Turkey Day Games
Tennessee Titans (-11½) over DETROIT LIONS
This slate of Thursday games is pretty pathetic. Don't feel so bad if you miss a few snaps while you eat some turkey. The Titans loss last week wasn't exactly a fluke, but it's far from a sign of future doom. The Titans are still a good team, they just aren't historically great. Now the Lions, they just may be historically bad…
DALLAS COWBOYS (-12½) over Seattle Seahawks
The Cowboys need to win games like these to continue to put itself back into the playoff picture.
Arizona Cardinals (+3½) over PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Rather than rallying around Reid and McNabb, the Eagles look like a team on the brink of total collapse. I've been both a McNabb and Reid supporter for some time, but I think that at least one if not both need to be replaced for next season. If Reid is canned, perhaps another coach could light a fire under McNabb, so there is a chance his Philadelphia career can be salvaged. However, I think there is no hope for Andy Reid who has shown little ability to adapt these past few years while building a team with glaring weaknesses — poor clock management, too reliant on the pass, no short running game at all — that will never play up to its talent level.
Game of the Week
Pittsburgh Steelers (+1½) over NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
A lot is being made of Matt Cassel and his back-to-back 400 yard passing games. I think the key point many people are missing is that the last quarterback to accomplish this feat was Billy Volek, who hasn't exactly been lighting the world on fire since then. As to the Matt Cassel and Tom Brady comparisons, remember that Tom Brady had all of Troy Brown, David Patten and Jermain Wiggins to throw to during his first season, while Cassel has the All-World offense of Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Ben Watson and Jabbar Gaffney supporting him. If some team like the 49ers or Vikings throws a boatload of money Cassel's way, they are going to be sorely disappointed.
Monday Night Cheerleader
HOUSTON TEXANS (-3½) over Jacksonville Jaguars
I have a special treat for all of you fans of the Monday Night Cheerleader, twins! Larisa and Marisa are 23 year old twins from the cheerleading squad of the Houston Texans. Enjoy and be thankful.
I still really like the future of this Texans team, the offense is solid, however I am worried over what happened to this up-and-coming defense. I really thought the Texans defense was ready to take a step forward after a promising year last season, however they've completely fallen apart this year.
Lock of the Week (that doesn't involve the Detroit Lions)
BALTIMORE RAVENS (-7½) over Cincinnati Bengals
The Eagles tied the Bengals, the Ravens killed the Eagles, so by the transitive property of the NFL the Ravens should destroy the Bengals, right?
Upset of the Week
Atlanta Falcons (+5½) over SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
West Coast teams haven't fared so well when traveling east this season, but I think the Falcons can handle the reverse just fine. You can pretend that I care about the Michael Turner/LaDainian Tomlinson grudge/reunion match, but I don't.
The Rest
Buffalo Bills over SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (+6½)
Kansas City slowed the Bills from their free fall, while the 49ers should put a complete stop to it.
Indianapolis Colts (-4½) over CLEVELAND BROWNS
I don't care what kind of numbers Kurt Warner or Drew Brees are putting up, Peyton Manning carried this team on his shoulders earlier this season when it was decimated by injuries, and now that the team is gaining back its health, Peyton looks downright unstoppable.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (-3½) over Carolina Panthers
I don't know why I keep trusting this Packers team, but I do. In theory, the Panthers should give the Packers a hard match-up as they can run on anyone, while anyone can run on the Packers. And yet…
Miami Dolphins (-7½) over ST. LOUIS RAMS
Miami gets the gift of an NFC West team.
NEW YORK JETS over Denver Broncos (+7½)
The Jets get the gift of an AFC West team. However, this Broncos team does worry me. Part of the reason why the Jets were able to dominate the Titans was because they matched-up perfectly against the Titans strengths and weaknesses. The Jets had a great run defense that was able to smother the Titans rushing game and challenge Kerry Collins and his band of replacement level receivers to beet them, and they didn't. The Broncos have an offense that is the exact opposite. While the Titans think run first, second and last, the Broncos pass as often as possible. Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal could give the Jets secondary — the team's Achilles heel — a challenge.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (-4½) over New Orleans Saints
NFC South rule, go with the home team.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS (+3½) over New York Giants
This seems about the right time for the Giants to lose a game.
Kansas City Chiefs (+2½) over OAKLAND RAIDERS
Oakland isn't winning two games in a row.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (-3½) over Chicago Bears
I really think that Kyle Orton's season is real progress rather than a fluke, however I also think that Adrian Peterson will run all over this Bears defense that's living more on reputation than on actual performance.
A Blast from the Past
- Straight Up: 12-4 Last Week, 111-65 for the season
- Vs. Spread: 10-6 last week, 98-78 for the season
- Game of the Week: 6-6 straight, 8-4 spread
- Monday Night Cheerleader: 5-7 straight, 4-8 spread
- Lock of the Week: 9-3 straight, 8-4 spread
- Upset of the Week 5-7 straight, 7-5 spread
The Ground Rules
Home team in CAPS, spread in ( paren ). If the spread is listed after the victor, then they will cover. If the spread is listed after the loser, then it will not be covered.
Spreads are taken from ESPN.com. I don't do lines.
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