Next weeks "GAME OF THE CENTURY" is....

[PatrickMcIrish]

Colts at Tampa Bay. Got an undefeated team going into the defending Super Bowl champs stadium!! As a backdrop the head coach (Dungy) was fired by the Bucs the year before last. Think there might be some bad blood? Could be the SuperBowl match-up this year. All on Monday night football - I can't wait.

Line isn't out yet, what's your guess? I say Tampa -3?

 

[Fishhead]

I make it -3.5
Bucs off a bye week.

As you all know, this was my Superbowl prediction in PRE-season. My man Dallas Clark has added great versatality to the offense and the defense under another year of Dungy has improved greatly, just as I expected on both accounts. However, Colts may be peaking to early.

 

[RPM]

my guess is tampa -4.5

 

[Dante]

I think bucs win with no problems..I am not a colts believer YET

 

[Woody0]

Tampa-4.5 or -4 at Pinny.

Now how will the line move?

 

[HacheMan]

The real Colts get exposed next Sunday. Indy way overrated right now.......

 

[TheGeneral+]

Looking forward to the game.

 

[Journeyman]

I was looking ahead to ths game as well....I see a Tampa BLOWOUT here! I haven`t seen a number yet, my guess Tampa-4 ...But the Colts have passed some early tests this year they usually fail with flying colors....

Tampa 27 Ind 13

 

[wilheim]

Tony Dungy is the key reason for the Colts success this season. He got a lot of criticism last year during the season whenever the Colts lost, and especially when the Jets blew them out in the playoffs. He now has another year under his belt to do what he has shown the ability to do very well. That is build a defense. Just watching the Colts you can tell they are going to be competitive in all their games this year.
Bucs head coach John Gruden inherited most of his defense from Dungy, and has made the most of it, by winning last year's SB. What he has also accomplished is to put his QB Brad Johnson in a position to win. He demands the most of his players, which has gone a long way towards making the Bucs much more than just a defensive team. Today the Bucs are almost as good on offense as they are on D. A well balanced running game with Mike Pittman, aidded by Mike Alstott, finally making significant contributions.
As far as this games goes, the teams are in many ways mirror images of each other. The Colts better on offense and the Bucs better on defense. But not by a lot in either case. Special teams may be the difference and that is where the Colts may have the edge. This is getting long winded, so to make a long story short, play the Colts on the ML. and look for an on the field Colt outright win by a field goal.


wil.

 

[Fishhead]

DISAGREE COMPLETELY!! The Bucs offense is nowhere near as good as the COLTS and by the same contrast, the COLTS defense is nowhere near as good as the BUCS.

The BUCS have arguablly the best defense of all-time and the COLTS offense is loaded with skill players in Manning, Wayne, Harrison, Clark, James, and Pollard.

No comparison in the same offensive and defensive units.

 

[HacheMan]

Guys, I just see Manning as a sitting duck back there. We all know Tampa's defense is going to be out to impress not only on Monday night, but also to Dungy upon his return. Manning can't move, and that spells trouble for the Colts offense with the Bucs defense. Ronde Barber may be the only cornerback in the league that can even come close to playing Marvin Harrison straight up, and as far as Manning dumping the ball to his RB's out of the backfield like he tends to do a lot, just as Marshall Faulk which linebacker is always there to shadow him every time the Rams and Bucs meet.....Derrick Brooks. As for the Colts defense, well Dungy has them playing ok, but they still lack "talent" on that side of the ball. I see Gruden doing what he does best, and exposing those weakenesses.

 

[TheGeneral+]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Ronde Barber may be the only cornerback in the league that can even come close to playing Marvin Harrison straight up, and as far as Manning dumping the ball to his RB's out of the backfield like he tends to do a lot, just as Marshall Faulk which linebacker is always there to shadow him every time the Rams and Bucs meet.... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thus Reggie Wayne, Marcus Pollard, & Dallas Clark

Manning has been sacked 26 times in last 20 games. Vanderjagt is perfect this season as well.

 

[Journeyman]

76 Pittsburgh

85 Bears

00 Ravens

And this Bucs defense....

Dungy coming back , you know they will be jacked! they don`t even like giving up first downs let alone touchdowns! Has anyone had a drive for a touchdown against them this year? NO! the one TD was from inside the 5 on a turnover...We haven`t seen Peyton with that whiney, confused, "its not my fault" look yet this season...We will next week,lol...

 

[Fishhead]

26 times in 20 games? Would have never guessed that. Very interesting.

 

[Fishhead]

The week off is a huge advantage for the BUCS....and the Colts will also be playing their second straight on the road. I see the Bucs winning here and the Colts beating them in the Superbowl.

 

[wilheim]

Take the Bucs on offense for a moment, after three games, not counting games from yesterday, the Bucs are ninth in the league in yards gained. Brad Johnson leads his conference in pass completions 77, and is second in attempts 121, and passing yardage 769, and third in completion percentage 63.6%. Mike Pittman is coming off a solid gane Vs. the Falcons where he gained 82 yards on 20 carries. Recievers Keyshawn Johnson, Kenyatta Walker, and tight end Ken Dilger are in the same class as the Colts recievers. Sure the Colts have a more vertical offense, but the Bucs are playing their west coast offense as well as anyone in the league. Gruden is on a mission to make his offense a force. You can say what happened in the Carolina game, just as I can say what happened to the Colts offense in the the Cleveland game. Comparing the Defenses is also possible, the Colts have modeled their defense on the Bucs, by that I mean they are run to the ball, turnover inducing, swarming defense. Key players are Chad Bratzke, Walt Harris, Raheem Brock, Brad Scioli and Robert Mathis, all playmakers. Houshold names like some of the Bucs, no, but give them time. I stand by my prediction, naturally time will tell.

wil.

 

[HacheMan]

LOL General, we could go back and forth on this, aren't you a Colts fan?!

About the sacks, vice~versa with Brad Johnson, nobody has really been getting to him, well, besides Carolina of course, but he still gets rid of the ball. The Ronde Barber & Harrison thing, let's match em up.....

Ronde Barber vs. Marvin Harrison
Brian Kelly vs. Reggie Wayne
Marcus Pollard/Dallas Clark vs. Derrick Brooks/John Lynch~~ All slight advantage to Colts
Warren Sapp, Simeon Rice, Booger Mcfarland, Greg Spires vs. Colts Front~edge to Bucs

Bucs offense vs Colts D~~Much more "talented" players/athletes on Bucs offense than Colts D, and Gruden will find an edge, and expose Dungy's "Conservative" defense.

 

[TheGeneral+]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Hache man:
LOL General, we could go back and forth on this, aren't you a Colts fan?!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yeah, I am a fan. Im just following along. Good luck to us. The Colts, win or lose, have made it to the next level. Just as soon get a loss out of the way if we need one. Like Fish, hope we do not peak to early.

ps.. I hope Indy kicks that butt of course

 

[wilheim]

When you say much more talented players on Bucs offense, you might just being saying much better known players. The Bucs have a rep and it is deserved, The Colts are still in the process of earning one. This game will go a long way towards telling how good both teams are. Most non-Colt fans are anti Tony Dungy, I am not, I believe he is the real reason the Bucs won the SB last year and will prove me right when the Colts end up deep into the playoffs this year, (as will the Bucs).

wil.

 

[winkyduck]

uh, the best game next week - and most important - is NOT tb/indy

i am biased here since i root for the broncos - but the den/kc game is MUCH more important - since it is a conference and divisional game as opposed to this inter-conf one.

sorry - but the "GOTC" next weekend is NOT tb/indy but den/kc