NFL 2022 Week 17 picks

 We're getting close to the end of the regular season, and there are plenty of playoff spots still available.  These next two weeks are crucial for some teams.  Half of the playoff spots are still open: three in the AFC and four in the NFC.  Half of the division titles are still open, including the highly-competitive AFC North and NFC East.  Many of these games can affect playoff spots, including which teams want to play spoiler.

Thursday night

Dallas Cowboys at Tennessee Titans : This one is an easy pick.  The Titans defense is okay, but I don't think they can slow down Dallas enough.  The Cowboys are strong on both sides of the ball, with a devastating offense.  COWBOYS, 34-13

Sunday early games

Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons : Both teams are out of playoff contention, but that doesn't mean they don't play.  For Arizona, it's a matter of pride.  They have played many games close, so they want to prove to themselves that they can win games.  CARDS, 20-16

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buca : how's this for an interesting situation?  If the Panthers beat the Bucs, they jump over them in the division standings, taking the lead if New Orleans loses.  That's motivation.  Tom Brady will make that hard.  The Bucs are finally starting to find some rhythm, but it takes two and a half quarters to find it.  If the Panthers get too large a lead, the Bucs will not win, but the Bucs defense has kept things close recently.  This one will be close.  BUCS, 17-16

Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions : The Bears defense is a bit disfunctional these days, which gives the Lions the edge.  LIONS, 31-20

Cleveland Browns at Washington Commanders : The Commanders are playing for a playoff berth.  Taylor Heineke has breathed some life into that offense, and the defense has strength.  The Browns have been chronic underachievers after a decent start, so I think Washington's playoff hopes still exist.  COMMANDERS, 20-13

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs: As I write this, the Broncos don't have a head coach, not even an interim one.  With no direction, they will be easy pickings.  CHIEFS, 34-10

Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants : Who will play QB for the Colts?  Does it matter?  The Colts offense has dissolved.  Their defense still has life, and they will be looking to create some turnovers.  So long as Saquon holds onto the ball, the Giants should win.  GIANTS, 20-10

Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans : I foresaw a Texans upset last week, but not this time.  The Jags offense is good, and the Texans defense has been off-center this season.  JAGUARS, 31-10

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots : Either team could win this game, and both teams are playing for a playoff spot.  For Miami, it's "win and in".  The Patriots have a harder row to hoe, but that won't diminish their effort.  Both teams lost last week, so it's a "bounce back" game for each team.  I think Miami has the better chance, but this game will go down to the last possession.  DOLPHINS, 27-24

Sunday late games

Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers : Despite a historic margin of victory for the Rams, the Battle of LA should go to the Chargers.  Their offense is kicking and their defense is stiff, and the Rams just haven't shown much offense all season (last week being an exception).  CHARGERS, 23-13

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers : The Packers are starting to show some life, but it's a bit too late.  A playoff spot is possible, but the Vikings are just good enough to hold them back.  VIKINGS, 27-17

New York Jets at Seattle Seahawks : The Jets are starting to fade.  The Seahawks haven't been stellar, but they get an extra boost at home.  SEAHAWKS, 20-16

San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders : Perhaps the hottest team in the league right now is the 49ers.  The Raiders can be a spoiler sometimes, but the 49ers will shut them down.  49ERS, 27-16

Sunday night

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens : Cody Pickett is slowly getting better, but he won't get past the stiff Ravens defense.  RAVENS, 17-10

Monday Night Football

Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals : This might be the most interesting game of the week.  If Cincinnati beats Buffalo, they assume the top spot in the AFC.  If Buffalo wins, they clinch the Number One seed and home field advantage/  I think the Bills can do it, but the Bengals will certainly make that difficult.  BILLS, 27-20

NFL 2022 Week 16 results

 Not much movement in the top of the rankings, although we have a new Number One.  The bottom, though, has plenty of action.

Power Rankings [Last week's ranking]

1.  BUFFALO BILLS (12-5) [2]

2.  Philadelphia Eagles (13-2) [2] : Looking lacking against the Cowboys

3.  San Francisco 49ers (11-4) [3]

4.  Dallas Cowboys (11-4) [4]

5.  Kansas City Chiefs (12-3) [5]

6.  Cincinnati Bengals (11-4) [6]

7.  Baltimore Ravens (10-5) [7]

8.  New England Patriots (8-7) [8]

9.  Minnesota Vikings (12-3) [9]

10. Jacksonville JAguars (7-8) [14]

11. Miami Dolphins (8-7) [10]

12. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) [NR] : The largest margin of victory in team history!

13. New York Jets (7-8) [11]

14. New Orleans Saints (7-8) [17]

Divisional Rankings [Last week's rank]

1.  AFC East [1]

2.  NFC East [2]

3.  AFC North [3]

4.  AFC West [4]

5.  NFC North [5]

6.  NFC West [6]

7.  NFC South [7]

8.  AFC South [8]

NCAA Football 2022 Bowl picks, part II

 As I write this, the Quick Lane Bowl has ended.  I started the bowl season with success picks, but have run 2-3 in my last five picks.  Let's see if I can't recapture the magic.

Wed Dec 28

Military Bowl : UCF Golden Knights (9-4) v #24 Duke Blue Devils : I sniff an upset here, but the starting success of the ACC in these bowl games makes me a bit less concerned.  DUKE by six

Liberty Bowl : Kansas Jayhawks (6-6) v Arkansas Razorbacks (6-6) : Speaking of upsets, here's a potential one, especially given the shakystart of the SEC.  Still, the inexperience of Kansas in bowl games will be telling, and I have to give the edge to the Razorbacks.  ARKANSAS by four

Holiday Bowl : #14 Oregon Ducks (9-3) v North Carolina Tar Heels (9-4) : North Carolina had a great year, but they were a bit shaky at the end.  Oregon, after their embarrassing opening loss, really poured it on.  The Ducks have a potent offense, which I think will prove to be too much for the Heels.  OREGON by 13

Texas Bowl : Texas Tech Read Raiders (7-5) v Ole Miss Rebels (8-4) : I don't care that it is practically a home field advantage for the Red Raiders.  Texas teams do not have a great TExas Bowl record, and Ole Miss will just wear down Tech.  OLE MISS by nine

Thurs Dec 29

Pinstripe Bowl : Syracuse Orange (7-5) v #21 Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-4) : Ooh this should be a good game!  Minnesota has the better offensive firepower, but the Orange have special teams and a tenacious defense on their side.  In the end I think the Gophers will precail, but it will certainly be a hostile environment for them.  MINNESOTA by eight

Cheez-It Bowl : Oklahoma Sooners (6-6) v #11 Florida State Seminoles (9-3) : While you should never count out Oklahoma, this was a typical year for them.  Florida State is a strong team, and should win this one failry easily.  FLORIDA STATE by 18

Alamo Bowl : #13 Texas Longhorns (8-4) v #12 Washington Huskies (10-2) : With only one position separating these two teams, this one looks like the closest game, at least on paper.  However, these games are not played on paper.  Texas has a strong offense, but when that offense sputters, they suffer.  The Huskies have a solid defense that can make that offense sputter.  WASHINGTON by 13

Fri Dec 30

Mayo Bowl : Maryland Terrapins (7-5) v NC State Wolf Pack (8-4) : While I would love to see the Terps win, picking against the ACC this bowl season does not seem like a wise thing to do.  NC STATE by six

Sun Bowl : Pitt Panthers (8-4) v $17 UCLA Bruins (9-3) : On the other side of the ACC, Pitt had an up and down season, while the Bruins were a strong team -- they just faced a few other strong teams in the Pac-12 this year.  UCLA by 14

Gator Bowl : #20 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-4) v South Carolina Gamecocks (8-4) : Sad to say, Gamecock fans have moved on, cheering their womens basketball team.  The Irish sputtered early in the season but finished strong, and that momentum will continue here.  NOTRE DAME by 13

Arizona Bowl : Ohio Bobcats (9-4) v Wyoming cowboys (7-5) : The Cowboys could win this game, but you can never be sure which Wyoming team will show up.  I like the consistently strong play by the Bobcats.  OHIO by 16

Orange Bowl : #8 Tennessee Volunteers (10-2) v #10 Clemson Tigers (11-2) : The ACC Champs face off against a strong SEC team.  Clemson overhyped their QB pre-season, and as such was surprised that they didn't win so easily.  They became more focused and started winning better, but I think the overwhelming victory in the ACC Championship Game will work agaisnst them, as they will believe too much in their "natural" ability, and fall prey to the powerful Tennessee Vols.  TENNESSEE by eight

Sat Dec 31

Music City Bowl : Iowa Hawkeyes (7-5) v Kentucky Wildcats (7-5) : Defense will control this game, as that is the strong point of Iowa and the more complex scheme of Kentucky.  Unfortunately for the SEC, they don't like really strong defenses.  Kentucky's defense kept SEC opponents on their toes, but it won't be so strange to Iowa.  IOWA by six

Sugar Bowl : #6 Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2) v #18 Kansas State Wildcats (10-3) : I think Alabama will sink themselves here.  With no National Championship to play for, and so many players vying for NFL positions, I think too many of their star players will sit out this bowl game, allowing the Wildcats to roll over them.  KANSAS STATE by 18

Fiesta Bowl : #2 Michigan Wolverines (13-0) v #7 TCU Horned Frogs (12-1) : Let's face it, Michigan just has the better team.  TCU has a good record, but that's only because too many Big XII teams had a down year.  MICHIGAN by 20

Peach Bowl : #1 Georgia Bulldogs (13-0) v #3 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) : Don't count out the Buckeyes.  Yes, they trailed at halftime in a few games, and yest they lost big to rival Michigan, and yest their defense isn't what it often is, but this team has perhaps the most potent offense in the country.  Their loss to Michigan might be a wake-up call, and remember that Ohio State beat Georgia the last time these two met.  I think Georgia has the edge (rightly), but if they slack off at all, or the game is within a single score at the half (because no team makes better halftime adjustments than Ohio State, with the possible exception of Alabama), this game may belong to the Buckeyes.  GEORGIA by three

Mon Jan 2

RellaQuest (formerly Outback) Bowl : #23 Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-4) v #22 Illinois Fighting Illini (8-4) : The Bulldogs had a good team this season, but Illinois has one of the toughest defenses in the country.  They have back some key tools missing in the last weeks of the season, so they are potent and hungry.  ILLINOIS by eight

Citrus Bowl : #25 LSU Tigers (9-4) v Purdue Boilermakers (8-5) : Here's an interesting game, with the SEC runner-up facing the Big Ten runner-up.  LSU definitely has the better team, as they beat Alabama.  However, if they get cocky, and believe that Purdue doesn't really belong here, the Boilermakers could pull off a couple of their amazing offensive drives and take a lead.  LSU by eight

Cotton Bowl : #9 USC Trojans (11-2) v #15 Tulane Green Wave (11-2) : No knock against Tulane, but they are overmatched here.  USC by 23

Rose Bowl : #4 Utah Utes (10-3) v #5 Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2) : Here's a fun game.  You have the powerful offense of the Utes against the tough defense of the Lions.  Normally I'd pick the defense over the offense, but Penn State also has a nasty tendency to cough off the ball at least once a game in important situations, and that might make the difference.  UTAH by four

NFL 2022 Week 16 picks

 Thursday night

Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets : This could be an interesting game.  The Jets offenses is sputtering a bit lately, but their defense is sound.  The Jags offense moves well, but their defense has holes.  Which squad will prevail?  Trevor Lawrence can be some unpredictable things, so I'll pick them to surprise the Jets a bit.  JAGUARS, 21-16

Saturday early games

Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens : The Falcons will be shut down by the tight Ravens defense.  RAVENS, 17-13

Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears : The Bills will overwhelm the young Bears defense.  BILLS, 31-20

Cincinnati Bengals at New England Patriots : This game could go either way, but I like the way that the Bengals control the pace of the game.  The Patriots, despite the massive experience of Coach Belichik, has messed that up a couple of times this season.  BENGALS, 27-23

Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers : Who is the hottest team right now, with the best winning streak?  The Lions, of course.  This team is chasing a possible playoff spot, and I'm not sure we can question that.  Jared Goff has this team working, and they are becoming an offensive machine.  LIONS, 27-16

Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans : Houston is due for another win, and the Titans have certainly played sloppy games.  I won't pick them, as any Texans win should be considered an upset, but watch out for them.  TITANS, 16-10

New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns : The Saints are marching in!  They seem to have ironed out many of their offensive problems, and that makes them dangerous. The Browns defense started the season well, but they have faded.  SAINTS, 24-16

New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings : The Giants defense will slow down the Vikings, but they have too many weaknesses to stop them.  VIKINGS, 28-23

Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs : The Seahawks won't give the Chiefs too much trouble.  If the Chiefs can prevent beating themselves, they should keep pace with the Bills.  CHIEFS, 31-20

Saturday late games

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys : This could be a real battle, but the Boys have been a bit off the last couple of weeks.  The Eagles are the top team in the league, and they wear down opponents.  The Boys are a bit thin at spots, and that won't help.  EAGLES, 27-24

Washington Commanders at San Francisco 49ers : The 49ers have a strong defense and their offense has come alive recently.  They are a strong team who will not be distracted by some of Tyalor Heineke's tricks.  49ERS, 24-17

Saturday night

Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers : Mitch Trubiskey had a rare great game last week.  The Steelers cannot rely on that.  RAIDERS, 24-17

Sunday games

Green Bay Packers at Miami Dolphins : The Packers are starting to get their offense in order, just in time to face the tough and physical Dolphins defense.  DOLPHINS, 24-17

Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Rams : Both teams have been a major disappointment.  Who will emerge victorious in what will likely be a messy game?  I think the Rams will find a bit of the charm they had in last year's postseason.  RAMS, 16-13

Tampa Bay Bucs at Arizona Cardinals : The Cardinals can surprise, and the Bucs have been up and down throughout the season.  Tom Brady seems to be getting his bearings, though, and that is always dangerous.  BUCS, 20-16

Monday Night Football

Los Angeles Chargers at Indianapolis Colts :The Colts are struggling, and teh Chargers defense won't make it any easier for them.  CHARGERS, 20-16

NFL 2022 Week 15 results

 Not too much shake-up in the Power Rankings, but we had some surprising moves.

Power Rankings [Last week's ranking]

1.  PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (13-1) [1]

2.  Buffalo Bills (11-3) [2]

3.  San Francisco 49ers (10-4) [4]

4.  Dallas Cowboys (10-4) [3]

5.  Kansas City Chiefs (11-3) [5]

6.  Cincinnati Bengals (10-4) [6]

7.  Baltimore Ravens (9-5) [7]

8.  New England Patriots (8=6) [8]

9.  Minnesota Vikings (11-3)[9]

10. Miami Dolphins (8-6) [10]

11. New York Jets (7-7) [11]

12. Detroit Lions (7-7) [13]

13. Seattle Seahawks (7-7) [12]

14. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-8) [15]

Divisional Rankings [Last week's rank]

 1.  AFC EAST [1]

2.  NFC East [2]

3.  AFC North [3]

4.  AFC West [4]

5.  NFC North [6]

6.  NFC West [5]

7.  NFC South [7]

8.  AFC South [8]

NFL 2022 Week 15 picks

 The league begins their Saturday game run to the end of the regular season. I'm picking a lot of visiting teams this week -- I'm not comfortable with that.

Thursday night

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks : One team that has continuously tripped up the Seattle home field advantage has been the 49ers, and with their potent defense this year, they should continue that trend.  49ERS, 31-20

Saturday games

Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings : The Colts defense cannot hold back the powerful Vikings offense, and their sputtering offense can't keep pace.  VIKINGS, 30-16

Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns : Let's face it, the Ravens almost alwasy win these "old Browns versus new Browns" battles.  RAVENS, 17-10

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills : The Dolphins have a good team this year, but surpassing the powerful Bills can be a tall effort, especially after the Jets played them so close last week.  The Bills will put out a better performance this week.  BILLS, 31-23

Sunday early games

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints : I'd love to pick the Falconss, but some home teams have to make a stand this week, and the Saints often do that.  SAINTS, 24-23

Dallas Cowboys at Jacksonville Jaguars : This might be an offensive bonanza, but I think the Boys will have the edge in this one.  COWBOYS, 34-23

Detroit Lions at New York Jets : The Lions are really hot right now, while the jets are slipping.  It's a risk to pick against a decent home team, but I like the hot streak that the Lions are riding.  LIONS, 27-23

Kansas City Chiefs at Houston TExans : Well, this is an easy pick.  CHIEFS, 34-13

Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears : Unfortunately, so is this one.  EAGLES, 31-20

Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers : The Pantehrs are starting to show some strength, while the Steelers are still feeling out their new QB.  PANTHERS, 20-17

Sunday late games

Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos : The Cardinals have also been building up strength.  Denver just can't seem to consistently get it together, so they are just not a safe bet.  CARDINALS, 23-16

Cincinnati Bengals at Tampa Bay Bucs : Everyone talks about Bengals QB Joe Burrow, but it's the defense that been stellar this season.  That defense will frustrate the Bucs.  BENGALS, 24-10

New England Patriots at Las Vegas Raiders : The Pats defense make mincemeat out of the Cards last week, and I foresee a similar situation in Las Vegas.  PATS, 27-17

Tennessee Titans at Los Angeles Chargers : This one will be a defensive battle, which might give the Chargers the edge.  CHARGERS, 17-13

Sunday night

 New York Giants at Washington Commanders : The last time these two met, it ended in a tie.  Going into that game, the Giants were flying and the Commanders were fighting uphill.  Now the Commanders are doing well and the Giants have had some struggles.  That reversal of fortune opens the door for the Commanders to close this one.  COMMANDERS, 24-20

Monday Night Football

Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers : Here are two teams who have been disappointments this season.  In the past, when Green Bay has suffered from injuries (like this year), they have some out of their bue week stronger.  If they continue that history, they should be able to outplay the Rams.  PACK, 20-16

NFL 2022 Week 14 results

 Some upsets among the top reams shook up the Power Rankings this week.

Power Rankings [Last week's ranking]

1.  PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (12-1) [2] :  A strong win propels them into the lead

2.  Buffalo Bills (10-3) [1]

3.  Dallas Cowboys (10-3) [3]

4.  San Francisco 49ers (9-4) [5]

5.  Kansas City Chiefs (10-3) [4]

6.  Cincinnati Bengals (9-4) [6]

7.  Baltimore Ravens (9-4) [7]

8.  New England Patriots (7-6) [11]

9.  Minnesota Vikings (10-3) [8]

10.  Miami Dolphins (8-5) [9]

11. New York Jets (7-6) [10]

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-6) [12]

13. Detroit Lions (6-7) [16]

14. Washington Commanders (7-5-1) [15]

Divisional Rankings [Last week's ranking]

1.  AFC East [1]

2.  NFC East [2]

3.  AFC North [3]

4.  AFC West [4]

5.  NFC West [5]

6.  NFC North [6] : The development of the Lions is rising this division

7.  NFC South [6]

8.  AFC South [8]

NCAA Bowls 2022, part 1

 When Virginia was given a pass on their last games, I worried that the NCAA would automatically grant them an exception and a bowl slot, in sympathy for the slain players.  Fortunately, they did not do that.  However, one undeserving team still crept in.  Can anyone explain why Rice, with a 5-7 record, was awarded a bowl slot?  Absolutely no reason for that!

Withe over 40 games, this column could get busy, so I'm splitting it in two.  I'll split it nearly evenly, and cover the bowls through December 27th.

Friday Dec 16

Bahamas Bowl : Miami Ohio Redhawks (6-6) v UAB Blazers (6-6) :  The Redhawks have been a bit inconsistent this season.  When they are "on", they are strong.  When they aren't, they stink.  Which team will show up for this game?  Being a bowl game, you'd think it would be the strong team, but I fear not.  I'm a college professor, so I know that they modern student is too easily distracted by things around them, and being in the Bahamas is the ultimate distraction.  It takes a strict discipline to overcome that, but if the Redhawks coaching staff that that discipline, they wouldn't have been so inconsistent this season.  UAB by 13

Cure Bowl : #16 UTSA Roadrunners (11-2) v Troy Trojans (11-2) : The Roadrunners have been one of the most impressive teams over the past two years.  Still, they should not discount Troy.  Not only does the Sun Belt have an excellent record in bowl games, but Troy is a clever team with a large playbook.  No matter how much preparation you do, they will throw something at you that you don't expect.  Fortunately the Roadrunners have shown an excellent tendency to adapt.  UTSA by eight

Sat Dec 17

Fenway Bowl : Cincinnati Bearcats (9-3) v Louisville Cardinals (7-8) : These two former Big Ten teams meet again.  Cincy started the year strongly but stumbled near the end.  They'll use the bowl game as a REST button, and prepare strongly.  Louisville closed the season with some great performances, so they have the momentum coming into this game. This will be a close game, and I think the winner will pull a final amazing drive out of their sleeve.  CINCY by four

 New Mexico Bowl : SMU Mustangs (7-5) v BYU Cougars (7-5) : This is another great match-up.  BYU has a talented team, although they had trouble finishing close games.  BYU's downfall may be their own self-confidence.  The Courars have a nasty history of underestimating Group of Five teams, which is quite strange considering they came from the old WAC.  Underestimating SMU will be deadly, as their defense can get stiff.  That will also help them in what will likely be a close game.  SMU by six

LA Bowl : Washington State Cougars (7-5) v Fresno State Bulldogs (9-4) : We're only in our second day of bowls and we already have our second conference champion.  Fresno State, who had been an offensive powerhouse during the season, showed a stiff defense in the Mountain West title game.  That defense will prove advantageous here, as the Cougars struggle against tough defenses.  FRESNO STATE by 14

Lending Tree Mobile Bowl : Rice Owls (5-7) v Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (6-6) : Rice doesn't belong here, plain and simple.  So long as Southern Miss doesn't expect them to just roll over, the Eagles defense should prevail.  SOUTHERN MISS by 11

Las Vegas Bowl : Florida Gators (6-6) v #19 Oregon State Beavers (9-4) : Florida has a grand history of bowl victories, but the Gators were not the strong force they often are.  Oregon State has a good defense, and their special teams is a bit of sneakiness.  OREGON STATE by 16

Frisco Bowl : North Texas Mean Green (7-6) v Boise State Broncos (9-4) : Here's an interesting game, as two conference championship losers fave each other.  Both have something to prove.  Boise State has a bit more power, and they will unleash that after being curtailed by the Fresno State defense.  BOISE STATE by 16

Mon Dec 19

Myrtle Beach Bowl : Marshall Thundering Herd (8-4) v UConn Huskies (6-6) : UConn almost never makes a bowl game, and I'd love to pick them.  However, Marshall has a powerful offense and a great history in bowls.  MARSHALL by 18

Tues Dec 20

Idaho Potato Bowl : Eastern Michigan Eagles (8-4) v San Jose State Spartans (7-4) : Eastern Michigan was a surprise team this season, but their non-conference performance was a bit lackluster.  San Jose State was an early force in the Mountain West, and that team has talent.  SAN JOSE STATE by 17

Boca Raton Bowl : Liberty Flames (8-4) v Toledo Rockets (8-5) : This is Liberty's first bowl game.  Beginner's luck could be on their side, but their biggest advantage has been a series of missteps by Toledo throughout the season.  Still, the Rockets put forth a great performance in the MAC Championship, and I think they will carry that into the bowl game.  TOLEDO by 15

Wed Dec 21

New Orleans Bowl : Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (8-5) v South Alabama Jaguars (10-2) : The Jaguars chased Coastal Carolina throughout the season, and They have shown up strong for every game.  Western Kentucky has a strong bowl history, and they have a good team, but they have been a bit inconsistent, and I think they will fold under the pressure of the Jaguars offenses.  SOUTH ALABAMA by 20

Thurs Dec 22

Armed Forces Bowl : Baylor Bears (6-6) v Air Force Falcons (9-3) : Baylor was an early season force but then faded.  Air Force exhausts opponents with their hard-pounding running game.  I think the Bears will fade in the fourth quarter.  AIR FORCE by 18

Fri Dec 23

Independence Bowl : Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (6-6) v Houston Cougars (7-5) : The Cajuns can be a tricky team, but Houston survived a very competitive American Athletic Conference.  I think the Cougars are better prepared for the type of game plans often brought to bowl games.  HOUSTON by 13

Gasparilla Bowl : Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-5) v Missouri Tigers (6-6) : Wake started the season strongly.  Although they could not maintain that level of success as they got deeper into ACC play, they were still a tough force.  That will be more than Missouri can handle.  WAKE FOREST by 17

Sat Dec 24

Hawaii Bowl : Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (7-5) v San Diego State Aztecs (7-5) : On paper, these two teams still evenly matched.  That is, until you look at their list of opponents.  Not only did San Diego State play a tougher slate of opponents, they performed better, even when seemingly overmatched.  The Aztecs have a tenacious team that never gives up.  SAN DIEGO STATE by 13

Mon Dec 26

Quick Lane Detroit Bowl : New Mexico State Aggies (6-6) v Bowling Green Falcons (6-6) : The Aggies rarely make it to a bowl, so you wonder how well their preparation will be.  Besides, the MAC needs a break, and I think this game might be it.  BOWLING GREEN by ten

Tues Dec 27

Camellia Bowl : Georgia Southern Eagles (6-6) v Buffalo Bulls (6-6) : Buffalo has been a major disappointment this year, so this game would seem ripe for a Sun Belt victory.  After all, that conference has a tremendous record in bowl games.  However, somehow I think Buffalo, who has played some excellent games this season, will get themselves together for this game.  BUFFALO by six

First Responder Bowl : Memphis Tigers (6-6) v Utah State Aggeis (6-6) : This game is really a toss-up.  Both teams have positives and negatives, and their performances, when compared to the relative strength of their opponents, is fairly equal. In this case, I draw upon the comparative bowl performances, and that gives Memphis the edge.  MEMPHIS by three

Birmingham Bowl : Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (9-3) v East Carolina Pirates (7-5) : The Chanticleers may have lost the Sun Belt title game, but they are still a strong force.  East Carolina showed flashes of their former defensive dominance, but it's not enough.  COASTAL CAROLINA by 18

Guaranteed Rate Bowl : Wisconsin Badgers (6-6) v Oklahoma State Cowboys (7-5) : The last game of the day, and the last one covered by this column, is the first game to feature a team from the Big Ten, the last conference to be represented in the bowls.  At one point, Wisconsin was competing for the West division title, despite a terrible start to the season.  It is that midseason improvement that gives them the edge.  The Badgers looked at their team and found solutions to many of their problems, and that should shore them up for the bowl.  WISCONSIN by eight

NFL 2022 Week 14 picks

Thursday night

Las Vegas Raiders at Lo Angeles Rams : The Raiders have slowly been improving, and are knocking on the door of the Power Rankings.  A strong win here could boost them.  Certainly the Rams have been doing a terrible job of defending their Super Bowl crown.  RAIDERS, 17-13

Sunday early games

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers : The Ravens offense is slipping, but their defense is still strong enough to stuff a Steelers team still finding a new rhythm with a new quarterback.  RAVENS, 20-16

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals : What, I'd pick against the team that beat the Chiefs last week?  What, you think I'm nuts?  BENGALS, 20-13

Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys : the worst team in the league against one of the best.  Easy pick.  COWBOYS, 31-10

Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans : Jacksonville can be a tough opponent, but they fold with too muhc pressure.  Pressure like that exerted by the Titans defense.  TITANS, 17-14

Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions : The Lions just had an awesome win.  Can  they make it two in a row, or will the rough Vikings continue their roll?  VIKINGS, 27-20

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills : The Bengals gave the Bills the advantage in the conference.  Now they have to keep it.  The Jets have a strong offense when it works, they just can't get it working all of the time.  With some disruption from the Bills defense, that'll be even worse.  BILLS, 31-20

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants : The Giants finish a three-game stretch against division opponents.  They are 0-2 on this streak, and it will likely end up 0-3.  EAGLES, 28-17

Sunday late games

Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks : In past seasons, Seattle has been a powerhouse at home.  That hasn't quite been the case this year, but they are still a tough team.  Carolina had an extra week to prepare for this game, but I think Seattle will have a few surprises.  SEAHAWKS, 23-20

Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos : The Chiefs came up just a bit short against Cincy, so they want a strong victory to wash away that disappointment.  They have that chance against the Broncos.  CHIEFS, 34-16

Tampa Bay Bucs at San Francisco 49ers : Tom Brady come in to face his former backup, provided Jimmy G can play.  The 49ers are hot.  The Bucs are starting to find some rhythm among their receivers, but they still need some work.  49ERS, 27-17

Sunday night

Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers : The Chargers defense will try to hand the Dolphins a consecutive loss, but I think Miami is ready to rock.  DOLPHINS, 23-16

Monday Night Football

New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals : The Cardinlas can surprise, but the Patriots have enough offensive firepower to counter a late surge.  PATS, 24-20

NFL 2022 Week 13 results

 Some in-fighting among the top teams shuffled the Power Rankings, and the NFC North is moving up!

Power Rankings [Last week's ranking]

1.  BUFFALO BILLS (9-3) [1] : Thanks to Cincy, the Bills have the best record in the AFC

2.  Philadelphia Eagles (11-1) [2]

3.  Dallas Cowboys (9-3) [4] : Dominant performance

4.  Kansas City Chiefs (9-3) [3]

5.  San Francisco 49ers (8-4) [5]

6.  Cincinnati Bengals (8-4) [6]

7.  Baltimore Ravens (8-4) [8]

8.  Minnesota Vikings (10-2) [10]

9.  Miami Dolphins (8-4) [7]

10. New York Jets (7-5) [9]

11. New England Patriots (6-6) [11]

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-5) [14]

13. New York iants (7-4-1) [12]

14. Tampa Bay Bucs (6-6) [17]

Divisional Rankings [Last week's ranking]

1.  AFC East [1]

2.  NFC East [2]

3.  AFC North [3]

4.  AFC West [3]

5.  NFC West [5]

6 (tie). NFC South [6]

6 (tie). NFC North [8]

8.  AFC South [7]

NCAA Football 2022 Pre-Bowl Top 25

 We had some upsets in the conference championships, so the Top 25 transformed a bit.

Top 25 [Last week's position]

1.  GEORGIA BULLDOGS (13-0) [1]

2.  Michigan Wolverines (13-0) [2]

3.  Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) [3]

4.  Utah Utes (10-3) [9]

5.  Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2) [6]

6.  Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2) [7]

7.  TCU Horned Frogs (12-1) [5]

8.  Tennessee Volunteers (10-2) [8]

9.  USC Trojans (11-2) [4]

10. Clemson Tigers (11-2) [12]

11. Florida State Seminoles (9-3) [10]

12. Washington Huskies (10-2) [11]

13. Texas Longhorns (8-4) [13]

14. Oregon Ducks (9-3) [14]

15. Tulane Green Wave (11-2) [18]

16. UTSA Roadrunners (11-2) [17]

17. UCLA Bruins (9-3) [15]

18. Kansas State Wildcats (10-3) [25]

19. Oregon State Beavers (9-4) [16]

20. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-4) [19]

21. Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-4) [21]

22. Illinois Fighting Illini (8-4) [22]

23. Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-4) [24]

24. Duke Blue Devils (8-4) [NR]

25. LSU Tigers (9-4) [20]