After 14-2 week against the spread, Pro Picks in rare form

Updated Sep. 29, 2021 5:29 p.m. ET

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Time to retire. Put away the crystal ball and enjoy the spoils.

After going 14-2 against the spread last week, Pro Picks is in rare form.

We'll defy the odds and keep going, starting with Jacksonville, No. 31 in the AP Pro 32, visiting No. 17 Cincinnati.

As in first-place Cincinnati, which is an 8-point favorite according to FanDuel SportsBook.

The Bengals (2-1) are in the difficult AFC North, where they are tied with Baltimore and Cleveland. Stumbling against the 0-3 Jaguars would be a major step backward for a team that has taken several steps ahead in September, including victories over Minnesota and archrival Pittsburgh.

“You continue to build the culture and build the winning culture,” says quarterback Joe Burrow. “And we’re starting to understand how to win. On offense, we’ve got to get better at putting the dagger in them when we have them on the ropes. We can finish better.”

Jacksonville's season appears finished before it has played a month worth of games. Burrow, recruited to Ohio State by now-Jags coach Urban Meyer — Burrow left for LSU when he couldn't earn the starting job and won a national title with the Tigers — believes his former coach will get things corrected.

“Nobody likes losing, and Coach Meyer especially doesn’t like losing,” he says. “So, I’m sure he’s going to figure out any way he can to start getting wins.”

Not this week.

BENGALS, 28-17

KNOCKOUT POOL: Never had to sweat as the Broncos took care of business vs. the inept Jets. This time, we will go with BUFFALO against the not quite as inept Texans.

No. 30 New York Giants (plus 8) at No. 15 New Orleans

Back in the Big Easy after being displaced by Hurricane Ida, the Saints march.

BEST BET: SAINTS, 33-20

No. 7 Baltimore (plus 2) at No. 12 Denver

The Broncos are a nice story thus far, but who have they played? Teams that are 0-9.

UPSET SPECIAL: RAVENS, 22-20

No. 2 Tampa Bay (minus 6) at No. 21 New England

Tom Brady once again proves how much he was responsible for the Patriots dynasty.

BUCCANEERS, 27-16

No. 5 Arizona (plus 6) at No. 1 Los Angeles Rams

For NFC West supremacy. No team is more exciting than the Cardinals, but ...

RAMS, 33-26

No. 28 Houston (plus 17) at No. 3 Buffalo

That is a lot of points to lay even if this is a mismatch.

BILLS, 30-14

No. 16 Tennessee (minus 8) at No. 32 New York Jets

That is not a lot of points to lay in this mismatch.

TITANS, 30-10

No. 10 (tie) Kansas City (minus 7) at No. 23 Philadelphia

Time for the Chiefs to right the ship, and the Eagles' banged-up defense is a tonic.

CHIEFS, 33-15

No. 8 Cleveland (minus 2) at No. 19 Minnesota

This should be a shootout in the Twin Cities. Cleveland's better D will matter just enough.

BROWNS, 30-29

No. 18 Seattle (plus 3) at No. 14 San Francisco

Too many holes in Pete Carroll's defense now to win against quality teams.

49ERS, 28-23

No. 20 Pittsburgh (plus 7) at No. 6 Green Bay

It's beginning to look really ugly for Big Ben and the Steelers.

PACKERS, 27-17

No. 25 Indianapolis (plus 2) at No. 22 Miami

It already is ugly for Frank Reich and the disappointing Colts.

DOLPHINS, 24-21

No. 9 Carolina (plus 5) at No. 13 Dallas

The undefeated run ends for the Panthers in Big D.

COWBOYS, 24-13

No. 4 Las Vegas (plus 3 1-2) at No. 10 (tie) Los Angeles Chargers, Monday night

Which team will have more fans at SoFi Stadium? Try the RAIDUHS!

RAIDERS, 29-26

No. 29 Detroit (plus 3 1-2) at No. 26 Chicago

Is there a more hard-luck team in the NFL these days than the roar-less Lions?

LIONS, 17-15

No. 24 Washington (plus 2) at No. 27 Atlanta

All of a sudden, Washington can't stop anyone and Atlanta can?

FALCONS, 24-20

___

2021 RECORD

Last Week: Straight up: 11-5. Against spread: 14-2.

Season: Straight up: 29-19. Against spread: 30-16-2.

Best Bet: Straight up: 3-0. Against spread: 3-0

Upset Special: Straight up: 3-0. Against spread: 3-0.

___

More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Joe Burrow

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