Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Before we go blazing into 2013, in the spirit of full disclosure, we will divulge our preseason predictions.
Pedestrian seems like the proper term to describe our efforts. Both Young Jackson and I had seven of the 12 NFL playoff qualifiers, which is a smooth 58 percent success rate according to Jackson, who once knew math.
We both had New England, Texas and Baltimore winning AFC divisional crowns. Jackson also had Denver in the West, where I remained maddeningly fixated on San Diego.
Jackson flubbed badly with Buffalo as one of his wild-card picks and Pittsburgh the other. I correctly had Cincinnati and, uh, Kansas City. Sigh.
It was uglier in the NFC, where Jackson and I hit on Green Bay and San Francisco as divisional champs. I also scored with Atlanta in the South, where Jackson decided Carolina was the way to go. Jackson had the Falcons as a wild card, though.
Our Super Bowl picks remain viable. Jackson has the Packers over Houston;  I went with New England over the Pack.
Most of the newsroom staff’s Super Bowl picks are competitive as well, although no one saw Denver coming.
Petey “The Gators Are Going To Win But Not At The Sugar Bowl” Covino has San Francisco over New England; Fallan “I’m Getting No Sleep With This Baby” Patterson has Green Bay over the Texans; Andrew “Flaming Spear” Sullivan tabbed Green Bay over New England and eminent leader Tom “Captain” Kirk has it the other way around, Pats over the Packers.
Sadly, commanding editor Brian “Big Man” McBride’s devotion to his Cowboys cost him dearly. He has Dallas over Baltimore in the Super Bowl.
Our BCS championship game predictions ranged from OK to ugh.
I had Bama over FSU; Jackson clunked badly with USC over Oklahoma.
No, it wasn’t pretty, but at least we didn’t get fired like seven NFL coaches did Monday. Well, not yet.
The Mighty News-Gazette Divine Nine:
No. 1: The Jadeveon Clowney Outback Bowl hit. No. 2: Former Kowboy Akeem Daniels (big catch for NIU at the Orange Bowl). No. 3: Former Kowboy B.J. Butler (huge catch at fullback to set up a TD for Louisville at the Sugar Bowl). No. 4: The Outback Bowl (great game). No. 5: Roll Tide. No. 6: The Niners. No. 7: The Pats. No. 8: The Broncos. No. 9: 2013.
To the picks:
The BCS championship: Alabama (-9.5) vs. Notre Dame: One of the toughest BCS tickets ever. Too bad the game won’t be nearly as competitive as the scramble for seats. Tide by 9.
The NFL playoffs:
Cincinnati at Houston (-4.5): The wild card weekend weakling. The Texans slipped from AFC dominator to Super Bowl long shot over the past month. Texans by 3 yawns.
Minnesota at Green Bay (-8): We know the Vikings can win this game, because they did it last week. That’s the problem. Pack by 4.
Indianapolis at Baltimore (-6): Indy QB phenom Andrew Luck will learn that playoff football is a little different. Ravens by 2.
Seattle (-3) at Washington: Who had these guys in the playoffs? Hawks rarely are favored on the east coast, but it’s the late Sunday game and RGIII is limping, so we’ll roll with it. Seabirds by 1.
Brian “Big Man” McBride’s Super Sniffer Upset Special: Bengals by 3.
Tom “Captain” Kirk’s Beam Me Up Scotty NFL Prime Time Playoff Special: Pack by 10.
Young Jackson says: Crimson Tide by 7 and give me the points all day long. Texans by 3, probably coming from behind. Pack by 11, enough said. Colts by 4 in a Luck-y Upset Special. Seabirdies by 1 and you can’t make me watch it.
Last week: Popped Cork (3-2, 106-50) evened it up with Leaderless Eagle (2-3, 106-50).