NBA Blog

 It is a sad day in Rosey-ville.  The mighty have fallen.  The Trinity Tigers of Division III football lost yesterday.  This ends our run of 9-consecutive playoff births and 15-straight conference championships.  I don’t even know the final score, but I know it was bad.  The score was 27-0 after the first half.  I haven’t had the nerve to find out the final score, yet.  It was a great run while it lasted.  I guess everything must come to an end.  On the flip side, the young guys on the roster get the chance to start over, and make their name by starting a new run. 

In the NFL:

At the end of my picks last week I added the caveat to do the exact opposite of my picks.  If you had listened to me then, you would be on the beach drinking pina coladas.  I have not been wagering any money on these games, mainly because I have none.  If I had been betting, I would have stopped a long time ago.  That’s the kind of season it has been.  Underdogs on the road are continuously covering, and that has to be killing some people.  Stay away from the lines.  But if you feel the urge, here are my picks for the week.  (Proceed with caution).

1.  Chiefs (+1.5) at DOLPHINS - The Chiefs are playing great.  Plain and simple. 
2.  JAGUARS (-10) v. Texans - Both teams have been completely unpredictable.  I thought about taking the Texans, so I went with the opposite.  Basically, stay away from this game.
3.  Chargers (-1) at BENGALS - After the debacle in last week’s game, I can’t back anything that T.J. Housh… and Chris Henry are doing.
4.  FALCONS (-8) v. Browns - Vick at home against a bad team after a poor showing on the road.  His home turf makes him solid.
5.  Ravens (-7) at TITANS - Poor Vince Young.  He’s had a rough schedule so far, and now he’s got to face T.Suggs and Ed Reed.  Even without Ray Lewis, that Ravens d-unit is stout.
6.  COLTS (-12) v. Bills - I feel a Colts slip-up coming soon, but not when J.P. Losman and Anthony Thomas are prominently involved.
7.  Saints (+5.5) at STEELERS - Man, I love this line.  The handicappers are still giving the Steelers too much love.  Of course, this all means nothing now that I took the Saints.
8.  Redskins (+7) at EAGLES - Another set of teams that I cannot seem to figure out.  One week, they look like the best team in the NFC, and the next they lay a stinkbomb against the Bucs or the Texans.  Go figure.  I believe The Sports Guy at ESPN calls it ‘perpetual putridity.’  I think he’s right.
9.  GIANTS (-1) v. Bears - The Giants D looks great and Rex Grossman looks like, well, Rex Grossman, an NFL quarterback who has just eclipsed the double-digit barrier for starts after 4 years of service.
10.  VIKINGS (-5.5) v. Packers - True story.  Last Sunday, I was watching the updates for the Packers-Bills game on cbs.sportsline.com.  The Packers just rattled off a tremendous drive, and reached the Bills 1-yard-line to try to take the lead at 17-10.  Ahman Green was chewing up chunks of yards (by the way, had him in my starting lineup for fantasy football and needed him to get a touchdown).  As I was sitting there, I knew exactly what the screen update was going to say.  Sure enough, 5 seconds later, I saw the inevitable Favre turnover, which led to the backbreaking Bills touchdown two plays later.  I missed my pick, lost the fantasy football game, and had to endure another stupid, costly, end of game Favre-mishap.  I miss the good ol’ days of Brett winning it.  I’ll be much happier, and more relaxed when the Favre-era is over.  I feel like my brother when Dan Marino was on the way out.  So, I’m forced to take a sketchy Vikings team at home as the ’safe’ pick.  I’m disgusted right now.  I need a minute…
11.  PATRIOTS (-10.5) v. Jets - I’ll take the Pats after a tough home loss to the Colts.  I kind of feel sorry for Chad Pennington already.
12.  LIONS (-6) v. 49ers - I don’t think this 49ers score will be as low as last week’s score.  Call it a hunch.
13.  Broncos (-9) v. Raiders - The only consistent wins that I have this season are the games involving either the Saints or the Raiders.  ‘Nuff said.
14.  Rams (+3) at SEAHAWKS - This should be a great game.  Actually, I think this will probably be a field goal win for one of the two teams.  Take the underdog based on this season’s trend.  If you’re frisky, take the money line.
15.  Cowboys (-6.5) v. CARDINALS - We’ve officially reached ‘Raiders of the NFC’ portion of the Cardinals season.
16.  PANTHERS (-9.5) v. Bucs - Steve Smith healthy at home in a close-to-being-must-win-game versus the Bucs after a bye week following a loss where he dropped some important passes and had costly fumbles returning punts.  Wow!  I love the fact that I have him on my fantasy teams for the office and with my lawschool buddies.  Good times this week. 

Time for the updated score on my picks: 
Last week:  4-10
For the season:  36-54-7.

Ugh! I need some bourbon.