Weekly Picks

My friend Harley and this guy Adam share an entry into a pool in which you must pick every NFL game against the spread every week. When they disagree, I break the ties. I had a good record for them last year. Adam froze me out to begin the season but then called on me again when they needed my help. I'm 10-5 over the last 3 weeks for them. Each week I'll post my picks for them. Remember only the most difficult games are presented to me. I'm not going to pick all the games because I think its important to use discretion.

Home Team in Caps and listed first. The spreads listed are the early line.

JETS +6.5 chargers: I think the Chargers are great, and will begin to hit their stride now that their schedule is getting easier. The Jets season is DOA and they may not win another game this year. The spread is under a touchdown, so its an easy call for the Chargers.

BROWNS -3.5 titans: This is a tough one. Two dregs of the league. I like the Browns, I like Crennell, I like Dilfer, but they burned me last week by losing to the Texans. I'll give the Browns another chance.

JAGUARS -13.5 texans: Do not let one win make us forget about the horrors of the Texans. The Jags have a great defensive line that will put pressure on Carr. Also you have a crappy team coming off a win, playing a good team coming off a loss. And playing in the good team's stadium. I'd take the Jaguars if the spread were 23.5. And I mean that.

CHIEFS -4.5 raiders: Usually you can expect these two teams to play a close game. The Raiders are coming off two straight wins. Are they starting to pick it up, or was that just a twitch? I'll take the Chiefs, coming off a tough loss to the Chargers.

DOLPHINS +2.5 falcons: Any time you look at a game and you can clearly identify one team as much better, and the spread is less than a field goal, you have to take the better team. You won't be right every time, but you will be better off in the long run. That means Falcons.

VIKINGS +1.5 lions: This is the toughest game of the week. But anytime you're getting points at home, and the other team is starting Joey Harrington at quarterback you have to take the underdog. This game could do wonders for my still under development "Backup QB Theory." There is a knee-jerk reaction to say the backup stinks. But when the starter is turning the ball over like mad, maybe the backup actually gives the team a better chance to win. He may not help his team score, but he won't absolutely murder them either. We'll see if that happens this week with the Vikings.

49ERS +10.5 giants: After watching the Giants dismantle my Redskins there's now way I can pick against them. Also the 49ers are a dreadful team coming off a big win playing a third string quarterback. Unless the Giants have a huge letdown there is no way they don't cover this spread.

PATRIOTS +3.5 colts: Hey Indianapolis, think you can beat the Patriots? Prove it. Until the Colts do it once (which may happen eventually), you have to keep going to the well with the Patriots.