Screened Sports Stories - November 21st

Nothing lasts forever and in college football that seems especially so. Usually teams take a few years to rise and fall, to get better, to develop, or to fall apart. But that's one of the fun experiences in sports, teams that shouldn't have chances do and big teams take tumbles when they shouldn't.

NCAA Football:

Not everything goes according to plan. Kansas State had their chance sitting atop the rankings at 1 and their only hitch in the road looked like #16 Texas coming up this week. Then they went to Baylor and lost to a 4-5 record team with a score of 52 to 24, embarrassing to say the least. Then there was Oregon, their chance to sit at #1 only needed Kansas State to win and their future would be in their own hands. Unfortunately the Ducks had the toughest schedule remaining and they couldn't keep a perfect season together long enough. This leaves only one unbeaten team left (Ohio State is also undefeated but due to sanctions are not eligible for any bowls or championships).

Notre Dame now sits at number one. Former top ranked Alabama sits right behind them patiently hoping all these non-SEC division teams mess up and allow them their chance at number one again. Only one week of regular games are left and Notre Dame only has their biggest rival left. They must travel to Southern California to face preseason over-hyped USC who have dropped completely out of the rankings. Don't sleep on this game though, it's rivalry, it's away for Notre Dame, and sometimes knowing you can knock off the top team in the nation is more than enough motivation to play extra hard on the field. If there is a game to watch this week that's the one.

You do get one gobble game with TCU going to Texas. It's on around evening time so you might be feeling that turkey by then or well into your pie.

NFL:

Falcons still rolling, but will they do this well in the playoffs?

If last weekend was a week of surprises this weekend was a week of expected results, of teams finally making a bigger step towards the playoffs. The Green Bay Packers pulled off a last minute win against in division rival the Detroit Lions, tying themselves up for a chance to win their division or at least get into the playoffs on a wildcard spot. The Houston Texans had a tough time with the meager 1-9 Jacksonville Jaguars, going to overtime, but eventually left with a win. It would take two losses to the Colts, both of whom are in the same division, later this year for the Texans to be any kind of worried about making the playoffs.

Speaking of overtime games we had the Tampa Bay Buccaneers revive their playoff hopes against the Carolina Panthers. After being down 21-10 the Bucs somehow scored exactly 11 points to tie the game mostly thanks to a late drive from young quarterback Josh Freeman who also led the Bucs down the field in overtime to win with a touchdown pass. This puts only the Atlanta Falcons, who won again to be 9-1, ahead of them and more than likely puts them in a possible wild card spot.

Also don't forget your Thanksgiving football games to go along with your turkey. The early game is the Texans taking on the Lions which should be a good battle between a traditional turkey day team in the Lions and a tough Texans. Then the late game is as American as you could get. The Washington Redskins taking on the Dallas Cowboys, nothing more traditional than that on the day of thanks. Finally for the late night crowd the Patriots go to the New York Jets home in a game that has almost no playoff impact, exciting right? Don't worry you'll be asleep by then.

MAA:

“Which Georges St-Pierre will show up?” An odd question since GSP has been anything but consistent in his performances. It is an understandable one, with 18 months between fights and ACL reconstruction at age 31. Georges showed up, and looked like he hadn't really missed a beat. Save being dropped by a head kick in the third round Georges St-Pierre was dominant throughout the fight, winning a unanimous decision (49–46, 50–45, 50–45). Interim champion Carlos Condit acquitted himself well. He managed to hit a nice switch on St-Pierre as well as that head kick. Condit made it at least feel like he gave St-Pierre his toughest fight in years. The other relevant fight on UFC 154 was a welterweight clash between Johny Hendricks and Martin Kampmann. Hendricks has shown Dan Henderson-esque power in his left hand. Showing it again on Saturday with a knockout victory in just 46 seconds of the first round. Unless this fabled superfight between St-Pierre and middleweight champion Anderson Silva happens Hendricks is the clear choice to challenge Georges St-Pierre next.