I was 4 for 4 with about 10 seconds left in the Monday Night game. Then Ronnie Brown and the Dolphins crushed my bid to go a perfect 4-0, but I’ll settle for 3-1. Let’s see if I can make up for it this week.
Against the Spread
1. Houston Texans (+5.5) over the Cincinnati Bengals
The Texans have been as inconsistent as you can get this season. One week they look like the playoff sleeper many expert pegged them as and the next week they look like a team in disarray.
Though, they have improved their dreadful run defense the past two weeks holding their opponents to 89 yards combined. They do face a tough test this week in league leader Cedric Benson (never thought I’d ever say that).
The Bengals are flying high right now but this game just screams let down to me. They have gotten extremely lucky winning their last three games all by 3 points and all in the closing seconds. That luck comes to an end this week.
2. New York Giants (+3) over the New Orleans Saints
This game is a battle for NFC supremacy and could decide home field advantage in the playoffs.
Drew Brees has been rather quiet the past two weeks after getting off to a scorching start the first two weeks of the season. The Giants have been great against the pass this season and I think they can keep Brees in check for another week.
The Saints have been living off takeaways this season leading the league despite only playing four games. Eli Manning will be the toughest quarterback they have faced though and has only turned the ball over twice this season. He’s not going to give them 14 points like Mark Sanchez did with his mistakes a couple of weeks ago.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (-14) over the Oakland Raiders
This game has mis match written all over as evidenced by the 14 point spread and it should probably be even more.
The Raiders can’t do anything offensively, whether it through the air or on the ground. After last week’s embarrassment against the Giants, linebacker Antonio pierce said the game felt like a scrimmage. Talk about a slap in the face.
The Raiders a playing like a JV team right now and until they prove otherwise you have to bet against them.
The Eagles have a surplus of weapons that can exploit the Raiders defensively. They crushed the Bucs last week and their leading receiver, DeSean Jackson, had only one catch. This game will be over in a hurry.
2009 Record: 10-5
Upset Special
1. Kansas City Chiefs (+190) over the Washington Redskins
I like a lot of underdogs this week but I don’t really consider the Giants over the Saints or the Ravens over the Vikings an upset.
That being said I really like the Chiefs chances this week. They were so close against the Cowboys last week and probably should have won that game.
Don’t be fooled by the ‘Skins’s 2-3 record. They have played a win less team every week this season.
The Cowboys broke a lot of big play last week but the Redskins don’t the offensive weapons the Cowboys do. I can’t remember the last time Clinton Portis broke a 40 yard run. Just looked it up and you have to go all the way back to 2005. Ouch.
The Redskins only offensive weapon, Santana Moss, will not be able to go deep as much this game due to the ‘Skins’s o-line woes. They are missing left tackle Chris Samuels and are starting two backup on the right side. That will limit the ‘Skins to more three step drops and quick throws.
Everyone is calling for Jim Zorn’s head right now and its starting to distract the players. They went to Daniel Synder and asked him to give Zorn a vote of confidence the other day but as of now he has made no such comment. He wants to fire Zorn and a loss against the Chiefs will likely be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
2009 Record: 4-1
