NFL betting Week 4 picks: Vikings, Steelers will stink up London

Frank Doyle pulls himself up off the mat to drop by with his Week 4 wagers in his latest edition of Hail Mary.

Word out of London this week is that a group over there wants to host the Super Bowl at Wembley Stadium. Well, that’s the word this week anyway – before the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings come over to stink up the joint.

Really, apart from the obvious popularity of the NFL overseas and its connection with NFL Europe, you have to wonder why anybody shows up for these kind of matchups. The Steelers are just beginning what could be a long decline and haven’t won a game this year. The Vikings have been rebuilding since Brett Favre was still throwing footballs and without Adrian Peterson, would be completely unwatchable.

What’s worse is this is only the first of two games in London this season and this one might actually be better than the San Francisco 49ers-Jacksonville Jaguars game that Wembley will host on Oct. 27.

It’s not just that these games are traditionally terrible, but the rationale behind them. To make a couple of teams fly to London in the middle of a 16-game season and play a meaningful game in a foreign time zone is absurd.

The players can’t be blamed. They have very limited time to digest weekly game plans, deal with injuries and practice each week. Throw in a flight to London and a different time zone and you’re bound to see some ugly football.

That’s just what we have to look forward to this week and again on Oct. 27. And, for some reason, possibly sometime down the road when the Super Bowl is being decided.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings (+2.5, 42)

So there’s talk that Christian Ponder might not start this one due to a rib injury. That would leave Matt Cassel to step in at quarterback and it this point, the backup might even be an upgrade after what Ponder has shown through three weeks. Still, the last thing a run-first and run-only team like Minnesota needs is a quarterback controversy while it gets ready for the Steelers in London. Adrian Peterson can’t do it all. Speaking of those Steelers, you do have to like the way they battled back against the Bears last week. They might be rebuilding with a worn-out defence, a terrible offensive line and no running game, but they’ll keep fighting. On a trip like this, that’s 90-percent of the battle.

Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers

New York Jets at Tennessee Titans (-4, 39)

Neither of these teams is going to blow out any other team in the league – Jacksonville included. They are going to grind it out on the ground and work the clock. They’re two of the most penalized teams in the league and lean on their defences to keep it close. That’s why you ought to take the points here.

Rex Ryan has New York believing in itself a bit early this season and there aren’t any holes on Gang Green’s defence.

Pick: New York Jets +4

Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns (+5, 42.5)

Las week’s win over Minnesota was a nice moment for the Browns after trading away Trent Richardson. After that, everyone left them for dead and Cleveland came out looking to make a point. This week, we could see a major letdown. The Bengals are a tough team that won’t take the Browns lightly so they’ll go for the jugular early. Cleveland, for better or worse, wants to throw the ball around now that TRich is gone and Brian Hoyle should have an opportunity to do just that on Sunday.

Pick: Over 42.5 points

Last week’s record: 1-2

Season record to date: 3-6