Week 8 Picks

Long awaited and anticipated, your humble scribe submits his picks and other random thoughts for your approval, disection and discussion Last weeks picks were just about on the money (No one saw that Niners upset) and for those that think that I was cribbing my picks from another source, step back. I'd like to think that great minds think alike, but there are always those that will hate on consistency. Especially when you have a 10-4 week.
This is the next to last week for the byes after next week the real stretch run begins in the NFL and most fantasy leagues, except for me in a couple leagues where my records will not merit a mention.

Before the picks this week, I have to soapbox a bit on the college game. I love college football for different reasons than I love the NFL. The pagentry and atmosphere of the college game is like no other. If you've ever been to the Big House in Ann Arbor, or strolled on the massive campus of OSU before games or took in a game down south (where they take the game deadly serious) or seen games in California where they may look laid back, but they get into their games with the same fervor as any region in the country you know the traditions are like no other. The NFL is simply put the big show and while it has its own merits it has more of a corporate feel to it, but you know that the champion is always settled on the field. There are no computers or polls or other off field element that can ruin it. That is the one thing that I hate, that you are rooting for a team to take a loss so that you can have only two teams, possibly undefeated teams playing for a national championship. Don't you think that the average Joe Six Pack football fan would love to see these undefeated teams play in a knockout tournament for a national title?

So I'm going to hit up a theory for a playoff, don't give me that tired bleating from the college presidents and bowl game wonks. The next president I hear say, it takes away from study and exam time I will want to beat about the head and shoulders. This plan will work. First of all have your conference championship games in the first weekend of Decemeber. The winners of these games join the outright winners of conferences in a 16 team tourney you play these games every saturday in December (3 or 4 Saturdays) you get down to two teams which you can play either the open week between the NFL conference championship and the Super Bowl or New Years Day. The other bowls can be rewards for other teams and you rotate the championship among the Big 4 with the other three acting as semifinal sites. Seed the teams with a selection show similar to the NCAA March Madness, sit back and watch the fun. The networks are happy, because it means more TV revenue. The schools get possibly 2 extra home dates all the teams get cuts of the money and the fans are happy because they get a true champion. I know there is a lot of politics (read moneyed interests) that would prevent this simple solution and some people would squawk about the so-called travel difficulties, but it can be done. I'll step off the soapbox and give you my picks again humbly submit

Sunday, November 6

Atlanta (5-2) @ Miami (3-4)
Dolphins Stadium, Miami-1:00 FOX
Favorite-Falcons by 2
This could be a rather tricky matchup. This is one of those who's gonna show up games. The Dolphins could be the squad that went toe-to-toe with Carolina and beat them or the squad that looked lost against Kansas City. Atlanta, well rested after its bye will look to pound the ball with their multi-faceted running game. This will come down to who can control the clock more. I think that the Falcons have that capability and their defense will be a little fresher.
Pick-Atlanta

Carolina (5-2) @ Tampa Bay (5-2)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa-1:00 FOX
Favorite-Panthers by 1
This is an intriguing matchup, The Bucs are full of potential but we all know Jon Gruden has no patience for rookies which throws the QB situation all out of whack. The Panthers are not to be messed with having laid a serious beatdown on the Vikings. In a battle of hardened defensive squads, the edge goes to the more offensively balanced squad
Pick-Carolina

Cincinnati (6-2) @ Baltimore (2-5)
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore-1:00 CBS
Favorite-Bengals by 3
Some wonks say that because the Ravens caught the Steelers in a sleepwalk mode on Monday that it bodes well for their defense. The two headed running attack the Ravens have in Chester Taylor and Jamal Lewis could very well give the Bengals problems. The problem is that Anthony Wright had the game of his life against the Steelers and they still lost. Wright won't get away with the risky throws that he made Monday night against a very confident Bengals secondary. The Bengals offense is growing more and more confident every week and with the Ravens secondary hurting they could put up good numbers. Don't believe the hype that says that the Ravens will bully the Bengals like years past. The Bengals will go into their bye with a solid win.
Pick-Cincinnati

Detroit (3-4) @ Minnesota (2-5)
H.H.H Metrodome, Minneapolis-1:00 FOX
Favorite-Lions by1
Call me a hopeless optimist, but the Vikings look better right now. The wily veteran Brad Johnson takes the reigns of an offense struggling to find its way. They catch a Lions team at the right time, questioning itself after a heartbreaking loss and wounded. Joey Harrington gets the start, and the Vikes will try bait him into mistakes and cash in on them. Only because the Vikes seem to play better at home do they get the edge here and the Lions havent played good on the road since...ummm
Pick-Minnesota

Houston (1-6) @ Jacksonville (4-3)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville1:00 CBS Favorite-
Jaguars by 11
Break up the Texans! They get off the schneid, but have to face a Jags team that wants to stay in playoff contention. Funny thing is that the Texans have the overall series edge at 4-2 and held the Jags to 6 total points in their last two meetings. Safe to say that ain't gonna happen this time.
Survivor/Lock of the Week Pick-Jacksonville

Oakland (3-4) @ Kansas City (4-3)
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO-1:00 CBS
Favorite-Chiefs by 4.5
Harken back to the the old AFL days with this timeless matchup. Expect the KC faithful to be at their vocal best. The Raiders while showing flashes of some offensive brillance will have to put up big numbers to offset the numbers that the Chiefs can put up. The Chiefs will follow much the same formula that won the matchup earlier this year, ball control and grinding the clock. For some reason the Raiders seem to be shying away from utilizing Randy Moss, even if he isn't playing at 100%.Simply put, the Raiders don't have the firepower to keep up.
Pick-Kansas City

San Diego (4-4) @ NY Jets (2-5)
The Meadowlands; East Rutherford, NJ-1:00 CBS
Favorite-Chargers by 6.5
Somebody in the scheduling office must have had a vendetta against Marty Schottenheimer or the Chargers as this is the 3rd of 5 cross country trips that they have to make this year. All that travel is catching up to them as their play has gotten sloppier by the week. It won't matter much against a beaten up Jets squad just looking for a QB to make it through a game. The Jets won't confirm or deny rumors that former Jets QB's like Richard Todd, Boomer Esiason, Pat Ryan or Joe Namath are taking calls from Herm Edwards about the QB job. The Chargers should go into their long awaited bye week on a high note and spend the time on hold with their airline getting their frequent flier miles.
Pick-San Diego

Tennessee (2-6) @ Cleveland (2-5)
Browns Stadium, Cleveland-1:00 CBS
Favorite-Browns by 3
Heres a game that even the fans of the respective teams wanna skip. The Browns lost a very winnable game to the formerly winless Texans and the Titans got smacked by the Raiders. Toss a coin here, but I think that the Titans have a little more ability to run the ball and the Titans defense is stronger against the run. This should allow them to get to Trent Dilfer and not let him expose the Titans young secondary.
Pick-Tennessee

Chicago (4-3) @ New Orleans (2-6)
Tiger Stadium; Baton Rouge, LA-4:05 FOX
Favorite-Bears by 3
The Saints are mailing it in, having played like they were asleep last week against the Dolphins. The Bears while not the most spectular offensively will play it close to the vest and grind it out which keeps things simple for Kyle Orton. The Saints on the other hand have a negligible running game and that is not good against a fast improving Bears defense. That in turn leaves Aaron Brooks wide open to get punished and he makes bad decisions often. The Bears will use their OT win over Detroit as a springboard for a playoff run and the Saints will be only a speed bump. Pick-Chicago

NY Giants (5-2) @ San Francisco (2-5)
Monster Park, San Francisco-4:05 FOX
Favorite-Giants by 11
The G-Men are riding high after their emotional win over the Skins. The Niners have had reason to smile as of late after their upset of the Bucs. But thats where they story ends. The Niners are throwing any willing volunteer out to QB and that does not bode well against a hard-charging Giants secondary. The Giants have more weapons than the Bucs did last week and five field goals by the Niners won't cut it.
Pick-New York

Seattle (5-2) @ Arizona (2-5)
Sun Devil Stadium; Tempe, AZ-4:05 FOX Favorite-Seattle by 4.5 On paper this is a serious mismatch. What few Cards fans there are in Arizona are already looking at the game times for Suns and Coyotes games. That said Shawn Alexander will continue to audition for a mammoth contract and the Cards, a team that he has run well against in the past will be willing stand ins for his screen test.The Seahawks defense will try to hammer the Cards talented but under utilized WR corps as the Cards running game is non-existent. Pick-Seattle

Pittsburgh (5-2) @ Green Bay (1-6)
Lambeau Field; Green Bay WI-4:15 CBS
Favorite-Steelers by 6
The Steelers are set to kick around the Pack who played Cincy tough last week. The Steelers have only to establish that bruising ground game and they will have no need to worry about Charlie Batch having any kind of influence on the outcome. Brett Favre, God love him, he tries like a scout. The Pack simply have no weapons to throw at a mean Steelers defense. Even without Big Ben and the Bus, the Steelers are the better team and play better on the road.
Pick-Pittsburgh

Philadelphia (4-3) @ Washington (4-3)
FedEx Field; Landover, MD-8:30 ESPN
Favorite-Redskins by 1
Both the teams are enigmas. Washington is a Jekyll and Hyde team one week they look like an offensive juggernaut the next week they are simply offensive. Philly used to be able to count on their defense and Donovan McNabb's wily offensive maneuvering to win ball games. That is simply no longer the case. With TO hurting and McNabb a question mark, the Iggles are below one dimensional. Can the Skins capitalize? I think that they can only because they are in the "confines" of FedEX they can pull out the win.
Pick-Washington

Monday, November 7

Indianapolis (7-0)@ New England (4-3)
Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, MA-9:00 ABC
Favorite- The unquestioned game of the week and probably one of the most hyped games of the year. The Pats have become the pro version of the Florida Gators to Peyton Manning. The one team he has had trouble with amd that matchup will be scruntinized and analyzed ad infinitum till kickoff. The Colts are a lot stronger now than in the past and the Pats while still very dangerous do not have the sheen of invincibility that they have had in years past. Though clearly energized by the return of redoubtable LB Tedy Bruschi, the Pats still lack the big playmakers at critical positions, the abscence of Richard Seymour underscores this point. Also the Pats are nowhere near as strong in the secondary as they were in years past. An injured Rodney Harrison and Ty Law's depature will make things much easier for the Colts offense. and lets face facts Peyton is seriously due. The Colts balance offensively and suddenly mad tight defense will get it done.
Pick-Indy

Last Week 10-4
Overall 67-49

BYE WEEK: Buffalo (3-5) Dallas (5-3) Denver (6-2) St. Louis (4-4)

College Games to watch this weekend

#5 Miami @ #3 Virginia Tech 7:45 Saturday Lane Stadium; Blacksburg, VA- ESPN One of the biggest games of the season is a battle for control of the ACC. Both teams are defensive oriented so this will have an brawling look and feel to it from the word go. Marcus Vick is an electrifying presence who is just as fast as his big brother and has a better arm. He will go into the teeth of a hard-hitting Canes defense that prides itself on shutting down offenses. This game will turn on one or two big plays and Frank Beamers squad is overdue for a special teams highlight film moment. If the Hokies win here, only Florida State will be in the way of a unbeaten Hokie season.

#23 Cal @ #16 Oregon
Autzen Stadium; Eugene, OR 3:30 ABC
I have family in California and my half brother is a Cal alum and talks endlessly about his Bears, they have a tough road trip to Eugene to take on a once beaten Ducks squad that hung tough with USC. If you can get to a sports bar that has a college gameplan package to watch this matchup, you'll see a couple of teams that you usually don't get too much pub on .

#14 Wisconsin @ #10 Penn State
Beaver Stadium; University Park, PA-3:30 ABC
The Big Ten is all kinds of wide open this year. The Badgers and Nittany Lions battle for control of the Big 10. Just because the Big 2 aren't involved doesn't mean that this isn't a heavyweight matchup. Penn State has its famous ball control and slobberknocking defense. Wisconsin has a big play defense and an offense that can beat you so many ways.