NFL Week 4: Flowering Crabapple

Week 4 is when things starts to toughen up in the NFL. There are some great games this week to really test the good teams - are you really as good as you think you are?

Hole #4 accomplishes the same task at Augusta. The first three holes at Augusta are not the toughest - well, #1 is tough, but a good golfer should sleepwalk with pars on 2 and 3.

Now the fun begins. Are you up to the challenge? #4 - Flowering Crabapple (even the name sounds brute) is a long par 3 of 240 yards, downhill onto a treacherous green. Oh yeah - don't go over by 10 yards or you are out of bounds.

Many courses have this kind of a hole - a long, hard hole in the middle of the front nine to wake you up out of your sleep. It is the first real tough hole on the course that makes you pay attention. If you are playing well, this will be the hole that you get your first bogey on; if you are not plaing well, then you don't look forward to this hole - because you aren't getting one back here.

Granville #4 is very much like Augusta #4 - chances are hole #2 caught you are you are 1 over on the tee. Are you going to wake up and paly better - or are you going to have a sloppy double? Grandview #5 is another great example. I love playing this hole when I am down against Steve, since there isn't room on this hole to hit a right-to-left shot, and Steve's ball flight is a 30 yard right-to-left spatula. Yankee Trace #4, while a par 4, also fits in the same category.

So will the Jets and Ravens remain at even after 4? Will the Steelers right the ship after 2 bogies on their first 3 holes? Will Cleveland post another double and be 7 over after 4? On to the picks:

Was 20, TB 7. I know the Redskins are bad, but Josh Johnson is the QB for Tampa.

NE 28, Bal 26. I think the Ravens are vulnerable to the short pass if a deep threat exists on the team. I look for a high scoring game.

NYG 23, KC 17. My consistent belief that the Chiefs will be close one of these Sundays is irrational.

Ten 24, Jax 20. Nothing comes easy with the Titans.

Ind 33, Sea 17. Boy, Indy looks unstoppable, don't they? They can socre at will. Pierre Garcon was still available in both my fantasy leagues, by the way.

Hou 20, Oak 16. I have no faith in the Texans giving consistent effort 2 weeks in a row.

Cin 21, Cle 20. When the whole world picks against the Browns - including Mike Greenberg of Mike and Mike.....

Chi 23, Det 16. Yes, I think the Lions are headed toward respectability. The Bears are overrated, and they will win here, but it will be close. Matt Forte, please wake up anytime now...

NO 31, NYJ 20. The Saints have an average defense - and that wil be enough here.

Mia 16, Buf 14. Ugh. Glad I won't watch this game.

SF 23, StL 10. Bot sure about this game after the 9ers lost Frank Gore.

Den 27, Dal 23. I have a feeling the Cowboys have a bad Monday night hangover after that game vs. Carolina. They are an average team.

Pit 27, SD 17. I hate to say it, but the Steelers are out for blood.

Min 24, GB 23. Favre! Favre! Green Bay! Favre! Favre! Wrangler Jeans!

Best bets: 15 of them (last week : 8-6, overall: 21-24)

Was -7.5

TB/Was under 37

Bal/NE over 45

KC +9

Ind -10

Sea/Ind over 44

Oak +8.5

Oak/Hou under 42.5

Det +10

NO -7

Buf/Mia under 37

SF -10

Den +3

Dal/Den over 42

Pit -6