Sports
Week 7 NFL Picks
| Pittsburgh -3 At Miami
PICK: Steelers -3 |
San Francisco -3 At Carolina
PICK: Niners -3 |
| At Atlanta -3.5 Cincinnati
PICK: Falcons -3.5 |
At Tampa Bay -3 St. Louis
PICK: Bucs -3 |
| At Kansas City -9.5 Jacksonville
PICK: Chiefs -9.5 |
At Seattle -6.5 Arizona
PICK: Seahawks -6.5 |
| At Tennessee -3 Philadelphia
PICK: Eagles +3 |
At San Diego -3 New England
PICK: Pats +3 |
| At Chicago -3 Washington
PICK: Skins +3 |
At Denver -8.5 Oakland
PICK: Broncos -8.5 |
| At New Orleans -13 Cleveland
PICK: Cleveland +13 |
At Green Bay -2.5 Minnesota
PICK: Packers -2.5 |
| At Baltimore -13 Buffalo
PICK: Ravens -13 |
At Dallas -3 NY Giants
PICK: Giants +3 |
Oct 22nd
Diagram in Vikings Locker Room Breaks Down the NFL’s Illegal Hit Policy
Vikings punter Chris Kluwe posted this photo on his Twitter account yesterday. It’s a diagram that breaks down the NFL’s stance on illegal hits. The diagram was a response to a safety video that the NFL circulated to help give some clarity to this hot topics issue that’s been making the rounds all week.
Image via Twitpic
Oct 22nd
Week 6 NFL Picks
| San Diego -8 At St. Louis PICK: Chargers -8 |
At Green Bay -3 Miami PICK: Packers -3 |
| At Houston -4.5 Kansas City PICK: Chiefs +4.5 |
At Pittsburgh -13.5 Cleveland PICK: Steelers -13.5 |
| At New England -2.5 Baltimore PICK: Patriots -2.5 |
NY Jets -3 At Denver PICK: Jets -3 |
| New Orleans -4 At Tampa Bay PICK: Saints -4 |
At San Francisco -6.5 Oakland PICK: Raiders +6.5 |
| At Philadelphia -2.5 Atlanta PICK: Falcons +2.5 |
At Minnesota -1.5 Dallas PICK: Vikings -1.5 |
| At NY Giants -10 Detroit PICK: Lions +10 |
Indianapolis -3 At Washington PICK: Colts -3 |
| At Chicago -6.5 Seattle PICK: Bears -6.5 |
Tennessee -3 At Jacksonville PICK: Titans -3 |
Oct 17th
Week 5 NFL Picks
Let’s not talk about last week’s unfortunate set of 4-10 picks. Kudos to you if you knew that the Steelers would lose in the last 36 seconds, the Broncos would come back to win, the Packers and Saints wouldn’t come close to covering and the lowly Jags would topple the mighty Colts. Last week pushed me under .500 for the season. 27-31-3 to be exact. Let’s try to right the ship in Week 5.
At Baltimore -7 Denver
The Ravens aren’t as dominant in stopping the run as they once were. That’s great ‘cause the Broncos don’t have a running game anyway. You might have heard that Kyle Orton is the best fantasy player of all time, but even if he throws the ball 50 times, it’ll be hard to light up the scoreboard against a Ravens team playing at home and coming off an emotional win in Pittsburgh.
PICK: Baltimore -7
At Buffalo -1 Jacksonville
The Bills got absolutely embarrassed last week and the Jags got their biggest win in a long time. Look for a correction of sorts as the Bills move closer to respectability and the Jags come back down to Earth a bit. Still, if the Jags can keep the ground game rolling and get TE Marcedes Lewis involved against a Buffalo team that has trouble against the run and TEs, then the Jags should win on the road.
PICK: Jags +1
At Indianapolis -7 Kansas City
I don’t know what’s more surprising, the fact that the Colts have two losses or the Chiefs have none. The Colts aren’t going to lose this game. If the Chiefs somehow remain unbeaten after facing a pissed off Peyton Manning, they’ll shock the world. A win for Indy seems much more likely.
PICK: Colts -7
At Detroit -3 St. Louis
Shaun Hill’s had a couple good weeks, and the Lions are the best winless team ever, but Jahvid Best isn’t right yet and Sam Bradford is bringing boyish swagger to a much-improved Rams team. If Best was healthy, I’d say Detroit all the way, but he’s just not 100 percent. Stephan Jackson proved he can be a beast even when he isn’t healthy, and the Rams defense is playing inspired.
PICK: Rams +3
Atlanta -3 At Cleveland
The Falcons barely squeaked by the Niners last week thanks to Roddy White’s amazing forced fumble. Cleveland pulled off the upset against Cincy and showed that they can actually win games with good defense and large servings of Peyton Hillis. You got to love how Hillis has changed the identity of this team, but the Falcons are going to stay take this one. They just have too many weapons.
PICK: Falcons -3
At Cincinnati -6.5 Tampa Bay
I like the Bucs. The Steelers clobbered ‘em, but other than that they’ve been pretty solid this year. The Bengals just look off.
PICK: Bucs +6.5
At Carolina -1.5 Chicago
For the second straight week, the Chicago Bears game promises to be the most unwatchable game on the schedule. Julius Peppers returns to face the team he hates, but this much more to hate in this Todd Collins vs. Jimmy Clausen battle. Chicago’s ground game is nowhere and Todd Collins can’t get it done. Will Chicago’s defense and special teams step up and create some much needed points? Do yourself a favor, bet the under and don’t watch a minute of this horrible game.
PICK: Under!
Green Bay -2.5 At Washington
Green Bay is better than Washington. There are no revenge plot lines this time around for McNabb. Just a better opposing team. Packers win easy.
PICK: Packers -2.5
At Houston -3 NY Giants
Wow, who knew the Giants were so damn good at rushing the passer? You know what helps combat that? A sick-ass rushing game behind surprise-beast Arian Foster. The G-men will get their chances, but Houston will prevail in a shoot out.
PICK: Texans -3
New Orleans -6.5 At Arizona
Max Hall, baby! He’s the new Kurt Warner, I tell ya. Well, that’s what Peter King and Kurt Warner think. Personally, I’d like to see the guy take a snap in the NFL before crowning him the next feel-good sensation. The Saints are without Pierre Thomas, but so what? They ran the ball effectively last week with Ivory and Betts. Drew Brees hasn’t looked like his cyborg self lately, but the Saints are lightyears beyond the Cardinals.
PICK: Saints -6.5
San Diego -6 At Oakland
The Polish Rifle keeps bringing the Raiders within winning distance, but the Chargers are rolling. I’ll take Antonio Gates and that defense over Bruce’s heroics.
PICK: Chargers -6
At Dallas -7 Tennessee
I just don’t trust the Cowboys. I don’t really trust the Titans either, but in this coin-flip matchup, I’ll bet on Cortland Finnegan to pick up another fine and the Titans to edge out the Boys in Dallas.
PICK: Titans +7
At San Francisco -3 Philadelphia
This one’s tough. Does Kolb play like the preseason fantasy stud we all thought he’d be? Do the Niners rebound from a gut-wrenching loss and defend the honor of their beleaguered coach at home? I think the edge has to go to the home team here. If Alex Smith can minimize his mistakes and if the defense plays like it has been playing, the Niners should earn a win.
PICK: 49ers -3
At NY Jets -4 Minnesota
So many storylines here. Revis vs. Moss. Favre vs. his own Johnson. Adrian Peterson getting more room to run. The possibility that Percy Harvin can light it up with all the attention going to Randy. But if you forget about all that’s new and improved with the Vikings, you realize that the Jets are in top form right now. LT’s found his groove, Sanchez is playing remarkably well and if anyone can contain all of Minny’s weapons, it’s the Jets D. Gotta go New York here.
PICK: Jets -4
Oct 9th
Randy Moss Traded to the Vikings
The Patriots shipped Randy Moss back to Minnesota today. New England got a third-round pick for the future Hall of Famer. In the first four weeks of the season, Moss posted 9 catches for 139 yards and three touchdowns. He dropped a hastily thrown touchdown pass on Monday night, his only target in the game. It was the first game that Moss failed to register a catch in a Patriots uniform.
Despite his amazing skill set, it’s obvious that Moss was becoming a distraction. Remember that bizarre press conference after the Pats beat the Bengals in Week 1? That was the beginning.
“Sometimes you want your boss to tell you you’re doing a good job. That’s every man or woman who works for somebody. … And that’s just the way with football. If you do a good job and think that you’re doing a good job, you want to be appreciated. I really don’t think that — me, personally — that I’m appreciated.”
It’s one thing to be motivated by a contract year, but it’s different when you’re a semi-disgruntled receiver looking for appreciation from a shrewd franchise that’s not going to give you a big payday.
So if you’re Moss, why not bitch and moan and get an early release? And if you’re the Pats, why go out of your way to keep this guy happy for 12 more games when you know he’s out anyway? Why not get something in return for him now.
I like the move. The Vikings are desperate for results and the Pats have shown in the past that they can win without a superstar receiver.
Remember that New England got Moss from the Raiders for a fourth round pick in the 2007 Draft. The Raiders used the pick to select cornerback John Bowie. Bowie went on to record two tackles in the NFL. He now plays for the Hartford Colonials in the UFL.
Moss, on the other hand, started 51 games for the Pats and caught 259 passes for 3,904 yards and 50 touchdowns. He averaged 15.1 yards per catch with the team and in 2007 he set NFL records for the most touchdowns in a season (23), the most games with at least two touchdown catches (8) and the most touchdowns scored in the first 10 games with a new team (16).
So after all that production and glory, the Pats still flipped Moss for a higher round pick. Sure he’s still got it, and yea, Brady’s ability to make big plays down the field takes a hit, but the Pats made the right move. They can accelerate the progression of explosive 2009 third round pick Brandon Tate (who’s already scored two touchdowns off kick returns this year). They play up the no-one-is-bigger-than-the-team angle, and they can feel confident that they got an amazing return on their 2007 investment.
It works for Minnesota, too. The Vikings get their franchise’s most popular player back. Favre gets a much needed weapon to stretch the field. Percy Harvin gets to focus on possessions and short routes. Adrian Peterson gets breathing room to run.
It’s pretty awesome that Moss gets to play in back-to-back Monday Night Football games. He squares off against Darrelle Revis and the Jets next week. You also got to love the fact that Moss and the Vikings have to travel to New England on Halloween. If Brady can maintain the borderline-psychotic intensity that he displayed on Monday, and if Favre can find a way to be effective again, that’s going to be one hell of a game to watch. Trick-or-treaters be damned.
Oct 6th
Week 4 NFL Picks
Last week, I was 100 percent 50/50. Eight correct calls and eight crappy calls. I’m 23-21-3 against the spread so far this season, but I’m still making weekly cash on those Steelers, baby! Let’s see if we can stay above .500 after a Week 4 slate of games where the favorites all look mighty tempting.
At Tennessee -6.5 Denver
The Broncos haven’t seen a defense as good as the Titans this year. The Jags, Colts and Seahawks are easy to shred. The Titans are giving up the fifth fewest yards in the air so far (178.3 yards a game) and they’re the league’s seventh-best defense in total yards allowed per game (294.7). Denver’s been getting it done with Kyle Orton spreading the ball around. Knowshon is hurt and the Broncos can’t run the ball. Their 67 rushing yards per game are good for 30th in the league. Vince Young played well last week. Take away that Pittsburgh debacle and he’s actually having a pretty solid season. If Young can avoid boneheaded picks, the Titans win easy.
PICK: Titans -6.5
At Pittsburgh -1.5 Baltimore
So let’s recap this 3-0 run by the Big Ben-less Steelers. They were dogs to start the season at home against the Falcons. They were dogs when they went to Tennessee in Week 2. They were only favored by 2.5 against the Bucs in Tampa Bay. Now they host the Ravens at home in what amounts to a pick’em. So pick’em. Don’t expect Charlie Batch to throw three TDs (ever again). Just expect a bruising, low-scoring affair with a motivated home team edging out the purple visitors.
PICK: Steelers -1.5
Cincinnati -3 At Cleveland
Seneca Wallace or Jake Delhomme? It doesn’t matter. Cincy’s offense isn’t firing on all cylinders, but the Browns only have one cylinder – Peyton Hillis. The Browns have kept it respectable. They’ve lost three games by tiny margins (three to the Bucs, two to the Chiefs and seven to the Ravens), but this team is going to lose the next four games (Cincy this week, Atlanta, at Pittsburgh, at New Orleans). The Bengals can beat this team by three.
PICK: Bengals -3
At Green Bay -14.5 Detroit
Damn, I hate these extra large spreads, but make no mistake, Green Bay’s gonna play angry. After that sloppy-ass, mental-mistake-riddled mess on Monday, the Packers are going to settle down and get back to playing good football. Jahvid Best is dealing with a toe injury. He’ll likely be a game time decision. If he’s limited in any way, the Lions get blowed out.
PICK: Green Bay -14.5
At New Orleans -13.5 Carolina
The Jimmy Clausen Era didn’t get off to a great start. Clausen’s first half QB rating was 0.0. He went on to complete 16 or 33 passes for 188 yards. He threw a pick and lost a fumble. He also didn’t get much help from the ground game. Gregg Williams is going to bring the pain against Clausen. Look for the Panthers to turn the ball over frequently to a team that can score at will. Big spread yes, but a favorable matchup as well.
PICK: Saints -13.5
At Atlanta -7 San Francisco
I want the 49ers to put it together, I really do. There’s just something about Mike Singletary. You just want to see him succeed. He fired Offensive Coordinator Jimmy Raye after last week’s putrid play calling, and VD likes the decision. Atlanta’s good. They took advantage of Garrett Hartley’s missed kick and finished off the Saints in the Superdome. Now they get to go home and host a team that still needs to find its identity. San Francisco will right the ship, but not this week.
PICK: Falcons -7
Seattle -1 At St. Louis
You know what? I’m picking the Rams. This division is wide open and Seattle has a pretty cushy schedule. They’ve won two games at home, but now they need to venture away from the comfy green foliage of the Pacific Northwest and go to Middle America to play a revived Rams team that’s coming off a 30-16 upset over the Redskins. Look at the final scores of the first two games. Even when the Rams lose, they keep it close (13-17 loss against Arizona, 14-16 loss against Oakland). I kinda like this team. Bradford’s a breath of fresh air, and even with a gimpy Stephen Jackson, I’m going grab the Rams in this pick’em. Darby can hang.
PICK: Rams +1
NY Jets -5.5 At Buffalo
Ryan Fitzpatrick was surprisingly effective against New England last week. Maybe the Bills knew what they were doing when they cut Trent Edwards. Last week, the Bills scored four times in their first five possessions and CJ Spiller provided a much needed spark on offense and on special teams. The Jets, meanwhile, are everyone’s favorite team again. After Week 1, expectations were reset. The hype died down. Then came victories against the Pats and the Dolphins. During those wins, Mark Sanchez completed 36 out of 58 passes for 476 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. Sanchez wasn’t sacked at all last week, and if continues to play like he has the past two games, the Jets will continue to frighten their division. Revis is out, but that’s not enough to keep the Bills in this. The Jets will shut down the run, make plays with LT and through the air and finish 3-0 in their division after Week 4.
PICK: Jets -5.5
Indianapolis -7 At Jacksonville
Save Del Rio? Not against the Colts. Indy owns the Jags. The Colts have beaten the Jags five times in their last six matchups. Peyton’s crushing it and he’s getting everyone involved. Austin Collie, the best final round fantasy draft pick you’ve ever made, was limited in practice, but he’s expected to play. With Garrard sucking it up big time and Maurice Jones-Drew unable to find the endzone in the first three games, it’s not looking good for Del Rio’s future in Jacksonville.
PICK: Colts -7
Houston -3 At Oakland
The Raiders want to kill your parlay. Like almost every week. Don’t let them. The Texans are better, but I got a bad feeling about them going to that shit field in Oakland and laying an egg. I got no real reason. Just a feeling.
PICK: Oakland +3
At San Diego -8.5 Arizona
Who has two thumbs, drafted Antonio Gates pretty high and loves the fact that Vincent Jackson is in AJ Smith-induced roster purgatory? This guy! Gates, who’s always a fantasy monster, has been even more of a beast this year. Through three games, the ballin’ TE has 17 receptions for 242 yards and 4 touchdowns. Who needs a starting WR? Not you, San Diego. Sure you lost to Seattle and that has to hurt some, but this is a great game for a rebound. The Cardinals are not playing good football. Arizona gives up too many yards on the ground and they can’t generate any yards in the air. Injuries don’t help either. Alan Faneca is hurt. Steve Breaston and Early Doucet are hurt. Beanie Wells will play, but he isn’t ready to fully take over either. Arizona has too many holes to win this game on the road or even cover the spread.
PICK: Chargers -8.5
At Philadelphia -6 Washington
Oh, the drama. McNabb is expecting cheers in Philly. That’s like expecting real titties on Santa Monica Blvd. Not gonna happen, dude. McNabb has a chance to stick it to his old team and end the redemption tale of the season, but Vick will outplay him. Vick will face a much tougher defense than he has before, but I’ll take Philly and their skill players over McNabb with an axe to grind and no running game to help him grind it out.
PICK: Eagles -6
At NY Giants -4 Chicago
This is the week I pick the Bears. Chicago is the only undefeated team in the NFC, but they could easily be 1-2. I’m not buying this team as the best the conference has to offer. No way. What I am buying is the end of Tom Coughlin. Dude got a stay of execution after that surprising, late-surge Super Bowl season, but his players are over it. Dude’s too outdated. He’s too rigid and too red-faced. And he looks like he has the flu, all the time. The Giants need answers. They need to rally behind their coach and win won for the Cough Drop. But they won’t, and everyone will try to convince you that the Bears are really good. They aren’t, but they’ll win on Sunday night.
PICK: Bears +4
New England -1 At Miami
Damn this Pats team is frustrating. You think they’re gonna cover the spread and then they let CJ Spiller run a kick back 95 yards for a score. What’s up with this team? What’s up with this whole division? I read an ESPN fantasy outlook for Chad Henne before last week’s game and it said something like Chad doesn’t have the arm or the receivers to throw down field, he’s not gonna do jack but hand the ball off. Then the dude threw for 363 yards against the Jets. All I know for sure is that this game is going to be great to watch. The Pats can’t seem to stop anyone, but they still have Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Brandon Marshall should put up strong numbers. This is truly a coin-flip pick, but I’m leaning towards New England here.
PICK: Pats -1
Oct 1st
Interview with Kyle Martino, Host of Soccer Talk Live
The eighth overall selection of the 2002 MLS Superdraft, Kyle Martino won the Rookie of the Year Award, played four and a half seasons with the Columbus Crew and two and half seasons with the LA Galaxy. Martino competed in the 2001 World Youth Championship and appeared in eight games for the U.S. national team. Martino got his first cap in 2002, and in 2005 he scored a goal against Panama during a World Cup qualifier match.
After retiring from soccer in 2008, Martino became an analyst and commentator for MLS games and the World Cup. He worked at ESPN and the Fox Soccer Channel and also provided color commentary for Philadelphia Union matches. In 2010, Martino launched a new show on the Fox Soccer Channel, Soccer Talk Live, an hour-long program that’s part entertainment and part soccer discussion.
We got the chance to catch up with Martino to discuss his new show and his thoughts on the World Cup and the state of US soccer.
Who was your favorite player to watch in the World Cup?
David Villa for Spain. He is a pure goal scorer with some serious bravado. It’s just hard to not smile when he gets the ball because you know something ridiculous is about to happen.
Did World Cup fever lead to increased interest in the MLS?
Definitely. Not only were there several World Cup starts from all over the World that came back to MLS after the Cup was over, but a lot of people got that soccer bug during the World Cup and got their fix from watching MLS action.
What was it like to score an international goal in a World Cup qualifier?
It was amazing. I broke several windows and destroyed my parents’ back yard imagining that moment over and over again in my head when I was little. To see that reoccurring dream of wearing the #10 for my country and scoring a goal like that become reality was second to none.
How did it feel to have your professional career cut short by injury?
It was a really sad moment for me. To spend your entire life obsessing over something you love, and doing anything you can to get it, to only have it taken away from you because of something you can’t control is a very hard thing to deal with. How I go on is by being grateful of getting there and having a career, and looking forward to the next challenge.
Tell us a little bit a about your new show, Soccer Talk Live. It’s kind of a combination of soccer news and pop culture, right?
The idea of the show is to put soccer at the head table with other pop culture and entertainment trends where it belongs. The show will be a soccer show first and foremost, but it will also try and thread together the world’s greatest sport with other aspects of mainstream culture, aspects that fans don’t realize connect back to the beautiful game. It will be the coming out party for a game that has already come out but most people just haven’t been paying attention.
Why do American soccer players have such a hard time completing quality passes?
Bad eye-sight from sitting too close to the TV? No, probably because our decision making in fast paced crucial moments is not as hard-wired as it is in other countries where that and technique are burned in kids minds from very young ages.
Will Jürgen Klinsmann ever coach the US national squad?
I’m starting to think no. If we didn’t get him this time, I think it’s a wrap.
When will the US national team get over the hump and really compete with the big boys on the international stage?
When we stop losing some of our best athletes to other sports.
Soccer Talk Live airs on Monday nights at 7 p.m. EST on Fox Soccer Channel. Check out your local listings, tune in and find out more about the beautiful game.
Sep 29th
Phil Simms Interview (Video)
Phil Simms is a former Super Bowl MVP with two rings, two Pro Bowl appearances and a resume that could earn him a place in Canton. His 88 percent completion rate in Super Bowl XXI is still a Super Bowl record. In 1993, his final year in the NFL, Simms completed 61.8 percent of his passes and threw for 3,038 yards and 15 touchdowns. At the end of the offseason, the Giants cut him and he retired for good.
Simms went on to have a successful broadcasting career. He’s worked for ESPN, NBC and CBS. He announced Weightlifting at the 1996 Olympic Games and in 2008, Simms joined the cast of Inside the NFL, the weekly football highlight show that ended up on Showtime after a 31-year run on HBO.
Simms also found time to produce two serious quarterback prospects. Phil’s son Chris Simms had a promising career with the Bucs before blowing up his spleen in a 2006 game against the Carolina Panthers. Matt Simms, Phil’s younger son, is currently the starting quarterback for the University of Tennessee.
Simms calls games on CBS with Jim Nantz. He’s also heavily involved with the FedEx Air & Ground Player of the Week program, a program that allows fans to vote on the top performers for each week and also supports Safe Kids USA. I got to interview Simms and ask him about the FedEx program, the difficulties of retirement, ProFootballTalk.com, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Olympic broadcasting and why he’s not in the Hall of Fame. I found Simms to be a very open, honest and all-around likeable guy. Check out the video:
Sep 27th
Week 3 NFL Picks
An eighth of the season is behind us, and so far our picks haven’t been all that impressive. I followed a 7-6-3 Week 1 with a 8-7-1 Week 2. While 15-13-4 doesn’t sound like advice you’d pay for, at least I’ve got the same record from last week and one less loss on the season than Bill Simmons. I’ve been making some good cash on the Steelers quick start, too, and that’s a trend that’s going to continue this weekend. Anyway, on to the picks:
At NY Giants -3 Tennessee
These two teams both need a rebound win. Last week, the Giants got spanked in the Manning Bowl and the Titans got pile-driven by the Steelers. Does Vince Young come in and reclaim his job? Chris Johnson will be facing another tough run defense, but he’ll certainly do way better than his 34-yard rushing performance in Week 2. Titans bounce back.
PICK: Titans +3
At New England -14 Buffalo
Another week, another huge point spread for whoever’s playing the Bills. Make no mistake though, the Pats are going to crush this team on Sunday. Brady is a Bills killer, and Ryan Fitzpatrick won’t be able to hang with a guy who’s beaten the Bills 15 times in 16 games while completing 65.3 percent of his passes with an average QB rating of 100.6. Brady has thrown more TDs (33) and put up more passing yards (3,713) against the Bills than he has against any other team in the league. This trend will continue in Week 3.
PICK: Pats -14.5
At Baltimore -10.5 Cleveland
Joe Flacco needs this game. He’s looked horrible through two games, but he’ll bounce back against the winless Browns. Lock it in.
PICK: Ravens -10.5
Pittsburgh -2.5 At Tampa Bay
Still not sold on the Steelers? I could line up under center for that team the Steelers would still kick ass. They have the best defense in football and Tomlin wants a W against the team that gave him his first shot as an NFL coach. At some point the oddsmakers are going to give the Steelers more respect. Until they do, keep cashing in.
PICK: Steelers -2.5
Cincinnati -3 At Carolina
The Bengals couldn’t score a touchdown last week, but five field goals were enough. Cincy’s strength is its defense. If they can make Joe Flacco throw four picks, imagine what they’ll do to Jimmy Clausen.
PICK: Bengals -3
At New Orleans -4 Atlanta
The Falcons are a good football team. They had a tough loss to start the season and they totally crushed the Cardinals in Week 2. The Saints are just too good though. Even though the 49ers almost took them out on Monday Night, the Saints return back to the comfort of their dome. This team’s just clicking too much to bet against them at home. The Falcons will put up points, but not enough to win.
PICK: Saints -4
At Kansas City +3 San Francisco
The Chiefs are 2-0 baby! The Niners looked impressive at home last week, but I’m going to roll with the Chiefs at home on this one.
PICK: Chiefs +3
At Minnesota -11 Detroit
Who are the Vikings at this point? Are they a run first team with a gray-beard game manager under center or are they a team that likes to fling it? The Lions are facing their toughest defense yet, but who wants to bet against Jahvid Best?
PICK: Lions +11
At Houston -2.5 Dallas
The Texans are clicking and the Cowboys are answerless. Dallas doesn’t have a run game and the Texans can beat you in so many ways. The battle for Texas is going down in Houston. The Cowboys are desperate, but the Texans will stay hot and take this one.
PICK: Texans -2.5
Washington -3.5 At St. Louis
The Redskins almost pulled off a shocker last week, taking the Texans to overtime, but their upset fell short. Portis is questionable, but his play this season has been questionable as well. The Rams are averaging on 13.5 points per game, but they’ve only allowed 16.5 points in the first two weeks of the season. The Skins proved last week that they can put up points and hang with a good team. The Rams aren’t a good team.
PICK: Skins -3
Philadelphia -2.5 At Jacksonville
D avid Garrard was miserable last week against the Chargers. He threw four picks and got benched. Luke McCown came in and tore his ACL again and Garrard was back in action. Meanwhile in Philly, Vick has played so well that the team told Kevin Kolb to keep his ass on the pine. It’s easy to look good when you’re playing the Lions, but Vick’s the better QB and the Eagles are a better team. They should take care of business in Jacksonville.
PICK: Eagles -2.5
Indianapolis -5.5 At Denver
Peyton Manning ruins Laurence Maroney’s big day. Colts cover in Denver.
PICK: Colts -5.5
San Diego -5 At Seattle
Mike Tolbert puts up big numbers in place of Ryan Mathews. San Diego will win the most unwatchable game of the afternoon
PICK: Chargers -5
At Arizona -4.5 Oakland
The Polish Rifle makes Oakland a better team. The Cards must’ve been put through the ringer by Coach Wiz after last week’s beatdown. I don’t like this game; too many questions. Does Gradkowski light it up? Does Beanie Wells make an impact? Do Arizona’s receivers see anything resembling a catchable pass? Steer clear of this one, but if you have to choose a side, take Oakland, their rushing attack and their confident new QB.
PICK: Oakland +4.5
At Miami -2.5 NY Jets
Another tough call. The Jets got a big win in Week 2, but the Fins have been solid through two weeks. Which Mark Sanchez will we see? The dude who was shackled by a conservative game plan in Week 1? Or the guy who had the game of his life last week and is on the fast track for an MVP award? With Revis out, I’m taking the Fins at home.
PICK: Fins -2.5
Green Bay -3 At Chicago
For two straight weeks I’ve picked the Bears to lose, but they’re 2-0. I guess I should believe in Cutler and Company, but I don’t. Not against the Packers. Sorry. Green Bay seizes the spotlight on Monday Night and the Bears show their home crowd that they don’t deserve to be lossless.
PICK: Packers -3
Sep 24th
Dexter McCluster – Stay Alive. Don’t Text and Drive!
Listen to DMC. Don’t text and drive. Or to put it another way,
When you’re on the road,
Don’t L-O-L,
Cause it’s real,
Keep both hands on the wheel.
Tell ‘em D:
Thanks PFT
Sep 24th
