Dave B has been a Fantasy Football writer for us for 10 years. A couch potato wannabe, Dave’s insights have been read by 10’s of people for years. He hope’s for world peace + global relaxation. Enjoy and remember only smoke things that are completely natural.
Canucks Look to Continue Desert Domination Tuesday Night
The sixth seed in the Western Conference the Vancouver Canucks head out on the road Tuesday night to take on the once-again-overachieving fourth seed in the West, the Phoenix Coyotes on a busy night on the NHL schedule.
Best Rivalry In Football Writes Another Chapter – Packers Host Bears Monday Night
The Chicago Bears head to Lambeau to take on the Green Bay Packers Monday night looking for their 93rd win in 189 meetings in a matchup of teams heading in opposite directions in the standings.
Brutal Bucs Brace for Big-time Battle in the Pacific Northwest
The 0-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers head out on the road this week attempting to do what no team has done since Christmas Ever, 2011 – beat the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Seattle has been tremendous this year but experienced a bit off a hiccup last week against St. Louis while the Bucs – they have been a mess since Week 1 of the Regular season.
Colts Visit Texans in Key AFC South Battle
Two teams coming off their much needed byes meet in Houston Sunday when the Colts who have taken a stranglehold on their division meet the Texans who were supposed to challenge for the AFC South but have absolutely fallen flat.
Teams Moving in Opposite Directions Meet Halloween Night
The Cincinnati Bengals, winners of four straight games will attempt to keep their two game lead in the AFC North when they meet the Miami Dolphins who have been blowing leads the last few weeks and are riding a four game losing streak.
Another no cut event from Asia sanctioned by the PGA TOUR, the European and Asian Tours comes our way this week when the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions takes place at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China.
Another two weeks of NHL action is in the books and the elite are really starting to separate themselves from the pack. There are still some surprises in the league – just take a look at the Top 2 in this week’s Rankings and some teams that have definitely slipped inexplicably.
NFL Power Rankings – Where Every Team Sits After Week 8
Another week and another slate of storylines for football fans to chew on before it all starts again on Thursday night. There was a bit of movement in the top 5 this week mostly because of the dud-win that Seattle delivered on Monday night but strangely the Rankings remain eerily similar to last week.
Struggling Teams Look to Right the Ship – Rangers vs. Red Wings
Two teams currently riding modest losing streaks meet at Joe Louis Arena Saturday when the New York Rangers, losers of two straight and six of their first eight games meet the Detroit Red Wings who enter Saturday having lost their last three games.
The PGA pros will head to Asia this week in search of valuable FedEx Cup points – the first time that a FedEx tournament has been played on that continent. The CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will be contested in a no-cut tournament that could lead to invitations to the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, the Masters, THE PLAYERS Championship and the PGA Championship.
Packers look to Add to Vikings Woes
The Josh Freeman experiment will continue for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night when they welcome the surging but injury depleted Green Bay Packers to town.
Seahawks Take on Battered Rams on Monday Night
The Seattle Seahawks play their second straight prime time road game Monday night when they take on NFC West foes St. Louis. While things are certainly rosy in the Pacific Northwest, the situation seems dire in St. Louis ahead of Monday night’s contest.
Crucial NFC Battle Pits Falcons vs. Cardinals
Two teams that had preseason playoff aspirations meet Sunday with their playoff lives hanging in the balance – not even half way through the season. The disappointing yet injury ravaged Atlanta Falcons head to Phoenix to take on a Cardinals team that hasn’t quite lived up to their billing so far this year.
NFL Power Rankings – Where Every Team Sits After Week 7
Week 7 on the NFL season is in the books and last week’s results translated to a shakeup in the Power Rankings. There is just one undefeated team left – they are obviously the #1 team – a shock to everyone. The top 4 have all flip-flopped thanks to Sunday night’s marquee matchup while some new teams enter the Dirty Dozen this week.
Bucs Look For Win #1 Thursday Night – Host Surging Panthers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a sexy sleeper pick before the season started in the NFC but things haven’t gone exactly as planned.
UFC 166 Preview and Picks
The UFC stars will be on display once again this Saturday when UFC 166 takes place in Houston, Texas. A trilogy bout for the Heavyweight title between Cain Velazquez and Junior dos Santos headlines one of the best cards of the year – let’s take a look.
UFC 166: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos 3
Date: October 19, 2013
Time: 10pm ET/7pm PT
Location: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Broadcast: Pay-per-viewMain Card (on Pay-Per-View):
Cain Velasquez (12-1): -200
Junior dos Santos (16-2): +160UFC Odds From Bovada
Cain Velazquez and Junior dos Santos are in a class by themselves when it comes to Heavyweights in mixed martial arts – there are simply the best on the planet. They will fight for the third time in two years to determine the absolute top dog in the sport. Each brings an unmatched set of strengths to the Octagon Saturday – the trick will be to lure their opponent into their type of fight.
The Champ Cain Velazquez is the best wrestler in the Heavyweight Division – his takedowns, takedown defense and ground control are like no other. He also has arguably the best cardio of any fighter on the UFC roster today and an ever-emerging striking game as demonstrated in his last fight with dos Santos.
Junior dos Santos will be looking to reclaim what he thinks is his – the Heavyweight belt Saturday. He is the most dominant boxer in the division – technically sound on his feet with power to spare. Apparently he has a jiu-jitsu game as well but we have never seen that aspect of his game. Like Velazquez, dos Santos is supremely conditioned and ready to go five rounds Saturday.
This bout is pretty tough to call but looking at the last fight, I have to lean Velazquez’s way. He beat dos Santos in absolutely every aspect of that fight and even had the edge in the standup. Velazquez proved that he was a terrific student in that fight and is leaps-and-bounds ahead of the fighter that lost to dos Santos in their first fight. Constant pressure, elite wrestling and adequate striking earns Cain Velazquez the decision win Saturday.
Pick: Cain Velazquez -200
Daniel Cormier (12-0): -600
Roy Nelson (19-8): +400
Undefeated Daniel Cormier puts his streak on the line against the guy that gives fat guys reason to get up in the morning – Roy Nelson. This fight has all the makings of Fight of the Night for sure – two huge grappling practitioners with lethal standup. It could be a classic.
Cormier was an elite college wrestler who added submissions and a terrific standup game to his repertoire. He holds wins over Josh Barnett, Antonio Silva and most recently Frank Mir and looks poised to take that next step toward heavyweight superstardom.
Roy Nelson is a jiu-jitsu Black Belt with and absolutely insane chin and an ability to stand and bang with anyone. He is a tough out for anyone and a good test for a fighter trying to climb the ladder in the UFC.
Cormier is a huge favorite here – he is a B+ fighter while Nelson is a C+/B- fighter. I have to take the all around game of Cormier in this one but make this pick with some reservations. All Nelson needs is one clean shot!
Pick: Daniel Cormier -600
Gilbert Melendez (21-3): -700
Diego Sanchez (24-5): +450
Gilbert Melendez will step into the UFC Octagon for just the second time Saturday – the first being a split decision loss to Ben Henderson. His opponent Saturday is Diego Sanchez – a recent controversial winner against Takanori Gomi at UFC on FUEL 8.
Melendez is an absolutely elite level Lightweight – speed, cardio, wrestling and striking are all solid parts of his game. Melendez has no holes! Sanchez is a tough guy but is a tier or two below Melendez in absolutely every aspect of this fight. [ad-3573245]
Melendez fancies himself a title contender and proves that he is worthy for a shot Saturday!
Pick: Gilbert Melendez -700
Gabriel Gonzaga (15-7): +160
Shawn Jordan (15-4): -200
Another Heavyweight scrap is on tap for the Main Card at UFC 166 when Gabriel Gonzaga takes on striker Shawn Jordan. Gonzaga has had his issues in the UFC in the past but is 3-1 in his recent stint here.
Gonzaga is head-and shoulders above Jordan in terms of ground game and I think that is precisely where this fight ends up – on the mat. Jordan is an OK striker as is Gonzaga but ultimately this fight will be determined by work on the ground. Jordan is a fish out of water in this one!
Pick: Gabriel Gonzaga +160
John Dodson (15-6): -350
Darrell Montague (13-2): +250
Flyweights kick off the Main Card at UFC 166 when one of the best in the world Darrell Montague finally makes his long-awaited Octagon debut. His opponent – another top tier Flyweight John Dodson who has already fought and lost to Demetrious Johnson for the UFC title.
Dodson is one tough dude, able to make anyone’s debut in the UFC less-than-hospitable. Dodson is too fast, too powerful and too hungry to get another title shot to be denied in this one.
Pick: John Dodson -350
Tim Boetsch (16-6): -170 vs. CB Dolloway (13-4): +140
Pick: Tim Boetsch -170
Nate Marquardt (32-12-2): +145 vs. Hector Lombard (32-4-1): -175
Pick: Nate Marquardt +145
Sarah Kaufman (15-2): -220 vs. Jessica Eye (10-1): +175
Pick: Sarah Kaufman -220
George Sotiropoulos (14-5): +135 vs. KJ Noons (11-7): -165
Pick: KJ Noons -165
TJ Waldburger (16-7): +135 vs. Adlan Amagov (12-2-1): -165
Pick: TJ Waldburger +135
Tony Ferguson (13-3): -400 vs. Mike Rio (9-2): +300
Pick: Tony Ferguson -400
Jeremy Larsen (8-4): +160 vs. Andre Fili (12-1): -200
Pick: Andre Fili -200
Dustin Pague (11-8): +130 vs. Kyoji Horiguchi (11-1): -160
Pick: Kyoji Horiguchi -160
