A few random predictions on a lazy Saturday

Republican Bob McDonnell will edge out Democrat Creigh Deeds in the November gubernatorial election in Virginia. This race is being watched nationally and will act as a gauge on how the country feels things are going under the democrats in Washington. With unemployment rates continuing to rise, I expect the party not in power to win the race for the top spot in Richmond. When you run for mayor, you need to promise to keep the streets clear of snow and the garbage picked up on time. When you run for governor, you need to promise to generate jobs. Unless the unemployment rate reverses, expect the McDonnell to win, not because he has the best ideas, but because his party is like the backup quarterback on a team with a losing record. Fans get restless and want to see what the other guy can do.

Speaking of football, I see the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl this season. The defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers had no running game the other night against the Tennessee Titans. That's a cause for concern for the black and gold nation. New England, a favorite of many people to win the AFC, simply turns my stomach, so I can't pick them. The San Diego Chargers are talented, but there is always the Norv Turner factor to consider. For local fans in Northern Virginia, sorry, but I see the Washington Redskins finishing last in the NFC East. I think the Indianapolis Colts will struggle a bit under a first-year coach and the Dallas Cowboys will have a new coach by the end of the season to go along with their new stadium with the fancy video screen that some bonehead hung too low over the playing field. So now,the NFL decided, we're going to get "do overs" whenever a punter hits the screen. I think Michael Vick will do something stupid and be banned from the league or booted by the Eagles. Remember, the Eagles didn't put up with the nonsense of Terrell Owens for very long.

HBO's trendy vampire series, True Blood, will end with a dud in this Sunday night's season finale. The show has not risen to the level of writer/director Allan Ball's other work, which includes another HBO series, Six Feet Under, and the movie, American Beauty -- one of my favorite films. Most fans want to see Maryann get whacked. I personally can't take another season of Tara and Eggs so I am hoping they both fall into a vampire pit. I am also rooting for Eric to grow his hair back and return to his old menacing self so that us guys can feel their is at least something masculine about this show. True Blood is coming back for a third season, so expect a cliffhanger at the end. I don't think they will mess with Sam possibly dying, because they already did that earlier this season. And everyone knows the main characters, Sookie and Bill, aren't going to bite the dust. I predict the cliffhanger will involve the nature of Sookie's powers and whether or not someone else is turned into a vampire.

And finally, I am predicting that this winter will be brutally cold in the east. Of course, I am only basing that prediction on the last two days. Seems far too early around these parts to have temperatures only reaching into the upper 60s. The air conditioning hasn't gone on in days and people around Northern Virginia are forgoing the shorts and returning to long pants and jeans. Fortunately, it appears temperatures will be back in the 80s by tomorrow.