Since it's the day before Thanksgiving, we thought we would give you a special Hot Off The Grill Preview for the action surrounding the Thanksgiving Day Holiday. We'll not only look at the games of the gridiron, but the hardwood and beyond as well. Also, for our Extra Trimmings segment, we will bring the entire family together as Yard Yoder takes some time from his wildly successful Wizards blog (see link at left) to join us and talk about which sport we're most thankful for on Thanksgiving. So grab the turkey, the pumpkin pie, and follow me before the tryptophan sets in!
Turducken's Game Of The Week: #2 Alabama @ Auburn Friday afternoon (CBS)
-The Iron Bowl is one of the most underrated rivalries in college football and it will take center stage on Friday with Alabama's national title hopes on the line at hated rival Auburn. Bama is coming off of their November exhibition win against I-AA Chattanooga while Auburn has had a good but not great 7-4 season and coming off of a loss between the hedges at Georgia. Auburn has undergone some major changes in recent years, but the hiring of Gene Chizik seems like it may not be the nightmare that fans and pundits (like Charles Barkley) envisioned in the offseason when he came from Iowa State.
Auburn has won 6 of 7 Iron Bowls, but Alabama won last year and are heavy, heavy favorites to win again this season. The Bama offense with Heisman frontrunner Mark Ingram will look to run all over an Auburn D that is 88th against the run. Of course, in rivalry games you should expect the unexpected, but you would be hard pressed to find anyone who thinks that Auburn can pull the upset. I'm hoping for a competitive Iron Bowl because the rest of the Friday afternoon schedule is rather subpar. PICK - Bama
Pumpkin Pie's Spotlight Game: Giants @ Broncos Thanksgiving Night (NFL)
-This game, while not the traditional Thanksgiving clash, is without doubt the game with the most significance in the NFL on Thursday. The Giants got a huge home win against the Falcons last week to boost their Division and Wild Card chances. The Broncos are now out of the lead in the AFC West for the first time this season and need a win in the worst way. The defense and Elvis Dumervil haven't exactly been lighting the world on fire and last week 2 offensive stars in Marshall and Moreno were getting into it on the sidelines. Denver will put up a better fight than last week, but the Giants will still get the road win. PICK - Giants
Cranberry Sauce's Upset Of The Week: Nevada @ #6 Boise State Friday Night (ESPN)
-Boise is unfortunately running last in line amongst college football's unbeatens. While most figure they'll run the table and then get screwed out of a BCS birth, we always pride ourselves with unconventional thinking at RSS! And, we've been on the bandwagon of Colin Kaepernick and Luke Lippencott for what seems like an eternity now. With Boise rolling, Nevada has quietly won 8 straight scoring over 55 per game and leads I-A in rushing yards per game. This one could replicate the 69-67 4OT classic that we saw 2 years ago with Boise winning on the blue turf, but this time Nevada comes out on top. PICK - Nevada
Stuffing's UTR Game of The Week: Magic @ Hawks Thanksgiving Night (TNT)
-While we think of Feast Week in college ball as the main event of the hardwood during Thanksgiving (Maui Final: Cincy v Gonzaga tonight), the best individual basketball game over the next three days takes place on Thanksgiving Night in the NBA. And... it's between Orlando and Atlanta?! Yes, who would have thunk that? These two teams are tied for the best record in the league at 11-3. The Magic have been incredibly balanced with 6 guys averaging more than 10 ppg, while the young Hawks have a lot to be happy about, especially the 17 ppg off the bench from ex-Knick Jamal Crawford alongside the star power of Joe Johnson. This is a bigger game for Atlanta than Orlando early on in the season, take the Hawks at home. PICK - Atlanta
Drumstick: Tony Romo (QB-Dallas)
-Romo usually always struggles in the big games... but not so on Thanksgiving. Of course, Commish Goodell has done him some favors in recent years. The Cowboys have won 3 straight on Thanksgiving averaging 35.3 points per game in those contests. And, even though the Raiders are coming off of a win on Thanksgiving, I don't really think they'll pose a problem for the Boys on Thanksgiving. By the way, this will be Bruce Gradkowski's 2nd Thanksgiving start in 4 years. What's next... JaMarcus Russell starting a Super Bowl? When I tell my kids about Thanksgiving Day Football traditions... I'll surely be telling the stories of the great Gradkowski, my kids will hate me some day.
The Trimmings: What Are You Most Thankful For?
Mr Yoder I - College Football
While Thanksgiving Day and the NFL is the big tradition this time of year, I look forward to College Football more than anything else. My favorite childhood memories are putting up the Christmas Tree the day after Thanksgiving while watching great rivalry games like Texas v Texas A&M and Nebraska v Colorado. The weekend also features Florida v Florida St, the Iron Bowl, and many more. Rivalry games are what sets college football apart from every other sport on the planet and you get more of them here than at any other time in the year. Plus, when games like the Iron Bowl have national title implications, it only makes it more special. Would you rather watch the Lions lose and a boring Cowboys win, or Mark Ingram and Ndamukong Suh this Thanksgiving?
Yard Yoder - College BBall
While thanksgiving is traditionally paired with football, personally I am most thankful for the great college basketball that goes on around thanksgiving year after year. It is that time of the season where pre-season rankings are brought into question, and match-ups which you’ve always wanted to see become a reality. It is a time before conference play begins, and a time where coaches load their schedule strength against other powerhouses. What does that mean for us? Great game after great game. Just look at all the tournaments that go on in beautiful places like Orlando, Maui,Puerto Rico, and Cancun. Football may be tradition, but college basketball is my favorite pastime on Turkey Day.
Mr Yoder II - NFL
Well first, I'm thankful to be graced with the presence of Yard Yoder at Thanksgiving...It's always great to be with family this time of year. The thing I'm most thankful for in sports is, of course, the tradition of the NFL on Thanksgiving Day. It's a time when most fans can sit back and be thankful they aren't fans of the Detroit Lions! And you don't have to worry about that food coma you'll slip into, becuase by the time you wake up, the Lions aren't playing any more! At least the NFL has tried to give us some competition with the primetime game on NFL Network...maybe a sign of things to come with getting the Lions off of Thanksgiving every year. You can schedule a competitive game for the Cowboys any time too, Commish.
Randall's Got His Eye On You... Josh McDaniels
-The little genius went through the worst offseason that any rookie coach in the history of western civilization. He alienated his Pro Bowl QB, dealt with his star WR being a malcontent, and had Kyle Orton leading the brigade. Then via some miracle, he turned into a genius when he started 6-0. McGenius was all the rage for the first 6 weeks of the season. Now, at 6-4 the Broncos are going back down on the roller coaster that has been their 2009 season. McDaniels showed some panic mode coaching last week inserting Kyle Orton after a quarter against San Diego. Now, they need a win on Thanksgiving Night to save their season. Against an equally desperate Giants team, that may be a tall turkey day order.
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