Sports with Hopper

Week 2 Picks

2009-09-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

Ok, so last week wasn't good. I won 3 games. But I do have an excuse for that: The zebras. Yes, it's always the zebras. I can name at least 4 games that were affected by the refs, and those were just the ones I saw.

This week will be better, though. I, well, I don't promise. But I hope it goes better. This week, I am going to go about my prediction process a little differently. Instead of predicting the scores(which are always wrong and does nobody any good), I'm going to only predict the winners.

Here are my Week 2 picks:

CAR<ATL
MIN<DET
CINARI>JAC
OAK>KC
NENO>PHI
HOU>TEN
STL>WAS
TB<BUF
SEA>SF
PITCLE>DEN
BAL>SD
NYG>DAL
IND
FYI, the arrow is pointing to the team I believe is going to lose, and from the I believe is going to win. Such as "Atlanta is 'greater than' Carolina, like in elementary school math. Anyway, that's all for this week. Have a Happy Sunday!

Week 1 NFL Picks

2009-09-10T14:11:00.000-07:00

It feels so good to be back. I'm sure you all had noticed that I hadn't been on here in awhile. Both of you. But predicting NASCAR winners is so boring. So I took a few weeks off and decided to save everything for football season.

If you recall, I ended last season on a good note, correctly predicting the NFC to win the Pro Bowl. To reward them, in any game that is to be played between an AFC team and an NFC team in Week 1, I will pick the NFC team to win. Except Brett Favre's team, which is automatically an exception to all rules I may make that could possibly benefit his team.

I'd also like to take the time to predict the winner of Super Bowl XLIV:

Atlanta Falcons!!!!

Now for my Week 1 predictions:

Ten: 13 Pit: 10
Mia: 20 Atl: 28(Sorry Grandma)
KC: 23 Bal: 17
Phi: 14 Car: 23
Den: 13 Cin: 31
Min: 6 Cle: 20(Take THAT Brett Favre!!!)
Nyj: 17 Hou:27
Jac: 34 Ind: 31
Det: 24 NO: 23
Dal: 16 TB: 17
SF: 31 Ari: 28
Was:14 Nyg:24
Stl: 26 Sea: 24
Chi: 23 GB: 10
Buf: 24 NE: 21
SD: 24 Oak: 37

So there you are, my first picks of the NFL season. Here's to your team. My they make the Super Bowl*. That's all for this week. Have a Happy Sunday!

*Only valid if "your team" is the Atlanta Falcons.

Brickyard 400

2009-07-26T09:35:00.000-07:00

Hey all! It's been a few weeks, as we had an off-week last week, and I missed Chicagoland the week before.

Oops.

But I'm back with some picks. And heeeeere they are:

5.Tony Stewart
4.Sam Hornish Jr.
3.Denny Hamlin
2.Reed Sorenson
1.Kasey Kahne

Going with Dodges today. Enjoy the race!

Happy 4th/Coke Zero 400 Picks

2009-07-04T12:04:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th everyone! I'll spare you my weekly lecture today and leave you with these picks:

5. Tony Stewart
4. Kasey Kahne
3. Elliott Sadler
2. Ryan Newman
1. Joey Logano

Have a Happy 4th of July!

Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Preview

2009-06-27T20:23:00.000-07:00

Before I begin, let me remind everyone that Sunday's race is not the Lenox Industrial Tools 300. It is the Lenox Industrial Tools 301. No, the title is not a type-o.

Alright, onto our Sonoma Sears Point Infineon review. For the first time in 3 weeks, I did not pick Kasey Kahne to win.

He won.

It's all good, though, because somewhere, some guy bet on Kahne and won lots of money. And by reading this article, he has agreed to split it with me 50-50.

Whoo Hoo! I'm moderately wealthy! I can rent anything I want!(courtesy: Homer Simpson)

So onto our 301 lap event. I am going to think outside the box(what else is new) and go with a guy who practically dominated Saturday's practice sessions. And it isn't who you think:

5. Marcos Ambrose
4. Greg Biffle
3. Kasey Kahne
2. Denny Hamlin
1. Reed Sorenson

Yes, I am aware of the fact that this is not a Nationwide race. It is not an ARCA race. It is not a Camping World East Series race. It is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. But Reed Sorenson, who finished 6th in this race a year ago, and who was 1st and 4th respectively in Saturday's practice sessions, will win at New Hampshire. Readers, this is where I depart for another week. Have a Happy Sunday!

Toyota Save Mart 350

2009-06-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

Out west for a road course race this weekend. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Wine Country for this weekend's Toyota Save Mart 350.

Unless Jeff Gordon runs poorly; Then it would be Whine Country.

I'm going to keep it short again this week, but I did have to slip the Jeff Gordon joke in there.

Time for picks:

5. Greg Biffle
4. Carl Edwards
3. Jamie McMurray
2. Boris Said
1. Marcos Ambrose

To all you fathers out there, have a Happy Father's Day. And to everyone else, have a Happy Sunday!

"Your Bankrupt Car Company Here" 400 Preview

2009-06-11T16:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, so that actually isn't the title of the race. But it sounds pretty good. At least, better than my top 5 from last week.

But you can't predict fuel mileage races. Or overheating. Or first lap whatevertheheckwentwrongwithdennyhamlinscar problems.

With all that said, onto the even more unpredictable Michigan International Speedway. Unpredictable because of, yes, fuel mileage. That and the fact that you never know what NASCAR may let certain drivers get away with, like passing the pace car. Oops, did that come out in print?

Yeah, it did.

I am going with Kasey Kahne for the third week in a row. But I have a very logical reason. I have some friends(yeah, I pay them well). And every time I see them before a NASCAR race, Kahne runs well. It's fool proof, which is why I use it to my advantage. For example, in 2007, a year in which Kahne struggled drastically, I saw them before the Daytona 500, the Sharpie 500, and the Bank of America 500. He finished 7th, 2nd, and 8th respectively. And in 2005, I saw them before Kahne's 2nd place finish at the Brickyard 400.

I'm going with Kahne for the win:

5.Greg Biffle
4.Matt Kenseth(even in his Carhartt car)
3.Ryan Newman
2.Carl Edwards
1.Kasey Kahne

I know I lost half my readers back at the phrase, "Like passing the pace car," so I'll put the rest of you out of your misery now, for another week. Have a Happy Sunday!

Pocono 500 Preview

2009-06-04T20:10:00.000-07:00

Hey readers! We're back on track this week after a delay last week. To preserve your sanity, we'll keep this short and sweet again this week.

Last week, I once again managed to get at least one right, extending the streak to 13 races! Now onto Pocono, with our friend TNT. In my opinion, the guys at TNT are the best in the business as far as announcing is concerned. Of course, TNT is based out of Atlanta, so what can you expect other than perfection? (Hint: See "Hopper")

Speaking of perfection, onto Hopper's Pocono picks:

5.Greg Biffle
4.Brian Vickers
3.Kurt Busch
2.Denny Hamlin
1.Kasey Kahne

He dominated it last year, and he has even more power under the hood this year. Folks, that's all for this week. Have a Happy Sunday!

Autism Speaks 400 Preview

2009-05-31T07:44:00.000-07:00

Hey readers! Sorry it has taken me this long to get the picks up. Lately, I have been a little sidetracked by my new blog, Stock Car Spin. But I have them for you now.

I don't have any funny or annoying comments today, and since I made you wait 3 extra days, I will spare you your time and cut to the chase:

5.Ryan Newman
4.Greg Biffle
3.Denny Hamlin
2.Kyle Busch
1.Kasey Kahne

Kahne has the power of the new Dodge R6 engine. He has done well this weekend so far, and I believe he'll be a force to recon with today. Readers, sorry about the delay. Have a Happy Sunday!

Coca Cola 600 Preview

2009-05-21T18:28:00.000-07:00

Last week, a little birdy told me to pick Joey Logano to win the All Star race. Rule #1 about predictions: Never listen to the finger of a Junior fan, especially when wearing a Kyle Busch T-shirt.

(Slight pause while you figure that one out)

So last week, we saw another exciting race. At least, the final 10 laps were. But nothing about the race was more priceless than when Jeff Gordon went spinning through the infield, and almost my entire house exploded with cheers. That is, with the exception of the lone Gordon fan in the house, who let slip a synonym for dung. Good times.

In the end, Tony Stewart won his first race with his new team. Now onto the longest race of the year which, to many fans' surprise, does not take place in Fontana, California or Long Pond, Pennsylvania. It actually takes place in a suburban town known as Concord, North Carolina. Really? You thought it took place in Charlotte? Well, you learn something new every day, don't you?

So who is the birdy saying will win this week? Who cares. I don't listen to the birdy anymore. I will say this though. I believe Sunday Night's race will be a wreckfest. At least, if history repeats itself. In 2005, this race set the all-time record for caution flags in a single race with 22. Two years ago, the race saw 13 cautions, and over 15 casualties of accidents. Alas, another odd-numbered year, which also seems to indicate that the 2006 and 2008 600 champ, Kasey Kahne, will not win on Sunday. But, just for kicks, I'll put him in my top 5 anyway:

5.Kasey Kahne
4.Tony Stewart
3.Jimmie Johnson
2.Joey Logano
1.Ryan Newman

Indy 500 winner: Tony Kanaan

Lowe's Motor Speedway always seems to owe somebody something, and in the end, it always pays them. We saw it with Jimmie Johnson back in 2003, Kahne back in 2006, and Tony Stewart last week. Newman could have won back in 2001, but crashed while leading after just a dozen laps. He should have won back in 2007, but blew a tire while leading with 3 laps to go and backed into the wall. Last week, he wrecked while leading with 8 laps left. This week, the Beast of the Southeast will pay him back, and he'll win the race on... fuel mileage. P.S. Kanaan will win that short 500 mile sprint before the important race.

Folks, that's all for this week. Have a Happy Sunday!

All Star Challenge Preview

2009-05-14T18:23:00.000-07:00

Darlington has come and gone. We had another great race(Really? We're up to 3 in a row now?), and now it's time for the All Star event.

This race gets me excited every year. My favorite part actually has to be the Sprint Showdown, the wild card event that the rest of the field competes in for a chance to race in the main event. Last year, the race was won by AJ Allmendinger, who I believe will race his way in again.

The 2nd place driver in the event also transfers into the big race. A year ago, that driver was Sam Hornish Jr. He might do it again, but I believe that 18-year-old Joey Logano will get the other transfer spot.

That leaves the Fan Vote, the part which determines the final driver in the starting field for the All Star race. Last year, Kasey Kahne got the Fan Vote, and won the whole thing! This year, I believe that Bill Elliott will receive the fan vote. Elliott was NASCAR's Most Popular Driver for 15 years, so it seems only fitting that he should receive the Fan Vote.

From there, 21 drivers will duke it out over a 100-lap period. The winner receives a check for $1,000,000 and an automatic berth in the All Star race for the next 10 years.

So, without further ado, my prediction for the winner of the 25th Annual NASCAR All Star race is:

Joey Logano!

Yes, I am aware of the very skinny, frail, toothpick-like limb I am going out on here, especially considering that the guy isn't even in the race yet. But why not? I, like Logano, have nothing to lose. Folks, enjoy the heck out of the race. Have a Happy Saturday!

Southern 500 Preview

2009-05-07T18:17:00.000-07:00

Wow, who could've seen that coming? Kyle Busch won Round 3 of the Junior/Busch Battle, and it was no contest. Busch continues to show that he simply is the best. As for Junior, well, at least his interviews are good.

(excuse me while I go laugh my tail off at the outright falsehood of that last statement)

Anyway, Richmond brought us the most cautions we've seen all year(15). Amazingly, 4 of the top 10 finishers spun out during the course of the race. Looks like last week would've been the perfect time for Little E to spin himself out on purpose(seriously guys, he's done it before, and he was proud of it).

Why am I poking fun at Junior? I don't know, I just feel like it.

So on to one of my favorite tracks on the circuit, Darlington Raceway. The race was renamed the Southern 500 to rekindle some of that old-school feel that the fans have been complaining about losing. But, in my mind, the Southern 500 is run on Labor Day weekend, not Mother's Day weekend.

Anyway, last week I was back on track, correctly identifying 3 top 5ers before the race even began. That's like super powers! Okay, maybe not, especially since the CoT makes my job easy*. This week, I like the Biff to find back his old friend, Darlington Victory Lane:

5. Ryan Newman
4. Kyle Busch
3. Carl Edwards
2. Tony Stewart
1. Greg Biffle

My friends, this is where I leave you once again. Have a Happy Saturday. And to all you Moms(and Grandmas) out there, have a Happy Mother's Day!

*Nothing in life is easy. Omit the preceding statement.

Crown Royal 400 Preview

2009-04-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

Well, that was wild. Talladega brought us the most exciting race we've seen all year. In fact, maybe even in our lifetime(unless you were around to see Bobby Allison's 1987 crash). But now, onto the track that brought us the best finish of 2008.

If you will recall, a year ago, the Crown Royal 400 was Denny Hamlin's to lose. He started on Pole, and lead 381 of the first 382 laps(the only other lap leader was AJ Allmendinger), only to blow out a right front tire with 18 laps remaining.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. inherited the lead. But, with 3 laps to go, Kyle Busch got into Junior's left rear and turned him racing for the win. In the meantime, Clint Bowyer, the unsuspecting 3rd place runner, snuck past the incident, and took home the checkers in one of the most thrilling finishes I thought I'd see in a hundered lifetimes... until Sunday.

On Sunday, of course, Brad Keselowski got together with Carl Edwards with 1,000 feet to go, sending Edwards on the ride of his life. Keselowski earned his first career Cup win after not even competing in Cup the previous week. This week, Hopper looks to earn his first career win after not nailing one top 5er at Talladega, and I plan to do it by picking the man who should've won last year. And no, it was not Dale Earnhardt Jr.

5.Tony Stewart
4.Ryan Newman
3.Clint Bowyer
2.Kyle Busch
1.Denny Hamlin

Denny will win his first at the track he wants to win at more than any other on the circuit, and he'll make it that much sweeter by beating his teammate to do it. As for Junior, well, seeing as it's Busch's turn to hit him(if you'll recall, Junior got his revenge in the fall race), I believe he won't hesitate to wreck NASCAR's most popular driver again. Folks, that's all for this week. Have a happy Sunday!

Aarons 499 Preview

2009-04-23T18:08:00.000-07:00

Well, I am back from my weekend retreat, and ready for some serious action this weekend at Talladega. I'd like to thank my mother for taping the race for me, even though I did not watch it, nor did I have any desire to. Still, it's the thought that counts. Thanks Mom!

Yes, brownie points. I do have one more thanks to give out before I proceed to this weekend. I'd like to thank you, the readers, for nothing. I kindly asked you to inform me of "what went down in the desert", and I didn't even receive so much as a comment on my lonely wall. Shame on you!

Awww, I can't stay mad at you. Especially coming off of my retreat. I love you all. I love everybody. I love Ju... wait, that's taking it WAY too far. You know what, how about this: all is forgiven assuming you do something for me. All I ask is that, when I make this weekend's off-the-wall picks, you are hereby bound to not make fun of me.

Alright, now that we have that behind us, we can move on to what's really important: Talladega! Everybody loves Talladega, except Mark Martin, and Ryan Newman, and, well, over half the drivers in Sunday's field. Okay, people hate Talladega. And that's what makes it s great.

Last week, I nailed 2 top 5ers, and missed another by a mere spot. Also, last week, Dale Earnhardt Jr. managed to stretch his attention span even thinner by making himself a new, um, friend. Yes, Casey Mears was added to the list of drivers that Junior Nation cannot stand. He joins an elite list, including the likes of Brian Vickers, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin; the list goes on and on.

Also last week, the winning car had the same number as the number of fingers on my hand(5 in case you were wondering). This week, I believe that I will need an extra finger. To see what I mean, scroll down.

5.Jimmie Johnson
4.Greg Biffle
3.Paul Menard
2.Regan Smith(yes, that Regan Smith)
1.David Ragan

Ragan will grab his first this weekend. Folks, I've gotta run. We've got storms pounding us right now. Have a Happy Sunday.

Subway Fresh 500 Preview

2009-04-16T13:29:00.000-07:00

Greetings to all! Hope everybody had a very Happy Easter. It was certainly nice hearing people worship God and Jesus our Savior last weekend instead of the Hendrick boys. I'd say they deserved it, wouldn't you?

If you didn't get to watch the Texas race 2 weeks ago, you missed nothing. The race was unarguably the most boring I've seen all year, and the announcers were their usual selves, drooling over anything with a bow-tie on the bumper. In the end, Jeff Gordon broke a 47-race winless streak, as well as winning at Texas for the first time ever, both of which I was very aware of after the conclusion of the event, thanks to Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, and of course, Darrell Waltrip.

However, I will give kudos to Mr. Waltrip for his Fox pre-race show rant about NASCAR not allowing the drivers to be themselves. I responded with my own article on Playerpress.com. Now, hopefully someone's listening.

Last weekend, the NASCAR Nationwide Series raced at Nashville Superspeedway, which is actually only 1 1/4 miles long. Joey Logano earned the victory in his Gamestop Toyota, and took home the coolest trophy in NASCAR, the Gibson Guitar. I guess that would make him the "Guitar Hero".

Wow, that was bad.

On that note, time for some picks. 2 weeks ago, I correctly predicted 2 top 5 drivers(affectionately called "top-5ers on this site). Thankfully, they just so happened to be the 2 guys who have won the last 4 Phoenix races, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. Naturally, they're in by default. And all 5 of my picks from Texas finished in the top 15. And as I improve, my comment wall gets quieter and quieter. I miss Ruel.

Here's this week's potential top 5:

5.Greg Biffle
4.Jeff Gordon
3.Kyle Busch
2.Jimmie Johnson
1.Denny Hamlin

Hamlin bumps Johnson out of the way to win it. That's how I see it playing out. Unfortunately, for Yours Truly, I will not be able to catch the race this weekend. I will be spending an extra weekend not worshipping anything with a bow-tie on the bumper, and instead worshipping our higher powers. This week, you the fans will have to fill me, the Hopper, in on what went down in the dessert. Unless my family is kind enough to tape it. In which case, I hope I've been nice enough to them over the course of the past 16 years. My fate depends on them this weekend. That's all folks! Have a Happy Sunday!

Samsung 500 Preview

2009-04-02T18:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, so Martinsville wasn't the best race ever. But at least it wasn't boring like it usually is. In fact, come to think of it, none of the races(except California, by default) have been "boring" this season. They've all had at least some excitement, or at least intermittent caution flags.

While I wasn't too thrilled with the outcome of the race(i.e. the winner), I could not complain. For the first time all year, all 5 of Hopper's picks finished on the lead lap. And, Hopper had 3 correct drivers in his top 5, a season best. Hopper also missed winning by one measly Jimmie Johnson bump. Sigh.

Now, on to Texas. I'd like to predict 10 cautions. And since this is my blog, I will. I'm still waiting on the Junior/Vickers retaliation deal. I don't know whose turn it is, but somebody please hit somebody. Oh, by the way, I finally got my NASCAR '09 game to work. Turns out, the key was to actually play other video games for awhile first, and then put the game I really want to play into the console. The answer always ends up being so simple!

Ok, I can see you're bored. Time for picks:

5.Jeff Gordon
4.Jimmie Johnson
3.Denny Hamlin
2.Carl Edwards
1.Kurt Busch

Kurt will get 'er done this week. And of course, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th place drivers all earned themselves a spot based on last week's performance. That's all for this week. Have a Happy Sunday!

Note: The Easter Bunny is coming next week, so no picks! Unless you want me to predict the outcome of the Nationwide race.

Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 Preview

2009-03-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

Microsoft's XBox 360s are flawless. Darrell Waltrip is the most knowledgeable mind ever to walk the planet. Last week, I totally meant to pick Kyle Busch instead of Kurt.

What do these 3 statements have in common? None of them are true, but they sure do sound good. Well, okay, two of them don't.

For anyone wishing to follow up on the status of my beloved NASCAR '09 game, I do indeed have an update for you. The darn thing still won't cooperate. At least I had Bristol's excitement to cheer me up last Sunday though, right?

Well, the cars were in Bristol. They ran a race. But it all seemed so hollow. When, after 500 laps, the biggest skirmish of the day involved only Todd Bodine and Michael Waltrip, I felt as if I had just watched a Talladega race, only without a "Big One". It was like watching something as trivial as rain cancel the Great American Race, the Daytona 500. In other words, something was missing.

So, I've gone through the week trying to tell myself that Martinsville will be better. Haha, yeah right. Martinsville calls itself a short track, but very seldom do you see any big wrecks there(Okay NASCAR gods, cast your ugly wrath upon me by proving me wrong once again! This time, for the sake of the fans.).

Will Martinsville produce more than the 8 cautions we saw in northern Tennessee? Or is it southern Virginia? Who cares? My gut says no. My heart says yes. So, I'm gonna go against both and say that we will have exactly 8 caution flags.

Last week at Bristol brought be 2 top 5ers. Not bad, but it could be better. The top 5ers were Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin. Naturally, this means that both drivers have earned a spot in this week's top 5. Also, no Junior-Vickers retaliation last week, so I will carry on that prediction to Martinsville. Now, I had originally thought about picking Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon to win this week. But that seemed too logical. I mean, what would my good buddy say if I actually made a logical pick(No offense Denny Hamlin)? He wouldn't know what to do. So, without further ado, here's my Martinsville top 5:

5.Jeff Gordon
4.Jamie McMurray
3.Jimmie Johnson
2.Kurt Busch
1.Denny Hamlin

Yes, going with Denny for the repeat, and Kurt Busch with a rebound this week. Before I sign off, I'd like to thank anyone who joined the Hopper Fan Club on Facebook. After one week, we already have over a dozen members. If you have a Facebook and you haven't joined, feel free to join the Club! That's all for this week. Have a Happy Sunday!

Food City 500 Preview

2009-03-19T12:51:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness that off-weekend is over! I didn't know what to do with myself this past weekend. I tried to get my NASCAR fix in any way I could, but no matter what I did, nothing seemed to work.

I began with sticking my NASCAR 09 XBox game into my 360, in hopes that perhaps I could quench my NASCAR thirst. Instead, all I got was a message across the screen that said, "Disk unreadable!". To this day, that's still all I've gotten. My NASCAR 09 game appears to be deceased. This makes me sad.

Still thirsty for something NASCAR, I channel surfed for awhile. Finally, I came across the Disney/Pixar movie Cars. Now, don't get me wrong, Cars is a good movie. But trying to quench your NASCAR thirst by watching that movie would be like quenching your real-life thirst by drinking a shot of highly caffeinated Pepsi. In other words, it just makes things worse.

I somehow made it through my Sunday, which quite frankly, seemed to last longer than these 4 days since. Anyway, the action at Bristol begins tomorrow with practice and qualifying for the Cup and Nationwide series. But, before we can move on to Bristol, let's briefly review Atlanta.

Let's see, Mark Martin lead from the Pole, and then Kurt Busch lead, and then Kurt Busch lead, and then Marcos Ambrose's gas man went to fetch a tire, which would have brought out a caution anyway, but the crew man is being blamed for the caution, and then Kurt Busch lead. Well, you get the picture.

In all honesty, it was good to see Kurt finally go out and show us what he, and Dodge, are still made of. Unfortunately for me, Dodge's success did nothing to help my picks record this year, although I was still able to keep my streak of picking one top 5 driver every week alive. Yes, Carl Edwards, with his third place finish, was my lone top 5er in the ATL.

Now, we can move on to Bristol. I predict 20 cautions. No, seriously. If Atlanta can have double-digit cautions then Bristol can have 20. Oh, and I'm seeing a little Brian Vickers/Dale Jr. revenge this week. I just don't know who will run into whom. And now, my top 5 picks for Bristol:

5.Denny Hamlin
4.Jeff Gordon
3.Jeff Burton
2.Carl Edwards
1.Kurt Busch

I can't tell you how much I hate picking Kurt to win this week, especially after the proverbial hex I put on a couple of Ford drivers last week. But you can't go on thinking you're a human jinx, even if your most loyal readers hint at the fact. That's all for this week. Have a Happy Sunday!

Kobalt Tools 500 Preview

2009-03-05T20:40:00.000-08:00

The Atlanta Motor Speedway, the site of this weekend's racing action, holds a special place in Hopper's heart for two reasons. Yes, Hopper does have a heart, believe it or not. For one, it is my home track. I absolutely adore going out to the track on Friday(I hate the Sunday crowds), rummaging around the souvenir trailers and tents, and seeing all the exciting new die cast cars.

The other reason is that, come Sunday, it is one of only a few races a year that makes Hopper cry. Yes, the Atlanta races bore Hopper to tears.

The long green-flag runs are sooooooo boring. Especially when your driver isn't running at the front. And especially when your driver(s) bring out every single caution flag, as was the case in a recent Atlanta race. Which is why I will not be picking a Dodge to win this weekend, or finish in the top 5 for that matter.

You will also not see me predict 10 caution flags again this week(we had 14 last week). Mother stayed away last week(I'm referring to Ms. Nature), as promised. My only top 5er from Vegas was Kyle Busch, who won. So now, onto Atlanta.

Mother Nature appears as if she will strike again. The forecast calls for rain on Sunday. This may actually be a good thing. History suggests that Monday races are more exciting in Atlanta. Also, I predict 7 yellows if the race is run on Sunday(5 for debris or rain), and 10 if run on Monday. And now, my top 5:

5. Bobby Labonte
4. Greg Biffle
3. Jimmie Johnson
2. Kyle Busch(in by default)
1. Carl Edwards

I hope I have not destroyed Mr. Labonte's weekend by calling him a top 5 pick. I seem to have that effect on people(I can hear a good buddy of mine. "Remember the playoffs. You put my kids through college."). Anyway, thanks for reading. Have a happy Sunday!

Shelby 427 Preview

2009-02-26T18:02:00.000-08:00

Fresh off of another Matt Kenseth win, the Sprint(or whatever it's called now) Cup series heads to Sin City for the Shelby 427(or, something like that). Kenseth has been dominant thus far in the 2009 season, and leads the point standings. Of course, you don't have a choice but to lead the standings if you've done nothing but win all year.

Grandpa's own Jeff Gordon is 2nd in points, followed by Kurt Busch, which took me by surprise. Seriously, I haven't heard his name mentioned all year, except when he spun during the Duel race at Daytona. A few surprises in the top 10 include Michael Waltrip in 7th, Juan Montoya in 10th, and even Clint Bowyer, new number and all, in 6th. Just outside the top 10 include Elliott Sadler(11th), David Reutimann(12th), AJ Allmendinger(13th), and Reed Sorenson(14th).

Now onto what's really important, my predictions. Summary from California: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ was the way to go. The race was slowed 5 times, 4 of those by my good friend Ms. Nature. The racing was boring during green. I might as well have slept. 2 of my top 5ers decided to show, including Matty K. and the Biff.

This week, I 'm going to predict 10 cautions, and Mrs. Nature will finally have no effect on the race. This one will be better than California, and the finish will be better than Daytona. And, oh by the way, Matty K. will win race #3. Which leads me to my top 5:

5.Kurt Busch
4.David Ragan
3.Greg Biffle(In via my rule)
2.Kyle Busch
1.Matt Kenseth(In via my rule)

Also, a little message to JR Nation: I feel your pain. My boy(I will not mention his name) was in Junior's position 2 years ago. Do I feel sorry for you? I cannot say either way. I believe in Karma. That's all for this week. Have a happy Sunday!

Auto Club 500 Preview

2009-02-19T13:58:00.000-08:00

Last week's Daytona 500 was a disappointment. Not Matt Kenseth winning, but the rain out of NASCAR's biggest race. That and the fact that NASCAR has not changed a bit(talking about the car #88 penalty, or lack thereof).

My predictions weren't too shabby considering ol' Hopper's visions were clouded by the rainclouds. The wreck wasn't as big as I thought it would be, but it was triggered by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and a Toyota driver, and involved Kyle Busch. So I was close.

My winner was incorrect, but again, I could not predict a rain out. A Dodge driver did not win, but again, I cannot predict a rain out. Only one of my top-5er's placed in the top 5, but again, well, you get the idea.

I have but one prediction for California, and it ain't bold: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

Here's my top 5

5.AJ Allmendinger(gets a top 5 by default)
4.David Ragan
3.Matt Kenseth
2.Greg Biffle
1.Carl Edwards

If you'll notice, AJ Allmendinger appears for a third consecutive week. Why? Because any driver who places in both my top 5, and the real top 5, gets an automatic berth in my next week's top 5. Thus Allmendinger's spot. This is where I take off. Have a happy Sunday.

Daytona 500 Preview

2009-02-12T16:26:00.000-08:00

Before I begin with the NASCAR stuff, I'd like to take the time to officially, officially wrap the NFL season up. I silenced all my critics with a correct pick in the only game that matters all season, the Pro Bowl. Yes, the NFC won 30-21. Take that Ruel!!!

I kid. I kid. Seriously though, the Bud Shootout was spectacular. I mean, I wasn't too fond of the first wreck with David Ragan and the rookies. But the rest of that race was insane! I kind of liked the Paul Menard/Bobby Labonte wreck. But not the Menard and Labonte part, just the part when the blue and white #88 went sliding all over the place.

Again, I kid.

Not really.

As you probably know by now, Kevin Harvick won. However, there was no finish, because NASCAR jumped the gun on throwing the caution flag(it's kinda their thing). That was disappointing. Hopefully, the Daytona 500 doesn't end the same way(I mean, with the yellow flag thing, not the Harvick thing).

That brings me to the Daytona 500. Now, for anybody who did not watch the Gatorade Duels this afternoon, Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch came away victorious(congrats Grandpa), while Scott Riggs, Jeremy Mayfield, and AJ Allmendinger raced their way in(much to my pleasure). The winning teams from the Duels resemble that of last year's, when Dale Earnhardt Jr.(Gordon's teammate) and Denny Hamlin(Busch's teammate) found Victory Lane. Wanna know what else happened last year? A Dodge won the 500.

Ironically, almost every car/driver that made headlines this afternoon had something to do with Ray Evernham at some point. Jeff Gordon(winner of Duel #1), had Evernham as his crew chief during the 1990s. Jeremy Mayfield and Scott Riggs(raced their way into the 500) were former drivers for Evernham Motorsports. Their owners(Tommy Baldwin and Jeremy Mayfield) were either a crew chief(Baldwin) or a driver(Mayfield) for Evernham. AJ Allmendinger(raced his way into the 500) is currently a driver for Evernham's old team, which he has sold majority ownership of to George Gillett and Richard Petty.

Couple that with the fact that I picked Kasey Kahne to win the Daytona 500 on www.playerpress.com and you get this top 5 prediction:

5.Tony Stewart
4.Brian Vickers
3.Scott Riggs
2.AJ Allmendinger
1.Kasey Kahne

While it's true that I only(and I use that term lightly) correctly picked 2 top 5 finishers last week, they happened to be Stewart and Allmendinger. So, they were rewarded with a return visit. Another prediction is that there will be a 15-car wreck. Last week, I predicted at least a 5-car wreck, and got a 6-car wreck. A win for me. However, it was not caused by Earnhardt Jr. and Busch like I said it would be, but this one might be. Also, if Kahne doesn't make it to Victory Lane, then another Dodge will. That's all for this week. Have a Happy Sunday.

Bud Shootout: Let's Go Racin'

2009-02-05T14:01:00.000-08:00

Before I begin, let me just extend a warm thanks to all of you who stuck with me through a rough NFL playoffs. Thank goodness that's over(except for the Pro Bowl; NFC will win!).

Now, onto NASCAR season. Saturday night marks the opening exhibition event, the Budweiser Shootout(Saturday 8:00 P.M. EST; FOX). Starting now, I will be guiding y'all through the 2009 season, giving you my thoughts on previous races, and predictions on upcoming ones.

So now begin my predictions for the 75 lap, 28 car affair. I think that there will be a wreck consisting of at least 5 cars(as I will plenty of times throughout the season), and I believe that Darrell Waltrip will refer to Dale Earnhardt Jr. as "Junebug" at least once during Saturday night's telecast. After all, it's been a long time for 'ol DW, and he'll have to nauseate me at least once.

Okay, here is my Top 5 prediction for the Budweiser Shootout:

5. Tony Stewart
4.David Ragan
3.Jeff Gordon
2.Joey Logano(what the heck)
1.AJ Allmendinger

That's right. The driver whose season is on the line in the first 5 races of 2009 will open with a bang. And, oh by the way, that 5+ car crash that I was referring to will be triggered by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Busch, both of whom will still be mad at each other after a practice crash on Friday afternoon. Have a happy Saturday, and a happy racing season!

Hopper's Super Bowl Pick: Part 2

2009-01-29T16:10:00.000-08:00

Previously on: Hopper's Super Bowl Pick

Hopper's 2009 Super Bowl Pick is:

And now, the stunning conclusion...

The Arizona Cardinals!!!

Yes, the Cardinals are my pick to win it all. Based on what sports statistic? None, except the fact that this decade has been filled with Cinderella stories like no other. Teams like the Anaheim Angels, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, and many others have pulled off the unthinkable in this decade, which sadly, is almost over(for the record, I'm predicting the Cubs to win the Series in '09).

So, Sunday brings an end to this long journey. Football season will officially be over. You may be thinking to yourself, "What will I ever do until Hopper returns with his razor sharp NFL predictions?".

Don't fret. I'm sure I'll find something to occupy this otherwise useless space. Doesn't NASCAR season start back up next weekend?

Have a happy Sunday. I'll see you next week to kick off a brand new season of NASCAR.

Hopper's Super Bowl Pick: Part 1

2009-01-22T13:23:00.000-08:00

After another perfect weekend, I was able to improve my glorious playoff record to 9-1(P.S. It's opposite year). Alright, I can tell I'm fooling no one. Let's just discuss what's happened so far this postseason.

Football season was over for me after Wild Card weekend. That's right, my team got burned in the desert(unnecessary bad pun) by the NFC champs. However, my only postseason winner came in the Wild Card round. Granted, it was in overtime, but a win is a win. Oh yeah, the Ravens and Eagles advanced, too.

Over the course of the next week, I saved a ton of money by switching my car insurance to Geico. Then, I lost all of my games as Pittsburgh, Philly, Arizona, and Baltimore all advanced to the next round.

Monday morning I woke up to find that my car had been egged, which apparently Geico doesn't cover(I'm making this all up, just so you know). I then switched to the "Tricked out name tag lady's" car insurance. A guy told me later that week that I had earned him a parking space at Wal-mart because he bet against me and won so much money. I don't care. I shop at Target.

Sunday came. I lost all my games, yet again. The same dude who won all that money came back the next week and told me that he and his family had enough money to live comfortably forever. And he refused to share any with me! This greatly upset me, so yesterday I parked my egged car in his parking space at Wally World. It was towed away, and now I have no car.

Alright, so it's just Pittsburgh and Arizona left. Two teams that are downright nasty. I don't like that it's come to this, but I have to pick one. So, without further ado:

Hopper's 2009 Super Bowl pick is:

Stay tuned for the stunning conclusion next week on: Hopper's Super Bowl Pick: Part 2

Playoff Picks; Championship Week

2009-01-15T20:29:00.000-08:00

After last week, I felt like a weather man. I felt like the Detroit Lions. I felt so lonely, that not even the money I'm saving with Geico cheered me up. I even had one guy brag to me about how much money he's made betting against me.

All of this made me contemplate a name change. It made me contemplate ever picking an NFL winner ever again. It made me contemplate selling this very website for a discounted price. I contemplated retiring from writing all together...

In all honesty, I couldn't have cared less about going 0-4 last week. Just as long as somebody doesn't try to hunt me down and kill me, because they lost money to the mob because of me, I think I'll be just fine. It's for that reason that I have included a note stating that I am not responsible for any money you may lose because of me. However, you may feel free to share any money with me that you may earn betting with or against me. I will have you know that I am quite poor.

All right, time for some picks:
Last week: 0-4 Overall playoffs: 1-7

PHI:27 ARI:24
BAL:17 PIT:13

I owe a personal thanks to the San Diego Chargers. It is because of them that I have mustered up any sort of dignity during this playoff run, and even that took overtime. Readers, see you next time... maybe. Have a happy Sunday.

By reading this article I am hereby not responsible for any money you may lose betting with/against me. However I would be happy to claim any money that you have made betting with/against me. Every little bit helps.

Playoff Picks; Round 2

2009-01-08T17:16:00.000-08:00

No good came out of Wild Card weekend for me. I went 1 of 4 in my picks. My boys were eliminated in the first round. And every other team I hoped in the slightest would win, failed to do so. However, there is some good news:

I saved a ton of money on car insurance by switching to Geico.

That is perhaps the most overused phrase in the United States of America, so I figured that I was entitled to it eventually. Anyway, the Cards beat the Falcons in game 1 of the weekend. There should have been a "TV MA" warning before it started, because there was some explicit celebration going on out there. Game 2 featured my only winner, San Diego, who defeated Indianapolis in an overtime thriller.

On Sunday, Baltimore defeated Miami, and Philly beat Minny. So those sorry Eagles' fans can keep their mouths shut about McNabb's poor play for at least another week. Oh, and to the guy who told me that I was "As good at picking playoff winners as Dallas is winning them", I have 2 things to say: The first one is ":(", and the second is, "At least I won one." Just messin' bud. You're entitled to your own opinion, no matter how messed up it may be.

Time for some picks:
Last Week: 1-3 Overall Playoffs: 1-3

SD:24 PIT:21
ARI:24 CAR:28
BAL:17 TEN:19
PHI:17 NYG:24

That's all for now. Have a happy Sunday.

Playoff Picks

2009-01-02T08:38:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everybody! As you know, the playoffs are finally here. Last week, the Carolina Panthers secured the NFC South thanks to a last second field goal(sniff, sniff). They snatched the #2 seed(the Giants are #1) in the NFC, and relegated the Atlanta Falcons to a 5th seed. The Vikes snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, while the Bears snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. This sent the Vikings into the playoffs as the #3 seed, and the Bears were sent home. And since the Bucs lost to Oakland, and Dallas choked like they were, well, choking, the Philadelphia Eagles fell through the back door and into the playoffs. They have the #6 seed. The unmentioned Cardinals have the #4 seed.

In the AFC, the Tennessee Titans have the #1 seed. Pittsburgh has the #2 seed. The Dolphins beat the Jets with their old weapon(Chad Pennington), while Brett Favre would have done himself a lot of good by simply not showing up. Hey, he did it during practices, why not do it when it could help your team? Anyway, the Fins captured the division and the #3 seed, leaving the Jets and the Pats in the cold. The Chargers beat the broncos on Sunday night, capturing their division and the #4 seed with an 8-8 record. The Colts took the #5 seed, and the Ravens took the #6 and final seed.

So now, onto my picks. To cap off the season, I went 12 and 4 once again, ending up with 92 overall wins. Not bad for a rookie. Hey, this is a funny story. Last week, I got my first hate mail. It was from an ex-nun from Minnesota. She was upset that I "made fun" of her Vikings. So I want everybody to know that, when I pick the Vikings to win, it's because the situation could get very, very hostile if I don't, and not necessarily because I believe they're going to win. Just so everybody knows. Ok, time to pick.
Last week: 12-4 Overall: 92-45-1

ATL:38 ARI:24
IND:23 SD:24
BAL:19 MIA:23
PHI:17 MIN:20 (This one's for you Aunt Marlene)

Alright, that wraps up my playoff picks for the Wild Card round. Hopefully it all works out. Have a happy Saturday, Sunday, and New Year.

Week 16 Wrap; Week 17 Picks

2008-12-26T12:07:00.000-08:00

One day late, Merry Christmas to all! Hope you had a good one. I know I did, especially after my favorite team clinched a playoff spot on Sunday. It wasn't pretty, but it worked out. Now hopefully they'll go all the way.

Well, Week 16 is over, and that means that my Fantasy Football Championship is too. I tied my opponent(who just happened to be my kid brother) 93-93. Naturally, there was a tie-breaker, which I lost by 45 cotton-pickin yards. Talk about heartbreak.

Anyway, I'm through talking about boring stuff. Let's talk about what happened in the real world. The Falcons clinched a playoff spot(take that Sporting News). So did Carolina, even despite losing home-field advantage to the New York Giants. The Vikings proved that you actually can fumble the football seven times, indoors, and still almost win.

The Broncos are just one game away from the all-time biggest choke in NFL history. What's more, they play San Diego. The very San Diego team who they beat in controversial fashion back in Week 2. And it's going to be broadcasted on national television. If San Diego wins, it will take some of the spotlight off of the potentially winless Detroit Lions, seeing as Denver would be the team that choked. I wonder if Ed Hochulli is going to be reffing the game?

All right, time for some picks. As you know, I've been attempting to pick the winners of each week's NFL games in advance since Week 9. So far, it's been going well. If you want, I might even predict playoff winners, or at least try to. Last week, I was back to being my old self. I hit on all of them except Cards, Broncos, Texans, and Eagles. The Cards and Eagles I can believe, and I should know better than to pick the Broncos to beat anybody, but the Texans against the Raiders? I simply refuse to believe that one. Okay people, here they are:
Last Week:12-4 Overall:80-41-1

STL:17 ATL:38
NE:16 BUF:17
KC:14 CIN:17
CHI:31 HOU:28
NYG:24 MIN:35
CAR:17 NO:24
CLE:10 PIT:34
OAK:28 TB:24
TEN:20 IND:35
DET:20 GB:16
JAC:14 BAL:24
SEA:24 ARI:34
WAS:23 SF:28
MIA:17 NYJ:16
DAL:16 PHI:21
DEN:38 SD:39

Well folks, it's the end of the line. But don't worry. If I get enough people to partition, I will continue my picks throughout the playoffs. If not, see you all next year. My dear readers, this is where I leave you. Have a happy Sunday. And if I don't see you again, have a Happy New Year.

Week 15 Wrap; Week 16 Picks

2008-12-18T08:56:00.000-08:00

So, what do we know after week 15? Well, the G-Men are sliding, losing their last 2. They didn't even lose 2 games in their first 12! Yep, they're sliding. Dallas beat them on Sunday night and now they're the "Kings of the World"(imagine an echo affect. It actually would sound kinda cool.). The Vikings proved they are legit after a 35-14 stomping of the Cards. Of course, that's what we thought after they're stomping of the Bears a couple weeks ago. They then proceeded to almost lose to the winless Lions. It would take a big win against the Falcons to prove that they are a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Still, consider me a believer.

And, speaking of the Falcons, they finally won a game they had no business winning. They went out and committed 3 turnovers(the Bucs had 1), and had a punt blocked(the Bucs had none blocked). Fortunately for them, their defense stood tall, and they snuck away with an overtime victory.

Alright, time for some picks. Last week resembled that of a vacuum cleaner. I only got half of my picks right. That's 50%. If I got that on a math test, I would flunk. However, to make up for it, I was about the only person on the face of this lovely planet who picked the Houston Texans to beat the Tennessee Titans. Now I feel smart. Okay, "Smarter.
Week 15: 8-8 Overall: 68-37-1

IND:34 JAC:14
BAL:24 DAL:17
CIN:17 CLE:13
NO:31 DET:17
ARI:38 NE:35
PIT:17 TEN:22
SF:27 STL:14
MIA:27 KC:24
SD:24 TB:23
BUF:17 DEN:24
NYJ:16 SEA:24
HOU:41 OAK:10
ATL:30 MIN:27
PHI:24 WAS:16
CAR:27 NYG:31
GB:14 CHI:24

So there they are, my Week 16 picks. Everybody, if you don't hear from me before, have a Merry Christmas(or Happy Hanukkah or Kwanzaa). May your team make the playoffs(unless they're battling mine). Have a happy Sunday.

Week 14 Wrap; Week 15 Picks

2008-12-10T18:31:00.000-08:00

I'm back from my vacation in sunny south Florida, and now it's time for me to get back into the spirit of Christmas. Speaking of Christmas, you can check out my divisional Christmas lists at www.playerpress.com. (plug).

Alrighty, last week the Jets proved that their still digesting that Thanksgiving turkey, as they looked sleepy against the lowly Niners. The Giants were clearly distracted by the whole Burress issue(What a moron!), but his absence wasn't the cause of their loss. They were simply not into the game. At approximately 4:00 EST Sunday afternoon, the Atlanta Falcons appeared to have started digging a "playoff hole". As of roughly 7:00 EST Sunday night, they were somewhat bailed out by the Cowboys. By 11:30 EST, the Falcons hadn't lost squat as far as the playoff race was concerned, as the Skins were embarrassed by 9-4 Baltimore. What?! Is this the same Baltimore team that was the sole loser to the Miami Dolphins last year? No, it is not. Nor are the Miami Dolphins the same team that beat only Baltimore last year(as mentioned above).

All right, time for some picks. Last week, I scored on all but 5, one short of where I've been the past couple of weeks. Both New York teams blew it big, Green Bay lost to a surging Houston team. What?! Never mind. And Atlanta and KC lost difficult road games. Other than that, life was great. I was in warm, sunny south Florida! I know, "shut up and pick, Hopper!" Fine, here they are:
Week 14: 11-5 Overall: 60-29-1

NO:21 CHI:31
TB:23 ATL:24
WAS:16 CIN:7
TEN:19 HOU:22
GB:34 JAC:21
SF:17 MIA:27
SEA:24 STL:13
BUF:17 NYJ:16
SD:20 KC:24
DET:6 IND:34
MIN:28 ARI:38
PIT:17 BAL:20
DEN:20 CAR:27
NE:27 OAK:21
NYG:38 DAL:35
CLE:24 PHI:17

By the way, I guess it's worth mentioning that both Tennessee and Arizona officially, officially clinched their divisions. The Giants can do the same with a win Sunday night. Also, Cleveland is undefeated on Monday night this year. That's why I have them to beat the Eagles. Hopper out. Have a happy Sunday.

Week 13 Wrap/Week 14 Picks

2008-12-03T17:41:00.000-08:00

I'm "wrapping" my Week 13 recap and my Week 14 picks into one article this week as time is of the essence. Okay, I'm kidding. I'm really on vacation in south Florida. I know you envy me right now. I can see your eyes turning green from here.

Anyway, Week 13 proved to be interesting as Giants' wide receiver Plaxico Burress proved that there is a more stupid way to get injured than breaking your collarbone while doing a celebratory flip into the endzone.Adrian Peterson, you are officially of the hook. The Denver Broncos have separated themselves from their putrid division counter-parts, while the Miami Dolphins gained some ground this past weekend, being the only team in the AFC East to win a game. Granted, it was against the St. Louis Rams, but a win is a win. The Vikings reign supreme in the Norse division, while the Cards are one St Louis loss away from not being taken at all seriously.

All right, time for some picks. Last week, I once again scored 75%, as I got 12 out of 16 correct. The only incorrect winners being Arizona, Green Bay, Buffalo, and the Jets. Yesterday, one of my loyal readers who, quite enjoys my picks, got on me about not writing any articles recently. So Grandma, this one's for you:
Week 13: 12-4 Overall: 49-24-1

OAK:10 SD:31
JAC:14 CHI:24
MIN:28 DET:10
CIN:14 IND:31
PHI:9 NYG:24
CLE:13 TEN:22
ATL:38 NO:31
HOU:20 GB:30
MIA:24 BUF:21
NYJ:24 SF:17
NE:28 SEA:14
KC:27 DEN:21
STL:14 ARI:31
DAL:12 PIT:17
WAS:16 BAL:17
TB:24 CAR:27

My dear readers, and Grandma, this is where I leave you. I am now off to enjoy the remainder of my vacation. Have a happy Sunday.

P.S. It's nice and warm down here. Might I recommend hopping on a plane and flying down for the weekend?

Week 13 Picks

2008-11-26T18:31:00.000-08:00

Week 12 proved to be my best week yet, as I struck gold on all but 4 of the 16 games on the weekend. The Broncos blew it at home against Oakland, and so did Miami against New England, and so did the Titans against the Jets, and so did the Browns against the Texans. So all of my loses last week came from home teams who were favored to win. I can't complain though, because the other 12 games went my way. So now it's on to Week 13. Tomorrow we will all be feasting on turkey, and watching some good, hard-nosed, Thanksgiving Day football. So without anymore wait, it's on to my Week 13 picks:
Week 12: 12-4 Overall: 37-21-1

TEN:30 DET:13
SEA:17 DAL:42
ARI:38 PHI:28
SF:14 BUF:23
BAL:27 CIN:17
NO:24 TB:30
NYG:19 WAS:7
MIA:31 STL:16
IND:34 CLE:17
CAR:24 GB:27
ATL:38 SD:31
DEN:20 NYJ:31
PIT:28 NE:24
KC:34 OAK:13
CHI:23 MIN:24
JAC:16 HOU:20

So there they are. My Week 13 picks. Everybody, have a great Thanksgiving. Don't get carried away on Friday. And finally, have a happy Sunday.

Week 12 Wrap; What We Know

2008-11-25T18:40:00.000-08:00

Boy, was Week 12 wacky or what? The Titans received their first loss of the season, courtesy of the Jets. The Vikings scored more points in the first two minutes of their game than the Jags did in 60 minutes. The Birds of the NFC south are back, and so are the Birds of the AFC north. On the other hand, the Birds of the NFC east are in deep trouble. McNabb looks to be on his way out, and Kevin Kolb does not look like the future of any franchise, much less a franchise based in The City of Brotherly Love.

But then again, you never can tell. Who thought Tyler Thigpen, the 3rd string QB of arguably the worst team in the NFL in '08, would not only be a starting quarterback, but in some cases (mine included), a fantasy football savior? I'd say, give Kolb a year or two, some receiving help, and evaluate your program. Donavan McNabb, you're a good quarterback who doesn't deserve the constant criticism he's getting in Philly. You'd be a great fit, somewhere else.

For Christmas, I'm going to give the San Diego Chargers 59:36 to put up as many points as they possibly can. They've now lost four games in the final 24 seconds after that heartbreak Sunday night against the Colts. Their record is 4-7, which means if they had won all those games they would be 8-3 and running away with the AFC west. As it is, they need only to keep pace with the Broncos (which lately has been like keeping pace with a slug)going into the final week to have a shot at the playoffs.

The Lions may never win again. After starting the '07 season 6-2, they have since dropped 18 of their last 19. This week, they get the formally undefeated Titans on Thanksgiving Day. Their only hope: Stuff the Titans' players full of turkey before gametime so they will be sleepy.

To wrap things up, the 'Boys are back after their defeat of the 49ers, and so are the Bears, after their stomping of the 'Niners divisional counter-part, the Rams. Matt Cassel has now thrown for over 400 yards in each of his past two games, something Tom Brady never did. The Saints and the Packers scored a combined 80 points on Monday, the 5th most in MNF history. That's all for week 12. Come back tomorrow for my Week 13 picks.

Hopper On: Why the Jets are Hot

2008-11-24T12:01:00.000-08:00

We all know that the New York Jets are on fire right now, but just why are they so good? This may shock you, but it's not Brett Favre.

The New York Jets are a football team. It's not just one guy like some may think, but many people coming together to become a football team. The offensive line is working well, opening up the running game. The running game is working well, opening up the passing game. When the passing game opens up, it allows the quarterback, in this case Favre, to throw the ball well. And then, the receivers have to be on the other end ready to make the catch. And if you ask me, it's the receivers, not Favre, that make Favre look so good.

Laverenues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery are making spectacular plays on the other end of the ball. Throw in a steady dose of Dustin Keller, Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, and Chansi Stuckey, and these guys could send Dan Orlovsky to Hawaii.

But it's not just the offense. Kris Jenkins and the Jets defense have been phenomenal. Abram Elam has come up big in the secondary, and the rest of the defense has been absolutely stout. Then there's the special teams. Let me tell you something: Leon Washington(mentioned above) is an absolute beast on kick/punt returns. He has good speed, good agility, and he's pretty good out of the backfield too.

So you see, Brett Favre is not why the Jets are so successful, as the media might think, and Tony Kornheiser will probably give you an earful of it tonight on Monday Night Football, especially since the Packers are playing. The real reason that the Jets are playing well? They are an all-around football team.

Hopper On: is an opinionated column by the writer

Week 12 Picks

2008-11-19T18:16:00.001-08:00

I simply cannot believe that it's Week 12 already. It seems like only yesterday they were kicking off the season, and next week, we'll be stuffing ourselves with turkey, and of course, watching some good 'ol fashion football. Lions at one, Cowboys at four. But before we can see those games, we first must get through Week 12. So here they are. Your Week 12 picks:
Last week: 9-6-1 Season:25-17-1

CIN:17 PIT:30
PHI:14 BAL:23
HOU:17 CLE:27
TB:27 DET:13
BUF:21 KC:20
CHI:24 STL:14
NYJ:13 TEN:19
NE:17 MIA:24
MIN:28 JAC:24
SF:16 DAL:30
OAK:19 DEN:34
CAR:23 ATL:27
NYG:38 ARI:35
WAS:26 SEA:13
IND:31 SD:28
GB:24 NO:34
Here they are. Your week 12 picks. My dear readers, have a happy Sunday.

Week 11 Wrap; What We Know

2008-11-19T17:50:00.000-08:00

Week 11 brought us some wacky stuff. For starters, the Bengals and the Eagles tied. That's right, the Eagles(a good team), and the Bengals('nuff said). It could have been worse for the Eagles. They could have lost, like the Giants did on that Monday night to the Browns.

Speaking of the Browns and Monday night, they remained undefeated on Monday night after defeating Buffalo. It might not be a bad investment for them to pay off the NFL scheduling committee to let them play all their games on Monday night in 2009, including all playoff games.

For the first time in NFL history, there was an 11-10 final, as the Steelers topped the fading Chargers. However, somebody somewhere is all up in arms that the touchdown Pittsburgh scored at the end didn't count. People, get over it. The game was over. If the NFL is going to start investigating every incorrect call, maybe they should watch the video of the Falcons-Eagles game from earlier this year, when a so-called "muffed punt" may have cost the Falcons the game.

Speaking of the Falcons, they will be kicking themselves come January if they don't make the playoffs. All season, they had not lost one game that they should have won, then, along came Sunday. There is no reason that the Falcons should have lost that game. Granted, Denver is a good team, but the Falcons are better in my opinion. They'll have to make up for that Sunday, when they face the Panthers.

And finally, the Dolphins, Packers, Browns, and Colts are on NFL's preverbial "Up-Escalator", while the Bills, Bears, Redskins, and Chargers are all moving down. These teams will have to pick it up if they are to make the playoffs.

Media Bias: NASCAR

2008-11-17T14:52:00.000-08:00

There's a huge celebration going on down in Miami right now.

No, I'm not referring to Jimmie Johnson. I'm referring to everybody at ESPN. The announcers were awful throughout the race, making comments as to how every call Chad Knaus made was absolutly wonderful, just as they did throughout the Chase. And how enthusiastic and excitedly giddy they were as Johnson crossed the finish line. Heck, Andy Petree virtually guided us through Johnson's final pit stop, almost reassuring everyone that it was going to be a smooth stop, and that, once the stop was over, Johnson would cruise to his third championship. Anybody who watched this race had to notice the putrid job that "The Three Stooges" did. A job at which even Johnson's own fans had to be nauseous .

The guys in the truck were no better, giving Johnson the "Allstate Good Hands Driver Award" on a pit stop, and calling the same stop the "Sprint Monster Moment". Forgive me, but I distinctly remember Aric Almirola spinning down the frontstreatch, and keeping it out of the wall, and Michael Waltrip driving through smoke and sun to avoid the same wreck. Now that's good hands driver material to me.

And this wasn't the first time such a thing happened. In fact, last week at Phoenix, another Jimmie Johnson pitstop earned the "Sprint Monster Moment". Just a few laps later, David Gilliland's car was on top of Scott Speed's car. Now that's a monster moment. But no, they had already given it away like a free sample. They even gave Johnson a theme song, something they did for no other driver, playing "Sweet Notion" everytime he won.

But it wasn't just ESPN. NASCAR.com gave the championship to Johnson after Atlanta. That's right, with three races to go, they were practically calling the season over. And they wouldn't let off, publishing such articles as "Dispite no championship, Roush still upbeat about season". This all leading up to Championship Week. I know it seems like a mute point now that Johnson has his third straight title, but it's annoying as a fan to have everybody calling it over before it's not. Especially if the guy you were cheering for wasn't Johnson.

To all you Jimmie Johnson fans, I congradulate you. Your boy has really accomplished a lot during his short career. But it's also not fair to you or your driver for the media to gloat about him like this. It really puts everybody in a bad light. I hope that what the media has done does not take away from this great accomplishment that your driver, your driver, has achieved.

Johnson Wins the Cup

2008-11-17T14:42:00.000-08:00

Jimmie Johnson won his third straight Sprint Cup title on Sunday, tying Cale Yarborough for the most consecutive championships. Johnson needed to finish 36th or better to control his own destiny as far as clinching the championship was concerned. He finished 15th. Carl Edwards did everything he could possibly do to win the Cup, leading the most laps and winning the race, something he also did in the Nationwide race. Unfortunately for Edwards, he came away with no championship. Jimmie Johnson dominated the Chase once again, and proved that he is argubly one of NASCAR's greatest drivers. My congrats go out to him, as well as these drivers:

Clint Bowyer: Nationwide champ
Johnny Benson: Truck champ
Regan Smith: Cup Rookie of the Year
Landon Cassill: Nationwide Rookie of the Year
Colin Braun: Truck Rookie of the Year

Week 11 Picks

2008-11-12T17:13:00.000-08:00

Week 10 did not bode well for me as far as my picks go. I missed on 5 of my 6 upset picks(the only one I got right was Minnesota over Green Bay 28-27). Still, I ended up just above .500 on the week, thanks to the Sunday night and Monday night games(which killed my percentage last week).

I said in an article yesterday that it was time to give the Ravens some credit after picking them to lose their last two games, which they won.
Unfortunately, I cannot pick them this week because of the simple fact that they play the Giants, who, by the way, are pretty good. That leads me to my week 11 picks. I am doing them one day early so that I can pick for tomorrow night's Jets-Patriots game. So, without further adue, I give you my week 11 picks:
Week 10: 7-6 Overall: 16-11

NYJ:20 NE:23
DEN:28 ATL:34
MIN:20 TB:17
BAL:21 NYG:31
OAK:16 MIA:27
NO:24 KC:26
DET:9 CAR:24
PHI:31 CIN:20
CHI:23 GB:21
HOU:14 IND:38
STL:17 SF:24
ARI:31 SEA:16
TEN:19 JAC:13
SD:20 PIT:23
DAL:24 WAS:26
CLE:21 BUF:17

The Ram's defense is going to allow a few more than just 13 points this. Last week, they only gave up 34 more points than I said they would. Unfortunately, sometimes you simply don't get it right. I also believe that this is the week that KC gets win #2 on the year. My dear readers, this is where I leave you. Have a happy Sunday.

Championship Week; It's Still Not Over

2008-11-11T16:11:00.000-08:00

It's championship week in NASCAR this weekend as all 3 series head to Homestead-Miami Speedway. However, you wouldn't know that the Cup championship is still up for grabs. Listen to me now, this is not over. Carl Edwards can win this weekend at Homestead. He did it in Atlanta. He did it in Texas. He can do it at Homestead. Now, some of you are probably saying to yourselves, "But Jimmie has such a big lead." Well, he has had issues at Homestead before(2005, blown tire caused him to wreck while battling Tony Stewart for the Cup; finished 40th), and it can happen again. I am aware of the fact that Johnson is ahead by 141 points. I am aware of the fact that he needs to finish only 36th or better to clinch. And yes, Jerry Punch, Andy Petree, and Dale Jarrett, I am aware of how wonderful Jimmie Johnson and this 48 team are and how they dodge every obstacle thrown at them. But come on. Give Edwards and this 99 team a little credit. In any given race, anything can happen.

Week 10 Wrap; What We Know

2008-11-11T15:21:00.000-08:00

Week 10 is now in the books, and what did we see? Well, for starters, there were not a whole lot of upsets. The Colts beat Pittsburgh in the Steel City, and the Vikings beat the Packers at home. Otherwise, really not a whole lot of unexpected things happened. That said, we did learn a few things.

The Jags are back. Is it too late? No. However, they will have to win a few crucial games down the stretch if they are to make the playoffs. They did make a statement on the road in Detroit with their 38-14 rout of the Lions. Now they have to make an even bigger statement at home against the undefeated Titans.

The Chiefs are this close to actually winning a game. They are a really good football team right now, and Tyler Thigpen is coming into his own. Their problem is closing out games. If they can do that, then watch out for the Chiefs in '09. They get Larry Johnson back this week. We'll see how that goes.

The AFC East is impossible to figure out, and it may come down to the final week to determine who will win that division. The Bills are not the same team that started the season out so well, and the other three teams are not the same teams that started out the season so badly. This division will be monitored right down to the last week.

Finally, it is time for me to give some credit to the Baltimore Ravens. I have picked them to lose the last two games, and they have won them both(one of them quite handily). These guys, led by rookie Joe Flacco, are proving to be the real deal. They could win the AFC North. And, as the Giants proved last year, once you get into the playoffs, anything can happen. Is it possible that we could have to rookie quarterbacks face off in the Super Bowl? Matt Ryan and the Falcons might think so.

Week 10 Picks

2008-11-06T18:48:00.000-08:00

As I promised yesterday, week 10's picks are in. But before I share those with you, I'd like to recap week 9.
Week 9: 9-5; overall: 9-5
Now, last week, a couple of early games hurt me. The Bills lost to the Jets by about the same score I predicted them to win by. The Jags were upset by the Bengals. And the Ravens beat the Browns. A couple of blowout picks that had me on edge were the Bucs, who edged the Chiefs, and the Bears, who almost blew another comeback at the end. Up until Sunday night I was 9-3, and then, the Pats lost. Then, to make matters worse, the Skins were dominated on Monday night, dropping me to 9-5 on the week.(Quite frankly, I don't care whether my picks win or lose. These stories just sound good.) So, after finishing my recap of week 9 two days later than anyone else, it's time to move on to my week 10 picks:

NO:27 ATL:30
TEN:17 CHI:22
JAC:23 DET:28
BAL:27 HOU:28
SEA:10 MIA:24
GB:20 MIN:23
BUF:23 NE:21
STL:17 NYJ:13
CAR:31 OAK:7
IND:24 PIT:28
KC:17 SD:28
NYG:34 PHI:21
SF:13 ARI:31

Yes, a few upsets in there. And, yes, I am predicting that the Rams defense is going to hold the Jets offense to 13 points. I also do not have too many blowout predictions after last week's close calls. We'll see what Sunday brings. Note: The Denver-Cleveland game is currently being played, so no prediction for that game. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Week 9 wrap; what we know

2008-11-05T12:59:00.000-08:00

It's been a crazy, unpredictable season in the NFL this year. So I'd like to take a moment to discuss what we do know:

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be kicking themselves in January if they miss the playoffs. One week after being upset by Cleveland, the Jags took on the winless Bengals... And LOST! This week, they face the winless Lions, so they had best win that one if they want any shot at the playoffs.

Falcons fans everywhere are laughing in the face of Sporting News, who predicted the birds would go 1-15. Funny? Yes. Funny Ha-Ha? Definately. The Falcons not only are better than the 1-15 team Sporting News predicted them to be, but are a legitimate playoff contender. Matt Ryan is 10 times better of a passer than Vick ever was, and Michael Turner may be the best free-agent pickup since, well, ever. On top of that, their defense and special teams is better. These guys are finally a team. They're biggest problem? They're division, which is arguably the best division in the NFL.

The AFC East is tough to figure out. Just when you thought the Bills were going to run away with it, they lose to a pair of division rivals. All four teams are within a game of each other. Colts' fans, start cheering against this division. These are the teams that could keep yours out of the playoffs. Note: Sporting News also said that 3 of these 4 teams would finish NO BETTER than 7-9. The only team they said would do better? The New England Patriots at 14-2.

The NFC West is almost in hand. The Cardinals just have to keep winning and the division is theirs. Sorry Seahawks', Rams', and 'Niner fans, but you know it's true. This just isn't your year.

And finally, to wrap things up, the Dallas Cowboys, sportsnation's almost unanamous pick to win it all, is no better than the 10th best team in the league. That does not include teams with better records such as the Falcons or the Patriots. Nor does it include the Rams, who blew them out. When they get Romo back they might contend. But this team has to many egos to win a super-bowl right now. Think New York Yankees.

That's a wrap. See you Thursday for week 10 picks.

Carl is Conservative!

2008-11-03T08:22:00.001-08:00

Carl Edwards dominated Sunday's race at Texas Motor Speedway, but great fuel mileage is what propelled Edwards to victory. Edwards managed to go 69 laps on one tank of fuel at the 1.5 mile oval. It was his 7th win of the season. Jimmie Johnson struggled all day and finished 15th. Edwards chipped 77 points off Johnson's lead, which is now at 106. As I said before, this deal isn't over yet.

College Football Recap

2008-11-01T21:35:00.000-07:00

A brief recap of the day's college football action. The number 1 team in the nation went down in Lubbock, Texas today, as the Longhorns lost to #7 Texas Tech 39-33. It's a big win for Tech, as they continue their undefeated season. It's the Longhorns first loss of the season despite playing four consecutive top 10 teams.

In Jacksonville, Florida made "Gator-Bait" out of the Bulldogs, as they rolled 49-10. The win all but secures a spot for Florida in the SEC championship game. At the same time, the loss for Georgia virtually eliminates them from the national title talks.

The Bulldogs in-state rival, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets upset #15 Florida State 31-28. This, coupled with Virginia's loss to Miami (Fl), moves the Jackets back to the top of of the ACC Coastal standings.

A late interception return for a touchdown sealed the deal for Northwestern in Minneapolis today. The Wildcats downed the Golden Gophers 24-17.

Here are the rest of the top 25 scores from around the league:

Ark St:0 Alabama:35
Nebraska:28 Oklahoma:62
Wash:0 USC:56
Iowa St:17 Ok St:59
Boise:49 New Mexico St:0
TCU:44 UNLV:14
Mizzou:31 Baylor:28
Tulsa:23 Arkansas:30
Tulane:10 LSU:35
BYU:45 Colorado St:42
Wisconsin:24 Mich St:25
Oregon:16 Cal:26
West Va:35 UConn:13

For all of you Utah fans, sorry I did not get your score as the game went late. That's a wrap. Hopefully we get some more good action next week.

Week 9 picks

2008-10-30T19:19:00.001-07:00

Starting week 9, I will be predicting (or at least trying to predict) the outcome of each weeks NFL games.

Jets:16 Bills:24
Lions:6 Bears:38
Jags:27 Bengals:20
Ravens:16 Browns:21
Bucs: 37 Chiefs:6
Texans:34 Vikings:41
Cards:48 Rams:28
Packers:14 Titans:16
Fins:31 Broncos:28
Cowboys:17 Giants:34
Falcons:41 Raiders:17
Eagles:38 Seahawks:13
Pats:31 Colts:24
Steelers:17 Redskins:28

Some of you will agree with these picks. Some of you will not. This is just one man's opinion as to how it will go down. Only time will tell how Sunday's games will go. Let's just hope everybody plays safe, and dosen't get hurt. God bless.

Hold Your Horses

2008-10-30T18:57:00.000-07:00

Many people seem to think that, because Jimmie Johnson holds such a big lead over Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, and the rest of the Chase contenders in the point standings with 3 races to go, it's over. Well, it's not. Now I'm not saying that JJ isn't going to continue to run away with the title. But lets face it. Everybody has bad luck, and, quite frankly, Jimmie hasn't had a mulligan in ,well, over a year. Nobody has luck that good. And pretty soon, fate is going to crash his party. Edwards is still within a race of Jimmie Johnson in the standings. Meaning if Edwards wins and Johnson crashes, Edwards could assume the points lead this week. What's more, is that the next 3 tracks have not been notoriously good to Johnson. So, NASCAR fans, hold your horses. This deal isn't done yet.