Iggy’s Baltimore Sports Report – December 17, 2013

Ravens:
UNBLIEVABLE, HON. 6 Field Goals! 61 Yards!?! It worked this week, but not on Sunday, when rain is forecasted with the Patriots coming into town. Brady is much better than Stafford (who is a lite version of Tony Romo), although Brady is scared of the Ravens. The Pats have staged major comebacks in several games recently, and the Ravens can’t get a lead and try sitting on it. The Patriots don’t play defense, and the Ravens need to exploit this to the fullest to score 7’s (not 3’s) as early and often as possible. Anything else is setting up a heart breaker.


This game has all kind of playoff implications involved, and at many levels. The Patriots clinched the division title with a win or a Miami Loss. The Ravens need a lot more help, but their destiny is in their hands. If they win the next 2 games, they don’t only clinch a playoff berth, but they also clinch the division title, and don’t think that it will only be a 4 seed. There are scenarios out there that could push us further up the post season standings… as far as the 2 seed and a first round bye, but lets not get ahead of ourselves. Winning is a requirement, and no opponent can be overlooked from here on out. That story hasn’t changed since Week 12.

Orioles:
In a virtual trade with Oakland, the Orioles have signed Balfour, former closer of the Oakland Athletics, who are the proud owners of ex-Orioles Closer Jim Johnson. Balfour has saved 60-some games over the last 2 years, but more importantly, only has 5 blown saves during that time span. Johnson had 9 last season alone, to lead the majors… Brian Roberts has traded in the Orange and Black for evil pinstripes, signing a 1 year, $2M contract. Roberts has failed to play a full season the last 3 years, after a series of unfortunate events that started with a self inflicted concussion (If you don’t know what I am talking about, you don’t really want to know. Trust me.)… Gavin Floyd, another local boy, failed to agree on a 2 year, $20M contract with the Orioles, signing a 1 year, $8.5M deal (including incentives) with the Braves. Floyd won’t be available until May after undergoing reconstructive surgery, and wanted to be on the market again next off season, believing he can improve his stock value this season. Floyd was selected 1 spot ahead of Mark Texeira (Boo), and had his best year with the White Sox, going 17-9 in 2009… It is believed that top name pitchers shun Camden yards because of its reputation of being a hitters ball park, added to the frequent visits by hitter heavy Boston and NYY. They beleive it could hurt their morale. -_-

Alouettes
Team Dispersions have begun as 24 players have been selected by the Ottawa Redblacks in the leagues most recent expansion.

Blast:
Blast got back in the win column with a 12-0 shutout win over Rochester. Next game is Friday at Pennsylvania.

Chesapeake Bayhawks: (Home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)
2014 Championship game to be held in Atlanta.

Charm:
Nothing to Report.

Capitals (See website for more details):
Caps are now 10 points behind Pittsburgh, and tied for 5th in the conference.

Wizards (See website for more details):
The Wizards (10-13) broke their 4 game losing streak with a win Monday, but have dropped to 4th in the division and 7th in the conference.

Mystics (See website for more details):
Nothing to report.

D.C.United (See website for more details):
Nothing to report.


What do you want to see in the Ravens report? What should be scrapped? Actually, never mind. No one is reading this anyway so you probably won’t know the difference. Send an email to iggy at tealdragon.net. Thanks!


Schedule

2013 Preseason
Date Opponent Time Result
Th, Aug 8 @Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7:30 PM W 44-16
Th, Aug 15 Atlanta Falcons 7:30 PM W 27-23
Th, Aug 22 Carolina Panthers 8:00 PM L 34-27
Th, Aug 29 @Saint Louis Rams 8:00 PM L 24-21
2013 Regular Season
Date Opponent Record Time Result
Th, Sep 5 @Denver Broncos 7-4 Overall
2-3 Away
8:30 PM L 49-27
Su, Sep 15 Cleveland Browns 21-7 Overall
11-3 Home
1:00 PM W 14-6
Su, Sep 22 Houston Texans 6-1 Overall
3-0 Home
1:00 PM W 30-9
Su, Sep 29 @Buffalo Bills 3-2 Overall
0-1 Away
1:00 PM L 23-20
Su, Oct 6 @Miami Dolphins 5-5 Overall
3-4 Away
1:00 PM W 26-23
Su, Oct 13 Green Bay Packers 1-3 Overall
1-0 Home
1:00 PM L 19-17
Su, Oct 20 @pittsburgh steelers 15-22 Overall
7-12 Away
4:25 PM L 19-16
Su, Nov 3 @Cleveland Browns 22-7 Overall
10-4 Away
4:25 PM L 24-18
Su, Nov 10 Cincinnati Bengals 19-15 Overall
12-5 Home
1:00 PM W 20-17 OT
Su, Nov 17 @Chicago Bears 2-2 Overall
0-2 Away
1:00 PM L 23-20 OT
Su, Nov 24 New York Jets 7-1 Overall
5-0 Home
1:00 PM W 19-3
Th, Nov 28 pittsburgh steelers 15-23 Overall
8-10 Home
8:30 PM W 22-20
Su, Dec 8 Minnesota Vikings 2-2 Overall
2-1 Home
1:00 PM W 29-26
M, Dec 16 @Detroit Lions 2-1 Overall
0-1 Away
8:40 PM W 18-16
Su, Dec 22 New England Patriots 3-7 Overall
1-2 Home
4:25 PM
Su, Dec 29 @Cincinnati Bengals 20-15 Overall
7-10 Away
1:00 PM

Relevant Football Links


Iggy’s Predictions


“Past performance does not guarantee future success, but it sure is the way to bet!”

  • NFL Week 15:
    • Denver over San Diego (+10.5), but take the points. Chargers are 6-1 as the underdog ATS, although Denver is 9-4 as the Favorite ATS. Denver looks vulnerable all of the sudden.
    • Falcons over Washington (+5.5). Skins are now 1-7 as the underdog. Washington goes for the win after a late TD, but it was only good enough to cover
    • Bears (+2.5) over Cleveland. Browns to find a way to … lose. Still true.
    • Colts over Houston (+6.5). If they haven’t already, Houston needs to just give up. Houston is phoning it in now.
    • Jags (+1.5) over Buffalo. Buffalo to suffer for 2nd straight week in Florida. Bills get it going on the road.
    • Fins (+2.5) over Patriots. Pats have failed to cover 4 times this season, and Fins are 7-2 as the underdog. Fins still alive for Division Title & Wild Card.
    • Eagles over Vikings (+4.5), but take the points. Vikings have covered the spread 4 times as the underdog so far this season. Vikings opened a can on Philly, who reverted to early season defense tactics
    • Seattle over Giants (+7.5). Giants now eliminated. Giants blanked.
    • Niners over Tampa (+5.5). Niners to get healthy against Tampa. Niners take this one easy, as they stay alive for Division, although Wild Card is more probable.
    • Carolina over Jets (+10.5). Carolina has 2nd best defense in the league and the Jets have one of the worst offenses. Jets score late to cover.
    • KC over Oakland (+4.5), but take the points. KC’s outburst against the skins was an anomaly, and Oakland is at home. It could have been close if Oakland didn’t keep giving the ball away.
    • Saints over Rams (+5.5). Rams are so bad, they can’t even cover the spread most weeks. Note to self, take Rams at home from now on.
    • Zona over Titans (+2.5). Cards are still undefeated (5-0) as the favorite. Took OT, but Zona stayed in Wild card Race.
    • Dallas over Green Bay (+6.5). Even if Rodgers is back, how rusty will he be on the road in Dallas? Dallas was going to win… but then they didn’t.
    • Cincinnati over Pittsburgh (+3.5), but take the points. This game should come down to the end… and we should be cheering for… er… “them.” Bengals reverted to Bungles.
    • Detroit over Baltimore (+5.5), but take the points. You know we suffer on the road, but let’s home I am wrong, and win this outright! Tucker kicks mangy Lions out of the way.
    • Last Week:: 10-6 Straight Up, and 9-7 Against the Spread
    • Season:: 138-86 Straight Up, and 109-115 Against the Spread
  • NFL Week 16:
    • Buffalo (+2.5) over Miami. Bills already beat Miami in Miami, why not again in Buffalo?
    • Carolina over Saints (+3.5). Carolina is 6-4 as the Favorite, and the Saints are 1-2 as the underdog.
    • Bengals over Minnesota (+7.5), but take the points. Vikes could win this outright if the Bungles return.
    • Denver over Houston (+10.5). Houston is just trying to finish the season.
    • Jags (+5.5) over Tennessee. Jax already beat Tennessee in Tennessee earlier this season.
    • Chiefs over Colts (+6.5). Chiefs tend to win big; Colts lose big.
    • Browns (+2.5) over Jets. Jets are worse than their record.
    • Rams over Tampa (+5.5). Rams at home. I learned my lesson last week.
    • Dallas over Washington (+3.5). Boys to rebound after humiliating loss to Packers.
    • Lions over Giants (+8.5), but take the points. Neither team deserves to go anywhere.
    • Seattle over Arizona (+10.5). Hawks won by 12 in Arizona earlier this season.
    • Packers over Pittsburgh (+6.5), but take the points. Steelers think they are still playing meaningful football (technically, not eliminated yet)
    • Chargers over Oakland (+9.5), but take the points. Oakland is 6-5 as the underdog, and Chargers are 2-4 as the Favorite.
    • Baltimore over New England (+2.5). Both teams play unnecessarily close games. Expect this to go down to the very end.
    • Eagles over Bears (+3.5), but take the points. Eagles are 3-6 as the Favorite this season, and have done poorly at home in general.
    • Niners over Atlanta (+12.5). SF is 9-3 as the Favorite, and Atlanta is 3-5 as the underdog.

Please send comments to Iggy at tealdragon.net