NFL Week 9 Picks
November 4th, 2006
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…
Sunday, 1:00
Texans @ New Jersey Giants(-13)
Wow, lots of points. Based on how the Texans have been playing, I don’t see how they’ll stay in this game.
Saints @ Tampa(+1)
I don’t like how the Saints are playing, plus they have a mess of injuries to key positions. I’ll take the Bucs.
Packers @ Buffalo(-3)
Buffalo has been awful since losing to the Jets. The Packers have shown they can beat bad teams. I’ll take the points happily.
Cowboys @ Washington(+3)
Somehow the Dallas O-line showed up to play last week. If they do that again, they’ll win. The Redskins have a bunch of injuries – including Brunell with sore ribs. Then again, you have the whole Romo rookie factor. You would think Gibbs could shuffle the defense around enough to give him all sorts of problems. I have a piece of advice — lay off the short outs to the long side of the field. If he follows that, the Cowboys will be ok. Give the points.
Dolphins @ Chicago(-13.5)
The Dolphins defense has some pride, right? Oh wait, it’s in Chicago. And Harrington is throwing the ball. Ew. Take the Bears.
Titans @ Jacksonville(-9.5)
The Titans have been playing great ball lately. Especially on Defense. I’ll gladly take those points.
Falcons @ Detroit(+5.5)
Trap game! Can Vick sustain his great play? I think so. Will the Falcons D be able to handle Detroit’s impressive passing offense? Not if they throw at Jason Webster! I think this game will be close. Take the points.
Bengals @ Baltimore(-3)
The Bengals have lost two straight and Baltimore has won two, but in those two games, Baltimore gave up a lot of yardage. I think the Bengals shake the funk and pull this one out.
Chefs @ St. Louis(-2)
I think the Rams are getting too much credit here. I really don’t think they’re very good, whereas the Cheifs have looked pretty darn good with Larry Johnson back. Heck, Huard looks like he’s taken Trent Green’s job. Take the points and the Chefs.
Sunday, ~4:15
Vikings @ San Francisco(+5)
Er…Vikings. Only 5? WTF?
Browns @ San Diego(-12.5)
Cheater Merriman starts his suspension this week (grr, I thought it started last week), but they still shouldn’t have any trouble with the lowly Browns.
Sunday NBC
Colts @ New England(-3)
Such an exciting matchup. I hope NE scores a lot of points because I have Brady, but this isn’t the playoffs. The Colts will win this one and lose to them later this year when it really matters. Colts.
MNF
Raiders @ Seattle(-7)
Poor ESPN. I watched them actually try to hype this game yesterday. Embarrassing. I thought they had the opportunity to switch games this season? Whatever. So like, yeah, Seattle has those key injuries and has lost two in a row while the Raiders have won two in a row — mostly on the strength of their defense led by Buddy Ryan’s more shaggy boy (the other brother runs the Ravens D — I guess it’s hereditary?). But it’s still the Raiders, and they still suck, and they won’t win three in a row. Seattle will find a way to beat, or at least match, this number.
Comment by alex — 2006.11.05 @ 09:59
I missed the Denver game somehow. Not sure why. Must have accidentally deleted it. I had Denver for what it’s worth.
And wow, how about those Niners?
Looks like you beat me again. It’s starting to get ugly. This will be 3 in a row unless I start figuring out the NFL. (Unlikely)
Comment by alex — 2006.11.06 @ 11:44