Prediction Friday: Ravens-Bengals and Prince Fielder
It’s Prediction Friday, and do you know who your favorite local pro football team is?
Let’s hope, for Ravens fans’ sake, it’s not the squad that was in Seattle last Sunday.
Most of us at the bar botched that prediction, thinking the Ravens would win. Some of you expected it to be close, but only one person predicted a Seattle Seahawks upset.
So congratulations to brogers, who gets the free drink tab this week for predicting a Seattle victory, 24-10. It ended up 22-17, but that’s close enough to drink on me.
This week’s Ravens-Bengals game should be interesting. I still don’t believe in the Bengals because, well, they are the Bengals. But I refuse to predict any more blowouts, even at home.
I say it ends up 24-13 and Ray Rice -- remember him? – gets two TDs. Now it is your turn to pick the winner and hero of the game.
(By the way, Ravens-Bengals is just one football game I am eagerly anticipating this weekend. I’ll be paying attention Friday night to the MIAA A Conference title game at Unitas Stadium in Towson between my alma mater, the Calvert Hall College High School Cardinals – insert cheers here – and some other private educational institution in Baltimore with a bit of a football tradition, I hear. I can’t quite remember that school’s name. Anyway, I won’t make a prediction on that one for fear of being attacked by racing dogs next week.)
To baseball: I’ve pretty much worn out most Orioles topics worthy of prediction at this point. At least until the offseason heats up more. So let’s just pick out one overall baseball topic and go from there.
I have been writing for months that I don’t see the Orioles spending what it will take to land Prince Fielder. But who will?
Because many of the big boys have first baseman already, the list of landing spots is intriguing. I’m going to go to left field for the first baseman and say the Toronto Blue Jays. They have money, and they are getting close to competing. And putting him at cleanup really makes that lineup scary.
Daily Think Special: Prediction Friday: Ravens-Bengals
Bonus Think Special: Where does Prince Fielder end up?
Categories: Connolly's Corner Sports Bar
A Baltimore native, 
Comments
Predicting the Ravens this season is a fool's game, but I've never been accused of being too sensible, so here goes:
Ray Rice gets back into the game in a big way with 23 carries for 120 yds. and a TD, plus 4 catches for another 30 yds. and another TD. The defense shuts the kittens down, and the Ravens win big at home 34-13.
I have no idea where Fielder will end up, and don't really care since it won't be here.
Posted by: Roy | November 18, 2011 8:13 AM
Ravens 24 - 17. Prince Fielder signs with St Louis.
Posted by: dave in glen burnie | November 18, 2011 8:30 AM
Ravens underestimate Benglas while looking forward to the 49ers. Rice gets shut down by Bengals stout front 7 which eventually get to Flacco. Game stays close, Gresham catches the winning TD in final 2 minutes. Bengals 20-16.
Posted by: Tony | November 18, 2011 9:16 AM
Bengals....easy
Posted by: Ted | November 18, 2011 10:21 AM
I disagree with the Fielder prediction. I think he'll end up with the Cubs.
Posted by: John K | November 18, 2011 10:55 AM
Ray Rice has a nice day with 80 on the ground and a TD and 7 catches for 65 yards. Flacco conquers his 4-3 demons with TDs to Pitta and Boldin. Ravens 24-16. Super Bowl talk resumes and fairweather fans back away from the ledge for another week.
No way Fielder ends up in Baltimore...maybe when he's 37...
Posted by: Patrick | November 18, 2011 11:37 AM
Definitely the Cubs for Fielder.
Bengals 24
Ravens 14
This team stinks. There's no telling what they're going to give you on a week to week basis. And I believe in the Red Rifle more than I believe in Flacco: Flacco is so inconsistent.
Posted by: Pat | November 18, 2011 1:00 PM
24 ravens 17 bengals. Prince Fielder signs with the Seattle Mainers
Posted by: Daniel Lopez | November 18, 2011 1:15 PM
If Pujols doesn't go first, Fielder will go to Miami.
Posted by: DCB | November 18, 2011 1:34 PM
Ravens 19, Bengals 14 in an ugly contest.
The Dodgers signing Matt Kemp to a huge contract is a sign they are glad to be rid of Frank McCourt and are ready to throw down the gauntlet. I think their next move will be to grab Fielder.
Posted by: Keith | November 18, 2011 2:41 PM
I would like to say Baltimore, and I am sure he would like to go to Detroit where his father played, except that there is no room on the Tigers roster. And, as we all know, Angelos is cheap and doesn't seem to interested in winning games (he rejected Cal Ripken's offer to come in and work with players pro bono, drove off Davey Johnson over the Roberto Alomar mess, and has repeatedly made crap deals like Albert Belle, Sammy Sosa, etc..) We will get the 'left overs' of the free agency.
Posted by: Will Buckman | November 18, 2011 3:12 PM
Just wanted to note that the St. Louis Post-Dispatch headlines about Fielder - the Cardinals are not interested, even if Pujols leaves. It does not make sense to pour money that could be spent signing good players into Fielder. He is too fat, too sloppy, not a team player, and is not worth what he is asking.
Posted by: digger1 | November 18, 2011 3:19 PM
The Ravens home field is offset by the fact it is the Bengals. Bengals by 3 but don't be surprised by 10 or more.
Fielder just may stay in Milwaukee but I'll say Cubs.
Posted by: Jerry | November 18, 2011 3:54 PM
Re Fielder, I agree with the guy who said "Who cares, it won't be here." I also agree with the guy who said "He is too fat, too sloppy, not a team player, and is not worth what he is asking." So forget him. Let somebody else have his headache.
Orioles' focus should be starting pitching, left field and 3rd base. Reynolds should be given the 1st base job. 2nd base is fine -- Roberts, and if not him, Andino.
Posted by: bobgatty | November 18, 2011 5:03 PM
So sorry to see so many people kicking the ravens when they are down -- but I have to go with them. The Bengals "Walk Like An Egyptian" to a 27-17 victory on Sunday, and then a "Manic Monday" for Harbaugh and staff..
Fielder will be the Prince of Miami.
Posted by: Ultimate Ravens Fan | November 18, 2011 7:00 PM
The Ravens pull out a 17-13 victory. Meanwhile, Fielder signs with the Nats sometime next month.
Posted by: Jerry | November 18, 2011 8:46 PM
Hey ORIOLES! Are you getting the big picture yet? You have lost your fans. You have tried to use this bring the talent up from the minors and to sign million dollar deals for burned out has beens. Duquette is already playing as your parrot. You need to bring in key stars (most probably won't come because of your ridiculous tired methods) to bolster the team pay big money which will show your fans that you give a damn. Stop being phoney because doing it now just insults us. What ever happened to using MASN money to improve our team anyway?
Posted by: Tom | November 18, 2011 10:16 PM
The Ravens had a bad game but look at it this way, the Bengals have a winning record therefore the Ravens will win. If the Bengals had a losing record I would go with them. Ravens win 27-13.
Duquette played everyone by saying the team doesn't want to sign any big name free agents. The orioles sign him to a 5 year deal worth 115 million
Posted by: Brandon | November 19, 2011 12:22 AM
Ravens 21 Bengals 17
Fielder to Nats
Posted by: Kenneth Lowe | November 19, 2011 7:15 AM
Ravens don't lose at home. Ravens 21-10.
Fielder signs with Cubs.
Posted by: Andy In Hagerstown | November 19, 2011 8:07 AM
With the Nats to make the Orioles even more of a laughing stock in MLB which, of course, they certainly deserve. The Orioles have the worst organization in baseball history. They are a complete and total joke. Why anyone buys a ticket to line the pockets of the Angelos morons is beyond me. You listen to everything Doucette says and it's coming right from Angelos's mouth. First prediction......2012.....58-104. And that's if they're lucky.
Posted by: Lunatic | November 20, 2011 7:47 PM