Now as part of our new focus on Fantasy Sports we’re also going to be concentrating on real Fantasy Football. That’s right the NFL. Fantasy NFL is the greatest fantasy sport in the world because of the nature of the sport and the numerous ways that have been designed for you to play it. I’m currently playing a game called Pig Skin Pick’ems on ESPN.com where the idea is to pick the winners in each of the weeks games.

Sounds simple right? Well it’s not. Upsets are frequent and pretty random. Like Al Pacino said, on any given Sunday you can win or lose, unless of course if you’re the Rams. To make things even more interesting my league has decided to pick winners based on the spread, i.e. points handicap.

So without further ado, here are my thoughts on each of this weeks games.

 

Houston Texans (4-3) @ Buffalo (3-4) (Spread, Buffalo -3.5)

First up it’s the Texans who travel to Buffalo as 3.5 point favourites against the Bills. I think the Texans beat the spread in this one. Buffalo have rallied from a 1-4 start in the last two weeks and appear to have some momentum building. However, both those wins came against average teams, the Jets and Panthers who coughed up 8 interceptions between them. Matt Schaub is a different breed of Quarterback though and I don’t expect him to make the same mistakes as Delhomme and Sanchez. If he doesn’t, I just can’t see Buffalo being able to score enough.

Verdict: Texans beat the spread

Cleveland Browns (1-6) @ Chicago Bears (3-3) (Spread, Chicago -13.5)

Fresh from a humiliating beating at the hands of the Bengals last week, the Bears welcome the terrible Browns to Chicago this week eager to halt their 2 game losing streak. The Browns are terrible on offense and defence and this could be a week to own Matt Forte (please Gods of Fantasy Football). I can’t see the Browns winning this but they are bound to attempt to keep this to a low scoring fare and I think they spoil things just enough to get within 2 touchdowns of Chicago.

Verdict: Chicago win, Cleveland beats the spread.

Seattle Seahawks (2-4) @ Dallas Cowboys (4-2) (Spread, Dallas -9.5)

The Cowboys currently have a 2-1 record at home having lost only to the Giants in week 2. Meanwhile the Seahawks have been totally toothless on the road and have lost by 13 and 17 points against the 49ers and the Colts respectively. Following a bad defeat at home to the Falcons last week Seattle need a win here but they are just too inconsistent and Dallas will be able to get to Hasselbeck. Cowboys to win this one I think and to win it well.

Verdict: Dallas beats the spread

St. Louis Rams (0-7) @ Detroit Lions (1-5) (Spread: Detroit -3.5)

Two Super Bowl contenders these are not. In fact in the Rams we have probably the worst team in the league and in Detroit the 3^rd or 4^th worst. Matt Stafford could be back for the Lions which will significantly boost their chances given the Rams anaemic pass defence.  One of these weeks Steven Jackson will score a touchdown and it might well be this week. However its not going to be enough and Detroit will have enough to see them through.

Verdict: Detroit beat the spread

San Francisco 49ers (3-3) @ Indianapolis Colts (6-0) (Spread: Indianapolis – 12.5)

The 6-0 Colts are the heavy favourites in this matchup against the 49ers. Last week Alex Smith stepped in to the Quarter Back position in the second half for Shaun Hill and nearly lead the team to a victory against the Texans. Smith has been around since 2005 having held the starting spot in 2006 he’s hardly played the since. He’ll be eager to make the most of this opportunity and he will need to because if the 49ers are to have any hope they need to keep Peyton Manning on the side line for as long as possible. Even then, it might not be enough, just ask the Dolphins. I think the hostile dome gets to Smith and the Colts jump out to a big lead which they never let up.

Verdict: Colts beat the spread

Miami Dolphins (2-4) @ New York Jets (4-3) (Spread: Jets -3.5)

The Jets host the Dolphins in New York this week having lost to the same opposition in week 5 in Miami thanks to a last minute touchdown from Ronnie Brown. Whoever loses this is likely to be out of the running for a playoff place and the Jets will be worried about Sanchez’s form the past few weeks despite his  performance last week (Raiders don’t count). The Dolphins will be smarting from blowing that lead against the Saints last week.  I think this will come down to whether the Jets can stop Miami’s run because if they can Henne is likely to make mistakes through the air. As it will hurt my fantasy teams, I think the Jets will have more success this time and the AFC East will be between the Pats and the Jets come Sunday night.

Verdict: Jets beat the spread

Denver Broncos (6-0) @ Baltimore Ravens (3-3)  (Spread: Ravens -3.5)

Thank God for Ray Rice people. The man has been a top 10 running back for me this year and I love him for it. Denver have surprised everybody by getting to 6-0 and they’ll face a tough assignment this week in Baltimore. Baltimore started like a train but have lost the last 3 on the spin and are in desperate need of a win this week to get the show back on the road. I think they get. I like Flacco, Mason, Rice et. al and I think that the bye week will have enabled them to sort out their problems. They’ll get the win this week and I think they’ll just about beat the spread too. But it’s a close call people.

Verdict: Baltimore beat the spread

New York Giants (5-2) @ Philidelphia Eagles (4-2) (Spread: Eagles -2.5)

What the heck has happened the Giants the last two weeks? 4-0 and looking like the best team in football suddenly they’ve hit a pothole and now they don’t look the best team in the division. The Eagles and Cowboys have closed up  in recent weeks and this is a “two pointer” for both teams. I think that the Giants are going to have to win this one through the air because they’re running game has flattered to deceive for much of the year. Eli needs to step up and make some plays this week. I think this will be a great game but I’m putting my money on McNabb not the younger Manning.

Verdict: Eagles beat the spread

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3) @ Tennessee Titans (0-6) (Spread: Titans -2.5)

I think this is going to be the week for the Titans. They have home field advantage coming off the bye week and they face the Jags who have been in and out to date. The Jags are 1-2 on the road so far this year with their last road trip ending in a 41-0 whooping in Seattle.  I give the Titans a chance here but they need to shut down a talented run team and David Garrard could make swiss cheese of their Pass D which has been shocking to date. I’m torn on this one. I think the Titans are a much better team than 0-6 suggests but their confidence is shot. Can Vince Young make the difference?

Yes he can

Verdict: Titans beat the spread

Oakland Raiders (2-5) @ San Diego Chargers (3-3) (Spread: Chargers -16.5)

Oakland are terrible but then again they did beat the Eagles the other week. I don’t think there is much doubt that the Chargers are winning this game but 16.5 points is a lot to cover. Week 1 saw the Chargers beat Oakland by 4 points in Oakland but now the Chargers have LT back and he’s showing a little bit of form. The Jets hammered Oakland on the ground last week and I think that the Chargers will do likewise this week. I don’t like this match up. It’s a tough one to call. I think the Chargers win and win big but you just never know with San Diego.

Verdict: Chargers beat the spread….hopefully

Minnesota Vikings (6-1) @ Green Bay Packers (4-2) (Spread: Green Bay -3.5)

Brett Farve does a Michael Owen this week and returns to his former home in the uniform of one of their most hated rivals. Yes, it’s the Vikings v the Packers this week and it’s the game everybody in America is talking about.  Aaron Rodgers is a quarterback I like a lot and I think he’s going to be fired up big time for this game. The question is, can his offensive line stand up and be men because he’s sacked a dangerously high number of times. Farve will no doubt be fired up too. The Vikings lost last week with Farve throwing 51 times and I think they lose this week as well. I think Farve tries to force it and makes a few errors this week. We don’t take kindly to Michael Owen types around here.

Verdict: Packers beat the spread

Carolina Panthers (2-4) @ Arizona Cardinals (4-2) (Spread: Arizona -9.5)

Irresistible force meets immovable object this week as the Panthers run offence goes up against the excellent run defence of the Panthers.  How good would this Panthers team be if they had a QB who could chuck the ball. Steve Smith has talent but he’s also wanted for the murder of my fantasy hopes this year. Arizona are on the up and I think that will continue this week. Kurt Warner is showing form and with Larry Fitz I see them beating the Panthers deep.

Verdict: Cardinals beat the spread

Atlanta Falcons (4-2) @ New Orleans Saints (6-0) (Spread: Saints -9.5)

New Orleans have learned how to run the ball and crucially defend and the result is 6-0. They nearly came unstuck last week at home to the Dolphins but Drew Brees engineered a second half come back that rivalled Lazarus. This week they face a Falcons pass defence that can be described as “not great”. I own Michael Turner in both my leagues and I’m hoping he can repeat Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams success on the ground from last week. But I’m betting he doesn’t. The Saints go marching on, and they beat the spread to boot.