Well, I am nothing if not consistent. Three weeks, three straight 10-win weeks, of course last week there were only 14 games (11-3 ATS), so maybe that is actually a sign of improvement. Anyhow, I am now 30-16 outright, (27-18-1 ATS), but the Upset Special floundered again to fall to 1-2, after Drew Bledsoe & Co. ran out of gas in Denver.
Carolina (+7) at Green Bay - Ordinarily I would love to take the upset here, as Carolina really does have a lot of good things going like RB Lamar Smith and DE Julius Peppers, and Green Bay added a lot of overpriced and overaged defensive free agents that have made them not nearly as good as people think. Unfortunately, Carolina is hurting with their only good WR-Mushin Muhammed out and star LB Dan Morgan also hurting. Pick: PACKERS but Panthers with the points NY Jets +3.5 at Jacksonville - I picked the Jets to go to the Super Bowl, and I keep looking for a way in which they could bounce back this week, but despite years of free agent departures, Jacksonville always maintains a respectable team. Fred Taylor should have a huge day against a defense that hasn't stopped the run all year. Pick: JAGUARS but Jets with the points Chicago +3 at Buffalo - Ordinarily, Chicago should be the better team, but Drew Bledsoe has obviously made Vegas into believers. The Bears luck ran out last week, and now the injuries are mounting. I had a sneaking suspicion that the Bears would become this year's Saints, and I could yet be right. Still, the Bears have the deepest WR corps in the League, and Buffalo's third-CB was exposed last week. In other words, this one could easily be a shootout. Pick: BILLS (but Bears with the points) NY Giants at Arizona +3 - I'll dispense with the analysis here because I think that I pick this game wrongly just about every year. Turning to my trusted Sacagawea Silver Dollar in a 2 of 3 coin flip, the Pick: GIANTS and to cover Cleveland +6.5 at Pittsburgh - I think that the Browns are for real, and the Steelers have already hinted that Kordell is not on a short hook. That is not a way to inspire his confidence..... look for the boys in Black and Gold to join the Rams at 0-3. Pick: BROWNS UPSET SPECIAL Tampa Bay at Cincinnati +7.5 - The Bucs are no doubt feeling real good about beating the Rams, and the Bengals.... well, Akili Smith is getting another shot at being an NFL QB, and I think that he might surprise some people. Maybe.... Some suprise. Pick: BUCCANEERS but Bengals with the points Dallas +12 at St. Louis - The Rams aught to get healthy against an outclassed Cowboys team. Pick: Rams and to cover New England at San Diego +3 - The game of the week. There's no question now that the Patriots are the best team in football, having blown out the Steelers, blown out a division opponent on the road, and winning a close one against a dangerous team. I love what Marty Schottenheimer has done in San Diego though, and I think that he will keep this one close, and being at home, may just sneak one out from under the defending Champs. Pick: CHARGERS, on a hunch Houston +20 at Philadelphia - A truly good team shouldn't lose at home to an expansion club. Nevertheless, 20 points is abusrd for any NFL club, let alone a halfway-to-mediocre one like the Texans. Pick: EAGLES, but take the points Tennessee +7 at Oakland - After dropping one to the Texans and another one to a division rival at home, the Titans are desperate. I've gotta believe that something is really wrong with Eddie George, though, and that hurts. Pick: RAIDERS, but Titans with the points Miami at Kansas City +3 - Kansas City is one player keeping his helmet on from being 0-3. The Fish haven't even played a close game yet. Pick: DOLPHINS, and to cover Minnesota +3 at Seattle - Randy Moss being arrested is just the distraction this very bad team didn't need. Pick: SEAHAWKS, and to cover New Orleans at Detroit +7.5 - The Saints aught not to be looking past the Lions now. Pick: SAINTS and to cover Denver at Baltimore +7 - The Broncos are loaded with weapons, Griese, Rod Smith, McCaffery, Clinton Portis, Shannon Sharpe..... and a pretty good defense. The Ravens have Jamal Lewis, Ray Lewis, and a lot of undrafted free agents. Pick: BRONCOS and to cover _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
