Football Picks

A couple of quick points before getting to this week's picks:

1. I know that there has not been any posts about the Patriots.  To be honest, I have not yet watched an entire game so I don't want to write about half of a game.  The responsibilities of fatherhood and home ownership have cut into my Sunday afternoons.  I am going to this week's game against the Cowboys so maybe I'll give an account of my experience from Section 140 of Gillette Stadium.

2. Speaking of the Patriots, the tempo of their offense is resembling that of the Oregon Ducks.  I don't think that is a coincidence because Ducks head coach Chip Kelly is good friends with Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien and the two met this spring at a coaching clinic that was held at Gillette Stadium.

I wonder if Kelly, who has the Ducks in serious contention for their third consecutive BCS Bowl Game since taking over for Mike Bellotti, will one day be coaching on Sunday afternoons.

3. I like Urban Meyer as a commentator for ESPN but the former Florida head coach needs to be back on the sidelines.  I would understand if he wants to avoid Steve Spurrier's mistake of leaving Gainesville and then returning to a different SEC school but he would be a perfect fit as the next head coach at Ohio State.

4. Remember when I practically begged UConn to replace Randy Edsall with Sean McDonnell of New Hampshire? 

Well, the Huskies made a major mistake passing on McDonnell but Boston College could reap the benefits when they decide to finally replace Frank Spaziani.

McDonnell would be the perfect fit at BC and would get the Eagles back to being an annual participant in bowl games and into contention in the always wide open ACC.

Thanks for reading - back to the picks.  All picks against the spread (the Bible) and home team in capitals.

NCAA

Clemson (-8.5) over MARYLAND
Might as well ride the Tigers while they're hot.

Kansas State (+3) over TEXAS TECH
WIldcats are still flying under the radar.

Oklahoma State (-7.5) over TEXAS
The Cowboys offense will pick up where Oklahoma left off last week.

OREGON (-15.5) over Arizona State
Even with LaMichael James out, Oregon's will roll.

Louisiana State (-16) over TENNESSEE
It's sad how fall the Volunteers have fallen.  LSU will not feel so bad for them.

Last Week: 3 - 2
Season: 20 - 10

NFL

GREEN BAY (-14.5) over St. Louis
This is not going to be a fun day for the Rams.

Jacksonville (+12) over PITTSBURGH
The Steelers will win but Maurice Jones-Drew will do enough damage to let the Jags cover.

WASHINGTON (+1.5) over Philadelphia
Even though the Vikings suck, you Donovan McNabb is enjoying the Eagles embarrassing start.

San Francisco (+4) over DETROIT
27-24, Lions, in overtime.

Carolina (+4) over ATLANTA
35-24, Panthers. 

CINCINNATI (-7) over Indianapolis
I have to admit, it's been fun watching the Colts implode without Peyton Manning.

Buffalo (+3.5) over NY GIANTS
Tom Coughlin will always have that Super Bowl XLII ring to remind him when times were good.

BALTIMORE (-7.5) over Houston
Without Andre Johnson, the Ravens will load up on Arian Foster and the Texans run game.

OAKLAND (-6.5) over Cleveland
I'm eagerly anticipating betting the Patriots in a Divisional Round playoff game against the Raiders in Foxboro  Watching highlights of the 2002 "Snow Bowl" will be the icing on the cake.

PATRIOTS (-7) over Dallas
Tony Romo will throw two Pick-6's in the fourth quarter to allow the Pats to blow the doors off the Cowboys.

New Orleans (-4.5) over TAMPA BAY
Third road game in a row for the Saints is a red flag but the Bucs will not be able to stop the Drew Brees Express.

CHICAGO (-3) over Minnesota
I'm probably not going to invest too much of my time in a Bears-Vikings game on Sunday night.

Miami (+7) over NY JETS
Only because I want to see the wheels fall of for Gang Green

Last Week: 6 - 7
Season: 40 - 34 - 3