NFL Week 10: Deciding Divisions

A 7-5 overall record and a 6-6 record against the spread in Week 9 left the year long tallies looking like this:

Overall: 83-38 (69%)
Vs. Spread: 67-52-2

THURSDAY

Chicago Bears (4-4) vs. San Francisco 49ers (3-5)(-3)
8:30 p.m. Candlestick Park
While the Bears look attractive in this one on paper, you have to remember that they’re coming off an embarrassing home loss in which they only really showed up for the 4th quarter. And even though both teams have the short week, the Bears are the ones that have to travel halfway across the country. Plus, I’m sure Mike Singletary has a little something special planned for his old team. The three point spread doesn’t seem so attractive now.
Pick: 49ers

SUNDAY

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) vs. New York Jets (4-4)(-7)
1:00 p.m. Giants Stadium
As I’ve been saying all year, there is nothing about the Jets that is really impressive. This is a .500 team at best, and if it wasn’t for the fact that they play in the New York area, no one would pay attention to this team.
Pick: Jets, Jaguars cover

Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)(-6.5)
1:00 p.m. Heinz Field
I’ve been thoroughly impressed each time I’ve watched the Bengals this season. This is a team that should make the playoffs. I just don’t think that they are ready to go into Pittsburgh with the division on the line and win. They aren’t ready for that yet.
Pick: Steelers

Buffalo Bills (3-5) vs. Tennessee Titans (2-6)(-6.5)
1:00 p.m. LP Field
The over/under for Chris Johnson rushing yards has to be something near 150 for this game. If you are going against Johnson in fantasy this week, I feel for you.
Pick: Titans

Detroit Lions (1-7) vs. Minnesota Vikings (7-1)(-16)
1:00 p.m. Metrodome
Poor Detroit. They have to come back from the West Coast to play at Minnesota following the Vikings bye week. Just in case it wasn’t tough enough being the Lions.
Pick: Vikings

New Orleans Saints (8-0)(-13.5) vs. St. Louis Rams (1-7)
1:00 p.m. Edward Jones Dome
Between the Saints and the Vikings, I don’t think anyone should be eliminated from a survivor pool this weekend.
Pick: Saints

Atlanta Falcons (5-3)(-1.5) vs. Carolina Panthers (3-5)
1:00 p.m. Bank of America Stadium
I can’t figure out the 1.5 line in this one. The Panthers have beaten only one decent team all season. Sure they gave the Saints a good half of football, but they were blown out in the 2nd half. Not sure how a Carolina defense that can’t stop the run (23rd in the NFL) is going to slow down Michael Turner.
Pick: Falcons

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-7) vs. Miami Dolphins (3-5)(-9)
1:00 p.m. Land Shark Stadium
To the Tampa Bay Bucs: thank you. Thank you for beating the Packers so the really, really obnoxious Packers fan in my office can no longer be annoying for the rest of the season. “Oh, you want to make fun of the Redskins again? Well even the Redskins beat the Buccaneers. Suck on that.” What a prick.
Pick: Dolphins

Kansas City Chiefs (1-7) vs. Oakland Raiders (2-6)(-2.5)
4:05 p.m. Oakland-Alameda Coliseum
Well, we knew there would be two of these games, and that neither one would be that important. At least these two teams have lived up to those expectations.
Pick: Chiefs

Seattle Seahawks (3-5) vs. Arizona Cardinals (5-3)(-8.5)
4:15 p.m. University of Phoenix Stadium
If the 49ers lose tonight, then this will be the last chance anyone in the NFC West has in preventing the Cardinals from winning that joke of a division. Let’s just say I don’t see the Seahawks preventing that from happening.
Pick: Cardinals

Philadelphia Eagles (5-3) vs. San Diego Chargers (5-3)(-2.5)
4:15 p.m. Qualcomm Stadium
It looks as if the Chargers are going to win the AFC West by a game or so, get 10 or 11 wins, win a playoff game, lose in the 2nd round and once again save Norv Turner’s job. All that despite underachieving for the umpteenth consecutive season.
Pick: Chargers

Dallas Cowboys (6-2)(-3) vs. Green Bay Packers (4-4)
4:15 p.m. Lambeau Field
Again, as fun as it was to watch the Packers lose to Tampa, it would be real nice if Green Bay knocked the Cowboys down a few pegs as well.
Pick: Packers

New England Patriots (6-2) vs. Indianapolis Colts (8-0)(-3)
8:20 p.m. Lucas Oil Stadium
Despite their recent struggles, I can guarantee that Indy will put their foot to the pedal in this game. They’ve toyed around with San Francisco and Houston in the last couple of weeks, but they’ll definitely be up for this game, and they should be able to put the Patriots away quickly.
Pick: Colts

MONDAY

Baltimore Ravens (4-4)(-10.5) vs. Cleveland Browns (1-7)
8:30 p.m. Cleveland Browns Stadium
For the last few weeks, there have been great games on Monday night. It looks as if all good things come to an end. I’ll be tuning out, that’s for sure.
Pick: Ravens

Bye Week: Houston, New York Giants