Did Beckham Get Enough?

Those people who watch the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants game saw  the most embarrassing game in the history of the NFL.    How in the world does any player stay in a game when they have three personal fouls called on them and could have had seven or eight if the officials had of been doing their jobs.  Surely the ten yard run directly at the head of Josh Norman should have been an automatic ejection.  Norman did his share early but his  teammates and coaches reeled him in and got him under control.  I wonder whether Beckham was given a drug test after the game?

Christmas Eve football sends The Chargers who just might be homeless after playing their last home game in San Diego travel to Oakland for Thursday night football.  Oakland drubbed the Chargers in San Diego but that was when Oakland was playing well.  Raiders still win 26-20.

Skins at Eagles:  Skins could just about wrap up craziest division in football but they won't. Eagles 30 Skins 27

San Fran at Detroit: who in the world do you pick here.  Detroit 27-20

Steelers @ Ravens:  Raven's have packed it in and Steelers in playoff mode. Steelers 38 Ravens 13

Cowboys @ Bills:  snow could be on ground.  Bills defense can win this game.  21-17

Bears @ Buccaneers:  Bucs will take this one.  26-23.

Panthers@ Falcons:  Did Panthers Lose all the momentum they had going letting the Giants back in game last week? I don't think so but Panther D gave up 38 to Saints and 35 to Giants?

Colts @ Dolphins:  Fish will win at home 26 -17

Patriots @ Jets:  game doesn't mean much to Patriots And this is always big game for Jets.  30-27 Jets.

Texans @ Titans:  who will be either team's quarterback in this game but Houston has best D.  Texans    
Win 30-20

Browns @ Chiefs:  Chiefs could still win AFC West.  Chiefs 30-13

Jags @ Saints: this game could be close but Saints win it at home 28-23

Packers @ Cardinals:  winner of this  game might very well be team that has to beat Panthers for NFC championship game. Cards 33 Packers 26

Rams @ Seahawks:  Hawks great at home something they will not be in playoffs.  31-19 Hawks.

Giants @ Vikings:  Two teams with slim hopes.  Vikings 27 No Beckham 13

Bengals @ Broncos:  Big test for both teams.  Bengals will score more 20-17

Last week had great week picking 13of  16 running my picking record for the year  to 132-92

Carolina Can Win Basketball If Healthy

North Carolina was picked as  the preseason number one and already this year they have lost twice but in both instances the Tar Heels were down a starter.  College basketball has changed in just a short time.  No longer does Carolina or Duke have a team full of McDonald's All Americans.  They do have the best of the best but no longer  are all their bench player just as good as the starter.

Television where every network carries basketball and every conference has every game on TV those second team bench warmers no longer sit on the Duke Bench but are going to The Butlers of the world.  The days of non conference 100-52 scores are now replaced with 90-76 scores.

If healthy Carolina will be playing late March or early April.  Marcus Paige has to be one of the healthy ones.  The Rocky Mount Gryphons demonstrated what any team can do that is very good and healthy during the playoffs.

Duke has shown when they are healthy they can be very good.  Even limited with injuries they have fought hard and with their coaching if they are healthy in March they could be a factor.  Their problem how long is Jefferson going to be out.  If they dig a hole early in conference play they might get a very low seed and have to play the entire NCAA tournament against heavy weights and that is hard to win six in a row.  If there has ever been a coach that can reinvent a team in the middle of the season Coach K is the man.  If I am a Duke fan I fear for the day when K calls it quits.  It is a lot sooner  than Dukies want.

NC State has played several games this season that all they wanted to do was shoot.  Their losses can be attributed to the lack of defense. Like everyone one else injuries have hit the Pack.  The lack of defense in several games has shown  a major hole for the Wolfpack. Who is going to score besides Cat?  The best way to score is fast breaks points off  steals which will require defense.

Abu, Anya and Freeman all can play  defense and rebound but five points a game from each is not enough.  There have been too many times already this year that Barber was the only player on the floor who could score.

The good thing about college basketball is it is only December and  plenty of time to develope into another sweet 16 season.  All three Triangle teams are capable to make Sweet 16 or better.  Injuries must heal and no injuries that takes player out for the season will help all of them.