I Ride Giants, Raiders, etc.

I've been unable to get on the internet for the past week, which prevented me from losing money on WASHINGTON(+3)over dallas, and michigan(+20.5) over OHIO STATE, among others. I'd assumed that the only way Dallas would be favored over the 'Skins was if they were at home, and I was really pissed that I didn't catch that Dallas was a road favorite on Monday Night. I would definitely have taken Washington as a home dog.

Of course, Dallas won, 14-10.

Michigan got ripped, 45-7. Chances are good I would not have taken Michigan, even though I thought they might turn up and lose by 14. I didn't want to mar my enjoyment of the possible slaughter, which, of course, came to pass, even though Michigan kept it close for a half.

It's Sunday Morning, and I just finished watching Spurs beat Blackburn, one-nil. England is about to host South Africa in rugby. So far I haven't been able to find a spread for this game, but I'm sure the Springboks are a clear favorite, as they have beaten England 5 or 6 times in a row, including twice in last year's World Cup. England is already on the board, though, 3-0.

South Africa just tied it, 3-all.

I'm looking at the NFL, and I'm pretty disappointed that I couldn't bet earlier in the week. New England opened as a1 or 2 point dog at Miami, and is now favored by 1.5. I really like the Pats here, but I don't know about paying a 2 or 3 point premium. On the other hand, New England is 16-1 following a loss the last few years, and Matt Cassel looked really good last week, so...

I'm thinking about paying the extra vig to get nygiants(-3)over ARIZONA. This could be a good test for the Giants, and I see alot of people picking the Cards, just as I see a lot of people picking the Jets to upset Tenessee. These picks make sense, as these teams are not really so dominant that we should expect them to run the table, but I just don't see the sense of trying to cherry pick the weeks that these teams will stumble.

Bill Simmons picks Arizona this week, at the same time as he lists them as one of the 14 teams who has effectively negated their home field advantage by building a state-of-the-art stadium. Add to this factor the fact that the Giants have been consistently good on the road for the last couple of years, and I like the Giants. It doesn't hurt that the Giants play defense, either. I like the fact that the Giants have an outstanding pass rush, coupled with the fact that Kurt Warner has a tendancy to fumble when hit. There are alot of reasons to like the Cardnails, but I think there are more reasons to like the Giants. nygiants(-3.5)over ARIZONA The vig was too much.

I don't like the Giants as much as I liked them as a 3 point dog at Philly, but I still like 'em.

I like indianapolis(+3)over SAN DIEGO. I know the Chargers have had the Colts' number lately, but right now San Diego is last in the league in pass defense. Not exactly where you want to be when Peyton Manning is in town. Both of these teams got off to slow starts this year, but Indy has really picked it up, while the Chargers seem to be banking on the fact that Denver sucks. You can argue that San Diego really needs to win this game, and you'd be right. But Indy is in a 4-way tie for the AFC Wild Card, with no hope of catching Tennessee. I'd rather bet on a team that needs to win and is actually playing well.

The only thing that has me worried is that Holiday Inn ad Peyton Manning did. It shows him getting flack from hotel employees who are apparently fans of their hometown teams. It ends at San Diego, with the implication that they are one more scalp for Manning's Colts. Is this commercial bulletin board material for the Chargers, or the future unfolding before our eyes?

Denver may suck, but they are at home against Oakland, the face of suck. Detroit may be in the dictionary under suck, but Oakland should be. They represent the best chance for Denver's awful defense to actually stop somebody. DENVER(-9)over oakland.

I'm starting to lose faith in the Washington Redskins. They've lost their last two games, and they haven't exactly hammered the crappy teams they've managed to beat. Here's their chance to show that they are as good as the Eagles, by beating up on a crap team. I don't think they blow out the Seahawks the way the Eagles did, but hopefully they win by at least four. washington(-3.5)over SEATTLE

I'm really curious to see what happens in the Eagles at Baltimore game. It features a desperate team that doesn't run the ball and that just found out that you can tie in the NFL, against a solid defense playing at home. I can see why people like the Ravens here, but Philly scares me enough that I'm avoiding this one. Philly will finish this season as the butt of many jokes, but they will take some scalps along the way. Baltimore might be one of them.

Of course, I'm also interested in the Jets at Tennessee. It's noon, Central time, and I, with my Sattelite dish, have just started to watch this game. We'll see if the Jets can hang.

Notre Dame was probably saving their voodoo for USC, or maybe for next year. Don't wanna needlessly squander karma with Charlie's job on the line. Charlie probably figured if the Irish couldn't beat Syr-excuse without some voodoo then fuck it--this season's over. And it is, as the Orangemen beat Notre Dame, 24-23. A loss to USC will bring ND to 6-6, which I think still makes them bowl-eligible, sadly enough. All they needed to do was beat Syracuse and they would have been 7-5, and could have pretended they were still relevant. Now they are a bowl game loss from 6-7.

The Jets are up, 7-0, after a quarter. The Lions lead Tampa Bay, 17-7. Good thing Cincy got that tie, or the Lions #1 pick could be in jeopardy. Too bad the best college player out there is Michael Crabtree. Matt Millen must be turning over in his grave...or in the unemployment line.

The Jets are up 10-0, right in front of the 2 minute warning. The Lions trail, 21-17. Hello Michael Crabtree!