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College Football Predictions Week 10

College Football Predictions Week 10

CFB Week 9

#22 Arizona @ #17 USC

Where: Los Angeles memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA

When: 9:45 PM on ESPN

Line: USC -7.5

It’s been somewhat of a disappointing season for the Trojan’s, they came into the season as title hopefuls, and have since fallen to 17th in the polls. However, they have a huge PAC 12 matchup against ranked Arizona at home this week, and as they look to lock up a good bowl game, this is a must win game.

Andrew: USC

Aaron: USC

Oregon @ #12 Washington

Where: Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA

When: 9:00 PM on FS1

Line: WASH -16.5

Still trying to recover from their week seven loss to ASU, Washington welcomes Oregon to town. The Ducks have had a disappointing season to say the least, and no one is exactly favoring them to win this game. However, Washington could still come out slow, hungover from their loss, and if the Ducks can jump on them early then they could pull off this upset.

Andrew: Washington

Aaron: Washington

#13 Virginia Tech @ #10 Miami

Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL

When: 7:00 PM on ABC

Line: VT -2.5

After the first playoff rankings were released this week, Miami sits at #10 in the nation, and a dark horse to make the playoff. They remain unbeaten, and this week face one of their toughest tasks of the 2017-18 season as Virginia Tech comes to town. Virginia Tech comes in at 7-1, with their one loss being to Clemson, and a win this week would go a long way in avenging that loss. If they’re going to pull off this win in Miami, then they will need a strong performance out of QB Josh Jackson, and lockdown defense.

Andrew: Miami

Aaron: VT

MLive.com

#2 Alabama VS. #19 LSU

Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL

When: 7:00 PM on CBS

Line: ALA -21.5

Many think the Crimson Tide were snubbed by not being ranked number one over Georgia, but never the less, they have their chance to prove why they should be against #19 LSU. For LSU, winning this game is a tall task, heading into this week they’re a two-loss team. The Tigers will need nothing less than a perfect performance if they want any chance to knock off Alabama.

Andrew: BAMA

Aaron: BAMA

#5 Oklahoma @ #11 Oklahoma State

Where: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK

When: 3:00 PM on FS1

Line: OKST -2.5

Oklahoma makes the short trip to Stillwater for their intense rivalry against OKST in what could be this week’s best game. The Sooners jumped into the five spot in this week’s rankings, and they now have a strong chance to get into the playoff with games like OKST and TCU left on the schedule. OU’s road to the playoff starts this week as they look to shutdown Mike Gundy’s Cowboys.

Andrew: OU

Aaron: OU

NewsOK

#4 Clemson @ #20 NC State

Where: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC

When: 2:30 PM on ABC

Line: CLEM -8.5

A few weeks ago, Clemson suffered what looked to be a season ending loss to Syracuse =, but after a couple good games, they’ve launched themselves back into the top four where they control their own destiny. On the other side of the ball, NC State obviously doesn’t have a shot at the playoff, but they could still end up in a very good bowl game. If they want to do that, they need to come out with reckless abandon against the Tigers and pull off this upset.

Andrew: Clemson

Aaron: Clemson

#21 Stanford @ #25 Washington State

Where: Martin Stadium, Pullman, WA

When: 2:30 PM on FOX

Line: WSU -2.0

After dropping two of their last three, WSU has fallen to the number 25 spot, completely eliminating their playoff chances. However, that doesn’t mean Mike Leach won’t have his air raid offense ready for a major PAC 12 showdown at home against Stanford. Stanford comes in as two-point underdogs despite being the higher ranked team. This giving them an extra chip on their shoulder, Stanford looks to dominate the Cougars.

Andrew: Stanford

Aaron: WSU

#1 Georgia VS. South Carolina

Where: Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA

When: 2:30 PM on CBS

Line: UGA -23.5

Georgia made headlines this week as the CFB playoff rankings revealed them as the number one team in the nation over Alabama. Many questioned this decision, but Georgia has done everything needed to earn that one spot, and they come into this week looking to prove themselves against South Carolina. While this should be an easy win, it’s a game they need to dominate in order to solidify their top spot.

Andrew: Georgia

Aaron: Georgia

nflmocks.com

#7 Penn State @ #24 Michigan State

Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI

When: 11:00 AM on FOX

Line: PSU -9.0

After moving up to number two, Penn State suffered their first loss of the year to Ohio State in a close game. They’ve since dropped to number seven, and led by Saquon Barkley, they’re hungry for revenge. For MSU, they’ve been surprisingly good this season, and at 6-2 they look to take advantage of Penn state’s loss hangover and move up in the polls.

Andrew: PSU

Aaron: PSU

LancasterOnline.com

Texas @ #8 TCU

Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
When: 6:15 PM on ESPN

Line: TCU -7.0

TCU has obviously been one of the best teams of this CFB season, but don’t forget how close Texas is to being looked at as one of the best teams. They’ve and multiple games against ranked teams this season that have come down to the wire and that they could have easily won. I think that’s the reason TCU is only a seven-point favorite at home. With that being said, if Texas is in this game in the fourth quarter, don’t be surprised.

Andrew: Texas

Aaron: TCU

Cover Picks

Andrew: Something about Saturday’s Texas VS TCU matchup really intrigues me. Texas has been so close to many upsets this season, and for some reason I really believe in them to not only cover the spread, but upset TCU in Fort Worth.

Aaron: Iowa State comes into their week 9 matchup as the #15 team in the nation. However, that ranking apparently means nothing as they are underdogs to unranked WVU, and with that being said, Aaron is taking ISU to cover the spread this week.

CFB Week 6 Most Intriguing Games

Writer: Aaron Hendon & Andrew Martin

Saturday, October 28th, 2017

#11 Oklahoma St. (6-2) @ #22 West Virginia (5-2)

Where: Milan Puskar Stadium, Morgantown, WV

Time: 12 PM ET, on ABC

Line: Oklahoma St. -7.5

After a scare in Austin last week where the Cowboys were held to just 13 points and 282 yards through the air, they’ll attempt to keep the big 12 championship game hopes alive with a travel to Morgantown. The scrappy Mountaineers have won 4 of last 5 where Will Grier averages 348.8 yards and 4 touchdowns a game.

Aaron: Oklahoma St. Andrew: Oklahoma St.

 

#4 TCU (7-0) @ #25 Iowa St. (5-2)

Where: Jake Trice Stadium, Ames, IA

Time: 3:30 PM ET, on ABC/ ESPN 2

Line: TCU -6.5

Could the Cyclones do it again? The most surprising team in the Big 12 putting up 38 per game on offense. The challenge will be stopping the TCU offense, led by Kenny Hill. Hill has a ton of weapons and will use all of them on Saturday in order to avoid an upset in Ames.

Aaron: TCU          Andrew: TCU

#14 NC State (6-1) @ #9 Notre Dame (6-1)

Where: Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN

Time: 3:30 PM ET, on NBC

Line: Notre Dame -7.5

One of the more intriguing but potentially overlooked games this week. Notre Dame has seemed to turn it around after a disappointing 2016 season. While NC State is an exciting ACC team that is looking to prove their worth is a tough conference. Neither team was expected to be in this position at the beginning of the year, it will be fun to see who keeps the momentum rolling.

Aaron: Notre Dame         Andrew: Notre Dame

UCLA (4-3) @ #12 Washington (6-1)

Where: Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA

Time: 3:30 PM ET, on ABC/ ESPN 2

Line: Washington -18

One of the few Pac 12 schools with a shot at the final 4 still. After a loss 2 weeks ago to Arizona St. The Huskies are looking for not only a confidence builder but a statement win in a big conference game. A win this week would be massive for Washington heading down the final stretch of the season.

Aaron: Washington Andrew: Washington

#3 Georgia (7-0) Vs. Florida (3-3)

Where: Everbank field, Jacksonville, FL

Time: 3:30 PM ET, on CBS

Line: Georgia -13.5

Boy we are in for a doozie in this SEC matchup, a total dogfight every year and Florida has nothing to lose this go around. On the other side, this is Georgia’s big test to see if they can make a run at the SEC title game. Georgia is better on both sides of the ball but in a rivalry game like this some of that goes out the door, an interesting key will be to see how QB Jake Fromm plays in this environment.

Aaron: Georgia Andrew: Georgia

#2 Penn St. (7-0) @ #6 Ohio St. (6-1)

Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH

Time: 3:30 PM ET, on FOX

Line: Ohio St. -6.5

The Absolute biggest game of the week and maybe year not including conference championships. After rolling through Michigan a week ago, the Nittany Lions are off to Columbus for a Big 10 showdown with big implications. Ohio St. has looked incredibly different since the embarrassing loss week 2 against OU. They’ll need to stop Saquon Barkley if they want to have any chance.

Aaron: Penn St.          Andrew: Penn St.

Houston (4-3) @ #17 USF (7-0)

Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

Time: 3:45 PM Et, on ESPNU

Line: USF -10.5

Quietly, the AAC has put together a competitive group of football teams, this matchup in Tampa could be inline for potential upset when the Cougars meet the Bulls. USF has more talent on both sides of the ball but are suspect in certain aspects. You might see Ed Oliver in the backfield a ton, if he gets the defense going enough to stop Quinton Flowers, Houston can score enough to make it interesting.

Aaron: USF           Andrew: USF

Mississippi St. (5-2) @ Texas A&M (5-2)

Where: Kyle Field, College Station, TX

Time: 7:15 PM ET, on ESPN

Line: Mississippi St. -1

Big SEC standing implications in this one as A&M sits a game over the Bulldogs in SEC play and has a chance to bury them this week. The aggies struggle mightily in pass defense, Nick Fitzpatrick has had a problem with giving the ball away with 7 interceptions on the year. If Mississippi St. can limit turnovers, this could be a route.

Aaron: Mississippi St. Andrew: Mississippi St.

Texas Tech (4-3) @ #10 Oklahoma (6-1)

Where: Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK

Time: 8 PM ET, on FOX

Line: Oklahoma -20

Oklahoma is still trying to stay alive in the College football playoff picture with just the one stunning upset at home against a now ranked Iowa State team. Baker Mayfield and the sooners have what it takes to run the table in the Big 12 but its all in front of them, they control their own destiny with key matchups against Oklahoma St. TCU, and West Virginia.

Aaron: Oklahoma Andrew: Oklahoma

Georgia Tech (4-2) @ #2 Clemson (6-1)

Where: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, SC

Time: 8 PM ET, on ABC

Line: Clemson -14

Kind of tricky game for Clemson at home versus the Yellow Jackets and their confusing triple option offense. I can never see anyone completely shutting down the option but Clemson’s defense is one that could

slow it down as good as anyone. The tough part about this game will be Tech’s defense against Kelly Bryant and Clemson’s offense.

Aaron: Clemson          Andrew: Clemson

Cover Picks

 Aaron: This should be a tough ACC matchup in South Carolina Saturday night. It’s never an easy match up against the triple option attack, let alone preparing for it during the week. Clemson’s defense is top tier in the ACC but Georgia Tech will keep this one close.

Andrew: Interesting game with Josh Rosen and the Bruins on the road. Washington is coming off a bye after losing at Arizona St. the week before. The Huskies should be pretty focused but Rosen’s offense is averaging 35 points over their last 3 games.

Is Josh Allen the worth the first pick?

Writer: Anthony Aleman

Josh Allen has been the biggest mystery in the NFL scouting circles this year. A quarterback from Wyoming who didn’t even have a division I offer coming out of high school, has skyrocketed up draft boards and is projected by many scouts as a top ten pick for a team such as the Browns or 49ers. The real issue with Allen is that he came out of nowhere, so many are skeptical of the reality of his potential success. Early season struggles for the quarterback have not changed the perception for many as he has not put up stellar numbers or looked amazing frankly, throwing only eight touchdowns in seven games while also having six interceptions in the same time span. In my opinion, I do believe that Josh Allen has the intangibles to be a Pro Bowl starter at the next level. Allen has the measurements of a prototype pocket passer quarterback who can be mobile if needed in small doses. Watching his arm, it is easy to see how his arm is above average and is comparable with that of other top quarterbacks in his draft class. Allen looks like a mix of Kirk Cousins, Carson Wentz, and Joe Flacco, and those are three guys he would love to compare too. Efficiency would definitely be somewhere he needs to improve, as his touchdown to interceptions ratio is a red flag for many scouts. Improving efficiency and accuracy will improve his draft stock even more. Allen should take advantage of the Senior Bowl and use that week as a chance to show scouts his continued development into a top tier quarterback. In a perfect world Allen would land to a team with an established quarterback like the Giants, or a team like the Cardinals with a quarterback guru such as Bruce Arians. Those two teams would prove to help Allen continue to grow in multiple areas and will groom him to be a perennial powerhouse under center. So, in the end, is Josh Allen worth the number one overall pick? Yes, he is, as he could be one of the best college football has had to offer in years and his development is one to watch for the years to come.

Lionel Messi Best of Our Generation?

Writer: David Seastrunk

With the World Cup inching closer and closer one of the 2014 finalist’s found themselves on the outside looking in. That was until the likes of Lionel Messi had yet another hat trick and yet another performance that couldn’t have been scripted more beautifully.

Argentina was on the brink of elimination and with one game remaining to qualify for the 2018 World Cup they were to face that of a lesser opponent in Ecuador. Or so they thought, with only 38 seconds gone by Ecuador had already found the back of the net and Argentina was staring elimination dead in the eye. Argentina needed a win to advance and only a win. Quickly coming to reality the heroics of Lionel Messi decided to write his own history books.

12 minutes later Messi nets the equalizer on an assist from Angel Di Maria. With the fate of an entire nation on his back he nets home another just 9 minutes later.

cuador v Argentina - FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifiers : News Photo

(Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Yet another masterpiece by the great Lionel Messi. Forcing his way into the conversation of the greatest player of all time. Are his career accomplishments enough to crown him the greatest? Does he still need a World Cup title to ultimately give him that crown. With the likes of Pele winning 3 World Cup titles and Diego Maradona, fellow Argentinian legend, winning one. Many critics want to see Messi win a World Cup. Messi led his team to the World Cup final in 2014 and with his squad not playing as well as they did then it is going to be tough to replicate that outcome.

It’s tough to say if he is the greatest of all time because the era’s of world soccer are different in many ways but I think it is safe to say of this generation he is the greatest. Compared to his closest competitor and La Liga rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Here is a list of stats comparing the two over their careers. (Including Friendlies)

Goals

Assist

Games Played

Ratio Goals Scored to Matches Played

Ballon d’Or

Messi

583

235

719

.81

5

Ronaldo

615

200

874

.70

4

Statistically Messi has proven he’s been slightly better. Where he separates himself from other players is the ability to create and make everyone around him so astoundingly better. He has won 29 trophies with Barcelona, including 8 La Liga titles, 4 UEFA Champions League titles, and 5 Copas del Rey. Ronaldo has won 13 trophies, including 2 La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey titles, 3 Champions League titles and 2 UEFA Super Cups.

With the upcoming 2018 World Cup this could possibly be their last chance at getting a championship. The two will give it their all in hopes off winning for their countries and cementing their name in history for the only thing they’ve yet to accomplish.

Giannis Anteokounmpo: NBA MVP?

 

By: Caleb Apkan

You should never jump to conclusions in sports, especially with basketball. The yearly 82 games played in the league are a marathon, not a sprint, and you can’t decide playoff teams, all-stars, or MVPs in October- most seasons. 2017-2018 is starting to feel a bit different, mainly when it comes to who will be this year’s Most Valuable Player, thanks to a certain 6’11 (maybe even taller) monster in Milwaukee with a last name many are still trying to figure out how to pronounce. You may say it’s too early to call, but three games in, is there any way Giannis Antetokounmpo will not be this year’s MVP?

Let’s look at Giannis’ (brief) resume for the year so far. To open up the season, he takes the Bucks into Boston for a matchup of two almost guaranteed Eastern Conference playoff teams, dueling a player in a situation almost identical to his own. He and Celtics point guard, Kyrie Irving, are two of the best players in the league, leading teams with solid talent around them. However, no one even comes close to their skillsets, leading to insanely high expectations for both’s seasons. Irving went 7-25 from the field to total just 17 points in the night, while Antetokounmpo shined with 37 and 13 on 13-22 (59%) shooting, 16 of those points coming in the fourth quarter. If the two were in a race for MVP, Giannis lapped Kyrie, maybe more than once, and cruised to the finish line.

Who was up next on the schedule? Another MVP candidate in LeBron James and the Eastern Conference Avengers, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Naturally, Giannis’ performance dips in the face of a better defense and generally more talented team, right? Wrong. Going toe-to-toe with James, Antetokounmpo scores 34 and nearly has a triple double, adding in eight of each in the rebounding and assists departments. LeBron gets the win, but in his first primetime game of the year, Giannis gets most of the conversation. The Greek Freak was clearly not afraid of the stage he was on, and in what felt like a one on four fight, you can’t blame him much for not being able to come up with the victory, especially with that statline, by outplaying the best player of this generation, aside from being on the receiving end of an excellent block by the King. After the game, Antetokounmpo said that he doesn’t see himself at James’ level yet, and with the three championships and four MVP trophies, that may be true for now, but Giannis is doing things that LeBron just simply was not able to do at 22 or any point in his career, and that’s a big part of why James, Kevin Durant, and others among the league’s best are saying Antetokounmpo has the potential to be not just the MVP, but an all-time great in this league.

Game three at home, Saturday night, Giannis takes a little off-day against the Blazers of course- or he plays arguably the best game of his career to follow up on two already dominant performances against some of the best teams in the league based on pre-season projections. For Portland and star point guard Damian Lillard, Antetokounmpo served up a career-high 44 (on an unfathomable 74% shooting), gets the game-winning steal, dunk, AND block (following missing two clutch free throws, just for some in-game facing of adversity), and throws in eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and block, in what looked like an effortless display of dominance. He scored a fraction of his points on jumpers, the one area of Antetokounmpo’s game that seems to need work (104 of the 115 points scored in 3 games have come inside the paint). He then spent the rest of his night cruising to the basket, and not because the Blazers’ defense was particularly bad, Giannis just seems to be that unstoppable. A dribble from the half court line and he was at the rim, contact seemed non-existent, it was the type of performance that is replayed when a player receives an award as prestigious as Giannis seems to deserve.

Who’s really in Antetokounmpo’s way this season? LeBron, Steph, KD, and Russ are too busy playing with other All-Stars. Kawhi Leonard is walking onto planes like he’ll be out another month. Guys that could put up huge stat-lines like Kristaps Porzingis will probably do so on terrible teams. The one guy who seems to have things add up when it comes to team success, health, and individual performance is Giannis. Add in the fact that Antetokounmpo is honoring his late father with performances like this, writing on his latest game ball that the win was “for Daddy” and then seeming to tell his father of the performance he had in his writing after that, and there’s no way you can’t get behind the amazing progression this young man is making. NBA defenses aren’t going to figure out his game overnight, and if you described what he does in the simplest of terms, they already should have. Butt Giannis isn’t your average slasher- he takes attacking the basket to another level never seen before and adds excellent defense and court vision on top of that. Start carving his name into the trophy and get a KIA that can fit his insane dimensions, barring an injury, Giannis Antetokounmpo seems to have the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award in his (giant) hands already.

A$AP MOB REVIEW

A$AP MOB REVIEW

By: Kyle Pearson

Walking into The Bomb Factory in Dallas, Texas is not how one would typically spend their Wednesday night. However, for A$AP Mob, hundreds of people made an exception. It’s no question that the mob brings a unique energy wherever they go. No one could have predicted the combination of their energy and the energy of the crowd to amplify the performance to the level it was. Throughout the concert, there were many things that stood out allowing the concert to be a next level show; such, as the crowd, the set, and even the members of the mob throwing in some special features like freestyling in between songs.

The Crowd

Right from the start, the crowd was ready for A$AP Mob, bringing an insane amount of support for the lesser known openers who fully did their job of warming the audience up. Normally, one would expect the headliner to not come out until later on in the night. The crowd had an amazing surprise to see the mob take the stage after only a few opening acts; but, who could complain, it was the moment we were all waiting for. From the second the mob took the stage, the audience was in for the ride. Mosh pits were formed and the ‘push to the front mentality’ had begun. As the show progressed, not only did the energy keep rising but so did the body heat from everyone crammed next to each other. This created additional intensity to the performance from the mob due to everyone, yes everyone, was drenched head to toe in each other’s sweat and it was clear the mob wanted it no other way. The audience’s energy seemingly fed A$AP Mob.

The Set

It is no surprise that, at a concert, the artists bring their best material to the stage. What was unique about A$AP Mob was they seemed to bring all of their material to the stage. Nearly all songs from ‘Cozy Tapes’ volumes one and two, were included in the performance along with many singles from A$AP Ferg, such as ‘Work,”and A$AP Rocky’s ‘Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2.’ The use of these well-known songs increased the intensity of the show all together, further involving the audience. When a rap group, such as A$AP Mob, brings out nearly all of their songs there isn’t much time left in between each one, there was roughly three to six seconds in between each song barely leaving time for anyone in the crowd to catch their breath, but no one seemed to be complaining.

Special Features of the Show

At every concert, the artists usually try and bring some sort of special elements to make the show one of a kind. In A$AP Mob’s case, they brought every skill they had at their disposal and left it all on the stage. When the energy was high and seemed like no one could catch a breath, a member of the mob would freestyle in dead silence, no beat, no track, just the artist with their natural talent, showcasing it for the audience to enjoy. An additional aspect added to the show that increased the intensity is when A$AP Ferg threw some shade on the new wave of rappers saying he wasn’t with the mumble rap. Ferg then proceeded to freestyle which the crowd could not get enough of.

A$AP Mob putting on an incredible show is not a surprising statement. Straight out of the gate, the audience was ready to match the energy they knew the mob was bringing. What truly made this concert unique is that it seemed, for the most part, that people were not there for the girls, or their friends, but they were there for the mob. This created a special experience for not only the crowd, but; the mob as well. They were able to be in an environment surrounded by complete fans of their work.

Left Is Right Review

Staff Writer: Orian Johnson

Cover art for Left is Right

Troyboi’s newest project Left is Right was released this summer, and it’s got some of his best tracks yet. The EP consists of 20 tracks, all featuring the drum-centered trap sound to them. The EP also features artists trap and EDM fans might recognize like Nefera and Healthy Chill, and each track has the intricate, multi-layered, sometimes even strange sound fans of his have come to know and love. Like most EPs, this one consists of some songs that were originally released as singles, in the case of Left is Right, a few of those tracks include, Mantra, Grimey, and probably his most popular of anything he’s released, O.G. In terms of this EP specifically, What You Know is most likely the most popular, as it’s garnered attention from notable dancers like Dytto. My personal favorite of the tracks that are from this EP is Interlude, it has the perfect combination of bass and other instruments, and the “vocals” are pretty interesting as well. Troyboi is my favorite trap/EDM artist, and this is my favorite EP of the genre as well, I encourage fans of the genre to go listen.

The NFC East Is A Mess

Writer: Caleb Akpan

The NFC East is a mess.

Same phrase, different year. Every season, it feels like the NFC is just about any of the four teams to take, and 2017 has been no different. Three of the four squads in the division sit at 2-1 three weeks into the season, and some critics say the Giants aren’t completely out of the race at 0-3 due to the history of tight races and the Giants’ tendency to do things out of the ordinary every couple of years in the Eli Manning Era. It’d be no surprise if we sit in December and any of the teams could clinch a playoff spot by sitting at the top, but let’s try and predict how things will go the rest of the way beforehand.

nfc-east.png

The Game Haus

As previously mentioned, the New York Giants’ season isn’t going too well. To open the year, the team’s offense looked abysmal against the rival Dallas Cowboys, totaling 233 yards all game with 198 of those yards coming from Eli Manning and a receiving core. Without star Odell Beckham Jr. Outside of a field goal in the third quarter, the team went scoreless in a 19-3 loss. In Week 2, the team was still without their best player. Things barely improved as they picked up 24 more yards of offense and scored a touchdown but still lost to the Lions 24-10.

With Odell Beckham Jr. back and a crucial division contest against the Eagles in front of them, Week 3 was a huge chance for New York to get going. For the first three quarters, they didn’t make use of their chance, but in the fourth it all seemed to come together, with the team putting up 24 points to rally and tie the game, only to lose on a sixty-one yard field goal as time expired. The Giants are none to do the unthinkable with tough odds (see Super Bowl 42), but an 0-3 hole with upcoming games against tough defenses like the Broncos and the Seahawks makes their chances seem extremely low. The key to a possible New York comeback will be holding down their home field and getting those important division wins the rest of the way. If they can do that, there’s still hope for their season.

In pre-season predictions, many had the Dallas Cowboys as division winners following their comeback in 2016. Especially with running back Ezekiel Elliott in the lineup as he continued his legal case, there didn’t seem to be much in the way of the team’s continuing success. In Week 1, things went as hoped, and even better, with a strong win over the Giants that had some calmed about the biggest fear for the team going into the season with their defense, and more specifically, the secondary. Going to Mile High in Week 2, those fears seemed to be immediately renewed. Trevor Simeon looked unstoppable, and Denver charged to an easy 42-17 victory.

On the offensive side of the ball, things were even more shocking as Dak Prescott appeared mediocre and Ezekiel Elliott had by far the worst of game of his professional career, rushing the ball nine times for eight yards. On Monday night, both bounced back (Elliott with 80 yards rushing and a touchdown and Prescott with 3 total touchdowns and no interceptions), but whether or not the Cowboys can stay consistent remains to be seen. That consistency will be key to emerging from a division that is usually lacking such a quality. The team can’t afford losses to teams like the Rams in Jerry’s World or flop on the road in San Francisco. They must secure those wins and show up for big games like October 8th vs. the Packers if they still hope to be kings of the East.

In Philadelphia, the Eagles have surprised most with their level of play to start the year. On the road against Washington, Carson Wentz looked rather comfortable throwing for 307 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-17 win. Against the Chiefs, a team that some would say dominated the defending champions in Week 1, Philly competed almost all game long, only giving up their chances late in the fourth in a 27-20 loss. Flip that game’s last minutes around, and you’re looking at an NFC East led by an undefeated Eagles squad as Week 3 saw the Philadelphia run game awaken in a last-second victory over New York. If that running game of sliced-up touches for LeGarrette Blount, Wendell Smallwood, and Corey Clement can truly find its place, there seems to be no reason why the Eagles won’t have a great year. But if that doesn’t happen and Carson Wentz runs out of gas, the entire team may do the same despite exceeding expectations early on.

If asked who would be tied for the best record in the NFC East and hold its best point differential pre-season, few other than fans of the team themselves would say the Washington Redskins. Despite that, here we are, with Washington at 2-1 just like Dallas and Philadelphia, with a running game that seems to have multiple options available and a quarterback in Kirk Cousins who has completed 68% of his passes and thrown for five touchdowns in three games while playing on the franchise tag. If they continue to handle opponents many see as superior like they did the Oakland Raiders on Sunday night, the entire league, not just the division, has a surprise team to look out for.

At the same time, that win stands with a close game against the Rams and handling by the Eagles on Washington turf. Based off that, you may just never know with the Redskins and the same can be said for the division that they play in. The NFC East is extremely unpredictable, so much that the most experienced NFL viewers would probably find it tough to say that a team like the Giants is truly out of it. Just give it another game though, maybe two, and we might have a better idea on what kind of ride we’re in for this season.