The Week 7 Picks

Match-up: San Diego (+1.0) @ Buffalo
Breakdown: I head a stat this week that west coast teams are 16-48 in road games starting at 1:00 EST (10:00 Pacific). Plus, the Chargers have been Jekyll and Hyde all season.
Straight Up: Buffalo
Against the Spread: Buffalo

Match-up: Minnesota (+3.0) @ Chicago
Breakdown: Redemption game for Lovie Smith and the Bears following last week's last second collapse in Atlanta. Minnesota's Brad Childress remains on the hot seat despite a two game Viking winning streak. A loss this week could signal the end for Childress.
Straight Up: Chicago
Against the Spread: Chicago

Match-up: Pittsburgh (-9.5) @ Cincinnati
Breakdown: If Carson Palmer was playing, I'd think about taking the Bengals and the points. But it's Ryan Fitzpatrick under center for Cincinnati.
Straight Up: Pittsburgh
Against the Spread: Pittsburgh

Match-up: Tennessee (-8.0) @ Kansas City
Breakdown: OK, show of hands, who had Tennessee as the last unbeaten team this year? This one looks like a kicking contest, something along the lines of 16-9 Titans.
Straight Up: Tennessee
Against the Spread: Kansas City

Match-up: Dallas (Off) @ St. Louis
Breakdown: There's no spread due to Tony Romo's uncertain playing status. I hope he plays. The guy can't hold on to the ball with ten good fingers. Why would he with a cast on his hand?
Straight Up: St. Louis
Against the Spread: St. Louis

Match-up: Baltimore (+3.0) @ Miami
Breakdown: When do we say the Dolphins aren't a fluke and may not be that bad? I'd say a win over Baltimore this week should do it.
Straight Up: Miami
Against the Spread: Miami

Match-up: San Francisco (+10.5) @ New York Giants
Breakdown: The Giants should be pissed coming off their first loss of the season. And there's that whole west coast team playing early in the east thing.
Straight Up: New York Giants
Against the Spread: New York Giants

Match-up: New Orleans (+3.0) @ Carolina
Breakdown: Just as I was starting to do a 180 on Carolina, they go to Tampa and lay an egg. So I'm back to thinking they're not that good. So I guess I've done a 360?
Straight Up: New Orleans
Against the Spread: New Orleans

Match-up: Detroit (+9.5) @ Houston
Breakdown: Boy, the Lions look awful. They just traded Roy Williams. Their starting QB was either benched or injured (depending on who you ask). And his replacement took a safety last week when he ran out the back of the end zone, and not by design.
Straight Up: Houston
Against the Spread: Houston

Match-up: Indianapolis (-1.0) @ Green Bay
Breakdown: The Colts appear to be back, but I think they'll miss Joseph Addai. I'm playing a hunch on this one.
Straight Up: Green Bay
Against the Spread: Green Bay

Match-up: New York Jets (-3.0) @ Oakland
Breakdown: It's the home debut for new Raider coach Tom Cable!!! Please try to contain your excitement.
Straight Up: New York Jets
Against the Spread: New York Jets

Match-up: Cleveland (+7.5) @ Washington
Breakdown: The Browns finally showed signs of life on Monday night. I could see them flat-lining this week in D.C.
Straight Up: Washington
Against the Spread: Washington

Match-up: Seattle (+10.5) @ Tampa Bay
Breakdown: Jeff Garcia is back at the top of the Bucs QB depth chart, and I think they're better for it. Seattle, on the other hand, will have to choose between Seneca Wallace and Charlie Frye. See where this is headed?
Straight Up: Tampa Bay
Against the Spread: Tampa Bay

Match-up: Denver (+3.0) @ New England
Breakdown: Check your defense at the door. Neither of these teams can stop anybody, so it looks like a shoot-out. With that in mind, I feel better about Jay Cutler than I do Matt Cassel. Not sure the home-field advantage is enough to sway me on this one.
Straight Up: Denver
Against the Spread: Denver

Bye: Arizona; Atlanta; Jacksonville; Philadelphia

Week 6: 9-5-0 (.643); 9-5-0 (.643)
2008-09 Season: 52-36-0 (.591); 46-39-3 (.541)
Lifetime Record: 1018-605-1 (.627); 808-783-33 (.508)