Sunday, October 28, 2007
(1:42 AM) | Brad:
Football Blogging: On the Road Again Edition
It's a Newport, Oregon edition of this week's football post. I've been hauling the in-laws up the 101, en route (slowly) to Portland. Outside of the nearly twenty hours its taken to drive a little over 600 miles, and the nearly-constant Flemish chatter, it's not been so bad. [One of the really good things about the trip is that I got to listen to the 4th quarter of the USC-Oregon game while enjoying a delicious lunch at the Crazy Norwegian's Fish & Chips in Port Orford, Oregon. I like this Oregon team, but I like seeing USC get beat even more.] What I've yet to come to terms with is that I won't be able to watch Sunday football. I'm not sure how or if I'll be able to deal with this.I may not be able to watch the games, but I can still embarass myself at picking their winners. Last week, I couldn't even rival the previous week's pedestrian showing, and ended up posting a 1-4 record [6-8 for all the games, but I don't want to bore you with more than five picks]. The Saints won, but failed to cover; the Bengals completely dispelled the myth that the Jets are better than their record; and Pittsburgh continues to show that they are a completely different team when they play away from home. So, what about this week? Can I possibly go 0-5? Let's see.
1) Detroit's getting five points in their game at Chicago. What's the weather like up there? If I were really committed I'd open a Google tab and find out. As it is, I'm tired and tonight's one of the few opportunities for me have sex -- so I'm kind of in a rush. Taking taking the points, and going with Detroit here. But, if for some reason the Bears headset peeters out and Griese is on his own with playcalling, oh yeah, look out.
2) Carolina is also getting five points at home against Tennessee. I just don't know how anybody could put money on this Titans team, w/ or w/out Young. So goes the cliche, they just win. Plus, who doesn't want to see Vinny get another win?
3) One of the toughest games to call this week has got to be Minnesota at home against Philly. The last time I picked a Minnesota game it was when they played the Bears two weeks ago. I flipped a coin then and I got it right. So, why not. Flipping. Okay. It's Minnesota again. Sure, why not. This is kind of out of nowhere, but I'm one of those people really doubtful of Peterson's long-term durability. Did he ever complete a college season without a major injury? Is his rookie break-out season setting him up to be another one of those Bo Jackson-calibre players that end up the focus of everybody's "How good would he have been if he hadn't gotten hurt" conversations? I think so.
4) When was the last time you could be reasonably confident that the Cleveland Browns could go on the road and cover a three-point spread? Has it ever happened, or is tomorrow's game in St. Louis unprecedented. More importantly, what would happen if Miami and St. Louis played this year? Would time stop, reverse, somehow take on matter and bend inward? If this game was on during next week's Pats-Indy game, I would on sheer principle wander to the back corner of the bar and watch it alone.
5) Speaking of the Patriots, I'm going out on a limb here. New England is NOT going to cover the 16.5 points they're giving up to Washington. I'm not completely sold on Campbell, and wondering whether Portis is hurt is on par with thinking about the thought-process that brought us a third season of Prison Break, but I do rather like Washington's defense, and think this will be the Pats biggest challenge so far. Plus, doesn't Brady at some point have to have an ordinary game? It's got to happen, even with those weapons. What's worse, and this could just be residual hatred for the city of Boston, as their Red Sox humiliate the Rockies (again) tonight, at this point I'm inclined to pick against them next week against Indy, too. Disclaimer: this kind of irrational thinking is indicative of a man who also went $100K in the hole for a series of worthless degrees in theology. He does not know how to manage risk or weigh options.
EXTRA: For some reason Vegas likes Denver on Monday at home against Green Bay. Last week's game againt Pittsburgh ... maybe it means something. I dunno. Me, I'm taking Favre. He has the All-Time Interception Record Monkey off his back, and the bye week has surely allowed him to shake off his hangover from the celebration. He's good for a pick and two TDs, though. I still don't like Denver.
