NFL Sunday Week 4: Mike Kern picks Texans vs Panthers, Titans vs Falcons, Bears vs Vikings, plus two teasers
Now for some games where they play for pay. And no, we don’t mean the SEC. And yes, I did like the Birds to at least make it a game on Thursday but was too whatever to let everyone know. My bad. Will try to be better next time. Of course I wasn’t feeling so good when it was 10-0 Packers. Let’s try to do better on Sunday and Monday.
(Home team in CAPS)
TEXANS (-4) over Panthers
Texans have been tough team to figure out. But they are home, where they have been really good over the last year. I know Carolina came up with a big effort on the road without Cam Newton, but asking them to do it again the very next week might be asking a little too much.
FALCONS (-4) over Titans
I’m not sure the Titans are very good. And now they’re going on the road to play a team that is also frustrating. But the Falcons do seem to be much better in Atlanta. I’m thinking they might have a nice bounce back kind of effort coming off last week’s close call at Indy. Go Matty Ice!
BEARS (-2.5) over Vikings
I don’t think the Bears are as good as they looked on Monday at Washington. But their defense can play, especially at home. The Vikes might actually be a little better, but they’ve had trouble on the road going back to last season. Bears have already lost at home to Green Bay, can’t afford another home loss in the NFC North. And yes, it might be a bit on the ugly side.
And a couple of those dreaded teasers, just in case you need more reasons to keep you interested.
COLTS (-1) over Raiders with Chiefs (-.5) over LIONS
I like what Frank Reich is doing with Indy without Andrew Luck. And now they’re home against an Oakland team that just doesn’t seem like it’s good enough. Maybe by the time it gets to Vegas. And Kansas City looks like it can beat anyone. I know Detroit somehow found a way to win in Philly, but this looks like a whole other animal, even in Motown.
Or, if you feel good about those two picks, why not add the Rams to make it a three-teamer. That way you can move L.A. to -1 at home against the Bucs, and get the Colts at +2 and the Chiefs at +1.5. Just saying.
I’m almost tempted to take the Chargers at Miami in one of those, but for whatever reason I don’t have trust in them yet. Still, the Dolphins stink. The line is 16. You could get it down to 7. And that should be enough. But again, there’s something about it that makes me leery. Or maybe I’m just being stupid. Because the Dolphins stink.
OK, let’s try one more. How about …
Browns (+13) over Ravens and Bills (+13) over Patriots
You could almost make the case that you could go the other way with just as much confidence, and get the Pats down to a virtual pick. Since they have beaten the Bills like 30 of the last 33 times. And the Ravens have been talking up their hatred of all the Cleveland hype, and are coming off a loss at KC. Still, the recent games have been up for grabs, and I’m not ready to go all in on Baltimore yet either.
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