Week 8 already

Last week, I again went 8-5. I went out on a limb by picking Kansas City, Oakland and Carolina to win, and those three teams lost by a combined score of 95-13. Ouch. My combined record for the season so far is 74-29. This past Sunday saw the point favorites in Vegas go 9-2-2 (two pushes).

As we head towards the midpoint of the NFL season, some teams are starting to shake out as contenders, some as pretenders, and then there are the teams which are like the crazy aunt in the basement which no one can understand.

Lets look at my picks for this week-

Bye week @ Tampa Bay- The Vegas line opened with the bye week giving 7 1/2 points over the Bucs at home. Junior Morris responded in a presser today, " Even though we are an underdog in the bye week, are going to have to continue to self evaluate, get stronger as a team, figure out who gives the best chest bumps, who has crunk, and simply move forward from there. Anyone wanna go to Channelside and have drinks?" Bucs lose in the bye, 34-9.

Houston @ Buffalo. Andre Johnson might miss this game with a chest injury but it won't matter. Steve Slaton has really picked up on the catches out of the backfield in the past few weeks with this pass first offense. Houston is making it's run for a playoff spot. Houston's water boy rushes for 100 yards and a score as Houston cruises easily.

Cleveland @ Chicago. The Bears just had 45 points dropped on them and are angrier than Bertha Lewis facing an audit of ACORN by Congress. At the receiving end of that anger, will be the Browns. This game will be ugly, early. Bears, 38-10.

Seattle @ Dallas. Seattle is one of those crazy aunt in the basement teams. Hasslebeck is back, and they are coming off a bye. However, Dallas is playing pretty good right now and I've got to go with Jerry Jone's work release squad wearing the blue stars on their helmet this week.

St Louis @ Detroit. Great news for Detroit, a new GM plant was opened today using stimulus money to fund the re-tooling. Unfortunately, the plant was in Delaware. Joe Biden is from...........Delaware. Good news for beleaguered Lions fans is, regardless if Stafford or Culpepper is under center this week, you will increase your winning percentage 200% this season. Talk about a stimulus. St Louis plods towards the Bucs all time loss record of 26 consecutive games.

Denver @ Baltimore. This just might be the lowest scoring game of the week. Both Baltimore and Denver are coming off a bye and these teams match up really well. Baltimore is scoring 29 per game on offense and giving up 22 on defense. Denver scores 23 per game and yields 11. Baltimore needs to stop a slide of three consecutive losses. Defense wins championships and I'm going with Denver in a game which very well might be 13-9.

San Fransisco @ Indy. Mike Singletary has done some stellar work in San Fran, trying to turn this team around, but it's a year early to crown them as playoff caliber. Alex Smith has replaced Shaun Hill at quarterback. Hill's arm was so weak, his 5 yard out patterns looked like an attempt to go 50 yards down the field. San Fran will score some points and will hover around .500 for the season, but not yet Niner fans.

Miami @ J-E-T-S, Jets Jets Jets. So, up 38-0 over the Raiders, Sanchez is eating a hot dog on the sidelines and catches hell for it? Atleast now, we know he likes his wiener with mustard only.
This game features almost two identical teams. Good run defenses. Good running offenses. Both teams have rookie quarterbacks. But, the Miami Mullets don't have a legitimate wide receiving threat and the Jets have the best cover corner in the league in Darrelle Revis. The Jets win this home game. Jets 24 Miami 20, Revis returns an interception for a touchdown to win the game.

New York Football Giants @ Philly. Philly and the Giants. The Phillies and the Yankees all together as a great big happy family on Sunday in the same town. If I were the mayor, I think I'd ask for some funding for extra police officers. Sure, it looks like Brian Westbrook won't be playing in this game, but it won't matter. LeSean McCoy will step just fine, DeSean Jackson will light up the secondary, and Eli Manning's heel injury will finally become evident. Philly makes the push for the NFC East division title with this game. Philly 34 New York 20. Could someone please tell Andy Reid to take Geno's Cheesesteaks off speed dial? Dear lord, he's starting to look like Vince Wilfork.

Jacksonville @ Tennessee. One of these weeks, you'd expect Tennessee to win a game. This is a team which went 13-3 last season and won 10 games in a row. Titans owner, Bud Adams, came out today and said he wants Vince Young to start at quarterback. Sorry Bud, he was a bad draft decision and he isn't going to turn it around this week against Jacksonville if he does start. Jacksonville wins this game by 17 points.

Oakland @ San Diego. Talk about the crazy aunt in the basement, San Diego more likely resembles the 3 faces of Eve this season. Norv Turner has greatly underachieved with the talent on this squad during his tenure and, as I said yesterday, get ready to see Jon Gruden in San Diego next year, I'm just sayin. The Chargers are 3-3 currently, and hanging around in the wildcard hunt, and this is a must win game for them. The Vegas line opened at 17 points the Chargers are giving. As chaotic as the Chargers have been this year I might take the 17 points, but in the end the Chargers will win this game.

Carolina @ Arizona. It's sounding more and more like Matt Moore will be the Carolina starting quarterback this week out west in the desert. The 20 million guaranteed money in the Jake Delhomme contract extension in the off season isn't looking so wise now is it? 1200 passing yards, 4 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The running tandem of Williams and Stewart aren't going to overcome Arizona this week. Arizona wins 31-17.

Minnesota @ Green Bay. Well, we football fans all know the significance of this game. The return of the Favreanator, Favrea-palooza, and the ultimate end, Favreageddon to the frozen tundra of Green Bay. Then again, the tundra won't be frozen, game time temps are forecast to be hovering around a balmy 40. Green Bay quarterback, Aaron Rodgers has been sacked 25 times already this season with a porous offensive line. Jared Allen and the Williams twins will have a field day in Green Bay. Minnesota wins in one of the best games of the week.


Monday Night-
Atlanta @ New Orleans. Atlanta's defensive backfield is hurting badly. Enough said. New Orleans hangs at least 38 points on Atlanta and continues their quest to their first ever Super Bowl appearance.