NFL: Week 9

Cleveland +4 New England - Cleveland has quietly been a pretty decent team, but nobody has really noticed because the close losses to Tampa and Kansas City early in the season looked bad at the time. They come off a BYE here after a great win at New Orleans, and Colt McCoy today finally gets to face a crappy pass defense. The Browns have covered 5 of their last 7 at home, and they're 8-3-1 in their last last dozen as an underdog.

Atlanta -8 1/2 Tampa Bay - It's a good thing the Buccaneers exist, because it keeps the heat off my Chiefs as the crappiest team that's overachieved to 5-2. The flipside is those two losses were both ass-kickings against the only two good teams that they've played, and both of those were at home. This is the first time they've ventured on the road to play a team that's even decent. Today the pit their #30 run defense against the league's 5th best rushing offense.

Buffalo +3 Chicago - The Bills continue to play decently as the desperation for their first win sets in. After back-to-back overtime losses on the road, they return "home" (to Toronto) for their best chance at getting the win column off zero. After the Bears hot 3-0 start, they've won and covered just 1 of their last 4.

NY Giants -7 Seattle - When the Giants have the ball, Eli Manning and that high-powered offense will enjoy the 4th worst pass defense in the NFL. When the Seahawks have the ball, Charlie Whitehurst will play against a fierce front 7. Really tough spot for the Seattle here, even though the line has held fairly well in reverence to how tough it is to play there.

San Diego -3 Houston - The Chargers are still better than their record, while the Texans have only covered twice this year...so I'll back the Bolts for the 3rd week in a row. San Diego has won and covered 3 straight in the series.

Baltimore -5 Miami - Hunch play...feels like the Dolphins are getting a little too much love for being unbeaten on the road so far. Baltimore is getting healthy pieces back on defense, so they're probably a little better than they've shown so far, even though they've been fine W/L-wise.