I pick four “best bets” and make one of those a “lock” each week. Those are listed at the end. Let’s get to it!
Kansas City (-7.5) at Oakland
It’s Thursday night in the black hole…ANYTHING is possible. EVERYTHING is up for grabs!
Pick: Raiders
Philadelphia (-11.5) vs. Tennessee
I’ll need to see a game in which he does NOT turn the ball over multiple times before I go and give Mark Sanchez the keys to a double digit spread.
Pick: Titans
Houston (-2.5) vs. Cincinnati
I’ve alternately overrated and underrated the Bengals all season long, so why stop now? They should win this game outright, pretty easily I might add.
Pick: Bengals
Buffalo (-4.5) vs. New York Jets
In what was going to be a home game on Sunday is now up in the air, as it may be played a different day or in a different city altogether. Hell, they could make the teams switch quarterbacks at this point with the way the planning is going for this one. Too many variables to trust the Bills all that much here. Figure this one’s a field goal game.
Pick: Jets
Chicago (-6.5) vs. Tampa Bay
Yawn.
Pick: Bears
New England (-7.5) vs. Detroit
The Pats are a good team, but this feels a bit high. I get that they’re probably playing better than anyone in the league right now, but even the best team probably shouldn’t be giving more than a touchdown to another top-10 team.
Pick: Lions
Atlanta (-3.5) vs. Cleveland
Oh good, it’s those two teams that have multiple personalities and we never know which version is going to show up in any given week. Gamblers LOVE that! Coin flip if I ever saw one.
Pick: Browns
Green Bay (-9.5) at Minnesota
After almost going with the Packers in my survivor pool this week, I’m now staying away entirely. Something about a road divisional game, Green Bay playing nearly perfectly, and this line screams “too many points”.
Pick: Vikings
Indianapolis (-13.5) vs. Jacksonville
Sometimes, we see a huge spread like this and we get scared off by it. We out-think and out-smart ourselves. I’m here to tell you. There’s a reason this line is so big. Blowout city.
Pick: Colts
San Diego (-5.5) vs. Saint Louis
The Chargers have either lost or barely beaten the Raiders in each game they’ve played over the last month. So why are we assuming they’re suddenly going to show up big time against a team that has been slaying giants all season long?
Pick: Rams
Seattle (-6.5) vs. Arizona
Something’s got to give for Arizona. Their schedule down the stretch is rough, and it starts this week. The Seahawks clearly aren’t your brother’s Seahawks, but they’re still plenty good enough to beat up on a Drew Stanton-led offense.
Pick: Seahawks
Denver (-7.5) vs. Miami
We got a glimpse of the Denver offense without some of its big guns, and it wasn’t very pretty. Meanwhile, the defense is collapsing before our very eyes. I think the line is high because people are expecting a big bounce-back performance, but I wouldn’t be so sure.
Pick: Dolphins
San Francisco (-8.5) vs. Washington
Every time you think the Niners are going to blow someone out, they poop the bed. And just when you’ve counted them out and their season is on the brink, they roll. Since there’s no reason the Redskins should even be competitive in this game, I think you know which way I’m leaning.
Pick: Redskins
Dallas (-3.5) at New York Giants
In the past, we always threw out the records when these teams got together. This year should be no different, because something’s gotta give with this Giants team. Romo and the Boys come rolling into this game, ready to put an exclamation point by dominating the Giants in their house. Which is exactly why they won’t.
Pick: Giants
New Orleans (-3.5) vs. Baltimore
Sooner or later, the Saints offense has to show up, no?
Pick: Saints
BEST BETS:Bengals, Colts, Rams, Seahawks
LOCK: Cincinnati Bengals
LAST WEEK
Overall:8-6
Best Bets: 0-4
Lock of the Week: 0-1
YEAR TO DATE
Overall: 91-74 (55%)
Best Bets: 22-22 (50%)
Lock of the Week: 5-6 (45%)
POWER RANKINGS
Team Name W/L (Prv)
1. Patriots 8-2 (1)
2. Cardinals 9-1 (2)
3. Packers 7-3 (8)
4. Broncos 7-3 (3)
5. Eagles 7-3 (4)
6. Cowboys 7-3 (6)
7. Chiefs 7-3 (10)
8. Seahawks 6-4 (5)
9. Lions 7-3 (7)
10. Colts 6-4 (9)
11. 49ers 6-4 (11)
12. Ravens 6-4 (12)
13. Dolphins 6-4 (13)
14. Chargers 6-4 (15)
15. Steelers 7-4 (16)
16. Bengals 6-3-1 (17)
17. Texans 5-5 (24)
18. Browns 6-4 (14)
19. Rams 4-6 (23)
20. Bills 5-5 (18)
21. Saints 4-6 (19)
22. Bears 4-6 (22)
23. Panthers 3-7-1 (20)
24. Vikings 4-6 (21)
25. Falcons 4-6 (27)
26. Giants 3-7 (26)
27. Bucs 2-8 (30)
28. Jets 2-8 (28)
29. Redskins 3-7 (25)
30. Titans 2-8 (29)
31. Jaguars 1-9 (31)
32. Raiders 0-10 (32)