NCAA and NFL Picks, Joe Lieberman is now the Man, and Rutgers Rules...

All right, I apologize. I have been less than quantitatively effective on my column output this week. And I actually have a lot to say. It is just that my actual work seems to be getting in the way, which doesn’t do anybody any good. So I will give you a few of my quick thoughts, then my college and pro picks, then try to do better next week.

My takeaway from the elections Tuesday is that the most important person in Washington is not George W. Bush, and it is not Nancy Pelosi. It is Joe Lieberman. This guy has had a political comeback that is every bit of how Rutgers won that amazing college football game last night. Thrown out and dismissed by his own party after 18 years and even serving as their Vice Presidential nominee only 6 years ago, he came back to hold onto his Senate seat by running as an Independent. Not since Jesse ‘the Body” Ventura have we had such an Independent in such a big role. But if I were Joe Lieberman (who had the Dems mad at him because he voted for what he thought was right and not just what party leaders told him to do), I would tell the Dems to stick it and act like a true independent and do what he thinks is best, not what his old party that turned their backs on him says. He is the swing vote in the Senate. And, as a citizen who is disgusted with both the fanatical right and the liberal left, and as someone that thinks that Lieberman is as good a mind as any as we have in Washington, that gives me some comfort. His is not intended as a complete analysis of where we are as a country, or to elicit a million political responses, but I had to get it out there.

Now how about Rutgers!!!! The Scarlet Knights were getting beat worse than Carlos Baldomir against Floyd Mayweather when they just completely shut down Louisville’s offense for the last 2.5 quarters of the game. Just an awesome display of great coaching, flawless execution, and tremendous heart from a group of overachievers who are giving the folks who run the BCS indigestion. Everyone should be rooting for the Scarlet Knights to run the table (including a very tough game at West Virginia) so that they can get snubbed by the BCS and we can clamor more loudly than usual for a playoff!!! Plus, that game last night was a picture of what is right about college sports. Just awesome…

OK, I am sorry, but I am running out of time. Must get to football picks….

NCAA (Last week: 5-2; Overall, 30-28, 52%)

Maryland (-3) vs. Miami. The Hurricanes are a mess. Now they had a player murdered this week. Sometimes these are opportunities to rally around someone or something, but this program has too much negative energy right now.

Purdue (+3) at Illinois. Just not ready to buy into to the Ron Zook mania sweeping through Champaign.

Florida St (-9) vs. Wake. I hope I am wrong. Wake is one of the two best stories (with Rutgers) in college football this year, but going with Xavier Lee at QB will right the ‘Noles.

Texas A&M (+1) vs. Nebraska. The Aggies bounce back after a one point loss at home to the Sooners last week.

Oklahoma (-9) vs. Texas Tech. Stoops is an underrated coach. Leach is a gimmick coach who has been figured out.

NFL (Last week: 3-2; Overall: 28-22, 56%)

Miami (+1) vs. Kansas City. This is when Miami turned it up last year, after the games were meaningless except to bettors and the other team. And wouldn’t it be convenient for Huard to lay an egg and make the QB controversy go away?

Cincinnati (+1) vs. San Diego. Last chance for the Bungles to redeem themselves in my eyes.

Indianapolis (-11.5) vs. Buffalo. J.P. Losman. Peyton Manning. Enough said.

Pittsburgh (-4.5) vs. New Orleans. T-R-A-P……

Green Bay (+5.5) at Minnesota. Brett Favre never plays well in Minnesota, so naturally, now that he is a shell of his former self, I will be taking the points.

San Francisco (+6) at Detroit. Who are the Lions to be giving 6 to anyone?

Denver (-9) at Oakland. I cannot justify a Raider selection under any circumstances after having actually watched them on Monday Night.

No comment on Eagles, except to say they better get off to a lead as they have proven they are not great in a close game, slug it out situation. Lots to comments on next week…