NFL Picks, ACC

Four potentially exciting NFL games on the docket this weekend.

Seattle 30 Washington 13
Carolina 20 Chicago 10
Pittsburgh 24 Indianapolis 20
New England 27 Denver 23

Somehow I just took three of the four road teams. Yikes.

Thoughts on each game are as follows: Washington sucks. The Panthers will win if they do not turn the ball over. Period. A special teams assist would be greatly helpful as well. New England is healthy, making this a different ballgame than the first meeting. I really think the Pats can limit the run game and force Plummer to beat them. Plus, it's playoff season, which means New England wins and Denver underachieves. Nice logic. Finally, Pittsburgh plays with intelligent intensity and will not panic. However, the Steelers underachieve in the playoffs as much as Denver, so I am very wary of this pick. If they control the ball, the Steelers will be in a position to win.

A little more on a recent story that ESPN has virtually created. Apparently, Joey Porter, the Steelers OLB said the following:
"They don't want to just sit there, line up and play football. They want to try to catch you off guard. They don't want to play smashmouth football, they want to trick you. They want it to be a thinking game instead of a football game."
Now ESPN thinks this is the worst insult in football history. Um, hello? The Colts do play smart football, and it has not gotten them very far yet. Maybe this year's team is different. I do think Porter may have forgotten about the loss earlier in the season the Steelers took when Indy slammed Pittsburgh. However, players are taught to put past games behind them and be confident moving forward. Porter honestly believes his team is the best, which is one of the qualities that makes him an elite player in the league. ESPN has once again created a story where it really does not exist, at least not to the point that it deserves to lead off 1st and 10, Around the Horn, PTI, and Sportscenter.

On to the ACC. This week's thoughts are that Wake Forest is severely lacking a point guard, a third scorer, defense, intensity, and toughness. Last year's team had the soon-to-be NBA Rookie of the Year, giving them a clear leader, go-to-guy, and emotional charge. With Gray and Williams as the second and third options, Wake played well. However, this team has rarely risen its play to a higher level in the post-season. With one exception in recent memory, Wake has performed well in the ACC or NCAA tournaments. Even with Duncan, the furthest advancement I can recall in the NCAA was the Elite Eight loss to Kentucky in 1996. Two other Sweet 16 appearances sandwiched it in '95 and '97. Second round flameouts in '03 and '05 as number 2 seeds support this theory. I'll admit, I am hard on Wake Forest and its fans. Nothing personal, honestly. I just feel like there is a consistent lack of toughness. Joey Porter would call the Deacs the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL I guess. Maybe PTI should talk about my blog this week.

Otherwise, I have some news. I just wrote my first column for a website dedicated to covering college basketball. The link is www.bracketography.com and my piece is about the ACC's interesting league standings through the first full week of conference play. My work has been edited a little bit and is spun in a fashion portraying the ACC as overhyped. I do not necessarily agree with this, especially given the weakness of the conference this year when compared to the Big Ten and Big East. Yes, Duke and Carolina get plenty of pub; if they are not worthy of it, then who is? I do believe in a market for mid-majors, as I will write about on here or on the site at some point. However, do not think in reading my article that all of the writing and opinion is directly mine, as anyone who knows me knows that I live and breath ACC ball. Year in and year out, it is one of the best conferences, if not the best, and has certainly been the most consistent over a huge span of time.

My task on the site, if I am given a regular spot, is to provide some perspective on the areas of basketball I know: ACC, SEC, CAA, and SoCon. Obviously I know the ACC the best, but others will be covered as well. We'll see how it goes. Shoot me some feedback if you take the time to read my work and at least hit up the website to make it look good on my behalf. I'll give you a cookie. And your seasoned salt if I stole it.

Sorry if some of the above two paragraphs are jumbled, I got excited. Aight yaw...

Call George Foreman, cause I'm selling everybody grills...