...And now on to my NFL wagers for the week.

NFL

1. OAKLAND at home over Denver (-3): I keep betting against Denver; I keep getting burned. Still, I like betting for home underdogs in the NFL. That is probably the biggest difference in my picks between the NFL and NCAA. I pick a lot of favorites in the colleges. There are just that many blowouts. In the NFL, I am a great deal more selective.
The Raiders have the running game and offense to keep this game close. One thing people may not have noticed is the improved ball control of the Raiders offense has helped their defense that had struggled the past couple of years. The Broncos run offense, after a few weeks of struggle, looks like it’s back to where it has been in years past. Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell make a heckuva one-two punch, allowing the team to take some of the pressure off Jake Plummer. With both teams running the ball a little better these days, the game should be shortened. Shortened games are usually close games.
At home in a rivalry matchup, I don’t think it’s out of the question to see the Raiders win this game outright. That’s what you look for in an underdog, so take the Raiders and the points.

2. DALLAS at Philadelphia (-3): This is one of those games I told myself I would pick whoever the underdog was. It’s going to be a highly emotional rivalry game which could go either way. I think the Cowboys are a more solid team right now, but the Eagles are a longtime division champ at home looking at this as not only a revenge game (after a 30-10 loss in Dallas earlier this year) but also their best chance to salvage the season. Betting on either team has something to be said for it. But when I saw the Eagles installed as 1 and 1/2 point favorites, I knew I was going with Dallas and the points.
Since that time, Phillie money has rolled in and the Eagles are 3 point favorites. I can’t help but wonder if Americans are smoking crack on this one. Actaully, I think betters may be putting too much stock in the therapeutic value of a Terrell Owens purge. Yes, the Eagles and their fans will feel better about themselves after dumping T.O., but they are still left with major question marks on both sides of the ball. Reggie Brown looked good last week, but rookies tend to be up and down. We can expect the loss of Owens to catch up to the Eagles at some point this year; it might well be this week.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys are coming off a bye week, which allowed them to get Julius Jones and Anthony Henry more or less healthy. I imagine Parcells will have the ‘Boys primed for prime time. Getting 3 points, this is a value pick, simply a good odds bet to place.

3. KANSAS CITY at Buffalo (-2 1/2): Once again, I’m a little mystified by this point spread. Buffalo is at home in this one. Buffalo is coming off a bye week. Priest Holmes is out for the year on the other side of the ball. So I can see reasons why people are betting them. But I still can’t help but wonder if the Chiefs simply aren’t the better team in this game.
This is the same Bills team that gave up 4 rushing touchdowns to the Raiders a few weeks ago. And Larry Johnson showed last year that, running behind that beefy Kansas City o-line, he may be better than Priest Holmes. I see no way Kansas City gets blown out in this game. If that’s the case, at the very least, they have a chance to pull this one out for you in the fourth quarter. Just as likely in my opinion, the Chiefs win this game outright.

4. CAROLINA PANTHERS at home over the New York Jets (+9): I don’t like betting point spreads near 10 in the NFL, but this is one I simply can’t resist. The Panthers may be the hottest team in the NFC right now. The Jets are on their fourth string quarterback as the starter. I see this turning into a rout.
Keep in mind that the Jets did keep their loss to the Chargers close last week. They were able to scrape together enough offense to score in the twenties, even. But that was at home after the bye with the Chargers flying cross-country for the game. None of that is happening this week. Expect Brooks Bolanger to get clubbed by the Panthers Defense this week, while Steve Smith and company post a big total against a meager Jets D.

5. WASHINGTON at Tampa Bay (+1): Tampa Bay is in a freefall. I believe Cadillac Williams is still injured. Note that the Bucs running backs coach claimed a week or so ago that Cadillac’s foot injury usually takes about 8 or 9 weeks to heal. He injured the foot six weeks ago. That would explain Cadillac’s almost nonexistent production since his return to the starting lineup. In times past, Gruden would simply roll Michael Pittman out there. But Pittman is nursing a shoulder injury that limits his playing time, too.
Without a running game, the Bucs have had to lean on Chris Simms. Simms simply is not ready for prime time. He doesn’t seem to have good field vision, which leans to inopportune interceptions. I see another loss for the Bucs, who are perhaps in a holding pattern until Cadillac is fully healthy and (I can’t believe I’m saying this) Tim Rattay takes over the reigns from Simms. Injuries have undermined Tampa Bay’s playoff run this year. Washington is simply healthier. I see Joe Gibbs’ squad winning this one.

6. DALLAS and PHILADELPHIA OVER (39 1/2): Just like last week, this is another highly-charged Monday Night Football matchup. It may play tight early, but I see one team getting up and then posting higher-than-usual offensive totals. Though both defenses are good, the Cowboys are most vulnerable through the air. That’s about all the Eagles do (is pass) these days, so expect McNaab to have his moments.
The Cowboys posted 30 on the Eagles the last time around. They did that throwing the ball. Expect Parcells to give the Eagles a steady diet of Julius Jones and Marion Barber early. He’ll want to see if the Eagles are the team that gave up over 200 yards and 3 touchdowns to the Broncos running game, or the team that held Ladanian Tomlinson to his lowest total in the last couple of years. If the former is true, the Cowboys should be able to post a total near 30 again. If it isn’t the case, then Parcells will let Bledsoe loose and the Cowboys’ veteran passing attack will have moments of its own. In the end, this should be a highly-entertaining nationally televized game with a healthy score.

Final Note: That's it for this week. I'd like to see everyone else's picks, too. One of my favorite things is to go over last week's games and talk about the week ahead. Good luck, everybody.