Is it asking too much for the NFL to deliver at least a couple scintillating games this weekend? The league owes its fans that much after a six-game wild card round that produced one competitive, remotely surprising result. Meanwhile, over at the College Football Playoff, only four of the 10 games played so far could be described as special. Neither pro nor college expanded postseason fields come with the guarantee of compelling competition.
Add football: Not that the CFP hasn't been a rousing success. It has. But I don't hear anybody questioning the demands a 16-game season places on the athletes from Ohio State and Notre Dame.
Bottom line: Michael Vick's $400,000 base salary is less than the amount of free publicity Norfolk State is getting.
A simple wish: Like the oddsmakers, I think Ohio State will win at least semi-comfortably Monday night. But if the game is close, let's hope it isn't decided by way of the gimmicky backyard-style overtime rules.
Let 'er rip: Just as going to Detroit with a hot quarterback gives the Commanders a shot, it also doesn't hurt their chances to be playing with house money.
Special treatment: As minority owner of the Raiders, Tom Brady recently interviewed Detroit's top coordinators, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, for the Las Vegas head coaching slot. By the most basic of ethical standards, this should disqualify Brady from being in the booth for the Lions-Commanders game on Fox. It hasn't and won't because the NFL can't say no to Tom Terrific. Will his interest in the Lions' job applicants color Brady's analysis? Who knows? But viewers shouldn't have to wonder.
On the hunt: As much as he might want Deion Sanders, what popinjay Jerry Jones really craves is more attention for himself.
In passing: The three host teams for next season's NFL London games will be the Jets, Jags and Browns. At least two of them shouldn't be allowed back into the country.
Temperature control: A thought to help turn up our inner thermostats on chilly January mornings -- pitchers and catchers report in less than two weeks.
Curious comedown: How quickly NFL fortunes change. Only three weeks ago Sam Darnold was being praised as a guy who was doing as much for the Vikings as Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen were doing for their teams. Now after two bad games he's being told, "don't let the door hit you on the way out."
Wondering: Will the winner of The NFL Game of the Year between the Ravens and Bills have something left for the Chiefs? And yes, I'll take my chances putting Kansas City in the AFC title game.
Collateral damage: A four-game losing streak has dashed whatever slim hopes Virginia basketball had of holding it together without Tony Bennett. Interim coach Ron Sanchez won't be back, most of the players will scatter and the program must start over. It wouldn't take a basketball savant to have seen this coming.
Future watch: Speculation that Shaka Smart is the top candidate to take over at Virginia suggests a potentially intriguing commonwealth scenario. From VCU to UVA -- even with two big stops at Texas and Marquette -- isn't the path anyone could have imagined for a Cavaliers coach.
Cruise control: Duke's basketball team won't go unbeaten even in an anemic ACC -- a road game or two trips up even the best teams. But so far, the Blue Devils' conference wins have been light workouts. Going forward, complacency might create their biggest hurdle.