... so without further ado

WEEK 14 of the NFL begins toinght in San Diego, California, and i for one could care less. these two hopelessly, hapless, lackluster, busts of professional football teams, have done nothing but dissapoint for 13 weeks, and week 14 will be no different. i don't even know why i am wasting my time even talking about this game as the line ranges from -9.0 to -10.0 for the home team who has every capability of crushing this once stout oakland pass defence. the safest money of the night is to leave this one alone.

FOUR BANGERS:

jacksonville @ chicago -6.5: i really REALLY like the bears in this one. At home, playing to stay in the hunt for a division title (the only way any team from the north is going to make the playoffs) against a jacksonville team who last monday not only lost to houston, but did so without any fight, or emotion. it appears that the 2008 jaguars have packed it in for the season, and with the bears fighting for their playoff lives... BEARS -6.5

cleveland @ tennessee -13.5: now i have friends who will religiously look for a big spready and jump all over the dog. im sure that 8-9/10 times that theory is pretty sound. but when you see a jugernaut like what these titans have become, matched up againt a gritty cleveland team that has lost its grit, well 2 touchdowns at home doesnt seem all that extraordinary. if there is anything that frightens me about this game, i have but 2 scenarios: joshua cribbs, and the new york football giants. cribbs has the big play ability to take any punt, kick return, end-around, or reverse all the way to the house, and with cleveland pretty much playing only for respect these days, i can see them pulling out all the stops... and gadget plays. the new york football giants suffered their only loss of the season to these browns in week 6 on monday night. cleveland has the ability to win the big game, especially if they are over looked. but after the way tennessee dismantled the lions last week (on a short week) i don't see them overlooking any team regardless of record. TITANS -13.5

minnesota -10.5 @ detroit: before i get started with this game. if you are able to find a line for this game you are in luck, as many online sites aren't even offering this game as an option. MINNY -10.5 is courtesy of proline.ca, and even that may not be up there for much longer. either way... one of my only rules regarding gambling: "never bet for, or against your team" seems pretty straight forward and easy to follow, yet i can't help myself this year. yes, i am a lions fan (as he hangs his head in shame), and as much disappointment as they have brought to me this year; their spreads have been nothing but favourable all season long. detroit is quite content finishing in last place this season, and none of the players, coaches, or even front office appear to be all that concerned about the possibility (reality???) of a 0-16 season. two words for this game: Adrian Peterson. VIKINGS -10.5

tampa bay @ carolina -3.0: welcome to the congested NFC south, and a battle for first place. i'm looking for the trend in this division of the home team reinging victorious to come to an end on monday night. tampa has the faster, and more consistant defence... and lets face it jake delhomme isn't the same quarterback that took the panthers to the superbowl in 2004. he is inconsistant, and to a certain extent, down right terrible when faced with quick, and uncommon defensive fronts. on the opposite end of the spectrum, jeff garcia has shown an uncanny cool under pressure this year, making little to no mistakes, and guiding this tampa offence to a very respectable 9-3 record. the running lanes will be shortened for both teams. the passing windows will be limited. defence is going to play a HUGE role in this game and well... the numbers just dont lie. BUCS +3.0; +155 $-line


-- i've been juggling the bengals/colts game back and forth in my head the entire day... indy -13.5... no, no, cincy +13.5. cincy is terribly... indy is still hurt (sanders, bracket, saturday)... indy is rolling... i personally can't see going with three large spreads in one week, but right now everything is telling me indy -13.5. come sunday my mind might be changed, but these colts are turning it on, and they are for real, and lets face it the bengals... well, at least they're not the lions.