This week sports chat, gloatin...

27th September 2022

This week sports chat, gloating about my Dolphins win over Buffalo

There are around 23 million citizens that live in The State of Florida. If you’ve lived here less than ten years, and moved here from somewhere north of the Mason Dixon Line or west of the Mississippi River you most likely spent the weekend searching for drinking water at Walmart or Publix or you waited in line for gas for hours at the local gas station or at that huge line at Costco. (hurricane preparedness causes this) If you find yourself in this group, you probably also pranced around Miami, Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach wearing your $250 team jersey that has a silk lined locked drawer of its own that no one in your family is allowed access to. The rest of us who have lived here longer than ten years (or were actually born in Florida) stayed away from Walmart, shook our heads at the gas lines, dragged our 30 year old thread bare Dan Marino jersey from the laundry hamper and hung out on the patio with our friends and families and enjoyed a weekend of beers, BBQs and football. Some of us like me also did a bit of in shore fishing. You decide on your own which group you fall into to. If you’re a Buffalo Bills fan that traveled here to watch your team win in our beautiful warm Florida sunshine, have a disappointing swift and safe trip back up north.

Now that I’ve got that topic off my chest, let’s take some calmer moments and discuss this week’s sporting fixtures.

I feel pretty confident that the Major League Baseball playoff picture is set, save for the wild card teams which are locked in a close race. I love the MLB playoffs. It reminds me of my youth when people still listened to the games on a radio as I did. I grew up on Cape Cod in the 70’s and 80’s so listening, and sometimes watching, the Red Sox and Celtics was a very big deal. To me it still is a big deal, it’s just that an 80 inch HDTV has replaced the am radio in my Dodge Dart and there’s no Johnny Most (Celtics) or Johnny Pesky (Red Sox) calling the games on the radio.

The new MLB playoff format has expanded the number of teams from 10 to 12. There are now two wildcard teams in each league. Instead of a single wild card game there is now a best of three game wild card series.

In the American League, the Houston Astro’s and New York Yankees are in. The two wild card series looks like it will be The Tamps Bay Devil Rays vs. The Toronto Blue Jays and The Seattle Mariners vs. The Cleveland Guardians.

In The National League The Los Angeles Dodgers and The New York Mets are in, with The San Diego Padres vs The Atlanta Braves and The Philadelphia Phillies and The St Louise Cardinals rounding out the wild card teams. As usual, the fall classic is sure to entertain with some amazing pitching and powerful hitting. Stay tuned!

College football has once again proven to be entertaining, frustrating and surprising all at the same time. As usual, my picks were crushed again, LOL. It doesn’t hurt to admit that because I’ve grown used to it this season.

Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State, Tennessee, Penn State and Michigan all look as good as anyone out there on the field. Now that we’re getting into the nitty gritty of conference play, I think we’ll start seeing some close games that will make future projections clearer. Also, as the weather grows colder and wetter you’ll see it playing more and more of a factor on the field. I realize it’s early in the season, but to me it looks like the FBS National Champion is going to come out of the South Eastern Conference, and let’s remember that I haven’t even mentioned Ole Miss and Kentucky both undefeated. To me it’s still a toss-up but as we move along in the season the picture will get clearer.

This week’s biggest winner: The Tennessee Volunteers 38-33 over The Florida Gators. I’m a huge fan of Payton Manning. I loved watching him play, especially in college at The University of Tennessee. However, in his four years in Knoxville he never beat The University of Florida Gators. Never. That fact may or may not have cost him the Heisman Trophy as in 1996, neck and neck in the Heisman race with Florida Quarterback Danny Wuerffel, Tennessee lost to the Gators, and Wuerffel went on to win the Heisman but then note he faded into football obscurity, Payton Manning played himself to two Super Bowl Championships and a spot in the NFL Hall Of Fame. Later on in the year, I’ll talk more about The Heisman Trophy.

This week’s biggest looser; Appalachian State falling to James Madison University 32-28. Seriously? I think I may have mentioned Appalachian State every week for the last three weeks. After scoring 40 points in the fourth quarter in their almost come from behind victory over arch rival North Carolina, App State pulled off the upset of the month by beating Texas A/M in College Station. The very next week, they beat conference rival Troy State University on a last play of the game Hail Mary on the very day of their debut on ESPN’ College Game Day. They were the lead story on every major network, the team that everyone(including me) fell in love with. A tough loss that took all the wind from their sails. In a few short hours they went from joyous victory to humiliating defeat. Remember what I said last week about the mountain top and the valley? That valley floor can be cold and dark.

Okay, NFL time. If you missed the Miami Dolphins vs The Buffalo Bills game you must be living in a cave. It was huge. It was exciting. The stadium was rocking. The temperature on the field was like 300 degrees. It was everything you wanted in a Miami NFL game. Drama, trash talking, controversy, and some good old hard knocking football. In the end, The Fins sent the Bills and their 3 million fans in South Florida back up to Buffalo with a crushing 21-19 loss and a really, really bad sun burn. I’m still celebrating. All of Fort Lauderdale can now breathe a sigh of relief. I haven’t seen so many Buffalo Bills Jerseys since they lost The Super Bowl 4 straight times, I couldn’t resist that dig.

I’m beginning to think that Father Time is catching up with Tom Brady. I also think that he might be catching up with Arron Rogers in Green Bay, Matt Ryan in Indianapolis and Russell Wilson in Denver. Rogers, Ryan and Wilson all won their games however but I’ll give Tom Brady a huge pass as he’s the GOAT. You have to admit however that the guy looks tired. He looks flat, like he’s lost the spark. I’m thinking that this could be his last year. I’m hoping he goes out with a W and his legend intact. Only time will tell I suppose. Or once again I’ll eat my words and route him on in the Superbowl, never say never, love to hear your thoughts on that subject, please write.

Last week I mentioned that The Bengals, The Colts, The Raiders, The Titans, The Panthers and The Falcons were all winless. I may have forgotten the Houston Texans as well. Only the Raiders and The Texans failed to squeeze out a win in week 3. The Texans I can understand, but The Las Vegas Raiders remaining winless is a shocker. I had them picked to go deep this year. I’m also a big fan of Derek Carr, whos not only is a great Quarterback but a really good guy with a lot of poise and class. Let’s hope the Raiders can put it together and save their season. After all it’s only week 3.

Don’t look now but The Dallas Cowboys are on a winning streak! America’s team is back! After losing Dak Prescott to injury in week 1 The Cowboys are 2-1 behind backup QB Cooper Rush. AND they have a place kicker that actually makes kicks! Shocker!

This week’s Big NFL winner; Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills Quarterback. He may have lost the game against the Dolphins but this guy rose 1000 points in my book. The guy can flat out play. There’s no quit in him. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s smart, and he has an endless supply of energy in that rifle for an arm. He’s a leader on and off the field. He went 42 for 63, two touchdowns and about a zillion yards in a tough loss to Miami. His 63 passing attempts is now a Buffalo Bills record. I don’t believe in moral victories. I never have. You’re either a winner or you’re a looser for the day. I’m going to put that belief aside in this case however and give him his due. I’m not gonna tell any of my friends, but I may even buy a jersey (kidding).

This week’s Big NFL looser; Offensive Coordinator For The Buffalo Bills Ken Dorsey. His much watched melt down in the coach’s box at the conclusion of The Dolphins game went viral. Like, very viral. Not a very good look. I can understand passion for the game and I think it’s okay for people to be emotional as long as no one is hurt. I think that teams will have to reconsider cameras in the coaches box however.

As an ending note you’ll have to sign up for Amazon Prime if you want to watch The Dolphins vs. The Bengals this Thursday. As for myself, I usually pick Thursday night to go out and support my local sports bar. Why give Amazon more money right and their beer isn’t as cold. As always good luck to all of us here at Sportsbook Stuff, may your next week’s picks and wagers bring you some fun and profits.

Kev