Sports
Week 8 NFL Picks
San Francisco -15 Jacksonville
Sorry, London. Not all football games are this one-sided.
Pick: Niners -15
At Detroit -3 Dallas
Home team gets the edge in a god battle between two 3-4 teams.
Pick: Lions -3
At Philadelphia -5.5 NY Giants
Can the Giants make it two in a row? Not if Vick plays a full game.
Pick: Eagles -5.5
At Kansas City -7 Cleveland
Jason Campbell against the league’s best D.
Pick: Chiefs -7
At New Orleans -10.5 Buffalo
Thad’s not terrible, but the Saints at home are too much.
Pick: Saints -10.5
At New England -6 Miami
Tom Brady is under pressure to make things happen with less protection and fewer splashy playmakers. The Pats just don’t lose two in a row that often though.
Pick: Pats -6
At Cincinnati -5.5 NY Jets
The Bengals are looking like one of the teams to beat in the AFC, but can they be as physical as the Jets?
Pick: Jets +5.5
Pittsburgh -2.5 At Oakland
Pittsburgh doesn’t always perform well in Oakland, but with an inspired D and balance on O they’ll win three in a row.
Pick: Steelers -2.5
At Denver -11.5 Washington
This game’s going to be a points-fest. I think the Skins might be able to hang or at least not get blown out.
Pick: Skins +11.5
At Arizona -2.5 Atlanta
The Cards are hard to read, but the Falcons can still make noise despite all the injuries.
Pick: Falcons +2.5
Green Bay -7.5 At Minnesota
Maybe Freeman settles down a bit. Looks like he still needs more time though.
Pick: Packers -7.5
Seattle -11.5 At St. Louis
Whenever Favre comes up as a viable option for you at QB, you’ve got problems.
Pick: Seahawks -11.5
Oct 27th
Thursday Night Football Pick
Carolina -6 At Tampa Bay
In a game that’s sure to grab the attention of dozens of football fans throughout the country, the Panthers are a lock. Schiano’s brand on Buccaneer Football isn’t resonating with his players. Doug Martin’s out. It’s never a good thing for a winless football team to lose one of their top offensive weapons. Factor in the lost locker room and it’s gonna be an uphill battle for the Bucs at home. The Panthers are coming off two straight wins by two scores. They should secure this one pretty early.
Pick: Panthers -6
Pick: Panthers -6
Oct 24th
LeBron James & POWERADE Create an Interactive Workout Video
Over the past 15 months, LeBron James established himself as basketball royalty by capturing an Olympic Gold Medal, his second consecutive NBA Championship, fourth league MVP and being named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. Now POWERADE ZERO DROPS is giving athletes across the country an inside look at James’ rigorous practice regimen that helped him Power Through and elevate his game.
“LeBronTime” chronicles a typical, one-hour training session for the reigning NBA Finals MVP. The video will be housed on YouTube and obviously something of this length will tempt users to skip ahead, which presents an opportunity for James to deliver words of wisdom for athletes everywhere. Each time users try to fast forward, pause or interact with other YouTube functionalities, they’ll be served a message from James himself encouraging them to eliminate those distractions and focus on what matters: their game.
In support of LeBron’s message that there are no shortcuts to success, POWERADE ZERO DROPS provide athletes with the ease they need to stay on the court. POWERADE ZERO DROPS are simple to use, requiring only a sports bottle and water fountain, and give athletes the hydration they need to power through.
Oct 23rd
WWE Superstar Mark Henry Interview
Whether you are a fan of the WWE, the Olympics, or the “World’s Strongest Man” contest you definitely know the name Mark Henry. Before he joined the WWE in 1996 he competed in the Olympics twice. He was recently inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jack LaLanne.
Henry made his presence known at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, where he competed in weightlifting in the super-heavyweight division. Fast forward three years and Mark won a gold, silver and bronze medal at the Pan American Games. In 2002 he won the “World’s Strongest Man” competition at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic.
In 2011 he won the title of World Heavyweight Championship at Night of Champions for the WWE. Henry has accomplished so much in his career and he is still going strong. I sat down to chat with Mark about the WWE, the Olympics, and weightlifting.
Art Eddy: It is a real pleasure to chat with you. To see all of the tremendous things that you have accomplished such as being a two time Olympian, the “World’s Strongest Man,” to now a WWE Superstar. When you do have time to sit back and reflect, are you amazed at the things you have accomplished?
Mark Henry: I have sacrificed and worked so hard that it is hard for me to be surprised because I expect it out of myself. I put the work in. It was not like it was happenstance.
AE: Out everything you have done does one stand out more than others?
MH: The first Olympics nobody expected me to do the numbers that I did. Nobody expected me to go to Barcelona and come in tenth place after only training for a year and a half of my life. I have some special gifts. I got introduced to the right sport and is set me up for the rest of my life.
AE: For the Olympics I know that an athlete has to be very disciplined to train year round. Was there ever a moment in your Olympic career that you thought about giving up?
MH: Oh, about three or four times. I tried to quit and I was going to go back to play football. The weights just kept on calling me back. It fulfilled me in a way that nothing else ever did until I started wrestling.
AE: Speaking of wrestling, you have a great stage presence. How long did it take you to be comfortable in front a large crowd? 
MH: The performance in front of a crowd was never a problem. I was never shy. I was always kind of wide open. Trying to be the life of the party type of guy. The thing that was hard was that I was in an anaerobic sport, which was powerlifting, weightlifting, and strong man competition. You have a lot of exertion and then you have a lot of time to rest.
In wrestling it is an aerobic sport as well as a strength sport. You have to for 20 to 25 minutes be able to sustain a level of energy. You have to train your lungs to be able to handle that kind of work load with talking at the same time, with trying to be entertaining and not just being a body out there moving. People think that wrestling is an easy road and just do a reality show and it will happen. That is not the truth.
This sport and this industry is one of the most complicated because you do a full live feature film every week. To be able to sustain the kind of energy that it takes to do that is a miracle in itself. Not to mention the physical toll it takes on your body.
AE: I am going to guess that becoming the World Heavyweight Champion is it, but for you do have one moment in your WWE career that is by far your most favorite?
MH: That is definitely the pinnacle. I am sitting in my office and I look up at the wall and I see this title inside this glass enclosure. In 136 years now there has only been 31 people that to hold that title. To be one of those 31 men says a lot. I was ECW champion and barring injury I think I would have had more titles. I am proud of the work that I put in. I value very much of what is staring me in the face right now.
AE: Which wrestler gets you going the most in the ring?
MH: Me and The Undertaker was pretty energy packed. Right now in my career the battles that I had with Randy Orton, The Undertaker, and The Big Show I had all the longest sagas with. All three of those people are going to be in the Hall of Fame. So I am in good company.
AE: How long did it take you to perfect the World’s Strongest Slam?
MH: I started doing the World’s Strongest Slam in 2003. By 2005 it was pretty concrete. Before than there was no such thing as the World’s Strongest Slam. To be able to add something to an industry where it is commonplace for people remembering Jake “The Snake” Roberts for doing the DDT. I felt like I added something.
During the Sexual Chocolate years I was doing the Chocolate Mousse, where I ran and jumped through the ropes to the floor. A lot of people looked at that and asked what is the name for that? There was really no name for that because it was a Mark Henry original. It was the Chocolate Mousse. People called it the Skid Mark. I was able to say that I added something.
AE: You were inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jack LaLanne. Tell me about that experience?
MH: It was a great experience. People started pointing out to me saying that I have been a National and World Champion in three different sports. To be the best in the world in power lifting and strong man and one of the best in Olympic weightlifting has never been done before. They were like if anyone belongs it is you. I took a lot of pride in the fact that my peers looked at me like this small town boy, Mark Henry from Silsbee, Texas being worthy of being the greatest athletes that ever lived. That is just special.
Oct 21st
Giovani Bernard Interview
For the first time in 49 years, a running back was not selected in the first round of the NFL draft. The first running back to have his name called in the second round was Giovani Bernard. The 37th overall pick from West Palm Beach, Florida was the first running back from North Carolina to be taken in the first two rounds since Natrone Means. Six weeks into his NFL career, Bernard has already been a difference maker for the Cincinnati Bengals. He’s averaging 4 yards a carry, 10 yards per catch and he’s scored twice on the ground and twice through the air. His touches have been gradually increasing and he looks to be an integral part of the Bengals offense moving forward.
Bernard gained some notoriety during training camp when he was featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks. Other players on the team gave him the business for driving his girlfriend’s mom’s minivan. But Bernard took it in stride. “If something has automatic doors and it’s push to open, that’s perfect with me,” Bernard said to the cameras.
Bernard joined up with Pepsi to promote the Pepsi NEXT Rookie of the Week program, where fans can vote for their favorite rookie performers each week of the season on nfl.com/rookies. Bernard joined fellow rookies Le’Veon Bell and Denard Robinson for this Unbelievable Hidden Talents video where he showed off his mad snake charmer skills.
We caught up with Bernard a couple weeks ago and talked about his participation in the Pepsi NEXT Rookie of the Week program, his relationship with incumbent starter Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis, the intensity of James Harrison, what it’s like to be “owned” by fantasy football players and a lot more.
CS: Coach Gruden mentioned that you’re going to see a lot more playing time as the season progresses. That has to put you in an interesting situation with incumbent starter, The Law Firm. How does that relationship play out where you know that you’re coming in as a high-draft pick, there’s veteran presence on the team at running back, and you know that you’re slowly going to eat away at his snaps?
GB: I think the big thing about me and Benny is that—well I call him ‘Benny’ and we call him ‘Benny’—is that we’re just trying to help the team win. At the end of the day, we obviously want to keep our jobs and we all want that, but we want the team to win. We want to be successful as a team.
He’s really the closer. He’s a leader in our running back room. He’s the type of guy that, you know, there’s four minutes left in the game, they’re going to put him in to secure the ball and just churn out the yards. He’s just a hardnosed kind of guy and everybody here knows that just how he is and that’s his mentality. And he’s a great guy. He’s a great leader and he definitely shows that on the field.
CS: Coming from college to the NFL, what would you say is the biggest transition that you’ve had to get used to? I mean everyone talks about the speed, but is there anything else that really stands out to you as being a difference?
GB: I think the thing between the NFL and college is that you realize that this is a job. I think that’s the biggest thing. You realize that at any second, at any moment, you could be gone. No matter what the situation is, no matter how great you are, you could be gone the next day. And you see that with Trent Richardson. You know, I think somebody said he found out through Twitter –or whatever it was—that he was being traded to Indianapolis. You just have to realize that this is a job and nobody is out there to help you out. You have to work hard each and every single day.
CS: So coming in as a rookie you were nominated for the Pepsi NEXT Rookie of the Week, can you tell me a little bit about that program and your involvement there?
GB: Yeah definitely. We’re basically just letting fans know that all season they can vote for Pepsi NEXT Rookie of the Week. And people think that Pepsi NEXT has a real cooler taste with 60% less sugar, so they kind of asked me to do this web series that shows our hidden talents as rookies. Mine’s actually pretty cool, fans out there can go check that out at nfl.com/rookies. It’s actually really cool how people can just see our brighter side and our more enjoyable side of things off the field.
CS: So I saw that snake charmer video, and you were there with Denard and Le’Veon Bell. Have you talked with Le’Veon at all, because you guys are in the same division and you’re coming out of the same draft class? Do you think he’s going to help the Steelers?
GB: Definitely. Well you know, for me, that whole experience with Pepsi NEXT, the whole snake charming thing, was really cool. But I had the relationship with Denard even before that, because I played against him at a high school in South Florida. And then me and Le’Veon, we met each other through the whole Combine experience and workouts and all that kind of stuff. Knowing that he was going to play for sure, we kind of became friends in that way.
I followed him after that first Monday night game and I just told him to keep his head up. After the injury I sent him a text message as well, you know, just praying for him. I mean that’s a great guy, a guy I’m really close with, a guy who’s a great athlete and an even better person off the field. So I know he’s going to make headlines one of these days and he’s going to do a great job. A lot of people are doubting him but he’s definitely a guy that you should keep your eye on as a rookie.
CS: So you see a guy like James Harrison in the weight room or on the practice field, does he just have that intimidation face all the time or that’s just kind of an outside persona that people who aren’t on his team wouldn’t necessarily understand?
GB: I think it’s a little bit of both. As we get closer to game days, you can tell he becomes that fearful James Harrison. But the day after the game he’s very chill and relaxed and he’s just trying to get better. He’s just a guy that always has a chip on his shoulder no matter what the situation is. He’s the type of guy that’s going to go out there and play his heart out. You can tell that he has that mentality each and every single day whether that’s an off day and he’s in the weight room lifting or in his treatment, whatever it is he’s a real veteran in the league and he has definitely shown that through the years.
CS: So how weird was it to enter the NFL, which has to be a unique experience in itself, and then have that whole Hard Knocks film team documenting everything from your personal life to training camp and all the practices and stuff?
GB: Well for me I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it completely. There are days where, you know, obviously I was tired and doing the whole training process. It was my first training camp, and all that kind of stuff. I just had to find the brighter side of it and let the fans out there know what training camp is really like. It helped me out in a sense. It got my name out there and it’s cool in that sense. But for me, I knew I was there to do one job and that was not to be an actor. It was not to be a Hard Knocks star. It was just to be a football player and have fun and just let everything else really take care of itself.
CS: Do people still give you shit about the minivan?
GB: Yeah (laughs). I’m still getting beat around about that so, it is what it is.
CS: Have you decorated that apartment yet?
GB: (Laughs) No, the apartment still looks basically like a bachelor pad and I think it’s going to stay that way.
CS: (Laughs). So have you had a “welcome to the NFL” rookie-type moment yet?
GB: I think it was probably the first time that I walked into the facility…or my second time walking into that facility, when I saw James Harrison because he had to do his first press conference for the Bengals. I was walking towards the lunch room. In my mind I totally forgot about it. During the whole Combine experience you’re not really looking at trades, you’re more so worried about draft picks and all that kind of stuff.
So for me it was kind of that moment where I realized that yes, I’m in the NFL, and yes, I need to step my game up because we’ve got guys like James Harrison that will take your head off and continue to keep playing. So for me, it’s just going out there and just playing and competing and having fun.
CS: Now tell me something about Marvin Lewis that most people probably don’t realize. He’s been around for a really long time, is there any particular moment that you’ve had with him that kind of sheds light maybe on a side that most people don’t get to see?
CS: Do you ever get annoyed when fans come up to you and talk about you as if they own you because of fantasy football?
GB: (Laughs) Yeah it actually happened last night. This guy was like “Dude I had my doubts about you but I started you this past week”.
CS: (Laughs)
GB: Well I’m glad you had doubts about me and now you’re just like (laughs) bowing down to me. But you know, fantasy football is just a whole other experience. I mean, I’m not going to say I’m not a fan of it, because it’s cool how they kind of do all that stuff. But I’ve never played it before. I’ve got my friends on it, my friends … it’s crazy, I’ll just say that (laughs).
CS: Who is a sneaky player to watch on the Bengals, who may be prime for a breakout?
GB: Prime for a breakout …
CS: Outside of yourself obviously, Gio.
GB: (Laughs) Well honestly I think there are guys across the board who are just breakout players that are continuing to make plays, but one of the guys that I really admire –good game—is Dante Ridgeway, the middle linebacker. He’s just a hardnosed kind of guy and he’s a guy where I definitely admire his energy and his passion for the game. He’s the guy that really just works hard for what he has and he’s done a lot of good things. I mean he’s just doing a great job of being a leader defensively and offensively as well.
Oct 18th
Week 7 NFL Picks
Seattle -5.5 At Arizona
The Cards have a good thing going on D and should be able to shut down Seattle’s passing attack.
Pick: Seahawks -5.5
New England -3.5 At NY Jets
The Pats keep rolling and maintain their hold on the division.
Pick: Pats -3.5
San Diego -7.5 At Jacksonville
The streak of the Jags covering the spread ends after one week.
Pick: Chargers -7.5
At Kansas City -6 Houston
Houston has problems. The Chiefs are flying high. With a new QB under center going up against a fantastic defense in a hostile, record-breakingly loud environment, odds are the Chiefs winless streak will continue.
Pick: Chiefs -6
At Detroit -2.5 Cincinnati
The Lions seem like a different team when they’re playing in the comfort of their own dome. The Bengals seem a bit weaker on the road. Close game edge goes to the Lions.
Pick: Lions -2.5
At Miami -7.5 Buffalo
The Dolphins have lost two straight but now they get a chance to get back to their early winning ways. They can outscore a Thad-led Bills team.
Pick: Dolphins -7.5
At Washington PK Chicago
The Bears are the better squad. More efficient, more consistent and more than capable of beating a Skins team that can’t seem to put it all together week in and week out.
Pick: Bears
At Philadelphia -3 Dallas
Nick Foles looked pretty good leading that offense. Vick’s injury couldn’t have come at a worse time. If he doesn’t get back on the field soon, he may not have a starting job to reclaim. I think Foles will take full advantage of a favorable matchup against a not-so-stout pass D.
Pick: Eagles -3
At Carolina -6 St. Louis
The Rams got a huge win over the Texans to move to 3-3. Their offense leaves a lot to be desired, but this defense can keep them in it, even on the road.
Pick: Rams +6
At Atlanta -7 Tampa Bay
The Falcons get win number to as the Bucs continue to search for answers.
Pick: Falcons -7
San Francisco -4 At Tennessee
Locker’s return won’t stop the hurt. Niners win on the road.
Pick: Niners -4
At Green Bay -10 Cleveland
It woulda been nice to see what the Browns season could have been with Hoyer under center, but Weeden ball is back and the optimism has dissipated. Green Bay may have some banged up weapons on offense, but with a new found balance they should be able to cover at home.
Pick: Packers -10
At Pittsburgh -2 Baltimore
The Steelers are back. With a viable option at running back and a defense that’s suddenly capable of creating turnovers, the Steelers will win their second game against a familiar foe.
Pick: Steelers -2
Denver -6.5 At Indianapolis
Jim Irsay’s attempts to irk Peyton backfire as Manning unleashes his full fury in front of familiar faces.
Pick: Broncos -6.5
At NY Giants -3.5 Minnesota
What a terrible game to feature in primetime. Must’ve looked good on paper in the offseason. Josh Freeman gets the chance to take over starting duties this week. But the Giants have been off long enough to get their shit together and finally pull off their first win.
Pick: Giants -3.5
Last Week: 7-9
Season: 43-48-2
Last Season: 136-121-5
Oct 17th
Week 6 NFL Picks
At Chicago -7.5 NY Giants
The Giants have been outscored by 100 points this season. Only the Jags have a larger point differential (-112). That’s bad. Real bad. The Bears have dropped their last two after starting 3-0, but the Bears are third in the league in takeaways (14). The Giants are the league leaders in giveaways (20). The winless streak will continue for the G-Men.
Pick: Da Bears -7.5
At Kansas City -9 Oakland
The spread seems kinda high. I mean the Chiefs are undefeated, playing good football, not turning the ball over and playing at home. But the Raiders under Pryor aren’t exactly pushovers either. Especially if McFadden can get back on the field. I say the Chiefs win but the gap is closer than 9.
Pick: Raiders+9
Philadelphia -1.5 At Tampa Bay
The Bucs seem like a team destined for a new coach and a high draft pick. The Eagles moved the ball well when Nick Foles took over for an injured Michael Vick, so if Vick can’t go, the offense shouldn’t suffer that much.
Pick: Eagles -1.5
Green Bay -3 At Baltimore
Tough call here. I like the Packers, but the Ravens are 2-0 at home and the Packers are 0-2 on the road. Edge goes to the team with the better passing attack.
Pick: Packers -3
Detroit -2.5 At Cleveland
It’s hard to not like the Browns. They’ve been so bad for so long. The Lions without Calvin Johnson appear a bit toothless. Defenses can just key in on Reggie. I’m going Browns as home dogs here, even with Weeden behind center.
Pick: Browns +2.5
At Minnesota -2.5 Carolina
Josh Freeman won’t get the call just yet, so the Freeman era will have to wait in Minny. The Panthers can’t seem to get things clicking on both sides of the ball. The D shows up and the offense stalls. Maybe Cam can put a complete game together in Week 6.
Pick: Panthers +2.5
At Houston -7.5 St. Louis
The Rams beat up on the Jags last week, but that’s not saying much. Schaub is under fire big time in Houston, and he’ll be without safety valve Owen Daniels and potentially without Andre Johnson as well this Sunday. I think Schaub will show up and keep Kubs off the hot seat, at least temporarily.
Pick: Texans -7.5
At NY Jets -2.5 Pittsburgh
It’s now or never for Pittsburgh. Coming off the bye week, the rest of the AFC North sits at 3-2. If the Steelers can’t force any turnovers, they will lose. They’re the second team in NFL history to have zero forced turnovers in the first four games. Ouch. The Jets are all swagger and sunshine after upsetting Atlanta. I say the Steelers D shows up, the ground game finds some space and the Steelers get win #1.
Pick: Steelers +2.5
Cincinnati -7.5 At Buffalo
Thad Lewis vs. a team that shut down Tom Brady? Let’s go with the Bengals.
Pick: Bengals -7.5
At Seattle -13.5 Tennessee
I’m not buying this Ryan Fitzpatrick does a great Jake Locker impression situation. Seahawks at home against a team that’s not as good as it’s 3-2 record suggests.
Pick: Seahawks -13.5
At Denver -27.5 Jacksonville
Do you really want to bet on this game? The highest spread in NFL history is bound to get plenty of action. The Jags have yet to cover a spread, but professional players on a shitty team can still find the motivation to not lose by four touchdowns.
Pick: Jags +27.5
At San Francisco -11 Arizona
The Niners win a game dominated by lots of Frank Gore touches.
Pick: Niners -11
At New England -2.5 New Orleans
Gronk is back as the Saints come marching into New England with a spotless record. Gronk can’t fix everything, though. The D-line is busted. The points aren’t flowing like they used to. People need to stop fumbling. On the flipside the Saints look strong in all phases. I think they escape New England with their undefeated streak intact.
Pick: Saints +2.5
At Dallas -5.5 Washington
Poor Romo. Even when you throw for 500+ yards, people still get bitter about the last mistake you made. After coming up short against the Broncos, the Cowboys should be able to do some damage against the league’s worst defense.
Pick: Cowboys -5.5
Indianapolis -1.5 At San Diego
I picked the Colts last week as home dogs, and I like ‘em on the road here as well.
Pick: Colts -1.5
Last Week: 8-6
Season: 36-39-2
Last Season: 136-121-5
Oct 10th
There Are Good Guys In College Sports
Day after day it seems that there is a new scandal going on in college football. As sports fans we wonder if there is any good that is happening off the field. Well I am here to say yes. There are plenty of noble people out there who are making a difference. It is not just with their athletic ability, but it is also with the positive impact that these young athletes have had on their communities and the lives of others.
Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) today announced the 22-player roster for the 2013 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. Recognizing the “good works” of a select group of college football players from across the country, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is one of the most prestigious off-the-field honors in college sports.
For more than two decades, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team has recognized college football players at all levels of the sport for inspiring acts of service and off-the-field achievements. This summer, the program received a record 150 nominations from colleges and universities across the country. From the nominations, an esteemed voting panel comprised of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team members and college football media selected 11 players from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 11 players from the Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the NAIA to comprise the 22-player team.
“Allstate is thrilled to embark on another year of collaboration with the AFCA, and together honor this group of extraordinary young men for their “good works” in the community,” said Cynthia Whitfield, field senior vice president of Allstate’s Southern region and a member of the 2013 voting panel. “As fans of college football, Allstate continues to be inspired by the remarkable performances that take place on-the-field, but equally inspiring are the acts of service that have earned these 22 players a spot on the 2013 AFCA Good Works Team.”
The following players have been selected to the 2013 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team:
Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A)
Name Cl. Pos. School Hometown
Fred Lee Sr. WR Buffalo Chester, S.C.
Nick Forbes Jr. LB California Frederick, Md.
Jordan Luallen Sr. FB Cincinnati Greenwood, Ind.
Dave Harding Sr. OL Duke Orlando, Fla.
Jacob Karam Sr. QB Memphis Friendswood, Texas
Stephen Morris Sr. QB Miami (Fla.) Miami, Fla.
C.J. Zimmerer Sr. RB Nebraska Omaha, Neb.
Asa Watson Sr. TE North Carolina State Rock Hill, S.C.
Jeff Budzien Sr. PK Northwestern Hartland, Wis.
Eric Soza Sr. QB Texas at San Antonio Beeville, Texas
Carey Spear Sr. PK Vanderbilt Mayfield Village, Ohio
Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA), Divisions II, III and NAIA
Name Cl. Pos. School Hometown
Tyler Simmons Sr. DE Aurora Crystal Lake, Ill.
J.D. Mehlhorn Sr. DB Bethel (Minn.) Lakeville, Minn.
Curt Duncan Sr. PK Carson-Newman Morristown, Tenn.
Ryan Cobb Jr. TE Delaware Saddle River, N.J.
Miles Williams Jr. DB Elon Roebuck, S.C.
Kevin Rodgers Jr. QB Henderson State Rockwall, Texas
David Brackett Sr. OL Kenyon Ahoskie, N.C.
Jordan Sitzmann Sr. P Morningside Le Mars, Iowa
Jordan Reid Sr. QB North Carolina Central High Point, N.C.
Winston Wright Sr. DB South Dakota State Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Bo Cordell Sr. QB Tusculum Cincinnati, Ohio
This year’s Allstate AFCA Good Works Team boasts some of the most impressive service resumes in the award’s 22-year history. From building houses overseas, to founding a mentorship program for at-risk youth, to serenading cancer patients at the local children’s hospital, this unique group of young men continues to raise the bar for the impact that student-athletes can have on their peers, teammates and communities.
“The AFCA, along with our partner Allstate, has been honoring football student-athletes for their good works, volunteerism and community service for 22 years with the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team,” Grant Teaff, AFCA Executive Director said. “The 2013 class of Good Works Team members is another great example of the outstanding athletes, and even better men, that our nation’s college football programs produce each year.”
Fans can vote for the 2013 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Captain by visiting ESPN.com and searching “Good Works.” There, fans can learn more about this year’s team members and vote for the player who they feel represents the “best of the best” in the areas of giving back and contributing to the greater good of their communities. The Team Captain and his fellow award recipients will be invited to New Orleans to take part in a community project leading up to the 2014 Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Oct 10th
Week 5 NFL Picks
At Cleveland -3.5 Buffalo
We may never see Brandon Weeden throw a pass for the Browns again. Mike Lombardi has been super high on Hoyer for some time now and he finally got a chance to hand the dude a team to lead. Hoyer has responded by winning two straight. The Bills took out the Super Bowl champs last week, but they’ll have their hands full against a much improved defense and a hot team that could take temporary ownership of first place in the AFC North after Thursday Night.
Pick: Browns -3.5
Kansas City -3 At Tennessee
At the beginning of the year, it would have been difficult to imagine that these two teams would have one loss between them entering Week 5. Hooray, parity! The loss of Jake Locker really hurts Tennessee. Fitzpatrick is a backup for a reason. He doesn’t have the arm or the semi-quick feet of Locker. If the QB sitch was different, maybe there’d be some debate here, but the Chiefs are likely to exit Tennessee with their undefeated record intact.
Pick: Chiefs -3
At Miami -3 Baltimore
Miami’s o-line can’t pass block and Baltimore’s o-line can’t run block. Ray Rice should be back and that should help matters some, especially with Harbaugh stating that he wanted to make Rice the focal point of the offense moving forward. But the Fins are allowing just under 100 yards per game, good for 10th in the league. Mike Wallace may not be getting the big plays he wants, but the Dolphins are still playing good football. The Saints loss last week was to be expected, but the Fins should rebound in Week 5.
Pick: Fins -3
At St. Louis -11.5 Jacksonville
The Rams aren’t that great but they are at least two TDs better than the worst team of all time.
Pick: Rams -11.5
At Cincinnati -3 New England
Everyone loves the Bengals, but the shine of their preseason hype is starting to fade a bit. AJ Green got all kinds of frustrated last week against the Browns, and he hasn’t really had a strong performance since his monster Week 1. The Pats are all banged up. Losing Vince Wilfork hurts, and whenever you go out and sign Austin Collie, you know your receiving options are hurting a bit. But I still like betting on Brady in general and if the Pats are going to be dogs for two weeks in a row, make the right decision.
Pick: Pats +3
Seattle -3 At Indianapolis
The Colts are so much more balanced this year. Luck is throwing the ball less and that trend should continue with a stronger running attack. Seattle can struggle on the road, but they haven’t lost away from home yet. Still, that Indy stadium can get pretty lively. The Colts had a cakewalk last week, but that 49ers drubbing from Week 3 is still fresh in my mind. As awesome as Seattle is, I think the Colts can take ‘em at home.
Pick: Colts +3
At Green Bay -7 Detroit
The Lions sit atop the NFC North, but it could be time for a correction. With two weeks to heal up and prep for Detroit, the Packers are primed for a bounce back game. There should be plenty of offense in this game, and despite Detroit’s big win over Chicago last week, I think the Packers are going to get the better of the Lions and normalize the NFC North standings a bit.
Pick: Packers -7
New Orleans -1 At Chicago
If Detroit can do the Bears like that, so can the Saints. With Brees firing on all cylinders, a defense that has 10 (!) takeaways and a tight end that can give you six scores and 458 yards in four games, New Orleans is looking ready for a run. The Bears are no pushovers (3rd in the league in scoring, league leader in takeaways, undefeated at home), but the Saints are a better team.
Pick: Saints -1
At NY Giants -2 Philadelphia
Both these teams look broken, but remember what the Eagles offense looked like in Week 1? It seems so long ago, before all the turnovers and the not scoring set in. But the Giants got problems, man. David Wilson might finally have a game worth noting this week, even behind a banged up offensive line, and Eli will find opportunities against the 31st ranked pass defense in the NFL, but I still thing the Eagles can right the ship and find some of that offensive magic that’s been missing for the past few weeks.
Pick: Eagles +2
Carolina -2 At Arizona
Panthers are better. Better D, better O. How cares if this game is in Glendale.
Pick: Panthers -2
San Diego -4.5 At Oakland
Rivers is on fire lately, but his defense is giving life to opposing team’s QBs. Pryor gets the start after Matt Flynn’s sorry showing last week and he should have a pretty good game. But every week Rivers manages to make someone a hero – Eddie Royal, Danny Woodhead, Antonio Gates. You get the idea. Despite strong performances from Terrelle Pryor and Rashard Jennings, I still like the Chargers in the late-late game.
Pick: Chargers -4.5
Denver -7.5 At Dallas
Both teams sit on top of their respective divisions, but the Broncos are unstoppable and the Cowboys are kinda stoppable.
Pick: Broncos -7.5
At San Francisco -6.5 Houston
Will the Schaub pick-six streak continue? Will the 49ers build off that crushing win against St. Louis? Can Arian find room to run? Both teams are 2-2 and this matchup should show us which team’s a legit playoff contender and which squad will be battling for wild card status. Houston’s D is number one in the league against the pass and number one in the league in yards allowed. That sounds dandy, right? Well the same unit ranks 23rd in the league against the run and 23rd in the league in points allowed. San Francisco learned last week that if you feed Frank Gore, good things happen. The Niners take the ball out of Kap’s hands and win this one the old fashioned way.
Pick: Niners -6.5
At Atlanta -10 NY Jets
I love Bilal. I love shouting his name when watching Jets games. “BI-LALLL!!” You should try it sometime. It’s really therapeutic. Bilal love aside, the Jets are overmatched here, as the spread indicates. Yea the Falcons are 1-3 and the Jets are 2-2, but let’s not fool ourselves here. Atlanta’s three losses have come against the Saints, Fins and Pats, three teams that are a combined 11-1 on the year. The Jets beat the winless Bucs by a point and the 2-2 Bills by a TD. Flacons are gonna roll.
Pick: Falcons -10
Last Week: 9-6
Season: 28-33-2
Last Season: 136-121-5
Oct 3rd
ACE Brand Personal Pit Crew Sweepstakes
Did you ever need some help with a task and wanted it done correctly but in a timely fashion? Was there a project that you wanted to check off your to do list? What if you could have your own personal pit crew help you with a project, what would it be?
Sounds too good to be true right? Wrong! ACE Brand from 3M Company, in partnership with Roush Fenway Racing launch the ACE Brand Personal Pit Crew Sweepstakes.
All you need to do starting today through Thursday, October 31, 2013 is enter the sweepstakes by sharing your project ideas at ACEBrand.com/PersonalPitCrew. Then just spotlight how you would use your very own pit crew for a chance to win a series of prizes.
With the contest are some sweet and shareable videos featuring the No. 16 3M Racing Team, also known as the Pit Bulls. They are helping families accomplish everyday household tasks at lightning speed. No matter if it is getting the family out of the house in the morning to cleaning out the garage.
The Pit Bulls support driver Greg Biffle – before, during, and after the race – and the ACE Brand Personal Pit Crew Sweepstakes brings these pit crew skills from the race track to the household. Just as the pit crew is on hand and always ready to service their racecar during a pit stop, they will be ready, willing, and able to help the winner of the ACE Brand Personal Pit Crew Sweepstakes accomplish just about any routine task.
“At ACE Brand we are proud to be the official braces and supports of NASCAR – delivering on our promise to help people perform at their best,” said Scott Erickson, brand manager, ACE Brand. “Just as Greg Biffle relies on his pit crew to get through every race in top performance, the ACE Brand Personal Pit Crew Sweepstakes gives you the chance to have your very own pit crew help you complete just about any project.”
The grand prize winner will receive $5,000 to go towards their project plus their very own “Personal Pit Crew”, consisting of members of the 3M Racing team along with a team of professionals, to do the work. It can be anything from a room make-over or a landscape job to refurbishing a car, and more (up to $5,000 in total value).
Plus three runner-up winners will receive NASCAR merchandise packs including an authentic 3M Racing Team shirt worn by a member of the 2013 team and signed by Greg Biffle. The winners will be selected at random and notified in early November.
“When I heard ACE Brand was going to give fans the opportunity to win a personal pit crew, I knew it was going to be big,” said Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 3M Ford Fusion. “The people at 3M are always coming up with creative ways to bring the NASCAR experience closer to the fans and it doesn’t get much closer than getting your own pit crew.”
The partnership between 3M and Roush Fenway Racing is longstanding and the No. 16 3M Pit Bulls can be seen on the racetrack during every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, supporting Greg Biffle. For the drivers and pit crew members who so skillfully keep the racecars going, ACE Brand is committed to providing a complete line of elastic compression bandages, hot and cold therapy products, and braces, and supports to keep the crew ready and active.
To watch the video series, enter the ACE Brand Personal Pit Crew Sweepstakes, and for more information about the sweepstakes and ACE Brand Products, visit www.ACEBrand.com or www.ACEBrand.com/PersonalPitCrew.
Oct 2nd
