Picks of the Week

WooHoo!!!  Fantastic week!  Only two consecutive losses on Sunday night and Monday night kept this from being astronomically huge!!!!  See if we can make three winning weeks in a row!!!  Not much analysis as I am doing this late Saturday night due to the fact that I am 4 hours behind my normal Eastern Time Zone, so NFL starts at 9:00 a.m. for me tomorrow.

For those that are new to this site, I will select every game against the spread.  I will be selecting one big bet at $250 per, whereas everything else will be $100.  Winners count as winners, whereasv, losses will be calculated including a 10% vig to make the math that much simpler.  On to the picks.

Denver Broncos + 1 1/2 at Cleveland Browns

I thought that all of the injuries to Cleveland would make a difference, but nope, the home team on a short week strikes again.

Carolina Panthers -3 at New York Giants

Carolina's defense is the difference, as they are 3rd in total defense and 6th in scoring defense.  The Giants best defensive stat is that they rank 20th in 3rd down conversion percentage.

Atlanta Falcons -2 at Miami Dolphins

Great - two consecutive visiting favorites.  Ugh.  But Atlanta is well-rested.

Green Bay Packers -8 1/2 v. Washington Football Team

Would feel more comfortable with 6 1/2 points, but Washington's defense, ranked 30th in total defense and 32nd in scoring defense, is in for an onslaught.  (Seriously, another road favorite?)

  

Baltimore Ravens -6 1/2 v. Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati's defense has played great this year, but their offense leaves a lot to be desired.  I finally get to select a home team!

New England Patriots -7 v. New York Jets

Keep the home streak rolling (+New England is my survivor pool pick!)

Kansas City Chiefs -4 at Tennessee Titans

Kansas City may have turned the corner last week, but they only have the 27th best rushing defense to try to stop Derrick Henry.  But, Tennessee is on a short week.

Chicago Bears +11 1/2 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Way too many points considring all of the injuries to Tampa Bay.

Los Angeles Rams -16 v. Detroit Lions

This line is ridiculous, but most lines that look way to high, sometimes coas too many people into thaking the underdog.  Not for me on this game.

Las Vegas Raiders -3 at Philadelphia Eagles

Great playing by the Raiders last week.  They keep it rolling this week.

Arizona Cardinals -18 v. Houston Texans

The Texans are AWFUL!

Indianapolis Colts +3 1/2 at San Francisco 49ers

Indianapolis keeps this one close.

New Orleans Saints -4 1/2 at Seattle Seahawks

Seattle wasn't playing all that well with Russell Wilson in the lineup.  Now, they are worse.  Will Jacob Eason gets some run.

Big Bet

Las Vegas Raiders -3 at Philadelphia Eagles

Great playing by the Raiders last week.  They keep it rolling this week.

The Raiders return home without Jon Gruden.  Good for them!

Bye Week:  Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers

Last Week's Record:  10-4

Last Week's Big Bet:  1-0
Year-to-Date Record:  52-42

Big Bet Year-to-Date:  1-5
Last Week's Winnings (Losses): $710

Year to Date Winnings (Losses):  ($95)

Picks of the Week

  

At one point last wekend, things were looking amazing; 5-5 after the early games, and sitting at 3-1 in the late games, with a team driving for me to be 4-0.  Then, it all fell apart.  1-3 in those games, and boy did that hurt.  Oh well, we are now learning how this season might be progressing, although there are still some really big question marks about some teams.  Let's hope I answer those questions correctly this week.

For those that are new to this site, I will select every game against the spread.  I will be selecting one big bet at $250 per, whereas everything else will be $100.  Winners count as winners, whereasv, losses will be calculated including a 10% vig to make the math that much simpler.  On to the picks.

Houston Texans +8 1/2 v. Carolina Panthers

I hated this pick when I made it, but if you always take the home team on a short week, ultimately you will end up ahead.

Chicago Bears +7 at Cleveland Browns

Will the Bears offense experience a bump with rookie Justin Fields at the helm?  Probably so.  Keeps this game close.

Baltimore Ravens -8 at Detroit Lions

The Lions just don't have enough firepower, and as we saw last week, the Ravens do, even with all of their injuries.  And, Detroit is on a short week having played Monday night.

Atlanta Falcons +3 at New York Giants

When two really bad teams play against each other, I like to take the points.  Tougher decision on this one because the Giants have looked borderline respectable, but I'll still take the points.

New England Patriots -3 v. New Orleans Saints

If I get this one wrong, it is because the Saints are going to bounce between great and awful, so I just have to figure out when the bounce will occur.  My guess is they don't bounce back against a Belichick coached team.

Pittsburgh Steelers -3 v. Cincinnati Bengals

The battle of the two worst offensive lines in the NFL.

Tennessee Titans -5 1/2 v. Indianapolis Colts

We don't even know which quarterback will start for Indianapolis after Carson Wentz's one-on-one game with Allen Iverson (he broke both ankles.)  But we do know that Tennessee bounced back bigly last week.  They continue to roll.

Buffalo Bills -7 v. Washongton Football Team

Bills are out to prove that week 1 was a delusion.  Played great last week, and although this week should be tougher, still win by 10-14.

Kansas City Chiefs -7 v. Los Angeles Chargers

Take the over first and foremost.  Secondly, Kansas City NEEDS this win after last weeks unexpected loss to Baltimore.

Arizona Cardinals -7 1/2 at Jacksonville Jaguars

I am inventing a new caveat to the bet against the west coast team travelling east and playing the early game; the addition is "unless they are playing a team with a rookie quarterback AND a rookie coach.  Oh, wait, Arizona is in the mountain time zone.  Then, easy pick.

New York Jets +10 1/2 at Denver Broncos

The Jets are not good,, but they do have some actual NFL players.  So, I'll take the 10 1/2.  Denver is my pick in my suicide pool, though.

Las Vegas Raiders -3 1/2 v. Miami Dolphins

No Tuaniganinualepola this week, and although Jackby Brissett is an accomplished NFL backup, he doesn't move the needle offensively.  I think the Raiders win convincingly.

Seattle Seahawks -2 at Minnesota Vikings

Seattle is still trying to figure out how they lost last week.

Los Angeles Rams +1 1/2 v. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Easily the best game of the week.  A potentially great offense getting points at home.  Brady always rises to the occasion for big games, but for him, this isn't necessarily a big game.

Green Bay Packers +3 at San Francisco 49ers

Green Bay on a short week, but at least they get the Sunday night game.  I feel that week 2 Green Bay is way more indicative of what they Packers can do versus Week 1 Green Bay.

Dallas Cowboys -3 1/2 v. Philadelphia Eagles

I still don't think we know exactly what either of these teams are going to be, but I feel that if Dallas can run a little bit, they should be able to win this game.

  

Big Bet

Las Vegas Raiders -3 1/2 v. Miami Dolphins

No Tuaniganinualepola this week, and although Jackby Brissett is an accomplished NFL backup, he doesn't move the needle offensively.  I think the Raiders win convincingly.

Another reason to type Tuanigamanualepola!  Injured Dolphins team not going to cover against a Raiders team that is playing as good as anyone.

Last Week's Record:  7-9

Last Week's Big Bet:  0-1
Year-to-Date Record:  15-17

Big Bet Year-to-Date:  0-1
Last Week's Winnings (Losses): ($455) 
Year-to-Date's Winnings (Losses): ($700)