SJ went 1-2 last week but promises Week 2 will fatten your bankroll.


2012 Swinger's NFL: 1-2-0 (-3.5 units)

2012 The Woodman (Guest Handicapper) 0-1-0

2011 Swinger's NFL: 48-33-7 (+34.75 units)  

Last Week 1-2 (-5.5 units)

Drew BreesI'm not going to dwell on what was essentially a backdoor cover on the OVER in the Jacksonville/Minnesota game last week. Obviously, we had the UNDER and felt pretty good about it until, with 20 seconds left, Blaine Gabbert does his best Johnny Unitas imitation and launches a 39 yards strike to Cecil Shorts and that, my friends, was that.  Nineteen points in the fourth quarter plus OT to nail that coffin shut. Gimme a break, will ya?! 

Of course, we also had a square play on the Eagles as we believed they would be back and ready to flex their muscles; unfortunately, the defense arrived but the offense, and Michael Vick in particular, did not. It was a come from behind suck-fest that left Browns fans cursing rookie Brandon Weeden, Eagles fans wondering who the guy wearing number 7 was and what had they done with Michael Vick, while Eagles backers like me just tore up the ticket and shook their collective heads. Eagles win a squeaker but don't cover.

Finally, there was a ray of sunshine as the Bears mauled the Colts, and we didn't even have to sweat it. It was a 1-2 kinda day while even our guest handicapper the Woodman couldn't pick a winner as he went with the old value bet on Miami +12. Let's tell him together SBR fans...there is no value in losing. Onward and upward. 

Buccaneers vs. Giants

Big Blue is well rested since their opening day loss to the Dallas Cowboys, and now the World Champions (yes, they did win the Super Bowl, don't forget) get to face what many considered one of the worst teams last year.  However, last week is what some will dwell on when the Bucs defeated Cam Newton and the Panthers by a score of 16-10 and their woeful defense suddenly looked reborn. 

Meanwhile, the Giants lost at home 24-17 and had to contend with a dominant Cowboys running game as well as a veteran passer in Tony Romo. This won't be nearly the test that Dallas posed and New York will be licking their chops to even their record. How can a terrible defense transform into a solid unit in one year? Well, draft picks and free agents is one way, but I don't see the Bucs with an influx of so much talent that they will change their defensive stripes overnight.  Eli Manning should be able to pick this secondary apart and the Giants defense will give Josh Freeman and the Bucs offense fits. This looks like a square play but so be it. 

Pick: Play the Giants -7 for 4 units

Saints vs. Panthers

I'm getting this funny feeling that all the Bountygate controversy and protracted Drew Brees negotiations are going to add up this season and not in a good way for the Saints. Drew Brees completed just 24 of 52 passes thrown and averaged only 6 ½ yards per pass as Lance Moore and tight end Jimmy Graham were the objects of his passing affection. Brees threw for 339 yards and 3 touchdowns but was picked off twice as a result of a ground game that was pretty much abandoned. The Saints only ran the ball ten times against the Redskins and it became evident that New Orleans was going to live and die on the arm of Drew Brees.

The Saints committed an astonishing twelve penalties last week which set them back 107 yards. Now I cannot envision a world in which the coaching staff hasn't taken them to task over their transgressions, so penalties should be cut way down this week unless this has become such an undisciplined unit without head coach Sean Payton that it's now a virtual free-for-all. 

Cam Newton and the Panthers underwhelmed last week in Tampa Bay but now they're home. Like New Orleans, the Panthers abandoned their run game as well and tried to get it done off the golden arm of Cam Newton. It did not work and even Newton was shut down when he tried to go rogue and make it happen on the ground. However, the Panthers defense was effective against the pass and that bodes well for them this week because they will see plenty of passing. 

Bottom line here, fellas, is that the Panthers will have Jonathan Stewart back in the fold to add depth to their ground game and are much better on defense than the lackluster Saints. So now you essentially have Drew Brees versus the Carolina Panthers. Some weeks that might be enough for a Saints victory but not this week. 

Pick: I am going to disagree with my esteemed colleague the Woodman and back the Panthers +3 (-120) at home for 3 units. 

Ravens vs. Eagles

Does something stink to the high heavens in this game or what? The Ravens looked immense in their 44-13 dismantling of the Bengals last week at home while the Eagles struggled to get a 17-16 victory over the Browns, whose rookie QB tossed 4 interceptions.  

Well, guys, it's all a matter of perception and the squares will be begging the books to take their action on the Ravens while the sharps will line up behind the Eagles. Philadelphia opened as -1 point favorites and are all the way up to -3 in some shops. Trust me, this isn't public money moving this number. It is all about a bounce back game for a team that is truly much better than it looked last week and a Ravens offense that simply exploited a porous Cinncy defense who happened to have a very bad day. Flacco didn't turn all Joe Montana overnight and Michael Vick did not mysteriously morph into Scott Zolak. Who's Scott Zolak? My point exactly. 

Pick: Play the Eagles -2 ½ (-120) for 2 units 

Guest Handicapper: The Woodman

New Orleans -2 ½ (-110)