Week 9 - Picks & Preview

Well, I've been slacking off and am a little late getting my picks and previews posted this week. My only excuse is that it was Halloween weekend, and there were so many important things to do to prepare for a fun night out...fro-ing my hair, applying countless temporary tattoos, etc, etc. But, better late than never, and here I go...

(1) Detroit Lions at Chicago - I usually try to stay away from picking a Lions game, and here's why...they are terrible and will most likely get blown out. However, each and every week, I like to try to hold onto a tiny sliver of hope that this might be the week...the week my Lions get a win, the week my Lions look like they might be able to start acting like a real football team. But, if I include them in my picks, then I have to face the reality that they truly are absolutely horrible and not only are they going to lose the game, but they're probably not going to even cover the 13 point spread! Orton is about to have a career day this afternoon. This year, 6 out of 7 QB's have had a career passer rating when they play the Lions - that is pathetic! I had to chuckle this morning when on the radio (on a national broadcast, not local), this comment was made - "If it weren't for Cincinnati, this Lions team would be the worst team we've ever seen!" The Lions are the butt of the NFL...it is laughable how terrible they truly are. We did get Culpepper for two years, but what good is that really going to do?? Only time will tell. My pick is Chicago, but as I said after last weeks debacle in my picks, I'm going the opposite of what I think is actually going to happen - so Detroit it is at +13!

(2) Miami at Denver - Denver is -4 this week as they host the Fish. The Broncos defense is almost as bad as the Lions. The Lions have allowed 212 points, and the Broncos have allowed 195. Based on the average points allowed per game, Detroit is ranked 32...shocker, I know, but Denver, ranked 29, isn't to far ahead of the Lions on the defensive side of the game (Miami is ranked 12). However, Denver has a potent offense that can put up points and that's how the win games. They're not going to stop teams, but other teams can't stop them either. The Fish have been a wild card this year. After being absolutely terrible last year, the Fish have surprised a lot of people with their vast improvements. They are not a great team by any stretch of the word, but definitely much improved over last season. I want to take the points and the better defense, but I'm probably wrong, so Denver is my pick.

(3) Jets at Bills - I have to pick the Bills game...absolutely love this team, even though they let me down last week (hey, in order to avoid depression, I have to find another team to cheer for after the Lions disappoint me every week). The Jets are getting 5.5 in this matchup, but after last weeks performance, I don't think they'll cover. The Bills are much tougher than KC, and the Bills are coming off a disappointing loss to the Fish. The Bills will be fighting to win this game, and I foresee a pick the house in Favre's future! I want my pick to be the Bills, but since I think that, then it'll be the Jets. The Jets are my pick.

Unfortunately, I only have time to do 3 games this week...hopefully my luck will turn around this week and I'll get all of them right - or in an ironic twist of fate, I will get them all wrong because I would have been right if I picked what I actually wanted to pick! Who knows...

One last comment...Texas vs Tech game last night...truly amazing! Talk about great football. Tech's D was ferocious. Colt McCoy was on his back so many times (sacked 17 times 112 yard) and the #1 team seemed like they couldn't get past Tech's defense no matter what they tried. I couldn't believe what I was seeing...it looked as though Tech could possibly blow out Texas! In the second half, Texas made it an exciting game - taking the lead for the first time in the game with just over a minute left in the 4th quarter. But Tech prevailed when Harrell passed to Crabtree for a game ending TD. The fans swarmed onto the field with one second left in the game!