9502010641
DETROIT FREE PRESS
951014
Saturday, October 14, 1995
METRO FINAL
5B
MITCH ALBOM
The picks
Copyright (c) 1995, Detroit Free Press
LIONS OVERDUE IN GREEN BAY
* Detroit 20, Green Bay 19: I know, I know. They always lose in Green Bay.
They can't play on grass. Barry gets stomped. I know all that. I also knew
that Cleveland would never make the World Series, and look how that's turning
out. Pick vs. spread: Detroit.
* Chicago 28, Jacksonville 24: The Jaguars' quarterback, Mark (Beau) Brunell,
leads the league in rushing for quarterbacks. Then again, if you played for
Jacksonville, you'd be running, too. Pick vs. spread: Jacksonville.
* Minnesota 16, Tampa Bay 12: The Buccaneers are in first place? This is an
outrage that must be stopped immediately. Next thing you know, Northwestern
will be beating Michigan. Pick vs. spread: Minnesota.
* Kansas City 31, New England 30: I'd pick the Patriots to win if their
quarterback wasn't working with one arm. Pick vs. spread: New England.
* Philadelphia 4, New York Giants 2: In a game of no danger, there can only be
safeties. Think about it. Pick vs. spread: NY Giants.
* Miami 13, New Orleans 10: Yes, I know, Dan Marino is out. But these are the
Saints. Their fans don't wear bags over their heads for nothing. Pick vs.
spread: New Orleans.
* New York Jets 3, Carolina 0: As Mr. T might say, "I pity the fool -- who
gets stuck watching this." Pick vs. spread: NY Jets.
* Washington 20, Arizona 10: I know that Arizona should probably win this
game. But I get such pleasure out of picking against Buddy Ryan, I don't
care. Pick vs. spread: Washington.
* Buffalo 30, Seattle 9: Somebody better stop the Bills from winning before
you-know-what happens again. Pick vs. spread: Buffalo.
* San Francisco 20, Indianapolis 17: Marshall, handcuffed. Pick vs. spread:
Indianapolis.
* Dallas 27, San Diego 6: For Jerry Jones, a week without a press conference
is like a day without sunshine. Pick vs. spread: No line.
* Oakland 34, Denver 28 (Monday night): Don't look now, but the Raiders have .
. . an offense. Pick vs. spread: Oakland.
* Last week: 10-4.
* Season: 23-16 (I got a late start).
* Last week vs. spread: 3-10-1.
* Season vs. spread: 17-19-3.
* Mitch vs. Curt (vs. spread): Curt Sylvester leads by five games, 22-14-3 to
17-19-3. The sports writer with the best record gets his choice of teams in
the Freep's annual Great Super Bowl Debate. The debate will appear the day
before Super Bowl XXX in Tempe, Ariz.
* Best pick last week: Tampa Bay 24, Cincinnati 17 (Buccaneers won, 19-16).
* Worst pick last week: Pittsburgh 30, Jacksonville 10 (Jaguars won, 20-16).
FOOTBALL