There is no greater time to try to get into this competition than right now, as every week you beat me gives you another opportunity at that big cash prize at the end of the year. Let's get started right now with my Week 8 picks…

Denver Broncos (+1) vs. San Francisco 49ers – Jolly ol' England is going to get to see a real lousy one this year as well. How on earth do the worst teams in the NFL continually end up going overseas for these spectacles? Anyway, the Broncos are coming off of their worst performance of the season, but no one in the Rockies is pushing the panic button. With QB Troy Smith getting the nod for San Fran instead of backup QB David Carr, not only is there a very disgruntled man sitting on the sidelines, but it is clear that HC Mike Singletary is making this move in hopes of saving his job. It won't work. Going with the Broncos +1 as short underdogs.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Dallas Cowboys (-6.5) – I'm really tired of getting burned by the Cowboys every single week, but I'm backing Dallas -6.5 once again. The Cowboys might have just gotten the shot in the arm that they needed when QB Tony Romo went down on Monday Night Football. One of two things is going to happen. Either the team is really going to rally around QB Jon Kitna and start to come together, or all hell will break loose and the season will be over. I already know which direction Jacksonville is heading in… All I need to do is look at the box score from last week's 42-20 embarrassment at the Kansas City Chiefs to tell that…

Washington Redskins (+2.5) @ Detroit Lions – Yeah, yeah, I hear ya. The Redskins have already lost at the St. Louis Rams this year, the Lions are coming off of a bye week, they're getting their starting quarterback back in the lineup for the first time since the opening weekend of the season, and they have the best ATS record in the game. Easy pick for the hosts, right? However, have you ever heard of such a thing as a play being so sharp that it's square? It's too easy to go with Detroit. The oddsmakers had no choice but to react to all of these recent covers for the men from Motown. Could the Lions win this game? Sure. Are they truthfully on a level playing field with the Redskins, as is implied by this line? Heck no. My choice is easy. Washington +2.5

Green Bay Packers @ New York Jets (-5.5) – I sort of feel like I'm being tricked into taking the Jets -5.5 on Sunday afternoon, but there are just too many things going for New York and too many going against Green Bay for me to ignore. The Packers just played their most emotional game of the season last week against the Minnesota Vikings, and they are going to need a significantly bigger effort to get past the Jets in New Meadowlands Stadium. The Jets are coming off of their bye week and have seemingly found an offense for the first time in the HC Rex Ryan era. I really don't feel like I have that much of a choice here.

Carolina Panthers @ St. Louis Rams (-3) – Does anyone have a rusty fork available for me to poke my eyes out with? Geez, does this game smell about as appealing as a baby's diaper after four hours… The Panthers might have a win now, but just because QB Matt Moore threw for 300+ yards last week doesn't make him a hero. The Rams are still playing good ball at home this year, and they'll come up with yet another victory. Things would have felt a lot different for the hosts if they were 4-2, and that's exactly what would've happened had they stopped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the goal line last week in the fourth quarter. I'm sticking with St. Louis -3.

Miami Dolphins @ Cincinnati Bengals (-1.5) – It seems like this would be a tremendously easy game to pick, especially if you believe that the Pittsburgh Steelers are really one of the best teams in the NFL. The Fins just played a great game against Pittsburgh and nearly pulled off the outright victory. They're also a perfect 3-0 SU and ATS on the road this year, going into Cincinnati, where the Bengals are one of the most disappointing teams in the league. However, the Bengals have already beaten the Baltimore Ravens this year at home, and they might be able to add Miami's scalp to that list this weekend. So I fooled you! You thought I was going with Miami… Wrongo! Cincinnati -1.5

Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs (-7.5) – Just for the record, I don't think that there has been a single game this year in which I've picked the Bills… and I'm not so sure if that's going to change any time in the near future. I said at the outset of the year that this was the worst team that the NFL has seen in years, including that winless Detroit Lions team from 2008, and I'm sticking by that. Buffalo is a joke, and that joke was so funny last week that the Baltimore Ravens were nearly laughing too hard and forgot about destroying the punch line. The Chiefs aren't going to screw around like Baltimore did. Kansas City -7.5 for me, without a doubt.

Tennessee Titans @ San Diego Chargers (-3.5) – Here's another game that I could really live without. The Bolts are in just about the same type of hot water that the Dallas Cowboys are in right now, but at least they have something positive to build on after nearly coming all the way back to beat the New England Patriots last weekend. Tennessee is the most overrated bunch in the league, and at some point, it will come back to earth. That might start this weekend even though it doesn't seem like San Diego can beat anyone right now. I'm backing the Bolts -3.5.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Arizona Cardinals (-3) – The vintage Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde team in the NFL is Arizona. The Cards simply can't play a game on the road to save their lives, but put them back at home, and all bets are off. Tampa Bay just put together an emotional road win to stay alive in the playoff race, but let's be real here for a second. The New Orleans Saints just lost to these Redbirds by ten a few weeks back. That same team in black and gold won in Tampa Bay by a whole boatload of points the very next week. No way, Tampa Bay. The Bucs stop here. Arizona -3

Seattle Seahawks @ Oakland Raiders (-1.5) – Speaking of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde teams… Does anyone else think that the Seahawks are genuinely going to be able to win road games all season long? Look, QB Jason Campbell isn't going to complete just 40 some odd percent of his passes like QB Jay Cutler did two weeks ago in the Windy City. The Raiders are coming off of a fantastic game against the Denver Broncos in which they set a franchise record for points scored. In the Black Hole, I'll go with the hosts and take Oakland -1.5.

Minnesota Vikings @ New England Patriots (-6) – I don't care if you put Brett Favre, Joe Montana, YA Tittle, or Gus Frerotte after banging his head up against the wall under center this weekend… WR Randy Moss isn't going to do a thing against the Pats, as you know that the evil mastermind, HC Bill Belichick has been scheming for this game and this particular matchup since the day that the Pats sent good ol' Randy out of town. It's been awhile since I've heard a "Love Boat" reference to Minnesota, but the Vikes definitely have a ship that is sinking right now. New England -6

Pittsburgh Steelers @ New Orleans Saints (+1) – Remember to make your tiebreaker picks in this game!!! This is one of the toughest games that I've had to make a call on in recent years, and I'm still not totally sure that I wouldn't want to flip flop my pick a number of times from now through the kickoff of this one. I tend to think that RB Reggie Bush coming back into the lineup will at least put enough fear in a potentially harmed Pittsburgh defense to give the Saints the upper hand. But the bottom line that I have right now is that the Steelers are going to lose eventually, while New Orleans as an underdog at home is just ridiculous. The Bayou will be rockin' on Saturday night, and I'm going with New Orleans +1.

There is no greater time to try to get into this competition than right now, as every week you beat me gives you another opportunity at that big cash prize at the end of the year. Let's get started right now with my Week 7 picks…

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Miami Dolphins (+3) – The Steelers are about to get their first serious test with QB Ben Roethlisberger under center. We don't love his chances, either. The Dolphins have yet to win a home game this year (of course, they haven't lost a road game either), and that's something that badly has to change for them to make it to the second season. In this same fixture last year to end the season, Pittsburgh march into South Beach and took down Miami to eliminate the Fins from the playoffs. I'll take my chances that HC Tony Sparano's boys can keep this one on the right side of the number. I'm riding Miami +3

Cincinnati Bengals (+3.5) @ Atlanta Falcons – Does a line ever just look a tad fishy to you? Seems to me like Atlanta should be favored by at least a touchdown… Hmm… Just like a feels like Nebraska should've been favored by 17 over Texas and Texas should've been favored by three TDs over UCLA… Rule No. 1 in NFL betting: If it looks like a fish and it smells like a fish, it's probably fishy. Cincinnati +3.5

Kansas City Chiefs (OTB) @ Jacksonville Jaguars – This game will not be included in the competition in Week 7!!! Sorry folks… Same deal as last week when we didn't know whether QB Aaron Rodgers was playing for the Green Bay Packers or not. QB David Garrard is still up in the air. Regardless, as long as they're not laying a ton of points, I think that the Chiefs are bouncing back and taking care of Jacksonville after that horrifying loss to the Houston Texans in which they really got hosed.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Tennessee Titans (-3) – It'd be a lot of fun to see QB Vince Young and QB Michael Vick take the field together, but we might not get to see it happen, unfortunately. The Titans are just playing tremendously well right now, and the rush defense for the Eagles can be had. If it is, RB Chris Johnson will rush for 100+ yards, and when he does that, Tennessee is 4-0 SU and ATS. I'll take my chances. I'll back Tennessee -3.

Washington Redskins (+2.5) @ Chicago Bears -Right now, I really have a tough time backing the Bears. They have no running game. They have a quarterback that is losing confidence with every single throw that he makes. This seems like a franchise that is just covered in gasoline right now, and it's only going to take lighting one match to set the whole thing on fire once and for all. This team is leading its division, but it sure doesn't feel like it. Washington, this is your chance to shine! QB Donovan McNabb is coming home, and he's going to leave a winner. Washington +2.5 for me.

Cleveland Browns (+13.5) @ New Orleans Saints – Is it just me, or did QB Colt McCoy actually look pretty decent against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week? McCoy certainly has this job for as long as he wants it as long as that performance wasn't just an anomaly. He's got the second game in a Murderer's Row lineup, as now he has to take on the defending champs. Unfortunately for the men from the Bayou, they've already almost lost a game like this to a rookie quarterback once already, and though they'll figure out how to pull out the outright 'W', I love the grit and tenacity of this Cleveland team right now. Until they really burn me, I'll go with the Browns +13.5.

Buffalo Bills @ Baltimore Ravens (-13) – Is this the first quarter line, or the game line? What? The game line? You sure? Let me get this straight. You really think that Ryan Freaking Fitzpatrick is going to go on the road in one of the most hostile territories in the NFL against one of the league's most ferocious defenses and find a way to stick within two touchdowns in 60 minutes? You've got to be kidding, right? Yawn. Baltimore -13

San Francisco 49ers (-3) @ Carolina Panthers – Batten down the hatches. QB Matt Moore is back. The Niners have finally broken their maiden this year, and in spite of the fact that they were just 0-5 last week at this time, they're still amongst the favorites to win the NFC West. That tells you just how bad this division is. Carolina would fit in perfectly. The Panthers had better be careful, as this might be the last chance at a win for awhile. They won't get it on Sunday, because I'm going with San Fran -3.

St. Louis Rams (+2.5) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Man, someone dial up the respect card for the Rams and quickly! In fairness, St. Louis was absolutely reamed by the Detroit Lions a couple weeks ago on the road, but this is a game in which it can really bounce back in a big way. The Rams are good enough to beat anyone in the NFL; they demonstrated that last week against the San Diego Chargers. The Bucs are getting better, but they aren't quite there yet. This is another team that is just waiting to implode. St. Louis is almost there, and with one more win, it can really legitimately be in the NFC West race. St. Louis +2.5 for yours truly.

Arizona Cardinals (+6) @ Seattle Seahawks – Here's your trap game of the weekend. The Cardinals are coming off of a bye, and it has long since been forgotten that they beat the defending champs two weeks ago. Everyone still just sees the name QB Max Hall in the starting lineup and cringes. Meanwhile, the Seahawks apparently can play on the road now, as they beat the Chicago Bears in the Windy City. Impressed? I'm not. Is Arizona winning this game outright? Maybe. Is it covering the near full TD? You betcha. Loving Arizona +6.

New England Patriots @ San Diego Chargers (-2.5) – Can someone please wake up the San Diego Chargers and remind them that it's time to get the season started? This is about where they were last year, as they were 3-3 and three back of the Denver Broncos when they hit the gas pedal and never looked back. The schedule is very, very difficult from here on in though, and if the Kansas City Chiefs can string some 'W's together, it's going to make for a hard task. HC Norv Turner knows his job is on the line. I tend to believe that the Bolts will beat this spread, thus I'll take San Diego -2.5.

Oakland Raiders (+8) @ Denver Broncos – Is it just me, or am I backing the Raiders seemingly every single week at this point? I don't know why I'm so enamored with this team, as this has been an underachieving bunch for years and years. The only hope here is that the corners for the silver and black, the only solid part of this team, can lock down those receivers and make QB Kyle Orton make some throws he doesn't want to make. What the hell… Oakland +8.

Minnesota Vikings (+2.5) @ Green Bay Packers – Remember to make your tiebreaker picks in this game!!! QB Brett Favre is back, bum shoulder and all. It feels like it's been awhile since good ol' No. 4 was playing under the bright lights of primetime football, and his last appearance there was a total dud against the New Orleans Saints. However, there's something about Lambeau Field that just brings some magic out. Am I the only one that sees this game ending with Favre hitting a Hail Mary to WR Randy Moss in the end zone when Moss jumps over four different defenders, sticks two middle fingers in the air, proclaims, "I'm Randy Moss and I am so much better than all four of you combined!" and THEN comes down with the football for the game winning score? Just sayin'… Minnesota +2.5

There is no greater time to try to get into this competition than right now, as every week you beat me gives you another opportunity at that big cash prize at the end of the year. Let's get started right now with my Week 5 picks…

Denver Broncos (+7) @ Baltimore Ravens – Last week, the Broncos were a great choice for me, as they came through with the outright upset and were never behind the line against the Tennessee Titans. This week is a wee different, though. I never like teams playing in their second straight road game, particularly halfway across the country, and especially with the level of physicality that these two games will be played at. Baltimore, unlike Tennessee, has a fantastic secondary. In fact, that unit ranks No. 1 in football. QB Kyle Orton will be crying by the time this game is over. I'm banking on Baltimore -7.

Jacksonville Jaguars (pk) @ Buffalo Bills – I'm not even commenting on this game. I can only hope that something happens to QB David Garrard and that QB Trent Edwards gets to come into the game and beat the snot out of the team that just cut him. Jacksonville pk.

Kansas City Chiefs (+8) @ Indianapolis Colts – The oddsmakers don't know what they're doing in this game, save trying to trick you! They could've put Indy at -21, and there would still be suckers lining up to beat on it left and right. However, remember that S Melvin Bullitt is now out for the season as well, joining S Bob Sanders on the shelf. The Colts really don't have any good options at safety, and they still clearly haven't gotten their left tackle situation figured out as of yet. Oh, don't you worry. QB Peyton Manning isn't letting his Colts lose this game. But you watch… KC will nail the backdoor. Chiefs +8.

Detroit Lions (-3) vs. St. Louis Rams – In one corner, we have the Rams and their No. 1 overall draft pick, QB Sam Bradford. In the other corner, we have the backup for the previous No. 1 overall draft pick, QB Matt Stafford. Still, the Lions are moving the football right now, and it only seems like a matter of time before they get into the win column this year. I love what HC Steve Spagnuolo has done with the Rams this year, but the oddsmakers have made the Lions favorites in this one for a reason. I'm sticking with my guns and going with Detroit -3.

Cleveland Browns (+3) vs. Atlanta Falcons – Didn't we learn anything last week from when the Browns were three point pups at home and successfully beat the Cincinnati Bengals? The Falcons aren't this good. They're good. But not this good. The Dawg Pound is a horror to play in regardless of whether the Brownies are 16-0 or 0-16. For the second straight week, it's a mega sucker bet to back the visitors and the so called "better team." Go with the Brownies +3.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+6.5) @ Cincinnati Bengals – You ever just have a gut shot on something and know that you should go with it? The Bucs are off a bye week. The Bengals are off of a bad, bad performance in Cleveland. Hmm… Tampa Bay +6.5.

Chicago Bears (-1.5) @ Carolina Panthers – What an ugly game this is… The only good news for the Bears is that they still have one of the best rushing defenses in the NFL, and as long as this holds true, the Panthers don't stand a chance of moving the football. Is Jimmy Clausen waking up the echoes? Oh wait, that was his job at Notre Dame… Chicago -1.5

Green Bay Packers (-2.5) @ Washington Redskins – This just feels like a game that the Packers are going to win. Washington's secondary just isn't as good as it played last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, and if that's the case, QB Aaron Rodgers is going to have a field day. I know that the Pack don't have a running game to speak of, but in this situation, I trust that Rodgers will do his job, and the Redskins will realize that they just aren't that good. Sticking with Green Bay -2.5.

Houston Texans (-3) vs. New York Giants – WR Andre Johnson is still nursing an injury, but he might be back on the field on Sunday. One man that we do know will be back is LB Brian Cushing, who is now finished serving his suspension for those illegal whatever it was that he was taking! The G-Men have a good perception after last week's beat down of the Bears… but this isn't Chicago… nor is it at home… nor is it against a team that is vastly overrated… Houston -3.

Arizona Cardinals (+7) vs. New Orleans Saints – If the Saints can't beat the Panthers by two scores, why in the heck do they think that they're going to go on the road and beat Arizona by two scores? We know that perception is bad on Arizona thanks to the fact that it was blown away twice this year on the road, but this one isn't on the road. It's at home. And after all, they are who we thought they were! Arizona +7

Oakland Raiders (+6.5) vs. San Diego Chargers – For all of your Survivor Pool suckers, remember my words of advice in this game… Don't do it. You just know that you want to take San Diego, but you can't do it. There are games like these, particularly before the calendar hits November, which the Bolts tend to blow. Don't be shocked… I'm not sayin'… I'm just sayin'… Oakland +6.5

Tennessee Titans (+6.5) @ Dallas Cowboys – Last week was a bad matchup for the Titans, but the Cowboys present a much more reasonable counterpart this Sunday, especially when you consider the fact that Dallas is the team laying the 6.5 points this week. The Cowboys are still one dimensional, and that dimension is the pass, the same dimension that beat the Titans last week. However, RB Chris Johnson could find more holes in this front seven than he did against Denver's. This is a big, big game for both teams, as neither can really afford another loss right now and still stay alive in their division races. This should be a close one either way, so I'm taking Tennessee +6.5.

San Francisco 49ers (-3) vs. Philadelphia Eagles – Remember to make your tiebreaker picks in this game!!! Man, even the oddsmakers know that the Eagles are losing this game. When you see an 0-4 team against a division leader, and that winless team is laying points, you know that something is up. Don't fall into the QB Kevin Kolb trap. San Fran is rolling. Niners -3