Crazy Blazer bets

With the dawn of the regular season upon us it's time for our yearly Crazy Blazer bets. As a recap we make predictions related to the Blazers that are so far fetched that if anyone of them were to accutally happen you'd be willing to pay $5 to the person who made that bet. As always please feel free to add your predictions to the bottom, of course you're not eligible for the cash.

Derek - Raymond Felton will average 12 assists a game, lead the leauge in assists and have 3 or more games of 20+ assists.

Loren - LaMarcus Aldridge averages 30+ points a game, 12+ rebounds, 4+ assists and 2+ blocks a game and is named MVP.

Philipp - Oden will play an entire playoff sereis average a double double in the playoffs and the Blazers will advance past the first round.

Ryan - Patty Mills, Joel Pryzbilla and Jeff Pendergraph will all play this season for the Blazers.

Cliff - A Blazer will be voted into the starting line-up for the All Star Game.

Carlos - A Blazer will be named First Team All NBA this year.

Mike - Luke Babbitt scores 30+ points in an NBA game this year.

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NFL week 16 picks

Well here we are week 16 only two weeks to go for the regular season that almost never was, ok we all knew that it'd be played. Loren and I split our different picks last week going 4-2. I'm sitting with a record of 59-31 while Loren has a stellar 57-33 record.

Oakland @ Kansas City
Derek - Oakland. Tough one. I"m going against the Chiefs. I'm thinking let down game, but you gotta like what you saw out of Orton though. I think Oakland can run behind Bush long enough to old out for a FG victory.
Loren - Kansas City. The loser here is out of the race for the AFC West, while the winner may get a chance to take the division with a win in week 17. I'm going with KC at home. Oakland is still missing a lot of pieces to injury and KC is building momentum with that huge win against Green Bay. With the win, KC sets up a game at Denver in the final week with Kyle Orton getting a chance to beat the team that let him go and get the Chiefs, most pundits cellar pick, into the playoffs as a division champ.

Denver @ Buffalo
Derek - Denver. Buffalo is on a 452 game loosing streak and Jesus won't let the Broncos lose more than 1 in a row. The bills gave pup 200 yards to Reggie Bush on the ground how do you think they'll do against the Broncos rushing attack.
Loren - Denver. Just like New England, the Bills have a porous defense that could make Tebow look good (assuming he doesn't turn the ball over and gets a little more help from his line). Unlike New England, the Bills no longer have the kind of offense that can make up for their porous D. Denver wins and depending on the outcome of the Giants/Jets game, keep the inside track on a playoff berth.

NY Giants @ NY Jets
Derek - New York Giants. Hmm not sure which players have to travel more for this one. The Jets just don't look good, while the Giants flux between good and bad. Seems like I have a 50% chance if I go with Eli and friends.
Loren - NY Jets. Since the Giants can't run the ball, they'll have to continue to rely on Eli. Unfortunately, Manningham is out again and the Jets secondary can lock down receivers on both sides of the field. I just don't see the Giants being able to move the ball and stay mistake free.

San Diego @ Detroit
Derek - Detroit. San Diego drilled the Ravens last week but that was a bad game by the ravens good D by the Chargers and the benefit of playing an east coast team at home. The tables are turned for this game and I expect Stafford to go to Megatron early and often.
Loren - San Diego. The Chargers finally figured out how to win. Better late than never? Probably not for their fans. Detroit has needed luck to pick up wins against Minnesota and Oakland the last couple of weeks, while San Diego has three throttling wins including Baltimore.

San Francisco @ Seattle
Derek - San Francisco. Classic Unstoppable Force meeting the immovable object. Lynch has scored a TD in his last 7 games, the 49ers have not allowed a rushing TD this year. Think about that for a second. No team has done that in a 16 game season. I think the 49ers D will be enough to stop Lynch and I'll take Alex Smith versus Tavaris Jackson.
Loren - San Francisco. I took Pittsburgh last week thinking the Niners had slowed down a bit, and it cost me a chance to tie Derek. I'm not making that mistake again. The Seahawks have played well lately and have been a lot of fun to watch, but their playoff chances are officially over after a loss to the Niners this week.

Atlanta @ New Orleans
Derek - New Orleans. Should be a high octane offensive game but I can see the Falcons scoring in the 30's and losing by double digits. Can't stop Brees right now and he only needs a partly 305 passing yards to break Marino's record for most passing yards in the regular season.
Loren - New Orleans. The Falcons have exactly one win against a team with a record above .500 and they already lost to New Orleans once this year. Drew Brees is the kind of QB who, when given a second shot at a team, figures out their weaknesses and exploits them. Tough loss for Atlanta but they'll still be playoff bound.

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NFL Week 15 picks

Wait does that say week 15? Wow that went by fast. Loren picked up a game on me last week so I'm up 2 with a 55-29 record while Loren sits at 49-31.

Detroit at Oakland

Derek – Detroit. Palmer isn't what the Raiders thought he was, or at least they're not getting out of him what they think they should have. We'll see if time turns it around and they are hosting the a team traveling a great distance, but I think the Lions will do enough on D to win this one.

Loren - Detroit. Getting Suh back will help Detroit. Not having McFadden on the field yet again is going to hurt Oakland. The Raiders once looked like a lock to win the division, they may not be able to stay out of the cellar if they can't pick up another victory.

Miami at Buffalo

Derek – Miami. Buffalo has struggled lately while Miami has turned a bit of a corner. I don't like picked the fins in a cold weather game but the way they are running it and playing D recently makes me think they are a cold weather team.

Loren - Miami. Even though they got beat up by Philly, I think the Dolphins D is enough against an increasingly ineffective Buffalo offense. Probably a low scoring and relatively close game. The weather is supposed to be cold but clear. If that changes, so could the outcome of the game.

Seattle at Chicago

Derek – Chicago. Ehh tough choice. If this was in Seattle I'd be picking the Seahawks, but I can't seem them winning twice on long trips this year. They have Lynch but the Bears still have their D. It'll be close.

Loren - Seattle. Too many players out for the Bears when they are already feeling depleted and down. They're going to have to throw the kitchen sink at Marshawn Lynch, who is definitely finding a rhythm with the Seattle offense, and even that may not be enough. The loss to Denver may have been the final straw for Chicago's playoff chances. They are looking at a long uphill climb to make it and I don't think they have the talent or the heart to make it happen.

New England at Denver

Derek – New England. I think the Broncos will put up some points but I think Brady is the guy to figure out Denver's D. We'll see if the Broncos can tackle a TE, most teams that play against the Pats can't.

Loren – New England. This was a much more difficult decision than I had anticipated. The Patriots just don't play well in Denver, Brady doesn't play well against the Broncos, and the Pats defense is so porous they could actually make Tebow look like a gifted passer. The deciding factor, though, is that the Broncos secondary is dealing with injuries and Brady knows how exploit patchwork secondaries. Of course, I wouldn't be sad to see Von Miller harass Brady all day and help the Broncos stifle the Pats.

Baltimore at San Diego

Derek – Baltimore. Again I'm picking a visiting team. Boy I'm not sure how I'm going to do this week. The Ravens are the better team and they should be stop what the Chargers throw at them. Flacco makes two TD passes and Rice scores on the ground 21 should be enough.

Loren - Baltimore. Behind Green Bay, this is the team no one wants to play right now. At least with the Pats or New Orleans, you think you have a chance to score some points. The Ravens play physical on both sides of the ball and they're getting Ray Lewis back this week. Bodes very poorly for San Diego who have lost to every quality opponent they've played this year.

Pittsburgh at San Francisco

Derek – San Francisco. I think Big Ben might have some issues moving and he needs to move to be effective, oh yeah they'll be playing the 49ers D who can get after you too. Don't forget the cross country flight. Everything points to a San Fran win.

Loren - Pittsburgh. Everyone is making such a big deal out of Roethlisberger's injury. They're not talking as much about Gore being injured and slowing down as the season progresses, or that Alex Smith has had one decent start in his last 5 games. The Steelers are physical enough to control this game and they just know how to win when it counts. San Francisco is still learning how to do that.

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NFL week 14 picks

Loren and I only picked one game different last week and I took that one with Miami's 34-14 destruction of Oakland. I'm ow up 3 with a 51-27 to 48-30 record.

Atlanta at Carolina

Derek – Atlanta. Carolina showed up last week but I think the Falcons are just about to the point I thought they'd be during the beginning of the season. Turner is going to run and Ryan is going to hit White all day. They'll outscore the panthers with ease.

Loren - Atlanta. As much as Atlanta has been struggling recently, they should still have enough in the tank to take care of Carolina. I think Atlanta buckles down, gets the ball in the hands of Turner more, and grinds their way to the playoffs.

Philadelphia at Miami

Derek – Miami. One team moving up and one team sinking down. At this point a road game for the Eagles might be a blessing. They've looked bad, but Vick's back and that has to count for something. But won't be enough to be the Fins, who've played like a playoff team the last few weeks.

Loren - Miami. You just can't feel comfortable taking Philly against just about anyone right now. They haven't demonstrated the ability to use their talent effectively and beat the bad teams they're supposed to beat. I'll take team with the hot hand and the momentum, especially when they're the home team.

New Orleans at Tennessee

Derek – New Orleans. The Saints are rolling, and some, Byron Saints fan, says this might be a trap game. I say no and Coloston will have a huge game. At least I hope so, I'm playing Loren for the last Fantasy Football playoff spot.

Loren – New Orleans. Titans have looked much better recently and I wouldn't be surprised to see them make the playoffs, but a win this week is far-fetched. The Saints are on a roll and will win a game that should be closer than most people think.

Buffalo at San Diego

Derek – San Diego. Too far to travel for a slip sliding Bills team. Rivers had a great game last week and will most likely continue.

Loren – San Diego. A match up of two teams with busted hopes. Injuries in Buffalo have taken a toll, as has the thin receiving corp. San Diego can't stop anyone on the ground and defenses are sitting back on Philip Rivers because the Chargers are ineffective running the ball. If the Chargers pull out a win at home, they'll still have an outside shot at the playoffs if the Broncos or a wild card team fade.

NY Giants at Dallas

Derek – Dallas. Home team just a bit more consistent than the G Men. It could be a toss up but I think Romo has the better/healthier weapons.

Loren – NY Giants. I've learned never to trust the Cowboys this late in the season. Remember, this is the team that lost to Arizona last week, beat Miami by one point, and needed overtime and luck to beat Washington the week before. Sure, the Giants have been struggling, too. However, they've only had one bad loss in the last four, and played SF, Philly, and Green Bay close. The Giants know that a win against Dallas vaults them into first in the division and gives them the mental edge in the final week of the season, a rematch with Dallas.

St. Louis at Seattle

Derek – Seattle. Seattle's played well lately and at home they have a distinct advantage. Should be an easy one as long as they don't shoot themselves in the foot.

Loren - Seattle. Just a little regional love for Seattle since they hadn't been featured here for a couple of weeks. Here's the crazy thing: with Detroit fading and facing a tough schedule, and the futures of the Giants and Bears uncertain, the Seahawks have a dark horse shot at a wild card spot. Three of their last four are winnable, which could leave them at 8-8. That might be enough to slip in ahead of the Bears, particularly if they can beat them next week.

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NFL week 13 picks

For the first time all year I had the lead and then extended it. I'm up 2 games on Loren now with a 46-26 record compared to his 44-28.

Carolina at Tampa Bay
Loren - Tampa Bay. Freeman will probably be back for the Bucs, and playing at home should be the extra edge Tampa Bay needs to their losing streak. Wait, I think I said something similar last week, too. Crap...
Derek - Tampa Bay. Blount will be able to run the ball and control the game for the Bucs, Newton to Smith won't succeed and that'll be enough.

Oakland at Miami
Loren - Oakland. True, Miami has played better recently, and we may not see McFadden for this game, and the Raiders are traveling across country...damn it I can't believe I talked myself into this one. Well, I'll take Palmer and Bush over Matt Moore and ???.
Derek - Miami. I went back and forth but what got me was the cross country travel for Oakland and that Miami had extra rest since playing on Thanksgiving.

Denver at Minnesota
Loren - Denver. With AP out of this game, the vicious Broncos D can spend all day knocking Ponder around. This will probably be the closest to a winning blowout the Broncos get all year.
Derek - Denver. As the fake Kyle Orton said "I didn't realize that to be a good QB all you have to do is hand the ball off." That's all Tebow needs to do in this one.

Tennessee at Buffalo
Loren - Tennessee. Sad to say it, but the Bills won't be able to pull out of their nosedive this week. The Titans smell blood now that Houston is starting someone we've never heard of. They just need to take care of business and watch Houston slowly crumble. The Bills could have been helped in this game by a dose of nasty Buffalo weather, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.
Derek - Tennessee. The Bills are looking like the team we thought they'd be. Stevie Johnson was fined but will play but won't be enough for the suddenly healthy CJ.

Green Bay at NY Giants
Loren - Green Bay. Why start losing now?
Derek - Green Bay. I won't be surprised if NY wins this one they are so up and down, but have a history of knocking off undefeated teams Denver in 98 and New England in the Super Bowl a few years ago, but I'm riding Rodgers all the way.

Detroit at New Orleans
Loren - New Orleans. Losing Suh is a big blow to Detroit's defense, but they have a lot of depth. More concerning is Matt Stafford's TD/INT ratio of 7/9 over the last three games. If they're to have any shot, he's got to clean up those mistakes. Unfortunately for Detroit, even a perfect game might not be enough to beat the Saints.
Derek - New Orleans. The Saints roll points on the board in any big national game, guess when this game is? Sunday night. Win by double digits.

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NFL Week 12 Picks

The CHAMP IS HERE! THE CHAMP IS HERE! Hey have beating Loren 3-1 last week I've regained the lead. I've got 41-25 record and Loren has a 40-26 mark. On to the picks!

Green Bay at Detroit
Derek – Green Bay. The Lions are a good team, not a great team they can score and when they get to the QB they can hurt him on D, but the Pack are on another level. Detroit could score 35 and lose by double digits early.
Loren – Green Bay. This is likely to be the most entertaining game of the weekend. Seriously, a Super Tecmo Bowl score is definitely possible. Green Bay just has more weapons and Detroit doesn’t have Aaron Rogers.

Tampa Bay at Tennessee
Derek – Tennessee. The Bucs are not looking good lately and I think the Titans D will handle Blount. And it looks like CJ is working his way in to form.
Loren – Tampa Bay. Going out on a limb here, but I like what Blount brings to the Tampa Bay offense. They hung in with Green Bay last week and I just don’t see them dropping 5 in a row. Tennessee still can’t get their ground game going and now there are worries about Hasselbeck. Tampa Bay surprises Tennessee.

San Francisco at Baltimore
Derek – Baltimore. If you read this blog you know my thoughts on teams playing across country. Couple that with the fact that the 49ers are going to have to rely on Alex Smith to move the ball this could go sideways in a hurry.
Loren – Baltimore. I really, really wanted to take San Francisco but there are three factors that weigh in favor of Baltimore. The 49ers’ passing D is pretty awful, so even though they might shut down Ray Rice, Flacco will have plenty of room to throw. Second, Baltimore’s D is so strong that San Francisco will struggle to move the ball at all. If they get down and have to rely on Alex Smith to throw them back into the game, it could get ugly. Finally, San Francisco is crossing three time zones. That’s going to sap their energy.

Chicago at Oakland
Derek – Oakland. If I'm the Oakland D I put 11 guys in the box. I'm not confident the Hottub Hanie can hit an open receiver. The Raiders D is to good for the Bears in this situation. Just make sure they don't kick to Harris.
Loren – Chicago. I like the groove Chicago has found, and they are quietly 7-3 and have won 5 in a row including an avenging, and convincing, victory against Detroit. Yes, Cutler is out, but that might actually work in favor of the Bears in the short term. Hanie will throw more passes in the flat, hopefully getting the ball into Forte’s hands and letting him use his speed and power.

Buffalo at NY Jets
Derek – NY Jets. The Bills look like the complete opposite from they way they started the season. They can throw at all and I think that's going to hurt Fred Jackson's ability to run.
Loren – NY Jets. The battle of two teams circling the drain. Really, whoever loses here is out of the playoff race. I have no confidence in either team, and hope that Buffalo wins, but I think the Jets’ D and playing at home carry the day.

Denver at San Diego
Derek – San Diego. Below Loren makes some good points. I'm going to go with odds. Sure Tebow is 4-1 this year as a starter. But that would make the odds of him losing that much better, frankly he's due.
Loren – Denver. I have to go with the statistics, and Tebow is 4-1 as a starter. I’m not picking against the guy with an 80% winning rate. That would be like picking against the Packers or the Pats! Okay, seriously though, San Diego is in shambles with open arguing on the sideline and questions already surfacing about a lost season. All the pressure is on San Diego to turn the tide against a Denver team playing with nothing to lose and a whole lot of heart.

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NFL Week 11 Picks

Loren and I split last week so I still stand 1 behind. Our records now total Loren with 37-23 and I have 36-24.

NY Jets @ Denver
Loren – Denver. Derek and I are both making homer picks this week and, frankly, he probably has the better chance for a victory. The Broncos have found a way to confuse teams and play into Tebow’s strength, but it’s only a matter of time before defensive coordinators figure out the scheme. This week, I like the Broncos playing at home at high altitude, the Jets coming off a stinging loss, and Denver’s renewed hard-hitting defense.
Derek – NY Jets. You can't argue with success and since I can't argue I won't say anything about Tebow. But I can talk about the Jets, they are becoming a desperate team and we'll see how they react with their backs against a wall, they should have enough speed to contain the Broncos rushing attack.

Jacksonville @ Cleveland
Loren – Jacksonville. This is a hard game to pick, but it comes down to MJD. Cleveland has given up whole countries worth of ground to opposing running backs, 140 YPG and 4.4 YPC. This defense is beaten down and the Jags aren’t about to deviate from the formula for victory against this team.
Derek – Cleveland. This game should be a low scoring game and while the Browns have had injuries they should be solid now with the players they have already getting PT. It's a home game and they should win by a FG.

Buffalo @ Miami
Loren – Buffalo. Buffalo’s D isn’t going to give up the same kind of yards and points to Miami as they did to Dallas and the Jets. Miami also isn’t the kind of team I would bank on having a 3 game win streak. Their two previous wins are against KC and Washington. Buffalo, KC, Washington...one of these things is not like the other. Buffalo gets back on track this week with a convincing win.
Derek – Miami. Was that Bills hot start and aberration? Did the Bills give a large chunk of change to a QB with limited success, do the Dolphins know how to stop the run and how to use Reggie Bush? The answer to all that is yes.

Seattle @ St Louis
Loren – St Louis. With Bradford finally behind center, more holes will open up for Steven Jackson. In turn, Brandon Lloyd should also have more room to operate. Additionally, I just don’t trust the Seahawks to play as mistake free as they need to on the road.
Derek – Seattle. The last time the Seahawks won in St. Louis they walked away with a 7-9 record and a division title. Pete knows how to get players to play just right and if you saw how they rushed against the Ravens last week they shouldn't have a problem against the Rams.

Philadelphia @ NY Giants
Loren – NY Giants. What must it be like in the heads of the Eagles’ players right now? They can’t be certain, week to week, which team will show up, Jekyll or Hyde. Their worst loss of the season came against the Giants in week three, so that has to be weighing on them, too. If you can’t take care of business against Arizona, I’m certainly not picking you on the road against a team that already trounced you.
Derek – NY Giants. The demise of the Eagles continues, this has to be the biggest disappointment of the year besides the Colts. Vick might not play and probably shouldn't. I'm not taking Vince Young to be the Giants at home.

San Diego @ Chicago
Loren – Chicago. Congratulations, Philip Rivers, you just made the list of players I will never fantasy draft in the first five rounds. You join the ranks of Reggie Bush, Knowshon Moreno, Jay Cutler, and Joe Flacco. Now, please throw more tantrums and make faces letting everyone know that your teams has let you down, even though this may be the most talented offense you’ve ever played with. You suck.
Derek – Chicago. Besides Rivers would anyone else draft any of the above players in the first 5 rounds? Didn't think so. Anyway I think the Bears are one of the hotter teams in the league right now and don't be surprised if they make some noise come playoff time.

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NFL week 10 picks

Can you believe it's already week 10 of the NFL season? Last week I took one game from Loren so I'm only down one now. Loren sits at a 33-21 record and I'm right there with a 32-22 record.

Tennessee at Carolina

Loren – Carolina. Just don't like this match-up on the road while Tennessee has failed to get their running game going. Cam might have a big day through the air and on the ground, if Williams or Stewart don't beat him to it.
Derek – Carolina. This game could go either way. But I'm gong to lean towards the home team. You'd think that CJ would get it going at some point but until I see it I can't put too much faith in him.

Houston at Tampa Bay

Loren – Houston. Too many weapons against a defense the plays well in their scheme but isn't nearly as fearsome as it once was. The big wild card here is Blount. If the Bucs can get a good game from him and win time of possession, they may pull out a squeaker.

Derek - Houston. Another game that looks close but won't be by the end. Freeman has disappointed with turnovers this year compared to last year and while the Texans don't have Johnson they have Foster and you can't give him extra opportunities.

Denver at Kansas City

Loren – Denver. Halfway through last week's game against the Raiders, as the moronic Oakland fans, being the ever so creative types they are, were chanting Tebow Sucks, I realized it was time to root not just for the Broncos, but for Tebow as well. Yeah, he may not be the QB of the future, and asking your QB to run the option in the NFL is a gimmick, but if it's your best chance to win games now, so what? It's entertaining, and we beat the snot out of the Raiders. I can't ask for much more. Maybe they'll keep it rolling in KC as the Chief's defense tries to figure out a game plan.
Derek – Kansas City. KC has to be the most up and down team of the season so far. They started 0-3 then won 4 straight only to lose last week to the win-less Dolphins hurting their Andrew Luck chances. Not only losing but getting smashed 31-3. What team will show up? I'm thinking one that can stop the run.

New Orleans at Atlanta

Loren – Atlanta. I'm justifiably terrified of the Saints O in this match-up. However, they won't be able to put up 62 against the Falcons' D, and they are missing a number of key players on their own D. They are going to have huge match-up problems in their secondary with inexperienced backs covering big WRs in Julio Jones and Roddy White, guys who know how to use their size. The Falcons are going to throw a lot, get up early, and let their running attack bleed the clock.

Derek – New Orleans. This may be the one game I WANT to see this week. I'm hoping for a huge shootout and I thin the Saints are the team that can out shoot the Falcons. X factor here is Sproles, did that guy find the perfect system for his talents or what?

NY Giants at San Francisco

Loren – San Francisco. The Giants are quietly (if a NY team can ever do anything quietly) playing better than a lot of people expected, and now look like the favorites to take the NFC East. Unfortunately for them, they have no chance to run on SF. The 49ers know this and will alternately drop extra men into coverage or blitz the hell out of Eli. The Giants will have to be extra lucky to take this one on the road.

Derek – San Francisco. The Giants are playing well enough to beat any team. But when traveling across the country teams have huge issues, and they are playing one of the better teams in the league, I have a bad feeling about Manning this week and I think I see some INT's in his future.

New England at NY Jets

Loren – New England. Plain and simple, I don't think the Pats drop three in a row. They are too talented and coached too well. They know the importance of taking this game and, with it, almost all hope the Jets have of a division title. The Pat's running game is weak at best, but if anyone can pass against the Jets, it's Tom Brady.

Derek – New England. Three game losing streak for the Pats? Don't think so. Big rivalry game and the Pats own the Jets in the regular season.

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Top 5 Timbers moments from 2011

Our Timbers guru Bruce returned to provide his top 5 Timbers moments of 2011.

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NFL Week 9 picks

Well my overall lead didn't last long. Loren went 6-0 and I went 3-3. Leaving us with records of 30-18 and 28-20 respectivly.

Tampa Bay at New Orleans

Loren – New Orleans. I don't think the Saints' meltdown against St. Louis last week will have lasting effects. This is still one of the most potent offenses led by one of the top 5 QBs in the league. It will be hard to take them out in the dome, even though TB has had success against them lately. Josh Freeman has been too inconsistent this year for me to feel comfortable taking the Bucs on the road against a good team.

Derek – New Orleans. Couldn't agree more with Loren on this one. New Orleans is too good of a team to lose like they did last week, that was an aberration. They'll regroup and win going away in this one.

NY Jets at Buffalo

Loren – Buffalo. Derek and I have a friend who drafted Fred Jackson in two or three fantasy leagues this year, no higher than the 9th round. That has to be the biggest, and luckiest, steal of the draft. The Jets' secondary might stop Fitzpatrick, might make him look human, but they can't do that and plug the middle. The Bills just have too many weapons for the Jets to keep in check all day.

Derek – NY Jets. Mangold is back at center and you'll see the Jets running game back to where it should be. This will allow Sanchez to concentrate on play action passes and the short to mid range game.

San Francisco at Washington

Loren – San Francisco. I don't know what's going on in Washington, I just know it means a slow, painful, panicky fantasy football death. Shanahan, you coached my Broncos to two Super Bowl wins. I realize you don't have the original Football Jesus, but can you please figure out how to get Ryan Torain 60 yards on the ground, a catch or two, and one TD? Probably not this week against the Niners vicious run defense.

Derek – San Francisco. I know what's going on in Washington. They suck. Rexman played well above his talent level the first few weeks and now is benched for the tepid Beck. If a D doesn't have to worry about the QB passing it they can load up in the box. Smith will have another good game managing the ball and let the 49ers D win the game.

Cincinnati at Tennessee

Loren – Cincinnati. It may not always be pretty, but Cincinnati gets enough help from defense and special teams to let Andy Dalton and the offense make a few mistakes, learn from them, and get better each week. This will be a tough road game, but the Titans loan bright spot in the last four weeks was their not terribly impressive win over the Colts last week. With CJ yet to get his legs under him, the Bengals defense can cheat a little in the secondary and make life more difficult for Hasselbeck.

Derek - Tennessee. Tough call here, the Titans have been up and down and the Beangals are OK, not bad not great. Will CJ get going or will Dalton to Green pick up steam. Don't forget Benson is back running for Cincinnati. I guess I'm going with Tennessee since it's a home game.

St. Louis at Arizona

Loren – St. Louis. Kolb might be out, but the same could be said for Bradford. Regardless, the most important player on the field will be Steven Jackson. If he can display the same form as last week against the Card's mediocre run defense, St. Louis should fairly easily control the game come away with two straight wins, while handing Arizona their seventh, yes I said seventh, straight loss.

Derek - Arizona. Worried about this pick. But I see John Skelton, yes he'll be starting for the Card, just throwing the ball high in the air in the direction of Larry Fitzgerald. I think that'll be good enough to beat the Rams.

Baltimore at Pittsburgh

Loren – Pittsburgh. It always seems the Steelers come away from a loss determined to learn as much from it as they can and reverse the tables during the next matchup. Their coaching staff are masters at spotting strengths in the other team, weaknesses in their own, and devising game plans to address those issues. The season opening loss to Baltimore is a distant though embarrassing memory. They've claimed the division lead since then and last week they proved it's not just the league patsies they can beat into submission. I don't expect Ray Rice to see a sliver of daylight, and they'll dare Flacco to beat them through the air.

Derek - Pittsburgh. The Ravens just don't look like the team they did earlier in the year, while the Steelers look to be improving. I wouldn't be surprised by anything in this game, either team could win a close one or a blow out.

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NFL Week 8 picks

For the first week this season I'm ahead in the overall standings. I went 4-2 last week while Loren dropped 4 games, leaving our records at 25-17 and 24-18. I don't know if it'll last long but I'm hoping to put some distance between us this week.

Minnesota at Carolina

Derek - Carolina. Ponder played well last week, but do you really think he can do it again? Heck McNabb played well the week before and they still got crushed. The Vikings have to hope to control the clock, but even then can the control Newton and the deep pass to Smith? I don't think so.

Loren – Minnesota. Loved the way Ponder played last week and they nearly gave Green Bay more than they could handle. In this game, it comes down to the Panthers giving up the most rushing yards per game. AP will have a huge day, Minnesota will control the clock, and Carolina picks up another loss.

New England at Pittsburgh

Derek - New England. When was the last time the Pats lost at home in the regular season? Yeah I have no idea either. Pittsburgh is playing better but they won't be able to keep up with the Pats. Biggest surprise this year? The Steelers only have 1 turnover on defense, aint gonna get it done against the Pats.

Loren - Pittsburgh. Just a hunch here. New England gives up a lot of yards through the air and a lot of points. That won't cut it against Pittsburgh's defense which, while not as spry as they once were, still comes after you like a freight train. This is the perfect opportunity for Pitt to reassert themselves in the AFC.

Dallas at Philadelphia

Derek - Dallas. Did I really pick Dallas? I went back and forth on this and it came down to Dallas front line being able to get to Vick and the Eagles front line looking like a broken sieve, just letting the running yardage pile up.

Loren – Philadelphia. Philly is coming off a bye, playing at home, and should be largely healthy. Meanwhile, a lot of people are making a big deal out of DeMarco Murray. Give it a week for defenses to plan for him and he'll look mortal again. He'll have to play like Superman, though, for Dallas to win because the Eagles will shut down the Cowboys' passing game.

Indianapolis at Tennessee

Derek - Tennessee. The Colts are bad, maybe not 62-7 bad but bad, in fact we could have seen that team just give up this past week. But you can't pick the Colts to win any games until they show you something.

Loren - Tennessee. I don't think this is a gimme for the Titans. Painter, despite Monday's embarrassment, has proven capable. The Titans are just going to throw too much at the Colts, both offensively and defensively. Here's the big question, though: if the Colts end up with the first pick, do they take Luck?

Washington at Buffalo

Derek - Buffalo. Washington surprised some folks out of the gate but now they have a QB controversy and their best WR is out for 5 weeks. Doesn't look good going against the Bills who can pound it with the best of them. Oh yeah don't forget about Stevie Johnson over the top.

Loren – Buffalo. Quick, name the team that's fourth in the league in passing yards per game. Nope, Buffalo is only 15th, though with all the hype Fitzpatrick has received you'd think they were in the top 5. Buffalo is, however, fourth in the league in rushing yards per game. Regardless, Washington won't be able to do enough to keep up.

San Diego at Kansas City

Derek - San Diego. I could see the Charges crushing the Chiefs but I could also see a close game. The Chiefs look better lately but they are a running team that can't run. That's not good.

Loren – San Diego. KC has won three in a row and looks like a much improved team. Unfortunately, they just don't have enough D to contain the Chargers. This might be the game that gets Philip Rivers back on track. At least, his fantasy football owners sure hope so.

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NFL Week 7 picks

Try as we might to pick games differently last week we both went 3-3 keeping me one off the pace. Loren is sitting at 22-14 and I'm at 21-15. On to the picks!

Houston @ Tennessee
Loren – Tennessee. Tennessee is coming off a bye week while Houston is coming off a bruising loss against the Ravens. The bye week gives CJ more time to get back in game shape. Meanwhile, Houston’s defense is looking leakier and leakier. Tennessee convincingly at home.
Derek - Houston. I say they have too many injuries for me to pick them right now. The Titans could continue their surprising passing game against a bad pass defense.

Denver @ Miami
Loren – Denver. Really, let’s flip a coin here. I almost picked the Dolphins after Brandon Lloyd was traded from Denver to St. Louis for a pack of pudding pops and a scratch and sniff book. But I figure Tebow is good for three rushing touchdowns against two INTs, while Matt Moore is good for five INTs against 7 bewildered sideline looks. Plus, Brandon Marshall will probably kill a few people on the sidelines because he’s not the center of attention this week.
Derek - Miami. Not that I'm rooting for my team to do well. I mean a loss hear would put us one step closer to getting Luck in the draft, but that doesn't mean I won't be happy if the Dolphins win a home game for the first time in 17 years and beat Tebow in the process.

San Diego @ NY Jets
Loren – San Diego. Yes, Revis is a monster, but Rivers has been around the block a couple of times and won’t be throwing jump balls his way. I like SD’s defense against the Jets’ anemic offense and I like SD’s ground game against the Jets (who are currently giving up almost 135 YPG).
Derek - San Diego. Again I don't like taking teams traveling across the country but the Charges did it once already so lets say their somewhat prepared for it. I just don't think the Jets are that good, the in-fighting will be much worse after this loss and this is the beginning of the Jets missing the playoffs.

Chicago @ Tampa Bay
Loren – Tampa Bay. Which Bucs team shows up, the one shellacked by the 49ers or the one that pushed the Saints around early and controlled enough of the game to hang on? Everyone now knows the secret to beating the Bears is to throw the kitchen sink at Cutler. The Bucs will do that, Freeman will continue to get his groove back, and the Bucs quietly improve to 5-2.
Derek - Chicago. The Bears D is getting their game back and the Bucs are without Blount for the second week in a row, perhaps this will help Freeman's numbers but I see the Bears scoring on D and with Hester they might score on special teams. Cutler and his O line looked 10 times better last week, I think it holds up and Forte scores the winning TD on a goal line leap.

Seattle @ Cleveland
Loren – Cleveland. It’s the first full start of the season for Charlie Whitehurst and Cleveland isn’t going to make it a happy one. The Browns’ defensive front is licking their chops right now, anticipating a shot to be in the top 10 in total sacks by the end of the day. Seattle’s best shot is to run it all day, and they just might do that. It’s still going to be tough to pick up a win in the Dog Pound.
Derek - Cleveland. I think the NY Giants game was a fluke for the Seahawks and again they have to travel the majority of the way across the country. I'll take a good Browns D over a bad Seahawks O.

Atlanta @ Detroit
Loren – Detroit. It’s strength against weakness on both sides of the ball. Detroit’s superhuman aerial attack versus Atlanta’s puke inducing pass defense, and Atlanta’s locomotive ground game against Detroit’s wet paper towel run defense. It comes down to Detroit scoring faster and more frequently than the Falcons.
Derek - Atlanta. I think the Falcons will be able to control the clock and thus limit the number of jump balls Stafford can throw to Megatron. Couple that with no running game for Detroit unless Morris comes out like it's the Fiesta Bowl and you can see the Dirty Birds coming out with a win.

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NFL Week 6 picks

Looks like I caught up a bit to Loren last week going 4-2 while he went down 2-4. I'm down one game overall now.

San Francisco @ Detroit

Loren – Detroit. While San Francisco can be proud of their 4-1 record, it’s a little deceiving. They have yet to play a team with the aerial firepower of the Lions, yet their D is ranked 23^rd against passing offenses. Detroit seems to be putting all the pieces together with Best looking spry, Megatron unstoppable, and the defense refusing to give up big plays.

Derek - Detroit. This is a tough one for me. I think the Lions have been living on the edge for awhile and are due for a loss. But the 49ers traveling more than 2/3s the way across the country. Plus I can't think Alex Smith will have a big day versus Suh and company.

Philadelphia @ Washington

Loren – Washington. Washington’s D is getting a lot of credit, but they haven’t exactly faced the toughest competition. I made this pick before DeAngelo Hall hurt his knee in practice, but I’ll stick with the Redskins here. The Eagle’s line is banged up, Vick is banged up, there are questions and doubts throughout the team. Shanahan’s infuriating (at least to fantasy owners) running-back-by-committee approach is working; whoever has the freshest legs gets the most carries. Aside from all that, I’ve learned not to pick against Shanahan coming off a bye week.

Derek - Philadelphia. The Eagle is a strong bird a proud bird and a predator. These Eagles however are the most dangerous animal there is, an animal backed in to a corner. They know they have to win. Expect many attempts at big plays and some are going to payoff. The skins won't be able to keep up.

Carolina @ Atlanta

Loren – Atlanta. Close call for me. Everyone has made a big deal about the Falcons’ poor numbers through the air, but their poor numbers against opposing passers are even scarier. The Panthers will come out throwing, and Atlanta will have to score in bunches to keep up.

Derek - Carolina. Close one for me too. I originally landed on the Falcons but mainly because they were playing the Panthers. I mean the Panthers suck right? But then I started to think about all the points the Falcons have given up threw the air and then I thought Steve Smith sure is fast, I wonder how fast he can be in a dome. Then I thought hey the Cam Newton guy sure can throw the ball deep. I'm thinking Smith reels in 3 TD catches and the Panthers win a high scoring game.

Buffalo @ NY Giants

Loren – NY Giants. I got killed last week picking road teams and I’m not making the same mistake this week. Yes, it’s a short trip, but it’s worlds apart. The Giants are stinging from an unexpected loss at Seattle and will be on a mission. Buffalo’s defensive numbers are a horror show and I have a feeling they’re going to turn Eli loose. That could be bad or good, but I think it’s worth a win this week.

Derek - Buffalo. Raise your hand if you trust the Giants? I said raise...oh you heard me, I was confused since no one raised their hand. The Giants DB's are banged up and have been that way for awhile now, I expect the Bills to get going through the air and then finish the G Men off on the ground with Jackson.

Houston @ Baltimore

Loren – Baltimore. Baltimore’s D > Houston’s O. That about sums up this pick. Ray Rice will have plenty of room to run and Flacco just needs to manage the game effectively.

Derek - Baltimore. Houston is not looking good on D and Johnson is out and...well they just don't look good. While Baltimore looks like they could be the team to contend with. Ravens big.

Minnesota @ Chicago

Loren – Minnesota. Jahvid Best carved up the Bears’ D like a Thanksgiving turkey. If the Beast could do that, what kind of day will AP have? Chicago’s once vaunted defense currently is 27^th and 28^th in total passing and rushing yards, respectively. Cutler probably has PTSD after scrambling for his life on Monday and it’s a short week for them. Minnesota is going to throw the kitchen sink at him. This could get ugly.

Derek - Chicago. This should be a ground and pound game. Sue AP could make short work of the bears but who thinks Forte can't do the same against the Viks. And I'll take Cutler over McNabb any day.

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NFL week 5 picks

So, Derek has apparently tapped in to my superior brain waves because the last two weeks he’s been picking games the way I would. While I’m flattered and all, that just doesn’t make it very interesting for you.

We’re going to switch it up.

During weeks on which we can’t seem to disagree on games, we’ll select a six pack of close matchups and take turns selecting a victor. Once Derek selects a game, for instance he selected Indianapolis over KC, I have to go with the other team and justify why they should win. Then I get to pick the next game which, in this case, was Philadelphia over Buffalo.

This adds another element to the game in that we are also selecting the games in the order of confidence we have in the outcome. Should be completely confusing and darn near unmanageable. Sounds like fun!

We’ll put an asterisk next to the name of the person who got first pick on the game. Here are the picks:

Kansas City @ Indianapolis
*Derek – Indianapolis. The Colts have been right in their last two games. and Painter looked 100 times better that I've seen him play before. They have a home game against a terrible KC team and their due.
Loren – Kansas City. I actually feel good about this pick. The Chiefs have to win some time, and what better team than the Colts to give them that first victory. Painter will be making his second start and I predict a steady diet of stunts and blitzes to keep him on his toes. If he doesn’t get rid of the ball faster, he’s going to have a miserable day.

Philadelphia @ Buffalo
Derek – Buffalo. I would have leaned to Philly on this one but I do get a home team that's been playing great on the offensive side of the ball, if they can eliminate the Eagles big plays then they have a good chance.
*Loren – Philadelphia. I know Buffalo is on a hot streak, but the Eagles are better than they’ve been playing. Last week was a wake up call and I expect their offense to find a groove against a Buffalo defense with the consistency of a wet paper towel.

Tampa Bay @ San Francisco
*Derek – San Francisco. I always lean heavily to the home team when their playing a cross country opponent plus the Bucs are playing on a short week. The 49ers have been impressing me lately with their D. Expect a grind it out football game.
Loren – Tampa Bay. Well, I’m not thrilled about getting stuck with this pick. Tampa is heading across three time zones to play a decent team that just got a morale boost with a big comeback against Philly. Tampa has a quality win over Atlanta and that 27-20 loss to Detroit in the opening week is looking better all the time. LeGarrette Blount looks to be getting on track, now Mike Williams just has to step up and do his best Megatron impression.

Tennessee @ Pittsburgh
Derek – Pittsburgh. Again a home game for a fading/ageing team. I have a feeling the Steelers are against the wall but I don't see them going down easy. Big Ben can sling it with a bad foot and the D will step up.
*Loren – Tennessee. “For some strange reason it had to be, it was all a dream about Tennessee.” This one is just a hunch, but I have a feeling that the Titans’ monstrous D and multi-pronged offense will be enough to handle the Steelers. Roethlisberger is hobbling and is facing a vicious squad. Also, who would have thought that the struggling Titans rushing attack would see Pittsburgh as an opportunity to get going, but the Steelers are giving up almost 120 yards on the ground.

Arizona @ Minnesota
*Derek – Minnesota. A modified cross country trip. The Vikings are not as bad as they should be and expect a huge game from AP and McNabb's best game this year. The Cards D is terrible and the Vikings aren't going to let another half time lead slip away.
Loren – Arizona. Though they are 1-3, the Cardinals’ three losses are via a combined 8 points. They have to be better against the pass and they really need to figure out how to move the ball on the ground, but the teams is a lot better than people think. This game hinges on whether or not the Cardinals can contain AP. Keep him below 120 yards and they’ll be right in it.

Cincinnati @ Jacksonville
Derek – Jacksonville. Hmm, why do I think the Jags will win...Lets go with a decent RB a decent D that will score the game winning TD with under 4 mins left in the game. Oh yeah home team too.
*Loren – Cincinnati. Raise your hand if you thought the Bengals D would be what’s holding the team together. Liar. Same thing if you thought Cedric Benson would re-emerge as a decent running option. Jacksonville just won’t be able to move the ball against the Bengals, on the ground or in the air, and the Bengals will do just enough to win.

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NFL Week 4 picks

Loren and I split our picks last week, he called the 49ers over the Bengals and I had the Cowboys of the Redskins. That leaves Loren two games ahead with a record of 11-7 while I'm at 9-9. On to the picks.

NY Jets at Baltimore

Loren - Baltimore. I just don't think the Jets offense has what it takes to go in to Baltimore and stay mistake free. It doesn't help that they are the second worst defense against the rush so far this year. Ray Rice is going to have a huge day.

Derek - Baltimore. This is a close one for me. But so far you have to look at the way both teams have played and realize that the Jets have not played well especially against the run and with the emergence of a second WR for the Ravens Revis can only cover one guy.

New England at Oakland

Loren - New England. This one is a lot tougher to call than at first glance. The Pats secondary has been ceding territory like Napoleon, giving up big chunks of land for cheap. Fortunately for them, their run D has been better than average which gives them a chance at containing McFadden. If the Raiders had any kind of passing attack, I'd be taking them in this match up.

Derek - New England. This should be a high scoring game but the Pats have too much fire power in the passing game to lose. The Raiders could win if the score is low but I don't see it happening. I hate picking a team traveling across country but I've got to in this case.

Pittsburgh at Houston

Loren - Houston. The Steelers once vaunted run defense has allowed nearly 100 yards per game. Their only game this year against a team that can stretch the field with a legitimate passing attack, Baltimore, they got slaughtered. Schaub and Co. will put the Steelers on their heels and should hold on in a relatively high scoring game.

Derek - Houston. I have a feeling the Steelers will pick it up soon but I'm not sure this is the game to do it. Their O line is in shambles and they will have to score plenty to keep up with the Texans.

Detroit at Dallas

Loren - Detroit. Lions are Super Bowl bound!!! Okay, just kidding. but with all the media adoration you'd think this team was looking to 3-peat, not simply 3-0 to start the season. The Lions are 39-124 since 2001, and have won exactly one post-season game since 1958, so I guess I can forgive folks for being giddy about their start. Well, expectations are only going to get higher after embarrass Dallas in week 4.

Derek - Detroit. The Lions are one of the hottest teams in the league and Megatron is having a huge year, 2 TD's a game is not a surprise. Dallas will have a hard time stopping the Lions high scoring offense and won't be able to match it with a banged up QB who couldn't manage a TD in the last game.

Carolina at Chicago

Loren - Chicago. Much as I'd love to watch the expression on the faces of Bears fans should the Panthers march into town and notch a win, I don't see it happening. Though the Bears have been mediocre to awful on defense, and even worse on offense (53 rushing ypg!), they should have enough to take care of the inconsistent and mistake prone Panthers.

Derek - Chicago. Lots of passing yards in this one since Mike Martz won't give the ball to Forte, but the Bears D should be good enough to contain Newton and win fairly easily.

Tennessee at Cleveland

Loren - Tennessee. I really wanted to take Cleveland here. Really. Even though their run defense has been atrocious, the Titans haven't been able to get CJ on track and may not make the Browns pay on the ground. But the Titans' defense is too good, second against the pass and 8th against the run with a quality win over Baltimore. Tennessee will be 3-1 and, if our predictions hold true, in an interesting fight with Houston for control of the NFC South.

Derek - Cleveland. I'm going out on a limb here, I'm picking the home team, I've watched both of these teams play once and I don't think either is very good. The Titans would seem to be the safe pick but I have Johnson isn't going to run will on the Browns and Hasselbeck will come back down to earth. The Browns held a bad offense down last week and will do it again.

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NFL Week 3 picks

OK folks I lost another game to Loren so now I'm down two. Stinking Eagles!

Redskins at Cowboys

Derek - Cowboys. I'm hoping Romo starts. But I still don't have too much faith in the Skins, plus I get the bonus of having a home game on a big stage, exactly were Washington hasn't been in years, of course Dallas doesn't preform well on those stages either

Loren - Redskins. The Redskins are playing with more pride this year after an unexpectedly decent start. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are banged up and you already have Washington players asking for blitzes and the chance to put a shoulder on Romo's ribs. I think this game surprises a lot of people.

Texans at Saints

Derek - Saints. This should be a great game. Two offenses that can put up some big numbers. I'll be surprised if either team doesn't score in the mid to high 20's. But the Dolphins showed how to slow down the Texans and I think the Saints will win by double digits. Sorry Byron.

Loren - Saints. The Texans are going to be a tough team all year but Brees is dialed in and pissed off after the week 1 loss. Saints win at home in the dome.

San Francisco at Cincinnati

Derek - Cincinnati. I wouldn't be surprised if the 49ers won this game but I"m thinking they Bengals can take one at home against an anemic offense. We'll see if AJ Green can have another great game.

Loren - Niners. Too many question marks for the Bengals. They have no receiving corps to speak of which is a shame because the secondary is the weakest spot on the Niner's defense. The Bengals won't be able to capitalize and Frank Gore will keep the Bengals on their heels all day.

Broncos at Titans

Derek - Titans. Will this be a fall off game for the Titans? That's the only way the Broncos can win it. I think this is the game Chris Jonson gets back on track. Look for a big one.

Loren - Titans. Tennessee looked really sharp last week. I don't think anyone expected them to handle the Ravens that way. The big question is if this is the sign of a talented team coming together or just a flash in the pan. Probably won't matter against the Broncos.

Giants at Eagles

Derek - Eagles. The Giants look bad, even in their win and if they are going to win this one they'll have to make it ugly. But the Eagles team speed is going to be way too much for the G-men.

Loren - Eagles. If Vick is able to play, there's no question you take the Eagles with how poorly the Giants' secondary has played. Things get a lot more interesting if Vick is out, but they still have to be the favorites.

Jets at Raiders

Derek - Jets. I'd like to pick the Raiders here being a west coast team hosting an east coast team but the Jets are just to dominant in the run game for the Raiders. This could be ugly or close either way the Jets take it.

Loren - Jets. The Raiders have given up 627 yards against two mediocre passing offenses. Think they miss Asomugha? I don't see their secondary making the leap this week. The Jets D is light years ahead of Oakland's competition so far this year. Jets big.

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NFL week 2 picks

Well that didn't turn out well. Loren went 3/6 and I went 2/6. We suck. And I suck more that Loren, that's not good since I'm competing with him. Don't forget if you need an ego boost play along in the comments section.

Cleveland @ Indianapolis
Loren – Indianapolis. One more week. Each week that Collins gets with the offense increases comfort and knowledge of the system and routes. The Browns aren’t a great team so this is the perfect opportunity for Indy’s offense to take some positive steps. The Browns are gamers, but they’re young and will lose some games a more seasoned team wouldn’t, like this one.

Derek - Indianapolis. If it was a better team I'd go against the Colts here but the Browns are the Browns and I don't expect much. Hillis could make it tough for the Colts inside, but I think Indy has the skill and too much pride to lose this one.

Chicago @ New Orleans
Loren – New Orleans. Even though Chicago put a thumping on Atlanta last week (and I think the Falcons could be better than the Saints by season’s end), I’m going with NO. The Saints were a play away from victory against an incredible Green Bay team. I don’t see Chicago being able to shut down the Saints’ O, even without Colston.

Derek - New Orleans. I had a Saints fan get mad at me last week for jinxing the Saint's, he later admitted that it might have been their D and not my pick that cost them that game. I think the home turf advantage will be enough to let Brees throw for a few TD's and I can't trust the Bears O.

Arizona @ Washington
Loren – Washington. Was the Cardinals’ secondary even on the field last week? If they gave up a game like that to Cam Newton, imagine what a more disciplined and talented offense in Washington will do. Obviously, the Redskins aren’t even close to an elite scoring machine, but I think Grossman will have a field day and the Cardinals will get their wings clipped.

Derek - Washington. I don't like picking crappy teams that travel all the way across the country. Grossman should be ok since the Cards don't seem to defend the pass, and the Redskins D should be good enough to stop anything on the ground.

San Diego @ New England
Loren – New England. The Chargers will get better throughout the season. Unfortunately for them, so will the Pats, and they’re already scary good. The Chargers look to be slow starters again and that won’t cut it against New England who look to come out and carve up opponents.

Derek - New England. I'm sticking with the Pats all year. Did you see their no huddle O, the Fins D which is good looked like a highschool kid trying to get a bra off. Brady had a big game and 12 players for NE catch passes.

Houston @ Miami
Loren – Houston. With Foster back, Miami will be forced to play 6 and 7 up front. This will open things up even more for Schaub and AJ. Henne looked better than expected last week, but they were embarrassed defensively against the Pats, and things don’t get much easier for them this week. Ask yourself which team has more confidence coming in to this game.

Derek - Houston. Miami has issues with big recievers. Johnson is a big reciever, he'll score minimum of 1 TD most likley two. That might be enought to beat the Dolphins.

Philadelphia @ Atlanta
Loren – Atlanta. The Eagles certainly didn’t run away from the Rams last week. Atlanta, meanwhile, has to figure out what went wrong against Chicago. Atlanta’s D hits harder and is faster than that of the Rams. On the other side of the ball, Asomugha will be blanketing Roddy White, so Julio Jones could have his first game with double digit catches. Falcons get back on track against a team they haven’t beaten since 2005 (0-4 in that span).

Derek - Philadelphia. Seems strange that this game almost is a must win for the Falcons, that being said they did not look like a team that was just about to put it together last week. The Eagles D is not what the Bears is but should be good enough to stop Ryan and force Turner to beat them. Philly will make one or two explosive plays on the offensive/special teams side of the ball to win it.

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NFL week 1 picks

Well, folks it's that time of year again. Football season!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes we here at Portland Men on Sports are excited. We'll kick off our 3rd season of NFL picks right now.

New Orleans @ Green Bay
Loren - Green Bay. The Saints seem to be a trendy pick but I still have concerns about their running game and the Packers are celebrating their Super Bowl win in front of the home crowd. I just don't see them dropping this one.

Derek - New Orleans. Can you say high scoring? All fantasy owners will be glued to this one. I'm taking the Saints since I think they'll be able to spread the ball around enough to make the Pack pay. Remember the Packers went 10-6 last year and the home field advatange does really kick in until the cold weather appears.

Atlanta @ Chicago
Loren - Atlanta. The Falcons are going to be good this year. Really, really good. Meanwhile, though Chicago won their division last year, they don't have consistent talent on both sides of the ball. Atlanta should handle this one comfortably.

Derek - Atlanta. Yeah the Falcons should be able to handle this one ok. Chicago seemed to be one of the teams that got worse in the off season.

Pittsburgh @ Baltimore
Loren - Baltimore. Flacco has two dependable starting quality receivers now, so he can spread the field and give Ray Rice more room to find holes. That was the difference in their divisional playoff loss last year, which Pittsburgh barely won after being down 21-7 early. Statement game early in the season, and the home team is going to take this one.

Derek - Pittsburgh. Until the Ravens can dethrone the Steelers in the division I've got to go with Pitt. They'll score in the air, on the ground and on D.

Dallas @ NY Jets
Loren - NY Jets. Say what you want about the Jets, but they beat Indy and New England in the playoffs last year before losing a close game to the Steelers. Their only 2010 loss to a non-playoff team was a hangover loss to Miami after getting pasted by New England in week 13. Dallas lost 7 of their first 8 games last year and had exactly one win streak...of 2 games. The Cowboys have to prove they can win against a good team before I'd even consider picking them.

Derek - NY Jets. I think Dallas will be better this year, but not good enough out of hte gate to beat the Jets. And you should know my feelings about the Jets by now. H A T E HATE HATE HATE them.

Oakland @ Denver
Loren - Denver. Well, this is nothing but a homer pick. Denver has lost the last three meetings, including 59-14 and 39-23 shellackings last year. If they can't do better against the run, they have no chance. On the plus side, they're playing at home and their overall defense should be better with a 4-3 scheme and Elvis Dumervil coming off the end. But still, homer pick.

Derek - Oakland. Oakland has one of if not the worst owner in sports, perahps other buinsess as well. They have a new QB who noone expects anything out of, I'm not sure if I could name a WR on the team...nope can't. And yet they'll take Denver down easily. That should tell you how far the Broncos have gone down since the firing of Shanahan.

Tennessee @ Jacksonville
Loren - Tennessee. I was all set to take the Jags, but after this Garrard business I'm can't do it. McCown is an 8 year veteran with 9 TDs and 10 INTs. There's a reason he's never been a starting QB. The Titans can put enough pressure on McCown to force mistakes and Hasselbeck can manage the game well enough to get the win.

Derek - Tennessee. My plan to tick Loren into taking the Jags didn't pan out, oh well.

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2011 RFA Cup recap

Guest host Carlos and I recap the 2011 RFA Cup.

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2011 RFA Cup Preview

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Nike Clash of the Champions

Tonight I was able to attend the Nike Clash of the Champions tennis exhibition event held at the new Matthew Knight Arena. This including watching Victoria Azarenka vs Maria Sharapova in Woman's singles and Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer in Men's singles. The men and women also joined forces to play a lively game of mixed doubles.

Of course you could tell this was an exhibition as sometimes the players took points off, but this also led to the players going for certain shots you'd rarely see in an actual match. Federer must have tried 4 of the 6 between the leg shots during the course of the evening.

A pair of former UO quarterbacks also made their debuts as line judges in Joey Harrington and Dennis Dixon. Phil Knight seemed to be the toast of the event, which makes sense, since he built the arena and was obviously the force that drew these Nike athletes to Eugene.

The players played to the crowd often talking to court side viewers and even turning down multiple marriage proposals and kegger invites. But the crowd favorite had to be John McEnroe, who not played up his image as a rebel but also jumped in the judges chair for the mixed doubles match before taking Federer's spot for two points.

It was a fantastically fun time and I can only hope more events like this come to Oregon in the future.

Results
Azarenka over Sharapova 4-4 tie breaker 5-0
Nadal over Federer 7-5
Federer/Sharapova over Nadal/Azarenka 6-3

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