It’s Conference Championship Week…So Where is the Big Ten?

November 30, 2009 By KVB Leave a Comment

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Ah…Championship Week in college football.

Every Midwest fan has the pleasure of looking toward the, err, the MAC Championship? Ohio Bobcats vs. Central Michigan Chippewas? And on a Friday night?

I’d rather go on a bar crawl with friends, see a movie, gouge an ice pick straight into my eyes…anything but watch that game.

(Not that I don’t try. The 11:00am contest last Friday between Ohio and Temple had its one viewer before I changed the channel immediately at noon when better games kicked off. I will say the first hour of Ohio-Temple was way better than standing in line waiting for a Black Friday sale item in the freezing cold. But sorry, you can’t trick me with your lone game this upcoming Friday night as if it is anything special before the REAL championship games on Saturday.)

Thinking about this obviously led me to fantasizing about something I have been dreaming about since high school.

Matt Ryan Injury Update: Out for Week 13 with Toe Injury

November 30, 2009 By Jerod Morris 1 Comment

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MSF has just learned, via Pro Football Talk and Jay Glazer, that Falcons QB Matt Ryan will miss the Falcons’ Week 13 showdown with the Atlanta Falcons.

The latest injury update on Ryan is that he will be consulting with a Charlotte-area specialist about his injured toe.

Charlie Weis Fired as Notre Dame Head Football Coach

November 30, 2009 By Jerod Morris 4 Comments

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What we all expected has now apparently come to fruition.

According to ESPN reports, and first reported by the New York Daily News, Charlie Weis has officially be relieved of his duties as Notre Dame head football coach.

Let the speculation for his successor officially begin.

Filed Under: CFB Tagged With: CFB, charlie weis, coaches fired, notre dame fighting irish

Butler Disappoints, But It’s Still Early

November 30, 2009 By AJ Kaufman 1 Comment

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The Butler Bulldogs, ranked in the preseason top 25 for the first time in school history to open the 2009-2010 season (#10 in last week’s ESPN/USA Today, #1 in last week’s mid-major top 25), and a trendy pick, especially locally, to make the Final Four in their hometown this spring, have underperformed in November.

This has cost them dearly in the polls, where they’ve dropped all the way to 20 or 23, depending upon the outlet of your choice, as of today (November 30).

I watched all three late-night games in Thanksgiving Weekend’s 76 Classic before sparse crowds at the old Anaheim Convention Center, and the Bulldogs missed golden opportunities to improve their NCAA seeding come March. Yes, when you’re a mid major (silly term for teams that schedule like Butler , Gonzaga, Davidson, etc), November and December have far more effect upon your fate on Selection Sunday than conference play.

Butler coach Brad Stevens scheduled a brutal non-conference slate (Davidson, Northwestern, Minnesota, UCLA, Clemson, Georgetown, Ohio State, Xavier, UAB), and so far, it’s backfired.

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Filed Under: CBB, Mid-Majors Tagged With: brad stevens, Butler Bulldogs, CBB, Mid-Majors

NBA Power Rankings: Week 5

November 30, 2009 By Devon Alexandre 7 Comments

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Hey again!

Ok, so maybe my Week 4 (You) rankings did not go as planned, so I’m going back to the classic style, my original weekly method for the NBA Power Rankings.

This past week of ball was pretty competitive. It was also a record tying week for some, unfortunately…(cough) New Jersey.

There’s also the normal swirl of Iverson rumors, but this time to Philly? Hmm. Sounds interesting.

Let’s take a look at these stories and more, plus a team-by-team rundown in the Week 5 NBA Power Rankings.

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Filed Under: NBA Tagged With: NBA, NBA Power Rankings, vince carter

Week 13 Sleepers and Waiver Wire Steals: Fitzpatrick, Britt, and Brown

November 30, 2009 By fraschetti Leave a Comment

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This is it in most Fantasy Football League’s… The final week of the regular season.

Will you make the playoffs? Will you take the first seed? Are you in and trying to avoid being forced out?

Whatever your situation, PFI will provide answers with this week’s sleeper and waiver wire steal recommendations. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Kenny Britt were two of the hottest names in Week 12 and we’ll discuss their potential to help you get a W in Week 13.

Fantasy Football Week 13 Start Em, Sit Em Lineup Advice and Projections

November 29, 2009 By Jerod Morris 116 Comments

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The Week 17 start em, sit em lineup advice post is up.

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Well, I was not a very good QB prognosticator last week.

I looked at Tony Romo’s struggles and his matchup (OAK) and figured he was a good sit candidate. What I failed to consider was his consistently strong play on Thanksgiving Day. He ended up busting my QB sit ‘em pick.

I looked at Carson Palmer playing the Browns and figured he was about as slam dunk a start candidate as there was, especially after the Browns made Matthew Stafford look like Drew Brees last weekend. Palmer, however, threw only one TD pass and had only 110 yards passing overall. Solid numbers, but probably not top 10 or 12.

Other than the QBs though, I was pretty solid, nailing the Justin Forsett start for the highlight of the week.

We’re now one monster fantasy game (New England-New Orleans on Monday night) away from Week 13, so let’s take a quick peek into the future and answer your burning start ‘em, sit ‘em questions for this week.

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Email the author of this post: jerod@midwestsportsfans.com

Filed Under: Fantasy Football, Fantasy Sports, NFL Tagged With: aaron rodgers fantasy, aaron rodgers week 13 projection, beanie wells fantasy, beanie wells week 13 projection, chad ochocinco fantasy, chad ochocinco week 13 projection, eli manning fantasy, eli manning week 13 projection, Fantasy Football, fantasy football projections, fantasy football start em sit em, fantasy football week 13, fantasy football week 13 lineup advice, fantasy football week 13 projections, fantasy football week 13 start em sit em, greg olsen fantasy, greg olsen week 13 projection, kevin boss fantasy, kevin boss week 13 projection, rashard mendenhall fantasy, rashard mendenhall week 13 projection, Terrell Owens fantasy, terrell owens week 13 projection

MNF Preview: Patriots-Saints Spread, Analysis, and Pick

November 29, 2009 By AJ Kaufman 7 Comments

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Editor’s Note: AJ Kaufman’s weekly MNF coverage on MSF is sponsored by Sadler’s Smokehouse, a producer of premium pit smoked meats that are best described by Sadler’s slogan: Legendary since 1948.

Sadler’s premium meats are perfect for tailgating on Saturday, for grilling out at home on Sunday, or for when you are hosting a group of friends, or even just the family, on Monday night.

With a variety of delicious choices (beef, pork, ribs, turkey, brisket, and more) and availability at grocery stores throughout the U.S., Sadler’s meats are the tasty, convenient choice when you want to watch the big game and eat well while you’re doing it.

Check out Sadler’s Monday Night Football Recipe of the Week: Sadler’s Smokehouse Beef Brisket and Bow-Tie Pasta

Visit the Sadler’s Smokehouse website: Sadler’s Smokehouse

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Monday Night Football Preview

New England Patriots (7-3) at New Orleans Saints (10-0)

Patriots-Saints Date: Monday, November 30th
Patriots-Saints Kickoff Time: 8:30
Patriots-Saints TV Network: ESPN
Patriots-Saints Announcers: Mike Tirio, Jon Gruden, and Ron Jaworski
Patriots-Saints Point Spread: Saints -3
Patriots-Saints Over-Under: 56
Patriots-Saints Spread Pick by Jerod: This game will definitely push the 56-point line and be very similar to the Week 10 matchup between the Patriots and Colts. Because the Saints are at home, I like them to win this game. But this is still a Saints team that we haven’t seen win big games yet. The Patriots are a team that we’ve seen do it time and time again, even with the loss to the Colts. When it gets right down to it, it’s really hard to pick the Saints when Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are standing on the other sideline. The Patriots failed to end the Colts’ undefeated start, but I don’t think they fail this time. Patriots-Saints free pick: Patriots +3

Saints-Patriots Analysis

ESPN (and most of the media) is treating this game like it’s the Super Bowl, and for obvious reasons: these teams are a combined 17-3, New Orleans is living in perpetual post-Katrina adoration, and therefore a great story, and New England is New England. To me, as a historian, I like the British vs. French angle of these two cities/regions, but nonetheless, there are tons of real storylines.

NCAA College Football TV Schedule and Point Spreads – Week 14 (December 5th, Championship Week)

November 29, 2009 By Jerod Morris 2 Comments

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The college football bowl game TV schedule and point spreads have been posted!

Follow the link to view the college football bowl game TV schedule and point spreads for the 2009-10 bowl season, including all BCS games.

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We are down to one week left in the 2009 college football regular season, which means there is only one last chance for a major upset that could produce a Cinderella BCS Championship Game.

Right now, the smart money would be on Texas facing the Florida-Alabama winner in the title game. Should Nebraska somehow find a way to clip Texas next week in the Big 12 Championship Game, 4th ranked TCU could squeeze its way into the title game…unless Cincinnati beats Pittsburgh and then vaults the Horned Frogs.

As much as I like Colt McCoy as a player, and as a good as a Texas v Florida/Alabama game would be, I want to see one of the “little guys” find its way into the title game.

So go Nebraska! Seriously, who wouldn’t want to see a giant wrench thrown into the BCS’ evil, diabolical plans?

And now, onto the college football tv schedule, point spreads, and picks for Week 14, aka Conference Championship Week.

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Email the author of this post: jerod@midwestsportsfans.com

Filed Under: CFB, CFB TV, TV and Betting Tagged With: alabama-florida pick, CFB, CFB TV, cincinnati-pittsburgh spread, clemson-georgia tech pick, college football conference championship games, college football point spreads, college football week 14, florida-alabama spread, georgia tech-clemson spread, nebraska-texas pick, oregon state-oregon spread, oregon-oregon state pick, pittsburgh-cincinnati pick, sec title game spread, sec title game tv, texas-nebraska spread

NFL Week 13 Picks, Point Spreads, TV Schedule, and Announcers

November 29, 2009 By Jerod Morris 3 Comments

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Update: The NFL Week 17 TV schedule, point spreads, and picks post is up.

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As you know if you’ve been following these posts, I’ve been on a hot streak lately after having a couple of down weeks. a 22-9 record over the last two weeks put the .500 mark well in my rearview mirror.

Week 12 has been solid so far (posting this before SNF game starts), picking eight of the 14 games right with the Baltimore-Pittsburgh and Patriots-Saints games still to go.

Update: I went 1-1 in the PrimeTime games, finishing 9-7 for the week. Cumulative record is now 97-71.

As we look ahead to Week 13, a couple of key games jump out at me right off the bat.

First, surging Tennessee travels to Indianapolis to take on the 11-0 Colts. This should be a fascinating game between two QBs who are playing superbly right now, but whose styles could not be more different.

Second, the Giants and the Cowboys clash in what is essentially an elimination game for New York. Should Dallas win, the Giants’ playoff hopes are basically dashed. However, Eli and Co. can reassert themselves with a win, as they would then be one game back of Dallas and hold the tiebreaker.

Let’s go game-by-game and look at the the TV info, spreads, and picks for each.

[Read more...]

Email the author of this post: jerod@midwestsportsfans.com

Filed Under: NFL, TV and Betting Tagged With: colts-titans picks, colts-titans spread, nfl week 13, nfl week 13 announcer lineups, nfl week 13 announcers, nfl week 13 free picks, nfl week 13 over-unders, nfl week 13 picks, nfl week 13 point spread picks, nfl week 13 point spreads, nfl week 13 tv listings, nfl week 13 tv schedule, titans-colts announcers, titans-colts kickoff time

Williams Perfect 7 of 7 Helps Cavs Shoot Down Mavericks

November 29, 2009 By Carolyn Cooper 1 Comment

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Sitting Courtside at Quicken Loans Arena, sipping on bottled water, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban had to smile and shake his head.

One of the most popular team owners in the NBA wasn’t smiling because his first place (Southwest Division) Dallas Mavericks were winning. He smiled because the first place Cleveland Cavaliers (Central Division) — coming off an unexplainable lost to the Charlotte Bobcats Friday night — played their best basketball game of this season, beating his Mavs in a 111-95 shootout win, led by an astounding shooting performance from Cavs guard Mo Williams.

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Filed Under: NBA Tagged With: Cleveland Cavaliers, Mo Williams, NBA

Detroit Pistons Weekly Watch: Gordon Joins Injury Club, Piston Rookies Step Up

November 29, 2009 By Boris Leave a Comment

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When it rains, it pours.

For the last several years, the Pistons had been among the healthiest teams in the league. 16 games into the 2009-2010 season, the Pistons have suffered injuries to Richard Hamilton (ankle), Tayshaun Prince (ruptured back disc), and now Ben Gordon (ankle).

Both Hamilton and Prince are day-to-day with no time tables for their return. Gordon is also day-to-day, but his injury isn’t as severe as Hamilton’s, so it’s not expected at this point that he will miss an extended stretch of games.

Though the Pistons are now on a 7-game slide initiated by a rough scheduling stretch against the best teams of the West, the Pistons rookies have stepped into the breach and are slowly finding their feet.

Will Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate Enter NFL Draft?

November 29, 2009 By Tyler Juranovich 2 Comments

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With the season winding down for the Fighting Irish there is a question that’s just as big as whether Charlie Weis will return.

What will the future be for Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate?

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Filed Under: CFB Tagged With: CFB, charlie weis, Golden Tate, Jimmy Clausen, NFL, nfl draft, Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football, South Bend

NFL picks for November 29th

November 29, 2009 By Rich Brown Leave a Comment

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Record on the NFL so far this year is 19-15, a 56 percent winning percentage. As for the NFL this is an important week in terms of determining the wild card and divisional winners for the playoff push.

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Filed Under: NFL Tagged With: Carolina, Falcons, Jake Delhome, jets, Josh Freeman, larry fitzgerald, Tampa Bay

College Football Picks for November 28th

November 28, 2009 By Rich Brown Leave a Comment

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Another outstanding day by the Guru yesterday posting a 3-1 record so far on Rivalry Week. Yesterday we called the shocker with Bama almost going down, but hey, Auburn was getting 10 so we never sweated the game. My hunch with West Virginia paid off as well, as number 9 Pittsburgh goes down. More upsets today…

Picks for November 28th

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Filed Under: CFB

It’s Conference Championship Week…So Where is the Big Ten?

Matt Ryan Injury Update: Out for Week 13 with Toe Injury

Charlie Weis Fired as Notre Dame Head Football Coach

Butler Disappoints, But It’s Still Early

NBA Power Rankings: Week 5

Week 13 Sleepers and Waiver Wire Steals: Fitzpatrick, Britt, and Brown

Fantasy Football Week 13 Start Em, Sit Em Lineup Advice and Projections

The Week 17 start em, sit em lineup advice post is up.

MNF Preview: Patriots-Saints Spread, Analysis, and Pick

Monday Night Football Preview

New England Patriots (7-3) at New Orleans Saints (10-0)

Saints-Patriots Analysis

NCAA College Football TV Schedule and Point Spreads – Week 14 (December 5th, Championship Week)

NFL Week 13 Picks, Point Spreads, TV Schedule, and Announcers

Update: The NFL Week 17 TV schedule, point spreads, and picks post is up.

Williams Perfect 7 of 7 Helps Cavs Shoot Down Mavericks

Detroit Pistons Weekly Watch: Gordon Joins Injury Club, Piston Rookies Step Up

Will Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate Enter NFL Draft?

NFL picks for November 29th

College Football Picks for November 28th

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