The Week 6 Picks

Before we get to this week’s picks, I have to comment on last week’s Eagles-Cowboys game, and in the interest of censoring myself, I shall replace all of the inappropriate terminology with the word “chicken:”

What the chicken kind of chicken game was that? How do the Eagles go down to chicken Dallas and lose to those chicken chickens? Drew chicken Bledsoe throws for three chicken TD’s? Terry chicken Glenn burns us twice (even though she’s pretty chicken fast)? Chicken. Chicken chicken. That chicken stadium is such a hole. The hole with a chicken hole in the chicken roof. And its filled with chickens. And if I have to see Jerry chicken Jones and that stupid chicken commercial, I’m going to strangle his chicken chicken so hard his chicken plastic surgery will fall of his chicken face. Chicken chicken chicken. Chicken chicken chicken chicken chicken. Mother chickens.

As for the double-digit winning streak? It’s over, thanks to last week’s 8-6 mark (chicken). A push in the Jacksonville/Cincinnati game (thanks to a late move in the line) kept me over .500 on the books for the week.

Apologies for the brevity of these picks, but it’s a road game for The Kid this weekend. Here they are.

The Match-up: Jacksonville (+3.0) @ Pittsburgh
The Skinny: Exhale, Steelers fans – Ben Roethlisberger didn’t tear anything in his knee when it was hyper-extended on Monday night. As for this game, it was a tough call without knowing the status of Roethlisberger’s knee. I mean, if Ben can’t go, the Steelers are left with Charlie Batch at QB, and that’s not good for anyone involved.
Straight up: Jacksonville
Against the Spread: Jacksonville

The Match-up: Minnesota (+3.0) @ Chicago
The Skinny: I know the Vikings have struggled this season and have their problems playing outdoors, but are they really dogs against the Bears without Thomas Jones?
Straight up: Minnesota
Against the Spread: Minnesota

The Match-up: Miami (+5.5) @ Tampa Bay
The Skinny: Watch for Ricky Williams to make his return to action. But the real story is college teammates Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams facing each other for the first time.
Straight up: Tampa Bay
Against the Spread: Tampa Bay

The Match-up: New York Giants (+3.5) @ Dallas
The Skinny: Chicken Dallas chicken sucks. Chickens.
Straight up: New York Giants
Against the Spread: New York Giants

The Match-up: Cleveland (+5.5) @ Baltimore
The Skinny: You know, some games just don’t inspire anyone. Trent Dilfer vs. Anthony Wright…something tells me this one won’t be airing on ESPN Classic anytime soon.
Straight up: Baltimore
Against the Spread: Baltimore

The Match-up: Carolina (+1.0) @ Detroit
The Skinny: Seriously, the Lions are favored? What’s wrong with this picture?
Straight up: Carolina
Against the Spread: Carolina

The Match-up: Cincinnati (-3.0) @ Tennessee
The Skinny: Still drinking the Bengals Kool Aid despite last week’s loss in Jacksonville.
Straight up: Cincinnati
Against the Spread: Cincinnati

The Match-up: Washington (+6.0) @ Kansas City
The Skinny: Toughest game of the weekend to pick. How will the Chiefs respond off the bye (and off a big collapse at home against the Eagles)? Will the Redskins defense contain Priest Holmes and the potent Kansas City offense? Stay tuned.
Straight up: Kansas City
Against the Spread: Kansas City

The Match-up: Atlanta (-5.5) @ New Orleans
The Skinny: Ron Mexico likely returns for the Dirty Birds, and Deuce McAllister is now done for the year after tearing his ACL last week. Not a good situation for the Saints.
Straight up: Atlanta
Against the Spread: Atlanta

The Match-up: New York Jets (+3.0) @ Buffalo
The Skinny: Kelly Holcomb gets another start at QB for the Bills, and he’ll face a stern challenge from the Jets defense. Memo to Holcomb – get the ball to Lee Evans.
Straight up: Buffalo
Against the Spread: Buffalo

The Match-up: New England (+3.0) @ Denver
The Skinny: The Denver Broncos have played very well of late, especially running the ball and on defense. What’s more, Jake Plummer has gone three straight games without an interception (all three Denver wins). That just means he’s overdue.
Straight up: New England
Against the Spread: New England

The Match-up: San Diego (-2.0) @ Oakland
The Skinny: Big bounce back week for the Bolts after falling to the Steelers at home on Monday. They’ll have a short week to get ready for the Raiders.
Straight up: San Diego
Against the Spread: San Diego

The Match-up: Houston (+9.5) @ Seattle
The Skinny: Even though Matt Hasselbeck has virtually no one to throw to, he still can hand it off to Shaun Alexander, and that alone should be enough to knock off Houston.
Straight up: Seattle
Against the Spread: Seattle

The Match-up: St. Louis (+13.5) @ Indianapolis
The Skinny: St. Louis is great on turf, just not Indianapolis’ turf. The Colts offense still isn’t untracked, and they’re still undefeated. Scary.
Straight up: Indianapolis
Against the Spread: Indianapolis