NFL Week 8 Picks

If you are surprised that I am at the top, you are out of your element

The boys are back. Last week, we were unable to provide an NFL preview due to circumstances. However, all of us had our picks in for last week, and they still count. For Week 8, we are back and better than ever, Let's get into it.
9:30
Redskins (4-3) at Bengals (3-4) 

Not those Bengals. 

The NFL's overseas games never seem to interest me. This is no exception. While before the season, this looked to be a decent matchup, as both Cincy and Washington were playoff teams a year ago. However, neither team is off to a particularly eye-opening start. I feel that Cincinnati still has it in them to come around, and a win over Washington could be the start of something big. AJ Green will torch Washington's horrid secondary, and Cincy will get a big W and move to .500.
Bengals 31, Redskins 20

1:00
Raiders (5-2) at Bucs (3-3)

Photo creds to What's Up Magazine 

Expect a lot of points in this one, as both teams have exciting young quarterbacks that lead potent offensive attacks. However, I love me some AC/DC. Derek Carr will prove once again that he is clutch, and Tampa's little 2-game win streak will come to a close.

Raiders 35, Bucs 32

Chiefs (4-2) at Colts (3-4) 

Photo creds to The Stanford Flipside

Kansas City is a good football team. Unfourtanly, they are not the same when they play away from Arrowhead Stadium. I know Indy has had their problems, but Andrew Luck is still superb, and the Colts showed that they still have a pulse in last weeks win at Tennesse. The Colts still have the talent to do some damage in the AFC South, and I feel that Luck and T.Y. Hilton will give a little gift to the hometown fans in ''Nap City.''


Colts 35, Chiefs 27

Upset Special
Seahawks (4-1-1) at Saints (2-4) 

T;hese streets are a lot more livley after a Saints win (Photo creds to Serious Eats)

Yes, Seattle is an elite football team and a force in the NFC. However, New Orleans can score. A lot. Especially in the Superdome. I forsee Drew Brees having a huge game, and the Saints defense being just adequate enough to hold Russell Wilson and co. Seattle is the better team, but New Orleans is dangerous and is a sleeper in the woeful NFC South.

Saints 34, Seahawks 31

Lions (4-3) at Texans (4-3)

Matt Stafford does not want to deal with this man (Photo creds to Si.com)
Both of these teams are unremarbakle at 4-3. However, I see Houston getting a big win at home. The pass rushing duo of Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus will make life miserable for Matthew Stafford, and Brock Osweiler will have his best game as a Texan against the suspect Lions defense. 

Texans 24, Lions 13

The Browns win a game!
Jets (2-5) at Browns (0-7)

The Browns winning a game might outweigh the Cavs championship (Photo creds to San Fransico Chronicle)

Why the hell not? The Jets stink, and with Geno Smith's season coming to a tragic end, New York is forced to call on Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback once again. Cleveland has been playing teams tough all year. They deserve one.

Browns 20, Jets 16

Beating New England Twice?
Pats (6-1) at Bills (4-3) 

Photo creds to Masshole Sports

Theoretically, this should be a tough matchup for the Pats. They are facing a pretty good division rival on the road in a tough environment. However, the Bills shut out New England in their backyard earlier in the year, and a revenge-thirsty Patriots team is not good news for the city that talks so proud. Oh, another note from Buffalo's victory earlier in the season; Tom Brady was not playing in that game.

Patriots 28, Bills 14

Remember when these teams were good?
Cardinals (3-3-1) at Panthers (1-5)

It's hard to believe how far these teams have fallen after being the two representatives in the NFC Title game just seven months ago. Carolina is clearly not the same football team that they were in 2015. While I do not expect Cam Newton and the boys to go on an insane win streak and make the playoffs, I can't imagine them starting at 1-6. I just can't do it. Carolina's defense will have a bounce back performance against an inconsistent Carson Palmer, and Cam Newton will be Superman again, at least for a day. If Arizona were to follow up a gut-wrenching Sunday Night tie with a victory, it wouldn't shock me, but it's not what I expect to happen.

4:05
Chargers (3-4) at Broncos (5-2) 

Photo creds to Slate.com

San Diego took down Denver just three weeks ago and looked pretty good doing it. However, this time, they will have to do it at Mile High Stadium. Make no mistake, the Broncos are still the class of the AFC West and have the potential to be the best team in the AFC. They also have an insanely good defense that is at its best when at high altitude. I like Phillip Rivers, but the chances of an upset repeating itself are not high.

Broncos 31, Chargers 13

`4:25
Packers (4-2) at Falcons (4-3) 

Atlanta has a lot going for them. They are atop the NFC South. They are at home and favored by 3 points. However, they are also inconsistent. They also coughed up a 17 point lead at home to a mediocre San Diego team last week, and they are also facing Aaron Rodgers. 2016 has not been a banner year for #12, but he looked pretty damn good against the Bears last Thursday, and might just be turning back into the Rodgers of old. I'm expecting a close game, with Julio Jones doing Julio Jones things for Atlanta. However, a close game does not favor the Falcons. As the past two weeks have shown, Atlanta is not good at closing out games. When the chips are down, I trust Aaron Rodgers and the Packers more than I do Matt Ryan and the Falcons.

Packers 34, Falcons 26

Game of the Week
Eagles (4-2) at Cowboys (5-1) 

This is a tossup. When I do these articles, I usually have a good idea of who I want to pick, but this is one of the rare times where I wrestled with myself. Finally, I decided on Dallas. Sure, their winning streak is bound to end at somepoint. But Dak Prescott and Big Zeke Elliot are rolling, and they are backed up by the best offensive line in the NFL. The Cowboys offensive line will also limit the Philly D-Line, which is the bread and butter of that defensive unit (it dosen't help that Bennie Logan has been ruled out.) In addition, Carson Wentz has cooled down over the past three weeks after a hot start, and the Eagles offensive line has been having problems without Lane Johnson. Wentz also dosen't have a lot of weapons to throw to, as I don't think Jordan Mathews and Darren Sproles are anything the Cowboys defense can't handle. Dallas is on fire, and young Wentz and the Eagles won't be able to put the flame out. Eat your heart out, Skip Bayless.

Cowboys 33, Eagles 20


Just another morbid Monday
Vikings (5-1) at Bears (1-6)
The Vikings vaunted defense, led by Linvel Joseph, Harrison Smith, Xaiver Rhodes and Eric Kendricks, going up against (possibly) Matt Barkley and the Bears. Wonder how that's going to turn out?

Vikings 27, Bears 10

Schadenfreude: How Sweet it is

The Smeltzers (and Brian) on the field after the upset (Photo creds to Harry J. Smeltzer)

A football Saturday at Beaver Stadium is always an enjoyable experience. That's what I told myself when my mom told me that a close family friend of ours,  who has Penn State season tickets, was gracious enough to hit my family up with three extra tickets for Penn State's tilt with the #2 Ohio State Buckeyes.

My feelings were mixed. I love Penn State football, and I love visiting State College, PA, whenever I have the chance. However, I did not think that there was any way in hell that they could knock off Urban Meyer's Buckeyes. How could I? Ohio State came in undefeated and ranked #2 in the land, having just lost four games in the previous four seasons. Recent history was not on Penn State's side, either. Since 2000, the Nittany Lions had knocked off the Buckeyes just three times. While PSU did have a respectable 4-2 record, was there any reason to believe a Subaru could take down a big Mack truck?

I thought that because of it being a night game at Beaver Stadium and being a ''whiteout'',  Penn State would at least have a shot to keep things close. I thought that the adrenaline of the moment would allow Penn State to give the Buckeyes a game for a little, only to end up running out of steam in the second half. This Ohio State team had to be every bit as good as the Michigan Wolverines, who beat up on the Nittany Lions, 49-10, just four weeks prior. Surely, these young Nittany Lions could not be ready to take down one of college football's giants.

We got to the stadium at around 4:30, and began to tailgate. Our tailgate was what you would expect a tailgate to be. After a few hours of that, we headed into Beaver Stadium. About 20 minutes before the national anthem, two drunk, obnoxious Ohio State fans (there are a lot of them) sat down behind us. Within the first five words that came out of their mouths, I knew that they would be a nuisance.

Ohio State fans are, in my opinion, the worst fans in college football. They are obnoxious. They are rude. They are a little redneckish, and they regard everyone else as beneath contempt. The most annoying part about Ohio State fans is that very rarely do I, as a Penn State fan, have room to talk down to them. Given that my Nittany Lions came in as 19.5 point underdogs, I had little reason to believe that I would have bragging rights by nights end.

The pregame hype was what I expected it to be. Lots of screaming, and lots of fireworks (something new up at Happy Valley). It certainly was a great way to get pumped up, but adrenaline could only do so much. My hope was that this adrenaline would be enough to keep Penn State from getting embarrassed. When the game started, it became apparent that Penn State would not go away early. PSU received to start the game, and their quarterback Trace McSorley, and running back, Saquon Barkley, led the Lion attack down the field and deep into OSU territory. The drive should have ended in a touchdown, but instead, the Nittany Lions were forced to settle for a Tyler Davis field goal. The kick was blocked, and Penn State came away empty handed.


That was as close as Penn State would get to scoring for most of the first half. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions defense held their own against J.T. Barrett and the Buckeye attack, holding them to just a touchdown and two field goals. Nonetheless, Penn State trailed the Buckeyes, 12-0, and with under a minute to go until halftime. Remarkably, Trace McSorley was able to engineer a seven play, 74-yard drive to get the Lions within five at the break.

Ok, so the first half wasn't terrible. But come on now. Maybe the Nittany Lions can hang around for most of the 3rd quarter and some of the 4th, but nothing that I saw in the first half had me thinking upset. The Lions offense was slow. McSorley's decision making was questionable, as was Joe Moorehead's play-calling (seriously, Saquon Barkley only had 12 carries all night!) The defense was playing well, but was it sustainable? In short, my pregame prediction of a 10-20 point defeat still stood firm.

Then the 3rd quarter happened. Ohio State's explosive running back, Curtis Samuel, busted out a 74-yard touchdown run in which he would not have been ruled down even in two-hand touch. It was now 19-7. Penn State went 3-and-out on the ensuing possession, and then botched a punt that led to a safety. 21-7. Now, you can forget about victory all together. Now, the primary objective is not to get blown out. Thank God the players in Blue and White didn't think the way Joseph Arthur Smeltzer did.

The Blue and White were tough. The Blue and White were ready to do whatever it took. The Blue and White reminded us Penn State fans why we are Penn State fans. The Blue and White lived up to the legacy.

The comeback started on Penn State's first offensive possession of the 4th quarter. Much like the scoring drive that ended the first half with a bang, McSorley led his troops down the field, taking just 1:20 to cut the deficit to 7. The Lion defense was able to force a 3-and-out, and that led to a punt. This punt would be blocked by big Cam Brown, a true freshman from Burtonsville, Maryland, who forever placed himself into Penn State lore, albeit in the ''unsung hero'' category. This led to a Tyler Davis field goal, cutting the Buckeye lead to 4.


On the ensuing possession, Ohio State was able to drive down to the PSU 28, setting up a 45-yard field goal try for Tyler Durbin. What happens next is, in my opinion, the greatest PSU moment of my lifetime. Greater than Tamba Hali's sack of Troy Smith in 2005. Greater than Mark Rubin forcing a Terrelle Pryor fumble in 2008. Greater than Allen Robinson's catch against Michigan in 2013 (I was also there for that). #2 Marcus Allen, the outstanding junior free safety from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, blocked the kick, and #15 Grant Haley picked it up, and took it to the house. Penn State 24, Ohio State 21.

That's how it would stay. The Lions had done it. They beat the jerks from Columbus. They beat the whiny head coach. They messed up a lot of Saturday nights for a lot of Buckeye faithful, and I got to be there for all of it. Best of all, for the first time in my life, I got to run onto the field at Beaver Stadium and belt out the Penn State Alma Mater. In my opinion, I got to witness one of the greatest victories in PSU history.

Sure, there have been other big wins that meant more as far as polls go. But given all that Penn State has been through over the past 5 years, all of the sanctions, scandals and setbacks, and all of the doubt, this has to be my favorite victory that I've experience as a PSU fan.

I've never quoted Disney's ''Frozen'' on this blog, and probably never will again. But ''for the first time in forever'', Penn State defeated a top 5 team. For the first time in forever, Penn State is in the top 25. For the first time in forever, fans have something greater that cautious optimism about this program. For the first time in forever, things are looking up. Is Penn State back? One cannot say for certain yet, but for the first time in forever, it looks like it might be true.

Not only did I experience so much euphoria on Saturday night for obvious reasons, but I also learned a lot about how to have thick skin. After I left the field, I checked twitter to see what people were saying about the upset. Of course, I came across a few ''Joe Knew'' tweets from some of my friends at Waynesburg who are die-hard Pitt fans. I'm not proud to admit this, but this got to me. I can't explain why, as I've been used to it for the past 5 years. Nonetheless, it did take away some of my joy. But I learned from it, and my message to any Penn State fan who is reading this is that, fair or foul, we will have to hear references to Jerry Sandusky and the sex abuse scandal forever. That's just how it is, so you better get used to it, or find a new team to root for. Those who hate will not destroy my joy

The last time there was this much excitement surrounding the football program at Penn State was when James Franklin was hired back in Januray of 2014. But that was just hype. Saturday night, the players proved something. They showed who they are. They are... Penn State. And so are myself, my parents, our friend Brian, and 107,000 of our friends. We are... Penn State. And don't you ever forget it.

#1 (Photo creds to Harry J. Smeltzer)

World Series Preview: 1908 vs. 1948

The World Series is here. I am a baseball fan. So, I'm pretty freaking intrigued. However, the level of interest for America and myself is higher than usual in 2016. On one side, there is the Chicago Cubs, who are making their first Fall Classic appearance since 1945 and looking for their first World Series title since 1908. On the other side is the Cleveland Indians, who have not won a World Championship since 1948. So, somebody's curse is going to end, and it's perfect for baseball. I've been saying for months that a Cubs-Tribe World Series would be great for business, as it pits a large media market (Chicago + the Midwest) against a small, but loyal market (Cleveland). Both of these franchises have interesting backstories, as the Cubs were built back up to dominance by Theo Epstein, Joe Madden, Jed Hoyer and the young team that Epstein and Hoyer put together. Cleveland is under the guidance of Terry Francona, who worked with Epstein to break the ''Curse of the Bambino'' in 2004, and is looking to take the lead over his former boss in the ring competition, as both won 2 world championships in ''Beantown'. Well, that's all the time I have for backstory. Time to talk matchups.

Indians starting pitching vs. Cubs offense

The Chicago Cubs offense is phenomenal. There's no other way to describe it. Included are a man who will likely be named the National League's MVP after the season in 3rd baseman Kris Bryant, a franchise cornerstone and a perennial All-Star in Anthony Rizzo, young studs up the middle in Javier Baez and Addison Russell, and a playoff savvy vet in Ben Zobrist. The Cubs lineup is not without its weak spots. I don't see Dexter Fowler as an ideal leadoff hitter, and right fielder Jason Heyward has been invisible throughout the whole postseason. But the assets far outweigh the liabilities when it comes to the Cubbies offensive attack.

For Cleveland, the Indians rotation is, in my opinion, the best in the AL..... when healthy. Unfourtanly, they are not healthy.  Cleveland is likely getting Danny Salazar back, and that will be a boost. But how good is Salazar going to be? Is the combination of rust and lack of playoff experience going to be too much for Danny Boy to handle? The Tribe won't have their #3 starter, Carlos Carrasco. It is true that the Indians are no less healthy than they were when they defeated Boston and Toronto to get here, but how long can it last?

In conclusion, I would take the Cubs offense against any pitching staff in baseball, especially one that is depleted.

Edge: Cubs Offense

Update: Chicago's offense has been inconsistent at best throughout this World Series. Cleveland has shut them out twice, and through 5 games,  the Cubs have scored just ten runs, with five of them coming in Game 2 alone. Cleveland has gotten two fantastic pitching performances from Corey Kluber and another from Josh Tomlin, and that along with Andrew Miller and their stellar bullpen have combined to hold the NL's best attack to just two runs per game.
Updated Edge: Indians pitching 

Cubs starting pitching vs. Indians offense

You don't win 103 games and an NL Pennant by being one-dimensional. The Cubs pitching staff is on par with their excellent hitting. John Lester was arguably the best pitcher in the NL this season and is a two-time World Champ. Jake Arrieta was the NL's best pitcher last season, and still is a beast. John Lackey still has stuff left in the tank at 38 years young, as well as World Series experience. Kyle Hendricks has been the best Chicago starter of all for the past two months. Of all 4 Cubs starters, there is not a weak link of the bunch. But can they contain Cleveland's offense?

Cleveland does have a good lineup. But aside from shortstop Franciso Lindor, none of their big guns are in top form. Mike Napoli, Jason Kipnis, and Carlos Santana are a combined 15 for 87 in the postseason for a collective batting average of .172. If the Tribe want to score enough runs, their leaders need to show up. Because of current form, I'll give Chicago's pitching the edge over Cleveland's hit-or-miss offense
Edge: Cubs Pitching

Update: While Chicago's pitching has not been terrible, it has not been stellar, either. Aside from Jake Arietta's gem in Game 2, Chicago has not gotten a particularly impressive outing. Sure, John Lester has done ok, and Kyle Hendricks pitched well in Game 3, but Cleveland was able to defeat Lester in Game 1 and Hendricks only lasted 4.1 innings in his lone series outing. Because of Cleveland's clutch hitting, I'd say their offense has won this battle thus far.

Updated Edge: Indians offense
The Bullpens

The trade for Andrew Miller could bring Cleveland glory

The main reason the Indians are here is their bullpen.  The fact that Andrew Miller, who Francona now uses as a middle reliever, was named the ALCS MVP should tell you what the bullpen means to the Indians. With the combination of injuries in the starting rotation as well as pitchers not being able to go more than five innings (See Merritt, Ryan), the bullpen needed to be lights out. And boy was it ever.

Over 8 postseason games, the Indians bullpen has accumlated a 1.67 ERA over 32.1 innings of work. If you do the math, the Tribe relievers have had to go an average of nearly 5 innings a night in the playoffs. That's a heavy work load. Although the Cubs do have the beast that is Aroldis Chapman, their bullpen is probably the most underwhelming part of their team, as they have just a 3.53 ERA over the postseason.

Although I am skeptical of how much Cleveland's relievers, particulary Andrew Miller, have left in the tank, I'm still giving Clevelend the edge if the game is tied in the late innings.

Edge: Cleveland 

Updated Edge: Still Cleveland. 

Defense 
According to oddsshark.com, the Cubs are far and away the best defensive team in baseball. Although Cleveland is solid fundamently, Chicago is in a class of it's own when it comes to making the big, run-saving plays.

Edge: Chicago 


Depth 

Kyle Schwarber is back, but will he make a difference?

If you haven't figured it out by now, there is a lot to like about the Chicago Cubs. One more thing on that list is their bench. Guys like Jorge Solar, Chirs Coghlan, Miguel Montero, Albert Almora and, it looks like, Kyle Schwarber (at least for the home games without the DH) can all do damage in a pinch-hitting role, as well as pick up the club in the event of an injury. Cleveland has some nice bench options as well, but Chicago has it all from head to toe on offense.
Edge: Chicago

The Pitching matchups 
Game 1: John Lester (19-5, 2.44 ERA) vs. Corey Kluber (18-9, 3.14 ERA) 
The best vs. The best. It's tough to predict, but I like the Tribe tonight. They are at home, and you better believe that city will be fired up and ready to go. Kluber lost his last outing, and it's hard to imagine Cleveland's ace losing two playoff starts in a row. A key thing to watch tonight will be if Cleveland's base runners will be able to run on John Lester. Lester does not have a lot of weaknesses, but one of them is throwing the ball to first base. Therefore, it is hard for him to keep the runners honest, and easier for them to take an extra base. Both men will pitch well, but Cleveland's adrenaline and Kluber's arm will propel them to a close Game 1 victory.
Tribe 3, Cubs 1


Update: Kluber was excellent, as I expected him to be, while Lester was just ok. The 6-0 scoreline is misleading, as 3 of Cleveland's runs came late while 2 of them were somewhat lucky. Nonetheless, Smeltz said Cleveland would win, and by god, they did. 

Game 2: Jake Arietta ( 18-8, 3.10 ERA) vs. Trevor Bauer ( 12-8, 4.26 ERA) 
This matchup is not set in stone yet, as Bauer could be pushed back to game three due to an injury on his finger. Assuming that Bauer starts Game 2, I do not think he matches up well with Jake Arietta. Arietta has had an inconsistent playoff history in Chicago, but I think he will bounce back from his subpar NLCS showing in LA. I foresee the Cubs offense scoring some early runs off of Bauer, followed by Jake the Snake making it hold.

Cubs 4, Indians 1

Update: I said the Cubs would win 4-1. They ended up winning 5-1. Everything else that I predicted was perfect. 




Game 3: Josh Tomlin (13-9, 4.40 ERA) vs Kyle Hendricks (16-8, 2.13 ERA) 
I'd hate to write anything negative about Josh Tomlin, as his father, Jerry, who became paralyzed from the chest down back in August, will see his son pitch on baseballs biggest stage.  This family story is much bigger than the game of baseball. However, from a baseball standpoint, I feel that Chiacgo has the edge in Game 3. Kyle Hendricks has been a low-key beast all year, and he will be the first Cubs pitcher to start a World Series game in Wrigley Field since Hank Borowy in 1945. The Windy City will be electric, and I just don't see any way Cleveland can stop the Cubbies on this night.

Cubs 5, Indinas 2

Update: Dude I was way off. 

Game 4: Corey Kluber/Danny Salazar/ Ryan Merritt vs. John Lackey (11-8, 3.35 ERA)
Nobody knows who the Indians will start for Game 4. They could go with Kluber on short rest. They could go with the game five hero in rookie Ryan Merritt, or they could go with Danny Salazar, who is coming back from injury. Assuming Cleveland ends up going with either Kluber or Salazar, I think that they even up the series here. As impressive as John Lackey has been for his age, I think his playoff magic is due to take a hit. Cleveland will not go down quietly, and they will halt Chicago's momentum with a game four victory.

Indians 4, Cubs 3

Update: Kluber did end up starting, and he was dominant once again. The Indians won, 7-2, and gained a stranglehold on the series.

Game 5: Kluber vs. Lester
If I had to bet, I would say that Terry Francona saves Kluber for Game 5 for a rematch with John Lester. As good as Kluber is, would he be able to beat John Lester twice, both at home and at Wrigley Field? It's possible, but not probable. Game 5 will be Lester's revenge.

Cubs 3, Tribe 0 



Update: It wound up being Bauer vs. Lester. Kris Bryant went yard, and that was the biggest offensive play of the game. Aroldis Chapman lived up to his hype, getting an extremely rare eight out save, and the Cubbies stayed alive. 

Game 6: Arietta vs. Bauer
Again, the Indians starting rotation is a bunch of ??????. That is one reason why I do not see them winning this World Series. I'm picking the Cubs in 6 because I am legit concerned about what will happen to the city of Chicago if the Cubs clinch it at home (not that there won't be riots regardless of the outcome of this series). The Indians last hope will hinge on Trevor Bauer, which, with all due respect, is not an ideal situation for Cleveland. Cubs Win! And what a moment that will be.

Update: It will be Arietta vs. Tomlin instead. My score prediction still stands. 

Cubs 5, Indians 1

Why the Cubs will win 

I love Cleveland. I know that might be hard to believe, considering I have spent a lot of this post talking up the Cubs. However, there is a damn good reason why I talk up the Cubs. They are more talented than Cleveland is. They are healthier than Cleveland is, and as a result of that health, their pitching rotation is much more organized than Clevelands is. Terry Francona is a fantastic manager, and he is the biggest reason why the Tribe has defied the odds in winning the American League. But Cleveland's bullpen can't pitch five innings a night forever. For Cleveland to win, more than likely, either Trevor Bauer or Josh Tomlin will have to throw a gem against this Cubs offense. I have my doubts about that happening. I'd love to see Cleveland win their first World Title since 1948. It would be phenomenal for that city, and for the game of baseball. But Chicago winning their first World Series since 1908 would also be phenomenal. Cubs fans, I know you've been saying it forever, but finally, in 2016; It's gonna happen. Harry Carry will be smiling.

Update: Why the Indians will win 
There is reason to believe that the Cubs would take Game 7. If they win tonight, they will have won 2 in a row, and the ball will have moved into Chicago's court. Yes, Cleveland would be starting their main man Corey Kluber, but beating this Cubs team three times in a little over a week would be one hell of a feat. So, although they are down 3-2, there is still plenty of reason for optimism on the North Side.

After doing a lot of thinking, I've concluded that the 2016 World Series champions will be..... the Cleveland Indians. The term has been used so much and so loosely in sports, but has it ever been more prevalent than it is in this World Series? Somebody's destiny is going to come true. Clevlenders feel that their Indians are destined to break their 68- year title drought. Chichogans feel that their Cubbies are destined to break their 108-year title drought. Something has to give.

Personally, I don't see Cleveland getting fooled again. They come too far in this postseason. They come too far as a sports town, and they have too much Corey Kluber to let this series get away. Rejoice, Tribe fans. This is your time.

Penn State-Ohio State: 3 keys to an upset

Hello, all. Tonight, I will be at Beaver Stadium to watch my Penn State Nittany Lions take on the #2 Ohio State Buckeyes. The odds are against us, as PSU is 19.5 point, underdogs. Let's see what they can do to shock the world.

Key #1: Hit the line, roll up the score

This is the biggest game of Trace McSorley's life

Linebacker U ain't what it used to be. These days, Penn State is a team built on offense. So, if Penn State wants to get a W, it is unlikely that defense will be the key. The pressure is on young quarterback Trace McSorley, as he has never been on a stage quite like this (yes, bigger than the Pitt game). JT Barrett and the Buckeye's offense will put up some numbers, and it's up to Penn State to punch back.

Odds of execution: Fair

Key #2: Don't fall behind early 

Photo creds to Bleacher Report

The last time Urban Meyer came to Beaver Stadium, I was there. Penn State trailed the eventual national champs 17-0 at the half, before coming back to force overtime. The Lions would fall in 2 OT, 31-24. If Penn State was able to score at all in the first half, they would have won the game. To  have a chance, Penn State can't come out flat. They have to compete with the Buckeyes from the get go. It's a 60 minute game, and in my opinion, if Penn State shows up for 30 of those minutes like they did in 2014, that won't cut the mustard.

Odds of execution: Not terrible 


Key #3: Feed off the crowd 

The Whiteout is what they say it is. It's electric. In college football, a crowd can make a huge difference. Penn State needs to be pumped up. The need to realize that they are the home team, and 107,000+ are screaming for them. If a night game at Beaver Stadium does not give this team extra adrenaline, then something is wrong. If this game were at Ohio Stadium, the Nittany Lions wouldn't have a chance in hell. But because it is at Beaver Stadium, they just might.


Final Prediction
Yes, you can say Penn State has a significant opportunity ahead of them. Yes, they are at home. However, I don't see them beating the Ohio State Buckeyes. OSU will too talented, too determined, and too experienced for Penn State to handle. All I am asking for this Penn State team is that they keep it close. I didn't come all this way to see a blowout. I want a relatively competitive game, and if my Nittany Lions are to fall, I want them to go down swinging.

Ohio State 37, Penn State 24

NFL: Thoughts on the season through Week 6

Hello, all. 6 weeks of the 2016 NFL season have come and gone. I think now is an approprite time for Joseph Arthur Smeltzer to recap the best, and worst of the season thus far, starting with the AFC.

Best
Team: New England Patriots

How could anybody argue? The American Football Conference has seen better days. Coming into the season, I felt that the 3 best teams in the AFC were, in no order; New England, Denver and Pittsburgh. The Broncos and Steelers have had their struggles and question marks, while the Patriots are the Patriots. New England has the conference's best record at 5-1, and 3 of those wins happened without the greatest quarterback God ever created under center. Discredit them all you want; it dosen't matter. New England is the best.

Worst 
Team: Cleveland Browns 

Too easy. But I will say this about the Cleveland Browns; although they are 0-6 and, frankly, a bad football team, it's not as if they are getting blown away in every single game. They have been competitive in 4 of their six losses, and could easily be 3-3. Also, they are much easier to watch than they were one year ago, meaning that they have improved fundamentally. Cleveland has a long way to go to compete with the Cavs and Indians as far as winning goes, but records can be somewhat misleading.

Best Coach: Jack Del Rio 

Wrong Del Rio

If you read my NFL Preview's, you know that I have developed a love for the Oakland Raiders, and am very pleased to see them off to a 4-2 start. I also love the job that Jack Del Rio has done with the silver and black. If you think about it, this team and this coach are made for each other. The Raiders string of losing started in 2003. Jack Del Rio's head coaching career started in 2003. The Raiders have been were a franhicse that was once glorious, but had lost their touch. Jack Del Rio had some sucess with the Jacksonville Jags, making the playoffs twice, but then he lost his touch, ending his reign in Jacksonville with 4 straight losing season. The Raiders were virtually exiled from the NFL, being thought of as the villians for the past 40 years or so. Jack Del Rio was banished from the sunshine state when the Jaguares gave him the boot.

When Del Rio was hired in 2015, he was taking over a frachise in shambles, coming off a 3-13 season in 2014. Del Rio's age (51) and record (68-71) did not provide much reason to think he would be the man to right the ship. Oakland made strides in 2015, going 7-9, and this year, The Raiders are 4-2 and tied for first in the AFC West. It remains to been seen what will become of Del Rio and this young team, but here's hoping good things are ahead.

Worst Coach: Chuck Pagano 

This hurts to write, as I admire Chuck Pagano for his courage and character. However, I'm afraid he may have worn out his welcome in ''Naptown.'' There is no reason that the Indianapolis Colts should not be atop the horrendous AFC South. None. Before the season, the Colts and the Houston Texans were the only teams that had a remote chance to win this abomination of a division. The Texans (4-2) have been ok, but certainly nothing spectacular. Certainly, nothing that the 2014 AFC Runner-Ups can't handle. But nonetheless, the Texans are 4-2 with Brock Osweiler, and the Colts are 2-4 with Andrew Luck.

It doesn't help that both of Indy's wins have been against teams with a combined record of 3-9 (Chargers and Bears) and by a combined total of 10 points. The Colts are not dead yet. They can still make a push in the AFC South. But Pagano just hasn't been able to get his team and his quarterback to where they expect to be, and it almost cost him his job last season. It might be enough to cost him his job this season.

Most Surprising Team: Buffalo Bills 

Buffalo's got a spirit, talking proud, talking proud. Yes, the Bills are rolling. After starting the season 0-2, many left the Bills and, in particular, Rex Ryan, for dead. But Buffalo has made a comeback, led by their fabulous running back, LeSean McCoy, and a solid defense, led by Zach and Preston Brown. As with Oakland, we don't yet know what will transpire, but getting a Wildcard spot in the weak cheese AFC is far from out of the question. Enjoy it while you can, Rex, and try not to screw it up.

Most Disappointing Team: New York Jets

I would give this to the Colts, but since I talked about them above, I'm going to speak about the Jets. Maybe I was a fool for thinking that Ryan Fitzpatrick could carry over his solid 2015 season into 2016. Nonetheless, the team that almost stole a playoff spot from my Steelers 7 months ago is now an awful 1-5. To make matters worse, only one of those losses have been by less than 10 points, so the Jets have been every bit as bad of their record would indicate. Todd Bowels is a good coach, and I don't think New York will show him the door, but this appears to be a lost season for the AFC team in the Meadowlands.

Now, on to the National Football Conference
NFC
Best 
Team: Dallas Cowboys 

Dak was always a boss (photo creds to Si.Com

How bout em? As much as some of us hate hearing about them, the Cowboys are rolling at 5-1. Dak Prescott and Big Zeke Elliot have been both productive and electric, and they have done it without the human reality show that is Dez Bryant. Both the Seahawks (4-1) and Vikings (5-0) also have a case as the best team in the NFC right now, but I'm going with Dallas because I feel that their success is the most sustainable because of their offensive firepower. The Redskins think that they run the NFC East. That is just not true.

Worst 
Team: San Fransico 49ers
1-5. 5 straight losses. A coach who probably wants out of the NFL at this point. Yeah, the 49ers tradition is going strong, and forcing out Jim Harbaugh hasn't caused any problems at all.

Best Coach: Mike Zimmer

What Mike Zimmer has been doing is remarkable. Before the season started, he lost his quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater, for the season with a torn ACL. In Week 2, he lost his running back and leader, Adrian Peterson, likely for the season with a torn meniscus. But even with Sam Bradford at quarterback and Matt Asiata as running back, the Vikings have done nothing but win. They are 5-0, and Zimmer deserves all the credit in the world.

Worst Coach: Ron Rivera 
I like Ron Rivera. But the truth is, He just hasn't accomplished a whole lot as a head coach in the National Football League. Since 2011, the Panthers have had just two winning seasons, and it looks like it might stay that way after 2016, as Carolina is off to a horrid 1-5 start.

Much like Chuck Pagano, I'd like to put a less likable guy as my worst coach, but the Panthers have been so disappointing that I can't do it any other way.

Most Suprising Team: Minnesota Vikings
I've already talked about why the Vikings are a surprise, and now I'll to talk about what makes them win. The answer is defense.

Xavier Rhodes, Terrance Newman, and Harrison Smith have all played significant roles in the Vikings secondary, while Lineval Joseph, Everson Griffen, Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr have all been forces on the front seven. The Vikings unit is the best in football, and both Mike Zimmer and defensive coordinator George Edwards deserve mad props. The Purple People Eaters are back, baby.

Most Disappointing Team: Carolina Panthers

Carolina has lost 5 times as many games this season as they did last season, and we are not even halfway done. I don't have to say anymore after that, but I will. Has Carolina been victims of bad luck? Sure. 3 of their 5 losses have been by a field goal or less. But is it more that they are unlucky in 2016, or they were very lucky in 2015?

Carolina was the best team in football in the regular season last year. But they weren't as dominant as their 15-1 record would have you believe. 7 of their 15 wins were by less than 10 points, with 4 of them being by 5 points of less. In 2014, they were 7-8-1, and 3-2-1 through 6 games. The point I am trying to get at here is; are the Carolina Panthers really just another team that rubbed a genie in a bottle the right way a year ago?

Have the 2016 Carolina Panthers been unlucky? Yes. Do they wish they had paid Josh Norman? Probably. But maybe, Cammy Cam and friends have come back down to earth.

2016 Pittsburgh Penguins Season Preview: 7 (sorta) Bold Predictions

By: Joe Smeltzer
Hello, all. Yes, I am aware that the NHL season has already started. But I don't care. Here are 7 predictions for the 2016-17 Pittsburgh Penguins hockey season, from the mind of Joseph Arthur Smeltzer
#1. Fans will start to complain about Mike Sullivan

Photo Creds to HNGN.com

Pittsburgh sports fans have a short memory. They like to complain, and as far as the head coach goes, it seems to be the worst in hockey, as there are plenty of games and, as a result, plenty of bumps in the road. Should the Penguins stumble at any point, the currently respected head coach Mike Sullivan will be the target of abuse from yinzers. I don't want to see it, but it is inevitable.
#2. Conor Sheary develops into a star

If you watched the Pittsburgh Penguins last season, you saw the potential that Conor Sheary has. He is smart, he is quick, and he is capable. I think Sheary's first full season will be one with a lot of excitement and encouragement as far as the future of the Penguins goes. Sheary has the combination of talent and hard work that should lead to him being a solid player in this league.

#3 Phill Kessel wins the Rocket Richard Trophy 

Photo creds to HFBoards

Phill Kessel is a sniper. This is a bold prediction, with guys like Alexander Ovechkin routinely scoring 40+ goals, but I have a gut feeling that Phill Kessel will have the best year of his career, banging home 41 goals to lead NHL. Kessel is a great player, and I feel that he is due to win some major individual hardware.

#4 Both goalies split playing time 

Photo creds to CBC

Once Marc-Andre Flury is in net, it's hard to get him out. Once Matt Murray is in net, it's hard to get him out. So, in my opinion, once Murray gets back from injury, he and flower will split playing time, with Fleury getting more starts. It won't be, say, alternating between games, but a 3-for-1 type of deal, with Fleury starting three games to Murry's 1, is not out of the question. By doing this, Mike Sullivan will keep both goaltenders fresh for when the games start to count in the postseason.

#5 Geno's temper holds him back

Photo creds to Boston.com

Evgeni Malkin has always had the potential to be a top 5 player in the world. The two main factors that have kept this from happening are;
1. Injuries
2. His temper
How many times have we seen Geno take a dumb penalty? What separates him from his teammate, Sidney Crosby, is that Sid can turn the other cheek and just play the game. Malkin is not able to do that for whatever reason. Until Malkin learns just to play the game, he will never reach his full potential on the ice.

#6 Sidney Crosby will win the Art Ross and Heart

Photo creds to Si.com

Yes, the concussion issues are always a concern. But Sidney Crosby has already cemented his legacy as an all-time great, putting all doubt to rest with his playoff performance this spring. I feel that, if not for a slow start, Crosby could have taken home some of the NHL's most prestigious individual hardware last season. This season, Sid will not start slow. Once he is cleared, he will pick up right where he left off, and leave no doubt as to who the best player in the world is.

#7 The Penguins season will end with a loss in the Eastern Conference Finals 
The Penguins have Stanley Cup talent. So much so that I think they are the best team in the NHL. However, one cannot understate how difficult it is to repeat in the National Hockey League. No team has been able to go back-to-back since the 1998 Detroit Redwings. Over the past decade, the Penguins have shown themselves to be better off when they fly under the radar. This season, they are not under the radar. Instead, we expect a lot from them, and they have the target on their back. I hope I am wrong, but the strain of being repeat champs, in my opinion, would be too much for the Pittsburgh Penguins to overcome.

Steelers Fans: You should know the drill by now

Photo creds to WTAE.Com

Let's be clear on one thing right away; every Pittsburgh Steeler fan on this planet has every right to be frustrated by what transpired at Hard Rock Stadium (yes, that is an actual stadium name) on Sunday afternoon. The Pittsburgh Steelers were flat. They couldn't stop the run. The couldn't move the ball, partly due to Todd Haley abandoning the running game for whatever reason. They got utterly clowned by an average at best Miami Dolphins team. So, October 16th, 2016, was not a good day for the Pittsburgh Steelers. With all of that said, one question I have is; did we learn anything about the Steelers that we didn't already know?

5-6. Since 2014, that's what the Steelers record is against teams that finished the season with a .500 record or below, and that does not include win/loss records at the time of the game. If you watch the Pittsburgh Steelers on a regular basis, you know that this team tends to play to the level of its competition. I don't know why this is, but games like the one on Sunday have happened too often over the past two years to be considered merely a coincidence. The Steelers lost to a bad team, and we know that Pittsburgh has a habit of doing that. So, what exactly was different about Sunday afternoon?

Ok, so the Steelers typically decent run defense was torn apart by Jay Ajayi, who wasn't even respected enough to be starting on Joseph Arthur Smeltzer's fantasy team (I mean, he is about to be 6-0, but still), rushed for 204 yards and two touchdowns. That's not okay. It's also true that the Dolphins quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, who had been sacked 17 times in Miami's first five games, did not hit the ground once. That's not okay, either. But the Steelers defense is what it is. Pittsburgh's defense, most of the time, should be at least adequate not to negate their historically good offensive attack. It is also worth noting that Ryan Shazier and Cam Heyward, the two best players in the front seven, were not on the field.

I was watching ESPN's First Take this morning, and one of the debate topics was ''are the Steelers overrated?'' Everybody is entitled to their opinion, but I don't see how this Steelers team can be considered overrated. They are 4-2, and still, in my view, the second-best team in the AFC. Last season, the Steelers finished at 10-6. The year before that, 11-5. Through 6 games in 2015, the Steelers were 4-2. In 2014, they were 3-3. If the Steelers were to finish with an 11-5 or even a 10-6 record, it would almost certainly be enough to win the AFC North (the Steelers could win that division by accident at this point) and might even suffice the #2 seed in the AFC.

In the eyes of most so-called ''experts'', the preseason top 3 teams in the American Football Conference were, in no set order; Pittsburgh, New England, and Denver. Through 6 weeks of the season, is there any reason to believe those are not still the top 3 teams in the AFC? Both the AFC East (minus New England)  and the AFC South are terrible, and the Steelers run the AFC North. That leaves us the AFC West. Sure, 3 of those teams have a winning record. But can anybody look me in the eye and tell me that the Oakland Raiders or the Kansas City Chiefs are on Pittsburgh's level? The Steelers wrecked KC 43-14 just two weeks ago, and the Chiefs pounded the 4-2 Raiders yesterday. Knowing that both Oakland and Kansas City are in the top half of the conference is telling of where the Steelers stand.

The primary concern that fans should have, and likely do have right now is the health of Big Ben Roethlisberger. #7 suffered a torn meniscus in his knee and underwent surgery on Monday, which means that he will miss the mega-clash with Tom Brady and the Pats this Sunday at Heinz Field. With Pittsburgh having a bye, and Ben not needing his knees as much due to being a pocket passer, there is a reasonable possibility that Roethlisberger could be back for the November 6th tilt with the Dirty Birds in Baltimore. While it is true that Ben might not be back that quickly and could be out for a while, what good does it do us fans to over speculate? Whatever happens with Big Ben's health will occur, so let's just wait and see how this plays out.

The Steelers offense was dead on Sunday. But it's worth noting that due to injuries to Sammy Coates and Markus Wheaton, the Miami defense was able to key on Antonio Brown, making him a non-factor. The thing that bothered me most about the offense was the putrid play of the offensive line. However, the Steelers O-Line was even worse three weeks ago in Philadelphia and was able to bounce back the next two weeks. So, I think the Big Bois will be just fine.

So are the Steelers overrated? If you're judging them by the standards of the 1970's and early-mid 2000s, then yes. But this is 2016. The Steelers are a relatively one-dimensional team, and a franchise known to slip against its inferiors. But if you judge the Pittsburgh Steelers by the standards of every AFC team outside of Massachutes and Colorado, then they are doing pretty well for themselves. We have played six games, and there are ten more to play. So buckle up. There will be plenty of ups, and maybe a few downs, ahead for the Men of Steel.

NFL Week 6 Preview/Predictions

Hello, all. Week 6 is here, and the boys all have something to say. Let's get into it.

1:00 
Sort of a Rivalry
Eagles (3-1) at Redskins (3-2) 

Joe: Yes, Philly was cut down by the lowly Lions. But Carson Wentz is still a stud who will pick apart the suspect Skins defense, and the Eagles D-Line will make life hell for Kirk Cousins. No, he will not like that.

Eagles 34, Redskins 17

Brad: Eagles will win because Carson Wentz is legit.  Washington has struggled this year, especially the defense.  Big day for Carson Wentz.

Jeff: Philly's defense will stop the Redskins offense.

''Who the Hell Cares?'' Part I

Jaguars (1-3) at Bears (1-4)
Joe: Both of these teams stink, but at least Jacksonville is headed in the right direction. The Bears are going nowhere, not that I care.

Jags 34, Bears 25

Brad: Jags will finally get a winning streak going, and I am going to stand by my prediction of a Jaguar Super Bowl this year.
Jeff: The Jags won't be able to stop Brian Hoyer and the Bears

Cleveland 

Browns (0-5) at Titans (1-4) 
Joe: Cleveland sucks.... at football. Focus on the Indians.

Brad: The Browns are horrible, yes.  But, the Titans are horrible too, and the Browns have been extremely competitive this year.

Jeff:This will be a close game, but the Browns have to win at one eventually.


Will the Patriots lose?
Bengals (2-3) at Patriots (4-1) 

Joe: The Bungles are again playing like the Bungles of old, while for New England, the King is back in his castle. So, the answer is no.
Pats 38, Bengals 14

Brad: Patriots don't seem to want to lose, and the Bengals aspire no confidence.

Jeff: Tom Brady is Tom Brady.

49ers (1-4) at Bills (3-2) 
Joe: Say what you will about Colin Kaepernick off the field, but on the field, he is the best man to be the starting QB for the San Francisco 49ers. The Bills recent hot streak is bound to come to an end, and I think that the QB switch from Blaine Gabbert to Colin Kaepernick will refresh the 49ers offense, at least temporarily.

49ers 31, Bills 24

Brad: Colin Kaepernick won't beat LeSean McCoy, who is giving free tickets to police officers.

Jeff: Buffalo's defense will crush Colin Kaepernick's whinny little body to the ground in a blowout.

Ravens (3-2) at Giants (2-3)
Joe: Yuck. I hate both of these teams. But since the Giants are playing at home, and Odell Beckham is due to break out, I think that the G-Men will get a much-needed W against what it, frankly, an overrated and mediocre Baltimore team.

Giants 28, Ravens 22

Brad:  I don't see the Giants to be that good, but the Ravens are finding ways to win.  Sometimes that is enough and it will be this week.

Jeff: Hopefully OBJ can have fun again.

This is somewhat interesting 

Rams (3-2) at Lions (2-3) 
Joe: Yes, Theo Riddick and the Lions looked good against the Eagles last week. Yes, Case Keenum and the Rams looked awful against Buffalo last week. But the Rams are, at the very worst, an average football team, while I still believe that the Lions stink. LA will keep their winning ways going and improve to a surprising 4-2.

Rams 21, Lions 13

Brad: Both of these teams are playing well, but the Lions have been better overall.

Jeff: This is my ''who the hell cares?'' game of the week.

Excitingly Dull
Panthers (1-4) at Saints (1-3)
Joe:  Carolina is clearly not the same team as the one that went 15-1 and was champs of the NFC last year. In fact, there is a good chance that they miss out on the playoffs. Although New Orleans has an awful record of 1-4, they can keep games close. I think that Drew Brees will be able to exploit a struggling Carolina defense, and New Orleans will put some points on the board. However, a man named Cam Newton is back, and his Panthers will put just a few more points on the board to avoid falling to 1-5.

Panthers 34, Saints 31

Brad:  Carolina has been god awful this year.  I mean, they lost to the Bucs.  The Saints are better than Tampa Bay and will win at home.

Jeff: Who can't beat the Panthers at this point? 

4:05
Remember the AFL?

Raiders (4-1) at Chiefs (2-2) 
Joe:  I love the Raiders. I love Derek Carr. I love Amari Cooper. For that reason, I am picking against the Silver and Black. Although the Raiders have been good this season, they have also been lucky, and that is a big reason why they are 4-1. I think that Oakland is still growing up as a winning team, and this will be a humbling experience for Jack Del Rio's squad. As for Kansas City, an inconsistent team will experience one of the highs of a roller coaster season.
Chiefs 30, Raiders 27

Brad: The Raiders are playing well this season.  Kansas City, on the other hand, is getting off to slow starts and that leads to issues.

Jeff: Jamaal Charles is back. Expect the Chiefs offense to get back on track.

4:25
Dez caught the ball
Cowboys (4-1)  at Packers (3-1) 
Joe: As much as I love the rookie tandem of Dak Prescott and Big Zeke Elliot, I also love Aaron Rodgers. When a football game is played at Lambeau Field, it's difficult to expect anything less than a Green Bay victory.
Packers 30, Cowboys 20

Brad:  The Boys' are really good this year and in what will be the best game of the week.  Ezekiel Elliott will lead the Cowboys to victory.

Jeff: Dak is going to make some mistakes in this one, and it's going to cost Dallas.

Overall game of the Week
Falcons (4-1) at Seahawks (3-1)  
Joe: Atlanta has been one of the bigger surprises of the 2016 season, but, they are going into one of the most intense environments in American sports. This is the time of year when the Seahawks turn up the heat, and Atlanta will learn that the hard way today.

Brad:  The Seahawks are just a better team overall.

Jeff:This should be a good game, but the Seahawks defense is too good.

''Who the Hell Cares?'' Part III
Colts vs Texans:
Joe: Horrible Sunday Night matchup. Houston is at home and at least somewhat respectable, so I give them the win against a reeling Colts team.
Brad: The Colts have been horrible this year.  The Texans have been half decent.  The Texans will win this game.
Jeff: Houston's offense will shine.

Part IV

Jets vs Cards:
Brad:  Do I really need to explain why the Cards will win.
Joe: What he Said. 
Jeff:  jets can't seem to beat anybody and Won't beat the cards