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Lucky is
back this week hoping to duplicate my successful opening week where I
went 10-5-1. Let's kick it off!
SUPER
PICKS
Redskins
(-3) @ Giants:
Holly cow. Just in: Clinton Portis is really that good. He alone could
beat the Giants by more than three points. The Redskins new defensive
scheme is blitz, blitz, blitz, and the Giants don't have a quarterback
or an offensive line that can handle that. The Skins roll big. In fact,
I intend to place my own mortgage on this game, hoping to get Grandma
back into her own house!
Game Date: 09/19/04 13:00 ET
Jets (-3)
@ Chargers:
Both the Chargers and the Jets looked good on opening weekend, starting
off the season with wins. Don't expect that trend to continue. The Jets
are a good team, the Chargers are not. LaDainian Tomlinson ran wild against
the Texans and might do it again against the Jets. But that alone will
not suffice. For the Chargers to win, Drew Brees will have to play mistake
free football for another week, and I just don't see that happening. The
Jet's have a potent passing attack with Chan Pennington throwing the ball
to Santana Moss, and will ride a rejuvenated Curtis Martin to victory.
Game Date: 09/19/04 16:15 ET
Seahawks
(-2.5) @ Buccaneers:
The Buccaneers looked hard for some offense last week and came up wanting.
Scoring more points on defense than offense is now way to win football
games. Seattle on the other hand, looked as good as advertised, beating
the Saints by two touchdowns in New Orleans. Their young defense held
Deuce MaCallister to 57 yards rushing and forced three turnovers. Look
for the Seattle offense to improve in week two, and beat the Bucs by a
touchdown.
Game Date: 09/19/04 16:05 ET
Colts
(+1) @ Titans:
It's hard to imagine the talented Colts at 0-2… so I won't. The Colts
will come back in week two and beat a formidable opponent in the Tennessee
Titans. Edgerrin James looks like the Edge of old, running for over 140
yards against a good Patriot D in week one. Colts need a victory, and
Lucky Lester says they'll Edge one out here. Game Date: 09/19/04 13:00
ET
Lucky
Lester's Picks For Week Two
Broncos
(-3) @ Jaguars:
The Broncos really showed me something last week against the Chiefs. Jake
Plummer can lead Shanahan's offense down the field. Quentin Griffin is
making people forget about Clinton Portis in Denver. The Bronco's balanced
attack is hard to defend against. Denver's defense is hugely improved
with the addition of Champ Bailey. The Jaguars won't squeak this one out,
and will get beat at home by a much more experienced Bronco squad. Game
Date: 09/19/04 13:00 ET
Steelers
@ Ravens (-3.5):
The Ravens are pissed, and a pissed off Ray Lewis is down right scary.
Duce Staley is veteran enough to know, he's in big trouble this Sunday.
Jamal Lewis can't be satisfied with 50 yards rushing, look for him to
bounce back with help from Jonathan Ogden who's back in the lineup.
Game Date: 09/19/04 13:00 ET
Texans
(+3) @ Lions:
Good news and bad news for the Lions last week. They finally won on the
road, as I predicted, but unfortunately lost budding star receiver Charles
Rogers for the year. But for some terrible bounces, David Carr would have
led his team to victory in week one. Look for the bounces to even out
and watch the Texans win in Detroit. Game Date: 09/19/04 13:00 ET
Bears @ Packers
(-8.5):
Bears can't score if they don't have the ball, and the Packers have been
very piggish with that lately. Don't expect undersized Brian Urlacher
to hold his ground against a missive Green Bay ground assault. Ahman Green
will run wild, and Brett Favre will sling it around. Green Bay in a land
slide. Game Date: 09/19/04 13:00 ET
49ers @ Saints (-7.5):
Based on last weeks performance one would be inclined to take the Niners,
but Lucky Lester knows San Francisco, and San Francisco sucks. Not to
mention Miami's own Ken Dorsey will be under center this Sunday. Never
a good thing! Saints have got to be better then the Niners. Take the bitter
pill and give the 7.5 points. Game Date: 09/19/04 13:00 ET
Rams @ Falcons
(-2.5):
This is a tough one. Both these teams looked terrible in their Victories
last week. Sure, each team is 1-0, but only because they played the Arizona/San
Francisco tandem that will be hard pressed to win ten games combined.
Mike Vick only had 18 snaps in pre-season and should be greatly improved
with a full game under his belt. Take Atlanta at home in this offensive
dog fight. Game Date: 09/19/04 13:00 ET
Panthers @ Chiefs (-6):
The Panthers were dominated at home by the Packers stellar offensive line
and star running back Ahman Green last week. Guess what? The Chiefs boast
an even better offensive line and league scoring record holder Priest
Holmes. Expect more of the same in Kansas City.
Game Date: 09/19/04 13:00 ET
Browns (+4.5) @ Cowboys:
The Browns took it to the Ravens vaunted defense in week 1. Jeff Garcia
looked even more comfortable running the Brown offense then he thought
he'd be. His young receivers ran up and down the field and William Green
compiled 65 yards on the ground. The Cowboys run D isn't as good as Baltimore,
so Green should find bigger holes in Dallas. Game Date: 09/19/04 16:15
ET
Patriots
(-8) @ Cardinals:
There isn't a number under twenty the Cardinals would get that would persuade
me to bet Arizona against a great Patriot team. I've got to give it to
Arizona, they made up the spread against the Rams last week, and played
tougher than expected. But, the Patriots aren't the Rams, and I can't
imagine Bill Belichick will allow his team to look past Dennis Green's
young Cardinals. And don't think for a minute that Emmitt Smith will gain
5.4 yards a rush against the Patriot run defense. Smith played well last
week but should be slowed by a Patriots defense looking to improve from
last weeks sub par performance. Watch the Patriots win their 17th in a
row this Sunday. Game Date: 09/19/04 16:15 ET
Bills
(+3) @ Raiders:
The Bills dominated an improved Jaguar team nearly the entire game last
week just to let them stumble down the field in the closing minute and
steal a victory. But the Bills are better than advertised. Buffalo's defense
is one of the most underrated in the NFL and Drew Bledsoe looks like his
old self again. The Raiders will fail to run against the Bills; Wheatley
hasn't proven himself and Justin Fargas just isn't ready to carry the
load. The Raider's allowed Duce Staley to gain nearly 100 yards last week
and Jerome Bettis scored 3 touchdowns. The Buffalo duo of Travis Henry
and Willis McGahee are much younger and faster. Look for Buffalo to take
advantage of the Raiders' lack of cohesiveness. Bledsoe will find Lee
Evens and Eric Moulds for big plays. I have to take the Bills and the
points in Oakland. Game Date: 09/19/04 16:15 ET
Dolphins @ Bengals (-5):
The Dolphins are a mess, they took two months to decide on a quarterback
and then promptly benched him within thirty minutes, and now A.J. Feely
is the starter. Lucky him. No running game, no passing attack, don't invite
me to that party. The Bengals Carson Palmer proved to be worthy of his
hype, playing a solid game against a good Jets team in week 1. Cincinnati
should notch their first win of the season, and the Dolphins should continue
their hasty downward spiral. I take the Bengals at home, in fact if it
weren't for Miami's stout defense, which might win them a game or two,
they might have a shot at 0-16… Thanks Ricky!
Game Date: 09/19/04 20:35 ET
Vikings @
Eagles (-3):
The Vikings couldn't stop Vinny Testeverde's Cowboys from racking up over
400 yards of offense, so there's no doubt in my mind Donovan McNabb and
Terrell Owens will explode for close to 500 yards against the Viking defense.
But neither defense could stop their opponent. The lowly Giants racked
up over 400 yards against the Eagles last week. The Eagles had more trouble
defending the run, but luckily for them the Vikings don't have a running
back. It's on this stat alone and the fact that Philly's playing at home
that I take the Eagles in this big Monday Night Match-Up. Game Date:
09/20/04 21:05 ET
WAGERING
SMART MAKES WATCHING NFL GAMES MORE FUN
Good Luck
with your NFL Football Wagering!
Lucky Lester
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