Fantasy Football Friday: Week 9

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's week 9, and how is your team faring? Are you in the playoff hunt, or are you already planning for next season? If you're like me, than you have several fantasy football teams. While I'd like to have winning season in all of my leagues, it's just not working out the way I'd like this season. Either way, this is a very interesting week with superstar running backs on the bye. The teams on the bye this week are the Bills, Browns, Jets, Raiders, Rams and Vikings. Yes, that means Adrian Peterson, Thomas Jones, Marshawn Lynch and Steven Jackson are on the bye. Ouch.

Best Match Ups of the Week:

1. Lions at Seahawks - Two weeks ago I traded for Ben Roethlisburger. Now that he's finally off the bye I can use him for the first time, right? Wrong. Matt Hasselback is my backup and he'll be getting the start at home against the Detroit Lions. With so many good running backs on the bye, it's a perfect time to start Julius Jones. Also look for John Carlson to bounce back with a good week this week as well as Nate Burelson and TJ Houshmandzedah.

2. Packers at Buccaneers - If you're a offensive player on the Packers this week, then odds are you're going to have a good fantasy week. The obvious plays are Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and the Packers Defense. I also like Donald Lee this weekend. I wouldn't start a Tampa player if you paid me. They're starting a rookie QB for the first time. If that's not bad enough, Josh Freeman spent his bye week back on his old college campus partying with friends and former teammates.

3. Cowboys at Eagles - Despite both defenses playing well lately, I look at this game as a great offensive game. Lots of points, and therefore fantasy points, will be scored by both teams. I like both Tony Romo, and Donovan McNabb at QB. I still like LeSean McCoy over Brian Westbrook. I'm not a fan of any of the Cowboys running backs though. Most of their damage will come throught he air. Forget about Roy Williams and his moaning about being the #1 receiver. Miles Austin is still the best option for Romo. On the other side, I love DeSean Jackson and do like Jeremy Maclin.

Put em' in the Starting Lineup:

QB - Matt Ryan, Kurt Warner, Matt Hasselback

Look for a bounce back game for Matt Ryan against the terrible Redskins. Same thing for Kurt Warner. There is now way he puts up back to back bad games. I just love Hasselback against the Lions. Who wouldn't

RB- Jamaal Charles, Julius Jones, Steve Slaton

Jamaal Charles is now the man, temporarily, in KC and watch out for a big game against the Jaguars. In the limited amount of carries he's had in his young career, he's average 5.3 yards. If you read about the Lions/Seahawks game above, then you know why I like Jones. Nobody likes to be benched. Slaton will have a very good game against a very hurt Colts defense.

WR- Michael Crabtree, Malcolm Floyd, Steve Breaston

Crabtree is already a must start in my opinion. Make sure you keep him if you're in a keeper league. Malcolm Floyd is now a starter opposite Vincent Jackson. He will see more balls come his way. Anquan Boldin is a game time decision. Breaston has no problem stepping in and producing.

TE - Donald Lee, Fred Davis, Ben Watson
It looks like Finely will not play again this week. I love Fred Davis because who else is Jason Campbell going to have time to throw to. Ben Watson is a touchdown machine this season. Look for that to continue at home against the Dolphins.

DEF - Seahawks, 49ers, Falcons

Seattle plays the Lions. Enough said. Despite the win last week, I still hate the Titans offense besides Chris Johnson. The Falcons can take a relieved sight they line up against the Redskins and not the Saints again this week.

Make em' ride the Bench:

QB - Kyle Orton, Joe Flacco

The Steelers defense is back, and will be in full effect in Denver on Monday night. It's not that I am down on Orton. The Bengals will beat the Ravens this weekend, and play very well against the pass. Mark my words

RB- Ryan Moats, Brian Westbrook

Slaton will get the bulk of the carries, so don't play Moats unless you're desperate. Even if Westbrook plays, I don't trust a running back with a concussion

WR- Antonio Bryant, Ted Ginn, Steve Smith (CAR)

Did you read above about Josh Freeman? There is no way Ted Ginn abuses the Patriots on special teams. It's just not going to happen. Steve Smith is just not getting the ball.

TE - Kevin Boss, Jermichael Finley

Boss has been way too inconsistent for me. Until he does it a few weeks in a row, I will not play him. It looks like Finley will not play.

DEF - Chargers, Colts

Big bounce back week for the NY Football Giants this week. I am not a fan of the Chargers D anyway. The Colts have lost Tyjuan Hagler and Marlin Jackson for the remainder of the season and that is just this week. They're already a very hurt defense and take on Matt Schaub and the high flying pass attack of the Texans. The Colts will win the game, but this could be a shootout.

Rooting against Florida Bama and Cinci

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Rememeber the old adage "To be the best, you have to be the best?"

Well, according to the BCS, that really isn't true.

With strength of schedule not having any real impact on the BCS standings, teams have taken to playing weak schedules with one "signature" game that the masses remember while forgetting they beat up on a BCS team and a half-dozen sub-.500 teams along the way.

Alabama does it. Of the top 5 BCS teams as of this week, Alabama has the second-lowest opponent winning percentage at .492 (32-33). They have played just one team that has reached bowl eligibility with six wins to this point and their "signature" win came in week one against Virginia Tech, who has sunk all the way to No. 23 in the BCS rankings and was unimpressive in a 16-3 yawner against East Carolina yesterday. They at least play LSU this week, giving them two ranked opponents, but if you are going to whine that you don't get enough credit and should be called the best team in the country, you shouldn't be wasting your time with Florida International and North Texas.

But one of the biggest culprits of the cupcake schedule is the No. 5 team in the BCS standings, who are whining they are not getting more respect - Cincinnati. The Bearkittens so far this season have played eight teams whose combined winning percentage is .466. Yep. Cincinnati has gained national fame by beating up on teams that are a combined 30-35. They did beat South Florida, ranked 25th in the BCS rankings, but other than that, they have beaten no one of note. You can't blame them for playing Louisville and Syracuse in league play, but you most certainly can hold Southeast Missouri State (FCS), along with a WAC opponent (Fresno State) and one of the worst teams in the MAC (Miami). Their "signature" game is a final-week matchup with Pitt.

But the biggest thief is Cincinnati. Other than LSU, the so-called best team in college football has not played a ranked team and decimated the FCS' Charleston Southern and Troy out of the Sun Belt, certainly not known as a breeding ground for powerhouse college football programs. The Gators and their fans legitimize this by pointing to the fact they play in the SEC. The only problem with that argument is the SEC is completely overrated. Ole Miss and Georgia, both in the ranked in the preseason polls, both turned out to be patsies, leaving the SEC with as fewer ranked teams than the Pac-10. The Gators have played six SEC opponents and FIVE of them do not have winning records to this point this season. South Carolina next week will make two.

It is what it is, but it's hard to crown a team the best in the nation when they don't play the best schedules. So if you believe in that old adage, join in and root for Florida and Cincinnati's opponents this week. Vandy doesn't stand much of a chance against Florida, but then again, we thought that about Arkansas and Mississippi State, too. Connecticut is a talented unit, who suffered a heartbreaker last week and is still looking to win one for Jasper Howard. Could a big win over Cinci be a fitting tribute? But LSU has the most legitimate shot, but it is hard to root for them and their matching .492 opponent winning percentage.

Bruins regress with losses

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Just when it looked like things were getting better, the Bruins reminded us just how much they miss the Kessel-Savard-Lucic line.

With last night's 2-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, the Bruins not only lost back-to-back games for the first time this season, but they were shut out in back-to-back games for the first time since 2007. The first line of David Krejci with Marco Sturm and Mark Recchi on the wings is just not enough to make the offense effective. Recchi was brought in last season to be a third-liner and a veteran leader and was re-upped for that purpose, not to be a top-line offensive option.

The players on the ice are doing what they can. Shawn Thornton is trying to take over as the team's enforcer and has been pulling his weight. Patrice Bergeron has taken on more of an attacking style and is second on the team in shots as the team's second line center. But right now in terms of skill, the Bruins just don't stack up.

The Bruins have scored three times in the last four games and have a 1-3 record over that span to show for it. The one-goal efford in their 2-1 loss to the Devils came against backup Yann Danis. Their 2.18 goals per game was ranks 27th in the NHL. The power play has been attrocious, going 0-15 since they last scored a power play goal. On the season, the Bruins are converting just 11.5 percent of their power plays, good for dead last in the entire league.

The Bruins need to find a way to beat Montreal Thursday night, not only for their confidence, but for more practical purposes. While it is a long season, the Bruins are fourth in the Northeast Division and 12th in the Eastern Conference. Out of 30 teams, Boston's 13 points are 24th in the NHL. A prolonged losing streak would make it very hard on the Bruins to recover even with Savard and Lucic back.

On a related note, Phil Kessel played in his first game as a Toronto Maple Leaf, taking a game-high 10 shots, but did not score in the 2-1 overtime loss. He also got laid out in a rude welcome by Mattias Ohland.

Being a fan really isn't fun

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports

OK, I'm a New York Yankees fan and I have no problem admitting it.

What my problem is is that I can't enjoy watching them play -- ever.

I'm a true fan -- like many of you out there (whoever you root for) -- and I live and die on every pitch, regular season or postseason.

So, while the Yanks are trying to win the World Series, I sit in my recliner every night they play the Phillies and I'm a ball of nerves. Every pitch, every at-bat, every play in the field, it's magnified on this level but it also makes me so nervous that I have a hard time watching.

Yes, I want to turn the game off and wait until around midnight to find out who won, but I can't. I need to watch, although it pains me for roughly four hours.

It's not healthy, I know, but that's what we fans do.

We live through our favorite team and take it personally when they lose. When they win, we win. In the postseason, I can't even enjoy a victory, I'm always looking ahead to the next game and then I get nervous again.

Yes, it's not fun being a diehard fan. But why do we do it? Because we love the game and our team.

It's only 10 a.m. when I type this and the butterflies are already setting in. In superstitious, too. I take full responsibility for the Yankees losing Game 5. The reason: I went into my drawer and the first t-shirt I grabbed was what color? Red. It was a bad sign and the Phillies won.

That won't happen again.

I took all the red shirts out of my drawer last night and can't make that same mistake twice.

Oh, and I can't wear Yankees gear, either. Every time I do -- a hat, t-shirt, jersey, sweatshirt, etc. -- they lose.

I know I've got issues, but I'm trying everything in my power -- well, in my mind -- to help my favorite team win the World Series.

I really just want this series to be over -- please tonight -- because this feeling I've had since the playoffs started isn't good. I'm on edge every day, even off days.

Yes, I'm worried about Pedro Martinez throwing a gem, I'm worried about Andy Pettitte pitching on three days' rest, I'm worried about Mark Teixeira and his hitting slump and I'm worried about pitching to Chase Utley.

You get the point, I'm a fragile man right now.

But I know I'm not the only man/women/child out there that's feeling this way.

I hope the players on the field know what we go through cheering them on.

Being a diehard fan isn't fun, but it's really the only way I know how to act.

What we learned this week in college football: Week 9

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's not parity in the ACC. It's just that nobody is really that good
Consider this: Right now Duke has a chance to play in the ACC championship game. Yes, the team that lost to Richmond, an FCS team, in Week 1, has a shot at winning the Coastal division. Consider this as well: Florida State has a chance to win the Atlantic division if they win out in league play, despite dropping its first three league games and four of its first six overall. Georgia Tech appears to be the team with the inside track to an automatic BCS berth, but then again, we thought Virginia Tech was that team just a few weeks ago. This week Virginia Tech lost to UNC, Miami needed a huge rally to beat an inferior Wake Forest team and Florida State needed all of their 45 points to beat NC State because they gave up 42. Even Georgia Tech showed vulnerability, giving up 31 points to Vanderbilt, but it didn't hurt, considering they scored 56.

Texas is headed to the national championship
With a huge win over Oklahoma State, the Longhorns have put themselves in a position where the national championship game is theirs to lose. Texas leapfrogged Alabama in the BCS rankings to take over the No. 2 spot and with three games against teams that are a combined 13-11 and 3-9 in the conference. Alabama has LSU left on its slate and should beat the overrated Tigers, but as long as Texas doesn't stumble, they should hold onto the number two spot at least.

USC was a pretender just praying not get found out
The Ducks absolutely lit up USC in the worst loss for the Trojans in the Pete Carroll era. A freshman running back shreds and a quarterback who deemed his injured knee at about 80 percent picking up 386 yards, including 164 on the ground. USC's defense has proved over the last three weeks that their impressive early-season numbers were due to a lack of offensive talent on the other sideline, not because they are particular good. Over the last three games, the Trojans have given up 110 points and 1462 yards. Matt Barkley is going through freshman growing pains, throwing at least one interception in his last four games and has completed more than 60 percent of his passes just once over that span.

Week 8 Recap: Brett Favre Owns Green Bay

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The main event this week was Brett Favre's return to Lambeau Field, and Favre reminded everyone whose house it really is.

Vikings 38 (7-1) Packers 26 (4-3)

So much for the boos bothering Brett Favre. Favre showed his former team that he still has plenty left, sticking it to the Packers with 4TD passes. The win puts the Vikings in firm control of the NFC North.

Dolphins 30 (3-4) Jets 25 (4-4)

Next time they play, maybe the Jets and Dolphins should start their game at half time. After being tied 3-3 at the half, both teams exploded for a combined 49 points in the second half. Last week Ted Ginn Jr was the goat. This week he was the hero, returning two kick offs for touchdowns in leading the Dolphins to a win in the Meadowlands.

Eagles 40 (5-2) Giants 17 (5-3)

What has happened to the Giants? After starting the year 5-0, the Giants have now lost three games in a row. This game was over at the half, as the Eagles jumped out to a 30-7 lead at the break. The Eagles now move into a first place tie with the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East.

Cowboys 38 (5-2) Seahawks 17 (2-5)

Romo was solid again for the Cowboys, throwing for 3 touchdowns, including another to Miles Austin. Romo has a chance to get the Cowboys into first place next week, as the Cowboys travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles.

Colts 18 (7-0) 49ers 14 (3-4)

The Colts offense actually struggled at times, and Indy actually trailed at the half. It was not until Reggie Wayne's 22 yard TD reception on a half back option pass by Joesph Addai in the fourth quarter that the Colts finally took the lead. The 49ers have now dropped three straight.

Texans 31 (5-3) Bills 10 (3-5)

With Owen Daniels hurt, and Steve Slaton fumbling his way to the bench, Ryan Moats stepped up big time to lead the Texans to a win in Buffalo. Moats found the end zone three times in the fourth quarter to blow a close game wide open.

Bears 30 (4-3) Browns 6 (1-7)

Derek Anderson was his usually self, completing 6 of 17 passes for 76 yards and 2 picks, and the Bears defense had an easy day. Anderson was benched late in the game. It appears that Brady Quinn will get another chance to lead this "pro" team.

Rams 17 (1-7) Lions 10 (1-6)

The Rams ended a 17 game losing streak, and won for the fist time since October of 2008. The Rams no longer have to worry about joining the Lions as the only team to go 0-16.

Ravens 30 (4-3) Broncos 7 (6-1)

The Broncos undefeated streak came to an end in a big way on Sunday. The Raven offense came to life in the second half, putting up 24 points after the half. It was the first loss for Josh McDaniels as an NFL head coach.

Titans 30 (1-6) Jaguars 13 (3-4)

Maybe Jeff Fisher should have listened to the owner all along. Vince Young, who replaced Kerry Collins as the Titans starting QB, did not put up big numbers, but he did not have too. Chris Johnson provided all the offense rushing for over 200 yards and 2 scores to lead the Titans to their first win of the season.

Chargers 24 (4-3) Raiders 16 (2-6)

It was just like old times in San Diego. LT found the end zone twice (remember when that was a given each week) and the Raiders once again struggled in the passing game, managing only 88 yards for the game. Who will Tom Cable hit this week?

Panthers 34 (3-4) Cardinals 21 (4-3)

The Cardinals may be the most inconsistent team in the NFL. After looking great in a win last time out against the Giants, the Cardinals were a turnover machine against the Panthers. Kurt Warner threw 5 ints, and DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for over 200 yards rushing and 2 TDs to give the Panthers the upset win in the desert.

Monday Night Football: Saints Looking Super

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The New Orleans Saints are venturing into unknown territory for their franchise.

For the first time since the franchise was founded in 1967, the Saints are the clear favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. For a franchise that has only won two playoff games in its history, this is uncharted waters indeed.

Make no mistake, the Saints perfect 6-0 start is not a fluke. The Saints offense deserves most of the credit for the turnaround. The Saints have scored 45 or more points in more than half of their games this season. The Saints are starting to look like the 2007 Patriots in some ways.

If there were any questions about the toughness and character of this team, last week's game against the Dolphins answered that question loud and clear. After having not trailed at the half of any game this season, New Orleans found itself on the wrong end of a 24-10 game at the half. Drew Brees and company did not panic, and put up 29 second half points. Even more impressive is that the defense chipped in, adding a late int return for a touchdown to seal the 46-34 win. That is what make the Saints dangerous. It is not just the offense, but the defense that can contribute as well. Add in a solid special teams unit with Reggie Bush (if he does not fumble) and the Saints are a complete team. These are not your fathers "Aints" anymore.

Looking ahead the Saints have the Bucs twice, Panthers twice, and other has beens such as the Rams and Redskins on its schedule. Could the Saints be 16-0? Not likely, as the Falcons and Patriots will be tough to beat, but it is not totally out of the question.

Speaking of the Falcons, if they are going to have any chance in this game, it will be with the legs of Michael Turner. Turner has struggled at times this season, but the Falcons will need him to control the clock and keep Drew Brees on the bench. The Falcons have the offensive weapons to put points on the board, with Roddy White, Matt Ryan, and Tony Gonzalez, but they do not have quite the same fire power that the Saints have. The offense will have to stay on the field, and keep the Saints offense off the field.

The Falcons defense has also been suspect at times, and were beaten badly by the Cowboys one week ago. For those reasons, it is critical that Turner gets going if Atlanta expects to keep pace in the NFC South.

Can the Falcons do enough to slow the Saints offense down? The feeling here is no. Look for the Saints to remain perfect. With the way this season has gone for New Orleans, the Saints my come marching in to the Super Bowl in February.

Prediction: Saints 38 Falcons 24