NFL Predictions-Week 7

Excellent matchups last week led to some exciting football.
My pick of the Cowboys over the Patriots came back to bite me, as it allowed Sycamore student Ryan Beard to claim victory over me by a single win.

Ryan will receive an iTunes gift card courtesy of the Statesman. I finished this week at 9-4 for 51-38 on the season. Now on to my picks: Looking over the schedule, Ravens over Bills, Cowboys over Vikings, Patriots over Dolphins and Giants over 49ers jump out at me for easy picks.

Matchups between Atlanta and New Orleans as well as New York Jets and Cincinnati will provide such ugly games, I am shocked they aren't on Monday Night Football this year. Nonetheless, I'll take the Saints and Bengals, but only because they have home field advantage and they can't all lose.

Tampa Bay and Detroit will provide an exciting game with a pair of team that are outperforming every expectation of them. This is when football gets fun, or any sport for that matter.

Colorado Rockies, anyone? Detroit is coming off a bye week in a much-needed time after a shellacking by the Redskins and is sure to have made some improvements in the last couple weeks. The Bucs on the other hand have been playing some of the best football seen inTampa Bay in a while.

Tampa continues to grow with confidence each week. Detroit has struggled a lot against the play-action pass, but unless the Bucs establish a running game, it will become a moot point this week, but something to remember for the future. Earnest Graham is the primary running back for the Buccaneers this week, and after Tampa's run game was nearly non-existent last week against Tennessee, and I don't see it changing enough to become an issue. On the Lions' side of the ball, if the offensive line can give quarterback Jon Kitna the time to make his reads, expect that same explosive offense we saw glimpses of earlier this year. However, that is a big if. I'll take the Tampa defense for a Buccaneer win in a fun and exciting game.

The Titans travel to Houston this week for a big division battle. The Texans have slowed down after a strong start this year, so the question becomes can they come back from this slump and contend, or has the clock already struck midnight with the Texans turning back into a pumpkin? I expect to see the Texans come back, but this could be a tough week to do so.

The Titans have become a very solid football team this year, but may be playing without the likes of their star quarterback, Vince Young,and be forced to rely on the ancient statue that once was a quarterback, Kerry Collins.

The Titans need Young back, and they need him back now. We saw last year what happens when they rely on Collins, and it isn't pretty. Look for a big game from Mario Williams if Collins is behind center, although Young stated he is doing everything he can to be able to play on Sunday.

Young still may be limited in his scrambling ability, so look for Houston to test this early with a few heavy blitzes. I still like the Titans in this game, but it will be a mighty clash.

When the Cardinals travel to Washington, it will prove to be a very pivotal game for both teams. A Cardinals win keeps the team in first place in the NFC West as they are currently tied with Seattle, and, should the Redskins win, they stay in the hunt for the NFC East. Both teams are coming off losses and are hoping to regain momentum and confidence.

With Tim Rattay at quarterback, not even being a member of the team at this point last week, the Cardinals will rely heavily on running back Edgerrin James for a big game to take the pressure off the quarterback.

Redskins coach Joe Gibbs will no doubt attempt to rattle Rattay often and early, and test his capabilities. Look for quick routes to receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Bolden, with big plays after the catch. This will allow less pressure on Rattay
and more opportunities for the Cardinals. Jason Campbell of the Redskins will look to pressure the Cardinals defense right away and test their secondary.

The Redskins have some solid running backs, but they have not lived up to their
potential. I'll take the Cardinals in an emotional battle with bigconsequences. Neither Kansas City nor Oakland has impressed me in the slightest this season.

Oakland is the 2.5 point favorite (who would think Oakland would ever be a favorite this year) and even though they are at home, I really
don't see the Raiders pulling it off. This division is still wide open with the Chiefs and Chargers at 3-3 and Denver and Oakland at 2-3, so it's still anybody's game.

Sources say that running back Priest Holmes is back this week and with the two back attack, I like the Chiefs' chances. I'll take Kansas City, but it's going to be ugly.

Philadelphia has looked better last week, and the Bears only continue to add question
marks. Both teams have been so spotty this year; it is hard to tell which Eagles and Bears teams will show up. I'll take the Eagles, but, honestly, only because the quarter landed heads.

In the Seattle-St. Louis matchup, I am smelling upset. Bulger is back and healthy and Seattle just looks so unemotional, like they could care less whether or not they are even there. St. Louis has to win at some point and I think this might be the week.

I'll take the Rams in a big upset special. I expect a big game out of the Steelers in the Sunday Night Football game at Denver. Denver hasn't looked its greatest, and I see the Pittsburgh defense giving the Broncos some serious trouble. I'll take the Steelers.

In the Monday Night Football game, we finally get a matchup worthy of Monday Night Football as the Colts travel to Jacksonville. The Jags have looked pretty strong all year and look tocontenders.

However, the Colts are coming off a bye week and when you give head coach Tony Dungy an extra week to prepare, you can expect big results. Look for a big, exciting game, but I don't see the Colts falling just yet.

I'll take the Colts, and let the excitement begin. So those are my picks, send yours to sasspted@isugw.indstate.edu and see if you have
what it takes to predict the NFL. If you beat me, you will have a chance for an iTunes giftcard. But you are going to have
to beat me first.