What's My Line? Sometimes the early bets are the best bets

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]

THE NFL should just schedule all the games for a 10 a.m. kickoff.

Sure, ESPN and ABC might not be so fond of the idea. But it seems as if every Sunday goes the same way for me -- have a bit of a good morning, then do a good bit of mourning.

It doesn't matter who the schedule-makers put at 1 p.m. or 5 p.m. each week. If the game kicks off after lunch time, I'll pick the anti-side with relative ease.

I could pick the sun to set in the West this afternoon, and there'd be an sudden eclipse to intercept it. The phrase "better late than never" doesn't apply to my picks.

In the opening week, I shot out of the gate strong at 7-2 in the breakfast affair, but got murdered during brunch and wilted to 8-7. Last week, I should have stayed in bed entirely, winning only 4 of 10 early games. But that still topped the 1-4 performance in p.m. games.

To make it worse, some teams will have a bye in upcoming weeks, resulting in even fewer morning games than usual. I knew eventually I'd come to hate this bye week thing.

Maybe this phenomena is not the fault of the schedule makers. Maybe all I need to do is even pretend I'm in a place where nearly all the games are played early. That might reverse the trend.

Corny idea? Certainly. But I have nothing to lose -- except a few more games. But trying to convince myself I'm somewhere else is a bit of a reach, I suppose. Oh, well.

Until next week, aloha.

Last week

Minnesota missed by a half-point as the top play, indicative of how the week went for me. I was 9-6 on totals, however, and 10-5 straight-up.

For the season

Against the spread: 13-17, .433

Over/unders: 17-13, .567

Straight-up: 20-10, .667

Top of the line

KANSAS CITY -10 vs. San Diego, under 37 --

Ryan Leaf has hardly been rustled in his first two starts, but the Chiefs' defense should have no problem raking him in this week.

Kansas City 26, San Diego 7.

Other games

PITTSBURGH +2 at Miami, over 37 -- Miami's vice this season is the running game, which Jimmy Johnson is determined to develop. So far so good, but this week he gets a lesson from one of the league's traditional rushing powers.

Pittsburgh 24, Miami 16.

GREEN BAY -7 at Cincinnati, under 44 1/2 --

It's tough to back Green Bay as an intraconference road favorite and without Dorsey Levens. But Cincinnati's defense could be just what Brett Favre needs to get in gear.

Green Bay 27, Cincinnati 14.

DETROIT +5 1/2 at Minnesota, under 46 --

People in Detroit were stunned this week by the benching of Scott Mitchell in favor of some Cabbage Batch kid. Frankly, I was stunned Mitchell's fraudulent attempt to play quarterback was tolerated for so long. Randall Cunningham pulls out another one down the stretch.

Minnesota 17, Detroit 13.

TENNESSEE +6 1/2 at New England, over 40 --

With the Oilers, I may go to the well once too often, but I don't think New England is too slick, either.

Tennessee 23, New England 20.

BUFFALO -5 vs. St. Louis, under 38 1/2 --

The Rams spent the early part of the week complaining they were practicing too much, and conviced Dick Vermeil to lighten their workload. They should start by taking Sundays off.

Buffalo 27, St. Louis 10.

INDIANAPOLIS +8 at New York Jets, under 40 1/2 --

Peyton Manning looked a little confused when he floated a pass into the corner of the end zone and there wasn't anyone with a big orange T on his helmet all alone to catch it. He fares better this week, but the Jets pull out a much-needed win heading into their bye week.

New York Jets 14, Indianapolis 10.

TAMPA BAY -7 1/2 vs. Chicago, over 36 1/2 --

I'm just going to pick against the Bears every week until they don't almost-win. The opening of their new stadium should have Tampa Bay fans riled up like never before.

Tampa Bay 34, Chicago 20.

WASHINGTON +8 at Seattle, over 43 1/2 --

Washington D.C. vs. Washington state. The Seahawks have played well, particularly on defense, but the Redskins should rebound after Monday's disaster and keep it close.

Seattle 27, Washington 22.

OAKLAND +7 1/2 vs. Denver, over 44 1/2 --

The Raiders actually beat Denver in Oakland last year. With John Elway's status in question, it could happen again.

Oakland 24, Denver 23.

BALTIMORE +7 at Jacksonville, over 42 --

The Ravens could be a surprising 2-0 if Matt Stover could have converted a few field goals in their opener. Jacksonville should have lost its opener at Chicago. Jacksonville leads early, but Baltimore grabs a backdoor cover.

Jacksonville 29, Baltimore 24.

ARIZONA -4 1/2 at Philadelphia, under 39 --

The Eagles lose their third consecutive game against a team with a bird for a mascot. That has to be some kind of record.

Arizona 23, Philadelphia 9.

DALLAS +4 at New York Giants, under 37 --

Jason Garrett's last game of significance was four seasons ago, but he should keep the Cowboys in this one -- if he can stay off the ground. The Giants have an NFL-best 13 sacks after two games. Brad Daluiso wins it with a late field goal.

New York Giants 17, Dallas 14.

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