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The Browns begin the season next week with a lot more question marks than their fans feel comfortable confronting. Much of the excitement going into camp this year has faded after injuries and poor play have made them look more like the Browns of 2006 than the team that ended last year 10-6 and is supposed to contend for the AFC North title this year. While preseason losses are often not a harbinger of things to come, it's hard to avoid the feeling that this team just won't be ready to face a motivated and loaded Cowboys team in the season opener.

The Indians current 10 game winning streak goes on the line this weekend at Progressive Field against the lowly Mariners, so expect Cleveland to lose 2 out of 3 now that they're home against easier competition. Still, at this point in the season it's hard for Indian's fans not to lament how much better the season could have turned out if the Tribe had even a halfway decent bullpen. With a few more pitchers that could have avoided carrying gas cans to the mound late in games this year, and even with the key injuries they've faced, they could easily still be in the wild card hunt had the bullpen come close to performing up to expectations.

The Buckeyes season starts Saturday against Tressel's buddies from Youngstown, and contrary to history and popular opinion, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Ohio State will hold nothing back and not be averse to running up the score. Tressel knows that he has a chance this year to go undefeated and get the SEC monkey off his back come January, and I believe he'll want to set the tone in these early games and build up the player's confidence, especially before the key (some are already saying historic) matchup against USC in three weeks.

The Bengals are facing a make or break season for Marvin Lewis. Reminders of the team's troubled past is rearing its ugly head once again as the offense falters, injuries mount, and ownership and the coaching staff appear to be operating from different playbooks. A poor start to the season could send the team spiralling downward. Conversely, if they can get off to a good start against what is undoubtedly a tough schedule, the team could rally around Lewis and prove the naysayers wrong (including this writer).

The Reds have disappeared from everyone's radar and continue to sink lower and lower in the National League standings, but with some gutsy (and smart) moves this off season, there's enough young talent on hand that next year this team could possibly surprise in the National League Central. Reds fans certainly hope that ownership feels that way too and is willing to take a few risks and open up the pocket book a bit more. With some similar moves in Cleveland (and perhaps a nice streak of good luck for once), maybe in 2 or 3 years we'll once again be talking about the possibility of a Reds - Indians World Series. Can you imagine the sports buzz in this town if that would happen at the same time Terrell Pryor is leading the Buckeyes to *another* undefeated season?

Tags: cincinnati bengals, cincinnati reds, cleveland browns, cleveland indians, ohio state football