Week 9 Predictions: Welcome Back New England

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

I don't know about everyone else, but I hate the bye week. It feels like a month has passed since the Patriots last played. It is time for the Patriots to get back to work. Here are this weeks picks.

Patriots 34 Dolphins 14

Will Joey Porter finally stop with the whole spygate thing? Get over it already. Unlike Joey Porter, Brady and crew will do their talking on the field. The Patriots will score early and often, and Miami will not be able to keep up.

Colts 35 Texans 31

The Colts looked vulnerable against the 49ers last week, and Houston has the weapons to put some points on the board. Add in a banged up Colts secondary, and the Texans have a real shot in this one. In the end however, Peyton Manning will do just enough to keep the Colts unbeaten. If this game was in Houston, it might have gone the other way.

Ravens 21 Bengals 13

A month ago the Bengals went to Baltimore and shocked the Ravens. Things will be different this time, as the Ravens defense will step up and shut down Cedric Benson, Carson Palmer and the rest of the Bengals offense.

Cardinals 30 Bears 24

The Cardinals have been the most inconsistent team in the NFL this season. Just when you think they are ready to make another playoff run, they get hammered like they did against the Panthers last week. Expect the inconsistency to continue, but in a good way for Arizona, as Kurt Warner will bounce back from a dreadful 5 int performance with a big game.

Falcons 38 Redskins 10

Matt Ryan looked bad against the Saints on MNF, but the Redskins should not give him anything to worry about. The Redskins have not scored over 17 points in a game this year. The Falcons could have that many by the half.

Bucs 16 Packers 13

This is just a hunch. The Bucs have to win at least once this year right? The Pack has a banged up offensive line, so maybe this will be the week the Bucs defense gets it together. Plus they have had two weeks to prepare. Josh Freeman can't be any worse than Byron Leftwich and Josh Johnson. What the heck, I'll give the Bucs the win.

Jaguars 13 Chiefs 10

I was tempted to pick the Chiefs here, as the Jags have been bad defensively. Then I remember the kind of season Matt Cassel was having and though better of it. Maurice Jones-Drew will be big again this week.

Seahawks 23 Lions 6

T.J Houshmandzaheh had words with Matt Hasselbeck last week, but expect these two to hook up several times against a poor Lions pass defense.

Saints 42 Panthers 17

The Saints will make franchise history, going to 8-0 after this one. The Panthers have been better lately, winning 3 of 4, but do you think they really have a chance? Yet another game of 40 plus points for the Saints.

Chargers 34 Giants 21

It is time for New York to panic, as the Giants will lose their fourth straight. The Chargers will be the latest team to put up big offensive numbers against a suddenly struggling Giants defense.

49ers 28 Titans 10

A week ago the 49ers looked solid on defense, holding Peyton Manning in check. This week should be easy by comparison. Vince Young will struggle, and the 49ers will break a three game slide.

Eagles 37 Cowboys 28

Look for the Eagles to get another huge division win. One week after beating the Giants at home, the Eagles will do the same to the Cowboys this week.

Steelers 20 Broncos 10

Josh McDaniels suffered his first career loss last time out in Baltimore. He will now achieve another career first this week - a losing streak.

Big advantage for Patriots coming off the bye

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The Miami Dolphins can't be too excited having to travel to Gillette Stadium to take on New England after the Patriots are coming off the bye week.

The Pats will be rested, but more importantly head coach Bill Belichick and his staff have had two weeks to game plan for the Dolphins and their various Wildcat looks on offense.

We all know what Belichick can do with two weeks to prepare, and we all know the Dolphins wish this wasn't the scenario.

But the biggest thing is what can both defenses do to stop the other offense?

With Miami, it's all about that Wildcat formation. Some say it's a gimmick, but it's a staple in the Dolphins' running game. Ronnie Brown is a threat to run, but he can also pass a little out of that formation, while Ricky Williams adds another dangerous runner in the backfield.

While Miami can run with the best teams in the league, it can't keep up with teams in the passing game with Chad Henne at the helm.

No doubt the Pats will try to neutralize the run game and put the game in Henne's hands. And there's no way he can carry this club, considering his lack of talented weapons on the outside.

But the Patriots' defensive front must answer the bell, play strong and penetrate into the backfield to disrupt the timing of Miami's run game.

If they do, I don't think this game will be that close. If they let Miami pick up good chunks of yards and control the clock, then the Pats are in for a 60-minute war on Miami's terms.

As for the Patriots' offense, look no further than quarterback Tom Brady (is this a surprise?).

In his career, Brady has had issues with Miami and Jason Taylor. Taylor is still around and is a dangerous pass rusher on the outside. How will rookie 6-foot-8, 315-pound Sebastian Vollmer handle the speed of Taylor? I think he'll be OK, considering he can't do any worse than Matt Light who has struggle with any type of speed rusher for years.

Now Light is out with a knee injury and Vollmer has done a great job in his place. Vollmer might not have the speed of a puma from side to side, but he's got brute strength and power, and if he gets his paws on Taylor, there's no way Taylor is going to get to Brady.

The biggest advantage for the Pats is Randy Moss and Wes Welker going up against Miami's rookie cornerbacks. You can't tell me a vet like Moss isn't going to have a few tricks up his sleeves for the rookies. Expect Moss to be a key, unless Miami decides to double Moss every team with a corner and safety help over the top. If that's the case, Brady will dink-and-dunk down the field, with Welker being the biggest difference-maker. Either way, the Pats will throw and throw some more vs. Miami.

While the running game has been iffy for much of the season -- although Laurence Maroney, despite all the haters out there, has been extremely serviceable since Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris went down with injuries -- they will need Maroney to keep this defense honest with hard-earned yards. That means putting his head down, not dancing around too much, and fighting for 3-4 yards a pop.

But don't forget about special teams. Miami's Ted Ginn returned two kickoffs for TDs last week against the Jets, so the New England coverage units better bring its 'A' game and target Ginn with a couple big hits. Ginn's soft, he is afraid of contact and likes to bounce plays to the outside. The Pats know this, and don't expect Ginn to find the room to use his speed and find paydirt against the Pats this week.

This game is set up for the Pats, coming off the bye, to play a very strong football game.

I expect the Pats to confuse Henne, limit the big running plays and create a few turnovers and completely take Miami out of its game plan.

And Brady takes command and uses his arm to pick apart the Dolphins.

Prediction: New England, 31-20

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.