Worst NFL Game of the Week – There are two solid possibilities here. Seattle plays at San Francisco. The Seahawks are terrible, and they seem to be in a spiral. The Niners are almost as bad, though there may be a bit of a boost thanks to the new coach. It certainly helped the Rams. Instead of that one I will go with one that is almost certain to stink – Cincinnati at Houston. The Bengals are awful, and Houston, though they have potential, have been inconsistent. The Texans are favored by 10, which is a sign of just how bleak things are in Cincinnati.
Best NFL Game of the Week – It should be the Monday night game between Indy and Tennessee, but refuse to trust the Colts any more. Tampa Bay at Dallas should be another classic, too, but the faltering Cowboys have thrown a wrench in that one. San Diego at New Orleans is yet another one that could be good but can be trusted thanks to inconsistency. That leaves me with one I’m not that excited about – the Giants at Pittsburgh. Two smash mouth playoff teams should make for interesting play.
Game With Teams With the Most to Prove – Buffalo at Miami. The Bills need to prove that they are still an elite team, especially in the face of the recent resurgence of the Pats. Miami needs to build some momentum to show that they are actually making the progress that has been hinted at so far.
Oddest Line – The Jets haven’t been very good this year. There have been some highlights, but also some intense periods of blandness. It seems very odd to see a team this average favored by 13 points. Not that it isn’t justified – they are playing Kansas City, after all.
Best College Game – Oklahoma State at Texas. This is a no-brainer. Two undefeated Big 12 teams, one of which is making a convincing case for being the top team in the country. In the last two weeks both teams have beaten up on Missouri. Now they get to beat up each other.
Fillng Me With Dread – I have no dread this week. Just the certainty that Michigan is going to lose to Michigan State. It’s easier to cope with that way.
Four Interesting Games Between Unranked Teams – Cincinnati (-2) at UConn. A showdown between the top second tier Big East teams. The winner could be positioned for a solid bowl. Illinois (-2.5) at Wisconsin. The Badgers are going through an incredible freefall – from the number eight seed to 3-4 in just a month. It’s like a train wreck you can’t turn away from. Wake Forest (+3) at Miami. Interesting ACC showdown. It won’t likely be fun to watch, but it will be interesting to analyze. Boston College (+3) at North Carolina. Two surprisingly good teams looking to maintain the momentum.
Biggest Line – Wyoming (+31.5) at TCU. The Cowboys aren’t good. The Horned Frogs flexed their muscles against BYU. It’s not a wonder this one is so one-sided.
