Marco Sr. is in Babyland with Mrs. Marco and Marco Jr., and although I'd like to be patient, football waits for no one. When I had my daughter Vinnessa Jr.a couple of years ago, even after 60 hours of labor and a home birth, I was gambling the very next day. When I said that to Marco, however, he got defensive saying, "Steelers-Titans isn't the freakin' 2010 Super Bowl, V-Dub. I just need some sleep. I just need some sleep. I just need some freakin..." and then I heard the phone drop to the floor.
That being said, in honor of Marco's first child, we will get our Thursday Night pick in right now, and then the rest of our Week 6 Picks ATS a little bit later this week. I know that will disappoint at least two of our three fans, but remember when we posted our picks on Saturday back in Week 2? I'm pretty sure the extra days of rest had something to do with our 11-5 ATS record. That week is what we now call the good old days.
Now let's talk some football. Marco and I are currently undefeated on Thursday nights in October of 2012 thanks to the Rams beat down of the Arizona Cardinals last week. Better than that, we're on a two game Thursday Night Football winning streak thanks to taking the underdogs, which incidentally have how gone 5-0 ATS this season in the early game. Can you tell where we're going with this?
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tennessee Titans
The Line: Steelers are favored by 5.5 points.
On paper there is absolutely no reason to take the Tennessee Titans. They've been losing games by an average of almost 20 points. On the road that average climbs to 25. Starting quarterback Jake Locker has been in and out of the starting line-up all season, and won't see playing time against the Steelers despite making progress this week. Chris Johnson has been mediocre all year with only 210 rushing yards through 5 games, while back-up QB Matt Hasselbeck has a 1:1 TD to INT ratio thus far in his two full starts in Locker's place.
The Steelers, on the other hand, are coming off a gutsy win at home against their in-state rivals the Philadelphia Eagles. They had Big Ben playing like Big Ben and Rashard Mendenhal rushing for 101 yards in his first game back. Their defense is getting healthy albeit a little older every week. Although it might be more like the Bronze Curtain, they still look pretty good.
But the Steelers lost to the Raiders. They lost to the Broncos. I know, I know, Peyton Manning is really good, but the Broncos really aren't. Yes, the Steelers beat the Jets and the Eagles, but those were home games. The Steelers are just 2-10 ATS in their last 12 road games, while Tennessee is 8-2 SU in their last ten against Pittsburgh. Sure the Titans have struggled as an underdog lately, going 1-5 ATS in their last six, but the same could have been said about the NY Giants going into their Thursday Night blowout against the Panthers three weeks ago.
Call it intuition, a Hail Mary, a prayer, or the knowledge that from time to time NFL quarterbacks are propelled back in time to a day when they once ruled the league from their third position on the third tier of talent. Look for Hasselbeck to have an outstanding game against the banged up Steelers secondary and Chris Johnson to finally have the break-out game we've been waiting for.
The Steelers might win, but it will finally be a close Thursday night game.
Pick: Titans and the points
Vinny and Marco (sort of)
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