The Patriots arrive in the AFC Championship game with a 14-3 record, home field advantage as the number one seed, and having just eviscerated the Broncos 45-10. The Ravens meanwhile show up as the 2 seed and having just eeked past playoff nubie Houston. Las Vegas says the Ravens are a 7.5 point under dog.

Frankly, that’s right where the Ravens want them. They love the role off under dog. It’s a blue collar city the relishes the idea of “us against the world.”

And that’s why I’m so confused right now.

Super Bowl XXXIX MVP Deion Branch today said the Patriots were the under dogs. That the Patriots get no love from national media. That ESPN has gone a month without showcasing the Patriots.

It’s a strange world here at Patriot Place. Reality has no home in New England. Patriots owner Bob Kraft also said he’s flying in Steven Tyler to sing the national anthem because he’s lucky for the Pats. Now I know why the Celtics have a leprechaun as their mascot. It’s all fantasy land here in Massachusetts.

Incidentally, Rex Ryan chimed in on the AFC Title game. As poorly as he’s done in predictions, not sure his support is all that welcome!

The first three years with Joe, if we heard an emotional sound bite I can’t recall it. The aw shucks kid just went about his job happy to be here. But signs of change arrived during the off season.

Flacco openly criticized his play caller Cam Cameron for being too conservative in the 4th quarter.  And he expressed serious frustration over the firing of his quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn.

During the season we’ve seen Joe, it not lash out something like it, at media and fans for criticizing his play or the Ravens to throw the ball excessively in losses.  At the core of this anger was the view Flacco has of himself vs. the view from most others.

He sees himself as a very good quarterback, capable of doing all the things we see from Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady.  “You guys do realize, they don’t run the ball?”   He offers incredulity at skepticism about his abilities.

In Baltimore the reigning sentiment is Joe can be very good, but still sits on the outside looking in at stardom.  And nationally, Joe has more detractors than  ESPN’s Skip Bayless (the most prominent of which is Skip Bayless.) 

All of which may be reconciled during this playoff run.  Play mistake free football, make big throws in the 4th quarter, and reach the Super Bowl then the love will flow from all around.  Fall short against the likes of T.J. Yates and the mountainous climb to the top changes from Appalachian to Andian. 

It really does all set up beautifully for Joe and the Ravens this year.  No Peyton Manning to get in the way, a home game against a team they already beat by 15 points in Baltimore, and a collective level of health unprecedented for them in mid-January. 

If not now, then when?

1. Syracuse
2. Kentucky
3. North Carolina
4. Duke
5. Baylor
6. Ohio State
7. Connecticut
8. Missouri
9. Georgetown
10. Indiana
11. Michigan State
12. Louisville
13. Mississippi State
14. Michigan
15. Florida
16. Kansas
17. Wisconsin
18. Virginia
19. UNLV
20. Kansas State
21. Marquette
22. San Diego State
23. Murray State
24. Harvard
25. Cincinnati

But we saw for certain that a regular season can matter just as much in college basketball. Kentucky and North gave us a phenomenal top five matchup that more than surpassed the hype. Great players, packed house, and a one point game. I think college basketball is just fine in that regard.

Here’s my ballot for this week, I did not drop North Carolina for losing 73-72 on the road at Rupp Arena. But the Heels loss to UNLV looks worse after the Runnin’ Rebels were drubbed by Wichita State.

1. Kentucky
2. Ohio State
3. Syracuse
4. Duke
5. North Carolina
6. Louisville
7. Baylor
8. Xavier
9. Connecticut
10. Kansas
11. Pittsburgh
12. Missouri
13. Marquette
14. Mississippi State
15. Alabama
16. Wisconsin
17. Memphis
18. Florida
19. Georgetown
20. Illinois
21. Michigan
22. Creighton
23. Virginia
24. Texas A&M
25. Harvard

1) Kentucky
2) Duke
3) Syracuse
4) Ohio State
5) North Carolina
6) Louisville
7) Baylor
8) Connecticut
9) Xavier
10) Wisconsin
11) Kansas
12) Pittsburgh
13) Alabama
14) Vanderbilt
15) Memphis
16) Florida
17) Michigan
18) Missouri
19) Mississippi State
20) UNLV
21) Gonzaga
22) Marquette
23) Georgetown
24) Texas A&M
25) Harvard

Regardless, a raucous standing ovation was delivered, along with a rendition of Hail to the Chief. Towson Athletics Director Mike Waddell embraced the opportunity to host the President and stated unequivocally that within that soon the crowds would arrive not for a VIP vistor, but because Towson would win. He stated first year coach Pat Skerry would win a CAA title within 5 years. And for those not familiar, Towson didn’t win a conference game last season.

Considering the Towson football team, which won only a single game in 2010 celebrated at halftime today its CAA Championship, it doesn’t seem too far fetched.

Not all the VIP’s though rooted for Oregon State. Legendary comedic actor Bill Murray took in the game as well. His son Luke is a first year assistant for Pat Skerry, so maybe Murray will become a regular. At the least he could help control the gopher population on campus.

Here now, all the shots I snapped today from Towson:

Thanks to Craig Hollander for sharing this photo with me!

Jameel McClain/Baltimore Sun

When the chances to succeed are remote.  When the the easiest path is to become what society expects.  When giving up is what most people do.  Why do some choose to persevere? From where does the strength come to ignore the pull of the streets and keep fighting for a dream?

I’ve asked these questions twice this week and found different but powerful answers both times.

First on Tuesday I sat down with Ravens linebacker Jameel McClain for our Thanksgiving night Ravens Countdown TV show.  I helped keep generations of inner city youth from breaking a cycle of poverty.

Jameel though broke through.  A year of living at a Salvation Army shelter did not dampen his spirit, it forged it.  He told me the strength to persevere came from seeing exactly what he never wanted to become.  And seeing it day after day.  He had no specific role model, just an intense level of self motivitation.  “It’s not in my blood to quit!” he exclaimed. 

So when he went undrafted out of Syracuse McClain remained unfazed.  And when critics complain that he can’t cover a running back out of the back field, it’s no wonder he shrugs and rolls his eyes.  When you’ve metaphorically climbed Everest with no oxygen or guide, the impact of detractors is minimal.

Then this morning I received a call from Gregory Brown.  I met the 23 year old this summer at Herman “Tree” Harried’s basketball camp.  Greg was helping out as a counselor.  He told me briefly how he still hoped to play professionally, and I said “give me a call when you sign.”  Given his lack of basketball pedigree, I did not expect to hear back.

Brown played at Lake Clifton for two seasons, and then went to Anne Arundel Community College to continue his career.  But an injury nine games into the year ended his season, which led to academic failure.  

Greg Brown seemed out of chances.

But for three years he kept working on his game, putting his efforts to motivate his younger cousin Cleveland Melvin and his younger brother Quinton Harper.

That’s where the temptation to quit, to join life on the corner, came up short.

Brown told me this morning, as the oldest child in the family, he had to be the role model.

“I knew if I went out and sold drugs, or did drugs, they would to.”

So Gregory Brown focused on being their for his family.  And now as a father and husband, he kept working on his dream.  Brown kept playing, trying out for teams including a trip to Idaho and the NBDL tryouts. Of the 300 to work out 32 earned contracts.  He was ranked 54th.  No contract, but competing  well with players who had enjoyed full college careers bolstered his confidence.

And now, through hard work Gregory Brown’s dream has come true.  He signed with the Scranton  Wilkes-Barre Steamers of the PBL and leaves Thanksgiving Thursday for the start of a career.   

During this holiday season as we reflect on what is good in our lives, be thankful for those that ignore hardships and patronizing expectations to overcome and achieve.  And maybe the stories of Jameel McClain and Gregory Brown will help a kid out there who wants to break free, know that it can be done.

1)      North Carolina

2)      Kentucky

3)      Ohio State

4)      Syracuse

5)      Connecticut

6)      Louisville

7)      Memphis

8)      Duke

9)      Baylor

10)  Xavier

11)  Wisconsin

12)  Kansas

13)  Pittsburgh

14)  Vanderbilt

15)  Alabama

16)  Florida

17)  Cleveland State

18)  Michigan

19)  Arizona

20)  Mississippi State

21)  Florida State

22)  Gonzaga

23)  Texas A&M

24)  California

25)  Marquette