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Quarterback dilemma for Vikings vs Packers

By WTOP Staff

BARRY WILNER
AP Pro Football Writer

You might say the Minnesota Vikings are pondering a quarterbacking dilemma.

Their veteran starter, Matt Cassel, is gone for the season with a broken left foot. First-round draft pick Teddy Bridgewater took over in his first pro start last Sunday and performed extremely well in a 41-28 win over Atlanta. But Bridgewater sprained his left ankle and had to leave late in that game.

That could leave Christian Ponder, the former starter and a 2011 first-rounder, as the starter Thursday night when the Vikings visit Green Bay.

Even worse for Minnesota (No. 23 in the AP Pro32) is that the Packers (No. 11) and Aaron Rodgers seemed to find their mojo in a romp at Soldier Field last weekend.

None of this bodes well for the Vikings (2-2), a 9 1/2-point underdog to the Packers (2-2).

“If he can play, we’ll play him,” coach Mike Zimmer said of Bridgewater.

“I want to do what’s best for the team. I’m sure the training staff and the coaching staff is going to do what’s best for the team also,” Bridgewater said.

The Packers have no such issues, especially after Rodgers picked apart the Bears for 302 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-17 rout.

“We have to do a great job of keeping an eye on our luggage — that means your man — and play football,” cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said of the prospect of facing Rodgers and one of the NFL’s top receivers, Jordy Nelson.

The Vikings might need eyes in the back of their heads to contain Rodgers and the Packers.

PACKERS, 33-16

No. 26 New York Jets (plus 6 1/2) at No. 5 San Diego

Anyone who can figure out this line, please clue us in.

BEST BET: CHARGERS, 27-13

No. 25 Cleveland (plus 2) at No. 30 Tennessee

Losing faith quickly in Titans, gaining some in Browns.

UPSET SPECIAL: BROWNS, 20-19

No. 4 Arizona (plus 7) at No. 3 Denver

A chance for unbeaten Cardinals to make a huge statement. Sorry …

BRONCOS, 27-17

No. 2 Cincinnati (pick-em) at No. 13 New England

A chance for unbeaten Bengals to make a huge statement. Down goes the other spotless team.

PATRIOTS, 19-17

No. 14 Kansas City (plus 6 1/2) at No. 9 San Francisco

Alex Smith returns to Bay Area with Chiefs on the rise. But so might be 49ers.

49ERS, 24-23

No. 16 Chicago (plus 2 1/2) at No. 17 (tie) Carolina

Two teams coming off weak performances. Something seems very wrong with Panthers’ defense.

BEARS, 27-21

No. 17 Pittsburgh (minus 6 1/2) at No. 32 Jacksonville

Two more teams coming off weak performances; this could be spot for first Jaguars win. We’re not that brave.

STEELERS, 27-23

No. 15 Houston (plus 4) at No. 12 Dallas

For the Lone Star state championship.

COWBOYS, 28-20

No. 1 Seattle (minus 7) at No. 28 Washington, Monday night

For the Washington (state vs. city) championship. Fresher Super Bowl champs romp.

SEAHAWKS, 33-16

No. 6 Baltimore (plus 3 1/2) at No. 10 Indianapolis

Maybe the weekend’s best matchup. First of four road games in five weeks for Ravens.

COLTS, 31-30

No. 20 Atlanta (plus 4) at No. 19 New York Giants

Giants have turned it around, Falcons O-line is an injury-ravaged mess.

GIANTS, 28-17

No. 29 St. Louis (plus 7) at No. 8 Philadelphia

Inconsistent as they are, Eagles can handle undermanned Rams.

EAGLES, 33-23

No. 27 Tampa Bay (plus 10 1/2) at No. 21 New Orleans

Angry Saints won’t be as charitable to Bucs as Steelers were.

SAINTS, 27-20

No. 24 Buffalo (plus 7) at No. 7 Detroit

Would like to have seen EJ Manuel getting more of a chance.

LIONS, 26-16

___

2014 RECORD: Against spread: This week (9-3); Season (27-29-3). Straight up: This week (9-3); Season (37-23)

Best Bet: 2-2 against spread, 3-1 straight up.

Upset special: 4-0 against spread, 3-1 straight up.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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