Are You Ready for Some Football?

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND BEST WISHES TO YOU AND YOURS FOR A SAFE, HAPPY, AND BLESSED 2013

I truly hope many of you weren't forced to watch the new year come in on television. What a disgrace! You gotta be kidding me! New Years Eve truly was amateur night -- on television.

-Carson Daly on NBC? Carson I bet you wish you were back hosting TRL on MTV, huh? Flat out painful, unprepared and boring...anything but entertaining.

-The Wayans Brothers on FOX? Let me just say that if your watching a Wayans and it is not Keenan, Damon, or Kim, change the channel, ok? You other Wayans aren't funny, ok? In Living Color was a long time ago.

-Ryan Seacrest and crew on ABC? Now we know how badly Dick Clark will be missed. The first NYE without the youthful one and Seacrest got exposed. All I can say is that it wasn't entertaining and the woman on with him needs to try decaf or hot chocolate.

- I have the perfect solution for next year. PBS should run a marathon of the Oldies music specials. Great performances, good memories, and a great way to look ahead to a new year.

NOW HAVING SAID THAT...LETS GET TO THE FOOTBALL AS THE NFL BEGINS ITS POST SEASON WITH WILD CARD WEEKEND...IN A GAME WHERE THEY PLAY, FOR PAY

These next two weekends feature the best of pro football as we are treated to doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday as the league makes its way to Nawlins and the Super Bowl on Feb. 3.  Let's take a look at this weekend's games

BENGALS +4 AND A HALF OVER THE TEXANS - No playoff team is on more of a slide than Houston.  The Texans were 11-1 and cruising to a first round bye and home field advantage and then got slapped around by New England and Indianapolis among others. Confidence is fading in Houston and the Marvin Lewises of Cincy have seemingly got it together after a couple of years on the police blotter. We like the Bengals to keep it close with a strong possibility of an upset here. Bengals cover in a close one, Houston 23-21. 

PACKERS - 8 OVER THE VIKINGS - This is a rematch of last week's regular season ending game in Minnesota. That game was a must win for the Vikings and not so essential for the Cheeseheads. This game will be played at night in the cold of Green Bay far away from the comforts of the Metrodome. Adrian Peterson has been unbelievable for the Norsemen - just 9 yards short of Eric Dickerson's all-time regular season rushing yards title. The Vikings will be hard pressed to keep up with Aaron Rodgers and company on the frozen tundra. We look for Green Bay to strike early and make Minnesota catchup mainly by throwing the ball. Christian Ponder is not as good as Aaron Rodgers. Likely a late game interception seals it for the Cheeseheads, Green Bay 30, Minnesota 17.

COLTS +6 AND A HALF OVER THE RAVENS - One could call it the the Baltimore Bowl, as two teams that have called the land of crab cakes home meet on Sunday at the Inner Harbor. Both teams have emotional reasons to do well, the Colts with thier head coach back after battling leukemia and the Ravens not wanting to lose the last game of Ray Lewis's Hall of fame career at home. The Colts have trouble stopping the run; they gave up over 300 yards against Kansas City, and the Ravens feature one of the best running backs of football - Ray Rice. The Ravens are snake bit on offense and QB Flacco has not had a great year. QB Andrew Luck of the Colts might be the rookie of the year in the NFL, and it behooves Baltimore to get a sizable lead early - and hold on for dear life. Ravens win but don't cover and eeke out a win. Baltimore 24, Indianapolis 23.

DEADSKINS +3 OVER THE SEAHAWKS - This could be the most entertaining matchup of the weekend, as two teams with rookie QBs having great seasons meet in DC. I am still not sure how RGIII and the Deadskins are a three-point underdog at home against a Seattle team that is not quite as good on the road as it is at home. Seattle does feature good team speed on defense and they will need it as Washington recovers from some minor injuries. We look for Mike and Kyle Shanahan to come up with some surprises for the Deadskins offense against the Seattle defense just enough for Washington to get an upset win at home. Hail to the Deadskins, Hail Victory. Washington 27, Seattle 24.

Next week we look at Baseball's Hall of Fame voting, the first time that Steroid era players are eligible.