NFL Picks: Week 12

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Week 11 record: 10-6
Season record: 98-62

Happy Thanksgiving 2010!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers and hope you guys enjoy a great day.

Here are my Thanksgiving football picks:

Patriots @ Lions 12:30 PM ET on CBS
The Lions are playing inspired football, and have been in almost every game this year, but just have had problems closing. They are much better team than in year's past, but New England comes into the game as impressive as ever, with wins in back-to-back wins over Pittsburgh and Indy and I don't think they'll be stopped today.

Saints @ Cowboys 4:15 PM ET on FOX
Best NFL game of day, as Dallas is 2-0 under Garrett and seemingly more disciplined with Jon Kitna having settled down as solid fill-in for Tony Romo. However, the defending champs from New Orleans are rolling, and Drew Brees and co. should have big day against Dallas secondary.

Bengals @ Jets 8:20 PM ET on NFL Network
Playoff rematch from last season, so looked good on paper when they scheduled it. Too bad that's not how things have turned out. Bengals are a mess, losers of 7 straight, including a horrible one last week to awful Buffalo at home. Jets meanwhile look like one of teams to beat in AFC this year, with a great defense and great QB play from Mark Sanchez. This one might be over by halftime for the home side.

#17 Texas A&M @ Texas 8 PM ET on ESPN
Aggies are hottest team in Big 12 right now, as they have won five straight since Ryan Tannehil has become the starting QB. A&M's defense has also been impressive in their run. For Texas, it's been a season to forget, as they need to win this game just to become bowl eligible. Garrett Gilbert and the UT offense has struggled to get into groove, while the great defense has looked vulnerable at times. It should be close since it's in Austin, but Aggs are better team.

My Thanksgiving Picks:

Rapids Win MLS Cup

In not a well-played final in the cold of Toronto Sunday night, but certainly one that will be remembered for a long time, the Colorado Rapids won their first ever MLS Cup with a 2-1 overtime victory over FC Dallas. MVP Connor Casey scored the equalizer early in the second half, after league MVP David Ferreira had put Dallas up in the first half. The winning goal, unfortunately for the Hoops, came by way of an own goal off the leg of George John in the 107th minute. Full highlights of match are below.

NFL Picks: Week 11

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Week 10 record: 8-6
Season record: 88-56

2010 MLS Cup Final Preview

American soccer's championship will be determined Sunday night in Toronto, at the 2010 MLS Cup Final, with FC Dallas taking on the Colorado Rapids at 7:30 PM CT on ESPN.

Dallas, which upset the LA Galaxy in the Western Conference Championship last week, is led by league MVP David Ferreira, and is in its first ever MLS Cup Final. Colorado, meanwhile which is in its second ever final, advanced out of Eastern Conference bracket after beating Columbus and San Jose. They are led by strikers Conor Casey and Omar Cummings, who are great on counterattack. They key to the game will be whether Colorado can contain Ferreira and Dallas' wideplay, and hit them on a counterattack. In the goal, Dallas' Kevin Hartman was outstanding in their win over LA, so Colorado's Matt Pickens must match his play. Weather may also play a factor, as it will be in 30's, extremely cold for a team that played its regular season games in 90 degree weather in Dallas.

NFL Picks: Week 10

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Week 9 record: 10-3
Season record: 80-50

NFL Picks: Week Nine

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Week 8 record: 7-6
Season record: 70-47

Giants Win World Series

For a team that was largely put together in the middle of the season, the San Francisco Giants emerged as 2010 World Series Champions. The first championship for the Giants since 1954 and first since moving to San Francisco came behind dominant pitching of Tim Lincecum in a 3-1 Game 5 victory over the Texas Rangers in Arlington. World Series MVP Edgar Renteria, who hit .412 with 2 HR, 6 RBI in series, provided all the offense San Fran needed with a 3-run home run in the 7th inning, the second championship clinching hit of his career (1997 with Marlins).

A true underdog, fielding many players that were cut from other teams before and during the season (Aubrey Huff, Freddy Sanchez, Renteria, Cody Ross), the Giants used timely hitting and their outstanding pitching to clinch all three postseason series on the road.

For the Rangers, an amazing season comes to an end three wins shy of a title. The only major league franchise to never win a postseason series coming into the season, the Rangers upset both the Rays and Yankees to reach their first Fall Classic. However, just as the Astros did in 2005, their bats went silent in the end, and they had to watch their opponents celebrate on their field.