Super Bowl Preview

The Pope enjoys the Super Bowl like everyone else. While most people are focused on the Giants pass rush, Tom Brady, or 19-0 for the Patriots, the Pope is also focused on providing the world with his favorite recipe for Super Bowl Sunday. Here goes:

The Pope's famous Rotel dip >> Nothing is as good with a game on as a big bowl of rotel dip, with tortilla chips (preferably Tostitos Scoops). Here is the very simple recipe: 1 block of Velveeta (original, not any of that fat free sh*t), 2 cans of hot or regular Rotel brand chopped tomotoes, 1 log of sausage, jalepino juice, and tabasco sauce (and of course chips). First, you must brown the sausage in a pan. Cook completely, and make sure to drain as much grease off as you'd prefer. Use tabasco sauce on the meat while it cooks. Next, or really during the meat cooking, put the velveeta, 1.5 cans of Rotel, and about 1/4 cup of jalepino juice into a bowl. Melt the

velveeta in 3 minute intervals in the bowl, pausing to stir throughly after each 3 minute interval. After about 9 minutes of melting the cheese and rotel, its time to put the meat in. Stire, then microwave for 2 minutes twice, stirring after each 2 minute interval. Voila! Dip is ready to eat. Be careful how much tabasco sauce you use on the meat, especially if you buy hot sausage and hot rotel instead of regular for each. The jalepino juice will bring a kick also.

Official Holy Wager for the Super Bowl >>

The Pope has picked the Giants a lot this year on the road and been rewarded. A lot of people are picking the underdog, almost trying to will this to be a close game. The line has moved around a bit, but I agree with the masses. The Giants have a great sense of nothing to lose, and I think the Patriots D will be susceptible to Jacobs/Bradshaw/Burress. If Eli Manning plays well, which I think he will, the G Men will cover. The Giants are going to have to have a pass rush from hell to win though >> Patriots 28 Giants 24

My season record will be updated after the Super Bowl. You can view it in the upper left hand corner. I will summarize it next week. Enjoy the game!

Monday Afternoon Mass

The weekend of football was pretty fantastic. Certainly I was rooting for the Colts and the Jaguars, who both lost, which put a slight damper on the weekend. But for a football lover, it was pretty good drama starting in Green Bay on Saturday to Dallas last night.

The Pope went 2-2 with his Holy Wagers, also correctly picking the upset by the Giants of the Cowboys, thus still netting +1 units for the weekend (see updated season tally in upper left hand corner link).

Instead of comments on games that you most certainly watched and/or read about, I will post what I think is the second best touchdown celebration of the entire season (second to Maurice Jones-Drew, in the post below). Brandon Jacobs takes out his celebratory feelings on the play clock. His weapon? The football:

Holy Wagers - NFL Divisional Round

Holy Wagers have not surfaced since Thanksgiving. Click in the upper left for the Pope's official record. The Pope plans to finish off the football season of Holy Wagers and see where he stands at the end of football, before beginning basketball. The NFL Divisional playoffs are here, and here are the Pope's Holy Wagers (note the new "Confidence" ranking of all 4 games. 4 is the highest confidence of these 4 games, while 1 is the lowest):

Colts -9 vs. Chargers - Peyton and the Colts are mostly healthy, and they just dont lose at home very often. San Diego's defense is nothing special, and on offense, stopping LT will make San Diego's offense sputter (ie. the Titans last week). Stopping LT is never easy of course, but the Colts defense will be up for the challenge. Pope's prediction: Colts 35 Chargers 20 [Confidence 3]

Patriots -13.5 vs Jaguars - The Jaguars are the hottest and most chic team in football. My question to those lovers - who have they beaten? Yes, winning at Pittsburgh twice is impressive. But how good is Pittsburgh? The team that lost to the Cardinals and the Broncos? The Steelers are not good, and the Jaguars arent ready to be a great team yet. Or cover. Pope's Prediction: Patriots 31 Jaguars 17 [Confidence 2]

Packers -7.5 vs. Seahawks - "We'll take the ball and we'll score". No, you want baldy. Its cold at Lambeau, and the Seahawks are abysmal on the road (3-5), while the Packers are great at home (7-1). This could be a close game, but I just dont think the Seahawks can run the ball, which will force a few turnovers in the passing game. Pope's prediction: Packers 28 Seahawks 20 [Confidence 1]

Giants +7.5 @ Cowboys - The Cowboys are a very good football team. But, the Giants have a few things on their side: a) Jessica Simpson b) 4 disruptive pass rushing defensive linemen c) 8-1 on the road this season d) Eli Manning has had two very good games in a row e) the Cowboys looked pathetic in their last game against the Redskins, a similar team to the Giants in many respects and finally d) The Giants this week are the MOST BLESSED WAGER OF THE WEEK. I think this will be the wild upset of the weekend, causing Jerry Jones to have to get 4 offseason BOTOX treatments to cover up this mess. Pope's prediction: Giants 31 Cowboys 28 (OT). [Confidence 4]

Three home favorites and one road dog. Thats a decent guess considering the home team has won about 72% of the divisional round games since 1992 (last year the home teams went 2-2, with San Diego and Baltimore both losing in the AFC). It certainly should be an interesting week of football.

And now (courtesy of Wes Scott) the Pope presents the best touchdown dance of the season, courtesy of Mr. Jones-Drew (in the middle of the video):

Holy Wagers Update

Not a great weekend, going 0-3 in College Football and 2-1 in Pro Football. Still up for the year at 55%, with some weeks up and some down. What a crazy year in College Football eh? Check out my updated yearlong picks here, or by clicking on the perma-link always in the upper left hand corner.

Holy Wagers - Turkey Edition

These picks are for the games for Thursday through Sunday of Thanksgiving week. You can always view my season long track record in the upper left hand corner using the link. I have a 57% winning percentage with a +8 betting units for the year. Remember, all wagers should be for 1 unit, with the exception of 2 units on the Most Blessed Wager. Now for the picks.

COLLEGE

Memphis -7.5 vs. SMU - [Most Blessed Wager of the Week] The Tigers have hit their stride, and will be playing an awful Pony defense in their fired coach's last game. Prediction - Memphis 42 SMU 21

Kentucky -3 vs. Tennessee - This game is important and on the road for the Vols. Not good, since their best player is Neyland stadium. I think this will be close but a late score ruins the Vols hopes for Atlanta. Prediction - Kentucky 28 Tennessee 24

UConn +17 @ West Virginia - WVU is playing for a shot at the National Title game, assuming the Big 12 eliminates itself. I think they will be playing a bit tense against a solid UConn team. Just too many points. Prediction - WVU 42 UConn 28

PRO

Seattle -3 @ St Louis - The Rams only scored 13 last week against the 49ers, and I just dont think they have the guns to outscore the Seahawks. Prediction - Seattle 27 Rams 13

Titans -1.5 @ Bengals - Despite losing Monday night, the Titans had their strongest passing performance of the season and moved the ball all up and down the field on Denver. A few costly turnovers and three plays given up over 50 yards were the only difference. I expect the Titans D to return to form with Haynesworth back. Prediction - Titans 34 Bengals 27

Chicago -1.5 vs. Broncos - Denver is just not that good away from home. They were largely outplayed by the Titans, yet their win will probably give them some false confidence. The Bears will sling it around and get a turnover or two, not unlike Denver's trip to Detroit earlier this year - Prediction - Chicago 31 Denver 21.

Good luck, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Holy Wagers Update

Good week for the Pope, going 2-1 in College Football (winning the 2 unit Most Blessed Wager), and going 2-0-1 in Pro Football. That brings my season long record to 57% picks correct, but +8 betting units. Check out the details of my season long picking record here, or by clicking in the ever present link in the upper left hand corner.

Thanksgiving week picks will be up on Wednesday afternoon.

Holy Wagers - November 17th Weekend

Check out the Pope's record in the upper left hand corner of this webpage. Now onto the picks:

COLLEGE

Cinncinnati +6.5 vs. West Virginia [Most Blessed Wager of the Week] - Cinncinnati stops the run very well, especially at home. They also have a QB that doesnt make many mistakes, with a very good ball control offense. I think this game will be like he South Florida game for West Virginia, as a little bit of pressure causes some turnovers and the more patient team (Cinncinnati) wins outright. Prediction: Cinncinnati 28 West Virginia 24

Indiana +2 vs. Purdue - The Oaken Bucket game for pride in the state of Indiana. At home, the Hoosiers have played very well, staying close with both Illinois and Penn St but falling late. This team needs another win to be a solid bowl team, on top of the already huge rivalry that this game is. IU has some athletes on offense that will score at will against Purdue, who will also make one too many mistakes on offense. Prediction: Indiana 41 Purdue 35

Rutgers -11.5 vs. Pittsburgh - Rutgers is going to run all day on the Wannstache. Prediction: Rutgers 35 Pittsburgh 14

PRO

Rams -3 @ 49ers - The 49ers are awful, and the Rams are going to improve with Stephen Jackson back and healthy. This one won't be close, even since Trent Dilfer is now starting for San Fran. Prediction: Rams 35 49ers 13

Eagles -10 vs. Dolphins - McNabb is healthy and they are on a confidence high after last week's big win against the Redskins. The Dolphins are awfula and starting a rookie QB. Prediction: Eagles 31 Dolphins 10

Cardinals +3.5 @ Bengals - This will be a close football game. The Bengals dont know how to win close games, and the Cardinals have a lot to play for. The Cards had a big win last week and their talented WR corps will have a field day. Prediction: Cardinals 38 Bengals 31

Good luck this week. I'm feeling good about these picks.

Holy Wagers Updated

Holy Wagers didn't go great this past weekend. In college I went 1-2, and 1-1-1 in pro. Arkansas decided not to show up, but that probably wasnt the greatest bet given Arkansas's inconsistency. East Carolina inexplicably got pummeled by the worst team in Conference USA also, which was perplexing. Gotta love college football!

Check out my updated record for the year in the upper left hand corner.

Holy Wagers - November 10th Weekend

After a one weekend Sabbatical to rest my picking prowess, the Pope is back and ready for "dough"vember. Check out my season record here, or by clicking the updated link in the upper left. I still have a 15-10 record in college, so I have done well overall. Remember, all bets are one unit except for the 2 unit Holy Wager. Now for the picks:

College

Arkansas -0 @ Tennessee - What happens when the top rushing team in the conference plays the #9 rush defense in the country? Throw in the fact that Arkansas is hot and coming off its best season performance last week against South Carolina, as well as they have a Heisman contender in a wide open race for the trophy, I don't see Arkansas playing poorly. The only chance for Tennessee is a wild shootout, like the Alabama vs Arkansas game. I think Arkansas will pile it on early and then coast to the finish line with their running game, despite how much Tennessee has to play for (the East title). Prediction - Arkansas 42 Tennessee 31

Texas -6.5 vs. Texas Tech - Tech has trouble with Texas year in, year out. Texas is playing well offensively and will certainly have one of the most athletic defenses Tech has seen all year. Typically this game is a blowout. I doubt it will be that, but I do expect it to be a decisive win. Prediction - Texas 35 Texas Tech 21

East Carolina -7 @ Marshall [Most Blessed Wager of the Week] - Marshall is awful, and East Carolina is a solid football team. ECU played a very close game at Virgina Tech earlier this year, and their offense has gotten much better. Last week they hung 50 on Memphis, who beat Marshall decisively. I dont see this one being close with Marshall's season over essentially and ECU still playing for CUSA championship. Prediction - East Carolina 56 Marshall 28

Pro

Buffalo -3 @ Miami - Buffalo is actually playing some decent offense, while Miami is not doing anything respectable or decent. Traditionally Buffalo plays well at Miami, and I just dont see this won going well for the Dolphins. Prediction - Buffalo 28 Miami 21

Detroit +1 @ Arizona - Detroit is playing very well, but Arizona plays well at home. This might be a trap bet, but then again, Detroit embarrassed Denver last week by 30 points. I think it will be close but this is Detroit's season - Prediction - Detroit 31 Arizona 24

Dallas -1.5 @ New York Giants - Another tough one. The Giants are 6-2, but they really have been barely beating some mediocre teams. Certainly they have won 6 in a row I believe, but none of those wins have been impressive. I see this being a low scoring game except for one quarter of Dallas offensive explosion. Prediction - Dallas 28 New York 17

This weekend is definitely the one of the road teams. By this point in the year, I feel I know these teams pretty good. Lots of the these teams have something to play for, while many have nothing to play for. Those type of matchups make picking the spread much easier.