Week 6 Picks: Chad vs Jim

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Well, week 5 was pretty bad for the both of us, and anyone else except Las Vegas. This week should be a little more straight forward. Even after the terrible week, I have a 3 game lead over Chad, but with us picking every game it's easy to make up several games. Just like last week, there are only two differences in our picks. We definitely think too much alike.

Thought on the Patriots vs. Ravens

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Here are 10 things I'm thinking about in anticipation of the New England vs. Baltimore game on Sunday in Foxboro.

1. Really, is there any way the Patriots can win this game?

Of course they can, but the Pats are going to have to play a near-flawless game to beat the Ravens (they are my Super Bowl pick this year, too). Obviously, easier said than done.

2. Give Bill Belichick two weeks to prepare for anyone, and I'm betting the Ravens are going to see some things the Pats haven't done yet this season. Bank on Joe Flacco making a mistake because he didn't see a particular coverage on film this year.

3. The fans will not be leaving this game early in the fourth quarter. Well, perhaps they may if it's a blowout. But if you can beat the traffic, why not? Brady should even understand that.

4. Tom Brady is going to have some trouble in the passing game. The Ravens ranked first in the NFL in third-down defense. Yes, they get off the field, while the New England defense ranks dead last. Brady and Co. will be frustrated at times in the this game.

5. Stop the run. I'm calling out the Patriots' front right now. If the Ravens keep picking up chunks of yardage on the ground, it's going to be a long game and the Ravens will just keep pounding the rock.

6. I'm not scared of Joe Flacco, but his weapons are pretty dangerous (Boldin, Housh, Heap, Mason, Rice). This game should come down to Flacco winning it.

7. Welcome back Deion Branch. Now do something on the field. If he's open, Brady will find him. But can he get open? I'm cautiously optimistic that Branch is a key piece to this offensive puzzle.

8. I just love the tight ends who can stretch a defense. The Pats have two great rookies in Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski. They will be feared for many years.

9. I'm really concerned about the New England defense. Even if the Pats stop Ray Rice on the ground, Flacco is solid enough and has enough playmakers that can make it a long day for the Pats' secondary. Boy, that secondary is soft and inexperienced, anyway. They better tighten it up ...and fast.

10. Who will win? Yes, I'm a Patriots fan and I'd love to pick them, but I can't. The Ravens are a premier team in the AFC, and the Pats are a notch below. I think Baltimore is all-around a better team and they'll hold down Brady and force field goals. And we all know what happens when you kick field goals: You lose. Plus, New England's defense is a work in progress, and the Ravens' physical brand of football will wear down the Pats.

Prediction: Ravens win, 24-16

Week 5 Picks: Chad vs Jim

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

As always, Chad and I only differ on a few games each week, and Week 5 is no different. As you'll see below, we differ on only two games this week. There is zero margin for either of us to win the week. As of right now, I have a 3 game lead on the season series as I'm 18-12 and Chad is an even 15-15.

A good replacement for Moss: Deion Branch

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Well, Randy Moss is gone, so it's time to start thinking about how this New England offense can recover and regroup.

And it could all start with the return of old friend, Deion Branch.

Remember, the same Branch that was a favorite weapon of Tom Brady from 2002-05.

But Branch was quickly traded away to Seattle over a nasty contact dispute.

But now, hopefully, the Seahawks can trade him back and for a lot less (hopefully it'll only cost a 5th-round pick, instead of how the Pats got a first-rounder from Seattle in 05).

Branch isn't a legit No. 1 receiver, but I would never expect him to post the numbers that Randy Moss did, either. But Branch is smart, he runs great routes, can help the younger players, is a security blanket for Brady and is good enough that teams must respect him on the outside and will hopefully not allow other teams to double-cover Wes Welker in the slot.

But perhaps his biggest plus is that he's a total team player. He knows how to play in a team concept and isn't worried about being the featured guy in this offense. He knows Brady spreads the ball around to the open receiver, too. He's not a full-blown diva, either.

See, these are some things that Randy Moss never understood. The sad part is, as good as Moss is as a receiver, he's simply too selfish and that's a major negative in New England.

So it could be a great addition for New England. Branch is not a 1,000-yard receiver (he did have 998 in 2005) but he could be in the right situation.

The Patriots need a proven veteran receiver on the outside to take some heat off of Welker. The young kids (Brandon Tate, Julian Edelman, Taylor Price) aren't the answer right now, but the Super Bowl XXXIX MVP is. Make the right decision, and bring back Branch.

Can anyone in Hockey East stop Boston College?

Can Hockey East make it four in a row? With Boston College at the top, it's very possible.

As the college hockey season gets rolling today, the main question on the minds of anyone who follows Hockey East is whether or not Boston College can continue one of the most dominant stretches in college hockey history. Since 1998, they have made the tournament eleven times (98, 99, 00, 01, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 10), been to the championship game six times (98, 00, 01, 06, 07, 08, 10) and won the whole thing twice (08, 10). Not a bad stretch.

What's more, you would be hard pressed to find a team that won a national championship that returns as many players as Boston College does this year. I'm not going to lay out a bunch of stats and returning players for you. Suffice it to say that just about every impact player is returning to that team. The Immensely talented Whitney brothers and the quiet, yet very effective Cam Atkinson figure to be the leaders of a team that is deep throughout.

It's saying something when Boston University coach says it's "obvious" that BC is the favorite in the league. And when Northeastern coach Greg Cronin predicts the cross-town rivals could win 40 games and calls the Eagles the "thoroughbred" of the conference, that speaks volumes.

To put Cronin's words in proper perspective, Maine won 42 games in 1993, setting an NCAA record. They went on to beat defending-champion Lake Superior, 5-4.

Maine has been a shadow of itself for the better part of this decade, but appear to be back on track behind the leadership of Gustav Nyquist, a Hobey Baker finalist who racked up 61 points in 39 games. After a rocky start, the Black Bears rebounded and made it all the way to the Hockey East championship game. But Maine needed to win the game in order to have enough of a resume to make the national tournament and failed to do so. Still, the 19-17-3 record indicated that things are on the upswing for Miane.

If there's one question surrounding Maine, it's goaltending. However, Maine only graduated one member of its blue line, which should make the job easier.

New Hampshire is the other team that probably has the most hope of unseating the Eagles. Last year's regular-season Hockey East champions have the second-longest active streak of tournament appearances with nine and could quite possibly have 10 after this season. As is the case with Maine, UNH is very green in goal. All-American Brian Foster played in 38 games last year, while this year's starter, Matt DiGiolamo saw just under 93 minutes all season. Still, he's getting rave reviews from coach Dick Umile, who noted while smaller than previous standouts Foster and former Hockey East Player of the Year Kevin Regan - both were 6-foot-2 - he is remarkably quick and athletic. The Wildcats also return five of their six defensemen, including All-American Blake Kessel.

UNH also is without its Hobey finalist from last year. Bobby Butler scored 29 goals and assisted 24 more for the Wildcats last season, but UNH is never short on scorers. Paul Thompson (19 goals), Mike Sislo (14 goals), Phil DiSimone (10) and Kessel (10) all return and who knows who else might pop up. Butler was not considered a top scorer for the team prior to last season.

BU always has to be in the Hockey East discussion, whether Boston College fans like it or not. After missing the postseason last year, Jack Parker's crew does have a lot of work to do. BU has just one senior on the roster surrounded by 17 freshman and sophomores. Perhaps that's what the Terriers need after the team looked very complacent the year after its championship run the year before.

Keiran Millan remains one of the best goaltenders in the conference and while he may never duplicate his outstanding freshman campaign, which included 28 wins and sub-2.00 goals against average, he will keep BU in most games.

Last year's upstart Merrimack, which almost bumped BU out of the Hockey East Tournament, bears watching in for no other reason than Stephane De Costa, the Warriors' phenom who scored 46 points in his rookie season.

Northeastern is looking to rebound and returns a lot of talent from a team that was left reeling after the departure of Hobey Baker finalist Brad Thiessen. Chris Rawlings eventually settled into the position and the team finished in the middle of the road in terms of team defense.

But the lack of a truly premier goaltender exposed some real offensive deficiencies for the Huskies, who were ninth in the league overall in scoring. Northeastern was just four points away from third place in Hockey East last year, but there was a severe logjam in the middle of the pack and despite being that close to home ice, Northeastern didn't go to the postseason at all, so it's hard to read just how good this team might be or might not be.

Overall, Hockey East does have question marks throughout, with the exception of Boston College, and should once again be the most competitive conference in college hockey.

Projected standings:
1. Boston College*
2. New Hampshire*
3. Maine*
4. Boston University
5. Northeastern
6. Merrimack
7. Vermont
8. UMass-Lowell
9. UMass-Amherst
10. Providence
* indicates NCAA tournament

Chris Maza is the owner of the Maza's Musings sports blog. Check out this post and others at http://mazasmusings.wordpress.com

Do you still Trust in Bill?

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

There's no crying in football, either.

I know Randy Moss is gone, but it's already time to turn the page. There's still 12 weeks of the regular season to play, so there's no time tear up about Moss being traded to the Vikings.

But what I'm more ticked about is the compensation that the Patriots got from Minnesota. A third-rounder for one of the best wide receivers of all-time? Seriously, a third-rounder? It doesn't add up based on Moss' resume and career stats, but I guess the Pats are lucky to even get that much.

Remember, Moss has been vocal about wanting to get paid (a contact extension) and then there's reports that Moss had words with coaches and he was a bad seed in the locker room. Should any of that really surprise us? Moss, despite boatloads of talent, has always been a problem child. So knowing that the Pats weren't going to re-sign Moss anyway, why would the Vikes actually give up their first-round pick in the 2011 draft?

So, although Moss has the talent to fetch at least a first-round pick, the Pats had no leverage to broker that rich of a deal. So a No. 3 might not be that bad after all considering the circumstances.

Just think, everyone was up in arms that Laurence Maroney was traded to the Broncos for a fourth-rounder. That deal actually looks good now, considering it was only a 3 for Moss.

After this latest blockbuster, do you still Trust in Bill?

Ingy Predicts: 2010 MLB Postseason

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Ideally, I would give you a detailed description of my 2010 Post season predictions. Unfortunately, I have a day job that I need to attend to. Regardless, take a gander at who I predict to win the World Series.