Last week: 9-7
Season Total: 18-14
SportsMeister Season: 15-17
Sports Guy Season: 24-8
On to the picks…
Redskins (-6) over Lions
Despite a heavy feeling Detroit will cover, and maybe even win, I have to think Washington is feeling a serious sense of urgency. If they lose this game, their Head Coach may get fired next week. It is that serious. They need this one, full-on desperation mode already.
Packers (-6) over Rams
This is a few too many points than I’d like to see on the road for Green Bay coming off an inexplicable loss to Cincinnati, but I look for the Pack to rebound and get back some of that momentum they relinquished last week. GO PACK GO!
49ers (+7) over Vikings
Maybe San Francisco is for real, I doubt it, but maybe. They have a really solid young defense and Singletary has them playing super aggressively. Like Jamie Gold WSOP aggressive. Just unabomber aggressive. This game depends on how well Favre does, plain and simple. BTW, that new Adrian Peterson Nike commercial straight creeps me out.
Patriots (-5) over Falcons
Brady and Belicheck coming off a loss? At home? Getting Welker back? This may not be the dominant Patriots of yesteryear and their defense isn’t very good, but they’re still a playoff team folks.
Jets (-2.5) over Titans
J-E-T-S, Suck Suck Suck! Sorry, inner Bills fan monologue. The Jets might be the best team in the AFC, there I said it. Their defense is just freakishly awesome and their offense has the tools to be able to do just enough for a really successful year. If they get past this test against a desperate Titans team, Rex Ryan becomes the frontrunner for Coach of the Year.
Eagles (-9) over Chiefs
This line is just enough of a tease to make you want to run with Kansas City, which makes it a very good line. Even without McNabb, I look to Philly to recover from that Saints debacle and get back on track with a convincing win at home.
Giants (-7) over Buccaneers
Tampa has been smoked through the air via Dallas and Buffalo and Eli Manning coming to town isn’t going to help their cause, especially with the breakout performances of Mario Manningham and Steve Smith. It is looking like it is going to be a real long season for the Yucks.
Browns (+14) over Ravens
Fourteen points. Seriously, this is a professional game. If Brady Quinn and Mangini can’t cover 14, I just don’t know what to think of the Browns franchise.
Texans (-4) over Jaguars
As bad as Houston looked in Week 1, I think we just need to chalk that up to playing a ridiculous Jets defense. Houston looked great offensively last week versus Tennessee and I’m back on their playoff bandwagon!
Bears (-3) over Seattle
So much for my Seattle sleeper pick, they are just not very good. Especially with Hasselback hurting and Chicago coming off a huge win against the defending champs, this game could get ugly.
Saints (-6.5) over Buffalo
I don’t think this game will be a blowout, and I really believe Buffalo can not only cover, but win this game. New Orleans is really banged up on offense, the weather is calling for rain and wind, and Buffalo can score on the Saints’ defense. Maybe I”m crazy, as Drew Brees is, well, Drew Brees. I think it’ll be close and high-scoring, very fun game to watch. This game doesn’t matter much to Buffalo anyway, their focus should be on divisional games in the following weeks.
Steelers (-4) over Bengals
Pittsburgh needs to get it going with their run game or they will run into problems all year. The Bengals are better than I thought but I have to give Big Ben and Money Tomlin the benefit of the doubt.
Broncos (+2) over Raiders
I believe in Josh McD. “STOKLEY! DOWN THE SIDELINE! WOWWW!”
Chargers (-6) over Dolphins
Rivers will be without LT2 again this week, and they need a win after a tough loss in week 2. Look for them to recover against a pretty bad Miami team and easily cover this spread.
Colts (+3) over Cardinals
I’ll take Peyton Manning over a Arizona team with a lot of question marks early in the season. Should be a fun primetime game to watch.
Panthers (-9) over Dallas
Both of these teams need to win this game. The Cowboys could very well win this game 35-3, Carolina is just no good, but I’m banking on some desperation heroics to rejuvenate their season. That, and I hate Dallas with the fire of 1000 suns.
