ST. LOUIS -6.5 vs. Tennessee
The St. Louis Rams are 6.5 point favourites at home versus Tennessee. I don’t think so. St. Louis beat the Cards last week despite taking the loss in a couple important offensive categories: yards gained, and time of possession. You really had to watch the game to know how badly Arizona played, and how St. Louis was basically gifted a road win. This week the Titans are in town. Now Tennessee isn’t a good team. And they’re definitely not a road juggernaut. But they will not, under any circumstances, lose this game by 6.5 points. It just doesn’t make sense.

The Rams play well at home. But they’re not a very good team. Remember this is a group of guys who’re coming of a loss to San Francisco, and a 5 point win over Arizona. Green Bay’s also a good home team, but they lost to Cleveland last week. If Steve McNair can still get the ball downfield then the Titans will be able to score at will. I think this game probably ends with a slim margin of victory for St. Louis, maybe 1 or 3 points. Say, 24-21. Or 28-27.

Tampa Bay -3.5 at Green Bay
The Packers have lost a couple straight. The Bucs have won a couple. I can see Green Bay falling to 0-3, but I don’t like this line. Tampa will not cover this number. They’re on the road again after shutting down a weak Bills offense at home. Green Bay lost Javon Walker in week 1, but they’re going to figure out ways to move the ball. This seems like a low-scorer, but the Packers need to bust out big-time. I can see them laying a beating on Tampa for no other reason than they really need to. And what’s Tampa Bay’s motivation in this one? Open 3-0? Favre will get the ball to Chatman and Driver. And Ahman Green decides this is the week he’s going to actually do something.
Carnell Williams is all right, but he’s the kind of smallish back this weak Green Bay D can stuff. And Griese is going to take some heat. I can see at least a couple interceptions.

SAN DIEGO -6 vs. Giants
I really like the Giants this year. Can they stick in a must-win game for the Chargers and cover this spread? They’re coming off a couple of big games and Vegas has still made them 6 point dogs. San Diego is 0-2 and they’re 6 point faves against a team that’s scored 69 points in their first 2 games of the season. What does that tell you? They’re begging you to take the Giants. And that’s never good news. The G-men could end up winning this game by a field-goal, but the prospect of a 27-13 Chargers victory is looming on the horizon. If New York shows up they’ll cover this number. I guess the prevailing wisdom here is that they’ll be slow coming off the Monday nighter and Manning will probably cough up the ball a few times on the road. It’s a dangerous bet. The Giants can score. And they’re not a bad team.

SEATTLE -6.5 vs. Arizona
You all know how I feel about the Cardinals. They’re awful. I hate ‘em. But I might have to bet them this week at +6.5 in Seattle. They’re going to win one of these weeks and I think it could happen on Sunday against a soft Seahawks D that almost coughed up the game to Matt Schaub. Arizona can score. As long as that awful, awful offensive line gives Warner some time he’ll make a couple plays. Arizona needs to show up in this one. And Dennis Green will have spent the entire week whipping these guys with reckless abandon. Their effort last week was just sub-par all around. And there’s no way Seattle is going to be prepared for the Cards jumping out to a quick lead. It just sets up as a cover.

MINNESOTA -4 vs New Orleans
The Vikings need this game in the biggest way. The Saints are on the road again. Nate Burleson probably won’t play, so Daunte’s going to be looking downfield for who? I’m guessing Koren Robinson finally suits up this week. The Vikings are another bad team that’s getting respect from the oddsmakers because they’re at home. And New Orleans is in the midst of a nightmare schedule of road games. Plus they’re coming off a Monday night loss to the Giants. So what happens? Well, Minnesota’s going to be pumped and break into this one with a ton of energy. New Orleans seems like they’re going to be overwhelmed. This is one they schould cover, but under the circumstances a Vikings blowout looks like the flavour of the day. Minnesota will pour it on after losing big to the Bengals. And this just seems like too much road for the Saints to handle. That’s why I have a feeling they’ll be driving in the 4th for the win, or get completely blown to pieces.

INDIANAPOLIS -13.5 vs. Cleveland
Indy’s offense was spectacular last year, now their defense isn’t so bad either. Peyton is due for a huge game and he’ll get it against the Browns who’re coming off a big upset victory in Green Bay. They let the Pack score 24, which isn’t a good sign going into the RCA dome against an offense ready to wield that big stick. Cleveland can move the ball, but not like the Colts. Indy will score early, and fast. Now Cleveland seems like they can answer for the 1st quarter, and maybe up to the half. But it’s very possible that Hunter Smith, the Colts’ punter, doesn’t take the field this game. If Indy scored less than 30 I’d be surprised.

Dallas -6.5 vs. SAN FRANCISCO
The 49ers are really that bad. I don’t think anyone was really that surprised when Philly chewed them up and spit them out last week. Now they’re back at home against a Dallas team that lost in an ugly way Monday night. The only thing San Francisco has going for them is that they’re at home. Provided they don’t sleep-walk into this one the Dallas D will keep this game under 40.5. I think they’ll be motivated and cover this one. Anyway, the number is less than a converted TD. And although Dallas hasn’t shown much on offense I’d be shocked if Julius Jones didn’t use that huge O-line to his advantage and rack up 100+ yards and 2 scores.

Carolina -3 vs. MIAMI
Miami had their improbable victory in Week 1 against the Broncos. Can they do it against Carolina? Well, the Panthers are coming off their own huge win against the Patriots and now they’re on the road. That usually spells disaster for the visiting team, but since this line is only 3 it would be really tough to shirk them. Miami’s defense isn’t bad, but their offense is still a huge problem. I no longer have any faith in Olindo Mare to make even the chippiest of the chip shot field goals. I don’t see how you can like Miami for any other reasons than this game is at Pro Player, and Carolina is on the road after a big win. That’s why I’d hesitate to play this one. There’s something about this short line that doesn’t seem right. Carolina just beat a dynasty team by 10 and now they’re 3 point faves to the Gus Frerotte-led Dolphins?

I’m going to cover the rest of the schedule by the end of the day. But here are the spreads for the remainder of this week’s card:

Cincinnati -3 vs. CHICAGO
Chicago broke out last week with an excellent all-around gameplan. The Bengals are the better team, but do they show up for this one? The Bears seem to love being home dogs and Kyle Orton isn’t half-bad.

PHILADELPHIA -8 vs. Oakland
Oakland should cover this one. They should. But then again they should have covered vs. Kansas City, and they should have covered vs. New England. Eight points is a lot to lay, but the Raiders’ QB is Kerry Collins. And we all know what happens when you put your money on Kerry Collins. I’m still going to take Oakland. This should at least be a back-door cover.

NY JETS -2.5 vs. Jacksonville:
The Jets’ offense is pathetic; the Jags defense is the most underrated unit in the entire NFL. Can New York win 7-3? Sure. Can Jacksonville win 7-3? Sure. I just don’t like this game.

DENVER -3 vs. Kansas City
This one is in Denver, where the Broncos seem to have perfected the 3 point win. I smell another push.

PITTSBURGH -3 vs. New England: An absolutely impossible game to handicap. I can’t shake the feeling that someone is going to win this one by a field goal. With the way Pittsburgh’s been playing I’m tempted to give this one to the Steelers. But the Pats lost last week. Still, I think Pittsburgh takes it by a field goal. That just means a push, so don’t get excited.