Some Updates For Theo's "List"

Three weeks ago today, I wrote a to-do list for Theo Epstein. It had four points: sign Alex Rodriguez, bring Joe Torre in as an advisor, re-sign Curt Schilling and trade for Johan Santana. Here is the updated list: 1. Re-sign Mike Lowell. Lowell is a perfect fit in Boston, kind of like Mike Vrabel. The Red Sox need to offer him 3-years and $39-million as soon as he departs his Duck Boat today. 2. Re-sign Curt Schilling. Nothing has changed since last time except the price. Give Schill the $13-million he asked for in March, allow him to take at least six weeks off in the summer of 2008 and prepare to have him pitching when it counts the most next October. 3. Trade Jon Lester, Justin Masterson, Craig Hansen and Coco Crisp for Johan SantanaSantana is too rich for Minnesota's blood and they need cheap, young talent in return for the perennial Cy Young favorite. Lester and Masterson could be punched right into the Twins rotation, Hansen would be a good arm in front of Joe Nathan and Crisp would replace the soon-to-depart Torii Hunter. Imagine Santana, Beckett, Matsuzaka, Schilling and Buchholz in the same rotation. Nothing has changed in the last three weeks. I love Lester and the futures of Masterson and Hansen but if the opportunity to acquire Santana emerges, the Red Sox must strike. 4. Give pitching coach John Farrell a hefty raise. A raise won't keep Farrell from becoming a big league manager but if he is to stay in Boston another year, the man has earned some extra cash. 5. Find a young catcher. Varitek is a beast but his legs are old. Finding a promising young backstop (Jarrod Saltalamacchia?) will allow 'Tek to gracefully fade into the background. Five offseason predictions: 1. Alex Rodriguez signs with the Angels. 2. Andruw Jones signs with the Orioles. 3. Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada join Joe Torre in Los Angeles. 4. Jonathan Papelbon will get paid. 5. Tim Wakefield will retire. Three things you will not hear this offseason: 1. "Alex turned down money so he could be a part of a World Series champion." 2. "Mr. Steinbrenner is still in charge of day-to-day operations." 3. "Manny Ramirez will receive an honorary degree from MIT." One 2008 World Series thought: The Red Sox, powered by Josh Beckett's no-hitter, will defeat the Chicago Cubs in Game 7 of the World Series at Fenway Park.

The Joy Of Being From Boston; Game 4

Hey America -- especially all you DB's in New York -- read it and weep. The Red Sox can wrap up their second World Series in four years tonight. The Yankees win over the Mets in 2000 seems like it happened 50 years ago. The Mets win over the Red Sox in 1986 is a footnote from the past. The Patriots are 7-0. They have the best collection of talent in NFL history and they are kept in check by football's greatest coach, Bill Belichick. Remember when he walked away from the Jets? The Al Groh, Herman Edwards and Eric Mangini era's just haven't made up for that. America wants the Pats to fall -- F you Gregg Easterbrook -- and that gives Tom Brady and the rest of the team motivation to roll on through the NFL. The Celtics decided to roll the clock back to the 1980's and load up for the next five years. Paul Pierce was wasting away waiting for the talented kids -- God, I'll miss Al Jefferson -- to mature until all of a sudden, Danny Ainge traded for Ray Allen at the draft and then for Kevin Garnett over the summer. Hello! The C's may not be the best team in the NBA (see: Spurs, San Antonio) but when June rolls around, expect to see the Green involved. Boston College football, though a tad bit overrated, is ranked No. 2 in the nation. I still don't believe the Eagles could hang with the likes of LSU, Oregon or Oklahoma but it is exciting to see BC be ranked so high. Matt Ryan is a legit Heisman candidate (though I don't think he will take home the hardware) and the Eagles -- with home games against Florida State and Miami sandwiched around trips to Clemson and Maryland -- have achance to run the table and finish the regular season 12-0. If they can knock off likely opponent Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship game, BC could play in heir biggest bowl game since the 1984 Cotton Bowl. The Bruins are showing signs of life. The Black & Gold are 6-4-0-0 and are playing aggressive hockey under new coach Claude Julien. There was a frightening moment yesterday when Patrice Bergeron crashed into the boards head first following a cheap hit from Philadelphia's Randy Jones (my thoughts immediately turned to Travis Roy) but the B's seem to be going in the right direction. So, America, you may hate us and call us nasty things from the comfort of your local tavern or from the couch but understand one thing. We are better than you! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Game 4 is a few hours away (with a nice warmup in the form of the Patriots at 4:15) and my confidence could not be higher. The Rockies pitchers have been no mystery to the Boston lineup and the Sox seem ready to clinch the World Series... How about Jacoby Ellsbury last night? The not-quite-yet-a-rookie became the first rookie since 1946 (Joe Garagiola) and the third overall (Fred Lindstrom in 1924) to record four hits in a World Series game. The kid is not a star in the making, he is a star. I like Coco Crisp more than most Red Sox fans but Ellsbury is clearly the future in the way like Fred was clearly Barney's superior. If Ellsbury plays well again tonight then he could be a candidate for World Series MVP. Funny that he won't be eligible to win the Rookie-of-the-Year award until 2008... Everyone is writing/talking/thinking about the beautiful opportuity for Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester, who could win the clinching game of a World Series a year after battling cancer. I'm more excited that a 23-year-old Sox lefty will be in position to win a World Series game. I bet Lester hopes more people focus on the latter rather than the former... Imagine the future of the Red Sox rotation? Josh Beckett, Jonathan Papelbon, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Lester, Clay Buchholz, Manny Delcarmen, Craig Hansen (don't give up on him yet) and Justin Masterson are all under the age of 27 and are all power arms. Along with young positional talents like Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Jed Lowrie, that is why the Red Sox will continue to compete for and win World Series championships well into the next decade... The Sox won't leave to much to the imagination tonight. Red Sox - 8, Rockies - 2... (Pats - 44, Redskins - 7)

Tim McCarver Needs To Be Silenced

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Game 2; Football Picks

The importance of tonight's game means so much to the Red Sox that it is hard to explain. It really is a must win for the Sox. Even coming off a 13-1 win last night in Game One, the Sox have to win tonight. The reasons? One is that I don't want to see the Sox be forced to rely on Daisuke Matsuzaka and Jon Lester to win in Coors Field. They don't have my full confidence, especially in a park where I think I could go deep. Second, I don't want the Rockies to remember how to win just as they return home. That team played too well for too long -- keep them down. Finally, Terry Francona will be forced to make tough lineup decisions in Denver with the DH out of play. Those decisions will be a lot easier with a 2-0 lead. I know Schilling -- in what may be his farewell to Fenway Park -- will be up to the task. I hope the bats will be too. As for the picks... NCAA Boston College (+3) over VIRGINIA TECH South Florida (-4) over UCONN MICHIGAN (-23.5) over Minnesota PENN STATE (+4) over Ohio State Florida (-9) over Georgia (at Jacksonville) Last Week: 2-3 Season: 14-15-1 NFL Cleveland (-3) over ST. LOUIS CHICAGO (-4.5) over Detroit Indianapolis (-6.5) over CAROLINA Miami (+9.5) over NY Giants (at London) Oakland (+7.5) over TENNESSEE MINNESOTA (+1) over Philadelphia (LOCK OF THE WEEK) Pittsburgh (-3.5) over CINCINNATI NY JETS (-3) over Buffalo Jacksonville (+4) over TAMPA BAY SAN FRANCISCO (+3) over New Orleans PATS (-16) over Washington DENVER (-1) over Green Bay San Diego v. Houston is off the board because Matt Schaub is questionable. TheBostonInsider also would like to say that the people of San Diego are in his prayers as they deal with the tragic fires in their area. You stay classy San Diego. Last Week: 7-7 Season: 39-43-4 Lock of the Week: 3-4

World Series Ramblings

If it were not for 2004, I would feel terrible for Tim Wakefield after he was left off the World Series roster with a bad shoulder. Wake is the symbol of how Red Sox Nation has evolved from a perpetual loser to a dynasty in the making. Wake has been up (1995 AL East champions, 1995 Cy Young candidate), down (left off the ALCS roster in 1999, giving up Aaron Boone's homerun in 2003) and back up again (2004 World Series champions). However, his poor health at such an important time make Wake a liability against such an offensive power. The thought of a hurting Wake facing the Rockies in Coors Field is not a thought I want to entertain. Jon Lester, as young and inexperienced as he is, gives the Red Sox a better chance to win and that is why he is on the roster... The Rockies haven't played since last Monday, a layoff of nine days. Will that be harmful to a team that had won 21-of-22 games to make the playoffs as a Wild Card entry and then win the National League? If you live in Red Sox Nation, one can only hope. People in Boston, as they tend to do from time to time, have the belief that Colorado will be defeated just as quickly as the Cardinals were in '04. I don't think that will be the case. The Rockies have a powerful lineup -- Matt Holliday, Troy Tulowitzki, Todd Helton, Garrett Atkins, Brad Hawpe and Kaz Matsui -- and although their pitching is not great, it has got them to the Series. This will be no walk in the (Fenway) park... Is there another active pitcher other than Josh Beckett that you would want on the mound in Game One? Didn't think so... What is Terry Francona to do when the Sox get to Denver? He will have a major decision to make regarding his DH, David Ortiz. Big Papi will be at first base, replacing Kevin Youkilis. That will be a major blow to the Sox offense. Youk can shift to third base but that would take Mike Lowell out of action. There is no easy answer. As for those of you who think the solution is to replace J.D. Drew in rightfield with Youk (who has played some outfield in the past), remember that Coors Field isn't just a hitters dream because the light air produces high numbers of homeruns, it is also home to enormous alleys that turn routine hits into doubles and triples in the blink of an eye. I would rather replace Drew with Coco Crisp for the defense that with Youkilis for the offense. The best solution is to go with Ortiz and Lowell with Youkilis available off the bench to pinch-hit. It's not perfect but it is the best option available... Winning the first two games at Fenway is more important than most of want to admit... Red Sox in 6...

Game 7

It is the ultimate in sports. One game, winner take all. The reason why we watch the Red Sox play Tampa Bay in April is so we can watch them play in a Game 7 in October. The pressure is on and it is the drama that exposes who is ready and who isn't. The Red Sox, down 3-1 to the Indians in the ALCS and on the brink of elimination before Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling and the entire team decided they weren't ready to join the Yankees on the golf course, will host Game 7 tonight. They will put the dazzling inconsistent Daisuke Matsuzaka on the hill against unimposing Jake Westbrook. Matsuzaka -- in the role played by Derek Lowe in 2004 against the Yankees -- will shoulder the pressure and responsibility of not just the Red Sox team but also the entire population of Red Sox Nation. Is the 26-year-old Japanese rookie ready for Game 7? That won't be known for certain until tonight. Matsuzaka has shown flashes of greatness this season but his unwillingness to attack hitters has gotten him into trouble with walks and high pitch counts. However, he has a history in his native country of coming through when it matters the most, I don't think tonight will be any different. Matsuzaka will get the job done. The Red Sox will win the American League. They will come that much closer to winning their second World Series in four years. Did that sound overly optimistic or am I in deep denial? That is one of the pleasures and tortures of your team playing in a Game 7. There is that rush of excitement with the belief that the home town team will get the job done and everyone will be running and screaming as they exit Fenway Park headin' for the Baseball Tavern (including myself). Of course, there is also the knowledge that maybe, juuuuuuust maybe, the guys in white won't come through that maybe the enemy will be the ones celebrating. With all the confusion and uncertainty filling the air, just be glad the Red Sox are home tonight. The magic of Fenway could be the deciding factor that puts the Sox over the top. Matsuzaka v. Westbrook? David Ortiz v. Travis Hafner? Manny Ramirez v. Victor Martinez? Jacoby Ellsbury v. Grady Sizemore? Jonathan Papelbon v. Joe Borowski? None of that might matter when the score is tallied up some time around midnight here in Boston. It could be the closeness of the Green Monster when Manny is at the plate or the triangle in centerfield that confuses Sizemore or even the position of Pesky's Pole as a Big Papi fly ball chases down the bleachers that decides whether or not the souls of Red Sox fans will be happy or sad tomorrow morning. Red Sox - 5 Indians - 2 It will be Soxtoberfest v. Rocktoberfest in the Fall Classic.

Jacoby Ellsbury; Football Picks

I hate to beat a dead horse but Terry Francona has to sit Coco Crisp down tomorrow night for Game Six of the ALCS and insert Jacoby Ellsbury into the lineup. Crisp is too much of a liability at the plate right now, he has no confidence. All the Ellsbury talk may be getting to him but no matter what the reason is, Crisp is an automatic out at the moment. By getting Ellsbury into the game you are giving the team a needed jolt, something lacking on this team. Ellsbury can leadoff, Pedroia can fall to the two-hole followed by Ortiz, Ramirez, Lowell, Youkilis (playing his best ball since June), Drew (I like Kielty off the bench as a switch hitter), Varitek and Lugo. Coco would still be available to pinch-run or play defense late in the game. With the season on the line this weekend, it's a move that must be made. As for the picks... NCAA Louisville (-3) over UCONN SYRACUSE (-3.5) over Buffalo SOUTH CAROLINA (-13) over Vanderbilt Michigan State (+17) over OHIO STATE LSU (-10.5) over Auburn Last Week: 1-4 Season: 12-12-1 NFL REDSKINS (-8.5) over Cardinals SAINTS (-9) over Falcons Ravens (-3) over BILLS Vikings (+9.5) over COWBOYS (LOCK OF THE WEEK) Pats (-16.5) over DOLPHINS GIANTS (-9) over 49ers Buccaneers (+2) over LIONS Titans (-1.5) over TEXANS Chiefs (+2.5) over RAIDERS BENGALS (-6.5) over Jets Bears (+5) over EAGLES SEAHAWKS (-8.5) over Rams Steelers (-3.5) over BRONCOS JAGUARS (+3) over Colts Last Week: 7-5-1 Season: 32-36-4 Lock of the Week: 3-3

Beckett Joins Pantheon of Big Game Boston Stars

It's official, Josh Beckett is a true ace. The 20 wins in the regular season were one thing but his brilliance, his sheer dominance in the playoffs has elevated him to a level rarely seen in sports. When the games matter most come October, Beckett rises above the garbage and filth of his competition. C.C. Sabathia, who he has defeated in both Game One and Game Five, is considered the fromt runner for the 2007 A.L. Cy Young award but you just know that Eric Wedge would have cut his left nut off to run Beckett out their tonight instead of Sabathia. Beckett went eight strong innings tonight, striking out 11 and more importantly, he breathed life into a dying Red Sox team. No one gave them a chance after the way they played in Games Two through Five (including me) but now they go back to Fenway Park with momentum on their side. All thanks to Josh Beckett. At one point, Indians 107-year-old centerfielder Kenny Lofton tried to goad Beckett into a confrontation after the two excanged some heated words. It was a veteran move by Lofton to get Beckett derailed but the hard tossin' righty didn't flinch. He kept his focus and kept on dealing. We have been blessed in this city over the years. Names like Bill Russell, Bobby Orr, Dave Cowens, Larry Bird, Tom Brady, David Ortiz, Adam Vinatieri and Curt Schilling mean so much more to a Boston fan because they delivered when it mattered most -- when championships were decided. Beckett is now officially a member of that club. We have another member of that club pitching on Saturday night. Things in Boston are looking really, really good right now.

ALCS Game 5

A few thoughts while waiting for Beckett to send a charge through the Red Sox to put them back on track to win the World Series... I love Terry Francona but he should have started Jacoby Ellsbury over Coco Crisp tonight. Ellsbury gets the job when the Sox report to Ft. Myers in February, why not speed up the process... Youk is starting to look more like the player we saw from April-May. And that was before he just took C.C. Sabathia deep... Manny should have been held at third, Lowell's bloop to right was to shallow to send him... How nasty is Grady Sizemore? I hope he never leaves the Indians, he is perfect for that team. Imagine the Indians got him -- along with Cliff Lee and Brandon Phillips -- for Bartolo Colon... I can't believe the Yankees fucking let Torre go over a few million dollars. He might not be as sharp as he was a few years ago but Torre is without a doubt the soul of the Yankees. Pettitte and Rivera will probably follow him out of New York and expect A-Rod to do the same. If I'm John Henry, I'd be getting my checkbook out for Torre, Rivera and A-Rod... I'm not too pissed over Manny's comments that if the Red Sox lose tonight it's no big deal because there is always next year. The guy plays baseball for a living (and does so quite well in spite of what my father says), do you expect him to be Kissinger? Let him hit... Sox in 7...

7 Reasons Why The Red Sox Won't Win The ALCS

It's not officially over yet (if Beckett wins tomorrow and Daisuke can pitch like he should on Saturday, you never know what could happen Sunday...) but the 2007 Red Sox seem to be taking their last breaths. Here is a list of seven reasons why the Cleveland Indians will be taking on the Colorado Rockies in the World Series: 7. The Red Sox starting pitching -- other than Beckett -- has been a complete disaster. Did anyone tell Curt Schilling, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Tim Wakefield that ALCS games last all nine innings? 6. Coco Crisp is an automatic out. As Jacoby Ellsbury sits and watches. 5. Eric Gagne is doing his best Byung-Hung Kim impersanation. Not one that will be seen on Frank TV any time in the near future. 4. Dustin Pedroia looks more like the overwhelmed rookie we saw in April than the hit machine we saw from May through the ALDS. And really, who saw that coming? 3. Big Papi's knee is killing him. Ortiz is still hitting but imagine if he were 100%. 2. Terry Francona has been way too loyal. Come on Tito, put Bobby Kielty and Ellsbury in tomorrow night and leave them there until the season ends. 1. J.D. Drew sucks. Do you think he even cares? I don't. Hopefully he decides to earn that $70-million over the next four years. Maybe next year. That is, unless Beckett wins tonight and Daisuke figures it out Saturday and Schilling is Schill on Sunday...

Random Thoughts (October 16, 2007)

I agree with Terry Francona and the Red Sox in their decision to start Tim Wakefield in Game of the ALCS instead of Josh Beckett. First off, the Sox will still need to beat C.C. Sabathia or Fausto Carmona whether or not they win tonight. I'll take my chances with Wake against Paul Byrd and then have Beckett for Sabathia on Thursday night. Second, the Indians bats are hot right now and the knuckleball could be the trick to cool them off. Yes, the speed of Grady Sizemore will be maximized with the floating Wake speciality but I'll take that knowing the likes of Travis Hafner and Ryan Garko will be swinging from their heels as the ball drifts into Mirabelli's oversized glove. Finally, Wake is a big money pitcher who won't shrink in the limelight like his Japanese teammate did last night. No way Wake gets spooked tonight. We'll all look back and laugh when the Sox clinch this thing Saturday night... Bill Simmons put it perfectly yesterday, the Pats are giving a huge "F You" to the NFL right now, it wasn't enough to have the best team -- they don't stop going for the jugular until the clock strikes 00:00... BC is now ranked third in the AP poll and second in the USA Today poll. I'm still not buying it, they are no better than No. 11 -- behind LSU, Florida, USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma, South Florida, Oregon, California, West Virginia and Kentucky -- and until they beat a legit team, I'm sticking to my story... I am really excited for the Celtics. KG is going to win the MVP and Paul Pierce and Ray Allen will join him at the All-Star Game. With some breaks they could win the Larry O'Brien trophy... Gotta love the Colorado Rockies... Enjoy Mirabelli's homerun tonight...

ALCS Preview; Football Picks

I'm pressed for time but here is my ALCS predection.... RED SOX IN 5!!!! The Indians are a good team but they are not on the level of the BoSox. The rested and pumped up Sox will make quick work of Cleveland. Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling will be fired up because of all the attention paid to C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona this week and the Boston bats -- primarily Big Papi and Manny -- are rested and ready to explode. As for the picks... NCAA A great week last week has brought me back to respectability. We'll see how long that holds up. Central Florida (+11.5) over SOUTH FLORIDA Illinois (-3) over IOWA Louisville (+10) over CINCINNATI ARKANSAS (-3) over Auburn Alabama (-6) over OLE MISS Last Week: 5-0 Season: 11-8-1 NFL Bengals (-3.5) over CHIEFS JAGUARS (-6.5) over Texans BROWNS (-4) over Dolphins Vikings (+6) over Bears JETS (+4) over Eagles RAVENS (-9) over Rams Titans (+2.5) over BUCCANEERS Redskins (+3) over PACKERS CARDINALS (-4.5) over Panthers Patriots (-6) over COWBOYS (LOCK OF THE WEEK) CHARGERS (-9.5) over Raiders Saints (+6.5) over SEAHAWKS FALCONS (+4) over Giants Last Week: 5-9 Season: 25-31-3 GO RED SOX!!!

My "To Do" List For Theo Epstein

Congratulations are in order for Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. Constantly criticized for his bizarre exit/return to the Sox after the 2005 season, Epstein has rebuilt the team on the fly, making it younger and more explosive while also winning the 2007 AL East title and advancing to the ALCS. Of the four teams still playing baseball, the Red Sox are the clear favorite to capture the World Series. With that said, Theo's job for 2007 is officially over. There are no more moves he can make, it's time for Theo to begin focusing on 2008. To get Theo motivated, here is a list of things he needs to accomplish after the 2007 Red Sox win the World Series... 1. Sign Alex Rodriguez. I'm not the biggest A-Rod fan in the world but how can you not see that all Rodriguez needs is an escape from New York. The guy is dying to show all of those filthy Yankee fans that he is the superstar that Derek "No Rings Since Becoming Captain" Jeter is not and that he can win the big games. Adding A-Rod to a 2008 lineup that would feature Big Papi and Manny Ramirez is a no-brainer. And as for that rumored $30 million annual salary Rodriguez will ask for? Add the revenue streams from winning the Series, adding Rodriguez (a huge corporate favorite) and subtract the contracts of Mike Lowell (he'll be missed by TheBostonInsider) and Matt Clement and you have your cash. Plus, how sweet will it be to see the Yankees have to watch A-Rod crush their shitty pitching for the next decade? 2. Bring Joe Torre to Boston as an advisor Another shot at Steinbrenner and the sinking Yankees. Give Torre a cushy job while he waits for the Mets to dump Willie Randolph. Torre would be perfect for his knowledge of the game, the Yankees in particular. Watching Torre join Francona's staff at the 2008 All-Star Game -- to be played in the House that Frazee Built -- will be priceless. 3. Give Schilling $10 Million and the months of July and August off Big Schill is still a money pitcher. Theo needs to bring him back for one more year and allow Schill to rest up during the dog days of summer. It has worked wonders this year, Schill is a solid No. 2 horse behind Beckett. 4. Trade Jon Lester, Justin Masterson, Craig Hansen and Coco Crisp for Johan Santana Santana is too rich for Minnesota's blood and they need cheap, young talent in return for the perennial Cy Young favorite. Lester and Masterson could be punched right into the Twins rotation, Hansen would be a good arm in front of Joe Nathan and Crisp would replace the soon-to-depart Torii Hunter. Imagine Santana, Beckett, Matsuzaka, Schilling and Buchholz in the same rotation. Pitching in front of A-Rod, Papi and Ramirez. With Joe Torre smoking stoogies and sipping wine as the Red Sox complete the demise of Steinbrenner's Yankees. It should be reality. Get on that Theo.

Boston College A Tad Bit Overrated

Did you hear? The Boston College Eagles are ranked fourth in the country by both Associated Press and USA Today polls. It is the highest national ranking for the Eagles football team since 1984. The ranking is also a serious joke. Is BC better than No. 5 South Florida? Is BC better than No. 6 Oklahoma? Is BC better than No. 10 USC? Is BC better than No. 13 Florida? The answer to all of those questions is N-O. Boston College is a solid football team but there is absolutely no way that they are the fourth best team in the country. To get to their current record of 6-0, BC defeated Wake Forest, NC State, Army, UMass and Bowling Green at home and Georgia Tech on the road. Not exactly a killer schedule. If BC were suddenly dropped into the SEC and was forced to play the likes of Florida, LSU, Auburn, South Carolina and Tennessee every week, BC would be lucky to reach .500. This is not BC's fault either. It is the outdated system of ranking teams in polls that do not really take into effect who the top teams in the country realy are. It is the same outdated system that relies on these stupid rankings to determine who will play for the national championship in January. Imagine that BC runs the table and wins at Notre Dame, at Virginia Tech, at home versus Florida State, at Maryland, at Clemson and at home against Miami. BC would be in a position to play for the national championship. It is insane to think that BC would get a shot at a trophy that it has no right winning. Even winning out against a fairly tough schedule, BC is not a top team. Maybe this will be the wakeup call to the rest of the nation that college football needs to turn to a playoff system and abandon the traditional bowl format. Whatever does happen, always remember that no matter what the AP or USA Today tells you, Boston College is not the fourth best football team in the country. Not today and not ever.

Keep This In Mind

Shhhh, don't tell anyone. TheBostonInsider was a whopping 5-0 yesterday in his NCAA picks. Yeah, that's right. An undefeated Saturday afternoon. Illinois, Boston College, Florida, Penn State and Texas all covered the spread. On top of that, if I actually gambled, I would have nailed a tease with LSU and the over in the LSU-Florida game. What a world. Trying to top last week's NFL record of 10-3 might be tough but now I have confidence. Watch out!

Manny Being Manny; Football Picks

For all those people out there in Red Sox Nation, like my father, last night was a reminder why Manny Ramirez should receive some slack when he makes the occassional bonehead play in the field or haphazard circling of the bases. That homerun Manny crushed off of Francisco Rodriguez still has not landed. Mike Scoscia has to be wondering who he can pitch to in the middle of the Red Sox order. It's not Big Papi. And after last night, it's not Manny either. If the Sox fail to go on and win the World Series than Manny's walk-off will quickly be forgotten but if the Sox do achieve their goals and take home the world championship, Manny's decisive blast will be remembered as the first shot across the bow for the 2007 World Series champions. As for the picks... My NCAA picks were terrible last week but my NFL picks were right on the mark. Take head however, my career winning percentage is closer to Jack's BAL than it is to Bill Belichick's career winning percentage in New England. NCAA PENN STATE (-9) over Iowa BOSTON COLLEGE (-20) over Bowling Green Florida (+7) over LSU Texas (+12) over Oklahoma (at Dallas) ILLINOIS (-3) over Wisconsin Last Week: 1-4 Season: 6-8-1 NFL SAINTS (-3) over Panthers CHIEFS (+2) over JAGUARS Lions (+3.5) over REDSKINS (LOCK OF THE WEEK) TITANS (-8) over Falcons TEXANS (-5) over Dolphins Seahawks (+6) over STEELERS Browns (+16.5) over PATRIOTS RAMS (+3.5) over Cardinals GIANTS (-3) over Jets COLTS (-9.5) over Buccaneers Chargers (+1) over BRONCOS Ravens (-3.5) over 49ERS Bears (+3) over PACKERS Cowboys (-10) over BILLS Last Week: 10-3 Season: 20-22-3 Lock of the Week: 2-2

Weekend Picks Review

It's tough not to smile this morning after a weekend that saw my NCAA picks continue to slide but that saw my greatest NFL showing of all-time. In college picks I was 1-4 with only Notre Dame saving me with a flurry of second half points. I can't wait for Matt Ryan and BC to walk all over the Irish in South Bend in two weeks. As for the NFL ... wow. A 9-3 week (with the Pats going tonight) highlighted by Arizona, Buffalo and the NY Giants all winning outright. Hopefully the start of something beautiful.