Foss' Football Forecast, January 13-14, 2007

First off, congratulations to the University of Florida Gators (13-1) for wrapping up the bowl season with a convincing win over the previously undefeated #1 Ohio State Buckeyes, 41-14 in the BCS Championship Game. Florida proved they deserved to be there, but I think most people were surprised they won so easily. The Gators proved defense wins championships, but they have been doing that all season, giving up 14 points or less in nine of their 13 wins, including two shutouts. After a 6-0 start, the only team able to beat the Gators was the then #11 Auburn Tigers, 27-17 in a tough road game. The Tigers (11-2) finished a respectable ninth in the final AP rankings and eighth in the USA Today Poll after a 17-14 win over Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl, which I predicted.

I like to see history made in sports, so I was glad to see the Florida Gators win the NCAA Division 1A football championship to become the first college to hold the NCAA Division 1A basketball & football titles in the same calendar year. It was a surprise last April when the Gators ended March Madness with the hoop championship for the first time, and then they stunned the sports world again winning the football title for the first time since 1996 and only second time in their history.

Kudos have to go out to the Boise State University Broncos too, who got the job done too and were the only team to complete an undefeated 13-0 season in one of the best Fiesta Bowl's in history, converting a gutsy two-point conversion in overtime to beat Oklahoma, 43-42! If it wasn't for an easy schedule, the Broncos could've played for the national title. You have to give them credit, they did beat five teams that went to bowl games, including four bowl winners: the San Jose State Spartans (9-4) beat New Mexico 20-12 in the inaugural New Mexico Bowl. It was a home game for the Lobos and they still couldn't win. The Utah Utes (8-5) beat Tulsa 25-13 in the inaugural Armed Forces Bowl; the Hawaii Warriors (11-3) easily rolled over Arizona State in their Hawaii Bowl home game, 41-24, and #21 Oregon State Beavers (10-4) won with a gutsy two-point conversion, 39-38, in their first Sun Bowl, over the Missouri Tigers. So including Oklahoma, the Broncos beat two teams in the final Top 25 rankings. The Broncos themself finished ranked fifth in the nation, and received one first place vote, needless to say their best season in school history.

I had one of my best bowl season's predicting all the games with a 23-9 record for a 71.9 winning percentage. I was glad to stay in single digit losses. Until the BCS Championship Game I had won nine in a row. Did anyone else have a better record? Ineed to be able to prove it, were your picks posted anywhere?Leave me a comment if you did. I could've made some good money if I bet on any of them, but I didn't, did anyone profit off my picks?

With the college football champion decided, it's time now to focus on the NFL playoffs. I got off to a good start going 3-1 in the first round Wild Card weekend. It wasn't a good weekend for New York fans as both of your teams the Jets and Giants (who by the way play in New Jersey) lost in the first round. I actually went out on a limb and predicted the Jets to upset the Patriots, but they crash landed 37-16, that was my only loss. I picked the Eagles to beat the Giants, but it was closer than I expected as it took a last second 38-yard field goal for Philadelphia to win, 23-20. I went 2-0 in Saturday's games with the Indianapolis Colts winning easily as expected 23-8 over the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Seattle Seahawks worked their post-season magic again in Seattle with a close, 21-20 win as the Dallas Cowboys muffed a last second field goal attempt, then quarterback Tony Romo was stopped on the two yard line, that's what happens when the Cowboys rely on a rookie quarterback.

It doesn't get any easier this week as we enter the Divisional Playoffs. The Indianapolis Colts (13-4) didn't earn home field advantage through the AFC playoffs like they did last season, so they face their first challenge Saturday, ironically in their former home town of Baltimore against the 13-3 Ravens. I'm picking the Colts to pull the upset. Happier times in New Orleans this year compared to last year as the Saints (10-6) have brought pride back to New Orleans and host a playoff game at the Superdome. The Saints won the NFC South to earn a first round bye in the playoffs for the first time in team history. The Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) are flying high having won six in a row, but I think the Saints will have help from above and send the home fans home happy. The Saints will advance to their first NFC Championship Game. I like the U2, Green Day song "The Saints Are Coming" their tribute to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. I think the Saints football team should make that song their theme song this playoff season. It would fire up the crowd even more if they show that video on the jumbotron before the game, or if Bono could perform it in a pregame show, but I doubt that would happen.

I knew if the Seattle Seahawks (10-7) wanted to return to the NFC Championship they would probably have to pass through Chicago and that showdown with the Bears (13-3) comes Sunday. The Seahawks have their stars back and are stepping up their play in the playoffs. It has been snowy and ice in Seattle this week, so a cold game in Chicago shouldn't bother them, I think the Seahawks can pull the upset and advance to defend their NFC Championship. In the other Sunday showdown, the San Diego Chargers (14-2) earned home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs and they are looking determined to make this their year. The Patriots (13-4) have to come to sunny California this year and that should make a difference as the Chargers are 8-0 at home this season, but the Patriots are 7-1 on the road, so it should be a good battle, but the Bolts should prevail.

Foss' Football Forecast:

Saturday, January 13, 2007:
AFC: indianapolis by 3 over BALTIMORE
NFC: NEW ORLEANS by 7 over philadelphia

Sunday, January 14, 2007:
NFC: seattle by 3 over CHICAGO
AFC: SAN DIEGO by 10 over new england

Enjoy the games all!

As an Oregon Duck, you know I couldn't go without complimenting the Oregon men's basketball team on their upset of #1 and undefeated UCLA last Saturday, 68-66. The 15th ranked Ducks are now 15-1 after their 60-55 win at Arizona State. They will prove if they are for real with a big showdown in the desert Sunday at the #10 Arizona Wildcats (13-2). A win will probably vault the Ducks into the Top 10. Oregon could still be undefeated, but were upset in their first game of 2007, January 4th at home to the USC Trojans by just two, 84-82, but made up for it with their big won over the Bruins. It was only the third time in school history the basketball program had beat a #1 team (all against UCLA), and the first time since 1974 when Coach Ernie Kent was a player for the Ducks and defeated Bill Walton's UCLA squad. The last time the Bruins visited McArthur Court as the nation's top-ranked team was Feb. 16, 1974. The Ducks stunned UCLA 56-51 in that game, earning the cover of Sports Illustrated, that upset also followed an Oregon loss to the Trojans. Coach Kent really has this team motivated and playing well as a team, I see the Ducks pulling another upset and will beat the Wildcats.

GO DUCKS & SEAHAWKS!