0-1 yesterday as the Bucs never even sniffed the number. Hanging right around .500 on the year.
Without further ado:
Houston +6
Titans owner Bud Adams said O'Donnell would start. That was good enough for the oddsmakers, and that's good enough for me.
Dom Capers will throw several different schemes at the rusty QB, and the Titans can't run the football, even with McNair.
David Carr returns just in time to face the #31 ranked pass defense in the league, and Andre Johnson couldn't be happier. Tennessee has a good run defense, but allowed 4.5 YPC on the ground to Buffalo last week. Rook of the Year candidate Dom Davis will test them.
The Titans need a win, but the Texans will have plenty of motivation to win this one for their fans over Bud Adams, who up and moved to Memphis. Houston has played very well at home lately, beating Carolina and Atlanta, and coming within a field goal of the AFC-leading Patriots.
It may be a good idea to see if McNair will indeed go before playing this. In my opinion, without McNair the Texans win straight up, but I'm confident they still get the cover even if he does go.
Arizona +14
I don't call these ugly plays for nothing.
All I hear is Seattle 7-0 at home, Zona 0-7 on the road. Wow! That's some stellar handicapping.
If you feel like you want to lay two touchdowns with the 25 ranked D in the game, please feel free. Not me.
Arizona covers this one with (gasp!) offense. McCown looked pretty good in his first career start, and also brings nice mobility, with 47 rushing yards vs. Carolina. Seattle's young defensive backs (besides Springs) have been getting torched lately and their confidence is shaken. Marcel Shipp's been a pleasant surprise, and should find some success against the Hawks average run D.
Cards C Pete Kendall is doubtful, which is worrisome. But Frank Garcia is a proven veteran and should fill in adequately.
Yeah, the Seattle offense will probably have their way, but Hasselbeck has thrown 12 picks this season, and lost four more fumbles. If the Cards can keep the turnover battle close, (granted, a big if) they should be able to cover.
It's simple human nature that huge faves don't play with the same attitude they would as a pick 'em or huge dogs. The Cards continue to play hard for lame duck McGinnis, and I'll play them with confidence despite the obvious statistical mismatches. I'm guessing 30-24 or something similar.
Disclaimer: I also played the Cards in their home game vs. the Hawks. I think we all know how that turned out.
St. Louis -7
The Bengals got the cover for me last week, but I felt damn lucky when it was all said and done. They allowed San Fran to gain over 500 yards at home. What will they give up this week? 700?
On offense, Cincy is facing a much different team this week. The Rams will not be pushed around like the Niners were, and Kitna won't have the time he had last week. St. Louis leads the league in sacks, and Kitna's blindside protector had his knee scoped just 12 days ago. Warrick won't be available, so Chad Johnson will get a ton of attention. And not just from Gene Upshaw. Corey Dillon will split the carries with Rudi Johnson, and that's not good news for Bengals fans. It's too bad they have to keep a lesser player in the game to keep team chemistry from going awry, but that's what's happening. Johnson is tougher and more explosive, but as long as Dillon's around, he won't be the primary guy.
Cincy sports the # 28 defense in the league, and now they get the Rams on turf. Good luck. The secondary is depleted. Hawkins will be limited, and Jeff Burris got toasted repeatedly against San Fran. Three forced fumbles kept them in the game last week, (thank you Kevan Barlow) but Marshall doesn't put the pig on the ground, and he's gone over 100 four of his last five games.
If Bulger can avoid multiple interceptions against a depleted secondary, and the "genius" Martz doesn't screw up too badly, I think the Rams pound them.
Pittsburgh -6
Normally, I don't condone playing favorites in games in which both teams are out of contention, (ala Tampa yesterday) but I'm gonna give this one a shot.
San Diego's defense is in a shambles, allowing almost 28 PPG and 136 rushing YPG. They also allow 241 YPG passing on the road. Pitt boasts a terrific receiving tandem, and Jerome Bettis has enjoyed a resurgence. Many Steelers thought this was the year. Instead they've been kicked around. This week they kick back.
Brees gets another start, and is probably just keeping the seat warm until next year. With such a lousy defense his 13 INT's and 2 lost fumbles in eight games don't bode well. Not to mention the fact they're at the bottom of the league in TOP and average nine penalties a game on the road. Their receivers are terrible, and the only threat, Tomlinson, will be facing a Steeler D that allows only 3.4 YPC at home.
You can be assured Bill Cowher's teams will put forth their best effort week in and week out. I'm not sure the same can be said for Marty's teams. Emotion is a major key in sportsbetting, and I can't help but think it lies with the Steelers here.
Good luck. May be back with something in the morning.
Space.
Without further ado:
Houston +6
Titans owner Bud Adams said O'Donnell would start. That was good enough for the oddsmakers, and that's good enough for me.
Dom Capers will throw several different schemes at the rusty QB, and the Titans can't run the football, even with McNair.
David Carr returns just in time to face the #31 ranked pass defense in the league, and Andre Johnson couldn't be happier. Tennessee has a good run defense, but allowed 4.5 YPC on the ground to Buffalo last week. Rook of the Year candidate Dom Davis will test them.
The Titans need a win, but the Texans will have plenty of motivation to win this one for their fans over Bud Adams, who up and moved to Memphis. Houston has played very well at home lately, beating Carolina and Atlanta, and coming within a field goal of the AFC-leading Patriots.
It may be a good idea to see if McNair will indeed go before playing this. In my opinion, without McNair the Texans win straight up, but I'm confident they still get the cover even if he does go.
Arizona +14
I don't call these ugly plays for nothing.
All I hear is Seattle 7-0 at home, Zona 0-7 on the road. Wow! That's some stellar handicapping.
If you feel like you want to lay two touchdowns with the 25 ranked D in the game, please feel free. Not me.
Arizona covers this one with (gasp!) offense. McCown looked pretty good in his first career start, and also brings nice mobility, with 47 rushing yards vs. Carolina. Seattle's young defensive backs (besides Springs) have been getting torched lately and their confidence is shaken. Marcel Shipp's been a pleasant surprise, and should find some success against the Hawks average run D.
Cards C Pete Kendall is doubtful, which is worrisome. But Frank Garcia is a proven veteran and should fill in adequately.
Yeah, the Seattle offense will probably have their way, but Hasselbeck has thrown 12 picks this season, and lost four more fumbles. If the Cards can keep the turnover battle close, (granted, a big if) they should be able to cover.
It's simple human nature that huge faves don't play with the same attitude they would as a pick 'em or huge dogs. The Cards continue to play hard for lame duck McGinnis, and I'll play them with confidence despite the obvious statistical mismatches. I'm guessing 30-24 or something similar.
Disclaimer: I also played the Cards in their home game vs. the Hawks. I think we all know how that turned out.
St. Louis -7
The Bengals got the cover for me last week, but I felt damn lucky when it was all said and done. They allowed San Fran to gain over 500 yards at home. What will they give up this week? 700?
On offense, Cincy is facing a much different team this week. The Rams will not be pushed around like the Niners were, and Kitna won't have the time he had last week. St. Louis leads the league in sacks, and Kitna's blindside protector had his knee scoped just 12 days ago. Warrick won't be available, so Chad Johnson will get a ton of attention. And not just from Gene Upshaw. Corey Dillon will split the carries with Rudi Johnson, and that's not good news for Bengals fans. It's too bad they have to keep a lesser player in the game to keep team chemistry from going awry, but that's what's happening. Johnson is tougher and more explosive, but as long as Dillon's around, he won't be the primary guy.
Cincy sports the # 28 defense in the league, and now they get the Rams on turf. Good luck. The secondary is depleted. Hawkins will be limited, and Jeff Burris got toasted repeatedly against San Fran. Three forced fumbles kept them in the game last week, (thank you Kevan Barlow) but Marshall doesn't put the pig on the ground, and he's gone over 100 four of his last five games.
If Bulger can avoid multiple interceptions against a depleted secondary, and the "genius" Martz doesn't screw up too badly, I think the Rams pound them.
Pittsburgh -6
Normally, I don't condone playing favorites in games in which both teams are out of contention, (ala Tampa yesterday) but I'm gonna give this one a shot.
San Diego's defense is in a shambles, allowing almost 28 PPG and 136 rushing YPG. They also allow 241 YPG passing on the road. Pitt boasts a terrific receiving tandem, and Jerome Bettis has enjoyed a resurgence. Many Steelers thought this was the year. Instead they've been kicked around. This week they kick back.
Brees gets another start, and is probably just keeping the seat warm until next year. With such a lousy defense his 13 INT's and 2 lost fumbles in eight games don't bode well. Not to mention the fact they're at the bottom of the league in TOP and average nine penalties a game on the road. Their receivers are terrible, and the only threat, Tomlinson, will be facing a Steeler D that allows only 3.4 YPC at home.
You can be assured Bill Cowher's teams will put forth their best effort week in and week out. I'm not sure the same can be said for Marty's teams. Emotion is a major key in sportsbetting, and I can't help but think it lies with the Steelers here.
Good luck. May be back with something in the morning.
Space.
