Iggy's Raven's Report - 18 September 2008

Commentary

Personal Thoughts:
Ravens: Good news is that we didn't lose. The Bad news is that our bye week just got bumped up from Week 10 to Week 2, which means 15 straight games without a break. This may have a negative impact on our performance. Interesting to note that after one successful game, we have the #1 ranked Defense (both Running and Passing), and #1 Rushing attack. I hope it continues.

Orioles: In order to keep my excellent record of 12-4-1 in games I have attended, the Orioles summoned up rain on Friday, and I am sure glad I missed that makeup game. Our pitchers like adversity, and now-a-days, they don't wait for it to find them - they create it themselves. For the second time in about a week, we walked 10 batters in one game. The old adage says that if you keep putting them on base, they are eventually going to score. Apparently, it is true.

I tempted fate by taking my daughter on Sunday, and they managed to win, countering their previous Sunday jinx. I have plans to see 3 of the final 4 games this season, but, regardless of the outcomes, I am guaranteed to have seen a winning season. If they win even 2 of those 3 and they should be giving me my tickets for free (plus parking and concessions)! Hey, one has to grasp for what they can salvage in another losing season.

Crystal Palace Baltimore F.C.: No News.

Next up is a 1PM Sunday afternoon match at Edmonton (7-4, tied with Calgary for 2nd in the West). Montreal still leads the Argos by 3 games in the standings.

Blast: No news.

Mariners: Open Tryouts on October 12.

What do you want to see in the Ravens report? What should be scrapped? Actually, nevermind. No one is reading this anyway, so I will just butcher things up however I please, and you won't know the difference. Send an email to iggy at tealdragon.net. Thanks!

Schedule

Relevant Football Links

• NFL: Tie Breaking Procedures

Iggy's Predictions

• World Series: Tampa Bay Rays over the Cubs in 6 games. You heard it here first.
• Week 2:
  • Tennessee (+1½) over Cincy. Can Cincy rebound from that catastrophe last week, while Tennessee is riding high on their unexpected win over Jacksonville? The answer was no, they couldn't.
  • Jacksonville (-5½) over Buffalo. Jax loss last week was an anomaly. Buffalo's win last week was an opportunistic cash in against a wounded Seahawk team. Look like I was wrong here.
  • KC (-3½) over Oakland. KC will be out to prove that they stayed close to NE last week because they can, not because Brady was out. Maybe Oakland is the real deal and KC is not
  • Indy (-2½) over Minne. Indy look like crap last week. Expect the real Indy to show up for this game. They had to flounder, but the dolts pulled it out
  • Carolina (-3½) over Chicago, but take the points. Should be a dog fight to the very end. A field goal will win it, one way or another. I hit that one on the head!
  • Green Bay (-3½) over Detroit. Brett who? Apparently it wasn't just Favre that keyed GB's success. This one got ugly in the end with 2 INT for TDs
  • Giants (-8½) over St. Louis. Whomever made this schedule must not have liked the Rams, because there is no mercy in starting this season against Philly and then the Giants. At least the Lambs get to take on the wounded Seahawks this week
  • Saints (+½) over Wershington. This should be a Brees. That prediction should have been right...
  • Tampa (-8½) over Atlanta, but take the points. Atlanta is not that bad. Really! I still say Atlanta is not that bad. Tampa's D, however, may be something to take note of
  • SF (+7½) over Seattle. Seattle is in pain, and SF needs to rebound against that muffed outing against Arizona. This wasn't looking good early on, but SF is taking shape in the open West.
  • Baltimore (+4½) over Houston. Raining...
  • Jets (-2½) over Patriots. Favre will make the difference that Brady can't. I guess NE has more than just Brady
  • SD (-2½) over Denver. Denver might have looked good last week against Oakland, but that was against Oakland. Denver is starting to scare me
  • Arizona (-6½) over Miami. Miami is still bad, and Arizona is getting better. Miami is looking really bad!
  • Cleveland (+5½) over Pittsburgh. Derek Anderson will exploit the holes in Pittsburgh Defense for the home crowd. Anderson is disappointing me. He better not find his stride against us
  • Philly (+6½) over Dallas. It maybe Monday Night and it maybe in Dallas, but Philly has something special this season... I hope. Philly did well, but just couldn't hold on.
  • This Week: 8-7 Straight Up; 9-6 Against the Spread
  • This Season: 16-15 Straight Up; 18-13 Against the Spread
• Week 3:
  • Atlanta (-4½) over KC. KC is in utter disarray.
  • Buffalo (-8½) over Oakland, but take the points. Oakland might even win this one... but I think not.
  • Giants (-13½) over Cincy, but take the points. 13½ is a lot of points to give up. Palmer shall show for this game to make it interesting.
  • Pats (-12½) over Miami, but take the points. Pats couldn't cover these spreads with Brady. What makes you think they can cover it without him? Although, they are playing Miami...
  • Tennessee (-4½) over Houston. Tennessee has done very well so far. I anticipate that will continue.
  • Tampa (+3½) over Chicago. This will come down to a field goal, but I place the over/under at about 15 as defences dominate.
  • Washington (-3½) over Arizona, but take the points. This is a different Cardinal team then the one that left the NFC East. Fortunately for the Cards, it is a different Washington team that is still there. Home field advantage wins it here.
  • Carolina (+3½) over Minnesota. Carolina is looking better than most point give them credit for.
  • Denver (-5½) over New Orleans. New Orleans showed their road game last week, and Denver is not a friendly place to play.
  • SF (-3½) over Detroit. The Niners are emerging, will the Lions are submerging.
  • Seattle (-9½) over the Lambs. Rams might be able to cover at home, but they have no shot, even against the wounded birds, on the road.
  • Baltimore (-1½) over Cleveland. What? They couldn't even give us the full 3 point home field advantage? Win this one, and I just might be Wacko for Flacco! Right now, I am just cautiously optimistic.
  • Indy (-5½) over Jacksonville. Both teams have been struggling lately, but Peyton will find his place this week.
  • Pheagles (-3½) over the Evil steelers. Philly is a force to reckon this year in the NFC East. Meanwhile, the steelers will get their first real test of the season. Then again, I said that last week.
  • Dallas (-3½) over Green Bay. Green Bay can definitely show some flash without Favre, but 3½ and a trip to Dallas doesn't entice me to pick them.
  • Chargers (-9½) over the Jets. Charger will put the Jets defense to the test. Not that the Jets D is bad, but the Chargers have so many weapons, it will be hard to anticipate.