A Chinese summit?? and NFL Week 10 Picks

A quick side note, I posted in my last post the incorrect record for the Auburn-Georgia Auburn is 7-3 and Georgia is 7-2, I had them reversed. It was a typist error and my thanks to those who pointed it out. The info has since been corrected. I try my darndest to post accurate info and stats and welcome anyone who sees inaccurate info to let me know.
I promise, no obscure The Color Purple references are in this post. I can't guarantee that I won't quote a great rapper though...

I remember the classic line from fictional Western University coach Pete Bell in the movie Blue Chips after his team had upset #1 Indiana "you know what? 900 million Chinamen couldn't give a damn what happened here tonight." I beg to offer if Yao Ming and Yi Jinlian play, at least 200 million Chinamen might be interested. In what looks to be a rather obscure early season matchup between the Rockets and Bucks looks to be a Super Bowl type ratings hyped match for Chinese Basketball fans, reports are that the first meeting between Yao, the Rockets uber big man and the rookie project Yin will draw 1/5 of a billion viewers in China. Keep in mind that the Colts-Pats game drew a regular season record 34 million and last years Colts-Bears Super Bowl was viewed by 93 million. The one drawback is that the two Chinese players won't likely guard each other, Yi is a forward and Yao is a center who will more likely be tangling with fellow #1 pick Andrew Bogut, which will be a better matchup. I would love to see the overnight numbers for that game.

Another quick side note regarding the A-Rod sweepstakes. The MLB players union has raised concerns that the owners and general managers might be acting in collusion to hold down free agent movement and salaries and that MLB Commish Bud Selig might be behind these efforts to keep A-Rod's next contract down. If a team wants to spend willy-nilly on a player thats on them. Talk of collusion is serious stuff and you would think that the owners would know better, but many of them weren't around back in the 80s when the players union accused the owners of collusion and and arbitrator subsequently agreed. The owners chicanery then cost them $280 million and a number of players were granted free agency on the spot. If something like this happens again, we're talking Bill Gates type money in damages...stay tuned.


Turning to football I never thought I'd see the day when both I would be overjoyed to see both Dallas and Pittsburgh win decisively. Reason being that I needed both of those wins got me to a break even. I've been dawdling at the break even mark for the past three weeks is starting to annoy me, my picking against the grain and a couple of dumb picks seemed to make things worse. Oh well I will do my best to get more correctly prognosticate this weeks slate and after this week no more bye weeks to deal with. So I once again submit for your review and approval my picks for this week. As usual odds are provided for entertainment and comparison purposes only. You bet the lines, its on you.


NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 10
All times EST Houston (4-5); New England (9-0); NY Jets (1-8 ); Tampa Bay (5-4) are on a bye and the byes have all been taken after this week.

Sunday, November 11

Falcons (2-6) @ Panthers (4-4)
Bank Of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Carolina by 4
Fast Fact David Carr was sacked 7 times last week against Tennessee the 7th time in 81 career starts that he has been sacked at least 7 times in a game.
The Panthers are winless at home, while the Falcons have yet to win outside of the Georgia Dome, which means this game will end in a tie. Seriously, the Falcons despite snapping a three game skid with a win over the Niners are not putting any kind of fear in anyone. The Panthers still have QB questions but are much better than the Falcons.
Pick-Carolina


Bills (4-4) @ Dolphins (0-8 )
Dolphins Stadium Miami 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Buffalo by 3
Fast Fact Bills WR Lee Evans has 19 receptions for 410 yards and 6 TD's against the Dolphins, the most against any opponent
The Bengals managed to make JP Losman look like an all pro. I swear he was calling for wings a couple times in the pocket. He should be unhurried and unbothered by the Dolphins anemic pass rush. Jason Taylor deserves so much better than this.
Pick-Buffalo

Cleveland (5-3) @ Pittsburgh (6-2)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Pittsburgh by 9½
Fast Fact The Browns actually lead the all-time series 55-54, but the Steelers have won the last 7 meetings
The Browns are the surprise contender in the AFC North as Derek Anderson is making the locals forget who that guy that they drafted as their supposed franchise savior. The Steelers are looking rather brutal as Ben Roethlisberger strafed the supposed tough Ravens D for five scores last Monday. While the Browns are fast shedding their pushover status, but they aren't ready to take the Steelers out in their own crib. Though it should be noted that since the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999 2 of the 3 wins they have over the Steelers were in Pittsburgh...you think??? Naaaahh!
Pick-Pittsburgh

Broncos (3-5) @ Chiefs (4-4)
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Kansas City by 3
Fast Fact The home team has won the last nine meetings
Both teams come in to this game hurting. Jay Cutler is nursing a badly bruised leg suffered in a wicked hit in the beatdown by Lions while Larry Johnson is highly questionable with a badly sprained ankle during a shredding by the Packers. The Chiefs might have to depend on Priest Holmes (Is he still in this league?) to stay afloat, while the Broncos hope to get a good game out of Travis Henry who has historically run well against the Chiefs. I think the Broncos continue their schizophrenic ways and beat a depleted Chiefs squad
Pick-Denver

Jaguars (5-3) @ Titans (6-2)
LP Field, Nashville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Tennessee by 4
Fast Fact The Jags are the only team to have to play three straight on the road this year.
Jockeying hard for position behind the rampaging Colts these two AFC South squads try to keep pace. The Jags have been winning despite their inconsistent QB play while the Titans are winning with a stout defense and the improved play of LenDale White who has taken firm control of the RB position and has rewarded the Titans faith in him with three straight 100 yard game, all Titan wins. The trend continues here.
Pick-Tennessee

Vikings (3-5) @ Packers (7-1)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Green Bay by 6
Fast Fact The Packers are looking to win their fourth straight over the Vikes for the first time in 19 years.
The Vikes are feeling good after riding a record day by Adrian Peterson to a stunning rout of the Chargers, Peterson will run against a stout Pack defense who ranks 7th in the league in rushing yards allowed, but will miss hard hitting, ball hawking safety Nick Collins who has a knack for shutting down an oppositions top runner. Everytime I say the Vikes have no chance, AP has a bonkers game and the Vikes win. The Vikes have no chance in Green Bay...
Pick-Minnesota (Upset of The Week)

Philadelphia (3-5) @ Washington (5-3)
FedEx Field; Landover, MD 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Washington by 3
Fast Fact The Redskins are 14-2 when Clinton Portis rushes for 100 yards or more.
The Skins nearly let the woeful Jets beat them, but recovered. The Iggles got whomped by the Pokes and the natives are alternately calling for Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid's head. Clinton Portis has found his running stride and that makes Jason Campbell's life a lot easier. The Eagles have won six of their last seven in Washington but I doubt that trend continues here.
Picks-Washington

Rams (0-8) @ Saints (4-4)
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite New Orleans by 11½
Fast Fact This is the Rams first visit to the Big Easy since losing Super Bowl 38 in Feb 2002
Like the mystic phoenix, the Saints have bounced back from a horrid 0-4 start to claw their way back into the fringes of the playoff picture. The Saints can actually be tied for first in the NFC south with a win. The Saints have been riding the sharp play of Drew Brees who has completed 71% of his passes and thrown for over 1200 yards during the Saints winning streak. The Rams are getting Steven Jackson back to full speed and the Rams could ride this to an upset. But I can't call it here.
Pick-New Orleans

Bengals (2-6) @ Ravens (4-4)
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite Baltimore by 4
Fast Fact The Ravens were held to a franchise record 104 yards total in offense this past Monday.
Two teams that are fading fast, why has the Ravens once feared defense suddenly looked old, slow and tired. The Bengals cant get out of their own way and have reverted to their old bungling ways. The Queen City Kitties don't play good on the road but the Ravens can be beat. Leave it to the Bengals to win a game that they really have no business winning and artificially inflating their fans hopes...again
Pick-Cincinnati


Bears (3-5) @ Raiders (2-6)
McAfee Stadium, Oakland 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Chicago by 3½
Fast Fact The Bears are 1-2 all-time in their 3 previous trips to Oakland.
Da Bears are looking da-minished. But the Raiders scare no one and with their continued confusion at QB should be easy pickings for the Bears who despite being wracked with injuries still have enough to make life miserable for Josh McCown. Look for Raider nation to continue in earnest its call for JaMarcus Russell as this game drags on.
Pick-Chicago

Dallas (7-1) @ NY Giants (6-2)
Giants Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Dallas by 1½
Fast Fact The 80 points scored by both teams in the season opener was the most in the 90 games the two teams have played since 1960
The G-Men are a far different team than the one that the Pokes ran ragged in week 2. Should the Cowboys think that they can roll up 45 points again, they'll get a sobering shot of reality. Eli Manning lacks the glamorous look of his Pokes counterpart, but his steady yeoman play has given the G-Men the stability they have used to rip off six wins in a row. The Pokes have been way too steady and balanced and this game won't be like the 45-35 shootout in September, but the 'Boys should steal a tight one.
Pick-Dallas

Lions (6-2) @ Cardinals (3-5)
University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Arizona by 1
Fast Fact The Lions are after their 3rd road win this year, they won only 3 games on the road total in the past two seasons.
The Lions are for real, I'm not drinking any Kool-Aid writing this. I'm still not sold on their long term viability but their defense is growing up fast and the offense is a game breaking running back shy of being a real juggernaut. The Cards are a mess as usual and despite having a decent offense though you wouldn't know it by their pathetic showing last week in Tampa. The Lions had best make hay now, their schedule gets a lot tougher after this one.
Pick-Detroit


Colts (7-1) @ Chargers (4-4)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Indianapolis by 3½
Fast Fact Peyton Manning is 3-1 vs. the Chargers throwing for over 1200 yards and 5 TD's total in the four games
Both teams are coming off of losses and both need the win to stay in first place in their respective divisions. The Chargers got ran over, literally by the Vikes last week while the Colts dropped a taut thriller in against the Pats. The key here is how LT fares against the strong Colts defense. The Chargers need him to post solid numbers to keep the Colts high powered offense off the field. The Chargers had best keep the score down, they can't win a shootout. Unfortunately that's exactly what the Colts will do.
Pick-Indianapolis



Monday, November 12

49ers (2-6) @ Seahawks (4-4)
Qwest Field, Seattle (4-4) 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Seattle by 10
Fast Fact The Niners have lost seven of their last nine meetings with the Seahawks.
This is a matchup of teams that had supposed strong running games, but have failed to live up to their promise. The Seahawks dropped a shootout overtime game in Cleveland while the Niners keep on losing. Look for Matt Hasselbeck to continue his string of big number games and that bodes badly for a Niners team that has trouble scoring and keeping opposition points off the board.
Pick-Seattle (Lock of the Week)

Last Week 7-7 (Upset Incorrect, Lock Correct)
Overall: 80-50 (8-1 Locks, 3-6 Upsets)

I'll post the NFL midyear grade cards Saturday, until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!