NFL Week 9

TAMPA BAY 3.5 Arizona
DETROIT 3.0 Denver
TENNESSEE 4.0 Carolina
KANSAS CITY 2.5 Green Bay
San Diego 7.0 MINNESOTA
NEW ORLEANS 3.0 Jacksonville
ATLANTA 3.5 San Francisco
Washington 3.5 NEW YORK (NYJ)
Cincinnati 1.0 BUFFALO
CLEVELAND 1.5 Seattle
New England 5.0 INDIANAPOLIS
OAKLAND 3.0 Houston
Dallas 3.0 PHILADELPHIA
PITTSBURGH 9.0 Baltimore

I like the Bucs to bounce back at home against a so-so road team.
The Lions better than the Broncos? I'm not sure that's happened in my life time! So have the Broncos righted their ship? Are the Lions for the real? I think no and no but I'll still stick with the home faves.
Titans-Panthers is a tough one, an overachiever against and underachiever this point in the year makes for a little of bewildered bettors out there. I'll take the road dog, just because I like the dogs in these match-ups.
I thought the Chiefs would be competing for the 1st pick this year, I thought their one-dimensional offense would struggle all year. They haven't been great but they're not bad and in a weak division, they've got a decent shot at hanging the playoff picture til the end. But I think the Packers are a better team and they're rolling pretty good right now. I like the Packers to put a hurting on that KC running game and Brett Favre to sting that soft KC secondary. Take the dog here.
The Chargers are rolling, they're back and the Vikings still haven't figured out what to do with themselves. I like the Chargers big in this one.
Jax is a tricky squad to predict, they looked much better than I thought they would last week at Tampa. Everyone thinks the Saints are ready to dominate again but I'm not convinced. That D doesn't impress me and without Deuce, they'll rely too heavily on Reggie Bush. I like Jax to stick the Saints attack and run the ball effectively. I like Jax to win straight up.
Hmmm, the Falcons are a train wreck but they do have some good players. The Niners are disappointing, especially on the road, but they too have some talent. I'll take the Niners to cover but the Falcons to win, a la a late FG--thank Vegas for that extra half point!
The Redskins got pounded last week in New England and they'll be ready to put that mojo on someone else. And NYJ are a team just waiting to be tattooed. Take the Redskins, give the points and then some. (Danger: wouldn't surprise me to see NYJ rally late to make it look close, beware of the Redskins getting an early lead and easing up in 4Q)
Cincy is better than Buffalo but they're not really playing better than Buffalo right now. The Bills are mediocre but consistent, they'll show up and play as well as they can; the Bengals are talented but schizophrenic, they've got more than enough talent to win in Buffalo but you just don't know if they'll bring it. I think I like Cincy to bring it, this is a team that can lay the wood to and I think struggling teams not every blowout they can get. I like the Bengals big because they won't let up if they get an early lead.
Seattle is a 1.5 point dog at Cleveland. The Browns offense is really hitting full stride (I thought last year that they should've sold the farm to get Reggie Bush--guess they didn't need him), and while Seattle is a tough team on both sides, they don't travel well and they've been inconsistent the last few years. I think I like the dog here, I can see a shoot-out that goes right to the end, I like a close game.
The Colts have a 12 game winning streak, they're the Super Bowl champs and they've defeated the Pats 3 straight. So why are they a 5 point dog at home? I thought this would be closer a spread, 5 points is a lot at Indy. My first instinct is the Pats will roll them just like everyone else. But deep down I think Indy is too good to just get pushed around. This really will be a great game--no matter what happens! If Indy blows them out, it'll be fascinating to watch. If the Pats blow them out, that'll be fascinating too! I'm not sure who I like to win, but I've gotta take the Colts plus 5 at home--you got to!
The Texans haven't stepped forward the way I thought they might've. The Raiders haven't sucked too bad but haven't been any good either. Uh, I'm inclined to take the home team and 3 points doesn't seem too high. If the Raiders can force turnovers, they'll win easily.
Damn, there's a lot of hard games this week! The Eagles have underperformed and they've got some off-the-field issues in their heads this week, I think this spurs them forward. The Cowboys are good but they're not as good as they think they are and I think they're anticipating a winning game in Philly this week. I like the Eagles to win straight up.
The Steelers are good and the Ravens are overrated. Are the Steelers 9 points better on Monday night? I'll say no. I think they win comfortably but not in a blow out, the Ravens keep it close enough.