Dave’s Dime
“Because Two Cents Just Isn’t Enough”

THE INTRO

What a week! Hockey is BACK, playoff baseball is in full swing, and somewhere in the midst of all that, I’ve still got a football column to write! I did include my baseball playoff predictions below my picks, just for the fun of it. It is a great time to be a sports fan (well, its a great time to be ME anyways, last I checked no one in Los Angeles actually cares about hockey) and I’ll get right to it this week. Go Kings! (The ones from LOS ANGELES, not the BASKETBALL TEAM, thank you)

The Trojans looked pretty bad at points today, but still ended up winning convincingly once they settled down. I really don’t know what to tell you – it seems that they have an ON/OFF switch handy, and I certainly hope it stays in the right hands, because there really is no room for a loss with undefeated Texas and Virginia Tech right on our heels fighting for those two precious national championship spots.

Guess I didn’t get right into it after all. I’ve got a story. Dad calls me up Thursday, telling me about this guy Colin Cowherd on ESPN radio who picks nothing but winners. He only picks college games that he’s positive will win, and so far he is 8 – 0 this season. He picked three games this Saturday, so Dad and I agree to put $20 on each game. After all, we win 2 out of 3, we’re set right? Wrong. Texas Tech fails to cover the spread against Nebraska, UCLA beats Cal, and Oregon of all things beats Arizona State IN Arizona State. The poor guy goes 0 and 3, and loses my father and I $60. The moral of the story – Don’t gamble? All streaks come to an end? Theres a first time for everything? …No, its just that me and my father are simply two unlucky people. Thats why I call the guy “poor”; He’d be 11 – 0 if it wasnt for the two of us.

THE RECORD

Last Week
With the spread: 7 – 7 – 0 (.500)
Without the spread: 10 – 4 – 0 (.714)
$$Money Picks$$: 1 – 1 – 0 (.500)

Season
With the spread: 28 – 31 – 1 (.475)
Without the spread: 35 – 25 – 0 (.583)
$$Money Picks$$: 3 – 6 – 1 (.333)

LAST WEEK’S RECAP OF DAVE’S BRILLIANCE AND FOOLISHNESS
(Usually Foolishness)

San Diego 41 (+5.0) @ New England 17 (-5.0)
“I really do think that San Diego has a shot here. New England is battered up, San Diegos got LT.” – Maybe next time I wont second guess myself.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS – New England
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: LOSS – New England

Denver 20 (+4.0) @ Jacksonville 7 (-4.0)
Here’s the second game of the week that I picked against my gut on, and yeah, it came back to haunt me. Tough loss for Jacksonville.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS – Jacksonville
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: LOSS – Jacksonville

Houston 10 (+10.0) @ Cincinnati 16 (-10.0)
Cinci stays undefeated, but not in the dominant fashion I expected, and yet again, I lose a pick that I guarenteed. Undefeated team against winless team at home, but its not enough to win by 10. This is gonna be a long season.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS – $ Cincinnati
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – Cincinnati

Indianapolis 31 (-6.5) @ Tennessee 10 (+6.5)
Finally, Peyton shows sign of life, and the undefeated Colts actually look comfortable for a change.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN – Indianapolis
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – Indianapolis

Philidelphia 37 (+2.5) @ Kansas City 31 (-2.5)
Very convincing comeback win for Phili, and perhaps equally telling collapse for Kansas City.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN – *Philidelphia
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – *Philidelphia

Detroit 13 (+6.5) @ Tampa Bay 17 (-6.5)
“I’m not sure that Tampa Bay is going to win by a touchdown, but they most certainly are going to win.” – Again, should of gone with my gut.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS – Tampa Bay
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – Tampa Bay

St. Louis 24 (+3.0) @ New York Giants 44 (-3.0)
Great game for Eli, laughable game for the Rams.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN – New York Giants
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – New York Giants

Buffalo 7 @ New Orleans 19 (Pick ‘Em)
“I am going to go with my gut here and take New Orleans, even though my brain tells me that the right pick is Buffalo.” – Look, it actually paid off.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN – New Orleans
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – New Orleans

Seattle 17 (+2.0) @ Washington 20 (-2.0)
“While they always seem to find a way to lose on the road, I’m going to assume that won’t be the case today, and take Seattle.” – I assumed incorrectly.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS – *Seattle
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: LOSS – *Seattle

New York Jets 3 (+7.5) @ Baltimore 13 (-7.5)
The Jets are in a LOT of trouble this season unless Vinny Testaverde can pull a miracle season out of his…. hat.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS – *New York Jets
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – Baltimore

Minnesota 10 (+5.5) @ Atlanta 30 (-5.5)
Haha, well I went with my gut on this one, and maybe I shouldn’t have. How many games does Vick have to win until he gets respect?
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS – *Minnesota
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: LOSS – *Minnesota

San Fransisco 14 (+3.0) @ Arizona 31 (-3.0)
Great, I was right. Too bad the game means nothing.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN – Arizona
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – Arizona

DAMN, I’M GOOD

Dallas 13 (+3.0) @ Oakland 19 (-3.0)
“Oakland is actually going to win a football game! They are absolutely itching for a win, in Oakland, against a team that isnt a division rival or super bowl winner or runner up. Oakland is going to win this game, and do so convincingly. And I’m going to be on a plane home when they do.”
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN – $ Oakland
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – Oakland
– Not as convincing as I expected, but good enough to land in the damn I’m good category.

Green Bay 29 (+8.0) @ Carolina 32 (-8.0)
Carolina has not shown me nearly enough to give up 8 points, but GB hasn’t shown me nearly enough to believe they can win. So…. GB w/ the spread, Carolina w/o it.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN – *Green Bay
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – Carolina
– Nailed this one. It’s always fulfilling to get these right.

THE PICKS

* – Indicates Upset Pick
$ – Indicates Money Pick
(I’ll be including the team’s overall records next to their names from here on, so those of you that don’t follow the NFL closely have an idea of how the teams are doing.)

Baltimore 1 – 2 (+1.5) @ Detroit 1 – 2 (-1.5)
This game makes me very uncomfortable, as I don’t feel that either team has been playing to its potential yet this season. However, I feel that Baltimore can run the ball down Detroit’s throat, and force the already struggling Harrington into a few mistakes to cost the Lions the game.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Baltimore
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Baltimore

Chicago 1 – 2 (+3.0) @ Cleveland 1 – 2 (-3.0)
Pretty much everything I’ve read says that Cleveland is the pick here, but I disagree. I think Chicago’s defense is strong enough to stop Dilfer and the gang, and their running game will be strong enough to pound out the victory.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Chicago
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Chicago

Miami 2 – 1 (+2.5) @ Buffalo 1 – 3 (-2.5)
In Buffalo, Buffalo is supposedly a very tough team to beat. But I really haven’t seen enough out of JP Losman this year to believe he has what it takes to add a passing attack to McGahee’s running game. Miami on the other hand has done pretty much everything right. I’m by no means jumping on the bandwagon, but I am taking them in this one.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Miami
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Miami

New England 2 – 2 (+3.0) @ Atlanta 3 – 1 (-3.0)
Let’s face it; this isn’t the New England team that has won the Super Bowl 3 of the last 4 years. There are familiar faces, but not enough of them are on defense. On the flip side of the coin, this is the Atlanta team that just seems to always win. They couldn’t stop Ladanian Tomlinson, and I’m not convinced that they can stop Mike Vick either, even if he is battered up.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Atlanta
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Atlanta

New Orleans 2 – 2 (+3.0) @ Green Bay 0 – 4 (-3.0)
Going into Green Bay and winning isn’t as big of a deal as it once was. I really don’t think that Green Bay is an 0 – 5 team, and they are certainly due for a victory. However, New Orleans has shown little flashes of brilliance here and there, and I’m not going to pick against them, even though it may end up coming back to haunt me.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *New Orleans
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *New Orleans

Seattle 2 – 2 (+3.0) @ St. Louis 2 – 2 (-3.0)
This is probably just my heart talking. Seattle is winless on the road, St. Louis is undefeated at home. It seems on paper to be a very easy pick. I’m not sure if its because I like Seattle and hate St. Louis, or whether I have a gut feeling. But I can justify this pick since I really don’t feel like St. Louis can stop Shawn Alexander, and Seattle really is the better of the two teams.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Seattle
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Seattle

Tampa Bay 4 – 0 (-3.5) @ N.Y. Jets 1 – 3 (+3.5)
While the story of 42-year-old Vinny Testeverde overcoming the undefeated team that drafted him is a heart-warming story, I’m not gonna let my heart talk me out of what I know is the right pick. Tampa Bay should stay undefeated in this one.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Tampa Bay
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Tampa Bay

Tennessee 1 – 3 (+3.0) @ Houston 0 – 3 (-3.0)
Winless Houston is the favorite, seeing as they are at home against a pretty weak Tennessee team. But I’m not buying it. Tennessee deserves a little bit more respect than they are being given this week, and I think they are going to go out and prove it.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Tennessee
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Tennessee

Indianapolis 4 – 0 (-14.0) @ San Francisco 1 – 3 (+14.0)
Peytons back. San Fransisco just lost to Arizona. I’m going to go ahead and put the two together and say that Indianapolis is going to remain undefeated. Will they win by more than 14? Absolutely. I’m thinking it should be right around 41 – 10.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Indianapolis
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Indianapolis

Carolina 2 – 2 (-2.5) @ Arizona 1 – 3 (+2.5)
Arizona is coming off a nice win in Mexico (that sounds weird…), but Carolina is also coming off a nice win against Green Bay. While they aren’t nearly as good as they are supposed to be this year (some were picking them to go to the super bowl), I still think that Carolina is good enough to take down the Cardinals.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Carolina
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Carolina

Philadelphia 3 – 1 (-3.5) @ Dallas 2 – 2 (+3.5)
This is the only pick I’m confident with this week (and judging from my money pick record, maybe you should avoid it like the plague). Philadelphia is simply a much better team than Dallas, and they proved that they are never out of a game with their excellent comeback on Kansas City last week. Besides, if Dallas can’t beat the RAIDERS, how on earth can they beat these guys?
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: $ Philadelphia
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Philadelphia

Washington 3 – 0 (+7.0) @ Denver 3 – 1 (-7.0)
Wait… Washington is undefeated? All of a sudden the team I was laughing at a few weeks ago appears to have a significantly better chance of making the playoffs than my Raiders. Unfortunantly, their streak is going to end in Denver – but not as convincingly as Vegas seems to make it out to be. Denver wins, but not by too much.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Washington
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Denver

Cincinnati 4 – 0 (+2.5) @ Jacksonville 2 – 2 (-2.5)
My best friend Sam Saig guarentees Jacksonville victory in this one. Looks like Vegas agrees with him. Unfortunately, I don’t. After getting pounded by Denver last week, their going to need a very big game to make sure the same doesn’t happen against Cincinnati, and I don’t think they have it in them. We shall see.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Cincinnati
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Cincinnati

Pittsburgh 2 – 1 (+3.0) @ San Diego 2 – 2 (-3.0)
San Diego’s offense looks pretty unstoppable, but this week they are going against one of the league’s best rushing defenses. I think Pittsburgh has what it takes to win, but if I’m wrong and San Diego gets another convincing win here, they can start pleading their case of being one if the top contenders in the AFC.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Pittsburgh
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Pittsburgh

Only 4 road favorites, and only 2 games with spreads over 4. I’ve got 8 upsets. Should be quite a week!

PLAYOFF BASEBALL PREDICTIONS
*Already happened, not a prediction

Round 1 –
*CHICAGO WHITE SOX OVER BOSTON RED SOX IN 3
Huge upset here. The White Sox suprised pretty much everyone but themselves in sweeping the defending world series champions. With just the right dose of hitting, pitching, and magic, this will be a fun team to watch in the next round.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM OVER NEW YORK YANKEES IN 4
The Angels are not afraid to play in Yankee stadium, and they have proven that time and time again. They’ve got “it”. Don’t know what IT is, but they’ve got it, and the Yankees don’t. I think they’ll finish it up tonight.

*ST. LOUIS CARDINALS OVER SAN DIEGO PADRES IN 3
No suprises here. What little chance the Padres may have had cracked with Peavys rib. For the second straight year, the Cards are the NLs team to beat.

HOUSTON ASTROS OVER ATLANTA BRAVES IN 4
With an almost unstoppable pitching staff, the Astros will find their way into the NL championship game once again, and this time I believe it will be a successful trip.

Round 2 –
LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM OVER CHICAGO WHITE SOX IN 7
These are two teams that should match up absolutely perfectly for a great series that will take seven games to decide. The Angel’s playoff experience will pay huge dividends in this one.

HOUSTON ASTROS OVER ST. LOUIS CARDINALS IN 6
Picking against the dominant Cardinals never feels quite right. But I am a firm believer in the “pitching wins championships” theory, as proven by the Johnson Schilling 1 2 punch in 2001. As for the Astros, they pack a 1 2 3 punch in Clemens Pettite Oswalt, and with Brandon Backe pitching insanely well at home over his career (10 – 3, 3.12 ERA) it may very well just be an unhittable staff. Houston wins convincingly.

As for the world series? I’ll let you know next week where I stand on that pick!

Enjoy your Sunday and the rest of your week! Please send feedback! For past issues of the DIME, visit my website: Dave’s Dime

MY TEAMS RECORDS
OAKLAND RAIDERS: 1 – 3 – 0
USC TROJANS: 5 – 0 – 0
LOS ANGELES KINGS: 1 – 1 – 0

TROJAN OUTSCORING O-METER
Season:
TROJANS 258
OPPONENTS 96

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