Winnie left me waiting in the car and took my best buddy out for a good time… I sat in my car and listened to the football games break my heart. Here is how I lost 5 different games with my free picks. My elite picks brought me back close to .500 by going 5-3, but it was still a tough week for Ole Lucky Lester.
Thursday’s Game…
Green Bay Packers (+8) @ Dallas Cowboys: loss
(Line: Tuesday, 3:00am EST: 5Dimes)
Close call, and I’d like to say that Brett Favre’s absence killed the Packers, but I can’t even buy that. Aaron Rodgers came in rolling, and played well enough if the Packers had a chance at all. Truth be told, Ryan Grant had a hell of a game, and TO gave a touchdown away, literally. So I lost this game, but deservedly so. Tough week, not much luck, started with a Thursday Night loss.
Sunday’s Games…
Atlanta Falcons @ St. Louis Rams (-3.5): win
(Line: Wednesday, 9:00pm EST: Bookmaker)
“I think the Falcons are just about done winning games this season, and the Rams just started. Despite losing last week at home to Seattle, St. Louis played a pretty solid game, and still has one of the best offensive units in the game when healthy… I’m sure the public will be riding the Rams in this one, but I honestly think they’ll win by more than a touchdown.” (Me) This picked just seemed too easy, and in the end it definitely was. Not much to say but, I’d be surprised if the Falcons won another game this season, and I think the Rams will win at least two more in the next 4 weeks.
Buffalo Bills @ Washington Redskins (-5): loss
(Line: Tuesday, 5:00am EST: Bookmaker)
Terrible, ridiculous, absurd I’m so old I forgot the rules playcalling lost this game for the Redskins, but I lost my bet when Washington decided to stumble about anxiously down the stretch. I don’t get why they didn’t keep moving the ball and trying to score, this old school way of playing football just doesn’t fit the now in the NFL. Gibbs’ time has passed as an NFL coach, as much as I like the guy. I’m just flat out tired of watching the Redskins outplay their opponents for much of the game, only to droop late in each contest and fail. The Skins were up 5 late into the 4th, but tumbled by 1 as a last second field goal ended their day.
Detroit Lions (+3.5) @ Minnesota Vikings: loss
(Line: Tuesday, 5:00am EST: Bookmaker)
I guess I was wrong about the Lions, and their solid rushing defense. This team has hit rock bottom, and I don’t know how they can turn it around with Dallas getting the nod next week. Bring on Romo and TO? Right, not quite the team you like to see if you need a win to turn your season around.
Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans (-3.5): win
(Line: Tuesday, 5:00am EST: Bookmaker)
The Titans just came out and pounded the ball. Also, Vince Young was tested, and he passed with flying colors. The Texans dared him to throw by dialing up single coverage on the outside, and Young had one of his better passing days in his young NFL career. I’m not sure if the Titans will do much better than 8-8 this season, but they’ll be pretty darn good next season.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers (-7): win
(Line: Tuesday, 3:00pm EST: Belmont)
This game was closer than the final score insisted, but I needed a win, and I got one. The field was a mess, and I made a nice little profit on the under at the last minute. I noticed the rain in the Philly game and went right for the computer to place a new bet on the under. It came close, but some solid defense and some streaky quarterbacking kept the game well under the total, and I got the W there as well.
Seattle Seahawks @ Philadelphia Eagles (-3): loss
(Line: Tuesday, 5:00am EST: Bookmaker)
I would have pushed had Brian Westbrook cut in bounds and scored on that last minute punt return instead of running out of bounds, but ifs and buts are useless and are the type of excuses that annoy everyone. The bottom line is, the Hawks defense came to play on the road, something they rarely do. Also, even though Shaunna Alexander is just about my least favorite player this side of Drew Bledsoe, he actually rand down hill a few times in the second half, and that was enough to keep the Hawks on their winning streak. They have the talent to do damage; now if they can just keep their focus. This was a great game, but it was lost by A.J. Feeley and his love for interceptions.
Monday Night Football Game
New England Patriots (-20) @ Baltimore Ravens: loss
(Line: Tuesday, 5:00am EST: Belmont)
I hate to say it, but the Patriots should have lost this game. My mommy always told me, “You know, those games are all fixed. There’s more important people than those players, and they know the right people, have enough influence, and are big enough asses to decide who wins and who loses.” Aside from crying, and telling her she was wrong, I’ve still never agreed that games are won and lost because rich guys pay off poor guys, but this game could definitely cause a stir amongst those who believe the other way. Honestly, I just think great teams often get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the closest of plays, and while that will always piss someone off, it’s just the way it is. Mike Jordan got the calls, Larry Bird did as well – Joe Montana and the 49ers were the angels of the NFL back in the day, and Wayne Gretzky did what he wanted when he laced up the skates. I hate to say it, but that’s just the way it is. Right now, I’m officially off the Patriots picking train, and back to actually capping their games.