NFL Football Playoff Ticket - The Big Ones Are Here - Get Ready To Rock 'Em

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A single tournament where there are a total of 16games is one for which NFL football playoff tickets are rarely available. From every conference, six teams will qualify to play based on their performance in the past year and their current standing in overall football teams. The NFL football playoff tickets is what will get you to witness every touch down and stand-offs by your favorite teams and in order to get these NFL football playoff tickets one has to be alert and book well in advance. Since the advent of technology and the introduction of the web world, it has become easy to keep track of the updates pertaining to the matches and the schedule for the same. This way they can plan ahead and book well in advance for the games they wish to watch live. Also the rates are likely to be lesser if booked ahead of time instead of waiting last minute. The websites also give out information about different teams playing, and a bit of history about each of them and about NFL in general. This is mainly for the benefit of those coming for the first time or from out of town.

Since each of the six teams needs to play all other teams and win to qualify for further rounds, the games are spread across days and sometimes last for a whole month. So each and every match is a do or die situation for them, unless they are the top two leading teams. In which case, they get to sit back and skip two games and move onto the finals. The entire month is filled with excitement and people rush from offices and work places to watch the match on TV. Every catch and standoff is precious for the fans and so they would not want to miss a single and so when they have the NFL football playoff tickets in their hand, they make sure to be ready and all set on that particular day.

Be it the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Chicago Bulls, the teams will have to be prepared to face each other in the playoffs. All major teams will participate in this and the players will be pumped up and ready to battle against all odds to win the Super Bowl championship. This is a prestigious title, when earned brings with it a whole new range of respect. Soon after getting hold of the schedule, it is then time to plan out your agenda and block the NFL football playoff tickets. Ever since the American Football league and National Football league merged into one, the playoffs have been the biggest attraction in America and for Americans worldwide. Since sports fans watch the games on TV or in pubs regularly, they are aware of the teams performing well and those that are struggling. Hence, they will observe, make note and pick up the NFL football playoff tickets to the matches that are likely to be exciting and thrilling.

Article written by Cassaundra Flores, owner of http://www.skyfireproducts.com. Please check out these links Football Fan Shop [http://www.skyfireproducts.com/servlet/the-template/sportstickets/Page] & Sports Page [http://www.skyfireproducts.com/servlet/the-template/sportsindex/Page]

PGA Tour Preview -- Deutsche Bank Classic

Last Week:

Brad Faxon carded a 9-under par 61 in the final round to force and win a playoff with Tjaart Van Der Walt at the 2005 edition of the Buick Championship. Many times in this column, "1-iron" has paid respectful homage to Faxon for his loyalty to the history, tradition and rules of the game of golf. Faxon is a great ambassador for the game, and is someone who is not afraid to speak his mind about controversial issues. This column wants to congratulate Brad Faxon on a job well done in Hartford.

This column would also like to point out the stellar play of Tjaart Van Der Walt. Lost in the thunder of Faxon's 61 was TJVDW's 64 to put him into contention as well. It's been a rough 2005 for TJVDW, but the $464,400 he won in Hartford virtually assures him a PGA Tour card for 2006.

A minor thumbs down to Wes Short Jr., who was disqualified for signing for a 3 at No. 8 (he had a 4) and a 4 at No. 5 (he had a 3). How in the world does this happen.....twice.....on the PGA Tour......in 2005? "1-iron" has been telling folks to stay away from Shorty for quite some time, and these scorecard shenanigans will do nothing to change his mindset.

Also a quick word to the victims of Katrina. "1-iron" would like you to know that his thoughts are with you during this difficult time. When something like this happens, trivial items like the PGA Tour need to take their place in the back of the priority line. It will be no easy task re-building the gulf cost of the United States, but "1-iron" believes it can be done. Again, "1-iron's" thoughts are with you - please be well.

This Week:

Tiger Woods laces up the spikes in Boston for the Deutsche Bank Classic. Vijay Singh is the defending champion, after holding off Woods and Adam Scott by three shots last year, however Singh won't compete due to back spasms. The TPC of Boston is back to yield more low scores, and Singh's 16 under from last year probably won't get the job done this year. The course is playing at just over 7,400 yards, however there are plenty of birdie opportunities on both sides. "1-iron" looks for a winning score of 20 under to come out on top.

Whenever you have Woods in the field, it's a doozie - but throw in Couples, Johnson, O'hair, Immelman, Love III and Chopra - then it's an absolute party. Because of the time of year (think pigskin and gridiron), "1-iron" believes that the PGA Tour needs to have its stars in the field every week to keep up. If the Tour can't produce Woods, Singh, Mickelson, etc every week during this time of year, then it's pointless for the networks to try and draw ratings against the likes of College Football and the NFL. Face it, people aren't going to watch Frank Lickliter II in a playoff against John Rollins if Coach Frank Solich and the Ohio Bobcats are on ESPN2. It just isn't going to happen. In all seriousness, it's great that we have a good field this week - but we need it every week.

18 Shots -- Deutsche Bank Classic Odds and Picks

6 Who Will:

1. Tiger Woods (3/2): Five Wins, 11 Top 10's, 15 Top 25's, two Majors (Masters and British), leads the money list......Check Please. T2 last year at this event.

2. Tim Petrovic (75/1): Winner at Zurich. Hails from the Boston Area. T6 at the International and played three solid rounds at the Buick last week. Keep an eye out for the Homer.

3. Trevor Immelman (60/1): T5 at the Masters with Woods in the field. T15 at the British with Woods in the field. T17 at PGA Championship with Woods in the field. T19 at NEC with Woods....you know the drill. If Woods' is in the field, keep an eye on Trevor. Little guy with a big game.

4. Sean O'Hair (40/1): Comin' to Boston HOT! What a splash this young man has made on the game this year. The young 23-year-old who was released from his father's "contract" has made 19 of 23 cuts and won the Greater Milwaukee Open. Up next could be the beginning of a big rivalry with Tiger Woods.

5. Daniel Chopra (Field 3/1): "1-iron" is rollin' the dice with Daniel "Lamb" Chopra again this week. Now pgatour.com is starting to steal "1-iron's" work as it relates to Chopra. Is nothing sacred? fourth place here last year and went T12 & T15 at Buick Open and the International before missing two cuts in a row at Reno and the Buick Championships.

6. Dean Wilson (Field 3/1): Huh? You remember when he teed it up with Annika? Me too, but the "1-iron' has kept an eye on his game as well. Two Top 10's in the last four weeks, playing very well.

6 Who Can:

7. Davis Love III (12/1): Playing awesome the last two weeks he's been in the field. T7 at the PGA Championship and T13 at the NEC. Skipped the Deutsche last year, so he'll be coming in a little inexperienced.

8. Fred Couples (50/1): Three Top 10's and seven Top 25's this year. Guy looks like a million bucks while doing it too. T28 at Firestone is a good sign and announced he's out of the World Match Play in favor of the 84 lumber in a couple weeks. Could be a sentimental money pick this week.

9. Ryan Palmer (75/1): "Palm Tree" rolls into Boston with a 2nd, a 3rd, and five Top 25's this year. He's also fresh off a 3rd place finish at the NEC where he closed with 68-67-69. His game is ripe for the pickin this week and at 75/1 he might be worth a shot.

10. Hank Kuehne (100/1): The big dog is ready to eat at the TPC this week. Looked great while finishing 4th at the International but hasn't played well all year. Should be ok for 2006, but could use one more great tournament to cement his status. T6 at the Deutsche last year, this course is Taylor-Made for him.

11. Brad Faxon (30/1): Fax can be the first player to win in Hartford and Boston in the same year. Mark my words, he can do it. He's playing so well and has a renewed sense of confidence. No way I bet against him this week. Big props to the Fax Machine.

12. Zach Johnson (25/1): Has begun to salvage a mediocre year with his play as of late. Last four weeks have gone T2 at Buick Open, T17 at PGA Championship, T9 at NEC, and T42 at Buick Championship. He's playing well and should carry it into Boston.

6 Who Won't:

13. Charles Howell III (40/1): Why? Why is he still out there grinding away when his game needs serious fixing? The crazy thing is that he's missed three of his last five cuts, but when he plays well (Solo 5th at the International, T15 at PGA), he plays well. He may turn it on, but "1-iron" doesn't see it this week.

14. Mark Brooks (Field 3/1): Ugly year. Has only made eight of 18 cuts and has withdrawn twice. Finish of T10 at Byron Nelson has been the only bright spot. This won't be a good week, especially when paired with Woods and Franco the first two days.

15. Harrison Frazar (Field 3/1): "Where have you gone, Harrison Fra-aa-zar?" He's made 15 of 25 cuts but only has $325,000 to show for it. His spot in 2006 is in serious jeopardy. His scoring average ranks 133rd on Tour, and that's a big problem. This probably won't be the place to fix things.

16. David Hearn (Field 3/1): This young man from Canada qualified for the Tour through Q-school in 2005. It looks like he'll have to do it again. 8/16 missed cuts and only $145,000 in official money. 155th in putting gives him a great deal to work on.

17. Jason Gore (100/1): The lovable big-man from Van Nuys makes his 2nd membership start on the PGA Tour this week after a T73 at the Buick Championships. He's still getting settled into his new fame and he surely won't be in this spot for long!

18. Wes Short Jr. (Field 3/1): Got DQ'd for two incorrect holes last week - how does he top it this week? In "1-iron's" doghouse - big time!

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What Guys Really Want For Christmas!

Okay, ladies: listen up! I am here to tell you what men want for Christmas. It isn't cologne and it isn't some awful looking tie. Please! It could be NFL playoff tickets, but we know that prices for them are through the roof. Instead, us guys want stuff that is both useful and practical something we won't pretend to like and hide away in our closets, but stuff that we will use all the time. I've made a list to make it easy on you as I know how hard it can be for us guys to communicate to our gals.

1. NFL Tickets!!! No, wait! You can go to eBay and get "discounted" tickets for a mid-January meeting between the Giants and some other team for a lot less than what you'll pay through a neighborhood scalper. How many fans do you think will put up with ten degree Meadowlands cold on a January day to see the Giants. Oh, yeah, I forgot: plenty. Tickets are likely to go for one or two thousand a piece!

2. Hockey Time. More down to earth in price are NHL hockey tickets. Heck, the toothless boys sat out the season last year and everyone is chomping at the bit to see them play. With no strike on the horizon, your guy is likely to be able to see a complete game. All that bloodletting and head bashing for a song! For grins, get him Stanley Cup tickets. Nothing beats watching a hockey game in June when it is 93 degrees outside!

3. To The Islands! No, not Staten Island and certainly not Long Island. A January or February trip to a warmer climate will be both reasonably priced and fun. Just don't pick a place that was trashed by one of the 23 tropical systems that attacked the Caribbean, the Americas and the Gulf Coast this year. No telling what amenities are in place! One rule: have the grandparents come to your house to watch the kid. Junior getting the flu is no reason for you not to go! [Blush!]

4. Get Tools. Yes, if your man enjoys tinkering around the house, get him an electric saw, a power drill, or anything else that he can use to fix that darn, lose railing in the family room! [wink, wink] If you aren't sure what to get him, a gift certificate will do. Sounds tacky? Well, it certainly beats a "thanks, dear" when he opens up his gift and finds a water pump inside!

5. Stuff For His Truck. What a guy really wants is something for his truck. Nah, let him get his own gun rack and ammo; I'm talking about a cold air intake or a performance chip. Something that brings power to the ole pick up! What am I saying? Get him something that he can really use that will bring a smile to his face. Performance exhaust systems, Altezza lights, roof rails, side window vents, fog lights, truck liners, step rails, brake dust shields, hitches, alloy wheels, a set of new tires, head light covers, hood protectors, and an engine pulley are some of the items that are sure to be hot this Christmas. He'll be happy and he will think you know something about his truck - hey, you are the one who wants him to talk with you, right?

Still not sure? Then ask. Chances are I already mentioned something that he wants. If you are low on cash a set of new truck mats will suffice, but please let him pick the color.

Some how Summer Rose floor mats just don't match his Silverado's interior!

Copyright 2006-2012: - Please visit Cabin Managers a resource blog managed by Matt Keegan, The Article Writer.

Top 10 Most Disappointing NFL Teams in 2008 Season

The year 2008 in the NFL was a year of big surprises and disappointments. We saw history made, major fall offs and plenty of coaches fired. Here are the most disappointing teams in 2008.

10. Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns finished the season at 10-6 last year. There were plenty of high hopes in Cleveland. The dogs were starting to think that things were looking up. Well now, not so much. They finished the season at 4-12, fired their head coach and hired another head coach, Eric Mangini, that was recently fired from the Jets.

9. Washington Redskins

The expectations for the Redskins were not very high this year. They just hired a new unproven head coach in Jim Zorn bringing in a new offense with the verdict still out on their quarterback Jason Campbell. Most people were expecting them to finish where they did, 8-8 at the bottom of the toughest division in the NFL, the NFC East.

So why is this team on this list? They started the season at 6-2 with some tough road wins against Philly and Dallas. Then they went on to lose 6 of their last eight games. Not good. Especially in Washington.

8. Green Bay Packers

The good news is that the Brett Favre saga is finally over. The bad news is that so were the Packers winning ways this season. Aaron Rogers appeared to have done his part with a 93.8 QB rating. But what about the intangibles?

Does Aaron Rogers have the leadership skills and fire that Brett possessed during his time at Green Bay to lead this team? Only time will tell in say about 16 more years.

7. Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks have been a given to make the playoffs with 5 consecutive playoff appearances. Now they finished the season at 4-12 as one of the worst teams in football. What a disappointing way for Mike Holmgren to finish his NFL coaching career. Now they have a new head coach in which they have to adjust to hopefully right the ship.

6. Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos started the season hot at 3-1 and had one of the best offenses in the league. But with a defense ranked 29th in the league, they lost 3 straight down the stretch putting them out of position to make the playoffs finishing the season at 8-8.

As a result of their poor season the Broncos fired the face of the franchise, future Hall of Fame coach Mike Shanahan, after 14 seasons and 2 Super Bowls. Talk about a disappointing season.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville was considered on of the top 5 teams in the league coming into the 2008 season. They were ranked #5 in the ESPN week 1 power rankings. They finished with an 11-5 record last year and made it to the second round of the playoffs.

This year they decided to do a complete turnaround and finished with a 5-11 record. Now they have to deal with poor free agent signings from the past, salary cap issues, and have decided to start building through the NFL draft.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers start the season at 9-3 and were already penciled in for a playoff position. That is until they lost the next four games straight with the last 2 games at home. In their final game of the season the Oakland Raiders, of all teams, who finished the season at 5-11 defeated the Bucs 34-21.

With straining relationships with the players and only an average offense, the Buccaneers fired head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen. The good news is that now Jon Gruden is no longer on the hot seat.

3. New York Jets

There was new life in New York and I am not talking about for the New York Giants. I am talking about the other New York, the Jets. They made a huge splash signing the future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre. The Jets got off to a hot start at 8-3.

Talk of an all New York Super Bowl began with the Jets versus the Giants. The New York Brets were alive and kicking. But the season was not over and the Jets lost 4 of their next 5 games with Brett Favre throwing 9 interceptions over this period. Oh, and then they fired their head coach!

2. Detroit Lions

Detroit finished with a perfect season. Sort of like the Dolphins 72 season in reverse, 0-16. They went down in the history books as the only team every to go 0-16. Sure, no one expected much from this team but to go all year and not win 1 game. One? Man. It sure sucks to be a Lions fan these days.

1. Dallas Cowboys

And then there was one. The one and only. America's team! The Dallas Cowboys were many people's preseason favorite to win the Super Bowl. This team finished the 2007 season with a record of 13-3 with one of the losses being a meaningless game on the last game of the season. Their team is stacked with superstars on both sides of the ball.

Yeah, but when you have a bunch of head cases on your team like T.O. and Pacman Jones you are sure to have some problems. I used to always defend Terrell Owens and try to give him the benefit of the doubt.

But if you destroy the locker room chemistry at every team that you go to then maybe you have some issues that you need to address. The problems with Terrell Owens complaining about not getting the ball and the Pacman Jones distractions were just too much for this team.

Not to mention Wade Phillips is probably not the right coach for a place like Dallas. Someone a little more hard-nosed, similar to Parcells or Cowher, is needed in big D.

To go from the Super Bowl favorite to not even making the playoffs is just bad. And not only did they not make the playoffs, they got destroyed by Philadelphia in the last game of the season (44-6) when they had everything to play for. Now that is what I call a disappointing season!

Seth Taylor is the author of the NFL Ticket Guide, an e-book that provides NFL fans with tricks and techniques to obtain discount NFL tickets. The guide covers a variety of ways to acquire tickets to help fans get into the game.

Your New Orleans NFL Playoff Itinerary

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Heading to New Orleans for the NFL Playoffs? Looking to experience the sights and sounds of New Orleans beyond the famed French Quarter? While the Superdome may be the center of activity come playoff time, there is no shortage of other landmarks worth visiting while in town. Where else can you tour a swamp, sample homemade gelato and artisan chocolates, and visit the most famous cemeteries in the country-all in one weekend?

Transport from MSY in Style
Don't just cab or shuttle from the New Orleans airport to your hotel. For just a few extra dollars schedule black town car service through providers like Mike's Livery Service. Whether a grizzled road warrior or a first-time visiting fan, Mike's Livery Service will provide the comfortable and safe transportation you deserve.

Where to Stay in New Orleans
If you're looking for a place to stay while in town for the big game, you might want to check out the deals being offered on the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corp's web site. The NOTMC highlights the best deals whether you are looking for historic French Quarter properties, luxurious downtown hotels, or off the beaten path B&Bs. Compare prices of the various properties to find the hotel that best fits your budget.

Getting Wild in New Orleans
Drop your bags off at the room and let the fun begin! There's plenty of time to take in Bourbon Street after the game, so don't miss the number of other attractions and landmarks in and around New Orleans. See the "wilder side" just outside of the city. Go on a South Louisiana swamp tour in search of the Honey Island Swamp Monster or catch a glimpse of alligators, nutria and other animals that call this area home. Tour companies like Cajun Encounters offer fantastic personalized swamp tours by locals, and pickup from your hotel's front door.

The New Orleans Experience
Not into wildlife? Get a feel for the historic city with a climate-controlled New Orleans city tour highlighting the history of the French Quarter, the scenic Garden District, and St. Louis Cemetery. Take in the beauty of the historic mansions and the wrought-iron balconies of the French Quarter, and view the burial grounds of some of New Orleans' most famous and storied residents. Whether you're a history buff or a visitor looking to get the full "New Orleans experience" while in town, the New Orleans city tours are a "must-do" activity.

Shop Local
In addition to the cuisine, music and sites, New Orleans is a world class shopping destination. Local favorite Magazine Street showcases dozens of antique shops, jewelers, upscale clothing boutiques, popular eateries and local bars. While strolling Magazine Street, be sure pass local chocolate shop Sucre for a peak at your NFL team's specially created helmet cake. A cake for each opposing NFL team of the New Orleans Saints throughout the regular and playoff season was created by executive pastry chef and TLC's Ultimate Cake-Off competitor Tariq Hanna. While there, why not stop in for a bite of "artisan" chocolate or a homemade gelato. A bit chilly for ice cream? Grab a piping hot cup of dark or peppermint drinking chocolate.

Y'all Come Back Now
Of course, you would need more than a weekend to truly experience everything New Orleans has to offer. At the end of your trip, please feel free to add items and activities to the itinerary, or create your own itinerary for future visits to New Orleans. Also, share your experiences by uploading your photos to the Visit New Orleans Flickr feed. After all, New Orleans is a great place that deserves to be shared with others.

Nick Silbert is a Louisiana resident.

The Demon Inside

What is it about bowling that makes it so exciting? Is it that distant grouping of soldier pins, so impudent and perfect? Is it their shape, so curvy and sensuous? Or perhaps they remind you of a street gang, daring you to hit them, standing out in the open, uncaring and brave.

No, it is the violence. Where else can you get rid of your secret mental urgings to strike back at your insidious foes, to smash them into smitherines for what they did to you? All the better that they can not strike back. You were the vulnerable one smitten when your back was turned, laid low by a sucker punch below the belt.

But, short of going to jail, there is no way for you to get even. If you did, you'd be just as bad as they. No, you're a lady and ladies do not hit back.

So, go ahead, take aim, disturb their sleep a little. Boy, that felt good. But, wait, suppose they have feelings, too? I never thought of that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ten pins standing at attention,

Quiv'ring at the slightest mention

Of that spherical black lightning --

Three eyes vacant, twisting, fright'ning.

With deadly aim it bursts asunder

Their peaceful stance and plows them under.

White bodies flying, crashing,

No mercy shown, no love, no caring.

One club is grazed and starts to topple,

But from the side a nasty pop'll

Send it spinning down the pike.

A voice is screaming, "I got a strike!".

Resignation then sets in:

They get right up -- to fall again.

I write poetry for the masses. No death and grief for me. Let me know what you think.

Never Looking Back

Have you ever been so preoccupied with your past that you never seem to get anything new started and finished? You could wake up every morning making plans to shoot extra free throws at practice or you can tell yourself to run that extra mile and push out at least 3-4 extra repetitions on the bench press. Unfortunately, many of us seem more comfortable accepting their past failures and would rather dwell in misery instead of "starting fresh".

Come on people..WAKE UP! You are what you think and say you are. Did you know that the mind can ultimately design an outline of your life? For example, if you believe and constantly say to yourself that you are the best high school or college fullback in the nation, one day you will be inducting yourself in the NFL Hall of Fame. You may not see it right away, but your mind will slowly mold you into what you think about 99% of the day. So don't give up, many people do not realize that "sticking with it" through the good times and bad will eventually pay off. With all of this being said, imagine if you kept in your mind an incident from 5 years ago when you blew the state championship game by air balling a three pointer in the last seconds. Go ahead, dwell on this all you want and you will one day hold the record for the most air balled shots in NCAA history.

I remember when I was in high school and we only won 6 regular season games out of 17. What did we do? We never gave up, we continued to work hard and have fun everyday at practice. Our high school basketball team always believed we were better then our record showed and we knew that no matter what happened we gave it our best. We would eventually make a playoff run winning the District and Regional Championship and finishing our season two games away from the State Championship.

Never look back at what you did in past, life is full of new adventures and new goals to accomplish. So get out there and make a name for yourself. Look forward with a head full of steam and never look back.

Eze Ejelonu

President/CEO

DAASH Athletic Enterprises, Inc.

http://www.daashathletics.blogspot.com

2010 NFC East Preview

Dallas Cowboys
Projected Record: 12-4

Last year the Cowboys won their first postseason game since 1996 by absolutely embarrassing the Eagles. What is more significant is the fact that the Cowboys had just beaten the Eagles handily the week before. Last year Dallas also handed the Superbowl Champion Saints their first loss. Even in two losses against the Giants the Cowboys out gained and to a certain extent outplayed New York. What does all this mean? It means that Cowboys are one of the best teams in the NFC and week in, week out they give themselves a chance to win most games.

Tony Romo appears to have turned the corner and appears ready to ascend to an elite level. Romo has a new target to work with in first round pick Dez Bryant. As for receiver Miles Austin and veteran tight end Jason Witten, all they do is get open and make plays. The running back trio of Jones, Barber, and Choice is formidable and should be effective provided they stay healthy. The offensive line needs Doug Free or Alex Barron to step up and replace left tackle Flozell Adams.

Demarcus Ware is the best player and leader on a Cowboys front seven that maybe the best in the league. Defensive lineman Anthony Spencer and linebackers Brady James and Keith Brooking are solid veterans who always make the routine plays and prevent the spectacular ones. Mike Jenkins is a budding star at corner.

There is optimism this season that the Cowboys could be the first team to play in a Super Bowl in its home stadium. If they stay healthy and pick up where they left off last season, I see no reason to bet against them.

New York Giants
Projected Record: 9-7

The Giants started last season 5-0. Then they met the Saints in week 6 in what was billed to be a possible NFC Championship game preview. Instead it ended up being a preview to the destruction of the Giants season. The Giants were humiliated in that game and preceded to lose 7 of their next 10 games to finish at 8-8.

Last year the Giants struggled rushing the passer which is why they spent their first round pick on Jason Pierre Paul, an exciting freakishly athletic defensive end. He is a bit raw but he will learn from the veterans on the Giants defensive line, Justin Tuck and Osi Uemnoyria who also look to rebound from injuries and regain their form from a couple of season ago. The Giants also signed free agent safety Antrel Rolle to help out a secondary that struggled mightily against the pass. A healthy Kenny Phillips will also help the Giants on defense.

Eli Manning set career highs in yardage and touchdowns last year throwing to a young group of pass catchers led by Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks. They all should get better this year so expect the Giants passing game to continue to be productive. The big question mark is whether or not Brandon Jacobs can regain his bruising form and help the Giants establish a running attack that teams will fear. Without a healthy and productive Jacobs the Giants are only an average offensive team.

The Giants are moving into a new stadium so expectations are high, but then again they play in New York (figuratively speaking) so there is always pressure. Eli Manning and the passing game will continue to improve but, the running game and the defense need to return to form if the Giants want to be playing for something in January.

Washington Redskins
Projected Record: 9-7

Talk about an off season face lift. Head coach Mike Shanahan and quarterback Donovan McNabb headline some of the major acquisitions that the Redskins made during the off season. There were also major changes in management with Vinny Cerrato stepping down and former Buccaneers GM Bruce Allen stepping in.

The Eagles don't think McNabb has much left in the tank after sending him 100 miles south to division rival Washington. Donovan will look to prove the Eagles and the rest of his critics wrong while he throws passes to Santana Moss and Chris Cooley. The Redskins picked up talented tackle Trent Williams in the draft to protect McNabb's back as well as open up holes for running back Clinton Portis.

The 100 million dollar man, Albert Haynesworth, has been balking at the proposition of playing the nose in the 3-4 but has agreed to report to training camp on time. Rocky Mcintosh and Brian Orakpo are both outstanding playmakers on a defense that was formidable at times last season. Laron Landry is the leader in the Redskins secondary. His hard hitting style and aggressive play set the tone for the Redskins defense.

Washington has certainly taken heed to Einsteins perspective on insanity, but will it be enough to make a playoff run? If McNabb stays healthy and Haynesworth plays at the level he is capable I would say yes.

Philadelphia Eagles
Projected Record: 7-9

Donovan Mcnabb. Brian Westbrook. Brian Dawkins. Those are three names that were always associated with Philadelphia's near decade long run of playoff and championship game appearances. The business part of football aside, veteran leadership does not grow on trees. The Eagles may have gotten younger but I don't know if they are better.

The pressure is squarely on Kevin Kolb to produce but the cupboard is not bear. The trio of Desean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Brent Celek gives Kolb plenty of places to go with the football. If you're into weather euphemisms when it comes to describing contrasting running styles Lesean McCoy and Leonard Weaver play the part of lightening and thunder, respectively. Michael Vick returns as the backup and will see action if Kolb struggles or is injured.

Philly got a lot younger and faster on defense. Defensive end Brandon Graham is a young pass rusher who will fit in nicely with the Eagles aggressive schemes. Nathaniel Allen could be the long term replacement for Brian Dawkins at safety. Veterans Trent Cole and Mike Patterson will continue to anchor the Eagles defensive line and corner back Asante Samuel will continue to make life difficult for quarterbacks in the secondary.

Philadelphia has a lot of young talent and there is a lot of upside for this team. If Kolb develops and the young players on the defense start to gel I think Philly could be looking at another run of dominance over the coming years. However, this year Philly's growing pains will keep them out of the postseason.

Frank Turner is the primary contributor for Frank Football. For more season previews, fantasy football news, and game picks visit Frank Football.

NFL Football Picks and NFL Expert Predictions - Tennessee Titans Preview For the 2010 Season

The Tennessee Titans started the 2009 season by going 0-6 and turned their season around once Vince Young got the start to finish the season 8-2 just missing the playoffs. Although the tide changed for the Titans when Young was named the starter, the most significant impact player on the team and maybe in the entire NFL other than Peyton Manning was running back Chris Johnson.

Johnson is one of the most dynamic runners the NFL has seen in a long time and became the NFL's best running back by rushing for 2,006 yards and an amazing 49 carries of over 10 yards or more last season. With Johnson's unique talents and unmatched speed by anyone in the NFL, the Titans are now a run first offense that brings a lethal combination with Young at the quarterback position who had an 82.8 passer rating but is also a dynamic runner.

The Titans will pose an offensive threat with these two skilled players but they will need to improve their receiving core as they will count on a 2nd year player in Kenny Britt who will be their number one receiver going into the season. Britt produced big numbers in his first year catching 42 balls for 701 yards which was fifth in Titans history for a rookie while he scored three touchdowns averaging 16.7 yards per reception. If Britt can step up and improve this year bringing a third dimension to this offense, the Titans who were 12th in total offense last year will be hard for any NFL defense to stop.

The Tennessee defense that was considered to be aging cleared house and added 10 new defenders to a roster that was ranked 28th in total yards and scoring last season. The most noted players that are gone on defense are Kyle Varden, Jevon Kearse and Keith Bullock who played 10 years for the Titans and was the defensive captain. They have added players who will make an impact this season in linebacker Will Witherspoon and a rookie pass rusher Derrick Morgan who was ranked 10th in the draft overall amongst NFL experts although the leadership of the defense will be in question.

Jeff Fisher has been one of the NFL's top coaches for years but he will be faced with the challenge of putting all the new pieces together coming into this season. The Titans have brought in a lot of talent and will improve from 2009 but someone will have to take over the leadership role and form an identity for this team. The Titans will have to gain some confidence and win early especially playing in the tough AFC South Conference with the Colts and Texans. Our NFL experts for NFL Picks report that Chris Johnson has a chance to be the first running back in NFL history to gain 2000 yards in consecutive years and if he does complete that feat, the Titans will have a chance to make some noise in the playoffs.

Go to http://www.jrtips.com to get all your winning NFL Picks and NFL Expert Predictions for the 2010 NFL season.

Will the Oakland Raiders Make the NFL Playoffs Next Season?

Although JaMarcus Russell didn't get a lot of playing time last season, you have to think that the Oakland Raiders are a lot better than they were with an offensive threat like Russell taking the snaps.

Last season, it was painfully obvious that the Raiders really had no chance of getting to the post season even with the AFC West being as bad as it was, but with the little time that their first pick got in on the action, you could tell times were a changing for fans of the Silver & Black.

In the off season, the Raiders, believe it or not, made some pretty prominent changes to make the team much better for the up coming season like signing both wide receiver Javon Walker and corner DeAngelo Hall. With these two Pro Bowl type football players, the Raiders have upgraded both on defense and on offense.

Personally, I think the Raiders biggest problem last season was scoring points. They had a decent defense as they always seem to have, but when it came to the offensive side of the ball, they were for the lack of a better word, useless, but with JaMarcus taking all the majority of the snaps, Justin Fargas becoming a better running back in terms of efficiency, Javon Walker being a down field threat and DeAngelo Hall shutting down Pro Bowl wide receivers, the Raiders a damn good chance of at least getting the Wild Card next season.

Not to mention, the Raiders have another high pick in the NFL Draft this year with the #4 pick in the first round, which gives the Raiders a good chance of getting Arkansas running back phenom Darren McFadden. With McFadden in the mix for the Raiders, we can start talking snatching the AFC West from the San Diego Chargers.

Get all the latest Oakland Raiders news, highlights, rumors and more at my blog Raidernation4Life

2010 Detroit Lions Predictions

The Detroit Lions enter the 2010 season off another miserable season where they managed to win just two games, but the future is starting to look a lot brighter for a franchise that hasn't been to the playoffs since 1999, and hasn't had a winning season since 2000. The Lions have been very active this offseason adding a number of players that will have a huge impact on this team turning things around this season. Here is a quick look at what the Lions will look like in 2010, plus my prediction on where they finish the year in the NFC North.

Offense: It appears that the Lions made the right call when taking quarterback Matthew Stafford with the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft, as Stafford showed a lot of positive signs in his first season as a starter. However Stafford must find a way to stay healthy after playing in just 10 games in 2009, and must find a way to cut down on his 20 interceptions he racked up last season.

The Lions finished the 2009 season ranked 24th in rushing, and the Lions responded by trading back into the first round to select Cal running back Jahvid Best, who will likely start for the injured Kevin Smith. Best is an explosive runner that gives the Lions a game change out of the backfield.

At wide receiver the Lions have one of the top young talents in all of football in Calvin Johnson, but the problem has been there has been no one to take coverage away from him in his three seasons with the Lions. The Lions are hoping that newly acquired Nate Burleson can do just that. The Lions traded for tight end Tony Scheffler this offseason, and now have two very talented tight ends with Brandon Pettigrew coming off a pretty solid rookie season.

The offensive line has been a problem for the Lions over the years, but there is a chance that this unit will take some big strides in 2010. The Lions added left guard Rob Sims in a trade with the Seahawks, and he figures to start right away next to left tackle Jeff Backus. The Lions need right tackle Gosder Cherilus to show some improvements this season, as he has failed to live up to his first round selection in 2008.

Defense: The Lions have made some major upgrades on the defensive line this offseason. It started with the free agent pickup of defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, who is still an elite pass rusher heading into his 10th season. Jason Hunter and Cliff Avril are the two top candidates for the other starting end spot. With the No.2 pick in the 2010 draft the Lions selected defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, and there are huge expectations for the rookie this season, and if he plays well, he will make everyone around him better.

At linebacker the Lions lost 2009 starters Ernie Sims and Larry Foote, leaving outside linebacker Julian Peterson as the only starter back from 2009. Second year pro DeAndre Levy got some action at middle linebacker last season, and is the frontrunner to start on opening day, while Zach Follett appears to have the edge at the other outside spot.

In the secondary the Lions made a trade with the Falcons for starting corner Chris Houston and he will be a big part in the Lions attempt to improve on the worst pass defense in 2009. The other starting corner job is up for grabs in training camp, with Erik King, Jonathan Wade, Dante Wesley and rookie Amari Spievey all fighting for the job. Louis Delmas is back at free safety, and the team is hoping strong safety Ko Simpson will be ready to go when the season kicks off.

Prediction - 4th NFC North: I think we are going to see a much better team than we have in the past in Detroit, but I think they are still a couple years away from really competing in the North. I think there is a good chance this team could improve to 5-6 wins this season.

For a complete look at the upcoming season check out our 2010 NFL predictions. If you plan on betting the NFL odds this season, be sure to check out our live NFL odds feed for each and every game.

Nfl Playoffs Wild Card Weekend - Patriots Vs Ravens - Trends You Should Know

If you are a sports bettor or just a sports fan, this time of year always comes with mixed emotions. Although we love to watch NFL playoffs on the way to watching the Super Bowl, there is still something sad about that fact that the NFL football season is coming to and end.

During the NFL regular season, there is always plenty of action to choose from each and every Sunday. Now we only have a few more games to watch. That being said, as a sports bettor the playoffs offer a great opportunity to make some nice profits. Here are some trends that you should consider before placing your wagers on the playoff games this weekend.

Top Trends to Consider:

Since 1992 the New England Patriots are 129-98 ATS when they are playing against conference opponents

The Patriots have a record of 82-58 Against the Spread versus an opponent with a winning record since 1992

Since 1992 New England is 57-34 ATS versus an opponent who has a winning record in the 2nd half

The Baltimore Ravens have an ATS record of 22-12 for all of their games over the past 2 years

Over the past 2 years the Ravens are 22-12 on all lined games

Head to Head Match Up:

The New England Patriots are 50% or 1-1 Against the Spread versus the Ravens over the past 3 seasons

Over the past 3 years, New England has a straight up record of 2-0 against Baltimore

Out of these 2 games, both of them have gone over the total

Hope this info helps. Enjoy the games this weekend and good luck.

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Sports Betting Champ Honest Review

The Sports Betting Champ is a betting system created by John Morrison. According to his website, he graduated from Cornell University and has a PhD degree in statistics. I don't really know if that's true or not but that's not important because like many of you sports fans out there, I'm pretty sure you've made a couple of sports bets in your life especially during the NCAA playoffs, NBA finals or the big mother of them all...the Superbowl.

If you look at his website, you will notice a tremendous amount of customer testimonials mostly by way of YouTube. There are some handwritten, email and audio testimonials as well. Never have I visited a site chuck full of testimonials. Also, his website claims he wins 97% of his sports bets. That's insane! Now, I've tried sports betting online before and most of the time I lost. I've tried sports handicappers and statistics tip sheets but their winning percentage only comes to around 60%-75% which is actually pretty good but for this guy to say that he wins 97% of the time, I just had to check it out.

First thing I did was contact John Morrison. I asked a few simple questions just to see if he would reply back because for those of you that are veterans of affiliate marketing, we all know that there are some creators or authors out there who you never hear from again after purchasing their system. He answered back the next day...that's a good sign.

The next day, I bought the system and here's what I got. I got 3 ebooks. One for the NBA, MLB and NFL. You also get to subscribe to his list where he will email you the picks when he finds a good opportunity to bet on. Personally, I signed up for his picks because even though his system is not complicated, it's definitely something you need to read more than once in order to understand how he arrives at his picks. It's only been a month since I signed up and so far my record for the MLB season is 21-0. That's pretty damn good!

Also included in his package are bonus details he gives you when you sign up using the sportsbook/bookmaker he recommends. The bonus only works if you're a new customer so if for some reason you're already using the bookmaker he recommends then I don't know if you're eligible for the bonus. If not, then there's two other bookmaker he recommends and they're both good and reputable as well. Another little freebie he gives is a Las Vegas 3 days and 2 nights vacation for 2 for a special price once you sign up for this travel agency. I, myself, was not interested in this offer so I don't particularly care for it.

Now let me explain something here because I don't want you to get confused. When you look at sports betting systems that boast 50-2 or 21-0 records, that's not to say that their system never lost a bet. I doubt that there's a sports betting system or software that can predict a winner 100% of the time.

Let me explain how this works. When John emails you his picks, you have only 3 betting strategies to worry about. Bet 1, Bet 2, and Bet 3. If you lose Bet 1, you move to Bet 2 and if you lose Bet 2, then you move to Bet 3. This is where the 97% winning picks comes into play because according to John, who says he is a statistics kind of guy, when his picks reaches Bet 3, there a 97% chance of winning that bet, therefore you bet big during this time. Most of the time he's right, but there's still that 3% chance of losing and when you lose Bet 3 that's considered a lost. So you see, 21-0 into this MLB season basically means I had to bet all the way to Bet 3 a couple of times but all of them have been successful...so far! So if you ever go and look at other sports betting systems, don't be fooled by their records, but then again, why would you, this product works and comes highly recommended.

There's really not much left to say except for the fact that his system really works. It sure made a believer out of me and I don't even watch baseball! That's the beauty of John's system. You don't need to know how the game works or even watch the game, all you need to worry about is placing your picks when he emails them to you.

Just to give you an idea of how powerful his system is, here's his record for the last 4 NBA and MLB seasons:

NBA Basketball:

2003-04 season: 68 wins - 2 Losses

2004-05 season: 71 wins - 3 Losses

2005-06 season: 66 wins - 2 Losses

2007-08 season: 79 wins - 1 Loss

MLB Baseball:

2004 season: 48 wins - 0 Losses

2005 season: 55 wins - 3 Losses

2006 season: 52 wins - 1 Loss

2007 season: 67 wins - 3 Losses

Current 2008 MLB baseball season: 21 wins - 0 Losses

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This has got to be the easiest way to make money online. All you need to do is put the effort into learning the system and I promise you that you will make money.

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AFC Playoffs Preview

Now that the suspense is over, we can get to the real portion of the NFL season. The playoffs kick off this weekend with four first round games, while the top four-seeded teams get a valuable bye (Colts, Seahawks, Broncos, Bears). Weather conditions are definitely going to be a factor, with the Patriots and Bengals hosting outdoor cold-weather games this weekend in the AFC. Here's an early peak at the AFC playoff games on Saturday.

Steelers at Bengals: The good news is there's a wealth of data to examine as both teams have played each other twice this season. The Steelers come into this game brimming with confidence, on a 4-0 SU/3-1 ATS run playing at a high level in all phases of the game. A mid-season slump (injuries) that jeopardized their postseason chances is long in the rearview mirror. The bread-and-butter ground game is rolling, getting 190, 142, 209 and 199 yards the last four games! And the defense has been sensational, allowing 8 points per game the last four! Overall the Steelers allow 16 ppg, and will begin the playoffs on the road, where they are 7-1 under the total. Pittsburgh is also 6-2 SU/ATS on the road.

The Bengals enter the playoffs off their worst two games of the season, losing 37-27 at home to the Bills, and 37-3 at Kansas City. So what gives? The Bengals' defense has been the main culprit, as it's giving up a lot of yards and points. Over the final 7 games the Bengals held only two of their opponents under 28 points! When Cincy and Pittsburgh met on December 4, the Bengals won 38-31, with 102 rushing yards and 222 passing yards. They were also lucky with turnovers and got a key kickoff return. In that game, Cincy stacked the line to stop the Pittsburgh run and Ben Roethlisberger had 379 passing yards. But in the first game, won 27-13 by Pittsburgh, the Steelers had 221 rushing yards. Are the Bengals ready for prime time? Cincy is 10-2 SU, 7-5 ATS as a favorite this season, but 1-3 SU, 1-2-1 ATS as a dog. They allow 17.8 ppg as chalk, but 34 as a dog! This is also the first playoff game for the Bengals since 1990.

Jaguars at Patriots: Both teams bring rugged physical defenses, particularly against the run, into this game. Which means the quarterbacks and the passing games are going to be key. The Jaguars have been going with mobile QB David Garrard, but Byron Leftwich is rumored to be close to available. It makes more sense to stick with Garrard, who's started the last 7 games. This game will be played in the evening Saturday, so will the boys from Florida be concerned with the New England January cold? The Jaguars haven't been in a playoff game since 1999. Jacksonville is 6-2 SU/ATS on the road.

The Patriots have had a tale of two seasons. The first half was loaded with injuries, no running game, and a poor secondary. The second half has seen a resurgence, largely due to several players regaining their health (LB Tedy Bruschi, Richard Seymour, Corey Dillon, WR David Givens) and changes being made in the secondary (dumping ineffective/injured Dwayne Starks for rookie CB Ellis Hobbs, who has played very well). The Jaguars have played one cold weather game this season, winning 20-14 at Cleveland the first week of December. These teams met in December on this field two years ago, as well, with the Patriots winning 28-13 in frigid conditions. We'll see how important the Patriots' experience and home field is. And the reward for the winners? Trips to Denver and Indy! Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

Al McMordie is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at [http://www.procappers.com/Al_McMordie.htm].

NFL Preseason Week 1

For football fans, this is an exciting weekend. Even though the games don't count in the standings, they do count at the betting window. There are plenty of opportunities to locate valuable information to help predict point spread winners, even in August. I recall a game a few years ago where the Dallas Cowboys played poorly in their first exhibition game and the next few days all you read about in the newspapers was how furious Bill Parcells was with his team. The next week they clobbered their opponent, 31-6. Yes, they covered! With that in mind, here are some tidbits to think about as you examine the games this weekend.

Jets at Bucs: This is a long road trip for the Jets, heading south to humid weather. NY has a first-year coach in Eric Mangini. He has gotten glowing reports, too, about how organized and disciplined his camp has been. They run into a Tampa Bay team coached by Jon Gruden, who has been great in preseason, with a 23-11 SU, 18-14-1 ATS exhibition record.

Broncos at Lions: Another game featuring a new coach in Detroit's Rod Marinelli. New Lions' offensive coordinator Mike Martz has a history of aggressive, attacking offenses, but he says he'll keep offensive schemes simple for the first exhibition game. One player to keep an eye on is Detroit backup QB Dan Orlovsky. He struggled in last year's plodding West Coast offense, but his drop back ability is well suited to the vertical passing system Martz uses. Denver gets a look at rookie QB Jay Cutler, but who will he throw the football to? Mike Shanahan said he expects to hold back veteran WRs Rod Smith (hamstring) and Javon Walker (knee) from the game, and WR Ashley Lelie is still holding out. The Broncos' top two wide receivers will be Darius Watts and rookie Brandon Marshall, followed by David Terrell and David Kircus.

Bills at Panthers: If you look strictly at preseason head coaching records, the home team has a huge edge in this one. New Buffalo head coach Dick Jauron is 2-6 ATS his last 8 preseason games (with the Bears), while Carolina coach Jon Fox has been great in preseason, with an 11-5 SU, 10-4-1 ATS mark in August.

Patriots at Falcons: Atlanta might have an edge at quarterback in this one. QB Michael Vick will start but only play 1-2 series. Backup QB Matt Schaub, who impressed last season, will finish out the first half, then QBs Bryan Randall and D.J. Shockley will split time in the second half. That's an interesting blend of QBs who can throw and run. Meanwhile, Patriots second-year QB Matt Cassel will see significant action as the Pats want to see if he can handle the No. 2 quarterback job. A problem for Cassell is that the Pats are short on wideout depth, with star WR Deion Branch still holding out.

Steelers at Cardinals: Another interesting game as reports are that QB Ben Roethlisberger will start, though only play 1-2 series. Rookie QB Omar Jacobs will get the most time. This is a game featuring two veteran head coaches who have been terrific in preseason. The Steelers are 30-27 SU, 31-25-1 ATS in preseason under Bill Cowher, while Arizona coach Dennis Green is 32-19 SU, 28-23 ATS in August (though 4-4 SU/ATS with Arizona).

Chiefs at Texans: Both teams have new head coaches. Be careful of the Chiefs, as they've had a lousy week with quarterback injuries. No. 2 QB Damon Huard (sprained foot) won't play, and rookie QB Brodie Croyle is also hurt. So they picked up QB Jeff Smoker this week, released by the Rams. Asked whether he'd consider giving more snaps Saturday to Trent Green, new coach Herm Edwards said: "Oh no, we won't do that. We won't put the starter back in. We'll just run the ball every play if we have to." Edwards said the offense will run the ball more in 2006 and this would be a good game to start! Perhaps this one might be worth a look under the total, as the Chiefs might run the ball and want to get out of town without any more injuries.

Al McMordie is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at [http://www.procappers.com/Al_McMordie.htm]

College Football Notebook

I've been called many things over 22 years in this business but I've NEVER been called a BCS expert. In all honesty, just who would WANT to be known as one? That being said, we're stuck with the BCS determining college football's national title game matchup and most people are a little nervous these days, as almost EVERYONE is anticipating a Texas/USC or USC/Texas (whichever way you prefer) showdown in this year's Rose Bowl.

The first BCS standings were released on October 17 and there were rumors that while USC would be No. 1, consensus No. 2 in the polls Texas, could find itself behind Va Tech in the standings. Those fears were unfounded, as USC and Texas were a solid one-two in the first BCS standings. I pause here for a moment to remind everyone that since the BCS' inception in 1998, the two teams ranked first and second in the initial standings of the year, have NEVER met in the BCS' season-ending title game!

Moving on, the second BCS standings were released this past Monday. In somewhat of a surprise, USC fell to No. 2 with Texas moving up to the number one spot. The margin of .0007, was the closest-ever between the first two spots in the standings history. USC owns the nation's longest winning streak at 29 games (Texas has the second-best streak at just 14!), has been ranked No. 1 in the AP poll for 26 consecutive polls (an all-time record) and is the two-time defending national champion but now finds itself at No. 2!

For USC fans, it's not as bad as is sounds. USC is comfortably ahead of No. 3 Va Tech and remember, No. 2 is just as good as No. 1 in this 'game', as they both advance to the Rose Bowl. Actually, Texas, which has no more ranked teams on its remaining schedule, is in greater danger of falling out of one the top two spots than USC. The Trojans still have Cal (No. 23 in the BCS), Fresno State (unranked in the BCS but 22nd in the AP and 24 in the coaches' poll) and UCLA (No. 9 in the BCS) on their schedule.

Currently, Va Tech is in the "dreaded" No. 3 spot (see USC in 2003 and Auburn in 2004). However, the Hokies play Boston College (BCS No. 12) Thursday night plus still have Miami-Fl (No. 8 in the BCS) and a likely ACC title-game showdown on tap with Florida State on December 3 (No. 11 in the BCS), to boost their computer rankings. Currently, there are SIX unbeatens remaining in college football and it's possible that the year could end with as many as four.

Either USC or UCLA has to lose when those teams meet on December 3 and assuming Georgia and Alabama were to remain unbeaten through the end of the regular season, the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide would meet in the SEC title game, dropping one or the other from the ranks of the unbeaten.

Speaking of unbeatens, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, UCLA, USC and Va Tech are all 7-0. However, only Texas is a perfect 7-0 ATS. The teams combined ATS mark is 26-16, or 61.9 percent. At the other end of the spectrum, FOUR Division I-A schools enter this weekend's action winless. The list includes Buffalo (0-7), New Mexico State (0-7), Rice (0-6) and Temple (0-8). Of those four, only Rice, at 0-6 ATS, is also winless against the points! The combined ATS mark of the four winless schools is 11-17 or 39.3 percent.

Here's an interesting fact. You have often heard me and others refer to the pointspread as the "great equalizer." Here's why? The six unbeatens naturally have a winning percentage of 1.000 and the four winless teams naturally are at .000. However, you'll notice that when you compare the two groups' SU winning percentage versus their ATS percentages, here's what you get. The unbeatens' ATS percentage is .619, a difference of .381. As for the winless teams. the difference between their SU and ATS winning percentage is .393. Pretty darn close!

Before leaving this discussion of unbeatens and winless teams, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention both Duke and Purdue (although I'm sure those schools would rather I didn't!). While Texas is the nation's ONLY perfect ATS school, Rice is not the nation's only winless ATS school. Joining the Owls are Duke and Purdue. The Blue Devils are 1-7 SU but 0-7 ATS, beating only VMI in a non-lined game. As for the Boilermakers, they are 2-5 SU but 0-7 ATS, as they won but did not cover against Akron and Arizona to open the year, before losing their last five games both SU and ATS!

How are those new head coaches doing?

In one of may many preseason articles, I mentioned that 23 of the nation's 119 Division I-A schools (almost 20 percent!) would open the 2005 season with a different head coach than they had finished with in 2004. Are most of the schools better for the change? I won't waste time listing each school's individual record but alphabetically from BYU to Western Michigan, the 23 schools that changed head coaches for the 2005 year went a collective 114-149 (.433) in 2004 with an ATS record of 117-138-2 (.459). Heading into this weekend's action, those 23 schools are a combined 70-91 SU (.435) and 66-88-1 ATS (.429).

If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one around to hear it, does it make a sound? While the overall numbers are pretty similar from last year to this year, here are seven schools that have surely noticed a change, either good or bad.

Skip Holtz has East Carolina at 3-3 SU and 5-1 ATS, after the Pirates went 2-9 SU and 5-6 ATS in 2004 (ECU was a combined 3-20 in '04 and '03). Hal Mumme brought his supposed "Air Raid" offense to Las Cruces but the Aggies of New Mexico State are averaging just 14.3 PPG and are 0-7 SU and 2-5 ATS after going 5-6 (6-5) in 2004. Mike Gundy took over at Oklahoma State and the Cowboys are 3-4 SU (wins have come over I-AA Montana State, Fla Atlantic and Ark St) and 1-5 ATS, following a 7-5 (7-5) 2004.

Greg Robinson got his first head coaching job, after 30 years in the business, at Syracuse this year. However, his mid-season report card is not good, as the Orange are 1-6 SU and 2-5 ATS after going 6-6 (8-4) in Paul Pasqualoni's final year (had 11 winning seasons in 14 years at Syracuse!).Utah set the college football world on its ear in 2004, becoming the first non-BCS conference school to get a BCS bowl bid and finished 12-0 (10-2 ATS). However, Urban Meyer left for Florida (where he's a disappointing 5-2 SU and 3-4 ATS) with former DC Kyle Whittingham taking over for the Utes and going just 4-4 and a pathetic 1-7 ATS so far in 2005. Things are looking up in Kalamazoo these days (try writing that with a straight face!), as Bill Cubit in his first year as a Division I-A head coach, has the Broncos 4-3 SU and 2-4 ATS after the school finished 2004 at 1-10 (3-7).

I haven't forgotten about Charlie Weis and Notre Dame, I just left them until last. Weis, with none of his own recruits, took over an offense that had finished 108th in the nation in total offense in 2002, 90th in 2003 and 81st in 2004. After seven games of the 2005 season, Notre Dame is 8th in total offense (492.7 YPG), 12th in scoring (37.9 PPG) and 5-2 SU (6-1 ATS). After going 6-6 SU and ATS in 2004 plus 5-7 SU (4-8) in 2003, Weis has the Irish ranked 9th in the latest AP poll, 10th in the latest coaches' poll and 15th (?) in the latest BCS standings. He's got a QB (Brady Quinn) that's breaking Notre Dame passing records on a weekly basis and would be the Heisman front-runner if not for two guys from USC and a QB from Texas named Young. Most importantly, he's got the Irish in line for a BCS bowl bid, if he can win-out.

Out of respect to the Willingham family, I won't mention how Notre Dame's former head coach is doing in Washington. On second thought, I don't know him or any one in his family, so what the heck. Willingham has the Huskies 1-6 SU and 2-4 ATS through seven games, with his lone win coming over an Idaho team which is 1-6. In fairness to Ty, he inherited a team that was 1-10 (3-7) in 2004.

Larry Ness is a documented member of The Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at [http://www.procappers.com/Larry_Ness.htm]

Brett Favre Vikings 2009 - A Done Deal

In what appears to be the final chapter (for now) in the Brett Favre Vikings story, Favre was signed to a deal to make him the Vikings starting quarterback. The Vikes have long believed they were one great QB away from Super Bowl immortality, but does this really have them Miami-bound in 2010? Let's take a look at some finer points and mark a few games on the Minnesota Vikings 2009 schedule.

The Vikes are super mega solid at RB with Adrian Peterson. We all know that. The problem in the past is that teams looked across the line and saw Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels, so they loaded the line in an attempt to stop the run. Makes sense, but they can not do that so readily now. Now they see a 3-time MVP and Super Bowl winner breaking the huddle. I believe this can only help Peterson and the Vikings.

And now the Brett Favre Vikings, as I like to call them, because they are his team now, make no mistake about that, are immediately a bigger deep threat. Bernard Berrian averaged over 20 yards a catch last year on 48 catches from the inferior Rosenfels Jackson combo. That is the highest average for any receiver with over 35 catches! And now Brett Favre is winging it? Please!

Only two Tight Ends caught more TDs last year than the Vikes' Visanthe Shiancoe; a couple of guys name Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates. The arrival of Favre means Shiancoe immediately becomes a top-10 TE again this year.

Schedule time! Let's see, Brett Favre Vikings host the Aaron Rodgers Packers October 5. There are waaaayyy too many angles and dramatic possibilities to discuss here, but even if you are not a Packer Backer or a Vikings Fan, you have got to tune in to see this matchup. Playoff implications abound.

Then the Pack hosts the Vikes in Labeau Field on November 1, on All Saint's Day. So do not eat too much Halloween candy the night before, and break out your favorite Saint's relics, because this is going to be a monster. Brett knows a little about playing in Lambeau, and Rodgers was absolutely fabulous replacing the legend last year. I can't wait.

Brett Favre Vikings, wow, it doesn't sound right, but unless the flip-flopping Favre changes his mind again, get ready for some drama in Minnesota in 2009, and possibly a Super Bowl run.

You think you know Brett Favre? Check out 10 Trivia Truths about Brett Favre that you didn't know.

And check into http://www.squidoo.com/FAVRE-4-VIKINGS for season long updates, stats and more.

Hot Baseball And Football Rookie Cards

If you are looking forward to becoming a serious collector of football and baseball sports cards, you need to follow every game carefully so you know which player is a hot football rookie or hot baseball rookie. This article will explain all you need to know about rookie sports cards collection.

Most of us are addicted to some sport or the other and follow it closely. Whether it is football, baseball or basketball, every sport has its share fan following. Collecting sports cards are another fad pursued by fans all over. When you think 'hot baseball rookie', several names pop in your mind, such as Alex Rodriguez, Babe Ruth and Evan Longoria.. Minnesota Vikings' Percy Harvin and Tennessee Titans' Chris Johnson. These are few of the hot football rookie cards that are in demand these days.

NFL players are hot favorites among sports card collectors. By watching the NFL matches closely and following the players keenly, you would know what rookie-cards are in demand based on which you can shop for those cards. Some leading sports websites also provide statistics on players who are currently leading in the season, their records so far and the best teams in case you are interested in collecting team cards as well. Hot baseball rookie cards are normally introduced before or during the player's initial season in the Big Leagues. The value of such a card change as the season progress based on the player's performance. The better the player plays, the hotter his card would become.

A hot baseball or football rookie card usually bears the photo of the player and statistics relating to his career. If it is the first ever appearance of a particular player on a card, it would carry a lot of significance for collectors. These cards are mostly traded among collectors. At times, a global licensed manufacturer of cards who has a standing in the market may also issue a hot baseball rookie. In such cases, one player may have different cards brought out by various manufacturers. Special editions of the best NFL players bring out a hot football rookie card every year. These cards are usually highly priced as they are in perpetual demand.

Be it a hot baseball rookie card or hot football rookie card, these cards give tremendous trading and investment opportunities. Their value goes up over the years. Some rare cards are highly valued because collectors are constantly looking for such scarce collectibles to add to their list of prized processions. Rare and old cards fetch more when traded.

hot baseball rookie and hot football rookie cards are available online for sale at local stores also. If you are looking for some rare collections, then a good idea would be to become a part of online groups that deal in old, rare cards. Online groups are great sources to find information on which player is a hot baseball rookie or a hot football rookie if you are planning on collecting rookie cards.

Kelly Mitchum: The Leader of the Pack

American writer Jack London (1876-1916), who also logged years as an amateur boxer, oyster pirate and prospector during the 1897 Klondike Gold Rush was not a man to sit and wait for opportunity to come knocking on the door. Revered for classic novels like Call of the Wild and White Fang as well as for his passion for adventure, London's too brief yet prolific life was best defined by the man's own words: "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." The phrase epitomizes London's vigor for life and also perfectly describes the way Carolinas PGA Professional Kelly Mitchum approached the 2006 CPGA tournament season.

At the outset of the 2006 season, Mitchum was the two-time defending Carolinas PGA Player of the Year (2004-05). The last player to accomplish this impressive feat was Carolinas PGA great Bob Boyd, who earned back-to-back honors in 1998 and 1999. But Mitchum, a former four-time All-American at North Carolina State University, was not content to sit on his laurels and reflect on these accolades or the four Carolinas PGA major titles already to his name. Instead, Mitchum had thoughts of a title defense on his mind. Mitchum, fittingly a proud Wolfpack alum, was about to turn his pursuit of a third consecutive Player of the Year award into his own "Call of the Wild," a feat completed only once before in the storied history of the Carolinas PGA (Tim Collins, 1982-84). Heeding London's words, Mitchum picked up his trusty clubs and plunged into what would become one of the most impressive seasons in Carolinas PGA history.

Mitchum, who is also the lead teaching professional at Pinehurst Resort, drew his first blood of the golf season in March at the PGA Tour Wachovia Championship CPGA Member Qualifying event. The Wolf shot the low round in the event, carding a 67 (-4) that included five birdies and only one bogey. With the low score, Mitchum qualified for the PGA Tour's Wachovia Championship held at Quail Hollow Country Club early last May. After participating in one of the premier events on the PGA Tour, Mitchum turned his gaze toward the first CPGA major of the year: the 82nd Coastal Federal Bank Carolinas Open. Much like Buck, London's wolf-protagonist in Call of the Wild, led his sled team through the tumultuous wilds of Alaska, Mitchum led the field and tournament in wire-to-wire fashion. The Wolf scored rounds of 67-66-70 (-10) to win the fifth CPGA major championship of his career by five strokes.

In June, Mitchum had a strong showing at the 2006 RBC Centura North Carolina Open (the second CPGA major) where he finished in a tie for fifth place. Mitchum then hit the trail for Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, N.Y., to play in the 39th PGA Professional Championship. PGA Professionals that finished in the top 20 at the 39th PGA Professional National Championship earned berths in the 88th PGA Championship, which was to be held at the renowned Medinah Country Club in August. London penned in Call of the Wild that "a man with a club is a master to be obeyed," and Mitchum was masterful at Turning Stone, firing a 5-under 283 (71-69-72-71) in the PGA Professional Championship. The Wolf finished in a tie for sixth place, earning the right to play alongside the likes of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and John Daly and qualifying for his second consecutive PGA Championship.

Less than a week after playing in the PGA Championship, Mitchum was back on the CPGA trail at the 55th South Carolina Open, presented by Cutter & Buck. Mitchum led the tournament by two strokes after the second round. But the Wolf was nipped in the final round by a young pup, twenty-one year old amateur Jordan Pomeranz, and finished in a tie for second place. By the end of August, Mitchum had finished in the top 5 of the first three of the four CPGA majors and competed on both the PGA Tour and in the PGA Championship. The Wolf had ample reason to be content, yet "there was about him a suggestion of lurking ferocity, as though the Wild still lingered in him and the wolf in him merely slept."

The line is from chapter 4 of White Fang, Jack London's classic adventure story about the friendship developed between a Yukon gold hunter and the mixed dog-wolf he rescues from the hands of a man who mistreats him. As the month of August closed its eyes, trees swayed as their leaves tumbled and swirled to the ground and the seasons swayed from summer to fall, but Mitchum's focus didn't waver and he was not yet satisfied. He continued to listen to the call which led him to practice and prepare tirelessly for the blue-ribbon Carolinas PGA major--the 2006 Carolinas PGA Professional Championship.

The final CPGA major of 2006 was contested in October at the Club at Longview, one of the most prestigious golf facilities in the Carolinas. A Jack Nicklaus signature course, The Club at Longview challenged competitors on every hole, leaving PGA Professional Tag Wylie referring to the eighteenth hole as "a monster, perhaps the scariest hole I've ever played." After the first round, Mitchum was not the top dog, finishing with a one-under 71 and five shots back of Tar Heel alum Lance Reid. Reid shot an opening round of 66 (-6), a new course tournament record, to take the lead after the first eighteen holes of play. The Wolf was in a tie for eighth place.

Mitchum was not panicked nor did he feel the need to make an aggressive charge in the second round. Like a wolf that tracks an injured moose for days before cutting it from the herd, Mitchum took a club in his hands and patiently preyed upon many of the players in front of him on the leaderboard. Putting well and reading the greens as most men read books, Mitchum carded a 69 to finish the day in a tie for third place and only two shots off the pace. Reid, who was four over par after the first six holes, rebounded from his early round mishaps to play the remaining twelve holes three-under par to remain on top of the leaderboard. Reid was not the only Tar Heel that proved to be a formidable opponent for the Wolf. Bryan Sullivan, University of North Carolina alum and 1999 Carolinas PGA Player of the Year, was alone in second place after the second round.

The final round, which is now regarded as the most exciting of the 2006 CPGA tournament season, featured winds that cut like a white-hot knife and resulted in many wayward drives and over-par scorecards. Reid was a victim of the blowing winds on the front nine, collecting back to back bogeys on holes six and seven. Sullivan stumbled as well, carding a 5-over par 77 and falling off the pace. The hiccups by the pair of Tar Heels left the door open for Mitchum, who took full advantage and made the turn at two-under par to tie with Reid.

While the other players cursed the winds and watched in dismay as their scorecards filled with bogeys, Mitchum thrived. He was ruthless and seemed to be able to perceive, determine, and respond to the challenging conditions all in the same instant. The best example of the pluck the Wolf displayed in the final round came on the par-5 seventeenth hole that stretched the muscles. Mitchum clawed to successfully save par after his third shot was lifted by the winds into a deep green bunker. "I thought I had hit a pretty good shot, but the wind decided otherwise, and I found myself in a bit of trouble instead of on the green," Mitchum later noted. The Wolf responded to the possible calamity by blasting his ball out of the bunker and then draining a fifteen-foot putt to save par. "My putter came through and I was lucky to dodge a bullet," Mitchum said. Mitchum carded an even-par 72 on Thursday and Reid finished the final round with a two-over 74. When Mitchum made par on the eighteenth hole to finish tied at four-under par with Reid, it guaranteed that the 2006 CPGA Professional Championship would not be won in regulation.

As the competitors returned to the eighteenth hole to begin the sudden-death playoff, a vast silence reigned over the course. Several PGA professionals lingered around the scoreboard, spectators searched for spots of grass with the best view, and club members brought their golf carts to a halt on the path wrapping around number eighteen. Even the trees seemed to lean toward each other to watch the sudden-death duel between the Wolf and the Tar Heel. On the first playoff hole, Lance Reid hit his approach shot into a water hazard. Mitchum completed his kill with a cautious par to seal the victory. In the final round, Mitchum went from nipping at the heels of two Tar Heels, to a deadlock, a playoff, and finally to the top of the leaderboard. With the scrappy victory, Mitchum wrapped up Player of the Year honors for the third consecutive year.

Kelly Mitchum now has six CPGA Major Championships to his name. In addition, he is now exempt into the three 2007 PGA Tour stops in the Carolinas: the Verizon Heritage, Wachovia Championship and the Wyndham Championship (formerly the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro). "I'm very excited to have the opportunity to play in such prestigious tournaments," Mitchum said after the CPGA Professional Championship, with a smile of boundless delight. "I'm looking forward to representing the Carolinas PGA section in these PGA Tour events to the best of my ability." The 2006 CPGA tournament season is in the books and Kelly Mitchum has again finished as the leader of the pack. But his ambitions have not yet been tamed. The Wolf still hears the call, and has turned his eyes toward 2007, and the possibility of becoming the first player to be named Player of the Year for four consecutive years in the history of the Carolinas PGA.

AFC South 2007 Previews and Projections

AFC South Division:

1) Indianapolis: The Colts will have a hard time repeating last years feat of winning it all, primarily because of their defense or lack thereof. Indianapolis owned the NFL's worst rushing defense last year, allowing on average 173 yards per game, but was able to cover this glaring deficiency with a strong defensive secondary, however, the free agent losses of versatile LB Cato June and CB's Nick Harper and Jason David will hurt immeasurably if HC Tony Dungy is unable to plug in suitable replacements.

Offensively the loss of RB Dominic Rhodes to the Raiders means the team must find a backup for Joseph Addai, the Colts also lost the services of WR Brandon Stokley but was able to snag Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio State) with the NFL's 32nd overall pick in last years draft to hopefully fill his shoes as the teams # 3 WR. Indianapolis is fortunate to be in a relatively weak division that includes Houston and Tennessee, they also are fortunate to be playing their toughest non division games at home (New Orleans, Denver, Tampa, New England, and Kansas City) but will have to travel to Carolina, San Diego, and Baltimore. As long as QB Peyton Manning and WR Marvin Harrison remain healthy this team can score on anybody which means they can defeat anybody by simply outscoring them, look for the Colts to be involved in more shootouts this year. Projected record: 11-5

**Look to play ON the Colts in their September 16th visit to Tennessee, the Titans will have the Colts full attention in this affair because of the fact that Indianapolis lost at Tenny by the final of 17-20 last year while mired in a funk that started by nearly losing to Buffalo in their home dome (a 17-16 win) and resulted in losing 3 of 4 games during this span. A peek into the ole history book reveals that these Colts have covered 9 of their last 10 road games ATS when playing with revenge!

2) Jacksonville: The Jags were 8-5 last year coming down the final stretch with three games to play and a playoff spot in view, however, when the smoke cleared they finished the season with a disappointing mark of 8-8 after losing those final three games to Tennessee, New England, and Kansas City. Jacksonville ended last season with the NFL's #2 ranked defense and returns virtually every player on that side of the ball, the problem is with the offense which has HC Jack Del Rio on the hot seat should the Jags falter again this year in a repeat performance. This situation has prompted Del Rio to bring in ex-Arizona State head coach Dirk Koetter to serve as his offensive coordinator.

It will be up to Dirk Koetter to decide the battle between QB's Byron Leftwich and David Garrard, in an odd move the team also has brought in Tim Couch to add to the QB mix, Couch was the first overall pick of the 1999 draft by the expansion Cleveland Browns out of Kentucky but never lived up to the hype and actually has been out of football for the past three years since tearing his rotator cuff while with Green Bay. The Jags have some talent on their offense and it will be up to Koetter with regard to how these players will fit into the overall scheme of things to come.

The leagues schedule maker was not kind to these Jags with regard to their being the only NFL team with a block of three straight road games on their docket (at Tampa, at New Orleans, and at Tennessee in successive weeks) that are sandwiched between their two divisional games against the hated Colts, the determining factor for the Jags as a team this year will all depend on what Dirk Koetter is able to do with the offense. Projected record: 10-6

**Look to play ON the Jags in their season opening home game against the visiting Titans, Jacksonville will remember well that it was a 17-24 loss at Tennessee last season that started their 3 game losing streak to close out the year and will want to use this game as a spring board of sorts to get their season off on the right foot.

The lines maker will in all likelihood make the Jags a large home fav against the visiting Titans much like last season when the Jags closed as 9.5 favs, however, this year should produce the same result as last year when the Jags defeated the visiting Titans by the final of 37-7, as a matter of fact the Jags have won their last two home games against the Titans by a combined tally of 77-20. Its also nice to know that according to the ole history book these Jags have covered an amazing 8 straight season opening games ATS!

3) Tennessee: The Titans finished the 2003 season with a regular season record of 12-4 but their fall from grace was swift over the following two years as they tallied a shoddy combined mark of 9-23. Tennessee was then forced to purge their roster of 11 veteran players to satisfy salary cap restrictions, thus started the rebuilding process, this process was furthered along with the ousting of starting QB Steve McNair and the drafting of QB Vince Young.

The Titans inserted Young as the starting QB following an 0-5 start last year, while the Titans did finish the season with an 8-8 record, in truth they were very lucky with regard to having won 4 of their 8 wins by 3 points or less. This past off season the Titans purged their roster of RB Travis Henry, WR's Drew Bennett and Bobby Wade, TE Erron Kinney, LB Peter Simon, and also lost the services of CB Pacman Jones who was suspended for a year following multiple run-in's with the law. HC Jeff Fisher obviously is trying to re-build from ground up via the draft which included 10 selections this past April, unfortunately for Fisher he may not be around to see if these selections pan out or not if his team has another 4 win season. Projected record: 4-12

**Look to play AGAINST these Titans in their season opening road game at Jacksonville, the Jags will remember well that it was an embarrassing 17-24 loss at Tennessee last season that started their 3 game losing streak to close out the year and will want to use this game as a spring board of sorts to get their season off on the right foot.

The lines maker will in all likelihood make the Jags a large home fav against the visiting Titans much like last season when the Jags closed as 9.5 favs, however, this year should produce the same result as last year when the Jags defeated the visiting Titans by the final of 37-7, as a matter of fact the Jags have won their last two home games against the Titans by a combined tally of 77-20. Its also nice to know that according to the ole history book these Jags have covered an amazing 8 straight season opening games ATS!

4) Houston: The Texans brought in long time Denver offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak to take over the head coaching duties from ousted HC Dom Capers last year and there was an immediate 4 win improvement from the previous season, however, in truth 3 of Houston's 6 wins last year were by a combined 8 points. HC Kubiak will be hard pressed to win 6 games or more this year because of two main factors;

A). Houston did little to nothing to improve a porous offensive line that allowed 42 sacks last year which is an average of 2.63 QB take downs per game. B). Playing behind that pourous offensive line will be newly acquired QB Matt Schaub and newly acquired RB Ahman Green of Packer fame, Schaub has a grand total of 163 career passes to his credit while RB Ahman Green is entering his 10th season in the NFL, thus the question, how long will this inexperienced QB and his aged RB last behind an offensive line that has, on average, allowed a staggering 3.4 sacks per game since joining the NFL? Projected record: 4-12

** Look to play AGAINST these Texans when the Chiefs come to town on September 9th for a season opening game, Houston has way too many loose pieces laying around to complete their puzzle by opening day, I would expect a rather low scoring game as the Chiefs figure to pound the ball with RB Larry Johnson going against a Houston rush defense ranked 20th in the league last year. On the flip side Kansas City should be an improved bunch on the defensive side of the ball and will be facing what amounts to a rookie starting QB in Matt Schaub, A peek into the ole history book reveals that the straight up winner in Houston Texan games played in the month of September has also covered the posted spread 15 of the last 16 times ATS, Go Chiefs!

Jim Campbell runs http://www.FootballForecastor.com which has been an internet based sports handicapping service since 1997, you will be hard pressed to find another handicapper that has had the kind of success Jim has had, over the past eight years he has maintained one of the very best winning percentages of any sports handicapping service.

Jim Campbell finished the final four weeks of the 2005 NFL regular season with a mark of 14-5-2 ATS coming down the stretch for a winning rate of 73.68% and for the season in the NFL he finished with an overall mark of 48-33-4 ATS for a winning rate of 59.26% and that includes a perfect mark of 7-0 ATS in the NFL Playoffs, Jim has posted a mark of 6-2 ATS over the past EIGHT years with his Super Bowl selecton.

NFL Week 15 Power Rankings

I just wanted to take a second to wish all of you a happy, fun, safe, bizarre, victory-laden holiday season over the next 10 days. And with that, here's a thumbnail sketch of some intriguing games taking place in Week 16:

New York at Washington (-3), 1 p.m. on Saturday
For the second straight week, Washington finds itself locked in a classic NFC East rivalry game with huge playoff implications. The Redskins are clinging to the final NFC slot while New York is trying to lock up the division title and secure a pair of January home games.

The Giants hammered the Redskins 36-0 back in Week 8 in the Meadowlands, but were crushed 31-7 last December in the nation's capital. New York's struggles on the road (9-13 since 2003) have been well documented, and I think they still have a lot to prove. Their patchwork offensive line was outstanding last week, but I believe they'll be overwhelmed by a rabid Redskins defense.

Washington is currently in control of their playoff destiny. They've won three of their last four and can earn their first winning season since 1999 with a victory. The Redskins have only allowed three touchdowns in their last three games, and are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games before facing the Eagles (they go to Philly in Week 17).

Atlanta at Tampa Bay (-3), 1 p.m. on Saturday
Since their Sunday night thrashing at the hands of Chicago, the mood around Atlanta has been melancholy and shell-shocked. Falcons owner Arthur Blank issued a statement in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday saying that he will consider this season a success even if the team doesn't make the playoffs. That seemed like waving the white flag to me, and is something that could've waited until after the season. Instead it's almost like Blank has given the team the OK to pack it in.

Tampa Bay is coming off an equally embarrassing loss in New England last weekend. However, they still have the inside track to a playoff slot and will have a rowdy home crowd backing them. The key match up here is the Bucs' third-ranked rushing defense (3.4-yard average) versus Atlanta's top-ranked rushing offense. Tampa Bay is 12-2-1 ATS recently when they win straight up against a divisional opponent.

Dallas at Carolina (-5), 1 p.m. on Saturday
If the desperate team usually wins in the NFL, the Cowboys could take this one in a cakewalk. Dallas has dropped three of its last four games and its playoff hopes are on life support. Unfortunately for the Boys, Carolina still has a shot at the NFC's No. 2 seed and is looking to salt away the South title.

I expect a huge day out of the Carolina defense on Saturday. The Panthers possess the league's third-rated unit; yet saw only one member (Julius Peppers) selected to the Pro Bowl. Watch for their overlooked front seven to ravage a very vulnerable Dallas offensive line. Carolina is a sultry 16-5-1 ATS in its last 22 contests.

Drew Bledsoe was also snubbed when it came to a Pro Bowl bid. His play has tailed as of late (5.8 yards per attempt over the last five games) but his numbers still blow away those of Ron Mexico. In the Cowboys' eight wins Bledsoe has a quarterback rating of 107. In their six losses his rating is just 61. Dallas has won the last four regular season meetings between these two clubs by seven points or less.

Indianapolis at Seattle (-10), 4:15 on Saturday
On the surface this looks like a thrilling match up of the NFL's top two teams. However, with the specter of Jim Sorgi and Dominic Rhodes leading the way for Indianapolis, this one could be the equivalent of a preseason dud.

Seattle is a double-digit favorite merely because it still has something to play for. A victory will seal home-field advantage in the NFC, and would mark a new franchise record for wins in a season. But don't expect a total gimme game. I think Indy will come out firing in the first half, but if Seattle can withstand the initial burst they should be able to pacify Indy as the game wears on.

Tony Dungy is 24-7 on the road with the Colts. He has stated that he won't limit his playbook and that the starters will play "as long as they need to." I don't imagine that will be longer than the first half for Manning, Edge, and Harrison. However, don't be surprised if they do bring their A-game for that first half.

Without further ado, here is my Week 16 Power Rankings:

1) Indianapolis (13-1) - Peyton Manning is quickly becoming the NFL equivalent of A-Rod. When his team is up, he's superhuman. When they need him in the clutch, he's subhuman.

2) Denver (11-3) - The Broncos have won four of their last five against Oakland, and Mike Shanahan is 16-5 against his former team. Yet, the Raiders have been victorious in two of their last three trips to Mile High.

3) Seattle (12-2) - As of right now, Seattle has the lowest strength of schedule in the league with an opponents winning percentage of just .398.

4) Cincinnati (11-3) - Buffalo has beaten Cincy seven straight times dating back to 1988. The Bengals have yet to turn the ball over more times in a game than their opponent.

5) Pittsburgh (9-5) - The word is that Ben can't throw the ball with any control over 20 yards, not 40 yards as was reported in the mainstream media. Ben was 3-0 against Charlie Frye when the two squared off in college.

6) Chicago (10-4) - I'm very happy that Mike Brown got the Pro Bowl nod. He's been one of the best and most underrated safeties in the league for several years.

7) New England (9-5) - New England has won its last 20 games when the temperature was less than 40 degrees. Also, they're 20-1 since 1993 when the kickoff temperature is 34 degrees or below.

8) Carolina (10-4) - The Panthers have scored 111 points in the fourth quarter this season, the third most in the league.

9) New York Giants (10-4) - The Giants, along with the Colts and Panthers, are the only teams with 10 wins against the spread this season.

10) Jacksonville (10-4) - In the four games before Byron Leftwich was injured the Jags were averaging 26 points per game. In the four since he's been gone it's dipped to 18 per game.

11) San Diego (9-5) - The Chargers have the league's fourth-toughest schedule (opp. win percentage of .531). They haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 16 games - the league's longest active streak - but face Larry Johnson and his string of seven straight 100+ games.

12) Tampa Bay (9-5) - How huge is that Week 10 two-point conversion to beat Washington right now? Jon Gruden had Joey Galloway simulating Mike Vick this week in practice.

13) Washington (8-6) - Not good times when you're running a story about starting the Oldest Lineman in NFL History (43-year-old Ray Brown), while your opponent is running a story about sending two defensive linemen to the Pro Bowl.

14) Dallas (8-6) - Early reports are that Marco Rivera will not play this weekend against Carolina. Also, middle linebacker Michael Barrow - signed to replace Dat Nguyen - was placed on IR with a torn quad.

15) Kansas City (8-6) - Over the last decade, Kansas City has outscored San Diego by an average of 29-14 at Arrowhead. However, nine of the last 10 overall meetings between these two teams have been decided by 10 points or less.

16) Atlanta (8-6) - The loss of defensive end Brady Smith has crippled this team's front seven. Smith's playmaking ability kept the double teams of Patrick Kearney, who's been a no-show for about four weeks.

17) Minnesota (8-6) - The Vikings began this week as 1.5-point favorites, but by Wednesday the line had already swung to them as 2.5-point dogs. If they win out, they could still win the NFC North title.

18) Miami (7-7) - The Dolphins are looking for five wins in a row for the first time since 1999. The team they beat in '99 for their fifth win? The Titans. Expect to see Sage Rosenfels. Gus Frerotte hasn't practiced because of a sore finger.

19) Cleveland (5-9) - Five of the Browns' losses have been by seven points or less. Cleveland is No. 1 in the AFC in red zone defense (45.2 percent end in TD's).

20) Philadelphia (6-8) - The Eagles have the fourth-lowest payroll in the NFL. Don't feel too bad for how this season has gone because they're going to come back even stronger next year.

21) St. Louis (5-9) - Interim coach Joe Vitt called his offensive line "soft" earlier this week during a tantrum to the press. I expect the line to respond, if only because they're facing a far inferior opponent.

22) Oakland (4-10) - I'm sure that LaMont Jordan is real upset that he isn't playing this week. The Raiders are 27th in the league in time of possession (28:35).

24) Baltimore (5-9) - The Ravens have won five of six at home. In his last three starts against the NFC, Kyle Boller has posted a quarterback rating of 117.2.

26) Tennessee (4-10) - The Titans are just 2-7 against the spread in their last nine games on the road.

23) Buffalo (4-10) - Last week I said that the fans would be storming the field at Saturday's game. Well, police made 22 arrests, and the stadium security manager said that he saw more fans "falling, fighting, and puking" than he ever had.

25) Green Bay (3-11) - This rivalry game against Chicago is the Packers' Super Bowl, so I expect an all-out assault. They've won 13 of 14 December divisional games, including nine in a row at home.

27) Arizona (4-10) - It had to be tough for Pro Bowl voters to select Larry Fitzgerald over Anquan Boldin, seeing that both are in the top five in the league in both receptions and yards.

28) New Orleans (3-11) - New Orleans is 29-5 under Jim Haslett when they enter halftime with the lead. Do you think he broke out that stat when he went to the owner and demanded a five-year extension?

29) Detroit (4-10) - I bet the guy printing the "Fire Millen!" T-shirts is having a merry Christmas.

30) New York Jets (3-11) - No beer at the stadium? I know the Jets play like a college team, but do they have to start adopting their rules as well?

31) San Francisco (2-12) - Alex Smith versus Ryan Fitzpatrick. And they're charging money to see it.

32) Houston (2-12) - It's amazing how players can execute when they know that their job, and their family's livelihood, is on the line. Houston actually swept Jacksonville last year and with an upset could actually play a key role in the 2005 season.

Questions or comments for Robert? E-mail him at robert@docsports.com.

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