This is, thankfully, the last of the bye weeks for this year. That means that we are back to a full NFL schedule next week. More games means more opportunities for bettors, more games for fans to watch, and a generally better Sunday. This is also the first week that we have seen a Thursday night game since week one, so make sure that you get your NFL office pool picks in on time.

Chicago at San Francisco - The Bears are not an impressive team, and they are letting opposing offenses look way too good in recent weeks. They won't have time to fix it in this short week. The Niners are better than their record. They lost to Tennessee last week, but Alex Smith played 40 good minutes, and will continue to get better. Take the Niners.

Atlanta at Carolina - This is the first of several tough games this week. Atlanta certainly should win  - better all-round talent and a better QB. The problem, though, is that the Falcons aren't playing great and Matt Ryan isn't his usual self right now. The Falcons are hard to trust, but you have to here because they are the better team. Take the Falcons.

Tampa Bay at Miami - The battle of Florida is an interesting one. Tampa Bay is riding high after getting their first win thanks to Josh Freeman's late heroics. Miami lost to the Patriots, but that was almost a given at this point. This one could go either way, but I have to give the home team the advantage. Take the Dolphins.

Jacksonville at N.Y. Jets - This one pits two 4-4 teams against each other. Either one has the ability to look brilliant, but can also look like they have never played football before. The winner here will be the one that shows up for the game. It's a better bet that it will be the home squad - especially since they are coming off a bye. Take the Jets.

Detroit at Minnesota - If you have to think too hard about this one then you just haven't been paying attention this year. The Lions have struggled to find their way, and they have to be reeling after blowing a big lead last week. The Vikings are rolling, and they have had a week off to heal and recharge. This one won't be close. Take the Vikings.

New Orleans at St. Louis - This one is just as easy as the last one. The Saints are currently the best team in the NFL. The Rams really, really aren't. If the Saints found a way to lose this one then they would really have problems, Take the Saints.

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh - I have to grudgingly admit that the Bengals are a pretty good team this year. Just writing that makes me ill. The Steelers are playing as well as any team in football right now, though - as evidence look at how they dismantled Denver on Monday Night Football. The home field is huge here, and the stakes are high in this game. Take the Steelers.

Buffalo at Tennessee - The Titans have won two in a row, and neither has been a fluke. They are playing good football, and Vince Young is doing a good job of just managing the game instead of trying to be the hero. Buffalo is coming off a bye, and they have played better recently, but this is a tough trip against a suddenly confident, talented team that has the hottest running back in the league. Take the Titans.

Denver at Washington - Denver has hit a bit of a slide, losing two in a row. there is no better remedy for a losing streak than playing the Redskins. Washington is a total mess right now, and even playing at home against a team coming off of short rest won't be enough to change that. Take the Broncos.

Kansas City at Oakland - This is not a good game, and it is hard to know what we can really expect from either team. This one is a coin flip. The Raiders won the first meeting between these squads, and given that they are coming off a bye week and are at home they get the nod here as well. Take the Raiders.

Seattle at Arizona - The Seahawks showed a spark that we hadn't seen in a while when they mounted a big comeback against the Lions last week. That was only the Lions, though. Arizona had a huge performance and were essentially flawless on offense. They should be too much here - especially because they are motivated by the possibility of wrapping up the division quickly. Take the Cardinals.

Dallas at Green Bay - The Cowboys can rush the passer. They may not be the best at it in the league, but they don't have to be against the Packers. Aaron Rodgers will get beat up yet again here, and the Packers will struggle to keep up with a confident Dallas team finally playing up to their potential. Take the Cowboys.

Philadelphia at San Diego - Both of these teams are 5-3, and neither one can afford another loss here, so this is going to be an intense, physical game. There is more I like about the Eagles right now, but the Chargers are at home, and the Eagles don't seem to travel to the West Coast very well. Take the Chargers.

New England at Indianapolis - This is the game of the week and quite possibly the game of the year so far. Every time these two teams meet we get a classic. Both teams are playing reasonably well, and the Colts have yet to lose. I think that this is the time for that loss. The Patriots are firing offensively, and the Colts have so many defensive injuries that New England should be able to exploit. Take the Patriots.

Baltimore at Cleveland - The worst coach in football has seen his team totally fall apart before his eyes. He has no talent on his squad, and can't seem to decide between two equally lousy choices at QB. The Ravens will be frustrated after their loss to Cincinnati last week, and they'll take it out on the Browns. Take the Ravens.