NOTE: Management realizes this is MLB Playoffs time, but Cheesy Bruin is now a Mets fan, so baseball season is apparently over for him.
MARLBORO, NY – I’m in a crappy mood. Why? My back is acting up – as spinal stenosis will do that to ya – and my Cheesy Bruin’s Free NFL Picks segment has not been up to snuff as of late. I went 1-3 again last week and desperately look to improve on a 7-9 overall mark through four weeks. Here goes nothin’…
FAVORITE There’s a late game involving two floundering NFC West teams (Niners and Cards) and by the way, doesn’t that division suck? San Fran has lost million-dollar investments in Jimmy Garoppolo and Jerick McKinnon but understudies C.J. Beathard and Matt Breida have filled in admirably under Head Coach Kyle Shanahan’s offensive genius. Winless and listless Arizona strolls in after a tough loss against Chicago last week in which rookie quarterback Josh Rosen got his first start. In my opinion he didn’t fare so well but may put up better numbers against the Niners who are only modest favorites due to the home field. I think the Niners are a better coached group and should get the cover here. The Pick: SAN FRANCISCO -3.5 over Arizona
UNDERDOG It seems like I’m selecting quite a few Browns games in my Sunday posts. If you saw last week’s late game collapse and subsequent overtime loss to the Raiders and referees then you just know that the Browns will be foaming at the mouth to take the loss out on somebody. That somebody will be the Baltimore Ravens. Should Baker Mayfield scramble and extend plays with his legs, this might be a way to neutralize the Ravens tough pass defense. Carlos Hyde has been running the ball well enough to keep things balanced for the Browns young signal caller. The Dawg Pound gets thrown a meaty bone with an outright win. The Pick: CLEVELAND +3.5 over Baltimore
OVER 3-1 Miami at 3-1 Cincinnati. Say what??? Marvin Lewis, long believed to be fired at least two times during his Bengals tenure, has the Cincy faithful believing they can possibly win a playoff game. Andy Dalton is a Red Rifle on fire. And the Dolphins? Well they certainly look cohesive on the offensive side of the ball with, dare I say, Ryan Tannehill tossing the ball downfield with great efficiency. This looks to be one of the more entertaining games on the docket. The Pick: Miami/CINCINNATI OVER 48.5
UNDER Angry Ward, what has happened to the Vikings defense? Have they eased up knowing that Kirk Cousins can bail them out on those Sunday’s where they are less than the stellar unit we know they could be? 
Part of the problem is the lack of a running game to grind out yards and work the clock. I think the defense is on the field a bit too much because of this. The Eagles are having defensive problems of their own and I just suspect order gets resolved for both of these Super Bowl hopefuls. The Pick: Minnesota/PHILADELPHIA UNDER 46.5
That’s all for today. Comment below and come back tomorrow for Monday Morning Quarterback, Buddy Diaz.
