Spread Em: Super Bowl XLII

I don't know if you've heard anything about it over the last few days, but apparently there's a pretty big football game being played this weekend, and it's called Super Bowl XLII. The Super Bowl is one of my favorite days of the year, in fact, it's my Christmas. Still, it's a bittersweet day, because after it's over, I don't have a single football game to watch for seven months. But you're not here to listen to me ramble on about what the Super Bowl means to me, you're hear to find out who's going to cover the spread. Let's get to the pick, plus a few fun prop bets.

New England Patriots (-11.5) vs. New York Giants

I want to pick the Giants to win this game, for many reasons. First and foremost because I hate the Patriots. I respect what they do, but I hate them. They have the best quarterback, they have the best coach, they have the best wide receiver....noticing a trend? Oh, and they're 18-0. I tend to root for the underdog, and it's pretty obvious that's not a role the Patriots are playing in this game.

There was a time when they were though. Not coincidentally, there was a time when I liked them. I recently saw a replay of New England's first title, over the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, and I remembered everything about watching that game. I was living in Champaign at the time, and I stayed home to watch the game with my roommate, Bill.

The Rams, of course, were the offensive juggernaut back then, and the Patriots had no chance. That didn't stop Bill and I from backing them, and it was also helped by the fact Bill's girlfriend's roommate was from St. Louis, and she was annoying. So screw her.

As I watched the game again yesterday, I couldn't help but notice how everything we now know about Tom Brady was so obvious then. After the Patriots had blown a 17-3 lead in the fourth quarter, he kept his cool and led his team down the field with a 1:21 left and no timeouts. Tom didn't do anything stupid, just took what the Rams defense (coached by a certain Lovie Smith) gave him and calmly moved the team down the field, setting up Adam Vinatieri's game-winner as the clock ran out.

That's when I realized there was no way in hell the Giants have any shot this weekend. Not when Bill Belichick has had two weeks to figure out how to beat you, and not when you're going against Tom Brady.

I know Eli Manning has played well in the playoffs so far, but you still wouldn't be surprised if he had a Rex Grossman-like performance, would you? No, you wouldn't.

The truth is that Eli can play well, and it's not going to matter. The Giants played the Patriots as well as they could in Week 17, and they still lost. Now the Patriots know what the Giants are going to try to do to them.

This Patriots team is destined to go 19-0, and the Giants aren't going to stop them from doing it.

Patriots 31 Giants 17

Conference Championships: 1-1

Playoffs: 6-4

Overall: 133-109-9

Prop Bets

It's the last game of the season, so that means you won't have any football to gamble on for a while, so you better feed that monkey as much as you can now. Luckily there are hundreds of prop bets available!

First Player to Score TD - Jabar Gaffney 12/1- I always like to make this bet in the Super Bowl, and it paid off big time for me two years ago in Super Bowl XXXIX. I took Ben Roethlisberger at 20/1 odds, and although most people in Seattle will still tell you Ben never crossed the goalline, the folks in Vegas said he did and that's all that matters to me. I just figure that the Giants are probably going to pay a lot of attention to Moss and Wes Welker, and Tom Brady isn't picky when it comes to who he throws to. He just finds the open guy, which could easily be Gaffney after he gets lost in the shuffle.

Wes Welker Receptions - Over 7.5- So far this postseason Welker has had 9 catches against Jacksonville, and 7 against San Diego. Eight times this season he's had 8 or more catches in a game, and he's Tom Brady's security blanket. I think the Giants will get pressure on Brady during the game, and he'll look to Welker a lot.

And if you're really sick...

Coin Toss - Tails (-103) - It never fails.

All spreads and prop bets courtesy of Bodog

Spread Em: Conference Championships

The regular season is over, and we now enter the dangerous waters of the playoffs. I'm not sure what happened this season, but somehow, someway, I managed to get more games right than I did wrong. Consider it another sign that the world will be coming to an end soon, right there with global warming. The playoffs, though, they're a different story. Will I wilt under the pressure, or rise above the rest of my non-existent competition like the virile beast I am? I don't know, I'm just hoping this paragraph is long enough at this point to "cover" the photo to it's right. So let's just get on with the picks.


AFC Championship

Patriots vs. Chargers (+14) - No, I'm not about to tell you that I think San Diego is going to win this game. I don't. I just don't think that the Patriots are going to run away with this one. After all, the Chargers have won their last eight games, and are a completely different team than the one that got its ass handed to it back in Week 2 by a score of 38-14. It's not official or anything, but I'm sure both LaDainian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers will be playing in this game, which is a shame because I think we can all use a little more Volektricity in our lives. The key in this game, as in any game against the Patriots, will be whether or not San Diego is going to be able to get to Brady. I think they can. They won't make his day a living hell, but I think they're going to get to him enough that he's not going to be able to sit back there and pick their secondary apart all day. I am a bit scared by the weather conditions, as it's supposed to be about 21 degrees at gametime and windy. That works against San Diego, but at the same time, I think the conditions will keep the Patriots from blowing this one wide open. Having said all that, I wouldn't be surprised if the Patriots won this game 63-3 either, they're just that damn good.

NFC Championship

Packers (-7.5) vs. Giants - This feels extremely weird to say, but I want the Packers to win this game. Not because I'm picking them, but because it will be the only way to save the Super Bowl. Do you want a Super Bowl featuring Tom Brady and Eli Manning? No, that game would be over by the end of the first quarter. What you want is Brady vs. Favre. The greatest going right now against the one of the greatest ever. Now that the Colts have been eliminated, the Packers are the only team left standing that I think even has a remote chance to knock off the Patriots. Of course, they'll have to get by the Giants first. I don't think it'll be much of a problem, especially now that Ryan Grant has emerged as the new Dorsey Levens. Also, I keep hearing that the weather in Green Bay on Sunday (High of 5 degrees with flurries) won't have any effect on the Giants because the Giants play in cold weather all the time. That's true, but have you noticed how Eli Manning plays in the cold? The colder it gets, the worse he plays. He's even admitted, after the Bears game, that he doesn't like playing in cold weather. That means the Giants will have to do it all on the ground, and though I like the combination of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, I don't think they'll be able to dominate against a tough Packers run defense. I think the Packers get by the Giants rather easily and move on to try and stop the juggernaut that is the New England Patriots.

Last Week: 2-2

Playoffs: 5-3

Overall: 132-108-9

All spreads courtesy of Bodog

Spread Em: NFL Divisional Round

The regular season is over, and we now enter the dangerous waters of the playoffs. I'm not sure what happened this season, but somehow, someway, I managed to get more games right than I did wrong. Consider it another sign that the world will be coming to an end soon, right there with global warming. The playoffs, though, they're a different story. Will I wilt under the pressure, or rise above the rest of my non-existent competition like the virile beast I am? I don't know, I'm just hoping this paragraph is long enough at this point to "cover" the photo to it's right. So let's just get on with the picks.

Saturday Games

Packers (-8) vs. Seahawks - I know Josh Brown is going to be wearing hot pants, but not even his sweaty thighs will be good enough for the Seahawks to knock off the Packers this weekend. The Seahawks were basically a missed field goal away from being eliminated last weekend by the Redskins, and there's a large difference between last week's game and this week's. This week, the Seahawks are on the road. They're a very good home team, but get them outside of Seattle, and they become mediocre at best. The Packers meanwhile will be coming off of two weeks rest, and Brett Favre would like to get back to the Super Bowl one more time. There's a chance Mike Holmgren will walk back into Lambeau Field this weekend, and deny the quarterback he helped get the first ring a chance at his second, but I doubt it.

Patriots (-13) vs. Jaguars - Do I think the Jaguars can beat the Patriots? Sure. Do I want the Jaguars to beat the Patriots? No doubt. Will the Jaguars beat the Patriots? No. No they won't. The Jaguars are the type of team that can beat the Patriots thanks to their run game and defense, but they'll probably be without John Henderson this weekend and along with the injury to Marcus Stroud, that means Jacksonville won't have their two starting defensive tackles. Which is the strength of Jacksonville's defense. Also, when given a full week to prepare for a team, Bill Belichick is damn near unbeatable. I'm sure he's already figured out a way to stop Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, and force David Garrard to beat New England. He can't do it.

Sunday Games

Colts (-9) vs. Chargers - Normally I would take the Chargers in this game with the nine points, especially after seeing San Diego already beat Indianapolis earlier this season, but there have been some things that have happened since then that are causing me to take Indy. First of all, the Colts are still the defending champions, and nobody's talking about them at all lately. How the defending champs can fly under the radar, I don't know. Second of all, Marvin Harrison is back. So now Peyton has his security blanket back, and thanks to all Marvin's time on the sidelines, Manning was able to develop a relationship with Anthony Gonzalez. So he has more weapons at his disposal. Finally, did you see San Diego after they beat the Titans last week? Norv Turner was dancing on the sidelines, and the players were acting like they'd already won the Super Bowl. In other words, San Diego's season has already been a success in the mind's of the players, whether they're aware of it or not. That means I expect a big letdown performance this week in Indianapolis. I wouldn't be surprised if the Colts win by over 20 points.

Cowboys vs. Giants (+7.5) - I don't care that the Cowboys have already beaten the Giants twice this season by the combined score of 76-55. I don't care that Eli Manning is still the Giants quarterback. I'm taking the Giants this weekend for a few reasons, including one huge NFL conspiracy. One being that I don't care that the Cowboys are rested. They peaked in November and have been on a steady down trend since. The Giants meanwhile have played their best football of the season the last few weeks. Finally, the NFL wants the Giants to get to the Super Bowl so that Eli can face off against the Colts. That's right, I think the Colts are going to beat New England next week as well. Hate to spoil the surprise for you, but give me a few weeks. You'll see.

Last Week: 3-1

Overall: 130-106-9

All spreads courtesy of Bodog

Spread Em: Wild Card Weekend

The regular season is over, and we now enter the dangerous waters of the playoffs. I'm not sure what happened this season, but somehow, someway, I managed to get more games right than I did wrong. Consider it another sign that the world will be coming to an end soon, right there with global warming. The playoffs, though, they're a different story. Will I wilt under the pressure, or rise above the rest of my non-existent competition like the virile beast I am? I don't know, I'm just hoping this paragraph is long enough at this point to "cover" the photo to it's right. So let's just get on with the picks.

Saturday Games

Seahawks vs. Redskins (+3.5) - One thing I didn't mention in the intro paragraph? Despite the record I had this regular season picking games, I still didn't beat Panger in our own personal pool on Yahoo. So not only did I lose to a girl, but now that girl's team is in the playoffs while my Bears sit at home on their asses. Then to make matters worse, I'm actually picking the damn Redskins to go into Seattle and walk out of there with a victory. (Seriously, Panger, can you send me my balls back? They're in that jar above your mantle.) I'm knee deep in the Todd Collins Kool-Aid, as he's played exceptionally well in the place of Jason Campbell these last few weeks. Of course, the play of Clinton Portis hasn't hurt either, as he's been phenomenal over the last month. Another factor in my picking Washington? The weather in Seattle on Saturday is going to be rainy and very windy, which is going to hurt Seattle's passing attack. That means they're going to have to rely on Shaun Alexander a lot more than they have been, and if you haven't seen Alexander this season, well, there's a reason the Seahawks have been a passing team this season. He won't have much more success against Washington's defense either.

Steelers (+3) vs. Jaguars - I should probably tell you that I'm rooting for the Jaguars in this game. Since the Bears aren't in the playoffs, I've adopted Jacksonville as my pet team, which is actually the trendy pick this postseason. I'm not doing it to be cool though, I'm doing it because the Jags play the style of football I enjoy the most. They're a tough running team, with a very tough defense. Kinda like what the Steelers used to be. So why am I taking Pittsburgh and the points? Well, it sure as hell isn't because the Steelers have impressed me lately. No, it's because Jacksonville already won in Pittsburgh earlier this season, and in the NFL it's very tough to beat the same team twice in one season. Let alone doing it both times on the road. So with that in mind, I have to take Pittsburgh, but I hope I'm wrong.

Sunday Games

Buccaneers vs. Giants (+3) - God help me, I'm taking Eli Manning in a playoff game. See, this right here is why I hate the NFC so much. Neither of these teams has a chance to get to the NFC Championship, as the winner will get beat by whomever they face next week. I know Jeff Garcia beat the Giants with Philadelphia in the playoffs last season, but Tampa won it's division with a 9-7 record. Oh wow, you're a divison champ, but you still suck. Also, whether you like him or not, Eli hasn't played too bad lately and now that Plaxico Burress is finally getting healthy it's only going to help him out.

Chargers (-10) vs. Titans - The only reason the Titans are in the playoffs is because they got to play a Colts team that was resting it's starters, and they still barely won that game. Vince Young left the game with an injury, but Kerry Collins came in and the Titans actually looked better of without Young under center. I've no idea what's happened to Vince this season, but it's incredibly disappointing. The Chargers meanwhile have been rolling the last few weeks, and it's all because they remembered that handing the ball to LaDainian Tomlinson equals success. Also the addition of Chris Chambers has proven to be a big help to Philip Rivers as he now has another option aside from Antonio Gates to throw too. In the end, San Diego will just prove to be too powerful for the Titans, and then Rivers will talk a ton of shit despite the fact he'll have gone 14/27 for 189 yards, a touchdown, and an interception on the day.

Last Week: 7-8

Overall: 127-105-9

All spreads courtesy of Bodog

Spread Em: NFL Week 17

It's that time of the week again. The time when I feel the need to prove to you all once again, that nobody, and I mean nobody, is as good as I am at picking losers. Every Friday here at Foul Balls I will pick a winner in every NFL game that weekend, and I will be wrong the majority of the time. Let's get to this week's picks.

Saturday Game

Giants vs. Patriots (-14) - So I guess this game is kind of a big deal. Apparently, the Patriots are 15-0 right now and a win on Saturday night would make them the first team since the 72 Dolphins to finish a regular season undefeated. So if they need any motivation, there it is. Also, it's Tom Brady vs. Eli Manning. Which side of that line would you take? I thought so.

Early Games

Eagles vs. Bills (+7.5) - One of many games this weekend that are completely meaningless, and as a general rule, I never suggest betting on meaningless games. That said, I realize there are plenty of degenerate gamblers out there, and most of you read this site, so take the Bills. Just don't take the money from Junior's college fund.

Buccaneers (+3) vs. Panthers - See, these are the games that I hate. Not only is it meaningless since Tampa can't move up or down in the playoff seeds, and Carolina's eliminated, but who knows who Tampa is going to play? I see the Bucs getting three points at home against the Panthers, and I think easy money. But you never really know in these games. Luckily for me, Carolina really sucks, so they probably will lose to Tampa's second string.

Dolphins (+3) vs. Bengals - Sure, why not.

Packers (-4) vs. Lions - Should the Packers be worried after the ass beating they got from the Bears last week? I mean, Brett Favre looked lost in the blustery cold of Soldier Field. He plays in Green Bay. You know, the Frozen Tundra and all that crap? Maybe not having homefield advantage will be a blessing in disguise for the Pack. I've no idea how much Favre and the other starters will play in this game, but I'm taking the Packers anyway.

Texans vs. Jaguars (+6) - I'm beginning to reconsider even picking games this week. It will be a shame to see a pretty damn awesome record (Seriously, did you see my record last season? I feel like some sort of football betting super genius this year.) on the season spoiled by having to pick these games. Um, go with Jacksonville?

Bears (+2) vs. Saints - I have 100% confidence in my Bears and their ability to win a meaningless game and fuck up their draft position just like they did last week. They can't even win right!

Falcons vs. Seahawks (+1.5) - Oh come on!! This isn't fair!

Browns vs. 49ers (+10) - The Browns need to win this game to have a chance to make the playoffs. San Francisco has nothing to play for. So common sense dictates that Cleveland will roll, but this is week 17 of the NFL, and common sense has no place here.

Late Games

Redskins (-9.5) vs. Cowboys - The Redskins are getting a playoff berth wrapped up in a bow for them this weekend. Dallas has homefield locked up, so they're going to sit Romo, and T.O is out. I wouldn't expect many other Cowboys starters to see much time either, even though they're playing the hated Redskins. They'll let them win this week and then they'll kill them in two weeks in Dallas. Well, if the Skins get past the first round anyway, and Todd Collins is their quarterback so it would be impossible not to.

Ravens (+3.5) vs. Steelers - This pick has nothing to do with Pittsburgh sitting players or anything. It's just that the last few weeks the Steelers have looked like a bad team, and now that they're without Willie Parker, I don't even have the faith in them to take them against the Ravens. The Ravens.

Broncos vs. Vikings (-3) - Just when you think teams have solved Purple Jesus, he gets a date with Denver. The Broncos could put 15 men in the box and they still couldn't stop a running back, let alone Adrian Peterson. Tarvaris Jackson plays well again this week because all he's going to have to do is hand the ball off.

Raiders vs. Chargers (-9) - Jamarcus Russell is making his first career start this week for Oakland and he's doing it against a San Diego defense that's fallen back in love with blitzing. It's going to be a long day for Russell.

Cardinals vs. Rams (+6) - Oh who the hell cares?

Jets vs. Chiefs (+6) - Herm Edwards returns to the Meadowlands where he will play to win the game. And that's what his team is going to do against his old team. Eric Mangini, on the other hand, will play for a free box of donuts.

Primetime Games

Colts vs. Titans (-6.5) - The Colts are going to be resting their starters and the Titans are playing for a playoff berth. I'll take the Titans.

Last Week: 9-6

Overall: 120-97-9


All spreads courtesy of Bodog

Spread Em: NFL Week 16

It's that time of the week again. The time when I feel the need to prove to you all once again, that nobody, and I mean nobody, is as good as I am at picking losers. Every Friday here at Foul Balls I will pick a winner in every NFL game that weekend, and I will be wrong the majority of the time. Let's get to this week's picks.


Saturday Game

Panthers (+11) vs. Cowboys - It's a known fact that Tony Romo challenges in the playoffs, and since this week is championship week in most fantasy leagues, Romo's going to have another crap game. Then he's gonna wake up on Monday morning with Jessica Simpson laying next to him, and she'll turn to him and say, "Tony, I've been sleeping with T.O." Tony will then congratulate her for being able to spell his whole name.

Early Games

Bengals vs. Browns (-3) - I just get the feeling that the Browns are going to have a strong game this weekend. Maybe it's because they'll smell blood in the water now that Willie Parker is done for the season (RIP Steelers), and a win here can lead to a division title next week.

Bears vs. Packers (-9) - The only thing that kept the Vikings from destroying the Bears last week was the play of Tarvaris Jackson. I have a feeling Brett Favre will manage to do a better job than Tarvaris. I also have a feeling Kyle Orton will improve this week as well. Instead of overthrowing wide open receivers by 10 feet on 4th and 1, he's only going to miss by 5 feet this week. That's an improvement of 200%. Though 200% of crap.....

Colts vs. Texans (+7) - Okay, so I'm starting to buy into Mario Williams after seeing him play last week. I get the feeling he's going to make Peyton Manning's day seem a little longer on Sunday, though I still think Indy wins.

Lions vs. Chiefs (+5) - The way the Lions have played lately, I'll take anybody and five points against them. Okay, not Baltimore.

Bills (+3) vs. Giants - The Bills want revenge for Super Bowl XXV. They get it this weekend. Then afterwards, they'll move to Toronto.

Jaguars (-14) vs. Raiders - I am somewhat concerned with this pick. Jacksonville is coming off of their first real statement win: a victory last week at Pittsburgh. I've no idea how they'll play coming off such a big win, but since Justin Fargas is out, even if they start slow I still think the Jags pull away.

Saints vs. Eagles (+3.5) - I have no idea where to go here, so I'm taking the points.

Late Games

Cardinals vs. Falcons (+10.5) - The Cardinals have lost far too many games they should have won this season to lay 10.5 points. Even against the Falcons.

49ers (+6) vs. Bucs - I have no idea why I'm making this pick, I just am.

Patriots (-22) vs. Dolphins - I don't want to give up this many points with the Patriots now that the weather is getting worse, but damn it, they're playing the Dolphins. The same Dolphins they put up 42 against in the first half earlier this season. The same Dolphins who finally won a game last week, so they're basically coming off of their Super Bowl. I realize there may be some kind of weird 1985 voodoo going on, and they may try to do to the Pats what they did to the Bears then, but remember one thing. They're the Dolphins. They really suck, and Baltimore is the only other team in the NFL that could lose to them.

Seattle (OFF) vs. Ravens - There's no line, but I'm picking the Seahawks anyway! Need a free win.

Titans (-8.5) vs. Jets - The Jets looked okay against New England last week, and the Titans really haven't lived up to their potential. Especially Vince Young, but for some reason, I see them getting their acto together this week.

Primetime Games

Vikings vs. Redskins (+6.5) - Tavaris Jackson regressed pretty badly last week against the Bears. The Redskins have seen the last two weeks that Purple Jesus can be contained somewhat, so expect a lot of 8-man fronts from the Redskins defense. They'll also blitz the hell out of Jackson. The Redskins may get burned by Jesus a time or two, but they'll keep it close.

Chargers (-9) vs. Broncos - The Chargers finally remembered that LaDainian Tomlinson is what makes this offense go, not Philip Rivers. As a result, they're playing like we all thought the Chargers would play lately. Combine that with the fact Denver isn't playing for anything, and I think the Chargers roll. Not that Denver's rush defense could stop Tomlinson if this were the Super Bowl.

Last Week: 7-8

Overall: 111-91-9

All spreads courtesy of Bodog

Spread Em: NFL Week 15

It's that time of the week again. The time when I feel the need to prove to you all once again, that nobody, and I mean nobody, is as good as I am at picking losers. Every Friday here at Foul Balls I will pick a winner in every NFL game that weekend, and I will be wrong the majority of the time. Let's get to this week's picks.

Saturday Game

49ers vs. Bengals (-9) - I hate taking the Bengals, but I think the Niners are one of the teams that the Bengals not only should beat, but actually will beat. San Fran's offense can't score, their defense can't really keep anybody from scoring, and their quarterback and head coach are feuding through the media. The Bengals meanwhile haven't had anybody arrested in months, so things are looking up in the Nati!

Early Games

Saints (-4) vs. Cardinals - I think the Saints can do the same thing Seattle's been doing lately, and that the Patriots have done a lot this season, just abandon the run game and throw every play. For the most part it's what they did against Atlanta on Monday night, and it worked.

Bucs vs. Falcons (+14) - I'm only picking the Falcons in this game on the theory that they're gonna be so pissed off from Bobby Petrino's quitting on them to go to Arkansas, and just come out and beat the hell out of Tampa on Sunday. Either that or Tampa's offense will be just mediocre enough to let the Falcons hang around.

Dolphins (+4) vs. Ravens - Now I'm not saying this will be the game the Dolphins finally win, I've already learned my lesson for saying such stupid things. I'm only picking the Dolphins here because I don't trust the Ravens to beat anybody by 5 points, let alone to do so on the road. Also, if this is the only game available in your area on Sunday, I suggest you score some points with the woman and tell her "You know what honey? Fuck football! I want to spend the day with you!" Then fake sick before the afternoon games start so you can watch them.

Browns vs. Bills (+6) - Can you believe this game has big time playoff implications in the AFC? I'm really not sure which way I want to go in this game, I just know that Buffalo's been good to me all season, and when I'm not too sure I always take the points. So....Buffalo it is.

Rams vs. Packers (-9) - For most of the season the Packers biggest hole was their lack of a running game. The last few weeks Ryan Grant has filled that hole pretty well, and he's doing it during the right time of the season. Green Bay keeps rolling this week against the Rams.

Steelers (-3.5) vs. Jaguars - I really like the Jaguars. I do. It's just that everytime I see them go against one of the elite teams in the AFC like the Colts or Pats, they generally struggle. I don't know that the Steelers can be considered one of the AFC's elite, but they can beat anybody at anytime, and they're playing at home. So I'll take the Steelers.

Patriots (-22.5) vs. Jets - I was thinking earlier this week that if Bill Belichick really wanted to rub it in to the the Jets, there was one thing he could do. He should have come out yesterday and told the media that the Patriots would not be dressing their punter this weekend. They were going to leave him on the inactice list. "We don't plan on using him." Because really, I don't think the Patriots will need him this week. Though there is a wild card in this game. Will the Patriots be clear headed? They haven't played this early in the day in quite some time.

Panthers vs. Seahawks (-8) - The Panthers suck and the Seahawks don't.

Chiefs (+4) vs. Titans - Vince Young just really seems to be regressing this year, and Kansas City is a tough place for any team to go and play. I think the Chiefs pull one out at home this weekend.

Late Games

Raiders vs. Colts (-11) - The Colts are finally starting to play like the Colts in recent weeks, and it seems they're peaking at the right time. They still won't have Marvin Harrison but it looks like Peyton is finally comfortable with Anthony Gonzalez, and though they still don't have Dwight Freeney on defense, it hasn't really seemed to cause the unit to suffer that much. As long as they keep Justin Fargas in check, this game should be rather easy for Indy.

Lions (+11) vs. Chargers - Last week I didn't think the Lions had any chance in hell of staying with the Cowboys, yet they did. So this week I'm going to give them some credit and say they'll stay within range of San Diego. Of course, this means they'll lose by 30.

Cowboys vs. Eagles (+11) - I'm just going with my "NFC East Matchups Are Always Close" theory in this game. I'm not that confident in this pick, but whatever, I'll go with it.

Primetime Games

Giants vs. Redskins (+5) - See previous game.

Vikings (-10) vs. Bears - The last time these two met the Vikings and Purple Jesus ran all over the Bears at Soldier Field. They did this without any kind of passing attack whatsoever, and now Tavares Jackson looks like an actual quarterback. The Bears will be starting Kyle Orton, and they've always struggled at the Metrodome. Not to mention this is on Monday Night Football, and the Bears always embarass themselves on national broadcasts.

Last Week: 9-7

Overall: 104-83-9

All spreads courtesy of Bodog

Spread Em: NFL Week 14

It's that time of the week again. The time when I feel the need to prove to you all once again, that nobody, and I mean nobody, is as good as I am at picking losers. Every Friday here at Foul Balls I will pick a winner in every NFL game that weekend, and I will be wrong the majority of the time. Let's get to this week's picks.


Early Games

Jaguars (-11) vs. Panthers - I feel like I have to take the Jaguars here, but to be honest, I'm a bit scared of this pick. The Jaguars are coming off another loss to the Colts, and their chances of winning the AFC South aren't very good. It's gotta be hard to get fired up for the Panthers after that letdown, isn't it? How in the hell do you get motivated to kick Vinny Testaverde's ass? Do you just walk up to old people on the street and hit them? Would you try and kill your grandfather?

Lions vs. Cowboys (-11.5) - Just in case the Lions haven't realized that their playoff chances are over, the Cowboys will be in town to show them just how far out of it they really are. We all knew Detroit would slide in the second half, and now that Roy Williams is done for the season, the Lions are done. Cowboys, big.

Bills (-7.5) vs. Dolphins - Lets not forget, it's thanks to games against teams like the Dolphins and the Jets that anyone ever considered Buffalo as a playoff hopeful this season. They're no where near that level yet, but they'll still beat Miami again.

Eagles vs. Giants (+3) - You have no idea which Eli will show up, and you have no idea which McNabb will show up. Hell, should McNabb show up? The last time these two teams met Donovan was sacked 12 times. Whoever shows up, these two always play close games against each other, so I'll take the points.

Packers vs. Raiders (+11) - Brett Favre is hurting, and with Aaron Rodgers out the Packers can't afford to take many chances with Brett. So that means Ryan Grant is going to get a lot of action on Sunday. The Raiders have a pretty good running back in Justin Fargas as well, and I think the Raiders keep this one close.

Titans vs. Chargers (-1.5) - He's not having the LaDainian Tomlinson season we're used to, but he's still got more rushing TD's than anybody else, and he's been on a scoring tear as of late. The Titans meanwhile don't seem to be going anywhere. I'll take the Chargers in a tough environment this week.

Bengals vs. Rams (+7) - I wouldn't expect there to be a lot of three and outs in this game. Though there will be a lot of points, and probably more than a few turnovers. I'll just take the points.

Texans (+3) vs. Bucs - Sure am disappointed I won't get to watch this game.

Late Games

Seahawks (-7) vs. Cardinals - The Seahawks are at home and going against a Cardinals team that doesn't know if Anquan Boldin will be available, and isn't so sure about Larry Fitzgerald either. Sorry, Arizona. Maybe next year.

49ers vs. Vikings (-9.5) - I'm predicting Adrian Peterson runs for 400 yards and 8 touchdowns in this game. And Purple Jesus is so good that if he does do it, nobody will be surprised.

Patriots (-10.5) vs. Steelers - This is the last chance for anybody to beat New England in the regular season. I'd like to take Pittsburgh here for so many reasons. One, they're a good team. The Patriots have also struggled against defenses similar to Pittsburgh's blitzing attack in the last two weeks. They've played close games. But the Steelers won't have either of their starting safeties this week, and with all those options for Tom Brady, he'll find somebody. He may get hit a few times, but he'll hit you just as hard going the other way.

Jets (+3.5) vs. Browns - I don't know why, I just see the Browns having a crap game this week. The Jets will somehow capitalize on it, and win.

Broncos vs. Chiefs (+7.5) - Much like the Eagles and Giants game, this is one of those old divisional matchups that are always close games. So I'll take KC and the free touchdown.

Primetime Games

Ravens vs. Colts (-10) - I should probably take the Ravens here considering the way they played New England last week, but I just can't. I cannot put faith in Kyle Boller to lead the Ravens to any points.

Falcons (+4.5) vs. Saints - So it looks like the Saints will be without Reggie Bush this weekend, and probably for the season. Oh and they may take away his Heisman. It's a great week to be Reggie Bush, and it's also a great week to find something else to watch this Monday night.

Last Week: 8-7-1

Overall: 95-76-9

All spreads courtesy of Bodog

It's Time To Bench Kirk Hinrich

The Bulls beat the Bobcats for the second time in a little over a week last night in Charlotte. Watching the game I noticed three things that the Bulls could do to help themselves get on the right track.

Their first move would be to petition the NBA to allow them to play the Bobcats 82 times a season. Somehow, I just don't see David Stern going along with that plan.

So the second move would be to used the lineup that worked so well last night more often in the next few games, and see if it was a one-time deal, or if there's actual chemistry between the five Bulls that owned the fourth quarter last night.

I've never been a huge fan of Chris Duhon, but he clearly did a better job of running the team in the final quarter last night than Kirk Hinrich has done all season. Which leads me to the third move the Bulls can make.

Bench Kirk Hinrich.

Last night's 0-point effort was just one in a series of horrible performances by Hinrich this season. Kirk played 17 minutes and aside from being shutout while on the court, he also could only manage 1 assist and three personal fouls. The Bulls have played 16 games this season, and in half of those games Hinrich has failed to score in double digits.

Now it's not like Hinrich has to be a big time scorer for the Bulls to win, but it's certainly a lot easier on the team when he's playing well. He hasn't done that at all this season.

Kirk is averaging only 10.7 points per game this season, while shooting only 35% from the field, and 21% from three-point range. All of this for only $11.25 million this season. He does lead the team in assists at 5.4 a game, but if Kirk is going to be such a lost cause scoring-wise, he needs to be dishing out at least 8 or 9 assists a night and committing less turnovers.

His current assist to turnover ratio is 1.76:1 which is nowhere near acceptable. Compare that number to other point guards around the league.

• Jose Calderon -5.59:1
• Chauncey Billups - 3.56:1
• Jason Terry - 3.55:1
• Chris Paul - 3.23:1
• Steve Nash - 3.03:1

Chris Duhon currently has a ratio of 3.14:1.

So in other words, Hinrich has become a liability both scoring and distributing the ball. Other than those two things, what's a point guard supposed to do? Hinrich is still a solid defender, but he's not nearly good enough to deserve more playing time because of it.

Whether or not a light is going to suddenly get turned on in Kirk's head, and he'll go back to playing like the guy that he's been the last few years, I don't know. All I know is that right now, the best point guard for this team is Chris Duhon, and he should be the starter.

This way Scott Skiles can try to help Hinrich get his game back by bringing him in off the bench and hoping he can help run the Bulls second unit. If Kirk can't get his game in line after that, John Paxson can use him as part of any deal the Bulls might make to get a low-post scorer like Pau Gasol to Chicago.

He's miserable in Memphis right now, and could probably be had for a lot cheaper than Memphis has asked for in the past.

Foul Balls

The Cubs Eye Brian Roberts - I'm not sure why the Cubs are going after so many middle infielders this winter, because I like the combination of Ryan Theriot and Mark DeRosa, but they are. First it was Colorado's Kaz Matsui, and now it's Baltimore's Brian Roberts.

A source close to the Cubs confirmed a Baltimore Sun report about their interest in Roberts, and a second baseball source said one package discussed for Roberts included a starting pitcher and at least one other player. Roberts, 30, is under contract for two more years and provides an ideal second left-handed bat the Cubs are seeking, along with Japanese free-agent outfielder Kosuke Fukudome.

It's believed the deal would be Roberts for Matt Murton and Sean Gallagher. If that's all the Orioles want, I say go for it.

Adding Roberts would provide the Cubs with another left handed bat, and it might finally be enough to convince Alfonso Soriano to get out of the lead-off spot. The Cubs could then just move DeRosa to right field.

If the deal falls through though, I think the Cubs should just send Murton to Kansas City for Mark Teahen. Teahen is the same type of player Murton is, but he's a left-handed bat as well with a lot of power potential. So in other words, making that deal would have absolutely no risk and the potential for a very high reward.

Kenny Williams Has No Tolerance For Snitches - Kenny Williams has had it pretty rough lately, but I'm not bothered by it too much. As a White Sox fan, it hasn't exactly been easy for me either. In previous years, if the Sox were hopelessly out of contention by August, I could stop watching if I wanted to. Or at the very least, watch a lot less.

I don't have that option anymore because I'm paid to watch this team now, and it's hard. So I don't mind if Kenny is getting ripped everywhere you look because right now he deserves most of it.

As Kenny has said repeatedly though, the criticism doesn't bother him that much. What's pissing him off right now are all those damn snitches around the front offices of MLB teams.

He also said he was fed up with other teams he believes were leaking information to reporters about the Sox's targets.

"There are too many executives in Major League Baseball offices who have loose lips," Williams said. "If they didn't have loose lips, you guys wouldn't know about it and the rumors wouldn't get out.

"Of course they affect how you do business and whether you're able to do business. It's a lot easier to do business when you don't have to deal with the public debate."

So that wasn't you telling everybody about how Torii Hunter was your #1 target this offseason? I don't think that was much of a secret there, Kenny. Much like it was no secret that no matter what the White Sox said about their pursuit of Hunter, we all knew all along that they'd never actually sign him.

Other than that I don't know what you're talking about. I don't remember hearing any insider information about the Linebrink signing, or the Quentin deal. Those gems just came out of nowhere.

Chicago Bears Spread Em - I don't know if you're aware of it, but the Bears do have a game tonight. If they win in Washington tonight they'll still have a 5% chance of making the playoffs, so it's a very important game.

What worries me tonight is that the Bears have given up 100 yards rushing in their last 8 games, and for the most part they've done it against mediocre running backs. Clinton Portis is capable of putting up 175 yards and 2 touchdowns on his own against our defense.

I would like to see the Bears use more no-huddle tonight, especially if it's working, but I don't want them to do it every drive as some people have suggested. I'd also like to see the Bears let Rex air it out a bit tonight.

Let's face facts here, Sean Taylor's death was tragic and all, but this is a football game. A dead safety presents matchup problems for Washington's defense, so let's use it. I've noticed lately that when Rex misses deep he's overthrowing his receivers.

That's a good thing. He used to underthrow those same receivers which resulted in a lot of his interceptions.

As for my pick, I'll take the Bears +3 tonight. They lost last week, so that means they'll win this week. It's what they've done all season.

Spread Em: NFL Week 13

It's that time of the week again. The time when I feel the need to prove to you all once again, that nobody, and I mean nobody, is as good as I am at picking losers. Every Friday here at Foul Balls I will pick a winner in every NFL game that weekend, and I will be wrong the majority of the time. Let's get to this week's picks.

Early Games

Rams (-3.5) vs. Falcons - With Stephen Jackson back at full strength, the Rams offense has gotten a lot better the last few weeks. I don't think the Falcons will be able to keep it close.

Redskins vs. Bills (+6) - There's really no way to know how the Redskins are going to play this weekend after the death of Sean Taylor. They'll either look like a team that's been rightly distracted all week long, or they're going to band together and take it all out on the Buffalo Bills. I'm just taking Buffalo because they're good to me.

Vikings (-4) vs. Lions - The Lions used to be 6-2, but they're currently 6-5 as the second half slide everybody saw coming is running it's course. There's also the fact that Purple Jesus will be back for Minnesota this weekend, and even if he's not 100%, he's still Purple Jesus.

Titans vs. Texans (+4) - Last time these teams met, Rob Bironas kicked seven field goals and single handedly carried my fantasy team to victory. This week Bironas only kicks five field goals, and Houston covers.

Colts vs. Jaguars (+7) - The Jaguars have always given the Colts trouble, and that was when the Colts were healthy and had an offensive line. That's not the case right now, so don't be shocked if the Jaguars win this one outright.

Dolphins (-1) vs. Jets - As much as I'd like to see it happen, the Dolphins aren't going to go winless this season. They get their first win on Sunday against the Jets.

Chiefs (+6.5) vs. Chargers - First the Chiefs lose Larry Johnson, then his replacement Priest Holmes retires. In comes some kid named Kolby Smith, and he tears it up last weekend. The Chargers meanwhile are an extremely mediocre road team, and I'm not going to give up 6.5 points with them.

Eagles vs. Seahawks (+3) - I'm really not sure which way I want to go with this game, so I'm just going to take the points. Though I do worry about the fact that the Eagles love to blitz and Seattle never runs the ball.

Panthers vs. 49ers (+3) - This game is easier than it looks. Sure San Francisco's offense is terrible, though they looked nice last week, but the Panthers are absolutely terrible at home. I think Frank Gore will have another big day.

Late Games

Bears (+2) vs. Giants - Hey, if the Giants can lose by 24 at home to an Adrian Peterson-less Vikings team, the Bears can beat them at home without Cedric Benson. Though really this game is just going to come down to which quarterback throws the least interceptions. I actually like the way Rex has played since coming back, so I'll take him. (I also realize I'm completely ignoring the fact that the Giants lead the league in sacks, and Fred Miller is a swinging gate at right tackle, while Rex is a statue. It's what we like to call denial.)

Cardinals vs. Browns (-1) - Let's see, if the Cardinals couldn't keep the leagues worst offense out of the end zone last week, how in the hell are they going to stop Cleveland? Easy! They won't.

Raiders (+3) vs. Broncos - Justin Fargas is having a very good season for Oakland, and Denver can't stop the run, and they aren't very good on the road. Also, Fargas is a free agent this offseason, and I hope Jerry Angelo realizes that. I wouldn't mind seeing Huggy Bear's kid in a Bears jersey next season. It just makes sense, doesn't it?

Saints vs. Bucs (+3.5) - My initial thought was to take New Orleans in this game. Then I remembered that the Saints always do the opposite of what I think they're going to do, so I took Tampa and the points.

Primetime Games

Steelers (-7) vs. Bengals - I haven't looked at the weather report, but I don't think they'll be playing this game in a swamp like they did on Monday night. With that in mind, I'm going to take the Steelers.

Ravens vs. Patriots (-21) - I'm giving up 21 points with a road team. The question is am I doing it because the Patriots are just that good, or are the Ravens just that bad? Well, I'm pretty sure I can do a better job of playing quarterback than anybody the Ravens currently have, and the defense is finally getting old, so I'll blame this one on Baltimore.

Last Week: 6-10

Overall: 87-79-8

All spreads courtesy of Bodog

Spread Em: College Football Week 14

During the college football season I'll be taking a look at each game on the Big Ten schedule, along with Notre Dame and any other national matchups of my choosing. I will then do my best to pretend I have any inkling what I'm doing, as I pick which team will cover the spread and why. So let's just get to the losses!



#11 Boston College vs. #9 Virginia Tech (-5) - When these two teams met earlier this season, I thought that Virginia Tech was the better team. Then Matt Ryan and Boston College blew up in the final two minutes to get a victory and stay undefeated. I don't think that happens again this week, and the Hokies take the ACC crown.

#5 LSU vs. #14 Tennessee (+7) - LSU hasn't been beaten in regulation this season, which Les Miles would be quick to let you know about, but even when they've won big games against good opponents this season, they've generally been close games. On the other side, nobody has blown out the Vols. Plus, with Glenn Dorsey just a shell of his former self with the knee and back injuries right now, the LSU defense isn't playing up to their ability right now. I don't know if Tennessee wins, but I expect this to be a pretty close game.

#7 USC (-20) vs. UCLA - Have you seen USC play at all the last few weeks? They're finally getting healthy now this late in the season, and they're playing like the team everyone thought they'd be when they started the season ranked #1. UCLA on the other hand has lost to teams like Notre Dame and Utah, and have lost three of their last four. I don't expect there to be a repeat of last seasons Bruins upset, and the Trojans will be on their way to Pasadena.

#2 West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh (+28.5) - A win in this game will send West Virginia to the title game in January. They're going to win this game, but that 28.5 point spread is a bit much, even if Pitt is coached by Dave Wannstedt.

#1 Missouri (+3) vs. #8 Oklahoma - Missouri had Oklahoma beaten earlier this season, but they self imploded in the 4th quarter and gave the game away. After watching Mizzou dismantle Kansas last weekend, I would be casting my Heisman vote for Chase Daniel right now if I had one. If he has another strong game against the Sooners in the Big 12 Championship, I get the feeling a lot of people who actually do vote will feel the same way.

Last Week: 5-4

Overall: 67-49-2


Spreads are courtesy of Bodog, and Rankings are from the Blogpoll.

Spread Em: NFL Week 12

It's that time of the week again. The time when I feel the need to prove to you all once again, that nobody, and I mean nobody, is as good as I am at picking losers. Every Friday This Wednesday here at Foul Balls I will pick a winner in every NFL game that weekend, and I will be wrong the majority of the time. Let's get to this week's picks.

Special Early Thanksgiving Edition!

Turkey Day Games

Lions vs. Packers (-4) - I am leery of the fact that the Lions usually play well on Thanksgiving, but they're usually out of contention so it's their Super Bowl. This year they'll be facing the pressure of falling out of playoff contention, and the Packers are supremely confident right now.

Cowboys (-14.5) vs. Jets - Last week's Jets victory over the Steelers was an aberration. I don't think Dallas will have anywhere near as much trouble with the Jets this week. I wouldn't be surprised if T.O. scored five touchdowns this week.

Falcons vs. Colts (-12.5) - Okay, so this has to be the week the Colts get back on track, right? Marvin Harrison has been practicing this week, but he's still likely to sit this one out. Even without him, I think Peyton will take out his frustration from his performance the last few weeks out on Atlanta's secondary.

Early Games

Bengals vs. Titans (-1.5) - Never ever bet on the Bengals. Though after seeing them on Monday night, I'm not that confident in the Titans right now either. They actually made Denver look like a good team.

Jaguars vs. Bills (+8.5) - I knew the Bills would get blown out by New England last week, but this week I'm jumping back on their bandwagon. Well, at least I'm jumping back on their spread covering bandwagon.

Chiefs vs. Raiders (+6) - Generally when you're without your top running back (Larry Johnson) and your backup retires in the middle of the week (Priest Holmes) forcing you to rely on a rookie quarterback (Brodie Croyle), things don't go so well on Sunday. So I'm actually forced to rely on the Raiders. Fantastic.

Browns vs. Texans (+3.5) - The Texans have both Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson back in the fold, and they were playing pretty well together to start the season. So with that in mind, I'm going to take the Texans and the points.

Rams vs. Seahawks (-3) - The way that Matt Hasselbeck tore the Bears secondary apart last Sunday, I don't think he'll have much trouble with the Rams this week.

Giants (-7) vs. Vikings - Chester Taylor played very well in Adrian Peterson's absence last week, but the Giants don't seem to be fading this season. There's still a question of whether or not they'll have Brandon Jacobs available though, but I'm still going with the G-Men.

Panthers (+3) vs. Saints - The Panthers suck, and I have no idea what to make of the Saints at this point. So I'm just taking the points.

Bucs vs. Redskins (+3) - The Skins played the Cowboys tough last week, and they don't have to worry about covering T.O. this week. Add in the fact that Santana Moss is finally healthy, and I like Washington's chances this week.

Late Games

Cardinals (-10.5) vs. 49ers - I'm not exactly comfortable with laying so many points with Arizona, but San Francisco is so horrible on offense I'm even less comfy with placing faith in them to cover it.

Bears vs. Broncos (+2) - The Bears absolutely suck at home this season. Meanwhile Denver looked like they may be figuring things out on Monday night, so I have to take the Broncos and the points here.

Chargers (-10) vs. Ravens - I don't have a lot of faith in the Chargers right now, but the Ravens offense is God awful.

Primetime Games

Patriots (-22) vs. Eagles - It's nice to see Vegas is finally catching on. Those 17 point spreads all season for New England just haven't been enough. Hell, 22 isn't going to be enough either, especially since Donovan McNabb may not be playing. Patriots 77 Eagles 6.

Steelers (-16.5) vs. Dolphins - Oh boy! What a terrific Monday Night matchup! I can't wait to not watch this game! Seriously, the Steelers can't fall asleep two weeks in a row can they?

Last Week: 9-6-1

Overall:81-69-8

All spreads courtesy of Bodog

Spread Em: College Football Week 13

The Big Ten season may be over, but that doesn't mean I'm finished picking games. Granted, I know a lot more about football in the Big Ten than I do around the country, and picking all these other games could ruin the great record I've built so far this season, but that's just a risk I'm willing to take. Also, since Foul Balls will be taking a four day weekend starting tomorrow, we'll be posting both Spread Em's for college and NFL today.

So without further ado, here are this week's picks

#6 Arizona State (+3.5) vs. #14 USC - This pick is based more on the fact I just don't want to see USC in the Rose Bowl again. I have a feeling this is going to be a high scoring back and forth game, so I'm going to have to go with the points and the homefield advantage.

#1 LSU vs. Arkansas (+12) - The way things have been going all season in college football I wouldn't be surprised if LSU lost this game outright and the entire BCS went to hell again. In a rivalry game like this, they're generally played pretty close, so I'll take the 12 points.

#22 Kentucky vs. #21 Tennessee (+3) - The Vols survived a late scare against Vandy last week, which may have saved Phil Fulmer's job, and a win here sends them to the SEC championship. Kentucky on the other hand has been stumbling to the finish line. Tennessee's got more to lose, so I'll take them and the points.

#16 Florida vs. Florida State (+14) - Florida still has a chance at the SEC title if they win this game and Tennessee loses to Kentucky, but even though I think they'll win, it's going to be a close game between these two rivals. I gotta take the 14 points.

Texas A&M vs. #15 Texas (-6) - The Longhorns still have a chance at making the Big 12 title game, while the Aggies are just counting the days until they fire Dennis Franchione. I'll take Texas.

#13 Oklahoma (-11) vs. Oklahoma State - The Sooners stumbled big time at Texas Tech last week, but they still control their own destiny in the Big 12. A win here sends them to the championship game, and I don't think the Sooners fall asleep two weeks in a row.

#11 Hawaii vs. # 17 Boise State (+3) - This is the week Hawaii finally loses, and when they do, it will increase Illinois' chance at a BCS berth. In other words, I'm a huge Boise State fan this weekend.

Stanford vs. Notre Dame (+3.5) - Whatever.

#2 Kansas vs. #4 Missouri (+2) - Who'd have thought at the beginning of the season, that Missouri-Kansas would be the game ABC chose for Saturday Night Football during rivalry week? This is far and away going to be Kansas' toughest game of the season so far, and since I have no idea how they're going to perform against a good team, I have to take Missouri and the points. Also, since it's a national broadcast on Saturday night (The entire country is getting this game), Chase Daniel is going to use the game as a showcase for his Heisman candidacy.

Last Week: 5-2

Overall: 62-45-2

Spreads are courtesy of Bodog, and Rankings are from my Blogpoll ballot since this week's rankings haven't been released yet

Spread Em: NFL Week 11

It's that time of the week again. The time when I feel the need to prove to you all once again, that nobody, and I mean nobody, is as good as I am at picking losers. Every Friday here at Foul Balls I will pick a winner in every NFL game that weekend, and I will be wrong the majority of the time. Let's get to this week's picks.

Early Games

Jaguars (-3) vs. Chargers - Jacksonville will be getting David Garrard back this week, which should help improve their offense on the ground, and through the air. The Chargers meanwhile have looked like crap the last two weeks when they've had the ball. Something tells me that San Diego won't intercept Garrard six times like they did Peyton Manning last week, and that the Jags stingy run defense should keep LaDainian Tomlinson in check most of the day. Not to mention, the Jags smell blood coming from the Colts, whom they trail by only a game in the AFC South.

Colts vs. Chiefs (+15) - Don't get me wrong, even with the injuries I think the Colts will still pull this game out. I just think that their defense is in for a rude awakening without Dwight Freeney. The Colts secondary has performed very well this season, but that's a lot easier to do with Freeney terrorizing quarterbacks. It's also going to make it harder on Robert Mathis to pressure Damon Huard, so I think the Chiefs score enough points to cover.

Vikings (-5) vs. Raiders - No Purple Jesus. No reason to watch. No reason to bet. I don't have a choice though.

Ravens vs. Browns (-3) - The Ravens offense is so bad it will make the Browns defense look good. Kyle Boller takes over the reigns for Baltimore, and that can't exactly inspire a lot of confidence in anybody on the Ravens. And coming into this season, who would have thought the Browns would be one of the funnest teams to watch this season? They blew it against Pittsburgh last week, but they'll make a statement with a win in Baltimore.

Falcons (+3) vs. Buccaneers - NFC football at it's finest.

Bengals vs. Cardinals (+3.5) - I just can't bet on the Bengals, though I should mention that the Cardinals always seem to do the opposite of what I pick them to do. Still, I genuinely feel the Cardinals have a legit shot at winning a game in Cincinnati, so I'll take the points.

Eagles (-10.5) vs. Dolphins - The Dolphins will now be giving the starting quarterback gig to rookie John Beck. Whether or not the Mormon from BYU can lead them to their first win remains to be seen, but hopefully he can straighten Ricky Williams out. I just can't feel good about a rookie quarterback making his first career start on an 0-9 team against a defense that loves to blitz. It could get pretty ugly, even for a Dolphins game.

Texans (Pick Em) vs. Saints - I've given up on trying to figure out the Saints, so I'll just take the home team here. If nothing else, maybe Texans fans can see how little they're actually missing in Reggie Bush.

Packers (-10) vs. Panthers - The only other team on the Packers level in the NFC this season is the Cowboys. The defense is playing very well, and Brett Favre is Brett Favre again. The Pack rolls in this game. And no, I did not enjoy complimenting them.

Lions (+3) vs. Giants - Let's see. On one hand we have a team I expect to go on a second half slide, and on the other hand we have the team that always goes on a second half slide. Decisions, decisions. I'll just take the points.

Late Games

Seahawks vs. Bears (+6) - I have no actual idea what to expect in this game. The Bears do seem to play a lot better on the road though, and they've played really well against the Seahawks the last few years. Then again, there is the Rex Factor that's going to come into play. I'll just make the homer pick.

Jets vs. Steelers (-10) - The Jets should send the Dolphins a thank you card, because without them around, all the talk would be about how horrible the Jets suck. They're probably Miami's only chance to get a win this season. The Steelers will crush the Jets on Sunday.

Cowboys (-11) vs. Redskins - The Cowboys basically let everyone else in the NFC East know that they're playing for second place last week by beating the Giants in New York. I don't like laying so many points in rivalry games like this one, but the Redskins offense isn't going to be able to keep up.

49ers vs. Rams (-3) - The way the Niners offense has played, the league is looking into actually allowing them to start out with three points in this game. Did you watch them on Monday Night? Did you still respect yourself in the morning?

Primetime Games

Bills vs. Patriots (-16.5) - The Bills always come through for me, but they're playing the Patriots this week. The same Patriots that are coming off of a bye and have had two weeks to prepare for them. I'll go back to Buffalo next week, but I just can't pull the trigger on them here.

Broncos vs. Titans (+2) - Another barn burner on Monday Night! Weren't they just in Denver two weeks ago? Are the Broncos really this deserving of our attention?

Last Week: 6-7-1

Overall: 72-63-7

All spreads courtesy of Bodog

Spread Em: College Football Week 12

During the college football season I'll be taking a look at each game on the Big Ten schedule, along with Notre Dame and any other national matchups of my choosing. I will then do my best to pretend I have any inkling what I'm doing, as I pick which team will cover the spread and why. So let's just get to the losses!



#23 Michigan vs. #7 Ohio State (-4.5) - Did you know that these two were playing this weekend? It's a pretty big game. Whoever wins is going to the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes may have faltered last week against the Illini (which was awesome, by the way) but I don't see it happening again this week. Jim Tressel has owned Michigan since coming to Columbus, and I don't recall the last time Ohio State lost back to back games. I just don't see the Wolverines pulling this one out, but in this game, anything's possible.

#18 Illinois (-13.5) vs. Northwestern - This game scares me a little bit. I worry that the Illini may be in for a letdown game after beating the Buckeyes last week. Let's not forget the egg the Illini laid against Iowa after impressive wins again