Week 9 Preview

Coming to you live from The Herd with Colin Cowherd and special guest, coach of the Texan Bruisers, Chaz Templin.

"Welcome to the Herd Coach Templin, how's it going?"

"Colin is going great our team is on a big roll and looking strong to make the playoffs in our 1st year in the league and we just beat our rival and little cousin last week, things are really going great for our team and I am glad to be a guest on your show, I listen to you everyday."

"Well thanks and congrats on that big win last week, so you are going to breakdown the games for us this week in the ESFL league. Let's start with the Zima Ruskies and the Frost's Flurries game."

"Alright Colin, this is an intriguing matchup because the Flurries team is holding onto the last playoff spot in the Global division and lead the Ruskies by just one game, the line for this one is the Flurries by 30 but I really think this game is going to be a lot closer than that. I don't see a lot of points being scored by either team. The Flurries best player Drew Brees has a tough matchup against the Panthers defense which ranks 1st in pass defense, and if Brees struggles so does star WR Colston. I think the Flurries will be lead by their running game this week and Brees will still get his typical 20 plus pts. In order for the Ruskies to keep it close they need another strong performance by LT and is going to need Eli Manning to step up against a tough pass defense in the Chargers. My prediction is Flurries 131 Ruskies 122."

"I like that pick Coach, I think you are right on the money there. Alright let's move onto the D Crownholder against Temp's Texas Boys."

"Yeah Colin this is a great matchup this week and is the Game of the Week in my mind in the league, it is a battle of 1st place teams in the Global Division. The Crownholders are coming off a very strong performance last week and the Texas Boys are coming off a disappointing lose to our up and coming Bruisers team. The Boys are looking to bounce back from a terrible week and they just might with Palmer coming back from a bye last week. Palmer goes against a Baltimore defense that is down this year and who he had 20 pts against in week 5, but I think he might need more from him this week in order to pull this one out. The Boys have been carried by his defense this year and now he needs his offense to step up, especially his weak receiving corp who is going to be hurt this week with bye weeks for Harving and Cotchery. And he is yet to decide on his starters at RB since Slaton might have lost his starting job to Moats in Houston. The Crownholders carry stud backs in Chris Johnson and Barber and I look for Brady to have a stong week after his bye last week. I see the Crownholders offense being able to bring it this week and that is why I see this one going Crownholders 180 The Boys 172."

"Moving onto the matchup between the Pardue Bruisermakers and Boot Hill Balut. Well Boot Hill got his 1st win last week after a terrible streak of injuries, but I don't foresee them to continue the winning ways against Pardue who is in a 3-way tie for 1st in the Global Division. Boot Hill is completely overmatched in this matchup but catches a huge break with Adrian Peterson being on a bye week this week. Even with AP out this week I don't see Boot Hill being able to keep up in this game unless McNabb has another great game and Gore continues to score like he did last week, but I don't see that happening. My prediction is Pardue 157 and Boot Hill 116."

"On to the next matchup between our Texan Bruisers and the Field Fanatix that are fighting to move into 1st place in the Appalachian Division. This should be a great matchup this week between 2 teams that are 5-3 and look like they are headed to the playoffs with a 3 game lead over the 5th place team. The Fanatix are coming off a very disappointing lose to the Ruskies and a way to close win over Boot Hill the last 2 weeks. And my Bruisers are riding a strong 4 game winning streak and we are looking to continue that this week. In order to win this game we have to have a better performance from QB Schaub and hope that Turner can keep up his recent strong performances. We are starting newly acquired Danieal Manning and Thomas DeCoud in the secondary this week as we have struggled in this area so far this season. We catch a bit of a break this week as Fanatix has 2 of his better RBs on byes and Favre also on a bye, so we really need to take advantage of this and continue our move to the top of the league. The Fanatix are going to need a strong performance from backup Joe Flacco this week and also from their stud TE Gonzalez and are going to need one of his backs to step up with both Jackson and Lynch on byes this week. My prediction is that my Bruisers continue the winning streak and win. Bruisers 156 and Fanatix 144."

"So far I would say I have to agree with your picks this week Coach Templin, let's see what you think about the battle of last place teams."

"Well Colin in the battle of last place teams between Perdew Pulverizers and Kav's Kavanators this should be a dog fight to keep from falling into last all alone in the Appalachian Division. Both teams come into the game at 2-6 but I think Perdew is a lot better than his record indicates, they have just had some hard luck loses and had a ton of points scored against them. They are 3rd in the entire league in total points scored yet they have only 2 wins this year. Perdew will get a shot in the arm this week with the return of Wes Welker and Maroney after their bye last week. In order for Kav to stay close in this game he is going to need a big game out of Rivers and have Westbrook come back strong from his injury and needs another great game from Reggie Wayne which he just might get going against the suspect Houston defense. My prediction in this game is Perdew 139 and Kav 123."

"And to the final game of the ESFL schedule this week is a great matchup between 1st place Whitmore Workhorses and 2nd place Big D. Whitmore is coming off a pathetic week in which they only scored 92 points. They are looking to rebound from that game and need a good game from Peyton Manning who plays the less than great Houston pass defense and needs big games from Jacobs and his receiving corp who is less than spectacular. On the other hand Big D is riding a 3 game winning streak and looking to continue his run into 1st place. Big D needs Rodgers to continue to be a top QB, but I don't expect Ginn Jr. to do nearly what he did last week when he was on the bench for Big D. But even with that said I see this game coming down to the end but I see Big D pulling it out and making the Appalachian Division into a 3-way tie for 1st. Big D 153 and Workhorse 141."

"Colin it should be a great week in the ESFL this week and don't expect these divisions to be decided until the last week of the season. It has been a pleasure being a guest on your show keep up the good work and hope to be back."

"Alright Coach Templin I really like your predictions this week and I look forward to seeing how they play out over the weekend. Good luck with continued success and come back to the Herd anytime. Good luck on the rest of the season."