Heeey, hot dogs!
That's the song concession hawkers are
singing in ballparks all over the country. But vendors aren't the only hot
"dawg" barkers right now. Underdog players are howling the same tune.
Remember when you used to laugh at
your wife or secretary for picking football games on the basis of the teams'
jersey colors? Here's a variation you might try. Just pick every underdog on the
board! In the first two weeks in the NFL, the dogs are 21-8 or 72% winners!
Home dogs were 7-2 or 77% winners. Get
your red-hot daaaawgs right here!
DOLPHINS -6 over Jets: NY owns
Miami, having won eight straight games over the last four years! Fish have not
won since '97 season. Miami will take out four years of frustration over aging
Jets. Fiedler is on fire and Ricky Williams has been a threat running as well as
receiving.
Panthers +6 over VIKINGS: John
Fox gave Rodney Peete a chance on opening day and he rewarded the new head coach
with an upset over Baltimore. Peete came back in Week 2 and threw for over 300
yards, whipping the Lions. Fox has established a formidable defense and is
looking
for a few more games out of the old man.
PATS -8 over Chiefs: If Dwayne
Rudd hadn't lost his helmet and what's inside it, KC would be winless. Patriots
were an underdog in their first two games. Dissed by the bookies and the public.
Suddenly, they have gained respect. Belichick will find a way to shut down
Priest Holmes.
EAGLES -4 over Cowboys: Which
Cowboys team will make the plane trip to Philly? The one that was humiliated by
the Texans or the one that bounced back nicely against Titans?
Browns +3 over TITANS: Kelly
Holcomb making a pitch to keep the QB job until Couch is 100%. Browns won by 3
last year at Tennessee. Take Browns with Holmcomb or Couch.
Saints +3½ over BEARS: New
Orleans has taken on two quality opponents in Tampa Bay on the road followed by
Green Bay at home. Saints were dogs in both and ended up being hotdogs
"with the works" as they won both games straight up. Deuce McAllister has made the Saints ultimate dogs!
TEXANS +13 over Colts: Indy D
seems to lack the aggressiveness Bucs D used to have under Tony Dungy. I don't
see any Warren Sapp clones out there. And on offense, the line looks soft. Carr
came back to earth in San Diego. Should be more relaxed back home.
BRONCOS -8 over Bills: Drew
Bledsoe adding a new dimension to Bills' offense. Buffalo D is doing whatever it
can to get Drew back on the field. Go with the underrated Broncos.
CARDS +1½ over Chargers:
Arizona fans have been waiting a long time for Thomas Jones to emerge as a
premier runner. He's not there yet, but rushing for over 170 yards last week
versus Seattle was a start. Bolts had a pretty easy start with Bengals and
Texans. It might be a little tougher this week.
49ERS -8 over Skins: Niners
looking for a different outcome than preseason disaster in Japan.
After underachieving in first two, Niners need to wake up !
GIANTS -6½ over Seahawks:
Can't get too excited about Seattle. Seattle was whipped like a dog in Oakland
and fell to the Cards in the new stadium opener. Giants QB Kerry Collins was
impressive two weeks in a row.
LIONS +8 over Packers: Lions
look like they could be really bad. But Pack doesn't look like they've got what
they've had in the past either. Brett Favre being asked to carry too much of the
load.
FALCONS -7 over Bengals: Vick
appears super slick! But Falcons have still lost first two by a total of five
points. But Atlanta is playing with heart and that's more than you can say about
the Bungles.
BUCS +3 over Rams: The Rams
appear dazed after dropping close games to Broncos and G-men. Kurt Warner
doesn't appear to be completely healthy. Tampa Bay beat St. Louis by seven and
three points the past two seasons.
Last week: 9-6
Season: 14-14-2
