LOCK: New Orleans (-13.5) over ST. LOUIS: Big spread, but I’m not worried. The Rams suck so badly, and New Orleans is 8-0. I fear that the Saints will let the unbeaten thing get to them and they will lose a game that they shouldn’t lose this year, but it’s not gonna be this week.
Denver (-3.5) over WASHINGTON: The Broncos’ 6-0 start was followed by two AFC North beatdowns to bring them back down to Earth. They’re not about to let a terrible 2-6 Redskins team make it three in a row. Denver needs a win here with San Diego creeping up behind it in the AFC West, and they should rebound with a win in D.C.
New England (+3.0) over INDIANAPOLIS: The Colts are so good this year; a dominant 8-0 start and the No. 1 passing attack in the NFL have reestablished them among the league’s elite. But more often than not, New England clips Indy in their annual matchup. This will be a great game, and I would love to see the Colts take it, but I don’t think they will this time around. Sorry, Dan, I’m picking the upset.
Atlanta (-1.5) over CAROLINA: The Panthers appear to have remembered how to play football lately. The Falcons beat them 28-20 earlier this season, and this might turn into a slugfest of the diesel running backs: DeAngelo Williams and Michael Turner. But even if those two even each other out, I’ll take the rest of the Falcons over the rest of the Panthers.