Two struggling Eastern Division teams do battle on Sunday in the first of the CFL semi-final games. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have lost four of their last five games heading into Sunday’s action while the Montreal Alouettes have lost three straight games.
The St. Louis Rams were actually the favorites in the weak NFC West coming into the season. Things haven’t gone as planned so far this year for the Rams. The 49ers are running away with the division, and the Rams are in last place.
The Browns were looking to build on some momentum they built up at the end of last season.
Rams vs. Browns
Time/Date: 1:00 PM EST, November 13, 2011
Venue: Cleveland Browns Stadium
Broadcast: CBS
Rams vs. Browns Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
Spread: Browns -3
Moneyline: Browns (-150) Rams (+130)
Over/Under: 37
Cleveland has lost four out of five, and this is a game the Browns really need to win to get back on track.
Sam Bradford had a spectacular rookie campaign, and many expected another big year out of him. He hasn’t been bad this year, but he hasn’t progressed the way many hoped. Bradford has been slowed by some nagging injuries. It is also important to remember that he has what is probably the worst receiving corps in the league. The recent acquisition of Brandon Lloyd should help the team in the long run. Steven Jackson is having a very impressive season. Jackson is averaging 5.1 yards per carry. It helps that the team has a solid backup in Cadillac Williams. Both running backs are fully healthy coming into this game.
The Rams defense was much improved last year, but they have struggled this season. The front seven has been absolutely dominated on a consistent basis. St. Louis is allowing opponents to rush for 154 yards per contest. The middle of the defensive front has suffered multiple injuries this year, and that certainly hasn’t helped this unit. James Laurinaitis and Chris Long continue to look like youngsters to build this defense around. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Cleveland Browns offense has really had trouble getting started this season. Peyton Hillis was the biggest surprise of the season last year, and he has been one of the biggest busts of the year in 2011. Hillis has been injured constantly and he has been in a contract battle with the Browns front office. The Browns rank 31st in the league in rushing yards per game. Colt McCoy doesn’t have a ton of weapons to work with either, but he has progressed in his decision making under center. The Browns average just 14.9 points per game.
Cleveland’s defense has kept them in the game so far this season. The Browns rank first in the NFL in pass defense. Joe Haden leads a very talented secondary. Haden is quickly becoming known as one of the best cover corners in the league. The front seven hasn’t been nearly as good, especially against the run. Opponents are running for 144 yards per game against the Browns. As a whole, this defense continues to improve on a weekly basis.
The Browns don’t have much of an offense at all right now, so I simply can’t pick them when they are favored. The Rams are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games. I think this sets up as a sloppy game where both offenses settle for field goals.
Free NFL Pick: Under 37
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The Detroit Lions cruised into their bye week by hammering the Broncos. They were nicked up a bit before but they should be fresh now heading to rival Chicago to try and cool the warm (I refuse to think they are hot) Bears.
Texas has won 2 straight and the main reason is their 11th ranked rushing offense that has racked up over 400 yards on the ground in each game. Missouri is under .500 and they have lost 2 of their last 3 games, but all of their losses this season have come to teams that are currently ranked or have been in the top 25 this season.
Both these Big 12 teams have struggled lately losing their last 2 games and Texas A&M heads into this game shorthanded with leading rusher Christine Michael, who is out with a knee injury.
With the grave, nightmarish allegations swirling around the Penn State football program, the nation’s attention is focused on that arena, but the show must go on for all the other FBS teams this week.
So, with the quite possibly the biggest game of the 2011 college football season right around the corner, I have flip flopped more times than a presidential candidate during a primary debate on picking the winner of Saturday’s match up between the No. 6 Oregon Ducks at No. 2 Stanford Cardinal.
This season has not gone according to plan with these 2 teams from the Sunshine State, as Miami is still one win away from being bowl eligible at 5-4 and FSU is at 6-3 and had legit BCS hopes this season.
If there was ever any doubt about the importance of a quarterback to his team in the NFL, then this weekend’s matchup between the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins is the perfect illustration to reinforce that theory.
Last time Penn State Nittany Lions played a football game, the game ended with everyone celebrating Joe Paterno’s record-setting 409th career victory.
This weekend Joe Paterno won’t be a part of the Penn State football program for the first time in 61 years.
Beaver Stadium
Saturday November 12, 12:00 PM EST
NCAA Football Odds from BetOnline
Moneyline: Nebraska (-170) Penn State (+150)
College Football Spread: Nebraska -3.5 (-110) Penn State +3.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 43
The last week has seen allegations of heinous crimes against children that has rocked an entire community. The last thing from most people’s minds right now is a football game. Even though it does seem so much smaller now than it did before, this weekend’s game against Nebraska is a crucial game in the Big Ten.
Penn State is the only team unbeaten in the Big Ten, and Nebraska is still fighting for the Big Ten Legends Division crown.
Bo Pellini and the Cornhuskers will look to rebound after a disappointing home loss at the hands of Northwestern last weekend. The Huskers were 17.5 point home favorites in that game, but they trailed all game and couldn’t quite pull out a comeback victory. Taylor Martinez had a great game throwing the football, but that really isn’t the team’s strength. Nebraska is at their best when they are running the football early and often. The Cornhuskers only picked up 122 yards on 35 carries last week. Rex Burkhead is a workhorse in the backfield, and it would be hard to find a runner who fights harder for every extra yard. Nebraska’s offense averages 35 points per contest.
The big disappointment this year has been the Nebraska defense. This unit was expected to be one of the best in the nation, but they haven’t been very good. Especially troubling is the fact that they are allowing 161 yards per game on the ground. The front seven will need to step up in this one. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The whirlwind that has gone on around Happy Valley over the last few days has to have affected the players in some way, but only time will tell how they will react. The Nittany Lions are 8-1 at this point in the season, and the defense is definitely the unit to thank for that impressive record. The defense ranks eighth in the nation in total defense. They are only giving up 12.4 points per game so far this year.
What about the Nittany Lions offense? Matt McGloin seems to have taken hold of the quarterback spot of late. McGloin is completing just 56% of his passes, but he has a nice touchdown/interception ratio of 7 to 3. Penn State relies heavily on the running game. Silas Redd has emerged as the team’s primary runner. Redd has already topped 1,000 yards on the season, and he is averaging 5.2 yards per carry. The offense should benefit from a healthy Derek Moye being ready to go for this one.
Emotions will be running high at Beaver Stadium on Saturday. I think both defenses will have the upper hand in this one. Look for a fairly low scoring contest.
Free College Football Pick: Under 43
Score Prediction: Nebraska 20 Penn State 17
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After gutting out an ugly 24-17 win last week at Wake Forest, Notre Dame travels to FedEx Field to take on Maryland. The Irish shut out the Demon Deacons in the second half last week to claim the win and move to 6-3 on the season.
There’s ample of history in this game for two teams who have never been in the same conference before… and will only be in the same conference for this single season, since TCU will head to the Big 12 next year.
The Sooners moved up to #2 in the BCS polls with Alabama losing last week and to stay there they will have to beat Texas Tech in their house.
In a battle between two teams in desperate need of a win to keep pace in their division race, the Buffalo Bills and the Dallas Cowboys square-off this Sunday afternoon at Cowboys Stadium.
The Arizona Cardinals will look to win back-to-back games for the first time this season when they square-off against the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
NFC supremacy is on the line on Sunday when the 6-2 New York Giants head west to take on the 7-1 San Francisco 49ers. Both teams have been pleasant surprises this season and both need to keep winning in order to stabilize their place at the top of their respective divisions.
