NFL Picks, Week 9

FINALLY!!!

For the first time this season, I finally got my midweek pick right. I'd like to thank Romeo Crennell, Matt Cassel, Scott Pioli, and the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs for believing in me (and not in themselves), and for turning the ball over 4 times, missing a field goal, and generally falling apart in the 4th quarter to allow the Chargers to end up with a very comfortable victory. I couldn't have done this without you guys.

Now, let's see if this kickstarts me to a week of...well, competance. Home team in CAPS.

Denver (-3.5) over CINCINNATI
Cincinnati just isn't good this season. Can't run, and can't stop the other team, even if the other team isn't that good. Denver is good.

Baltimore (-3.5) over CLEVELAND
One benefit to Baltimore's thrashing by Houston, it doesn't stick us with ridiculously high lines against the minnows on Baltimore's schedule. Baltimore's line for their week 4 game against Cleveland was -12. They didn't cover. But 3.5 points? They'll cover that, even with bad Flacco.

GREEN BAY (-10) over Arizona
Arizona's defense could keep this game close. Even St. Louis wasn't blown out of the building by the Pack, and both other NFC West teams knocked off Green Bay. But the Packers D feasts on turnovers, and I see John Skelton graciously providing a couple picks to let Green Bay pull away.

Chicago (-3.5) over TENNESSEE
Chicago's defense is good. I'm not about to trust Chris Johnson, or that stable of wide receivers against a good defense.

INDIANAPOLIS (+2.5) over Miami 
With the uncertainty surrounding Ryan Tannehill, I'll go with Andrew Luck over the prospect of Matt Moore on the road in Indy.

WASHINGTON (-3) over Carolina
Washington believes in RG3. Carolina does not believe in Cam right now.

Detroit (-4.5) over JACKSONVILLE
The Lions seem to be finding their mojo. The Jaguars don't have any mojo to find.

HOUSTON (-10) over Buffalo
You'd have to double this line before I seriously thought about taking Buffalo.

SEATTLE (-4.5) over Minnesota
Seattle is a monster at home, and Minnesota looks like their bandwagon is about to go off the rails.

Tampa Bay (+1.5) over OAKLAND 
Oakland's wins have come against Pittsburgh (while they were out of sorts early in the season), Jacksonville, and Kansas City. Meaning if the other team has a pulse, the Raiders probably aren't winning. Tampa, on the other hand, always plays its opponent tough.

NEW YORK GIANTS (-3) over Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh can't get a hotel in New York/New Jersey, so they are going to fly in on Sunday, play the game, and fly back that evening. That's a heck of a disadvantage to overcome against a team worse than you. And Pittsburgh is definitely not better than the Giants.

ATLANTA (-4) over Dallas
A team that has shown it will find a way to win the game versus a team that has shown it will find a way to blow the game.

Philadelphia (+3) over NEW ORLEANS 
Michael Vick may be playing for his job, and he gets just about the best defense to be facing in that predicament.

This week: 1-0 !!!!
Last week: 5-9 (.357) 
Season: 44-69-5 (.394)