Lucky
Lester here, hoping to hold true to my name
this week. The last few weeks have been a little
questionable, but my overall record remains
strong, especially for picking every game, every
week. Last week Lucky went 5-8-1 bring
his record for the year to 51-45-5. This
week is full of tough match-ups, big spreads,
and make it or break it games. But I'm bound
to improve my fate in a rather interesting week
eight.
It's time to lay my best picks out on the line
once again so they're back...
Week
8 SUPER PICKS
Packers(-2)
@ Redskins - I've got to take Brett Favre and
his Packers for the second week in a row. Although
Brett's mind might be on his wife's health,
he seems to do best when his emotions are high.
Brett is one of my favorite players ever. His
poise, his ability to have fun on the field,
to seemingly effortlessly lead a team to victory;
all these admirable qualities make it impossible
not to respect the guy. Brett is back on his
game; he has led his team to two straight easy
victories, and will continue against a Redskins
team that barely beat a Bear's team quarterbacked
by Jonathan Quinn. Clinton Portis should have
a good night, and keep his team in the game,
but the Packers need to make up for early losses
at home and take a few on the road. This game
in Washington is a perfect time to get one back.
Ahman Green looked like his old self against
Dallas last week, and will test a pretty good
Redskins defense. Take the Packers and the best
signal caller for the past ten years. Game
Date: 10/31/04 13:00 ET
Cardinals(+3)
@ Bills - The Cardinals did one of two things
last week. They either beat a pretty damn good
Seahawks team that is struggling, or beat a
much-overrated Seahawk team that had just been
ranked too high from the get go. Lucky's got
to go for the first one. The Cardinals have
been a feisty crew all year long, and surprisingly
their defense has been stellar. Emmitt Smith
has looked pretty good, especially for a washed
up, should've retired years ago, left for dead
by the Cowboys and Bill Parcels, running back
that led his team to victory last week. I love
seeing former Cowboys do good for other teams,
and this guy who was the Star in the Dallas
logo for so many years, has me jumping for joy,
no matter how much he's making me lose (see
last weeks pick). Anquan Boldin looks like he's
returning this week, but that shouldn't matter.
Buffalo is a poor team, and didn't even look
good in their only win of the season. The kicker,
well the Cardinals are getting three points.
Here's to Dennis Green and his fine return to
coaching... Cheers!
Game Date: 10/31/04 13:00 ET
49ers(+1.5)
@ Bears - The Bears aren't good, not at all.
They can't be satisfied with Craig Krenzel leading
their already struggling offensive unit. Sure,
Thomas Jones has been a pleasant surprise, but
I don't think he can run for big yards against
nine guys in the box. The 49ers will play single
coverage all day against Chicago, challenging
Krenzel to beat them through the air. Although
Craig would love to oblige, he just doesn't
have that ability yet. The Niners should look
to give the ball to Kevan Barlow early and often.
His numbers haven't been what they were projected
to be, but, he'll improve this week. Tim Rattay
is a much better option at quarterback, so now
everything points to the Niners. I think they
are, for the first time this year, a damn good
bet. Game Date: 10/31/04 20:35 ET
Jaguars(+1)
@ Texans - I mean, I like the Texans as much
as the next guy, probably more, since they take
fans away from the Cowboys, but (-1) against
a 5-2 Jaguars team that just beat the Colts
in Indianapolis, are you kidding me? Byron Leftwhich
will continue his 300 plus yard game streak
in this one, and although David Carr will give
the Texans a chance, Leftwhich will prevail.
The Jags are just a more complete team. Their
defense is tough as nails, their offense has
really come together over the last few weeks,
and they're 5-2. I usually take the Texans,
but not this week, not against a team as confident
as the Jaguars. Look for running back Fred Taylor
to finally break out of his slump this week.
He just had 100 plus yards against the Colts,
but I see a couple touchdowns in his immediate
future. Game Date: 10/31/04 13:00 ET
Lions(+3)
@ Cowboys - Can't hate the Boys if they're winning
me money on a weekly basis right? Wrong! These
Cowboys are making me love watching them play.
Between my new least favorite player Keyshawn
Johnson's bickering and Bill Parcels ridiculous
facial expressions, I can't figure out what
I like watching more, the actual game or the
sidelines. And there's always those Cowboy cheerleaders.
The Cowboys have been just what I predicted,
a team that was very overrated, and a team that
obviously overachieved last year. You can say
what you want about the Quincy Carter incident
or the Antonio Bryant stuff, but all in all,
the Cowboys aren't that good, or even good at
all. They struggle every week and now their
defense is getting picked on... oh yes, it's
all coming together quite nicely. Well, all
that said, the upstart 4-2 Lions come to town
this week, and Roy Williams will be back in
his old stomping grounds for the first time
as a pro. Think he'll be excited? I'm willing
to bet on it. In fact, I might just take the
Lions to win this one. All or nothing as I always
say.
Game Date: 10/31/04 13:00 ET
Lucky
Lester's Picks For Week Eight
Giants
@ Vikings(-6.5) - The way I see it, if
the Vikings are favored by less than a touchdown
you should always take them against a lesser
team. And the Giants are a lesser team. Amazing
Tiki Barber continued his offensive rampage
last week in a big loss to the Detroit Lions,
but it wasn't enough. Last week Kurt Warner
looked more like the guy who played behind Marc
Bulger than the guy who started this year. I'm
not saying Kurt's washed up, but he's not better
than Daunte Culpepper, and really isn't even
close. The defenses are about equal, and although
the Giants have an edge in the running game,
Rookie Mewelde Moore has been a godsend for
the Vikings. This will be a close one, high
scoring and as offensive as your average Vikings
game, but take the Vikings to win by at least
7.
Game Date: 10/31/04 13:00 ET
Bengals(+3)
@ Titans - The Bengals showed that they are
better than the 1-4 record they had before handing
it to the Broncos last week. I'm not imagining
for a second that they are going to consistently
kick the backsides of teams like Denver every
week, but the Titans are not a team like Denver,
especially with a questionable Steve McNair.
The entire Titan team seems to be on the questionable
list every week, and even if the players do
play, they're not 100%. Rudi Johnson and Chad
Johnson looked like they got the idea last week,
and I only see them continuing the show against
a banged up Tennessee squad. Carson Palmer might
be getting a little too much credit for his
performance against the Broncos, but his confidence
to go at Champ Bailey says a lot to me about
his game. Take the Bengals. Game Date: 10/31/04
13:00 ET
Colts(-1)
@ Chiefs - Last week I said I was betting on
the Chiefs as if they were a mirror replica
of last years 13-3 team. Well, they turned out
to be exactly that, if not better against a
decent Falcon team. Mike Vick couldn't do jack
against the Chiefs D which even I couldn't have
imagined. But all this said, the Chiefs aren't
the same team they were last year. They aren't
as consistent and will show that this week against
one of the most consistent players in the game,
Peyton Manning, and Edgerrin James and Marvin
Harrison for that matter. Sure, the Colts defense
could challenge the Chiefs defense to see who's
more questionable, but the Colts are just a
better team. I don't like Indianapolis being
favored in this game, but one point is one point,
and in situations like this you have to take
the team you think will win the battle. Manning
will find it easy to toss touchdowns to Mr.
Harrison this weak, and win a big time game
in Kansas City. Game Date: 10/31/04 13:00
ET
Falcons(+6.5)
@ Denver - This games got me vexed. I don't
know which way to go; I don't even know where
to begin. So, I'll start where football starts,
defense. I know the Falcons have just recently
been whipped, but they have a solid defense.
Denver also just got pummeled by a 1-4 Bengals
team, but they also have a good defense. I have
to give Denver a slight advantage here, but
not as big as people might think. Offensively
both teams looked stagnant at best, with Vick
and the Falcons being a little worse. They could
only manage 10 points against the Chiefs. But,
the Broncos couldn't do anything against the
leagues worst rushing defense. I'll have to
give the Broncos another, very slight, advantage.
Now the intangibles, the little things, and
the stuff I call Swagger. Vick always has swagger,
and a little thing I like to call cushioning...
also known as (+6.5). Denver also has a large
amount of close victories. So, the intangibles
have to go to the Falcons. Denver seems to squeak
out their victories for the most part, and if
they do win in Mile High, I don't see it being
by much. I always rank intangibles very high,
realizing that the mental part of the game is
larger. Translation: take the team with the
points in this one. Game Date: 10/31/04 16:05
ET
Panthers
@ Seahawks(-8) - Eight is a bunch for
a team that just went down at the hands of an
Arizona team that is feisty at best . But the
Panthers really haven't been anything greater
then bottom feeders either. For two slumping
teams, the Seahawks are definitely the better
of the two. Matt Hasselbeck will actually come
to play this week, pull his head out of his
backside, and find his stellar offensive teammates
for a bunch of scores against a defense that
can only imagine what they use to be. Shaun
Alexander should run for three times the yards
he had last week, and if Hasselbeck throws half
as many touchdowns as he did interceptions against
Arizona, the Hawks should win easily at home.
I'm still a strong believer in the Hawks and
their playoff and Super Bowl aspirations, but
they need to step up and blow out an injured
Panther team. This, I believe, they will do
on Sunday. Game Date: 10/31/04 16:05 ET
Ravens
@ Eagles(+7.5) - It's real hard for me
to take a team favored by more than a touchdown
against a defense led by Ray Lewis. But that
same defense has to be off the field while the
Baltimore offense has the ball. That offense
is anything but productive especially with Jamal
Lewis suspended for one more game. Chester Taylor
looked okay last week, but Boller still didn't
even break 100 yards... and he played the whole
game. The Eagles didn't look so dominant either,
but were still good enough to be one of the
two undefeated teams going into week 8. McNabb
has been wonderful since Terrell Owens made
himself an Eagle. Brian Westbrook is most likely
out this week as well, so it seems the odds
are stacking against an Eagle victory. But,
Philadelphia will find a way this week, and
smother a lackluster Raven offense.
Game Date: 10/31/04 13:00 ET
Patriots
@ Steelers(+3) - My more sensible half
tells me to take the undefeated, 20 plus game
win streaking, best team in the league, Patriots.
But, who likes to listen to him, when a chance
to call a huge upset is on the line. Don't get
me wrong, taking the Patriots looks like a good
bet. They are only favored by 3 and against
a Steeler team that hasn't got the respect they've
deserved yet this year. But, mark my words;
the Steelers and rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger
are for real. One might think that Belichick
would have his way with the rookie, but I think
this makes the Coach's job a little tougher.
Big Ben hasn't had to many games to show the
Patriots his tendencies, and on that note, his
rookie status will help Pittsburgh. The Patriots
always seem to play to the level of their opponents
and that's bound to bite them in the butt sooner
or later. I'm just betting that it happens in
week 8. I hate to listen to my crazy and cocky
side but... wait a second; I love listening
to that side, what am I thinking? I've got to
take The Steel Crew in this game, showing that
New England is in fact mortal. Game Date:
10/31/04 16:15 ET
Raiders
@ Chargers(-6) - Drew Brees has to get
some respect from me. He has done so well and
until this point all I've been doing is taking
him to fail. I forgot he was a great field general
in college, and he's still growing as a football
player. The Raiders are terrible, and even lost
to the Saints at home. Their offense looked
better last week, but whose offense doesn't
seem powerful against New Orleans? The Chargers
are doing well listening to Marty Schottenheimer.
This Monday LaDainian Tomlinson said he is as
healthy as he's felt in three weeks. So, things
look good for a decent Chargers team against
a poor Raiders team. Even with Sapp and Ted
Washington, the Raiders can't stop a running
back. Keenan McCardell gives the Chargers a
much-needed boost at receiver, and in his second
week he'll be looking to hook up with Brees
for a TD or two. The underrated Chargers secondary
should put a stop to the idea that the Raiders
are an explosive offense. Game Date: 10/31/04
16:15 ET
Miami
@ Jets(-6.5) - I'll take this bet in
the blink of an eye. The Dolphins win one game
and now they aren't even 7-point underdogs in
New York against one of the best teams in football?
Wow! The Jets showed me last week that they
could play with any team in this league, especially
the one-week wonder Miami squad. Jay Fiedler
isn't consistent; in fact he actually is consistent,
consistently bad! He had one decent week and
still it wasn't all that good. Coach Herm Edwards
won't let his Jets overlook the Dolphins or
get down about a loss to the Patriots last week.
He'll have them fired up and ready to improve
their record. The Jets still could walk away
from this one tied for the best record in the
NFL. Give the ball to Curtis, the Phins can't
stop him. Game Date: 11/01/04 21:05 ET
WAGERING
SMART MAKES WATCHING NFL GAMES MORE FUN
Good
Luck with your NFL Football Wagering!
Lucky Lester
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