Nick’s Picks: The Wildcard Weekend Edition
We (me) are back (not front)!
Okay, now that I have cleared that up, Happy New Year to everyone! I hope a happy holiday season was had by all and hopefully the good spirits continue well into 2014. It has been a while since I last used my picking ability (sometimes referred to as my “sixth sense” by management, they love me). So, I hope I am not too rusty on this special Saturday edition.
Before I get to the picks let me first give out some congratulatory notes and air some grievances from over the holiday break.
Congratulations to the Warsaw Tigers for claiming the Hamilton Heights Holiday Tournament title last Friday. I had the privilege of covering the Tigers in the tournament and it was a great time. Picking up the back-to-back wins over Bloomington North and Hamilton Heights really solidified Warsaw as solid team and a threat to make another run to the regional this post-season. Honestly, this is the only congratulations I am giving out.
Grievances: To Bloomington North fans, sometimes your team turns the ball over and commits fouls. There is no conspiracy against you or your kids, Warsaw did not write a check to the officials and to the dad in the grey sweater (if you were there, you know who I am talking about), settle down, it is only a game.
To Rochester High School, put a sign that points in the general direction of your school so I do not have to make several U-turns on icy roads that I am not familiar with.
There are more, but I can spread them out throughout the year.
Last Week (12/20/13): 8-4
Overall: 123-58
Boys High School Basketball 1/4
Tippecanoe Valley (4-2) vs. Rochester (2-4), 6 p.m.The Scoop: The Vikings had a rough night at Rochester High School as NorthWood just wiped the floor with the Vikings in the second half. Thankfully, Tanner Andrews and company will be able to get back on track tonight at NorthWood when they take on Rochester in the consolation game on The Winning Edge Holiday Tournament. Rochester is alright on the offensive side of the ball but Valley has a stout defense and as long as the Vikings can hit shots, the defense will take care of itself. The Vikings have not lost back-to-back games in two seasons, no reason that streak should change tonight.
The Pick: Valley 51, Rochester 43.
Columbia City (4-5) at Wawasee (1-6), 7:30 p.m.
The Scoop: The Warriors have not played a game since taking a thumping by Warsaw back on December 20. The Warriors needed some time off. The team is young and is still struggling to put a complete together. Tonight the Warriors are playing another game that I see as winnable, I just do not think they will win. Wawasee has yet to make a statement win in Steve Wiktorowski’s first year. That win will come, there are plenty of opportunities left on the schedule for Wawasee to get some nice wins. But until I can see some consistency out of the Warriors, I will have a tough time picking them to win.
The Pick: Columbia City 53, Wawasee 46.
Girls High School Basketball 1/4
Brebeuf Jesuit (1-9) vs. Wawasee (2-6), 11:45 a.m.
The Scoop: The rotating annual shootout makes its way to Plymouth this year and in the second game of Saturday’s four pack, it is a rematch of the 2007 3A State Championship game. I will go out on a limb and predict that neither of these teams will be making an appearance in this year’s state title game. However, this is still a big game for both teams. It is a good chance to get a win in a tournament setting and it may be the only chance for a win on the day as both teams will play very talented teams in the evening games with Plymouth and Norwell. Wawasee has done a decent job at playing defense this season and if the Warriors can stay true to that today, they will be in a really good position. Wawasee needs to get help on the offensive side of the ball, once they can find a consistent scoring option, this team will be able to challenge teams a lot better. Thankfully Wawasee will not need a dynamic scorer in the first game of its double-header, but it will still need somebody (attention, Kylee Rostochak and Elizabeth Jackson)to step up and keep this team focused on the court.
The Pick: Wawasee 39, Brebeuf 30.
Triton (7-3) vs. Warsaw (4-7), 7:30 p.m. Grace College Orthopedic Capital Center
The Scoop: This game has lost a lot of its luster since the beginning of the season. Warsaw has struggled this season at finishing games and really just scoring in general. The Lady Tigers are riding a two-game winning streak after picking up two nice wins over Lowell and Perry Meridian over the holiday. It looks like the Tigers may be turning a corner in what has been an odd season, but Triton is a solid team with a lot to prove still. The Trojans are a very talented team and have already played and defeated some larger schools, so this match up does not scare them. Until I see more nice games from the Lady Tigers, I do not feel comfortable in picking them to win in a big game on a neutral court.
The Pick: Triton 58, Warsaw 44.
NFL Playoffs 1/4-1/5
Kansas City (11-5) at Indianapolis (11-5), 1/4 4:35 p.m.
The Scoop: Well, I picked the Chiefs to beat the Colts two weeks ago when these two teams met in the Show-Me State. I was wrong. I also predicted that if these two teams met again that it would be a different story the second time around. I will be right about that. I was shocked the Colts man-handled the Chiefs the way they did back in week 16. The Colts will win this game, but not in the same fashion. This is the playoffs, there is no way that Kansas City falls flat on its face again against the Colts. This will be a physical game that will have both team trying to establish a ground game early, but it will come down to defense and quarterback play. The Colts have the better signal caller and have a top 10 defense when healthy, the Chiefs defense is a top three unit when healthy. Both units are healthy but only one defense has the benefit of the home crowd. It spoke volumes of what this Colts team is capable of when it knocked off the Chiefs in the cold, in one of the NFL’s loudest stadiums just two weeks ago. That win gives me more than enough confidence that the boys in blue can pull this win out.
The Pick: Colts 27, Kansas City 20.
New Oreans (11-5) at Philadelphia (10-6), 1/4 8:10 p.m.
The Scoop: Weather is a factor in football games. Is it an overwhelming factor? Not usually, and it will not be the overwhelming factor in this game. The Saints will be off their game playing away from home, in the cold and in a very hostile environment. The Drew Brees led offense will struggle to find its rhythm early before making a big push at the end. But this game is not about Brees and the Saints offense, it is about the Saints defense. The defense has done a 180 this year under new coordinator Rob Ryan. The Saints were historically bad at defense last season and are one the more respected units this year, but I still do not think they are that great. If anybody can figure out how to stop the Eagles’ high-flying offense, it is Rob Ryan, but I really like Philly and its quarterback Nick Foles. This is a game that could be a blowout for either team but I really like the Eagles to get up early and hold on late.
The Pick: Eagles 45, Saints 38.
San Diego (9-7) at Cincinnati (11-5), 1/5 1:05 p.m.
The Scoop: The Cincinnati Bengals, the darlings of the AFC. Go turn on ESPN right now, no seriously, do it. Wait for any analyst to talk about this game. They have it figured out to a ‘T.’ Did you turn it on yet? I’ll wait.
Okay, what did you hear? The Bengals have some of the best skill position players in the NFL, their front seven is possibly the best in the league, Andy Dalton and Marvin Lewis are finally ready to get that first playoff win! The Bengals are 8-0 at home this year. It will be cold, too cold for the San Diego Chargers to possibly adjust! What more is there to say? I mean, that all sums it up, the Chargers are a hopeless case. Destiny is finally going to give the Bengals a break!
Except, it isn’t. Destiny and fate don’t just happen because “it’s time.” No, it does not work that way, Cubs fans know what I am talking about. I’m sorry, Bengals fans, you’re about to have your parade rained on. It won’t be easy, this won’t be a “Oh my gosh, the Chargers kicked our butts” game. No, it will be a classic “How the heck did we lose that game that way” type of game.
Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers will throw at least two interceptions, really bad interceptions. But, Andy Dalton will also throw a few picks, only his will not be nearly as bad. They will just be unfortunate and somewhat improbable because that is the luck of the Bengals. Look for the jaw-dropping, game-changing play to happen late in the third quarter. I could be wrong about all of this, but let’s assume I am right and watch anyways. Weird game, weird score.
The Pick: Chargers 26, Cincinnati 23.
San Francisco (12-4) at Green Bay (8-7-1), 1/5 4:40 p.m.
The Scoop: I want to flip a coin on this one. You want to talk about a team of destiny? I give you the Green Bay Packers. They lose their all-world quarterback Aaron Rodgers several weeks back and their season should have been done for, but the Packers waded through the mediocrity and got some help from Detroit and Chicago to eventually make it back into the playoffs. Not only is the Pack back in the postseason, but Green Bay is fully healthy. Rodgers is back, Randall Cobb is back, James Jones is healthy. This team is ready for anything. I love Jim Harbaugh and the Niners, and they have the talent on both sides of the ball to win this game but I really like the Packers this weekend. I could be wrong, but probably not.
The Pick: Packers 35, 49ers 27.
College Football 1/5-1/6
Arkansas State (7-5) vs. Ball State (10-2), GoDaddy Bowl 1/5 9 p.m.
The Scoop: I too wonder why the heck this game is not played back in December with the other games that nobody has ever heard of, but that does not matter. Ball State is about to wreck Mobile, Alabama. Let me issue an apology to the Arkansas State fans now, I am truly sorry you had to even make the trip to this game. For starters, it’s in Mobile, not very exciting. Second, your team is not going to do very well. Ball State has never, NEVER won a bowl game, that all changes on Sunday. Quarterback Keith Wenning will not finish his career as a Cardinal with a loss, it just won’t happen. Wenning is going to throw for five, yes five, touchdowns and Charlie Cardinal will be dancing his tail off all day as the Cardinals roll the Sun Belt Conference champion Red Wolves.
The Pick: Ball State 55, Arkansas State 20.
No. 2 Auburn (12-1) vs. No.1 Florida State (13-0), BCS National Championship 1/6 8:30 p.m.
The Scoop: A team just keeps pulling miracles out of thin air. What a feel good story, this traditional football power fell on hard times in recent seasons and has no rebounded and put itself in the national title against another power house team that is really, really good. But this isn’t about how good that other team is, it is about destiny! Nothing can stop this team! Of course I am talking about Auburn! Have you ever seen such an inspiring story surrounding a college football team? Finding ridiculous and improbable ways to win games all in the name of restoring its former glory. I have never seen this before, never. Except when I saw it happen last year with Notre Dame.
Yeah, sorry Auburn fans, you are a better version of last year’s lucky Notre Dame squad. Your train derails this Monday night. Florida State has the nations best offense and defense. The best, period. I, like most people, love what Auburn has done this season but it comes to and end on Monday. Florida State is simply too good. This will be a fantastic game that is well worth watching, but in the end it will be the Seminole nation coming out on top.
The Pick: Florida State 31, Auburn 20.