After a slightly under .500 week 1, finishing the day 7-8, I'm going to improve my record this week. There were some tough games to choose from this week with close spreads, meaning oddsmakers are doing a fantastic job, but I can do much better than 7-8.
Due to some constructive criticism I've made it easier to see who I chose. My picks are all in bold, on the left side of the screen with the spread included. Home and away teams are identified by v./at, respectively.
Oakland +3 at Kansas City - Oakland played a hell of a game against San Diego last week and also won with the spread. Matt Cassel is out again for the Chiefs and Brody Croyle will be getting the start.
Tennessee -6.5 v. Houston - The Titans displayed what could have been the best defense yet against Pittsburgh to open the season last week while Houston lost to the Jets and haven't displayed much of anything.
NY Jets +3.5 v. New England - Must reiterate that in all actuality I would never pick for or against the Patriots. In this case, with a struggling defense that is now missing Jerod Mayo on top of an already suspect defensive backfield, I can see Mark Sanchez having a great day and keeping this one close. I do however have the Pats winning the game, of course.
Green Bay -9 at Cincinnati - I went back and forth on this pick over and over. I'm taking the Packers because last week every team that I picked by thinking they could cover with such a large spread came back to bite me. Plus the Bengals don't show much offensive promise yet and Carson Palmer is still listed as probable.
Minnesota -10 at Detroit - What can I say, it's Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson against the Detroit Lions.
New Orleans E at Philadelphia - New Orleans had a huge game offensively last week and Donovan McNabb is either going to be out or get hit even harder. Even if McNabb does start, he isn't going to be 100% with a cracked rib. It will limit his abilities as a runner and make it painful to throw downfield.
Atlanta -6 v. Carolina - Jonathan Stewart is still listed as probable, DeAngelo Williams had an awful week 1 as well as Delhomme's 4 picks. Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and the Falcons resurgent defense are going to crush the Panthers.
Washington -9.5 v. St. Louis - This is another game that I went back and forth with multiple times. Same reasons for why I'am taking the Redskins minus the points.
Jacksonville -3 v. Arizona - Maurice Jones-Drew didn't do as well as I thought he would in week 1 and the Cardinals couldn't pull it together against the 49ers to cover a 7 point spread last week. Against a tougher AFC team I have to take the Jaguars in this one.
Seattle +1.5 at San Francisco - Seattle blew the Rams out of the water last week and I can't even see them losing to the 49ers. Have to take Hasselbeck and the Seahawks with points.
Buffalo -5 v. Tampa Bay - Buffalo played a great game down to the wire against our Patsies last week. The bills would have won the game is it weren't for the great special teams play by Leodis McKelvin. I've got Buffalo winning by a lot.
Denver -3 v. Cleveland - Denver punched me in the mouth in week 1 with their 87 yard prayer to Brandon Stokley, but Cleveland didn't show me anything against the Vikings offensively. I can only see Cleveland winning this game if Derek Anderson gets the start.
Baltimore +3 at San Diego - San Diego barely got past the Raiders on Monday night and going up against Baltimore's defense on short rest and preparation gives me a good feeling getting the points.
Pittsburgh -3 at Chicago - Both defenses are struggling by missing big pieces to their puzzles. This is going to be a high scoring game and I think it will get well more out of hand than a 3 point margin of victory, no matter which team wins.
NY Giants +3 at Dallas - This one could go either way, I'm just excited to see how many punts will hit the million dollar video board before the day is over.
Indianapolis -3 at Miami - Only 3 points against the Dolphins makes me feel great about this pick. Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne are going to have another big day in Miami.
Latest Lines provided by footballlocks.
Thanks to Keith Allison for the amazing photo of Randy Moss.
Thanks to foreversouls for the photo of Reggie Bush.
Thanks to omarphillips for the photo of Reggie Wayne.
Sorry – I did better last week – I was 13-3!! Sorry Josh -I couldn’t resist!
That’s ok, I feel better going into this week.
5-4 after day games, still waffling around the .500 mark. A few upsets hurt this week. I should’ve stuck with Cincinnati and St. Louis instead of switching up based on the Lions last week, stupid move.
8-6 after the evening games, 2 more game to go. Let’s see if I can break the .500 hump.