NFL Picks: Week 5

Well, it’s an hour until kickoff, and here I am without NFL picks. If you saw my picks from last week, you probably thought I’ve retired from doing them … it was that bad.
But it’s a new week, and I’m feeling pretty good about these games.

Jennifer e-mailed me her picks earlier this week, but I don’t have that email in front of me. She’s telling me her picks now, but her comments … I’ll have to add later.

Last week’s rundown:
Straight up — Billy 6-8 (39-23 overall); Jennifer 6-8 (31-31 overall)
Against the line — Billy 4-10 (30-29-3 overall)

This week’s games:

at
Line: Saints by 3.5
David Carr looks lost for Carolina. The Saints look lost as a team … but they’ve had 2 weeks to prepare for this one.
My pick: Saints 28, Panthers 17
Jennifer: Saints (by the way … Go Tigers! LSU!)

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Line: Jaguars by 2.5
I think everybody’s amazed the Chiefs are 2-2 at this point. This is my upset pick of the week … I think they win one more.
My pick: Chiefs 20, Jaguars 16
Jennifer: Jaguars

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Line: Redskins by 3.5
Detroit is everybody’s underdog this year, but they’re still not great on the road. Washington’s not a weak team.
My pick: Redskins 25, Lions 21
Jennifer: Lions

at
Line: Titans by 8
Tennessee is last year’s Jacksonville … a team with not the greatest talent in the world that may just go 13-3.
My pick: Titans 35, Falcons 24
Jennifer: Titans

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Line: Texans by 5
So my friend Greg, who lives (and will one day die) in Houston, was pretty excited after their 2-0 start. Now 2-2, having lost to the Colts and Falcons, he doesn’t call me anymore. I miss Greg. I’ll probably get a call this week.
My pick: Texans 21, Dolphins 10
Jennifer: Texans

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Line: Steelers by 6
Hmmm, the Seahawks are 3-1 despite my insistence they suck. They still suck.
My pick: Steelers 38, Seahawks 21
Jennifer: Steelers

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Line: Patriots by 16.5
I almost always pick against lines that go above 14, but these are the Patriots and you just can’t bet against Tom Brady at home.
My pick: Patriots 38, Browns 14
Jennifer: Patriots

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Line: Cardinals by 4
Gus Frerotte gets the nod for the Rams, but they’re still missing Steven Jackson and the defense is pretty pathetic. I’m scared to pick Arizona on the road … but …
My pick: Cardinals 21, Rams 20
Jenninfer: Cardinals

at
Line: Giants by 3.5
The only time in four years there’s no true home and away team. So we’re going on talent here … and the Giants have looked pretty good in three of their four games this year.
My pick: Giants 24, Jets 17
Jennifer: Giants

at
Line: Colts by 9.5
My picks against the line last week were atrocious, and I’m .500 for the year, probably because I pick games like this. Colts win, Bucs cover.
My pick: Colts 23, Bucs 17
Jennifer: Colts

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Line: Chargers by 1
For all their struggles, San Diego is favored by 1 on the road. Says a lot about the Broncos. Chargers are killing me this year, but …
My pick: Chargers 20, Broncos 16
Jennifer: Broncos

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Line: Ravens by 3.5
Neither team’s lighting it up, and both have hurting QBs. But Trent Dilfer steps in for the 49ers, and he’ll have extra motivation against his old team. Another upset.
My pick: 49ers 28, Ravens 23
Jennifer: 49ers

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Line: Packers by 3.5
Trap game, trap game, trap game … but I’ll fall in the trap.
My pick: Packers 24, Bears 21
Jennifer: Go Pack! Go Pack! Go Pack! Go Pack! PACKERS!

at
Line: Cowboys by 10.5
It ain’t the 1990s Super Bowls, but it’ll be the same result. I’m looking ahead to next week against New England. Sure hope Dallas isn’t.
My pick: Dallas 31, Bills 14
Jennifer: Cowboys … ugh.

Sunday Column: Fair memories

Some of my best memories have come from fairs. They’re one of the Top 5 things that make living in a small (but growing) city great.
I’m sure we’ve beaten you over the head with it during the past few days, but in case you don’t know, the Lee Regional Fair begins Monday and runs through the week. Next weekend, the State Fair in Raleigh begins its run.
What’s great about a fair isn’t the rides, isn’t the food and isn’t the sights and sounds.
It’s a combination of it all.
To experience a true “Southern” fair in October is to really “take it in.” Like your favorite perfume, humans discovered the perfect “feel” when they bottled the smell of funnel cakes, roasted corn and fall air and combined it with the many sounds you only hear at the fairgrounds.
Coming from Texas, I’ve become a connoisseur of fairs. The State Fair of Texas (which is going on this week in Dallas) is considered one of the nation’s best. Legend has it, that’s where the “corn dog” was invented … and a wonderful invention it was.
I didn’t get to attend as many Texas State Fairs as I would have liked, but the memories of the few times I went have stuck.
My hometown was also home to the Fall Festival (not such a creative name) and the Hopkins County Dairy Festival, which included — among other things, the stew cook-off, the Dairy parade and tons of games.
To me, fairs are vital for communities like ours. We all strive for family-friendly events, and I can think of few things that can bring a family together like the fair. I can think of few events where such a diverse crowd — people of all races, all social classes — go for a good time.
So, this week will be my first Lee Regional Fair, and I’ve been told it’s an award-winner (I don’t think it’s a secret). I’m looking forward to it, and hopefully, it’ll take me back to my younger days.
That’d be the best compliment I could give it.

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Speaking of fairs, and in a shameless attempt to promote our paper, Wednesday is “Sanford Herald Night” at the Lee Regional Fair.
Watch for a special coupon on Wednesday’s edition of The Herald that will get you $1 off gate admission. And stop by our booth in the Commercial Exhibit Hall to find out how to get a free ride bracelet (a $15 value) by purchasing a subscription to The Herald.
Free rides and a great newspaper … I can think of no better deals.

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The Herald’s Chelsea Kellner enjoyed her first ARTober Fest Saturday, covering it for today’s edition.
I, meanwhile, was about half an hour south of Sanford, walking my feet off at the Cameron Fall Antiques Street Fair.
Thousands of people (yes, multiple thousands) converged on this strip of highway in the little Moore County town to buy everything from antique armoirs to the little wooden puppies on wheels that you pulled by a string when you were little.
My only complaint was the trouble my wife and I had finding a parking spot. Beyond that, this is an event that can only get bigger and better if the last two crowds are any testament (this spring’s fair, I’m told, drew even more people).
For those of you who’re new like me, Cameron on any given day is an antique-lover’s haven. Learn more about what the town has to offer online at www.antiquesofcameron.com.