... here I am, stuck playin' middles with Loop.
If yuz don't know nuthin' else, I want you should know one thing for sure. Just because I ain't been around so much as I'd like, it don't mean I ain't been doin' the work, playin' the games and thinkin' way too much about you bums. I been busy, that's all. Anyway, the NFL season is now dead serious, so I thought I'd make the effort this week. Uh, sorry it's so late, ya savvy?
Before getting to the games I thought I'd pass along summa my, whataya call, random thoughts, notes and observations. To wit:
The G-men are 3-15-2 ATS when laying 3 or more. Donny McNabb has 8 TD passes in his last 4 games vs the Cowboys and only one INT. Did anybody else miss the Bears climb back into the NFC-North race? I mean, a win today and they're tied with the Pack. What the hell is going on? Duece McAllister has nine 100-yard rushing games in a row. Only two guys in history have gone ten. Barry Sanders and Marcus Allen. At home the 49ers have outscored the opposition 169-68. Do you know Dave Ragone and Mike Quinn? They're backing up David Carr today in J'ville. Cincy hasn't seen first place this late in the season since 1990. The Titans have won 10 straight at home where they haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in the last 26 contests.
It's payday, boys! Let's get to the games, huh?
WAS +3 @ NYG 37?
One of my guilty pleasures this year has been watching Steve Spurrier at the helm of quite possibly the leagues least exciting team. It'll be a true test for them today, however, as it is nearly impossible to show less imagination and enthusiasum than Jim Fassell (pronounced Fossil) and the Giants. I don't know how large the wager would have to be to make thisa game watchable, and I ain't about to find out, neither. Pass
CIN +3? @ BAL 40
A scheduling quirk in this matchup has me convinced that Baltimore is the play here. It's like this, see? Not only is this the Ravens third consecutive home game, it's also the third straight road game for the Stripes. While I ain't got no statistical backup, I gotta figure the homies have an advantage simply because they haven't had to travel of late and the opponent has been doing little else. Another thing I like about the Rave is that this time of the season is best suited to real football. Power football. Ravens -3?
DAL +5? @ PHI 36?
Yes, the Eagles have won seven straight and nine of ten. No, they are not the best team in the NFC. Not even close. Their defense is average and their offense is far from being a powerhouse. Opposing them today will be the last team to beat them. The Cowboys seem to have been tweaking their offense the last few weeks, with little success. And then got bitch-slapped in front of a national audience on Thanksgiving day. Parcells, of course, is one of the great motivators and his men in the stars could outta be sitting on their best performance of the season. Seriously, fellas, no joke, take the Pokes. Cowboys +5?
OAK +5 @ PIT 40?
In their biggest game of the year, an absolut must-win affair, the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the upstart Bengals of Cincinnati last week and promptly stunk the joint up. It was the lowest point in a very disappointing season. Coach Cowher now faces one of his toughest challenges; motivating his beaten warriors to showcase their pride and professionalism by going back out on the same field and defeating the 3-9 Oakland Raiders. Besta luck there, Coach. My numbers tell me that if all was equal the Steelers should be favored by a mere two points. But things ain't freakin' equal, my friends. Not by a long shot. Oakland, looking for their first road victory, has all of the motivation and none of the disgruntled home fans. Listen to me now and believe me later, the Raiders are a good investment this week. Really! Raiders +5 Power Pie
SD +3 @ DET 43?
Ladies and gentlemen, before proceeding, please be advised that nose plugs are not required for watching, handicapping, or discussing this game, but they are highly recomended. We all know that these teams ain't goin' to no post-season, right? So whattaya think? Personally, I think the key here lies not with motivation, but with good, old-fashioned talent. AKA: LaDanian Tomlinson. I realize that rushing defense could be the strongest unit the Lions have, but guess what... they gotta huge win on Thanksgiving Day and they ain't never been a glutton for success. Chargers +3
CHI +7 @ GB 38?
The Pack gets extra time to prepare after an embarrassing Turkey Day disaster. The Bears don't have near the rushing defense that Detroit has, so look for huge doses of Ahman Green. Although they haven't dominated anybody in a long time, Green Bay did dominate Chicago in their first meeting. For the sake of their confidence, they need to do it again. Packers -7
SEA +1? @ MIN 51?
In one of the days more meaningful tilts, I can tell you that I am leaning heavily on the underdog. However, I find myself having huge trust issues with the Seahawks. I still get a sense of fraudulence about them. Sure, the Purple could lose the resta their games, too, and it would be no great shock, but it's Holmgren's crew that's been givin' me the willies. Hmmm. I guess that ain't the underdog I'm leaning on at all. I am directly on the fence. Pass
HOU +6 @ JAX 39
It looks like Houston's future, David Carr, will be towed into the lineup this week. Bear in mind that Carr has been spending much of his time in the body shop in recent weeks and would not be on the road at all if it could be avoided. I think the bondo and primer on the Texan's QB will be obvious. As a result, my thinking is a very conservative gameplan will almost certainly be employed by the visitors. If I'm right, the Jagoffs should have little trouble extracting their revenge. Jaguars -6
IND +3? @ TEN 46
Time to short to give reasons for not playing. Ya see what I'm sayin'? Pass
TB +2 @ NO 40?
I won't go so far as to say I was shocked by the line in this game, but baby, I was checkin' the money clip to see how much I could increase my unit size. I mean, we know for certain that TB has the better team, don't we? Forget that N'Orleans has won the last three meetings, the Pirates are gunna get a little of that sweet revenge, okay? They've still got one of the league's top stop units, and if you don't think Grudin'll have 'em sharp for this game, you just ain't been payin' attention. Yo, Keyshawn! Gimme a Cutty Sark on the rocks, and uh, help yerself to a big glassa Shut The Hell UP! BUCS +2 Power Pie
I'll be back later with more stuff. Peace.
If yuz don't know nuthin' else, I want you should know one thing for sure. Just because I ain't been around so much as I'd like, it don't mean I ain't been doin' the work, playin' the games and thinkin' way too much about you bums. I been busy, that's all. Anyway, the NFL season is now dead serious, so I thought I'd make the effort this week. Uh, sorry it's so late, ya savvy?
Before getting to the games I thought I'd pass along summa my, whataya call, random thoughts, notes and observations. To wit:
The G-men are 3-15-2 ATS when laying 3 or more. Donny McNabb has 8 TD passes in his last 4 games vs the Cowboys and only one INT. Did anybody else miss the Bears climb back into the NFC-North race? I mean, a win today and they're tied with the Pack. What the hell is going on? Duece McAllister has nine 100-yard rushing games in a row. Only two guys in history have gone ten. Barry Sanders and Marcus Allen. At home the 49ers have outscored the opposition 169-68. Do you know Dave Ragone and Mike Quinn? They're backing up David Carr today in J'ville. Cincy hasn't seen first place this late in the season since 1990. The Titans have won 10 straight at home where they haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in the last 26 contests.
It's payday, boys! Let's get to the games, huh?
WAS +3 @ NYG 37?
One of my guilty pleasures this year has been watching Steve Spurrier at the helm of quite possibly the leagues least exciting team. It'll be a true test for them today, however, as it is nearly impossible to show less imagination and enthusiasum than Jim Fassell (pronounced Fossil) and the Giants. I don't know how large the wager would have to be to make thisa game watchable, and I ain't about to find out, neither. Pass
CIN +3? @ BAL 40
A scheduling quirk in this matchup has me convinced that Baltimore is the play here. It's like this, see? Not only is this the Ravens third consecutive home game, it's also the third straight road game for the Stripes. While I ain't got no statistical backup, I gotta figure the homies have an advantage simply because they haven't had to travel of late and the opponent has been doing little else. Another thing I like about the Rave is that this time of the season is best suited to real football. Power football. Ravens -3?
DAL +5? @ PHI 36?
Yes, the Eagles have won seven straight and nine of ten. No, they are not the best team in the NFC. Not even close. Their defense is average and their offense is far from being a powerhouse. Opposing them today will be the last team to beat them. The Cowboys seem to have been tweaking their offense the last few weeks, with little success. And then got bitch-slapped in front of a national audience on Thanksgiving day. Parcells, of course, is one of the great motivators and his men in the stars could outta be sitting on their best performance of the season. Seriously, fellas, no joke, take the Pokes. Cowboys +5?
OAK +5 @ PIT 40?
In their biggest game of the year, an absolut must-win affair, the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the upstart Bengals of Cincinnati last week and promptly stunk the joint up. It was the lowest point in a very disappointing season. Coach Cowher now faces one of his toughest challenges; motivating his beaten warriors to showcase their pride and professionalism by going back out on the same field and defeating the 3-9 Oakland Raiders. Besta luck there, Coach. My numbers tell me that if all was equal the Steelers should be favored by a mere two points. But things ain't freakin' equal, my friends. Not by a long shot. Oakland, looking for their first road victory, has all of the motivation and none of the disgruntled home fans. Listen to me now and believe me later, the Raiders are a good investment this week. Really! Raiders +5 Power Pie
SD +3 @ DET 43?
Ladies and gentlemen, before proceeding, please be advised that nose plugs are not required for watching, handicapping, or discussing this game, but they are highly recomended. We all know that these teams ain't goin' to no post-season, right? So whattaya think? Personally, I think the key here lies not with motivation, but with good, old-fashioned talent. AKA: LaDanian Tomlinson. I realize that rushing defense could be the strongest unit the Lions have, but guess what... they gotta huge win on Thanksgiving Day and they ain't never been a glutton for success. Chargers +3
CHI +7 @ GB 38?
The Pack gets extra time to prepare after an embarrassing Turkey Day disaster. The Bears don't have near the rushing defense that Detroit has, so look for huge doses of Ahman Green. Although they haven't dominated anybody in a long time, Green Bay did dominate Chicago in their first meeting. For the sake of their confidence, they need to do it again. Packers -7
SEA +1? @ MIN 51?
In one of the days more meaningful tilts, I can tell you that I am leaning heavily on the underdog. However, I find myself having huge trust issues with the Seahawks. I still get a sense of fraudulence about them. Sure, the Purple could lose the resta their games, too, and it would be no great shock, but it's Holmgren's crew that's been givin' me the willies. Hmmm. I guess that ain't the underdog I'm leaning on at all. I am directly on the fence. Pass
HOU +6 @ JAX 39
It looks like Houston's future, David Carr, will be towed into the lineup this week. Bear in mind that Carr has been spending much of his time in the body shop in recent weeks and would not be on the road at all if it could be avoided. I think the bondo and primer on the Texan's QB will be obvious. As a result, my thinking is a very conservative gameplan will almost certainly be employed by the visitors. If I'm right, the Jagoffs should have little trouble extracting their revenge. Jaguars -6
IND +3? @ TEN 46
Time to short to give reasons for not playing. Ya see what I'm sayin'? Pass
TB +2 @ NO 40?
I won't go so far as to say I was shocked by the line in this game, but baby, I was checkin' the money clip to see how much I could increase my unit size. I mean, we know for certain that TB has the better team, don't we? Forget that N'Orleans has won the last three meetings, the Pirates are gunna get a little of that sweet revenge, okay? They've still got one of the league's top stop units, and if you don't think Grudin'll have 'em sharp for this game, you just ain't been payin' attention. Yo, Keyshawn! Gimme a Cutty Sark on the rocks, and uh, help yerself to a big glassa Shut The Hell UP! BUCS +2 Power Pie
I'll be back later with more stuff. Peace.
