Weekly NFL picks, v. 3.0 (beta)

No ranting... for that, see my last post, and likely my next post... just picks.

Cinci at New Orleans
After the mammoth scoring game Cinci and San Diego were in last week, I see points. I loaded up my fantasy team with as many Saints as I could. Yeah, I think the Saints will win.

Buffalo at Houston
Buffalo showed their potential last week. Houston has never showed theirs (except against Jax, last weeks opponent). Go Buffalo.

New England at Green Bay
I've been predicting the New England slide for one whole week now. I'm so proud. I know that my luck spotting trends does not extend beyond one. New England's slide ends this week.

Oakland at K.C.
Trent Green returns for KC. Don't know what that really means. And he could get hit early and go back out. Don't know what that means, either. KC has Larry Johnson. I know what that means. Oakland is not a good team, and now the lousy QB is complaining about the lousy coaching. I really know what that means. KC wins.

Atlanta at Baltimore
Baltimore, at home, just too strong for an average NFC team. Besides, it looks like Vick and the Falcons have already hit the wall they hit every year when they go from super bowl to toilet bowl. Baltimore wins.

Chicago at NY Jets
6th game in a row that I really don't have to think too hard about to pick a winner. There have got to be some tough ones coming up or all this extra brain power will be going to waste. I just can't fathom Chicago losing to the Jets. Even though they struggled early against the Giants last week, they won going away, and the Giants are far tougher than the Jets. See the logic?

Pittsburgh at Cleveland
Pittsburgh appears to have awoken (is that a word?) from their slumber. If you average how they have looked this year with how they looked last year, and factor in that they are starting to head back closer to last year in performance... that will be plenty to take care of the pitiful Browns. I only had to think a little for this one, but you can see that my brain is slightly off due to the lack of a decent pre-pick stretching session.

St. Louis at Carolina
St. Louis travels to Carolina. I wonder if they will find the place? Are NFL teams required to give directions to the stadium to the opponents? But I digress. I really think the Rams are taking the lead of the Cards too seriously. Around .500, eek into the playoffs, no one takes you seriously, win the whole thing. Not going to work again, St. Louis. Try winning. Not going to this week, though.

Tennessee at Philly
Philly will win, enough about the game. Now I like to abbreviate when I can. Because I'm basically lazy, I suppose. Or I'm trying to save wear and tear on my keyboard. Thus the use of Philly, SF, KC, Cinci, Indy, NY, and others, sometimes always, sometimes sometimes. Or the use of the nickname instead, but that's off the topic, so never mind that for now, I trying to make a point. The point is, is there a good abbreviation for Tennessee? Ten? Nope, that's another word. Tenn? Now it looks like I can't spell ten. Tnse, Tenns, Tnese? All appear as if I am not relaxed enough to spell tense, or tennis. So I'm putting out a call. Anyone have a good easy to understand abbrev. for Tennessee? Until such time comes, I may never pick them to win, just to save the keyboard.

Wash at TB
Finally I have to think about one. Give me a minute. Okay. Tampa SHOULD be the better team. They are also at home. Washington's defense is so bad, Tampa's offense might look respectable. That should be enough. For Tampa. To win.

Minnesota at Miami
Miami is on the same train as Pittsburgh right now. Shaking off the early season horribles, and making a case to be only slightly below average (oh how I lavish the praise). Minnesota on the other hand just lost to the Niners and Packers in consecutive weeks, and before that, they were the last team that New England beat before their slide. Minnesota's train isn't just going the other way, it derailed twice on the way. Someone needs to stoke the boiler under the Vikings before they are eliminated from reaching the playoff platform. Oh, Miami wins because they are at home.

Seattle at San Francisco
I like typing out San Francisco because I am among the 5% of Americans who can correctly spell San Francisco. Strangely enough, only 5% of Seattlites can spell Seattle until they've had their morning coffee. The Seahawks might be better served to fly into San Fran... SF the morning of the game, making sure to have some coffee on board. Shaun Alexander MIGHT play (though really, he could rest one more week, its only the Niners), but even if he is just the wafting aroma of his usual cup o' self, it shoudn't matter. Seattle is muchly the better team and as such shall vanquish the 50 minus ones.

Detroit and Arizona
Stinker of the week. Anti-Super Bowl. Both teams LOST to the 49ers. Three wins between them. Frankly, it would be an upset if either team won, even against each other. So I'm going radical. Edgy. Off my rocker. Outside the box. I predict a tie.

Indy at Dallas
By now, I don't really need to tell you my pick for this one. Everyone together now... INNNNNNNNDY!!! Bonus Dallas game prediction: Parcells looks like someone just stole his puppy after T.O. complains yet again and subsequently drops a key pass.

San Diego at Denver
In my humble opinion, I think San Diego is slightly better as a team than the Denvers. Usually, in closely matched games, the home boys get a nod towards victory. In hard fought intra-division rivalry games who is at home seems to matter a bit less. Even big upsets occur in some divisional games because of how familiar the teams are with each other. So being better, or at home should not be a factor in this game. If you have followed so far, I have predicted that neither team will win, or, either team CAN win. I should leave it at that and claim victory myself after its over, but I have saved energy and will delve a little deeper into this one for you, my faithful readers. San Diego will win because Philip Rivers is really coming on strong and looks like a top flight QB, he's got LaDanian Tomlinson on his team, and the SD defense is powerful; while Denver may have the strong D, and the running game, Jake Plummer is still Denver's QB.

New York Giants at Jacksonville
Stay tuned for the upcoming Guest Pick for this one, after which I will reveal my obviously superior choice. And no, I'm not going to let my sister embarrass me yet again.