2011 October | Midwest Sports Fans

Big Ten Game of the Week: #11 Michigan Wolverines at #23 Michigan State Spartans – Preview, Point Spread, Prediction and Poll

October 13, 2011 By Keith Mullett 3 Comments

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Last week, Brady Hoke did something Rich Rodriguez never could during his 3-year tenure as Michigan’s head coach – start a season 6-0. This week, Hoke will attempt to succeed again where Rodriguez couldn’t.

Michigan State won all 3 meetings against the Wolverines under Rodriguez, but there is no doubt that this 2011 Michigan team is much different than any the Spartans faced the last 3 years. This rivalry, which many regard as the fiercest in the Big Ten, means a little more this time around for both teams.

East Lansing’s Spartan Stadium will host a battle for first place of the Big Ten’s Legends Division. #11 Michigan (6-0, 2-0 conference) and #23 Michigan State (4-1, 1-0 conference) can each take the inside track to the Big Ten Championship Game with a win this Saturday.

This Week’s College Football TV Schedule and Point Spreads for Week 7 – Saturday, October 15th

October 13, 2011 By Tyler Juranovich Leave a Comment

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Week 7 of college football is upon us. The season has gone by pretty fast and has already been pretty entertaining. Hopefully this week will offer us more close and entertaining games.

So settle down, relax, and get ready for another great weekend of college football. As always, here are some of the marquee games to pay attention to this week and then the entire college football TV schedule for Week 7.

Fantasy Football Week 6 Player Rankings at QB, RB, WR, TE, K, D/ST

October 13, 2011 By Jerod Morris 8 Comments

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Yesterday, Jon Washburn posted his player rankings (for the rest of the season, not Week 6-specific) and discussed the fantasy potential of the new guy playing quarterback for the Broncos (what’s his name???). This came on the heels of his weekly start/sit column and Andy Bottoms’ always excellent waiver wire pickups piece.

Today, via the folks at PlayThisGuy.com, we bring you player rankings specific to Week 6 at QB, RB, WR, TE, D/ST, and K, as well as another opportunity – because we love you all so much (and because they throw a little money our way for our time) – to participate in a freeroll tournament with real money prizes at stake.

The 10 Most Significant Pro Sports Strikes and Lockouts

October 13, 2011 By Josh Tinley 6 Comments

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Almost no one who follows the NBA closely expected the association to play a full season this year. But many of us hoped (however irrationally) that players and owners would emerge from last weekend’s meetings ready to end the lockout and begin the 2011–12 season on time. They didn’t. Instead, commissioner David Stern canceled the first two weeks of the season, saying that the two sides remained far apart on “virtually all issues.” Next week, players and owners will meet with a federal mediator in hopes of making some progress.

We don’t know how long this lockout will last. It could end next week (probably not) or in 2014. While we wait, we can look back on other labor disputes that have disrupted and/or had a major impact on professional sports. Here are the 10 most significant, counting down from 10 to 1.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Away From the Action Tagged With: labor disputes, MLB, NBA, NFL, volleyball

The Bottoms Line Non-BCS Watch List: Saint Mary’s Gaels

October 13, 2011 By Andy Bottoms Leave a Comment

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After four straight seasons with at least 25 wins, the next team on the Non-BCS Watch List is out to prove there is more to the West Coast Conference than Gonzaga and newcomer BYU.

NLCS Analysis: With Cardinals up 2-1, time for Brewers to panic?

October 13, 2011 By Kurt Allen Leave a Comment

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There is still potentially a lot of baseball remaining in the National League Championship Series, and after three games obviously someone was going to have a two games to one lead. So it remains too early to panic and call the election.

I made that mistake back in 1982 when the St. Louis Cardinals won Game 3 of the World Series and had bolted to an early lead in Game 4. The Milwaukee Brewers came back to win that game and eventually had a 3-2 series lead before losing the Fall Classic in seven games.

But the first three games, as well as the National League Division Series before that, have provided some telling signs. After being a decent, but not a playoff-caliber team most the season, the Cardinals now seem to have that 2006 feel.

That World Championship feel.

To coin a phrase – could it possibly be Written In the Stars???

Right now I will give you several reasons I believe the Cards will be able to ultimately close the deal on Milwaukee.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: MLB Tagged With: milwaukee brewers, mlb playoffs, nlcs, ron roenicke, St. Louis Cardinals, tony larussa

AJ Pierzynski: “Sometimes you need a rally beer”

October 12, 2011 By Jerod Morris 3 Comments

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White Sox catcher and agitator A.J. Pierzynski, who is providing analysis and frosted tips during FOX’s MLB playoff coverage this year, was asked by Dan Patrick today (hat tip: Chicago Tribune) about the Boston Globe report that one reason for the Red Sox late season collapse was a propensity for their pitchers to partake in beer and fried chicken during games.

Patrick inquired as to whether AJ and any of his teammates had ever done the same, and AJ responded, well, he responded like really only he can or would; thusly:

[Read more...]

Filed Under: MLB Tagged With: AJ Pierzynski, boston red sox, Chicago Tribune, Chicago White Sox, dan patrick, drinking

Viewer’s Guide: NFL Week 6 TV Schedule, Announcers, and Coverage Maps for Week of Sunday, October 16th

October 12, 2011 By Jerod Morris Leave a Comment

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In the Week 6 Bettor’s Guide, I discussed a couple of the games I am most looking forward to this week: Carolina-Atlanta (because Cam Newton is so individually compelling and the Falcons’ season hangs in the balance) and Detroit-San Francisco (because the two teams are a combined 9-1). When the season began, who would have thought that those two games would carry such intrigue?

Well they are far from the only ones a pretty solid Week 6 schedule.

Julius Peppers Injury Update: Latest Report Is Bears’ DE Has Sprained MCL In His Left Knee

October 12, 2011 By Jake Perper Leave a Comment

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According to a report from the Chicago Tribune, Bears defensive end Julius Peppers sprained the MCL (medial collateral ligament) in his left knee in the Monday night loss to the Detroit Lions, 24-13.

Peppers’ injury occurred near the end of the first quarter. He seemed to plant his foot wrong while trying to get around Lions tackle Jeff Backus and proceeded to limp off the field.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: NFL Tagged With: Chicago Bears, Julius Peppers, mnf, nfc north, NFL, sunday night football, Vikings

Bettor’s Guide: NFL Week 6 Picks, Point Spreads, Analysis, and Predictions for Week of October 16th

October 12, 2011 By Jerod Morris 1 Comment

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nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-games-49ers-giants-ravens-patriots-point-spread-pick-over-under-tv-schedule-announcers-time

[Update: I forgot the Cowboys-Patriots game! Thanks to the commenter who pointed this out. It has been added.]

After a few good weeks in a row that got me to 10 games over .500, I slipped a bit last week. That is what trusting the Eagles, Giants, and Falcons will get you here in 2011. After my 5-7-1 showing last week, I am now 41-33-3, a win percentage of 53.2%.

I promise to do better this week. And I always keep my promises. (Just please don’t ask any past girlfriends to confirm this. I’m speaking only in the context of Bettor’s Guide promises.)

Video: Bill Gates leaps over a chair in a single bound…is he the greatest athlete who never was?

October 12, 2011 By Jerod Morris 5 Comments

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Bill Gates is many things. He is rich. He is a renowned philanthropist. He made the personal computer as ubiquitous as the kitchen sink.

But did you know that Bill Gates, in addition to his supreme intellect and drive for success, also had freakish athletic ability?

It’s true. Watch:

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Funny Tagged With: bill gates, funny video, video

The Bottoms Line Non-BCS Watch List: Temple Owls

October 12, 2011 By Andy Bottoms Leave a Comment

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Two of the four remaining Non-BCS Watch List teams call the Atlantic 10 home, starting with a team coming off their first NCAA Tournament win since 2001.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: CBB, Mid-Majors, The Bottoms Line Tagged With: Juan Fernandez, non-bcs watch list, Ramone Moore, Temple Owls

Fantasy Football Week 6 Player Rankings

October 12, 2011 By Jon Washburn 15 Comments

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tim-tebow-fantasy-football-week-13-start-sit-advice

A few weeks ago, Verizon Wireless contacted MSF with an amazing opportunity. If I agreed to try out one of their phones (equipped with NFL Mobile) and one of their tablets, and blog about my experiences, they would give me the phone, give me the tablet, and fly me to Chicago to stay in the Hard Rock Hotel and attend the Packers/Bears game.

If you are thinking, “No way…that’s too good to be true”… you aren’t alone. Unbelievably though, there were no “catches,” and the experience has been amazing. Over the course of this season, I’ll be updating you on my experience with Verizon’s products – the good and/or the bad, as my opinions are my own and beholden to no one – but so far so good.

There seem to be several constants in American sports:

Always cheer for the “underdog.”
Always cheer for the “good guy.”
And, oddly enough, always cheer for the “unorthodox guy.”

Unless, of course, that guy happens to be Tim Tebow.

[Read more...]

Jon Washburn @The_Dr_Twitch

Filed Under: Player Rankings Tagged With: Cam Newton, fantasy football player rankings, fantasy football week 6, nfl week 6, tim tebow, verizon

College Football Picks and Point Spreads for Saturday, October 15th: Oklahoma State-Texas, Michigan-Michigan State, Baylor-Texas A&M, and more

October 12, 2011 By Robert Crowe Leave a Comment

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We are past the halfway point in the 2011 college football season and now there is a full understanding of what each team is made of both offensively and defensively.

This week’s set of games starts off again on Thursday night with USC taking on Cal. Then the weekend’s games feature some outstanding matchups in the Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac 12 that have two ranked teams playing each other.

Here are the point spreads and picks for the weekend’s top games: [Read more...]

Filed Under: CFB, CFB Picks, Sports Betting, TV and Betting Tagged With: arizona state-oregon, baylor-texas a&M, CFB, college football betting lines, college football odds, college football picks, college football point spreads, michigan-michigan state, oklahoma state-texas, Sports Betting, usc-cal

Commercial Grade: NBA 2K12 featuring Michael Jordan, Drake and Brian Wilson

October 12, 2011 By Keith Mullett 3 Comments

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NBA 2K has built such a strong following that sports game giant EA Sports hasn’t even bothered to release a pro basketball game since 2009. When I was a kid, NBA Live distracted me to the point that I basically turned into the South Park kids when they were addicted to World of Warcraft.

Nowadays I play the 2K series for my basketball fix, although without the extreme tenacity that I once devoted to gaming. Even though the real life NBA is embroiled in a bitter labor dispute, that can’t stop me from enjoying going 80-2 while averaging a triple-double in “My Player” mode.

The main gimmick of this year’s game, in lieu of any relevant basketball happenings in the real world, is the “NBA’s Greatest” mode, where one can play as any of a large group of historical teams and players. As such, the commercial released a couple weeks ago focuses on the argument of who is the greatest team ever assembled.

Big Ten Game of the Week: #11 Michigan Wolverines at #23 Michigan State Spartans – Preview, Point Spread, Prediction and Poll

This Week’s College Football TV Schedule and Point Spreads for Week 7 – Saturday, October 15th

Fantasy Football Week 6 Player Rankings at QB, RB, WR, TE, K, D/ST

The 10 Most Significant Pro Sports Strikes and Lockouts

[Read more...]

The Bottoms Line Non-BCS Watch List: Saint Mary’s Gaels

[Read more...]

NLCS Analysis: With Cardinals up 2-1, time for Brewers to panic?

AJ Pierzynski: “Sometimes you need a rally beer”

Viewer’s Guide: NFL Week 6 TV Schedule, Announcers, and Coverage Maps for Week of Sunday, October 16th

Julius Peppers Injury Update: Latest Report Is Bears’ DE Has Sprained MCL In His Left Knee

Bettor’s Guide: NFL Week 6 Picks, Point Spreads, Analysis, and Predictions for Week of October 16th

Video: Bill Gates leaps over a chair in a single bound…is he the greatest athlete who never was?

The Bottoms Line Non-BCS Watch List: Temple Owls

[Read more...]

Fantasy Football Week 6 Player Rankings

College Football Picks and Point Spreads for Saturday, October 15th: Oklahoma State-Texas, Michigan-Michigan State, Baylor-Texas A&M, and more

Commercial Grade: NBA 2K12 featuring Michael Jordan, Drake and Brian Wilson

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