KEITH GROLLER'S FOOTBALL PICKS

From Keith Groller

Going against conventional wisdom paid off for me on Saturday. Everybody thought the Cardinals and Ravens, coming off big wins last Sunday, would fare well against rusty New Orleans and Indy teams.

Didn't happen. Yes, we've had some wild-card teams go all the way, but usually home-field and rest are big factors at this time of year.

And that's why I am going with the home and rested teams again today, and against CW again.

I know everybody's in love with the Cowboys after they whupped the Eagles twice, an Eagles team that proved to be not as good as a lot of people thought they were -- especially Eagles fans.

But I think the week off for the Vikings will be key, even if Brett Favre is just as likely to throw five picks as five TDs.

Also, the new media darling is Rex Ryan and I admit he does seem to be more interesting than 99 percent of the rest of the cliche-filled, boring coaches. But the Jets beat a Cincy team that like the Eagles was vastly overrrated. To me, that was no big deal.

I think San Diego, at home, and again, rested, will roll and Mark Sanchez will play a lot like the other USC quarterback, Carson Palmer, did last week. To beat the Chargers, you have to be much more than just a game manager.

So, here we go.

MINNESOTA (-3) 23, Dallas 17

SAN DIEGO (-7) 31, New York Jets 16

Keith Groller