From the start of the year to a couple of weeks ago, the New York Giants seemed like the team to beat in the NFC.  Everything was going their way until they suddenly seemed to have gotten struck by lightning.  It all started with the Plaxico Burress incident that made the whole team suffer.  A team is like a family, and when someone goes down, everyone goes down.  Then, a couple of weeks ago, the Giants lost to the Philadelphia Eagles and lost all of their momentum.  To top it off, this past week on Sunday Night Football, Tom Coughlin's team went down to their biggest rival: the Dallas Cowboys.  The Cowboys aren't doing too well right now either after a loss to Pittsburgh prior to facing the Giants.

This coming week, Eli Manning gets to star in SNF a second week in a row and face a great Carolina Panthers squad.  Usually, the NFC East is the booming division in the conference, but this season, it is the NFC South.  The Panthers have the same record as the Giants and are looking to lock up their playoff spot.  Even though N.Y. has already won its division, this matchup is a phenomenal playoff test to see if they can play like true men.  Will the past Super Bowl champs go down a third straight week, or will they get back on track on the path to a second straight Super Bowl title?

All I am saying is, "Better watch out, N.Y. Giants".

                                                    

On Sunday in the Georgia Dome, the Bucs will travel north to play in what could be a hit or miss matchup.  One paramount showdown is what describes this matchup.  Can the Falcons get back in the playoffs, and can the Bucs keep their precious slot?  Much will be decided on Sunday afternoon in this down-to-the-wire NFC South race.

After their loss on the road in Charlotte, the Tampa Bay Buccanneers are probably feeling pretty low and are wanting to get what would be a gratifying win over the Falcons.  That loss to the Panthers will make them work that much harder and be that much rougher against the mighty Falcons.  The key for every team playing the Atlanta Falcons is to keep it close in the first quarter.  If they can do that, the team has a shot at winning the game.  The other big key is to keep a close eye on Michael Turner.  He is having one memorable year and wants to end it  with a shocking playoff run.

For my Falcons, that road loss to New Orleans might be what they think about all offseason.  They had the lead and the ball with three minutes left in the game but made the wrong choice by punting it away.  That final punt might have cost them a playoff spot.  Coach Mike Smith thought his defense could hold up against the rapid Saint's offense.  He realized though that he has some work to do.  Matt Ryan did a tremendous job by driving the ball down the field for touchdowns when his team really needed but couldn't get that much needed first down on their last drive of the game.  I think for Atlanta, the equation is pretty simple: Go out there and win the rest of your games and hope the Cowboys lose them all. 

I am pretty confident though that the Falcons will get it done on Sunday.  This season, they are 5-1 in Atlanta with one close loss to Denver.  The NFC South has the best record in the whole NFL on home turf.

                           

 
                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                        

Once again, the BCS has decided what teams are going to play for the National Championship and who we are going to watch on New Year's Day.  I'm going to go through each of the BCS bowls and determine whether the matchup is legit or not legit.

Rose Bowl presented by Citi
USC vs. Penn State

This matchup is no big surprise; the Trojans almost always end up in the Rose Bowl.  And for the third straight year, the historic game in Pasadena will once again be lopsided.  The Big Ten stinks; everyone has figured that out.  None of the teams in it stand a chance against a team like Florida, Texas, or USC.  This will be the first time all year that the Nittany Lions are exposed to a real defense, and they sure will realize it.  This game will be about like the Week 3 Ohio State-USC showdown that was supposed to be the game of the year.

Not Legit

FedEx Orange Bowl
Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech

Okay, this game right here is proof that the BCS has some issues.  How can they let two mediocre teams overtake an undeafeated team like Boise State or a tough one-loss team like Texas Tech?  I know about all the rules where conference champions have to get a spot in a big game.  This is one case though where that rule needs to be overturned.

Not legit

I think it would be much more fair if the Orange Bowl were Texas Tech and Boise State.  Both of the teams have had memorable years.  How can the Broncos end up in the Poinsetta Bowl when they went undefeated?  Something is not right.

Allstate Sugar Bowl
Utah vs. Alabama

This matchup just might be a showdown all the way through.  Utah is the Boise State from two years ago and has the capability to beat a hard core SEC team.  Alabama got a huge letdown when the lost to Florida and will be looking to win big.  Will this game end in a last second two-point conversion like the Fiesta Bowl did two years ago?

Legit

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Texas vs. Ohio State

For the third straight year, the Buckeyes get to play a team they just don't match up to.  For the third straight year, they will get blown out of the building.  The BCS system seems to always feel a need to give Ohio State a better game than they deserve.  Texas, on the other hand, deserves a better matchup than a Big Ten team.  I still feel they should have gone to the Big 12 Championship and have a chance to play for the crystal trophy.  I feel the BCS made a big mistake by ranking the Sooners over the Longhorns.  At least Texas will get glory by having an easy win.

Not Legit

FedEx BCS National Championship
Oklahoma vs. Florida

Even though Texas should be the one playing the Gators, I am so looking forward to this matchup; I think everyone is.  Two star quarterbacks with shotgun offenses going head-to-head for the National Championship.  Both teams will come out ready to score tons of points.  After two years of the Buckeyes, we finally get a worth watching matchup.

Legit


What do you think?

The SEC Championship Game in Atlanta has always been an important game, but I don't think it has ever been as paramount as the showdown tomorrow will be.  Basically, for both teams, it is do-or-die, like my title says.  Win, and you're going to play for the National Championship in Miami; lose, and you're going to probably end up playing in the Sugar Bowl.  Each bowl is quite a contrast from the other.  As many titles say, this is a close to a college football playoff game as we are going to get.  Both teams are going to do whatever it takes to book their plane tickets to south Florida.  This is a game you are not going to want to miss.

Alabama is looking to have a perfect season and prove that they truly are the best team in the SEC, which would be quite an honor.  Nick Saban has coached this team to number one in the rankings and looks to keep his squad up there.  They have the momentum they need after a 36-0 win over Auburn last week with senior day at Bryant-Denny Stadium.  They won't have to travel as far as Florida will, and they have already proven to own the Georgia Dome with their week one ousting of the Clemson Tigers.  Only, this time, they will have to play the mighty Florida Gators.

Florida is a team made for Championship after Championship.  They have sophomore Heisman winning quarterback Tim Tebow.  They have the speedy Percy Harvin.  They have experienced coach Urban Meyer.  What don't they have?  Last week, they got a uniform-staining, muddy victory over their in-state rivals, the Seminoles.  They have as much momentum as the Tide has, and they have gotten even stronger from their loss to Ole Miss.  Before their loss, they were pretty good.  Now, they are a dominant squad who goes out and kicks ass every week on the football field.  Beware of the fierce Gators who are lurking deep in the Florida swamp and who are ready to chop you to pieces.

My Prediction: Florida 24- Alabama 21

                         

Today, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL, the annual Iron Bowl will be played.  This year, though, it will have more significance than it usually does.  Alabama is looking to go 12-0 in the regular season and go into the showdown vs. Florida next week strong.  Their biggest challenge will be getting past Auburn with a victory.

Auburn has defeated Alabama the past six straight years and wants to make it seven this afternoon.  For Auburn, the game plan is simple: win or cry in the basement all through bowl season.  No win in Tuscaloosa = no bowl.  The Tigers have struggled all year with many heartbreaking losses including a last second one home at Jordan-Hare to LSU in the last seconds of the primetime game.  They even were leading Georgia last week but came up short in the end.  A win against the Tide would salvage the Tigers' season and would knock 'Bama from the number one spot.

For Alabama, think how devastating this loss would be to Nick Saban, John-Parker Wilson, and the whole team.  Think about how they would go into next weekend's huge game against Florida in the Georgia Dome.  Think how fired up Florida is going to be about their one chance to make their national championship bid.  I know 'Bama is wanting to look ahead to the SEC Championship, but they have one long showdown against their number one rival today.  This past off-week has given them sufficient time to prepare for this big game.  Auburn is going to run out of the tunnel all fired up and ready to play, and the Tide better be ready and rollin'.

                                         My Prediction: Alabama over Auburn by a field goal