Week 3 - Guess the NFL Lines

Matt: 8 Inter-conference games this week! 8! That’s half the games, for the slow class. Thus I threw up several 4-6 pt spreads. I have a good feeling about this week. That is, until I see the real lines. I love mine tho! Hahahaha. Given the actuals are not far off, here’s who I like at first glance: I’ve already mentioned that now is the time to jump on Tampa, just when logic tells you to stay away; Jacksonville because I don’t think there is enough controversy in Philly; Seattle possibly – check the weather report…; Detroit looks like a solid dog again this week.

Scott: After this week’s gambling debacle that was Week 2, I’m ready to wash the taste of vomit from my mouth. Let’s do this.

SF @ KC. Matt: San Fran’s late drive to tie the game really baffled me, with the game on the line, Alex Smith marches them down the field for the TD + (suspect) 2pt conversion? Since when does that happen? I think the Chiefs deserve respect for following up the emotional week 1 win with a road win (albeit vs the Browns), but they probably won’t get much. I have this game as a pick.

Scott: San Fran took everything the champs had and took them to overtime, and if not for turnovers they win that game. Just because the Chiefs are 2-0 doesn’t mean anyone thinks they’re any good. That said, Arrowhead will be rocking and the Niners are on a short week. I also had this game as a pick.

Actual line: Niners by 2. No point awarded.

TEN @ NYG. Matt: I’m calling an overreaction in regards to the Titans loss, and complete ignorance of the Giants lemon last night by Vegas. Fisher isn’t making any changes, I’m pretty sure he was just reacting to the fact that the Pitt D prepared very well for the CJ and Vince Show, and needed to throw them a curve ball to try and get back in the game. Almost worked too. In any event, Vegas will likely jump off the Titans jock and set them up as a nice dog this week. NY by -4.5.

Scott: I think you called it, Pittsburgh is a terrible matchup for Tennessee so I’m not going to put too much stock into one week, but there’s always the NYC bias involved in their lines. Giants by -3.5.

Actual line: Giants by 3. Point to Scott.

CIN @ CAR. Matt: Carolina looks to be in the same sort of tailspin that befell Tennessee last year, with seemingly no end in sight. Can’t really see them winning anytime soon. Cincy was not spectacular outside the division last year, this year might be similar. I’m setting the line a little high. Bengals by -4.

Scott: It’s only 2 weeks in, but my Carolina sleeper pick belongs on my list of ‘Stupid Shit Scotty Has Said.’ Also on this list: Eminem will never be successful with that voice, the 2010 Mariners have enough offense to contend, and Ed O’Bannon will be a great NBA player. Let’s move on. I also had Bengals -4.

Actual line: Bengals by 3. No point awarded.

DAL @ HOU. Matt: The whispers are starting. Is Houston the cock of the walk in the NFL, right now? Or is it just a fast start leading up to an eventual late stumble like we’ve seen in the past. One thing we do know is that Dallas cannot distinguish there ass from their elbow. Texans by -5.

Scott: The Cowboys are involved. And everyone will be thinking they’re playing for their lives to avoid the dreaded 0-3 start. Texans by 3.

Actual line: Texans by 3. Point to Scott.

PIT @ TB. Matt: Can we call him J-Free now? Please!! Hahahaha… Interesting scenario for Vegas with Pitt here… on the one hand, they are one of only a few expected elite teams that is actually playing like it, and yet for 2 more weeks their QB situation is up in the air. No respect for Tampa. Pitt by -6.

Scott: While I also think maybe everyone is sleeping on Tampa, the Steelers are throwing out a guy they just cut last week as their starting QB in Byron Leftwich. I figure Vegas goes with the ‘we don’t have an effing clue’ number of Steelers by 5.

Actual line: Steelers by 2 ½. Point to Scott.

PHI @ JAX. Matt: Both teams 1-1. Might just see a sell out in Jacksonville with the Michael Vick Experience coming to town… what am I saying? I must be nuts. I’m sniffing out a bait game here. Philly by -1.

Scott: You left out one thing here. Andy Reid is stuck starting Kevin Kolb for awhile. And I don’t think anyone in northern Florida is coming out to see him. Jacksonville by 1.5.

Actual line: Philly by 3. Point to Matt.

SD @ SEA. Matt: Is it… is it safe to bet on SD now?? Hmmm… I’m throwing back some QWest-love again this week. Can you imagine if it rains this Sunday? 2 of the Chargers first 3 games in the rain, in arguably the 2 loudest stadiums in the league (KC and Seattle). The line should draw the action on SD. SD by -6.5.

Scott: No matter what happened in that first game, Seattle is still bad, I’m just not sure how Vegas thinks of them and what they think of the Qwest factor. This was probably my hardest line to pick this week, I could see it being anywhere between 2 and 8, but I didn’t want to go into the Vegas Doesn’t Have a Clue Zone so I went with the Chargers by 3.5.

Actual line: Chargers by 5.5. Point to Matt.

OAK @ ARI. Matt: These teams are the same right now. Zona by -3.

Scott: Must suck to be a Cardinals fan. You wait all those years to be good, then Warner retires, Leinart flames out and you’re left with Derek Anderson throwing to the best receiver in the NFL. I have a feeling I’m going to regret this line, I’m probably giving Oakland way too much credit. Oakland by 2.

Actual line: Arizona by 4. Point to Matt.

DET @ MIN. Matt: These Lions sure are fighters boy, I hope they keep their resolve. I’m expecting a 3rd straight cover, and a heartbreaking loss, despite at least 2 picks from Favre. Minny will pull out a close one. Both teams 0-2 but Minnesota is still the defending North champs and they at home. Vikes by -5.

Scott: Much like my Dallas line, I think the Vikings get a bump for being 0-2 and needing this game, as this screams ‘field goal game’ to me. Vikings by 4.5.

Actual line: Vikings by 10 ½. You read that right. Point to Matt.

ATL @ NO. Matt: The Falcons did what they should have done vs the Cards, they stink. So an OT loss vs the best D in the league, then taking care of business at home. Now they have the champs on the road. They won’t put up 41 against the Saints. Maybe no Bush for New Orleans, had this one at 6.5 originally. NO by -4.5.

Scott: Reggie Bush isn’t Drew Brees, or even Pierre Thomas for that matter. I think the line barely moves. New Orleans by 7.

Actual line: Saints by 4.5. Point to Matt.

CLE @ BAL. Matt: I have a relatively small line here for Baltimore because I think everyone has recognized that despite all these new toys and potentially potent offence, they are only 1-1 and they’ve scored only 10 pts in both of their games. I think Senaca Wallace is a better choice than Jake right now, younger, more agile. Divisional game. Ravens by -5.

Scott: The Ravens have still played the so-called best defense in the league in the Jets and the Bengals have always given them trouble, so I’m not worried about their offense. Yet. And this is the Browns on the road. Ravens by 6.5.

Actual line: Ravens by 10 ½. Point to Scott.

BUF @ NE. Matt: Not really much to say here, There’s no reason the Pats don’t get the same treatment as GB. Pats by -14.

Scott: Yeah, there’s pretty much no reason not to lay the points and go against the Bills at this point. Patriots by 13. I wonder if we’re going to see them getting +20 by the end of the year.

Actual line: Patriots by 13. Point to Scott.

WAS @ STL. Matt: I think we can start to be impressed by Washington now. But Vegas will give us one more week to make money on them. St. Louis has to learn how to win. Skins by -3.5.

Scott: Washington still screams 8-8 team to me, even in an overrated NFC East. Some poor coaching by Shanahan in the overtime. Yes, it’s still the Rams but they’re at home so I also went Skins by 3.5.

Actual line: Skins by 3.5. No point awarded.

IND @ DEN. Matt: Whew! Colts are taking care of business, all is right with the world, right? Did blowing out Seattle impress anybody? I like Colts as touchdown favs, but will compensate for Denver’s home field. Colts by -4.

Scott: People like to bet on Peyton Manning, and Sunday night’s game reminded them why. I know Denver blowing out Seattle didn’t impress me, that’s for sure. Colts by 6 ½.

Actual line: Colts by 6. Point to Scott.

NYJ @ MIA. Matt: Seemingly every Miami game is watchable. Will we see a sub-30 O/U on this game? There should be. I think this comes down to Special Teams. Miami by -2.5.

Scott: Yes, every Miami game has some fun. They run the ball a lot so the clock moves fast, they make and create turnovers and when you hear that the Wildcat offense is in, you know you’re watching to see if anything happens. I think the Jets are the slightly better team, and I also went Miami by 2.5.

Actual line: Miami by 1 ½. No point awarded.

GB @ CHI. Matt: Meeting of undefeated division rivals, great Monday Night matchup potentially. All of the sudden looking forward to this game. All the way up until Cutler throws his 3rd pick. They are who we thought they were!!! Pack by -3.

Scott: This really is a week of duds until you get to the night games. I think people aren’t completely sold on the Bears yet, and the Packers are supposed to be the NFC favorite to make the Super Bowl, so I went Packers by 4.

Actual line: Packers by 3. Point to Matt.

Final score: 6-6, with 4 ties.

Season Score: Still 1-0 Matt.

Scott: Well that was like kissing your sister. Shocked at how much respect Vegas is giving the Vikings, especially given Detroit’s comeback ability. Final thoughts?