The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers are bitter rivals. Last year, the Packers got the best of their Bears two times.
Green Bay only lost one regular season game in the 2011-2012 season, which is why it was so surprising when the Packers lost in week one to the 49ers. Chicago took care of business against Andrew Luck and the Colts.
Oklahoma State was a double-digit favorite in Arizona last week, but the Cowboys were blasted by the Wildcats.
I am not sure the Fighting Irish deserve that #19 ranking after wins over Navy and Purdue, the latter a nail-biter at home.
It has been a pretty ugly start for Idaho. First they lose to FCS Eastern Washington (at home) while scoring just 3 points. Things were a little better last week as they hung in there on the road against Bowling Green losing by just 8.
This is the first Big East game for Rutgers and South Florida, who are each off to 2-0 starts. Neither team is ranked, but that may change after this Thursday night game. South Florida has looked good on the offensive side of the ball and Rutgers has played solid defense and they rank 4th in the nation in opponents’ points allowed.
Week 1 is in the books! It proved why we all crave NFL football. Sensational performances, jaw-dropping upsets and unforeseen story lines make up yet another typically fluid version of this week’s NFL Power Rankings!
Enough talk – let’s get on with Dave B’s Week 2 edition of the Rankings!
MLB Betting Previews- Tuesday, Sept.11 Parlay
The MLB regular season enters the second week of September with four of the six division title races still completely up in the air.
After carefully analyzing all the stats and betting trends for the pitching matchups on Tuesday’s slate of games, we have uncovered two games that set-up as the perfect two-team parlay.
The Dodgers are only 4-6 in their last 10 games and they now trail the San Francisco Giants by 5 games in the NL West. After getting back in the division race the D-Backs are now 10 games back of the Giants.
Bengals Travel to Baltimore for key AFC North Clash
The Baltimore Ravens begin their 2012 season on Monday night with high hopes of getting over the hump and getting back to the Super Bowl. In their way in Week 1 is one of the teams that they will have to better – the young guns of the AFC North, the Cincinnati Bengals.
Chargers and Raiders conclude Week 1 on Monday Night
The AFC West takes center stage in the final game of Week 1. For those of you in the East, you will probably rely on Sports Center for the results. For those of us in the West, we may actually see a good game between two teams looking to get off on the right foot this year.
With Cam Newton leading the way the Carolina Panthers were among the most improved teams of 2011.
As I start writing this I am struck by the fact that the only reason we know anything about this team is because of Hard Knocks – if people still watch it (there is no juice with the franchise right now).
The 49ers were so good last year that everyone is expecting a letdown. Some think they will be undone by not being able to repeat their phenomenal turnover ratio and others that Alex Smith isn’t possibly going to become a steady performer over the long term.
In one of the Saturday night games this week, the home team’s defense is going to get a serious test in Week 2. The Oklahoma State Cowboys bring their high-powered attack to southern Arizona to square off against the Wildcats in the desert heat.
#19 OSU Cowboys at Arizona Wildcats
Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, 10:30 pm EST
Venue: Arizona Stadium, Tucson AZ
Gambling Odds from Sportsbook.com:
Spread: Ok. St. -10.5, Arizona +10.5
MoneyLine: Ok. St. -385, Arizona +325
Over/Under: 70.5
Frankly, things look to be breaking pretty well in the Cowboys’ favor.
Arizona just narrowly edged out Toledo last week, winning 24-17 in OT. Yes, this is against the MAC’s Toledo Rockets in Arizona’s season opener. Clearly, it wasn’t a very convincing win. Quarterback Matt Scott had a big day, tossing for nearly 400 yards, but the Oklahoma State secondary won’t be as liable to yield big gainers as Toledo was.
The Cowboys’ offense seems to have become more of a scheme-specific success. In recent seasons, both QB Zac Robinson and Brandon Weeden have excelled in a high-powered spread attack.
Now, Ok. State hopes it can be redshirt freshman J.W. Walsh that carries the torch. If last week is any indication, things will be just fine in Stillwater – the Cowboys crushed FCS Savannah State 84-0, the most thorough drubbing of the college football slate in Week 1.
Running back Joseph Randle will be a key piece for the Cowboys in 2012; he and sophomore Desmond Roland both put up 100+ rushing yards and multiple TDs in just single-digit carries in a laugher. Without a prominent passer established, the Cowboys game-plan might have more emphasis on the run in ’12, which shouldn’t slow them down one bit. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
For Arizona to nab an upset at home, Scott must air the ball out to talented WR Dan Buckner, a Texas transfer. Let’s also not forget that the Wildcats are breaking in the polarizing Rich Rodriguez as head coach. Even though Rich-Rod crashed and burned at Michigan, the Wildcats are hoping he can have more success in a program with less scrutiny.
Still, it seems that from a defensive perspective, if Oklahoma State can be anything more balanced than an offensive slot machine, it will not only lay the hurt on Arizona this week, but have a successful 2012 campaign also.
The Cowboys have a few players on “D” – CB Brodrick Brown, LB Shaun Lewis and DL Nigel Nicholas come to mind – but Arizona should still be able to drop some points on the visitors.
Expect Oklahoma State to win what will be a high-scoring contest, though that doesn’t necessarily mean that the finished product will be close.
The marching bands will need a lot of air in their collective lungs, because there’s going to be some touchdowns scored in this game.
#19 Oklahoma State vs. Arizona Score Prediction: Ok. St. 49, Arizona 30
The conference slate gets started right off the hop for the Georgia Bulldogs and the Missouri Tigers. The ‘Dawgs will see what one of the SEC newcomers brings to the table nice and early in the season.
It’s Manning Time Again! Broncos Open at Home versus Steelers
In one of the most anticipated opening Week games in years, Peyton Manning and his Denver Broncos (still sounds weird to say!) play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night. Both teams are early Super Bowl contenders and both will be using this game as a measuring stick for just exactly where they are as a team.
