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Published October 15, 2009 Home page commentary Oct. 7-11, 2009The comments below were posted on the ColumbusSports.com home page from October 7 through October 11, 2009. ========================== Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009 Cleveland Browns - Ok, it was one of the ugliest games in NFL history and the Browns were lucky to get the win, but when you haven't won a game yet this season you take what you can get. Derek Anderson solidified his hold on the starting quarterback position by completing all of 2 passes, but since Brady Quinn completed 0, that keeps Anderson in the lead. In fairness to D.A. there were 3 or 4 drops by the receivers, probably done on purpose as their way of honoring the departed Braylon Edwards. At least the Browns did play decent on defense and special teams, and committed very few penalties, but unless that offense starts showing some signs of life real fast, next week's game at Pittsburgh has all the makings of another 41-0 massacre. --------------------------------------------- Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 ESPN GameDay - Just curious. Why is ESPN GameDay televising from Iowa for the less than monumental match up against the Wolverines, when an epic battle between two rivals currently ranked #1 and #4 in the country is about to take place down in the Bayou? Were they afraid of being amongst that crowd at night? Anyone know the reason for this choice? (please comment below if so) Ohio State Buckeyes - The weather forecast for the game has improved, and so has my expectation of the outcome. Although I picked the Badgers to cover the 16 point spread, I do believe the Buckeyes will win the game. The Badgers haven't faced a defense anywhere near as tough as Ohio State's, and the Wisconsin defense has been less than impressive most of the season. So again, as long as turnovers or special teams mistakes don't haunt them today, the Buckeyes should prevail in the range of 27-13 or 24-16. New York Yankees - The Yankee playoff juggernaut looks well underway. You have to feel a bit sorry for the Twins, who came into the series on such a high but now are down 2-0 after a pair of losses at Yankee Stadium, the second of those just last night and definitely a game the Twins could/should have won. It's hard to imagine Minnesota winning more than a game or two at most now, but stranger things have happened when the Twins play at home. Still, it looks like the Yankees power and bullpen will be enough to take them to the ALCS against the Angels and their great starting pitching. The Angles beat Boston again last night to go up 2-0 in their series. Although another Yankees - Red Sox series may be fun to watch, Yankees - Angels should be great baseball too, even if it doesn't have all the behind the scenes story lines like another match up against Boston would. --------------------------------------------- Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009 Pigskin Picks - Anyone that's ever seriously tried picking pointspread winners week after week for even a year or two can sympathize with Pigskin Picks' current frustration. The past two years I've finished ahead of the game with my college picks, but this year, despite a great start to the Pro season (15-6 so far), I'm a miserable 11-18 for the college picks. Granted, that can still turn around, but it'll soon be at the point that without a very strong reversal, I'll be shooting for only .500 before the Bowl season. I know it sounds like loser's lament, and it probably is, but I've run into some very tough luck with at least one or two games each week, but the other factor is harder for me to figure out. Each week this season, my second level college games, meaning the ones that didn't quite make my official picks but that I still liked, those games have had a winning record. Not quite sure what the answer is, or perhaps it's just keep doing what I'm doing and my luck will turn around (now there's a thought that can get you in trouble at the BlackJack table!), but you can be sure that Pigskin Picks will never give up in my attempt to make all my loyal followers (hi Dave, hi Joe) rich beyond their dreams as they religiously follow my advice from their apartments in Las Vegas (where betting on football games is legal, imagine that). --------------------------------------------- Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009 Braylon Edwards trade - I haven't agreed with or understood a lot of what Mangini has done with the Browns so far, but I like this move. Edwards wasn't going to help the Browns accomplish anything this season, and would likely only prove a further distraction to a team that needs all its energy be focused on improving. We won't know for awhile if what they got in return will be worth it, but given the addition by subtraction theory that this trade falls under, it's hard to argue that this is anything but a positive move for the Browns, especially if any of the 4 players they'll get in return become valuable contributors. Minnesota vs. Detroit playoff game - I just wanted to mention that I watched this game from about the 4th inning on and thoroughly enjoyed it simply as a baseball fan. Although I was pulling slightly for the Twins (small market fan that I am), I didn't really care who won, but the game provided so many great and interesting baseball plays in as tense of a setting that you'll find that it's one I'll remember for a long time. Sure must have been nice to be a Twins/Vikings fan these past few days. Ohio State Buckeyes - I hope I'm wrong, but my early feeling for Saturday's game against Wisconsin is not exactly one of confidence. It's going to be a dreary, chilly day, just like a number of times in the recent past when the Badgers and Buckeyes hooked up, and despite Ohio State having more talent and being higher ranked, Bucky Badger all too often found a way to pull out a victory. Hopefully the Terrelle factor will be the difference again this year, just like last year in Madison when his 11 yard TD run near the end of the game let Ohio State escape with the win. It sure would be nice to just lay a beating on the Badgers one of these years.
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