KEITH GROLLER NFL FOOTBALL PICKS

FROM KEITH GROLLER

It's 9 a.m. Sunday and I am scrambling to get the NFL picks done before preparping for The Morning Call's benefit softball games today against the Patriots Oldtimers at Pates Park.

We are about as large an underdog against this juggernaut Pates team as the Seahawks are in Pittsburgh today.

Seattle is getting 14.

We're probably seven-run underdogs in each of our two slo-pitch games against these Golden Oldies.

If the early NFL games don't interest you, come on out and see the games at Pates. We start at 2.

Forget about me (seen attempting to pitch below).

Come out to see the rest of The Morning Call all-stars including sports editor Bill Kline, assistant sports editor Ernie Long and Metro editor Mike Miorelli. If you ever want your complaints to be heard, this is your chance. Those are the decision-makers, not me.

If you want to see a living legend, the great Ted Meixell is supposed to make an appearance today. Want a TV icon? RCN4's Chris Michael is joining us. I also believe the lovely, and very talented writer Arlene Martinez is playing for us.

Anyway, it's all for a good cause. The American Red Cross is a super organization and this is a benefit for them. Lots of good things are being planned. I'd come out just for the baked goods.

Red Cross game 004 Red Cross game 007 Red Cross game 002 Now for the NFL picks.

I was great through Sunday last week (must have been the medication for my cold that kicked in for me), but then fell apart like the Dolphins defense on Monday.

I was 9-6 outright, 8-7 against the spread and 10-4-1 on the over/under totals.

Here we go:

HOME TEAM IS IN CAPS

NEW ORLEANS (-6.5) 38, Chicago 21 -- over the 47.5 -- It'll be a Brees-zy day for the Saints who showed me something against the Pack.

DETROIT (-8) 31, Kansas City 10 -- under the 45 --- At least my Rams aren't the worst team in Missouri.

NEW YORK JETS (-9) 20, Jacksonville 17 -- under the 39.5 -- Wonder if some Lehigh fans are going back to New Jersey to see Will Rackley.

BUFFALO (-4) 24, Oakland 17 -- under the 42.5 -- Bills would win the AFC West.

WASHINGTON (-3.5) 35, Arizona 17 -- over the 44 -- Was Cam Newton that great or was the Cardinals defense that bad?

Baltimore (-6) 20, TENNESSEE 13 -- under the 38 -- Give me some Rice every Sunday this fall. And lots of it. My fantasy team needs a Ray of sunshine.

Green Bay (-10) 38, CAROLINA 14 -- over the 45.5 -- Reality check for Cam.

Tampa Bay (+2) 23, MINNESOTA 20 -- over the 41.4 -- Donovan will find out that they can boo in Minnesota, too.

CLEVELAND (-2) 24, Indy Colts 17 -- over the 39.5 -- At least Kerry Collins will put up more points than his alma mater did on Saturday against Temple.

DALLAS (-3) 30, San Francisco 13 -- over the 42 --- Even Romo can't screw this one up, as long as Cowboys don't kick to Ted Ginn.

MIAMI (+3) 30, Houston 21 -- over the 48 -- At least the Dolphins offense looked good on Monday night.

NEW ENGLAND (-7) 27, San Diego 16 -- under the 53.5 -- Hope Whitehall grad and good guy Dan Koppen heals fast and can get back to the Pats lineup ASAP.

Cincinnati (-3.5) 28, DENVER 20 -- over the 40 --- No Carson, Ochocinco or TO suits the Bengals just fine.

SUNDAY NIGHT

Philadelphia (-2.5) 23, ATLANTA 21 -- under the 49.5 -- Atlanta fans should get used to losing to Philly because it will probably also happen in the NLCS.

MONDAY NIGHT

NY GIANTS (-6.5) 34, St. Louis 16 -- over the 44 -- I will be in Philly watching my other favorite St. Louis team on Monday night. Wonder which Ram will get hurt without being touched this week.

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/