Maybe it’s the unseasonably warm weather here in Ohio, or the absence of NBA games that were supposed to have already started, or that I haven’t heard a whole lot about this year’s Black Friday mega-deals, but it sure seems like Turkey Day snuck up on me this year.

Of course if you’re reading this article, you are probably almost as excited about watching an entire day of football as you are enjoying the best (and likely biggest) meal of the whole year and the company of loved ones.

Like cooking out and baseball on July 4th, and college football (and hopefully not too much of a hangover) on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and NFL football combine to make one of the greatest days of the year for sports fans.

For the third straight year, this is the official image of Thanksgiving Day football on MSF.

So just what can we expect to see as we eat second and third helpings of turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and chocolate chip cookies (my grandma’s cookies are always the perfect way to cap off the meal)?

The NFL really nailed it this year, as we have 3 great games to watch and story lines galore.  Here is everything you need to know to get ready for this year’s Thanksgiving Day NFL action.

Note: Point spread information is current as of late Sunday night.  As the lines move, we will do our best to update the article to provide the most current information possible.

NFL Thanksgiving Day Football TV Schedule

Point Spreads – Kickoff Times – Announcers – Picks & Predictions

—

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions Game Info

• Packers-Lions Date: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24th
• Packers-Lions Kickoff Time: 12:30 PM EST
• Packers-Lions TV Network: FOX
• Packers-Lions Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
• Packers-Lions Point Spread: Packers -5.5
• Packers-Lions Over/Under: 55
• MSF: Packers-Lions Preview and Prediction

Packers-Lions Preview and Prediction

Remember when the only think to look forward to about watching the Lions on Thanksgiving was seeing what havoc Barry Sanders would inflict upon their opponent?  And remember when Sanders retired and everyone began lobbying for a different team to take Detroit’s place in the annual Thanksgiving slot?

The 2011 incarnation of the Lions, with Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh  has shed all of those ugly memories, morphing into an offensive powerhouse with a penchant for overcoming huge leads and a mean streak on the defensive side.

Fortunately for us fans, the Lions will get to play the undefeated Packers, so the chance for a dramatic finish will be high.

The Packers looked a little less invincible this past week against Tampa Bay than they normally do, so it will be interesting to see what a short week against what is likely the toughest opponent they have faced yet this year will bring.

I expect both teams to be able to move the ball with ease, but I think the Lions will turn the ball over a couple of times and allow Green Bay to get out to a large lead.  Despite the Lions’ ability to overcome double-digit deficits, I see them falling a little short in this one.

• Packers-Lions Spread Pick: Packers -5.5

Miami Dolphins at Dallas Cowboys

• Dolphins-Cowboys Date: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24th
• Dolphins-Cowboys Kickoff Time: 4:15 PM EST
• Dolphins-Cowboys TV Network: CBS
• Dolphins-Cowboys Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
• Dolphins-Cowboys Point Spread: Cowboys -6.5
• Dolphins-Cowboys Over/Under: 44

Cowboys-Dolphins Preview and Prediction

Just a few weeks ago, this game might have seemed like a dud,  but the Dolphins have surged to 3 straight victories, including this past week’s 35-8 drubbing of the Buffalo Bills.

Once considered the frontrunners in the “Suck for Luck” sweepstakes, the Dolphins are showing signs of life and competing every week behind quarterback Matt Moore and Reggie Bush, who is starting to resemble the Reggie Bush of years past.

Dallas comes in at 6-4 and tied for the NFC East lead.  Say what you will about the Cowboys’ postseason failures and Tony Romo’s lack of clutch play, the fact is that Romo and his team are dominant in November.  In November, as a starter, Romo is 18-2 with 49 touchdown passes against only 12 interceptions in his career.

The Dolphins are going to come back to earth sometime, and I expect that to be now.  On a short week, traveling to Dallas, Miami will struggle in all phases, and I see Dallas rolling over them and staying atop the NFC East.

• Dolphins-Cowboys Spread Pick: Cowboys -6.5

San Francisco 49ers at Baltimore Ravens

• 49ers-Ravens Date: Thanksgiving Night, Thursday, November 24th
• 49ers-Ravens Kickoff Time: 8:20 PM EST
• 49ers-Ravens TV Network: NFL Network
• 49ers-Ravens Announcers: Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock
• 49ers-Ravens Point Spread: Ravens -3
• 49ers-Ravens Over/Under: 39
• MSF: 49ers-Ravens Preview and Prediction

What more can you ask for in a Thanksgiving evening game (other than for cable companies to all pick up the NFL Network)?

The Brothers Harbaugh square off against one another for the first time as NFL head coaches, with Jim Harbaugh’s 49ers, a surprising 9-1 and the runaway leader of the NFC West traveling to face John Harbaugh’s Ravens, who are tied for the AFC North lead after beating the Cincinnati Bengals last week.

These teams are built similarly, with punishing defenses (the 49ers are 1st against the run, the Ravens are 3rd) and elite, multi-purpose running backs (Frank Gore and Ray Rice).  The winner of this game will likely be the team who is able to have more success running against the other’s front 7.

Of concern for the Ravens is getting Rice consistent touches.  This season, Rice has averaged just over 14 carries per game, which for a star back is not nearly enough.  He is a valuable part of the receiving game too, with 51 receptions, but the Ravens need to find a way to establish Rice early and often.

The Ravens’ game plan lately has been a pass-heavy attack, but Joe Flacco is not Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees; he is not the type of quarterback who can give his team the best chance to win by consistently throwing over 35 times per game.

I think the 49ers will be able to run on Baltimore, especially if Ray Lewis were to miss the game (he is questionable currently with a toe injury that forced him to miss the Cincinnati game).  As long as Alex Smith is able to play conservative, mistake-free football like he has done in the first 10 games this year, I think the 49ers win.

• 49ers-Ravens Spread Pick: 49ers +3

That’s all the information you’ll need to know to enjoy this Thanksgiving’s NFL games.  We at MSF hope you enjoy great food, family, friends, football and fun (holy alliteration!) this Thanksgiving.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

*********

Follow me on Twitter @keithmullett

*********

Image credit: footballbabble.com

The Broncos defeated the New York Jets Thursday night behind a stunning 95-yard drive, culminating in a 20-yard, game-winning touchdown run for Tebow.  A Patriots victory against a short-handed Chiefs team Monday night could give New England a 2-game division lead over the Jets.

Things to consider for Monday Night Football

The Patriots and Chiefs have plenty of ties to one another, as the Chiefs have signed former New England executive Scott Pioli as their general manager, former Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel in the same position in Kansas City, and traded for former Tom Brady backup Matt Cassell.  The Chiefs haven’t been able to turn those ingredients into the same winning formula that New England enjoys annually, though.

Not that too much happens in the Northeastern sports world without us hearing plenty about it, but did you realize Tom Brady is on pace to break Dan Marino’s single-season passing yards mark (5,084 yards in 1984)?  Aaron Rodgers has (deservedly) dominated many of the headlines concerning spectacular quarterback play, but Brady keeps churning out yards and touchdowns, leading a unit with a mediocre running game and below-average defense to another division lead.

Wes Welker is leading the league in receptions (72) and receiving yards (1,006), but it is the emergence of young tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez that has driven opposing defenses crazy of late.  The two have combined for 1,083 yards and 13 touchdowns, and they have given the already potent Patriots offense even more options, especially as big, strong red-zone targets and safety valves against strong pass rushers.

The big weakness for New England, however, is their defensive secondary.  Top cornerback Devin McCourty is out with an injured shoulder, and starting safety Patrick Chung is questionable with a foot injury.  The Patriots remain vulnerable every week due to their inability to shut down opposing passing offenses.

Kansas City comes in to this game wounded.  As if losing running back Jamaal Charles, safety Eric Berry and tight end Tony Moeaki early this season to injuries weren’t enough, last week starting quarterback Cassell went down with a hand injury that may sideline him for the rest of the season.

Tyler Palko will take over the offense against the Patriots, and his first order of business will be trying to get star receiver Dwayne Bowe involved as much as possible.  Bowe hasn’t caught a touchdown pass in the last 4 games, but he is still one of the most lethal receiving threats in the NFL.  The Chiefs figure to have plenty of opportunities to throw, as they are heavy underdogs and since the best chance of taking down the Patriots is by attacking their depleted secondary.

Defensively, the Chiefs have relied heavily on the pass rush of Tamba Hali.  Hali has looked superhuman at times and has a team high 6 sacks on the year (the entire Chiefs defense only has 9 total, including Hali’s 6), but he can’t do it all by himself.

What Kansas City must do to win

Kansas City faces a very tough challenge in this one.  On the road in a hostile environment, without key starters and facing one of the best offenses in the NFL, the Chiefs have to execute perfectly in order to even keep the game competitive.

Part of that execution needs to be exploiting the Patriots weak defensive backs with Bowe.  In order for the Chiefs to win, Bowe should see double-digit targets in this game.  If the threat of going down the field is there, the Patriots will have to drop extra men in coverage and won’t be able to attack with blitzes the way they did in their last game against the Jets.

Running back Jackie Battle will need to run through a stacked line early.  I would imagine the Patriots will try to put 7 or 8 in the box and force Palko to beat them.  If Battle can be effective, this will also cause New England to change up their game plan and lead to scoring opportunities.

On defense, the Chiefs have to at least try to make it difficult on Brady.  Against the Raiders (granted, Kyle Boller and Carson Palmer with 2 days of practice under his belt were the QBs), they were able to jump routes and create a boatload of turnovers.  Obviously, Brady won’t make some of the terrible decisions that the Raiders did, but he does have 10 interceptions this year (including 4 in a loss to Buffalo).

What New England must do to win

This one doesn’t take too much to explain.  The Patriots must play like the Patriots.

Brady will need to be his typical cool, calculated self and pick apart the Chiefs.  Welker, Gronkowski, and Hernandez will need to continue their high level of play and break off some big plays.  The running game, which consists of Benjarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead, Kevin Faulk and rookie Stevan Ridley will need to chew up the clock and not fumble the ball.

On defense, the Patriots will need to pressure the inexperienced Palko into making mistakes.  As mentioned, the corners aren’t good enough to totally shut down receivers, especially those of Dwayne Bowe’s caliber, so it will be necessary to bring the heat on blitzes to limit Palko’s time to make a decision and go through his reads.

Chiefs-Patriots Prediction

When the Chiefs lose, they tend to lose big, and I expect this game to go along those lines.  I just don’t see any way they will be able to slow down Brady, and I don’t think Palko will be good enough to put any pressure on the Patriots defense.

Look for Brady and his stable of pass-catchers to all have big games en route to a Patriots blowout.

Final Score: Patriots 41, Chiefs 13

What do you think?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

**********

Chiefs-Patriots Game Info

• Chiefs-Patriots Date: Monday, November 21
• Chiefs-Patriots Kickoff Time: 8:30 PM EST
• Chiefs-Patriots TV: ESPN
• Chiefs-Patriots Point Spread: Patriots -16
• Chiefs-Patriots Over/Under: 46

*********

Follow me on Twitter @keithmullett

*********

Image credit: kcchiefs.com, nesn.com, ihatejjr.com

The scandal involving former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky is still unfolding, detail after disgusting detail.  The case has been well documented, so I won’t go into the details here outside of their relevance to Saturday’s game.

It appears Saturday’s game at Beaver Stadium will go on as scheduled, despite some very legitimate concerns about the challenges that Penn State’s administration and campus police will face.  Wednesday night, as news of Joe Paterno’s firing spread, students at Penn State gathered on Beaver Avenue.  Most students were under control, merely rubbernecking and trying to understand what was going on.  But as is often the case, some students became destructive.

Media members were pelted with rocks and a news van was tipped over by the mob.  Street signs were also broken, and approximately 100 police officers had to be called in with pepper spray to subdue some of the crowd.  No one is sure what the scene will look like Saturday afternoon as the Big Ten-leading Nittany Lions play host to the Cornhuskers.

For the record, it is my opinion that the game should be played as scheduled, so long as there are no concerns for the safety of the crowd or anyone involved in the game.

Though the scene right now is tranquil, I understand that trying to predict the crowd’s behavior Saturday is difficult.  But to move the game would be nearly impossible with this short of notice, and postponing the game would likely drag this on longer.  It would be unfair to the seniors of Penn State to not grant them their Senior Day, and it would be unfair to Nebraska who has surely worked very hard to prepare for this game as they try to climb back to the top of the Legends Division.

I understand that football is fickle compared to the charges levied at Sandusky, Paterno, and the rest of the Penn State program.  I understand that keeping the program churning ahead is what has caused most of these allegations to go unnoticed for almost a decade.  I feel, however, that the only solution is to play the game Saturday in Beaver Stadium and move on.

As for the game itself, let’s look at what each school needs to focus on to come away with the victory.

What Nebraska must do to win

For Nebraska’s offense it is very simple: run the ball with Rex Burkhead early and often.  When Burkhead gains more than 100 yards on the ground, the Huskers win (5-0 this year).  When he doesn’t, they lose (0-2).  The latter was the case last week against Northwestern, so you can be sure they will try to establish the running game against Penn State.

The fact is, as dynamic an athlete as quarterback Taylor Martinez is, he is inconsistent and mistake-prone.  I’ve written it before in this very column, but Martinez must protect the ball and give his defense a chance to sit on the sideline.  He doesn’t need to be spectacular for Nebraska to win this game.  Considering all the emotion of the past week, he merely needs to be efficient and allow Burkhead to shoulder the load.

Defensively, Nebraska should match up fairly well with the Nittany Lions.  Their first priority will be stopping Penn State running back Silas Redd, who has over 1,000 yards already this season.  Other than Wisconsin’s Montee Ball and Ohio State’s Carlos Hyde, Nebraska hasn’t been gashed badly on the ground this season.  Considering Ball has pretty much done that to everyone and 63 of Hyde’s 104 yards came on one carry (his other 12 went for just 41 yards), they have been respectable against the run.  They will need to keep that up this weekend as Penn State’s quarterback carousel hasn’t shown any chance of stopping.

What Penn State must do to win

This is going to sound impossible, but in order for Penn State to win, they must unite as a team and focus on the task of beating Nebraska and not the loss of their coach and the horrific scandal plaguing their program and institution.

In what is sure to be an emotional day for fans, players, coaches, and university employees, the Nittany Lions will try to run Redd as much as they can and play stingy defense against Burkhead.  Redd comes in with a streak of 5 straight 100-yard games, all of which have come against Big Ten opponents.

Penn State has lucked out a bit from a scheduling standpoint as they haven’t had to face Wisconson, Michigan or Michigan State this year, so this matchup against Nebraska will be their toughest in-conference game to date.

Last week against Illinois, Penn State got next to nothing out of their passing attack, totaling only 98 yards through the air.  Against Nebraska that might not be good enough, especially if Martinez gets going.  For the Nittany Lions to win this game, they must be able to make a few big plays in the passing game to open up the field for their primary weapon, Redd.  Wide receiver Derek Moye should be able to get open against a relatively weak Nebraska secondary, and if Matt McGloin (or Rob Bolden, but I expect McGloin to take most of the snaps) can hit him with a big strike or two, Penn State could shake off the distractions and remain undefeated in Big Ten play.

Defensively, they must limit Burkhead and force Martinez into bad throws.  Penn State is 3rd nationally in scoring defense, so they have the ability to both of those things.  If they allow Burkhead to start fast or Martinez to make a homerun play early, the Nittany Lions don’t have the quick strike offensive weapons to make up a deficit.

Nebraska-Penn State Prediction

I think that the seniors of Penn State have a lot to play for, and I think the team will come out and play well Saturday.  They will be filled with emotion and I think that will manifest itself in the form of passionate, inspired play.  The atmosphere will be unlike any other college football game we have ever seen given the circumstances of the last week, and I expect the crowd to be supportive of the players and be respectful of the game, which is certainly how Joe Paterno wants them to be.

I see Penn State’s defense holding Rex Burkhead to under 100 yards and I see the trend of Nebraska losing when he doesn’t reach the century mark holding up this week.  Look for Silas Redd to punish the Huskers defense and for Penn State to win one of their typical low scoring slugfests.

Final Prediction: Penn State 20, Nebraska 17

What do you think will be the outcome?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

**********

Nebraska-Penn State Game Info

• Nebraska-Penn State Date: Saturday, November 12
• Nebraska-Penn State Kickoff Time: 12:00 EST
• Nebraska-Penn State TV: ESPN
• Nebraska-Penn State Point Spread: Nebraska -3.5
• Nebraska-Penn State Over/Under: 43

Final note: make sure you take a few minutes to sign up for one of this weekend’s fantasy college football and basketball tournaments from our friends at Daily Joust. After all, it is the best alternative to fantasy sports and sports betting…ever.

*********

Follow me on Twitter @keithmullett

*********

Image credits: usatoday.com, offtackleempire.com, zimbio.com

Even though the Bears come into this game as the underdogs to most people, I’d say the pressure is on Philadelphia to win this game. The Eagles are at home against a team they’re “supposed” to beat, so it’s their job to go out there and do just that.

The Bears, on the other hand, know that they’re not going to catch Green Bay (who is?), but they have a relatively easy schedule ahead of them, making a wild card run possible.

Bears-Eagles Preview

The Bears like being called the underdog, and a lot of people like calling them that. That’s why this team continues to surprise people in games in which they’re supposed to lose, yet also why it’s sometimes frustrating to be a Bears fan.

Julius Peppers is having a quiet but effective second year in Chicago. He and the ever-aging Bears defense go against a very speedy Eagles offense. Some say that the Bears will never stop Michael Vick, but the past says otherwise.

Vick is actually 0-3 as a starter against the Bears. He has a 76.2 passer rating, has only rushed for 117 yards with no touchdowns, he has been sacked 15 times, and has thrown four interceptions in five games against Chicago. So the Bears have stopped Vick in the past, but can they stop the rest of the Eagles offense?

One of those other Eagles players is running back LeSean McCoy, who had a season-high of 185 yards and two rushing touchdowns last week. Mccoy has consistently been a threat in the backfield and is approaching Adrian Peterson-level respect.

But the Bears have a running back of their own who is also approaching Peterson’s level as being as big a threat as any player in the NFL. His name is Matt Forte.

To put it simply: Forte is the Bears offense. They live and die by Forte, as he leads the team is rushing and receiving. Sure, Jay Cutler has his moments of dominance, but that’s only when the offensive line decides to do their job, which is still sporadic enough for me to not trust it completely.

Cutler doesn’t affect the game like Forte does. It’s very hard to see the Bears winning any game without Forte on his game, unless the defense causes 3-4 turnovers.

Bears-Eagles Prediction

Neither of these teams has been consistent enough to say that either team is the obvious favorite in this game, but I have to give a very slight edge to the Philadelphia Eagles. I have a feeling Vick is finally  going to have some success against an older Bears defense.

But then again, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bears come into this game fresh out the bye week and tear into this Eagles defense. They’ve surprised me plenty of times before.

Eagles 27 – Bears 24

**********

Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles

• Bears-Eagles Date, Time, and TV: Monday, November 7th at 8:30 ET on ESPN
• Bears-Eagles Announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Ron Jaworski
• Bears-Eagles Point Spread: Eagles -9
• Bears-Eagles Over-Under Odds: 47

Ohio State will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska to face the 14^th-ranked Cornhuskers Saturday night in a meeting of powerhouse programs desperate for a conference win.

Have you always wanted to play fantasy college football but didn’t know where to go? Are you already 0-4 in your fantasy NFL league?

The join us at Daily Joust for this week’s FREE $250 Big Ten fantasy college football challenge. (Details here.)

Nebraska is coming off a disappointing trip to Wisconsin in which they were throttled 48-17 by the Badgers.  The Cornhuskers’ star dual-threat quarterback Taylor Martinez threw three interceptions and their defense couldn’t find any answers for Wisconsin’s pummeling rushing attack.

Ohio State is coming off a 10-7 home loss to Michigan State, in which their offense sputtered feebly until the final minute.  A Joe Bauserman 34-yard touchdown pass narrowly spared them the embarrassment of a home shutout loss.  That touchdown avoided a home shutout loss for the first time in 29 years for the Buckeyes.

The Buckeyes won’t be able to get help from suspended running back Dan Herron and wide receiver Devier Posey.  Both players’ suspensions were scheduled for 5 games but have been extended for at least this weekend due to the receipt of improper benefits, another in what seems like an endless slew of infractions afflicting the Buckeyes from this past offseason.

Before the season began, most ranked Wisconsin, Nebraska and Ohio State as the favorites to win the Big Ten.  Wisconsin has clearly separated themselves from the rest of the pack with their dominating start.

For Nebraska and Ohio State this game is crucial.

The loser will likely have no chance at the Big Ten Championship Game, as Ohio State, with two losses, would be chasing Wisconsin in the Leaders Division, and Nebraska would have to hope for Michigan, Michigan State and Iowa to beat up on each other to sneak back into first place in the Legends Division.

Important things to consider for Saturday

For the visiting Buckeyes the challenge will be on getting something out of their offense.  Before the season started I wrote that Buckeyes’ coach Luke Fickell was wrong to start 5^th-year senior Joe Bauserman at quarterback instead of freshman phenom Braxton Miller.  Miller finally started two weeks ago against Colorado, and while his passing numbers weren’t great (5-13, 83 yards and 2 touchdowns), he ran well, made sound decisions, and seemed to provide a spark to the Buckeyes offense.

Last week against Michigan State, though, Miller looked woefully unprepared for Big Ten competition.  I still think that if Fickell had started Miller from day one he would have been able to take his lumps against the lesser non-conference competition (Akron and Toledo, although the Rockets did provide a scare for Ohio State) and been able to perform a little better by this time in the season.

That is all irrelevant now, as the Buckeyes are still searching for answers under center.

Fickell hasn’t given any indication as to who will start at quarterback Saturday night in Lincoln.  Whichever player it is will need to improve on the Buckeyes’ 23.8 points scored per game (91^st in the FBS) and 154 passing yards per game (111^th in the FBS).  Running backs Carlos Hyde (296 yards, 4 TD) and Jordan Hall (216 yards, 1TD) have played fairly well, but without a passing game to balance the offense, their effectiveness can be limited.

Defensively, the Ohio State has played sound football.  They are allowing just 14.6 points per game, including just 10 to the Spartans a week ago.  They have forced 7 turnovers in their last 3 games.

Bo Pelini may have this expression all season if Nebraska's defense doesn't improve.

Nebraska, conversely, boasts a 9^th-ranked rushing attack and comes in averaging 37.6 points per game.  Against Wisconsin, the Huskers ran for 159 yards – a very respectable total against a tough defense and despite trailing most of the game – including 96 on 18 carries by running back Rex Burkhead.

Quarterback Taylor Martinez, despite his troubles both throwing and running last week, is still in the top-25 in the FBS in rushing yards with 482.  He is still completing only 50% of his throws, which allows defenses to stack the line and limit his running ability.  Against Wisconsin, Martinez was held to just 3.1 yards per carry as the Badgers had effectively taken away his ability to throw and could key on his running.

Nebraska’s defense, which I predicted would struggle last week after failing to shut down lesser competition, did just that.  The Cornhuskers were gutted by the run last week to the tune of 231 yards and 5 touchdowns.  Coach Bo Pelini has to be discouraged by the effort put forth through 5 games by the Blackshirts, who came away with proverbial black eyes after the beating in Madison last week.

What Ohio State must do to win

Going into Lincoln and coming out victorious will be a tall task for Ohio State, but they are capable of doing it.

First, whoever is playing quarterback simply cannot turn the ball over.  As boring as Tressel-ball was, the punt was always considered a valuable play, and the Buckeyes used it to control field position and eventually create short fields and more scoring opportunities.  This must be the primary focus Saturday night, particularly in the hostile environment of Memorial Stadium.

In addition, the quarterback must create opportunities in the passing game.  It sounds elementary, but after seeing the struggles the Buckeyes have had throwing this year it cannot be overstated.  They must balance the offense to give Hyde and Hall a chance to run the ball.

Defensively, Ohio State must continue to do what it has done so far this season – create a turnover or two and play strong against the run.  They cannot allow Martinez to run wild and come up with any big plays with his feet.  They need to force him to throw to beat them, and they need to come up with the ball when Martinez fails to do so.

What Nebraska must do to win

Nebraska must protect the ball.  If they turn it over, they will allow a wounded Buckeyes team to score cheap points.  This is especially true for Martinez, who needs to shake off the poor performance last week and make smart decisions with the football this week.

Nebraska must continue to run the ball well.  Ohio State has been strong against the run, so Nebraska must win the battle at the line of scrimmage.  If Burkhead can have another great game, the Huskers should find themselves on the winning side.

Lastly, the Cornhuskers must be able to get to whichever quarterback Ohio State sends onto the field.  They will need to apply pressure and force bad throws that can be turned into picks or, at the very least, good field position following punts.

Ohio State – Nebraska Prediction

I look for the Buckeyes to play better than most expect.  I think Bauserman will start, based off his touchdown pass at the end of last week’s game, but I also see Miller being used to keep the Nebraska defense off-balance.

I think Nebraska will be able to move the ball fairly easily, though.  I expect Martinez to have a big night in front of the home crowd, and I think that his turnover issues from last week won’t be repeated.  That will be enough to keep Ohio State at bay and keep the Huskers in the hunt for a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game.

Final Score Prediction: Nebraska 27, Ohio State 23.

What do you think?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

**********

Ohio State Nebraska Game Info

• Ohio State-Nebraska Date: Saturday, October 8
• Ohio State-Nebraska Kickoff Time: 8:00 ET
• Ohio State-Nebraska TV: ABC
• Ohio State Nebraska Point Spread: Nebraska -11
• Ohio State-Nebraska Over/Under: 44

*********

Follow me on Twitter @keithmullett

*********

Image credit: features.rr.com, cornnation.com, nwsource.com

Atlanta traded up for Julio Jones, picked up Ray Edwards, and also picked up some possible starting defensive backs. Chicago, it seemed, did the exact opposite. They didn’t address their offensive line needs, released their Pro Bowl center, and released their 2007 first round draft pick Greg Olsen.

Matt Forte expressed dissatisfaction with his contract last month, and now Lance Briggs is now disgruntled about his contract situation even to the point of formally asking for a trade (though Jerry Angelo said the Bears are not shopping the linebacker) Both players will be suiting up this Sunday though, but will their state of mind be a distraction on the field?

Most likely not. Forte will, though, have more pressure on him to play well Sunday because back-up running back, Marian Barber, may be sitting due to a calf injury.

Chicago’s strong-suit is going to have to be their defense. That’s no surprise. They still have one of the best linebackers in Brian Urlacher, and their defensive line should be about the same, anchored by Irseal Idonije and Julius Peppers.

What scares me, and has always scared me, is the Bears’ pass defense. Not much has changed except for the experience the defensive backs have compared to what they had last season. One thing has proven true the pas few years: if you’re going to beat the Bears, you have to perform well in the passing game.

The Falcons have the ability to do that Sunday.

Matt Ryan now has rookie receiver Julio Jones to go along with Roddy White, improving Atlanta’s passing game enough to take the workload off of running back Michael Turner. Ryan, White, and Jones all stand as a huge threat to the Bears’ defense.  Charles Tillman will most likely be set to cover White, but other than that, the Bears have no truly effective cornerback that can cover Jones.

Matt Forte is the only player on the offensive side of the ball who has a consistent impact for the Bears. Atlanta allowed, on average, 105.9 rushing yards per game. That’s nothing to be too proud of and definitely something the Bears can take advantage of and use to their advantage.

Everyone knows the Bears’ problem on offense is their offensive line and their lack of a true number one receiver. I am not convinced (and neither is anyone else) that the Bears have significantly improved at either of these positions, enough to consider them an offensive threat, which is sad because I truly believe, with a above average O-line and someone to throw to, Jay Cutler could flourish as a Bear.

But Atlanta has added some skill to the defensive line, signing Ray Edwards to help out John Abraham rush the passer. Against Chicago’s poor O-line, I expect the Falcons to get to Cutler and cause a few mistakes.

• Bears-Falcons Prediction: Falcons 24 Bears 17
• Bears-Falcons Spread Pick: Falcons -3
  
• Bears-Falcons Over-Under: Push
  

Bears-Falcons Game Info

• Falcons-Bears Date, Time, and TV: Sunday, September 11th at 1:00 ET on FOX
• Falcons-Bears Point Spread: Falcons -3
• Falcons-Bears Over-Under Odds: 41
• Falcons-Bears Announcers: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa

This post and all of our weekly Chicago Bears previews are made possible by Brouwer Brothers Steamatic of Chicago, which proudly provides restoration, cleaning, and construction services to Chicago, Naperville and the surrounding areas.

Chicago: 312 386-7688 – South Suburbs: 708 396-1444 – West Suburbs: 630 243-4387 – NW Indiana: 219 210-4254

—–

It’s time for another edition of the good ol’ black n’ blue rivalry game between the Minnesota Vikings (3-5) and the Chicago Bears (5-3).

The Bears are coming off what was a must win for them game against Buffalo last week. They didn’t look as good against the winless Bills as fans would’ve have hoped, but they did limit the sacks (one) and the turnovers( none).  It seems like a lot of good things come for Chicago, especially on the road where their record is 3-1, when they limit the sacks and turnovers.

But they are not on the road this week. Rather, the Bears have a home game against a desperate Vikings squad who is coming off a close win against Arizona last week. Brett Favre continues to put up mediocre numbers; actually, Favre’s numbers are very similar to Jay Cutler’s, and I don’t mean that in a good way.

Chicago Bears v Minnesota Vikings Game Info

• Vikings-Bears Date: Sunday, November 14
• Vikings-Bears Kickoff Time: 1:00 pm
• Vikings-Bears TV Network: FOX
• Vikings-Bears Announcers: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa
• Vikings-Bears Spread: Vikings -1
• Vikings-Bears Over-Under: 40

Chicago Bears v Minnesota Vikings Preview

The Vikings offense is led by the dominating Adrian Peterson. Peterson has racked up 857 rushing yards, including eight rushing touchdowns, along with 257 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. The Bears defense is usually very good at stopping the run, but not when it’s Peterson.

Peterson has scored a rushing touchdown in the last six games against the Bears, and I assume this week will be no different. If the Bears are going to have success this week, it’s going to be with stopping the Vikings run game, thus giving Favre a tougher time throwing the ball.

The Vikings pose a threat on defense as well. The Bears O-line will have to stop Jared Allen. If history proves right, Allen will have a lot of chances to get at Cutler, who has already been sacked 28 times this season. I am betting that number will increase after Sunday.

If the Bears do limit the pass rush and their turnovers, we could be in for a great game. The new Mike Martz system, however, has yet to win over the majority of the fan base because of its penchant for creating sacks and turnovers. Additionally, the running game has been almost nonexistent. The passing game, though better, is still nowhere near elite status.

This week the offense can come out and prove something. The Vikings defense is still in the top five in yards per game, allowing on average 304.6 ypg. All odds indicate a rough game for the Bears and their offense, so it would be a good sign if they could come through with a solid effort.

Chicago Bears v Minnesota Vikings Prediction

This game is huge for both teams if they want a shot at making the playoffs. The Packers are on a bye this week so the winner will move a half game closer to taking the NFC North division.

Though the Vikings seem to dislike their coach a whole lot, they still continue to play hard week after week. I am predicting a very Farve-like performance when he plays against the Bears.

Vikings-Bears Prediction: Vikings 24 – Bears 17

Vikings-Bears Spread Pick: Vikings -1

Vikings-Bears Over-Under Pick: Over

The Giants, once a Super Bowl team just a few short years ago, are playing like the Bears did the last two years: unmotivated and lazy. But this is not a young team. This is a team of veterans playing terribly.

With a 1-2 record things are not looking up for the Giants as they host a rising Chicago team Sunday night in Week 4.

Chicago Bears at New York Giants Primer

• Bears-Giants Date: Sunday, October 3
• Bears-Giants Kickoff Time: 8:20 pm
• Bears-Giants TV Network: NBC
• Bears-Giants Announcers: Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth
• Bears-Giants Odds: Giants -5 / 43.5

Chicago Bears at New York Giants Preview

The Bears offense has been surprisingly good so far. Sure, Jay Cutler is still taking hits (injury coming soon?), but the Bears have shifted to more short passes to compensate for the lack of throwing time. It’s not a permanent solution to the problem, but if it’s not broke, why fix it? Besides, that quick pass offense has opened up room for the deep pass as the corners tend to sneak up.

In other non-Cutler Bears news, Matt Forte is back in his groove, Greg Olsen is starting to play a key role in the offensive game, and the defense is finally showing some life.

That life can be credited to Brian Urlacher’s return to being an animal on the field, chasing down players like a predator stalking its prey. Paired with Lance Briggs is a match made in heaven. Finally, the linebackers are feared again in Chicago.

The secondary is nothing great, but it’s improving game after game. With the way the Giants are playing, and the way Manning is throwing picks, the secondary has a chance at a huge night.

Not everything is perfect though for the Bears. Defensive lineman Tommie Harris is under performing (again), making a case for his release. Their offensive line is still getting battered by better defenses. Unless that O-line gets fixed, the playoffs seem more like a wish right now despite the 3-0 start. And even if they do make the playoffs, with that O-line, they wouldn’t last past the first round.

But even those problems have been shoved under the rug, at least temporarily. As long as the Bears keep on winning there will be nothing but praise, mostly because most people never saw a 3-0 start from this team. Just like nobody predicted the 1-2 start from the Giants either.

Chicago Bears-New York Giants Prediction

The Giants have been playing badly lately, but it has to end, right? You’d hope so if you’re a Giants fan.

The same goes for the Bears. As well as the Bears are playing, it has to end one game.

Since it’s in New York I am going to have to pick the Giants over the Bears. As much as I’d love to see the Bears win, I think New York is a better team than they’ve been playing like, while the Bears probably are not quite as good as their 3-0 record might suggest.

Bears-Giants Pick: I have the Giants winning 27-24.

Notre Dame needs a win badly. It’s been three straight losses, and after every loss the situation looks more and more ugly for Brian Kelly and his team. The morale seems to be down. The toughness and aggressiveness just isn’t there; but, this week the Irish play a team they can beat.

Notre Dame-Boston College Primer

• Notre Dame-Boston College Date: Saturday, October 2nd
• Notre Dame-Boston College TV: ESPN
• Notre Dame-Boston College Kickoff Time: 8:00 ET
• Notre Dame-Boston College Spread: Notre Dame -2.5

Notre Dame-Boston College Preview

Boston College’s offense is below average. Their quarterback, Chris Crane, has thrown eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Stopping the passing game shouldn’t be a problem for the Irish, but, once again, it comes down to stopping the running game.

In the Irish’s three losses, they have been battered and beaten by the opponents’ running game. It’s of utter importance that they hold both Montel Harris and Josh Haden to modest games. It’s not a huge challenge, but it can’t be taken lightly. This is crucial if the Irish want to end this three game skid.

Though Boston College brings a lackluster offense, their defense is ranked 10th overall in yards allowed per game.

The Irish offense has been good, but it’s clear that they’re far from spectacular. Dayne Crist is throwing for over 300 yards a game, and his interception rate isn’t over the top, but it’s coming down to a few plays. Not just normal plays but big plays. When it comes to them, Crist and the offense aren’t making those big plays.

It’s becoming very clear that it’ll take a few years for this Irish team to return to its “glory” days, but they seem to be on the right track. They just have a few cracks, but as those cracks become more visible it becomes a problem. Fixing those cracks has to be the top priority for Brian Kelly in his years as head coach in South Bend.

Notre Dame-Boston College Prediction

It’s been three long games, and the Irish might not much confidence, but they do not want to lose again. This week, I think their resolve pulls them through and the defense plays well enough to secure the W.

Notre Dame-Boston College Pick: I am predicting Notre Dame to beat Boston College 27-17

Notre Dame was hoping for some better results the last two weeks. They could be 3-0, but instead  they’re 1-2. Those two losses all came down to one play, as most games usually do.

This week, the Fighting Irish hope to gain some momentum for when they play Oregon and USC, as in the next few weekends, but it’s going to be hard to get through this week with a win.

Stanford’s defense is a force to be reckon with. The Cardinal has switched to 3-4 defense with a lot of man-to-man coverage, and it’s working wonders. Their pass defense is number one in the country and sixth in overall defense; therefore, it’s not going to be easy to put points on the board against this defense.

Notre Dame has gone through some tough games this season, and they’ve learned a lot for being a young team; however this is their hardest game to date, and it’ll be a great test to see if they can play well against a much favored football team.

Norte Dame’s offense revolves around Dayne Crist, so it’s no surprise that the responsibility will be on his shoulders this week. Crist has hit the long balls, but is very inaccurate in the short passes, throwing many of his incompletions high.

I’ve seen much improvement in the Irish’s defense this season compared to last year’s. They’ve been able to keep the damage to a minimum, but Notre Dame is yet to show skill and talent that tells me they can keep a powerhouse of a team to limited scores. They may not need to if their offense is clicking, but they can’t rely on the offense all the time.

It’s going to be a good football game to watch, and I always love upsets, but I am staying with the favorite and picking Stanford to win 28-21

The Chicago Bears travel to Dallas this weekend to take on the Cowboys. The Bears are coming off a win (can you call it that?) against the Detroit Lions. When looking at the offensive numbers for the Bears in that game, you’d be impressed and might think they won the game safely. The fact of the matter is that while the numbers look great, they don’t tell the whole story.

Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys Viewer’s Guide

• Bears-Cowboys Date: Sunday, September 19
• Bears-Cowboys Kickoff Time: 1:00 pm
• Bears-Cowboys TV Network: FOX
• Bears-Cowboys Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
• Bears-Cowboys Odds: Cowboys -8.5 / 40.5
• DSF: Bears-Cowboys Preview and Prediction

Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys Preview

Matt Forte truly did look like the Matt Forte we knew during his rookie season. Forte ran for a modest 50 yards but did real damage in the receiving game, racking up a total of 151 yards and two touchdowns.

Those numbers bring back memories of his good ol’ rookie season when Forte was serious weapon, both in the rushing and passing game. If he plays this year like he did during his rookie season that will obviously help the offense significantly.

Jay Cutler looked very good in the pocket last week, but trying to protect him is still an issue. Despite the fact that Cutler threw for 372 yards and two touchdowns, he was sacked four times and hit another seven times. And this was against the Detroit Lions.

Wait until the offensive line sees the Cowboys with DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer. It’s not going to look pretty.

As for the Dallas Cowboys, it was a disappointing loss for them against the Washington Redskins. They were flagged 12 times and had the winning touchdown pass negated by a hold, which is definitely a tough way to lose a game. Both Marion Barber and Felix Jones failed to produce much of anything on the ground, which is another reason why the Cowboys lost last Sunday.

Miles Austin continues to show us just how good of a receiver he is, and is proving that he is not just a one-season wonder. I think it’s time to realize that this player is the real deal. He works perfectly with Romo, unlike Cutler and his receivers. Romo obviously trusts Austin and has every right to.

Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys Prediction

Romo will be dissecting the Bears’ backfield in no time next Sunday, and this is really where the outcome of the game will be decided.

In Week Two the Cowboys will find that offensive spark and defeat the Bears 24-10.

Both teams come in off a win in their season opener. Michigan is coming off of a 30-10 victory over UCONN while Notre Dame played well in a 23-13 victory over Purdue.

Both teams went into Week 1 not knowing what to expect, but are confident after solid victories to open the season. Still, there are looming questions for both teams that must be answered, and some of them may be answered this weekend.

Michigan-Notre Dame Viewers Guide

• Michigan-Notre Dame Date: Saturday, September 11th
• Michigan-Notre Dame Kickoff Time: 3:30 ET
• Michigan-Notre Dame TV: NBC
• Michigan-Notre Dame Spread: Notre Dame -4.5

Michigan-Notre Dame Preview

Michigan, to me, looked strong against UCONN. Their running game was sensational, amassing a whopping 287 total yards, 197 of which came from their quarterback Denard Robinson. That number is definitely a jaw-dropper. Add to that a solid passing and defensive game, and Michigan was one of the biggest surprises of Week 1.

Coming into this weekend’s clash with Notre Dame, Michigan has to establish their running game. Despite his better-than-expected showing last weekend, Robinson is not known for his passing ability. Without the running game clicking, the Wolverines could find themselves in some hot water and potentially leaving South Bend with a loss.

Notre Dame, on the other hand, used more of a balanced offense against Purdue. Perhaps that is the reason why I wasn’t as impressed with their offense last week, at least not as much I anticipated being. Notre Dame’s offense this year just doesn’t seem to have the same glamor or explosiveness that last year’s offense had, but that is because they lost Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate, and are now breaking in a new system. It doesn’t seem to be clicking quite yet, and that’s a major reason why I am skeptical about Notre Dame coming into Week 2.

The Irish defense is improved from last year, but that doesn’t make them great; they still have a lot way to go. Luckily for the Irish, they shouldn’t have to be great against Michigan. Limit the effectiveness and explosiveness of Michigan’s run game, and there is little doubt that Notre Dame can put itself in position to get a W.

Michigan-Notre Dame Prediction

This is another great rivalry matchup early on in the season. I really like the potential in both teams, but I believe Michigan, now in Year 3 of Rich Rodriguez Era, is the better team coming into this week, which is only Week 2 of the Brian Kelly Era in South Bend.

That’s why I am picking the Wolverines to beat Notre Dame 27-14.

**********

* – Rich Rodriguez photo credit: AP Photo via MLive.com

While that wasn’t exactly the start I was hoping for, I can’t say enough how excited I am for football season. As for the Bears season in particular, I can’t say I’m too excited. The preseason was an awful experience, and I am hoping that what happens in the preseason really doesn’t matter.

This Sunday, Detroit heads south to Chicago and Soldier field to start the season with a division match-up and what could be called a mild rivalry. The Lions don’t really impress anyone, but I believe they are past that winless season and are on the right track to improving their team over the next few years.

Detroit Lions v Chicago Bears Primer

• Lions-Bears Date: Sunday, September 12
• Lions-Bears Kickoff Time: 1:00 pm
• Lions-Bears TV Network: FOX
• Lions-Bears Announcers: Thom Brennaman and Brian Billick
• Lions-Bears Point Spread: Bears -6
• Lions-Bears Over-Under Odds: 43

Detroit Lions v Chicago Bears Preview

Detroit has some big talent in Matt Stafford, Jahvid Best, Calvin Johnson, Louis Delmas, and Ndamukong Suh. Their offense, however, has way more depth than their defense. The D is the team’s major flaw and likely what will keep the Lions to 4-5 wins this season.

Still, on a good day, Detroit can be the sleeper that beats a heavily favored team; but will that happen this week?

Now, by no means is Chicago heavily favored over Detroit, but it’s definitely a game the Bears should win.

Besides Suh, the Lions don’t have much of a pass rush that would really help against a week offensive line like the one the Bears have. With decent protection, Jay Cutler should be able to connect with his receivers pretty easily. It’s been obvious that Cutler has very good chemistry with his receivers, and given the time Cutler will hit his guy.

Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher are both supposed to play Sunday. That’s big news for the Bears and their defense. If there is one thing the Bears do well it’s finding linebackers, and they have one of the best in Briggs.

Detroit Lions v Chicago Bears Predictions

Sunday will be the first big test for Lovie Smith and Mike Martz. The hype has been built, by the coaches, that this year will be different for Chicago and that they will make the playoffs.

If that’s the case, then the Bears can’t afford to lose matches in which they are favored to win.

I would really like to pick Detroit for the upset, but I can’t get comfortable doing it.

Lions-Bears pick: Bears win 24-10

Here is the viewing information:

Michigan at #12 Iowa

• Michigan-Iowa Date: Saturday, October 10th
• Michigan-Iowa Kickoff Time: 8:05 ET
• Michigan-Iowa TV: ABC
• Michigan-Iowa Spread: Iowa -8
• Michigan-Iowa Spread pick by Jerod: Michigan +8
• StubHub: Great deals on Michigan-Iowa tickets!
• StubHub: Great deals on all 2009 college football tickets!

The Wolverines current record is 4 and 1, with their only loss coming in Big 10 play. The Hawkeyes are 5 and 0, and boast an outstanding defense, as they have only allowed 67 points over the five game span. This in comparison to Michigan’s 117 points against. Michigan does have the edge in points for, with 170, to the Hawkeyes 124.

Freshman sensation Tate Forcier will play with his injured shoulder this week as he continues to be the Wolverines primary weapon on offense. Forcier currently has a 142.6 passer rating. He is 71 of 119 for 894 yards with 9 touchdowns to only 3 interceptions. Tate also has rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns on the year.

According to BetUS.com at the time of this article, Iowa was favored by 8 points, with the over / under not yet released.

For Kurt Fraschetti’s prediction, click this link!

Kurt Fraschetti / ProFootballinsight

Senior Fantasy Football Writer

MidwestSportsfans.com

Kurt@profootballinsight.net

As it is, we will have to adopt a team that is kind of in the Midwest…but not really: The Tennessee Titans.

As everyone knows, the Titans used the mustache voodoo of Jeff Fisher to jump out to a great start this season before falling back to the pack a bit. Led by a great game with rookie RB Chris Johnson and LenDale White, efficient QB play by Kerry Collins, and one of the most dominant defensive lines in the NFL, the Titans were able to secure the #1 seed in the AFC Playoffs.

And their reward?

The Baltimore Ravens, whose defense and running game are absolutely hitting on all cylinders right now. The Ravens and Titans will duke it out this weekend for the chance to go to the AFC Championship game, in what should be a physical, smash-mouth type of game that may make you sore just watching it from your couch.

Here are the particulars of the game, including TV schedule, announcer lineup, and point spreads. (As usual, point spread and over-under odds sponsored by the NFL Football Handicapping experts at DocSports.)

Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans

• Saturday, January 10, 2009
• TV Schedule: 4:30 ET on CBS
• Announcer lineup: Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf
• Point Spread: Tennessee Titans -3
• Over-Under: 34 1/2

(Follow the link to see the TV schedule, announcer pairings, and point spreads for the other NFL Divisional Round Playoff games this weekend.)

Before I give you mine, what is your prediction?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

And some good links as you get ready for gameday:

Ravens-Titans GameCenter with stats, team, info, etc. – (NFL.com)

Don’t forget that the Titans have a great defense too – (Thomas George, NFL.com)

Ravens-Titans Scouting Report – Expect a physical game (Pat Kirwan, NFL.com)

Injury News: Haynesworth practices, but Ed Reed, Todd Heap, and Derrick Mason do not — (Pro Football Talk)

I am really excited for this game. While I hate the Ravens, of course, there is no denying that the star power and play-making ability of their defense makes them an intriguing team to watch. What has been surprising about Baltimore this season has been the proficiency of their offense.

I think people are going a little too overboard in their praise of Joe Flacco — he is managing games and not making critical mistakes, but is by no means winning games — but the consistency of their run game has been deadly in recent weeks. Le’Ron McClain and Willis McGahee have used huge 4th quarter bursts to salt games away against Dallas and Miami, and it will be imperative that Tennessee stop these two guys in the second half and give Kerry Collins and the offense a chance to win the game.

I do think that Tennessee will somewhat put the clamps on Baltimore’s run game, but they won’t stop it completely. And I’m not sure I totally trust Joe Flacco to stay out of trouble against a physical, ball-hawking D.

However, I just can’t pick against the Ravens D. Ed Reed is a one man wrecking crew in the secondary, Ray Lewis has been playing great, and Terrell Suggs has been a monster rushing the passer. Tennessee has a right to demand respect for their defense, but they don’t have the proven big-game playmakers that the Ravens do. If Chris Johnson can break some runs, and Kerry Collins can hit some passes downfield, Tennessee has a chance.

But I think Baltimore is coming out ahead in this one, and moving on to face Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship game.

And if that happens, at least the Browns can take some pride that they played in the division with the two best teams in the AFC. Unfortunately, they just couldn’t compete with them. This weekend will be another reminder of why.

Baltimore Ravens 20 | Tennessee Titans 13