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Week 12, the return of division play. Every game is huge. Stinking huge. Eleven teams have a legitimate
shot and those 11 teams can win the division. No one has clinched yet. The East is the only division where
the lead won't change hands this week as Bud has a game and a half lead. The Central looks tight as
every team is over .500 and all within a game and a half. The West is the division with only three teams
contending and those three teams are within a game of each other.
A very mediocre 3-3 last week. My season record, 38-26-2. Now as far as the "Swamii" is concerned.
1-5 brother....The only person in something over their head more than the "Swamii" is Florida
Secretary of State Katherine Harris. (ok, I was watching CNN tonight while making these predictions.)
Swamii: 10-13-1 for the season.
Deitrich (7-3-1) vs Wallace (6-5)
Is Bud looking ahead? Like George W Bush, Bud has already proclaimed himself the top seed and is
already whining about a first round matchup with a powerful, but unlucky JK or Ricker team. Already
making excuses for another playoff loss? Like Al Gore, Bud likes to bend the rules in his favor, and
has proposed rules to smooth his path (for next year).
Wallace on the other hand shouldn't be looking ahead. Another loss here, and he might be one of those
teams that have Bud so scared. Wallace has confidence, because his history is that of a playoff overachiever.
"Just get me in baby, and I'll take care of the rest."
This game should be tight. I'll give a slight edge to Wallace, I sense a low scoring Sunday in
the cold November chill. Something like Edgerrin James taking a couple in in the snow at Green Bay.
Stroupe (5-6) vs Outlaw (5-6)
The loser of this game can pretty much kiss it good-bye. Stroupe has been 1-5 down the stretch and
the one game he did win, he scored a mere 21 points. Outlaw, not much better 2-4, but he averaged 47
points in that span and is 22 points outside of a points slot. Outlaw should win this game, but
Stroupe's best player, Charlie Garner, will keep it close as he matches up with Outlaw's QB.
Barry (7-4) vs Ricker (6-5)
The path to the Central title runs through Ricker. Nevermind Barry is in first place, Ricker's
Viking combo have a very friendly three game stretch. AB hopes that Robert Smith can factor in some how.
Think about all the great Barry teams of the past. Still thinking. Nevermind. there isn't any.
Barry's got a bit of a "Mr November" reputation, but usually his September and October's are so
horrible, he's basically playing spoiler. This year it is a different situation. Barry is the one prone
to spoilage. Ricker to take the overripe Barry.
Jones-Klingman (5-5-1) vs Best (6-4-1)
On Tuesday, the vultures swooped down upon the carcus of JK's Ricky Williams. Every New Orleans
running back was scooped up: Chad Morton to the DB's. Bud took Jerald Moore and Jackson took Terry
Allen. Ironically, JK has been the league's ultimate vulture. The tables are turned. The guess here
is that the injuries to Williams, Faulk and even Favre (although KC has been the QB choice of late) will be
costly in the stretch run.
Best's two game winning streak is slightly more impressive than it looks. Although it was two five
point wins vs two last place team, Best accomplished this while choosing the wrong QB each week. In week
11, he scored 52 without Stephen Davis. Expect the upswing to continue. Best to beat the
hobbled JK. Another win over a last place team. The games you should win.
Moses (6-5) vs Jackson (5-5-1)
Somehow, around mid-season, this future Moses/Jackson rematch would have been for SECOND place as
the DB's were running away with the division. Then the DB's dropped out of sight, and the winner of
this game is in the driver's seat for the division title. Both Jackson and Moses have been
building up to this moment. Moses through trades, and Jackson through weekly acquistions. However, it
was one trade not made, between these two teams, that could win this division...
After he had been on a slight roll,
"Grandma Moses"
showed up again and things tightened up.
Suddenly the Jets passing game slowed down, and Tyrone Wheatley got hurt. Moses will probably
go with New Orleans, but remember Moses is a Prophet, not a Saint.
The aforementioned trade that didn't happen was for Terrell Davis. Jackson held on to his number one
pick, and it took until week 10 for Davis to heal,
but it has payed off. Now with the injury to Brian Griese, Davis' role
with Denver is even more crucial. Expect Davis and Jamal Anderson to lead Jackson to a big
win over Grandma and into first place.
Czupryna (1-10) vs Dahlin-Bethea (5-6)
History could be made this week. CZ could lose his league record 11 straight game. His last win,
right here, week 1 vs the DB's. He promptly lost to every team in the league. Perhaps things have been
on the upswing for CZ. His last three games went down to Monday night.
The DB's have been circling the drain.
Eddie George spends more time in a hot tub than
Leisure Suit Larry. Now Brian Griese could be out for the next 3-4 weeks. Give them credit, they are
going down swinging.
Their expensive player moves: are they helping, or is this
just re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic? This week's pick up:
"Hanging Chad" Morton. Will he be hanging out in the end zone?
So we have a case of a team on the up, CZ vs a team on the way down, DB. The trend is to say what goes around
comes around and say CZ will end his streak against the only team he can beat.
No way... CZ's team stinks. Absolutely stinks. The DB's aren't that good at the moment, but
that are better than CZ's. See you in the record book, old man.
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