Weekend Observations

The start of the NFL season proved to be quite interesting. I had to have my head on a swivel because for some unexplained reason I joined 3 different fantasy football leagues this year. I recommend joining no more than 2. Every time anyone made a play it helped me in one league and hurt me in another. Tonight's game will decide the outcome for me. Go Ryan Mathews! Here are some observations from the weekend.

NFL

The reports of the Patriots demise were greatly exaggerated. Their defense looked faster and more physical than in years past and they held Chad Ocho Cinco and T.O. in check. As long as Brady has Welker to throw to the Patriots will be ok. Brady needs Welker like Linus needs his blanket.

The Seahawks have a legitimate chance to win the NFC West. The Seahawk receivers looked great and the defensive line looked much better than expected. It's always a good sign when you beat the favorite to win the division by 25 points to start the season.

Chris Johnson is still a handful. I had to face Chris Johnson in 2 of my fantasy leagues this week. All he did was run for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns. He is still the most explosive player in football.

Indy needs to buckle down on defense. There's still no stopping Peyton Manning on offense, but the defense let some nobody rush for 231 yards. Arian Foster is not exactly a household name. If they don't correct this, they will not reach the Super Bowl.

College Football

Oregon is serious. The #7 team in the country showed no signs of slowing down as they throttled Tennessee over the weekend. Duck fans should make their reservations for Pasadena early.

Florida schools are in trouble. Miami and Florida St. both looked sluggish in their losses and Florida didn't turn it on until the 2nd half. The national championship will not be won by any of these schools.

Boise St. is losing credibility. After Virginia Tech lost to James Madison at home you have to wonder how much credit you can give Boise St. for their victory last week.

UW is in jeopardy of missing a bowl game. If you struggle against Syracuse at home it's highly unlikely you will be able to survive Pac 10 play. I'm sensing another 5-7 season.

MLB

Getting Oswalt was the right move. It looks like a win-win for the Phillies acquiring Roy Oswalt. He's pitching lights out and they are currently in first place. What more can you ask for?

Padres are running out of steam. As I predicted, eventually the Giants pitching staff would wear down San Diego. In the end talent always prevails. It was a great season for the Padres, but stick a fork in them. They're done.

Chicago is hot, but Minnesota is hotter. The Chicago White Sox won 7 games in a row on the road last week and didn't make up a single game in the standings. It doesn't matter how well you play if the team in front of you doesn't lose any games. Chicago won't catch Minnesota.