The Bench 2019 Sports Talk Thread

[katester44]

New year...new thread! As always, if there is something bigger than this thread, it will earn its own thread! It did seem to do pretty well last year, so we will do it again this year.....

Eight coaches lose their jobs in the NFL - including Marvin Lewis...FINALLY. I know he rebuilt that team out of nothing, but 0-7 in the playoffs and a culture that seemed to border on out of control at times, time to go. Sort of the exact opposite in Arizona where Steve Wilkes was let go after a year...didn't seem like he had a chance to build anything, knowing they were going to stink anyway this year. So the job openings are - Jets, Bucs, Cardinals, Bengals, Packers, Browns, Dolphins...and slipping my mind is the 8th team...

Clemson and Alabama in the national title game for the 3rd time in 4 years. But somehow it doesn't seem as played out as Warriors/Cavs in the NBA Finals. Both the semifinal games were relatively drama free.

 

[SymphonicMetal]

New year...new thread! As always, if there is something bigger than this thread, it will earn its own thread! It did seem to do pretty well last year, so we will do it again this year.....

Eight coaches lose their jobs in the NFL So the job openings are - Jets, Bucs, Cardinals, Bengals, Packers, Browns, Dolphins...and slipping my mind is the 8th team...

That would be the Broncos with Vance "Having the time of his life" Joseph getting the axe.

For those of you who don't get the "time of his life" reference, thie following short video clip will explain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F0f013sLIo

 

[katester44]

That would be the Broncos with Vance "Having the time of his life" Joseph getting the axe.

For those of you who don't get the "time of his life" reference, thie following short video clip will explain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F0f013sLIo

Thanks for the reminder on both counts - I remember that Dipp guy doing that intro..just brutal. But hey, he is on national TV getting paid and I am not...

UCF finally lost a college football game.....Lost by 8 to an SEC "powerhouse", wonder if having their starting QB would have tipped the scales in UCF's favor... Ohio St. sends Urban Meyer out as a "winner". All fun and games, but so far only two bowl games have mattered, and you can a third to that list on Monday night.

 

[SymphonicMetal]

I'd have felt sorry for him but his follow up over dramatic apology killed that. It was so embarrassing I think it was taken down on Youtube.

The 4 team championship tournament has absolutely killed any interest in the bowl games for me and many others judging from sports talk radio. New Year's Day used to be special with the 4 or 5 bowl games traditionally played. Now they are just afterthoughts. I don't think I watched more than 5 minutes total of all the bowl games this year except for the national semi finals. The most interesting thing that happened was Michigan getting smoked and Texas showing UGA did not belong in the final 4.

I did not even watch a minute of Michigan State in the Breadbox Bowl.

Oh wait........the Bevo/Uga confrontation was both interesting and scary if you were poor UGA and anyone else in that vicinity!!

 

[katester44]

I'd have felt sorry for him but his follow up over dramatic apology killed that. It was so embarrassing I think it was taken down on Youtube.

The 4 team championship tournament has absolutely killed any interest in the bowl games for me and many others judging from sports talk radio. New Year's Day used to be special with the 4 or 5 bowl games traditionally played. Now they are just afterthoughts. I don't think I watched more than 5 minutes total of all the bowl games this year except for the national semi finals. The most interesting thing that happened was Michigan getting smoked and Texas showing UGA did not belong in the final 4.

I did not even watch a minute of Michigan State in the Breadbox Bowl.

Oh wait........the Bevo/Uga confrontation was both interesting and scary if you were poor UGA and anyone else in that vicinity!!

I can't disagree with you - the sheer number of bowls has overtaken the ability to care about any of them. There are three games that count - and those are the semis and the final. The "real" best day of college football now is conference championship Saturday. I watched more games than, than I have since bowl season started.

Bevo/UGA was great. Bettors should have taken their cue from that outcome.......

More importantly - the PGA season kicks off today at 3pm EST with the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. Tiger won't be teeing it up until the tour hits Cali in a couple weeks, but good to have golf back in the life!

 

[David K.]

Better that this week the playoffs start on Sat/Sun! Chargers are pretty good road team....7-1. Best regards, David

 

[SymphonicMetal]

The list of eligible players eligible to get into the pro football HOF came out today. I did not see the whole list but there were 3 first timers on it all of whom seem tome to be locks for the Hall.......Tony Gonzalez, Ed Reed and Champ Bailey. The first two guys seem to be first ballot guys and Bailey a second ballot at the very worst.

 

[David K.]

A Great weekend......NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA Braketball, Plus College playoff start on Monday. Best regards, David

 

[zlw1]

Who all do you have this weekend for NFL Playoff Games?
Today it's
Indy @ Houston (-1.5)
Seattle @ Dallas (-2)

Tomorrow it's
L.A. Chargers @ Baltimore (-2)
Philly @ Chicago (-6.5)

I'd take Houston to cover 27-24, Dallas to Cover 23-17, Baltimore to Cover 26-17, and Philly +6.5... Not sure if Philly will beat Chicago straight up though. I'd take Chicago 31-27

And if all this happens
The following week it would be
Houston @ New England (New England held on to beat Houston earlier this year)
Baltimore @ Kansas City (Close game went to K.C. earlier 4th/9 Mahomes throw)
Chicago @ L.A. Rams (Chicago won definitively earlier this year)
Dallas @ New Orleans. (Dallas beat them earlier this year 13-10)
I'd pick straight up Baltimore, New England, L.A. Rams, Chicago and New Orleans would win those matchups.
Chicago @ New Orleans
Baltimore @ New England
I won't pick LIII yet because, usually those picks above are never right

 

[Boots]

Just to throw in a little "controversy", I'm picking all four road teams to win this weekend!
Boots

Who all do you have this weekend for NFL Playoff Games?
Today it's
Indy @ Houston (-1.5)
Seattle @ Dallas (-2)

Tomorrow it's
L.A. Chargers @ Baltimore (-2)
Philly @ Chicago (-6.5)

I'd take Houston to cover 27-24, Dallas to Cover 23-17, Baltimore to Cover 26-17, and Philly +6.5... Not sure if Philly will beat Chicago straight up though. I'd take Chicago 31-27

And if all this happens
The following week it would be
Houston @ New England (New England held on to beat Houston earlier this year)
Baltimore @ Kansas City (Close game went to K.C. earlier 4th/9 Mahomes throw)
Chicago @ L.A. Rams (Chicago won definitively earlier this year)
Dallas @ New Orleans. (Dallas beat them earlier this year 13-10)
I'd pick straight up Baltimore, New England, L.A. Rams, Chicago and New Orleans would win those matchups.
Chicago @ New Orleans
Baltimore @ New England
I won't pick LIII yet because, usually those picks above are usually never right

 

[David K.]

Ind colts 21 over Houston Texians 7......Best regards, David

 

[Boots]

So far, one for one!
Boots

 

[Boots]

Cowboys beat the Seahawks 24-22, thus ruining my "roadie" theory.
Oh well...
On to tomorrow's games.
Boots

 

[zlw1]

Should be a good round today. The Texans game was a typical Bill O'Brien stinker. But at least the night game was a solid football game. Dak did just enough to keep his team in.

I still think if the Ravens Offense can continue to pound the ball on the athletic Chargers Defense, and make enough stops on Melvin Gordon, forcing Rivers to throw, it'll be a one dimensional offense that they should be able to handle.
As far as the Philadelphia/Chicago game tonight, it's a toss up in my opinion because you don't know what you will get out of Trubisky, but you know you'll see a tough Bears D and an Inspired Nick Foles type offense like last years team. It's a toss up in my opinion, but, I still think Chicago will edge them.

 

[David K.]

Dallas 24 over Seattle 22 NFL playoffs. Best regards, David

 

[David K.]

Chargers 3 vs. Ravens 0 in the first quarter of AFC playoffs. Best regards, David

 

[David K.]

Chargers 12 vs. Ravens 0 Half time. Best regards, David

 

[David K.]

Chargers 20 vs Ravens 3....4th quarter...Best regards, David

 

[zlw1]

Incredible how much the Chargers Defense has stopped everything... Seems like the 2nd go around for Lamar has turned into a complete nightmare... Might see Flacco come in

 

[David K.]

Looks like no Flacco ....