Picks of the Week

An OK week, but not enough to get me out of the red for the season.  The end of this year has been ridiculous.  I  mean, really, a 12-6 game with no touchdowns?  Crazy.

As  a reminder, each pick is using the spread (straight up is for wussies), and the betting line is from the same website each week as of the time of typing the entry. I keep a running tally of my record, plus my winnings/losses. We will pretend that I bet $100 on each game, with one game each week going for $250. Winnings/Losses will be calculated including a 10% vig, which just makes the math that much simpler. Now, on to the picks.

Jacksonville Jaguars -3 1/2 v. Tennessee Titans
Who would have ever thought that the Jaguars would be favored, even at home.  Well that happens when this year's Titans come to town.  "I will take Jacksonville and give up points", is not something anyone has said in the last 6 years.

Philadelphia Eagles -7 1/2 at Washington Whatever their Name is Going to Be
The dreaded road favorite, but Washington is still in shambles and Chip Kelly will have the Eagles - who are playing for their playoff lives - rolling.

San Francisco 49ers pick 'em v. San Diego Chargers
San Francisco trying to stay alive for the playoffs, although it will take a miracle.  I just think Phillip Rivers is hurting, or something else is not quite right with him.  Of course, San Francisco is a high speed train wreck themselves.

Minnesota Vikings + 6 1/2 at Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins seemed like playoff contenders just a few weeks ago, but now, they look like they cannot get out of their own way.

Carolina Panthers no line v. Cleveland Browns
Most likely no line due to Cam Newton's unknown status.  Thus, I will be picking this one straight up - and taking Carolina and their experienced quarterback (whether it be Newton or Anderson) over what I saw last week from Manziel.

Detroit Lions - 9 at Chicago Bears
Forget the regular rules about road favorites as the Bears stink at home, and they stink in general.  They have given up.

Baltimore Ravens -5 1/2 at Houston Texans 
Are the Texans going to be starting their 4th or 5th string quarterback?

New Orleans Saints -6 v. Atlanta Falcons
Yes last week's win was against the Bears, but the Falcons likewise have no defense, will either be playing without Julio Jones or with a hobbled Julio Jones, and I trust Sean Payton in a big game.

New England Patriots -10 at New York Jets
This is my week of road favorites.

Pittsburgh Steelers -3 v. Kansas City Chiefs
Pittsburgh - despite losing to Tampa Bay and the Jets, clinches a playoff spot with a win.

Green Bay Packers -10 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Just kill me now.  There is no way I have a good week this week.

New York Giants +6 at St. Louis Rams
This could be a 9-7 type of game.

Indianapolis Colts +3 at Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys really need Demarco Murray.  This could be a 49-47 type of game.

Buffalo Bills -6 at Oakland Raiders
The Bills are on a bit of a roll.

Seattle Seahawks -7 1/2 at Arizona Cardinals
Ryan Lindley has never thrown an NFL touchdown.

Denver Broncos -3 at Cincinnati Bengals
Well, I might as well go all the way picking road teams.

BIG BET OF THE WEEK

Jacksonville Jaguars -3 1/2 v. Tennessee Titans
Who would have ever thought that the Jaguars would be favored, even at home.  Well that happens when this year's Titans come to town.  "I will take Jacksonville and give up points", is not something anyone has said in the last 6 years.


Last Week: 7-8-1
Year-to-Date: 113-104-5
Big Bet Last Week: 0-1
Big Bet Year to Date: 6-9
Winnings (Losses) Last Week: ($345)
Winnings (Losses) Year to Date: ($950)

Picks

A second really bad week.  Boy has this season turned weird, but honestly, who saw what Carolina did in New Orleans coming?  These two weeks have been really bad to the point that I am really upside down on the season.  Hopefully we can get back on track this week.

As  a reminder, each pick is using the spread (straight up is for wussies), and the betting line is from the same website each week as of the time of typing the entry. I keep a running tally of my record, plus my winnings/losses. We will pretend that I bet $100 on each game, with one game each week going for $250. Winnings/Losses will be calculated including a 10% vig, which just makes the math that much simpler. Now, on to the picks.

St. Louis Rams -4 v. Arizona Cardinals
As I have stated a million times before, the visiting team has had a lot of problems on Thursday night, plus the Cardinals have not won on a Thursday since 1948.

Pittsburgh Steelers -2 at Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons offense has been soaring, but Julio Jones is not Julio Jones due to injury, and the Falcons might be grounded.  Roethlisberger, Bell and Brown pick apart Atlanta's defense.

Jacksonville Jaguars +14 at Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore wins, but by 2 touchdowns?  I don't think so.

Carolina Panthers -3 1/2 v. Tampa Bay Buccanneers
Perhaps Derek Anderson (starting for the injured Cam Newton) can make the Browns wish he was named the starter for them.  He is 1-0 this year as a starter.

Cincinnati Bengals +1 at Cleveland Browns
I cannot figure out what is going on with the Browns, but Manziel is not going to win his opening game is he?  Never mind, I am changing this.  Cleveland Browns -1 v. Cincinnati Bengals.

Houston Texans + 6 1/2 at Indianapolis Colts
I fully expect Indianapolis to win, but a couple of late drives by the Texans (and Harvard grad Ryan Fitzpatrick) covers the spread.

Oakland Raiders +10 at Kansas City Chiefs
Oakland is playing its best football of the season, and Jamal Charles is hobbling.  I will definitely take the points, but this could end up being an upset.

New England Patriots -7 1/2 v. Miami Dolphins
The Patriots are cruising, and this game could crush the Dolphins' playoff chances.

New York Giants -6 1/2 v. Washington Whatever Their Name is Going to Be
Washington is a mess, and the Giants are not playing awful.

Denver Broncos -4 at San Diego Chargers
Denver's newly found running game makes it the most dangerous offense in the league, and the toughest for which to prepare.

Tennessee Titans +2 1/2 v. New York Jets
Horrible game.  I pick Tennessee because they are at home and because I want to type "Mettenberger".

Detroit Lions -7 1/2 v. Minnesota Vikings
The Lions keep cruising along.

Seattle Seahawks -10 v. San Francisco 49ers
The Seahawks now look like the team that won the Super Bowl last year, and the 49ers look like a team that won the Super Bowl in 1984, if all of those players were still on the roster 30 years later.

Dallas Cowboys +3 at Philadelphia Eagles
This could be an old-fashioned barn burner.  I will take all the points I can find.

Chicago Bears +3 at New Orleans
I have no idea why, but both of these teams have to be the two biggest disappointments in the league this year.

BIG BET OF THE WEEK

Green Bay Packers -4 1/2 at Buffalo Bills
The Bills played the Broncos to within 1 touchdown, but the Broncos offense has changed tremendously.  I don't expect the Packers to have much trouble in Buffalo.


Last Week: 5-10-1
Year-to-Date: 106-96-4
Big Bet Last Week: 0-1
Big Bet Year to Date: 6-8
Winnings (Losses) Last Week: ($765)
Winnings (Losses) Year to Date: ($605)

Picks of the Week

Boy every time I get cocky and post it on here, I just get annihilated on that week's picks.  How bad, enough to almost wipe out my entire year's winnings.  It seems as if I need to just concentrate and make my pics.

As  a reminder, each pick is using the spread (straight up is for wussies), and the betting line is from the same website each week as of the time of typing the entry. I keep a running tally of my record, plus my winnings/losses. We will pretend that I bet $100 on each game, with one game each week going for $250. Winnings/Losses will be calculated including a 10% vig, which just makes the math that much simpler. Now, on to the picks.

Dallas Cowboys -3 1/2 at Chicago Bears
The visiting team has had a lot of problems on Thursday night games, however, both the Cowboys and Bears played last Thursday on Thanksgiving.  With a full week's preparation, the more talented Cowboys should win this one.

Pittsburgh Steelers +3 at Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals have started to really play well since AJ Green came back, and the Steelers have struggled a bit.  However, the Steelers have struggled against less talented teams, and this division battle should merit enough attention from Pittsburgh to at least make this one close.

New York Giants pick 'em at Tennessee Titans
This game is awful.

Washington Whatever Their New Name is Going to Be + 2 1/2 v. St. Louis Rams
Only because the Rams are road favorites.

Indianapolis Colts -3 1/2 at Cleveland Browns
OK, so I do pick some road favorites.  With the Hoyer-Manziel controversy stirring in Cleveland, Hoyer might try to make too many plays trying to impress the coaching staff, which could lead to the traveling road show that is Johnny Football.  Manziel, however, is no Luck.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers +10 at Detroit Lions
Don't kid yourself, Tampa has no chance of winning this game, but if the defense plays tough, it could be a one touchdown loss.

Jacksonville Jaguars +5 v. Houston Texans
Is it possible that the Jaguars could put together a winning streak?  Maybe not, but their defenses keeps this game close.

Miami Dolphins -2 1/2 v. Baltimore Ravens
With Haloti Ngata suspended for the rest of the year, the Dolphins have a good chance to knock one of their wild-card competitors down a notch.

New York Jets +6 at Minnesota Vikings
Another in a string of games that in no way interest me.

New Orleans Saints -10 v. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have mailed in this season to the point where people are questioning if Cam Newton can play in this league.

Kansas City Chiefs pick 'em at Arizona Cardinals
Two very underrated, physical teams.  I look for Kansas City to win because of the steadiness of Alex Smith, which the Cardinals do not have in Drew Stanton.

Denver Broncos -10 v. Buffalo Bills
Buffalo has had a much better year than anyone has expected.  They are nowhere near as good as Broncos, especially now that C.J. Anderson has emerged as a legitimate running threat.

San Francisco 49ers -8 at Oakland Raiders
It is amazing what the return of one player (Aldon Smith) and the emergence of another (Chris Borland) can do for a team's defense.

Seattle Seahawks +1 at Philadelphia Eagles
From the Department of Redundancy Department, it is amazing what the return of one player (Bobby Wagner) can do for the defense.  Seattle is definitely starting to flex its muscle for its title defense.

New England Patriots -3 1/2 at San Diego Chargers
If San Diego was a little more consistent offensively, I would have picked them, but I never bet against Coach Belichek coming off a loss.

Green Bay Packers -13 v. Atlanta Falcons
The Patriots defense is much, much better than Atlanta's, and this game is in Green Bay.

BIG BET OF THE WEEK

Indianapolis Colts -3 1/2 at Cleveland Browns
OK, so I do pick some road favorites.  With the Hoyer-Manziel controversy stirring in Cleveland, Hoyer might try to make too many plays trying to impress the coaching staff, which could lead to the traveling road show that is Johnny Football.  Manziel, however, is no Luck.


Last Week: 6-10
Year-to-Date: 101-86-3
Big Bet Last Week: 0-1
Big Bet Year to Date: 6-7
Winnings (Losses) Last Week: ($665)
Winnings (Losses) Year to Date: $160