Week 12 NFL Panel and Happy Thanksgiving!

Not much changed last week as everyone went either 9-5 or 10-4. This week we could have some movement although you won't see hardly any today.

STANDINGS:

Rick Caswell: 108-52

Jon Saia: 102-58

Bob Schreiner: 102-58

Rob Jentsch: 101-59

Kristina Rukavina: 98-62

Bobby Schreiner: 95-65

Katie Noone: 90-70

 

 

Week 11 NFL Panel

Rick Caswell added to his already growing lead and now a three way tie for second will have to be settled. This week that may be tough though with six panelists picking the same team in nearly every game.

STANDINGS:

Rick Caswell: 98-48

Jon Saia: 92-54

Bob Schreiner: 92-54

Rob Jentsch: 92-54

Kristina Rukavina: 88-58

Bobby Schreiner: 85-61

Katie Noone: 81-65

 

 

 

 

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Week 10 NFL Power Rankings

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Around the NFL: Who dey? Still the Bungals

I used that title only because it's a clever play on the Bengals most popular (albeit ridiculous) saying, but this team showed that they can hang with the top dogs in their loss against the Steelers. Even though I predict that they'll lose next week to the Ravens, they'll make it a game and maybe even pull a big win out. And the Steelers deserve credit for a good win, although I again feel they could have pulled away quickly and won this game going away. Nonetheless, the Steelers now lead in the AFC North and it may just be a three horse race down the stretch. I'll allow you to contemplate that as we go around the NFL.

STEELERS 24, Bengals 17

• The hurry up offense once again proved capable of making big things happen for the Steelers. Why? Because Ben Roethlisberger calls his own plays. Bruce Arians has done much better (or maybe has just been much less stubborn) this season, but there's no denying that Roethlisberger has a much better feel of the game than Arians does. Ben loves him and trusts him, so I can't understand why the Steelers don't trust Ben more.

• The defense wasn't perfect this week, but William Gay played spectacularly adding credence to the fact that he has become a solid starting cornerback option. He accounted for both Steelers interceptions and the one that he caught practically sealed the deal.

• The Steelers forced turnovers and won fairly easily. If they can find ways to force more, they'll be Super Bowl bound again.

• Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown have to be one of the best wide receiving tandems in the NFL, if not the best. When Emmanuel Sanders gets back, you can add him to the group with Hines Ward, Jerricho Cotchery, and Heath Miller and you may have the best group of pass catchers in the NFL as well.

• The Steelers are back on top of the AFC North and I believe that's where they'll finish this season thanks to help from the Seattle Seahawks this week.

Around the NFL

• The Oakland Raiders took control of the AFC West with a win over the always overrated San Diego Chargers. Meanwhile, Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos optioned their way into a tie for second place with a win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Right now, it's impossible to predict who will win this division, but it may be more likely than not that eight wins does the trick. It would have been crazy to think before the season that a team led by Tim Tebow, Carson Palmer, or Tyler Palko would have a legitimate shot at the playoffs this year...?

• The Houston Texans thrashed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and took over the top seed in the AFC. Now, Matt Leinart will have to take over for the injured Matt Schaub and that could be extremely devastating. They may still make the playoffs, but there is no way that they earn a first round bye with Leinart leading them. I've seem him play with Larry Fitzgerald and that didn't go so well, so I highly doubt that playing with Andre Johnson will make him any better.

• The Indianapolis Colts lost again in one of the few remaining games that people will give them a chance. This team should not be this bad, but I'm starting to think that they'll be our second 0-16 team in NFL history.

• The Buffalo Bills-Dallas Cowboys game is one of those that make you wonder which was the real story: The Bills fading this quickly or the Cowboys heating up at the right time. I won't begin to guess, but both need to keep winning to stay in contention through November.

• Well Rex Grossman got a chance to start for the Washington Redskins again, but it didn't change too much. I still think he's the right option, but it doesn't really matter anymore as they dwell in the cellar of the NFC East.

• Again I ask: John Skelton or Kevin Kolb for the Arizona Cardinals?

• The decision to go for it on 4th and 1 at their own 29 in overtime was ill-advised by Mike Smith and the Atlanta Falcons. I realize that they should have the ability to get that first down, but even if they do they're still on their own side of the field and far from guaranteed any points. It's actually more likely that they don't get into scoring position than it is that they do. The New Orleans Saints were stoppable, but not from the Falcons 29. That was a silly mistake. One that may cost the Falcons a shot at the playoffs.

• The Tennessee Titans blowing out the Carolina Panthers isn't exactly impressive, but it could be an extremely important win now that Matt Leinart is the quarterback in Houston. All of a sudden this team has more than a legitimate shot at making some noise.

• The Baltimore Ravens have won two Super Bowls this season and it won't matter if they can't keep their emotions in check. This team has two erroneous losses to teams that they are better than and that could be what keeps them from going deep in January. I really can't take this team seriously.

• The San Francisco 49ers are very for real. There lack of quarterback production has to ultimately do them in, but they can't be pushed aside as an afterthought after a tough win over the New York Giants.

• I think the Detroit Lions are starting to really show their true colors. They remain ahead of the Chicago Bears temporarily after their blowout loss this week, but I don't think it will stay that way.

• The New England Patriots aren't what they used to be and I find myself doubting if they will be again anytime soon. However, they remain the best team in the AFC East as evidenced by their fairly easy victory over the New York Jets.

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Week 11 College Football Roundup: Pitt and WVU Still Alive?, PSU Starts Recovery Process

PITT 24, Louisville 17
- To no surprise Pitt showed up this week and now, thanks to a Wets Virginia win over Cincinnati, again have an outside chance at a Big East title. I pretty much wrote them off last week as we all hoped they'd at least become bowl eligible, but another co-Big East title isn't unrealistic anymore even if a BCS bowl berth is.

- Pitt definitely tried to lose this game though didn't they. Just as they always do, they kept it exciting until the last minute even with several chances to put the game away. If this team protected the ball better, especially in the clutch, they'd be the team we all thought they would be this season.

- I've become a fan of Tino Sunseri in the spread offense, but one thing still remains nonexistent and that is the deep ball. The only thing lacking from this offense is the ability to recover from 2nd and long and 3rd and long situations. Pitt doesn't even pretend that they want to take those chances anymore and that is a bit disconcerting. On 3rd and long, even if Tino just throws the ball up for grabs, it's as good as one of those pooch punts that fans hate so much.






- Pitt has really had some players turn into defensive stars. You could point to literally about half of the defense as some of the best at their positions in the NCAA. If Brandon Lindsey returned to his 2010 form, that defensive line would be unstoppable.

WEST VIRGINIA 24, Cincinnati 21
- I was really surprised that West Virginia pulled this win off even after Zach Collaros left the game. They've played poorly for quite some time now, but they did what they had to do this week.

- I really think that West Virginia doesn't deserve to be ranked, but they are again this week after beating ranked Cincinnati. However, there is no way Southern Mississippi deserves to be ranked either so I suppose it could be worse.



Nebraska 17, PENN STATE 14






- I don't think Penn State played any differently this week than they would have with or without the scandal. The defense played well, the offense struggled, and they almost came up with just enough plays to come out with a victory.

- In any case, it was inspiring to see the scandal, the one that these current players had nothing to do with, seemingly not affect them. Would it have affected me if I was in their shoes? I don't know, but we've seem teams respond much worse to tragedies.

DUQUESNE 29, Sacred Heart 15

Wagner 38, ROBERT MORRIS 17