orioles

I hope my reader will excuse my brevity, but I've got a house full of family and guests and long write-ups are out! I have to take the Steelers here; a tough defense, at home, against a team it has beaten ten of the last twelve times they've met. I want the half point, though, with a solid Bengals still in the hunt for the post-season. [b]Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers -3 @ 1.85 [i] Pick: 1st TD A.J. Green @ 8.5 Pick: Anytime TD Heath Miller @ 2.1[/i][/b]

The Steelers opened the week as dogs, but now find themselves marginal favourites - although they're a pick 'em with many books. The Cowboys are 0-9 ATS at home and that run may continue. Pittsburgh have kept their last seven opponents to 200 yards or fewer passing, but have a badly nicked up secondary and their pass rush will need to be effective to keep Romo from exposing them deep. However, the Dallas O line has been awful and Romo will need to use all his talents at extending plays to keep the chains moving. A strong run game would help, but the Cowboys haven't got the ground game going all year, for a number of reasons, and the Steelers are a fine run stopping unit, ranking 4th in the NFL. Dez Bryant's injury is a blow for Dallas - as the receiver who has the most rapport with...

The Ravens can eliminate the Steelers from the AFC title race tonight and given the Pittsburgh offensive troubles (I'm trying to be diplomatic) I don't think Baltimore are going to pass up the opportunity. Charlie Batch is under centre, and if that isn't bad enough for the visitors, their O line is in pieces, so Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata may think that Christmas has come early. Batch isn't a complete bust, but he's old and there's little mobility and even less arm strength. Last week, every tailback put the ball on the ground and the Steelers certainly won't survive that sort of profligacy. Jonathan Dwyer will likely be the lead back, but with Batch's arm a limited threat, Baltimore can load up on the run and take their chances, so it'll be a tough go on the ground. The passing...

I usually love these situations; the line crashes in on the news that a team's #1 QB is out and the team in question is cracking value. Sure enough, this line has moved 7+ points with Roethlisberger on the sidelines, but the fly in the ointment is Leftwich: he stinks. Hopefully, the Steelers will resist the temptation to go after the ropey Ravens' secondary and pound the rock with the returning Mendenhall and then lean on their defense to stifle a Baltimore team that has been poor on the road. I'll still play the situation, but if you must get involved, keep stakes small. [b]Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers +3 @ 1.95 [i] Pick: 1st TD Torrey Smith @ 10 Pick: Anytime TD Heath Miller @ 2.7[/i][/b]

It's been one of those weeks and it would be nice if Ben and the boys execute their gameplan tonight without any dramas. There's no element in this game, save perhaps for the Chiefs' run game, where Kansas doesn't look over-matched. Added to which, Romeo Crennel is floating at the top of the bowl and has handed over the defensive co-ordinator role in desperation. Cassel is a functional quarterback (rather him under centre than Brady Quinn) but his options were limited enough without facing a Steelers' D on national TV that is beginning to form up nicely. Kansas have been outscored 61-6 in the first quarter this season and they will struggle to put points up tonight too. As long as the home team stick to the usual RBBC/easy, short passing game to move the chains and don't get too greedy,...

Go with the emotion of the Giants playing at home for the victims of hurricane Sandy. Seriously. [b]Pick: New York Giants -3.5 @ 2 [i]Pick: 1st TD Heath Miller @ 15 Pick: Anytime TD Hakeem Nicks @ 2.1[/i] [/b]