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Finally, there’s a football game at the end of all the hype. In what amounts to a national holiday I hope the experience gives you what you want—whether it be the commercials, the Puppy Bowl, the star gazing, the party where you’re watching, or—oh yeah, the game.
Who do you like?
If my life depended on it—I’d pick Baltimore. I like the hot team and like the Packers and Giants in the last two years, the Ravens fit the bill. Besides, any team that’s beaten Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in back to back weeks on the road should be able to handle Colin Kaepernick…shouldn’t they?
X factor---
Unlike Manning and Brady, Kaepernick will not be a stationary target. His mobility and ability to create on the run is the one thing that the Ravens can’t prepare for. There’s no way to scout spontaneity. My guess is that every time San Francisco runs the ‘read option’ Kaepernick is going to get drilled. Still, he has the ability to be the difference maker in this game.
Best guess—
Baltimore 27 San Francisco 24
Since when?
Oklahoma State hadn’t won a road game against a top 5 team since 1958, but they ended KU’s 33-game home winning streak on Saturday. Since we’re streaking---it also ended KU’s 18 game winning streak and the ‘Hawks 16 game run against the Cowboys in Lawrence. KU has been living on borrowed time, so Saturday shouldn’t have been as much of a surprise as it was. The thing that was really impressive for OSU was blowing a 14 point lead, but then rallying after the ‘Hawks had rallied against them. Bill Self sounded like a coach with issues after the loss, lamenting a second straight game with 16 turnovers.
“We don’t have a point guard”, he said ---which may come as a surprise to Elijah Johnson and Naadir Tharpe. Both teams had 17 offensive rebounds, but it seemed that Oklahoma State’s came at more opportune times. KU gets a break on Wednesday when they go to TCU, but they haven’t played really well in a game since blowing out Baylor at home in the middle of January.
Uh-oh---
The nation’s 15th ranking ended up being a millstone around the Shockers neck, not that it will be a problem come Monday when the new rankings are out. Back to back losses to Indiana State and Northern Iowa have exposed some real deficiencies on offense. The 52 points they managed Saturday was their lowest output of the season, just in front of the 55 they struggled for last Wednesday against the Sycamores. Call it a slump, call it shot selection, call it questionable decisions—it’s not happening right now. It’ll be interesting to see how Gregg Marshall combats it.
Just an idea---
I know that he’s still a defensive liability, but I wonder if some increased minutes from Nick Wiggens would pump something into the scorebook. He’s easily the best three-point shooter on the team, heck—he’s one of the best in the country (one of the nation’s highest percentages, he doesn’t have enough attempts to be ranked).
Great bounce back---
K-State survived its ‘hell week’ by bouncing back with two nice wins against Texas and Saturday at Oklahoma. The Cats were outrebounded and out shot, but they’ve become adept at winning the close game. Saturday’s win was their sixth by 6 points or less this season, they’ve won three games by scoring 80 or better and two by scoring only 52. The point is-- that they know how to win and are comfortable doing it in a variety of ways.