People like the melons...

This comes from a quote that I found of one of the true bosses of the NFL and the best fullback in the league Lorenzo Neal: "People like the melons, the strawberries, the bananas; they like the tomatoes. I'm like that old onion; When you want a good hamburger, you've got to call on that old onion"--Neal on his role in the Chargers offense." I just felt I should pay homage to a very underrated football dude. Last week I went 8-8 picking winners and 5-11 against the spread...that's just awful. This week I am back with avengence and experience. Onward!!

Thursday 8:00 PM
Cleveland at Pittsburgh
Two pretty shitty teams both coming off wins. Cleveland had one of the big upsets (of many) last week by beating the Chiefs while playing 2 QB's. Frye is questionable but I doubt he will play. The steelers are without 4 starters, including Polamalu and Ward, which really hurts their chances. But they are playing in Pittsburgh in December and I expect the Steelers to pull this one out in what could make for another close game. If Frye plays I say the Browns have a shot.
Prediction: Steelers, Browns cover again +7 1/2
Sunday
Atlanta at Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay comes off another pretty bad loss while Atlanta finally wins a game. I think Tampa Bay is really reeling right now and I could see them not winning a game the rest of the year. Then again they are facing Atlanta, probably the most inconsistent team of the year but who is still in place to make the playoffs. I think Atlanta comes off the last game a little cocky but I still expect them to beat a pretty bad Tampa Bay team. There so bad that they might bench Gradkowski for the third string guy, I wouldn't be surprised if it happened during this game.
Prediction: Falcons, Falcons -3

Baltimore at Kansas City
A really really good matchup of two teams that desperately could use a win. Both teams are coming off losses and match up poorly against one another. The Ravens defense should be able to contain LJ reasonably well, I don't think that the Chiefs passing attack poses any real threat at this point. However, the Baltimore offense sputtered last week and I could see them struggling again in Kansas City. The Chiefs really need a win and playing at home will give them a slight edge but I am going to go with Baltimore, who let me down last week.
Prediction: B-More, Ravens +3

Indianapolis at Jacksonville
Another tought bizarre matchup. The Colts are coming back after having lost 2 of their last 3, and don't want to lose another game with SD playing as they are. Jacksonville on the other hand excels at home and plays like a team possesed there, and you know that they are looking to knock off the division leaders and get into the playoffs. The X-factor of this game I think could be the presence of Brendon Stokely, whom if the Colts can get involved in the passing attack they will be hard to stop. I also cannot see Peyton Manning letting his team lose in back-to-back weeks.
Prediction: Colts, Colts -2

Minnesota at Detroit
A very boring NFC north matchup of two teams that probably won't make the playoffs and should be looking to next year. You know the Lions are when Mike Williams gets into a game. The Lions offense still has a little bit of potency in it while the Vikings are in turmoil after losing to a Bears team they dominated defensively. No one is really sure what the Vikings are gonna do at the QB position but some people are throwing the rookie from Alabama St. Tavaris Jackson's name out there. He's who I want to see play because we all know why.
Prediction: Lions, Lions -1

New England at Miami
The Pats were tested for all 4 quarters by the Bills and the same should be true of the Dolphins this week as well. I am still a big Dolphins fan, but I cannot see them winning this game. The Dolphins secondary is real weak, with Will Allen being a starter, and while Brady has little talent at his WR positions I think he should be able to pick the Fins apart. There will be no Ronnie Brown and he was really there catalyst in their upset against the Bears so without him I cannot see the Dolphins posing any too great a threat.
Prediction: Pats, Pats -3 1/2

Oakland at Cincinnati
I don't know what to say about the Raiders. Every time I see them I have trouble believing how awful they are. The Bengals will win this game but to be honest I don't see them covering a 12 point spread. It's picks like these that make me go 5-11
Prediction: Bengals, RAIDERS +11 1/2

Philadelphia at Washington
Philly is feeling good about themselves and Washington is reeling but I am gonna go with the upset in this one. I like the matchup of the Washington D against Philadelphia, despite the fact that their D actually sucks. I think its time for Jeff Garcia to play like shit, and about time for Michael Westbrook to go down with an injury but this might just be wishful thinking on my part. It should be a close NFC East battle though with a lot of turnovers and hard hitting.
Prediction: Skins, +1 1/2

Tennesse at Houston
Just a pretty shitty matchup of two teams going no where but watching Vince Young the past two weeks one thought sticks out. He's been real impressive at the end of games and we all know what he did against USC so here's my thought. I don't think he will ever be a great QB but I could see him being one of those guys who no matter what is absolutely fucking money in the 4th and that no matter when your playing the Titans you don't want it to be close going into the 4th. He might just be one of those guys who always finds a way to win, a la Steve Young but worse.
Prediction: Texans, Texans (pick)

N.Y. Giants at Carolina
Bad matchup for the Giants as they play the team that fucked them 23-0 in the postseason last year. However this Carolina team is struggling, and its beginning to look like Chris Weinke will be starting for a hurt Jake Delhomme. The Giants have lost 4 straight but played actually decently last week but made some retarded plays that cost them the game. Eli played like a man last week for the first time in a while and I actually think he'll keep it up this week and the Giants will win and finally take control of their destiny. The Panthers are also beat up and playing on a short week.
Prediction: Giants, Giants No line

Green Bay at San Francisco
Two teams coming off big losses. The Niners got slapped around by Reggie Bush and Mike McKenzie, and just looked off in the loss. Green Bay just got killed by the Jets. The Niners need to go with a more steady dose of Frank Gore and need to prevent themselves from getting down early. Green Bay is a team that is really struggling right now but I expect that the rivalry will get Brett Favre going. I think this could be a low-scoring game to watch, with the Niners pulling out a win. Alex Smith has sort of regressed as the season has gone along, and the niners need to ask him to do a little less. Less down the field passing and more dump offs and short yardage passing, because right now he's having trouble making downfield throws.
Prediction: Niners, Packers +4 1/2

Seattle at Arizona
Arizona is coming off a big win over the Rams and a close game with the Vikes so they should be pumped for this game. Seattle on the other hand is coming off a big win against the Broncos. I expect a lot of Shaun Alexander but I believe Mack Strong is hurt so that will hurt their run game. Instead it will be the Seahawks passing game that finally gets on page and Hasselback should pick the Cards apart. The Cards might put up some points but I cannot see them beating the Hawks in this game.
Prediction: Seahawks, Seattle - 3 1/2

Buffalo at NY Jets
Eric Mangini should really be considered a top candidate for coach of the year for taking a Jets team with not a lot of talent and making them a playoff contender. I think that the Bills might have shot their wad by keeping it close with the Bolts for 4 quarters and might come out asleep for this game. Its supposed to be getting real cold and wintery on the East Coast but it will actually will clear up by weekend so this game could be more high scoring than expected.
Prediction: Jets, Jets -4

Denver at San Diego
San Diego is rolling right now and everyone is calling them the best team in the NFL. I wouldnt go that far yet but they are close. Ladanian Tomlinson keeps on balling and will put up another 2 touchdowns I expect this week. Jay Cutler looked like a rookie, liked we all expected he would, but for the Broncos to make the playoffs he must play smarter than he did last week. There cannot be stupid turnovers like he made last week, and he's going to have to learn quickly. Antonio Gates will be hard to stop but the Broncoes match up well with him with Ian Gold and D.J. Williams. If Jay Cutler was not starting I would be picking the Broncs but with him, the Bolts win and clinch the AFC West
Prediction: Chargers, Broncs +7 1/2

N'awlins at Dallas
This game has all the makings of a shootout but whenever I say this it doesnt happen. I think this could be one of the best games of the year, because both of these teams are playing great football right now. The Saints seemed to have figured out how to use Reggie Bush but the Cowboys now have Romo fever. I think that the Dallas defense gives them the slight advantage as they have the talent to make a couple of big stops against the Saints. The Boys are the team to beat in the NFL right now and I think Bill Parcells is loving it at this point, which is an even scarier thought. It will take a veteran coach to devise a system to keep Romo in check and the Saints don't have that in Sean Payton, their rookie coach, and they aren't great on the road.
Prediction: Dallas, Sains +7

Monday 5:30
Bears at Rams
Whoever pick MNF games should be shot. Really this is not that interesting a matchup but it could end up being a good game. The Rams were dominated by the Cards last week but they should play much better this week. The Bears are winning of Defense and Special Teams like always, and while that works in the regular season it won't in the playoffs. I still like the Bears in this game but if Grossman is in single digits again in QB rating the Rams will win.
Prediction: Bears, Rams +7

Done and let me hear your thoughts...