We hit NFL week 5 betting with confidence after starting last week in style, steering you right with the Giants, Saints and Dolphins. Let’s try and keep the train rolling with some more fearless forecasting.
NFL Week 5 Spread Picks: Raiders-Giants, 49ers-Falcons, Texans-Cardinals
October 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Braylon Edwards’ Exit From Cleveland Five Years in the Making
October 7, 2009 By 3 Comments
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Cleveland Browns contoversial wide receiver Braylon Edwards’ wildest dreams have come true. He is playing in New York, the city that never sleeps.
ESPN has reported, as chronicled just a bit ago by Jerod, that early this morning Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini has traded Edwards to his old team, the Jets, just two days after Edwards was accused by a friend of LeBron James of cold-cocking him, resulting in a black eye and other bruises.
Breaking News: Browns, Jets Agree to “Win-Win” Trade for Braylon Edwards
October 7, 2009 By 9 Comments
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The Cleveland Browns have traded WR Braylon Edwards to the New York Jets for a package that — according to Jay Glazer — includes WR Chansi Stuckey, LB Jason Trusnick, and two draft picks.
More to come, but here is my initial reaction to this deal from a Browns perspective: I love it.
And from a Jets perspective: I love it.
I think this trade trade defines the term “win-win” as the Jets gets a very talented player who needed a new situation, while the Browns get rid of a player that fans never really embraced and a WR whose lack of focus consistently hurt the team and probably was not going to improve.
Nebraska-Missouri Preview: Tigers, ‘Huskers Kick off “Show-Me” Week in College Football
October 7, 2009 By 2 Comments
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This week is most definitely the “Show-Me” week in college football.
We’ve come to the point in the schedule where everybody has entered, or is entering, conference play. Several teams, including the Missouri and Nebraska, are out to earn a little respect by taking on ranked conference foes.
Tomorrow night, the Tigers and Cornhuskers will do just that when they face off in Columbia on ESPN’s Thursday Night Football.
JJ Hickson Leads Cavs in Preseason Victory Over Bobcats
October 7, 2009 By 1 Comment
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Excitement rocked Quicken Loans Arena, as a nearly sold out crowd of Championship hungry fans came out to “Witness” the beginning of the Cavs XL (40th) Season.
None were disappointed, as they caught a preview of the new Cavs Opening, broadcast in High Definition on the Q-Tube Jumbatron. And fans danced and sang along as they listened to Jay Z’s “D.O.A. (Death Of Autotune)” Rap, which the Cavs adopted as their new 2009-2010 Theme Song.
Although both Shaq and LeBron received thunderous applause, and standing ovations from the fans, when they were introduced–on this night, there were no mock “Family Photo” shoots, no dancing, and no simulated golf or baseball games. Just a brief mutual salute between the reining NBA MVP and the NBA’s “Diesel” and self-proclaimed “Dun Dada.”
Breaking: Contract Agreement for Michael Crabtree and 49ers
October 7, 2009 By 1 Comment
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Word has broken this morning courtesy of — who else? — Adam Schefter of ESPN that Michael Crabtree and the San Francisco 49ers have agreed on a contract that will get the rookie WR on the field after a months long holdout.
According to Schefter, the basic details of Crabtree’s contract with the 49ers include that it is a six-year deal that Crabtree can void to five should he meet certain performance benchmarks. And as observed by PFT, Schefter has characterized the Crabtree-49ers contract as a “win-win” for both side.
Cardinals-Dodgers NLDS Preview, Pitching Matchups, and TV Schedule
October 6, 2009 By 4 Comments
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My wife and I drove 500 miles round trip to Busch Stadium Saturday afternoon to see the Cards drop another close one to the playoff-less Brewers. They did the same the prior evening, as well as Sunday, looking bad in each game.
While most know of the Dodgers’ struggles the past fortnight or so, they finished by winning their final two games.
And though St. Louis had little to play for other than home field in round one, the Redbirds dropped eight of their final ten, mostly to teams now playing golf.
Thankfully, perhaps, they avoided the Rockies, who took six of seven from them in 2009, and instead get the Dodgers, who limp into the postseason, after being arguably the NL’s best squad most of the season.
Twins-Yankees ALDS Preview, Pitching Matchups, and TV Schedule
October 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Could there be a potentially bigger mismatch than the worn-out, 87-76 Minnesota Twins, fresh off finally clinching the AL Central in a draining Minneapolis marathon, arriving in New York City in the wee hours Wednesday morning to take on the hungry, rested, 103-win Yankees at the new ballpark in the Bronx?
Not really, but again, does any of this matter once the game begins?
Rockies-Phillies NLDS Preview, Pitching Matchups, and TV Schedule
October 6, 2009 By 2 Comments
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This series presents a 2007 rematch the Phils would like to forget.
In an intriguing matchup of the last two NL pennant winners, many believe Colorado is the favorite in this series again, but seriously, the Phils are the defending champs, winners of 93 games, with a stacked lineup as good as any in baseball, and due to their huge attendance this year, the gross/money to rent proven hurlers like Cliff Lee and Pedro Martinez to make a run at a repeat.
(Yes, Philly fans will angrily attack me for this as you did before, but you guys are nearly as “guilty” as the Yanks or Red Sox of acquiring key free agents to put you over the top — see Lidge, Brad in 2008, Ibanez, Raul this season as well as Werth, Jayson; Lee, Cliff; Martinez, Pedro, etc.)
Angels-Red Sox ALDS Preview, Pitching Matchups, and TV Schedule
October 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Poor Angels.
For the third year in a row, and fourth out of six, they draw Boston, who, each time, has ended their season.
LA/Anaheim has won the AL West five of the past six seasons, but have yet to return to the World Series (they won in 2002 as aWild Card). The Angels have won 89 or more games for six years running, have captured three straight division crowns , and, unlike their opponents, three-quarters of their roster is homegrown.
That’s some fascinating or troubling history, depending upon which side your allegiance falls.
MLB Playoffs Preview: LDS Matchups Begin Wednesday
October 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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On Wednesday afternoon, the postseason finally gets underway just as crisp weather spreads through the Midwest. After a semi-lackluster September ended another memorable campaign, the final few days were intense, especially in the AL Central, where we enjoyed a four and a half hour Tuesday night “play-in” classic that had everything a sports fan could desire.
To me, 2009 does not give a clear favorite for the title.
No, the Yankees, despite their 103 wins, are not a shoo-in. They have not won a playoff series since 2004; therefore, no matter their lineup, they need to prove it in October 2009.
I should elaborate that NO ONE can predict baseball, especially at playoff time, and that’s the beauty. History has proven that anything can happen, and unlike other sports with crooked, homecooked officiating (NBA, NHL), umpires RARELY decide a baseball playoff game.
Also dissimilar to the NBA, where the team with the most superstars usually wins, between pitching, the mental aspects of the game, and other variables, we have no idea what will occur in the coming weeks. Often the teams playing the worst coming in, succeed in the end. Momentum can mean very little. Just look at Octobers past.
Therefore, these are previews, sans prognostications.
Week 5 NFL Fantasy Football Sleepers and Waiver Wire Steals
October 6, 2009 By 2 Comments
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Short on your line up for this week? Need to fill holes due to injury, bye weeks or because your players just have not performed as well as you would like?
ProFootballInsight has released its Week 5 Fantasy Football Sleepers and Waiver Wire Steals.
[Editor's Note: You can also catch Fraschetti this week with me on the first edition of the MSF Fantasy Flash podcast.]
MSF Podcast: Week 5 Fantasy Flash
October 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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I am proud to have a new weekly feature to unveil this week for everybody: the Fantasy Flash, a weekly podcast during which Fraschetti and I discuss start ‘ems, sit ‘ems, and sleepers for the current fantasy football week.
Among the topics discussed in this week’s Fantasy Flash:
- The top overall scorer may very well come from Sunday night, but will it be Peyton Manning or Chris Johnson?
- The Giants are playing Oakland this week: should you start all of New York’s offensive players?
- Are there actually some Cleveland Browns offensive players to recommend this week?
- What do you do with Donovan McNabb know that he’s back?
Kurt and I both give our prediction for the week’s top scorer, as well as provide two start ‘ems, two sit ‘ems, and two sleepers a piece.
For the record, I tried not to just regurgitate the same information I provide in this week’s start em, sit em post. So even if you read that post, the podcast is still worth listening to.
Here it is. Enjoy:
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Note: If you have any problems with the player above, here is a link to mp3 file and you can also download the MSF Podcast on iTunes.
And please use the comment section if you have additional start ‘em, sit ‘em questions or to provide feedback on the podcast and features you’d like to see for the future.
Week 5 NFL Power Rankings
October 5, 2009 By 19 Comments
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This week, we have our first ever tie in the Power Rankings. I had a real tough decision choosing who would be first and who would be second so there is a tie for first place.
T-1. New York Giants (Last 6 [+5])
Ok, so Archie Manning must be sitting at home smiling at both of his boys who will tie for 1st in Big MB’s Power Rankings for Week 5.
Obviously, the Giants don’t miss Plaxico Burress one bit. The G-men’s destruction of Kansas City only showcased Manning and his receivers. Smith and Manningham continue to impress and Brandon Jacobs is the beast of the NFC East. Next week is a HUGE NFC power game as the Saints come to town.
[Editor's Note: it's Big MB writing this column...any guess who the other 4-0 team is that he has tied for first? It shouldn't take more than one...]
Fantasy Football Week 5 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Lineup Advice and Projections
October 5, 2009 By 188 Comments
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The Week 17 start em, sit em lineup advice post is up.
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Watching the Packers-Vikings game as I type this, so I will try not to be too distracted. Week 5 is a big week and we’ve all got to be on top of our games this week.
If you’re 0-4, this is your last chance to stay alive and have a prayer’s chance at the playoffs. If you’re 1-3 or 2-2, a win in Week 5 can potentially get you into first place or a game back, depending on your league. And if you’re 3-1 or 4-0, you’re looking to put some distance between you and your foes.
Either way, Week 5 is a huge swing week that will put you in the position of either being the chased or the chaser over the next few weeks.
Let’s hop to it, starting out with a quick look back at Week 4 and then a glance forward to Week 5 with your usual rundown of start ems and sit ems.
Email the author of this post: jerod@midwestsportsfans.com
