STATS
Last Week --
straight-up: 8-5 62%
against-the-spread: 8-5 62%
Season --
straight-up: 93-36 72%
against-the-spread: 77-50-2 61%
Week 10 - Nov. 12, 15/16
Thursday, Nov. 12
Chicago at San Francisco (-3) 8:20
Where's the Bears' defense? Where's the poise from QB Jay Cutler? What's happened to the preseason promises of a Bears run to the Super Bowl just because they had the "strong-arm" of Jay Cutler? If you'd have read my preseason prediction, you'd have known that this average team was going nowhere this year.
San Francisco 26 Chicago 21
Sunday, Nov. 15
Detroit at Minnesota (-16.5) 1p
The Vikes sack the Lions and inch closer to becoming this year's earliest division winner.
Minnesota 27 Detroit 6
New Orleans (-13.5) at St. Louis 1p
A mercy-rule type of game here, though the Rams have shown some competitive fire in recent weeks. The Saints did not look sharp at home v. Carolina last week, but I suspect they'll score quite a bit and look efficient/proficient while doing so.
New Orleans 31 St. Louis 14
Atlanta (-2) at Carolina 1p
Carolina's just teasing everyone right now. They've had a couple of decent efforts on the road, but QB Jake Delhomme is just not good enough to win games for his team. Atlanta's Matt Ryan is the better QB and the Falcons are the more consistent team. Atlanta grinds out a tough win on the road.
Atlanta 23 Carolina 19
Tampa Bay at Miami (-10) 1p
Yes, the Buccaneers pulled a win out of their hats last week thanks to the mistake-prone Packers. The host Dolphins won't be so kind to them this week. Big win for the 'Phins.
Miami 34 Tampa Bay 14
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (-7) 1p
The Steelers are playing very sound, very solid football. So too are the Bengals. The Steelers have less than six days to prepare after their Monday-niter in Denver and that has to give the Bengals an advantage here. The Cincy pass defense has played extremely well and returned a Big Ben interception for a touchdown in their game back in week 3. But the Steelers are a much better, much more explosive team right now. Steelers in a bit of a rout.
Pittsburgh 34 Cincinnati 17
Buffalo at Tennessee (-6.5) 1p
Vince Young at QB = wins, people! I don' t know how...and I don't understand it, but somehow the Titans actually run the ball better with Young at QB than with Kerry Collins. Expect more of that this week against the Bills. Buffalo gets Trent Edwards back under center, but not even that piece of good news will help the Bills much at Tennessee.
Tennessee 27 Buffalo 17
Jacksonville at NY Jets (-7) 1p
Hmmm...not much to say here. A rather uninteresting matchup between to sputtering teams. I will say that when the Jags lose, they lose big: average loss is by 18.5 points. They'll keep it a little closer here, but not much.
NY Jets 23 Jacksonville 13
Denver (-3.5) at Washington 1p
Will the once-red-hot Broncs lose three in a row? Not against the Redskins crew. Expect a lot of sacks, turnovers and excuses from the Washington offense...a unit that has failed to score more than 17 points in any of their 8 games this season.
Denver 20 Washington 14
Kansas City at Oakland (-2) 4:05p
The Raiders are 2-6 yet I have no idea how they've won two games. This offense averages 9.75 points per game! That is monumentally, historically, incredibly bad. Why so bad? Let's start with a QB who completes 48% of his passes and averages only 125 yards passing per game. Add to that a dysfunctional coaching staff, locker room and organization that can only be attributed to the half-baked ideas of Al Davis and you come up with the worst team in all of sports. A complete, utter disaster.
Kansas City 13 Oakland 9
Philadelphia at San Diego (-1.5) 4:15p
Can the Chargers win 4 in a row? Their defense has been playing well of late giving up 7 to K.C., 16 to Oakland and 20 points to the Giants in their last three games. But none of those offenses is quite as potent as McNabb and the speedy Philly crew. And while Philly coach Andy Reid had a very bad game last week with respect to clock management (isn't that always the case with this guy???) as well as play calling, he and his team usually respond with a very good effort in the next game. The Eagles will play well, but without their starting CBs (both injured), I see Phillip Rivers throwing for at least 300 yards and 3 scores.
San Diego 27 Philadelphia 23
Seattle at Arizona (-9) 4:15p
Nerd alert. Repeat: nerd alert! This game will only be watchable by those fantasy players seeing how many points Warner, Fitzgerald, et al will score.
Arizona 34 Seattle 20
Dallas (-3) at Green Bay 4:15p
The Cowboys continue their fine run of play with a superior defensive effort against the Packers. Expect at least 4 sacks of Aaron Rodgers and a couple of turnovers. The 'Boys will bring too much pressure and the Packers' weak offensive line won't be able to handle it.
Dallas 24 Green Bay 17
New England at Indianapolis (-3) 8:20p
Clash of the Titans. Masters of the Universe. Captains (Yes, CaptainS. After all, it is Manning v. Brady.) America. Only Marvel v. D.C. comics could be a bigger draw than this game. As the Wonder Twins used to say: "Form of: Tom Brady. Shape of: an oblong-shaped pigskin. Wonder Twin powers: ACTIVATE!" Silly, I know. But so is all the hype leading up to this game.
Indy's been perilously close to losing the past two weeks at home v. San Fran and Houston. A rare, third home game in a row gives the Colts an advantage, but that will not be enough here. Their karma, their luck, their whatever-you-want-to-call-it is about to run out. Pats get the win because the Colts 29th ranked rushing attack will make Peyton too vulnerable to a big pass rush. And the Colts depleted secondary will get chewed-up by Brady, Moss and Welker. New England wins with relative ease.
New England 27 Indianapolis 17
Monday, Nov. 16
Baltimore (-10.5) at Cleveland 8:30p
A good night to catch a movie or catch up on your DVR list.
Baltimore 31 Cleveland 13
STATS
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