2006 Season
CHAMPIONSHIP
For now, only time to say... CHI + 6.5. More to follow...
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Last week, only the Seahawks won for me. I lost on the Saints (though they did win), Ravens and Chargers. Not a good time for a losing week.
RECORD-- 1-3, 49-43-1 for the season. By my figuring, I need one more win to clinch a season winning record...
January 21:
NE at IND (-3). I have every reason to pick the Colts here, except that the Patriots have a tendency to not lose games like these. And Peyton Manning has a tendency to not win them. So... NE + 3.
NO at CHI (-2.5). This, in match-up terms, is a close one. With the weakening of the Bears' defense in the last half of the season, there really isn't a decided advantage for the Bears in any facet of the game-- passing, rushing, or defense-- yet they are at home, and the Saints appear to be vulnerable to the big play. Rex "Sex Cannon" (tm kissingsuzykolber.net) Grossman can either be on or off his game, further complicating any analysis.In the end, I have to fall back on the Hunter S. Thompson/ Muhammad Ali principle. When Ali was preparing for the Leon Spinks rematch in 1978-- a bout which, I think, was held at the Superdome, and which very few thought he could win-- HST said thatif he bet on Ali and he lost the fight, he could accept that, but that if he bet against Ali and Ali won, he would never be able to forgive himself, karmically.
Or maybe it's just having the "Who Dat" chant drummed into my brain so often last week in New Orleans... NO + 2.5.
DIVISIONAL ROUND
To finish up last week, I won with the Patriots and lost with the Eagles... I knew betting on Jeff Garcia was a bad idea...
RECORD-- 2-2, 48-40-1 for the season.
January 13:
IND at BAL (-4). The Colts return to Baltimore. We can only hope it's as intense as the time the Rams returned to Cleveland, the city they once abandoned. [Snark] Actually, having made that joke, I think the Browns and Rams played for the title in the Browns' first season, and it was intense. So, OK. BAL -4.
PHI at NO (-5). New rule-- if I am in a city where a playoff game is taking place, and the team has rebounded from a 3-13 season and the city from a horrific natural disaster, I take that team to cover. NO -5.
January 14:
SEA at CHI (-8.5). I think the Bears should win, but 8 1/2 points are too many to give. The enigma that is Rex Grossman continues to puzzle. Is it technically possible to have a negative passer rating? SEA + 8.5.
NE at SD (-5). To Schottenheimer or not to Schottenheimer? Hmmm... SD - 5.
WILD CARD ROUND
For the least week of the regular season, the Seahawks and Jets won, while the Vikings and Saints lost. That left it up to the Sunday night game to give me a winning record for the week. Unfortunately, I had forgotten that the Bears mailed it in last year for their regular season finale, and they repeated this year. My God! They even made that poor Brett Favre cry! (By rolling over sufficiently to allow him to [probably] retire on a high note!)
RECORD-- 2-3, 46-38-1 for the season.
That's a winning record for the regular season... Do I keep on picking the playoffs?
Well, I would have to be pretty bad to squander this winning margin, so we'll try it for at least a week...
January 6:
KC at IND (-7). The Colts' run defense is so bad that I wouldnt be surprised to see Larry Johnson rack up 300 yards. I'll pick the upset... KC + 7.
DAL at SEA (-3). After being the savior of the Cowboys for the whole season, the consensus is now that Tony Romo sucks. Of course, this means that he will come up big this week. DAL + 3.
The other two games tomorrow...
January 7:
OK, so Larry Johnson came up 268 years short of the 300 I predicted, so the Chiefs lost. And as for the other game... is somebody there to talk Tony Romo off the ledge? Seriously, that's the most despondent-looking athlete I've ever seen. But the Cowboys still covered! Yee-haw!
Today's games...
NYJ at NE (-8.5). Yesterday was pick the dogs day. Today it's Chalk City. NE - 8.5.
NYG at PHI (-7). Honestly, I thought Eli would be the first QB to crack in public, not Romo. Eh. After he's fired, will Tom Coughlin consider himself 5 minutes late if he gets to the unemployment office on time? PHI - 7, and I can't believe I'm making that selection with a Jeff Garcia-led squad.
WEEK SEVENTEEN
We've already gone through the 3-0 start to last week... On Christmas, the Cowboys lost, and judging from the glum look on her face as the game was winding down, maybe Carrie Underwood decided that the Tony Romo thing wasn't such a great idea after all. The Jets won, though... honestly, I thought they'd lose close, but a win's a win in the National... Football... League. Or even, you know, Vegas.
RECORD-- 4-1, 44-35-1 for the season.
December 31:
STL (-3) at MIN. In honor of Gerald Ford's passing, the Vikings will issue a full pardon to Brad Johnson for his crimes in order that the process of healing can begin. MIN + 3.
OAK at NYJ (-12.5). Ordinarily, 12 and a half points would be too much to give up, but if there's been a constant to this season, it's been that the Raiders generally suck. NYJ -12.5.
SEA at TB (-3.5). Some funny lines out there this week. Under what reasoning can the 8-7 Seahawks be underdogs to a 4-11 Bucs team, even if they are on the road? On the other hand, maybe I don't wanna know, and it involved a dead horse's head in Mike Holmgren's bed this past week. SEA + 3.5.
CAR (-3) at NO. Another strange line. Unless the reasoning is that the Saints have nothing left to play for this week, having secured the first-round bye. Still, I can't resist this one... NO + 3.
GB at CHI (-3). In a straight pick-the-winners league, this game is the tie-breaker this week, and so requires a score prediction. My immediate impulse pick? Bears, 31-10. So given that, I'm a fool if I don't give the 3 points, eh? I almost guarantee this won't be Favre's last game, if only because it would give John Madden et al nothing to blather on about for next season. CHI - 3.
WEEK SIXTEEN
Another good week, at just the right time. The Rams and Bills won, as did the Packers and Titans-- ironically in those cases, as I picked them based on the presumption that Favre and Young were going to have great days. Favre had a so-so game and Young a bad one, but I got lucky. And, finally-- time to pronounce the end of the reflexive pick against the Steelers each week. It was fun while it lasted, though, wasn't it? Ahhh... Good times. But they rose up and beat the Panthers last week for their third straight win against the spread...
RECORD-- 4-1, 40-34-1 for the season.
December 24:
I seem to remember that the NFL used to do anything to avoid the impression that it was business as usual if Christmas or Christmas Eve fell on regular game days. Now? They're going out of their way to play 2 on Christmas night. Since there's a doubleheader then, I'll pick three of the Sunday games and wait until later to pick the final two...
BAL at PIT (-3.5). I said reflexive pick against the Steelers-- I actually have good reasons to think the Ravens will win today. Such as, they're the better team, generally. BAL + 3.5.
TEN at BUF (-5). The Bills and Losman are suddenly the hot pick for "underrated" team, and the Titans only won last week by scoring 3 defensive TDs. Naturally, I'll take the Titans, and trust that Young rebounds nicely. TEN + 5.
NO at NYG (-3). What better place than the Meadowlands for the Saints' miracle season to reach full affirmation. Remember that sham "home" game the league forced the Saints to play at the Meadowlands against (I think) the Giants just after Katrina? A terrible case of league-sanctioned competitive imbalance-- "hey, it's not like the Saints had any real chance of winning anyway, no matter where it's played, so let's give the New York fans an extra home game!" This will be compensation. NO + 3.
December 25: (Traditional Christmas Celebrated)
Yesterday's games. Ravens win. Titans win. Saints win. Boo-yah. As of right now, 43-34-1 for the season
PHI at DAL (-7). The Eagles are on a hot streak now, even with Jeff Garcia. Maybe they even have people believing they can get to the playoffs. It reminds me of the moment in Eight Men Out, after the Black Sox have just won Game 7 and have Kid Gleason believing they can still win the Series, when Rothstein and his minions make a series of calls "making sure" that it doesn't go any further. I'm not sayin' there's anything crooked going on here, just... time for this foolishness to end. DAL - 7.
NYJ at MIA (-2.5). At one point each season, emulating Norman "The Man" Chad before he became a TV poker commentator, I predict THE EXACT SCORE of an NFL game. Miami 21, New York 20. NYJ + 2.5.
WEEK FIFTEEN
Has the trend of picking against the Steelers run its successful course? Judging by the Thursday night loss by the Browns, maybe so. (Have I learned my lesson? See below.) But the actual Sunday games turned out well. Only loss was by the Colts, and hey, who can really say that they saw that shellacking coming? Winners? The Giants, Vikings, and Vince Young... errr, I mean Titans.
RECORD-- 3-2, 36-33-1 for the season.
December 17:
JAX (-3.5) at TEN. Can you tell I have a new quarterback buddy? TEN + 3.5.
MIA at BUF (-1). The Dolphins have been inscrutible this season. By that, I mean that when I have thought they will win, they've lost. And when I have thought they will lose, they've won. Nothing else matters but how it seems to me!! Heh. I don't know how cold it is in Buffalo right now, but I'm thinking it's colder than South Beach. BUF -1.
DET at GB (-5.5). OK, Brett. it's a December game at Lambeau against the lowly Lions. If you can't light 'em up for this one, maybe it's time to go home. GB - 5.5.
PIT (-3.5) at CAR. Have I learned my lesson? After supporting Gary Hart in '84, did I learn my lesson in '88, or did I back the unstoppable Bruce Babbit? CAR + 3.5.
STL at OAK (-3). Two bad teams. The Rams, they lose while scoring lots of points. The Raiders, they lose while not scoring many points. I'll take the bad team that seems to score more often. STL + 3.
WEEK FOURTEEN
I'll do the retrospective on last week's (ugh) 1-4 week later, but...
December 7:
CLE at PIT (-7.5). This trend might finally be running out of steam, but I'll go against the Steelers one more week. CLE + 7.5.
Back with the rest of the picks on Sunday...
Lucky Week 13. Ha. The Ravens, Packers, Dolphins, and Buccaneers all, what's the word I'm looking for here, lost. Only the Seahawks in the Sunday night yes-we-have-John-Madden-for-this-year game managed a win.
RECORD-- 1-4, 33-31-1 for the season.
December 10:
IND (-1) at JAX. Why is this a one-point line? Something "funny" about Marvin Harrison that the Vegas people know that we don't? IND -1.
NYG at CAR (-3). The Giants are in a free-fall, but at least they aren't starting Chris Wienke. NYG + 3.
MIN at DET (-1.5). Now, I know that the Vikings are currently sucking, but the Lions are currently in a Decade of Sucking. Why favored? MIN + 1.5.
TEN at HOU (-1). I'm looking forward to seeing Vince Young blow some minds this week. TEN + 1.
WEEK THIRTEEN
More like it! Only the 49ers, a longshot pick anyway, lost for me. But really, who would have figured the Lions to come up big? Otherwise, yay! for the Saints, Ravens, and Panthers. And on Monday night, though it took a while, the Seahawks finally built up a big enough lead on the Pack.
RECORD-- 4-1, 32-27-1 for the season.
November 30:
This is one of those Thursday night games that I'm not really sure should count, since it's only on the NFL Network. Is it really something the NFL should be aspiring toward, to put prime-time games on a channel available to fewer viewers than the NHL on Versus?
BAL at CIN (-3). A team that cannnot score much and a team which cannot stop its opponents. Truly, a philosophical argument for the ages, one which could have been the subject of one of Plato's dialogues. BAL + 3.
December 3:
OK, let's put the Thursday night unpleasantness behind us... I OWN December games!
Actually, let's go and check my December record... Maybe I'm not as hot as I used to be... Yikes. Over the past 4 seasons, 36-47-2 in December games. Um...
SEA at DEN (-4). The Broncos start Jay (Lloyd) Cutler for the first time, which I think may mean fun for the Seahawks. SEA + 4.
NYJ at GB (Pick 'em). An up or down game for Favre? I hope "up". GB.
JAX at MIA (Pick 'em). Those nasty things I said earlier this season about Nick Saban? Kidding. MIA.
TB at PIT (-7). Picking against the Steelers? It's tradition! Because without tradition we are all just like the Fiddler on the Roof! TB + 7.
WEEK TWELVE
Should have stuck with selecting teams based on national election results. Only the Cowboys were winners, though the Browns led for virtually the whole game and only came up a half-point short at the end. The Falcons remained inscrutible, and the Lions remained sucky (a trend which continued on Thanksgiving). The first push of the season? The Buccaneers.
RECORD-- 1-3-1, 28-26-1 for the season.
November 26:
SF at STL (-5). Coaches wearing suits on the sidelines this year? 2-0 so far. To quote Joe Jackson, "I got a date with my tailor now, thanks for putting me so straight." SF + 5.
NO at ATL (-3). What did I say about the Falcons? Inscrutible. NO + 3.
PIT at BAL (-2). I'm so used to taking the points against the Steelers that I'll even give them points this week. BAL - 2.
CAR (-4) at WAS. I have no real comment to make here, except that Duke is located in North Carolina, and wasn't it sweet to see Marquette run rings around tem this week? CAR - 4.
November 27:
GB at SEA (-9). It's a sad day when it looks like Seneca Wallace would have the QB edge on Brett Favre. I recall days toward the end of his career when Bob Gibson was outpitched by the likes of Joe McIntosh (God, I love retrosheet!). It happens. Yeah, it looks like Hasselback might start. And, Gibson was also outpitched in '75 by the likes of Rick Reuschel (not a bad pitcher at all, but no Gibby). SEA - 9.
WEEK ELEVEN
For the most part, we can say that karma came through, just like Earl and Carson Daly said... The Eagles, Rams, and Browns were winners, just like Casey, McCaskill, and Brown were winners on Election Day. Can't quite explain the Bengals and Chiefs, though... the Bengals I can see not paying off, because Cincy is the "red" city in Ohio, but Kansas City is a good Democratic town...
RECORD-- 3-2, 27-23 for the season.
November 19:
ATL at BAL (-4). What's the best strategy to figure out the Falcons? SERPENTINE!!! Whenever you think they will do well, pick against them, and vice versa... ATL + 4.
PIT (-3.5) at CLE. Until further notice, I pick against the Steelers each week. Four weeks in a row (at least four since I started paying attention) of the Steelers failing to cover is too much of a trend to ignore. CLE + 3.5.
WAS at TB (-3). Thesis statement: Daniel Snyder is the worst owner in the NFL. Discuss. TB - 3.
IND (-1) at DAL. Those pathetic, bitter old-timers from the '72 Dolphins can finally pop their champagne corks. DAL + 1.
DET at AZ (-2). OK, try this one... Daniel Snyder and Bill Bidwell: Compare and contrast the suckiness. The Buzzsaw (tm deadspin.com) favored? Sucker bet. DET + 2.
Bonus time, baby! (As Telly Savalas used to say on those Vegas commercials.) Grey Cup:
BC (-7.5) vs. MTL. Looks like I haven't picked this game since 2003, so I can honestly say I've not picked this game wrong in the past 3 seasons... MTL + 7.5. Why not, eh?
WEEK TEN
I'm 2-3 for the second week in a row now... Not a good trend. Chiefs and Broncos were winners, Packers, Buccaneers and Patriots losers...
RECORD-- 2-3, 24-21 for the season.
November 12:
I am going to do something I've never done before and pick games without any football considerations at all. Only using what Earl Hickey would recognize as "karma"...
SD (-1.5) at CIN and
CLE at ATL (-8). Because of this, I'm going to take CIN + 1.5 and CLE +8.
STL at SEA (-3.5) and
KC at MIA (Pick 'em). Because of this, I'm taking STL + 3.5 and KC.
WAS at PHI (-7). And because of this, I'm taking PHI -7.
I am still so happy about Tuesday night...
But not so insane as to take the Steelers and give the points, election karma or no...
WEEK NINE
Maybe I am on to something with picking against the Steelers every week. Even more so when I say "I think they'll win, but won't cover", and they actually lose. To the Raiders, of all teams! And the Patriots controlled things as I'd hoped. But, for the second week in a row, the hapless Cardinals couldn't rebound from the Monday Night debacle, so I'm officially writing them off. The Jets didn't come through, and why oh why did I take another chance on the Texans?
RECORD-- 2-3, 22-18 for the season.
November 5:
The Midterm Election Edition...
WEEK EIGHT
If I could get a week like this every time, I'd take it. The Panthers and Packers won for me, as did the Falcons, actually winning when I thought they'd only come close. However, the Cardinals' rebound game didn't turn out as planned, and then the Cowboys melted down on Monday night. Maybe they were upset at having to miss Prison Break, I don't know...
RECORD-- 3-2, 20-15 for the season. A 3-2 record each week wouldn 't be "sexy", but it will work...
October 29:
AZ at GB (-4). ok, this will be the rebound game for the Cardinals. As long as the Packers are who they think they'll be. (Solemn pledge; LAST TIME I MAKE THAT JOKE.) AZ + 4.
HOU at TEN (-3). Another loser's bowl, and it goes against that earlier-season pledge to stop picking the Texans, but I have to take points against the Titans. HOU + 3.
NYJ at CLE (2.5). I am unclear at the thought process here. A team with a winning record playing a 1-5 team which has just shaken up their coaching staff, and they are underdogs? It's worth a shot. NYJ + 2.5.
PIT (-9) at OAK. It has gone so well thus far that I'll keep taking the points against the Steelers. They ought to beat the Raiders, but then I said that last week about the Falcons game... OAK + 9.
October 30:
NE (-1.5) at MIN. The Patriots should win, so I'll give a point and a half. I hope Tom Brady isn't a big Prison Break fan too. Maybe he finds T-Bag an oddly compelling character, as do we all. NE - 1.5.
WEEK SEVEN
Let's try to catch up on the past few weeks... Week 4 winners for me? Ravens and Bills. Losers? Dolphins, Raiders, and Packers. The Green Bay game was that Monday night game that looked close until halftime... After a 2- 3 week, my record stood at 11-9.
Just before making my Week 5 picks, I underwent a power loss on the laptop which I use for updating this here stuff. Fortunately, I was able to hermetically seal my selections in a #2 mayonnaise jar under Funk and Wagnall's porch... and you know what that means... It's time for a visitor... from the East... CARNAC... the MAGNIFICENT!!!
Carnac will now divine the selections without ever having seen them before...
"The selections were..."
The selections were...
"Yes, that is what I just said, oh Ryan Leaf-breath...
"The answer is... OAK + 3.5... BAL + 4... PHI - 1.5... AZ + 3.5...SD - 3.5... and George W. Bush..."
[Carnac rips open envelope... blows into envelope... and opens note]
"Name three winners, two losers, and one lame duck. MMMMM yesss!!!!"
Ahem.
OK, so I could never have written for Carson back in the day... Winners? Eagles, Cardinals, and Chargers. Losers? Raiders and Ravens.A 3-2 week, and an overall 14-11record.
And last week... Winners? Saints, Panthers, and Giants. Losers? Bills and Dolphins. A 3-2 week, and 17-13 for the season.
October 22:
CAR at CIN (-3.5). The battle of the big cats... Panthers and Bengals. Andres Gallaraga will be in the house. CAR + 3.5.
PIT (-2.5) at ATL. I'm going to ride this "pick against the Steelers" thing for a while longer... Though I think they'll win, maybe they won't cover. ATL + 2.5.
GB at MIA (-5). Nick Saban, meet paper sack. Try coaching your way out of it. GB + 5.
AZ (-3) at OAK. After that catastrophic Monday night game... For the Cardinals, in relationship terms, this is the equivalent of a "sure thing" hookup after a really bad breakup. Will the RAIDERS! be EXACTLY! who they THINK THEY WILL BE???? AZ -3.
October 23:
NYG at DAL (-3.5). How is that new guy Owens working out for the Cowboys, by the way? He's so quiet! DAL - 3.5.
WEEK SIX
Ahhhh... Details later on why I missed a week's posting. For now, this week's picks:
October 15:
PHI (-3.5) at NO. Saints Magic-- catch it!!! NO + 3.5.
CAR at BAL (-3). After that craptastic Monday night performance in Denver, it's hard to believe the Ravens can score 3 points, let alone win by that much. CAR + 3.
NYG at ATL (-3). Somebody's gotta lift the spirits of New York sports fans after the Yankees and Mets... NYG + 3.
BUF (-1) at DET. Forgive me, but I have a hard time putting any faith in a Matt Millen-built team. BUF -1.
MIA at NYJ (-2). I had to pick the Giants (see above) because I knew the Jets would not be the team to uplift the spirits of New York sports fans, since they are lousy. MIA + 2.
WEEK FOUR
Results from Week Three: Except for the Steelers, again, a successful week. Particular kudos to the Packers, who responded well to my challenge. I'm sure that was the deciding factor. Also winning for me? The Saints, Browns, and Jets.
RECORD-- 4-1, 9-6 for the season.I have just realized that outside of bets made on the Steelers and Texans, I'm 9-2 this season.
So it's obvious-- don't bet on those two teams, and I'll be on a pace for 82% the rest of the way! So simple!
Actually, I do remember a study of previous Super Bowl champs-- they did poorly against the spread the following season because they gained a few points on the "line" based on reputation, and consequently failed to cover most of the time. Something to keep in mind about the Steelers...
Also something to keep in mind? The Texans suck.
October 1:
SD (-2.5) at BAL. A West Coast team playing early on Sunday, against that defense? No thanks. BAL + 2.5
MIN at BUF (-1). The Bills should win anyway, so give the lousy point. BUF -1
MIA (-3.5) at HOU. See above, re: sucking. MIA - 3.5
CLE (-2.5) at OAK. I will attempt my Packers experiment from last week, and take the so-bad-they-look-like-they'd-lose-to-a-Division 2-school Raiders. Just to see what happens... OAK + 2.5
October 2:
GB at PHI (-11). Eleven? It's one louder! GB + 11.
WEEK THREE
Results from Week Two: The Texans let me down again, so they are on my list! Heh. The 49ers and Vikings were winners, though, and the Saints won at Lambeau (yeah, still kind of hard to believe too). It looked like I was set for a tidy 4-1 week, and then the Steelers forgot how to score.
RECORD-- 3-2, 5-5 for the season.
September 24:
CIN at PIT (-1.5). I know they can score this week... PIT - 1.5.
NYJ at BUF (-5.5). I will admit that the Bills should perhaps be favored, but 5 1/2 points? Sounds a bit steep. NYJ + 5.5.
GB at DET (-7). I have been kind of harsh toward Favre and the Packers so far this year, and his stats actually looked OK last week. I still think it's a Total Loss Season for the Pack, but just to give them one last chance, in my mind... GB +7. And if they lose, look out for my comments the rest of the season!
BAL (-6.5) at CLE. I am unnaturally attracted to home underdogs. CLE + 6.5.
September 25:
ATL (-4) at NO. This pick has something to do with betting on a Katrina-homecoming effect, but more to do with perpetual doubts about the Falcons and Michael Vick. NO + 4.
WEEK TWO
Results from Week One: For a losing week, I don't feel too badly about my choices. Only the pick of the Texans looked horrible in retrospect, while I was just this close to winning with both the Cardinals and the Giants. The Jaguars won easily enough, and the Bears vs. Packers... oh my. Who's going to play Barry Goldwater to Brett Favre's Nixon and persuade him to quit and avoid impeachm-- I mean, embarrassment?
RECORD-- 2-3
September 17:
CAR at MIN (Pick 'em). I'll take the Vikings in a pick 'em game. Insert own Love Boat cruise joke here! MIN.
NO (-2.5) at GB. Let me see if you grasp the seriousness of the situation, Mr. Favre and company... The freakin' New Orleans Saints are favored at Lambeau Field, and I'm taking them to cover. This season could get ugly if they don't turn it around right now. NO - 2.5.
HOU at IND (-13.5). Ted Baxter rule, is the only justification I can give for this one. HOU + 13.5.
STL (-3) at SF. I know the 49ers are weak, but I'm not sold on the Rams being favored either. Home Dog! SF + 3.
September 18:
PIT (-1.5) at JAX. If the Steelers can win with Charlie Batch at QB, winning on the road should be a snap. PIT - 1.5.
WEEK ONE
As always, a look back to the end of last season...
My pick of Seattle plus the points in the Super Bowl left me at 53-48 for the season-- or, 52.475% for the year. Talk about just making it into the black... I feel I deserve some sort of credit for forseeing that a major play in the game would be a trick play by the Steelers, or, as I wrote before the game, "especially with Randle El." Trouble was, and again I quote, I predicted that "I would not be surprised if a "gadget" play by the Steelers turned into Seahawks points."
Yes, I was wrong, but honestly, is it my fault that I was expecting the trick play and Mike Holmgren wasn't?
IND (-3.5) at NYG.. The Manning Bowl. I personally think that Archie could still out-gut either of them in clutch time. Re: The new NBC Sunday night football opening music by Pink-- as long as they were going "cheesy" for the theme, why not bring somebody out to re-record Friday Night's A great Night For Football from the movie The Last Boy Scout? Now that was cheesy! NYG + 3.5.
DAL at JAX (-2). The T.O. show begins, with predictable results to team cohesion. Trouble is, I have him on my fantasy team, so I hope it doesn't affect them too. Stay away from Larry Johnson, T.O.! Don't fill his head with notions! JAX -2.
CHI (-3.5) at GB. Is Favre washed up? If he can remember that he's not the QB he was 5 years ago, no. If he can't, yes. I suspect "yes". Look out, Bears secondary, interceptions galore! CHI - 3.5.
PHI (-5) at HOU. A hunch... It seems the Texans play relatively well in openers they have no business winning. HOU + 5.
SF at AZ (-7.5). Until further notice, the Niners suck. That is all. AZ - 7.5.
