Football

NFL - WEEK 5

Sunday, Oct. 8

INDIANAPOLIS 18½ Tennessee - Wow. What is this? Faber College at Ohio State on homecoming? Can Tennessee cover 18.5 against Indy in Indy? Hmmm. I never would have thought it would come to this. As recently as 2003 the Titans were a team to beat, and Payton Manning was co-MVP with the Titan's Steve McNair. Now look at the match-up. This is just humiliating.

But at the same time, it's an opportunity. I don't think last week's close call against the Jets was a fluke. Indy is not what it once was. And a smart coach like Jeff Fisher knows that. I think Fisher can keep his team from being humiliated.
Titans to cover - Indy to win

NY GIANTS 4½ Washington - The other Manning brother is showing signs, but the Giants were lucky to beat Philly, and this Washington team will be better every week. I guesBrunellss couldn't be much worse.
Washington

MINNESOTA 6½ Detroit - How do you lose in Buffalo and bfavoredred to beat anybody the next week? I guess the Bills are getting some respect around Vegas. Detroit put up some numbers on offense, and put down a few too many on defense in a 41-34 loss last week. There's a huge stone tablet in the desert just outside of Reno that says: "NEVER BET ON DETROIT ON THE ROAD." Believe it.
Minny

NEW ORLEANS 6 Tampa Bay - Oooh, the Bucs suck. They should bring back the tangerine uniforms with the gay pirate for this team. It's a total loss of swagger like I've never seen. And the Saints at home? That venue is the biggest home field advantage in the world right now.
Saints.

St. Louis 3 GREEN BAY - The Pack fans must bet a lot. That's the only explanation for the Rams on;y getting 3 here. That Pack team on Monday night was dreadful. And what's this about Favre not starting? After setting the record for QB starts? How can he do this, in what may be his last year (and is almost certainly his last year in Green Bay)? Can't they patch him up enough to trot out for the first series? Just keep handing off until you have to punt. Hey - after tanking it so Michael Strahan could get the sack record, he can't object to a sham in hhonorour.
Rams

NEW ENGLAND 9½ Miami - It's funny that Houston was the team to derail Miami, because they did it to the Fins back in '03 - another year when the Fish were supposed to win it all. The expansion Texans came into Joe Robbie Pro Player Whatever stadium game one and handed it to them. I love how the Dolphins are always Super Bowl champs - in March. If they could take all the wins they're given in the Spring, they'd be the 60's Packers all over again. Or the 00's Patriots.
Patriots

CHICAGO 10½ Buffalo - So much for Buffalo getting on a roll. This reallyrealy bad time for them to have to face a quality Bears team on the road. Of course, most weeks are a bad time for the Bills to face a quality team. But I believe - and this is because I talk to way too many Bills fans - that they can keep it close.
Bills to cover, Bears to win.

CAROLINA 8 Cleveland - Caroline does not deserve eight points over my Brownies. Wherefore art thou, Romeo? Upset special.
Browns to win, baby.

JACKSONVILLE 7 NY Jets - I'm liking Jax. They're going to have a season very much like last year - 12-4 and then crushed like a clown car in Baghdad in the playoffs.
Jax

Kansas City 3½ ARIZONA - KC is still playing without a QB, and making it work. But I think the Cards are due. Of course, they've been 'due' for the past eight decades.
Cards

SAN FRANCISCO 3½ Oakland - The Raiders are so bad they favoredavoured to win their own scrimmages.
49ers

PHILADELPHIA 2½ Dallas - Oh, it's tThe TOor theTO bowl. I'll bet the Tuna is sick of hearing that. Here's the thing: Philly has no running game. Even when they run, it's always a draw or misdirection, never a power shot up the gut. You can't win like that against a coach who can diagnose it.
Cowboys

SAN DIEGO 3½ Pittsburgh - I love watching the Steelers lose. They were the worst Super Bowl champs maybe ever. No - no maybe. They were the worst team to ever win a Super Bowl. It was a disgrace, and now they're paying the Karmic price.
Chargers

Monday, Oct. 9

DENVER 4 Baltimore - Baltimore goes to its Waterloo. That 4-0 record will look good on the mantle. Treasure it, because they're on the slide to 9-7 at this point.
Donkeys