MONDAY AFTERNOON GAMEDAY - WEEK 4 - ON TUESDAY

As Week 3 of Monday Afternoon GameDay kicks off, the question is: Where do I start? Brett Favre was exactly what the Jets wanted and needed against the Dolphins, there was plenty of fantasy football mishaps, my college picks were even for the day, the Red Sox and Rays are battling for the AL East and the Yankees are nowhere to be seen, and, oh yeah, Tom Brady is lost for the season after suffering a knee injury against the Chiefs. Then again, how could I not start with Brady?

* First off, as a Jets fan, I am not happy about this at all. I wanted the Jets to take it to Tom Brady (AP photo, right) and Patriots big time this Sunday, and I think they could have won the game with Brady on the field. This is a different Jets team and I thought they were ready to win the division this year. Everything has changed now, with most saying the Jets are now the favorites to win the AFC East. Will it count any less if they do it against a Brady-less Patriots squad? Heck no. You could say that the Patriots are finally getting their payback from the Football Gods for their cheating ways. First, they got beat up in the Super Bowl, and now Brady is gone. It will all be on Bill Belicheat now ... because he was a sub-par head coach without Tom Brady on the field. And, Patriot fans, remember, if anyone knows how you feel right now, it's Jet fans. In 1999, the Jets were one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl, having come within a half of playing in the Super Bowl a year earlier. In the first game of the season, all hope was lost when Vinny Testaverde went down with an injury and was lost for the season. The Jets played Rick Mirer and Ray Lucas at quarterback and ended up missing the playoffs in Bill Parcells' last year coaching the Jets. Will the Patriots make the playoffs this year? I still think so. If they don't, then a lot of questions about Belicheat's genius will come into play. What could be better than that for a Jets fan? Of course, Week 2 is big, as the Jets must beat the Patriots. I'll be in Jersey to watch it all in person.

* And speaking of the Jets, when Brett Favre (AP photo, right) hucked up that pass on the team's second possession and connected with Jericho Cotchery for a touchdown, every Jet fan had to be thinking one thing - Super Bowl! Yes, it's way, way, way too early for that ... but that is what Jet fans do. Chad Pennington was great in the fourth quarter (and it was tough at times remembering that he wasn't playing for the Jets) as he almost led a comeback victory. But luckily he came up just short. The Jets are a vastly improved team and they proved it on Sunday. Say what you will about them escaping Miami, but we knew it would be close because of the Pennington factor. Last season, the Jets would have lost that game. But, like I said earlier, the Jets have to beat New England on Sunday to prove they are the team to beat.

* For you local football fans, make sure you check out The Bristol Press on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday especially as we will be running a "Three Teams In Three Days" football preview special. Bristol Eastern is first up, running in Wednesday's paper; then it's Bristol Central's turn, as they will be in Thursday's paper; and finally St. Paul will be in Friday's paper. Each team will have full coverage ... previews, features, capsules, schedule, starting lineups ... so make sure you pick up a copy of the paper each day. And don't forget to pick up today's paper, as we have full preview coverage of boys soccer, girls soccer, field hockey and girls cross country - yes, it's all in today's paper. In addition to Bristol Eastern football, Wednesday's paper will have a full girls volleyball preview.

* By the way, there was no way that hit on Brady was cheap. It was clean and Belicheat needs to stop whining about it.

* Joe Girardi will be back as Yankees manager next season, as everyone expected. I wish they would just admit the mistake and bring back the manager they should have hired in the first place - Don Mattingly.

* Got a victory in my fantasy league's opener in yahoo, beating my brother in Week 1. Big win and big start in that league. Got destroyed in the espn league, as I played Michael Turner, who got 5 billion points. And, finally, took a loss in my cbs big-time money league. That one hurts because a decision cost me a tie. I benched Chicago RB Matt Forte in favor of Tampa WR Joey Galloway in my flex spot. It was a warranted move, as Galloway put up crazy numbers against the Saints in his career. Of course, it didn't work out, and if I started Forte I would have tied the game. A tie is way better than a loss. Should have won the game anyway, but top pick LaDainian Tomlinson did nothing. The team is good, though, and should pick it up starting in Week 2. Hopefully.

* Went 3-6 during the early Sunday NFL games against the spread, and throwing in the Redskins loss on Thursday, I was a horrible 3-7. But a funny thing happened in the late and Monday night games - I went 6-0. That's pretty good stuff. So, I end the week 9-7. If you went with my picks (and going with the base $110 bet) you would have been down $470 at the end of the 1 p.m. games. Little did you know that by late Monday night, you would be up $130. What a comeback, if I do say so myself.

* And, finally, let's go over my Saturday college football picks quickly. Went 3-3-1 this week, when Florida ran up the score late against Miami by kicking a meaningless field goal. That kick gave Florida a 23-point lead and a tie against the spread. Would have had our second straight winning week, but it didn't happen. So, we were down $30 for the day. Craig went 4-2-1 on the day, for a profit of $280. Here is the breakdown:

My Saturday: 3-3-1 (spread); 6-1 (overall); 0-0 (upset picks)
My Season: 7-6-1 (spread); 10-4 (overall); 1-0 (upset picks)
My Money: UP $40 (season)
Craig's Saturday: 4-2-1 (spread)
Craig's Season: 6-7-1 (spread)
Craig's Money: DOWN $170 (season)

Game 1: Cincinnati +21.5 at No. 4 Oklahoma
My Pick: Oklahoma 55, Cincinnati 20
Actual Score: Oklahoma 52, Cincinnati 26
Good job by Oklahoma to start the day off in good fashion ... because ...

Game 2: San Diego State +21.5 Notre Dame
My Pick: Notre Dame 42, San Diego State 17
Actual Score: Notre Dame 21, San Diego State 13
Because ... of this game. Why do I even waste time thinking about Notre Dame? This was a horrible display, and they are just as bad as they were last year. QB Jimmy Clausen is not a good player, no matter what his stats say.

Game 3: No. 8 West Virginia -8 at East Carolina

My Pick: West Virginia 31, East Carolina 21

Actual Score: East Carolina 24, West Virginia 3

East Carolina catapulted to No. 14 in the AP poll this week - and they deserve it after destroying West Virginia. I thought it would be close, but East Carolina turned the game into a rout. ECU may not lose a game this season, which will shake up the BCS again.

Game 4: Louisiana State +20.5 at No. 14 Kansas

My Pick: Kansas 42, Louisiana State 21

Actual Score: Kansas 29, Louisiana State 0

Kansas took care of business and got us back on the winning track as we moved to 2-2 on the day.

Game 5: Miami +23 at No. 5 Florida

My Pick: Florida 38, Miami 24

Actual Score: Florida 26, Miami 3

Like I said earlier, this pick was ruined with the late field goal. So, it's a tie. Florida scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, including the field goal with 28 seconds left. Why kick a field goal? Forget about the bet for a second ... why not in the world of sportsmanship just take a knee? Or even run the ball up the middle? Not a classy move for coach Urban Meyer - and I don't like Miami in the least.

Game 6: Stanford +14 at No. 15 Arizona State

My Pick: Arizona State 27, Stanford 20

Actual Score: Arizona State 41, Stanford 17

Arizona State scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to turn a 10-point game entering the final quarter into a blowout and a loss for me, but a win for Craig (which was the only game we differed on this week).

Game 7: No. 10 Texas -26.5 at Texas El-Paso

My Pick: Texas 56, Texas El-Paso 7
Actual Score: Texas 42, Texas El-Paso 13

Texas pulled out the cover late night to give me a 3-3-1 record for the day. Brother Craig, who had a rough 2-5 start last week, differed from me in one game this week - Arizona State. So, he finishes with a 4-2-1 record. He is 6-7-1 for the season. (AP photo, right, is off Texas' Roy Miller.)

* Finally, remember, everyone can post their fantasy or betting stories in the comments, or just about anything else that is bothering you in the world of sports.