All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.

--Arthur Schopenhauer



At Indianapolis (-18.5) Tennessee - Tennessee has covered only one of its last six games and is 4-11 vs. the number in its last 15 contests. Meanwhile, Indy is 7-3 against the number in its last 10 games prior to a bye week and has covered five of its last seven contests as a favorite of more than 10 points. A three touchdown margin against the inexperienced Young would not be out of the question. Pick: Indy.

At NY Giants (-4) Washington - When asked what kind of clues former Redskin LaVar Arrington could provide to the Giants' offense about the Redskins' defense, his former linebackers coach, Dale Lindsay, said: "None. He didn't know anything when he was here. What makes you think he'll know something up there?" Pick: Giants

At Minnesota (-6.5) Detroit - The Vikings have converted nine of their last 43 third-down opportunities and went 12-plus quarters without a touchdown. To top off the coaching job, they lead the league at 9½ penalties per game. Pick: Detroit

At New Orleans (-6.5) Tampa Bay - The Saints are eighth in defense. The Bucs are next-to-last in offense, Bucs QB Bruce Gradkowski will be making his first career start as the QB with the most lineman-sounding name in a very loud Dome which intimidated the Falcons only a fortnight ago. Pick: Saints

St. Louis (-3) At Green Bay Rams quarterback Marc Bulger has not thrown an interception and the defense has picked off eight passes to tie the Ravens for the NFL lead. The Rams team lead the NFL in turnover differential at plus-10. Brett Favre will play with a slight concussion and pinched nerve in his neck but he mighted be hearted by the fact that the marching band from his alma mater is scheduled to entertain fans tomorrow before and during the game. That's right, the Members of Pride of Mississippi band from the University of Southern Mississippi are making a daylong trip to Wisconsin today. Joining them are the color guard, feature twirlers and the Dixie Darlings dance team. Pick: Green Bay.

At New England (-10) Miami - The Nicktator, as he is somtimes called, who screams at underlings, is so tough on assistant coaches that, according to multiple reports, he went through 40 assistants in 10 years at Michigan State and Louisiana State. Last year he made a player cry before a practice. Pick: New England

At Chicago (-11) Buffalo Now the time is ripe for a let down. After surprising many already this season the Bears are coming off an easy victory at home against the exposed Seahawks, small surprise considering they didn't have their artificial home noise behind them. Fired Bears coach Dick Jauron returns to the scene of the crime. Pick: Buffalo

At Carolina (-9) Cleveland Greg Good, the six-foot-four 340-pound Carolina Panthers fan who dresses up as "Catman" at home games, will receive a new pickup truck from Fox Sports after an on-air practical joke. Instead of receiving a "real" pick up, Good was handed a toy pick up "Fatman" Tony Siragusa, causing humiliation and outrage in Carolina. A Charlotte Observer sports columnist took up Good's cause, writing a front-page column in Wednesday's newspaper that resulted in outraged fans e-mailing Fox Sports. Pick: Cleveland

At Jacksonville (-7) NY Jets - "Everything is not a movie," Byron Leftwich mused after another Jags loss last week. "Everything is not a great story.". Well, there goes my pet theory. Pick NY Jets

Kansas City (-3.5) At Arizona - The Chiefs defence has not allowed a passing touchdown all season and will now be facing rookie QB Matt Leinart. Seems almost too good to be true but as Mr Leftwich reminded us all this week, everything is not a movie. Pick Arizona

At San Francisco (-3.5) Oakland The Raiders have failed to cover in 11 of their last 12 games and are 14-37-1 against the spread in the past plus three years since their Super Bowl embarassment. Pick Oakland

At Philadelphia (-2) Dallas - You have wonder how "brotherly" the love will be in Philly this week for TO's eagerly awaited return. "If T.O's trying to kill himself, he's coming to the right place," said John Mirsky, 40, of East Norriton. Pick: Philly

At San Diego (-3.5) Pittsburgh Ridiculous and meaningless stat of the week. The Steelers, as a franchise, have run 7,453 times for a league-high 30,650 yards since 1992. They must be tired by now. Pick: San Diego

Monday Night Football

At Denver (-4) Baltimore Mike Shanahan’s club has averaged 34 points and covered in each of its last three games after the week of rest. Yes, the Ravens are rejuvinated but and yes the Broncos haven't scored more than 17 points all season. Pick: Baltimore

Last week: 9-4-1
Season 32-26-1