NFL Week 9: Terry McAulay

Heading to Cleveland this weekend - no, not for the game. I'm going to a wedding, the wedding of a college friend of mine (some may remember Kevin from the 2007 Vegas trip; others may know him from college). This will be the last of the weddings that I will attend in the foreseeable future (unless Mer does something completely out of character in the future).

So, in honor of the trip to Cleveland, I'll dedicate this week to Terry McAulay, the head referree during the "Bottle-gate" game of 2001. Imagine, if you will, a city that had its team leave in 1995 and spent 3 years in the wilderness. Then the first two years of expansion resulted in teams with a combined record of 5-27.

Then - the third year - hope! The Browns are 6-6 heading into a crucial home clash vs. Jacksonville. The Browns are driving , down 5, with a minute left to play. 4th down - the catch is made by the Browns at teh Jags 10. First down. Couch gets to the line and spikes the ball. Now it is second down.

Or is it? McAulay then decides - after the spike - that the 4th down play will be reviewed. Clearly, unequivocably, against the rules, since a play has intervened.

The rest, of course, is history. The catch is overturned; bottles reign down on the field, and the game is declared "over" until Vegas calls Tagliabue; Tagliabue calls McAulay and orders him to finish the game. 45 minutes later, the teams come back on for the Jags' kneel down.

This still makes my blood boil.

Ten 20, GB 17. The Titans are due for a letdown sometime, right?

Arz 31, StL 24. I can't see the Cards losing this. If they win, they have a grip on the division.

Min 23, Hou 13. I'll believe Houston on the road when I see it.

TB 20, KC 10. I think TB's defense is just a wee bit better than the Jets.

Jax 106, Cin 13. The Jaguars will have 983 yards rushing.

Chi 24, Det 10. Seems like an easy pick, doesn't it? Hmmmmmmmm?

Buf 27, NYJ 21. I can't figure Buffalo out. Should we be impressed with the win over SD in Buffalo? Who are the real Bills? (We will find out Nov 17th!)

Den 27, Mia 20. The bye certainly helps the Broncos.

Phi 24, Sea 10. SF gave points away to the Seahawks last week - I don't think Philly will repeat that.

Oak 19, Atl 16, OT. This smells like an upset.

NYG 20, Dal 17. This is a classic letdown game -for the Giants, after the tough Steelers game.

Ind 23, NE 20. Two teams I have no handle on. You are what your record says, so the Colts turly are a 3-4 team. Would the Browns - also 3-4 - be favored by 6 at home vs. the Pats? No. Why should the Colts?

Was 20, Pit 13. OK, Redskin fans - I'm begging you - win this game.

And what a HUGE game for the Browns this week.

Best bets: 15 of them. Last week: 8-6-1. Overall: 71-48-3.

Az -3

Az/StL over 48.5

Min -4.5
Hou/Min under 46.5

TB/KC under 37

Det/Chi under 43

NYJ/Buf over 41.5

Den -3.5

Phi -6.5
Phi/Sea under 42.5

Oak +2.5

Atl/Oak under 41

Dal +9

NE +6

Was -1.5

5 favorites, 3 underdogs, 2 overs, 5 unders. I don't like it.