soccer10k

It just ran across the ESPN ticker but said it was according to FoxSports also.

I made that same point in another thread on college football. Just another reason for a playoff. Except of course they would probably be picking playoff teams based on the same flawed coaches poll. The difference would be that the 9th best team or the 17th in a 16 team playoff doesnt really have a arguement they should be fighting for the NC. They would just be upset that they are out the money. Or you could just get rid of the coaches poll and bring back the AP poll into the BCS formula.

Barcelona has to beat Werder Bremen to advance. Should be an excellent match. Tomorrow Man U has to at least tie Benfica to advance. There are also a lot of options with Group G as well with Arsenal/FC Porto/CSKA Moscow as well.

I'm in.

On MNF they announced that the Raiders and Lions have officially been eliminated from playoff contention.

As of right now, the top four seeds would be in this order: Bears, Saints, Seahawks, Cowboys. The Cowboys play the Saints Sunday, so one of those teams will take a head-to-head avantage on Sunday as well as move up a game. So with a win the Cowboys move from 3rd to 4th. I'm assuming you mean from 4th to 3rd.

I think head to head is the first tiebreaker followed by best conference record.

Wow. In five of their six losses the Panthers led in the fourth quarter.

Should have gone to Steve Smith.

Ugh.

Steve Smith for the TD please.

So ndistops, what's Carolina's tendency? Do they play for a FG or push for the TD?

That landing didn't look good for Keyshawns left shoulder.

I hope he gets a TD drive. As long as the Panthers win by more than 3, I don't care how they do it.

I made that same point in another thread on college football.

I too picked Texas. USC probably did have a better all around team, but I just love Vince Young. He doesn't necessarily put up great passing stats (though last year he was #3 in passer rating in the NCAA), but he wins. His Rose Bowl game was one of the best performances I've ever seen from an athlete in that big of a situation. That's why I really liked him this year in the NFL draft. Look at this year even - that team was awful last year, and even though his passer rating is pretty lousy, they've won 5 of the 9 games he started. I think he'll make several Pro Bowls before his career is through. I really dont care of follow pro football enough to make any judgements on his pro career. He does seem to have that I am going to win this game at all costs level that he can achieve. Similar to guys like Micheal Jordan or John Elway. John Elway? He was in the playoffs like 8 times and lost 3 super bowls before winning two of them. Jordan, can't disagree there. Some guys just have that "it". Vince Young single handedly beat Ohio State, Oklahoma State and USC. He took over those games in a way that only the transcendent athletes of our generation have done. I don't know how that will translate to the pros, but I sure as hell enjoyed watching him in college. One of the reasons I wasn't high on Young in the draft is because I didn't think his style would translate well to the pro level. So far, yes I know it's early, he's proving me wrong. Time will tell though.

Don't get your hopes too high on that. I said the same thing last year multiple times. And that team was less talented. The thing is, if Delhomme gets hot, Smith is hard to stop and that can lead to a prolonged playoff run. On the other hand, if Delhomme is off his game, an early playoff exit wouldn't surprise anyone. Carolina will probably be the most feared team in the NFC just because of their potential. I think the potential of the Bears, Cowboys, Saints, and Seahawks is far more scary than the Panthers. Carolina is just ok. The potential of Steve Smith outweighs the potential of the Cowboys, Giants, and Saints. The Bears and Seahawks are probably equal.

Don't get your hopes too high on that. I said the same thing last year multiple times. And that team was less talented. The thing is, if Delhomme gets hot, Smith is hard to stop and that can lead to a prolonged playoff run. On the other hand, if Delhomme is off his game, an early playoff exit wouldn't surprise anyone. Carolina will probably be the most feared team in the NFC just because of their potential.

TD PANTHERS!!! Nice play DeAngelo.

Damn you Jeff Garcia.

That's my other big issue. Every game matters in college football. If you lose one game your national championship dreams might be over. That's what makes college football different from the other sports and that's one aspect of college football that I love. Would the OSU-Michigan game have meant as much if both were assured of going to the playoffs? Of course not. It would still be OSU-UM but it wouldn't mean as much. The potential for one loss to end your title hopes adds that extra interest to the season.

YES!

Carolina needs to be up by more than 2 at halftime and win the game by more than 3.

Way too many teams. Why? How do you pick the teams involved? What happens if a team with 4 losses wins the National Title? I'm not concerned about this. I just don't see the point of putting teams in like Rutgers, Arkansas, West Virginia, Va Tech and Notre Dame in there. They aren't going to win and it just prolongs the season unnecessarily. That's why I wouldn't mind a 4 team playoff like you suggested. I think any more than that is unnecessary. The 4 team is also the most realistic because you don't have to appease all the conferences by having to take each major conference champion (like the current BCS or an 8 team playoff would force you to do). I like the BCS and don't really care if it's changed or not but if it is, I would support a 4 team playoff.