Week 10 Preview

Game of the Week

Madd Skillz vs. Sex Panther (pk)

Third straight game of the week that has some of the luster taken off because of bye weeks to one team...This game features the top two scoring teams in the league, yet the two are separated by 4 wins...Oddly, the football meetings for these two heavyweights have been suprisingly lopsided: Schillinger is 3-0 lifetime vs. Gieryna, including a 114.50-87.50 win in Week 1

News and Notes, SKL

Misses out on not only LaDanian Tomlinson, but Chad and Rudi Johnson this week due to byes...Did a nice job of assembling a fairly competitive lineup, but injuries to Fred Taylor and potentially Domanick Davis hurt SKL's ability to compete...LDT's spot in the lineup will be filled by Larry Johnson, who is suddenly a prime-time starter; Duce Staley will fill in Rudi Johnson's void of lots of yards and no TDs; Newly acquired Greg Jones replaces Fred Taylor; and Laverneus Coles is in the lineup in place of Chad Johnson...Should Davis not be able to go, Antonio Bryant likely gets pushed into emergency duty...Key Players on Bye Week: LDT, Rudi, Chad

News and Notes, SP

Looks, for now, to be on the right side of the luck spectrum, getting all of his studs back from bye, while benefiting from someone else finally missing players...Will miss Antonio Gates, surely, but Jerramy Stevens is a solid fill-in...Gets a couple of great matchups, with Willis MaGahee playing KC and the Rams facing the Seahawks...Acquired Tiki Barber this week (with Andre Johnson) and now has the unquestioned #1 RB corps in the league...KPOBW: Antonio Gates

Playoff Impact: This game clearly means more to 4-5 SP, especially with a stretch run of winnable games. After this week, it's two expansion teams before a tough one with BB and a close with OCT. As for SKL, every team in the playoffs will be equally dangerous, so seeding doesn't matter; they just need to get in and go from there.

The 2 Spot

Blaine Browns vs. Fred Lane's Wife (+6)

Two franchises with playoff experience gear up for the sprint to week 16...It's tough to predict an all-out collapse, so let's assume that there are only two playoff spots left; It's this writer's belief that 2 of the 3 favorites for those two spots play in this game, so it's a big one for both teams...Whoever scores the majority of the Indy TDs against Houston has a big advantage (Edge- BB vs. Peyton- FLW)...Viano is 3-1 lifetime against the Wolfman, although Drew's lone win did come in last season's 3rd place game

News and Notes, BB

Kyle Orton starts at QB, and if we were still doing predictions here, that would be enough to pick against BB...Drew Brees' bye and Ben Roethlisberger's injury coincide to force the Bears rookie QB into his biggest game of the year...The other notable absence in the lineup is Terrell Owens, who is not likely to play for the rest of the season. Regg;ie Brown takes his spot in the Eagles' pass-wacky offense, as well as BB's WR3 spot...KPOBW: Drew Brees, Keenan McCardell, TJ HoushmanihateJR, Terrell Owens (perma-bye)

News and Notes, FLW

Peyton Manning had a godly game last week, though it didn't help enough in a losing effort. He'll have another opportunity this week...Corey Dillon proved to be the downfall of FLW last week, as his injury laden efforts continue to crush this club...Roethlisberger's injury not only hurts BB, but also FLW and their star WR, Hines Ward- who has to rely on Charlie Batch to get him the ball...Joey Galloway turned out better than anyone expected...Bobby Engram in the lineup this week, holding a spot before Darrell Jackson is healthy...Picked up Todd Heap for Greg Jones to fill in for a bye week at TE, though Heap could be worthy of a couple starts down the stretch...KPOBW: Chris Perry, Ben Troupe

Playoff Impact: Immense. BB sits on a tenuous one game advantage for a playoff spot. His much discussed schedule puts pressure on every single week; for the next week looms a large task. FLW, on the other hand, could take a devastating hit with a loss, especially if any or all of the other 4-5 teams win. 8 appears to be the magic number for the playoffs: 8 wins will get you in. If you plan on finishing with 7; you better own a tiebreaker.

Game #3

The Octagon vs. Father Abraham (+16)

This week was to be a make or break week for FA, but it appears now that they are broken; as Priest Holmes has been placed on IR...It's a nice break for OCT, who's schedule for the final four weeks rivals (maybe surpasses) that of BB...JR is 3-0 against Souzek lifetime, including a 9.75 point win in week 1

News and Notes, OCT

No one (not even the Radmonium himself) will deny that JR has had his lucky spots. That being said, he's improved this club immensely from the days of week 6...QB spot is inconsistent, but solid as hell on a good day; WRs are reliable; and the RB corps is young and talented...I do believe that the Barber/Johnson for Caddillac/Wayne deal was made with next year in mind. JR gave a primary competitor for a playoff spot his best RB, while getting a guy who's best value is as a future keeper...Tony Gonzalez should get some more looks in the end zone with Holmes out of the picture...It will likely take 4 wins in the next 5 weeks for OCT to reach the playoffs, and that will be awfully tough with the top teams on tap; but they will make some noise...KPOBW: Antowain Smith

News and Notes, FA

We all consider SP to be the cursed franchise; but FA's team is so depleted that it's impossible for them to assemble 9 offensive starters with the roster as it is...Priest Holmes is done, and with him goes the playoff aspirations of the Father...It's a shame considering how strong the season started...The core of this team, with McNabb, Muhammed, Joe Horn, Stephen Davis, Holmes, Jamal Lewis was so strong at the beginning of this year, that it took a lot of bad breaks to dismantle...KPOBW: Joe Horn, Donte Stallworth, Aaron Stecker and Jaret Payton?

Playoff Impact: Little, for this week. It sucks for me to say, but FA is pretty much done; needing to win at least 4 of 5 without their best player. OCT needs to pick up this should-win game to keep pace (or jump ahead) of his 4-5 peers. However, if OCT falls apart this week, it should signal a premature end to a good run. That is the only way this game could really impact the race.

Batting Cleanup

Big Fat Guys vs. Cellar Dwellars (-40)

This is the 4th game this season to pit a groom against one of his groomsman; the groomsman are 2-1 so far...CD has a chance to move back into first place, as SKL has a tough go, and they face a down BFG squad...While no one else expects BFG to sneak into the playoffs, they do. Their schedule suggests that everyone else is right...Stem is 1-0 lifetime against Baron, winning their matchup in week one, one of the two times that CD has managed less than 100 points

News and Notes, BFG

Carson Palmer is on a bye, and that is terrible news...However, it's not as if Palmer was likely to be the difference between a win and a loss, as this club managed just 75.25 points this week...It's been noted that CD has failed to reach 100 just twice, whereas BFG has broken 100 just once; ironically, in a loss...Having Thomas Jones in the lineup with his status up in the air is gutsy, but last time this happened Jones erupted and led to a BFG win...Greg Lewis' value has spiked with TO out in PHI, and he will likely be a good start in the near future...KPOBW: Carson Palmer, Travis Henry

News and Notes, CD

I'm looking for a pro sports paralell to CD's season...They are consistenly dominating, yet overwhelmingly quiet in doing so...I think the best I can come up with is the Atlanta Braves; no one really appreciates how good they've been...Plaxico Burress has been a little quiet the last few weeks, but is still a legitimate WR1...With Anquan Boldin out, Larry Fitzgerald just looks better and better...David Givens is a questionable WR3, and that's not just on the injury report...Against Arizona this week, CD needs to see what Kevin Jones is going to bring to the table down the stretch. If he lays an egg, it may be time for Stem to make his first big move of the year and shore up the RB3 spot...KPOBW: None

Playoff Impact: Minimal. CD is in. BFG needs to win out, as they'll hold no tiebreakers. With that unlikely, this game doesn't really shape how the top 4 will end up after week 14.

The 5 Hole

ChamPeons vs. Who is Ron Mexico? (+11)

Housemates fave off once more, and if the yahoo projections are even close, not even Michigan Road will care about this one...Just the QBs are projected to score double digits in this one...Champ is 1-0 against his roommates, winning in week1

News and Notes, CHM

Julius Jones returns to the lineup, but Randy Moss is still out of it...Champion will need a lot out of both men to get into the playoffs...Ernest Wilford and Marshall Faulk will start this week in the place(s) of Derrick Mason and Mewelde Moore...Shawn Bryson also gets a starting nod, and...wait a second- a playoff contender (and someone who should get to .500 this week) is starting Shawn Bryson, Ernest Wilford and Marshall Faulk?...KPOBW: Chris Brown

News and Notes, WIRM

Believe it or not, this is a winnable game for WIRM...Ron Mexico starts for his namesake over Eli Manning, while Manning plays the Vikings. This sounds like something Tony LaRussa would do just to prove he thinks he's smarter than everyone else- and if he lucks into being right, he'll be (falsely) vindicated...Is it me, or has JJ Arrington started an absurd number of games for a VUFSA team this year?...The RBs on this team are nice, however not one of them is their team's primary rusher, which sucks...KPOBW: Odell Thurman

Playoff Impact: Not that much. Champ should stay in the race with a win, but looking at his lineup- it's hard to believe they stay there that long.