Chopping Lines: Expecting a Slow Night In Jacksonville

READ MORE: Atlanta Falcons, Benza Pick, Chopping Lines, Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL Betting

Atlanta Falcons (2-1-0)

Best Line: Atlanta -3

If the Atlanta Falcons don’t host the NFC title game this season, coach Jim Mora Jr.’s hair might go from gray to gone. And my insiders tell me his assistants are currently scrambling to get him an appointment at The Bosley Hair Institute as we speak. What do they know that you don’t know?

For one thing, that Michael Vick sure is a dynamic quarterback to watch. There are very few things the kid needs, outside of more weapons, more experience, better accuracy and a little more finesse. For another thing, management sat on their asses during the offseason and watched as some experienced veteran free agents were nabbed by other (smarter, less chintzy) teams. And sadly, the Falcons did squat in terms of getting Vick more downfield targets. And that’s flat-out stupid when your highly-touted West Coast offense rang in a shitty 30th in passing yards. Guess management is keeping with that time-honored fact that the Falcons have NEVER had two winning seasons in a row.

On the flip side, call me Byron Leftwich’s bitch. The Jaguars rocket-armed QB now has 27 games under his belt and is poised to bust out. But the team’s paltry offensive output last season (last in the AFC) and coach Jack Del Rio’s desire to run the ball up teams’ asses, will make this game almost as boring as Monday’s Dallas/Seattle affair. Vick and Leftwich probably coming out before halftime will make this game about as thrilling as your wife’s Pocket Rocket without one of its batteries. The play (and BENZAPick!) here is the total and I like UNDER 39.

Chopping Lines: Wild O’s Cut Loose in the Chen Pen

READ MORE: A.J. Benza, Baltimore Orioles, Benza Pick, Chopping Lines, Oakland A's

10:05 p.m.

Baltimore Orioles (58-60, B. Chen)

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Oakland A’s (67-51, J. Blanton)

Best Line: Orioles +160, A’s -158

The newest steroid development in Baltimore has the owners of Smarty Jones accusing Rafael Palmeiro of stealing the race horse’s Winstrol and, thereby, costing the colt the Triple Crown. Tell me you don’t see the signs? The Oakland A’s couldn’t possibly keep up their second-half winning ways and, suddenly, they’ve dropped three of four, scored just eight runs in four games and great, big McAfee Coliseum is showing them no love. Even with $5 admission specials, the ballpark isn’t filling up. The O’s Bruce Chen was masterful in his last outing - 2 runs on 75 pitches. Meanwhile, the A’s Joe Blanton has never faced Baltimore before, and the O’s have more lumber than The Home Depot. (RIMSHOT!)

BENZAPICK!: Orioles(!) +200

(YTD Baseball 0-1)