Two World Series games, tough roadies for USC and Texas plus Brett Favre's homecoming...

  • In two hours of post-game coverage on ESPN and MLB Net, not one mention of two more blown calls by the "Six Blind Mice", are we getting used to it?  With Mark Teixeira coming around, how many runs could they have cost the Yanks in the 7th?  The second blown call kept Ryan Howard from putting the fear of God in all Yankees fans.  However, Howard could have hit eight times off A.J. Burnett and Mariano Rivera and still not made contact last night.
  • Ever since he signed with the Yanks, the national media has mocked A.J. Burnett like he's the second-coming of Carl Pavano.  Shouldn't we wait to see if he actually flames out?  Here are the first year facts: He took the ball every five days for the entire regular season and he's put the Yankees in a position to win all four of his postseason starts.  Is a 13-9 pitcher with a 4.04 ERA worth all that money?  In this case, yes.  He has the ability to win you a game all by himself on the sport's biggest stage, which is invaluable in New York.
  • The Alex Rodriguez haters are back in full force.  I refuse to criticize at this stage for two reasons.  One, I saw it coming.  Two, it's baseball.  Nobody stays hot for a month.  With all the off days, he was bound to cool off, which is why it's imperative that Teixeira pick up the slack.
  • Congrats to Joe Girardi.  All-in-all, his two questionable moves paid off.  Jerry Hairston singled to key the 7th inning rally, while Jose Molina got the best out of Burnett and picked a runner off first base.  I still would not do it again, if the same match-up presents itself in Game 6.
  • Pedro Martinez is the greatest villain in modern New York sports.  Last night, he said that he would be "the king of New York" if he pitched for the Yankees.  He believes Yankee fans secretly admire his competitiveness and tenacity.  Sitting there, listening to him talk, I smiled.  We do.  We actually do.
  • Follow my weekend tweets on the series at twitter.com/mooresports...
  • "The Cocktail Party" will get plenty of hype, but Florida is due to play a little offense and Georgia has been happy to relent this season.
  • The game of the week is in Eugene, OR.  If the Ducks played an SEC schedule as opposed to starting the season with a no-chance road game in Boise, they would be national title contenders.  They have been so much more impressive recently than USC, Texas, Florida or Alabama.  The Trojans need to make a defensive adjustment.  Move Taylor Mays into the box because his knee injury looks like it's cost him a step or two, so let him go forward and hit instead of moving laterally in coverage.  On the other side, Matt Barkley has played his best on the road.  In fact, the Trojans are featuring their most explosive offensive unit since the Leinart/Bush years.  With a raucous crowd on Halloween night, we should be in for a classic.  I'll take the more experienced Trojans to win the turnover battle (Oregon's rookie backs will fumble) and the game...31-27, USC.
  • This is THE GAME for Texas.  If they can survive Stillwater, the rest of the schedule is smooth-sailing.  Oklahoma State will not have Dez Bryant for the remainder of the season, but at least they have closure.  They've played fine without him.  The Horns don't play like a National Title team, so I'll take the Cowboys in a stunner.
  • The rest of the college football slate looks like Week 1.  Ohio State dares to take on New Mexico St. in Columbus, while LSU plays "local rival" Tulane.  If we don't get a playoff, can't we take scheduling out of these money-grubbers hands?!?
  • The NFL's early games are slightly better than usual thanks to no Sunday nighter.  The New York-Philly blood war moves from the diamond to the gridiron for three hours.  The Giants offense was miserable last week after their defense was strifed by the Saints a week previous.  So, both units will likely play well or badly against the Eagles, who are the ultimate momentum team.  Philly wants a track meet.  "Shady" McCoy will get the start in place of Brian Westbrook to go along with young speedsters Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.  If the game is played between the tackles, the Giants win.  If it's played on the edges, Philly wins.  I'll take the Eagles at home.
  • The Broncos undefeated start comes to an abrupt end in Baltimore.  Each week, there is a game I feel great about. Last week, I loved the Steelers to end the Vikings perfect start.  This week, I expect the Ravens, the more desperate team, to dominate Denver.
  • Another good bet, after last week's embarrassment, the Bears will cover whatever line Vegas throws their way against the Browns.
  • The 2009 NFL season has led up to this point.  Vikings at Packers, Brett Favre returning to Lambeau.  We could see grisly, fat men with cheeseheads sobbing like children.  We could see a standing ovation or a torrid of insults.  Nothing would surprise me.  Favre could throw for five TDs or five picks.  Truthfully, I have no idea.  But my best guess: The Packers defend their home turf.