After suffering a crushing 26-20 overtime loss to their in-state and Big 10 rival Michigan State last week in, the now unranked Michigan Wolverines face the undefeated and #12th ranked Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City this weekend.

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

Well, if not demolish the Super Bowl wannabes, the Browns can at least sneak in a victory in Philly — plus get out of town in one piece. And that includes Cleveland’s last resort quarterback, Ken Dorsey, a well-spoken young man who looks good holding a clipboard.

Why do I believe? It’s not that I am a hopeless “homer” with all things Browns, but psychologically Cleveland has the edge simply because Philadelphia desperately needs this game to be a legitimate contender for the Super Bowl.

The Browns will play hard for their coach, Romeo Crennel, and for their own jobs next year if Crennel is not around.

But the biggest factor in the Browns favor is, it’s Monday Night Football, folks. And despite all odds, Cleveland is 2-0 this season in the must-see prime time game.

On Oct. 13, the Browns beat the reigning Super Bowl champs, the New York Football Giants at Cleveland Browns Stadium, 35-14, when no one (except for Midwest Sports Fans!) gave the struggling Browns a chance. And that was before Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn and Derek, again, got hurt.

In fact, Anderson played his best game of the season against Eli Manning’s team, earning a quarterback rating of 121.3 compared to his season average of 66.5 before going down with a leg injury.

And on Nov. 17, beneath the Monday Night lights in Buffalo, Quinn led the Browns to a 29-27 win against the play-off contending Bills, with a little help from field goal kicker Phil Dawson with less than two minutes to go.

The Browns Monday night magic stuck when the Buffalo kicker missed a field goal attempt with mere seconds to go. Buffalo never recovered its playoff form.

The Browns could win this game if:

1. Dorsey stays on his feet 50 percent of the time.

2. The Browns Good Defense shows up and Shaun Rogers plays like a beast and Brandon McDonald, D’Qwell Jackson and Mike Adams play the best games of their lives.

3. Donovan McNabb plays like he did when he was benched in the second half of the Baltimore game three weeks ago.

4. Braylon Edwards catches the long ball in the end zone (for the Browns first touchdown in four games.)

5. Joshua Cribbs plays a “wildcat” role and if is Josh runs wild the whole game.

6. Eagles running back Brian Westbrook sprains his ankle while running out on the field during pre-game introductions.

“If you count only (the Browns) Monday night games, they’re astonishingly good,” ESPN analyst Tony Kornheiser told The Plain Dealer. “I believe they could become only the second team ever to win three Monday night games — and not make the playoffs.”

OK, a back-handed compliment, perhaps, but with the Browns at 4-9, I’ll take it.

Who knows? If we beat up on the Eagles, the Browns might be invited to play in three Monday Night Football games next year.

I can hardly wait.

Go, Browns!

So what’s a girl to write about when her beloved team is playing a game that matters very little in the race toward the playoffs? Last season this game probably would have been stellar, considering both the Pack and the Jags were in playoff contention. Then again, last season both teams were good. But now, not so much.

I’m always rooting for my Packers to win, but I think we have a decent shot at victory on Sunday. Then again, I thought we had a decent shot at victory for a number of the games this season that we lost, so we’ll see how things pan out.

The Jags lost 30-17 in a Monday night game against the Texans two weeks ago, who walked all over our defense last week. However, we only lost that game by a field goal and stuck with things reasonably well. Jacksonville, on the other hand, lost by 13 points. If we’re looking only at the numbers in this trio of teams, Green Bay is more likely to come out on top in this game.

I’ll be watching the game with bated breath, as always. My fingers will be crossed that our defensive line can get some penetration and put pressure on David Garrard, the Jags quarterback. I will be hoping for some beautiful passes from Aaron Rodgers and some spectacular receptions from Donald Driver and Greg Jennings (and maybe an interception from Charles Woodson?). Most of all I will be hoping that the moment of collapse that has happened in nearly every game this season doesn’t happen Sunday.

My prediction is a Green Bay victory. But just remember, if you are a gambling man (or gambling woman—we don’t discriminate here at Midwest Sports Fans), that I am merely a college student and not a professional psychic, much as I would like to be sometimes.

Green Bay will sport an altered lineup on Sunday. The Packers signed former New York Jet Jeremy Kapinos on Wednesday to replace punter Derrick Frost. This lefty has shown exceptional promise in practice. His first punt sailed 50 yards, which is longer than any of Frost’s punts this season. Frost was let go from the Packer organization Monday after the atrocious game against the Carolina Panthers.

Scott Wells, who suffered from a concussion, is expected to start at center against Houston. After Wells was knocked out of the game against the Panthers, the offensive line was shaken up a bit, with right guard Jason Spitz moving the center and rookie Josh Sitton filling the spot at right guard.

The Packers aren’t the only ones switching things up for Sunday’s game. The Houston Texans will welcome Matt Schaub back as starting quarterback. Schaub hasn’t started a game since the second of November when he injured his left knee against the Vikings. Schaub felt well enough during Monday night’s win against the Jacksonville Jaguars to backup his replacement, Sage Rosenfels.

Long-time Texans long snapper (since 2003!) Bryan Pittman was suspended on Tuesday after violating the league’s steroid policy. Pittman was one of six players suspended by the NFL on Tuesday. He will be suspended for 4 games. He will be reinstated on December 29, which happens to be the day after the regular season comes to a close. His replacement is Clark Harris, a former Rutgers player drafted by the Pack back in 2007, who will suit up for the first time against his former team.

The Texans are expected to favor the run, especially with Matt Schaub making his first start in what feels like an eternity. The Packers’ defense has struggled this season, especially against the run, giving up an average of 140 yards per game. Texans running back Steve Slaton, who ran for 130 yards and made 2 touchdowns on Monday night, will feature heavily in the Texans’ offense attack.

Both teams are 5-7 and third in their respective divisions. Sunday’s game will be a test for both the Packers and the Texans. The Packers need to find some way to heal the wounds inflicted on their special teams and solidify their defensive line. The Texans need to realize the potential limitations of starting with Schaub, especially in unfavorable weather conditions.

Something tells me you already know I’m not talking about the Browns and Colts. Unfortunately, you would be right. (The matchup of titans is the afternoon game between the Patriots and Steelers.)

When the schedules came out, this late November game between the annual 12-game winning Indianapolis Colts and last year’s 10-win surprise Cleveland Browns looked like it could potentially have playoff (even homefield-type) implications.

Through 12 weeks of the 2008 season, it has become quite apparent that this is not the case. For a while, it looked like both the Browns and the Colts would fail to hold up their ends of the bargain. The Browns have been up-and-down all year; but mostly down, en route to a 4-7 record that leaves them as much for a playoff victory as Curtis Painter has for a Heisman Trophy.

The Colts came out of the gates sputtering, quite contrary to their typical modus operandi, but have gotten back on track lately. Peyton Manning is looking like his old self, injuries are starting to heal, and the rhythm of the Colts offense seems to be closer to normal — especially with Joseph Addai finally showing signs of life.

So who is going to win this game? Well, if you read this site you know that my predictions are always wrong and that I have picked the Browns to win all year long. Really, when viewed that way, the Browns poor season makes total sense

Let’s run through some keys to the game, without putting too much deep thought into this (because I think we all expect the Colts to win, and while I am holding out hope and will be cheering my ass for the Browns, what exactly is there in the last few weeks to make us legitimately feel like this is possible?).

Key #1: Will Bob Sanders play?

The answer is no. Not sure how severe the injury to Bob Sanders is, but from what I read this week it seems like the Colts are just being cautious with their superstar strong safety. And why shouldn’t they? I am sure they have total confidence that they can win without Bob Sanders, and they need to start thinking big picture. Without Bob Sanders to help try to stop Chris Johnson and LenDale White, Thomas Jones, Willie Parker, and the other RBs that will likely be in the playoffs, the Colts will be one-and-done. The Browns have done nothing to instill fear in the Colts that Bob Sanders’ presence is necessary for a win.

Advantage: Browns

Key #2: Where is the game being played?

In Cleveland. The Browns were 7-1 at home last year and nowhere near as hospitable as they have been this year. Collapses against Baltimore, Denver, and Houston have defined this season of errors for the Cleveland Browns. We’re at home again, where the term “home field advantage” means about as much as “steroid testing policy” in the Clemens house.

Advantage: Colts

Key #3: Who is playing Quarterback for Cleveland?

Earlier this week, we discussed nine options, in addition to Derek Anderson, who should be possibilities to start at QB for the Browns in the absence of Brady Quinn. As of 8:36 CT on Saturday night, Charlie Brown had a 20 vote edge over Sloth from Goonies, who was followed closely by Joshua Cribbs, LeBron James, and Zack Morris. Derek Anderson, the actual starter, was only 7th — sitting ignominiously behind Bill Cowher, who is old, mustachioed, and not a QB.

This can’t be a good sign for the Browns. Something tells me that if I had included Peyton Manning in the list of 10, he would have garnered more respect than to be behind a cartoon character, a freak from a Spielberg movie, an NBA player, a student from Bayside High School, and a studio analyst.

Read the article though, you’ll like it. Then come back here. I know you’re on the edge of your seat for my prediction.

Advantage: Colts

Key #4: Who is coaching for Cleveland?

Still Romeo Crennel. And Tony Dungy is still coaching for the Colts. This is not, in any way, shape, or form, advantageous for the Browns.

Now, I’ve heard some people whisper that the Browns will be “out for revenge” because Tony Dungy rested many of his best players in last season’s regular season finale against the Titans. The Titans beat the Colts in Week 17 last year and advanced to the playoffs. Had the Colts won, the Browns would have been in. Is it possible that the Browns players will be rabid with anger and revenge on their minds? Umm…I doubt it. It is still Romeo Crennel and Tony Dungy after all. I don’t think either one is giving a fire-and-brimstone speech in the pregame to stoke any such vendettas. Non story.

Advantage: Colts

Key #5: Who is JRod predicting to win?

Well, you all know that I want the Browns to win. And when I pick them to win, they lose. And logically speaking, if I had to bet $1,000,000 on this game, I would bet it on…the Browns. I know, I’m a fool, but what can I say? If someone put a gun to my head and said I had to place money on one team or the other, I’d rather suffer the gunshot wound than place money against the Browns.

But, in this post, I am predicting the Colts. And I am doing so for one very specific reason: my predictions are always wrong, meaning that if I go on record as saying the Colts will win, then perhaps my true desire will come true and the Browns will pull off the upset.

Advantage: Browns

This leaves the total score at 3-2, with the advantage in favor of the Colts. Excellent. (*diabolical, wicked laugh*) Exactly how I want it.

Colts 35 | Browns 31

Go Browns!

I know, I know — Mike Gundy is now 41 and his press conference rant is over a year old. Still, it does not make it any less funny. In fact, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane before we jump into the preview. But rather than listen to Mike Gundy rant about some “garbage” newspaper story, let’s watch him provide a weather report in the heart of a nasty storm.

And now, onto the serious stuff.

Here are the particulars for today’s Bedlam Series game between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State:

Matchup: #3 Oklahoma Sooners (10-1) at #12 Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-2)

Where: Stillwater, Oklahoma

Time: 8:00 ET

TV: ABC

Announcer Pairing: Brent Musberger, Kirk Herbstreit, Lisa Salters

Point Spread: Oklahoma -7 ½

Over-Under: 72

What’s at stake: This game will help determine who goes to the Big 12 Championship Game from the Big 12 South division.

Texas took care of Texas A&M on Thursday night, as expected. This means that if the favorites hold serve, with Oklahoma beating OSU and Texas Tech beating Baylor, then there will be a three-way tie in the Big 12 South. By tiebreaker rule, whichever team is tanked higher in the BCS Standings would then go on to play Missouri in the Big 12 Championship Game. This scenario is the only possible way that Oklahoma could play in the Big 12 Championship.

If Oklahoma loses today and Texas Tech beats Baylor, then Texas Tech will play in the Big 12 Championship based on its victory over Texas. If Texas Tech loses to Baylor and Oklahoma beats Oklahoma State, Texas goes to the Big 12 Championship game because the Longhorns beat Oklahoma earlier this year.

So there’s just a little bit at stake tonight in Stillwater.

Let’s take a quick look at what some of the “experts” are predicting:

Dennis Dodd, Senior Writer at CBS Sportsline: Oklahoma State 31 | Oklahoma 23

“I had this vision Saturday night of Mike Gundy sitting on a trunk somewhere drawing up ball plays as he watched OU on TV out of the corner of his eye. People are just assuming that Oklahoma is going to cruise past the Cowboys. The reason it won’t is Kendall Hunter. Gundy will use its All-America-worthy back to control the clock. OSU’s defense is underrated. The fans will be out for blood.”

For the record, the other four prognosticators at CBS Sportsline all picked Oklahoma to win.

John Tamanaha, Official Prognosticator at NBCSports.com: Oklahoma 48 | Oklahoma State 31

“With Mike Gundy calling the shots, Zac Robinson hooking up with Dez Bryant, and Kendall Hunter running the rock, Oklahoma State is more than capable of getting into a shootout with Oklahoma, especially at home in Stillwater. But the Cowboys won’t be able to come up with enough stops to stay within striking distance in the fourth quarter.”

Stewart Mandel, College Football Oracle at SI.com: Oklahoma 48 | Oklahoma State 24

“Theoretically, the Sooners are walking into a “hostile” atmosphere — except there will be 15,000 empty seats due to OSU’s inane policy requiring fans to buy season tickets in order to attend this one.”

And, for the record, 83% of the fans who had voted by 10:15 ET this morning had picked Oklahoma.
Sounds reasonable to me.

Here is why I think Oklahoma will win:

1 – Karma is a bitch

Oklahoma State instituted an insane policy this year that no single-game tickets would be sold for the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State game, instead forcing people to buy season tickets. Now, it is estimated that there will be 10,000-15,000 empty seats – for one of the biggest games of the season! Mike Gundy wants to talk about something being garbage? That’s garbage. No way the cosmic forces of college football allow Oklahoma State to win under such circumstances.

2 – Bob Stoops is better than Mike Gundy

It’s that simple. Look no further that the two team’s respective performances against Texas Tech. Graham Harrell made Oklahoma State look foolish, and Mike Gundy may as well have let T. Boone Pickens call the offensive plays. We all know what Stoops and the Sooners did to Texas Tech. Mike Gundy may be a man, but Bob Stoops is the man in the Big 12.

3 – The BCS is a bitch

If Oklahoma wins and Texas Tech wins, as explained earlier, all hell breaks loose. As any college football fan knows, the evil and diabolical BCS demon is not happy unless it has created as much carnage and controversy as possible. Texas Tech and Oklahoma will both win today, forcing the three-way tie in the Big 12 South that will be determined by politics and BS. And nothing says BCS better than politics and BS.

My prediction: Oklahoma 49 | Oklahoma State 31

And now, if you are a betting man, I’d run out an bet every last dollar on Oklahoma State pulling off the upset. I’m as accurate with my predictions as Lee Corso is sane. Just remember that I picked Texas Tech over Oklahoma as you click away from his prediction as fast as humanly possible.

Texas Tech comes into Saturday night’s matchup (at 8:00 ET on ABC) with an 10-0 record, a #2 ranking, and off of back-to-back wins over top 10 teams Texas and Oklahoma State. The Oklahoma Sooners will defend their home turf Saturday with a 9-1 record, a #5 ranking, and a loss to Texas (in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl) as their only blemish of the year.

Both teams have offenses that are pretty much ridiculous. Texas Tech, powered by the lethal combo of Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree, is #1 in the nation in passing yards per game with 438.6, and they are #2 in overall offense. Oklahoma is led by superstar sophomore Sam Bradford and is #4 in total offense and #3 in passing offense. Holy crap I am getting excited for this game.

If the over-under is anything less 100, take the over.

What are the keys to victory? I’ll run down a few in the preview and then offer up a prediction. But first, chime in with your prediction:

Texas Tech-Oklahoma Preview: Keys to victory for Texas Tech

1 — Emotion and Mindset

For two straight weeks, Texas Tech has played “the biggest game in school history” and they have won both of them. The Texas game was a knock down, drag out fight that they were able to pull out by the skin of their teeth with an incredible touchdown pass from Graham Harrell to Michael Crabtree in the final seconds. It is the kind of play a team makes when they are that season’s “darling of destiny.” (Case in point: think about Tennessee in 1998 and how they won a game on a phantom pass interference and another when Clint Stoerner fumbled while attempting to run out the clock. Some teams just get all the breaks for an entire season.)

Texas Tech needed no breaks against Oklahoma State, however. They thoroughly whooped the Cowboys, who failed to get Dez Bryant enough play-making opportunities. Now, the Red Raiders are 10-0 and have spent a two weeks since the Texas win listening to everyone tell them they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. Not to mention, they have played with a very high level of emotion and concentration for two consecutive weeks.

Can they maintain it? That is the key question. Norman will be a hostile environment and Oklahoma usually jumps out to early leads with their high-octane offense. If Texas Tech gets down, they can’t panic or lose their emotion. Emotion and mindset have been a strength of Texas Tech all year. It needs to be again.

2 — Pressure Sam Bradford to force turnovers

In Oklahoma’s lone loss this year, Sam Bradford was picked off twice by Texas. He has only been picked off four times in their other 9 games. Texas fell behind early but was able to come back because of timely special teams plays and turnovers. Sam Bradford has been spectacular through nearly two seasons, but has shown a propensity to lose his poise late in games or when Oklahoma is down. Texas Tech needs to capitalize on this and get to him every chance they can.

3 — Establish a ground game

Texas Tech is known for its aerial assault, but Texas won because they stayed committed to running the football. Colt McCoy threw 35 passes and as a team they ran it 35 times. Texas Tech doesn’t need such an even split (McCoy ran it 14 times himself, while Harrell won’t do that), but they do need to try to control the ball, especially late if they have a lead. The top two running backs for Texas Tech average over 5 yards per carry. The Red Raiders will rack up points behind the superb ability of Graham Harrell in leading the spread, but they can salt away a victory by pounding a struggling Oklahoma defense with the run.

Texas Tech-Oklahoma Preview: Keys to victory for Oklahoma

1 — Special frieking teams

Oklahoma has been plagued by special teams breakdowns all season long. They had Texas dead to rights with a 14-3 lead and all of the momentum before Jordan Shipley gave the Longhorns a glimmer of hope with a kickoff return for a TD. Oklahoma scored on the very next possession and could have been up 21-3. Instead, it was 21-10, and Texas got it back to 21-20 before the half. The Sooners dominated the first half in every way, but led by only one at the break. Take away the special teams failure and the game could have had a drastically different outcome.

Oklahoma almost always jumps out and has their offense clicking early. Texas Tech’s D has played well this year, but the offenses in the Big 12 this year, and Oklahoma specifically, have proven they could rack up points with 15 defenders on the field. If Oklahoma gets up early at home, they need to maintain their lead. If a special teams play can spark a struggling Red Raiders team, it could be deja vu all over again for Oklahoma in a big game at home.

2 — Sam Bradford needs to be better than Graham Harrell

In each of the key Big 12 games this year, the quarterback who has played better has been on the winning team. Colt McCoy outdueled Sam Bradford in Dallas, and Texas won. Graham Harrell made one more play that Colt McCoy in Lubbock, and Texas Tech won. Graham Harrell was better than Zack Robinson, Colt McCoy was better than Chase Daniel, and so on it goes.

Sam Bradford’s statistics are incredible. But the one whisper I continuously hear from people who watch the Big 12 closely is that Sam Bradford, while he has the prototypical body and arm of an NFL quarterback, lacks the moxie and winning ability of Colt McCoy and Graham Harrell. This game will be Sam Bradford’s chance to prove that he is a legit Heisman contender and that he can lead a team to victory in a hue game. He failed against Texas, but Oklahoma needs him to be better than the de facto Heisman front-runner right now, Graham Harrell. And part of Sam Bradford being able to do this will be the ability of his offensive line to protect him adequately.

3 — Bob Stoops needs to be better than Mike Leach

Last week, Texas Tech kicked the snot out of Oklahoma State because Mike Leach had his team mentally, emotionally, and tactically more prepared to play than Mike Gundy did. Oklahoma State inexplicably did not use Dez Bryant correctly, and their defense had no answer for Texas Tech. The defense part is not so egregious, because no defense can stop Texas Tech.

But no defense has been able to stop Oklahoma either. And while Texas Tech possesses one of the better defense’s Oklahoma has faced all year, they shouldn’t be able to contain Sam Bradford and the balanced attack of the Sooners — if Bob Stoops doesn’t screw it up, that is. His offense has been superb all year, but coaches sometimes outthink themselves and try to do “special” things in big games. I think this is what has made Mike Leach such a great coach: Texas Tech does what it does and it doesn’t seem to change from the preseason to regular season. They just execute and understand their identity.

Bob Stoops, however, does not have the reputation of a great big game coach; and I think part of the reason why is that he makes the same mistake other coaches make by not staying committed to doing the things they do well. Stoops and the Oklahoma coaches need to let Sam Bradford run the show and not outthink themselves. You know that Mike Leach will do so for Graham Harrell, which is why Graham Harrell has been so good in key spots.

Texas Tech-Oklahoma Prediction

I was really leaning towards picking Oklahoma when I began writing this. They are at home, Texas Tech has to be emotionally drained from the last two weeks, and Oklahoma’s offense is, overall, every bit as good as Texas Tech’s.

But there are two key differences between Texas Tech and Oklahoma: Graham Harrell-Mike Leach and Sam Bradford-Bob Stoops.

Graham Harrell has proven that he is clutch this season, and that he is the type of zone where he believes that he can make every play. Sam Bradford couldn’t do this in his biggest test of the season against Texas. And despite Bob Stoops longer and more decorated coaching resume, I actually trust Mike Leach more in a big game to have his team ready to play, and to not lose its identity. Bob Stoops and Sam Bradford can change my mind with a win Saturday night, but I’m not ready to bank my credibility as a prognosticator on it.

The Sooners are favored by somewhere around 6, but I’m taking the Red Raiders outright (and, like I said, the over if it’s anywhere under 100).

Texas Tech 56 – Oklahoma 52 in an another 2008 Big 12 instant classic.

[tags]texas tech red raiders, oklahoma sooners, college football, big 12[/tags]

(For the latest on Kellen Winslow’s current spat with Browns’ management, visit the Cleveland Browns news page or read the post specifically regarding Kellen Winslow being upset, and Romeo Crennel’s reaction.)

This Sunday, the Cleveland Browns (2-3) travel to the nation’s capital to take on the Washington Redskins (4-2). A week ago, with the Browns sitting at 1-3 and with little momentum and the Redskins coming off two straight division wins and sitting at 4-1, this game appeared to be little more than an afterthought in the NFL schedule.

However, after last weekend’s results, this game is now much more important; and much less obvious to predict.

Monday night, the Cleveland Browns shocked the NFL by defeating the previously undefeated New York Giants. The shock was not that the Browns won the game — we all know that anyone in the NFL can beat anyone else on any given Sunday (or Monday). What was shocking was the way the Browns won the game. Other than committing too many false start penalties, the Browns were quintessentially efficient as they became one of the only four teams since 1963 to complete an entire game without turning the ball over, punting, or taking a sack. Mind you, this was an offense coming in that appeared to not know its elbow from its a-hole (to borrow the famously used line in commercials uttered by Shannon Sharpe on NFL Films).

Furthermore, the Browns’ secondary dominated the game when the Giants had the ball. Eli Manning had been on a roll ever since the end of last season, while the Browns’ young secondary was much maligned in the offseason for being too unproven and inexperienced to be anything more than a liability. However, second-year cornerback Eric Wright was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after sealing the victory with an INT return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter; and Brandon McDonald and Brodney Pool also each stole an errant pass of Manning’s.

Led by the secondary, as well as a career-high receiving day from Braylon Edwards and a return to form for Derek Anderson, the Cleveland Browns completed a 35-14 victory of the New York Giants, the NFL’s consensus top team at the time.

On the flip side, Washington came into last weekend riding high after consecutive road victories over the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. Led by a resurgent Jason Campbell and the punishing running of Clinton Portis, the Redskins were rolling and beginning to make believers out of NFL pundits across the country. They ran into a buzzsaw last Sunday, though — facing a winless St. Louis Rams team that had been liberated from incompetent head coaching rule of Scott Linehan. The Rams found a way to do something they haven’t done much over the last two years: win. Clinton Portis said after the game that the culpability for the loss fell to the Redskins players, who seemed to buy into their own hype and did not take the Rams seriously enough.

After their experience from the last weekend, and watching the Cleveland Browns on Monday night, there is very little chance that the Washington Redskins will overlook their opponent this weekend.

Here a few of the most important keys to this Sunday’s game (4:15 ET) between the Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins:

1 — The health of Kellen Winslow. ***For the most up-to-date information on Kellen Winslow, which have may changed since this posting, go to the Cleveland Browns news page***

Kellen Winslow was finally released from the hospital on Monday and spent the next three days at his home receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness. It appears that Kellen Winslow will practice on Friday, but his status for the Sunday game with the Redskins remains in doubt. In his absence on Monday, Steve Heiden and Darnell Dinkins picked up the slack and had productive games, but even Heiden knows that the Browns need Kellen Winslow to experience significant long term success.

In discussing his increased role Monday night with Winslow on the sidelines, Heiden said: “You want to be as involved as you can be, but in the years when I was catching all those balls, we had what, five wins? Last year, I caught 12 and we won 10 games. I would much rather win games than catch footballs.”

People are starting to whisper that the Browns without Kellen Winslow could be like the New York Giants last season, who took off once their outspoken tight end, Jeremy Shockey, was lost for the season to injury. I can understand the analogy, but I firmly believe it is false. One good game from Steve Heiden and Darnell Dinkins does not prove that the Cleveland Browns experience addition by subtraction with Winslow out of the lineup. He is passionate and outspoken, but I have never heard any leaks out of the Browns camp that Kellen Winslow is anything but a positive influence and emotional leader on this team and his quarterback. The Browns is offense adds one more element of dynamic play-making potential with Kellen Winslow on the field. I think it is a severe disadvantage if he is forced to miss this game due to the mystery injury. As of right now, it looks like this is case — and you have to wonder how effective he would be even if he was able to suit up given his lack of activity during the week.

2 — The running game of the Washington Redskins.

Besides the false start penalties, the only other glaring red flag from the Monday nighter against the Giants was the Browns’ inability to stop the run. Granted, the Giants have run it on everyone this year, coming into the Monday night game averaging 5.8 yards per rush. And they continued on Monday, gouging the Browns defense up the middle over and over again. Luckily, the defensive backs were able to make plays that killed drives, and the Browns were able to pressure Eli Manning when he wasn’t handing the ball off.

The Browns need to fix their run defense though. They are giving up 137 yards rushing per game, while the Redskins and Clinton Portis come into this Sunday averaging 152.3 yards per game on the ground. The bright side for the Browns is that Clinton Portis is not practicing this week due to injury, though he will play. How effective will he be? That remains to be seen. Former NFL MVP Shaun Alexander was signed this week to fill in for the injured Ladell Betts as Portis’ primary backup. Obviously, the more the Browns see of Soft Alexander the better.

I see this as a statement game for the Browns’ front 7, just as Monday night was for the offense going up against a great defense in the Giants.. Stopping the run has been an issue all year, and the Browns D has a chance to prove that they are capable of doing so against a team that runs the ball proficiently. If the Redskins can control the clock and eat up yards on the ground, Jason Campbell becomes a much more effective quarterback and is not forced to win games on his own. The Redskins had turned the ball over once this season before last weekend’s game against St. Louis. The main reason is their ability to run the ball effectively and mostly stay out of desperate down and distance measurements to keep drives alive. These are the circumstances that oftentimes precede poor throws from QBs trying to make plays. Jason Campbell has played with confidence and control because he can rely on one of the best ground attacks in the NFL.

In Week 1, the Giants held Clinton Portis to under 85 yards and they lost. The Browns need to fight and claw to do the same this weekend and put more of the onus on Jason Campbell to beat them. He may prove capable, but I’ll take my chances with a still unproven quarterback as opposed to Clinton Portis controlling the game. Luckily for the Browns, the Redskins backs are injured or old and rusty, so this could turn into a surprising advantage on Sunday.

3 — The play of the quarterbacks

True, it is easy to call this a key to the game because nearly every NFL game is decided by the effectiveness of the quarterbacks. But in the case of the Browns and Redskins, two teams built around talented but inexperienced and erratic quarterbacks, they truly go as their quarterbacks go.

Based on the totality of the season thus far, the Redskins would seem to have the advantage here. Jason Campbell has been coolly efficient, with a 96.2 QB rating, 6 TDs, and no INTs. Derek Anderson, on the other hand, has basically played six good quarters of football and 14 subpar quarters. Buoyed by his Monday night performance, Derek Anderson has raised his QB rating from the depths of Tyler Thigpen territory to a more respectable (but still pathetic) 64.1. He has 5 TDs and 6 INTs.

They key to this game will be interceptions, as it was for the Browns on Monday night and has been for the Redskins all year. Derek Anderson is prone to making bad reads and poor decisions — even when playing well, he is good for at least two or three hiccups a game. The hope is that the poorly thrown balls or bad decisions find their way to the ground and not an opponent’s hands. Working in Derek Anderson’s favor is the fact that the Washington Redskins’ secondary is banged up. Shawn Springs has been hurt, but participated in practice towards the end of the week. Fred Smooth was limited in the practice, while Carlos Rogers has an injured calf and has not suited up yet this week. A secondary at less than optimal effectiveness will obviously be a boon for the Browns resurgent offense, which now has Donte Stallworth opposite Braylon Edwards.

The Browns proved last year, and again on Monday night, that they need the deep pass to be a major part of their offense. Rod Chudzinski must allow Derek to air it out to Braylon and Donte down the field to open up the middle for the battering ram Jamal Lewis. This is the formula for success for the Browns. If Derek can stay away from the interceptions, as he did Monday night, the Browns have an excellent chance of moving the ball through the air against a Washington defense already giving up more than 200 yards passing per game and coming in banged up.

On the flip side, the Browns absolutely have to continue forcing turnovers. The most pleasant surprise of this young season of frustration for the Browns has been the playmaking ability of the defense. Kamerion Wimbley still needs to find that extra burst to complete sacks when he gets close, and Shaun Rogers must continue to be a stalwart in the middle, and D’Qwell Jackson must continue flying to ball and being a consistent tackler; but most importantly, the Browns defensive secondary must make Jason Campbell when he makes a mistake. On Monday night, Eli Manning paid dearly for his mistakes, and Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald are giving Browns fans hope that this can become a consistent theme of the Browns defense.

With the Redskins’ running game a question mark, it is reasonable to expect Jason Campbell to throw the ball more than normal on Sunday. I think this plays right into the hands of the Browns. Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright are small, quick cornerbacks. And though it was usually Terry Cousins getting burned by Plaxico Burress when the Giants were able to move it through the air, big receivers can give the Browns trouble. Washington, however, employs Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El on the outside. Both are playmakers, and quick as hell, but they won’t be able to abuse the Browns because of their height. Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald have to come out and neutralize the outside passing game of the Redskins. Ideally, the Browns defense can force Jason Campbell into his first one or two interceptions and provide more opportunities for an offense that is getting its swagger back.

Prediction

This is a tough game to predict, but one thing is for sure: both of these teams will come out ready to play. The Browns are 2-3, and still in jeopardy of seeing their playoffs slip away with a few more losses early in the season. They will not be resting on the laurels of their Monday Night victory, but will be hungry for me and prove it was not a fluke. The Redskins are in a very competitive division and coming off a surprising upset defeat to a previously winless game. They will not be taking the Browns lightly, especially after watching what Cleveland did to their NFC East brethren Monday night.

I would be very surprised if this is not a close game that comes down to the 4th quarter. If Kellen Winslow is able to go and be effective for the Browns, obviously it would boost their chances. Either way, I see the Browns completing a two week sweep of a couple of NFC East powerhouses. The injury to Clinton Portis places the durability of the Redskins’ running game in doubt. There is no doubt about the durability of the Browns running game. If the Browns can get to the 4th quarter with a lead (and I think they will, powered by a few big plays downfield that take advantage of the Redskins’ hampered secondary) I think Jamal Lewis and the offensive line will be able to close it out. And look for Eric Wright or Brandon McDonald to come up with another 4th quarter interception from a quarterback in Jason Campbell who gets out of his comfort zone trying to put the game on his shoulders with Portis not at full strength.

It won’t be easy by any means, but this is a game the Browns can go on the road and steal.

Cleveland Browns 24 Washington Redskins 17

(And remember, we were right about the Browns-Giants game. Just saying…)

[tags]nfl, football, cleveland browns, washington redskins, kellen winslow, prediction[/tags]