Nick Knows Best

Wisconsin Badgers still in the hunt for a Big Ten Title

2012-02-10T11:34:00.000-06:00

A Bo Ryan-led Wisconsin Badgers squad will rarely impress you with pure talent, but that doesn’t mean they can’t win. The Badgers run one of the least sexy offenses in the country and play such fundamental defense that they almost lull opposing teams to sleep.

This season has been no different with the #22 Badgers checking in at 19-6 and 8-4 in the Big Ten Conference, just a game and a half back of the #3 Ohio State Buckeyes (21-3, 9-2).

One difference that has popped up this season is the Badgers solid play on the road. Did you know the Badgers have lost more games at home than on the road? With an overtime win against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Wisconsin improved to 6-2 away from the Kohl Center.

With three of the next four games on the road, the Badgers hopes for a Big Ten Title will ride on continuing to compete outside the state-lines.

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Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers runs away with the 2011 MVP Award

2012-02-04T18:57:00.001-06:00

The Associated Press has announced that the Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has won the 2011 Most Valuable Player.

Rodgers beat out fellow signal-callers Drew Brees and Tom Brady for his first-ever MVP Award. He was without a doubt the best player in the league while throwing for 4,653 yards, 45 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Rodgers also used his speedy legs to rush for three more touchdowns in the 2011 season.

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Ohio State proves to be too strong for Wisconsin with 58-52 win (Rapid Reaction)

2012-02-04T15:18:00.000-06:00

The #3 Ohio State Buckeyes keep control of their first-place standing in the Big Ten with a 58-52 win over the #20 Wisconsin Badgers. Preseason All-American Jared Sullinger was particularly strong with 24 points and 10 rebounds in the Buckeyes first win at the Kohl Center since 2000.

Wisconsin has become the poster-child for being outplayed, yet having the ability to somehow still be in the game. Today’s game was a perfect example while being out-rebounded (30-25), out-shot (43.1% to 40.0%) and out-hustled, but were still within a single point in the last couple of minutes.

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Wisconsin Badgers Go With Quality and not Quantity on National Signing Day

2012-02-02T12:49:00.000-06:00

Like many seasons before, the Wisconsin Badgers do not have a top ranked recruiting class. In fact, Rivals.com has the Badgers at 48th and Scout.com at 53rd.

It’s been a tumultuous off-season for the Badgers who have lost six assistant coaches to other jobs and now have signed one of the smallest recruiting classes ever under Head Coach Bret Bielema.

Even with the disclaimers, I wouldn’t bet against the Badgers who often exceed their expectations. Here are the notable signees (four-star recruits) who hope they can play a part in the Badgers returning to the Rose Bowl for a third year in a row.

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The Five Biggest Stories for Big Ten Basketball Thus Far

2012-01-31T11:38:00.000-06:00

The Big Ten is having one of the most memorable basketball seasons we’ve seen in some time. The conference leads the country with five top-25 teams and ranks number one in the RPI/Sagarin ratings.

Along with being regarded as the best conference in the nation, the Big Ten is full of intriguing stories. Here are the top five on the year thus far:

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All Hail Rory Linton, the 2011 Fantasy Champion

2012-01-26T06:55:00.002-06:00

What a year 2011 was for the game of fantasy. Record numbers were achieved across the board and the playoffs ended up being more excited than anticipated. In the end, long-time fantasy member, Rory Linton, came through in the clutch with his first-ever championship. Here's his interview following the sweet sweet win:

1.) Hey Rory, what a year, huh? Do you have some opening comments, maybe regarding the fantasy championship, best draft award, or your spots in the record book?

After the draft this year, I really liked my team, but I never really thought I had a chance to win the championship until we were down to the Final Four in the playoffs. I was very fortunate that I was able to avoid any major injuries, my players all played well late in the season, and I didn't have anyone sit out week 17. In addition to this luck, I tried to put in the work every week in the waiver wire, and it seems that it paid off.

2.) Is there any one moment in the fantasy season which sticks out in your memory? Something you might remember for years to come.

I'll remember the first round of the playoffs when I scored 164 points. That same week I had 3 bench players score at least 25 points. My team, including bench players, scored 258 points that week. I think this is a record that may never be broken in our league. My team just got really hot late in the season.

3.) I wouldn’t be able to conduct this interview without asking who was your fantasy MVP this season?

My MVP has to be Matt Stafford. He was huge for me all year, plus he had 3 of his 4 best weeks in the fantasy playoffs. I'll put him ahead of Calvin Johnson because I got better value from Stafford, having taken him in the 9th round of the draft.

I'd give my unsung hero award to my 2 49ers, David Akers and the 49ers D/ST. These 2 were my rocks late in the season, and I could pretty much always count on them for 20+ points. Akers even threw for a TD in the championship game.

4.) You had a great draft this season, any tricks that you can reveal which helped you become a league champion?

This year I came in with a clear strategy and a few key players that I was targeting. I have always felt that it is best to wait as long as possible to draft a QB. Because QBs get so many points and each team only needs one, there is always a lot of value at QB in the late rounds. I was targeting Bradford and Stafford and got both of them in the 8th and 9th rounds. This allowed me to get more depth at RB/WR.

Also, I knew going in that I was going to take 2 WR with my first 2 picks because I drafted late in the first round, and I felt that they were safer picks then some of the RBs taken early in the draft.

5.) With the crazy "Year of the QB," do you think the way fantasy football is played is changing?

I think that because of the "Year of the QB", more QBs will be drafted earlier next year, but I think that this also makes waiting for a QB even more viable because there are more QBs that can get you big numbers on a weekly basis. Also, where RBs have dominated in the past, I think WRs are becomming relatively more valuable.

6.) We’re going to wrap it up here with one final question. As your league commissioner, is there anything I need to change about the league to make it a more enjoyable experience for everyone?

I have always enjoyed this league and how active and competitive everyone is. If I could change one thing, I think that I would like to see fewer playoff teams. I think this would make the regular season more important and exciting. Personally, I'd like it if there were 6 playoff teams and structure the playoffs like the NFL playoffs with the 1 and 2 seeds getting byes, or have just 4 playoff teams and have the first round occur in Weeks 14 and 15 and the championship round take place during Weeks 16 and 17.

Update: We will be switching to the six team playoff format for 2012. The one and two seeds will receive a bye and week 16 will mark the end of the fantasy season. I'm also glad to announce that we have all 14 spots filled for the league next season. Stay in touch for the annual Bracket group and any fantasy updates!

What did you think of Rory's first ever championship? Let me know by commenting below!

Why Brewers Fans Should Be Happy for the Detroit Tigers Prince Fielder

2012-01-25T07:42:00.000-06:00

On Tuesday, the Detroit Tigers shocked the world by signing free agent and former Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder to a lucrative nine year deal worth $214 million.

As rapper/producer, Kanye West, so eloquently put it, "And if they hate let 'em hate. And watch the money pile up, the good life."

It's not uncommon-place to hear people say the Tigers made a ridiculous move, but here's why Brewers fans should be happy for the guy who established himself as a franchise great in Milwaukee over the past seven years.

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Brewers Ryan Braun Accepts MVP Award and References "Adversity"

2012-01-21T21:11:00.000-06:00

At the annual Baseball Writers Association of America awards dinner in New York, the Milwaukee Brewers star outfielder Ryan Braun made his first public appearance since ESPN leaked his positive test for a banned substance back in December.

In his speech following the acceptance of the 2011 MVP Award, Braun thankfully didn't give the award back as ESPN's Buster Olney suggested earlier in the day, but he did provide some insight on his status through these troubling times.

"I've always believed that a person's character is revealed through the way they deal with those moments of adversity," said Braun.

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With Joe Philbin in Miami, Could the Packers Matt Flynn End Up In South Beach?

2012-01-20T20:00:00.000-06:00

On Friday, the Miami Dolphins ended their search for a Head Coach by naming the former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator, Joe Philbin, to the position. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what Philbin's first course of action should be in Miami.

The Dolphins' most glaring need is at quarterback. Whether they have already planned to draft one in April or stick with the inconsistent Matt Moore or Chad Henne has yet to be determined.

Another idea would be for Philbin to urge the Dolphins' front office to pursue Packers back-up QB Matt Flynn in free agency or a sign-and-trade.

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Ryan Evans is Having a Breakout Season for the Wisconsin Badgers

2012-01-20T18:44:00.000-06:00

No longer known for just his insanely cool Kid ‘n Play haircut, the Wisconsin Badgers junior forward Ryan Evans is starting to get noticed for his solid production on the court.

Evans has scored double-digits in ten games this season and is one of the best defenders on a squad which ranks tops in the NCAA when it comes to locking down opponents.

The native of Phoenix, Arizona is one of the biggest surprises of a wild-and-crazy season in the Big Ten.

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New York Giants Take Full Advantage in Upsetting the Green Bay Packers

2012-01-15T19:01:00.001-06:00

During the regular season, the Green Bay Packers lost a total of six fumbles. In their playoff game against the New York Giants, they lost three. And that was only part of went wrong for the Packers in their shocking 37-20 loss to the Giants.

Aaron Rodgers was far from efficient and the receiving core dropped a season-high eight balls.

This weekend’s big winners were the San Francisco 49ers who will get another home game when they host the Giants in the NFC Championship game.

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A Pack of Wisconsin Badgers Will Appear in the 2012 Senior Bowl

2012-01-11T21:20:00.001-06:00

Over the last decade, the University of Wisconsin has become an underrated hotbed for NFL talent. In the spirit of continuing the trend, six Wisconsin Badgers will showcase their talents in Mobile, Alabama for the annual Senior Bowl.

Quarterback Russell Wilson, wide receiver Nick Toon, offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler, fullback Bradie Ewing, punter Brad Nortman and long snapper Kyle Wojta will star on the North squad at Ladd-Pebbles Stadium on January 28th. The game is scheduled to appear on NFL Network at 3:00 PM CT.

“This is the most players we’ve ever had at one time from Wisconsin and it speaks volumes to the amount of talent the Badgers had year,” said Senior Bowl President and CEO Steve Hale.

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Early Headlines for the Packers and Giants Divisional Playoff Match-Up

2012-01-09T13:36:00.000-06:00

After an entertaining Wild-Card Weekend, it’s safe to say that the best four NFC teams remain on the road to Indianapolis, the site of Super Bowl XLVI. On one side of the bracket we have the high-powered New Orleans Saints heading to San Francisco to take on the defensive-oriented 49ers and on the other, a high-powered Green Bay Packers team hosting a balanced New York Giants squad.

While both games are intriguing, the bout between the Packers and Giants is the most appealing to us in the Midwest. Let’s take a look at some of the headlines in a rematch of the 2007 NFC Championship Game.

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NFL MVP Award Should Be Split Between Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees

2012-01-08T11:28:00.002-06:00

Through most of the 2011 NFL season, the Green Bay Packers' QB Aaron Rodgers was the run-away favorite for the NFL Most Valuable Player Award. It wasn't until the New Orleans Saints' QB Drew Brees' started shattering long-time passing records and a Packers loss to the Chiefs that it became a close race.

In the fifty three year history of the AP MVP Award, the award has been shared only twice, in 1997 (Brett Favre and Barry Sanders) and 2003 (Peyton Manning and Steve McNair).

With Brees' hot finish to the season and Rodgers' safe ending, here's why I think the award should be split for the third time in history.

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Detroit Lions Give It Their Best Try, But Fall Short to Brees and the Saints

2012-01-07T22:24:00.001-06:00

The NFL's Wild-Card Weekend started off with a bang in the NFC with the Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints battling in a close game that eventually was decided in the fourth quarter. Drew Brees and the Saints proved to be a bit too much to handle for the Lions' defense in a 45-28 win.

Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson both had great games (211 yards and two touchdowns accumulated between the two), but the difference in this one was multiple missed opportunities on the defensive end.

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Wisconsin Badgers Montee Ball Has Officially Decided to Return for his Senior Season

2012-01-05T15:48:00.001-06:00

During a Thursday afternoon press conference, the Wisconsin Badgers running back and Heisman Finalist Montee Ball officially announced his intent to return for his senior season.

"I believe that I am mentally ready (for the NFL),'' Ball said, "but I think I need to become stronger and faster and I believe another year in the program will most definitely get me to that level."

Ball’s team lost the Rose Bowl 45-38 to the Oregon Ducks, but he tied Barry Sanders for the most touchdowns scored in a single season. Right now, some think his NFL draft stock is about as high as it can be.

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Where Does the Wisconsin Badgers Aaron Henry Fit in the NFL Draft?

2012-01-05T15:14:00.000-06:00

Besides being one of the best interviews in college football, the Wisconsin Badgers Aaron Henry is also a talented prospect at the safety position.

The senior Henry will enter the NFL Draft this spring and as of now ranks as a top-five safety. With a strong showing prior to the draft, he could go as high as the second round, but shouldn’t go any lower than the third or fourth round.

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Matt Flynn for the Win: Packers Embarrass Lions Without Key Starters

2012-01-01T15:59:00.000-06:00

With Aaron Rodgers resting on the bench, who would have thought the Green Bay Packers would put up 550 total yards of offense and 45 points?

Back-up QB Matt Flynn had a career day with a franchise record six touchdowns and 480 passing yards in the 45-41 shootout win at Lambeau Field.

Since 1970, Flynn is the 3rd QB to throw for 3 or more TDs in his first two starts. The other two were Dan Marino and Kurt Warner.

For the Lions, QB Matthew Stafford put up college-like numbers with 520 yards and five touchdowns. And there was that Calvin Johnson guy with 244 receiving yards as well.

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Cold Day at the Kohl Center: Iowa Hawkeyes Knock Off #11 Wisconsin

2011-12-31T15:05:00.000-06:00

No, this headline is not a misprint, the #11 Wisconsin Badgers have indeed dropped their conference home-opener to the Iowa Hawkeyes by the score of 72-65.

Iowa (9-6, 1-1) took full advantage of a horrendous-shooting performance from the Badgers (24-for-69) and a lackluster showing on the defensive end despite Wisconsin (12-3, 1-1) being one of the best in the nation on that side of the ball.

Freshman Hawkeye Aaron White was the surprising star of the day with a game-high 18 points off the bench.

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Rose Bowl Preview: #10 Wisconsin Can and Will Hang With #5 Oregon

2011-12-31T00:08:00.002-06:00

For the second consecutive year, the Wisconsin Badgers find themselves representing the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl. However, this time around, they get a Pac-12 powerhouse in Oregon instead of a pesky TCU squad who proved to be too much in an upset in Pasadena.

The battle between the Badgers (11-2) and Ducks (11-2) is one of the most intriguing match-ups of the bowl season, particularly because the two teams are so much alike. The game will feature two of the most potent offenses in the country and both teams seem to be playing their best football right now.

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Analyzing the Packers' Seven Pro Bowl Selections: Snubs and Surprises

2011-12-28T18:49:00.001-06:00

Not a lot of people get excited about actually watching the Pro Bowl, but almost everyone gets excited about the announcement of the Pro Bowl Selections. This year, the NFC's #1 Seed, the Green Bay Packers have received seven selections for the free trip to Hawaii.

It's not eight that the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots pulled, but nonetheless an impressive list of players who hold an argument for being the best at their position.

Let's take a closer look at all seven selections and briefly mention who may have been snubbed.

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Aaron Rodgers’ 2011 Numbers Aren’t Far Off From Tom Brady’s 2007 MVP Season

2011-12-20T19:03:00.002-06:00

For most of the 2011 season, the Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers has been the odds-on favorite to win his first MVP award. With the Packers losing against the Kansas City Chiefs and the Saints' Drew Brees making a run at Dan Marino's all-time passing record, it may not be as clear cut of a race as we thought.

However, if we go back just a few years ago, you can see that Rodgers has compiled a resume similar to what Tom Brady did during the 2007 season, a year in which Brady won the first of his two MVP awards.

If Rodgers plays in the final two games of the season, I think the argument can be made that Rodgers has actually had the better season, even though the Packers won't finish undefeated and he won't throw 50 touchdowns.

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Kansas City Chiefs Bring the Packers Perfect World Crashing Down

2011-12-18T15:30:00.002-06:00

The Kansas City Chiefs shocked the world with an impressive 19-14 win over the previously undefeated Green Bay Packers. Green Bay's 19 game winning streak came to a screeching halt with a lot of credit due to the' Chiefs defense who put forth an inspiring effort.

Not only did the Packers receive their first L on the season, linemen Bryan Bulaga and Derek Sherrod went down with injuries, further hurting an already weak offensive line.

Yes, the Packers can no longer have an unblemished season, but maybe a loss helps their quest for back-to-back Super Bowls.

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Brewers Chase Hitting Sensation Norichika Aoki, Could Mean Ryan Braun Will Sit 50 Games

2011-12-17T19:49:00.001-06:00

In what has become a bizarre beginning to the Milwaukee Brewers' off-season, the notion continues with a $2.5 million bid to win the rights to Japanese Outfielder Norichika Aoki.

Aoki is one of the best hitters in Japan and has posted a .336 career batting average during his first seven seasons.

If the Brewers can strike a deal in the next 30 days, he will join a crowded outfield consisting of Ryan Braun, Corey Hart and Nyjer Morgan. With a deal like this, you can't happened but wonder whether Braun really will miss 50 games or if a trade involving Hart or Morgan is in the works.

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Some Retro Ryan Grant Helps the Green Bay Packers Move to 13-0

2011-12-11T18:38:00.002-06:00

With an easy 46-16 win over the Oakland Raiders, only three games stand between the Green Bay Packers and a perfect regular season. Aaron Rodgers was his brilliant self while amassing 4,000 yards and becoming only the fourth player in NFL history to throw two or more touchdowns in thirteen consecutive games.

In addition to having a lot of success through the air, the Packers actually excelled on the ground against a 28th ranked Raiders run defense. Ryan Grant ran to the tune of 85 yards on ten carries and scored two touchdowns, an effort which conjures up memories of his breakout 2009 season.

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No Matter the Result on Ryan Braun, ESPN Needs to Focus on Reporting

2011-12-11T11:39:00.000-06:00

There is no doubt that ESPN has become the #1 outlet for sports news in the world. With their coverage in over 200 countries and across multiple forms of media on a 24/7 timescale, they have become the all-knowing power when it comes to sports or we thought so.

Over the last couple of weeks, the “Worldwide Leader in Sports,” has published a few stories that questions whether they truly have a neutral standpoint. In what I like to call the twitter-age, it’s all about being first to the story and ESPN is full-heartedly playing in to that notion, even if they don’t have all of the facts.

By not reporting all of the facts, ESPN is jumping to conclusions and in essence fabricating how we perceive the world of sports.

A good friend said it best, we want ESPN to report our sporting news, not make it.

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If True, Brewers Ryan Braun Has Quite Possibly Ruined His Legacy

2011-12-10T21:03:00.000-06:00

In a report issued by ESPN’s “Outside the Lines”, the National League MVP and Milwaukee Brewers all-star left-fielder, Ryan Braun, has tested positive for performance enhancing drugs (PED’s).

Braun is disputing the result through arbitration and if he is to lose, he will face a 50 game suspension to start the 2012 season.

I’m not here to jump to conclusions, but if Braun’s legal team fails to account for the positive test, this will most definitely have a detrimental effect on his legacy and forever taint what appeared to be a hall-of-fame bound career.

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Rose Bowl Bound Wisconsin Badgers Offense is Highly Decorated

2011-12-06T16:41:00.000-06:00

The addition of transfer quarterback Russell Wilson and blossoming of running back Montee Ball has transformed what was a very good Wisconsin Badgers offense into the most prolific unit in school history.

This season, the Badgers have scored touchdowns on 61 of their 70 trips to the redzone (.871), including a perfect 5-of-5 in the Big Ten Championship win over the Spartans.

What makes UW’s accomplishments even crazier is the fact that they’ve played five of their games against defenses ranked in the top 20 in the nation (two against third ranked Michigan State).

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Wisconsin Smells the Roses With 42-39 Win Over the Spartans (Rapid Reaction)

2011-12-04T00:31:00.000-06:00

For the second consecutive year, the Wisconsin Badgers are headed back to Pasadena to represent the Big Ten in the BCS Rose Bowl. The inaugural Big Ten Championship and 42-39 win over the Michigan State Spartans was a game for the ages.

It included a ton of offense (816 total yards), multiple lead changes (three to be exact) and a questionable play at the end of the game (did Badgers punter Brad Nortman flop?).

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Can Wisconsin’s Montee Ball Break Barry Sanders’ Single Season TD Record?

2011-12-02T12:48:00.001-06:00

The Wisconsin Badgers’ stud running back, Montee Ball, sits just five touchdowns back of the legendary Barry Sanders' single-season collegiate touchdown record. Ball’s four touchdown performance versus Penn State gave the junior 34 on the season.

With two games left, can the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Year eclipse the 39 touchdowns Sanders accumulated for Oklahoma State in the 1988 season?

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B1G Championship Preview: Wisconsin Badgers to Rely on Potent Offense

2011-12-01T20:15:00.000-06:00

Saturday’s match-up between the #13 Michigan State Spartans and #15 Wisconsin Badgers is not only the rematch for one of college football’s most dramatic endings this season, it’s also the deciding factor in which team takes home the Big Ten Title and represents the conference in the Rose Bowl.

If the Badgers are to win, they will need to rely heavily on their high-octane offense led by Heisman contenders Russell Wilson and Montee Ball as well as the commonly overlooked offensive line.

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Wisconsin Routs Penn State to Earn Place in Big Ten Championship (Rapid Reaction)

2011-11-26T18:56:00.002-06:00

The play-in game for the Big Ten Championship was never really that close as the #16 Wisconsin Badgers routed #19 Penn State, 45-7, in front of a packed house at Camp Randall on Senior Night. The Badgers (10-2, 6-2) will now represent the Leaders Division against a surging Michigan State team who has won eight of their last nine.

QB Russell Wilson and RB Montee Ball proved to both be worthy of the all-mighty Heisman as both players either tied or broke NCAA records on Saturday afternoon.

Following the game, UW's Head Coach Bret Bielema said "I think we can play with anyone in the country, regardless of conference or ranking."

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Green Bay Packers Could be Hurting at LB Position due to Erik Walden Arrest

2011-11-25T21:14:00.001-06:00

Shortly after the Green Bay Packers’ 27-15 Thanksgiving win over the Detroit Lions, linebacker Erik Walden was arrested on a Felony Battery charge and awaits court on Monday morning.

The dispute reportedly took place Friday morning at 2:30 am at an apartment complex where the 26-year-old Walden had an altercation with his girlfriend.

If the alleged crime is true, the undefeated Packers (11-0) could be facing some serious problems at the linebacker position where the team has already been stretched low because of injuries.

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Brewers Ryan Braun Edging out Matt Kemp for NL MVP was the Right Choice

2011-11-22T17:57:00.001-06:00

On Tuesday, Ryan Braun became the 3rd Milwaukee Brewers player and first since 1989 to win an MVP Award. Braun received 20 of 32 first-place votes to edge out the Dodgers' Matt Kemp and teammate Prince Fielder for one of baseball's most prestigious awards.

I'm not always on par with what the MLB or corresponding baseball media does (e.g. All-Star Selections, Silver Slugger Winners and Gold Glove Awards), but this time around the Baseball Writers' Association of America got it right.

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2011 Fantasy Football Awards (Week Eleven)

2011-11-22T12:47:00.001-06:00

America’s favorite game is back and The Sports Bank has you covered with the best and worst of what was Fantasy Football Week Eleven.

RB Kevin Smith came out of no where and with the help of QB Matthew Stafford put together a pleasant fantasy day for the Detroit Lions.

Follow the jump to receive up-to-date fantasy analysis and the best waiver wire pick-ups for week twelve!

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2011 Fantasy Football Awards (Week Ten)

2011-11-16T21:28:00.000-06:00

America’s favorite game is back and The Sports Bank has you covered with the best and worst of what was Fantasy Football Week Ten

Holy Chicago Bears D/ST as they racked up an astonishing 36 points in standard scoring leagues. Playoffs are a mere three weeks away and those on the bubble are starting to feel pressure each week.

Follow the jump to receive up-to-date fantasy analysis and the best waiver wire pick-ups for week eleven!

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Packers Defense is the Surprise in a 45-7 Win Over the Vikings

2011-11-14T22:37:00.002-06:00

Everyone knew Aaron Rodgers and the offense would have a big game, but it was the Green Bay Packers’ defense and special teams who stole the show this Monday Night.

Coming into the game, the undefeated Packers (9-0) were allowing 22.4 points per game, but Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings (2-7) came nowhere close to that in a 45-7 loss at Lambeau Field.

Rookie wideout Randall Cobb jump-started the Packers big win with a 80 yard punt return for a touchdown on Green Bay’s first possession. With the score, Cobb became the only rookie in Packers history to return a kick-off and punt for a touchdown in the same season.

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Wisconsin Badgers Rumblings; Destiny, Records and Much Much More

2011-11-13T13:33:00.003-06:00

Besides a few injuries, this past Saturday couldn’t have went any better for the #18 Wisconsin Badgers (8-2, 4-2) who took home Paul Bunyan’s Axe for the 8th consecutive year with a 42-13 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

The Badgers now control their own destiny in the Big Ten Leaders division due to Purdue’s upset of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Nebraska’s courageous win over the Nittany Lions. All Wisconsin has to do is win out and their headed to Indianapolis for the first-ever Big Ten Championship game.

On top of all that, Badgers players were busy making a dent in the record book this weekend.

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#18 Wisconsin and Minnesota Battle For The Axe (Game Preview)

2011-11-11T10:52:00.000-06:00

This Saturday, the #18 Wisconsin Badgers (7-2, 3-2) and Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-7, 1-4) will meet for the 121st time which ranks as the most-played rivalry in FBS history.

In the last decade, the Badgers have been in full control of Paul Bunyan’s Axe as they go into the latest installment of the series winning the last seven games, including thee of them on the road in Minneapolis.

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Bo Ryan and Badgers Land Talented Prospect Sam Dekker

2011-11-10T16:15:00.001-06:00

The recent success of Bo Ryan and the Wisconsin Badgers is starting to make a difference on the recruiting front as the state’s best players are beginning to stay put. On Wednesday, the 18th ranked prospect in the nation, Sam Dekker, decided to sign his National Letter of Intent to play at Wisconsin starting in 2012.

Currently a senior at Luthern High School in Sheboygan, WI, Dekker averaged 28.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and four assists during his junior season.

“We’re obviously very excited to have Sam join our program. He brings the entire package to Wisconsin,” Ryan said. “Sam possesses all of the first-class intangibles that you want in someone representing your program on the court, in the classroom and in the community.”

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Badgers Montee Ball Is Having a Monster Year

2011-11-08T17:07:00.000-06:00

If it wasn’t for the incoming hype of transfer quarterback Russell Wilson, Wisconsin Badgers running back Montee Ball could have been the Heisman candidate coming out of Madison.

The numbers that the junior is producing are absolutely ridiculous. Ball has scored a touchdown in 15 straight games and a total of 39 scores over that span (next highest total in FBS is Bernard Pierce of Temple with 23).

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Joe Paterno Out After 46 Seasons at Penn State?

2011-11-08T13:33:00.001-06:00

Earlier today, Mark Viera and Pete Thamel of the New York Times reported that Penn State University is planning the resignation of long-time Head Coach Joe Paterno.

Meanwhile, Paterno’s son, Scott, tweeted that the NYTimes reporting was “premature,” and that there are “no discussion about retirement with JVP.”

Whatever the case, Penn State has some heavy decisions to make in the next 24 hours as the Jerry Sandusky scandal has snowballed into one of the biggest stories in college football history.What Sandusky has allegedly done in the past is unforgivable, but it doesn’t change what Joe Paterno did for a school and place that wasn’t even on the map when he started as an assistant in 1950.

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2011 Fantasy Football Awards (Week Nine)

2011-11-08T09:48:00.001-06:00

America’s favorite game is back and The Sports Bank has you covered with the best and worst of what was Fantasy Football Week Nine

Just when you thought the RB position was back, QB’s came roaring back with six of the top ten fantasy performances this week.

Follow the jump to receive up-to-date fantasy analysis and the best waiver wire pick-ups for week ten!

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Packers Defense is Terrible, But Aaron Rodgers is Not

2011-11-06T19:06:00.001-06:00

It's no secret, the Green Bay Packers defense gives up a lot of points. Their horrendous play was on full display this Sunday, but it didn't matter because their QB Aaron Rodgers is almost too good to be true.

Rodgers threw for another four touchdowns (24 on the season) to will the Packers to a 45-38 win over the San Diego Chargers. Green Bay remains as the NFL's lone undefeated team at 8-0 and have scored over 24 points in every single game this season.

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Wisconsin Runs Over Purdue 62-17 (Rapid Reaction)

2011-11-05T19:00:00.000-05:00

The #20 Wisconsin Badgers returned to their winning ways with a 62-17 shellacking of the Purdue Boilermakers. Running Back Montee Ball led an offense that racked up 605 total yards, including 364 via the ground.

Wisconsin (7-2, 3-2) has won fifteen straight home games and scored at least 30 points in it’s last 11 at Camp Randall.

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#20 Wisconsin Searches for Identity Versus Purdue (Game Preview)

2011-11-04T11:10:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, the Badgers were flying high with a #6 ranking in the BCS and an unblemished 6-0 record. It really is surprising what can happen in a matter of days in the realm of college football.

Wisconsin (6-2, 2-2) now sits at #20 in the rankings and are currently holding on to a three-way tie for second place in the Big Ten’s Leaders division. One of those teams sharing second place is the Ohio State Buckeyes who upset the Badgers last weekend in Columbus and the other, the unexpected Purdue Boilermakers (4-4, 2-2), who happen to be the next opponent for Bret Bielema’s Badgers at Camp Randall this weekend.

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2011 Fantasy Football Awards (Week Eight)

2011-11-01T19:25:00.000-05:00

America’s favorite game is back and The Sports Bank has you covered with the best and worst of what was Fantasy Football Week Eight.

With four of the top five fantasy performances this past weekend, the running back has retained the status as the game’s alpha-dog.

Follow the jump to receive up-to-date fantasy analysis and the best waiver wire pick-ups for week nine!

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Badgers Ben Brust Leads the Way in Annual Red-White Scrimmage

2011-10-30T18:09:00.000-05:00

A serious question facing the 2011-12 Badgers is whether or not they can replace the production from departing seniors Jon Leuer, Keaton Nankivil and Tim Jarmusz. In Sunday’s annual Red-White Scrimmage at the Kohl Center, part of that question was possibly answered.

Sophomore guard Ben Brust stepped up in a big way to score a game-high 22 points and lead the Red to a 72-56 win over the White squad who was led by preseason All-American Jordan Taylor.

“He can have a scoring frenzy at times. He did it last year at practice every once in a while. He’s quick with the ball and includes his teammates,” said Head Coach Bo Ryan of his young guard Brust.

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Ohio State Extends Badgers Nightmare on the Road (Rapid Reaction)

2011-10-29T23:04:00.000-05:00

In what has become a very bizarre or mediocre year (whatever you would like to call it) in the Big Ten, one of the conference’s perceived best received their second loss. Dan “Boom” Herron and Braxton Miller ran wild as the Ohio State Buckeyes shocked the Wisconsin Badgers in a 33-29 win.

Ohio State’s (5-4, 2-2) offense methodically out-played Wisconsin’s (6-2, 2-2) offense and took advantage of many defensive miscues from the Badgers. None bigger than the secondary’s blown coverage with 20 seconds in the fourth quarter when Miller connected with Devin Smith for a wide-open and game-winning 40 yard touchdown.

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#15 Wisconsin Looks to Bounce Back Against Ohio State (Game Preview)

2011-10-28T16:17:00.000-05:00

The #15 Wisconsin Badgers national title hopes may be dead, but their Big Ten title hopes are well and alive. Their route to the inaugural Big Ten Championship and a BCS bowl hits another potential barricade this weekend when they take on the Ohio State Buckeyes.

At 4-3 and 1-2 in the conference, this Ohio State team is not your typical Buckeye team. In fact, this will be the first time since 1963 that the Badgers enter the game as the only ranked team.

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2011 Fantasy Football Awards (Week Seven)

2011-10-25T16:15:00.001-05:00

America’s favorite game is back and The Sports Bank has you covered with the best and worst of what was Fantasy Football Week Seven.

Welcome back Arian Foster and who knew DeMarco Murray was such a beast. Those were just a couple of really nice fantasy performances from running backs this week.

Follow the jump to receive up-to-date fantasy analysis and the best waiver wire pick-ups for week eight!

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Packers Play Same Ol' Record in 33-27 Win Over the Vikings (Rapid Reaction)

2011-10-23T18:43:00.002-05:00

Nothing could stop the Green Bay Packers offense as they put up 421 yards of offense in a 33-27 win over the lowly Minnesota Vikings.

Like a broken record, Aaron Rodgers was great and the Packers scored a lot of touchdowns in their league-high seventh win. The Packers are now 7-0 for the first time since 1962, a year in which they won their eighth championship.

Rodgers also became the first quarterback in NFL History to record a QB rating of 110 or higher in seven straight games.

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Michigan State Spoils Wisconsin's Perfect Season with Crazy Hail Mary

2011-10-22T22:55:00.002-05:00

Just when you thought the Wisconsin Badgers were dead in the water, they came charging back in the fourth quarter only to be crushed by a desperation hail-mary as time expired. Michigan State put together an all-around great performance to win 37-31 and hand the Badgers their first loss of the season.

Senior wideout Keith Nichol caught the 44 yard heave from Kirk Cousins in a play that will be talked about for a long time. At first, the referees called Nichol down at the one yard line, but after an official's review, the play was overturned and announced as a touchdown.

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Wisconsin and Michigan State Meet for Big Ten Supremacy (Game Preview)

2011-10-20T16:27:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

ESPN College GameDay is heading to East Lansing to watch the Big Ten’s two best teams face off in prime-time. After being snubbed in the recent BCS rankings, the #6 Wisconsin Badgers (6-0) feel they have a lot to prove while the #16 Michigan State Spartans (5-1) hope to emerge from the shadows as a BCS contender.

All eyes are on Heisman Hopeful Russell Wilson and how he reacts to a stifling Spartans defense. The Badgers have not fared well in East Lansing while dropping their last three at Spartan Stadium, including their only regular season loss in 2010.

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2011 Fantasy Football Awards (Week Six)

2011-10-18T16:21:00.002-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

America’s favorite game is back and The Sports Bank has you covered with the best and worst of what was Fantasy Football Week Six.

The game of fantasy appears to be returning to normal as running backs ruled again in week six with three of the top five performances coming from the RB position.

Follow the jump to receive up-to-date fantasy analysis and the best waiver wire pick-ups for week seven!

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Badgers Russell Wilson is So Much More Than a Heisman Candidate

2011-10-16T10:36:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

Wisconsin Badgers QB Russell Wilson’s arrival in Madison has been nothing more than outstanding through the first seven weeks of the college football season. We’ve seen him throw, run and now catch touchdowns (he really can do it all) on a journey which could quite possibly lead to a Heisman Trophy.

But, the most shocking part of Wilson’s game is his ability to embrace any situation put in front of him. Russell is mature beyond the game of college football and acts as if the words “pressure” and “nerves” are foreign to him.

In an age where so many star athletes are all about their-selves or portrayed as so, Wilson is showing the nation how to be an exemplary student athlete.

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Wisconsin Plays Trickery in 59-7 Win over Indiana (Rapid Reaction)

2011-10-15T15:31:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

Homecoming turned out to be a sweet experience for the still-undefeated Wisconsin Badgers (6-0) as they steam-rolled the Indiana Hoosiers (1-6) in a 59-7 romp. It wasn’t quite 83 points, but a similar message was instilled with the blowout win.

Heisman front-runner and Stanford QB Andrew Luck should take notice when he sees the trick play Montee Ball and Russell Wilson completed in the second quarter of a game that was never very close.

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How Many Points This Year? Indiana vs. #4 Wisconsin (Game Preview)

2011-10-14T16:14:00.000-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

Barring the most miraculous upset of all-time, the Indiana Hoosiers (1-5) have no shot at winning at Camp Randall against the #4 Wisconsin Badgers (5-0). With the outcome basically decided, the only question left is how many points can the Badgers score or how many push-ups will Bucky have to do, how ever you want to look at it.

Last year, it was an astonishing 83 points (or 573 push-ups), the most-ever against an Indiana football team. With an even better offense led by Heisman Candidate Russell Wilson (@RussellManiaXVI) and a Hoosiers defense ranked close to last in the Big Ten (421.5 yards per game), the possibilities are really endless.

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2011 Fantasy Football Awards (Week Five)

2011-10-11T18:21:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, League Commissioner at The Sports Bank

America’s favorite game is back and The Sports Bank has you covered with the best and worst of what was Fantasy Football Week Five.

This week was all about the return of the running back as three backs scored 25 or more fantasy points.

Follow the jump to receive up-to-date fantasy analysis and the best waiver wire pick-ups for week six!

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Aaron Rodgers Spreads It Around While Packers Improve to 5-0

2011-10-09T22:32:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

Green Bay's 25 unanswered points helped the Packers move to 5-0 after beating the Atlanta Falcons, 25-14, at the Georgia Dome on Sunday Night. Superstar Aaron Rodgers completed passes to twelve different receivers while fighting for his life behind a makeshift offensive line.

The loss was a spoiler for Matt Ryan who came into Sunday's affair with a 21-2 record at home. Now, two of Ryan's three career losses in Atlanta (the other being the 2010 NFC Championship game) can be credited to the Packers.

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Brewers Bats Explode in NLCS Game One Win

2011-10-09T20:59:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

The Suds Series II started out with a bang as the Milwaukee Brewers took out the St. Louis Cardinals 9-6 to jump to a 1-0 game lead in the 2011 NLCS.

Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder continued their reign as the MLB‘s best one-two-punch while combining for six of the Brewers’ nine total runs.

Starting pitcher Zack Greinke didn’t have his best stuff, but still picked up the win. Greinke has yet to lose a game at Miller Park and has moved to 12-0 at home in 2011.

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2011 Fantasy Football Awards (Week Four)

2011-10-04T19:43:00.002-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

America’s favorite game is back and The Sports Bank has you covered with the best and worst of what was Fantasy Football Week Four.

I’m officially donning 2011 one of the weirdest fantasy years ever as some very surprising players made the awards this week (just look at Honorable Mention for MVP if you don’t believe me).

Follow the jump to receive up-to-date fantasy analysis and the best waiver wire pick-ups for week five!

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2011 Week Four Monday Night Heroes

2011-10-03T05:45:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, League Commissioner

So far, I have to admit that I've liked week four in fantasy. Who cares if I had Aaron Rodgers who put up 45 fantasy points, that didn't have anything to do with it, I swear. I'm also officially naming the QB as the new most important position in the game of fantasy. Once again, we had the top of the scoring leaders littered with signal callers. But, if you didn't have one of those awesome QB's on Sunday, don't worry, you just may have a possible Monday Night Hero (MNH) from the following game:

Indianapolis Colts (0-3) vs. Tampa Bay Bucs (2-1) 7:30 PM CT (ESPN-HD)

*Score are subject to change

1.) Team Lee (Isaac Lee) (2-1) vs. Team McCarthy (Matt McCarthy) (2-1)

Score: 94-88 Team Lee (6 point lead)
Possible MNH's: RB LaGarrette Blount (Team Lee)
Reaction/Prediction: This was a defensive battle to say the least as Isaac's Jets D/ST (16 points) and Matt's Ravens D/ST (29) duked it out on Sunday night. Even though Isaac lost the battle of the defenses, his depth was way too good this weekend. Do the victory dance LaGarrette (proj. of 13) because your fantasy team is on their way to 3-1.

2.) Team Dogfighters (Chad Breiby) (1-2) vs. Team Szombatfalvy (Mike Szombatfalvy) (1-2)

Score: 78-68 Team Dogfighters (FINAL)
Possible MNH's: N/A
Reaction/Prediction: It wasn't pretty, but Michael Vick (29 points) finally proved his worth in fantasy despite a loss for the Eagles. As for Mike's team, he didn't really receive any production outside of Ray Rice (18 points). Chad on the up-and-up at 2-2 while Mike goes down to 1-3.

3.) Free Victory (Tim Harwood) (3-0) vs. Arthur's Arsenal (Robert/Johnny) (2-1)

Score: 82-79 Free Victory (FINAL)
Possible MNH's: N/A
Reaction/Prediction: Tim is finally breaking out of his fantasy shell as he will now be 4-0. Much thanks to his RB Matt Forte (28 points) who finally looks like an elite back. Tough loss for Arthur's Arsenal who now has to worry about Andre Johnson's (3 points) hammy injury.

4.) Team Merrill (Seth Merrill) (1-2) vs. Wizard Killer (Joe Selbo) (3-0)

Score: 114-101 Wizard Killer (FINAL)
Possible MNH's: N/A
Reaction/Prediction: Joe says not so fast Tim while joining him as the only other undefeated fantasy team. WR Wes Welker (21 points) is helping Wizard Killer be quite the dangerous team. Heartbreaker for Seth who really received great effort from WR's Hakeem Nicks (22 points) and Steve Smith (18 points).

5.) Banana Fosters (Kari Klitzman) (2-1) vs. Team Lowenberg (Nick Lowenberg) (1-2)

Score: 87-80 Team Lowenberg (7 point lead)
Possible MNH's: TE Kellen Winslow (Banana Fosters) and WR Reggie Wayne (Team Lowenberg)
Reaction/Prediction: There's not a lot of MNH opportunities this weekend. However, here's one and Kari needs a big night from Winslow (proj. of 5) who has yet to score over six fantasy points this season. Lowenberg can block with the Colts' top WR, Wayne (proj. of 13), who I fully expect to get the job done. Luckily for Kari, Arian Foster (22 points) is back and looked really good on Sunday.

6.) Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood (Nick Grays) (0-3) vs. Team Szmanda (Jason Szmanda) (1-2)

Score: 99-73 Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood (26 point lead)
Possible MNH's: K Adam Vinatieri (Mr. Rodgers) and WR Mike Williams (Team Szmanda)
Reaction/Prediction: Aaron Rodgers (45 points) was money and for that reason Vinatieri (proj. of 3) should be more than enough to hold off Williams (proj. of 12) on Monday Night. I feel bad for Jason who had to be burned by his former player like this, but I needed a win really bad!

7.) The Hellmuthinators (Rory Linton) (2-1) vs. Team Grande (Anthony Grande) (0-3)

Score: 103-53 The Hellmuthinators (50 point lead)
Possible MNH's: Bucs D/ST (Team Grande)
Reaction/Prediction: Anthony is really struggling this year and it's not like he's not trying. For the third week this season, it looks like he's sure to win the pity pot even though we've seen some big performances from defenses this week. The Bucs D/ST (proj. of 5) play a bad Colts offense, but 15 points is still a bit to ask for, so I expect Grande to remain the only win-less team and win another $5 for his troubles.

What are your thoughts on this week's match-ups? Let me know by commenting below!

Aaron Rodgers and Packers Put Up College-Like Numbers Against the Broncos

2011-10-02T18:18:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

With a 49-23 win over the Denver Broncos (1-3), the Green Bay Packers (4-0) join the Detroit Lions as the only other undefeated team in the NFL. Offensively, the Packers are unstoppable as they’ve averaged a ridiculous 37 points per game on their four game winning streak.

Aaron Rodgers has shown he’s the premiere quarterback in the NFL and a legitimate MVP contender with another near-perfect performance including six total touchdowns.

In many ways, the Packers are putting up college-like numbers, something the Wisconsin Badgers are doing on a regular basis in the very same state.

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Wisconsin 48, Nebraska 17: Best in the Midwest Rapid Reaction

2011-10-02T00:10:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

The atmosphere at Camp Randall was electric as 81,384 fans watched the #7 Wisconsin Badgers (5-0) spoil the #8 Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-1) first-ever Big Ten game by beating them fairly handily, 48-17.

With the win on national TV for everyone to see, the Badgers will be catapulted in to National Championship talk. After the game, Wisconsin Head Coach Bret Bielema stated “I hope the blackshirts enjoyed their trip to Madison.”

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Yovani Gallardo’s Brilliant Performance Leads Brewers to 4-1 Win in Game 1

2011-10-01T17:41:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

The fans at Miller Park were electric and provided the home-field advantage everyone thought they would, but it was a near-perfect performance from Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo who helped the Brew Crew grab a 4-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in game one of the NLDS.

Gallardo pitched eight innings and struck out nine while giving up only four hits and the one run. On the offensive side, it was Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder (who else would it be?) who combined for five of the Brewers’ eight hits on the day.

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Home-Field Should Help the Brewers Beat the D-Backs (NLDS Preview)

2011-10-01T10:13:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

The Milwaukee Brewers (96-66) did their-selves a huge favor when clinching the second seed in the Playoffs. By doing so, they emerged as the favorites in their National League Divisional Series (NLDS) with the Arizona Diamondbacks (94-68).

On paper, the Brewers and D-Backs appear to be two evenly matched teams, but at home, the Brewers have played great baseball with a league-best 57-24 record.

Follow the jump to find probable pitchers, game-by-game analysis and predictions for the NLDS between Milwaukee and Arizona.

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Battle for the Best in the Midwest; #8 Nebraska vs. #7 Wisconsin (Game Preview)

2011-09-29T11:41:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

For the first time since 1962 (#3 Wisconsin vs. #5 Minnesota), two top-ten teams will face-off at Camp Randall Stadium. The highly anticipated game between the #7 Wisconsin Badgers (4-0) and #8 Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-0) will be under the lights as the prime-time game on ABC with the help of ESPN College GameDay.

The battle for the Best in the Midwest contains more story lines than As The World Turns, and just might have as many followers as the popular soap opera. Nebraska fans are on a mission to scoop up as many tickets as they can to watch the favorite team in their Big Ten debut while the Badgers fans try to embrace a team who just might have a shot at a national title.

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Badgers LB Chris Borland Knows the Defense is “Ready” for Big Ten Play

2011-09-28T19:55:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Chris Borland is one of the undisputed leaders of the seventh ranked defense in the country. The sophomore Borland leads the unit with 35 tackles and five tackles for loss through their first four games.

The defensive unit has been great at keeping points off the board as they rank third in the nation while allowing only 8.5 points per contest. Borland is aware that the Badgers will be tested by the #8 Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Big Ten season opener, but he’s pretty sure the defense is ready for the test.

“I think we’re ready, we had a rough start in week one, but since then we’ve worked hard. We have our fundamentals down and we have a good base going in Big Ten play,” said Borland after the team’s 59-10 win over South Dakota.

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2011 Fantasy Football Awards (Week Three)

2011-09-27T20:02:00.000-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

America’s favorite game is back and The Sports Bank has you covered with the best and worst of what was Fantasy Football Week Three.

The year of the quarterback continues as seven of the top twelve fantasy performances were from signal callers. Through three weeks, having an elite fantasy QB just isn’t necessary.

Follow the jump to receive up-to-date fantasy analysis and the best waiver wire pick-ups for week four!

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2011 Week Three Monday Night Heroes

2011-09-25T23:02:00.000-05:00

By: Nick Grays, League Commissioner

Lots of media outlets are calling NFL's Week Three "Upset Week," but can we really call so many games upsets. After only three games, I think it's really hard to start gauging what teams are elite and which ones are really bad. For instance, maybe the Bills really are better than the Patriots (have you seen the Pats' pass defense? absolutely horrendous). What about the Raiders over the Jets, is it really an upset when New York travels across the country to play in Oakland? Either way you look at it, teams are just starting to show us what their made of. In regards to fantasy, I think it really could be the same concept, so if you didn't have the week you hoped for, maybe possible Monday Night Heroes (MNHs) from the following game can give you a nudge in the right direction:

Washington Redskins (2-0) vs. Dallas Cowboys (1-1) 7:30 PM CT (ESPN-HD)

*Scores are subject to change

1.) Free Victory (Tim Harwood) (2-0) vs. Dogfighters (Chad Breiby) (1-1)

Score: 87-71 Free Victory (FINAL)
Possible MNH's: N/A
Reaction/Prediction: Tim has done a great job at becoming the first team to officially move on to 3-0. He has QB Drew Brees (26 points) who's averaging a nice 25 fantasy points per contest. Every time the Saints play, it seems like it's going to be a shoot-out and that bodes well for Free Victory. On the other side, Chad moves to 1-2 despite a breakout performer in RB Darren McFadden (29 points) who looks like what we thought we would get in 2009 and 2010. Unfortunately for Dogfighters, QB Michael Vick (8 points) is living up to his injury-prone designation as he followed up a concussion with a broken right hand (the non-throwing hand).

2.) Team McCarthy (Matt McCarthy) (1-1) vs. Team Merrill (Seth Merrill) (1-1)

Score: 92-61 Team McCarthy (31 point lead)
Possible MNH's: TE Jason Witten (Team Merrill)
Reaction/Prediction: Matt received some timely production from Colts RB Joseph Addai (14 points) in order to pull out to a sizable lead. Seth is obviously ailing from the Jamaal Charles loss, but now has a WR problem to deal with as well. While I love Witten (proj. of 15) on Monday Night, it's almost impossible that he goes for 32 points.

3.) Team Lee (Isaac Lee) (1-1) vs. Banana Fosters (Kari Klitzman) (2-0)

Score: 67-65 Team Lee (2 point lead)
Possible MNH's: WR Jesse Holley (Team Lee), K Dan Bailey (Team Lee), RB Felix Jones (Banana Fosters) and WR Kevin Ogletree (Banana Fosters) or RB Tashard Choice (Banana Fosters)
Reaction/Prediction: This has to be some kind of record for possible MNH's from a single team in a single match-up. Kari is dealing with some crazy injury issues, but seems to be one of the luckiest teams in our league. She has a shot at going 3-0 without two of her top fantasy draft picks in RB Arian Foster (hamstring) and WR Miles Austin (hamstring). There's a battle of the back-ups in this one as Holley (proj. of 5) and Ogletree (proj. of 6) will both try to make their respective fantasy teams proud. I'm giving Kari the slight edge in this match-up because she has either Jones (proj. of 5) or Choice (proj. of 3), the two who I feel are the best bet to get the most touches from a busy Dallas backfield on Monday. Isaac will make it close with a dangerous kicker in Bailey (proj. of 11) though.

4.) Team Szombatfalvy (Mike Szombatfalvy) (0-2) vs. Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood (Nick Grays) (0-2)

Score: 87-77 Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood (10 point lead)
Possible MNH's: QB Rex Grossman (Team Szombatfalvy)
Reaction/Prediction: The Steelers D/ST (9 points) barely came through to help Mike in the Sunday Night game. Because of that, he really needs Grossman (proj. of 8) to step up against a decent Cowboys defense. For some reason, I think he should be OK to get at least 11 points out of Grossman, the Cowboys gave more than that up to Mark Sanchez and Alex Smith who are far from good QBs. Plus, Grossman is averaging 16.5 through two games, why such a dip in his projection?

5.) Arthur's Arsenal (Robert/Johnny) (2-0) vs. The Hellmuthinators (Rory Linton) (1-1)

Score: 118-80 The Hellmuthinators (38 point lead)
Possible MNH's: RB Tim Hightower (Arthur's Arsenal) and Redskins D/ST (Arthur's Arsenal)
Reaction/Prediction: I'm going to go out on a limb and say there's no way Hightower (proj. of 15) and the Redskins D/ST (proj. of 7) combine for the necessary 38 points to help Arthur's Arsenal reach 3-0. Just because it should be noted, Rory knew all along that Matthew Stafford (23 points) and Calvin Johnson (22 points) would bounce back from a horrible first half in Minnesota.

6.) Wizard Killer (Joe Selbo) (2-0) vs. Team Szmanda (Jason Szmanda) (1-1)

Score: 117-95 Wizard Killer (22 point lead)
Possible MNH's: WR Dez Bryant (Wizard Killer)
Reaction/Prediction: Jason received balanced production, but it was no match for Wizard Killer and the record-tying performance they received from WR Wes Welker (34 points). Bryant (proj. of 14) has the opportunity to do the victory dance and catapult Joe's team past Rory, Robert and Johnny's shared team records of 122 points in one week. At 3-0, Joe is officially the best team in the fantasy league right now.

7.) Team Lowenberg (Nick Lowenberg) (0-2) vs. Team Grande (Anthony Grande) (0-2)

Score: 60-49
Possible MNH's: RB DeMarco Murray (Team Grande), WR Santana Moss (Team Grande) and TE Fred Davis (Team Grande)
Reaction/Prediction: Nick has to be really frustrated with his fantasy team and slightly worried that he may fail to qualify for the playoffs for the first time ever. Grande should pass Team Lowenberg with Murray (proj. of 2), Moss (proj. of 11) and Davis (proj. of 7), but you just never know. In a weird coincidence, I think both Nicks will be 0-3, but Nick L. will get $5 for his record low input this week. (Note: Anthony has a chance to win the Pity Pot and Low Record which he already holds from his 71 on Week One).

What are your thoughts on this week's match-ups? Let me know by commenting below!

Green Bay Packers Beat the Chicago Bears, But in Ugly Fashion

2011-09-25T19:01:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

For some reason, every time the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears meet at Soldier Field, it ends up being an absolutely ugly game that makes fans from each side very frustrated.

The 183rd meeting between division rivals was no different as the Packers (3-0) drudged out a 27-17 victory over the Bears (1-2) in a game which contained 17 total penalties and four turnovers.

Despite the ugly nature of the game, it didn't stop tight-end Jermichael Finley from having a beast of a game with seven catches, 85 yards and a career-high three touchdowns.

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Wisconsin 59 South Dakota 10: Rapid Reaction

2011-09-24T19:01:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

Head Coach Bret Bielema has improved to 24-0 in regular season non-conference games as the #6/#7 Wisconsin Badgers (4-0) dismantled the South Dakota Coyotes (2-2) by the score of 59-10

Wide Receiver Nick Toon had a monster game with seven receptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns in front of 78,880 fans at Camp Randall Stadium.

QB Russell Wilson was just as great as he became only the fourth signal caller in UW history to pass for over 300 yards in consecutive games.

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Brewers Win NL Central and Become Must Watch TV for October

2011-09-24T11:03:00.000-05:00

Brewers fans rejoice as your team is headed to the playoffs for only the third time in franchise history. Unlike 2008, this is no wild card berth, but rather a division title, their first since moving to the National League in 1997.

It’s been 29 years since the Brewers have won a division title, a feet they accomplished once before in 1982 when they took home the AL East crown.

“For us to win the division I think is a little more meaningful than winning the wild card. It really means a lot. It’s special,” said Ryan Braun who had the three-run home-run on Friday to propel the Brewers past the Marlins 4-1.

Continue reading the article by clicking here!

ESPN College GameDay Likely Visiting Madison for Wisconsin/Nebraska Game

2011-09-23T13:46:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

According to Benjamin Worgull of Badgernation.com, there’s a “99 percent chance,” of ESPN College GameDay visiting Madison for ABC’s primetime match-up between the #6 Wisconsin Badgers (3-0) and #9 Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-0).

The game will mark the Cornhuskers’ first-ever Big Ten game and it will most likely be the only match-up in the country between top-ten teams next week.

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South Dakota’s Coach Wants Russell Wilson’s Autograph (Video)

2011-09-22T13:29:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

To say the Head Coach of the South Dakota Coyotes (pronounced KI-Oats), Ed Meierkort knows the #6/#7 Wisconsin Badgers is an understatement. Meierkort coached at UW-Stout for 11 seasons and recently appeared in a youtube video explaining what his team can expect in their trip to Madison.

Follow the jump to hear some truly hilarious quotes from Meierkort in preparation for their battle with the Badgers.

Continue reading the article and watch the video by clicking here!

South Dakota, Not Your Typical FCS Foe for #6/#7 Wisconsin (Game Preview)

2011-09-22T10:40:00.000-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

For the sixth straight season the #6/#7 Wisconsin Badgers (3-0) will face off with a college football team from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Last season’s FCS foe, Austin Peay, proved to be a walk-in-the-park as the Badgers thrashed the Governors in a 70-3 victory.

This time around, the Badgers welcome in the South Dakota Coyotes (2-1) for one last tune-up before the HUGE conference opener against Nebraska. Albeit a shared FCS designation, this South Dakota team is no Austin Peay and should prove a slightly tougher test for this year’s team.

Continue reading the article by clicking here!

Wisconsin Badgers Wideout Nick Toon is a Rising Prospect

2011-09-21T11:38:00.000-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

Over the past decade, the Wisconsin Badgers have emerged as an underrated hot-bed for NFL talent in the Midwest. The Badgers ability to develop professional talent peaked in 2011 when two of their alumni were drafted in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft, the Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt (11th overall) and the Chicago Bears OL Gabe Carimi (29th overall).

Next in line for the Badgers in the NFL is senior wide-out Nick Toon. Just three games into the 2011 season, it appears imminent that Toon has the skills and big-play ability to become a main-stay on whatever NFL team calls his name in April of 2012.

Continue reading the article by clicking here!

2011 Fantasy Football Awards (Week Two)

2011-09-20T09:39:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

America’s favorite game is back and The Sports Bank has you covered with the best and worst of what was Fantasy Football Week Two.

The quarterbacks continued to flash their brilliance, but it was the week of the receiver as three of the five top spots in fantasy went to those with the soft hands. After two weeks, we’re left asking ourselves if the running back position is the most important in fantasy anymore?

Follow the jump to receive up-to-date fantasy analysis and the best waiver wire pick-ups for week three!

Continue reading the article by clicking here!

Milwaukee Brewers Weekly Check-In (9-19-11)

2011-09-18T22:19:00.002-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

And if you are one of those nerds, feel free to join in on some good old analysis of America’s pastime in the Brew City.

This week we discuss the National League MVP award, playoff scenarios and all the usual Brewers stuff!

Continue reading the article by clicking here!

2011 Week Two Monday Night Heroes

2011-09-18T21:34:00.008-05:00

By: Nick Grays, League Commissioner

So much for NFL offenses slowing down! The year of the quarterback continued as we saw guys like Tom Brady (28 fantasy points), Cam Newton (26), Matthew Stafford (25) and Jason Campbell (25) light up opposing defenses. Benefiting immensely from these QBs are their WRs as they grabbed the top three spots in fantasy through Sunday. If you have Miles Austin (32), Vincent Jackson (29) or Jeremy Maclin (29), you're most likely ballin. If not, maybe you have some possible Monday Night Heroes (MNHs) in the following game:

St. Louis Rams (0-1) vs. New York Giants (0-1) 7:30 PM (ESPN-HD)

*Scores are subject to change

1.) Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood (Nick Grays) (0-1) vs. Dogfighters (Chad Breiby) (0-1)

Score: 99-98 Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood (1 point lead)
Possible MNHs: RB Cadillac Williams (Dogfighters) and K Josh Brown (Dogfighters)
Reaction/Prediction: Another solid week from myself, but Chad's WR Vincent Jackson (29 points) and RB Darren McFadden (24 points) were sensational. Williams (proj. of 11) and Brown (proj. of 10) are automatic MNH's. As I move to the dangerous 0-2, I have to stay positive and focus on my next match-up with Team Szombatfalvy.

2.) Banana Fosters (Kari Klitzman) (1-0) vs. Team Merrill (Seth Merrill) (1-0)

Score: 90-64 Banana Fosters (26 point lead)
Possible MNHs: RB Ahmad Bradshaw (Team Merrill) and WR Hakeem Nicks (Team Merrill)
Reaction/Prediction: Deja Vu for Kari as she went into last week's Monday Night games with a 26 point lead. I'm not so sure she has the same luck this time around because Bradshaw (proj. of 16) and Nicks (proj. of 6) are two of the Giants best offensive weapons. The one thing Kari has going for her is that Nicks is going into the game with a bruised knee and is iffy whether he will be a factor or not. Seth had a bad day with Jamaal Charles going down with his torn ACL, so I think the fantasy gods keep him interested by giving him a win this week.

3.) The Hellmuthinators (Rory Linton) (1-0) vs. Free Victory (Tim Harwood) (1-0)

Score: 99-97 The Hellmuthinators (2 point lead)
Possible MNHs: WR Mario Manningham (Free Victory)
Reaction/Prediction: How about the play of Tim Harwood this year? He's two points away from moving to 2-0 and taking down arguably the best team in the fantasy league. If Nicks is hurt, as I talked about above, Manningham (proj. of 13) will be Eli Manning's main man tonight. I know it sounds crazy, but yes, this will be the third straight match-up this week featuring Monday Night Heroes.

4.) Team Szmanda (Jason Szmanda) (0-1) vs. Team McCarthy (Matt McCarthy) (1-0)

Score: 79-65 Team Szmanda (14 point lead)
Possible MNHs: RB Brandon Jacobs (Team Szmanda) and WR Mike Sims-Walker (Team McCarthy)
Reaction/Prediction: Unlike the previous three match-ups, this is where it gets interesting with opposing MNH forces happening at once. Jason holds the 14 point lead, but has Jacobs (proj. of 5) and must hold-off Matt's Sims-Walker (proj. of 9). I like projections in this one and think Jason really has no problem at coming out with the win. Moreover, I'm not so sure Sims-Walker has learned how to play with Sam Bradford and will help Matt win the Week Two Pity Pot.

5.) Team Grande (Anthony Grande) (0-1) vs. Team Lee (Isaac Lee) (0-1)

Score: 96-75 Team Lee (21 point lead)
Possible MNHs: WR Brandon Gibson (Team Grande)
Reaction/Prediction: Due to WR Brandon Lloyd's inactive status, Anthony was able to initiate a prayer with Gibson (proj. of 8) who goes up against a bad Giants secondary tonight. I've seen weirder things happen, but Isaac shouldn't worry much because his balanced attack of five double-digit fantasy players has him in a winnable position.

6.) Wizard Killer (Joe Selbo) (1-0) vs. Team Szombatfalvy (Mike Szombatfalvy) (0-1)

Score: 74-70 Team Szombatfalvy (4 point lead)
Possible MNHs: QB Eli Manning (Wizard Killer)
Reaction/Prediction: If I was Mike, I would be very worried going into tonight. Manning (proj. of 10) didn't have the best week against Washington, but still posted 14 points. With Tim's Free Victory, Joe looks to be the second "auto-draft," team to move to 2-0. Maybe we all should have ESPN help us pick our teams. Mike should be rooting for Team McCarthy's Mike Sims-Walker to score more than five points, so that he can walk away with the $5 pity pot award.

7.) Team Lowenberg (Nick Lowenberg) (0-1) vs. Arthur's Arsenal (Robert/John) (1-0)

Score: 122-98 Arthur's Arsenal (FINAL)
Possible MNHs: N/A
Reaction/Prediction: Lastly, we have our only match-up of the week not affected by the Monday Night game. Team Lowenberg is also the only team in the fantasy league to make the playoffs in each of the last four years, but has now moved to 0-2 and desperately needs a win next week (plays the expected 0-2 Team Grande). Kudos to Arthur's Arsenal for having a MONSTER week, it's a nice thing to see after their fantasy struggles in the last couple of years. RB Fred Jackson (25 points) looks poised for a breakout year with the Bills.

What are your thoughts on this week's match-ups? Let me know by commenting below!

Wisconsin 49, Northern Illinois 7: Rapid Reaction

2011-09-17T18:38:00.000-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

The Soldier Field Showdown II quickly turned into the Soldier Field Beatdown as the #7/#8 Wisconsin Badgers (3-0) flashed their offensive dominance in a 49-7 win over the Northern Illinois Huskies (1-2).

It's time to start calling QB Russell Wilson "Mr. Efficient" because the guy was almost perfect while completing 23 of his 32 passes for 347 yards, three touchdowns and just one late interception. Wilson also became the ninth quarterback in franchise history to eclipse the 300 yard mark and has transformed his self into a real Heisman candidate.

Continue reading the article by clicking here!

2011 Fantasy Trade #3: Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood Finds That Lower Tier Running Back

2011-09-16T22:10:00.002-05:00

By: Nick Grays, League Commissioner

This is technically the third trade of the year, but the first trade involving actual fantasy players as the first two trades involved the swapping of draft picks. As publicized, I was looking for a running back to fill in for the ailing RB Steven Jackson and Banana Fosters (Kari Klitzman) had a few chilling on her bench for the right price.

Banana Fosters Received:
WR Malcolm Floyd
Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood Received:
RB Danny Woodhead

Banana Fosters Perspective: Like I said, Kari was in possession of three extra backs (a real gem in our a deep league) and desperately needed depth at the wide-receiver position. She's not quite sure if Dwayne Bowe is going to live up to his draft position (1 point in week one) and would like some insurance behind him. Floyd adds just that as he's the third option in the Chargers passing attack led by fantasy-stud Philip Rivers. He recently received the most targets in their week one match-up with the Vikings. This really was a perfect situation for Kari and a perfect example of why it never hurts to have too many running backs.

Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood Perspective: Dealing with Steven Jackson's ridiculous situation (injured his quad after a 47-yard TD on his first carry), I was forced to turn to the waiver wire and found out that there are absolutely no running backs available. Moreover, I found out that I really was wrong about RB Ryan Grant because teammate James Starks does look like the better option. That leaves me with almost nothing at RB while Jackson is out (should be back in Week 3), so I made it an initiative that I would go out and get a lower tier RB. I made an offer for the New England Patriot, Danny Woodhead, because the team appears to have a very potent offense which could benefit my fantasy team.

Advantage: Banana Fosters for the simple fact that she is upgrading her bench while I'm desperately filling in my starting line-up with a lower tier RB.

Who do you think got the better end of the deal? Let me know by commenting below!

#7/#8 Wisconsin vs. Northern Illinois (Soldier Field Showdown II): Game Preview

2011-09-16T12:20:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

This weekend, the #7/#8 Wisconsin Badgers (2-0) will play their first game of the season away from Camp Randall Stadium in the Soldier Field Showdown II versus the Northern Illinois Huskies (1-1). The first Soldier Field Showdown involved the Iowa Hawkeyes matching up with NIU in 2007 (won by Iowa 16-3).

Saturday’s match-up with the Huskies has a lot of interesting drama as first-year Huskies Coach, Dave Doeren, is the former UW Defensive Coordinator. Moreover, four of the five last match-ups between these two teams has been decided by eight points or less.

Continue reading the article by clicking here!

My Work in the National Media

2011-09-15T17:56:00.006-05:00

(2/4/12) Top Google Search Term for "2011 MVP" Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers runs away with the 2011 MVP Award

(1/20/11) With Joe Philbin in Miami, Could the Packers Matt Flynn End Up in South Beach?

(1/1/2012) Flynn to Win: Packers Embarrass Lions Without Key Starters

(9/15/11) Response to Lee Jenkins' SI Article on the Brewers was published in the Sept. 19th issue! Original response (unedited version) can be found by clicking here!

(6/11/11) The Five Most Likely Teams to Win the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes in 2012

2011 Fantasy Football Awards (Week One)

2011-09-13T09:39:00.001-05:00

America’s favorite game is back and The Sports Bank has you covered with the best and worst of what was Fantasy Football Week One.

The mothership (a.k.a. ESPN) wasn’t kidding when they said it was the “year of the quarterback.” Those who drafted QB’s early in their fantasy draft shouldn’t be critiqued as we saw four of the top five fantasy performances come from signal callers.

Follow the jump to receive up-to-date fantasy analysis and the best waiver wire pick-ups for week two!

Continue reading the article by clicking here!

Milwaukee Brewers Weekly Check-In (9-13-11)

2011-09-13T09:35:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

And if you are one of those nerds, feel free to join in on some good old analysis of America’s pastime in the Brew City.

This week we discuss the Brewers unfortunate slide and upcoming series with the Rockies and Reds!

Continue reading the article by clicking here!

2011 Week One Monday Night Heroes

2011-09-11T01:04:00.006-05:00

By: Nick Grays, League Commissioner

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaack and it's time for another installment of your favorite fantasy feature, the Monday Night Heroes. It was a great opening Sunday and this Monday, we have not one, but two games for some possible jockeying to determine if your team starts 1-0 or 0-1. The following games contain the possible MNH's:

New England Patriots (0-0) @ Miami Dolphins (0-0) 6:00 PM (ESPN-HD)
Oakland Raiders (0-0) @ Denver Broncos (0-0) 9:15 PM (ESPN-HD)

*Scores are subject to change

The Hellmuthinators (Rory Linton) (0-0) vs. Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood (Nick Grays) (0-0)

Score: 116-79 The Hellmuthinators (37 point lead)
Possible MNHs: K Dan Carpenter (The Hellmuthinators)
Reaction/Prediction: This game is over, so you know what that means. Dan Carpenter (proj. of 5) can do his victory dance on an emphatic performance from Rory's The Hellmuthinators. I guess it really did mean something when I decided Rory had the "Best Draft." Lions dynamic duo of Matthew Stafford (22 points) and Calvin Johnson (20 points) were enough to do in my team as I was dealt a brutal blow after Steven Jackson (11 points) left the game after a 47 yard touchdown on his first carry. I can only imagine what could have been if he stayed in the game.

Team Merrill (Seth Merrill) (0-0) vs. Team Szmanda (Jason Szmanda) (0-0)

Score: 83-57 Team Merrill (26 point lead)
Possible MNHs: WR Davone Bess (Team Merrill), K Stephen Gostkowski (Team Merrill), WR Brandon Marshall (Team Szmanda) or RB Michael Bush (Team Szmanda) and D/ST Raiders (Team Szmanda)
Reaction/Prediction: Jason currently sits in an odd situation as he is still in contention for a win or the weekly pity pot, but cannot have both. Seth's Davone Bess (proj. of 5) and Stephen Gostkowski (proj. of 9) should be enough to hold off Brandon Marshall (proj. of 11) and the Raiders D/ST (proj. of 6). However, I also think Marshall and the Raiders D/ST will do just enough to prevent Jason from winning the pity pot, in essence making it a disappointing night for Team Szmanda.

Banana Fosters (Kari Klitzman) (0-0) vs. Team Grande (Anthony Grande) (0-0)

Score: 84-58 Banana Fosters (26 point lead)
Possible MNHs: WR Brandon Lloyd (Team Grande) and D/ST Patriots (Team Grande)
Reaction/Prediction: Here's one of the more interesting match-ups of the night as Kari received solid production from Cowboys' Felix Jones (10 points) and Miles Austin (15 points) to pull ahead to a 26 point lead. Brandon Lloyd (proj. of 15) and the Patriots D/ST (proj. of 7) are projected to make it close, but let me tell you why they will not. The Broncos have a new coach who loves to run the ball, opposed to former head coach Josh McDaniels who made Lloyd a star in 2010, and for that reason, I think it's the running game who flourishes tonight. The Pats defense did put up 33 and 19 against the Dolphins last season and I can't really see that happening again, thus I like Banana Fosters to hold on by a sliver of luck.

Side-Note: Grande has an outside shot at the pity pot.

Dog Fighters (Chad Breiby) (0-0) vs. Wizard Killer (Joe Selbo) (0-0)

Score: 88-45 Wizard Killer (43 point lead)
Possible MNHs: RB Darren McFadden (Dog Fighters), RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Dog Figthers), WR Eddie Royal (Dog Fighters) and WR Wes Welker (Wizard Killer)
Reaction/Prediction: Wow, two Monday night games can make things so confusing. Chad has great players going tonight: Darren McFadden (proj. of 19), BenJarvus Green-Ellis (proj. of 13) and Eddie Royal (proj. of 10) while Joe deploys Wes Welker (proj. of 11). This could be a back-and-forth affair, but I'm going to give the slight edge to Joe just because I expect Wes Welker to receive a lot of targets. On the flip side, I could really see McFadden having a huge game, but I'll side with my initial impressions on this fantasy match-up.

Free Victory (Tim Harwood) (0-0) vs. Team Lowenberg (Nick Lowenberg) (0-0)

Score: 77-72 Team Lowenberg (5 point lead)
Possible MNHs: WR Deion Branch (Free Victory), TE Rob Gronkowki (Free Victory) and WR Chad Ochocinco (Team Lowenberg)
Reaction/Prediction: Here's arguably the most intriguing Monday Night Heroes situation. Tim started out as the hottest team this week and looks to continue the trend with Deion Branch (proj. of 10) and Rob Gronkowski (proj. of 2). Meanwhile, Nick sends out sleeper pick Chad Ochocinco (proj. of 6) in an attempt to sneak out of week one with a win. I love Ochocinco's moxy and I feel he's a perfect Monday Night Hero, mark up Team Lowenberg for the win.

Team McCarthy (Matt McCarthy) (0-0) vs. Team Szombatfalvy (Mike Szombatfalvy) (0-0)

Score: 74-68 Team Szombatfalvy (6 point lead)
Possible MNHs: QB Tom Brady (Team McCarthy) or QB Jason Campbell (Team McCarthy), RB Knowshon Moreno (Team McCarthy) and RB Reggie Bush (Team Szombatfalvy)
Reaction/Prediction: Unless Reggie Bush (proj. of 14) goes Tedd Ginn (12 points) plus Darren Sproles (13 points) times two, I don't think there's anyway Team McCarthy goes down with the favorable Tom Brady (proj. of 18) and Knowshon Moreno (proj. of 16) set to be focal points for their respective teams. Let the champ be champ as Matt improves to 1-0 on the season.

Team Lee (Isaac Lee) (0-0) vs. Arthur's Arsenal (Robert Trader/John Rymaszewski) (0-0)

Score: 93-73 Arthur's Arsenal (20 point lead)
Possible MNHs: K Sebastian Janikowski (Team Lee)
Reaction/Prediction: Barring a miracle, Arthur's Arsenal will enter week two with a perfect 1-0 record. Sebastian Janikowski (proj. of 10) may have been the best kicker last season in fantasy, but there's a slim chance he boots 20 or more fantasy points this week. If the Broncos can keep the Raiders from kicking field goals, Isaac could come out with the $5 pity pot.

Pretty good stuff huh? Let me know what you think by commenting below!

Wisconsin 35, Oregon State 0: Rapid Reaction

2011-09-10T15:25:00.002-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

The #8/#9 Wisconsin Badgers (2-0) received an unbelievable effort from the defense in a 35-0 shut-out of the Oregon State Beavers (0-2) in week two of the college football season.

With the win, UW recorded it's first shut-out since the 2009 season when they blanked Purdue 37-0.

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Game Preview: Oregon State at #8/#9 Wisconsin

2011-09-09T17:41:00.002-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

Saturday’s match-up between the Big Ten‘s #8/#9 Wisconsin Badgers (1-0) and the Pac 12′s Oregon State Beavers (0-1) contains a team riding high and one riding very low.

The Badgers offense looked electric in a 51-17 win over the UNLV Rebels while the Beavers fell victim to one of those FCS Schools. To make matters worse, the 29-28 loss to Sacramento State occurred in Corvallis, in front of all the Beavers fans.

Even though Oregon State starts a handful of true freshman and are dealing with some banged up players, the Badgers can’t look past a Beavers team who wants nothing more than some redemption.

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Packers Offense Shines in 42-34 Win over the Saints

2011-09-08T23:28:00.000-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

The Green Bay Packers opened the 2011 season with a 42-34 win over the New Orleans Saints in a game that has fantasy owners jumping with joy.

Aaron Rodgers showed no signs of slowing down from the Super Bowl season as he completed 27 of his 35 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns.

Highlighting the Packers dominating offense was rookie wideout Randall Cobb who scored a receiving touchdown and also took back a record-tying 108 yard kick-off return for a touchdown.

Continue reading the article by clicking here!

Green Bay Packers Ryan Grant and James Starks; Who to Trust in Fantasy?

2011-09-07T09:05:00.001-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

The Green Bay Packers running backs coach, Jerry Fontenot, dropped a bomb earlier this week when he alluded that one of their goals was to evenly disperse the amount of carries between veteran Ryan Grant and youngster James Starks.

For fantasy fans, it's hard to stomach that the Packers will now change to what has become an epidemic in the NFL, the halfback platoon. As a long-time follower of the Packers, I'll attempt to provide some insight on which running back will be more valuable to your fantasy team.

Continue reading the article by clicking here!

Pittsburgh's Brock DeCicco Transfers to Wisconsin

2011-09-06T22:14:00.000-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

Head Coach Bret Bielema and the #8/#9 Wisconsin Badgers have added another transfer, this time for the 2012 season. Tight-end Brock DeCicco has decided to come over from the University of Pittsburgh after playing in 13 games for the Panthers in 2010.

DeCicco was initially recruited by Wisconsin and was named a SuperPrep and Tom Lemming All-American after being rated as the country's No. 7 tight end by Scout coming out of high school. He attended high school at Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania and red-shirted his first year at Pittsburgh in 2009.

“We’re very excited to bring Brock to Madison,” Bielema said. “We recruited him heavily out of high school and are thrilled he eventually ended up joining us. He will spend this year working on the scout team, getting accustomed to how we work at Wisconsin and we look forward to him contributing on Saturdays next fall.”

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Aaron Henry and the Badgers Know Where They Stand on Defense

2011-09-06T17:17:00.000-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

The Wisconsin Badgers 51-17 thrashing of the UNLV Rebels was full of offensive highlights, particularly from QB Russell Wilson in his Camp Randall debut. While Russell received most of the talk and deservedly so, the team's defense put forth a rather average performance.

When asked to "grade" his squad's performance, sophomore linebacker Chris Borland answered "I would give us a C. We didn’t do anything terribly bad, but we can tackle better."

Senior safety and team captain Aaron Henry concurred and attributed some of the defense's struggles to an unfamiliar pistol offense run by the opposing team.

Continue reading the article by clicking here!

Milwaukee Brewers Weekly Check-In (9-5-11)

2011-09-05T14:01:00.000-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

If you’re not one of those baseball nerds who follows every single thing going on in the Milwaukee BrewersOrganization, don’t worry, because The Sports Bank’s Nick Grays has you covered with what happened in the past week and what’s going on in the future.

And if you are one of those nerds, feel free to join in on some good old analysis of America’s pastime in the Brew City.

This week we discuss Prince Fielder free agent rumors, a final bout with the Cardinals and a huge series with the Phillies!

Continue reading the article by clicking here!

Brewers George Kottaras Randomly Hits For The Cycle

2011-09-04T09:57:00.000-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

The Milwaukee Brewers back-up catcher George Kottaras had a career night against the Houston Astros as he became the seventh player in franchise history to hit for the cycle.

Kottaras doesn't play a lot, but received the start on Saturday night because left-handed batters fare well against the Astros' Bud Norris. Kottaras is the first player in the MLB to complete the rare cycle this season.

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Wisconsin 51, UNLV 17: Rapid Reaction

2011-09-01T23:28:00.002-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

Thursday's opener was a hot and muggy one, but the weather had no effect on the Wisconsin Badgers (1-0) who absolutely dominated UNLV (0-1) by the score of 51-17. The Badgers have now won 14-straight season-openers and improve to 21-0 versus non-conference foes under Head Coach Bret Bielema.

Russell Wilson's debut was everything we imagined it would be and more as he finished 10-for-13 for 255 yards and two touchdowns through the air. His impressive speed was also on display with 62 yards on the ground, including an electric 46 yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Continue reading the article by clicking here!

Five Wisconsin Badgers to Watch Not Named Russell Wilson

2011-09-01T17:59:00.000-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

Meaningful football has finally arrived as the #10/#11 Wisconsin Badgers face off with the UNLV Rebels in college football's kick-off special. All the off-season hoopla surrounding the Badgers has centered around NC State transfer and quarterback Russell Wilson.

If it's possible to look past Russell-Mania, there are some young and exciting players to watch on this Badgers squad. Wisconsin faces quite arguably the highest expectations in school history and these five players will be a huge part in getting this Badgers team to a BCS Bowl.

Continue reading the article by clicking here!

Fantasy: Evaluating Arian Foster’s Hamstring Situation

2011-08-31T18:10:00.000-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

What is this world coming to when high-profile athletes start posting official medical documents over the twitterverse? That’s exactly what Houston Texans RB Arian Foster did on Wednesday to let his fans know what was going on with his injured hamstring. Not only has twitter revolutionized pretty much every sporting event, now it’s affecting fantasy football.

So you drafted Foster in your fantasy draft and now it feels like that time you forgot to DVR the new episode of Breaking Bad. Just like waiting for the re-run to air, there are ways to alleviate the loss of Foster for a few weeks.

Continue reading the article by clicking here!

Milwaukee Brewers Weekly Check-In (8-29-11)

2011-08-29T15:30:00.000-05:00

By: Nick Grays, Senior Writer at The Sports Bank

If you’re not one of those baseball nerds who follows every single thing going on in the Milwaukee Brewers Organization, don’t worry, because The Sports Bank’s Nick Grays has you covered with what happened in the past week and what’s going on in the future.

And if you are one of those nerds, feel free to join in on some good old analysis of America’s pastime in the Brew City.

This week we discuss the Sports Illustrated cover story and another showdown with the Cardinals!

Continue reading the article by clicking here!