Thinking Football

A few football thoughts while watching Northern Indiana become hockey country...

-Tonight is the BCS National Championship Game.  Through most of the season, the expectation was that one of the participants would be Alabama.  A poor decision and an incredible return squashed that and put the other Alabama school, Auburn, in the game.  Florida State waltzed through a schedule that included such perennial heavyweights as Idaho and Bethune-Cookman.  Auburn has been tested in the strongest conference in the country, and that preparation will make the difference tonight.  I haven't seen too many Heisman Trophy winners do well in their Bowl Game.  The target is on Jameis Winston's back.  After the game, the monkey may very well be, too.

-Two road winners in the NFC Wild Card games over the weekend, one a surprise, the other, not so much.  I expected New Orleans to handle Philadelphia, but I thought the conditions and a dose of Aaron Rodgers would stop San Francisco.  Rodgers was a virtual no-show, and only a gutsy performance by the Packers defense kept them close.  I have gone on record, picking Seattle to go all the way, but the Saints offense should provide a test.  They didn't test Seattle very well during the regular season, and I wonder what the Seahawk defense will show Drew Brees this time around.  I like San Francisco's experience on the road in Carolina, where a young Panther team need to learn how to win in the playoffs.

-Only the Colts held home field in the opening round, and by incredible will.  San Diego played well, eventually wearing the Bengals out in the second half.  The Chargers get a third meeting with Denver and Peyton Manning for their work.  The split during the regular season involved both teams winning on the road.  I believe this game may be the biggest toss-up of the entire weekend.  Not many secrets and I see Denver winning on their talent.  Of course, how many times have we seen a Peyton Manning team have home field and go home too early?  Indianapolis goes to New England and I see the Patriots winning, unless the Colts pull another round of will.

So...am I off base?