NFL 2011 - Week 6 picks.....

The bye week (while I despise them) look like they are lining up to help teams heal, while for others it will allow them to make the necessary adjustments to help their teams get back on track. The Lions and Packers are still the remaining undefeated teams, while the Rams, Colts and Dolphins are still looking for win number one.

A game under even for the week, which put the "losing" streak at three weeks, but the overall record is still sitting above the level mark. On to week six. Enjoy.

NFL 2011 - Week 6 picks (Home team in CAPS)

FALCONS (-4 1/2) over Panthers - Didn't see Atlanta having a must win game in week 6, but that is where the Falcons are at this week. They will need to keep Cam Newton under control, but being at home will help Atlanta get back on track.
GIANTS (-3 1/2) over Bills - Typical Giant letdown last week against Seattle and most will feel it continues against Buffalo, but here is where the New York will confound everyone and get the win over Buffalo. The Bills will put up points, but Eli Manning will put up more.
Colts (+6 1/2) over BENGALS - Indy had their chance for the win last week and end up blowing the 17 point lead at home to Kansas City, but they have been playing tough and keeping games close. See the same here as the Bengals win, but the Colts hang tough.
LIONS (-4 1/2) over 49ers - Potential playoff match-up? I would say this is the Lions' letdown week, but who thought the 49ers would be at 4-1 at this time? Detroit will have a struggle here, but with the game being at home, I'll give the edge to the Lions.
PACKERS (-14 1/2) over Rams - St. Louis is bad, while Green Bay is terrific. Packer players will pad multiple offensive stats.
Eagles (+ 1/2) over REDSKINS - I might be the last one beside Eagle diehards to still believe this team can win. Washington can put the dagger into the Eagle season here, but Philly will somehow get this win and muddle the NFC East even further.
STEELERS (-12 1/2) over Jaguars - Pittsburgh showed that they are not giving up on the season after last week's whipping of the Titans and I feel it will continue this week against a bad Jacksonville team. Just can't see the Jaguars scoring much against the Steeler defense.
Browns (+5 1/2) over RAIDERS - Emotional victory last week for the Raiders in Houston last week and this week they face a Cleveland team coming off their bye. Oakland will keep its winning ways, but it will be a struggle as the Browns keep it close.
RAVENS (-7 1/2) over Texans - Want to say the Texans keep it close, but Arian Foster is banged up and no Andre Johnson means not much offense for Houston against the Raven defense. Expect a big load of Ray Rice running and receiving.
Cowboys (+7 1/2) over PATRIOTS - New England faces another "Ryan" defense this week with Rob's Cowboys coming to town. Dallas secondary still a bit banged up. This should be a high scoring affair, but at the end the Patriots will get the victory, but Dallas stays with them throughout.
Saints (-4 1/2) over BUCCANEERS - Tampa Bay didn't even show up last week against the 49ers and that was a giant surprise. New Orleans had to work hard to get the victory in Carolina, but they could really put some distance between them and their division rivals with a victory this week.
BEARS (-3 1/2) over Vikings - Minnesota defensive line probably licking their chops to get at that Chicago offensive line, but do they have an answer to slow down Matt Forte? Vikings ran Adrian Peterson plenty last week, but will they do it again the Bear defense?
Dolphins (+7 1/2) over JETS - New York is on a three game losing streak and have the winless Dolphins coming to town. The Jets will "press" in trying to get off the losing slide and will allow Miami to keep it close and give them a scare, if not the outright upset.

Week 5: 6-7
2011 season: 39-37-1

College Football 2011 - Week 7.....

A perfect 6-0 week for the first time this year. This week has four match-ups of ranked teams, including the battle for Michigan. Enjoy.

Week 7 games (Home team in CAPS)

Michigan (#11) over MICHIGAN STATE (#23) - This will be a tough game for the Wolverines on the road in East Lansing, but Denard Robinson will be too much for the Spartan defense.
Baylor (#20) over TEXAS A&M (#21) - Robert Griffin had 8 incompletions last weekend, but he'll bounce back from that down week and lead the Bears to a tough road victory over an Aggie team that is starting to hit some bumps.
Oklahoma State (#6) over TEXAS (#22) - A tough stretch here for Texas with their second straight game against an opponent from their neighbor to the north. The Cowboys might be able to match the Sooner output against the Longhorn defense.
OREGON (#9) over Arizona State (#18) - Looks like LaMichael James is out with the dislocated elbow, but the Ducks will tighten the ship and beat the Sun Devils who are looking to sneak the the Pac 12 upset.
Florida over AUBURN (#24) - The Gators, along with Florida State and Miami are not ranked for the first time in many years. Something tells me the Gators get it together and knock off the Tigers on the road.
Ohio State over ILLINOIS (#16) - Another "not sure why", but I think Illinois is vulnerable and this is the week they get knocked off by a Buckeye team licking their wounds after blowing their second half lead last week against Nebraska.

Week 6: 6-0
2011 season: 25-11

NFL 2011 - Week 5 picks.....

So what have we learned after 4 weeks of the NFL season? We know the offenses are good. Real good. But at the end of the day, it will be defense that separates the good from the great teams. The Lions and Packers are the only undefeated teams, while the Colts, Dolphins, Vikings and Rams still have not won yet this year. Think about that for a minute. We have the Lions undefeated, while the Colts are winless. It is bizarro world.

Second losing week in a row puts us close to the breakeven level for the year. It is the start of the "bye weeks", so we have an abbreviated schedule.

NFL 2011 - Week 5 picks (Home team in CAPS)

Eagles (-2 1/2) over BILLS - Everything points towards the Bills keeping the misery going in Philadelphia, but I think the Eagles win a shootout to get back on the winning track. Last week's loss to the 49ers might have been the wake-up call Philadelphia needed, while the Bills suffered their first loss in Cincinnati. Nice running back match-up with LeSean McCoy and Fred Jackson.
Bengals (+2 1/2) over JAGUARS - Battle of the rookie QBs in Blaine Gabbert and Andy Dalton. Which one makes the least mistakes to win the game. Cincinnati is playing better defense than Jacksonville and it will help lead them to the road victory over the Jags.
Titans (+7 1/2) over STEELERS - Seattle didn't want Matt Hasselbeck for what reason? Who had the Titans at 3-1, while being last in rushing offense? This would be a statement win for Tennessee. I think the Steelers win, but it is a real scrap.
COLTS (-2 1/2) over Chiefs - Only because the game is in Indy. The Chiefs have looked a little better the past couple of weeks, but the Colts have too many vets and will get on the winning side of the ledger for the first time in 2011.
Raiders (+6 1/2) over TEXANS - No Andre Johnson for the Texans and Darrin McFadden's running for Oakland, means a very close game. Overall Houston is the better team and must win these type of games at home to be considered a post season threat. Arian Foster should get plenty of carries to offset the lessened passing game for the Texans.
VIKINGS (-2 1/2) over Cardinals - Beanie Wells running well for the Cardinals, but the other running back in the game is the best in the league. When are the Vikings just going to keep giving the ball to AP and just see what happens? Maybe this week so they can finally get that goose egg out of the win column.
Saints (-5 1/2) over PANTHERS - I've been seeing one as the "upset special" of the week and I just don't see it. Yes, the Panthers have been better this year, but that Saint offense can put up 35 points almost every game and will do so against Carolina.
GIANTS (-9 1/2) over Seahawks - Everything says this is a letdown game for New York after they snuck out of the dessert last week with the win. I just love their defensive line up against the Seattle offense, plus quietly Eli Manning is doing a very good job this year with a depleted receiving group.
Buccaneers (+1 1/2) over 49ERS - I did not see both of these teams at 3-1 after the first quarter of the season. Neither will blow an opponent out and use their running games led by LeGarrette Blount and Frank Gore to control clock. In the end, Josh Freeman just seems to get wins and I have more confidence in him than Alex Smith.
Chargers (-4 1/2) over BRONCOS - This should be a no-brainer with the small spread, but San Diego always seem to be in close games against lesser opponents. Rivers may have no Gates or Jackson this week, but in the end, if the Chargers want to be considered "elite" in the AFC they must win big against a poor Bronco team.
Jets (+9 1/2) over PATRIOTS - I have not like this Jet team all year, but Rex Ryan will have them up for their rivals in New England. Normally I would expect Brady & Belichick to get revenge for last year's playoff loss and blowout New York, but the Patriot defense is so poor, it will be a close score at the end.
Packers (-5 1/2) over FALCONS - Atlanta escapes Seattle last week and have many questioning what is going on with this team picked by many to challenge for the NFC crown. Does not get any easier with Aaron Rodgers and the Packer offense coming to town. Green Bay remains undefeated and repeats last year's playoff beatdown.
LIONS (-5 1/2) over Bears - I keep on wanting to go against Detroit, but it will not be this week. Poor Chicago and Jay Cutler get to deal with a raucous crowd excited for a Monday Night game, which will make the Lion pass rush that much quicker and better. It could get ugly for Cutler and the Chicago offensive line.

Week 4: 7-9
2011 season: 33-30-1

College Football 2011 - Week 6.....

Are we looking at a definite powerhouse game with Alabama-LSU in a month, or will one of them stumble on the way to this year's "Game of the Century"? Not a great week for ranked match-ups, but we do have the "Red River Rivalry" to headline the week. Enjoy.

Week 6 games (Home team in CAPS)

STANFORD (#7) over Colorado - Andrew Luck has done nothing to dispel his Heisman hype, nor the fact that he is head and shoulders above all else in being next year's first pick in the NFL draft. The Cardinal roll over the Buffaloes.
VIRGINIA TECH (#21) over Miami - What are the chances the Hokies lose a second straight conference home game in Blacksburg? Personally, I think almost next to impossible, but Virginia Tech needs to watch out that they don't make this about "revenge" and just take care of business or that second loss will be a reality.
CLEMSON (#8) over Boston College - Will BC be the bump in the road that will derail Tiger fans just as they are starting to believe in how good this Clemson team is? Well, I went against them the last two weeks and they showed me they are "for real". I get on the bandwagon and wait for that showdown later with Georgia Tech.
ARKANSAS (#10) over Auburn (#15) - Auburn's defense has been pretty bad this year, but came up big against South Carolina last week (with the help of benched Gamecock QB, Stephen Garcia). This week they get a very good offense in Arkansas. The Hogs roll up a bunch of points and win this SEC match-up.
LSU (#1) over Florida (#17) - Florida loses it quarterback in John Brantley and now faces the LSU defense in Baton Rouge. Yikes. Gator defense must be outstanding for even a chance, but will come up short on the road.
Oklahoma (#3) over Texas (#11) (in Dallas) - Texas is quietly undefeated and highly ranked after last year's blimp, but not good enough to beat the Sooners. Expect a tough game, but the Oklahoma talent will be too much for the Longhorns.

Week 5: 4-2
2011 season: 19-11

NFL 2011 (Week 4) - The SFB Podcast (9/30/2011).....

Week 4 of the NFL season. Going to try and bounce back after my first losing week of the season. Below are my picks for the week, while the podcast will preview the week and breakdown the picks. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: September 30, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

NFL 2011 - Week 4 picks (Home Team in CAPS)

Bills (-3 1/2) over BENGALS
BEARS (-6 1/2) over Panthers
BROWNS (-1 1/2) over Titans
Lions (+3 1/2) over COWBOYS
Vikings (-1 1/2) over CHIEFS
RAMS (pick) over Redskins
Saints (-7 1/2) over JAGUARS
EAGLES (-6 1/2) over 49ers
TEXANS (-3 1/2) over Steelers
Falcons (-4 1/2) over SEAHAWKS
Giants (-1 1/2) over CARDINALS
PACKERS (-13 1/2) over Broncos
RAIDERS (+4 1/2) over Patriots
Dolphins (+8 1/2) over CHARGERS
RAVENS (-3 1/2) over Jets
Colts (+9 1/2) over BUCCANEERS

Week 3: 7-9
2011 season: 26-21-1

College Football 2011 - Week 5.....

OK, Notre Dame fans, I am not the bad luck charm you claimed me to be as the Irish held off Pittsburgh to even their record at 2-2. Another four matchups of ranked teams meeting up this weekend, including a "Welcome to the Big 10" for Nebraska as they go to Camp Randall in Wisconsin.

Week 5 games (Home team in CAPS)

Notre Dame over PERDUE - The Irish looking to get on the winning side of the season ledger, but will need to stay focused as they travel to West Lafayette to face Perdue or they will get a surprise.
SOUTH CAROLINA (#10) over Auburn - These Auburn team is terrible on defense and will not give the Gamecocks much of a fight as long as the South Carolina offense takes care of the ball. A big "if" sometimes for QB, Stephen Garcia.
ARKANSAS (#18) over Texas A&M (#14) - An early "hello" for the Aggies from a future conference opponent. Both teams coming off losses to ranked opponents and both want to get back on track. Hogs at home should come out on top.
VIRGINIA TECH (#11) over Clemson (#13) - Second ranked game for Clemson against an ACC opponent. The Tigers are coming off a big win against Florida State, but will stumble against the tough Hokie team on the road.
Alabama (#3) over FLORIDA (#12) - The Gators have done a solid job so far this year, but will be moving up in class when facing SEC rival Alabama. The Swamp will be rocking, but it will be the Tide rolling over Florida to sent the home folks home a little sad.
WISCONSIN (#7) over Nebraska (#8) - A "Welcome to the BIG 10" to Nebraska as their first conference opponent are the Badgers and they get to travel to Madison. Russell Wilson has been stellar so far for Wisconsin and will be the difference, along with the Camp Randall atmosphere.


Week 4: 5-1
2011 season: 15-9

MLB's Wild Finish - The SFB Podcast (9/29/2011).....

What a way to end the baseball season, unless you are a Red Sox or Braves fan. You could not script a better ending and it is the reason I love sports. There is no better reality TV. I'll look back at what happened in Atlanta, Tampa and Baltimore with each game coming down to the final at bat, and the rest of the games that effected playoff teams. Plus a look at the playoffs and the season awards. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: September 29, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

NFL Week 3 review - The SFB Podcast (9/27/2011).....

So three weeks are complete in this NFL season and we are down to only three undefeated teams. Green Bay. Check. Detroit. A surprise, but OK. Buffalo. What? Please repeat that as you must be mistaken. No mistake as the Bills comeback from 21 down to upset the New England Patriots. We'll cover the Bills victory and the rest of the games from the NFL weekend. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: September 27, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

NFL 2011 (Week 3) - The SFB Podcast (9/23/2011).....

Week 3 of the NFL season. Below are my picks for the week, while the podcast will preview the week and breakdown my picks. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: September 23, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

NFL 2011 - Week 3 picks (Home Team in CAPS)

Patriots (-8 1/2) over BILLS
BENGALS (-2 1/2) over 49ers
Dolphins (+2 1/2) over BROWNS
TITANS (-6 1/2) over Broncos
Lions (-3 1/2) over VIKINGS
SAINTS (-3 1/2) over Texans
Giants (+7 1/2) over EAGLES
Jaguars (+2 1/2) over PANTHERS
CHARGERS (-14 1/2) over Chiefs
RAIDERS (+3 1/2) over Jets
Ravens (-3 1/2) over RAMS
Falcons (+1 1/2) over BUCCANEEERS
Packers (-3 1/2) over BEARS
Cardinals (-3 1/2) over SEAHAWKS
Steelers (-10 1/2) over COLTS
Redskins (+6 1/2) over COWBOYS

Week 2: 10-6
2011 season: 19-12-1

College Football 2011 - Week 4.....

Notre Dame fans rejoiced as I went with Michigan State last week, which of course meant an Irish win. Well, sorry ND fans, but I am back on the wagon, although I am only holding on by a couple of fingers. Four match-ups this week are involving ranked teams, with three of them being conference games.

Week 4 games (Home team in CAPS)

Notre Dame over PITTSBURGH - Notre Dame still turned the ball over last week, but they overcame those problems and look to be back on track. Stop groaning Irish fans.
Oregon (#10) over ARIZONA - The Wildcats had Stanford with Andrew Luck come to town last week and now they get the high octane Oregon offense. No rest for the weary and the Ducks roll.
ALABAMA (#3) over Arkansas (#14) - Do we have a ranked SEC matchup every weekend? Arkansas has pulled off this upset before, but not this year as they travel to Alabama and don't have the comforts of home.
Oklahoma State (#7) over TEXAS A&M (#8) - It is so strange to talk about the demise of the Big 12, but then see five ranked teams within the top 25. Everything tells me to take A&M, but I think the Cowboys win a high scoring road show.
Florida State (#11) over CLEMSON (#21) - Tough loss for Florida State last week against top ranked Oklahoma, but now it is time to concentrate on the ACC Title and that means taking care of business on the road against the Tigers. Death Valley is a tough place, but the Seminoles have too much talent for Clemson.
Louisiana State (#2) over WEST VIRGINIA (#16) - Another road game for LSU against a ranked opponent and this time they visit a Big East opponent in the Mountianeers. Mountaineer Field is a tough place to play, but Les Miles' Tigers will show the SEC mettle and get another victory.


Week 3: 3-3
2011 season: 10-8

NFL Week 2 review - The SFB Podcast (9/20/2011).....

Second weekend of the season saw a couple of upsets, but mostly what it did was seem to put almost the whole league at 1-1. What we are seeing is a ton of offense. When will the defenses start to catch up, or are we at the start of a record setting offensive year? Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: September 20, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

NFL 2011 (Week 2) - The SFB Podcast (9/16/2011).....

Week 2 of the NFL season. Below are my picks for the week, while the podcast will preview the week and breakdown my picks. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: September 16, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

NFL 2011 - Week 2 picks (Home Team in CAPS)

BILLS (-3 1/2) over Raiders
SAINTS (-7 1/2) over Bears
Browns (-2 1/2) over COLTS
LIONS (-8 1/2) over Chiefs
Packers (-10 1/2) over PANTHERS
TITANS (+5 1/2) over Ravens
Buccaneers (+3 1/2) over VIKINGS
Jaguars (+10 1/2) over JETS
REDSKINS (-4 1/2) over Cardinals
STEELERS (-14 1/2) over Seahawks
Cowboys (+2 1/2) over 49ERS
Bengals (+5 1/2) over BRONCOS
Texans (-2 1/2) over DOLPHINS
Chargers (+6 1/2) over PATRIOTS
FALCONS (+2 1/2) over Eagles
Rams (+6 1/2) over GIANTS

Week 1: 9-6-1
2011 season: 9-6-1

College Football 2011 - Week 3.....

What a game Saturday Night in The Big House between Michigan and Notre Dame. That was exciting and a great college football atmosphere. As for my pick of ND, well that wasn't as good. Couple of Top 25 match-ups this week, including top ranked Oklahoma visiting #5 Florida State.

Week 3 games (Home team in CAPS)

Louisiana State (#3) over MISSISSIPPI STATE (#25) - Would have been a more interesting match-up if MSU had not tripped up last week against Auburn. Will be good test for LSU.
Michigan State (#15) over NOTRE DAME - I hope not to hurt my legs jumping off the Notre Dame bandwagon. Of course this will be the week the Irish shine.
Texas (#23) over UCLA - The Longhorns go out west, but get a very down UCLA team. Texas likes that Rose Bowl turf.
Stanford (#6) over ARIZONA - Nice Pac 12 match-up, but this is a good Stanford team and should get a tough conference win on the road.
Ohio State (#17) over MIAMI - Game of two troubled universities. Ohio State looks like they have put the distractions behind them, while I am not sure the same can be said of Miami.
FLORIDA STATE (#5) over Oklahoma (#1) - Last time in Norman, the Sooners trounced the Seminoles, but I think it will be a much closer game this year in Tallahassee. That home field advantage gives Florida State that extra boost to sneak a victory over the nation's top ranked team.

Week 2: 4-2
2011 season: 7-5

NFL Week 1 review - The SFB Podcast (9/13/2011).....

The opening weekend of the NFL season is in the books and while some will be jumping to conclusions, I'll just review the games from the weekend and only large step to some conclusions after only one game. If the first week is any indication, those of you who like offense, will love this year. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: September 13, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

College Football 2011 - Week 2.....

It was an interesting first week of the college football season as LSU showed that the distraction around losing their starting QB was not going to be a distraction at all. In Texas, TCU gave up 50 points to Baylor, which is more than they gave upon the road all last season. While in Atlanta, Boise State again showed they are serious about making the BCS boys sweat.

Week 2 games (Home team in CAPS):

USC over Utah - Trojan receivers dropped 8 passes last week against Minnesota. That doesn't happen again.
TEXAS (#24) over Brigham Young - Texas kicks off their season with positive highlights for their Longhorn Network.
South Carolina (#12) over GEORGIA - The two top teams in the SEC East meet early in the schedule. I'm a South Carolina believer and think they take control of the division with a tough road victory.
Alabama (#3) over PENN ST. (#23) - A tough way for Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions to start the year by hosting Alabama. Penn St. may be a Top 25 team at year's end, but will look weak on Saturday.
Notre Dame over MICHIGAN - Notre Dame changed QBs after only one week. That is not a good sign, but just for Brian Kelly's blood pressure the Irish need to get the win. Michigan won easily last week, but gave up lots of yards.
Mississippi State (#16) over AUBURN - Another early SEC match-up, but I think we saw last week that Auburn will not put up much fight in defending last year's National Championship.

Week 1: 3-3
2011 Season: 3-3

NFL 2011 - Week 1.....

First week of the 2011 season after the long lockout. As mentioned in my preview, I don't expect to see much in the way of movement from "worst to first" like what seems to happen each year, because of the development time lost this spring / summer.

As for the weekly picks, I hope to improve on last year (134-108-14 during regular season and 10-1 for the playoffs), but would be just as happy matching that positive record.

NFL 2011 - Week 1 picks (Home Team in CAPS)

PACKERS (-4) over Saints - Tough game to start year for both teams, but I am riding the Packers again in 2011. Best 2 teams in the NFC and could be critical in determining playoff seedings.
Steelers (+2 1/2) over RAVENS - Hate to see this match-up so early in the season. Steelers show the Ravens they still control the division and get the win on the road.
Lions (+2) over BUCCANEERS - Think the Lions are this year's Buccaneers and will have a nice year, but just miss the playoffs and it starts with a tough road victory.
Falcons (-3) over BEARS - Chicago will take a step back this year and it starts with the Falcons pounding them and showing off their more explosive offense.
Bills (+6 1/2) over CHIEFS - Chiefs are not as good as last year, while the Bills will again be competitive in their games, but just fall short. Kansas City wins, but Buffalo keeps it close.
TEXANS (-9) over Colts - Houston needs to take complete advantage of this situation and will show no mercy to the "Manning less" Colts. Have doubts about Indianapolis rallying around Kerry Collins.
RAMS (+5) over Eagles - Rams play good defense and will keep this close at home. Eagles will stumble a little to start, but end up getting the close win to start their "dream" season.
BROWNS (-6 1/2) over Bengals - Think the Browns show they are an improved team and take it out on their decimated in-state rivals. Will be a tough day for Bengal starter, Andy Dalton.
Titans (+3) over JAGUARS - Not sure about either team, but I will believe more in Chris Johnson besting Maurice Jones-Drew
Giants (-3) over REDSKINS - The New York defense is torn up with injuries, but their offense is so good that it will overcome those injuries against a Rex Grossman led Redskin offense.
CARDINALS (-7) over Panthers - The Kevin Kolb era starts in Arizona and they get Cam Newton and the Panthers as their first guests. Still not thrilled with the Cardinal defense, but they do the job against this year #1 overall pick.
49ERS (-5 1/2) over Seahawks - It is the final chance for Alex Smith to show he can lead an offense and it helps to get Seattle as his first opponent. Still shaking my head over the Seahawk moves at QB during the off season.
Vikings (+9) over CHARGERS - San Diego is my pick to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl and while they'll beat the Vikings, Adrian Peterson's running will keep the game close.
Cowboys (+4 1/2) over JETS - Rex again predicting Super Bowl for his Jets, while the Cowboys have been under the radar this off-season (besides Rex's twin, Rob being hired as DC). Tony Romo has something to prove this year and some nice weapons around him to make that offense click.
Patriots (-7) over DOLPHINS - National TV audience will get to see early why Miami was QB shopping this off-season. Dolphins always seem to play New England tough, but not this time as Brady and company roll to an easy victory.
BRONCOS (-3) over Raiders - Broncos are healthy on defense and with the addition of rookie, Von Miller, will be a better team than 2010. Same can't be said for a Raider team, which just when you think might be moving forward, instead takes two steps backwards.

2010 Season: 134-108-14

NFL 2011 Preview - The SFB Podcast (9/7/2011).....

The NFL season starts tomorrow night with a match-up of the last two Super Bowl champions, when the Saints visit the Packers. After a summer of lockout talk, it is great to have real football so close. So, who will emerge from the 2011 season and become the champions. My pick is for the Packers to repeat adn I'll discuss why and who I think will join them in the playoffs. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: September 7, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

NFL 2011 Season.....

I'll expand this on the podcast with a look at each team and division, but here are my playoff teams for the 2011 NFL season. Picked the Packers last year and will ride them again this year.

AFC Division Winners: Patriots / Steelers / Texans / Chargers
AFC Wildcard Teams: Jets / Ravens

NFC Division Winners: Eagles / Packers / Saints / Rams
NFC Wildcard Teams: Falcons / Cowboys

Super Bowl:
Chargers 27
Packers 30

I'm a little concerned about the Charger running game, but if they get just enough production from Mathews/Tolbert, I think they can make their way out of a tough AFC playoff battle and emerge as the conference champions. Easy division allows them to be the #1 seed, which helps them get out of the AFC.

As for the Packers, this team is in the best position to make a repeat run because of all the talent returning who were on IR last year. The Saints are the team I fear the most to dethrone the Packers, but I think Green Bay's defense will help lead them again to the Super Bowl.

College Football 2011 - Week 1.....

The college football season starts tonight and for college sport fans and the NCAA it could not come soon enough after this "summer of scandal". Add the conference movement going on and it is just too much noise for college sport fans. Unfortunately, they will be the stories throughout the year, especially with many of the top teams being a part of this stories.

As for on the field, the consensus seems to put Alabama and Oklahoma in the BCS Title Game. Can Alabama keep the Championship in Charles Barkley's home state for a third straight year? Will Oklahoma give one last boost to the Big 12, before it possibly goes away? What about the BCS Buster in Boise State? I don't know the answers and look forward to seeing it played out each Saturday.

Now onto the field for the week one match-ups.

Week 1 games (Home team in CAPS):

NOTRE DAME (#16) over South Florida - I'm buying into the ND hype and expect to see them in a BCS game in January. Skip Holtz leads USF into the place where his dad coached, but will come up short in his upset bid.
South Carolina (#12) over East Carolina University (Charlotte) - The Ol' Ball Coach has a team which is getting some buzz to get out of the SEC and possibly be a championship contender. Stephen Garcia is back at QB, while Marcus Lattimore stars at running back to lead this offense for the Gamecocks. Game is in Charlotte, but could feel like a SC home game.
TCU (#14) over BAYLOR - Texas Christain may not be as good as they were the last two seasons, but they will still be a force and could work their way into the BCS mix. Gary Patterson is considered one of the best coaches in college football and after last year's graduating losses, he will show his mettle and get the Horned Frogs back to a big bowl game.
MARYLAND over Miami - Too many distractions down in Miami and the Terps will take advantage of those problems in their ACC home opener. Randy Edsall gets his first ACC coaching win on Labor Day night.
Oregon (#3) over Louisiana State (#4) (in Dallas) - The marquee match-up of the opening weekend has a bit of tarnish on it due to the investigation at Oregon, but more so because of the legal troubles of some of LSU's best players, including starting quarterback, Jordan Jefferson. The Ducks will be lead by sensational running back LaMichael James and the rest of their high powered offense.
Boise State (#5) over Georgia (#19) (in Atlanta) - Boise State is back for another shot at the crown jewel and their first, and possibly biggest test, will be against the big, bad SEC representative in the Georgia Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are ranked, but that may be a bit of a "SEC boost" helping them into the early Top 20. The game is in Atlanta, but the Broncos showed last year that they don't shy away from a hostile "neutral" crowd when they faced Virginia Tech in Washington, DC. Kellen Moore is back at QB for Boise and will lead the Broncos to the victory.

Mark Sanchez speaks - The SportsFan Buzz (8/17/2011).....

Mark Sanchez spoke to GQ Magazine and did another photo shoot for the magazine. Biggest noise from the piece was Sanchez saying that he wanted to fight his coach when there was talk of his benching late last year. I think it's time for Sanchez to keep quiet and take the next step towards being a better quarterback in the NFL. Plus that new kickoff rule is not going over so well with the player and the coaches.

The SportsFan Buzz: August 17, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Thome's 600th - The SportsFan Buzz (8/16/2011).....

Quietly Jim Thome hit his 600th career home run and that's too bad, because Thome's numbers should be more celebrated, but have been tapped down due to the steriods era. Plus some are questioning if he is a Hall of Famer and that should not be much of an arguement. Plus a look at Logan Morrison's demotion to AAA by the Florida Marlins.

The SportsFan Buzz: August 16, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Keegan Who? - The SportsFan Buzz (8/15/2011).....

Keegan Bradley won the PGA Championship in a playoff over Jason Dufner. Who and who? While some, maybe most, were disappointed in the no-names atop the leaderboard and eventually in the playoff, I thought it was exciting golf, despite the lack of star power on the leaderboard. Also, did you think it could get this bad for Tiger?

The SportsFan Buzz: August 15, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Steve Williams is Great - The SportsFan Buzz (8/8/2011).....

Adam Scott won the World Golf Championship at Firestone CC and after the win, his caddie, Steve Williams, was interviewed by CBS. Well, from listening to Williams, you would not know he actually was the caddie and his golfer won the event. After defending him two weeks ago, now I need to knock Williams down a few pegs and hope he let's Scott be the star of this pairing.

The SportsFan Buzz: August 8, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Real Wild Card - The SportsFan Buzz (8/5/2011).....

Does it matter if the Red Sox or the Yankees win the AL East, while the other is the wildcard? In the current format, no, but what if the division winner got a few days off, while the wildcard team had to face a second wildcard team in a one or even three game playoff? Would you be excited. I throw out a couple of ideas for adding another playoff team and also take a look at the nice battle brewing for the AL Cy Young Award.

The SportsFan Buzz: August 5, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

NFL Feeding Frenzy - The Sports Fan Buzz (8/1/2011).....

You definitely need a scorecard these past few days as the NFL Free Agent season has been fast and furious. Free agent signings and plenty of trades have given the fan plenty to talk about these past few days. We'll take a look at some of the signings and trades that have occurred and how things are shaking out as all the camps are now open.

The SportsFan Buzz: August 1, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Welcome back NFL - The SportsFan Buzz (7/28/2011).....

The NFL lockout is over and in the end both sides seems to get some winnings to boast about to all. Fans can now breath a sigh of relief and get those fantasy draft lists ready. Day to day NFL workers, not in pads, can get their jobs and paychecks back. We'll take a quick look at the settlement and what is there that fans will notice and maybe not notice.

The SportsFan Buzz: July 28, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Woods fires Williams - The SportsFan Buzz (7/22/2011).....

Tiger Woods, in cleaning house and trying to start over, fired his caddie of 12 years Steve Williams and Williams isn't happy about it. In an interview Williams stated he was upset with the troubles Tiger got into, disapproved of those troubles and said so to Tiger. Some are saying Williams should just be quiet and count the money he earned because of Tiger. Why does Williams getting rich because of Tiger mean he must lose his moral compass?

The SportsFan Buzz: July 22, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
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Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Women's Equality - The SportsFan Buzz (7/20/2011).....

Why do we treat our women's teams with kid gloves when they lose, when if the same thing happened to a men's team, the pundits would have a field day. Bryant Gumbel pointed this out in wondering about the "it's OK attitude" towards the Women's World Cup team in its loss to Japan. Know what? He is right and its not just with this soccer team, but in all women's sports. The women deserve better.

The SportsFan Buzz: July 20, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Lessons Learned - The SportsFan Buzz (7/7/2011).....

So now the Oregon Ducks football program has caught the NCAA's eye after a story has surfaced about possible violations revolving around a scouting service. I don't care about the allegations as much as I want to see how Oregon's staff handles it. Will Coach Chip Kelly learn from the Jim Tressell mess at Ohio State and make sure he holds nothing back? Also, Bruce Pearl tries to explain those "couple of misstated answers" he gave to the NCAA.

The SportsFan Buzz: July 7, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Labor Lockouts - The SportsFan Buzz (7/1/2011).....

The NBA has now joined the NFL in locking out its players because of a labor dispute. As always, the arguements are over how to split each leagues' revenue. That is the similarity between the two disputes and it ends there. How both are beign negotiated and eventually settled, will be as different as night and day.

The SportsFan Buzz: July 1, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Dodger Blues - The SportsFan Buzz (6/27/2011).....

It is a sad day for this Dodger fan when I saw the news about Frank McCourt putting the Dodgers through bankruptcy proceedings. One of baseball's and all of sports' storied franchises is at its lowest point in existance. How long before the shine is back on the Dodger Diamond?

The SportsFan Buzz: June 27, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Rory Roaring - The SportsFan Buzz (6/17/2011).....

Rory McIlroy is a record setting 11 under par after the first two rounds of the US Open. Didn't we see this back in April at Augusta? Can he keep it up this weekend, or will Congressional and the Open pressure bring him back to earth? Also, now that the NHL & NBA are done I turn my eyes back to baseball and get the ugliness that is interleague play.

The SportsFan Buzz: June 17, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Bruins Win - The SportsFan Buzz (6/16/2011).....

The Boston Bruins captured their first Stanley Cup since 1972 with a 4-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks. While Tim Thomas was outstanding and will get much deserved praise, Roberto Luongo will be facing many questions about his "playing small" when it was on the line. In the end in was a great hockey playoff, which hopefully will bring a few new fans to the sport.

The SportsFan Buzz: June 16, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Game 7: Nothing Better - The SportsFan Buzz (6/14/2011).....

The Boston Bruins forced a Game 7 in these Stanley Cup Finals, where the first six games have been won by the home team in completely different fashion. Will the pattern continue for Game 7 in Vancouver? Will Roberto Luongo again bounce back after the debacle in Boston or do the Bruins break through and win on Vancouver's home ice? Also, did I really hear someone suggest that Miami should consider breaking up this Heat team?

The SportsFan Buzz: June 14, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Mavericks Win - The SportsFan Buzz (6/13/2011).....

The Dallas Mavericks are the new NBA Champions and showed everyone that they were not the same old Mavericks from prior playoff disappointments. While most are saying the Heat lost, I want to give props to the Mavericks for their well deserved victory. Also, tonight is Game 6 in Boston for this Jeckyl and Hyde Stanley Cup Final.

The SportsFan Buzz: June 13, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Shrinking LeBron? - The SportsFan Buzz (6/10/2011).....

The Dallas Mavericks are one victory away from the first NBA Championship after beating the Miami Heat 112-103 last night in Game 5, but all that is being talked about is the failure of LeBron James in the last two fourth quarters and how James will never be "like Mike". What will be said if the Heat win the next two games and he scores 40 in each? That he is Jordan? Ridiculous.

The SportsFan Buzz: June 10, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Great Finals - The SportsFan Buzz (6/9/2011).....

The NBA and NHL Finals are going on concurrently and right now we both series are tied at 2 games each. What a great time to be a sports fan as these two championships play out over the next week. A quick look at both Finals and who has the advantage as we are now down to a "best of three" for each championship.

The SportsFan Buzz: June 9, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Resting Tiger - The SportsFan Buzz (6/7/2011).....

So there will be no Tiger Woods at this year's US Open as he says he will listen to his doctor and rest his ailing left knee and Achilles. Will these injuries haunt Tiger for the rest of his career? Also, can we stop the "golf just isn't the same" and how nobody will watch the US Open just because Woods will not be at Congressional? Plus the Bruins finally show some offense.

The SportsFan Buzz: June 7, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Heat Take Control - The SportsFan Buzz (6/6/2011).....

The Miami Heat took control of the NBA Finals by winning last night's Game 3 in Dallas. Now the Mavericks have the tough task of winning the next two before heading back to Miami. Over in the NHL Finals, the Vancouver Canucks won the first two on their home ice and look to be cruising to their first championship unless Boston can somehow find the back of the net.

The SportsFan Buzz: June 6, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Maverick Comeback - The SportsFan Buzz (6/3/2011).....

I'll admit to thinking the NBA Finals were probably over when Miami had a 15 point lead, but this Dallas team again showed heart we have not seen in prior playoffs. Now we have a series heading back to Dallas for the next three games. Plus the first game of the Stanley Cup finals was great, but a bite highlighted the coverage.

The SportsFan Buzz: June 3, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Pay for Play - The SportsFan Buzz (6/2/2011).....

Bad year for the NCAA with Reggie Bush / USC, Cam Newton allegations and now the mess at Ohio State. That's just football and does not cover basketball. All these scandals have just made the "pay the players" chant even louder. Do those wanting to pay players really think all these problems will disappear and what exactly is the plan?

The SportsFan Buzz: June 2, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

A "Buckeye" for Ohio St. - The SportsFan Buzz (5/31/2011).....

So Coach Jim Tressel is out at Ohio State and not as much for what his players did, but for his cover-up of the initial incident and false statements that came since "Tattoo Gate" became public. Now comes word that Terrelle Pryor will also leave the school. What a mess that didn't have to be. Plus the NBA Finals start tonight and the NHL Finals kick off tomorrow night.

The SportsFan Buzz: May 31, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

NBA Finals Preview - The SportsFan Buzz (5/27/2011).....

It's The Heat and the Mavericks in the NBA Finals. While Miami was the most watched team this year, this is a surprising match-up as not many expected the Heat to be this good this year, while Dallas normally plays the "playoff fizzle".

The SportsFan Buzz: May 27, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Play Ball 2011!!! - The SFB Podcast (3/30/2011).....

That wonderful smell in the air is the fresh cut grass at Major League ballparks around the country. The 2011 season opens March 31st and Paul Lebowitz joins me to preview the upcoming year. Can the Giants repeat? Will the Phillies' Fab Four live up to the hype? Could the AL East be possibly the best division ever from top to bottom? Enjoy.

Paul's website
Paul on Twitter

The SportsFan Buzz: March 30, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Code of Honor - The SFB Podcast (3/6/2011).....

BYU suspended its center, Brandon Davies, for violating the school's honor code and more people seemed to question the code itself and the school's thinking in damaging their chances at an NCAA Championship, than applauded BYU for showing the integrity to do the right thing and ignoring what his suspension would mean to the basketball team. We'll look at the BYU decision and why I wish more people/teams/schools would follow their lead. Plus a look around the other sport stories of the week. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: March 6, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Heavy at the Top - The SFB Podcast (2/27/2011).....

The Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks trade this week just added strength to the top third of the NBA and has really set the balance of the league on it side. While some think it is good for the league to only have a few elite teams in the big markets, I think it is a recipe for disaster. With a CBA battle on the horizon, I look at why these type of moves are not good for the league and what they could do to rectify it. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: February 27, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Will Fans Take a Stand? - The SFB Podcast 2/20/2011.....

The last time a major sport had a work stoppage was 2004 with the NHL and before that was in 1994 with MLB. Those were much different economic times than we are in now. With the NFL & NBA ongoing labor disputes possibly turning into lockouts and later the possibility of lost games, will the regular fans in these tough economic times turn their backs on these billion dollar games when they return? Hard to say, but I'm not sure I would chance it. Plus, NASCAR needs some character. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: February 20, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Super Bowl 45 review - The SFB Podcast (2/7/2011)....

The Packers and Steelers gave us a great and exciting game with Green Bay finishing up on top 31-25 with their defense stopping Pittsburgh from driving for the winning TD. The game was hard on Mike and he joins to discuss why his Steelers lost, while I tell him it was more of the Packers winning. It didn't make him feel better. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: February 7, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Go Pack Go! - The SFB Podcast (2/6/2011).....

Another Super Bowl that came down to the final possession and in the end the Green Bay Packers captured their fourth SB Championship. I breakdown the game and explain why the Packers won this game and not the Steelers losing it. Plus more love for Aaron Rodgers. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: February 6, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Super Bowl 45 preview - The SFB Podcast (2/3/2011).....

I picked the Packers at the start of the season (although against the Colts) and Mike is a life-long Steeler fan, so we both having a rooting interest in this matchup. Mike joins me to preview the game and discuss a few other stories around the world of sports. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: February 3, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Super Bowl 45 is set - The SFB Podcast (1/24/2011)

At the end, we are left with the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers for the Super Bowl 45 crown. Both teams needed to hang on in the 4th quarter against two tough opponents who gave it everything they had, but at the end of the day the better teams came out on top. Mike's heart is finally beating normally, so he joins me to review Sunday's games. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: January 24, 2011 (right click to "save as target")
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

AFC & NFC Championship Game picks.....

Two great matchups for getting to play in Super Bowl 45. The Jets have to travel to Pittsburgh in a week 16 rematch, while in Chicago, division rivals play their "rubber match" for the season when the Packers play the Bears.

As for my Divisional round picks, I was 4-0 against the spread, but only 3-1 straight up with my only loss being the Jets upset of the Patriots.

Championship Games:

Packers (-3) over BEARS
I had the Packers in the Super Bowl before the season and I am not going to get off them now. I have not believed in the Bears all year, but they have grown on me as the season has gone forward. Mike Martz really made the correct adjustments in giving the ball to Matt Forte more in the running game and Mike Tice getting the offensive line to play much better in protecting Jay Cutler. On the defensive side of the ball, they have been solid all season and showed that they made the smart off-season move in getting Julius Peppers to help make their defensive line a force, which made their overall defense much better. That said, the Packers have also gotten better as the season has moved forward as they have overcome a large amount of injuries to important pieces on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Aaron Rodgers is playing great and the defense, which was ranked #2 this season in the NFL, is making plays at the right times with different players making those important plays. This is not a great matchup for the Packer offense as the Bears' Cover 2 scheme has given them trouble in their two meeting this year. The Packers will need to get some production from their running game and I think they will, while on the defensive side of the ball they make a play against Jay Cutler, either with sacks or an interception, that turns the tide in Green Bay's favor.
Packers 17
Bears 12

STEELERS (-3) over Jets
The Jets come into this matchup as high as possible after knocking off Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in back to back weeks, and now they look to take down their third straight Super Bowl winning quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger. Unlike the previous two games, stopping Roethlisberger will not be their top priority. It will be helping their quarterback, Mark Sanchez, be comfortable enough to put up points against this very good Steeler defense. That will mean running the ball against the #1 ranked run defense and #1 overall defense and while they did break the 100 yard barrier in their week 16 matchup, that same result is not likely here in the AFC Championship game. This game should be a little different for the Steelers with Troy Polamalu roaming the Steeler secondary, which will help their run defense and put the Jets in more third and long situations. Then on the offensive side of the ball, tight end Heath Miller will be in the lineup and was missed by Pittsburgh in the first meeting. The Steelers will have to try and not allow another big special teams play by the Jets kickoff returners like they did on the opening kickoff in their first meeting. On the offensive side, the Steeler offense was moving the ball well against the Jet defense and had two shots to win the game inside the 10 yard line in the final seconds. Not sure what the Jets will do differently this time to hold the Steeler offense at bay. In the end, it will be the Steeler defense harassing Mark Sanchez (like the Ravens and Packers both did during the season) and Roethlisberger making enough plays on offense which willmove the Steelers to Super Bowl 45 and their attempt at a 7th ring.
Steelers 22
Jets 13

Divisional weekend record: 4-0
2010 Playoffs: 7-1


Win/Loss picks:
Divisional weekend: Sal (3-1) / Mike (3-1)
2010 Playoffs: Sal (5-3) / Mike (6-2)

Sal / Mike --- Packers at Bears ---
--- Jets at Steelers --- Sal / Mike

AFC & NFC Championship Preview - The SFB Podcast (1/21/2011).....

Last week divisional rivals met in the AFC playoffs, while the NFC had rematches from the regular season. For the Championship games, it has flipped as the AFC game is a rematch from week 16 with New York going to Pittsburgh, while over in the NFC, it is the third game of NFC North rivals when the Green Bay visits Chicago. Mike joins me to preview the games and give our predictions on who we think will meet in Super Bowl 45. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: January 21, 2011 (right click to "save as target)
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Well, #6 is Higher than #1 - The SFB Podcast (1/17/2011).....

We have seen #1 seeds go down in the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs, but not both top seeds in such convincing fashion. Aaron Rodgers had one of the best games ever by a playoff quarterback, while the Jet defense played the perfect game against the high scoring Patriot offense. Meanwhile the Steelers had a great second half in beating their division rival, the Baltimore Ravens. Then in Chicago, the Bears looked like a team off a bye week playing an inferior opponent in rolling the Seahawks. Mike joins me to go over the weekend's action and breakdown the games. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: January 17, 2011 (right click to "save as target)
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

NFL Divisional Weekend picks.....

I am really looking forward to this Divisional Playoff round, especially the matchups on the AFC side with both games being the third game of the year between the divisional foes. On the NFC side, they are also rematch games that were both three point affairs.

As for my Wildcard weekend picks, I was 3-1 against the spread (lost with the Colts), but only 2-2 overall in picking the winners (0-2 Saturday and 2-0 on Sunday), with me thinking the Seahawks would keep it close, but never expecting them to pull off the victory.

Divisional Round Weekend:

STEELERS (-3) over Ravens
Many consider this the best rivalry in the NFL, myself included, and NFL fans gets to see it for the third time this season and eighth time in the past three seasons. Unlike the last time they played in the 2008 AFC Championship Game where both teams played the prior week, this matchup has the Steelers coming off the bye week and I think that is an advantage for Pittsburgh. I look for at least one or two big plays by Ben Roethlisberger outside the pocket to the speedy wide receivers, Mike Wallace or Emmanuel Sanders, being the difference in this game. The Ravens need Ray Rice to have a big game running the ball and that will be difficult against this Steeler defense.
Steelers 23
Ravens 19

Packers (+3) over FALCONS
Atlanta beat Grren Bay with a last second field goal back in week 12 and we can only hope for a game with as much drama in this matchup. The Falcons are the #1 seed, but are the quiet team in this matchup as all the talk is about how well the Packers are playing,coming off their victory last week in Philadelphia. Atlanta plays solid football and at home they are a great team, but the Packers are a team that matches up well with them, especially when they spread the field in four and five receiver sets. Atlanta will need to control the ball for more than 35 minutes in order to keep the Green Bay offense in control and are capable of doing that, but in the end Aaron Rodgers gets the best of the Falcons and keeps the Packers moving forward.
Packers 24
Falcons 20

BEARS (-10) over Seahawks
There sure seems to be quite a few "Seattle can make some noise" statements and articles this week after they knocked out the New Orleans Saints last week. Well, if the Seahawks were this good as being said this week, shouldn't they have finished with a record better than 7-9 for the season? Seattle got the perfect opponent last week in a Saint team that overlooked them and played their worst defensive game of the season. An overlooked fact is the the Saints made it to the red zone seven times and scored each of those times. Chivago is rested and the overall better team. Unless the Bears play their worst defensive game, i don't see how Seattle pulls off this upset. Yes, Seattle won in Chicago during the regular season, but that was in week 6 and the Bears are much better than that early season team. My fear is the "bad" Jay Cutler shows up, and while that is possible, that Cutler hasn't been around for a couple of months and i don't think he makes an appearance this week.
Bears 31
Seahawks 14

Jets (+9) over PATRIOTS
There is a large part of my thinking that leans towards a blowout for New England in this matchup as the bye week and the third game against the same opponent is the perfect formula for Tom Brady and Bill Belichick to take advantage of, but something just says to me that this game is closer than the large spread. I think the Patriots win this game, but the Jets will and must run the ball to stay with New England and will find enough success doing so to keep this a low scoring matchup. If New York decided to put the ball in Mark Sanchez's hands, then that plays into New England's hands and then we could see a double digit blowout. This Patriot team is different than the 2007 team as it has gotten better over the season, while that 2007 team was not as good coming into the playoffs. They take the Jets best shots at the Patriots, but in the end Tom Brady shows why he his this year's NFL MVP and leads New England to the AFC Championship.
Patriots 27
Jets 19

Wildcard weekend record: 3-1


Win/Loss picks:
Wildcard weekend: Sal (2-2) / Mike (3-1)

--- Ravens at Steelers --- Sal / Mike
Sal / Mike --- Packers at Falcons ---
--- Seahawks at Bears --- Sal / Mike
--- Jets at Patriots --- Sal / Mike

Divisional Playoff Weekend - The SFB Podcast (1/13/2010).....

This weekend's Divisional Playoff games are all rematches from the regular season, with the AFC games being the third game between divisional foes and the NFC games taking place on the same field as the regular season matchups. Mike joins me to preview the four games and some other news from around the sports world, including the BCS Championship and the new format for the NHL All-Star Game. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: January 13, 2011 (right click to "save as target)
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

Wild NFL weekend - The SFB Podcast (1/10/2010).....

What a great playoff weekend with three of the four games coming down to the final possessions, while the Raven - Chief game was close for three quarters before Kansas City imploded. Who had the Seahawks as the only home winner this weekend? Not many. Mike joins me to take a look at the four games from the weekend and why they were won or lost. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: January 10, 2011 (right click to "save as target)
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

NFL Wildcard Weekend picks.....

Mike beat me by two games in picking the winners straight up for the 2010 season. On my picks against the spread, I was on the winning side of the ledger and that is all I can ask for after 256 games. Now it is onto the playoffs and hopefully I can stay on the positive side of the tote board. Enjoy.

Week 17 picks: 7-8-1
2010 season: 134-108-14

Win/Lose picks:
Week 17 results: Mike (11-5) / Sal (11-5) / Guest (10-6)
2010 season: Mike (163-93) / Sal (161-95) / Guest (145-111)


Wildcard Weekend:

SEAHAWKS (+11) over Saints
The Saints start their Super Bowl defense against a Seattle team that many believe don't belong in the playoffs. Well, the Seahawks are here and they will not be the pushover many think on Saturday afternoon. The key to Seattle will be feeding off the excitement of a home playoff game and not allow New Orleans to jump to an two score early lead. The lack of a running game (both Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory are out), a short week with long travel and the Seattle crowd will add up to a game closer than many think, but in the end Drew Brees and the Saint offense will find enough holes in the Seahawk defense to get the victory and move forward in defending their crown.
Saints 26
Seahawks 17

COLTS (-3) over Jets
A rematch of last year's AFC Championship game and both teams are different from twelves months ago. While the Colt offense is less explosive without Dallas Clark and Austin Collie, the Jet defense is not as dominant as last year and gives up more passing yard and points than in 2009. At the end of the day it is just hard to go against Peyton Manning, especially at home. I would feel more comfortable if Clark or Collie was available, but Joseph Addai is there and that will help Manning keep the offense balanced. New York needs to run the ball and the Indianapolis defense has been better against the run the last quarter of the season and will need a big game from Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson to help keep Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis away from Mark Sanchez.
Colts 27
Jets 20

Ravens (-3) over CHIEFS
The veteran Baltimore team against the young Kansas City squad. While I think the Ravens have the best shot of the AFC teams this weekend to make the Super Bowl, this is a match-up that is the worst one that could have happened for the Ravens. The Chiefs have more speed than the Ravens and that is the one area where Baltimore is vulnerable. While I fully expect the Ravens to pound the Chiefs with Ray Rice and Joe Flacco using play action, it would not surprise me to see this a game where the Kansas City speed bothers Baltimore enough to keep it close. Plus add in the Arrowhead crowd, where the Chiefs only lost once this season, and Kansas City has the goods to be able to pull the upset. In the end though, one of those veterans on the Raven defense steps up and helps put away Kansas City.
Ravens 23
Chiefs 19

Packers (+3) over EAGLES
Green Bay was my preseason Super Bowl pick and I will not be changing now that the playoffs have started. Andy Reid is a great coach when he has time to prepare his team and by taking last week off against Dallas, manufactured a bye week and much needed rest for Michael Vick. The Packers will attack Vick with defensive back blitzes (most likely Charles Woodson) from one side and Clay Matthews from the other, so it will be up to Vick to stay in the pocket and find DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin with Packers flying at him. The Green Bay defense has enough speed to keep up with the Eagle speed and could upset Vick enough to where he tries to force the issues. On the other side, while the Packers will try to run the ball, Aaron Rodgers will be the key to getting the victory and his ability to beat the Philadelphia biltzes. Rodgers, with his receivers Greg Jennings and Donald Driver will expose the Eagle secondary and get Rodgershis first playoff win.
Packers 30
Eagles 17


Win/Lose picks:
Sal / Mike --- Seahawks at Saints ---
Mike --- Jets at Colts --- Sal
Sal / Mike --- Ravens at Chiefs ---
Sal / Mike --- Packers at Eagles ---

Wildcard Weekend - The SFB Podcast (1/7/2011)

The NFL Playoffs start on Saturday and we are down to 12 teams looking to win the Super Bowl. Will the Saints repeat as Super Bowl champions or do we get a new team holding the Lombardi trophy? Mike joins me to preview the four games and give our thoughts on who will move on to the Divisional Round. Plus we discuss the Baseball Hall of Fame voting and the NHL Winter Classic. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: January 7, 2011 (right click to "save as target)
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.

NFL Week 17 & Holiday Sports - The SFB Podcast (1/4/2011).....

The NFL season ended on Sunday and we are onto the playoffs. NFL Week 17 wasn't the greatest football Sunday we have seen, but there was still good football. I'll review the games of importance from Sunday and set-up the Wildcard weekend. Also, there was a NHL Winter Classic and college bowl games over the holiday week that we'll look back on. Enjoy.

The SportsFan Buzz: January 4, 2011 (right click to "save as target)
You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Voice over talent provided by Morgan Thomas.