“NFL Week 8 Predictions”

Look for Peyton Manning (pictured above), to lead the Colts to a major victory on Monday Night Football.

The NFL scampers on to the near halfway point.  So far this year has been crazy, and expect it to get “scary” this weekend on Halloween.  The Cowboys are in dire trouble.  The Vikings are vastly underachieving and marred by Brett Favre issues.  Both teams out of New York are in first place and showing a true “Empire State of Mind.”  Neither of last year’s Super Bowl participants, the Colts nor Saints, are in first place in their divisions. And the injuries are mounting.

In the pick’em challenge, the scoreboard reads as follows:

TheSportsKraze:  59                             CV3:  62

TheSportsKraze Picks:

Dolphins at Bengals:  I cannot pick against the Who Deys at home.  They showed glimmers of life in the 3rd quarter last week.  I cannot see this talented group falling to 2 and 5 against a mediocre Miami team.  Bengals by 3 at home.

Jaguars at Cowboys:  America’s team looks to be a “one man team.”  Outside of Dez Bryant, this team has looked awful.  But for some reason, I am picking them to be able to slow down the Jaguars one-dimensional offense and regain some dignity at home.  Cowboys by 3.

Redskins at Lions:  I will admit that the Skins have thoroughly surprised me this season.  They have played close games pretty much every week, and gutted out 4 wins.  The Lions have lost many close games this year.  Sadly for Detroit, they are going to lose another close one at home by 1 this week.

Bills at Chiefs:  The Bills are the worst team at defending against the run in the NFL and the Chiefs are the best rushing team in the League.  Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones will power the KC boys at home by 10.

Panthers at Rams:  The Panthers gutted one out last week while the Rams lost a heartbreaker.  Look for a reversal of roles this week.  Expect Sam Bradford to put up numbers, as the Rams scrap out a nail biter at home by 3.

Packers at Jets:  My preseason Super Bowl pick right here.  Sadly, injuries have really hurt the Cheeseheads.  Still both teams are definite title contenders.  But look for the Jets overall balance both offensively and defensively to prove too much at home.  Jets by 1 in a wild one.

Broncos at 49ers:  The 49ers are arguably the NFL’s most disappointing team thus far.  The Broncos have also been underachievers.  Look for the 49ers to ride Frank Gore to a victory in front of Big Ben (London) by 6.

Titans at Chargers:    The Chargers have the number 1 ranked offense and number 1 ranked defense in the League! Yet they are 2 and 5. The Titans have been riding Chris Johnson and Kenny Britt offensively to a very strong start.  Look for the Chargers numbers to finally translate into wins.  SD by 3 at home.

Buccaneers at Cardinals:  The Buccaneers feel they are the best team in the NFC.  I am not so sure about that.  Look for the Cardinals to somehow grind out a victory by 7 at home over the supposed “NFC’s Best Team.”

Vikings at Patriots:  Will Brett Favre start?  Who cares!  No matter who the Vikings put under center, the Patriots will prove to be too much.  Moss will be regretting his departure as his “new” team gets spanked by his “old” team.  Pats by 10 at home.

Seahawks at Raiders:  Was that Raider’s performance legitimate last week?  The Raiders are great at pounding the ball on the ground while the Seahawks have been masterful at stopping the run.  Look for Seattle to “Rain” on the Raider’s parade with a 3 point road victory.

Steelers at Saints:  It is no longer last season.  The Saints are struggling offensively.  They hit new lows with a home loss to the lowly Browns last week.  Well things will continue to get worse as the Steeler’s D roughs Drew Brees up in front of a national television audience.  Steelers steal one on the road by 6.

Texans at Colts:  What a matchup this will be.  Definitely the week’s most exciting game.  Two great offenses putting on a show on Monday Night Football.  Do not expect Peyton Manning to lose two times to a divisional opponent.  It just doesn’t happen.  Colts by 3 at home.

CV3 Picks:

Jags over Boys by 10

Skins over Lions by 6

Chiefs over Bills by 14

Rams over Panthers by 7

Jets over Packers by 8

Broncos over 49er’s 10

Chargers over Titans by 3

Raiders over Seahawks by 7

Pats over Vikings by 9

Bucs over Cards by 6

Steelers over Saints by 7

Colts over Texans by 3

Bengals over Phins by 1

Almost halfway through the season with no undefeated teams. There is something to play for every single week. Look for some mid-level teams to try and make a push for the second half of the season this week.

Expect some spooky NFL action this Sunday.  Many teams will be trick or treating while others will be crying.  The wild NFL continues Sunday.

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze.

-TheSportsKraze

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“College Football Week 9: We are Feeling Fine”

Randall Cobb (pictured above), may be the best player in the entire country that nobody is talking about. Well look for him to make a statement and lead Kentucky to a major SEC upset victory Saturday on the road.

The College Football stratosphere is really shaping up at this point.  Undefeated teams are dropping like flies.  Teams are taking control in their conference races.  Yet this is College Football.  The chaos will continue until well after New Years baby.  And you got to love it. 

There are not a ton of high-octane matchups between major ranked foes, but the games will still be exciting this weekend.  Here is a look at some of the major games.

Michigan State at Iowa:  What a Big Ten Showdown this will be.  Michigan State continues to shock the entire country with an undefeated 8 and 0 mark, while Iowa looks to redeem itself after a very tough loss to Wisconsin last week.  With better clock management, this game would be a showdown of teams undefeated in Big Ten play, but Iowa faltered down the stretch against the Badgers.  The Spartans are beginning to learn the difficulties of being the “hunted” vs the “hunter.”  They almost took what would have been a horrible loss last weekend to Northwestern.  Well expect the bus to continue rolling for the Spartans.  This game is really the only tough matchup between a Dantonio’s boys and a trip to the Rose Bowl, or dare I say the BCS National Championship game.  Look for the Spartans to gut out a very physical 3 point victory. 

Missouri at Nebraska:  Talk about a Big 12 Showdown.  Missouri shocked the sporting world by handling Stoops and the Oklahoma boys last Saturday.  For both of these teams, this is really the last matchup against a highly ranked opponent.  So the winner of this game, could cruise to the Big 12 Championship game.  You better believe this is going to be a defensive struggle.  These might honestly be the two very best defensive units in all the land.  And they get to lock horns on Saturday.  The difference will be Nebraska’s home field advantage and ability to run the ball effectively versus anyone.  Though both of these teams put up points last weekend, look for this game to be an old school bitter battle.  Edge goes to the Huskers at home by 3.

Syracuse at Cincinnati:  It is Homecoming in Cincinnati, and the Big East is up for grabs.  Syracuse shocked the world last weekend with a big time road victory over the Mountaineers in Morgantown.  Can they pull off the unthinkable and knock off the two-time defending Big East Champion Bearcats?  I don’t think so.  Once again I will state “It is Homecoming in Cincinnati.”  The Cats have a chip on their shoulder after suffering their first home loss at Nippert Stadium since November of 2007.  Look for an offensive flurry from the Bearcats, with or without their starting quarterback, Zach Collaros (he is questionable to play).  Isaiah Pead, DJ Woods, and Armon Binns will have a field day against a tough Syracuse D.  Pead, Woods, and Binns are 3 of the biggest offensive threats that many outside of Cincinnati have never heard of.  Well get to know them.  Look for the Bearcats to win an exciting one at home by 10.

Kentucky at Mississippi State:  Many of you are scratching your heads at why this is a marquee game this weekend.  Well it is.  Though Kentucky is just 1 and 4 in SEC play, they sport one of the nation’s most exciting and dangerous offenses.  When people think of Kentucky, they immediately think of John Calipari, John Wall, and big time basketball.  People in Lexington refer to it as “Big Blue Madness.”  Well what they should think of is Randall Cobb.  This guy is the real deal, and will be the difference maker in this game.  Look for Kentucky to pull off the unthinkable upset on the road behind a wild offensive show led by Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke.  I am by no means a Kentucky fan.  But the SEC has been wild this year.  Kentucky has already upset a top 10 foe in South Carolina, and nearly eclipsed number 1 ranked Auburn.  Look for that same magic this week, as Kentucky shocks Mississippi State by 3 on the road.

So there you have it.  Not as many marquee ranked matchups this weekend as one would like.  But definitely a plethora of quality games that will go down to the wire.  After a mild improvement on my picks last week from 2 weeks ago, I look to get back to my old self with a perfect weekend.

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze.

-TheSportsKraze

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“NBA Preview 2010-2011”

Expect to see Kobe Bryant (pictured above) holding up a championship trophy for a 6th time come June.

The NBA is back folks.  Hard to believe, but after an epic NBA Finals in May, the “Decision” in July, the World FIBA Championships, and preseason basketball, it feels like it never ended.  Well either way, the action gets going tonight with a big time matchup in the East.

Main Storylines:

-What affect will the “Decision” have on the overall scope of the League?

-Can Miami’s stellar trifecta bring Lebron his first championship in South Beach?

-Can Phil Jackson capture his 4th version of the 3-Peat?  And going with this, will Kobe tie Jordan with his 6th title?

-Are the Magic ready to finally take that final step and win a title?

-Can Boston finish the job this year in what looks to be the last year with this amazing group in tact?

-Has the Eastern Conference finally caught up to the West (it would be for the first time since the Jordan era with the Bulls)?

-Do the Thunder or Bulls have what it takes to shock the world?

Divisional Winners:

East:

Atlantic:  Celtics:    In what may be the NBA’s weakest overall division, I got the Celtics bringing home their 4th consecutive divisional title without much difficulty.  This team is extremely tough, and if they remain healthy, could put up the best record in the entire League.

Southeast:  Magic:  Shocking I know.  But I do think contrary to popular belief, that the Heat will have some growing pains.  They have an amazingly talented group.  But the Magic have been good for some time now and look ready to take the next step.   Not to mention they have won the division 3 consecutive years already.

Central:  Bulls:  Chicago is a team that is kind of hiding behind the mighty Celtics, Magic, and Heat.  And believe me, they are fine with this.  This is an extremely talented team that will quietly go about their business all year, and be there come playoff time.  They had arguably the best offseason, outside of Miami, picking up Carlos Boozer and sharpshooter, Kyle Korver.  Look for Derrick Rose to continue to play exceptional and really utilize the talent that management has put around him.

West:

Southwest: Mavericks:  This may be the most up for grabs division in the entire NBA.  They have a few very talented teams in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.  Though I do not see a title frontrunner in the group, teams like Dallas and San Antonio have been very solid for over a decade now.  Do not sleep on the teams out of this division come playoff time regardless if they are beginning to age.  I am taking Dallas here though, due to their amazing owner (Mark Cuban), and their outstanding consistency over the past decade.

Northwest:  Thunder:  This will be another hotly contested division at the top.  I see the Thunder and Trailblazers having a great battle down the stretch for the division title.  But Kevin Durant is arguably the best scorer in the entire game now.  And though I wish Oklahoma City could have made a move to bring in a major interior presence such as a Carlos Boozer, this team is extremely exciting and young.  Honestly, if you are looking for a fun team to watch, look no further than the Thunder.  Durant, Westbrook, Cook, Harden, and Green are some of the best young players in the League.  And they all happen to be on the same team.  Not to mention this team now has some playoff experience.  With a major midseason move, this team could be a title contender.

Pacific:  Lakers:  As if I was going to pick somebody other than LA.  This team has been to 3 consecutive NBA Finals and look to be the frontrunner to come out of the West for the 4th consecutive year.  This team has great chemistry, a phenomenal coach, and great length at every position.  Not to mention they have the best closer in the game, Kobe Bryant.  Expect the Lake Show to be around and right in the thick of things come May.

Sleeper Teams:

I am going to pick one sleeper team out of each conference.  Now in the East, the Bulls are my team that could shock the world.  Now I realize I am picking them to win the division title, but they also are a team that is really known as the 4th or 5th fiddle in the East due to teams like the Celtics, Magic, and Heat.  Another team to keep an eye on though is the Brandon Jennings led Milwaukee Bucks.  This team is young and talented.  But my sleeper pick in the East is the Chicago Bulls.

Out of the West, my sleeper pick has to be Portland Trailblazers.  Now I would have said the Oklahoma City Thunder, but they are really no sleeper team to anybody anymore.  Many analysts have them as the 2nd best team in the West, after the Lakers.  But the Trailblazers are a team that has had the talent for years now.  Injuries and poor execution down the stretch has been a thorn in this franchise’s side for some time.  With a healthy roster, this team is big, fast, and athletic.  Not to mention they have great length.  Length is a key in this league today, and the Trailblazers have it.  The question is can guys like Greg Oden, Lamarcus Aldridge, and Brandon Roy stay healthy?  If this team stays healthy, do not be surprised to see them play their way into the Western Conference Finals or dare I say the NBA Finals?!

Eastern Conference Finals:

Celtics over Magic in 7:  I know many of you are thinking, how could you not have Miami at least going to the conference finals?  And I will admit, they could easily ride their 3 stars all the way to the title, but I do not see it happening yet.  Miami is a year away in my eyes.  Team chemistry cannot be bought.  It has to be formed through going to battle together.  The Celtics and Magic are two very deep teams, that if they remain healthy, could each easily win the East.  But I got the Celtics, heading to the Finals for the 3rd time in 4 years.

Western Conference Finals:

Lakers over Thunder in 6:  You better believe I got the Lake Show heading to their 4th consecutive NBA Finals.  This team is just so deep, so well coached, and full of star power.  Now I will state that the Thunder could easily be a major bust though, but I am expecting them to pick up a big man at some point during the season , that will provide the final piece to the puzzle.  Sadly for the Thunder, Kobe Bryant is still Kobe Bryant.  He has a greater will to win than any player in the game today.  If you look up the term “Refuse to Lose,” Kobe Bryant’s picture will show up next to it.  Expect to see Phil smiling in June (again).

NBA Finals:

Lakers over Celtics in 7:  I am making the same call I made last year.  And it is a safe bet in my eyes.  Both of these teams return basically their entire rosters from last year and look poised to go to battle for the rubber match.  Sadly for Boston, I see the Lakers ending up on top.  Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant are just too good of a combination.  But it will be an epic series that will provide the NBA with possibly its highest ever television ratings.  Kobe will be even with Michael Jordan come June.

So there you have it.  What a year it is going to be after the most tumultuous and action packed offseason of all time.  “The Decision” will have no affect on the NBA Champion in my eyes though.

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze.

-TheSportsKraze

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“Weekly Nickel”

Texas Ranger's slugger Josh Hamilton (pictured above) has put the Arlington boys on his back all year. Can he lead them to the World Series title?

Welcome to the 2nd annual “Weekly Nickel.”  Last week, due to popular demand, I decided to provide a list of the top 5 sporting events to occur during the upcoming week.  So this week I will once again deliver on this requested subject matter.

Now my top 5, may not be the same as yours.  That is perfectly fine, but please let me hear your thoughts on what your version of the “Weekly Nickel” should be.

5.  NHL hockey is in full swing folks.  I know the sport is not as followed as the traditional Big 3, but games are still very exciting nonetheless.  Tune in and watch Sid the Kid or Alex Ovechkin continue to transform the sport as we know it. 

4.  The NFL rumbles and stumbles into Week 8.  There are two matchups that deserve extra mention in my eyes.  First of all the two teams I picked to play in the Super Bowl, go to battle in the Meadowlands.  The underachieving and injury riddled Cheeseheads head to New York to take on a very tough New York Jets team.  The other major game is the Monday Night matchup.  Can Peyton exact revenge on the outstanding offensive show that is the Houston Texans?  All eyes will be on Manning and the Colts as they look to show the world that their reign over the AFC South is not quite finished.

3.  College Football heads into Week 9 as conference play has fully struck for everyone.  Boy has this season been unpredictable, as the number 1 teams have struggled the past few weeks.  Can Auburn stop this trend as they sit atop the BCS Standings?  There are plenty of notable matchups.  First, there is a Big Ten battle in Iowa as the Spartans look to take care of business in their last major test of the season.  Also, Missouri looks to show the world that their amazing victory over former number 1 Oklahoma was no fluke.  This will be an intense battle of Missouri’s stellar offense vs Nebraska’s outstanding defense.

2.  The NBA tips off tomorrow night with a major Eastern Conference matchup between the highly touted Heat and the always tough Boston Celtics.  Will the amazing Miami trifecta live up to the hype and show the world that they are the team to beat in the East?

1.  The World Series starts Wednesday night in San Francisco.  Who would have guessed this matchup?  I know that I sure didn’t.  I had the Yankees taking down the Phillies since March in my MLB preview.  But what remarkable stories for both of these great teams.  You have to be happy for Josh Hamilton in his amazing comeback to the game of baseball.  Can Tim Lincecum and the Giants great defense hold the great Ranger’s offense in check?  Though this may not be the most highly touted World Series in recent memory, it should be very exciting as two pretty evenly matched teams go to battle.  Will Nolan Ryan come out of retirement to throw and inning for the Rangers?

So there you have this weeks version of the “Nickel.”

Let me hear your thoughts.

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze.

-TheSportsKraze

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“NFL Week 7 Predictions”

James Harrison (pictured above) will be looking to bring the noise with some big hits this week. I expect many bone shattering hits at stadiums all across the country as players make a statement to League officials.

As with College Football, last weekend was also a very tough one for my NFL picks as well.  I am doing all in my power though to prove that last week was just a meer fluke. 

The Jets are appearing to be the real deal.  They were my preseason Super Bowl pick.  They have looked outstanding.  The AFC South has a 3 way tie at the top.  Could this be the end of the Colt’s near decade long reign?  And finally, both the Cowboys and the 49ers, two major favorites to win their divisions remain in the cellar spots.  You got to love the NFL.

The pick’em scoreboard after 6 weeks reads:

TheSportsKraze: 51                          CV3:  52

TheSportsKraze Picks:

Bengals at Falcons:  I am a homer and I got the Bengals waking up after a much-needed bye week.  Carson shreds the Falcons on the way to a big 3 point victory on the road!

Redskins at Bears:  Look for the Bears to redeem themselves after a shocking home loss to the Seahawks.  Donovan Mcnabb will need some Chunky soup after he deals with Urlacher, Briggs, and Co.  Bears by 6.

Rams at Buccaneers:  Both of these teams have been major enigmas.  For some reason my gut is telling me that Sam Bradford, Stephen Jackson, and the Rams are going to have a ball in Tampa.  I got the Rams by 3 on the road.

49ers at Panthers:  Look for Patrick Willis and the 49ers D to give Matt Moore, Jimmy Clausen, Tony Pike and the whole Panthers quarterback depth chart fits.  I got the 49ers winning by 7 on the road.

Bills at Ravens:  This one could get ugly.  I got the Ravens by 14 coming off a very tough loss to the Patriots.

Eagles at Titans:  Have a day Chris Johnson in front of the home crowd.  The Eagles do not stop the run and Chris Johnson is going to run them out of Cashville.  Titans by 10.

Jaguars at Chiefs:  Both of these teams can really wreak havoc on the ground.  The only difference is KC can actually stop the run too.  I got the Chiefs by 3 at  home.

Steelers at Dolphins:  The Dolphins are a solid team.  But the Steelers defense can be flat-out nasty.  I got the Steelers behind Big Ben and the mighty D stealing a road win by 6.

Browns at Saints:  Last year this game would have been a joke.  This year, the Saints continue to struggle due to a lack of solid rushing options.  It won’t matter on this day in front of a big time NOLA crowd.  Saints by 10 at home.

Cardinals at Seahawks:  The Cardinals have been abysmal in nearly every statistical category.  Yet they are 3 and 2.  Also they have won 4 straight against Seattle.  Can they fly high over Seahawks on the road?  I think not.  The rain will stifle the Cardinals as Seattle takes the W by 3.

Patriots at Chargers:  San Diego is the best at throwing the ball and the best at defending against the pass in the League.  New England can’t run the ball.  I am taking the Patriots by 3 on the road.

Raiders at Broncos:  In a great rivalry game, I got the Broncos taking care of business at home by 7.

Vikings at Packers:  Will Brett Favre’s off field issues affect his on the field play?  It probably will, as the Vikings drop a “must win” on the road to the Cheeseheads by 3.

Giants at Cowboys:  The Cowboy’s lacking rushing attack will kill them in this one.  I got the Giants on the road embarrassing America’s team in front of all of America.  G Men by 6.

CV3 Picks:

Redskins over Bears by 4

Titans over Eagles by 3

Chiefs over Jaguars by 10

Steelers over Dolphins by 6

Saints over Brownies by 7

Rams over Buccaneers by 9

Carolina over 49ers by 6

Ravens over Bills by 17

Seahawks over Cards by 12

Raiders over Broncos by 3

Patriots over Chargers by 10

 

Vikings over Packers 1

Giants over Cowboys by 9

Bengals over Falcons by 1(Hopefully a bye gave them a little time to put things together)

So there you have the Week 7 picks.  I am looking to make up ground on CV3 this week and establish myself as a force to be reckoned with in the pick’em game.

Look for some hard hits as the players look to make a statement towards League Officials.  Let the boys play.

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze.

-TheSportsKraze

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“College Football Week 8, Can I get it Straight?”

I wanted to apologize to all of my fans.  My picks last weekend were absolutely horrific.  You could not pick much worse than I did.  So in Week 8, I look to redeem myself and show you all that this past weekend was just a fluke.

Start calling Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops (pictured above), "Big Game Bob" again folks.

Just know that this will be a weekend to remember for the Big 12.

So here is a look into a few of the marquee matchups.

LSU at Auburn:  Two very surprising teams sit atop the SEC with undefeated records.  Nobody saw this coming, but these squads are both tough.  And as the year continues, they both have continued to get stronger.  Auburn put on an amazing offensive outburst last weekend against a tough Arkansas team while LSU put up some numbers against a lesser foe.  Well Saturday, get ready to see a team make a major statement.  The winner of this game will place themselves in great position to play in the SEC Title Game and possibly the National Championship come January.  These teams have some contrasting styles.  Auburn relies on a dual threat quarterback, Cameron Newton.  Mine as well start calling this kid “CN” for “Championship Newton.”  He can do it all and leads one of the most feared offenses in all the land.  LSU on the other hand uses two quarterbacks for various situations.  Relying on an old school smash mouth rushing attack and a stellar defense.  Can their defense contain the mighty CN?  I think not.  Auburn will have too much offensive burst in this one and win a real battle 20 to 17.  Tigers by 3 at home.  The raucous Auburn Stadium will be the differentiating factor in this intense battle.

Wisconsin at Iowa:  Talk about a formidable Big Ten matchup.  You better believe the old school Big Ten is wide open again.  The Badgers did the entire country a favor in knocking off a very tough Ohio State team.  Sadly for them, there is no time to celebrate.  Instead they get to travel to Iowa to take on a very tough Hawkeyes team.  This will be the Badgers last real challenge of the entire season.  A win in this game could really put the Camp Randall boys back into the Big Ten race.  Though Michigan State looks tough at the top.  Iowa on the other hand has quietly gone about their business since a tough loss out on the West Coast to Arizona.  Ricky Stanzi continues to manage games with the best of them and finds ways to win.  Can Iowa ride their defense to a victory in this one?  I am thinking so.  Look for Wisconsin to suffer a major low after a major high last weekend.  I got Iowa gutting out a big win at home by 3.

Nebraska at Oklahoma State:  Can Nebraska recover after showing that Texas was their kryptonite last Saturday?  You better believe it folks.  OK State’s offense has been absolutely electric all year.  Junior Quarterback, Brandon Weeden, aka, Old Man River, has been stellar in every sense of the word thus far.  But he has not faced a defense like the one the Cornhuskers have yet.  This will be a wakeup call for the Cowboys.  It is a shame, because they have been great thus far.  But sadly, they will drop a tough one at home as their offense struggles to find any rhythm or continuity due to a lacking rushing attack against Bo Pelini’s boys.  I got Nebraska by 7 on the road.

Oklahoma at Missouri:  A second major battle in the Big 12 of unbeatens?  What a weekend it is in the last year of the Big 12 as we know it.  Stoops and the boys head to Missouri ready to continue to make some noise.  Missouri can no longer fly under the radar folks.  This is the big time.  Can Missouri’s stellar defense stop Oklahoma’s very balance offensive attack?  They probably will hold them in check for a couple of quarters.  Expect Landry Jones, Ryan Broyles, and Demarco Murray to go to work in the 2nd half though.  Start calling Stoops “Big Game Bob” again folks.  I see Oklahoma running away with this one by 13 on the road.

So there you have it.  A huge weekend for the Big 12.  A big weekend for the SEC.  And a big weekend for the Big Ten.  Can I get it straight this week?

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze.

-TheSportsKraze

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“Favre Faults”

Sadly this type of image of Brett Favre (pictured above) may become a common site for the American public as issues of a possible affair loom.

I hate to contribute to the ongoing 24/7 discussions of Brett Favre, but sometimes it is the best story out there.  And today quite frankly, I could not resist.

Favre is being investigated by the League for sending inappropriate text messages and pictures to a female employee of the Jets during the 2008 season.  For years now, when in heated discussions with others regarding Brett Favre, who I often refer to as “The Selfish One,” I have argued reasons why I feel he continues to return to the game for more brutal beatings.  Now I would never question this guy’s love for the game.  That goes without saying.  I also would never question his desire to win football games or his amazing toughness.  But why would a guy who holds all the records, has all the money in the world, continue to come back at the ripe age of 41… 

He loves the NFL lifestyle folks!

Something that comes with that NFL lifestyle is partying and women.  And what athlete does not like these things?  They are basically laid on a plate for them to enjoy throughout the courses of their careers.  Sadly for Brett, I do not think he can handle being at home all year around and acting as a typical family man.  He thirsts the NFL lifestyle.  He thirsts the ability to go out and do whatever he wants, whenever he wants.  Quite frankly, I cannot blame the guy.  He is living every 21 year old’s dream at the age of 41.  Really what could be better?

People seemed surprised by the whole Tiger Woods fiasco.  And I will admit, it caught me off guard.  But this scenario comes as no surprise to me.  Since Brett decided that he was bigger than the game around 3 or 4 years ago, I lost all respect for number 4.  Well now more people are going to lose respect for arguably the greatest statistical quarterback of all time as World War III in the Favre household begins.

People forget about other faults that Brett has demonstrated throughout his career.  He had a Vicodin problem.  He had a family issue of frankly not being there for his wife and daughter.  He even had a drinking problem.  Make no mistake, this issue with women though, will cause a huge public uproar.  There will be no hiding behind an offensive line on this one for #4.

Jenn Sterger, the woman making these accusations, has opened the floodgates folks.  Women will be lining up now to get in all this.  The days of Brett Favre being all over television commercials will be coming to a bitter end.  I am not saying that Brett is going to experience the earthquake that Tiger Woods did.  But the guy is already hurting with tendonitis and all sorts of injuries.  His team has underachieved.  And now he is about to deal with a plethora of family problems.

This year will be it for Brett Favre folks.  I guarantee it.

Favre’s faults are about to be exposed for all of America to see.  Not the best time for this to happen considering he heads to Lambeau on Sunday to take on the Packers.

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze.

-TheSportsKraze

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“Weekly Nickel”

LSU Quarterback, Jordan Jefferson (pictured above), has played a major role in LSU's surprising 7 and 0 start. Can the Tigers keep rolling against fellow SEC undefeated foe Auburn next Saturday?

Most people love lists.  Our culture is one that thrives and tends to listen better to information that is put into lists.  It is just more visually appealing and easier to follow.  When people watch SportsCenter, the favorite part of the show tends to be the “Daily Top 10.”  Or sometimes, the “Not Top 10.”  So due to popular request and advice from our very own CV3,  I am going to try to post a Weekly Top 5 highlighting some events for the upcoming week every Monday.

So here is the first annual “TheSportsKraze” Weekly Nickel:

5.  NBA Preseason basketball continues.  The opener is drawing ever closer and set for Tuesday, October 26th.  Can the Lakers give Phil Jackson his 4th version of the mythical 3-peat (AKA the Phil Jackson Peat.)

4.  NCAA Basketball is nearing as most of the big schools have had some sort of version of their “Midnight Madness.”  Very sad story about Robbie Hummel going down with another ACL tear. Purdue will still be tought, but no longer is a National Title Contender. Steve Lavin continues to make big moves at St. Johns.  Can you say sleeper team?

3.  The NFL is entering Week 7.  Hard to believe, but who doesn’t love watching football on Sunday and Monday Night?  There are two marquee matchups.  First Brett Favre and the Vikings will head to Lambeau to take on a reeling Cheeseheads team.  Second, the Giants and Cowboys continue one of football’s best rivalries in front of the Monday Night Bright Lights.

2.  4 Major College Football Showdowns: 

Wisconsin vs Iowa, Nebraska vs Oklahoma State, Oklahoma vs Missouri, and LSU  vs Auburn.  Talk about games with National Championship implications.  The 2nd version of the BCS Rankings will come out Sunday.

1.  League Championship Series continue in the MLB.  As if there was any doubt on what the top event in town is.  Can the Yankees and Phillies make a rematch happen in the Fall Classic?  Seems to be the matchup that most of America would like to see.

So there you have the first edition of the “Weekly Nickel.”  Let me hear your thoughts.

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze.

-TheSportsKraze

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“NFL Week 6 Predictions”

 

Steeler's star quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger (pictured above), will make his season debut this Sunday against the Browns. Will it be the same old Ben we are used to watching?

We are entering the 6th week of NFL play.  How many of you would actually have expected the 1st place teams in the NFC to be the Redskins, Bears, Falcons, and Cardinals?  And how many of you would have actually expected the 49ers to be 0 and 5, the Super Bowl Favorite Vikings to be 1 and 3, and the always dangerous Dallas Cowboys to be 1 and 3?  The NFC has been extremely unpredictable and fun.  The AFC on the other hand has been parity driven, but less shocked filled than the NFC.

So the pick’em scoreboard heading into this week’s game play reads:

TheSportsKraze:   44                               CV3:  44

Due to popular request, I will no longer provide analysis on why I am making my picks.  People feel the NFL Prediction posts have been going too long so I will just provide my picks.  Then if you want reasoning for my predictions, please place a comment and I will be sure to respond to your requests.

TheSportsKraze Picks:

Seahawks at Bears (by 3)

Dolphins at Packers (by 3)

Chargers (by 6) at Rams

Ravens (by 3) at Patriots

Saints at Buccaneers (by 6)

Lions at Giants (by 3)

Falcons (by 7) at Eagles

Browns at Steelers (by 3)

Chiefs at Texans (by 10)

Raiders at 49ers (by 6)

Jets (by 10) at Broncos

Cowboys (by 1) at Vikings

Colts (by 10) at Redskins

Titans (by 7) at Jaguars

Week 6 should be a great one.  A couple of games to keep an eye on. 

Cowboys vs the Vikings.  Both of these preseason “Super Bowl Contenders” are thirsting that 2nd win. It will be a battle to the bitter end.

Chiefs vs the Texans.  Two teams that have made a lot of noise early on.  Who is phony and who is fake?

Browns vs the Steelers.  The return of Big Ben will get fans super excited at Heinz Field.  Can Roethlisberger pick up where he left off last season?  Or will the long hiatus affect his play to the point where he no longer is one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks?

Other items to note.  Can the Brownies shock the Steelers again?  Will the 49ers finally win a game, considering their management is still giving a near guarantee of a playoff spot?  Will the Lions offense keep rolling against a tough Giant’s defensive line?

CV3 Picks:

Bears over Seahawks by 14

Packers over Dolphins by 6

Chargers over Rams by 17

Pats over Ravens by 3

Giants over Lions by 14

Falcons over Eagles by 3

Steelers over Browns by 7

Saints over Bucs by 5

Texans over Chiefs by 6

Jets over Broncos by 10

Raiders over 49ers by 4

Vikings over Boys by 3

Colts over Skins by 10

Jags over Titans by 6
Not many surprises this week. It is time for division leaders to improve their leads.

Week 6 will be fun.  Enjoy the games and please post your picks on the comments with questions.

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze.

-TheSportsKraze

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“College Football Week 7: Still Loving It”

 

One of the major surprises this year has been Auburn, led by dual threat quarterback Cameron Newton (pictured above). Can he keep Auburn's SEC title hopes alive this weekend against a tough Arkansas squad?

College Football has entered Week 7.  It feels like just yesterday that the season was just starting.  Well now some of the contenders have been separating from the pretenders.  Alabama will not go undefeated.  There is a real possibility of an undefeated team coming out of the Big Ten, the Pac 10, and the Big 12.  Not to mention a real possibility of Boise State running the table and qualifying for the BCS Title Game.  This could be a year that really demonstrates all of the true flaws of the BCS System and could ultimately lead to the horrible system’s demise.

So when looking at this weeks’ matchups initially, not too many games really stand out.  There are not many hotly anticipated matchups of highly ranked teams.  But this is College Football.  And there are always great games and boat load of surprises.

Here is my look into some of the major matchups.

Texas at Nebraska:  So this game has lost some of the flare and mystique that many envisioned it having.  These are two teams heading in very different directions.  The Longhorns got this past week off after losing two consecutive games.  When can you remember a Mack Brown team losing two straight games?  Texas has sported a mediocre offense and a mediocre defense.  They have struggled running the ball and really are missing main stays off of last year’s National Runner up, like Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley.  Nebraska on the other hand.  There is only one word to describe this team.  WOW.  Everyone expected this team to have a solid defense.  Not sure with the departure of Ndamukong Suh they were expecting the defense to be scary.  This team defends better than any team I have seen in the country.  I do not care if they rank 4th in points given up.  Watch them and let me know what you think.  The real question mark on this team was would there be enough offense?  Well Freshman QB Taylor Martinez has been absolutely outstanding and looked like the new Eric Crouch (former Nebraska Heisman winner).  The kid has been extremely efficient passing the ball.  But he has been even better with his legs.  His amazing leadership as a freshman has helped Nebraska become the 2nd best rushing team in the entire country.  Sorry Texas.  Normally, coming off two losses I would pick a big time win.  But on the road against a team with a defense as scary as the one Bo Pelini has at Nebraska?  I got the Cornhuskers by 10 at home.

Arkansas at Auburn:  This is another one of those amazing and highly anticipated SEC Brawls.  The SEC is the best conference in the country for a reason.  And due to it’s amazing depth there will be outstanding matchups each and every week.  Normally multiple great games.  So in this one, we have a surprise undefeated taking on a team with perhaps the most highly hyped player in the country.  Can Ryan Mallett pick up his first signature victory and prove his critics wrong?  Well Arkansas has had an electric passing attack.  The problem has been converting in the Red Zone and running the ball effectively.  In the SEC it is impossible to be one-dimensional and win consistently.  Too much depth on all of these squads.  Auburn on the other hand has been a team that has lived on a very strong rushing attack led by dual threat QB Cameron Newton.  This Junior has been absolutely sensational in every sense of the word.  So all logic would point towards Auburn protecting their home turf in this one.  But I am going to go with my gut.  Ryan Mallett will finally bust out with the signature performance of his Razorback career thus far and clinch a major road victory for Arkansas.  Though Auburn is very good.  They have flown by the seat of their pants in 4 games this year.  Unfortunately in the SEC, there will always be a team waiting to convert in a close game the next week.  That team is Arkansas.  I got the Razorbacks by 3 in a major road upset.

Ohio State at Wisconsin:  Though Wisconsin has lost a conference game already, do not count this team out in making a run at the Conference Championship.  That quest starts Saturday in an old-fashioned  Big Ten Heavyweight battle in Madison.  Ohio State is the cream of the crop in the Big Ten, and possibly in the entire country.  They have won 5 straight conference titles and are looking to make it 6.  Wisconsin has a very dangerous rushing attack led by junior John Clay.  Ohio State has its usual outstanding defense.  Can Wisconsin control the tempo of the game through their devastating rushing attack?  I would have to say no.  Ohio State’s defense is too athletic and too deep.  Not to mention the offense continues to improve each week behind the steady growth of Heisman hopeful, Terrell Pryor.  I got the Buckeyes surviving a tough road contest by 7.

So there you have it.  Though there are not a ton of games pitting two ranked foes, there are some very quality games.  Games in the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 will provide major indications towards this year’s conference champions and the at-large BCS bids.  It should be a fun weekend.  Hopefully my picks will be more on point this week in that I have struggled the past couple.  But I still love the unpredictability of the College Game.  It keeps all of us on our toes every week.  Make sure to tune in for the games.

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze.

-TheSportsKraze

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