NFL WEEK 4

3-3 last week brining the season total to an underwhelming 6-11.  It’s still going to take until week 7 or 8 to figure this year out.  No mini camps, passing camps, OTAs, the talent is evaluated on the fly.  Look at Philadelphia.  When was the last time you heard of 4 starters being benched between the last preseason game and week 4?  I was impressed with Tony Romo.  I never saw anyone play in an NFL game with a pneumothorax before.  Most people with punctured lungs lay around and complain.  Not Romo. True to form he almost gave the game up late, but Rex Grossman stole that opportunity.  Michael Vick should be careful what he asks for.  If the refs call him tight it’s going to be football in the 80’s again.  Remember the “grasp and control” era that saw how many plays blown dead to protect the QB?  It lead to some pretty lousy football.

Okay, let’s look at this week’s slate of games.  .   Remember any losses encured by relying on said information is not the responsibility of me, The Mountain, Entercom communications, Entercom Northeast, its properties or its subsidiaries

LIONS (+1.5) Over Cowboys.  Right now the lions may be the best team in football.  I’m not drunk.  Really.  Those Lions are tough.  They’ve won their last 6 in a row going back to last season, and 10 straight if you include the preseason.  Best of all they are cover monsters beating the spread 9 of their last 10 against teams with winnign records and 12 of the last 15 overall.  This is a gift.  Take it.  LIONS

BILLS (-3) over Bengals.  My guess is the book makers thin there will be an emotional let down after the Bills came back and snuffed out the Patriots for the first time in 8 years.  Every year has a “cardiac kids” team.  The Bills may be that team.  Don’t bet against them. Those Bengals (Bungals?) are an anemic 1-14 ATS in week four.  The Bills on the other hand are 9 -4 -1 ATS over all.  Enough for you?  BILLS

VIKINGS (pick) over Chiefs.  The Chiefs have a bye week 6.  That may be the date of Head Coach Todd Hailey’s firing.  Donovan McNabb may not have much magic left, but he won’t lose the game with bad decisions.  VIKINGS

Eagles (-10) over 49ers.  If Mr. Candybones (Michael Vick) can’t make it to the end of the game, Mr. Taffyjoints (Vince Young) is finally ready to step in.  The 49ers are at a point in their rebuilding where they have to play mistake free offense to score 20 points and hope the defense holds.  Eagles win Big

TEXANS (-3) over Steelers.  The Steelers had problems with a really, really bad Colts team. You can best believe those Texans were jumped all week by coaches after letting the Saints get away.  Those Texans are 8-1 ATS in week 4.  TEXANS here.

RAVENS (-3 ½) over Jets.  The hook has gotten us a few time in this young season, but with Nick Mangold out against a superior Ravens defense how can I refuse?  The Black birds are 11-4 ATS in week 4.  Ravens.

That’s how I see it.  Enjoy the games.

The Prognosticator

Recently I complained about the Doobie Brothers playing the the area and not knowing about it. So with that in mind, two big name rock and roll bands are coming this November. Guns N’ Roses will play the arena on November 20th and REO Speedwagon will be a Penn’s Peak on November 10th. Don’t say you didn’t know.

NFL Week 3

2-4 last week which brings the season total to 3-8.  Very pedestrian.  Of course who would have thought that after catching 13 balls Jeremy Machlin would let one hit between the 1 and the 8 and fall helplessly to the ground.  Who would have thought a busted rib would produce Tony Romo’s best comeback?  Actually when I think about it Donovan McNabb’s best game happened on a broken leg in Arizona.

Kansas City’s getting 16 ½ already over San Diego.  That’s a sucker bet.  But there are a few games we can pick that seem worthy of our attention.  So let’s go.   Remember any losses encured by relying on said information is not the responsibility of me, The Mountain, Entercom communications, Entercom Northeast, its properties or its subsidiaries.

Let’s go take a peek at the week’s action:

RAVENS (-3 ½) over Rams.   The hook burns us all in die time, but not this week.   The Ravens are solid, the rams are not.  The Giants made short work of those Rams who looked like they still hadn’t healed from an Eagle beat down.  Besides the ravens are cover monsters against teams with losing records.  Ravens are the play

EAGLES (-9) over Giants,  Looks like Michael vick will play whether he knows his name or not.  In the Giants infirmary Mario Manningham, Osi Uminyiora,  Dominick Hixon, Terrell Thomas and Prince Amukamara are all out.  Remember if Desean Jackson doesn’t run that punt back last year the Giants make the playoffs and the Packers are out.  Eli Manning’s not playing well and Brandon Jacobs hasn’t been the same since Tiki Barber retired.  Add to it the Birds are cover monsters when favorites at home in odd number years..  Fly Eagles Fly.

BILLS (+9) over Pats.  How about a big cup of Fitz-magic?  I’m ready to drink!.  The line dropped two points since the open, what more do you need?   Bills

CARDINALS (-3) over Seahwaks,  Tavaris Jackson is awful.  But the Seahawk defense makes up for it by not tackling or covering.  Watching them against the Steelers last week it’s obvious the Seattle boys couldn’t stop a sink.  Kold to Fitzgerald to victory.  Cardinals here

LIONS (-4) over Vikings.  Those Lions found a way to restore the roar.  It’s enough to get psyched for Thanksgiving!.  The Vikings on the other hand are simply a team in decline.  Lions

49ERS (-2 ½) over Bengals.  It used to be a team feared playing those Bengals in “the Jungle.”  It seems when they blew up Riverfront Stadium they blew up the talent, too.  The line has move 2 and a half points since the open.  The open was a pick no doubt because the niners are on the road to what seems to them a 10am start.  They’s be awake enough.  Niners

That’s how I see it.  Good luck and enjoy the games.

The Prognosticator

NFL Week 2

Last weeks games were picked in smell-o-vision.  Dean Wermer’s original line in Animal House was “Fat, drunk, stupid and 1-4 is no way to begin a season of prognosticating.”   Only shrewd editing at the time of the final cut has kept those words from becoming common frat boy speak.  Last week of course was more stunning than anyone could reasonably see even with no off season.  When was the last time the Steelers were thumped?  Donovan McNabb was supposed to start anew in Minnesota.  39 yards in one game?  Cam Newton through for more on one play.  Do you get the feeling in Dallas Dez Bryant’s job is to hide Tony Romo’s warts?  Even Jerry Rice couldn’t do that.  The Packers were supposed to have the best D-backfield in the game.  The best doesn’t give up 412 yards.  I don’t think we’ll have a solid handle on this until week 7 or 8.  But we’ll give it our best stab.

Let’s look at some games.  Remember any losses incurred by relying on said information is not the responsibility  of me, the Mountain, Entercom Communications, Entercom Northeast or its properties.

Week 2

SEAHAWKS (+14 ½) over Steelers.  Seriously, what did the Steelers do last week to make you think they are 14 points better than anybody?  A division rival who always plays them tough and the Steelers couldn’t get up for that?  Could you imagine the Giant’s not getting up for the Eagles?  The Packers not getting up for the Bears?  The chiefs not up for the Raiders?  Something’s wrong.  I think the Steelers win, but they’re a long way from selling me they’re capable of a beat down.  The steelers are 3-8-1 against the spread in week 2 over the past 12 seasosns.  Seahawks to cover.

BROWNS (-3) over colts.  It’s not like Kerry Collins is taking over an offense developed for Payton Manning, it’s that Collins is taking over an offense Manning helped develop.  Call this season long awaited Karma for loading those mayflower trucks in the middle of the night 30 years ago.  The Colts may not win a game all year.   Colts are 2-6 their last 8 against the number.  Big Dawg Thompson is barking all day.  Browns here.

JAGUARS (+12) over Jets.  9/11 magic happened at met Life Stadium last week as Tony Romo went to the locker room with 8 minutes left  and was replaced by Tony Oh-No!  Lost in the post game dissection was Marks Sanchez’ blunders.  The big Cats have covered the last 6 meetings between the two.  Anyone for 7?  Jets will win but not by this much.  Jags are the play.

CARDINALS (+4) over Redskins.  This is where all those years of looking at Redskin film in Philadelphia pays off for Kevin Kolb.  Redbirds

Eagles (+1) over Falcons.  The Eagles did something last week they hadn’t done in years….adjust.  The were gashed by the run in the first quarter and fixed it.  They couldn’t stop a sink let alone a pass rush in the first half and they fixed it.  With all the talk about the Falcons getting up for Michael Vick, no one’s considered haw long Vick’s had this date circled on his calendar.  Eagles have covered 9 of the last 12 against the Falcons.  Looks like droopy heads on Peach tree Ave tonight. E-A-G-L-E-S.

GIANTS (-41/2) Over  Rams.  The Rams flat out got beat up last week, and they had trouble with the Eagle pass rush.  That kid the Giants drafted, Jason Pierre Paul is the TRUTH.  The Rams have only covered 3 of their last 11 in week 2.  Giants here.

That’s how I see it.  Enjoy the game.

What a change a no football off season makes.  Rule changes and a free agent frenzy.  There’s a generation of fans who have never known a season without Brett Favre.  Kickoffs will now happen at the 35 yard line.  Last year the league got rid of the 4 man wedge.  That saved the wedgebuster but brutalized the returners.  Remember the Ellis Hobbs neck injury?  All scoring plays will be automatically reviewed.  I don’t really like replay, but I hate the red flag coaches challenge.   Getting it right means getting it right.  At least a team may not get burned on a bad call at the end of the game because they already challenged 3 other bad calls.  Also get ready for tight calls because now quarterbacks can’t get hit while they’re in the act of throwing the ball.

Get ready for some bad tackling.  There was no offseason camp and training camp two-a-days were collectively bargained the way of the leather helmet.  Here’s one bold prediction: Now that the league can test players for human growth hormones, you’ll see over the next 5 years players will get smaller.

Let’s take a look at some games.  After my record last year I really shouldn’t have to write this: Remember any losses incurred by relying on said information is not the responsibility of me, WDMT, Entercom Northeast, Entercom Communications, its properties or subsidiaries.

Here we go with Week 1

SAINTS (-4 ½)  over the Packers.  Sure the Saints were shellacked by an inferior Seahawk team in the playoffs last year.  The Pack on the other hand had to scrape to become a wild card.  They certainly didn’t dominate the league.  The good news in Titletown is the reigning Superbowl champs weren’t anymore distracted this offseason than any other team.  The bad news is the Saints still have more talent, and they’ve covered 9 out of their last 13 on grass.  Sing it with me…Oh when the Saints come marching in….

JETS (-4) over Cowboys.  The pokes will miss Marion Barber.  Yeah he lost a step.  The truth is Felix Jones was as effective because teams hated dealing with Barber.  It’s like boxing; Barber gave out the body blows that softened teams up for the rapid combo shots.  Dez White showed promise.  He also showed choke.  Mark Sanchez is out to prove its okay to be in GQ when you can really play.  Don’t worry Cowboy fans, they won’t be as bad as last year.  It’s just not going to get better for them week 1.

J-E-T-S! JETS! JETS! JETS!

STEELERS (+2 ½) over Ravens.  The Steelers played well together last year.  And they’re all back.  22 of 24 starters.  If there was a team built to survive no offseason and get off to a fast start it’s the Steelers.   Topping that Ben Roethlisberger made positive headlines for a change this offseason.  The Ravens made some big moves, but they shuffled the offensive line a bit.  The underdog has covered 6 of the last 9 in this series and the Ravens have only covered 2 of their last 9 in September. Take the Steelers.

EAGLES (-4 ½) over Rams.  There are two ways teams will have an advantage the first six weeks: All your starters return (see Pittsburgh) or you field the best athletes.   The Eagles have the best athlete at quarterback.  Besides the Rams are 1-9-1 ATS on opening day, while the Birds have covered 7 of their last 9 meetings.   Fly Eagles Fly, on the road to victory….

GIANTS (+3) over Redskins.  Joe Gibbs (2 Lombardi Trophies and inventer of the “counter tray”) and Marty Schottenheimer  (over 200 regular season wins) couldn’t save this team from Dan Snyder.  Washington: first in war, first in peace and last in the NFC east.  The Giants have won 9 of the last 10 straight up in the series.  Look for Rex Grossman to complete three to guys wearing blue shirts.
Giants here.

That’s how I see it!  Enjoy the games.