Before I head out to the Milton Fall Fair, here are this week’s correct picks:

Indy (-6) over Houston
- I know this Texans club is better than in years past, but Indy can score at will and I have to think they’ll cover 6 points even on the road.

Green Bay (+4.5) over San Diego
- I probably shouldn’t do this, because the Bolts are due to explode, and Favre is due to implode, but I think there’s more to the Chargers’ troubles than we think - the Norv Turner decision was terrible… he may be gone before November…

Minnesota (+2.5) over Kansas City
- This game is at Arrowhead, but the Chiefs still stink.

Detroit (+6) over Philly
- Philly needs this win, and I think they probably get it - but not by 6.

New England (-16) over Buffalo
- It’s going to get tough for the Pats to cover these spreads as they get larger and larger each week. I’d say no, but NE is at home and Buffalo is reeling and JP Losman looks brutal.

N.Y. Jets (-3) over Miami
- This has ‘push’ written all over it - I see this one coming down to a field goal.

Pittsburgh (-8.5) over San Fran
- I really like the Steelers this year with a head-screwed-on-straight-Roethlisberger this year. At home, I gotta think they can cover this against a deceiving 2-0 Niners squad.

Arizona (+7.5) over Baltimore
- Gimme the points, although I’m not totally confident going with the Cards on the road…. I think they can keep it close though.

St. Louis (+4) over Tampa Bay
- It happens all the time - a lesser team like Tampa comes up with a huge performance vs. a contender. Then, next week, everyone hops all over the bandwagon. No ankle tape for me - I won’t fall for the Bucs. I think they’ll play today like we thought they would play before the season started…

Denver (-3) over Jacksonville
- I know Denver squeaked by in each of their 2 wins vs. lower echelon teams, but I think it’s more of a case of ‘knowing how to pull out a close win’, then ‘they’re not that good.’ We’ll find out this week…

Seattle (-3.5) over Cincinnati
- Seattle is a different team at home, and I think the Bengals’ defence is worse. This one should be fun!

Cleveland (+3) over Oakland
- See my comment about Tampa above. Same thing here with the Browns, although I’m going to go with them to cover. I have no faith in the Raydahs.

Carolina (-4) at Atlanta
- The Falcons are reeling. I think the Panthers are a better team than we saw last week… At least I’m hoping they are.

Washington (-4) over N.Y. Giants
- I like the Redskins as a sleeper in the NFC this year. I don’t like the Giants as anything but a last-place team in the NFC this year. Eli doesn’t = Peyton - remember that.

Dallas (+3) over Chicago
- I just don’t have a good feeling about Grossman and the Bears right now. As much as I hate Dallas, I think they’ll be up there with Seattle fighting for top spot in the NFC.

Tennessee (+5) over New Orleans
- I’m lumping New Orleans in the Chargers’ category for now… I think they are going to struggle to get things going like last year. The Titans are a good, young, well-coached team playing exciting ball with nothing to lose.

Survivor:
Ok, I’ll waste my New England pick this week…. They’ll get to 7, 9, or 12-0 or something and then I’ll be nervous to pick them, because when teams get to that point, they always get upset by some weird middle-of-the-road team. I’ll take them now at home vs. a terrible Bills team. No way in hell they lose this one.

Teams with large home-field advantages: Seahawks, Chiefs, Broncos
representing the much stronger AFC, vs. NFC: Chargers
dominating defences: Bears, Ravens, Steelers
moving the ball (offensively) at will: Patriots, Colts
due to win one once-in-a-while: Rams, Jets, Raiders
Pick’em?: Titans, Lions, Redskins
playing against the Falcons: Panthers

Here’s the week 3 picks:

Arizona
Buffalo
Detroit
Indy
Jets
Minnesota
San Diego
Pittsburgh
Tampa Bay
Seattle
Cleveland
Denver
Carolina
Washington
Dallas
Tennessee

Survivor:
New England (previously used Seattle and Indy)

I believe I was 8-8 in week 1, 6-10 in week 2 so as usual I should pull a Costanza and just go with the opposite of my gut feel, but I’ll stick with those above.

Dare I say this week seems a little ‘easier’ than last week - maybe it’s because we’ve got two performances to go on now…

I’m looking forward to the Fav-ruh/Chahgahs matchup. The Bolts have been very disappointing thus far….

Dallas v da Bears should be a good matchup as well - too bad I absolutely despise each of those teams.

I too, have a feeling Tennessee will win outright v the Saints… like San Diego, the Saints have been disappointing - you see this all the time in the NFL - teams rise up from the ashes and look impressive one year, and then teams start catching onto them and their young players struggle the next year….

Hopefully my Seahawks can get back into the win column v the Bungles. It will be tough, but the Seahawks are tough at home. They need it after losing to Arizona last week - I’m still sick at the thought of that….

I’ll be watching the Browns/Raydahs tilt - what about you?

(picks coming shortly)