Torre in LA, Sonics moving and Week 9 NFL Picks

Joe Torre's in La-La land, boy do you think that they could push Grady Little out of the way fast enough? But I have a memo to Dodger fan: You ain't....repeat ain't getting A-Rod. No way will Scott Boras let his prized client go to a place where homers go to die. And you can be sure that Artie Moreno of the Angels will want to throw money at A-Rod to keep him out of Dodger Blue just on marketing principle.

The Sonics are rumored to be hedaed to OKC, you had to think that when some of the more hard up owners say the fanatical loyalty that the Oklahoma City folks had to a temporary transplant team they were drooling. You can bet that if this move goes thru, you have an instant rival in the Hornets But this could get ugly before its all sais and done. And the sad thing is that you'd be hard pressed to find a more loyal fan base than Sonics fans. Cant you change owners with the Clippers and move them???

A 8-5 week is nothing to complain about. Everyone is talking about the years 2nd game of the century. I think we should be happy that both the winless teams have a bye this week. Go figure, both winless teams are off the week that the biggest game is being played. Karma is cool like that sometimes.
I don’t think that two teams have gotten this deep into season winless and 1990 was the last time two teams got this deep into a season unbeaten and they both lost the week before their supposed Super Bowl 24 ½ matchup on Monday Night Football.
In any case, believe it or not there are other game besides Super Bowl 41 and ¾ remember the Pats-Cowboys was supposed to be the game of the century/Super Bowl 41 ½/Mega Game what have you and that’s what I’m looking at the other 13 games in addition to the game in Indy. Submitted for your review, inspection and approval are this week’s picks. Odds are provided this week by Yahoo sports since I was too lazy to get a Sports Weekly and are for comparison and entertainment purposes only.


NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 9
All Times Eastern Standard Time (Clocks go back this weekend)
Note: Chicago (3-5); Miami (0-8); NY Giants (6-2); St. Louis (0-8) all have a bye this week.




Sunday, November 4

Cardinals (3-4) @ Buccaneers (4-4)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite- Bucs by 3 ½
Fast Fact This is The Cards first appearance in Tampa since 1998
This is a matchup of a pair of teams that are hard to figure. The Bucs lost a tight one to the Jags while the Cards are having open tryouts at QB. The Bucs have caught some bad breaks but the Cards are just the team that the Bucs need to have visit. The Cards have won 5 games on the road in the past three years.
Pick-Tampa Bay

Panthers (4-3) @ Titans (5-2)
LP Field, Nashville 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Titans by 4
Fast Fact- This is the Panthers first ever visit to Nashville
Who starts at QB? For either team? David Carr looks to be the point man after ageless Vinny Testaverde strained an Achilles tendon. Carr is very familiar with a hard charging Titans defense after being the starting QB in Houston for the last five seasons. The Titans cant hope that Vince Young has another game like he did in Oakland (6-14 42 yds) and think that they’ll even stay close. The Panthers are better than their record and I still dont believe the Titans are a 5-2 team
Pick-Carolina


Bengals (2-5) @ Bills (3-4)
Ralph Wilson Stadium; Orchard Park, NY 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite- Bengals by 1
Fast Fact- The Bengals have not beaten the Bills since their 1988 AFC Championship win
The Bengals are imploding fast, their only break is that they catch an offensively challenged Bills team. As long as the Bills special teams don’t bite them. The Bengals have enough to beat the Bills even though they have traditionally been horrid on the road. Getting Rudi Johnson back is a big help to use with Kenny Watson.
Pick-Cincinnati

Broncos (3-4) @ Lions (5-2)
Ford Field, Detroit 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite-Lions by 3
Fast Fact- This the Broncos first visit to Ford Field
The Broncos are coming off a painful overtime loss on Monday Night at home. The Lions are starting to believe that they can do big things. I’ve been hating on the Lions all year and I bet I’m gonna regret finally giving them an endorsement, but that OT home hangover will linger.
Pick-Detroit


Packers (6-1) @ Chiefs (4-3)
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite- Chiefs by 2 ½
Fast Fact- Brett Favre has beaten every team in the NFL, except the Chiefs
This is the best game no one is talking about. The Pack is 6-1 with no running game and Brett Favre continues to defy and confound the critics with his stellar play. The Chiefs are another team doing it with mirrors, winning ugly games against beatable opponents. I want to stay with the Chiefs, a tough home team; but the Pack just seem to keep winning the games that they shouldn’t.
Pick-Green Bay

Jaguars (5-2) @ Saints (3-4)
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Saints by 3
Fast Fact- This is the Jaguars first visit to New Orleans since 1996
The Jags are a solid team but are lost behind the stellar Colts in their own division. They are winning games with a tough efficient defense and while the Saints have seemed to shake off a poor start and have found their sea legs, the fact that they won’t have enough weapons to counter the Jags ball-hawking defense.
Pick-Jacksonville

Chargers (4-3) @ Vikings (2-5)
H.H.H. Metrodome, Minneapolis 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Chargers by 7
Fast Fact- These teams have alternated wins in each of their nine all time meetings (Chargers won last meeting)
Another team that has shook off a bad start to get back into contention. Despite a realtively quiet game by LT last week the Chargers got an easy win. The Vikings are a mess at QB and Brad Childress’ steadfast refusal to make Adrian Peterson the featured back like an LT, may cost the Vikings wins and maybe Childress his job. The Chargers have too many weapons and though I hope to be wrong, I probably won’t.
Pick-San Diego

49ers (2-5) @ Falcons (1-6)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Falcons by 3 ½
Fast Fact- This is the first visit the Niners have made to Atlanta since 2001
Both of these teams had expected to be a lot better than their respective records at this juncture. The Niners are a young team struggling but they can score points, the Falcons however are infighting and lack direction. This is a game for the hardcore fan only.
Pick-San Francisco

Redskins (4-3) @ NY Jets (1-7)
The Meadowlands; East Rutherford, NJ 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Redskins by 3 ½
Fast Fact- The Skins have never lost in New York to the Jets
The Redskins are trying to recover from an awful beating at the hands of the Patriots in where they never, ever were in the game. The Jets have decided to give the reins to Kellen Clemens and that may be a good thing for the Skins who fly around the ball and will give the young Jets QB fits.
Pick-Washington (KJ's Lock of the Week)

Seahawks (4-3) @ Browns (4-3)
Browns Stadium, Cleveland 4:05 (FOX)
Favorite Browns by 1 ½
Fast Fact- Cleveland’s Derek Anderson has TD 17 passes, 2nd in the NFL behind Tom Brady
The Seahawks are not flashy and won’t really figure in the scheme of things in the NFC playoff picture, but they are winning the games that they should. The Browns are coming together nicely offensively and are making Brady Quinn talk irrelevant. The Browns outstanding young receiving corps will get a real test dealing with the Seahawks experienced secondary. Shawn Alexander needs to have a solid game to quash some talk about his game getting rusty. This game is really too close to call. But I’ll go with the team used to winning tough games.
Pick-Seattle

Texans (3-5) @ Raiders (2-5)
McAfee Coliseum, Oakland 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Raiders by 3 ½
Fast Fact- The Raiders are one of six teams (AZ, ATL, CAR, CHI, MIA) to have never beaten the Texans
The Texans are a team that is really hard to figure, with Matt Schaub out one would think that the Texans would be in trouble. Sage Rosenfels gives them an experienced option and he can move the ball against a solid defense. The Raiders have offensively regressed having only scored 33 points in the last three games. To put the burden on the Raiders already overtaxed defense is asking a little too much.
Pick-Houston

Patriots (8-0) @ Colts (7-0)
RCA Dome, Indianapolis 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Patriots by 5
Fast Fact- This is the latest in a season that two unbeaten teams have ever faced each other.
Ok what about this game hasn’t already been said? Brady and Manning are the games best QB’s Dungy and Belichick are the games best coaches. Both teams have outstanding receiving corps and their defenses are top notch. All the signs point to a shootout. The Pats are high scoring and bordering on a juggernaut. The Colts can put the points up as well, but aside from the Cowboys the Pats have been dropping big numbers on so-so teams, The Colts have beaten teams on the road and beaten them badly. The Pats have still yet to be challenged in a game yet. I respect the Pats, but this is the toughest venue they have had to go to and that may be the edge for a snarky call for an upset. I don't know why, I just have that feelin' here.
Pick-Indianapolis (Upset special of the Week)



Cowboys (6-1) @ Eagles (3-4)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Cowboys by 3
Fast Fact- Dallas, starting a three game run against NFC East foes, is only 8-11 against the NFC East since 2004.
The Pokes have relished being the divisional bully and their high scoring offense and are rested after a bye. The Eagles are trying to build off a come from behind win in Minnesota, but are trying to cope with an inconsistent offense. Embattled head coach Andy Reid is looking for a spark to get his team to string together wins. The Pokes just have too many offensive weapons for the Iggles to keep up with.
Pick-Dallas



Monday, November 5

Ravens (4-3) @ Steelers (5-2)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Steelers by 9
Fast Fact- The Steelers have not lost a Monday Night Game at home in 16 years (11-0)
The Steelers bounced back from a painful Sunday night loss to whip the Bengals, the Ravens well rested after a bye are not the strongest offensively but oh that defense. This game will rest on what team can get their running game going. The Steelers defense is a little stronger and they are oh so tough at home.
Pick-Pittsburgh


Last Week: 8-5 (Lock Correct, Upset Incorrect)
Overall: 73-43 (7-1 Locks, 3-5 Upsets)

Have a good weekend fellow Sports Fans!