Week 8 NFL Picks

            This week might set the record for most teams to logically include in a three-team teaser. An incredible feat considering Green Bay has the week off.

Week 8 Byes = Packers, Falcons, Bears, Jets, Buccaneers, Raiders

TITANS (-9) over Colts

            These two teams lost by a combined score of 103-14 last week. If I had more ambition, I’d try to figure out if that was some sort of record. If Curtis Painter weren’t involved, I’d take the points.

Tennessee 24, Indianapolis 10

Confidence Score = 10

Jaguars (+9.5) over TEXANS

            Was ready to roll Houston with confidence (fantasy hockey players who use Yahoo! might get that joke), but Andre Johnson missing his fourth straight start will keep it close.

Houston 17, Jacksonville 16

Confidence Score = 8

PANTHERS (-3.5) over Vikings

            Christian Ponder reminded my dad of Fran Tarkenton last week. My dad despises Cam Newton. You could say that worlds are colliding this Sunday in Charlotte.

Carolina 31, Minnesota 20

Confidence Score = 13

Saints (-13.5) over RAMS

            There’s a possibility that St. Louis is worse than the Colts. New Orleans beat Indy 62-7 last week. Yikes.

New Orleans 41, St. Louis 14

Confidence Score = 14

RAVENS (-12.5) over Cardinals

            Baltimore will much better off when they figure out they should run the ball 35 times a game with Ray Rice and Ricky Williams. Expect a pissed off Ravens team to take out some frustration on a hapless Arizona squad.

Baltimore 37, Arizona 3

Confidence Score = 16

GIANTS (-9.5) over Dolphins

            Eli Manning wants Miami to keep losing so they get the number one pick (which means the Colts wouldn’t, and therefore his brother would not have to worry about Andrew Luck), so look for a strong game out of him. That and Miami is really, really, really bad.

New York 30, Miami 10

Confidence Score = 15

BILLS (-5.5) over Redskins (in Toronto)

            It didn’t take long for the wheels to fall off the Washington Redskins’ wagon. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that they could lose the rest of their games.

Buffalo 27, Washington 14

Confidence Score = 12

Patriots (-2.5) over STEELERS

            I think Pittsburgh could win, but until they prove they can beat Tom Brady (which hasn’t happened since the 2004 regular season), you’re better off just taking the Patriots in this one.

New England 31, Pittsburgh 28

Confidence Score = 4

49ERS (-9) over Browns

            Asking Alex Smith to cover a nine-point spread sounds like a lot, until you remember Colt McCoy is under center for the opposing team. It’s also important to note that the Madden Curse is alive in well with Peyton Hillis this year.

San Francisco 17, Cleveland 0

Confidence Score = 11

Lions (-3) over BRONCOS

            I was forced to pick up God’s QB on one of my fantasy teams this week, so I figure I should play it safe and hedge by picking Detroit in my blog.

Detroit 28, Denver 20

Confidence Score = 5

SEAHAWKS (+3) over Bengals

            Taking the points isn’t a bad option when you have Seattle at home. They are a totally different team in their own building.

Seattle 13, Cincinnati 9

Confidence Score = 7

Cowboys (+3) over EAGLES

            Will DeMarco Murray run for 253 yards again? Probably not, but 120 and a touchdown isn’t out of the question against the Eagles lousy run defense. If Dallas plays as well as they did defensively against New England, they win this game.

Dallas 24, Philadelphia 16
Confidence Score = 6

Chargers (-3.5) over CHIEFS

            San Diego’s two-minute drill against the Jets last week was about as inspired as Herman Cain’s tax plan.

San Diego 34, Kansas City 20

Confidence Score = 9

Last Week Record = 7-5-1

LW Top-5 Picks = 2-3
Season Record = 55-41-7
S Top-5 Picks = 19-14-2