Week 5 Official Lines and Predictions

Time to make a run if you are planning on making it. There are clear trends starting to appear in the division races. 3 undefeated teams each one leading their division. We could be looking at 3 game leads in the East and West with only 8 regular season games remaining. The race for a first round bye and the race for a wild card slot are still WIDE open, but just know that those races start for real when we hit the halfway point in 2 weeks.



Norfolk @ Pittsburgh -2

Cpt. Kirk vs. Dirty Kirk. The Kirkland Bowl kicks off in Pittsburgh with a battle for…..uh…er…Last Place! Well anyway it’s always interesting to see a sibling rivalry. When I look at Norfolk and see Peyton Manning, Frank Gore and Rudi Johnson coming to town I get all fired up, then I realize that it’s 2008 and not 2006 and I simmer down pretty quickly. J Carlson at TE? Wow….Picking Derek Anderson in the first round only looks worse in hindsight. I love Addai, Portis, Fitz and Steve Smith,. Just don’t know if a team quarterbacked by JT O’Sullivan, Derek Anderson or Jeff Garcia can get consistent enough play from that position to win. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think the Commish will be in last place after this week. Give the 2 points and go with the Ballers.


Imperial @ Jersey -6

Jersey swept the season series last year in two non-descript games (Average Margin of Victory 72 – 59). There used to be a time when Imperial was the clear #2 in the East while Jersey battled it out with Pittsburgh for the bottom spot. Imperial could not topple Norfolk and I’m sure it must kill Wags to see Jersey wrestling control of the entire division away. I know Wags wants this win very badly. Big Ben and Freakin Donut have tough matchups (Jax and Bal) and I can’t believe Boldin is going to play after that last hit. AP and Barber have rather soft matchups (NO and CIN), its also possible that TJ could get involved in a shootout with Dal. At the end of the day I think Jersey just has the horses and there is that whole “it” factor. Go with Jersey


Albany @ Mt Lebo PICK

The Outlaws swept the season series last year (Albany only won 3 games, so get used to hearing that opening sentence). Both of these teams are under tremendous pressure. It was last season that Mt. Lebo started aiming for success this season. With 3 picks in the first round Mt. Lebo could cement his role as punch line forever if he can’t pull out an above .500 season this year. Albany is going so badly that the wheels fell off 10 miles back. The thought that the Patroons could be headed for a 4th consecutive season of golfing during the first week of the playoffs comes as a complete surprise to exactly one person…ROD. To steal a line from one of Isimo’s best email blast, “Someone get that man a mirror!” So here is the crazy thing….I think Raud can win this week. It’s no sure thing, but if he doesn’t win this week then I don’t know how many more chances that he will get. Mt. Lebo has a 3 WR set and I don’t know if you can’t count on Holmes, Calvin Johnson and Toomer to put up consistent points. Okay, so I’ve talked myself into it. I like ALBANY THIS WEEK!!!


Tokyo vs. New York -8

These two teams split the season series last year and Tokyo even made the division race interesting during the first half of the season. The Kamikazes are always a formidable opponent in the West, which is probably working against them this year. Typically an undefeated team like the Clients would look past a winless team, but it’s hard to do that in the West. Matt Cassel makes his debut for Tokyo, but he is countered because if he does something major then it likely will involve New York’s Moss who hasn’t contributed much to the Clients early season success. Ronnie Brown had a great game against New England 2 weeks ago, but I have the feeling that San Diego has been preparing for the single wing. The Clients would be better off if Andy Reid announces Westbrook is out, that way NYC can just go with Buckhalter. This questionable status could leave the Clients with a ZERO at their RB1 slot, which is never a recipe for success. I predict this game will be closer than the line indicates. I like the clients to win, but don’t be surprised if its close.



Honolulu -5 @ Henderson

These two teams split the series last year. Henderson is fresh off having his a$$ handed to him by New York, but that is nothing new for the Hitmen over the last two years. Typically Henderson plays just above .500 ball so it could be his week . Isimo surprised the league by cutting Maroney and Eddie Royal last week, both who were immediately snatched up by other folks in the league. There was no press release out of Honolulu, but it seemed like another mid-season bold move by the Destroyers similar to trading LJ last year. Who knows if it will work this year, but I still like Honolulu this week.



GAME OF THE WEEK

Sewickley -10 @ Aliquippa

It’s no secret that Sewickley has absolutely run this division in recent years. Zuc issued the challenge way back in the summer “I am the Central!” and no one believed him. Well….Sur-prise Sur – prise Sur – prise. A win this week would put Aliquippa in 1st place in the Central division as we approach the half way point of the season. Slaton and Chris Johnson are a formidable and young combination. Chad Johnson needs to step up his game to make the Ghosts REAL. The F-Bombs have taken the whole league by storm. www.fblog.blogspot.com is a must read spot on the Internet. The Ghost Busters logo was classic this week. What was even more classic though was the performance of Larry Johnson and Stephen Jackson last week. This combination has been together for 3 years now and last week is the first one that I remember that both were “on” at the same time. Brandon Marshall is making everyone else’s first round pick look silly. It would be great for the league if Aliquippa wins and makes the Central a race for the title. Unfortunately the FAA is no fairly tale. F-Bombs.