Football Picks

Happy Thanksgiving weekend. I attended my first Celtics game of the 2008-09 season. The energy and intensity is still there but I still think they need a veteran forward to round out their bench if they want to repeat. Some other quick-hit thoughts from last night:

• I feel bad for forward Brian Scalabrine. I don't think the autistic high school kid from a few years ago got as much love from the crowd as Scal. It's no his fault he signed a big contract, just let him play.
• I was impressed by Philly's rookie big man Marreese Speights (12 points, 6 rebounds, and a lot of energy in 15 minutes) up until he was ejected for a cheap shot on Scal at the end of the game.
• I was not impressed with the chemistry between Philly's top three players: Elton Brand, Andre Miller, and Andre Iguodala. For all the preseason hype on the 76ers, this is a dysfunctional team.
• Doc Rivers is doing a tremendous job of limiting the minutes of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. Resting his stars now will pay off big in May and June.

All picks are against the spread and home team is in capitals.

NCAA

BOSTON COLLEGE (-6.5) over Maryland

OKLAHOMA STATE (+7.5) over Oklahoma

Georgia Tech (+7.5) over GEORGIA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (-32) over Notre Dame

Oregon (+3) over OREGON STATE

Last Week: 2 - 3

Season: 26 - 33 - 1

NFL

Tennessee (-11) over DETROIT

DALLAS (-12.5) over Seattle

Arizona (+3) over PHILADELPHIA

Denver (+7.5) over NY JETS

BUFFALO (-6.5) over San Francisco

New Orleans (+4) over TAMPA BAY

GREEN BAY (-3) over Carolina

WASHINGTON (+3.5) over NY Giants

Miami (-8) over ST. LOUIS

Baltomore (-7) over CINCINNATI

CLEVELAND (+5) over Indianapolis

Atlanta (+4.5) over SAN DIEGO

PATRIOTS (-1) over Pittsburgh

OAKLAND (-3) over Kansas City

MINNESOTA (-3) over Chicago

HOUSTON (-3) over Jacksonville

Last Week: 12 - 4

Season: 91 - 79 - 7

(I bet Tennessee, Dallas, and Arizona on Thursday.)