Hmmm. The Colts & Giants games appear to have tempting probabilities. Analysis upcoming Saturday in "Mojo's Best Bets" (last week, 2-1; "upset special" missed the Rams' surprise over the Saints, just like the rest of the Occupied World did).

The Sunday night game in The Hospital City ("Steel City" no longer as manufacturing continues to flee the U.S.) should be a spectacular contest, even with "only" 3pts in play there -- might drop to 2.5 in Vegas by kickoff, with so many Pittsburgh linebackers (3 of 4 starters) injured. May see a 4-3 or 3-2-6 defense much of the game by the Steelers.

Going to take a hard look at the Chargers-Packers game, too. SD had a haunting freak turnover at the end of regulation in KC on Halloween night. They're ready to make their annual dash into the playoffs, and the odds are against the Packers going undefeated.

a haunting freak turnover

The NFL is fixed.

How the Charger/GB line is ONLY 5.5 is beyond me. And I say that as a Chargers fan.

Maybe Jack knows why, Larry. Hey, my dad was certain that the NFL was fixed. Me? I'm just a composter. You can tell me by the way I walk.

Although the Pats seldom lose back-to-back, here are some reasons the 8.5 payoff for a Giants' win might be seriously considered:
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/gallery/2011/patriots_fiveweaknesses/

Notice the special mention of former Duck Patrick Chung -- who desperately needs help in the secondary -- and the disappointment former Beav Chad Ochocinco has become.

The Steelers are not as good as they appeared last Sunday; the Pats, who seemed to be improving with each contest prior to the bye, do not have enough offensive weapons to nullify their grave defensive shortcomings. They did show strength protecting the red zone last Sunday, keeping the score closer than the game was, with Pittsburgh commanding two-thirds of the hour.

Chung's become one of the dirtiest secondary players in the NFL. Maybe it's out of frustration with Belichick.

Mojo's Best Bets
"Turn back the clock" Edition

"Best Bets"
(Last week: 2-1; to date: 10-10)

CINCINNATI (+3) at Tennessee -- With a top-ranked defense (#2 rushing; #9 passing; #1 total defense) and an efficient, fully weaponized steady offense QB'd by the the second-best offensive rookie in the NFL this year, Andy Dalton, the Bengals will come into Nashville and take this game away from an inconsistent Titans team that has problems in understanding itself. Even if Titans Coach Jeff Fisher, Offensive Coordinator Chris Palmer, and star RB finally gets their heads on straight and the Titans rush the football adequately, the Bengals defense will prevent many touchdowns while the Bengals offense shows them how to do it.

The Bengals are intent on winning the AFC North division and can situate themselves well by winning this one while the Ravens and the Steelers beat each others' brains out in the prime-time Sunday night game on NBC (Hey, don't miss that one! Steelers will win it, not turning over the ball 7 times like they did in handing the Ravens Game 1).

ST. LOUIS (+3) at Arizona -- The Cardinals are in a terrible tailspin and will be starting Jack Skelton at QB due to the painful turf toe injury to Kolb. Skelton has proven to be one of the worst starting QBs in NFL history, Tim Tebow nothwithstanding. The Rams will run the big man, Oregon State's great RB Steven Jackson, and may have talented QB Sam Bradford for this game -- but if not, A.J. Feeley should be able to guide the Rams to their second victory in a row. St. Louis' defense was the key to their win over the high-octane offense of New Orleans. They'll be pumped up to rack up another one, rattling Skelton's bones. His healthy backup is third-stringer Rich Bartel, who's thrown a total of 18 passes in the NFL over 3.5 years. His QB rating this year barely registers at 5.6. By comparison, Tebow's horrorshow rates at 75.1 this year. Top dog is Green Bay's Aaron Rogers at 125.7.

"Upset Special"
(Last week 0-1; to date: 1-6 -- hey, I'm gettin' really upset!)

NY GIANTS (+8.5) at New England -- Even though the Giants' #1 RB Ahmad Bradshaw is out for this game, it's the Patriot's horrible pass defense that will continue to be their undoing, from their pathetic pass rush to their tissue paper linebacker and secondary pass coverage. NY QB Manning will be missing WR Hakeem Nicks a bit, but will utilize his TEs and medium pass routes, mixed in with smart run calls, to keep the ball moving and away from Patriot's offense. NY Giants pass rush and run-stuffing will continue to make Sundays this year a lot less fun for Patriots QB Tom Brady and Coach Bill Belichick. The key is likely to be how the Giants defense deals with the Brady connections to star WR Wes Welker, which the Steelers stifled with a bump & run, man to man smothering of Welker, holding him to 37 yards total.

With this a rematch of that great Super Bowl XLII win by the Giants ( Here's the last minute winning drive, starting with David Tyree's fantastic catch ~ http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7163359736280137619 ), this is the afternoon game to watch this week!

Giants’ Secondary Faces Test in Patriots’ Passing
By MARK VIERA
Published: November 4, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/05/sports/football/giants-defense-faces-test-in-patriots-passing.html

Fun Facts:

Dec. 29, 2007- The Patriots defeat the Giants in a thrilling game, 38-35, to cap off the first 16-0 regular season in NFL history.

February 3, 2008- Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz. The Giants 17-14 win snatched away the Patriots' perfect season (to the delight of the 1972 Miami Dolphins team) and captured the NFL Championship.

"Gamblers Corner"

INDIANAPOLIS (+7) vs Atlanta -- This one is the most likely "maybe" of the rest of this field. The Colts have only lost to the Falcons once, and this game is in the noisy dome at home for Indy. Superb Colts running back Addai and impact defensive player, LB Angerer, will be back and be difference-makers. How much difference? Well, maybe enough. With the Falcons relying on a ball-control and dink & dunk offense, with skilled QB Ryan and superstar RB Turner, the key to a Colts win will be holding Atlanta to field goals in the red zone and forcing turnovers, plus not making more than 1 of their own. A kick return could provide the winning score here.

TAMPA BAY (+8) at New Orleans -- Bucs' QB Josh Freeman's thumb injury on his throwing hand combined with their anemic rushing game dooms Tampa Bay to a long day in three hours in the Big Easy. A foregone conclusion when you also factor in the Saints' anger at losing to the winless Rams last week. Saints' super QB Drew Brees is not going to throw any interceptions in this game, their downfall in previous losses.

CHICAGO (+8) at Philadelphia -- Ah, well, maybe. I doubt it too much. The Eagles will be at home, and have so many weapons on offense, while all that Chicago has is a great running back who accounts for 46% of the Bears' total offense. Bears defense not what it was, even just a year ago. Watch the show that'll be put on by Eagle's QB Michael Vick and RB LaSean "Shady" McCoy.

Carry On - Keep running, Shady, but don't fumble
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20111104_Carry_on__Shady__but_dont_fumble.html

Maybe the Bears will get lucky and cause enough turnovers to stop the Eagles and pull off this upset in a very hostile venue.

"I Saw Mommy Dissing Santa Claus"
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/santa/philadelphia.asp

SEATTLE (+11.5) at Dallas -- I'd pick this game only if I was at or near the bottom of the rankings in this underdog pool at this midway point in the regular season. The point spreads in the playoffs are rarely more than 7 pts. and after the first round, hardly ever more than 4. Dallas, while talented and packed with stars on offense and defense, are a bunch of head cases on a team owned by the biggest narcissistic jerk southwest of Donald Trump: Jerry "Make me another old-fashioned, will ya?" Jones.

Addendum to the "Gamblers Corner" for the somewhat tantalizing SAN DIEGO (+5.5) vs Green Bay game:

While it would be a great story if Chargers QB Philip Rivers redeemed himself from that boneheaded fumbled snap in primetime on Monday night in losing to the underdog Chiefs, San Diego doesn't have enough of a running game to win. Lack of a clutch defense also leaves the Chargers short. The '72 Miami Dolphins will officially begin their 2011 watch over their historic undefeated performance after Green Bay leaves San Diego as winners Sunday night.