Week 4 Recap/Week 5 Preview:

Week 4 Recap:

For the Week/Season:
vs. W/L: (13-1)/(49-13)
vs. ATS: (10-4)/(40-22)
vs. Aggregate: (7-7)/(26-36)

ATS Vs. “The Sportsline Experts”:

PFN: 40-22-0
Judge 35-27-0
Richard 34-28-0
Urbano 31-31-0
Harmon 29-33-0
Prisco 28-34-0
Madden 27-35-0

W/L vs. “USA Today Experts”

PFN: 49-13
Pete O'Brien 49-13
Sean Leahy 46-16
Skip Wood 43-19
Nate Davis 43-19
Jim Corbett 40-22
Gary Mihoces 42-20
Tom Pedulla 42-20
Jarrett Bell 39-23

Week 5 Preview:

We’re already starting the second quarter of the regular season, and, as usual, there is a mix of good games and some duds. This week Chicago, Green Bay, New Orleans, and San Diego have an early vacation. So we’re ready to bowl you over just like Bronko rolling over left tackle.

Minnesota -10 At St. Louis 39

The Vikings are coming off a big home win against the Pack in which Favre had a big night against his former team, so the question is whether Minnesota is due for a letdown. Meanwhile the Rams may just be the worst team in the NFL with not a great deal of hope on the horizon. It really doesn’t matter whether Boller or Bulger is out there for the Rams because it’s going to be a rough time under the dome against a vastly more talented team.

Projected Final Score: Minnesota 27, St. Louis 10

Dallas -8.5 At Kansas City 42

By now it’s no secret that the Chiefs aren’t much better than the Rams, but what exactly have the Cowboys done to be installed as almost double-digit favorites? The Cowboys haven’t been models of consistency so far and the offense will be without Felix Jones and Roy Williams this week, which will limit some of Romo’s options. The Cowboys are, at best, a mediocre team but ought to roll against a really bad one.

Projected Final Score: Dallas 26, Kansas City 17

At Carolina -3.5 Washington 37.5

Which team is in more disarray? The ‘Skins didn’t set the world on fire in their home win against Tampa Bay, and this week travel to Carolina, who’s winless and coming off a bye. This is a dangerous combination that the ‘Skins are stepping into. That being said, it’s also hard to see how the Panthers are being installed as favorites. Carolina’s back is up against the wall and this is a game they have to win. This game is about as appealing as dog waste on the sidewalk.

Projected Final Score: Carolina 23, Washington 20

At Philadelphia -13.5 Tampa Bay 42.5

Whatever happened to “parity”? Has there ever been a year when there are so many downright awful teams? This week the woeful Bucs travel to Philly where McNabb has been itching to get back in the lineup. This will simply be another long afternoon for the Buckeroos…

Projected Final Score: Philadelphia 34, Tampa Bay 13

At NY Giants -16 Oakland 40.5

This game marks the first two-plus touchdown spread of the year as the awful Raiders travel to the Meadowlands for a date with the G-Men. Manning is coming off a heel injury and may not be 100%. Does it matter? The Giants could put Y.A. Tittle out there and still blow Oakland off the field, though they have been biy a little by the injury bug. McFadden will be out for the next couple of weeks, and he’s pretty much the Raiders’ offense. So it’s JaMarcus Russell (ugh) and a cast of thousands against the Giants.

Projected Final Score: NY Giants 27, Oakland 10

At Buffalo -5.5 Cleveland 40.5

“Close enough” may be good in horseshoes but it counts for naught in the NFL. Still, the Brownies played a tough game against the Bungles before going down in OT. The Bills were routed down in South Florida last week and are looking for a little redemption at home this week. This one won’t exactly be billed as a “Clash of the Titans” but the Bills, even for all their O-Line issues are still the better team.

Projected Final Score: Buffalo 24, Cleveland 17

At Ravens -8.5 Cincinnati 42.5

The Ravens almost pulled out a win in Foxboro last week, so they should be looking to stomp Cincinnati this week. This will be a typical hard-nosed AFC North bash The Bungles were lucky to escape Cleveland with a victory and have to feel a bit queasy going into M & T to face a Raven team that will be in a decidedly foul mood. But the Ravens have some deficiencies in their passing game which Palmer could exploit so that could make things a little closer than the Vegas prognostication.

Projected Final Score: Ravens 23, Cincinnati 16

Pittsburgh -10.5 At Detroit 43

The Steelers went out to a big lead on Sunday night only to let the Chargers back into the game late. Mendenhall proved to be a revelation filling in for Willie Parker as he gained 165 yards and should be able to duplicate that feat this week. Detroit hung around with the Bears for a half or so before getting totally overwhelmed, In the process Stafford suffered a dislocated kneecap and most likely won’t be ready to play this week. This game has ugliness written all over it. Big Ben will burn the house down against the Lions’ atrocious pass defense.

Projected Final Score: Pittsburgh 37, Detroit 14

At San Francisco -2.5 Atlanta 41

Matt Ryan and the Falcons go west coming off a bye to face a streaking ‘Niners crew that simply flattened the Rams last week. When last we saw Atlanta, they played poorly up in New England and see the ‘Niners as a more favorable test. The 49’ers strength is their defense and the ability to pound the football, though Ryan may be able to exploit some deficiencies in the secondary. Look for a close game with the home team squeaking by.

Projected Final Score: San Francisco 23, Atlanta 20

At Arizona -5.5 Houston 48

The Cardinals are coming off the early bye after having been torched by Indianapolis while the Tejanos rolled all over the Raiders last week. Arizona should be sufficiently chastened by their last outing to come out rested and refreshed to have a big game, as they need it to keep pace in the NFC West.

Projected Final Score: Arizona 27, Houston 20

New England -3.5 At Denver 41

In this episode of “Master Meets Pupil”, the surprising Broncos look to go 5-0 against the Patriots, who have defeated tough opponents in successive weeks. It’ll be another of those “vintage uniform” weeks so don’t be shocked by the Broncos with the vertically striped brown and gold socks. New England will be without Fred Taylor (ankle) for a few weeks and that’s got to hurt. There should be no surprises here as McDaniels basically took the Patriots’ offensive playbook with him to Denver, but Kyle Orton is no Tom Brady. Last week the Broncos made Dallas look like a pack of chumps, but the Patriots’ D appears to be getting better each week. The Patriots always seem to have a tough time whenever they travel to Denver and this week will probably be another repeat.

Projected Final Score: Denver 24, New England 21

At Seattle -1 Jacksonville 44

Based off the way the Jaguars played in the first two weeks it’s remarkable to see that they were originally installed as road favorites—on the West Coast no less. The Seahawks were Peyton Manning’s latest victim last week and if Hasselbeck’s still out of the lineup the offense is basically a toothless tiger. It appears as if Garrard has discovered a receiver in Walker-Sims and Jones-Drew should have a big day against the Seahawks porous run defense.

Projected Final Score: Jacksonville 24, Seattle 23

Indianapolis -3.5 At Tennessee 45.5

This one isn’t exactly “must-see TV” on Sunday night as the 0-4 Titans have the unenviable task of trying to get off the schneid against the aforementioned Peyton Manning and Indianapolis. It’s almost inconceivable that Tennessee is winless at this point and if they lose this one, they’ll be playing out the string hereafter. The Titans will receive no sympathy from Indianapolis.

Projected Final Score: Indianapolis 31, Tennessee 21