NFL Picks - Week 9

Apparently, there is a pretty big game this week. We hadn't heard too much about it. If you know which one of the below is the game in question, feel free to drop us a line.

The hot streak continues for this column, after a quietly efficient 8-5 week (though the 1-2 Best Bets were a concern). Looking to stay hot, we submit the choices for Week 9, relying pretty heavily on the favorites:

TENNESSEE (-4.5) over Carolina
Titans continue to have some pretty ugly games, win or lose, and could very easily be 3-4 right now, but the unsettles Panther QB situation, coupled with a tough road venue, leads us to believe Fisher's boys can lay the 4.5, though it will probably be ugly.
Titans 24 Panthers 17

TAMPA BAY (-3.5) over Arizona
Like the Bucs at home just about as much as we don't like the Cards on the road. Always wary of the back door cover by 'Zona, but will lay the number nonetheless.
Buccaneers 27 Cardinals 20

Washington (-3.5) over NY JETS
The Kellen Clemens Era begins! Will that make a difference for the disappointing jets? Maybe a little bit, but we like a pissed off Washington team which was humiliated by the Pats last week to come back with a vengeance and take it out on Mangini and Co.
Redskins 30 Jets 13

NEW ORLEANS (-3.5) over Jacksonville
Seems a bit high here, but we still think the Jags will struggle with Quinn Gray at QB against the resurgent Saints. This one could be one of the more entertaining games of the week, with the Saints pulling one out.
Saints 20 Jaguars 14

San Diego (-7.5) over MINNESOTA
Vikes just can't seem to understand that they have one of the most explosive weapons sitting in the backfield in Adrian Peterson, as shown by the sparse usage of the rookie. Chargers seem to have things back together now and can enhance their team speed in the Metrodome. This one might get ugly.
Chargers 31 Vikings 13

ATLANTA (-3.5) over San Francisco
Ugh. Woe be to those who are forced to watch this stinker. Niners are a mess on offense, which makes us think the Falcs can out enough on the board to cover.
Falcons 17 49ers 10

KANSAS CITY (-2.5) over Green Bay
Pack should have lost last week if not for the remarkable ineptitude of the Bronco red zone offense. Short week plus back-to-back tough venues add up to the biggest Chief victory thus far.
Chiefs 20 Packers 16

DETROIT (-3.5) over Denver
Wow, how the heck are the Lions 5-2? Denver has not traveled well and will have its hands full in the Motor City. Still trying to figure out how the Best Corners in Football(tm) were burned for two bombs last week against the Packers.
Lions 24 Broncos 19

BUFFALO (-1.5) over Cincinnati
Bills should be 5-2, and seem to be gaining confidence each week. Bengals are a mess of a team, and are going nowhere. Love the Bills at home with this low spread.
Bills 19 Bengals 10

CLEVELAND (-1.5) over Seattle
Seahawks are another team which can't seem to play consistently on the road, while the Brownies, behind Derek Anderson is playing his way to a Hawaii trip. Don't look now, but Cleveland might be able to maybe, possibly, hopefully think about the playoffs with a win here.
Browns 27 Seahawks 24

INDIANAPOLIS (+5.5) over New England
Oh, this is the game everyone is all hot and bothered over, eh? We've been riding the Pats train all year, and they have not let us down. Still, these Colts are easily the most potent offense, as well as the toughest defense New England has seen thus far, and if you think Brady and Co. will just show up and put 40 on the board you're nuts. While we believe the whole deal about NE being on a missions and crushing all in its path, we still think Indy will find a way to, at the very least, stay close.
Patriots 26 Colts 24

Houston (+3.5) over OAKLAND
Honestly, does anyone else besides the people who set the lines think the Raiders are 4 points better than anybody right now?
Texans 29 Raiders 27

Dallas (-3.5) over PHILADELPHIA
Tony Romo will have to try not to justify his shiny new contract in one day. Cowboys are better, and the Philly boo birds will be out early and often. The Andy Reid situation strikes us as more of a distraction than a rallying point right now as well. Throw in the TO Revenge factor, where he will most certainly do something douchebaggy if and when he scores, and you've got a recipe for a blowout.
Cowboys 31 Eagles 16

MONDAY NIGHT
PITTSBURGH (-8.5) over Baltimore
Initially we thought this line was too high, but upon further review take the Steelers with no qualms. Ravens are not exactly a scoring machine, and the defense has just enough holes to allow Pittsburgh to put up a few points.
Steelers 23 Ravens 10

BEST BETS: Washington, Kansas City, Buffalo

Last Week: 8-5
Overall: 64-52