Let’s try this once again!

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh - Bengals (Roethlisberger vs. Palmer Part 1)

Indianapolis at Jacksonville - Colts (Even the Jaguars can’t stop this offense, and even the Colts can stop this offense)

New England at Buffalo - Patriots (It’s gonna be a while before this train is derailed)

N.Y. Giants at Green Bay - Packers (The Pack won’t lose two in a row at home)

Oakland at Houston - Texans (David Carr finally gets to cut his hair………if his wife will let him)

Philadelphia at Chicago - Eagles (The newly diminished Bears can’t hold a candle to the studly Eagles)

Washington at Cleveland - Redskins (Joe Gibbs rams Clinton Portis down the Browns’ throat)

Atlanta at Carolina - Panthers (A little unsure about this one, the 4-3 defense of the Falcons may keep Delhomme on his back all game, this could spell doom for the Panther’s)

New Orleans at Arizona - Cardinals (Arizona is the best team that nobody likes and New Orleans WILL trip over their own feet)

Denver at Tampa Bay - Broncos (Lynch is relishing the opportunity!)

N.Y. Jets at Miami - Jets (Curtis Martin applies the Ben-Gay and runs all over the Dolphins, who may be lucky to win 1 game all year)

Tennessee at San Diego - Titans (Even with Volek starting the Titans will pull this one out)

St. Louis at San Francisco - Rams (The only thing going for the Rams in this game is the 49ers ineptitude)

Kansas City at Baltimore - Ravens (KC cannot find success at Baltimore on Monday night, it’s becoming a nightmare in Kansas City!)

The election is coming and I haven’t chimed in about it yet. I guess I need to add some commentary to this experience don’t I? I’ll have to admit that I’m not horribly enthused about either candidate. George W. Bush is certainly to be commended because at least we have no doubt where he stands on the issues. His viewpoint on abortion and homosexual marraige will madate that he receive’s my vote regardless of his stand on other issues. John Kerry seems to me to be far to “Big Government” not to mention his seeming inability to maintain any one position on a topic other than to continue saying that “George W. is bad!” I absolutely do not like Dick Cheney but my dislike for him is surpassed only by my dislike for John Edwards. Anyone who has the audacity to claim that “frivolous lawsuits” against the medical profession are the problem with insurance today when they themselves made their fortune off of suing doctors is an example of blatant hypocrisy and I cannot in good conscience stomach it!

All in all I’m somewhat dissapointed in my options. I am thankful for George W. but I am saddened by Cheney. I’ll vote for them anyway but with some reservations.

Contrary to my stellar record in football prognostication ESPN, SI nor Fox Sports have called me for an interview!

Well, according to ESPN.com I am centrist in the world of sports politics. I thought this was an interesting little piece by espn.com page 2. I checked my position in each area that they listed and found that after considering 44 topics I came in in favor of Old School sports 22 times and in favor of newer things 22 times as well. I just thought it was interesting!

A select few college picks….

BYU at Boise State - BSU

Purdue at Illinois - Illini

Maryland at Duke - Terrapins

Mississippi State at LSU - Tigers

Louisville at North Carolina - Tarheels

Clemson at Florida State - Seminoles (as much as I hate it)

Iowa at Michigan - Hawkeyes (and watch Lloyd Carr get fired)

Penn State at Wisconsin - Nittany Lions

Kentcuky at Florida - Gators!

USC at Stanford - Cardinal (in an upset, I know I’ll be wrong)

Troy at South Carolina - Trojans

I’m not much of a student, there that’s my confession. I’ve always been at least marginally intelligent and so it’s been easy to convince most people that I was a good student when I really never have been. In college for instance I think most people thought I was very studious when in fact I rarely spent time on school. I should add, however, that I am a good student when it’s a topic that I particularly like outside of school. I just, for some reason, don’t do well studying assigned subjects. I tend to prefer to learn on my own. Unfortunately I still haev a lot of “assigned schoolwork” to do before I am finished. I’ve still got around 50 hours left to finish my M.Div. This semester, for instance, I’m taking 4 classes. I’m taking Christian History, Christian Ethics, Personal Spiritual Disciplines and Theology and Philosophy of Missions.

I’ll have to admit though, that I’m really enjoying my classes. Surprisingly enough since I really enjoy history, Christian History has been my least enjoyable. Spiritual Disciplines with Don Whitney who is considered by many to be the foremost expert on the topic in the country has been the best so far. I’ve also really enjoyed the ethics class for the fact that it has forced me to consider what I believe. I have even found myself to hold different positions than originally thought. Missions is of course always good but that’s just because of my personal interest in the subject. The professor also really helps because of his over 20 years experience on the international missions field.

All in all I must say that I am very pleased with how things have gone this semester. I feel like I’m getting my money’s worth!

Ok guys….here are my picks for the pro’s for this weekend.

Jacksonville at Tennessee - Titans

New Orleans at St. Louis - Rams

Baltimore at Cininnati - Bengals

Houston at Kansas City - Chiefs

Chicago at Minnesota - Vikings

Arizona at Atlanta - Falcons

Cleveland at New York - Giants

Pittsburgh at Miami - Steelers

San Diego at Denver - Chargers (upset pick)

Green Bay at Indianapolis - Packers (with reservations)

San Fransisco at Seattle - Seahawks

Tampa Bay at Oakland - Raiders (ESPN must hate that this is the Sunday night game of the week)

Dallas at Washington - Cowboys

and my upset special of the week……….

Philadelphia at Detroit - Lions!

Jared said I should write about what makes me mad so here goes……what makes me mad is the Gators blowing a game at Tennessee! We had multiple opportunities to close out the game and finish them off and so it really doesn’t make me all that mad that at the end the ref’s blew the one-sided call. We should have won! We were obviously the better team and we let them win. We deserved to lose.