Weekly NFL Related Humiliation (Week FIVE)

It's amazing how quickly most of the games look like contests not worth paying attention to.

I'm going with the usual four picks this week, and the usual Vegas.com posting of the MGM/Mirage line, as of 10/05/2006 18:00.

Washington at NYGiants (-4.5)
The Giants are favored at home against division rival DC. A Giants loss in this game will put them in a very disappointing 1-3 hole for the start of the season and put doubts in their ability to make the playoffs. DC has been uneven, but seem to be figuring things out and should give the Giants a good game. The Redskins and the points in this one. Either DC will win on the road, or they'll lose by a field goal or less. The Giants are mostly giant-sized hype and are going to continue to have a rocky up and down season.

Oakland at San Francisco (-3.5)
What? I know what you are thinking, 'I thought he said he'd only offer his picks on games that matter?'. Well, this game does matter. The loser of this game is likely to run the table and either be 1-15 or 0-16. This game could determine the first pick in the 2007 draft. In an upset I think the Raiders will play with some pride and beat their bay area rivals, but sink back into their bad habits and lose their final twelve games of the season. Meanwhile, after losing to the lowly Raiders at home, San Francisco will cancel the rest of the season, refund the money of all their season ticket holders, and forfeit their remaining contests to spare everyone the misery of watching their ineptitude, or not. Anyway, as much as it pains me to type this, take the Raiders and the points.

Dallas at Philadelphia (-2)
Blah, blah, blah TO, blah, blah TO, TO, blah, blah Donovan McNabb, blah, blah, TO, blah, Tuna, blah TO, TO, TO, blah, TO, blah, blah, TO, blah, blah, TO, TO, TO, TO, blah, blah, TO, blah, TO, blah Donovan McNabb, blah, blah, TO, TO, Tuna, blah, blah, Donovan McNabb (if they could bottle up all the energy wasted in talking about TO and the Eagles this week, you could power all of Eastern Pennsylvania for at least three years). Dallas and the points, the Cowboys will prevail.

Pittsburgh at San Diego (-3.5)
It's early in the season, but given both these teams come with very high expectations, this is a critical game for both. San Diego needs to recover from getting beat up and losing a close one to Baltimore. Pittsburgh can not slip to 1-3 to start the season. Big Ben hasn't looked sharp yet and is a few weeks away from getting his timing down. The Chargers stellar defense and outstanding corners won't make it any easier on him, either. San Diego will beat up on the World Champion Steelers and look good doing it. Take the Chargers in this one.