E.K. NATION

Generally we're pretty good at predicting who will get Oscar nominations. But this year we are going to have to rely solely on buzz, because if there's a movie we have seen this year with any potential nominees, we can't think of it. We've been to, maybe, three movies this year, and none since the summer. Then again, I guess one could do all the predicting in the world without having seen any movies anyway. Anyway, on with it...

SUPPORTING ACTOR: George Clooney, Syriana; Clifton Collins Jr., Capote; Matt Dillon, Crash; Paul Giamatti, Cinderella Man; Jake Gyllenhaal, Brokeback Mountain. We think it's time the Academy honored Matt Dillon for a strong performance (this one we have seen). Same for Clooney, whose we have not seen. Gyllenhaal might not be nominated here if only because the Academy could think his was a lead role. Giamatti will finally get the richly-deserved nom he should have had maybe three years running. As for Collins? Complete guess. E.K. NATION'S EARLY FAVORITE TO WIN: Matt Dillon.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Sandra Bullock, Crash; Catherine Keener, Capote; Thandie Newton, Crash; Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener; Michelle Williams, Brokeback Mountain. The longshot here is Bullock, but maybe voters will think she finally got to chew some scenery for a change. She and Newton are two of a million possible nominees from Crash and frankly, we didn't want to miss any of them. E.K. NATION'S EARLY FAVORITE TO WIN: Rachel Weisz.

ACTRESS: Felicity Huffman, Transamerica; Keira Knightley, Pride & Prejudice, Charlize Theron, North Country; Reese Witherspoon, Walk The Line; Ziyi Zhang, Memoirs of a Geisha. This one's going to go to Witherspoon, if only because Huffman's film did not get the wide release Walk The Line did; otherwise, the desperate housewife might take it. E.K. NATION'S EARLY GUARANTEE TO WIN: Reese Witherspoon.

ACTOR: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote; Terrence Howard, Hustle and Flow; Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain; Joaquin Phoenix, Walk The Line; David Strathairn, Good Night and Good Luck. We'd like to think Howard will get one nomination in a very strong year, but the Oscar voting procedure is so screwy (we don't have the time to explain certain intricacies here) that he might get left out altogether. That would be a shame. Phoenix would win if the categories were split into musical/comedy and drama like at the Golden Globes, but that's, as they say, neither here nor there, and we don't know what that saying means. This year, Hoffman has the plum role, a role that finally makes him a bonafide Hollywood star. E.K. NATION'S EARLY FAVORITE TO WIN: Philip Seymour Hoffman.

DIRECTOR: Woody Allen, Match Point; Paul Haggis, Crash; Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain; James Mangold, Walk The Line; Steven Spielberg, Munich. Allen and Spielberg, because the Academy loves them. Haggis, because of the great ensemble cast he had to organize, Mangold because of the bio-pic angle, and Lee because, well, he is going to win. E.K. NATION'S EARLY GUARANTEE TO WIN: Ang Lee.

PICTURE: Brokeback Mountain, Crash, Good Night and Good Luck, Munich, Walk The Line. Racists, TV people, terrorists, and musicians always lose to gay cowboys. We know this. E.K. NATION'S EARLY GUARANTEE TO WIN: Brokeback Mountain.

Last year we got 25 of 30 nominations correct, including all ten of the supporting acting nominees. This year seems to be a bit harder to predict. But who the hell knows? We thought Indianapolis and Atlanta would be in the Super Bowl this year. We're idiots.

We'll return tomorrow with a recap of who got nominated (the announcements are in less than seven hours, for cryin' out loud; that's just so Brokeback!).

We actually believe Denver and Carolina will go to the Super Bowl. So, in order to ensure that, here are our predictions, short and to the point: Pittsburgh will beat the Broncos 188-26, and the Seahawks will beat the Panthers 6-4 in overtime.

Redskins and Steelers win. Jags and Giants completely suck on the gas pipe. Our predictions, keep in mind, are always totally useless.

NFC Divisional Playoffs:
SEAHAWKS vs. REDSKINS: The Redskins gained about the length of our driveway on offense last week but somehow managed to beat Tampa Bay 17-10. This week, the Skins might gain the same amount, but they will not be as fortunate. The Seahawks will dominate this one. It won't be close. Seattle will lead 14-0 early and coast to a revenge-filled win. SEAHAWKS (-9.5), 44-3.

BEARS vs. PANTHERS: Okay, so the Panthers are as good as their record indicated. Maybe even better. A defensive struggle is to be expected, because the Bears' defense is so good and they have no quarterback to help them score any significant amount of points. It comes down to the last possession before it's decided. BEARS (-3), 13-10.

AFC Divisional Playoffs:
BRONCOS vs. PATRIOTS: Toughest game of the week to call. Denver's at home, where they are very strong, but it's the Patriots coming to town, to play in cold weather. After last week's debacle of a pick, we don't think there's really any way to defend a pick against the Pats in the playoffs. And that's why we say: PATRIOTS (+3), 31-21.

COLTS vs. STEELERS: Indy beat Pittsburgh 26-7 earlier this year when Ben Roethlisberger was just returning from an injury. Pittsburgh's offense will be stronger this trip to the RCA Dome but the Colts will be fired up to finally play another game that matters. It's been well over a month since they had anything to play for, and they will light 'em up. COLTS (-9.5), 44-20.

So, taking into account that we will not by any stretch of the imagination go 4-0, congrats to the Seahawks, Panthers, Broncos and Colts on advancing and giving us another 2-2 weekend.

Yeah, uh, not really.

Witness this paragraph from a write-up on cbs.sportsline.com:

With no strong first-year candidates, Sutter, fellow reliever Rich Gossage and outfielder Jim Rice appear to be the players most likely to gain election among the 29 on the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot.

What does this paragraph really mean?

1) It means that voters must still think that certain elite players deserve a first-ballot election to the Hall of Fame, and other lesser candidates deserve to get in only when they have been passed over at least once.

That's a pile of Seattle-Slew-shit.

If you deserve to get into the Hall, you deserve it on your first try. No need to delay the entry.

It's like Chris Rock said at last year's Oscars: "If you want Denzel Washington and all you can get is ME....wait!!"

2) It means that voters will elect lesser players to the Hall when there are no obvious, first-vote, absolute-elite stars on the ballot.

Since guys like Gwynn and Cal Ripken are not yet eligible, they're thinking about electing a guy like Bruce Sutter? Bruce Sutter??? This is an elite player? Hall of Fame-worthy?

The Hall should be reserved for the truly fantastic, legendary players. Willie Mays. Ted Williams. Joe DiMaggio. Etc., etc., you know the drill. Bruce Sutter??? Next thing you know Bruce Bochte and Bruce Benedict will get in.

Seems like there is no one who fits that bill this year. We won't be upset if Andre Dawson is elected, but we're willing to allow for only that one. Nobody else. If Rich Gossage is elected, we will drive to Cooperstown this summer and stand at the front gate, arms outstretched, and attempt to block his actual physical entry into the induction ceremony, and--

OH YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING. We just heard that Bruce Sutter was just elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Well, now they've opened the doors for just about everyone.

We would like to announce our eligibility for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Hey, we haven't played in a major league game in the past five years!

If you want a Hall of Famer, and all you can get is Bruce Sutter...

WAIT!!!!!

Um, yeah, we don't think so. Carson Palmer had his friggin' knee blown out on the very first pass he threw. Screw that. We picked the Steelers to win originally, and so we go back to that pick retroactively heretofore. Shut up.

Screw that. Cincinnati is going to beat the Steelers. We think a shootout favors Palmer and the Bengals. BENGALS (+3), 49-38. Plus, it turns out that road favorites in the NFL playoffs almost never win.

As of right now, the Giants have some work to do.

Here's a reminder: No team that E.K. Nation has ever forecast to go to the Super Bowl, whether it be from the start of the season or from the start of the playoffs, has ever actually made it to the Super Bowl. That being said, good night and good luck to the two teams we will be picking currently.

NFC Wild-Card Round:
• The Redskins will beat the Buccaneers in Tampa to get revenge for the 36-35 loss they suffered in November when T-Bay went for a late two-point conversion to win. The Skins are peaking at the right time, and the Bucs are quite sluggish. No one at E.K. Nation thinks Chris Simms is awesome. REDSKINS (+2.5), 27-14.

• Don't be fooled by Carolina's 11-5 mark. The Panthers beat Arizona, Green Bay and Detroit by merely a combined eight points. And as much as we hate to say it, in the wake of Eli Manning definitely not being the Official Quarterback of E.K. Nation, but the kid has shown that he can win in the NFL, and he'll guide the Giants to a big win on Sunday. GIANTS (-3), 34-7.

AFC Wild-Card Round:
• The first upset of the playoffs happens Saturday evening. Jacksonville went 12-4 this year without that fact being noticed. The Patriots are due to lose a playoff game with Brady at the helm, and this weekend will see that happen. JAGUARS (+7.5), 27-20.

• Here's the one you want to take an "over" bet to Vegas on. The most intriguing game of the first round will be a madhouse. A gong show. A barnburner. Complete and total silliness. We're going with Roethlisberger over Palmer...this time. STEELERS (-3), 49-38.

As for the rest of it, so far we see Indianapolis defeating Denver in the AFC title game, and Seattle handling Chicago on the NFC side. Super Bowl XL will be won by Indianapolis over Seattle...in overtime. (Cue Twilight Zone music now, please. Ooooooooohhhhhh.)

We entered our 36th calendar year of life on Sunday, and just a couple hours removed from waking up, we spotted something that portends a great year: a relic from a black-and-white time.

Doug Flutie attempted, and converted, a drop-kick in an NFL game.

We had always wondered whether we would ever get to see a drop-kick. The little-known and never-used option for scoring points in football games seemed like a pipedream. But there it was, one of the most enjoyable sports moments we have ever encountered, and we say this without a hint of joking. One of the pleasures of watching sports is getting to see that very rare play transcends a mere understanding of the rule book. Congrats, Doug Flutie, and the Patriots staff, one becoming the first candidates for E.K. Nation Men of the Year. And our chances of dying happy have improved.