Week 4 Picks: 'Game of the Century' Between Vikings and Packers?

Brett Favre's first game against the team he led from 1992-2007 is a good enough storyline on its own. But by the time Favre takes the field for the Vikings in the Metrodome to face the Packers, anyone who watches anything on the "Worldwide Leader's'' "Family of Networks'' may be so Favred-out that the game will be anti-climactic.

Example: ESPN2's "Sports Nation,'' ("nation'' in this context is a cliche that should be bagged) promises to utter the word "Favre'' 275 times during its Monday afternoon show. Who knows how many times it -- and other ESPN outlets -- will show Favre's last-second TD pass that beat San Francisco last week.

Thus I am heeding the the advice I got to shut off the television until 8:30 p.m. Monday.

Good idea because the game itself should be fun -- not only will Favre be amped up, but so will Aaron Rodgers. And Favre and Rodgers aren't exactly best friends, another "storyline'' being played to hilt this week..

The Vikings, one of seven 3-0 teams in the NFL, are favored by 3 1/2 points, three points for home field and the other half point because Favre or not, they might be a little better. Home field may not be as big a factor as it often is in Minneapolis -- lots of Packers fans usually find themselves tickets for this fixture.

Where will the game be won? Probably not at QB. The most important matchup is up front, where the Vikings seem to have a decided advantage when their defense is on the field against the Packers' OL. Rodgers has been sacked 12 times, more than any quarterback in the league and the Green Bay tackles, with Chad Clifton banged up, are the primary culprits.

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Green Bay Packers		17
Minnesota Vikings	- 3	24

The Saints, who play New York/New York with a bye in between, are a very fashionable team right now. They demonstrated last week they can win outdoors without a TD pass from Drew Brees but WITH a nice ground attack featuring Pierre Thomas. The Jets, unbeaten or not, seem to be viewed as the same old Jets in Vegas. Thus the line. Closer than that.

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
New York Jets		22
New Orleans Saints	- 7	26

The Patriots beat Atlanta last week by running, primarily with Fred Taylor, the kind of aging pickup that has traditionally worked so well for Bill Belichick. But Tom Brady couldn't produce a touchdown against the Jets, whose coach, Rex Ryan, ran the Ravens' defense last season.

But this is Baltimore's first tough game.

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Baltimore Ravens		16
New England Patriots	- 2	20

Interesting road favorite. That's because Vegas questions the Denver schedule -- the Cowboys are a lot better than the Browns and Raiders, even with banged-up RBs.

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Dallas Cowboys	- 3	24
Denver Broncos		14

The Steelers don't lose three in a row, do they? Not against a team they beat twice last season -- in the first 11-10 game in NFL history, then 35-24 in the playoffs.

Has there ever been a 9-8 game?

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
San Diego Chargers		20
Pittsburgh Steelers	- 6 1/2	21

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Cincinnati Bengals	- 5	19
Cleveland Browns		10

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Tennessee Titans	- 3	22
Jacksonville Jaguars		12

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Seattle Seahawks		17
Indianapolis Colts	- 10 1/2	31

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Oakland Raiders		24
Houston Texans	- 9	30

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
New York Giants	- 9	34
Kansas City Chiefs		10

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Tampa Bay Bucs		10
Washington Redskins	-	20

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Buffalo Bills	- 2	12
Miami Dolphins		13

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Detroit Lions		13
Chicago Bears	- 10	31

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
St. Louis Rams		8
San Francisco 49ers	- 9	21

LAST WEEK: 9-7 (spread), 11-5 (straight up)

SEASON: 29-19 (spread) 31-17 (straight up)