Last Minute Game Picking

Ok, so despite (or maybe because of) the fact that I've said many times I'm terrible at picking games, a group of bloggers has invited me to join their season picking pool. 

The idea goes that we all pick the games, then the winner gets a "boast post" that has to run on all the other blogs the following week.  Hopefully I'll get one of those.

Anyway, if things get really bad, I might throw these up to the readers for a "wisdon of the crowd" sort of take.  For the first week though, since I have, oh, 35 minutes, I'm doing these myself.  And since I'm really behind schedule, I'm even gonna steal someone else's list of the blogs involved:

This year Blogger Deathsport will be operating with ten participants including a Vikings blog, an Eagles blog, a Jaguars blog, a Steelers blog and a South Carolina Gamecocks blog. Blogger Deathsport's head office remains at the defending champs' digs, Curly R. There's also last years' players at Hogs Haven and Post Game Heroes.

(Posted at this Redskins blog:  http://stagefour.typepad.com/nfl/2008/09/2008-im-not-overreacting.html)

On to the picks:

Thu
WAS @ NYG (-3.5)
I got off to a 1-0 start by picking this one on Thursday with an email sent around.  Woohoo.
 
Sun
ARZ (2.5) @ SF
Arizona.  More impressed with that coaching staff in a match-up between two unknowns.

SEA @ BUF (-1)
For the life of me, I can't see why Buffalo is favored in this game.  Seattle is a good team.

CIN (-1) @ BAL
If Troy Smith were starting this game I would have picked Baltimore.  

DAL (-5.5) @ CLE
Why isn't this line higher?  Everyone in the world thinks the Cowboys are a good top-to-bottom team while the Browns are just one-year wonders.  And yet and yet.  Screw it, I hate the Cowboys.  Cleveland is the pick.
 
DET (-3) @ ATL
I just think it's going to take more than one week for Atlanta to get turned around.  I don't have much confidence in that Detroit team though.
 
CHI @ IND (-9.5)
Everyone is expecting Manning to struggle this first week with no practice time.  As I took Peyton with my first-round pick in my fantasy draft, I'm going to go for consistency and say he'll be fine. 
 
JAX (-3) @ TEN
My wife says "too much drama in Jax this week."  Didn't seem to affect PSU yesterday.  Still, I have a funny feeling about Vince Young.  Last year's performance was obvious based on how his first season went.  I think the bounceback third year is just as obvious.  Tennessee.
 
KC @ NE (off the board = straight up even)
Because of the weird rules in the league, this is even.  Um, I'll take New England.
 
TB @ NO (-3)
See Vince Young logic above.  New Orleans.
 
NYJ (-3) @ MIA
Yeah, I know, but one of the QBs has a hell of a lot to play for.  I'm not sure the other one is even all that psyched about being back and in New York.  Let's go Dolphins.
 
STL @ PHI (-7.5)
Down two starting wide receivers ... argh.  I'm still going with them.  I bet they win by 7 though.
 
HOU @ PIT (-6.5)
Straight up from my Texans source when I asked if I should take them:  "Yes.  I think we're gonna win."  Please note that as Pittsburgh is my starting defense, this is a deviation from the FF consistency approach taken above with Indy. 
 
CAR @ SD (-9)
Every year, sportswriters seem to get infatuated with the Panthers.  I don't get it.  Neither do the oddsmakers, evidently.  San Diego it is.

Mon
DEN (-3) @ OAK
Denver.  How can a franchise (Oakland) possibly have success when the only reason the coach is still there is that the owner was too cheap to fire him (and keep paying his salary)?!?!  

MIN @ GB (-2.5)
Lot of guys on the Packers have something to prove.  Too many guys in Minny or just waiting for their QB to screw something up so they can blame him.  I think GB is winning this division.