EAGLES (-3) over Cowboys

 

Now that the World Series is out of the way, Eagles-Cowboys week takes its place in the spotlight, and nothing is finer than whipping Dallas. Coming off a ridiculous, 40-17 rout of the Giants, the Birds seem to be positioned perfectly to claim the top spot in the NFC East. Plus they get Brian Westbrook back. Really, the only hiccup over the last month was that disastrous, unexplainable trip to Oakland. Other than that, the Eagles have been a money machine the last 15 times out, with 11 covers. They have covered six of their last seven at home, and five of the last six against Dallas. Going back a little deeper into this rivalry, it's still all Birds, with eight covers in the last 10 at home. If you're into over/unders, and who isn't, the total has gone over in seven of the last eight Eagles/Cowboys games played in Philly.

Texans (+9) over COLTS

 

Talk about money machines, Houston is 10-4-1 against the spread the last 15 times out, and seems to enjoy playing on the road. The Texans opened their road schedule with a 34-31 win at Tennessee, then followed with a 28-21 loss at Arizona, a 28-17 win at Cincinnati and a 31-10 W Sunday at Buffalo. Houston has covered six of its last eight on the road, and also seems to enjoy playing against Indianapolis. Last season, the Texans lost at Indy, 33-27, but covered an eight-point spread. In Houston, it was the Colts squeezing out a 31-27 victory, but the Texans covering as a 4-point underdog. Then when you take a look at whom the Horseshoes beat on the way to their 7-0 mark, you have Jacksonville, Miami, Arizona, Seattle, Tennessee, St. Louis and San Francisco. Not exactly a "Who's Who" of the NFL elite. One final note: Indy has covered only four of the last 13 at home, so let's make this our Best Bet.

Cardinals (+3) over BEARS

 

Here's another team that loves playing on the road. Arizona is only 1-3 at home, but 3-0 - straight up and against the spread - on the road. The Cardinals beat Jax, 31-17, and Seattle, 27-3 (both as three-point underdogs) and got past the Giants, 24-17, as a nine-point 'dog. Obviously, Arizona is livin' large on the road, and Chicago is still way too rough around the edges.

Panthers (+13) over SAINTS

 

We would like to see this line inch up to 14, and if it does, we'll put down a little more cash. Carolina, with the exception of a 20-9 stinker at Buffalo, has played well and won every other game since the bye week. But here is the amazing stat in this matchup: The Panthers are 6-0 straight up and 5-1 against the spread in their last six trips to New Orleans. In this NFC South rivalry, the 'dog is gonna bark all the way to the bank.

Chargers (+5) over GIANTS

 

Looking at New York's last three outings (48-27 loss to New Orleans, 24-17 loss to Arizona, 40-17 loss to the Birds), we're not quite sure why this line has jumped from minus-3 to minus-5. But we'll take a bite. Last week, there were three NFL games that moved more than two points from the opening line. In each case, the team that the line moved toward lost. Since the line is moving to the Giants here, the obvious play is to jump on San Diego.

JAGUARS (-6) over Chiefs

 

Head coach Jack Del Rio was so embarrassed with Sunday's 30-13 loss at Tennessee that he has the Jags practicing in full pads. Oh, yeah, KC has lost its main weapon, Larry Johnson, to a suspension.

Titans (+4) over 49ERS