NFL PICKS, WEEK 4

Yes, Out of Left Field is obliged to provide weekly NFL picks that are guaranteed to be no more, or no less accurate than some of the various experts out there. These picks are for recreational use only, so don't come crying to us when you're 64 grand in the hole and they're threatening to take your thumbs. Associate Blogger Neil Acharya is also dispensing the best kind of advice -- free advice -- this week.

(All lines are from Bet US Sportsbook as of 2:30 a.m. Eastern. Oh, and please check out this week's CIS picks.)

Sunday, 1 p.m.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (-10) at N.Y. JETS (over/under 46½)
If Peyton Manning and Chad Pennington competed in the 100-metre dash, it would replace the Kentucky Derby as the most exciting two minutes in sports.
Acharya: Indy 28-20 (Jets cover).
Sager: Indy 31-10.
SCORE: Indy 31-28 (Jets cover)

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (-3) at BALTIMORE RAVENS (o/u 33)
West Coast team against an East Coast team -- the 3-hour time difference can be a factor. But Baltimore is not good enough to be a 4-0 team.
Acharya: Chargers 13-7.
Sager: Chargers 23-13.
SCORE: Baltimore 16-13.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (pick) at BUFFALO BILLS (o/u 34½)
Once again, the Vikes get no respect from the oddsmakers or media -- and this is Neil talking, not Neate, the Vikings fan.
Acharya: Vikings 17-16.
Sager: Vikings 24-13.
SCORE: Bills 17-12.

DALLAS COWBOYS (-11) at TENNESSEE TITANS (o/u 37)
As noted in the T-Emo post, "I'm trying to get my team ready for Tennessee" is the new "I want to focus on my salad."
Acharya: Cowboys 24-14 (Titans cover).
Sager: Cowboys 31-10.
SCORE: Cowboys 45-14.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ers (+7) at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (o/u 40)
San Francisco still makes way too many mistakes in the secondary, and the Chiefs are coming off a bye week.
Acharya: 49ers 21-17.
Sager: Chiefs 34-24.
SCORE: Chiefs 41-0.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (+7½) at CAROLINA PANTHERS (o/u 41½)
Carolina is finally getting untracked; Saints' success in the first three weeks will prove ephemeral in the long run.
Acharya: Panthers 23-16 (Saints cover).
Sager: Panthers 30-20.
SCORE: Panthers 21-18.

ARIZONA CARDINALS (+7) at ATLANTA FALCONS (o/u 40½)
Still don't trust the Buzzsaw, even as a big underdog. Atlanta's front four will make this a long day for Kurt Warner, playing behind 'Zona's porous offensive line.
Acharya: Falcons 24-23 (Cardinals cover).
Sager: Falcons 20-10.
SCORE: Falcons 32-10.

MIAMI DOLPHINS (-3½) at HOUSTON TEXANS (o/u 40½)
Neil says Mario Williams will finally get his first sack. Neate wonders which blocker's foot Daunte Culpepper will have to trip over to help to happen.
Acharya: Texans 16-12.
Sager: Dolphins 17-6.
SCORE: Texans 17-15.

Sunday, 4 p.m.-ish
NEW ENGLAND (+7) at CINCINNATI BENGALS (o/u 45½)
The Bengals are headed for the playoffs -- and a new single-season record for player arrests.
Acharya: Bengals 24-20 (Patriots cover).
Sager: Bengals 27-17.
SCORE: Pats 38-13.

ST. LOUIS (-3) at DETROIT (o/u 48)
Acharya: Rams 35-21.
Sager: Rams 34-27.
SCORE: Rams 41-34.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (-3½) at WASHINGTON REDSKINS (o/u 34½)
Inclined to take Washington at home, but they may just be the softest team in the NFL.
Acharya: Jaguars 26-19.
Sager: Jaguars 23-7.
SCORE: Washington 36-30.

CLEVELAND BROWNS (-3) at OAKLAND RAIDERS (o/u 33½)
Worst matchup of the week, by far, but the Raiders are bound to win a game eventually. They're one touchdown from getting rolling, we swear. (Yeah, right.)
Acharya: Browns 14-9.
Sager: Raiders 24-21.
SCORE: Browns 24-21.

Sunday nighter
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (+3½) at CHICAGO BEARS (o/u 34½)
Shaun Alexander is out for Seattle, but the Seahawks passing game and defence will make up for it.
Acharya: Bears 20-7.
Sager: Seahawks 23-16.
SCORE: Bears 34-6.

Monday nighter
GREEN BAY PACKERS (-11) at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (o/u 48)
Why is Green Bay still playing in prime time? With the season Brett Favre's having, count on the Eagles for at least one defensive touchdown.
Acharya: Eagles 40-32 (Packers cover).
Sager: Eagles 35-17.
SCORE: Eagles 31-9.

Neil Acharya's season to date (missed Week 1)
Against the spread: 15-15 (50%)
Straight up: 22-8 (73.3%)
Over/Under: 17-11-2 (60%)

Neate Sager's season to date
Against the spread: 18-28 (39.1%)
Straight up: 27-19 (58.7%)
Over/Under: 25-19-2 (56.5%)

Related:
NFL Picks Week 3 (originally posted Sept. 21)

That's for now. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.