UMFan83

See, I don't understand this line of thinking. WHO CARES if a WC makes/wins the World Series? They were obviously a good team to begin with, and if the other teams were truly better, they'd prove it. Second place teams win championships in the NFL, NBA, and NHL. Why is it such a travesty when it happens in baseball? I think the problem is that it happens so often in baseball. A WC team in the NFL who had to go on the road for all 3 games has only ever won the SB once in the NFL (last year's Steelers). In basketball, a team ranked 5-8 has only won 1 title (I'm pretty sure about this stat-I know the #6 ranked Rockets in the mid 90's were the lowest seed to ever win the title). Baseball has had a few wildcards win the WS in just over 10 years. WC's are just as likely as the 1, 2, or 3 seed to win in MLB, while that hasn't been true in either the NFL or the NBA. Exactly. With baseball, a short series strongly favors the team with the best starter (should said starter be able to pitch either game 1 or 2). All you need is 2 dominating performances by your starter and one win in the other 3 games and you win. Football and basketball don't have one player that can completely change the outcome of a given game. In the current scenario, I have no doubt that the current Cubs with Zambrano and Rich Hill going would have a better chance then most would think of advancing to the NLCS. How does taking away a home game change any of that? It doesn't...adding a second WC team and having them play a one game playoff does though

GOALLL!!!! 1-0 Fire

/Larry Johnson cannot run with this crappy offensive line

I was hammered when I made these picks last night.....0-8 through the early games :( Edit: And with Pit up 28-0, I'm gonna lose that one too...this might be the worst week ever.

Tyrus Thomas is looking awesome today. Bulls up by 4 at the half.

See, I don't understand this line of thinking. WHO CARES if a WC makes/wins the World Series? They were obviously a good team to begin with, and if the other teams were truly better, they'd prove it. Second place teams win championships in the NFL, NBA, and NHL. Why is it such a travesty when it happens in baseball? I think the problem is that it happens so often in baseball. A WC team in the NFL who had to go on the road for all 3 games has only ever won the SB once in the NFL (last year's Steelers). In basketball, a team ranked 5-8 has only won 1 title (I'm pretty sure about this stat-I know the #6 ranked Rockets in the mid 90's were the lowest seed to ever win the title). Baseball has had a few wildcards win the WS in just over 10 years. WC's are just as likely as the 1, 2, or 3 seed to win in MLB, while that hasn't been true in either the NFL or the NBA. Exactly. With baseball, a short series strongly favors the team with the best starter (should said starter be able to pitch either game 1 or 2). All you need is 2 dominating performances by your starter and one win in the other 3 games and you win. Football and basketball don't have one player that can completely change the outcome of a given game. In the current scenario, I have no doubt that the current Cubs with Zambrano and Rich Hill going would have a better chance then most would think of advancing to the NLCS.

Next week is going to suck even more with the bye :(

Exactly Reverse safety. :P Isn't that a touchdown :)

Nice, my late week fantasy pickup Branch scores a TD for Seattle

Exactly

Tough start for the Ravens today... http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/8051/weirdscoresk3.png

Gah, I got 3 football games and a Bulls preseason game going for me, and you want me to add this to my TV watching queue? Ok, I will give it a try.

Since I think USC will lose to Cal, it's starting to look like the BCS title game will feature the winner of the UM/OSU game against the winner of the Louisville/WVU game. Again, I think Louisville if they win have a shot. I don't think the BCS will be very friendly to WVU, even if they go undefeated. I honestly think whoever doesn't lose again between Auburn, Florida, Texas, Tennessee, CAL, and Notre Dame or an undefeated Louisville will play Ohio St. (who will beat Michigan) for the National Championship. I think Michigan's out if they lose, because they will have lost too late in the year. I think USC is out if they lose at all, because it will likely come to ND or Cal, teams they are competing for the #2 spot with. Didn't Nebraska get creamed by Colorado over Thanksgiving one year and still play in the Title game? I know the computers have changed since them, but it can happen if one team has enough pull. It would take a close loss (to keep the human poll numbers high), but it could happen.

I think the best way would be to have a second Wild Card team, and then have the 2 Wild Cards play a 1 game playoff against each other for a trip to the division series. That way, whoever wins that game as to use their best pitcher in the one game playoff so they can't set up their rotation so that a dominating starter like Santana can win 2 of the 5 games for the WC team. Also gives winning the division a lot more prestige. I guarentee you the Tigers would have won 1 of those last 3 against the Royals if this proposed rule was in place.

Is the ability out there to build a winner through FA this season? If the Cubs got like Zito, Schmidt, Soriano, and C. Lee, I'd still have doubts of whether they can contend.

Picks Cincinnati (-5.5) over TAMPA BAY ATLANTA (-3) over NY Giants WASHINGTON (-10.5) over Tennessee Houston (+13) over DALLAS Carolina (+3) over BALTIMORE Buffalo (-1) over DETROIT Seattle (-3) over ST LOUIS Philadelphia (-3) over NEW ORLEANS Miami (+2.5) over NY JETS Kansas City (+7) over PITTSBURGH SAN FRANCISCO (+10) over San Diego DENVER (-15) over Oakland Chicago (-10.5) over ARIZONA I am taking WAY too many road teams but whatever, I can't get much worse then I've already been.

You don't do a 2 QB league? It's more enjoyable this week. Agreed, I am going with Rivers, thanks guys. Edit: When Brunell throws for 300 yards and 3 TDs, I will seek revenge on all of you! :)

I really wanted that game too....for some reason, they refuse to show the Rams in the Chicago area. Move a little south. Down here in the middle of the state we get a lot of Bears, Rams and Colts games. I'm comfortable with Wrigleyville thank you :) I try so hard to like you, but it's hard to let go of the fact you live in Wrigleyville and you are a Michigan fan... :wink: We'll always have the crappy Cubs to keep us civil ;)

I can't wait to watch tomorrows game....flipping between non-Bears football and the Bulls will be fun

The good thing is for the rest of the teams, if the BCS goes 1-2 OSU/Michigan, then the #3 team is pretty much the other team in the title game. This is getting excited. I am hitting up the big Michigan bar in Chicago for that OSU game ( I am NOT going anywhere near the 4-5 OSU bars in Wrigleyville)

I was shocked that the announcers were so comforted by the 14 point margin. I know PSU wasn't moving the ball, but all it would take is one big play to get the crowd back into it. And thats exactly what happened.

And thats game, Michigan is going to win this one and stake their claim for #2. The question is, whose 7 point win is more impressive, Michigan or USC. More importantly (or less if your Michigan because of OSU) who is #2 in the BCS

BTW, PSU is down to their third string QB. Michigan knocked the first two out of the game. 4th down and game now.

Getting tense in Happy Valley. 1:40 left 2nd and 10 at the 25 for PSU down 17-10. No timeouts for Penn State.

I really wanted that game too....for some reason, they refuse to show the Rams in the Chicago area. Move a little south. Down here in the middle of the state we get a lot of Bears, Rams and Colts games. I'm comfortable with Wrigleyville thank you :)