Editor's note: The podcast was recorded on Wednesday morning, before it was announced that Ed Hochuli and his band of merry referees would return for Week 4. Knowing that, the incoherent ramblings at the end of the podcast may make a little more sense. Probably not, though.
It might be safe to go back into the gambling waters — if, you know, that was totally legal and everything.
The NFL referees better enjoy it while it lasts, but when they return this week, they'll be the heroes of the NFL's Week 4.
After Monday night's debacle, which reportedly cost bettors millions, picking winners may be a little bit easier starting this week. The uncertainty of inept replacement referees made the possibility of screwing up a betting line very real. Those fears were realized on Monday night — for anyone who had taken the Packers.
The NESN.com NFL picks podcast is back for another week and looking to rebound after being victimized by the scabs on Monday night. Then again, blaming only the referees for a lackluster weekend may be going a bit too far, given the nine combined wins for Week 3.
NESN.com senior assistant editor Mike Cole and assistant editor Ricky Doyle are back at it this week, hoping to rebound from an ugly, ugly week last week.
See their picks below, and hear them break those picks down in the podcast at the bottom of the page.
Home team in caps, lines courtesy of Bovada.lv.
Cole
BALTIMORE (-12.5) over Cleveland
NEW ENGLAND (-4.5) over Buffalo
DETROIT (-4.5) over Minnesota
ATLANTA (-7.5) over Carolina
San Francisco (-4.5) over NY Jets
San Diego (-1) over KANSAS CITY
HOUSTON (-12) over Tennessee
Cincinnati (-2) over Jacksonville
ST. LOUIS (+3) over Seattle
ARIZONA (-6) over Miami
DENVER (-6.5) over Oakland
GREEN BAY (-8) over New Orleans
TAMPA BAY (-3) over Washington
NY Giants (+1) over PHILADELPHIA
Chicago (+3.5) over DALLAS
Last week: 5-11
Season: 19-26-1
Doyle
BALTIMORE (-12.5) over Cleveland
NEW ENGLAND (-4.5) over Buffalo
DETROIT (-4.5) over Minnesota
ATLANTA (-7.5) over Carolina
San Francisco (-4.5) over NY Jets
San Diego (-1) over KANSAS CITY
Tennessee (+12) over HOUSTON
Cincinnati (-2) over Jacksonville
ST. LOUIS (+3) over Seattle
ARIZONA (-6) over Miami
Oakland (+6.5) over Denver
GREEN BAY (-8) over New Orleans
TAMPA BAY (-3) over Washington
NY Giants (+1) over PHILADELPHIA
DALLAS (-3.5) over Chicago
Last week: 3-12-1
Season: 11-19-2
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