NFL YTD: 46-39 (+1.63*)
NCAA YTD 74-73 (-8.01*)
Dallas(-4) over New York Giants (1*)
- - I stand by exactly what I said last week about Eli Manning?s late season and late career prospects, and I think Dallas is the team with a bounce in their game this week. Spread moving far too much the wrong way in this one.
Cleveland(+3') over Green Bay (1*)
- - Seems so much more likely than not that this is going to be a real tussle.
Cincinnati(-5') over Chicago (1*)
- - Last week?s score doesn?t tell the story of how completely a depleted Chicago team was dominated at home (only 36 offensive plays in 21 minutes time of possession) by an admittedly misleading 1-10 San Francisco team. Not a great spot after Cinci lost a very tough game last week, but at 5-7 they are definitely not out of the playoff hunt in the AFC, and if their offense has any spark at home (even if they are also a fairly bad team that is not very efficient on 3rd downs), they look too strong for a Chicago uprising.
Carolina(+2) over Minnesota (1*)
- - Minnesota is feeling it and right now I?m seeing it as a definite advantage rather than a disadvantage that Minnesota looks to peak on their run to hosting and winning a Super Bowl in their home stadium. But even if they were some historic juggernaut like the 1996 Packers, which the no playoff wins since the 2009 season Vikings certainly are not, I would be looking for reasons to go against a team playing their 5th road game in 6 weeks, including their 3rd tough one in a row, that is favored on the road against an 8-4 opponent . . . Carolina right now is IMO as tough of a defense as Minnesota has faced all season, and Carolina is the team much, much more in need in their frenzied divisional race, and situationaly I certainly don?t object to them coming off a costly divisional road loss. While QB Cam Newton can struggle against the best defenses, he also possesses exactly the right skills that on any given day can take down any defense no matter how good. So I?m not sure Cam won?t in fact be the difference that turns the game for the Vikings, but I think there is definitely a live dog on the grass in this one.
GL
Browns burned me too much but I'm on the rest. Good luck!

