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Others have followed
suit, with varied levels of notoriety. Michael
and Sonny Corleone made cinematic history in their
cold-blooded pursuit of Godfather status. Venus
and Serena Williams smashed into the tennis record
books by becoming the only two women in Grand
Slam history to square off in four consecutive
finals. Liam and Noel Gallagher turned Oasis into
the biggest band in the world by punching each
other’s lights out.
And on Sunday, the pantheon
will accept another set of siblings into the fold.
While the NFL schedule might read Colts vs. Giants,
pundits and fans alike know that this is the Manning
Bowl – Peyton vs. Eli, in an NFL quarterbacking
first.
09/09
8:15p |
NBC |
Colts
(0-0)
at Giants (0-0) |
-3.5
+3.5 |
|
|
Heading
into a game that features three Pro Bowl defensive
ends, two potent offenses and a playoff-type atmosphere,
the Super Manning Bros. story has totally dominated
the headlines. Sunday’s game will mark the
first time Peyton and Eli have faced each other
since driveway basketball in New Orleans –
and they’re not scheduled to square off
again until 2010.
That is assuming, of course,
that they don’t meet in the Super Bowl first.
Bodog Nation Contributing Writers Picks (all picks
ATS):
Adrian Brijbassi - Giants
Jason Brough - Colts
Mike Halford - Giants
Carlisle Richards - Giants
QUICK HITS
Compiled by Bodog Nation
Contributing Writers
09/07
8:30p |
NBC |
Dolphins
(0-0)
at Steelers (0-0) |
+1.0
-1.0 |
|
|
No Ben Roethlisberger means
a massive line change. That's right, one emergency
appendectomy later and the Super Bowl champion
Steelers are the slimmest of favorites against
a non-playoff team. Daunte Culpepper was impressive
in the preseason for Miami, but no preseason game
can match the intensity of Troy Polamalu and Pittsburgh's
blitz defense. -JB
Adrian Brijbassi - Dolphins
Jason Brough - Steelers
Mike Halford - Steelers
Carlisle Richards - Dolphins
09/09
1:00p |
CBS |
Ravens
(0-0)
at Buccaneers (0-0) |
+3.0
-3.0 |
|
|
Deuces are wild! Two great
defenses. Two quality running backs in Baltimore's
Jamal Lewis and Tampa Bay's Cadillac Williams.
Two quarterbacks with questions. Can new Raven
Steve McNair regain his 2003 co-MVP form? Can
Tampa Bay's Chris Simms shake off last year's
playoff frustration? It all adds up to the lowest
total on the board (34). -JB
Adrian Brijbassi - Buccaneers
Jason Brough - Buccaneers
Mike Halford - Ravens
Carlisle Richards - Buccaneers
09/09
1:00p |
FOX |
Falcons
(0-0)
at Panthers (0-0) |
+6.0
-6.0 |
|
|
The improved Panthers are
many-an-expert's Super Bowl pick. Against Atlanta,
watch for QB Jake Delhomme to involve new receiver
Keyshawn Johnson early in order to free up Steve
Smith, one of the most lethal receivers in the
NFL. The last time Atlanta QB Michael Vick went
up against the Panthers - last year in Week 17
- he rushed for zero yards for the first time
in his career. -JB
Note: Steve Smith missed
practice again Thursday and remains questionable
for Sunday.
Adrian Brijbassi - Falcons
Jason Brough - Panthers
Mike Halford - Falcons
Carlisle Richards - Panthers
09/09
1:00p |
CBS |
Broncos
(0-0)
at Rams (0-0) |
-4.0
+4.0 |
|
|
The Broncos have had a 1,000-yard
rusher in seven of the past eight years. The Rams
have had one since 2001. That was Steven Jackson
in 2005 (1,046 yards on 254 carries). He'll figure
to get a lot more work under new coach Scott Linehan
as the Greatest Show on Turf gets a hard-nosed
makeover. If Denver QB Jake Plummer can limit
his mistakes - a big "if" - the questionable
St. Louis secondary could be in trouble. -JB
Adrian Brijbassi - Rams
Jason Brough - Rams
Mike Halford - Broncos
Carlisle Richards - Rams
09/09
1:00p |
CBS |
Bills
(0-0)
at Patriots (0-0) |
+9.5
-9.5 |
|
|
When they last visited Foxborough
- in Week 5 of 2005 - the Bills hung tough against
the Patriots, losing 21-16 after two late New
England touchdowns. But that was with Kelly Holcomb
at quarterback. Now, it's up to J.P. Losman, the
same youngster who threw three picks at home to
the Pats in Week 14. The Bills lost that one 35-7
and can only hope the departure of veteran LB
Willie McGinest and the holdout of WR Deion Branch
have seriously hurt New England. -JB
Adrian Brijbassi - Bills
Jason Brough - Bills
Mike Halford - Bills
Carlisle Richards - Bills
09/09
1:00p |
FOX |
Eagles
(0-0)
at Texans (0-0) |
-5.5
+5.5 |
|
|
Unless defensive end Mario
Williams turns into Lawrence Taylor, management
jobs will be lost in Houston. The No. 1 overall
pick faces a brutal first test in Donovan McNabb.
Despite the fact the Eagles are 1-5 against the
spread in their past six road games, a blowout
is very possible. -AB
Adrian Brijbassi - Eagles
Jason Brough - Eagles
Mike Halford - Texans
Carlisle Richards - Eagles
09/09
1:00p |
FOX |
Saints
(0-0)
at Browns (0-0) |
+3.0
-3.0 |
|
|
How could you not be fired
up for this one? Both teams finished at the bottom
of their respective divisions last year (2005
records combined: 9-23). But, seriously, there
is reason to get excited: Reggie Bush’s
NFL regular-season debut. He could be in for a
big day too – Cleveland had the 30th-ranked
rush defense in the league last year. -MH
Adrian Brijbassi - Browns
Jason Brough - Browns
Mike Halford - Saints
Carlisle Richards - Browns
09/09
1:00p |
FOX |
Seahawks
(0-0)
at Lions (0-0) |
-6.5
+6.5 |
|
|
Seattle looks to avoid the
Super Bowl runner-up jinx (no 21st-century Super
Bowl loser has ever bounced back to win even eight
games) while Detroit looks to bring the Greatest
Show on Turf to Ford Field. That’s right,
Mike Martz and his pass-happy offense are back,
but this time it’s Jon Kitna and Roy Williams
doing the business. Can’t wait to see how
that one turns out. -MH
Adrian Brijbassi - Lions
Jason Brough - Seahawks
Mike Halford - Seahawks
Carlisle Richards - Lions
09/09
1:00p |
CBS |
Jets
(0-0)
at Titans (0-0) |
+2.5
-2.5 |
|
|
The favored Titans have a
quarterback controversy between two players who
know they don’t have a future with this
team. That’s a bad situation and one that
could be detrimental to the development of Vince
Young. The Jets could be better than expected
with Chad Pennington healthy. -AB
Adrian Brijbassi - Jets
Jason Brough - Titans
Mike Halford - Jets
Carlisle Richards - Titans
09/09
1:00p |
CBS |
Bengals
(0-0)
at Chiefs (0-0) |
+1.5
-1.5 |
|
|
Chad Johnson has a brain
teaser for the NFL, It’s called: “Who
can stop number 85?” If the Chiefs don’t
figure it out, expect the Bengals' offense to
fly all over the field as quarterback Carson Palmer
has shown no ill effects after recovering from
torn ligaments in his left knee. -CR
Adrian Brijbassi - Bengals
Jason Brough - Bengals
Mike Halford - Bengals
Carlisle Richards - Bengals
09/09
4:15p |
FOX |
Bears
(0-0)
at Packers (0-0) |
-3.5
+3.5 |
|
|
Time for smashmouth football
in Lambeau with the hard-hitting Chicago Bears
looking to crush Brett Favre in his own house.
The Bears had the nastiest “D” in
the league last year and the Pack had the worst
O-line, so if Green Bay doesn’t show improvement,
expect Brett to wish he had stayed retired. -CR
Adrian Brijbassi - Packers
Jason Brough - Packers
Mike Halford - Bears
Carlisle Richards - Packers
09/09
4:15p |
FOX |
Cowboys
(0-0)
at Jaguars (0-0) |
+2.0
-2.0 |
|
|
The T.O. watch will be in
Jacksonville as the Cowboys visit the Jags on
Sunday. It’ll take non-stop double teams
to slow down Terrell Owens as he looks to prove
to everyone that no matter what transpires off
the field he is a physical specimen on it. -CR
Adrian Brijbassi - Jaguars
Jason Brough - Jaguars
Mike Halford - Cowboys
Carlisle Richards - Jaguars
09/09
4:15p |
FOX |
49ers
(0-0)
at Cardinals (0-0) |
+7.5
-7.5 |
|
|
A new stadium, a new running
back, and two Pro Bowl receivers make the Arizona
Cardinals 7.5-point favs and the team to watch
against the re-building 49ers. Kurt Warner has
the weapons to put up monster numbers against
the Niners' defense but the question remains:
Can his O-line protect him? -CR
Adrian Brijbassi - Cardinals
Jason Brough - 49ers
Mike Halford - 49ers
Carlisle Richards - Cardinals
09/10
7:00p |
ESPN |
Vikings
(0-0)
at Redskins (0-0) |
+4.5
-4.5 |
|
|
The Redskins are favored
by more than a field goal despite a preseason
so abysmal their starting offense failed to score.
RB Clinton Portis (dislocated shoulder) and CB
Shawn Springs (abdomen surgery) may not play.
Minnesota, meanwhile, has a fresh start under
coach Brad Childress and could make some noise.
-AB
Adrian Brijbassi - Vikings
Jason Brough - Vikings
Mike Halford - Vikings
Carlisle Richards - Redskins
09/09
4:15p |
ESPN |
Chargers
(0-0)
at Raiders (0-0) |
-3.0
+3.0 |
|
|
The Philip Rivers’
Era begins for the Bolts in the Black Hole. The
Oakland defense isn’t great, but rookie
strong safety Michael Huff will be a star and
Warren Sapp may have a little something left.
Although Rivers isn’t a rookie, he’s
inexperienced and that could be the difference.
-AB
Adrian Brijbassi - Raiders
Jason Brough - Raiders
Mike Halford - Chargers
Carlisle Richards - Chargers
PHOTO: Peyton's Colts are
3.5-point favorites over Eli's Giants in the Manning
Bowl. (AI Wire photo)
Note: All
NFL lines subject to change.
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