Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
An awful 0-3 last week...I didn't study the games and pushed to rush 3 into the makeshift thread last week...I should have known better. Sorry for the delay fellows but the RB thread/article every week is taking up a lot of time. We can always extend the deadlines into Saturday so no worries.
Alright, let's jump to the games and also I want to get better than my 7-8 ATS on the season...yuck yuck yuck.
Cincinnati (-5.5) at Tampa Bay (43)
Tampa had the game won last week but gave it away by kicking the ball to Reggie Bush. The Bucs do not have the explosion on offense to keep up with Cinci, and they have not really slowed anyone down with their defense. It may be getting towards the end for guys like Brooks, Barber, and Rice…it’s sad but a complete overhaul in the off season may be necessary. 0-4 and maybe getting worse. Still to lay 5.5 with Cinci who got beat badly by NE at home, seems like there are better plays on the board.
Cincinnati 27…Tampa Bay 21
Tennessee at Washington (-10.5) (38.5)
Another blowout possible this week? Washington beat another fairly easy team in Houston a few weeks back, and they made it look pretty easy. I don’t see how you can bet with the Titans right now.
Washington 24...Tennessee 13
Houston at Dallas (-13) (43)
Can the Texans play inspired against Dallas? Bledsoe is playing for his job, TO is mad, JJ is running well…this should be a Dallas blowout.
Dallas 31…Houston 10
Buffalo (-1) at Detroit (40)
Many will jump on the Bills here as Detroit is winless and Roy Williams is hurt. I think they will break this bad start very soon even without Roy Williams. Buffalo is really not that great. There should be better plays on the board than trying to sort through 2 teams going nowhere.
Detroit 17…Buffalo 14
Seattle (-3) at St. Louis (44.5)
Suddenly this game looks like a fun contest to watch Sunday. I believe Seattle is still the better team. Even without Shaun they have enough firepower at QB and WR to do lots of damage to St. Louis. This might not make my top3 but I like Seattle’s chances on Sunday as they want to get the taste of that Bears loss out of their mouth.
Seattle 28…St. Louis 20
NY Giants at Atlanta (-3) (42)
I am going to go under on this contest. Atlanta has a good sound defense and they have problems getting into the end zone. I think the score will be relatively low.
Atlanta 20…NY Giants 17
Philly (-3) at New Orleans (46)
OK, I have liked the Saints about every week till this week. I usually do not bet on them as I thought it was wrong to take advantage of a team that has been through as much as they have. But things are better for the Saints, and they are winning football games. They are going to get beat this week by a better fottball team, plain and simple. When Philly lost in week 2 to the Giants, it was like they almost made an agreement that they would never stop scoring till the game was completely out of reach the rest of the way. They then won 38-17, 31-9, and 38-24 last week. They score a truckload of points now and even though NO has a better defense, they will not get in Mcnabb’s way too much.
Philly 30…NO 20
Carolina at Baltimore (-3) (33.5)
I like Carolina to beat the Ravens this week pushing them to 4-2 before they take on Cinci and Dallas the next 2 weeks. This is a must win for the Panthers. They have beaten TB, NO and Cleve…they need to be able to go on the road and beat a credible team. Plus Baltimore cannot run the ball worth a spit right now. Panthers in the upset.
Carolina 17…Baltimore 13
Miami at NY Jets (-2) (36)
The Jets are still as bad as everyone thought they would be. Some of the enthusiasm they started with is leaking out of the balloon. I look for Miami who has played awful to actually stay in this game and pull away late.
Miami 23…NY Jets 14
San Diego (-10) at San Fran (42.5)
Be careful my waging friends. Whenever there is an inter-conference game with a big spread, usually the underdog shows up and covers. It’s something I have noticed and a lot of professional handicappers as well over the years. The Chargers just beat a good team at home soundly, feeling cocky they might not beat the Niners as easily as everyone thinks. So for everyone banking on Michael Turner getting a lot of mop up duty in this one…think again.
San Diego 24…San Fran 17
Kansas City at Pittsburgh (-6.5) (36.5)
You either take Pitt or pass the game, why? Because the Steelers should not be 6.5 point favorites right now and are struggling to move the ball. They are almost begging you to take KC, right? Think about it. I don’t like this game at all.
Pittsburgh 23…KC 17
Oakland at Denver (-15) (36)
Denver, Denver, Denver, Denver, Denver…
Denver 35…Oakland 10
Chicago (-10.5) at Arizona (39)
The Cards looked OK aginast KC last week. Look for Leinart to really have that deer in the headlights this week when Lovie Smith and crew show up on Sunday. The Bears are rolling, and if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.
Chicago 34…Arizona 14
My top3 picks for the week will be
Atl/NYG 42…under
Philly -3
Chicago -10.5
Other games I like
Dallas -13
Seattle -3
Denver -15
Have a great weekend and good luck.
Alright, let's jump to the games and also I want to get better than my 7-8 ATS on the season...yuck yuck yuck.
Cincinnati (-5.5) at Tampa Bay (43)
Tampa had the game won last week but gave it away by kicking the ball to Reggie Bush. The Bucs do not have the explosion on offense to keep up with Cinci, and they have not really slowed anyone down with their defense. It may be getting towards the end for guys like Brooks, Barber, and Rice…it’s sad but a complete overhaul in the off season may be necessary. 0-4 and maybe getting worse. Still to lay 5.5 with Cinci who got beat badly by NE at home, seems like there are better plays on the board.
Cincinnati 27…Tampa Bay 21
Tennessee at Washington (-10.5) (38.5)
Another blowout possible this week? Washington beat another fairly easy team in Houston a few weeks back, and they made it look pretty easy. I don’t see how you can bet with the Titans right now.
Washington 24...Tennessee 13
Houston at Dallas (-13) (43)
Can the Texans play inspired against Dallas? Bledsoe is playing for his job, TO is mad, JJ is running well…this should be a Dallas blowout.
Dallas 31…Houston 10
Buffalo (-1) at Detroit (40)
Many will jump on the Bills here as Detroit is winless and Roy Williams is hurt. I think they will break this bad start very soon even without Roy Williams. Buffalo is really not that great. There should be better plays on the board than trying to sort through 2 teams going nowhere.
Detroit 17…Buffalo 14
Seattle (-3) at St. Louis (44.5)
Suddenly this game looks like a fun contest to watch Sunday. I believe Seattle is still the better team. Even without Shaun they have enough firepower at QB and WR to do lots of damage to St. Louis. This might not make my top3 but I like Seattle’s chances on Sunday as they want to get the taste of that Bears loss out of their mouth.
Seattle 28…St. Louis 20
NY Giants at Atlanta (-3) (42)
I am going to go under on this contest. Atlanta has a good sound defense and they have problems getting into the end zone. I think the score will be relatively low.
Atlanta 20…NY Giants 17
Philly (-3) at New Orleans (46)
OK, I have liked the Saints about every week till this week. I usually do not bet on them as I thought it was wrong to take advantage of a team that has been through as much as they have. But things are better for the Saints, and they are winning football games. They are going to get beat this week by a better fottball team, plain and simple. When Philly lost in week 2 to the Giants, it was like they almost made an agreement that they would never stop scoring till the game was completely out of reach the rest of the way. They then won 38-17, 31-9, and 38-24 last week. They score a truckload of points now and even though NO has a better defense, they will not get in Mcnabb’s way too much.
Philly 30…NO 20
Carolina at Baltimore (-3) (33.5)
I like Carolina to beat the Ravens this week pushing them to 4-2 before they take on Cinci and Dallas the next 2 weeks. This is a must win for the Panthers. They have beaten TB, NO and Cleve…they need to be able to go on the road and beat a credible team. Plus Baltimore cannot run the ball worth a spit right now. Panthers in the upset.
Carolina 17…Baltimore 13
Miami at NY Jets (-2) (36)
The Jets are still as bad as everyone thought they would be. Some of the enthusiasm they started with is leaking out of the balloon. I look for Miami who has played awful to actually stay in this game and pull away late.
Miami 23…NY Jets 14
San Diego (-10) at San Fran (42.5)
Be careful my waging friends. Whenever there is an inter-conference game with a big spread, usually the underdog shows up and covers. It’s something I have noticed and a lot of professional handicappers as well over the years. The Chargers just beat a good team at home soundly, feeling cocky they might not beat the Niners as easily as everyone thinks. So for everyone banking on Michael Turner getting a lot of mop up duty in this one…think again.
San Diego 24…San Fran 17
Kansas City at Pittsburgh (-6.5) (36.5)
You either take Pitt or pass the game, why? Because the Steelers should not be 6.5 point favorites right now and are struggling to move the ball. They are almost begging you to take KC, right? Think about it. I don’t like this game at all.
Pittsburgh 23…KC 17
Oakland at Denver (-15) (36)
Denver, Denver, Denver, Denver, Denver…
Denver 35…Oakland 10
Chicago (-10.5) at Arizona (39)
The Cards looked OK aginast KC last week. Look for Leinart to really have that deer in the headlights this week when Lovie Smith and crew show up on Sunday. The Bears are rolling, and if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.
Chicago 34…Arizona 14
My top3 picks for the week will be
Atl/NYG 42…under
Philly -3
Chicago -10.5
Other games I like
Dallas -13
Seattle -3
Denver -15
Have a great weekend and good luck.
), and I doubt the Skins will lay any kind of egg at home in what is really a must-win. WAS 27, TEN 14.
In the meantime, I don't think the Cards are going to score more than about 10 on the Bears, and their D is not capable of containing Chicago's continuing offensive juggernaut to fewer than 21. CHI 34, ARZ 10.
