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PREDICTIONS

November 22, 2009

PREDICTIONS

FALCONS (5-4) at GIANTS (5-4)

Line: Giants by 6 1/2

Time: 1 p.m.

Why do people still call them the New York football Giants? The New York baseball Giants left town in 1957. A bye and losses by Dallas and Philly refreshed the reeling Giants, who catch Atlanta (1-4 road) at a good time. Matt Ryan is misfiring, Michael Turner (high ankle sprain) is hurt, and the Falcons have lost four of five. The loser’s playoff chances will be mighty slim.

The pick: Giants

JETS (4-5) at PATRIOTS (6-3)

Line: Patriots by 10 1/2

Time: 4:15 p.m.

As Thanksgiving approaches, thoughts in New England turn to vengeance. The Week 2 loss to the Jets and the last-minute collapse at Indy will provide merciless motivation for the Pats. These are still the Same Old Jets, with a few new twists: Now they talk tough on Wednesday, lose and read a prepared statement on Sunday and cry on Monday. As Walt Frazier might say: “From swaggering to staggering.”

The pick: Patriots

CHARGERS (6-3) at BRONCOS (6-3)

Line: OFF (Denver QB injured)

Time: 4:15 p.m.

The Chargers got Hochulied on their last trip to Denver. In a karmic payback, Kyle Orton’s ankle injury probably will force the slumping Broncos to start Chris Simms. The Bolts might be more worried about Phil Simms. Shawne Merriman dances as San Diego takes control of the division.

The pick: Chargers

REDSKINS (3-6) at COWBOYS (6-3)

Line: Cowboys by 11

Time: 1 p.m.

After Dallas’ Lambeau no-show, Kevin the Cowboy hater dropped his credit card while buying a Roy Williams jersey. Washington’s defense is solid, and this eternal rivalry’s renewal doesn’t have to be a blowout.

The pick: Redskins

COLTS (9-0) at RAVENS (5-4)

Line: Colts by 1

Time: 1 p.m.

Maybe the horseshoe on the helmet is protecting the Colts, still perfect after three straight narrow escapes. Indy covered the last five meetings, and Peyton Manning will torch shaky corners.

The pick: Colts

49ERS (4-5) at PACKERS (5-4)

Line: Packers by 6 1/2

Time: 1 p.m.

The 49ers (league-best 6-2-1 ATS) prove you don’t have to be above .500 to cover often. But they lack firepower, and Green Bay should control their main threat, Frank Gore.

The pick: Packers

STEELERS (6-3) at CHIEFS (2-7)

Line: Steelers by 10

Time: 1 p.m.

Home teams went 8-5-1 but are only 64-75-3. After a slapping by the Bengals, the embarrassed Steelers will punish a team that’s lost 10 straight in what once was a fortress.

The pick: Steelers

SAINTS (9-0) at BUCS (1-8)

Line: Saints by 11 1/2

Time: 1 p.m.

After a 9-2 start, double-digit favorites (15-12-1 ATS) have cooled off. So have the Saints, still undefeated despite three straight sloppy games. They’ll awaken against a patsy that should regress after two strong efforts.

The pick: Saints

BILLS (3-6) at JAGUARS (5-4)

Line: Jaguars by 9

Time: 1 p.m.

As if Bills fans haven’t endured enough, Titans owner Bud Adams makes obscene gestures at them. His $250,000 fine should be distributed among Buffalo’s season-ticket holders as a suffering bonus. Dick Jauron, take care.

The pick: Jaguars

SEAHAWKS (3-6) at VIKINGS (8-1)

Line: Vikings by 10 1/2

Time: 1 p.m.

Road teams are 75-64-3 ATS with no help from Seattle’s flightless birds, who are 0-4 (no covers) away from home. The only way the injury-depleted Seahawks will compete is if Minnesota sleepwalks.

The pick: Vikings

BROWNS (1-8) at LIONS (1-8)

Line: Lions by 3 1/2

Time: 1 p.m.

Wayne the Lions fan bet a beer on the Brownies, straight up. “No points!” he said, arrogantly confident in his team’s ability to fail. The Lions are last in the spread standings (2-6-1), but I can taste that cold one.

The pick: Lions

CARDINALS (6-3) at RAMS (1-8)

Line: Cardinals by 9

Time: 4:05 p.m.

In their second straight lousy week, favorites went 5-9-1 to fall to 69-71-3 (one pick ’em). The Rams (4-5 ATS) try hard for Steve Spagnuolo but again are overmatched.

The pick: Cardinals

BENGALS (7-2) at RAIDERS (2-7)

Line: Bengals by 9 1/2

Time: 4:15 p.m.

Larry Johnson’s a Bengal, so Cincy bars are beefing up security. Letdown alert: After beating Pittsburgh in Week 3, the Bengals barely beat the Browns. But they should crush the Raiders’ Stone Age offense and new starter Bruce Gradkowski.

The pick: Bengals

EAGLES (5-4) at BEARS (4-5)

Line: Eagles by 3

Time: 8:20 p.m.

Too bad Brian Westbrook (out, concussion) is so fragile, because when healthy he’s a force. Philly can’t run the ball, but neither can the Bears, who can’t count on their defense, either.

The pick: Eagles

TITANS (3-6) at TEXANS (5-4)

Line: Texans by 4 1/2 ; Over/Under: 48

Time: Monday, 8:30 p.m.

The teaser Texans remind me of Brazil, “the country of the future, and it always will be.” Tennessee is better than its record and under no pressure. The Texans can’t afford a loss, and I’m skeptical of them in prime time.

The pick: Titans

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