Ravens @ Cincinnati(-3)
Yes, you read that right, the Bengals are actually favored. Since when did beating up on Cleveland count for anything? I don’t get it, the Ravens are one of the best teams in the AFC and the Bengals… aren’t. So how is Cinci favored? Makes no sense to me, I’m taking the points all the way.

Sunday, 1:00
Steelers @ Baltimore(-3)
How is this only three? Whatever, Ravens.

Bengals @ Cleveland(+3)
Well, the Bengals have looked a little like the Bungles of old this season, but they always get up for the battle of Ohio and they’ll cover this.

Niners @ St. Louis(-5.5)
Speaking of a totally weird spread, hunh? The Rams have lost like five in a row, and the Niners have been the positive surprise of the year so far. How is this 5 and a half? One and a half, maybe, but more than a field goal is WAY too much. San Fran and the points, please.

Cardinals @ Minnesota(-6)
The Cardinals are, as usual, terrible, and lately the Vikings have looked like I thought they’d look this year. Vikings win, but only by a field goal. My god, I’m actually picking the Cardinals. Help!

Texans @ New Jersey Jest(-6)
I hereby curse Gang Green by picking them.

Saints @ Atlanta(-3)
Wrong team favored, though the Falcons do seem to play the Saints tough, and the Saints haven’t looked all that good lately, uhh, have the spread guys been watching the Falcons at all? I’ll take the points.

Panthers @ Washington(+4)
I don’t see the Redskins with a chance in this game, give the points.

Jaguars @ Buffalo(-3)
Look, I know Jax hasn’t looked great lately, but this is the Bills we’re talking about. I’ll gladly take the points.

Sunday, ~4:15
Raiders @ San Diego(-13)
The Chargers appear to be the class of the league right now. I know the Raiders have been keeping it close lately, but not this time.

Giants @ Tennessee(+3)
I wish the spread were five, because then I could do this with a clear conscience: Titans.

Bears @ New England(-3)
Rex Grossman’s been really up and down this year. On the road against the Pats looks to me like a “down” week, so I’m taking New England.

Sunday NBC
Eagles @ Indianapolis(-9)
The Eagles are done for the year, the Colts will cover this.

MNF
Packers @ Seattle(-9.5)
Wow, that’s a whole lot of points for a team that just doesn’t seem very good right now. I will have to take them and hope the Packers keep it close.

Dolphins @ Detroit(+3)
Miami seems to be improving, making a second-half run. The Lions continue to disappoint. How is this spread only three? Fish.

Bucs @ Dallas(-11)
Yeah, the Cowboys have been looking great lately and the Bucs have been down, but 11? Seems like too many points to me.

Broncos @ Kansas City(-1)
The big debut of the NFL network. Since I now have DirecTV, I get to see this game, which is cool. I have no idea how to pick it, though. I almost always like the Broncos in Denver, but in Arrowhead? I don’t recall them doing well there lately, so I’ll go with the home team.

OK, sorry it’s late, but I only got the computer unpacked on Thursday night, and I had other football concerns on Saturday. Grrr. At least it was a good game.

Last week: 6-10        Season: 69-69-6
Al last week: 6-10        Season: 62-76-6

Sunday 1:00
Rams @ Carolina(-7)
Carolina’s been so inconsistent this year, as have the Rams. Seems like too many points for a game where nearly anything could happen.

Patriots @ Green Bay(+5.5)
Maybe I’m crazy, but I think the Pats break out of their funk and win… but fail to cover!

Falcons @ Baltimore(-4)
Atlanta seems very confused right now, and even though Ray Lewis is out, I’m going to have to take the Ravens here.

Raiders @ Kansas City(-9.5)
That’s a lot of points, and the Raiders have done well against the spread lately… but on the road at Arrowhead? Somehow that doesn’t seem likely to me. Chefs.

Bills @ Houston(-2.5)
How about that, the Texans actually favored! I’ll even pick them to celebrate.

Vikings @ Miami(-3.5)
I dunno, I didn’t see what happened last week, but I just don’t trust Miami.

Bengals @ New Orleans(-3.5)
Cincinnati just doesn’t have it together this season. Saints.

Bears @ New Jersey Jets(+7)
Second straight game in the swamp for the Bears… and the Jets aren’t as good as the Giants, so I have to take the Bears again.

Titans @ Philly(-13)
Too many points–the Titans have at least figured out how to keep it close.

Steelers @ Cleveland(+3.5)
OK, are the Steelers back? The ship righted at all? Then again, it’s the Brown, does it even matter if the ship is righted? Pittsburgh.

Redskins @ Tampa Bay(-3)
Bleah. Two playoff teams last year who won’t be making it back. Redskins, I guess.

Sunday, ~4:10
Lions @ Arizona(-2)
The Lions have been really up and down and they scare me. However, the Cardinals are just plain bad, and I can’t believe they’re favored. Take the points.

Seahawks @ San Francisco(+4.5)
Hmm, will the Seabags have Alexander and Hasselbeck for this game? The Niners have actually shown some life lately, but against the Vikings and the Lions, that’s not really saying much. Seattle.

Colts @ Dallas(+1)
Gotta pick the Colts. I don’t believe in the Dallas corners. Indy probably wins by only a field goal, but they’ll win, so I’m picking ‘em.

Sunday NBC
Chargers @ Denver(-2.5)
I always get burned when I pick against Denver at home, so I won’t go against that tide.

MNF
Giants @ Jacksonville(-3.5)
Man, the injury list for the Giants is like… half the team. Nonetheless, I’m going to have trouble picking any team which loses twice to the Texans. Take the points.

OK, I’m moving this weekend so this will be very brief…

Sunday 1:00
Browns @ Atlanta(-8)
The Falcons were bad last time, right? So then they’ll cover this.

Redskins @ Philly(-7)
I can’t figure out the Iggles this year, and that seems like too much for a team I can’t figure out. Redskins.

Chargers @ Cincinnati(+1)
Only one? Sure, give it, Bols.

Niners @ Detroit(-6)
Man, sucker bet. I won’t do it, though, I’m taking the Niners to keep it closer than that.

Ravens @ Tennessee(+7)
IIRC, which is risky, the Titans haven’t played well against the Ravens lately, so I’ll give the TD.

Bills @ Indy(-12)
Too obvious, take the points.

Texans @ Jax(-10.5)
Gerrard is starting and the Jags want revenge–they’ll cover this.

Chefs @ Miami(+1)
Again, only one? I’ll take KC, thanks.

Packers @ Minnesota(-5.5)
That seems like the right number. Vikings.

Jest @ New England(-10.5)
I like the Pats to win this game but that’s enough points to make me worry. Meh, I have enough to worry about, I’m taking New England.

Sunday ~4:10
Broncos @ Oakland(+9)
The Raiders reverted back to true form last week, so I have Denver here.

Cowboys @ Arizona(+7)
Whatever I do with the Cowboys, it’s wrong, so I will pick them in an attempt to jinx them. Except that I don’t believe in things like that. Whatever, Cowboys.

Saints @ Pittsburgh(-4.5)
OK, how on earth are the Steelers favored here? The Steelers are horrible. Gimme the points!

Rams @ Seattle(-3.5)
Piling it on Oakland doesn’t mean the Seabags are that good. Rams.

Sunday NBC
Bears @ New Jersey Giants, even
Probably even since half the Giants are hurt. If Plax is out they have only the Tiki god to catch the ball, but he’s got rushing duties to cover as well. I like the Bears here.

MNF
Bucs @ Carolina(-9.5)
Uhh, have the Panthers blown out anybody this year? No, so that’s too many points, I’ll take ‘em.

Everybody remember to go out and vote. And, just to be a downer:

http://arstechnica.com/articles/culture/evoting.ars

This is not advice, this is a reminder why it’s important to ask for accountability in government. For example, here’s something you don’t see with paper ballots:

http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,1247,00.html#24_880

I’m sure reports of failed electronic machines will be widespread, but that overall most government officials will claim that everything went swimmingly well. Should be interesting.

Last week: 6-8                 Season: 57-51-6
Al last week: 5-9        Al season: 51-57-6

Sunday, 1:00
Texans @ New Jersey Giants(-13)
Plax is probably out and the Giants will treat this as a bye, so they’ll only win by 10. Houston.

Saints @ Tampa(+1)
It’ll be interesting to see how the Saints play on the road after that stretch of home games. I think they’re better than the Bucs, though, so I’m giving the point.

Packers @ Buffalo(-3)
Green Bay has been showing some signs of life lately, I’ll take the points.

Cowboys @ Washington(+3)
I shudder at the thought of Parcells kissing any more of his players, but I expect he’ll have reason to this week; Dallas covers.

Dolphins @ Chicago(-13.5)
The Bears have seen a lot of big spreads this year, and they’ve mostly covered them. No reason to stop now.

Titans @ Jacksonville(-9.5)
Leftwich on the bench, and Jax at home? OK, Jags cover.

Falcons @ Detroit(+5.5)
OK, what does Vegas know that I don’t? With a spread this small, they clearly want me to take the Falcons, but now I’m concerned. Oh, well, Vick and they boys handle this easily, right?

Bengals @ Baltimore(-3)
Something is horribly amiss in Cinci. I have to take the Ravens here.

Chefs @ St. Louis(-2)
I rather like getting points here. Chefs.

Sunday, ~4:15
Vikings @ San Francisco(+5)
Again, kind of a suspicious spread. I guess the Vikings got humiliated on national TV last week by the Pats, but they’re still a lot better than SF.

Broncos @ Pittsburgh(-3)
This is just totally dumbfounding. How is a 2-5 team favored over a 5-2 team? The Steelers lost to Oakland, for god’s sake. Denver all the way here.

Browns @ San Diego(-12.5)
More points than I’d like to be giving here, but I just can’t see taking Cleveland on the road.

Sunday NBC
Colts @ New England(-3)
This would be an easy pick if it were the postseason. In the regular season I’m not so sure. The Pats might not show much since, given the division they’re in, they can afford to lose. On the other hand, they might win by simply running up the middle all game. At some point being unable to stop the run has to cost the Colts, right? OK, I’ve talked myself into it, Pats.

MNF
Raiders @ Seattle(-7)
OK, so the Raiders aren’t quite as bad as I thought they’d be this year, mostly because of their defense. And it’s Seneca Wallace and Maurice Morris going against that defense, right? My god, I’m picking Oakland…