By Ron Borges

With three weeks left in the regular season I’m finally getting the hang of this.

Went 4-2 last week to get to a .333 betting average. If I was a DH I’d be headed to the Hall of Fame. Hit a third of the time in Vegas and they send you home without your clothes.

Still, much ground can be made up and much money made with a hot finish and this week’s lineup of games has the kind of odd numbers that could allow you to make up ground in a hurry. Unless, of course, you’ve been going the other way against me. In that case, you’re probably going to Bimini for Christmas vacation.

Conventional wisdom this week says go with the Patriots, Buccaneers, Packers, Steelers, Vikings and Cowboys. I say do so at your peril.

This time of year stay away from bad teams playing bad teams because you never know which one of them is ready to quit. Stay on top of the weather because a blizzard or frigid temperatures can even out an other wise blow out situation. And stay within your budget because there’s no bailout for sub-prime gambling.

Most importantly, stay away from the Miami Dolphins. They’re not 0-13 for nothing. Then again, they have a better record (3-7-3) against the spread than the Ravens (2-10-1), who they will take on Sunday afternoon in Miami. Like I said, stay away from two bad teams even if one of them is threatening to make history in reverse.

LOCKADINI

1. Buffalo + 5 ½ @ CLEVELAND – The Bills have quietly become a solid team and they have two healthy running backs now to send at a Cleveland defense giving up 130.5 rushing yards a game. They’re also 5-1 with rookie QB Trent Edwards under center and if you’re from a city as bleak as Buffalo this time of year you may not consider a town as bleak as Cleveland to be a road game. Take the points and the BILLS.

NEARLY 50-50 CHANCE MEANS YOU LOSE THE VIG

2. SAN DIEGO -10 vs. Detroit – The Lions’ last hurrah this season came a week ago against Dallas. Now it’s a long goodbye that begins a long way from home. LaDainian Tomlinson seems to have gotten his legs back (161 yards per game last two weeks) at a bad time for the Lions. Lay the big number and take SAN DIEGO.

3. Atlanta + 13 ½ @ TAMPA BAY – Their quarterback has been sentenced to jail and their head coach has been sentenced to Arkansas after quitting on the Falcons with three games to go to flee to college football. Many Falcons will want to prove they’re better without Bobby Petrino and will work hard to do it. If they have any pride at all, the FALCONS cover.

THIS IS WHY THEY CALL IT GAMBLING

4. ST. LOUIS + 9 ½ vs. Green Bay – On paper this looks like a mismatch and it may be but the Rams have Mark Bulger back at quarterback and a better defense than their record indicates. If they can run the ball a bit as well the Pack won’t find this as easy as it seems. Take the points and the home dog, the RAMS.

5. NEW YORK GIANTS – 4 ½ vs. Washington – Todd Collins makes his first start since Bill Clinton was president after coming off the bench last Sunday to shine against the Bears. He’s got no running game, hasn’t started in a decade, is facing a team with a thunderous pass rush, is on the road and has Joe Gibbs as his coach. Other than that everything is in his favor. Lay the points and take the GIANTS unless you’re from Walpole. In that case, don’t bet against your homeboy.

UPSET SPECIAL

6. NY Jets + 23 @ NEW ENGLAND – The Jets won’t want to see this game on film but neither will the Patriots. Sloppy track does what Eric Mangini could not, which is find a way to allow the Jets to avoid a blowout loss. Pats win but Belichick proves he’s not the Grinch who stole hand signals and allows the JETS to cover with the help of Dick Albert.

Last week: 4-2

Record to date: 12-24

Lockadini: 3-3

Upset special: 3-3.