Written by Chris Hutchison

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There is an episode of Cheers where Diane - who knows nothing about sports - wins the weekly football repeatedly using a method where she chooses a team based on which city has the better symphony or more dominant state flower.  Naturally, Sam bans her from participating any longer, stating that she's ruining the sport of football.  And then he steals her method.

I might steal it some point soon, too.  Logic certainly doesn't work.  Trending certainly doesn't work.  Might as well pick the teams based on which city has the highest per capita income or the best strip clubs.

All 3 of us went a blistering 5-9 last week, and BT missed his Executive Lock of the Week again (3-3 now) as the Ravens won but didn't cover.  YTD now looks like:  DJC 41.5-48.5, BT/Me 39.5-50.5.  It's scintillating.

So, in an effort to reverse my fortunes, I'm declaring Opposite Day and taking the opposite of each of my picks.

All odds are from VegasInsider.com:

Purdue at OSU -19

Me - Again, the spread is too high for a Defense as poor as OSU's.  They'll score in the 50's again, likely, but I doubt that means they cover almost a 20 point spread.  Pick: Buckeyes

DJC - What's the Over/Under on this game? Infinity? Play some D!  Pick: Boilermakers

BT - Pick: Buckeyes

CLE at IND -2.5

Me - It appears the oddsmakers and the bettors feel that the 1-5 Browns are slightly better than the 2-3 Colts.  The world of fantasy football has allowed Cleveland to capture the country's attention just a wee bit, and now national writers that were chastising everything Browns are starting to say "I think they've got something there...", which is doubtless premature.  But I do feel Cleveland is a slightly better team, and now that they've broken the victory hymen, might reel off a couple more. Pick: Colts

DJC - Fleener!  Pick: Colts

BT - Pick: Browns

TEN at BUF -3

Me - It's hard to drum up enough interest in this matchup to give it more than a cursory thought.  Bills are the better team.  Bills are at home.  Pick: Titans

DJC - Pick: Bills

BT - Pick: Bills

ARI at MIN -6

Me - The Cards are sinking ship, especially now that Kolb is out for a while.  They were Offensively challenged before, wait until Jared Allen gets a hold of them.  Pick: Cardinals

DJC - Pick: Cardinals

BT - Pick: Vikings

BAL at HOU -6.5

Me - Well, the Texans' pride has to be smarting after the Packer beatdown, and the Ravens are reeling with tons of Defensive injuries and a suddenly underwhelming offense.  Tough for the Ratbirds to get this one on the road.  Pick: Ravens

DJC - Farewell, Ray Lewis, Farewell.  Pick: Texans

BT - Pick: Texans

GB at STL +5.5

Me - St. Louis actually has a nice Defense, but so did the Texans.  Although they've shown some inconsistency, it seems like the Packers are starting to hit on all cylinders.  It won't be a blowout, but I think Green Bay covers.  Pick: Rams

DJC - Pick: Packers

BT - Pick: Packers

DAL at CAR +2

Me - Dallas gave it their all in Baltimore last week, and they blew it.  Their efforts are uneven, and the Panthers have had the Bye week to stew in their frustration and plan for Romo's demise.  Big game for Cam.  Pick: Cowboys

DJC - Pick: Cowboys

BT - Pick: Cowboys

WAS at NYG -5.5

Me - Washington's Defense has seemed to rally from the injury issues and looks solid, and RG3 is clearly the best of the rookie QB's at this juncture.  Will he get pounded to smithereens and knocked out of the game?  Maybe.  But if not, the Redskins will probably be able to keep this close, maybe even win.  Pick: Giants

DJC- Pick: Giants

BT- Executive Lock of the Week.  Pick: Giants

NO at TB +3

Me - Tampa's actually a better team than most people think, and New Orleans just seems to get too much respect for their reputation, as if they were the Super Powerhouse just waiting to break out that "accidentally" lost their first 4 games.  I don't buy it, not when the home team is getting a FG.  Pick: Saints

DJC - What do you think Sean Payton does every day?  Pick: Saints

BT - Pick: Buccaneers

NYJ at NE -10.5

Me - New England is clearly the superior team, but the Jets have enough Defense left to likely keep this thing under the line.  Pick: Patriots

DJC - How many times have Patriots covered this year?  Pick: Patriots

BT - Pick: Jets

JAX at OAK -4

Me - Ah, a Battle of Awfulness.  If not for the Chiefs, the Jags would probably own the title of NFL's worst, and there seems to be no hope in sight on the Blaine Gabber front.  For their part, the Raiders showed some life last week and should be able to get it done at home.  Pick: Jaguars

DJC - Tough to travel cross country.  Pick: Raiders

BT - Pick: Raiders

PIT at CIN +1.5

Me - The Bengals have been exposed.  Even Chrissie Hynde thinks they're pretenders.  The Steelers aren't very good either, but they should at least have enough offensive firepower to win this extended home game in Northern Kentucky.  Pick: Bengals

DJC - Can't pick a team that lost to Cleveland.  Pick: Steelers

BT - Pick: Steelers

DET at CHI -6

Me - The Bears Defense is the best in the land, and I don't see any way that they don't maul the hell out of an inconsistent Lions O, especially at home.  I even went so far as to bench Matthew Stafford for Brandon Weeden, for cripe's sake.  Pick: Lions

DJC - Pick: Bears!

BT - Pick: Bears