Bodog NFL Week 10 Picks

But with casualties on both sides already mounting, it might be a case of “live to fight another day”, and not “the war to end all wars”.

After rattling off five straight wins and looking progressively awesome to average doing it, the Giants find themselves without a platoon of key starters on Sunday night. Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan is out with a sprained ligament in his right foot, while his counterpart Osi Umenyiora is doubtful with a hip flexor. Reserve defensive end Justin Tuck has also missed the last two games and is listed as questionable.

Add linebacker Brandon Short and cornerback Sam Madison to the questionable pile, while not forgetting linebacker LaVar Arrington is done for the year, and it’s hard to see how things could be worse for Tom Coughlin’s crew. That is, until you remember the offense is hurting too – the team’s all-time leading receiver, Amani Toomer, found out this week he’ll miss the rest of the season with a partial tear of his anterior cruciate ligament.

Meanwhile, Plaxico Burress, the team’s leading receiver this season with five touchdowns, sat out last week against Houston but should play Sunday. He'll have to if he plans to back up his opinion that Bears cornerbacks Nathan Vasher, Charles Tillman and Ricky Manning Jr. are "very beatable".

As for the Bears, they have but one big injury concern on defense. That would be middle linebacker Brian Urlacher (questionable), who has a sprained toe on his left foot. On offense, Chicago will likely be minus receiver Bernard Berrian, who has bruised ribs. The third-year Fresno State product leads his team with four touchdowns and 495 yards.

Notwithstanding the skyrocketing medical bills, the show will go on, with plenty of stars to boot.

The Giants feature a balanced attack with Tiki Barber and Brandon Jacobs in the backfield and Eli Manning throwing. The trio has combined to produce the eighth-best offense in the NFL. However, the unit has struggled over the last two weeks, amassing less than 300 yards in each of its games against Tampa Bay and Houston.

On the other side of the ball, not even casual fans need be reminded of Rex Grossman’s problems. The Bears’ quarterback has thrown seven interceptions in his last three outings. That included a hat trick of picks in last week’s loss to the Dolphins.

Look for Chicago to run the ball in order to keep the depleted New York defense on the field and Grossman’s mistakes at bay. Thomas Jones is the Bears' leading rusher. After a slow start, he’s averaging 4.4 yards per carry in his last five games.

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Compiled by Bodog Nation Contributing Writers

The Jets kept the first meeting close, losing 24-17 on Sept. 17. The Patriots did cover the 6-point spread and have won seven straight meetings dating to Sept. 21, 2003. So, you figure Tom Brady and the Pats should get back on track. The Jets’ defense ranks second-last in the league and, before a bye last week, allowed 147 yards on the ground in a 20-13 loss to the Browns. Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney will both get the ball a lot. -AB

Will the Falcons beat a team they should? That's the big question this Sunday as Atlanta tries to erase the memory of its disappointing 30-14 loss at lowly Detroit last week. But the Falcons' ground game should be salivating at the prospect of running on the Browns, who boast the 29th-ranked rush defense (allowing 142.9 yards per game) in the league. - MH

Although the Redskins kept alive their playoff hopes with a bizarre victory over Dallas in Week 9, they now must travel up I-95 to face the angry and rested Eagles. Philly entered its bye week on a three-game losing skid. This game could be close. The Eagles are 2-8 against the spread in their last 10 against division opponents. - AB

While the Chiefs and Dolphins have met only twice over the past nine seasons, there is great familiarity between the two teams. KC has three former Dolphins - Damon Huard, Sammy Knight and Patrick Surtain - in its starting lineup. The Chiefs come in riding a three-game winning streak, while Miami is fresh off its biggest win of the season, a 31-13 stunner over the previously undefeated Bears. With both teams coming off high-scoring Week 9 efforts, the 40-point total seems beatable. - MH

When you hear about the parity in the NFL, think about games like this one. These two bad football teams are hovering around .500 because on any given Sunday they will face their mirror image – an inconsistent squad that’s often painful to watch. For betting purposes, ask yourself if you really think a team that managed three points against the San Francisco 49ers is worthy of being a 5.5-point favorite against Brett Favre. The answer should be clear. -AB

One down, eight more to go for Roy Williams. The talented Lions’ receiver who has too much in common with Chad Johnson thinks Detroit can run the table. The Lions upset the Falcons last week and should do away with the visiting 49ers on Sunday. A few more wins and Motown may forget the Tigers’ October meltdown. -AB

Mark down 9-0. For bettors, the more important storyline is whether Peyton and the Mighty, Mighty Horseshoes can cover the nearly two-TD spread. Without Willis McGahee (broken ribs), the Bills are likely to struggle to muster a running attack – even against the unimpressive Colts’ line. Backup RB Anthony Smith has had his moments this season, but he’ll be a non-factor if the Bills fall behind early, as expected. Indy goes home after its impressive road trip (wins at Denver and New England) and could be poised to celebrate with a rout. - AB

The bye week (and firing of offensive coordinator Jim Fassel) seems to have done the Ravens a world of good. They're 2-0 since the aforementioned events, and will be looking to tighten their grip on the AFC North with a win over the Titans. This is also the homecoming game for Steve McNair, who led Tennessee to playoff berths in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003. He should be fired up, and keen to whip on a Titans team that was embarrassed in Jacksonville last Sunday. - MH

The David Garrard era is in full swing, but he'll be tested by a Houston squad that has played the Jaguars tough (3-3 straight up over the last six meetings). That includes a shocking 27-7 victory over Jacksonville on Oct. 22, where David Carr torched the Jags' secondary for 224 yards and two TDs. Keep in mind, however, that the Texans have lost 12 straight road games - the NFL's longest active streak. - MH

The two haven't met since 2003, and neither will have time to renew friendships on Sunday. This game is of the utmost importance to both - San Diego is in the midst of a heated battle atop the AFC West, while the Bengals are trying to stay within striking distance of Baltimore in the AFC North. LaDainian Tomlinson is averaging 5.5 yards per carry, a scary prospect for the Bengals' leaky run defense. - MH

All signs point to another shutout loss for the lowly Raiders. They’ve been blanked twice on Monday Night Football - including 16-0 last week against the Seahawks - and only scored three points against Denver in Week 6. Oakland's only chance seems to lie with its defense, which has held opponents to an average of 12.7 points during the last three games. - CR

Poor, poor Arizona. After officially becoming the worst team in the league thanks to a 1-7 record, the Cardinals now must face the pissed-off Cowboys, who just lost a gut-wrencher at Washington. The Cards are 1-6 against the spread in their last seven versus Dallas. - CR

NFC West rivals St. Louis and Seattle are set to renew hostilities on Sunday when they meet at Qwest Field. Familiarity on both sides of the ball seems to always make this matchup a close contest. In the last 10 head-to-head matchups the record is 5-5 straight up, and the Seahawks have averaged 25.5 points while the Rams have averaged 25.3. Case in point? Seattle's 30-28 victory over St. Loo last month, won on Josh Brown's last-second, 54-yard field goal. - CR

The Steelers only have pride left to play for as their loss to the Broncos last week all but buried their playoff chances. With a (once) championship defense now giving up 22 points per game, the Steelers will be in tough against a Saints squad that has been airing it out, averaging 270 passing yards per game. - CR

Schedule-makers were no doubt hoping for a big NFC South showdown in this Monday nighter. Maybe next time. The Bucs and Panthers have both been disappointments in 2006, though Carolina is still very much in the playoff hunt. The big spread might suggest Jon Gruden's squad has packed it in for the year. After last week's performance versus New Orleans, that might not be a bad idea. - JB

PHOTO: Brian Urlacher leads an angry Bears team into New York this weekend. (AP Photo)

Note: All NFL lines subject to change.

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