WEEK 8 - EARLY PICKS

Broncos v. 49ers (UK) O/U @ 42

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER

Recent NFL games played at Wembley Stadium in the UK have suffered from poor turf conditions. The turf, after all, is made for soccer. It tends to get slippery and muddy out there (and the weather forecast calls for rain all week in Wembley).

Throw in jet lag and other distractions of international travel and the chances are higher you'll get a sloppy game.

Jaguars v. Cowboys (H) O/U @ 42.5

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER

This much we know — Jon Kitna will quarterback the dreadful Cowboys offense. Who will take the helm for Jacksonville is anybody's guess at this point (Bouman? Gerrard? Edwards?), but it doesn't really matter, does it?

Dolphins +1.5 Bengals (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Dolphins

The Bengals are too erratic to pick. The Dolphins play tough defense, and the offense seems to improve every week.

Titans +4 Chargers (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Titans

The Titans are a bunch of surly bastards who play mean football. Do the Chargers still have the will to match such a physical opponent?

Steelers E Saints (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Saints

The Saints have lost to some terrible teams lately. This is a perfect opportunity to cleanse their souls on Halloween night (btw, no town does Halloween better than New Orleans, so that's being factored into this bet as well). And if there's one area the Steelers are leaky, it's in pass defense. Look for Brees and crew to toss the ball around like candy all night.

WEEK 7 - Raiders v. Broncos

Raiders +7 Broncos (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Raiders

This is the week the Raiders turn it all around and make their run for the Super Bowl.

Just kidding. But I'll take the points.

WEEK 7

Eagles +3 Titans (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Titans

The Titans play nasty, feisty defense. I see the home team putting the hurt on an already banged up Eagles squad.

49ers -3 Panthers (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: 49ers

The Niners are bad. The Panthers are worse.

Patriots +3 Chargers (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Patriots

What's wrong with the Chargers? They're #1 in overall offense AND defense! Yet they're 2 - 4. Something strange is going on. And facing the Patriots will in no way help rectify their issues.

Steelers -3 Dolphins (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Dolphins

The Steelers are playing some great football, but I'm taking the home team here. I expect the Dolphins to almost completely abandon the run and play a ball control passing game. Look for the Dolphins defense to rattle Big Ben just enough to tip the scales.

Redskins +3 Bears (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Bears

The Bears should come out of hibernation this week (sorry, that was stupid, but I'm trying to hurry through this and I can't think of anything better) against a talent poor Washington squad.

Browns +13 Saints (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Saints

I'm generally not one to give away so many points in a parity-driven league. But rookie QB Colt McCoy will face a most unwelcoming Saints defense, and I look for him to make multiple game-killing mistakes.

Vikings +2.5 Packers (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Packers

Nothing logical drives this pick. But I believe the Lambeau crowd's burning will to destroy Favre will spill over and inspire the Packers.

Giants +3 Cowboys (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Cowboys

Consider this a home playoff game for the Cowboys.

WEEK 6 - MNF

Jaguars(H) TEAM O/U @ 21 v. Titans

DeVoodoo's pick: OVER

The Jags have surprisingly put up a lot of points lately. I don't see any reason why this trend shouldn't continue on a Monday night home game against a division rival with a few defensive question marks.

WEEK 6

Browns v. Steelers(H) O/U @ 37

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER

Unless the Browns find a way to let versatile playmaker Josh Cribbs run wild, the Browns aren't scoring much on Sunday. Rookie QB Colt McCoy simply has no chance to succeed making his first NFL start against the Steelers at Heinz Field. And despite the emergence of Browns running back Peyton Hillis, he'll hit a wall this week facing the league's #1 run defense.

I like the 'under' play better than taking the Steelers straight up line at -13.5. But just barely.

Cowboys +1.5 Vikings (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Cowboys

The loser of this game will go to 1 - 4 on the season. Eesh.

Despite their struggles this year, the Cowboys seem a more cohesive squad with a truer vision for success. The Vikings, on the other hand, don't appear to have any long-term plan for the season. The knee-jerk trade for Randy Moss is indicative of their extraordinary desperation. And is Favre even the best QB on their roster right now?

I see a home loss for the Vikes, and potentially the end of the road for Favre.

Colts -3 Redskins (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Colts

The Redskins have been winning ugly. I think it's time they start losing ugly.

Falcons TEAM O/U @ 20 v. Eagles (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: OVER

The Falcons can be a potent offense when they want to. The Eagles defense is a little softer now than in years past. Three TD's shouldn't be a problem for the Dirty Birds.

WEEK 5 FINAL HOUR PICKS

Bears +2.5 Panthers (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Bears
Defensive end Julius Peppers returns to his former team and will wreak havoc on rookie QB/massive forehead guy, Jimmy Clausen. I'm not overly concerned with Bears QB Todd Collins playing in place of injured Jay Cutler. Collins might actually surprise.

Eagles v. 49ers FIRST HALF O/U @ 17.5

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER

I think both teams want to play it relatively conservative with their offenses, at least to start the game.

WEEK 5 MNF - FAVRE'S "GOT HIS HANDS FULL"

Vikings +3.5 Jets (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Jets

There are so many layers of intrigue to this match-up it's hard to know where to begin. We've got Randy Moss who is suddenly a Viking again... we've got Moss vs. Revis Island, part deux... we've got Favre's return to the Jets, his 2008 pit stop of complete failure... we've got two teams who've gone "all in" to win a championship this year, be damned future year consequences.

But one factor above all others has pushed me to take the Jets, minus the points — the Brett Favre dong scandal that is just getting warmed up.

This has to be a major distraction for Brett Favre (even for someone as dimwitted as he apparently is). Major news media has tried to ignore this story as long as possible, because Favre is our grandaddy golden boy. But it's now just too big to ignore.

More than anything, this scandal is representative of the weird vibe that's currently flowing throughout the Vikings organization. They seem desperate, lost, and confused — the kind of mindset that might allow one to, oh, I don't, text pictures of your misshapen dick to a co-worker.

WEEK 5 EARLY PICKS

Giants +3 Texans (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Texans

Arian Foster isn't that great; neither is Derrick Ward. But both Texans running backs look amazing behind that killer O-line.

Falcons -3 Browns (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Falcons

The Falcons need a decisive win to build confidence. They have as much overall talent as any team in the league. So I'm banking on a spanking by Atlanta so the team can start believing in themselves again.

Chiefs +7 Colts (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Chiefs

While true it's always scary to face a pissed off Peyton Manning, especially at home, the Chiefs have perhaps the best rushing attack in all of football. And the Colts have repeatedly proven they are leaky against the run. I look for a close game here that could go either way, so I'll take the points.

6-pt. teaser: Saints -1 Cardinals(H) / O/U @ 50.5

DeVoodoo's pick: Saints / UNDER

Apparently I didn't learn my lesson last week, because I'm playing another goofy teaser. But I'm looking for the Saints offense to finally get on track. And the fact that the Cardinals are starting an undrafted rookie QB (Max Hall) this week makes this play all the juicier.

WEEK 4 FINAL HOUR PICKS

49ers TEAM O/U @ 17 v. Falcons (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: OVER

Look for an offensive spark due to the departure of former 49ers offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye. This is an 0 - 3 'Niner team with its back squarely against the wall. They'll need points to beat the Falcons.

Colts v. Jaguars (H) O/U @ 45.5

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER

Manning is missing some weapons on offense. Couple that with the fact the Colts are playing on grass and on the road, and I'm guessing this game won't match the offensive output we're accustomed to with Manning & crew. As for the Jaguars offense, well, you know.

Bears TEAM O/U @ 20 v. Giants (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: OVER

This Mike Martz offense is getting stronger with each passing week.