Last week wasn’t kind to the either of us Frenchs, as I went 0-3 in my college picks and Duds only scored one correct prediction on NFL kickoff weekend. With more football being played, let’s see if the last two weeks have done anything to better our predictions and fatten our wallets.
Saturday, September 19
Last week I picked all high profile games and ended up on the wrong side of three close ones. Let’s see if I can nail down some safer picks this week.
#8 California(-14) @ Minnesota, O/U – 52 1/2
Cal hasn’t had the best luck on the road recently, dropping four straight. That streak will come to an end this week. The Golden Bears boast one of the nation’s top rushing attacks led by stud Jahvid Best and a reliable offensive line. Couple that with the Golden Gopher’s 92nd ranked rush defense, and you have a recipe for a large Cal victory.
PICK: Cal -14
Tennessee @ #1 Florida(-29 1/2), O/U – 53
Lane Kiffin did himself no favors by publicly stating they’ll be singing ‘Rocky Top’ after his Vols knock off Urban Meyer’s Gators. Add to it his accusations that Meyer has stolen recruits illegally and he’s built up quite a bit for Meyer to motivate his Gators with.
Florida has averaged 60 points so far against a couple of cupcakes while Tennessee whooped Western Kentucky before being upset by visiting UCLA last week. The Tennessee defense is good, but I have a feeling Meyer has been prepping for this game since practices resumed over the summer. Kiffin will need his offense to take better care of the ball and I don’t think they will. I see the Gators putting the throttle down early and never letting off until the last horn sounds.
PICK: Florida -29 1/2
Texas Tech @ #2 Texas(-17), O/U – 66
These two played to the best ending of a game in all of the 2008 season. Grahm Harrell and Micheal Crabtree connected on a touchdown pass as time expired to give the Red Raiders a come from behind victory that knocked Texas out of the Big 12 and National title picture.
Gone are Harrell and Crabtree, but Texas’ Colt McCoy is back behind his big, experience O-line and surrounded by big play options at his disposal. This game will be played in Austin, so look for Mack Brown to put on a show for all the rabid Longhorn fans seeking revenge. Tech will score some, but no where enough.
PICK: Texas -17
Wes: Last Week- 0-3, Season- 3-4
Sunday, September 20
Duds was way off on his assessment of the Carolina/Philadelphia contest and didn’t get much closer with his upset pick of Miami at Atlanta. He did, however, hit on the 49ers going into Arizona and knocking off the defending NFC champs. He’ll look to build on that victory and is taking a new approach this week; instead of taking all underdogs and the points, Duds likes the favorites this week.
Houston @ Tennesse(-6 1/2), O/U – 40 1/2
Tennessee held strong last week at Pittsburgh (no easy task), but lost the overtime coin toss and never saw the ball, dropping a tough game 13-10. Houston on the other hand was expected to start out with a high flying offense as they took on a new look Jets teams with a rookie under center. The Texans looked awful, scoring just seven points while they watched Mark Sanchez celebrate his first career win on their turf.
The Titans are still one of the best defensive teams as they showed last week, which means it won’t get any easier for Matt Schaub and Co. in Nashville. Duds has this as his LOCK, take the Titans giving less than a TD.
PICK: Titans -6 1/2
Baltimore @ San Diego(-3), O/U – 40
The Ravens and Chargers each underwhelmed a bit in their debuts, the Ravens needing a couple late scores to beat Kansas City and the Chargers needing the same to come from behind at Oakland.
The Ravens defense was suspect at best, giving up 24 points to a shaky Chief’s offense, at home no less. The Chargers were a bit off on offense, but they looked better on defense and will be playing to the home crowd. Baltimore also has to travel across four time zones for this one. Take San Diego at home.
PICK: San Diego -3
New York Giants @ Dallas(-3)
Dallas had an impressive win in Tampa, though the defense didn’t do anything outstanding. Tony Romo and the offense were great though, putting up 34 points and over 300 yards through the air. The Giants struggled with the Redskins at home, eeking out a 23-17 win. If not for a defensive TD in the second half, the Giants would have dropped their opener on broadway.
Dallas at home is good for three points (the way spreads go the home team is minus three automatically) which is what they’re giving. That tells us the powers that be think these two are a pick ‘em on a neutral field. Duds disagrees. He’s not an Eli Manning fan and didn’t see enough from the Giants defense that says they can stop Romo’s high flying attack. He’s probably right with how banged up the G-men’s secondary is.
PICK: Dallas – 3
Last Week- 1-2, Season- 1-2
