Chicago at New Orleans (-6.5):
Stephen: This seems like a big spread for an 0-1 team to cover against a 1-0 team who showed such an impressive Defense in week one. I'll take Chicago with the points.
Sean: I'll take New Orleans and I have no idea why. I'm not convinced about Chicago yet.
Kansas City at Detroit (-8):
Stephen: Another big line here, but considering that KC allowed 41 points to a questionable Buffalo team in their own house, I have to go with Detroit to cover at home.
Sean: I want to go with Kansas City here because they couldn't have gotten that much worse from from last year. Then again, Detroit did get that much better perhaps. Detroit
Jacksonville at New York Jets (-9):
Stephen: This is not a game I would touch with a ten foot poll. Nine points is a lot to cover even against a sub par team. Jacksonville is hard to read after beating the dumpster fire that is the Tennessee Titans last week, and the J-E-T-S needed three flukie plays to win in New York on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. If forced pick here, I will go with New York to cover. It is hard for me to believe they are as bad as they looked at times Sunday night.
Sean: Jacksonville is only a slightly less hot dumpster fire than Tennessee in my opinion. The Jets will hit their stride at some point. I think this game starts that journey for them. New York
Oakland at Buffalo (-3):
Stephen: Another toss up game here. Both teams beat awful teams in week one, and I still have no idea what to make of the Bills. Oakland is a much better home team, unfortunately this one is gonna be played in western New York. In a game this close to call, I have to stick with the home team. Buffalo to cover.
Sean: I think the Bills are semi-legit. They still might be the worst team in that division, but I think that just says something about the division. I like the way Oakland played on the road last week but I can't wait till it all blows up when they get Pryor.
Arizona at Washington (-3.5):
Stephen: I would love to be able to tease down that half point, that's how close I think this one will be. Is Tim Hightower going to be able to play inspired against his old team? Can Sexy Rexy put up big numbers two weeks in a row? Can the Cards' secondary remember to show up? I would love to pick my preseason NFC West Champs here, but they allowed 422 yards passing to a rookie in his first game last week. Going with the Skins at home to cover.
Sean: Was Washington for real last week? Was it false bravado inspired by the 9/11 anniversary. I think we will know more after this week. Arizona is a fluky team and I need to see them more. But, my pick with a gun to my head is Washington covers.
Baltimore (-6) at Tennessee:
Stephen: The first home dog showed just why they are an underdog with the stinker they played last week. CJ2K needs more than 9 yards rushing for this team to be competitive. I do see him eclipsing that total (frankly it would be hard not to), but not a whole lot more. The Ravens looked like World Beaters last week with the way they man-handled the defending AFC champs last week. I feel pretty comfortable that they will roll this week. Baltimore to cover.
Sean: This may be a match-up of the best team in the league versus the worst team in the league. Baltimore destroyed a great team last week and Tennessee lost to a team that may give them a fight for worst team. I hate road favorites but this is a no-brainer. You could double this spread and I still pick the Ravens.
Seattle at Pittsburgh (-14):
Stephen: Are you serious? A 14 point spread in an NFL game? Huge number for a league that is defined by parody, but with this one I can understand why. Seattle stayed in the game at San Fran last week until Ted Ginn turned the game into a one man highlight reel, but this isn't San Fransisco, and Pittsburgh is coming off an embarrassing loss at the hands of their biggest rival. Don't poke the bear. Pittsburgh to cover the ungodly number.
Sean: I agree with Stephen. This spread is ridiculously huge. Too huge for an NFL game. I'm losing this one but give me all those delicious points.
Green Bay (-10) at Carolina:
Stephen: I have gone back and forth on this one. Once again, a big number for an NFL game, especially for the home team to be the underdog. I was impressed by a guy that I had no confidence in last week with Cam Newton, but the Packers are easily a top 3 team in the league and the defending Champs. I think Carolina will come out with pride and swagger in their home opener, and even keep this close for a while. But Green Bay has too much on both sides of the ball and will win going away. Green Bay to cover.
Sean: I will continue to take Green Bay every single game no matter the spread. The looked awesome last week. They are also getting some extra week after opening the season on Thursday. Cam Newton was the surprise of week 1 but he doesn't have a chance against the Pack.
Tampa Bay at Minnesota (-3):
Stephen: These are two more teams that I am going to need to see more of to know who they really are. Tampa Bay is a young team with an explosive, exciting young set of offensive weapons in Freeman, Blount, and Williams. Minnesota has the best running back in the game in AP, and Percy Harvin can get to the endzone anytime he touches the ball. Minnesota made the trade to bring in veteran QB McNabb, but he is going to have to do better than 39 yards passing. I will take the young Bucs with the points here.
Sean: I think Minnesota might be worse than their loss last week at San Diego looked. Like Stephen said, they have to get something out of the quarterback position, no matter who it is. And they have to make sure AP touches the ball roughly 126 times to have a chance. I think I'll agree with Stephen and take the young team with the exciting coach here.
Cleveland (-2.5) at Indianapolis:
Stephen: Both teams looked like the are only playing to win the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes in last week's games. The Colts showed why Payton Manning is the Most Valuable Player Ever last week with how the mighty fell to a division rival. Cleveland could not come away with a win in the Battle of Ohio, even when the Bengals started a rookie QB/ WR combo. I think the Browns will be able to pound the ball with Peyton Hillis, but I do not see them doing much else. I like Indy at home with the points.
Sean: The downward spiral continues this week in Indy. Kerry Collins is going to come around with this offense but I think that is still a couple of weeks away. Cleveland will cover in this matchup that will soon be known as "The game that produced no highlights."
Dallas (-3) at San Francisco:
Stephen: I am actually a little surprised by how small the spread is here, considering some of the other lines. The Cowboys looked dominant for 90% of the game last week in New York, but once again shot themselves in the foot to grasp defeat from the jaws of victory. The 49ers looked simply pedestrian against the Seachickens last week aside from some especially special Special Teams work from Ted Ginn with two key run backs. I think Dallas just has almost to a man more talent than the 49ers. I will take Dallas to cover.
Sean: Ditto. Dallas is the better team. They easily cover on the road.
Houston (-3) at Miami:
Stephen: Maybe it is just that I drank too much free Texans Kool-aid in their cafeteria while working with them this summer. Maybe I just do not buy Chad Henne being able to throw for 400 yards two weeks in a row. Either way, I like Houston to keep Reggie Bush ineffective in the run game and Chad Henne running for his life. Houston to cover.
Sean: This is a litmus test for Miami. They had no chance to beat New England last week but were able to put on a great offensive show. If Henne has enough time to throw the ball (very doubtful,) he may have a chance to put up stupid numbers again against Houston's secondary. It's a shootout in Miami this weekend and no one likes to shoot as much as Texans do. Houston covers.
San Diego at New England (-7):
Stephen: Ochocinco was not the only one saying "Wow" after the "video game like" performance on Monday Night. San Diego looks to pick up right where they left off last year with the League's top rated Offense and Defense.... and UnSpecial Teams. I think the Chargers will get that facet under control, and they have a ton of weapons on both sides of the ball. The Pats are highly explosive on Offense, but their defense just gave up big numbers to a bad Dolphins team as well. I like New England to win at home, but seven is just to many points to give to a good team. Chargers with the points.
Sean: New England's great offense versus San Diego's great defense. SD's great offense versus NE's mediocre defense. The numbers say I should take San Diego here. The numbers are wrong. New England's offense is just too much too handle. Also, I haven't looked up the numbers or anything but this has to be the longest travel distance possible for a game right? West coast teams never win these games. Patriots cover.
Cincinnati at Denver (-3.5):
Stephen: Did anyone see the late game Monday night? How is Denver favored against anyone, even the lowly Bengals? Home field should be an advantage, but in Denver they are putting up billboards and chanting for the third string QB. On the other hand, Mike Brown still runs the Bengals. Hard to say which is a bigger disaster. I will reluctantly take Cincinnati with the points.
Sean: These teams are awful. I'm praying for inclement weather so this game doesn't have to occur. I'll take the opposite of whatever Stephen just said.
Philadelphia (-2.5) at Atlanta:
Stephen: This is the game I am personally looking forward to the most. Two top contenders for the NFC crown meeting up early in the season. Michael Vick is headed back to the ATL for the first time as a starter. Ryan and the Falcons look to bounce back after being man-handled by the Bears. Michael Turner was able to break the century mark against a good defense at Chicago last week, and the Eagles have even said that teams should run against them. I like Atlanta at home with the points.
Sean: What happened to Atlanta last week? They couldn't finish off drives. Four field goals was all they could muster against against Chicago. If they turn some of those field goals into touchdowns, they have a chance here. Otherwise, they may be playing catch-up all game again. Philly needs to do a better job of blocking for Vick or he's going to get hit hard. And if the hits start raining, this crowd is going to get rabid. I like Philly to sneak by with the win but not to cover the spread.
St. Louis at New York Giants (-6):
Stephen: These are two middle of the pack teams going in different directions and both dealing with big injuries. The Rams are a young team with one of the hottest up and coming QBs in Sam Bradford, but they took a huge hit when Steven Jackson came up gimpy on that big run in St. Louis last week. New York only a few years ago upset the previously undefeated Pats to win the Super Bowl, but with highly inconsistent play from a pick prone QB and devastating injuries on defense, this is a team on the down swing. The Giants looked tiny last week in Washington, and the Rams have a pretty good back up running back in Cadillac Williams. I like St. Louis with the points.
Sean: Injuries destroyed the Rams last week. Dinged up quarterback, running back, tight end, wide receiver, and left tackle. That's too much to overcome, even against the giants. Giants cover.
Stephen: Sean:
DET DET
NYJ NYJ
BUF (PUSH) BUF (PUSH)
PIT PIT
TB TB
DAL (PUSH) DAL (PUSH)
HOU HOU
CIN
ATL ATL
7-7 10-4
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