Here is the secret to the NFL that I have found.  Bad team playing Bad team, tough call.  Good team playing good team, tough call.  Good team playing bad team, take the spread.  For two weeks the heavy favorites are covering most of the time.  This week I take the same approach.
 
Steelers -14 vs. Cleveland
I think we have all had time to digest what 2 of 17 for 23 yards means.  Derek Anderson's quarterback rating was 15.1% (I think Tony Goodwin, aka "Murder Fooker" actually had a higher ACT score than that).  Cleveland has absolutely ZERO offensive presence.  They have no deep threat now that Braylon Edwards is gone, their quarterback play is simply atrocious and their running back is 72 years old.  The Steelers have found a new little toy in Reshard Mendenhall and Big Ben has been playing great football.  I see no reason to believe that the Steelers won't roll the Clowns at home.  Take Pitt and give the 14. 
 
Patriots -9 vs. Tennessee
I kept thinking that the Titans were going to come out of their funk, but it's just that bad.  They can't stop the run, can't pressure the quarterback, their WR's are pathetic and Kerry Collins is playing like Derek Anderson.  The Patriots are probably not real happy with last weeks debacle and Tom Brady was visibly PISSED OFF after missing Randy Moss and Wes Welker for two easy touchdowns which would have put the game out of reach in Denver.  I think Tom Brady has a lot to prove and they put the smack down on the Titans.  If I didn't like another game more, I would have picked this game as my lock.  Be that as it may, mark it down; Pats by more than 9.
 
Eagles -14 vs. DA RAAAIDERS
Antonio Pierce was interviewed on a local radio show in LA and said that playing the Raiders was like playing a scrimmage.  He went further, stating that the Raiders play with no emotion, no energy and don't care.  Enough Said.  Jamarcus Russell is Kerry Collins Bad, who is Derek Anderson bad.  Last week in their 44-7 loss to the Giants he was 8 of 13 (Wow.)  The Eagles are playing very solid football and have a savvy, veteran group on the defensive side of the ball to make the Raiders look just like they did vs. The Giants.  Plus, their head coach is about to have the silver bracelets put on him after they arrest his ass for assault on one of his assistant coaches (Seriously Buddy Ryan, you can't go around punching your assistant coaches!).  The Eagles take out the trash and cover the 14.
 
NY Jets -9.5 vs. Buffalo
I may not have chosen this game if it weren't for Derrelle Revis.  Although I hate Terrell Owens more than any football player to ever put on a uniform, he does have the ability to cover the spread for teams with his deep threat ability.  With that said, Derrelle Revis is legit, shut down Randy Moss and will love the challenge to do it vs. TO.  Furthermore, if TO couldn't get off on the Clowns in an offense that scored THREE points vs. Cleveland (AT HOME), I don't see him doing anything on the road vs. this Jets team.  Rex Ryan will blitz Trent Edwards so much he will be begging JP Losman to come back from the UFL.  Everybody watched the Jets on Monday Night.  They have a solid attack offensively and defensively.  The POUND the Bills badly.  Lay the 9.5.
 
Panthers - 3 vs. Tampa Bay (LOCK)
The Panthers screwed me out of winning $5600 last week by not covering the four point spread, winning by only 3 (I believe I said the "F" bomb 4,265 times this week thinking about that game and I just said it again as a matter of fact).  Anyway (FUCK!!) I still believe in Carolina and I'm going to give them another shot to turn my frown upside down.  I know Jake Delhome is very inconsistent, but he can throw 8 picks in this one, and the Panthers can still win (Yes, Tampa is that bad).  Carolina's defense is ranked 6th in the NFL and I'm banking on their two headed monsters at running back to go off on the 28 worst defense in the league.  So, I'm taking the 6th ranked defense vs. a Josh Johnson lead offense, who threw 3 INT's last week in a 33-14 loss to the Eagles, to cover the three.  LOCK IT UP BITCHES any lay the 3. 

Don Trotter:
"Here are my f*cking college picks!  Stone cold!!!"

Navy -11 vs. Rice: 

Rice is defeated.  Yes, winless.  They are giving up over 40 points a game and only scoring 17.  Navy has covered for me three times this year.  I love betting on triple option teams because of how defenses must prepare and be disciplined.  If Rice can’t keep within 11 against teams like Vandy, Tulsa or UAB I don’t see them handling a weird offensive scheme any better.  I don’t like going against home dogs but Rice has been getting crushed at home.  As Roy Pifer, aka “Lou Brown” would say, Rice is “worth shit in a can.” Pick: Navy laying the points.


 

Michigan +8 vs. Iowa:

Yes, I hate betting on teams I follow, but this is a head bet not a heart bet.   As I mentioned to you guys earlier this week, defenses that sit in the same zone defense every snap is exactly what a spread offense is built for.  You can line up your best and scheme against their worst.  Iowa’s struggles this year have come from two teams that run the spread with running quarterbacks. Ferentz has already stated he will do nothing different  against Michigan’s spread attack and will stay in his base defensive scheme.  With a healthy Brandon Minor, Michigan may not win but I think they can keep it close with Tate the Great. (Ed Note: Anyone else tired of seeing Tate sling 60 yard passes on a rope down the field and then two seconds later drop to his knees in pain because of his "injured" arm?) Pick: Michigan and the points

 

Wisconsin +16  vs. Ohio State: 

16 is a lot.  Dexter Larimore, according to my “insider” Pat Summerall ("Hand off to Rueben Droughns...(long pause).....not much!!!", yes that Pat Summerall) was one of OSU’s better D-lineman and is out.  I don’t think Wisconsin can run the ball great on a very stingy defense, but 16?  It seems that Wisconsin has always played the Yuckeyes well, plus OSU is battling illness across the team.  My source in the OSU student medical infirmary confirms this intell.  I think OSU wins, but I just can’t lay off the 16 on a Jim Tressel coached team.  That guy always finds a way to keep the game close. (Ed. Note: Random Pat Summerall quotes will be buried in all posts related to football.  You have to read them to yourself in a slow monitone voice with not one ounce of enthusiasm..thank you!) Pick: Wisconsin and the points.

 

LSU +7.5 vs. Florida: 

Have you guys heard any news on Tim Tebow?  Did he get hurt in that game against Kentucky?  I think I heard he suffered a concussion?  I haven’t seen anything on ESPN about it or any updates EVERY F*CKING SECOND OF EVERY F*CKING DAY on the radio.  Anyway, even if Superman plays he will be very limited and rusty.  The dude couldn’t even read like four days ago, well at least read at 3rd grade level which is only two grades below natural capacity.  If he doesn’t play, the back-up has to start in one of the toughest atmospheres in college football (or so I’ve heard).  This pick is not for coaching or players because we all know “The Hat” is about as smart as Eric Mangini.  Even though I think Florida has both a better coach and better players, I’m all over the home dog with that crowd.  I will take the energy from the crowd and the home dog to cover in a close game. Pick: LSU and the points.

 

Over 54 FSU vs. Ga Tech:

FSU is a mess right now.  Bowden was out, now’s staying.  The players don’t know who to listen to because 18 coaches on that staff have the title “head coach” somewhere in their bio’s;  “Associate Head Coach”  “Assistant Head Coach”  “The guy who carries Bobby Bowden’s head set around, Head Coach”.  Plus, Mickey Andrews and Bo Palleni are going to have a “Chew Off” to see who can chew their gum on the sidelines the hardest and fastest which can only be a further distraction.  Things just don’t look good.  Last year the score was 31-28.  Tech’s defense gives up a ton of points and you know the “Bone Thugs ‘n Harmony” on FSU’s defense won’t stay disciplined enough to cover the triple option football Tech plays.  Both teams are averaging 60 points a game.  Even though FSU is a mess, it’s not hard to throw a “Go” route to one of their eight 6’10” WR’s.  I think both FSU and Tech score some points in this one.  Pick: Over the total of 54.

 

LOCK:  Over 51 Purdure vs. Minnesota:

Pur-don’t is averaging 30 points a game and giving up 29.  The Gophers are averaging 25 and giving up 24.  Have you seen this cat called “Decker”.  This just in.. ..he’s good.  I get two spread teams, both with very capable quarterbacks, and the score has to be something like 28-24 to win my bet?  Pur-don’t gave up 31 points to Toledo.  I’ll take Minnesota’s spread offense scoring just as many as Toledo, which if that happens, the Boilermakers only have to score 3 TD’s in four quarters.  Plus, Minnesota’s new stadium is called “The Bank”.  You figure it out.  I like it, or in the words of Lloyd Christmas, “I like it A … laat.” Pick: Over the total of 51