With draft day approaching we do our best to answer some tough fantasy questions

Aug. 19, 2008

By Carlisle Richards
Bodog Nation Contributing Writer

Everything was all good in fantasy just a month ago.

Brett Favre was retired. Every rookie runner seemed poised to grab starter carries. And 2008's fantasy studs and duds were clearly defined.

But now that preseason has kicked, things done changed. Favre is back, but in a different shade of green. Nobody knows if any rookie runner will start. And Ricky Williams - yes, the running back who's been caught smoking weed more times than Snoop Dogg - is threatening Ronnie Brown's starting job in Miami.

For every fantasy question that was answered in the offseason, a bunch more have popped up in August. We try to answer some of the more interesting issues before you draft your 2008 team.

Who will be Brett Favre's favorite target in New York?

The obvious choice is wideout Jerricho Cotchery. In 2007, the five-year pro caught 82 balls for 1,130, despite having a vet that couldn't sling it more than 40 yards and a young backup that appears to be a career backup. He's not a burner, but Favre's never needed one. He just needs a wideout that can adjust to his deep balls and catch his wild, finger-breaking passes. Cotchery had the yards in 2007, and with Favre, he'll get more touchdowns (had just two last year).

Favre has also displayed early that rookie tight end Dustin Keller could be another endzone target like Bubba Franks was in Green Bay. He could be a late round sleeper.

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With less than two weeks to go until the start of college pigskin, it's time for a cram session on the upcoming season. Will the top three contenders go over or under oddsmakers' expectations? Plus, a look at the early Heisman favorites

Aug. 19, 2008

By Jason Brough
Bodog Nation Contributing Writer

Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Chris Wells leads the Buckeyes in the 2008-09 season. (AP Images)

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

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It’s Barack Obama for the Democrats and John McCain for the Republicans. Who’s expected to win?

June 9, 2008

By Jason Brough
Bodog Nation Contributing Writer

If the gloves were already off, it's time to haul out the brass knuckles and batons because the real political brawling has only just begun. After defeating all contenders and even more pretenders within their own parties, Barack Obama and John McCain are going head-to-head until Nov. 4. The prize is the presidency of the United States of America, the most powerful position in the world, so, yeah – it's a pretty big deal.

At best, Hillary Clinton can hope for a spot next to Obama. (AP Images)

At the moment, Obama is the oddsmakers' -200 favorite to win. Of course, you can't count out McCain at +150. We all know how quickly a race's momentum can change. Just ask Hillary Clinton, who was all but assured the Democratic nomination as little as a year ago. Today, the best she can hope for is a spot as Obama's running mate, a sad consolation prize given her once high hopes. Clinton is at 3/2 to become her vanquisher's right hand, followed by Virginia Senator Jim Webb at 3/1.

One has to think that the economic woes of the country will be the lead issue in the respective campaigns. The Iraq war won't be forgotten, especially by military families, but people are more likely to worry about themselves when their wallets get thin.

Unlike McCain, Obama is promising more than just lower taxes. (AP Images)

Obama has a nice advantage as far as the economy is concerned in that he can play the change card. The Republicans were in the office for the housing boom and subsequent bust, and many blame a lack of regulation for the subprime mortgage crisis. George W. Bush also sat in the White House and did relatively little while American jobs were shipped overseas or south of the border to Mexico, not because he liked people losing their jobs (we hope), but rather because his party tends to preach the free market over government intervention. 

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