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[#1]

When people ask me about well respected female sideline reporters, without any hesitation I think of Lesley Visser, Pam Oliver, Andrea Kremer, Erin Andrews, and Michele Tafoya, just to name a few.  When asked about the most respected female play-by-play commentators in the booth, I can only think of ESPN2’s Beth Mowins who offers play-by-play commentary for college football and ESPNU’s Pam Ward.  In fact, I had to research to see how many women have actually been in the booth over the years and it’s only been a handful.

So why aren’t more women in the booth offering play-by-play commentary during football games? Some argue not enough women are interested in football and some will say women have not played the game so it’s tough to translate commentary onto the field. But according to the NFL, in 2010, 44 % of their total fan base is women -- with the number expecting to increase season over season -- and revenue from female apparel is 21 times higher than it was 10 years ago.  And as for playing the game, there are several male play-by-play commentators in the booth each week who have never played the game: Brent Musburger, Dick Stockton and Jim Nantz are the first that come to my mind --all well respected for their knowledge of the game.

With the growing increase in the female fan base, why not give more women a shot in the booth? There are plenty of women out there who have the passion for football, are well versed on the game, major in journalism and would love to have a chance at providing some play-by-play analysis.  Just because women are ineligible receivers when it comes to playing the game doesn’t mean they can’t offer their perspective and views.

What do you think?  Would you like to see more women in sports journalism and commentary?

This Week’s Predictions:

College: #7 Oregon @ #4 Stanford. Both teams are undefeated in the PAC-10 so this will be a great game. This will not be a defensive showdown like last week’s LSU/Alabama game.  Both offenses will be scoring on Saturday night with Stanford walking away with the win.

Pro: New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons have put together three consecutive wins, putting them back in contention for top spot in the NFC South. The Saints are looking to end the Falcon’s winning streak and pull off consecutive wins for the first time in over a month. Saints win on the road.

Fantasy Football by the Numbers:

• Bengals have a five-game winning streak.  The last time they went on a five-game winning streak was 1988, the same year they went to the Super Bowl. 
• 49ers defense has not given up one single rushing touchdown this season.
• Aaron Rodgers is on track to have the highest QB rating in a season. Calvin Johnson is one TD shy of tying Randy Moss’s 23 TD season in 2007.
• Brotherly Love: Eli Manning is close to having the most fourth quarter comebacks in a single season, with eight.  Who holds the current record at seven? Eli’s brother Peyton.

[#2]

Great predictions - and nice observation about the brothers with more than matching rings. 

So what do you predict about Sunday night's biggest showdown: the Jets vs Pats? 

[#3]

I think this game will come down to the press coverage of New York’s corners against the smaller wide receivers of New England– Wes Welker and Deion Branch.  If these two receivers can not get separation it’s going to make for a long night for NE.  One way to combat this is to establish the run early and Tom Brady will need to make the Jets pay for blitzing.

One way the Jets can win this game is to have their offense click in their first quarter.  Can Sanchez and his offense put up 7-10 points in the first quarter? In the end, I think home team advantage will be huge and the Jets walk away with the win.