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Random Thoughts on NFL Playoffs, College Hoops and All-Star games

1/29/2016

I went 0 for 2 on my championship game picks last week in the NFL Playoffs to bring my playoff tally to 6-4. Denver's defense was masterful in their shut down of New England and Carolina just took Arizona to the woodshed. I won't be talking much about Super Bowl 50 at this point. The two week wait for the big game is too long. The manufacturing of hype and non-stories for the media to drum up is excruciating and exhausting. Sportstalk radio becomes completely unlistenable as most of the shows go to Radio Row and all the same guests are paraded through to each program.

I would like to welcome those you who haven't been watching college hoops to the season already in progress. Great move by the SEC & Big 12 to have their out of conference challenge games at this point of the schedule while football is down and the the NBA and NHL are approaching their all-star games. The marquee matchups are #1 Oklahoma at LSU and #20 Kentucky at #4 Kansas which should live up to the billings. I personally love college basketball way more than the NBA and have already been watching quite a bit but really love the wall to wall coverage available through February to wet the appetite for March Madness.

Speaking of all-star games, as the NHL has theirs this weekend, the NFL has the Pro Bowl and the NBA jumps in next weekend. All Star games are completely unwatchable to me no matter which sport. The NFL should rename theirs the Stars game or something since so many of the voted in players drop out. Honestly, if the players don't care about the game, why should we would. I applaud the NHL for at least trying something new with their 3 on 3 tournament among the divisions, at least this way they are not masquerading the usual 5 on 5 double digit scoring games that torture the goalies as an actual game. I used to think the NBA had the best one when it had real competition but they have totally foregone defense altogether. I would have to say MLB's is the best since it does stand alone and at least can replicate regular season action since they don't have to guard as much from not getting hurt like the other sports, but that really isn't saying much since managers feel the need to use all of the players after the starters put in their three inning token appearance. I totally dislike giving the winning league home field advantage for their team in the World Series as it does not always reward the best team from the REGULAR season. An exhibition should never have bearing on a playoff.

I'll have a new podcast for you next week. While I always post them here on the website, you can always access them on iTunes, SoundCloud and TuneIn. As always, I'd like to request your participation and opinions to my blog postings and podcasts by using the comments section on the blog or following me on Twitter @jeffallen_88

The Jeff Allen Sportstalk Blog and Podcast is sponsored by Kramer's Salve for Dogs. Help your pet escape the itch and hot spot cycle by ordering today at kramersalve.net

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Championship Game picks / NFL Officiating = Clown Show

1/22/2016

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Another 3-1 week on my playoff picks to take me to 6-2. Two games to pick this week, with the AFC and NFC Championship games. I'll go more in depth on my podcast which is embedded at the bottom of the blog but here are my picks:

First in the AFC, we get another Brady-Manning matchup. This one will go in the win column for the Patriots but Denver's defense keeps them close.

In the NFC, it’s also the top two seeds with Arizona vs. Carolina. There are two great defenses on display here and this will be a punchers duel. I think it’s the Cardinals winning on a last minute score.

So that would set up an Arizona-Denver Super Bowl. Just so you know, you won’t get any hype from me on Super Bowl.

Off the field, ESPN’s Jon Gruden thinks the NFL should get rid of all replay and that is a great idea. Replay has complicated things and made officials gun shy from actually making calls on the field, not to mention making the games last even longer. While they would never totally eliminate replay, a huge streamlining would be a great step.

While on the topic NFL officiating….The VP of Officials, Dean Blandino defends the Larry Fitzgerald catch in the last game claiming that they didn't say it was a catch but no evidence to overturn the call which is precisely what is wrong with replay. They go back and forth between judgement and evidence and can’t be consistent on either. If the Larry Fitzgerald catch was a catch, then the Dez Bryant catch should have been too.

And to top it off..how about the officials leaving the game balls for the Patriots-Chiefs game at the hotel and having to have them police escortedto the stadium. NFL officiating is a total clown show complete with makeup, large shoes and a tiny clown car they all exit from.

I’d like to recommend a great read from SI.com on Hall of Fame tight End Jackie Smith who after a great career with the St. Louis Cardinals, came out of retirement to play one final season with the Dallas Cowboys. As some of you might remember, he had one of the most heart breaking moments in Super Bowl history dropping what was a sure TD pass from Roger Staubach in Super Bowl 13...a huge momentum changer after the Cowboys had to settle for a FG to pull within four pts at 21-17. Then the Steelers scored two TD’s to build a lead and then hold off a late Cowboy rally to win 35-31. The article focuses on how being the goat of that game affected his post playing career, nearly ruining his life and how he eventually came to grips with it. It’s a great piece by Ben Baskin and I encourage you to check it out on SI.com

The Jeff Allen Sportstalk Podcast and Blog is sponsored by Kramer's Salve for Dogs. Help your dog end the itch and hot spot cycle by ordering today at kramersalve.net

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Coaching Changes / Playoffs

1/15/2016

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As the NFL coaching vacancies are being filled, I have some thoughts on some of the hirings.

Tampa Bay - The hiring is not as intriguing as the firing of Lovie Smith. If the team didn't think Smith had them going in the right direction, why wait until 3 days after the regular season. The promotion of Dirk Koetter leads me to the conspiracy theory that Jameis Winston had something to do with it. Having the spoiled primadonna track record that he does, I could see him undercutting Smith to ownership to promote the OC, the coach he is closest to as the players are doing their season ending exit interviews. And I see the Bucs ownership as spineless enough to follow through and cater to him just as everyone else has done in his athletic career

San Francisco - I guess the thinking here is that Chip Kelly can resurrect Colin Kapernick's career. The 49ers wouldn't be in their predicament in the first place if they hadn't parted with Jim Harbaugh. How many teams would kill for the run his teams had to be contenders every year? I think Kelly won't even be as successful as he was in Philly as the NFC West is packed with defense and two of the best in the entire league in Arizona and Seattle. The problem with his up-tempo offense is that his teams play too fast - to the detriment of his own teams defense. They get no rest with the continual constant quick three and outs.

Cleveland - I think the Browns got it right by hiring someone within the division in Cincinnati OC Hugh Jackson. He will know what it takes to beat those teams. For his sake, I hope Jimmy Haslem stays out of his way. The Browns will never move forward changing coaches and quarterbacks every two years.

Moving on to the playoffs, I went 3-1 on my picks last week. Would have been 4-0 if not for the Blair Walsh FG miss. Here are my picks and I have a full breakdown on this week's podcast which is embedded below.

Kansas City at New England / Saturday 4:35 CBS - I think the case can be made that KC is playing the best of any team right now. New England has struggled down the stretch but they are dangerous and at home. That said, I like the Chiefs in this one.

Green Bay at Arizona / Saturday 8:15 NBC - Arizona blew out Green Bay just a few short weeks ago. The Packers will make it a better game this time, especially if they play a lot of no-huddle like last week vs. Washington. I still think Arizona wins because of their defense.

Seattle at Carolina / Sunday 1:00 FOX - Carolina won at Seattle early in the season and they will win again at home this time too in a game that will come down to wire.

Pittsburgh at Denver / Sunday 4:35 CBS - Pittsburgh will be without RB DeAngelo Williams and if they don't have WR Antonio Brwon and QB Ben Roethlisberger that is too much to overcome. Denver will also ride momentum of Peyton Manning being back under center to win this game.

Hope you enjoy this week's podcast!

The Jeff Allen Sportstalk Blog and Podcast are brought to you by Kramer's Salve for Dogs. Help your dog end the hot spot and itch cycle by ordering today at kramersalve.net

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Wild Card Weekend / National Championship / Hall of Fame

1/8/2016

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For my first blog of 2016, I'll start with the beginning of the NFL Playoffs as Wild Card Weekend takes center stage.

AFC/Kansas City at Houston 4:35EST ABC/ESPN - I think this will be the least interesting of the four wild card games. Kansas City is hitting on all cylinders and I think they will overwhelm the Texans as their late season run will end up in a quick exit.

AFC/Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 8:15EST CBS - This would be my most intriguing of the weekend. Pittsburgh has stumbled down the stretch but got in by beating Cleveland and the Jets losing to Buffalo. Cincinnati has to go in with a backup quarterback in AJ McCarron who has played decently filling in for Andy Dalton. In their two games this season, both times the road team won and that will hold true again. I pick the Steelers to win a close low scoring game late.

NFC/Seattle at Minnesota 1:00EST NBC - My favorite game of the weekend because of I love cold weather and bad weather football. With this forecast to be one of the coldest games on record, this game so has my interest. The Seahawks blew out the Vikings during the regular season in Seattle. The Vikings get payback as Adrian Peterson controls the game on the ground.

NFC/Green Bay at Washington 4:40EST FOX - Green Bay has struggled down the stretch while Washington has improved steadily as the season progressed. While on paper they are going in opposite directions, I think the Packers take advantage of a clean slate and win this game in a blowout. You like that Kirk Cousins?!

Moving to college football's National Championship game on Monday night, I like Clemson to defeat Alabama. The Tigers have been doubted by many all season long despite proving in on the field week after week and this game will be no different. Clemson will win this one going away and we will get to see another dance for Head Coach Dabo Sweeney.

Ken Griffey Jr and Mike Piazza were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame this week. Piazza is of note as the first of suspected PED users to gain entry which will be interesting to see if that opens the door for others. My friend, blog reader and fellow Braves fan Rick from Tallahassee has posed the question that harkens back to pre-PED about whether Atlanta Braves legend Dale Murphy should be in the HOF. Murphy had an outstanding career with some of these credentials:

7× All-Star (1980, 1982–1987); 2× NL MVP (1982, 1983); 5× Gold Glove Award (1982–1986); 4× Silver Slugger Award (1982–1985); 2× NL home run leader (1984, 1985) 2× NL RBI leader (1982, 1983)

I think he should be and admit some of that is some homerism and because of his All American clean image (comparable to Roger Staubach in football). He was a dominant player in a 5 year period on a bad team where the only time he had protection of another prominent hitter in the batting order was when Bob Horner was healthy. What is keeping him out? I think the first few wasted seasons as catcher and first baseman where he struggled as an infielder and in turn at the plate. He blossomed once he moved to the outfield and when Joe Torre managed the Braves, he seemed to unlock all of Murph's talents. The other reason are his lifetime stats:
Batting average .265
Hits 2,111
HR 398
RBI 1,266

Numbers at the beginning and end of his career hurt his overall numbers. I think his prolific numbers of his MVP and HR leading years should carry more weight and have him in the Hall.

Be on the lookout for a new podcast next week.

The Jeff Allen Sportstalk Blog and Podcast is brought to you by Kramer's Salve for Dogs. Help your dog end the hot spot and itching cycle today by ordering at kramersalve.net

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Unique yet common sense sports opinions

Random Thoughts on NFL Playoffs, College Hoops and All-Star games

Championship Game picks / NFL Officiating = Clown Show

Coaching Changes / Playoffs

Wild Card Weekend / National Championship / Hall of Fame

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