NFL Week 7 Fraudibles: Vinny and Marco's Top Five Picks

For some time now, The Spread Zone gets countless (for people who can't count to two) requests to include our strongest picks of the week. Although it took a while for Marco and I to get past the superstitious ramifications of  teasing fate with words like "certainty" or "lock" or "guarantee" outside the context of sarcasm, we are finally relenting to satisfy our growing audience. It's supply and demand, baby! The economic principle makes capitalism work and dictatorships thrive. You can't fight when you don't have food. Am I right?

Fraudibles: Latin for Friday Audibles, is a word that comes from the days of the Roman Republic when the Gladiators - who traditionally entertained on the first day of a long weekend - would change their plans of attack and defense depending on the wild animal released into the arena.

                                 
                                              Nice Audible

Our emphasis at The Spread Zone will be primarily on the Friday part, but on rare occasions we may include  audibles on earlier picks based on more information - injury report, weather, or naive foolishness on our part for getting our picks out too early.

I know what you're thinking - this is one of those weeks. The Spread Zone must have realized the error of their ways when the Seattle Seahawks ruined their perfect week by becoming the seventh underdog in a row to cover the Thursday Night game. Not at all, my friends. Not at all. If it weren't for Jim Harbaugh messing up Alex Smith's rhythm by using Colin Kaepernick in the Red Zone, we'd be talking about a 20-6, spread-covering beat down and a 1-0 start. I guarantee the odds makers in Vegas were annoyed with Harbaugh, too.

That being said, we still like our chances with 8 favorites left at home and road teams like the Cowboys, Saints, Packers, and Steelers giving up just a few points on the road. Without changing a single pick, we present  you with our very first  Confidence Power Rankings (CPR):

5. Green Bay Packers -5.5 over ST. LOUIS RAMS

4. CHICAGO BEARS -5.5 over Detroit Lions

3. HOUSTON TEXANS -5.5 over Baltimore Ravens

2. OAKLAND RAIDERS -3.5 over Jacksonville Jaguars

1. Dallas Cowboys -2.5 over CAROLINA PANTHERS

And yes, despite our 0-1 start last night, we have not wavered in our belief that this will be a week dominated by the favorites. Isn't it about time?

Remember it's better to have good luck than no luck at all.

Vinny and Marco