Week 9 Predictions

Game to Watch: Bears @ Packers: Even though Jay Cutler has not been cleared to play on Monday Night's game against the Green Bay Packers, Chicago still has a good shot against their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers. The Bears offense can still be a dominant force, even without Cutler present in the starting lineup. Running back Matt Forte has rushed for 533 yards in 2013, averaging 4.6 yards per carry, with an additional 6 rushing touchdowns. The Bears also have wideout Brandon Marshall, who is not on track to top last year's numbers, but he is still resembling a Pro Bowl wide receiver. After a slow start to the season, the Green Bay Packers, Chicago's competition, has been 4-0 since Week 4, putting their record at 5-2. The loss of Cutler hurts Chicago's chances, but we believe it will still be a close game on Monday night.
Packers over Bears 34-24

Stand Out Performance: QB Cam Newton: The Carolina Panthers may not be one of the most successful franchises, but their starting quarterback Cam Newton is an absolute star. Newton scored 27 fantasy points last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as he is averaging 26.3 fantasy points a game these past 3 weeks. Atlanta's pass defense has struggled so far in 2013, as they have allowed the second most passing touchdowns in the league with 16. Newton is also capable of running the ball, which is what makes him such a dangerous offensive weapon.
QB Cam Newton: 290 passing yards, 3 total TDs, 40 rushing yards

Player to Watch: QB Tom Brady: There is no question that quarterback Tom Brady is not playing like he once was, as his passer rating stands at just 74.9. It would be easy to blame the New England Patriots' receiving corp for Brady's poor play, but then again, Brady has 76 off-target off passes in 2013, 15 more than any other player in the NFL. Brady will be playing the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday, and even though the Steelers defense is very old, they are still very experienced. Tom Brady will pass for more than one touchdown against the Steelers for the first since Week 4 in a very close game.
QB Tom Brady: 195 passing yards, 1 passing TD

Week 9 Predictions:

Bengals over Dolphins (Incorrect)

Chiefs over Bills

Panthers over Falcons

Cowboys over Vikings

Saints over Jets

Titans over Rams

Redskins over Chargers

Eagles over Raiders (OT)

Seahawks over Buccaneers

Ravens over Browns

Patriots over Steelers

Colts over Texans

Packers over Bears

Last Week: 11-2

2013 Season: 82-37 (68.9%)

Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 9)

Start 'Em:
Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers
Mathews is finally healthy and we're beginning to see what sort of numbers he can produce.  Before his bye last week, he had two straight performances of over 100 yards and also added in a touchdown in week 7.  This week has the potential to outshine both of those games, as he goes up against the last ranked fantasy run defense, the Washington Redskins.

Denarius Moore, WR, Oakland Raiders
Any wide receiver that is going up against the Eagles secondary has the opportunity to put up big numbers, and Moore is no different.  The speedy wideout has loads of big play ability, and is the Raider's only real receiving threat.  If Pryor can deliver Moore with just one good deep ball, he could provide owners with a great return.

Alex Smith, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
This pick is made out of a favorable matchup than anything else.  The Chiefs go up against the Buffalo Bills, who have a defense that is 27th in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks.  Smith is not a flashy quarterback choice, but should be a good play this week against a week secondary.

Sit 'Em:
Steven Jackson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
I said it last week, and I'll say it again this week: Steven Jackson is a poor fantasy start.  He is just coming off an injury, and it showed last week as he only managed six yards on eleven carries.  Additionally, the Falcons are going up against the tough Panthers defense.  Leave Jackson on your bench this week, and maybe for weeks to come as well.

Torrey Smith, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Smith has had only a mediocre fantasy season so far, and the reason for this is that he has only gotten into the end zone once.  On Sunday, he goes up against a Cleveland secondary that has managed to shut down the likes of Calvin Johnson and A.J. Green.  The man behind Cleveland's success has to be cornerback Joe Haden, who is having a tremendous year.  With Haden shadowing Smith all game long, it may be another "bust" day as opposed to a "boom" day for the wideout.

Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
Brady has had perhaps his most frustrating professional season so far, as he has only thrown two touchdowns in his last four games, and has broken 300 yards just once this year.  Part of this is due to his horrendous receiving core, and another part is due to the emergence of a very solid red zone running game.  Tom Brady simply cannot be expected to put up good fantasy numbers any more, and a date with a tough Steelers defense certainly won't help.

Five College Football Games to Watch (Week 9)

Week 9 will see one great game in particular, but you'd be surprised at some other nice looking match ups I have found here. In order of must watch to will probably be a good game, here are 5 bouts that I'll be tuned to this weekend. At the very least I'll catch post game coverage, with highlights. My motto with regards to making predictions? Fortune favors the bold. 

#12 UCLA at #2 Oregon:  I am really impressed with the team head coach Jim Mora has put together in sunny Los Angeles. The Bruins started this year ranked 21st, but have shown that they are not to be messed with. They hung in there with 8 Stanford (a 14 point loss at Stanford), and with a sophomore stud QB in Brett Hundley and 3 freshman starting on the offensive line, they will be a team to watch in the next couple of years. All this being said, you know what's coming here. In the only real challenge they have faced all year, the Ducks beat then 15 Washington 45-24. This is a team averaging 57.6 points per game. Oregon takes this one, and it won't be close. It'll be pretty though, as Mariota will pass for at least 400 yards, putting on an offensive clinic. UCLA defense is allowing an average 250 yards per game against through the air, and 165 yards on the ground. Both of those numbers are about to change drastically. Mariota will step up big (with that much needed "Heisman moment" in the back of his mind) and drop at least 45 on the Bruins defense (19th in the country with a 19.2 points against average). I see him running for at least 1 TD and passing for at least 3. The Ducks defense will pressure UCLA's very young offensive line, and it will be Oregon 46 UCLA 17.

#20 South Carolina at #5 Missouri: This is not the most likely upset this week, but it'll be pretty darn close.  A win against the Gamecocks would be huge this week for the Tigers, who are ready to pounce on a berth in the SEC title game. South Carolina is coming off a horrendous loss to Tennessee last week, but I don't see them rolling over. Sophomore RB Mike Davis (5'9" 215 lbs, which I just find awesome) will have a day for himself, as dazzling young running backs tend to enjoy doing, and South Carolina's defense will be better equipped to deal with red shirt freshman Maty Mauk than 22 Florida was last week. In his first career start, Mauk put many doubts to rest with a 36-17 victory against a good Gators squad, but this week I see the SC defense showing a little more spine. Ultimately Mauk will have a second good start in homecoming at the 'Zou, the Conner Shaw-less Gamecocks will fall short late, and I go Mizzou 23 South Carolina 20.

Penn St. at #4 Ohio St: My big upset pick this week. OSU is coming off 2 mediocre wins, and so many good teams have lost this year after close wins the week before. Then 5 Stanford fell to Utah, 7 Georgia lost to a 25 Missouri, an unranked Texas team beat then 12 Oklahoma, #6 LSU fell to the unranked Rebels, #7 A&M lost to #24 Auburn, the list goes on, and on, and on. What is the point of this, besides to demonstrate my ridiculous command of college football statistics? These games illustrate my favorite aspect of college football, upsets. Emotions run high, the season is a grind, and every once in a while (or every week, it seems) a "bad" team beats a "great" one. That's a wonderful part of the game at this level, whether you attribute it to younger men, playing for your school, or a flawed ranking system, it happens. Enter the Nittany Lions. Vegas doesn't think this will be close, but the Lions are coming off a 4 OT win against Michigan two weeks ago, and a bye week. OSU can only escape fate so many times and were just saved by RB Carlos Hyde last week, but Penn St. defense has been stout against the run this year, allowing an average 117 yds per game on the ground. True freshman Christian Hackenburg is leading the Big 10 with close to 300 yards per game. Urban Meyer can kiss his unblemished record goodbye. Penn St. 24 OSU 17

#10 Texas Tech at #17 Oklahoma: A great opportunity for Texas Tech to prove its legitimacy against a quality opponent. The Sooners are 7-1 in their last 8 meetings, but Texas Tech is 7-0 this season, and 5-2 against the spread (Oklahoma -7 in this one at home, incidentally.) Every year under Bob Stoops, the Sooners look like national title contenders until they drop a game in which they are big favorites. This year, that game was another great installment in the great Red River rivalry, against an unranked Longhorns squad. However, once they get the loss out of they way they usually play some terrific football. While the Raider defense has allowed just 18.7 points per game this season, that average is against a schedule of relatively little manliness. I see a shootout, Oklahoma 43 Texas Tech 35. 

North Carolina St. at #2 Florida St: Now this won't be a great game, by any stretch. Winston at home will take care of business handily against the Wolfpack, but I'll be checking this game out for one reason. The Ducks and the Seminoles are going to be battling for the #2 spot all season long, and chances are neither of them loses for the remainder of the season. I was so happy when the Seminoles were bumped up, not because I am a fan but because, finally, the BCS changed it up even though the #2 team did not lose. This is rare, but fair, as we can safely say FSU had a big day against Clemson. What we got here was clearly a declaration that either of these teams, whichever one outplays the other, will win the right to a national championship berth vs Alabama. This ensures that every remaining game for FSU and Oregon will be interesting, as each week brings an opportunity to punch the ticket. Meanwhile, I hope every week those rankings change. This week, I see FSU beating the Wolfpack, but the Ducks beating a much better Bruins team. After FSU 38 NCST 17, Oregon will move into the #2 spot. It's going to be a great final stretch of the season to see these two battle it out, and if neither squad loses, may the best man (with the best wins) win.

Heisman Watch (Week 9)

Well, it's that time of the year again. When Mark May and Lou Holtz finally stop pretending to like each other and we see all out warfare on our TV screens, when the air gets cold and 2nd string quarterbacks get colder, when, finally, teams with one loss are allowed to be in the top 5. In short, college football is past the halfway mark, and we're closing in on the game we've all been waiting for, but more on that later. After a week 8 which saw 5 top 10 teams fall, the crowd is thin at the top, and the Heisman race is thinner. However, although it may seem like a 2, maybe a 3 pony race for now, one mediocre performance can see the latest flavor of the week tumble. In short, the fact that this is pretty boring right now does not mean that it will finish that way. Keep that in mind as you read these rankings.

1) Marcus Mariota: A couple of fun facts about the young lad who hails from Honolulu. Well, there's one already. He can only hope his Heisman candidacy (and his draft stock) will fare better than that of another famous Hawaiian born college football player. Anyways, Mariota was offered 2 scholarships coming out of high school (a team on which he did not start as QB until his senior year). He wisely chose Oregon over the University of Memphis, and at Oregon he became the first freshman to start the season opener for the Ducks in 22 years. To cut a long story short, as an athletic 18 year old (what have I done with my life?) he led the Ducks to a 11-1 season and a #2 final season ranking in the AP poll. But the Heisman is, of course, about production during this season. Mariota has improved by leaps and bounds this season. He has scored 403 points in 7 games this season, a tidy 57.6 for those of you keeping score at home. He has thrown for 2051 yards, 19 TD's, and no picks, though he has fumbled the ball twice. He has rushed for 493 yards and 9 TD's, averaging 10.1 yards a carry. These are not stats from a video game, or from the end of the season. He has accounted for 4 TD's a game. Admittedly, he has done this against for the most part cupcake opposition, but 2 big games against #12 UCLA and #6 Stanford should give the guy a chance to prove his mettle on the big stage. I have no doubt that he will, and thus, I proclaim this still his race to lose.

2) I know, bold words, especially after Jameis Winston's 51 points against Clemson, the most ever dropped on the Tigers in Death Valley. If you watch any respectable amount of ESPN, you know this about their college football coverage: Boy, do they love them a "Heisman moment." In fact, it seems at times that all they care about is getting a good "Heisman moment." Well Jimmy boy undoubtedly had his last week; In a top 5 matchup within his conference, as a freshman, he embarrassed a very good football team. But a closer look at the numbers reveals a case for the Heisman way beyond one game. He has a 71.3% completion rate, 1885 yards through the air, and 20 TD's. Notice, as impressive as these statistics are, they fall short of Mariota's, against a schedule with a little more spine.

3) Teddy Bridgewater started the season as a favorite to win this year's Heisman, and his stats have held up remarkably. 2213 yards through the air and 20 TD's through 7 games will never eliminate you from a Heisman race, but when a quarterback candidate has a soft schedule, he absolutely has to run the table to lead the pack. It is unfair to pin last weeks 38-35 loss against UCF on Bridgewater, but that's just how it goes. The tough luck candidate this year, but you sympathize less when you hear that, of every opponent he has played so far, only Rutgers has received a vote in an AP poll this year. 2, in fact.

4) We of course can't forget about last year's winner. No amount of off field shenanigans will permanently taint what Johnny Manziel has going on down in College Station, and despite two losses now (2 losses, by the way, in which he scored a combined 83 points against SEC defenses) Manziel has to be in the race.  Impressively, his "Heisman moment" probably came in a loss to Alabam
a (which may well have been the game of the year). He threw for 5 TD's, and had one 30 yard scramble in which he escaped the clutches of several large, scary Alabama defensive linemen and ended up throwing for the 1st down. If you haven't seen this play yet, do.

5) AJ McCarron: Well here we get to the "if he goes down, he starts tanking, and he gets injured, this guy's a frontrunner" part of the list. AJ has been a great quarterback this season, especially against big bad SEC defenses, but Manziel has been better, and the other two fellas at the top of the list have completely outplayed him. We probably go with the game winning drive against the Aggies for the "Heisman moment" here, and it was impressive. If there was an award for most NFL-ready quarterback (some call it the first overall pick) it may go to McCarron. His sparkling resumé will probably include 3 national championships after this year, but with under 1600 yards so far, only 14 TD's, and no dual threat capability (which the Heisman voters love, for good reason) he seems like a long shot right now.

There you have my top 5, and thanks for reading!

Best Pictures (Week 9)

Ben Liebenberg/NFL

Jeffrey Phelps/AP Photo

Richard Lipski/AP Photo

Mike Roemer/AP Photo

Stephen Morton/AP Photo

Todd Rosenberg/NFL

AJ Mast/AP Photo

Elaine Thompson/AP Photo

Week 9 Predictions

     Last Sunday was no different for the Atlanta Falcons, who dominated Michael Vick and the Eagles to earn their seventh straight win. Matt Ryan and the Falcons have hit a bump in the road against both Carolina and Oakland back to back, but their dominant win over Philadelphia proves they are not ready to give up their perfect season. Dallas will be matched up against this dominant force tomorrow, but they have a decent shot at handing them their first loss of the season. Finally, we are beginning to get an idea of who are the contenders for this winter's playoffs. However, several talented teams have not started the first half of the season very well (New England, Green Bay, New Orleans), and will need to step up their game if they wish to have a shot at the Super Bowl.

Reggie Wayne

Game to Watch: Steelers @ Giants: Once again, New York had trouble putting away the Dallas Cowboys late in the game. The Giants lost in Week 1 to the Cowboys, but have been almost flawless up until Week 8. Then, last Sunday, they gave up a 23-0 lead in the 2nd quarter, and at one point was losing late in the fourth quarter. As usual though, Eli Manning was able march up the field and set up Tynes for what turned out to be the game winning field goal. Though the defense has struggled slightly, this high flying offense makes up for it. Sunday brings the number one pass defense in the NFL in the Pittsburgh Steelers. Even with the large amount of injuries this Steelers team has suffered, New York will have to plan accordingly if they wish to dominate this game. The Pittsburgh offense has not been able to score as often as New York, but the yards per attempt is almost identical. Defense is key in this Sunday matchup, but it will be extremely difficult for Pittsburgh to snap New York's hot streak.
Giants over Steelers 20-10


Stand Out Performance: RB Arian Foster: The front runner for this season's Offensive Player of the Year without a doubt has been Arian Foster, the highest scoring running back so far. Foster's statistic have been fantasy gold, and he is one rushing touchdown away from matching last year's numbers. His yardage may not be number one in the league, but Foster is able to consistently put up elite numbers. The Buffalo Bills run defense has been absolutely atrocious, something Mario Williams was supposed to fix. Foster should be able to run over this defense all game long, and we may even see some record setting numbers.
Arian Foster: 120 rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs


Player to Watch: DE Jared Allen: After an extremely disappointing start to his 2012 season, reigning sack champion Jared Allen has picked up the pace, and has posted at least one sack in every single game since Week 3. Allen was just one sack away from breaking Michael Strahan's single season record in 2011, and had high standards entering the new year. This year's competition for the title is extremely close, as he competes against two other talented defenders in Clay Mathews and JJ Watt. Both were able to start off the season with a bang, and have begun to fade as of late. Now, Allen has the chance to jump ahead in this race if the other two contenders can't be more effective. As he faces  the Seattle offense line, Allen will look to bring down rookie quarterback Ryan Wilson and regain his spot as the number one pass rusher.
Jared Allen: 4 tackles, 0.5 sacks


Week 9 Predictions:

Chargers over Chiefs

Broncos over Bengals

Ravens over Browns

Packers over Cardinals

Texans over Bills

Colts over Dolphins

Lions over Jaguars

Bears over Titans

Redskins over Panthers

Buccaneers over Raiders

Seahawks over Vikings

Giants over Steelers

Falcons over Cowboys

Eagles over Saints (OT)


Last Week: 11-3
2012 Predictions: 72-43 (63%)