Sox hang On, Joe Says No, & Week 7 NFL Picks

Here I was thinking that all I was going to do was send out my condolences to the Red Sox Nation and again lambast the press for harping on the Joe Torre situation when Bang! Pow! Zap! all sorts of things happen. The soon to be world famous NFL Picks are in this post, so if baseball and college football aren't your things, you're excused go ahead and scroll down. But for those who stay:

Sox: We's ain't dead just yet!
Josh Beckett is rapidly turning into a big money pitcher and the Sox needed every bit of his ace pitching. Beckett fanned 11 in eight innings and the Sox send the ALCS back to Fenway with a 7-1 win. ManRam might be space cadet of the decade but boy he can come through in the clutch. He is batting a robust .471 in the series and is a prime reason why the Sox are even still in it. What can you say about Beckett he pitched as if he had freshly chilled H20 in his veins. So what if the Indians tried to psych him out (they swear it was a coincidence) by having Beckett's ex-girlfriend country singer Danielle Peck sing the national anthem and God Bless America, so what if he and Kenny Lofton exchanged pleasantries after Lofton flied out in the 5th. The Indians blew the chance and quiet is kept may have messed with their own karma with their failed psych jobs. The Sox are handing the ball to playoff vet Curt Shilling on Saturday for game 6 and it'll be an interesting turn of events to be sure.

Torre tells the Boss where to stick it
I'm on my way to work yesterday when I get a phone call from my baseball bud Jaime. He is excited and when he is, he speaks really fast and the Spanish will drop in a lot more easier. But I'll break down sort of what he said.

Jaime: Pepe, you hear Torre told Sty-brenner to stick it up his (expletive)!
Bandit: Pepe, Torre didn't tell Steinbrenner to stick it...
Jaime, Si, Si. He no manage Jan-kee no more. He turn sty-brenner down!
Bandit: (Incredulous) He resigned?
Jaime: No, Pepe. They offer contract to him, he tell Sty-brenner to stick it in his (expletive) Bandit: Wow Jaime, (Laughing hysterically) Si, Wow! Sty-brenner learn dinero cant buy tegrity and class! Bravo, Torre!
I had to search around for a minute to see if what Jaime said was true and then heard the news. Joe Torre flew to Tampa to do what few managers have ever done to George Sterinbrenner. Turn him down. According to Randy Levine and Brian Cashman, Torre was offered a contract for 2008 with a club option for 2009. But it would have a pay cut, he'd still be the highest paid manager but the contract would be laden with incentives. Torre felt that his 1100+ wins should be good enough to not merit an insulting deal like the one he was presented and he turned the contract offer down. In effect walking away from the Yanks. Like my buddy Jaime said Bravo! I said that Torre deserved better treatment and I think in the end did the classiest thing he could do. Walk away.

Madness continues in College Football

South Florida (or USF as they prefer to be called) didn't last long as the hunted. They go into Rutgers and get upset by the Scarlet Knights, who again prove that winning in Piscataway is a tough proposition. The whining wonks who carped that USF was undeserving of such lofty heights can breathe easier today, you don't have to put USF in the title game. But they still may get a BCS bowl bid as the Big East is still wide open.

Now whether you scrolled down, or made it this far (I think this is my longest post...) here is my soon to be world famous NFL Week 7 Preview and Picks
Oh well, 7-6 is better than 6-7. But I need another breakout week, these games are starting to get tougher to call, but I was happy to call out the fraud Cowboys. There are way too many puzzling teams out there. The Bengals are way way better than 1-4, The Saints are better than 1-5, and there is no real reason why the Rams should be winless. But on the flip side, the Cards are a bit of a shock at 3-3, the Giants at 4-2 are talking playoffs again. But that’s what makes this game so much fun, its unpredictability. So as usual, submitted for your review and approval are the weeks picks for the week 7. The lines are courtesy of USA Today Sports Weekly and are for comparison and entertainment purposes only. I add that caveat since I keep getting e-mails about folks taking my so-called analysis with the odds and getting hosed. Take the odds at your own risk.

NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 7
All Times EDT Note: Carolina (4-2); Cleveland (3-3); Green Bay (5-1); San Diego (3-3) all have a bye this week.

Sunday, October 21

Cardinals (3-3) @ Redskins (3-2)
FedEx Field; Landover, MD 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite-Redskins by 6
Fast Fact- The Cardnials have not beat a team with a winning record on the road since 2002. The Redskins are the most puzzling team in the NFL, they could be 1-4 or 5-0 the games have been that close, they should have no problem against an embattled Cardinals squad who cant seem to keep a quarterback healthy. If the Cards are depending on Tim Rattay to win a number of games, they are in deep trouble
Pick Washington

Falcons (1-5) @ Saints (1-4)
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Saints by 5.5
Fast Fact-The Saints scored a season high 28 points en route to earning their first win of the season.
The Saints finally put it all together and got a badly needed win in a tough road venue. Their schedule is lined with a host of winnable games with this matchup with the sad-sack Falcons being one. Byron Leftwich gets the starting nod for the Falcons and one would hope that his throws would be better than his laughable relief effort he had against the Titans a couple weeks ago.
Pick-New Orleans

Ravens (4-2) @ Bills (1-4)
Ralph Wilson Stadium; Orchard Park, NY 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Ravens by 3
Fast Fact- This is the Ravens first trip to Buffalo
The Bills are still smarting from their fall from ahead loss to the Cowboys on the 8th, and they cant catch a break in the schedule as the potential for wins are few and far between save a rematch with the one team they beat. The Ravens are winning ugly, but it beats pretty losses. Look for Willis McGahee to want to have a big day against the Bills, his former squad that traded him away after acquiring MarShawn Lynch who is coming along slowly. The Ravens should force the Bills into enough errors to win fairly easily
Pick-Baltimore

Patriots (6-0) @ Dolphins (0-6)
Dolphins Stadium, Miami 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Patriots by 16.5
Fast Fact- The Pats are double digit favorites for the third time this season, but for the first time as the visitor.
On paper this looks like a trap game, the Pats coming in after a top flight performance over the Cowboys face the Dolphins a team that cant get out of its own way. But lets be real, the Pats won’t need to play their best to beat the Fins who despite showing an ability to score wont get the type of scoring opportunities that they did in Cleveland. Add to the fact that the Pats are getting Richard Seymour back and the prospects for the Fins look extra grim. Tom Brady has been looking like he might challenge Peyton Manning for TD passes in a season and has the Pats offense looking nothing short of unreal. I have a word of advice for those that are thinking that the Fins mammoth upset will happen. Don’t.
Pick-New England (Bandits Lock of the Week)

49ers (2-3) @ Giants (4-2)
Giants Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite-Giants by 7
Fast Fact-Frank Gore is averaging nearly 2 fewer yards a carry than he did last year (3.6 in 2007 vs. 5.4 in 2006)
The Niners started the season off with high hopes but a three game slide has tempered those hopes. The G-Men started off with successive routs and looked to be in loads of trouble, but have rebounded nicely to win 4 in a row. Obviuosly these teams are going in opposite direction, Eli Manning has found his touch and is making the Giants offense work nicely. The same cant be said for Niners who look to Trent Dilfer to get the out of their doldrums. If Frank Gore continues his struggles, a real possibility against a rugged Giants defense, the Niners will be in for a long afternoon
Pick-New York Giants

Buccaneers (4-2) @ Lions (3-2)
Ford Field, Detroit 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Lions by 2
Fast Fact: The Lions are giving up 263 yards passing a game
The Motor City Kitties have had a week to stew over their beat down in DC, the Bucs keep doing it with mirrors and will try to incorporate newly acquired Michael Bennett into a badly undermanned running game. Jeff Garcia doesn’t make the kind of mistakes that result in scores, matter of fact he has yet to throw an interception. The Lions defense is the bend but don’t break variety not a good thing against an offense that rarely gives away the ball. It will be interesting on the flip side to the chess match between Lions offensive coordinator Mike “The Genius” Martz and Bucs defensive guru Monte Kiffin. I cant bank on the Lions in this one even if they are at home.
Pick-Tampa Bay

Titans (3-2) @ Texans (3-3)
Reliant Stadium, Houston 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Texans by 1
Fast Fact The Titans have won the last four meetings.
Despite a horrid performance in Jacksonville, I like the Texans in this matchup. The Titans Vince Young comes in hobbled and with Chris Brown out with an ankle injury which makes their pedestrian offense even more lackluster. The Texans are coming together offensively and have uncovered yet another receiving threat in Kevin Walter. I think the Texans continue to win game that they shouldn’t here is a great example.
Pick-Houston

Chiefs (3-3) @ Raiders (2-3)
McAfee Coliseum, Oakland 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite Raiders by 3
Fast Fact- The Raiders have lost 16 in a row to AFC west teams
The Chiefs pounded the Bengals with a solid running game while the Raiders got battered by a stellar performance by LT. The once redoubtable Raider defense looked awfully suspect and I have a feeling that Larry Johnson is finding his stride. The Raiders have improved but they aren’t ready to win this one.
Pick-Kansas City

Jets (1-5) @ Bengals (1-4)
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite Bengals by 6
Fast Fact- The Jets have won the past five meetings
Both teams are reeling. The Bengals are infighting and the Jets have more offensive problems that you can imagine. The Bengals have an offense and that and being at home should be enough. The Bengals desperately need something to build on with the hated Steelers on the docket next.
Pick-Cincinnati

Bears (2-4) @ Eagles (2-3)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Eagles by 4.5
Fast Fact The Bears have only started 2-4 one other time and made the playoffs
The Eagles won a really ugly game in New York, while the Bears got run over literally by Adrian Peterson and the Vikes. The Eagles need to get the ball to Brian Westbrook early and often, the higher the score the better the prospect for the Eagles. The Bears cant possibly think that Brian Griese will put up the high numbers to get a win.
Pick-Philadelphia

Minnesota (2-3) @ Dallas (5-1)
Texas Stadium; Irving, TX 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite-Cowboys by 9.5
Fast Fact-The Cowboys lead the NFC with 203 points but have yet to score a first quarter TD. Adrian Peterson had a record day against a decent Bears squad, but now face the danger of looking one dimensional. The Pokes got flat out blasted against the Pats. As much as I should know better, I think that the Vikes play ball control with AP and they steal a mammoth upset. Pick-Minnesota (Upset Special of The Week)

Rams (0-6) @ Seahawks (3-3)
Qwest Field, Seattle 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Seahawks by 10
Fast Fact-The Seahawks have won the last four meetings
The image of the Rams once high powered offense is a distant memory as Gus Frerotte looked inept and lost against the Ravens. The Seahawks stung after losing to the formerly winless Saints on national TV won't let the same thing happen. Look for Shaun Alexander who has had a pair of horrid games to have a breakout game against the Rams soft defense.
Pick-Seattle

Steelers (4-1) @ Broncos (2-3)
Invesco Field @ Mile High, Denver 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Steelers by 2.5
Fast Fact-The Steelers have given up only 47 points this season
The Steelers don’t have to worry that their offense is so-so, their defense is frightening and despite Troy Polamalu and Casey Hampton. Don’t you think that Broncos fan wish that Jake Plummer was still under center? Jay Cutler will be without the services of Javon Walker against a Steelers defense that has yet to give up a completion longer than 38 yards. Travis Henry needs to have a good game as well to keep the Steelers grinding offense that averages better than 35 minutes in time of possession off the field. I can’t see the Broncos pulling this off even at home
Pick-Pittsburgh

Monday, October 22

Colts (5-0) @ Jags (4-1)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Colts by 3
Fast Fact-The Colts have started 5-0 for the third straight year
The stakes are plenty high for this matchup, as this is the Jags biggest game since playing in the AFC championship in 1999. The Colts are rolling along quietly and have scored points in bunches. The Jags win about as unglamorous as one could get. The Jags know how to beat the Colts as they dropped a 44-17 rout on them last December. David Garrard needs to keep his interception free run going for the Jags to have a real shot. But I think the Colts hardly missed a beat without Marvin Harrison in beating the Bucs, they get him back and I think he gives the Colts too many weapons for the Jags to counter.
Pick-Indianapolis

Last Week 7-6 (lock Correct, Upset Incorrect)
Overall 57-32 (5-1 Locks, 3-3 Upsets)