NFL Week 9

By Dan Rodgers

So last week was another sub-par week by my own standards. However, I'm feeling another weird week this week because a lot of the lines seem off from what you might have thought they would be.

Atl 6.5/Ind I was giving the Colts some respect and they have been tough to read this season, but Matty Ice should get it done by at least a touchdown.
TB/NO 8.5 I can't believe the Saints are favored by over a touchdown after Tampa beat them earlier and they let down against the Rams. NO SU
Cle/Hou 10.5 Houston is a much better team, but you know how I feel about double-digit spreads Houston SU (SURVIVOR 7-1)
NYJ/Buf 2.5 Do or die for the Jets, and the Bills need this win to prove they are legit Jets SU
Mia/KC 4 Kansas City has come to play this season (not including the first few games)
SF 4/Was This is by far the most awkward line of the afternoon, but it's not enough to make me sway from San Fran
Sea/Dal 11 I hate Seattle, but you know how I feel about double-digit lines
Den/Oak 7.5 Divisional game should be within a touchdown Oakland SU
Cin/Ten 2.5 The Bengals are the better team so I like them as an underdog Cincy SU
Stl/Ari 3 This is a battle of backups and AJ Feeley proved he is a decent backup. Rams SU
NYG/NE 8.5 Rematch of the 2007 Super Bowl, the Giants should keep it close and watch for the upset if Manning can pick apart the New England secondary
GB 5.5/SD Rivers is clearly not in his element and the Packers are healthier coming off the bye
Bal/Pit 3 The Steelers are playing well and want to prove week 1 was a fluke
Chi/Phi 8 I'm not sure about this one yet because Philly is playing well and sometimes Chicago is tough to read

Week 1: 7-9 ATS 10-6 SU
Week 2: 10-6 ATS 13-3 SU
Week 3: 11-4-1 ATS 10-6 SU
Week 4: 9-7 ATS 13-3 SU
Week 5: 6-7 ATS 7-6 SU
Week 6: 10-3 ATS 10-3 SU
Week 7: 9-3-1 ATS 10-3 SU
Week 8: 7-6 ATS 9-4 SU
Total: 69-45-2 ATS 82-34 SU

Survivor: Obviously now that I already messed up, I'm killing it and even though I'm picking Cleveland, Houston should have no problem winning. Unfortunately (for my fantasy team) Andre Johnson is still out, but that shouldn't matter.

Week 9 bold prediction: Wow... I picked 11 road teams to cover...

@dhrodgers52

Rodgers That

MLB MVP races

By Dan Rodgers

They haven't announced awards yet, but I'm going to offer my soon-to-be-considered expert opinion.

So, in my soon-to-be-considered expert opinion, pitchers should not be eligible for the Most Valuable Player award. The MVP award goes to the most outstanding, or valuable, player in each league. The Cy Young award is to honor the best pitcher in each league. Why should pitchers be eligible for both awards when there is no MVP-type award specifically for position players.

NOTE: The Hank Aaron Award is given to the player with the best offensive season, but was initially introduced in 1999 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Hank Aaron surpassing Babe Ruth and becoming the home run king. I don't think of this award on the same level as the MVP or Cy Young Award.

Because of my feelings on this, I will not be including pitchers in the decision for MVP.

The National League MVP is really only between two players: Matt Kemp, OF Los Angeles Dodgers and Ryan Braun, OF Milwaukee Brewers.

Braun: .332 BA 33 HR 111 RBI 33 SB .397 OBP .597 SLG 58 BB 93 SO - 1 E
Kemp: .324 BA 39 HR 126 RBI 40 SB .399 OBP .586 SLG 74 BB 159 SO - 5 E

As you can see, they have very similar statistics. A few things stand out to me, Braun has a higher average, less strikeouts and less errors. Clearly the differences aren't much, but that combined with Braun leading his team to the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and their first division title in over a decade makes me lean in his direction. Don't get me wrong, Kemp is a great player, but I think the Dodgers finishing in third in one of baseball's less competitive divisions is going to hurt his chances.

NOTE: Given that Matt Kemp has now won the 2011 Hank Aaron Award, chances are he will not win the MVP.

NL MVP: Ryan Braun, OF Milwaukee Brewers

The American League MVP is a bit more competitive. The Yankees have two candidates (Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson), the Red Sox have two more (Jacoby Ellsbury and Adrian Gonzalez), and the Blue Jays have one more (Jose Bautista). That's five alone in the AL East. The last candidate is Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers.

Granderson: .262 BA 41 HR 119 RBI 25 SB .364 OBP .552 SLG 85 BB 169 SO - 3 E
Cano: .302 BA 28 HR 118 RBI 8 SB .349 OBP .533 SLG 38 BB 96 SO - 10 E
Ellsbury: .321 BA 32 HR 105 RBI 39 SB .376 OBP .552 SLG 52 BB 98 SO - 0 E
Gonzalez: .338 BA 27 HR 117 RBI 1 SB .410 OBP .548 SLG 74 BB 119 SO - 4 E
Bautista: .302 BA 43 HR 103 RBI 9 SB .447 OBP .608 SLG 132 BB 111 SO - 6 E
Cabrera: .344 BA 30 HR 105 RBI 2 SB .448 OBP .586 SLG 108 BB 89 SO - 13 E

As you can see, all of the candidates had phenomenal seasons. Most voters take into consideration whether or not the player's team made the playoffs and how they did. The Red Sox and Blue Jays did not make the playoffs, and Boston's historic collapse might hinder the chances of Ellsbury and Gonzalez. Cabrera and Cano both had respectable postseasons, offensively, and Granderson made a few game-saving catches that kept the Yanks in it.

NOTE: Jose Bautista won the Hank Aaron Award for the AL, and Jacoby Ellsbury was named the Comeback Player of the Year so neither of them will probably win MVP.

AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera, 1B Detroit Tigers

@dhrodgers

Rodgers That