One New York Life

Thursday

W/W – Chicago Bears +3 at San Francisco 49ers: And thus one of the eight days I’ll watch the NFL Network this year. Also, props to the NFL Network for taking the only good Thanksgiving Game and not letting anyone see it. Again. Well done, guys. Clearly your success in strongarming Time Warner cable is getting it done. The Niners are actually due to beat someone outside of their division and the Bears have had a pretty solid tendency to fall against teams who have even a decent defense. The Falcons can’t stop anyone and the Bears only put up 14 against them. Besides, all other things being relatively equal, it’s hard to pick against the home team on a short week. Niners cover

Sunday

Jacksonville Jaguars +6.5 at New York Jets: I’m kind of filing this under the whole “bye week at home” thing along with the fact that the Jags are somehow much worse than I thought they were. Jets in a squeaker. Jaguars +6.5

Denver Broncos -4.5 at Washington Redskins: This is a terrifying spread because it makes me wonder if there’s something huge that I’m missing. The Redskins lost to the Falcons last week and the knock on the Broncos is what? They lose to better teams? The ‘Skins are not a better team. Remotely. Broncos cover

Cincinnati Bengals +6.5 at Pittsburgh Steelers: 6.5? Really? The only question here is whether or not the Bengals beat them outright. I don’t understand how the Bengals decisively beat the Ravens last week and this week they’re pulling an extra 3 points? I’ll take it. Bengals outright

Buffalo Bills +6.5 at Tennessee Titans: Vince Young has proven he can be competent against a decent defense. Now they’re on a 2-game win streak, they’re home, and playing a bad team. The Bills are going to get leveled. Titans cover

Detroit Lions +15.5 at Minnesota Vikings: If the stuff about Brett Favre is true, he’s playing one half. Then I want a guy named either Sage or Tavaris to hold serve? No. Lions +15.5

New Orleans Saints -14 at St. Louis Rams: The Saints are going to put up 40 on the Rams. The question is whether the Rams can, in turn, put up 26. I’m going to say no. Saints cover

Atlanta Falcons -1.5 at Carolina Panthers: Slow down, people… just because the Falcons give up points like a college team against good teams doesn’t mean that Micheal Turner isn’t about to ruin what passes for the Panther defense… especially with their best linebacker gone for the season. Falcons cover

Tampa Bay Bucs +9.5 at Miami Dolphins: For the first time this season, I’m honestly considering starting both Ronnie Brown AND Ricky Williams. Is it possible for BOTH guys to rush for 200 yards and 4 touchdowns? Dolphins cover

Kansas City Chiefs +1.5 at Oakland Raiders: Yoof. Is this going to be your national game Bootleg? Has a chance to be even worse than the Thursday game… which should be impossible. Chiefs outright

Seattle Seahawks +9 at Arizona Cardinals: The Seahawks’ ability to beat the Lions last week gives me no more faith in them then I’ve had in previous weeks. Cardinals cover

Philadelphia Eagles +2.5 at San Diego Chargers: The tough part bout watching the Eagles is attempting to guess when the choke machine is 1) gong to rear its ugly head and 2) how long its going to last. The choke machine reared its ugly head last week against Dallas. Meanwhile, folks apparently think San Diego’s last minute comeback against the Giants mean they’re a good team. They’re not. They’re better than the Giants defense. So is moderately competent high school squad. So are the Eagles. Eagles outright

Dallas Cowboys +1 at Green Bay Packers: Again… really? Is this some kind of Lambeau Field spread? The Cowboys are going sack Aaron Rodgers between 12 and 84 times and, because of that, probably grab like 8 picks. Cowboys outright

New England Patriots +3 at Indianapolis Colts: I have absolutely no idea. There’s no good way to judge this game other than who has the better night. Their quality of competition is about the same. They’ve scored and allowed about the same number of points. My gut feeling says Colts, so that’s where I’m going. Colts cover

Monday

Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns: Brady Quinn might be murdered by the end of the first half quarter drive. Ravens cover

Spreadery

1) Falcons -1.5 over PANTHERS
2) DOLPHINS -10 over Bucs
3) Bengals +7 over STEELERS