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By Julian Linden BANGKOK (Reuters) - Asia's top Olympic official has ruled out the possibility of the 2022 Winter Olympics being shifted from its traditional February time-slot to avoid clashing with the World Cup, saying FIFA needed to sort out its own problems. Soccer's world governing body is currently considering whether to move the 2022 World Cup, scheduled to be played in Qatar in June and July, to a cooler time of the year to avoid the hottest months in the Middle East. ...

By Julian Linden BANGKOK (Reuters) - Asia's top Olympic official has ruled out the possibility of the 2022 Winter Olympics being shifted from its traditional February time-slot to avoid clashing with the World Cup, saying FIFA needed to sort out its own problems. Soccer's world governing body is currently considering whether to move the 2022 World Cup, scheduled to be played in Qatar in June and July, to a cooler time of the year to avoid the hottest months in the Middle East. ...

Football Nation proudly present its 21st episode in Season Three of "Monday Morning Huddle" with host Dave Holcomb. The NFL had three marquee matchups in Week 9, and all of them ended in lopsided scores. The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers each scored 43 points as they captured home victories over their biggest rival. That's not all the two teams had in common. In the third big matchup, the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Romo-less Cowboys to remain the only one-loss team in the NFL. In the 'Fourth and Long' segment, Holcomb talks Mark Sanchez replacing Eagles quarterback Nick Foles while he is out with a shoulder injury, the Chargers three-game losing streak and the 49ers .500 record halfway through the 2014 season.

All that and more on this edition of Monday Morning Huddle.

Week 9 Results

Thursday
New Orleans 28, Carolina 10

Sunday
Minnesota 29, Washington 26
Miami 37, San Diego 0
Cincinnati 33, Jacksonville 23
Kansas City 24, New York Jets 10
Philadelphia 31, Houston 21
Arizona 28, Dallas 10
Cleveland 22, Tampa 17
St. Louis 13, San Francisco 10
Seattle 30, Oakland 24
New England 43, Denver 21
Pittsburgh 43, Baltimore 23

Monday
Indianapolis at New York Giants

Bye Teams
Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Tennessee

Don't forget Week 9 Power Rankings will come out on Tuesday morning!
- Last Week's Power Rankings: Shaken Up at the Top

Previous Season Three Episodes
- Week 8: The Passing Sunday
- Week 7: Broncos D Shines on Manning's Night
- Week 6: Impressive NFC East
- Week 5: Win $1 Million Playing Fantasy Football
- Week 4: 49ers & Packers Rebound, NFC South Struggles
- Week 3: Western Showdowns
- Week 2: Off the Field Issues Overshadow Great Week 2
- Week 1: Early Dominance & Near Comebacks

This Week's Music
Album: Small World
Artist: Huey Lewis & the News
Songs: Small World (Part One), Small World (Part Two), Give Me the Keys (And I'll Drive You Crazy) 

Theme Song: Monday Morning by Fleetwood Mac

Dave Holcomb’s Contact Information
Twitter: @dmholcomb
E-mail: holcombmdavid@gmail.com
Facebook: Dave's Football News

Football Nation proudly present its 21st episode in Season Three of "Monday Morning Huddle" with host Dave Holcomb. The NFL had three marquee matchups in Week 9, and all of them ended in lopsided scores. The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers each scored 43 points as they captured home victories over their biggest rival. That's not all the two teams had in common. In the third big matchup, the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Romo-less Cowboys to remain the only one-loss team in the NFL. In the 'Fourth and Long' segment, Holcomb talks Mark Sanchez replacing Eagles quarterback Nick Foles while he is out with a shoulder injury, the Chargers three-game losing streak and the 49ers .500 record halfway through the 2014 season.

All that and more on this edition of Monday Morning Huddle.

Week 9 Results

Thursday
New Orleans 28, Carolina 10

Sunday
Minnesota 29, Washington 26
Miami 37, San Diego 0
Cincinnati 33, Jacksonville 23
Kansas City 24, New York Jets 10
Philadelphia 31, Houston 21
Arizona 28, Dallas 10
Cleveland 22, Tampa 17
St. Louis 13, San Francisco 10
Seattle 30, Oakland 24
New England 43, Denver 21
Pittsburgh 43, Baltimore 23

Monday
Indianapolis at New York Giants

Bye Teams
Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Tennessee

Don't forget Week 9 Power Rankings will come out on Tuesday morning!
- Last Week's Power Rankings: Shaken Up at the Top

Previous Season Three Episodes
- Week 8: The Passing Sunday
- Week 7: Broncos D Shines on Manning's Night
- Week 6: Impressive NFC East
- Week 5: Win $1 Million Playing Fantasy Football
- Week 4: 49ers & Packers Rebound, NFC South Struggles
- Week 3: Western Showdowns
- Week 2: Off the Field Issues Overshadow Great Week 2
- Week 1: Early Dominance & Near Comebacks

This Week's Music
Album: Small World
Artist: Huey Lewis & the News
Songs: Small World (Part One), Small World (Part Two), Give Me the Keys (And I'll Drive You Crazy) 

Theme Song: Monday Morning by Fleetwood Mac

Dave Holcomb’s Contact Information
Twitter: @dmholcomb
E-mail: holcombmdavid@gmail.com
Facebook: Dave's Football News

Halloween weekend was an exciting one in college football and we certainly had our share of treats, as well as a few tricks in there as well.  Third ranked Auburn defeated fourth ranked Ole Miss on a fumble on the goaline, TCU topped West Virginia in a Big 12 showdown while Arkansas nearly knocked off number one ranked Mississippi State, Florida State barely maintained their perfect season on Thursday night and Florida upset Georgia in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.  As we enter week eleven, it promises to be another big week which will shape the playoff picture in a major way.  Big matchups are in the queue and the winners hope to catch the eye of the playoff committee.

Playoff Appeal

One of the biggest matchups of the weekend is one that has been circled on the calendar all season.  It’s not often that the games we thought would be major battles at the onset still carry the same weight eleven weeks in.  Eighth ranked Michigan State hosting sixteenth ranked Ohio State for control of the Big Ten East, a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game and the most likely candidate from the Big Ten to make the playoff, however, makes the cut.  The Spartans have had a week to prepare for the Buckeyes and both teams boast solid defenses to compliment their top five ranked scoring offenses.

Another matchup of ranked opponents pairs tenth ranked Notre Dame against fourteenth ranked Arizona State.  The Irish looked a little rusty in their week ten win over Navy after suffering their first loss to Florida State and then having a bye week.  They need to be ready to go against Arizona State, however, who hosts the Irish and beat out red hot Utah in overtime in week ten.

The Pac-12 has several big games this week as Washington hosts UCLA and Oregon travels to Utah.  UCLA looked more like the team we thought they were at the start of the season in Week Ten against Arizona, but must overcome the talented strategic mind of Head Coach Chris Petersen on the road in Washington.  Oregon, meanwhile, will hit the road as well against a Utah team that is playing better and better.  While the Utes fell to Arizona State in Week Ten, they are a dangerous team, and might be the biggest challenge the Ducks have faced since Michigan State in Week Two.

Outside of the Pac-12, the Big 12 has a major contest as Baylor faces off against Oklahoma.  While both of these teams are a long shot to make the playoff, whichever loses this week is most certainly eliminated.  The Sooners could make a case with two losses due to their strength of schedule and slim margin of losses, but the Bears will fall significantly should they come up short again.  Both teams also have a chance at the Big 12 Championship with TCU and Kansas State facing off this week as well, but again, they must win this week to stay in the race.

While most power conferences have solid games in Week Eleven, the SEC is taking something of a breather.  Third ranked Auburn should have a much easier time against a struggling Texas A&M team with a suspended quarterback than they had against Ole Miss in week ten.  After beating South Carolina in Week One, the Aggies only conference win has come against Arkansas.   If Auburn finds a way to lose this game at home, look for them to tumble out of the playoff rankings.

In an even more absurd Week Eleven matchup, number one ranked Mississippi State will host lower division FCS opponent Tennessee-Martin.  Tennessee-Martin completes Mississippi State’s ridiculously weak non-conference schedule consisting of South Alabama, UAB and Southern Miss, four teams who combine for eleven wins against FBS teams and zero against power five teams.  With Mississippi State’s struggles against Arkansas in Week Ten and the cake walk schedule, it would be encouraging to see the playoff committee punish the Bulldogs for even playing this game, but more likely this will serve as just another bye on the number one ranked team’s schedule.

The only other undefeated team in college football has a much stiffer test, though it would be rather difficult not to.  Florida State hosts 4-5 Virginia, who had some solid wins early, particularly over Louisville in Week Three, but who have struggled recently.  While the Seminoles should be able to keep their perfect record intact, they can’t have a let down after the big road win against Louisville. 

Local Flavor

While most of the SEC rests in Week Eleven, there is one major contest.  While Alabama and LSU are separated by the state of Mississippi, these two teams know each other well, and it is a rivalry that has been intense throughout the BCS era.  One of these two teams has represented the SEC West 13 out of 22 seasons in the SEC Championship Game and over that same time, the series is split with eleven wins apiece.  With big name coaches like Nick Saban and Les “the hat” Miles at the helm and so much on the line every year, this rivalry has a definite familiarity to it.  While LSU is outside the playoff picture looking in with two losses already, they took out Ole Miss in Week Nine and would love to give Alabama their second loss of the season as well, forcing the playoff committee to drop the tide down the rankings as well.

Game of the Week

While the local flavor provides a big time matchup this week, the Game of the Week is without question the clash in the Big 12 as seventh ranked TCU hosts ninth ranked Kansas State for the top spot in the Big 12 and possible inclusion in the playoff field.  The Horned Frogs were able to outlast 22^nd ranked West Virginia in Morgantown in Week Ten and the Wildcats decimated Oklahoma State at home, so both teams have good momentum entering this showdown.  While Kansas State still needs to face the Mountaineers as well as Baylor to close out their season, a win by TCU would give them a high probability of finishing the season with a single loss.  A one loss Big 12 Champion would be hard to keep out of playoff contention with the strength of the conference schedule, but these two teams must first find a way to win in Week Eleven.

Pillow Fight of the Week

Week Eleven not only has big games between power teams, but it also holds one of the best Pillow Fights in recent weeks.  SMU, the only winless team remaining in college football has one of their best chances to pick up a victory this week as they face 1-7 Tulsa, whose only win came in double overtime against Tulane in Week One.  Since then, the Golden Hurricane has been dismal, ranking near last in both points for and points against.  The only thing worse would be ranking dead last in both these categories, a distinction held by their opponent SMU.

Football Nation proudly present its 21st episode in Season Three of "Monday Morning Huddle" with host Dave Holcomb. The NFL had three marquee matchups in Week 9, and all of them ended in lopsided scores. The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers each scored 43 points as they captured home victories over their biggest rival. That's not all the two teams had in common. In the third big matchup, the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Romo-less Cowboys to remain the only one-loss team in the NFL. In the 'Fourth and Long' segment, Holcomb talks Mark Sanchez replacing Eagles quarterback Nick Foles while he is out with a shoulder injury, the Chargers three-game losing streak and the 49ers .500 record halfway through the 2014 season.

All that and more on this edition of Monday Morning Huddle.

Week 9 Results

Thursday
New Orleans 28, Carolina 10

Sunday
Minnesota 29, Washington 26
Miami 37, San Diego 0
Cincinnati 33, Jacksonville 23
Kansas City 24, New York Jets 10
Philadelphia 31, Houston 21
Arizona 28, Dallas 10
Cleveland 22, Tampa 17
St. Louis 13, San Francisco 10
Seattle 30, Oakland 24
New England 43, Denver 21
Pittsburgh 43, Baltimore 23

Monday
Indianapolis at New York Giants

Bye Teams
Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Tennessee

Don't forget Week 9 Power Rankings will come out on Tuesday morning!
- Last Week's Power Rankings: Shaken Up at the Top

Previous Season Three Episodes
- Week 8: The Passing Sunday
- Week 7: Broncos D Shines on Manning's Night
- Week 6: Impressive NFC East
- Week 5: Win $1 Million Playing Fantasy Football
- Week 4: 49ers & Packers Rebound, NFC South Struggles
- Week 3: Western Showdowns
- Week 2: Off the Field Issues Overshadow Great Week 2
- Week 1: Early Dominance & Near Comebacks

This Week's Music
Album: Small World
Artist: Huey Lewis & the News
Songs: Small World (Part One), Small World (Part Two), Give Me the Keys (And I'll Drive You Crazy) 

Theme Song: Monday Morning by Fleetwood Mac

Dave Holcomb’s Contact Information
Twitter: @dmholcomb
E-mail: holcombmdavid@gmail.com
Facebook: Dave's Football News

Halloween weekend was an exciting one in college football and we certainly had our share of treats, as well as a few tricks in there as well.  Third ranked Auburn defeated fourth ranked Ole Miss on a fumble on the goaline, TCU topped West Virginia in a Big 12 showdown while Arkansas nearly knocked off number one ranked Mississippi State, Florida State barely maintained their perfect season on Thursday night and Florida upset Georgia in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.  As we enter week eleven, it promises to be another big week which will shape the playoff picture in a major way.  Big matchups are in the queue and the winners hope to catch the eye of the playoff committee.

Playoff Appeal

One of the biggest matchups of the weekend is one that has been circled on the calendar all season.  It’s not often that the games we thought would be major battles at the onset still carry the same weight eleven weeks in.  Eighth ranked Michigan State hosting sixteenth ranked Ohio State for control of the Big Ten East, a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game and the most likely candidate from the Big Ten to make the playoff, however, makes the cut.  The Spartans have had a week to prepare for the Buckeyes and both teams boast solid defenses to compliment their top five ranked scoring offenses.

Another matchup of ranked opponents pairs tenth ranked Notre Dame against fourteenth ranked Arizona State.  The Irish looked a little rusty in their week ten win over Navy after suffering their first loss to Florida State and then having a bye week.  They need to be ready to go against Arizona State, however, who hosts the Irish and beat out red hot Utah in overtime in week ten.

The Pac-12 has several big games this week as Washington hosts UCLA and Oregon travels to Utah.  UCLA looked more like the team we thought they were at the start of the season in Week Ten against Arizona, but must overcome the talented strategic mind of Head Coach Chris Petersen on the road in Washington.  Oregon, meanwhile, will hit the road as well against a Utah team that is playing better and better.  While the Utes fell to Arizona State in Week Ten, they are a dangerous team, and might be the biggest challenge the Ducks have faced since Michigan State in Week Two.

Outside of the Pac-12, the Big 12 has a major contest as Baylor faces off against Oklahoma.  While both of these teams are a long shot to make the playoff, whichever loses this week is most certainly eliminated.  The Sooners could make a case with two losses due to their strength of schedule and slim margin of losses, but the Bears will fall significantly should they come up short again.  Both teams also have a chance at the Big 12 Championship with TCU and Kansas State facing off this week as well, but again, they must win this week to stay in the race.

While most power conferences have solid games in Week Eleven, the SEC is taking something of a breather.  Third ranked Auburn should have a much easier time against a struggling Texas A&M team with a suspended quarterback than they had against Ole Miss in week ten.  After beating South Carolina in Week One, the Aggies only conference win has come against Arkansas.   If Auburn finds a way to lose this game at home, look for them to tumble out of the playoff rankings.

In an even more absurd Week Eleven matchup, number one ranked Mississippi State will host lower division FCS opponent Tennessee-Martin.  Tennessee-Martin completes Mississippi State’s ridiculously weak non-conference schedule consisting of South Alabama, UAB and Southern Miss, four teams who combine for eleven wins against FBS teams and zero against power five teams.  With Mississippi State’s struggles against Arkansas in Week Ten and the cake walk schedule, it would be encouraging to see the playoff committee punish the Bulldogs for even playing this game, but more likely this will serve as just another bye on the number one ranked team’s schedule.

The only other undefeated team in college football has a much stiffer test, though it would be rather difficult not to.  Florida State hosts 4-5 Virginia, who had some solid wins early, particularly over Louisville in Week Three, but who have struggled recently.  While the Seminoles should be able to keep their perfect record intact, they can’t have a let down after the big road win against Louisville. 

Local Flavor

While most of the SEC rests in Week Eleven, there is one major contest.  While Alabama and LSU are separated by the state of Mississippi, these two teams know each other well, and it is a rivalry that has been intense throughout the BCS era.  One of these two teams has represented the SEC West 13 out of 22 seasons in the SEC Championship Game and over that same time, the series is split with eleven wins apiece.  With big name coaches like Nick Saban and Les “the hat” Miles at the helm and so much on the line every year, this rivalry has a definite familiarity to it.  While LSU is outside the playoff picture looking in with two losses already, they took out Ole Miss in Week Nine and would love to give Alabama their second loss of the season as well, forcing the playoff committee to drop the tide down the rankings as well.

Game of the Week

While the local flavor provides a big time matchup this week, the Game of the Week is without question the clash in the Big 12 as seventh ranked TCU hosts ninth ranked Kansas State for the top spot in the Big 12 and possible inclusion in the playoff field.  The Horned Frogs were able to outlast 22^nd ranked West Virginia in Morgantown in Week Ten and the Wildcats decimated Oklahoma State at home, so both teams have good momentum entering this showdown.  While Kansas State still needs to face the Mountaineers as well as Baylor to close out their season, a win by TCU would give them a high probability of finishing the season with a single loss.  A one loss Big 12 Champion would be hard to keep out of playoff contention with the strength of the conference schedule, but these two teams must first find a way to win in Week Eleven.

Pillow Fight of the Week

Week Eleven not only has big games between power teams, but it also holds one of the best Pillow Fights in recent weeks.  SMU, the only winless team remaining in college football has one of their best chances to pick up a victory this week as they face 1-7 Tulsa, whose only win came in double overtime against Tulane in Week One.  Since then, the Golden Hurricane has been dismal, ranking near last in both points for and points against.  The only thing worse would be ranking dead last in both these categories, a distinction held by their opponent SMU.

Football Nation proudly present its 21st episode in Season Three of "Monday Morning Huddle" with host Dave Holcomb. The NFL had three marquee matchups in Week 9, and all of them ended in lopsided scores. The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers each scored 43 points as they captured home victories over their biggest rival. That's not all the two teams had in common. In the third big matchup, the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Romo-less Cowboys to remain the only one-loss team in the NFL. In the 'Fourth and Long' segment, Holcomb talks Mark Sanchez replacing Eagles quarterback Nick Foles while he is out with a shoulder injury, the Chargers three-game losing streak and the 49ers .500 record halfway through the 2014 season.

All that and more on this edition of Monday Morning Huddle.

Week 9 Results

Thursday
New Orleans 28, Carolina 10

Sunday
Minnesota 29, Washington 26
Miami 37, San Diego 0
Cincinnati 33, Jacksonville 23
Kansas City 24, New York Jets 10
Philadelphia 31, Houston 21
Arizona 28, Dallas 10
Cleveland 22, Tampa 17
St. Louis 13, San Francisco 10
Seattle 30, Oakland 24
New England 43, Denver 21
Pittsburgh 43, Baltimore 23

Monday
Indianapolis at New York Giants

Bye Teams
Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Tennessee

Don't forget Week 9 Power Rankings will come out on Tuesday morning!
- Last Week's Power Rankings: Shaken Up at the Top

Previous Season Three Episodes
- Week 8: The Passing Sunday
- Week 7: Broncos D Shines on Manning's Night
- Week 6: Impressive NFC East
- Week 5: Win $1 Million Playing Fantasy Football
- Week 4: 49ers & Packers Rebound, NFC South Struggles
- Week 3: Western Showdowns
- Week 2: Off the Field Issues Overshadow Great Week 2
- Week 1: Early Dominance & Near Comebacks

This Week's Music
Album: Small World
Artist: Huey Lewis & the News
Songs: Small World (Part One), Small World (Part Two), Give Me the Keys (And I'll Drive You Crazy) 

Theme Song: Monday Morning by Fleetwood Mac

Dave Holcomb’s Contact Information
Twitter: @dmholcomb
E-mail: holcombmdavid@gmail.com
Facebook: Dave's Football News

Halloween weekend was an exciting one in college football and we certainly had our share of treats, as well as a few tricks in there as well.  Third ranked Auburn defeated fourth ranked Ole Miss on a fumble on the goaline, TCU topped West Virginia in a Big 12 showdown while Arkansas nearly knocked off number one ranked Mississippi State, Florida State barely maintained their perfect season on Thursday night and Florida upset Georgia in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.  As we enter week eleven, it promises to be another big week which will shape the playoff picture in a major way.  Big matchups are in the queue and the winners hope to catch the eye of the playoff committee.

Playoff Appeal

One of the biggest matchups of the weekend is one that has been circled on the calendar all season.  It’s not often that the games we thought would be major battles at the onset still carry the same weight eleven weeks in.  Eighth ranked Michigan State hosting sixteenth ranked Ohio State for control of the Big Ten East, a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game and the most likely candidate from the Big Ten to make the playoff, however, makes the cut.  The Spartans have had a week to prepare for the Buckeyes and both teams boast solid defenses to compliment their top five ranked scoring offenses.

Another matchup of ranked opponents pairs tenth ranked Notre Dame against fourteenth ranked Arizona State.  The Irish looked a little rusty in their week ten win over Navy after suffering their first loss to Florida State and then having a bye week.  They need to be ready to go against Arizona State, however, who hosts the Irish and beat out red hot Utah in overtime in week ten.

The Pac-12 has several big games this week as Washington hosts UCLA and Oregon travels to Utah.  UCLA looked more like the team we thought they were at the start of the season in Week Ten against Arizona, but must overcome the talented strategic mind of Head Coach Chris Petersen on the road in Washington.  Oregon, meanwhile, will hit the road as well against a Utah team that is playing better and better.  While the Utes fell to Arizona State in Week Ten, they are a dangerous team, and might be the biggest challenge the Ducks have faced since Michigan State in Week Two.

Outside of the Pac-12, the Big 12 has a major contest as Baylor faces off against Oklahoma.  While both of these teams are a long shot to make the playoff, whichever loses this week is most certainly eliminated.  The Sooners could make a case with two losses due to their strength of schedule and slim margin of losses, but the Bears will fall significantly should they come up short again.  Both teams also have a chance at the Big 12 Championship with TCU and Kansas State facing off this week as well, but again, they must win this week to stay in the race.

While most power conferences have solid games in Week Eleven, the SEC is taking something of a breather.  Third ranked Auburn should have a much easier time against a struggling Texas A&M team with a suspended quarterback than they had against Ole Miss in week ten.  After beating South Carolina in Week One, the Aggies only conference win has come against Arkansas.   If Auburn finds a way to lose this game at home, look for them to tumble out of the playoff rankings.

In an even more absurd Week Eleven matchup, number one ranked Mississippi State will host lower division FCS opponent Tennessee-Martin.  Tennessee-Martin completes Mississippi State’s ridiculously weak non-conference schedule consisting of South Alabama, UAB and Southern Miss, four teams who combine for eleven wins against FBS teams and zero against power five teams.  With Mississippi State’s struggles against Arkansas in Week Ten and the cake walk schedule, it would be encouraging to see the playoff committee punish the Bulldogs for even playing this game, but more likely this will serve as just another bye on the number one ranked team’s schedule.

The only other undefeated team in college football has a much stiffer test, though it would be rather difficult not to.  Florida State hosts 4-5 Virginia, who had some solid wins early, particularly over Louisville in Week Three, but who have struggled recently.  While the Seminoles should be able to keep their perfect record intact, they can’t have a let down after the big road win against Louisville. 

Local Flavor

While most of the SEC rests in Week Eleven, there is one major contest.  While Alabama and LSU are separated by the state of Mississippi, these two teams know each other well, and it is a rivalry that has been intense throughout the BCS era.  One of these two teams has represented the SEC West 13 out of 22 seasons in the SEC Championship Game and over that same time, the series is split with eleven wins apiece.  With big name coaches like Nick Saban and Les “the hat” Miles at the helm and so much on the line every year, this rivalry has a definite familiarity to it.  While LSU is outside the playoff picture looking in with two losses already, they took out Ole Miss in Week Nine and would love to give Alabama their second loss of the season as well, forcing the playoff committee to drop the tide down the rankings as well.

Game of the Week

While the local flavor provides a big time matchup this week, the Game of the Week is without question the clash in the Big 12 as seventh ranked TCU hosts ninth ranked Kansas State for the top spot in the Big 12 and possible inclusion in the playoff field.  The Horned Frogs were able to outlast 22^nd ranked West Virginia in Morgantown in Week Ten and the Wildcats decimated Oklahoma State at home, so both teams have good momentum entering this showdown.  While Kansas State still needs to face the Mountaineers as well as Baylor to close out their season, a win by TCU would give them a high probability of finishing the season with a single loss.  A one loss Big 12 Champion would be hard to keep out of playoff contention with the strength of the conference schedule, but these two teams must first find a way to win in Week Eleven.

Pillow Fight of the Week

Week Eleven not only has big games between power teams, but it also holds one of the best Pillow Fights in recent weeks.  SMU, the only winless team remaining in college football has one of their best chances to pick up a victory this week as they face 1-7 Tulsa, whose only win came in double overtime against Tulane in Week One.  Since then, the Golden Hurricane has been dismal, ranking near last in both points for and points against.  The only thing worse would be ranking dead last in both these categories, a distinction held by their opponent SMU.

Halloween weekend was an exciting one in college football and we certainly had our share of treats, as well as a few tricks in there as well.  Third ranked Auburn defeated fourth ranked Ole Miss on a fumble on the goaline, TCU topped West Virginia in a Big 12 showdown while Arkansas nearly knocked off number one ranked Mississippi State, Florida State barely maintained their perfect season on Thursday night and Florida upset Georgia in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.  As we enter week eleven, it promises to be another big week which will shape the playoff picture in a major way.  Big matchups are in the queue and the winners hope to catch the eye of the playoff committee.

Playoff Appeal

One of the biggest matchups of the weekend is one that has been circled on the calendar all season.  It’s not often that the games we thought would be major battles at the onset still carry the same weight eleven weeks in.  Eighth ranked Michigan State hosting sixteenth ranked Ohio State for control of the Big Ten East, a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game and the most likely candidate from the Big Ten to make the playoff, however, makes the cut.  The Spartans have had a week to prepare for the Buckeyes and both teams boast solid defenses to compliment their top five ranked scoring offenses.

Another matchup of ranked opponents pairs tenth ranked Notre Dame against fourteenth ranked Arizona State.  The Irish looked a little rusty in their week ten win over Navy after suffering their first loss to Florida State and then having a bye week.  They need to be ready to go against Arizona State, however, who hosts the Irish and beat out red hot Utah in overtime in week ten.

The Pac-12 has several big games this week as Washington hosts UCLA and Oregon travels to Utah.  UCLA looked more like the team we thought they were at the start of the season in Week Ten against Arizona, but must overcome the talented strategic mind of Head Coach Chris Petersen on the road in Washington.  Oregon, meanwhile, will hit the road as well against a Utah team that is playing better and better.  While the Utes fell to Arizona State in Week Ten, they are a dangerous team, and might be the biggest challenge the Ducks have faced since Michigan State in Week Two.

Outside of the Pac-12, the Big 12 has a major contest as Baylor faces off against Oklahoma.  While both of these teams are a long shot to make the playoff, whichever loses this week is most certainly eliminated.  The Sooners could make a case with two losses due to their strength of schedule and slim margin of losses, but the Bears will fall significantly should they come up short again.  Both teams also have a chance at the Big 12 Championship with TCU and Kansas State facing off this week as well, but again, they must win this week to stay in the race.

While most power conferences have solid games in Week Eleven, the SEC is taking something of a breather.  Third ranked Auburn should have a much easier time against a struggling Texas A&M team with a suspended quarterback than they had against Ole Miss in week ten.  After beating South Carolina in Week One, the Aggies only conference win has come against Arkansas.   If Auburn finds a way to lose this game at home, look for them to tumble out of the playoff rankings.

In an even more absurd Week Eleven matchup, number one ranked Mississippi State will host lower division FCS opponent Tennessee-Martin.  Tennessee-Martin completes Mississippi State’s ridiculously weak non-conference schedule consisting of South Alabama, UAB and Southern Miss, four teams who combine for eleven wins against FBS teams and zero against power five teams.  With Mississippi State’s struggles against Arkansas in Week Ten and the cake walk schedule, it would be encouraging to see the playoff committee punish the Bulldogs for even playing this game, but more likely this will serve as just another bye on the number one ranked team’s schedule.

The only other undefeated team in college football has a much stiffer test, though it would be rather difficult not to.  Florida State hosts 4-5 Virginia, who had some solid wins early, particularly over Louisville in Week Three, but who have struggled recently.  While the Seminoles should be able to keep their perfect record intact, they can’t have a let down after the big road win against Louisville. 

Local Flavor

While most of the SEC rests in Week Eleven, there is one major contest.  While Alabama and LSU are separated by the state of Mississippi, these two teams know each other well, and it is a rivalry that has been intense throughout the BCS era.  One of these two teams has represented the SEC West 13 out of 22 seasons in the SEC Championship Game and over that same time, the series is split with eleven wins apiece.  With big name coaches like Nick Saban and Les “the hat” Miles at the helm and so much on the line every year, this rivalry has a definite familiarity to it.  While LSU is outside the playoff picture looking in with two losses already, they took out Ole Miss in Week Nine and would love to give Alabama their second loss of the season as well, forcing the playoff committee to drop the tide down the rankings as well.

Game of the Week

While the local flavor provides a big time matchup this week, the Game of the Week is without question the clash in the Big 12 as seventh ranked TCU hosts ninth ranked Kansas State for the top spot in the Big 12 and possible inclusion in the playoff field.  The Horned Frogs were able to outlast 22^nd ranked West Virginia in Morgantown in Week Ten and the Wildcats decimated Oklahoma State at home, so both teams have good momentum entering this showdown.  While Kansas State still needs to face the Mountaineers as well as Baylor to close out their season, a win by TCU would give them a high probability of finishing the season with a single loss.  A one loss Big 12 Champion would be hard to keep out of playoff contention with the strength of the conference schedule, but these two teams must first find a way to win in Week Eleven.

Pillow Fight of the Week

Week Eleven not only has big games between power teams, but it also holds one of the best Pillow Fights in recent weeks.  SMU, the only winless team remaining in college football has one of their best chances to pick up a victory this week as they face 1-7 Tulsa, whose only win came in double overtime against Tulane in Week One.  Since then, the Golden Hurricane has been dismal, ranking near last in both points for and points against.  The only thing worse would be ranking dead last in both these categories, a distinction held by their opponent SMU.

The NFL has been increasing the number of games played in other countries. The Buffalo Bills "hosted" games in Toronto, Canada, between 2008 and 2012 with talk about expanding the number of these games or even moving the team there with the Bills' late owner Ralph Wilson. Following the 1/29/2013 preseason game the 2014 game was postponed for a year. On 10/2/2005 a regular season game was held in Mexico City, Mexico, between the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. Prior to this season seven games have been held in Wembley Stadium in London.

And the talk continues about expansion. I have a problem with this and I am sure that I am not the only one.

First of all, NFL Europe (first dubbed The World League of American Football) operated on-and-off from 1991 until 6/29/2007 when it officially ended due to loss of funding, exhaustion of television partners, and a focus on Germany (five teams were in Germany, the other in Amsterdam). The "lack of pizzaz" in watching what were essentially glorified practice squads led to its demise.

In the 6/30/2007 New York Times, Richard Sandomir wrote:

“If we can present two or three games a year, and fans are engaged in that experience, we will grow exponentially overseas,” Mark Waller, the senior vice president of NFL International, said by telephone from Frankfurt."

And then he wrote:

"Despite its domestic power, the N.F.L. has struggled to export its game."

(The full article can be found at:  https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/thoughts-the-nfls-increasing-games-london/31826/www.nytimes.com/2007/06/30/sports/football/30nfl.html?_r=0)

And yet the NFL continues to promote the league overseas. I am going to focus upon London because that seems to be the place to play as of late. And for the record, I have nothing against the UK; after all, I am half-British.

Secondly, if I was still a season ticket-holder and one of my home games was to be played in London, thus causing me to miss one, I would be angry. But I gave up my season tickets because I couldn't afford them anymore. Which brings me to my third point...

How about the NFL lowers ticket prices so that middle-class America can attend games? After all, the fans in this country are what made the NFL as popular and successful as it has become.

But no, instead the league wants to promote games overseas because they can charge ridiculous amounts of money which people will pay. For the upcoming Jacksonville Jaguars at Dallas Cowboys game in London on 11/9/2014, tickets start at 39.4 British pounds, or $63.56 per ticket. Mind you, I said start at. The league non-premium ticket average in the US is currently $84.45 per ticket. Some teams, like the New England Patriots, charge $122 per ticket for non-premium seats.

Wembley Stadium holds 86,000 people for NFL games. Stadiums in the US range from TCF Bank Stadium (Minnesota Vikings) that holds 52,525 to FedEx Field (Washington Redskins) with a capacity of 85,000. However, many teams are experiencing broadcast blackouts due to undersold tickets (because they are too expensive). So instead of doing the right thing, the league seeks new paying customers elsewhere without so much as a thought about its existing fanbase.

We wonder why there is dwindling player loyalty in the NFL. It's all about the almighty dollar (which really isn't all that almighty anymore thanks to a ridiculous deficit and the gradual devaluation of our currency). Players will go to whichever team will pay them the most. Granted, there are several loyal players like Charles Tillman (Chi), Troy Polamalu (Pit), and Larry Fitzgerald (Ari), for example, who have been with their respective teams their entire careers; 12, 12, and 11 years, respectively.

Yet this is what the league is doing: selling out for the highest dollar. What kind of lesson does that teach?

Finally, the wear and tear on our players having to travel across several time zones (especially west coast teams who face an eight-hour time differential) can wreak havoc on their circadian rhythms: "the physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism's environment" (from the NIH article below).

"Circadian rhythms can influence sleep-wake cycles, hormone release, body temperature and other important bodily functions. They have been linked to various sleep disorders, such as insomnia. Abnormal circadian rhythms have also been associated with obesity, diabetes, depression, bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder."

(The full article on circadian rhythms from the NIH can be found at:  https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/thoughts-the-nfls-increasing-games-london/31826/www.nigms.nih.gov/Education/Pages/Factsheet_CircadianRhythms.aspx)

Therefore, those teams having to travel to London must adjust their body clocks to the new time zone, deal with jet lag, and then fly home and readjust so they are ready to play the following week according to their "normal" circadian rhythms. Granted, the NFL has said that it will likely schedule a bye week for those teams returning from London; however, the league already has enough trouble with scheduling (teams playing Monday night and then Thursday night, for example). Is this fair to these athletes? I don't think so. That the league wants to keep increasing the number of games played in London or possibly even having a regular team there is not a good idea; not to mention a colossal waste of money on overseas travel which is allegedly justified by the growing fan base outside of the US. 

While I am not completely averse to having games or teams in Canada (after all, the NHL and NBA operate in both countries), there is a huge difference between a 99.1 mile drive from Buffalo to Toronto and a 3,358 (from New York) to 5,478 (from San Diego) mile flight to London. And if they must play in London, schedule games during the preseason, but that won't fulfill the pizzaz factor that led to NFL Europe's demise.

Personally, if the NFL continues down this path of devaluing American fans then it should not be called the National Football League and I, for one, would withdraw my support: no more purchasing NFL merchandise or NFL Sunday Ticket for starters.

By Manuele Lang SOELDEN Austria (Reuters) - International Ski Federation (FIS) president Gian-Franco Kasper has warned FIFA against holding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar at the same time as the Winter Olympic Games. Kasper, who is also an outspoken member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), was reacting to comments last week by FIFA president Sepp Blatter that the Qatar World Cup would most probably be held in the northern hemisphere winter because June is too hot. ...

The NFL has been increasing the number of games played in other countries. The Buffalo Bills "hosted" games in Toronto, Canada, between 2008 and 2012 with talk about expanding the number of these games or even moving the team there with the Bills' late owner Ralph Wilson. Following the 1/29/2013 preseason game the 2014 game was postponed for a year. On 10/2/2005 a regular season game was held in Mexico City, Mexico, between the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. Prior to this season seven games have been held in Wembley Stadium in London.

And the talk continues about expansion. I have a problem with this and I am sure that I am not the only one.

First of all, NFL Europe (first dubbed The World League of American Football) operated on-and-off from 1991 until 6/29/2007 when it officially ended due to loss of funding, exhaustion of television partners, and a focus on Germany (five teams were in Germany, the other in Amsterdam). The "lack of pizzaz" in watching what were essentially glorified practice squads led to its demise.

In the 6/30/2007 New York Times, Richard Sandomir wrote:

“If we can present two or three games a year, and fans are engaged in that experience, we will grow exponentially overseas,” Mark Waller, the senior vice president of NFL International, said by telephone from Frankfurt."

And then he wrote:

"Despite its domestic power, the N.F.L. has struggled to export its game."

(The full article can be found at:  https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/thoughts-the-nfls-increasing-games-london/31826/www.nytimes.com/2007/06/30/sports/football/30nfl.html?_r=0)

And yet the NFL continues to promote the league overseas. I am going to focus upon London because that seems to be the place to play as of late. And for the record, I have nothing against the UK; after all, I am half-British.

Secondly, if I was still a season ticket-holder and one of my home games was to be played in London, thus causing me to miss one, I would be angry. But I gave up my season tickets because I couldn't afford them anymore. Which brings me to my third point...

How about the NFL lowers ticket prices so that middle-class America can attend games? After all, the fans in this country are what made the NFL as popular and successful as it has become.

But no, instead the league wants to promote games overseas because they can charge ridiculous amounts of money which people will pay. For the upcoming Jacksonville Jaguars at Dallas Cowboys game in London on 11/9/2014, tickets start at 39.4 British pounds, or $63.56 per ticket. Mind you, I said start at. The league non-premium ticket average in the US is currently $84.45 per ticket. Some teams, like the New England Patriots, charge $122 per ticket for non-premium seats.

Wembley Stadium holds 86,000 people for NFL games. Stadiums in the US range from TCF Bank Stadium (Minnesota Vikings) that holds 52,525 to FedEx Field (Washington Redskins) with a capacity of 85,000. However, many teams are experiencing broadcast blackouts due to undersold tickets (because they are too expensive). So instead of doing the right thing, the league seeks new paying customers elsewhere without so much as a thought about its existing fanbase.

We wonder why there is dwindling player loyalty in the NFL. It's all about the almighty dollar (which really isn't all that almighty anymore thanks to a ridiculous deficit and the gradual devaluation of our currency). Players will go to whichever team will pay them the most. Granted, there are several loyal players like Charles Tillman (Chi), Troy Polamalu (Pit), and Larry Fitzgerald (Ari), for example, who have been with their respective teams their entire careers; 12, 12, and 11 years, respectively.

Yet this is what the league is doing: selling out for the highest dollar. What kind of lesson does that teach?

Finally, the wear and tear on our players having to travel across several time zones (especially west coast teams who face an eight-hour time differential) can wreak havoc on their circadian rhythms: "the physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism's environment" (from the NIH article below).

"Circadian rhythms can influence sleep-wake cycles, hormone release, body temperature and other important bodily functions. They have been linked to various sleep disorders, such as insomnia. Abnormal circadian rhythms have also been associated with obesity, diabetes, depression, bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder."

(The full article on circadian rhythms from the NIH can be found at:  https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/thoughts-the-nfls-increasing-games-london/31826/www.nigms.nih.gov/Education/Pages/Factsheet_CircadianRhythms.aspx)

Therefore, those teams having to travel to London must adjust their body clocks to the new time zone, deal with jet lag, and then fly home and readjust so they are ready to play the following week according to their "normal" circadian rhythms. Granted, the NFL has said that it will likely schedule a bye week for those teams returning from London; however, the league already has enough trouble with scheduling (teams playing Monday night and then Thursday night, for example). Is this fair to these athletes? I don't think so. That the league wants to keep increasing the number of games played in London or possibly even having a regular team there is not a good idea; not to mention a colossal waste of money on overseas travel which is allegedly justified by the growing fan base outside of the US. 

While I am not completely averse to having games or teams in Canada (after all, the NHL and NBA operate in both countries), there is a huge difference between a 99.1 mile drive from Buffalo to Toronto and a 3,358 (from New York) to 5,478 (from San Diego) mile flight to London. And if they must play in London, schedule games during the preseason, but that won't fulfill the pizzaz factor that led to NFL Europe's demise.

Personally, if the NFL continues down this path of devaluing American fans then it should not be called the National Football League and I, for one, would withdraw my support: no more purchasing NFL merchandise or NFL Sunday Ticket for starters.

The NFL has been increasing the number of games played in other countries. The Buffalo Bills "hosted" games in Toronto, Canada, between 2008 and 2012 with talk about expanding the number of these games or even moving the team there with the Bills' late owner Ralph Wilson. Following the 1/29/2013 preseason game the 2014 game was postponed for a year. On 10/2/2005 a regular season game was held in Mexico City, Mexico, between the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. Prior to this season seven games have been held in Wembley Stadium in London.

And the talk continues about expansion. I have a problem with this and I am sure that I am not the only one.

First of all, NFL Europe (first dubbed The World League of American Football) operated on-and-off from 1991 until 6/29/2007 when it officially ended due to loss of funding, exhaustion of television partners, and a focus on Germany (five teams were in Germany, the other in Amsterdam). The "lack of pizzaz" in watching what were essentially glorified practice squads led to its demise.

In the 6/30/2007 New York Times, Richard Sandomir wrote:

“If we can present two or three games a year, and fans are engaged in that experience, we will grow exponentially overseas,” Mark Waller, the senior vice president of NFL International, said by telephone from Frankfurt."

And then he wrote:

"Despite its domestic power, the N.F.L. has struggled to export its game."

(The full article can be found at:  https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/thoughts-the-nfls-increasing-games-london/31826/www.nytimes.com/2007/06/30/sports/football/30nfl.html?_r=0)

And yet the NFL continues to promote the league overseas. I am going to focus upon London because that seems to be the place to play as of late. And for the record, I have nothing against the UK; after all, I am half-British.

Secondly, if I was still a season ticket-holder and one of my home games was to be played in London, thus causing me to miss one, I would be angry. But I gave up my season tickets because I couldn't afford them anymore. Which brings me to my third point...

How about the NFL lowers ticket prices so that middle-class America can attend games? After all, the fans in this country are what made the NFL as popular and successful as it has become.

But no, instead the league wants to promote games overseas because they can charge ridiculous amounts of money which people will pay. For the upcoming Jacksonville Jaguars at Dallas Cowboys game in London on 11/9/2014, tickets start at 39.4 British pounds, or $63.56 per ticket. Mind you, I said start at. The league non-premium ticket average in the US is currently $84.45 per ticket. Some teams, like the New England Patriots, charge $122 per ticket for non-premium seats.

Wembley Stadium holds 86,000 people for NFL games. Stadiums in the US range from TCF Bank Stadium (Minnesota Vikings) that holds 52,525 to FedEx Field (Washington Redskins) with a capacity of 85,000. However, many teams are experiencing broadcast blackouts due to undersold tickets (because they are too expensive). So instead of doing the right thing, the league seeks new paying customers elsewhere without so much as a thought about its existing fanbase.

We wonder why there is dwindling player loyalty in the NFL. It's all about the almighty dollar (which really isn't all that almighty anymore thanks to a ridiculous deficit and the gradual devaluation of our currency). Players will go to whichever team will pay them the most. Granted, there are several loyal players like Charles Tillman (Chi), Troy Polamalu (Pit), and Larry Fitzgerald (Ari), for example, who have been with their respective teams their entire careers; 12, 12, and 11 years, respectively.

Yet this is what the league is doing: selling out for the highest dollar. What kind of lesson does that teach?

Finally, the wear and tear on our players having to travel across several time zones (especially west coast teams who face an eight-hour time differential) can wreak havoc on their circadian rhythms: "the physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism's environment" (from the NIH article below).

"Circadian rhythms can influence sleep-wake cycles, hormone release, body temperature and other important bodily functions. They have been linked to various sleep disorders, such as insomnia. Abnormal circadian rhythms have also been associated with obesity, diabetes, depression, bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder."

(The full article on circadian rhythms from the NIH can be found at:  https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/thoughts-the-nfls-increasing-games-london/31826/www.nigms.nih.gov/Education/Pages/Factsheet_CircadianRhythms.aspx)

Therefore, those teams having to travel to London must adjust their body clocks to the new time zone, deal with jet lag, and then fly home and readjust so they are ready to play the following week according to their "normal" circadian rhythms. Granted, the NFL has said that it will likely schedule a bye week for those teams returning from London; however, the league already has enough trouble with scheduling (teams playing Monday night and then Thursday night, for example). Is this fair to these athletes? I don't think so. That the league wants to keep increasing the number of games played in London or possibly even having a regular team there is not a good idea; not to mention a colossal waste of money on overseas travel which is allegedly justified by the growing fan base outside of the US. 

While I am not completely averse to having games or teams in Canada (after all, the NHL and NBA operate in both countries), there is a huge difference between a 99.1 mile drive from Buffalo to Toronto and a 3,358 (from New York) to 5,478 (from San Diego) mile flight to London. And if they must play in London, schedule games during the preseason, but that won't fulfill the pizzaz factor that led to NFL Europe's demise.

Personally, if the NFL continues down this path of devaluing American fans then it should not be called the National Football League and I, for one, would withdraw my support: no more purchasing NFL merchandise or NFL Sunday Ticket for starters.

By Manuele Lang SOELDEN Austria (Reuters) - International Ski Federation (FIS) president Gian-Franco Kasper has warned FIFA against holding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar at the same time as the Winter Olympic Games. Kasper, who is also an outspoken member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), was reacting to comments last week by FIFA president Sepp Blatter that the Qatar World Cup would most probably be held in the northern hemisphere winter because June is too hot. ...

The NFL has been increasing the number of games played in other countries. The Buffalo Bills "hosted" games in Toronto, Canada, between 2008 and 2012 with talk about expanding the number of these games or even moving the team there with the Bills' late owner Ralph Wilson. Following the 1/29/2013 preseason game the 2014 game was postponed for a year. On 10/2/2005 a regular season game was held in Mexico City, Mexico, between the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. Prior to this season seven games have been held in Wembley Stadium in London.

And the talk continues about expansion. I have a problem with this and I am sure that I am not the only one.

First of all, NFL Europe (first dubbed The World League of American Football) operated on-and-off from 1991 until 6/29/2007 when it officially ended due to loss of funding, exhaustion of television partners, and a focus on Germany (five teams were in Germany, the other in Amsterdam). The "lack of pizzaz" in watching what were essentially glorified practice squads led to its demise.

In the 6/30/2007 New York Times, Richard Sandomir wrote:

“If we can present two or three games a year, and fans are engaged in that experience, we will grow exponentially overseas,” Mark Waller, the senior vice president of NFL International, said by telephone from Frankfurt."

And then he wrote:

"Despite its domestic power, the N.F.L. has struggled to export its game."

(The full article can be found at:  https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/thoughts-the-nfls-increasing-games-london/31826/www.nytimes.com/2007/06/30/sports/football/30nfl.html?_r=0)

And yet the NFL continues to promote the league overseas. I am going to focus upon London because that seems to be the place to play as of late. And for the record, I have nothing against the UK; after all, I am half-British.

Secondly, if I was still a season ticket-holder and one of my home games was to be played in London, thus causing me to miss one, I would be angry. But I gave up my season tickets because I couldn't afford them anymore. Which brings me to my third point...

How about the NFL lowers ticket prices so that middle-class America can attend games? After all, the fans in this country are what made the NFL as popular and successful as it has become.

But no, instead the league wants to promote games overseas because they can charge ridiculous amounts of money which people will pay. For the upcoming Jacksonville Jaguars at Dallas Cowboys game in London on 11/9/2014, tickets start at 39.4 British pounds, or $63.56 per ticket. Mind you, I said start at. The league non-premium ticket average in the US is currently $84.45 per ticket. Some teams, like the New England Patriots, charge $122 per ticket for non-premium seats.

Wembley Stadium holds 86,000 people for NFL games. Stadiums in the US range from TCF Bank Stadium (Minnesota Vikings) that holds 52,525 to FedEx Field (Washington Redskins) with a capacity of 85,000. However, many teams are experiencing broadcast blackouts due to undersold tickets (because they are too expensive). So instead of doing the right thing, the league seeks new paying customers elsewhere without so much as a thought about its existing fanbase.

We wonder why there is dwindling player loyalty in the NFL. It's all about the almighty dollar (which really isn't all that almighty anymore thanks to a ridiculous deficit and the gradual devaluation of our currency). Players will go to whichever team will pay them the most. Granted, there are several loyal players like Charles Tillman (Chi), Troy Polamalu (Pit), and Larry Fitzgerald (Ari), for example, who have been with their respective teams their entire careers; 12, 12, and 11 years, respectively.

Yet this is what the league is doing: selling out for the highest dollar. What kind of lesson does that teach?

Finally, the wear and tear on our players having to travel across several time zones (especially west coast teams who face an eight-hour time differential) can wreak havoc on their circadian rhythms: "the physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism's environment" (from the NIH article below).

"Circadian rhythms can influence sleep-wake cycles, hormone release, body temperature and other important bodily functions. They have been linked to various sleep disorders, such as insomnia. Abnormal circadian rhythms have also been associated with obesity, diabetes, depression, bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder."

(The full article on circadian rhythms from the NIH can be found at:  https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/thoughts-the-nfls-increasing-games-london/31826/www.nigms.nih.gov/Education/Pages/Factsheet_CircadianRhythms.aspx)

Therefore, those teams having to travel to London must adjust their body clocks to the new time zone, deal with jet lag, and then fly home and readjust so they are ready to play the following week according to their "normal" circadian rhythms. Granted, the NFL has said that it will likely schedule a bye week for those teams returning from London; however, the league already has enough trouble with scheduling (teams playing Monday night and then Thursday night, for example). Is this fair to these athletes? I don't think so. That the league wants to keep increasing the number of games played in London or possibly even having a regular team there is not a good idea; not to mention a colossal waste of money on overseas travel which is allegedly justified by the growing fan base outside of the US. 

While I am not completely averse to having games or teams in Canada (after all, the NHL and NBA operate in both countries), there is a huge difference between a 99.1 mile drive from Buffalo to Toronto and a 3,358 (from New York) to 5,478 (from San Diego) mile flight to London. And if they must play in London, schedule games during the preseason, but that won't fulfill the pizzaz factor that led to NFL Europe's demise.

Personally, if the NFL continues down this path of devaluing American fans then it should not be called the National Football League and I, for one, would withdraw my support: no more purchasing NFL merchandise or NFL Sunday Ticket for starters.

Week Nine was somewhat of a lackluster weekend in college football, as most matchups when as expected, and the big games would be considered mediocre most other weeks.  Maybe teams wanted to take a mid-season breather, perhaps everyone was simply waiting for the playoff committee’s first set of rankings to come out, or quite possibly this was merely the calm before the storm.  As the first top 25 list is released this Tuesday night, we will get our first look at who has a legitimate chance in the eyes of the all-knowing council of college football gurus who are running this new fangled playoff, and teams will have a chance to demonstrate they are deserving of their ranking or prove the elders wrong for leaving them off the list.  This is Week Ten in college football, and it is all about playoff appeal.

Playoff Appeal

The week kicks off with Florida State travelling to Louisville on Thursday night.  While the Seminoles will be favorites even on the road, the Cardinals boast the fourth stingiest defense in the country, and are undefeated thus far at home, outscoring opponents 147-62.  While Florida State may be the defending champions, the playoff  committee can show some actual knowledge by not placing them in the number one spot based on their performance thus far this year.  This is a chance for the Seminoles to make a statement on a Thursday night under the lights.

While neither of these teams are likely to be near the top spot come Tuesday, TCU and West Virginia are both peaking at the right time and quickly climbing the polls.  West Virginia followed up their win over previously undefeated Baylor with a beat down of Oklahoma State on the road and host the Horn Frogs in Week Ten.  TCU, however, has been lighting people up, as the team known just a few years ago for the toughest defense in the country currently has the number one ranked scoring offense, putting up an obscene 82 points last week against Texas Tech.  Those 82 points set a record for points scored in a Big 12 conference game.  Read that again, TCU set a record for scoring in the Big 12, that is an absurd accomplishment and one that the Horned Frog’s opponents should take note of.

Speaking of previously undefeated Baylor, they are desperately hoping winning out will be enough to get them into the four team playoff.  A Week Ten matchup hosting Kansas, however, won’t be turning any heads unless the Bears find a way to lose.  The Jayhawks have only beat one FBS team this year and rank nearly dead less in both passing offense and scoring offense.

Another top team that will only make a splash if they lose this week is Mississippi State.  The Bulldogs host Arkansas, who despite being undefeated in their extremely soft non-conference schedule, have yet to win an SEC game.  That being said, they took Texas A&M to overtime and lost to Alabama late by only one, so maybe this is the Razorbacks’ week to close one out.

Across the country, the Pac-12 will be showcasing some key matchups in Week Ten.  The biggest is likely Stanford’s trip to Oregon to take on the Ducks.  While Oregon will be the favorite again this year, Stanford has upset the Ducks two years in a row and won three of the past five.  Marcus Mariota has Oregon reaching for the playoff if they can win out, but Stanford is more than capable of playing spoiler yet again.

Staying in the Pac-12, the South Division race will become much clearer as well as two key matchups go down.  One loss Arizona travels to preseason favorite UCLA while the other two one loss teams face off as Arizona State hosts Utah.  All four teams won in Week Nine, so two of these teams will keep it rolling, while two others will fall behind.

Turning to the Independents, Notre Dame returns to action this week after their disappointing “loss” to Florida State two weeks ago.  They will attempt to reach the playoff despite their loss on the back of their strength of schedule, but likely won’t make it if they drop another one.  As long as they don’t have a big game hangover, they should get back on track in Week Ten against a good but not great Navy team on the road.

Finally, in one of the emerging threats to make the final four, Kansas State hosts Oklahoma State after blanking Texas in Week Nine.  While the Wildcats’ only loss has been by six points to top five ranked Auburn in Week Three, they are also entering the meat of their schedule.  After topping Oklahoma and shutting out Texas, Bill Snyder’s squad has to take on the Cowboys in Week Ten, then hit the road against red hot TCU, West Virginia and Baylor.  The Wildcats better not look past Oklahoma State this week as the Cowboys held tight with West Virginia in Week Nine for three solid quarters.

Local Flavor

Bringing some local flavor to Week Ten is one of the oldest neutral site rivalries in the country, as the meeting between Florida and Georgia in Jacksonville draws so many fans, parties and tailgates it’s known as the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.  This rivalry is so intense that the two schools don’t even agree on the series record.  Regardless of the exact wins and losses, the series has been fairly split over the years and Georgia has won the last three, but anything can happen in a rivalry game.

Game of the Week

The Week Ten Game of the Week showcases two highly ranked SEC teams as one loss Auburn travels to one loss Ole Miss.  Both of these teams are likely to sit in the top ten of the first ever college football playoff rankings, however, both faltered in Week Nine.  Auburn struggled for four quarters to top a diminished South Carolina squad that has only won two conference games, while Ole Miss suffered their first loss to LSU on the road as their defense was solid, but their offense couldn’t put up even ten points to grab a victory.  Despite the loss, Ole Miss still controls its own destiny in the SEC and LSU could Auburn could likely reach the playoff if they finish with only a single loss.  For one of these teams, a second loss on the season will likely put them out of the race for good.

Pillow Fight of the Week

The Pillow Fight of the Week pairs two recent additions to the FBS, as Georgia State travels to Appalachian State.  The Mountaineers have racked up some decent offensive stats against terrible competition, but their defense has been atrocious, again, against terrible competition.  Georgia State on the other hand has been bad across the board, losing every game thus far besides their opener against FCS Abilene Christian.  The Panthers’ penchant for throwing the ball down field, however, gives them a chance in every game, as they rank in the top 25 in passing yards.