Last week: 13-3. Season: 20-12.
Sunday, 1:00
Bears @ Minnesota(+3)
Hard to know how good the Bears really are—beating the snot out of the Packers and Lions isn’t especially diagnostic. The good news is the spread is only 3. I believe in the Bears a little more, so I’ll go with them.
Bengals @ Pittsburgh(-1.5)
Also hard to tell how good these two teams are yet, either. Small sample size, of course. I’m slightly happier with the Bengals, but only slightly. However, I get points if I take Cinci, so that’s the plan.
Jest @ Buffalo(-5.5)
I’ll take the Bills only to riverside Al, who will almost certainly take Gang Green. Right, Al?
Panthers @ Tampa(+3)
Yes, they’re both 0-2. But Tampa has looked completely and utterly awful, while the Panthers have looked merely bad. I’ll give the figgie.
Packers @ Detroit(-7)
Tough spread. Are the Lions really seven points better than anybody? I mean, they’ve scored only 6.5 points on average so far, so now they have to lay a full seven? Too rich for my blood.
Redskins @ Houston(+4)
Well, if Portis really is healthy, then they shouldn’t have too much trouble covering this. But is he healthy? Well, they say he’s OK to go. Portis at 70% is probably enough, so I’ll give the points.
Jaguars @ Indy(-7)
Jags look great right now, and Indy has no running game, not that they need one. The key here is that the Indy D is nicked up so I think the Jags might be able to keep it close.
Titans @ Miami(-11)
The Titans are a total disaster, yes. But can Miami even put 11 on the board at all, much less win by 11? I’m not so sure right now, so I’ll take the big pile of points.
Sunday, ~4:10
Ravens @ Cleveland(+6.5)
Baltimore appears to be for real, and I have no reason to expect the Browns will score much here. Ravens.
Rams @ Arizona(-4.5)
So far I’ve been entirely underwhelmed by both of these teams. Seems like too many points to me, so I’ll go with St. Louis.
Eagles @ San Francisco(-6)
You know, the Niners might not actually be entirely awful this year. That said, I’d imagine the Iggles would be out for blood this week, and the Niners won’t be able to stop them.
Giants @ Seattle(-3.5)
You have to think the G-Men now really believe in themselves. I think they’re better than last year and the Seabags are worse, and this was an OT game last year, so I’m going with the Giants here, plus I get points!
Sunday NBC
Broncos @ New England(-7)
Bleah, yuck, horrible. The Pats have been living on borrowed time, but the Broncos have been dreadful. Lately New England has been hideous against the Broncos, but something is clearly wrong with Denver right now. Too many points in a game with so many question marks.
MNF
Falcons @ New Orleans(+3.5)
Big story, the Saints back in the SuperDome and all. However, the Falcons’ 2-0 is a lot more impressive than the Saints 2-0, so I’m taking the Huske…err, the Falcons.