SportsGirl

There’s a certain sense of sadness in the air this weekend. The college football bowl season is nearing a close, signaling the impending end of all football in the not-so-distant future. The NFL playoffs are under way and the BCS Championship Game is being played tomorrow. I’m not sure that I’m ready for the football season to be done. I can’t get into the NBA much yet, and college basketball hasn’t yet gotten going. I suppose around February I start paying more attention the NCAA basketball in preparation for March Madness so it’s not all bleak, but I’m still not happy. As if Christmas ending wasn’t enough to dampen the spirit…

That being said, let’s take a look at the playoff games that have been decided. As I write this, San Diego is leading Tennessee in the fourth quarter and it’s beginning to look like the game is over. Even though they apparently can’t block for the NFL’s leading rusher on his team, they’re still winning. Oh wait, that’s right, LaDainian is on our team, maybe we should have him take an active role!

The Seahawks, Jaguars, and Giants are officially moving onto the next round of the playoffs. If San Diego wins today, the Jags will play New England and the Chargers will get Indy. From that standpoint, I hope Tennessee comes back somehow and plays the Pats next weekend. I worry about the Jacksonville match-up against my Patriots. That’s a gritty team and David Garrad has been playing really well (save for the two picks last night). I don’t think Tennessee has what it takes to beat New England, but I could see Jax upsetting them. Truthfully, though, there’s probably not a match-up possible that I wouldn’t be nervous about because playoff football is different than regular football. I’m just glad that Big Ben will be going home. I like Mike Tomlin and would have loved to see him win his first playoff game as a coach but I’m over Big Ben and his reconstructed face. I think he gets too much credit for what is a run-first team’s success.

I was glad to see Tom Coughlin get a win today. I think he’s a good coach and has really done a 180 by all accounts and has earned the respect of his players. I still haven’t given up all hope on Little Manning and I keep thinking that maybe this is the season where he makes the leap. We’ll see…I think Dallas might whoop up on them, but maybe it’s wishful thinking. The G-Men have momentum and Dallas sort of stumbled into the playoffs battling injuries and the malaise that comes from locking up your division at an early stage. If TO is healthy, it certainly is a much greater likelihood that Dallas will come out on top. I’m not thinking Terry Glenn or Sam Hurd will be the ticket to the NFC Championship game.

It’s a disappointment that, of all teams, the Seattle Seahawks were the team that ended Washington’s emotional run to the Super Bowl. The Seahawks are so mediocre that I just can’t ever believe that they were actually in the Super Bowl. They’re not a great defensive team, nor will their offense inspire any confidence. I had admittedly jumped on the Redskins bandwagon after seeing how they rallied following the horrible death of Sean Taylor. That shows their character and it’s telling of Joe Gibbs’ ability to re-focus a team after tragedy. Now, if somehow it had been Redskins-Cowboys in this first game, then ok, maybe I’d be ok with the loss. But the Seahawks? Who even likes them outside of the Pacific Northwest?!

I’m wondering if Antonio Cromartie is part chameleon. Does his jersey color change to the opposing team’s sideline? Because quite a few teams this season have gotten confused and have thrown the ball right to him. Or is he just that good?

Monday night is a big night for me. I’ve got some pride on the line as I did a bowl pick ‘em and it all comes down to whether or not LSU wins and covers. I felt great about that pick when I made it. That was before Michigan played spectacularly against Florida in the Capital One Bowl. The Big Ten never plays against the SEC with that kind of speed! I haven’t liked LSU all season and have been quite critical of the praise that they’ve received. My fear is that they let teams hang around too much and that they will win but won’t cover. Let me just say, I need this win. So, while I will regret that this is in print and I might delete it after the season ends, Geaux Tigers!!