E.K. NATION

We're already 1-0 on the year, getting the Giants in the victory over the Redskins. Here come the rest of the picks:

SUNDAY MORNING: (team listed first is the pick, home team in caps)

Cincinnati (-2.5) over BALTIMORE. Not sure Joe Flacco is ready yet. But I will say this: Chad Johnson is a tool and I will not refer to him by his new stupid-ass name.
N.Y. Jets (-3) over MIAMI. The Dolphins still suck, the Jets know how Chad Pennington plays and should handle him, and Brett Favre's a Jet now. Do you see Miami winning?
NEW ENGLAND (-16) over Kansas City. Even though they didn't win last year's championship, they're still the same Patriots, and I don't see the Chiefs hanging in this one for much longer than, say, six minutes.
Houston (+6.5) over PITTSBURGH. The Texans might not win, but I think they can handle the Steelers and make it a close game. I'll guess 28-24, Steelers.
Jacksonville (-3) over TENNESSEE. David Garrard can navigate this Titans defense.
ATLANTA (+3) over Detroit. Because every week has an upset or two, or eight.
Seattle (+1) over BUFFALO. People seem to be forgetting about Seattle in the NFC mix. They're still strong, especially in a weak division. Even though it's only by one, I don't think the Bills should be favored in this one.
NEW ORLEANS (-3.5) over Tampa Bay. There's potential for that high-powered offense to come alive again in New Orleans. Saints should score big. Maybe 42-24.
St. Louis (+8) over PHILADELPHIA. This should be a low-scoring game with lots of running on Philly's side. That should be enough to keep the Rams close, if not victorious. How about 24-17, Eagles?

SUNDAY AFTERNOON:

Dallas (-6) over CLEVELAND. It might seem like a big point spread if you think the Browns are going to be even better than they were last year, but all it takes is one extra touchdown by the Cowboys to cover. They'll get two extra. 31-17, Dallas.
SAN DIEGO (-9) over Carolina. Quick fantasy note: I did indeed take Brian Westbrook with the second pick in our draft, with LaDainian Tomlinson available. There's just something about that weird disappearance he made in the AFC title game last January. Having said that, the Chargers are still an elite team in the AFC and should handle the Panthers easily.
Arizona (-3) over SAN FRANCISCO. Because...it's the 49ers!!!

SUNDAY NIGHT:

INDIANAPOLIS (-10) over Chicago. This one doesn't even come close to seeming like a trap spread. The Colts are great, and the Bears suck. Chicago can't possibly cover.

MONDAY NIGHT:

GREEN BAY (-2) over Minnesota. The Vikings are good, and they should win the NFC North, but something tells me the Pack will recover from losing Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers will be adequate enough to carry them for one opening night.
OAKLAND (+3) over Denver. Why do I see this one going into overtime? Just a hunch. You can see how much effort I put into these picks, eh?

As I wrap this up, I see that Cal is beating Washington State 59-3 in the fourth quarter right now. I sure hope this is an indicator of how good the Golden Bears are rather than how bad the Cougars are. And I must say that while I dislike Husky alumni as a whole, UW got screwed on that last penalty, and I'll back them up on this one. That was in no way unsportsmanlike conduct. It was simply players celebrating a crucial last-second touchdown. Washington should not have had to attempt the extra point from 15 yards farther than normal. The extra-point try became, in essence, a 40-yard try, and the "gimme" nature of the PAT was taken away. That might have had an effect on the play. When it's no longer a chip shot, the angle of the kick becomes lower, and thus easier to block, which it was, and BYU was handed a 28-27 gift victory unfairly in my book.