by Todd Clugy
Dream Job Winner Week 1
In the Huddle: NFL Picks and Predictions Week 3
Scenario: NFL week #3 features 9 divisional matchups, 4 inter-conference games, and 1 inter-conference showdown. Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego, and Dallas have bye weeks. 9 games have direct impact on divisional standings. Road teams are favored in 6 of the 14 contests in a season in which home field advantage seems to be less of a factor.
Keys: Spocks Odds does not have a crystal ball. I do not channel dead Vulcans for betting purposes. Picks are made upon best available information and analysis of past performance to predict future results based upon sound logic. Superimpose my predicted score over spread to determine bet. Point Spreads are from Vegas and Injury Reports are current from 9/22/06. Four stars, (****) represent highest confidence, descending in order to 1 star, (*), indicating uncertainty due to intangibles, which vary and range widely in your race. Jock talk will be interjected at random intervals during game breakdowns to give impression that I am, indeed, human. Bet long and prosper.
NFL 2006 Week #3 Picks.
N.Y. Jets, (+5 ?) @ Buffalo. **
Both AFC East rivals are 1-1 and playing above forecasted expectations, but achieving results in different ways. Teams have a common opponent in the New England Patriots, who defeated Buffalo at home in week 1, 19-17, and beat N.Y. 24-17 last week. Buffalo has combined tough and opportunistic defense with conservative, ball control offense to wear down opponents, while Jets have relied on big play passing of resurrected Chad Pennington to keep them in games. The difference will be determined by NY's ineffectual run game. Bills win, but Jets cover.
Buffalo 20, Jets 17.
Cincinnati, (+2 ?) @ Pittsburg. **
Steelers return home from Monday Night mugging in Jacksonville to face arch rival Bengals. Pittsburgh?s performance against Jaguars raises many questions that Cincy is begging to answer. How motivated is Carson Palmer? Can Rudy Johnson run over Blitzburg like Fred Taylor? Will Big Ben be harassed and harried into turnovers? Very, yes, and probably.
Cincinnati 20, Pittsburg 16.
Jacksonville, (+7) at Indianapolis
This line is incomprehensible, based on both past history and current results. Jacksonville mauled defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburg, shutting them out 9-0 at home on Monday Night after Colts disposed of Houston in Indianapolis, 43-23. Last year Indy barely escaped Jaguars at home during their near record breaking winning streak and lost previous year as well. The writing is on the wall. Jacksonville is a team built to beat the Colts. With no running game, Jags will tee-off on Peyton Manning, reducing him to a mere mortal for 4 quarters. Tune in. This is the game of the week.
Jacksonville 20, Indianapolis 17.
Tennessee, (+11) @ Miami.*
Even though Titan?s play has been abysmal, what has Miami done to support this huge spread? Being beaten on the road by the defending world champion Steelers is no cause for alarm, but to be punked in your own crib by Buffalo? Joey Harrington is better suited to handle Nick Sabans? agenda.
Look at Culpeppers? last games at Minnesota coupled with his first two starts with the Dolphins and you will see a very disturbing trend. I feel sorry for Jeff Fisher and the burden that has been placed upon him by the Tennessee Front Office and Ownership. His best bet is to let Vince Young play and salvage what he can from an already lost season. Small victory in loss.
Miami 20, Tennessee 10.
Washington, (-4) @ Houston.*
Two 0-2 teams meet in the only intra-conference match-up of the weekend. Houston has worst statistical defense in the NFL after suffering aerial assaults from Donovan McNabb and Peyton Manning on successive weekends, while Washington fell to Minnesota at home and Dallas on the road. Clinton Portis should start for Redskins, and he will make the difference.
Look for Houston to improve weekly in abstract ways under Gary Kubiak, especially on offense. Not a good sign for a team that drafted heavily on defense.
Washington 21, Houston 17.
Chicago, (-3) @ Minnesota*
Glitzy meets Gritty in this collision for first place in the NFC North. Bears have blown out sub par Packers and Lions on the road and at home while Vikings have gutted out wins in same venues over quality opponents, Redskins and Panthers. This is Bears first real test and Minnesota will push them to the edge. Rex Grossman will not be able to exploit secondary deep, reducing this game to smash mouth at it?s? best.
Chicago 16, Minnesota 13.
Carolina, (-3) @ Tampa Bay*
Two desperate 0-2 teams from the NFC South meet with their backs against the wall. Common opponent Atlanta bludgeoned Panthers on road and Buccaneers at home on respective Sundays. Tampa Bay offense has been pathetic, scoring 3 points in 8 quarters, while Carolina gift wrapped win to Vikings last week. All important Steve Smith is listed as questionable at press time. That means he will play.
Carolina 13, Tampa Bay 10.
Green Bay, (+6 ?), @ Detroit *
Battle of NFC North cellar dwellers. Will the real Lions please stand up? One team held the defending NFC champions to 9 points at home in a 3 point loss while the other got torched by Chicago on the road, 34-7. It probably doesn?t matter to Green Bay, who looks willing to lose to anyone, anywhere, anytime, although I think Brett Favres? arm still has enough zip to cover the spread.
Detroit 24, Green Bay 20.
Baltimore, (+6 ?) @ Cleveland ****
Old Browns stone-wall defense meets new Browns stone-age offense. Ray Lewis has found his soul mate on the other side of the ball in the person of Steve McNair. Baltimore has given up 6 pts. In 2 games while Browns have struggled offensively in losses at home to New Orleans and on the road to Cincinnati. One bright spot, TE Kellen Winslow Jr., has stated Cleveland needs to open it up. Not this week.
Baltimore 23, Cleveland 10.
St. Louis, (+4 ?) @ Arizona *
This Vegas Line is razor thin. Teams have common opponent in San Francisco, who Arizona defeated at home in week 1, 34-27, while Rams lost to 49ers 20-13 last week on the road. Look for Cardinals to air it out while St. Louis will counter with a heavy dose of Stephen Jackson.
Arizona 24, St. Louis 20.
N.Y. Giants, (+3 ?) @ Seattle ***
Seattle is a team suffering from amnesia, or maybe something worse. Even though the Seahawks are 2-0, they in no way resemble last years NFC Championship squad. The Giants, on the other hand, will have no trouble recalling the past seasons debacle in the Great Northwest. Giants are a superior team running, passing, and defending. This time, it won?t be decided by a kicker.
N.Y. 21, Seattle 17.
Philadelphia, (-6) at San Francisco. ***
Eagles and 49ers both 1-1, although huge talent gulf separates these two teams. Look for McNabb and Stallworth to strike early and often, putting pressure on improving but overmatched San Francisco offense, resulting in sacks and turnovers.
Philadelphia 28, San Francisco 17.
Denver, (+7) @ New England *
New England enters game 2-0 after narrow divisional wins over Buffalo and N.Y. Jets by a combined margin of 9 points, while Denver enters contest 1-1 in losing on the road to St. Louis, 18-10, and defeating K.C. at home, 9-6. Bronco offense has been uncreative and turnover-prone, while defense has been stellar, yielding only 8 field goals and no touchdowns. That will end Sunday Night. Even though New England has struggled offensively, Tom Brady is more than a match for Jake Plummer, and his team will prevail in an outcome closer than odds makers anticipated.
New England 20, Denver 17.
Atlanta, (-3) @ New Orleans.
It?s amazing that this game is even going to happen, much less the Saints and Falcons playing for first place in the NFC South. Falcons have run the ball at will while playing near perfect pressure defense in steamrolling divisional foes Carolina and Tampa Bay. Saints have beaten two mediocre opponents on the road, Cleveland and Green Bay. Brees has been steady at QB and Bush is working his way into the mix with Deuce, although the N.O. defense has yet to be stress tested like it will on Monday Night by Vick and Co.
Atlanta 24, New Orleans 17.
Todd Clugy entered the Dream Job Sports Writing Contest last week and was chosen by BetUS Judges as our Week 1 winner. Congratulations Todd! Enjoy your $100 Free Play!
Interested in entering the Dream Job Contest? Visit our Free Contests section for more details and find out how you can enter this contest and how you can qualify to win a $5,000 sports writing contract with BetUS for the Superbowl!. We would like to thank all contestants who particpated last week. Good Luck this week!
Article courtesy of BetUS.com.
Dream Job Winner Week 1
In the Huddle: NFL Picks and Predictions Week 3
Scenario: NFL week #3 features 9 divisional matchups, 4 inter-conference games, and 1 inter-conference showdown. Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego, and Dallas have bye weeks. 9 games have direct impact on divisional standings. Road teams are favored in 6 of the 14 contests in a season in which home field advantage seems to be less of a factor.
Keys: Spocks Odds does not have a crystal ball. I do not channel dead Vulcans for betting purposes. Picks are made upon best available information and analysis of past performance to predict future results based upon sound logic. Superimpose my predicted score over spread to determine bet. Point Spreads are from Vegas and Injury Reports are current from 9/22/06. Four stars, (****) represent highest confidence, descending in order to 1 star, (*), indicating uncertainty due to intangibles, which vary and range widely in your race. Jock talk will be interjected at random intervals during game breakdowns to give impression that I am, indeed, human. Bet long and prosper.
NFL 2006 Week #3 Picks.
N.Y. Jets, (+5 ?) @ Buffalo. **
Both AFC East rivals are 1-1 and playing above forecasted expectations, but achieving results in different ways. Teams have a common opponent in the New England Patriots, who defeated Buffalo at home in week 1, 19-17, and beat N.Y. 24-17 last week. Buffalo has combined tough and opportunistic defense with conservative, ball control offense to wear down opponents, while Jets have relied on big play passing of resurrected Chad Pennington to keep them in games. The difference will be determined by NY's ineffectual run game. Bills win, but Jets cover.
Buffalo 20, Jets 17.
Cincinnati, (+2 ?) @ Pittsburg. **
Steelers return home from Monday Night mugging in Jacksonville to face arch rival Bengals. Pittsburgh?s performance against Jaguars raises many questions that Cincy is begging to answer. How motivated is Carson Palmer? Can Rudy Johnson run over Blitzburg like Fred Taylor? Will Big Ben be harassed and harried into turnovers? Very, yes, and probably.
Cincinnati 20, Pittsburg 16.
Jacksonville, (+7) at Indianapolis
This line is incomprehensible, based on both past history and current results. Jacksonville mauled defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburg, shutting them out 9-0 at home on Monday Night after Colts disposed of Houston in Indianapolis, 43-23. Last year Indy barely escaped Jaguars at home during their near record breaking winning streak and lost previous year as well. The writing is on the wall. Jacksonville is a team built to beat the Colts. With no running game, Jags will tee-off on Peyton Manning, reducing him to a mere mortal for 4 quarters. Tune in. This is the game of the week.
Jacksonville 20, Indianapolis 17.
Tennessee, (+11) @ Miami.*
Even though Titan?s play has been abysmal, what has Miami done to support this huge spread? Being beaten on the road by the defending world champion Steelers is no cause for alarm, but to be punked in your own crib by Buffalo? Joey Harrington is better suited to handle Nick Sabans? agenda.
Look at Culpeppers? last games at Minnesota coupled with his first two starts with the Dolphins and you will see a very disturbing trend. I feel sorry for Jeff Fisher and the burden that has been placed upon him by the Tennessee Front Office and Ownership. His best bet is to let Vince Young play and salvage what he can from an already lost season. Small victory in loss.
Miami 20, Tennessee 10.
Washington, (-4) @ Houston.*
Two 0-2 teams meet in the only intra-conference match-up of the weekend. Houston has worst statistical defense in the NFL after suffering aerial assaults from Donovan McNabb and Peyton Manning on successive weekends, while Washington fell to Minnesota at home and Dallas on the road. Clinton Portis should start for Redskins, and he will make the difference.
Look for Houston to improve weekly in abstract ways under Gary Kubiak, especially on offense. Not a good sign for a team that drafted heavily on defense.
Washington 21, Houston 17.
Chicago, (-3) @ Minnesota*
Glitzy meets Gritty in this collision for first place in the NFC North. Bears have blown out sub par Packers and Lions on the road and at home while Vikings have gutted out wins in same venues over quality opponents, Redskins and Panthers. This is Bears first real test and Minnesota will push them to the edge. Rex Grossman will not be able to exploit secondary deep, reducing this game to smash mouth at it?s? best.
Chicago 16, Minnesota 13.
Carolina, (-3) @ Tampa Bay*
Two desperate 0-2 teams from the NFC South meet with their backs against the wall. Common opponent Atlanta bludgeoned Panthers on road and Buccaneers at home on respective Sundays. Tampa Bay offense has been pathetic, scoring 3 points in 8 quarters, while Carolina gift wrapped win to Vikings last week. All important Steve Smith is listed as questionable at press time. That means he will play.
Carolina 13, Tampa Bay 10.
Green Bay, (+6 ?), @ Detroit *
Battle of NFC North cellar dwellers. Will the real Lions please stand up? One team held the defending NFC champions to 9 points at home in a 3 point loss while the other got torched by Chicago on the road, 34-7. It probably doesn?t matter to Green Bay, who looks willing to lose to anyone, anywhere, anytime, although I think Brett Favres? arm still has enough zip to cover the spread.
Detroit 24, Green Bay 20.
Baltimore, (+6 ?) @ Cleveland ****
Old Browns stone-wall defense meets new Browns stone-age offense. Ray Lewis has found his soul mate on the other side of the ball in the person of Steve McNair. Baltimore has given up 6 pts. In 2 games while Browns have struggled offensively in losses at home to New Orleans and on the road to Cincinnati. One bright spot, TE Kellen Winslow Jr., has stated Cleveland needs to open it up. Not this week.
Baltimore 23, Cleveland 10.
St. Louis, (+4 ?) @ Arizona *
This Vegas Line is razor thin. Teams have common opponent in San Francisco, who Arizona defeated at home in week 1, 34-27, while Rams lost to 49ers 20-13 last week on the road. Look for Cardinals to air it out while St. Louis will counter with a heavy dose of Stephen Jackson.
Arizona 24, St. Louis 20.
N.Y. Giants, (+3 ?) @ Seattle ***
Seattle is a team suffering from amnesia, or maybe something worse. Even though the Seahawks are 2-0, they in no way resemble last years NFC Championship squad. The Giants, on the other hand, will have no trouble recalling the past seasons debacle in the Great Northwest. Giants are a superior team running, passing, and defending. This time, it won?t be decided by a kicker.
N.Y. 21, Seattle 17.
Philadelphia, (-6) at San Francisco. ***
Eagles and 49ers both 1-1, although huge talent gulf separates these two teams. Look for McNabb and Stallworth to strike early and often, putting pressure on improving but overmatched San Francisco offense, resulting in sacks and turnovers.
Philadelphia 28, San Francisco 17.
Denver, (+7) @ New England *
New England enters game 2-0 after narrow divisional wins over Buffalo and N.Y. Jets by a combined margin of 9 points, while Denver enters contest 1-1 in losing on the road to St. Louis, 18-10, and defeating K.C. at home, 9-6. Bronco offense has been uncreative and turnover-prone, while defense has been stellar, yielding only 8 field goals and no touchdowns. That will end Sunday Night. Even though New England has struggled offensively, Tom Brady is more than a match for Jake Plummer, and his team will prevail in an outcome closer than odds makers anticipated.
New England 20, Denver 17.
Atlanta, (-3) @ New Orleans.
It?s amazing that this game is even going to happen, much less the Saints and Falcons playing for first place in the NFC South. Falcons have run the ball at will while playing near perfect pressure defense in steamrolling divisional foes Carolina and Tampa Bay. Saints have beaten two mediocre opponents on the road, Cleveland and Green Bay. Brees has been steady at QB and Bush is working his way into the mix with Deuce, although the N.O. defense has yet to be stress tested like it will on Monday Night by Vick and Co.
Atlanta 24, New Orleans 17.
Todd Clugy entered the Dream Job Sports Writing Contest last week and was chosen by BetUS Judges as our Week 1 winner. Congratulations Todd! Enjoy your $100 Free Play!
Interested in entering the Dream Job Contest? Visit our Free Contests section for more details and find out how you can enter this contest and how you can qualify to win a $5,000 sports writing contract with BetUS for the Superbowl!. We would like to thank all contestants who particpated last week. Good Luck this week!
Article courtesy of BetUS.com.
