If you missed Part I of the American and English Football crossover weekend preview, CLICK HERE
In the Premiership this weekend, one game stands out above all others – Manchester United versus Manchester City – a battle of the top two in the league, who meet on Sunday at Old Trafford. Having won the FA Cup last season, City at least will not have to see the banner boasting of the length of the trophy drought they had been in, which has been hung at their rival’s stadium for many years. After last week’s results (when City beat Villa, while United were held to a draw by Liverpool), Roberto Mancini’s team travel across Manchester knowing that a point would be enough to remain in pole position. There is also a south-west London derby on Sunday, as QPR host third place Chelsea; while in the Midlands, Aston Villa take on West Brom. Arsenal hope to continue their revival at home to Stoke; Norwich go to Anfield to play Liverpool; Newcastle host Wigan and Fulham and Everton meet at Craven Cottage. Tottenham, who are unbeaten in their last five, travel to Blackburn – but have a game against Rubin Kazan (who I think Bob Dylan sang about in “Hurricane“) in the Europa League on Thursday to contend with first.
Week 7 of the NFL, as well as having the London game between the Buccaneers and the Bears, includes an NFC North match-up as the Packers play the Vikings in Minnesota; the Titans host the Texans in the AFC South; the Jets meet the Chargers at the Meadowlands; and the Cowboys are home against the St. Louis Rams. There is a rematch of both Superbowl XLIII (Steelers vs Cardinals) and Superbowl XLIV (Colts vs Saints) – though both sides look very one-sided now – with the teams that triumphed in those two games (Pittsburgh & New Orleans) likely to win again this weekend. New quarterbacks will be on show for both the Redskins – who will start John Beck having benched Rex Grossman for this week’s game with the Panthers – and the Raiders, who lost Jason Campbell to injury last weekend and have traded two first-round picks for Carson Palmer – his first appearance will be against the Kansas City Chiefs. Tim Tebow will also be taking over as a starter for the Denver Broncos, and does so back in Florida, where he made his name in college, as his team travels to Miami to take on the Dolphins.
Predictions
NFL
Last Week 8-5, Season 48-42
Home teams in bold
Lions -3.5 over Falcons
Buccaneers +0.5 over Bears (at Wembley Stadium, London)
Seahawks +3.5 over Browns
Broncos +3.5 over Dolphins
Titans -3.5 over Texans
Chargers -1.5 over Jets
Panthers -2.5 over Redskins
Chiefs +3.5 over Raiders
Steelers -3.5 over Cardinals
Cowboys -12.5 over Rams
Packers -8.5 over Vikings
Saints -13.5 over Colts
Ravens -7.5 over Jaguars
Premiership
Last week 6-4, Season 29-20
Wolves vs Swansea – Draw
Aston Villa vs West Brom – Home win
Bolton vs Sunderland – Draw
Newcastle vs Wigan – Home win
Liverpool vs Norwich – Home win
Arsenal vs Stoke – Home win
Fulham vs Everton – Home win
Manchester United vs Manchester City – Draw
Blackburn vs Tottenham – Away win
QPR vs Chelsea – Away win
Political Footballs 
If you need a reason to watch MNF, we’re getting to the part of the year where coaches get fired if they’re not cutting it. Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio is a definite candidate for such treatment, as he was given a 1-year reprieve after last season on condition that the Jaguars make the playoffs in 2011. To be essentially eliminated by week 7 will surely not bode well for his future with the organization – it may be win-or-go-home for coach “Keep Chopping Wood” (google it) this week.