Jets/Chargers 4:25: Chargers are rolling under HC McCoy who has QB Rivers playing exceptionally well while Ryan and the Jets are the polar opposite. Jets QB Smith remains a turnover machine and the Jets' secondary is disappointing. However, NY is in a good spot here: they get C Dee Millner back and that will help correct some secondary trouble. Furthermore, the Jets can be more creative in their blitz schemes coming in to this game with the best run-stop-unit in the NFL (64 YPG) and disrupt immobile QB Rivers' timing with his talented receiving corps. And SD does not run the ball well (2.4 YPC). Jets are 7-3 ATS in October under Ryan, and sport a 6-2 ATS mark in this series, including 4-1 ATS at San Diego. SD is just 2-6 ATS in October, 1-4 ATS in Week 5 nd 1-5-1 ATS after scoring 30+ the previous week. With the dog at 5-1 ATS in this series, we'll look for NY to get their strong run game going and keep it competitive.

Texans/Cowboys 1:00: Cowboys turned in strong game last week but can't trust them here; after all, Garrett is 1-8 ATS as a home favorite off a SU win. Houston, on the other hand, is 4-0 ATS on the road against a non-division opponent off a SU dog win. The Cowboys are thin defensively, especially at LB and their C Claiborne is out. Sure, Fitzpatrick threw 5 INTs over his last two games but the Texans' ground game with RB Foster should help. We'll look for Watt and company to keep the Cowboys' strong run game at bay and continue to be opportunistic creating turnovers. Texans the call.

Buccaneers/Saints 1:00: Saints remain a poor road team yet flourish at home and should get back on track here. Saints' offense less turnover prone in the Superdome and Brees, with his talented receiving corps, should shred the TB defense. At the same time, Rob Ryan should correct the defensive flaws that plagued them for the first quarter of this season. The Saints in games 5 through 8 are 8-1 ATS off a SU favorite loss against a team below .500. Saints are 4-1 ATS in this series including the 41-17 whitewash last year here. TB defense should revert back to their crappy performance at Atlanta in the third week than what they did last week against the underachieving Steelers. Saints the call.

Eagles/49ers 4:25: 49ers dug themselves in a hole with back-to-back 4th quarter collapses but we'll look for them to straighten things out here. SF is 7-1 ATS as favorites off a SU favorite loss in September. And Harbaugh sports a sweet 8-1 ATS mark as a home favorite vs an opponent off a division game. The Eagles' defense has its share of flaws and the 49ers should get their run game back up to speed with Gore and company. Philly is a mere 2-10-1 ATS after allowing 350+ yards the previous week. SF has its share of injuries and problems defensively; however, their team discipline remains strong and should recover well here. SF has responded to adversity well under Harbaugh with a sweet 24-8-3 ATS mark off an ATS loss and we'll back him and the 49ers again here. SF 4-0 ATS in week 4 while the Eagles are 0-5 ATS in week 4. SF the call.

Jaguars/Chargers 4:05: Line value with Chargers after back to back impressive performances at home vs incumbent World Champion Seattle and then delivering an outstanding performance at Buffalo. I see the Chargers continuing their strong effort here. In the month of September, SD is a sweet 9-1 ATS as a .500 or greater team as a favorite over a less than .500 team. Sure, SD will be without Woodhead and Matthews, but Don Brown should fill the RB role well. QB Rivers is having a terrific year and should torch a Jaguars' defense that's allowing 466 yards a game! On the defensive side, LB Te'o (foot) will be missed but Kavell Connor is a capable replacement and will fill the role well. As for the Jaguars' QB Bortles taking over the starting role, he did well late in the game last week; however, that was in garbage time with the game clearly out of reach and all but officially over. Today, we'll look for that Chargers' defense to confuse the #1 pick and force him into mistakes early. Jaguars have been outscored in this series (last 3) by a 22.3 ppg margin and so far this season been virtually non-competitive. SD the call.

Giants/Redskins 8:25: Hard to dismiss the Giants as a contender and certainly when they started revving it up. Manning has finally gotten in rhythm in the new offense and the run game is producing behind RB Rashad Jennings. As a matter of fact, NY is a sweet 40-17-2 ATS after accumulating 150+ rushing yards the previous week. Sure, the Redskins' offense is explosive with QB Cousins and company racking up big numbers; however, Giants have bolstered their secondary this year with Rodgers-Cromartie and Amukamara; moreover, we're going to look for the NYG' defensive line to pressure Cousins to force mistakes. And with 17 injuries listed on Washington's roster, the short week should take its toll. The Giants are feeling pretty good off their win at home vs the Texans. And New York is a strong 8-1 ATS vs their division off back-to-back home games. They also post a 5-1 ATS Thursday night mark. We'll look for New York to be competitive here as the Redskins have trouble enacting double revenge. 

Bears/Jets 8:30: Bears were fortunate to put together a miraculous fourth quarter rally last week but shouldn't be so fortunate this week. Jets are hungry for a win after a late breakdown in GB. Jets have the tools needed in this matchup: strong run game with Ivory and Chris Johnson that should run roughshod over a Bears' run-stop-unit allowing a generous 5.4 YPC. In addition, Bears' defensive starters: CB Tillman, DL Ratliff and S Conte are on the rack softening an already soft defense. And Geno Smith did play well the last time he was on prime time Monday -- with 199 yards passing and 3 TD passes last October AT Atlanta. On the other hand, the Bears' run game not productive at under 3 YPC; consequently, we'll look for the strong Jets' run-stop-unit to pin their ears back and attack Cutler with a variety of blitzes.  Rex Ryan is 6-0 ATS at home off a SU loss vs an opponent off a SU win. Also, he is 8-1 ATS as a favorite vs an opponent off a SU dog win. Jets should move to 5-1 ATS in week 3.

Colts/Jaguars 1:00: The Jags have not been a good home team at 1-5 ATS and face an angry Colts team that let one slip away Monday vs Philadelphia. Indianapolis is 10-1 ATS off a SU loss and 9-2 ATS vs division foes. Jacksonville has yet to cover this game in three attempts and I don't see it happening here. Jacksonville has problems with their offensive line and Gus Bradley went with a quick fix in reshuffling it for today. Chad Henne is not comfortable in the pocket and RB Gerhart (8 yards rushing on 7 carries) is not helping. We'll look for the Colts' defense, which has come off playing two explosive offenses to settle in and lock down a Marcedes Lewis (injured) less Jaguars' offense. And throw in that second leading receiver Marqise Lee (hamstring) is out, the Jaguars should significantly help the Colts' defense shine. We'll look for ultra competitive Andrew Luck to atone for last Monday's costly interception late in the game. Luck has a relatively healthy receiving corps and should pick apart the shaky Jaguars secondary. Colts the call.

Vikings/Saints 1:00: It will be difficult for the Vikings to compete at this strong venue today. Vikings not filling the void at RB for Peterson and that should create more problems for QB Matt Cassel today. The Saints' defense should be much more improved in their first home game and the noisy crowd should help. Offensively, QB Brees should be at his best here against a Vikings' defense left exposed last week against New England. And although Zimmer is excellent strategizing on the defensive side of the ball, the Vikings are work in progress in a number of areas and New Orleans' HC Payton should exploit them. New Orleans is 35-16 ATS at home and hungry for their first win. We'll look for a big one.

Eagles/Colts 8:35: Still question marks in that Eagles' defense and how the offensively challenged Jaguars moved the ball with relative ease on them in the first half. Tonight, Andrew Luck and company will pose a much stiffer challenge. And the Colts should get T.Y. Hilton involved in the vertical passing game for Luck as well. On the other hand, the Colts' defense is more disciplined and stingier than its counterpart. And the Colts are a sweet 10-0 ATS off a loss and 12-4 ATS at home. And throw in that Indianapolis is 7-0 ATS as MNF favorites of more than 2 points and I like them here.

Lions/Panthers 1:00: Like the Panthers who last week went in to Tampa Bay without Cam Newton and took care of business. Their defense remains rock solid with LB Kuechly making plays all over the field. The Panthers earned three takeaways yet remained solid offensively with back up Anderson at the helm. Today, with Newton back in the fold, the Panthers possess arguably the best backfield in the NFL and should move the ball on Detroit. I don't think the Lions are as good as they appeared last week and will be tested on the road; after all, their offensive line is depleted and Carolina brings some thunder along the defensive front. Lions are a mere 3-8 ATS on the road and just 6-17-3 ATS after scoring 30+. And throw in that they're 3-9-1 ATS in Week 2. Panthers, 6-1 ATS home run, should deliver.

Steelers/Ravens 8:25: This series has been close with the dog getting the best of it; however, we'll look for the 0-1 Ravens to bounce back. They showed promise last week with flashes of strength in the second half; moreover, it's less likely the Ravens' receivers will drop six balls like they did last week. And RB Justin Forsett established himself as a capable RB after Bernard Pierce struggled. We'll look for QB Flacco, who is 11-1 SU in September to get back in to a groove with more help from Torrey and Steve Smith. The Steelers, on the other hand, didn't look sharp in the second half last week -- especially defensively. Pittsburgh is 3-7 ATS after allowing 350+ yards previously. We'll roll with Baltimore.

 49ers/Cowboys 4:25: Cowboys' defense should remain uncoordinated under overrated coach Marinelli. And on the offensive side of the ball, now NFL retread Linehan was hand picked by Jery Jones to piss off HC Garrett and last year's play caller Callahan. We'll look for the stability and structure of San Francisco's organization to pull through here. Harbaugh, 13-2 ATS on the road in non division games, still has Brooks and Willis defensively to anchor a strong defense despite dealing with off field issues to personnel. And Kaepernick and Gore have the surrounding talent offensively to get the offense generated against a Dallas defense void of Sean Lee, Ware and Hatcher. We'll roll with SF.

Bengals/Ravens 1:00: After a mediocre campaign last season, I'm looking for Baltimore to come out firing. New OC Kubiak should infuse some life in the sputtering offense of last year. A more experienced offensive line, bolstered receiving corps including the acquisition of Steve Smith should get them rolling. And defensively, they added some talent through the draft to add to the experience of veterans Dumervil, Suggs and Ngata. In Week 1, the Bengals are just 1-4-1 ATS as opposed to 5-1 ATS for the Ravens. And let's not forget that Flacco is 11-0 ATS at home in September. We'll roll with Baltimore.

Packers/Seahawks 8:30: I'm a huge Pete Carroll fan and surely rode the Seahawks to prominence last season, including my only 5* of the year -- Super Bowl -- Seattle (+2') in their blow out win; however, I'm going to take the points here. I know the 12 man can be deafening and the Seahawks' defense is the best in the NFL; nevertheless, QB Aaron Rodgers is healthy along with his receiving corps; moreover, RB Lacy established a legitimate run game last year and although doesn't have the best O Line to run behind, the receiver skill set and Rodgers can surely take the heat off him in quick sets and five and seven step drops. Defensively, the Packers get Clay Matthews healthy, and the addition of Julius Peppers will keep QBs on the alert. Moreover, the Packers' cover guys are respectable. And with the respect to the well disciplined Seahawks' defense and productive offense, I believe the Packers can cover. They covered three of the last four in this series and play Thursday nights tough at 4-1 ATS. They've also covered 5 of their last 7 season openers. We'll grab the points.