Newbie points out that NFL.com's panel of self-appointed experts has unanimously (all seven of them) picked the Packers to reach the Super Bowl. Four of them, in fact, have them winning it. This is, of course, pure folly. Look: the Packers are a good, intriguing team. They've done some nice things in the preseason. But this national slobbering over them has reached epidemic proportions.
That said, it is exciting to watch a team that hasn't accomplished anything get set up to fail under the weight of unreasonable expectations. We fully expect that to happen with the Wild Card Packers. We will remember all this at the end of the season, even if we turn out to be wrong.
With that, one minor programming note: We are rumored to be appearing on a sports talk radio station in Mississippi at 4:30 p.m. to talk about Big Ten divisions. Why? Because they asked. Have a listen, if you want.
And then? Enjoy a three-day weekend. Weekend Links tomorrow, then darkness until Tuesday.
