Jeff Pasquino
Footballguy
First of all, take these all with a grain of salt.
Secondly, these are for educational purposes only.
Third - I think it is a major mistake to try and predict all games.
My ranking system is based on "Stars", which gauges how strongly I feel about each pick.
Week 9 - Mediocre week last week at 4-5, so let's try and bounce back a bit.
Can't say I love all of these games (HOU/MIN is a nightmare to pick) but there's some good ones, and even a 3-star pick. So...... Let's talk.
Here we go:
*ONE STAR GAMES*
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-9) at Kansas City Chiefs - (1 star)
Kansas City's best bet is that Tampa Bay doesn't adjust their clocks. The Chiefs might have a few Kansas State kids suit up to play QB or RB this week. The Bucs have their own RB issues, but Michael Bennett getting touches against his old team? Revenge, anyone? Bucs should romp here, but given their offensive woes last week I'll leave this as a 1-star because I fear a big number / back door cover.
Atlanta Falcons (-2.5) at Oakland Raiders - (1 star)
So what's older - (1) The bad news about McFadden's health, (2) the fact that the Raiders stink, or (3) Al Davis? The answer is (4) all of the above are incredibly old at this point. The younger Falcons team is everything that Davis might want - a young QB with a great arm, a strong 2-back run game, a stud wideout... what more could he ask for? Maybe for them to be his team? Falcons win and should easily cover the number.
Philadelphia Eagles (-6.5) at Seattle Seahawks - (1 star)
I had this game as a touchdown spread even before I looked, so I had this one pegged pretty well. Oh, what a difference "6.5" makes. Eagles should dominate a Hasselbeck-less team that would be better if Elizabeth was in the huddle. At least then this team would be watchable. The Eagles will manage to put a mostly healthy team (no LJ Smith) on the field and the weather may be a factor, but Eagles by 10 sounds about right.
**TWO STAR GAMES**
Buffalo Bills (-4.5) vs. New York Jets - (2 stars)
Buffalo is underrated, and the Jets aren't playing that well. Favre barely saved a game last week that he nearly cost them in the first place, while Buffalo keeps plugging along. The Bills see that they have a real shot at the division and their running game vs. the Jets defense is a much better matchup than Jones / LWash vs. Poz and company. Bills by 7, more if they get a Pick 6.
New England Patriots (+6) at Indianapolis Colts - (2 stars)
Did the Colts get better overnight? I don't think so. The Pats won even without any real RB options, but Cassel is coming into his own and is using Welker and Moss effectively. Peyton has no time to throw and both his RBs are questionable. Good luck, Peyton. Patriots are a good bet to win the game but I'll gladly take the points.
***THREE STAR GAMES***
Pittsburgh (+2) at Washington Redskins - (3 stars)
Finally - a 3-star pick. I saw what I needed to see out of the PIT/NYG game, and I've seen more that my fair share of the Redskins. I've actually seen a number of games from both teams, so I know their strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately for Redskins fans, everything before kickoff is negative. No Jason Taylor and maybe no Santana Moss? Portis is still healthy but he did get nicked last week and all that was available was Shaun Alexander and Rock Cartwright? The biggest story is if Santana is out. That changes everything for that offense. The Steelers are also getting Fast Willie back and want to show the league on Monday Night that they are the class of the AFC. I say they do just that, 24-20.
Good luck this week, and remember that if you are tempting fate and actually wagering on these games to bet with your head and not over it.
Enjoy the games.
Secondly, these are for educational purposes only.
Third - I think it is a major mistake to try and predict all games.
My ranking system is based on "Stars", which gauges how strongly I feel about each pick.
Week 9 - Mediocre week last week at 4-5, so let's try and bounce back a bit.
Can't say I love all of these games (HOU/MIN is a nightmare to pick) but there's some good ones, and even a 3-star pick. So...... Let's talk.
Here we go:
*ONE STAR GAMES*
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-9) at Kansas City Chiefs - (1 star)
Kansas City's best bet is that Tampa Bay doesn't adjust their clocks. The Chiefs might have a few Kansas State kids suit up to play QB or RB this week. The Bucs have their own RB issues, but Michael Bennett getting touches against his old team? Revenge, anyone? Bucs should romp here, but given their offensive woes last week I'll leave this as a 1-star because I fear a big number / back door cover.
Atlanta Falcons (-2.5) at Oakland Raiders - (1 star)
So what's older - (1) The bad news about McFadden's health, (2) the fact that the Raiders stink, or (3) Al Davis? The answer is (4) all of the above are incredibly old at this point. The younger Falcons team is everything that Davis might want - a young QB with a great arm, a strong 2-back run game, a stud wideout... what more could he ask for? Maybe for them to be his team? Falcons win and should easily cover the number.
Philadelphia Eagles (-6.5) at Seattle Seahawks - (1 star)
I had this game as a touchdown spread even before I looked, so I had this one pegged pretty well. Oh, what a difference "6.5" makes. Eagles should dominate a Hasselbeck-less team that would be better if Elizabeth was in the huddle. At least then this team would be watchable. The Eagles will manage to put a mostly healthy team (no LJ Smith) on the field and the weather may be a factor, but Eagles by 10 sounds about right.
**TWO STAR GAMES**
Buffalo Bills (-4.5) vs. New York Jets - (2 stars)
Buffalo is underrated, and the Jets aren't playing that well. Favre barely saved a game last week that he nearly cost them in the first place, while Buffalo keeps plugging along. The Bills see that they have a real shot at the division and their running game vs. the Jets defense is a much better matchup than Jones / LWash vs. Poz and company. Bills by 7, more if they get a Pick 6.
New England Patriots (+6) at Indianapolis Colts - (2 stars)
Did the Colts get better overnight? I don't think so. The Pats won even without any real RB options, but Cassel is coming into his own and is using Welker and Moss effectively. Peyton has no time to throw and both his RBs are questionable. Good luck, Peyton. Patriots are a good bet to win the game but I'll gladly take the points.
***THREE STAR GAMES***
Pittsburgh (+2) at Washington Redskins - (3 stars)
Finally - a 3-star pick. I saw what I needed to see out of the PIT/NYG game, and I've seen more that my fair share of the Redskins. I've actually seen a number of games from both teams, so I know their strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately for Redskins fans, everything before kickoff is negative. No Jason Taylor and maybe no Santana Moss? Portis is still healthy but he did get nicked last week and all that was available was Shaun Alexander and Rock Cartwright? The biggest story is if Santana is out. That changes everything for that offense. The Steelers are also getting Fast Willie back and want to show the league on Monday Night that they are the class of the AFC. I say they do just that, 24-20.
Good luck this week, and remember that if you are tempting fate and actually wagering on these games to bet with your head and not over it.
Enjoy the games.
-- I'm 14-7-1 so far this year.. use a computer ranking formula type deal which I'm pretty sure is what you do use as well, right??
-- I'm 14-7-1 so far this year.. use a computer ranking formula type deal which I'm pretty sure is what you do use as well, right??
