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Week
15 went well, making 3 straight weeks of winners
for the come back kid of the season. Follow me, good
ol' Lucky Lester, on the way to my 4th straight week
of big winners.
Gimmie-Games
Bengals
over the Broncos
Bears over the Lions
Chiefs over the Raiders
Colts over the Texans
Ravens over the Steelers
Thursday:
Minnesota
Vikings (+3.5) @ Green Bay Packers: What can I say?
I've been waiting for the Vikings to pull their heads
out of their respective asses and bench Brad Johnson
for the young and extremely talented Tevares Jackson.
They did, and so I'm going to go ahead and shoot for
tooting my own horn in my review. The hapless Vikings
upset the hapless Packers.
Saturday:
Kansas
City Chiefs (-6.5) @ Oakland Raiders: Larry Johnson
is running for the Chiefs who have to win or face a
sure exit from playoff hopes. Justin Fargas is running
for the Raiders, who, ah, are never going to win again
this year.
Sunday:
Baltimore
Ravens (+3.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers: I know the
Steelers are coming on strong of late, but really, do
wins over Tampa Bay, Cleveland, and Carolina really
count? No. If they beat Baltimore this week, sure, I'll
admit, they're a force once again, but until they beat
a team that isn't completely useless, there's no way
they beat one of the best squads in the AFC.
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons (-6): The
Panthers aren't nearly the team I'd thought they'd be,
and that's with Jake Delhomme at quarterback. This Chris
Weinke guy was made to lose NFL football games, and
thus far he's followed the pattern brilliantly. Despite
losing last week, the Falcons are healthy, and playing
well, so expect them to tame the Panthers in Atlanta.
Chicago
Bears (-4) at Detroit Lions: Is this some kind of
sick joke? I know the Bears are the beasts of the NFC,
and can't possibly be caught, but lets be honest, these
are the Lions here. The Kevin Jones-less Lions, and
no, they won't be able to hang with half of the Bears,
a team that historically tries to win every game down
the stretch anyway, and has something yet to work on
with consistency on both sides of the ball.
Indianapolis
Colts (-9) @ Houston Texans: I have a feeling the
Colts are going to get on a hot streak here that will
lead them into the 2nd spot in the AFC, and a nice little
run to the Super Bowl. They aren't trying to do things
they aren't good at anymore, that died before the Bengal
game, and now they're ready to just take what defenses
give them. Luckily for the Colts, Houston is ready to
give them anything they want. Peyton's only question
will be, who to get the ball to, they'll all be open.
New
England Patriots at Jacksonville Jaguars (-2.5):
With the Jags in need of a win to stay in the playoff
hunt, they'll play all out against the Patriots. I know
Tom Brady and his Pats were back to their old selves
last week against Houston, but Jacksonville plays well
against tough opponents, and the Jags aren't the Texans.
Look for Jacksonville to outrun New England on way to
a very important home win.
New
Orleans Saints (+3) at New York Giants: I just don't
see how the Saints are underdogs here. I don't thin
the Giants have a chance to make the playoffs, so it's
not as if they'll be playing with extra umph. And Drew
Brees has been shredding suspect secondaries all season
long, and the Giants certainly have one of those. Look
for Drew and the Saints to perform well in a bounce
back game.
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers (+3) at Cleveland Browns: With Tim
Rattay getting the starting nod, I actually believe
the Buccaneers are a tough team. Cleveland, on the other
hand, has also played well since their back up, Derek
Anderson, has come in for an injured Charlie Frye, but
I like Cadillac Williams to have his best game of the
season, Joey Galloway to light up the airways, and a
Buccaneer defense to shut down the Browns.
Tennessee
Titans at Buffalo Bills (-4.5): Buffalo has been
a very good team of late, giving Bill fans something
to get excited about next season, and if the cards fall
right, this season too. Tennessee's luck will run out
this week in Buffalo, as there's no way they'll win
with another piss poor offensive performance. Against
a finally healthy Bills defense, trouble for the Titans
will continue. But how about the YOUNG kid, he's gonna
be something!
Washington
Redskins (+2) at St. Louis Rams: Personally, between
me and you, I like the Rams as a team much better than
I like the Skins. But, Ladell Betts is a terrible match
up for the Rams. St. Louis struggles against downhill
runners with a knack to break tackles, and Ladell has
proven to be that. Steven Jackson will get his, but
the young Redskins skill players will be the deciding
factor in a Washington win on the road.
Arizona
Cardinals @ San Francisco 49ers (-4): The public
likes the Niners here, and so do I. With Frank Gore,
San Fran will control the ball all day long. Alex Smith
is finally playing to his #1 pick potential, something
that will be proven again on Sunday against the Cardinals.
The 49ers defense has a little pop as well, but if they
can't find a way to stop Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald,
this game will be a late shootout.
Cincinnati
Bengals (+3) at Denver Broncos: I like Jay Culter,
but he won't be able to shred the Bengals defense like
Peyton Manning did last Monday Night. And there is no
way the Bengals come out as flat as a tire for the second
straight week in a row, especially with their playoff
lives on the line. This spread is like giving the game
away. Thanks for free money, fellas.
San
Diego Chargers (-4) at Seattle Seahawks: I'd love
to take the Seahawks here, with the belief that they
are ready to turn the corner, ready to step up in crunch
time, ready to throw that killing punch. But then again,
I'd love a perfect record, more money than Bill Gates,
and more booty than Jennifer Lopez, but all I got is
this computer, a couple hooves to type with, and an
editor who claims to be an ex-ultimate fighter extraordinaire.
Basically, me and the Hawks are rolling in the same
boat. Seattle has proven that they aren't ready to defend
their NFC Title, while the Chargers are destined to
get LT a few more touchdowns. Unfortunately for the
Hawks, this game still has meaning for SD. What has
Seattle done to make me think they could win this game?
Win the NFC last year. Key word, last.
Philadelphia
Eagles (+7) at Dallas Cowboys: You've got to root
for Jeff Garcia and the Eagles in this one, right? With
TO running his mouth in Dallas, and Jeff Garcia playing
like the pro-bowler he was when last tossing to TO,
it would be sweet for Philly to win this game. And I'm
not a believer in destiny, but an interview with TO
after the game that has this question, "So, remember
that QB you called Gay? He just smoked your boys in
Dallas. Did you thoroughly enjoy them apples?"
Yeah, I have to pick the Eagles in this one. Brian Westbrook
to the rescue, but Jeff Garcia with the final dagger.
Monday:
New
York Jets (+2.5) at Miami Dolphins: This is a tough
one, so I'll go with the Jets, since they still have
a shot at post season play. New York has been off and
on more times than my power over the last few weeks,
but I think their offensive line is coming into their
own, and Chad Pennington is back to trusting his receivers
down the field. Laveraneus Coles is one of the best
the league has to offer, and Chad will get him the ball
to win this game in Miami.
This
week should be interesting, either the books are about
to lose a lot of money, or I'm about to have a huge
week.
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