Uncork the wine, light the beer lamp, smoke 'em if you got 'em and listen up! It's time for the Professor to pontificate with his prescient predictions.

Well, hello Professor. Come on in and sit right down. What is on your mind? Another season of football is upon us, and we eagerly await your uncannily accurate predictions for our beloved G-Men.

View all of the Professor's Favorite and Unfavorite Games.

November 5, 2008: Halfway

Exhibitions
Aug 7	at Lions	L	10	13
Aug 18	Browns	W	37	34
Aug 23	at Jets	L	7	10
Aug 28	Pats	W	19	14
Regular
Sep 4	Redskins	W	16	7
Sep 14	at Rams	W	41	13
Sep 21	Bengals	W	26	23
Sep 28	Bye
Oct 5	Seahawks	W	44	6
Oct 13	at Browns	L	14	35
Oct 19	49ers	W	29	17
Oct 26	at Steelers	W	21	14
Nov 2	Cowboys	W	35	14
Nov 9	at Eagles	W	36	31
Nov 16	Ravens
Nov 23	Cardinals
Nov 30	at Redskins
Dec 7	Eagles
Dec 14	at Cowboys
Dec 21	Panthers
Dec 28	at Vikings

Yes, Dr. Jim, we are now at the halfway point in a very successful season, up to this point. The only bump in the road was the game in Cleveland. That game may have been a blessing in disguise. Maybe the Giants were a bit too confident. They were reading all of the glowing reports about how magnificently they go about their business. I think the team was truly shocked at the way Cleveland outplayed them on national television. Since that game, I sense a bit of an edge or a"chip" on their collective shoulders. The team does not seem to take any opponent lightly. There seems to also be a sense of putting a team away early. How many games can we remember where the Giants were favored to win and they played down to the level of their opposition? Too many! Now, there seems to be a resolve to take that ball the first time the offense gets their hands on it and stuff it down the throats of their opponents. If the run with Jacobs doesn't work inside, they take it outside. Or, they put in Ward and run with him. Or, screen pass with Derrick or Bradshaw. If the run still isn't working lets go the passing attack. Plaxico has his head up his butt, no problem. How about passing to the veteran Amani Toomer. Isn't he just the best? Amani doesn't get the recognition he deserves. What about looking for Steve Smith when you need a critical third down and eight? What a reliable receiver. He runs great routs, gets open, and he catches the ball. He also gets yardage after the catch.

How about the the defense folks? Justin Tuck, whom I liked from the day I saw him his rookie year, is probably the best defender in the league right now. Kiwanuka is back where he belongs and coming along nicely, thank you very much.

The linebackers are surprisingly playing well as a unit. They have stuffed the run and covered in pass protection. The rookie Kehl has really stepped right in and played with a presence beyond that of a rookie. Clark has been great. He was all over the Cowboy's running back Barber last Sunday.

The secondary has been solid. Corey Webster has gone from being sent to the bench last year to a possible Pro Bowl cornerback. What an amazing turn of events. Considering, in my opinion, the cornerback position is one of the toughest positions to play in team sports. Corey is playing the postion about as well as you possibly can. The two rookies in the defensive backfield are making serious contributions at safety and at cornerback. Jerry Reese has been so successful finding young talent in the last two drafts. Ernie Acorsi gave him a good team and Jerry has built it into a great one.

As I mentioned in my last installment, the Giants are the best team in the NFL. That also includes being better that the undefeated Titans. This team is playing with a steel resolve to prove every expert wrong that picked them to finish behind Dallas, Washington, and Philly in the East.

Let us not forget the head coach. He has gone through quite a metamorphosis. Everyone was calling for his head before the start of the Super bowl season, including myself. He was put on notice that this job hung from a thin string. He got his players to buy into what he was selling. No small task to do with the athletes of today. I like the way he has handled the Plaxico problem. I truly believe he has isolated his lousy attitude from the rest of the team, and has called on the peer leaders of the team to put the appropriate pressure on Plaxico, to abide by team rules. The idea of no player being more important than the team may be the most important contribution to the Giant's success so far. I think we all have to recognize, and thank Coach Coughlin for that effort.

Oh! Before I forget. Just a few weeks ago, people in the press were chirping about the lack of contribution from the Giant's tight-end position. Do they still feel that way? I wonder if the people in New Orleans have begun to make MIA bracelets for Jeremy Shockey? If they need some I think we can give them a few bracelets leftover from his days in New York.

Now to look at the rest of the schedule, which is tougher than any team schedule in the league. We are looking at eight games, five tough games on the road. My predictions for those road games are: A win at Philly, a win in Dallas, and a win in Wahington. That means six and zero for the Giants in the division. That is a bold prediction. I hope for a win in Arizona, however, I sense a loss. The only way the Giants win is if they get to Kurt Warner with a pass rush. Put pressure on him and he will fold. Give him time, he passes for three hundred yards. The Giants will lose to Minnesota. The Vikings give them fits. The last few years, Eli turns into a mush-head when he plays the Vikings. At home there are three games remaining. The Giants will beat Baltimore, and Philly. I am a bit wary of Carolina. I said previously that the Gaints will have revenge on their mind because of the loss to Carolina in the playoffs. I am now leaning to a loss to the Panthers. That gives the Giants a 12-4 record and a win of the division. I am hoping that one of those predicted losses is wrong. A 13-3 record looks so much better, but I will stick to the 12-4.

By the way Dr. Jim, I eagerly await your video documentaries of the last two home game tailgate parties against the 49'ers and the Cowboys.

The Professor has left the building.

P.S. I predict a big win for Obama of 10 percentage points. This prediction made at 2:03P.M. Eastern Standard. Now The Professor has left the building.

October 7, 2008: Quartile I

Well Dr. Jim, we are a quarter of the way into the season. What a season it has been. The game against Seattle was about as perfect a game a football team can play. If you go by the way the Giants have progressed so far, the season should be quite successful.

If you go back to my beginning of the season predictions, I mentioned that the Giant offense was going to score points. Granted, the Giants are in the midst of the soft part of their schedule, however, do you see the depth of this team at just about every position on the offense? Last week no Plaxico. No problem, put in Hixon. When he goes out with a concussion, no problem, put in Moss. He catches two touchdowns. Let us not forget the passes Amani caught early in the game. How about earth, wind, and fire. I also mentioned the running game at the start of the season. Brandon Jacobs gased Seattle's defense. Then you hit them with Ward and Bradshaw and the running game averages six yards a carry. There wasn't even much offensive contribution from the tight ends and they still scored 44 points. Like I said earlier, you will not miss Shockey. By the way, Shockey is injured again for at least six weeks.

How about Eli? He just seems to be dripping confidence. The senior citizen kicker Carney has been perfect. Now the main reason for the success. The offensive line, in my opinion is the best unit in the NFL bar none!!! Chris Snee I think is the best of the lineman, but what a line, as a unit. I said that offensive line was the strength of this offense and nothing has changed my mind. Karim McKenzie goes out and Boothe comes in a does a good job. He only looked bad when he was beaten around the corner by the densive end which led to a sack.

The defense has been swarming. The interior lineman Robbins and Cofield have done an outstanding job. I expected them to be tough on the run, but look at what they have done to pressure the quarterbacks. I believe Robbins leads in team sacks.

Right now I would say the Gaints are the best team in football. Look at what I am saying, the BEST TEAM. They really don't have the superstars others may have, but their depth, and how they play as a team is why I call them the best in the NFL at present. I don't think they were given the respect they deserve from the experts when they were making the predictions for this season.
After the San Francisco game the Giants should be 6-0. Then the tough part of the season begins and doesn't let up. Ten games to be played and not one patsy in the bunch. I would say the two easiest games will be Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Arizona will be tough playing at their home. Let us hope that Kurt Warner plays the way he played in the first half of the Jets game. I do think the Giants will win two of those three games. That give them a record of 8-1. Minnesota give them fits. Eli has played some of his worst football against Minnesota. It is also an away game. I think that is a loss. Carolina at home will be tough but I think they can win. I think there will be revenge as an incentive. I am sure you remember the drubbing the Panthers gave the Giants in the playoffs. Now we come back to the games in the division. According to my predictions the Giants would have a record of 9-2 before considering the five games to be played in the division. Dallas. Oh, how I hate them! I want to say the G-Men roll over them but I think it is more realistic to predict a split. Not necessarily along home game win, away game lose. I feel more comfortable with a sure split and possible sweep of the Eagles, especially if Philly loses two more game before they play the Giants in Philly. So let us say a split agaist those two teams. Now their record is 11-4. For the big game at Washington I predict a win. Washington has a young quarterback who will choke in a key game. For that matter, the Redskins always seem to choke when the pressure is on. That makes a record of 12-4, an improvement over my pre-season prediction of 11-5. Looking forward to the San Francisco game. Let me know what you would like me to bring besides, Happy Feat wine. The Professor has left the building.

August 30, 2008: The Professor Gets a Clean Slate.

Dr. Jim, My radar at this time is not totally clear regarding the upcoming season. But what the heck. Here goes nothing.

The Giants will score points. They have one of, if not the best, offensive lines in the NFL. I consider the offensive line to be one of the greatest assets of this team. There also seems to be some depth with the offensive line... I like Kevin Boothe. He played in place of Kareem at right tackle against the Patriots. He looked as if he could step in without too much of a drop in quality. This offensive line will amplify another strength of this team, running backs. Brandon Jacobs looks as if he finally figured out how to combine his agility and strength. He could have a monster year. The only thing that bothers me about Brandon is his tendency to fumble. Maybe he can get a seminar from Tiki on how to hold onto the ball. Ward looks strong. Ware has been a pleasant surprise. Bradshaw is fast to the hole. Reuben Droughns cold be the odd-man out. He has rushed for over 1,000 yards twice in his career and may be cut. That speaks to the strength of their backfield.

All of a sudden wide receivers look solid and have depth. Toomer and Plaxico will be solid. Steve Smith has a great pair of hands and runs great routs. I really think he is a great receiver. Hixon is a pleasant surprise and knows how run back kicks. Even Moss has stepped up this pre-season to show flashes of why he was drafted. That kid London has shown some good hands at times, but he may be a victum of the numbers.

They have three tight ends with promise and they are not head cases. Trust me on this, Shockey will not be missed. The tight ends have have to work on blocking but that will come in time. Boss will be the starter.

Eli is no fluke. With all the weapons at his disposal he will just have to manage the game plan and make good decisions. He will do that just fine. I also am pleased with their pick-up of David Carr. He is the best back-up QB the Giants have had since Jeff Hostetler. I guess you get the idea that I am strong on the offense. They will score points and wear down defenses.

Speaking of defense, this is where I am a bit concerned. With the loss of Osi for the year, my concern is greater. Half of the sacks from last season were recorded by players that are no longer with the team. Hopefully, Tuck, Kiwanuka, and the linebackers can plug the loss of that many sacks. You cannot lose your two starting defensive ends from last year and not feel the loss.

I am also skeptical of how this bunch of linebackers will perform. Pierce will be fine. With Kiwanuka move up on the line that puts more pressure on the linebacker corps to perform and adjust. We will have to wait and see.

I love what the Giants have done in the secondary. Last year there were times the coaches could hardly find healthy bodies to put out on the field. Now, it has become a group of young, talented and fast players. Ross will have a great year. Webster looks as though he has finally figured it out. The rookie Thomas at corner and Phillips at safety make the Giants have a talented deep secondary. Sam Madison also supplies the insurance of a veteran to stabalize a young secondary. Let us not forget what Steve Spagnolo can do with a young,fast, and aggressive defense. The Giants have definitely increased the overall team speed of the defense. That may compensate for the loss of people on the line who could record sacks.

The kicking game is the one glaring weakness on the team. Tynes is hurt and wasn't totally consistent at times. Huston doesn't seem to be consistent either. Special teams coverage of punts and kick-offs in pre-season was terrible. The coaches better fix that quickly. The last thing the Giants new defense needs is to be running onto the field after special teams allows the opponents to start around mid-field. Jeff Feagles is great and will continue to be the best directional punter in the history of the game.

So what do all of these assessments mean to a prediction of the 2008 season? The Giants will make it to the playoffs. I see an 11-5 record. I don't see a repeat of another championship. That is hard to do under the best of circumstances. I do think they can go two rounds into the playoffs, but lose in the NFC Championship game.

There it is Dr. Jim. The Professor has left the building.