CINCINNATI –1.10 over Dallas<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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></o>Let’s give Cincinnati a mulligan after disappointing effort against Titans in 27-20 loss last week. The young Bengals caught a cold after big Monday night win over Denver and were not neither prepared or matched up well in that loss. Now they get a Dallas team that hardly deserves to be favored here. While the Cowboys did manage a win against a suspect Lions squad, their return to the ‘run first’ philosophy requires a running game that does not feature an aging Eddie George as its primary weapon. Dallas has lost six of its past eight away games and remains on the decline. Meanwhile, Carson Palmer is looking more comfortable each week and so are his teammates as him being the leader. Boys have played four unimpressive games in a row and we just don’t see that changing here. Play Cincinnati –1.10 (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).<o
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></o>Chicago +9 over NY GIANTS<o
></o>Only one opponent has scored more than 20 points against the Bears this season and that makes this one a no-brainer. While Chicago remains offensively challenged, its defense is more than capable of containing and pressuring an immobile Kurt Warner who has been sacked 11 times in his past two games. The Giants are hardly a trustworthy favorite, especially in this price range as they have just two covers in last 13 tries when favored by five or more points. Giants always live as a pooch but as the chalk they’re a team we can comfortably play against. What the Bears lack in talent they more then make up for in desire and that alone will keep this one very close indeed. Play Chicago +9 (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).<o
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></o>Washington +3½ over DETROIT<o
></o>Difficult setting for the Lions here as their successes have come when running game has been effective but that is unlikely to happen here against the league’s second ranked run defense. Skins are just 2-5, however, they could just as easily be 5-2 or better with a little luck and wiser decisions. They’ve been in every game thus far with a chance to win them all. Washington’s offence continues to struggle but with Clinton Portis running against the league’s 31st ranked run defense and a stellar defense of their own containing this host, the Skins should be able to tame these Lions. Combine that with an injury depleted passing game and Detroit will have nowhere to turn. Lions are not the superior team here. Play Washington +3½ (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).
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></o>New England +1 over ST. LOUIS
Yeah, we know Ty Law is out and so is Corey Dillion, however, we couldn't give a rat's ass about that. All we know is that this is the biggest coaching mismatch of the year and that alone will get the Patriots the "W". Furthermore, heavy steam has been coming in the Rams and that's a sure sign of danger. The Patriots lose one game and all of a sudden everyone is going against them because they lose a couple of key players? Again, Mike Martz against Bill Belichick is equivalent to Joe Montana versus Kyle Boller, that's no exaggeration either. Martz has caused the Rams to lose so many games since he arrived with idiotic calls over and over. Take the Miami game for instance, game was tied 7-7 and Miami had the ball on the Rams 35 yard line with a 3rd and 18. (keep in mind that Miami doesn't have a proven field goal kicker and from here it's a 52 yarder). On third down, the Fish get a holding call on an incomplete pass and rather then decline and make it 4th and 18, Martz accepts it and makes it third and 28. Now, also keep in mind that Miami is 1-6 and have nothing to lose, their loose and actually are playing pretty good. Next play, BOOM...TD, 14-7 Miami and the Rams never recovered. This is only one example of how inept Martz is and believe me, he'll make at least five stupid decisions again today, he does every week. Aside from that, the Rams defensive line is the leagues worst and give Belichick something like that to exploit and he'll take full advantage. I don't care if the Rams have had two years to prepare for this game, Rams are the inferior team here by not a little, but by a ton and we're going to witness why the Patriots won 21 in a row. Bellichick losing to Martz, c'mon now. Play New England +1 (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5)
The Rest of the Games
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></o>BUFFALO +3 over NY Jets<o
></o>With our refusal so lay road points in the NFL, especially in divisional games, we have to lean to the revenge minded Bills here. Jets coming off a big Monday Night win and that’s always a red flag the following week. Furthermore, this one has trap written all over it. Bills have looked brutally awful, both at home and on the road, and Drew Bledsoe is completely out of sync. If there’s a QB in this league that makes more bad decisions then Bledsoe, we haven’t witnessed it yet. Jets appear to be gaining steam and frankly, there’s not much to like about the home side here. However, we can also recognize when a game looks too good to be true and this one falls directly under that category. Jets backers are urged to proceed with extreme caution here. Play Buffalo +3 (No bets).
<o
></o> PITTSBURGH +1 over Philadelphia<o
></o>Eagles not quite as effective without running game and Brian Westbrook remains questionable for this one. Prefer to stick with hot Steelers team taking home points and a motivated Duce Staley running against the team that discarded him. Philly allowing nearly five yards per carry and that does not bode well here. Next we have the shenanigans of one Terrell Owens who just can’t help himself. T.O. cannot stop from trying to humiliate the opposition and one of these weeks he’s going to motivate the wrong team. Steelers playing better then any team we’ve seen and the Eagles have some weaknesses then can be exploited. Wrong side favored. Play Pittsburgh +1 (No bets).<o
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></o>Oakland +7 over CAROLINA<o
></o>Can’t get too excited about endorsing this uninspired Raiders team but not willing to give away a near touchdown with a Carolina team that has dropped five straight. Panthers have yet to win or cover at home and continue to be obliterated by injury. Furthermore, these Raiders have been embarrassed in three of their past four games, all losses, and we’ve seen what happens when a teams pride is on the line. Laying a converted TD with 1-6 teams is just bad strategy, period. Play Oakland +7 (No bets).<o
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></o>Arizona +3 over MIAMI <o
></o>Tough to back Dolphins team as favorite when they are scoring a league-low 12 ½ points per game. Cardinals travel like a three-year old with a fever but still lean that way over host that has lost yet another key player with Junior Seau’s season abruptly ending. Still, the Cardinals will have to travel far for the second consecutive week after playing in Buffalo last week and with 17 road losses in a row, an aging Emmett Smith at RB, surely, there are better games then this one. Hold a gun to our head and we’ll take the points but frankly want no part of this game. Play Arizona +3 (No bets).<o
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></o>TAMPA BAY +3 over Kansas City<o
></o>We issued a warning on the Jets and will issue a double warning on the Chiefs here. It’s easy to be on the Chiefs bandwagon at the moment after they compiled more than 100 points in past two games. Line appears rather soft to the unsuspecting public but take note, the oddsmakers are too sharp to post soft numbers. The public will be hammering this Chiefs squad who suddenly look like a Super Bowl contender after annihilating the Falcons and putting away the Colts. The bait has been set here and we’re urging you not to bite. Surely, the linesmakers could have put up a four or five here and not swayed a single bet in the Bucs direction. However, they didn’t, they came out with a three and by game time, once the public gets a hold of this number, it will rise. Line was designed to entice the wagering public into betting on the “wrong side” here and that side is the Chiefs. Two choices here in our opinion, lay off or bet the Bucs. Tampa off their bye and Kansas City off huge win over Indy sets up nicely for host. Play Tampa Bay +3 (No bets).<o
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></o>Seattle –6½ over SAN FRANCISCO<o
></o>Does 34-0 ring a bell? That was the final in Seattle when these two met a few weeks ago. While the jury remains out on where the Seahawks currently rank, we know the Niners have suffered a slew of injuries and can barely field a competitive team. Dangerous spot but we’ll give the points. Seahawks going nowhere again but have shown a propensity for beating up on weak foes like this one. Hate to lay road points but the alternative appears much worse. Play Seattle –6½ (No bets).<o
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></o>SAN DIEGO –6 over New Orleans<o
></o>This one would rank higher if LaDainian Tomlinson was 100% but still lean to flourishing Chargers and competent running attack over inept Saints. New Orleans allowing an alarming 141 yards per game on the ground and that won’t come close to working here. Saints remain a much better dog then they do a favorite and if this talented bunch shows up they certainly have a chance to win outright here. Question is, will they pull another no show? Look elsewhere. Play San Diego –6 (No bets).<o
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></o>Houston +6½ over DENVER<o
></o>Denver stock has dropped rather quickly after consecutive losses to Bengals and Falcons. Young Houston team could be susceptible after big win over Jaguars and Colts on deck but we’ll still support them in this spot as confidence is high and passing game capable. David Carr is quietly becoming one of the most potent forces in the game. Play Houston +6½ (No bets).<o
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></o>Cleveland +6 over BALTIMORE
Ravens still have bad taste in their mouths after Browns spanked them in Baltimore on opening day and would like nothing more to avenge that one. However, we’re not sure that this inept offence has the capability to respond and spotting points here would be foolish. Play Cleveland +6 (No bets).
