By Ron Borges

Another sad week at the sports book. The number of games I’ve been able to lose in the final minutes by less than a touchdown this season is enough to change my address to the House of Blues.

Yet we remain undaunted because Ernest Hemingway once wrote, “Never be daunted’’ in a novel that sold the way no books can today.

This slate of games is a difficult one however. The odds makers in Las Vegas have seen enough of these teams now to seldom be too far off the number but here goes on a week where there seems no real Lockadini and way too many games that would carry the Upset Special label to get them right.

Then again, if you just followed the long proven gambling strategy of going the opposite way of my picks, you’d be so far ahead of the game this season that they’d have your picture posted on sports books all up and down The Strip.

LOCKADINI

1.Cleveland – 3 @ NY JETS  - Don’t be fooled by the fact the Jets have won two of their last three. They still have many problems and they will surface against the 7-5 Browns, who know they must keep winning to have a shot at the playoffs. Browns self-destructed last weekend vs. Arizona with four turnovers. That won’t happen again so take CLEVELAND and lay the points.

NEARLY 50-50 CHANCE MEANS YOU LOSE THE VIG

2. BUFFALO -7 vs. Miami – Tough call because other than last weekend the Dolphins have seemed to be closing in on a victory, losing three times by a field goal and once by 10 before sliding into the abyss vs. the Jets. Have they completely collapsed or will they rally? They may do either but it figures to be freezing in Buffalo, where the Dolphins traditionally have not done well in December. The Bills have won five of their last seven as well and are hopeful that RB Marshawn Lynch is back. Take the Bills and the cold for the win.

3. Green Bay – 10 ½ vs. OAKLAND – The Raiders have won twice as many games as a year ago but what does that mean when you only won two in 2006? Raiders will continue to split the quarterback duties with rookie JaMarcus Russell getting more playing time. Wait until he gets a feel of the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. Same play as in Buffalo. Take the cold weather team (Green Bay) and the cold weather.

THIS IS WHY THEY CALL IT GAMBLIN

4. Indianapolis -9 @ BALTIMORE – Before last Sunday’s game with New England the Ravens said it was their Super Bowl. That means their season is over. Ravens have been ravaged by their own ineptitude both on offense, on the sidelines and at times on defense. They won’t break a 6-game losing streak during which they’ve given up 28.2 ppg. Lay the heavy points and go with INDIANAPOLIS.

5.  Tampa Bay -3 @ HOUSTON – The Bucs could clinch the NFC south and seem likely to have Jeff Garcia back at quarterback. Conversely, the Texans will probably have to use backup Sage Rosenfeld under center to replace injured Matt Schaub. Bucs’ defense has held opposing runners to an average of 69 yards a game during four-game winning streak. If that continues it means Sage would have to win the game for the Texans. Don’t bet on that. Take Tampa and lay the points.

UPSET SPECIAL

6. Kansas City + 6 ½ @ DENVER – The Chiefs have never won at Invesco Field Field, which opened six years ago, but there are a lot of things changing for the Broncos this season in Denver. The Chiefs have failed to score in the fourth quarter for a month now and come to Denver on a five-game losing skid. Logic says take the Broncos, especially with RB Travis Henry back. I say take the Chiefs and the points.

Last week: 1-5

Record to date: 8-22

Lockadini: 2-3

Upset special: 2-3.