You know you are a bad team if...

Hyman, James and Scott Ward share the weekly honors this week with eight correct picks over a crowded pack at 7 wins. Selecting Miami, Atlanta or ignoring me and taking the Cardinals proved to be the difference makers. After five weeks Hyman stands two wins clear over Chris and Jeff for the overall lead.

I should be excused for my poor five win showing because I was attacked by a swarm of bugs as I was making my selections, causing me to make wild picks swith the mouse.

Flood explained that his three win week had been caused by a combination of watching the Cubs get swept, without putting up much of a fight - maybe someone told Soriano he wasn't get paid for the playoff games; and the Illini's second consecutive victory over a ranked opponent -- enough to put Ron Zook (yes, that Ron Zook) and the Illini into the Top-25 since, well we honestly don't know the last time they were ranked. Certainly since before Flood joined me in the ranks of the Sister lovers.

The one game I watched this weekend was the Bills (admittedly interrupted by changing over to the Yankees-Indians and spending the the last half-hour watching both on PIP thanks to my DVR). The writers at Friday Night Lights could not come up with a more improbable Dallas victory then what happened to the Bills on Monday. Tony Romo throws five picks and fumbles once. The Bills D scores two touchdowns plus a kick return for a third TD. Dallas scores with 20 seconds left. Throws the 2 point conversion to tie to TO who has the ball wrestled out of his hands. Bills lead 24-22 with 20 seconds left at the Ralph.

Then, not only is the onside kick successful, but it bounces off a player to advance another fifteen yards; so Dallas starts at the Bills 45 instead of around their own 40. That difference is huge because after TO drops another key pass, Romo throws two quick outs and the Kicker makes not one but two 53 yard field goals (you can add me to the list of those who hate this Coach calling Timeout as the kicker begins to take the kick rule) to win the game, on National Television 25-24. Now come on. If Friday Night Lights tried that storyline you wouldn't believe. No one would, nor should they.

So here are some signs you are a bad football team:

1. You have a +5 turnover differential plus return a kick-off for a touchdown and lose. At Home.
2. You lose to David Carr.
3. You lose to Arizona. At home. By 3 when the line is -2.5. (Bastards)
4. You lose to the previously hapless Chargers and Norv Turner 41-3. At Home.

Meanwhile the Pats continued to role, covering on a fumble return for a TD with under a minute remaining. I believe the Pats are 5-0 against the spread this year in addition to a perfect Won-Loss record.

Five turnovers also cost the Packers their undefeated record against the hated Bears. Apparently the Sports Gods elected to have some pity on Chicago after the Cubs were swept by the D-Backs.

My baseball picks were little better then my football ones last week as I went 1-3 in the Division Series. The Phillies were eliminated so quickly I didn't even have time to get Andrew a shirt. It was nice to see the Indians finally get some ironic revenge sending the Yankees home on Columbus Day.

For the LCS we'll go with the Rockies, who have lost once in their last 16 games, and the Red Sox whose pitching is just a little bit deeper and better then the Indians.

As for Lock of the Week, which fell to 3-3 as the Rams came up a point short against the Cardinals, this week we are going with the Pats, giving 4.5 to a Dallas team off an emotional victory, but coming off a road Monday game. Plus the Cowboys, although 5-0, have beaten teams who have combined for five wins. They are good, but they are not that good. It's like Craps at the Casino; when there is a hot shooter at the table you have to ride with him, upping you bets with every pass made. We'll do the same with the Pats for now.

Make it a good week.
Jono