NFL

Picks

By ROGER MILLS
Published November 2, 2003

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Saints (3-5) at Bucs (4-3)

You can see the swagger coming back to the Bucs, particularly their defense. That doesn't bode well for the Saints.

Mills pick: Bucs 28, Saints 9

Colts (6-1) at Dolphins (5-2)

Marquee matchup of the weekend features longtime rivals meeting for the first time since realignment. Dolphins steal the thunder.

Mills pick: Dolphins 23, Colts 20

Jaguars (1-6) at Ravens (4-3)

It may be a matchup of outstanding rookie quarterbacks (Byron Leftwich and Kyle Boller), but the Ravens running game should prove too much.

Mills pick: Ravens 17, Jaguars 13

Raiders (2-5) at Lions (1-6)

QB Marques Tuiasosopo starts for the injured Rich Gannon and shoots some life into the hapless Raiders.

Mills pick: Raiders 21, Lions 14

Chargers (1-6) at Bears (2-5)

Time spent away from burning San Diego will help bring together a crumbling team. Just enough to beat another crumbling team.

Mills pick: Chargers 24, Bears 22

Giants (3-4) at Jets (2-5)

Jets are 7-0 in November under coach Herman Edwards and have outscored opponents 186-66 during that stretch. Who cares. Giants defense prevails.

Mills pick: Giants 17, Jets 12

Panthers (6-1) at Texans (2-5)

The Panthers bring in a top-notched defense and running back Stephen Davis. The Texans counter with Tony Banks? Ouch!

Mills pick: Panthers 30, Texans 10

Steelers (2-5) at Seahawks (5-2)

The Steelers are too good, too talented and too experienced to have just two victories.

Mills pick: Steelers 24, Seahawks 20 Bengals (3-4) at Cardinals (2-5)

Gradually, Marvin Lewis' impact is becoming obvious. The Bengals are better than last season's team and better than the Cardinals.

Mills pick: Bengals 30, Cardinals 13

Redskins (3-4) at Cowboys (5-2)

Some have said the Cowboys wins have come against weak teams. Well, here comes another weak team.

Mills pick: Cowboys 17, Redskins 16

Eagles (4-3) at Falcons (1-6)

You know how they say on any given Sunday? Not on this given Sunday. And not with a completely changed Atlanta secondary.

Mills pick: Eagles 34, Falcons 15

Rams (5-2) at 49ers (3-5)

With Jeff Garcia hurt and Tim Rattay at the helm, you have to think the 49ers won't click as well as they should. Right? Wrong!

Mills pick: 49ers 21, Rams 20

Packers (3-4) at Vikings (6-1)

The way the Vikings own the Pack at the Metrodome, they don't appear to be in danger of losing ground. Look for a big day from Daunte Culpepper.

Mills pick: Vikings 33, Packers 17

[Last modified November 2, 2003, 07:26:04]

College football

Alive and Kicking

Hokies ground Hurricanes

Seminoles return the favor against Notre Dame

Pitt WR sets touchdown record

State: Opportunistic FAMU stops Hampton 34-23

Banner day for Seminoles backup CB

FSU by the numbers

FSU game balls

Seminoles' D clamps down on command

Trojans force their way into Sugar Bowl picture

USF: Banks battling a tough standard

Michigan runs over MSU

Sooners leave no doubt with intrastate thrashing

Nation: NIU gets D back on track in easy win

The fill-in fills big shoes

UF game balls

Ailing Bulldogs defense finally runs out of gas

UF by the numbers

UF: Ratliff gets INT No. 7 to tie mark

Conferences

Big East: Trick play helps Pitt seal Eagles' fate 24-13

ACC: N.C. State QB surpasses Cavs QB

C-USA: Win places Memphis in bowl hunt

Pac-10: Cardinal upset brings UCLA back to pack

Big Ten: Buckeye rally extends Nittany Lions' misery

Big XII: Texas gives Nebraska taste of its medicine

SEC: Arkansas survives in 7 OTs

Golf

Hnatiuk can live and die by 'The 125'

Sunday showdown

Up in the air, nearly down in the dumps

For today's caddies ...

Petrovic poised to reach top 30

In brief

Cohen tops in Canada

Motorsports

Hamilton Jr. wins, points race tightens

NASCAR's diversity goals get lineman-sized push

NBA

Pippen back where he belongs: Chicago

Pistons still have Magic's number

NFL

Bottom line

Picks

Reviews in: Coaches back replay

Things that make you go hmm ...

NHL

Friesen's goal spurs champions to victory

Slapshots

Opinion

Rant, Rave

Outdoors

Daily fishing report

Fall hunting season in high gear

Preps

Friendly rivals vie for title

Bishop Moore takes boys, girls titles

Nauta follows sister's tough title act

Three Cowboys are riding high on state trail

Zephyrhills scores at Class A meet

Running

Kenyans can make names in NYC run

Letters: Your turn

Rays

Lee testing market by his choice, not Rays'

Bucs

Saying 'when' no easy call

A one-for-all, all-for-one free-for-all

Bucs-Saints matchup ...

Kickin' back: Now just tell the doctor what you see

Sideline

Letters: Chat: Johnson's throws look a bit wobbly

Lightning

In the end, it's another win

St. Louis, team steamed about slash