NFL WEEK 4

Bears -2.5  (-120)   3 stars

Jags  -7   (-115)  2 stars

Raiders/Browns OVER 44.5  1 star

NCAA

NC State -6  3 stars

Oregon -2  3 stars

San Jose St +10  1 star

HEDGIE ALERT - NFL 5 STAR ..THURSDAY NIGHT

THE VIKINGS (and Rams )  have been POINTING to this game all offseason.  It's the biggest  THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL game in awhile. It will have big impacts on the NFC playoff picture.  This could also explain a little bit about the Vikings abysmal performance last week vs the visiting Bills.  The Hedgie thinks there are 2 reasons for this :

1)  The classic LOOK AHEAD game to Thursday night with powerhouse Rams.  It's not easy to get up for a game where you are  17 point favorites and everyone telling you how you will demolish the Bills

2)  EVERSON GRIFFEN -  the Vikes teammate has been ordered to have a mental health assessment.  He was basically holed up in a Minneapolis Hotel and acting crazy.  He also apparently tried to break into a teammate's house on a separate incident. This HAD to have an impact on his teammates and clearly caused some distractions.

THAT WAS LAST WEEK. NOW THE VIKINGS ARE BACK TO FOOTBALL AND WILL BE FOCUSED.  THIS IS THE REASON THE VIKINGS  SIGNED KIRK COUSINS. THEY NEED A QB THAT CAN BE A LEADER AND PLAY STEADY ON THE ROAD.  THE VIKINGS GET STARTING CENTER , PAT ELFLEIN, BACK AND DALVIN COOK APPEARS READY TO RETURN AS WELL.

On the Other side of the ball the Rams are the betting public's darling.  They bet em heavy and vegas  as a result has to keep an inflated line.  The public however, are NOT paying much attention to the recent injuries.  BOTH STARTING DBS ARE BANGED UP .   Aqib Talib will have ankle surgery and is OUT  and Peters has a strained calf.  He says he might play but Hedgie thinks not . If Peters does play then he becomes a target .

Vegas  opened this line at Rams -7 . The wise guys have been grabbing the +7  but there are still some 7s out there as of tonight.   Run to the windows to grab 7 if you can.  If not  don't fret ; the betting public will pile on and bet the Rams  so you'll be able to get 6.5   6 at the worst case.

Getting great value here with a very good Vikings team

VIKINGS +7   5 STARS

MNF

Fitzmagic is about to end ......  The Steelers come into tonight a wounded dog . They are a desperate 0-2 team and know very well that makin the playoffs from 0-3 is almost impossible.  The media is overplaying  the locker room drama in Pittsburgh. Tonight Hedgie thinks the Steelers will play inspired ball.  Fitzpatrick is playimg well but the Bucs have a banged up  secondary  and won't be able to match the Steelers on the scoreboard....

STEELERS +2    3 stars

The Hedgie is SPEECHLESS about the Ducks..but must move on...

Appropriate considering the Ducks could have knelt and won....

NFL:

CARDS +6   4 stars   (Bears traveling off a short week. There will be a David Johnson siting)

Bengals +3   2 stars

Raiders/Dolphins OVER 44.5  2 stars

Seahawks -1.5  1 star

The Hedgie has a BIG CARD SATURDAY and the first 5 star of the year ....

ESPN Gameday comes to Oregon and the #20 ranked Ducks find themselves a home dog vs #7 Stanford. This Ducks team needs a W in the  primetime spot to make their season worthwhile. It's a night game and the crowds will be crazed.  Home Dog wins  Outright  

OREGON +3 (-115)  5 STARS

Missouri +15     3 stars  (mizzou has a great offense and will hang here at home)

Clemson -16 3 stars  (Clemson's best DLINE yet will destroy the option attack -  blowout)

Nebraska +18   2 stars (Cornhuskers get QB back , still fading Michigan as a powerhouse this yr)

Vanderbilt +3  (-115)  2 stars  

Texas +3.5  2 stars

Marshall +6  1 star  (veteran team , home dog)