a tough time winning two in a row because, well, it's the Raiders, a team 0-6 against the spread as favorites since 2006. It's not like they get favored by a lot either in those circumstances, as their combined record since the advent of the 2006 season is 9-34. Chiefs 20, Raiders 17

Chicago at Minnesota

Line: Vikings by 3

The Vikings are not the Rams. If Kyle Orton is not 100 percent, he'll still have to pass to beat the Vikings, who are third against the rush. They should have no trouble running the ball as long as Childress puts Frerotte in a position to win by calling a safe gameplan.

I think the Vikings eke out a close win against Chicago and briefly take over first in a race too close to call. Vikings 19, Bears 13

Jacksonville at Houston

Line: Texans by 3

The Texans are finally on Monday Night! Hooray! Too bad they have a losing record, but I'll take them against the blundering Jags, who after their atrocious performance against the Vikings, have basically given up on the season. Texans 38, Jaguars 20

Thanksgiving vs Spread 3-0

Thanksgiving Straight up 3-0

Season vs Spread 98-79-2

Season Straight up 112-66-1

NBA: Week Four Power Rankings

Michael Glaessner — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:13:28 -0500

1. Los Angeles Lakers (13-1) (1) This should tell you how stacked LA has gotten in the last two years: They're 13-1 and Kobe still has yet to drop a 40-point game.

2. Boston Celtics (15-2) (2) A seven-game winning streak which includes convincing wins over Toronto, Detroit and Philly proves this team is hungry to get back to the Finals.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (13-3) (4) What everyone caught up in the LeBron-to-Knicks hype seems to forget is that the Cavs are about to clear cap space too. No reason to think that they can't get him that second fiddle he needs to carry Cleveland over the top.

4. Orlando Magic (12-4) (6) Redick has played better, which is good, because with Pietrus going down, they'll need a lot more out of him.

5. Portland Trail Blazers (11-6) (9) The more this team meshes together, the scarier they're getting. As a team with size now looks a lot bigger and scarier with Oden developing.

6. Detroit Pistons (10-5) (3) AI missing practice? Sounds like a familiar plot, but what is concerning (and not surprising at the end of the day) is how Iverson's teammates have shot progressively worse since he got there.

7. San Antonio Spurs (9-6) (14) The league had its chance to put this dying dog to rest, now with Ginobili back, the Spurs are already in February/March mode.

8. Houston Rockets (10-6) (11) It's already beginning. McGrady's annual injury problems are already catching up with this team.

9. Utah Jazz (11-6) (8) Jazz losing to Bulls at the buzzer? Funny, the last time they lost to Chicago at home in 1998, the same thing happened (Jordan pushed off and everyone knows it).

10. New Orleans Hornets (9-6) (12) If Nash can get an MVP as a pure PG, there is no reason Paul, who's putting up even better numbers, shouldn't be denied. Except for the fact that he's facing tougher MVP competition.

11. Phoenix Suns (11-6) (7) Amare can complain all he wants, but until his defense improves, the Suns will not be taken seriously as contenders.

12. Denver Nuggets (10-6) (5) Suddenly, with Billups breaking away from the stale Pistons' offense, we're beginning to see just how good he is. Anthony is sure noticing the difference of playing alongside a real, legitimate PG.

13. Atlanta Hawks (9-6) (10) They're still over .500, but you know Johnson has to be relieved his buddy Smith is finally back to take defensive pressure off him.

14. Dallas Mavericks (7-8) (15) Terry's strong bench play has been a staple in Dallas's five-game winning streak to creep back to .500

15. Toronto Raptors (8-7) (13) Where would they be without Bosh? Back-to-back 30-point games from the big man have kept the team afloat.

16. Miami Heat (8-8) (16) It's safe to say that DWade is officially back, and it took a Shaq rematch to illustrate that point.

17. New Jersey Nets (7-7) (21) Vince Carter continues to make the Raptors pay, as he may now be the most hated man in Canada.

18. Philadelphia 76ers (7-9) (19) The problem with this team is simple. Brand can't shake double teams as long as the Sixers remain a mediocre perimeter-shooting team.

19. Chicago Bulls (7-9) (22) Rose's peers are already calling him the best finishing PG in the league. Wait till he gets a jumper!

20. New York Knicks (7-8) (18) Somewhere, in the VIP of the 40-40 club, Steph and Isiah are blowing all the money they embezzled from the Knicks on champagne and strippers.

21. Indiana Pacers (6-9) (17) Blowing big leads has been the biggest source of the Pacers' latest slump.

22. Milwaukee Bucks (7-11) (25) If they lose Bogut for any extended period, they'll be well on their way back to lotto-land.

23. Golden State Warriors (5-11) (20) Crawford is making Azubuike and Morrow useless fantasy options.

24. Charlotte Bobcats (5-10) (26) When you sink your entire budget into role players like Okafor and Wallace, this is the product you get.

25. Minnesota Timberwolves (4-10) (27) Remember a couple years ago when a lot of draft "experts" thought Foye would be another Dwayne Wade? Well that's not happening and McHale's looking like more of a fool for giving up Brandon Roy to get him.

26. Sacramento Kings (5-13) (24) The Maloofs would have sold the team five years ago if you told them now that John Salmons would be their second best player.

27. Memphis Grizzlies (4-12) (23) OJ Mayo is a scoring machine, as his six 25+ point games in the month of November (that's two off from MJ's record of eight) suggest.

28. Washington Wizards (2-11) (28) Eddie should not have to take the blame. Grunfeld should be held accountable for blowing half the budget on Arenas, a pseudo-PG with a bad knee.

29. Los Angeles Clippers (2-13) (29) How in the world does Randolph make sense on a team that has the Kaman-Camby logjam to deal with already? Is Dunlevy sending Sterling dirty pictures? I have no idea how he became the NBA's only coach/GM.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder (1-16) (30) At least firing PJ was the right move. It was only a matter of time before Durant went Sprewell on him.

Thanksgiving Day NFL Predictions: Bet on Eagles, Donovan McNabb

Michael Glaessner — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:15:44 -0500

It's been a long standing tradition for the Lions and Cowboys to play on Thanksgiving Day. It's also been a longer standing tradition to eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day.

It's too bad we'll be watching a turkey of a game when the 0-11 Lions take the field before a half-empty stadium against the 10-1 Titans.

If that's not bad enough, stay tuned for America's Team as they take on an injury depleted Seattle Seahawks squad, followed by a semi-exciting esoteric matchup between the Eagles and Cardinals. All a part of your Thanksgiving Day lineup!

Tennessee at Detroit

Line: Titans by 11

The Lions came so close to ending their winless season when they jumped out to a 17-0 lead against the Bucs, only to watch it completely dissolve. It's safe to say that after Turkey day, they'll be 0-12.

The Titans will be playing fired up after dropping a zillion passes and struggling to run the football against the Jets. A motivated Titans team against an 0-11 squad?? That's a scary thought in it of itself.

Titans 38, Lions 10

Seattle at Dallas

Line: Cowboys by 12.5

By this time, we should be at the dinner table with the game serving nothing more than background noise.

What seemed like a good matchup on paper going into the year failed to deliver the goods when Hasselbeck developed chronic back problems, Seattle lost half its receiving core, and their running game never materialized.

Cowboys 35, Seahawks 14

Arizona at Philadelphia

Line: Eagles by 3

It will be tough for Arizona to go out on the East coast four days after an emotionally draining loss to the Giants, especially against a desperate team like the Eagles.

With McNabb and Reid's job security in question, I could see the Eagles rallying around their leaders, especially knowing their job security for next year is not a given.

Eagles 28, Cardinals 24

Stay tuned for the rest of the picks this Saturday. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Week 12 vs Spread 8-8

Week 12 Straight up 10-6

Season vs Spread 95-79-2

Season Straight up 109-66-1

Week 12 NFL Predictions

Michael Glaessner — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:29:45 -0500

A rare thing happened in the NFL this past Sunday. A football game ended in a 13-13 tie when the Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals slogged their way through an ugly 60 minutes that led to an anticlimactic overtime period.

That's not the biggest news, however. After the game, Eagles star QB Donovan McNabb admitted to not knowing that tie games occur in the NFL and was evidently confused by Andy Ried's aggressive play calling as the overtime wound to a close.

This made him the laughingstock of the media for the next week and revealed that many athletes just like McNabb didn't know about the tie rule, either. That seems plausible, but since McNabb's position demands he control the tempo of the game, it's on him to know this rule.

As the field general and leader of the Eagles, McNabb is expected to know these things. So when he makes statements to the media like that, as candid as they may be, it makes him look bad in the eyes of the media, the fans, and the neutral spectators.

When you see some of McNabb's mishaps—the slow-huddle offense against New England in the 2005 Super Bowl and him gasping for breath while trying to manage the huddle two weeks ago in a home loss to the Giants—you again see why people still struggle to put him on a plateau with Brady and Manning.

It's really this simple: Brady and Manning are generals in the huddle who take charge of the game, know all the rules, and execute the game plan perfectly.

Donovan is an athletic QB with the physical gifts to do great things at his position, but his naive comments about the OT rule and his repeated mismanagement of late-game situations show that he lacks the mental ability to see two plays ahead, block out distractions, and take command with the game on the line.

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh

Line: Steelers by 11.5

I can't take the Steelers again, not because of the huge spread, but because I'm jaded by what happened last week.

Good thing I didn't bet money on the game, because I have never in my life seen instant replay take away a TD after the team never declined the penalty. Troy Polamalu had a last-minute TD wiped off after he scooped up an illegal forward pass off a botched lateral play from the Chargers.

The TD would have made the final score 18-10, Steelers. After a booth review, however, the official ruled that Pittsburgh had declined the penalty. But moments later, after another official whispered in his ear, he changed his story and said the penalty was upheld, and the TD didn't count.

While most of the media will just arrogantly dismiss this ruling as meaningless, don't tell that to degenerate gamblers. I wonder why the media stays away from gambling-related topics when their networks profit off the viewership of compulsive gamblers.

How dare they alienate such an important demographic! If they like, we can just take our betting elsewhere to horseracing, or boxing, or...

I'll give you the f__in score, fine! Steelers 21, Bengals 14

Houston at Cleveland

Line: Browns by 3

So, who wins in a game between a defense that can't hold a lead to save its life and a QB who melts down at the worst times possible (see the last two Colts games for further proof)? I don't know. That's like asking me to choose between a Pinto and a Kia. I guess, for the sake of argument, we'll go with the home team. Browns 27, Texans 21

Buffalo at Kansas City

Line: Bills by 3

I'm going to continue to side with Buffalo, even after last week's heartbreaking loss, which featured Rian Lindell doing his best Scott Norwood impersonation in front of a throng of disappointed home fans. I say that, because the Chiefs, despite playing hard the past few weeks, still can't find a way to win close games. Until that happens, I'm hesitant to pick them. I must say, though, "How 'bout that Tyler Thigpen?!" Bills 24, Chiefs 20

New York Jets at Tennessee

Line: Titans by 5.5

I have to say I was thoroughly impressed with the Jets' character in beating the Patriots and Bills on the road the past two weeks. Winning in Tennessee, however, will be a tall order.

I don't expect running games from either side, as both teams are terrific against the run. The difference in the game is that Tennessee's secondary, third against the pass, can cover receivers well. Plus, we all know about Brett's wildness in big games.

The Jets, on the other hand, just surrendered 400 passing yards to Matt Cassel, so there's no reason Kerry Collins, who's suddenly emerged from the dead with back-to-back 200-yard passing games, can't attack them through the air. Titans 24, Jets 21

New England at Miami

Line: Dolphins by 1

The Patriots have had a history of struggling in Miami, with last year being the exception. The teams were polar opposites; New England was the undefeated juggernaut and the Dolphins, the epic 1-15 failure.

How ironic is it, then, that both teams are tied at 6-4 and the winner jumps ahead in the AFC playoff race?

Well, the smart money is on the Dolphins, whose overwhelming defense will smother the Pats' running game and force Matt Cassel to beat them. Cassel has improved the past few weeks and has been given more freedom, but the Pats' winning formula has never been pure passing.

He'll need a 500-yard, five-TD game, or something Brady-like, to beat the Fins, who should be partying in South Beach after they move into a tie for first. Dolphins 20, Patriots 17

San Francisco at Dallas

Line: Cowboys by 10

While Dallas looked sharp, in phases, against the Redskins, I don't have confidence laying double digits on them against the Niners.

Favorites are an abysmal 1-12 when the spread is 10 points or higher, and the Niners have actually looked pretty respectable the past two weeks after Singletary bared all (This will never sound right, no matter how many times I type it). Cowboys 28, 49ers 20

Tampa Bay at Detroit

Line: Buccaneers by 8.5

This could be a tough cover for Tampa. As badly as the Lions have played, in recent weeks, they've stayed within 10 points against the Redskins, Panthers, Vikings, and Texans. The Bucs aren't a great road team and are banged up at RB. Buccaneers 26, Lions 21

Philadelphia at Baltimore

Line: Ravens by 1

Lost amidst the mass media criticism of Donovan McNabb is Andy Reid's under-coaching of this team. Reid has cost the team two close games.

He called the same running play three times on the one-yard line against Chicago and twice on a 3rd-and-short against New York.

Following the Giants loss, Ried's team came out uninspired against the Bengals, falling behind 13-3 before rallying to tie the game at the end of regulation and botching numerous chances to win the game outright.

When a team lacks leadership from the QB and coaching positions, they can't be trusted, no matter how much talent they have. Ravens 17, Eagles 14

Chicago at St. Louis

Line: Bears by 8.5

I think after last week's debacle in San Francisco, I can safely conclude that you should always pick against the Rams, no matter how big the spread is. They are hands-down the worst team in football.

I don't care if the Lions have a donut in the win column, that will change soon. Here, you have a team that can't score on offense and can't stop anyone on defense. St. Louis has lost its last three games by a combined 76 points, and there appears to be no end in sight to their unbelievable futility. Consider this a bye week for the Bears. Bears 34, Rams 10

Minnesota at Jacksonville

Line: Jaguars by 2

The Jags have been, by far, the NFL's biggest flop this year. They don't defend, they can't run the ball, and they can't pass.

The Vikings have shown signs of greatness but are consistently held back by mediocre coaching and quarterbacking. If they can establish Adrian Peterson early and often, though, they can escape Jacksonville with a rare road win. Vikings 22, Jaguars 17

Carolina at Atlanta

Line: Falcons by 1

I know they struggled with the Raiders and Lions, as Delhomme has suddenly had a complete meltdown, but those Panthers can run the football! With Stewart and DeAngelo leading the way, a divisional showdown on the road can't deter the Cardiac Cats from their 11-5 division-winning mission! Panthers 24, Falcons 23

Oakland at Denver

Line: Broncos by 9.5

Oakland finally has Russell and McFadden healthy, and as comically bad as the Raiders' offense has been, Denver's defense has been equally incompetent. They have a habit of making even the worst offenses look good, as they did against the anemic Chiefs in Week 4 and the predictable Pats in Week 7. Broncos 31, Raiders 24

Washington at Seattle

Line: Redskins by 3.5

The Redskins are in a desperate situation, but, thankfully, their opponent features a QB with a bad back and the Jones-Duckett-Morris trio that scares absolutely no one. Meanwhile, with a rested Portis, the Redskins' offense should get back in gear after taking a month off. Redskins 21, Seahawks 7

New York Giants at Arizona

Line: Giants by 3

Back in Week 4, in the Meadowlands against the Jets, Kurt Warner took a shot to the thumb. Why is this significant? He wound up fumbling the ball five times in that game.

If you have a good pass rush, and the Giants have one of the best, you can hit Warner early and often and force him into a rash of turnovers. As good as the Cards' run defense is, nobody can stop Earth, Wind, and Fire, who have combined for over 200 yards in each of the last three games. The Cards are undefeated at home, but they won't be after this week. Giants 34, Cardinals 28

Indianapolis at San Diego

Line: Chargers by 3

As much talent as the Chargers have, they have to show up at some point this year. Unfortunately for them, it appears LT just can't shake his nasty turf toe.

The defense, despite limiting the Steelers to three FGs, couldn't keep Pittsburgh's offense off the field in the 4th quarter when it mattered. If they can't slow an injured Roethlisberger, they'll have their hands full with a healthy Peyton Manning and his band of receivers. Colts 34, Chargers 31

Green Bay at New Orleans

Line: Saints by 2.5

Rolling off a 37-3 shellacking against the Bears, the Pack seems primed for a second straight win against the Saints. Green Bay has a great secondary, which doesn't bode well for the pass-happy offense of the Saints. The Pack wins in shootout fashion in what should be a festive Monday Night contest by the Bayou. Packers 38, Saints 35

Week 11 vs Spread 6-10

Week 11 Straight up 10-5-1

Season vs Spread 87-71-2

Season Straight up 99-60-1

NBA Power Rankings: Week Three

Michael Glaessner — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:58:47 -0500

1. Los Angeles Lakers (8-1) (1) In suffering their first loss this year, L.A. was done in by an old Laker, as Kwame outplayed Bynum in the pivot with a 10-10 double-double.

2. Boston Celtics (10-2) (2) The scary thing is that they're capable of playing a lot better, but probably won't until Rondo evolves into a more complete PG.

3. Detroit Pistons (8-3) (5) Sheed and AI have already developed awesome chemistry, as both combined for 50 and 44 in big wins over the Lakers and Cavs, respectively.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers (9-3) (3) This is clearly the best team of the LeBron era, but are they good enough to out-distance the Pistons in this year's Central Division marathon?

5. Denver Nuggets (8-4) (12) Marcus who? As long as Kenyon and Nene continue to dominate down low, Denver will remain in contention in the West.

6. Orlando Magic (8-3) (10) Still don't think Dwight has teammates? He had a four-point effort against Charlotte and the team still won.

7. Phoenix Suns (8-4) (8) I think I have a better idea of why Shaq guards the weak side so lightly. If he went hard every time someone cut to the basket, he'd get hit with a lot more flagrants and suspensions.

8. Utah Jazz (8-4) (6) If the Jazz have any more PG injuries, might John Stockton return? You know Sloan's got Stockton's number on speed dial.

9. Portland Trail Blazers (7-5) (11) It's true he looks like he's 65 and it's true he'd look about 7'5" if he wore Lincoln's stove-top hat, but Greg Oden's play on the court since returning from injury has been no joke.

10. Atlanta Hawks (7-4) (3) A four-game losing streak has taken a lot of starch out of the Hawks' strong start, and now they must survive injuries to Horford and Smith.

11. Houston Rockets (7-5) (7) Speaking of injuries, Houston's dealing with plenty with Shane Battier still on the shelf, Yao Ming sitting out with an ankle sprain, and Tracy McGrady and Ron Artest playing on bad ankles as well.

12. New Orleans Hornets (5-5) (9) Peja better find his shot and fast because the Hornets are not the same team when he can't stretch defenses.

13. Toronto Raptors (6-5) (16) I'm intrigued by the idea of starting Bargniani, Bosh and O'Neal together, it could give Toronto a dangerous frontcourt filled with matchup headaches.

14. San Antonio Spurs (5-6) (22) You can never count them out. Just when we throw in the towel on the Spurs, they bounce off the mat with three straight wins, including an inspiring comeback against Houston.

15. Dallas Mavericks (5-7) (20) I saw shades of the Mavs from two years ago in Houston, as they run-and-gunned their way to victory on the road.

16. Miami Heat (6-6) (14) Michael Beasley better get in there and fight for rebounds, Shawn Marion and Udonis Haslem are taking all of his.

17. Indiana Pacers (5-5) (13) A lot of teams must feel pretty dumb right now for passing on Granger.

18. New York Knicks (6-5) (15) This team has a new attitude. You have to love the fight and unwillingness to back down they showed when Boston tried to intimidate them with trash talk.

19. Philadelphia 76ers (5-6) (17) Thaddeus is taking his game to another level, so you know this team will be scary if Brand and his teammates can ever develop chemistry.

20. Golden State Warriors (5-6) (19) Anthony Morrow? You could pull someone off the streets and they'd score 30 in Nellie's system.

21. New Jersey Nets (4-6) (25) As long as you've got a healthy Harris to feed those young bigs, the Nets have a lot of good things on the horizon.

22. Chicago Bulls (5-7) (23) Nobody can take them seriously until they sign some real big men, which they'll be able to do once Hughes's contract expires.

23. Memphis Grizzlies (4-7) (24) Marc is like the rugged version of Pau in every sense. You know when they went out drinking, Pau picked up the ladies and Marc picked up the tab.

24. Sacramento Kings (5-8) (21) Just when Hawes and Thompson were developing, Brad Miller and his stupid cornrows have to come in and mess everything up!

25. Milwaukee Bucks (5-8) (18) Doesn't it seem like Bogut is always involved in a tussle with another big?

26. Charlotte Bobcats (3-7) (27) Larry is doing his best to sabotage an already downtrodden expansion team, as if ruining the Knicks wasn't enough.

27. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-8) (28) Every week, that Love-for-Mayo trade is looking more and more one-sided and may seal McHale's fate as a GM.

28. Washington Wizards (1-8) (26) It's evident that this team has fallen and can't get off the mat, and with Arenas, Jamison, and Butler tying up all their money, rebuilding is going to be a slow and painful process.

29. Los Angeles Clippers (2-9) (29) If this season has proven anything, it's that Dunlevy was the guy Sterling should have fired, not Baylor.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder (1-11) (30) You've Got to love Westbrook, Durant, and Green, but they're too young to be asked to carry this joke of a team.

Week 11 NFL Predictions

Michael Glaessner — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:38:00 -0500

New York Jets at New England

Line: Patriots by 3

The fate of the Jets' season falls in the hands of none other than Mr. Favre. With a showdown in New England less than 30 minutes away, we're going to find out if he still has it in him or if Brett will choke up under pressure.

And the answer to that question is...Brett will gag.

If the game is close and he has to win it with his arm, Favre will get wild and make some crazy throw across the field for a back-breaking INT.

The Jets have to establish the running game, but that will be tough against a Pats' team that stops the run as well as anyone. The fact the Pats have the record they do is a tribute to the coaching job Belicheck has done.

They can win with Cassel throwing 10-yard passes and the Jets are so bad at CB, they're pulling Ty Law out of retirement, so their secondary, other than Revis and occasionally Kerry Rhodes, won't pose much of a threat. Patriots 21, Jets 17

Denver at Atlanta

Line: Falcons by 6

In case you haven't been watching, Atlanta's defense is pretty good. If they can stifle an awesome offense like the Saints, who they kept out of the end zone for the first three quarters, they can do the same to Denver provided they put pressure on Cutler the same way they got Brees.

I don't worry too much about their offense, because Denver has one of the worst defenses in football and if not for the Browns giving the game away last week, they'd be in a tie for first reeling off a four-game losing streak. Falcons 35, Broncos 24

Oakland at Miami

Line: Dolphins by 10.5

The Dolphins are still learning how to win and most of the offense they generate is based off of trick plays. We know Oakland's offense is anemic, but their passing defense has evidently improved when they cut DeAngelo Hall and forced 20 incompletions from Jake Delhomme. Dolphins 14, Raiders 7

Baltimore at New York Giants

Line: Giants by 7

After enduring physical games from the Steelers and Eagles, this Giants team has gotta be tired, which is why I can't understand Vegas giving them a TD against the Ravens.

The last time the Giants were favored by this much, they crapped the bed against the Browns. B-More has gotten better on offense every week and I think they can keep it close if Flacco limits his mistakes. Giants 15, Ravens 10

Houston at Indianapolis

Line: Colts by 8

Ahh, the sandwich game. The always dreaded game in which you come out flat and overlook an inferior opponent, give them confidence and allow them to stay in the game.

Indy just had a pair of physical games against Pittsburgh and New England, so they maybe a step off against the Texans, who have enough offense to at least keep things close up in Indy.

The Texans never played well in the RCA Dome, but Lucas Field hasn't been nearly as good a home field advantage for the Colts. Colts 33, Texans 27

Tennessee at Jacksonville

Line: Titans by 3

The Jags won the game they were supposed to win in Detroit, but they don't stand a chance against the Titans, even at home. Their run defense has been soft all year, and that just so happens to be the Titans' strength.

They'll be relieved they don't have to face the Bears this week and take full advantage of it with a physical ground attack, with White and Johnson creating a rainfall in north Florida as Thunder and Lightning. Titans 16, Jaguars 9

Chicago at Green Bay

Line: Packers by 3.5

Rex has the hex on Chicago's offense, but I still love Chicago's D. They should control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. They handled Tennessee's running game, so they should do the same to Ryan Grant, and look for Matt Forte to have a big game against the Packers' 26th ranked run defense. Bears 21, Packers 10

Philadelphia at Cincinnati

Line: Eagles by 9

So it was McNabb who kept Ocho Cinco in Cincinnati...or Ocho Cinco wants to be Ocho Cinco somewhere else, possibly the team that Ocho Uno used to play for until his ego and his big mouth got him run out of Philly.

We'll see if Cinco pressure's management into getting him a #1 target to throw to, but for now, Uno Cero seems to be doing fine as the Iggles' big playmaker at wideout...when he's not celebrating prematurely. Eagles 28, Bengals 6

New Orleans at Kansas City

Line: Saints by 5.5

The Chiefs have been banging on the door for weeks to get that second win, and I think it finally happens.

Tyler Thigpen, who looks suspiciously similar to the starting QB in "Varsity Blues," continues to live the dream with another huge passing game against the Saints. Chiefs 41, Saints 39

Detroit at Carolina

Line: Panthers by 14

Sex Panther. It works 60% of the time every time.

I'm a lot more accurate at picking sleepers of course, and the Cardiac Cats are in first, they get a road game against a team that could go 0-16 and will just have to go 3-3 after this week to hit that 11-5 division-winning mark. Panthers 34, Lions 10

Minnesota at Tampa Bay

Line: Buccaneers by 3.5

The NFC South owns the NFC North. Tampa, as a 2nd place team, has already beaten Chicago and Green Bay and should have little trouble with the one-dimensional Vikings offense, one that depends on the run because of their inability to pass. Buccaneers 24, Vikings 17

St. Louis at San Francisco

Line: 49ers by 6

It was good to see the Niners play with some purpose on Monday Night, but even with the Cards committing 60 billion penalties and having a secondary I could throw on, they couldn't finish drives.

They shouldn't be favored by 6 against anybody, even the lowly Rams. 49ers 23, Rams 20

Arizona at Seattle

Line: Cardinals by 3

The Cards played their D game and still bested the Niners. Their pass D may not be the greatest, but it's not like Seattle's vaunted passing game poses much of a threat.

Vegas still isn't giving this team respect. How are they only laying 3 against the anemic Seahawks? Cardinals 31, Seahawks 10

San Diego at Pittsburgh

Line: Steelers by 5

Until I see a good road effort from the Chargers, I hesitate to pick them or even give them points in Heinz field against one of the top defenses in the biz.

LT's been slowed by a nasty turf toe and Chambers is still recovering from an injury himself. Never good to walk into the den of a lion wounded. Steelers 24, Chargers 14

Dallas at Washington

Line: Cowboys by 1.5

Before finally faltering against the Steelers, the Redskins looked a little fraudulent with close wins against the Lions and Browns and a loss to the Rams preceding it.

If Portis is banged up, the Redskins will have to beat Dallas through the air, and their passing attack lately hasn't been as strong as it was earlier in the year.

Dallas's offense will take time to gel and their OL still needs to play better, but getting Romo back should help open things up again for the 'Boys going down the stretch. Cowboys 28, Redskins 25

Cleveland at Buffalo

Line: Bills by 5

The Browns might as well throw in the towel. When your defense blows back-to-back home leads at home, that should tell you how bad it is.

Trent Edwards should have no problem finding his rhythm once again. On a brighter note, Brady Quinn did look good in his debut, but will have a tough time duplicating that effort against a team that'll take away the run and force him to throw. Bills 27, Browns 20

Week 10 vs spread 8-6

Week 10 Straight up 8-6

Season vs spread 81-61-2

Season Straight up 89-55

NBA Power Rankings: Week Two

Michael Glaessner — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:40:50 -0500

1. Los Angeles Lakers (7-0) (1)

By pummeling Houston at home and New Orleans on the road, the Lakers are asserting themselves as the team to beat in the early part of the season.

2. Boston Celtics (8-1) (3)

Losing Posey will not hurt the C's at all. Tony Allen has proven to be more than capable with extended minutes of performing all the intangibles that Posey brought to the team.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (6-2) (8)

I still think they need a two-guard to compliment Mo Williams. Delonte and Mo won't get it done against teams with big, athletic guards.

4. Atlanta Hawks (6-1) (9)

Their confidence is growing with every win. Even a close defeat against the Celtics on the road has to give this young team confidence that they can compete with the elite.

5. Detroit Pistons (5-2) (2)

Having AI will be a one-year deal, but it still screws me in fantasy ball. Now where is Stuckey getting his shots from with AI on the floor jacking up his usual 25 to 30 a night?

6. Utah Jazz (6-2) (4)

Getting Williams back this early when his original diagnosis was two weeks has to be encouraging for the Jazz, who are already off to a strong start.

7. Houston Rockets (5-3) (6)

With Aaron Brooks off to a strong start, Houston's combination of Brooks-Alston is reminding me of Kenny and Cassell in the early '90s.

8. Phoenix Suns (6-3) (5)

They're still adjusting to Porter's coaching style and no one is being affected more than Nash, who just isn't his MVP self at a slower tempo where his defensive deficiencies are even more magnified.

9. New Orleans Hornets (4-3) (7)

Paul can't play a whole lot better than he is now, but his teammates need to step it up if the Hornets want staying power as a contender.

10. Orlando Magic (5-3) (12)

JJ Redick is complaining about PT again. I guess it's a lot harder when you have to shoot from a deeper three-point line with 6'6" athletes in your face without the benefit of moving picks...errr...screens on every play from Shelden.

11. Portland Trail Blazers (5-3) (23)

They really don't need Oden, so he can take his time healing. With Roy, Aldrige, and Fernandez carrying this exciting young squad, the Blazers may finally give their patient fans reason to hope.

12. Denver Nuggets (4-3) (20)

What is the point of trading for McDyess if you're just going to buy him out? A month later he'll be back with the Pistons, who just used his contract to get Iverson. I never understood why the NBA didn't outlaw this shady practice.

13. Indiana Pacers (4-3) (13)

TJ's doing fine...for now. Just wait about a month when he cracks like a China doll just like he's done everywhere else.

14. Miami Heat (4-4) (17)

Marion and Nash need each other. They've both gotten worse without the other since the trade.

15. New York Knicks (5-3) (22)

We'll see how long this lasts, but at least D'Antoni is making the Knicks exciting. As far as drafting the Italian with the bad back, he's still got some 'splainin to do.

16. Toronto Raptors (4-4) (10)

Jamario's fallin' off. Where are all the blocks, steals, and rebounds he was getting last year?

17. Philadelphia 76ers (3-5) (15)

They still haven't gotten the chemistry right. Dalembert and Igoudala seem to have regressed since Brand got there.

18. Milwaukee Bucks (4-5) (14)

Okay, he got his $60 million, he's still a 10-10 player, and he just got 17 boards against Duncan. Can we please stop calling Bogut a bust?

19. Golden State Warriors (3-5) (16)

I was counting on points from Maggette. I wasn't counting on those brittle hammies of his to give way.

20. Dallas Mavericks (2-5) (11)

Carlisle practices these guys six days a week? No wonder they're burned out at the end of games.

21. Sacramento Kings (4-5) (28)

JASON THOMPSON! The best player you've never heard of! I'm feeling I made a wise investment getting this guy off waivers.

22. San Antonio Spurs (2-5) (19)

Age and injuries are decimating the Spurs' roster. If they don't get Parker and Ginobili back fast, they could be sunk permanently.

23. Chicago Bulls (3-5) (18)

So, 14 ppg on 41 percent shooting? Nice job, Deng. Earn that $13 million!

24. Memphis Grizzlies (3-6) (21)

After hanging back-to-back 30s, Mayo just announced that ROY is a two-man race between him and Rose. Stay tuned for Beasley...

25. New Jersey Nets (2-5) (24)

The Nets' offense, anemic to begin with, is borderline anorexic without Harris.

26. Washington Wizards (1-5) (29)

I still say give it a couple more weeks, but Caron needs some help! This just isn't a good offensive team without Gilbert on the floor.

27. Charlotte Bobcats (2-5) (26)

MJ and only MJ would still think he could get something out of Eddy Curry. With Isiah gone, we need a new GM to bag on and I wanna be like Mike...I just don't wanna draft and trade like him.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (1-6) (25)

In a couple years, the T-Wolves are going to seriously regret that Love-for-Mayo trade. He and Jefferson basically play the same position and neither is great on defense.

29. Los Angeles Clippers (1-7) (30)

Is it a coincidence that Kaman now averages fewer points since Baron took his ballhogging act to LA?

30. Oklahoma City Thunder (1-7) (27)

When I saw the team name on ESPN, I thought ESPN was covering CBA games. The Quad City Thunder might actually have more talent than them with Durant hurt.

Week 10 NFL Predictions

Michael Glaessner — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:52:43 -0500

Still unbeaten and keeping the lid on the Dolphins' champagne bottles is this year's Tennessee Titans squad. This isn't last year's dominant model, like New England. This team doesn't win every game 49-7, but they run the ball, play strong defense, and limit their turnovers.

Meanwhile, the rest of the league is filled with parity. The Giants lead a top-heavy NFC East with a 7-1 record, but right behind them are the 5-4 Dallas Cowboys, who won 13 games last year and were favored by many this year to win the Super Bowl.

Meanwhile, the AFC East, NFC South, and NFC North all have competitive divisional races. The Jets, Bills, and Patriots all have identical 5-3 records and are locked in a three-way tie for first with the Miami Dolphins just one game out at 4-4.

The Panthers and Buccaneers have swapped the division lead and are separated by a half game, while the surprising Falcons and high-scoring Saints aren't too far behind at 5-3 and 4-4, respectively.

The Bears lead the North at 5-3, just ahead of the 4-4 Vikings and Packers. Nothing has been determined and the second half of the season should be very competitive.

Denver at Cleveland

Line: Browns by 3

Signing Derek Anderson to a long-term deal after one good year seemed like a questionable move, especially with Brady Quinn already the team's No. 1 draft pick. Now Romeo Crennel is putting his money on the rookie with Cleveland's season hanging in the balance.

If he's as good as hyped in college, he'll have no trouble shredding a struggling Denver defense, the catalyst behind three straight Denver losses. The Broncos are still 4-4 and in first place, but you get the feeling those days are dwindling once the Chargers learn how to stop teams on defense.

Browns 27, Broncos 20

Jacksonville at Detroit

Line: Jaguars by 6

Jack Del Rio is now playing the hardass coach role after Mike Peterson put on a demonstration after recording a sack with his team trailing the Bengals 21-3. Peterson was benched, pulled from the game, and after further arguing with the coach, suspended from practice.

Now we find out if the Jags are truly focused or forming a team-wide mutiny. They've struggled running the ball because of injuries on the offensive line and have been hurt defensively by the losses of DT Marcus Stroud and coordinator Mike Smith. If Del Rio's bunch can't beat the lowly Lions, Jack will be looking for a new job.

Jaguars 20, Lions 17

Baltimore at Houston

Line: Ravens by 1

I hate having to rewrite the preview for this game, but one Hurricane and a couple months later, and this is what I have to do. Two months later, the result should be the same. Joe Flacco is maturing as a QB every week after a slow start and should play an efficient game as Baltimore gets a solid road win in their tune-up before facing the Giants.

Ravens 23, Texans 17

Seattle Seahawks at Miami Dolphins

Line: Dolphins by 9

Believe it folks: The Fins aren't going quietly this year. They shouldn't have a problem recording their third win in a row against the injury-depleted Seahawks.

Dolphins 20, Seahawks 14

Tennessee at Chicago

Line: Titans by 3

A lot of Bears fans may be disillusioned by the presence of Rex Grossman, but fear not; the defense will play an inspired game at home, stifling the Titans' running game, which wasn't dominant against the Colts or Packers. If Rex can just stay away from the turnovers, the Bears can make the '72 Dolphins proud.

Bears 24, Titans 21

New Orleans at Atlanta

Line: Falcons by 1

Believe the hype. The Falcons are for real this year. Matt Ryan and Michael Turner will prove it with big games against an overmatched Saints D, as the Dirty Birds win a shootout in the Georgia Dome.

Falcons 38, Saints 31

Green Bay at Minnesota

Line: Vikings by 2.5

Someone needs to explain this line. The Vikings' 4-4 record is pretty misleading, as it includes a couple ugly wins against the Saints and Lions. They can run the ball, but lack the passing game to beat a good secondary like the Packers.

Their secondary will have their hands full trying to stop Aaron Rodgers from going downfield, which he's been doing to everyone since he hurt his shoulder against Tampa.

Packers 27, Vikings 24

St. Louis at New York Jets

Line: Jets by 9

As impressive as their road win over the Bills was, it would have been even more one-sided if Favre hadn't thrown that fourth-quarter garbage time pick-six to keep Buffalo in the game.

That's Favre though, he keeps both teams in the game with his wildness, so if the Rams' secondary comes across a wildly thrown pass, they'd be well served to take full advantage of it.

Jets 20, Rams 16

Buffalo at New England

Line: Patriots by 4

Consider this a bounce-back of sorts for the suddenly-slumping Bills. Yes, it is considered big pressure to win in New England, but on paper, they match up very well. They have the passing attack to break down the Pats' secondary and they can stop the Pats' anemic rushing attack, forcing Cassel, who hardly ever throws a pass longer than 10 yards, to beat them.

Bills 23, Patriots 20

Carolina at Oakland

Line: Panthers by 9.5

It's back to work for the Cardiac Cats. Their defense should have no trouble pushing aside an anemic Raiders offense, and the offense should have no trouble pounding it between the tackles behind the two-headed monster of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart

All they need is a 5-3 second half to get to those 11 division-leading wins I predicted.

Panthers 21, Raiders 0

Indianapolis at Pittsburgh

Line: Steelers by 3

Vegas has open and closed the books on this game, but whether or not Roethlisberger plays shouldn't matter that much. Look at how well Byron Leftwich played last week. No matter what, the Steelers will have a big, mobile QB with an arm to manage the game.

Defensively, I think Pittsburgh can take away the running game, as Joseph Addai still looked banged up, failing to exploit a weak Pats rushing D, forcing Peyton to throw more than he'd like against their zone blitz with a gimpy knee.

Steelers 20, Colts 14

Kansas City at San Diego

Line: Chargers by 15.5

The Chiefs have shown some heart the past two weeks, nearly pulling out a pair against the Jets and Bucs. The Chargers have been up and down all year and could very well blow them out if they're focused, but it'll take more than one week to get this struggling defense in shape.

Chargers 27, Chiefs 17

New York Giants at Philadelphia

Line: Eagles by 3

The Eagles win this pivotal divisional showdown in the Keystone state as emotion rides high. The Giants' passing offense, while very good, will have its hands full with the Eagles' deep secondary. If Burress can't break out of his funk, Eli won't have enough time to make plays against the Eagles' blitz. Eagles 16, Giants 14

San Francisco at Arizona

Line: Cardinals by 9.5

Last year, when these teams played on Monday Night Football, I saw one of the worst announcing performances of all-time as Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic showed exactly why radio shock-jocks do not belong in the announcing booth with their five billion random opinions.

Even if I don't have to endure the Mikes, putting up with Kornheiser might be enough for me to flip the channel. Then again, Mike Singletary will provide some unintentional comedy when he pulls Shaun Hill and goes into the game himself to play QB.

Cardinals 27, 49ers 21

Week Nine vs. Spread: 5-9

Week Nine Straight up: 8-6

Season vs. Spread: 73-55-2

Season straight up: 81-49

NBA Power Rankings: Week 1

Michael Glaessner — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:37:37 -0500

1. Los Angeles Lakers (4-0) The surprise for the Lakers has been the play of Trevor Ariza; he has given the second unit an energy boost, along with Lamar Odom, on the deepest team in the NBA.

2. Detroit Pistons (4-0) Trading fan-favorite Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson is a huge roll of the dice, given Iverson's reputation. But, the plus is that he's going to a team of good, unselfish defensive players. Maybe Iverson will be the missing piece as a scorer who can take over games, like he was in Philadelphia.

3. Boston Celtics (4-1) Except for a stinker in Indiana, the defending NBA Champs look formidable and will remain a tough team to score on.

4. Utah Jazz (4-0) For the Jazz to take the next step, Carlos Boozer has to continue the 20-10 pace he's on right now.

5. Phoenix Suns (4-1) Will the NBA pundits stop comparing Amare Stoudemire to Karl Malone and Shawn Kemp before 1996? He plays like James Worthy, and now he looks like the 2000's version with the flashy new shades compared with Worthy's goofy-looking goggles.

6. Houston Rockets (3-1) Ron Artest is already paying dividends; he allowed Tracy McGrady to sit almost the entire fourth quarter in a road win at Dallas. He's also been implosion-free so far.

7. New Orleans Hornets (3-1) You know Chris Paul wants that MVP this year, and four straight 20-10 (points and dimes) games to start the season is definitely a step in that direction.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers (3-2) I'd give this team about two weeks to see how all the pieces fit. One thing is for certain: Mo Williams gives them yet another perimeter threat to take the defensive pressure off LeBron.

9. Atlanta Hawks (3-0) The biggest surprise in the Hawks' start, which includes wins in Orlando and New Orleans, is the fact that they're allowing a league-low 84 ppg.

10. Toronto Raptors (3-1) Chris Bosh showed how much he's improved in the Olympics, and if it carries over with 26-10 numbers this year, he deserves mention among the elite PF's in the game.

11. Dallas Mavericks (2-2) When you have Antoine Wright and Erick Dampier starting, it's like you're starting off every game playing 3-on-5. No wonder Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard face so many double teams.

12. Orlando Magic (2-2) Maybe I shouldn't have drafted Hedo Turkoglu in the fourth round. After all, it looks like last year's production was a Don MacLean-like fluke.

13. Indiana Pacers (1-2) Blowing out Boston and hanging tough with Phoenix and Detroit is a good early-season sign, made all the more promising with Mike Dunleavy still not healthy. This is a very improved team.

14. Milwaukee Bucks (3-2) So that's why they traded Mo! To give the best player you've never heard of, Ramon Sessions, the starting spot.

15. Philadelphia 76ers (2-3) They need Andre Igoudala to step up for all the money they paid him, and 10 ppg on 38% shooting isn't cutting it.

16. Golden State Warriors (2-3) For this team to win consistently, Stephen Jackson, Corey Maggette, and Al Harrington are going to have to shoot a lot better. None of the three are shooting over 37% from the field.

17. Miami Heat (2-2) With all the hype surrounding Shawn Marion and Michael Beasley, the Heats' best front-line performer through the first week has surprisingly been Udonis Haslem.

18. Chicago Bulls (2-3) They said MJ couldn't shoot from the outside and couldn't play defense when he came out of college too. So far, like His Airness, Derrick Rose is proving all his doubters wrong.

19. San Antonio Spurs (1-3) Without Manu Ginobili, it's going to be tough to win games when Roger Mason Jr. is your third leading scorer and you need over 50 points from Tony Parker to beat the Timberwolves.

20. Denver Nuggets (1-3) The Nuggets better hope Billups has some game left. I have a bad feeling about trading one of the fastest guards in the league for one of the slowest.

21. Memphis Grizzlies (2-3) The Grizz have to be encouraged by the play from all three of their rookies. At the same time, they should be concerned about the regression of Mike Conley.

22. New York Knicks (2-2) If the Knicks didn't want Stephane Marbury at the beginning of the season, why not just buy out his contract? Are they that cheap?

23. Portland Trail Blazers (1-3) Greg Oden just can't catch a break. Not even five minutes into his first game, he suffers his first injury, before even recording a basket.

24. New Jersey Nets (1-2) This is going to be a bad offensive team if Devin Harris can't shake the slow start he's having.

25. Minnesota Timberwolves (1-3) Mike Miller could prove to be a very good addition if he can spread the floor for Jefferson, giving him even more space to operate.

26. Charlotte Bobcats (1-3) Raymond Felton's days as a starter are numbered once D.J. Augustin gets a feel for the NBA pace and takes his job.

27. Oklahoma City Thunder (1-3) Joe Smith? Desmond Mason? That's one thing I love about rebuilding teams, the number of random veterans you find.

28. Sacramento Kings (1-4) The play of Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes has been one of the few bright spots in what looks like a dismal team.

29. Washington Wizards (0-3) They did this last year too; don't be surprised to see the Wiz back in first place in a couple weeks.

30. Los Angeles Clippers (0-5) Unlike the Wizards, there doesn't appear to be any precedent to the Clippers overcoming slow starts.