Bodog NFL Week 13 Picks

It's all well and good being a college superstar at Vanderbilt. Cutler's success in college led the Broncos to select him 11th overall in this year's draft after moving up five spots in a trade with the St. Louis Rams. But since when did anyone expect anything out of the Commodores? Vandy hasn't been bowl-eligible since 1982.

It's also great that Cutler played well in the preseason and, according to Denver cornerback Champ Bailey, has since practiced even better.

"Super-confident out there, as usual," Bailey told the Denver Post after watching Cutler practice Monday. "That's the way Jay has been all season. The thing is, he is getting better every week. I've seen it. I think he's going to be that way in games and help this team."

Despite the high praise, note the distinction made between practice and real games.

Granted, Bailey's not alone in thinking Cutler can outperform former starter Jake Plummer and help put a stop to Denver's two-game losing streak.

"I think this kid can handle it," Denver head coach Mike Shanahan told the Associated Press. "I think he gives us the best chance to win."

Thinking and knowing for certain, however, are very different animals.

If Cutler is a question mark, the return of Broncos RB Tatum Bell should help the offense. Without him, Denver gained a paltry 38 yards on the ground in last week's 19-10 loss at Kansas City. That's well below the 132.8 yards the team averages, making it the league's eighth-best rushing attack. Expect Cutler to try a deep ball early - something he's quite capable of doing - in order to open up the run game, if not make a big play.

In fact, fans at Invesco Field should see a lot of running Sunday night. Seattle RB Shaun Alexander carried the ball 40 times for 201 yards in his team's 34-24 triumph Monday night over Green Bay. It was his first 100-yard game of the season after struggling early and then missing six games with a broken foot.

Of course, any Mike Holmgren-coached team is going to pass its fair share as well. Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck had a nightmare first half last week against the Packers, but turned it around after the break. After missing four games with a sprained knee, the 2006 Pro Bowler tossed up three interceptions and coughed up a fumble that went for a Green Bay score, all in the first 30 minutes. His timing returned in the second half, though, evidenced by three TD passes and no turnovers.

Oddsmakers have the Broncos listed as four-point favorites over the Seahawks, while the game's total is sitting at 40.

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QUICK HITS - NFL WEEK 13 PREVIEWS

Compiled by Bodog Nation Contributing Writers

The Ravens know they can wrap up the AFC North with a win in Cincinnati. It won’t be easy, though – the Bengals are coming off back-to-back wins, including last week’s 30-0 blowout of the Browns. The key to this one will be Cincinnati's ability to protect QB Carson Palmer. If the offensive line gives him time to throw, the deadly trio of Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry will have a big day. But that, as they say, is one big if. Baltimore had nine sacks last week against Pittsburgh. -JB

The Bears’ offense was so uncreative against New England that its only reliable method of gaining yards was through defensive pass interference. Rex Grossman threw it up; Bernard Berrian flailed his hands, fell to the ground and hoped for a rain of yellow cloth. They happened to get a couple of calls, keeping the game close. If Grossman doesn’t start to step up, the Bears are a quick out in the playoffs. Against teams like Minnesota, their defense can win and cover. -AB

Matt Leinart isn’t winning games like Vince Young, but he is putting up numbers. The Cardinals’ rookie QB has started seven games and thrown for more than 200 yards in all but one. He put up 405 yards in a 31-26 loss to Minnesota last week. In his lone win, against lowly Detroit on Nov. 19, Leinart posted a 101.7 passer rating. Against the Rams, he should produce enough to keep the Cards in it. -AB

The Titans covered an 18-point spread on Oct. 8 when they gave the Colts fits before losing 14-13 in the RCA Dome. Their play since that loss (they’re 4-2) is the biggest reason for the smaller number this time around. With each down, Young looks more and more like a franchise quarterback. He’ll be up to go against Peyton Manning, so don’t be shocked if the Titans pull off the upset. -AB

Frank Gore is making a run for MVP. He’s rushed for 1,785 yards on 337 carries, an average of 5.3 per attempt. He figures to go wild against the Saints’ leaky defense, but the youthful Niners may not rebound from last week’s awful loss to the Rams that could have cost them the playoffs. -AB

Michael Vick’s dirty bird was the talk of Atlanta and the Falcons’ star has a lot to prove this week. Behind Jason Campbell, Washington won a tough game against Carolina in Week 12. But asking the inexperienced QB to deliver back-to-back wins might be too much, especially when you figure Vick will be focused. -AB

Riding a two-game winning streak and creeping up on the Broncos in the AFC West, the Chiefs will undoubtedly ride Larry Johnson to the max this weekend against a flustered Cleveland team. While leading the Chiefs to a 5-1 record over the last six games, Johnson has rushed for 845 yards and 10 TDs on 177 carries – this could be trouble for the Browns, fresh off a 30-0 loss at home to the Bengals. Maybe Braylon Edwards will call out someone on defense this week, you know, just to keep things interesting. -MH

Tom Brady owns the NFC. With a 22-4 career record (including playoffs) against the conference – including wins over Minnesota, Green Bay and Chicago already this season – it comes as no surprise that the Pats are heavy favorites at Gillette Stadium. New England boasts one of the best defensive lines in football – Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork must be drooling at the prospect of going up against a patchwork Detroit O-line that allowed Jon Kitna to be dropped eight times against Miami on Thanksgiving. Another stat worth noting: the Lions are 0-5 on the road. -MH

On paper, it looks dangerous: LaDainian Tomlinson up against the 29th-ranked defense in the league. A guy with 1,146 rushing yards against a team that gives up 135 per game. Yikes. There are some positives for the Bills, however. They’re one of the hottest teams in football, having won three of their last four despite giving up 690 yards on the ground, including a season-worst 207 in last weekend’s 27-24 win over Jacksonville. Maybe the trick is to just let LDT get his, and concentrate on the rest of the game. -MH

Unless you’ve been living under a rock (or, are deaf) you’ve heard about this consecutive-games streak that Brett Favre is on. The MNF guys might have mentioned it once or twice. Regardless, Favre should make his 235th straight start this weekend, and will do it at home with a depleted lineup. Packers' safety Nick Collins is questionable with a hamstring injury while right tackle and Favre fave Mark Tauscher will likely miss another week with a groin strain. The Jets have been solid on the road, going 3-2 with impressive wins in Buffalo and New England. -MH

The big story this weekend will be in the secondary where Jacksonville’s massive WRs (last Sunday, of the six Jaguars to record receptions, four of them stand 6-4 or taller) against an undersized Dolphins defensive backfield. Three of the Miami DBs are under 6-feet, so the lob pass could be a weapon used early and often by David Garrard. With a relatively low total (35.5) on the board, look at this game as one that could morph into a shootout, given that both teams will eventually be airing it out. -MH

For the first time all season, Oakland opened as favorite. Of course, it was against the equally terrible Houston Texans. Reasons for the oddsmakers' leap of faith could be the fact that despite the Raiders shortcomings on offense (they average just 12 points per game, which is last in the NFL), their defense has been solid and should be able to rattle a Houston O-line that's allowed QB David Carr to be sacked 31 times. -CR

With only a small glimmer of hope remaining for a Super Bowl repeat, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger will be playing to regain respect from his fans and his offense. After posting a QB rating of 98.6 in 2005, Big Ben already has 19 interceptions this year and a rating of 72.3. He should have a chance at redemption against Tampa Bay. Its defense gave up almost 300 passing yards and five touchdowns to Dallas. -CR

After losing to the 4-7 Tennessee Titans, the Giants’ season hangs in the balance. The team has lost four games in a row, there’s a mutiny brewing in the locker room, and defensive end Michael Strahan is yelling at teammates (and reporters). To save their season and regain the division lead in the NFC East, they’ll have to beat the rejuvenated Dallas Cowboys, who have gone 4-1 against the spread with QB Tony Romo as the starter. -CR

With Donavan McNabb suffering a season-ending injury for the second year in a row, it looks like a Super Bowl win is once again a pipe dream in Philly. The Eagles have even opened as home dogs to the Carolina Panthers, but don’t count Andy Reid and Co. out yet. The Panthers are coming off of a head-scratching loss to the Washington Redskins, despite giving up just 110 passing yards in the contest. Granted, Jake Delhomme's two picks didn't help. He's thrown at least one interception in six straight games. -CR

PHOTO: All eyes will be on Jay Cutler as the Denver Broncos host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night. (AP Photo)

Note: All NFL lines subject to change.

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