Welp. We haven't heard anything from those fools on the Competition Committee for quite awhile now. I'm not sure why these idiots feel the need to save this shiz up for years, then dump it all on Sabo & me during the holiday weekend. What can we do ???/? There's a lot to unpack there, so let's get busy.

To start off, Sabo's Aunt julietinozi attended the 1978 All Star Game @Union... so, congrats to Sabo's Padres for retro winning the 1978 Sabo's Dog Day Championship !!!1! And, Sabo's Uncle D, now of Lake Havasu AZ, attended the 1992 All Star Game @Union (along with myself)... so, congrats to the Twins, who won the World Series in 1991, for also retro winning the 1992 Sabo's Dog Day Championship !!!1!.

And yes mistakes were made. I missed that the Tigers added a second dog game late last season. The Reds remain 2017 SDDC champs. And, I have an official Phillies link, but it doesn't now have the above three listed Phillies wins listed as dog games. Instead it lists a loss to the Blue Jays back on May 25th, and yesterdays win against the Cubs... which I just happened to notice watching the game.

But... once again, holy in season rule changes batman !!!1! The net result of all these changes and omissions is this... the Brewers and (they're back... the now Triple-Zombie) Giants would be eliminated without all this shiz. But, as Sabo has tix to the Barkyard for closing day (the first time his Padres close at home since MLB started this stupid, stupid, stupid scheme), at least two closing day games will be "Envisioned".

On the field, Sabo's Padres and the Rockies split in the Barkyard... which turned out not quite hanging the dreaded "~0" on the Rockies. Next: Sabo's Padres jump on a plane, fly to Phoenix for Labor Day, and try to hang that dreaded "~0" on the D'backs instead.

The NFLers are getting ready to kickoff the regular season just as soon as they let the fans/players back in the stadium after nearby lightning. In a game for the birds, the Falcons are at the defending Superb Owl champion Eagles (-110, pick). In training camp news, my Patriots went 3-1 in the preseason, and I didn't see any of those games. Also, coming out of camp, less than 50% of the LA Football Clippers (the team that play their home games at the Stubhub Center) roster have ever played my beloved (and now defunct) San Diego Bolts. Sabo & my NFL picks are below.

My Patriots once again feature the (allegedly squabbling) first couple of football: the GOAT NFL head coach Bill Belichick and the GOAT QB Tom Brady. They open Sunday at home vs. the Texans. Hopefully this game will be a win to start the season right. Go Pats !!!1!


My Golden Bears handled North Carolina handily... they had a 21 point lead before a late Tarheel rally. A rally that fizzled after an NC onside kick recovery that was overruled by replay. The score really was closer than the game, as Cal won the turnovers 4-0, and had almost 100 yds less in penalties. On offense however, a cause for concern was Cal felt the need to use three QB's: starter Bowers (8/17 56yds) didn't play in the 2nd half, instead it was redshirt freshman Chase Garbers (7/13 54yds) and transfer Brandon McIlwain (1/2 9yds). This year's stud running back, senior Patrick Laird carried the offence (29 rushes for 95 yds, four receptions.

Next up: a trip to Provo UT to play the independent BYU Cougars. The Cougers are 1-0, beating Pac-12 member Arizona 28-23 @Tucson to open the season. Cal is a slight dog here, but as mentioned previously, really need to step up and get a win here to have a realistic chance of going bowling. Go Golden Bears !!!1!


The XLIII KGB Skyshow, an annual fireworks display put on by the local radio station with those call letters, is on Saturday. Amazingly, that's just IX years less than this season's Superb Owl LII. As has been the custom for decades now, the Skyshow will be @Union, following that night's Aztec game. Also as usual, it'll be the Aztec's highest attendance of the season, and the opponent will be a sacrificial FCS team. This season that's Sacramento State, in the two programs first ever meeting.

It's also a part of the mythical Cal State championship (above). If they made me king of the football playing Cal State schools I'd take the current Old Oil Can trophy used for the San Diego-Fresno rivalry, and include San Jose State, make it a 3-way trophy like the service academies Commander in Chief trophy... with the extra added twist that if all three FBS teams go 1-1, then the FCS teams/games would come into play, and one of the two FCS teams could possibly end up winning said trophy (instead of the incumbent team retaining the trophy as the service academies do). Needless to say, the Skyshow should be a give-me game for SDSU. Sabo sez... go Aztecs !!!1!

Last week: Sacramento State had their own home give-me game, beating Division II St.Francis (of Illinois) 55-7. Sabo's Aztecs got crushed in Palo Alto. The two teams played a scoreless first quarter, and SDSU was leading 7-0 half way through the 2nd quarter, when Chapman intentional grounding penalty in the end zone resulted in a Stanford safety. Stanford scored a TD just before halftime... then came out in the 2nd half and waffle crushed Sabo's team. Ouch. In the recent SDSU tradition of D.Pumphrey and R.Penny, this year's stud running back is Juwan Washington who had 158 yards on 24 carries. Chapman was 10/15 with 113 passing yards.

On Labor Day, Sabo's Padres won, and hung that dreaded "~0" upon the D'backs once again. Next up: the Braves travel to Phoenix to try to finish the job, and eliminate those snakes.

On Sunday, the Braves finished the job, and eliminated the snakes in Phoenix. Next up: it's the first place, and third favorite, A's turn on stage as they have two crucial dog games in five days. To start, if it's not rained out like the previous attempt was, will be in Baltimore... as the Orioles host their first ever dog game. Also of note this week... the Mighty Rangers make a visit to the Barkyard.

Another football season, another time being screwed by CBS as they cram those LA teams down our tubes. My Patriots were the national feature game... but we were treated to a loss by the LA Football Clippers instead. Arggg !!!1! So, I missed this game (see recap below). It seems the final score was closer than the game played... that my Pats dominated, that except for three turnovers, and the muffed punt, the Texans would've been blown out. And... a win is a win is a win.

Next: A rematch in FL of last January's AFC Conference Round playoff game in MA. The Jaguars also started the season with a win, beating the Giants 20-15 in NJ. This is a huge early game. A case can be made, excepting late season games vs Pittsburgh and Minnesota, that Jacksonville is the toughest opponent on the Pat's schedule -and- those two games are home @Gillette, not on the road @TIAA. Just in case they need it... Go Pats !!!1!


The Sacramento State game is the only game with a FBS team not to be televised this season. Figures (see recap below). Anyway, it seems Sabo's Aztecs had to pull out an end of game victory against this FCS team. It's a win, for sure. Starting QB Chapman will be out for at least a few weeks.

Next: Here come the (Sun) Devils. In a breakthrough from recent history, Sabo's Aztecs finally beat P5 teams last season... twice in fact. This season they are looking to go 1-1, and not revert to an always losing 0-2 to these same two teams. At the Union, Arizona State is 2-0 vs Sabo's Aztecs, but 0-4 in Holiday Bowl games. The Sun Devils come into this game hot at 2-0, and have moved into the rankings at #23. They squished UTSA 49-7, and next upset then #15 Michigan State 16-13, both at home. Sabo sez... go Aztecs !!!1!


I actually got to watch this game. Ross Bowers, who started the last 13 games (Cal went 6-7) didn't play. Instead Chase Garbers (18/28 176yds) got his first start, and Brandon McIlwain (5/7 38yds) again also saw playing time. The two QBs were also the two leading rushers, with stud RB Patrick Laird third with only 30yds. However, the game was really won by the Cal defense. The first of BYU's two TDs was on a fumble recovery, the second, followed by a 2-pt conversion, was too little too late... coming with only 51 seconds left, and BYU never got the ball back.

Next: Cal has their yearly home give-em game... and their first ever match with the FCS Idaho State Bobcats. Barring a stumble, Cal will have completed a perfect 3-0 non-conference slate heading into their bye. Beware... Idaho State is coming off their own bye. They are 1-0, opening the season with their own home give-me game, beating Division II Western State Colorado 45-10. Go Golden Bears !!!1!

Oakland slaughtered Baltimore in the first ever dog game at Camden Yards... and yes, the Orioles showed the dogs copiously on their broadcast. Next up: the first place, and now 3rd favorite, A's travel to Russia to take on the Rays. An A's win would clinch them a closing day "Envisioned" game, make them odds-on favorites, and eliminate the Rockies. Also... Texas completes their visit to the Barkyard... and will retain their Mighty status, win -or- lose.

The A's fell from the ranks of the undefeated with their loss at Russia's "Dog Day with the Rays". Next up: The Giants are on the center stage, making their third & final trip to the Barkyard. A Giants sweep would eliminate the A's and Rockies. Any Giants loss would eliminate themselves, and clinch the A's a closing day "envisioned" game.

Last Sunday my Patriots were again the primary network national game... but we got screwed again by CBS again, as they crammed Raiders @Broncos (???/?) down our tubes. However... it was a moot point this week, as I was taking Sabo to his monthly IWW meeting at that time regardless. So... it seems my Pats got thoroughly whipped by the Jaguars... which clearly makes them the team to beat on the AFC side of things (see recap below).

Next up: Detroit in Michigan. The Loins, who almost made the playoffs last season, are reeling so far in 2018... they are 0-2, having been blown out by the hated Jets 48-17 at home, then losing 27-30 in Santa Clara. My Pats are in third place, a full game behind those hated Jets, and the Dolphins. Really gotta beet teams reeling like this on the road to be contenders. And... this is on SNF, so after six weeks of being shutout on tv, I can actually watch the game. Go Pats !!!1!


My Golden Bears are on their bye, and Sabo's Aztecs head into theirs after completing their non-conference schedule. They host the first meeting vs the Eastern Michigan Eagles. The Eagles are also 2-1: whipping FCS Monmouth 51-17 at home, upsetting P5 Purdue 20-19 in Muncie IN, and then losing the MAC conference opener 28-35 at Buffalo. Sabo sez... Go Aztecs !!!1!

Last Saturday, Sabo's Aztecs upset the Sun Devils @Union. In a great game, R.Agnew tied it up 14-14 with his first TD pass just before the half. J.Washington rushed for 138 yards. The Aztecs built a 28-14 lead early in the 4th Q... but those devils scored a TD with 1:40 left in the game, got the ball back, and looked like they got the ball down to the SDSU 2 w/0:06 left. That pass was called incomplete on review, and the 'Hail Mary' failed. Whew. Barring a bowl match up, SDSU will have a two game winning streak going into their next meeting in 2027.

The triple-zombie Giants almost pulled the sweep off to stay alive... alas Sabo's Padres salvaged the final game, permanently eliminating the Giants, and clinching the A's a closing day "Envisioned" game in Anaheim. Now, in the penultimate act in this dog game season, the Rockies have an elimination game in Phoenix.

BERKELEY, Calif. -- My Golden Bears haven't lost in five weeks... Week #0: like most teams DNP; Week #1 beat N.Carolina; Week #2: beat BYU on the road, after the next week 2-1 BYU entered the AP Poll at #25, instead of the 3-0 team that they lost to.

In Week #3 Cal's offense, now led by Chase Garbers at QB, took the 1st quarter off... and the defense gave up too many points in the 4th quarter... but in between and overall they dominated FCS Idaho State as they should have. In week #4, Cal had it's early bye. Not playing impressed the AP writers so much that Cal entered their rankings at #24. BYU, whose only loss was to undefeated Cal, moved up to #20. Also moving up, and now at #19... after what's gotta be one of the most horrific fold jobs, losing in OT to Stanford... is Cal's Week #5 opponent: Oregon.

My Golden Bears really got to win this game to (a) remain in the rankings, (b) go bowling, and (c) perhaps maybe contend for the... gulp... Rose Bowl. It's a winnable game in Berkeley, but I at least gotta be concerned going after the Ducks, who dominated a very good Stanford team, and is still looking for a win to show for it. Go Golden Bears !!!1!


FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Counting the exhibitions, and twice being screwed by CBS, I missed seeing six straight Patriots game. Last week was on SNF, so I saw that game. This week my Patriots are not the national game... but CBS is showing here anyways. Alas, Sabo & me are going to see his Padres @Petco Sunday, and I'll miss most all of this game too. Oh well.

In the game I say, my Patriots got crushed by the lowly Lions. They've now gotten crushed two weeks in a row. They lost on both sides of the ball, but the downfield passing game was especially poor. Maybe Edelman getting back from his 4-game PED suspension will help fix this shortcoming... but that's still a week away.

It's not quite panic time... but that time could be coming up real soon. A loss to the fish would leave my Pats three games out with 12 left, and a leg down in the tie-breakers. In other words, a loss would mean almost forgetting about the division title (or a bye), and means they'd have to play .750 the rest of the way just to get to the 10 wins.... and thus be odds on at a wildcard. OTOH a win over the fish would leave them just a game back, with a chance to go ahead via tiebreakers after the head-2-head match up in Miami later this season. All I can say is... Go Pats !!!1!

Well... this is it. Game day for Sabo in the Barkyard. His first since before the All-star break... and his last of the season. And this is also the "envisioned" finale of Sabo's Dog Day Championship.

To recap... two weeks ago today, when the Rays beat the A's at Dog Day with the Rays, the Dodgers would have clinched SDDC crown, except... to protest this stupid, stupid, stupid MLB policy that all games on closing are simultaneous, and as long as Sabo "sees" a game, any game that could impact the SDDC race are "envisioned" as official. What the NFL would have done, and what MLB should have done, was this... Braves @Phillies 1:01 edt; Tigers @Brewers 12:01 cdt; Card's @Cubs 3:25 cdt; Nat's @Rockies 2:25 mdt; Dodgers @Giants 5:20 pdt.

The Dodger dogs might have felt this "envision"-fest was unfair, given they would have already won without it. But... the Dodgers quickly made this all moot, as they pounded the Giants early and often on the way to a 15-0 win.

The Dodgers started their dog game season at home. With Sabo in attendance... the first time that's ever happened with a SDDC champ. They beat the D'backs on April 14th. Just two days later they started a three game sweep at the Barkyard. They then won in front of the DC dogs on May 19th, and the Pittsburgh dogs on June 5th. With Sabo again in attendance, the Rancho Cucumonga Quakes did their part, beating Sabo's Storm at The Diamond in Lake Elsinore. Starting July 9th, the Dodgers went 3-1 in their second visit to the Barkyard. They clinched with the above mention "envision" game.

Sabo had a great day out @Petco, with his personal trainer JQ, his union brother P, and my friend AsesinoDePayasos. That Sabo... He's a Good Guy !!!1!.

Albertsons Stadium, Boise ID -- Coming off their bye is always a good time to evaluate a team. This season the bye also separates the non-conference and conference schedules. Sabo's Aztecs went 3-1 out of conference... splitting their two games vs P5/P12, losing to a ranked Stanford team, and beating a then ranked Arizona State team. They beat their sacrificial FCS Sky Show guest Sacto State. And two weeks ago beat G5/MAC Eastern Michigan in OT. SDSU dominated this game, but the defense failed late allowing the Eagles to take the game to extra time. Injuries have played a part this season, as starting QB C.Chapman earlier, and stud RB J.Washington vs E.Michigan, are both out for several weeks.

Next up: BMOC (Big Men on Conference) and defending MW champ Boise State. Sabo's Aztecs schedule is certainly front loaded this season, with arguably the three toughest games in the first five. And... it's on the forbidding blue turf of Albertsons Stadium. SDSU are huge dogs at +14. Even though they actually have a winning record on the blue turf... thanks to a 49-24 win over Buffalo in the 2013 Potato Bowl. Sabo would say, if he talked, Go Aztecs !!!1!


Arizona Stadium, Tucson AZ -- My Golden Bears came out of their bye, and started their conference schedule, undefeated & ranked, last week... and promptly fell on their faces at home against an also ranked Oregon team. So, for Cal, goodbye ranking... hello to the problem of not being able to win in conference. My Golden Bears are already 1½ games behind Washington & Stanford. Going forward, they'd need to go 7-1 in conference to have a reasonable chance of winning the P12 North, and go 3-5 in conference to go bowling. Next up: Into the Zone and onto Tucson. Go Golden Bears !!!1!

Gillette Stadium, Foxborough MA -- OK, whew, no reason to panic. My Pats are still a game behind the fish, but they've got another game against them later this season. Hopefully they'll go 11-1 the rest of the season and get that #1 seed like last season. As Sabo & me were watching his Padres, I missed most of the fish fry last week (see recap above). Next up, and I'll get to watch this game in a few minutes, my Pats, and the Colts, make their mandatory short rest week leading into TNF. To keep the pressure on those pesky fish, they'll need to beat up teams like the lowly Colts, especially at home. Go Pats !!!1!

Memorial Stadium, Berkeley CA -- Wow, that was a dispiriting loss in Tucson. This is a game Cal should have, and could have, won. Last week's starting QB was Brandon McIlwain.

Well, Cal is now 2½ games behind Washington. To have a shot at winning the P12 North they'll really need to win out. To go bowling, they'll need to go 3-4 the rest of the way. Those are all conference games... which Cal hasn't shown they can win yet. Cal's schedule is back-loaded this season: two late opponents are currently ranked (#7 5-1 Washington and #19 5-0 Colorado), and the last five have winning records (add 5-1 Washington State, 4-2 Stanford, and 3-2 USC). The leaves only the next two opponents, UCLA and 1-5 Oregon State. Of those two teams, only one has not won a game yet.

To stop this from completely degenerating into a lost season, and to win the mythical UC championship, I say Go Cal !!!1!


SDCCU Stadium, San Diego CA -- Saturday Sabo's Aztecs pulled off the big upset on the cruel blue turf of Albertsons Stadium. SDSU dominated this game. The still find themselves a full game behind Hawaii (6-1, 3-0) in the MW West. Next up: Air Force tomorrow night @Union. If Sabo could talk, he'd say... Go Aztecs !!!1!


Gillette Stadium, Foxborough MA -- Well, it doesn't get any better for my Patriots over the mini-bye (after TNF). They whipped their week a go opponent, the hapless Colts. Then the fish lost on Sunday, meaning New England is now tied for first. And... they get a few more hours of mini-bye, because they are on SNF. I'll see this game too. Next up: the Chefs. It seems long ago... but the Chefs opened last NFL season whipping my Pats @Gillette... a game I missed taking Sabo to the Nationals game. The press has gone from "OMG what's wrong with the Pats" to "ZOMG the best Pats ever" over the last two weeks... the real test of that will be this game -vs- the undefeated Chefs. All I can say is BBQ the Chefs !!!1!

SDCCU Stadium, San Diego CA -- Sabo's Aztecs didn't dominate, but did beat, the Falcons under the Friday night lights. Last season there was a monsoon, and a 90+ minute lightning delay... in Colorado Springs. That can never happen in Dago, right? Well, it rained a bit, and surprisingly, there was also a 60+ minute lightning delay... at The Union. Sabo had to crawl behind the nightstand and shiver the rest of the evening because of the thunder. He's a good guy, but he can'y abide the booms. At least the SDSU offense, which was moribund the rest of the game, made a game winning come from behind drive at the end of the game.

Earlier SDSU eliminated FCS Sacramento State from the mythical CSU championship in the Sky Show game. Back on October 6th, Cal Poly SLO also beat Sacto 41-27. This sets up this third CSU matchup as a double elimination game between the Aztecs and Spartans. Sabo's Aztecs are now a half game behind Hawaii. If Sabo could talk, he'd say... Go Aztecs !!!1!


Reser Stadium, Corvallis OR -- My Golden Bears simply got slaughtered in the mythical UC championship. They aren't mathematically eliminated from the P12 North (for example: Cal wins out, Stanford, Washington, and Washington State lose another game, and Oregon loses three)... yet, but it's now officially a season in crisis. They'll need to go at least 3-3 the rest of the way to go bowling. Next up: the hapless bowl in Corvallis vs. the Oregon State Beavers. All I can say is... Go Cal !!!1!


Soldier Field, Chicago IL -- The SNF game last week lived up to the advanced billing... as my Patriots won a wild game with a FG as time expired. Earlier a Pats 2nd quarter 24-9 lead had turned into a 4th quarter 30-33 deficit. Whew. Next up: Da surprising Bears in da windy city. My Pats remain tied for first with the fish of Florida. All I can say is... Beat Da Bears !!!1!

It's time for our World Series picks. Also of note: Me & my Uncle Bill are planning on attending one of these games TBA... and if my Red Sox happen to win three games the remaining games in the series will all be Sabo Bowls.

Mackay Stadium, Reno NV -- Last Saturday, Sabo's Aztecs sqweeked out a three point win at home over the Spartans... a team they were 4-TD favorites over. This unimpressive win achieved an impressive result: SDSU is going bowling for the ninth straight season. Next up: a much harder test in Reno. The Wolf Pack knocked the Rainbows out of first last week; beating them on their islands. That puts Sabo's Aztecs into a first place tie with their arch rivals: the Fresno State Bulldogs. If Sabo could talk, he'd say... Go Aztecs !!!1!


Memorial Stadium, Berkeley CA -- Last Saturday, my Golden Bears simply slaughtered the Beavers in the hapless bowl... and became the 2nd to last P12 team to win a conference game. After two weeks on the bench, QB Chase Garbers got the start this time. Cal's slim chances at the P12 North remain alive. More to the point, they need two wins in the last five games to go bowling. Next up, in arguably's Cal's toughest game this season: the Washington Huskies. It'd sure help the cause to pull off this upset at home. Sure, I'll say it: Go Cal !!!1!

New Era Field, Orchard Park NY -- Last Sunday my Pats were the CBS national game, and they actually dignified us by actually showing it here... but, as it was the third Sunday, I missed most of the game taking Sabo to his regular IWW meeting. Priorities. It seems New England won (see above). The fish of Florida lost twice: on Sunday & Thursday... so my Pats are a now alone in first place and 1½ games ahead. Next up: my Pats make their yearly visit to NY state, and their only MNF appearance... as they play their second divisional game this season. All I can say is... Collect these Bills !!!1!

I took the train r/t to LA yesterday. It was SRO the whole way up. On the way down, the train left four hours late because there was a bomb scare at LA Union Station. In between train trips, me & Uncle Bill took the shuttle bus to Dodger Stadium, and watched my Red Sox win the World Series.

My Red Sox win !!!1!

Which means I now have taunting/yapping rights over Sabo... at least until my Red Sox visit the Barkyard late next August.

Dreamstyle Stadium, Albuquerque NM -- Last Saturday, Sabo's Aztecs didn't sqweeked out a low scoring close win. Instead that tough Nevada team beat them in Reno. The loss puts them a game behind their arch rivals... the 23 Fresno State Bulldogs. SDSU still controls their own destiny, but need to keep winning to keep pace. Next up: a reeling Lobos team in Albuquerque. If Sabo could talk, he'd say... Go Aztecs !!!1!


Martin Stadium, Pullman WA -- Yes, the entire town of Pullman is less than (a) the enrollment at Cal (41910), (b) less than half the new and reduced capacity at Memorial Stadium (68000), and even 1000s less than the capacity of local Martin Stadium (35117). Last Saturday, my Golden Bears pulled off one of the bigger upsets this season. In a defensive struggle, the deciding play was a third Q pick-6 by Cal LB Evan Weaver. Where does this great outcome leave the Bears? Well... (a) their far-fetched path to the roses, as outlined after the UCLA loss, remains open, (b) they are only a win away from going bowling, and (c) that's a lock upon winning that damn Ax back vs. Stanford. But why wait... next up: perhaps even a tougher game vs. Washington State... because it's on the road. Cal pulled their biggest upset last season versus the Cougars on a Friday night in Berkeley. How about doing it again, this time to clinch that bowl game, on a Saturday night in Pullman. Sure, I'll say it: Go Cal !!!1!


Gillette Stadium, Foxborough MA -- My Patriots beat the Bills near Buffalo last Monday. The game was closer than the score... as it was a field goal only battle into the fourth Q. My Pats are now two games up in first, and have the second best record on the AFC side of things. Next up: Cal alum A.Rodgers leads the Packers into Foxborough for SNF. All I can say is... Pack those Sausage Stuffers !!!1!

SDCCU Stadium, San Diego CA -- On Saturdy, it didn't look hopeful when the Lobos scored a TD in the 4th... which gave them a 23-14 lead with 10:07 left. However SDSU scored 17 unanswered points, to eek out another close win. Although neither started, Christian Chapman played most of the snaps and QBed the comeback, while RB Jamul Washington scored two TDs. Both are expected to start this week vs UNLV. With SDSU's big matchup with their arch rivals 23 Fresno State a week away, they'll want a win over the Rebels to tie the Bulldogs... who they are currently ½ game behind. If Sabo could talk, he'd say... Go Aztecs !!!1!


Los Angeles Coliseum, CA -- My Golden Bears go from Pullman WA (pop 31682) to Los Angeles CA (pop 3792621)... 117 times larger. Cal played the small town Washington State Cougars tough, thanks in no small part to six first downs gifted by the Cougar's defense. But in the end... less than a minute left... Washington State scored a TD to break a 13-13 tied score. And so, for still another season, the dream of the roses has been trampled underfoot. Next up: the big city USC Trojans. With Big Game still a week away, my Golden Bears prime objective this week is to (a) break their 13 game losing streak vs USC, and their eight game losing streak in the Coliseum, to (b) clinch going bowling. Sure, I'll say it: Go Cal, beat those Prophylactics !!!1!


Nissan Stadium, Nashville TN -- The Packers played my Patriots hard in Foxborough, taking a 17-17 tie into the 4th quarter. However, my Patriots closed out the game with 14 unanswered points... and a convincing victory. New England remains two games up in first, with the second best record on the AFC side of things. Next up: A trip to Nashville before heading into their bye. Once again, although my Patriots are the CBS national game, we here are being treated to the Cardinals-Chefs game. Urgh... I guess I'll need to go to the bar. All I can say is... Squirt on those (former) Oilers and bring these (new styled) Titans Low just like the (old-styled Titans) hated Jets !!!1!

Bulldog Stadium, Fresno CA -- With my Patriots on a scheduled bye, and my Golden Bears on a unscheduled bye, after postponing Big Game earlier today because of smoke from the deadly Camp fire, Sabo's Aztecs game in Fresno, where the air isn't quite as bad, is our only featured game this week.

The Aztecs and Bulldogs come into the season with three objectives: win the Mountain West, which requires winning the West division; go bowling; and beat their arch rival to win the Old Oil Can. Both 'States' are still alive for the MW title... however this is an elimination game for SDSU. Both teams are going bowling. As for the Old Oil Can: SDSU leads the overall series, while Fresno State is 4-3 in the Old Oil Can era.

Last week Sabo's Aztecs lost at home to 23pt dog UNLV. If I bet on the game, I'd have took the points. Not because I thought the Rebels were any good, but because SDSU would need to score 24+ points to cover... which seemed like a stretch. Well... they did score exactly 24 points in this game C.Chapman started, but was later benched for R.Agnew. Unfortunately they didn't shut out UNLV. Instead SDSU only got a 15-14 lead with seconds to go in the first half. Still, they had a 11 point lead in the 4th quarter, and the game seemed in hand. It still seemed in hand after a UNLV TD. But with less than four minutes left, a broken play 75 yard UNLV TD run decided the game. Ouch.

This week in the central valley SDSU is the big dog. But Sabo don't care, if he could talk, he'd still say: Go Aztecs !!!1! Beat those Bulldogs !!!1! Take back that Can !!!1!

Met Life Stadium, East Rutherford NJ -- Coming off a bye is always a good time to evaluate a team. For my Pats, it's 14 games down (inc the exhibitions), and 6-10 games remaining (inc possible playoffs). New England started slow, losing two of their first three. The MSM was full of "end of a dynasty" reporting. Then they went on a six game winning streak. The MSM was then full of "best Patriots team ever" stories. Two weeks ago they got the living crap kicked out of them. T.Brady didn't have a good game. Over the bye, the MSM has been musing that "Brady has lost it". More objectively, my Pats are in first, two games ahead of the Fish of Florida. They have the third best record on the AFC side of things... so unlike what seems normal giving recent history, if the season ended now they wouldn't earn that huge first round playoff bye.

Next up: the Jets in Jersey for Rivalry Bowl XLVIII. Historically my Pats are 4-0 in Rivalry Bowls, while the Jets/Titans are 0-4. Go Pats !!!1! Beat those Jets !!!1!


Memorial Stadium, Berkeley CA -- Coming off a bye is always a good time to evaluate a team. For my Golden Bears, this second bye was unscheduled, caused by the deadly Camp fire. They've played 10 games, and have three remaining. Yes three... because, after a two season hiatus... Cal is going bowling !!!1! Before the first bye, Cal went 3-0 out of conference. Between byes, they went 3-4 in conference. They became bowl eligible two weeks ago when they finally broke their 14 game losing streak to USC. The Trojans scored 14 unanswered in the first half... and all us cal fans had to be thinking "oh no, not again". However Cal scored 15 unanswered in the second half. The margin of victory was a safety... and it was really Cal's defense, which held USC to only 40 yards in the second half, that won the game.

The defense has been the strong point all season. The offense has struggled at times. Last year's QB R.Bowers started the first game, and hasn't been seen since. C.Garbers and B.McIlwain also played in that game, and have split the QB position since, at times on a snap-by-snap basis. C.Garbers has got the majority of the time and starts, and seems to have by now established himself as the starter. Back P.Laird has 771 yards rushing.

Next up: The reeling Buffaloes. Colorado won their first five games and got into the rankings... but have now lost their last six, have fired their coach, and need a win in their final game to go bowling. I'll yell it: Pull the wings off this Buffalo !!!1! Go Golden Bears !!!1!


SDCCU Stadium, San Diego CA -- Well, no 22nd conference championship, or 4-th straight 10 win season, or mythical Cal State championship, and no taking back that Old Oil Can. Once again, C.Chapman started at QB, and shared playing time with R.Agnew. It was a close game, but the Bulldogs were the best team, and got that last scoring "shot" in. Next up: the surprising Rainbows. It's senior night at the Union. If Sabo had yapping rights, he'd bark out: Go Aztecs !!!1!

Memorial Stadium, Berkeley CA -- Coming into the season, both Cal and Stanford had three goals: (1) play in the bay area this week, (2) go bowling, and (3) win that axe. Well... both teams are going bowling, but they didn't want to be playing each other tomorrow, they wanted to be playing Utah tonight in Santa Clara for a chance to go to the Rose Bowl. Both teams also have equal records at 7-4. Cal won it's seventh game last week over Colorado after getting out to an almost immediate 21-0 lead after Colorado started out with back-2-back pick-6s, followed by a muffed punt deep in their own territory.

What hasn't been equal is Stanford's eight game winning streak... the longest of this soon to be 121 game series, tied for 4th most played in the FBS. However, this particular game should be a 'pick', and it's time for this odious streak to end. Go Golden Bears !!!1! Take that Axe !!!1! Cut down those trees !!!1!


Gillette Stadium, Foxborough MA -- Although the hated Jets went into halftime tied 10-10, in the end my Pats went into Jersey, dominated, and took care of business in this Rivalry Bowl. So, for now at least, things are back on track... New England has a three game lead over those Florida fish, with five games left, and are on pace for that huge playoff bye, being one game behind the Chefs (w/tiebraker), and tied with the Texans (ahead w/tiebreaker). Up next: a rare game with the Vikings. I'll yell it: Go Pats !!!1!

Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens FL -- That's right... it's bowl season, and it includes both Sabo's Aztecs, who are in the Frisco TX Bowl vs Ohio, and my Golden Bears, who are going to Phoenix AZ to play TCU in the Cheez-it Bowl. This season four bowl eligible teams got left out: Southern Miss (6–5), Miami (of OH, 6–6), Louisiana-Monroe (6–6) and Wyoming (6–6). Also, Liberty (6-6) was ineligible as a first year FBS team. See the Ultimate All-Name Bowl Guide below. But... that's all not for another week. Next up: in FBS we have Army (9-2) v. Navy (3-9) on Saturday, and a whole week of NFL.

That NFL action features my Patriots visiting those foul fish of Florida. This always seems like a 'trap' game in south Florida: consider the fish have the advantage in the all-time series, have historically tortured the Pats @Hard Rock, and my Pats got fish-slapped 20-27 there just last season. That being said, my Patriots remain on pace for the #2 seed... and that huge first round bye. And... they would clinch post season play, and a home playoff game, with a win over those pesky fish.

Today, they whipped the Vikings. In the second half... in the first a good Vikings team played to a 10-10 tie. With a chance to clinch on the line... sure, I'll yell it: Go Pats !!!1!


To the AutoNation Cure, New Mexico, Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas, Raycom Media Camellia, R+L Carriers New Orleans; Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton; DXL Frisco; Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla; Makers Wanted Bahamas, Famous Idaho Potato; Birmingham, Lockheed Martin Armed Forces, Dollar General, Hawaii; SERVPRO First Responder, Quick Lane, Cheez-It; Walk On's Independence, New Era Pinstripe, Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas; Franklin Amer. Mort. Music City, Camping World, Valero Alamo; Belk, Chick-fil-A Peach, NOVA Home Loans Arizona, Goodyear Cotton, Capital One Orange; Military, Hyundai Sun, Redbox, AutoZone Liberty, SDCCU Holiday; Outback, VRBO Citrus, PlayStation Fiesta, Rose, Allstate Sugar Bowls (in that order)...


_{* Big Game 11-17 to 12-1. ** Independence Stadium, Shreveport LA, hosts no other adult games. Rank: CFP. $$$ Playoffs, final: 1-7 5:00 @NFL sf. + Conference champ. - Lost Conf. Champ. game. TV: ESPN unless noted. Team abbv: key. Opening line: vegasinsider.com. Post: gratuitous.}

Heinz Stadium, Pittsburgh PA -- My Pats once again got whipped in southern Florida. This game set some kinda record for most lead changes, and at least in the Superb Owl era, had the longest score as time expired. It was also the first time the Dolphins have ever scored to end a game. Even though it was an eventual 1-point game, the missed extra point by S.Gostkowsk after the first score of the game wasn't the deciding play. What was was the final play of the game... a 69-yard, hook and two lateral, play. I'm never going to say I feel like a Stanford fan... because I don't swing that way. But... ZOMG !!!1!

So, my Pats will try, try again to clinch the playoffs... as they visit the AFC North leading Steelers. This time they'll need help to cinch. Discounting ties, my Pats gotta win =And= get either a Dolphins (+290+7½) loss in Minneapolis =Or= a Titans (-120-1) loss in New Jersey to the Giants. I'll yell it... Go Pats !!!1! Step on these ketchup packets !!!1!