What's My Line? Rasha, smasha ... she can pick games

SAL DEFILIPPO, news editor of the Las Vegas SUN, frequently deposits funds into the accounts of sports books throughout Southern Nevada. His column appears Fridays throughout football season. He can be reached on the Internet at [email protected]

IT was the hot topic around the office this week.

No, not the Tyson hearing, or the World Series, or the Mideast talks.

The talk around the office -- around me, anyway -- was about an elephant.

Specifically, Rasha, prognosticating specialist for the Dallas Morning News. According to an item in the weekly "Go Figure" segment of Sports Illustrated, Rasha uses her trunk to make selections on NFL games, and is picking winners at a 62.5 percent clip.

It's no coincidence that my loving comrades, in multiple instances from writers, editors and graphics specialists alike, made sure I was aware of this vital statistic. It was mentioned in meetings, copies were provided, and though the ribbing was good-natured, it made me wonder if it was really the elephant that is confined to a zoo.

Yes, five of every eight Rasha picks are on target, although a really defensive columnist might be quick to point out that this record is merely straight-up, not involving the point spreads.

Not me, of course. After all, without the point spreads, my record is -- whoops.

OK, so I may be losing to Dumbo, but it isn't fair. For starters, they say elephants never forget. And think about it -- with animal-friendly team names like the Bears, Jaguars, Broncos, Rams, Panthers, Lions and Bengals, don't you think Rasha is probably getting some inside information?

Anyway, I don't have time to worry about such things. I've got to hurry and get some action on the Dolphins game this weekend -- I hear Flipper has the inside scoop.

Last week

Atlanta's win as best bet fueled a 7-4-1 week against the points, and improved the best-bet season record to 4-3. Take that, elephant.

For the season

Top of the line: 4-3

Spread: 37-53-3, .414

Over/Unders: 44-49, .473

Straight-up: 56-37, .602

Top of the line

This great NFL fact came courtesy of KSHP 1400-AM talk-show host Alex Shelton: Teams who beat the Dallas Cowboys are 2-23 against the spread the following week. That's a serious trend.

Tennessee 29, Chicago 10.

Other games

By keeping Pittsburgh and St. Louis off the board this year, the Dolphins' defense already has pitched more home shutouts than the Marlins this season. This week, though, Miami gets roughed up early.

New England 24, Miami 16.

It's hard to give double-digit points with a team that can't stop anyone -- Detroit and Carolina each scored in the 30s against the Packers, and Minnesota put up 45 against Green Bay on a Monday night. Still, the Packers need to re-assert themselves as a powerhouse.

Green Bay 37, Baltimore 21.

This has to be the only time in NFL history where the starting quarterbacks hail from UNLV and Eastern Michigan. I'll go with the local guy with the better team.

Minnesota 31, Detroit 13.

Rams quarterback Tony Banks missed the team flight to St. Louis, later saying he simply couldn't watch the game film from last week's loss. If he keeps that up, he may be watching the game from a new perspective -- the sidelines. Either way, he could learn a thing or two by watching his opponents this week.

San Francisco 38, St. Louis 10.

The Saints had an unusual development this week when rookie Jeff Danish sued the team, demanding $650,000 for allegedly being kicked by teammates and beaten with, naturally, a bag of coins. I'm sure Kerry Collins feels welcome now.

New Orleans 17, Tampa Bay 13.

What happens once Steve DeBerg gets hit hard? Who do the Falcons turn to then? Steve Bartkowski?

New York Jets 27, Atlanta 17.

This would have been a battle of the unbeatens, were it not for Doug Flutie's heroics last week. This should be a high-scoring affair, but it's tough to pick against Denver at home. They'll win, but not by 8.

Denver 24, Jacksonville 22.

Ryan Leaf has learned a lot in his first NFL season. He's learned that sometimes you can hand the ball to Natrone Means on practically every down and let him do all the work. Not a bad strategy, but it won't be effective this week.

Seattle 20, San Diego 10.

The bye week came at a perfect time for the Raiders, particularly punter Leo Araguz, who needed to recover from his 16-kick performance two weeks ago. He won't see as much playing time this week, but the Raiders aren't as good as their 4-2 record.

Cincinnati 17, Oakland 12.

Doug Flutie will have at least three more weeks to prove he can win in the NFL, with the announcement that starting quarterback Rob Johnson will miss at least three more weeks with an injury. Despite Flutie's flair for the dramatic finish, the Panthers will find their way into the win column this week.

Carolina 19, Buffalo 16.

Kordell Stewart has run for 100 yards more often than he has thrown for 200 yards. this season. This week, he'll likely do neither.

Kansas City 26, Pittsburgh 9.

archive