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Lucky
Lester here with my Week 3 predictions for
the NFL. All in all it was a pretty good
week last week and once again you can read
my review of how the week played out
against my picks.
SUPER
PICKS
I'm
taking 5 teams this week, they just look
like good bets, and so I've got to take
them.
Texans (+7.5) @ Chiefs: Which heartbreaker
should I choose? I guess I'll give the Texans
another chance to break my heart. And if
they do, it'll be the third time in as many
weeks. I'll bet that the Chief's terrible
defensive unit will struggle again against
one of the leagues top-notch young running
backs, Dominic Davis. Staying focused on
trying to stop the run, the Chiefs will
give David Carr room to take advantage of
their secondary that has yet to stop someone
this year. Priest Holmes is questionable,
and if he doesn't play then this bet gets
a lot better. Holmes has been all of the
Chiefs offense this year, and if he doesn't
play, Dick Vermeil and his offensive coordinator
will be searching far and wide for some
help, but they wont find it. With all this
in mind, and the fact that their 0-2 and
giving up over 7 points, I've got to bet
against the Chiefs for the first time this
year! Game Date: 09/26/04 13:00 ET
Eagles
(-4.5) @ Detroit: I've got to take the
most impressive team this season over the
most surprising. The Eagles have looked
unbeatable early this year and will continue
to look so in week three. The Lions, led
by Joey Harrington and rookie wide receiver
Roy Williams, will put up a fight, but not
enough points to cover against a superior
Eagles squad booming with confidence after
their big win against the Vikings on Monday
Night. Javon Kearse and the rest of the
Eagles defense will get to Harrington often
and halt any movement the Lions have going.
McNabb will take advantage of double teams
on Terrell Owens and get the ball to LJ
Smith, Freddie Mitchell, and Todd Pinkston.
Running back Brian Westbrook will keep the
ball in Philly's possession for much of
the game. The Eagles are a good bet at only
a 4.5 point favorite.
Game Date: 09/26/04 13:00 ET
Ravens
@ Bengals (+3): I'll take the Bengals
at home against the Ravens showing how much
things have changed since Marvin Lewis took
over in Cincinnati. The Bengals have looked
good this year, and the Carson Palmer move
looks to be paying off. I hate to bet against
Ray Lewis, and no one tell him I am, but
the Ravens offense is going to be looking
for anyone to throw the ball to. Todd Heap,
by far the team's biggest receiving threat,
is out, as is Travis Taylor, their fastest
receiver. Not to mention, when those two
guys were playing, Kyle Boller couldn't
find a way to get the ball to either of
them. Cincinnati, knowing these things better
then yours truly, will stack the box with
as many as nine defensive players, leaving
Jamal Lewis little room to run. I expect
the Bengals to win outright. The three points
they're getting is just icing on the cake.
Game Date: 09/26/04 13:00 ET
Bears
@ Vikings (-9): The Vikings will
come out with a vengeance after their disappointing
loss to the Eagles last Monday. Unfortunately
for the Bears, they wont be able to stop
the downpour without Charles Tillman, Jerry
Azumah, and Mike Brown, who will all be
out with injuries this Sunday. Culpepper
and Moss will dominate this game showing
that they are the best QB/WR combo in the
NFL. 9 is a big number to give up against
a feisty Bears team, but without 3 of their
4 starting defensive backs, the Bears will
find it impossible to stop an already great
Viking offensive attack. Game Date: 09/26/04
13:00 ET
Jaguars (+6) @ Titans: I had to take
this bet because the Jaguars have looked
so tough this year, and the Titans, well,
they've looked mediocre. The Colts secondary
held Steve McNair touchdown-less through
the air last week, and they aren't that
good. The Jaguars defense is stellar, keeping
their team in the game each of the last
two weeks. The Jag's have allowed only one
touchdown in two games and they are as confident
a defensive unit as I've seen since the
Ravens Super Bowl seasons. Look for Jacksonville
to at least cover and I wouldn't be surprised
if they won in Tennessee.
Game Date: 09/26/04 13:00 ET
Lucky
Lester's Picks For Week Three
Steelers
(+1)
@ Dolphins: Look for low scoring in this
one, possibly an under bet. In the first
two games combined the tough Dolphins defense
has given up only one touchdown. The Steelers
D has also been average. The difference
between these two teams is offense. Pittsburgh
has one and Miami doesn't! Miami seriously
can't expect a touchdown out of their offense,
so we can't either. Watch Duce Staley, Hines
Ward and company to put just enough points
on the board to take the Dolphins down in
Miami.
Game Date: 09/26/04 13:00 ET
Browns
(+3) @ Giants: I will not be watching
or paying an ounce of attention to this
ugly match up. Each team has a good win
this season; The Browns took it to the Ravens
in a week one stunner, as The Giants pulled
off a big upset against the Redskins in
week two. But neither team should expect
to collect another solid win this year.
One of these teams will be 2-1, and I'm
guessing they'll be the worst 2-1 team in
the NFL. If I had to pick this one, I'd
go with Cleveland. The Giants got as lucky
as Lucky Lester did last week when Washington
turned it over 7 times. Cleveland lost to
Dallas by a mere 5 while being the unlucky
ones. So, I've got to take the Browns and
the points in New York. Game Date: 09/26/04
13:00 ET
Saints
(+7) @ Rams: The Rams haven't shown
me that they deserve 7 points against any
team in this league, especially the talent
heavy Saints. Although the Saints will be
without their biggest weapon Deuce McAllister,
that's really a blessing in disguise. Aaron
Brooks has always been more efficient without
someone to rely on, and I'll bet he finally
steps up and throws for over 300 yards against
a sub par Rams defensive unit. The Rams,
making me feel better about this bet, got
destroyed by Brooks' cousins team last week
and barely beat Dennis Greens young Cardinal
team in week one. I'm taking the Saints
and a big 7 points. Game Date: 09/26/04
13:00 ET
Cardinals
(+10) @ Falcons: The Falcons took it
to the Rams last week, and the Rams beat
the Cardinals in week 1, but Lucky Lester
knows that's no reason to take a bet, so
in this case, I'll take a feisty Arizona
team against the inconsistent Falcons. Mike
Vick can be amazing, and then again he can
be average, just like his team. This week
I'm guessing average. Plus, the Falcons
are giving away 10 whole points, and that's
too many. The Cardinals, although I don't
expect them to win, will never quit under
new coach Dennis Green, so I expect them
to cover in Atlanta. This will be the first
time I take the Cardinals all year. They've
really impressed me thus far. Game Date:
09/26/04 13:00 ET
Chargers
@ Broncos (-10): The Broncos lost
a tough game against a hard-nosed Jacksonville
team. The relatively small O-Line of the
Broncos was beaten by a much larger Jacksonville
D-Line. The Chargers wont have that ability.
The Broncos will put themselves back on
the map with a big win in Denver against
an inferior Chargers team. The "Special"
quarter backing unit in San Diego was evident
last week as Drew Brees imploded and Doug
Flutie came in the fourth quarter. Look
for Brees to do poorly again against a very
good Denver defense, and Phillip Rivers
to play in his first regular season game.
The Broncos will love feasting on the rookie,
and will cause turnovers in bundles.
Game Date: 09/26/04 16:05 ET
Packers
(+6) @ Colts: It's hard for me to do
this after the Packers lost to the freaking
Bears in Green Bay last week. Really hard!
But I have a hunch, so hear me out. Brett
Favre has yet to play like his Hall Of Fame
self and will breakout of his slump and
do so this week against a mediocre Indianapolis
secondary. The Colts might be without Edgerrin
James, and if he does play he'll be 80-90
percent. Mike McKenzie is back with the
team and in playing shape, so that should
help the Pack. Ahman Green should run all
over the Colts defense that overachieved
last week against the Titans. Look for the
Pack to make up the spread in Indianapolis
and redeem themselves from last week's dismal
performance. Game Date: 09/26/04 16:15
ET
49ers
@ Seahawks (-10.5): Even with the
49ers playing well this year thus far, and
the Seahawks giving away nearly 11 points,
teamed with the fact that they looked average
last week against the Bucs, I've got to
take the Hawks in Seattle. They were 8-0
last year at home, and have yet to explode
as an offensive unit this year. The 49ers
have overachieved in the first two weeks,
and will show it in Seattle this Sunday.
Ken Dorsey and Tim Rattay, whomever starts,
will be hit hard and often by a rough and
tough Seattle Defense that has allowed a
measly 13 points in two games this year.
The secondary of Trufant, Bierra, Lucas,
and Hamlin should intercept either quarterback
multiple times, and the offense led by Hasselbeck
will dominate a 49ers defense that has looked
pretty good. The hawks have covered both
games this year, and I expect them to do
it again. Game Date: 09/26/04 16:15 ET
Buccaneers
@ Raiders (-3): This is just a hunch,
but I think Warren Sapp is more likely to
take this whole "playing your old team
that gave up on you" thing a little
more personally than Tim Brown and Charlie
Garner. This said, Sapp should have his
defensive unit ready and roaring against
a pitiful Buccaneer offense. The Bucs wont
stand a chance running against a superior
defensive line and Brad Johnson hasn't shown
he can pass yet this year. The Raiders will
step up, bringing themselves to 2-1. Game
Date: 09/26/04 20:35 ET
Cowboys
@ Redskins (-1): This Monday Night
match up is exciting, but almost too close
to call. The Skins played horribly last
week in New York and the cowboys really
haven't played well yet this year. The Dallas
defense was shredded by the Minnesota passing
attack in week one and their offense was
pretty much held at bay against an average
Brown team in week two. Another thing, Lucky
Lester hates the Cowboys! I'm never one
to bet against someone just because I hate
them, but in this case, the game being so
close and Washington playing in DC, I'll
have to take the Redskins giving up only
1 point at home. Clinton Portis will play
like he did in week one and not even Roy
Williams will be able to stop him. Jerry
Jones will come down to the field and hopefully
get in a fight with Bill Parcels. I can
dream…
Game
Date: 09/27/04 21:05 ET
WAGERING
SMART MAKES WATCHING NFL GAMES MORE FUN
Good
Luck with your NFL Football Wagering!
Lucky Lester
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