Category: External Sports (Page 61 of 821)

      Fade Material: NFL Week 6 Predictions

      October 16, 2011 /
      Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb (L) and quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) run off the field after their game against the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field on September 8, 2011 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers won 42-34. UPI/Brian Kersey

      Following my disastrous 0-4 effort in Week 4, I rallied to hit three-of-four last Sunday. The Bills, Patriots and Packers all covered while my lone loser, the Giants, had a day to forget against the Seahawks.

      That runs my sterling season record to 8-12 with a chance for .500 with a perfect Sunday today. (Ha! Perfect Sunday. Like those even exist…)

      San Francisco 49ers @ Detroit Lions, 1:00PM ET
      I’ve been knee-deep in Lions’ Kool-Aid for weeks now, but I think 4.5 points is too much for them to give up against a 4-1 Niners team that is playing extremely well defensively. Detroit is coming off an emotional win against Chicago on Monday night and while I don’t expect the Lions to overlook the Niners today, I think this is a field goal game either way. I like San Fran and the points more than I dislike the Lions if that makes sense.
      THE PICK: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS +4.5

      St. Louis Rams @ Green Bay Packers, 1:00PM ET
      Normally double-digit dogs are safe best in the NFL. But this hasn’t been a normal year. Teams are racking up the points and we’re seeing true mismatches play out on the field. The Packers got a scare from the Falcons in the first half last week and I think that will serve them well today. The Rams may be coming off their bye but I’m pretty sure Albert Pujols and John Jay are starting at cornerback. If Rodgers doesn’t throw for over 400 yards he should be embarrassed. Embarrassed I say!
      THE PICK: GREEN BAY PACKERS –14

      New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Bucs, 4:15PM ET
      The Saints make me nervous a little because this is their third-straight road game and they have a tendency to play more conservative away from the Superdome. That said, if they get rolling in this one Tampa Bay doesn’t have the offensive firepower to keep pace. I hate laying nearly a touchdown with New Orleans but the Saints are 4-1 against the spread in their last five road games against the Bucs while the road team is 13-3 ATS in the last 16 meetings between these two squads. Thus, I’m not going to over think this one.
      THE PICK: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS –6

      Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears, 8:20PM ET
      I don’t trust the Bears as far as I can throw them. Probably because every time I pick them they screw me, but that’s a personal problem between them and me and I won’t get you involved. Jared Allen may have a field day against Chicago’s suspect offensive line and Jay Cutler seems to be losing faith in Mike Martz’s offense by the week. The Vikings have played better than their 1-4 record would indicate but they need to play a full four quarters if they’re going to pick up a win tonight. With the Bears coming off a short week, I think Minnesota can win with Adrian Peterson playing havoc with Chicago’s thin defensive line. (A line that won’t have Julius Peppers.)
      THE PICK: MINNESOTA VIKINGS +3

      Last Week: 3-1
      Season: 8-12

      Check out Bullz-Eye.com for a list of Sunday’s NFL Odds.

      External Sports, Free Picks, NFL

      Can Aaron Curry find new life in Oakland?

      October 16, 2011 /
      Arizona Cardinals quarterback Derek Anderson (L) is sacked by Seattle Seahawks Aaron Curry (R) during the first quarter of their game at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ November 14,2010. UPI/Art Foxall

      Everyone assumed Aaron Curry was a can’t miss prospect when he was drafted #4 overall in the 2009 NFL Draft, but so far he’s been a bust. He wasn’t even starting in Seattle when they traded him to the Oakland Raiders this week.

      Now he’s the starter in Oakland:

      Three days ago Aaron Curry was a backup strongside linebacker in Seattle. Now he’s preparing to start at the weakside for the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

      Curry’s prospects took a sudden turn Friday when coach Hue Jackson announced that the first-round pick in the 2009 draft will replace Quentin Groves in the Raiders’ starting defense at home against the Cleveland Browns. Groves has been a starter since signing with Oakland before last season.

      I’m a little surprised here, so we’ll see if Jackson is making the right call. I wonder how guys in the locker room will feel about a starter losing his job to another guy before one practice.

      I was listening to the NFL Network with week, and Gil Brandt basically called out Aaron Curry as a player who doesn’t give you maximum effort. Brandt explained you can get away with that at certain positions, but at the linebacker spot it was essential that you had guys with high motors who gave you everything they had.

      Many players have revived their careers in Oakland under the legendary Al Davis. That said, the Raiders have brought over plenty of veterans who did nothing. Let’s see what happens to Curry.

      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      Nelson Cruz pounds the Tigers for ALCS win

      October 16, 2011 /

      The Texas Rangers are returning to the World Series after a 15-5 thumping of the Detroit Tigers to win the ALCS by four games to two. Nelson Cruz was a beast in the series, pounding out six home runs and 13 RBIs against Tiger pitching. Cruz hit 29 home runs in the regular season in 475 at bats.

      The Rangers will now play the winner of the NLCS between the Cardinals and the Brewers. The Cards are leading the series 3-2 with Game 6 coming tonight in Milwaukee. The Rangers have never won a World Series.

      Meanwhile, the Tigers had a great season but had no answer for the Rangers lineup. Justin Verlander wasn’t dominant in the post-season, but at least he did his job.

      External Sports, MLB, News

      Miller completes one pass in Ohio State win over Illinois

      October 15, 2011 /

      Woody Hayes would be proud. Sort of.

      The Ohio State Buckeyes partied like it was 1969 as they pounded Illinois into submission with a physical defense and a solid running game, winning 17-7. The Buckeyes spent most of the day in the power-I, and Dan Herron returned to the lineup to lead the running attack. Meanwhile, Braxton Miller completed only one pass in the game – a touchdown to tight end Jake Stoneburner. On this windy day, the formula worked well as Miller was more than happy to run out of the pocket. I don’t know who is on a bigger learning curve – freshman quarterback Miller or first-year head coach Luke Fickell. Fickell seems to figure things out, but he’s always about three quarters too late. Even with this win, the lack of imagination of the Ohio State coaches in the passing game is embarrassing.

      Meanwhile, The Fighting Illini learned what it was like to face a real defense. Despite their collapse last week against Nebraska, the Ohio State defense is a solid unit that plays physical football. Illinois had built a 6-0 record against mediocre competition, but reality set in against Ohio State.

      Then there’s the Ron Zook factor. He’s going to take some heat for a late-game decision to go for it on fourth down when he could have kicked a field goal to bring the Illini within one score of a tie.

      The Buckeyes have been a mess all year, but it will be interesting to see if they can compete with Wisconsin in a huge home game in two weeks after their bye week. It also looks like the Michigan game will be competitive this year.

      College Football, External Sports, News

      Boise State is going back to a BCS bowl, deal with it

      October 15, 2011 /
      Boise State Broncos quarterback Kellen Moore (11) follows through on a pass during the second half of a NCAA football game against the Virginia Tech Hokies in Landover, Maryland, September 6, 2010. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      Depending on when you read this, Boise State is either beating on Colorado State or just beat on Colorado State. Either way, we’re that much closer to an inevitable conclusion: The Broncos aren’t going to lose this year and will play in a BCS bowl.

      Here’s the schedule for Boise State, and I dare you to find a loss there. Here’s a hint: There isn’t one. TCU was supposed to be the big one, as these two teams have carried the non-automatic qualifier flag for the past few years, but the Horned Frogs are a shadow of their former selves.

      Yes, anything can happen, but it won’t. Boise State is going to finish 12-0 and probably in the top three in the human polls. They won’t play for the national title because their schedule isn’t strong enough to put them ahead of any of the other unbeaten teams, or a one-loss SEC team, for that matter. And, frankly, I don’t think it should.

      Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge Boise State supporter. I think what the Broncos have done in the last decade is remarkable and the deserve to be discussed along with the top programs in the country. Staying consistent in a good conference is hard. So is staying consistent in Idaho. But it would be really hard to put them ahead of an undefeated Oklahoma or Wisconsin team at the end of the season.

      They deserve a shot at the top prize, but until people wise up and we get a playoff, they won’t get it. And, frankly, in the system we have, they aren’t doing enough to get one.

      College Football, External Sports

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