CATS STRONG ’DOGS
Cam & Co. can cover in Big Easy
SUNDAY
Pa nt he r s (+ 4 ¹ /₂ ) over SAINTS: Understand the market move to New Orleans, looking to rebound off lackluster loss on the road against the Rams, where it never looked like a winner. But Carolina schedule is notably less-threatening going forward, with three straight home dates against NFC North types, while Saints must still deal with rebounding Atlanta — twice. Cam Newton, a focused dog? Arf. Giants (+9) over RAIDERS: Tom Coughlin’s Giants won Super Bowls thanks to sustained defensive opportunism out of Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, et al – and lightning-bolt moments from Mario Manningham and David Tyree, as Eli Manning kept calm and carried on. After ducking San Diego’s clutches to find success, will Manning reunite with Coughlin in Jacksonville and rediscover true happiness? Money divides, as well as conquers. Geno Smith is fortunate there isn’t an NFL team less graceful at accumulating interceptions than these Raiders. It’s unfortunate the Giants receivers on hand can’t stretch the field. Oakland will miss suspended Michael Crabtree. JETS (+3) over Chiefs: Jets adherents sacrificing consider- able value to line up on this side, but Chiefs have resembled a falling safe after opening 5-0 — as the league’s defensive coordinators f igured how to take Alex Smith’s legs out from under him. RAVENS (-3) over Lions: Featuring sides striving for wild-card slots, this could be the Ravens’ best win of ’17. Lions under greater pressure, but haven’t beaten name side since stifling Minnesota. Expect close finish, but do you want Matthew Stafford at crunch time against a legitimate foe? 49ers (+ 3) over BEARS: News of ex-Pat Jimmy Garropolo getting the start for Niners sent the early plus-number here (over +8) through the floor. Wish Niners weren’t coming off a Seattle battle, but, hey ... lesser of evils. FALCONS (-3) over Vikings: Minnesota is virtually home-free in NFC North, though sizzling Atlanta must win this to remain in first flight in hectic NFC South three-team battle royal. BILLS (+ 9) over Patriots: AFC home-field advantage likely to be settled when the Pats visit Pittsburgh in two weeks. New England maintains long-term prosperity against modest AFC East, but they didn’t cover at
MetLife against the Jets, and are fully priced here. Broncos (-1½) over DOL
PHINS: Sure, it’s a passing league now — but good luck if you can’t trust your running game to any tangible extent. Broncos put Trevor Siemien back in the saddle at QB, and Dolphins defense has fallen farther, faster. Te x a n s (+ 6 ½) over TITANS: Hairsplitting judgment call, given our greater affection f or t he Houston defense over and above a Titans offense running in fits and starts under the direction of the currently erratic Marcus Mariota. Colts (+ 9 ½ ) over J AGUARS: Eve r imagine you would ever want to lay close to double digits with Blake Bortles — especially since Indianapolis has home-loss revenge working for earlier skunking? Jags have rebounded off each of their three losses — but weren’t asked to lay more than 3 in each instance. PACKERS (-2) over Buccaneers: Tampa Bay gets a healthier Jameis Winston back for this, and projected moderate temperatures won’t hurt Bucs a bit, but Tampa has lost every 2017 game in which Winston has thrown a pick. B r ow n s (+ 1 3 ½ ) over CHARGERS: Many pros continue to fancy t hese Browns, f ig- uring, “They can’t stay this noncompetitive this long, can they?” Well ... but Cleveland snapped last year’s losing run against (admittedly lesser) version of Bolts, and wideout Josh Gordon returns.
CARDINALS (+ 7) over Rams: We’ve loved L.A., but will hold back here. Rams stuffed Arizona 33-0 Week 7 in London, but Cards coach Bruce Arians hates the league’s British shtick, never wants to go back (he’s likely safe, with that presumption), and it showed. Taking the side nobody wants.
SEAHAWKS (+ 6) over Eagles: Philadelphia has scored 186 points in their past five outings against a run of mostly mediocre defenses. Still, that’s sustained offensive effort. But these hosts won’t be intimidated, as they’re used to heights Philly hasn’t reached since ’60.
MONDAY
BENGALS (+5) over Steelers: Tough call, since value available when Bengals were full +7 has withered — and the home side is consistently less than the sum of its parts, due to broadly subpar coaching. But a Monday-night home dog in practical mustwin situation? Ohhhhhhh ... all right. LAST WEEK: 5-7-1 SEASON: 81-73-9