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EatDrinkandSleepFootball.com
Where Football's a Way of Life!
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Our FREE picks against the spread are purely for entertainment purposes only. But, let's face it, being right (winning) is more fun than being wrong (losing).
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Prefer to win -- i.e., not lose? Us too.
In 2008, our five handicappers (we're down to
four in 2009) all finished above .500. In fact, two
of our handicappers finished with a 60%+
winning percentage. (See last year's picks.)
Like to pay for your picks? Us neither.
That's why our picks are free.
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Prefer to win -- i.e., not lose? Us too.
Final 2009 results: 102-95-3 (51.8%) against
the spread (ATS).
In 2008, our five handicappers (we're down to
four in 2009) all finished above .500. In fact, two
of our handicappers finished with a 60%+
winning percentage. (See last year's picks.)
Like to pay for your picks? Us neither.
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Fantasy Football 2010 from The Tip Drill:
Top 150 Cheat Sheet
More Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DEF
Fantasy podcasts at Blog Talk Radio
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CONTRIBUTOR
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GAME 1
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GAME 2
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GAME 3
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Kevin
2009 Record: 60.0% (18-12)
2008 Record: 63.3% (31-18-2)
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Vikings (-4) at Browns
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Bears at Packers (-3.5)
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Chiefs at Ravens (-13)
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Vikings -4
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Packers -3.5
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Ravens -13
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Was Christmas changed to September 13th
without anyone telling me? Because the
oddsmakers have given us a gift with this
line. Although we finally know that the Browns
will start Brady Quinn (over Derek Anderson)
at quarterback, does it really matter? The
Browns offense hasn't scored a touchdown
since November 17th and they start the 2009
season facing one of the league's best
defenses. Despite having Shawn Rogers on
the defensive line, the Browns rush defense
allowed 151.9 rushing yards per game
(5th-worst) last year. The Vikings finished
2008 with the 5th-best rushing offense (145.8
yards per game) and the league's most stout
rushing defense (76.9 yards per game).
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In my opinion, the Packers are the best
team in the NFC North although the Bears
(and Vikings) are close behind. Compared
to the Bears, the Packers have a much
more balanced offense with Aaron Rodgers,
Greg Jennings and Ryan Grant. Last year,
the Packers ranked fifth in the NFL in
scoring offense (26.2 points per game) and
eighth in total offense (351.1 yards per
game) despite Rodgers being a first-year
starter and a slow start by Grant. This year,
Grant enters 2009 healthy and Rodgers
enters the season with a year as starter
under his belt and without the Brett Favre
circus in Green Bay (at least this week).
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While I generally steer clear of double-digit
spreads, the Ravens are clearly 13 points
better than the Chiefs. In fact, they may
be 20 points better. The Chiefs struggle
stopping what the Ravens love to do:
running the football. Last year, the Ravens
led the NFL in rushing attempts with 37 per
game. The Ravens ranked fourth in
rushing yards while the Chiefs ranked third
worst in rushing defense. But the Chiefs
stop the pass nearly as poorly as they stop
the run and Joe Flacco has looked very
sharp in the pre-season. In a way, this is
almost like extending the pre-season an
extra week for the Ravens.
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Dan
2009 Record: 60.0% (18-12)
2008 Record: 60.0% (30-20-1)
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Vikings (-4) at Browns
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Eagles (-2) at Panthers
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Bills at Patriots (-10.5)
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Vikings -4
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Eagles -2
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Patriots -10.5
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Welcome all again to another great football
season, and hopefully another year at 60% or
better! So the much anticipated sideshow of
Brett Farve begins, and it starts with a warm-
up game in C-Town. The Browns coach Eric
Mangini looks to take a page from Bill
Belichick's book and will not name his starting
QB. Now the real question is, does this really
matter, neither Derek Anderson or Brady
Quinn will make much difference on Sunday.
The Williams wall is clear to play, and this
bodes poorly for Mangini's favored rushing
attack tactics, and keep in mind Jamal Lewis
was a popular name to not make the Browns
roster of 53 last weekend. Look for AP to have
a big day, even with Shaun Rogers stuffing
the middle, as the Vikings have won the last
three games in a row, and hold a 9-3 lead all
time vs the Browns. Go with the old man just
having fun out there, throwing a few
crackbacks and win going away, as some
would wish he'd just stay away.
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Many are calling the Eagles one of the
NFC's elite this year, and many
prognosticators have pegged them for a
deep playoff run. Of course, nothing is
better than proving yourself right away, as
they face the Panthers in Carolina. Many
questions are in need of answers, and no I
am not talking about Mike Vick and his
wildcat role. I think one of the biggest
question marks is how will the Eagles
defense perform after the tragic passing of
coordinator Jim Johnson. To me, Johnson
was one of the best game planners out
there, and many QB's still have nightmares
of his creative blitz packages and cover
schemes. I have a feeling that Philly will
find a way to quiet the two-headed monster
of Deangelo Williams and Jonathan
Stewart, and force Jake Delhomme to beat
them. For the Eagles, I am always big on
Westbrook getting his touches, and also
newcomer LeSean McCoy looks electric.
Remember the Eagles have won 4 out of
the 5 games these two teams have played,
so take the points as this is one of the best
dog matchups out there.
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And then there is this, the leading Monday
Night Football matchup, and the return of
Tom Brady. The Patriots don't just have
Buffalo's number, I tend to think they have
at least 10% stake in the team from Ralph
Wilson, as they have won the last 11
games in a row. New England has begun a
youth movement on defense by trading
Richard Seymour and Mike Vrabel, and the
recent retirements of Rodney Harrison and
Teddy Bruschi. However, getting Tom Brady
back on a team that went 11-5 without him,
and the addition of two savvy veterans in
Joey Galloway and Fred Taylor on offense
only adds to the arsenal. I think I will break
down the rest of this matchup in a brief Bill
Belichick styled press conference, the Bills
have the following problems to contend
with: an all-new starting 5 offensive line,
firing of the offensive coordinator one week
before the season starts, Belichick has had
all summer to prepare for this game, and
the TO saga begins. Lay the points for a
classic Patriots beatdown, as Brady will use
the Monday Night stage to prove he is back.
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Sean
2009 Record: 55.2% (16-13-1)
2008 Record: 52.9% (27-24)
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Titans at Steelers (-6)
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Cowboys (-6) at Buccaneers
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Jaguars at Colts (-7)
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Titans +6
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Buccaneers +6
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Jaguars +7
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It is just a towel, I don't see any extra
motivation in this game for the Steelers. The
Titans are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games in
September, and the underdog is 5-1 ATS in
the previous 6 meetings against each other.
It wouldn't shock me to see Tennessee win
this one out right. Tennessee's 8-0 record is
mainly because the media/Vegas continue to
disrespect this team on a yearly basis. Each
year, I find a few teams and stick with them
until Vegas corrects the lines. 6 points is a lot
here considering there probably will only be 30
points scored total in this game. The Titans
defense minus Albert Haynesworth, might I
add, dominated Pittsburgh's offensive line
last year, and I think we will see more of the
same on Thursday.
Titans 16 Steelers 14
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The Cowboys have looked great in
pre-season, but that is just pre-season. 6-
point road favorites is a little too much,
especially against Tampa Bay. I am not a
huge Bucs' backer, I have them going 4-12
this season. The last time Romo faced the
Bucs he lit them up for 5 TDs, but those
were the T.O days, and without T.O last
season he looked completely lost at times.
I think he will adjust fine this year, and
actually end up playing better in the long
run, but just too many points for me in
week 1. I like Dallas to win, but I think it
will be a close game. Home team is 5-0
ATS in last 5 games.
Dallas 23 Tampa Bay 20
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I am crazy enough to predict that not only
the Colts don't win the division this year,
but they miss the playoffs entirely.
Jacksonville plays them tough always, and
Indy can not stop the run. Jacksonville has
a healthy offensive line, and David Garrard
is one of the most underrated QBs in the
league. The Jaguars are also 4-1 ATS in
their last 5 games playing in Indianapolis,
also the road team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4.
Indianapolis has won beating the Jags by
more than 8 points once in the past 10
contests. These games are close, and it
would definitely not shock me to see the
Jags win this one outright. Don't sleep on
the Jags this year. Colts 27 Jaguars 23
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Jamie
2009 Record: 43.3% (13-17)
2008 Record: 55.1% (27-22-2)
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Vikings (-4) at Browns
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Chargers (-9) at Raiders
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Eagles (-2) at Panthers
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Vikings -4
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Chargers -9
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Panthers +2
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I fully expect the Vikes to win this one by 10+
just with the running game and D they will
bring with them this weekend. Throw in one of
the greatest QBs of all time on arguably his
best supporting cast seems like easy money.
Take the Vikes here as the Browns don't even
know who the QB was going to be for them as
of yet.
[Editor's note: Brady Quinn will start.]
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Are the Chargers really the most talented
team in the AFC? On paper, most likely.
But I think it's safer to say the Raiders are
one of the worst teams currently in the
league. I expect a huge comeback year
from the Chargers D this year with
Merriman back. Will the drama with
Merriman and his drunk date be a
distraction? Nope, not this week as it will
just make Merriman look to make more of
a statement coming back from last year.
Take the Bolts here.
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I'm really having a tough time here with a
third game that is jumping out at me, but
looking a little deeper, why are the Eagles
giving 2 points heading into Carolina this
weekend? I understand they are hyped in
the press right now. But Carolina is a strong
football team despite the Delhomme
playoff egg he laid last year. This will be
one of the better played games this
weekend and should be close throughout.
But give me the home team in this one.
Take the Panthers and the points.
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