Getting to be time for some Football?

thunderbrick · « **Reply #600 on:** 1 Feb 2013, 10:30 pm »

I didn't think my Ravens stood much of a chance against Denver or NE. I hope I'm proved wrong again on Sunday.

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #601 on:** 1 Feb 2013, 11:35 pm »

They have a puncher's chance for sure. I would not be the least bit surprised at either team winning. Not having a dog in the fight, I'm rooting for a great game. And I wouldn't be totally shocked if it became a shootout, quite unlike what's being portrayed as a defensive struggle. However that's not really expected as both teams will be cautious not wanting to give the game away early. For a high scoring game it would have to be one of the brothers, Jim most likely, going for broke early, getting some scores, and forcing the other to match them.

BTW, from Stubhub as of this time and date, 1,163 tickets left, priced from: $1324.00 USD, these are nosebled endzone seats. For $11,495.00 you can get Club Premium seats on the 45 yd line. For $125,000.00 you can get a crappy endzone luxury suite seat, one only, maybe you share it with Beyoncé or something. For a 50 yd line on the same level suite they only want $13,000. Just in case anyone wants to make last minute plans.

medium jim · « **Reply #602 on:** 2 Feb 2013, 02:58 am »

Then factor in inflated hotel rates, let alone finding one.

While I thought the Packers would take care of the 49'ers and that Ravens would never get past the 1st round, I think the Ravens have destiny on their side. The 49'ers need a kicker and that will prove to be their downfall.

Jim

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #603 on:** 2 Feb 2013, 04:05 am »

Bully good for you if you made reservations at the start of the season. You're a smart cat. New Orleans is a blast. You made reservations at restaurants, too, right? If I could tell you where I've had the best Bloody Mary (make that Mary's) the day after, I would. I can tell you that they were in NO.

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #604 on:** 2 Feb 2013, 04:21 am »

Superbowl time is here. The Harbowl, Baltimore vs. San Francisco on a neutral site sort of halfway between the two cities. (Okay, Frisco is twice as far away, but about the same hassle flying there) Two brothers going at it for all the marbles, what could be better? Coached alike to be hardnosed, physical teams relying on excellent lines on both sides of the ball, fronting running offenses that can explode for the big pass play. Each the very essence of what winning football is all about. So who will win?

Oddsmakers have it 4 points for the 49ers, with predictors at –6 and –6.5. This is about right because Baltimore is playing a net 2 points better than Frisco in the playoffs vs. the regular season in combined scoring and defense, which modifies the regular season power predictors to reflect what we are seeing the playoffs. Interesting that both teams are on a three game winning streak, both last losing to divisional rivals that made it into the playoffs, but who lost to other teams before getting a rematch (Seattle and Cincinnati). Both teams are giving up more yards in the playoffs than the regular season, which is to be expected, but the Ravens are giving up an average 2 points less in the playoffs and San Fran is giving up 4.5 points more. Both things in my opinion are a direct result of Lewis and Suggs coming back and Justin Smith playing at 50%. The net pass defenses are about the same, but the 49er’s pass rush is much more effective than the Ravens, with Suggs almost never getting to the QB anymore. Run defense is not close with San Fran averaging 50 yards per game better than the Ravens in the playoffs. Hey diddle diddle, Ray Rice tackled in the middle

Both team’s offenses are scoring more points and gaining more yards in the playoffs vs. the regular season, with the average per game going to the Niners in both categories and in the Delta from the regular season. Of course this hurts San Fran more if they both play conservative and scoring stays low, but offers more opportunity for them if the game breaks open. Quarterback performance is clearly in Kaepernick’s favor, for the season 62.59% to 58.97% completions, 8.6 to 7.5 YdsPA, and 98.8 to 91.8 QBR. Both have a nearly exact 30% TD to INT ratio. But Flacco is more experienced and his QBR has skyrocketed during the playoffs to 113.6 while Kaepernick’s has merely gone way up to 107.9. But the most telling stat for me is over the last three games Frisco scores way more points in the 2nd and 4th quarters, and more in the second half then the first, they have the fourth best 2 minute point differential in the league, +34, while their defense clamps down and allows only an average 5.7 points in the 2nd half. The Ravens had a minus-34 point differential in the two-minute drill, the fourth-worst mark in the league.

Special teams? Dynamic returners for both teams, this could make a big impact. But what is a joke is the kickers for each team, head case David Akers for the 49ers and undrafted rookie Justin Tucker for the Ravens. It makes me want to side with Skip Bayless and ban field goals, extra point kicks, and kickoffs from football.

On ESPN they have a list of the staff picks with 21 picks for San Francisco and 14 for Baltimore. However among the SF pickers are John Clayton, Chris Mortensen, Adam Schefter, Herm Edwards, Trent Dilfer, Mike Ditka, etc. For Baltimore you have Chris Berman, Colin Cowherd, Charissa Thompson,and what makes it a final straw for me, Mike Greenberg picks the Ravens. I could have forgone all the above analysis and simply picked the San Francisco 49ers, sleeping content knowing that Greenberg has applied the Kiss of Death to the Ravens. Niners 30-24, Akers redeems himself with 3 fieldgoals, the Ravens score a late touchdown in garbage time.

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #605 on:** 2 Feb 2013, 06:41 am »

nice work, Let. Gonna be one of the more exciting matches ever, I would think. I DO think. What does Satfrat say?? And why hasn't he said??

S Clark · « **Reply #606 on:** 2 Feb 2013, 07:13 am »

Quote from: jimdgoulding on 2 Feb 2013, 06:41 am

nice work, Let. Gonna be one of the more exciting matches ever, I would think. I DO think. What does Satfrat say?? And why hasn't he said??

Jim,
Our old friend Satfrat is once again been declared persona non grata by the powers that be. I checked his last few post and saw nothing objectionable, but perhaps something was expunged from the record

Robin, when you read this email me. My old computer crashed and I lost your email address.
Scott

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #607 on:** 2 Feb 2013, 05:01 pm »

Akers is pretty scary, alright, Guess he'll be looking for another line of work on Monday. It might be that the Niner's go for the yards, instead.

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #608 on:** 2 Feb 2013, 06:58 pm »

Yeah, kickers are weird. Bayless has an interesting take, he thinks they have no place in football anymore. Get rid of field goals, if it's fourth and 8 on the opponent's 30, you go for it. If it's too far you punt. No kicked extra point, you always go for two, way more exiting than the automatic and stupid one point kick. Yeah they miss one every year, one, a 99.99% success rate, or just give 'em 7 points for a touchdown and save the wasted time. He wants kickoffs eliminated, but on this one I disagree. But the NFL has gone the wrong way on this one, moving the kicker up to avoid runbacks and the resultant injuries. Move the kicker back to the 25, and move the two lines closer together, like a punt. This would make it way more exciting while reducing injuries at the same time.

JerryM · « **Reply #609 on:** 2 Feb 2013, 10:17 pm »

Quote from: JerryM on 6 Sep 2012, 12:18 am

.... My pick for the whole enchilada is the 49'ers....

For the record, I think it'll be the 49'ers.

Have fun,

Jerry

bunky · « **Reply #610 on:** 2 Feb 2013, 11:53 pm »

Lets go Ravens!

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #611 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 12:31 am »

Quote from: Letitroll98 on 2 Feb 2013, 06:58 pm

Yeah, kickers are weird. Bayless has an interesting take, he thinks they have no place in football anymore. Get rid of field goals, if it's fourth and 8 on the opponent's 30, you go for it. If it's too far you punt. No kicked extra point, you always go for two, way more exiting than the automatic and stupid one point kick. Yeah they miss one every year, one, a 99.99% success rate, or just give 'em 7 points for a touchdown and save the wasted time. He wants kickoffs eliminated, but on this one I disagree. But the NFL has gone the wrong way on this one, moving the kicker up to avoid runbacks and the resultant injuries. Move the kicker back to the 25, and move the two lines closer together, like a punt. This would make it way more exciting while reducing injuries at the same time.

I saw that interview and I'm for it, too.

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #612 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 12:35 am »

Quote from: S Clark on 2 Feb 2013, 07:13 am

Jim,
Our old friend Satfrat is once again been declared persona non grata by the powers that be. I checked his last few post and saw nothing objectionable, but perhaps something was expunged from the record
Robin, when you read this email me. My old computer crashed and I lost your email address.
Scott

I didn't see anything much out of the ordinary, either. Two guys joking around is all. Come on mon Editor, let Satfrat come back now, please.

SteveFord · « **Reply #613 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 02:03 pm »

I don't think that the Giants will repeat this year.

Now that I've made my amazing prediction I think it'll be the Ravens but I'll root for SF.

jackman · « **Reply #614 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 03:41 pm »

I feel very bad about Safrat. Hope he is allowed to return soon.

Also, I'm going with the Ravens this year. I've picked against them all season and they have proven me wrong every time. Hopefully they will not do it again. Everyone I know has chosen the Niners. They are more exciting and have looked so much better for most if the season. It just feels like this is the Ravens' year.

thunderbrick · « **Reply #615 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 05:17 pm »

Quote from: jackman on 3 Feb 2013, 03:41 pm

Also, I'm going with the Ravens this year. I've picked against them all season and they have proven me wrong every time. Hopefully they will not do it again. Everyone I know has chosen the Niners. They are more exciting and have looked so much better for most if the season. It just feels like this is the Ravens' year.

+1!

rollo · « **Reply #616 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 05:30 pm »

Ravens. This one is for Ray. Just not a San Fran type.

charles

mcgsxr · « **Reply #617 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 06:13 pm »

I think for once I might watch past half, since I bet it is a close game.

I don't have a horse in this race (Chargers fan), but I think the young 49'rs QB is exciting to watch, I will pull for the West in this game.

I will flip back and forth to the golf too, to see how Phil does.

I will also hope to get my electrical gut in the basement done by game time!

roscoeiii · « **Reply #618 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 06:34 pm »

Quote from: rollo on 3 Feb 2013, 05:30 pm

Ravens. This one is for Ray. Just not a San Fran type.

charles

Oh, it is Ray who is tipping the scales toward the Niners for me.

If y'all are looking for some excellent pregame material (Full House vs. The Wire):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st3-4C1kDDU

And an excellent Bill Simmons column on PEDs:
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8904906/daring-ask-ped-question

soundbitten1 · « **Reply #619 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 06:44 pm »

Quote from: rollo on 3 Feb 2013, 05:30 pm

Ravens. This one is for Ray. Just not a San Fran type.

what's a San Fran type?