BOO of the Week 9/8

After almost a month of NFL previews and pure laziness, I have returned with the Boo of the week, and this one is sure to hit close to home with the PineRiders.

Every year at the beginning of every sports season anyone with any opinion on sports decides to give their own "picks" on what is in store for that season. As most of you know, we at the PineRiders did our own NFL Preview for the 2008 season with Sami doing the AFC and myself doing the NFC. Now I know predictions are very tough to do and are really more for fun than anything else, and that is why I don't really criticize anyone for being wrong. Of course there are exceptions.

On August 21 the aforementioned Sami previewed the NFC South and decided to make one of the boldest and stupidest predictions ever...

"Prediction: 16-0 (Before everybody comments and says I'm out of my mind for predicting a team to go 16-0, look at the schedule and tell me you think it's completely out of the realm of possibility. This team is that good, and you know what, if the Patriots did it, there's no reason they can't. Remember they were three games away a few years ago, you can easily argue that this team is better. Just think about it.)"
-Sami

This prediction to go 16-0 and undefeated was made by Sami about Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts for the 2008 season. While the Colts are one of the best teams in football, my partner had the need to select them to go undefeated. Yes the same undefeated that has only happened twice in the 88 year history of the NFL.

I am all for believing in a team , especially if that team has Peyton Manning, but to predict a squad to go undefeated is just mind boggling. I argued with Sami on the comment board, on the 3rd edition of the PineCast and behind the scenes in person. No matter how hard I tried to change his mind however, Sami stood by his prediction and remained confident in the Colts.

Fast forward to yesterday September 8th to the first Sunday Night game of the season with the Colts opening their new stadium against the Chicago Bears. Now you have got to figure that a team touted to go 16-0 would never lose their home opener against a team that went 7-9 last season, right?

If you answered yes to that question, than you would be as wrong as Sami's prediction. In a major upset, the Bears went into Manning's new house and won the game 29-13. Just like that the 16-0 prediction ended in week 1 of the 2008 season.

I understand predictions are going to go wrong (hell, I picked the Colts to win the game) and anything can happen in the NFL, but that is exactly why you do not choose a team to run the table.

For being mindlessly bold and telling the great fans of the PineRiders that an NFL team would go undefeated, and seeing that prediction go wrong in week one, Sami I have excitedly tell you....

BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!