BucShotz

By TOM JONES, Times Staff Writer
Published January 4, 2008

Today's question

Why do you think the Bucs had so much trouble selling out Sunday's game?

Vote at bucs.tampabay.com

Inside the numbers

1: The Giants won only one of six games against a teams that finished the season with a winning record. The lone victory was in the third week against the Redskins.

Plus-15: The Bucs were an NFC-best plus-15 fourth in the NFL in the turnover ratio this season.

Minus-9: The Giants were a minus-9 in the turnover ratio this season - the seventh-worst ratio in the NFL.

27: Giants quarterback Eli Manning turned 27 on Thursday. Hard to believe he's already 27, isn't it?

Your picks

I think the rest turns to rust! Unfortunately, the big blue wrecking crew wins. Giants, 24-17

Stephen Lutes, New Port Richey

Both defense and the kicking game have been steady all season. Defense and special teams save the day. Bucs, 23-13.

George Fowler, Largo

I know how Monte Kiffin can get his defense pumped up and I know how he likes his grilled chicken. Bucs, 20-17.

Chef Ernie Vazquez, Redington Shores

You want the truth? I don't think you can handle the truth. The Bucs haven't impressed anyone this year. They played a weak schedule in a weak division. If it weren't for that, they would have never made the playoffs. Giants, 24-14

Greg Fudala, Largo

This week's game will be pretty close, but if you look at the facts it looks like a Bucs victory. Sure Eli Manning played well against the Patriots, but this is the playoffs. Manning hasn't even won a playoff game yet in his career. The Bucs cheering fans won't help out Manning at all. I'm sure the Bucs defense will help pull this one off and the Bucs will be heading for the divisional playoff game. Bucs, 24-17.

Michael Langlois, New Port Richey

Have your say

Who do think is going to win Sunday's game? Send an e-mail to sptsnews@sptimes.com with a brief explanation (and we do mean brief) and include your full name, hometown and what you think the score will be. We'll print some answers in the paper through the week.

What they're saying

The Bucs have the top-ranked pass defense, the No. 2 total defense and the No. 3 scoring defense.

They also have a quarterback who owns the Giants.

Jeff Garcia, who admitted Wednesday he felt "over-rested" after sitting out last week and much of the previous Sunday, beat the Giants when he was with the 49ers (where art thou Trey Junkin?) and the Eagles. Despite Tom Brady's gaudy statistics Saturday night, the Giants forced him to throw a lot of little dumps and did a fine job containing the run.

Garcia is a different monster. He bounces, he cuts, he counts off receivers, he dances, jigs, counts off again, waits for everyone to get downfield, hangs around more, eats some popcorn, makes the throw.

Garcia is a familiar terror, the Bucs defense a known danger. But if the Giants are as together as they seem, a seven-year drought is about to end.

Lisa Olson, New York Daily News

The Bucs are doing their best to make sure no Giants fans get into Raymond James Stadium Sunday.

"Good," said Giants DE Justin Tuck. "That's cool with me."

Maybe it is playing right into the hands of one of the NFL's best road teams, but the Bucs have restricted ticket sales to their wild-card playoff game against the Giants to Florida residents. Anyone trying to buy tickets through Ticketmaster gets a warning that sales to anyone outside Florida "will be canceled without notice."

For a Giants team that has gone 7-1 on the road this season, it probably prefers that its fans just stay home. "I know one thing: We really thrive off those boos," Tuck said. "So I'm hoping they sell out with their fans so they're booing a lot."

Hank Gola, New York Daily News

Which coaching match-up intrigues me most?

I like Jon Gruden against Tom Coughlin. Gruden has done a masterful job this season, getting a team that looked to be a four-victory team to the playoffs. Gruden is an offensive innovator. Coughlin was considered a lame duck, yet got his team to the playoffs for the third consecutive season. He is a good coach, despite what many would lead you to believe. Like Gruden, he is a brilliant offensive mind. That might be why I lean to this game - I love watching offensive minds work. These two are very good. It will also be good to watch Coughlin's offense go against Monte Kiffin, the Bucs' brilliant defensive coordinator. I think the Joe Gibbs-Mike Holmgren matchup is an interesting one of Super Bowl winners as well. But I look forward to Coughlin-Gruden the most.

Pete Prisco, CBSportsline

Check it out

Don't have tickets to the game and don't feel like watching at home alone? No worries. Once again, the Beach Theatre, located at 315 Corey Ave on St. Pete Beach, is showing the game on the movie screen in high definition with digital surround sound. Admission is free and there will be beer bucket special as well as other concessions.

[Last modified January 3, 2008, 21:56:59]