On any given night, anything can happen (Jack Bog's Blog)

As famed Portland sportscaster Ed Whelan says (or is that used to say?), the Big Daddies of Football are starting their season this weekend.

And their league, the NFL, has suddenly gotten loco greedy. It's imposing all sorts of rules restricting media and internet coverage of the teams, in the hopes of driving traffic to its "official" TV channel and web site.

This is what happens to any business when you allow generic corporate types, who don't understand it, to run it. A sports league, tamping down coverage so that it can monopolize what is said about it? How Cheney-esquely creepy.

On a brighter note, I've entered a pool in which we're asked each week to pick one underdog team that we think is going to win. The team has to do more than beat the point spread being offered for it -- it has to win outright. (As I understand it, most NFL underdogs who beat the spread do in fact win outright, but to be a winner in this game, they've got to do both.)

Now, the point spread isn't completely irrelevant to this game. If your team wins, you earn the number of points by which they were favored to lose. The pool player with the most points at the end of the season wins the prize.

The objects of this pool are to have fun and pay some attention to the league throughout the season. Having proven previously via the now-defunct state-run Oregon Sports Action that I cannot pick the outcomes of pro football games with any consistency -- the league seems so maddeningly impossible to predict that I suspect that it's fixed -- I'm hoping that maybe I can excel in sniffing out just one upset a week.

I've already submitted my pick for this week, but I'd be interested in hearing whom our readers might choose. Which of this week's underdogs (in caps below) is going to beat the favorite? Please enlighten us, and explain, in the comments below.

6.5 NEW YORK JETS vs. New England
6.5 TENNESSEE at Jacksonville
6 NEW ORLEANS at Indianapolis*
6 CHICAGO at San Diego
6 TAMPA BAY at Seattle
6 NY GIANTS at Dallas
4.5 CLEVELAND vs. Pittsburgh
3 ATLANTA at Minnesota
3 BUFFALO vs. Denver
3 KANSAS CITY at Houston
3 MIAMI at Washington
3 GREEN BAY vs. Philadelphia
3 ARIZONA at San Francisco
2.5 BALTIMORE at Cincinnati
1.5 DETROIT at Oakland
1 CAROLINA at St. Louis

* This one was played Thursday night... the favorite, Indy, crushed the Saints.

UPDATE, 9/9 3:39 p.m.: The big winner of the week is Tennessee.

Comments (9)

I'd go with Atlanta over Minnesota. I think Joey is going to put it together this year, and this is his most talented group (esp. offensive line) yet, something that was really lacking in Detroit. He's got a playcalling genius in Petrino, and I have real doubts about Tavaris Jackson in Minnesota. Finally, the Falcons will be playing with a chip on their shoulder, as everyone has written them off after losing Vick. I think Atlanta wins that ballgame.

Posted by Dave J. | September 8, 2007 7:50 AM

I'll take the Giants over Dallas. I believe the sports people underestimate the positive effect Peyton's Super Bowl win will have on his little brother.

Posted by Bill McDonald | September 8, 2007 8:01 AM

GB over Philly. The Iggles are the better team and will go deep into the playoffs, but McNabb is going to need time to get used to full speed 1st string NFL defenses and shake the rust off. And GB doesn't have a bad D.

Factor in Lambeau and a GB rookie RB with something to prove, and I think GB gets the upset.

Notice I managed to get through that without mentioning Favre? Huh.

Posted by Sebastian | September 8, 2007 8:07 AM

I am perplexed that Baltimore is an underdog at Cincinnati. Usually, they give the home team three points, which if you take that away would still put the line too close.

Mike Vick and Pacman Jones have distracted everyone from the train wreck that the Bengals have become. And the Bengals are also riddled by injury.

Take Baltimore, though I understand you won't get very many points.

Posted by Steve | September 8, 2007 8:53 AM

I'm pulling for Dave J's prediction. Having perused the latest SI pro football preview issue, Joey's got nowhere to go but up. We've seen the field general direct many a passionate drive. This is his time to shine. Enjoy!

Posted by genop | September 8, 2007 9:19 AM

In order

DETROIT - Oakland still doesnt have its QB situation sorted

TENNESSEE - Garrard isnt the most mobile guy and I think TEN can stop JAX run game

KC - I amonly basing this on HOU still not having much of an OL and Schaub is less mobile than Carr was

Posted by Original Steve | September 8, 2007 9:31 AM

The Bears will take the Bolts with a healthy, stifling defense and a few long touchdown passes from Good Rex. Bad Rex will give up a couple of scores but it won't be enough for the team that thinks it's already qualified for the Super Bowl.

Posted by porkbarrel | September 8, 2007 11:08 AM

What fools. When sports are taken over and mostly ruined by greedy corporate suits you all just keep watching, reading, buying logo stuff, etc.

If 90% of us would just turn it off (all professional sports) for one or two years we would see tickets families could afford, reasonable salaries, motivated players, etc.

No, just keep following "your team" no matter what city it happens to have moved to this year.

Posted by John | September 9, 2007 7:43 AM

"What fools."

I know, but who are your picks for outright wins this weekend?

Posted by Steve | September 9, 2007 3:33 PM

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Saturday, September 8, 2007

On any given night, anything can happen

Comments (9)

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