For Saturday's matches. Consistent with prior editions, the team I want to win is bolded.
Brazil over Chile - Bokolis is in one of those pools. Since my ultimate rooting interest is anybody but Brazil, I thought about bouncing Brazil with Chile (on PKs)- I was the only one in the pool who eliminated Spain in the group stage- in the round of 16, but didn't want to blow open the bracket. I think the Colombians are going to take care of that for us. Brazil are going to let us know in this match whether they are going to win the tournament.
Colombia over Uruguay - You saw how Uruguay played without Suarez against Costa Rica. Bokolis will watch to see if Colombia are serious about knocking off Brazil.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
What do we know…about the 2014 World Cup
Colombia is quite good. France is motivated. The Germans are the Germans. Everybody now thinks Brazil is going to get clipped. The Argentines should have finally reconciled that their strategy should be to work in Messi's engine room.
We don't know anything about the Dutch, because they've looked stunning in the group stage before, only to crash out in the knockout phase
Chile and Costa Rica have looked spectacular, but will now find out how good they really are. So will the US, for that matter.
Nigeria and Greece probably don't deserve to be here. Uruguay surely doesn't deserve to be here.
Nobody said it, but FIFA fucked up with their 9-match + 4-month ban on Handball Suarez. First, regardless of how the media portrays him as some kind of Lecter, this wasn't a hot-blooded act. He did that hoping to draw the eyes at the expected reaction, which was a Chiellini elbow to get him off. At worst, he was hoping to throw the Italians off their game, because his team was not smart enough to figure out that they needed to run at them like the Colombians have been doing. Her certainly succeeded at throwing them off, as they scored a minute later when a corner kick smashed off Godin's back, not his "magic forehead," as was described by Ian Darke. Further, this suspension bans him for 9 games from country, but at least 11 for club. While Bokolis is trying to reconcile my Liverpool bias here- I'm more upset that, instead of getting 100 million Euro, we now can't even sell him- he didn't do it playing for club. It should have been an 18-month ban from international, with reinstatement conditioned on pulling those bunny-teeth he has.
Ian Darke doesn't know WTF he is talking about. As with Tommy Smyth, ESPN is banking that people are so busy listening to the accent that they don't hear anything they say. That's why they have that Brit bird with the bug-eyes.
ESPN has stepped up its game, especially in the non-match coverage. When the hell did Julie Foudy turn into a fox, btw? Good for you, Jules…already one of the coolest people around.
Bokolis walked out of work- bartered with the boss to cover at an undesirable meeting- to watch the USA-Germany match amongst the riffraff. I was shocked at how many birds were at the bar watching the game; a few of them even wanted cock. Most of them didn't know shit about soccer and were there chiefly to peacock that they could get the time off.
However, I also had Lozo-ian GSF in my midst, one of those broads that screams about everything and curses out the players for not acting in her warped ideal. Bokolis seriously considered smashing a beer bottle over her head. It was a quite rational reasoning; I was considering who else (and how many) I was going to have to hit in the wake (I wasn't going to run out). Once I got to three, I figured that I didn't want to be on the news. It wasn't so bad, as she lost steam as the game wore on.
Oh, about that game- the US was playing at about 85%, while Germany was struggling to keep it above stalling speed. The biscotto scenario didn't pay out but, despite the broadcasters trying to sell you that it was played on the up and up, Germany carried the US in that match.
Predictions? Shit, this is taking too long. I have to get to the beach.
We don't know anything about the Dutch, because they've looked stunning in the group stage before, only to crash out in the knockout phase
Chile and Costa Rica have looked spectacular, but will now find out how good they really are. So will the US, for that matter.
Nigeria and Greece probably don't deserve to be here. Uruguay surely doesn't deserve to be here.
Nobody said it, but FIFA fucked up with their 9-match + 4-month ban on Handball Suarez. First, regardless of how the media portrays him as some kind of Lecter, this wasn't a hot-blooded act. He did that hoping to draw the eyes at the expected reaction, which was a Chiellini elbow to get him off. At worst, he was hoping to throw the Italians off their game, because his team was not smart enough to figure out that they needed to run at them like the Colombians have been doing. Her certainly succeeded at throwing them off, as they scored a minute later when a corner kick smashed off Godin's back, not his "magic forehead," as was described by Ian Darke. Further, this suspension bans him for 9 games from country, but at least 11 for club. While Bokolis is trying to reconcile my Liverpool bias here- I'm more upset that, instead of getting 100 million Euro, we now can't even sell him- he didn't do it playing for club. It should have been an 18-month ban from international, with reinstatement conditioned on pulling those bunny-teeth he has.
Ian Darke doesn't know WTF he is talking about. As with Tommy Smyth, ESPN is banking that people are so busy listening to the accent that they don't hear anything they say. That's why they have that Brit bird with the bug-eyes.
ESPN has stepped up its game, especially in the non-match coverage. When the hell did Julie Foudy turn into a fox, btw? Good for you, Jules…already one of the coolest people around.
Bokolis walked out of work- bartered with the boss to cover at an undesirable meeting- to watch the USA-Germany match amongst the riffraff. I was shocked at how many birds were at the bar watching the game; a few of them even wanted cock. Most of them didn't know shit about soccer and were there chiefly to peacock that they could get the time off.
However, I also had Lozo-ian GSF in my midst, one of those broads that screams about everything and curses out the players for not acting in her warped ideal. Bokolis seriously considered smashing a beer bottle over her head. It was a quite rational reasoning; I was considering who else (and how many) I was going to have to hit in the wake (I wasn't going to run out). Once I got to three, I figured that I didn't want to be on the news. It wasn't so bad, as she lost steam as the game wore on.
Oh, about that game- the US was playing at about 85%, while Germany was struggling to keep it above stalling speed. The biscotto scenario didn't pay out but, despite the broadcasters trying to sell you that it was played on the up and up, Germany carried the US in that match.
Predictions? Shit, this is taking too long. I have to get to the beach.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Amongst all unimportant subjects, football is by far the most important
Much like I lose (even more) respect (than I've already lost) for a manchester united supporter the further past 1998 that he/she/it started supporting them, I hold contempt for all the janey-come-lately US football fans. If they tell me something like 2004, Bokolis will end the conversation. I hold as much contempt for them as I do for all the beaneaters and cow-towners that have infested the Apple.
Call Bokolis a soccer snob, if you will. But, one of the major benefits of having been a fan of the football when it was a cultist thing in this country- as opposed to now, when it is on the fringe of greater consciousness- is that I almost never had to deal with the over-the-top presentation that is epidemic in the major US sports.
Of course, now that the media conglomerates can sell it, they have started to hit us over the head with the coverage style that has ruined the sports more familiar to Americans. Where it particularly bothers Bokolis is where the fuss was made over Jurgen Klinsmann stating that the USA cannot win the World Cup.
While, most of the time, the important things have me wrapped up, when I have time for the unimportant, I immediately turn to football. Still, I figure lacing into the media for complaining about it is a waste of energy. So, Bokolis will explain it thus: When Klinsmann says the USA cannot win, it is not said as a coaching tool to his team; he is coaching the media and he is coaching the public because, in all your entitlement, y'all won't shutthefuck up so the team can breathe.
Klinsmann also knows that, if you can get out of a group of death, you've got at least a puncher's chance of doing damage in the knockout stage.
As far as predictions go, Bokolis will see about dropping group previews. However, aside from the orgy of football it presents, I'm not all that interested in the group stage. Knockout predictions are more certain to appear.
I will be rooting for anyone but Brazil to win the show.
Bokolis- my display above notwithstanding- used to think the Argentines were arrogant about football, as they are with many things, but they are insecure compared to Brazilians. Brazilians take the I'm Brazilian; get out of the way to another level. Where the Argentines will look to cut you down- equal parts petulance and the need for reassurance- if you show that you can better them, the Brazilians don't give a fuck if you get the best of them. Their mindset remains, at the end of the day, we're still Brazilian, but you're not bad, so we'll let you play on our pitch.
At some point during the latter part of the '90s, Bokolis stopped wearing my soccer jerseys as casual wear because all it did was bring attention from guys. Unlike most of y'all, I typically go to bars to get away from people. Dudes would see the jerseys and think it was time for sports talk. It's always a rabid muthafucka, too...and there ain't no muthafuckas rabid about football like Brazilians.
One time, I walked into a bar after the fun job wearing my (Centennial) Flamengo shirt. By that time, of course, it had turned into a loud-music place. Some dude sees the shirt and thinks it's time for Mike and the Mad Dog, introducing himself as Brazilian and, after I tried shoo-ing him away, "not gay." Bokolis isn't worried about those things and I tell him so; I wasn't going to talk football in a noisy bar.
Though he might have made a good wingman, sometimes you have to be a dick. Bokolis' comeuppance may have come when, a few months later, I tried kicking it to a Brazilian bird and she told me, out of the blue, I don't like {redacted}; I like soccer, which she pronounced like suck-her.
I didn't feel like talking about soccer that night, either.
Call Bokolis a soccer snob, if you will. But, one of the major benefits of having been a fan of the football when it was a cultist thing in this country- as opposed to now, when it is on the fringe of greater consciousness- is that I almost never had to deal with the over-the-top presentation that is epidemic in the major US sports.
Of course, now that the media conglomerates can sell it, they have started to hit us over the head with the coverage style that has ruined the sports more familiar to Americans. Where it particularly bothers Bokolis is where the fuss was made over Jurgen Klinsmann stating that the USA cannot win the World Cup.
While, most of the time, the important things have me wrapped up, when I have time for the unimportant, I immediately turn to football. Still, I figure lacing into the media for complaining about it is a waste of energy. So, Bokolis will explain it thus: When Klinsmann says the USA cannot win, it is not said as a coaching tool to his team; he is coaching the media and he is coaching the public because, in all your entitlement, y'all won't shutthefuck up so the team can breathe.
Klinsmann also knows that, if you can get out of a group of death, you've got at least a puncher's chance of doing damage in the knockout stage.
As far as predictions go, Bokolis will see about dropping group previews. However, aside from the orgy of football it presents, I'm not all that interested in the group stage. Knockout predictions are more certain to appear.
I will be rooting for anyone but Brazil to win the show.
Bokolis- my display above notwithstanding- used to think the Argentines were arrogant about football, as they are with many things, but they are insecure compared to Brazilians. Brazilians take the I'm Brazilian; get out of the way to another level. Where the Argentines will look to cut you down- equal parts petulance and the need for reassurance- if you show that you can better them, the Brazilians don't give a fuck if you get the best of them. Their mindset remains, at the end of the day, we're still Brazilian, but you're not bad, so we'll let you play on our pitch.
At some point during the latter part of the '90s, Bokolis stopped wearing my soccer jerseys as casual wear because all it did was bring attention from guys. Unlike most of y'all, I typically go to bars to get away from people. Dudes would see the jerseys and think it was time for sports talk. It's always a rabid muthafucka, too...and there ain't no muthafuckas rabid about football like Brazilians.
One time, I walked into a bar after the fun job wearing my (Centennial) Flamengo shirt. By that time, of course, it had turned into a loud-music place. Some dude sees the shirt and thinks it's time for Mike and the Mad Dog, introducing himself as Brazilian and, after I tried shoo-ing him away, "not gay." Bokolis isn't worried about those things and I tell him so; I wasn't going to talk football in a noisy bar.
Though he might have made a good wingman, sometimes you have to be a dick. Bokolis' comeuppance may have come when, a few months later, I tried kicking it to a Brazilian bird and she told me, out of the blue, I don't like {redacted}; I like soccer, which she pronounced like suck-her.
I didn't feel like talking about soccer that night, either.
Monday, March 17, 2014
misMatched
Comment Bokolis made at Barry Ritholtz' The Big Picture regarding a post about Match.com's impressions of the state of love and sex in America.
-------
Those who turn an NSA or FWB situation into a relationship don't understand the application of what finance folks know all too well: NEVER turn a trade into an investment.
Of course, this is about the young'uns, or the benefit/recoil of the 45-60 set, (I should have put most of) who(m) are removed from that arena. Because match.com is more interested in telling you what you want to find than finding you what you want, they didn't ask Bokolis. I'd've told them...
It is very easy to (mis)underestimate how lonely, attention-starved (and horned up) women are. If they want it, they move fast, and often turn what used to be the one-night stand into the hit-it-for-a-week-and-a-half-and-quit-it volcano romance (or less, if the guy knows how to get rid of them). Coincidentally, or not, women (increasingly so for women born in or after, let's put it at 1986) are as hopped up on porn as men.
Many- if not most- are relationship-averse as guys. It's no coincidence that they've also become similarly narcissistic.
Like Broadway Joe might have said, I don't like to date so much as I just like to kind of, you know, run into somethin', man. For that matter, Seinfeld said that 90% of the population is undateable, and he likely sandbagged. If you must date, and a woman checks the phone on a date- which is most of them, fyi- never mind the personal affront, she is either way too flighty or has way too much bullspit going on in her life; the only reason not to run is to gain the experience of dealing with them.
-------
All Bokolis can tell you is, if you are smart enough not to get married or otherwise bogged down in a closed relationship, stay in shape as you approach, enter and exit middle age, so that you have the opportunity to apply your advantage over thetwinks chumps that pass for men these days. Whether you are on the football pitch or in the arena, your leg-up on the competition will have the bird's legs up in the air.
-------
Those who turn an NSA or FWB situation into a relationship don't understand the application of what finance folks know all too well: NEVER turn a trade into an investment.
Of course, this is about the young'uns, or the benefit/recoil of the 45-60 set, (I should have put most of) who(m) are removed from that arena. Because match.com is more interested in telling you what you want to find than finding you what you want, they didn't ask Bokolis. I'd've told them...
It is very easy to (mis)underestimate how lonely, attention-starved (and horned up) women are. If they want it, they move fast, and often turn what used to be the one-night stand into the hit-it-for-a-week-and-a-half-and-quit-it volcano romance (or less, if the guy knows how to get rid of them). Coincidentally, or not, women (increasingly so for women born in or after, let's put it at 1986) are as hopped up on porn as men.
Many- if not most- are relationship-averse as guys. It's no coincidence that they've also become similarly narcissistic.
Like Broadway Joe might have said, I don't like to date so much as I just like to kind of, you know, run into somethin', man. For that matter, Seinfeld said that 90% of the population is undateable, and he likely sandbagged. If you must date, and a woman checks the phone on a date- which is most of them, fyi- never mind the personal affront, she is either way too flighty or has way too much bullspit going on in her life; the only reason not to run is to gain the experience of dealing with them.
-------
All Bokolis can tell you is, if you are smart enough not to get married or otherwise bogged down in a closed relationship, stay in shape as you approach, enter and exit middle age, so that you have the opportunity to apply your advantage over the
Sunday, February 2, 2014
rugby for fairies...the weed bowl
Seahawks (+2) over Broncos - First off, if not for it being the Bowl, Bokolis would not touch this game. I simply couldn't get a good feel for the match-up, which is to say that it figures to fall right by the number I can't get comfortable with the idea that the Seahawks will disrupt and topple P. Manning and his machine. This is doubly true because it will be about 50-degrees at game time- so much for the cold-weather Super Bowl.
This is...somewhat more than doubly true...because the bananas at ESPN seemingly spent two weeks talking about P. Manning having a chicken arm. Disregard that Bokolis told you about that chicken arm a few posts ago; I told people when he came back that his arm strength looked like Chad Pennington's. Yeah, right- after being on his dick for 19 weeks, now he's got a chicken arm. His arm didn't just go dead, but none of y'all gave a fuck while he was up record numbers. The thing for me is, if those fuckers are emphasizing it as the are, it surely figures to be a non-factor.
Also, I can't believe how the line is all over the place; you can get 3 on the Seahawks- probably where Floyd Mayweather bet the Broncos- and lay 1.5 on the Broncos. You can surely arbitrage yourself into a virtually risk-free shot to hit the middle at +2.
In trying to hash out the match-up, it's no help that Bokolis got no fucking sleep last night and had to go play real football this morning. So, my head is bumpin' right now and I'm writing this with half a mind to sleep through the game. What y'all need to understand about the American version: there were chicks- fit birds, not ones that look like they try catching footballs with their faces- out in the park playing flag football. This is how fairied-out this game has become.
Where was I...oh yeah, Bokolis couldn't decide for the whole fortnight. I've got the Seahawks throwing up a pair of 23s this postseason; the Broncos a 24 and 26...for the simple, if Peyton gets to 24, he wins. Well, that's about where he's going to get. I'll save the bombast about who has to come up huge...the Seahawks aren't going to get to 24 by threes; they may want to engineer a defensive touchdown, just to be sure.
I've been leaning Seahawks, and was waiting for weather conditions and some other nonsense to decide whether to flip. I've just realized that those are the wrong reasons to pick the Broncos. If the Seahawks have fucked shit up for plenty of good QBs this year, they can do it on Peyton as well, regardless of the weather. Further, as I'm sure the world was told, when the offensive machine meets the defensive powerhouse, the defense usually wins...you'll just have to disregard that this defense doesn't lead from its line.
This is...somewhat more than doubly true...because the bananas at ESPN seemingly spent two weeks talking about P. Manning having a chicken arm. Disregard that Bokolis told you about that chicken arm a few posts ago; I told people when he came back that his arm strength looked like Chad Pennington's. Yeah, right- after being on his dick for 19 weeks, now he's got a chicken arm. His arm didn't just go dead, but none of y'all gave a fuck while he was up record numbers. The thing for me is, if those fuckers are emphasizing it as the are, it surely figures to be a non-factor.
Also, I can't believe how the line is all over the place; you can get 3 on the Seahawks- probably where Floyd Mayweather bet the Broncos- and lay 1.5 on the Broncos. You can surely arbitrage yourself into a virtually risk-free shot to hit the middle at +2.
In trying to hash out the match-up, it's no help that Bokolis got no fucking sleep last night and had to go play real football this morning. So, my head is bumpin' right now and I'm writing this with half a mind to sleep through the game. What y'all need to understand about the American version: there were chicks- fit birds, not ones that look like they try catching footballs with their faces- out in the park playing flag football. This is how fairied-out this game has become.
Where was I...oh yeah, Bokolis couldn't decide for the whole fortnight. I've got the Seahawks throwing up a pair of 23s this postseason; the Broncos a 24 and 26...for the simple, if Peyton gets to 24, he wins. Well, that's about where he's going to get. I'll save the bombast about who has to come up huge...the Seahawks aren't going to get to 24 by threes; they may want to engineer a defensive touchdown, just to be sure.
I've been leaning Seahawks, and was waiting for weather conditions and some other nonsense to decide whether to flip. I've just realized that those are the wrong reasons to pick the Broncos. If the Seahawks have fucked shit up for plenty of good QBs this year, they can do it on Peyton as well, regardless of the weather. Further, as I'm sure the world was told, when the offensive machine meets the defensive powerhouse, the defense usually wins...you'll just have to disregard that this defense doesn't lead from its line.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Doing the double?
While P. Manning ensured that the early game went to form, the Seahawks, through a combination of lucking out, benefiting from the opponent's sloppy play and making great plays themselves, turned around that game, pulled it out of the fire, held on...{checks for some more clichés} and also won the game.
Despite the title, Bokolis isn't here to crow about being on the right side of both conference championships. Yes, Bokolis' head bobs above water, going 5-4-1 on here and 7-5-1 in the carbon-based world. Again, the 0-4 on Saturdays has been outstripped by the 5-0-1 on Sundays. This statistical quirk had me scrambling for the data, as did the fact that it felt like too many of these games came in too close to the number.
Here is the rundown with the respective final lines, or the lines Bokolis remembers.
KC 44 - 45 IND (-1.5) difference 0.5 points
NO 26 - 24 PHI (+1.5) difference 3.5 points
SD 27 - 10 CIN (+7.0) difference 24.0 points
SF 23 - 20 GB (-3.0) on the number (at the gun)
NO 15 - 23 SEA (-9.0) difference 1.0 points (back-door cover)
IND 22 - 43 NE (-7.5) difference 13.5 points
SF 23 - 10 CAR (-1.5) difference 11.5 points
SD 17 - 24 DEN (-9.0) difference 2.0 points (late cover)
NE 16 - 26 DEN (-5.5) difference 4.5 points
SF 17 - 23 SEA (-3.5) difference 2.5 points
That's seven out of ten within 5 points of the number. I doubt they have this high of a percentage on any given week during the regular season. Considering how several numbers danced around, it's a little unsettling that these games are holding form to such a degree. I don't know what it is, but it's bothering Bokolis.
So for the Weed Bowl / Blunt Bowl, the line allegedly opened up on Sunday night with the Seahawks laying at least 1.5 - 2.0 and moved steadily before stabilizing at Broncos -1.5 (-2.0 as I type). Given the info above, it's quite likely that a middle was created. Bokolis only caught it at PK, so I'm a little skeptical as to just how much action went off at the opening line.
But I knew it would move towards Denver and was surprised- I guess it could be factoring the weather- that they didn't open as favorites. Everybody is jumping on P. Manning's dick, suddenly unconcerned about his "legacy" now that Tom Brady isn't on the other side. Something to be said about this nonsense- the people making this contention about Peyton having to win another Bowl to secure his legacy among the best QBs in history, their combined record this year was 0-0.
Despite the title, Bokolis isn't here to crow about being on the right side of both conference championships. Yes, Bokolis' head bobs above water, going 5-4-1 on here and 7-5-1 in the carbon-based world. Again, the 0-4 on Saturdays has been outstripped by the 5-0-1 on Sundays. This statistical quirk had me scrambling for the data, as did the fact that it felt like too many of these games came in too close to the number.
Here is the rundown with the respective final lines, or the lines Bokolis remembers.
KC 44 - 45 IND (-1.5) difference 0.5 points
NO 26 - 24 PHI (+1.5) difference 3.5 points
SD 27 - 10 CIN (+7.0) difference 24.0 points
SF 23 - 20 GB (-3.0) on the number (at the gun)
NO 15 - 23 SEA (-9.0) difference 1.0 points (back-door cover)
IND 22 - 43 NE (-7.5) difference 13.5 points
SF 23 - 10 CAR (-1.5) difference 11.5 points
SD 17 - 24 DEN (-9.0) difference 2.0 points (late cover)
NE 16 - 26 DEN (-5.5) difference 4.5 points
SF 17 - 23 SEA (-3.5) difference 2.5 points
That's seven out of ten within 5 points of the number. I doubt they have this high of a percentage on any given week during the regular season. Considering how several numbers danced around, it's a little unsettling that these games are holding form to such a degree. I don't know what it is, but it's bothering Bokolis.
So for the Weed Bowl / Blunt Bowl, the line allegedly opened up on Sunday night with the Seahawks laying at least 1.5 - 2.0 and moved steadily before stabilizing at Broncos -1.5 (-2.0 as I type). Given the info above, it's quite likely that a middle was created. Bokolis only caught it at PK, so I'm a little skeptical as to just how much action went off at the opening line.
But I knew it would move towards Denver and was surprised- I guess it could be factoring the weather- that they didn't open as favorites. Everybody is jumping on P. Manning's dick, suddenly unconcerned about his "legacy" now that Tom Brady isn't on the other side. Something to be said about this nonsense- the people making this contention about Peyton having to win another Bowl to secure his legacy among the best QBs in history, their combined record this year was 0-0.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
rugby for fairies 2014...best four left
I wrote this for the conference championships but apparently didn't post it...when I couldn't find it on the site, I thought I'd deleted it, only to find it in drafts...I'm such a dumb-ass. The doing the double post was written assuming this one was posted...the world can make of it what it will.
People have found me out. They must think Bokolis has hijacked the wagon and are coming to me for these games. Since they've only asked me for Sunday's games, I look like a champ. What is it- 0-4 on Saturday and 3-0-1 on Sunday? They must have been getting the same games wrong and coming to me for bailouts. You know how those touts- or, whateverthefuck they're called- that would call you (and a thousand other people) up and give half one game and half the other- and repeat the cycle until they are a 5-0 superhero to 32 people and hook them in to pay for services. I've wound up in that position for a few people, but without charging them. I always tell people, this information is worth what you've paid (Bokolis) to obtain it.
BRONCOS (-5.5) over Patriots - I've waffled and, for a number of reasons, mostly because of all the chatter of oh, Tom Brady and the points, blah, blah, blah. They almost got to me. I was tempted to take the Patriots. But, Bokolis won't be fooled.
The things that worry me the most are P. Manning's chicken arm last week in the not-so-cold but wind and that, after pulling many games out of their asses this year, the Pats- see the last two champs- are rounding into form. It is going to be in the mid-to-upper 50s in Denver with manageable wind. I'm going to remember Brady is doing it with smoke and mirrors, taking 6-yard bites of the field. I'm going to remember that the Patriots don't have the defense that the Chargers had. I'm going to bank that Denver will know to pressure him and make him take chances down the field, where he will make mistakes. I'm also going to bank- I have to- that Denver will finish the job this time around, that they will not let go of a big lead as they did the first time around- or even last week.
SEAHAWKS (-3.5) over 49ers - Bokolis suggests that, something like the old XFL, Carroll and Harbaugh-A fight it out pre-game at midfield, with the winner's team starting with a 7-0 lead.
I'm figuring that past performance is an indicator of future results here. There is no other way for Bokolis to play this. This was the strongest division in the NFL. The week 2 drubbing is essentially the reason why the Seahawks have this game at home. It is why the Seahawks were fed the Saints at home and why the 49ers were relegated to playing a couple of not-so-strong division winners on the road.
On paper, not much separates these teams. Russell Wilson is considered more accurate, but Bokolis cannot deny Kaepernick's speed to the left (or his baseball slide to avoid contact). Sure, the 49ers' receivers are better, but whereas Kaepernick can't always find them, Wilson will scramble his guys open if he has to. At this point, Lynch is better and more consistent than Gore, but Kaepernick makes up the slack. The 49ers defense can punch with anyone, but the Seahawks defense is on better drugs.
Russell Wilson's numbers look very good. When you consider that the Seahawks receivers are not an impressive lot, it helps reach the conclusion that Wilson does only as much as he has to, when he has to. Dig deeper and you see that the Seahawks have never been threatened this year. When they have had to perform, they have left no doubt.
If they keep Kaepernick in the pocket and prey on his tendency to rely on Crabtree on 3rd down- and bolt if he is not there- and squat on Vernon Davis streaking down and across the middle, they will have opportunities to force mistakes. This is how the Seahawks get you; they will grind and wear on you until you do. They should have more than enough in the tank to hold off and wear down the 49ers.
People have found me out. They must think Bokolis has hijacked the wagon and are coming to me for these games. Since they've only asked me for Sunday's games, I look like a champ. What is it- 0-4 on Saturday and 3-0-1 on Sunday? They must have been getting the same games wrong and coming to me for bailouts. You know how those touts- or, whateverthefuck they're called- that would call you (and a thousand other people) up and give half one game and half the other- and repeat the cycle until they are a 5-0 superhero to 32 people and hook them in to pay for services. I've wound up in that position for a few people, but without charging them. I always tell people, this information is worth what you've paid (Bokolis) to obtain it.
BRONCOS (-5.5) over Patriots - I've waffled and, for a number of reasons, mostly because of all the chatter of oh, Tom Brady and the points, blah, blah, blah. They almost got to me. I was tempted to take the Patriots. But, Bokolis won't be fooled.
The things that worry me the most are P. Manning's chicken arm last week in the not-so-cold but wind and that, after pulling many games out of their asses this year, the Pats- see the last two champs- are rounding into form. It is going to be in the mid-to-upper 50s in Denver with manageable wind. I'm going to remember Brady is doing it with smoke and mirrors, taking 6-yard bites of the field. I'm going to remember that the Patriots don't have the defense that the Chargers had. I'm going to bank that Denver will know to pressure him and make him take chances down the field, where he will make mistakes. I'm also going to bank- I have to- that Denver will finish the job this time around, that they will not let go of a big lead as they did the first time around- or even last week.
SEAHAWKS (-3.5) over 49ers - Bokolis suggests that, something like the old XFL, Carroll and Harbaugh-A fight it out pre-game at midfield, with the winner's team starting with a 7-0 lead.
I'm figuring that past performance is an indicator of future results here. There is no other way for Bokolis to play this. This was the strongest division in the NFL. The week 2 drubbing is essentially the reason why the Seahawks have this game at home. It is why the Seahawks were fed the Saints at home and why the 49ers were relegated to playing a couple of not-so-strong division winners on the road.
On paper, not much separates these teams. Russell Wilson is considered more accurate, but Bokolis cannot deny Kaepernick's speed to the left (or his baseball slide to avoid contact). Sure, the 49ers' receivers are better, but whereas Kaepernick can't always find them, Wilson will scramble his guys open if he has to. At this point, Lynch is better and more consistent than Gore, but Kaepernick makes up the slack. The 49ers defense can punch with anyone, but the Seahawks defense is on better drugs.
Russell Wilson's numbers look very good. When you consider that the Seahawks receivers are not an impressive lot, it helps reach the conclusion that Wilson does only as much as he has to, when he has to. Dig deeper and you see that the Seahawks have never been threatened this year. When they have had to perform, they have left no doubt.
If they keep Kaepernick in the pocket and prey on his tendency to rely on Crabtree on 3rd down- and bolt if he is not there- and squat on Vernon Davis streaking down and across the middle, they will have opportunities to force mistakes. This is how the Seahawks get you; they will grind and wear on you until you do. They should have more than enough in the tank to hold off and wear down the 49ers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)