UPDATED SUICIDE POOL BELOW.
Our Fins travel to Atlanta and we have been saying for some time now that we are worried about this game followed by the Monday nighter at home against the Indianapolis Mannings. The Fins will be a better team this year but that does not translate to a better record. And that becomes readily apparent this Sunday. Tony and the boys go down in Dixie. Atlanta -4 +100.
The Bills have the unenviable task of opening up in NE against the Cheaters with Tom Brady back for the first time in a year. The line is around -10 Cheaters and 47 O/U. Brady lights up the Bills but the only question is whether the Bills, who jumped on the "fire your O Coordinator a week before the season" train have any offense at all? Cheaters -10 +250. Leave the O/U alone.
Da Bears go to Green Bay in a Sunday Night NFC North division game. This is the 177th time these two teams have played each other. The Pack is back and we have never loved Lovie Smith as a coach. Pack -3 +250, Over 46 +100. Key item to watch: The Pack switched from the 4-3 to the 3-4 and changed D coordinators in the offseason. The 3-4 can be a superior defense, but you need the personnel to run it: namely fast and athletic linebackers and D-lineman, ala the Steelers. The transition is a work in progress. This game will tell us a lot about how successful the Packer D will be the rest of the year.
J..E...T...S... travel with their rookie QB and their rookie Coach to Houston. This is the time the Texans either make a statement or they don't. These Texans are talented, but are they ready to take it to the next level and pound those teams that should not be able to compete with them? We're not sure, but we're betting the Texans give pretty boy Sanchez and his hefty coach a rude welcoming to the NFL. Texans -4 +250.
Looking for a home team dog upset? You know we don't like those Cowpokes who are 6 point road favorites. If you're looking to have some fun, eschew the points and take TB in a money line playing for the upset. We're not picking this game officially, but we may throw a few Vanilla Phillips on the Tampa Bucs for fun.
100 Parlay: Texans (-4) and Seahawks (-8). (A two team parlay pays 13-5 or 260 for a 100 bet).
What we're watching closely: The Cardinals/ 49'ers game. This could be a trend. Are the Cardinals overrated? Can Mike Singletary get his 49'ers to play above themselves like Sporano did for the Fins last year? This game will tell us a lot.
Best game we can't pick: Philly at Panthers. This is a great game- perhaps the best of the week. I can see either team taking it.
SUICIDE POOL:
Rumpole: Seahawks. Ifitikhar Memon (hereinafter IM): Chargers; Michael Feller: Saints;
Sexy Fan: Ravens; Dan Lurvey: Saints; Clay Kaiser (who took us down to the wire in the first yearof the pool): Saints; Weisman/Foster: Saints; David O Markus: Ravens;
Miguel De La Over: Ravens; Fake Alex Michaels: Texans; Rick Freedman: Saints; Jimmy the Greek: Jets (Jimmy- that's the boldest, dumbest pick of the day. Good Luck. HR.)
UPDATED: Fernando Rodriguez makes a quick entry and exit with his hard luck pick of the Bengals; Rank Master and Peter Sauter picked the Ravens, and LAST YEAR'S CHAMPION CARY CLENNON RETURNS TO DEFEND WITH HIS PICK OF THE VIKES.
You can still get in the pool by picking the Cheaters or the Bills tomorrow night. Hmm...tough choice.
It's going to be very lonely very quickly if Detroit pulls off the upset of the year.
Any email that arrives before the start of the game gets you in. That means even if you miss the 1pm start, you can send an email for the 4pm, 8pm, or Monday night game and you will still be in the pool. At some point tonight I will post an updated list of everyone who is in. Don't freak out if it's 5pm and you don't see your name. As long as you send the email you're in.