The Seer Sees: Week 8 of the NFL
Well, here we are, almost halfway through and sporting a deity-like 49-34 record against the spread, good for 59.0%. The goal, of course, was 58%, and although some are pushing the Seer to admit that he undersold his prodigious prognositication powers, we here at the Pipeline know it's a long season, and that one week's 10-4 can just as easily be a 4-10 if the breaks work the other way.
But there are doubters. Some have asked where the Seer gets his lines. He gets them here. Why Bobby Babowski? We don't know. We liked the name, because it screamed "football" and "mafia". Frankly, we think Bobby Babowski doesn't really exist, and is just a front name for an amalgamation of nerdy John Clayton lookalikes holed up in front of a computer.
If you go to that site, you'll see there's a lot of play in the various outlets' lines at any given time. Sometimes, they are all of like mind, as they are currently on the over/under for the Seahawks/Bengals tilt. Everybody seems to agree, as of Thursday morning, that the over-under for that game is 42 points. That is subject to change, of course, depending on how much action the book is getting on one side or the other.
Speaking of action, let's get to it...
Browns @ Patriots, Patriots by 5
Sheesh, will the Brown's QB Controversey ever end? Why don't they just put Brian Sipe in and forget about it? At some point, you've got to pick a guy and ride him, even through the bad stretches. This QB shuffle is just a diasaster for a coach, because if the team loses there is no way he can ever deflect the blame elsewhere. If Butch Davis goes with Couch too long and they lose, Davis is the goat. Same if he goes with Holcomb and they lose. If he shuffles them and they lose, Davis is still the goat. The only way to solve it is to deal one of them. At least that way if they lose, there's only one QB for the fans to fixate on for being the loser. Davis would still get some heat for keeping the wrong guy, but he would at least have something returning in the trade to point to for next year. This way they have nothing but false choices to make.
As for this game, it's a big spread, but Cleveland is so up and down against medicore competition that it's hard to know what you are going to get in any given week. The Patriots, on the other hand, have been consistently good now for a few weeks despite injuries, a testament to Bill Belichick's coaching. They're still banged up, though, which makes this one a tougher call than the Seer thought it would be.
The Seer Sees: Patriots Cover
Broncos @ Ravens, Pick 'em
Interesting. Bobby Babowski has this as an even game, Heritage, ABC Island and Olympic all have the Ravens favored by 1.5, and Sportbet has the Broncos favored by 1.5. You typically only see that kind of variation in games like this, where the Broncos will have Danny Kanell at QB as the third injury option. Kanell looked good in rallying the Broncos against the Vikings, but the pass blocking sure did suck. The Ravens stop the run very well, and it would seem that's the main thing Denver needs to do in this game. Overall, we were impressed with Denver last week. They swarm the ball on defense with good team speed, and Clinton Portis is a stud. Given a week to work with Kanell, we like Shanahan's chances to pull out what is nearly a must-win on the road if they are going to keep pace with the Chiefs.
The Seer Sees: Broncos win
Rams @ Steelers, Steelers by 1
An odd spread, at first glance, given the directions each team has been headed. But the Steelers are coming off a bye, and have made several changes in the O-line and at RB, where they intend to restart the Bus, Jerome Bettis. Look, there's a reason the guy wasn't getting snaps in the first place, right? Seems like a desperate move by a desperate team to me. The Rams, meanwhile, have reinvented themselves as a tough team that can light it up, all while Marshall Faulk and Kurt Warner watch from the side. Give credit to Mike Martz for keeping extra blockers in to protect, and with Bulger's great release and arm, this team is a serious problem. It just doesn't look like Cowher's Steelers have it this year, but of course they started slow last year, too. If it's going to happen, it needs to happen right now.
The Seer Sees: Rams beat the spread
Seahawks @ Bengals, Seahawks by 3
Interesting game. Corey Dillon returns home to Seattle after popping off in the lockerrom about not getting enough carries. Say what? Corey, behind Eddie George, you have averaged more carries in the last three years than any other back. What's more, what are you talking about when you say that you "can't compete if the other guys are getting 30 carries a game, and you are only getting 14?" Can't compete? Dude, your team has something going for the first time in your tenure in the NFL. Your team is competing, and you can either be a part of that, or you can be a divisive presence in the lockerroom. If it's all about you competing in salarly, or for rushing titles, then the Seer is sure Mo Lewis will be happy to move you for primo picks in the offseason, cause your performance on the field is starting to slip, anyway. Herschell Walker, anyone?
Meanwhile, the Seahawks have been slipping of late, too. They haven't covered at home the last two weeks, and they didn't cover on the road against the Packers the week before that. We like the Bengals to keep it going...
The Seer Sees: Bengals beat the spread
Lions @ Bears, Bears by 3
The Suck Bowl. These teams suck. But there are levels of suckitude, and the Bears have managed to suck less than the Lions. Given that Charles Rogers is still hurt, and given that Chris Chandler is the QB now in Chicago, we like the Bears to keep sucking less, and the Lions to keep sucking more.
The Seer Sees: Bears cover
Giants @ Vikings, Vikings by 7
Yeesh. Seven? Man. It's hard, watching a team every week and growing attached. The Seer Sees the Vikings winning this game, no question. But seven? Got a feeling about this one...
The Seer Sees: Giants beat the spread
Titans @ Jaguars, Titans by 4
The Seer doesn't understand this one at all. The Jags are very bad. The Titans are very good. The Jags have a rookie QB, and a black one at that! The Titans have a great QB, and a black one at that! Isn't it obvious what the result here is going to be? As a wannabe member of the Liberal Media, the Seer Sees this one as a lock...
The Seer Sees: Titans cover
Cowboys @ Buccaneers, Bucs by 6
Why didn't anyone tell us we have been misspelling Buccaneers all year long? My, how the Cowboys have arrived. We noted last week how they haven't played anybody, and while they still haven't played anybody, dispatching the Lions in such convincing fashion shows they haven't let a big early record go to their heads. The Bucs are all beat up, missing Brian Kelly, John Lynch, Mike Alstott and a few other key people. This just feels like one of those moments when the natural order starts to assert itself a little bit, and that natural order still sees the 'Boys as a year away, and the Bucs as a desperate bunch hungry for a win at home. Tough call, but...
The Seer Sees: Buccaneers cover
Panthers @ Saints, Saints by 1
Well, that Panthers bandwagon lightened up a bit, didn't it? This line is just as much a product of the Saints getting healthy on defense again, and the fact that they played the Panthers very tough the first time around. They can get back in the race with a win this week, and everything seems to be going their way. Which is exactly why...
The Seer Sees: Panthers beat the spread
49ers @ Cardinals, 49ers by 7
The 49ers seem to be back. There's no question they'll win. But will they cover?
The Seer Sees: 49ers cover
Jets @ Eagles, Eagles by 3
Ah, the return of the Saviour, Brad Pennington. The Jets have managed to tread water in his absence with a 2-4 record, after being left for dead at 0-4. And really, if you look at who they've played, and the scores of the games, it seems clear the Jets may not have been quite as bad as everyone thought they were. Philly, on the other hand, is just weird and confusing. These teams have played a lot of the same opponents, with confusing results. McNabb's thumb is still hurt, and given that the Jets have to be feeling better about themselves and their immediate future with their QB healed up...
The Seer Sees: Jets beat the spread
Texans @ Colts, Colts by 12
Yep. Texans have talent, especially now that Domanick Davis has taken over as the feature back. They are going to be dangerous next year. Hell, they're dangerous this year, as the Dolphins and lowly Jags can tell you. But the Colts is the Colts...
The Seer Sees: Colts cover
Bills @ Chiefs, Chiefs by 7
They are predicting rain in KC. That probably hurts the Bills more than the Chiefs, but it also probaby works to suppress scores. Still, KC at home, on a Sunday night, after yet another week of subpar offense? The Seer likes their chances to bust out. The Bills needed last week's win in a big way. The Chiefs are going to drop a game here soon, and it won't be this one, but the Seer sees this game like this: If it's rainy, the scores will be low. If it's not, Bledsoe will probably be able to keep the Bills close.
The Seer Sees: Bills beat the spread
Monday Night
Dolphins @ Chargers, Dolphins by 3.5
Junior Seau returns. The Dolphins don't run away from people on the scoreboard, and the Chargers have been better of late. Jay Fiedler hasn't been great, meaning that Marty Schottenheimer can focus the D on Ricky Williams. Plus, it's Monday Night, where great games just happen.
The Seer Sees: Chargers beat the spread
12:18:57 PM 
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