NFL '07 - Week Ten and the Road to Respectability

Last week saw the picks come in on the winning side yet again (8-6) and if the Indianapolis Colts hadn't collapsed like a cardboard valise...

But these things happen, which is why they call it gambling. Selah.

The season record stands at 56-68-7 vs. the spread, and here we go with the tenth week of the interminable NFL season:

Dal -1 at NYG: Low line more indicative of respect for the Parcells Theory of Existence ("You are what your record says you are") than for reality on the ground, which is that Cowboys are a notch up from the Giants.

KC -3 vs. Den: Broncos 1-7 against the spread and have no defense. This should be enough even for Chiefs coach Herman "What Time Did You Say It Was?!" Edwards, who is especially adept at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Car -4 vs. Atl: One school of thought says that since the Falcons have already won more games than expected, why not another? A second says that if any of the hype was true then the Panthers should start making their move, and what better place to start than by mopping up a bottom-rung club? I'm going with the latter.

Cle +9 1/2 at Pit: Not for a minute to I expect the browns to win this game, but I do think they will keep it well within this line.

Buf -3 at Mia: It was with considerable amusement that I read of the Dolphins tandem of QB Lemon to TE Peelle.

NO - 11 1/2 vs. StL: Is this a trap game, or The Rams to the Slaughter? If the Saints are going to make a run after their lousy start, the time is now, and who better than the hopeless Lambs to be the victims.

Some other wild guesses:

Ten -4 vs. Jax

GB -6 vs. Min

Cin +4 at Bal

Det +1 at AZ

Phi +3 at Was

SD + 3 1/2 vs. Ind

Oak + 3 1/2 vs. Chi

Sea -10 vs. SF

ANNOYING COMMERCIAL DEPT.

Regular American men who find themselves in Charlottesville, Va. should drop by Eljo's, the great Trad haberdashery that has outfitted both Wahoo and yahoo for umpty-ump years.

I recently ordered a Gitman shirt - white point collar with French cuffs, for those rare occasions I need such a garment. (The last time I dug out the incumbent I noticed the collar was coming off and as it was a thrift shop special, I felt replacing it with a new shirt was not an extravagance.)

Mr. Trent Thurston emailed me to confirm and added he had a couple of pairs of Bill's Khakis in my size that were slightly irregular or something, and offered me both, cuffed and shipped, for $50 each - 50 percent off retail. And of course I said sure.

I mention this because it's this level of service and the personal touch - not to mention the good memory - that has allowed Eljo's to prosper while men's shops fold by the dozen.

And even if you can't get to C-ville and get yourself measured for a Southwick sports coat, you can certainly stock up by long distance on staples like oxford cloth buttondowns.

Eljo's - check it out, y'hear?