Week 2 NFL Picks
So although 8-8 against the spread isn't horrible, I'm looking for a bounce back week this time around. Here are my picks; home team in CAPS, my pick marked with an asterisk (*), and the spread (I get the spread from ESPN's Pigskin Pick'em. I know that isn't the final spread but it's what I picked the games at.) in parentheses.
Raiders* at BILLS (-3.5) - I think that the Raiders can win this game. If they can't win it by conventional standards, then DE Richard Seymour will just sucker punch Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Bears* at SAINTS (-7.5) - If the spread was more like the game above, I'd pick the Saints. I think New Orleans will win this game, just not by 8 or more points. Drew Brees threw for over 400 yards against the Packers' defense, and the Bears are weaker in the secondary. New Orleans has a couple of injuries but I looks for RB Darren Sproles to get more involved in the offense to catch an aggressive Chicago defense off guard.
Browns at COLTS* (+2.5) - If you would've told Colts fans they'd be two and a half point home underdogs to the Browns before the season started, they would've thought that Peyton Manning was injured and an aging Kerry Collins came in and totally sucked... and they would've been deemed psychics. The only problem with the Colts sitting at +2.5 is that the Browns lost to one of the worst three teams in the NFL on their home field in a really hard game to watch. This game is going to be horrible, but I don't think that Indy will lose on their home field to Cleveland. If they do, they are definitely tanking the season to get Andrew Luck.
Chiefs at LIONS* (-8.5) - I'm hesitant picking the Lions in this one because of the 8.5-point spread, but the Chiefs don't look like they're going to be any good. With the injuries KC has in the secondary, I think Calvin Johnson is going to have a huge game. Good thing Matt Stafford is still healthy.
Packers* at PANTHERS (+10.5) - Cam Newton is not going to get close to 400 yards passing and this game is going to be a blowout.
Ravens* at TITANS (+5.5) - The Titans are one of the worst teams in the NFL right now. The addition of Matt Hasslebeck didn't seem to help at all against Jacksonville, even though they did have a shot to win it at the end. The Ravens just beat up the defending AFC champs and look like a very viable Super Bowl contender. The only way the Ravens lose/don't cover is if they have a gigantic letdown from a big win over their rivals last week.
Buccaneers at VIKINGS* (-3.5) - If the Bucs can't win at home against a Lions team that made some costly mistakes, I'm not going to pick them on the road no matter how bad I think the Vikings are. Adrian Peterson looked very good against an elite San Diego defense, I think he'll top that against Tampa. I'll set the over/under for passing yards for McNabb at 42. Take the over. Barely.
Jaguars* at JETS (-10.5) - BOOM! LUKE MCCOWN IS IN TOWN AND IS READY TO CELEBRATE SOME MORE FIRST DOWNS! I can't wait to see McCown try to celebrate against this Jets defense only to get his head ripped off by Bart Scott. At least Blaine Gabbert will get to make his NFL debut then! I'm picking the Jags because the Jets need to show me something on offense before that asterisk floats over to their name when they're 10.5-point favorites.
Cardinals at REDSKINS* (-4.5) - The Skins doubled up the Giants at home last week. The Cards eeked out a win over the Panthers at home. The Skins defense is legit. The Cards defense is not. The Skins quarterback is Sexy Rexy. The Cards quarterback is not. Although that might be a good thing... Skins by 7.
Seahawks at STEELERS* (-14.5) - Tavaris Jackson might be the only quarterback that can beat Alex Smith at his own game... being a horrible quarterback. Big Ben had a rough week but the Seattle defense is nowhere near the Ravens' defense. Aside from TE Zach Miller, the Seahawks don't really have any weapons so I think the Steelers are going bring the heat constantly. But don't worry, if Jackson can't make it through the whole game then Seattle has Charlie "Clipboard Jesus" Whitehurst to come in and also throw the ball to the guys in the black jerseys. Even though the Steelers are getting 14.5 points, they're going to win by more than that. This game isn't even close.
Cowboys* at 49ERS (-2.5) - Dallas, don't kick the ball to Ted Ginn and you'll win the game.
Bengals* at BRONCOS (-5.5) - Another horrible game in Denver this week. TEBOW! TEBOW! TEBOW! TEBOW! I don't think the Bengals will win this game, but I also don't think they'll lose by more than a field goal. TEBOW! TEBOW! TEBOW! TEBOW! I'll find out what happens on Sportcenter though, because there's no way in hell I'm going to sit and watch this game. TEBOW! TEBOW! TEBOW! TEBOW!
Texans* at DOLPHINS (+2.5) - The Fins aren't bad, but the Texans' defense is an upgrade from New England's. I don't think the Texans offense is as explosive as they showed in Week 1, but they're still better than Miami's. This spread plays perfectly into my pick of Houston by 3. Hey Henne! Look out for JJ Watt!
Chargers at PATRIOTS* (-6.5) - San Diego needs to prove that they won't start slow again before they're gonna get my pick on the road at New England. Tom Brady won't throw for over 500 yards this time, but I do feel comfortable that he can lead the Pats to a 7+ point win. Phillip Rivers should have a big game against that weak secondary if the rest of his team shows up but Brady doesn't lose at home.
Eagles* at FALCONS (+2.5) - I don't think the Falcons expected to be home underdogs to anybody this season, even Philly. Well, that's what you get for not showing up to play in Chicago. Michael Vick, still loved in Atlanta, said "This is Matt Ryan's house. I'm just a visitor." in the week leading up to this game. I think it'll be Vick's house again before the game is over. Ryan has been really good at home, and I think Turner can have a huge game, but this is another one of those "show me" games. The Falcons need to show me that they can play up to expectations before I pick them over Philly.
Rams at GIANTS* (-6.5) - The Rams lost half their roster last week. At least half of the guys that really matter. The Giants aren't anything special either, getting doubled up on the road at Washington. ESPN is getting two bad beats in a row, having to air the Oakland at Denver game last week and now having to air this one. I'm looking for Eli Manning to bounce back and have a slightly-better-than-pretty-bad performance this week. I just hope that no Rams player dislocates his elbow this week too.
So I've got Oakland on the road, Chicago on the road, Indianapolis at home, Green Bay on the road, Baltimore on the road, Minnesota at home, Jacksonville on the road, Washington at home, Pittsburgh at home, Dallas on the road, Cincinnati on the road, Houston on the road, New England at home, Philadelphia on the road, and New York at home to either win or cover.
