MMBSD: By the Numbers

In some ways its been an odd season with coaches experimenting with weird collegiate inspired wildcat formations. Good the NFL be evolving to the huck and chuck outcomes of college? Well the playoffs in the biggest of rounds a resounding no has echoed. It was a by the numbers division round. The team that controlled the point of attack, avoided costly turnovers and had the football injury gods smile on them won.

Delhomme's interception down 14-7 caused the Panthers to smash the panic button, abandon the run and sink further into the mire. Tennessee repeated Plaxico's (shooting oneself in the leg) coupled with Flash Johnson's injury meant Baltimore kept going. Tomlinson's injury and Pittsburgh holding the ball for the entire 3rd quarter (wow) ended San Diego's hopes. Obviously MJ couldn't summon enough hatred of the Giants to will them to victory (ok that one did follow the regular season pattern). While this year the hot team beat the home team 3 out 4 times but otherwise it was NFL playoff football by the numbers.


College Basketball
I realize most people don't start following college basketball until conference tourney time but with college football over and NFL nearly complete its time to fill that sports hole with quality stuff. The season started with the usual ESPN hype machine "This team (insert) has the chance to be on the best ever". In this case it was UNC who started off uber-hot not winning by less than 15 before its recent slump. Bad defense, poor shot selection and an injured Marcus Ginyard are hindering them.

The contenders at this point include Wake Forest (led by Jeff Teague an outstanding scorer), Pitt (who looks to finally get beyond the sweet 16), UConn (elder big man Thabeet learns offense), G-Town (best young player in Monroe), and a host of others. The Big 10 seems to be equivalent of ACC football - at least half dozen above average teams with sweet 16 potential but none with championship possibilities. The best player in the country remains Blake Griffin of OU although Stephen Curry and Jeff Teague might push him for the award.

I'll have more on college football after all the players announce for the draft....