NFL hits homestretch
The NFL slate hits Week 14 and the stakes are through the roof.
That said, there’s not that eye-popping game like a Pittsburgh-Baltimore or Jets-Patriots matchup like last week.
Still, here are a couple of guess (against the number of course) from a couple of friends of the show:
Our guy Mark likes the Bengals plus-8.5 at Pittsburgh on Sunday. (He called it a trap game for the Steelers.)
Our friend formerly known as Ted likes the Packers over Detroit. Hold on research alert… The Packers are something like 18-7-1 against the spread under coach Mike McCarthey against teams with losing records.
And Blue Horseshoe loves Endicott Steel. (Sorry, we’re a sucker at the Drill for a good “Wall Street” quote.)
Vols prove your worth
Bruce Pearl’s bunch goes to Pittsburgh on Saturday for a date with the No. 3-ranked Panthers.
Yes, it’s a December regular-season game. Yes, a loss would hardly be a blip on the strong early-season start for the Vols. Yes, Pitt should win.
But a win for UT could be big come March. Barring an implosion, UT figures to be in the tournament, right? And if games like this one can become wins, then the Vols could be on the short list of power seeds when the brackets are drawn.
Think back to how much that Kansas win in January helped last season. Just saying….
Smiles all around
You faithful readers (all three of you) know we have spent some time this week looking at the money being tossed around by Major League Baseball owners at free agents.
Well, as Cliff Lee’s asking price continues to climb as the Yankees and Rangers lobby for his services, ponder this thought for a second.
Unless the Cardinals reach an extension with slugger Albert Pujols, the three-time MVP will be a free agent next winter. And brother if that happens, hold on to your hat come next December.
Seriously, if Jayson Werth is worth a seven-year $126 millions deal for .296 with 27 homers and 85 RBIs in 2010 and career totals of .272 and 120 HRs and 406 in an eight-year career. What in goodness name is the startinbg price for Pujols, who is a .331 career hitter with 408 HRs and 1,230 RBIs in a 10-year career that included a .312 average, 42 homers and 118 RBIs in 2010? Truly, if Werth gets roughly $18 million a season, is Pujols worth $36 million per year?
I wonder if he needs an agent?
Enjoy the weekend.