Skins/Terps Hoops/Pats-Colts

No more talk about 52-7....it's over, let's look ahead, not too far ahead however. At 1-7, the Jets are desperate for a win and in the NFL, desperate means dangerous. Don't think the Redskins can't lose this game because they can. With that said, the Redskins are desperate also....desperate to shake the ugly memory of New England and convince themselves that they are a good team. The Skins are the better team and they will win. Skins 27, Jets 7.

Maryland basketball is getting no preseason respect. Just one vote in the "Coaches" Poll...just 6 votes in the AP. CBS Sportsline.com predicts a 9th-place finish in the ACC. I haven't seen them rated any higher than 4th in the ACC in any preseason magazine. The thought it that losing DJ Strawberry, Ekene Ibekwe, and Mike Jones will be too much to overcome. I don't agree. The Terps have a very good backcourt with Eric Hayes and Greivas Vasquez and guard-play rules in college hoops. Additionally, look for James Gist to follow up on his solid junior year with a break-out senior season. We know that Gist is athletic. What we saw last year was a consistent 12-15 foot jump shot develop to go with an already tenacious rebounding and shot-blocking game. A more-seasoned Bambale Osby should make it easier for Gist as well. Success may hinge on the play of the youngsters....sophomore Landon Milbourne will likely be the 5th starter; F/C Braxton Dupree and G Adrian Bowie may be the two freshman ready to play. I saw Bowie twice last year including up-close at the Capital Classic and he can really finish at the basket....he wasn't the most heralded of the class but look for him to play early and play well. Gary Williams does his best work when the least is expected. His team gets tested early with a schedule that may include a game with #2 UCLA in a preseason tournament semi-final. The combo of Vasquez and Gist will be good enough for a top 5 ACC finish and if the freshman come along quickly, the Terps could be better than that.

This may be the last time this year you can wager on the Patriots as less than 14-point favorites....take them. They win big at Indy!

Pats Didn't Run it Up!

I am stunned at the overwhelming amount of talk from local and national media alike describing the Patriots fourth quarter play against the Redskins as an obvious example of "running up the score". It was also described by many to be "disrespectful" to Joe Gibbs and because of that, unforgivable. In my opinion, they DID NOT run up the score. Running up the score means different things to different people but for me.....it requires unnecessary offensive-oriented plays and unnecessary timeouts to be construed as "running it up". For example, a timeout late in the game to allow a field goal attempt or a long throw into the end zone in the final two minutes would be utterly unnecessary and could be construed as "running it up". A fourth quarter flea flicker would serve as another example. The Patriots had four offensive drives/opportunities in the fourth quarter--the last of which was a kneel-down, the next-to-last three runs and a punt. Neither one of those drives was evidence of "running it up". Let's search the other two 4th quarter drives for the "running it up" evidence. The Pats' first drive of the final quarter was a continuation of a drive that started in the 3rd quarter. Leading 38-0 and facing a 4th and 1 at the Redskins' 7 with 11:02 left in the game...they went for it and made it on a Tom Brady sneak. Two plays later they scored on a Brady to Welker TD pass with 9:09 left in the game to make it 45-0. I don't believe that the 4th and 1 decision was a reflective of a Bill Belichik conscious decision to run it up. I just think that with 11:02 left in the game, he wanted his team to continue to "play" the game. Translation, no "running it up" on their first drive of the fourth quarter. Their 2nd drive of the quarter included back-up QB Matt Cassel under center. ON 4th and 2 at the Skins 37 with 7:16 to go, Cassel completed a pass to Gaffney for 21 yards to the Skins' 16. In my opinion, this is the only play in the game that could be construed as "running it up". The "sportsmanship" option was to punt. The other option, chosen by the Pats, was to give the back-up QB some work in the event that Brady gets hurt somewhere down the road. They chose the latter. They scored a few plays later to make it 52-zip. I don't believe that this was a conscious decision to "run it up" and if it was, it wasn't the way you'd choose to do it if you're trying to send a message. If they had run a flea-flicker on that play, if they had kicked a field goal....then the "running it up" gripe would have been more valid. Bottom line---the Pats are really good, and as far as last week's win over the Skins, they won a game that deserves respect with no ill-will.