Well, the American public has decided who they want as President for the next four years…now on to important stuff – Week Ten in the NFL!

Thursday Night

Indianapolis (2-7) at JACKSONVILLE (3-5) – Vegas: Jaguars -3
I feel like I have said this every week, but it’s been a strange Thursday lineup this year.  Every week it seems like (I’m sure by design) that this game is between two relatively evenly-matched teams where I have no reason not to pick the home team.  Well, this is another one.  Jaguars (close)

Sunday, Early Afternoon

N.Y. Giants (6-3) at CINCINNATI (6-2) – Vegas: Giants -1
The Giants are coming off of a tough, physical game with the Steelers and now they go on the road a week before their much-needed bye week.  The Bengals have their second straight home game.  Maybe I’m too high on the Bengals here (or too low on the Super Bowl champs, who were outscored on the season last year, were #32 in rushing, and were one play away from missing the playoffs), but it’s not like Vegas disagrees too much.  I like the home ‘dog to win outright here.  Bengals (close)

Tennessee (4-5) at MIAMI (4-4) –  Vegas: Dolphins -3.5
This is a very tough game to even think about, considering it is really hard to know what shape either of these teams are going to be in at this point.  I think I like the Titans matchup against Miami, but, again, we’re talking about November 11th here, so I’m just going to flip that coin that always comes up “home team.”  Dolphins (close)

Detroit (4-4) at MINNESOTA (4-5) – Vegas: Lions -3.5
Back-to-back road games for the Lions, but trips to Jacksonville and Minnesota aren’t exactly “brutal.”  The Vikings have played for nine straight weeks now and don’t exactly have the deepest of rosters.  Lions (moderate)

Buffalo (4-4) at NEW ENGLAND (7-1) – Vegas: Patriots -11
The Pats coming off of the bye looking to avenge their only loss on the season.  Ya, this one’s not hard.  Patriots (easy)

Atlanta (5-3) at NEW ORLEANS (5-3) – Vegas: Saints -5
The Game of the Week!  The Saints are on a short week, but at least that Monday Night game with the Eagles was at home, as is this one.  And, Atlanta played Sunday, but it was a Sunday Night game against Dallas.  My gut says go with the Saints here, and the big Vegas number agrees, but I’m not sure I would lay any more than a field goal.  Saints (close)

San Diego (5-3) at TAMPA BAY (3-5) – Vegas: Chargers -3
This just stinks of one of those games that must make Charger fans sick.  Every year they piss away games like this one, where they just don’t show up against an inferior opponent.  The Bucs are good enough to beat you on any given day, and with this the early game a week ahead of the Chargers date with Peyton Manning, I am going to go with the upset, even though the Chargers have 10 days to prepare for this one.  Chalk it up as a “Norv Special.”  Bucs (close)

Denver (3-5) at CAROLINA (3-5) – Vegas: Pick ’em
Denver’s got an early game again, as they make a second straight trip east.  They are also probably eyeing up that game with San Diego next week, but they are, most likely, going to need this game pretty badly.  I like the Manning offense to start clicking about this time, so I’ll take them to win a big road game here.  Broncos (close)

Oakland (1-7) at BALTIMORE (4-4) – Vegas: Ravens -8
Raiders at 1:00 against a potentially desperate Ravens team.  The schedule-makers give the Ravens a second straight week of respite.  Ravens (easy)

Sunday, Late Afternoon

N.Y. Jets (3-5) at SEATTLE (2-7) – Vegas: Seahawks -1.5
Coming off of the bye, the Jets have to fly all the way to the Great Northwest to play in a place that is no fun to play in.  And, the Seahawks defense might be every bit as good as the Jets, especially come Week Ten when the younger ‘Hawks are more together and the older Jets are more worn-down.  Seahawks (close)

Dallas (4-4) at PHILADELPHIA (6-2) – Vegas: Eagles -4.5
Schedule-makers did it again to the Birds – giving them the huge Dallas game on a short week.  But, the Birds matchup really well against the ‘Boys, especially at home.  Vegas putting up a -4.5 number validates my thinking.  Eagles (close)

St. Louis (3-5) at SAN FRANCISCO (6-2) – Vegas: 49ers -9
Both teams coming off of the bye, but I can’t find a reason to go against the better team at home.  49ers (easy)

Sunday Night

Houston (6-2) at CHICAGO (5-3) – Vegas: Bears -1
This is one of the toughest games all week to pick – and should be a great one.  It’s likely to be a cold November night in the Windy City, and only one of these teams is used to that kind of weather.  Bears (close)

Monday Night

Kansas City (3-5) at PITTSBURGH (6-2) – Vegas: Steelers -7
The Chiefs have some extra prep time here, playing on Thursday Night, but the Steelers still have the full week plus a day here on Monday Night, so that shouldn’t be an issue.  The better team is at home here, so it’s hard for me to justify picking an upset here, though I will say that it wouldn’t shock me and there’s a good chance that I take the Chiefs money line on Monday afternoon.  Steelers (moderate)

Standings After Week Ten

NFC EAST:
The Eagles take a HUGE step towards winning this division, as they beat the Cowboys and the Giants lose at Cincy
7-2 Eagles
6-4 Giants
4-5 Cowboys
2-7 Redskins

NFC NORTH:
While the Vikes continue to slip away, the other three teams are all very much alive in the NFC playoff picture
9-0 Packers
6-3 Bears
5-4 Lions
4-6 Vikings

NFC SOUTH:
The Saints win the big showdown with Atlanta to take control back in the South; the Panthers are fading from contention, while the Bucs hang in there
6-3 Saints
5-4 Falcons
4-5 Bucs
3-6 Panthers

NFC WEST:
A 4-game lead now, and the Niners are really in competition for the playoff bye, at this point
7-2 49ers
3-6 Rams
3-6 Cardinals
3-7 Seahawks

AFC EAST:
A big L for the Jets, who are quickly exiting any playoff picture; the Dolphins, on the other hand, get a big W and are very much in it
8-1 Patriots
5-4 Dolphins
4-5 Bills
3-6 Jets

AFC NORTH:
3 wins and Browns bye – that’s as good of a week as this division can have
7-2 Steelers
7-2 Bengals
5-4 Ravens
1-8 Browns

AFC SOUTH:
A damaging loss to the playoff hopes in Music City, while the Jags get a nice win to stay in the conversation
6-3 Texans
4-5 Jaguars
4-6 Titans
2-7 Colts

AFC WEST:
The Chargers give another one away, as the Broncos inch closer; another tough loss for KC puts them in a real hole
5-4 Chargers
4-5 Broncos
3-6 Chiefs
1-8 Raiders

NFC Playoff Picture

1 – Packers (9-0)
2/3 – Eagles/49ers (7-2)
4 – Saints (6-3)
5 – Bears (6-3)
6 – Giants (6-4)
IN THE MIX – Lions/Falcons (5-4)
FALLING OUT – Cowboys (4-5)

AFC Playoff Picture

1 -Patriots (8-1)
2 – Steelers (7-2)
3 – Texans (6-3)
4 – Chargers (5-4)
5 – Bengals (7-2)
6 – Dolphins/Ravens (5-4)
IN THE MIX – Bills/Jaguars/Broncos (4-5)
FALLING OUT – Titans (4-6), Jets/Chiefs (3-6)