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Swooping is a spectacular sport to watch, and there are a few parts of it that make it much more fun to watch than regular sky diving. For one thing, the majority of the sport actually happens near the ground. This makes it much easier for a normal audience to experience a swooping competition - you don’t have to jump out of the plane with the swoopers to see what they are doing in order to win the competition.

There are several different types of swooping competitions, and one of the biggest events involves distance. While there are several ways to determine the length of a swoop, most competitions find it easier to do this event over a lake or pond of some sort. As a result, the swooping distance is measured from the point where the swooper’s feet first hit the lake until the moment when they finally land.

Like any distance sport, more and more swoopers will end up breaking the distance record. This is especially likely in a sport like swooping when the equipment can have such a large effect on whether or not it is possible to swoop for long distances.

The upper limit on distances for swooping now is the record that was set by Shannon Pilcher. He managed to swoop an entire 418 feet, or about 125 meters. When you consider that a football field is 300 ft, that’s a long way!

In order to swoop that far, swoopers have to be going pretty fast before they hit the ground - at least a little bit faster than they would be if they were just sky diving normally. Swoopers usually pick up speed again near the ground by making a few turns near the ground. Going long distances is pretty difficult, since these last turns are the hardest part of sky diving.

It might be possible that there is a limit as to how far people can swoop. However, until that limit is reached, swoopers will continue to swoop farther and farther. As it is, however, the distance you can count on somebody being able to swoop depends a lot on their experience and the type of equipment that they’re using.

I made a bad mistake a couple of weeks ago and got into a discussion about poetry with my good friend, Henry County Herald columnist Amy Eason. Amy likes poems, and was telling me all kinds of stuff about them in an effort to convince me that I should like them as well. She was fighting an uphill battle because I typically don’t like poetry at all, in fact, the only thing I can imagine that’s worse than poems would be having Perry Como sing a few of them to me. Nonetheless, she made me promise that I would try to write one, and, that if I did, I’d come to understand just how rewarding composing them can be. Based on her powers of persuasion, and the added incentive of a twenty dollar side bet, I’m going to unveil my first, and I guarantee you, my absolutely last poetic offering. This tender epistle goes as follows:

Le Poem De La Sweat

I sit here at my keyboard fair,
Sweat beads streaking through my hair,
I just got home from working out at the gym,
In a very vain effort to get fit and trim.

I wonder why it has to be this way,
Joints a-hurtin’ and old legs that sway,
I’m breathing so hard, it’s like a monsoon,
I’m sure I could inflate a hot air balloon.

As I worked out, I looked all around,
Amazed at the different type people I found,
I cussed the skinny people who don’t break a sweat,
The more they eat, the thinner they get.
It doesn’t seem right, yet what can I do,
They’re still real skinny, but my stomach’s all goo.

And there’s a big guy, who’s puffing like me,
His sweatpants are too small, his gut I can see,
When he bends over to pick up some weights,
I think of full moons, the association I hate.

To my right is a lady, she works hard and tries,
No weight in her chest, but lots in her thighs,
She’s standing there eyeing the sit-up bench,
If she lays down on it, we may need a wench.

Right straight ahead is a real foxy mama,
Her tan lines remind me of the Bahamas,
Her work-out outfits couldn’t be more tiny,
If she makes a quick move, I might glimpse her heiny.

As for me, I’m on a Stairmaster,
A pretty good recipe for an impending disaster,
My legs are feeling like concrete poles,
If my brain were x-rayed, it’d be full of holes.

One minute goes by, then two, then three,
The water gods are all calling out to me,
My chest feels tight, my eyes feel glazed,
If I don’t throw up, I’ll be mega amazed.

Finally, I finish, and I can go home,
And sit my butt down, to finish this poem,
Amy, my dear, I enjoyed this plenty,
Now break out your purse and slip me that twenty.

Well, hmmmm. You know, I’ve gotta be honest here, Amy may be right. Poetry does bring out a tender, compassionate side within me that I never knew I had. To be totally truthful, I really struggled hard from an emotional standpoint while writing this poem, in fact, tears almost came to my eyes several times, but, I fought them off in order to do my literary duty. I guess I’ve sort of become a true Renaissance man, scripting out tender verses like these. It makes me feel pretty good inside, to tell you the truth. I would go further, and maybe get into some pretty heavy dialogue about philosophy or religion, but I can’t right now. I happen to be writing this on a Monday night, and RAW is WAR is about to come on. And, as we all know, even a true Renaissance man like me can’t miss out on seeing Triple H in action…

About the Author

Ed’s latest book, “Rough As A Cob,” can be ordered by calling River City Publishing toll-free at: 877-408-7078. He’s also a popular after dinner speaker, and his column runs in a number of Southeastern publications. You can contact him via email at: ed3@ed-williams.com, or through his web site address at: www.ed-williams.com.

Concept Golf is golf instruction. It is golf instruction that is based on principles not mechanics. It is an opportunity for the golfer to develop his very own unique swing. With the golfer developing his own swing, he has nothing to remember, nothing to practice and nothing to fix. It is a swing that will be all his for his entire golf experience. He is not conforming his swing through extensive mechanical instruction to some great but obscure golfer’s swing.

All the golfers on the Champions Tour have their own unique swing. They are as distinctive as the individual. You can recognize the player by his signature swing from a great distance. Because they have always had their own swing, they are still playing at the highest level.

Because Concept Golf teaches with principles and not mechanics, our golfers have nothing or little to remember. They understand the principles and then are able to apply those concepts to their swing and shot-making in the way that makes sense for them. Now they are in possession of the tools that make golf a simple game with a simple swing.

It has been a long road to discover the principles that make golf and its swing simple. And that is what the principles do. With an understanding of the principles, ALL the desired swing effects automatically belong to the golfer. Shot quality is at a high level. Scores start to recede, enjoyment increases, frustration and embarrassment diminish near zero.

Today I want to share with you what its like to have a lesson with John Toepel.

A lesson with John

In all the lessons I have taken as an amateur and a Tour Professional, only one teacher, Jimmy Ballard, explained the big picture of the swing before we went to the range. With a complete picture in mind there was a chance to incorporate the individual parts of the swing into the whole and make sense of the changes.

For some time now, I’ve understood that the only way to positively impact a better player’s game is to play golf with the student, in order to identify the golfer’s true problem areas so that they can be corrected. The assumption has been that to fix the swing is to fix the game. Golfers’ problems originate in their thoughts and must be corrected there.

However, our first job is to accurately identify the trouble, and that will only reveal itself on the golf course. The problem may be in the swing, but why? The problem may be in the short game, but why? The problem may be in management, but why? Taking a look at the golfer’s swing on the range will show me his swing in a very low-pressure situation, but will tell me nothing about him as a golfer and how I can help him improve his game.

In my eyes, you and all my students are par golfers. You are not a poor golfer trying to get better, except in your own eyes. If I, as your teacher, see you as an untalented golfer trying to become the model of consistency, I’m not going to be able to help you and you are not going to improve. My job really is to open your eyes to the reality of you being a par golfer at this moment.

Concept Golf teaches people to be better golfers so they can have fun playing the game. We begin with an hour conversation to learn about each other. I need to know a lot about you, both as a golfer and as a person. My questions are designed to learn how you see your golf game, your swing, why are we here, your handicap, your goals, your golf strengths and weaknesses as you see them, your golf history, other lessons, family, other sports, employment, how committed you are, how much time you have for practice and golf and whether you can you use golf in business. At this point I determine our next step. If you are relatively new to golf or if there is a lot of confusion about the swing idea, we will probably go to the range. If you are a more accomplished golfer, we will play golf so I can learn about your golf game and see for myself the problems in your game that cost you strokes.

When we go to the range it’s reasonable that you hit some wedges and seven irons so you can get the butterflies out of your stomach and I can see your “range” swing. Once I see your swing with a couple of different clubs and understand how you think of the golf swing, we can begin to give you the right ideas. Your swing will tell me what you are thinking about the swing, and the interview will tell me how the instruction needs to be structured so that it makes the most sense to you.

I will explain the five swing fundamentals of Concept Golf so you have a complete idea of the swing rather than just the disjointed parts and pieces. In order for you to have an effective swing, you need to have the correct, total understanding of the swing. That is the starting point. The total concept of the golf swing is presented in a logical manner so that the ideas are reasonable and make sense rather than nonsense. When it does make sense to you, you will be willing to accept the principles that will give you a swing that works. You will make great progress during the first lesson, hitting the ball further and more effortlessly than ever before.

Eventually we will play some golf. We will talk at the end of our round and agree on a direction for your improvement. Often golfers do not know where or why they are losing strokes. As an outsider and teacher it’s easier for me to identify and pinpoint the problem area or areas. A case in point is a friend of mine in Pennsylvania.

Rick Troutman called me one day and said he wanted to lower his average score from 73 to 69. He asked if I would come to his home and see what I could do. I’ve known Rick for several years and have played several rounds of casual golf with him. He’s a good golfer and hits fairly long shots. When I arrived, we had a talk on the way to the course. The one thing he was quite blunt about was that I was not to work with his swing. I had no intention of working with his swing, just his game.

We played 18 holes the first day, then 36, 18, 18 and 18, spending no time on the range. He was hitting it to the right some of the time, and he did ask why. I gave him a one-sentence answer; that was the extent of my swing instruction. We worked on his pitching and talked about his putting, but the rest of the instruction was about course management and Rick-management.

He called two weeks later after winning a tournament and was very happy with the improvement and the instruction. He continued to play better and better. About two months later he called to tell me his average score was now 69. Most golfers do not need swing instruction to have lower scores.

Concept Golf has the goal of making you a better golfer with lower scores, not just improving your swing. As you become a better golfer, you probably will have a new, correct and understandable picture of the golf swing, but don’t be limited to that. We will also need to look at your short game, course management and self-management.

John Toepel is a Veteran PGA Tour Player, instructor, author, and professional speaker. He is also the discoverer of Concept Golf, the quickest way to immediate, life-long lasting improvements to anyone’s golf game. To learn more about Concept Golf, including the most comprehensive golf instruction system ever, “The Concept Golf Perfect Shot Making System”, please visit http://www.conceptgolf.com/PSMS.htm and Discover the Par Golfer in You!

Golf is all about the swing. If you have the right swing your golf game is going to be great if your swing is weak or wobbly your golf game is going to suffer, it is as simple as that. Learning to swing the golf club is not only the most important thing that you need to do to improve your golf game it is also the hardest.

Not everyone can just pick up a golf club and swing like a pro, for most of us the golf club is gong to feel awkward at first and swinging it properly is gong to be a long way off. Your hands need to be as one when you are gripping your golf club. Your golf game is going to be at its best when your hands are working together to bring about the smoothest and most accurate swing. There is more than one way to grip a golf club but remember to keep your hands working as one unit and you will have a much better golf game for it.

What kind of grip pressure are you usually working with in your golf game? You don’t want to be gripping your golf club too tight as this will take away much of the power that is, or at least that should be, in your golf game. You need the flexibility that a lighter grip will give you. This does not mean that you should let the club fly out of your hands or anything but you need to be able to use a little wrist in the swing, the wrist hinge is a wonderful source of the swing power and this is what will be best for anyone’s golf game.

With a lighter grip your golf game will be better in other ways as well. For example you will have more clubface rotation, which gives you a better shot at squaring the club. This is essential to a good golf game so keep this in mind the next time y9u are taking a shot.

A mid range grip is the best way to go if you are looking for a way to improve your golf game. This gives you the most versatility and the most flexibility. Changing your grip is a simple and easy way for you to play a better golf game without having to spend more money trying to find a quick fix in new clubs or other golf accessories.

Jason Powers, a devoted golf fan, offers more golf tips
on his personal website ===>http://www.golfsites.info

When it’s bad, college football can really suck. But when it’s good…oh boy.

Last weekend, it was very, very good. I have two TVs in my living room, side-by-side, and in the span of about 15 minutes, Wisconsin won their ridiculous game over Minnesota thanks primarily to a blocked punt, Michigan topped Penn State’s gutsy drive with one of their own (aided by two phantom seconds added to the Big House clock) and Matt Leinart somehow got the clock stopped when he fumbled out of bounds (it’s not supposed to do that) and made his QB sneak into history, helping Southern Cal overcome a nation’s worth of Irish rooters in the best football game I remember seeing this century.

Wow.

Add to that Alabama’s clutch drive against Ole Miss leading to a game-winning field goal with no time left, West Virginia’s tackling of Louisville QB Brian Brohm just outside the goal line, stopping what would’ve been a tying two-point conversion in that game’s third overtime, and UCLA’s outrageous comeback on Washington State, including a third-and-three from the Wazzou nine with precious little time on the clock, whereupon the Bruins scored the tying TD and sent the game into OT. No, my crummy cable company didn’t let me see all those games (though I did get the Tide and some of the Mountaineers), but all I can tell you is this: whenever your know-it-all brainiac friend with the pocket protector and mounds of statistics about how big-time intercollegiate athletics are leeches on the forehead of American universities, think back to last Saturday, remember play after play of pulse-pounding excitement that only sports can consistently give, and offer your friend a winsome smile.

He just wouldn’t understand.

The White Sox are in their first World Series in 46 years. How does that play in the handicapping world? Are a lot of bettors (including you) on that bandwagon? What were the odds on them winning the AL before the season started? Do you find them to be an appealing team to root for?

Rob Gillespie, BoDog.ws: Not really. I think bettors were shocked to see the Yankees and Red Sox out so fast and were playing wait and see. On the year, the White Sox got no love from bettors. They opened at 35/1 last fall and moved as high as 50/1 in the offseason. Their fast start drew a couple of large bets but bettors never really showed support in any numbers. I don’t find the team itself particularly appealing, but its tough not to like Ozzie Guillen and the way he has his team play.

Assuming the Astros win one of the next three NLCS games, who do you like between them and the White Sox in the World Series? Do you expect the world to care, or will this be one of those Series that no one watches?

RG, BoDog.ws: Pujols hits a clutch monster Home Run Monday night, the Colts come back from 17 down early to destroy the hapless looking Rams and all anyone is talking about at the water cooler today is USC/Notre Dame. I think this will be the World Series time forgot if you live outside of Texas or Illinois. I’ll take the White Sox starters and rested bullpen and say Chicago in 5. Just guessing here of course!

How about that USC/Notre Dame game? Boy, was that an Instant Classic, or what? How did Vegas do on that one, and what were your impressions of the Trojans. Are they going to win the national championship?

RG, BoDog.ws: Action was so balanced on that one that we got to be true fans for a game, and what a game. I stood in front of my TV and applauded at the end. I wonder how the Houston Texans would fare against either team right now? That was an instant classic for sure. I would worry about a letdown next week if wasn’t Washington up next on their sched. USC has not played championship caliber ball in the first half of their last three games and they will give Cal and UCLA shots to beat them if they don’t get that sorted out quickly.

In the NFL, is New England in serious, serious trouble, or do you expect them to get healthy and make another run?

RG, BoDog.ws: I put my back out once. The most surprising thing was how much other muscles hurt from having to compensate. I think the same is true of the Pats right now. The more that bench gets stretched, the more guys are going to get banged up. They have the mental make-up to recover quickly but there may not be enough time left in the season to physically recover given how good the AFC looks this year. Bruschi’s return is likely to give a small emotional lift, but I don’t think he will make enough physical difference to stop the bleeding. The bye week will help as well. Buff/Ind/@Mia the next three games: winning two is a must if they want to get back to the Super Bowl; winning all three would show they are still the team to beat; losing two or more of those and it’s time to build for next year.

Christopher Harris is a man of many talents, including head writer for The Professional Handicappers League at http://www.procappers.com

Golf is a $60 billion per year industry. Much of that staggering figure comes from money spent on new “technologically advanced” equipment. Equipment the manufacturers claim will let us hit the ball farther and straighter than ever before. Another large area of spending is golf instruction. Today’s golfer has access to a vast number of highly qualified PGA teaching professionals to correct swing faults and give cues on how to make better ball contact. With all this high tech equipment and expert instruction, the average golfer must be playing better and shooting lower scores than ever…right? Wrong! The average handicap has not dropped in over 18 years. Why is this? The reason is great new equipment and great teachers but the same old body.

Let’s take a look at what factors control the flight of a golf ball. This may help us better understand why most golfers get less than spectacular results from investments in new equipment and expert instruction.

The golf club directs the golf ball due to the following factors:

• Club Face Alignment
• Swing Path
• Angle of Impact
• Club Head Speed

The flight of the golf ball is primarily controlled by external factors such as clubface alignment, swing path, angle of attack, and club head speed. PGA teaching professionals are highly qualified to provide excellent cues and make corrections in your stance, grip, etc. in order for you to improve your swing and allow you to make better contact with the golf ball. After a lesson with cues you find yourself striking the ball better than ever. You just can’t wait to get to the course to show your stuff. A few days later you get to the course and it’s the same old ugly swing or wicked slice. Sound familiar? Why it is so difficult for most golfers to consistently reproduce that beautiful swing developed during a golf lesson? The reason is … The club controls the ball but it is your body that controls the club!

Your body controls the golf club due to the following internal physical factors:

• Postural Stability
• Muscle Balance and Flexibility
• Proprioception*
• Strength and Endurance
• Power

*Proprioception = the bodies awareness of its position in space.

The path of the golf club is controlled primarily by internal physical factors. These internal physical factors include precise coordination of muscle contraction and relaxation (muscle balance and flexibility), postural stability, balance and body awareness (proprioception), muscle strength and endurance. Without adequate training of these internal factors it is nearly impossible to consistently repeat the perfect golf swing and produce optimal power to get the most out of your clubs. Without adequate training of these internal factors it is also extremely difficult to prevent the common overuse injuries affecting many golfers. Statistics show over 50% of all golfers will suffer a golf related injury.

So, instead of spending all that money on the latest and greatest driver you ought to think about upgrading your most important piece of equipment… your body! Arm yourself with a qualified golf fitness professional along with a PGA teaching professional and you will not only play better golf but you’ll feel better doing it.

Bill Scibetta, RN, NSCA-CPT
Bill is the founder and President of Precision Fitness - Personal Training Centers in the Charlotte, NC area and co-author of the book Play Better Longer! - Peak Performance and Injury Prevention for Golf. Bill is a licensed Registered Nurse as well as a National Strength and Conditioning Association - Certified Personal Trainer. After spending years practicing in the specialty of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Bill has dedicated his career to helping individuals identify and overcome obstacles that stand in the way of optimal wellness and peak physical performance.

Exercise training for golf is what every golfer who is serious about improving their golf swing power and mechanics should be focusing on…especially senior golfers in the “off-season” or winter months.

If you’ve read any of my articles you’ll know where I’m coming from.

“Your body dictates your golf swing!”

“A broken body will never achieve optimal golf performance”.

“You are only as good as your ‘physical limitations’ will allow you.”

You heard it hear first. My quotes above are “my quotes” that I have used for over 10 years with golfers of all ages, abilities and sexes.

I have seen it thousands of times throughout the past 10 years. Golfers getting so frustrated they want to quit the game.

They’ve taken lessons. They’ve practiced til their hands bled. And they own the latest/greatest equipment.

And…

They are NOT playing any better!

Why?

Because their body is keeping them from what they think they can do. There is a gap between the mind and the body.

You can will a great game in your mind as much as you want, but if your body isn’t capable…it will NEVER happen!

Those are the cold hard facts.

The sooner you realize your body is the “magic bullet’, the sooner you can start your exercise training for golf and see real results.

These results will be long-lasting too!

No band-aid swing fixes that don’t even last for 18 holes.

Your exercise training for golf program should focus on your personal, physical limitations to save time and money. Eliminate your limitations and watch your golf game soar!

I’m here to MOTIVATE you…not sugar-coat it!

It’s time to regain those lost yards off the tee, and get back to shooting scores you did years ago!

Get started right now on your program of exercise for golf.

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is the featured expert for Golf Magazine’s GolfOnline.com site, one of the top golf performance experts in the country, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf performance sites. Take a look at his just released golf performance dvds and manual at his golf fitness exercise site - Perform Better Golf.

Performing shoulder exercises and stretches are important to ensuring that you have a good swing. Stretching the rotator cuff muscles, those found in your shoulders that allow you to move your shoulder in a circular motion, increases flexibility and ensures a more natural and fluid golf swing.

Good shoulder stability and strength is vital to your golf game, since your shoulders are involved with every swing of your clubs. Include shoulder stretches and exercises in your regular fitness routine, as well as use them as part of your pre-game warm-up. Here are two important stretches that will help you get your shoulders in top shape.

Rotator cuff stretch: This movement is designed to stretch out the rotator cuff muscles. Hold the club in the middle of the shaft with one arm extended straight out. Rotate the club to the right and then to the left. When complete, switch to the other arm and repeat the stretch.

Shoulder towel stretch: This movement is designed to stretch the muscles in your shoulders. Begin by standing with your feet shoulder width apart. Grab a golf towel or other small towel and place it behind your back. Raise one arm, bend it at the elbow and reach down towards the opposite shoulder blade. With the other arm, reach behind your back towards the opposite shoulder blade. As you hold the towel in between the two arms, pull the upper arm straight down. Next, raise the lower arm straight up. Reverse your arms and repeat the stretch.

Essential to your fitness routine is a regular stretching program for the muscles of your shoulder. You can use stretches for your shoulders as a pre-round warm up in addition to stretches you may do at the gym or at home as part of an ongoing.

Susan Hill is a nationally recognized golf fitness trainer, CHEK golf biomechanic and sports nutrition specialist. For more information on golf specific nutrition, exercises or stretches, visit www.fitnessforgolf.com.

Joining a golf club has many advantages and benefits, compared to playing at different golf clubs. Lets take a look at some of the benefits and reasons to join a local country club.

(1) Most golf clubs, if not all golf clubs have a handicap tracking system, to keep track of your scores. You do not have to send your scorecard to a golf association for a legitimate handicap, to play in golf tournaments.

(2) Golf clubs have a facility with a locker room and restaurant as a meeting place. Therefore you get to know more fellow members, which make it a lot easier for you to find players to team up with.

(3) You’re more likely to drive down to your local country club to practice, than you would at an unfamiliar golf course. More practice, means playing better golf.

(4) Belonging to a golf club makes you play with a better game plan approach, because of the familiarity of the golf course. Being familiar with a golf course and knowing what lies ahead, tends to make you think about your club selection.

(5) The yardage at the golf course on most golf holes becomes embedded in memory, which in turn gives you a better understanding of your golf club yardage capabilities.

(6) A lot of golf clubs have a trade off system, which allows you to play at different golf courses in return for other members from other clubs, to play your golf course.

(7) You are more likely to play in more golf tournaments. Golf clubs have a member’s bulletin board, keeping you informed on what upcoming events are coming up.

(8) Once you pay a yearly green fee at a country club, you get to play unlimited golf. Certain days may be restricted for after certain hours.

(9) If you join a golf club that has shares, the shares typically go up on the majority. It may have something to do with the golf frenzy.

(10) Last minute tee times are a lot easier to book, if the pro knows you belong to the golf club. The pro will simply find you other members to join up with. Members enjoy meeting other members of the club.

(11) If you play golf a lot. Belonging to a golf club will save you a lot of money in the long run.

There are numerous advantages and benefits in joining a nearby country club. Check out the phone book, for some local golf courses, or browse the Internet for courses near your hometown. Play a few golf courses first; to see which golf challenge you would enjoy the best.

Learned to play golf as a caddie. Now running a discount tee time site at www.golfanchor.net

Wagering on NFL games is not guesswork. It requires time, patience, and careful analysis. Here are some notes to keep an eye on regarding NFL games this weekend.

Ravens at Bengals: Emotion and interest are more important than raw stats for analyzing this game. For instance, the Ravens have had a terrible season, especially offensively. If you look at their schedule, they’ve only got “up” to play just a few times this season. Pittsburgh is a big division rivalry game for this club. They got fired up to play at Pittsburgh last month and lost 20-19 as a two touchdown underdog. Then the Ravens went flat, losing 21-9 to Cincinnati and 30-3 to Carolina (0-2 ATS). Then last week they got fired up again when the Steelers came to town, pulling off a 16-13 upset in overtime. So will they pack it in on Sunday? After all, Baltimore is 3-7 overall and going nowhere. Their opponent, Cincinnati, is off an emotional game, losing a 45-37 thriller at home to the unbeaten Colts. Will they be up? Or emotionally spent? More likely they’ll be up, and the Bengals certainly have far more offensive versatility and balance than does Baltimore. Notice that the Ravens have really only played against three versatile offenses (Colts, Bengals, Jaguars) and went 0-3 ATS. I left out their two games against Pittsburgh because the Steelers were without QB Ben Roethlisberger both times. Baltimore is also 0-5 SU, 1-4 ATS on the road where they are getting beat by a 24-11 average.

Patriots at Chiefs: New England has a two game win streak, but they needed goal-area stands in the final seconds to top both Miami and New Orleans. And this secondary is still banged up, surrendering a ton of yards. The Patriots will be without Corey Dillon once again, the offensive line is still playing without its starting center and has two rookies in there. The Pats are also very thin at wide receiver, with David Givens missing last week’s game and out of practice this week. Kansas City is 4-2 SU/ATS the last six games and, at 6-4, there is a sense of urgency if they want to make the playoffs. Also note that Pats coach Bill Belichick hasn’t been with the team this week, tending to his father’s funeral.

Panthers at Bills: An interesting betting line, as Carolina is 2-3 ATS on the road and 3-5 ATS as a favorite. Public perception is certainly a huge part of this, as the Bills were embarrassed 48-10 at San Diego last week. Still, notice that Buffalo is 0-5 on the road, but 4-1 SU/ATS at home! They allow just 13 ppg at home.

Bears at Bucs: The reason to pay attention to this game is the Tampa Bay defense. They are still ranked very high in the NFL, but the last three games they’ve surrendered a mind-boggling 34, 35 and 27 points! What gives? Perhaps just as amazing is that they’ve won 2 of those games.

Dolphins at Raiders: One game does not a season make! Miami is 2-7 SU/ATS since upsetting Denver in the opener. Public perception has certainly caused Miami to be overvalued because of that season-opening win and the reputation that new coach Nick Saban brings after winning the national title at LSU just two years ago. By the way, as up-and-down as Oakland has been, the Raiders are 2-0 SU/ATS as a favorite.

Steelers at Colts: Best game of the weekend takes place Monday night. Pittsburgh is ranked ahead of the Colts in total defense, No. 6 vs. No. 8. What will be interesting will be the Steelers’ offensive line and deep running game behind Jerome Bettis, Duce Staley, Willie Parker and Verron Haynes. They’ve been rotating all four, a la Denver, and Indy has been weak against the run at times this season. Notice that the Bengals ran for 164 yards on the Colts, 6.3 yards per carry last week! If the Steelers want to upset the 10-0 Colts, they will need offensive balance, which means they need a healthy QB Ben Roethlisberger to return. Tommy Maddox is useless. The Colts are the 17th team in the 86-year history of the NFL to open a season 10-0, and only the ninth since 1970. Still, it’s hard to believe Indy is only 1-3 against the spread at home, but they are. Enjoy the post-Thanksgiving platter of games! Good luck, as always…Al McMordie.

Al McMordie is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League.
Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Al_McMordie.htm