Like last week, the second week of the NFL season brought both good news and well… other news. While I came down from the 10-5-1 high of week one and found a much more average week two at 7-8-1, leaving me at 17-13-2 for the season, Lucky enough I guess. This week was tough; let me tell ya! The odds makers were leaving me looking for ins and outs in places I’d never thought of. I actually found myself believing that Jeff Garcia was going to play well two weeks in a row… what was I thinking? So, many of the games were up in the air, but a few looked sure enough to wager some big cash on. I called these my week 2 super picks. Every week I pick four games that I’d surely bet on. The previous week I was 0-4 making me wonder if I actually knew what I was talking about while I was looking for a place for my wife’s grandma to sleep. I figured hey… everyone has an off week and surely I was part of that everyone, so I took four games and bet a bundle. As it turns out, I came up with a little extra spending cash and a 3-1 record that afforded me some optimism that Grandma may soon get her own place once again! For a closer view take a look at my Super Pick recap.
Short Super Pick Recap: 3-1

Redskins-Giants: I had a feeling this bet was too good to be true. Those tricky Redskins, they had me up in praise after week one, imagining Joe Gibbs return from retirement to be nothing short of magnificent. There’s a chance that still might happen, but if week two is any indicator of the rest of the Redskin’s season, there’s no way the Skins will even touch the top of their division. The Skins looked bad when Mark Brunell was running the show against the Giants, but I couldn’t imagine seeing anything worse than Patrick Ramsey’s attempt to produce a victory. When Brunell went off the field in a crippled limp, I thought, maybe this is a blessing in disguise. Unfortunately for me, the only thing in disguise was Ramsey, who before this weekend, had disguised himself to be an NFL quarterback. Tricked me! And tricked me into betting money on the Skins. At -3, I thought they were as safe as bets get, now I wouldn’t take them at +3.

Jets-Chargers: I knew this bet was money in the bank, which I am now very grateful for because I actually have some money in the bank. The Jets were a steal being only 3-point favorites against the Chargers. I must admit the Chargers put up a closer number than I had imagined, but they were truly never in the game after halftime. Brees, as I had predicted, played a mistake-ridden game and was anything but the flawless leader that he was in week one. Flutie came in at the end and did what Doug Flutie does best and made something out of nothing. The Jets won by 6 and gave me my first Super Pick win of the season.

Seahawks-Buccaneers: Leave it to the Seahawks to make me worry. That high-powered offense that I thought would run and pass all over the Bucs was anything but high-powered. Luckily for me the Tampa Bay offense is as bad as any other team in the NFL. This truth, teamed up with the fact that the Seahawks improved defense is stingy, had me smiling when the game finally ended with the Hawks on top 10-6 and covering my spread by a tiny 1.5. The Seahawks have covered both times this year, and both were wins on the road, a big change from a season ago. We’ll see if Seattle can get their offense going next week against the winless 49ers. For now, I’ll just take my money and run.

Colts-Titans: The Colts got going on the ground in the second half, and then they began to roll. Indianapolis looked good running Edgerrin James for over a hundred yards against a very good Titan defense. Peyton and his crew really wanted this game and it showed as they took over late and never gave Steve McNair a chance, as they didn’t allow him to throw for a touchdown. The banged up secondary stepped up big for a Colts team that now finds themselves at 1-1. This game marked the end of a week that brought my overall Super Picks record from 0-4 to 3-5. Not too shabby.

Other News!

Now that the good news is over and done with, here comes the “other news” as I like to call it. So if I finished my Super Picks at 3-1, and the entire week left me at 7-8-1, easy math would tell you that I didn’t do all that well on my the not-so-super-picks in week two. As if you didn’t know, 4-7-1 isn’t as exciting as last weeks 10-1-1, but you’ve gotta take some punches from time to time.

The Broncos(+3) looked more like donkeys as they failed to score a touchdown against a Jaguars team that obviously finds barely winning exciting. Jake Plummer didn’t bail me out this week.

The Ravens(-3) took it to the Steelers who looked better when rookie Ben Roethlisberger came in for the injured Tommy Maddox, but couldn’t get close to the 30 points Baltimore put up. I knew Ray wouldn’t let the ravens start 0-2.

The Texans(+3), who disappointed me in week one, pulled off more of the same in week two. The defense allowed points like they were free and the Lions took their second win of the season.

The Bears beat the Packers(-8.5), I repeat; the Bears beat the Packers… in Green Bay no less. I almost bet on this game but the spread was just too high. Boy am I thankful I left this one alone. Favre looked old and the Bears, well they looked young. Lovie Smith finally tricked Thomas Jones into playing like the first round draft pick that he was, and yes, the Bears won.

The Saints(-7.5) defense allowed Ken Dorsey to drive down the field for scores. San Francisco score 27 points, a number I thought they’d have trouble accumulating all season. They won, those lucky Saints, but they didn’t cover for me.

I took the Falcons(-2.5) against the Rams after St. Louis barely squeaked passed the Cardinals in week one. Looks like that was one of the good decisions I made this weekend. Vick looked brilliant, rushing for over 100 yards and throwing for nearly 200. The defense looked good, holding Marshal Faulk to under 30 yards and intercepting Marc Bulger twice.

The Chiefs(-6) broke my heart for the second week in a row, losing to a Stephen Davis and Steve Smith-less Panthers team that looked a lot better then they did against the Packers last Monday Night. The ugliest performance of the year goes to Jeff Garcia who made me understand why San Francisco let him go.

The Browns(+4.5) fell one half of a point short of covering against the Cowboys, who also failed to look stellar, but got their first win nonetheless.

The Patriots(-8) took a step backward but beat a feisty Cardinals team and covered in the process. These Patriots are dangerous, often finding a way to play to the level of their opponents.

The Bills(+3) defense was great for the second straight week. Their offense was uglier then last week. Luckily for me, Drew Bledsoe threw a wounded duck into the end zone with 1:20 left in the game and after a couple tips Eric Moulds caught a seemingly meaningless touchdown. Seemingly meaningless for the outcome of the game of course. On the bright side the seven points brought me to a push.

The Dolphins defense played great against the Bengals(-5), but they couldn’t get the win because their offense couldn’t put up points to save their lives. Unfortunately for me, the defense did manage to give up only 16 points, which just wasn’t enough to lose by more than the 5 points I needed them to lose by. Cincinnati got the win, but I got the loss.

In Monday Night’s big showdown between the Eagles(-3) and the Vikings, the Eagles gave me my 7th win of the week. McNabb looked superb and as accurate as I’ve seen him since his career started. Terrell Owens and Randy Moss each caught touchdowns, but the Eagles looked better than the Vikings. Philly took the game by 11, covering the spread by 8 and making me happy for placing that last minute bet. After the game Randy Moss and Terrell Owens hugged and made up. I heard Randy telling TO, “Okay you can compare yourself to me now. You’re worthy!”

I was Lucky enough this weak to escape the injury bug that was everywhere in week two. My amazing record however, wasn’t. But, no need to fret, my Super Picks were 3-1 and my overall record is still soaring high at 17-13-2. Look out week 3 here I come, gonna send the kids to college, or buy me a new Flat Screen TV. Hold it a second… gotta get Grandma back in her own place first!

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Lucky Lester – Free Football Picks