Week 6 NFL Picks: Giants-Saints Monster Not Critical to Either Team

And so we bring you this week's "Game of the Century.'' The unbeaten Giants at the unbeaten Saints, with nearly the hype of the Game of the Century two weeks ago, when Brett Favre dissected his former team.

Yes, it's an interesting matchup. Yes, it will get nice ratings for Fox. Although it's an early game rather than a late-afternoon start or a prime-timer, as it might have been if the NFL had realized the Saints would be as good as they are. And yes, the hype includes Jeremy Shockey's first game against the team he whined his way of off and Eli Manning's return to his hometown for his first game ever at the Superdome.

But remember that the loser will be either 5-1 (Giants) or 4-1 and still in command of their division _ the Giants' wins over the Redskins and Cowboys are more important in the long run that the result against New Orleans.

The Saints are favored by three, which means the oddsmakers thinks the teams are even -- the Giants would be favored by three if the game was in the Meadowlands.

This game also demonstrates the silliness of the early-season rankings on offense and defense. Especially this early in the season.

The Giants are ranked first on defense and first against the pass, allowing only 104.6 yards passing per game. The Saints, who were 23rd last season in yards allowed, are sixth this year, a stat said to reflect the hiring of Gregg Williams as the defensive coordinator.

But maybe those stats are phony.

The last three Giants wins are over three terrible teams: Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Oakland. The Saints' victims include Detroit and Buffalo.

So this very well could be an offensive game.

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
New York Giants		27
New Orleans Saints	- 3	31

Let's go with the "due to lose'' theory, although the Vikings would be more due if this wasn't at the Metrodome.

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Baltimore Ravens		20
Minnesota Vikings	- 3	19

The Titans are due to win. But maybe we just have to accept the fact that they're bad.

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Tennessee TItans		16
New England Patriots	- 9	31

It's still not clear if either team is elite or just OK.

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Chicago Bears		20
Atlanta Falcons	- 3	24

Last year, the Chargers came from three games back with three games to go to win the AFC West. That will be hard this year because the Broncos play defense. If San Diego loses, they're 3 1-2 games down. Broncos due to lose, although I've been saying that for three weeks.

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Denver Broncos		19
San Diego Chargers	- 3	20

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Houston Texans		19
Cincinnati Bengals	- 5	21

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Philadelphia Eagles	- 14	44
Oakland Raiders		7

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Kansas City Chiefs		8
Washington Redskins	- 6 1/2	9

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Clevland Browns		20
Pittsburgh Steelers	- 14	28

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Carolina Panthers	- 3	10
Tampa Bay Bucs		13

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Buffalo Bills		7
New York Jets	- 10	27

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Detroit Lions		24
Green Bay Packers	- 13	34

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Arizona Cardinals		20
Seattle Seahawks	- 3	27

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
St. Louis Rams		10
Jacksonville Jaguars	- 9 1/2	27

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

SEASON: 43-33 (spread) 52-24 (straight up)