Matt's Musings

It's time for this week's picks. Last week I went 9-7. That's not great, but not terrible. It could be the year of the under dog, and week one proved that. Lindsay also went 9-7, meaning we're tied… On to week two! Again, these are picks against the spread, not just straight up and down winners and losers. Lindsay's picks are in brackets. Week 2: Steelers +2.5 Over Ravens (Steelers) Falcons +5.5 Over Bengals (Bengals) Dolphins -.5 Over Bills (Bills) Browns +6.5 Over Saints (Browns) Cowboys +3.5 Over Titans (Titans) Lions +2.5 Over Panthers (Lions) Vikings +3.5 Over Patriots (Vikings) Cardinals +1.5 Over Giants (Giants) Jaguars +5.5 Over Washington (Washington) Rams +5.5 Over Buccaneers (Rams) Seahawks -5.5 Over Chargers (Chargers) Broncos +13.5 Over Chiefs (Broncos) Jets +8.5 Over Packers (Jets) Texans -2.5 Over Raiders (Texans) 49ers -7.5 Over Bears (49ers) Eagles +2.5 Over Colts (Colts) Last Week: 9-7 Lindsay: 9-7 Season: 9-7 Lindsay: 9-7

The Fall TV season is upon us. This begins my weekly posts where I give my thoughts on the new fall shows. Thanks to some early premiers made available online, and the fact that FOX began it's season, below are a look at some new pilots. Shows are listed by day they air and time. I review the pilot and second episode of new shows. Tuesday Nights: Utopia, Tuesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. on FOX (Premiered September 7) About: On paper "Utopia" sounds like a fantastic idea. The show takes 15 every day people, puts them on a five-acre compound, and allows them to create their own society. I could see this going in a lot of different ways. I could see this being a fascinating social experiment. And maybe it will become that. The second episode airs tonight. However, the pilot episode of the show, which debuted on Sunday, felt an awful lot like "Big Brother." My wife correctly pointed out that, when people form a commune on a compound, they often do it while sharing a c...

The regular season is here, thus begins the recaps for games that count. Week One: Broncos 31, Indianapolis Colts 24 Season Record: 1-0 (1-0 home) Key Play: With the Broncos up 31-24 and the fourth quarter winding down, the Colts were driving. Andrew Luck faced a fourth and six from the Broncos' 39-yard line. In an effort to extend the drive, he looked to connect with top target Reggie Wayne, but rookie nickel corner Bradley Roby dove over the top to knock the ball away. It ended the Colts drive and, effectively, ended the game. The Broncos' offense took the field and kneeled down three times to preserve the seven-point win. Recap: As one might expect, this game had good, bad, and ugly. First with the good. The Broncos won the game, avenging one of their three regular season losses from 2013. It was also important to preserve home field and kick the season off with a victory. The Colts have been a very good team in close games with Luck over the past two years. To have with...

Over the Labor Day weekend, Lifetime debuted its latest original film. This one was the "unauthorized" true story about the making of "Saved By The Bell." As a kid, I watched "Saved By The Bell," as so many of my peers did. It was a popular show, and I watched each version to the end. So I was curious to see what this movie would say about the making of the show. The film is based on a book written by Dustin Diamond, otherwise known as Screech, and purported to share the dirt on the behind the scenes action. It isn't a good movie, and it isn't all that salacious. In fact, the biggest thing it did was make me want to go back and watch "Saved By The Bell." That being said, here's some thoughts I had watching this making of movie. * Couldn't they have found actors that looked a little closer to the real people. My wife didn't think it was that bad in terms of casting, but I don't think the characters in the film looked remote...

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. The Expendables 3 Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson, Kelan Lutz, Wesley Snipes, Randy Couture, Dolph Lundgren, and Terry Crews Synopsis: In the summer of 2010, Sylvester Stallone was banking on the idea that audiences were tired of superheroes in tights and lavish special effects. He thought audiences missed good ole’ fashion action films, so he brought the world “The Expendables.” It was a novel idea — taking a group of action heroes from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, and throwing them together in a big, loud throwback to a bygone era. The first film was fun, and it drew and audience. So, naturally, Stallone upped the stakes, expanded the cast and increased the explosion budget of “The Expendables 2” in the summer of 2012. Two years later, he hoped to catch lightening in a bottle a third time with the second sequel in the budding franchise. But this film feels tired now, and it’s flo...

As I did last season, Lindsay and I will be making head-to-head picks against the spread. Last year, I brought more than 20 years of football watching and analyzing experience. Lindsay brought a first year fully invested in football curiosity. Our records were essentially the same, and when Lindsay counted the 10 bonus points she said she got for lack of experience, she was better than me. I hope that changes this year, but I'm not confident. Lindsay's picks are in brackets. Week One: Seahawks -5.5 Over Packers (Seahawks) Saints +1.5 Over Falcons (Saints) Bears -6.5 Over Bills (Bills) Bengals +2.5 Over Ravens (Bengals) Browns +5.5 Over Steelers (Browns) Chiefs -6.5 Over Titans (Chiefs) Jets -4.5 Over Raiders (Raiders) Vikings +6.5 Over Rams (Vikings) Patriots -3.5 Over Dolphins (Patriots) Eagles -11.5 Over Jaguars (Jaguars) Redskins +2.5 Over Texans (Texans) Cowboys +4.5 Over 49ers (49ers) Buccaneers -1.5 Over Panthers (Panthers) Broncos -6.5 Over Colts (Broncos) Lions -4.5 Ove...

We finally made it, the new season is upon us. The action begins tonight. The Broncos play on Sunday night. It's the happiest week of the year. Below are my predictions of records for all teams, playoffs, and Super Bowl. Last year I called the right teams in the Super Bowl, but I was really wrong about the final score… hopefully this year is better. AFC: West: Broncos 12-4 (1) Chargers 10-6 (5) Chiefs 6-10 Raiders 3-13 North: Bengals 10-6 (4) Ravens 9-7 (6) Steelers 7-9 Browns 5-11 South: Colts 11-5 (3) Texans 7-9 Titans 6-10 Jaguars 5-11 East: Patriots 12-4 (2) Dolphins 8-8 Jets 7-9 Bills 4-12 Playoffs: Round 1 — Chargers over Bengals; Ravens over Colts Round 2 — Chargers over Patriots; Broncos over Ravens AFC Championship — Broncos over Chargers NFC: West: Seahawks 12-4 (1) 49ers 9-7 (6) Cardinals 8-8 Rams 7-9 North: Bears 12-4 (2) Packers 10-6 (5) Lions 7-9 Vikings 5-11 South: Saints 11-5 (3) Falcons 9-7 Buccaneers 7-9 Panthers 6-10 East: Eagles 10-6 (4) Cowboys 8-8 Washington...