Well, my internet connection was down on Thursday and Friday and I wasn’t able to do this when I’d expected. So, I’m just going to hammer out my predictions quickly without much research or elaboate commentary. Figures that the ISP gnomes jump up and bite me in the ass right as I’m trying to be dedicated. Also, I’m going to start putting this in IMHO since it’s where it seems to belong and used to end up IIRC. Hope a few of you get a chance to see and post before tomorrow. I’ll be back with my OMNI- picks later, but I’m thinking New England, Carolina, Baltimore, Indy, Arizona. Though the last few are pretty iffy.
Sunday Games
Arizona @ Cleveland 12:00pm (Cleveland -6.5)
Not going to be a very exciting game. Cleveland’s Defense is pretty respectable, while their offense is awful. Both teams are off disappointing losses and should see this game as a golden opportunity. I think that 6.5 point spread is too generous, so I’m taking the Cards to cover with that much improved offense. The drama surrounding the Kevin Johnson and William Green situations will probably cost them the victory as well. Final Score, Cardinals 27 - Brownies 13.
N.Y. Giants @ Philadelphia 12:00pm (Philadelphia -3.5)
Major blowup by the Giants last week destroying Survivor leagues across the country. However, the Giants and Fassel have the knack of coming around when they are up against the wall. The 3.5 point spread tells me that the experts agree. The loss of Shockey will be big, and the fumblitis can reappear at any time. The Giants D isn’t good enough to totally stifle the Eagles, but the will sack and pressure McNabb often. In the end, I expect the Eagles to win going away. I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Giants win, but all the signs point to that not happening. Take the safe bet and pick the eagles to win and cover, though giving that half point could be costly. Final Score, Iggles 24 - G’ints 20.
Atlanta @ New Orleans 12:00pm (New Orleans -8.5)
I guess no one was convinced by that Atlanta upset last week, and the trend has Atlanta being very successful in the Superdome over the last few years. Can’t say I disagree with that too much, especially with eSaints coming on. They won’t fumble away the game like the Giants did against this miserable defense. Reeves got his 200th and the pressure is off, can a 2-7 team have a trap game? Big day for Deuce and Brooks. 8.5 is a lot, so it’ll probably scare me away from the OMNI- pick, but I expect them to handle it. Final Score, Saints 35 - Falcons 20.
St. Louis @ Chicago 12:00pm (St. Louis -6.0)
If A-Train has half the game that RB Lewis did, then this should be closer than people expect. A-Train is a very similar runner, though not quite as bruising. He’ll be able to move it against a statisitically strong Rams run D. However, the surging Bears D has a huge test, and you aren’t likely to keep up with the Rams using just an above average running attack. The Soldier Field advantage has been pretty impressive this season, which is surprising, and the turf is going to be really long and fluffy. It’ll slow them down alot, so don’t expect the greatest show on turf. I think that 6 point spread is really generous to the Bears, and if it’d have been a TD or more I’d have taken the cover. 6 is right where it’ll probably be, so I’m going to wuss out. I’d predict a push if it were a option in my Pick 'Em leagues. Rams win and barely cover, but I won’t bet on it. Final Score, Rams 24 - Bears 17.
Houston @ Buffalo 12:00pm (Buffalo -7.0)
This game isn’t going to be a great one to watch. The Bills D is better than I thought, so I wouldn’t expect a huge day from Davis. He’ll keep it close, but Travis Henry will be much better. Capers has his blitzing game installed again, and its a coin flip as to whether Bledsoe handles it. He hasn’t lately, but the Texans don’t have the Cowboys talent on D. Buffalo wins, but I’m iffy on that spread. Since it’s in Buffalo I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. Final Score, Bills 24 - Texans 13.
Washington @ Carolina 12:00pm (Carolina -6.0)
I’m not convinced Carolina is the best team in the NFC yet. And its not a very high bar to reach frankly. But, the home field and the grudge factor make this one a fairly obvious pick. Ramsey hasn’t been protected very well this season, last week notwithstanding. Carolina has a much more dominating front 7 than Seattle did, who’s strength is in the secondary. Taking the favorite to win and cover again, OMNI- pick for sure. Final Score, Panthers 30 - Redskins 17.
Kansas City @ Cincinnati 12:00pm (Kansas City -6.0)
Alot of people really like this for KC’s first loss. I agree that it’ll be a tough test, and if they roll through it you have to be sold on them as a heavy Super Bowl favorite already. The Dillon situation is a non-factor in my book. He’s not going to affect the teams morale or cohesion with his attitude. Rudi is a very good fill in, so I don’t see that as an excuse to write them off. The bigger red flag is Kitna’s occasional propensity to toss INTs against the best D in the league at it. Take the Road Fave here. Final Score, Chefs 31 - Bungles 21.
Baltimore @ Miami 12:00pm (Miami -6.0)
Miami should not be this heavily favored. I don’t care how iffy the Ravens QB situation is, the 'Phins got handled by a good D last week. Fiedler and Thomas are both probably out, and that takes away any edge they’d have against the Ravens. Billick is going with the mobile Wright as his QB, which is probably a wise move as long as he’s coached well enough to not toss it up for grabs. If he commits alot of turn overs, then they’ll lose. 'm willing to bet Billick with outcoach Wanny and get the W, might be a OMNI- pick. Final Score, Ravens 16 - Fins 13.
Jacksonville @ Tennessee 12:00pm (Tennessee -10.0)
For all the positives the Jags have shown, it won’t be enough going into that buzzsaw that is the Titans at home. The real question is how big will the margin be. Leftwich could easily make it look close on paper late in the game, and I think they’ll put up a few points. That huge 10 point margin will probably scare me away from making it an OMNI- pick, so I’ll be a teensie bit bold and call the cover. Final Score, Titans 27 - Jags 20.
N.Y. Jets @ Indianapolis 3:05pm (Indianapolis -6.5)
Wow, who knew how bad the Jets run d was? Not me, no surprise, but Pennington is not a fluke. When this team gets more talent they’ll be consistently good. For now, I don’t think it’s enough against the Colts at home. Edge will run, run, run if Dungy is half a coach. Marvelous Marvin is out, but I don’t think that’s enough to cost them the game. Final Score, Colts 30 - Jets 20.
San Diego @ Denver 3:05pm (Denver -8.0)
Everyone is calling this a gimme for the Broncos, but I don’t know that I agree. Portis will roll on this weak weak D in altitude, but I think that Flutie will continue to be somewhat effective as well. He’ll help LT be effective, and they’ll score some points. Plummer is likely back, and that’s the one factor which might put this one out of reach. Broncos win, but I think it could be a close game. For that reason, I won’t be making it an OMNI- pick. However, the Mile High advantage makes me cower away from picking the Bolts. Final Score, Broncos 38 - Chargers 27.
Minnesota @ Oakland 3:15pm (Minnesota -4.5)
Can the Raiders pull that “run to set up the run” style offense against this team? They’ll try, but the Vikes D, which has gotten pushed around some lately, isn’t that bad. Also, the Vikes have struggled on the road. So most of the popular trends point towards the Raiders sticking in there. But, in this topsy turvy NFL we know and love, thats the exact reason I won’t pick it. Final Score, Vikes 23 - Raiders 13
Detroit @ Seattle 3:15pm (Seattle -10.0)
I don’t have much to say about this game besides that fact that both teams are suspect, and both teams have given me fits this year to predict. If the Lions had a better secondary I’d take them to cover, and since I’ve picked tons of favorites to cover so far, I probably shouldn’t here. Nevertheless, the Seahawks have been itching to break out and they have every reason to think they will again. At home they’ve been pretty good and the Lions have been bad on the road for a long time. Final Score, Seahawks 28 - Lions 12.
Green Bay @ Tampa Bay 3:15pm (Tampa Bay -4.0)
You couldn’t get me to wager on this one for anything. A supposedly strong O vs a supposedly strong D. Neither has lived up to the rep so far. A suspect O vs a suspect D, both have reared their ugly heads when things have gotten tough. Favre has struggled in TB, but Ahman Green won’t. I wouldn’t bet Shibb’s money on this, buthere goes. Final Score, Pack 23 - Bucs 21.
Sunday Night Football
Dallas @ New England 7:30pm (New England -4.0)
Belichick off a bye week. 'Nuff said. Poor Quincy Carter, he’ll not enjoy this whatsoever. Final Score, Pats 27 - Cowboys 16.
Monday Night Football
Pittsburgh @ San Francisco 8:00pm (San Francisco -4.0)
Can you root for both teams to lose? I’m certainly going to, but I suppose thats not likely. How many Plaxico owners are ready to kill someone so far this season, I know my roommate is. I think the Steelers will squeek this out, but I can’t really justify why I think so. Cowher seems to like playing on Monday night, and the odds of a TO meltdown on national TV are pretty close to even money. Any care to bet against me? Take it for what its worth, which is very little. Final Score, Steelers 26 - 49ers 23, in ugly fashion.
← Emoticon request from my daughter who is reading over my shoulder as I type.