Week 9 Review/Week 10 Preview:

For the Week/Season:
v. W/L: (11-2)/(72-58)
v. ATS: (8-3-2)/(64-62-4)
v. Aggregate:(11-2)/(73-57)

ATS v. The Loyal Opposition:
FOXSports Peter Schrager 72-58
ESPN Bill Simmons 69-56-5
CHFF: 66-60-0
CBS-Brinson 65-63-3
Walter Football 65-61-5
Postcards From Nowhere: 64-62-4
CBS-Judge 64-64-3
USA Pete O’Brien 62-63-5
CSNNE Rich Levine 62-62-5
CBS-Richard 61-67-3
CBS-Prisco 59-69-3
CBS-Katzowitz 57-71-3

Weekly v. W/L v. PFT, ESPN NFL Experts & USA Today Analysts:
PFT-Rosenthal 87-43
Nate Davis (USAT) 84-46
PFT-Florio 84-46
Mortensen (ESPN) 83-47
Schlereth (ESPN) 83-47
Accuscore (ESPN) 81-49
Gary Mihoces (USAT) 80-50
CHFF: 79-50
Pete O'Brien (USAT) 79-51
Pick 'em (ESPN) 78-52
Golic (ESPN) 77-53
Sean Leahy (USAT) 77-53
Jim Corbett (USAT) 76-54
Jon Saraceno (USAT) 76-54
Jarrett Bell (USAT) 73-57
Hoge (ESPN) 72-58
Postcards From Nowhere: 72-58
Wickersham (ESPN) 71-59
Schefter (ESPN) 70-60
Tom Pedulla (USAT) 69-61
Allen (ESPN) 64-66

Week 9 was our best week so far this year as we moved up a couple of notches in the standings, but we don’t care for chest thumping around here, so let’s look at Week 10.
At Indianapolis -6.5 Cincinnati 47

Give the Bungles a little credit for making a game of it in the fourth quarter in Monday night’s home loss to Pittsburgh, although chances are they’ll be playing out the string hereafter. Indy nearly came back at the end in their loss in Philly, but was most shocking was the injury suffered by Austin Collie. Having reviewed the play, it was clear that the contact by the corner and safety was not malicious, and Collie’s concussion was the result of the dangers of a receiver catching a pass over the middle. The Bengals will be able to run the ball against Indy’s poor run D, and Indy may be overlooking the Bungles in anticipation of two big games coming up, but we’ve learned it’s foolish to pick against Peyton Manning—especially at home.

Projected Final Score: Indianapolis 27, Cincinnati 20

At Jacksonville -1.5 Houston 49.5

Is there any reason why the Jags should be favored here? What an ugly game this ought to be. The Texans are coming off a tough road loss and their secondary is abominable but scoring is not a problem for Matt Schaub and the offense. The Jags are coming off a bye and (should) be prepared for a division rival at home. The key to the game is whether the “good” David Garrard shows up on Sunday. If he does then the Jags have a decent shot of winning. Everyone knows that the Schaub will exploit the Jags’ weak secondary and put up a ton of points. Better to go with what’s known than with the mystery quarterback.

Projected Final Score: Houston 31, Jacksonville 28

At Miami -2.5 Tennessee 43

Randy Moss makes his Titans’ debut in Miami as the Dolphins are looking for their first home win this year. The question is whether Vince Young will be ready to play or the Ol’ Grey Beard. The Dolphins were humbled by the Ravens last week and Coach Sparano will work the troops hard in anticipation of meeting a good team. Chad Pennington will get the start this week as the Chad Henne Experiment appears to have run its course. The oft-injured Pennington is a proven winner and may have success leading an offense that has underperformed to date. But now that Moss can take the top off the defense, it opens things up for Chris Johnson. Hate to see Miami lose again at home, but…

Projected Final Score: Tennessee 21, Miami 17

NY Jets -3 At Cleveland 37.5

Don’t go looking for lightning to strike twice in Cleveland. The Browns can run Hillis 50 times and resort to all the tricky plays they want, but the reality is that the Jets’ defense will be a much, much tougher nut to crack than the Patriots’. The Browns played a great game against New England on Sunday, as everything they tried on offense worked and they capitalized on the litany of Patriots’ turnovers and mistakes. They were good, but they were lucky as well. The Lions made Coach Ryan’s crew work for every yard before going down to defeat in OT on Sunday. The Jets ought to feel chagrined over the way Sunday’s game played out and will not be overlooking Cleveland as a side trip en route to the AFC East title. Everybody and their cousin is picking the Browns in an upset, and maybe they’re correct in their assertions. But for the self-proclaimed “champions”, if they lose on Sunday it’s a big signal that they can be had.

Projected Final Score: NY Jets 23, Cleveland 21

Minnesota -1 At Chicago 39

The OG led his team to a thrilling OT win against Arizona last week but this week the Vikes travel to Soldier Field, where the Bears (similarly winners in OT last week) will be looking to put an old fashioned Chicago whipping on Favre & Co. OG will find the Bears’ pass D much harder to crack than the Cards’. Harvin was down with migraines all week and his status is up in the air. The 5-3 Bears remain thick in the hunt of things in the NFC North and will move the chains on Sunday.

Projected Final Score: Chicago 24, Minnesota 21

At Buffalo -2.5 Detroit 44

The Bills’ annual Canadian sojourn produced yet another heartbreaking loss. The Bills don’t deserve to be winless and to their credit, they haven’t quit on Coach Gailey (yet). The Bills seriously need to consider opening up the vault and pay whatever is necessary to land a guy like Bill Cowher to take over the program. The Lions have issues of their own, as Matt Stafford is down again with a separated shoulder suffered in last week’s OT home loss to the Jets. After such an emotional loss, you’d have to think that the only way the Lions can get ramped up for this one is being installed as underdogs to a winless team (some motivation, no?). This week may be the Bills’ last, best chance to break through.

Projected Final Score: Buffalo 23, Detroit 20

At Tampa Bay -7 Carolina 37

The Panthers may arguably be worse off than Buffalo. They were pummeled 34-3 at home last week and lost Matt Moore for the season in the process. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are also hurt and Steve Smith is less than 100%. To throw a rookie like Jimmy Clausen into this chaos is grossly unfair to his professional development. The Bucs may have lost in Atlanta last week but gave the Falcons a real run for the money.

Projected Final Score: Tampa Bay 24, Carolina 14

At Denver +1 Kansas City 43

Even though Chiefs lost in Oakland, it was a thrilling game reminiscent of the great AFL/AFC West battles. The Broncos are coming off the London trip and a bye after losing uninspiringly. Right now, the Chiefs still sit atop the AFC West (with San Diego breathing hard down the back of their necks) and need to determine this week whether they’re contenders or pretenders. The Broncos have a lousy run D so look for Jamaal Charles to have a big afternoon.

Projected Final Score: Kansas City 24, Denver 20

At San Francisco -5.5 St. Louis 38

It’s hard to state with any degree of confidence that the 2-6 ‘Niners have righted their ship. The 4-4 Rams are a young, exciting and competitive team at home. On the road they still have a long way to go. A win by Coach Singletary’s team would put them just a game back of the Woeful NFC West leaders. Right now, Alex Smith is out and perhaps Troy Smith offers a dimension to this offense that has been lacking.

Projected Final Score: San Francisco 24, St. Louis 17

At NY Giants -13.5 Dallas 44.5

We don’t take pleasure in seeing anyone losing their job. But Son of Bum has had a great career in football, has probably amassed a small fortune and is nearing the normal age of retirement. The Snake Oil Salesman (Jones) wants full control of the operation from hot dog sales to calling plays. When Son of Bum was hired a few years ago, we stated that he was a terrific defensive coordinator but lacked the necessary motivational skills to become an effective head coach. When the talent was there with the Cowboys, a trained monkey could’ve brought them to the playoffs. When the injuries came, America watched as the Cowboys imploded and quit on their coach and themselves. Now Jason Garrett has the unenviable task of trying to motivate a 1-7 team for the rest of the year to keep his job. One of the Cowboys’ best D-Linemen, Marcus Spears, hit the IR this week and that simply compounds the challenge for Garrett. The G-Men are coming off of a rout of Seattle and are in the driver’s seat in the NFC East. Coach Coughlin will have Big Blue primed to kick some major league ass on Sunday. Coach Coughlin won’t take his foot off the gas until this one is safely in the bag.

Projected Final Score: NY Giants 31, Dallas 14

At Arizona -3 Seattle 41.5

What an awful matchup this is, two bad teams going nowhere fast. The Seahawks were humiliated at home last week and now have to find the motivation to take on a fair/poor team that seems to play somewhat better at home. There’s really nothing more to analyze or on which to spend an extra second.

Projected Final Score: Arizona 24, Seattle 20

At Pittsburgh -4.5 New England 45

The Steelers withstood a late charge by the Bungles on MNF to win 27-21 thereby putting themselves in the conversation about the AFC’s best. Despite also being 6-2, no one (save for the footie-pajama wearing Patriots yahoos) reasonably includes New England in that conversation. Why? Because their defense isn’t playoff caliber. Peyton Hillis blew threw the D-Line like a torch on Sunday and Rashard Mendenhall ought to enjoy similar success this week. His success may be somewhat curtailed by the loss of LT Max Starks. The Cleveland game was FUBAR from the opening kickoff for the Patriots and they’re better served by treating it as a throwaway and focusing squarely on trying to beat a team that is more balanced and talented before a hostile crowd. Now comes word that Stephen Gostkowski is done for the year with a leg injury and the Pats have signed Retread Shayne Graham to take his place, good grief. Can the Patriots win? Sure, if Brady dinks-and-dunks his way upfield on swing passes and screens. BJGE or Woodhead aren’t going to have much luck on the ground. Look for Big Ben to mix the pass and run as the Steelers walk off with a comfortable win.

Projected Final Score: Pittsburgh 28, New England 20