I went 10-4 straight up last week, and 7-7 against the spread. For the season, that puts me at 72-46 and 50-63-5 against the spread. For a comparison, check out the "experts" over at ESPN.com.
What follows are my picks for the NFL's Week Nine:
**Thursday, November 1**
Kansas City 1-6 at San Diego 3-4 - 8:20 p.m. (Line: SD by 7)
The Chiefs have lost four in a row. They are ranked 29th in the league in both points scored per game and points allowed per game. Matt Cassel has thrown 10 INTs and lost six fumbles so far this season. The total time of possession the Chiefs have played with the lead this year is 0:00. (They earned their only victory with a game-ending field goal in overtime.) The Chargers have lost three straight and have the second best run defense in the league.
- RJ's Pick: San Diego by 3
**Sunday, November 4**
Detroit 3-4 at Jacksonville 1-6 - 1:00 p.m. (Line: Lions by 3.5)
The Lions surprisingly (perhaps shockingly) have a top 10 pass defense. Matthew Stafford is averaging more than 300 passing yards per game. The Jaguars have scored just 103 total points this season, the fewest in the NFL and have dropped four straight.
- RJ's Pick: Detroit by 7
Denver 4-3 at Cincinnati 3-4 - 1:00 p.m. (Line: Broncos by 3.5)
Broncos QB Peyton Manning has thrown 17 touchdown passes and just four interceptions. His passer rating is 109.0, best in the league. The Bengals have lost their last three.
- RJ's Pick: Denver by 8
Baltimore 5-2 at Cleveland 2-6 - 1:00 p.m. (Line: Ravens by 3.5)
The Ravens are just 1-2 on the road this season. The Browns have won their last two home games.
- RJ's Pick: Cleveland by 3
Arizona 4-4 at Green Bay 5-3 - 1:00 p.m. (Line: GB by 10.5)
The Cardinals, who began the season by winning their first four games, have now lost four straight and are at .500. The Packers have won three in a row. Aaron Rodgers has not thrown in INT since Week Five. He's had a triple-digit passer rating in five of his last six games.
Article comments
1 - RJ
FINAL SCORE:
SD 31, KC 13 - RJ 1-0 (0-1 ATS)
2 - C2E
Good analysis, but I miss the humor!
I think I have a one or two game avantage on outright YTD win-loss percentage, but I don't have that info here at the office.
We differ on two matchups this week:
Chargers over Chiefs
Packers over Cardinals
Lions over Jaguars
Bears over Titans
Broncos over Bengals
Redskins over Panthers
Browns over Ravens
Colts over Dolphins
Texans over Bills
Seahawks over Vikings
*Raiders over Buccaneers
*Giants over Steelers
Falcons over Cowboys
Saints over Eagles
Good luck!
Chris
3 - RJ
FINAL SCORES:
LIONS 31, JACKSONVILLE 14 - RJ 2-0 (1-1 ATS)
DENVER 31, BENGALS 23 - RJ 3-0 (2-1 ATS)
RAVENS 25, BROWNS 15 - RJ 3-1 (2-2 ATS)
GB 31, ARIZONA 17 - RJ 4-1 (3-2 ATS)
BEARS 51, TITANS 20 - RJ 5-1 (4-2 ATS)
COLTS 23, MIAMI 20 - RJ 6-1 (5-2 ATS)
CAROLINA 21, WASHINGTON 13 - RJ 6-2 (5-3 ATS)
TEXANS 21, BILLS 9 - RJ 7-2 (6-3 ATS)
4 - RJ
FINAL SCORES:
SEATTLE 30, VIKINGS 20 - RJ 8-2 (6-4 ATS)
TB 42, OAKLAND 32 - RJ 9-2 (7-4 ATS)
STEELERS 24, GIANTS 20 - RJ 10-2 (8-4 ATS)
5 - RJ
Final Score:
Atlanta 19, Dallas 13 - RJ 11-2 (9-4 ATS)
6 - RJ
Final Score:
NO 28, Eagles 13 - RJ 12-2 (10-4 ATS)
7 - RJ
RJ through nine weeks:
84-48 straight up
60-67-5 against the spread
8 - RJ
ESPN's "experts" in Week Nine:
Allen
10-4
Golic
10-4
Hoge
9-5
Jaworski
12-2
Mortensen
10-4
Schefter
9-5
Schlereth
11-3
Wickersham
11-3
Jackson
10-4
Johnson
9-5
Ditka
10-4
Carter
11-3
Accuscore
10-4
Pick 'em
12-2
9 - RJ
ESPN's "experts" through nine weeks:
Allen
77-55
Golic
82-50
Hoge
83-49
Jaworski
83-49
Mortensen
92-40
Schefter
80-52
Schlereth
81-51
Wickersham
94-38
Jackson
75-57
Johnson
79-53
Ditka
78-54
Carter
82-50
Accuscore
82-50
Pick 'em
84-47