Week 4 Picks

Like I said before...give me a minute to get my picks together and I'll be alright Dizzy Dean once said it ain't braggin' if you can back it up. a 12-2 week and a Vikings win brightened the dark mood around the desk of your humble scribe, but the glow only lasts a couple days as there are tough games on the docket. I'll outline the hot five in college after the picks. (I put the local times, in since this will also be posted on my blog, which has readers across the country...honestly my stepbrothers and daughter in California and my friends in Minnesota, I know read this)

NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 4
Sunday, October 2
Buffalo (1-2) @ New Orleans (1-2)
Alamodome, San Antonio TX-1p(12pCT)
Favorite Pick 'em
The Saints get a home game, sort of. San Antonio lays out the red carpet and tries to woo the Saints in a more permanent move. Politics aside the Saints may play better not feeling like they are on someone elses turf. JP Losman will do what he can to avoid mistakes, but the Saints may have just enough to overcome the Bills weakened by the loss of Takeo Spikes Pick-New Orleans

Denver (2-1) @ Jacksonville (2-1)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville-1p
Favorite-Jags by 4
Denver whaled on the Chiefs on Monday, but have a short turnaround and a 2nd trip to Jacksonville ("who makes this schedule?" Shanny wonders) It may hurt the Broncos as the Jags are brimming with confidence after outgunning the Jets in OT. If Leftwich stay fairly healthy he can keep the Broncos defense honest
Pick-Jacksonville

Detroit (1-1) @ Tampa Bay (3-0)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
Favorite-Bucs by 7
The Lions had a week to lick their wounds after a beat-down on the Midway, those wounds may be reopened by a rugged running game that the Bucs featured. Cadillac Williams is the real deal and the Lions will find this out all too clearly in the Florida heat.
Pick-Tampa Bay
Houston (0-2) @ Cincinnati (3-0)
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati 1p
Favorite-Bengals by 13
Bengal Nation grows by leaps and bounds as the Bengals have roared out to their best start in 15 years and have suddenly become the darliings of the football world after being virtually ignored. Really now before this season did you ever see the Bengals in any highlights outside of the hardcore football shows other than being beaten on? Pity the poor Texans who once had aspirations of taking the next step to becoming a playoff caliber team. The Bengals, ever mindful of not letting the hype get to them will be plenty focused and Houston's lightweight offense and susceptible defense will serve as a suitable punching bag before a rowdy home crowd, the weeks biggest favorite is the lock of the week
Pick-Cincy
Indianapolis (3-0) @ Tennessee (1-2)
The Coliseum-Nashville-1p(12pCT)
Favorite- If you had of told anyone that the Colts offense would have only scored 47 points in three games, you wouldve assumed Peyton Manning was hurt. He is hale, but the offense has been sputtering. The Colts D however has been rock solid, if the offense wakes from its slumber...uh oh. The Titans have been wildly inconsistent. The Colts should begin their offensive resurgence here
Pick-Indianapolis

San Diego (1-2) @ New England (2-1)
Gillette Stadium, Foxboro MA
Favorite-Pick 'Em
Didn't I tell you that the Chargers were due to break out??? Going back to their bread and butter got the Bolts a badly needed win. The task will be much tougher against a Pats defense that despite looking like a MASH unit is still rough and ready. This game will be a slugfest won in the trenches, a home crowd and big game experience will be the deciding factors
Pick-New England

Seattle (2-1) @ Washington (2-0)
FedEx Field-Landover, MD-1p
Favorite-
Another team making a cross country trip, the Seahawks are a pound the rock type team whose bend but don't break defense should have little problem against a Skins team searching for its identity. Trust and believe that the Seahawks will not let the Skins off the hangmans noose if they have a lead late.
Pick-Seattle
St. Louis (2-1) @ NY Giants (2-1)
Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ-1p
Favorite-
I despise Mike Martz, but I love the offense he has. Isaac Bruce's abscence may pose a problem as defenses can key more on the elusive Torry Holt. I'm still not sold on Eli Manning's abilty to win games having had won against a hapless Cards squad and a road weary Saints team. I think the Rams steal a win on the road. But I still think Martz's overthinking will make it closer than it should be.
Pick St. Louis
NY Jets (1-2) @ Baltimore (0-2)
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore 4:05p
Favorite-No Line
Call this the no name QB bowl. The Ravens hope that Anthony Wright can master the offense and be a factor and the Jets are hoping that anyone can QB at all. Look for a lot of running in this game. Both teams have high quality running back who are aching to have a breakout game. I think Jamal Lewis will have an easier time against the Jets defense as opposed to Curtis Martin having to deal with a Ray Lewis led Baltimore defense that feel disrespected.
Pick-Baltimore
Dallas (2-1) @ Oakland (0-3)
McAfee Coliseum, Oakland 4:15p (1:15p PT)
Favorite-Raiders by 3.5
The Pokes stay in the Bay area and after rallying to beat a surprsingly tough Niner squad, head to the black hole to face a Raider team that is offense oriented, but has trouble with stopping opposing offenses. If Drew Bledsoe is allowed to remain upright he will pick the Raiders apart in a hurry
Pick-Dallas

Minnesota (1-2) @ Atlanta (2-1)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta-4:15p
Favorite-Falcons by 5.5
I have nightmares about Michael Vick juking and scrambling his way to big plays, and I know that Ted Cottrell the Vikes defensive coordinator is having them too. The Vikes need to control the clock and utilize Mewelde Moore as much as possible. On defense they need to keep Vick in the pocket. Easier said than done. I hope I'm wrong on this pick though. Pick-Atlanta

Philadelphia (2-1) @ Kansas City (2-1)
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO-4:15p (3:15pCT)
Favorite-Chiefs by 2.5
After the abysmal performance that the Chiefs had on Monday against the Broncos, I'm stunned that they are favorites in this matchup. Philly looks like they are starting to gel into midseason form. The Chiefs had better find a way to keep TO quiet or the Arrowhead faithful will be silent in the latter stages of the game.
Pick-Philly

San Francisco (1-2) @ Arizona (0-3)
Azteca Stadium, Mexico City-8:30p (7:30pCT)
Favorite-Cardinals by 3
The NFL decided that the Cardinals didn't deserve 8 home game as bad as their team and attendance is. The NFL's first regular season game outside of the US might draw 4 times what the Cards will draw for a single game. The Mexicans might want their money back after watching two lackluster teams like this
Pick-San Francsico

Monday, October 3
Green Bay (0-3) @ Carolina (1-2)
Bank of America Stadium-Charlotte
Favorite-Panthers by 6
As much as I detest the Packers it pains me to see Brett Favre play as bad as he has been. He'll get no love from a Panthers defense angry over a tough road loss to Miami and would love to use a Monday Night stage to tee off on a weakened Pack.
Pick-Carolina

BYE WEEK: Chicago (1-2) Cleveland (1-2) Miami (2-1) Pittsburgh (2-1) Last Week-12-2
Overall 26-20

College Hot 5
1) USC (3-0 last week 1 beat Oregon 45-13 next at Arizona State)
Okay so they were behind against Oregon. The Trojans shrugged and ripped off 45 points to win going away. The Sun Devils are another test, but they should pass it

2) Texas (3-0, 2 and on a bye,next at Missouri)
Vince Young and his crew are waiting to pounce on the #1 slot should SC fall

3) Va. Tech (4-0, 3 beat Ga. Tech 51-7 next at West Virginia)
The Hokies took the Yellowjackets to the Woodshed but must take care not to get a backhand from a tough Mountaineer squad on its home turf

4) Florida (4-0,4 beat Kentucky 49-28, next at Alabama) Gators looked sharp in 1st half, but ragged in 2nd. Crimson Tide won't be so easy to roll on.

5) Florida State
(5-0 last week NR, beat Boston College 28-17, next vs Syracuse)
Newest entry in the Hot 5 took a tough one from a game BC squad. The 'Cuse will be glad they didn't move to the ACC after this game

Dropped out LSU lost Monday to Tennessee 30-27 in OT As much love as I had for the Bayou Bengals, blowing a 21-0 in your own crib is inexcusable

Can Anyone win the NL Worst?

Will anybody win the NL Worst...er West? The Pads look like they have it locked down , but need to win 4 of their last 5 to get over .500. Yeeesh. The '73 Mets went 82-79 and were heretofore the worst team to get to the postseason. They beat the Reds in 5, only because they had the alternating year home field advatange. The Pads might steal one game in the NLDS, but even the WIld Card is better. The sad thing is that unless Philly wins the wild card, the wild card winner will play San Diego and St. Louis and Atlanta will play each other in the NLDS instead of the NLCS. Houston will go to San Diego split the first two games and then whip the Pads in Houston and wait for the winner of the Cards-Braves series which will be a doozy. Its not right. The Cards having home field advantage with the best record can't play the wild card if they come out of the same division. The right way to do things would be to have St. Louis push the Pads out and the Braves/Astros series be the true test. But it won't happen that way. Watch this space next week and I'l have a playoff prevue on Monday. The AL situation is just as messy before the postseason. If the Yanks, Red Sox and Indians finish in a three way tie, the AL East will have a 1 game playoff at Yankee Stadium with the loser playing the Indians for the wild card. If its four teams the divisions play each other then the losers of the divisional playoffs play each other to determine the wild card. The beneficary of all this might be the Angels, the first team to clinch who will rest and wait to see who they play. I like this and Bud Selig should be lauded for the wild card idea. Even the so-called purists have to give Bud some dap for this. It could very well be a two-day three city knockout tourney just to determine who gets in. ESPN should pounce on these games should they happen and make it a afternoon double header 1p and 4p on 10/3 with an afternoon slot if needed for a extra wild card playoff. In much darker baseball news. The Orioles told that cheater Raffy "the rat fink" Palmiero that he was felina non grata, cat not welcome with the Orioles and to go on home. Its sad that one of the games better hitters had to go out the way he did. He made his own bed though and has to lie....(pun intended) in it. In related news Senator John McCain openly blasted MLB Union Chief Donald Fehr asking him "(did) he get it?" Fehr who has blindly marched to the beat of anything the owner say is bad and that those same owners want nothing more than to cheat the players. True the owners can be conniving and have been in the past, but the Union head needs to realize that steroids can harm the game and a 3 strikes and your out policy while not as strict as what Congress want, a draconian two years for the first offense and a lifetime ban for the second offense. Shockingly give Bud dap again for a more reasonable proposal 50 games for the first offense 100 for the second and life for the third. I like a penalty running 81 games (1/2 season for the first offense) 1 year for the second and life the third. If caught in the middle or late in the season the penalty crosses into the next year and you cannot play in spring training. Add to boot, what salary your draw at least 50 percent is sent to charity or some kind of drug education program. Hit 'em in the wallet hard and that will be enough of a deterrent.

Down The Stretch

Tom Johnson, the famed track announcer said it best "Down the stretch they come!" The pennant races are as airtight as one could hope. The Wild cards are still very much up in the air and the White Sux...er Sox are trying their best to hold on to their once commanding lead in the AL Central and hold off the hard charging Indians who now lead the wild card. A dream scenario would have the Indians winning the AL Central, the Red Sox winning the AL East and the Yankees snaring the wild card. The AL West won't produce the wild card as the Angels are pulling away from the A's who went into an ill-timed slump. In the NL the Cards need to go 3-2 to win repeat their 100 win feat of last year, though they look a lot less fearsome than they did when the won 105 last year. The Braves are closing in on their mind boggling 14th straight division title. You can cite a watered down league, but not even the fabled Yankees ever made the postseason 14 straight times. Even when the fabled murderers row in the 20's and 30's were at their heyday, with Joe D in the 40, the M&M boys in the 50s and early 60s Reggie Jax in the late 70s. And even the current Yankee machine didn't win 14 divisions in a row. (They won the wild card behind the Orioles in 97). Knock the Braves for being postseason underacheivers (No WS since they were swept in '99) but they are still one of the tougher teams in the NL. The Pads may win the West with an abysmal sub .500 record, and have the quickest postseason exit. They have the pitching to win a short series, but their bats...ewww. I feel good for Joe Randa though. Never been in the postseason, and still waiting to be on his first winning team. My beloved Michigan is out of the AP top 25 for the first time since '98. They took a tough loss on the road to a better than advertised Wisconsin team. They'll be okay and they will beat an overrated Ohio State team in November. You read it here first. The Vikes win...yay!!! Pep looked like Pep of old. Mewelde Moore proved what I have said all along, give him the carries and he can carry the offensive load. They will have all sorts of trouble with a mobile Michael Vick next week though. Yes, the Bengals are for real (about time) With a big play ball hawking, roughneck defense that isn't the pushover of old. Marvin Lewis has made believers of many a skeptic. JT the Brick should shut his mouth about Lewis getting out of Cincinnati and going to a team that will pay him. Many teams had a shot at Lewis and passed. The Bengals took him and Lewis should stay where he is nothing short of an icon. The Bucs are unbeaten and are doing it behind a legit running back in Cadillac Williams, he's the lock for rookie of the year.