2008 NFL WEEK Three: Free Winning Picks

This is truly terrible and hard to publish. RPJ $yndicate is now 2-5 for our NFL picks. Flash is still 1-0 with a no game last week and Runny came back to the plus side on the week and is now 2-6. This is ugly but it will reverse. We destroyed college football yesterday (10-4 collectively), and we know where we’ve been in the past. Not even sure what we can do to make you feel better. Last week we tried to invoke the spirit of Sarah Palin and that failed miserably. Shame on us for posting a picture of a semi MILF. We think the only thing we can do to reverse it is to show some hot pictures….

Nice crack Miss Klum…

Golf anyone? This is the best picture of Natalie Gulbis ever.

Hopefully those two pics appease the football gods and our picks come around this weekend.

RPJ $yndicate picks

Houston at Tennessee (-4.5) – The return of Kerry Collins. What a glorious thing. If only we knew whether or not he was back on the sauce. Sauce = wins for Kerry Collins. With or without Kerry, the Titans D owns the Texans. And in the NFL, teams like the Ravens and Bears can make the Super Bowl with a jacked D and a mediocre QB that will not turn the ball over. With the Titans running game, we do not expect Kerry to screw things up to badly. The ATS numbers:

Houston
Texans are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games in September.
Texans are 2-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
Texans are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 vs. AFC.
Texans are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
Texans are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. AFC South.
Texans are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Texans are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games.

Tennessee
Titans are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games in September.
Titans are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 vs. AFC South.
Titans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 3.

Heads Up
Texans are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 meetings.

Do you really need any more information? Tennessee wins and covers easily!!!

Miami at New England (-12.5) – Nice of Joey Porter to provide the Pats with bulletin board material. This rocket scientist is going on the road, to New England with an 0-2 team. Click here to see what he said. Bill Parcells might actually rip Joey’s head off before the game, poo down his neck cavity and then feed him to lions. The ATS numbers:

Miami
Dolphins are 17-36-2 ATS in their last 55 vs. AFC.
Dolphins are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a SU loss of more than 14 points.
Dolphins are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Dolphins are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. loss.
Dolphins are 5-22-2 ATS in their last 29 vs. AFC East.
Dolphins are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
Dolphins are 0-7-2 ATS in their last 9 games in September.

New England
Patriots are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in September.
Patriots are 25-11 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
Patriots are 35-16-1 ATS in their last 52 vs. AFC East.
Patriots are 39-18-2 ATS in their last 59 games following a ATS win.

Head-to-Head
Home team is 12-5 ATS in their last 17 meetings.
Dolphins are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 meetings in New England.

Again, the ATS numbers say it all and we will bet against any team that gives the Pats bulletin board material. Look for Randy Moss to inject himself again in the lineup in this game. Dolphins have no chance. Pats win and cover easily!

Bungles at Giants (-13) – The Giants continue their COVER roll. These guys are money and are 2-0 on the season. The Bungles by the way are lining up to be one of the worst teams in the NFL. The owner is undercutting Marvin Lewis by bringing back Chris Henry and Ocho Cinco and TJ Housh are either playing hurt or just playing like shiznit. Can these guys drop any more passes. We love us some Ocho Cinco and will even show a highlight reel of him to show our love….

Well Mr. Ocho….it looks like those highlights will be few and far between this year. Also, when your QB hosts cornhole tournaments you know you are in serious trouble. We love us some USC but Carson is taking it a little too far. If you do not know what we are talking about then click here (Carson Palmer Cornhole Classic). Carson even charges people, you can buy a package or sponsor Carson’s cornhole. What a business. Here are the ATS numbers for the game:

Cincinnati
Bengals are 5-11-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
Bengals are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games on grass.
Bengals are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games.
Bengals are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Bengals are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
Bengals are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a double-digit loss at home.

New York
Giants are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games on grass.
Giants are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a S.U. win.
Giants are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in September.
Giants are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games overall.
Giants are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games following a ATS win.
Giants are 8-3 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.

The Giants are cover machines right now and we are not going to step in front of this train. Take the Giants to cover and win!!!

Runny Picks

Panthers @ Vikings (-3): The Vikings as favorites in this game really scares me. It has trap written all over it. No doubt the Vikings have a good D, but their QB play has been some of the worse in the league. Changing to Ferotte is probably be a good things, but let’s not forget that he is Gus Freakin’ Ferotte!! There are many reasons why he has not been a starting QB. Now add to the mess that Adrian Peterson is gimpy and may not play. The Panthers get Steve Smith and they have pulled out some great wins. I typically stay away from games that are too good to be true, but I like this one. I’m taking Carolina and the points.

Steelers @ Eagles (-3.5): Clash of the Keystone State Titans!! This will be a great game. Both teams are fundamentally sound and are coached extremely well. The Iggles are fresh of their barn-burner in Big D last Monday. A game, I feel, they should have won outright. Did you see Brian Westbrook?!?! He is the man!! The Steelers beat their hated rival Browns in the Ike Bowl with winds that could make even the toughest team flinch. What will give? I like the home team in this one. I think the Iggles are playing better all around. I also thing Big Ben’s shoulder is hurt much more than they are letting on. I think the Iggles win by at leats a TD. Take the Iggles -3.5.

Jags @ Colts (-4.5): These teams always play each other tough. Always great games. Both teams limp into this one with huge injuries-primarily to their O-Lines. Manning has not been the Manning we are accustomed to seeing. The Jags have not been able to run the ball like we are used to seeing either. That said, I think the Jags get on the right track this week. The reason? Bob Saunders. He is out this week for the Colts. That spells huge trouble for the Colts’ run D. Mo Drew and Fred Taylor will finally get on track. I think the Colt will win, but the Jags will be able to control the ball enough to keep it close. Take the Jags +4.5.

Browns @ Ravens (-2.5): Another huge rivalry game. These teams DESPISE one another and the games are usually a blast to watch. This one is pretty simple to me. No way the Browns go 0-3 against a rookie QB. The Ravens have a solid D, but the Browns have the talent to attack them. I’m taking the Browns and the points (+2.5).

Cowboys @ Packers (+3): Another great game. The Boys covered last year against them in Big D (line was -7.5). If you remember, the Boys jumped on them early and knocked Favre out of the game. Rogers stepped in and actually played much better than Favre did. He almost beat them. But, he didn’t and the Boys went on to make Flash and I some cash. What about this year? The Packers are the same team, except old #4 is gone. The Boys are much better. Romo is coming home to play his childhood favorite team. Lambeau does not have the same homefield advantage in Septmber as it does in December. I think the Boys win easy. Again. Take the Boys -3.

Flash Flash “The all good things must come to an end” picks

These picks will defy logic but you just have to go with them.

Houston at Tennessee over/under 39 points – We already gave you our pick in this game but I am seeing a trend this season and this week. Here are the ATS numbers:

Houston
Over is 8-0 in Texans last 8 vs. AFC South.
Over is 4-0 in Texans last 4 games in September.
Over is 4-0 in Texans last 4 games following a S.U. loss.
Over is 4-0 in Texans last 4 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 5-1 in Texans last 6 games overall.
Over is 4-1 in Texans last 5 games on grass.
Over is 8-2-1 in Texans last 11 road games.
Over is 4-1 in Texans last 5 vs. AFC.
Over is 16-5 in Texans last 21 vs. a team with a winning record.

Tennessee
Under is 4-0 in Titans last 4 games on grass.
Under is 6-0 in Titans last 6 games in September.
Under is 5-0 in Titans last 5 games overall.
Under is 5-0 in Titans last 5 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
Under is 5-0 in Titans last 5 vs. AFC.
Under is 11-1-1 in Titans last 13 games following a S.U. win.
Under is 8-1-1 in Titans last 10 games following a ATS win.
Under is 4-1 in Titans last 5 games in Week 3.
Under is 6-2-1 in Titans last 9 home games.

Head-to-Head
Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.

So it looks like a pretty even split; the Houston over and the Titans Under. The only thing that throws it off is their last 4 head to head, which has been consistently Over. What I am looking at is this year and this year the Titans are 2-0 for the under and their defense is nasty. Houston is coming off a hurricane induced bye and the players are more concerned about their families than they are about this game. Look for Houston to get shut down by the titans defense and look for the Titans to run the ball a lot. The more they run, the faster the game clock ticks down and the less time they have to score points. I am taking the under 39 in this game.

Tampa Bay at Chicago Over/Under 36 points – Here we go with another one against the grain but it is not as blatant as the Texans/Titans. Lets jump into the ATS numbers:

Tampa Bay
Over is 4-0 in Buccaneers last 4 games following a S.U. win.
Over is 5-0 in Buccaneers last 5 road games.
Over is 4-0 in Buccaneers last 4 games following a ATS win.
Under is 5-1 in Buccaneers last 6 games following a SU win of more than 14 points.
Under is 9-3 in Buccaneers last 12 games in September.
Over is 6-2 in Buccaneers last 8 games overall.
Over is 5-2 in Buccaneers last 7 vs. NFC.

Chicago
Over is 22-7-1 in Bears last 30 vs. NFC.
Over is 15-5 in Bears last 20 home games.
Over is 5-2-1 in Bears last 8 games in Week 3.
Over is 14-6 in Bears last 20 games following a ATS loss.

Head-to-Head
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Chicago.

This is an interesting one for the Vegas odds makers. These teams are 3-1 for the under this season and the lines have been trending down. Chicago has seen 43 and 37.5 points and went under both times and Tampa has seen 43 and 37.5 points and went over the 43 by one point and then hit the under. Vegas keeps ratcheting the line down and now it sits at 36 points. The Bucs are averaging 22 points on O and giving up 17.5 points on D and that adds up to 39.5 points. The Bears are averaging 23 points on O and giving up 16.5 points on D and that adds up to 39.5 points. I think Vegas set this under too low. These two teams are efficient on offense. Tampa always is and Orton plays conservative ball and Forte has been a stud. These teams have played to the Under in 4 of their last 5 meetings but I am going the other way. I am taking the Over in this game!!!

As always, good luck with your picks.

Flash and Runny