in NFL Free Picks

It was bound to happen. I’m rollin’ over my fellow cohorts all season long and then the hammer drops. What am I blabbing about? I’m blabbing about an 0-4 week last weekend, is what I’m blabbin’ ‘bout. Not one win; not a one. I feel like a running back fumbling the ball at the opponent’s one and they return the recovery for a game winning touchdown with 2 seconds left. A rare event, this 0-4, but it happens. My record took thumps and now stands at 18-16-2 after 9 weeks of the season. By the way… my Raiders are the first team in NFL history to get shut out twice on Monday Night Football during the same season. To Al Davis et al… Congratulations… bums!! Last weekend shall become a distant memory in a hurry without a worry. Week 10 is here.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS +4.5 AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS -4.5

Disbelief. The only word that I can use right now to describe my present thoughts on the season that the defending Super Bowl champions are having. 2 and 6 ??? This is still a very good team on paper, but on turf and grass these cats have been reeking. And now they have a team still pissed coming into their house on Sunday. The Saints have been THE story of this NFL season… forget everything else… as they are plain and simply playing on a definitive mission. How can you not cheer for these Bourbon Street cats whenever they play? Pittsburgh… enjoy the gleam and glam of those rings you got, because it ain’t you this year!

PREDICTION: Saints to cover

ST. LOUIS RAMS -3 AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS +3

How good or how bad are the Rams? Can you tell me? I can’t find anyone who knows. This is a squad that was 4-1 to open up and then they have lost their last three to Seattle, San Diego and Kansas teams with 5-3, 6-2 and 5-3 records respectively. Now check this… they beat Arizona, Detroit and Green Bay teams with 1-7, 2-6 and 3-5 respective records. So what does that tell you? I don’t have an idea in all kingdoms. I do know this… Seattle is not playing the Oakland Raiders again with a backup quarterback and running back.

PREDICTION: Rams to cover

CHICAGO BEARS Pick AT NEW YORK GIANTS Pick

There comes a point and time when a team suffers too many significant injuries to have a chance against a legitimate opponent. Every NFL season this happens, and it occurs here with the New York Giants. The boo-boo list is the who’s-who of the Giants: Toomer, Strahan, Umenyiora, Emmons, Burress, Short, Tuck. At this point, you just might as well play the entire second units of both the offense and defense, since they are used to playing with each other in practice. Power middle-linebacker Brian Urlacher is hurting for the Bears, but it’ll probably take more than a little toe pain to keep him out. There is no reason why the Bears should lose this game.

PREDICTION: Bears to win

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS +9.5 AT CAROLINA PANTHERS -9.5

The spread on this game is through the stratosphere, and I’m not really sure why. Yeah, the Bucs are 2-6 and Carolina is playing at home on Monday night. But hold on right here. Tampa has lost games to the Saints twice, the Ravens, the Falcons, these Panthers, and the Giants. And they found ways to beat Philly and Cincy. We are talking about a first half of the season from Lucifer in Hell himself. Perhaps the Buccaneers are not as bad as their record seems to indicate; is this a possibility? All I know is that I’m looking forward to see how this Bruce Gradkowski cat plays in his first opportunity in the limelight. The Buc rookie QB has been very impressive since he stepped in pewter.

PREDICTION: Buccaneers to cover

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Anthony Oxley is a freelance columnist and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker room.