Saturday, October 07, 2006
NFL Week 5 Picks
I had my first losing week of the season last week, going 3-4-1 to bring my season mark to 11-9-3. Is it a speed bump, or a grim harbinger of things to come? Let's see how this week's six-pack fares before we rush to judgment.
New Orleans -7 vs. Tampa Bay: The Saints are, incredibly, a real football team this year. What's scary is they haven't figured out how to use Reggie Bush yet, except as a decoy. The Bucs, on the other hand, are going nowhere fast, starting a rookie QB on the road. Ouch.
Tennessee +19 at Indianapolis: Don't misunderstand me--the Colts will win this game. My pick is predicated on Indy having a bye next week, and looking to start their week off at the end of the third quarter. Vince Young will do enough in the fourth for a back-door cover.
Cleveland +8 at Carolina: Many people think the Panthers have righted their ship after consecutive wins. I think they are still taking on a little water. Specifically, their front four on defense has not been the scary unit everyone projected. I might start believing in them again if they cover this spread.
San Francisco -3.5 vs. Oakland: Two once-proud franchises, now wallowing in their own filth. The difference is that the Niners have been taking baby steps back toward respectability, while the Raiders are still a smoking crater. Kind of sad, really.
San Diego -3.5 vs. Pittsburgh: The Steelers MUST have this game. They are coming off a bye. The Chargers are still hung over from a loss last week that never should have happened. So, yeah, I'm taking the Chargers. You see, the NFL is perverse. If everything is lined up one way, one must run, not walk, the other direction.
Baltimore +4 at Denver: A similar concept is at play here. The Ravens have been winning very ugly. The Broncos are fresh off their bye, playing with their considerable home-field advantage. They will probably lead the entire game, but Ravens QB Steve McNair will either beat them or scare the bejeezus out of them in the last four minutes. I want the points in what might be the lowest-scoring game of the week.
New Orleans -7 vs. Tampa Bay: The Saints are, incredibly, a real football team this year. What's scary is they haven't figured out how to use Reggie Bush yet, except as a decoy. The Bucs, on the other hand, are going nowhere fast, starting a rookie QB on the road. Ouch.
Tennessee +19 at Indianapolis: Don't misunderstand me--the Colts will win this game. My pick is predicated on Indy having a bye next week, and looking to start their week off at the end of the third quarter. Vince Young will do enough in the fourth for a back-door cover.
Cleveland +8 at Carolina: Many people think the Panthers have righted their ship after consecutive wins. I think they are still taking on a little water. Specifically, their front four on defense has not been the scary unit everyone projected. I might start believing in them again if they cover this spread.
San Francisco -3.5 vs. Oakland: Two once-proud franchises, now wallowing in their own filth. The difference is that the Niners have been taking baby steps back toward respectability, while the Raiders are still a smoking crater. Kind of sad, really.
San Diego -3.5 vs. Pittsburgh: The Steelers MUST have this game. They are coming off a bye. The Chargers are still hung over from a loss last week that never should have happened. So, yeah, I'm taking the Chargers. You see, the NFL is perverse. If everything is lined up one way, one must run, not walk, the other direction.
Baltimore +4 at Denver: A similar concept is at play here. The Ravens have been winning very ugly. The Broncos are fresh off their bye, playing with their considerable home-field advantage. They will probably lead the entire game, but Ravens QB Steve McNair will either beat them or scare the bejeezus out of them in the last four minutes. I want the points in what might be the lowest-scoring game of the week.
