Nuxhall, Bonds, ARod & NFL Week 11 Picks

Off the top, before we get into the sordid and greedy. I want to lead off with a bit of sad news. The Reds family and the Cincinnati area is mourning the passing of one of its legends. Joe Nuxhall who was the youngest player to ever play in a game at age 15 in 1944 and played or worked in some capacity for the Reds for 63 years died late yesterday after a short battle with pneumonia. He was 79. The old Lefthander as he was known in Cincy and the surrounding area was a local celebrity and was known for his folksy style and easygoing manner. He and broadcast partner Marty Brennaman called Reds games for over 30 years. The local airwaves have been filled with touching tributes and adages of this good man. He will be missed in the Reds community.

I have been a pretty stolid defender of Barry Bonds. I am the type that will not pronounce a person guilty on innuendo and rumor. That said the federal indictments that were handed down in regards to Bonds is pretty galling. The charges of perjury and obstruction of justice are pretty serious and you can bet will more than likely end Bonds' career. No team will want to have the pr nightmare of its star dealing with federal charges. Bonds had he admitted to taking the steroids would probably not have been exposed, but he lied and said that he didn't knowingly take steroids when it has been proven a number of times that not only did he take these performance enhancing drugs, but that he tested positive for the same, just saddens me. For all intents and purposes Bonds will be in the same class as Rafael Palmeiro and Mark McGwire. Once great stars that have been shunned because of supposed taint of steroids. None of these players have even gotten close to the Hall of Fame, but the speculation will abound if Bonds will get in. The only problem I have is that you have all of these players that may have taken this stuff over the years and MLB knew itr and looked the other way. MLB will ostracize Bonds despite what he has done for the game. Whether you liked Bonds or detested him, you had to respect his game. Bonds will continue to be a lightning rod in this sport for years to come.

ARod is staying in the Bronx and will get about $275 million from the Yanks. ARod cut the despised uber agent Scott Boras out of the negoatiation and made the deal. The problem is that ARod made himself out to be such the victim of the New York press and fans that he made it seem that he could never please. But now that he is going back, he makes it seem that it was just about the money. Whatever abuse he takes in NYC, he needs to not whine about it and just play.

Turning to the NFL Picks I guess I'm in a rut. I can shake this .500 trend I’ve been in. I don’t know if its dumb picks or upset or those damn Lions finally acting normal and screwing me up when I was beginning to show some faith in them. Oh well, I’ll eat my string cheese with my whine and try to break off a run of good picks. No more byes from here on out, so there a full slate of 16 games to pick. NBC deciding that a Wreck led Bears facing a Alexander-less Seahawks was not what they liked. So they swooped in and stole the Pats-Bills game and that is your Sunday primetime matchup. As usual the odds are provided for comparison and entertainment purposes only. If you blow next month’s rent on the line that doesn’t come up, that’s your fault.



NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 11

Sunday, November 18

Cardinals (4-5) @ Bengals (3-6)
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Bengals by 3
Fast Fact The Cardinals have never won in Cincinnati (0-5)
The Cards are one of the more puzzling teams in the NFL having had beaten the Lions, Seahawks and Steelers but have lost to the Panthers and Ravens. The Bengals are feeling the heat even after winning in Baltimore. The Cards are horrid on the road and I really cant see them coming 2100 miles east and winning. This pick isn’t so much confidence in the Bengals but lack of confidence in the Cards.
Pick-Cincinnati


Panthers (4-5) @ Packers (8-1)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Packers by 9½
Fast Fact The Pack will play the next two weeks on Thursday
Brett Favre is playing like its 1997, not 2007 and the Pack have been soaring because of it. Ryan Grant’s breakout game against the Vikings may have earned him the job at RB, but the Packers will ride Favre (as usual) as far as they can. The Panthers could only wish for that kind of reliability at QB as ageless Vinny Testaverde tries to keep the Panthers relevant in the NFC South race. Though the Panthers are a surprising 4-1 on the road, I’m not stupid enough to bet against a hot Favre and the Pack on the Frozen Tundra
Pick-Green Bay


Browns (5-4) @ Ravens (4-5)
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Browns by 3
Fast Fact The Ravens have won four straight at home vs. the Browns
The QB carousel is spinning yet again in Baltimore where Kyle Boller will get the starting nod over an injured and ineffective Steve McNair. The Ravens were their own worst enemy against the Bengals turning the ball over six times. The Browns look to rebound after blowing a 21-9 halftime lead in Pittsburgh. The Browns proved that they aren’t afraid of the Ravens anymore by smashing them in Cleveland earlier this year. Look for Jamal Lewis to continue to exact revenge on the team he feels gave up on him too soon.
Pick-Cleveland

Chiefs (4-5) @ Colts (7-2)
RCA Dome, Indianapolis 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Colts by 14½
Fast Fact The Chiefs have never won in Indianapolis (0-3)
The Chiefs are struggling offensively with Larry Johnson continuing to be laid up with a bum ankle. Not a good time to pay a visit to an angry Colts team that got hammered by the Chargers but came a shocking chip shot miss by Adam Vinatieri away from stealing the game. You think that Peyton Manning is looking to take it out having thrown a mind boggling six interceptions on someone? Yup, I do too
Pick-Indianapolis

Dolphins (0-9) @ Eagles (4-5)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Eagles by 10
Fast Fact This is the Dolphins first visit to Lincoln Financial Field.
The Dolphins find ways to lose games, they hung with the Bills into the 4th quarter and nearly spring the upset. The Eagles may have saved their season with a stunning 4th quarter rally to beat the Redskins in DC and have figured out the Brian Westbrook is a pretty decent running back. Philly fan wants to see a blowout and will get on the Iggles early should they fail to put the Dolphins in the can early. Philly fan should breathe easy.
Pick-Philadelphia

Saints (4-5) @ Texans (4-5)
Reliant Stadium, Houston 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Texans by 1
Fast Fact This the Saints first trip to Houston since 1990, when they beat the then Houston Oilers.
The Saints got flat out embarrassed by the then winless Rams while the Texans are coming off a much needed bye. Both teams are strikingly similar in offensive style and Texan fan will get to see Reggie Bush for the first time and let their team know that they wish that they had him. In a matchup of teams that should be better than their record. The Saints are more ready to win a close, yet high scoring game.
Pick-New Orleans

NY Giants (6-3) @ Lions (6-3)
Ford Field, Detroit 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Giants by 3
Fast Fact Jon Kitna has been sacked more times (37) than any other QB this year
Both teams are coming of tough losses, but the G-Men’s loss to the Pokes wasn’t nearly as shocking as the Lions getting flat out decimated by the Cardinals. The Lions ground game were on milk cartons in Arizona and they got bombed by the Cards passing game. If the G-Men can get their solid pass rush in gear they can sack Jon Kitna into interceptions and fumbles. The G-Men just don’t play good in the second half of the season for some reason and the Lions are better than most people think. This smells of an upset though not as huge as one would think as the Lions are quite tough at home.
Pick-Detroit (Upset of the Week)


Raiders (2-7) @ Vikings (3-6)
HHH Metrodome, Minneapolis 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Vikings by 5
Fast Fact The Raiders have won in their last two appearances in Minnesota
Daunte Culpepper returns to Minnesota to face the other team that traded him away, though the going may not be as easy as it was against Culpepper’s other former team the Dolphins whom the Raiders beat 35-7. With Adrian Peterson out with a hurt knee, Chester Taylor will get the bulk of the carries for the Vikes which isn’t a bad fallback. The Raiders offense is a joke against any team not named the Dolphins and while having a good run game the Raiders are going against a rather stout Vikings run defense. This is not a game even a diehard Vikings fans like myself would even watch, but I think the home team still takes a low scoring tight affair
Pick-Minnesota


Chargers (5-4) @ Jaguars (6-3)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Jaguars by 3
Fast Fact Last Week Jags RB Fred Taylor became the 21st player in NFL history to rush for over 10,000 yards.
The Chargers are still wondering how they shocked the Colts on Sunday Night, dodging one bullet after another and picking Peyton Manning off six times to win a game most said they wouldn’t get close in. Meanwhile the Jags are quietly rolling along and having had bounced back from a rout by the Saints to whip the Titans. This will be a slugfest with the much underrated Jags run defense trying to contain LaDainian Tomlinson. The Jags will get QB David Garrard back after having not had his services for the last three weeks. This is a game way too close to call. But the Chargers inconsistent play got them a win they didn’t deserve last week and that will come back on them big time.
Pick-Jacksonville


Buccaneers (5-4) @ Falcons (3-6)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Buccaneers by 3
Fast Fact The Bucs surpassed their win total from last year with a win over Arizona two weeks ago.
The Bucs are the surprise leaders of the NFC south while the Falcons have won back to back game with a bend but don’t break defense and decent play by Joey Harrington. What are the chances of Harrington stringing together three straight games where he doesn’t flame spectacularly? I think the odds are pretty long on that, even at home. The Bucs while unspectacular defensively will pressure Harrington into the kind of dumb mistakes that we’re used to seeing.
Pick-Tampa Bay


Steelers (7-2) @ NY Jets (1-8 )
The Meadowlands; East Rutherford, NJ 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite Steelers by 9½
Fast Fact-The Steelers lead the series 15-2 but both Jets wins came in New York
You think that the Steelers fresh off a tight win over the Browns and facing three very winnable games in a row before a showdown in New England will look past a sorry Jets squad? Neither do I.
Pick-Pittsburgh (Lock of the Week)


Bears (4-5) @ Seahawks (5-4)
Qwest Field, Seattle 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Seahawks by 5½
Fast Fact This game was originally to be shown in primetime
The Seahawks won a most boring shutout of the Niners last Monday and even if Shawn Alexnader is a no go, have enough to keep the Bears at bay. Wreck Grossman returns and you know he’s gonna have a brain cramp sooner or later. Bombing the Raiders is one thing, the Seahawks defense is a whole lot better.
Pick-Seattle


Rams (1-8 ) @ 49ers (2-7)
Monster Park, San Francisco 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Rams by 5½
Fast Fact Both teams have endured seven game losing streaks this season
Both these teams are bad, but the Rams have some hope with Steven Jackson looking better and better. The Niners are going through the motions and this won’t be a pretty game. Marc Bulger continues to get the Rams passing game back on track and the Niners are pretty easy picking to do so.
Pick-St. Louis


Redskins (5-4) @ Cowboys (8-1)
Texas Stadium; Irving, TX 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Cowboys by 10½
Fast Fact This is the latest date in the season for the first season meeting of these two longtime rivals
Just when I was thinking of touting this game as a matchup of the NFL’s hottest young guns. Jason Campbell remembered who he was an played an atrocious second half against the Eagles. The Pokes have their swagger back and how. Tony Romo is making it look too easy and TO is looking like the ultimate team player. The Redskins had better hope that they can grind out points and possessions behind Clinton Portis or the Pokes will make the scoreboard go off like a pinball wizard’s high game. The Pokes are looking to solidlfy their stranglehold on the NFC East, and I cant see the Skins doing much to prevent it
Pick-Dallas


Patriots (9-0) @ Bills (5-4)
Ralph Wilson Stadium; Orchard Park, NY 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Patriots by 16
Fast Fact This game was originally to be a 1:00 ET kickoff but was switched to the primetime slot.
The Patriots traveling offensive road show comes to upstate New York where the Bills are grinding out tough low scoring wins. Since getting hammered 38-7 in Foxboro on September 23rd the Bills are 5-1 But without MarShawn Lynch to help the Bills control the clock but they look to be just another victim to the fired up Pats who just find one perceived slight after another as another excuse to drill another hapless helpless opponent.
Pick-New England



Monday, November 19

Titans (6-3) @ Broncos (4-5)
Invesco Field @ Mile High Stadium, Denver 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Broncos by 3
Fast Fact This is the Titans first visit to Denver, the last time the franchise played in Denver they were the Houston Oilers.
The Broncos continue to play up and down but have found yet another RB stud in Selvin Young. The Titans played horrible against the Jags but get defensive beast Albert Haynesworth back. Look for the Titans to try to pound the ball at the Broncos highly suspect run defense. Don’t be fooled by the 67 rushing yards they gave up against the Chiefs, they did so without having to face Larry Johnson. The Titans have LenDale White and Chris Brown to utilize and theres some guy named Young that the Titans have that can move pretty well himself
Pick-Tennessee



Last Week:7-7(Lock Correct, Upset Incorrect)

Overall:87-57(9-1 Locks, 3-7 Upsets)