Category — Sports

A road trip is the reason why I’m writing this on Saturday night and keeping it brief.

San Francisco at Atlanta

I’m going with Atlanta here. I’d love for San Fran to finally get a win but Atlanta at home seems more likely.

Cincinnati at Cleveland

This game never sounds exciting. I’m actually going with Cleveland here. They have to start winning sometime and I think this game is important to them, they’re at home and they’re due a win. Plus Cincy has a way of choking.

NY Jets at Buffalo

I’ve already made an underdog pick and I don’t hate the Jets enough to think Buffalo can beat them. I have to go with the Jets here.

Seattle at St. Louis

Seattle actually looks decent. They might be better than we all thought. I’m going with Seattle on this one.

Denver at Tennessee

The battle of two teams that people argue are either over or under achieving. Both teams are mediocre why can’t we just go with that. Tennessee wins at home.

Detroit at Green Bay

Green Bay lost to the Bears. I doubt they let another game they should win slip through their fingers. Although if Detroit wants to have a winning season it has to start now. I’m still going with Green Bay.

Baltimore at Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh at home. I love it.  How good is this team going to be once they have their regular quarterback…or even their backup quarterback. Or even their third string quarterback. What other team can win with a fourth string starter at the most important position?

Carolina at New Orleans

Carolina doesn’t look like a winner this year. I’m going with New Orleans.

Indianapolis at Jacksonville

Jacksonville is a mess right now and the Football Robots of Indianapolis will be glad to show them their weaknesses.

Houston at Oakland

A lot of people are going with Oakland pulling off an upset at home. But the Texans are still a good team.

Washington at Philadelphia

This game should be awesome. Nothing like a good dramatic story to force on an already good game. I think McNaab has the goods to out throw Vick. It’s a game of which defense can hold up and I’m going with Washington.

Arizona at San Diego

Ew…but San Diego should win this one making Arizona one of the worst teams in the NFL.

Chicago at NY Giants

Is Chicago for real? I was telling one of my friends that Chicago is the Denver of last season.

New England at Miami

You can’t bet against New England in this one. They’re angry and need to win.

Week One Notes: I went 10-6 for week one, 63%. Not bad. First off Arian Foster is my hero right now. That man went insane on the Colts. Although mad props to the Texans O-Line and the blocking beast that is Vonta Leach. If you go back and watch some of those runs look for Leach punishing people with awesome lead blocks. Not trying to take away from Foster but I could have averaged about three yards a carry with that blocking. Both of the times the Texans have beat the Colts, I picked the Colts to win…consipiracy?

The Cowboys looked terrible, which made me really happy until I realized I picked them to win.

I take the bad things I said about San Diego/Kansas City not being a good game. That game was good and it looks like KC might actually be a good sleeper this year. (Or at least like Denver last year.)

The Jets offense looked bad (just like I said it would). I think the Jets are good, just not as good as everyone is making them out to be. I’ve said that since the Jets became media darlings last season. Enough chit-chat let’s get to the picks.

Pittsburgh at Tennessee

The Titans were lucky enough to play the Raiders in week one but this game is going to test them for real. The Steelers look good, Dennis Dixon…not so much. I still think Dixon is a solid back-up but I obviously retract my “people will love Dennis Dixon” after his week one performance.  I feel a low scoring game here with a stout Steelers D and a most likely lack luster offense against the Titans. However I think it’ll be easier for Tennessee to get on the board.

Miami at Minnesota

Both of these teams had an unattractive week one. Minnesota got embarrassed on the season opener and Miami made me  wonder if the Bills were a good team. That does not bode well for Miami fans. The Dolphins are better than that but hey they still got the win. I’m going with Minnesota at home and with an angry Favre. P.S. How many more games does Favre have in him? A side bet to make with friends.

Arizona at Atlanta

Arizona barely got by the Rams and now have to travel to Atlanta. Atlanta’s offense looked pretty back but I think they’ll get back in the grove this game. And maybe the Atlanta defense can get some confidence against Arizona. Atlanta wins.

Baltimore at Cincinnati

The Bengals might be able to get some passing yards against the suspect secondary in Baltimore. Yeah right now Baltimore is 1st in passing yards allowed but that’s just because the played the Jets. And the Bengals ate up yards in the air last week. However I think the Ravens are better and will not lose this game. Another close game for Baltimore this week? The return of the Cardiac Cats? I think so.

Kansas City at Cleveland

I think this is an easy pick (depending on whether a not KC is a fluke). KC looked good in the late night MNF and last week Cleveland looked like…well Cleveland. And there are reports the Jake Delhomme is questionable and not practicing. I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing for Cleveland. I still think KC can win this and show they’re a good team now.

Chicago at Dallas

This is a tough call because it’s really tough to peg these teams for me right now. I’m going with Chicago because Detroit is not as bad as they have been and Chicago put good D on them and had a decent offensive outing. And Dallas really likes beating themselves.

Philadelphia at Detroit

The battle of the backups. Michael Vick is starting his first game since 2006 which will be either very disappointing or very exciting. It’s like when Quentien Tarentino came out with the Grindhouse Double Feature. You knew it was going to be great or it was going to be a huge tease. On the other side there’s Shaun Hill, filling in for Matthew Stafford. Shaun Hill is actually 10-6 as a starter and is a decent QB. But he has as much appeal as that Legends of G’Hoole owl movie.  As much as I want the Lions to win this one I have to go with the Eagles.

Buffalo at Green Bay

No Ryan Grant for Green Bay but the good news is they have a week to figure out how to run the ball. Playing Buffalo is a free pass for Green Bay to find out what works for them without Grant. This would be a tough win for Buffalo on the road, I’m going with Green Bay.

Tampa Bay at Carolina

I smell a game with a lot of rushing yards here. It’ll be a close one with Carolina getting the edge.

Seattle at Denver

Seattle’s win over San Fran was not all that impressive on their part. I think Denver is the better team and will be ready to win this one. Maybe I just hate Pete Carroll.

St. Louis at Oakland

I don’t know where to begin with this one. I’m thinking Oakland but it’s almost too close to call. You really would like one of these teams to come out of the NFL cellar but last week did not look good for either team. The team that wins this could gain momentum to…almost hit 500 but the team who loses is verifying their spot in the cellar. I’m going with…sigh…Oakland.

Houston at Washington

Will Arian Foster have a repeat performance? No. Will Arian Foster have a good game? Yes. One thing about the Texans though is they have an incredible passing game that was not unleashed last week. I’m thinking the pass attack comes full force here. This should be a very pass happy (Kyle Shanahan) game but I’m going with Houston to win the shoot-out.

New England at NY Jets

This game should be fun. In one corner we have a team loved by the media who is showing it’s flaws and had a horrible week one. In the other a team that is not well like outside of it’s own fan base, has been written off this season, however had a great week one. The Pats look good and I don’t think the Jets have what it takes to stop them. Sub-plot of this game is whether or not Randy Moss gets stranded on Revis Island.

Jacksonville at San Diego

I don’t want to pick one here because I feel like I’ll be jinxing one of them. This is an important win for both of these teams in terms of momentum. I think the Chargers are a better team and they are playing at home. San Diego will win but the Jags might be able to prove that they’re to be taken seriously.

NY Giants at Indianapolis

The battle of the Manning’s. Here’s the way it works. Indy is a better team. Indy has now lost the Super Bowl and a game vs. the Texans they historically win. Indy is a football machine that wins games. Indy will beat the Giants.

New Orleans at San Francisco

The Saints are in back-to-back prime time games here. The Saints looked really good last Thursday and have had plenty of time off to rest and prepare. San Francisco on the other hand had horrible offensive woes last week and have a really tough opponent here. New Orleans should win this game hands down.

Bring on the NFL. I’ve been craving some football and I’m ready to pick some winners. This offseason has been more entertaining than most with the Winter Olympics, the World Cup, Tiger Woods…etc. But now football season is upon us and I am starting my second annual weekly picks. Last year I went 163-91 (.641) and prided myself in have 30 more wins than Bill Simmons, the Sports Guy. I feel this it needs a name like “Paul’s Picks” or “Paul the Geek” or something like that but not as lame. I don’t know. Anyway without further ado here’s week one:

Minnesota at New Orleans

I just can’t see Brett Favre winning this for Minnesota. I’d pick New Orleans’ defense stopping Minnesota’s offense in what could be a shoot-out. Favre is missing that receiver I can’t think of at the moment and Percy Harvin is having migraines. And migraines ain’t no joke. How can you run routes when your head is being destroyed? Favre’s nightmare is revisited on Thursday. New Orleans.

Miami at Buffalo

How many games will Buffalo win this year? And how many games will Miami win before we really start to care? I really don’t see Buffalo as the type of team that gets off to a good start I’m going with Miami.

Detroit at Chicago

I feel bad for the Lions. But not bad enough to pick them over the Bears. I say the Bears win this one mainly because I can’t pick the Lions until the Lions start proving they can actually win a game. I can’t pick the Lions this early until I see them in action. Chicago.

Oakland at Tennessee

Anyone who knows me knows that I always try to find a reason to not pick the Titans. This game doesn’t look good for Oakland. Their at Tennessee and they have to play Chris Johnson. We all know Oakland’s run defense is suspect. And yeah the offense will be better with Jason Campbell…it will be better nobody said anything about it being good. Also, I don’t see the hype about Oakland stealing the division. Tennessee.

Cincinnati at New England

I have a feeling this is going to be a really good game. The Cardiac Cats are going to be in effect this game. I think the Bengals can beat the Pats here but the Pats make less mistakes than the Bengals. I’m going to say this will be close but it’s hard to pick the Bengals to not only beat the Pats but not beat themselves. I’m doing it any way though. Cincinnati upset.

Carolina at NYG

This is strange because I feel a lot of people are high on Carolina and downing the Giants. Personally I think Carolina is a year away from being really good. Only time will tell. For now I’m going with the Giants.

Atlanta at Pittsburgh

I’m going with the Steelers here because I like the Steelers D. I like the Steelers at home. I like the Steelers passing attack against Atlanta’s pass defense (yes even with out Big Ben). I might even go so far as to say people will love Dennis Dixon after this game. I think Matt Ryan & Co. is going to struggle against the Steelers D and Mike Tomlin is going to have a great game plan for success with Dixon at QB. Pittsburgh.

Cleveland at Tampa Bay

This is one of those games that I wonder if anyone will win. On paper I had trouble really picking a winner so I’m going with coaching and management on this pick early in the season. Holmgren/Mangini seems better I’m going with Cleveland.

Denver at Jacksonville

I predict Jacksonville will have more people on the field than people in the stands. I really think Jacksonville will have a stellar offensive year.  I say Jacksonville wins it but the people of Jacksonville won’t care. They’ll still walk away angry because Tebow didn’t play.

Indianapolis at Houston

If you followed my picks last year you know I rarely pick against Houston. Visions of last year play through my head though. An unprepared Houston team looks horrible in the season opener. We all know the Colts are robots, emotionless beings on this earth for the shear purpose of playing playoff football. As much as I want to pick the Texans I see the first half of this game being Houston shaking the rust off while the Colts show that they are a well oiled machine. The second half will tease me and make me think we could come back but the Colts always find ways to beat the Texans. Prove me wrong Kubiak, Colts win.

San Francisco at Seattle

Everyone, myself included, is on the 49ers bandwagon this preseason. I think the 49ers defense is going to be great. And the reports of the crazy drills they’re putting Alex Smith through makes me think the offense is going to be bland but will be able to move the ball. I think rookie coach Pete Carroll might look a little bad in this game. Who is Matt Hasselbeck going to be throwing to again? Wait is Hasselbeck even starting anymore? Maybe I just don’t know anything about the Seahawks…anyway I choose San Fran.

Green Bay at Philadelphia

Aaron Rodgers is going to prove he’s worth the hype and my  good old friend Dom Campers has a solid defense in Green Bay. Meanwhile in Philly, they’re making adjustments. I think Green Bay is too strong of an opponent for Philly here. I hope Kolb has a good game because I really like him and it could get nasty for him if he doesn’t produce and win. I hope to see a lot of Kevin Kolb Cambell’s Chunky Soup commercials in this game…McNabb passed that torch to Kolb too right? Green Bay.

Arizona at St. Louis

This game seems a lot more exciting on paper than it actually is…and it really doesn’t excite me on paper. I don’t see St. Louis being capable of surprising the downward spiraling Cardinals. Arizona will win but it won’t feel like a win.

Dallas at Washington

I really want Washington to win this one. And I really want Dallas to lose every game they ever play. Ever.  But all of that aside I have to be cautious here and pick Dallas. I really need to see this Washington offense before I can feel good about picking them against good defenses.

Baltimore at NYJ

I’m still waiting for the Jets to break down. I really like this game because it’s going to be a great defensive game. The punters might actually have more to do with who wins than the quarterbacks. I like Flacco in this game more than Sanchez. I’m going with Flacco being able to put it together better than Sanchez can. Baltimore.

San Diego at Kansas City

Kansas City can be one of those surprise teams this year but ANY team in the West (NFC or AFC) could be a surprise team. I think KC could have a good season and everyone is predicting San Diego will decline this year but they’re still the better team. I’m going with San Diego, this is still a team with Philip Rivers and Norv Turner that should get them this win. But now that I think about it, Who choose this to be the opening game for Monday Night Football. San Diego at KC really? Weak.

In one week my blog goes back to football. I’m sure I’ll have time for random stuff and stories I write every now and then but football season will keep me busy. I promise to try and mix it up for people that don’t care about football here but sometimes one post a week is all I have in me.

To those of you who are excited for football season starting back up, I will repeat the same disclaimer I made last year. Do not bet based on my picks. If you put money on the line my picks will backfire. I have a good knowledge of football but I will not say I’m an expert. So my official stance is don’t listen to me. I don’t want to be responsible for you losing your house, wife and kids because of nonstop sports betting.

To those of you who don’t like football…learn to love it.