It is a boring weekend for college football but tons of interesting games in the NFL. Just further proof that NFL > college football. With only 6 of 32 teams really out of playoff contention at the halfway point of the season, just about every game will have an impact on playoff positioning. The prime time games are excellent this weekend. It got started with the Falcons beating the Ravens (as I predicted on Facebook) last night, continues Sunday night with New England traveling to Pittsburgh, and concludes with Philadelphia going to Washington to take on their former QB Donovan McNabb.Week 10 - Sunday, November 14
Detroit (2-6) at Buffalo (0-8), Buffalo favored by 3
Something has to give in this game. The Bills keep getting so close to their first victory only to come up just a bit short, while the Lions have lost 24 straight road games. The Lions are once again without brittle QB Matthew Stafford and it appears it will be the Shaun Hill show again. Hill played decently when he stepped in earlier this season. If Stafford were starting I would take the Lions to end their road hex, but I think this is finally the week for the Bills.
Prediction: Buffalo 24, Detroit 17
Minnesota (3-5) at Chicago (5-3), Minnesota favored by 1
The Vikings are never boring. Trailing at home to Arizona 24-10 with just five minutes remaining, the Vikings pulled a win out of their ass, mostly because of QB Brett Favre. The Bears continue to be one of the most underwhelming 5-3 teams in history. I had to pick up Jay Cutler at QB this week for one of my fantasy teams, so I am hoping he doesn't have a repeat of his last home performance, where he threw 4 interceptions. The Vikings pass rush finally came alive against Arizona last week, and I think that will continue against a porous Bears offensive line.
Prediction: Minnesota 23, Chicago 16
New York Jets (6-2) at Cleveland (3-5), New York Jets favored by 3
What do you make of the Cleveland Browns? Back to back wins against the Saints and Patriots, and not just wins, routs. The Browns may have dug themselves too big of a hole early to be a playoff factor but they can definitely play the role of spoiler. The Jets were fortunate to escape Detroit with a win. Browns RB Peyton Hillis has been a monster but I think the Jets have the horses to slow him down. I also think that if the Browns stick with QB Colt McCoy, he will end up throwing a few interceptions that will prove costly. If Cleveland wins again this weekend I am going to stop picking against them.
Prediction: New York Jets 18, Cleveland 12
Cincinnati (2-6) at Indianapolis (5-3), Indianapolis favored by 7
The Bengals are a mess and the end may finally be near for mediocre coach Marvin Lewis. WR Terrell Owens continues to be a dominant force, but no one else on the offense has really stepped up. The Colts continue to be one of the most banged up teams in the league but Peyton Manning keeps finding ways to involve and use the new pieces to his advantage. The Bengals keep losing but have remained competitive, so I think they are good for at least a cover.
Prediction: Indianapolis 24, Cincinnati 20
Tennessee (5-3) at Miami (4-4), Tennessee favored by 1
What a brutal home schedule the Dolphins have had thus far this season. They are 0-3 at home and with the Titans coming on Sunday, the teams they have faced at home have a combined record of 23-9. Former starter Chad Henne was throwing way too many interceptions, so the Dolphins are turning back the clock to Chad Pennington, the man who led them to the 2008 AFC East title. This game also marks the Titans debut of WR Randy Moss. Who knows how much of an impact Moss will make, he hasn't shown much this year. It is still up in the air as to whether Kerry Collins or Vince Young will start for the Titans. Either way I like Miami to win what is a must win game for them.
Prediction: Miami 23, Tennessee 22
Carolina (1-7) at Tampa Bay (5-3), Tampa Bay favored by 3 1/2
What an ugly, ugly season for the Panthers. If they had the kind of media attention on them that the Cowboys have, John Fox would have been long gone by now. It is possible that Tony Pike will get the start in this one, with Matt Moore out for the year and Jimmy Clausen out with sucking. The Bucs fought valiantly at Atlanta and are starting to prove that they may be an upper echelon team.
Prediction: Tampa Bay 30, Carolina 14
Houston (4-4) at Jacksonville (4-4), Jacksonville favored by 2
No one knows what to make of either of these teams. It seems to change on a weekly basis. The Jags are coming off their bye week after demolishing the Cowgirls. If David Gerrard could play every week like he played two weeks ago, the Jags would be contenders. The Houston pass defense continues to be awful, turning no name practice squad guys on the Chargers into stars last week. The Jags will probably put up better passing numbers than normal, but I think the offensive weapons for the Texans will carry them to victory.
Prediction: Houston 28, Jacksonville 27
Kansas City (5-3) at Denver (2-6), Kansas City favored by 1
I think this line is easy money. The Broncos are not good and the Chiefs, despite their penchant for blowing games they should win are much better. Playing at Denver is nowhere near as intimidating as it used to be. Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones will run all over the Broncos, and Cassel will do just enough, as he has done most of the season.
Prediction: Kansas City 27, Denver 21
Dallas (1-7) at New York Giants (6-2), New York Giants favored by 14
The Wade Phillips era finally came to an end, as Jerry Jones decided he was tired of seeing his team get absolutely destroyed every week. I foolishly thought the Cowgirls had some pride and would show up on national television last Sunday. I won't make that mistake this week. Doesn't matter to me if Jason Garrett is coaching them or has them practicing in pads. I haven't bought into the Giants like everyone else has, I think they have been feasting on bad teams recently, but Dallas certainly qualifies as being bad.
Prediction: New York Giants 38, Dallas 17
Seattle (4-4) at Arizona (3-5), Arizona favored by 3
I believe Charlie Whitehurst get's his second start in this one, too lazy to look up whether I am wrong. Neither team is good, actually, they are equal to each other in how bad they are. Go with the home team. Oh yeah, Charlie Whitehurst vs. Derek Anderson, what an epic battle!
Prediction: Arizona 23, Seattle 10
St. Louis (4-4) at San Francisco (2-6), San Francisco favored by 6
The Troy Smith era continues! The Niners are just 2 games out of the division lead and thus, still very much alive in the playoff race, despite being 2-6. However, lose this game and those talks of a division title can finally be laid to rest. Rams QB Sam Bradford is easily the best QB in this division and even with how bad the NFC West is, it is a minor miracle that he has the Rams in first place at the halfway mark. Don't really know who will win this game, so I go with my homer pick.
Prediction: San Francisco 19, St. Louis 17
New England (6-2) at Pittsburgh (6-2), Pittsburgh favored by 4 1/2
All that talk about New England being the best team in football was ended with their lambasting at the hands of the Browns. However, if they can travel to Pittsburgh and win, in this battle of 6-2 teams, sports radio will jump right back on the bandwagon. I expect the Patriots to be much more ready to play for this game than they were against Cleveland. Offensively, these teams are about equal but defensively the Steelers are head and shoulders above New England. Even with the Steelers offensive line hurting, I don't think the Patriots can generate enough of a pass rush to fluster Ben Roethlisberger. These are two good games so it will come right down to the wire, but Steelers for the win!
Prediction: Pittsburgh 24, New England 21
Monday, November 15
Philadelphia (5-3) at Washington (4-4), Philadelphia favored by 3
I will be attending this game, unless I somehow get sick again like I did before the Colts game that I ended up missing. The Eagles and Redskins met a little over a month ago, with the Skins coming out on top in Donovan McNabb's return to Philadelphia. A lot of people like to point to the fact that the Skins win because they knocked out Michael Vick. They are conveniently forgetting that the Skins were winning 14-0 before Vick even got hurt. In DC, the talk has been about Mike Shanahan's strange decision to bench McNabb at the end of the Lions game with the game still in doubt. Shanahan made it even worse by coming up with about 500 explanations for why he did it. It is so sad that the fact that McNabb will be practicing the 2 minute drill on Saturday is an actual headline on ESPN.com. I had a good feeling about the Skins winning at Philly, and I have an equally bad feeling about them losing at home on Monday night. Their running back situation is a mess with both Ryan Torain and Clinton Portis hurting. They still have barely an true offensive weapons, and the defense changes on a week to week basis on whether they can stop teams or not. While I think the Skins would have won that first game anyway, there is no disputing that Vick in the lineup makes a huge difference. The Eagles barely went deep once Kolb entered the game, while Vick can throw it deep without even trying. I think Vick and DeSean Jackson will continue to put up big numbers together and the turmoil will only increase in Washington.
Prediction: Philadelphia 30, Washington 20
Last Week Straight Up: 8-5
Overall Straight Up: 56-46
Last Week Against the Spread: 5-7-1
Overall Against the Spread: 52-47-3
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