Week 8 Guessing of the Lines

My “guessing of the lines” picks finally slowed down in Week 7 as I went 2-3 last week.  I guess that’s what I get for trying to pick 5 spreads.  This week, my guessing was a lot better (I hit 5 exactly!).  Let’s see if the picking can follow suit as I aim to go 2 for 2 in Week 8.

 

Away	Home	Guess	SC Line
Bucs	Vikes	Vikes -6.5	Vikes -6.5
Panthers	Bears	Bears -9	Bears -7.5
Chargers	Browns	Chargers -2.5	Chargers -2.5
Seahawks	Lions	Lions -1.5	Lions -2
Jags	Pack	Pack -14	Pack -14
Dolphins	Jets	Jets -3	Jets -2
Falcons	Eagles	Eagles -2.5	Eagles -2.5
Redskins	Steelers	Steelers -3	Steelers -4.5
Pats	Rams	Pats -7	Pats -7
Colts	Titans	Titans -3	Titans -3.5
Raiders	Chiefs	Chiefs -1	Chiefs -2
Giants	Cowboys	Cowboys -2.5	Giants -2.5
Saints	Broncos	Broncos -2	Broncos -6
49ers	Cards	49ers -6	49ers - 6.5

 

Giants @ Cowboys

 

The Giants have looked great as of late, winning 5 of 6 by an average margin of 15.4 points.  They’ve beaten good/above average teams (49ers & Redskins) and below average/bad teams (Bucs, Panthers, & Browns). 

I see the Cowboys are 3-3 and think that has to be a typo.  My perception is the layperson views the Cowboys as not being very good because…well, before I did a little bit of research, I didn’t think they were very good either.  As it stands, their losses have all come against very good defenses (Seahawks, Bears, & Ravens).  While the Giants have an above average defense, I would call it more opportunistic than good. 

 

So, what gives in this matchup?

The Giants are a very good team, but whenever a team is riding as high as they are, you know the common public bettor is going to be biased towards that team.  I would say the Cowboys are an above average team that the public is biased AGAINST because they haven’t done anything to catch our eyes since Day 1 when they upset the Giants.  The Cowboys need this game to get above .500, to gain a game on a divisional opponent, and to gain some confidence heading into the remainder of the season.  Although it’s tough to pick against one of the most clutch QBs of his generation in Eli, who will be extra motivated after already having lost to the Cowboys once this year, I gotta believe the Cowboys are the correct pick here.

 

Take Cowboys +2.5

Saints @ Broncos

 

How big of a lead for the Saints is safe going into the 4^th quarter against the Broncos, 30?  I guess this line is so high because people believe Peyton will be able to pick apart the dreadful Saints defense all game long.  It seems like Vegas has been giving the Saints more credit lately…and now it seems like they’re getting less credit than they deserve against the Broncos?  This thoroughly confuses me. 

Great QBs and bad defenses leads me to believe the field goal units will get plenty of rest in this game.  So, which team will win by a TD or more?  Since Vegas decided to give the Broncos more credit, I’m going to trust their judgment.

Take Broncos -6