Macca

Pittsburgh Denver Atlanta

4 weeks to go and the race to the finishing line is on (in the tipping comp) ... every point is vital including the 1 point on offer in week 14. There are a few decent chances this week so not picking up a point could be costly. Leaderboard 6 - cowboy_from_hell, Gorgoroth 5 - Clintosaurus 4 - JV7 2 - DeeSpencer, Macca Bill Simmons & Sal Iacono Podcast

We all picked up a point in week 12 so it's on to week 13 where 2 points are up for grabs ... tough week for tipping coming up though - Dallas & Denver look somewhat likely, but there are no guarantees. Vegas doesn't like the Giants or Detroit either. Good luck. Leaderboard 6 - cowboy_from_hell 4 - Gorgoroth, JV7 3 - Clintosaurus 2 - DeeSpencer, Macca Bill Simmons & Sal Iacono podcast (week 13 forecast) Tips ... Denver Colts Giants

We have a new outright leader in the tipping comp ... cfh has skipped away and is eyeing off another overall win. Only the 1 point on offer this week but a total of 10 points are up for grabs in the remaining weeks (week 12 - 1 point, week 13 - 2 points, week 14 - 1 point, week 15 - 2 points, week 16 - 1 point & week 17 - 3 points) Leaderboard 5 - cowboy_from_hell 3 - Gorgoroth, JV7 2 - Clintosaurus 1 - DeeSpencer, Macca Here's this week's bs report with Bill Simmons (Bill and Sal Lacono try and guess the week's lines) Tips ... Steelers Giants Patriots

More Film Noir ... 'The Stranger' starring Orson Welles, Loretta Young & Edward G Robinson - an underrated movie but a gem of a film nonetheless ... here's the IMDb link If you're a fan of Orson Welles, there was a decent movie made about him just a few years ago ... 'Me and Orson Welles' (British actor Christian McKay gives a fine portrayal of Welles, especially with Orson's mannerisms) Anyway, here's 'The Stranger' ... the film can be viewed in HD and in full-screen mode.

2 points on offer this week in the comp ... there's a couple of standout picks but snagging all 3 this week might prove elusive (again) Leaderboard 3 - Gorgoroth, cowboy_from_hell 2 - Clintosaurus 1 - JV7, DeeSpencer, Macca Tips ... New England Pittsburgh Green Bay

Some more Film Noir fare if you're up late on a Friday night. This time an unusual movie with an unusual theme & plot. But a very enjoyable movie, all the same (if you like this style/genre) The star of the movie Ralph Meeker, plays Mike Hammer from Mickey Spillane fame (Spillane wrote the novel from which the film is based) I won't spoil it in any way but if you'd like to know a bit more about the movie, go here ... Kiss Me Deadly (IMDb) Click on settings for HD ... also, the movie can be seen using the full screen function ...

Leaderboard in the comp 3 - Gorgoroth, cowboy_from_hell 2 - Clintosaurus 1 - JV7, DeeSpencer 0 - Take a wild guess

I threw the Panthers in because we know that they are a good team when they're firing ... they are a fair way back though. They'd probably have to win 3 of their next 4 to have a chance ... vs KC, vs Saints, @ Oakland, @ Seattle. It's a big ask but there's always a team or 2 who can get on a roll. Like you, I'm hoping the Raiders can keep winning ... their fans have had a terrible time of it with so many losing seasons. They haven't had a winning season in their last 13 years. 8 & 8 has been their best effort in amongst those mostly abysmal returns. Just did a quick google search and realised that Gorgo's Rams haven't had a winning season in their last 11 years as well. That's just too much pain.

Do you want Mike McCarthy? He's run out of ideas at GB ... all I keep hearing is that our receivers can't get separation. Rodgers' numbers are down but he gets very little help. Not sure we want your bloke though.

A few observations ... Dallas & Prescott keep marching on ... what to do with Romo? Detroit are right back in it but they need to keep it up Packers & Vikes are struggling - especially the Packers The Panthers might get on a roll Oakland (7 & 2) look like the real deal - after their bye next week they are then vs Houston, vs Carolina, vs Buffalo The Giants are hanging around and have the 3rd best record in the NFC (5 & 3) KC are 6 & 2 and flying under the radar The Colts might be back Atlanta can skip away - next up @ the Eagles 3 participants picked up points in the comp - miracles do occur

Tips ... Panthers Eagles Dallas

Here's another movie for 'Noir' fans ... 'Pickup on South Street' Stars Richard Widmark whilst 6 time Oscar nominated Thelma Ritter has a memorable supporting role. The opening sequence is very well done and sets the movie up brilliantly. The film is still very highly regarded and has a more than decent plot ... it was made during the the midst of the 'McCarthy era' Here's the IMDb link if you want to know a bit more about the movie. For HD click on settings

That was one hell of a series ... Cleveland fought hard but fell just short. It's often a fine line between ultimate victory & despair. Hopefully they'll get back to the big stage again sooner rather than later. The story was always going to be centred around the Cubs though and they finally broke their curse. To come back from a 3-1 deficit was a grand effort. Kudos. Game 7 highlights ...

Game 6 highlights ...

2 points up for grabs this week ... good luck. Points tally in the comp 1 - JV7, Gorgoroth, cowboy_from_hell, DeeSpencer 0 - The usual suspects

The Cubs have come good! All to play for tomorrow ... one curse will be over whilst the other will live on. Game 7's don't get any better than this one.

With a likely Vikings win tomorrow both Minnesota & Dallas are creating real separation from the other teams in their respective divisions ... Atlanta are 2 games clear in the NFC South whilst the NFC West is up for grabs. 9 wins might get a wild-card in the NFC so there's hope for any number of teams - outside of the clear-cut division leaders, there are no fewer than 10 teams sitting on 3 or 4 wins in the NFC. Over in the AFC the Pats keep marching on whilst 3 teams from the AFC West are in a position to reach the playoffs (Broncos, KC, Raiders) Pittsburgh needs Roethlisberger back asap whilst Houston could be good enough to win the AFC South. But who knows? There's been a lot of close games - and that will almost certainly continue. Edit: And true to form my predicted win for the Vikes falls flat. The NFC North is now up for grabs as well. The Bears & Cutler were very good today. .

Going to be tough for the Cubs now ... coming back from a 3-1 deficit has been done before but it's a rare occurrence. Kluber supreme again and he can pitch in game 7.

Here's a more than decent western ... a 1946 version of the events surrounding the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. All the main characters are involved ... Wyatt Earp (Henry Fonda), Doc Holliday (Victor Mature) and a particularly detestable Walter Brennan (Old Man Clanton) star. The film is of course set in Tombstone. The film is oddly named considering how dark & nasty the movie is for the majority of it's length ... 'My Darling Clementine' is certainly no musical comedy. The movie can be viewed in full HD (click on settings)

As is the way, games 3 & 4 are on live here from 11am on Saturday & Sunday. Cup 'eve' has become a default holiday for many Melbournians so a lot of the 9 to 5 baseball fans here will get to watch game 5 live as well. Putting aside your well made points I'm barracking for the Cubs anyway - I'm just not sure they will secure the series at home. Kluber will be ready to go in game 4 by all accounts and if Cleveland can somehow win game 3, they'll be well set up for the rest of the series. Anyway, looking forward to some live baseball on the weekend.

Patriots Raiders Vikings

Points tally in the comp 1 - JV7, Gorgoroth, cowboy_from_hell, DeeSpencer 0 - The usual suspects I believe Washington are the 'road' team for their game against Cincinnati in London ... 1 point only on offer this week.

So it's Cleveland & the Cubs in the World Series ... obviously one team has to win but whichever team wins will break a long drought. In the case of the Cubs, the curse as well (although apparently Cleveland have their own curse also) Cleveland haven't won a world series since 1948 and the Cubs since 1908. Starts Wed 11am AEST Curse of the Billy Goat .

Take the win and move on ... the Bears not having a QB of note from early in the game made the winning of the game by the Packers imperative. Without a running back of note the Packers decided to use Rodgers for an abundance of short cut-out passes - worked well but I'm not surprised, the Pats have used Brady in this way for an age. Next up is @ the Falcons in week 8 - a shoot-out is on the cards. Tips ... Oakland Patriots Ravens