Week 8

I literally spent about 4 minutes trying to come up with a name for this week's entry, and then I said, "F it." This is week 8. I watched the Rangers come from behind against the Penguins last night at the Garden and it was amazing. Now I've got some Wolfmother pumping and I'm ready to bring to you the picks for week 8.

Baltimore (-7.5) over Oakland - Please. Oakland sucks. It's a 1 oclock game on the East in which Oakland is traveling. They suck, Baltimore is hungry, and still no west coast team has won at 1pm this year coming East. I'll take Baltimore and give the points. No brainer.

New Orleans (+3) over San Diego - In London, so no team is really home, although N.O. is getting screwed on the schedule because this counts as one of their home games. I'm going to go along with Mike Golic on this, and say that San Diego got smacked around coming East last week, then has to travel again? I just don't think they're going to put it together. However, New Orleans is without Reggie Bush, who, apart from Brees, is their Playmaker. Depending on the weather, this could be another debacle like last year. I'm taking New Orleans and the points.

Kansas City (+14) over Jets - One of those, "am I actually writing this?" picks, but we're talking about giving 14 points to a Jets team that lost by 3 to the Raiders last week. Something doesn't sit right there. Kansas City is Bad, but if a team as Ugly as Oakland can beat the Jets, I think it opens the flood gates and raises a lot of questions about Brett Favre Brett Favre Brett Favre (apologies to Greg Easterbrook). I'll take the points.

Buffalo (-1) over Miami - It's a pretty close line, but I don't think Miami's winning this game. They've been struggling a little bit, though they appear better than they are. The Bills on the other hand are a legit contender, and I don't think they lose this game. Divisional match ups are what they need to feast on right now, and they are hungry. Buffalo by 1 at least.

Tampa Bay (+2) over Dallas - Again, "am I really writing this?" At +2 I'm saying that I think Tampa Bay is going to win this game. Do I think they will? I'm not so sure. Do I think they can? Definitely. Dallas cannot be as bad as they are looking right now, and the same argument was made of the Giants last year when they lost and lost Ugly. The Cowgirls have looked like a mess at the best of times recently, and until they prove me wrong, I think the safe money is on the other team, even in Big D.

Atlanta (+9) over Philly - This is an interesting one. ESPN has Philly at -5.5, but Vegas has it at 9. I think Matt Ryan is going to run into a buzz-saw, a whole different beast than he is used to playing against, but this team continues to surprise me and Philly continues (thankfully) to disappoint. Turner has been a horse this year, and has proven his stud status. Still a lot of questions in Philly, that's why I think Atlanta will cover, though not necessarily win. I'll take the points.

New England (-7.5) over St. Louis - Will the real 2008 Patriots please stand up? Last week they were monsters against a Broncos team that I was certain would show the Patriots the meaning of the word respect. Instead that game was over before it started. St. Louis is Back, there is no doubt about it, but just how Back? I don't think they can waltz into Gilette and take this game, especially with Jackson at questionable strength. I'll take New England and give the points, and probably be horribly burned by this flip-flopping team.

Carolina (-4) over Arizona - We all know the rule by now, I refuse to pick based on Carolina. This time I'm not, simply playing the 1pm percentages with the west coast traveling east. Until a team from the pacific time zone is able to win on the east coast at 1pm, I'm picking the east coast teams without a second glance. Hope Hightower goes in today though, I need some pts in FF.

Washington (-8) over Detroit - Leaving behind the, "No point spread is large enough," talk that tends to get me in trouble, I think this is an extremely coverable gap, especially for a Washington team that needs to flex some muscle, and especially against a Detroit team that looks like it could be helped by putting me in the slot for a couple plays. Taking Washington, giving the points.

Jacksonville (-7) over Cleveland - Cleveland's depleted, has locker room turmoil, and is 1-2 on the road, facing a Jacksonville team that is a better football team. The Any Given Sunday factor is coming in here, and I would have to make this my Any Given Sunday pick of the week, in which for no reason whatsoever the team that should not be able to win can manhandle the opposition. But alas, this is not my AGS pick, I'm still going with the Jags and giving the points.

Giants (+3) over Pittsburgh - IT IS ON! This is a true battle, though the Steelers missing Parker and Polamalu is big, as well as them potentially losing Santonio Holmes to the weed bust. Pittsburgh has classically played the most grinding football I have ever seen, and the Giants can hang tough with it, but I think they will be best served trying to play their own game. In the air is where the Steelers can win this game, as the Giants' secondary has looked lost at the best of times recently, but count on the G-Men to stop the run, especially if Antonio Pierce is back in the lineup. The Giants need to keep Eli off his back, and they are the key to this game. If the O-line performs, then it's going to be Giants. Still, I'll take the points, but picking Giants to Win.

Seattle (+5.5) over San Francisco - Really? Are either of these teams capable of winning a game? I am not convinced that either of these would be the correct pick. I only picked Seattle because I saw firsthand how bad San Fran was last week. Look for JT O'Sullivan to lose this game, not for Seattle to win. That's about all I can say. This is the type of football game that makes Baby Jesus cry.

Houston (-9) over Cincinnati - Wow. When I thought you couldn't get more boring than the last game I picked, Houston and Cincy come to town. Awesome. Houston and give the points, because honestly, Cincy couldn't win with Palmer, he's done, and they suck. They SUCK. To quote Homer,"I've seen teams suck before, but man did these guys suck. They were the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked." This doesn't get an Any Given Sunday pick either, because Houston is better than their record and can easily cover the spread against a team that should just be stricken from the existence of the NFL.

Indianapolis (+4) over Tennessee - FINALLY! Another good game in the NFL after the Giants/Steelers game. Tennessee is a juggernaut this year, not unlike the character from the pages of X-Men. They are big, they are mean, they are forces of nature and they will eventually be Beat, but they will not be Defeated. Indy needs a win more than anything, especially against AFC South rival/leader Tennessee. This could be their season. They go to 4-3 and gain ground against the Titans, or they drop to 3-4 and start thinking about the draft pick and what commercials Peyton will be doing in the off-season. I am still convinced that Indy can win any game, any day of the week when the stakes are high enough. This is a Foolish pick, I know. There is nothing indicating that they should win this game, but sometimes you gotta go with your gut.

-Jobimoto out.
Crosby is stopped, Rangers win in OT!!!