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NEW ENGLAND -12 OVER BUFFALO (52.5) – Rematch of a big Pats come from behind victory earlier this season. The Pats put up a 50 burger on the Bills beating them 52-28 in Buffalo. Buffalo can’t stop anyone from scoring it seems. The Pats are starting to get it into gear with their offense. Steven Ridley gives them a guy that can get 100 yards each week. Tom Brady gets back Aaron Hernandez to go along with his group of good receivers. If the weather is nice, I like the OVER here but I like the Pats also. Teasing the Pats down to -2 is a real threat here also. They are at home so they’ll probably cheat anyway. TAKE THE PATS MINUS THE POINTS AND THE OVER FOR 4 STARS.
DETROIT -2.5 AT MINNESOTA (46) – Detroit has won 3 out of their last 4 games and now goes to Minnesota for a big time pay back game against a big division foe. Detroit RB Mikel Leshoure has looked good running the football and is helping to give time for Matthew Stafford to throw the football. Stafford has been anything but great so far this season. Vikings RB Adrian Peterson leads the league in rushing with 957 yards averaging 5.7 yards a carry. Pretty amazing considering he’s coming off complete constructive knee surgery from last season. Vikings WR Percy Harvin is out for the game this Sunday. Christian Ponder has struggled as of late. With Harvin out that’s not going to help him find his way. I’M GOING TO PASS ON THIS GAME JUST BECAUSE IT’S TOO CLOSE TO CALL. Detroit should win the ballgame, though.
BALTIMORE -7.5 OVER OAKLAND (42.5) – The Ravens come off a division win at Cleveland last week and now take on a Raiders team that is coming off a home loss to Tampa Bay. The Ravens might be 6-2 but these are not the Ravens of the past that we are used to seeing. Ladarius Webb and Ray Lewis are done for the season. Even though T-Sizzle is back in the huddle for the defense, he is probably about 60%. The Ravens average less than 27 minutes in time of possession per game. Even though Ray Rice is averaging 4.7 yards per carry and has scored 6 TD’s, Flacco is throwing the ball almost 70% of the time. Cam Cameron needs to run the ball more. The Ravens are 4-0 at home and Flacco plays much better there. I’M GOING TO TAKE THE RAVENS MINUS THE POINTS FOR 4 STARS.
MIAMI -6 OVER TENNESSEE (44) – The Dolphins gave up a record setting 433 passing yards by Andrew Luck last week in Indy. That was by far the most passing yards Miami has given up all year long. This week they take on a Titan ballclub that has some problems. The entire team is on notice after Bud Adams went publish with a “put up or shut up” declaration last week after the game. They players have said they’ll answer with better play for their HC Mike Munchak. They face a Miami team that is much better than their 4-4 record. Even though I’d love to take Miami, the better team here, I’m going to pass. I can’t imagine that Jake Locker after sitting a month will be ready for a Dolphin defense that can make some plays. However, the 6 points will make me avoid this one. PASS.
ATLANTA -2.5 OVER NEW ORLEANS (52.5) – These two teams are far apart talent wise and post season wise. New Orleans lost at home to a rookie QB in his first NFL game and haven’t really recovered nor had the personnel to do so. THE SAINTS ARE THE FIRST TEAM SINCE 1950 TO GIVE UP 400 YARDS PLUS 8 GAMES IN A ROW! Since then, however, the Saints have beaten Philly and San Diego at home. Except for their first 3 games (all losses), their schedule has gotten tougher. Today they go against the only undefeated team in the league. Atlanta’s offense and defense has performed well all season long. They’ve looked vulnerable at times but somehow have managed to come out on top each time. Make no mistake about it, today is the Saints playoff game. Atlanta is as big a division opponent as they play each year and if they lose this game they will go to 3-6, pretty much done. Drew Brees has been Drew Brees most of the season and is starting to get some run support from Thomas, Ingram, and Ivory. Brees’s record against the Falcons is 10-2. Darren Sproles is out again with a broken hand this week, which might not be a bad thing. The Saints have won 3 out of their last 4 games. They beat Tampa Bay IN TAMPA which isn’t an easy thing to do. However, a trip to Denver and Peyton Manning ended with a 20 point loss. New Orleans will test the Falcons defense more than any other team besides Denver they’ve played this season. This veteran team seems to be very comfortable on the road this season winning by an average of 15 points this season there. Michael Turner should be well rested and will carry the ball at least 20 times this game against a Saints team giving up 5.3 yards per carry on the ground. I’M GOING TO TAKE THE FALCONS AND THE OVER HERE FOR 5 STARS. WTH??
DENVER -4 OVER CAROLIINA (47) – Denver looks headed for the postseason behind Peyton Manning and a pretty good defense. Carolina comes off of a big win on the road against Washington after they fired their GM a couple of weeks ago. The Broncos have won 4 out of their last 5 game, with a loss coming against New England where nobody wins anyway. Two road wins in San Diego and Cincinnati says they’ll be ready for this game in Charlotte against a very moody Cam Newton. The Panthers MUST run the football effectively to give Newton time to throw the ball downfield. Steve Smith caught his first TD pass of the season last week. The Panthers have been in every game but one this season. If the Panthers lose this game they go to 2-7 which would pretty much eliminate them from the postseason. I’M GOING TO PASS ON THE GAME EVEN THOUGH I’M PRETTY CONFIDENT PEYTON MANNING WILL LEAD THIS DENVER TEAM TO THEIR 6TH WIN OF THE SEASON.
TAMPA BAY -3 OVER SAN DIEGO (47) – San Diego is 5-0 against the Bucs in Tampa. However, the Bucs have scored 28 plus points four games in a row for the first time EVER! Rookie HC Greg Schiano has these guys in Tampa believing! They’re drinking the kool aid! They’re not playing much defense but they never take their foot off the pedal either. When two 4-4 teams meet at the halfway point of a season, it’s a big game. San Diego really hasn’t beaten ANYONE so far this season. Neither have the Bucs except Minnesota on the road two weeks ago. They come home after two big road wins and play a reeling Chargers team. If the Chargers don’t make the playoffs, say goodbye to Norv Turner and possibly his GM also. THIS COULD BE A VERY HIGH SCORING GAME IF THE WEATHER IS GOOD. TAKE THE BUCS AND THE TOTAL FOR 4 STARS.
GIANTS -4 OVER CINCINNATI (49) – Benglas WR A.J. Green has been talking plenty of smack this week about the Giants secondary. He’s caught a TD in 7 games in a row, but still, shut up! Second year QB Andy Dalton has had problems throwing the ball down the field this season. After winning 4 in a row and 6 out of 7 games, the Giants look vulnerable again. Last season just about this time the Giants went on a 4 game bender. They came back to, well, win the Super Bowl but I don’t think Coughlin and company want to see the losses again. The HOME TEAM HAS WON THIS GAME EVERY TIME THEY’VE PLAYED EACH OTHER. I look for things to change today because personally, I don’t think Cincinnati is any good. However, even though the G-men are on the road where they are usually spectacular, I don’t think they’re playing well and Eli looks like the storm put him into a funk. I’M GOING TO PASS ON THE GAME.
SEATTLE -6 OVER JETS (38.5) – If you like the Jets at all here, play them. 6 points is a lot of points for a team in desperate need of a win. This marks the first time that Mark Sanchez EVER faces Pete Carroll his old coach from USC. The Jets are being outscored in EVERY quarter. This game is easy for me however to handicap. Too much defense for the Seahawks and too little offense for the Jets. Don’t see them doing much in Seattle where the Hawks are 4-0. Rookie QB Russell Wilson gives the Seahawks something different and exciting to draw from. RB Marshawn Lynch has rushed for 881 yards and a 4.7 yard average. The Jets can’t stop the run and this week their top tackler is out of the game. In my opinion, the Jet are getting a couple of extra points here and I’M GOING TO PASS ON THE GAME.
DALLAS -2.5 AT PHILLY (44.5) – This line has moved dramatically to the Cowboys side. They ARE the better team here and they ARE on the road where their fans and their patterns usually have them playing well there. Eagles QB Mike Vick is being assaulted on a regular basis in the pocket. His offensive line is depleted and horrible right now. The Cowboys, even though their defense has some holes in it because of injury, should bring enough pressure to give Vick problems. The Eagles have gone 6 weeks without a win. This division rivalry should get them excited enough to play hard, but will playing hard bring them a win? I doubt it. This is probably the worst record that these two teams have played each other in their recent history. Last season the Cowboys were SWEPT by the Eagles. The Cowboys have lost 4 out of their last 5 games this season. The Cowboys schedule has been BRUTAL! The only good news here is that SOMEONE HAS TO WIN! I’M GOING TO TAKE THE OVER HERE FOR 3 STARS. I’M ALSO TAKING DALLAS BECAUSE I PREFER THEM ON THE ROAD.
SAN FRANCISCO -12.5 OVER ST. LOUIS (38.5) – I still think the 49ers have the best team in the NFC. Coming off a bye week, I don’t see the NIners slowing down here. They were pounding the ball with their power running game before the bye week and they’ll be pounding the ball today. St. Louis is coming off a trip to England (where they got their asses kicked) and a bye week. Danny Amendola should get the start at WR for the Rams. The Rams schedule has been BRUTAL so far this season and playing the Niners on the road isn’t going to be easy. The Niners also haven’t lost at home to an NFC West opponent since 2008. I’M GOING TO PASS ON THIS GAME. TOO MANY POINTS.
CHICAGO -1.5 OVER HOUSTON (39.5) – This game could obviously, but not IMO, be a Super Bowl Preview this season. The Bears have been playing extremely well, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The Bears have 7 defensive touchdowns so far this season. Jay Cutler has settled down (for now) and seems to be directing his offense properly. This is Chicago’s best start since 2006. The Texans haven’t allowed a rushing TD in 11 games dating back to last season. The Bears have the best turnover ratio in the league. Too teams rated GOOD in BHS ratings. Sit back and enjoy. The game could go either way. Houston more consistent. The Bears defense more intimidating. PASS.

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GREEN BAY -5 ½ AT ST. LOUIS (45 ½) – According to my sources right now, the Packers have 91% of all the money in Vegas bet on them. If that’s the case, the number will have to climb soon in order to even out the betting or a cover by the Rams will be intense for the bookmakers. It’s amazing how quickly in one week the overall feeling by the community can change so quickly.  I’m still not convinced that Green Bay is all that good.  Sure, they kicked the crap out of Houston last week, but that was right after Houston lost their best defensive player.  The Packers coaching staff obviously had a great game plan for Houston.  But they’re not going to sneak up on anyone now.  The Rams have played well this season, especially on the defensive side and especially at home indoors.  However, Aaron Rodgers has the best passer rating indoors of any quarterback that ever played in the NFL (115.9) There IS  a reason for that. He’s very comfortable playing indoors and on turf.  Last week the Packers went almost exclusively no-huddle to keep the defense on the field and not give them any rest. It seemed to work for them.  The Packers are coming off a great game and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they continued to score in the red zone this week.  The Rams have a problem in the red zone, ranked 29^th in the league in that category.  The Rams are 3-0 at home this season.  The Packers are playing their 3^rd road game in a row having lost to the Colts in Indy and having won big last week in Houston.  I’M GOING TO PASS ON THIS GAME FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.  I DON’T LIKE GOING AGAINST RODGERS INDOORS AND I DON’T THINK BRADFORD CAN PUT UP ENOUGH POINTS WITH HIS OFFENSIVE WEAPONS.  THERE AREN’T ENOUGH OF THEM. STILL, I WOULDN’T BE SURPRISED IF THE PACKERS AND RODGERS ROLL HERE.

BUFFALO -3 OVER TENNESSEE (46 ½) – The Bills can compete with lousy teams and Tennessee qualifies as a lousy team. Both of these teams should be able to move the ball on the other team’s defense.  The Bills are coming off an exciting road victory against the Arizona Cardinals, who have played well this season, especially their defense.  RB C.J. Spiller averages 7.6 yards per carry for the Bills.  Fred Jackson when he’s healthy is one of the best backs in the league.  QB Ryan Fitzpatrick should have his way this week against the Titans defense.  The Titans are coming off a last minute win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, never an easy team to beat, but the Steelers are banged up pretty badly.  On the road the Titans are 0-3 being outscored 106-31. Their schedule, however, has been brutal and this may be the worst team they’ve played this season, so they have THAT working for them.  Tennessee beat Buffalo last season in Buffalo by a score of 23-17.  It looks like Matt Hasselbeck will get the start again for the Titans at QB.  He seems to be improving each week as Jake Locker is recovering from an injury.  Chris Johnson can break a long run anytime with his speed and quickness and he will get some yards. However, I don’t think the Titans defense has a chance against the offense in Buffalo against the Bills.  The Bills just have too many weapons. This is a HUGE game for the Bills and they may be scoring points in bunches Sunday.   I’M GOING TO TAKE THE BILLS MINUS THE 3 POINTS AT HOME TO WIN THE GAME AND COVER THE SPREAD FOR 5 STARS.

INDY -1½ OVER CLEVELAND (46) – Without any real kind of running game last week, the Colts were crushed by the Jets 35-9.  RB Donald Brown is out again this week and they could be in for some trouble from an upstart Browns team who welcomed a new owner this week and said goodbye to GM Mike Holmgren. The Browns have new life and it shows.  HC Pat Shurmur has seen his “rookie” QB Brandon Weeden improve dramatically in the last few weeks.  Last week they beat division foe Cincinnati and the week before they were competitive with the World Champion New York Giants.  They got their best defensive player back last week in Joe Haden and it made a big difference quickly.  Rookie RB Trent Richardson has given them a shot in the arm running the football and has 4 TD’s this season.  He has also caught 22 balls out of the backfield.  Montario Hardesty should get some touches at RB if Richardsons ribs haven’t gotten any better. Weeden has a long line of young receivers who are getting separation from the defense.   The Colts rank 29^th in the league against the run, giving up 5 yards a pop and 8 TD’s already this season.  On Special Teams you have to give the edge to the Browns who are ranked 2^nd in the league with a 29.5 yard kickoff return average and 17.1 yards per punt return.  I’M GOING TO PASS ON THIS GAME BUT WOULDN’T BE A BIT SURPRISED IF THE BROWNS GOT THEIR SECOND WIN IN A ROW ON THE ROAD AGAINST AN INDY TEAM WITHOUT A LOT OF TOOLS.

DALLAS -2 AT CAROLINA (45 ½) – I’m still in shock at how the Cowboys lost last week when they pretty much totally outplayed the Ravens in Baltimore.  Clock mismanagement and turnovers were key in the loss but the Boys rushed for 227 yards, the most EVER against the Baltimore Ravens.  Their kicker missed a 51 yard field goal at the end of the game to seal the loss.  Romo was good but not great.  He still turns the ball over too much.  The Dallas defense has only picked off one pass all season.  This is from a defensive secondary that Rob Ryan said would be awesome.  Well, so far, not so awesome having given up a 97.7 QB rating through 5 games.  Coming off a bye week, I expect the Panthers will have worked on some nagging problems they’ve had so far this season.  They’ll also have to replace their all pro center Ryan Khalil with their right guard.  It’s always tough for a QB lining up behind a different center.  The Panthers have had a fairly tough schedule having played the Giants, Falcons, and Seahawks three straight weeks before the bye.  If the Cowboys run the ball the way they did last week in Baltimore, it’s going to be a very long day for the Panthers defense.  Dallas RB Felix Jones should be able to step right in like he did last week and run effectively for the Cowboys replacing the injured DeMarco Murray.  Dez Bryant, who caught 13 passes last week, and Jason Witten have combined for 61 catches this season.  Austin and Ogletree have done a good job also.  The Cowboys have won 4 straight games in Charlotte and there will be PLENTY of Cowboys fans at the game.  Look for the Panthers offense to try to establish the run early to keep the pressure off QB Cam Newton and his passing offense. Carolina WR Steve Smith has yet to catch a TD pass from Newton.   D’Angelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart haven’t done much so far to help out the offense.  Speaking of DeAngelo Williams, did you know that he and Hall of Famer Jim Brown are the only RB’s in NFL history to average more than 5 yards per carry with 1,000 minimum carries??  DAMN!   I’m sure Cam Newton won’t go silently but I don’t see any way the Panthers beat the Cowboys in this spot when the Cowboys need the game so badly.   I’M TAKING THE COWBOYS MINUS THE POINTS FOR 4 STARS HERE.  THEY PLAY BETTER ON THE ROAD ANYWAY AND THEY NEED THE GAME SOME KIND OF TERRIBLE.  THEY ARE THE BETTER TEAM HERE. A LOSS WILL PUT THE COWBOYS RECORD AT 2-4. HEADS WOULD ROLL.

TAMPA BAY +2 ½ OVER NEW ORLEANS (49½) – I don’t really like Greg Schiano much personally but there’s one thing I do like about his coaching.  The Bucs have been in EVERY GAME they’ve played this season.  They lost a very close game to the Redskins before the bye week, then came out last week and covered big for us with a 38-10 win over Kansas City.  They have made running the football a priority in their offense and time of possession.  Rookie Doug Martin and LeGarrette Blount have combined for over 400 yards of rushing so far.  Last week Mike Williams had a monster game receiving the football and is a good number 2 receiver opposite Vincent Jackson.  New Orleans has had their share of problems this season.  The lack of coaching leadership, the injuries, the penalties, but most of all the lack of defense.  The Saints have lost to Washington, Kansas City, Carolina, and Green Bay.  They’ve played much better their last two games and have had a bye week.  Their focus has been on tackling and running the football.  They still have Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram, and Darren Sproles coming out of their backfield, all big time weapons.  They still have Jimmy Graham at TE.  Their biggest problem has been stopping their opponents.  Their defense is giving up a 104.5 QB rating and their front 7 is giving up 5 yards per carry.  Drew Brees has a 90.7 QB rating so far this season.  The Saints offense, if they can stay healthy, will continue to improve and should be pretty effective. However, my gut tells me that this Bucs team is finding its identity and will continue to play good hard-nosed football. I’M GOING TO PASS ON THE GAME, BUT I LIKE THE BUCS HERE AT HOME CONTROLLING THE BALL AND BEING ABLE TO SCORE ENOUGH POINTS TO BEAT THE SAINTS.  A WIN HERE WOULD BRING THEM TO 3-3 ON THE SEASON.  THIS IS NOT A BAD TEAM AND THEY ARE IMPROVING. THE SAINTS DEFENSE MAY BE AS GOOD AS THEY ARE GOING TO GET. LOOK FOR A BUNCH OF POINTS TO BE SCORED HERE ON SUNDAY.

MINNESOTA -7 OVER ARIZONA (40 ½) – The Cards are coming off two losses in a row after a 4-0 start and need to stop the bleeding quickly here. John Skelton gets the start here this week with Kevin Kolb injured last week.  With a lack of a real starting RB, the Cards offense is in bad shape. Three is no reason anyone in the league should only score 16 points against the Buffalo Bills.  The Vikings, also 4-2 on the year, have been a pleasant surprise in the NFC North this season. They come off a loss in Washington against RG3 and the upstart Redskins offense.  Starting QB Christian Ponder has been very good so far this season and with the help of RB Adrian Peterson and a group of decent receivers, they should be able to outscore the Cards at home.  Two weeks ago in a similar situation, the Cards lost to the Rams 17-3 indoors at their place.  The Cards record in the Metrodome is 0-7.  The Vikings defense led by DL pass rusher Jared Allen should be able to keep Skelton in check and easily outscore the Cards and win at home. I’M GOING TO TAKE THE VIKINGS MINUS THE POINTS FOR 3 STARS HERE.

HOUSTON -7 OVER BALTIMORE (45½) –  Last week in a game where they were completely outplayed by the Cowboys but found a way to win, the Ravens have to play without their defensive leader Ray Lewis who is out indefinitely with a torn triceps muscle, and their best cornerback in Ladarius Webb.  Without NFL 2011 Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs all season long, the Ravens defense has been a work in progress all season long. Now with those two players gone, keeping the other offense in check could be a problem. This week the Ravens travel to play the team that outplayed them in the playoffs last year and lost, the Houston Texans.  Houston is coming off a beating they took against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.  The Texans lost their best defensive player two weeks ago in Brian Cushing.  One would think that Ravens QB Joe Flacco could execute a game plan similar to what the Packers did last week and be successful but it’s not that easy.  However, the Ravens have a more balanced offensive attack with RB Ray Rice included than do the Packers, so they may be able to move the ball effectively against the Cushingless Texans.  Two 5-1 teams that are known for their defense may very well get into a shootout this weekend.  Houston has a big weapon of their own in RB Arian Foster, maybe the best RB in the league. Both QB’s have an excellent group of receivers to throw to.  If the Texans can limit the big plays of the Ravens offense (Baltimore leads the NFL with 34 plays over 20 yards), they should come out with a win here.  Ray Lewis isn’t even making the trip to Houston, which I find hard to believe.   I’M GOING TO HAMMER THE OVER IN THIS GAME AND LEAVE THE GAME ALONE.  HOUSTON NEEDS THE GAME SOME KIND OF TERRIBLE COMING INTO THEIR BYE WEEK.  THE RAVENS ALSO HEAD INTO THEIR BYE WEEK. TAKE THE OVER 45 ½ POINTS FOR 5 STARS.

WASHINGTON +6 AT NEW YORK GIANTS (51) – This may very well be the best game of the day to watch on Sunday. Right now the Giants are in late season form having just embarrassed the San Francisco 49ers at the Stick 26-3 last week.  The Giants are a very good football team. Eli Manning has not been sacked in 3 games.  The Redskins don’t put much pressure on opposing QB’s.  That doesn’t help them with their lousy secondary.  The Skins and their phenomenal rookie QB Robert Griffin, are coming off a home win where Griffin threw and ran for over 300 yards. He is doing things right now that nobody has ever seen before in the league. The difference in the game Sunday will not so much be the offenses, which are both very good, but the defenses and the differences in the two.  Washington’s defense isn’t really able to stop anyone because of the weak secondary which they have to put out onto the field. Eli Manning and the Giants offense should be able to have their way against the Redskins defense.  The reverse may not be true. Even though RG3 should be able to move the ball on occasion and hopefully score, the Giants defense has played much better so far this season against some very good opponents.  I’M GOING TO RELEASE THE GIANTS MINUS THE POINTS HERE FOR 3 STARS.  In Vegas the line is 50/50 on the spread which is a perfect number (6). I think that coming off the big win in San Francisco, the Giants will be looking to continue with the tough defense and balanced scoring.

NEW YORK JETS +10 ½ AT NEW ENGLAND (47½) – The Pats lost last week against a tough Seattle team they should have beaten.  Their defense ended up costing them the game. I don’t see that happening against the 30^th offense in the league in the Jets. Starting QB Mark Sanchez has completed LESS than 50% of his passes this season.  The Jets beat Indy last week convincingly but Indy is Indy and they were coming off an emotional win the week before against the Packers at home. The Jets defense is not very good. Sure, they can play with the Colts, but this is Tom Brady and the New England Patriots here. Jets LB Bart Scott is playing in his 116^th consecutive game.  Pats WR Wes Welker is on fire.   The Pats offense should be able to move the ball at will against a Jets defense missing some pieces, especially on the ground.  Like I said before, the Jets have the 30^th ranked defense in the league.  Look for Pats RBs Stevan Ridley and Danny Woodhead to get plenty of touches on Sunday.  Both teams are 3-3 so in essence they’re playing for 1^st place in the division.  Neither team has much of a schedule ahead of them but the Pats are the far better team here, both offensively and now, defensively. The Pats have won 9 division games in a row in Foxboro. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that the Pats are going to win and cover here against the Jets.  Brady and the Pats defense need a good game here.  TAKE THE PATS MINUS THE POINTS FOR 5 STARS HERE. I JUST SEE THIS BEING AN ASSAULT BY BRADY, THE OFFENSE, AND THE DEFENSE AGAINST A BELOW AVERAGE JETS TEAM.

OAKLAND -6 OVER JACKSONVILLE (45) – The Raiders haven’t beaten the Jaguars since 1996, but Jacksonville has been outscored 99-16 their last three trips to the West Coast.  This is a game that has good matchups for the Raiders. The Raiders’ Carson Palmer throws out of the pocket and is having a decent season.  The Jags don’t pressure the QB at all. They have 3 total sacks for the season.  They’re coming off two losses and a bye week.  Their team’s best weapon is Maurice Jones-Drew their premier running back.  MJD will get some yards but that won’t be enough to beat Oakland.  Last week the Raiders had the undefeated Falcons on the ropes, only to lose late in the game.  I’M GOING TO TAKE THE RAIDERS MINUS THE POINTS TO COVER AT HOME AGAINST THE JAGS.

PITTSBURGH -1 AT CINCINNATI (45) – The Steelers are thin. Not emaciated, but almost anorexic thin. No running backs, banged up offensive line. Banged up defense. But they’ll show up and give 100% every week no matter who they play.  A loss today against interdivision rival Cincinnati would put them 3 or 4  doesn’t get much better.  Cincinnati, who a lot of “experts” picked to win 11 games this year, hasn’t looked like the team people expected.  Their defense, besides a decent pass rush, has struggled in the secondary.  On the offensive side of the ball for the Bengals, nobody has been able to stop WR A.J. Green yet this year.  He is averaging over 100 yards per game in reception yardage. He’s caught 6 TDs already and this is with a lot of double teams. Look for TE Jermaine Gresham to have a big day against a defense playing without Troy Palomalu.  Except for 9 picks, second year QB Andy Dalton has done a pretty good job.  He just has to stop the turnovers because his Bengals defense can’t afford to be on the field too much.  Ben Roethlisberger is so tough you know he’s gonna show up and lead his Steelers offense.  His numbers passing are very good this season.  He’s only thrown 2 picks but the usual Steelers running game has been absent. Mendenhall and Redman are both out for this game.  I have no idea who will start at RB but he’s in for a fun time.  I wouldn’t doubt if the Steelers put the ball in the air 50 times Sunday.  They might have to.  The Bengals pass defense is suspect at best but they do rush the passer well.  They lead the NFL with 20 sacks so far this season.  Geno Atkins has 6 and Michael Johnson has 5.   If the Bengals can’t beat this incredibly beat up Steelers team at home, they have no chance later this year anyway.  I’M GOING TO PLAY THE BENGALS PLUS THE POINT FOR 3 STARS HERE.  LOOK FOR A LOT OF PASSING IN THIS GAME TODAY.

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ATLANTA -7 OVER CAROLINA (47 ½) – The Falcons are for real coming off a 27-3 win at San Diego last weekend.  Matt Ryan is 27-6 at home and the Falcons have way too much offense for the Panthers defense to handle.  Personally, I don’t see just a 7 point spread here.  DC Mike Nolan is getting through to his defense this season.  This is a simple, classic, good vs. suck team with the good team at home.  I’m going to TAKE THE FALCONS MINUS THE POINTS FOR 5 STARS HERE. Even if the Panthers come back hard here, they lose.

NEW ENGLAND -4 AT BUFFALO (50 ) – Last weekend, the Pats took the Ravens at their place to the max, losing barely on a field goal that barely stayed inside the crossbar.  However, the Ravens were playing their 4^th game in 18 days and they STILL won the game.  There’s a chance that Buffalo’s C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson might play Sunday. Personally, I doubt either of them does.  If they’re not ready to go, Tashard Choice will get the start.  The last time the Pats lost 3 games in a row was 2002.  It has been 145 games since the Pats were below .500 at anytime during a season.  I’M GOING TO PASS ON THE GAME FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. FIRST OF ALL, BUFFALO ISN’T THAT GOOD AND SECOND, THE PATS ARE COMING OFF TWO LOSSES.

MINNESOTA +4 AT DETROIT (48.5) – Two teams going different directions here. Minnesota is getting better. They have a quickly improving signal caller in Christian Ponder, who has a 104.9 QB rating just having led his Vikings to a win over maybe the best team in the NFC last weekend, the San Francisco 49ers.  There’s a good chance that Matt Stafford won’t play this weekend and if that’s the case, Shaun Hill gets the start and that could be a problem for the Lions.  Neither team stops the pass much and Percy Harvin of Minnesota leads the league with 27 receptions.  I’M GOING TO TAKE THE OVER IN THIS GAME FOR SURE FOR 4 STARS.

HOUSTON -12 OVER TENNESSEE (46) – Houston is 3-0 for the first time ever in their history. However, the 3 teams they’ve beaten have a combined record of 3-6 which doesn’t mean so much.  Tennessee is also 1-2 coming off their first win of the season a 44-41 OT win in Detroit.  Tennessee hasn’t been able to get their running game going at all.  Chris Johnson has rushed 33 times for a 1.4 yard average.  Ponder has thrown well, but their defensive backfield has allowed the highest QB rating in the league, 119 points.  I really don’t see any way the Titans can keep up with the Texans especially at their place.  The Titans have gone up against three good QB’s in Brady, Rivers, and Stafford. However, I’m gonna take the Texans here minus the points to dominate this game at home.  3 STARS on the TEXANS SUNDAY.

SAN DIEGO -1.5 AT KANSAS CITY (44.5) – Norv Turner’s Chargers wet the bed last weekend at home when the Atlanta Falcons came to town.  The Falcons, who are good for sure, have won 6 in a row in San Diego.  He Chiefs and Romeo Crennel lost at home to the Falcons also, but also went to Buffalo and lost to a weak Bill team, then won an OT game in New Orleans with a bunch of second half points.  The Chargers have lost two straight games in Kansas City.  The Chiefs will face their fourth good quarterback in four weeks this weekend.  Personally, I think this game is a tossup.

SAN FRANCISCO -4 AT JETS (43) – After starting the season with a 48-28 win over Buffalo, Mark Sanchez is 31 for 72  for 444 yards and two TD’s and two Intereptions.  Derell Revis is out for the season.  The 49ers have a better offense, defense, and special teams than the Jets who will be working hard to keep the 49ers offense off the field.  Frank Gore is averaging 5.9 yards per carry.  The Jets are struggling to run the ball effectively.  After losing last week in Minnesota, the 49ers practiced all week in Youngstown, Ohio to get used to the time zone difference.  Look for the 49ers to bounce back strong and completely dominate the Jets at their place on Sunday.  TAKE THE 49ERS MINUST THE 4 FOR 5 STARS.

SEATTLE PICK AT ST. LOUIS (43) – Seattle will always be remembered for the “catch” in the “replacement refs” final game. These two teams are both teams of the future. Both have good head coaches who are going to the Super Bowl one day. I picked St. Louis to be there in 2016 already. However, they both need some help.  Seattle’s offense is mosltly one dimensional with a great running game with Marshawn Lynch led by rookie Russell Wilson, who is decent already, but has a long way to go and is short some receivers anyway.  He Rams defense is adequate, but that’s it. They have some holes in it even though they’ve added some players who have helped.  I’m looking for a letdown on the road for the Seahawks going into St. Louis where they’re coming off a 23-6 loss in Chicago. Fisher will have them ready.  I’M GOING TO PASS ON THE GAME HOWEVER.

ARIZONA -6 OVER MIAMI (41) – The Cards are 3-0 for the first time since 1974 when Jim Hart was QB and they were in St. Louis.  The Dolphins are hurting and coming off a tough overtime loss to the Jets at home.  They also lost the services of Reggie Bush with a knee injury.  Their passing offense is non-existent.  The Cards will not have RB Beanie Wells, but can do just fine with Ryan Fitzpatrick in his place.  The Cards defense may be the best in the league and should have fun putting pressure on rookie QB Ryan Tannehill in the desert. TAKE THE CARDS MINUS THE POINTS FOR 5 STARS TO GO 4-0.

CINCINNATI PICK AT JACKSONVILLE (46.5) –  Neither of these teams looks very good to be honest with you. Jacksonville, with a new owner and a second year QB is improving and this game will say a lot about how far they’ve come this season.  Losing IN Indy last season wasn’t a good sign at all, since the Colts aren’t considered a very good team, however, they will have a shot at the Benglas at home.  The Bengals, in my opinion, have one of the worst defenses in the league.  They also have the WORST run defense in the league.  Look for a bunch of MJD against this defense and that should open up the short and intermediate passing lanes for Blaine Gabbert who has yet to throw an interception this season. I LOVE THE JAGS TO COME BACK HERE AND BEAT THE BENGALS AT HOME AND COVER THE POINTSPREAD.

DENVER -7 OVER OAKLAND (48.5) – It’s hard not to like the Broncos here at home, coming off two possible Super Bowl teams in Atlanta and Houston but the have won 4 games in a row in Denver so you can’t just rule them out.  Peyton Manning has an incredibly tough schedule to start the season having already played Pittsburgh, Atlanta, and Houston, then after this week’s game against Oakland, the travel to New England and San Diego. The Raiders have some momentum coming off an emotional win at home against the Steelers last week and I look for them to come in smoking this week.  However, they’ve got some problems. Starting WR Darius Heyward-Bey is out indefinitely after injuring his neck last week.  RB Darren McFadden will shoulder most of the load both receiving and running the ball out of the backfield.  The Broncos after losing their last two games to Atlanta and Houston are having a hard time moving the football early in games.  I’M GOING TO PASS ON THIS GAME. TOO TOUGH TO CALL.

GREEN BAY -7.5 OVER NEW ORLEANS (53) – Who would have ever though after 3 games that these two teams would have a combined record of 1-5? Not me! This past week the Packers were pretty much shut down by the Seattle Seahawks and lost an infamous game on Monday Night Football that helped put a stop to the “replacement refs”.  Aaron Rodgers has had some problems finding his favorite receivers the first three weeks and he’s been sacked 16 times in 5 games, 8 coming in the first half this past week against the Seahawks.  You can’t fix that completely in one week, but they’ll try.  The New Orleans Saints should provide what it is the Packers need. No defense.  The SAINTS have played 3 lousy teams and are still 0-3.  This is what happens when you don’t have a head coach.  The Saints give up 5 yards a carry on the ground and a 101 QB rating.  Look for the Packers to shut down the Saints early and score at will in this game in Lambeau. Check the weather but I LOVE the PACKERS here.  NFL GAME OF THE YEAR so far.

TAMPA BAY -2 OVER WASHINGTON (46.5) – Neither of these teams will make the playoffs but both are supposed to be moving in the same direction even though you’ll never convince me the Redskins are going to get any better with ownership and management where it is.  The Buc have a tough disciplinarian in charge which is what they want.  Former Buc HC Raheem Morris comes to visit as Redskins DB coach.  The Redskins’ DB’s are the worst in the league probably.  Add to that they are injured and you have the mess called the Redskins defense. Add to that two of their best defensive players, Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker are out for the season and it’s even worse.  Tampa struggles to move the football.  They can’t pass because they won’t commit to the pass and they don’t have many weapons to begin with.  Look for the Bucs to pound Martin between the tackles and test the Redskins run defense to open up Josh Freeman’s passing lanes.  NEITHER OF THESE TEAMS ARE GOING ANYWHERE AND I DON’T TRUST EITHER TEAM ENOUGH TO PLAY THEM AGAINST EACH OTHER PASS.

PHILLY -2 OVER GIANTS (47.5) – It’s hard not to like the Giants a bunch here and I’m sure I’ll go with them as the visiting dog which is where they’re ALWAYS the best play, but it’s a game that the Giants limp into a bit and Philly needs a win even worse than the Giants do.  Ahmad Bradshaw is probable to play even though the Giants have a great backup in Andre Brown who is averaging 5.6 yards a carry and has scored 3 TD’s in Bradhsaw’s absence.  Eli Manning is Eli Manning and that means he isn’t going to lose this game for the Giants. He’ll have a positive effect on the Eagles defense.  Mike Vick has aturned the ball over 12 times in his first 3 games.  I’m not sure if facing the Giants defensive rush is going to make him feel any better.  The Eagles have one of the best pass defenses in the league but last week they were brought back to reality by non other than former Eagles QB Kevin Kolb in Arizona.  I’M GOING TO TAKE MY ROAD WARRIORS HERE TO COVER AND WIN FOR 4 STARS. GO G-MEN!!!..

DALLAS -3.5 OVER CHICAGO (41.5) – The UNDER is being pounded for some reason here.  The game will be indoors so weather won’t be a factor.  MAKE SURE YOU CALL ME AT 1-800-HOO-ISIT AND I’LL GIVE YOU MY MONDAY NIGHT MONDAY FROM 5PM – GAME TIME…FOR FREE!!!!