Welcome to a weekly feature on JoeBucsFan.com. Joe has challenged Ira Kaufman, Tampa Bay’s only Hall of Fame voter, to pick against the spread this season for a $500 prize. Every Friday, Ira types out his picks for each Friday-through-Monday game. If he hits at 53 percent or better for the regular season, then Ira gets $500 in gift cards to Abe’s Place in Clearwater, home of historically amazing food and 44 craft beers on tap. Feel free to send Ira your stone cold locks on Twitter, @ikaufman76. The sage of Tampa Bay sports could always use some help.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

You know that sliver of light I talked about last week? That was just a tease.

Here comes that rainy day again.

These 4-9 slates against the spread are getting old, dropping me to 38-59 for the season. I could do a lot better by throwing darts at a board, but here comes another opportunity to break on through to the other side:

VIKINGS minus 9 1-2 at BROWNS. In the absence of Joe Thomas, who is going to stand up to Everson Griffen coming off the right edge? Nobody, that’s who.

SAINTS minus-9 vs. BEARS. New Orleans is feeling it, with a revived ground game and an improving defense. The Bears tend to play a lot bigger at home.

FALCONS minus-5 at JETS. Atlanta’s season is slipping away, but the Jets haven’t learned how to close out games and Josh McCown is due for a clunker.

BUCS minus-2 vs. PANTHERS. Cam Newton and Carolina’s offense will struggle without Greg Olsen, who has made a living terrorizing the Bucs.

49ERS plus-13 at EAGLES. Philadelphia is poised for a letdown after some emotional wins, but the Eagles have enough to survive a scare.

RAIDERS plus 2 1-2 at BILLS. If Oakland isn’t charged up after that comeback win against KC, the Raiders should be embarrassed.

BENGALS minus 10 1-2 vs. COLTS. Cincinnati’s offense, woeful in the second half at Heinz Field, should rebound at home against the league’s No. 31 defense.

CHARGERS plus-7 at PATRIOTS. New England ranks first in total offense and last in total defense. The surging Chargers rank high in confidence.

SEAHAWKS minus 5 1-2 vs. TEXANS. Deshaun Watson is no ordinary rookie QB, but he’s facing an extraordinary secondary.

REDSKINS plus-2 vs. COWBOYS. Washington is coming off a short week, but Kirk Cousins will find some openings in that Dallas defense.

STEELERS minus-3 at LIONS. Pittsburgh is finding its stride behind the NFL’s No. 2 defense, an overhauled unit that will hound Matt Stafford.

CHIEFS minus-7 vs. BRONCOS. KC has had a week off to recover from that bitter loss at Oakland. Denver averages only 18 points per game.