HOW THE DARTS LANDED

I care for my overall record, sure, but how I fare against the spread is where the bread is buttered, where the rubber hits the road and [note to self: look up a third cliché]. Against the spread is what separates the men from the men whose wives won't let them gamble. This is why last week pleased me. Had Bengals with points over Baltimore; had Browns-plus over Buffalo; called Dolphins' mini-upset of NYJ; and hit another Upset of the Week vs. the number with Redskins covering at Carolina. I'm spitting cash! I'm a bleepin' ATM over here!

Last week: 8-6 (.571) overall, vs. spread 9-4-1 (.692)

Last week: 51-25 (.671) overall, 39-34-2 (.534) vs. spread

GIANTS (5-0) AT SAINTS (4-0)

When: 1 p.m. Sunday (FOX)

Line: NO by 3 Cote's pick: NYG 27-24

This was an easy call for the Game of the Week committee. Unbeaten vs. unbeaten fills the marquee, then you have Drew Brees vs. Eli Manning -- New Orleans-born and playing in his hometown for first time. It will be a Manningfest, with daddy Archie and bro Peyton (on a bye) also there. This might be NFC title-game preview; Saints are for real. But I like Biggies in upset. Tough to pick against home fave coming off bye, but NYG has front seven and pass D to limit Brees. Eli is 6-1 in domes, and Big Blue 18-3 against spread in past 21 roadies. Conclusion: Giants roll to 6-0 for first time since 1990.

RAVENS (3-2) AT VIKINGS (5-0)

When: 1 p.m. Sunday (CBS)

Line: MIN by 3 Cote's pick: BAL 23-21

``AAWWK!'' booms the Upset Bird. ``OK, so I'm partial to Ravens. I admit it. Sue me.'' Brett Favre and Minny are due a stumble, and the Ravens are much too good to fall to 3-3. Baltimore's defense will rebound from last week's loss and come close to limiting Adrian Peterson's damage, and it also will end Favre's Metrodome streak of 10 consecutive games with two or more TD passes. ``Once upon a midnight dreary,'' intones the U-Bird, creepily lapsing into Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven, ``the Vikings fell, weak and weary. Minny undefeated? Nevermore! Aawwk!''

RAMS (0-5) AT JAGUARS (2-3)

When: 1 p.m. Sunday

Line: JAC by 10 Cote's pick: JAC 38-13

There was competition for the Dog of the Week collar, but the deciders could not resist an 0-5 team playing a team that just lost 41-0. Jags WR Torry Holt faces his former teammates for first time, and he will exit smiling. St. Lose is truly horrid and will ably play the role of a convenient, timely punching bag for Jacksonville to take out a slew of frustrations, including last week's embarrassment.

LIONS (1-4) AT PACKERS (2-2)

When: 1 p.m. Sunday

Line: GB by 13 ½ Cote's pick: GB 30-20

GeeBees are coming off bye after a loss. This does not feel like a home game they will let slip, especially against an opponent they have beaten seven times in a row. And with Aaron Rodgers 14-3 on TDs/picks in eight career division starts. Line feels fat, though. Lions still bad, but no longer abysmal.

BROWNS (1-4) AT STEELERS (3-2)

When: 1 p.m. Sunday

Line: PIT by 14 Cote's pick: PIT 42-7

Steelers were not real impressive in beating Detroit last week, and this looms as a look-past game, with Pitt hosting Vikes next. Still, I see

a big show from Big Benners, who are in three-way division fight and needing to reassert themselves as AFC power brokers. Pitt is on 11-0 run in this series.

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