Do the Seahawks have a chance in Chicago?

Caple: The Seahawks have as good of a chance as anyone to beat Chicago. Have you seen who is playing quarterback for Chicago? It's Rex Grossman. The guy admitted that he was distracted in week 17 because New Year's Eve was coming up. Plus, Seattle is riding a whole new wave of momentum after last weekend's crazy finish against Dallas. Anyone else think that if Seattle wins the Super Bowl, Tony Romo should raise the 12th Man flag for the home opener next year?

Schleicher: The Seahawks slipped past the Cowboys thanks to Romo's butterfingers. Hopefully the Bears have someone that doesn't know how to hold onto the ball as well.

Mayers: Of course they do! The Bears are no better than they were last year. It's just this year the NFC has been as exciting as an ASUW election — not very. Plus, Grossman will still be hungover from celebrating his Gators' national championship and will throw three interceptions to Seattle defensive backs you've never heard of. Don't worry, the 'Hawks still have the magic.

Chartrey: I know that when fans see a finish like the one that occurred last week at Qwest Field, they automatically think "team of destiny." Well let me help debunk that little misnomer. The Hawks are headed into Soldier Field, where they have already been beaten up and down at the hands of the Bears. I mean flat-out embarrassed. Shaun Alexander won't make up the difference unless he learns to play defense, too.

Did the baseball Hall of Fame voters get it right?

Caple: The baseball Hall of Fame voters got it partially right by unanimously (and obviously) voting in Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn. But I really think Mark McGwire deserves Hall of Fame recognition. If we start blackballing everyone who took steroids, where does it stop? Should writers not vote for racists like Ty Cobb, cheaters like Gaylord Perry or gluttonous sloths like Babe Ruth?

Schleicher: Absolutely. Look at the great names they added to the hall. Ripken Jr. and Gwynn were great players who earned their place in Cooperstown. The Big Mac did enough to possibly earn a spot but more or less forfeited his entry when he pleaded the Fifth to Congress. I think Pete Rose deserves a spot in the Hall more than McGwire does, but he will never get it and all he did was gamble on games. McGwire's supposed actions physically falsified the sport of baseball, and all 75 percent of the ballot agrees that until proven otherwise the Big Mac wasn't all natural beef.

Mayers: Absolutely. But Gwynn and Ripken Jr. should have easily been unanimous picks in my mind. Get this: Some voters didn't add Gwynn to their ballots — despite his 18 consecutive years batting .300 — but chose McGwire, who's about as legit as pro wrestling. And to all those guys that wait year after year to get it (like Jim Rice and Andre Dawson), it's clear you're not Hall-worthy. Some good players must be left out.

Chartrey: As long as they kept steroids out of the Hall of Fame then yes, they did a fantastic job. If Big Mac had made it in, the record books, all of its inductees and the hall itself would have lost all credibility. I just have to ask though, which eight deadhead sports writers did not vote for Ripken Jr.? It seems that if anyone deserved a unanimous vote it would be the guy who played in 2,632-straight games. That man was a warrior. And I have to give a shout out to Jay Buhner. His one vote was well-deserved.

Does Boise State deserve a shot against Florida?

Caple: Yes, Boise State deserves a shot against Florida. It's not right that a Division 1A college football team can go undefeated and finish the season ranked 5th in the Associated Press poll. Who knows, maybe the Broncos would be the team that finally figures out that every time Tim Tebow comes into the game, he's going to run a quarterback draw. It's not rocket science. He's not even that fast.

Schleicher: Can we be a little more blatant here and just ask if there should be a BCS playoff system? To that question my answer would be yes. As far as Florida vs. Boise State I am going to say as long as they have the incredible playbooks they displayed in their respective bowl games. That would be a great game. Florida's play-calling on Monday made Ohio State look like they hadn't played Division I football all season, much less watched a tape of Florida playing. In the best game of the 2006 season, Boise State stunned the Sooners with their out-of-the-box thinking. If Florida met Boise State in a bowl game, it would make offense coordinators' heads across the country explode in pure amazement. Plus the excitement of American football fans might cause an earthquake in China.

Mayers: Naw. It's time to move on to the NFL playoffs and college hoops. We have the rest of our lives to bicker about not having a college playoff. Why doesn't No. 3 LSU deserve a shot for destroying Notre Dame? Or No. 4 USC for dismantling Michigan? It's impossible to satisfy everyone; Boise State should enjoy their one first-place vote and prepare to lose to the Huskies next year.

Chartrey: In a perfect world, Boise State would get their shot at the title and potentially shock the nation. Instead, we live in a world run by the BCS, so it will never happen. It's fun to think about though. You know, deciding the champion of college football through a series of contests, pitting the winners against each other until only one team is left. If only there was some system that allowed for such an occurrence, what would they call it?

Can the Huskies rebound their Pac-10 season?

Caple: I'd like to say that the Huskies will turn their season around, but the Pac-10 is just so strong this year that it's going to be hard to find wins. Nine wins should assure a spot in the tournament, but every road game is going to be tough, and games at home are few and far between. Tough road trips to Pullman, Eugene, the Bay Area and Arizona could spell disaster for a young Husky team still looking for its first road win. Or, they'll mature greatly, sweep this weekend against Stanford and Cal, then begin WSU's inevitable downward decline with an upset win in the Palouse. The season is young, people. Be patient.

Schleicher: I'm an optimist so I will say yes. Beating WSU and Oregon at the end of the month will likely act as one of the most important factors in determining if this season will keep stride with the past couple of years or send the Huskies plummeting. They did beat LSU in December, so it is not like this team can't win. I think the young guns are just having a rough couple of weeks.

Mayers: They can, but it is going to be tougher than ever. The Pac-10 is even better this year than the chances of rain in Seattle — which is saying something. Sitting at 1-3, we'll see how good this team is during the upcoming three-game road trip. It may be that a realistic goal for the young pups is third or fourth place, and a deep run in the Pac-10 Tournament. The talent is there, but we'll see.

Chartrey: I've got to go with my man Quincy Pondexter on this one, "It isn't 9-1-1 yet." The Huskies have played a grand total of four conference games. Two of which they probably expected to lose (UCLA and Arizona). I have no doubt in my mind that come February and March, this team of superior talent and athleticism will come together. Washington will have the last laugh and go charging into the tournament season. Then they will get a chance to win a national championship through a series of contests, pitting — wait, there it is.