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The Ultimate Source for your Ph.D. in Pigskin |
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The Falcons are Favored Over Who?!?!?! This is always the worst week of the year betting NFL games. It's like trying to pick winners in the preseason - "are their backups better than theirs." It's ridiculous. I actually stopped putting out a list a couple of years ago, but then a reader asked me to at least pick the games that matter. So, I figured that I might as well do the entire week. Picks appear in bold. New England (-13.5) at New York Giants With perfection on the line, I don't see the Patriots letting off the gas. On the other side, competitive nature be damned, Tom Coughlin wouldn't be dumb enough to play his starters the whole game. Jacksonville (+6.5) at Houston I think Houston will win the game, but people forget that they've been playing backups for the last two to three months because of injuries. Not only that, Quinn Gray has been pretty good when forced into duty. Seattle (+2) at Atlanta With Friday's news that Arthur Blank has hired Ernie Accorsi as a consultant, maybe the Falcons will play that much harder. Sure thing pal, how'd that work out for the Dolphins last week? New Orleans at Chicago (+3) This line was just hard for me to understand. San Francisco at Cleveland (-11.5) I realize that this game means nothing to the Browns playoff situation, but with all three opening day roster quarterbacks out, I can't see how the 49ers can keep this one close. Detroit at Green Bay (-3) Even if the Packers had to play their third stringers, it wouldn't matter. The Lions haven't won at Green Bay since 1997. Cincinnati (-2.5) at Miami The Cincinnati defense against the Miami offense: "the movable object versus the stoppable force." I like the Bengals because their offense is by far the best unit on the field. Buffalo (+8) at Philadelphia I just don't get the recent love affair between the Eagles and Vegas recently. I mean, come on guys, eight points against a young AFC "up and coming" team. Put down the cheesesteaks, and step away from the buffet. Carolina (+3) at Tampa With Tampa resting just about everyone and Steve Smith being really, really mad at this year's performance, I could see the Panthers winning this one by 20. St. Louis (+6) at Arizona Neither team has been giving up and have been playing hard down the stretch. I just like the matchup between the St. Louis weapons and the banged-up Cardinals' secondary. Pittsburgh (-3) at Baltimore So let me get this straight. This game could mean the difference between potentially playing Jacksonville in the first round and going to Foxboro in the second, and you still only favor the Steelers by three?!?!?! As Elvis would say, "thank you, thank you very much." San Diego (-8) at Oakland Ditto and viva Las Vegas. Minnesota (-3) at Denver Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor go nuts against a team that simply can't stop the run. By the way, Brad Childress, I have a question: how can you play the most significant game in your franchises' history in five years and have your best player sitting on the bench for half of the game? Every time I think this guy is beginning to figure it out, he does something that's just....just....well, stupid. Kansas City (+6) at New York Jets I really don't like this game. Mangini versus Edwards - either of them could do something incredibly dumb at any point. Dallas at Washington (-8.5) The Redskins have everything to play for and the 'Boys don't. I wouldn't be surprised to see them win by twice the number. Tennessee at Indianapolis (+5) The way Vince Young is playing this year, he gives every opponent hope. And yes, that includes Jim Sorgi, who will be making his annual Colts-have-nothing-to-play-for-so-why-not-give-Peyton-a-break-before-his-arm-falls-off appearance. Last Weeks Record: 6-10-0 Overall Record: 127-106-7 |
