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Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
When UAlbany welcomes UMBC to town on Wednesday, they need to treat them with more respect than they did Binghamton. The Bearcats were winless and almost pulled of a big upset last week at SEFCU. UMBC is a bottom level team in the America East, a team the Great Danes should control a home. It's a must win with first place Stony Brook rolling in on Saturday for Big Purple Growl.

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
Patriots coach Bill Belichick calls Rob Gronkowski's status "Day-to-day with a high ankle sprain, but you can bet he will be on the field Sunday at 6:30pm. If the Patriots have anychance of beating the Giants they need Gronkowski on the field and close to 100 percent. He was Tom Brady 's favorite target this season with 17 touchdowns, an NFL record for a tight end. High ankle sprains can be tricky, but it's the Super Bowl.

Monday, January 30th, 2012
Hard to believe I am headed to Indianapolis on Monday to cover the Giants and Patriots in the Super Bowl. Not surprised about the Patriots getting there, but the Giants is a whole other story. When they looked bad in losing to  to the Redskins 23-20 at home on December 18th, who thought they would end up in the Super Bowl? Head Coach Tom Coughlin was on the hot heat although I never believed that and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell was going to get fired. What a turn around. I am not complaining, because the Giants punched my ticket to Indy.

Friday, January, 27th, 2012
When you look back at the Giants incredible run to the Super Bowl, how many times do you think about WR Victor Cruz and his turnaround play of the season? Hakeem Nicks' Hail Mary at Green Bay ranks high on the list, but without Cruz's 99 yard touchdown against the Jets the Giants may not be heading to Indianapolis on Monday for Super Bowl XLVI. The Giants beat the Jets on December 24th and have not lost since, and who ever thought Cruz would turn out to be this good a few summers ago at UAlbany. 

Thursday, January, 26th, 2012
After watching Jimmer Fredette through the early portion of the NBA season, I have a couple of observations. The Glens Falls native is on a bad Sacramento Kings team that's not going to get any better. And, maybe more importantly Jimmer does not shoot the ball enough. Losing games and not putting up enough shots, makes for a frustrating  rookie season.

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012
There is one thing the Siena and UAlbany men's basketball programs have in common this season, and that is winning games on their home court. UAlbany which hosts Binghamton on Wednesday is undefeated at SEFCU Arena, but struggles on the road especially against quality opponents in the America East. Siena coming off Monday nights stunning victory over Iona is 7-3 and winners of five straight at the Times Union Center. It's too bad that neither team will host their conference tournaments in March.

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
When Eli Manning said last summer that he was among the top 5 quarterback's in the NFL, most of us got a little chuckle out of that. Who is laughing now? Manning, with the help of a great receiving chore, has proven us all wrong. Manning is one of the best quarterback's in the NFL and when he beats Tom Brady in the Super Bowl for a second time, he will become the only Giants quarterback to win two Super Bowls in franchise history.

Monday, January 23rd, 2012
The passing of Joe Paterno was a tough one for me to swallow. I grew  up near the University, went to school there and covered the program for six years. Despite a very unfortunate ending to his career, Paterno  will be forever loved by PSU fans everywhere for the impact he had for 61 years.  I will always consider Paterno a great man and the best college football coach of all time. God rest his soul. His legacy will live on.

Friday, January 21st, 2012
After picking Green Bay last week I heard from many Giants' fans this week, begging me to pick against the Giants on Sunday. Sorry to disappoint but I can't do it. The Giants are on to much of a roll, and they won't lose to quarterback Alex Smith twice in the same season. The Giants defense won't stand for that. Rain in the forecast helps the 49ers, but the way quarterback Eli Manning and his receivers have played all season they will beat the elements and beat San Francisco 24-18.

 
Thursday, January 19th, 2012
Head coach Rick Kowalski gets high marks for the job he's done with the Albany Devils at the halfway mark of the season. Kowalski has consistently developed players to help New Jersey, and at the same time  kept local hockey fans happy by keeping the Devils near the top of the Northeast Division standing's. Never an easy juggling act to handle, but Kowalski  has been more than up to the challenge.

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012
There are no must wins in the regular season, must win games only come when tournament time rolls around. Having said that, the UAlbany men's basketball team could really use a signature America East road win Thursday night at Vermont. UAlbany has already stumbled twice on the road in  conference play losing at Stony Brook and at Boston U, and both those teams are considered contenders for the championship. UAlbany is undefeated at home, but they now need to prove they can get a quality win on the road.

 
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
Let me just say with no prediction yet that Sunday's NFC championship shapes up as a classic. This game will be different for the Giants, because the San Francisco defense is very good and so much better than the Packers, Falcons, Cowboys or Jets who the Giants faced the last four weeks. The 49ers will try and hammer Eli Manning much like they did against Drew Brees. The Giants' defense is rolling too, so don't expect a crazy high scoring game, but expect a classic. 

Monday, January 16th, 2012
When Eli Manning completed a hail mary touchdown pass to Hakeem Nicks to end the first half, you knew the Giants were in good shape. That was the difference in the game.  Aaron Rodgers maybe the MVP of the NFL this season, but Manning was the better player on Sunday. I am starting to think we could have a Super Bowl  re-match between the Giants and Patriots.  If the Giants defense plays the way it did against the Packers they will win in San Francisco.

Friday, January 13th, 2012
I would love to see the Giants win Sunday at Green Bay, and the way they are playing right now that's not out of the question. What they did four years ago at Lambeau field means nothing on Sunday. Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback this time around and not Brett Favre. Rodger's does not throw to the wrong team very often and he will not get rattled by the pass rush of the Giants. I picked the Packers and Patriots to meet in the Super Bowl with the Packers defending their title. The Giants are peaking at the right time, but it won't be good enough to beat Rodger's and Green Bay. Packers advance with a 23-20 win.

Thursday, January 12th, 2012
Not sure what you expected out of this year's Siena men's basketball team, but for me, they have been better than expected. Head coach Mitch Buonaguro, all things considered has really done a really nice. If they can stay close to .500 the rest of the season, Buonaguro should win coach of the year in the MAAC. Siena hs become a fun team to watch these days, and O.D. Anosike has been nearly impossible to stop. I just hope that don't run out of gas

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012
UAlbany mens basketball team is home Wednesday night against New Hampshire., and  junior college  transfer Gerardo Suero is worth the price of admission. He is the best offensive player the  Great Danes have had in their program since Jamar Wilson. Wilson is still considered the best player in program history, but  Suero is a very gifted offensive player who is fun to watch

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012
I almost drove into a ditch while traveling back from Stony Brook on Sunday listening to Tim Tebow's game winning touchdown pass in overtime to beat my beloved Steelers. I am a Tebow believer but not against Pittsburgh and certainly not this weekend at New England. Let me make an early prediction. The Patriots will beat the Bronco's on Saturday night in Foxboro, and Tebow mania will end at least for this season. Enough is enough already.

Monday, January 9th, 2012
You can't tell me that Brent Steuerwald, Ken Strube and Mike Campisi all wanted to end their coaching career's all at the same time. Campisi will make his announcement on Monday after 32 years of coaching boys soccer. These are three legendary coaches, and Strube is the only one who was ready to retire. Maybe, someone at Shen should explain why Steuerwald and Campisi were told it was time to move on. Not a big fan of a policy that needs an explanation.

Friday, January 6th, 2012
The Atlanta Falcons don't like playing outdoors, they don't like playing in the elements. They are a dome team that committed a season-high three turnovers in each of the open-air loses to Chicago and Tampa. Matt Ryan is built for the Georgia Dome, not Metlife stadium where the forecast is calling for rain and snow showers on Sunday. The Giants pass rush will make for a long afternoon for Ryan and the Falcons.  Giants win 23-14.

Thursday, January 5th, 2012
Don't read to much into Iona's blowout MSG party win over Siena, other than the Gaels are loaded with talent. I promise you Siena won't be the only team in the MAAC to lose to Iona by more than 30 points. Can we just hand the MAAC title to Iona right now, because there is nobody in the MAAC maybe Fairfield that will challenge the Gaels. They are that good, but didn't we already know that.

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012
The ECAC hockey schedule begins in full force on Saturday, and it can't get here soon enough for RPI. To say the Engineers have struggled so far would be an understament, but the conference season is what counts the most. I am not predicting RPI to win the ECAC, but look for head coach Seth Appert to get things turned around with his young team starting this Friday against Dartmouth.  

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
All of a sudden this Giants team has a dangerous feel about them with the playoffs set to begin on Sunday. It's not becasue of their offense that has been solid all season but it's becasue of their defense. The Giants are healthy on the defensive line just in the nick of time. They sacked Tony Romo six times on Sunday night, and I would look for more on the same against Matt Ryan and the Falcons this week. I thought Green Bay was a lock to get to the Super Bowl, not so sure about that right now.

Monday, January 2nd, 2012
Former Guilderland standout quarterback Ryan Smith made a good choice in transfering from Colgate to UAlbany. He was not happy at Colgate for a number of reasons, and after sitting out a season, he will get a chance to compete for a starting job with the Great Danes. Smith who was heavily recruited by UAlbany threw for over 16 hundred yards and 19 touchdowns in his senior season for the Dutchmen. You can never have enough quality quarterbacks, and Smith gives head coach Bob Ford another option starting in 2013.

Friday, December 30th, 2011
I have been leaning toward picking the Giants all week, but was waiting for one thing to push me over the edge and now that's happened. There is a very good chance the Giants get Osi Umenyiora back giving head coach Tom Coughlin a full complement of llineman for the first time in awhile. That spells big trouble for Dallas quarterback Tony Romo, who doesn't handle pressure all that well to begin with. Giants will begin the New Year with a convincing 31-20 win.
 

Thursday, December 29th, 2011
All signs point to a Giants victory on Sunday in a  winner take all showdown against the Cowboys, but then I think about a 3-4 home record this season. Brutal loses to Seattle, Philadelphia and Washington. They barely beat the Dolphins and fans booed there team off the field on more than one occasion. I am learning toward picking the Giants, but the home record concerns me.

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011
UAlbany plays at Maryland Wednesday night, and although this is not expeted to be a good Terps team in the ACC this season, they will still be a handful for the Great Danes. Stranger things have happened though, just look at Pitt losing to Wagner. UAlbany has plenty of offense this season Junior Guard Gerardo Suero can really score but their defense has been subpar. A better job on the defensive end, and this is a Great Danes team that can win the America East title this season.

Tuesday, December 27th, 2011
As expected Tyson Chandler is going to be a difference maker for the Knicks this season. He had six of the Knicks' 11 blocks on Sunday against the Celtics, and Chandler came up big when it counted the most in the fourth quarter. If Chandler scores points that's a bonus, but what they really need from their 7 foot-1 center is his defense, and if he deliveres like he did against Boston the Knicks will be a much better team this season

Monday, December 26th, 2011
Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez has not developed into an elite quarterback in the NFL, and that was evident more than ever against the Giants. Sanchez was picked off twice and never found a rythm that he needed and consequently the Jets are a longshot to make the playoffs. Sanchez has taken a step back this season and head coach Rex Ryan will need to address that position in the off season. It's not as promising as once thought. 

Friday, December 23rd, 2011
I am picking the Giants on Saturdray, and it's because of the season quarterback Eli Manning is having. Eli will outplay Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, and the Giants defense as bad as they have been, will get pressure on Sanchez and force him into making mistakes. It will come down to turnovers, it always does, and Sanchez will lose that battle. The Jets will score there points, but lose 31-25. I am just glad my Christmas Eve service does not start until 7 pm, because I am not missing a play of this game. Merry Christmas