Here we go again kids, my schedule has been kinda hectic lately and I’ve been on and off here. But I was feeling inspired and here’s a run down. Hope you guys are hanging on with me. I’m hoping to chime in with a little summary and ongoing recap of my perfomance here and additionally my gambling fortunes just for kicks. Maybe someone will be amused by how misguided I can be when i think I know what I’m talking about. 
WEEK 6
Sun, Oct 17
San Francisco at NY Jets (Jets by 10; O/U 43½)
1:00 PM, FOX, Giants Stadium
This game looks too lopsided on paper. The Jets have a knack for playing down to competition in recent memory, and I worry about this game as a result. The loss of Peterson will really hurt the Niners and they can’t expect a Rattay Repeat against this non-Cardinals defense. The Jets are mostly healthy and fresh but they didn’t exactly dominate Miami. However, they did win a divisional game on the road against Miami and eeked one out against a tough D on the road. Chances are that they are for real, but I don’t see CuMar maintaining his pace. I should be rooting for them so that Pennington can put up big numbers on my money league. The weather might play a factor as well. Anwyays, there’s no good arguement to do anything but this. Final Score: Jets 27 - 49ers 13
Carolina at Philadelphia (Eagles by 9; O/U 41)
1:00 PM, FOX, Lincoln Financial Field
Another one that looks like a blowout. There’s less reason to doubt the Eagles than there is the Jets. The Eagles always seem to lose one of these games every year though, remember Arizona last year? Then again, last year they weren’t blowing people out with TO making fantasy owners like me look stupid. Carolina just called me and asked if I could suit up, I said thanks, but no thanks, I want to play for a contender. They remind me of the 2001/2002 Bears, great team that did the little things to win that just got wiped out by injuries the next year. The similarities are many, take a look. When you have no RB and no D-line you lose big on the road. Final Score: Eagles 38 - Panthers 16
Kansas City at Jacksonville (Chefs by 2; O/U 44)
1:00 PM, CBS, ALLTEL Stadium
The luster wore off that Jags penny quick, didn’t it? First they’re the next Carolina, now they are pretenders. I don;t know what the future holds, but I do know that they are going to make the Chiefs lives really unpleasant. They stop the run and don;t give up big plays, Priest will strugge here. If Gonzalez gets off early they can win it, but I wouldn’t count on it. On the flip side, Fraud Taylor is due for one of those 200+ 2 TD games that always tease fantasy owners and the Chiefs are the puffs that’ll give it up. At home the Jags should be a 6 point fave here. Final Score: Jags 24 - Chiefs 18
San Diego at Atlanta (Falcons by 4½; O/U 42½)
1:00 PM, CBS, Georgia Dome
Here’s the game where we find out if the Falcons are for real. Who would have thought anyone would be typing that sentance at the start of the year? If this west coast Vick experiment is gonna work, it’ll show signs against the Chargers mediocre D. If not, they get steamrolled. Likewise, the Falcon D which has been good so far gets tested by the force of nature that is LaDanian. I was this close to being the guy who passed on Holmes for him in the SDMB league…damn. If it had been the keeper, I would have too. Frankly, in the dome it could go either way. I’m going to hedge a little here, but I think it’ll be a shootout. Final Score: Falcons 31 - Super Chargers 28
Miami at Buffalo (Bills by 6; O/U 30)
1:00 PM, CBS, Ralph Wilson Stadium
The only reason to watch this puppy is for the prospect of a McGahee sighting in the starting line up. That means it’ll probably be the game CBS stick 3/4 of the country with…ugh. That might be the lowest O/U I’ve seen in years too, there’s at least a 50/50 shot that the Yanks-Sox will beat it…actaully, there won’t be a game 5, so lets go with the Cards-'Stros. We need to give some love to the Miami D, 2nd if the league with the O going 3 and out every possession. They’re giving up 135 rushing a game, seems bad until you consider that the opponents are always playing with the lead and have no fear of them mounting a comeback. 4 points to the Fins is like 21 to everyone else…38 to the Colts. But really, who cares. It’ll come down to Bledsoe imploding again or not…and when I say come down to, I don’t mean if they’ll win, thats a forgone conclusion, I mean making the over or not. Final Score: Bills 13 - Phins 2
Washington at Chicago (Bears by 1; O/U 33)
1:00 PM, FOX, Soldier Field
I feel the need to weep every time I think about the Bears. In years past I was angry or exasperated with the coaches, ownership or players. I could point to a cause. I could blame someone. This year, it’s like I’m in junior high and my beloved sweetheart’s parents are moving to Japan for work. Its no one’s fault that it won’t work out, and there’s no one you can be upset with. You miss the hand holding and the late night phone calls where all you do is watch TV together on the line. Your only choice is to move on and wonder what could have been. At least I can enjoy the Redskin fan’s misery while I’m at it, and take solice in the fact that they can’t blame a string of season ending injuries, just the lack of timeouts and senile coach. Final Score: Bears 23 - Skins 21
Cincinnati at Cleveland (Browns by 3; O/U 41)
1:00 PM, CBS, Cleveland Browns Stadium
Can’t say that I have much interest or opinion on this game. Its not exactly a winner from a gambling standpoint, no juicy spreads or sure things. The QBs are uncertain at best, the defenses equally so. The Browns have the single best player in chad Johnson, oftentimes that is the difference in evenly matched games like this. Then again it’s a rookie QB on the road, always a big no-no. Lets flip a coin. Final Score: Bengals 24 - Browns 21
Seattle at New England (Patriots by 4; O/U 41)
1:00 PM, FOX, Gillette Stadium
The game of the week. I can still hear myself saying that the Seahawks look great, best team in the league right now…as I watched last weeks game. The offense was a machine and the D was playing great. Then they forgot to tackle and catch. Really, what is it with the Seahawks WRs, why is it so hard to catch a ball up there? No other team in recent memory has dropped this many balls this consistently for this long. Gonna be a fun one, too bad I’ll probably be on a plane missing it. I think the Seahwaks will tighten back up in this one and I think the Pats will play steady as usual. As a result it’ll come down to one play, and it could go either way. I’m guessing the Seahawks come in with the emotion they need to get that key big play. It’s a totally unscientific rationale, but I just like the athletes on Seattle a little better. Final Score: Seahawks 27 - Pats 24
Green Bay at Detroit (Lions by 2½; O/U 44½)
1:00 PM, FOX, Ford Field
Don’t know what to make of this. I’ve seen alot of both teams this year and both are mediocre at best. Records be damned, Detroit has alot of big holes. Green Bay’s offense will come around somewhat, they won’t be the Colts, but Favre can still light it up when he’s not trying to come back from 10 down all the time. The key is Ahman, and with that line he’ll feast on bad Ds and struggle against goon ones. Detroit matches up fairly well here against the run, so the biggest part of the load falls on Favre. The Green Bay D is really really bad, and they have been for years, no one ever seems to remember that. At the start of this season a local Green Bay business owner took out a billboard ad challenging the team to play some D…lets just say it become epedemic. However, all that said, Detroit struggles in the secondary and the offense is really dinged up. Those two factors should give Brett just enough breathing room to keep it close. The question is if Brett can turn around this streak of struggling in domes, I’m guessing not. Final Score: Lions 30 - Packers 27
Houston at Tennessee (Titans by 6½; O/U 46)
1:00 PM, CBS, The Coliseum
The Titans looked like they are ready to put it together, and if the opponent doesn’t have a D that can really harrass McNair or completely make them one dimensional they’ll dominate. Houston isn;t that type of opponent. They’ll be balanced enough on offense to move the ball against the Titans, but I think it’ll be a one sides affair by the 4th. Final Score: Titans 34 - Texans 24
Denver at Oakland (Broncos by 2; O/U 42)
4:15 PM, CBS, Network Associates Coliseum
There aren’t alot of reasons to care about the AFC West this year. The teams suck and even when they win they look bad doing it. Denver will probably end up close to the Wild Card just by default and weak opponents. As a result I’m just going to takethe home team in these match ups. The Raiders have been really bad, but I’m thinking they have some talent if they can find a way to put it together. Plummer will throw this one away, and the Rice situation will spiral out of control…it’s a shame it doesn’t hurt the Raiders at all. Final Score: Raiders 20 - Broncos 16
Pittsburgh at Dallas (Cowboys by 3; O/U 38½)
4:15 PM, CBS, Texas Stadium
Why are the Boys favored here, seriously? Big Ben is a stud, you’ve heard it from everyone else and you’ve probably heard me bragging it up. Small sample and all, yadda yadda. Guess what, the Steelers have a great running game and D too. The secondary can be exploited, but Vinny doesn’t havemany big play opportunites. Every match up favors the Steelers except home field. So far this yea home field hasn;t meant much, it continues here. Final Score: Steelers 24 - Cowboys 10
Minnesota at New Orleans (Vikings by 3½; O/U 52)
8:30 PM, ESPN, Superdome
This should be a much bigger spread. See above. Culpepper and more Culpepper, plus a dash of Moss. Final Score: Vikings 38 - Saints 13
Mon, Oct 18
Tampa Bay at St. Louis (Rams by 6; O/U 42½)
9:00 PM, ABC, Edward Jones Dome
I can’t say I feel bad for the Bucs, and as much as I can’t stand St. Louis fair weather fans, I just don’t see them laying an egg here. I’ll always have fond memories of that Monday night game these two played about 4 years back. I don’t see anything that exciting here. Especially with the mystery that is the Bucs QB situation. The Bucs D isn’t totally absent, but the Rams will probably be feeling confident after last week. It’ll give them plenty of momentum from the first kick. Final Score: Rams 26 - Bucs 13
