Running up the Score

Sorry to have missed last week -- I hope the World Series and the incessant presidential debates kept you entertained without me around.

Somehow, while I wasn't looking, I managed to take the overall lead at the season's midpoint. It is, no doubt a precarious one, with all of the teams who have submitted picks each week are within three picks of first -- except for Walt who had better keep working on the book so that he gets tenure. Even his beloved Eagles have been doing better then him and that is not a compliment.
Last week saw Norm and I tie for weekly honors with ten out of thirteen correct picks. That's pretty darn good.

The Dolphins covering across the pond proved to be the pick missed by most.

At the season's midpoint, a few teams seem to have revived their season. First and foremost is the Chargers who spent the weak discussing forest fires before abusing the Texans to go over 500. Their playoff odds currently are at 66% -- pretty good for a team that looked awful a month ago.

There are also some really bad teams. The Dolphins and the Rams remain winless while the Jets and the Falcons may actually be worse teams despite having won a game each. A Patriots win this week should eliminate the Dolphins from the AFC East title chase on the day the clocks get turned back. And the Falcons are favored this week as they host San Fran. That's right -- you have to either pick the Falcons or the Niners this week.

Meanwhile the Packers continue their inexorable run to the Super Bowl and shame on anyone who would bet against Brett Favre on Monday Night Football.

The game of the century is this Sunday of course as the 8-0 Pats are 4.5 favorites over the 8-0 Colts in Indy. The Colts may be without Marvin Harrison. We like Peyton, we like the Colts, but have vowed not to bet against the Pats, regardless of the spread, until they fail to cover it.

LotW has been unable to get more then a game over 500, as the Bucs failed us against the Lions (who are no longer a laughingstock, apparently).

This week we'll take the Pack and 2.5 points at Kansas City.

Make it a good week.