If you've followed my picks at all this year you know I haven't been the best at predicting Lions games. I said they'd lose big last week and it was a two-point game. I expected a little Matt Millen bounce against the Bears and it was a blowout. I thought they'd cover on the road at San Francisco and Mike Martz had his way.

This week I'm going with Houston to cover the 9 1/2 point spread because I don't think the Lions have the offense to stay with the Texans. Calvin Johnson might get loose for a touchdown. Dan Orlovsky will do his best to manage the game. The Texans lead the NFL in turnovers. Still, I'm not sure the Lions have more than three scores in them -- with a couple of those being field goals. My pick: Houston 27-13.

Now for the rest of my picks. As always, choices are against the spread and home teams are in caps:

Home covers you can't deny
BUFFALO minus-1 over San Diego
CHICAGO minus-3 over Minnesota
CAROLINA minus-3 over New Orleans
NY GIANTS minus-10 1/2 over San Francisco
TAMPA BAY minus-10 1/2 over Seattle
NEW ENGLAND minus-3 over Denver

Home dogs that bite
OAKLAND plus-3 over NY Jets

Road warriors laying with love
Pittsburgh minus-9 1/2 over CINCINNATI
Dallas minus 7 1/2 over ST. LOUIS
Indianapolis minus-1 1/2 over GREEN BAY

Don't need 'em, but I'll take 'em
Baltimore plus-3 over MIAMI

Points only please
KANSAS CITY plus-9 over Tennessee
Cleveland plus-7 1/2 over WASHINGTON

Record: 8-6 last week, 42-43-2 overall