NFL 2021 Week 16 results

 Playoff spots were defined, especially in the NFC.  Three divisional titles were crowned, and four more NFC playoff spots were defined.  There were very few surprise results, and most of those were influenced by teams missing key players due to COVID isolation.

Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  Buffalo Bills (9-6) [1] : They now control the AFC East, and control their own destiny

2.  Dallas Cowboys (11-4) [3] : What a huge blowout!  42 points in the first half was like a college football game

3.  Tampa Bay Bucs (11-4) [4] : They utterly demolished the Panthers

4.  Kansas City Chiefs (11-4) [6] : They definitely looked like the power team in the AFC

5.  New England Patriots (9-6) [2] : Two consecutive losses are putting the Patriots playoff chances at risk

6.  Los Angeles Rams (11-4) [7] : They clinched a playoff berth and took the lead in the NFC West

7.  Indianapolis Colts (9-6) [8] : Another strong win makes them the second most impressive team in the AFC right now

8.  Arizona Cardinals (10-5) [5] : They are falling.  They have clinched a playoff spot, but their chances of advancing are looking slim

9.  Green Bay Packers (12-3) [9] : They are not always impressive, but they find ways to win

10. Cincinnati Bengals (9-6) [10] : The Bengals have taken the lead in the tightest division race there is

11. Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) [11]

12. Tennessee Titans (10-5) [12]

13. San Francisco 49ers (8-7) [13] : Their playoff chances are dwindling

14. Denver Broncos (7-8) [14]

Divisional Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  NFC West [1]

2.  AFC East [2]

3.  AFC West [3]

4.  NFC East [4] : The Eagles are helping to boost this division

5 (tie).  AFC North [4]

5 (tie).  NFC South [6] : A win by Atlanta helped this division

7 (tie).  AFC South [7]

7 (tie).  NFC North [8] : A win by Chicago and a close lose by Detroit boosted this division

Division and Playoff Races

AFC East : Miami is at 8-7, but they have two tough games upcoming, so their chances of reaching the playoffs look small.  Both the Bills and Patriots are favored this week, and are likely to win their last game.  So long as the Bills win as many games as the Patriots, they will win the division.  For either to gain the top seed, they need the Chiefs and Titans to stumble.

AFC North : This division is still so tightly packed that any team has a chance, although the Browns likelihood is slim.  Both the Bengals and Ravens face tough challenges this week.  If the Bengals can win, they will clinch the division.  If both teams lose, the Bengals also win the division.  The Steelers need to win both of their remaining games and get some help in order to reach the playoffs. 

AFC South : The Titans lead by a game, but the Colts are hot on their heels.  Both face tricky teams this week, then face a weak divisional opponent to close the season.  The Titans clinch the division with one more win, regardless of which week.  It looks like they will win the division.  The Colts are chasing a playoff spot, something they will get with two wins.  If they split their next games, they will need some help.

AFC West : The Chiefs have clinched the division and lead in the race for the top seed.  They could wrap that up this week, but they face a tough Bengals team.  Both the Chargers and Raiders need some help to reach the playoffs.

NFC East : The Cowboys clinched the division.  The Eagles clinch a playoff spot with one more conference win.

NFC North : It looks like division winner Green Bay may be the only playoff team from the division.  The Vikings have a shot, but they need to win out and get lots of help.  The Packers clinch the top seed with two wins or one win and a Cowboys loss.

NFC South : Tampa Bay has clinched the division, and the Saints playoff chances are looking bad.  Ironically, due to a better schedule, the Falcons actually have a better chance, although I don't see either team reaching the playoffs.

NFC West : The Rams currently lead the division.  They need to win at least as many games as Arizona in order to clinch.  Arizona has clinched a playoff spot.  The 49ers could capture one with one more win and a Vikings loss.

NCAA Football 2021 Bowl picks (part 3)

 Well, we've had five teams drop out of bowl games due to COVID issues.  Three of those five teams came from the ACC, showing that their looser vaccination and COVID regulations were a dumb idea.  The Sun Belt and Conference USA have finished their bowl season.  The American Athletic is the only conference unbeaten right now, but the Mountain West looks best with a 4-1 record.  The MAC has won a couple of games to prevent an embarrassing bowl record.

Thurs Dec 30

Mayo Bowl : North Carolina Tar Heels (6-6) v South Carolina Gamecocks (6-6) -- It is always a bitter battle when North and South face each other!  Both had weaker seasons than they expected, but the Tar Heels had some better performances.  With some key players on each team sitting out, we're not sure how this one will come out, but I think the Tar Heels have a better bench and therefore a better slate of replacements.  NORTH CAROLINA by four

Music City Bowl : Tennessee Volunteers (7-5) v Purdue Boilermakers (8-4) -- Purdue showed themselves to be a giant killer this season.  Tennessee is no giant, but we know that Purdue will enter this bowl wanting to perform well.  Purdue doesn't play too many bowl games, but they have a great bowl record, so when they do play, they do well.  PURDUE by nine

Peach Bowl : #10 Michigan State Spartans (10-2) v #13 Pitt Panthers (11-2) -- The Spartans had a great year despite a sketchy offense, thanks to a powerful defense.  How will Pitt handle that defense?  They haven't had to face such a tough defense much this season, and it's harder to prepare for a defense than it is to prepare against an offense.  I have to favor the Spartans, but if the Panthers offense gets a lead in the third quarter, the Spartans are not set up to come from behind.  MICHIGAN STATE by six

Las Vegas Bowl : #24 Wisconsin Badgers (8-4) v Arizona State Sun Devils (8-4) -- The Badgers are a feisty team, not unlike their mascot, and the Sun Devils are working without some key players who have entered the transfer portal.  WISCONSIN by 14

Fri Dec 31

This day's bowl games have faced some massive COVID problems, with one game lining up a replacement team and two other games in danger of cancellation.

Gator Bowl : #18 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (10-8) v Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-7) -- Rutgers was allowed to play when Texas A&M dropped out, but that isn't really an honor.  The Rutgers offense can be powerful at times, but the Demon Deacons defense will shut them down.  WAKE FOREST by 20

Sun Bowl : Washington State Cougars (7-5) v TBD -- I can't pick this, as I don't know who is playing.  If the NCAA and Sun Bowl are smart, they will offer the game NOT to 5-7 also-rans but to teams whose bowl games were cancelled due to their opponent's reckless behavior (let's face it, we all know how to avoid catching COVID.  These immature and irresponsible college students are simply ignoring those rules).  My choice?  SMU.  A contest between the Mustangs and Cougars might be very interesting.  The Central Michigan Chippewas, already in the state for the Arizona Bowl scheduled for later that same day, which is now in a precarious state with Boise State's withdraw, have offered to play Washington State.  That would be a smart move, but then you'd need to either cancel the Arizona Bowl or get TWO teams for that bowl.  I'd keep Central Michigan in the Arizona Bowl and invite Memphis to take Boise State's place.  As teams get selected, I will provide picks for these two bowl games.

Cotton Bowl : #1 Cincinnati Bearcats (13-0) v #3 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) -- ESPN has claimed that a Cincinnati victory would "shock the world".  WRONG!  As all of you know, I have been ranking Cincinnati high all season, as they continued to shine.  They didn't always win big, but neither did Alabama.  Alabama lost to Texas A&M, and lucked out in two other games with questionable penalties, one in their favor and one not called against them.  Alabama beat Georgia because of their history, but in this game, I have to favor the Bearcats.  CINCINNATI by four

Orange Bowl : #4 Georgia Bulldogs (12-1) v #2 Michigan Wolverines (12-1) -- Michigan shocked Ohio State to get here, but the Buckeyes were relying more on their offense than their defense.  Michigan has trouble with tough defenses, and none are tougher than Georgia.  If their defensive coordinator had moved to his new job at Oregon, thus putting someone else in charge of calling the plays, the Wolverines might have had a chance.  I don't think so now.  GEORGIA by eight

Sat Jan 1

Outback Bowl : Penn State Nittany Lions (7-5) v Arkansas Razorbacks (8-4) -- Arkansas lost too many key players to transfer and COVID.  Penn State is actually a good team, they just faced too much quality competition in the Big Ten.  PENN STATE by ten

Citrus Bowl : #19 Iowa Hawkeyes (10-3) v Kentucky Wildcats (9-3) -- Iowa has a stifling defense that will frustrate Kentucky.  IOWA by 13

Fiesta Bowl : #5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-1) v #8 Oklahoma State Cowboys (11-2) -- The Cowboys had a tremendous season, beating Oklahoma to reach the Big XII Championship, but Baylor surprised them there.  Now they face the challenge of Notre Dame.  The Irish have a decent defense, certainly better than that shown by Baylor for most of the season, so they might be able to repeat the same oppressive presence that shut down the Cowboys offense in the Big XII Championship.  NOTRE DAME by six

Rose Bowl : #6 Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2) v #14 Utah Utes (10-3) -- This game will prove how weak the Pac-12 was this year, and how much improved the Buckeyes are from their game against Oregon.  Utah beat Oregon handily, but they won't last here.  The Buckeyes offense is oppressive, and while their defense is not as tough as it has been in previous years, it still has more talent than Utah. Utah's only advantage is that Ohio State's most reliable receiver, Chris Olave, is sitting out this bowl game.  Guess he has no team spirit.  Fortunately the Buckeyes have a good slate of receivers, and they'll spread the wealth.  That might even be an advantage, as I'm sure Utah practiced ways to slow Olave and didn't focus as much on other players. OHIO STATE by 16

Sugar Bowl : #20 Ole Miss Rebels (10-2) v #7 Baylor Bears (11-2) -- Nobody gave Baylor much thought this season, and here they stand as Big XII Champions.  Ole Miss has COVID concerns, while most of the Baylor squad will be active, so this will not be pretty.  BAYLOR by 17

Tues Jan 4

Texas Bowl : LSU Tigers (6-6) v Kansas State Wildcats (7-5) -- I think by this point we will know if SEC can finish with a positive bowl record, which might inspire LSU.  Since I don't think they will, I don't see much life from the Tigers.  KANSAS STATE by 11

NFL 2021 Week 16 picks

 We'll see if any of these games get postponed.

Thursday evening

San Francisco 49ers at Tennessee Titans : Both teams have some key injuries, but the Titans are missing their best receiver.  That hurts, especially with the quality of the 49ers defense.  That could make the difference in this game.  49ERS, 27-24

Saturday games

Cleveland Browns at Green Bay Packers : The Packers have already won their division, but they are chasing the top seed and a first round bye, so they won't be backing off.  PACKERS, 31-16

Indianapolis Colts at Arizona Cardinals : Momentum is crucial at this point in the season, and the Colts certainly have the momentum.  The Cards also have some key players on the IR list, including runner James Conner, their best offensive performer of the season, and QB Kyler Murray remains limited. The Colts would seem to be likely to field the stronger team.  COLTS, 27-20

Sunday early games

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals : The Ravens will likely still be missing Lamar Jackson, which makes their offense more predictable.  That will help the Bengals defense, giving them an advantage.  The Ravens defense is good, but they may be missing some pieces.  BENGALS, 23-20

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots : The two most dynamic teams face off in a game with major divisional and playoff consequences.  The Pats have faltered recently, but they certainly still have the power to respond.  The Bills have been inconsistent for much of the season, but currently have found some strength.  Will that strength continue, or will the Pats prevail?  Truthfully I feel this game could go either way.  It may come down to who manages the ball better, and who can control it in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.  That usually comes down to who has the better runner.  For much of the season, that has been New England.  But with their two best runners out or limited for Sunday's game, that gives the Bills the edge, despite concerns about the health of Emmanuel Sanders.  BILLS, 27-24

Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons : Despite winning their second game last week, I don't think the Lions will pose much of a threat to Atlanta.  FALCONS, 20-17

Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets : With a total of five wins between them, does anyone outside of NYC really care about this one?  JETS, 16-13

Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans : The Texans defense is floundering, and their offense isn't doing very well either.  Easy win for the Chargers.  CHARGERS, 27-13

Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota Vikings : Both teams get back some players from the COVID list, although we don't know who will be added to it before the game.  Despite that, the Rams certainly seem to have the stronger team, especially since their defense is likely to make life tough for Vikings QB Kurt Cousins.  RAMS, 30-20

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles : The Giants best player, Saquan Barkley, remains out.  The Eagles aren't much better, with two running backs and QB Jalen Hurts injured and questionable for the game.  Both teams will be playing with shattered rosters, so it gets down to which team has the better backups.  EAGLES, 24-16

Tampa Bay Bucs at Carolina Panthers : Cam Newton returns to the field, although in a limited capacity.  That means the team will be switching between Newton and Sam Darnold.  Those two have different styles, so it could be tough for the other offensive players to make a smooth transition.  BUCS, 17-13

Sunday late games

Chicago Bears at Seattle Seahawks : Bears QB Justin Fields is still hurt, but the Seahawks are ravaged by COVID.  They unsuccessfully appealed to the league to move the game to Tuesday.  Not sure who will play, and not sure how well they will work together.  Great opening for the Bears to win a game.  BEARS, 17-16

Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders : Teddy Bridgewater is out for the Broncos, and Drew Lock folds under pressure.  The Raiders defense can apply that type of pressure.  RAIDERS, 17-13

Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs : The Chiefs are happy with the change to the league's COVID rules, which states that vaccinated players only have to sit out one day if they test negative after that.  That should allow them to get many key players on the field for Sunday.  The Steelers are facing tougher problems, and probably won't have the defense to slow the powerful Chiefs.  CHIEFS, 31-20

Sunday night

Washington at Dallas Cowboys : Dallas is strong, and the incentive to win their division while simultaneously beating their hated rival is just too great.  COWBOYS, 24-17

Monday Night Football

Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints : The Dolphins are facing COVID issues, and Taysom Hill is finally starting to find his rhythm.  That helps the Saints, even if Hill's finger is still bothering him.  SAINTS, 23-17

NFL 2021 Week 15 results

 We had plenty of upsets this week, and the playoff chase has gotten crazier.  With three weeks to go, I'll be adding that analysis to this column.  Also, I'm increasing my Power Rankings to fourteen teams, to match the number of playoff teams.

Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  Buffalo Bills (8-6) [4] : Huge improvement this week, helped by some shocking upsets

2.  New England Patriots (9-5) [1] : The Colts pummeled the Patriots

3.  Dallas Cowboys (10-4) [5] : The division leader is on the rise

4.  Tampa Bay Bucs (10-4) [2] : Call the police!  The Saints defense stole the Bucs offense!

5.  Arizona Cardinals (10-4) [3] : Our former top team is dropping

6.  Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) [6]

7.  Los Angeles Rams (10-4) [7]

8.  Indianapolis Colts (8-6) [8]

9.  Green Bay Packers (11-3) [9]

10.  Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) [11] : They regained the division lead

11. Philadelphia Eagles (7-7) [13]

12. Tennessee Titans (9-5) [10]

13. San Francisco 49ers (8-6) [15]

14. Denver Broncos (7-7) [12]

Division Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  NFC West [1]

2.  AFC East [2]

3.  AFC West [3]

4 (tie).  AFC North [4] : Not a stellar week for the division

4 (tie).  NFC East [6]

6.  NFC South [5] : The Saints were the only winners, and the Bucs were shut out

7.  AFC South [7]

8.  NFC North [8] : Only 1/4 of a point separate them from #7

Division and Playoff Races

AFC East : The Patriots lead the division, with the Bills close at their heels.  The Bills seem to be strengthening, and the Patriots have lost their momentum.  This week will make a huge difference, as the two division leaders face each other.  The Pats won the first meeting, so winning again will give them such a strong lead, especially since they face the Jags the next week.  A Bills win ties the teams, and a forthcoming win against the Jets would give them a better divisional record.  The Dolphins have a slim chance at the division title, and a chance at the playoffs.  However, they face three tough opponents remaining on their schedule, so they may not win another game.  Two losses take them out of the playoff hunt.

AFC North : This is the tightest division.  The Bengals lead now, but it is still anyone's race.

AFC South : The Texans and Jags are out of the race.  The Titans lead by one game, but they are losing strength.  The Colts could surpass them, although they have a slightly tougher road.  If the Colts beat the Cardinals this week, they are likely to win all of their remaining games.  They would still need the Titans to lose their remaining division game, or lose their other two games.  Neither option seems likely.  The Titans will likely win the division, with the Colts sealing a playoff spot.

AFC West : The Chiefs hold a two-game lead and a six-game winning streak.  All the Chiefs have to do is win their last division game, or win this week and the Chargers lose.  The Chargers are likely to be the division runner-up, and could capture the final playoff spot, after the Colts and AFC East runner-up.

NFC East : Dallas wins the title with one more win.  The Eagles are chasing a playoff spot, but they will need some help.

NFC North : Green Bay has won the title.  The Vikings are hoping for a playoff spot, and currently hold the last spot.  They need to stay ahead of the Saints and Eagles.

NFC South : Tampa Bay wins the title with one more win.  The Saints are chasing a playoff spot, but they need some help.

NFC West : The Cardinals and Rams are tied for the lead.  The Rams are improving while the Cards are sliding, so the Rams actually seem to have a better chance.  They certainly have an easier schedule, as the Cardinals have the hot Colts and strong Cowboys remaining before facing Seattle, while the Rams face the inconsistent Vikings and faltering Ravens before closing against the 49ers.  The Rams have the tougher division game remaining, and are already a game behind, so the Rams need to win one more game than the Cardinals in order to capture the division.  Both teams will seal a playoff spot with one more win.  The 49ers could capture another playoff spot with two wins.

NCAA Football 2021 Bowl picks (part 2)

 Well, I'm slightly better than 50%, and an early great start by Conference USA is fading.  Let's see who shines in these games:

Friday, Dec 24

Hawaii Bowl -- Memphis Tigers (6-6) at Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (6-7) : The Warriors have a losing record, but when you host your own bowl game, you always get to go.  Strangely, the Rainbow Warriors don't have a great record in this bowl, but the Tigers haven't traveled well this season.  Also, there is something damned distracting for the visiting team to travel to Hawaii to play football.  HAWAII by six

Sat Dec 25

Camelia Bowl -- Georgia State Panthers (7-5) v Ball State Cardinals (6-6) : Despite some close games, the MAC haven't been able to win a bowl game so far.  I don't think this one will change that.  While Georgia State isn't consistent, and could play really horribly, they showed some real strength at other times this season.  I think this bowl game will be incentive for them to show up strong.  GEORGIA STATE by eight

Monday, Dec 27

Quick Lane Bowl -- Western Michigan Broncos (7-5) v Nevada Wolf Pack (8-4) : Western Michigan has recently been one of the strongest MAC teams, although they struggled some this season.  Are they the best hope for a bowl win?  Not against Nevada.  The Wolf Pack were a threat often this season, and certainly have the strength to knock down any MAC team.  NEVADA by 13

Military Bowl -- Boston College Eagles (6-6) v East Carolina Pirates (7-5) : Here's a tough call.  The Pirates started the season horribly, but started to find their defensive strength again.  However, BC can be a tough team, and they have played well in the military-related bowls.  The difference might be turnovers, a problem faced by BC throughout the season.  EAST CAROLINA by four

Tues Dec 28

Birmingham Bowl -- #11 Houston Cougars (11-2) v Auburn Tigers (6-6) : Here's where the ego of the SEC will be a downfall.  I don't think Auburn will really consider Houston a serious threat, but this is a serious team.  HOUSTON by 16

First Responder Bowl -- #23 Air Force Falcons (9-3) v Louisville Cardinals (6-6) : Air Force just grinds out their games, and I don't think the Cardinals, housed in the offensive-happy ACC, is used to such games.  Control of the pace and control of the clock will reside with Air Force, and I they should be able to use that control to win the game.  AIR FORCE by ten

Liberty Bowl -- Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-5) v Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-6) : Both teams proved that they can really play when they want, so the question is who wants this more?  The SEC is always grinding to dominate the bowls, while I think the Raiders expected to do better this season, and might view this bowl as a letdown (although, given the prominence of the Liberty Bowl, they shouldn't).  I'm not sure how serious Texas Tech will be.  MISSISSIPPI STATE by eleven

Holiday Bowl -- UCLA Bruins (8-4) v #17 NC State Wolfpack (9-3) : The Holiday Bowl is often an explosive offensive performance.  While both of these teams have the capacity for that, the defenses are good enough to prevent a teeter-totter of big scoring plays.  NC STATE by nine

Guaranteed Rate Bowl -- West Virginia Mountaineers (6-6) v #22 Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-4) : The Big Ten becomes the last conference to debut in the bowls, and it starts with a bang.  The Golden Gophers were conference title contenders up to the last week of the season, and they showed that they were no slough.  West Virginia has some strength, but their offense isn't consistent enough to stand against the tough Gophers defense.  MINNESOTA by 16

Wed Dec 29

Fenway Bowl -- SMU Mustangs (8-4) v Virginia Cavaliers (6-6) : Boston joins New York as a city hosting a football bowl game in a baseball stadium. It features two teams who had two different trajectories this season.  Virginia started hot, but fizzled.  SMU had inconsistencies early, but smoothed out and closed well.  I think that momentum will continue into this game.  SMU by 12

Pinstripe Bowl -- Maryland Terrapins (6-6) v Virginia Tech Hokies (6-6) : Maryland had a tough conference year, but they are dangerous non-conference opponents (just ask Texas).  Their offense can be scary effective, and the Hokies defense hasn't shown the consistent strength to hold up against that.  MARYLAND by eleven

Cheez-It Bowl -- Clemson Tigers (9-3) v Iowa State Cyclones (7-5) : Quick, what do you eat while watching the Cheez-It Bowl?  Certainly not Fritos.  Anyway, think about your snack food, because the game isn't likely to be very fulfilling.  Too many Cyclones are passing on the game, and Clemson isn't the team they have been in recent years.  They will likely LOOK like that team, as they won't get much resistance from Iowa State, but that doesn't necessary mean this will be a really satisfying game.  CLEMSON by 18

Alamo Bowl -- Oregon Ducks (10-2) v #9 Oklahoma Sooners (10-2) : Lots of people are excited about this game, but it won't end well for the Ducks.  Not only does the Pac-12 tend to struggle in all bowl games except the Rose Bowl, the Ducks are not as good as they think they are.  While Oklahoma failed to reach the Big XII Championship, they are a championship-caliber team, and they have the chance to prove that by shredding the Ducks.  OKLAHOMA by 20

 

NFL 2021 Week 15 picks

 Thursday night

Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers : The Chiefs are on the rise!  The Chargers are too inconsistent to truly believe in, while the Chiefs definitely seem to have ironed out the problems they had in the first seven weeks of the season. CHIEFS, 24-17

Saturday games

Las Vegas Raiders at Cleveland Browns : The Raiders are self-destructing at an accelerating rate.  Meanwhile, the Browns are coming off a tremendous upset of the Ravens, and are feeling good about themselves.  I don't expect to see much offense in this game, but the Browns have the style of defense to win these types of games.  BROWNS, 16-13

New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts : Both teams had byes last week, and both were on hot streaks going into that bye.  When it comes to sheer offensive firepower, nobody has been doing better lately than the Patriots.  Can the Colts defense slow them down enough?  I don't think so.  PATRIOTS, 34-23

Sunday early games

Arizona Cardinals at Detroit Lions : The Cardinals have a great chance to get back to their winning ways.  CARDINALS, 31-13

Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills : The return of Cam Newton has rejuvenated the Panthers, but the Falcons showed they still have lots of flaws to fix.  The Bills have their own problem, but the strength of their offense will keep them going this game.  BILLS, 28-16

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants : Easy pick.  COWBOYS, 27-13

Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars : I don't think any team has a worse offense right now than the Texans, who just can't sustain a drive.  Their once-vaulted defense has collapsed as well, so the Jaguars, once a winless team, just leap upwards with their third victory.  JAGS, 13-10

New York Jets at Miami Dolphins : Historically, these games are often close offensive battles.  Given the Jets' offensive woes, I don't think we'll see that.  The Jets defense might keep it a bit close, but we won't be lighting up the scoreboard.  DOLPHINS, 24-16

Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers : The Steelers are another team in trouble.  They have the talent to beat opponents, but their spirit seems to fizzle at some point in games.  The Titans play complete games, and that should seal their victory.  TITANS, 26-16

Washington at Philadelphia Eagles : Washington to hot right now, and Taylor Heineke is finding ways to move the ball.  The Eagles offense is no slouch, either, so this game could be heated.  Really either team could win, so I'll favor the better rested team.  EAGLES, 20-17

Sunday late games

Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers : The Falcons pulled out an amazing game last week, but I do not think it is the start of a trend.  While the 49ers have been up and down this season, they seem to have ironed out some of their problems, and that, along with their defense, gives them the edge here.  49ERS, 23-17

Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos : The Bengals are in free fall, and I don't think they know what is causing it.  That seems to indicate that they still have more of a decline in front of them, as this game will likely expose.  BRONCOS, 24-17

Green Bay Packers at Baltimore Ravens : Green Bay has an intense offense right now, despite some injuries.  The Ravens have a dynamic offense, but it hasn't been firing well recently.  Can their defense keep them in this game?  Maybe.  I'll pick the Pack, but the Ravens might pull this one out.  PACKERS, 24-20

Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams : The Rams won last week with a bunch of replacements.  They have to do it again, as they have lost Odell Beckham Jr and three other offensive players to COVID.  If they don't get the discipline in place to prevent these players from engaging risky behavior, they may not have a team to field by the end of the season.  For this week, though, they can probably survive on their defense, as the Seahawks offense has completely dissolved this season.  RAMS, 16-13

Sunday night

New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Bucs : The Saints offense isn't as strong as it was under Brees, and the Bucs are just lighting things up.  BUCS, 31-16

Monday Night Football

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears : My Bears hate Monday Night.  VIKINGS, 24-16

NFL 2021 Week 14 results

 Well, for a change, there were few upsets for a week that seemed so easy to pick.  Definitely surprises this week: Atlanta pulled off a win and the Ravens fell (and lost Lamar Jackson in the process).  Cincy almost pulled off a fabulous comeback, and if they could figure out how to tackle, they WOULD have completed that comeback.

Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  New England Patriots (9-4) [2] : How's this for interesting?  Take a bye week and STILL advance to the top spot!

2.  Tampa Bay Bucs (10-3) [4] : The Super Bowl Champs are repeating their same path from last season

3.  Arizona Cardinals (10-3) [1] : Man, they didn't look good AT ALL on Monday

4.  Buffalo Bills (7-6) [3] : They took the Bucs to overtime, so that was good

5.  Dallas Cowboys (9-4) [5]

6.  Kansas City Chiefs (9-4) [10] : They thoroughly drubbed the Raiders, and they are looking better each week

7.  Los Angeles Rams (9-4) [7] : They beat Arizona with six new players promoted from the practice squad to replace COVID-plagued players

8.  Indianapolis Colts (7-6) [6]

9.  Green Bay Packers (10-3) [9]

10. Tennessee Titans (9-4) [12] : They shut out Jacksonville.  Is that really so special at this point?

11. Cincinnati Bengals (7-6) [8] : Two bad losses in a row.  They are on a downward spiral

12. Denver Broncos (7-6) [15] 

Division Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  NFC West [1] : Impressive performances all around

2.  AFC East [2] 

3.  AFC West [4] : KC rolled again, and both the Broncos and Chargers shined

4.  AFC North [3] : Only Cleveland looked good

5.  NFC South [6] : New Orleans and Atlanta had great weeks

6.  NFC East [5] : Washington played Dallas close, but ultimately not a stellar week 

7.  AFC South [7] : Tennessee had a good week

8.  NFC North [8] : Wins by Green Bay and Minnesota almost bridged the gap with the AFC South

NCAA Football 2021 Bowl picks (part 1)

 The bowl season has expanded again, increasing the number of bowls to 42.  Every single FBS team that is eligible for a bowl is going, so I cannot comment on undeserving teams or ignored teams.  Let's dive right into the bowls.  For this column, I start at the beginning and over the first six days.

Friday, Dec 17

Bahamas Bowl -- Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (6-6) v Toledo Rockets (7-5) : The MAC hasn't had much to cheer about in their non-conference contests, and I don't figure the conference will do well this bowl season.  However, they should start out with a win.  Toledo often does well in bowls, and they have a tough team with a stingy defense.  The Blue Raiders don't respond well to stiff defenses, so this should be a hard game for them.  TOLEDO by ten

Cure Bowl -- Northern Illinois Huskies (9-4) v #15 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (10-2) : Oh, man, someone doesn't like the MAC!  One of the best chances for a conference bowl win would be Northern Illinois, who started slowly this season but has one of the best late season streaks in the country.  Yet they are paired with the Chanticleers, who were ranked for most of the season and ran unbeaten until very late.  Tough break for the Huskies.  COASTAL CAROLINA by 13

Saturday, Dec 18

Boca Raton Bowl -- Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (8-5) v #25 Appalachian State Mountaineers (10-3) : The Sun Belt has three ranked teams, and two of them are featured in the first two days of the bowls.  That doesn't seem fair, but it shows how little respect the country has for the conference, despite having one of the best overall bowl records over the past few seasons.  Maybe this year they can start to gain their well-deserved respect.  A blowout here should go a long way.  APPALACHIAN STATE by 18

New Mexico Bowl -- UTEP Miners (7-5) v Fresno State Bulldogs (9-3) : The Miners can be a tough team, but the Bulldogs have been impressive at times this season, especially against tough opponents.  The Bulldogs also have a history of doing well in bowl games.  FRESNO STATE by 11

Independence Bowl -- UAB Blazers (8-4) v BYU Cougars (10-2) : The Blazers are a good team, but they're just overmatched here.  BYU by 24

Lending Tree Bowl -- Eastern Michigan Eagles (7-5) v Liberty Flames (7-5) : My first potential upset!  Eastern Michigan struggled against non-conference opponents, and Liberty started the year strong.  The Flames somewhat sputtered in the later part of the season, though, while Eastern Michigan surprised some strong MAC opponents and cause some problems for conference contenders.  I think Liberty will get it together, but the Eagles might pull off an upset.  LIBERTY by six

LA Bowl -- Utah State Aggies (10-3) v Oregon State Beavers (7-5) : Our newest bowl, engineered by Jimmy Kimmel himself, could be the most interesting one of the day.  It features the Mountain West Champions against a late season Pac-12 power.  While I don't think the Beavers have the strength to beat the Aggies, they are a scrappy bunch, and will certainly fight hard.  UTAH STATE by 13

New Orleans Bowl -- #12 Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (12-1) v Marshall Thundering Herd (7-5) : Marshall can be a tough team, but they seem to falter in bowl games.  Louisiana won the Sun Belt for the first time, and ended up the highest-ranked Sun Belt team.  They should excel in this game.  LOUISIANA by 16

Monday, Dec 20

Myrtle Beach Bowl -- Old Dominion Monarchs (6-6) v Tulsa Golden Hurricane (6-6) : The records are the same, but Tulsa faced much tougher competition in the American Athletic Conference.  They are the sturdier and better team.  TULSA by 12

Tuesday, Dec 21

Idaho Potato Bowl -- Kent State Golden Flashes (7-6) v Wyoming Cowboys (6-6) : Another MAC flop.  The Cowboys are better than their 6-6 record, and they want to prove that.  Kent State may have surprised MAC opponents to reach the MAC Championship game, but their non-conference record stinks.  WYOMING by 14

Frisco Bowl -- #16 UTSA Roadrunners (12-1) v San Diego State Aztecs (11-2) : We have the Mountain West runner-up against the Conference USA winner.  This is our first match-up of double-digit winning teams, and both are strong offensive squads.  The Aztecs have a slightly better defense, but I don't think that defense is good enough to stop the Roadrunners, even with help from Acme (sorry, old cartoon joke).  This should be an excitingly close game, though.  UTSA by ten

Wednesday, Dec 22

Armed Forces Bowl -- Missouri Tigers (6-6) v Army Black Knights (8-4) : Army may have lost to Navy, but this is their bowl and they have something to prove.  ARMY by 16

Thursday, Dec 23

Frisco Classic -- North Texas Mean Green (6-6) v Miami Ohio Redbirds (6-6) : Doesn't a game have to have a history to be a classic? Okay, it is a classic baseball game, but not college football.  Created basically as a means to allow a Texas school to get an additional bowl game, there is a reason why North Texas would have missed the bowls.  Despite some struggles this season, I think this game will allow the MAC to gain another bowl victory.  MIAMI OHIO by six

Gasparilla Bowl -- UCF Golden Knights (8-4) v Florida Gators (6-6) : Florida can be tough in bowl games, so an upset might be brewing, but UCF has a great bowl history, and a tough defense to boot.  The Gators have not done well against tough defenses this season.  UCF by nine

NFL 2021 Week 14 picks

 I'm picking a large number of home teams this week.  The fans will be happy about that, but most weeks don't end with so many home victories.  I smell potential upsets in the water.

Thursday night

Pittsburgh Steelers at Minnesota Vikings : Here's an upset I'm picking.  The Steelers came on strong last week and shocked the Ravens.  They have also played the other NFC North teams tough.  However, I think they may have outdone themselves last week against the Ravens.  That victory took a physical toll, and I'm not sure they're up to competing against a Vikings squad that, when they get clicking, have an offense as tough as anyone's.  VIKINGS, 21-16

Sunday early games

Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers : Carolina has had some bad breaks, and lost some close games, but their team is not bad.  Atlanta just can't seem to get it together.  They have the talent to win this game, but they haven't utilized that talent throughout the season, and I see no reason to expect it to appear now.  PANTHERS, 23-20

Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns : Another "old Browns versus new Browns" game, and it comes following a tough loss by the Ravens.  They don't want to lose two in a row, so they'll fight extra hard this game.  RAVENS, 27-16

Dallas Cowboys at Washington : Washington is improving, but they still can't compete with the Dallas offense.  COWBOYS, 31-16

Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans : This should be a blowout.  TITANS, 27-13

Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs : Man, it's really hard to pick the Raiders.  They have the talent and the sneaky playbook to win, but they also have a tendency to hurt themselves in the game.  I think the up-tempo offense of the Chiefs will cause the Raiders to make some mistakes, handing the game to the Chiefs.  CHIEFS, 24-20

New Orleans Saints at New York Jets : The Jets are really struggling.  The Saints are still trying to find a consistent offense, but their defense will down the Jets.  SAINTS, 20-13

Seattle Seahawks at Houston Texans : Neither team has a functioning offense.  In years past, I would pick Houston in a defensive battle, but they can't get out of their way this season.  SEAHAWKS, 16-13

Sunday late games

Buffalo Bills at Tampa Bay Bucs : Unlike the previous game, this one will be an offensive showdown.  That normally benefits the Bills, but they've been making some mistakes recently, too.  BUCS, 34-30

Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos : Good news!  The Lions won last week.  Bad news -- they won't make it two in a row.  Not with the Broncos' defense against them.  BRONCOS, 23-13

New York Giants at Los Angeles Chargers : This will be a defensive battle, although the Chargers have the edge there.  CHARGERS, 17-10

San Francisco 49ers at Cincinnati Bengals : A week after a huge win over Pittsburgh the Bengals got stopped by the Chargers.  They will work hard this week shoring up some holes in preparation for another tough defense.  BENGALS, 27-20

Sunday night

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers : Well, at least I get to see my Bears play.  I'll get to see them lose, but I'll get to see them play.  PACKERS, 27-17

Monday Night Football

Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals : Despite the difference in records, this is definitely a potential upset.  When they get clicking, the Rams can be extremely hard to stop.  The Cardinals certainly have the offense to keep pace, the defense to try to slow them, but if the Rams really get smoking, this game will go their way.  CARDINALS, 33-31

 

NFL 2021 Week 13 results

 A little movement at the top, but the Power Rankings are starting to solidify.

Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  Arizona Cardinals (10-2) [1] : Still proving why they are on top

2.  New England Patriots (9-4) [2] : Strong defensive play in such adverse conditions

3.  Buffalo Bills (7-5) [3] : Offense still sputters at times

4.  Tampa Bay Bucs (9-3) [4]

5.  Dallas Cowboys (8-4) [6] : Nice bounce back from the Thanksgiving Day loss

6.  Indianapolis Colts (7-6) [8] : After New England, perhaps the hottest team right now

7.  Los Angeles Rams (8-4) [11] : HUGE victory for them!

8.  Cincinnati Bengals (7-5) [5] : Big stumble

9.  Green Bay Packers (9-3) [7]

10. Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) [12] : Impressive win.  They are coming back!

11. Philadelphia Eagles (6-6) [14] : This team is getting stronger

12. Tennessee Titans (8-4) [10]

 Divisional Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  NFC West [1] : Lots of power in this division

2.  AFC East [3] : A Dolphins win and a close game between the Pats and Bills boosted this division

3.  AFC North [2] : The division leaders faltered

4.  AFC West [4] : Chiefs and Chargers rolled!

5.  NFC East [6] : The Giants are a bit of a drag, but Washington's win helped out

6.  NFC South [5] : Tampa rolled, but the others folded

7.  AFC South [8] : Colts win big, but the bottom two lost even bigger

8.  NFC North [7] : Detroit won their first game, and that is the sole good news in the division this week

NCAA Football 2021 Championship Week results

 Wow, there were plenty of upsets among these games!  Congratulations to the state of Utah.  Both of their teams came into their games as underdogs.  Not only did both teams win, they won handily, completing dominating their opponents.  Utah is headed to the Rose Bowl, likely facing an Iowa team who was upended by Michigan.  Not only will this be the first Rose Bowl trip for Utah, it looks like a winning effort.

Top 25 [Last week's position]

1.  Cincinnati Bearcats (12-0) [2] : For the first time, I have a Group of Five team atop my Top 25 at the conclusion of the regular season.  They deserve it, especially the way they completely turned things around in the third quarter to take control of the American Athletic Conference Championship.

2.  Michigan Wolverines (12-1) [3] : They won the Big Ten for the first time since 2004 and are heading for a chance to win a National Title for the first time since 1997.

3.  Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) [5] : Despite looking weak over the past four weeks, they reached inside themselves to beat Georgia.  I'm not sure they are set up to win the National Championship, however, until they work out their inconsistencies.

4.  Georgia Bulldogs (12-1) [1] : They suffered their first loss of the season and lost their Number One spot.

5.  Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-1) [4] : They are on the outside of the National Championship playoffs.

6.  Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2) [7]

7.  Baylor Bears (11-2) [8] : They shocked Oklahoma State, and held them feet from the end zone, to knock the Cowboys out of a possible playoff spot.

8.  Oklahoma State Cowboys (11-2) [6]

9.  Oklahoma Sooners (10-2) [9]

10. Michigan State Spartans (10-2) [11]

11. Houston Cougars (11-2) [10]

12. Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (12-1) [15] : Impressive win for the Ragin Cajuns, finally beating Appalachian State for a Sun Belt title after four tries.

13. Pitt Panthers (11-2) [18] : Utter defensive dominance in the second half to overwhelm Wake Forest and win their first ever ACC title.

14. Utah Utes (10-3) [19] : Smothered the Ducks to capture their first Pac-12 title

15. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (10-2) [14]

16. UTSA Roadrunners (12-1) [17] : The Roadrunners won their first conference title in school history

17. NC State Wolfpack (9-3) [16]

18. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (10-3) [13] : They just self-destructed in the second half

19. Iowa Hawkeyes (10-3) [12] : Their lack of a consistent offense was clearly on display against Michigan's defense

20. Ole Miss Rebels (10-2) [21]

21. Texas A&M Aggies (8-4) [23]

22. Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-4) [24]

23. Air Force Falcons (9-3) [26]

24. Wisconsin Badgers (8-4) [27]

25. Appalachian State Mountaineers (10-3) [25]

On the Edge: Clemson Tigers (9-3), Utah State Aggies (10-3), Iowa State Cyclones (7-5), BYU Cougars (10-2), Fresno State Bulldogs (9-3), Nevada Wolf Pack (8-4)

Dropped off: Oregon Ducks [#20], San Diego State Aztecs [#22]

NFL 2021 Week 13 picks

 It was entirely too easy to make my picks this week.  I fear some upsets are on the horizon.

Thursday night

Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints : The Cowboys are hoping to avoid on two consecutive Thursdays.  I think that chance is good.  The Saints offense has struggled most of the season, and injuries leave them without key players at key positions.  Their defense is good, but not good enough to stop the Cowboys, as the Saints won't score much.  COWBOYS, 24-10

Sunday early games

Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears : My Bears won't win two in a row.  CARDINALS, 34-17

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans : Houston is sinking fast.  The Colts can be inconsistent, but they have enough power to burn through the Texans weakened lines.  COLTS, 27-13

Los Angeles Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals : The Bengals floundered their power last wee against the Steelers.  The Chargers should have the defense to slow them down, but the Chargers seem to have some spark lately.  They have certainly lost that offensive spark, so if their defense doesn't step back up, they won't last long.  BENGALS, 31-17

Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions : It seems like it will just be a matter of time before Lions win a game, but I don't think it'll happen here.  The Vikings have picked things up lately, and really have their offense flowing.  The defense still needs some work, but the ragtag Lions offense won't offer them much of a challenge.  VIKINGS, 27-13

New York Giants at Miami Dolphins : This is really a toss-up.  Both teams have struggled at times this season, and both have some injury issues to deal with.  I think Miami has a bit more to offer, so I'll favor them.  DOLPHINS, 17-16

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets : The Eagles stick around New Jersey to play a New York team for the second consecutive week.  This time I think the end result will be different.  The Jets have less on both offense and defense than the Giants, and they still can't seem to get themselves to work together.  The Eagles are dangerous when they come together, and I think the chaos of the Jets will be the right "wake up" call for the Eagles.  EAGLES, 21-13

Tampa Bay Bucs at Atlanta Falcons : The Bucs offense will roll over the Falcons, who will not be able to keep up.  BUCS, 31-20

Sunday late games

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers : The Steelers were thoroughly embarrassed last week by Cincy, and they certainly want to prevent a repeat performance this week.  Their defense will stiffen, but their offense still lacks cohesion and power.  The Ravens will find just enough holes in the defense to move the ball better.  RAVENS, 17-10

Jacksonville Jaguars at Los Angeles Rams : The Rams have some troubles against tough teams, but that doesn't apply to Jacksonville.  RAMS, 20-10

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks : Seattle's offense is starting to reach "epic fail" proportions.  They have talent, they just can't seem to get it together.  Penalties have been a major problem, too.  49ERS, 16-6

Washington at Las Vegas Raiders : This game could go either way.  The Raiders have talent, and has some sneaky plays in their playbook, they also self-destruct at the worst times.  Washington, after a slow start, has been heating up recently.  They might get past the Raiders, but the Raiders have a nasty tendency to win when I pick against them in close games, so I'll give in.  RAIDERS, 26-24

Sunday night

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs : The Chiefs were starting to find themselves before the bye, and the extra week gave me a chance to heal up and sharpen up.  The Broncos defense might make things hard for them, but I think the Chiefs will prevail.  CHIEFS, 23-17

Monday Night Football

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills : Prepare for an offensive explosion!  These two teams will light up the scoreboard.  At the start of the season I had Buffalo picked for this game, but there isn't a hotter team right now than the Patriots, and the Bills have been underachievers this season.  PATRIOTS, 34-31