The Week 11 Picks

Apologies for the brevity of these picks, but it’s getaway day. I’m heading home for my annual Thanksgiving vacation with the family. So if you thought this week’s picks are quickies, wait until you see next week’s.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

The Match-up: San Diego (+3.0) @ Jacksonville
The Skinny: Take out the two return touchdowns by Darren Sproles and the Chargers aren’t even in that game with Indy last week. These things have a way of evening out.
Straight Up: Jacksonville
Against the Spread: Jacksonville

The Match-up: Cleveland (-3.0) @ Baltimore
The Skinny: Kyle Boller is back under center for the Ravens, who desperately need something from that side of the ball.
Straight Up: Cleveland
Against the Spread: Cleveland

The Match-up: New York Giants (-3.0) @ Detroit
The Skinny: Last week may have been the beginning of the annual Giants second-half collapse.
Straight Up: Detroit
Against the Spread: Detroit

The Match-up: New Orleans (+1.5) @ Houston
The Skinny: Remember when Vince Young torched Houston last year after they passed on drafting him? Same situation with Reggie Bush.
Straight Up: New Orleans
Against the Spread: New Orleans

The Match-up: Carolina (+9.5) @ Green Bay
The Skinny: Did you see the play where Favre threw it into double coverage last week and both Vikings had their hands on the ball, ,but it bounced off of them and Ruvell Martin caught it for a Packers touchdown? Sometimes you just get the bounces.
Straight Up: Green Bay
Against the Spread: Green Bay

The Match-up: Kansas City (+14.5) @ Indianapolis
The Skinny: The Chiefs will be without Larry Johnson, and there’s no way the Colts lose three in a row.
Straight Up: Indianapolis
Against the Spread: Indianapolis

The Match-up: Oakland (+5.0) @ Minnesota
The Skinny: No word on whether or not Daunte Culpepper will be chartering a sex cruise to bring him into town.
Straight Up: Oakland
Against the Spread: Oakland

The Match-up: Miami (+10.0) @ Philadelphia
The Skinny: The Birds couldn’t possibly lose to winless Miami and a rookie QB making his first NFL start, could they?
Straight Up: Philadelphia
Against the Spread: Philadelphia

The Match-up: Tampa Bay (-3.0) @ Atlanta
The Skinny: Think about this – if the Falcons win this game, they could be a game out of the division lead. What a putrid bunch of football teams in the NFC South.
Straight Up: Tampa Bay
Against the Spread: Tampa Bay

The Match-up: Arizona (+3.0) @ Cincinnati
The Skinny: Cincinnati has to get untracked sooner or later, don’t they?
Straight Up: Cincinnati
Against the Spread: Cincinnati

The Match-up: Pittsburgh (-9.5) @ New York Jets
The Skinny: With all of the injuries in Indianapolis, I’m almost ready to crown the Steelers as the NFL’s second best team.
Straight Up: Pittsburgh
Against the Spread: Pittsburgh

The Match-up: Washington (+10.5) @ Dallas
The Skinny: Gee, let me think.
Straight Up: Washington
Against the Spread: Washington

The Match-up: St. Louis (-3.0) @ San Francisco
The Skinny: The Rams are getting healthy and showed flashes of what they can do at full power last week.
Straight Up: St. Louis
Against the Spread: St. Louis

The Match-up: Chicago (+5.5) @ Seattle
The Skinny: Rex Grossman returns from purgatory this week, but even Kyle Boller thinks that’s irrelevant.
Straight Up: Seattle
Against the Spread: Seattle

The Match-up: New England (-16.0) @ Buffalo
The Skinny: No, I don’t think the Patriots are set up for a let down. But off the bye and the highly emotional game at RCA Dome, I could see them in a tight one.
Straight Up: New England
Against the Spread: Buffalo

Monday, November 19, 2007

The Match-up: Tennessee (+2.0) @ Denver
The Skinny: So a potential playoff team in the loaded AFC is getting points? I’ll take them.
Straight Up: Tennessee
Against the Spread: Tennessee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 10: 7-7 straight up; 7-6-1 against the spread
Season: 86-58; 65-70-9