There are at least three basic ways to pick a football game.
One can base a pick on the talent of the team they are choosing. Perhaps a bet against a bad team is a good idea. Or you can bet a game based solely on the situation; the teams matter none.
That’s what we’ve got tonight when the Houston Texans host the Carolina Panthers to open third week National Football League action. That is the last time we need to mention these two teams by name. From now on they are simply team A and B, or in rotation language, numbers 301 and 302.
Three-oh-one opened the season as a favorite over the New York Jets and won the game and covered the condensed point spread of 3½ points, 19-14. In second week action, they were home underdogs to the New Orleans Saints, who had opened the season as an underdog and blew out the Green Bay Packers, 38-3.
A win that lopsided in a game the Saints thought they could lose against Aaron Rodgers exploded New Orlelans’ confidence beyond recognition. The following week’s result was easily identifiable before it happened, the Saints lose while suddenly going from a home team underdog to a road favorite.
The benefactors of that Saints collapse was 301, who as a home underdog were prepared to play a much better team than the flat Saints they crushed, 26-7. What 301 gained from beating New Orleans is a road favorite role tonight with a point spread blown clearly out of proportion.