Week 9 picks

Week: 8-4-1

Season: 50-58-5

Atlanta (-6 ½) @ Indianapolis: Line should be higher. Who thinks that there will be a Colts renaissance the rest of this season? Me, neither. Look for lots of running to the right by Atlanta, as LT Sam Baker is out. Maybe some play-action passing. Atlanta

Tampa Bay @ New Orleans (-8 ½): So that Saints are a Super Bowl contender, so long as they are at home? They kinda suck on the road. I cannot seem to get a read on the Bucs. They feel too Jeckyl & Hyde-ish for my liking. But something about them tells me TE Kellen Winslow and WR Mike Williams are due to get on track. I like the points. Tampa Bay

Cleveland @ Houston (-10 ½): Run, Houston, run. Houston

NY Jets @ Buffalo (-2 ½): Any faith in Jets QB Mark Sanchez to make smart decisions, on the road, in what will be a packed house at Ralph Wilson Stadium? Can the Bills run the ball? Says here they can, and will have some luck generating turnovers. Buffalo

Miami @ Kansas City (-4): Really? Have I missed something in watching the Dolphins just appear inept? More importantly-why have I had to see the Dolphins 3 times already??? Kansas City can thank Chargers coach Norv Turner for being Norv Turner-not a lot of shots to the end zone on Monday night. This gives KC some hope, and the passing game is coming around. At Arrowhead? Thanks! Kansas City

San Francisco (-4) @ Washington: This is where we will find out if 49ers HC Jim Harbaugh has the troops trained. One of the oldest and bestest rules in wagering is to never, and I mean NEVER, take a west coast team traveling east for an early game. Think I’m kidding? Check out other people’s gambling manifestos and you’ll see it. There is an unwritten caveat to said rule however, and it’s this-unless the home team sucks donkey nuts. Or coached by LeatherFace (Mike ‘I hate fantasy football geeks’ Shanahan-aka, Shanahanighans). San Francisco

Seattle @ Dallas (-11): Some say too high. I say time to bust out the passing game. Dallas

Denver @ Oakland (-7): Too low. What has anyone seen that makes anyone think that Tim Tebow looks like an NFL QB (more on the douchebaggery going on about all things Tebow later)? We get to see if Carson Palmer can still play QB now that he ought to know more than 15 plays for the Raiders. The Broncos look asleep at the wheel, and trading away WR Brandon Lloyd couldn’t have been much of a morale booster, especially since he’s done quite alright in St. Louis. Oakland

Cincinnati @ Tennessee (-2): Again, I am left wondering what the home team has done to show that they should be the favorite in any game moving forward. Cincinnati has won at home, on the road, and they pack their defense and running game. Tennessee looks like they are about to have another divided locker room. RB Chris Johnson may have got his money, but he brought none of his game this season. Kind of liking that the Bengals could have a playoff shot. Cincinnati.

St. Louis @ Arizona (-3): No Kevin Kolb for Arizona. The Rams looking alright with a backup QB at the helm. Better game than it looks like. St. Louis

NY Giants @ New England (-9): This line is too high. The Patriots cannot stop anyone from throwing the ball at will against them. Enter Eli Manning, who keeps throwing for 250-350 yards every game. This is what happens when Bill Belichick the GM doesn’t draft well for Belichick the coach. NY Giants

Green Bay (-5 ½) @ San Diego: The Packers get to play in a place that has virtually no weather other than sunshine? No cold, no rain? San Diego, a team that can’t get out of its own way, will have to step up like this is their Super Bowl, and get in the end zone. They won’t do it nearly enough. Green Bay

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh (-3): I’m going strictly with my gut on this one. No way Pittsburgh allows Baltimore to smack them around like this is Week 1. This is the measuring stick. I read some folks who think Baltimore is a title contender. I see the Steelers using a quick passing spread attack, and Baltimore doing Ravens things-watch for dumb penalties. Pittsburgh

Chicago @ Philadelphia (-8): All depends on which Bears team shows up. The team that establishes the run has a shot. The team that comes out throwing and goes 3 straight series of 3-and-outs and ends up down at least 13-0 after the 1^st period? Not so much. Philly looked fantastic against Dallas, but their run defense is still atrocious. I know it’s Michael Vick on Monday night, but the Bears should run the ball to keep him off the field. Chicago.

Happy Daylight Savings Time!!