Advertisement

Giants will beat Patriots when you-know-where freezes over

Share
Times Staff Writer

Only the New York Giants stand in the way of a perfect regular season for the New England Patriots, and the Giants’ chances of ending the Patriots’ run are slim and none.

The smart money is on none.

Bettors have been tracking Giants quarterback Eli Manning’s play in games he has started in cold weather. In 21 starts in weather 50 degrees or below at kickoff, Manning has a passer rating of 63.5. In games when the temperature is 51 degrees or higher, Manning’s rating is 77.6.

Global warming isn’t in the forecast tonight at East Rutherford, N.J.

The temperature at kickoff is expected to be 46 degrees. The Giants are 13 1/2 -point underdogs and deservedly so.

Advertisement

College football

Are there too many bowl games? Perhaps. But being in a few bowl pools online and at work increases the interest.

There are three bowl games today, with the featured event being the matchup between Penn State and Texas A&M; in the Alamo Bowl. The Nittany Lions are five-point favorites and should not be lacking motivation. During a pep rally for each team Thursday night on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, a Texas A&M; yell leader -- one of the uniformed male cheerleaders who organize the regimented cheers -- became a bit flustered.

At the end of his rambling speech he said: “Joe Paterno’s on his death bed! And someone needs to find him a casket!”

This did not go over well with the Penn State fans, who began booing. A male Nittany Lions cheerleader then took the microphone and said, “I’m not sure what just happened here.”

If Penn State can’t get fired up in defense of its 81-year-old coach, then the Nittany Lions will never get motivated. This battle of the Alamo should belong to Penn State.

--

jay.christensen@latimes.com

Advertisement
Advertisement