NY Giants +6 over CINCINNATI<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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></o>Up until last week, it would have been difficult to play on the Giants with counterfeit money. Does a gutsy contest against the Steelers suddenly raise New York’s value? We think it does. The Giants have had a tough go of it lately. After playing the Falcons, Eagles, at Washington, at Baltimore and then Pittsburgh, they should be relieved to be visiting this far more suitable opponent. The Bengals sit a couple of games under .500 and have allowed an alarming 340 points this season. Carson Palmer will play only if he’s 100% healthy but regardless of whether he plays or not, we’re siding with the Giants. In fact, should Palmer be penciled in, we’ll likely get a bit more wood here so wait until the starting QB is named before making your wagers. We can only benefit if we do because this line is not about to drop. Eli Manning has shown gradual improvement and the timing might be right for the upset here. This Bengals defense will be the worst Manning has seen since he put on his NFL digs and his first NFL win is waiting for him here. Play: NY Giants +6 (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).<o
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></o>Baltimore +5 over PITTSBURGH<o
></o>The Steelers have won 12 straight since Ben Roethlisberger took over at quarterback way back in Week 2. The last team that Pittsburgh lost to was this Baltimore squad. While Pittsburgh will be ultra-motivated to avenge that defeat, it won’t be an easy task. The Ravens are fighting for a playoff spot and need to win out. They continue to play well defensively and they know this opponent well. While Big Ben and the Steelers continue to draw rave reviews, up until last week they had gone a month without scoring 20 points in a game. They’ll be hard pressed to put up 20 here against the only defense in the NFL that was able to contain Peyton Manning and his Colts. In fact, that was a gutsy defensive performance last week and if nothing else, it had to give this confident unit even more confidence, not to mention some serious satisfaction. Ravens carry that over here and get a lesser offense to contend with. We’re calling the Ravens outright but will have to side with the points in what should be a closely contested battle throughout. Play: Baltimore +5 (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5). <o
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></o>Arizona +7 over SEATTLE<o
></o>Win, lose or draw, the Seahawks shouldn’t be favored by a converted touchdown against the marching band. Seattle has been a big disappointment to both its fans and its backers. The Hawks have covered just two of their past 12 games and are a draining 1-7 the past eight times they were favored. Seattle actually went into Arizona a few weeks back as a 6 ½-point favorite before being handed their lunch in an 8-point loss. The Cardinals have an outside shot at the playoffs as this division is still up for grabs and they aren’t much worse than this battered and underachieving host. Seattle gets no worse than a wild-card spot if it wins Sunday, and also will wrap up the NFC West if St. Louis loses Monday night to Philadelphia. We know for sure that the Cardinals will not get much backing here as they are about the least wagered on team in the NFL. The oddsmakers are also aware of this and they’re also aware of the importance of this game for the hometown Seahawks. Next question is why, with all that information, did they not make the Seahawks a 7½ point favorite? Seattle is simply not worthy of this tag. Play: Arizona +7 (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).<o
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></o>The Rest of the Games<o
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></o>MINNESOTA –3 over Green Bay<o
></o>Tough to call the unpredictable Vikes here but the alternative appears much worse. This Packer team just might be the biggest imposters this year. They’ve needed wins desperately and it took a field goal at home on the games last play to defeat a reeling Lions squad two weeks ago. They followed that lame performance with another last week in home loss to the Jags. Packers are 8-6 but none of their wins have come against winning teams. They’ve played three teams this year above .500 and lost them all by a combined 47 points. Five of the Vikes last six have been against cupcakes and all they’ve done is gone 3-3 over that span when in fact, they could have gone 6-0 or, at the very least, 5-1. But they didn’t and that doesn’t give us much confidence to wager on them here. The Packers have somehow qualified for post-season activity already while the Vikings have not. Neither team very impressive but Green Bay is particularly weak in domed stadiums and will travel here on a short week. Play: Minnesota –3 (No bets).<o
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></o>DETROIT –6 over Chicago<o
></o>Can someone explain why Chicago signed an unemployed Jeff George just to have him sit? Heck, Curious George could do better than the multitude of useless pivots they’ve used this season. Bears QB situation is just too unstable for us to give them any consideration here. We’ve quickly found out why Chad Hutchison was the Bears fourth stringer. This team has performed brutally awful past two weeks and nothing points to a breakout. Lions come to play while Bears have gone into hibernation. You're just going to have to consider which is the worst of two evils here, laying points with a bad club or taking points with a team that literally has no offense and has seemingly packed it in. 17 points by the Lions will likely get a cover here and we believe they'll get it. Play: Detroit –6 (No bets). <o
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></o>Oakland +8 over KANSAS CITY<o
></o>Get your calculators out as both squads defend poorly and both will be pass-happy here. While Chiefs are playing better recently, this is as old and as intense a rivalry as any and that usually means a close battle. Throw all stats out the window when these two hook up because they don’t mean much. Chiefs have reeled off three in a row and have scored 34, 49, and 45 points respectively in doing so. As a result of those high numbers we get a somewhat inflated number here and it’s usually not a good idea to back the chalk under those circumstances. Raiders will come to play in featured Saturday matinee. Play: Oakland +8 (No bets). <o
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></o>Denver –4 over TENNESSEE<o
></o>Despite scoring 38 and 35 points respectively the past two weeks, the Titans managed to lose both games. Now they must face a fraught Denver squad that plays much better defense than previous two opponents and whose offense can exploit this depleted Tennessee defense. It’s also noteworthy that the Broncos are coming off their worst loss in some time and you know for sure that they’ll show up here big time. Don’t like to spot road points and will only do so if the situation clearly calls for it as this one does. It’s not a good idea to play against a well-coached team that just got their rear-ends handed to them in previous week. Broncos are in a foul mood. Play: Denver –4 (No bets).<o
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></o>San Diego +7 over INDIANAPOLIS<o
></o>First glance has one wondering why this line is so high as the Chargers continue to play well while silencing any doubters. The answer could be in San Diego’s pass defense as this unit ranks a surprising 26th in the league. This one should attract plenty of action as it’s this week’s most intriguing match-up and Manning will shoot for the much-publicized record here. We’ve said before and we’ll say it again, when you’re wagering on the Colts you’re paying a premium to do so and that’s just something we’re not willing to do against this very good Chargers squad that can score just as easily as the host. Line is a tad too high. Play: San Diego +7 (No bets).<o
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></o>Carolina +3 over TAMPA BAY<o
></o>We’ve seen the ilk of both these teams recently as the Panthers have been fighting hard after a dismal beginning while the Bucs have let a couple of key games slip away on them. Actually, key game is an understatement and at this point in the year it’s not wise to lay points with a team that has showed absolutely no heart whatsoever. Panthers have showed plenty of heart and spirit and that’s enough for us. Bucs should be in a strong playoff position but have shown us far too often what they’re made of. Tampa Bay a team you want to stay far away from. Play: Carolina +3 (No bets).<o
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></o>NEW ORLEANS –4 over Atlanta<o
></o>If this one interests you, it may be time for some counseling. The Falcons are locked into position and will rest a bunch of players including Michael Vick. With that info readily available to everyone, the whole wagering world is on the Saints here. However, we urge you to proceed with extreme caution here as the Saints can’t be trusted, especially when laying points and especially under circumstances like this. This is a team that continues to disappoint and when they’re expected to win they usually don’t. Still, we have to wonder just what kind of frame of mind these Dirty Birds will be in and that has us leaning to the Saints but with very little confidence. If we had to bet every game, this one would be at the bottom of our list and again, we urge you to throw caution to the wind here. You’ve been warned. Play: New Orleans –4 (No bets).<o
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></o>New England –3 over NY JETS<o
></o>Against good defensive teams such as the Steelers, Ravens and these Patriots, the Jets managed 30 combined points in three losses. That doesn’t bode well against a suddenly hungry New England squad that just suffered a rare loss to the unlikely Dolphins. Another tough call here as we hate to lay road points in a divisional match-up but Jets haven’t shown us that they can compete with the big boys yet. Pedigree alone points us to the visitor. Play: New England –3 (No bets).<o
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></o>Washington –2 over DALLAS<o
></o>Uncharacteristically, we find ourselves siding again with the road chalk in a divisional game and we’ll tell you why. The Cowboys have been the Skins daddy for far too long and the Redskins have got to be sick of it already. Dallas has won and covered in nine of the past 10 meetings between these two archrivals. They’ve simply owned this team over the past five years and now the Redskins are in a strong position to pay back. They own one of the best defenses in the business and an immobile Testaverde will be made to feel like a minnow in a pool full of sharks. The local papers and media in D.C. have made a point of reminding the Skins just how inept they’ve been against the Cowboys and the Washington players will be as fired up here as they’ve been in years. Dallas is weak everywhere and is simply overmatched here. Dallas has had trouble scoring against teams like Cinci and New Orleans and comparing the defense they’ll face here to those is like comparing Einstein to Carrot Top. Redskins finally get this proverbial monkey off their backs. Play: Washington –2 (No bets).<o
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></o>Buffalo –11 over SAN FRANCISCO<o
></o>The Niners are already talking about upcoming changes and picking first in next year’s draft. Who can blame them with their weak roster and current slew of injuries? Buffalo can and will take advantage with only reservation being a look-ahead to Pittsburgh next week. Bills are rolling big time and until they show signs of slowing down we see no reason to back off them here. Play: Buffalo –11 (No bets).<o
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></o>JACKSONVILLE –7 over Houston<o
></o>Plenty of motivation for host here, as not only are they in a battle for post-season placement, the Jaguars owe the Texans for earlier 20-6 trouncing. Setting could be right as Houston playing its third road game in four weeks and are averaging just 15 points per game away from home. Jags not usually a smart choice to lay a converted touchdown with as their style does not warrant it, however, we saw a similar situation a couple of weeks ago when they were a seven point choice over the Bears at home and won 22-7. At the time, the Bears were playing pretty good ball. Jags gaining steam and can smell the postseason. A win here puts them in a very favorable situation and they’ll be no chance of letting down for any of the 60 minutes. Texans are going to have to be at their best to hang around and we just don’t see that happening. Play: Jacksonville –7 (No bets).<o
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></o>MIAMI –7 over Cleveland<o
></o>There are a bunch of reasons why it is difficult to endorse Miami in this one. However, those reasons pale in comparison to support this visitor as the Browns are about as weak as a pro football team can be right now. Cleveland has been outscored 100-22 in its previous three games. Brownies have hit rock bottom and Fish have suddenly found some life. Featured Sunday night game has Dolphins attention and thus, they’ll likely not suffer letdown after monster win last week. Not a thing to like about Cleveland and the fact that the Dolphins are favored by seven points is a true testament to just how bad they’ve sunk. Play: Miami –7 (No bets).
