https://www.sports-central.org/ Original and intelligent sports fan commentary since 1998. en-us Copyright 2026 Tue, 10 Nov 2026 11:32:27 -0500 Tue, 10 Nov 2026 08:09:04 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=8.8.6 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Page after page on Facebook is heavily laced with fans hoping that their non-contending teams will tank the remainder of the games to obtain a higher draft pick next spring, and, to a lesser extent, an easier schedule next fall. SC's Anthony Brancato finds this to be totally objectionable.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/11/10/perverse_incentives_plague_nfl.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/11/10/perverse_incentives_plague_nfl.php NFL Tue, 10 Nov 2026 11:32:27 -0500 SC's Jeff Kallman remembers the left-hander who went the distance to cinch the Miracle New York Mets' 1969 World Series title and on to a respectable career.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/11/09/jerry_koosman_rip_the_great_battler_if_you_will.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/11/09/jerry_koosman_rip_the_great_battler_if_you_will.php MLB Mon, 09 Nov 2026 11:57:39 -0500 The Cowboys look to rebound, or regress, against the Colts, the Giants and Eagles clash in Philly, and the Chargers try to enter the win column as the Texans come to town. The Packers put out an APB for a running game, the Bears host the Buccaneers, and the Vikings' defense challenges Josh Allen and the Bills.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/11/05/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_9.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/11/05/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_9.php NFL Thu, 05 Nov 2026 11:26:03 -0500 Neither John Madden nor Chuck Noll, both of whom are in the Hall of Fame, were ever big fans of overtime during the regular season. And neither is SC's Anthony Brancato, who has always maintained that winning (or losing) division titles and/or playoff spots by a half-game makes everything that much more simple and that much less, how shall we say, Pythagorean.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/11/03/why_the_nfl_needs_to_end_overtime_in_regular_season.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/11/03/why_the_nfl_needs_to_end_overtime_in_regular_season.php NFL Tue, 03 Nov 2026 11:42:13 -0500 The Fall Classic and the Brewers triumph upended the commissioner's lie of a narrative, says SC's Jeff Kallman.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/11/02/world_series_game_5_bushville_wins_again.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/11/02/world_series_game_5_bushville_wins_again.php MLB Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:35:45 -0500 The 24-team playoff in college football appears inevitable, and SC's Kevin Beane is here for it. In this edition of the Slant Pattern, he explains why it's a good thing, and picks apart the naysayers' arguments.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/30/why_you_should_learn_to_love_the_24-team_playoff.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/30/why_you_should_learn_to_love_the_24-team_playoff.php Slant Pattern Fri, 30 Oct 2026 11:07:26 -0500 The Lions look to get the best of the vaunted Vikings' defense, the Colts' passing game upgrades include throwing in the towel, and the Chargers and Rams meet in "LA LA Land." The Broncos host the Chiefs, the Pats look to bounce back against the Dolphins, and the Bears face the "12s."]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/29/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_8.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/29/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_8.php NFL Thu, 29 Oct 2026 11:29:53 -0500 Even with that precedent-smashing eight-run Game 3 fifth, sweeping these Rays wasn't in the cards for these equally tenacious Brewers, says SC's Jeff Kallman.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/28/world_series_game_4_how_sweep_it_wasnt.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/28/world_series_game_4_how_sweep_it_wasnt.php MLB Wed, 28 Oct 2026 11:09:32 -0500 As the MLB lockout deadline approaches, the owners need to back off from the cliff over which they seem certain to jump. A simple change in the schedule can give them the "competitive balance" they claim to crave, says SC's Anthony Brancato.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/26/fabian_socialism_nfl-style.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/26/fabian_socialism_nfl-style.php NFL Mon, 26 Oct 2026 11:25:34 -0500 The Bears host the Patriots on Thursday night, the Bengals and Ravens clash in a crucial AFC North game, and the Lions host the Packers. The Rams look to bounce back against the Raiders in Vegas, and Kenneth Walker headlines the "You Get What you Pay IV" Bowl as the Seahawks host the undefeated Chiefs.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/22/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_7.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/22/nfl_weekly_predictions_week_7.php NFL Thu, 22 Oct 2026 11:49:05 -0500 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/should_the_nfl_realign.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/10/20/should_the_nfl_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