9002030791 DETROIT FREE PRESS 900908 Saturday, September 08, 1990 METRO FINAL

SPT

9B Photo : Bubby Brister . . . Burby Blister . . . Blubby Bruster? MITCH ALBOM Copyright (c) 1990, Detroit Free Press DON'T BET ON THESE SURE THINGS It's that time of year again. Time for me to study and analyze and make intelligent NFL selections, and for you to laugh your head off. Once again, I caution all of you not to put any real money on any of these selections. This will keep you from writing me those nasty letters I get every December from people who are selling their houses, thanks to my prognostications. Which is not to say I won't get them all right. It has been known to happen. Not in this lifetime or anything. And now, this week's picks . . . * LIONS 28, TAMPA BAY 20: Maybe they're not as good as we think. Maybe that 4-0 preseason is misleading. Maybe they don't have a tough defense or an All-Star receiver or any depth in case of injuries. Then again, this is Tampa Bay we're talking about it. * KANSAS CITY 20, MINNESOTA 19: The Vikes are back -- with all the same problems. And Jerry Burns still looks like Burgess Meredith. * LA RAMS 24, GREEN BAY 17: Don Majkowski refuses to take the field until the Packers deliver that suitcase full of money, small bills, nothing bigger than $1,000. * WASHINGTON 21, PHOENIX 3: Joe Bugel used to work for Joe Gibbs. Now we see who is the real genius. * CHICAGO 19, SEATTLE 17: Will Jim Harbaugh make it as starting quarterback? Will Mike Singletary's eyes pop out of his head? * DENVER 20, LA RAIDERS 16: Unfortunately, only 17 fans show up to watch, because everyone thought the Raiders had moved to Oakland. * ATLANTA 13, HOUSTON 10: Jerry Glanville isn't leaving any tickets for his old team at the Falcons' box office. He's not leaving any for Elvis, either. * BUFFALO 30, INDIANAPOLIS 14: Think of all the money the Colts will save if they never sign Eric Dickerson. Why, it should be enough to buy at least four wins, right? * CINCINNATI 28, NY JETS 10: I just came from New York, where they're actually talking about how the Jets could be a good team this year. Fortunately, I never believe anything a New Yorker says. * NEW ENGLAND 21, MIAMI 20: After the game, Miami announces that it has upped Cleveland's offer and will now give Hot Rod Williams $35 million for five years -- if he can play defensive back. * CLEVELAND 14, PITTSBURGH 13: Now let me get this straight: Is it Bubby Brister, or Bubbly Blister, or Brubby Bruster? I mean, I always get this wrong. * SAN DIEGO 29, DALLAS 24: They have Troy Aikman. They have Alonzo Highsmith. They have Emmitt Smith. They still stink. * NY GIANTS 20, PHILADELPHIA 19: Lawrence Taylor refuses to go out until the Giants deliver that suitcase full of money to his locker, small bills only, nothing bigger than a $10,000. * SAN FRANCISCO 23, NEW ORLEANS 16 (Monday night): Wait a minute. Isn't this where we left off last season . . . ?