https://www.sports-central.org/ Original and intelligent sports fan commentary since 1998. en-us Copyright 2026 Tue, 20 Oct 2026 11:43:12 -0500 Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:51:06 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=8.8.6 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss First-place teams with losing records? Last-place teams with winning records? This calls for drastic action, says SC's Anthony Brancato, who has a foolproof solution.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/20/maybe_the_nfl_should_realign.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/20/maybe_the_nfl_should_realign.php NFL Tue, 20 Oct 2026 11:43:12 -0500 Forget the dollars. The Brewers won the National League pennant on the truest equal terms, says SC's Jeff Kallman.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/19/a_special_cool_little_story.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/19/a_special_cool_little_story.php MLB Mon, 19 Oct 2026 11:18:25 -0500 After the best Saturday of the season so far, SC's Ross Lancaster laments the likely de-valuing of fall Saturdays starting in 2027 and the Big Ten/SEC consolidation that's likely to further crowd out beloved rivalries.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/16/keep_the_24-team_playoff_give_me_saturdays.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/16/keep_the_24-team_playoff_give_me_saturdays.php College Football Fri, 16 Oct 2026 11:49:30 -0500 Cam Ward can still be a "franchise" quarterback as the Titans travel to Indianapolis, while Drake Maye asks Mike Vrabel, "did '69 happen?" The reeling Eagles host the Panthers, Jerry Jones fears that the Cowboys' season may be a case of "here we go ... again," and the Bills look to prove that the Raiders' hype is "just wind, baby." Check out Week 6's predictions!]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/15/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_6.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/15/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_6.php NFL Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:06:07 -0500 In this week's Slant Pattern, SC's Kevin Beane highlights a great promotion Cal is cooking, up, dissects the Mountain West, and rolls out a new feature, the non-con game of the week, with a surprising choice.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/14/college_football_odds_and_ends.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/14/college_football_odds_and_ends.php Slant Pattern Wed, 14 Oct 2026 11:45:28 -0500 Even worse than their 2-3 start is the kind of football the Eagles are playing, which on defense is even softer than Kitchen Queen Paper Towels. Major changes are on the way in Philly, and resistance is futile, according to SC's Anthony Brancato.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/13/time_for_the_eagles_to_can_fangio.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/13/time_for_the_eagles_to_can_fangio.php NFL Tue, 13 Oct 2026 11:54:52 -0500 Only one super payroll's playing for a pennant now, and they lost NLCS Game 1 — so take that, salary cappers!]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/12/2026_alcs_and_nlcs_preview_they_should_rock.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/12/2026_alcs_and_nlcs_preview_they_should_rock.php MLB Mon, 12 Oct 2026 11:50:04 -0500 The Jaguars host the reeling Eagles, the Texans and Titans battle to get out of the AFC South basement and into the win column, and Kirk Cousins and Drake Maye battle in the "Vanilla QB Bowl." The winless Chargers host the Broncos, offense takes center stage as the Cards host the Lions, and the Falcons host the Ravens on Sunday night. Check out Week 5!]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/08/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_5.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/08/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_5.php NFL Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:22:29 -0500 If anything good came out of baseball's just-concluded Wild Card Series, it is that it left bare the glaring inequities in the MLB playoff format that are almost certain to be rectified, once the impending labor dispute is settled and the two expansion teams join. And it can't happen soon enough.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/06/mlb_wild_card_series_is_doubly_unfair.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/06/mlb_wild_card_series_is_doubly_unfair.php MLB Tue, 06 Oct 2026 11:38:50 -0500 MLB division series weekend was the wild, the innocent, and the Central divisions' shuffle, says SC's Jeff Kallman.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/05/the_papal_bullpen_and_other_division_series_observations.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/05/the_papal_bullpen_and_other_division_series_observations.php MLB Mon, 05 Oct 2026 11:41:36 -0500 Mike Vrabel solemnly vows that the Pats will be better vs. the Bills; the Rams and Eagles both look to rebound from losses. Jerry Jones short-leashes Brian Schottenheimer, as the Cowboys visit the Texans, Brian Flores gets vengeful as the Vikings host the Dolphins, and the Chiefs and Raiders meet in a battle of undefeated teams.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/01/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_4.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/01/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_4.php NFL Thu, 01 Oct 2026 10:08:42 -0500 What have you done for me lately? John Harbaugh found that out the hard way in 2025., losing his job. Now it looks as if it's his brother Jim Harbaugh's turn in 2026.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/29/jim_harbaugh_on_the_hot_seat.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/29/jim_harbaugh_on_the_hot_seat.php NFL Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:50:55 -0500 The future Hall of Famer and his daughter were the hits of closing weekend.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/28/retirement_verlander-style.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/28/retirement_verlander-style.php MLB Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:51:50 -0500 The Bills host the struggling Chargers at Highmark Stadium, while the Texans and Colts battle for AFC South mediocrity. The Steelers' anemic offense looks for blood when the Bengals come to Pittsburgh, the Ravens and Cowboys battle in Brazil, and the Bears host the Eagles on Monday night.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/24/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_3.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/24/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_3.php NFL Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:59:38 -0500 SC's Kevin Beane went 3-0 with his picks in his last column, so he's going to try to keep it goin' and keep it flowin' this week, once again with one CFL, NFL, and CFB pick apiece. It's the latest Slant Pattern!]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/23/football_picks_for_fourth_week_of_september.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/09/23/football_picks_for_fourth_week_of_september.php Slant Pattern Wed, 23 Sep 2026 11:33:06 -0500