Miami under Wannstedt has pleny of experience and a fair amount of success rebounding off a tough loss in games Miami probably should have won. San Diego looks to build after expending a maximum effort off a bye to notch their much needed first win against a flawed and generous Cleveland team. Wannstedt's coaching in Miami and Chicago is notorious for letting teams hang around (tonight playing into the hands of a San Diego team that likes to pound it for four quarters in close games), and then all too often what ensues is "another Kodak moment"of panic and pain being written all over his hapless face. And I'm of the opinion that an aerial attack over the top (with points to match), rather than slugging it out the Miami way, has been best suited for causing problems for San Diego . . . Miami dominated San Diego 30-3 in a game last November . . . Junior Seau is one of the greatest players in Chargers franchise history, and while his best days are behind him, he is still capable of inspired play and leadership in the right spot. I also believe Ricky Williams is a San Diego native. There are reasons to like Miami in this spot . . . While Brian Greise makes his first start at QB for Miami, there has been plenty of time for a veteran team to rally to the cause, and the veteran Greise has faced San Diego on about five previous occasions. Fiedler is certainly capable of being replaced, although Griese lacks his resilience and has been particularly shaky when the spotlight is brightest. . . . A rare appearance on the Monday night stage should have been a plus in directing the energy of a 1-5 Chargers team that was not preparing for just another game . . . (Will add a newspaper link) . . .While I had not given this game a close look before Sunday night, ON THE WHOLE I THINK THE FUNDAMENTAL MATCHUPS ARE SOMEWHAT FAVORABE TO SAN DIEGO'S CHANCES, BUT I WOULD GIVE A SOLID LEAN TO MIAMI ON SITUATIONAL FACTORS.
NOW YOU ADD THE LAYER OF DISRUPTIONS THAT ARE IMPACTING THIS GAME, and that's when I think Miami becomes a solid play, albeit in treacherous uncharted waters. It's bad enough for the Chargers to lose the edge of a home environment they were likely stoking for weeks (the line adjustment from -3' to -6 is spot on with my prediction). But the disruption from this firestorm requires lightning focus on implementing a significant last second change in routine (and when routines need to be adjusted on the fly, I can think of better choices than Marty Schottenheimer, who has a reputation of being a bit of a control freak, and someone like Bill Snyder at Kansas State is the antithesis of who I would want in charge about now). But without a doubt, families, friends and neighborhoods have been devastated and disrupted for days, and that has to take a toll on efforts of a team to come together the way a relentless effort in this league is usually structured. Rallying a team when the personal aspects of a tragedy are limited to a few players or coaches is an entirely different animal. Perhaps a great team could rise above all that, but I'm not willing to bet that way with a mediocre team going nowhere. With a guy like Tim Dwight on the team I can envision the type of inspired emotion that the Chargers players can bring. But with an often overly aggressive defense and a ball control offense, the likelihood of everyone being on the same page with sustained play and without mental lapses is what I have to question. For Miami, there has been much less disruption to their preparation and focus, and an argument can be made that just a dash of adversity can be cohesive.
Maybe its all too obvious, or maybe it's 180 degrees wrong. I possibly should have waited until closer to game time for last second developments and insights on this story. Maybe Miami(-6) is a loser, but I've capped the game well, and I think I'm close enough in enough aspects to warrant a solid play.
MIAMI(-6) for 1.25*
GL
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The house doesn't beat the player. It just gives him the opportunity to beat himself. ~ Nick Dandalos
Don't believe everything you think.
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Regarding the Ongoing Catastrophe in Southern California:
- I have two sisters that live in Berkeley, and the oldest sister took in her best friends for almost six months after they lost their home during the firestorm in the Oakland-Berkeley hills in 1991. My oldest sister owns a restaurant and is also a huge Giants fan, while my baby sister the PGA golf pro is married to a huge A's fan, and for days they served free meals to the rescue workers after the World Series earthquake in 1989. I love California myself, and my thoughts are with everyone in SoCal that is dealing with upheaval and tragedy while I'm wrapped up in nothing of consequence.
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NOW YOU ADD THE LAYER OF DISRUPTIONS THAT ARE IMPACTING THIS GAME, and that's when I think Miami becomes a solid play, albeit in treacherous uncharted waters. It's bad enough for the Chargers to lose the edge of a home environment they were likely stoking for weeks (the line adjustment from -3' to -6 is spot on with my prediction). But the disruption from this firestorm requires lightning focus on implementing a significant last second change in routine (and when routines need to be adjusted on the fly, I can think of better choices than Marty Schottenheimer, who has a reputation of being a bit of a control freak, and someone like Bill Snyder at Kansas State is the antithesis of who I would want in charge about now). But without a doubt, families, friends and neighborhoods have been devastated and disrupted for days, and that has to take a toll on efforts of a team to come together the way a relentless effort in this league is usually structured. Rallying a team when the personal aspects of a tragedy are limited to a few players or coaches is an entirely different animal. Perhaps a great team could rise above all that, but I'm not willing to bet that way with a mediocre team going nowhere. With a guy like Tim Dwight on the team I can envision the type of inspired emotion that the Chargers players can bring. But with an often overly aggressive defense and a ball control offense, the likelihood of everyone being on the same page with sustained play and without mental lapses is what I have to question. For Miami, there has been much less disruption to their preparation and focus, and an argument can be made that just a dash of adversity can be cohesive.
Maybe its all too obvious, or maybe it's 180 degrees wrong. I possibly should have waited until closer to game time for last second developments and insights on this story. Maybe Miami(-6) is a loser, but I've capped the game well, and I think I'm close enough in enough aspects to warrant a solid play.
MIAMI(-6) for 1.25*
GL
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
The house doesn't beat the player. It just gives him the opportunity to beat himself. ~ Nick Dandalos
Don't believe everything you think.
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Regarding the Ongoing Catastrophe in Southern California:
- I have two sisters that live in Berkeley, and the oldest sister took in her best friends for almost six months after they lost their home during the firestorm in the Oakland-Berkeley hills in 1991. My oldest sister owns a restaurant and is also a huge Giants fan, while my baby sister the PGA golf pro is married to a huge A's fan, and for days they served free meals to the rescue workers after the World Series earthquake in 1989. I love California myself, and my thoughts are with everyone in SoCal that is dealing with upheaval and tragedy while I'm wrapped up in nothing of consequence.
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