NFL Week 4 Quick Picks: Something Tells Me the Dolphins Aren't Going 4-0...

Embed from Getty Images

For the second time in just three weeks, the Redskins delivered as my best bet. They manhandled Sam Bradford's hapless Cardinals in the opener, and snuck up on the lackadaisical Packers on Sunday. Now, Jay Gruden's 'Skins are on the Bye, so let's see who I like (instead) this week...

A quick recap before we get started:

Week 1: 9-7 (3-0 in best bets: Eagles, Dolphins and Redskins)

Week 2: 8-8 (0-3 in best bets: Steelers, Panthers and Broncos)

Week 3: 7-9 (2-1 in best bets: Redskins, Steelers and Chargers)

Overall: 24-24 (5-4 in best bets) - Analysis will be short this week!

JOHNNY FRO'S WEEK 4 PICKS

Los Angeles Rams over Minnesota Vikings, 27-24 (Vikings cover +7)

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The following paragraph was written on Wednesday, September 27.)

The Vikings can't possibly be as bad as last week, but I've also learned to trust Sean McVay's unstoppable schemes. I'm confident the Vikes won't get blown out -- especially considering the Rams' depleted secondary -- but is Kirk Cousins really a guy who wins big games? Does he pull out the close ones that count, historically? I gotta go with McVay, Jared Goff and Todd Gurley down the stretch, here.

New England Patriots over Miami Dolphins, 38-17 (Patriots cover -6.5) BEST BET

The Patriots certainly haven't looked like themselves, but these underwhelming Dolphins aren't going 4-0 when Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are in dire need of a win. I like Adam Gase, and I do think the Dolphins can ultimately hang on to a playoff spot, but the Pats aren't just going to roll over and play dead, are they? I gotta think Rob Gronkowski and Chris Hogan have big weeks, this week.

Embed from Getty Images

Houston Texans over Indianapolis Colts, 34-17 (Texans cover +1.5) BEST BET

I don't see the Texans going 0-4 against this team. Andrew Luck is grinding it out at less than 100 percent, with zero running game and a thin receiving corps. The Texans have real talent with Deshaun Watson, DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller, and even JJ Watt finally looked healthy last week in a monster performance against the Giants. The Texans will get off the schneid this week.

Atlanta Falcons over Cincinnati Bengals, 31-24 (Falcons cover -4)

Both teams have played pretty solid ball thus far, though the Falcons aren't pulling out the close ones. With that in mind, they'll need to win by a touchdown or more to be secure. Their offense has been clicking since the emergence of rookie stud Calvin Ridley, so I expect continued production this week. And hey, the Marvin Lewis/Andy Dalton Bengals are who we think they are -- they'll hover around 8-8 by year's end.

Green Bay Packers over Buffalo Bills, 30-17 (Packers cover -10)

Reports indicate Aaron Rodgers is getting closer to full health, and this betting line is screaming TRAP. The Bills shocked the world and decimated survivor pools by shellacking the heavily-favored Vikings last week, and yet Buffalo is again a huge dog. Vegas wants you to take the Bills getting the points. You probably shouldn't do that.

Embed from Getty Images

Detroit Lions over Dallas Cowboys, 24-14 (Lions cover +3)

Looks like Detroit is starting to put some momentum together. Matt Patricia's defense suffocated Brady and the Pats, and Jim Bob Cooter's offense was pleasantly surprised by a 100+ rushing game from impressive rookie Kerryon Johnson. With Johnson, Matt Stafford, Kenny Golladay, Golden Tate and Marvin Jones, the Lions have a sneaky number of explosive offensive players. Can't say the same for the anemic Cowboys. This should be a statement game for Detroit.

Jacksonville Jaguars over New York Jets, 20-3 (Jaguars cover -7.5)

The Jets are too scared to score against the vaunted Jags D. Todd Bowles and Jeremy Bates have done an absolutely horrific job coaching rookie QB Sam Darnold, and that trend will continue this week. Doug Marrone's boys are pissed after an ugly loss to the division-rival Titans, and they smell blood in the water from the reeling Jets. Franchise RB Leonard Fournette should return for the Jags, as well.

Embed from Getty Images

Tampa Bay Bucs over Chicago Bears, 20-17 (Bucs cover +3)

Ryan Fitzpatrick's playing for his job this week, and that isn't necessarily a good thing. The last time he was in a make-or-break game in his career, as a Jet, he crumbled in the playoff-or-bust finale against an inferior Bills team. I don't necessarily trust him in spots like these, but Mitchell Trubisky is pretty horrendous. I don't think either team will perform the way they want to offensively, but "FitzMagic" will do just enough to hold off Jameis Winston for another week.

Tennessee Titans over Philadelphia Eagles, 20-17 (Titans cover +3.5) BEST BET

Everybody always sleeps on the Titans, and I can see why -- their games can literally put you to sleep. Marcus Mariota's back under center this week, but what's the difference? They never really score or move the ball, anyway. And yet, they are good at playing ugly and covering spreads. The Eagles are obviously the much sexier pick here, and that's part of the reason the Titans will cover. Carson Wentz will continue to shake off the rust, but he's not quite there yet. If Alshon Jeffery suits up, he'll have similar rust issues. Mike Vrabel's scrappy D will grind out this tight win.

THE REST OF JOHNNY FRO'S PICKS

Seahawks over Cardinals, 24-17 (Seahawks cover -3.5): Russell Wilson needs this win, and Josh Rosen will need some seasoning. 

Browns over Raiders, 27-20 (Browns cover +2.5): Baker Mayfield good. Raiders bad. 

Chargers over 49ers, 34-20 (Chargers cover -10.5) 

Embed from Getty Images

Saints over Giants, 30-28 (Giants cover +3): Giants could surprise a lot of people this week. Odell Beckham, Jr. still hasn't reached paydirt. 

Steelers over Ravens, 27-21 (Steelers cover -3)

Chiefs over Broncos, 31-20 (Chiefs cover -5): The Broncos' 2-0 start was a fluke. The Chiefs' 3-0 start is not. 

Good luck, and get that $$$!!!

NFL Head Coach Power Rankings, Part I: Is Todd Bowles the Worst in the NFL?

Embed from Getty Images

What makes a good football coach?

X's and O's? Motivational ability? Communication skills? All of the above?

It's really a matter of opinion...and here's mine:

32. Hue Jackson, Browns: Jackson has been the head coach of the Cleveland Browns for 34 games. He's won two. He's TWO and THIRTY-TWO (with one recent tie). And yet, in all honesty, I came away impressed by his performance on Hard Knocks; he communicates well and says the right things.

But do his players listen? Do they care? Do they take him seriously?

He let the Josh Gordon saga go on for way too long (many believe GM John Dorsey and OC Todd Haley were ultimately responsible for Gordon's banishment). He never gave Baker Mayfield the opportunity to start over Tyrod Taylor; even going as far as holding a ridiculous meeting for the cameras, in which he informed Baker that he beat out Drew Stanton for the backup job. And oh yeah, Jackson never wins any games! Isn't that the point?

Yet and still, after a few years of utter embarrassment, there's light at the end of Jackson's tunnel. Mayfield may very well save his job. Despite Taylor's horrific performance against the Jets, I'm not entirely convinced Jackson would have benched him at the half. Taylor's concussion forced his hand. Of course, Baker came in, sparked the club, and the rest is history.

Embed from Getty Images

It's Baker's job now, and he has Haley, Carlos Hyde, Jarvis Landry, Antonio Callaway and David Njoku at his disposal. He also has a little thing for Rashard Higgins. The weapons are in place, and the AFC is wide open. If Baker and the Browns go on a little run here, Jackson may retain his job. If they become a serious playoff contender, I'll have to move him up my list.

The whole situation sort of trivializes the head coach position, doesn't it? Success, or lack thereof, is often tied to the performance of the coach's quarterback. Baker may just be Jackson's savior.

31. Steve Wilks, Cardinals: This rookie HC is off to an extremely rocky start, but we must consider the circumstances: Sam Bradford is god awful, as is Arizona's offensive line. Like Jackson, Wilks' ultimate fate will be tied to the play of his rookie QB -- in this case, Josh Rosen, who looked very shaky in relief this week -- and that's a shame for Wilks. The Cardinals, as an organization, just aren't in a position to win right now. He'll need the same level of patience that Jackson has benefited from.

30. Todd Bowles, Jets: The day has finally come -- Bowles' head coaching job is officially in jeopardy.

Bowles is 21-30 as head coach of Gang Green, coming off back-to-back 5-11 seasons and an utterly embarrassing loss to the (always) winless Browns. He's not an offensive mind. He is unable to manage the clock or timeouts. He's supposed to be a defensive guru, but his team never gets any pressure on the opposing quarterback. He's truculent with the media.

Todd Bowles doesn't do anything well. He must go. There are no excuses.

29. Jon Gruden, Raiders: I mean, how can we really evaluate this guy? He's a former Super Bowl champion head coach with a big name in the industry, but has the game passed him by? Is "Chucky" merely a relic of the past?

Embed from Getty Images

So far, that seems to be the case. However, like the coach at No. 27, Gruden doesn't have much to work with. Maybe Chucky should have toned it down with Khalil Mack...

28. Vance Joseph, Broncos: It's lookin' like Case Keenum's breakout was a product of some talented company, namely Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. Mike Zimmer's also a much better coach than Joseph.

On the plus side, the Broncos are 2-1, but I don't think that'll last very long. They might be the third-best team in their division (the Raiders, duh), but that isn't saying much. On the bright side, again, the bottom playoff spots in the AFC are wide open. Joseph has room to climb my list.

27. Jason Garrett, Cowboys: Garrett's seat is awfully hot, but the Cowboys' front office hasn't given him much to work with. Dak Prescott is in the bottom third of the league's starting quarterbacks, and he doesn't have anyone to throw to. I'm not exactly sure how Jerry Jones' braintrust expects Garrett to succeed. Ezekiel Elliott and a solid offensive line simply aren't enough. Garrett's results were better when Tony Romo and Dez Bryant still had "it."

Again, when you aren't a mastermind coach, your reputation hinges on the talent and performance of your players. Garrett's not alone -- there are many head coaches in the same boat.

26. Anthony Lynn, Chargers

25. Mike Vrabel, Titans: The Titans have scrapped out a couple tight wins early, but that's essentially an extension of what they did last year. The good news is that Vrabel's defensive background is shining through thus far. Tennessee has boasted an elite D through three games, and Vrabel should work his way up if this continues.

24. Pat Shurmur, Giants: An experienced all-around coach dealing with an aging QB and one of the worst offensive lines in the game. Shurmur's benching of tackle Ereck Flowers helped the G-Men redefine themselves in Week 3. What looked like a possible 0-16 season, has quickly changed shape. Eli Manning puts a ceiling on their potential success, though.

Embed from Getty Images

23. Frank Reich, Colts: Reich's a very good offensive football coach, but Andrew Luck's health is a major long-term concern. Not sure how much Reich can really do with this situation. Like the Raiders and Cowboys, the Colts are near the bottom of the league in pure talent.

22. Matt Patricia, Lions: It was a nightmarish start -- getting demolished by my lowly Jets on national TV -- but the bearded Belichick understudy has quickly turned things around in Detroit. The Lions looked much better against the 49ers in Week 2, before putting it all together in a surprising Week 3 win over his mentor's floundering Patriots.

Embed from Getty Images

If the Lions' vets buy into Patricia's strict rules, they could potentially do some damage. Kenny Golladay, Golden Tate and Marvin Jones make for an explosive receiving trio, and Matthew Stafford is back to normal after succumbing to Gang Green in the opener.

21. Dirk Koetter, Bucs: Who knew FitzMagic could resuscitate Koetter's chances of sticking with the Bucs?

The Bucs were a messy laughingstock last season, but maybe Jameis Winston was the problem; not Koetter. Tampa nearly capped a dramatic comeback to go 3-0 last night on Monday Night Football, but alas, it wasn't meant to be. They'll probably start falling back to earth, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.

Part II of my list...coming soon!

Johnny Fro's Movie Reviews: Girl Power in "Pitch Perfect 3" and "Ocean's 8," and Firepower in "13 Hours"

Embed from Getty Images

All the way back in 2012, Pitch Perfect was an unexpected phenomenon.

Led by Anna Kendrick (coming off Up in the Air, Twilight and 50/50), Brittany Snow (John Tucker Must Die, Prom Night) and comedic X-factor Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids), this quirky group of collegiate acapella singers laaaaa'd and ahhhhh'd their way into our hearts. On a measly $17 million budget, Pitch Perfect went on to gross $113 million worldwide. Furthermore, it became an absolute monster in syndication, where teenage girls -- let's be real, most of us -- ate it up, time and time again. 

In terms of plot, the original Pitch Perfect was nothing special. It was a pretty typical story of an "outcast" (Kendrick, playing Beca) finding purpose and acceptance with people she didn't initially expect to like. It was Fish Out of Water meets Coming of Age...with singing. 

But director Jason Moore's film landed because of its energy, positivity, re-watchability and of course, the undeniable chemistry between its talented, young actresses. Like a hip musical in some ways, Pitch Perfect achieved cult status because of its fun, well-choreographed-and-sung acapella numbers. 

So, Pitch Perfect 2 happened, and it wasn't half bad. With a moderately bumped $29 million budget, Elizabeth Banks' full-length directorial debut grossed a whopping $287 million worldwide. It was a hit which introduced Hailee Steinfeld's character, Emily, and a memorable cameo from Green Bay Packers' Pro Bowl linebacker Clay Matthews. 

I would say Pitch Perfect is a 7.5 out of 10, and Pitch Perfect 2 is a 6. That's a respectable number for a shameless, money-hungry sequel. 

And that brings us to the third film of this unexpected trilogy. Oh boy...

PITCH PERFECT 3

There was a potentially good movie here. Screenwriter Kay Cannon simply blew it. This is a failure of epic proportions. 

You know, you can keep young characters interesting for quite a long time. They only stop being interesting when they get married, have kids and settle down in suburbia. Think about how much interest there was in single, twenty and thirtysomethings on Friends, How I Met Your Mother, Jersey Shore, Scrubs and New Girl. Of course, Seinfeld qualifies under that heading as well. On the big screen, there's [500] Days of Summer, Office Space, Garden State, The Devil Wears Prada, Good Will Hunting, Fight Club, Swingers and many, many more. 

If Cannon and Universal Pictures wanted to keep this gravy train rolling, all they had to do was dive into the single, twentysomething lifestyle while sprinkling in some fun acapella songs. I mean, people are obviously invested in these characters, right? Over half a BILLION in cumulative worldwide gross? 

Now, because this movie was so unbelievably terrible, the franchise is dead. Pitch Perfect 3 starts out well enough -- with Beca realizing her dream job wasn't what she thought it would be -- but it goes completely off the rails in less than 10 full minutes. I honestly don't even want to get into the plot -- but yeah, it involves explosions and John Lithgow kidnapping the entire group at one point. Just beyond dumb. The writing is so bad it causes my blood pressure to boil. 

What Cannon should have done was focus on her most popular characters and bankable stars: Beca, Fat Amy (Wilson), Chloe (Snow), Aubrey (Anna Camp), Emily (Steinfeld), Jesse (Skylar Astin) and Bumper (the always-entertaining Adam Devine). Apparently the behind-the-scenes team wanted the girls to "move on," so Astin and Devine don't even appear in PP 3. Astin's chemistry with Kendrick is missed, as is Devine's general hilarity. 

Embed from Getty Images

Cannon should have included both men and grounded the story, instead of letting it fly away to Never-Never Land. 

Twentysomethings, recently out of college, encounter a number of roadblocks: Where to live? Who to live with? Where to work? Do I have enough money to pay for food? Do I have enough money to go out and have fun? Win an ex back? Pursue someone new? Live the good, single life? Who am I as a person? Where do I want to go?

But few of those interesting questions are posed, once Pitch Perfect 3 devolves into yet another acapella competition. My vision for the story would have had the girls singing acapella at karaoke bars when they went out, or alone as a group, as they sat around commiserating about the unexpected struggles of twentysomething life. Smaller scale, as opposed to another tired competition featuring gratuitous cameos that take away from the screen time for Beca, Fat Amy and Chloe. 

Pitch Perfect 3 represents a major missed opportunity. What if it ended with a cliffhanger suggesting Beca and Jesse might get back together? Maybe then, we'd go back to see a fourth installment. We certainly won't after the real Pitch Perfect 3, which is an absolute bomb. 

** JOHN FRASCELLA'S SCORE: 2 OUT OF 10 **

OCEAN'S 8

Similarly to Pitch Perfect 3, Ocean's 8 starts out well enough. 

In an ode to Danny Ocean's (George Clooney) Eleven intro, Eight begins with Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) talking her way out of prison. With some nice comedic energy from Bullock, Debbie convinces the parole board that she's ready to live "the simple life."

Moments later, she's out and already lying, cheating, stealing and loving every second of it. 

It's a fun, promising intro for Debbie, but it may also be the highlight of the entire film. Ocean's 8 isn't as downright awful as Pitch Perfect 3, but it drops the ball in a number of similar ways. While the cameos and plot tangents take screen time away from the key performers in Pitch Perfect 3, it's the machinations of the heist that steal screen time away from Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson and Awkwafina in Gary Ross' Ocean's 8. 

Embed from Getty Images

What's the point of assembling some of the most famous and talented women in the world if you aren't going to utilize their unique talents?

Anne Hathaway (as faux movie star Daphne Kluger) and Helena Bonham Carter (as washed-up designer Rose Weil) squeeze the most out of their roles, while the rest of Ross' leading ladies are left fending for scraps in a heap of underwritten roles. We don't really care if Debbie's girls pull it off because the actresses display little-to-no chemistry. That's due in part to the casting, but primarily the overemphasis on the minutia of the heist. There's no denying the chemistry between Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon in their entries of the Ocean's franchise. We just don't see that between Bullock and Blanchett, here. 

Eh, what can I say? There isn't really much else to add. Ocean's Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen are all far superior to Eight. We've all seen heist movies before; often times the job is just a MacGuffin, and Ross clearly lost sight of that here. Or maybe he never realized that at all.

We want to see Bullock, Blanchett, Hathaway and Bonham Carter share sizzling chemistry on the silver screen -- do we really care about a stolen necklace? This cast needed chemistry lessons from the girls of Pitch Perfect. Maybe if we took the best bits and pieces of Pitch Perfect 3 and Ocean's 8 and spliced them together, we'd end up with a half-decent movie.

** JOHN FRASCELLA'S SCORE: 4 OUT OF 10 **

13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI

Michael Bay loves to blow shit up. You'd think he'd be better at it by now. 

The clunky filmmaker behind 76 Transformers movies ruined what could have been a very powerful film, here. The 2012 Benghazi attack was cowardly, intense and horrifying -- a skilled director like say, Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron, Spike Lee, Ridley Scott, Mel Gibson, Clint Eastwood, Quentin Tarantino, Steven Spielberg or Francis Ford Coppola (in a past life) could have crafted a contemporary war classic with this incredible material.

Instead, we get gunshots and explosions on top of gunshots and explosions -- and the camerawork isn't even coherent! Half the time we can't even tell what's going on.

If you're going to turn this incredible story into a pure action movie, the action better (at least) be clear and engaging. That's the bare minimum. With the political undertones and surrounding social situation, there was a richer and better story to extract, too.

The casting also fell short. I'm not buying John Krasinski as an action hero; I'm sorry. I don't care about the rousing success of A Quiet Place or the over-hyped Jack Ryan series on Amazon -- this guy is still Jim from The Office. Krasinski has quirky charm and boyish mannerisms, making him much more at home on The Office or in Promised Land, Away We Go or It's Complicated. And Krasinski wrote Promised Land with Matt Damon, so he's already shown his hand -- he knows the types of roles he should be playing. But the general public is easily fooled, so Krasinski continues to reinvent himself in the prime of his acting career.

Embed from Getty Images

On the bright side, James Badge Dale (as "Rone" Woods) is right at home in 13 Hours. His character seems lived in, and this is the second time JBD has impressed me in a role that is drastically different from his understated turn in The Departed. "Rone" knows the ropes in Benghazi, and we root for him 'till the end.

Others, like David Denman ("Boon" Benton), Max Martini ("Oz" Geist) and Demetrius Gross (Dave Ubben) look the part, but Martini overacts his role from start to finish. Denman, calm and collected, fares much better. This is a mixed bag of a cast.

In the end, I would have liked to see a better-developed story, richer characters and cleaner action sequences. Spielberg, Bigelow and Gibson are particularly adept on the battle field. Bay is adept at, well...uncontrolled and unclear chaos, I guess.

However, the actual, real-life story of the Benghazi attack is more interesting than the flimsy fiction of both Pitch Perfect 3 and Ocean's 8. 13 Hours is -- barely -- a notch above.

** JOHN FRASCELLA'S SCORE: 5 OUT OF 10 **

My up-to-date review rankings:

1. Up in the Air (9.5/10)
2. Steve Jobs (9.5/10)
3. Margin Call (9/10)
4. Lady Bird (9/10)
5. Stay (9/10)
6. Gone Girl (9/10)
7. Nocturnal Animals (9/10)
8. 45 Years (9/10)
9. The Edge of Seventeen (9/10)
10. Tape (9/10)
11. A Perfect Murder (9/10)

12. War Dogs (8.5/10)
13. In Bruges (8.5/10)

14. Split (8.5/10)

15. Bad Moms (8.5/10)

16. Basquiat (8.5/10)

17. Moonlight (8/10)
18. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (7.5/10)

19. The Revenant (7.5/10)
20. The Good Shepherd (7.5/10)

21. The Shallows (7.5/10)
22. Focus (7.5/10) 

23. The Night Before (7.5/10)
24. The Walk (7/10)

25. 10 Cloverfield Lane (7/10)
26. Loving (7/10) - No review available
27. The Shape of Water (6/10) - discussed in this review
28. The Boy (6/10) - No review available

29. Joy (5.5/10)

30. La La Land (5.5/10)
31. The Visit (5/10) - discussed in this review
32. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (5/10)
33. Molly's Game (5/10)
34. Set It Up (5/10)
35. Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (4.5/10) - No review available
36. Brooklyn (4.5/10) - discussed in this review, and this review
37. Ocean's 8 (4/10)
38. Why Him? (3.5/10) - No review available
39. The Program (3/10)
40. Pitch Perfect 3 (2/10)
41. Shut In (2/10) - No review available
42. Premonition (2/10) - No review available

43. Rings (1.5/10)
44. Mother's Day (1.5/10)

Reviews to Come...

Eastern Promises
A Quiet Place
Life of Pi
Wind River
Hell or High Water

Sunshine Cleaning

Zero Dark Thirty
The Box
Annabelle: Creation
The Conjuring 2
Baby Driver
Body of Lies

Untraceable

The Wonder Boys

Jackie Brown

Mean Streets

Nerve

The Hateful Eight

The Seven Five

How to Be Single

Deadpool

Ratatouille

The Spectacular Now
The Purge: Election Year
And more...

NFL Week 3 Predictions: Can Wentz and Gordon Make Immediate Impacts?

Embed from Getty Images

Last week I nailed the Titans' surprising victory over the Texans, the Jaguars' statement win over the Pats and the FitzMagic Renaissance, Volume II. On the flip side, drops and turnovers sunk my Jets, the Bills failed to backdoor cover at home against the Chargers and the Panthers fell short against Matty Ice and the Falcons. My record against the spread, thus far:

Week 1: 9-7 (3-0 in best bets: Eagles, Dolphins and Redskins)

Week 2: 8-8 (0-3 in best bets: Steelers, Panthers and Broncos)

Overall: 17-15 (3-3 in best bets)

JOHNNY FRO'S WEEK 3 PICKS

New York Jets over Cleveland Browns, 20-17 (Jets cover +3)

Frankly, I'm appalled that my Jets are underdogs against the lowly Browns. Sure, things are a bit different this season -- wait, the Browns still haven't won a game, so things are exactly the same -- but Sam Darnold gives the Jets' offense a much higher upside than Tyrod Taylor's Browns. The rookie has been opening eyes in his first two games under center, whereas the Browns have been playing not to lose. And yet, they still lose (or tie, yuck). 

It should be an ugly game -- Myles Garrett (two sacks and general awesomeness), Larry Ogunjobi (three sacks, swimming in his wake) and Terrance Mitchell (11 tackles, two forced fumbles) have been wreaking havoc for Gregg Williams' much-improved D -- but we can always count on the Browns to screw it up in the end. If it's Darnold vs. the Browns down the stretch, based on what I've seen so far, I'm taking Darnold all the way.

Indianapolis Colts over Philadelphia Eagles, 27-20 (Colts cover +6) 

Well, I guess I just answered my own question.

I know it was weeks ago, but Carson Wentz looked so stiff in workout videos. Clearly he's feeling much better now, but I think it will take him 4-6 weeks to even approach top form. I just don't see him coming out and setting the world on fire this week.

Embed from Getty Images

On the other end, Frank Reich gets to see his old friends in Philly. Reich has done a decent job thus far as the new head coach of the Colts, while Andrew Luck feels his way around in an effort to regain his Pro Bowl form of the past. The Colts are a work in progress, but I think they're catching the defending champs at exactly the right time.

Carolina Panthers over Cincinnati Bengals, 24-20 (Panthers cover -3)

This just feels like an unsexy game. The Bengals have probably played a bit over their heads in the first two games, and the Panthers' offense has been choppy the past couple years. I don't think these Bengals can go 3-0, and Carolina is generally quite successful in close games, so I'll give Ron Rivera and Cam Newton the nod, here.

New Orleans Saints over Atlanta Falcons, 38-35 (Saints cover +3)

How about an old-fashioned shootout?

The Falcons' offense has sputtered on the road the past couple seasons, but everything seems to click on their home turf. Matt Ryan is always looking for Julio Jones, but in Week 2 he added dangerous rookie Calvin Ridley to the mix. In the running game, Tevin Coleman has looked big, strong, fast and hungry in the absence of vet Devonta Freeman. The Saints' D got torched by the Bucs, so I expect Atlanta to pile up the points here.

Embed from Getty Images

For New Orleans, Drew Brees, Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara should be ready to explode after a very disappointing offensive performance against the aforementioned Browns' D. We'll go back and forth in this one, but I see Sean Payton's boys squeaking it out in the end.

Baltimore Ravens over Denver Broncos, 17-14 (Broncos cover +5)

I'm not sure how bad the Broncos really are. They're 2-0 after sloppy victories over the lowly Seahawks and Raiders, and I'm thinking the Case Keenum magic only existed in Minnesota. The Ravens aren't very good, either, so this should be a mostly boring game. The Broncos will lose because Demaryius Thomas is pure trash. Emmanuel Sanders is all alone out there, and Keenum needs more help.

The Ravens will grind out this win with tough D and of course, the master Justin Tucker. He'll knock through the game-winner.

Houston Texans over New York Giants, 27-17 (Texans cover -6.5)

The Public tends to be wrong, but you can't automatically go against the grain -- otherwise there is no strategy involved. The key is reading between the lines and deciding when the Public is right; and I think they are in this case. It's 64% on the Texans right now (which isn't even that bad, 70% or more is when you should pay close attention), and the Giants are just an absolute disaster. They have the worst offensive line and possibly the worst quarterback in the NFL. That's about as bad as it gets.

Embed from Getty Images

Houston desperately needs a win, and they are better equipped for one with Deshaun Watson, DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller leading the way. I do think the Giants will hang around in the first half, but the pure talent of the Texans will help them pull away as the game drags on. Both teams are winless, but the Texans aren't in complete disarray. That's an important distinction to make.

Oakland Raiders over Miami Dolphins, 20-17 (Raiders cover +3)

Like the aforementioned Broncos, the Dolphins probably shouldn't be 2-0. Adam Gase is a very good football coach, but Ryan Tannehill is one of the weaker starting QBs in the NFL, and DeVante Parker still hasn't suited up. The Dolphins simply aren't very talented. They got totally outproduced by the Jets in Week 2, but the same ol' Jets gifted the victory with sloppiness and some very Jet-like plays.

On the flip side, Jon Gruden's Raiders are winless. They're going nowhere this season, but ya know what? Their defense has been surprisingly competitive. They were an absolute nightmare for Case Keenum and the Broncos, and Jared Goff and the Rams couldn't really get it going until garbage time. Linebackers Tahir Whitehead (11 tackles) and Derrick Johnson (9) should continue their strong play against an unspectacular Miami offense.

Just can't see the Dolphins starting 3-0. This game will be brutal to watch, but Oakland will hang on with tenacious defense down the stretch.

Washington Redskins over Green Bay Packers, 30-20 (Redskins cover +3) BEST BET

The Redskins put together a real stinker against the Colts. After an easy win over the Cardinals in their opener, Jay Gruden's gang shit the bed in Week 2. And that's when the Public reacts. It's already 71% on the Packers, and I expect that to climb by the time we kick off on Sunday. Aaron Rodgers is still playing hurt, and we know the 'Skins will improve on their measly nine-point output.

Embed from Getty Images

I could see a somewhat lazy effort from the Pack, as they expect to steal the game from Washington in the end. I don't think that will happen, though. Alex Smith will use his depth -- Chris Thompson, Jamison Crowder, Paul Richardson, Josh Doctson and Jordan Reed in the passing game -- to keep Green Bay's defense off balance, the way Blake Bortles did against the Patriots this past week. When you don't have a bona fide, big-name No. 1 receiver, opposing defenses can lose some guys in the shuffle. We all know the Packers aren't known for their defense, anyway.

Minnesota Vikings over Buffalo Bills, 38-10 (Vikings cover -16.5)

Mike Zimmer and the Vikings are PISSED after tying the Packers. Rookie kicker Daniel Carlson was immediately cut after a nightmare performance for the ages, and all-time great Dan Bailey was quickly signed. Minnesota shouldn't have kicking issues in tight games any longer, but this isn't going to be a tight one, anyway.

Embed from Getty Images

I expect no mercy from Zimmer, Kirk Cousins, Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen and the Vikings. Defensively, Minnesota's stud defenders are licking their lips right now. Everson Griffen, Harrison Smith and Sheldon Richardson will be looking to tee off on rookie QB Josh Allen, as Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes aggressively try to add to their passes defended and interceptions.

The Bills will quit early in this one.

Kansas City Chiefs over San Francisco 49ers, 31-27 (49ers cover +6.5)

An over-under of 56.5?? That's one of the highest -- if not, the highest -- I've ever seen.

That number already informs you of the game script, so you know it will be a back-and-forth, high-scoring contest between two young-and-hungry quarterbacks, Pat Mahomes and Jimmy Garoppolo. If the Niners want a chance to squeak this one out, they'll need Marquise Goodwin at full strength. I think they'll give Andy Reid's red-hot bunch a go, but will ultimately fall short.

New England Patriots over Detroit Lions, 30-27 (Lions cover +7)

New England's acquisitions of Josh Gordon and Corey Coleman reek of desperation.

These are a couple of punks who don't do things "The Patriot Way," but Bill Belichick is desperate for some pure athletes after getting completely outclassed by the Jags -- who didn't even have their best player, Leonard Fournette!

The slow-but-sure demise of the Patriots is already under way, but they'll pull out the victory against a very weak Detroit team. Of course the Matt Patricia storyline is at play here, but does anyone really care if the Lions are only going to win two or three games all year?

THE REST OF JOHNNY FRO'S WEEK 3 PICKS

Chargers over Rams, 30-24 (Chargers cover +7) BEST BET

Bears over Cardinals, 20-3 (Bears cover -6.5)

Seahawks over Cowboys, 24-17 (Seahawks cover -1)

Steelers over Bucs, 27-17 (Steelers cover -1) BEST BET

One quick note...just keep an eye on the quarterback situation in Arizona. Early reports are that shitty Sam Bradford is starting again, but if they pivot last-minute to Josh Rosen, you may at least want to consider a closer score. If Bradford plays, the Cardinals will have to score on defense to score at all. 

Okay, best of luck!

Canelo-Golovkin II Prediction: Why the Odds are Stacked Against GGG this Time

Embed from Getty Images

Is this the biggest and best fight of the next five years? How about the next decade?

As champions in multiple weight classes continue to dance around and ultimately, avoid each other, we have to tip our caps to Gennady "GGG" Golovkin and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez for getting into the same ring a second time. Obviously they'll be taking home millions upon millions, but the sting of a loss hurts the future of any veteran boxer's career. That's why other champions avoid each other -- they want to keep that money train rollin'.

But GGG and Canelo aren't back down kind of guys. Canelo took a risky fight early in his career against Floyd "Money" Mayweather and lost, and GGG will fight anyone.

Embed from Getty Images

Obviously, coming off two positive tests for the performance-enhancer Clenbuterol and a six-month suspension, Canelo seems to be the weaker and more amoral man, but he hates GGG at this point. And vice-versa. That means this is anybody's game.

From a technical standpoint, most of us know the deal by now -- GGG is going to be the aggressor, pushing forward and applying constant pressure to Canelo. On the other hand, Canelo is a master counter-puncher with a pulverizing right hook. Just watch this jaw-dropping knockout of Amir Khan, who is a solid all-around fighter.

As fans, the two best parts for us are that (1) both GGG and Canelo have incredible punching power and aren't afraid to let haymakers fly and (2) all of the controversy has them both out for the kill. Both fighters are claiming they aren't going to the scorecards, this time. I expect this to be an action fight, and that's exactly what we want.

Now for my prediction...

Well, I can't get there without rehashing the last bout. Canelo looked fresher and quicker in the first two rounds, as GGG appeared to be showing his age and mileage. But GGG is a f***king warrior to the death. He wasn't about to go quietly. Golovkin absolutely dominated most of the middle rounds, stalking Canelo and pounding him as the latter's poor conditioning came to the surface. Canelo was gassed, and GGG should have been winning easily on points.

Embed from Getty Images

But, to Canelo's credit, he finished strong. Rather than folding up the tent after getting hammered in the middle rounds, the red-headed monster battled back hard down the stretch. He definitely won the last two rounds, and probably won the 10th as well.

So, in the end, what looked to be either 8 rounds to 4 or 7-5 in favor of GGG, went to the scorecards.

Enter Adalaide Byrd.

With tension in the air and bated breath, the scores were announced. The veteran judge somehow scored the fight 118-110 (10 rounds to 2)...in favor of Canelo! She scored rounds 3, 5, 6 and 8 for Canelo, four rounds that GGG CLEARLY won. Obviously, it was a robbery and a tragedy. The bout ended in a draw, despite the fact that there was no logical way to score a Canelo victory.

And the problem for Golovkin is -- it's awfully hard to beat a strong opponent, twice in a row. Just ask Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez about that. After clearly beating Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in one of the best action fights of the past decade, the judges also robbed Chocolatito. He absolutely pounded Srisaket with clean head shots all night, but the judges leaned in Sor Rungvisai's favor because of accidental contact which caused Chocolatito to bleed consistently. It was a horrendous decision based on optics.

Embed from Getty Images

Clearly, Chocolatito was deflated by the blatant robbery. In his rematch with Sor Rungvisai, Srisaket knocked his f***king head off. It was an utterly dominant performance in a championship bout.

But...a true champion doesn't fold like that. Yes, judges occasionally make horrendous, head-scratching decisions, but true champions push forward. They don't let it affect them. They come out in the next fight like a warrior with something to prove.

So, the storylines are similar, but I'm hoping (and assuming) GGG will respond much better than Chocolatito did.

In the end, I'll be rooting for Golovkin. He was robbed the first time around, and obviously Canelo is a cheater. It's clear who most of us should be rooting for.

But I have a bad feeling. GGG won that first one. It's hard to beat a stud like Canelo two times in a row. Gennady Golovkin is 36 years old. Canelo is just 28. This will be a war, but the young man got a gift in the first go around. Maybe GGG will be a step too slow this time. All of the luck has fallen in Canelo's favor thus far, and I'm not sure that trend is going to end.

With a heavy heart, I predict that Canelo will win, 116-112. I don't see a knockout. These guys are just too f***kin' tough.

NFL Week 2 Predictions: Are Darnold's Jets and FitzMagic's Bucs for Real?

Embed from Getty Images

After an insanely busy few weeks -- I got married! -- it's back to business here at John Frascella Sports.

NFL Week 1 was highlighted by a stunning Bucs victory over Drew Brees and the Saints, the Jets' domination of Matt Patricia's Lions, Aaron Rodgers' jaw-dropping heroics against the Bears and an utterly bizarre tie between the Steelers and same ol' Browns.

Let's see what Week 2 has in store for us -- here are my picks, comin' in hot:

Washington Redskins over Indianapolis Colts, 27-24 (Colts cover +5.5)

Alex Smith automatically makes a team respectable. The Redskins looked (mostly) sharp in their opener, cruising to an easy victory over shaky Sam Bradford and the Cardinals.

New head coach Frank Reich brings the same respectability to the Colts, so I expect this one to be a nip-and-tuck type of game. Andrew Luck's boys need a win after falling short against the Bengals in Week 1, so we can be sure they won't go quietly in Washington. This game will likely come down to the final two or three minutes, when I expect Smith to set up the Skins for a winning field goal from Dustin Hopkins.

The Redskins will certainly be considered a surprise team at 2-0.

Atlanta Falcons over Carolina Panthers, 23-20 (Panthers cover +5.5)

Maybe the Falcons just aren't good without Kyle Shanahan. We have to at least consider the possibility, right?

Embed from Getty Images

After a fantastic season that culminated in a devastating Super Bowl collapse, Atlanta simply didn't look the same in '17. Shanahan departed to lead the rebuilding 49ers, and Matt Ryan's offense sputtered throughout a disappointing campaign. These Falcons had plenty of opportunities to steal a Week 1 victory away from the defending-champion Eagles, but again they struggled mightily in the redzone. That should continue this week, but Matt Bryant could be the difference in a hotly-contested division battle.

The Falcons need this win, and both clubs look about right at 1-1.

Green Bay Packers over Minnesota Vikings, 30-27 (Packers cover pick 'em)

Let's take a shot on this one!

83% of the public is on the Vikings at this point, and we don't know if Aaron Rodgers is going to play. Here's what I think: Rodgers suits up and the Vikings D isn't quite ready mentally. Back-and-forth the Packers will go with Kirk Cousins slinging it to Stefon Diggs on his end, and Green Bay will pull out another tight victory down the stretch. This pick is definitely against the grain.

San Diego Chargers over Buffalo Bills, 27-20 (Bills cover +7.5)

With Nathan Peterman under center, the Bills were clearly the worst team in the NFL. But rookie Josh Allen gives Sean McDermott's squad a different look. Allen isn't ready to dominate a pro game, and the Bills won't be going on any type of winning streak, but Buffalo will be more competitive with its rook taking the snaps. Allen is a better all-around athlete than most realize, and we all know about his well-documented arm strength.

Embed from Getty Images

The Chargers need this win -- but they are also the Chargers. Seemed like everyone was picking them to win the AFC West this season, but things never quite work out for Philip Rivers' boys. I think Rivers is a tremendous, future Hall of Fame quarterback, but his team doesn't deliver when you think it will. They'll get this win because of their advantage in overall talent, but it won't be convincing. The unsexy Bills will cover the spread...barely.

Tennessee Titans over Houston Texans, 28-27 (Titans cover +3)

A lot of these games have similar betting storylines -- the Titans looked pretty terrible in Week 1, so the public is running and hiding from them now. It's 82% on Houston at this point. Meanwhile, the Texans were a preseason darling, a la the Chargers, Browns and 49ers, all of whom failed to win their openers.

Now, the average Joe football fan is thinking, there's no way the Texans are going 0-2 by losing to the shitty Titans -- not with Deshaun Watson running the show! And therein lies the trap. It just seems so easy to side with Watson, DeAndre Hopkins and JJ Watt...doesn't it? The Titans were sloppy and brutal to watch throughout the '17 season, while the Texans brought occasional excitement with some big names and explosive plays. The Texans are clearly the sexy pick here.

Unfortunately, the sexy pick is usually the wrong pick.

Pittsburgh Steelers over Kansas City Chiefs, 34-20 (Steelers cover -5.5)

Here we go again...I probably don't have to bother explaining myself. Everyone is gushing over Pat Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and the Chiefs this week. On the flip side, the Steelers looked extra shaky against the Browns, and the Le'Veon Bell saga rages on. The Chiefs seem to have it all together. The Steelers appear to be in complete disarray.

Embed from Getty Images

That's when you apply reverse logic -- take Pittsburgh. Ben Roethlisberger will likely light up KC's shoddy secondary, and Mahomes will come back down to earth against Pittsburgh's defensive grinders. This result seems pretty clear to me.

New York Jets over Miami Dolphins, 30-17 (Jets cover -2.5)

We're for real, baby -- I'm telling you!

My Jets DEMOLISHED Patricia's unprepared and unhappy Lions. We EMBARRASSED them. It was so much fun.

The upstart Jets can sustain success for a number of reasons: (1) Sam Darnold's poise and maturity are winning, veteran qualities in the body and mind of a 21-year old kid; (2) Their secondary, highlighted by CB Trumaine Johnson and trash-talking SS Jamal Adams, is easily one of the best in the NFL (I also think CB2 Morris Claiborne is underrated at this stage in his career); (3) Isaiah Crowell is their most effective back since Thomas Jones and (4) They displayed dramatic improvements in special teams across the board in Week 1.

Embed from Getty Images

The point is...the Jets can potentially sustain success because they aren't relying on one aspect of their game. It was only one game, but New York showed promise in every facet of football.

On the flip side, the Dolphins don't scare me. On the whole, I view them as a potential surprise team for the 2018 season because no one was talking about them heading into the year. Adam Gase is a high-quality head coach and Ryan Tannehill is back under center. We're not talking about a Super Bowl contender, here, but we are talking about a serious playoff contender in a very weak conference. I mean, the Bills and Titans made the playoffs last year.

But again, they don't scare me. My Jets gained some early momentum, real fast. There seems to be something special brewing. Cheers to that continuing in Week 2!

Philadelphia Eagles over Tampa Bay Bucs, 23-21 (Bucs cover +3)

FitzMagic is back!

We all thought it ended after Ryan Fitzpatrick's disastrous second season with the Jets, but the magic certainly seemed to be back in a stupefying Week 1 win over Sean Payton's Saints. Fitz went HAM for 407 yards and 5 touchdowns (1 rushing). It was only the first week of a long season, but that may very well go down as the most shocking performance of the entire year. Time will tell.

Embed from Getty Images

Now we have a potential slopfest here against the champion Eagles. Nick Foles didn't look nearly as sharp with Alshon Jeffery out of commission. There's also no way the Bucs repeat what they did last week. This final score could potentially end up down a notch, maybe somewhere around 17-14 or 17-16 Eagles.

The Bucs certainly look like the right play against the spread, but I ain't trustin' Fitz against this Eagles D, late, in a tight game. These Eagles are closers. I think they have a better shot of going 2-0 than Tampa.

And now, frankly, I'm getting bored. Here are the rest of my Week 2 picks:

Saints over Browns, 38-20 (Saints cover -9.5)

Rams over Cardinals, 24-20 (Cardinals cover +13)

Lions over 49ers, 27-24 (Lions cover +6)

Jaguars over Patriots, 24-20 (Jaguars cover +1)

Broncos over Raiders, 38-13 (Broncos cover -6.5)

Cowboys over Giants, 21-17 (Cowboys cover -3)

Seahawks over Bears, 27-17 (Seahawks cover +3)

Best of luck, all!