Troy's Bulletin: NBA Preivew

Hi ho there sports fans, I’m Troy here to talk to you about the National Basketball Association’s 2016-2017. So make sure to get your head in the game, even if you have your heart in the song, because this is the Official Season Preview of this here blog.

Let’s run down what’s going down here. First, a recap of everything that happened over the offseason in the form of several jokes. After which I’ll accurately predict all the end of the season awards. Then finally, I’ll perfectly predict the outcome of the entire NBA playoffs.

RECAP

Way back in June the NBA season came to a close when Cleveland, a city whose river has at one point caught on fire, won the finals over the Golden State Warriors. After which there were some coaching changings and what not. Ben Simmons was drafted number one overall, making him the first Australian basketball player who we did not suspect to secretly be a crocodile herder. Next came love and marriage, but after that free agency began. There were some crazy big contracts handed out and a lot of big name stars changing teams. Clearly the biggest story was Timofey Mozgov signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, but did you know that Kevin Durant signed with Golden State? That wasn’t the only big story that happened. There were also two super teams formed in New York and Chicago. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Sorry guys, I couldn’t even type that with a straight face. Of course, the most important thing that happened was Tim Duncan retired. I don’t even see the point of anything anymore. That was at least until I remembered that there’s still pictures on the internet of good old Timmy hanging out at Sea World. That’s it, you’re all caught up.

AWARDS

MVP: Russell Westbrook – Oklahoma City Thunder

With KD officially no longer with the team, Westbrook will now be the only true star. With Victor Oladipo taking some pressure off of him defensively, Russell will have free range to shine.

Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard – San Antonio Spurs

Can we really be surprised at this point when Leonard wins? While this season he may have more competition than the past two seasons, he’s still head and shoulders above the rest of the league on D.

6^th Man of the Year: Enes Kanter – Oklahoma City Thunder

Kanter is sure to be getting plenty of playing time coming off the bench and will play a key role towards OKC’s success.

Most Improved Player: Dennis Schroeder – Atlanta Hawks

With Jeff Teague gone to Indy, Schroeder is set up to be the go-to guy at guard in Atlanta.

Rookie of the Year: Kris Dunn – Minnesota Timberwolves

With Ben Simmons out until January, Kris Dunn appears to me to be the clear candidate for the award.

Coach of the Year: Brad Stevens – Boston Celtics

Boston is set to have a standout year in the East and Stevens is one of the main reasons why.

Executive of the Year: Danny Ainge – Boston Celtics

While I could have easily given it to Bob Myers (GSW) for simply pulling off the Durant situation, Danny Ainge has been stockpiling draft picks and young talent for years and this season it looks like it will finally pay off.

NBA PLAYOFFS

Eastern Conference First Round (Winners In Bold)

1. Cleveland Cavaliers - 4

8. Charlotte Hornets – 0

4. Atlanta Hawks – 2

5. Toronto Raptors – 4

3. Indiana Pacers – 4

6. Detroit Pistons – 1

2. Boston Celtics – 4

7. Washington Wizards – 1

Western Conference First Round (Winners In Bold)

1. Golden State Warriors – 4

8. Minnesota Timberwolves – 0

4. LA Clippers – 3

5. Oklahoma City Thunder – 4

3. Portland Trailblazers – 4

6. Dallas Mavericks – 2

2. San Antonio Spurs – 4

7. Utah Jazz – 2

Eastern Conference Semi-Finals (Winners In Bold)

1. Cleveland Cavaliers – 4

5. Toronto Raptors – 3

2. Boston Celtics – 4

3. Indiana Pacers – 3

Western Conference Semi-Finals (Winners In Bold)

1. Golden State Warriors – 4

5. Oklahoma City Thunder – 2

2. San Antonio Spurs – 4

3. Portland Trailblazers – 3

Eastern Conference Finals (Winner In Bold)

1. Cleveland Cavaliers – 4

2. Boston Celtics – 2

Western Conference Finals (Winner In Bold)

1. Golden State Warriors – 4

2. San Antonio Spurs – 3

NBA Finals (Winner In Bold)

1. Cleveland Cavaliers – 2

1. Golden State Warriors - 4

NFL Week 8 Picks

We're about halfway through the NFL season, and that means two things: We are starting to get a better idea of who the playoff contenders are (except in the AFC South, where we have NO IDEA), and the trade deadline is coming up (next Tuesday). It's sure to be an eventful week in the NFL.

Last Week: 6-9 (8-7 vs. Spread)
Overall: 58-47 (52-54 vs. Spread)

(Home Team Listed Last)

Thursday
Jaguars 21, Titans 13 (8:25 PM, NFLN)
Another week, another sub-par Thursday night game. Jacksonville's two wins came against the Colts and the Bears, but the Titans lost to Indianapolis last week and barely beat the winless Browns the week before.

Sunday
Redskins 27, Bengals 35 (London, 9:30 AM, FOX)
Another week, another average/below-average game in London. This week, Washington, which had won four in a row before falling to the Lions last week, faces Cincinnati, which has gone W-L-L-W-L-L-W. I think the Bengals break that pattern Sunday morning in England.
Chiefs 34, Colts 28 (1:00 PM, CBS)
The Colts got by the Titans last week, but I still don't trust them to hold leads (or blocks). 4-2 Kansas City has won two in a row and brings a strong defense (they're 11th in the NFL in total defense and fourth in turnover margin) into Indianapolis.
Jets 24, Browns 21 (1:00 PM, CBS)
This may be Cleveland's best chance at avoiding a losing season, at home against the 2-5 Jets. It looks like Josh McCown will start at quarterback for the Browns against Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets. This could go either way, which means it probably won't go Cleveland's way.
Raiders 38, Buccaneers 28 (1:00 PM, CBS)
These are two somewhat-similar teams. Both have young quarterbacks who continue to get better. Both have talented young receivers. And both don't have the greatest defenses (both are ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in total defense). I'll take Derek Carr and the Raiders.
Seahawks 32, Saints 35 (1:00 PM, FOX)
The Seahawks played to a 6-6 draw with Arizona last week, but this week they'll get to face the worst defense in the league. However, I'm going with the Saints, because Seattle's a bit beaten up, it's in the Superdome, and I just feel like it.
Lions 32, Texans 35 (1:00 PM FOX)
The Texans did not look good Monday against Denver (even though I didn't really watch it), but the Lions defense is not the Broncos defense. I think the Texas (especially offensively) will rebound, but it'll be a battle against Matt Stafford and the Lions.
Patriots 28, Bills 13 (1:00 PM, CBS)
I can' pick against the 6-1 Patriots until I see a reason to, and I don't see a reason to against a Buffalo team coming off a loss to Miami. The Bills may make it close, but Tom Brady and company won't let Buffalo win.
Cardinals 30, Panthers 26 (1:00 PM, FOX)
The Cardinals did nothing (offensively) in a 6-6 tie with the Seahawks last Sunday night, but they have a chance to rebound against the 1-5 Panthers. We'll see if Carolina plays any better coming off of a bye week.
Chargers 21, Broncos 27 (4:05 PM, CBS)
These two teams meet again after playing just a couple of weeks ago (a Charger win). I thought about picking San Diego to beat the Broncos again, but they won't let the Bolts sweep them, and this time it is in Denver.
Packers 34, Falcons 40 (4:25 PM, FOX)
This is a meeting of two very good quarterbacks, but this season, Matt Ryan has outplayed Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers did look better last week against the Bears, but that was the Bears. This should be a shootout, and I'll go with Atlanta at home.
Eagles 24, Cowboys 28 (8:30 PM, NBC)
Two surprisingly good teams with surprisingly good quarterbacks meet for the Sunday night. Dak Prescott has actually outplayed Carson Wentz this season (I'm just saying Prescott has better stats), but I think Ezekiel Elliott will be the key factor in this one.

Monday
Vikings 38, Bears 17 (8:30 PM, ESPN)
You know it's bad when Jay Cutler coming back is really good news. That's where the one-win Bears are, and Cutler won't come back to a warm welcoming; he'll come back against the best defense in the NFL.

Week 9 CFB Picks

Congratulations in advance to the Alabama Crimson Tide on winning the National Championship (again). I kid, I kid. But the defending champs do look like the best team in the country by a wide margin so far this season. They passed what I thought would be there toughest challenge with flying colors, beating Texas A&M 33-14 last weekend. While #1 didn't go down, #2 Ohio State did, falling 24-21 to Penn State in Happy Valley Saturday night. It's seemingly clear who's #1, but after that, it's sort of muddled.

Last Week: 12-6 (9-8 vs. Spread)
Overall: 102-38 (74-73 vs. Spread)

(Home Team Listed Last)

Thursday
#25 Virginia Tech 24, Pittsburgh 17 (7:00 PM, ESPN)
Pittsburgh, behind James Connor (531 yards rushing, 7 TD), is ranked 25th in the country in rushing offense. However, Virginia Tech, which is coming off a blowout win over Miami, ranks 10th in the country in rushing defense.

Friday
#22 Navy 32, South Florida 28 (7:00 PM, ESPN2)
Navy's upset win of Houston three weeks ago doesn't look as good after the Cougars lost to SMU last weekend, but the Midshipmen did impress in a win over Memphis Saturday. USF is 6-2, but is coming off a 16-point loss to Temple.

Saturday
#10 West Virginia 38, Oklahoma State 28 (Noon, FOX)
The unbeaten Mountaineers continue to roll, and they are breaking Big 12 stereotypes along the way, winning with a great defense (In six games, they've allowed 11, 21, 32, 16, 17, and 10 points, respectively). I think they'll continue the roll Saturday in Stillwater.
#2 Michigan 34, Michigan State 24 (Noon, ESPN)
Michigan should be weary of Michigan State, despite the Spartans' 2-5 record (and five straight losses). At the same time, it is because of those things that the second-ranked Wolverines should come out with a win this time.
#24 Penn State 35, Purdue 13 (Noon, ABC/ESPN2)
The newly-ranked Nittany Lions need to avoid a letdown after upsetting #2 Ohio State last Saturday night, especially against the juggernaut that is Purdue. In all seriousness though, the Boilermakers did play tough against Nebraska last week (after firing their coach), only losing by 13.
#5 Louisville 54, Virginia 21 (Noon, ABC/ESPN2)
After Louisville struggled a bit with Duke two weeks ago, it was fair to assume they might have a little trouble with an NC State team coming off a near-upset of Clemson. The Cards had no trouble, however, as they went back to their dominant ways (which should continue this week).
#4 Washington 32, #17 Utah 21 (3:30 PM, FS1)
The Huskies and Utes face off Saturday in what might be the biggest Pac-12 matchup of the season (thus far). Utah has been able to come out of a lot of close battles with wins, but Washington is one of the most all-around dominant teams in the nation.
#8 Baylor 50, Texas 38 (3:30 PM, ABC)
Texas has fallen on hard times, losing four of its last five, including last week against Kansas State. Baylor remains unbeaten (although the best team they've faced is probably Oklahoma State), and I think they'll remain perfect this weekend.
#14 Florida 27, Georgia 10 (3:30 PM, CBS)
Georgia has also fallen on hard times, losing three of its last four, including last week against Vanderbilt.  Florida is in first place in the SEC East (although the best team the 5-1 Gators have beaten is probably Missouri), and should remain that way after this week.
Northwestern 13, #6 Ohio State 45 (3:30 PM, ESPN)
The Buckeyes suffered their first loss of the season last Saturday night at Penn State due to poor offensive line play and special teams miscues, but their defense still dominated, and this week they're back at home against 4-3 Northwestern.
#13 Boise State 42, Wyoming 24 (7:00 PM, CBSSN)
Boise State escaped with a win over BYU last week, and the unbeaten Broncos should be able to escape against 5-2 Wyoming, which got destroyed by Nebraska and lost to Eastern Michigan, Saturday night.
Kansas 7, #16 Oklahoma 52 (7:00 PM, FS1)
Oklahoma came out on top in a shootout with Texas Tech last week (66-59), and they probably won't be involved in a shootout this week at home against 1-6 Kansas, a team that didn't win a game last season, and has lost six in a row this season after a first week win over Rhode Island.
#7 Nebraska 28, #11 Wisconsin 35 (7:00 PM, ESPN)
In this week's primetime Big Ten contest, the two best teams in the conference (not named Michigan or Ohio State) face off. Tommy Armstrong Jr. and company have done a wonderful job starting 7-0 this season, but Wisconsin is hard to beat at Camp Randall.
#15 Auburn 39, Ole Miss 28 (7:15 PM, SECN)
Auburn is coming off a win over then-#17 Arkansas last week, and this week they face a scuffling team that has lost to Arkansas and LSU the last two weeks. After having 12 touchdown passes and three interceptions the first four weeks, Chad Kelly has three TDs and four picks the last three games.
#18 Tennessee 38, South Carolina 23 (7:15 PM, ESPN2)
Although Tennessee has lost its last two games, those two games were against Texas A&M and Alabama, and the Vols are coming off a bye week. They shouldn't have a problem with 3-4 South Carolina.
New Mexico State 10, #9 Texas A&M 58 (7:30 PM, ESPNU)
After suffering their first loss of the season at the hands of Alabama last Saturday, the Aggies get to take out all of their anger and disappointment on 2-5 New Mexico State, a team that has lost to Idaho and Georgia State the last two weeks.
#3 Clemson 45, #12 Florida State 28 (8:00 PM, ABC)
The night ends (at least for ranked teams) with a marquee matchup between two very talented teams. I could see the Seminoles winning, but they got absolutely slaughtered by Louisville, a team that lost to Deshaun Watson and Clemson.

Week 8 CFB Picks

Last Saturday, the popular ESPN show College Gameday was in Madison, Wisconsin, for the game between the Badgers and Ohio State. Per usual, fans came with many funny signs. Wisconsin basketball player Nigel Hayes also came with a sign. The sign said "Broke College Athlete Anything Helps" and had a Venmo account at the bottom. He was, of course, making a statement about the NCAA's rules involving student-athletes, opening up further discussion on whether college athletes should be payed (while Hayes receiving money would be soliciting, he said it is his friends account, and all money will be donated).

There are people on both sides of the paying student athletes debate. NCAA president Mark Emmert continually stresses that they are student-athletes, not professionals. Those who support paying college athletes argue that they are more athletes than students, and they make Emmert and the NCAA, as well as athletic departments and coaches, a whole lot of money. Those who oppose it argue that college athletes get plenty of financial aid in the form of scholarships and other things.

I don't know how I feel about paying college athletes, but I definitely lean towards Nigel Hayes' side. Yes, many college athletes get full scholarships and financial aid, but not all of them do. And you know who else can get full scholarships and financial aid? College students who don't play sports. College students who don't play sports can also have jobs during the school year so they can make some extra money. Many college athletes, especially at the highest level, hardly have time for classes, much less jobs. Another thing a college student who doesn't play sports can do is profit off of his/her own image or memorabilia. For instance, if a college student is in a popular band, he/she can get sponsorships and sign autographs for money. College athletes cannot do that, as it is against NCAA rules. But the NCAA does profit off of those college athletes. It just doesn't make sense.

To conclude, while I don't know if paying student-athletes is necessarily the answer (do starters get more than bench players? Does it vary by sport and position?), the NCAA can (and should) at least allow college athletes to profit off of themselves, which includes selling memorabilia and getting sponsorships. Because there are many college athletes, like Nigel Hayes, who need money, and they are severely limited by how they can (legally) make that money.

Last Week: 13-4 (8-9 vs. Spread)
Overall: 90-32 (65-65 vs. Spread)

(Home Team Listed Last)

Thursday
BYU 34, #14 Boise State 28 (10:15 PM, ESPN)
Boise State is unbeaten, but the Broncos' toughest opponents have probably been Washington State and Oregon State. BYU is 4-3, but the Cougars have wins over Arizona, Michigan State, and Mississippi State. They also upset Boise State just last season, and could do it again.

Saturday
NC State 21, #7 Louisville 35 (Noon, ABC)
Louisville surely won't take the Wolfpack lightly after they almost knocked off Clemson (the team responsible for Louisville's only loss) last Saturday. The Cardinals didn't perform all that well in a win over Duke last week, so it might not be a blowout, but they'll get the win.
#10 Wisconsin 32, Iowa 24 (Noon, ESPN)
The 4-2 Badgers have shown in close losses to Michigan and Ohio State that they are a very good team. Meanwhile, the 5-2 Hawkeyes haven't shown much, other than that they are probably not on the same level as Wisconsin, having lost to North Dakota State and Northwestern.
#22 North Carolina 37, Virginia 23 (3:00 PM, ACCN)
The last three weeks, North Carolina has had a complete flop (a 34-3 loss to Virginia Tech) sandwiched by two impressive victories (over Florida State and Miami). I feel like the Tar Heels are closer to the team that beat two ranked foes than the team that got blown out by VT.
Eastern Michigan 24, #20 Western Michigan 38 (3:30 PM, ESPN3)
P.J. Fleck's squad continues to roll at 7-0, and could crash the New Years 6 party if they don't trip up in the MAC. This week they play their rivals from the Eastern part of Michigan, whom they should not overlook, but also shouldn't (and won't, in my opinion) lose to.
#6 Texas A&M 32, #1 Alabama 30 (3:30 PM, CBS)
I'M DOING IT! I AM DOING IT! Alabama hasn't had trouble with anyone so far (besides Ole Miss), but A&M, which has a talented quarterback (Trevor Knight), a very good rushing offense (12th in the nation), and arguably the best defender in the nation (Myles Garrett), is the best team Bama's faced.
Illinois 13, #3 Michigan 58 (3:30 PM, BTN)
Nothing to see here. This should be another cakewalk for the Wolverines. The Fighting Illini enter the Big House at 2-4, sporting losses to North Carolina, Western Michigan, Nebraska (hey, at least those are good teams), and Purdue (never mind).
Purdue 14, #8 Nebraska 48 (3:30 PM, ABC/ESPN2)
Speaking of the Boilermakers, they fired head coach Darrell Hazell this week after a 3-3 start to what looks to be another season in the bottom part of the Big Ten. On the other side, Nebraska is 6-0 after escaping upset-minded Indiana last week.
Memphis 28, #24 Navy 38 (3:30 PM, CBSSN)
Memphis is actually favored at Navy on Saturday. The Tigers are 5-1, there one loss coming to Ole Miss. The Midshipmen are 4-1, their one loss coming to Air Force. However, they boast a win over Houston, and they are probably the better team.
TCU 31, #12 West Virginia 38 (3:30 PM, ABC/ESPN2)
West Virginia comes in unbeaten on the season, having dispatched of Texas Tech last weekend. The Mountaineers face what may be their toughest test in TCU, but the Horned Frogs, like WVU, haven't beaten anyone of major significance.
#19 Utah 32, UCLA 30 (4:00 PM, FOX)
3-4 UCLA is the favorite at home against a 6-1 Utah team that has had some close calls. This might be another close call, but the Runnin' Utes, unlike UCLA, have been able to emerge victorious in most of those close calls.
#17 Arkansas 34, #21 Auburn 24 (6:00 PM, ESPN)
Arkansas is coming off a victory against Ole Miss, and although the host Tigers are favored, Razorback quarterback Austin Allen and company have performed well and have the talent to come out of Jordan-Hare Stadium with a win.
Oregon State 13, #5 Washington 52 (6:30 PM, PAC12N)
Washington has been mighty impressive, and it continued last week with a 70-21 trouncing of Oregon. It should be the same old song and dance this week against a the other team from the state of Oregon. The Beavers are 2-4 on the season.
#11 Houston 45, SMU 17 (7:00 PM, ESPN2)
Houston was cruising right along through the first five weeks of the season, but then they seemed to hit a road block, losing to Navy and almost losing to Tulsa. I don't expect as much difficulty against SMU, which is 2-4 and had lost three in a row.
#2 Ohio State 32, Penn State 24 (8:00 PM, ABC)
The Buckeyes escaped Madison last Saturday night with a comeback victory, and will have to go to another hostile environment this Saturday night. They shouldn't have as much trouble with Penn State, but it might be another dog fight.
#16 Oklahoma 47, Texas Tech 38 (8:00 PM, FOX)
The Sooners should be weary of the pass-happy Red Raiders, especially in Lubbock, but the same thing was said about Texas Tech last week, and West Virginia silenced that. It'll be a barn-burner, but Oklahoma definitely has the upper hand.
#23 Ole Miss 33, #25 LSU 31 (9:00 PM, ESPN)
We end the night with a battle between two talented but somewhat disappointing SEC teams. The Tigers fired head coach Les Miles and haven't beaten anyone nearly as talented as the Rebels, who are 3-3 but have played close with multiple good teams.

NFL Week 7 Picks

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell spoke on a variety of issues Wednesday during owners meetings in Houston, including the reason television ratings are down, the ongoing potential relocation of the Raiders to Las Vegas, and his opposition to sports gambling. He also mentioned the reasoning for the league's continued crackdown on celebrations, saying "It comes down to balancing a lot of issues. We do believe players are role models." 

Goodell's response is far from satisfactory. It is also curious that, in a sport where jarring hits are common, concussions are a problem, and questionable suspensions for off-the-field incidents, the commissioner's main focus seems to be on not wanting young viewers to be negatively influenced by watching players have fun and express their emotions.

I do agree that there comes a point when celebrations can be a little excessive, but the NFL is punishing even the most pedestrian celebrations, confirming its stigma as the "No Fun League". Maybe the policing of fun is one of the reasons that ratings are down (although there are many other potential reasons).

It's not just celebrations that the league is cracking down on. It also recently restricted teams from sharing highlights on social media after a big play/touchdown, causing the Browns and Eagles Twitter accounts to "recreate" highlights this past Sunday. 

All in all, sports, even professionally, should be fun, and if the players look like they're having fun, it's more fun to watch. And in this age of social media, video is posted immediately, and people expect to get highlights immediately. That's why it's self-detrimental for the NFL to make ridiculous restrictions on celebrations and sharing highlights on social media, and that's why Roger Goodell and company continue to be called the "No Fun League".

Last Week: 9-6 (8-7 vs. Spread)

Overall: 52-38 (44-47 vs. Spread)

(Home Team Listed Last)

Thursday

Bears 17, Packers 28 (8:25 PM, CBS)

Believe it or not, Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer has been playing better than Aaron Rodgers. That, coupled with the fact that Green Bay won't have Eddie Lacy, could make this a close game. However, the Packers have more talent and are at Lambeau.

Sunday

Giants 30, Rams 24 (London, 9:30 AM, NFLN)

The second international game of the season pits two 3-3 team against each other. Rams quarterback Case Keenum played well last week, but L.A.'s inconsistent defense couldn't stop Detroit's pass offense. Eli and the Giants will be hard to stop, as well.

Saints 32, Chiefs 26 (1:00 PM, FOX)

The Saints have won two straight since starting 0-3, and they are averaging 31 points per game, second in the NFL (on the other hand, their scoring defense is worst in the NFL). Kansas City has a stout defense, but I think the best passing offense in the league will get the win.

Colts 21, Titans 24 (1:00 PM, CBS)

The Colts were up 23-9 in Houston Sunday night with three minutes to play. They proceeded to lose 26-23 in overtime. Despite a solid offense, it's hard to have faith in Indianapolis right now, especially on the road against an improving team with a strong rushing attack.

Browns 23, Bengals 31 (1:00 PM, CBS)

Rookie quarterback Cody Kessler played his heart out for the Browns last week, but they still fell short (once again). They may be without receiver Terrelle Pryor, who's arguably their best player, this week, and if he doesn't play, they probably won't find their first win of the season.

Vikings 34, Eagles 21 (1:00 PM, FOX)

This is a battle between two teams who had pleasantly surprising starts to the season. But while the undefeated Vikings have continued to pleasantly surprise, the Eagles have lost their last two games after starting 3-0.

Redskins 38, Lions 34 (1:00 PM, FOX)

Washington is riding a four game winning streak after starting 0-2, and the offense, behind Kirk Cousins, has played very well (they are fifth in the NFL in passing yards per game). Detroit's three wins have been by a combined eight points.

Raiders 35, Jaguars 27 (1:00 PM, CBS)

Oakland suffered its worst loss of the season (so far) last week, falling 26-10 to Kansas City. They should be able to get back on track against the Jaguars. While the Jags have won their last two games to move to 2-3, those two games were against the Colts and Bears, two sub-par teams.

Bills 24, Dolphins 13 (1:00 PM, CBS)

The Dolphins upset the Steelers last week, beating them by 15 points. That probably says more about the inconsistent Steelers, though, than it does about the 2-4 Fins, and Miami runs into a Buffalo team that has won four in a row, all by at least two possessions (33-18, 16-0, 30-19, and 45-16).

Ravens 32, Jets 14 (1:00 PM, CBS)

The Jets are a mess right now. They are 1-5, have lost their last four games by at least 10 points, and have made a change at quarterback, replacing Ryan Fitzpatrick with Geno Smith. Smith may play better than Fitz has been playing, but he's shown in the past that he is not the answer.

Buccaneers 35, 49ers 19 (4:05 PM, FOX)

Colin Kapernick showed last week that he's a better option than Blaine Gabbert, but that doesn't mean he played well, as San Francisco lost 45-16 to the Bills. The Bucs have also struggled (and lost veteran receiver Vincent Jackson for the season), but they are coming off a win.

Chargers 32, Falcons 42 (4:05 PM, FOX)

This is sure to be a slugfest, as both teams are in the top three in scoring offense (San Diego's #3, Atlanta's #1) and in the bottom half of the league in defense. San Diego held on to beat Denver last week, but they almost blew it (as they've done in other games).

Patriots 35, Steelers 10 (4:25 PM, CBS)

This should be a good one, folks. Tom Brady faces off against Ben Roeth... what's that? Big Ben's hurt (again)?! Landry Jones is starting?!! Okay, never mind. Brady and the Patriots will blow out the Steelers, despite the efforts of Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown.

Seahawks 32, Cardinals 28 (8:30 PM, NBC)

The Cards have finally played how I was expecting them to play at the beginning of the season, but I guess that's easier to do against the 49ers and Jets. Seattle is a whole different animal. The Seahawks escaped with a victory over Atlanta last week, and I think they'll do the same in Arizona this week.

Monday

Texans 28, Broncos 23 (8:30 PM, ESPN)

Denver quarterback Trevor Siemian finally struggled last week in a loss to the Chargers, and Brock Osweiler finally showed why Houston payed a lot of money for him in a win over the Colts next week (and Lamar Miller finally found the end zone). I think the Texans will continue that this week.

Week 7 CFB Picks

Last week in college football saw huge blowouts (Michigan 78-0 over Rutgers), exciting finishes (Florida State 20-19 over Miami on a blocked PAT), upsets (Navy 46-40 over #6 Houston), and hurricane-outs (LSU at Florida). We already have one of those things covered this week (the Navy-East Carolina game scheduled for tonight was postponed), and hopefully we'll have the other things as well.

Note: As I did with my NFL picks, I am now mentioning my record against the spread in addition to my straight record.

Last Week: 10-4 (7-7 vs. Spread)
Overall: 77-28 (57-56 vs. Spread)

(Home Teams Listed Last)

Friday
Duke 17, #7 Louisville 52 (7:00 PM, ESPN)
After a bye last week (followin their first loss of the season), Louisville and Lamar Jackson are looking to get back in the win column, an they should do so with ease against Duke, who is not Clemson (I know, shocking).
Saturday
NC State 13, #3 Clemson 35 (Noon, ABC)
Speaking of Clemson, they also get what should be a relatively easy conference game, as they face NC State in Death Valley. The Wolfpack are 4-1, but that one loss was to East Carolina, and their best win was last week against 2-4 Notre Dame.
Kansas State 32, #19 Oklahoma 48 (Noon, ESPN)
K-State and Oklahoma face off in a battle of 3-2 Big 12 teams Saturday. Of course, the difference is that the Sooners have had a much tougher schedule thus far, facing three teams that were ranked at the time.
#20 West Virginia 45, Texas Tech 42 (Noon, FS1)
Patrick Mahomes II (who leads the nation in passing yards) and the Red Raiders will be looking to knock off the unbeaten Mountaineers at home, and they could definitely do it. However, I think WVU will get by Texas Tech, who lost to Kansas State last week.
#10 Nebraska 28, Indiana 31 (3:30, ABC/ESPN)
This is another game where a home underdog could pull off the upset. In this one, I'm actually picking the Hoosiers, who have already upset Michigan State at home, to give Nebraska its first loss of the season in Bloomington.
North Carolina 24, #16 Miami 35 (3:30 PM, ABC/ESPN2)
North Carolina and Mitch Trubisky did not perform well last week against Virginia Tech (a 34-3 loss), while Miami fell to Florida State late. The Hurricanes, as long as they don't dwell on last week, should win pretty handily.
#24 Western Michigan 42, Akron 28 (3:30 PM, CBSSN)
WE HAVE A MAC TEAM IN THE TOP 25!!!!! The Broncos are unbeaten, and boast an upset win over Oklahoma State haha just kidding! Obviously it was Central Michigan who beat OSU, not Western! MAC foe Akron could pose a threat, but Western Michigan should be able to get the win.
Wake Forest 20, #14 Florida State 38 (3:30 PM, ESPN)
Wake Forest should not be taken lightly, but Florida State, fresh off an exhilarating victory in Miami, are much more talented. Dalvin Cook (785 yards rushing, 7 TD) is a Heisman candidate, and Deondre Francois (1,557 yards passing, 9 TD, 2 INT) is a future Heisman candidate.
Kansas 7, #11 Baylor 52 (3:30 PM, FS1)
On the bright side, Kansas already has more wins then it did all of last season. The bad news is, the Jayhawks are 1-4 (the one win coming against Rhode Island the first week of the season) and face a 5-0 Baylor team (at Baylor) that should demolish them.
#1 Alabama 37, #9 Tennessee 21 (3:30 PM, CBS)
The undaunted Crimson Tide face another tough conference test, at ninth-ranked Tennessee. The Vols are on a run of ranked teams themselves (this is their fourth straight ranked opponent), and they're coming off a double-overtime loss to Texas A&M. The Tide will roll again.
#17 Virginia Tech 40, Syracuse 24 (3:45 PM, ESPNU)
Va Tech dismantled then-#17 North Carolina last week, and there is no reason to think they won't do the same thing this week against the Orange, who have been blown out two games in a row (50-33 to Notre Dame and 28-9 to Wake Forest).
#21 Utah 32, Oregon State 20 (4:00 PM, PAC-12)
The Utes keep things interesting. Last week, they were down 14-12 at halftime before going on to beat Arizona 36-23, the week before, they lost by five, and the week before, they won by four. They might make it close again, but they should win.
Missouri 14, #18 Florida 32 (4:00 PM, SECN)
Neither of these teams played last week, but for different reasons. Mizzou had a bye, while Florida's game against LSU, who blew out Missouri the week before, got postponed due to Hurricane Matthew. The Gators won't be impeded by Mother Nature this week.
Tulsa 21, #13 Houston 45 (7:00 PM, ESPN2)
The Houston Cougars were riding high until last week, when they got upset by Navy. Houston's not necessarily out of the playoff race, but they'll have to win out, and do it in impressive fashion. That starts with a home meeting with 4-1 Tulsa Saturday.
#12 Ole Miss 38, #22 Arkansas 28 (7:00 PM, ESPN)
Arkansas is coming off a loss to the best team in the nation. Ole Miss led Alabama at one point when they faced the Tide, but ended up losing by five. As long as they don't blow a lead like they did against Bama and Florida State, the Rebels will emerge victorious.
#2 Ohio State 42, #8 Wisconsin 28 (8:00 PM, ABC)
This week's marquee primetime matchup features two of the four Big Ten teams in the top ten. Wisconsin needs to bring the defense at home against the talented Buckeyes, but they also need to fare better against OSU's defense than they did against Michigan's (a 14-7 loss).
Colorado State 14, #15 Boise State 48 (10:15 PM, ESPN2)
The blue field Broncos continue to rise up the rankings, and could continue to do so after this week's meeting with 3-3 Colorado State, which has lost its last two games (at Minnesota and home against Wyoming).

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said that Western Michigan beat Oklahoma State. It was Central Michigan, not Western Michigan, who upset Oklahoma State. The author regrets this error.

NFL Week 6 Picks

Tom Brady returned from suspension last week and promptly tore up the Cleveland defense to the tune of 460 yards and three touchdowns. That got me thinking about stability at the quarterback position. Brady took over behind center for New England in 2001, and has been a steady (and highly productive) constant ever since. Meanwhile, many teams (including New England before Brady came back) have had to shuffle through multiple quarterbacks already this season. 41 different quarterbacks have started games this season, and 52 have appeared in a game.

Some teams have thrived despite uncertainty at the quarterback position. The Minnesota Vikings are 5-0 even after losing starter Teddy Bridgewater to a torn up knee prior to the season, then trading for Sam Bradford and starting Shaun Hill in Week 1 so Bradford could learn the playbook. The team that traded Bradford to Minnesota, the Philadelphia Eagles, was going to start Bradford or Chase Daniel ahead of rookie Carson Wentz, but ended up starting Wentz, who has impressed in leading the Eagles to a 3-1 start. The Denver Broncos trotted out former seventh round pick Trevor Siemian as the starter to begin the season, and he (and the Super Bowl-winning defense) got them to 4-0 before sitting last week due to injury. The Patriots shuffled through Jimmy Garoppolo and rookie Jacoby Brissett (and even considered resorting to starting former college quarterback Julian Edelman) during Brady's four-week suspension, but still came out of it at 3-1. And who could forget about Dallas rookie Dak Prescott, who has helped lead the Cowboys to 4-1 after starting the preseason third on the depth chart?

Other teams, predictably, have not been able to weather the storm of quarterback uncertainty. The quarterback graveyard that is Cleveland has seen Robert Griffin III, Josh McCown, Cody Kessler, Charlie Whitehurst, and even Terrelle Pryor take snaps as signal-caller, and the Browns are the last remaining winless team at 0-5. The Chicago Bears have gone from ineffective Jay Cutler to ineffective (albeit efficient) Brian Hoyer, and have stumbled to a 1-4 start.

Interestingly, some teams that do have stability at the premier position have struggled thus far. Drew Brees and the Saints are 1-3 (thanks to a never-ending awful defense), Phillip Rivers and the Chargers are 1-4 (again, thanks to a poor defense, as well as injuries to key players), and Andrew Luck and the Colts are 2-3 (due to a weak supporting cast, especially on defense and along the offensive line).

Sure, quarterback is a very important position, but I think it is more important that a team has a strong defense and supporting cast, as well as a solid contingency plan in case something goes wrong. As we have seen, some teams (such as the Patriots, Broncos, and Vikings) have those important factors covered, allowing them to still succeed despite question marks surrounding the quarterback, while others (such as the Browns and Bears) don't have enough to survive chaos at the quarterback position.

Note: From now on, I'll be referencing my record against the spread (and paying more attention to the spread when picking), for those of you who are into that.

Last Week: 9-5 (7-7 vs. Spread)
Overall: 43-32 (36-40 vs. Spread)

(Home Team Listed Last)

Thursday
Broncos 34, Chargers 17 (8:25 PM, CBS)
Trevor Siemian is expected to start for Denver after missing last week's loss due to injury. The 4-1 Broncos win with their defense, while the 1-4 Chargers are defensively-challenged (athough first round pick Joey Bosa impressed in his debut last Sunday).
Sunday
49ers 14, Bills 21 (1:00 PM, FOX)
Colin Kaepernick has finally been freed from under the shadow of Blaine Gabbert, and I think it's for the better. However, he throws about as accurately as Gabbert (which is not a good thing), and he faces Buffalo's ferocious defensive line.
Redskins 28, Eagles 24 (1:00 PM, FOX)
The surprising Eagles suffered their first loss of the season last week (24-23 to the Lions), and I think they'll suffer their second loss to their NFC East rivals, who are on a three-game winning streak after losing their first two games.
Browns 21, Titans 17 (1:00 PM, CBS)
The Browns will win at least one game this season, and this might be their best chance. Cody Kessler looks like he'll get the start after leaving early last week with an injury. Both teams will probably lean on the ground game, since they both rank in the top five in the NFL in rushing offense.
Ravens 23, Giants 31 (1:00 PM, CBS)
Both of these teams are on losing streaks (Baltimore's lost the last two, New York's lost the last three), but the Giants have looked better and have more talent, and I think they'll get back on track this Sunday.
Panthers 32, Saints 38 (1:00 PM, FOX)
The Panthers have struggled mightily thus far, as have the Saints. Both have one win, but while New Orleans' three losses (and one win) were all by three points or less, just two of Carolina's four losses are, and they haven't looked great on either side of the ball.
Jaguars 28, Bears 16 (1:00 PM, CBS)
Neither of these teams are very good, as Chicago's one win was by three points over Detroit, and Jacksonville's one win was by three points over the Colts in London. However, the Jags are the better defensive team, and they'll get the win.
Rams 27, Lions 23 (1:00 PM, FOX)
This is a battle between two inconsistent teams. The Rams have lost 28-0, won 9-3, won 37-32, won 17-13, and lost 30-19. The Lions have won 39-35, lost 16-15, lost 34-27, lost 17-14, and won 24-23. I'll go with the Rams and their defense over the Lions and there offense.
Steelers 35, Dolphins 14 (1:00 PM, CBS)
The 'Fins lost by two possessions to the Titans last week, and their only win was in overtime over the winless Browns. The 4-1 Steelers, whose wins have all come by at least eight points, have too much talent for Miami to handle.
Bengals 27, Patriots 38 (1:00 PM, CBS)
Touchdown Tommy is back, and there is no stopping him. The Bengals will undoubtedly give Brady and the Pats more of a challenge than hapless Cleveland, but New England will emerge victorious thanks to Brady and his terrifying tight end tandem.
Chiefs 24, Raiders 31 (4:05 PM, CBS)
The underrated Raiders are 4-1, have one of the best offenses (statistically) thus far, and have a fearless risk-taking coach in Jack Del Rio. Kansas City has been inconsistent, picking Ryan Fitzpatrick six times two weeks ago, then giving up 43 to Pittsburgh last week.
Falcons 31, Seahawks 35 (4:25 PM, FOX)
This should be a fun game to watch, between Atlanta, the best offensive team in the NFL (457.4 yards per game), and Seattle, the best defensive team in the NFL (264 yards allowed per game). I'll give it to the Seahawks at home.
Cowboys 28, Packers 34 (4:25 PM, FOX)
The Cowboys, led by rookie sensations Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, are 4-1 and have the best rushing offense in the NFL (155.2 yards per game), but it's hard to bet against Aaron Rodgers and company at home.
Colts 21, Texans 28 (8:30 PM, NBC)
This is a key game in the race for the AFC South. Brock Osweiler and the rest of Houston's offense need to play better, but their defense may give Indianapolis' offensive line (and, by extension, Andrew Luck) some trouble.
Monday
Jets 21, Cardinals 27 (8:30 PM, ESPN)
The Monday night game pits two disappointing teams (so far) against each other. Ryan Fitzpatrick continues to struggle for the Jets, and he's lost Eric Decker for the year. I keep expecting Arizona to get out of this slump, because they have the talent.

Week 6 CFB Picks

After some exciting affairs last week in college football (namely Clemson beating Louisville in a close battle), there looks to be more of the same this weekend. The Top 25 slate is a little abbreviated, due to byes, three games between ranked teams, and the Florida vs. LSU game being postponed because of Hurricane Matthew (which could also possibly affect some other games), but their will surely be plenty of excitement once again.

Last Week: 15-6
Season: 67-24

Friday
#3 Clemson 42, Boston College 24 (7:30 PM, ESPN)
After a worrisome first few weeks, Deshaun Watson and Clemson are back to Playoff contenders after a competitive win over Lamar Jackson and red-hot Louisville. They should keep the train moving against Boston College.
#19 Boise State 40, New Mexico 21 (9:00 PM, CBSSN)
Boise State is still quietly undefeated (although they haven't faced much competition), and the Broncos will probably remain unbeaten against New Mexico, a team that has lost to New Mexico State and Rutgers this season.
Saturday
Texas 34, #20 Oklahoma 38 (Noon, FS1)
The Longhorns started 2-0 (including a win over then-ranked Notre Dame), getting into the Top 25, but then lost two straight. The Sooners, meanwhile, reappeared in the rankings after a win last week at then-ranked TCU. It might be close, but Oklahoma is the better team.
#6 Houston 45, Navy 23 (3:00 PM, CBSSN)
5-0 Houston continues its cruise through the American Athletic Conference with a meeting at Navy. The Midshipmen are 3-1 and shouldn't ever be taken lightly, but they are also coming off a loss to Air Force.
#9 Tennessee 28, #8 Texas A&M 31 (3:30 PM, CBS)
Tennessee and Texas A&M meet in this week's top 10 matchup. The Vols escaped Georgia with a win last week thanks to a last-second Hail Mary. I don't think they'll escape this week against Trevor Knight and the Aggies at A&M.
#25 Virginia Tech 24, #17 North Carolina 41 (3:30 PM)
Virginia Tech makes its season debut in the Top 25, and the 3-1 Hokies (who haven't beaten anyone of much significance) get a welcoming gift in a meeting at North Carolina, where Mitch Trubisky (1,711 yards passing, 13 TD) and the Tar Heels have started 41 (edging FSU last week).
Indiana 14, #2 Ohio State 45 (3:30 PM, ESPN)
Indiana is coming off a big upset win over Michigan State, and they almost knocked off Ohio State last season, but this year's Buckeyes are different, having blown out all four of their opponents. J.T. Barrett and the defense should carry them to another blowout at home.
#21 Colorado 35, USC 38 (4:00 PM, PAC-12)
Colorado is now ranked, while USC used to be ranked. But, to give the Trojans the benefit of the doubt, their three losses were to three ranked teams. The Buffs have two straight wins (over the Oregon teams), but USC might be more talented than those teams.
#1 Alabama 38, #16 Arkansas 17 (7:00 PM, ESPN)
Do not be deceived by the fact that this is a contest between two ranked teams. 4-1 Arkansas's best win is a 41-38 win over TCU the second week of the season. 5-0 Alabama has dominated thus far, including wins over two ranked (at the time) teams.
#4 Michigan 52, Rutgers 14 (7:00 PM, ESPN2)
Rutgers just suffered a 58-0 beat down at the hands of Ohio State, and this week, they'll probably suffer a similar fate against Michigan. I don't think it'll be as bad, because Michigan;s offense was quiet last week and the Knights are at home, but it'll be bad.
#5 Washington 48, Oregon 32 (7:30 PM, FOX)
Well, I guess Washington is for real. They demolished Stanford and silenced Christian McCaffrey last week, dominating in the trenches (and every other aspect). The Ducks have lost three straight (Nebraska, Colorado, and Washington State).
#23 Florida State 38, #10 Miami 42 (8:00 PM, ABC)
This game (as of right now) will be played, unlike the game in Gainesville. It should be a good game. Even though the Noles are have lost twice (including last week), they have a lot of talent. But the Hurricanes will take this one.
Arizona 34, #24 Utah 37 (10:00 PM, FS1)
We get two late-night Pac-12 games involving ranked teams this Saturday, which means extra wildness. Anyone could take this matchup of middling Pac-12 teams, but I'll go with the ranked Utes at home.
Washington State 31, #15 Stanford 48 (10:30 PM, ESPN)
More craziness. Washington State, who knocked off Oregon last week, could take this game against a Stanford team coming off a demoralizing loss, but I think the Cardinal (and Christian McCaffrey) get back on track.

NFL Week 5 Picks

Welcome back! It's Week 5, which means some suspended players are back , including that Tom Brady guy, who I'm sure will be determined as he and the Pats play the only winless team remaining (guess who). On the other side, the Eagles, Broncos, and Vikings remain unbeaten. At least one of those will probably change this weekend.

Last Week: 10-5
Season: 34-27

(Home Team Listed Last)

Thursday
Cardinals 28, 49ers 21 (8:25 PM, CBS)
Both teams head into this Thursday night showdown at 1-3, but while the Niners weren't expected to be good, Arizona's start has been a surprise. Even with backup quarterback Drew Stanton starting, the Cards have enough talent to beat San Francisco.
Sunday
Patriots 42, Browns 28 (1:00 PM, CBS)
The Patriots are coming off their first loss of the season, and Tom Brady is back from suspension. They get to face the 0-4 Browns. Expect Brady to go off, but it might be a closer game than some people expect.
Eagles 35, Lions 30 (1:00 PM, FOX)
The 3-0 Eagles are fresh off a bye, and while i don't believe Philadelphia is a Super Bowl contender, I believe Detroit is worse. The Lions are 1-3 with a last-minute win over the 1-3 Colts, a loss to the 1-3 Titans, and a loss to the 1-3 Bears
Bears 24, Colts 30 (1:00 PM, FOX)
Speaking of the Bears, they are coming off their first win of the season, but Brian Hoyer will probably start at quarterback again, and they lost wide receiver Kevin White to injury this week. Andrew Luck should be able to outlast Chicago.
Titans 14, Dolphins 17 (1:00 PM, CBS)
This is another battle of 1-3 teams. Tennessee's only win was against the Lions, and Miami's lone victory came against  the Browns. Neither team is good, but I think the Dolphins have more overall talent.
Redskins 32, Ravens 28 (1:00 PM, FOX)
The Ravens suffered their first loss last week, while the Redskins won their second straight game. The Ravens, in my opinion, are probably the weakest 1-3 team, and they may continue to come back down to earth this Sunday.
Texans 28, Vikings 24 (1:00 PM, CBS)
Minnesota has rocketed to a 4-0 start thanks to their defense, as well as solid play from the offense. The Texans bounced back last week after a disappointing loss to New England, and I think they'll pull off the upset here.
Jets 13, Steelers 21 (1:00 PM, CBS)
Ryan Fitzpatrick has caught the interception bug, throwing nine combined interceptions in the last two games (both losses). After a blowout loss to Philadelphia, the Steelers blew out Kansas City (who picked Fitzpatrick six times the week before) last Sunday night.
Falcons 28, Broncos 34 (4:05 PM, FOX)
Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and the Falcons have been on fire since a first week loss, scoring 35, 45, and 48 points, respectively, in three wins, but the defending champs, no matter who is under center, continue to win with their standout defense.
Bengals 28, Cowboys 31 (4:25 PM, CBS)
This should be a good game, between the talented rookie combination of Dak Prescott and Zeke Elliott for the Cowboys and the talented veteran combination of Andy Dalton and A.J. Green for the Bengals. I'll go with Dallas in Arlington.
Bills 21, Rams 7 (4:25 PM, CBS)
The Rams, somehow, are 3-1, even without playing first overall pick Jared Goff.  The Bills, meanwhile, are coming off a shutout of the Patriots, and might shut down L.A.'s questionable offense Sunday afternoon.
Chargers 17, Raiders 32 (4:25 PM, CBS)
San Diego has been close in every game, but is 1-3. Oakland has been close in every game, but is 3-1. The combination of quarterback Derek Carr and receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree will lift the Raiders past the Chargers.
Giants 27, Packers 38 (8:30 PM, NBC)
Yes, Odell Beckham Jr. can get a little too emotional sometimes. Yes, people get in his head. But this isn't some "crybaby" or "dirty player". He's a talented player who gets emotional. People need to R-E-L-A-X. Speaking of which, I'm choosing Aaron Rodgers and the Pack.
Monday
Buccaneers 21, Panthers 28 (8:30 PM, ESPN)
Carolina has struggled thus far, and now reigning MVP Cam Newton is out with a concussion (it's not known whether he or backup Derek Anderson will start Sunday), but I think they get back on track with a home win over the Bucs Monday night.