This is an 8* play on the Buffalo Bills. 

The Bills and the Jets will meet in Detroit tonight, after their scheduled game for Sunday was postponed due to heavy snow in Buffalo. The Jets ended an eight game losing skid with a home win over Pittsburgh two weeks ago, and Michael Vick threw for a pretty pedestrian 132 yards with a pair of TDs on 10-of-18 passing. 

The Bills might cause all sorts of problems for Vick tonight, as their defense leads the NFL with 39 sacks. Four of those came in a 43-23 win at New York in October, and Vick had a terrible game, throwing for 153 yards on 18-of-36 passing. Kyle Orton picked apart the New York secondary, throwing for 238 yards and four TDs in that game. 

With Buffalo coming off back to back losses, they are just a slight favorite here tonight. The Bills probably feel they deserved better in Miami last week, as a couple highly controversial calls really appeared to change the outcome of that game.

Buffalo has played well all year long, even in games that it has lost. The same can't be said for the Jets, who have lost six games by a double digit margin. 

Take BUF. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 8* play on the St. Louis Rams. 

The Chargers went into their bye week off three straight losses, and they came out last week and struggled to beat the Oakland Raiders by a score of 13-6. A date with the Rams is the last thing San Diego needs right now, St. Louis has beaten Denver, Seattle and San Francisco during a five game stretch where they are 3-2. 

St. Louis has sacked opposing quarterbacks 18 times over the last four weeks, and six of those belong to Robert Quinn, who finished second in the league with 19 sacks last season. 

That's a scary thought for Phillip Rivers, who has really struggled lately, and there were rumors that he was nursing a rib injury. He threw for 193 yards and a TD on 22-of-34 passing last week against Oakland, and the Rams are likely to be a lot tougher on him. 

Rookie RB Tre Mason has also coming off a career high 113 yards on 29 carries in the win over Denver. This Rams team is all fired up, and nobody wants to be playing St. Louis right now. 

Take STL. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Houston Texans. 

Ryan Mallet came in to lead the Texans to a victory on the road in Cleveland in his debut as a starter last week, and he's back under center in Houston today as the Texans host the Bengals. Cincinnati is coming off a stunning upset win at New Orleans, just a week after an embarrassing home loss to Cleveland. 

Mallet was solid in the win over the Browns, throwing for 211 yards, a pair of TDs and one INT. Houston's defense completely shut down the Cleveland running game, limiting them to a total of 58 yards on 24 carries. 

The Texans lead the league in forced turnovers, and that doesn't bode well for Andy Dalton and the Bengals, who have been known to struggle on the road. 

Rookie RB Alfred Blue shredded a weak Browns defense for 156 yards on a record 36 carries last week, and if Arian Foster can't go today, he should be in for another big day against a Bengals defense that also struggles to stop the run. The Bengals rank 28th in the NFL allowing opponents to average over 136 yards per game. 

Take HOU. 

GL, 

Jesse Schuke

This is an 8* play on the Chicago Bears. 

The Bears bounced back from back to back blowout losses at New England and Green Bay with a solid home win over the Vikings last week. They host Tampa this week, and I'm expecting Chicago to build on a little momentum here at home. 

The Bucs are just 2-7, and they had lost five straight before winning at Washington last week. Tampa has real problems defending the pass, ranking 30th in the NFL allowing over 266 passing yards per game. Jay Cutler should have a field day here at home. 

Matt Forte could also be in for a big day, as he goes up a Bucs defense that is allowing an average of 118 rushing yards per game (22nd in the NFL). Forte is third in the league in rushing behind DeMarco Murray and Le'Veon Bell. He ran for 117 yards and picked up 58 more with six receptions against the Vikes. 

Both these teams have struggled on defense, but Chicago has more weapons, and they have home field. This should be a comfortable win for the Bears. 

Take CHI. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Tennessee Titans. 

The Eagles are undefeated at home this year, boasting a 5-0 record in at Lincoln Financial Field. They have backup Mark Sanchez under center with starter Nick Foles sidelined by an injury. The jury is still out on Sanchez, who looked great against Carolina, but then stunk it up in a loss to the Packers last week. 

What to expect from Sanchez this week? Probably somewhere in the middle, an average performance at best. He's been picked off four times over the last three weeks, throwing for six TDs. 

The Titans defense hasn't been that bad against the pass, ranking 9th in the NFL allowing opponents to average just 226 yards per game in the air. They pushed the Steelers to the brink on Monday night, coming up just short in a 27-24 loss. 

Zack Mettenberger delivered another solid performance, throwing for 263 yards, a pair of TDs and an INT. While he hasn't picked up a win yet, he has completed better than 60% of his passes with five TDs in three starts. Those kind of numbers look pretty good with the Titans getting a double digit cushion. 

Take TEN.

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on KC@OAK to go OVER the total. 

We saw the Chiefs grind out another win over the Seahawks on Sunday, and it was an "old school" gritty down and dirty game dominated be defense and smash-mouth football. Still they scored a combined 44 points, going over the listed number. Tonight's total is even lower, and I think we should see enough offense from both teams to cash a ticket with the over. 

The Chiefs are a big favorite on the road, and that makes plenty of sense given Oakland's 0-10 record. History tells us though that no matter how bad a team is, they eventually manage to get a win somewhere throughout the season. The Raiders have come close on numerous occasions, and they even put up 24 points on the road at Seattle earlier this month. 

I think it's going to be tough for the Chiefs to come out on a short week on the road, with the same intensity as they normally bring on Sundays. They have a big game against Denver looming large, and they could get caught overlooking the Raiders here. 

Oakland has seen the total go over in four of it's last five home games. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on PIT@TEN to go UNDER the total. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been a classic example of a Jekyll & Hyde team this year. Their offense has looked unstoppable at times, but they've also lost to the Jets, Bucs and Browns. They've certainly been better at home than they have been on the road, and that's good news for Titans fans.Tennessee continues to struggle, losing last week by a score of 21-7 at Baltimore. After winning at Kansas City in Week 1, the Titans have lost seven of eight since. Six of those games have failed to reach the listed total. 

Ben Roethlisberger was coming off back to back games with six TDs, but then last week in New York he threw for 343 yards and just one TD with a pair of INTS in a loss to the Jets. 

That poor performance was not an isolated incident, he's struggled on the road all year. He has a total of 23 TD passes this year, but only five of those have come on the road. 

He likely won't have to be spectacular against the Titans though, as Tennessee has been one of the league's worst at stopping the run. Pittsburgh should be coming into this game with the intention of handing off to Bell and Blount early and often. As they concentrate on their ground game, the clock will be ticking. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New England Patriots. 

The Patriots are coming off a bye week, taking a well deserved break after rattling off five straight wins. Their latest win was the most impressive of the bunch, knocking off Peyton Manning and the Broncos in a 43-21 blowout. Manning threw for 438 yards, but he was picked off twice, with just two TDs. 

The Colts beat up on the Giants last week, but who doesn't beat the Giants these days. It was just two weeks ago that they were lit up in Pittsburgh in a 51-34 loss. Ben Roethlisberger threw for a whopping 522 yards and six TDs in that game. 

There is no doubt that this is a big game with massive playoff implications. Exactly the type of game where Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are normally at their best. The same can't be said for Andrew Luck, who hasn't proven that he can handle the pressure when it matters the most. 

Luck is 1-2 in his three post-season starts, with six TDs and eight INTs in those games. He's also 0-2 against Brady and Belichick, with a 51% completion percentage, and seven INTs in those losses. 

Giving Belichick an extra week to prepare a game plan, I don't see how you can bet against the Pats getting points. Take NE. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a Free #NFL play on the Green Bay #Packers. 

The Eagles didn't miss a beat with backup Mark Sanchez taking over at quarterback for the injured Nick Foles, but a home game against an injury plagued Panthers team isn't quite the same as a road game at Green Bay. 

The Packers have won four of their last five, and they are undefeated at home, winning all four games at Lambeau by at least seven points. Last week they smoked the Bears winning 55-14. 

The Eagles have looked vulnerable on defense even during their winning streak, and Philly ranks 22nd in the NFL against the pass allowing over 250 yards per game. That stat is more alarming than it sounds, as their schedule isn't that impressive with wins over Jacksonville, Washington, St. Louis, NYG and Carolina. 

Aaron Rogers has thrown for 570 yards and nine TDs in his last two home starts, and he hasn't thrown an INT at home since 2012. I simply can't see Mark Sanchez keeping up with this Packers offense. 

Take GB

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New Orleans Saints. 

The Saints haven't quite been as invincible at home this season as we've seen them be in previous years. They lost to the 49ers last week, ending a 14 game home winning streak. This week's opponent should prove to be a lot easier for the Saints to handle, and I think we'll see another blowout in the Big Easy. 

Andy Dalton is coming off the worst game of his career, throwing for 86 yards, no TDs and three INTs on 10-of-33 passing against the Browns. He now has more picks than he does touchdowns this season, and he's never had a lot of success on the road.  He's thrown for just two TDs and six picks over his last four starts, with a league low completion percentage during that span. 

Drew Brees threw 39 TD passes last year, and 27 of those came at home. Jimmy Graham was on the receiving end of 16 of those TDs last season, and he had 10 receptions for 72 yards and a pair of TDs last week. With their superstar TE back near 100%, I can't see the Cincy defense stopping the Saints from lighting up the scoreboard. 

The Bengals are 3-8-1 ATS in the last 12 road games, and this is a tough spot for a team that doesn't travel well. 

Take NO. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the San Francisco 49ers. 

San Francisco is coming off an impressive road win at New Orleans, ending a 14 game home win streak of the Saints. They got the running game going last week, racking up 144 yards and a pair of TDs. They should be looking at bigger numbers here in New York, facing a Giants defense that ranks dead last against the run, allowing opponents to average over 144 yards per game. 

The Giants are coming off four straight losses, and they know there isn't a lot left to fight for this season. Injuries have taken their toll on this team, with Prince Amukamara the latest casualty in a decimated secondary. Victor Cruz is gone for the year, and RB Rashad Jenning has missed the last four games. He could come back this week, but it's not exactly a favorable matchup against a stout San Francisco defense. 

The loss of Patrick Willis will hurt, but welcoming Aldon Smith back from suspension should soften the blow. San Francisco has had it's fair share of injuries on defense this year, but it hasn't stopped them from remaining among the NFL's elite. The Niners rank 5th overall against the run, and 7th against the pass. They have 11 interceptions, just three fewer than Arizona who lead the league with 14. 

The Giants have lost four straight by double digits, and there's not a lot of reason to expect a better result this week. 

Take SF. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Houston Texans.

 **This play has been downgraded to a 5* with the news that Arian Foster will not start**

The Texans have finally pulled the plug on the Ryan Fitzpatrick experiment, choosing to replace him with unproven backup Ryan Mallet. I'll take an unproven backup over a veteran that has proven to be ineffective anytime. This could be exactly what the Texans needed, as Fitzpatrick simply wasn't getting it done.

Cleveland is getting a lot of respect coming off three straight wins, but prior to that they actually lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars. I don't think the Browns are as good as their record would indicate, and I think they will struggle to contain a Houston team that is coming off a bye week. The Texans have had plenty of time to prepare for this game, and with Jadeveon Clowney healthy, their defense should create all kinds of trouble for the Browns. 

Cleveland has been terrible at stopping the run, and I expect the Texans to come out and run the ball with authority. They shouldn't ask Mallet to be much more than a game manager, and a conservative game plan should be a good thing with Houston getting points. 

Take HOU.

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Buffalo Bills. 

Buffalo lost a thriller at home last week to Kansas City, but I like their chances of bouncing back on the road tonight at Miami. Both teams are 5-4, but the Bills road record of 3-1 is better than Miami's home record of 2-2. 

The Dolphins are a pretty big favorite given that their last four wins have come against opponents with a combined 9-28 record. Among the teams they have defeated include the 1-9 Jags and the 0-9 Raiders. 

These two teams played earlier in the season at Buffalo, and the Bills defense dominated that game. They sacked Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill four times, and forced an INT. Tannehill is playing hurt, with shoulder and ankle injuries limiting his mobility. He was sacked three times in the loss at Detroit last week, and wasn't able to pick up any (zero) yards on the ground. 

The Bills lead the NFL in sacks, and they could make life difficult for a Miami offensive line that is forced to mix and match to replace LT Brandon Albert. Keep in mind they have to figure this out on a short week, with limited time to practice. 

Kyle Orton has thrown for 10 TDs and just three picks since winning the starting job, while Tannehill is 1-4 with a 67.0 passer rating in his career against Buffalo. He might not get a lot of help from the running game either, with an injured Lamar Miller in the backfield, going up against a stout Bills line. 

Is Miami the favorite in this game? Really .. you gotta be sh###ing me! 

Take BUF, 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Philadelphia Eagles. 

The Eagles will turn to backup QB Mark Sanchez as they host the Panthers on Monday Night Football. The 27 year old completed 15-of-22 attempts for 202 yards with two TDs in relief of Nick Foles last week, but he also threw a pair of interceptions. 

Tonight's game is a golden opportunity for Sanchez, coming off a full week of practice with the starting offense, and taking on a struggling Carolina defense. The Panthers are coming off three straight losses, and they've allowed an average of 38 points over their last three road games. 

Last season's leading rusher LeSean McCoy is starting to turn things around after a slow start to the season. He ran for 117 yards on 24 carries against the Texans last week, and he should put up big numbers against a Panthers defense than ranks 27th in the NFL against the run. 

Cam Newton is coming off one of the worst games of his career, completing just 10-of-28 passes for 151 yards and an INT in the loss to the Saints. 

Philadelphia is riding an eight game winning streak at home, and their last home game was a 27-0 shutout win over the Giants. 

Take PHI. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Seattle Seahawks. 

Last week the Seahawks beat the Raiders by a score of 30-24, but that game wasn't nearly as close as the score would indicate. Seattle led 24-3 at halftime, and Oakland rallied to make it close late. 

The Giants might not have the fight left in them to battle back if they fall behind early. New York is coming off three straight double digit losses, losing several key players in the process. Already without their top wide receiver and starting running back, last week they lost corner Prince Amukamara, who leads the team with three interceptions. 

Seattle is getting healthier, with several of it's players set to return from injury. The offensive line should get a boost with center Max Unger coming back, while Cam Chancellor and Jeremy Lane return on defense. 

"It's a big turn," Carroll said. "It depends on how much good fortune we have. We'll have four guys back that weren't ready for us this week and we could have eight. It's amazing that it could be like that, but we're on the verge of getting some guys back."

Eli Manning threw for 156 yards on 18-of-31 passing with five picks in a 23-0 home loss to the Seahawks last year. Watching him play recently doesn't inspire a lot of confidence that he can turn things around on the road in Seattle. 

Expect the Hawks to win, and make a statement here today. 

Take SEA. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Detroit Lions.

There is plenty of hype surrounding the Miami Dolphins, coming off three straight wins. Keep in mind that while their 37-0 home win over San Diego was impressive, previous wins came against Jacksonville and Chicago, who have a combined record of 4-13. The Lions are also coming off three straight wins, and they come off a bye week giving them extra time to prepare for today's home game versus Miami. 

The Lions will get Calvin Johnson back this week, after he sat out the last three games with an ankle injury. Golden Tate has really stepped up, with 55 catches for 800 yards and three TDs. He could make the Dolphins pay if they leave him open to double up on Megatron. 

Detroit's defense has been lights out this year, ranking in the top 5 both against the run as well as the pass. Opponents are averaging just 74 rushing yards per game, and if the Dolphins can't run, it should take a lot of wind out of their sails. It won't help matters that leading rusher Lamar Miller is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury, and the word out of the Dolphins camp is that if he's able to play, he'll see limited snaps. 

Ryan Tannehill has had a good run, but let's not forget that it was only a few weeks ago that his coach was talking about benching him. I don't it's realistic to expect him to come into Detroit and put up big numbers against a tough Lions defense. 

Take DET. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Buffalo Bills have won back to back games, neither of which should really impress anybody. They came from behind to cap an 80-yard game winning drive with the winning TD with 0:01 second remaining on the clock at home against the Vikes, and then a week later they took advantage of a struggling New York Jets team. Aided by six New York turnovers, they won by a score of 43-23. 

The Bills host the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, and this should prove to be a giant step up in competition. The Chiefs own the NFL's top pass defense, allowing opponents to average fewer than 200 yards passing per game. 

Buffalo's normally potent power running game will have to make due without C.J. Spiller, and Fred Jackson is questionable. Star wideout Sammy Watkins is also listed as questionable with a strained hammy. 

Kyle Orton has been successful beating up on weak teams in recent weeks, but I remember seeing him get sacked five times in a home loss to the Patriots a few weeks back, and I think the Chiefs are going to terrorize him today. Kansas City is tied for 3rd in the NFL with 27 sacks. 

Take KC. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 6* play on the New Orleans Saints.

Things are starting to really fall apart in San Francisco, and traveling to New Orleans to take on the Saints is likely to add insult to injury. Last week's home loss to St. Louis saw Kaepernick sacked eight times, and he fumbled on the goal line in an attempt to score what would have been the game winning TD in the final minute. 

Injuries on the offensive line have left the San Francisco quarterback scrambling for his life, with little time to throw the ball. He's struggled under pressure all year, making poor decisions when faced with pressure. The running game wasn't very effective last week, as the Niners picked up just 80 yards on 21 carries. Frank Gore has been limited by a hip injury, and at the age of 31, he's got a lot of mileage on those legs. 

The Saints have also had an additional three days to rest and prepare for this game, coming off a win over the Panthers last Thursday night. Drew Brees threw 39 TD passes last year, and 27 of those came at home. Jimmy Graham was on the receiving end of 16 of those TDs last season, but he's been limited by a shoulder injury for most of the season. He's caught 12 passes for 142 yards and a pair of TDs over the last 2 weeks, and he looks like he's back near 100%. That's not good news for the visiting 49ers. 

Take NO. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Cleveland fans are excited about a 5-3 start, but I would caution that they may not be quite as good as that record indicates. They've only played three games on the road, losing two of the three. Their wins have come against the likes of Tampa Bay, Oakland and Tennessee, and their last road game was a loss to Jacksonville. 

Cincinnati isn't exactly a friendly place to visit, as the Bengals are undefeated in their last 14 home games. The Browns aren't exactly catching them a good time, with star wideout A.J. Green back from injury, and rookie running back Jeremy Hill coming off a season high 154 yards and two TDs against Jacksonville. 

The Bengals have covered six straight at home versus teams with a winning record, and they beat the Browns by 21 points in Cincinnati last year. Cleveland's leading rusher Ben Tate has run for a total of just 65 yards over his last three starts. The loss of their Pro Bowl center Alex Mack seems to have put a damper on this Cleveland running game.

Take CINCY. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on IND@NYG to go OVER the total. 

The Colts defense looked pretty good during a five game winning streak, but three of those five games were at home, and the others were at Jacksonville and Houston. Their resume on the road this season isn't so impressive, going 2-2 and allowing an average of 33 points in those four games. 

The good news for Andrew Luck and the Colts is that New York might be a friendly place to visit with the way the Giants have been playing.

New York's defense ranks near the bottom of the NFL against the pass as well as the run, and it's going to be a tough challenge trying to slow down Andrew Luck. The Colts QB leads the NFL with 2731 passing yards, and he threw for 400 yards and three TDs in a losing effort last week. The Colts have seen the total go over in five straight road games, and three of the previous four meetings between these two teams have also gone over the number. 

Take OVER. 

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on BAL@PIT to go OVER the total.

Prior to last week's game against the Colts, I said this about the Steelers: "The Steelers on the other hand were trailing 13-0 in the second quarter against the Texans on Monday, but scored 24 points in less than three minutes to take a 24-13 lead into the half."

"There are plenty of reasons to be skeptical about this Pittsburgh team, as they aren't going to be handed 24 points every week. We've already seen them lose at home to the Bucs, and the Cleveland Browns scored 58 points in their two games against this Steelers defense."

I guess it doesn't matter how bad your defense is when Big Ben throws for 500+ yards and six TDs. They spanked the Colts, but previously their wins came against the likes of the Browns, Panthers, Jaguars and Texans, not one of those teams has a winning record.

All four of the Steelers home games have gone over the total this year, while the Ravens have seen the total go over the number in six of seven on the road versus teams with a winning record.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Denver Broncos.

So the Broncos are in New England on Sunday to take on the Patriots at Foxboro, and everyone is talking about Manning vs. Brady. Some might even throw out stats that would suggest Brady has had the edge in past meetings. If you are one of those, I suggest your "give your freakin head a shake". 

How anyone can tell me that previous games between the Patriots and the Colts, when New England had the likes of Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Aqib Talib and Teddy Brusci, have any bearing on today's game between the Broncos and a very different New England team.

In fact, I'm even going to toss out last year's meetings, because this Denver team is an entirely different monster. The previously mentioned Aqib Talib shores up a vastly improved defense, while another former Patriot Wes Welker is just one of many weapons on offense.

The Broncos have demolished the opposition this year, with some convincing wins over elite teams. They spanked the Niners, Cardinals and Chargers, and their only loss came on the road to the defending champs (in overtime).

Take a look at New England's schedule, and you will see that while they are 4-0 at home, those four opponents have a combined record of 8-21.

Here they are: 

0-7 Raiders 

4-2 Bengals 

1-7 Jets 

3-5 Bears 

Take DEN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Arizona Cardinals. 

The Cardinals are definitely catching the Cowboys at a good time here in Dallas in Week 9. Carson Palmer is back under center for the visitors, and he threw for 329 yards and a pair of TDs in a win over Philly last Sunday. The Cowoboys don't yet know if Tony Romo will start, and even if he does he's not going to be anywhere close to 100% with a fractured back. 

At least the Cowboys can count on their running game with DeMarco Murray though right? Maybe not, Arizona ranks 3rd in the NFL against the run, allowing opponents to average just 77 yards per game. 

The Cardinals have only lost once this season, on the road at Denver with a third string QB playing almost the entire second half. This game wasn't going to easy even at the best of times for Dallas, and these are far from the best of times. 

Backup QB Brandon Weeden has thrown 26 INTS in his career, two more than he has TDs. 

Take ARZ. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Houston Texans. 

The Philadelphia Eagles will be looking to bounce back from a loss on the road at Arizona last week, but they might be catching Houston at a bad time. The Texans looked pretty good on the road at Tennessee last week, especially Arian Foster who ran for 151 yards and a pair of TDs on just 20 carries. Ryan Fitzpatrick finally managed to do a better job of protecting the football, throwing for 227 yards and a TD with not INTS. 

Fitzpatrick isn't the only QB in this game that has struggled though, Nick Foles has thrown more picks than TDs over his past four starts. He threw for 411 yards against Arizona, but was picked off twice along with a pair of TDs. The Eagles have turned the ball over 12 times in their last four games, and Houston is ranked second in the NFL at forcing turnovers. 

The Eagles have simply been making too many mistakes in this hurry up offense, and a lack of consistency in the running game has plagued them all year. Philly has lost 2-of-3 on the road this season, and I am not convinced they deserve to be a favorite here in Houston. 

Take HOU. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Cincinnati Bengals. 

The Bengals are back in business coming off a win at home over Baltimore last Sunday. Their home winning streak now sits at 12-0-1 over their last 13 games at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals host the hapless Jags this week, and Jacksonville is 0-4 on the road, with an average margin of defeat over 17 points. 

A.J. Green is officially listed as questionable, but it sure sounds like he is going to play: "A.J. has looked fine," coach Marvin Lewis said Friday. "He wants to play. He's telling everybody he wants to play. If everything stays the way it is, he'll play."

The Bengals defense picked of Joe Flacco twice last week, limiting the former Superbowl champ to 195 yards and zero TDs on 17-of-34 passing. They could make life very difficult for Blake Bortles, who leads the NFL with 12 INTs. He completed 17-of-31 attempts for 159 yards with a TD and three INTs in a win over Cleveland in his last start. 

The Bengals are one of just two NFL teams that have more INTS (9) than passing TDs allowed (7). That doesn't bode well for the boys from the Sunshine State. 

Take CINCY. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the New Orleans Saints. 

Normally the last thing I would want to do is bet on the Saints as a road favorite, but I don't think very highly of the Carolina Panthers even at home. Last week they only manged to gain a total of 266 yards in a home loss to the Seahawks, and Cam Newton was sacked three times while throwing for 172 yards and an INT on 12-of-22 passing. 

Stopping the run has been a big issue for Carolina, ranking 28th in the NFL allowing opponents to average over 150 rushing yards per game. The Saints ground game is starting to pick up some steam, and last week against the Packers Mark Ingram ran for 172 yards and a TD on just 24 carries. 

Even better news for the Saints was that TE Jimmy Graham caught five passes for 59 yards and a TD. Graham has struggled through a shoulder injury for most of the season, but appears to be close to fully healthy heading into this week's game in Carolina. 

If you were to look at previous history, all the stats would tell you that Carolina looks good at home here. Those numbers don't tell the whole story though, and I think New Orleans is catching the Panthers at a good time. The Saints played very well on the road against Detroit two weeks ago, and they deserved a win there. This appears to be a team that has sorted things out, really finding it's stride. The Panthers on the other hand have been struggling on both sides of the ball, and I don't like their chances tonight. 

Take NO. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Washington Redskins. 

Washington comes into Dallas looking to win back to back games for the first time this season. The Cowboys though have won six in a row, and they are expected to cover a double digit spread tonight. 

The Redskins are still without starting quarterback Robert Griffin, and last week they benched backup Kirk Cousins in favor of third stringer Colt McCoy. The 28 year old is in his fifth season in the NFL, with plenty of experience as a starter in Cleveland for two seasons. He looked pretty sharp coming in last week completing 11-of-12 passes for 128 yards and a TD. 

Of course playing on the road at Dallas could prove to be a lot tougher than a home game against the Titans. These teams have a history of playing close games though, and the Redskins are 7-1 ATS in the last eight head to head meetings. Five of those games were decided by three points or less. 

Washington is 0-3 on the road, but all three of those losses came in close games. The Redskins have covered the points in six of their last seven trips to Big "D", and I think the line for tonight's game is a little inflated for a rivalry match. 

Take WAS. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Green Bay Packers. 

In recent seasons, the Saints have been money at home in situations such as this. In fact, they are 22-1 SU and 20-3 ATS in their last twenty-three home games under Sean Payton. All the computer models, trends and data you can come up with would suggest that the Sainst are the best bet at home on Sunday night ... but that's not how I roll! 

The Packers have won four straight, two of those on the road, and Aaron Rodgers is playing perhaps the best football of his career. Their defense has been great against the pass, but vulnerable against the run. Can New Orleans take advantage of a Green Bay's weak run defense? Maybe not, their leading rusher Khiry Robinson will not play, and Pierre Thomas is also sidelined by injury. 

I've been hearing people say all week: "The Saints don't lose at home". My answer to that is simple! Their last two home games were against the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Buccaneers, and neither of those two victories were at all convincing. They trailed by double digits in the fourth quarter against the Bucs, and were fortunate to come back and win in overtime. 

The bottom line is, you can take all those stats that show New Orleans as being invincible at home, and just toss them aside. This isn't that Saints team.

Take Green Bay. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts have won five straight, and their defense has been dominant during that span. Last week they pitched a shutout against the Bengals, and at this point I think you have to say that this team is for real. The Steelers on the other hand were trailing 13-0 in the second quarter against the Texans on Monday, but scored 24 points in less than three minutes to take a 24-13 lead into the half.

There are plenty of reasons to be skeptical about this Pittsburgh team, as they aren't going to be handed 24 points every week. We've already seen them lose at home to the Bucs, and the Cleveland Browns scored 58 points in their two games against this Steelers defense.

The Steelers wins come over the Browns, Panthers, Jaguars and Texans, not one of those teams has a winning record. Now they face one of the league's elite quarterbacks on a short week.

The Steelers are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games when playing on Sunday following a Monday night.

Take INDY.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Arizona Cardinals.

Arizona will host the Eagles this Sunday, and the Cardinals are 5-1 with the only loss coming on the road at Denver. The Eagles are also off to an impressive start to the season, but while the record is the same, the quality of opponents certainly isn't. Only one of Philadelphia's five wins has come against a team with a winning record.

The Eagles might not have much success trying to run on this Arizona defense, as the Cardinals rank 2nd overall allowing opponents to average just 72 yards per game. If they can't run, that puts more pressure on Nick Foles who has thrown more interceptions than has TDs the last three weeks.

Carson Palmer is back for Arizona, and he threw for 253 yards a pair of TDs last week. He has good numbers over his three starts this season, with 807 yards and six TDs with just one INT.

The Cardinals are 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings in this series, and they have won three straight home games versus Philadelphia.

Take ARZ.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Kansas City Cheifs. 

The Chiefs are coming off an upset win over the Chargers in San Diego, while the Rams shocked the Seahawks last Sunday. This is a let down spot for the Rams, who used smoke and mirrors to sneak past Seattle. Jeff Fisher went deep into the bag of tricks, with a couple of classics, helping St. Louis steal a win even though they were out-gained 463-272.

Kansas City isn't likely to get caught napping today, and I expect them to pound away with the run. The Rams defense doesn't rank well in any category, but they have really struggled against the run, allowing opponents to average over 145 yards per game (28th).

The Chiefs have one of the most potent ground attacks in the NFL, and they ran for 154 yards last week against a very good Chargers defense. Jamaal Charles was banged up early in the season, but he's starting to pick up steam heading into Week 8. Charles ran for 95 yards and a TD on just 22 carries last week.

Kansas City has won and covered five straight versus the Rams, and I can't see this team hanging in there with this soft defense and a rookie QB on the road in the loudest stadium in the NFL.

Take KC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the New York Jets.

The Jets have lost six straight, but for the most part they have battled hard and have been close in all of those games. The one exception was a 31-0 loss at San Diego. Turnovers have killed New York, and much of that falls on the shoulders of Geno Smith, who has thrown as many picks as he has TDs (7).

Smith has been much better recently though, throwing for 416 yards and three TDs with just one INT the last two weeks. He has a new target this week with Percy Harvin coming over from Seattle, and his presence alone should make a big difference. With Harvin on the field, at the very least it should keep opposing defenses honest, making them think twice about stacking up the line of scrimmage to stop the run.

The Bills are 2-1 since bringing in veteran Kyle Orton to replace E.J. Manuel, but they were quite fortunate in both of those wins. Last week they scored with one second left on the clock to come from behind and beat the Vikings at home, and two weeks earlier they erased a 14-3 deficit to beat the Lions with a FG as time expired.

Buffalo will be without Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller, and that could put even more pressure on Orton. Home field advantage has been huge in this series, with the hosts winning each of the last five. The Bills are just 4-9 ATS in their last 13 road games, and I think they will struggle to overcome injuries here in New York today.

Take NYJ.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 8* play on SD@DEN to go OVER the total. 

The Broncos will be looking to avenge a home loss to San Diego in a Thursday night game in Denver last December. The way Peyton Manning has been playing, it's no surprise that most of the money is on the Broncos here. The line opened at -6.5, but closer to game time we see a number of -8.5 at most books. 

I think the better bet tonight is on the total, as I expect both these to be airing it out with their passing game. Denver only runs the ball enough to keep opponents honest, while the Chargers might not have a choice. San Diego is without Ryan Matthews and Donald Brown, leaving them with third stringer Branden Oliver. The rookie has had some success, but he might find it tough sledding against Denver's 3rd ranked run defense. 

The last three meetings between these two teams have all fallen short of the total. Tonight's total though is at least five points lower than it was in any of those games. The Broncos offense has put up at awful lot of points against some top defenses, scoring 40+ against Arizona an San Francisco in their last two home games. 

Denver has seen the total go over in 11 of it's last 13 home games versus teams with a winning record. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Houston Texans. 

The Texans come into Steel Town tonight off back to back losses, but both came in close games against tough opponents. The Steelers have the same 3-3 record as Houston, but their losses have come against the likes of Tampa Bay, Cleveland and Baltimore. None of their three wins this year have come against teams with a winning record (Cleveland, Carolina and Jacksonville). 

The Steel Curtain isn't what it used to be, as Pittsburgh's defense ranks in the bottom half of the league allowing opponents to average 111 yards per game. These stats could be a lot worse if they hadn't played such a soft schedule. Of their six games so far, only one of those came against a team that currently has a winning record. 

Ben Roethlisberger really struggled in a 31-10 loss to Cleveland last Sunday, completing just 21-of-42 passes for 228 yards with just one TD and an INT. He could be under even more pressure tonight with Jadeveon Clowney is set to make his return to the lineup. 

Arian Foster has run for 266 yards and four TDs in his last two games, and he could have a big night against a struggling Steelers defense. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has been pretty brutal honestly, but he was able to throw for 212 yards and a TD without any INTs in the loss to the Colts last Thursday, and if he can do that again tonight the Texans will be in good shape. 

I wouldn't be surprised if this game comes right down to the wire, but I'll take the visitors getting the points. 

Take HOU. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Denver Broncos.

So the 49ers come into Denver riding a three game winning streak, and they are getting a TD against the spread. That's enough to tempt a lot of people to back San Fran as the dog, but this is a terrible spot for the San Francisco. They come off a Monday night game on the road, only to play again on the road six days later.

This isn't just any road game though, it's at Mile High in Denver, against the mighty Broncos. Peyton Manning threw for a career high 479 yards in his last start at home, and that was against a tough Arizona defense. Note that San Francisco's last loss came at the hands of Arizona.

Colin Kaepernick had a big game against the Rams, throwing for 343 yards and three TDs, but Denver's defense isn't going to let him sit back in the pocket and pass. He's going to be running for his life, trying to escape from Von Miller (2nd in the NFL in sacks).

The 49ers have overcome adversity in recent weeks, playing without several key players on both sides of the ball. This week's game on short rest is a spot where a lack of depth could prove to be costly.

I like Denver to win big, with Peyton breaking the TD record.

Take DEN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Dallas Cowboys.

You might think that Dallas is due to suffer a let down after upsetting the Seahawks in Seattle last week, but I don't buy into that theory. If you're worried about a team getting up for this game, it might be the Giants that struggle to recover from a humbling defeat in Philly last Sunday night.

Just when you thought Eli Manning was back, the Eagles terrorized the Giants QB, sacking him six times in a 27-0 loss. The New York defense was also shredded for over 200 yards on the ground, with Shady McCoy running for a 149 yards on 22 carries. It doesn't get any easier for the Giants this week, as they'll try to slow the NFL's leading rusher DeMarco Murray. 

On offense, you have to think the loss of Victor Cruz (gone for the year) is going to take a lot of wind out of their sails. Their running game will also suffer with Rashad Jennings out indefinitely.

The recipe for success for this Cowboys team is simple, and until somebody can stop DeMarco Murray, the Ws will continue to pile up in the win column.

Take DAL,

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Detroit Lions. 

With both Jimmy Graham and Calvin Johnson likely to miss this week's game, those injuries sort of cancel each other out. The Lions though haven't been relying on their offense to win football games, it's their defense that ranks #1 against the pass and #2 against the run. 

The Saints defense has been well below average all year, and Detroit still has a well balanced attack, even without Megatron. Joique Bell has been a beast in the backfield, and he ran for 74 yards and a TD on 18 carries last week. He'll be splitting snaps with Reggie Bush, who will also pose a threat in the passing game. 

The Saints are a much stronger team at home, although they sure didn't look good in a 37-31 OT win over Tampa in their last game. Drew Brees was picked off three times, with just two TDs. Brees threw 39 TD passes last year, but only 12 of those came on the road. 

New Orleans has lost six straight on the road in the regular season, and there is absolutely nothing to suggest that they can end that streak this week against a superior Lions team. 

Take DET. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Washington Redskins.

Washington will host the struggling Tennessee Titans this Sunday, and the visitors come in with a record of 2-4. That's twice as many wins as the 1-5 Redskins, but let's not read too much into that. The fact is, Washington has been very competitive in four of those five losses, and when they had a chance to face an inferior opponents, they beat the daylights out of Jacksonville, winning 41-10. 

This is the same Jacksonville team that the Titans played last week, barely hanging on for a 16-14 win at home. Tennessee isn't sure if starting QB Jake Locker will be healthy enough to play, but it's a bit of a stretch to say he's much better than backup Charlie Whitehurst. In fact Whitehurst has a much better TD to INT ratio at 3-1 opposed to 4-4. 

Tennessee has failed to cover the points in six straight versus opponents with a losing record, and they are only getting a handful of points in Washington tonight. 

Kirk Cousins has played poorly at times, but he's thrown for over 1500 yards and 10 TDs, that's got the Titans quarterbacks beat by a country mile. Facing a suspect defense, he could have a field day with all his weapons at home this week. I expect the likes of Jackson, Garcon and Morris to put up big numbers. The Skins should win big here. 

Take WAS. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts are on a roll, winners of four in a row. They host the Bengals this Sunday, and Cincy is trending in the other direction. They opened the season 4-0, but have since dropped back to back games to New England and Carolina. 

This Bengals team doesn't play well on the road at the best of times, but with Andy Dalton missing two of his top receivers (A.J. Green and Marvin Jones). It's likely to be tough sledding against this Colts defense, that has been far better than anyone expected. 

Indianapolis is particularly tough on 3rd down, ranking first in the NFL in opponents conversion rate, completion percentage, QBR etc. They have three INTs and seven sacks on opposing quarterbacks in their last two home games. 

The Colts have covered the spread in five straight home games versus teams with a winning record, while Cincy is 1-4 ATS in it's last five road games versus winning teams. All the signs point toward a big win for the home team here in this one. 

Take INDY. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on NYJ@NE to go UNDER the total. 

The Patriots host the Jets on Thursday Night Football, and most would expect this game to be a blowout. A few key injuries for the home team, combined with a forecast calling for wet and windy weather might slow down these offenses though. 

The Pats lost their leading rusher Stevan Ridley to a season ending knee injury in the win over Buffalo last week. The defense was really impressive in Buffalo, sacking Bills QB Kyle Orton five times and forcing three turnovers. 

It's hard to imagine that Geno Smith and the Jets will have any success offensively here against the Patriots. You get bet that Darelle Revis is going to want to stick it to his former coach, and Smith would be a man man if he attempts any passes in his direction. 

New England ranks third overall against the pass, allowing opponents to average just over 200 yards passing per game. We could see both teams forced to run if the rain and wind arrives as forecasted. 

We've seen a lot of high scoring games on TNF this season, but I am going to buck that trend here tonight. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the San Francisco 49ers.

I am no 49ers fan, and I really don't think much of their quarterback Colin Kaepernick, but I have to give credit where credit is due. San Francisco has overcome adversity and injuries on both sides of the ball to win back to back games against very good teams in Philly and Kansas City. They play a Rams team tonight that has a third string quarterback under center, and a defense that ranks 31st overall against the run.

San Francisco has had plenty of success running the football, so it seems very likely that they will be able to run all over the Rams who have allowed opponents to average over 150 rushing yards per game.

This Rams team isn't a talented squad that can rely on finesse, and they need to dominate with their defense and running game to be successful. Neither of those have been a strong point so far this year though, as they rank last in the NFL with just one sack, and RB Zack Stacy has averaged just 55 yards per game.

He's not likely to improve on those numbers tonight, with San Francisco's defense one of the best in the NFL at stopping the run. The 49ers rank 5th overall allowing 77 yards rushing per game. That sounds pretty impressive right? Well it's a lot more impressive when you consider who they have played: DeMarco Murray (leads the NFL in rushing), Lesean McCoy (last season's leading rusher), Jamaal Charles  and Matt Forte who finished 2nd and 3rd in rushing last year.

I know that these two teams have a spirited history of competitive games as division rivals, but St. Louis lost both meetings last year by double-digits, and there's every reason to expect a similar result this year.

Take SF.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New York Giants.

Before this season started, I bet on the Eagles to win the NFC East. They are currently in a first place tie with the Cowboys, who play on the road in Seattle this week. So I should be pretty pleaded about that bet? Not so much.

To be totally honest Philly looks a total fraud. They trailed by double-digits in each of their first three wins, then their offense failed to score a single point on the road in a loss to San Francisco. Last week they opened up a big lead on the Rams, but their defense allowed the rams to score 21 unanswered points to make it interesting in the final minutes.

The Giants really seem to have their swagger back, and I think Eli Manning is going to have no trouble marching his offense up and down the field today.

Philly's offensive line is banged up, and the pass protection and running game has suffered. These problems aren't going to fix themselves against the Giants, and I think New York will run away with this game.

Take NYG.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Atlanta Falcons.

Atlanta played well on the road in New York last week, but came up short in a 30-20 loss to the Giants. The Bears on the other hand didn't play particularly well in a loss to Carolina. Jay Cutler threw for 289 yards and a pair of TDs, but he was picked off twice by the Panthers defense.

The Falcons are a Jekyll & Hyde team, dominant at home but not so great on the road. So it comes as no surprise that they are 2-0 at home and 0-3 on the road. There are a variety of reasons why this trend should continue here today.

The Bears will see a familiar face returning kicks for the Falcons, as former Bear Devin Hester will look to pad his numbers as the leadin kicking returner in the history of the NFL. The Bears have said they play plan to challenge Hester, instead of trying to kick away from him. It could prove to be a fatal mistake. 

The home team has won and covered four straight in this series, and with Matt Ryan facing off against Jay Cutler, I think the Falcons are in better hands.

Take ATL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Arizona Cardinals. 

Arizona went into Denver undefeated, and despite the fact that the final score looked like a blowout, they trailed 24-20 after three quarters. This is one of the NFL's best defenses, and they should be able to hold off the struggling Redskins today.

Washington seemed pretty content with losing the Seahawks last week, and head coach Jay Gruden wasn't happy to hear players joking in the locker room after the game.

Drew Stanton was knocked out of last week's game in Denver with a concussion, but he's expected to start here against the Redskins. He's facing a Washington defense that has struggled in recent weeks, and they are also a little banged up.

Alfred Morris has only picked up 92 yards on 25 carries the last two weeks, and he's got his work cut out for him against Arizona's #4 ranked run defense that is allowing opponents to average just 76 yards per game.

The Cardinals have covered four straight against teams with a losing record, and they are 8-1 ATS in their last nine games coming off a loss.

Take ARI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Buffalo Bills.

It was just a week ago that people were saying New England is finished, Brady doesn't have it anymore, etc. After a big win over the Bengals at Foxboro last Sunday night, it seems that people have forgotten how many problems this team still has. Sure they were able to pull off a victory at home against an overrated Bengals team, but this week they head out on the road to face Buffalo's fierce defense.

Tom Brady is apparently hampered by a sprained ankle, although one has to wonder if Bill Belichick is just playing games with the media. I'm sure Brady will start, but whether or not he will finish might be another story. His offensive line hasn't provided much in the way of protection, and the Bills have welcomed opposing QBs with 17 sacks, tied for first in the NFL.

Kyle Orton led the Bills to an upset win on the road at Detroit last week, and he completed 30-of-43 attempts for 308 yards and a TD. He'll be back under center today, and at this point he gives Buffalo the best chance to win.

The Pats have struggled to defend the run, and I'd expect the Bills to have a big day on the ground with C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson.

Take BUF.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Miami Dolphins.

Packer fans have stopped panicking, as Green Bay is coming off consecutive blowout wins the last two weeks. This is no time to R-E-L-A-X though, as a road game at Miami isn't going to be easy. 

The Packers still rank dead last in the NFL against the run, allowing an average of 163 rushing yards per game. That could be a recipe disaster against a Dolphins team with a power running game coming off a bye week. They could get a boost if Knowshon Moreno returns as expected this Sunday. They are also expecting center Mike Pouncey and safety Reshad Jones to make their season debuts this week. 

Miami's defense is only allowing 208 yards passing per game, so they might have a shot at cooling off the red hot Aaron Rodgers. Eddie Lacy had a big game against the Vikings, but one game doesn't make a season. He came into last week's game averaging 40 yards per game and just three yards per carry.

Most people seem to think that this game is going to be a breeze for the visitors, but it's just not that easy to win on the road in the NFL. This is a particularly tough spot based on Miami coming off the bye and getting healthier than they have been all year. I'll take the points.

Take MIA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens couldn't get anything going offensively in a loss to the Colts last week. I expect a better showing from Joe Flacco and Baltimore's offense when they play the Bucs in Tampa today.

The Bucs have been brutal, with their only win this season coming in Pittsburgh in a game that they trailed until the final play of the game. Tampa ranks 30th in the NFL against the pass, allowing over 292 yards per game, and their run defense is well below average as well.

Tampa is winless at home, with losses to Carolina and St. Louis. If you can't beat the Rams at home, then you know times are tough.

Mike Glennon has been far more successful than Josh McCown, but this Baltimore defense figures to be the best he's seen to date.

Only the Eagles have turn the ball over more than Tampa, and such sloppy play isn't going to cut it against the Ravens.

Take BAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on IND@HOU to go UNDER the total. 

We've seen a trend of high scoring games on Thursday nights, but I think that trend will come to an end tonight in Houston. The Colts offense couldn't protect the football on Sunday, committing four turnovers against the Ravens. Their defense got the job done though in a 20-13 win over Baltimore. 

The Texans offense continued struggle in Dallas, and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for just 154 yards and an INT. He's thrown six picks and just two TDs in his last three starts, and he and Andrew Luck share the league lead with six interceptions. Luck was picked off twice last week against the Ravens, and it won't get any easier here in Houston. He's faced the Texans four times in his career, completing just 50% of his passes while averaging just over 200 yards per game. 

The public has been betting heavily on the over here, driving the number up a few points after opening at 45. These teams have seen the total fall short of the number in six of the last seven head to head meetings, and the only exception was a stunning second half comeback by the Colts here in Houston last year. 

The Texans have also played five straight unders coming off a loss in their last game. 

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Seattle Seahawks. 

Seattle is coming off a bye week, and that's not good news for Washington, a team that is in disarray with their starting quarterback sidelined with an injury. Kirk Cousins played well coming in for RGIII in Jacksonville, and he threw for 427 yards and three TDs against Philly. But last week against the Giants he was picked off four times in a 45-14 home loss. 

The Legion of Boom isn't going to make life easy for Cousins tonight, and you can expect another poor performance from the Washington backup. 

Russell Wilson isn't just a game manager anymore, and in the win over Denver he engineered a very impressive game winning drive in overtime. A healthy Percy Harvin adds another weapon to this offense, and the Seahawks are putting up plenty of points so far in 2014. 

This is just a terrible spot of the Redskins, playing the defending champs who have had an addition week to rest and prepare for this nationally televised game. Cousins has got to be rattled after a terrible game against the Giants, and this Seahawks defense is particularly good at forcing turnovers. 

I think the Redskins can with Cousins, just not this week. 

Take SEA. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Kansas City Chiefs. 

There are big problems in San Fransciso, and after watching them shoot themselves in the foot repeatedly so far this season, I don't think they should be giving up points, even at home. 

The Eagles were terrible last week, with their offense failing to score a single point. Still, after several breakdowns on special teams, and an INT returned for a TD, Philly still had a chance to win the game in the final minute. 

Colin Kaepernick was brutal, taking several delay of game penalties letting the play clock expire. He held on to the ball for too long in the pocket, taking several unnecessary sacks. Coach Jim Harbaugh was not impressed, and there was a nasty exchange on the sidelines halfway threw the 3rd quarter. 

The more I watch Colin Kaepernick play, the more I think that the 49ers made a big mistake getting rid of Alex Smith. The former 49er was impressive in a win over the Pats last week, and you can bet he's looking forward to facing his former team here today. 

With injuries to the defense, the offensive line, and their most dangerous weapon on offense (Vernon Davis) unlikely to play, the 49ers are in big trouble. 

Take KC. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Denver Broncos. 

The Arizona Cardinals come into Denver with a 3-0 record, but catching the Broncos after a bye week isn't a good spot for the visitors. While they lost to the Seahawks in Seattle in Week 3, Denver proved that their defense is greatly improved, and they really did look like the second best team in the NFL. 

Carson Palmer will ride the pine again this week, and that leaves Drew Stanton to to try match serves with Peyton Manning. Stanton has been solid so far, but he's only completed 51% of his passes. If Denver drives down the field early putting TDs on the board (as they are known to do), it will put a lot of pressure on the Cardinals offense, and that could spell disaster for Stanton. 

The Cardinals are pretty thin in the backfield, with Jonathan Dwyer sitting out due to his legal troubles, and Andre Ellington slowed by a foot injury. 

The Broncos have won four straight home games versus Arizona by a combined score of 106-32. I don't expect any different result here today. 

Take DEN. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas is off a surprising 3-1 start, and I can't see any reason why they would take a step back at home today against Houston. The Texans defense has forced it's fair of turnovers, but the offense has been a complete nightmare. Houston QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown as many picks (5) as he has touchdowns. All five of those INTS have come in the last two weeks, and he has just a pair of TDs in those games. 

Tony Romo didn't look sharp at home against the 49ers in Week 1, and perhaps he was a little rusty coming off surgery in the off-season. He's looked sharper as the season has progressed, and last week he threw for 262 yards and three TDs against the Saints. He looks more comfortable in the pocket, and has shown the ability to be more mobile and avoid the sack. 

DeMarco Murray leads the league in rushing, with 534 yards. That's 156 more yards than Le'Veon Bell, who ranks second with 378 yards. Murray has run for at least 100 yards with at least one TD in all four of the Cowboy's games, including the season opener against the 49ers. If he can run on the San Francisco defense, he should be able to have success against the Texans. 

The Cowboys defense is their biggest concern, but with Fitzpatrick under center for the Texans, I don't think they'll be able to take advantage of the Cowboy's defensive shortcomings. 

Take Dallas. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Carolina Panthers. 

The Bears were finally exposed by the Packers in a blowout loss in Chicago last week. They had been extremely lucky to beat the 49ers and Jets, as they were significantly out-gained in both those games. The injuries on the defensive side of the ball have continued to pile up for Chicago, and Green Bay was able to take full advantage of that scoring on seven of their eight possessions in last week's 38-17 win. 

Jay Cutler did not have a good game against Green Bay, throwing a pair of interceptions. Injuries to Roberto Garza at center and Matt Slauson at left guard, have not helped. Cutler could be under heavy pressure again here this week, as the offensive line is still banged up. 

The Chicago secondary is also pretty thin, with Charles Tillman gone for the season and Chris Conte and Sherrick McManis dealing with injuries. 

I've heard a lot of people say that the Bears have been better on the road (they are 2-0). But when you take a close look at those games, you see they should have lost them both. They were trailing the 49ers 20-7 heading into the fourth quarter in San Francisco, before rallying to score 21 points in the final period. In New York they allowed the Jets to rack up 414 yards of offense, but Geno Smith handed them the game turning the ball over three times. 

I think the Panthers find a way to win this game at home. 

Take CAR. GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the New Orleans Saints. 

The Saints return home after yet another loss on the road, getting blown out in Dallas by a score of 38-17. We shouldn't be too surprised though, as struggling on the road is nothing new for this dome team. They are back at the Superdome to host the Tampa Bucs this Sunday, and I think we should see vintage Drew Brees here in this one. 

Brees threw 39 touchdown passes in 2013, and 27 of those came at home. He'll be matched against a Buccaneers team that ranks 29th against the pass, allowing 272 yards per game so far. You look at what Atlanta did against the Bucs in Week 3, and it might be a similar story here in New Orleans. 

The Bucs are just 1-3, and last week they trailed the Steelers with under two minutes remaining, without the ball. The Steelers couldn't pick up a first down to run out the clock, and Tampa got the ball back and marched down the field for a game winning score as time expired. 

The Saints have won their last two home games versus Tampa by a combined score of 83-17. This game isn't likely to be close, I expect it to be a nightmare for the visitors. 

Take NO. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on STL@PHI to go UNDER the total. 

The Philadelphia Eagles are known to have one of the NFL's most prolific offenses, but Chip Kelly's team didn't do a lot offensively last week in San Francisco. In fact all of the Eagles points came via the defense and special teams, with the offense failing to put a single point on the board. 

LeSean McCoy led the league in rushing in 2013, but he's going backwards so far this year. He's run for a total of just 192 yards with one TD, and he's average fewer than three yards per carry. Injuries to the offensive line have not helped matters, and a failure to protect the quarterback has also taken it's toll on Nick Foles. 

The Rams will try to take advantage of a banged up Eagles team today, and I expect a healthy dose of Zac Stacy. Philly is allowing opponents to average over 130 yards per game on the ground, and that doesn't bode well for the Eagles today. 

The Rams have played four straight unders on the road, and four of the last five meetings between these two teams have fallen below the number. The only game that went over the total saw a combined 46 points, not quite enough to reach today's total. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MIN@GB to go OVER the total. 

The Packers put on a show with their offense last week, scoring on all but one of their offensive possessions in a 38-17 road win at Chicago. They should be able to light up the scoreboard at home tonight against a Vikings team that will be without it's best defensive player Chad Greenway. 

The defense though remains a sore spot for Green Bay, as they've conceded a league worst 176 rushing yards per game. That's of particular concern against Minnesota's revamped running game that picked up a healthy 235 yards on the ground in last week's win over the Falcons. 

These teams have a long history of playing high scoring games, as the total has gone over at a rate of 20-8-1 in the last 29 meetings. The court of public opinion seems to have decided that if Teddy Bridgewater doesn't play (he still may) that the Vikes are screwed. I would point out that Christian Ponder completed 21-of-30 attempts for 233 yards and a TD in a 26-26 tie at Green Bay last year. 

The Packers have seen the total go over in six of their last eight overall, and I expect that trend to continue at Lambeau tonight. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on NE@KC to go UNDER the total.

The Pats will be at Arrowhead on Monday night, taking on Jamaal Charles and the Chiefs. I expect to see a low scoring game here, as both teams are likely to focus heavily on the the run. New England no longer looks like an offensive juggernaut, and they've been winning games with their defense.

The Pats lead the league in pass defense, limiting opponents to an average of 168 yards passing per game. The Chiefs haven't had any success in their passing game, and Alex Smith ranks 25th among NFL quarterbacks with a passer rating of 81.5.

Tom Brady hasn't had a lot of success either so far this year, as the offensive line hasn't been able to give him time to drop back and pass. Bill Belichick has been able to put together a game plan that has allowed his team to be successful despite such poor pass protection.

The total has fallen well short of the number in each of the last four meetings between these two teams, and the total for tonight's game looks a little higher than it should be all things considered.

Kansas City rarely plays high scoring games at home, with the total going under in 23 of their last 31 home games.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on NO@DAL to go UNDER the total. 

The Saints are a popular pick here in Dallas tonight, but I think it's important to remember that New Orleans isn't the same team on the road. The Saints have seen the total go under in six of their last eight road games, and nine of their last 12 overall. 

Drew Brees threw 39 TD passes in 2013, and only 12 of those came outside the Superdome. He's torched the Cowboys in Dallas before though, and that's something that the Dallas coaching staff will be aware of. 

This year's Cowboy's team isn't quite the same as it was in previous seasons. They aren't relying on Tony Romo to win games with his arm, instead they have been riding DeMarco Murray, who is currently the league's leading rusher. 

Success running the football will also keep the ball out of the hands of Drew Brees, so you can bet your bottom dollar that Dallas is going to run early and often in tonight's game. 

The Defense has struggled at times, and last week the Cowboys gave up a lot of points to a Rams third string QB. They did however hold San Francisco scoreless in the second half of their only home game this season. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Francisco 49ers. 

San Francisco will host the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, and Philly has come from behind after trailing by double digits three weeks in a row. I think their luck runs out this week though, facing a desperate 49ers team, and coming off a tough battle with Washington last week. 

This Eagles defense hasn't impressed so far, ranking 30th in the NFL against the pass. That's pretty bad when you consider one of their three games came at home against Jacksonville. Philly will also have to make due with an offensive line decimated by injuries to center Jason Kelce, right tackle Lane Johnson, and left guard Evan Mathis. Replacing players on the offensive line is difficult for any team, but perhaps more so for a team running such an up tempo offense. 

QB Nick Foles also took a beating in last weeks win over Washington, and he's in a tough spot here on the road a week later. Foles and the Eagles might not be able to lean on their running game, as the 49ers have been pretty tough against the run allowing an average of just 85 yards per game (6th in NFL). Shady McCoy failed to get anything going against Washington last week, picking up just 22 yards on 19 carries. He also took several big shots that saw him slow to get up, at one point looking like he might have suffered a concussion. 

The game against the Redskins was a nasty one, and it clearly took a lot out of Washington as they came out flat on Thursday night in a loss to New York. I think we should see a similar story for the Eagles here in San Francisco. 

Vernon Davis is listed as a game time decision, but I'm expecting him to play. I'm not a Niners fan, but this looks like a good spot for San Francisco at home. 

Take SF. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Buffalo Bills. 

The Bills had no answer for Philip Rivers last week, but this week's game at Houston should be a different story. Texans QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was terrible in a loss to the Giants last week, throwing three picks. Houston relies mostly on it's running game for offense, and that's not a good thing facing the Bills. 

Buffalo ranks 5th overall in the NFL in run defense, with opponents averaging just 83 yards per game. Arian Foster is set to return today, but I wouldn't suggest playing him in your fantasy leagues. 

C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson might be a little more successful though, as Houston hasn't had as much success stopping the run as one would expect. Bills QB E.J. Manuel has been solid but not brilliant, throwing for 613 yards, three TDs and one pick. 

The Bills defense should be good enough to keep them in this game, especially going up against former Buffalo QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. This game is likely to be a close one, and I'll take the Bills + the points. 

Take BUF. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TB@PIT to go UNDER the total. 

The Buccaneers were embarrassed on the road at Atlanta last Thursday, but having an extra few days to prepare for this Sunday's game at Pittsburgh might allow them to show some improvement. I don't think the Bucs are quite as bad as they looked last week, and nor do I believe the Steelers are as good as they appeared to be in a win at Carolina. 

The Steelers lead the league in rushing, averaging 163 yards per game so far. I expect them to come in to this game focused on the ground and pound, chewing up the clock with every possession. 

The Bucs rank dead last in the NFL in passing, averaging just 163 yards per game. Their running game could get a boost with the return of RB Doug Martin. 

Four of the last five head to head meetings between these teams have resulted in the total going under. Today's total is a little higher than in any of those previous contests. The Steelers have seen the total go under in 12 of their last 15 home games versus teams with a losing record. 

Take UNDER.

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on DET@NYJ to go UNDER the total. 

The Jets defense has played very well so far this season, leading the league in opponent's rushing average, allowing just 55 yards per game. The offense on the other hand has been unimpressive, and Geno Smith has really struggled at quarterback. 

Last week the Jets defense held Chicago to just 257 yards of total offense, but a pair of Geno Smith interceptions proved to be their undoing. The Lions defense held the Packers and Aaron Rodgers to just seven points. 

I'm expecting to see a low scoring tilt between two teams that are more than capable defensively. The Lions do have a prolific offense, but perhaps not so much on the road. They didn't get much going offensively in a loss to the Bengals in Cincy in Week 2. 

The total has gone over in three of the last six head to head meetings between these two teams, but today's total is higher than it was in any of those previous contests. Five of the Lions last six games overall have fallen short of the number. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 8* play on the Washington Redskins. 

The Redskins are coming off a tough loss on the road at Philadelphia, and they are a little banged up as they get ready to host the Giants on Thursday Night Football. New York is coming off it's first win of the season, and Rashad Jennings ran all over the Texans picking up 176 yards on the ground. 

Jennings might not find as many holes in this Washington defense, that currently ranks 3rd overall in the NFL allowing just 64 yards rushing per game. The Redskins held Shady McCoy to just 22 yards on Sunday, but couldn't hold on to a double digit lead. 

Eli Manning finally had a game without throwing an INT, but it could be a little early to say he's turned things around. He's up against a ferocious Washington pass rush that leads the NFL in sacks, so don't be surprised if he struggles here on the road. 

Kirk Cousins has impressed since filling in for the injured RGIII, he's thrown for 677 yards and five TDs with just one INT in two games. He could be in for a big night against a Giants secondary that hasn't been impressive, allowing over 250 yards passing per game. 

Take WAS, 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on CHI@NJY to go OVER the total.

The Jets defense hasn't given up anything on the ground, leading the NFL allowing opponents to average just 52 yards per game. They haven't been nearly as effective stopping the pass though, and Aaron Rodgers lite them up for 346 yards and three TDs last week.

The Jets host the Bears on Monday Night Football, and Chicago's QB Jay Cutler can put points on the board in a hurry. He did just that last week, scoring three fourth quarter TDs to come from behind and beat the 49ers in San Francisco.

Chicago has failed miserably trying to stop the run, and that doesn't bode well facing a Jets offense that leads the NFL in rushing. I expect the Jets to run all over the Bears with Chris Johnson, Chris Ivory as well as QB Geno Smith. 

These teams last met in 2010, and the Bears won that game by a score of 38-34. Chicago doesn't often play low scoring games on the road, in fact 13 of their last 16 games away from home have gone over the total.

Public money has pushed this total down a few points from a number that was already quite low.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Carolina Panthers ML.

The Steelers appear to have been exposed after two weeks. Not only did they nearly blow a 27-3 lead at home to the Browns in Week 1, but they had their butts served to them on the road in Baltimore last week. Ben Roethlisberger has thrown more INTs (2) than TDs (1), and he's having trouble establishing any chemistry with his new corps of receivers. They lost a lot of talent when Emanuel Sanders and Jericho Cotchery left town, and his replacements haven't been able to fill the void.

Scoring won't come easy on the road in Carolina, as this Panther's defense is one of the league's best, ranking second overall in points allowed. Big Ben has been sacked five times over the first two weeks, and he'll have to be on his toes tonight, as the Panthers pass rush has been tough on opposing QBs. Carolina's seven sacks are the fourth most in the NFL.

I'm not a fan of Cam Newton, or any other dual-threat QB in the NFL for that matter, but I'll give him credit for his play last week. Newton completed 22-of-34 passes for 281 yards and  TD against the Lions, and only attempted to run the ball four times for 19 yards.

The Panthers have won eight straight home games, and 13-of-14 overall. I can't see the Steelers ending that run here tonight.

Take CAR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Seattle Seahawks. 

It has taken Pete Carrol four years to put together a championship team in Seattle. He took over in 2010, and that team finished 7-9, sneaking into the post season and upsetting the Saints in the Wildcard Game, before losing to the Bears. The 2011 season saw them again finish 7-9, missing the post-season. Russell Wilson burst onto the scene in 2012, and that's when things really started to change in the Emerald City. Wilson led the Hawks to an 11-5 record as a rookie, and the team's defense earned a reputation as the best in football. Wilson was even better in his second season in the league, and last year's Seahawks team went 13-3, and of course defeated Denver 43-8 in the Superbowl. 

So should we expect them to take a step backward? I don't think so, Wilson should only get better with more experience, and he fits perfectly with this coach in this system. He should have the benefit of having Percy Harvin as a target, a luxury that he didn't enjoy most of last season.

The Broncos might have revenge on the brain, but Russell Wilson has won 18-of-19 in Seattle during his career, and today's game is just onther example of a situation where I expect "History To Repeat Itself".

Take SEA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints host the Vikings in a must win game in New Orleans this Sunday, and this game was always going to be a blowout. New Orleans has lost back to back games on the road at Atlanta and Cleveland, and they need a win here at home in order to keep their season alive.

The Saints (much like Seattle) are a different team at home. Last season they were 8-0 at the Superdome, and all but one of those victories came by double digits.

Drew Brees threw 39 TD passes in 2013, 27 of those came at home in New Orleans. His completion percentage at home (73.6%) was almost 10 percentage points higher than it was on the road.

The Vikings have more problems other than the loss of Peterson, their QB Matt Cassel was picked off four times in the loss to New England last week, completing just 52% of his passes. The Vikings probably know they are better off handing over the reigns to Teddy Bridgewater, but this week's game isn't the best spot for them to make such a move. They'll let Cassel take his lumps today, and unless he does something special, expect to see Bridgewater at home verusus Atlanta next week.

Take the Saints.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Houston Texans.

I played the Texans in both their previous two wins the last two weeks, and seeing them play on the road against a sloppy New York Giants team has me licking my chops at a chance to bet on them again this week. The Giants simply can't hold on to the football, and that doesn't bode well against a very strong Texans team with a fierce pass rush and an opportunistic secondary.

Even when Houston was losing games last year, the defense was still playing well. The Texans owned the #1 ranked defense against the pass for most of the season, until they completely collapsed in the final four weeks. I don't expect this year's team to fall apart, as long as Ryan Fitzpatrick can continue to make good decisions.

Fitzpatrick has a bit of a shady history when it comes to turnovers, but not as much so as Eli Manning. The Giants QB threw a whopping 27 picks last year, and he's already tossed four INTs in losses to Detroit and Arizona. Those of you who know me will have heard me say it before "HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF", and this sums up how I feel about Eli these days. After seeing him stink for the better part of the last two year, it's tough to expect any different result here this week.

The recipe for success for Houston should be pretty simple, just keep doing what they have been doing in the first two weeks. They don't need to take any chances. Hand the ball off to Arian Foster and pound away with the run. Foster was quite effective on the road last week, running for 138 yards and a TD.

Take HOU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on SD@BUF to go UNDER the total. 

The San Diego Chargers will be on the road at Buffalo this afternoon, and both these teams have impressed on defense so far this season. The Bills are 2-0, and they completely shut down Miami last week, defeating the Dolphins by a score of 29-10. 

The Chargers lost to Arizona in Week 1, but bounced back last week with an impressive home win over the Seahawks. San Diego won't have RB Ryan Matthews here this Sunday, and running the ball won't be easy against a stout defensive front of Buffalo. The Bills have allowed opponents an average of just 83 yards rushing per game so far. 

Buffalo will continue to work their own power running game, and they've had plenty of success with C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson both averaging 4.5 yards per carry. If their success continues at home this week, we should see plenty of long clock killing drives. 

The Chargers have played five straight low scoring games on the road, with the total going under in all five of those contests. They have also seen an overwhelming trend of low scoring games against AFC opponents, with 11 of their last 13 such games going under. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Atlanta Falcons. 

It shouldn't really surprise anyone that the Falcons struggled on the road at Cincinnati last Sunday. Sure they looked pretty darn good a week prior, defeating Drew Brees and the Saints, but that's expected from a dome team. You can expect Matty Ice to bounce back tonight as he faces a struggling Buccaneers defense that has allowed 465 passing yards in consecutive losses at home. That might not sound like a whole lot of yardage, but keep in mind that the two opponents they have faced so far have been playing their backup quarterbacks. 

Who is Austin Davis? Well he's not exactly a household name, but he threw for 235 yards for the Rams in their Week 2 upset at Tampa. The Week before it was Derek Anderson filling in for Cam Newton, and the 31 year old backup threw for 230 yards and a pair of TDs. You can only imagine how much tougher it will be to stop Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Roddy White in the dome tonight. 

The Bucs thought they had solved their quarterback problems when they brought in Josh McCown from the Bears in the off-season. After the first two weeks, McCown has not impressed, coming into tonight's game with the 31st overall passer rating among NFL quarterbacks. McCown put up some impressive numbers throwing to the likes of Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery last season, but Tampa's receiving corps doesn't quite measure up to that of the Bears. 

These teams met twice last year, with the home team winning each game. The Falcons won by a score of 31-23 at the Georgia Dome, and there is every reason to expect a similar scoreline tonight. 

Take ATL. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles got off to a terrible start last week, getting out-scored 17-0 by the Jaguars. Nick Foles fumbled three times, and threw an interception. They sorted things out though in the second half, scoring 34 unanswered points. Foles finished with 322 passing yards and a pair of TDs, and Shady McCoy and Darren Sproles picked up 145 yards on the ground. If the Eagles can pick up where they left off, Indianapolis is going to be in big trouble. 

Last week's loss to Denver wasn't really as close as the score would indicate. The Broncos led 31-10 in the fourth quarter, until Indianapolis staged one of their classic late rallies. Last year the Colts stunned the Chiefs in the playoffs, coming back from a 21-point halftime deficit to win 45-44. It wasn't the only miracle comeback we saw from Indy, they did the same thing in Houston and Tennessee during the regular season.

Indy wasn't able to get anything going with the running game last week, gaining only 54 yards. They aren't likely to have much more success tonight, as the Eagles effectively shut down Jacksonville's running game last week. Trent Richardson has been a huge bust, and his backups aren't scaring anyone either.

This will be the third time Chip Kelly faces Andrew Luck, with Kelly's team winning both the previous two meetings (Oregon vs. Stanford). 

Take PHI.

GL, 

Jesse Schule.

This is a 10* play on the Chicago Bears. 

I picked Dallas to cover against San Francisco last week, and unfortunately on that rare occasion I missed the mark. It wasn't really a matter of San Francisco being the better team though, instead it was three interceptions thrown by Tony Romo, and a DeMarco Murray fumble that cost the Cowboys the game. As ugly as the game was, there are a few things that shouldn't go unnoticed. Like Dallas out-scoring the 49ers 14-0 in the second half, owning an advantage in total yards, first downs as well as time of possession. 

I still believe that San Francisco is overrated, and it's only a matter of time before holes start to appear in this defense that is without Aldon Smith and NaVorro Bowman. Granted the Bears have their own injury concerns, but Chicago is getting a bunch of points here. 

Jay Culter can certainly pick apart a defense, and for the most part that's what he did in Week 1, throwing for 349 yards and a pair of TDs. If he can just hang on to the football, and avoid costly INTs and fumbles, the Bears should be able to hang with the Niners tonight. 

Take CHI. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Houston Texans. 

Ladies and gentlemen, these are not the 2013 Houston Texans. This year's defense is mean and nasty, and if you're a starting QB in the NFL, the last thing you want to see in front of you is J.J. Watt on the other side of the line of scrimmage. Watt had one of three sacks on RGIII in the Texans Week 1 win over the Redskins. Houston is on the road in Oakland this week, and Watt and company will be looking to zero in on rookie QB Derek Carr. 

The Raiders didn't impress in a loss to the Jets, managing just 158 yards of total offense while allowing the Jets to gain over 400 yards. Any attempt to run the ball was futile, gaining just 25 yards on 15 carries. They also showed a complete inability to stop the run, as the Jets reeled off over 200 yards on the ground. 

Don't expect the Raiders to have much success offensively here today against a fierce Houston defense, and we should see the visitors grind out a win on the road. Only asked to cover a couple points, the value lies with the Texans. 

Take HOU. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Seattle Seahawks.

Even after winning the Super Bowl last season, there are still plenty of skeptics when it comes to Russell Wilson. He hasn't really given anyone any reason to doubt him though, and now that he has a healthy Percy Harvin to throw to, I expect his numbers to increase significantly in 2014. He completed 69% of his passes for 191 yards and a pair of TDs in Week 1, and that was against a pretty solid Packers defense. The Chargers are coming off a short week, while Seattle has had nine days to prepare a game plan for today's contest. Despite the fact that this game is in San Diego, it still looks like a good spot for Wilson and the Hawks.

Phillip Rivers looked out of sorts against Arizona last week, and the Chargers blew an 11 point fourth quarter lead. It won't get any easier against the defending champs just six days later.

Take SEA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Washington Redskins.

I'm expecting a big game from former Eagle DeSean Jackson today - not even three turnovers in the first half was enough to stop his former team from defeating the Jaguars by a score of 34-17 in Week 1. Jackson meanwhile had eight catches for 62 yards against a tough Houston defense last week. He should find more room at home this week against a Jaguars that still looks like they have trouble defending the pass.

There is a lot of talk about how much Jacksonville has improved, but surrendering 34 unanswered points in the second half last week proves that they still have a long way to go. The Redskins however sure showed signs that this defense is going to be greatly improved after ranking near worst in the NFL a year ago. Washington hung around in Houston last week, only conceding 17 points in a loss.

Getting the Skins at home favored by less than a TD seems like quite a bargain to me.

Take WASH.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the New England Patriots ML. 

With the news that Adrian Peterson will miss today's home game versus the Patriots, Minnesota will turn to backup Matt Asiata to carry the load. Fantasy owners will take note that when Peterson last missed a game, Asiata scored three rushing TDs. He still only had 50 yards on over 30 carries in that game though, so don't think for a second that the Vikes won't miss Peterson. 

The situation with Peterson also has the potential to cause a toxic atmosphere in the locker room, as different players may have varying opinions on whether or not to support their teammate. This comes at a terrible time for Minnesota, as Matt Cassel is still trying to establish himself as a bonafide starter. Losing the safety net of handing off to a former MVP puts Cassel in a precarious position. 

The Pats offensive line made plenty of mistakes in the loss to Miami in Week 1, but I'm expecting Bill Belichick to have worked out most of those issues, getting everyone on the same page for this weeks game. Ultimately the loss of their best player should prove to be too much for the Vikings to overcome. Take NE. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

I'm betting on the Steelers tonight, and it has absolutely nothing to do with Ray Rice. I don't know about you, but I am sick to death of hearing about the guy. The media just beats this story to death. At the end of the day, he was never going to play tonight, so the recent scandal shouldn't have any impact on this game. 

That being said, Baltimore's two running backs Justin Forsett and Bernard Pierce don't exactly strike fear into opposing defenses. Pierce was completely ineffective in Week 1, and while Forsett had a good game, he doesn't have the size to carry the load at 5'8 197 lbs. 

The Steelers on the other hand didn't have any trouble running the ball against a pretty solid Browns defense, with Le'Veon Bell running for 109 yards on 21 carries. Bell was also a threat in the passing game, with six receptions for 88 yards. 

Ben Roethlisberger had a good game against the Browns, throwing for a career high 275 yards in the first half, and eventually leading a game winning drive in the fourth quarter. The same can't be said for Joe Flacco, who didn't look particularly sharp. 

My prediction: Steelers win 23-17 

Take PIT. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the San Diego Chargers. 

The Cardinals open the 2014 season at home in a Monday night game versus the San Diego Chargers. Arizona is a favorite here, despite the fact that they are a little banged up. Running back Andre Ellington is suffering from a foot injury that could keep him out tonight, if he is able to start, he will be playing through pain and will likely see limited touches. Backups Stepfan Taylor and Jonathan Dwyer don't inspire a lot of confidence, and running the ball could be a tough task for the home team here. 

The same can not be said for the Chargers, who have plenty of depth at the running back position, with Danny Woodhead, Ryan Matthews and Donald Brown. They have also shored up the defense with the addition of Pro Bowl corner Brandon Flowers. 

"We're a stronger team than last year," said Dwight Freeney, who returns after missing most of last season. "Ithink we have a pretty good feel of each other, all we have to do is go out and execute. We have all the pieces."

The Cardinals had all the pieces last year, with the NFL's #1 defense against the run (6th in total defense). They lost a Pro Bowl DT  during the pre-season though, and safety Tyrann Mathieu is questionable with a knee injury. 

This game could be decided by San Diego's pass rush, and if Dwight Freeney can get to Carson Palmer, the Chargers should win this game outright. You gotta like his chances when you consider that Palmer was sacked 41 times and threw the second-most interceptions (22) last season.

My Prediction: Chargers win 23-21 

Take SD. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Denver Broncos

The Colts were 5-3 on the road last year, but they probably should have been 3-5. Why? Because they were blown out in the first half at Houston, and then staged an improbable comeback in the second half to steal a game that appeared to already be lost. They went on to do the same thing two weeks later at Tennessee, and then they did it again in the playoffs at home against the Chiefs. 

It took a whole lot of Luck (pun definitely intended) for the Colts to win 11 games last year, and I don't like their chances of repeating that success here in 2014. They have a tough match-up in Week 1, on the road at Denver, and this game has blowout written all over it. 

Peyton Manning rewrote the record books last year, throwing for nearly 5,500 yards and 55 TDs. He won't have Wes Welker in Week 1, but that's unlikely to slow him in the slightest bit. Demarius and Julius Thomas, along with Emanuel Sanders will certainly give him enough targets to choose from . 

Denver will be looking to avenge a loss at Indianapolis last year, and with a greatly improved defense and the advantage of playing at Mile High Stadium, they shouldn't have any trouble executing their revenge. 

The Broncos won last year's season opener by a score of 49-27 against the Ravens, and I expect a similar scoreline tonight. 

Take DEN, 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Tampa Bucs. 

The Panthers are in a tough spot in Week 1, playing on the road in Tampa with Cam Newton's status uncertain as he suffered cracked ribs in the pre-season. The Bucs should be vastly improved with Lovie Smith as coach, and a veteran quarterback in Josh McCown coming over from Chicago. 

I think the Panthers overachieved last year, and they should come crashing back down to earth here in 2014. Cam Newton will need to give them leadership in the absence of Steve Smith, and he will also need to get on the same page with a receiving corps that has several new faces. At less than 100%, I don't like his chances of figuring all this out in Tampa. 

It remains to be seen just how well Josh McCown will fit in the Tampa offense, and few expect him to be as successful as he was last year with the Bears. He won't have to do anything special to improve on the performances of last year's starters though.
Over the last 11 seasons, Carolina has covered the spread just twice in their season opener. 

My prediction: Tampa wins 24-13 

Take TB, 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Houston Texans. 

Houston is coming off a terrible 2-14 season, but they might just be the best team in history to finish with just two wins. Nine of those 14 losses came in games decided by seven points or less, and five of those games were decided by three points or fewer. Despite their losing record, their defense ranked #1 overall against the pass until the final few weeks of the season when they were blown out by Denver. 

The Texans host Washington in Week 1, and I expect this to be a one sided contest in favor of the home team. With J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney on defense for the Texans, it could be a long day for Robert Griffin. 

The Redskins (Oh yeah, I'm calling them the Redskins) will hope that the addition of DeSean Jackson will make a difference, but offense wasn't really the problem last year. The defense is still a serious question mark for the visitors, and I expect Houston put up a lot of points here at home. Ryan Fitzpatrick steps in to replace Matt Schuab at quarterback, and he's fortunate to be coming into a favorable situation. He won't be asked to do too much, and this is a role he should thrive in. 

My Prediction: Houston wins 31-17 

Take HOU. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Philadelphia Eagles. 

The Jaguars have been the laughing stock of the NFL for several years now, but pundits are predicting serious improvement this year. Oh yeah? I'll believe it when I see it, but I think these cats have bitten off more than they can chew in Week 1. 

Chip Kelly had his ups and downs last season, introducing one of the most radical offensive systems the NFL has every seen, but his NFL coaching debut was an overwhelming success overall. I expect things to be a lot smoother here in year 2 under the former Oregon boss, as the players have had plenty of time to get comfortable in this high octane offensive scheme. 

The offense certainly looked good in the pre-season, as they averaged 33 points per game, and won both their home games by a combined 40 point margin. Nick Foles stepped in last year and threw for 27 TDs and just 2 INTs, winning nine of the 11 games he started. 

Jacksonville was always going to struggle to keep up offensively, but losing Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon only adds insult to injury. Chad Henne threw more INTs (14) than he did TDs (13) last year. 

My Prediction: Eagles win 38-20

Take PHI. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the New England Patriots. 

The Pats come in as road favorites, despite the fact that they lost here in Miami a year ago. This year's squad has a lot more going for it than the Patriots of 2013, fresh off Aaron Hernandez murder scandal. They brought in Darrelle Revis on defense, and a healthy Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola should make a world of difference for New England. 

The Fish don't give us much reason to be optimistic about their offense, it's the same old quarterback with most of the same faces. Ryan Tannehill is an average quarterback at best, and with Brandon Browner and Revis camped out in the Pats secondary, it should be a "no fly zone' on Sunday. 

Tannehill had a pretty pedestrian pre-season, throwing for just one TD and one INT, posting a quarterback rating of 86.5. I wouldn't even think of picking Gronkowski in my fantasy pool, but I like his chances of having a big game in Week 1. 

My Prediction: Pats win 27-17 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Seattle Seahawks. 

The defending champs are being asked to cover a bunch of points at home versus Green Bay in the season opener. The Packers might be looking for revenge after losing on a controversial call at the end of the "Fail Mary" game back in 2012. A lot has changed since then though, and Russell Wilson is more than just a rookie that relies on a power running game and an elite defense. He's 15-1 at home over the last two seasons, throwing 33 TD passes and just seven INTs. 

Judging by what we saw from Wilson in the pre-season (78.6 % completions and six TDs) he's only getting better with experience. He also comes into 2014 with a far more talented corps of receivers, including a healthy Percy Harvin. 

The Packers are expected to be better defensively with the addition of Julius Peppers, and Clay Matthews and A.J. Hawk at full strength. There are still plenty of question marks in the secondary though, and with the injury to B.J. Raji they lose a lot of size on the defensive line. 

The biggest concern for Green Bay might be an injury to starting center JC Tretter suffered in the pre-season. That forces rookie Corey Linsley to start at center, despite the fact that he didn't get any first team reps with QB Aaron Rodgers during the pre-season. 

Seattle has a reputation around the NFL as the toughest place to play. I don't expect that to change any in 2014, in fact I think the Seahawks will make strides offensively, and should win a lot of games by a significant margin. 

My prediction: Final score Seattle wins 31-17. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule