Football Picks, NFL Week 9

On the bright side, at least I can go back to my familiar habit of rooting strenuously against Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. That isn't much consolation this week, since they're off, but it's the best I've got right now.

(2-5) Arizona @ Miami (1-7)
(7-0) Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh (6-1)
(3-4) Kansas City @ Tampa Bay (2-5)
(2-6) Oakland @ Carolina (1-6)
(6-1) NY Jets @ Buffalo (2-5)
(3-4) Dallas @ Cincinnati (2-5)
(2-5) Washington @ Detroit (4-3)
(3-4) New Orleans @ San Diego (5-3)
(4-3) Seattle @ San Francisco (1-6)
(2-5) Chicago @ NY Giants (5-2)
(4-3) Houston @ Denver (5-3)
(6-1) New England @ St. Louis (4-3)
(3-4) Cleveland @ Baltimore (4-3)
(5-2) Minnesota @ Indianapolis (4-3)

In the Big Ten, what has happened to Purdue? They looked really good early this season, and now they've lost three in a row, including last week against Northwestern. Given the injury to Kyle Orton, it'll be tough to keep the rest of the season from turning into a complete nosedive.

(5-3) Ohio State @ Michigan State (4-4)
(4-4) Northwestern @ Penn State (2-6)
(3-5) Indiana @ Illinois (2-7)
(6-3) Minnesota @ Wisconsin (8-0)
(5-3) Purdue @ Iowa (6-2)

It's an interesting week in the MAC with one Friday game tonight, one game next Tuesday, and one game at a neutral site. I hate Friday games. Whoring games out to television has generally been good for the MAC, but I really wish they could have spared Fridays.

(5-3) Marshall @ Akron (4-4) - Friday night
(1-7) Western Michigan @ Bowling Green (6-2)
(2-6) Kent State @ Buffalo (1-7)
(3-6) Ohio @ Central Florida (0-8)
(3-5) Central Michigan vs. Eastern Michigan (3-5) - Ford Field, Detroit
(6-3) Toledo @ Northern Illinois (7-2) - Tuesday night

This is shaping up to be a great football weekend for me. Tonight Brandi and I are going to see Friday Night Lights, a movie about high school football in Texas. Tomorrow afternoon we'll be at the WMU-BGSU game, and immediately afterwards we'll be heading southeast to catch Troy's playoff game at Westerville South. Much of Sunday, as usual, will be dedicated to NFL games on television. That sounds to me like the perfect balm to soothe the irritations this week has brought.