I'm on the road right now in New York City so here's a brief version of my Week 4 Picks.
Oakland over Miami (-4)
The Dolphins should pack it in and try to get a high pick in the draft. Daunte Culpepper has a chip on his shoulder and Lamont Jordan goes nuts. Joey Porter guarantees Miami will win so I'll guarantee Miami loses.
Houston (-3) over Atlanta
Although Joey Harrington and the Atlanta offense looked pretty good last weekend, I really like this rebuilt Texans team. Let's see if the defense can keep up their stellar play (the offense might have a little tougher time with Ahman Green and Andre Johnson out)
Baltimore (-4) over Cleveland
The whole McNair/Boller quarterback controversy has me somewhat nervous about the Ravens offense but I'm not sold on the Browns just yet (let's see how they perform against a solid defense).
Chicago (-3) over Detroit
I have a bad feeling about the Bears defense with all those injuries but I really think Griese puts some points on the board.
Green Bay (-3) over Minnesota
Why is the spread only 3 points on this game? Green Bay has looked amazing.
Dallas (-13.5) over St. Louis
St. Louis and Dallas are going in completely opposite directions. It's a lot of points but I really think this game is going to be a blowout.
Buffalo over New York Jets (-3.5)
The Jets are always overrated.
Tampa Bay over Carolina (-3)
The Bucs have looked a lot better than the Panthers this season and for some reason the Panthers are terrible at home (3-game home losing streak).
Seattle (-2.5) over San Francisco
I just think the Seahawks are better.
Pittsburgh (-6.5) over Arizona
Pittsburgh has looked great so far. I think they blowout the Cards.
Kansas City over San Diego (-12)
San Diego wins this game but by less than 12.
Indianapolis (-10) over Denver
Denver could easily be 0-3 right now. The Colts win in a rout.
Philadelphia (-3) over New York Giants
The Eagles' offense has hit full stride.
New England (-7.5) over Cincinnati
If the Browns put up 51 on the Bengals, how many will the Patriots score? I'm feeling thankful I have Randy Moss on two of my fantasy teams.
Last week: 8-6-2
Season: 24-22-2
Friday, September 28, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Duke Football Searches for Kicker
Duke has lost a significant number of games in recent memory due to poor kicking (the Wake Forest and North Carolina games from last season especially stick out). It turns out this weekend’s heartbreaking 46-43 loss to Navy, which featured a missed PAT and another missed chip shot field goal, was the last straw.
The Duke Football program turned to The Chronicle, Duke’s student-run newspaper, for help. In the Tuesday and Wednesday editions of The Chronicle, the Duke Football program placed ads searching for a placekicker (a scanned version of the ad is below, I apologize for that crease in the middle).
The Duke Football program turned to The Chronicle, Duke’s student-run newspaper, for help. In the Tuesday and Wednesday editions of The Chronicle, the Duke Football program placed ads searching for a placekicker (a scanned version of the ad is below, I apologize for that crease in the middle).
Isn't this ridiculous? Can you imagine any other Division 1, BCS school placing an ad in the student newspaper looking for a kicker? Probably not, but remember this is Duke. Although this is kind of embarrasing, kudos to head coach Ted Roof for trying to search for a solution to our terrible kicking game.
A few players have already tried out and the early frontrunner seems to be Will Synderwine, a Duke club rugby player, who has experience kicking for his high school team. Synderwine will most likely travel with the team to Miami, Florida.
Can you imagine what it would be like if he kicks in the game? A regular student one week, kicking field goals in the Orange Bowl the next?
I'm off to practice some kicks. You never know...
Monday, September 24, 2007
Oklahoma State Football Coach Goes Wild
"Come after ME. I'm a MAN, I'm 40!"
The best coaching outburst of the year? Oh man, this one's good. This is what I live for:
And he's totally right.
The best coaching outburst of the year? Oh man, this one's good. This is what I live for:
And he's totally right.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Week 3 NFL Picks Against the Spread
Indianapolis (-7) over Houston
No Ahman Green, no Andre Johnson. I'll be surprised if the Texans can stay close in this one.
San Diego (-6.5) over Green Bay
I'm still not completely sold on the Packers. Consecutive wins over the Eagles and Giants is impressive, but a win over the Chargers with all those injuries? THAT would be impressive.
Minnesota over Kansas City (-3)
Both teams will have forgetable years. Total toss up.
Philadelphia (-5) over Detroit
After two weeks who would have predicted the Eagles would be 0-2 and the Lions would be 2-0? I have faith in the Eagles.
Buffalo over New England (-16)
I am a 100% sure New England wins this game. But I have a hard time giving anyone 16 points. Hopefully the Bills can cover.
Miami over New York Jets (-3)
I don't like the Jets. I'll pick against them every week.
Pittsburgh (-10) over San Francisco
Pittsburgh steamrolls the 49ers. The defense is playing lights out.
Arizona over Baltimore (-7)
The Ravens bounce back with a win over the Cardinals. But 7 points is too many points for the Ravens' inept offense.
Tampa Bay (-3) over St. Louis
The Rams are falling apart without big, bad Orlando Pace.
Denver (-4) over Jacksonville
I'm not a David Garrard fan at all. The Broncos bounce back after two shaky wins.
Cincinnati over Seattle (-3)
Beat the Ravens, lose to the Browns? I'm saying that last week was a fluke. But we'll see if I'm wrong.
Oakland (-3) over Cleveland
Cleveland returns to reality. No way they put up 51 again.
Carolina (-4) over Atlanta
Panthers blow out the Falcons.
Washington (-4) over New York Giants
The Giants are sinking.
Dallas over Chicago (-3)
I say Rex is benched within the next few weeks.
Tennessee over New Orleans (-6)
The Saints get blown out by the Colts while the Titans lose to Peyton and company by only 2 and the Saints are favored to win this game? By 6 points? Am I missing something?
Last week: 7-9
Season: 16-16
No Ahman Green, no Andre Johnson. I'll be surprised if the Texans can stay close in this one.
San Diego (-6.5) over Green Bay
I'm still not completely sold on the Packers. Consecutive wins over the Eagles and Giants is impressive, but a win over the Chargers with all those injuries? THAT would be impressive.
Minnesota over Kansas City (-3)
Both teams will have forgetable years. Total toss up.
Philadelphia (-5) over Detroit
After two weeks who would have predicted the Eagles would be 0-2 and the Lions would be 2-0? I have faith in the Eagles.
Buffalo over New England (-16)
I am a 100% sure New England wins this game. But I have a hard time giving anyone 16 points. Hopefully the Bills can cover.
Miami over New York Jets (-3)
I don't like the Jets. I'll pick against them every week.
Pittsburgh (-10) over San Francisco
Pittsburgh steamrolls the 49ers. The defense is playing lights out.
Arizona over Baltimore (-7)
The Ravens bounce back with a win over the Cardinals. But 7 points is too many points for the Ravens' inept offense.
Tampa Bay (-3) over St. Louis
The Rams are falling apart without big, bad Orlando Pace.
Denver (-4) over Jacksonville
I'm not a David Garrard fan at all. The Broncos bounce back after two shaky wins.
Cincinnati over Seattle (-3)
Beat the Ravens, lose to the Browns? I'm saying that last week was a fluke. But we'll see if I'm wrong.
Oakland (-3) over Cleveland
Cleveland returns to reality. No way they put up 51 again.
Carolina (-4) over Atlanta
Panthers blow out the Falcons.
Washington (-4) over New York Giants
The Giants are sinking.
Dallas over Chicago (-3)
I say Rex is benched within the next few weeks.
Tennessee over New Orleans (-6)
The Saints get blown out by the Colts while the Titans lose to Peyton and company by only 2 and the Saints are favored to win this game? By 6 points? Am I missing something?
Last week: 7-9
Season: 16-16
Thursday, September 20, 2007
The Carolina Panthers: Super Bowl XXXVIII Champions?
It’s become increasingly clear that the New England Patriots have been gaining an unfair advantage by videotaping their opponents’ defensive signals. There are rumors that the Patriots have been doing this for a long time and were only caught because one of their own, Eric Mangini, snitched on his former head coach, Bill Belichick.
Another knock against the Patriots includes a report published yesterday which found that Rodney Harrison received a shipment of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) two weeks before competing in Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers.
Harrison said “my purpose was never to gain a competitive edge” but among other things, the Mayo Clinic says HGH helps athletes recover quicker, bolsters the heart’s ability to contract, and increases exercise capacity. I don't know about you, but in my book, all of these things qualify as gaining a "competitive edge."
Harrison has been taking HGH for three years now yet only received a four game suspension from the league. This is inappropriate. Preserving the integrity of the game should be more important than disciplining NFL stars for their off-field conduct. Roger Goodell needs to take serious action, and quickly.
What Goodell should do is strip the Patriots of all their championships in the Bill Belichick era. The Eagles and the Rams will be awarded Super Bowls. And do you know what else this means? Yeah Panther fans, that end of the game drive Tom Brady engineered in Super Bowl XXXVIII was all the result of knowing the Panthers defensive alignments and game calls. Look at the tape below and you'll see how Brady knew exactly where the holes were in the Panthers defense.
The conclusion that Roger Goodell must reach to preserve the integrity of the game? Award the 2003-2004 Lombardi Trophy to the Carolina Panthers. Even if he doesn't officially award the Panthers the victory, we'll all know that the Carolina Panthers really are Super Bowl Champs!
Another knock against the Patriots includes a report published yesterday which found that Rodney Harrison received a shipment of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) two weeks before competing in Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers.
Harrison said “my purpose was never to gain a competitive edge” but among other things, the Mayo Clinic says HGH helps athletes recover quicker, bolsters the heart’s ability to contract, and increases exercise capacity. I don't know about you, but in my book, all of these things qualify as gaining a "competitive edge."
Harrison has been taking HGH for three years now yet only received a four game suspension from the league. This is inappropriate. Preserving the integrity of the game should be more important than disciplining NFL stars for their off-field conduct. Roger Goodell needs to take serious action, and quickly.
What Goodell should do is strip the Patriots of all their championships in the Bill Belichick era. The Eagles and the Rams will be awarded Super Bowls. And do you know what else this means? Yeah Panther fans, that end of the game drive Tom Brady engineered in Super Bowl XXXVIII was all the result of knowing the Panthers defensive alignments and game calls. Look at the tape below and you'll see how Brady knew exactly where the holes were in the Panthers defense.
The conclusion that Roger Goodell must reach to preserve the integrity of the game? Award the 2003-2004 Lombardi Trophy to the Carolina Panthers. Even if he doesn't officially award the Panthers the victory, we'll all know that the Carolina Panthers really are Super Bowl Champs!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Duke Football Beats Northwestern
This past Saturday night the Duke Football team halted the nation’s longest losing streak at 22 games by taking down Northwestern 20-14. Did you read that? We actually WON A GAME!
But it almost didn’t happen at all.
As is becoming habit for this Duke football team (as well as for the basketball team and their four corner/stall/hold the ball until the shot clock expires offense they always seem to play with 5 minutes left in close games), Duke took a sizeable lead early on only to nearly throw the game away in the closing moments. Northwestern had four chances to score from deep inside Duke territory, but the defense brought the blitz all four downs and four incomplete passes later, Duke eked out its first victory over a Division 1-A football team since my freshman year (and I’m a senior now).
What happened next was entirely unpredicted. You’d think when a college football team goes on the road to win a game against an unranked, mediocre opponent the winning team’s fans would be calmly satisfied about winning the game. After notching a win after 22 games of pent up anticipation, I guess you could have expected Duke fans to be just a bit more excited.
But what happened at Duke on Saturday night was sheer madness. Hundreds of students marched over to Wallace Wade Stadium, tore down a goal post, and carried it all the way back to the Chapel on West Campus. Students then tried to re-erect the statue in front of the Chapel (I’m still trying to figure out why we wanted to do that) but the goal post fell and struck a Duke student (who’s doing ok now). Check out the video clip below to see the goal post being erected and the loud thumping sound of it hitting the student.
The win has pumped up the Duke Football fan base (or what’s remaining of it) and sparked dreams about bowl games. But let’s be realistic about the team’s chances and take a quick look at the remaining schedule:
9/22- @ Navy
9/29- @ Miami
10/6- Wake Forest
10/13- Virginia Tech
10/27- @ Florida State
11/3- Clemson
11/10- Georgia Tech
11/17- @ Notre Dame
11/24- @ UNC
I’d say the Navy, Wake Forest, and UNC games are all winnable games. I can’t believe I’m actually saying this (and this might sound kind of out there), but I think we actually have a chance to go into Notre Dame and steal a win from the Fighting Irish. Yeah, you read correctly, Duke has a chance to beat Notre Dame in football.
If you watched any part of Michigan’s 38-0 drubbing over Notre Dame, you know that Duke really could compete against a young, uninspired, and error-prone Notre Dame team. Only if we could find a field goal kicker now and we’d be set to go.
What a great weekend for Duke Football. You know what pumps me up the most? Comparing these records:
Notre Dame: 0-3
Michigan: 1-2
Duke: 1-2
But it almost didn’t happen at all.
As is becoming habit for this Duke football team (as well as for the basketball team and their four corner/stall/hold the ball until the shot clock expires offense they always seem to play with 5 minutes left in close games), Duke took a sizeable lead early on only to nearly throw the game away in the closing moments. Northwestern had four chances to score from deep inside Duke territory, but the defense brought the blitz all four downs and four incomplete passes later, Duke eked out its first victory over a Division 1-A football team since my freshman year (and I’m a senior now).
What happened next was entirely unpredicted. You’d think when a college football team goes on the road to win a game against an unranked, mediocre opponent the winning team’s fans would be calmly satisfied about winning the game. After notching a win after 22 games of pent up anticipation, I guess you could have expected Duke fans to be just a bit more excited.
But what happened at Duke on Saturday night was sheer madness. Hundreds of students marched over to Wallace Wade Stadium, tore down a goal post, and carried it all the way back to the Chapel on West Campus. Students then tried to re-erect the statue in front of the Chapel (I’m still trying to figure out why we wanted to do that) but the goal post fell and struck a Duke student (who’s doing ok now). Check out the video clip below to see the goal post being erected and the loud thumping sound of it hitting the student.
The win has pumped up the Duke Football fan base (or what’s remaining of it) and sparked dreams about bowl games. But let’s be realistic about the team’s chances and take a quick look at the remaining schedule:
9/22- @ Navy
9/29- @ Miami
10/6- Wake Forest
10/13- Virginia Tech
10/27- @ Florida State
11/3- Clemson
11/10- Georgia Tech
11/17- @ Notre Dame
11/24- @ UNC
I’d say the Navy, Wake Forest, and UNC games are all winnable games. I can’t believe I’m actually saying this (and this might sound kind of out there), but I think we actually have a chance to go into Notre Dame and steal a win from the Fighting Irish. Yeah, you read correctly, Duke has a chance to beat Notre Dame in football.
If you watched any part of Michigan’s 38-0 drubbing over Notre Dame, you know that Duke really could compete against a young, uninspired, and error-prone Notre Dame team. Only if we could find a field goal kicker now and we’d be set to go.
What a great weekend for Duke Football. You know what pumps me up the most? Comparing these records:
Notre Dame: 0-3
Michigan: 1-2
Duke: 1-2
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Week 2 NFL Picks Against the Spread
My Week 2 Picks based on the current spread:
Pittsburgh (-10) at Buffalo
A risky call but the Steelers looked absolutely dominant last week. The clincher is they're at home.
Cincinnati (-7) at Cleveland
The line's only at 7? I think Vegas is giving the Browns way too much credit.
Indianapolis (-7) at Tennessee
Peyton, Marvin, Reggie, defense looks great, the Colts will dominate.
Houston at Carolina (-6.5)
The Panthers cover at home.
San Francisco at St. Louis (-3)
San Francisco bounces back from a shaky week 1 victory to dominate the Rams.
Green Bay at New York Giants (-2.5)
Eli probably won't play and Green Bay looked great last week.
Atlanta at Jacksonville (-10)
Jacksonville will win this game, but by 10 points? I'm not sold after last week's anemic running performance. If the Jags get on track running the ball then they will cover (but I don't think that's going to happen).
New Orleans (-3.5) at Tampa Bay
The Saints will bounce back strong.
Minnesota at Detroit (-3)
The Vikings run the ball well and play solid defense. They'll cover.
Dallas (-3.5) at Miami
Tony Romo will pick apart another weak secondary.
Seattle (-3) at Arizona
Matt Leinhart looked terrible last week.
New York Jets at Baltimore (-9.5)
9.5? That's too much considering all those turnovers last week.
Oakland at Denver (-9.5)
The Broncos bounce back strong and run all over the Raiders. Travis Henry runs for 200 yards?
Kansas City at Chicago (-12)
The Chiefs stink. The Bears defense scores enough points to cover.
San Diego at New England (-3.5)
Belichick shows the world he doesn't need to cheat to win.
Washington at Philadelphia (-6.5)
This is a tough pick but I see the Eagles bouncing back strong.
Last week: 9-7
Season: 9-7
Pittsburgh (-10) at Buffalo
A risky call but the Steelers looked absolutely dominant last week. The clincher is they're at home.
Cincinnati (-7) at Cleveland
The line's only at 7? I think Vegas is giving the Browns way too much credit.
Indianapolis (-7) at Tennessee
Peyton, Marvin, Reggie, defense looks great, the Colts will dominate.
Houston at Carolina (-6.5)
The Panthers cover at home.
San Francisco at St. Louis (-3)
San Francisco bounces back from a shaky week 1 victory to dominate the Rams.
Green Bay at New York Giants (-2.5)
Eli probably won't play and Green Bay looked great last week.
Atlanta at Jacksonville (-10)
Jacksonville will win this game, but by 10 points? I'm not sold after last week's anemic running performance. If the Jags get on track running the ball then they will cover (but I don't think that's going to happen).
New Orleans (-3.5) at Tampa Bay
The Saints will bounce back strong.
Minnesota at Detroit (-3)
The Vikings run the ball well and play solid defense. They'll cover.
Dallas (-3.5) at Miami
Tony Romo will pick apart another weak secondary.
Seattle (-3) at Arizona
Matt Leinhart looked terrible last week.
New York Jets at Baltimore (-9.5)
9.5? That's too much considering all those turnovers last week.
Oakland at Denver (-9.5)
The Broncos bounce back strong and run all over the Raiders. Travis Henry runs for 200 yards?
Kansas City at Chicago (-12)
The Chiefs stink. The Bears defense scores enough points to cover.
San Diego at New England (-3.5)
Belichick shows the world he doesn't need to cheat to win.
Washington at Philadelphia (-6.5)
This is a tough pick but I see the Eagles bouncing back strong.
Last week: 9-7
Season: 9-7
Friday, September 14, 2007
Let's All Cheer Up
Greg Oden is having microfacture surgery and his professional playing career could be in danger.
Bill Belichick was caught red-handed videotaping the Jets' defensive play calls and got smacked with a weak suspension (is doing HGH really worse than blatant cheating?)
Could this little trick have been the difference in New England's 3 point victory over my Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII?
Tim Donaghy, Barry Bonds, Mike Vick...anything positive happening in sports?
I don't know about you, but I'm tired of hearing about all these negative stories. Let's all cheer up by watching this video, which has pretty much nothing to do with sports. Monkeys, tigers, we have it all at Scrapper Nation.
That was pretty sweet, wasn't it?
NFL Week 2 Picks coming tomorrow.
Bill Belichick was caught red-handed videotaping the Jets' defensive play calls and got smacked with a weak suspension (is doing HGH really worse than blatant cheating?)
Could this little trick have been the difference in New England's 3 point victory over my Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII?
Tim Donaghy, Barry Bonds, Mike Vick...anything positive happening in sports?
I don't know about you, but I'm tired of hearing about all these negative stories. Let's all cheer up by watching this video, which has pretty much nothing to do with sports. Monkeys, tigers, we have it all at Scrapper Nation.
That was pretty sweet, wasn't it?
NFL Week 2 Picks coming tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Week 1 Fantasy Football Analysis
The first step to winning a fantasy league is having a good draft. But after the draft is over, there’s still a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done. If you want to win your league, you have to stay active on the waiver wire and know who’s hot and who's cold. There were a lot of games this weekend and it’s often a lot to process, so I’ve made a list below of Week 1 stars, solid performers, and bust candidates. This should be another resource in helping you make proper sit/start and add/drop/trade decisions. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Here’s a position by position break down of the first week in fantasy:
QB
Stars
Tony Romo (Dal)- 345 yards, 4 touchdown passes, 1 rushing touchdown, 1 interception
Eli Manning (NYG)- 312 yards, 4 touchdown passes, 1 interception
Ben Roethlisberger (Pit)- 161 yards, 4 touchdown passes
Tom Brady (NE)- 297 yards, 3 touchdown passers
Peyton Manning (Ind)- 288 yards, 3 touchdown passes
Jon Kitna (Det)- 289 yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
Jake Delhomme (Car)- 201 yards, 3 touchdowns
Solid Performers
Josh McCown (Oak)- 313 yards, 2 TD, 2 Int
Carson Palmer (Cin)- 194 yards, 2 TD
Chad Pennington (NYJ)- 167 yards, 2 TD
Jay Cutler (Den)- 304 yards, 1 TD, 1 Int
Bust Candidates
Drew Brees (NO)- 192 yards, 0 TD, 2 Int
Phillip Rivers (SD)- 190 yards, 0 TD, 1 Int
J.P. Losman (Buf)- 97 yards, 0 TD, 1 Int
Damon Huard (KC)- 168 yards, 0 TD, 2 Int
Brett Favre (GB)- 206 yards, 0 TD, 1 Int
Rex Grossman (Chi)- 145 yards, 0 TD, 1 Int
Steve McNair (Bal)- 203 yards, 0 TD 1 Int, 3 fumbles
Alex Smith (SF)- 126 yards, TD
Matt Leinart (Ari)- 102 yards, 1 TD, 2 Int
Donovan McNabb (Phi)- 184 yards, 1 TD, 1 Int
Thoughts
QB
Stars
Tony Romo (Dal)- 345 yards, 4 touchdown passes, 1 rushing touchdown, 1 interception
Eli Manning (NYG)- 312 yards, 4 touchdown passes, 1 interception
Ben Roethlisberger (Pit)- 161 yards, 4 touchdown passes
Tom Brady (NE)- 297 yards, 3 touchdown passers
Peyton Manning (Ind)- 288 yards, 3 touchdown passes
Jon Kitna (Det)- 289 yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
Jake Delhomme (Car)- 201 yards, 3 touchdowns
Solid Performers
Josh McCown (Oak)- 313 yards, 2 TD, 2 Int
Carson Palmer (Cin)- 194 yards, 2 TD
Chad Pennington (NYJ)- 167 yards, 2 TD
Jay Cutler (Den)- 304 yards, 1 TD, 1 Int
Bust Candidates
Drew Brees (NO)- 192 yards, 0 TD, 2 Int
Phillip Rivers (SD)- 190 yards, 0 TD, 1 Int
J.P. Losman (Buf)- 97 yards, 0 TD, 1 Int
Damon Huard (KC)- 168 yards, 0 TD, 2 Int
Brett Favre (GB)- 206 yards, 0 TD, 1 Int
Rex Grossman (Chi)- 145 yards, 0 TD, 1 Int
Steve McNair (Bal)- 203 yards, 0 TD 1 Int, 3 fumbles
Alex Smith (SF)- 126 yards, TD
Matt Leinart (Ari)- 102 yards, 1 TD, 2 Int
Donovan McNabb (Phi)- 184 yards, 1 TD, 1 Int
Thoughts
Week 1 is always a little wacky so don’t panic and sell low if you have Brees, McNabb, or Rivers. They will all be just fine in the long run. Also avoid buying high on either Josh McCown (who will inevitably be benched in the near future and won’t have the luxury of facing the Lions secondary every week) or Chad Pennington (he had a few touchdowns but didn’t throw for many yards). I’d suggest picking up a Matt Schaub or Trent Green if you’re in a deep league as both looked comfortable passing with their new offenses.
WR
Stars
Plaxico Burress (NYG)- 144 yards, 3 TD
Randy Moss (NE)- 183 yards, 1 TD
Reggie Wayne (Ind)- 115 yards, 2 TD
Terrell Owens (Dal )- 87 yards, 2 TD
Ronald Curry (Oak)- 133 yards, 1 TD
Andre Johnson (Hou)- 142 yards, 1 TD
Steve Smith (Car)- 118 yards, 1 TD
Laveranues Coles (NYJ)- 59 yards, 2 TD
Solid Performers
Antwaan Randle El (Was)- 162 yards
Chad Johnson (Cin)- 95 yards, 1 TD
Shaun McDonald (Det)- 90 yards, 1 TD
Marvin Harrison (Ind)- 83 yards, 1 TD
Drew Carter (Car)- 19 yards, 2 TD
Torry Holt (StL)- 73 yards, 1 TD
Calvin Johnson (Det)- 70 yards, 1 TD
Santonio Holmes (Pit)- 55 yards, 1 TD
Arnaz Battle (SF)- 60 yards, 1 TD
Wes Welker (NE)- 61 yards, 1 TD
Javon Walker (Den)- 119 yards
John Broussard (Jac)- 55 yards, 1 TD
Jason Avant (Phi)- 54 yards, 1 TD
Brandon Marshall (Den)- 52 yards, 1 TD
Hines Ward (Pit)- 51 yards, 1 TD
Sam Hurd (Dal)- 51 yards, 1 TD
Bust Candidates
Larry Fitzgerald (Ari)- 20 yards
Marques Colston (NO)- 47 yards
Darrell Jackson (SF)- 36 yards
Braylon Edwards (Cle)- 49 yards, 1 fumble
Vincent Jackson (SD)- 28 yards
Santana Moss (Was)- 28 yards
Donte Stallworth (NE)- 19 yards
Reggie Brown (Phi)- 14 yards
Muhsin Muhammad- 8 yards
Lee Evans (Buf)- 5 yards
Thoughts
WR
Stars
Plaxico Burress (NYG)- 144 yards, 3 TD
Randy Moss (NE)- 183 yards, 1 TD
Reggie Wayne (Ind)- 115 yards, 2 TD
Terrell Owens (Dal )- 87 yards, 2 TD
Ronald Curry (Oak)- 133 yards, 1 TD
Andre Johnson (Hou)- 142 yards, 1 TD
Steve Smith (Car)- 118 yards, 1 TD
Laveranues Coles (NYJ)- 59 yards, 2 TD
Solid Performers
Antwaan Randle El (Was)- 162 yards
Chad Johnson (Cin)- 95 yards, 1 TD
Shaun McDonald (Det)- 90 yards, 1 TD
Marvin Harrison (Ind)- 83 yards, 1 TD
Drew Carter (Car)- 19 yards, 2 TD
Torry Holt (StL)- 73 yards, 1 TD
Calvin Johnson (Det)- 70 yards, 1 TD
Santonio Holmes (Pit)- 55 yards, 1 TD
Arnaz Battle (SF)- 60 yards, 1 TD
Wes Welker (NE)- 61 yards, 1 TD
Javon Walker (Den)- 119 yards
John Broussard (Jac)- 55 yards, 1 TD
Jason Avant (Phi)- 54 yards, 1 TD
Brandon Marshall (Den)- 52 yards, 1 TD
Hines Ward (Pit)- 51 yards, 1 TD
Sam Hurd (Dal)- 51 yards, 1 TD
Bust Candidates
Larry Fitzgerald (Ari)- 20 yards
Marques Colston (NO)- 47 yards
Darrell Jackson (SF)- 36 yards
Braylon Edwards (Cle)- 49 yards, 1 fumble
Vincent Jackson (SD)- 28 yards
Santana Moss (Was)- 28 yards
Donte Stallworth (NE)- 19 yards
Reggie Brown (Phi)- 14 yards
Muhsin Muhammad- 8 yards
Lee Evans (Buf)- 5 yards
Thoughts
Again, don’t hastily pull the trigger on the likes of a Larry Fitzgerald or Lee Evans after a sub-par week 1. Both players will be just fine in the long run. Players you should consider taking a flyer on include Wes Welker, Antwaan Randle El, Ronald Curry, Brandon Marshall, and Patrick Crayton.
RB
Stars
Adrian Peterson (Min)- 103 rushing yards, 60 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Lamont Jordan (Oak)- 70 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 89 receiving yards
Joseph Addai (Ind)- 118 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 25 receiving yards
LaDainian Tomlinson (SD)- 25 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 51 receiving yards, 17 passing yards, 1 touchdown pass
Travis Henry (Den)- 139 rushing yards, 44 receiving yards
Chris Brown (Ten)- 175 rushing yards, 3 receiving yards
Shaun Alexander (Ten)- 105 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 12 receiving yards
Derrick Ward (NYG)- 89 rushing yards, 27 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Solid Performers
Edgerrin James (Ari)- 92 rushing yards, 1 TD, 20 receiving yards
Marshawn Lynch (Buf)- 90 rushing yards, 1 TD, 9 receiving yards
Clinton Ports (Was)- 98 yards, 1 TD
Marion Barber III (Dal)- 65 rushing yards, 1 TD, 29 receiving yards
Tatum Bell (Det)- 87 rushing yards, 1 TD, 6 receiving yards
Bust Candidates
Steven Jackson (StL)- 58 rushing yards, 3 receiving yards, 2 fumbles
Brandon Jacobs (NYG)- 26 rushing yards
Cedric Benson (Chi)- 42 rushing yards, 11 receiving yards, 1 fumble
Reggie Bush (NO)- 38 rushing yards, 7 receiving yards
Maurice Jones-Drew (Jac)- 32 rushing yards, 28 receiving yards, 1 fumble
Larry Johnson (KC)- 43 rushing yards, 44 yards receiving
Laurence Maroney (NE)- 72 rushing yards
Thomas Jones (NYJ)- 42 rushing yards, 6 receiving yards
Ronnie Brown (Mia)- 32 rushing yards, 40 receiving yards
Chester Taylor (Min)- 18 rushing yards, 3 receiving yards
Deuce McAllister (NO)- 38 rushing yards, 7 receiving yards
Jamal Lewis (Cle)- 35 rushing yards, 11 receiving yards
Fred Taylor (Jac)- 16 rushing yards
Thoughts
RB
Stars
Adrian Peterson (Min)- 103 rushing yards, 60 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Lamont Jordan (Oak)- 70 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 89 receiving yards
Joseph Addai (Ind)- 118 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 25 receiving yards
LaDainian Tomlinson (SD)- 25 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 51 receiving yards, 17 passing yards, 1 touchdown pass
Travis Henry (Den)- 139 rushing yards, 44 receiving yards
Chris Brown (Ten)- 175 rushing yards, 3 receiving yards
Shaun Alexander (Ten)- 105 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 12 receiving yards
Derrick Ward (NYG)- 89 rushing yards, 27 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Solid Performers
Edgerrin James (Ari)- 92 rushing yards, 1 TD, 20 receiving yards
Marshawn Lynch (Buf)- 90 rushing yards, 1 TD, 9 receiving yards
Clinton Ports (Was)- 98 yards, 1 TD
Marion Barber III (Dal)- 65 rushing yards, 1 TD, 29 receiving yards
Tatum Bell (Det)- 87 rushing yards, 1 TD, 6 receiving yards
Bust Candidates
Steven Jackson (StL)- 58 rushing yards, 3 receiving yards, 2 fumbles
Brandon Jacobs (NYG)- 26 rushing yards
Cedric Benson (Chi)- 42 rushing yards, 11 receiving yards, 1 fumble
Reggie Bush (NO)- 38 rushing yards, 7 receiving yards
Maurice Jones-Drew (Jac)- 32 rushing yards, 28 receiving yards, 1 fumble
Larry Johnson (KC)- 43 rushing yards, 44 yards receiving
Laurence Maroney (NE)- 72 rushing yards
Thomas Jones (NYJ)- 42 rushing yards, 6 receiving yards
Ronnie Brown (Mia)- 32 rushing yards, 40 receiving yards
Chester Taylor (Min)- 18 rushing yards, 3 receiving yards
Deuce McAllister (NO)- 38 rushing yards, 7 receiving yards
Jamal Lewis (Cle)- 35 rushing yards, 11 receiving yards
Fred Taylor (Jac)- 16 rushing yards
Thoughts
This was overall a pretty mediocre rushing fantasy week. But the worst thing you can do is get rid of one of your high-round picks like LJ or Stephen Jackson for 50 cents on the dollar. In one league I saw a trade swapping Clinton Portis and a solid wide receiver for LJ. The Chiefs will be bad this year, but I really think LJ is going to tear it up the second half, which is when you'll need him most. Be patient. The one player I strongly urge you to pick is Chris Brown. He ran for 175 yards on the Jaguars and is a starting RB. I don’t care what type of league you’re in, you should nab him immediately. Other players who you should consider taking a look at or trading for include Derrick Ward, Lamont Jordan, and Chicago’s Adrian Peterson.
TE
Stars
Jason Witten (Dal)- 116 yard, 1 TD
Antonio Gates (SD)- 107 yards, 1 TD
Solid performers
Heath Miller (Pit)- 35 yards, 1 TD
Kellen Winslow (Cle)- 83 yards
Dallas Clark (Ind)- 48 receiving yards, 14 rushing yards
Bust Candidates
Todd Heap (Bal)- 29 yards
Tony Gonzales (KC)- 28 yards
Chris Cooley (Was)- 10 yards
Vernon Davis (SF)- 4 yards
Defense
Stars
Minnesota- 3 points allowed, 6 sacks, 2 TD, 2 Int
Houston- 3 points allowed, 3 sacks, 1 TD, 2 Int, 2 fumble recoveries
Solid Performers
Cincinnati- 20 points allowed, 2 sacks, 1 TD, 2 Int, 4 fumble recoveries
Pittsburgh- 7 points allowed, 6 sacks, 2 Int, 3 fumble recoveries
Indianapolis- 4 points allowed, 1 sack, 1 TD, 2 Int, 1 fumble recovery
San Diego- 3 points allowed, 3 sacks, 1 Int, 3 fumble recoveries
Bust Candidates
Dallas- 35 points allowed, 1 sack, 1 Int
New York Giants- 45 points allowed, 1 sack, 1 Int, 1 fumble recovery
Oakland- 36 points allowed, 2 sacks, 2 Int
Denver- 14 points allowed, 2 sacks, 1 Int
Kickers
TE
Stars
Jason Witten (Dal)- 116 yard, 1 TD
Antonio Gates (SD)- 107 yards, 1 TD
Solid performers
Heath Miller (Pit)- 35 yards, 1 TD
Kellen Winslow (Cle)- 83 yards
Dallas Clark (Ind)- 48 receiving yards, 14 rushing yards
Bust Candidates
Todd Heap (Bal)- 29 yards
Tony Gonzales (KC)- 28 yards
Chris Cooley (Was)- 10 yards
Vernon Davis (SF)- 4 yards
Defense
Stars
Minnesota- 3 points allowed, 6 sacks, 2 TD, 2 Int
Houston- 3 points allowed, 3 sacks, 1 TD, 2 Int, 2 fumble recoveries
Solid Performers
Cincinnati- 20 points allowed, 2 sacks, 1 TD, 2 Int, 4 fumble recoveries
Pittsburgh- 7 points allowed, 6 sacks, 2 Int, 3 fumble recoveries
Indianapolis- 4 points allowed, 1 sack, 1 TD, 2 Int, 1 fumble recovery
San Diego- 3 points allowed, 3 sacks, 1 Int, 3 fumble recoveries
Bust Candidates
Dallas- 35 points allowed, 1 sack, 1 Int
New York Giants- 45 points allowed, 1 sack, 1 Int, 1 fumble recovery
Oakland- 36 points allowed, 2 sacks, 2 Int
Denver- 14 points allowed, 2 sacks, 1 Int
Kickers
Who cares? But if you must…here are a few guys that did pretty well this week:
Jason Hanson (Det)
Lawrence Tynes (NYG)
Mason Crosby (GB)
Adam Vinatieri (Ind)
Shaun Suisham (Was)
Jason Elam (Den)
Hope this helps, and as always, best of luck this week.
Jason Hanson (Det)
Lawrence Tynes (NYG)
Mason Crosby (GB)
Adam Vinatieri (Ind)
Shaun Suisham (Was)
Jason Elam (Den)
Hope this helps, and as always, best of luck this week.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Djokovic or Choke-ovic?
The following is a guest post written by a member of the UCSD Men's Varsity Tennis Team who doubles as one of my best friends. I've given him the nickname "The Grinder" because he is one of the toughest, hardest working guys I've ever met. The Grinder had to make a tough decision this weekend deciding between attending either the Bears-Chargers game or the U.S. Open Final (The Scrapper wishes he had that kind of a decision to make). He chose the Open, so make sure to enjoy this first hand account.
Yesterday I was privileged to get a personal glimpse of the Roger Federer "Experience," as journalist David Wallace so fittingly named Federer's quest to become the greatest player in tennis history. In this, his tenth consecutive major final, Federer faced Serbian newcomer Novak Djokovic, the twenty year old currently ranked number three in the world. On Sunday evening, Federer, as usual, prevailed in straight sets by a score of 7-6(4), 7-6(2), 6-4. Unusual, however, was the fashion in which his victory unfolded.
For both players the first set was a tight, error laden, wholly frustrated attempt to live up to the expectations of a grand slam final. Federer yielded first as Djokovic broke to go up 6-5 and serve for the set. When Novak quickly served his way to 40-0 it looked as if his amazing performance would carry over from the Roger's Masters in Montreal a few weeks prior to the Open, in which he consecutively beat Roddick, Nadal and Federer (at the time the world's #3, #2 and #1 players). Perhaps something happened in a fleeting second, some intangible, invisible thought caught in Djokovic's mind. It's happened to the best of us during that momentous occasion when we suddenly become aware that we are on the verge of doing something big, something special. Djokovic realized he was about to take the first set against Federer in his first grand slam final and in that split second the match was lost. Within minutes, five set points were squandered and Federer escaped unscathed.
Watching the second set was like watching "Dude Where's My Car" right after "War of the Worlds." Painful. Djokovic, or more aptly, Choke-ovic, got up another break, gave it back, spilled two set points and once again lost in a tiebreak. Federer then proceeded to roll through the third, breaking the Serb for the championship, his third major of the year and twelfth career grand slam.
Watching the second set was like watching "Dude Where's My Car" right after "War of the Worlds." Painful. Djokovic, or more aptly, Choke-ovic, got up another break, gave it back, spilled two set points and once again lost in a tiebreak. Federer then proceeded to roll through the third, breaking the Serb for the championship, his third major of the year and twelfth career grand slam.
Even on this day, a 42 winner, 34 unforced error performance, mediocre by normal Roger standards, Federer prevailed with incredible shot-making and remarkable quickness, which dropped my jaw more than once. He is now tied with Roy Emerson for second on the all-time list, trailing only Pete Sampras by two.It seems that with at least two or three years left in his prime Federer will inevitably surpass Sampras' record, perhaps as soon as next year. But there is no doubt that in this upcoming year Federer will be challenged, as Djokovic has clearly joined Rafael Nadal in the Federer chase. I'll guarantee that Djokovic won't be choking away grand slams too much longer. For those of you rooting against Roger be aware that as we watch Sampras' record crumble under Federer's weight, we will also see the end of the Swiss' dominance; it is just a matter of time. So try to enjoy the experience.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
U.S. Open Final Pick
A few weeks ago I made the bold prediction that Novak Djokovic would beat Roger Federer in the finals of the Rogers Cup. With a Djokovic-Federer rematch slated for tomorrow’s U.S. Open Final, it’s about time for me to make my pick. Before I unveil the pick, let’s break down exactly how Djokovic beat Federer a few weeks ago. If you need to refresh your memory, check out this highlight video of the match:
Djokovic has excellent movement and consistency and he was able to do something most other players can’t against Federer; get into points. Federer is so many levels above the competition that most of the time he just slaps around a few winners and is able to end points fairly quickly. Watch that clip again and you’ll see how much Djokovic scrapped and always made Federer hit the extra ball. He’s going to have to do that again tomorrow to have a shot at winning. Let’s look at a few statistics from their last matchup:
Aces
Djokovic- 6
Federer- 15
Obviously, Federer is the better server.
1st Serve %
Djokovic- 66%
Federer- 68%
1st Serve Points Won
Djokovic- 70%
Federer- 77%
2nd Serve Points Won
Djokovic- 58%
Federer- 42%
Federer wins 77% of points off his first serve and 42% of points off second serve. Federer's first serve percentage will go a long ways in determining who wins this match.
Unforced Errors
Djokovic- 23
Federer- 48
The only way Dojokovic has a prayer is if he keeps his errors to a minimum and Federer starts making a lot of mistakes.
What makes me nervous about picking Djokovic this time around is that tomorrow's encounter will be a best-of-five-set matchup. Djokovic looked like he wore down a little bit in their last matchup and I question if he will have enough in the tank to scrap against Federer in a five setter.
It’s tough for me to pick against Federer. He’s the greatest player in the game and might end up being the best ever. But The Scrapper is going with Djokovic because maybe he’ll give us some more of these impersonations (see below) if he wins. But even if he doesn’t pull it off, I am going on record guaranteeing that Novak Djokovic will be ranked no.1 in the world within the next three years.
Today was a great, great sports day (solid college football games and a great round from Tiger) and tomorrow’s looking to be even better. NFL all day, Tiger in the hunt at the BMW, and the U.S. Open Final. Looks like it’s going to be another beautiful day in front of the tube.
Djokovic has excellent movement and consistency and he was able to do something most other players can’t against Federer; get into points. Federer is so many levels above the competition that most of the time he just slaps around a few winners and is able to end points fairly quickly. Watch that clip again and you’ll see how much Djokovic scrapped and always made Federer hit the extra ball. He’s going to have to do that again tomorrow to have a shot at winning. Let’s look at a few statistics from their last matchup:
Aces
Djokovic- 6
Federer- 15
Obviously, Federer is the better server.
1st Serve %
Djokovic- 66%
Federer- 68%
1st Serve Points Won
Djokovic- 70%
Federer- 77%
2nd Serve Points Won
Djokovic- 58%
Federer- 42%
Federer wins 77% of points off his first serve and 42% of points off second serve. Federer's first serve percentage will go a long ways in determining who wins this match.
Unforced Errors
Djokovic- 23
Federer- 48
The only way Dojokovic has a prayer is if he keeps his errors to a minimum and Federer starts making a lot of mistakes.
What makes me nervous about picking Djokovic this time around is that tomorrow's encounter will be a best-of-five-set matchup. Djokovic looked like he wore down a little bit in their last matchup and I question if he will have enough in the tank to scrap against Federer in a five setter.
It’s tough for me to pick against Federer. He’s the greatest player in the game and might end up being the best ever. But The Scrapper is going with Djokovic because maybe he’ll give us some more of these impersonations (see below) if he wins. But even if he doesn’t pull it off, I am going on record guaranteeing that Novak Djokovic will be ranked no.1 in the world within the next three years.
Today was a great, great sports day (solid college football games and a great round from Tiger) and tomorrow’s looking to be even better. NFL all day, Tiger in the hunt at the BMW, and the U.S. Open Final. Looks like it’s going to be another beautiful day in front of the tube.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Week 1 NFL Picks Against the Spread
Today is the day all football fans have been waiting so long for, the start of the 2007 NFL Season. Here are my Week 1 picks based on the current spread (my picks are in bold):
New Orleans at
Indianapolis (-6.5)
With both team’s defenses being weak, this game will be a shootout. Peyton lights up the Saints D and the Colts win by a couple touchdowns.
Kansas City at
Houston (-1.0)
Both Kansas City quarterbacks Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle looked terrible in the preseason and Herm Edwards says that L.J. will have an easy workload week 1. These two facts make me really want to take the Texans but I can’t get Houston’s pitiful offensive line out of my mind. In the end, I think the Schaub-Johnson-Green combo gets the job done at home.
Denver (-3.0) at
Buffalo
Why is the line so close on this game? I feel very safe picking the Broncos going into Buffalo and pounding the Bills by a couple touchdowns. Jay Cutler and Javon Walker will abuse the Bills cornerbacks and the Bills running game will suffer with the off-season departure of Willis McGahee.
Pittsburgh (-3.0) at
Cleveland
Do you believe the line on this game? Pittsburgh only favored by a field goal? Yeah, right. The Steelers will be the comeback team of the year. Big Ben, Willie Parker, Hines Ward, and company will put a pounding on the Steelers and The Pittsburgh D will be just as tough as they’ve been in years past. Charlie Frye is the Browns’ Week 1 starter, Charlie Frye? I see Brady Quinn getting a little bit of action in the second half after the Steelers blow the Browns out early on.
Tennessee at
Jacksonville (-5.5)
David Garrard will be starting at quarterback for the Jags. I’m really down on Jacksonville this year. But I think the Titans are going to be even worse since Vince Young has absolutely zero quality players surrounding him at the skill positions. Maurice Jones-Drew runs wild and the Jags win by a touchdown.
Carolina at
St. Louis (-1.0)
The Panthers offense has been extremely unimpressive this preseason. The Panthers are going to struggle mightily until Delhomme is benched in favor of David Carr. Bulger, Jackson, and Holt will result in a Rams blowout.
Philadelphia (-2.5) at
Green Bay
The line on this game is way to close. The Eagles have looked great in the preseason and Donovan has looked almost completely recovered from last year’s devastating ACL injury. The Eagles win this one in a blowout.
Atlanta at
Minnesota (-3.0)
This is a tough game for me to pick since I think both teams will have down years. But considering that this is a home game for the Vikings and that Joey Harrington will be making his first start with the Falcons, I’ll take the Vikings winning by atleast a touchdown. Watch for Adrian Peterson to have a great game.
Miami at
Washington (-3.5)
Trent struggles in his first start with the Dolphins and the Redskins come out with the win. Watch for Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts to have a great rushing day.
New England (-5.5) at
New York Jets
Rodney Harrison is out the first four weeks of the season, Richard Seymour is out the first six, Randy Moss is questionable for Week 1, and I don’t care. Everyone is hyping the Jets because of last year’s 10-6 campaign with the easiest schedule in the league but I am almost certain that this team will miss the playoffs and be below .500. Brady has a lot of receivers to throw to and the Pats will demolish the Jets.
Tampa Bay at
Seattle (-6.0)
The Bucs are going to be a lot better than people think they will be this year. The Bucs lose this game by a touchdown (only because the game is being played at Seattle).
Chicago at
San Diego (-5.5)
I’m a little surprised by the line on this game. I knew the Chargers were the favorites, but by 5.5 points? I still have to go with L.T. and company.
Detroit at
Oakland (-2.5)
Daunte Culpepper is going to start for the Raiders in week 1. I say Daunte loses about three fumbles and the new Lions offense gets enough points (all they need is a touchdown) to go on the road and pull out the win.
New York Giants at
Dallas (-4.0)
The Giants are set to implode with Coughlin still in charge. The defense is also going to be rather shaky without Strahan. The Cowboys had a great camp and a solid preseason and I think they’ll take this one by a touchdown.
Baltimore at
Cincinnati (-3.0)
I’m taking the Ravens. The Ravens defense will be devastating and Willis McGahee is going to help out Steve McNair and the Ravens passing game.
Arizona at
San Francisco (-3.5)
I think the Cardinals are still a year away because of that shaky defense. The 49ers put a lot of points on the board in this one with Alex Smith, Frank Gore, Darrell Jackson, and Vernon Davis leading the way. Look for the much-improved 49ers defense to have a great game and for my defensive rookie of the year pick, Patrick Willis, to have a solid game.
Safest Picks
Pittsburgh (-3) over Cleveland and Philadelphia (-2.5) over Green Bay
Shakiest Picks
Houston (-1) over Kansas City (picking the Texans to win should always be a shaky pick), Baltimore over Cincinnati (-3).
I’m so pumped, football is back!
New Orleans at
Indianapolis (-6.5)
With both team’s defenses being weak, this game will be a shootout. Peyton lights up the Saints D and the Colts win by a couple touchdowns.
Kansas City at
Houston (-1.0)
Both Kansas City quarterbacks Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle looked terrible in the preseason and Herm Edwards says that L.J. will have an easy workload week 1. These two facts make me really want to take the Texans but I can’t get Houston’s pitiful offensive line out of my mind. In the end, I think the Schaub-Johnson-Green combo gets the job done at home.
Denver (-3.0) at
Buffalo
Why is the line so close on this game? I feel very safe picking the Broncos going into Buffalo and pounding the Bills by a couple touchdowns. Jay Cutler and Javon Walker will abuse the Bills cornerbacks and the Bills running game will suffer with the off-season departure of Willis McGahee.
Pittsburgh (-3.0) at
Cleveland
Do you believe the line on this game? Pittsburgh only favored by a field goal? Yeah, right. The Steelers will be the comeback team of the year. Big Ben, Willie Parker, Hines Ward, and company will put a pounding on the Steelers and The Pittsburgh D will be just as tough as they’ve been in years past. Charlie Frye is the Browns’ Week 1 starter, Charlie Frye? I see Brady Quinn getting a little bit of action in the second half after the Steelers blow the Browns out early on.
Tennessee at
Jacksonville (-5.5)
David Garrard will be starting at quarterback for the Jags. I’m really down on Jacksonville this year. But I think the Titans are going to be even worse since Vince Young has absolutely zero quality players surrounding him at the skill positions. Maurice Jones-Drew runs wild and the Jags win by a touchdown.
Carolina at
St. Louis (-1.0)
The Panthers offense has been extremely unimpressive this preseason. The Panthers are going to struggle mightily until Delhomme is benched in favor of David Carr. Bulger, Jackson, and Holt will result in a Rams blowout.
Philadelphia (-2.5) at
Green Bay
The line on this game is way to close. The Eagles have looked great in the preseason and Donovan has looked almost completely recovered from last year’s devastating ACL injury. The Eagles win this one in a blowout.
Atlanta at
Minnesota (-3.0)
This is a tough game for me to pick since I think both teams will have down years. But considering that this is a home game for the Vikings and that Joey Harrington will be making his first start with the Falcons, I’ll take the Vikings winning by atleast a touchdown. Watch for Adrian Peterson to have a great game.
Miami at
Washington (-3.5)
Trent struggles in his first start with the Dolphins and the Redskins come out with the win. Watch for Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts to have a great rushing day.
New England (-5.5) at
New York Jets
Rodney Harrison is out the first four weeks of the season, Richard Seymour is out the first six, Randy Moss is questionable for Week 1, and I don’t care. Everyone is hyping the Jets because of last year’s 10-6 campaign with the easiest schedule in the league but I am almost certain that this team will miss the playoffs and be below .500. Brady has a lot of receivers to throw to and the Pats will demolish the Jets.
Tampa Bay at
Seattle (-6.0)
The Bucs are going to be a lot better than people think they will be this year. The Bucs lose this game by a touchdown (only because the game is being played at Seattle).
Chicago at
San Diego (-5.5)
I’m a little surprised by the line on this game. I knew the Chargers were the favorites, but by 5.5 points? I still have to go with L.T. and company.
Detroit at
Oakland (-2.5)
Daunte Culpepper is going to start for the Raiders in week 1. I say Daunte loses about three fumbles and the new Lions offense gets enough points (all they need is a touchdown) to go on the road and pull out the win.
New York Giants at
Dallas (-4.0)
The Giants are set to implode with Coughlin still in charge. The defense is also going to be rather shaky without Strahan. The Cowboys had a great camp and a solid preseason and I think they’ll take this one by a touchdown.
Baltimore at
Cincinnati (-3.0)
I’m taking the Ravens. The Ravens defense will be devastating and Willis McGahee is going to help out Steve McNair and the Ravens passing game.
Arizona at
San Francisco (-3.5)
I think the Cardinals are still a year away because of that shaky defense. The 49ers put a lot of points on the board in this one with Alex Smith, Frank Gore, Darrell Jackson, and Vernon Davis leading the way. Look for the much-improved 49ers defense to have a great game and for my defensive rookie of the year pick, Patrick Willis, to have a solid game.
Safest Picks
Pittsburgh (-3) over Cleveland and Philadelphia (-2.5) over Green Bay
Shakiest Picks
Houston (-1) over Kansas City (picking the Texans to win should always be a shaky pick), Baltimore over Cincinnati (-3).
I’m so pumped, football is back!
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Live Report from the Duke-UConn Football Game
So I decided to go to the Duke-UConn football game yesterday (not exactly the feature college football game of the day) with a couple of my buddies to do a bit of investigative journalism. The game was close and Duke was actually winning going into the second half. Then the second half started and we got absolutely drilled to the tune of a 45-14 loss. If you want to relive the agony of defeat (or just laugh at a hardcore Duke football fan commenting on the game) then check out the following podcasts I recorded on my thoughts at various points of the game.
Game Preview
First Quarter Recap
Second Quarter Recap/Halftime Thoughts
Third Quarter Recap
Fourth Quarter Recap and Final Thoughts
It’s tough being a Duke football fan sometimes (or all the time), but this game was especially frustrating. Duke fans had a legitimate reason to be pumped for this season. We had all eleven starters returning on offense and a lot of talented players from Ted Roof’s first recruiting class were veterans of the program and finally had a chance to be key contributors on the field. But we lost, and lost bad, to UConn. The rest of the season isn’t looking so good. Whatever we do, we need to make a lot of changes in a hurry.
Atleast we can all be pumped about basketball season. I happened to catch a few Duke basketball players checking out the game (Gerald Henderson, Lance Thomas, Demarcus Nelson):
Here are some pictures of a few pumped up fans after Duke scores on its first drive of the game:
I don't know how many more live reports we'll have. Hopefully our guys will bounce back from this loss and have a good season (we have to win atleast 1 game, right?).
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