Football Predictions - 12 Sep thru 16 Sep

Upset picks are in italics.

Thursday

Arizona State at Texas State - Bobcats by 6

Northwestern State at South Alabama - Jaguars by 16.5

Buffalo at Miami - Bills by 2.5

Friday

UNLV at Kansas - Jayhawks by 4

(20) Arizona at (14) Kansas State - KSU Wildcats by 15

Saturday

(4) Alabama at Wisconsin - Crimson Tide by 11.5

(13) Oklahoma State at Tulsa - Golden Hurricane by 0.5

(16) LSU at South Carolina - Gamecocks by 7.5

Arkansas State at (17) Michigan - Wolverines by 30

Central Michigan at Illinois - Illini by 22.5

Memphis at Florida State - Tigers by 1

Louisiana Tech at NC State - Wolf Pack by 17.5

Cincinnati at Miami (OH) - Redhawks by 15.5

North Texas at Texas Tech - Red Raiders by 2

(24) Boston College at (6) Missouri - Tigers by 8.5

UMass at Buffalo - Minutemen by 3

Coastal Carolina at Temple - Chanticleers by 15

(9) Oregon at Oregon State - Beavers by 9

Ball State at (10) Miami - Hurricanes by 32.5

Tulane at (15) Oklahoma - Sooners by 11.5

(18) Notre Dame at Purdue - Irish by 4

Texas A&M at Florida - Aggies by 2

Prairie View at Michigan State - Spartans by 23

Nevada at Minnesota - Gophers by 14.5

Washington State at Washington - Huskies by 7

VMI at Georgia Tech - Yellowjackets by 27.5

West Virginia at Pittsburgh - Panthers by 3

Morgan State at Ohio - Bobcats by 20

Troy at Iowa - Hawkeyes by 12.5

App State at East Carolina - Pirates by 7

UAB at Arkansas - Razorbacks by 22

(12) Utah at Utah State - Utes by 4.5

UConn at Duke - Blue Devils by 21

NC Central at North Carolina - Tar Heels by 26.5

Virginia Tech at Old Dominion - Hokies by 1

FIU at FAU - Owls by 6

UTEP at Liberty - Flames by 28.5

South Carolina State at Georgia Southern - Eagles by 15.5

Colgate at Akron - Zips by 10

Gardner-Webb at Charlotte - 49ers by 9.5

(5) Ole Miss at Wake Forest - Rebels by 9.5

Bethune-Cookman at Western Michigan - Broncos by 16

UTSA at (2) Texas - Longhorns by 39.5

Vanderbilt at Georgia State - Commodores by 1.5

Jacksonville State at Eastern Michigan - Eagles by 12

Kennesaw State at San Jose State - Spartans by 28

Western Kentucky at Middle Tennessee - Hilltoppers by 1.5

Hawaii at Sam Houston - Bearkats by 11.5

South Florida at Southern Miss - Bulls by 0.5

(1) Georgia at Kentucky - Bulldogs by 15

Northern Iowa at (23) Nebraska - Cornhuskers by 28

New Mexico at Auburn - Tigers by 19.5

Toledo at Mississippi State - Bulldogs by 4

Indiana at UCLA - Bruins by 9

Air Force at Baylor - Bears by 9

Colorado at Colorado State - Rams by 8.5

UCF at TCU - Horned Frogs by 3.5

Eastern Illinois at Northwestern - Wildcats by 23

Kent State at (7) Tennessee - Volunteers by 45.5

Maryland at Virginia - Cavaliers by 1.5

Rice at Houston - Cougars by 13

BYU at Wyoming - Cougars by 11

San Diego State at California - Bears by 18.5

New Mexico State at Fresno State - Bulldogs by 13

Sunday

New Orleans at Dallas - Cowboys by 7

Tampa Bay at Detroit - Lions by 6.5

Indianapolis at Green Bay - Packers by 9

NY Jets at Tennessee - Titans by 0.5

San Francisco at Minnesota - 49ers by 14

Seattle at New England - Patriots by 2.5

NY Giants at Washington - Giants by 1

LA Chargers at Carolina - Chargers by 5

Cleveland at Jacksonville - Jaguars by 1.5

Las Vegas at Baltimore - Ravens by 17

LA Rams at Arizona - Rams by 0.5

Pittsburgh at Denver - Steelers by 2

Cincinnati at Kansas City - Chiefs by 11.5

Chicago at Houston - Texans by 6

Monday

Atlanta at Philadelphia - Eagles by 7

Results

NCAA: 59-19 (.756) 148-30 overall (.831)

Upsets: 3-2 (.600) 5-3 overall (.625)

NFL: 12-4 (.750) 

Upsets: 1-2 (.333)

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #38: Derrick Henry

Derrick Henry

Teams

Tennessee Titans (2016-2023)

Baltimore Ravens (present)

Playoffs

Appearances - 4 (2017,2019,2020,2021)

Conf Champ Games - 1 (2019)

Super Bowls - 0

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

Offensive Player of the Year - 1 (2020)

All-Pro First Team - 1 (2020)

All-Pro Second Team - 1 (2019)

Pro Bowl - 4 (2019,2020,2022,2023)

All-Time Ranks

Rushing Touchdowns - #13

Rushing Yards per Game - #20

Yards per Rush - #24

Total Touchdowns - #32

Rushing Yards - #36

Scrimmage Yards - #88

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#1-2019,2020, #2-2022,2023, #7-2018, #9-2021)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-2019,2020, #2-2022, #3-2018, #6-2021, #7-2023)

Yards per Rush (#5-2019, #6-2020)

Rushing Yards per Game (#1-2019,2020, #2-2022, #8-2023)

Total Touchdowns (#3-2019,2020, #4-2022)

Scrimmage Yards (#1-2020, #2-2022, #4-2019)

Derrick Henry won the Heisman Trophy as a junior at Alabama after rushing for 2219 yards and 28 touchdowns and leading the Crimson Tide to a national championship, then left school a year early to join the NFL where he was drafted by Tennessee in the 2nd round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Henry spent his first two seasons as a backup to DeMarco Murray, and played pretty well when given the chance. He had 1234 yards and 10 touchdowns over the 2 seasons combined, and started the 2018 season splitting the backfield with Dion Lewis before taking over as the lead back midway through the season. He finished the 2018 season with 1059 yards and 12 touchdowns, which was an improvement, but even more was coming.

In 2019, he was the full-time starter, and he boosted his efficiency, averaging 5.1 yards per carry, which helped him lead the league in yardage, with 1540 yards, and touchdowns, with 16. He also led the league in carries, was named to the All-Pro Second Team, and led the Titans to the AFC Championship Game, where they fell short of the Super Bowl in a loss to the Chiefs.

Henry had a monster season in 2020. He had 378 carries, most in the league again, and finished with 2027 yards, making him just the 8th player ever to reach 2000, which obviously led the league. His 17 rushing touchdowns and 2141 scrimmage yards were also league bests, and he also became the first player ever to reach 2000 rushing yards in a season in high school, college, and the NFL.

He was looking strong early in 2021, gaining 937 yards in the first 8 games before a foot injury knocked him out for the rest of the season. He came back healthy in 2022, and while his yards per carry dropped down to 4.4, he led the league in carries again, while finishing #2 in yardage with 1538.

In 2023, Henry had his 6th straight season with at least 10 rushing touchdowns, and finished #2 in the league in rushing yards again, with only 1167 in a down year for running backs. He led the league in carries for the 4th time in 5 years, and made his 4th Pro Bowl. He was a free agent once the season ended, and he recently agreed to join the Baltimore Ravens on a 2-year contract.

Derrick Henry is the definition of the modern workhorse back. He has led the league in rushing attempts in 4 of the past 5 seasons, only missing out during the year that he missed 8 games. He led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns twice, and still may have several good years left to move higher on this list. Derrick Henry is definitely one of the greatest of all time.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #96: Chris Johnson

 

Chris Johnson

Teams

Tennessee Titans (2008-2013)

New York Jets (2014)

Arizona Cardinals (2015-2017)

Playoffs

Appearances - 2 (2008,2015)

Conf Champ Games - 1 (2015)

Super Bowls - 0

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

Offensive Player of the Year - 1 (2009)

All-Pro First Team - 1 (2009)

Pro Bowl - 3 (2008,2009,2010)

All-Time Ranks

Rushing Yards per Game - #26

Rushing Yards - #35

Yards per Rush - #49

Rushing Touchdowns - #65

Scrimmage Yards - #68

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#1-2009, #4-2010, #8-2008, #9-2012)

Rushing Touchdowns (#3-2009, #6-2010)

Yards per Rush (#3-2009, #4-2008)

Rushing Yards per Game (#1-2009, #6-2015, #7-2010, #8-2008, #9-2012)

Total Touchdowns (#2-2009, #7-2010)

Scrimmage Yards (#1-2009, #10-2008)

Yards per Touch (#10-2009)

After a monster senior season at East Carolina, where he finished with 2960 total yards and 24 touchdowns, then set a new record in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, Chris Johnson was picked by the Tennessee Titans with the 24th pick in the first round of the NFL Draft, and his impact in the league was immediate.

Despite splitting time in the backfield as a rookie with LenDale White, Johnson racked up 1228 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns, which earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl and caused him to finish as runner-up in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, behind Matt Ryan. 

The next season he had one of the best seasons of any back in recent memory. He rushed for 2006 yards, making him only the sixth player to eclipse 2000 in a season, and he led the league in rushing yards, scrimmage yards, and yards per game, and was named to the All-Pro First Team and won Offensive Player of the Year. His 2509 scrimmage yards that season is still the record for a season, a record he took from Marshall Faulk.

He was still good enough the next year to earn a third straight trip to the Pro Bowl, finishing the season with 1364 rushing yards, but he was far less efficient than the year before, with his yards per carry dropping from 5.6 to 4.3, and that number would continue to drop for most of the rest of his career.

He continued to pile up yardage for the next few years with Tennessee, gaining at least 1000 on the ground in all 6 seasons he spent with the Titans. After watching his production slip slowly over 5 seasons, the Titans released Johnson after the 2013 season.

He signed with the New York Jets as a free agent for the 2014 season, but after gaining only 663 yards that year, the team decided to let him go as well. He signed with the Arizona Cardinals the following year, and produced 814 yards before breaking his tibia late in the season, and that basically spelled the end of his career. He played only 8 games in his final 2 seasons with the Cardinals before retiring.

Like many running backs, Johnson was great early in his career, then saw his production drop off after wear and tear and injuries slowed him down. Even with a relatively short peak, his 2009 season is still one of the greatest ever, and he should be remembered as one of the best running backs of all time.

Football Predictions - 24 Oct thru 30 Oct

Upset picks are in italics.

Tuesday

New Mexico State at Louisiana Tech - Aggies by 0.5

Liberty at Western Kentucky - Flames by 0.5

Wednesday

Jacksonville State at FIU - Gamecocks by 8.5

UTEP at Sam Houston - Bearkats by 7

Thursday

Syracuse at Virginia Tech - Hokies by 1

Georgia State at Georgia Southern - Eagles by 2

Tampa Bay at Buffalo - Bills by 8

Friday

FAU at Charlotte - 49ers by 0.5

Saturday

(4) Florida State at Wake Forest - Seminoles by 20.5

(6) Oklahoma at Kansas - Sooners by 10

Indiana at (10) Penn State - Nittany Lions by 28

UMass at Army - Black Knights by 13

UConn at Boston College - Golden Eagles by 6.5

Maryland at Northwestern - Terrapins by 10

South Carolina at Texas A&M - Aggies by 15.5

Houston at Kansas State - Wildcats by 21

West Virginia at UCF - Knights by 3.5

Tulsa at SMU - Mustangs by 17.5

Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan - Eagles by 1

Clemson at NC State - Tigers by 5

Memphis at North Texas - Tigers by 9

(1) Georgia vs. Florida - Bulldogs by 7.5

BYU at (7) Texas - Longhorns by 21

(8) Oregon at (13) Utah - Ducks by 3

Pittsburgh at (14) Notre Dame - Irish by 21.5

(20) Duke at (18) Louisville - Blue Devils by 2.5

Mississippi State at Auburn - Tigers by 5.5

Michigan State at Minnesota - Gophers by 7.5

Purdue at Nebraska - Cornhuskers by 6.5

Virginia at Miami - Hurricanes by 17

Iowa State at Baylor - Cyclones by 7

East Carolina at UTSA - Roadrunners by 13.5

Southern Miss at Appalachian State - Mountaineers by 14

Miami (OH) at Ohio - Redhawks by 0.5

(22) Tulane at Rice - Green Wave by 5.5

(24) USC at California - Trojans by 7

Arkansas State at UL Monroe - Warhawks by 2

Louisiana at South Alabama - Jaguars by 10.5

Wyoming at Boise State - Broncos by 2

Marshall at Coastal Carolina - Chanticleers by 8.5

(5) Washington at Stanford - Huskies by 22

(19) Air Force at Colorado State - Falcons by 12

(21) Tennessee at Kentucky - Volunteers by 6

Troy at Texas State - Trojans by 5.5

(3) Ohio State at Wisconsin - Buckeyes by 9

Vanderbilt at (12) Ole Miss - Rebels by 27

Colorado at (23) UCLA - Bruins by 14

(17) North Carolina at Georgia Tech - Tar Heels by 8.5

Old Dominion at (25) James Madison - Dukes by 21

Washington State at Arizona State - Cougars by 11.5

Cincinnati at Oklahoma State - Cowboys by 11

(11) Oregon State at Arizona - Beavers by 3

New Mexico at Nevada - Lobos by 3

UNLV at Fresno State - Bulldogs by 5.5

San Jose State at Hawaii - Spartans by 12

Sunday

LA Rams at Dallas - Cowboys by 2.5

Minnesota at Green Bay - Vikings by 3

Atlanta at Tennessee - Titans by 8.5

New Orleans at Indianapolis - Colts by 8.5

New England at Miami - Dolphins by 11

NY Jets at NY Giants - Jets by 6.5

Jacksonville at Pittsburgh - Jaguars by 2.5

Philadelphia at Washington - Eagles by 12.5

Houston at Carolina - Texans by 16.5

Cleveland at Seattle - Browns by 5.5

Baltimore at Arizona - Ravens by 19

Kansas City at Denver - Chiefs by 17

Cincinnati at San Francisco - 49ers by 15

Chicago at LA Chargers - Chargers by 9

Monday

Las Vegas at Detroit - Lions by 16

Results

NCAA: 35-19 (.648) 408-132 overall (.756)

Upsets: 2-4 (.333) 27-49 overall (.355)

NFL: 7-6 (.538) 59-47 overall (.557)

Upsets: 2-0 (1.000) 11-15 overall (.423)

Fantasy Football Rankings - Week 1

	Quarterbacks
1	Patrick Mahomes	KC
2	Justin Herbert	LAC
3	Aaron Rodgers	GB
4	Josh Allen	BUF
5	Dak Prescott	DAL
6	Tom Brady	TB
7	Lamar Jackson	BAL
8	Kyler Murray	AZ
9	Joe Burrow	CIN
10	Jalen Hurts	PHI
11	Kirk Cousins	MIN
12	Matthew Stafford	LAR
13	Trey Lance	SF
14	Derek Carr	LV
15	Davis Mills	HOU
16	Joe Flacco	NYJ
17	Russell Wilson	DEN
18	Justin Fields	CHI
19	Jared Goff	DET
20	Matt Ryan	IND
21	Ryan Tannehill	TEN
22	Mitchell Trubisky	PIT
23	Trevor Lawrence	JAX
24	Tua Tagovailoa	MIA
25	Carson Wentz	WAS

 

	Running Backs		Flex
1	Derrick Henry	TEN	1
2	Jonathan Taylor	IND	2
3	Damien Harris	NE	4
4	Austin Ekeler	LAC	5
5	Rashaad Penny	SEA	6
6	Joe Mixon	CIN	7
7	Najee Harris	PIT	9
8	Aaron Jones	GB	10
9	Alvin Kamara	NO	13
10	James Conner	AZ	17
11	Chase Edmonds	MIA	18
12	Leonard Fournette	TB	20
13	Nick Chubb	CLE	23
14	Antonio Gibson	WAS	25
15	Christian McCaffrey	CAR	27
16	AJ Dillon	GB	28
17	Dalvin Cook	MIN	30
18	Josh Jacobs	LV	31
19	D'Andre Swift	DET	32
20	Eli Mitchell	SF	35
21	Clyde Edwards-Helaire	KC	36
22	Miles Sanders	PHI	37
23	Javonte Williams	DEN	38
24	Melvin Gordon III	DEN	40
25	Ezekiel Elliott	DAL	42
26	Devin Singletary	BUF	43
27	Rhamondre Stevenson	NE	48
28	Saquon Barkley	NYG	49
29	Darrell Henderson Jr.	LAR	52
30	Travis Etienne Jr.	JAX	56
31	JK Dobbins	BAL	61
32	Kareem Hunt	CLE	62
33	Tony Pollard	DAL	65
34	David Montgomery	CHI	68
35	Boston Scott	PHI	71
36	Cam Akers	LAR
37	Breece Hall	NYJ
38	Kenneth Gainwell	PHI
39	JD McKissic	WAS
40	Mike Davis	BAL
41	Mark Ingram II	NO
42	Jamaal Williams	DET
43	Sony Michel	LAC
44	Cordarrelle Patterson	ATL
45	Rex Burkhead	HOU
46	Dameon Pierce	HOU
47	Raheem Mostert	MIA
48	Michael Carter	NYJ
49	Ameer Abdullah	LV
50	Nyheim Hines	IND

 

	Wide Receivers		Flex
1	Cooper Kupp	LAR	3
2	Deebo Samuel	SF	8
3	Ja'Marr Chase	CIN	12
4	Justin Jefferson	MIN	14
5	Allen Lazard	GB	15
6	Brandin Cooks	HOU	16
7	Stefon Diggs	BUF	19
8	CeeDee Lamb	DAL	21
9	Davante Adams	LV	22
10	AJ Green	AZ	24
11	Tee Higgins	CIN	26
12	Jalen Tolbert	DAL	33
13	Amon-Ra St. Brown	DET	34
14	Mike Evans	TB	39
15	Mecole Hardman	KC	41
16	Gabriel Davis	BUF	44
17	Elijah Moore	NYJ	45
18	AJ Brown	PHI	46
19	Mike Williams	LAC	47
20	Keenan Allen	LAC	50
21	Adam Thielen	MIN	53
22	Brandon Aiyuk	SF	54
23	Tyler Lockett	SEA	55
24	Marquise Brown	AZ	57
25	Michael Pittman Jr.	IND	58
26	Randall Cobb	GB	60
27	Robert Woods	TEN	63
28	JuJu Smith-Schuster	KC	64
29	Marquez Valdes-Scantling	KC	66
30	Chris Godwin	TB	67
31	Hunter Renfrow	LV	70
32	Tyler Boyd	CIN	72
33	KJ Osborn	MIN	73
34	Amari Cooper	CLE	74
35	Skyy Moore	KC	75
36	Rashod Bateman	BAL
37	DK Metcalf	SEA
38	Terry McLaurin	WAS
39	Jaylen Waddle	MIA
40	Tyreek Hill	MIA
41	DJ Chark Jr.	DET
42	Nico Collins	HOU
43	Darnell Mooney	CHI
44	Russell Gage	TB
45	Christian Kirk	JAX
46	Jerry Jeudy	DEN
47	DeVonta Smith	PHI
48	DJ Moore	CAR
49	Chase Claypool	PIT
50	Courtland Sutton	DEN

 

	Tight Ends		Flex
1	Mark Andrews	BAL	11
2	Dallas Goedert	PHI	29
3	Travis Kelce	KC	51
4	Dalton Schultz	DAL	59
5	Kyle Pitts	ATL	69
6	Pat Freiermuth	PIT
7	Hunter Henry	NE
8	Darren Waller	LV
9	Albert Okwuegbunam	DEN
10	Irv Smith Jr.	MIN
11	Cameron Brate	TB
12	George Kittle	SF
13	TJ Hockenson	DET
14	Cole Kmet	CHI
15	Noah Fant	SEA
16	David Njoku	CLE
17	Gerald Everett	LAC
18	Dawson Knox	BUF
19	Austin Hooper	TEN
20	Tyler Higbee	LAR

 

	Kickers
1	Daniel Carlson	LV
2	Harrison Butker	KC
3	Evan McPherson	CIN
4	Justin Tucker	BAL
5	Tyler Bass	BUF
6	Randy Bullock	TEN
7	Jake Elliott	PHI
8	Dustin Hopkins	LAC
9	Austin Seibert	DET
10	Wil Lutz	NO
11	Greg Joseph	MIN
12	Brett Maher	DAL
13	Younghoe Koo	ATL
14	Brandon McManus	DEN
15	Rodrigo Blankenship	IND

 

	Defenses
1	Tennessee
2	San Francisco
3	New Orleans
4	Cleveland
5	Miami
6	Washington
7	Jacksonville
8	Baltimore
9	Dallas
10	Kansas City
11	Cincinnati
12	Buffalo
13	Denver
14	Indianapolis
15	New England