The Week 9 Picks

Okay, it's Saturday night and I just realized I hadn't finished these yet. But I'm tired and grumpy thanks to the Irish and their four-overtime loss. For the games where I can't come up with any witty analysis, I'll just remind you that the Phillies won the World Series.

Match-up: New York Jets (+5.5) @ Buffalo
Breakdown: No surprise that Brett Favre leads the league in interceptions. His three last week almost cost the Jets against Kansas City. This week they face a better defense on the road. Yikes.
Straight Up: Buffalo
Against the Spread: Buffalo


Match-up: Detroit (+12.5) @ Chicago
Breakdown: News that Daunte Culpepper took a physical in Detroit broke this week. And while he hasn't signed a contract yet, maybe his potential addition will light a fire under some Lions.
Straight Up: Chicago
Against the Spread: Detroit


Match-up: Jacksonville (-7.5) @ Cincinnati
Breakdown: T.J. Houshmandzadeh guaranteed the Bengals would win more than one game this season. How about winning one first?
Straight Up: Jacksonville
Against the Spread: Cincinnati


Match-up: Baltimore (+1.5) @ Cleveland
Breakdown: Um, did you know that the Phillies won the World Series?
Straight Up: Cleveland
Against the Spread: Cleveland


Match-up: Green Bay (+5.5) @ Tennessee
Breakdown: I think the Titans are set up for a let down this week. They had a statement win over a division rival in front of a national audience on Monday. It's tough to get up like that twice in a short week.
Straight Up: Green Bay
Against the Spread: Green Bay


Match-up: Tampa Bay (-8.5) @ Kansas City
Breakdown: The Bucs lost a game they easily should have won in Dallas last week. The Chiefs, meanwhile, made Brett Favre look like Tony Romo, picking him off three times. Back to normal this week, on both sides.
Straight Up: Tampa Bay
Against the Spread: Tampa Bay

Match-up: Arizona (-3.0) @ St. Louis
Breakdown: Kurt Warner returns to the turf that once housed his greatest show. Imagine if he had Boldin and Fitzgerald instead of Bruce and Holt? They would have scored 50 a game.
Straight Up: Arizona
Against the Spread: Arizona


Match-up: Houston (+4.5) @ Minnesota
Breakdown: Cole Hamels was the MVP, going 4-0 in the post-season with a 1.80 ERA.
Straight Up: Minnesota
Against the Spread: Minnesota


Match-up: Miami (-3.5) @ Denver
Breakdown: The Phillies went 11-3 in the playoffs, dispatching the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1, the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1, and the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1. They were a perfect 7-0 at Citizens Bank Park, a testament to all Phillies fans.
Straight Up: Miami
Against the Spread: Miami

Match-up: Atlanta (-3.0) @ Oakland
Breakdown: This game showcases the likely Rookie of the Year, and I'm not speaking of Darren McFadden.
Straight Up: Atlanta
Against the Spread: Atlanta


Match-up: Dallas (+9.0) @ New York Giants
Breakdown: It's one of the two times a year I'm a Giants fan!
Straight Up: New York Giants
Against the Spread: New York Giants


Match-up: Philadelphia (-6.5) @ Seattle
Breakdown: "World Champions...World f#$%&* Champions!" - Chase Utley
Straight Up: Philadelphia
Against the Spread: Philadelphia


Match-up: New England (+6.0) @ Indianapolis
Breakdown: If Monday's game in Tennessee was any indication, the Colts are done like dinner. Manning and his receivers aren't on the same page, they have no running game, and they are banged up on defense. The most telling sign was coach Tony Dungy actually speaking out this week, which is very uncharacteristic for him.
Straight Up: New England
Against the Spread: New England

Match-up: Pittsburgh (+2.0) @ Washington
Breakdown: The Steelers are 0-2 against the NFC East this season. There's no shame in losing to the Eagles and Giants, nor would there be in losing in D.C. They should still crush Dallas, though.
Straight Up: Washington
Against the Spread: Washington

Bye: Carolina; New Orleans; San Diego; San Francisco

Week 8: 8-6 (.571); 6-6-2 (.500)
2008-09 Season: 70-46 (.603); 58-53-5 (.523)
Lifetime Record: 1036-615-1 (.627); 820-797-35 (.507)