Because it worked so well last week, once again we're issuing a very special combined Hot off the Grill for the upcoming football weekend. Y1 and myself will be broadcasting the home finale of Ohio Wesleyan's college football season tomorrow as well as a second-round soccer game in the NCAA DIII tournament. But, we've got the other football on the brain right now, so find out all you need to know for your football weekend right here!
Big Kielbasa's Game Of the Week - New England (6-2) at Indianapolis (8-0)
Ah, we meet again. As we told you in our Athletes of the Decade Series, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning will be linked throughout history as the two most important football players of our generation. Once again, this regular season matchup will go a long way in deciding home-field advantage in the AFC. That said, you would think this game would be more important for Indianapolis. But, think about the game from New England's perspective. They're the ones with the aging defense, they're the ones who didn't make the playoffs last year, and they're the ones who need a big game win to reassert their dominance. Add to that the injuries to the Colts secondary and the Colts look vulnerable. While you always hate to pick against "the Sheriff" (I know, I know, I shouldn't encourage Jon Gruden) at home, this situation seems like an exception. Brady will be able to make just enough plays to win a close, thrilling Sunday nighter. PICK-Patriots
Beer Brat's Spotlight Game Of the Week - #16 Utah (8-1) @ #4 TCU (9-0)
You know we at RSS always stick up for the little guy, and no BCS buster has been mightier this season than TCU. In our last time featuring them, we doubted TCU could handle traveling to BYU, and did they prove us wrong when they destroyed the Cougars. Even though Utah themselves is usually a legit BCS contender, and their only loss this season was at Oregon, don't expect them to be the ones to trip up TCU's undefeated season. Even though the spread is a little much at 20, TCU's stellar defense won't allow them to fail their final test of the regular season. PICK-TCU
Chorizo's Upset Of the Week - Cincinnati (6-2) @ Pittsburgh (6-2)
As much as Chad Huit-Cinq wants you to focus on his pursuit to just have fun, this game between the Bengals and Steelers is much more important. Sunday's winner will lay claim to the inside track to a division title and possibly a first-round bye. Pittsburgh is coming off a big win at Denver while the Bengals are coming off a week's rest, always a good scenario in a tough divisional game like this. Both teams have talented defenses, special quarterbacks, and good receivers. As much as it pains us to say it, the difference will be in the run game. And while Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall impressed last week, Cedric Benson is the man to watch on Sunday. Even against a 7 point spread, take the upstart Bengals. PICK-Cincinnati
Andouille's Under the Radar Game - West Virginia (7-2) @ #5 Cincinnati (9-0)
No, we're not turning into a Queen City blog, but the game you should pay attention to happens tonight when the college football team in Cincinnati, the Bearcats, host WVU. Cincinnati has a QB situation 90% of college and pro teams would die for. Sr QB Tony Pike is finally healthy, but backup Zach Collaros has been just as effective piloting the offense, setting school and conference records in the process. Tonight, Kelly looks to start Collaros, but will also work Pike into the mix. Playing two QBs at once is always a dangerous situation, but in the Bearcats spread attack, it should work. Collaros is the more gifted, athletic dual-threat while Pike is the savvy veteran. Know that RSS has even more faith in the Bearcats finishing undefeated against the cream of the Big East than any other college team. PICK-Cincinnati
Hot Dog Of The Week - Terrelle Pryor -QB- Ohio State
Now that I've taken over the picking duties from Y1 (knock on wood), we've been hitting our picks to click at a high rate the last few weeks...sorry bro. Just like we've told you since his embarrassing loss to Purdue, Buckeyes QB Terrelle Pryor has come into his own. Last week, even though the numbers weren't spectacular, Pryor managed to control the entire game in a hostile environment at Penn St. with his 3 TDs. This week, with Ohio St.'s first Rose Bowl trip since 1996 on the line, expect Pryor to come up big again with his arm and his legs. Of course, it helps that Iowa's counterpart, QB Ricky Stanzi, will miss the game due to injury. Even so, on the back of a stifling defense, Pryor will shine in the 'Shoe.
Extra Toppings -
-Do us a favor and check out the picks from our friends over at Rumors & Rants, please?
-A few thoughts about the college game first. Why exactly is Lou Holtz picking against Florida this week? Sure, South Carolina may threaten them, but picking the Gators to lose, really? That's picking an upset just for the sake of picking an upset.
-In a related story, Ohio's public enemy #1 Mark May just picked Iowa, starting a freshmen QB, to beat Ohio St. on Saturday. Isn't now a good time to come up with some type of watchdog group to track the insanity of some of these talking heads?
-You heard it hear first, the SEC is down this year. Don't let a favorable home bowl schedule at the end of the season fool you. For that matter the Big 12 is pretty poor too this year. The best conference with the best depth by far is the Pac 10, book it!
-Speaking of the SEC, watch the games involving Florida and Alabama this week and hear how many times they mention great defense in a low-scoring game. Then listen to the "experts" bash a low-scoring Big Ten game as terrible offense.
-So Bobby Bowden didn't know the score during last week's game? Was anyone actually surprised hearing that? Has he known any game situation for the last 5 years? Does Joe Paterno remember what he ate for breakfast? What next, a bad call this week in the SEC...
-Over/under on sideline shots of Charlie Weis in distress Saturday night=12. Odds on Brent Musberger setting odds on his replacement in the second half=very likely.
-On the pro side, usually we support Chad Don't Call me Johnson's crazy antics. But pretending to bribe an NFL official during a game is a step too far. What kind of message does that send to young athletes? Does he know kids have gone to jail for points shaving? This time, Ocho Loco was out of bounds.
-Does someone need to remind Roy Williams once again this week that the Cowboys #2 WR Miles Austin made the game-winning TD catch...just wondering.
-How many more years until we remember Eli Manning as one of the worst QB to win a Super Bowl, along with the likes of Trent Dilfer. I guess that means Eli has a job waiting for him at the WWL.
-Don't look now, but Vince Young may be playing himself into a long-term starting job, and saving Jeff Fisher's job in the process.
-Not even Gus Johnson could make me watch the Raiders play the Chiefs this weekend...unless something like this happens...
...ah, who am I kidding....that's why God invented YouTube!
Randall's Got His Eye On You... Cleveland Browns Fans
Browns fans, we've heard your voice. You're tired of your crappy excuse for an NFL team. You're tired of incompetent ownership and management. You're tired of a head coach who maims his players in practice, has turned two NFL locker rooms against him, alienated his co-workers, and would be more comfortable as a third-world dictator than head coach. Now is the time to let actions speak louder than words. A boycott has been organized for Monday night's home game against the Ravens. If changes to this team are going to happen, you need to boycott the start of this game. Let the embarrassment to Mangini and company be crystal clear to a national tv audience. Show the country how unsatisfied you are with your team. After all, if it weren't for your loyal support and dedication, pro football might still be absent in Cleveland...although, some might argue it's still waiting to return. The ball is in your court Dawg Pound, hit owner Randy Lerner where it hurts, if you've got the guts!
That's it for our inspirational rallying cries today. Tune in this weekend when we look at the Olympic Game of the Decade, and the continuation of our Games of the Decade countdown next week. Until next time, enjoy your plump football weekend. Bye for now!
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