Lake Fred

Lake Fred is an actual lake located in the flat pinelands of southern New Jersey. It is also one of my knicknames acquired while I was at college. There is (or was) a Lake Fred Folk Festival in the springtime.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Super Bowl Prediction

I wanted a Saints vs. Colts matchup, but I'll settle for Payton Manning winning his first Super Bowl. The way the Bears played all season makes them look like a suspect team for this game. Saying that, the Colts and the Saints were very similar, great offenses with suspect defenses. The Bears were able to disrupt the Saints enough to win their game at home. Last week, Payton showed that they won't get rattled if they fall behind.

This is a tough one to pick. I can't get my head or heart to pick the Bears, but the Bears are the luckiest team this season. They could luck their way to a Super Bowl win, but I'm picking the Colts.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

NFL Conference Championship Predictions

I recently discovered that I predicted winners last year, going 0 for 2. This year I have rooting interests in both games. I'm rooting for the hometown Saints and the hometown star, Peyton Manning.

All four teams have strengths and weaknesses. It is amazing as I read the sportswriters predictions, they will pick one team's strength as the reason to pick them and downplay another team's strength in order to avoid picking them. I'm going to pick my rooting interests in both games and here is why:

In the NFC, all teams are flawed. Watching the Saints in preseason, they were awful. What they do have is excellent coaching. What the coach's did was use preseason to identify the best players, keep the best players and play the best players. All this was done without regard to a player's perceived value. Donte Stallworth was sent packing to let 7th round rookie, Marquis Colston from lightly regarded Hofstra, to start. Here's the reasons the Saints will win: 1.) Sean Payton - he will have a great game plan; 2.) Drew Brees - he may be short in stature, but he is head and shoulders better than Rex Grossman; 3.) Deuce McAllister - Deuce is a moose. This big bruiser has toiled in obscurity for years in New Orleans. He is fully recovered from his knee surgery and is just now hitting his stride. He will carry this team on his back to get to the Super Bowl; 4.) Reggie Bush - he is a touchdown waiting to happen. Whether he gets the ball or not, he surely will get the Bears defense' attention. Here's the reason the Bears will lose: Rex Grossman.

In the AFC, the Patriots lucked out a victory in San Diego. They won't be so lucky this weekend. Peyton Manning is due. Tony Dungy has his defense playing their best ball of the season. Good defense plus great offense equals victory.

These are the teams the NFL wants in Miami....the Saints and the Colts!