bacon's bits: WAHOOS PUNK UP CARDS, SENDING THEM TO WORST DEFEAT IN YUM! CENTER HISTORY

By Mark Bacon

See photo above. See Trey drive to the basket. See Trey fail to recognize the double team. Until it’s too late. Didn’t we see this against VA Tech the other night? See the Cards engage in an exercise of total futility. Total humiliation.

UVA thrashed the Cards, sending them to their worst defeat in Yum! Center history. The ‘Hoos’ thorough 63-47 rout of the 16th-ranked Cards was the perfect illustration of what is so wrong with this team.

• U of L wore special adidas “White Ice” uniforms for this game. Oh, it worked; they went ice cold; shooting only 32.7 percent. Meanwhile Virginia ripped the Cards’ defense for 57.8 percent. The last seven minutes of the game? The Cavaliers missed only one shot. After making two of its first four shots, the Cards made just one shot over the next 11 minutes — and still was down only 12 points. Dear adidas, can we stop this special or limited edition uniform BS? Michigan State looked like clowns earlier in the week.

• “Tonight, we got discouraged by a much better basketball team,” Louisville coach Rick Pitino said after the game. “We are just going to try to get better and better, make the tournament, and see what happens come March. There is no reason to get down in the dumps because we are 6-2 (ACC) and 17-4 (overall). Now that can turn around in a hurry, so each win is going to be monumental for us — we have got to get one game at a time and put all our effort in that one victory.”

• Virginia sent Wake Forest to the free throw line 29 times Tuesday. Louisville  sent Virginia Tech to the line 38 Wednesday night. Yesterday, nobody got to the bonus in the first half. Ball-screen hedges with contact, fouls in most games this season, weren’t yesterday. Louisville Coach Rick Pitino complained that refs need to recognize offensive players driving into defenders. They shouldn’t get foul calls. Russ Smith used to always get that call. Siva and Rozier, too. Damion Lee can’t get it. Russ, Peyton or Terry ain’t walking through that door anytime.

• The Cards have to adjust to how each game is called, and UVA did a much better job of that than Louisville yesterday. Lee became preoccupied with the officiating, and was taken out of his game all day, looking at the refs as much as he looked for team mates.

• I’m not sure how this Louisville team will react to dealing with quicker teams — like North Carolina will be when it visits on Monday night.

• The press isn’t as effective as it has been in years past. The ball pressure is lacking. Our inexperience on the interior has lead to some pretty glaring layups and dunks. It did in the second half Saturday; UVA had four layups and four dunks.

• In the first half — a near carbon-copy of last year’s Virginia game in Charlottesville — Louisville’s guards over-penetrated, looking to score around the basket, and turned the ball over or missed heavily contested shots. In the second half Saturday, they stopped, and the Cards wound up with seven layups or dunks for the half.

• One bright spot: Deng Adel came in and contributed, his best game for the Cardinals. He made a pair of three-pointers. He scored a career-high 12 points. He grabbed five rebounds. In the 21 minutes he played, Louisville was only minus-1.

• “If you look for a silver lining . . .  that was the only silver lining,” Pitino said.

The ONLY silver lining is correct. With number 1 or 2 North Carolina coming to town Monday night, the future doesn’t look too bright.

If you like this story look for more great content from the Main Event Sports crew on our app! Just go to the Google Play Store or iPhone App Store and search keyword "Main Event Sports Radio" and you will have tons of blogs, videos, pics, and more!

For Android users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports app today! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_maineventsports.layout

For iPhone users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports app today! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/main-event-sports-radio/id989058411?mt=8 

bacon's bits: TORRID SHOOTING BY LEE AND LEWIS PROPELS CARDS TO VICTORY OVER HOKIES

By Mark Bacon

The Louisville Cardinals had to assume they would be involved in a game fraught with many a foul call at Virginia Tech. Their opponent has played with such a style this season, they did, and they spent a good deal of time at the line.

U of L countered by shooting from the three point line, making 12 of 18 shots  and getting 29 points on 6 of 7 from three from Damion Lee to hold off the Hokies 91-83 in Cassell Coliseum, Blacksburg, Va. It was the first trip there for Louisville in over 20 years.

• It matched Louisville's best three-point performance on the road in the past 10 seasons, and the Cards needed it. They couldn't do anything with on the defensive end.

• Chinanu Onuaku had two fouls in the first four minutes. Manu earned his third early in the second half. He only scored 14 points (scoring 9 point and grabbing 5 rebounds). However, U of L got big-time shooting (and more) from Lee. They also got 20 second-half points from Trey Lewis, who finished with 22, to improve to 17-3 overall; 6-1 in the ACC.

• "Their strategy was to put Nanu to the bench," Louisville coach Rick Pitino said after the game. "Fortunately for us, Anas (Mahmoud) gave us a big lift and Matz (Stockman) gave us a big lift.” Don't forget Jaylen Johnson, Coach P...

• Louisville has now won four consecutive league games, including back-to-back road victories.

• Tech demonstrated why it has given so many of the ACC's top teams fits this month, making 33 free throws and getting 20-plus points from Jalen Hudson (27), Seth Allen (26) and Zach LeDay (20).

• But Louisville's offense, not defense, was too much. The Cards made 12 3-pointers and had 19 assists on 27 field goals. Lee and Lewis had their season-best scoring efforts.

• "Believe me, we live on defense, but we are not a great defensive team this year," Pitino said. "We are a terrific offensive team." How uncharacteristic!

• Damion Lee came out firing, hitting each of his first six 3-pointers. Nothing but net, too. Lee carried Louisville through a sloppy first half. He got help from Jaylen Johnson and more from Lewis in the second, but Lee was the glue guy throughout the game.

• "Definitely just one of those nights (that) once you see it go in once, the confidence just builds up," Lee said. "I can't really take any credit for that. I give all the credit to my teammates, everybody who was out there just finding me. I managed to be the hot hand."

• Jaylen Johnson was as active as he's been this season, and nearly notched his first career double-double. He finished with career-highs in points (11) and rebounds (nine). He was especially important in the first half, as Chinanu Onuaku, Anas Mahmoud and Ray Spalding each had two fouls, and took their seats on the bench.

• Louisville suffered from the new rules put in place this season and committed 26 at Virginia Tech. A few were questionable, but Louisville's big men made too much contact in the lane and it cost them. Onuaku only played 3:15 in the first half, and he just can't afford to do that in conference play.

• "We played without best player tonight," Pitino said. "I said before the game that they were going to try to put him to the bench, and they did, because (Onuaku) has been getting into trouble with bumping guys and rebounding over the back, and he paid the price tonight."

• The BIG number was 12. As in 12 made 3-pointers for the Cards, a season high. U of L made 10 of them against Grand Canyon and Kennesaw State, but needed 22 and 24 attempts, respectively, in those games.

If you like this story look for more great content from the Main Event Sports crew on our app! Just go to the Google Play Store or iPhone App Store and search keyword "Main Event Sports Radio" and you will have tons of blogs, videos, pics, and more!

For Android users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports app today! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_maineventsports.layout

For iPhone users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports app today! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/main-event-sports-radio/id989058411?mt=8 

bacon's bits: MAHMOUD TAKES GIANT STEP, LEADS LOUISVILLE TO VICTORY

By Mark Bacon
Q: When is watching a Louisville Basketball game like watching a Skins’ football game?

A: When the game is never fully in hand, and one CANNOT relax watching it. 

Like yesterday, when Louisville found itself in a dog fight against Georgia Tech. The conference battle had 11 lead changes and nine tied scores. Louisville's shocking answer was 7-foot, 215-pound sophomore Anas Mahmoud, whose career-high 15 points (13 in the second half) carried the 17th-ranked Cards to a 75-71 victory in Atlanta.

• Anas Mahmoud? The spindly sophomore center who entered the game averaging 2.5 points and 2.9 rebounds a game. 

• "Without question, the key to the game, in the second half, was going to Anas Mahmoud," Pitino said. "Anas is the best passing big man (on the team). His length bothers people, but more important, he's got a great low-post game. He's just a little weak. Per minute played, he's the best stat-stuffer on the team. He did a great job for us."

• Damion Lee, the grad transfer wing, led U of L with 17 points, wasn't as surprised as most observers would be. Mahmoud, Lee said, shows his potential quite often in practice.

• "You guys really don't see it," Lee said. "In practice, sometimes Anas can be the best player on the team and literally can take over practice on the offensive end and the defensive end.

• Lee came out in attack mode, and his scoring gave boost U of L’s perimeter game a shot in the arm. Particularly in the first half as the Cards’ interior players struggled with the Yellow Jacket’s physicality. Lee entered the game shooting 2 for 20 from 3-point range over his last three games. That rough run ended against GA Tech with a much better shooting performance. Fellow graduate transfer Trey Lewis, also ended a 1-for-16 3-point shooting skid of his own.

• Chinanu Onuaku has now posted six consecutive double-doubles, all in ACC play. He has been fantastic of late, and Louisville is a much better team the 6-10 sophomore is on the floor. He also snatched a nice steal that showed off his basketball IQ, and he blocked a 3-pointer. Onuaku finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.

• Let’s not overlook freshman guard Donovan Mitchell. Again Mitchell showed no fear when the game was on the line, making a pair of enormous buckets at a key juncture in the second half, rebounding and creating turnovers better than any other U of L guard, and calmly sinking a pair of free-throws to seal the deal with 16 seconds left.

The game was far from U of L's best performance of the season, but in time, it might be viewed as a game that was more significant than it seemed at the time.

If you like this story look for more great content from the Main Event Sports crew on our app! Just go to the Google Play Store or iPhone App Store and search keyword "Main Event Sports Radio" and you will have tons of blogs, videos, pics, and more!

For Android users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports app today! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_maineventsports.layout

For iPhone users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports app today! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/main-event-sports-radio/id989058411?mt=8 

BACON'S BITS: LOUISVILLE SOARS PAST FLORIDA STATE, 84-65

By Mark Bacon

Louisville ran away from the Florida State Seminoles with one of its most complete games this season.

Quentin Snider scored 20 points, Damion Lee added 14, and the Cardinals dominated Florida State in an 84-65 victory last night. The lead was 29 points before the Seminoles scored the final 10 points. U of L was never challenged past the opening minutes in winning its second straight ACC game.

• Louisville (15-3, 4-1 ACC) shot 48 percent and out-rebounded Florida State 44-36. Pitino was ecstatic over the Cards' 57 touches in the paint, a team record.

• Chinanu Onuaku had 14 rebounds and 11 points for his fifth straight double-double, all coming in league play.

• Freshman guard Donovan Mitchell chipped in 13 points for the Louisville, including a nasty one-handed put-back dunk in the first half that charged the Yum Center crowd of 21,349. Leading 22-15 at that point, Louisville never looked back in building a lead that reached 32.

• Mitchell was behind the 3-point line when Lee launched a 3 from the left side. He sprinted toward the basket in hopes of getting the rebound but ended up making one of the season's most spectacular slam dunks as he snatched the miss with one hand and put it back through in one motion.

• "I've been waiting for that for a long, long time," the 6-foot-3 Mitchell said. "Once you have a dunk like that, it elevates your play."

• Snider made 8 of 12 from the field including 3 of 4 3-pointers to finish a point off his career high (21) achieved two weeks ago against NC State.

• Trey Lewis entered the game needing nine points to reach 1,300 for his career but finished with six along with five assists and three rebounds. 

If you like this story look for more great content from the Main Event Sports crew on our app! Just go to the Google Play Store or iPhone App Store and search keyword "Main Event Sports Radio" and you will have tons of blogs, videos, pics, and more!

For Android users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports app today! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_maineventsports.layout

For iPhone users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports apptoday!https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/main-event-sports-radio/id989058411?mt=8 

GEORGETOWN DROPS NO. 5 XAVIER, 81-72

By Mark Bacon

Georgetown finally got a breakthrough win.

• Sophomore Tre Campbell scored a career-high 21 points — 17 in the first half — and Georgetown's front line dug in as the Hoyas built a double-digit lead in the second half and held on for an 81-72 victory over No. 5 Xavier on Tuesday night.

• The Hoyas (12-7, 5-2 Big East) pulled ahead 39-33 at halftime behind Campbell's big game and led by as many as 11 in the second half while sending the Musketeers (16-2, 4-2) to their first home-court loss of the season. Senior D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera had 20 points for Georgetown, 15 in the second half.

• "It's really big," Smith-Rivera said. "It's the first time we've won here and my last time playing here."

• The Hoyas have folded in the second half against top teams and wound up with close losses. This time, they kept their poise.

• "I told these guys before the game: 'We've been close but here's another opportunity,'" coach John Thompson III said. "To come in here and win against this team — they're playing at such a high level now — feels good. We're now over a hump and we'll proceed from here."

• Xavier won all three games against Georgetown last season, including a matchup in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament. The Hoyas' front line, led by Bradley Hayes, dug in and got a different result, out-rebounding Xavier 39-35. 

BACON’S BITS: 

• Georgetown: The Hoyas are 2-3 against ranked teams this season.

• In Charlottesville, Virginia sank streaking Clemson last night, 69-62.

• In College Park, Maryland held off pesky Northwestern to win in OT, 62-56.

LOUISVILLE GETS THEIR DEFENSIVE MOJO BACK, CRUSHES PITT

By Mark Bacon

The Louisville Cardinals regained their defensive Mojo to smother the Pitt Panthers most of the game, and a second-half offensive burst sent them on their way to a 59-41 victory, their finest victory of the season. It’s the fifth time this season the Cards have limited an opponent to less than 30 percent shooting.

Rarely is a basketball team held to half of its scoring average. But it happened to Pitt last night. The Panthers came into the game the No. 9 scoring team in the nation at 85.3 points per game, but scored fewer than 30 points in each half in their second defeat of the season.

Pitt watched its 10-game winning streak snapped; the game was their worst outing of the season.

It wasn’t pretty, unless you’re a big fan of defense. Coach Rick Pitino is. “I feel like my long-lost best friend came back tonight,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for a long time to see defense like that.”

Louisville played their usual switching defense, from zone to man-to-man, but mainly stayed in man-to-man and played outstanding help defense. The Cards rediscovered the pesky, menacing, deflection-based style that has led them to success in past seasons, grabbing 10 steals and forcing more turnovers (19) than Pitt had made baskets (14).

“We kept taking guarded shots, but we were the team that did that tonight,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. “For whatever reason, we didn’t play tonight they way we have been. It happens.”

Chinanu Onuaku was dominant in the paint. He repeatedly rotated over to close the middle on defense, causing Pitt headaches trying to get easy points down low. Nanu finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and went 4 of 5 from the free-throw line.

Louisville had another ugly shooting performance. They were just 1 of 11 from three-point range, but didn’t panic. They stuck with defense, and waited for their run (midway through the first half), and once again early in the second half. Pittsburgh shot just 28.6 percent in the game, and despite shooting nearly 80 percent from the free-throw line, No. 1 in the nation coming into the game, they made just 12 of 20 (60 percent) from the line. Louisville went 16 of 19 (84.2 percent).

“I didn’t yell at them after the loss,” Pitino said. “But I told them, if your identity is to outshoot them, you’ll make the tournament, but you won’t get past the first weekend.”

Louisville’s graduate transfers couldn’t buy a basket — but they didn’t try to force shots, and both played far better defense than they did Sunday at Clemson. Late in the game, Damion Lee found his shots, took the ball strong the basket to get fouled, and was as the Cards’ co-leading scorer with 18 points; largely by going 8 of 9 from the free-throw line.

The Cardinals outscored Pittsburgh 21-9 on second-chance points, and 34-20  in the paint. They blocked six shots and dished out 11 assists to only four for Pitt.

If you like this story look for more great content from the Main Event Sports crew on our app! Just go to the Google Play Store or iPhone App Store and search keyword "Main Event Sports Radio" and you will have tons of blogs, videos, pics, and more!

For Android users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports app today! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_maineventsports.layout

For iPhone users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports apptoday!https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/main-event-sports-radio/id989058411?mt=8 

Quick Take: Alabama vs Clemson

By Haven Harrington @mesports

Despite the hype of Derrick Henry, Alabama's defense, and Clemson's DeShaun Watson this game came down to one thing: Alabama didn't make any mistakes. It's that simple. For much of the game Clemson outplayed Alabama. Alabama didn't have one sustained drive the whole game. Outside of one 50 yd burst, Derrick Henry was pretty much held in check. This game came down to special teams breakdowns and 3 blown coverages by Clemson.

I don't want to take anything away from Alabama. They played a mistake free game and took advantage of every one of Clemson's mishaps. They made great halftime adjustments to help a struggling Jake Coker, and executed the perfect onsides kick. However, with all of that said this game was Clemson's to lose. Which they did. 

Despite having a game for the ages, Deshaun Watson had a crucial INT in the first half that completely switched momentum of the game. Up until that point Clemson was rolling, up 14-7 and were driving with all of the momentum. Then in an instant that all changed with an INT. Alabama given a short field scores the game tying TD.  The mistakes didn't stop there. Clemson had 3 blown coverages that led to 3 Alabama TDs. Not to be outdone by Clemson's secondary their special teams gives up a kick off return for a TD. Those mishaps were just too much to overcome.   

The core of Clemson's team will be back next year including their star QB so they will have a good chance to make another run at the title. However, they missed a golden opportunity last night. They outplayed Alabama, but couldn't get out of their own way.


If you like this story look for more great content from the Main Event Sports crew on our app! Just go to the Google Play Store or iPhone App Store and search keyword "Main Event Sports Radio" and you will have tons of blogs, videos, pics, and more!

For Android users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports app today! 

For iPhone users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports app today!

REDSKINS' BREAKTHROUGH SEASON ENDS IN DISAPPOINTMENT

By Mark Bacon
It was great while it lasted. It surpassed all expectations. Three years ago was the last time the Skins reached the playoffs. After that absense, fans turned out yesterday with the hope of witnessing the start of a new beginning, an era, ushered in by second-year Coach Jay Gruden, first-year starting quarterback Kirk Cousins and a collection of veterans and rookies eager to lead a resurgence.

But the promising start against the Green Bay Packers stalled and the Redskins fell behind against a former Super Bowl MVP, QB Aaron Rodgers. The final result? A 35-18 loss that ended the Skins’ season.

After winning only seven games the last two seasons, combined, they regrouped after a 2-4 start to finish 9-7, win the NFC East and a trip to Sunday’s first-round playoff date with Green Bay.

The Redskins didn’t lose Sunday because of serious errors; they simply left too many opportunities between the lines.

The Skins jumped out to an 11-0 lead; it should have, could have, been 16-0. But they missed an extra point and had to settle for a field goal rather than a touchdown early in the first quarter, when DeSean Jackson did not clear the goal line with the ball. They regained the lead at 18-17 at the beginning of the third quarter. Then their offense went dormant and the defense disappeared under the pounding of the Packers’ running game.

Cousins played well, throwing for 329 yards and one touchdown while rushing for another. But their defense couldn’t keep pace with the Packers’ hurry-up offense. The Skins’ young offensive line surrendered six sacks, almost one-fourth the number (27) it allowed the previous 16 games.

Past Skins’ seasons had a dead-end feel, but not this one. In past seasons, Washington had so much dysfunction and precious little professionalism that even when they won, it felt temporary, a fleeting moment of competence. Yesterday was the start of something, even at the bitter end. A new feeling.

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers said last week, “You have to learn how to win in the playoffs.” He was completely on target. The Skins hopefully learned all kinds of things from their 35-18 loss to the Packers: If you’re too casual around the end zone, critical points and momentum are left on the field. The team is not quite battle tested enough to keep from being overcome by a team with superior experience. And physicality. But they can take away from the experience that they are close, perhaps very close, to being what they want to be. “This stings right now, but I think we’re building something big here,” Coach Jay Gruden said.

BACON'S BITS: A tip of the hat to Skins' tight end Jordan Reed; why this man isn't STARTING in the Pro Bowl is a crime. And a message to owner Dan Snyder: Leave the team alone during the offseason. Allow what has begun to germinate, to grow. For a change, don’t disrupt things, or meddle with things and personnel. Let GM Scot McCloughan continue to fill them with his savvy combination of blooded winners and blooming young talent.

There’s always next year.

HAIL SKINS!

If you like this story look for more great content from the Main Event Sports crew on our app! Just go to the Google Play Store or iPhone App Store and search keyword "Main Event Sports Radio" and you will have tons of blogs, videos, pics, and more!

For Android users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports app today! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_maineventsports.layout

For iPhone users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports apptoday!https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/main-event-sports-radio/id989058411?mt=8 

LOUISVILLE IMITATES WEATHER: GOES FRIGID. UPSET BY CLEMSON.

By Mark Bacon

Louisville basketball today offered up it’s Annual January Disaster. Their performance against Clemson on the road Sunday afternoon was wildly disappointing AND shocking. They made like the weather back home, and froze up. The final was 66-62, Clemson.

• U of L did not respond positively to Clemson’s physicality. Coach Rick Pitino complained that the game looked as if it were played under last year’s rules of contact as opposed to this year’s.

• One of the nation's top offensive teams, U of L missed 19 of its 22 3-point attempts. They shot 35.8 percent from the field for the game, and were handed their first upset loss of the season. Clemson shot a worse percentage from the field than the Cards (32.6), but made a season-high 44 trips to the free-throw line, scoring 32 of their 66 points at the stripe. The Cards went to the line just 16 times, scoring only 11 points.

• More angst? Louisville out-rebounded Clemson by 22 (53-31), had one more assist (11-10), but absolutely couldn't make open shots. From ANY spot on the floor.

• Wretched perimeter shooting, including 16 straight misses before finally making a three-pointer. The Cards shot a pathetic 3-for-23 from three-point land. The top two scorers and team leaders on the season, Damion Lee and Trey Lewis, combined to go 5-for-31, and 1-for-18 from three.

• “Damion Lee, you know, this was his first bad day,” Pitino said. “He was worried way too much about his jump shot rather than just playing Louisville basketball, win the game. You can’t get consumed with your jump shot, whether it goes in or not. You’ve got to be consumed with getting rebounds, creating turnovers, and doing other things in the game. Get an offensive rebound. Get a steal. If you’re going to be one-dimensional, then you’re going to have nights like tonight.”

• The Cards tom-tommed the ball outside all day, leading to a notable lack of ball movement: they had just 11 assists; only 36 in the past four games.

• Too many fouls. Once again, Chinanu Onuaku reverted to his old form, and  was saddled with foul trouble all night. Clemson went to the line 44 times while the Cards shot only 16 free throws.

• There was again a disturbing lack of forced turnovers. Louisville isn’t getting steals, just five on Sunday and 21 over the past four games.

• The defense just sucked. Period. 

BACON'S BITS: There wasn’t a single positive to be taken from the game. Not one. Louisville has its work cut out for them preparing for a surprising Pitt team Thursday. The sooner they get to work on their many shortcomings, the better.

If you like this story look for more great content from the Main Event Sports crew on our app! Just go to the Google Play Store or iPhone App Store and search keyword "Main Event Sports Radio" and you will have tons of blogs, videos, pics, and more!

For Android users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports app today! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_maineventsports.layout

For iPhone users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports apptoday!https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/main-event-sports-radio/id989058411?mt=8 

THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS PLAYOFF DATE WITH THE GREEN BAY PACKERS

By Mark Bacon

Washington DC is a very happy town right now. Slowly, cautiously, citizens are appearing in Redskins gear walking to Metro, at happy hour after work, jogging along the Potomac—flying colors, wearing Skins T-shirts to casual Friday at some offices. And the NFC East Champions shirts are flying off the shelves. The city long unaccustomed to their NFL franchise winning. Suddenly, Skins fans find themselves in the weird position of cheering for a team no longer considered a laughing stock of the League.

One salient detail is the rise of the Skins coinciding with their hiring a TRUE GM, not a puppet of owner Dan Snyder. Enter new GM Scot McLoughan. McLoughan is well known in NFL circles as an architect of winning rosters. Witness his past achievements with The Seahawks and Niners. This season he assembled a solid cadre of free agents, not merely “names.” Plus he drafted one of the best rookie classes in the League.

NICE GUYS FINISH… FIRST?

Much of the credit goes to QB “Captain Kirk” Cousins. Cousins arrived in Washington as a footnote; he was cast as a career backup when the Skins chose him in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft. Until this season, when he replaced Robert “Bob” Griffin III as the starting quarterback, Cousins’s limited appearances only earned him a reputation for committing costly errors, particularly throwing picks, at inopportune times.

Ah, but what a difference the past 10 weeks has made. That former backup QB has led the Redskins to a stunning reversal of fortune. Led by Cousins, they have followed up a 2-4 start with a 7-3 finish that clinched Washington’s first NFC East championship since 2012 and a first-round playoff date with the Green Bay Packers on Sunday in DC. Much credit goes to Cousin’s meticulous attention to detail, and preparation prior to each game.

Now, talk around town is all Cousins. Cousins finds time to foster dogs during the season! Cousins can be a recording star with his great singing voice!! Cousins for President!!!

RUNNING GAME DOA

While Cousins' offense has looked fantastic over the past two months, the passing game hasn't done much to get a near-dead Washington rushing attack going. Since the "You like that!" game against Tampa, Washington's rushing attack has averaged just 3.5 yards per carry. It is 28th in the league. It’s bad. The best way to attack the Packers is to go after them on the ground. Green Bay has the sixth-best pass defense in the NFL.

WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?

When experts pick the Skins to beat opponents, Washington loses, feeding the belief among some fans that it’s a bad omen when their team are favorites. I know. I am one of those people.

Well, here’s the good news. Many analysts, including four out of five members of the NFL Network’s pregame show, picked the Redskins to beat the Eagles on Dec. 26. The Redskins did win.

If you’re the superstitious type, like me, who still isn’t convinced that fortune has changed for the Skins, here’s more good news: The experts are pretty split about who will win Sunday’s wild-card game against the Packers. More pundits like the Redskins, but they’re not the overwhelming favorite. The game is a pick’em in Vegas.

Neil Greenberg of the Washington Post picked the Redskins. He writes:

“Washington is a different team at home. Its passer rating balloons from 88 to 115.6  and it rushes for 1.3 more yards per carry. The defense allows fewer yards per rush at home, as well (4.3 vs. 5.5).

And the Packers are limping into the playoffs, not producing an above-average number of yards per play since Week 8.”

So, my prediction? Do I have to?? Washington by one. That’s as far as I’ll go for now.

Remember, I’m a superstitious fan, unaccustomed to my team finding success on the gridiron. Like they have this season.

If you like this story look for more great content from the Main Event Sports crew on our app! Just go to the Google Play Store or iPhone App Store and search keyword "Main Event Sports Radio" and you will have tons of blogs, videos, pics, and more!

For Android users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports app today! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_maineventsports.layout

For iPhone users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports apptoday!https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/main-event-sports-radio/id989058411?mt=8 

BACON'S BITS: MITCHELL AND ONUAKU LEAD CARDS TO WIN OVER WAKE FOREST

By Mark Bacon

Freshman Donovan Mitchell, in his first college start, and Louisville's Atlantic Coast Conference opener, proved he is ready for the bright lights. Credit Onuaku for very significant contributions, too.

• Mitchell led the Cardinals with 18 points and had 8 rebounds. Chinanu Onuaku added 12 points and 15 rebounds in a 65-57 win over Wake Forest before an enthusiastic Yum! Center crowd. 

• My friend Aaron and I debated who was MVP, but I’m going to give the edge to Mitchell, while acknowledging Onuaku’s massive contributions. If Chinanu can consistently remain on the court, sans foul trouble, U of L has a very potent inside weapon.

• Was it was the best win of the season for Louisville? Perhaps. It was important that the Cards got another tough test, and pass. And they did. Against a Demon Deacons squad that already defeated Indiana, UCLA and LSU, the Cardinals established an early 9-point lead and never trailed, though Wake Forest came to within one point, late in the game.

• In the closing 5 minutes or so, Louisville bothered Wake defensively with tough half court man-to-man defense. The Demon Deacons made only one of their final nine shots, missing their last six. They also went 3-for-12 from the free-throw line.

• Onuaku has been winning Pitino’s MVP award regularly — metrics that reward hustle, rebounding and defense. And Nanu has done so despite early foul trouble from offensive fouls called on his proclivity to set moving screens. His movement impedes the offensive players’ progress, and that is a point-of-emphasis to officials in the NCAA this season.

• He avoided that Sunday night, playing a foul-free first half; he finished with four fouls, so additional work is needed. Chinanu played a team-high and season-high 37 minutes.

• Wake Forest burned Louisville on fast breaks; Coach Pitino had them scoring on 12 fast-break possessions.

• Louisville’s key traditional sources of offense — points off turnovers and second-chance points — were denied by Wake Coach Danny Manning’s strategy. They had only four points off turnovers in the game and 14 second-chance points. In the second stanza, the Cardinals had zero points off turnovers and two second-chance points.

• Kudos to Wake head coach Danny Manning. The Demon Deacons, once a reclamation project at the bottom of the ACC, has arrived. Cards Nation should be relieved we don’t face them again this season, until possibly the ACC Tournament. But a tough week with two road games — at NC State and Clemson — lie ahead.

If you like this story look for more great content from the Main Event Sports crew on our app! Just go to the Google Play Store or iPhone App Store and search keyword "Main Event Sports Radio" and you will have tons of blogs, videos, pics, and more!

For Android users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports app today! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_maineventsports.layout

For iPhone users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports apptoday!https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/main-event-sports-radio/id989058411?mt=8 

MARK MY WORDS: SKINS BEAT COWBOYS, 34–23

By Mark Bacon

Following are words I never thought I would be writing in early January, this past September. . . There is an inescapable truth about the Washington Redskins’ QB, Kirk Cousins. Lately, he has been playing as well as any QB in the NFL.

• Today Cousins capped a brilliant regular season with three first-half touchdowns, sets a team passing record and Washington heads into playoffs on four-game winning streak. And averted a season’s sweep by their most reviled foe — The Cowboys. Next weekend is an NFL playoff appearance no one saw coming, especially me.

• The Skins issued a strong statement from the beginning of the game. After a 2-4 start to the season, Washington wasn’t taking the afternoon off. Besides, 9–7 looks better than 8–8.

• Cousins led three consecutive touchdown drives in the first quarter to stake the Skins to a 21-0 lead. With his 12th completion, Cousins set a single-season record for passing yards by a Redskins quarterback (4,166 yards).He had a close-to-impeccable outing — 12 of 15 for 176 yards and three touchdowns. 

• Skeptics may not be convinced, feeling Washington is merely the beneficiary of playing in the NFL’s weakest division, The NFL Least. The Skins earned their playoff spot without beating a team that currently has a winning record. But their winning streak has convinced an already unified locker room that it has the tools it needs to make a statement in the postseason.

• ‘You like that.’ Kirk Cousins didn’t get hurt. But the Skins didn’t escape Dallas completely injury-free; their secondary took a beating. Kyshoen Jarrett was ruled out with a neck and shoulder stinger after making a tackle in the first quarter. Reserve cornerback Dashaun Phillips was carted off the field on a stretcher after suffering a neck injury in the second quarter. Both injuries were caused by helmet-to-helmet hits with Cowboys running back Darren McFadden. As Phillips was carried off, tasteless Dallas fans did “The Wave.” 

• Will Compton picked off Kellen Moore on Dallas’ third possession, prompting Fox play-by-play man Chris Myers to declare the takeaway “Straight Outta Compton.” 

• Entering the game, Washington had scored one touchdown off a turnover all season, back in Week 6 against the Jets. On Sunday, they scored two in four minutes.

What’s next? If the Vikings win, the Redskins will face the Packers. If the Packers and Seahawks win, the Redskins will face the Seahawks. If the Packers and Cardinals win, the Redskins will face the Vikings.

If you like this story look for more great content from the Main Event Sports crew on our app! Just go to the Google Play Store or iPhone App Store and search keyword "Main Event Sports Radio" and you will have tons of blogs, videos, pics, and more!

For Android users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports app today! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_maineventsports.layout

For iPhone users simply click on the link below to download the Main Event Sports apptoday!https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/main-event-sports-radio/id989058411?mt=8