Week 3 Official Lines and Predictions

Quiet week in the FAA with Raud trying to un-lodge my foot from his behind and his own foot from his mouth. Also with Wags dropping a game to Mt. Lebo at the same time McCain is dropping in the polls generally leads to a low email week.

This is the final week before the first round of division games and teams are looking to firmly plan themselves in contention for a division title. The pre-season favorites to win the division have opened 2-0 (Jersey, New York, Sewickley). While 3 teams finished to struggle (Albany, Tokyo, Honolulu) couldn't have opened much worse. It will be interesting to see who goes into division play undefeated. Onto the games...

Norfolk -2 @ Henderson

I don't expect an offensive explosion in this game. Manning vs. JAX and McNabb vs. PIT are not exactly recipes for major points. Norfolk's strategy of counting on Cleveland's offense to carry him to another title doesn't even require explanation as to why it's failing. Somehow I don't see Cleveland putting loads of points on the board against a rested Ravens DEF in Baltimore either. Hendo has McNabb and Ward. Everyone else is kind of along for the ride. I can see Ward having a big day this week (In fact Hendo and I are going to the game so I HOPE WARD HAS A HUGE DAY!!) but I just don't see McNabb getting "his" against the Steel Curtain. He has his own "Brown" in Winslow. I think this game will be low scoring and ugly. Do you even need to ask who I think will win a low scoring, ugly game with Norfolk playing? Give the points.

Imperial @ New York -7

The Maulers circled this game on their calendar the day the schedule was released from the league offices. I like their match-ups this week. 'Freakin' may get a couple of shots at goal line carries vs. Houston and I don't see how Washington will slow down Boldin. Jennings gets his shot at a Cowboys DEF that is still chasing Eagles all over the field in their sleep, while Big Ben gets his shot at embarrassed Eagles secondary. New York comes into the game with the #1 QB and #1 RB in the league. What a luxury to have the top qb in the league go down and have a 8th rd draft pick come in and light the league up. Rivers will get a chance to pick apart the Jets (especially with LT out) and Westbrook faces the black and gold. That means ZERO yards rushing for Westbrook (I HOPE!). He will probably do most of his damage on screen passes, which kill the Steelers if Polamalu is missing tackles (HE WON'T). I will be rooting against Westbrook in full throat, but a garbage score late in the game won't hurt. McGahee finally gets to go in a live game and he should shred Cleveland. Moss against Mia.....OH SNAP....MOSS AGAINST MIA!!! TO will continue his rampage through the NFC, especially with all the talk about Al Harris 'shutting him down' last season. Witten will do his normal damage, but the big play will likely come with the BLT def vs. Cleveland. I think Baltimore can shut this team out. At a minimum you are looking at lots of sacks and turnovers, maybe even a defensive score. This game will be close. I'll take the Maulers and the 7 points, and the Clients to win the game.

Pittsburgh -10 @ Albany

Ryan Grant and Marvin Harrison look like they have one good hamstring between the two of them. Don't know if anyone caught the NFL films coverage of a Grant run where the Packers sideline was yelling "Don't open it up!" for fear that if Grant tried to run to aggressively that he would tear his hamstring and be out for an extended period of time. Don't know if I have ever heard a sideline yelling for their teammate NOT to run hard before. Marvin Harrison looks like it might be time to take him to the WR retirement home. I love Lynch and AJ (when healthy) but I don't see Albany contending this year. Just Big Hat no cattle. Pittsburgh is a REAL team. If Fitz and S. Moss continue to play well it will only be a matter of time before Adai gets back on track. The pick of D. Anderson in the first round looks even worse now, but Steve Smith on your bench is pretty powerful trade bait. I expect the Ballers to roll in this one. Give the points and mow the grass, this game won't be close.

Sewickley @ Honolulu -3

That's right! Honolulu is the favorite in this game. Spit in the face of Vegas if you want, but the Destroyers are truly loaded even if their 0-2 record doesn't show it. What other team could sit down LT and Maroney, then plug in the 4th and 14th highest scoring RBs in the league? What other team boast top 9 starters at every position except 2? Granted his bench looks like a bad joke about our current health care system, but his starting line-up is serious and he has great matchups this week. Its not Sewickley is a huge dog on the road. They continue to get stellar play from Aaron Rodgers and Brandon Marshall may just turn out to be THE MAN! Wayne has clearly became the flat out best WR in Indy. If LJ and Stephen Jackson could ever get going Sewickley would scare a lot of teams, just don't know if this is ever going to happen... Honolulu needs this game more than Sewickley. I think the Destroyers win it.

Aliquippa -4 @ Tokyo

Yawn...... I'll take Quip Town and give points

GAME OF THE WEEK

Jersey @ Mt. Lebo -5

Jersey came into the season with high hopes out of their RBs and AP and Barber have not disappointed. Throw in Earnest Graham and you would have to say Jersey has a rb factory right now. The WR corp is a different story all together. Roddy White? David Patten? Really Carc?? Alge Crumple may be the only player averaging less than 1PPG (who actually played in both games) starting in the FAA. Mt. Lebo has players! Let me say that again...MT. Lebo has PLAYERS!! The fruits of the first round draft heist are beginning to pay off. Forte and Fast Willie are the real deal. No one is stopping Burress this year and Calvin Johnson looks like a STUD. Tony Romo will continue to light the league on fire all year. If Shockey ever gets his act together Mt. Lebo will be looking square at (should I say it......) PLAYOFFS!!!!! I know Jersey is the "IT" team and the trendy pick, but I think Mt. Lebo will finally get out of his own way this week. I like the Outlaws.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ4oSgIU78s