February 27, 2013 at 3:09 PM
Part 1 of a 2 part series
There are some names in sports that you have to double take while scanning a roster, or watching a sport event.
If you're a Penn State fan, there's one on the men's lacrosse team. Junior midfielder Tom LaCrosse has five goals and one assist in three games for No. 8 Penn State this season. And yes, his name is Tom LaCrosse.
In light of LaCrosse, I decided to create a list of the Top Nine most destined sports names. Why nine? Because I couldn't think of 10.
Honorable Mentions: Seven Costanza, Boobie Miles. If only they weren't made up in pop-culture.
9. Sonny Sixkiller
Born on Sep. 6, 1951, Sonny Sixkiller was given the No. 6 at the University of Washington. Sixkiller was the quarterback and threw up six points on the scoreboard. He tallied 35 career touchdown as a Husky.
8. Roland "Rollie" Fingers
One of the best relievers in baseball has the name Fingers...destiny.
The three-time World Series champ had a remarkable career with the Athletics and the Brewers, redefining the modern relief pitcher.
Fingers ended his career with 341 saves and 1,299 strikeouts. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1992 as the second reliever ever to be inducted.
7. Simon Gagne
Recently acquired Philadelphia Flyer Simon Gagne last name translates to win in French. Fitting for the left winger who just won the Stanley Cup last season with the Los Angeles Kings. Now Philadelphia fans hope Gagne can bring the same luck in his second stint with the Flyers.
6. Larry Playfair
"I remember my mom telling me 'You've got to learn to control your temper," Playfair told a Buffalo Sabres magazine. "I'd get mad really quick about stupid things, I mean anything. I remember once, [in midget hockey] we lost a playoff game, and we were going down the line, shaking hands, and I just drilled a kid right in the head, I was just so mad."
What a nice guy.
5. Hubert Green
Green is a former professional golfer who won 23 golf tournaments on the PGA and Champions tour. He must have landed the ball on the green quite often.
4. Homer Bailey
For a pitcher, "Homer" might not be the best name to have. Luckily for Cincinnati Reds pitcher Homer Bailey, homers don't bother him too much.
Last season he gave up 26 home runs in 33 starts. Not too shabby for a guy named Homer.
3. Quentin Jammer
A cornerback, who's goal is to jam a wide receiver, named "Jammer"? That's a match made in heaven.
San Diego Charger Quentin Jammer also had three interceptions last season. Think there's somebody with the last name "interception"?
2. Prince Fielder
It's a great name in general, but Prince Fielder was born to play baseball. He also has the genes from his father Cecil, a Detroit Tigers legend with 319 career home runs.
Prince isn't the best fielding first baseman, but he holds his own, posting a .992 fielding percentage in 2012.
He also belted 30 home runs last season for the 2012 pennant-winning Tigers.
1. Usain Bolt
The fastest man in the world [for a 100m, let's see him run a 5K] has the last name Bolt. If that's not fate, I don't know what is.
In case you forgot, Bolt holds the world record in the 100m with a time of 9.58 seconds set in the 2008 Summer Olympics. He also became the first sprinter ever to win the 100m and 200m in two consecutive Olympics this past summer in London.
After this list, I'm really debating naming my kid Forty. What do you guys think?
Come back tomorrow when I bring you the second part of the two-part series with the Top 10 list of the greatest names ever in sports.
Here's a preview, former New York Ranger Per Djoos. I kid you not, it's pronounced "Pear Juice."
Tweet us your reactions to the list @TDC_Sports and @ZackNeiner
April 9, 2012 at 4:36 PM
Sports often offer an opportunity for feats thought to be unthinkable to take place.
It's why people watch them. Most times, it's an unbelievable play or the underdog coming out victorious that grabs our attention.
For many Americans, this idea leads them to think of the 1980 U.S. men's hockey team that brought down the seemingly invincible Soviet Union squad on its way to the gold medal — known to many as "the miracle on ice."
I'll fully support the United States in any athletic competition, but after the events that took place in an English soccer stadium a few weeks ago, it seems almost laughable to consider a simple victory in a game to be a miracle.
Just three weeks after collapsing on the field, Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba is now looking forward to possibly resuming his soccer career, according to several reports from England.
Muamba, who just turned 24, suffered a cardiac arrest during the first half of Bolton's March 17 game against Tottenham. The 6-foot-2 midfielder laid on ground for several minutes while the medical personnel attended to him. Muamba was carried to an ambulance, which rushed him to a local hospital.
For those in attendance and many more watching on television, the chances of Muamba surviving appeared dim as the midfielder's heart actually stopped beating — making him clinically dead for 78 minutes.
But something much more miraculous than a hockey win took place. The work of the medical men and women inside the stadium, inside the ambulance and at the hospital resulted in Muamba receiving a second chance.
Within two weeks, a photograph posted on Twitter showed Muamba smiling in his hospital bed. Now, the idea of Muamba returning to the field — something barely thinkable on March 17 — appears possible.
So sports can continue to provide a chance to see the impossible, but those who followed the Muamba story know that his recovery tops any athletic feat ever accomplished on the field. And if the man who was carried off the playing surface without a heart beat can make his return by running onto the field, that act alone can be considered a miracle.
April 3, 2012 at 8:27 PM
Excited for baseball season? So am I. Here are my annual, sure-to-be-wrong predictions to help you kill the time until Opening Day on Wednesday night. All opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
AL EAST
1. Tampa Bay Rays (#2 seed) - Just unbelievable young pitching. This could be the first year we see the Rays make a deadline deal for a big-name hitter, with a guy like Wade Davis as the centerpiece.
2. New York Yankees (WILD CARD #1) - Michael Pineda’s current shoulder status could realistically be a 5-win blow to the Bombers.
3. Boston Red Sox - Their health and pitching are highly questionable yet again. A major Carl Crawford resurgence is imperative if they’re to compete.
4. Toronto Blue Jays - An incredibly trendy pick, they would need too much progression from guys like Brandon Morrow, J.P. Arencibia and Colby Rasmus to have a shot at the playoffs in their brutal division. I’m not saying those guys won’t progress, but the Jays need absolutely everything to go right to even reach 88 wins.
5. Baltimore Orioles - Remember when everyone thought they had enough young talent to compete before the 2011 season? Lolz.
AL CENTRAL
1. Detroit Tigers (#3 seed) - By far the easiest divisional winner pick out there, and it has oh so much more to do with their weak division than their addition of Prince Fielder.
2. Cleveland Indians - I do like Ubaldo Jimenez to bounce back in 2012. I like the underrated addition of Derek Lowe, and fully expect guys like Asdrubal Cabrera and Jason Kipnis to remain productive. That said, 2013 is a more realistic year to compete for a playoff spot for the Tribe.
3. Chicago White Sox - Fangraphs says they have the worst farm system in baseball. So why did you give a merely above average starter in John Danks a five-year, $65 million contract extension, GM Kenny Williams? You should be in rebuilding mode, since you have enough talent to stay out of the Central’s basement, but would need a huge amount of upside to be realized to go any higher than third.
4. Kansas City Royals - GM Dayton Moore’s incredible farm system of two seasons ago is starting to develop into an incredible major league team. Just starting, mind you. Expect upward of 90 losses in 2012, but steady improvements across the board.
5. Minnesota Twins - A healthy Twins team could compete for second place in this division. But because they’ll have the nearest hospital on speed dial, expect their inevitable injuries to guys like Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Francisco Liriano to cost them at least 10 wins. They’d be a surefire 100-loss candidate if they didn’t play in the Central.
AL WEST
1. Los Angeles Angels (#1 seed) - Has there ever been a team to add as much probable WAR in one off season than the Angels did this winter? Albert Pujols, C.J. Wilson, Chris Iannetta and a healthy Kendrys Morales will morph the Angels into a bona fide 100-win contender.
2. Texas Rangers (WILD CARD #2) - Do Yu believe? Sorry, I had to do it. Japanese sensation Yu Darvish is much more of a wild card than mass media makes him out to be, but that’s actually quite irrelevant; even if Darvish comes through, the Rangers can’t top the Angels this year. Still a playoff team, though.
3. Oakland Athletics - The AL West is the most polar division in the game. Two elite teams lead the pack, while the horrible Athletics and Mariners keep up the rear. A’s fans have nothing to be excited about this year except for Yoenis Cespedes, Manny Ramirez’ antics, and a possible move to San Jose in 2014 or 2015.
4. Seattle Mariners - Mariners last? Athletics last? They’ll both be hovering near 100 losses come September's end, so who cares? GM Jack Zduriencik, please free Felix Hernandez, the most desirable yet tradeable player in the game right now, from the quagmire of Seattle baseball.
NL EAST
1. Philadelphia Phillies (#1 seed) - Not many times are as severely in decline vis-Ã -vis their last five years as the Phillies are. They’re old and injury-prone, but it’s still darn hard to pick against a team with Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels on it. Still, this is the last year they’ll be the favorite to win this division, let alone a favorite to make the playoffs, in a while.
2. Miami Marlins (WILD CARD #1) - The second, third and fourth spots of this division are tremendously difficult to pick because of the Marlins’ and Nationals’ plethora of new members. All three spots can go either way, but I give the nod to the Marlins because of their incredibly versatile lineup and high probability of progression across the board. In the rare cases that Jose Reyes and Josh Johnson stay healthy all season, the Marlins should actually win this division.
3. Atlanta Braves (WILD CARD #2) - I think Brandon Beachy is baseball’s most likely major breakout candidate in 2012, even more so than Eric Hosmer and Brett Lawrie. Watch it happen. Anyway, the Braves’ whole season rides on the health of their starting rotation.
4. Washington Nationals - Their hype has made them very overrated. Their rotation went from weak to promising in one off season, but they won’t win a Wild Card until 2013, when I’m almost certain to have them in the playoffs.
5. New York Mets - A disaster. Contrary to the opinion of fellow football writer Dan Norton, the Mets will absolutely not post a loss total below 90 even if absolutely everything goes right for them.
NL CENTRAL
1. Milwaukee Brewers (#2 seed) - I like to think I know a thing or two about baseball, but, for the life of me, I can’t understand the general skepticism of the Brewers’ chances in 2012. There isn’t a baseball pundit out there who doubts rotation mates Zack Greinke and Yovani Gallardo will compete for the NL’s strikeout title this year. Aramis Ramirez and Alex Gonzalez, replacing Casey McGehee and Yuniesky Betancourt, nearly make up for the departure of Prince Fielder. Ryan Bruan isn’t suspended. The Central is a weak division. I could go on all day. Frankly, I’d be surprised if the Brewers didn’t win the Central for the second straight year in 2012.
2. St. Louis Cardinals - The return of Adam Wainwright and the signing of Carlos Beltran will, at best, equal what Albert Pujols gives a ballclub. The reigning World Champs remain a solid team, but that’s all they are.
3. Cincinnati Reds - So, a fly ball pitcher (Mat Latos) moving from Petco Park to Great American Ballpark means the Reds are the favorites to win the Central? Oh!
4. Pittsburgh Pirates - The Pirates are slowly but steadily approaching .500. That milestone probably won’t be reached until 2014 or so, though.
5. Chicago Cubs - It must be awful to be a fan of a team that is just beginning to enter full-blown rebuilding mode such as the Cubs.
6. Houston Astros - Unabashedly the worst team in baseball, the Astros have almost no chance to finish the season with less than 100 losses. They won’t be good again, for a long time, and current National League contenders forlornly mourn their 2013 move to the American League.
NL WEST
1. San Francisco Giants (#3 seed) - Boy, this division stinks. The possibility that Buster Posey stays healthy for a whole season makes me give the Giants the nod here…
2. Arizona Diamondbacks - …but if the D-Backs repeat as winners, I wouldn’t be surprised one bit…
3. Los Angeles Dodgers - …and even if the Dodgers win the NL West crown, I wouldn’t gasp. This division can go to any of these three.
4. Colorado Rockies - Not much upside for the Rockies this year. Their offense is entirely made up of Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, and Drew Pomeranz and Alex White are starting the year in the minors.
5. San Diego Padres - Trading Mat Latos was the nail in the coffin of terribleness for the Dads. There are only a few things to watch for on this team, and they all center around how the former Reds they got in the Latos deal perform.
Playoffs
ALCS: Angels beat Rays, 4-2
NLCS: Phillies beat Brewers, 4-1
World Series: Angels beat Phillies, 4-3
Awards
National League
Cy Young: Roy Halladay
MVP: Troy Tulowitzki (it’s gotta happen one of these years.)
Rookie of the Year: Devin Mesoraco, Reds
Manager of the Year: Ozzie Guillen, Marlins
American League
Cy Young: Felix Hernandez, Mariners (a la 2010, when he went 13-12)
MVP: Evan Longoria, Rays
Rookie of the Year: Matt Moore, Rays
Manager of the Year: Manny Acta, Indians
March 3, 2012 at 2:15 PM
I know, I know.
Baseball, like any sport, is a business. Men with suits and ties and dollar signs are really all that matter in the grand scheme of its decision-making.
So it makes sense why Major League Baseball will be going with a 10-team playoff system next season. It involves more fans, more cities, more games of critical magnitude, and more dollar bills.
If you don’t know the particulars of the new system, read Jayson Stark’s ESPN.com article here.
Now, I’ll admit that this new format is quite a bit more exciting than the current system. There’s no doubt that the new one-game playoff between the two Wild Card winners of each league will be riveting, exciting-as-baseball-can-get action.
That said, I hate it.
The very best teams should be the ones playing in October. Unlike the NBA and NHL, the MLB has always been in accordance with that; the old system, in which eight of 30 teams made postseason play, was the lowest percentage of teams that made the playoffs in any of the big four leagues.
Not only was this system too hastily decided upon, leaving the scheduling a mess, it is brutally unfair to baseball’s elite. Take 2010. The New York Yankees finished a whole six games in front of the Boston Red Sox for the American League Wild Card. The Yankees also only finished one game behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the AL East crown. Had today’s silly system been in place then, the Yankees’ entire 162-game season would come down to one game against a team they were six games better than. Sure, it would be exciting. But even the worst teams in baseball win 60 games throughout the course of a season. If the Yankees weren’t able to start their ace in the one-game playoff because they used him the day before to attempt to win the AL East, they’d be left with an unfavorable matchup, since the Red Sox knew they had no chance to take the division and would have saved their ace for the playoff. Here, you can’t use the argument “the Yankees should have won the division.” The Red Sox “should have won the division” too, but in this scenario, they are in a better position than the Yankees for having lost it.
That’s not the only reason I’m not for this system. Remember last year’s unbelievably exciting, beyond-Hollywood season finale involving the Red Sox and Rays in the AL and Cardinals and Braves in the NL? With this new playoff system, all of those games would have been pretty irrelevant. They would have only decided home field advantage for the one-game playoff. All four of those teams would have been in the playoffs, anyway.
It’s a shocker why baseball didn’t wait until 2013 to implement this system. As Stark points out time and time again in his piece, baseball is looking at a scheduling nightmare if a tiebreaker is needed for a division crown. Now, the team with the “home field advantage” has to play their first two games on the road in their Division Series, and the next three at home. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather have the option of the lower seed.
Baseball, you messed up on this one. It has good intentions for the fans, but the sport just got a lot more unfair. At least add a respectable replay system to counter this.
February 5, 2012 at 4:19 PM
Football season has been over for some time, but that doesn't mean there's a lack of interesting sporting events to attend on Penn State's campus.
Here are some things Penn State students should consider seeing before they graduate.
1. A Penn State wrestling match
Even if you're unfamiliar with the sport, the atmosphere alone in a packed Rec Hall is worth seeing. It doesn't hurt that the Nittany Lions are the defending national champions and boast some of the top wrestlers in the country.
2. Lady Lions Pink Zone game
If you like a Beaver Stadium Whitehouse, then try getting to a Pink Zone game in the Bryce Jordan Center. The crowd is filled with pink T-shirts, and there are memorabilia auctions that help support the fight against breast cancer. This year's event is on Feb. 26. against Minnesota.
3. An Icers game
The days of ACHA hockey being the lone option at Penn State are nearing their end, as the Division I team is quickly approaching its first season. The intimate setting of the Ice Pavilion puts you right near the action.
4. Penn State gymnastics double dual
See two Lions teams for the price of one when both the men's and women's gymnastics teams compete alongside each other in Rec Hall. The next double dual is Feb. 18, when the men take on Illinois and the women host SUNY-Brockport.
July 4, 2011 at 4:18 PM
They've done it before, and they did it again.
Brad Richards headlined NHL free agency this week, and once again the New York Rangers made a play to turn the former Conn Smythe winner to Broadway. The 31 year-old center was the most coveted prize in this year's free agent class, and as he does so often, GM Glen Sather felt the need to make a play for him. It makes the fans happy at the time, yes, but was it in the best interest of the organization from a hockey stand point?
The Rangers needed a center to play with Marian Gaborik, and they got it in Richards. But he'll by 40 by the team his contract is up, and has concussions in his past. He's been right around 75 points a season, his best coming in 2009-10 when he had 91 with Dallas.
So Ranger fans cheered and praised Sather for signing Chris Drury and Scott Gomez back in 2007, and those same fans are shaking their heads now. Gomez was shipped to Montreal after posting 96 points in two seasons as a Ranger, and Drury's contract was bought out a few weeks ago. Throw in the disaster that is defenseman Wade Redden, who's collecting over 6 million dollars a year playing in the minors, and Sather has a track record for these sort of fiscal debacles.
Ranger fans are rejoicing now, but will this move prove positive in the long run? They'll have to get through the first round of the playoffs early and often in his tener, or come 2016, fans will once again be scratching their heads as another disastrous contract is bought out.
April 5, 2011 at 3:49 PM
I wouldn't consider myself a golf expert, heck I just started following the sport three years ago.
Still, I've become pretty obsessed with professional golf. This includes checking my Yahoo! Fantasy Golf team at least once a day. After the winter season, which I'm sure not many of you even knew was going on, I finished first out of 14 fantasy teams in my league.
Now is when the actions really heats up. The Masters starts in two days, the PLAYERS Championship played at TPC Sawgrass is a little more than one month away, the U.S. Open starts in 72 days, and the The British Open starts in 99 days.
Here's my early picks for the greatest golf tournament on Earth:
(Based on Yahoo! groups)
A group: Starter: Luke Donald | Reserve: Phil Mickelson (next choice would be Nick Watney, my sleeper pick to win)
B group: Starters: Paul Casey, Hunter Mahan | Reserves: Justin Rose, Ben Crane (next choices: Steve Stricker, Bill Haas)
C group: Starter: Rory McIlroy | Reserve: Zach Johnson (next choice would be Gary Woodland)
There ya go, take my picks for what they're worth (likely nothing)
-Steve
January 2, 2011 at 12:31 PM
After 16 weeks, the race for the top spot is still very much alive. As we enter the final day of the NFL season, Nittany Lion Fund President Jim Regan sits atop the Collegian Pick 'Em standings, but assistant sports editor Paul Casella sits just one game back.
With some teams resting players today and other teams trying to play the role of spoiler, anything can happen.
Week 17 picks:
Miami @ New England:
Ragland:
Cohen: New England
Krieger:
Regan: New England
Hennessey: New England
Casella: New England -- FIrst time all year I haven't picked Miami, but I gotta do it.
Buffalo @ NY Jets:
Ragland:
Cohen: NY Jets
Krieger:
Regan: Buffalo
Hennessey: NY Jets
Casella: NY Jets
Cincinnati @ Baltimore:
Ragland:
Cohen: Baltimore
Krieger:
Regan: Baltimore
Hennessey: Cincinnati
Casella: Baltimore
Tampa Bay @ New Orleans:
Ragland:
Cohen: New Orleans
Krieger:
Regan: Tampa Bay
Hennessey: New Orleans
Casella: New Orleans
Carolina @ Atlanta:
Ragland:
Cohen: Atlanta
Krieger:
Regan: Atlanta
Hennessey: Atlanta
Casella: Atlanta
Minnesota @ Detroit:
Ragland:
Cohen: Minnesota
Krieger:
Regan: Detroit
Hennessey: Detroit
Casella: Detroit
Oakland @ Kansas City:
Ragland:
Cohen: Kansas City
Krieger:
Regan: Oakland
Hennessey: Oakland
Casella: Oakland
Pittsburgh @ Cleveland:
Ragland:
Cohen: Pittsburgh
Krieger:
Regan: Pittsburgh
Hennessey: Pittsburgh
Casella: Pittsburgh
Jacksonville @ Houston:
Ragland:
Cohen: Houston
Krieger:
Regan: Jacksonville
Hennessey: Houston
Casella: Jacksonville
Arizona @ San Francisco:
Ragland:
Cohen: Arizona
Krieger:
Regan: Arizona
Hennessey: San Francisco
Casella: San Francisco
Chicago @ Green Bay:
Ragland:
Cohen: Green Bay
Krieger:
Regan: Chicago
Hennessey: Green Bay
Casella: Green Bay
Tennessee @ Indianapolis:
Ragland:
Cohen: Indianapolis
Krieger:
Regan: Indianapolis
Hennessey: Indianapolis
Casella: Indianapolis
San Diego @ Denver:
Ragland:
Cohen: Denver
Krieger:
Regan: Denver
Hennessey: San Diego
Casella: San Diego
Dallas @ Philadelphia:
Ragland:
Cohen: Philadelphia
Krieger:
Regan: Dallas
Hennessey: Philadelphia
Casella: Philadelphia
NY Giants @ Washington:
Ragland:
Cohen: NY Giants
Krieger:
Regan: NY Giants
Hennessey: NY Giants
Casella: NY Giants
St. Louis @ Seattle:
Ragland:
Cohen: St. Louis
Krieger:
Regan: St. Louis
Hennessey: St. Louis
Casella: St. Louis
December 31, 2010 at 1:05 PM
In the second to last week of the season, the top of the standings cleared up a little bit. Sports editor Steve Hennessey, who had been in contention the whole season, had a miserable 5-11 week (probably trying to pick some upsets to make up ground on the leaders), leaving assistant sports editor Paul Casella and Nittany Lion Fund President Jim Regan to fight it out for the top spot.
Casella and Regan posted identical 9-7 weeks, leaving Regan ahead by one game. Krieger is within striking distance, but he would need a huge week and for both Regan and Casella to falter big in week 17.
With some teams resting players, though, and other teams trying to play the role of spoiler, anything could happen in these week 17 games, so it should be a fight to the finish.
Week 16 Records:
Monika Aksamit, women's fencer: 9-7
Cohen: 9-7
Casella: 9-7
Regan: 8-8
Ragland: 8-8
Hennessey: 5-11
Overall Records:
Regan: 142-83 (63.1%)
Casella: 141-84 (62.9%)
Kreiger: 118-75 (61.1%)
Cohen: 116-80 (59.2%)
Ragland: 116-81 (58.9%)
Hennessey: 131-94 (58.2%)
Athletes: 87-55 (58.6%)
December 26, 2010 at 12:02 PM
As the NFL races toward the playoffs, the Collegian NFL Pick 'Em is winding down as well, with a two-man race shaping out. Nittany Lion Fund president Jim Regan is holding onto a one-game lead over assistant sports editor Paul Casella heading into the final two weeks of the season.
The competition could be decided this week, with some crucial games on the docket for Sunday and Monday.
We also have a guest athlete picker this week: women's fencer Monika Aksamit, a junior from Matawan. Past athlete pickers include Talor Battle and D.J. Jackson of the men's basketball team, Frank Molinaro and Brad Pataky of the wrestling team and Christine Nairn of the women's soccer team.
Here's a look at our updated standings, followed by each competitor's picks for Week 16:
Overall Records:
Regan: 133-76 (63.6%)
Casella: 132-77 (63.2%)
Kreiger: 118-75 (61.1%)
Hennessey: 126-83 (60.3%)
Ragland: 108-73 (59.7%)
Cohen: 107-73 (59.4%)
Athletes: 78-55 (58.6%)
Dallas vs. Cardinals
Christian Ragland, UPUA president: Dallas
Alex Cohen, Paternoville president: Cardinals
Jim Regan, Nittany Lion Fund president: Dallas — Dallas has been great recently, I think the trend continues and they take it to a horrible cardinals team on the road
Monika Aksamit, women's fencing: Dallas
Paul Casella, assistant sports editor: no pick
Steve Hennessey, sports editor: Cardinals — Kitna and Co. can't win out, can they?
Giants vs. Packers
Ragland: Giants
Cohen: Giants
Regan: Giants — It's all I want for Christmas...please Santa?
Aksamit: Giants
Casella: Packers
Hennessey: Giants — Somehow find a way to put the Miracles at the Meadowlands Pt. II behind them.
Patriots vs. Bills
Ragland: Patriots
Cohen: Patriots
Regan: Patriots — Another lop-sided matchup... Patriots win easily on the road
Aksamit: Patriots
Casella: Patriots
Hennessey: Bills — This game was really close in the first couple of weeks..look for an upset here in Buffalo. Patriots are all banged up.
Jets vs. Bears
Ragland: Bears
Cohen: Jets
Regan: Bears — Great game here, but I like the home team that is in need of a win
Aksamit: Jets
Casella: Bears
Hennessey: Jets — Not a must-win for either team and hesitant to pick New York with Sanchez banged up, but the Jets are going to kick it up a gear and put their best foot forward.
Ravens vs. Browns
Ragland: Ravens
Cohen: Ravens
Regan: Ravens — Definitely continuing to like my Ravens, time to move toward that elusive home field advantage
Aksamit: Ravens
Casella: Ravens
Hennessey: Ravens — Sorry Cleveland.
Titans vs. Chiefs
Ragland: Chiefs
Cohen: Chiefs
Regan: Chiefs — I love the way the Chiefs are playing, and they need to win in order to block the Chargers late-season rally.
Aksamit: Chiefs
Casella: Titans
Hennessey: Chiefs — This one's a big win for Kansas City as they fend off the Chargers.
49ers vs. Rams
Ragland: 49ers
Cohen: Rams
Regan: Rams — Shout-out to Casella... pivotal game in the worst division ever, giddy up Rams
Aksamit: 49ers
Casella: Rams
Hennessey: 49ers — Just to spite Casella.
Lions vs. Dolphins
Ragland: Lions
Cohen: Dolphins
Regan: Dolphins — Solid matchup, but the Dolphins still have hope and are at home so I give them the nod
Aksamit: Dolphins
Casella: Dolphins
Hennessey: Dolphins — Wow, it'd be nice to be in Miami right now.
Redskins vs. Jaguars
Ragland: Jags
Cohen: Jaguars
Regan: Jaguars — Tebow Effect? I don't think so... time to come back down to Earth, Grossman
Aksamit: Redskins
Casella: Jaguars
Hennessey: Jaguars — This game is gonna be an ugly one.
Chargers vs. Bengals
Ragland: Chargers
Cohen: Chargers
Regan: Chargers — Owens out, Ochocinco likely out, Chargers in desperate need of a win... need I say more?
Aksamit: Bengals
Casella: Chargers
Hennessey: Chargers — Might win by 35 points.
Texans vs. Broncos
Ragland: Texans
Cohen: Broncos
Regan: Texans — Denver may have some swagger now, but the Texans are going to abuse this first-start QB on the road
Aksamit: Broncos
Casella: Texans
Hennessey: Texans — Arian Foster goes off as he tries to put the rushing title on lock.
Colts vs. Raiders
Ragland: Colts
Cohen: Colts
Regan: Colts — Tempted to pick the home team, but the Colts are somehow still are in need of wins this late in the year (*smh*)
Aksamit: Raiders
Casella: Colts
Hennessey: Raiders — Upset special. Oakland at home over the underperforming Colts.
Seahawks vs. Buccaneers
Ragland: Buccaneers
Cohen: Buccaneers
Regan: Buccaneers — All signs point to a Bucco's smackdown, say goodbye to the division Seattle.
Aksamit: Buccaneers
Casella: Buccaneers
Hennessey: Buccaneers — 'Hawks keep it close but Bucs come up with the win.
Vikings vs. Eagles
Ragland: Eagles
Cohen: Eagles
Regan: Eagles — ...we'll get 'em next time... we'll get 'em next time...
Aksamit: Eagles
Casella: Eagles
Hennessey: Eagles — See Regan above..
Saints vs. Falcons
Ragland: Falcons
Cohen: Falcons
Regan: Saints — I'm feeling the overrated Saints here based on them needing a win a lot more.
Aksamit: Saints
Casella: Saints
Hennessey: Falcons — How could you go against Matty Ice at home?
