NFL Week 8 Picks Against the Spread

Season: 53-46-4          Last Week: 6-6-1 

Miami at New York Giants (-9.5)

The Dolphins blew a 15-point lead in three minutes last week, signed J.P. Losman (who could play if the Giants further injure Matt Moore) and kept Tony Sparano as coach after last week's debacle; three key signs of a team that has emerged as the favorite in the race for Andrew Luck.

Indianapolis at Tennessee (-8.5)

Possibly the first time in history a team that lost by 34 the previous week is favored by more than a touchdown in its next game. All courtesy of the 2011 Indianapolis Colts!

Jacksonville (+9.5) at Houston

What's the next thing you automatically do after the Texans come off a big win in the Gary Kubiak era? Pick against them in the next game, of course.

Minnesota at Carolina (-3.5)

Cam Newton has been a covering machine this year, leading the Panthers to covers in six of the team's first seven games. Among the most notable were the touchdown against the Packers with 37 seconds left in Week 2, and the touchdown against the Bears with four seconds left in Week 4. This time, no backdoor cover necessary.

St. Louis at New Orleans (-13.5)

As a known bragger, I would like to use this space to mention that I had DeMarco Murray in my fantasy lineup for his explosion last week against the Rams. 253 yards! one TD! Wooo!! (You'll be hearing about this for the next year, at least).

Arizona at Baltimore (-12.5)

The last time Kevin Kolb played the Ravens, he was replacing a benched Donovan McNabb and threw two interceptions, with one being returned for a touchdown. Expect more of the same this Sunday. A lot more of the same.

Washington (+5) at Buffalo

Those we call the Canadians get to see the second start for John Beck, which should go a little bit better than the first thanks to the fact he is going up against one of the league's worst pass defenses. The backdoor cover will be in play!

New England (-2.5) at Pittsburgh

Never go against Tom Brady in Pittsburgh. Never go against Tom Brady in Pittsburgh. Never go against Tom Brady in Pittsburgh.

Cleveland at San Francisco (-9)

The last time the Browns made the trip out West, they were down 24-3 to the Oakland Raiders before Kyle Boller came in for the injured Jason Campbell and Cleveland put up a few late touchdowns for the 24-17 loss. This time, there will be no Boller to help out one of the league's most boring teams in recent memory.

Cincinnati at Seattle (+3)
Detroit at Denver (+3)

Excuse me while I pray to Tim Tebow's god that the home-field advantage in these two games is enough to keep the clearly inferior teams within a field goal of Cincy and Detroit.

Dallas (+3.5) at Philadelphia

Wait a second: DeMarco Murray! 253 yards! one TD!

San Diego at Kansas City (+3.5)

After Jacksonville-Baltimore and Jets-Miami the past two weeks and Minnesota-Green Bay upcoming, this Monday night game will feel like, you know, a game worthy of being played on Monday night.

NFL Week 7 Picks Against the Spread

Season: 47-40-3          Last Week: 3-10


Tampa Bay vs. Chicago (-1) (Game in London)

After sending over the Troy Smith-led San Francisco 49ers to take on the Denver Broncos in last year's game surprisingly didn't start another war with England, this year London gets treated to two competent teams.

San Diego (+1) at New York Jets

Rex Ryan, on if he coached the Chargers: "Well, I think I would have had a couple of rings. Those teams were loaded."
Norv Turner, in response: "I didn't have the chance to ask him this, but I was wondering if he had those rings with the ones he's guaranteed the last couple of years." Zing! I'm ready for Harbaugh-Schwartz II at the Meadowlands!

Washington at Carolina (-2.5)

John Beck in his first start as a Redskin, or a Carolina defense that might not even be able to stop John Beck?

Houston (+3.5) at Tennessee

Can Houston really be on its way to yet another 8-8 season?

Seattle at Cleveland (-3)

There can't be a more boring way to spend three hours on a Sunday than by watching Seattle at Cleveland.

Denver (pick) at Miami

Miami has brilliantly increased its chances of getting Andrew Luck and erasing the slim home field advantage it had by honoring the 2008 Florida BCS National Championship team Sunday and ensuring a pro-Denver crowd.

Atlanta at Detroit (-3.5)

The injury to Jahvid Best means Detroit's already weak running game will be weaker, but all the Lions will need to do is throw against an Atlanta pass defense that gets carved up weekly.

Kansas City (+3.5) at Oakland

Kyle Boller (and Terrelle Pryor?) will see action this week for Oakland with Carson Palmer making his debut off the bye. I'm not sure whether I'd be more confident in the Kansas City pick with Boller/Pryor or Palmer behind center though.

Green Bay (-9.5) at Minnesota

The Packers left the backdoor wide open all Sunday afternoon for St. Louis, as Green Bay was shutout in the second half but still managed to cover the 14-point spread. I'm hoping for a less stressful cover in this one.

St. Louis (+13.5) at Dallas

I was all set to take Sam Bradford and the Rams in this one, until Bradford sustained a high-ankle sprain on the last play of last week's blowout loss to the Packers. Now, I'll sit back and hope with A.J. Feeley.

Pittsburgh at Arizona (+3.5)

I really have no way to support this pick, just feel that Arizona covers here against a Pittsburgh team that couldn't put away Jacksonville at home.

Indianapolis at New Orleans (-13.5)
Baltimore (-8) at Jacksonville

And just when you thought the primetime games couldn't get any worse, I give you these two games!

NFL Week 6 Picks Against the Spread

Season: 44-30-3          Last Week: 9-4


All lines courtesy of the New York Post


Carolina (+4) at Atlanta

What does an exciting rookie quarterback, a dynamic receiver who has decided to try again and a defense that is a defense in name only add up to? A team that does nothing but cover point spreads, of course!

Jacksonville at Pittsburgh (-12)

Week 4 postgame analysis: "The Steelers look old and worn down." Week 5 postgame analysis: "The Steelers are back!" I really was heavily leaning towards Jacksonville, until I remembered they're Jacksonville.

San Francisco at Detroit (-4)

Monday night saw Game 2 of the ALCS between the Tigers and Rangers and the first Monday night game in a decade in Detroit. This is where my amazing (but sad?) skill of maneuvering with the remote would have come in handy for Detroit fans.

Philadelphia (-3) at Washington

I don't even know anymore.

St. Louis at Green Bay (-14)

I'm not sure I will ever be more scared in my life than when the clock reaches 1 p.m. on Sunday and my fantasy football opponent has Aaron Rodgers going for three and a half hours against the Rams pass defense.

Indianapolis (+7) at Cincinnati

Speaking of fantasy football, I improved to 4-1 last week thanks to Jahvid Best's 88-yard touchdown run on Monday. I got through going up against Calvin Johnson, who has joined Rodgers and Tom Brady on the list of most feared fantasy players.

Buffalo at New York Giants (-3.5)

The only way the Giants can make up for losing to Seattle last week and eliminating 90 percent of the country from their suicide pools is by covering this week against Buffalo.

Dallas at New England (-6.5)

I actually prefer not to light my money on fire, so most weeks I tend to take Tom Brady and New England.

Houston (+8) at Baltimore

I can picture it now: Texans down 14 with two minutes remaining, and Matt Schaub engineers a 75-yard drive for the 7-point loss. Now, if only he'd do it when it counts!

Cleveland (+6.5) at Oakland

One of the toughest games for Week 6. A 2-2 Cleveland team who we know nothing about going up against a 3-2 Oakland team who we know equally nothing about.

New Orleans (-5) at Tampa Bay

No LeGarrette Blount and Mike Williams is struggling as the No. 1 receiver, effectively decreasing the offensive weapons I'm scared about in this game on the Bucs to zero.

Minnesota (+3) at Chicago

This spread means these two teams are even. After five games, I don't know how that's true, so this can only mean one thing: Trap game!

Miami at New York Jets (-7)

Will Brandon Marshall be the first player to go insane during a Monday Night Football game? Not sure, but I'll be watching!

NFL Week 5 Picks Against the Spread

Season: 35-26-3          Last Week: 9-7


All lines courtesy of the New York Post


New Orleans at Carolina (+6.5) 

Cam Newton has been electric to start his career, which has translated to some amazing backdoor covers, of course. In Week 2 his touchdown run cut the Green Bay lead to 30-23, and he topped himself last week with a touchdown pass with four seconds left (four seconds!) to make it 34-29 Chicago. I see another "meaningless touchdown" on the horizon.

Cincinnati (+2) at Jacksonville

Prior to this season, you would think picking the Bengals against the spread each week would be grounds to have my brain tested. But Cincy has covered each week except Week 3 (13-8 home loss to San Francisco), so I'll continue to roll with them.

Oakland (+6) at Houston

Andre Johnson gets hurt during the Pittsburgh game. Houston coming off a win in a type of game they haven't seem to have won in franchise history. Al Davis passing away Saturday. The stars are aligning for an Oakland cover.

Arizona at Minnesota (-3)

I improved to 3-1 last week in fantasy, as the Colts secondary (thank God) prevented Mike Williams from going off and the Tampa Bay defense did just enough for me to clinch the victory. Now the problem is I have Brandon Marshall and Daniel Thomas on a team quarterbacked by some combination of Sage Rosenfels and Matt Moore.

Kansas City (+2.5) at Indianapolis

After last week's second straight primetime game for the Colts, I checked the schedule hoping (praying?) this would be the last time we get them on national TV. It's not. Indianapolis will travel to New Orleans for the Week 7 Sunday night game. (And in case you were wondering, the Chiefs make two appearances on Monday night in the coming weeks; Week 8 and Week 10).

Philadelphia (-3) at Buffalo

One of these weeks, the Eagles have to fire on all cylinders and put together a good game, right? Right?

Tennessee at Pittsburgh (-3)

I was all set to pounce on Tennessee once the spreads came out and I saw the Titans open as 6.5 point underdogs. Then the spread dropped as the week went on, all the way down to its current number at three, which is too low to take a Kenny Britt-less Titans team.

Seattle at New York Giants (-10)

Usually when I see the words "Seattle at," I take the other team unless the Seahawks are playing another hopeless NFC West squad. Oh and by the way, we're now one month away from the Giants being 6-1 as they head to New England.

San Diego (-3.5) at Denver

Nothing screams "Trap!" more than the fact that the Chargers are favored by just more than a field goal against the Broncos. We'll come back to this pick Monday morning and I'll think to myself how I got suckered in.

New York Jets at New England (-7.5)

"Can the Jets really play three bad games in a row?" going up against "The Patriots are out for blood after last year's home playoff loss."

Tampa Bay (+3) at San Francisco

Alex Smith giving three points against a competent NFL team is usually not a good idea. (I know, I know, the Bucs pass defense is awful).

Green Bay at Atlanta (+6.5)
Chicago at Detroit (-5.5)

Two things: 1.) Imagine if this Atlanta-Green Bay game was at Lambeau Field. As 6.5 point favorites on the road, this means the Packers would be 12.5 point home favorites against last year's No. 1 NFC team in Week 5. Amazing. 2.) There's a Monday night football game in Detroit!

Enjoy the games!

NFL Week 4 Picks Against the Spread

Season: 26-19-3          Last Week: 9-7


All lines courtesy of the New York Post


Detroit (+2.5) at Dallas

My fourth consecutive week selecting the Detroit Lions! (Waiting for lightning to strike).

Pittsburgh at Houston (-4)

I'm not going to get suckered into taking Pittsburgh and the points here. You hear me? No chance!

New Orleans (-7) at Jacksonville

Although I hate taking road favorites of at least a touchdown, I would most likely have my head examined had I taken Jacksonville for a third straight week. (Still confused how they didn't cover last week).

Carolina (+6.5) at Chicago

The good news for Carolina is that thanks to Cam Newton, Steve Smith has decided to try again. On the other side, Jay Cutler's body language is getting progressively worse every Sunday.

Minnesota (-2.5) at Kansas City

A perfect spot for my Week 3 fantasy football recap! I lost by 12 points to drop to 2-1 last week after receiving bad performances from Frank Gore and A.J. Green and playing against Rob Gronkowski. Although I'm at 2-1, it really feels like I'm 0-3 and on the Titanic post-iceberg.

Cincinnati (+3.5) at Buffalo

I, too, want to live in a world where the Buffalo Bills are undefeated in October. And I'm rooting for that to happen (just not by more than a field goal).

Tennessee (pick) at Cleveland

The winner of this game will be 3-1 and stand at the top of the list for prematurely raising the hopes of its city.

Washington at St. Louis (+2.5)

This is an important game for both teams: The Redskins are trying to prove their a legitimate playoff contender, while the Rams have to pick up a win to not fall too far behind in the division race before they start playing NFC West opponents.

San Francisco at Philadelphia (-9.5)

With Frank Gore banged up and likely to be limited, I see San Francisco turning to Alex Smith to try and win it the game, which could lead to him continuing his career-long trend of hitting the open outside linebacker.

Seattle at Atlanta (-5)

The home field advantage can only do so many things for the Seahawks, and one of those isn't helping them cover the spread against a non-NFC West football team.

Miami (+7.5) at San Diego

Daniel Thomas is out, meaning the San Diego defense is likely to tee off on the turnover prone Chad Henne. The Chargers have played close in their first three games, meaning there's no better time than now for a blowout win with Philip Rivers bouncing back. No chance Miami stays within a touchdown; absolutely none.

Denver at Green Bay (-12.5)

Betting against Green Bay right now would be comparable to setting your money on fire, so I'll side with the Packers at home.

New England (-5) at Oakland

The Raiders have been really exciting to watch, but aren't we due for a week when Jason Campbell turns in a Washington-like performance?

New York Giants (-1.5) at Arizona

If the pass-rushing Giants can't disrupt Kevin Kolb all day this afternoon, I'll have felt like my whole life has been a lie.

New York Jets (+3.5) at Baltimore

Matchups like this are why I love primetime football!

Indianapolis at Tampa Bay (-10)

Matchups like this are why I hate primetime football!

Enjoy the games!