Being the chairman for my high school class’ 30 year reunion took me out of the game for two weeks. I did, however, make week 3 and 4 picks in the LA Downtown News fish-wrap with just a click of the mouse. Let’s just say I need a new mouse. Week 3 I went 9-7. Last week, 8-8. I’ll add the 17-15 two week record to my totals here.
Remember, use my picks to wager $$$ at your own risk. I pick heads-up winners, not the spread. If you lose, I had nothing to do with it. If you win beaucoup $$$, a 10% tip would be cool. But, I’m realistic. This is just for your entertainment…or not, and for me to keep my sports “mojo” going until “I’m back in the saddle”. Remember the league’s unofficial motto…“ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAY, MONDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY OR SATURDAY……….
LAST WEEK: 8-8 SEASON TOTAL: 37-27
SUNDAY
OAKLAND RAIDERS (2-2) +5.5 @ HOUSTON TEXANS (3-1) 48.5 pts
-With Saturday’s passing of Raiders owner Al Davis, this one has huge significance for the Silver and Black. Although not yet where they want to be, the Raiders are built the way Davis built all his great teams, with a solid defense that pounds you with its physicality, a vertical passing game triggered with a strong-armed quarterback throwing to fleet receivers and a physical running game with two superior backs. I must say, I was never a Raiders fan. But let’s be honest, when the Raiders are good the NFL is much more fun. The Raiders have and always will be Oakland’s team. When they moved to Los Angeles for 13 years, their Super Bowl win came the year they moved and it was filled with Oakland’s players save for Marcus Allen. Say what you will about Al Davis. But, you’ve got to include visionary, ground-breaker and one of the greatest owners in American Team Sports History. RAIDERS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (1-3) -3 @ BUFFALO BILLS (3-1) O/U 50 pts
-I like the Bills, especially since they went to the throwback uniforms for good. They’re also pretty good. A must win for the “dream team”. EAGLES
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-3) +2.5 @ INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (0-4) 38.5 pts
-Much, too much talent on the Colts team. Peyton Manning didn’t win the Super Bowl by himself. COLTS
ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-3) +3 @ MINNESOTA VIKINGS (0-4) 45.5 pts
-These two teams hurt by the lockout because both their quarterbacks needed the off-season workouts to get into the playbook. I still think these teams are really talented and good. VIKINGS
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (3-1) -5.5 @ CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-3) 51.5 pts
-This one should be fun to watch because Panthers rookie QB Cam Newton can throw the pill. Problem is, Carolina’s got nothing else on offense save for WR Steve Smith and the defense is bad. Drew Brees and the Saints will have a field day. SAINTS
CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-2) +2 @ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-3) 37 pts
-Honestly, I think the Bengals are a good team. Head coach Marvin Lewis knows what he’s doing. Rookie QB Andy Dalton is fitting in nicely for the “retired” Carson Palmer. They can run and have a good defense. Jacksonville’s good one week, lousy the next. BENGALS
TENNESSEE TITANS (3-1) +3 @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS (2-2) 39.5 pts
-Don’t look now but the Titans are quietly sneaking up on everyone. Plenty of talent especially with QB Matt Hasselbeck and RB Chris Johnson who should be ready to roll by now after his holdout. The Steelers are banged up and can’t protect QB Ben Roethlisberger. TITANS
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-3) +9.5 @ NY GIANTS of NEW JERSEY (3-1) 43.5 pts
-Seahawks are playing out the string in the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes. GIANTS
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-1) +3 @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ers (3-1) 41.5 pts
-49ers QB Alex Smith finally relying on RB Frank Gore keeping him out of the dog house. Bucs QB Josh Freeman is the real deal. BUCS
NY JETS of NEW JERSEY (2-2) +8 @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-1) 49 pts
-Jets will try to get back to that “bread and butter” running game they used so well the last couple of seasons. They’d better because QB Mark Sanchez is taking a beating. He can’t win a game by himself just yet. Patriots defense gives up a lot of points. QB Tom Brady can score more for the offense. PATRIOTS
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (3-1) -3.5 @ DENVER BRONCOS (1-3) 45.5 pts
-Don’t look now but the Chargers have come out of the starting gate well for the first time under Norv Turner. I don’t understand why the Broncos coach John Fox doesn’t use Tim Tebow in a wild cat formation, or down near the goal line in the red zone. He’s a great athlete and there’s got to be room for him somewhere in that offense. CHARGERS
GREEN BAY PACKERS (4-0) -6 @ ATLANTA FALCONS (2-2) 53 pts
-The Packers are the REAL DREAM TEAM. But they can’t go undefeated can they? Matt Ryan and the Falcons a much better team that will get off the ground eventually. I think it’ll be against the world champions. FALCONS
MONDAY
CHICAGO BEARS (2-2) +5 @ DETROIT LIONS (4-0) 47.5 pts
-The Lions are for real. This team is built like those 90s Cowboys teams with “the triplets” and a young, monster defense. Bears QB Jay Cutler has no “go to WR” and ends up on his back a lot. Lions DT Ndamukong Suh is “Deacon Jones-like” and will get up close and personal with Cutler all day. Lions getting rookie DE Nick Fairly in for the first time this season. They’re a scary team starting the season as 80-1 to make the Super Bowl. They’re now at 15-1. They could be in Indy in February. They’re that good. LIONS
BYE WEEK:
BALTIMORE, CLEVELAND, DALLAS, *LOS ANGELES, MIAMI, ST. LOUIS, WASHINGTON
*Los Angeles (16 seasons, 5 weeks)
On Any Given Sports Day 
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