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

THE INTRO
And once again, the Dime comes out absurdly late. I apologize. Going through a bit of a rough patch right now, which unfortunately leads me to reverting back to my old methods of being productive; procrastinating. Thanks for understanding.

I will vent about my personal problems next week, but for now,

WOOOOOOW!

11-5 against the spread! I tend to throw this sort of week together every now and then, just like I’ll throw together it’s much more disappointing brother, the 5-11 week every so often as well. It’s a lot more fun to do this when the bounces are going your way, isn’t it?

Let’s see if we can hopefully keep this winning trend going with another strong week!

THE RECORD

Last Week
With the spread: 11 – 5 – 0 (.688)

Without the spread: 10 – 6 – 0 (.625)
^^Philosophical Picks^^: 1 – 0 – 0 (1.000)
Season
With the spread: 18 – 14 – 0 (.563)
Without the spread: 20 – 12 – 0 (.625)
^^Philosophical Picks^^: 2 – 1 – 0 (.667)

QUICK RECAP OF LAST WEEK

THE GOOD

Carolina (+6.0) @ Atlanta (-6.0) W
Minnesota (-9.5) @ Detroit (+9.5) W
Oakland (+3.0) @ Kansas City (-3.0) W
St. Louis (+10.0) @ Washington (-10.0) W
Cincinnati (+9.5) @ Green Bay (-9.5) W
Tampa Bay (+4.5) @ Buffalo (-4.5) W
Pittsburgh (-3.0) @ Chicago (+3.0) W
Cleveland (+3.0) @ Denver (-3.0) W
Baltimore (+3.0) @ San Diego (-3.0) W
N.Y. Giants (+3.0) @ Dallas (-3.0) W
Indianapolis (-3.0) @ Miami (+3.0) W

THE BAD

New Orleans (-1.0) @ Philadelphia (+1.0) L
New England (-3.0) @ N.Y. Jets (+3.0) L
Arizona (+3.0) @ Jacksonville (-3.0) L
Seattle (+1.0) @ San Francisco (-1.0) L
THE COULD HAVE GONE EITHER WAY/NOT MY WAY THIS WEEK:

Houston (+7.0) @ Tennessee (-7.0) L

THE “WHAT THE $%^@”?:

NONE

THE PICKS

* – Indicates Upset Pick
^ – Indicates Philosophical Pick

SUNDAY

Jacksonville (+3.5) @ Houston (-3.5)
Man, I put some faith in Jacksonville last week and was punished severely for that. Dating back to last year, this team looks totally out of sync and just finds ways to lose football games. Houston’s defense is going to have to get a lot better, but I think they will build on last week’s big win with another one at home this week.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Houston
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Houston

Tennessee (+2.0) @ N.Y. Jets (-2.0)
For the third straight week I’ll be going against the Jets; but it is no longer because I don’t believe in them. This is clearly going to be a pretty darn good football team this year, and the “rebuild” may not take as long as expected. That said, they are facing a Tennessee team that is now 0-2 and is in dire need of a win, as not many teams start off the season 0-3 and end up making the playoffs. The Jets maybe getting a touch over-confident and the veteran Titans stepping up in a game they can’t lose spells out upset

PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Tennessee
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Tennessee

Green Bay (-6.5) @ St. Louis (+6.5)
After dropping a frustrating game to Cincinnati last week, I can’t see Green Bay not being focused this week; and it’s hard to see St. Louis putting any points on the board. Not thrilled with giving up nearly a touchdown, but I think Green Bay gets in done easily enough.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Green Bay
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Green Bay

Washington (-6.5) @ Detroit (+6.5)
I’m so torn on this game. Honestly, Detroit really is this bad; and even though they’ve shown some signs of improvement they really shouldn’t beat Washington and should be getting more points. That said, if they are ever going to win one, this has to be the type of game they do it in; Washington’s offense has been painfully quiet, and they just barely squeaked by St. Louis at home. Now they head on the road to a Detroit team obviously hungry for a win… part of me says Washington destroys them, but I have to get with my initial reaction and say the Lions get it done.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Detroit
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Detroit

San Francisco (+7.0) @ Minnesota (-7.0)
Dating back to last season, San Francisco is 7-2 in the last nine games they have played, and one of the two losses was by five points. This is a competitive football team. Yes, Minnesota matches up well against them; they have a great rushing defense, and San Francisco relies on running the football. But as much as I respect Minnesota, San Francisco has proven to be a tough team to play against, and they could at least keep it close.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: San Francisco
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Minnesota

Atlanta (+4.5) @ New England (-4.5)
Looking like New England is going to be one of my trouble teams this year, but here are the facts; if this team was wearing any other jersey, all these excuses wouldn’t keep getting made for them. Atlanta seems to have picked up right where they left off last year, and New England is clearly not in sync and should be 0-2; at this point in time, Atlanta is the better football team. AND I get 4.5 points? Great, sign me up.

PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Atlanta
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Atlanta

N.Y. Giants (-6.5) @ Tampa Bay (+6.5)
My only philosophy pick of the year that has lost so far, I’m giving Tampa Bay another shot. Let’s try to follow along; Week 1, Dallas easily stomps Tampa Bay in Tampa Bay. Week 2, New York Giants BEAT the Cowboys, while the Bucs lose again by double digits to Buffalo. Now try to explain to me how the Giants aren’t even a TD favorite? And how 80+% of the betting action is on the Giants and the line isn’t moving? Somethings fishy… lousy Bucs again!
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: ^Tampa Bay
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: N.Y. Giants

Cleveland (+13.5) @ Baltimore (-13.5)
I’d love to take Cleveland here; remember, KC put up 24 on Baltimore in Week 1. This isn’t looking like the shutdown defense we’re used to, and 13.5 is a lot of points. But man, the Browns look hopeless. Hate going against a division rival and giving up two touchdowns, but I’d hate being on Cleveland even more.

PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Baltimore
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Baltimore

Kansas City (+9.0) @ Philadelphia (-9.0)
Okay, I know Kansas City is bad; but no McNabb, Westbrook playing hurt/not playing at all, DeSean Jackson also not 100%… this is a beat up Eagles team. If not for Jake Delhomme’s implosion, who knows what that game could have been? After a humiliating loss at home to the Raiders, I think the Cheifs put forth their best effort this week and keep the loss to single-digits.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Kansas City
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Philadelphia

Chicago (-2.5) @ Seattle (+2.5)
Chicago beats the defending Super Bowl champions. Seattle gets destroyed by San Francisco. Seattle loses their QB Matt Hasselbeck, and one of their best defensive players, Lofa Tatupu. But instead of being +8 or +9, they are… +2.5?!? Clearly the bookmakers know that there is more to this game than what meets the eye, and I’ll trust them.

PICK WITH THE SPREAD: ^Seattle
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: ^*Seattle

New Orleans (-6.0) @ Buffalo (+6.0)
A lot of people like Buffalo in this spot with weather reports saying there may be heavy rains, which would slow down New Orleans’ passing attack and tip the scales in Buffalo’s favor. Fair enough. I say that the Saints have such a talented and deep offense that no matter how the weather ends up, they’ll find a way to score, and do so often. We shall see.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: New Orleans
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: New Orleans

Pittsburgh (-3.5) @ Cincinnati (+3.5)
I like home underdogs. I also like division rival underdogs. Put the two together, and you’ve got a side worth playing; this one just screams late fieldgoal for the win, doesn’t it? I think Pittsburgh finds a way to win it, but not by more than three.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Cincinatti
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Pittsburgh

Denver (-2.0) @ Oakland (+2.0)
In a season that Jamarcus Russell needed to take his game to the next level, he has done the opposite; looking as bad as he ever has through the first two games. I still see a lot of potential in him, made no more apparent than his comeback drive on the Chiefs at the end of the game. But he will need to be better for Oakland to win this week; they need to start competing with him, not in spite of him. I have to take the Raiders in this spot; I think defensively they are more than capible of stopping Denver, and I’m still not sold on the Broncos at all. This game will tell us a lot about both of these teams.

PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Oakland
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Oakland

Miami (+5.5) @ San Diego (-5.5)
This one is a tough one as both of these teams are extremely difficult to figure out. I feel like I have to take the points though as I see this being a defensive game. Miami has done a fairly good job against two very good offenses in Indianapolis and Atlanta, and I’m not sold on the Chargers defensively. That said, they Bolts will likely come out on top; but in a close one.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Miami
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: San Diego

Indianapolis (+3.0) @ Arizona (-3.0)
The amount of plays that the Colts’ defense saw last week was insane. They were on the field for virtually the entire game and were extremely fatigued. It would be hard enough to recover from that game if it weren’t a Monda night; losing that extra day of rest is brutal. Against an offense as high-powered as Arizona, I get the feeling Indy has a hangover this week and is handled by the defending NFC champs.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Arizona
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Arizona

MONDAY

Carolina (+9.0) @ Dallas (-9.0)
I hate laying this many points, as honestly, it is too many. Dallas shouldn’t be this big of a favorite. All that aside, I still think they win this game by double digits. After last week’s disheartning loss at home on national television, Dallas gets another shot this week; and I think they put up a ton of points and win this one by double digits. Smart money is probably on the Panthers, but who ever said I was smart?
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Dallas
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Dallas

THE COLLEGE NICKEL

RECORD: 13 – 12 – 1 (.520)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS: Check out the website I run with my best friend Sam,
http://www.allpac10.com! Content updated daily.

Week 4 Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02uHF0GcXdU

Cincinnati -16.5 (LOSS)
Air Force -16.5 (LOSS)
Oregon +5.5 (WIN)
Navy -28.0 (LOSS)
Tennessee -23.5 (LOSS)
Vanderbilt -7.0 (WIN)
Texas Tech +1.0 (TIE)

Good Luck This Week!
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