"Mojo's Best Bets"
Put The Lime In The Cranberries Edition

"Best Bets"
(Last week: 1-1; overall 12-14)

SAN FRANCISCO (+3) at Baltimore -- What a way to finish a football holiday feast day! The 9-1 49ers are sustaining the NFL's Cinderella story of the year. This Thanksgiving night contest pits two intensely competitive brothers -- John Harbaugh (Balt.) and younger brother Jim (SF) -- against each other as head coaches of these powerful teams. A first for the NFL. And perfect for Thanksgiving. Talk about pecking order. These teams are near-evenly matched, though Baltimore's been inconsistent while San Fran has been steaming along. If the Packers lose in the morning, the 49ers can take the lead for NFC home-field playoff advantage. If the Packers win, SF needs to win to keep pace. Oh, the stuffing's going to be flying today!

With Ravens LB Ray Lewis still nursing a bad toe injury and not likely to play, much less be a real factor even if he does, and with San Francisco's pulverizing running attack and precision passing by QB Alex Smith under Coach Jim's mentorship, and SF's superb OL & DL play, the 49ers and the younger Harbaugh should manage to stymie Ravens QB Joe Flacco and RB Ray Rice and strut out of town with their wattles aglow.

"Upset Special"
(Last week 0-1; overall 2-9)

DETROIT (+6) vs. Green Bay -- Expected to be a marquee QB matchup between the Packers' Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford of the Lions. But, Green Bay's pass defense is ranked next to last (31st), while Detroit's is near the top at #5. The teams rushing offenses are equivalent. The Lions are at home for their classic annual Thanksgiving Day game and should get off to a good start. And with their vicious defensive play, they should provide the home dome crowd lots to roar about and give Rodgers and his offensive a hard time in hearing signals & audibles. Rodgers will test Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham's game planning and especially his linebackers, who need to come through when it counts most. Special teams play remains an achilles heel for Detriot, though.

Foregone Conclusions ~ Pedro the Lion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn06vv-v3-w

A lot of contrarians are picking MIAMI (+7) over Dallas as the Turkey Day upset, but that's just show biz hype for what looks to be the least interesting game of the day, outside of the Dallas metroplex. Most of the U.S. will use that time slot to eat supper.

"Gamblers Corner"

KANSAS CITY (+10.5) vs. Pittsburgh -- Nah. KC has no QB, their defense is ranked 23rd overall while Pittsburgh's is #2. Pittsburgh area homeboy, KC QB Tyler Palko, will make his second NFL start against the Steelers. It could be his last NFL start. The Chiefs picked up Chicago & Denver discard Kyle Orton on waivers yesterday. The Steelers might be so far ahead by the 3rd Q that they'll decide to rest Roethlisberger's broken thumb. Look for Pittsburgh to throw deep to star WR Mike Wallace on their first offensive play, and run most of the time after that.

MINNESOTA (+9) at Atlanta -- maybe, but after the two different performances of these teams last week, can't see the Vikes beating the Falcons in Atlanta. Or anywhere, this year.

BUFFALO (+8) at New York Jets -- With two more starters injured and out, and facing a desperate New York team trying to claw their way back to the AFC Championship game, the Bill's fairy tale season is about to have a grim ending as the Jets get fired up and roast Buffalo.

NY GIANTS (+7) at New Orleans -- This is probably one of the better gambles in this mincemeat of leftovers to pick from this week. But, that's only because the Giants pattern is to win a game like this after a horrid performance like last week against the Eagles. However, the Giants fans don't call New Orleans "The Big Queasy" for nothing.

DENVER (+6.5) at San Diego -- QB Philip Rivers better not add to his league-leading 17 interceptions on Sunday, but try to keep the Chargers ahead by 10 pts. or more. Despite his shortcomings, Denver's running QB sensation Tim Tebow doesn't turn the ball over. If Tebow and the Broncos pull this one off, GM John Elway will start to really bum out. Just when Elway thought he might be able to get fellow Stanford QB alum-to-be Andrew Luck in next year's NFL draft. Elway still might be able to swing a deal with Indy for the rights to Luck, but the cost is rising faster than a sweet potato soufflé at altitude.

Meanwhile, if the Chargers drop this game to the Broncos, San Diego fans will take a chainsaw to the plank that Coach Norv Turner's been standing out on the past two weeks as their ship lists further to starboard in the horse latitudes.

Lifeline ~ Harry Nilsson (live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S9_VBRzhok