December

Ah, December… The leaves have changed (at least if you live in area where the leaves do change, unlike myself in Los Angeles), the holiday season is upon us, and five major sports are in full swing.  So, for today, let’s take a capsule look at what’s going on.

NFL: Last week, I looked at the parity now existing in the National Football League.  Of course, as even as teams are, the playoffs will still only hold twelve teams.  The postseason picture grew a little clearer this past weekend.  In the AFC, one favorite coming into the season, the Chargers, dropped completely out of contention, another, the Patriots, slipped to a game out of a playoff spot, and a third, the Colts rose into one.  Denver showed a strong resurgence and Pittsburgh reiterated that they are the one team capable of challenging the Titans.  The NFC picture is as murky as ever, with eleven teams still in contention.  The Giants and Cardinals are pretty secure, but the South has replaced the East as the division to beat.

NCAA Football: The BCS is as big a mess as ever, with Oklahoma passing Texas for the second spot despite having lost to the Longhorns.  We could be looking at four undefeated teams going into bowl season, two of which will be playing in BCS bowls but not against each other (Alabama and Utah) and a third (Boise State) which is at least receiving consideration, although few expect a second non-”big six” conference team to win an at-large bid.  So much for every week being a playoff, as the BCS supporters posit as a rationale for their irrational system.

NHL: Looking back over the first few weeks of this site, I realized I have yet to post on hockey.  I don’t have a good reason why not–I enjoy the puck immensely.  A quarter season has passed already.  Last year’s Stanley Cup Finalists are both playing strong, although Detroit has been eclipsed by the absolutely stellar play of the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh overshadowed by the New York Rangers and by the Boston Bruins’ return to prominence.  This week features a major show down between the Rangers and Penguins. The Rangers are definitely a good team, but considering that New York has played two more games than anyone else in the league, three more than any other team in its own division, and four more than Pittsburgh, it’s time to see if they truly are that much better than the rest of the conference or if their high point total is an additional games played advantage.

NBA: Lakers. Celtics. ‘Nuff said (with an apologetic nod to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers). Finals rematch, anyone?

NCAA Basketball: So far, North Carolina has justified its unanimous pre-season #1 ranking, dominating even with National Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough having played minimal minutes to date due to injury.  Meanwhile, the Big East set a record this week with eight teams being ranked in the AP Poll.  That’s half of the sixteen team league and just under a third of the ranked teams.  Wow.  

A most wonderful time of the year, indeed!

• December 19, 2008 -- Nate’s Most Intriguing Bowl Matchups (2)
• December 14, 2008 -- Playoff Picture Still Murky (0)
• January 12, 2009 -- Divisional Round Dish (0)
• December 9, 2008 -- Football Coaches Have A Sense of Humor (0)
• November 25, 2008 -- EnEfElquality (0)