The Dolphins (3-3) and Jets (3-4) have some bad blood between them after their week 3 game where All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis was lost for the season with a knee injury and Reggie Bush was taken off the field after a vicious hit.
The Los Angeles Lakers have started their season in underwhelming fashion following the incredible offseason that brought Dwight Howard and Steve Nash to town. Winless through two games, the Lakers are now set to host the team that shares the same building, the Los Angeles Clippers. This rivalry hasn’t always been headline-worthy on the national stage, but with both teams fighting for contention this year, their contest Friday night will be the primetime matchup on ESPN.
Headline: Cowboys Try to Knock Falcons from the Unbeaten Ranks in Week 9
The Dallas Cowboys face their second straight elite NFL team Sunday when they travel to Atlanta to take on the unbeaten Falcons. Atlanta was impressive yet again last week in defeating the Eagles 30-17 while the Cowboys were impressive minus the first quarter in a thrilling Week 9 loss to the Giants. Sunday will be a statement game for both teams – who wants it more?
Ohio State (9-0) will not be going to any bowls this season with their suspension, but they are still undefeated and the 6th ranked team in the nation. Illinois (2-6) can play in a bowl this season, but to do so they will have to win their last 4 games.
Texas Tech (6-2) has lost 4 straight to Texas (6-2), but Texas has lost 9 straight games facing ranked opponents. So, something has got to give in this game and the loser of this Big 12 match up is definitely out of the BCS picture while the winner keeps their slight BCS hopes alive.
After a solid 4-0 start TCU (5-3) has lost 3 of their last 4 games including their last 2 and they will be facing a WVU (5-2) team that has also lost their last 2 games.
Ohio State (9-0) will not be going to any bowls this season with their suspension, but they are still undefeated and the 6th ranked team in the nation. Illinois (2-6) can play in a bowl this season, but to do so they will have to win their last 4 games.
With Nebraska’s (6-2) win over Michigan last week they are in the driver’s seat in the Big 12 Leaders Division and while they do not face a ranked tam the rest of the season facing Michigan State (4-4) at home will be a tough test.
Headline: Post Bye-Week Battle – Buffalo Travels to Houston in Week 9
The top team in the AFC the Houston Texans return to action this week after an uber-impressive beat down of the Baltimore Ravens and a bye week to take on a thus far underwhelming Buffalo team also coming off a much needed bye. The oddsmakers aren’t giving the Bills a whole lot of love in this one – a double digit spread will likely be a reality ahead of this game.
Headline: Surprising NFC Teams Clash – Vikings at Seahawks in Week 9
Two of the nicest stories in the NFC write another chapter on Sunday when the 5-3 Minnesota Vikings travel to Seattle to take on one of the best home teams in the league – the Seattle Seahawks. Although it is still early in the season, both teams are coming off Week 8 losses and both absolutely need wins to stay in the NFC Wild Card picture.
Headline: Heavyweight Showdown Sunday – Steelers visit Giants
Two of the more successful NFL franchises of the last decade meet in an important Week 9 game Sunday with the visiting team absolutely needing a win and the home team not exactly needing to claim victory in order to maintain their lead in what has turned out to be a weak NFL East. Both teams are coming off wins in Week 8 and will be looking to keep the momentum going.
Headline: The Strive for .500 – Bucs vs. Raiders in Week 9
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head to Oakland this week – both teams will be looking to build of Week 8 wins and will be in search of a respectable 4-4 record. We saw some good things from both of these teams in Week 8 – both are still alive as far as the playoffs go but each needs a win to keep that dream alive.
The Denver Broncos put on a clinic last week at home against the New Orleans Saints. The Cincinnati Bengals had a bye week after getting beaten by the Steelers at home two weeks ago.
In what might be the most highly anticipated matchup of the entire 2012 season, the LSU Tigers are set to host the Alabama Crimson Tide in a rematch of last year’s BCS National Championship game. The No. 1 Tide and the No. 5 Tigers will have played three times in the last 365 days by the time this one is done.
The Washington Huskies and the California Golden Bears are playing for pride at this point in the year, as neither team has played as well as they’d hoped they would when the season began nearly two and a half months ago.
The No. 17 Stanford Cardinal have been up and down throughout the 2012 college football season, but luckily for them, their week 10 opponent is the Colorado Buffaloes who have been all down and no up this year. At just 1-7, the team from Boulder is arguably one of the worst teams in the country, and the Cardinal are looking for a good solid victory.
