If only the NFL picks were as easy as picking Central Catholic

FROM KEITH GROLLER

So busy with the boys basketball previews and events like the Yasso/Rothrock banquet and Andre Reed's "Over the Middle" barbeque sauce unveiling -- yes, it's a hard job, but somebody's got to eat for this company -- that I missed the Thursday night NFL game. Didn't see it, didn't pick it.

But I got one right on Friday night, picking Central 34-21 (check out Friday's post) over Archbishop Wood. My buddy, Andy Weaver, was even closer, picking CCHS 44-28. Kudos to Weave. He should be proud of the fact that his Blue Eagles came as close as anyone to beating CCHS this season. In fact, anybody who hasn't been mercy-ruled by this team should get a tip of the hat.

The Nosovitch kid is the buzz of the Valley. Everyone's talking about him. Even at basketball games. And not just here, too. The Philly media couldn't believe what they were seeing either and wrote some terrific things about him.

With him as quarterback, and that overall speed on that CCHS offense, it's hard to imagine anyone beating these Vikings. There was a point where I thought the competition was subpar, and that explained the CCHS blowouts -- 3A tends to be not quite as grueling as 4A in all sports.

But now, I'm convinced. These guys could play with anybody in Pennsylvania high school football -- not only play them, but beat them.

I am sure Bishop McDevitt is talented and tough. You're not playing a week before Christmas in high school football if you're not very good. They've won 11 straight games after losing games to Harrisburg-area foes Cumberland Valley and Susquehanna Township back in September, which seems an eternity ago.

I just don't see them stopping the Central offense often enough to win. It's much like the Central team in 1993, the one that buried Blackhawk 40-0 in the state final, and the Austin Scott-led Parkland team in 2002 which defeated Woodland Hills, 34-12, in the championship game.

CCHS was unstoppable on the big stage, and so was Scott.

If Central wins on Friday night, is it the greatest team in Lehigh Valley football history?

Well, it will at least go down as the winningest because of the extended schedule. The 1993 CCHS team was 14-0.

The 2002 Parkland team was 14-1 after losing to Becahi in its opener and the 2008 Liberty team was 15-1 after also losing its opener to North Penn. Both the Trojans and Hurricanes later avenged their only losses, by the way.

So, yes, 16-0 makes CCHS the winningest team in Lehigh Valley football history. The best? I'll leave others to debate that, but that 1993 CCHS team was pretty darn good, too.

In their state final, they outgained Blackhawk 409-65. That's dominance on both sides of the ball.

At the time it was the most lopsided state final ever. Of course, the PIAA was just six years old at that point.

But the 1993 Vikings were terrific.

I'd like to be terrific with my NFL picks. I was a little better last Sunday and Monday, going 8-7 against the spread, 10-5 on the over/under totals and 7-8 outright. At least I got the two primetime games right with the Steelers and Pats prevailing.

For the season, I am 100-88 outright, 80-101-7 against the spread, 91-95-2 on the over/under totals.

Running out of time to get back over .500 against the spread; an attempt that may be as futile as trying to stop Mr. Nosovitch.

Here we go (HOME TEAMS IN CAPS):

JACKSONVILLE (-3.5) 23, Oakland 17 -- under the 42

PITTSBURGH (-8.5) 20, Cincinnati 17 -- under the 39

New England (-3) 30, CHICAGO 20 -- over the 38

Cleveland (even) 24, BUFFALO 21 -- over the 39

Green Bay (-6.5) 34, DETROIT 24 -- over the 46.5

Atlanta (-7.5) 24, CAROLINA 20 -- over the 42.5

WASHINGTON (+1) 19, Tampa Bay 17 -- under the 41

NEW ORLEANS (-9) 38, St. Louis 17 -- over the 47

Seattle (+5) 21, SAN FRANCISCO 17 -- under the 41.5

NY JETS (-5.5) 26, Miami 17 -- over the 39

Denver (-4) 30, ARIZONA 21 -- over the 43.5

SAN DIEGO (-9.5) 38, Kansas City 14 -- over the 45.5

Sunday Night

Philadelphia (-3.5) 41, DALLAS 20 -- over the 51.

Monday Night

MINNESOTA (+3) 27, New York Giants 20 -- over the 43.

Baltimore (-3) 23, HOUSTON 17 -- under the 46.

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/