Straight Shootin’ NFL Picks for Week 3

Last week I was 11-5 overall, 2-1 on locks, and 5-0 on upsets. My lackluster overall score and missing on a lock (Cincinnati over Green Bay) bother me, but I am pleased with my 5-0 picks of the upsets.

My overall record for the year now stands at 23-9, with 4-1 on locks, and 6-1on upsets.

Washington 16 (1-1)
Detriot 24 (0-2) -upset
I know I’m not the only one who see’s this coming. Washington’s offense stinks!

Green Bay 35 (1-1)
St. Louis 6 (0-2) –lock
Green Bay won’t be shocked two weeks in a row. The Rams look like the worst team in the NFL right now.

San Francisco (2-0) 24
Minnesota (2-0) 20 -upset
Most people would be surprise by this, but I’m telling you, the 49ers team is good. I know it’s early, but right now I’d consider them Super Bowl favorites. Minnesota has been good but should be better on defense than they have been so far. San Fran can handle AP better than most teams.

Atlanta 31 (2-0)
New England 17 (1-1) -upset
Let’s face it, New England is lucky to be 1-1. The Falcons are the much better football team. Randy Moss, after being embarrassed by Darrelle Revis last week, is faking a bad back and should be limited in this one even against a less than strong Atlanta secondary, their weakness. With Wes Welker and Julian Edelman also hobbled and Joey Galloway a bust so far, the Patriots and their non-existent running game could be in for a long day. I was laughed at when I said the Pats would go 9-7. I was laughed at when I said they’d lose to the Jets. Laugh at me now for picking Atlanta, but I’ve been the by laughing at the end lately.

Tennessee 17 (0-2)
New York Jets 10 (2-0) -upset
Well waddya know the Jets are 2-0 and the Titans are 0-2. Don’t expect it to last. Tennessee is just as physical as Rex Ryan’s Jets, and they have the first decent defense the Jets have faced this season. Tennessee’s defense dominates.

Kansas City 6 (0-2)
Philadelphia 38 (1-1) -lock
Amazing how much better the Chiefs offense was with Brodie Croyle at QB in week 1 against Baltimore than they were with Matt Cassel in week 2 against Oakland. After putting up 24 points on one of the league’s top defenses in week one, KC flopped as they struggled to even score 10 against the Raiders, supposedly one of the league’s worst defensive teams. Don’t expect this to be much of a ball game.

New York Giants 37 (2-0)
Tampa Bay 10 (0-2) -lock
This should be as lopsided as any game this week.

Cleveland 17 (0-2)
Baltimore 35 (2-0)
The Ravens don’t look like a playoff team right now. That said they should have an easy enough time at home against the Browns. The Quinn to Edwards connection is starting to work, but Cleveland’s defense has been among the league’s worst so far.

Jacksonville 17 (0-2)
Houston 38 (1-1) -upset
Jacksonville is a team in turmoil, Houston is a team that could get on a roll after turning things around in the second half last week.

New Orleans 50 (2-0)
Buffalo 24 (1-1)
Not as bad as week 1, but this should be a slaughter. Another big day for the Saints offense will have the media in a frenzy.

Chicago 31 (1-1)
Seattle 17 (1-1)
Seattle had a good time against a college team (St. Louis) in week one before being welcomed back to the NFL in week 2 against the 9ers. People don’t seem to realize how huge the Bears win over the NFL’s top team (the Steelers) last week was. It was a huge win for both the Bears and for Jay Cutler, but the media hates Jay Cutler so you wont here that from them. It will be hard for them to deny Cutler’s success today though.

Miami 20 (0-2)
San Diego 28 (1-1)
After being blown out in week 1, Miami bounced back to outplay the Colts on Monday Night in week 2. Problem is they still lost. San Diego is lucky to be 1-1. I’m having a hard time deciding on this one, but I have to give the edge to San Diego. Miami doesn’t seem to have things going their way right now.

Pittsburgh 31 (1-1)
Cincinnati 10 (1-1) -lock
Pittsburgh was upset by Chicago last week, and the Bengals pulled probably the biggest upset of this young season against Green Bay. Lightning won’t strike twice. The Steelers will dominate this division matchup (as usual)

Denver 10 (2-0)
Oakland 21 (1-1) -upset
Denver is 2-0? Wow. But of course there wins have come in very close games against Cincinnati and Cleveland. Now they get an Oakland team that should be 2-0. Denver is in for a rude awakening. Oakland’s win at home could establish them as the favorite for #2 in the pitiful AFC West. They’ll never go anywhere with JaMarcus Russell losing games for them though.

Sunday Night

Indianapolis 31 (2-0)
Arizona 24 (1-1) -upset
Indy is barely 2-0, but barely 2-0 is still 2-0. We’ll have to see which Arizona team shows up (the week 1 or 2 version?). I actually expect Tim Hightower and the running game to be bigger for the Cards against the Bob Sandersless Colts, but I don’t think it will be enough even against a struggling Colts team.

Monday Night

Carolina 35 (0-2)
Dallas 24 (1-1) -upset
Carolina needs a win, and this would be a great place to get it. A win in Dallas on a Monday Night would be a perfect way to turn the season around, and after almost beating a very strong Atlanta team at home last week, Carolina should roll. Dallas is no match for the strong Panthers team, which maybe can now play where they’re best, as underdogs. If the Panthers stick to the run game, Dallas doesn’t have a chance. If they blitz, Tony Romo will turn the ball over. If they get the ball in Steve Smith’s hands, he will torch the Cowboys as usual. This one shouldn’t be close. Don’t forget, Carolina was a Super Bowl favorite just two weeks ago. Besides week 1, they still look like contenders.

Upsets only apply when the team I pick to lose is picked to win across the boards by all of the lines at BookMaker.com, OddsMaker.com, SBGGLOBAL.com, BetOnline.com, Sportsbook.com, and SportsBetting.com.

I don’t know what’s wrong with these people that set the lines, but I have to think they’re on something! I’m going against them and picking the upset in as often as not. I’ve got 8, yes 8 upsets picked this week. That’s half the games! Maybe I’m overconfident after going 5-0 on upset picks last week, but I don’t think so. Vegas is crazy.

Straight Shootin’ Picks for the AAA 400 at Dover Downs

Lots of things to talk about in the NASCAR world right now, but unfortunately, I just haven’t had the time lately. We’re heading into another below average race that is being extremely overhyped by the media again (Dover), but the kind of competition we’re getting right now will make just about any track look good. Just wait till we get to Charlotte, Martinsville etc.

There sure had been a lot of hype about Juan Pablo Montoya lately, despite the fact that he hasn’t even been close to the top driver recently. Nevertheless, it’s hard to go 5 minutes on a NASCAR broadcast without hearing his name mentioned. Bad news NASCAR fans, Montoya is back. When all the talk was going around about Montoya stopping his ‘points racing’ and going all out and taking chances to win, some people were getting excited about his chances. I on the other hand was dreading it.

I know what an aggressive Montoya looks like, and we saw it last week. It’s the same Montoya we saw most of 2008, only in better equipment. He’s the Montoya who will run over just about anyone on the track at just about any time. We were very lucky several times to avoid wrecks he almost caused last week. And I suspect it will only get worse. An ‘aggressive’ Montoya is bad for all parties involved. When Montoya wrecks not only several other chase contenders but also himself, as is his habit, you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about.

Something else I’d like to address, or at least bring to light; How come nobody seems to be worried about this unfair advantage the 39, 42, 44, and 48 were given as a gift from NASCAR? In this time of the testing ban, every second of testing is critical. Yet 40 teams that attempted today’s race were banned from testing at Dover at all before Friday, while the previously mentioned teams were riding around the track for hours a month ago. Shouldn’t a few questions be raised here?

Even that wouldn’t be so bad, but guess who the top three cars in the first practice Friday were? You guessed it, the 48, 42, and 39. The 44 ran 6th, much higher than usual. Guess who the top three qualifiers were? Yep, the 48, 42, and 39. Coincidence? No way in heck. By the end of happy hour all four teams had cooled off a little, but were still running 2nd, 6th, and 11th. You can tell me all is right here.

Not only were these teams allowed to test, they were also the lone voices’ in NASCAR and Goodyear’s ear about what tires to use this race. That was the point of the testing (very poorly timed testing at the very least). According to most of NASCAR’s Cup teams and drivers (and I do mean most), they didn’t even make the right choice either. But the 42 and 48 teams seemed to like the tires chosen, so those are the tire’s we’ll run despite mass opinion and protests from respected drivers including Greg Biffle and Denny Hamlin.

Whatever. As far the picks go, I’ll admit that the 48 is the ‘obvious’ pick this week, but Biffle is the better driver, and the 16 team seems to be running well now. Johnson and the other ‘unfair advantage’ teams faded during the week, and I expect them all to disappoint a little during the race. I personally hope they all blow tires. 1st is basically a toss up between the 16 and 48, both of whom are capable of dominance. I’ve got all the ‘chase’ cars in the top 20, but expect wrecks to have their say on that before the day is done.

Here are my picks

1) Greg Biffle #16 Roush Ford
The 16 if the strongest Ford right now, and this is a Ford track.
2) Jimmie Johnson #48 Hendrick Chevy
Have gotten progressively slower through the week as their advantage wears off.
3) Mark Martin #5 Hendrick Chevy
Martin is still one of the top drivers at this track.
4) Ryan Newman #39 Stewart-Haas Chevy
Newman has been on and off here but has been fast this week.
5) [b]Carl Edwards #99 Roush Ford
He’ll have to race from the back, but he’s the best driver at Dover.
6) Juan Pablo Montoya #42 Earnhardt/Ganassi Chevy
Should have been black flagged multiple times last week. He’s back….
7) Kurt Busch #2 Penske Dodge
Somehow managing to keep the hot streak going.
8.) Clint Bowyer #33 Childress Chevy
Another solid if unspectacular run for the 33 team as they turn things around.
9) Jeff Gordon #24 Hendrick Chevy
Has shown flashes, but not much else. Riding a hot streak.
10) Joey Logano #20 Gibbs Toyota
Nice run for the rookie of the year.
11) Kasey Kahne #9 Petty Dodge
Would definitely like better, but still holding on.
12) Tony Stewart #14 Stewart/Haas Chevy
This team is not up to their standards right now and need to turn it around.
13) Kyle Busch #18 Gibbs Toyota
Looks like he’s moping again and is not a threat to win until he stops.
14) Matt Kenseth #17 Roush Ford
They need to turn it around soon, and this is as good a place as any.
15) Denny Hamlin #11 Gibbs Toyota
Denny should survive his toughest chase test. Expect him in the top 10 from here on.
16) David Reutimann #00 Waltrip Toyota
May bring home a decent finish if he doesn’t run out of talent!
17) Jamie McMurray #26 Roush Ford
Could be one of McMurray’s better runs.
18.) Dale Earnhardt Jr. #88 Hendrick Chevy
This team does not look good during practice.
19) Jeff Burton #31 Childress Chevy
May finallybe turning the corner.
20) Brian Vickers #83 Red Bull Toyota
Needs to do better to win the championship. Weak in practice but has that way.
21) Kevin Harvick #29 Childress Chevy
Losing some of the momentum they had gained.
22) David Ragan #6 Roush Ford
It’s been a rough year to say the least.
23) Marcos Ambrose #47 JTG Toyota
Ambrose needs to improve his consistency to contend for a chase.
24) Reed Sorenson #43 Petty Dodge
Sorenson is working with no salary and limited recourses.
25) Casey Mears #07 Childress Chevy
Could sneak into the top 15 if he can avoid trouble.
26) A.J. Allmendinger #44 Petty Dodge
Running well on the tires, but chances are good he’ll wreck.
27) Sam Hornish Jr. #77 Penske Dodge
Shows flashes but is likely to wreck.
28.) David Stremme #12 Penske Dodge
Kohphares doesn’t called him ‘Sideways’ Stemme for nothin.
29) Paul Menard #98 Menards Ford
.
30) Martin Truex Jr. #1 Earnhardt/Ganassi Test Chevy
Truex got his only Cup win here, but it’s hard to contend when your only team function is to test for the 42 team.
31) Regan Smith #78 Furniture Row Chevy
This team has fallen off.
32) Bobby Labonte #96 Yates/HOF Ford
This car is awful.
33) Elliott Sadler #19 Petty Dodge
This car is awful.
34) Robby Gordon #7 RGM Toyota
Looks like Gordon is in his last full season.
35) David Gilliland #71 TRG Chevy
Funny how this car never finishes with Gilliland in it.
36) Michael Waltrip #55 Waltrip Toyota
Will be nice to see him go.
37) John Andretti #34 Front Row Chevy
Is working hard just to finish races.
38.) Scott Speed #82 Red Bull Toyota
Will flash back to the Speed we saw over the first few races.
39) Mike Bliss #09 Phoenix Chevy
Will probably park it.
40) Joe Nemechek #87 NEMCO Toyota
Will probably park it.
41) Tony Raines #34 Front Row Dodge
Will probably park it.
42) Dave Blaney #66 Prism Toyota
Start park.
43) Michael McDowell #36 Baldwin Toyota
Probably the worst team on the track.

Straight Shootin’ Picks for the Sylvania 300 at Loudon, New Hampshire

1) Denny Hamlin #11 Gibbs Toyota
Two in a row for Hamlin? Why not? Although he doesn’t get credit for it, Hamlin is one of the best and most consistant drivers at Loudon, and is currently on a hot streak. Hamlin is a lock to be in the top 10.

2) Kurt Busch #2 Penske Dodge
Busch surprised me last week with a great run, and has looked great so far this week. Busch is either great or awful here, and I expect great this time round.

3) Tony Stewart #14 Stewart Chevy
Time to go Tony! The chase is on now, and the 14 team looks ready to turn up the heat. Stewart should have won the last time we were here. He is excellent at this track.

4) Jaun Pablo Montoya #42 Ganassi Chevy
This team has been the fastest all week, leading all three practices and setting the track qualifying record. Now we’ll see how they can do on race day.

5) Mark Martin #5 Hendrick Chevy
The ever consistant Martin has a great average finish here, but amazingly has never won. He’d like to change that this week.

6) Martin Truex Jr. #1 Ganassi Chevy
Jaun Pablo’s testing buddy may have a chance to make some noise for himself this week. This may be Truex’ best track. He has never finished worse than 15th here before being wiped out by Kyle Busch in the spring race.

7) Jimmie Johnson #48 Hendrick Chevy
Johnson is excellent at this track, but the 48 team seems to be struggling a little right now.

8.) Jeff Gordon #24 Hendrick Chevy
The 24 team is hot, and Gordon has an excellent history at this track. Look for him to lead some laps and challenge for a top 5 finish.

9) Kevin Harvick #29 Childress Chevy
Looks like the 29 has finally turned it around. Harvick is about as consistant as they come at Loudon and should be counted on for at least a top 10.

10) Kasey Kahne #9 Gillette Dodge
Kahne has a great run here in the spring and really looks improved at this track. Another solid run of around 10th should be expected, which is what he needs to do here. If he can run solidly at tracks like this, he can make a run at the championship by picking up wins and top 5s and his best tracks like Charlotte and Texas.

11) Clint Bowyer #33 Childress Chevy
Bowyer continues to run solidly and can now focus on 2010.
12) Ryan Newman #39 Stewart Chevy
The 39 team does not look championship caliber right now.
13) Greg Biffle #16 Roush Ford
They would hope for a better run than this, but it’s no disaster.
14) Carl Edwards #99 Roush Ford
They would hope for a better run than this, but it’s no disaster.
15) Dale Earnhardt Jr. #88 Hendrick Chevy
JR knows how to get around this track, and should be solid if nothing else.
16) Kyle Busch #18 JD Gibbs Toyota
Could manage a top ten if he doesn’t wreck. Hopefully he won’t wipe out half the field with a stupid move like he tried to pull last time we were here.
17) Brian Vickers #83 Red Bull Toyota
The lowest finishing chase driver at 17th. Similar to Kahne, it’s a solid enough finish if he can do well at the bigger tracks. Right behind his buddy in the 18 again.
18.) Reed Sorenson #43 Petty Dodge
Will have a very solid run if his luck holds out. Auditioning for another ride after being wronged by the Gillettes.
19) Sam Hornish Jr. #77 Penske Dodge
Should be good for a top 25 if he stays out of trouble. Is in a slump.
20) David Reutimann #00 Waltrip Toyota
Has settled in to the top 20 driver he is.
21) Casey Mears #07 Childress Chevy
Decent run for Mears, but time may be running out on a good ride.
22) David Stremme #12 Penske Dodge
Decent run by Stremme’s standards, qualifying is important in this race.
23) A.J. Allmendinger #44 Gillette Dodge
Should have a decent run if he doesn’t wreck, but that’s a big if at this track.
24) Jamie McMurray #26 Roush Ford
Should pull down a decent run, but needs to do better to find a top ride.
25) Bobby Labonte #71 TRG Chevy
Sad how TRG is outperforming Yates with Labonte.
26) Jeff Burton #31 Childress Chevy
Should be in full testing mode now. This year has been his worst at Loudon in years.
27) Joey Logano #20 JD Gibbs Toyota
Just because he lucked into a win last time doesn’t guarantee him a good finish.
28.) Marcos Ambrose #47 Waltrip Toyota
Not one of the tracks where Ambrose runs well.
29) Matt Kenseth #17 Roush Ford
Something is badly wrong with this team. They should be a top 5 team.
30) David Ragan #6 Roush Ford
Not a track Ragan has mastered yet.
31) Michael Waltrip #55 Waltrip Toyota
One of the few tracks where Waltrip has actually run decently.
32) Robby Gordon #7 RGM Toyota
Gordon is a past winner here.
33) Scott Speed #82 Red Bull Toyota
May have become a decent rearguard.
34) Elliott Sadler #19 Petty Dodge
Still in crappy equipment or he could pull in a decent finsish.
35) Paul Menard #98 Menards Ford
.
36) Erik Darnell #96 Minor League Ford
Not starting his Cup career out too well.
37) Aric Almirola #09 Phoenix Chevy
I guess this ride is better than no ride for one of the sport’s top young talents.
38.) John Andretti #34 DEI Chevy
Andretti isn’t a good enough driver to go a full season at this age.
39) Joe Nemechek #87 NEMCO Toyota
Will be parked before it’s over, even at 300 miles.
40) Tony Raines #37 Front Row Dodge
Won’t make it to the end.
41) Dave Blaney #66 Prism Toyota
Why even start? Money.
42) Mike Wallace #64 Bodine Toyota
This team shouldn’t have a chance.
43) Michael McDowell #36 Baldwin Toyota
McDowell may be rethinking taking this ride.

Straight Shootin’ NFL Picks for Week 2

Last week I was 12-4 overall, 2-0 on locks, and 1-1 on upsets.

Carolina 17 (0-1)
Atlanta 24 (1-0)
The talk in Carolina is already about Bill Cowher and Colt McCoy. That’s how badly week one went. The Falcons, on the other hand, had a very good game beating up on a good Dolphins team, and will be riding high into this one. The Atlanta passing game is emerging as their strength. While the Panthers are probably a better football team, I have to favor the Falcons at home in this one. These teams split the series last year, each winning on there home turf, and I would expect the same this week.

Minnesota 27 (1-0)
Detriot 10 (0-1) -lock
If AP had 180 yards against Cleveland, what will he and the Vikings offense do to Detriot? This one shouldn’t even be close. If Matt Stafford thought the Saints gave him a rough introduction, he aint seen nothin yet! Not with the Vikings on the schedule. This one shouldn’t be close.

Cincinnati 3 (0-1)
Green Bay 31 (1-0) -lock
It looks like Cincinnati’s offense has been bought down to the level of the defense. They suck! The Packers defense had a great showing on Sunday Night against the Bears, and they have the makings of one perhaps the league’s #1 offense. Expect a complete blowout, maybe a shutout.

Houston 10 (0-1)
Tennessee 17 (0-1)
Houston didn’t show up ready to play in week one. The Titans did, but still lost to the defending champ Steelers. Houston is probably the better ball club, but Tennessee is in better shape as of right now. The Titans are even more capable of pushing the Texans around than the Jets were last week. Expect Houston to turn it around before too long, but the turnaround is drastic enough it will take more than one week.

Oakland 24 (0-1)
Kansas City 17 (0-1) -upset
Two teams that were surprisingly strong in games against two of the AFC’s top teams in week one will go head to head in week two. Oakland’s power run game and seemingly improved defense should be able to bring down a Kansas City team that is likely to start Matt Cassel at QB despite Tyler Thigpen’s strong showing last season and Brodie Croyle’s impressive week 1.

New England 21 (1-0)
New York Jets 24 (1-0) (Overtime) -upset
Jets NT Kris Jenkins is the key in this one. One of the most dominant players in the NFL, if Jenkins can get a consistent push up the middle, the Patriots offense will lose its potency. Jenkins up the middle combined with Rex Ryan’s willingness to blitz Brady (for some reason a rarity in the NFL) could spell bad news for Brady, who is obviously not at 100% mentally coming off of knee surgery. The Jets ground game could be dominant.

New Orleans 24 (1-0)
Philadelphia 27 (1-0)
Two teams coming off of blowout wins will square off in week two, but both have big questions going in. New Orleans will transition from facing the terrible Detriot defense to a Philly unit that is consistently one of the best in the league. Philadelphia will go into the game missing two QBs, their own starter Donavan McNabb, out with a cracked rib, and the Panthers starter Jake Delhomme, who won the game for the Eagles in week 1. Kevin Kolb is a good QB, so expect fairly high scoring. Any game with the Saints in it can be expected to turn into a shootout.

St. Louis 7 (0-1)
Washington 16 (0-1)
Both of these team’s offenses look awful in week one, but the Redskins defense looks decent enough to carry them to the win. Bonus prediction: The Skins offense won’t score any TDs, and Shaun Suisham will miss at least one kick. Talk of Mike Shanahan and Colt Brennan will be ramping up in Washington.

Arizona 21 (0-1)
Jacksonville 14 (0-1) -upset
This should be a good game. Both teams were in close games last week against good teams, but both teams lost. Arizona looks to be off to a rough season, as I predicted. Typical of the Super Bowl losers. Jacksonville still has hope of a division title. Surprising that Vegas favors Jacksonville in this one.

Tampa Bay 14 (0-1)
Buffalo 24 (0-1)
Buffalo was a real surprise in week 1, but the magic started to wear off late in the game. This will be a matchup of two of the NFL’s worst teams. The loser of this game may end up with the #1 overall pick in next year’s draft. Buffalo definitely showed more last week, so they get the edge in this one.

Seattle 17 (1-0)
San Francisco 27 (1-0)
The winner of this game will become the leader in the NFC West. Surprising? It shouldn’t be if the 49ers win. And I expect them to do just that. The 9er passing game surprisingly outshined the run game in week one, but I don’t think it will take the running game long to catch up. The strength of the 49ers squad is their defense, led by Patrick Willis and Mike Singletary. The Seahawks had an easy one against an ill-prepared Rams team in week one, and they aren’t likely to have much of a chance behind their weakened offensive line in this one.

Pittsburgh 20 (1-0)
Chicago 17 (1-0)
No, Jay Cutler’s not that bad, but yes, the Steelers defense is that good. Even without superstar safety Troy Polamalu, the Steelers are capable of holding anyone under 20 points. Offensively, they’ll find a way to get just enough. The mass media will be eating up a lack luster performance from Cutler, but things should turn around for him in a big way in week 3 and beyond. At least Cutler won’t need to worry too much about the fans. If they can put up with Alphonso Soriano, Carlos Zambrano, and Milton Bradley, I’m sure they can deal with Cutler starting out with a few bad games. The Bears need to get the ball back into the hands of Matt Forte.

Baltimore 24 (1-0)
San Diego 21 (1-0) -upset
This is a matchup between two AFC favorites who were both nearly the victims of huge upsets last week. Both teams will be looking to bounce back on defense, and San Diego was also disappointed in what should have been a potent offense. Baltimore’s defense and fourth quarter power running game will win it.

Cleveland 17 (0-1)
Denver 10 (1-0)
Cleveland was beaten pretty handily in week one, but they did look better than I expected against a strong Vikings team. Denver on the other hand, looked just as bad as I had expected them to be, if not worse on offense. They were lucking to be facing a similarly weak Bengals squad. Cleveland’s defense will need to make a few game changing plays.

Sunday Night

New York Giants 28 (1-0)
Dallas 17 (1-0) -upset -lock
I’m sure Dallas enjoyed starting the season against Tampa Bay, but now it’s time for them to start NFL play. The Cowboys will go from facing one of the weakest teams to one of the strongest, and the results will show up on the scoreboard. The Cowboys have no answer for the Giants defense and power running game. Welcome back the old Tony Romo. Can someone please tell me why Vegas favors Dallas?

Monday Night

Indianapolis 24 (1-0)
Miami 17 (0-1)
Both teams in this matchup had a disappointing week one, but at least the Colts came out of the week with a win. Miami on the other hand was walloped by the Falcons thanks to their failure to hold onto the football. The Dolphins offense made a living last year on controlling the ball, but going back to their playoff loss last year, they haven’t done that since. If they don’t get that fixed, they may be in trouble. The Colts are typically a fairly safe bet, and they get better as the year goes on.

Upsets only apply when the team I pick to lose is picked to win across the boards by all of the lines at BookMaker.com, OddsMaker.com, SBGGLOBAL.com, BetOnline.com, Sportsbook.com, and SportsBetting.com.

Top Performers

QB

Aaron Rodgers
The Bengals defense will be a welcome break from what was a tough Bears team last week. The Rams are next, with the Lions two weeks after that. Good times in Green Bay.

Brett Favre
Favre will be limited by his attempts, but he’s up against a horrid Lions defense.

RB

Ray Rice
Rice makes this list for the second week in a row, and be even better against a SD defense that was run all over by Oakland last week.

Fred Jackson
Jackson delivered against the Pats as a rusher and a receiver, and now he gets the Buccs, who have proved very vulnerable to the run.

DeAngelo Williams
He’s still DeAngelo Williams, and as long as he gets his touches, he should be in for a big game against the Falcons. His value may be about as low now as it will be all season.

Ryan Grant
See Aaron Rodgers.

Maurice Jones-Drew
MJD could be ready to go off against the Cards. I have some qualms about this matchup though, since MJD wasn’t as good as I expected last week against the Bob Sandersless Colts, and the Cards managed to shut down what I thought would be a strong SF running game last week.

Adrian Peterson
AP against the Lions is as big a dream matchup as anyone could dream up.

Brandon Jacobs
Jacobs should be able to outphysical Dallas on the way to a 100 yard game.

Thomas Jones
The Jets running game could go off against the Pats.

Darren McFadden & Michael Bush
The Raiders duo got it done on the ground against SD last week, and now they get KC.

Clinton Portis
Any RB, much less one as talented as Portis, is a good start against the Rams right now.

WR

Reggie Wayne
After last week’s showing and minus Gonzo, how can you not consider Wayne a good play against a Miami secondary that struggled against Atlanta last week?

Santana Moss
A good performance from Moss is the likely product of facing the Rams defense. Moss is the only real target the team has at WR, and he needs to bounce back from a poor showing last week.

TE

Todd Heap
Just like last week, when Heap’s healthy, he’s a beast. He faces a SD defense that was torched by Zach Miller last week. Week one let it be known that the Ravens are willing to throw a lot. Too much.

Dallas Clark
With Anthony Gonzalez out, Clark should see a few more balls coming his way against an Miami team that couldn’t contain another great TE, Tony Gonzalez, in week one.

Visanthe Shiancoe
I’m a little surprised that I’ve got Shiancoe on this list two weeks in a row, but against the Lions, just about any TE makes for a great play.

Dustin Keller
I thought about putting Keller on the sleeper list, because for some reason he’s being undervalued. He should post some more solid numbers against New England.

Zach Miller
Despite JaMarcus Russell’s terribleness, it looks like Miller and rookie Louis Murphy could form quite a duo in the passing game to go along with Oakland’s RBs. Miller is one of the most undervalued players in the league since he plays for the Raiders. Kansas City may be even less equipped to slow Miller down than SD was last week.

Brent Celek
Celek makes a good play in what should be a shootout against NO. Kevin Kolb should look his way early and often.

Heath Miller
Like I said last week, Miller has a way of coming up with big performances in big games.

Chris Cooley
Cooley is a dream play against the Rams despite Jason Campbell’s struggles. The Rams were completely dismantled by John Carlson last week.

D/ST

Green Bay
This Packers defense is GOOD. They get the Bengals this week, who couldn’t even score double digits against the Broncos last week. This is a great matchup.

Minnesota
Minnesota was a little disappointing against Cleveland last week, but they get a chance for redemption against Detriot. They may give up some yardage and a few scores, but they should get their share of sacks and turnovers too.

New York Giants
It should be turnover and sack central against Dallas this week.

Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is always on this list, even against the Bears. If Jay Cutler continues to throw picks, that’s just icing for the Steelers D.

Washington
Washington is much better on offense than defense, and they face a St. Louis team that was shut out in week 1 by the Seahawks.

Top Sleepers
Sleepers won’t necessarily give you as many points as the top performers, but they may give you more bang for your buck. Sleepers are typically undervalued players who have a chance to put up a good line against a weak opponent.

QB

Jake Delhomme
I wouldn’t recommend starting Delhomme, but keep in mind that his value is about as low as it will ever get right now. If you want him, get him now.

Kevin Kolb is a good QB, and I believe he will have a long and successful NLF career. He should be available in basically all leagues if you’re desperate for a QB this week. Philly takes on the Saints in what is sure to develop into a shootout. Don’t overlook Kolb. I still maintain that he could end up in St. Lou by the end of the season.

Shaun Hill
Hill delivered as one of my sleepers next week, and he goes into another week still undervalued. He should have another solid game against Seattle. Eventually people will catch on, so better grab him now if you need a QB.

Jason Campbell
I sure don’t think much of Campbell or the Redskins offense in general, but if you’re ever gonna use him, use him this week against the Rams, who were blown out by Seattle last week. Campbell could post passable numbers, but he won’t win your matchup.

RB

Jamal Lewis
Lewis was a pleasant surprise against a tough Vikes D last week with Jerome Harrison and James Davis both hurt. How long can he keep it up? At least one more week. The Browns take on Denver’s terrible run defense this week.

Leon Washington
The Jets should have a big day running the ball against New England, and Washington has firmly established himself as the #2. The Patriots may have some trouble with Washington’s speed, especially when matched with a tough running Thomas Jones.

Michael Bush
DMC had a good game against San Diego last week, but Bush looked even better. Snatch him up against a weak KC defense. With Denver and Houston up next, both Oakland backs should be big on the ground.

Jacob Hester
With LT out, somebody’s gonna have to do what Darren Sproles can’t (inside running, short yardage/goal line, block) and that someone is Jacob Hester. Even against a strong Ravens defense, Hester could be worth a play in very deep leagues. The Chargers schedule doesn’t get much easier till week 6 after the bye.

Derrick Ward
Ward is still the #1 back in Tampa, but everyone will be clamoring over Carnell Williams this week. Earnest Graham seems to have been pretty much eliminated from the offense for now (who knows why), so both of Tampa’s top backs should have a good game against a Buffalo defense that hasn’t seen any sibilance of a running game yet.

WR

Donald Driver
Driver shouldn’t be a sleeper, but he is. I saw him dropped in one of my leagues this week. Driver is still a very solid #2, so grab him if by any chance he’s available. The Pack take on a weak Bengals team this week.

Pierre Garcon
I just love this guy. With Gonzo out at least 2-6 weeks, this is Garcon’s chance to shine. The only thing that could limit him is the presence of rookie Austin Collie (I like him too), but the top 3 WRs always get their numbers anyway in Indy’s offense. Grab Garcon now while you still can.

Austin Collie
With Anthony Gonzalez out, Collie becomes the #3 in Indy, and may even get a crack at #2. That means good numbers from a player nobody knows anything about.

Torry Holt
Holt had a solid game against Indy in a low scoring game last week, and now he gets an Arizona defense that couldn’t even slow down the 49ers passing game.

Bernard Berrian, Percy Harvin, and Sidney Rice
After Berrian’s hamstring troubles, some owners have started to forget him already. Even if he’s isn’t 100%, he should have a good game against the Lions. Harvin and Rice will both do well regardless of how much Berrian plays. It’s all about the Lions.

Wes Welker
With the Jets pass rush, I expect to see a lot more dump offs to a now healthier Welker than bombs to Moss.

Chansi Stuckey
One of my favorite sleepers this year followed through with a big game last week, and has established himself as the Jets top big play receiver. He should be able to beat a questionable New England secondary deep a few times this week. Grab him while you still can.

Louis Murphy
I told you about Murphy in the offseason, and I told you about him last week. If last week’s big game (that should have been bigger, no more complaining about bias refs SD fans!) didn’t convince you, maybe a big game against the Chiefs will. Get Murphy now! He is what DHB was supposed to be.

Justin Gage and Kenny Britt
Who needs Washington? Gage and Britt both looked pretty good against the league’s top defense last week, and now they get a chance against the Texans, who were manhandled by a weak Jets passing game last week. Gage especially is a great play, and Britt has huge potential when he stops making so many rookie mistakes.

TE

Vernon Davis
Davis makes the sleeper list for the second week in a row. Is he finally reaching his potential? If he is, you want him on your team yesterday. Mike Singletary seems to have done wonders with him (what did I tell you?), and he’s even a team captain now. Davis looks pretty good against Seattle, and just like last week, his backup Delaine Walker, another converted WR, could see a few looks too.

D/ST

Buffalo
The Bills did a decent job last week against an explosive NE offense, and now they get the Buccs, one of the worst offenses in the league. Tampa Bay’s running game looks OK while they’re healthy though, so keep that in mind.

Cleveland
The Brownies did a better job than I expected against the Minnesota passing game last week, and this week, they face a Denver team that had just about zero offense last week. More importantly, the Browns don’t face AP this week.

Oakland
I know, you think I’m crazy. The Oakland defense has had potential, but now they may finally be starting to put things together. Their matchup against KC this week may be good enough to earn them a start if you’re desperate enough for defense.

San Francisco
Seattle’s big score last week will have a lot of people overlooking this matchup, but I maintain that the 49ers will be one of the league’s top defenses this year. They made it awful hard on an explosive Cardinals offense last week. Seattle will be in for a shock after walking all over the Rams. Get the 9ers D while you still can.

Reed Sorenson is one of NASCAR's top young drivers. He is also one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. However, he has already been bumped from one ride in favor of a bigger name, and now is in danger of losing his ride in the 43 car for next season. Sorenson expected to spend at least a few years in this car, but a recent merger of Richard Petty Motorsports and Yates Racing has changed things. The Current plan is to move A.J. Allmendinger into the 43, while Paul Menard takes over the spot Sorenson currently holds on the team. This should not happen.

Paul Menard has never been successful in NASCAR's highest level series. Nor has he shown signs that he ever will be. Menard is only just good enough to run at the back of races and stay just inside the top 35 cutoff in points.

However, Menard has been all but guaranteed a ride at the Cup level thanks to his father's company, Menards, sponsoring his car. This is nothing but a pure shameless play for money. Even at the junior high level, it is a travesty to see daddy's money getting his kid a spot on a team. To see it happen at this level is atrocious.

NASCAR fans shouldn't let this happen, especially concerning two of NASCAR's greatest teams and the most storied number in the sport. At least not without a fight. We don't want money to be the controlling factor in the sport.

Tell the ownership at Richard Petty Motorsports to keep Reed Sorenson in the 43. Paul Menard does not deserve this ride. Help Reed get what he deserves. Sign the petition. Help save the sport.

Click the following link to sign the petition:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/sorenson43

(Your email address will not be displayed on the petition. You can also sign the petition anonymously if you wish)