Bik's Week 3 Thursday Night Pick

Just straight to the pick this week.

Home team in CAPS:

Chiefs (+3.5) over EAGLES

Here are some things we know so far 2 weeks into the season. The Eagles can score. The Chiefs can defend. The Eagles can’t defend.  The Chiefs can’t move the ball at a consistent successful rate.

How does this all play out into tonight’s game that features the return of Andy Reid to Philadelphia? Well, the biggest thing we know is not only can the Eagles not defend – they have to stay on the field a REMARKABLE amount of time. It’s great that you can score 30 points on a bad Chargers D in 22 minutes, but it’s meaningless if your D then has to be out on the field for 40+ minutes. And that’s against Phillip Rivers and the Chargers. Now you get to face Alex Smith who won’t turn the ball over, Jamaal Charles who is a historically great rusher in yards per attempt, and you have to do this all in a short week? I have a bad feeling that things are going to turn on Chip Kelly on the defensive side of the ball real quick.

Last Week: 7-9

This Season: 11-20-1

Sport vs. Story

At the end of June, NCAA football fans finally got what they've been clamouring to see for so many years. An end to the question, “Is this the best team in the nation this season?” as the NCAA has adapted to a 4 team playoff system and a move away from the BCS ranking system that aroused more questions than answers. Less politics and second guessing – more football. The season also sees the return of The USC Trojans back into Bowl Contention following a prolonged suspension. It’s another season for Alabama Coach Nick Saban to add to his already full trophy case as we begin to ask if he’s in the running for the greatest college football coach of all time. And of course another year to debate which player will rise to the top for the coveted Heisman Trophy. Yet in the lead-up to kickoff for the season, discussion about the aforementioned stories is muted. Hype and hope going into the season is on a back-burner, as we’re left to talk about the villainous actions of a university protecting their image and protecting a predator.