Week 8 Picks!

This week the NFL goes back to London for the second time this year with another game in their International Series featuring the Falcons and Lions. The difference in this game is that the game will kickoff at 1:30pm locally in London, so that means that the game will start at 9:30am here on the East Coast. It sounds like a pretty cool idea to me, and we'll see how it is to watch the game live at that time in the morning, but that might be the only cool thing about the London series at this point. I keep reading articles about how the NFL wants to either expand or move a team to London in the future, and I keep asking myself: Why? Who cares about London? Seriously, I don't mind having a regular season game there every few years, but this year there are three games there, and it looks like there could be almost eight in a few years. I get the idea of expanding markets and tapping into other revenue streams, but the London thing seems to be going too far. Just stop with the nonsense of expanding and putting a team there. If anything, worry about putting a team in Los Angeles or figuring out if the Rams and Raiders can move back there, but please one request for the NFL: Enough with the London stuff!

Onto the picks for Week 8....

Last Week's Record: 7-8
Overall Record: 48-53-5
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Atlanta (+4) over Detroit (In London): I had the Falcons going to the playoffs this year, and at 2-5 they look dead on arrival. Maybe they can muster something this week against the Lions. Perhaps, Detroit will fall into some London hangover in this game, and the Falcons could shock them.

TAMPA BAY (-2) over Minnesota: Easy pick here. The Bucs are due for a big effort at home against the lowly Vikings.

Chicago (+7) over NEW ENGLAND: Going with my gut on this one. The Bears are so quirky that you could see them playing their best game on the year on the road in Foxboro this week. I think this is going to be a back and forth close game throughout.

KANSAS CITY (-6) over St. Louis: You have to like the combination of how the Chiefs are playing with the Royals amazing World Series run for this Sunday.

CAROLINA (+6) over Seattle: This game looks like this to me: Carolina leads the entire game and it looks like Seattle is heading for a 3-4 disaster, but Russell Wilson makes a few plays at the end to save them and win the game 23-22 or something like that.

NY JETS (-2) over Buffalo: The Bills are a 4-3 team, but they aren't really a 4-3 team. The Jets had 10 days off after losing to the Pats last week, and Percy Harvin will be ready to go. The Jets will get the job done at home this week.

Miami (-6) over JACKSONVILLE: Watch out for Miami. That was a big win on the road last week in Chicago.

Houston (-2) over TENNESSEE: Zach Mettenberger gets the start for the Titans, and I am licking my chops at the prospect of J.J. Watt chasing him down all day. I'll take the Texans on the road.

CINCY (PICK) over Baltimore: I just think that the Bengals have the Ravens number. They just match up with them pretty well.

Philadelphia (+3) over ARIZONA: I'll take the Eagles on the road on a hunch. Who would have guessed that this would be the marquee game in the NFC in Week 8?

Indy (-2) over PITTSBURGH: Indy's beatdown of the Bengals sent a message that they are for real at 5-2. I think they are too much for the Steelers in Pittsburgh today.

CLEVELAND (-5) over Oakland: This game is pretty weak. We just want to know when Johnny Football is going to start for the Browns.

NEW ORLEANS (-1) over Green Bay: The Saints season is on the line, so that is why I am picking them here. At 2-4, it is desperate times for them, and I like their chances at home.

Washington (+10) over DALLAS: The Cowboys will win, but they never cover as big home favorites.