Tex's Week 3 Picks

Thursday Night Game

Chiefs @ Eagles (-3) – CHIEFS: I am not a bandwagon rider on the Chip Kelly train, but I do believe that the Eagles offense is going to cause problems for the Chiefs. Of course, if the Eagles’ defense can make Rivers look half-decent, what can it do for Alex Smith? I’m declaring this my UPSET pick on a week where I don’t like any other matchup better.

Sunday Early Afternoon Games

Chargers @ Titans (-3) – TITANS: Titans lost a heartbreaker in OT, proving that they are still green. However, they proved to be better than I thought, and I’ll take them at home against a West Coast team that canNOT be as good as they looked this past week.

Browns @ Vikings (-6) – VIKINGS: I would not be surprised if this line goes up between now (Wednesday night) and game time simply due to the trade that happened earlier today. AP will be running roughshod on this poor, poor Browns team.

Buccaneers @ Patriots (-7) – PATRIOTS: The Patriots are no where NEAR lock-worthy, nor do they deserve that big of a spread against a good, if a bit undisciplined, Bucs D. Closer game on the scoreboard, but the Patriots win.

Texans @ Ravens (+2.5) – TEXANS: I’m not saying the Texans are good, but the fact that the Ravens struggled to move the ball against the Browns tells me everything I need to know about this team.

Rams @ Cowboys (-4) – COWBOYS: Wow, the Cowboys could NOT move the ball to score. I’m looking for a home bounce-back against a hard-nosed, young Rams team that will make this matchup very competitive.

Cardinals @ Saints (-7.5) – SAINTS: Ok, did Vegas not see the games last week? The Cardinals are not last year’s team, and the Saints, who usually struggle more on defense than on offense, could barely move the ball against the Bucs. This will be a close game, but I would not bet against the Saints in New Orleans. I would guarantee this: if this was in Arizona, I’d put this as my upset pick.

Lions @ Redskins (-2) – LIONS: I don’t like them, but I think the dirty cats will cause enough problems for RG3 and his weakened presence to not allow him to win this game.

Packers @ Bengals (+2) – PACKERS: Aaron Rodgers has looked spectacular in both games. I don’t see him faltering here, despite the Bengals’ best efforts.

Giants @ Panthers (-1) – PANTHERS: This is my wash-out pick because, while the Panthers seem stronger right now, the Giants have this annoying tendency to randomly find adequacy.

Sunday Late Afternoon Games

Falcons @ Dolphins (-2.5) – DOLPHINS: Uh-oh, Vegas, you’ve doubted the Falcons. Now they’re going to whine and complain that no one believes in them. Thanks, Vegas. I really wanted to hear that for the next 3 months until after their first playoff game when they lose and go home and shut up.

Colts @ 49ers (-10) – 49ERS: Oh yeah, “my” 9ers are going to bounce back and win in this smackdown. Maybe Bruce Arians was the reason the Colts succeeded, not Pagano.

Jaguars @ Seahawks (-∞) – SEAHAWKS: I adjusted the line to fix the misprint I saw on the Vegas odds. See, “-19.5” is inaccurate as the Seahawks will score however many dad-gum points they want. If they stop at 20, then so be it. If they stop at 100, fine. If they don’t stop and extend the game just to show the Jags how much their team sucks, then I guess that’s how it’s going to be. If Jacksonville had Tebow, that would be a different story. Then it would be ∞-7 This is my LOCK, by the way, just in case you couldn’t tell.

Bills @ Jets (-2) – BILLS: What on earth is going on? Did Vegas not see that amazing game in Buffalo? What on earth makes Vegas think the Jets will win? Because they held Tom Brady to 1 touchdown? Yeah, that’s not the Jets amazing defense. That is the complete lack of talent Brady has at his disposal. Bills win a touchdown.

Sunday Night Game

Bears @ Steelers (+2.5) – DA BEARS: Once again, I ask what does Vegas knows behind the scenes? Seriously, this seems like a no-brainer, but it’s only a 2.5 point margin. The Steelers cannot do anything on offense against average to above average defenses. How are they going to score on Da Bears defense?

Monday Night Game

Raiders @ Broncos (-15) – BRONCOS: Hahaha, wow. This is not even going to be funny. Peyton may actually break his own tied record of most TDs in a game. God thing this is a divisional matchup or this game would have literally zero point in watching.