Well, here's an easy prediction: The Raiders won't lose.

I know, I know. It's an elementary school barb. But what else is there left to say?

Tom Cable? Will he stay? Will he go? My thinking is: It won't matter.

OK. Enough of the defeatist attitude. The weekend is upon us.

I will say this about the 49ers, though.

The Raiders have won more recently than their cross-bay rivals. And while a game against Tennessee a few weeks ago looked like a walkcover, I'm sure you 49er fans are gripping a little.

Things were so great last month, but now you've got a three-game losing streak, and four days to prepare for a game with Chicago after the Titans game.

And ... in comes a Titans team coming off its first victory of the year and with a rejuvenated quarterback in Vince Young.

I can sense a little panic. By Sunday at 4:30 p.m., there could be a lot more panic if the 49ers don't, as they should, take care of business.

It seems our newfangled spam controls ran amok and blocked everyone from posting. I apologize. That shouldn't have happened.

You should have clear sailing through the weekend.

Dan

Hive bloggers: Unfortunately, we've had another outbreak of spam on the site and we've had to ratchet up our anti-spam controls. Please let me know if you experience any interference in trying to post. I hope the countermeasures will be in force only temporarily. Thanks for your understanding and patience.

Dan

I spent hours on the phone Wednesday interviewing people about the apparent outcome of the Modesto City Schools Board race, in which two incumbents and two challengers won seats.  Today's story is here.  Below are some more items that couldn't fit into the story:

My favorite image in today’s paper is Bart Ah You’s shot of Modesto City Schools candidate Ruben Villalobos awaiting returns with former City Councilman Balvino Irizarry and business owner Jeremiah Williams.

I’ve been struck in recent weeks by the support Villalobos has picked up from places like the Modesto Police Officers Association. It begs the question, why would MPOA get involved in a school board race? The rumor mill last summer held that Villalobos was going to run for a City Council seat but didn’t quite live in the boundaries for the chair he was eyeing. I never asked him about it so I wouldn’t know. Tongues were wagging in his favor. It seems to me that a lot of people have high hopes that he’ll emerge as a somewhat left-leaning leader for years to come, whether that’s on the school board or a different body.