Sports Picks & Predictions

10 Unit Play. #124 Take New York Giants over Chicago Bears (Sunday 8:15 pm NBC) The Bears are coming off an emotional win over the Packers on Monday Night Football but now must go on the road to play the Giants in a short week. The Giants are coming off a terrible performance last Sunday against the Titans and I expect Coach Tom Coughlin to lay the whip into his team, as his job is now on the line. The Bears have a false sense of confidence as the Packers gave them the game on Monday Night with terrible special teams play and costly penalties that negated numerous turnovers. I really like the Giants front seven on defense compared to the weak offensive line of the Chicago Bears. QB Cutler will force the football downfield and I expect the Giants to pick him off a couple of times. The Giants need to cut down on their penalties as well but if they do not beat themselves like the Packers did, I expect them to win this game comfortable. Chicago is 4-11 ATS in their last 15 games an underdog. The Giants are 18-7 (1 push) in their last 26 games in October. Both trends hold true again, as the Giants cannot afford to drop to lose two straight home games.
NEW YORK GIANTS 27, CHICAGO BEARS 13

5 Unit Play. #117 Take Houston Texans over Oakland Raiders (Sunday 4:05 pm CBS) For the first time in a while, the Oakland Raiders had some expectations going into this season and they have laid an egg thus far currently 1-2. The Texans have had great success against the Raiders going 4-1 straight-up and ATS in their five meetings. This includes a 29-6 beat down last year in Houston. The Texans have high expectations this season beyond just making the playoffs, but they need to keep winning as the Colts are right on their tail. Houston came out flat last week at home against Dallas and now needs this game to avoid dropping to 2-2 on the season.
The talent edge in this game is enormous and I expect the Raiders to struggle to move the football against this Texans defense. The Raiders have already made a QB change and they just do not have the weapons on offense to make big plays. Houston is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following an ATS loss.
HOUSTON TEXANS 31, OAKLAND RAIDERS 20

10 Unit Play. #129 Take Green Bay Packers over Chicago Bears (Monday 8:30 pm ESPN) A Monday Night game featuring the top two teams in the NFC North Division is set to take play at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. Both teams come in red hot, as the Packers have beaten the Eagles and Bills this season and the Bears have knocked out the Lions and Cowboys. The difference in this game will be the Packers offense, as it appears that they cannot be stopped. The Bears still have protection issues and I expect LB Clay Mathews to have another big day. Since QB Rogers took over he is 4-0 straight-up and against the spread when playing Chicago. The Bears do not have the same defense as they did in past seasons and you can run and throw on them. Green Bay is 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games against the NFC North. Chicago is just 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games vs. the NFC North. Green Bay takes control of the division and we collect big in the process as well.
GREEN BAY PACKERS 24, CHICAGO BEARS 17

4 Unit Play. #115 Take Chicago Bears over Dallas Cowboys (Sunday 1 pm Fox) The Dallas Cowboys are America

5 Unit Play. #120 Take Green Bay Packers over Buffalo Bills (Sunday 1 pm CBS) The Green Bay Packers have the most explosive passing offense in the opinion of this writer. Despite a slow start and a so-so performance by QB Aaron Rogers, the Packers put up 27 points. This included over 130 yards rushing and that is something the Packers struggled to do in 2009. The Packers defense played outstanding as well, especially LB Clay Mathews and expect him to bring terror to a weak Buffalo offense. Buffalo had just 166 yards of offense last week at home against Miami and I do not see them getting any more production this week. The Packers can simply outscore their way to a straight-up and ATS victory on Sunday, as Buffalo will not be able to keep up pace. Green Bay is 8-1 ATS (1 push) in their last ten games overall. Buffalo is 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games against teams with a winning record. Green Bay big, mark it down!
GREEN BAY PACKERS 35, BUFFALO BILLS 14

4 Unit Play. #124 Take Tennessee Titans over Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday 1 pm CBS) The Steelers are still without QB ben Roethlisberger and that will eventually catch up with them starting on Sunday. Pittsburgh did not score a touchdown in regulation against Atlanta and I expect them to struggle to move the football against a strong defense in Tennessee. Pittsburgh really needed that win last week and I expect a letdown this week in Nashville. QB Vince Young has the ability to beat you with his legs and he passed the ball well last Saturday throwing for two touchdowns and zero interceptions. This will only open more holes for RB Chris Johnson and expect him to get another long run on Sunday since the Steelers are banged up on the defensive line. Pittsburgh is 1-6 ATS in their last seven September games. Tennessee is 10-2 ATS in their last 12 September games. Both of these trends hold true, as the Titans win this game by double-digits.
TENNESSEE TITANS 24, PITTSBURGH STEELERS 13

3 Unit Play. #4 Take New Orleans Saints over Minnesota Vikings (Thursday 8:30 pm NBC) The first game of the NFL season annually features the Super Bowl Champions at home and tonight that takes place in New Orleans. The defending Super Bowl Champion has been a must play in Week 1, as they are 10-0 straight-up and 7-3 ATS the last ten years. The Vikings are really banged up with injuries and will be without WR Sidney Rice, QB Favre

8 Unit Play. #303 Take Minnesota over New Orleans (6:30 pm Fox) The Vikings have playmakers on both sides of the football and I just fell that this is their year and all the cards will fall in place. Minnesota does not allow anybody to run on them and thus the Saints will only be able to move the football through the air. QB Brees is more then capable of doing this, but the pass rush of the Vikings will eventually catch up with them. New Orleans ranked No. 1 in total offense but Minnesota was not far behind ranking No. 5. The difference lies on the defensive side of the football, as Minnesota is ranked No. 6 and New Orleans is ranked No. 25. New Orleans has allowed over 400 yards per game in their last six and some of those were against weak teams in Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Washington. The Saints have never been to the Super Bowl and that streak will stay alive, as QB Favre goes to the game for the third time in his career. Minnesota 27, New Orleans 23.

8 Unit Play. #302 Take Indianapolis over NY Jets (Sunday 3 pm CBS) The Jets are on an improbable run and now we get too see first hand if they can beat the Colts when Indy is playing to win. The Colts were beaten the Jets in Week 16 before they decided to pull their starters and the Jets capitalized and now will enter having won four straight games. That being said, the Jets have no passing game and I just do not see Indianapolis giving the game away like the Chargers did last Sunday afternoon. This team reminds me a lot of the Ravens last season and they ran out of gas against an inferior opponent and that is how I see this game going as well. QB Manning will be able to pick apart the Jets strong defense and when the reach the twenties in scoring, it will be game over for the Jets. The Ravens have a better offense then the Jets and Indy held them to 12 first downs and just three points. Expect similar numbers in this game from the Jets, as Indy punches the first ticket to Super Bowl 44. Indianapolis 28, East Rutherford Jets 10.