Best month in sports?
The month of October is a lot of things, cooler nights, dressing up in costumes, and pumpkin spice everything. Another thing that makes October quite a special month is SPORTS! What month out of the year do you get the National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, College Football, College Hockey, and Major League Soccer all lodged into one month? None. Here's my case:
- MLB has its playoffs, baseball is still pretty exciting, perhaps to most. Currently in the Division Series part of it.
- NFL regular season is on. Week 5 is this week.
- NHL started its regular season yesterday (10/3/18).
- NBA starts its regular season on 10/16/2018.
- College Football is into its 6th week of competition
- College Hockey starts its regular season this weekend.
- Major League Soccer is into its last month of the regular season, playoffs would start in late-October or early-November.
You could make a case for March is a great month for sports. You have March Madness, MLB, NHL, and NBA in the same month as the snow starts to melt and the days get longer. You just can't beat October sadly. I do like my days getting longer though. :(
Cool video of the week
This week's cool video of the week is somewhat of a repetition of last year's cool video of the week. Last year we lost a great musical mind in Tom Petty. Petty, who did the halftime show for Super Bowl XLII, puts on a great show and has quite the music library to him. The cool video is one of his best-known songs called "Running Down A Dream." Released on his first solo album Full Moon Fever in 1989. Enjoy.
Week 5 of the NFL starts in Foxboro, Massachusetts and ends in New Orleans, Louisiana. The week features 15 games. There will be a Thursday night game, eight early games, four late games, a Sunday night game, and a Monday night game. FOX will have the doubleheader and CBS will have the single, regional coverage game. The Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have the bye week. Let's get to the picks!
Indianapolis (1-3) @ New England (2-2) (FOX/NFL Network): TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots
The Colts took a loss against the Texans and the Patriots got a win against the Dolphins last week respectively. The week starts in Foxboro with the Patriots and Colts renewing their old rivalry. The rivalry has lost some of its juice since Peyton Manning left the Colts in 2012 but the rivalry just needs one play or one fist fight to get started again. The Patriots got back to being what they were last week and I don't see them losing this game. Sorry, Indy!
Miami (3-1) @ Cincinnati (3-1) (CBS): TW: Bengals, CV: Bengals
The Dolphins lost last week to the Patriots and the Bengals got a win against the Falcons last week as well. The game features two 3-1 teams. I like the Bengals in the matchup as Andy Dalton has better weapons than what the Dolphins have. I feel the Bengals defense will have a good day holding the Dolphins offense at bay.
Atlanta (1-3) @ Pittsburgh (1-2-1) (FOX): TW: Falcons, CV: Falcons
Both teams got losses last week as the Falcons lost to the Bengals and the Steelers to the Ravens. The Steelers got a bit of good news as Le'Veon Bell will return to the team... in week 7-8. The game could become a shootout as both teams have quite the great passing attacks. If that becomes the case the game will come down to who can get the key turnover or defensive stop. I like the Falcons in this regard.
Baltimore (3-1) @ Cleveland (1-2-1) (CBS): TW: Ravens, CV: Ravens
The Ravens got a win against the Steelers and the Browns lost to the Raiders last week respectively. The Old Browns and New Browns renew their little divisional rivalry. The Browns are fun to watch yes, this is true, but I can't trust them to win a game against the Ravens who seem to be more well built than the Browns. Sorry Browns.
Denver (2-2) @ NY Jets (1-3) (CBS): TW: Broncos, CV: Jets
Both teams got losses last week as the Broncos lost to the Chiefs on Monday night and the Jets lost to the Jaguars. The Jets were certainly a darling in the NFL for a bit then things started to fall apart. I like the Broncos in the matchup as Denver's defense is still quite formidable and the Broncos offense is still quite good, especially the passing attack.
Green Bay (2-1-1) @ Detroit (1-3) (FOX): TW: Packers, CV: Packers
Packers got a win against the Bills and the Lions lost to the Cowboys last week respectively. The Packers on defense last week was spectacular and the offense still put up enough but wasn't quite as efficient as they should be. The Lions could make this game quite entertaining as they have quite a potent offense as well. Fun fact: this is the oldest continuing rivalry series in the NFL. Quite wild.
Jacksonville (3-1) @ Kansas City (4-0) (CBS): TW: Jaguars, CV: Chiefs
Both teams got wins last week as the Jaguars beat the Jets and the Chiefs beat the Broncos. The game is quite a good one, surprised this isn't a late game. Both teams have great offensive talent but the bigger difference is the Jaguars have a better defense than the Chiefs. Jaguars are 1st in overall defense, the Chiefs are in 32nd. Can't beat an opponent when you can't stop them. I make my case.
NY Giants (1-3) @ Carolina (2-1) (FOX): TW: Panthers, CV: Panthers
The Giants took a loss against the Saints and the Panthers were on a bye week last week. The Panthers seem to be more talented on offense on both the ground and air games. The Giants offense while looking good on paper but haven't quite the performances that they're accustomed to. I'll give the Panthers defense an edge as well I feel.
Tennessee (3-1) @ Buffalo (1-3) (CBS): TW: Titans, CV: Titans
The Titans got a win against the Eagles and the Bills lost to the Packers last week. The Bills were shutout last week against Green Bay and the Titans looked really good against the Eagles. The Titans were down 17-3 and won. The game will come down to who can score the most points and make the big play as both teams have good defensive talent, ultimately I chose the Titans because the Bills offense is atrocious.
Oakland (1-3) @ LA Chargers (2-2) (CBS): TW: Chargers, CV: Raiders
Both teams got a win as the Raiders beat the Browns and the Chargers beat the 49ers. The Chargers offense looks a lot better than the Raiders in my opinion. The Chargers defense looks better as well. Both teams look really good on paper but ultimately I feel the Chargers will get a win as the Raiders almost lost to the Browns last week. Pathetic.
Arizona (0-4) @ San Francisco (1-3) (FOX): TW: 49ers, CV: 49ers
Both teams got losses last week as the Cardinals lost to the Seahawks and the 49ers lost to the Chargers. The game just looks bad and it does look awful. The 49ers seem to be better on offense and defense as well. The Cardinals are abysmal on offense and they could very well accidentally win this game. Just turrible.
LA Rams (4-0) @ Seattle (2-2) (FOX): TW: Rams, CV: Rams
Both teams got a win last week as the Rams beat the Vikings and the Seahawks beat the Cardinals. The game could be a trap game for the Rams who haven't won a game in Seattle since Jared Goff has taken over as quarterback of the Rams. The loss of Earl Thomas just hurts the Seahawks on defense as well. Not a good sign for the Seahawks to get an upset.
Minnesota (1-2-1) @ Philadelphia (2-2) (FOX): TW: Eagles, CV: Vikings
Both teams ended up in the losing column as the Vikings lost to the Rams and the Eagles lost to the Titans. A rematch of the NFC championship game last season. Both teams look relatively the same as they did except for the quarterback position. The Vikings had Case Keenum, now Kirk Cousins and the Eagles had Nick Foles, now Carson Wentz. The game looks really good and the two teams should play better than what last season's score was. It was 38-7, wasn't it? I'll take the Eagles as they should have a good game on defense.
Dallas (2-2) @ Houston (1-3) (NBC): TW: Cowboys, CV: Texans
Both teams got wins last week as the Cowboys beat the Lions and the Texans beat the Colts. The battle for Texas is on. The Cowboys despite not having quite the offensive numbers that you're used to seeing in them, I still like them in the matchup based on the Cowboys defense and their rushing attack in Ezekiel Elliot.
Washington (2-1) @ New Orleans (3-1) (ESPN): TW: Saints, CV: Saints
The Redskins were on a bye week and the Saints beat the Giants last week. Drew Brees could break Peyton Manning's career passing yards record. He just needs 201 yards to do it. Safe to say he'll probably get it unless he gets injured or has a bad game. I don't see it happening but I still like the Saints offense on running the ball as Alvin Kamara is quite a quality running back.
Local TV Schedule (courtesy of 506sports.com):
CBS Single:
Denver @ NY Jets
Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
FOX Early:
Green Bay @ Detroit
Thom Brennamen, Chris Spielman
FOX Late:
Minnesota @ Philadelphia
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
For more info on which game is played in your area check out, NFL Maps: Week 5
2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 12-3
Overall: 36-25-2
Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 9-6
Overall: 31-30-2
See you guys on Monday/Tuesday for the week's recap, enjoy the games, and have a great weekend!
-Tom
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