In the name of transparency I admit that 17 previous seasons on the page here have not found me struggling to this degree. I am on sad pace to set all-time personal lows both overall (.589, 1999) and against the spread (.449, 2006). I won't. I'll rally. You'll see. But for now, frustration is acute. It has nearly reached the point where I'm ready to start picking winners based on tarot cards, city population, quarterback horoscopes or head coach's weight. The latter sounds promising. It would explain my newfound strong belief that Philly and corpulent Andy Reid are about to run the table.

• Last week: 8-6 overall (.571); 4-8-2 vs. spread (.333).

• Season: 66-50 overall (.569); 50-57-9 vs. spread (.428).

This week's selections: DOLPHINS (3-4) AT BRONCOS (4-3)

• When: 4:05 p.m. Sunday • TV: CBS

• Line: DEN by 3 • Cote: DEN 30-23

Dolfans, rejoice! I am 1-6 predicting Miami games this season, so my liking Denver here is all but a guarantee you'll be dancing a jig Sunday evening. (What kind of dance is a jig, anyway?). Bronchitis own one of NFL's more distinct home-field edges, and beady-eyed Mike Shanahan is 10-3, including five consecutive victories after a bye week. Yeah, yeah, I know. Denver is error-prone and has a bad defense and is missing CB Champ Bailey. Here's what else I know: Jay Cutler's Broncs bring a little more offensive pop than Miami into what I expect will be a Shootout at Mile High. Does hot Chad Pennington front a mighty tempting 'dog? Absolutely. But beware.

STEELERS (5-2) AT REDSKINS (6-2)

• When: 8:30 p.m. Monday • TV: ESPN

• Line: WAS by 2 • Cote: PIT 24-20

Week 9 made it tough for the GOTW committee, but hard to pass up an election-eve game in the Nation's Capital on Monday stage -- which hasn't happened since 1984. I think Blitzburgh will rattle Jason Campbell enough to wring a first interception from him, and see Steelers' run-D budgeting sizzlin' Clinton Portis to under 100 yards. Also, Curtains get a double jolt offensively with RB Willie Parker back from injury for first time since Week 3, and with pot-puffin' WR Santonio Holmes back from suspension. Oppositely, Skins will be missing two of their best defenders (Shawn Springs, Jason Taylor) to injury. 'Burghers in an upset, then? Capital idea!

CARDINALS (4-3) AT RAMS (2-5)

• When: 1 p.m. Sunday • TV: None

• Line: ARI by 3 • Cote: STL 28-27

``AAWWK!'' croons the Upset Bird. ``Return of Kurt Waawwk!'' They still love Warner in St. Louis. They'll like Marc Bulger a little bit more after this upset. It's the Carpetbagger Bowl, with Cards in St. Louis from 1960-87 and Rams in L.A. 'til '94. Enough. Too confusing! 'Zona isn't much (1-3) on the road, Lous have been a different team since Jim Haslett took over, and now get Steven Jackson back from injury. Which is big. ``Rama Lama Ding Dong,'' notes U-Bird. ``The Edsels, 1961. Raawwk!''

JAGUARS (3-4) AT BENGALS (0-8)

• When: 1 p.m. Sunday • TV: None

• Line: JAC by 7 ½ • Cote: JAC 27-17

Bereft of a classic choice, Dog panel anoints game involving NFL's worst team and a Jags team that rates among NFL's most disappointing. Jax has won nine of past 10 in series and should sup amply on 'Gals ineptitude. Keep expecting Cincy embarrassment to translate favorably, but team has nothing on the ball with Carson Palmer out, and Jax should capitalize on homies' bad run-stoppage.

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