SPORTS WITH 3

Thanksgiving weekend is here. So that means we are going to make a fat turkey sandwich out of the leftovers from the Thursday feast , have a bowl of chips and settle in for Week 12 of the NFL. This should be an interesting weekend as teams are starting to posture themselves for the final stretch that will lead them, hopefully, into the playoffs. My picks for this week involve a few of those games.

Pittsburgh Steelers ( 6 - 4 ) at Cleveland Browns ( 2 - 8 ) Vegas line : Steelers -1

So let me get this pointspread straight Vegas, for me to win this wager by taking the Steelers -1, Pittsburgh needs to show up , play sound football, then pull it out with a field goal at the end, with the third string QB Charlie Batch. See Vegas thought they had fooled everyone into considering taking the Browns, especially after the showing they had at Jerryworld last week when they almost knocked off the Cowboys. But the Steelers are not the train wreck that the Cowboys are. The Steelers lost 13 -10, in there annual tussle with the Ravens last week . That always seems to be the score for the Steelers/Ravens matchup regardless of who the QB is. Charlie Batch is going to get this done and possibly win by more than 10. I am taking the Steelers and laying the single point. Steelers need this game to maintain their wildcard position.

Buffalo Bills ( 4 - 6 ) at Indianapolis Colts ( 6 - 4 ) Vegas Line : Colts -3

Young Andrew Luck is playing the QB position very well in his rookie campaign. He has the Colts playing well, and the fans in Indy are embracing the new era of Colts Football. They come into this game holding the second wildcard position, and they're playing inspired football for their ailing Head Coach Chuck Pagano who has not been on the sidelines for the last few weeks. The Bills can throw the ball around the yard quite well and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick should have a good passing day for Buffalo. But I trust Luck to win this game. In 5 home games this season, the Colts average 403.2 yards and .6 turnovers. Fitzpatrick should throw his quota of 2 INTs, and the Colts should capitalize on them to win this game in a shootout. Give me the Colts -3

Green Bay Packers ( 7 - 3 ) at New York Giants ( 6 - 4 ) Vegas Line : Giants -3

This is easily the marquee game. In this Sunday night slugfest you have Aaron Rodgers coming into Met Life Stadium to play against Eli Manning in a playoff, and possible NFC Championship matchup. The Giants have been playing suspect lately, losing two in a row to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Now they go from playing AFC North opponents, to playing an NFC North opponent in the Packers, who are in first place and need to keep winning to stay solidfied in the top spot of their division. Guess what though? The Giants need to win for the same reason, and they got flat out embarrased by the Bengals 2 weeks ago 31-13. That loss has been linguring in their head for the last couple of weeks and I expect for them to come out ready to give a good showing to the New York fans. They need to get that nasty taste from a losing streak out of their mouth. Coming off the Bye Week the Giants will be prepared to beat " Discount Double-Check " and the Packers. I'll take the Giants - 3 .

St. Louis Rams ( 3 - 6 ) at Arizona Cardinals ( 4 - 6 ) Vegas Line : Cardinals - 2.5

In this NFC West matchup, both of these teams come into this game just playing for dignity. Their playoff aspirations have all but evaporated and now they are trying to build up some positive momentum to take into next season. The Rams have been playing decent football in St. Louis and the Cardinals have been beat up most of the season with injuries. The Cardinals are playing Ryan Lindley this weekend at quarterback. The Cardinals line can't block a shower drain, and young Lindley might be the latest crash test dummy at signal caller for the Cardinals. How the Rams are an underdog in this game is kind of surprising to me. I know that the Cards have home field but I don't think that is going to be enough. The Rams played well in their last road matchup versus the 49ers, though that game finished in a tie. The Rams were in a good position to win that game in San Francisco, and I expect the Rams to make up for not getting that victory in the Bay Area. Give me the Rams + 2.5 !!!