Day 31: NFL's undefeateds, MLB playoffs, BCS Standings and more

HEADLINES

1) After Sunday's NFL games, four teams remain undefeated with the Broncos still playing tonight. Who do you think is the best team in the NFL.

Ben: I'm going to say, as much as it pains me to say this, the Minnesota Vikings. I just think that the quarterback position is all they've lacked the last few years and with their offense in pretty good shape, they are a difficult team to beat. They might not always blow teams out, but they certainly seem to have a decided advantage throughout the game. Obviously the Saints and Colts are close contenders because of their quarterback play as well, but I just think the Vikings have a more complete team then either of those two.

The Broncos aren't even in the discussion, they've gotten by on solid defense, and luck -- no way that continues throughout the whole season.

Boz: I'll go with the New Orleans Saints. I think that the New York Giants are one of the top five defenses (and teams) in the league and the Saints scored 48 points against them. The Saints have the best offense in the league by leaps and bounds and they've shown that they have a strong defense to go along with it. I really like what Sean Payton is doing with the Saints and Drew Brees is making average wide receivers (Lance Moore and Robert Meachem) look like studs. Going undefeated throughout the season is not going to happen but they'll win 13 or 14 games, most likely not dropping a game in the Superdome all season.

2) The Yankees have jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the ALCS while the Phillies took a 2-1 advantage over the Dodgers after an 11-0 win. Are you ready to pronounce any of these series over?

Ben: Not really. Especially with the Angels heading back west. I think that they'll have a decided advantage back home, and they probably should've won one of those games in New York anyway. The Dodgers I think can climb out of the hole they are in because the Phillies rotation is only 3 deep, I don't think they can keep the Dodgers at bay in Game 4, and I wouldn't be surprised if both series were 2-2 when they played game 5.
Boz: No. I actually think that the Dodgers are going to win Game 4 tonight with Randy Wolf on the mound. Wolf is strong against left-handed hitting and will do a good job with Rollins, Utley, Howard and Ibanez. On the other hand, Blanton has struggled against the Dodger line-up which leads to the Dodgers evening the series tonight and making it a best-of-three series.

Despite the Yankees getting a 2-0 lead, I'm not ready to pronounce the series over until the Yankees win a game on the road. The Yankees are still set for the three-man rotation which could tire later on in the series. I think the Angles offense will revitalize at home. Plus, you never count out a team with a rally monkey.

3) The first BCS Standings came out on Sunday. Do you have any problems with the first poll?

Ben: Surprisingly, no. I'm satisfied with the way teams are ranked thus far, and while I have a problem with the BCS as a whole, I think so far, they've got it right. I'm glad Boise State, TCU, and Iowa all got their due, and I think it's fairly obvious that at this point, Alabama and Flordia are the two best teams in the nation. I'm going to be disappointed when one of them has to lose in the SEC championship game and that team won't get a rematch for the national title, but in the meantime, I'm happy with the rankings.

The time will come though, when those rankings disappoint, frustrate, and alienate the entire country.

Boz: This could be the first time I've ever said this but I'm actually ok with the first BCS poll. I actually like it more than the AP poll right now. I'm shocked that in the AP poll, Oklahoma stayed in the poll at No. 25 with three losses just because they stayed in the game with Texas. I don't see anything in the first BCS poll that I would argue with. With that being said, it is the first BCS poll of the year and I'm sure more arguments will come as the year goes on and we get closer to bowl games.

4) After the Redskins lost to yet another winless team, Jim Zorn has relinquished play calling duties to Sherman Lewis, who was previously serving as offensive consultant. Will this move finally turn around the Redskins offense?

Ben: Nope. They are bad, and it is really, really impressive that they've won 2 games. They've played 6 winless teams in 6 weeks, and are 2-4 -- that's sad. I'm actually surprised Zorn is still employed today, and I don't think anyone can help this team. It is the Titantic, and only 1/3 of the people aboard are going to survive.

Boz: No. Absolutely not. It doesn't matter who is calling the plays if you don't have the players to execute the plays. They don't have a quarterback to throw the ball and they don't have any playmakers at the wide receiver position. Clinton Portis is decent at the running back position, but without an offensive line, a decent running back looks like a poor running back. You can't point the finger of blame directly at Jim Zorn. Fingers have to be pointed at the owner for not bringing in the right players and at the players for not executing on the field. Giving the play calling duties to the offensive consultant won't change a whole lot. He's been the offensive consultant for the past two weeks but the Redskins only put up six points yesterday. Where's the consulting in that?

ODDS

1) Mark Sanchez threw for just 119 yards and five inteceptions in the Jets 16-13 loss to Buffalo to move to 3-3 after starting out the season 3-0. What are the odds that the Jets will make the playoffs?

Ben: I'll say 40%. I think Sanchez was a nice story at the beginning, but he's going something that teams are catching up on and it's hurting the Jets. Their defense is fantastic, but a rookie quarterback is going to play like a rookie most times, and Sanchez is just hitting a tough patch. Hopefully, for Jets fans' it's short-lived.

Boz: 0%. It's amazing how fast the Jets have fallen in the last three weeks after being tabbed as the Super Bowl favorites after a 3-0 start. They have a tough defense and a good running game, but if Sanchez continues to not take care of the football, they won't win nine games. They definitely won't win the division over the Patriots and there are too many tough teams in the AFC that will force the Jets to win 10 games to get a wild card spot. It won't happen.

2) Alex Rodriguez hit a big home run in the bottom of the 11th with the Yankees down a run and the Bronx Bombers would eventually win in the 13th inning. What are the odds that A-Rod is named ALCS MVP?

Ben: 37%. I'm not sure the Yanks even win the series, so how can I give A-Rod a high chance of winning the MVP?

Boz: 70%. If the Yankees win in four games, then he's the MVP. However, I don' think it'll end in four games, meaning that A-Rod will have to do a little more to be named MVP. If Sabathia wins another game in dominant fashion, then Sabathis would be a serious contender to steal the MVP award away from A-Rod.

3) With a big road win at Wisconsin, Iowa remained undefeated and on top of the Big Ten standings. What are the odds that Iowa wins the Big Ten?

Ben: 100%. Basically they've already earned a split, with the major test coming against OSU, which already has a Big Ten loss. Since the Big Ten does not have a tiebreaker, they would just be Co-Champions. Iowa is impressive this year, and my foot is firmly placed in my mouth for doubting their abilities at the beginning of the season.

Boz: 85%. Their only test reamaining is November 14 at Ohio State. Which looks like less of a test after Purdue took care of the Buckeyes on Saturday. However, the Horseshoe is still a tough place to play. But if the Hawkeyes can beat Penn State in Happy Valley, they can beat Ohio State in the Horseshoe. The real question will be if Iowa goes undefeated, do they deserve a shot at the national title? An issue that I'm sure this blog will cover in the future.

HAPPY HOUR

Ben: Happy 9th Anniversary Dusty Baker. On this date in 2000 you signed a 2 year extension with the Giants, becoming the second highest-paid manager in the majors. Since that date, you've been with the Giants, Cubs, ESPN, and Reds, ruined one pitchers arm (Mark Prior), nearly ruined another (Kerry Wood), and the ruling is still out on the third arm in danger of being destroyed (Edinson Volquez). Congrats -- quite an accomplishment.

Boz: Happy 133rd Birthday to Mordecai "3 Finger" Brown. After a farm-machinery accident when he was younger, Brown lost parts of two fingers on his right hand. Despite the injury, Brown won 239 games in his career and had a career 2.06 ERA. He was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1949 and was a member of the 1907 and 1908 Chicago Cubs World Series Champs.