Yes, that's right, it's my birthday today! Perhaps the best gift of all is that this weekend's edition of On the Couch now also features a full Sunday of NFL games as well. I certainly had moments of fear this summer considering the possibility of a birthday weekend without NFL action. It just wouldn't be the same breaking in my 24th year without my Chiefs opening up a new season.
Fortunately for me and all of you gridiron gurus, the NFL has blessed us with a great Thursday matchup this week to really crank things up. The reigning Super Bowl Champion Packers will take on fellow NFC offensive juggernaut New Orleans in a game that promises to put some points on the board. Even though New Orleans has added key players in Sedrick Ellis and Shaun Rogers in the last few years to their defensive line, I don't see them being able to make a significant pass rush with their linebacker blitzes. With Aaron Rodgers on his feet for most of the game, he will pick apart the Saints secondary. Add that to a Green Bay defense which is certainly capable of getting a few stops, I'm taking the Pack in a not as close as expected 35-24 victory.
Make sure you are heading to a sports bar or have the remote in hand on Thursday night to watch bits of the underrated matchup in college football between Pac-12 up-and-comer Arizona and the dying conference's Oklahoma State Cowboys. I'm taking the Cowboys in another game that will feature a lot of aerial attacks.
Friday night is not a lost cause either, especially not for the Tigers fans in the area. A showdown between Mizzou and Arizona State pits the Big-12 and Pac-12 against one another again. I'm gonna take the hometeam Sun Devils stealing the upset in the desert on Friday night.
Things start heating up this weekend as school pride is on the line during the second weekend of college football. My pride rests in the morning with the Black and Gold as my Hawkeyes take on their neighbors across the state the Cyclones in a battle for the CyHawk trophy. I don't feel like I need to make it clear for any of you that this game had better not be anywhere close to competitive if the Hawkeyes want to take advantage of a favorable schedule and compete for a division title in the newly organized Big Ten. Other games worth watching at this hour on Saturday morning include an SEC West showdown between Mississippi State and Auburn and the first legitimate test for the Wisconsin Badgers as Oregon State travels to Madison. I'm going with the Badgers and the Bulldogs here.
In the 2 30 hour, tradition reigns as Alabama and Penn State rematch last year's battle in Tuscaloosa, but transport it up to Happy Valley. With 2 new quarterbacks on the roster, Alabama might struggle and Penn State will be able to remain competitive, but I will go with SEC power here in a nail-biter.
Just a little after at 3 30, look for the SEC to impress as South Carolina takes on Georgia in an early SEC East battle. I'm taking South Carolina big as pressure builds on Mark Richt to improve or start polishing up that resume.
In primetime, look for struggling programs rich with tradition to look forward to a new day as Notre Dame visits Ann Arbor to take on the Wolverines in the first night game ever at the Big House. I'll take the improving Wolverines over the Irish in a clash that is surely going to be competitive regardless of how little may actually be at stake. The only other game in a somewhat lackluster primetime lineup is Utah-USC meeting at the Coliseum.
And Sunday brings good cheer! NFL on Sundays is back! Wives everywhere are pissed again, and girlfriends can forget about getting any attention for a few more months. Just kidding, I suggest cheering along beside us! Anyway, there are some big clashes at the noon hour. First, the Ravens and Steelers always leave everything they have out on the field. I'm taking the Ravens in this one. Also, the Texans look to defeat a Peyton-less Colts team and NFC powerhouses the Atlanta Falcons and the Chicago Bears look to prove that they are ready to compete for a title this year starting week 1.
For regional fans, both the Chiefs and Rams play at this hour. While the Chiefs will look to keep a struggling offense going with an injured Matt Cassel, the Rams will need to pressure the Eagles offense to keep Michael Vick at bay. Both teams have the chance to win, but preventing mistakes will be critical.
The late afternoon games are highlighted by an NFC West battle between the 49ers and the Seahawks, and a fight for the most style points between the Cowboys and Jets. In all, Sunday should be an exciting return for professional football.
And, on Monday Night Football, we will be treated to a double-header divisional struggle between the Dolphins and Patriots and Broncos and Raiders. The Patriots will show that they are perenially going to compete for a division title as they run over the Dolphins, and I expect that the Raiders running game will be too much even for an improved Broncos defense to solve.
It will be a great weekend of football, and don't forget to set your fantasy lineups for tonight's game.
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