NFL Week 13: Bonanza

Bonanza! Now we are getting classy and reminiscing about steakhouses! Everyone remembers

Bonanza restaurants - the theme was based on the old Western TV show from the 1960s. The actor who played Hoss Cartwright in "Bonanza" actually founded the restaurant.

The ordering process was different than a normal restaurant - you order the entrée and the potato at the counter - then go sit down, usually with your numbered plastic marker - and then go enjoy the buffet! The buffet was mostly a salad bar, but some locations also had a hot buffet - mac and chees, soups, and desserts like mystery chocolate fluff. Mmmmmm - I remember that fluff!

The steaks were nothing special - how could it be when it was ordered, cooked, and served within 15 minutes - but it feeds the masses. You could get steak - T-bone, sirloin, chopped steak (of course my favorite), and then there were chicken and fired seafood selections. All for one low price - usually like $7.99 or something!

After opening in 1969, Bonanza grew to over 600 restaurants in 1989. Six hundred! That's incredible. I don't remember any of them being close to us in Maryland - or in Cleveland. The number started to dwindle in the 90s, and then Bonanza merged with Ponderosa in the mid 90s. That didn't work, and the parent company had to declare bankruptcy in 2008.

There are a few Bonanza's left in the US - about 10 - located in far away places like Presque Isle, ME and St. Cloud, MN. There are 7 located in Puerto Rico as well! The Bonanza in Presque Isle was voted the #1 steak house in the town on Trip Advisor. So that's something!

So if there were no Bonanza's around my hometown, why am I writing about it? Well, it was a yearly tradition to go the Bonanza in Rehoboth Beach, DE when we had our annual beach vacation to the Delaware shore. (We never went to Ocean City, MD - too busy! We kept to the quiet, northern Delaware beaches.)

We stayed at the Econo Lodge on Coastal Highway ( US 9, Delaware Rte 1) about a mile from the beach. The Bonanza, I believe, was across the street and it was an easy way to feed Layup and I (both teenagers) for a dinner before a stroll on the Rehoboth boardwalk. Layup and I were filled with chopped steak and texas toast as we played Tapper (the arcade game) and mini golf until sunset.

Looking at the maps, the Econo Lodge is still there - but the Bonanza is not - I think it turned into an Applebee's.

Some commercials to remind you of the food and atmosphere:

1. A recent Bonanza commercial for the restaurant in Sanford, ME. Look at the glaze on that chicken! Ummmmm….no.....

2. $2.79 for a 1/2 pound T-bone! Does that look like a half pound to you?

3. Gillian and Barney Fife!

Now, to the games. Included are my bad predictions for the Thursday Thanksgiving games as well....

Chi 20, Det 17
Dal 28, Buf 13
NO 34, Atl 20

Car 20, Was 10.  Look for a run fest. I can't imagine Carolina will air it out too much with Allen's recent struggles. And we have seen the Redskins are incompentent on offense.

NYJ 27, Cin 17. Will he change to Dalton mean anything for the Bengals? I think they were only close last week because of the badness of Rudolph. The Jets run D will stop the Bengals.

Ind 24, Ten 20. I don't know if I can trust the Titans on the road, and Indy is not the same without T Y Hilton. Should be a one possession game.

Bal 27, SF 20. Fascinating game. Are the Niners good enough on D to stop Baltimore? Is the Baltimore defense truly elite to shut down an average offense?

TB 31, Jax 20. Jacksonville looks like a team that has given up. Not sure if Foles has fully integrated into this offense. Will I regret taking Winston - again??

Phi 27, Mia 17. I trust the Eagles D, but the offense? Where are the weapons? This will not be a blowout, but Miami's D is bad enough to let the Eagles off with a 7-10 point win

GB 30, NYG 20. Yes, the Packers will score against this defense - but how many points will the Giants score? The Packers' D has been exposed.

Az 27, LAR 24. The Cardinals are playing hard - and the Rams look lost. The Cardinals have a good rush D - which is the only thing the Rams can do right now.

KC 34, Oak 23. Yes, Oakland has the rushing game to take advantage of KC's weakness - but I can't see the Chiefs losing this, especially after the bye (and Reid's record after a bye)

Den 20, LAC 17. Just a hunch here. Denver off a bye, new QB - and questions on Rivers and his future in LA. Should be a low scoring, defensive struggle - a game where the Chargers always lose.

NE 27, Hou 17. Yes, there may be multiple players out for the Pats - but Belichick can beat pro teams with division 3 players - especially Bill O'Brien.

Sea 28, Min 26. Looking forward to this game. Every time Seattle could be shown as a fraud, they play a home game against an opponent that is weak on the road.

Best bets: 12 of them, including one from Thursday. Last week: 7-8; overall: 80-83-3
ATS: last week: 5-2; overall: 43-53-2
Over/under: last week: 2-6; overall: 37-30-1

Dal -6.5 (L)
Was/Car under 39
NYJ -3
Ind -1
TB -2.5
GB -6.5
GB/NYG over 44.5
Az +3
Oak/KC over 50
Den +3
NE -3
Min/Sea over 50

Supercontest: Last week: 4-1; overall: 26-34

Dal -6.5 (L)
TB -1
GB -6.5
Az +3
NE -3

NFL Week 12: Haussner's

Haussner's! Yes, it's going to be another Baltimore-centric blog post. Haussner's was a Baltimore
landmark restaurant in the 20th century known for its seafood and, more importantly, its art  - especially kitchy art. It was one of those places where you went to once a year for big celebrations - and could get anything you wanted. And I mean it - see below.

Haussner's opened in 1925 and quickly became known for its seafood, especially its crab cakes. For those that don't know, Baltimore is the culinary capital for crab cakes- there are none better in the US. It turned into more of a touristy place starting after World War II - with busloads of people coming in to the east side of Baltimore to enjoy the crab cakes and comfort food. The Washington Post did not comment favorably on the food with "thick gravy"; "order a piece of meat and try to find it with sonar" and the people with "heavy Baltimore accents that can drive any refined person to madness".

Starting in the 30s, the wife of the owner started collecting art - all kinds, some fine, some kitchy. She filled up the whole restaurant with art. At the end, there were 780 pieces in the dining room, which of course was huge. At its peak, 1500 meals were served each day - so that gives you an idea of the size of the place.

And the menu - holy hell! One full page dedicated to seafood, and one page dedicated to other meats. It was like a smorgasbord, but to order. And the sides - how many sides does one restaurant need? At one point they served 37 vegetable dishes. It takes a while to read through everything to see just what the options are.

Why does Haussner's have a special place in my heart? I think it as the first restaurant I went to where I had a real "adult" restaurant experience. We only went there once or twice (maybe just once) in my time in Baltimore. We went there - and it was time to order off the adult menu. I was 12, and felt like Mike Gundy. "I'm a MAN! I'm orde
ring off the adult menu!"

But what to get? I hated seafood at the time - like any middle schooler - so let's look at the meat part of the menu. Veal? no. Liver? Of course not. Fried chicken? Well, maybe....

and then I saw it. Hamburger steak. Of course! It's steak, right? It's refined? Don't adults get this?

So my first real, adult meal was here at Hausser's and the Hamburger steak. It was delicious. Did you expect anything different from me?

The restaurant closed in 1999 - I never tried their crab cakes - and the art was sold at auction for over $10 million. The building remains vacant at this time.

Here's a commercial I found from 1998 - combing the art and showing off their vast menu. Maybe they needed a new creative director for their ads......

This blog post is up early this week since I will be in Vegas starting Friday to watch the games, among other things. I am legitimately scared of losing to Miami - especially with the distractions of the Garrett suspension this week.

On to the games:

Hou 31, Ind 20 (Thu).  The Texans have the formula to beat the Colts - good running game, potent passing offense, good run D and the Colts miss Hilton.

Atl 33, TB 27. I'm done trying to figure out the Falcons. Is this a mirage? Tampa has had 8 overs in a row - so they can score against anyone, including this new Atlanta team.

Buf 20, Den 17. should be a close game - Lindsey will have a good day vs. the poor Buf run D, and Buffalo may need Josh Allen to make plays. Yikes!

Chi 20, NYG 16. Bears O vs Giants D? It's like an 80s Indians intersquad game! I think Daniel Jones will keep this close.

Pit 24, Cin 20.  Mason Rudolph is not good. If Cincinnati just plays basic vanilla D, they can hold the Steelers to 17 points.

NO 27, Car 13.  I think Carolina is starting to fall off the map - Kyle Allen is regressing, and the Saints can't afford another slip up.

Oak 27, NYJ 24.  Just don't see the Jets keeping up with Oakland. Yes, the Jets have a great run D - but Carr should be able to move the ball ok through the air, and I don't think Darnold and the Jets will keep up.

Was 23, Det 16. This is it! Maybe Haskins can rally the team - Sunday's evidence notwithstanding. I can't support Driskell on the road as a favorite.

Sea 31, Phi 27. Just too many questions in the Eagles secondary to trust them. Russell magic will be in full force, especially after a bye.

Ten 23, Jax 16. The Titans are the same type of team the Colts are (without TY Hilton) - run first, pass when necessary - and they were just dominated. I see the same thing here.

NE 27, Dal 26. Elliott should get 30+ carries in this game. There will be points scored -either by Cowboys mistakes or the Pats passing game...expect this to be close.

SF 23, GB 20. Boy, I wanted to take the Packers here, but the lack of a run D by GB and the coaching advantage of Mike Shanahan makes this a pass. Should be a great game.

Bal 24, LAR 20. How can you trust this Rams offense right now? What a mess. Are the receivers back? And how do they stop the Ravens? Lamar will have to pass to win here.

Best bets: 15 of them this week. Last week: 6-7-1; overall: 73-75-3
ATS: last week: 3-5-1; overall: 38-51-2
O/U: last week: 3-2; overall: 35-24-1

Hou -3.5
Hou/Ind over 45.5
TB/Atl over 51.5
Cin +6.5
Cin/Pit over 39
NO -9.5
NO/Car under 47
Oak/NYJ over 46.5
Was +3.5
Sea +1.5
Sea/Phi over 48
Ten -3
Dal +6.5
Dal/NE over 45
GB/SF under 47.5

Supercontest picks: last week: 2-3; overall: 22-33
Hou -4
Was +3.5
Sea +2
Ten -3
Dal +6.5

NFL Week 11: Chi Chi's

Chi Chi's! A celebration of food! Everyone remembers Chi Chi's. It's where your family went to celebrate every mediocre achievement in the family. "Congrats! You made the varsity golf team as a freshman! Let's go to Chi Chi's to celebrate!"

And why not? Chi Chi's was on the cutting edge of culinary adventures in the 80s. Who knew what a Chimichanga was? Let's take a full fat burrito - and fry it! That will appeal to the Americans! (And it did!). And I think they were the first restaurant to make fajitas. Did we know what fajitas were before Chi Chi's?

But everyone knows what the signature food item was for Chi Chi's...….one guess.

Fried Ice Cream! As a middle schooler, I was fascinated by this. How did they DO that? How do you fry ice cream without it resulting in a big melted goop? Oh, and it tasted so good. As a result, I think Chi Chi's was always my first choice when being asked where do I want to go out to ea

t for my birthday. Oh! The birthday celebrations! Chi Chi's was one of the first restaurants to bring all the staff out and sing a song for you - I remember being absolutely mortified on my first birthday visit there. I wanted to sink into the booth as 10 people came over and sang Happy Birthday to me - and put the sombrero on my head. I wish I had a picture of that.....

Everyone had a Chi Chi's near them (except my wife, who said "Marysville never had such fancy places like that"). The one nearest to us was the one in Timonium - and there has to be at least 5 readers that went to the same one. Where exactly was it? I remember it backing up to I-83; it was near the fairgrounds/race track, right?

Chi Chi's was founded in 1975 in Minneapolis - and soon spread nationwide to 210 location by the mid 90s. I think we all can remember what happened to cause its ultimate demise - it was in bankruptcy in the early 2000s when there was a Hepatitis outbreak in a Pittsburgh Chi Chi's in 2003; they settled in August 2004 and shut all the doors of all the Chi Chi's in September 2005.

I guess the biggest mystery to me is - why didn't any other food franchise - fast food or "fast casual" as they say now - pick up the fried ice cream idea? I'm sure all of us would line up for our next chance of a fried ice cream sundae - so why hasn't a chain pick this up? Seems like a perfect match for Arby's, or Jack in the Box, or even something like IHOP. A free was to get customers in!

There's no mention that each location had to have a stucco building for the restaurant - but I never saw a non-stucco Chi Chi's. There's a sad website out there devoted to old Chi Chi's buildings.

Here are some commercials to remind you of the great food (and ice cream) from Chi Chi's:

1. The first time I saw a Mexican pizza....

2. " A Celebration of food"! Chajita style? Another made up word....

Chi Chi's still does exist as a restaurant in Europe and the Middle East - but there are zero of them here in North America. Just like the number games Myles Garrett will play in for the rest of the year! What a horrible ending to a great game. Maybe Mason Rudolph - the instigator - wasn't suspended because having him as the QB for the Steelers is punishment enough for Pittsburgh.

On to the games.....

Dal 27, Det 20. On paper, this should be a blowout - but you know Dallas on the road can't be trusted and maybe Driskel can perform at home. He did look good (and scared me) in the second half last week at Chicago.

Car 30, Atl 13. I don't know what that was last week by the Falcons. Carolina has the pass D to stop Ryan (or Schaub) and Atlanta has no run offense to counter Carolina's weakness.

Bal 28, Hou 20. If the Ravens' mind is in the game, they should win this game easily. It's hard to stop them and it's unclear how we beat this team by over two touchdowns.

Ind 20, Jax 17. Too many variables here. Is Brissett 100% ? How will Foles play in his first start back? How many FGs will Vinatieri shank?

Buf 16, Mia 13. Miami's defense is playing much better - I am a little concerned about them when we play them next week - and Buffalo is not an explosive offense. So, should be a close, low scoring game, like most Bills games.

Min 31, Den 10. Brandon Allen, now with tape on him, on the road against one of the best defenses in the NFL? I don't see how the Broncos score here.

NO 34, TB 27. A fun shootout, and no, I'm not falling for Jameis again in this one. This will be a good test on whether the Saints game last week was a fluke, or if there are cracks in the NFC #1 team.

Was 24, NYJ 16. Just a hunch. Can you see the Jets playing 2 good games in a row? Washington is off a bye, and maybe they have plays that Haskins can run effectively.

SF 31, Arz 13. The Cardinals are the #1 pick in the Supercontest this week - and I don't get it. 49ers, off a hard loss, will come out and dominate this team. They remember 2 weeks ago where they let them back in the game - and it won't happen here.

Oak 30, Cin 20. Should be high scoring, solely due to Oakland's improving offense and their porous defense. Let's see if Finley can do something against this bad of a D.

NE 23, Phi 16. I just don't think the Eagles are healthy enough -even after the bye- to beat this defense. The Eagles secondary worries me too.

LAR 27, Chi 13. The Rams' run D will force the Bears to pass to win - and what are the chances of that happening? Like the Denver game, how are the Bears going to score?

LAC 27, KC 26. The Chargers are playing better - especially their D - and they have the run game to gash the Chiefs. Something is off with KC and not sure Mexico City is the place to fix it.

Best bets: 14 of them this week. Last week: 9-3, overall: 67-68-2.
ATS: last week: 4-3; overall: 35-46-1
O/u: last week: 6-0 (!!) ; overall: 32-22-1

Bal -4
Car -4
Car/Atl under 49
Jax/Ind under 43.5
Mia +6.5
Buf/Mia under 40.5
Min -10
NO/TB over 49.5
Was -2
SF -10
NE -4
NE/Phi under 45
LAR -6.5
LAC +4

Supercontest picks: last week: 3-2; overall: 20-30.

Car -5.5
Min -10.5
NE -3.5
LAR -6.5
LAC +3.5

NFL Week 10: Horn and Horn Smorgasbord

Horn and Horn! This will be a Baltimore-centric posting this week, as we focus in on one of the local buffet chains from the area. Horn and Horn Smorgasbord was a staple in the Baltimore area in the 80s - who doesn't love buffets?

Horn and Horn started downtown (according to Michael Olesker) as a cafeteria, but then expanded in the 70s and 80s into the suburbs - Laurel, Essex, and the one Layup and I went to as a family, Bel Air. Going to Bel Air from our house seemed (at the time) like an eternal trip - although it probably was like 15 minutes.

What do I remember about the smorgasbord? First, the Swedish meatballs. I don't know why that sticks in my memory. Meatballs and wide egg noodles - with the gravy all over it - that was my staple at Horn and Horn. The second entrée I remember was the fish - breaded fish, of course. No one in our family ate broiled/grilled fish in the 80s. It was always Van De Camps or Gorton's at home until we went out - and had real fried fish at the smorgasbord!

I'm sure there was a nice dessert bar, too - but I don't recall it at all. I'm sure I grabbed a pound of instant pudding from the bar at one point in time.

Horn and Horn expanded to 6 locations in the Baltimore area during its peak. The 80s truly was the decade of excess with buffets all over the place! In 1998, they were all converted to a chain called Cactus Willie's. I read that they wanted to focus on steak - like being the next Ponderosa or something - and that didn't work out. All of the Cactus Willie's locations are now closed.

You can tell it was a pure local joint by the offers - who wants a free Cal Ripken glass? I don't even know what player is on that glass in the ad......it's certainly not Ripken.

There was a weekend breakfast buffet at Horn and Horn - here is the menu - and there are some good menu items on here!

- Apple Sauce
- Stewed Prunes (for the over 60 and constipated crowd)
- Creamed chipped beef on a biscuit
- Italian sausage with peppers and onions (even I don't eat that for breakfast - unless I am tailgating)
- Fruit Cocktail ( do we get that thick syrup, too?)

Who can resist?

Talking about smorgasbords, the Browns now have even more options for their offense with the addition of Kareem Hunt. But will it actually help? There's only one ball, and Freddie Kitchens is like a 9 year old heading to the smorgasbord. No balance at all - 3/4 of the plate will be one entrée and the kid can't add anything else.

OK, maybe a bad analogy. On to the games:

Chi 20, Det 13.  I think this is a rally around the wagons game for Chicago. At home, a porous Detroit D - the Bears have to make a statement here.

Bal 27, Cin 24. Purely a spot play. The Ravens have to be in letdown mode after their big win; the Bengals are off a bye with a new quarterback. I still don't trust the Ravens D.

NO 31, Atl 14. Seems like a square pick - but how can you trust the Falcons? The Saints' D is starting to be impressive.

NYG 23, NYJ 17. I hate both these teams gambling wise. The Giants have more weapons on offense here to move the ball consistently; the Jets? Not sure.

TB 30, Arz 20.  I have to believe Jameis has a mistake free game in him one of these days. The Tampa rush D is too good and will force Murray to make mistakes on the road.

KC 27, Ten 23. I'd be careful of this game. The key to beat the Chiefs is to hold the ball for long drives - and Tennessee is a run-based team. Could be closer than people think.

Ind 24, Mia 13. Torn here as Miami is playing better, but the Colts have a decent offense - even with Brian Hoyer. The Colts need- and deserve  - a comfortable win.

GB 27, Car 20. Can't see the Pack losing this game after the debacle in LA> However, the Panthers and my fantasy stud McCaffrey will keep it close.

Pit 23, LAR 21. I am starting to realize the Rams just may not be that good. No run game means the D can protect the pass - and Goff is running out of targets. And they are on the road here....

Min 24, Dal 23. Should be a great game. Both teams will emphasize the run - meaning a lot of long drives and equal time of possessions. Will be shocked if this is not a one-score game.

SF 30, Sea 27. I think the Seahawks are hearing the talk about them being frauds. But their defense is truly suspect. The back door will be open here for Russell.

Best bets: 12 of them. Last week: a lot better! 10-4. Overall: 58-65-2
ATS: last week: 7-2; overall: 31-43-1
Over/under: last week: 3-2; overall: 27-22-1

Chi -3
Det/Chi under 41.5
Cin +10.5
Bal/Cin over 44.5
NO/Atl under 51
NYG -3
TB -4.5
Mia/Ind under 44
Pit +4
Min +3
Sea +6.5
Sea/SF over 47

Supercontest picks: hey, a winning week! 3-2. Overall: 17-28

Chi -2.5
Cin +10
TB -4.5
Pit +3.5
Sea +6.5

NFL Week 9: Roaring 20s Pizza

Roaring 20s Pizza! Because I have had the absolute worst week I've ever had on picking games on the blog - 0-12 with the best bets - you, the readers, will have to read through the really inner paths of my mind for a place that none of you have ever visited.

For whatever reason, my childhood memories really start to be vivid around when I was 7-8 years old when we moved to Lansing, MI. I just recall the house, neighborhood, friends, school so much more vividly than anything before that. So we are going to talk about one of the unique pizza places that opened up near our house during that time.

The Roaring 20s was an Italian restaurant that opened up in the mid 70s between campus ( Michigan St) and our house. I think it was about a 5 minute ride from our house to the restaurant - on Meridian Rd, I believe. The main gimmick - which was popular at the time! - was that there was a big Wurlitzer pipe organ on one end of the restaurant.

That's what I recall - not the food, or any kids activities - but the organ. It was dark in there, and the whole wall was covered in pipes. People would play the organ during dinner - yes, it sounded just as you would have guessed. As an 8 year old, it was intimidating, overwhelming and fascinating.

It's incredible to read this - the Pipe Organ Pizzeria fad in the 70s was a real thing. It started in 1958 in California when someone put a pipe organ in their pizzeria after watching a performance. The idea quickly spread - and at its heyday, there were over 100 of these pipe organ pizzerias in the US.

The Roaring 20s Pizza place was a franchise, but only in Michigan - based in Grand Rapids, there were 6 or 7 locations in the state. Each with its own pipe organ. We would go to our location in Okemos -usually on Dad's payday, every other Friday - and have pizza or spaghetti. No recollection of the food - but I'll always have the image of the Wurlitzer in my mind.

All of the restaurants in Michigan have now closed; the flagship in Grand Rapids closed in 1991. Why did the pipe organ pizzeria joints fail? Well, one blogger I read opines that the rise of Chuck E Cheeses - to provide kids real entertainment with video games - drew families away from the pipe organ entertainment. I'm not sure I buy that.

Anyway - don't know if any of the readers remember the pipe organ fad of the 70s - but it's something burned in my memory. What a gimmick that worked. Here's a creepy PM Magazine clip that was shot on location in the Roaring 20s restaurant in Grand Rapids. I could write a whole column on PM Magazine itself - what was that blip in American TV programming?

Let's hope last week's picks were just a blip in the road to profitability.....

Hou 23, Jax 20. I still believe Houston has a bit more talent than Jacksonville, and Watson is just better than Minchew. I know JJ is out, coaching issues for O'Brien.....should be a close game.

Buf 24, Was 13. Maybe I'm giving the Skins and Haskins too much credit to score against the Buffalo defense - could it be single digits again for the Skins?

Car 27, Ten 17. Too many weapons for Carolina. Their defense is starting to come around - and should be able to stop the Titans at home.

KC 28, Min 20. Just a feeling here that the Vikings are due for a letdown. I am surprised at how good the Chiefs offense was with Moore.

NYJ 23, Mia 10. Just looking at the defensive stats, the Jets should be able to stop the Dolphins on most drives. Can Darnold get his head out of his ass?

Phi 23, Chi 13.  A run fest here - should be a low scoring game and the best run game - the Eagles - should prevail.

Pit 20, Ind 17. Not sure if the Colts' passing game can travel without TY Hilton. And the Steelers run D should be able to contain the Colts. The question is - can the Steelers score enough?

Oak 34, Det 24. Detroit's secondary injuries are going to come to roost here with Oakland's passing game. I am impressed with what Gruden and Carr have put together.

Sea 30, TB 20. Tampa - and Winston - on the road with the 12th man? I know Seattle's defense isn't the greatest, but I see another turnover fest by the Bucs.

GB 27, LAC 24. The Packers are due for a letdown, and the Chargers are due for a good game. I think this is not going to be a layup for the Pack that many think.

NE 24, Bal 20. Yes, the Baltimore rushing game is excellent, but Belichick can prepare for it. I just don't think Bal's defense can stop Brady when it counts.

Dal 27, NYG 24. Dallas on the road is vulnerable to give up passing yards - and I think Jones, with Sterling Shepard, can do that. At least the back door will be open here.

Best bets: 14 of them. Last week: a perfect 0-12. Overall: 48-61-2
ATS; last week: 0-6; overall: 24-41-1
O/u: last week : 0-6: overall: 24-20-1

Car -3.5
Car/Ten over 42.5
NYJ -3
NYJ/Mia under 42.5
Pit -1
Phi -4
KC +4
Oak -3
Oak/Det over 51
Sea -5
LAC +3.5
LAC/GB over 48.5
NYG +7
Dal/NYG over 48

Supercontest picks: last week: 0-5; overall: 14-26

Car -3.5
NYJ -3
Pit +1
Oak -2.5
NYG +7

NFL Week 8: Shakey's Pizza

Shakey's Pizza! Boy, this was a staple of mine (and Layup) when we lived in Baltimore. There was only one real location in northern Baltimore - off of York Road across from....um.... the old A&P? Is that right? Everyone knew where it was and there were plemty of team/friend gatherings there.

Shakey's Pizza started off in California in the 1950;s by Shakey Johnson. It was a no-frills pizza place. You came to get pizza and beer or soda. That's it - what a good recipe for success! He also had an organ in his first restaurant where he would play live music to entertain, In some of the Shakey's, they had windows to the kitchen so kids could climb up and see their pizza being made. (That's a great gimmick. The best pizza place in Iowa City - Pagliai's - did this and our boys had so much fun watching the process. Made the cooking time go by so fast.....)

Shakey's grew to about 500locations by the 80's - mostly in the west but some in the east as well - like the one on York Road. It was the site of my first actual "date" - where I asked a classmate named Molly to go out to Shakey's with me. It was a fine date, nothing really came of it - can't remember if I even got a kiss - and then she turned into a Goth girl. Very dark and moody. Was it me?

About the food - the pizza was actually good. I loved the crust - it was substantial, not this thin crust crap that's taking over. It was like a pan pizza. And the toppings - looking at some pictures of Shakey's pizza on Google - well, I think that's what pizza looked like in the 80s - edge to edge full of toppings. A far cry from today's pizzas where the toppings don't go all the way to the crust.

Shakey's in Boracay

Anyway - what happened to Shakey's? It's not clear, but in the 70s they actively went overseas to grow - especially the Phillipines. They now have 150 restaurants in the Phillipines alone, and more elsewhere in Asia. I did see a Shakey's in 2011 when we vacationed in Boracay, a tropical island in the Phillipines, so I can vouch for that. The franchise is thriving in Asia.

Only 60 or so locations remain in the US - almost all in California. Sports Guy on his podcast still talks about it as a meeting place for his fantasy league wrap up session. I wonder if Layup sees Shakey's and takes his kids for some good pizza and Mello Yello.

I'll always miss the Shakey's in Cockeysville, however.

On to the games:

LAR 24, Cin 20. The Rams aren't right and I think they are way overvalued here. Zac Taylor is from the Rams and may be able to glean some tings from McVay to keep this close.

NO 30, Arz 23. The return of Brees. Saints should win, but this line has gotten out of hand discounting the back door possibilities of the Cardinals.

TB 27, Ten 14. The Bucs have the #1 rush defense in the NFL- and that's what the Titans are based off of. I can't see the Titans moving the ball much under Tannehill.

Ind 23, Den 16. Would be a bigger margin but Indy's run D is terrible. Den could keep this close with their D and their run game.

Sea 33, Atl 27.  Should be a shootout in the dome. Schaub won't be that much f a downgrade from Ryan, since Matty Ice has been so bad this year.

Buf 21, Phi 20. Who knows? This is the Eagles' third consecutive road game, so that plays into it a bit. A great test to see if this Buffalo defense is for real.

Chi 23, LAC 20. God, who knows here? The team that can't move the ball vs. the team that can, but falters inside the 5. I think the weakness of the Chargers' D will give Trubisky just enough to win.

Det 30, NYG 17. The Lions are angry, my friends....like an old man trying to return soup at a deli. They will take their frustrations out on a weak Giants secondary.

Jax 19, NYJ 17.  Too many points for the Jags to give up here. They were trailing the Bengals last week in the 4th Q! The Jets have to be embarrassed and will give Minshew all sorts of new looks.

SF 23, Car 20.  A run fest game for the ages- Carolina will certainly focus on CMC while SF will respect Car's defense and play it close to the vest. Should be a close game with lots of rushing.

Hou 34, Oak 23. I can't see Oakland's defense being up to the task to stop Watson - at home - and their travel plans have got to catch up with them.

GB 27, KC 20. I have some faith in Matt Moore and Andy Reid's schemes so the Chiefs will keep this close without Mahomes.

Pit 31, Mia 17. Mia will score some with Fitzpatrick and the weak Pit pass D- but there will be Miami turnovers and Pit will get some easy points.

Best bets: 12 of them this week. Last week: no good. 4-8. Overall:  48-49-2
ATS: last week 3-4; overall 24-35-1
O/U: last week 1-4; overall 24-14-1

Cin +12
Det -6.5
Det/NYG under 49.5
TB +2.5
TB/Ten under 45.5
Sea/Atl over 50
NYJ +6.5
NYJ/Jax under 40.5
Az +12.5
Hou -6
Hou/Oak over 52
Mia/Pit over 43.5

Supercontest picks: 2-3 last week, 12-18 overall. Time to really get my act in gear here.....

Cin +13
TB +2.5
Det -6.5
NYJ +6.5
Hou -6.5

NFL Week 7: Arthur Treacher's

Arthur Treacher's! Those of us who remember the 70s remember this restaurant and the ubiquitous green and yellow design. It was THE place to get fast food fish - no one else had it at the time, except for the popular Filet O Fish at McDonalds. And it was cultural! You felt British just going in there and ordering "chips" instead of fries.

And it was good! I recall the fish always being "meaty", the filets were big, and the fried coating was excellent - not greasy. They did fish right. They also did chicken, shrimp, and clams - but the main attraction was the fried filets.

The franchise started in 1969 in Ohio - in Columbus - and quickly grew. In the mid 70s, Arthur Treacher's grew to about 820 franchises. The green and yellow lanterns were everywhere! I remember them very faintly when we lived in Detroit, Cincinnati and Lansing. Maybe it wasn't a "treat" like Friendly's, but it was fun to go there to mix it up and not have burgers when you go out.

So who was Arthur Treacher? Apparently, he was the butler in many of the old Shirley Temple movies of the 30s and 40s. He didn't own the restaurant chain, but lent (sold?) his name to it - to give the restaurant a real British feel. He popped up as a spokesman in the 70s for the franchise before dying in 1975. Kind of a weird history there.

The demise of the restaurant came in the late 70s with the "Cod Wars". Apparently, there was a lot of conflict on who owns the North Atlantic waters to fish for cod - which as the fish that Arthur Treacher's used. It came down to Ireland and the UK- and Ireland prevented the UK to fish for cod in their waters. This drove up the price of cod - and Arthur Treacher's was in a bind.

They tried to use another type of fish - pollock, I think - and it didn't work. The product suffered, prices were out of control, and restaurants started closing. The franchise fell apart in the 80s and 90s. A buyer was found in the 2000s - the Nathan's hot dog chain! - and now there are some Nathan/Arthur Treacher's restaurants in food courts - and there are 7 stand alone Arthur Treacher's restaurants in New York and Northern Ohio. I haven't been to one up there - yet.

Can America use a fast food fish restaurant? Does Long John Silvers count? Does anyone go there? What about Captain D's fish food - seen in many urban places? The way things seem, there's no market for fast food fish anymore. That's too bad - since Arthur Treacher's did it the right way.

Here are some commercials - all from the 70s, of course

1. Shhhh!  The secret is in the cooking.

2. What the hell is this? The Godfather mixed with the restaurant. And the tagline- "We are something else". Does that work?

We're on a bye this week - so maybe we can find the "right way" to run this offense and defense after blowing a big lead vs. Seattle. And New England awaits next week...

On to the games:

LAR 31, Atl 27.  This is the perfect game for Jared Goff to get on track. Atlanta's pass D is so awful. And I have no faith in Matt Ryan anymore.

Buf 20, Mia 10. I don't see Buffalo's offense- very run based - getting more than 20, unless there's plenty of turnovers. That will allow Miami to keep it close.

Jax 24, Cin 20. Could be a let down spot for the Jags - I think the league is catching up to Minchew. But really, we can't trust the Bengals until they win.

Min 24, Det 20. I didn't see all the bad calls against the Lions - but those will be costly come December. Minnesota should run all over the Lions here in a low scoring battle.

GB 20, Oak 17. Something is just off about the Packers offense - probably all the WR injuries. I just can't pick Oakland here given their travel schedule. They haven't been home in 5 weeks.

Ind 23, Hou 20. Off a bye, and better coached, Indy will use the strategy they used vs. KC to control the ball and keep it away from DeShawn.

NYG 28, Arz 20. This is the perfect defense for Daniel Jones to face - and at home, even, I can't trust Murray on the road- yet.

SF 27, Was 13. Boy, San Fran's D is impressive. How will Case Keenum or Haskins score for Washington? And the San Fran offense is so balanced...

Ten 23, LAC 20. How do you trust either of these teams? Can Tennessee even score with Tannehill? How will the Chargers self-destruct...again?

Chi 23, NO 16. I think this is the perfect spot for the Bears - off a bye, against a Saints team that has had so many big games. The D will rise up and shut Teddy and the Saints down.

Sea 30, Bal 20. Baltimore is a fraud. There, I said it. They should have killed the Bengals last week, but let them in the game. A halfway decent offense will expose them.

Dal 31, Phi 24. Another "spot" game - good spot for Dallas here to come back after the Jets disaster. And the Eagles' injuries are still an issue.

NE 27, NYJ 17. The Jets are a new team with Darnold - they can move the ball, and their D is legit. This may be closer than we think.

Best bets: 12 of them this week. Last week: 6-6-1; overall: 44-41-2
ATS: last week 3-4; overall 21-31-1
Over/under: last week 3-2-1; overall 23-11-1

LAR/Atl over 54.5
Mia +17
Buf/Mia under 41
Min -2
Hou/Ind under 47
NYG -3
SF -9.5
LAC/Ten over 40.5
Chi -3.5
Sea -3
Dal -2.5
Phi/Dal over 48.5

Supercontest picks: last week 2-3; overall 12-18. Ugh.

Mia +17
NYG -3
Chi -3.5
Sea -3
Dal -2.5

Four favorites. Ugh.....

NFL Week 6: Don Pablo's

Don Pablo's! This was a lunchtime staple for any office worker in the 1990s.  I bet anyone on this

blog that worked in an office from 1992-2000 went to Don Pablo's at least once every two weeks.

Everyone knows the features of a Don Pablo's restaurant - usually it looks like a warehouse from the outside - and when you get it, it feels like it! 20 foot ceilings, an open floor plan - it was like entering the ballroom for a large high school prom.

Don Pablo's started in 1985 in Texas, and quickly spread to the Midwest and East Coast. At its peak in the late 1990s, they had 120 restaurants across the nation. I could count 4 in the Cinci area - Springdale, Newport, Rookwood, and somewhere on the west side - and the one in Beavercreek, near Dayton.

What do I remember about the menu? Well, the food was ok - general Mexican food, with the free nachos they give you to fill you up before they give you rice and beans..... but I do remember the margaritas and all the different flavors they concocted. Strawberry, blackberry, banana...…yes, I tried all the fruity flavors and loved them.

Boy, when I worked at TASC in Dayton from 1994-97, we went there all the time for lunch. We couldn't drink, of course, so I couldn't have my fruity drinks - but it was a regular in our lunch rotation of Chinese food, Applebee's, and Olive Garden. I also got so drunk here after a golf round at Beavercreek GC with a friend I worked with in Iowa that was serving his two weeks in the Air Force reserves at Wright Patt ---- it was so bad I had to sleep it off before driving home back to Cincinnati.

How did this franchise fail? I'm not sure. In doing research from this piece, there's not a lot of details surrounding Don Pablo's going from 120 to 0. The last Don Pablo's closed this summer in New Jersey. Some of the last 10 Don Pablo's were here in Cincinnati (Norwood) and in Baltimore (White Marsh). How do you screw up cheap Mexican food and overpriced drinks? I liked Don Pablo's.....it is what it is ! Chain Mexican food at prices you can expect. Apparently the franchise went through multiple owners - the parent company of Applebee's owned it from most of the 90s and 2000s - and then sold it off, and then it was sold again, etc.

Here's some commercials from the late 90's.....

1. The real enchilada. Plenty of shots of the fruity drinks I love!

2. Um - maybe these jingles caused Don Pablo's to go out of business.


We will write about another failed Mexican chain later this year - but is there one that exists in the US now? Does Chuy's count? Anyone outside of Ohio know what Chuy's is? How is there no national Mexican food chain?

And how come the Browns can't be consistent from week to week ? I know we have a rookie head coach, and there would be growing pains - but geesh. C'mon Freddie - stop laying eggs and at least be competitive in each game.

On to the games:

TB 27, Car 20. Tampa's D is legit - so they will contain CMC like they did in week 2. So they will force Allen to beat them - in London? Not sure Carolina can do it.

Bal 24, Cin 13. Bal's defense is bad. Really bad. I'm not calling for a Cincinnati upset, but I wouldn't be surprised. Cin will run - Bal will run - look for a low scoring game.

NO 27, Jax 24. I know this is a bad spot for the Saints - I just can't see Minchew taking advantage of the Saints D. As for the Saints O? A lot of running.

KC 34, Hou 27. I hate the Texans - I have no feel for this team. Will they put another 50 spot up against a bad D? I can't see the Chiefs losing 2 in a row at home...

Mia 20, Was 16. This is it, baby! Calling a Dolphins win. They have been competitive vs. the Cowboys and Chargers before fading in the second half. Off a bye? I'll take them and the points.

Min 23, Phi 20. At first glance, I thought Min would win by 10-14, but Philly's run D is strong and that means the Vikes will rely on Cousins. No thank you.

Atl 31, Az 27. Bad pass defenses on both sides here mean a shootout. I don't think Atlanta is good enough to blow Arizona out on the road. I expect Murray to have a great day.

LAR 23, SF 20. This may be a make-or-break game for the Rams. Gurley being out should not make much difference. I am impressed with SF's pass rush, which will keep them in the game.

Ten 23, Den 13. How to figure out these two teams? Tennesse won't make mistakes - and Flacco will - so that's the difference. Another game where both teams will run, run, run the ball

Dal 24, NYJ 13. This could be the week where Dallas regroups and acts like the best team in the NFC. Darnold will bring some life to the Jets O and they will score at least one TD.

LAC 23, Pit 20. How can you trust the Chargers? The D is bad - and injuries are making it worse. The 3rd stringer for Pit moved the ball vs. the Ravens - another bad D - so he should do it here.

GB 27, Det 20. Fascinating game. How good are the Lions? We will find out. Are the Packers dominant on D? Again, a good test for them.

Best bets: 13 of them. Last week: 5-9; overall: 38-35-1
ATS bets: 3-6 last week; 18-27-1 overall
O/U bets: 2-3 last week, 20-8 overall

TB +2.5
Cin/Bal under 48
NO +3
NO/Jax over 42.5
KC -4
Hou/KC over 55
Mia +3.5
Atl/Az over 52
SF/LAR under 50.5
Ten +2
Dal -7
Dal/NYJ under 44.5
Pit +6.5

Supercontest picks: last week: 1-4; overall: 10-15

TB +2.5
KC -4
Mia +3.5
Ten +2
Pit +6.5

NFL Week 5: The Ground Round

The Ground Round - the restaurant that tried to be everything to everyone! I miss this place. The Ground Round was founded in 1969, and really tried to become a family casual restaurant before anyone knew that term. Think of Chili's or Applebee's before it's time - that's the Ground Round.

What was it known for? Well, burgers for one. They had a half pound burger called the Ground Rounder that I had many times when I was a teenager. They tried to appeal to families with gimmicks as well - for example:

1. Free peanuts as an appetizer! What do you think the kids do with peanuts? Throw the shells on the floor! That was not discouraged by the restaurant - they constantly had sweepers come by and get the shells. I think Layup and I had fun with those.

2. Silent movies shown on a big screen! Yes, there was a screen set up in the restaurant area that showed black and white movies on a loop. No one could understand what was going on - but it was a novelty.

3. Kids pay what you weigh! Yes, there was a giant scale in place where if you were under a certain age - maybe 12? - you paid for your kids meal at a rate of a penny a pound. How did they make money on that?

4. And of course, there was a clown. Some nights, there was a clown in the restaurant to entertain - blow balloons, face paint, etc. Sounds creepy - and it was!

The Ground Round had at least 130 restaurants in its heyday - mostly in the Northeast and the upper Midwest. There was one on Perring Parkway that we went to many times in the 80's. I remember the burgers and the peanuts - not the clown, however. The burgers were good.

(For the Baltimore readers - is Perring Parkway the home of every major chain in America? Was it in the 80s? Every restaurant seemed to be on the road. )

There was one in Iowa City when we lived there - I never got Janice to take the kids and go with me to revel in my nostalgia. She wanted to go to other chains like Bennigan's and Old Chicago. I did go there for lunch once or twice in two years - the peanuts were stale and it was less fun to throw the shells on the floor as an adult.

The Ground Round is making a comeback - there are 19 restaurants, mostly located in Maine, Minnesota and North Dakota. Yes, the one in Iowa City has closed. They are trying to reinvent themselves as a sports bar -no clowns, no scale - which is probably a good idea. I think the reason for their failure is - they tried to be a family restaurant, but sold steaks and had a bar. Why would you go to a happy hour as an adult with a clown, kids throwing peanuts and silent movies being shown? It really couldn't find an identity, I think.

Here are some fun commercials from the 80s:

1. $3.99 steak dinner! Layup is probably throwing up from the added carbs to the steak meal. Fries, onion rings AND texas toast included!

2. The picture of the lemon scrod here is ---- unappealing , to say the least. The jingle is catchy, though.

3. Yep, kids pay what they weigh! Better bring your appetite!

The Browns made the Ravens look like the Ground Round clowns last week - I was impressed in how Freddie made the adjustments needed in the offense to be effective. I am scared of Monday night's game - I have a lot of respect for Kyle Shanahan - he was our offensive coordinator during our last "good" season - the 7-9 2014 season - and he made the offense respectable. He's innovative. I'm a little scared of Breida and Kittle.

On to the games:

Car 19, Jax 16.  I can't figure this game out. Carolina's D is playing better than I expected, and their game plan should be CMC. But can you go against Minshew and his roll right now? Fournette will have another big game.

Cin 23, Arz 20.  What an egg Cinci laid Monday night. I have to believe they will bounce back. It should rain during the game here, so that may limit Kyler Murray's magic.

Atl 27, Hou 24.  This is a final stand game here for Atlanta. They have to win here, or else their season is over. And I don't think Houston is good enough in protecting Watson to give so many points.

NO 31, TB 24. I don't believe in the Bucs hype. Yes, Arians is a good coach - but it still is Winston at QB. Maybe I'm just blinded and think the Saints are better than they really are.

Min 27, NYG 13.  Another team I don't buy the hype on. The Giants- and Danny Dimes - beat TB (bad secondary) and the Skins (nuff said). They are pissed and Cousins should have a career day.

Chi 23, Oak 10.  So explain how Oakland will score? Chase Daniel is not that much of a change from Trubisky - and they should have a few nice drives.

Phi 27, NYJ 16. Phi's pass D worries me. They are not good, and have injuries. After the bye, I think the Jets will move the ball enough to keep this close.

Bal 30, Pit 20. The Ravens will be pissed - and really, the Steelers did not impress me Monday night. Jackson will take advantage of the porous Pit pass D and have another stat-filled game.

Ten 20, Buf 13. I like Vrabel as a coach and I think he will devise a scheme to contain Josh Allen. And while Buffalo's D is good, they do have a weakness on their run D - which Ten can exploit.

NE 31, Was 10. What to say about this game? I think Brady will come out trying to atone for last week's bad performance and get up 21-0 in the first quarter. Maybe a good 1H play for the Pats.

LAC 30, Den 23. What to expect from either of these teams? Denver's D has disappointed - so the Chargers will score - and the Chargers have so many injuries on D that even Flacco will be able to move the ball.

Dal 27, GB 20. Dallas will rebound at home here and will run Zeke into the ground. The absence of Adams will really affect Green Bay - we saw that Thursday night.

KC 37, Ind 20. How will Indy stay with KC? Their defense is worse than KC's! And we're not sure on the status of TY on Mack. If one of those are missing, it's hard to see the Colts getting near KC.

Best bets: 14 of them. Last week: 5-9; overall: 33-26-1
ATS: 2-7 last week, 15-21-1
Over/under: 3-2 last week, 18-5 overall

Jax/Car under 41
Atl +5
NO -3
TB/NO over 46.5
Min -5
Chi -5
Chi/Oak under 40.5
Bal -3.5
Bal/Pit over 44.5
Ten -3
NE -15.5
Den/LAC over 44.5
Dal -3
KC -11

That's a lot of favorites. I don't like that.

Supercontest picks: Last week: 1-4; overall: 9-11

Atl +5
Min -5.5
Chi -5.5
Ten -3
Dal -3.5

NFL Week 4: Damon's

Damon's! A place for ribs! Technically, Damon's has not disappeared - there are reports of about 6 restaurants still open in the US. But Damon's was a big name for ribs, beer and sports in the late 80's and 90's.

Yes, Damon's was supposedly known for its ribs - and its onion loaf, more about that later - but it was one of the first restaurants to have big screen TVs on a wall for sports - and they were one of the first adopters of the on-line trivia craze in the 90s spurred on by NTN.

But the wall of TVs was the attraction to me. The first memory of Damon's I have is our golf spring break trip of 1992 down in Hilton Head....spring break was the same time as the NCAA first and second round games. My God, I thought, when I get a real job, I'm going to spend 10 hours in Damon's eating ribs, onion rings and watching all the games. No one else in our group - Steve, or Kermit -  had an interest in Damon's - I couldn't get them interested in (12) New Mexico St. vs (5) DePaul or (8) Evansville vs (9) UTEP. *

*ed note - yes, those were real games. New Mexico St and UTEP were the winners. 


Damon's started in Columbus in 1979, and at its peak in the early 90s, there were 130 locations in the Midwest and South. Wow. In the mid 90s, there were 4 Damon's in the Dayton area alone. And in 1996, I finally got to live out my college wish - spend an afternoon at Damon's watching the tournament games in the afternoon. I spent it with my similarly-obsessed co-worker Paul....who first introduced me to fantasy football a year earlier.

Anyway, the games that afternoon were good, highlighted by a talented MAC team with an NBA star (Earl Boykins) beating a small school from North Carolina. It was an 8-9 game. The score?

Eastern Michigan 75, Duke 60.

We loved it.

Other games that day that we didn't watch at Damon's but were significant:

(1) Purdue 73, (16) Western Carolina 71. I have zero recollection of this close 1-16 game.
(12) Drexel 75, (5) Memphis 63. I had Memphis as my sleeper for the final four; this game was the mystery 5:00 pm game that no one in America could watch. Remember that time slot? We left Damon's around 5; I got home around 5:30 and got no updates on this game until CBS re-started coverage at 7:00 pm Boy, was I pissed.
(13) Princeton 43, (4) UCLA 41. Nothing else to say.

Anyway, the food at Damon's? Well, ribs of course, but the star was the onion loaf. This was a literal loaf of onion rings that were shaped together like a bread loaf and fried---- and served with this delicious southwestern sauce. You shared this and you barely had room for the full slab of ribs that was coming. For a mid 20s bachelor - yes, I think I ate a whole onion loaf myself sometimes.

It wasn't much of a date place - maybe I took Janice there once, and she wasn't the biggest fan of having a nice rib dinner interrupted by shouts and cheers of her date and others around.

I think that was a big part of Damon's downfall.....if you focus on sports and trivia, it needs to be more of a bar atmosphere instead of a full service, sit down restaurant. I think BW-3's was the main competition for Damon's in the 90s- and BW-3 executed it perfectly. It had TVs and trivia, and delivered good quality bar food - quickly, in an informal atmosphere. A perfect match. A 90 minute rib dinner just doesn't seem to go with trivia and sports....and I think that's why Damon's failed, It couldn't decide if it was a rib joint or a sports bar. It turned out being neither.

There is still one up in Wilmington, OH - about 30 minutes away from us - and there is one in Myrtle Beach. That makes sense since 80% of Ohio vacations in Myrtle Beach each year (the other 20% go to the redneck Riviera on the Florida panhandle), and the owner of the Damon's down there says he exists because of the Ohio visitors who recognize the Damon's name.

Maybe, if I get my appetite back, I'll head up to Wilmington to watch an NFL Sunday with my good friend the Onion loaf......

On to the games...

Phi 27, GB 23. I know this is a day late, but I predicted this....

Atl 26, Ten 20. I don't like either of these teams. Atl has talent but no coaching, Ten has coaching but no talent. I would take Atlanta but there's the dumb Matt Ryan interception coming at any time.

NE 24, Buf 13. I just don't see how Buffalo is going to score here. They struggled against Cincinnati, the Jets, even at times vs. the Giants - I can't see them getting past the teens against the Pats.

KC 31, Det 23.  Detroit will score - if Stafford plays - but of course, the Chiefs will answer on their own. The Lions D is not that good to keep the Chiefs out of the 30s.

Hou 23, Car 16. Sure, Matt Allen played well last week - but now Romeo has a week to prepare against this, frankly, one-D offense. Houston will do just enough offensively to win.

Ind 31, Oak 24. We have to watch and determine when this crazy Oakland travel schedule will cause them to fall off the cliff. This is just week 2, so it's not it - Indy has injuries in the secondary and Oakland may keep this close.

LAC 27, Mia 17. Miami showed some life vs Dallas last week - the game was close than the final score. I think the Chargers D is soft enough so Miami can get into the teens - and that will be enough to stay close.

Was 31, NYG 27. Let's not crown Daniel Jones just yet. My God. It was a horrible Tampa defense. And the Giants D is still bad. Look for a high scoring game here.

Sea 30, Arz 20. Seattle will come out pissed off, and will come after Murray. If Murray can't conquer Carolina's D at home, they will struggle as well vs. the Seahawks.

LAR 31, TB 14. The Rams are due for a breakout game - we know Goff's home/road splits, so I expect a big game from Goff. And the Rams D was impressive vs us - and will stop Tampa at home.

Min 20, Chi 17.  What a game this will be. Can Cousins deliver on the road? Will Chicago do anything on offense when not given turnovers? Fascinating. Not really confident that the Vikes can actually win.

Den 24, Jax 14.  If supposed wizard D coach Vic Fangio can't stop this Manshew-mania, then what good is he? I've got to believe he has the game plan with the rushers to stop Jacksonville's one-D passing offense.

Dal 27, NO 23. A great game. Dallas is the class of the NFC, but who have they played? No one. This is their first real test. I still have questions on NO's D- I expect Zeke to have a big game.

Pit 31, Cin 27. Wow. Enjoy, America! Cin and Andy Dalton will move the ball through the air - but the home field advantage will give the Steelers just enough. I will watch this hopefully laughing at both teams.

Best bets: 14 of them. Last week: 7-8; overall: 28-17-1.
ATS: 3-6 last week, 13-14-1 overall
over/under: 4-2 last week, 15-3 overall

Phi +4 (winner!)
NE -7
NE/Buf under 42
Hou -4
Hou/Car under 47.5
Oak/Ind over 45
Mia +15.5
Was +3
Was/NYG over 49.5
Sea -5
LAR -9
Min +2
Den -3
Cin/Pit over 44

Supercontest picks: Last week: 2-3; overall: 8-7

Phi +4 (winner!)
NE -7
Mia +15.5 (gulp)
LAR -9.5
Den -3

NFL Week 3: Burger Chef

Burger Chef! I have a feeling there's going to be a generational divide with the restaurant. It's peak was in the mid- to late-70s, so I think anyone born in 1973 or earlier would remember Burger Chef. Anyone born later would probably have no idea how popular this restaurant was.

Burger Chef, at it's peak, was the #2 fast food burger joint in the mid 70s (behind McDonalds, of course). It served the usual fare - burgers, fries, shakes - and even had a burger called the Big Shef (yes, the S is correct) - which was a double decker sandwich that looked exactly like a Big Mac.

I remember going to Burger Chef when we lived in Lansing - 4th and 5th grade. A few memories stand out:

1. Bacon! I think Burger Chef was the first time I had a bacon cheeseburger. What a concept - bacon on a cheeseburger. It was heavenly for this 9 year old.

2. I distinctly remember our Mom buying a burger maker at home - this was one of those

Procter Silex appliances that was used twice a year and other than that was buried in the cabinet. These burger makers were like mini griddles, with a lid - so it was like frying your own burger at home. So you could make the unhealthy burgers without leaving the comfort of home!

Also - we somehow bought/found/went to the library and got a booklet on the recipe for the famous burgers of the time. For instance, how do you make a Big Mac? This booklet had the recipe - all the way down to the recipe for the sauce (which, of course, is just 1000 island dressing). There was the recipe for Big Shef also - with a different special sauce. I remember having these frequently at home as Mom tried the various toppings and sauces. Where did she get the double decker buns?

3. Kids meal! Apparently, Burger Chef was the first restaurant to sell a kids meal. It was called a Fun Meal, and they had characters to represent the chain just like McDonalds would. There was Burger Chef, his kid sidekick Jeff, a vampire, a talking ape, and a magician. They actually had a license with the Star Wars franchise for the Fun Meals - remember, this was the late 70s. I think I remember getting a Fun Meal with C3PO one time.

McDonald's introduced their Happy Meal in 1979 - Burger Chef sued, but lost. A huge loss for the company.

So what ultimately happened to Burger Chef? It was sold to Hardee's in 1982. Hardee's was the "winner" and the Burger Chefs were converted to Hardee's. I don't think Hardee's had as much clout as Burger Chef - but whatever. The corporation left the Burger Chef name to die.

Talk about dying - there is also the "Burger Chef Murders" from 1979. Apparently, 4 young workers were abducted from a Burger Chef in Indiana late one night - and their bodies were found a day later in nearby woods. This made national news and the murders are still unsolved. Kind of scary if you ask me.

Here's a commercial for Burger Chef from the 70s - kind of catchy, except for the "Open Wide, America" opening line.....

 Open wide, America, the Browns are on Sunday Night Football! First time since 2008, when I was unable to watch the game since Hurricane Ike knocked power out of our house for 5 days - and this was when Martin was 2 weeks old. That was hell. At least our insurance covered roof damage from a hurricane - in Ohio.

On to the games:

Buf 20, Cin 13. I can't get this Bills team right. Cin has the defense to stop Allen, but they have no run game and Buffalo's pass D is impressive. See a low scoring game here.

Dal 33, Mia 16. Is Jason Garrett as ruthless as Bill B? I know bad 0-2 teams, and one of these days Miami will at least play decent. Dallas will get ahead early and take the foot off the gas.

GB 27, Den 17. Third game in a row where the Packers play a solid defense. Think they will get something going in their pass game - and I can't trust Flacco on the road.

Ind 27, Atl 20. What a lucky game I got Sunday night with the Falcons - they dominated the game and should have lost. They have flaws all over the place - and Reich will take advantage in the Colts' first home game.

KC 34, Bal 27. Let's not crown the Ravens yet. They beat Miami and a one-score game vs. the Cards. Their O is good, but their D - not sold on it yet. A shootout in KC? KC by a touchdown.

Min 30, Oak 20. Oakland has a good run D, so Min will have to lean a little more on Cousins - and they can do that at home. Which forces Oakland to pass - a high scoring game here.

NE 30, NYJ 10. What is there to say here? The Jets D isn't that bad - we will have to check on Mosley - but their O is LeVeon and nothing more. Maybe I am optimistic thinking the Jets will get 10.

Phi 27, Det 24.  This is not a slam dunk for the Eagles - with the receivers out (Jackson, Goddert) they have to rely on the run game some, which is weak. Detroit is a little more impressive this year.

Arz 27, Car 16. I need to watch the Cardinals more to really understand their offense. So far, it's at least average and they should be able to move against a Carolina team ready to crack.

TB 20, NYG 17. I think Daniel Jones is a real upgrade - now, can he use Engram and Shepard to move the ball? And how can you lay almost a touchdown with Winston?

LAC 31, Hou 24. I don't believe in the Houston run game- Hyde? - so the Chargers can focus solely on Watson. And their D is not that good - Rivers and the Chargers are pissed.

SF 27, Pit 16. Still love Kyle Shanahan and he should be able to scheme against this weak Pit pass D. Can Rudolph show anything with a week of practice? Maybe a bit...

Sea 27, NO 13.  The key here is the NO average run D vs. Seattle's focus on running the ball. Seattle will dominate the time of possession and march on the Saints.

Was 20, Chi 17. I'm not convinced the Skins D is all that bad - they played Philly and Dallas. The Bears just seem off kilter on O - and Washington will score just enough to keep this close and win at the end.

Oh - and for our game? I'll leave you with Ben Crenshaw to sum up my thoughts.

Best bets: 15 of them. Last week: 9-5-1; overall 21-9-1
ATS: 4-4-1 last week, 10-8-1 overall
Over/under: 5-1 last week, 11-1 overall

Cin/Buf under 44
Mia +22.5
Ind -1.5
Bal/KC over 52
Oak/Min over 43.5
Det +5.5
Det/Phi over 45.5
Arz -2.5
NYG +6
NYG/TB under 47.5
LAC -3
Hou/LAC over 48.5
SF -6.5
Sea -4.5
Was +4

Supercontest picks: Last week: 3-2; overall: 6-4
Ind -1.5
NYG +6.5
LAC -3
Sea -4
Was +4