8902130346 DETROIT FREE PRESS 891029 Sunday, October 29, 1989 METRO FINAL

SPT

4E MITCH ALBOM the picks Copyright (c) 1989, Detroit Free Press IT'S TOUGH TO PICK AMID THE BEANINGS I am making these picks from the press box at the World Series. Therefore, before I get hit in the head with a foul ball -- or, in the case of this World Series, an Oakland home run -- let me dispense with the small tal-- Plunk! * GREEN BAY 20, DETROIT 17: Wasn't it last year in Green Bay that Wayne Fontes got his first win as Lions coach? "A new era begins!" they said. Um-hmm. * CLEVELAND 16, HOUSTON 12: These teams like each other as much as Zsa Zsa likes traffic cops. * NEW ORLEANS 34, ATLANTA 10: The Saints finally wake up. Unfortunately, they've already slept through half the season. * CHICAGO 21, LA RAMS 17: Ditka lied. * BUFFALO 23, MIAMI 21: The last time Dan Marino was sacked, George Bush was vice president. And I'm not making this up. * INDIANAPOLIS 14, NEW ENGLAND 13: Doug Flutie won the Heisman Trophy. Eric Dickerson didn't come close. Go figure. * DALLAS 20, PHOENIX 18: Although, if it keeps Jimmy Johnson and his gator-head owner winless, I'll be happy to be wrong. * CINCINNATI 36, TAMPA BAY 24: Got change for a Buc? * SAN FRANCISCO 88, NY JETS 3: Why can't the Lions play the Jets? It might be a close game. * LA RAIDERS 20, WASHINGTON 14: Poor Jay Schroeder. He's now been benched by both these teams. * DENVER 54, PHILADELPHIA 53: Passing yards: 3,472. Rushing yards: 0. * SEATTLE 22, SAN DIEGO 13: Who's the new Chargers quarterback? Billy Joe Tolliver? Didn't he sing "Cherry Hill Park"? * PITTSBURGH 13, KANSAS CITY 9: Who cares? * NY GIANTS 24, MINNESOTA 20 (Monday night): The Vikings have never played in the Meadowlands. Never. Just don't breathe the air, fellas. * RECORD LAST WEEK: 12-2. * RECORD VS. SPREAD: 9-5. * SEASON RECORD: 65-33. * SEASON RECORD VS. SPREAD: 45-49-4. * BEST PICK LAST WEEK: NY Giants 23, San Diego 13. Giants won, 20-13. * WORST PICK LAST WEEK: LA Rams 29, New Orleans 16. Saints won, 40-21.