My Patriots @Steelers. Monday, down in Miami Gardens, my Patriots had a chance to clinch the playoffs. Instead they got pummelled by those pesky fish. Both the Patriots offense and defense looked flat from the get-go, and the game shouldn't have been as close as the final score. Next up, unfinished business: clinch those damn playoffs. In tomorrow's morning games, the Patriots can clinch with a Browns win (0-13 +260), or a Ravens tie (7-6), or a Dolphins win (+150), or a Bills tie.

Otherwise, in the day game (and in a huge game for seeding if they've already clinched) they'll have to win or tie the best team in the AFC this season: the Steelers... and on the road. The series is tied 15-15. My Patriots are 5-2 @Hienz, including their first matchup last season... a 27-16 win on Oct 23rd. My Patriots are 4-1 in the playoffs, including their second matchup last season... a 36-17 win @Gillette in the Superb Owl Semifinals on Jan 22nd. New England is -150 (-3 pts).

Sabo's Aztecs -vs- Army. Sabo's Aztecs finished their Mountain West season the day after Thanksgiving, with a decisive 10-2 Senior Day win over New Mexico. This means they've haven't played a game in over three weeks, and have only played two games in the last seven weeks. OTOH the Black Knights, one of four FBS independents, had only a one week bye after beating Navy 14-13... but they did have two weeks off before that. As a senior, this will be FBS rushing leader, and consensus All-American, Rashaad Penny's last pre-NFL game.

Sabo's Aztecs leads the series 2-0, sweeping an away/home series in 2011 and 2012. SDSU has never played in the Armed Forces Bowl. Army is 1-0, beating SMU 16-14 @SMU on 2010-12-30... while Amon Carter Stadium on the TCU campus of TCU was being substantially rebuilt. Army and SDSU are each 0-3 vs TCU at the old A.Carter. SDSU is -250 (-6½ pts).


Bills @my Patriots The second time was the charm, as my Patriots clinched the playoffs @Hienz on Sunday. Down by five at the 2-minute warning, Brady led an incredible drive to put the Pats up 3 with :56 left. But, it looked all for naught as Roethlisberger led the Steelers back on what seemed to be a 79 yard TD drive in two plays... but the final play was ruled incomplete setting the Steelers up at the Pat's 10. A deflected interception after a hasty snap at 0:05 decided the game.

Now it's all about the seeding. The Pats have clinched at least the #3 seed. The biggest bonus in US sports comes with clinching at least the #2 seed: the NFL playoff first round bye. To clinch that bye my Pats need a win in a morning game -and- a 49ers (4-10 +180 +4½ pts) win in a day game. All the above on Xmas Eve, combined with a Texans (4-10 +320 +9½) win on XMas day, would clinch the #1 seed.

Next: Bills @Gillette. The Patriots lead the series 70-43-1*, including pounding the Bills @Orchard Park three weeks ago. The Bills are 2-1 in their last three games @Gillette... and 2-14 overall. New England is -700 (-12 pts).

Buffalo Bills can't root against them, my condolences in advance MD. The Juice is loose perhaps a Super Bowl is in their future considering all the near misses in my book the bills are primed for glory.

Hated Jets @my Patriots. Once again, the networkds decided to cram those damn LA teams down our tubes. So, all I can tell you about the New England game on Xmas Eve is this: it was tied with less than 1:00 left in the 3rd... then my Pats blew it out with 21 unanswered points. Net result in NFL week#16: the Patriots have now clinched at least the #2 seed... and that huge first-round bye. Next up: hopefully clinching the #1 seed. To do so they'll need to win =or= get a contemporaneous Browns (0-15 +400 +10½ pts) win.

My Patriots are 68-60-1 vs NYC teams (inc 6-6 Giants). NYC teams are 5-14 @Gillette (inc 1-1 vs Giants). My Patriots are 3-0, and the Jets/Titans are 0-3, in Rivalry Bowls. For the first time since 1960, there will be two rivalry bowls in a single season. Back on Oct 15th, my Patriots beat the Jets in first ever Rivalry Bowl @Metlife Stadium... this will be the first ever Rivalry @Gillette. Go Patriots... beat those hated Jets !!!1!. New England is -1600 (-15½ pts).


Holiday Bowl: Washington State (9-3) -vs- Michigan State (9-3) @Union. Yes, I do still have a dog. This morning, for the third consecutive year, Sabo & me went downtown to watch the Holiday Bowl Parade. Sabo s parades !!!1! There were no wiener dog races this year, and we watched the parade in front of the Midway instead of in front of the CAC. Unlike two seasons ago when Sabo was officially adopted by the Wisconsin band, or last season when he was officially adopted by the Minnesota band, Sabo wasn't asked to march with the bands. However, we did end up watching the parade with a whole gang of folks with the Spartan band ... so Sabo's backing Sparty tonight.

Washington State is repeating from last season, losing to Minnesota 12-17 last season... and are 1-2 all time in Holiday Bowls, and 1-3 @Union. Michigan State has never played in San Diego. MSU leads series 5-2, including a 21-23 loss back on 1977-9-17. Michigan State is -130 (-2 pts).

I didn't want to jinx you... but I was really relieved that the Bills lost yesterday. I agree with you, they really looked like a team on the rise at the end of the season. Also, my New Year resolution is to write up the pix I took of my dad's original KGB Chicken shirt for you.

As long as I'm here, and as the game is just about to start, here are our FBS Bowl picks...

Week #20: Titans @my Patriots. All my Patriot's playoff games will be House Divided Sabo Bowls. Why? Because I won my Yapping|Taunting rights by my team winning it's championship... but to retain those rights that team must repeat. I will lose my Yapping|Taunting rights if my Patriots do not repeat... however that would not give Sabo taunting|yapping rights over me. We start this playoff run with House Divided Sabo Bowl III.

My Patriots squished the hated Jets in Rivalry Bowl XLVII to set up this House Divided Sabo Bowl... and give themselves the #1 AFC seed. The Patriots are 7-1 vs Tennessee, and 10-3 vs Titans (inc 4-2 vs NY). The Titans are 0-4 @Gillette, The early line is New England is -1100 (-13 pts).


Week #19, FBS Bowl: Alabama (12-1) -vs- Georgia (11-3) @Atlanta. Alabama leads the series 38-24-4, and won the last meeting 38-10 @Athens back on 2015-10-3. Both teams are 1-0 @MB Stadium. To open the season, back on Sept 2nd, Alabama beat Florida State 24-7. To win the SEC, back on Dec 2nd, Georgia beat Auburn 28-7. Alabama is -185 (-3½ pts).

The Buffalo "Super" Bills had their chances, pretty nasty slam the starting QB Tyrod took in the waning moments of the game and the backup even picked up a first on an improbable scramble.

Being from PA my heart with be rooting for either PHI or PIT but the N.E squad has my utmost respect and I do enjoy seeing them win if only because they seem to have so many haters.

Eagerly awaiting the KGB chicken write up and more Sabo adventures.

Jaguars @my Patriots. In Sabo Bowl III, my Patriots trounced the Titans in a convincing manner. It wasn't as close as the 35-14 final indicates. I retained my yapping|taunting rights over Sabo for at least another eight days. Next up: Sabo Bowl 1000. Similar to last week, a ne victory retains my rights over Sabo until the Superb Owl... while a jc victory voids my rights, but doesn't grant Sabo any rights over me.

My Pats lead the series 10-1, including 3-1 in the playoffs. The Jaguars have never won @Gillette, going 0-5... including a 17-51 loss in the last meeting, back on 2015-9-27.

My Patriots -vs- Eagles. I couldn't watch Sabo Bowl 1000 because I had to take Sabo to his regular IWW meeting that day. Sabo, after all, is a revolutionary dog, and he don't give a poop about the NFL... so priorities are priorities. From all reports my Patriots, led by almost now consensus GOAT QB T.Brady, made another miraculous comeback.

The pre-Superb Owl era was before my time, so my-o-my... here I went from 1 final in 50 years with my beloved (but now defunct) Bolts, to 2 finals in 2 years with my new favorite Pats. Who, on my watch are 21-3, including 5-0 in the playoffs, which includes the GOAT Supurb Owl game. Let's make it 22-3. Let's go Pats !!!1!

As in Sabo Bowls III & 1000, an Eagles win voids my current Yapping|Taunting rights over Sabo, but doesn't grant him any rights over me. OTOH, a Patriots win, combined with the fact that his Padres had already announced they wouldn't be competitive in 2018, extends my rights to at least near the end of the 2018 football season.

The Eagles lead the series 7-6. The Eagles are 6-6 in finals, while my Patriots are 5-5. In the Supurb Owl era, the Eagles are 0-2, while my Patriots are 5-4... my Patriots extend their record for appearances to 10... and a win would tie the Steelers for the most wins with six. The only previous playoff meeting was after the 2004 season, in Supurb Owl XXXIX @Jacksonville FL... a game my Patriots won 24-21. Neither team has ever played in US Bank Stadium. All-Star Sabo-Metrics are predicting my Patriots at 76%. New England is -180 (-4½ pts)... so take the favorite, EZ money.

A revolutionary who roots for the patriots. That just seems wrong somehow.

When I became a diehard Pats fan last year [correction: I'm now 18-4] I said "I'm going over to the cheating side"... so of course it's all wrong. At least I went over with eyes wide open.

Sabo's an atheist who bleeds Padres blue ... so go figure.

Back when there was only MLB, team nicknames were much more transient. That wouldn't work today selling team gear/etc, but it might be cool if team's nicknames changed as the players turned over (say perhaps when a new honorary captain is named).

As always, football season will kickoff with the mildly annoying NFL exhibition season. For 2018, that season will kickoff with the Hall of Fame game. Who's gonna win... who cares ???/?


My Patriots. For all three of our teams, the 2017 season seemed like a disappointment. My Patriots stumbled out of the gate, losing two of the first four... then they didn't repeat as Superb Owl champs.

This is, of course, this is only a disappointment of riches... as only those of us on the cheating side can imagine. Going 2-2 is par, only a mild disappointment for any contender. After that they went 13-1, clinching the #1 AFC seed, and then a return tix to the Superb Owl, along the way. Splits: home 8-2, away 7-1, in division 5-1, Rivalry Bowls 2-0. Any season where you are just one T.Brady drive away from repeating as champions cannot really be said to be a disappointment.

All three of our teams went into their final game of the 2017 season with high hopes. Alas... for none was it meant to be. I figured my Pats already had their miraculous playoff comeback two weeks ago in the semi-finals, so they were toast when they fell behind early, and were trailing most of the game by 10, to those Eagles. But... they were able to make that comeback too, and briefly held a 1-point lead. Those Eagles however took that lead back, and the game was down to that last T.Brady led drive with about three minutes left. However, this time, it was the Eagles defense who come up big, with a strip-sack fumble t put the game away. It was a close fought game, and a great game in it's own right... but in the end, the Eagles were the better team on the field that day, and deserved to be world champions. All I can say is... wait 'til this season !!!1!


Superb Owl LII was coincidental with Sabo Bowl I°°I, of course. With that Eagles win, and after 366 days, my Yapping|Taunting rights over Sabo have been terminated. You are now into a Yapping|Taunting free-for-all... where Sabo is free to yap at me, and I'm free to taunt him right back... and vice versa.


Sabo's Aztecs. For all three of our teams, the 2017 season seemed like a disappointment. For Sabo's Aztecs... they didn't three-peat as conference champions, they lost the Old Oil Can, and they lost their bowl game. In addition, they didn't repeat as mythical Cal State champs, and lost to both MW division winners.

However... it wasn't a disappointing season at all. In fact, it was another year that pushes the program higher. Sabo's Aztecs played in their 8th straight bowl game... and like 2016, ESPN swapped teams such that SDSU got a better matchup. The went 2-0 vs P5, 6-2 in conference, 4-1 out of conference, 5-2 at home, and 5-0 on the road. The only real disappointment was departing senior Rashaad Penny, national rushing leader w/2027yds, being snubbed on that Heisman invite... just like D.Pumphrey in 2016.

All three of our teams went into their final game of the 2017 season with high hopes. Alas... for none was it meant to be. Army ran up some impressive stats against Sabo's Aztecs: They had 31 first downs... the same number as SDSU's offensive playenny s. They held the ball for 46:00. They finished with 440 rushing yds in 91 attempts. On the flip side, R.Penny rushed for 221 yds rushing on only 14 carries, and scored four TDs... the last of which put SDSU up by seven with just under six minutes left. Also... two late Army TDs decided the game.


My Golden Bears. For all three of our teams, the 2017 season seemed like a disappointment. Among the lesser of my Golden Bear's demerits is again losing the mythical UC championship, and going 2-7 in conference, 1-5 on the road, and 0-3 vs final ranked teams.

And yes, any season where you don't contend for conference, only get a glimpse of The Axe, and don't go bowling is a disappointment. With new head coach J.Wilcox coming in late cycle, and this being considered a 'rebuilding' season, and playing the projected hardest of FBS schedules... Cal wasn't expected to reach 2016's 5-7 record.

However, my Golden Bears had a reanimated defense not seen in Strawberry Canyon for years, an impressive 2-0 record vs P5 non-conference, and were 4-2 @Memorial Stadium. It wasn't a disappointment that my Golden Bears matched those five wins with a game to go. With both teams needing a win to go bowling, and the mythical UC championship on the line, Cal travelled to hallowed ground... the Rose Bowl.

All three of our teams went into their final game of the 2017 season with high hopes. Alas... for none was it meant to be. R.Bowers, who started the season as a maybe and ended up starting every game, threw a TD to J.Veasy to tie the game up 27-27 with 2:22 to go. But... the UCLA backup QB R.Modster, filling in for injured star J.Rosen, lead a clutch drive that ended in a JJ.Molson 37yd field goal with 0:04 left.

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Rank: Alexa #6462 (in US, #19421 overall), last post #1, replies #9 (#18 overall), views #5 (#10 overall w/95324), Sabo in my #1.

What about Sabo ???/?: Sabo's doing great !!!1! My blogging re: Sabo has obviously failed. So... look for a reboot soon to this blog. In the meantime... well, I guess it's a sports blog for the time being. In the news: today is the reporting date for Sabo's Padres pitchers & catchers. Spring training is underway !!!1!

And we're back !!!1! This very instant, Sabo & me are taking the car I rented yesterday to AZ for Sabo's 5th annual spring training trip, and his 5th annual PHX visit. Also Sabo's uncle D and me on Saturday, where Sabo is guarding the hotel room, and Sunday, where Sabo might have a spa day, will be seeing other spring training games. We'll also spend Sunday night and Monday morning on the river @Lake Havasu.

The Reds are starting their defense of the SDDC championship. Here are our first picks for the 2018 seasons...

Sabo had a great spring training trip... which I'll blog about after the great dog thread reboot. In the meantime, the regular season has started... Happy Opening Day!!!1! Sabo's Padres start the action hosting the Brewers in the Barkyard. Here are our 2018 picks...

Sabo's regular season started early... as we enjoyed the fourth game in The Barkyard, along with Sabo's brother P, aunt JQ, and my brotherman F. This was the first time F had met Sabo, and also the first time Sabo had seen the Rockies. It was also another notch in Sabo's Multi-Model Quest, as we took Lyft to the game. Our wonderful Barkyard Concierge, Sara was back again too. No gift bag of food samples this season however.

Sabo was kinda in a funk this game, surely because his Padres started the season 0-4. But that Sabo... he's a good guy!!!1!

As I blogged last, Sabo was in a funk, as his Padres lost their first four games... the last of which he attended. They won the next night, but ended up staggered out of the Barkyard 1-6. Ouch. With the Met's first dog game being rained out back on the 2nd, and Sabo's Padres on the road, we had the first general dog games of the season... where the still Mighty Rangers eliminated the Blue Jays in the penultimate dog game in Globe Life Stadium on the 7th, the Mets beating the Nationals on the 8th, and the Reds crippling their chances of repeating as SDDC champs with a loss to the Phillies.

Next up: the Giants invade the Barkyard.

Can you believe it? Today is the day for Sabo's 3rd game of the year, and his fourth annual visit to Dodgers Stadium. The visitor this season is the D'backs... who started the SDDC campaign as the All-Star Sabo-Metrics favorite, but has since been relegated to 2nd favorite by the Brewers (3-0 18%).

Also today, the Giants continue their visit to the Barkyard, and the Phillies travel to St.Petersburg. That's an elimination game in Russia for the Rays.

Yesterday Sabo made his fourth visit to Dodger stadium field. He also had a Dodger dog, and he'll have another tonight. This season we went to the came with my friend C, who had met Sabo briefly two years ago. The snakes squished the Dodgers, moving within 1% of first place Brewers (3-0 17%). In other action, the Phillies eliminated the Rays over in Russia, and Sabo's Padres had a comeback win.

Next: Well, Sabo's Padres beat the Giants earlier today in game #17... which hung the dreaded "~0" upon them. Sabo's Padres host the Dodgers in the Barkyard, in the first of only two visits this season. Also the Rockies resumd dog game action, while the Pirates, Astros, and Mariners make their dog game season debuts.

OK, the football schedules have been released.

Sabo's Aztecs cancelled their spring game this season. My Golden Bears are having their spring game @Memorial Stadium, Sat Apr 28th. As for the pros... the highlight of week #-2 is my Patriots starting their (slightly annoying) exhibition season hosting the team from southern Maryland... on or before August 11th. Go Pats !!!1!

Can you believe it... it's time for Sabo's second overnight road trip this year... and his third annual Vegas trip... and his 4th game this season (my 8th after Wednesday when JQ and I snuck off on the train to Anaheim to see my Red Sox ~ don't anyone tell Sabo). Sabo will be attending the very last Bark at the Park in Las Vegas' Cashman Field tomorrow, along with the Missile's old Uncle G, and ILOVEPOKER949.

This will sort of be a simultaneous doggie doubleheader, as the team visiting the 51s this season is the El Paso Chihuahuas, Sabo's Padres AAA affiliate. This Las Vegas dog game starts at noon, while at 1:10 down in Phoenix, Sabo's MLB Padres will be taking on the D'backs in a dog box game.


^{Yet to play: Cubs6 4%; Angels7, Braves7, Card's7, Royals7, A's5, White Sox5, Twins4 2%; Marlins9, Tigers4, Indians3 1%; Orioles2, Red Sox1, Yankees1 ~0. SDDC games remaining in Superscript. Projections by All-Star Sabo-Metrics. Not quite a gratuitous sports post.}

Sabo thoroughly enjoyed his 12th overnight road trip, his third annual Vegas trip, and his last ever game at Cashman Field. This trip we had a brand new 2018 Toyota Corolla for our ride. It proly paid for 2/3rds of the rental vs the minvan with it's 35.4 mpg alone. Plus... we didn't need to stop for gas on the way to Vegas, and the air conditioning was amazing.

We drove straight to the Stateside Lounge, across from Cashman Field. Sabo has made such good friends with the pretty lady bartenders before & after these games that we promised to visit again... even though the 51s games will then be over in Summerlin. We walked over to enjoy the game with ILOVEPOKER949, who also had Sabo & me over for dinner w/family after the game.

Monday my brotherman G met with Sabo at our hotel before & after we visited his family and went out to dinner.

Tuesday we drove down to Kingman, where Sabo finally made his 5th annual visits to both the Kingman Park dog run, and our Uncle J... and we then drove over to Bullhead City, to have dinner with Sabo's uncle, and my brotherman, G (who was working there that evening)... and then we back straight Sabo's Aunt JQ in Dago for a late visit. New mileage for Sabo was AZ-95 from Bullhead City to Needles; and after dark US-95 from Needles south to Wilson Rd.

Sabo had a great time !!!1! My costs: Poker loses $151; car rental $119.91 (4 days, 880 miles), hotel $95.90 (2 nights), gas $79.60 ($3.499@SD, $3.169@Henderson, $2.599@Bullhead), extra food $32, MiLB tix $24 (2)= $501.51. Sabo's tab: =zero=.

In SDDC action, Sabo's Padres organization split the sorta-simultaneous-doubleheader as the Chihuahua's beat the 51s at the same time the MLB Padres lost in Phoenix. That D'backs win, even with their loss in game #27, has made them 2nd favorites. OTOH that Padres organization split, when combined with the loss in game #28, has hung the dreaded "~0" upon them. The White Sox hung the dreaded "~0" upon the Mariners in game #25. And... the first place and favorite Brewers hung the dreaded "~0" upon the Royals in game #26.

Still to come: Sabo's Padres continue to host the Mets in the barkyard, while the D'backs visit National's Park tomorrow.

Well, there's been a lot going on in Sabo's life. He proudly led the May Day parade... of course. He had his first (and always dreaded) vet visit this year. And... we went on our 13th overnight road trip... this time a flying trip to St.Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati. But enough about that... how is the SDDC race going ???/? Glad you asked.

The Phillies beat the Giants in game #37 to move to tie the Brewers for first -and- become co-favorites at 22% each. The D'backs lost home (#43) and away (#30) to the Nationals, but effectively eliminated the Astros (in #34)... which dropped them to 3-3, but still left them as third favorites at 16%. There'll be a new favorite tonight, as in one of our four huge games today, Milwaukee plays at Arizona. A Brewers win move them into undisputed first, and make them sole favorites ~37%... while knocking the D'backs chances down to ~5%... OTOH, a D'back's win would put the Phillies into first place, and make them sole favorites ~23%.

The Rockies beat the Mets (game #33) to move to 5-1 and become fourth favorites. They'll try to move up to possibly second favorite at 19% in the Barkyard today... in another of the huge quadruple header of dog games.

Four organizations start dog game play today with crucial games: the Indians, Angels, and A's face effective elimination with a loss. The Tigers face actual elimination. Cleveland travels to Detroit for another of the four huge quadruple headers today.

Speaking of effective elimination... The previous hi-flying Mets lost 3-of-4, including in front of Sabo at Great American Ballpark, to effectively eliminate themselves. The Cardinals won their first three dog games, including in front of Sabo at Busch Stadium, and then their first two in the Barkyard... moving into contention only a half game out of first... but then lost their last two in the Barkyard to also effectively eliminated themselves. OTOH the Nationals recent 4-1 streak played themselves back in contention at 6%.

The feature game of this huge dog game quadruple header is of course Sabo's fourth annual trip to San Bernardino to see the Inland Empire 66ers in single A California League action. Gotta that Sabo...He's a good guy !!!1!

The results of Monday's huge quadruple header, and yesterday's two dog games, are in. The Brewers beat the D'backs... and moved into undisputed first as sole favorite. The Phillies are back in second as second favorites (4-0 20%). The Tigers and A's organizations moved into third with their successful dog game debuts. The fifth place Rockies split their two game series in the Barkyard (including game #49). The sixth place Dodgers visit the seventh place Nationals on Saturday, in a crucial game for their SDDC chances. And... the eighth place Cardinals round out the ranks of the winners (3-2 ~0).

OTOH the Indians, White Sox (in game #50), and Angels organization were hung with the dreaded "~0") after losses.

Sabo thoroughly enjoyed his fourth annual day trip to San Bernardino to see the 66ers... and also to see his first ever Stockton Ports game. No foul balls for me this game, however. It turns out the odd-ball 3pm start was because it was Elementary and Middle School day for San Bernardino City Schools. Thankfully those kids weren't allowed on the LF lawn section. Gotta that Sabo...He's a good guy !!!1!

The hated Dodgers moved up to third favorite... in a dog game that ended up being the second of a day-night doubleheader. Next up: Miami and Atlanta make their SDCC season debut tomorrow in the first ever dog game at the new SunTrust Field. It's hard to believe Sabo was at the last ever dog game at Georgia State Stadium (tka Turner Field) only about a year and a half ago. Gotta that Sabo...He's a good guy !!!1!

News: the Braves won the first ever dog game at SunTrust Park. Next up: a pivotal early season SDDC matchup. A win by the 1st&fav Brewers will make them odds-on at ~53%, while eliminating the Mets, Astros (1-1 ~0), Indians (0-1 ~0), Yankees (~0), and my Mighty Red Sox (~0). OTOH a Mets win would catapult the Phillies (4-0 19%) into being 1st&fav at ~24%.