Fantasy Football Week 1 Preview (and Picks!)

Starting this week, there will be football on almost everyday. Yes, the NFL is back, and despite all its problems (Roger Goodell, concussions, etc.), it's still quite entertaining. The entertainment began Thursday night, when the defending champion New England Patriots got a full dose of Alex Smith (28-35, 368 yards passing, 4 TD), Tyreek Hill (7 catches, 133 yards receiving, 1 TD), and Kareem Hunt (17 carries, 148 yards rushing, 1 TD; 5 catches, 98 yards receiving, 2 TD) in a 42-27 Chiefs win. The real fun comes Sunday at 1:00, when the NFL season starts en masse. I'm here to guess (not wildly, though) the victors and provide some players I think we'll perform well for your fantasy team (and mine, hopefully). I know this kind of article is not very original (there are tons of "Start/Sit" columns everywhere, and ESPN's Matthew Berry does a weekly "Love/Hate" column that I always make part of my weekly fantasy prep), but I'm not a very original person. The most original I get is at the end, when I give five fantasy football team names I've come up with (with logos).

Picks (Home Team Listed Last)

Sunday
Steelers 27, Browns 20 (1:00 PM, CBS) Line: PIT -9.5  Over/Under: 46.5
Jets 6, Bills 17 (1:00 PM, CBS)  Line: BUF -8.5  Over/Under: 40
Falcons 34, Bears 17 (1:00 PM, Fox)  Line: ATL -6.5  Over/Under: 49
Ravens 20, Bengals 23 (1:00 PM, CBS)  Line: CIN -3  Over/Under: 42.5
Cardinals 31, Lions 28 (1:00 PM, Fox)  Line: ARI -2  Over/Under: 48
Jaguars 16, Texans 30 (1:00 PM, CBS)  Line: HOU -5  Over/Under: 39.5
Raiders 28, Titans 21 (1:00 PM, CBS)  Line: TEN -2.5  Over/Under: 51
Eagles 30, Washington 31 (1:00 PM, Fox) Line: PHI -1.5  Over/Under: 48
Colts 10, Rams 24 (4:05 PM, CBS)  Line: LAR -3.5  Over/Under: 41.5
Seahawks 32, Packers 38 (4:25 PM, Fox)  Line: GB -3  Over/Under: 51
Panthers 35, 49ers 14 (4:25 PM, Fox)  Line: CAR -5.5  Over/Under: 48
Giants 28, Cowboys 34 (8:30 PM, NBC)  Line: DAL -4  Over/Under: 48
Monday
Saints 35, Vikings 24 (7:10 PM, ESPN)  Line: MIN -3  Over/Under: 48
Chargers 17, Broncos 14 (10:20 PM, ESPN)  Line: DEN -3  O/U: 43 

Fantasy
Here are some guys I think could help out your fantasy football team this week. As I mentioned earlier, this is a lot like Matthew Berry's "Love/Hate" column (except it's just the "Love", because I want to spread love, not hate). These are guys I think will exceed expectations this week, and I usually try to focus on guys who aren't obvious starts (like, say, Aaron Rodgers).

(Note: players are listed in no particular order)

Quarterback

Cam Newton, Panthers (vs. 49ers)
Cam is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury, but he's expected to play. Cam always bring fantasy value thanks to his rushing ability, and this week he gets to face the worst rushing defense in the NFL in 2016. The last time Carolina played the Niners (September 18, 2016), Newton threw for 353 yards and four touchdowns (and added 37 yards on the ground). I don't know if he'll throw for four scores again, but I'd bet on at least two TD's and 300 yards.

Derek Carr, Raiders (@ Titans)
Two potential breakout quarterbacks (both in real life and in fantasy) meet Sunday. I'll get to the other one in a minute, but let's start with Carr, who took a step forward for Oakland last season (3,937 yards passing, 28 TD, 6 INT), and will look to take another step forward this season. The Titans were 30th in the NFL in passing defense last season, and although Carr didn't go off when he played Tennessee last season (he threw for 249 yards and a touchdown, along with a pick), I'm pretty confident he'll have a strong game to kick off the 2017 campaign.

Marcus Mariota, Titians (vs. Raiders)
On the other sideline, Mariota also is looking to take another step forward after a solid 2016 (3,426 yards passing, 26 TD, 9 INT). Derek Carr gets more opportunities to throw the ball (due to Tennessee's run-heavy offense), but Mariota provides more opportunity with his legs (he had 349 yards rushing and two scores on the ground last season, although he also put the ball on the ground nine times). Plus, he has some more help this year in Corey Davis and Eric Decker, and he should be able to find openings against Oakland (which was 24th in passing defense last season).

Carson Palmer, Cardinals (@ Lions)
The 37-year-old is still kickin', and he still provides a solid under-the-radar option in fantasy. After throwing for 4,233 yards and 26 touchdowns (along with 14 interceptions) in 2016, Palmer kicks off 2017 against Detroit, a team that is never near the top of the league in pass defense (19th last season). He also has all of his receiving weapons back, and is a solid middle-of-the-pack option at quarterback on Sunday.

Sam Bradford, Vikings (vs. Saints)
If you're looking for a sleeper pick at quarterback this week (or a money-saving choice in daily fantasy), look no further than Mr. Bradford. First of all, he averaged 258.5 passing yards (and 1.3 touchdowns) per game last season, and he had a couple big weeks. Second of all (and most importantly), he faces the New Orleans defense, which was last in the league last season.


Running Back

Devonta Freeman, Falcons (@ Bears)
Overall, I don't expect Freeman to perform as well as he did last season. He has Tevin Coleman continuing to push for carries, and it'll just be hard for the Atlanta offense in general to replicate last year's Super Bowl team. However, I think he'll have a big game this week against the Bears. Chicago was 27th in rush defense last season, and I believe he'll rack up yards (and maybe a touchdown or two) early.

Isaiah Crowell, Browns (vs. Steelers)
I do expect a big year from the Crow. Hue Jackson has already stated that he's going to be more dedicated to the run this season, and with a rookie under center, Crowell will see plenty of carries. Plus, Cleveland spent big on the offensive line in the offseason. Pittsburgh isn't awful against the run (it finished 13th in rush defense in 2016), but last time these two teams met (January 1), Crowell went off for 152 yards on the ground. With Deshone Kizer starting his first NFL (regular season) game, Cleveland will go to Crowell early and often. 

Christian McCaffrey, Panthers (@ 49ers)
The Carolina coaching staff seems to like McCaffrey a lot, and apparently even has a separate package of plays for him. This is good news for his fantasy owners, as McCaffrey should get a majority of the backfield work (both on the ground and through the air). Want more good news? He gets to debut against the 49ers, whose run defense (or lack thereof) I have already mentioned.

Todd Gurley, Rams (vs. Colts)
After a fantastic rookie season, Gurley disappointed fantasy owners who drafted him high last season, but his struggles were partly due to the struggles of the entire Rams offense. While the offense still might struggle this season, it should at least be a little better, and Gurley will once again be the workhorse running back. A meeting with the Colts, who were 25th in the NFL in rush defense last season, should lead to a big game for Gurley.

Melvin Gordon, Chargers (@ Broncos)
Gordon broke out with 997 yards rushing and ten touchdowns last season, and those numbers may be on the rise. He'll continue to get the majority of the workload, along with work in the passing game (he had 41 catches for 419 yards and two scores in 2016). San Diego's L.A.'s Monday night opponent ranked 28th in the league in rush defense last season.


Wide Receivers

Terrelle Pryor, Washington (vs. Eagles)
The Pryor known as a quarterback prior to prioritizing being a receiver is now in Washington after being in Cleveland prior to this year. He gives Captain Kirk Cousins a big, athletic target, and I expect him to make an impact right away. In last year's season opener, Pryor had three catches for 68 yards, and that was his first (regular season) NFL game at receiver. Plus, it was with RGIII at quarterback. Kirk Cousins (RG's former backup) should provide more stability. Oh, also, the team he played in last season's opener? The Philadelphia Eagles.

Doug Baldwin, Seahawks (@ Packers)
After Seattle traded Jermaine Kearse and cut preseason star Kasen Williams, I wondered to myself, "Who's Russell Wilson going to throw to besides Doug Baldwin?" (the answer is Jimmy Graham and Tyler Lockett, among others). But Baldwin should once again lead the Seahawks in receptions and receiving yards, and this week he faces a Green Bay team that was 31st in pass defense last season.

Corey Coleman, Browns (vs. Steelers)
Yes, I have two Cleveland Browns on this list, because I am a believer in Believeland. The Browns signed Kenny Britt and drafted David Njoku in the offseason, but neither had a great preseason, so Coleman remains the clear number one guy. I don't expect Deshone Kizer to go deep a whole lot, but when he does, it'll probably be to Coleman. And I expect him to connect on at least one deep shot.

Ted Ginn Jr., Saints (@ Vikings)
Willie Snead is suspended the first two games, so that means Teddy Ginn is the go-to man in the slot. While drops are a problem, Ginn has the speed and big-play ability to have a good day. He'll see plenty of work in New Orleans' pass-heavy offense, and I think he could make a solid play in daily fantasy, or a solid flex play in season-long fantasy.

Kevin Benjamin, Panthers (@ 49ers)
Benjamin has slimmed down, and he looked pretty good during the preseason. He's still Cam Newton's top target (aside from tight end Greg Olson), and we could see a bounce-back campaign from him. It all starts against San Francisco's defense, which I've already discussed twice (in case you missed it, they're not good).


Tight End

Delanie Walker, Titans (vs. Raiders)
I have Delanie Walker on all three of my fantasy teams, so I guess you could say I'm a fan of his work. A step forward for Marcus Mariota means a step forward for Walker. Although the additions of Corey Davis and Eric Decker may take targets away from him, Walker is still the go-to guy, and I think he'll definitely be that guy in the first game.

Jordan Reed, Washington (vs. Eagles)
Yes, I know I have both Terrelle Pryor Sr. and Jordan Reed on this list. Don't worry, there's enough to go around. In fact, with Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson (Washington's top two receivers last season) gone, there's a whole lot to go around. It'll be devided up among Pryor, Reed, Jamison Crowder (the top returning receiver), and sophomore Josh Doctson. I expect a solid first game from Reed. 

Charles Clay, Bills (vs. Jets)
May I interest you in a tight end? His name is an alliteration, which is always a plus. He plays for a team that lost Sammy Watkins (but gained Jordan Matthews). He led the team in targets and catches last season, and tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns. Oh, and best of all, he plays the lowly New York Jets this weekend. If anything sold you on him, it was probably the last sentence.

Zach Miller, Bears (vs. Falcons)
This may be a tougher sell, what with Chicago's quarterback situation (Mike Glennon? Really?). However, Miller was third on the team in receiving last season, and the two ahead of him were Cameron Meredith (out for the season) and Alshon Jeffery (now on the Eagles). And the Bears will be throwing a lot to try to keep up with Atlanta.

Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (vs. Saints)
If I'm putting Sam Bradford on this list, I'm obviously going to put Bradford's favorite target on here too. Rudolph was targeted 132 times last season, 21 more than the next-closest Viking receiver (Stefon Diggs). He'll be oft-targeted Monday night against New Orleans, and I expect at least one of those targets to result in a touchdown.


Defense

Rams (vs. Colts)
The Rams have a solid defense (they were 9th in total defense in 2016), but that's not why they're on this list. They're on this list because they face a Colts team quarterbacked by Scott Tolzien. With Andrew Luck not yet back from injury, Indianapolis will go with the former Badger (I mean that he went to Wisconsin, not that he was an actual badger at one point and somehow magically turned into a human) whose career stat line is: 23-37, 216 yards passing, one touchdown, two picks, and a fumble. I'm counting on at least two turnovers Sunday.

Texans (vs. Jaguars)
It's kind of silly for me to list the Texans, one of the best defenses in the league. If you have Houston's defense, you're starting Houston's defense. If you don't have Houston's defense, you're not getting Houston's defense. I have the Texans defense on this list because I just want to emphasize how confident I am in them this weekend. They are facing Chad Henne, a guy who has played a total of four games the last three years.

Falcons (@ Bears)
Like the first two teams, the Falcons are here because of the quarterback they're up against. Atlanta gets Mike Glennon, a guy who got a three-year, $45 million contract because he hasn't been horrible in 21 career games. Jordan Howard may find some success on the ground against ATL, but the Falcons should give Glennon trouble in the passing game.

Bills (vs. Jets)
Buffalo's front seven should be salivating at this matchup. The Bills get the honor of hosting the worst team in the National Football League, one that will be rolling out Josh McCown, a guy who was a backup in Cleveland, at quarterback. I took a quick look at New York's offense, and I think Tim Tebow might be one of the top five scoring threats on this team. LONG LIVE TIM TEBOW.

Chargers (@ Broncos)
Joey Bosa and company face off against Denver, a team that was 27th in the league in total offense last season, on Monday night. The last time these two teams met at Mile High (October 30, 2016), the Chargers had three turnovers, including a pick-six (they also threw three interceptions, including a pick-six, but that's beside the point), and I expect strong defense again this time around in Denver.

Stats, Information, Lines, and Over/Unders via ESPN.com

5 Fantasy Football Team Names (and Logos)
I've gotten into the business of making logos to go with my silly fantasy football team names (which are always player-based puns), and here are the five I've created (I use the first three for my three fantasy football teams). I'm a very amateur graphic designer (I created these through SnapChat), so they aren't the highest-quality logos. Feel free to use any of the names/logos.

1. Red Hot Jabrili Peppers 

2. The Real Slim Shady

3. Delanie Walker Texas Ranger

4. Gone With the Winston

5. Whiteing on the Rawls

To stay up to date on the newest Head in the Game articles (and general sports commentary), follow @headingameblog on Twitter (you can also find me on Twitter @G_Tingley)

Week 2 College Football Picks

Heisman hopefuls J.T. Barrett (right) and Baker Mayfield (left) face off Saturday night in Columbus

It's easy to underestimate or overestimate things in life. It's human nature to sometimes expect less or more than the actual reality. People are biased, and those biases, plus personal past experiences, lead to over or under estimations. For example, If I have done poorly on a certain professor's tests in the past (and have heard bad things about his tests), I'm probably more likely to underestimate how well I do on the next test, no matter how much I study. Everybody is off on their estimations sometimes. You can overestimate how much someone likes you. You can underestimate how well you did on a test. You can overestimate how may donuts you can eat in one sitting.

You can also underestimate and overestimate college football teams. That's what I did in several instances last week. An estimate is an educated guess, and that is basically what I'm doing when I do these weekly picks.

So with that in mind, I apologize to fans of teams I underestimated last week: Purdue, Western Michigan, Maryland, Stony Brook, and LSU. As for teams I overestimated (South Florida, Louisville, BYU, App State), I have nothing to say.

I'll try to better estimate teams this week.

Play of Week 1: "Some People Call Him the Space Aggie"

New Mexico State wide receiver Jaleel Scott made an incredible one-handed catch last Thursday night against Arizona State. He posted up ASU defensive back Kobe Williams using his left arm, and leaped into the air to grab the ball with his right hand, coming down with it in the back left corner of the endzone. Scott led all players with eight catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns, but NMSU fell to the Sun Devils 37-31.

(Home Team Listed Last)

Record
Last Week: 14-3

Friday

#11 Oklahoma State 50, South Alabama 21 (8:00 PM, ESPN2)

Line: OKST -28  Over/Under: 67.5

Mason Rudolph started off the season on the right foot last week against Tulsa, throwing for 303 yards and three touchdowns in a 59-24 Oklahoma State route. This week will probably be more of the same. The USA Jaguars are a middle-of-the-pack Sun Belt team coming off a 20-point loss to Ole Miss.

Saturday

#21 South Florida 35, Connecticut 13 (10:30 AM, ESPN News)

Line: USF -17  Over/Under: 66

Charlie Strong's first two games at South Florida haven't been the smoothest, but the Bulls are 2-0, and they shouldn't have trouble improving to 3-0 against a UConn team that won its first game since October 8, 2016, last week vs. Holy Cross. It had been so long for the Huskies, in fact, that they needed a little extra practice in the victory formation.

Cincinnati 7, #8 Michigan 42 (Noon, ABC)

Line: MICH -34.5  Over/Under: 49.5
The Wolverines used a big second half to cruise by a ranked Florida team (albeit one depleted by suspensions) last week, but they need better play from Wilton Speight, who was 11-25 and threw two pick-sixes against the Gators, and was even benched at one point for John O'Korn. Regardless of how well Speight plays, however, Michigan should have little trouble at home against Cincy.

Florida Atlantic 10, #9 Wisconsin 42 (Noon, BTN)

Line: WIS -32  Over/Under: 58.5
When the most noteworthy thing about your team is the fact that it's coached by Lane Kiffin, you probably don't have a very good team. The Owls couldn't stop Navy last week (they gave up 526 yards in a 42-19 loss to the Midshipmen), and they probably won't be able to stop the Badgers, who accrued 478 total yards in a 59-10 stomping of Utah State last week.

#17 Louisville 35, North Carolina 28 (Noon, ESPN)

Line: LOU -10  Over/Under: 62

Louisville looked like they might fall victim to Purdue, a team that looked pretty good in the first week under Jeff Brohm, and the Cardinals shouldn't take UNC lightly either. However, the Tar Heels lost quarterback Mitch(ell) Trubisky to the NFL after last season, and lost the first game of this season 35-30 to Cal. Lamar Jackson and co. might make it close, but they'll survive once again.

Charlotte 6, #19 Kansas State 52 (Noon)

Line: KSU -36  Over/Under: 57.5

No, Charlotte is not an FCS team (they were in 2013 and 2014, then moved to FBS in 2015). The 49ers play in Conference USA. This does not mean they will give Bill Snyder's team a challenge, though. They lost to Eastern Michigan 24-7 last week. Meanwhile, K-State is coming off a pummeling of Central Arkansas (55-19), which IS an FCS team.

Fresno State 7, #1 Alabama 56 (3:30 PM, ESPN2)

Line: ALA -43.5  Over/Under: 53

I was very tempted not to write anything for this game, but then I wouldn't be fulfilling my duty as a writer. So let's talk about Bama's performance last week in a 24-7 victory over Florida State. The Tide defense had three sacks and nine tackles-for-loss, the offense ran for 173 yards, and Jalen Hurts threw the ball 18 times (completing ten), accumulating 96 yards and a touchdown. The offensive stats will be a lot more prolific this week.

Pittsburgh 13, #4 Penn State 38 (3:30 PM, ABC)

Line: PSU -22  Over/Under: 66.5

This in-state rivalry looks to be pretty one-sided this year. The Nittany Lions are a title contender, and Heisman candidate Saquon Barkley ran for 172 yards and two touchdowns in a 52-0 rout of Akron last week. The Panthers barely squeaked by FCS powerhouse Youngstown State in double-overtime.

Delaware 10, #18 Virginia Tech 32 (3:30 PM, ACCN)

VT got a big first win last Sunday against West Virginia, and now the Hokies get a breather of sorts against FCS Delaware. Yes, Delaware is the alma mater of Super Bowl champion Joe Flacco, and yes, the Blue Hens did win last weekend. But Joe Flacco isn't walking through any doors (plus, he's not even elite), and that win was a 22-3 victory over Delaware State.

#23 TCU 55, Arkansas 42 (3:30 PM, CBS)

Line: TCU -3  Over/Under: 58.5

This should be one of the closer games of the afternoon, and it will also probably be a high-scoring affair. Kenny "Trill" Hill threw for 206 yards and four touchdowns in TCU's 63-0 dismantling of Jacksonville State. The Razorbacks (who beat Florida A&M 49-7 last week) aren't Jacksonville State, but I still think the Horned Frogs get past them.

Indiana State 3, #25 Tennessee 45 (4:00 PM, SECN)

Yet another FBS-FCS affair, Tennessee will face Larry Bird's alma mater coming off a wild double-overtime win over Georgia Tech. The Vols need to do a better job of stopping the run (they gave up 535 rushing yards to Tech's triple-option attack), and they probably will against an Indiana State team that gained 160 yards on the ground in a 22-20 loss to Eastern Illinois last week.

#13 Auburn 34, #3 Clemson 31 (7:00 PM, ESPN)

Line: CLEM -5  Over/Under: 53.5

Now comes the meat of this weekend's schedule. This matchup of Tigers might end up being the most entertaining game of the weekend. Jarrett Stidham had a decent debut (202 total yards, 3 TD, 1 INT) in Auburn's 41-7 beating of Georgia Southern last week, but like usual, the running backs stole the show, as Kam Martin and Kerryon Johnson each ran for 136 yards and a touchdown. Kelly Bryant was more than decent (313 total yards, 2 TD, 1 INT) in his Clemson debut last week against Kent State (a 56-3 win), and the team gained 353 yards on the ground (two more than Auburn). Despite this (and the fact that Clemson is home), I think the lethal Auburn rushing attack will carry the Tigers (the one's who are also Eagles, apparently) to an upset.

Chattanooga 0, #12 LSU 38 (7:30 PM, SECN)

This matchup might end up being the least entertaining game of the weekend. LSU is one of the teams I underestimated last weekend, as the Tigers shutout BYU after I picked the Cougars to pull off the upset. This week, I'm counting on LSU to pitch another shutout against FCS Chattanooga.

#15 Georgia 28, #24 Notre Dame 27 (7:30 PM, NBC)

Line: ND -4  Over/Under: 57

Notre Dame already looks better than last year, starting the season off with a win (49-16 over Temple). New quarterback Brandon Wimbush looked good, throwing for 184 yards and two touchdowns, and adding another 106 yards and a score on the ground. Running back Josh Adams also looked good, rushing for 161 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. The key for Notre Dame will be stopping Georgia running back Nick Chubb, who had 15 carries for 96 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-10 win over Appalachian State last week. I think Chubb will cause problems for the Irish, and the Bulldogs will escape with a nail-biting victory. 

#5 Oklahoma 28, #2 Ohio State 42 (7:30 PM, ABC)

Line: OSU -7  Over/Under: 65

Last season, the Buckeyes went to Norman and ran away with a 45-24 win over Baker Mayfield and the Sooners. Revenge will be on the minds of Baker and co. when they travel to Columbus this weekend. Ohio State struggled in the first half against Indiana last week (especially in the passing game), so Mayfield may find some success early. However, the host Buckeyes just have too much talent for Oklahoma to handle.

Montana 7, #7 Washington 50 (8:00 PM, Pac-12)

In a battle of Grizzlies and Huskies, the Huskies have the clear advantage. Montana did beat fellow FCS team Valpo 45-23 last week, but this week they face seventh-ranked Washington, a team that also beat up on a FCS team last week (okay, it was Rutgers, but Rutgers is basically an FCS team). Jake Browning and the host Huskies should handily beat the Griz.

#14 Stanford 31, #6 USC 38 (8:30 PM, Fox)

Line: USC -6  Over/Under: 55.5

These may be the two best teams in the Pac-12 (although the state of Washington may have some contentions with that), and they meet Saturday night in the Coliseum. The Trojans got a scare from P.J. Fleck-less Western Michigan last week, while Stanford had no such scare in a rout of Rice. Heisman candidate Sam Darnold didn't have Heisman stats against Western (23-33, 289 yards, 2 INT), but he should put up better stats this weekend in what might be a fun (and close) game.

Boise State 30, #20 Washington State 45 (10:30 PM, ESPN)

Line: WSU -10  Over/Under: 58.5

Per usual, we end the night in Pullman, Washington, where the Cougars take on the Broncos. Boise State isn't the threat it was a few years ago, but the Blue Field Broncos still shouldn't be taken lightly. I don't think Mike Leach's team will take them lightly, and Luke Falk and friends should fly to victory.



Stats, Information, Lines, and Over/Unders via ESPN.com

To stay up to date on the newest Head in the Game articles (and general sports commentary), follow @headingameblog on Twitter (you can also find me on Twitter @G_Tingley)

Week 1 College Football Picks

Deondre Francois (left) and Jalen Hurts (right) square off Saturday night

It's that time of year again. Time for sweatshirts and jackets. Time for sitting in bleachers on a Thursday or Friday night with the smell of burgers and hot dogs in the air. Time for fantasy drafts (and making fun of friends for drafting a kicker or defense WAY too early). And time for the return of my weekly game picks.

Head in the Game Blog has been on what I like to call "summer vacation" the past few months, largely due to the fact that we've been busy with work. But we have made our return just in time for football season. Langston Johnson kicked it off Thursday with a hype piece about gameday. If you're not already pumped up for football season (whether it be high school, which is already in full gear, college, which just started, or pro, which starts soon), I advise you to read it. It's definitely worth your time.

Now on to the picks. Reminder that I am not a psychic (or, if I am, I'm only psychic sometimes and don't get the whole picture, like Raven from That's So Raven). Regardless, I will do my best Shawn Spencer impression and pretend to be psychic.

(Home Team Listed Last)

Saturday

Kent State 13, #5 Clemson 48 (Noon, ESPN) 
Deshaun Watson is gone, as are many other key contributors from last year's Clemson team that took down Alabama in the College Football Playoff, but they still have tons of talent, led by returners (like receiver Deon Cane and defensive tackles Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence) and newcomers (like quarterback Kelly Bryant and running back C.J. Fuller). Kent State gets to open with the defending champion for the second straight season, and this one will probably go a lot like the other one (a 42-0 loss to Alabama).

Akron 6, #6 Penn State 52 (Noon, ABC)
In another battle of below-average MAC team versus playoff contender, the Akron Zips, coming off a 5-7 season a year ago, face the Penn State Nittany Lions, coming off an exciting Rose Bowl win and anchored by junior quarterback Trace McSorely and junior running back Saquon Barkley, who's a Heisman candidate. The Zips won't be able to stop those guys, and will have a hard time scoring against Penn State's stout defense.

Maryland 20, #23 Texas 38 (Noon, FS1)
Both teams were mediocre a season ago (Texas didn't even make a bowl game), and both have questions coming into this season (lots of youth at important positions), but Texas *should* have a lot more talent after hiring Tom Herman, who impressed as offensive coordinator at Ohio State and head coach at Houston, and who is a very good recruiter. Ever since winning the National Championship behind Vince Young, Texas has been more expectations than results. That might all end with the hiring of Herman, but they first have to avoid this initial trap game against a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team.

Bethune-Cookman 3, #18 Miami 38 (12:30 PM, ACC Network)
Bethune-Cookman is an FCS team coming off a 4-6 season. I could probably end my blurb about this game right there, but I won't. The Canes lost quarterback Brad Kaaya and tight end David Njoku early to the NFL, and they have uncertainty at QB with junior Malik Rosier, but they still have tons of high-end talent all over the field, and they should breeze past B-C. By the way, Bethune-Cookman's mascot is the Wildcats, in case you care.

UTEP 17, #7 Oklahoma 60 (3:30 PM, Fox)
I'm trying not to fall asleep scrolling through these games, but that's usually how it is the first few weeks. The Miners come off a 4-8 season in 2016, and they shouldn't be much of a threat to Oklahoma. The Sooners will surely be looking ahead to their matchup with Ohio State next weekend. Yes, Baker Mayfield is still the starting quarterback for Oklahoma.

#11 Michigan 28, #17 Florida 17 (3:30 PM, ABC)
This game woke me up. In the first ranked matchup of the season, two defensive powerhouses battle. I can't tell you a whole lot about the key players in this game, since both teams have been pretty secretive about who they're starting (and since a quarter of Florida's team is suspended), but I do know redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks (great name) will be starting at quarterback for Florida, and he will probable face junior Wilton Speight for Michigan. I almost want to pick the Gators based on my dislike of Michigan and the starting quarterback's name, but the fact that Michigan looks to be a potential National Title threat (and that 10 Gators are suspended) means the Wolverines will probably come out on top.

Stony Brook 14, #19 South Florida 41 (4:00 PM, ESPN3)
What if I told you that this is the real marquee matchup of the weekend? Then I'd either be lying, crazy, or a big Stony Brook fan. South Florida got off to a slow start last week against San Jose State, but ended up winning by 20. Quarterback Quinton Flowers is a player who could breakout a la Lamar Jackson last year, and Charlie Strong is still a very good coach. I don't know anything about Stony Brook's football team (it's an FCS team), and I'm not very motivated to look it up.

Western Michigan 21, #4 USC 45 (5:15 PM, Pac-12 Network)
Western Michigan is no longer rowing the boat, as head coach P.J. Fleck left for Minnesota during the offseason. The Broncos also lost quarterback Zack Terrell and wide receiver Corey Davis, although they still have a decent run game with Jarvion Franklin, Jamauri Bogan, and Davon Tucker. USC is a title contender led by quarterback Sam Darnold, whom I think will win the Heisman Trophy. The redshirt sophomore is already the projected #1 overall pick (by many) in next year's NFL Draft.

Appalachian State 19, #15 Georgia 28 (6:15 PM, ESPN)
Appalachian State is still widely-recognized thanks to a monumental upset over Michigan 10 years ago. The Mountaineers haven't repeated anything like that since, but they did almost upset then-#9 Tennessee the first week of last season (they lost 20-13 in overtime). Although Georgia is a bona fide SEC team led by highly-talented running back Nick Chubb, it did almost lose to Nicholls in the second week of 2016 (the Bulldogs survived 26-24), so I could see another near-upset for App State.

Central Arkansas 10, #20 Kansas State 50 (7:10 PM, ESPN3)
Another FCS cupcake. The only thing I know about this one is that it is somewhere in the middle of Arkansas. As for Kansas State, head coach Bill Snyder is still kicking as he leads the Wildcats again this season. The team that beat Texas A&M in the Advocare V100 Texas Bowl (these bowl names, man) last season returns many key starters, including the quarterback (Jesse Ertz). I peeked and saw that Central Arkansas actually had a good season last year. Kansas State should still cruise.

Georgia Southern 0, Auburn 35 (7:30 PM, SEC Network)
This isn't the NCAA Basketball Tournament, so I'm not giving Georgia Southern much of a chance. The Tigers have a new quarterback (Jarrett Stidham), but they might not miss a beat, as they once again have a very athletic and talented team (although they did lose that guy from Last Chance U who decided to transfer).

#16 Louisville 48, Purdue 16 (7:30 PM, Fox)
The Cardinals still have that Lamar Jackson guy, don't they? And they're playing Purdue? I'm done here.

#3 Florida State 24, #1 Alabama 42 (Atlanta, 8:00 PM, ABC)
We finally reach the game of the weekend. The defending champion runner-up against a team that was close last season and may be there this season. It'll be a battle of two talented young quarterbacks (Alabama's Jalen Hurts and Florida State's Deondre Francois), as well as two highly-talented defenses. It should be a fun game to watch between two elite college football teams. I say all of this, yet I still have Bama winning by 18, because that's what Bama does.

BYU 27, #13 LSU 21 (New Orleans, 9:30 PM, ESPN)
Sometimes you have to take risks in life. I don't have to take this risk, but I want to. I believe in the Morman Cougars from Utah. I believe in quarterback Tanner Mangum. I believe in running back Squally Canada, whom I've never heard of before, but whose first name is "Squally", and whose last name is the greatest country in the world (uh, I mean, uh, besides the, uh, USA, of course). I believe that LSU may be a bit overrated, like they were last year. I believe LSU has some question marks. I believe in late-night upsets. And I believe in this pick (I would advise you not to believe in me, however).

Montana State 13, #24 Washington State 52 (10:30 PM, FS1)
Ah, the return of college football means the return of Washington State football. For those of you unfamiliar with Washington State football, let me just say if you love defense and running the ball, don't like staying up late, and like watching football games played at a brisk pace, you will HATE Washington State football. Mike Leach and quarterback Luke Falk lead the Cougars again, looking for a Pac-12 title that they fell just short of last season.

Sunday

#22 West Virginia 24, #21 Virginia Tech 28 (7:30 PM, ABC)
Don't overlook the Sunday night game. I almost said it's the Battle of Virginia, but then I remembered West Virginia is a different state from Virginia. The quarterback battle will be between VT redshirt freshman Josh Jackson (which is also the name of the #4 overall pick in this year's NBA Draft, in case anyone cares) and WV transfer Will Grier (he's the guy who led Florida to a great start and then tested positive for steroids). Virginia Tech is known to play low-scoring defensive games, while West Virginia is known for the opposite. I could see this tilting either way, but defense wins championships.

Monday

#25 Tennessee 32, Georgia Tech 35 (Atlanta, 8:00 PM, ESPN)
Another game that should not be overlooked is this Labor Day clash between the SEC and ACC. Both teams have to replace quarterbacks, and neither has officially announced the starter. The Volunteers lost their quarterback (Joshua Dobbs) and starting running back (Alvin Kamara), but they return some key starters from their defense. It'll be somewhat difficult to stop Georgia Tech's triple-option attack, and I think the Yellow Jackets squeeze out the victory.

Information and stats via ESPN.com

Gameday

Every kid dreams of waking up in the morning with that game day feeling. The day goes by slow. The task at hand and getting to the field is all you can think about all day. Hours before the game, before the stands have any people in it, before the popcorn is popped, or before all the custodians have finished setting everything up, you arrive to the stadium. Walking in the front gates, tailgating fans are cheering loudly and yelling good luck as you enter the stadium. The locker room smells like sweat, but you are glad to finally be there. The room is silent, but excitement fills the air. Players are getting taped up and putting their pads and helmets on. Music is blaring on the speakers and in the headphones of your teammates. The kickers and returners go out to start warming up. Outside the stadium, fans are starting to be let in; going to buy drinks and hot dogs, and trying to find their seats. Reporters and news anchors fill the sidelines, giving their takes and giving fans the latest updates on the upcoming game. Lots of people are taking pictures in front of the field and all around the stadium. After what seems like hours of getting ready to go out on the field, coach finally comes into the locker room and tells the team it’s time to go warm up. Chills go down your spine as you know it’s closer to game time. The team stretches, does some position work, and does final tune ups before going back into the locker room for the final time. The stands are starting to fill as the game clock continues to count down. Chatter becomes increasingly louder as it echoes off the walls inside the stadium. From inside the locker room you can hear the PA announcer advertising some type of product. Coaches come in and give their final speeches and say it’s time to go out on the field. Walking toward the tunnel, you can see the heads of people looking under the tunnel and starting to get anxious for the team to run out. The away team runs out on the field and is met with loud boos and some scattered cheers. The crowd suddenly goes silent. From the speakers, the fight song begins to play and the crowd starts going crazy. Coach yells something that is too hard to hear through all the noise and turns around to start running out of the tunnel. As the team runs out, the crowd goes insane. The fight song continues to play while the whole team runs out and the fans continue to go crazy. Your stomach drops just knowing it is time to take care of business. The national anthem is sung and it is go time. Both teams line up for the opening kickoff. The student section chanting and screaming and both sidelines yelling “oooooooooo!!!” The whistle is blown and the kicker takes his approach steps. And just like that, football season begins again. Are you ready?

2017 NFL Draft Preview

By the end of this week, every NFL team will have multiple new players, some of whom could potentially become the face of a franchise, and some of whom will be cut before Week 1. For fans of many teams (including Cleveland Browns fans like myself), it's arguably the most important part of the year. It's an opportunity for a team to turn itself into a playoff contender, a Super Bowl contender, or at least a decent team (as opposed to a bad team). From round one through round seven, there can be contributors found. Players like Andrew Luck and Cam Newton can change the fate of a franchise. A combination of picks can help turn a team around, like Khalil Mack and Derek Carr have for the Oakland Raiders. Even picks in later rounds, like Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson, and... what's that  other guy's name... I want to say it's, like, Dom Prady or something... anyway, you get the point.

On the other hand, teams can badly miss on players early, and that can really set a team back. For all the Andrew Lucks and Cam Newtons, Zeke Elliotts and Adrian Petersons, or Dak Prescotts and Russell Wilsons, there are also JaMarcus Russells and Ryan Leafs, Justin Blackmons and Justin Gilberts, Trent Richardsons and... basically most of Cleveland's first round draft picks the last five years. The draft is all about taking risks and putting faith into a selection of players. Sometimes those risks pay off, and other times, a team is looking for a new general manager and head coach the next year.

With that in mind, I'm going to take a look at what I see as the major storylines leading up to Thursday night at 8:00 PM, give my 10-pick mock draft, and list a few of my favorite players in this draft.

QB Conundrum

Deshaun Watson, Mitch(ell) Trubisky, Pat Mahomes, and DeShone Kizer.

Quarterback is the riskiest position in the draft, especially this year. There doesn't seem to be an Andrew Luck in this draft. There doesn't even seem to be a consensus on who the top quarterback is. However, scouts and analysts have largely agreed on the top four: Clemson's Deshaun Watson, fresh off a National Championship; North Carolina's Mitch Trubisky (or Mitchell Trubisky, or Mitchy Trubisky, or whatever you want to call him), who only has one season of experience, but really impressed in that one season; Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes II, who has seemingly defied the stereotype of the "Air Raid" quarterback; and Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer, who showed flashes and a lot of pro potential despite a losing season. What nobody really knows is where these quarterbacks will go.

Last week, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Cleveland, which holds the first overall pick, is torn between Trubisky and defensive end Myles Garrett, the consensus top prospect in the draft. The Browns also have the 12th overall pick, but rumor has it Trubisky might be snatched up before then. Of course, in the week leading up to the draft, people need to be wary of rumors, since smokescreens abound.

If the rumor is true, the Browns could take a big risk and pick Trubisky first overall, or they could use some of the many draft picks they've acquired to trade up with the Jets, 49ers, or another team, to make sure they get Trubisky, while also getting Garrett (in fact, NFL Network's Mike Silver reported that a few teams have gotten calls from the Browns about trading up into the top eight). Garrett is viewed by many as a future All-Pro, and he's an athletic freak who could be a franchise cornerstone for years to come. But Cleveland, of course, is still yearning for a franchise quarterback, having failed at several previous tries.

As a Browns fan, I would love more than anything for them to finally land a franchise quarterback. However, I don't believe they should even consider a signal-caller with the first overall pick. The main reason I believe that is a 6'4", 272-pound dinosaur lover.

In my opinion, Myles Garrett should be the first overall pick.

Myles Garrett is considered by most as the clear number one prospect, a physical specimen who can terrorize offensive linemen and run like a skill player (he ran a 4.64-second 40-yard dash at the Combine). He's drawn comparisons to greats such as Julius Peppers, Jevon Kearse, and DeMarcus Ware. He's also very intelligent, and doesn't seem to have any character problems. All the signs point to him being an impact player for many years, and I just don't think you can pass that up for a high-risk player with a small sample size of experience. At least not with the first pick.

I am by no means a scout, but here are my brief evaluations of the top quarterbacks in this draft (garnered from watching them in college and/or reading scouting reports on them):

• Mitch Trubisky: He seems to have the physical traits (he's 6'2", 220 pounds) and accuracy (he completed 68 percent of his passes, and had 30 touchdowns to just six interceptions) to translate to the pro level, but he only started one season, and his Tar Heels lost to Duke and NC State late in the season. I think he has the intangibles to be a great NFL quarterback, but he doesn't have a large enough sample size to inspire complete confidence that he can be one.
• Deshaun Watson: Based on college production and leadership, Watson is the clear number one quarterback in the draft. He took the Clemson Tigers to the National Championship as a sophomore and won it as a junior. He was also a Heisman Trophy finalist both seasons. The biggest question concerning Watson is probably his accuracy, as he threw 17 interceptions last season and showed some shakiness throwing into coverage. However, he still completed 67 percent of his passes and threw 41 touchdowns, and I think he has the leadership and poise to succeed in the NFL.
• Patrick Mahomes II: The Texas-Tech product has good size (6'2", 225) and a big arm. His stats look great, of course, since he played in Tech's Air Raid offense, but he also has great physical skills. He was somewhat inconsistent, and he could be boom-or-bust at times, which also seems to be the best way to describe him as a draft prospect. He has potential, but it may take time.
• DeShone Kizer: Kizer's Fighting Irish had a rough season (they finished 4-8), but I pin that more on head coach Brian Kelly than Kizer. The 6'4", 233-pound Kizer has great physical traits and skills, and he showed flashes during the season, but he was inconsistent, and was benched for Malik Zaire on more than one occasion. He has shown the ability, he just has to put it all together.

There is a common theme with these quarterbacks. None are slam dunk prospects, and I honestly don't know which will be stars and which will fade away. Time will really tell with all of these guys. Beyond them are guys like Nathan Peterman of Pitt, Brad Kayya of Miami, and Davis Webb of Cal, as well as Tennessee's Joshua Dobbs, whom I think might be the closest thing to a Russell Wilson or Dak Prescott in this draft. He's highly intelligent (he's a freakin' rocket scientist) and seems to posses good leadership qualities.

Josh Dobbs could be a sleeper in this draft.

Nobody can be absolutely sure how the quarterback class will shake out in the draft until it actually happens. At this point, it's all just speculation. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

A Bevy of Backs

Jamal Adams could go as high as second overall.

While the quarterback class isn't perceived as a strong point in this draft, there is a plethora of potential playmakers in the secondary. At least two or three defensive backs could go in the top ten, and several more could be gone by the end of Thursday night.

Ohio State's Marshon Lattimore heads most big boards at cornerback, followed by "DBU" teammate Gareon Conley (who is currently being investigated for an alleged sexual assault, which he vehemently denies), along with LSU's Tre'Davious White, Alabama's Marlon Humphrey, Colorado's Chidobe Awuzie, and Washington's Kevin King and Sidney Jones, among others. All of these players could be off the board by the weekend, as well as others, like Michigan's Jourdan Lewis (the less-heralded Wolverine DB prospect), USC's Adoree' Jackson (a weapon in the return game), and the Florida tandem of Quincy Wilson and Teez Tabor (what a name).

But cornerback might not have as much high-end talent as safety. LSU's Jamal Adams and Ohio State's Malik Hooker sit at the top, and they could both go in the top five. Beyond that are the versatile Jabrill Peppers (out of Michigan) and the athletic Budda Baker (out of Washington), followed by guys like N.C. State's Josh Jones and Florida's Marcus Maye.

If you're a team that needs help in the secondary, this draft has a lot to choose from, but they could go pretty quickly.

Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette, and Christian McCaffrey head the running back class.

There are also some talented running backs to choose from, but not without risk. Leading the backfield prospects is LSU's Leonard Fournette, a beastly ball carrier who looked like a man among boys as a sophomore before getting slowed down by injuries last season. If he can stay healthy, he has all the physical tools to succeed, and he could make it too straight years that a running back goes in the top five (Zeke Elliott went fourth to Dallas in 2016).

After him are Florida State's Dalvin Cook, Stanford's Christian McCaffrey, and Oklahoma's Joe Mixon. Both Cook and Mixon have had off-field transgressions, but both are also supremely talented. The versatile McCaffrey was highly productive in college, but durability could be a concern. Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara is also in the conversation early.

Do I know much about Alvin Kamara? No, but he could end up being the best back in the draft.

Running backs generally have a short shelf life, but they can also make quite an impact right away. I think at least two or three backs in this class could end up being very productive for several years.

Mock Draft (First 10 Picks)

I told myself I wasn't going to do a mock draft, yet here I am, doing a mock draft. This mock will undoubtedly be wrong, as most mocks are, but it's who I think will go in the top 10 (not necessarily who I would pick if I were in charge of the teams in the top 10).

1. Cleveland Browns: DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M

There have been whispers that the Browns might take Mitch Trubisky first overall, but I think they'll make the smarter and safer move by selecting the dominant end from Texas A&M (although, with Cleveland, you never really know). Adding him to a defense that includes Danny Shelton, Jamie Collins, and promising 2016 draft pick Emmanuel Ogbah could make Gregg Williams' unit a scary one next season.

2. San Francisco 49ers: DE Solomon Thomas, Stanford

The number two pick is a bit of a mystery. The Niners could trade down with a QB-needy team. They could also pick a safety (Jamal Adams or Malik Hooker), a cornerback (Marshon Lattimore), or even a running back (Leonard Fournette) or quarterback. Instead, I have them picking the athletic and talented 2016 PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Year.

3. Chicago Bears: CB Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State

I've seen Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen pegged here, but I think Chicago will focus more on the secondary. The Bears are in real need of a corner, which makes the skilled Ohio State product a good fit. In his first season as a starter last year, Lattimore was an All-Big Ten first-team selection.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: RB Leonard Fournette, LSU

Most mock drafts have the Jags selecting the talented SEC running back here, and I'm an agreeable person, so I'll slot him here as well. A trade down or a quarterback are also possibilities here, but signs point to a strong interest in the 2015 All-American.

5. Tennessee Titans: WR Mike Williams, Clemson

The Titans could trade down, and they're reportedly already in talks to. Marshon Lattimore has also been a popular pick here, and I think Tennessee will take him if he's still available. But since he's not in this mock, I have the Titans addressing another dire need by selecting the big playmaker from the National Champion Clemson Tigers.

6. New York Jets: S Jamal Adams, LSU

The Jets are another trade-down candidate, and they could even stay put and pick a quarterback. However, I don't think they'll pass on a playmaker in the secondary like Adams if he's still available here. Adams was an AP first-team All-American last season as a junior.

7. Los Angeles Chargers: S Malik Hooker, Ohio State

I started typing San Diego, then I remembered they're in L.A. now. That's going to take some getting used to. Many draft analysts have connected Hooker to the Chargers, and I have to agree. San Diego Los Angeles could use help on defense, and the athletic Hooker has tremendous ball skills in the defensive backfield.

8. Carolina Panthers: DE Jonathan Allen, Alabama

Everybody and their brother (or sister) has connected Stanford running back to the Panthers, but I just can't see the Panthers passing up Allen (who probably won't fall this far Thursday night, but did in my mock draft). The 2016 Chuck Bednarik and Bronco Nagurski Award winner (nation's top defender) could go as high as number two.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: LB Reuben Foster, Alabama

Before I get into this pick, let's have a discussion on a more important matter: spelling. For some reason, I always want to spell it "Cincinatti". Anyway, back to the pick. The Bengals will probably go defense here, and they've been connected to Foster, who won the Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker) last season.

10. Buffalo Bills: QB Mitchell Trubisky, North Carolina

You thought I wasn't going to put a quarterback in the top 10, didn't you? The Bills could trade down (really, anybody in the top 10 could conceivably trade down), or select a playmaker like Alabama tight end O.J. Howard, but apparently (at least according to Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, who cited a scout with the team), Buffalo's interest in a quarterback is real.

Favorites

There are often players I just like. I just feel like these players will succeed, even without scouting them extensively. Here are some of my favorites:

• Myles Garrett (he seems like a cool guy, and he's got elite physical tools)
• Malik Hooker (He's supremely athletic and is a great center fielder in the secondary)
• Deshaun Watson (He showed great poise on the biggest stage in college football)
• Western Michigan WR Corey Davis (I think he's the best receiver in this draft)
• Joshua Dobbs (I'm just feeling Russell Wilson/Dak Prescott vibes from him)

Stats and information via NFL.com, ESPN.com, and BleacherReport.com

Why Not Russ?

With the start of the NBA playoffs, one question remains from the regular season: who is this year's Most Valuable Player? It is obvious at this point that Houston Rockets point guard James Harden and Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook are the top two candidates to win the award. Both are qualified to win the award, but Russell Westbrook has been outstanding this year and deserves the MVP.

I must start off by describing the evolution of the MVP award and what it has become to me. Everyone has their own versions of how the MVP should be determined, but, to its definition, it's supposed to be given to the most valuable player to his team throughout the entire year. For example, during the 1962 season Wilt Chamberlin averaged 50 points and 25 rebounds and Oscar Robertson averaged a triple double and set an NBA record with 41 triple doubles, and neither of those two won the MVP because Bill Russell was the leader and best player on the championship winning Boston Celtics. By definition, that is how the MVP should be given out, and now a days, LeBron James not winning the award every year is the biggest show of this change. Stephen Curry won the MVP last year after having a historic season, but in the Finals LeBron showed exactly why he could win the award every year as he brought his Cavs team back from a 3-1 Finals deficit to take home Cleveland’s first championship. In my own words, the MVP is given to the player with the best regular season stats.

With that being said, Russell Westbrook is the most valuable player in the National Basketball Association for the 2016-2017 regular season. Westbrook finished the season averaging a triple double with 31.6 points, 10.4 assists, and 10.7 rebounds a game, all while taking a not very good Oklahoma City Thunder team to the playoffs as a six seed. In a season plagued with star players resting, Westbrook only missed one game and played his heart out for every single one. Some games brought a little more competitive fire than others, as we saw when Westbrook faced his former teammate, Kevin Durant, and the Golden State Warriors. Westbrook gave the fans an absolute show all season long, which ended in him setting the record for most triple doubles in a season, 42, which was set 55 years ago by Oscar Robertson. The game Westbrook broke the record, he solidified, in my eyes, why he is the MVP. After already clinching the sixth seed and already breaking the triple double record earlier in the game, Westbrook hit a deep three at the buzzer to beat the Denver Nuggets, which got some high praise from players all over the league. Dozens of players tweeted out that Westbrook should win the MVP and his play has been by far the best in the league this year, numbers wise. The argument could be made that James Harden has taken his team to a three seed in the West and that the MVP is about winning. I could not agree with that more, but let’s look at the team Westbrook is winning with. Steven Adams, Victor Oladipo, and Enes Kanter round out the other ‘stars’ on the team, and while they are all decent players, the team just is not good enough to be a sixth seed. The key factor: Russell’s play. If he was not playing out of his mind, the Thunder would probably have a top 10 pick in this year's draft. After losing superstar Kevin Durant to free agency, the Thunder could have easily just let this season go and tried again with some draft picks next year, but Westbrook had other plans in mind. He carried the Thunder team with his heart, his abilities, and his leadership to a better regular season than anyone would have expected and a record year for himself.

I also should mention that we cannot let this playoff series dictate what happens with the MVP race. There is a good chance the Thunder will lose the series in five games and Russ may struggle while James Harden plays very well, as we saw in Game 1. The playoffs are a different animal and the game planning is a lot more intense and more thought out than that of the regular season, which means the Rockets will have a strong plan for how to stop Westbrook every single game. The Rockets are just a better team than the Thunder, and this playoff series should not dictate the regular season MVP.

With my final thought, I will leave you with this: Russell Westbrook is the Most Valuable Player in the National Basketball Association for the 2016-2017 regular season.

MLS Crossbar Week 6: Tri-Soccer Cup

In 2026 I think we should rename the World Cup the Tri-Soccer Cup, make the trophy into the Goblet of Fire, and have owls deliver the game ball.

Now that I got my nerdy opening done (don't worry you'll probably get that joke soon enough), it's time to start this week's MLS Crossbar. Let's go ahead and take a look at the CONCACAF Champions League, World Cup 2026, and the Premier League possibly playing in America.

CONCACAF Champions League

Another year, another disappointment for the MLS. Last night marked the conclusion of the Semi-Final round of the CONCACAF Champions League, where both MLS clubs fell short. FC Dallas lost on aggregate to Pachuca 3-4 and the Vancouver Whitecaps lost to Tigres 1-4.

An MLS club has never won the league in its current format, and only two have even made the finals (Real Salt Lake in 2011 and Montreal Impact in 2015). The Whitecaps were never truly in this series against Tigres. On the other hand, FC Dallas had a real shot at advancing to the finals. Dallas was up on aggregate through 86 minutes until Pachuca scored, forcing extra time to determine a winner, where Pachuca delivered, ending FC Dallas's run. 

World Cup 2026

According to CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, the US, Canada, and Mexico are finalizing to have joint bid to host the 2026 World Cup. All three countries have been heavily rumored to make bids to host the World Cup with different pairings of those countries to host jointly. The only other time the World Cup has been hosted by multiple countries was in 2002 when Japan and South Korea hosted together. 

This proposal has a good chance of being selected for different reasons. First is that the region has long been the favorite to host the World Cup after the past few World Cups being hosted in other regions instead of the CONCACAF. Secondly is the scale of the 2026 World Cup. This will be the first time that the World Cup expands to 48 countries competing. With this, there is more infrastructure needed to host, something that could be more easily accomplished when it is hosted by three separate nations that are also easily connected to each other.

The Premier League's 39th Game

Recently Charlie Stillitano, chairman of the International Champions Cup, was on ESPN FC's Max and Herc Podcast, where he mentioned that he does not think that the Premier League hosting a 39th game for each club in the United States is that crazy or far off. The world's most prominent clubs already come over to the US every year for the ICC, so many clubs are no strangers to America.

The reason why doing so would require adding the extra game is that it would prevent taking away a home game from any team. This differs from what the NFL has been doing for years, where they take away a home game and replace it with a game in London. International series have worked well for other of the world's top leagues, such as the NFL and MLB. The ICC always draws large crowds, so adding an America game to the Premier League season could be a home run.

Screen Time

NYCFC @ DC United (4:00 on 4/8 on Facebook Live) - DC United is looking to overcome a slow start to the season against a strong NYCFC club.

New York Red Bulls @ Orlando City SC (4:00 on 4/9 on ESPN) - A matchup of two teams that are currently in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff seeding and are looking to stay there.

Colorado Rapids @ Sporting Kansas City (7:00 on 4/9 on FS1) - Both clubs are looking to gain some early season momentum to go strong into the summer.

Wrap-Up

Thank you for reading and we'll see you next week on MLS Crossbar.

Follow Us On Twitter @headingameblog

MLS Crossbar Week 5: World Cup Champion Chicago Fire

After a two-week hiatus due to the overabundance of college basketball, MLS Crossbar is back. Last weekend saw only a handful of games due to World Cup Qualifiers, but week five we're back with a full slate of games and a good amount of stuff to talk about.

In this edition of MLS Crossbar, we'll talk about press conference ridiculousness, the World Cup Qualifiers, and some expansion news, as well as a new segment called Screen Time, where we'll highlight the national broadcast games.

Bastian Schweinsteiger

The Chicago Fire's newest designated player, German national Bastian Schweinsteiger, arrived in the city earlier this week and received some not so soccer-literate questions. During his introductory press conference, Schweinsteiger was asked if a World Cup goal was a realistic goal for the club. In case you're wondering, the answer is no, since the World Cup is played by countries and not clubs.

The 32-year-old last played for Manchester United and will probably not be the answer to the Fire's problems. Not only does Schweinsteiger not make the team that much better, he's also not the sort of name that will bring a lot more players to Fire games. The move would make more sense five years ago, but in today's MLS game this does not make much sense. The momentum has swung toward having your designated players being young, up-and-coming players instead of aging, former European stars. This move is a head scratcher, and it would be somewhat surprising if the move actually improves Chicago's playoff chances. 

World Cup Qualifiers

Now onto the teams that will actually be playing in the World Cup. Over the last week, many World Cup qualifiers took place, so here we'll be highlighting how the US did and what it means. On Friday the 24th, the US took on Honduras in San Jose, and the results were beautiful. The end result was 6-0 to the Americans, with a hat trick by Clint Dempsey and a goal plus two assists by the 18-year-old Christian Pulisic. Overall this performance was impressive, and gave the United States a lot of energy after a difficult start to World Cup qualifiers, where they didn't pick up a single point. 

On Tuesday the 28th, USMNT flew down to Panama City and picked up a point by tying with Panama. While a win would have been great, getting the point on the road is an excellent result for the team. The team currently sits fourth in the CONCACAF table and is a point behind third place Panama. The top three CONCACAF teams automatically make the World Cup, and the fourth team takes part in an inter-confederation playoff to secure a World Cup birth. Making their way into the top three should ultimately be the goal, since that is the ideal path to Russia in 2018.

Expansion News

This week MLS commissioner Don Garber was in St. Louis to talk about the city's bid to land an expansion club. The city is getting ready to vote on whether or not to give public money to fund the proposed soccer-specific stadium downtown. The commissioner also stated that he is confident that the city should receive an expansion team if they vote for funding the stadium. This is not new news, since St. Louis has often been seen as a favorite to land a team.

Jetting over to southern California, the group trying to bring an expansion team to San Diego held a public poll to see what the people want to name the possible club, and it did not disappoint. The winning name, with nearly 60% of the vote, was Footy McFooty Face. One suggestion to the fine folks of San Diego is that you need to class up your name selection. You can't name your team Footy McFooty Face. You have to name it Footy McFooty Face FC; that's how you name a soccer team. 

Screen Time

Sporting Kansas City @ Toronto FC (7:30 on 3/31 on FS1) - Both teams are trying to get momentum going before they get too far into the season. 

Atlanta United FC @ Seattle Sounders FC (10:00 on 3/31 on FS1) - The league's newest, possibly most exciting team visits the defending MLS Cup champs for the first time.

Orlando City SC @ Columbus Crew SC (4:00 on 4/1 on Facebook Live) - Recently the league came to an agreement with Univision to broadcast 22 regular season game in English on the platform's Facebook page. This move is great for the league, so make sure to check on this week's game on the page. 

New England Revolution @ Portland Timbers (9:00 on 4/2 on ESPN2) - The Revs are coming off of a 5-2 win over Minnesota and are now taking on one of the league's top scoring teams. 

Wrap-Up

It's been an interesting few weeks of some kind of strange news, but now the league's getting back to normalicy with a full slate of games this weekend to check out.

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