Don's Crystal Ball 2010 Week 10 Picks

[thedon]

THE DON'S

Crystal Ball

2010 SEASON

WEEK 10 PICKS

By DonCanabis/TheDon

Analyst/Godfather

Well the first Thursday Night game of the season starts this week and with that my own nightmare. Predictions are tough as it is when you have all the information to make your calls but by midweek almost all the information it’s inaccurate or a complete guessing game

Quick Hits

• It has been almost a decade since a game between Oakland and Kansas City meant something else than who would get the better draft pick. It’s great when franchises with so much history rebound and play for something all over again. The game was great and it didn’t disappoint.
  
• I’m starting to worry about the Jets offense, this was my biggest concern before the season started of why I didn’t believe they would reach the promise land even the playoffs as many expected and the past two weeks haven’t proved me wrong. If the Jets don’t make some changes they could be a one and out team in the playoffs or worse not even make it.
  
• Not much change against the spread this week 71-59 record or 55%
  
• This is sad and funny, but this is the first time in my lifetime that Dallas has become completely irrelevant to the media, take away the firing of Wade that everyone knew it was going to happen but for once in the past 30 years the media just doesn’t care what happens to the Cowboys. I really don’t know if I should be Sad or Happy.
  
• I hate that there are different rules for guys like Manning and Brady each week you see a call be made in favor of them than no other QB gets. The best example was the call Trent Cole got in the sack/fumble he made to Ice the game where he graced the back of Manning head when he went for the strip, in no other game other than with Brady a Referee would make that call instead of game over, they give Manning a new set of downs and a new chance to win the game because we all want the Colts to win each week.
  
• The Goat of the Week The Arizona Cardinals Coaching Staff… Not taking anything away from Favre and the Vikings, but the Cardinals lost that game. Arizona was leading with 5 min left in the game by two touchdowns and they took the foot from the pedal and started to try to run the clock down, and play conservative on both sides, Minnesota took control game over.

On to the games

Baltimore at Atlanta -1.5 Ovr/Und 43.5

Both team are playing great, both teams are 6-2, when good teams face you see at who they have played, how good is the team playing at home and how good is the other playing on the road, key injuries and matchups are the others. In this case Ryan has the perfect record at home and its 19-1 overall but Baltimore has played the tougher opponents, matchup better against the Falcons and the injury to White who might play is important. Take Baltimore to produce Ryan’s first loss at home in a long time.

Straight: Bal

Spread: Bal

Ovr/Und: Ovr

Detroit at Buffalo -3 Ovr/Und 42.5

M. Stafford is quickly getting the injure prone label attached to his name and it’s bad because the kid has shown a lot in the little time he’s been in the league, has leadership, will do everything for the win and can make the throws the only bad thing is that he can’t stay healthy I swear Detroit just doesn’t catch a break. Buffalo has been playing hard the past three weeks trying to earn that first win and with the injury to Stafford I believe this will be the week they get it.

Straight: BUF

Spread: DET

Ovr/Und: UND

Cincinnati at Indianapolis -7.5 Ovr/Und 46.5

I hate that every year Manning is the talk of the MVP disregarding what every other player in the NFL has done just because Peyton is having a good year what everyone else is doing doesn’t matter, last year was him over Bress even Favre that pulled his best season ever, this year over Rivers, Matthews heck even Suh who are completely dominating on defense. The Colts have many injuries and are in trouble even with Manning but Cincinnati always finds ways to lose. Take the Colts to win in a close one.

Straight: IND

Spread:CIN

Ovr/Und: OVR

New York Jets at Cleveland 3 Ovr/Und 37

I don’t know why this game hasn’t gotten as much attention as it should. Brothers are facing each other and Manginni facing the team that let him go two years ago both playing great defense this will be a great matchup. I’m split on this one because I really believe the way Cleveland is playing that they can pull an upset but somehow like last week I feel the Jets will find a way to win.

Straight: NYJ

Spread: CLE

Ovr/Und: Und

Minnesota at Chicago 1 Ovr/Und 40.5

Of both team Minnesota is playing better, plus that defense that finally showed up late in the game against the cardinals will have a feast on the Bears Oline.

Straight: MIN

Spread: Min

Ovr/Und: Ovr

Houston at Jacksonville -2 Ovr/Und 50

The Texans are playing awful defense this is a divisional game with much in stake, Houston has one of the worst secondary’s I’ve ever seen and Gerard looked like an MVP the last time he faced another bad one. Take the home team.

Straight:Jac

Spread:Jac

Ovr/Und:OVR

Tennessee at Miami 1 Ovr/Und 41.5

Last time I checked Miami can’t win at home. Plus they’re benching Henne for 60 year old Pennington. Take the Titans their aggressive defense and the fact Chad can’t spread the field should be enough.

Straight: Ten

Spread: Ten

Ovr/Und: OVR

Carolina at Tampa Bay -8 Ovr/Und 38

Carolina has no Oline, no QB, No running game and they play at the road against a Tampa team that has won close game and has played really well against tough opponents like last week.

Straight:TB

Spread:NYG

Ovr/Und: Und

Kansas City at Denver 1 Ovr/Und 42.5

That was a tough loss last week for the Chiefs but this is a solid team I don’t see them dropping two in a row especially inside their own division. Haley has them thinking playoffs and they know that the key to make it it’s win the games in your own division first.

Straight: KC

Spread:KC

Ovr/Und:Und

St. Louis at San Francisco -6 Ovr/Und 38

UPSET OF THE WEEK

One win in London and suddenly the 49ers are a 6 point favorite? The Rams are a better prepared team with a better defense. Take the Rams in this upset, even if they’re winless on the road.

Straight: STL

Spread: STL

Ovr/Und: OVR

Seattle at Arizona -3 Ovr/Und 41

This division plays awful on the road plus Seattle is hurt, I didn’t like how Arizona looked last week against the Vikings even when they were winning that offense just doesn’t look good, If Hasselbeck plays I believe they can pull the victory.

Straight: ARI

Spread: SEA

Ovr/Und: UND

Dallas at New York -14 Ovr/Und 44.5

Changes sometimes are good but in the case of Dallas it can be worse. New York it’s playing great football and winning by double digits but this is a divisional game and I believe that a 14 game line even with how bad Dallas has been playing is too big in this case take the Giants but don’t take the spread. The safe bet take the over.

Straight:NYG

Spread:Dal

Ovr/Und: OVR

New England at Pittsburgh -3.5 Ovr/Und 44

UPSET OF THE WEEK

After a awful loss last week against the Browns it will be tough to play against the Patriots the usually don’t lose two in a row. Also Pittsburgh Oline it’s completely hurt they’ve lost another key player to IR and two other are questionable. Take the Patriots in this upset.

Straight:NE

Spread:NE

Ovr/Und: UND

Philadelphia at Washington 3 Ovr/Und 42

The redskins have serious issues in house that we don’t know if got worked during the bye their defense is the reason this team has hold together but if that offense can’t stop making mistakes and score some points this team will have a very rough second half to the season.

Straight:PHI

Spread:PHI

Ovr/Und: OVR

The Hot Picks

Record 26-28 48%

Minnesota (league)

Tennessee(league)

New England (league)

Jacksonville

Philadelphia

Baltimore