Sunday 1:00
Lions @ Buffalo(-2)
Hey, how about that, the Bills are favored. I mean, it’s at home against the Lions, but still. Unfortunately, this is a bad matchup for the Bills, who are good against the run but last in the league in giving up… TD passes. I have the Lions here.
Jets @ Cleveland(+3)
Gang Green is living on borrowed time right now, and the Browns are hot. I’ll take the three and hope they can keep it close.
Panthers @ Tampa Bay(-7)
Carolina is in a dead heat with Arizona for that “worst QB situation in the league” award. Bucs cover this.
Bengals @ Indianapolis(-7)
Awesome when the Colts lose. First, it’s just generally great when they lose. Second, it depresses the spread for the next week. Indy at home is a lock here.
Titans @ Miami, pick
Yeah, I don’t think Chad Pennington off the bench is the answer. I like not having to give the points when I pick Tennessee here.
Vikings @ Bears(+1)
Minnesota is imploding badly. Now, the Bears are awful and simply cannot protect Cutler, and the Vikings have a pass rush, but the Vikings are horrific on the road and will find a way to lose this.
Texans @ Jacksonville(-1)
The real culprit in last weeks’ loss to the Chargers was the Texans’ secondary, or lack thereof. However, they sure got a lot of help from the refs; that was the single worst intentional grounding call I’ve ever seen. The tight end was right there! Totally ludicrous, and of course that’s not a reviewable call. Ugly. Anyway, the Texans’ other problem is that Andre is hurt and has been for most of the season. Owen Daniels is still out, Schaub is banged up (though playing)… I just don’t see it. And that’s why I’m picking the Texans, because they seem to go against what I expect.
Sunday ~4:10
Chiefs @ Denver(+1)
The Broncos are awful, but the Chiefs have been pretty bad on the road and are struggling. Look KC to rebound here.
Rams @ San Francisco(-5.5)
I know that the Rams are much better at home and the Niners are playing better, but I still like the Rams here getting almost a TD. I’ll take the points.
Seahawks @ Arizona(-3)
The sad part of this is that some team from this horrible division will get to go to the playoffs. Both of these teams are awful, but I think the Cards are worse, unable to hold a lead against the lowly Vikings. I’ll take the Seabags on the road, but only because they’re getting points.
Cowboys @ New Jersey Giants(-14)
Wow, that’s a truckload of points. Of course, the Giants have been lighting it up lately, and Dallas is a train wreck, which is fantastic—couldn’t happen to a nicer team & owner. This feels like too many points to give in an NFL game, but then this is Jon Kitna on the road. Yeah, OK, give the two TDs. Yikes.
SNF
Patriots @ Pittsburgh(-4.5)
The Pats have been doing it this year with smoke and mirrors, whereas I think the Stillers are the real deal, at least on grass. I think they’ll cover this at home.
MNF
Eagles @ Washington(+3)
WTF was all that nonsense from Shanahan? I think he’s actually an average coach without Elway, and the Skins have no answer for Vick. Iggles.