I've been hearing/seeing a lot of people picking the Patriots to win outright. I can see why a lot of people would bet on the Pats for the spread (14) seeing as how they're one of those teams that plays a "keep it close" style... but c'mon. The Patriots winning, I just don't see it. Sure, upsets can happen, that's the beauty of sports, but picking the Patriots to win. It seems to me people are trying to catch lightning in a bottle: by picking the Pats they are covering that chance, that minute chance, that New England pulls off the second greatest upset in NFL history so that they can 'look like geniuses" when its over. Of course, you could say that picking the Rams is gutless, because they are the clear favorites and everyone is picking them. Well, there's a reason for that, they are the better team, and if you believe the better team usually wins, then you pick the Rams.

Going down a checklist of the matchup, the Rams just dominate. Better QB, running back, wide recievers, D-line, secondary. I'd give a "push" on the O-line and the linebackers, and the only thing the Pats have is special teams. If you include intangibles, you give the Pats two checks. That's it. Special Teams and Intangibles. Guess what, they beat the Raiders on intangibles (I don't Care what the rule is, not calling that a fumble is Criminal, just plain Criminal!!!) and Special Teams/Intangibles (two TD's last week, the intangible is the blocked field goal bouncing into the arms of a defender -- most blocked FG's flutter harmlessly at the line of scrimmage!). I mean, it Can happen, but it will take a turnover-ridden self-destuction similar to the Rams two losses this season (in fact, losing to the Saints by a field goal, just three points, after 8 turnovers. 8!!! and they lost by three! The average margin of defeat for teams committing more than 6 TO's in a game has got to be at least three touchdowns, and were talking three Points).

I'm no anti-Pat, but I'm having a tough time with a team that wins on a criminal call (I don't care what the rulebook says... it's Criminal. The referees should be locked up for that shit) and benches a potential future Hall-of-Famer. Having said all that, I'm going to be wearing my Bledsoe jersey, and the second my boy steps into the game, it'll be Go Patriots!