NFL Lines

This is the Inaugural posting of what will be a weekly column on the NFL lines.



Baltimore @ ATLANTA (-1)

It seems unfortunate the most interesting match up of the week is marooned on NFL TV on a Thursday. That being said:

Brandon: With Fantasy Super-stud Roddy White at less that 100 Percent, Baltimore’s defense can keep the game close and the ravens can sneak out a win.

Matt: A tossup. But ill ride Atlanta and Michael Turner. I just don’t trust Joe Flacco.
Pick: Matt-Atlanta, Brandon- Baltimore

Detroit @ BUFFALO (-3)

It’s incredible that an 0-8 team could be favored under any circumstances, and yet with the 0-8 Bills it doesn’t seem too far-fetched.

Buffalo has been on the cusp for weeks. Steve Johnson has emerged as a legitimate threat at WR alongside Lee Evans and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick continues his better than adequate play behind center.

Meanwhile, in addition to coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Jets last week, the loss of QB Matt Stafford and the inability of injury plagued RB Jahvid Best to recreate his early season magic doesn’t bode well for the much maligned Lions.

Pick: Buffalo

Minnesota @ CHICAGO (+1)

Two gun slingers going at it. This game could be decided by who throws the last interception. Minnestoa has an advantage in the run game with RB Adrian Peterson which should be enough to get them over the hump. You know, providing that Brad Childress doesn’t pull his usual stunts and cost them at least 3 points during this game as well.

Pick: Minnesota

New York Jets @ CLEVELAND (+3)

A line that would have seemed crazy just a week ago, but with last week’s win over NE, we are finally forced to admit that Cleveland might actually be good.

RB Peyton Hillis has been an absolute monster this year, breaking every Denver Broncos fan’s heart and QB Colt McCoy has become competent very quickly.

Meanwhile the suddenly vulnerable Jets were lucky to escape Detroit with a win last week. The offense has struggled, looking downright bad at times (getting shut out at GB). The Sanch-ize has cooled off after throwing 0 interceptions in his first 5 games, throwing 5 INTs in his last three outings. And the defense hasn’t looked nearly like the monster everyone thought it was.

Pick : Cleveland

Cincinnati @ INDIANAPOLIS (-7)

Thanks to the atrocious play of their defense, and a laundry list of injuries to both sides of the ball, the Colts are off to a slow start, by the standards that we’ve come to expect from them in the Peyton Manning era at least.

Matt: I’ve seen Cincinnati pull out too many last minute drives to cut it to one score or less this year. I’ll take the Rag-Tag bunch of Bengals.

Brandon: It’s time for Colts to start stringing wins together. They’re tied for the division lead with Tennessee. This smells like a blow out. In Peyton I trust.
Pick: Matt-Cincy, Brandon-Indy

Tennessee @ MIAMI (-1)

This one is a no-brainer. The Dolphins have shown no semblance of a running game all year, and are throwing QB Chad “Noodle-arm” Pennington into the mix.

Meanwhile, off coming off a bye week, Vince Young, Chris Johnson, and the newly acquired Randy Moss are ready to take their talents to South Beach. Call this one a L-O-C-K.

Pick: Tennessee

Carolina @ TAMPA BAY (-6.5)

This is easily the craziest line of the week. Carolina is probably the worst team in the NFL. Their quarterback situation is a tossup between two rookies and their starting running back this week is Mike Goodson.

It almost doesn’t matter who’s going against Carolina, but given that it’s Tampa Bay, a solid team. This line would be fair at 14

Pick: Tampa Bay

Houston @ JACKSONVILLE (-2)

Stay away game. Not sure what to make of either of these teams. But Jacksonville is coming off a bye and impressive showing in the last game, even if it was against the hapless Cowboys. Meanwhile Houston continues to be banged up and underachieving given the talent that they have. Gary Kubiak is definitely on the hot seat.

Pick: Jacksonville

Kansas City @ DENVER (+1)

Another stay away game. Kansas City can control the clock with their strong running game, and Denver has looked terrible going all the way back to last year. Moreno is finally fully healthy according to coach Josh McDaniels but we don’t think this while put Denver on the right track against a formidable foe in KC.

Pick: Kansas City

Dallas @ NEW YORK GIANTS (-14)

Fresh off a 38 point beat down at Green Bay, it’s hard to see how even the long overdue firing of Wade Phillips will help the culture of losing that is prevailing in Big D. Expect the Giants defense to have a field day getting to QB John Kitna, and the offense to ROLL through the Cowboys like they weren’t even there. So we are predicting a similar week for the Phillips-less Cowboys, as historians say, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and that will certainly be true with the Cowboys.

Pick: New York Giants

Seattle @ ARIZONA (-3)

A divisional game that actually has implications for the playoffs, being that both of these teams are still in the hunt despite their mediocrity.

Seattle is returning QB Matt Hasselbeck, but the Seahawks are just 1-3 on the road, with the 3 road losses being by an average of 21 points. While Arizona is certainly no powerhouse they can probably take care of business here.

Pick: Arizona

St. Louis @ SAN FRANCISCO (-6)

Another divisional game with playoff implications.

Has Vegas seen the 49ers this year? Despite all evidence that San Fran is terrible they continue to believe in them. This line seems high considering St. Louis has been frisky this year and is currently leading the division.

Pick: St. Louis

New England @ PITTSBURGH (-4.5)

The only other good match-up of the week is on Sunday Night Football. New England is coming off an butt-whooping in Cleveland, and will probably be hungry for a win that would reassert their dominance in the AFC East. But Pitt will be too tough .Too strong on defense, and too much firepower for the weak Pats secondary.

Pick: Pittsburgh

Philadelphia @ WASHINGTON (+3)

Another questionable line. Philly has looked great since the return of Michael Vick, and Washington has looked mediocre at best all year. Philly wins this game by 10 points on a neutral field. Is home field really worth 7 points? Vick will be impossible to contain by a weak defense and Jackson/Maclin duo will light up the secondary.

Pick: Philadelphia.