NFL Week 15: Redbud

Well, here we are at the most pivotal and historic hole at Augusta. The 16th. So many memories here: Nicklaus in 75 - and then again in 86. The start of Sneed's choke in 79. Tiger and the failed high five in 05. Perry's shot last year that should have sewed it up for him.



It seems that after this hole, the contenders are set. This is the last chance for anyone that are 2-3 back to make the run and hopefully charge up the board. I remember Nicklaus's miracle run in 98 - as a 52 year old - making the charge and getting to within 3 or 4 of O'Meara and Duval. He came to the 16th - and had a 15 footer for birdie. It was a must make if he wanted any chance to win his 7th jacket.



He missed, and ended up 4 back in a tie for 6th. If he made this putt, he would have gotten to within 2, and who knows what would have happened.



By the way - it's time to move the pin here. It's been nice to have that pin down in the back left for 20 years or so - but now it seems easy and routine. Hit the ball on the slope, and let it roll down. That's an awfully large target for the 70th hole of a major.



I really believe that the Sunday pins should change every 5 years or so. My rotation to use for 2010-2015:


10: Back right ( The Hoch position)
11: Back left (the Mize position)
12: Right (ok, we will keep that)
13: Back left (giving them an impossible pitch if they go over)
14: Right (like 86)
15: Left, in the sliver
16: Back right
17: Front?
18: Back. I'm starting to hate the front left. Again, the payers can aim for the slope, giving them a bigger target than it seems.


Anyway, this is the 15 footer for a lot of teams, like Dallas (who made the putt), Miami, Tennessee, Atlanta, San Fran, Pit. A loss here and those teams are done. Period.

As for my personal 16th hole, the best I could think of is the 16th from an old favorite course, the 16th at Apple Valley. Apple Valley hosted the Ohio Public Golfers' champ 6 times over the past 12-13 years - and the 16th is a 170 yard par 3 with water (short). The green is two -tiered, and long is usually death (although not for Kermit). It seems innocent, until you get on the wrong tier or miss the green on the wrong side.

To the picks:

NE 24, Buf 17. I'm starting to think this Pats team is fatally flawed. Could they lose in the 1st round at home?


Hou 24, StL 10. My God, Keith Null was awful last week.


Ten 27, Mia 23. The Game of the Week here. A slugfest to the end.


Arz 31, Det 10. A classic bounce back game for Warner.


NYJ 20, Atl 17. The Jets continue to rise while feasting on inferior competition.


KC 20, Cle 16. Do we really see the Browns winning 2 in a row?


Den 27, Oak 9. It's Charlie Frye! I've seen this movie before, and I know how it ends.


SD 27, Cin 16. Any guesses on how the Bengals will respond?


Phi 20, SF 13. San Fran is incompentent on offense, especially on the road.


GB 27, Pit 20. I really do feel like the Steelers are imploding from within.


Sea 24, TB 13. The Seahawks are a different team at home - a decent one.


Bal 24, Chi 9. I've seen this movie too - a hungry Ravens team vs. an opponent rolling over.


Min 28, Car 17. Why is this game on Sunday night?


Was 27, NYG 20. Another Monday night surprise by the home team.


Best bets: 14 of them. Last week: 6-8. Overall: 86-98-2.





Hou/Stl under 43.5
Ten/Mia over 43
Arz -14
Arz/Det under 47
Atl +7
Den -14
SD -7
SF/Phi under 40.5
GB +2
GB/Pit over 41
Sea -6.5
Bal -11
Chi/Bal under 39
Was +3