Smitter�s Week 2 Picks vs the spread
Last week:�� 8-8�� Overall: 8-8 50%
FLG�s last week: 2-1�
FLG�s overall: 2-1� 66.7%
After a rough start last week, I won both prime-time games
to finish at 8-8 for the week. I was 2-1 on my FLG�s, the First Look Goodies.
It is only one week, but are the three best teams in the NFL in the AFC? Is
Detroit for real, or was Brett Favre that distracted by Katrina? And was it possible
that Katrina brought the Saints together, and they won Sunday not just on
emotion, but perhaps they have a pretty decent team? Questions, questions,
questions. Here are my picks for week 2.
Steelers at Houston (+ 6 �) � So much
points to the Texans winning or at least covering this week: Maybe no Big Ben,
maybe the Steelers looking ahead to the Patriots, maybe the Texans realizing an
0-2 start going into their bye week may seriously jeopardize any thoughts of
contention��.even with all this, I like the Steelers � 6 �
Baltimore at Tennessee (+ 3 �) � Will the
Ravens even score 3 points? The offense looked pitiful against the Colts, and
now Anthony Wright is the QB? I don�t think the Titans are as bad as we made
them look, and will take the Titans with the + 3 �
Jacksonville (+ 9 �) at Indianapolis � Seems like
a lot of points for this division rival. I think the Colts defense has improved
some, but not as much as it seemed against the Ravens. Jax held a decent
Seattle team to 14 points last week, but I�m going with the Colts � 9 �
Detroit at Chicago (+ 1 �) � Can the Lions actually
start off 2-0 for the first time in a long time? I think so, I�m taking the Lions
� 1 �
Minnesota (+ 3 �) at Cincinnati � The Vikings
need to bounce back from their disappointing loss to Tampa at home. Did Cincy
prove anything by winning at Cleveland? I still don�t think the Bengals are for
real, so I look for the Vikings + 3 � to win
San Francisco (+ 13 �) at Philadelphia � Wow,
this is a lot of points. Philly didn�t exactly set the world on fire in their
stinker on Monday night, but I think the Niners played what will be their best
game of the year last week. I�m taking the Eagles � 13 �.
Buffalo (+ 2 �) at Tampa Bay � As Mark
Madden said earlier this week, �You can�t stop J.P. Losman, you can only hope
to contain him.� I don�t think Tampa contains him enough, and will take the Bills
+ 2 �
New England at Carolina (+ 3 �) � I think
the Eagles of a few years ago is the only team to start off the season losing
their first two games at home, and coming back to make the playoffs. Even
without Kris Jenkins, I like the Panthers + 3 �
Atlanta (+ 1 �) at Seattle � Trouble may be brewing
in the Great Northwest if Seattle starts 0-2. I look for them to contain Vick,
and the offense gets untracked, so I�m taking the Seahawks � 1 �
St Louis (+ 1 �) at Arizona � Nice game
by Larry Fitzgerald, but if the Cards are thinking seriously about a run at the
playoffs, they can�t afford to start 0-2. Of course, the same could be said
about the Rams. I�m picking the Rams + 1 � out in the desert.
Miami (+ 6 �) at N.Y. Jets � The Dolphins had to be
the surprise of Week 1. The Jets were a surprise also, but in a negative way. I
like the Jets � 6 � in this one.
Cleveland (+ 6 �) at Green Bay �
Ahhhhhh, the cure for what ails any team in the NFL � a visit from the
Brownies. I look for Favre to rebound and pick the Packers � 6 �
San Diego (+ 3 �) at Denver � An early
season AFC West tussle. If San Diego can go into Denver and win, they just
might be as good as last year. Gates is back at TE, Jake Plummer looked like
Liquid Plummer last week, so I�m taking the Chargers + 3 �
Kansas City at Oakland (+ 1 �) � The only
thing that comes close to seeing the Browns lose every week is the Raiders
losing every week. Kansas City looked good at home, but this is Oakland. I
still like the Chiefs � 1 �
N.Y. Giants at New Orleans (+ 3 �) � Not much
of a home game, is it? I think the Saints have become �The team everyone wants
to see win.� While emotion can�t win 16 games, I think that the fact that the
Saints have a decent team, and a big Monday night audience, combined with that
emotion, will lead the Saints to another win. I like the Saints �at home� +
3 �
Washington (+ 6 �) at Dallas � What a
mess in the Nations Capitol, and it couldn�t happen to a nice guy than Dan
Snyder. Bledsoe looks like he has some life left in him, so I�m taking the Cowboys
� 6 �
My First Look Goodies (FLG) for the week are:
Buffalo + 2 � over Tampa
Seattle � 1 � over Atlanta