PREVIEW - WEEK ELEVEN

New York Jets @ New England Patriots
Line: Pats -3.5
O/U: 42.5
Linebuster!
The Jets are getting better, but are not among the elite teams in the NFL. In other words, they should NOT be first place in the AFC East. The Pats know the division lead is on the line, and will be playing as such. The Jets may also be overconfident after destroying the Rams, which does not bode well for them.
Pats -3.5. New England at home is an easy choice. 27-17.

Denver Broncos @ Atlanta Falcons
Line: Falcons -6.5
O/U: 50.5
This is an awfully high line, and I'm tempted to go against it, but after they shut down the high-flying Saints, I would expect the Falcons to do the same to the Broncos. The other way you could look at it, though, is that they held down the league's #1 offense...can they come back just one week later and shut down the league's #2 O? Denver has no defense, though, which means Matt Ryan should have a field day. Even in a high-scoring affair, I like the Falcons, but a late TD will blow the spread.
Broncos +6.5. It's just too high. Falcons win 34-31.

Oakland Raiders @ Miami Dolphins
Line: Dolphins -10.5
O/U: 38.5
I don't care how many games the Dolphins have won, or how far Oakland has to travel...I will not give Miami that many points. This could be a total blowout, but I doubt it. Miami plays down to the competition. Don't get me wrong, they'll win...but not by 11.
Raiders +10.5. Miami still gets it done 19-13.

Baltimore Ravens @ New York Giants
Line: Giants -6.5
O/U: 42
The Ravens have a great D, but at 6-3, I'd say they're overperforming. The Giants, on the other hand, are deserving of their 8-1 record, and I don't see Baltimore slowing them down. Both teams have won four games in a row, so something's gotta give. The Giants got housed by the Browns, beat the Steelers by a TD, and needed OT against the Bengals...so what happens in round 4 versus the AFC North?
Giants -6.5. The Giants have to blow out one of these teams. 33-13.

Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts
Line: Colts -8.5
O/U: 50.5
Why must this line be so high? I expect the Colts to win, because they still really need to...but they tend to play the Texans pretty close. I can't give them quite that many points.
Texans +8.5. Colts win 27-21.

Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Line: Titans -3
O/U: 39.5
Linebuster!
This could be a tough game for the undefeated Titans, as the Jaguars know they were supposed to be better than they currently are, and they'd love to get one big win to show everyone that they still do have talent. But the Titans are very good. Jacksonville can't run on that D. Garrard won't be able to pass much on that D. It's going to be another L for the Jags.
Titans -3. Tennessee's D is too much. 27-16.

Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers
Line: Packers -4
O/U: 43.5
Linebuster!
The Packers need a win to get back in the picture in the NFC North, and with their ability to intercept passes, Orton (or Grossman, depending on how everything works out) may have some issues with INTs. Green Bay at home is always tough...this game should be no different.
Packers -4. Green Bay wins it 27-17.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Cincinnati Bengals
Line: Eagles -9
O/U: 42.5
The Eagles can hang up the cleats if they lose this one, so they're going to be playing hard. Cincy is really bad. Philly's D is awfully good. I doubt this will be a contest.
Eagles -9. Philly hangs a big number on the hapless Bengals. 37-13.

New Orleans Saints @ Kansas City Chiefs
Line: Saints -5.5
O/U: 50
The Saints...yet another desperate team. They must win this game, and would like to make a statement in doing so. Thigpen (keep in mind he was a third-string QB) has been keeping the Chiefs very close the past few weeks, but I don't think they can stay with the high flying Saints unless they shut down Brees. I just don't see it happening.
Saints -5.5. New Orleans wins 34-21.

Detroit Lions @ Carolina Panthers
Line: Panthers -14
O/U: 40
I hate to give any NFL team 14 points, but the Panthers do seem to have a penchant for blowing teams out at home. The Lions, however, are desperate to get a win. I don't know if the Panthers will put up enough points to win by 14 after a disappointing 17-6 win in Oakland. Plus playing multiple crappy teams in a row isn't always good for a solid football team, as concentration may start to fade a bit as they look ahead to the next two games, which are against better squads.
Lions +14. Carolina still wins 24-13.

Minnesota Vikings @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Line: Bucs -3.5
O/U: 38.5
This has the potential to be a great game. Two teams fighting for division titles, two solid defenses, and two questionable offenses. I think the Bucs will pull it out at home, but by how much? They have been playing a lot of very close games this year. If they do win, I think it will be by a field goal. The chance that Minnesota may win, and the probability that Tampa will win by only a field goal, mean that I have to go against this one.
Vikings +3.5. Tampa wins 23-20.

St. Louis Rams @ San Francisco 49ers
Line: 49ers -6
O/U: 44.5
What do I do with this game? Haslett is still well short of his presumed 6-win bonus, but Singletary has his guys playing with a lot of heart. I actually think this will turn into a close game.
Rams +6. 49ers win it, but not by that much. 27-24.

Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks
Line: Cardinals -3
O/U: 47.5
Linebuster!
Come on now. What have I said about the Cards? They only lose on the east coast. Seattle is awful, and unless Arizona comes out totally flat, has no chance of winning this game.
Cards -3. Arizona Whomps em 27-10.

San Diego Chargers @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Line: Steelers -5
O/U: 43
Not only is Pittsburgh a pretty darn good team, but they're also in a playoff race with the Ravens, and can't afford to lose any games. The Chargers have been awful. They would have lost to the Chiefs if it weren't for a botched extra point and a questionable 2-point conversion call. The Pitt D is too good for the Chargers to score a ton of points, but I'm not sure how many points Pittsburgh will score either.
Steelers -5. Pittsburgh wins it 27-21.

Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Redskins
Line: Cowboys -1.5
O/U: 43.5
Linebuster!
Yeah, I know what happened last time. But with Romo back, the Cowboys know they have some ground to make up thanks to his absence. The Skins started out great, but are falling back to the pack. They overperformed and won some close games, but now we get to see how good they really are.
Cowboys -1.5. I just don't think Big D will settle for .500. Cowboys 30-13.

Cleveland Browns @ Buffalo Bills
Line: Bills -5
O/U: 42
Ahh, Monday Night at the Ralph. The Bills have fallen on tough times again, and this game is an absolute must-win. I worry that Cleveland feels the same way, but with all the talk about "giving up", whether it's true or not, I think the Browns are sufficiently distracted.
Bills -5. Buffalo wins it 26-19.