Editor's Note: Don't forget to pick up Josh Jacobs' expert selections for this weekend's action. Click to win!
The clock continues to tick on the 2008 NFL season. We’re already in Week 3 and this year’s installment of the pigskin story has already taken on a life of its own.
Before we delve into the five picks supplied by this writer for the Vegasinsider.com NFL Handicapping Challenge let’s just take a moment to congratulate three of our players for having gone 10-0 thus far.
So, with news of Vikings’ QB Tarvaris Jackson getting benched and backup slinger Gus Frerotte taking snaps under center, is it worth looking into Carolina plus the 3 ½-points?
1.) Tennessee (-5 1/2) vs. Houston – 1:00 p.m. EDT
Giving up the five points has me questioning this pick up until game time but what we’ve all seen from the Titans is solid football. Several factors contribute to Tennessee covering. For one, the Texans are recovering from Hurricane Ike. They’ve been displaced and don’t think for a minute that things have been easy going.
Number two is a Titans’ defense holding opponents to a league best 8.5 points per game and a second best 60.5 YPG allowed on the ground. There’s no doubting the work ethic that defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (four tackles and two sacks) brings to the table but corner back Cortland Finnegan has been a blanket, grabbing three picks in two weeks of play.
Houston is coming off a 38-17 beating from the hands of Pittsburgh and without a stadium to call home at the moment, you have to wonder if concentration and morality are at a low point.
Titans’ signal caller Kerry Collins will do just enough to move the chains, while a rock hard defense causes havoc for the Texans.
Final Score: Tennessee 17, Houston 10
2.) Chicago (-3 1/2) at Tampa Bay – 1:00 p.m. EDT
The Buccaneers bounced back in a win over Atlanta in Week 2 after dropping a close 24-20 contest in New Orleans to begin the season. The Bears may have walked out of Indianapolis with a hard fought ‘W’ in Week 1, but found themselves in the loss column after falling victim to Carolina.
We can expect Tampa’s QB Brian Griese to exercise patients with a conservative passing game plan. Given the tough Chicago defense responsible for giving up 83.5 rushing YPG, backers on this play have all reason to be concerned about the Bucs’ ability to move down field. Tampa Bay’s RB Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn must work extra hard if they want to keep this game manageable.
The bottom line is the Bears’ are expected to get wide out Devin Hester back into the action after he suffered a rib injury last week. Add the running potential that Matt Forte has exercised on the field and the Bears take this game by a hair. I’ve been flip flopping on this pick for a day or two now. The more I look at this game the more I believe in an amped up Chicago victory at home.
Final Score: Chicago 24, Tampa Bay 13
3.) Pittsburgh (+3 ½) at Philadelphia – 4:15 p.m. EDT
Don’t worry about Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger. His shoulder has been described as being sore, not dislocated as earlier reports indicated. OK, so don’t expect the conservative Pitt signal caller to rack up 300 yards of passing. Instead look at what the Steelers’ defense can do to Philly, who lost in an offensive shootout to Dallas last Monday (41-37).
Let’s be frank, Pittsburgh might be 2-0 but the offensive line still has question marks (just watch the replays of Roethlisberger getting hit in that sloppy Cleveland contest last week). Watch RB Willie Parker set the stage for a Pitt win. Getting the 3 ½-points is a worthy investment.
Final Score: Pittsburgh 27, Philadelphia 24
4.) Carolina (+3 ½) at Minnesota – 1:00 p.m. EDT
Is Carolina that good and will changing up starting QBs in Minnesota have a positive or negative impact? All good questions but when you place slinger, Gus Frerotte into a contest (seventh team he’s been with during his career by the way), my ability to back that team goes down the toilet.
We’ll see Viking’s RB Adrian Peterson continue to rack up more yards for fantasy owners and a defensive unit that should stunt Carolina’s movement but without a solidified passing game take the Panthers with the points.
Carolina has an impressive stable of running backs of its own and WR Steve Smith, who has been serving a two-game suspension, will run routes for the first time this season. Also look for tight ends Jeff King and Dante Rosario to become prime targets for QB Jake Delhomme, who will look to spread the ball around.
Final Scores: Carolina 23, Minnesota 16
5.) Dallas (-3 1/2) at Green Bay
It’s hard to fathom Dallas’ offense falling on its face in this contest. And that’s exactly what the Packers will need to grab the big ‘W’ at home this week.
Sure, the Cowboys escaped a high walk across a tightrope in their 41-37 win over the Eagles. Dallas’ defense was put through the ringer but on paper this is a team loaded with talent. Whitten, Barber, Owens and Romo will look to light up Lambeau Field.
The Packers won’t go down easily. Expect the home team to move the chains with the West Coast passing oriented offense, but in the end, Green Bay will have the tougher time keeping up pace.
Final Score: Dallas 34, Green Bay 27
Joshua Jacobs can be reached at jacobs@vegasinsider.com.
