NFL playoff picture after Week 15

Current Standings: 

https://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-playoff-bracket-picture-2018-2019-12

CFP Playoff Top 4 Released: Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Oklahoma are in (late)

The Matchups:

1. Alabama vs. 4. Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl

2. Clemson vs. 3. Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2013/04/29/college-football-playoff-logo-winner-golden-football/2121881/

Bowl Season is in full swing!! and Marshall vs South Florida Preview

As many of you already know, the bowl season is 5 days in. FCS teams North Carolina A&T and Alcorn State battled it out in the Celebration Bowl last Saturday to kickoff the bowls. North Carolina A&T won the game, 24-22. Since then,7 games have been played with many more to come. The favorite has won in almost every game played thus far, but we are bound to see upsets soon. Many of the more entertaining bowl games start up in about a week as the beginning of the mania just started.

Tonight, Marshall and South Florida play in the Gasparilla Bowl down in Tampa, Florida. South Florida has lost 5 straight while Marshall has gone 3-2. This bowl game is extremely even with no team having too much of an advantage. South Florida needs a win to lift their spirts and end the season on a strong note. Marshall has won their last 6 bowl games and is 11-1 since 1998. This amazing bowl game record is very important as the confidence level is very high in this program. This game is going to end up being a blast to watch. This is the first ever meeting all time between these programs. I think Marshall ends up winning this game, 38-28. Go Thundering Herd!!

Final Score Prediction: 38-28 Marshall
Line: Marshall -3

https://gousfbulls.com/news/2018/12/2/football-bulls-to-face-marshall-in-gasparilla-bowl.aspx

CFP Playoff Rankings after Week 13

It's Conference Championship Game Week!!

1. Alabama- Beat Auburn 52-21

2. Clemson- Beat South Carolina 56-35

3. Notre Dame- Beat USC 24-17

4. Georgia- Beat Ga Tech 45-21

FIRST 2 OUT

5. Ohio St- Beat Michigan 62-39

6. Oklahoma- Beat West Virginia 59-56

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2013/04/29/college-football-playoff-logo-winner-golden-football/2121881/

CFP Playoff Rankings after Week 11

1. Alabama- Beat Mississippi State 24-0

2. Clemson- Beat Boston College 27-7

3. Notre Dame- Beat Florida State 42-13

4. Michigan- Beat Rutgers 42-7

FIRST 2 OUT

5. Georgia- Beat Auburn 27-10

6. Oklahoma- Beat Oklahoma St 48-47

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2013/04/29/college-football-playoff-logo-winner-golden-football/2121881/

Northwestern clinches the West Divsion for a spot in the Big Ten Champiohship game

Over the weekend, the Northwestern Wildcats defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 14-10 in a defensive battle to clinch their ticket to the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis. Clayton Thorson didn't have a good day going 15/30 for 122 yards with a touchdown and 2 picks. Isiah Boswer had a monster game rushing with 31 carries for 165 yards and a score. Northwestern also managed to recover 2 fumbles lost by Iowa to end crucial drives late in the game. After going 0-3 in nonconference play with losses to Duke, Akron, and Notre Dame, Northwestern becomes the first team ever to win their division after not winning a single nonconference game in the FBS. They finish up the season playing @ Minnesota and Illinois at home. This is probably Pat Fitzgerald's best year ever coaching at Northwestern and should boost his resume if he decides to go to an even bigger Division 1 school or the NFL. But, he is still young and shouldn't move on from this team yet unless he can find a better opportunity. Northwestern is likely to play either Ohio State or Michigan in the Big Ten Championship game in what should be a blast to watch. Ohio State and Michigan square off on Saturday, November 24 @ 12:00pm in the Horseshoe. Congratulations to the Northwestern Wildcats as they are the 2018 Big Ten West Division Champions and will play for the Big Ten  Championship in Indianapolis!! 

Iowa vs Northwestern Highlights courtesy of The Big Ten Netowrk



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JnoXa_NY3U

MLB Playoffs Updated Bracket 3

Courtesy of CBS Sports

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2018-mlb-playoffs-schedule-bracket-start-times-tv-channels-live-streams-postseason-scores-results/

Opinion: What Ohio State did wrong against Purdue last night

1. Couldn't score a touchdown in the redzone the whole game. In the first half, Ohio State had 2 field goals, one missed field goal, and one turnover on downs. 2. RBs couldn’t get going at all. Less than 100 yards rushing in the game 3. O-line was horrendous. They wouldn’t block at all.... 4. Special teams need some work. Dixon almost let up a safety. The kicking team also let up BIG returns. Missed an FG. Allowed a fake FG to eventually lead to a TD. 5. Too many penalties. Costed Ohio St multiple drives and brought Purdue back to life on their respective drives. 6. Parris Campbell couldn’t get going at all. They only threw bubble screens to him THE WHOLE GAME. 7. Linebackers were bad as usual. Continue to let up BIG running plays. Especially in the 4th quarter. 8. Corners didn’t know what they were doing. Blough had a field day passing. 9. Defense was confused on many Purdue possessions. A leader would be nice for them. 10. Got to the QB only once or twice in the whole game. They have to do a better job at pressuring the QB. 11. Coaching staff wasn’t communicating well. I think Urban Meyer is organizing the play calls. Ryan Day needs to have more of a say. 12. Gave up way too many TDs at the end of the game. Score was still kind of close until the defense fell apart late. 13. Why is it that “Hospital stuff” always showcased when Ohio State plays this type of game? Is it on purpose? Have you ever seen other teams do it?

FINAL THOUGHT: Ohio State was outcoached, outplayed, and definitely NOT ready for this game against Purdue. The QB and WRs are the only people that showed up for Ohio State. The Bye Week should help them get things sorted out. I expect a drubbing versus Nebraska in 2 weeks.

FINAL SCORE: Purdue: 49 Ohio St.: 20

MLB Playoffs Updated Bracket 2

Courtesy of MLB on Twitter

https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1049890980684533760

Thursday Night Football: Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots

Thursday Night Football was back in action last night in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The New England Patriots took on the Indianapolis Colts at home in primetime. Here is a breakdown of all the stats and facts from last night...

Recap: For the Patriots, Tom Brady went 34/44 for 341 yards with 3 TD and 2 INT. Both of the interceptions weren't his fault as both of the passes tipped off his recievers fingers and into the hands of an Indianapolis defender. Tom Brady tossed a touchdown to James White, Josh Gordon and Cordarrelle Patterson. With those 3 TD passes, Tom Brady has eclipsed the 500 mark for his career. He even got a rushing TD on the game! Also, Sony Michel picked up the fifth TD for the Patriots on the ground. The ground game had less than 100 yards combined, with Sony Michel providing all of the yards. This is definately an area of improvement in the forseeable future. But, 8 different players caught passes for the Patriots, spreading the wealth nicely. The defense was average and let up 24 points with one sack. For the Colts, Andrew Luck went 38/59 for 365 yards with also 3 TD and 2 INT. Andrew Luck only completed about 60% of his passes which prevented the Colts from finishing some drives. Andrew Luck tossed 2 touchdowns to his favorite TE, Eric Ebron and one touchdown to Erik Swoope. No TDs were scored on the ground. 8 different players also caught passes for the Colts, again spreading the wealth nicely. With a more pass-happy NFL, recievers are becoming more and more important in order to succeed in the NFL. They punted 3 times in the game. Also, Adam Vinateri missed a field goal which might've made the game a little more favorable for the Colts. The defense definately has had some better night as they let up 38 points and got no sacks. A former Ohio State safety, Malik Hooker; in his second yera in the NFL, racked up a defense-leading 12 total tackles on the game.

Final Score: Patriots 38, Indianapolis 24

MLB National League Division Series: Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Game 1

Prediction: Atlanta Braves in 5

https://allevents.in/eglin%20air%20force%20base/atlanta-braves-vs-la-dodgers/2014599045423178

Why will they win Game 1: The Braves avoided playing in an elimmination game as they won the NL East division easily about 2 weeks ago. The Dodgers are just coming off a win versus the Colorado Rockies on Monday night to win the NL West. The Braves have been resting their bullpen and lineup for 4 days now and should have the advantage as the Dodgers only had 3 days. To start off the series, the Atlanta Braves travel to Los Angeles for the first 2 games. Then, the Los Angeles Dodgers travel to Atlanta for the next 2 games. If necessary, the tiebreaker game will take place in Los Angeles next Wednesday, October 10th. Mike Foltynewicz will start Game 1 for the Braves and Hyun-Jin-Ryu will start Game 1 for the Dodgers. Look for the Atlanta Braves to jump out to early lead and maintain it throughout the game. Hyun-Jin-Ryu has an ERA of 2.81 in the postseason for the Dodgers in 3 games. The Braves, on the other hand, haven't played in a postseason game since 2013. This is a young Braves squad with not a lot of postseason experience but I don't think that will hold them back of a solid game one victory.

Predicted Game 1 score: Braves 6, Dodgers 3

MLB Playoffs 2018 Updated Bracket

Courtesy of USA Today Sports

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2018/09/24/mlb-playoffs-schedule-world-series-bracket-tv-start-times/1352785002/

NFL Power Rankings: Post Week 1

Hello Everyone! No need to waste time, NFL power rankings entering week 2!

1. Eagles (1-0) No Wentz, no problem, defense stout in the redzone

2. Vikings (1-0) Cousins, defense, impressive in win vs 49ers

3. Patriots (1-0) Gronk and Brady continue to dominate defenses

4. Rams (1-0) Struggled in first half, dominated in second half

5. Jaguars (1-0) Defense leads the way in a nice win vs Giants

6. Ravens (1-0) Great on all 3 sides of the ball, against #32 team

7. Chiefs (1-0) Mahomes looks like a franchise QB, Hill dominates

8. Packers (1-0) Aaron Rodgers does Aaron Rodgers things

9. Panthers (1-0) Great defense, Cam and McCaffery impress

10. Steelers (0-0-1) James Connor saved Ben from embarrassment

11. Falcons (0-1) Play calling issues continue to haunt Falcons

12. Saints (0-1) Missing: Saints defense. Last Seen: Before Diggs play

13. Redskins (1-0) Possible wild card team IF healthy, AP impresses

14. Chargers (0-1) Offense overshadowed by horrific defense, need Bosa

15. Bengals (1-0) Ross, Mixon, and Green all impress in win over Colts

16. Broncos (1-0) Keenum up and down, defense comes up big

17. Texans (0-1) Watson struggled on deep passes, needs to find rhythm 

18. Buccaneers (1-0) Jameis who? Fitzpatrick dominates with 5 TDs

19. 49ers (0-1) Jimmy G struggles, suffers first loss as a starter

20. Jets (1-0) Defense strangles Detriot, having 5 interceptions

21. Bears (0-1) Great 1st half on both sides of the ball, then collapsed

22. Cowboys (0-1) No sign of offense, questions arise around Dak

23. Dolphins (1-0) Not phased by delay, gets the job done vs Titans

24. Titans (0-1) Injuries costly, could keep Tennessee out of contention

25. Seahawks (0-1) O-line still horrible, Wilson only reason why still relevant

26. Giants (0-1) Odell and Barkley impress, O-line still has issues

27. Raiders (0-1) Derek Carr awful, defense struggles without Mack

28. Lions (0-1) Worst performance of the week, no positives whatsoever 

29. Browns (0-0-1) Defense got 5 turnovers, but Tyrod couldn't execute

30. Colts (0-1) Luck played well, but the defense did not

31. Cardinals (0-1) It might be time to have Rosen play a couple of snaps...

32. Bills (0-1) 47-3. Nathan Peterman 5/18. Nuff said.

Post Week 2 Top 25 College Football Standings: Matthew Zimmerman

My top 25 standings after Week 2...

1. Alabama-Dominated a weak Arkansas State team
2. Clemson-Fought close with Texas A&M but got the W
3. Georgia-South Carolina was no match against this team...
4. Ohio State-Defense looked better against a weak Rutgers
5. Wisconsin-Struggle v. New Mexico early, Taylor got 253 yards
6. Oklahoma-UCLA led by Chip Kelly couldn't get the job done
7. Auburn-Beat a weak Alabama St. team
8. Washington-Took care of North Dakota at home
9. Stanford-Fended off USC as Bryce Love had a better game
10. Notre Dame-Didn't look very convincing versus Ball State
11. Penn State-Smoked an average unranked Power 5 Pitt team
12. West Virginia-Youngstown St. was no match v. these guys...
13. Virginia Tech-No movement after beating William&Mary
14. TCU-Much anticipated top 15 showdown v. Ohio St. here
15. LSU-Burrow continues to get better but tough schedule looms
16. Boise St.-Looked fantastic against Uconn
17. Mississippi State-Won v. a pretty tricky Kansas State team
18. UCF-Milton regressed as they beat South Carolina St.
19. Michigan-Offense looked much better v. Western Michigan
20. USC-Fought hard but ended up losing v. Stanford
21. Oregon-Herbert continues to shine vs. weak FCS Portland St.
22. Oklahoma St.-Took care of South Alabama in convincing W
23. Miami-This team is still the most inconsistent in the FBS 
24. Arizona St.-Herm Edwards not a bad pick-up after all?
25. Michigan St.-Schedule continues to get tougher this year...

NFL Predictions: Week 1: 1 PM Games

Woo! NFL is back baby! Every year fans get optimistic, only to have their heart broken by season's end. Only one team can take home the ultimate prize, so let's start with week 1.

Note: I will be only picking outright. I will tell you the spread and the over-under, but these picks are based on who I think wins, and not whether they cover the spread or not. Also, I will be putting "key games" in bold. These games I will go more in depth than regular ones. There will be about 5 or 6 per week. All listed times are in Eastern Standard Time.


Tennessee Titans @ Miami Dolphins
Sunday, September 9th, 1:00 PM
Spread: TEN -1.5 O/U: 45
Let's get this straight, the Titans have a better overall team than the Dolphins, on both sides of the ball. However, it is unknown how Ryan Tannehill will play, whether he will be rusty or not. The Titans also have several key players not starting, including 2016 All-pro tackle Jack Conklin. With the game being played in a humid Miami climate, the game could come down to a few key plays which could benefit the home team. With that being said, the game will be close, but the Titans pull it out in the end.
The Pick: Titans 19 Dolphins 16
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns
Sunday, September 9th, 1:00 PM
Spread: PIT -5.0 O/U: 46.5
No Bell? No Problem. Or is it? The Steelers look to start 2nd year running back James Conner, who played well last season, but he does not bring the same versatility as Bell. It will be tough to plan against a rather good run defense in the Browns, as it ranked 8th in the league last season. I expect the Steelers to get enough in the passing game with Antonio Brown and Smith-Schuster to get enough points. Although Tyrod Taylor and co. will keep it interesting, the Steelers will take this one.
The Pick: Steelers 26 Browns 20
Cincinnati Bengals @ Indianapolis Colts
Sunday, September 9th, 1:00 PM
Spread: IND -3.0 O/U: 46.5
Andrew Luck is a great QB, and he has some great targets to throw to in TY Hilton and Jack Doyle, who have both been pro bowlers. Problem is, the rest of the team is, iffy. Without him, the Colts were terrible at 4-12, with wins coming against the Jimmy G-less 49ers, the Deshaun Watson-less Texans (twice) and the Browns. The Bengals D-Line should get pressure on Andrew Luck against a weak Colts O-Line. Also, the Bengals WRS in John Ross and AJ Green should be able to rack up yards against the Colts defensive backs. Expect a high scoring game, with the Bengals having the edge.
The Pick: Bengals 31 Colts 27
San Francisco 49ers @ Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, September 9th, 1:00 PM
Spread: MIN -6.0 O/U: 46
Jimmy G is 7-0 as a starter, and his biggest test yet is against the #1 defense last year at their place. , The 49ers run game is a bit shaky, and likely won't be able to hold up against the Vikings. Jimmy G also has to face a pass defense with the likes of All-pro players in Harrison Smith and Xavier Rhodes with a less than average WR corps. I'm more interested to see Kirk Cousins in his debut, and for the Vikings to start 1-0 he must be on point with WRs such as Stefon Diggs and Adam Theilen. The 49ers could win this game if EVERYTHING goes right for them, but I don't see it happening.
The Pick: Vikings 27 49ers 16
Houston Texans @ New England Patriots
Sunday, September 9th, 1:00 PM
Spread: NE -6.5 O/U: 51
The Pick: Patriots 34 Texans 27
Last year this matchup was one of the most exciting games in the NFL, finishing with a score of 36-33. I expect another offensive showdown between the two teams. The Patriots defense appears to be regressing with the loss of pro bowl CB in Maclom Butler and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. Houston should have an explosive offense with Deshaun Watson and Deandre Hopkins returning this season, as with Watson starting, the Texans averaged 33 ppg. However, the Patriots are a very tough team to beat at home, and I expect for Tom Brady to put on an offensive show just as he did in week 3.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints
Sunday, September 9th, 1:00 PM
Spread: NO -9.5 O/U: 49.5
The Pick: Saints 31 Buccaneers 17
Ryan Fitzpatrick, the starting QB for the Buccaneers, does not inspire much confidence. The Saints are a very well balanced team who had an incredible 7-1 home record last season. Drew Brees plays his best football at home, and I expect the Saints to have their way with a Buccaneers squad who has questions on both sides of the ball.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ New York Giants
Sunday, September 9th, 1:00 PM
Spread: JAX -3.0 O/U: 43.5
The Pick: Jaguars 20 Giants 14
It is weird to say that a 3-13 team from a year prior has a chance versus a team that was in the AFC Championship from a year prior. This game will come down to the QBs Eli Manning and Blake Bortles, who will need to perform for their teams to win the game. Jacksonville's defense makes this pick easier for me, and I expect their defense to be just as good if not better than last year, but the Giants also have some interesting pieces, but I believe it will take a couple of games to figure out.
Buffalo Bills @ Baltimore Ravens
Sunday, September 9th, 1:00 PM
Spread: BAL -7.0 O/U: 40.5
The Pick: Ravens 23 Bills 13
Nathan Peterman + Turnover happy defense = Blowout. The Ravens feasted on young QBs last year, QBS including Deshone Kizer, Jacoby Brissett, and Brett Hundley. The Ravens defense should have no problem dominating on the defensive side of the ball against Nathan Peterman, and their offense should be pretty smooth, as they shouldn't face a lot of pressure.

Fantasy Football Blog 3: Crunch time players

You're on the clock. It's round 15 in your fantasy draft, and you don't know which kicker to take. It's crunch time. One pick can determine whether your team wins 12 matchups compared to say, 7 wins. Furthermore, the kickers and defenses are usually picked in the later rounds. These are the ones to go for and why you should get them.


K: Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots

https://www.centralmaine.com/2013/12/20/nfl__kickers_making_it_hard_on_defenses_/

Why to get him: Gostkowski has been on the Patriots for a long time now, and he has made more than 75% of his kicks every year he has been in the NFL. Gostkowski continues to produce every year and is one of the best kickers to have on your fantasy roster. According to pro-football-reference.com, Gostkowski made 37 of 40 field goals in 2017. Gostkowski should continue to make them at a very high rate consistently as long as Tom Brady and the offense can get into the opponents territory. If available, don't pass on this very experienced and trusted kicker on one of the best offenses in the league.

K: Greg Zuerlein, LA Rams

 //www.turfshowtimes.com/2017/8/4/16089356/los-angeles-rams-roster-preview-2017-greg-zuerlein

Why to get him: Out of all the kickers in the NFL, Zuerlein kicked the most field goals. With an offense led by Goff and Gurley, the Rams were able to get points, and a LOT of them. Zeurlein contributed to a huge part of this offense throughout the whole season. Zeurlein even set a Los Angeles Rams record with 7 field goals made in one game. Zeurlein can put up big numbers win it numbers and be the X-factor that most teams don't have. Zeurlein is a fantastic K and can serve your team well when 5 or 6 points are the difference in a game.

D/ST: Jacksonville Jaguars (aka Sacksonville)

http://blog.masslive.com/patriots/2018/01/how_the_jacksonville_jaguars_b.html

Why to get them: With the most improved defense from the 2016-2017 season, the Jacksonville defense is young and very experienced. But, they can only go as far as Blake Bortles will take them. Blake Bortles is one of the most inconsistent QBs in the NFL, and without the consistency the defense will get tired early. But, this defense is extremely stacked and ready for anything that comes their way. Some of the more notable players on the defense are Ramsey, Campbell, Bouye, Jack and Church. This team put up 55 sacks and 17 fumbles in 2017.

D/ST: Los Angeles Rams 

https://www.dailybreeze.com/2017/09/10/defense-jared-goff-lead-rams-to-romp-over-colts-in-sean-mcvays-debut/

Why to get them: The Rams added a slew of good players over the offseason, and they should be one of the best teams in the NFC this year. They got Suh, Talib, and Peters over the 2018 offseason which boosted their defense significantly heading into the season. They should easily be able to shred there division foes: the Seahwaks, 49ers, and Cardinals. The Rams are looking to improve on a playoff apperance last year when the lost in the first round to the Falcons. The Rams defense produced 48 sacks and 17 fumbles in 2017.

Preseason Top 32 NFL standings: Alex Arabis and Matthew Zimmerman

Our top 32 standings...

1. Philadelphia-Just won Super Bowl but no Wentz in Week 1 
2. New England-Tom Brady keeps playing, they keep winning
3. Minnesota-Cousins is best QB addition in the offseason
4. Jacksonville-Defense will be great, Bortles still being himself
5. LA Rams-Have all the pieces but still missing the experience
6. Pittsburgh-Bell not playing yet, Brown not 100%...
7. Green Bay-Rodgers trying to lead team with no great RB, WR
8. LA Chargers-Rivers, Gates old but still have juice left
9. New Orleans-Brees has stacked offense, should win division
10. Atlanta-Preseason wasn't great, in hardest division in league
11. Houston-Deshaun Watson is back and we're happy!
12. Carolina-Cam Newton still one of most mobile QBs in NFL
13. Kansas City- Mahomes and Kareem? Possible top 5 offense 
14. Tennessee-Mariota amazing in playoffs, Corey Davis a gem
15. Baltimore-D/ST still one of best, Flacco should be good still
16. Detriot-Stafford in his prime, have great WRs and new RBs
17. Chicago-Tribusky needs to be proven, but have revamped team
18. Dallas-Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliot, who else?
19. San Francisco-Jimmy G gotta prove himself, D/ST looks good
20. NY Giants-Barkley getting Offensive Rookie of Year award
21. Oakland-Gruden not really helping yet, lost Mack
22. Seattle-Russel Wilson for MVP, carrying this team now...
23. Washington-Alex Smith, but concerns on O-Line
24. Cincinnati-John Ross and Joe Mixon getting lots of hype
25. NY Jets-Sam Darnold, Bilal Powell, decent defense...
26. Miami-Bring back Tannehill, lost Landry, Suh
27. Denver-Miller and Chubb great D line, QBs a problem
28. Indianapolis-Andrew Luck is back and still have T.Y. Hilton
29. Arizona-David Johnson is back, Fitzgerald getting old
30. Cleveland-Did great in offseason, now have to prove on field
31. Tampa Bay-Winston out 3 weeks, team not good enough
32. Buffalo-When your best QB is Nathan Peterman (5 INT guy)...

Post Week 1 Top 25 College Football Standings: Matthew Zimmerman

My top 25 standings after Week 1...

1. Alabama-Dominated a decent Louisville team
2. Clemson-Easily took care of a weak FCS team
3. Georgia-Who is Austin Peay again?
4. Wisconsin-Got the job done versus Western Kentucky
5. Ohio State-Defense gave up 31 points, but offense put up 77
6. Auburn-Quality win against Washington really helps resume
7. Oklahoma-Kyler Murray is the most exciting QB in the Big 12
8. Washington-Only lost by 5 points to a great Auburn team
9. Notre Dame-Anybody that beats *ichigan should be in Top 10
10. Stanford-Struggled early versus Aztecs, pulled away in 2nd
11. Penn State-Appalachian St. proving to be a woe in the BIG 10
12. West Virginia-Will Grier leading Heisman race for QBs
13. Virginia Tech-Very nice win versus Florida St.
14. TCU-Played cupcake FCS squad, will be tested soon
15. Michigan St-Barely beating Utah St. is bad for BIG 10
16. LSU-Former Ohio St. QB Burrow looked good versus Miami
17. USC-Struggled versus UNLV early but got the win
18. Mississippi State-Umm...who is Stephen F. Austin again?
19. Boise St.-Still probably best Group of 5 team out there
20. UCF-Perfect 12-0 regular season record up for grabs again?
21. Michigan-Losing to Notre Dame with great QB not convincing
22. South Carolina-Excited for this team, play UGA Week 2
23. Miami-What happened to Malik Rosier? Turnover chain?
24. Oregon-Justin Herbert continues to impress
25. Oklahoma St.-Will contend vs. OU, WVU for conference title

NASCAR Chase Playoffs Standings of 9/4/2018

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2793892-nascar-at-darlington-2018-results-brad-keselowski-earns-win-over-kyle-larson 

NASCAR Chase Playoffs Standing as of Darlington

                          

                         Driver                                          Playoff Points                                 Wins                 

1.      Kevin Harvick (#4)                                             40                                                 7

2.      Kyle Busch (#18)                                                35                                                 6

3.      Martin Truex Jr. (#78)                                         27                                                 4

4       Clint Bowyer (#14)                                             10                                                 2

5.      Brad Keselowski (#2)                                          9                                                  1

6.      Joey Logano (#22)                                               8                                                  1

7.      Chase Elliott (#9)                                                 8                                                  1

8.       Kurt Busch (#41)                                                7                                                  1

9.       Erik Jones (#20)                                                  5                                                 1

10.     Austin Dillon (#3)                                               5                                                  1

11.     Ryan Blaney (#22)                                              5                                                  0

12.     Kyle Larson (#42)                                               2                                                  0

13.     Denny Hamlin (#11)                                           2                                                  0

14.     Aric Almirola (#10)                                            1                                                  0

15.     Jimmie Johnson (#48)                                        0                                                  0

16.     Alex Bowman (#88)                                           0                                                  0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

17.     Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (#17)                                  2                                                  0

18.     Ryan Newman (#31)                                          0                                                  0

19.     Paul Menard (#21)                                             1                                                  0

20.     Daniel Suarez (#19)                                           0                                                  0

College Football Preview: Contenders and Sleepers

College Football is back! On Saturday there were a couple of appetizer games, but all of us want the full-course meal. To get you excited, we're going to be looking at each conference (FBS) and talking about a few of the teams that you should look out for this season.

AAC

Major Contenders:

UCF is coming off a perfect 13-0 record in 2017. Scott Frost is off to Nebraska now, but they bring back McKenzie Milton, their star QB. USF and Memphis are not far behind UCF as they both suffered close losses to them. Look for one of these teams to make the New Year's Six this year as this is easily the strongest non Power 5 conference. (Maybe Mountain West but...)
Sleepers: 
Look out for the Temple Owls to compete with UCF and USF for the AAC east title. While it may be a long shot, Temple has a very deep linebacker corps, which might be the best in the entire conference. Temple’s offensive weapons are also among the best in the conference, with flashy WR Isaiah Wright leading the charge. It probably won’t be this season, but Temple could contend for a conference title in a few years if they stay on their current path. Also watch out for Houston, with potential #1 overall pick Ed Oliver, to challenge Memphis for the AAC West.

East:

1. UCF
2. USF
3. Temple
4. Cincinnati
5. Connecticut
6. East Carolina

West:

1. Memphis
2. Navy
3. Houston
4. Tulane
5. SMU
6. Tulsa

ACC
Major Contenders:
The obvious contender is Clemson, who likely has the best front 4 in the nation. Freshman QB Trevor Lawrence might compete for the starting job with senior Kelly Bryant. Whoever ends up starting will have a very solid supporting cast. Who is after them though? Well, Miami, who returns many defensive starters from last season should be in the mix. Also look out for a new and resurgent Florida St. squad to bounce back this season.
Sleepers: 
Boston College is a team that could get 9 wins this year, and that is no joke. RB AJ Dillon and QB Anthony Brown make up one of the more exciting offenses in the conference. Boston College’s offense hasn’t looked better since the Matt Ryan days of 2007. Their defense should be stellar like it is most years, so don’t be surprised if this team finished second behind Clemson. A New Year’s Six game is within reach if everything goes to plan.

Atlantic:

1. Clemson
2. Florida St.
3. Boston College
4. NC State
5. Wake Forest
6. Louisville
7. Syracuse

Coastal:

1. Miami
2. Virginia Tech
3. Georgia Tech
4. Pitt
5. Duke
6. Virginia
7. North Carolina

Big 10
Major Contenders:
Ohio State will be missing Urban Meyer for 3 games, but with the amount of talent on their roster, they are a force to be reckoned with. Penn State also brings back a future NFL player in Trace Mcsorley but lost Saquon Barkley and Mike Gesicki. Wisconsin, the team with the stacked O-line, is lead by Alex Hornibrook and Johnathan Taylor. They should win the West again. Except all of these teams to be in the playoff conversation late into the season.
Sleepers:
Purdue hasn’t had much success over the past few years, as last season was their first bowl win season since 2011. However, Purdue has a good chance of turning into a 9 win team this season, if everything goes right. First, they have a great defense which only allowed 20.5 ppg last season. They did lose some pieces on that defensive line, but they can help the defense with solid play from a good running back corps and QBs David Blough and Elijah Sindelar. Purdue isn’t quite there to compete with Wisconsin, but they could be dangerous over the next few years.

East:

1. Ohio State
2. Penn State
3. Michigan
4. Michigan State
5. Maryland
6. Indiana
7. Rutgers

West: 

1. Wisconsin
2. Iowa
3. Purdue
4. Northwestern
5. Nebraska
6. Minnesota
7. Illinois

Big 12
Major Contenders:
Oklahoma just ended a College Football Playoff trip, but they lost Baker Mayfield among other stars on the team. Texas is going into Year 2 with Tom Herman and they are looking to take back control of the conference. Also, TCU brings back another strong group of talented players but will be tested early in Week 3 against Ohio State. West Virginia has maybe the best QB in Will Grier and should be in the playoff mix late in the season. Other notable teams are Oklahoma State and Iowa State.
Sleepers: 
West Virginia? Yup, they have the best chance of any Big 12 team to upend Oklahoma and take the Big 12 title from them. West Virginia’s passing offense might be the best in the nation, with QB Will Grier leading the charge with a stacked WR corps. The X-factor is the defense, and whether if they can perform up to the offense’s standard. West Virginia’s front 7 should be great, but the question lies in the secondary, where they replaced 3 of the 4 players there. If they perform, it is very possible that West Virginia ends up as Big 12 champs. Maybe a playoff berth.

Full Standings:

1. Oklahoma
2. West Virginia
3. TCU
4. Texas
5. Oklahoma State
6. Iowa State
7. Kansas State
8. Texas Tech
9. Baylor 
10. Kansas

Conference USA
Major Contenders:
Florida Atlantic is back with Lane Kiffin at the helm. They went 9-3 last year losing to only Navy, Wisconsin, and Buffalo. They should be a playoff contender this year. Also, North Texas is back again after suffering a loss to Florida Atlantic in the 2017 conference championship. Other contenders are UAB and Southen Miss. Southern Miss played their bowl game close last year against Florida State but ended up losing in the end. Expect for them to be back this year too.
Sleepers: Marshall and UAB could be dark horse candidates to win their respective conferences. Marshall nearly defeated FAU last season, losing by a score of 30-25. Defense is definitely the strong point, and it will need to carry the team for it to do well. UAB was a great story last year coming back as a program and going 8-5 right out of the gate. UAB is very deep at RB, and with senior QB AJ Erdely returning this year, their offense might be second best in the conference.

East:

1. Florida Atlantic
2. Marshall
3. FIU
4. Middle Tennessee 
5. Western Kentucky
6. Old Dominion
7. Charlotte

West:

1. North Texas
2. UAB
3. Louisiana Tech
4. Southern Miss
5. UTSA
6. UTEP
7. Rice

Independents (FBS)

Major Contenders:
As you may already know, Independents don't reside in any conference. But, they are still worth talking about and making a list for them. Liberty and New Mexico State are the 2 new additions this year. Liberty is transitioning from the FCS and New Mexico State was previously in Sun Belt. Army is back after having a stellar year going 10-3 and beating Navy, San Diego State to close out the year. Notre Dame continues to have to manage the toughest schedule in college football as they are looking to make the playoffs in 2018. 

Full Standings:

1. Notre Dame
2. Army
3. BYU
4. UMass
5. New Mexico State
6. Liberty 

MAC

Major Contenders:

MACtion every Tuesday! Let's go!! With Western Michigan making the New Years Six 2 years ago gives this conference credit as the 2nd best non Power 5 conference. Toledo is also looking very good even though they lost QB Logan Woodside to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Ohio Bobcats also look like a major contender as they went 5-3 in the conference last year with a win versus Toledo.
Sleepers: Buffalo has a lot of players returning from injuries last year, and if they stay healthy they could be dangerous in the MAC East. Buffalo’s defense is very solid, including star LB Khalil Hodge, who is probably the best LB in the entire conference. Buffalo also returns Tyree Jackson and Anthony Johnson, who should both be a deadly QB-WR combination this season.

East:

1. Ohio
2. Miami (OH)
3. Buffalo
4. Akron
5. Kent State
6. Bowling Green

West:

1. Toledo
2. Northern Illinois
3. Western Michigan
4. Central Michigan
5. Eastern Michigan
6. Ball State

Mountain West
Major Contenders:
Boise State is back with another talented roster and they might be the best Group of 5 team in the nation. Fresno State also brings back Keyshawn Johnson, a senior WR who has put up close to 2,000 yards on the season. Other teams to know are Wyoming, who lost their star QB in Josh Rosen, and San Diego State who lost Rashad Penny also. We will see if these teams and continue to produce at a high level.
Sleepers: Boise State is the clear favorite to win the Mountain division, but Utah State might put up a good fight for the title. Utah State has Jordan Love, who is honestly the best QB in the entire conference, and with him, they should be able to win any conference game. They also are good in the trenches, with solid offensive and defensive lines which can allow them to run the ball/rush the passer effectively. Boise St. might be a bit too good, but you never know.

Mountain:

1. Boise State
2. Utah State
3. Wyoming
4. Air Force
5. Colorado State
6. New Mexico

West:

1. Fresno State
2. San Diego State
3. Nevada
4. UNLV
5. Hawaii
6. San Jose State

PAC-12
Major Contenders:
Washington is definitely the strongest team in the conference. But, this is a conference that went 1-8 in bowl games and their continues to be no depth. USC, who lost Sam Darnold, lost to Ohio State 24-7 last year in the Cotton Bowl. They should be able to win the South anyway. My dark horse in this conference would probably have to be Arizona and Kahil Tate who is one of the most exciting players to watch. Also, watch out for Stanford as they have stints against USC, Oregon and Notre Dame in the first half of the season that will determine how far they can go.
Sleepers: Arizona is a very intriguing team this year, as they bring back much of the components from their 2017 campaign. This includes dynamic QB Khalil Tate, who honestly could be in contention for the PAC-12 offensive player of the year award. Their defense also returns 9 starters, which is huge as they will develop more chemistry during the season. They also have an easier schedule than USC and Utah, as they do not have to play either Washington or Stanford. Arizona this year could win their first PAC-12 South title since 2014.

South:

1. USC
2. Arizona
3. Utah
4. UCLA
5. Arizona State
6. Colorado

North: 

1. Washington
2. Stanford
3. Oregon
4. California
5. Washington State
6. Oregon State

SEC
Major Contenders:
For starters, Alabama is and will always be a major contender as long as Nick Saban continues to be the head coach there. Georgia is close behind, as they barely lost to them in the National Championship Game. Auburn, the only team to beat Alabama and Georgia, faced Georgia again in the SEC Championship Game and ended up losing. Auburn had possibly one of the toughest schedules last year but sadly couldn't win the game that counted the most.
Sleepers: Mississippi State has been overlooked by Alabama, Auburn, and even LSU in their conference. But, believe it or not, MSU can contend for an SEC West title if EVERYTHING goes to plan. Nick Fitzgerald has a case for being the best QB in the SEC, and their RBs and OL should put up a ton of points against weaker SEC teams. However, for games against Alabama and Auburn, they will need to rely on Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat, who are 2 of the best D-lineman in the country.

East:

1. Georgia
2. South Carolina
3. Missouri
4. Florida
5. Kentucky
6. Tennessee
7. Vanderbilt

West: 

1. Alabama
2. Auburn
3. Mississippi State
4. LSU
5. Texas A&M
6. Ole Miss
7. Arkansas

Sun Belt
Major Contenders:
Ahhh...Troy! The team that beat LSU 24-21 in 2017 at the beginning of the year. They will be a contender along with teams like Arkansas State and Georgia State. Arkansas State is coming off a close loss to Troy in the Sun Belt championship game. An early nonconference game against Alabama will give a good understanding of how far Arkansas State can go this year.
Sleepers: Georgia State was one of college football’s biggest surprises last season, as they finished 7-5 and went to their first bowl game in program history. Georgia State’s best player returns this season, and that is Penny Hart, who is a blue chip WR, who can make so many plays when he gets the ball in his hands. Georgia State’s defense should be among the best in the conference, so if they can get their run game going in 2018, look for them to contend in the Sun Belt East.

East:

1. Troy
2. Appalachian State
3. Georgia State
4. Coastal Carolina 
5. Georgia Southern

West:

1. Arkansas State
2. Louisana Monroe
3. South Alabama
4. Louisiana
5. Texas State

Preaseason Top 25 College Football standings: Matthew Zimmerman

My top 25 standings...

1. Alabama-Won National Championship in 2017
2. Clemson-Best defense in country
3. Georgia-Came close to winning Championship in 2017
4. Washington-Jake Browning is a future NFL QB
5. Ohio State-Hopefully scandal won't hurt them
6. Wisconsin-Best O-line in country
7. Miami-Challenging Clemson for ACC this year
8. Oklahoma-Lost Mayfield but Murray is great replacement
9. Penn State-Saqoun is gone, should be just fine though
10. Auburn-Beat Alabama and Georgia but couldn't get SEC crown
11. Notre Dame-Toughest schedule in FBS...again
12. Stanford-Bryce Love will get Heisman this year
13. Michigan-Shea Patterson is a great fit for team, defense stout
14. Michigan State-LJ Scott very good, always competitive spirt
15. TCU-Will compete vs Oklahoma, Texas for BIG 12
16. USC-Darnold is gone, wait to see how they react
17. West Virginia-Will Grier with top 3 receiving corps
18. Virginia Tech-Josh Jackson is one of best QBs in ACC
19. Florida State-New coach, new season
20. Boise State-Arguably best Group of 5 team in FBS
21. Mississippi State-Take care of Auburn, Bama...good stuff
22. Texas-Tom Herman in Year 2, fans getting antsy
23. UCF-Lost coach but bring back McKenzie Milton
24. South Carolina-Might be dark horse in SEC
25. Oregon-Justin Herbert one of the best QBs in nation?

Fantasy Football Sample Team 2

Starting Lineup

QB: Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles

RB1: Ezekiel Elliot, Dallas Cowboys

RB2: Alex Collins, Baltimore Ravens

WR1: Odell Beckham Jr, New York Giants

WR2: Micheal Thomas, New Orleans Saints

TE: Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers

D/ST: Jacksonville Jaguars

K: Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers

Bench

QB2: Phillip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers

RB3:  Jay Ajayi, Philadelphia Eagles

RB4: Duke Johnson, Cleveland Browns

WR3: Adam Theilen, Minnesota Vikings

WR4: John Ross, Cincinnati Bengals

FLEX: Robby Anderson, New York Jets

D/ST2: Seattle Seahawks

Fantasy Football Sample Team 1

Starting Lineup

QB: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

RB: Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans

RB: Melvin Gordon, LA Chargers

WR: Odell Beckham Jr., NY Giants

WR: Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings

TE: Jimmy Graham, Green Bay Packers

FLEX: Tevin Coleman, Atlanta Falcons

D/ST: LA Chargers

K: Greg Zuerlein, LA Rams

Bench

QB: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

RB: Carlos Hyde, LA Chargers

RB: Bilal Powell, NY Jets

WR: James Washington, Pittsburgh Steelers

WR: Devin Funchess, Carolina Panthers

TE: Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

K: Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis Colts

Fantasy Football Blog 2: Important midrounders

Mid-rounders are very important in the realm of fantasy. If your best player fails, usually these guys will help your team win a few games. These mid rounders are usually when you pick a QB and a TE. The best fantasy players are usually the ones that pay attention to these picks the most. On average, a QB racks up 20-30 pts a game and a TE 5-10. If you are drafting players that are below these average point paces, then you will probably not win your league. In this blog, I will explain the reasons why you need at least one solid player in each position and who to look for on draft day.

QB: Risking an extra good WR or RB to get the best QB in your draft is probably worth it. Other than the top 10 or so players in fantasy, never go off of a player's draft number as who you pick. Usually, fantasy experts just rate them based on the projected amount of points they will get. Players that just go off of the lowest number left usually don't win their draft. If you want a good QB on your team, make sure you pick one that a) has good receivers to throw to, b) at least 70% accuracy MOST games and c) moves around in the pocket. Besides RBs, a QB usually puts up the most points on a fantasy team. Don't screw this pickup or else you might lose your league.

QB to look for on draft day: Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjW1afTpfTcAhUO7lMKHb8aDH0
QjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsports.yahoo.com%2Fyankees-trade-russell-wilson-reason-200744412.html&psig=AOvVaw30TvS3qzhUpJkvpyH1qdNa&ust=1534602416503890

Why pick him: Russell Wilson is the most pressured QB in the NFL. Last year in 2017, Russell Wilson led his team in rushing yards by a wide margin. If he doesn't show up for even ONE game, the Seahawks are basically screwed. After completely gutting their roster and losing star players like Cliff Avril, Marshawn Lynch among others the past 2 years, the Seahawks will be relying on him more than ever this year. The reason why I like him the most is that he is always avoiding the direct contact and he scrambles to the sidelines when he can. He is super injury-prone also. If you can, try to get Russell Wilson on draft day.

TE: Ah...the QB's favorite big man to pass to. TE's are a key asset to every team's receiving game. Players like Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce serve as key targets for a team's offense, With the ability to get separation from a defense's linebacker, QB's usually have an easy target to throw to down the field. Also, TE"s serve as an important blocker to open up holes for a running back to run through. TE's almost never fail to produce and continue to catch many balls going their way for needed gains. Try to get a TE that has very good chemistry with their QB as this will lead to around 10-15 points a week for fantasy players.

TE to look for on draft day: Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

https://www.facebook.com/RobGronkowski/

Why pick him: You've seen the big plays when TOM BRADY throws to ROB GRONKOWSKI for a -- yard TD! Without a doubt, Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski are the best QB-TE duo in the NFL. The chemistry between them is insane! On top of that, this might be Gronkowski's (and possibly Brady's) last season in the NFL so you know he's going to put up a 1000 yard receiving campaign with like 10 TDS. With Danny Amendola off to the Dolphins, Tom Brady needs Gronk to help in a major way this year. If you are able to get him, you will not regret it at all. Gronkowski is set to have a major season this year and won't stop for nothing,

Fantasy Football Blog 1: Who to pick No. 1?

The NFL preseason is just days away from starting, and a bunch of important players still have not agreed to a long term contract yet. Players like Kahlil Mack, Aaron Donald, and Earl Thomas are still trying to work out long-term contracts with their teams. But Sam Darnold, who has not seen the field yet, is losing precious time while his agent is working with the Jets organization to get a rookie contract squared away. Sam Darnold's chances of getting the starting job in Week 1 is dwindling as his competitors Teddy Bridgewater and Josh McCown are taking reps with the offense already. Hopefully, these players can get on the field soon and not miss too much valuable time with their players and coaches. If that's not exciting enough, the fantasy football season is back! Die-hard players are knocking out mock drafts and gorging over magazines trying to get that much-needed edge on their opponents. Every pick is crucial in these drafts and without the right mindset, you could be the big loser in your league. I will be writing multiple blogs a week to keep you updated on everything you need to know before the NFL season starts. Here is my list of players to pick No. 1 in your draft...


Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

https://www.steelcityunderground.com/2017/09/21/
matchup-of-the-week-leveon-bell-vs-bears-run-d/

Why pick him No. 1: Le'Veon Bell is one of the best players at his position right now. According to pro-football-reference.com, he ran for 1,291 yards in 2017 with 9 TDs. He is a reliable catcher to with 655 yards and 2 TDs. Todd Gurley and Ezekiel Elliot might provide more production than Bell, but don't pass on him if he's still on your board. Big Ben is going to retire any season now, so expect Bell to have a breakout season as more reps will probably go his way. Bell is in his late 20's and nearing his prime so he isn't holding anything back now. Bell has still not shown up for training camp barring his contract problem so this might add for some early season woes. Make sure to add a good RB to replace Bell if needed just as a precaution. Other than that, I like Bell as a 1st round choice and he should produce a great year for fantasy players alike.


Odell Beckham Jr, WR, New York Giants

http://www.stack.com/a/odell-beckham-jr-reveals-his-opinion-
of-the-best-cornerback-in-the-NFL-hint-its-not-richard-Sherman

Why pick him No. 1: After being injured in Week 5 of the 2017 regular season and having to miss the rest of the season, many fantasy players were horrified. Losing your star player so early in the season can be devastating to anyone's chances of winning their league. But, Odell Beckham Jr looks healthier than ever and could be the stud WR once again in 2018. The one problem is the person who will be throwing him the balls: Eli Manning. Eli had one of his worst seasons last year as a QB in the NFL. He is 37 and will retire any day now. If Eli Manning can't find his groove again. Odell might not get the same opportunities he once got 2 years ago. According to pro-football-reference.com, Odell put up at least 1300 yards in each of his first 3 seasons. He also scored at least 10 TDs in each of those first 3 seasons aswell. If Bell, Gurley, and Elliot are all gone, he is your next man up. Don't look past him just because he had an injury last year, as Odell is still the same one hand catch wonder everyone continues to talk about and love.

Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams

https://www.inquisitr.com/opinion/4423438/los-angeles-
rams-why-todd-Gurley-will-turn-his-career-around/

Why pick him No. 1: Todd Gurley EXPLODED in his third year as an NFL running back. Per pro-football-reference.com, he had 1,305 yards in '17 with 13 TDs. His receiving numbers were extremely high also as he got 64 balls with 788 yards and 6 TDs. He is a very reliable player in PPR and Non-PPR leagues no matter where you draft him. With a stout defense that should get offenses off the field in a hurry, expect Todd Gurley's production to increase in 2018. Jared Goff is entering his third year in the NFL so he still has some struggles throwing the ball. His throws were on target about 60% of the time. Their best receiver might be Brandin Cooks; who just came from the New England Patriots. Todd Gurley will continue to be better as a player and could be the best RB in the NFL in 2018. If you are one of the first teams in your draft, the chances of getting him are extremely high and there is no doubt in my mind that he is your go-to-guy if available at your turn.

Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Dallas Cowboys 

http://www.t4mag.com/cowboys-rb-ezekiel-
elliot-fine-after-minor-car-accident-884.html

Why pick him No. 1: Ezekiel Elliot was one of the greatest RB's of all time at Ohio State. He is definitely showing off that accomplishment with the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL. But he has had his off-the-field issues as well. In July 2016, Elliot was suspect ally getting into some domestic affairs with his former girlfriend. This cost him the 1st 6 weeks of the 2017 NFL regular season. His draft stock in fantasy plummeted mightly as many passed on him until rounds 4-6, as nobody wanted him being wasted on their team. For the fantasy players that were unlucky enough to forget to take him off their starting lineup, I have no words for you. According to pro-football-reference.com, Elliot ran for less than 1000 yards in 2016 compared to a monstrous 2017 campaign of 1631 yards. I would rank Elliot as the 3rd best RB in fantasy behind Gurley and Bell but possibly 4th if David Johnson has any juice left. The Cowboys receiving game is falling apart so expect Elliot to get more touches this year anyway as he tries to get back to form after a HUGE setback last year.                                                                                                                         

MLB after All-Star Break Preview: Teams trending up and down

The MLB is starting to heat up as teams are fighting for 1st place in their respective divisions. The Pittsburgh Pirates just ended an 11 game winning streak, the Cincinnati Reds are looking much better after entering May with only 7 wins to start the year, and the Boston Red Sox are pulling away from the Yankees with a 5 game lead in the AL East. As the MLB enters August, nobody wants to be left out of the playoff conversation (except the Orioles) and will do anything to get an advantage on their opponents. These are the teams trending up or down in the playoff race...here we go...

Teams trending UP ↑

https://westfaironline.com/101393/shelton-base
d-wrre-named-official-realtor-of-boston-red-sox/

Boston Red Sox: 72-33, 1st in AL East 

With a stacked lineup including Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez, Eduardo Nunez and a possible AL Cy Young Winner Chris Sale, the Boston Red Sox are looking like the team to beat in the MLB. Per ESPN, Mookie Betts is batting a .345 with 115 H, 25 HR, and 54 RBI. Chris Sale has an ERA of 2.04 and this is .85 lower than his career average which is a notable improvement. If the Red Sox continue to play like they are right now then they are probably the favorite to win the World Series this year. But, they still have to deal with last year's World Series winners, the Houston Astros. Don't sleep on the Boston Red Sox for the rest of the year as they want to continue winning until a championship win is in their grasp.

Oakland Athletics: 61-44, 3rd in AL West

https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Oakland_Athletics

This year, the AL West is the hardest division in baseball. With 4 of the 5 teams over .500, only one other division is accomplishing this feat currently. If the playoffs started right now, the Athletics wouldn't make it even with their amazing record. Being in a conference with the Red Sox, Mariners, Yankees, Indians, and Astros is difficult to compete with. But, the Athletics have all the tools they need to make the playoffs for the first time in 4 years. Per ESPN, Stephen Piscotty is batting .262  with 91 H, 14 HR, and 50 RBI. Jeurys Familia has an ERA of 2.56 and is looking like a solid pitcher for the Athletics. He is 6-4 this year as a starter. Overall, the Athletics just need to keep winning games and to keep being consistent in order to pass the Seattle Mariners and get the second Wild Card Spot in the American League.

Milwaukee Brewers: 61-46, 2nd in NL Central

http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_
/name/mil/milwaukee-brewers

Winners of 5 out of their last 6 games, the Brewers are going in the right direction. The Brewers are currently holding the first wild-card spot in their conference. The Cubs are barely hanging on to a half-game lead and the Brewers can easily regain 1st place in as early as today. With all the right pieces in place, the Brewers could win the National League this year. With a dynamic duo in relief pitchers in Josh Hader and Jeremy Jeffress, the Milwaukee Brewers continue to dominate the ends of games. Per ESPN, Josh Hader has an ERA of 1.39 and Jeremy Jeffress has an ERA of 1.45. Nobody is stopping them at the plate right now. Per ESPN, the Brewers acquired a star in Mike Moustakas from Kansas City on Friday, July 27. In exchange, they sent OF Brett Lopez and RH pitcher Jorge Lopez. Eric Thames, Christian Yelich, and Jesus Aguilar continue to shine on the plate and at their respected positions. If Milwaukee continues to play like this, they will surely take over the #1 spot in the NL Central from the Chicago Cubs and make a deep run in the postseason.

Teams trending DOWN ↓

Washington Nationals: 52-52, 3rd in NL East

https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Washington_Nationals

The Washington Nationals are looking like the laughingstock of their conference. With the amount of talent they have on their roster, there should be no reason to be trailing 4.5 games out of the 2nd Wild Card spot in the National League. With the 2018 Home Run Derby winner in Brice Harper, the Nationals should have more production out of him. But, recent rumors have suggested that the Washington Nationals will trade him before the non-waiver deadline of Tuesday, July 31st. With a star-studded roster composed of Matt Wieters, Matt Adams, Daniel Murphy, Trea Turner, Ryan Zimmerman, Adam Eaton, Brice Harper and a new product in Juan Soto, there should be no reason for the Nationals to be losing as much as they are. Per ESPN, Juan Soto is batting a .314 AVG with 40 R, 65 H, 13 HR and 36 RBI. The MLB season is down to its last 2 months and if the Nationals don't start winning games soon they will miss out on the postseason for the first time since 2015

Los Angeles Angels: 54-52, 4th in AL West

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los
_Angeles_Angels_of_Anaheim

After starting off the year 13-3 and looking to take control of their division, the Angels are barely over .500 at a little over the halfway point of the season. After the rookie Shohei Ohtani hurt his elbow and probably can't pitch for the rest of the season, the Angels have been struggling ever since. Per ESPN, the Angels have 10 players on the disabled list. Ohtani is currently the Angels DH or designated hitter and he is batting a solid 2.62 AVG with 26 R, 45 H, 9 HR and 25 RBI. Mike Trout is the Angels best player and will continue his legacy as one of the best players in baseball in 2018. The Angels have been relying on him heavily this year and need above-average production. Per ESPN, he is batting .310 AVG with 78 R, 112 H, 29 HR and 59 RBI. A Venezuelan native in Francisco Arcia has tremendously helped the Angels in their last 2 games, setting a major league record 10 RBI in his 1st 2 career games. If the Angels can continue to find stars in the making and can build around Mike Trout, then the Angels can slowly make their way back into the playoff conversation. But, there is still plenty of work to do first. 

Baltimore Orioles: 31-74, 5th in AL East

https://www.mlb.com/orioles

The Orioles are tanking. Per ESPN, the Orioles traded Manny Machado to the Dodgers for 5 prospects. This is a big sign that the Orioles are mentally "finished" with 2018 and looking to the next season in 2019. None of their pitchers are pitching to MLB standards and 4 of them are on the disabled list. Per ESPN, their best player to date on the roster is probably Adam Jones who is batting a .281 AVG, 41 R, 114 H, 11 HR and 43 RBI. The Orioles need to find other players that can play like Adam Jones or better if they want to try and win 60 games this year. The Orioles currently have the worst record in the MLB so there is something to improve on in every aspect of their roster. Sadly, there isn't a "strength" on this roster and just too many weaknesses to have any hope at getting into the playoff hunt. The Orioles will hope to finish out the season strong and not end up with the worst record in the MLB. To do so, someone else besides Adam Jones will have to step up and make an impact on this team if they plan on making any progress in the win column.