Ryan Parker pays tribute to the Saints with another classic...

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Sunday's loss to Syracuse greatly epitomized the entire season for the Cincinnati Bearcats. They looked good early, teased their fans by hanging around and then collapsed and totally disappeared down the stretch. After leading in the early second half, the Bearcats were outscored 28-5 down the stretch.

With the loss and their recent dismal play, it appears as if the Bearcats are going to miss the NCAA Tournament once again.

Lance McAlister laid out what lies on his blog on 700WLW.com:

Record: 14-9/5-6
RPI: 56

Seven regular season games remain. Can they get to 10-8 in the Big East and 19-11 overall?
They would need to go 5-2 in their remaining regular season games. 4 Road/3 Home.

Date-RPI-record-Opponent
Feb 13....57 (14-9) @ Connecticut
Feb 16....50 (15-8) @ South Florida
Feb 21....60 (15-8) Marquette
Feb 24....153 (8-15) DePaul
Feb 27....4 (19-3) @ West Virginia
Mar 2......5 (20-2) Villanova
Mar 6......8 (17-5) @ Georgetown

They've got to get these three wins: @ South Florida, Marquette, DePaul
That leaves stealing two of these four: @UConn, @ West Virginia, Villanova, @ Georgetown

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from CollegeHoops.net

Another dominant freshman big man has emerged. The only problem is, nobody seems to notice. You might think it's hard for a 6'11”, 260-pound big man to be overlooked, but that's exactly what's happened to Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins for much of the season.

The hype around Lexington most of the season has centered on fellow freshman John Wall, and deservedly so. As the point guard, Wall has the ball in his hands nearly every play, and his combination of athleticism and poise has all but ensured that he will be the top pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. But is it possible that he's not even the most important player on his own team?

After all, Cousins, or “Big Cuz” to his teammates, has been a monster in the paint all year long, posting averages of 16 points and nine rebounds per game...all in only 21 minutes per game.

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There are some shake ups in the latest polls, but the Kansas Jayhawks remain in the top spot:

COMPLETE RANKINGS

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It has already started, the Peyton Manning critics have begun to come out oft wood work.

Within hours of the Colts losing 31-17 to the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV, it amazes to see how many are suddenly questioning Manning and his place in the game.

Here are just a few examples from around the web:

Saints trash Peyton Manning's legacy [Jason Whitlock]
Another disappointment for Peyton [Joe Posnanski]
Lone fourth-quarter turnover haunts Peyton Manning after loss [USA Today]
Manning beats an unhappy, hasty retreat [FoxNews]
Poll: Is Peyton Manning's legacy tarnished if he doesn't win another Super Bowl? [LA Times]

***
I just want to know where all these people were for the past two weeks when I searched long hard to find someone besides myself that picked the Saints. Regardless of how yesterday unfolded, Manning is clearly one of the best to ever play the game. At the very least, he's a top five quarterback with still plenty of good years ahead. If any legacy got changed in Sunday's game, it is that of Drew Brees. After tying Tom Brady for most completions in a Super Bowl on his way to be naming a MVP Brees gets that much closer to Hall of Fame consideration.

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Some final thoughts from the Saints' Super Bowl XLIV win over the Colts...

*BALLS OF SOLID STEAL - I like aggressive coaches. It can back fire when it doesn't work out. Just ask Bill Belichick about his gutsy 4th down call against the Colts earlier this season. But even after failing to convert on the goalline play at the end of the first half, Sean Payton opted to start out with the second half with an onside kick. The Saints recovered and went on to score a touchdown.

*COOL BREEZE - Saints' quarterback Drew Brees was amazing. After a rocky start, Brees would finish the game by tying a Super Bowl record with 33 receptions. He handled the pressure well, made few mistakes and was simply amazing once he found his groove.

*MANNING IS JUST A MAN - There's no arguing Peyton Manning's greatness, but people need to realize that he is not Superman. It doesn't take Kryptonite to shut him down. The Saints certainly didn't shut him down, but they did contain him and they were able to come up with the big turnover, a trait that defined their unit.

*THE FREENEY FACTOR - Thank god I don't have to hear anymore about Dwight Freeney's ankle. He did play and was productive in the first half, but as the game wore on he wore down. By the fourth quarter he was inffective, aiding the Saints' comeback.

*KICKING IN THE CLUTCH - It was refreshing to see Garrett Hartley actually deliver in the clutch. After watching Shayne Graham, Nate Kaeding and Neil Rackers all choke with the game on the line it is nice to see their are kickers out there that can still deliver when it counts most.

*OVER OVER QUICKLY - The over/under on the game was 57 points. I admit I expected it to hit myself. However after the game was 10-6 at the half it was pretty obvious the game wasn't going to turn into the best shootout in Super Bowl history as many speculated it would become.

*GAME'S PLACE IN HISTORY - The Super Bowl was a good game overall, but the early-game sputtering failed to deliver on the hype. It will probably rank somewhere in the middle as far as best super bowls ever. It had nothing on the Steelers over Cards or the Giants-Patriots' match-ups.

*MY TOP 5 COMMERCIALS - #1 Dorito's - "Keep Your Hands Off My Mama"; #2 Snicker's - "Betty White; #3 Boost Mobile - "'85 Bears"; #4 Volkswagen "Punch Buggy w/Stevie Wonder"; #5 HomeAway.com "With the Griswalds,

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TOO MANY WEAPONS – New Orleans has seven different players with at least 35 receptions this season. That allows Drew Brees’ unmatched flexibility to make plays. He isn’t known for his big arm, but the Colts will have a tough time guarding all of the Saints’ players going out on routes.

SUPERIOR RUNNING GAME – I will take the trio of Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush and Mike Bell over the Colts’ combo of Addai and Donald Brown any day of the week. Thomas is a bruising runner that can catch the ball out of the backfield well. Bush is a one-of-a-kind weapon that gives the team great flexibility and Bell is great in short-yardage situations.

COLTS INJURIES – Much has been made this week of Dwight Freeney’s injury and though he’s expected to play, count on him being limited. The bigger concern for the Colts is in the secondary where the team has been banged up for weeks. Indy simply doesn’t have the personnel to match-up with the high-powered Saints’ attack.

BALL CONTROL – The running game and the Saints’ ability to hit quick screen passes will keep the chains moving and Manning on the sidelines. The key to victory for New Orleans is simple keep scoring and take as much time off the clock as you do it.

OPPORTUNISTIC DEFENSE – They gamble quite a bit and the Colts don’t make too many mistakes, but the Saints have gotten to this point by taking advantage of mistakes forced by their pressure and exotic coverage calls.  Expect them to win the turnover battle once again.

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PEYTON MANNING – Duh! It’s no secret that the Colts have the best quarterback on the planet. Manning’s ability to coach on the field and exploit opponents with his quick decision making abilities and cannon arm is unprecedented. Betting against him on a big stage isn’t very bright.

DEPTH AT RECEIVER – Not only do the Colts’ posses the game’s top receiving tight end in Dallas Clark, but youngsters Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie have proved to be capable complements at receiver to Pro Bowl wideout Reggie Wayne.

CLOSING OUT GAMES – All year long even when their backs were to the wall, Indianapolis found a way to win ball games. They don’t always dominate opponents, but no team in football finds more ways to win than the Colts.

SHORT YARDAGE SUCCESS – Despite not having a dominant running game, Indy is clutch in short-yardage situations on both sides of the ball. Joseph Addai is good at hitting holes and Manning has the ability to audible and find an open receiver quickly. On defense, the Colts have the muscle up front to clog up holes.

BEEN THERE DONE THAT – Many of the players on this year’s edition of the Colts were part of the Super Bowl champions just a few years ago. That experience, coupled with their professional attitude and approach, will pay dividends against an inexperienced Saints’ team.

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The Bud Bowl series will always be my personal favorite...

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from the Indianapolis Star...

The principal at Maurepas (La.) High School had told students that the dress code would be lifted Friday for a black-and-gold day, the colors of the Saints. Brandon Frost figured it was only fair for him to wear a Colts jersey.

"I wasn't trying to anger them," Brandon said. "I just wanted to express myself."

But he hadn't made it through first period before the principal pulled him out of class and told him he wasn't allowed to wear a Colts jersey on Saints Day.

Brandon explained that he thought that wasn't fair, he said, and told the principal that his father had said to just come home if the school hassled him.

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The Mean Joe Green Coke commercial is one of the most popular of all-time...

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Many of you heard about Fidelity Investments' employee Cameron Pettigrew who was fired from his job for playing fantasy football this season. The large investment firm has strict policies against playing fantasy sports and terminated Pettigrew's employment after intercepting instant messages he received about his team.

The 27-year old broker received plenty of attention and notierity within the fantasy sports indusrty after he was axed.  That has been parlayed into him getting a free trip to Miami for the Super Bowl.

The unusual firing made headlines, and the story attracted the attention of Dustin Ashby, commissioner of the World Championship of Fantasy Football league. That league paid for Pettigrew's promotional trip to Florida, and waived his $1,000 entry fee to the league's 2010 Main Event draft in Las Vegas.

Ashby wouldn't say whether the league had a ticket for Pettigrew to attend the Super Bowl game.

Fantasy Football fired for playing fantasy, cameron pettigrew

from ProFootballTalk.com...

As NFL observers try to figure out the next stop in the Terrell Owens tour, receiver Chad Ochocinco thinks that T.O. will land in Cincinnati.

Ochocinco offered his prediction during an appearance on The Jay Glazer Pre-Party on FSN. 

Per Glazer, Ochocinco said that he's "sure of it."

If it happens, it won't be a surprise.  The Bengals thrive on giving guys with bad reputations second (or fifth) chances.

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It’s the Godfather of revered Super Bowl commercials...

Just For Fun best super bowl commercials ever, super bowl ads, lists

I like to put down a friendly wager or two on the Super Bowl, but I can't believe some of these prop bets on Bodog.com:

1. What will the TV Nielsen Rating be?
Over/Under 42.5

2. How long will it take Carrie Underwood to sing the National Anthem?
Over/Under 1 minute 42 seconds

3. Which Super Bowl commercial will have a higher rating on USA Today’s annual Ad Meter?
Anheuser-Busch / Budweiser 2/3
Doritos 9/4
Coca-Cola 13/2
Go Daddy.com 8/1
Career Builder 8/1
Family First 12/1
Other 5/2

4. How many current NFL Players will be arrested during Super Bowl Week?
Over/Under 0.5

5. What color will the Gatorade be that is dumped on the head coach of the winning team?
Yellow 1/1
Clear/Water 7/5
Orange 4/1
Lime Green 5/1
Red 12/1
Blue 12/1

MORE CRAZY PROP BETS

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