September Misery

On The Pack, Baby
I have to go with Green Bay, and the fifteen points does not scare me. Chicago did not look at all impressive in the preseason, and losing Conway only hurts their chances of beating Green Bay.

Besides, I feel really good about the overs pick. Green Bay is likely to score 40 themselves to kick things off at Lambeau this year.

-28 August 1997

A Split
Green Bay almost pulled it out with the 38-24 win, but Chicago's late score closed the gap to 14.. At least the overs worked out in my favor.

-1 September 1997

Just Cover, Baby!
That new offense of the Chiefs was not ready last week for Denver, it won't be ready this week for the Raiduhz, and may not be ready until Jim Druckenmiller is a free agent.

I'm going with the Silver and Black.

These two teams could score like Brad Pitt at a Tri Delt social, but last year's Monday Night game had more yellow flags than a Brazilian soccer match. I'm staying away from the Overs and Unders line.

-5 September 1997

What Does One Say About That?
For some reason, the Raiders thought they could just cede 50 yards in a loose prevent defense when they had a five point lead with a minute remaining. Did they really think that Kansas City was incapable of tossing it into the endzone from 30 yards away, or did they forget that a TD is worth 6?

If they felt that damned confident, they should have run a play on 4th down to reach the first rather than punt into the endzone for a net of 18 yards.

They didn't cover, baby, and they didn't even win. The G Man drops deeper below zero.

-8 September 1997

Schizophrenia or Pragmatism?
Buddy Ryan once remarked that a coach could post a 2-14 record in Philadelphia and the fans would love him for it, provided those two wins were against the Dallas Cowboys. So it might look strange that I picked the Cowboys at all, let alone two weeks before the game, and a week before the spread is even announced.

Don't worry, I'm not losing my disdain for the Cowboys. At the same time, my reason has not been blinded by my personal feelings. As much as I would love an Eagles win, good sense says the pick goes the other way. Dallas should be the favorite, and they should win the game.

My grandfather often bets against Philly teams in big games. He explains his logic by saying, "They get paid if they lose, why shouldn't I?"

Wise man.

I'm sticking with my grandfather. Buddy Ryan doesn't coach in Philly anymore.

-1 September 1997

Philadelphia at Dallas (-9), O/U 41½
Nine points is a tough pill to swallow. The worst scenario is one in which the Eagles lose and I lose the pick. The chances of that increase with a bigger spread. But I made my choice already, and I'll stick with it.
-11 September 1997

Dallas 21 Philadelphia 20
I'm going to throw up now.

-15 September 1997

Pittsburgh at Jacksonville(-3½), 41 over/under
Long before Jimmy the Greek embarrassed himself on national television with bigoted remarks about genetics and chattle slavery, he embarrassed himself on national television by offering horrendous picks every week. If that guy picked a game, it was a lock to go the other way.

This is my fate if I don't manage a good pick soon. Luckily for me, I have one this week. Pittsburgh walked into Kansas City last year when no one gave them a shot and beat the Chiefs on a Monday Night road game.

The city of Jacksonville should be pumped for this game. A little too pumped. I'm guessing a quick start by the Jags and a slow burn by the Steelers.

-18 September 1997

So...
Just as was explaining to Nina that whether Pittsburgh made the field goal or not, I couldn't lose the game, I heard the word "blocked". I looked up and hoped that they would just drop on the ball, or that it might go out of bounds. Then I had to hope that the man holding the ball would run out if bounds. I was reduced to encouraging kicker Norm Johnson to make a good tackle.

None of it worked, and in the Jaguars went for 6. I had to laugh.

-23 September 1997

San Francisco (-3½) at Carolina
I'm going to regret this, but the Niners are getting healthy, Carolina is not looking particularly good, and being 0-5 would be noteworthy anyway.

-29 September 1997

Hey, I Won One That's all I need to say.

-30 September 1997

Last Updated: 6 February 1998
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