NFL Week 10 Lines, Spread and Odds for Each Game

I'm starting a campaign to get the NFL back on track. A healthy medium should always be the goal, and the league has taken this "Any Given Sunday" stuff to a ridiculous level.

Don't believe me?

Nick Foles, who was averaging a touchdown per game played, had the best day in professional quarterbacking history. He's the only guy to ever throw seven touchdowns and boast a perfect 158.3 rating.

Or how about the Seattle Seahawks needing overtime to overcome a 21-point deficit to the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Hope and change?

How about "what the heck?" and strange. 

Dogs and cats are living together, and Brick is in the closet with the lamp. Welcome to this week's throw stuff against the wall and see what happens. 

In all seriousness, this has been an incredible season filled with more twists and turns than a daytime soap opera. But such is life.

Click through for my NFL Week 10 picks against the spread. 

Last Week's Record: 4-9

Season Record: 52-78-3

All lines are courtesy of footballlocks.com. All advanced stats and rankings were provided by Pro Football Focus and require a subscription. 

Washington Redskins (-2) vs. Minnesota Vikings

Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

Washington has some fundamental flaws. 

The defense is inconsistent at best. They don't defend the pass well and miss too many tackles.

Plus, quarterback Robert Griffin III still doesn't look like the former AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. He has shown flashes of his former form, but he's made too many uncharacteristic mistakes that have cost Washington possessions and first downs.

But each has made strides as the season has progressed. With the rushing attack rounding back into shape and some timely contributions of Pierre Garcon, this team can hang with anybody in the mediocre-to-almost-good category.

And the Minnesota Vikings are nowhere near that category. They're still trying to break their way into "bad." 

Pick: Redskins -2

Final Score: Minnesota 34, Washington 27

Minnesota covered the spread.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans (-13)

Michael Thomas/Getty Images

No, Vegas. A week off didn't make me forget that the Jacksonville Jaguars are horrendous. Like they'd-lose-to-the-Vikings-by-double-digits horrendous.

The only spread the Jags have covered was of historic proportions. They couldn't even cover when they were giving 12 to the Rams. And just in case that point confused you, the Rams aren't that good. 

So we have a bona fide 0-16 candidate hitting the road to take on a physical team that takes care of the ball. Furthermore, the Tennessee Titans play defense, pound the rock and wait for their opponent to make mistakes.

Think about that last sentence, specifically the part about making mistakes. Now, tell me that picking the Jags is worth less than two touchdowns. 

That's what I thought.

Pick: Titans -13

Philadelphia Eagles (+9) vs. Green Bay Packers

Mike McGinnis/Getty Images

I went back and forth on this one for at least two hours. Then Aaron Rodgers left the Monday night game with a shoulder injury, creating doubt about whether he'd be ready to go next week.

However, that's not the only reason for taking the Philadelphia Eagles. 

There's this is-Nick-Foles-good thing. Then there's an offensive line capable of blowing holes in the Green Bay Packers defense, which had trouble keeping the Bears in front of them.

Plus, those nine points create the same warm and fuzzy feeling as my second scotch.

Pick: Eagles +9

Buffalo Bills vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (-3)

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

It feels appropriate to make a gut call during gut-check time for the Pittsburgh Steelers. And mine is telling me that last week's embarrassment will be the Buffalo Bills' burden.

The Steelers are a proud organization that boasts an even prouder set of defensive veterans. Guys like safety Troy Polamalu and linebacker LaMarr Woodley have accomplished too much to let their reputations be tarnished by a rookie signal-caller coming back after a month off.

And for all of EJ Manuel's heroics, he's only posted a 79.4 quarterback rating.

There won't be any shortage of fire and emotion from the disgraced defense. Legendary coordinator Dick LeBeau is the perfect man to harness that energy into a controlled chaos that should bottle up the running backs and harass Manuel into a couple bad throws.

The Steelers aren't going to the Super Bowl, but they aren't going to be embarrassed on their home turf after giving up the most points in franchise history. 

Pick: Steelers -3

Oakland Raiders vs. New York Giants (-7)

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

This game has turned gut call into indigestion. No matter how you slice it, there's no way to feel satisfied. 

On one side, you have a team that gave up an NFL-record seven touchdowns to Nick Foles. I know I've already mentioned this twice, but it can't be hammered home enough.

Nick Foles!

But I cannot, in good conscious, lay seven points with a team that has two wins and five losses. 

Or can I?

The New York Giants stuff the run pretty well since they acquired linebacker Jon Beason. And the Giants certainly aren't lacking for receiving options. 

Plus, there's that whole West-Coast-team-playing-an-early-East-Coast-game thing.

I can't believe I'm doing this. Damn you, Nick Foles. 

Pick: Giants -7

St. Louis Rams (+10) vs. Indianapolis Colts

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

I'm not saying the Indianapolis Colts aren't good. They've beaten too many of the league's elite teams for me to question their legitimacy anymore. 

But they seemingly play to the level of the competition. It's not unique problem.

Sure, Indy destroyed the Jags, but that merely means they arrived at the stadium that day. 

The St. Louis Rams boast an impressive pass rush that can make life as difficult for Andrew Luck. Plus, newly unleashed rookie running back Zac Stacy will find plenty of holes in the Colts defense.

Pick: Rams +10

Seattle Seahawks (-6.5) vs. Atlanta Falcons

Steve Dykes/Getty Images

The Seattle Seahawks might have avoided the same embarrassment as the Steelers, but not by much. And that little bit is all that head coach Pete Carroll will need to sound the wake up alarm.

The only team in the NFC with a single loss has sleep walked through the past two weeks. The offensive line looks brutal, and Russell Wilson has been pretty pedestrian.

But when it was time to win the game, they put the women and children to bed and went looking for dinner*. That's much more than the Falcons can say.

I backed Atlanta last week, believing that Matt Ryan would continue his steady play. That's not the case anymore. He's clearly pressing to make up for all the injuries. It isn't working.

Pick: Seahawks -6.5

*If you didn't get the reference, you need to watch The Program. Excellent football movie. 

Cincinnati Bengals (-1.5) vs. Baltimore Ravens

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

The Cincinnati Bengals' 2013 season isn't toast.

Yet.

Losing cornerback Leon Hall and dominant defensive tackle Geno Atkins within a few weeks of each other is a huge blow. So was the aggravating loss to the Miami Dolphins.

But no team gets everything to swing their way for an entire season. Good teams find a way to rise through the adversity.

The Bengals are a good team. The loss in Miami was the equivalent of playing one of those "All Madden" games where the computer decides there is no freaking way you are winning. The Dolphins game wasn't a sign of things to come; just a night where all the breaks broke for the opponent. 

I'm not quitting you yet, Cincy. Not while Giovani Bernard is around.

Pick: Bengals -1.5

Detroit Lions (-2.5) vs. Chicago Bears

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

The Detroit Lions should be thrilled with the timing of their bye. Besides the added rest and recovery time, it gave the Lions time to refocus after a wild win against Dallas.

That's trouble for the Chicago Bears.

They're marching into this game fresh off a big win against the Packers in the battle of the backups. While Jay Cutler could return, he'll have to keep pace with the high-flying Detroit offense. 

Detroit won their All Madden game against the Cowboys and looks like a team that's hitting their stride. Chicago comes in with the same record, but not the same feel. Had the Bears beaten Aaron Rodgers, opposed to backup Seneca Wallace, this game would have a different outlook. 

Pick: Lions -2.5

Carolina Panthers (+6) vs. San Francisco 49ers

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

We've been playing this game for over a month now, and the verdict is in.

The Carolina Panthers are good. 

I think. 

Maybe. 

On second thought, I'm still not sure. The Panthers are the proud owners of a four-game winning streak, but the best team they played during that stretch was the St. Louis Rams. 

However, the Panthers have gone toe-to-toe with a physical powerhouse and held their own. That Seattle game is what inspires the confidence that this team can trade punches with the San Francisco 49ers.

It doesn't hurt that the Niners' resurgence has centered around the running game, something the Panthers are especially adept at stopping. This one is going to be fun. 

And close.

Pick: Panthers +6

Houston Texans vs. Arizona Cardinals (-2.5)

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The education of Case Keenum will see a difficult test this Sunday. 

Keenum partied hard with wide receiver Andre Johnson against the Indianapolis Colts. But he's going to find cornerback Patrick Peterson is well-vetted against big, strong receivers like Johnson.

With the notable exception of one slant pass, Peterson held Calvin Johnson in check. And Keenum isn't on Matthew Stafford's level just yet. 

So Keenum will need to spread the love against the Cardinals, which will be a problem. That defense hates everything and has had an extra week to learn the young starter's tendencies. 

And you get that matchup at the discount price of less than a field goal. Easy call.

Pick: Cardinals -2.5

Denver Broncos (-7) vs. San Diego Chargers

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

The San Diego Chargers' entire season was summed up by their last four offensive snaps against Washington. 

With 1st-and-goal at the Washington 1-yard line, the Chargers looked primed to grab the win as they were only down by three. They had two timeouts and plenty of time to work with.

On first down, Philip Rivers handed the ball to Danny Woodhead out of the shotgun for no gain. They never tried another run and missed on the next two throws.

Instead of taking the win, the Chargers softly entered overtime by kicking a field goal. That's the mentality of a mediocre team.

Again, they were inside the one. They never attempted to pound the ball, and they opted not to lose when the do-or-die down arrived. 

I can't pick a mediocre team only getting seven points against the Denver Broncos. It's just not going to happen.

Pick: Broncos -7

Dallas Cowboys (+7) vs. New Orleans Saints

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Maybe it's the change in the weather, but I don't feel so well. I can't quite put my finger on it.

Meanwhile, Dallas Cowboys fans got rid of the queasy feeling they were carrying around all week, pulling out a much-needed last-second win over the Minnesota Vikings. But I'm guessing they're still not feeling 100 percent, either.

The same bug is currently affecting those who live in the Bayou. They can't seem to understand how their New Orleans Saints could possibly lose to the Jets, and I'm right there with them.

But I also can't see the Saints rebounding with such an effort as to completely remedy the sickness. They should win, they just won't do so by more than a touchdown. 

The combination of the explosive Cowboys passing attack, running back DeMarco Murray and Drew Brees' love for throwing one or two ill-timed picks should keep this uncomfortably close in the Super Dome.

Oh, and the Cowboys have lost three games by five total points.

I just wish I felt better about it. 

Pick: Cowboys +7

Miami Dolphins (-3) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Marc Serota/Getty Images

There might not be a better chance for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to get a win this year. 

Unless you just discovered Breaking Bad this past weekend, you're well aware of the Miami Dolphins' bullying mess. And mess might be a very timid description of the scene.

Regardless of the outcome, it's unlikely the Dolphins will have either their right tackle or guard when they face off against the Bucs. Just for clarity purposes, that's the same Bucs team that almost knocked off the Seattle Seahawks in front of the 12th Man.

And I still can't pick the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Bucs gave absolutely everything they had against a lethargic squad that assumed it had a bye week. They lost by three.

This time, they'll be facing a Miami team excited to get back to playing football instead of worrying about off-the-field drama. Any chance of a letdown after the big Bengals win has been erased.

So has any chance for the Greg Schiano-led Bucs.

Pick: Dolphins -3