This upcoming weekend of sports should be fantastic. Here are a few games you won’t want to miss.
Ohio State University vs. Univiersity of Southern California
This game is the biggest football game of the college schedule. Number 1 Ranked USC takes on Number 5 Ranked Ohio State. The biggest question at this point is the status of Beanie Wells, one of the most potent running backs in the game. He was hurt in week one during OSU’s whomping of Youngstown. His presence could very well make this game for Ohio State. USC is favored to win, but I have faith in my Buckeyes. Regardless, a game of this magnitude is NOT something you will want to miss.
Networking: Saturday at 8PM EST on ABC
New England Patriots vs. New York Jets
Division Opponents. New Quarterbacks. Coaches who hate eachothers guts. What’s not to look forward to in this game? The relationship between Bill Bellicek and Eric Mangini have been a bit strained since Mangini left the Patriots for the Jets and turned his old boss in for cheating at the beginning of last season. If you think Bill has forgotten about that, think again. I’m sure the Jets and their fans haven’t forgotten the thumping the Patriots have been routinely giving them either. Before the prolific season ending injury to Tom Brady, I would have told you the Pats would definitely win. Now I’m only going to say they will probably win. Bret Favre has the obvious edge over Matt Cassel and the fact that they are playing in New York could push the Jets to an unexpected victory, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. The Jets won last week and Bret Favre was Bret Favre, but nonetheless they didn’t prove much topping the lowly Miami Dolphins. Despite losing Brady, the Pats still have a good team. Their defense is fantastic, their running game solid, and Randy Ross can turn a bad pass into a TD any day. This game should prove a good test for the Jets abilities this season.
Networking: Sunday at 4:15 PM EST on CBS
Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
This is, in my opinion, the greatest rivalry in the NFL. It has history, it has hatred, and it has consistancy. It doesn’t matter how one sided the rivalry is (and its been one sided almost throughout its duration) these teams and these cities hate eachother. I grew up in Cleveland and live in Western PA now; believe me, we hate eachother. The rivalry is even more potent now that the Browns are legitimate condendors for the AFC North crown. Though both teams had high expectations coming into this year, they are coming off of very different week ones. The Steelers looked almost perfect, destroying the Texans in Pittsburgh last week. The Browns looked very vulnerable, giving up nearly 500 yards to the Dallas Cowboys in Cleveland. Look for Willie Parker to have a pretty big day, but if the Browns find a way to contain him then it could turn into an upset. The Browns have lost nine straight to the Steelers and only one once in the last sixteen games against them. Browns fans and players are ravenous for revenge. The overally series record is dead even: Both teams have won 55 regular season games against eachother. Emotions will run high and the dawg pound will be going nuts, so I am dubbing this the NFL Sunday game of the week.
Networking: Sunday at 8 PM EST on NBC
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
This game is the Monday Night game for a reason. These are two of the best (if not THE best) teams in the NFC. I’d bet my bottom dollar that one of these two teams will represent the NFC in the playoffs. On top of that, they are division opponentst. On top of that (as if all that wasn’t enough) there’s the business about Terrell Owens. The City of Brotherly Love doesn’t quite live up to its name when it comes to TO and would love to see him lose at home. It would also make quite the statement. This is going to be a slugfest between two of the best teams in the league – should be VERY fun.
Networking: Monday at 8:30 PM EST on ESPN
