Sports

WriterYou can say “G-bye!” to 2010 all you want, and rave about the fresh start you get in 2011 — if you haven’t screwed it up already.

But, just like every other year, we spent the football season babbling incoherently (hey, it sounded so bleeping promising at the time) and made prediction after prediction that proved to be worth their weight in eggshells.

Doctors get to bury their mistakes. We print ours.

For example, in September we took this list for NFC division champions: Dallas, New Orleans, Green Bay, San

Francisco. Reality: Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, “Seattle” (term “division champion” used loosely). At least Old Man Pedone had the sense to take Atlanta as a wild card. My picks of Minnesota and Arizona combined for the same number of wins as the No. 5 seed (Saints).

Our AFC picks smelled a little better thanks to New England and Indy, and Baltimore was a bad bounce on Monday night against Pittsburgh from a bye today. And I nailed the Jets (and whiffed on Tennessee). Who saw the Kansas City revival coming?

Pedone had Pittsburgh (hit) and Miami (oops) as his wild cards.

I had the Colts winning the Super Bowl, so I still have that dream alive. Pedone? San Diego over Dallas. Insert buzzer sound here.

Whatever. The Patriots are going to win it all anyway. That’s the same New England team that went 14-2 this year — and has three of the first 33 picks in April’s NFL Draft.

As for the college game, Pedone, like every rationale-minded person, went with an Ohio State-Alabama matchup. I pegged Ohio State-Oklahoma, and I’d like to mention they both won BCS games.

“Yeah, just not the right ones,” Pedone just has reminded me.

If you mentioned either Auburn or Oregon four months ago ... you’re lying.

Lying is bad. You should stop. Commit to it just like we hope to improve in 2011 with these, the annual Mighty News-Gazette Top 13 New Year’s Resolutions:

1. To nail all of these, as I’m already a week late. 2. Be on time. 3. Keep picking the Big Ten to lose on New Year’s Day. 4. ... But to win any other bowl. 5. Lose those 10 pounds. 6. ... by getting our bowling average up and golf score down on the Wii. 7. Stop picking Florida State or the Jacksonville Jaguars to win. 8. ... Or to lose. 9. If Pete Carroll writes a book titled “Success in the NFC West,” buy it. 10. Hire Jim Harbaugh to mow my lawn, do my laundry, whatever — just not for $7 million a year. 11. Take down Christmas tree. 12. Find Vince Young a team. 13. Buy more Philly gear.

Now let’s pick some games and start sullying thy name 2011 ...

Fight Hunger Bowl: Boston College vs. Nevada (-9): I call this the “Fight Stupidity Bowl.” Why? ‘Cuz I want to start the year with a win. Wolf Pack by 11.

The Meaningful One: Oregon vs. Auburn (-3): The Almighty SEC was 3-4 in bowls heading into Friday. The Ducks drilled the team (Stanford) that drilled Virginia Tech in Miami on Monday. Quack Attack by 2 in Fine Feathered Upset.

The other do-or-die games ...

New Orleans (-10) at Seattle: I don’t have a problem with a sub-.500 division winner in the playoffs. They just should not be hosting a 10-win team. This’ll fix it. Saints by 20.

N’Yawk Jets at Indianapolis (-2.5): Peyton will help Rex Ryan get back to his wife’s feet. Colts by 6.

Baltimore (-3) at Kansas City: Matt Cassel, meet the Ravens’ mean, mad defense. Everyone, pray for Matt Cassel. Purple Birds by 7.

Green Bay at Philadelphia (-2.5): Iggle fans really wanted to play Tampa Bay. They didn’t, but they avoided the Giants again. Green Birds by 3.

Give me New England to win it all over Philadelphia.

Petey “The Gators Are Going Win” Covino says: Am I spelling Will Muschamp’s name right?

Brian “Big Man” McBride’s Super Sniffer Upset Special: Jets by 3.

Rick Pedone says: Oh, yeah, the tree. But first, Pack by 1 and Auburn by 2 in a “Make Former OHS Kowboy T’Sharvan Bell a National Champion” special.

Super Bowl: I still like San Diego and Dallas, but, as a concession to reality, New England over Atlanta.

Standings: Old Man Winter (11-4, 98-70) rained on Kid New Year’s (8-7, 99-69) parade.