Fearless forecast for week of Nov. 8, 2009
By: Fearless Forecast
Examiner Staff
November 8, 2009
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| Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller (Getty Images) |
EVENTS TO WATCH
NFL » Steelers at Broncos • Monday, 8 p.m., ESPN
Mile High in Denver is a great place for football. I can tell you that the fans are the western version of Philly fans. Rough place to play, great place to watch a game and if you happen to be in town always try the “Denver Omelette” sandwich with hot sauce and a cold Coors.
NBA » Wizards at Heat • Tuesday, 7 p.m., CSN
A rematch between Dwayne Wade and Gilbert Arenas takes their rivalry to South Beach as the banged up Wizards hit the road for a battle with the heat.
NHL » Islanders at Capitals • Wednesday, 7 p.m., CSN
Strange quirk of the schedule will have the Caps facing the Iles more before the end of 2009 then they will any of their Southeast Conference foes. Washington fans are hoping that the “Great 8” finds his way back on the ice at the “phone booth.”
NFL » Bears vs. 49ers • Thursday, 8 p.m., NFL Network
Matt Millen makes his return to the NFL broadcast booth joining Bob Popa as the network kicks off their 2009 coverage. Some in the industry question Millen’s credibility as an analyst. I say he still knows his X’s and O’s and will be just as good an analyst now than before becoming management in Detroit. — Jim Williams
BOLD PREDICTIONS
1. Ohio State over Iowa » The computers said Iowa was the No. 1 team in the nation last week. Too bad computers don’t have eyes. Anyone with a pair can see that the Hawkeyes are not BCS Championship worthy. Entering Saturday’s game with Northwestern, Iowa had needed comebacks in eight of their nine wins. Five games have required fourth-quarter rallies. The only team the Hawkeyes didn’t trail was Arkansas State. Iowa won that game, 24-21. The Hawks even needed to block two Northern Iowa field goal tries in the final seven seconds to avoid losing to the Division I-AA foe, 17-16. So how is Iowa No. 1 in Jeff Sagarin’s world? Don’t blame him. Blame the NCAA, which purged margin of victory from the computer formula early in this decade. A 17-16 win is as good as 77-16. Saturday at Ohio State, Iowa will be in the deep end of the talent pool, needing more than a fourth-quarter rally to compete. The Buckeyes’ superior speed will be the difference in a 33-10 victory. — Kevin Dunleavy
2. Ryan Miller will be the USA Olympic hockey goalie in Vancouver » It’s not going to be another Miracle on Ice. But the United States does harbor hopes of winning a hockey medal at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver. That didn’t happen four years ago in Turino, where a team in transition finished an embarrassing eighth. But a weak spot in those Games — goaltending — has turned into a major strength. USA coaches will decide between Boston’s Tim Thomas, last year’s Vezina Trophy winner, or Buffalo’s Ryan Miller, who is off to a brilliant start this season. So who does head coach Ron Wilson start? The bet here is Miller because, in a short tournament like the Olympics, it’s about who is better right now. Miller leads the NHL with a .941 save percentage and no one else is really close. He also has a 1.60 goals-against average. The 29-year-old is in his prime and should better handle the workload. Thomas turned 35 last spring. — Brian McNally
3. The Yankees will not win the 2010 World Series » This prediction doesn’t scream “bold” at face value, but history suggests otherwise. The Bombers’ recently vanquished nine-year World Series drought was the third longest in team history, behind only the 15-year gap between 1962 and 1977 and the 18-year hiatus between 1978 and 1996. In each of those occasions, the return to the winners’ circle triggered a barrage. The Yanks won back-to-back titles in 1977 and ’78 and won four from 1996-2000. Still, we don’t see these Bombers as the beginning of a baseball dynasty. Hideki Matsui or Johnny Damon (or both) won’t be back. Andy Pettitte’s future is unknown. We’re not sure what to make of Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain. And there’s a very good chance the Yanks will start stud prospect Austin Jackson in center field. Going with a 23-year-old at such a critical position means taking your lumps. The last time the Yankees went with a rookie at a field general position was in 1996 with Derek Jeter. And that year they — aw hell ... — James Irwin
PLAYER TO WATCH
Rajon Rondo • Boston Celtics • PG
New contract (5-year, $55 million extension), and a bit more swagger for the point guard who’s already been an NBA champion. After a brush up with Hornets All-Star guard Chris Paul — which was heated enough that Paul tried to find Rondo in the Celtics' locker room before being intercepted by coaches — has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the NBA and Boston entered the weekend as the only undefeated team in the East. The fourth-year player out of Kentucky sure has been a Wildcat on the floor for the Celtics, distributing nearly 10 assists per game. With a full weekend followed by a full week, Rondo’s effectiveness will be tested and makes Boston even more dangerous when he’s looking this good. — Leon Saffelle
