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| With free agent cornerback Johnathan Joseph, the Texans defense has risen to the top of the league. |
The final glimmer of hope in the Eagles' turbulent season faded away last night in poetic fashion. Down 10, but driving for a possible comeback, Vince Young, the man that coined the "Dream Team" moniker, threw an awful pick-six to extinguish Philadelphia's playoff chances for good. And there goes my Super Bowl prediction. Why couldn't I have started this blog two years ago, when I picked the Saints to win it all?
Last week: 12-4; 9-7 Against the Spread
Season: 113-63; 83-86-7 ATS
Titans at Bills - I don't fault Stevie Johnson for dropping the potential game-winning touchdown (the second such error of his young career) as much as I do for his excessive celebration. Everyone makes mistakes, but it takes a truly immature individual to hurt your team for the sake of self-promotion. When LeBron James approves of your decision, you know you've done something wrong.
Pick - Bills
ATS - Bills (-1.5)
Chiefs at Bears - Every few weeks, Mike Martz needs to be reminded that rushing is legal in football. After he called 41 passes and only 22 runs last week, Lovie Smith will demand that Chicago keeps the ball on the ground against the 26th-ranked Kansas City run defense.
Chiefs at Bears - Every few weeks, Mike Martz needs to be reminded that rushing is legal in football. After he called 41 passes and only 22 runs last week, Lovie Smith will demand that Chicago keeps the ball on the ground against the 26th-ranked Kansas City run defense.
Pick - Bears
ATS - Bears (-7)
Raiders at Dolphins - With Darren McFadden, Jacoby Ford, and Denarius Moore still sidelined, the Raiders are thin at their skill positions. That doesn't bode well against a Dolphins defense that hasn't surrendered more than 20 points in six straight games.
Raiders at Dolphins - With Darren McFadden, Jacoby Ford, and Denarius Moore still sidelined, the Raiders are thin at their skill positions. That doesn't bode well against a Dolphins defense that hasn't surrendered more than 20 points in six straight games.
Pick - Dolphins
ATS - Dolphins (-3)
Bengals at Steelers - Cincinnati's pass defense has been hurting since Leon Hall tore his Achilles tendon in its last meeting with Pittsburgh. Dick LeBeau's defense is brutal towards rookies, and it gave Andy Dalton fits last time around.
Bengals at Steelers - Cincinnati's pass defense has been hurting since Leon Hall tore his Achilles tendon in its last meeting with Pittsburgh. Dick LeBeau's defense is brutal towards rookies, and it gave Andy Dalton fits last time around.
Pick - Steelers
ATS - Steelers (-7)
Ravens at Browns - Baltimore once again faces it's Achilles heel: an away game against a weak team with a bad quarterback. After losing to Blaine Gabbert and Tavaris Jackson, the Ravens couldn't possibly go into this game flat. Right?
Ravens at Browns - Baltimore once again faces it's Achilles heel: an away game against a weak team with a bad quarterback. After losing to Blaine Gabbert and Tavaris Jackson, the Ravens couldn't possibly go into this game flat. Right?
Pick - Ravens
ATS - Ravens (-6.5)
Jets at Redskins - Between Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow, I've had my fill of quarterbacks who wildly overthrow their receivers on half of their passes and then pull out a game-winning drive in the last two minutes.
Jets at Redskins - Between Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow, I've had my fill of quarterbacks who wildly overthrow their receivers on half of their passes and then pull out a game-winning drive in the last two minutes.
Pick - Jets
ATS - Jets (-3)
Falcons at Texans - During last week's Monday Night Football game, Jon Gruden boldly proclaimed "Name me one free agent that has been a better pickup this year than Darren Sproles!" In less than half a second, Ron Jaworski smartly answered "Johnathan Joseph." The shut-down cornerback has done wonders for Houston's secondary and is part of the reason the Texans defense leads the league in fewest yards allowed.
Falcons at Texans - During last week's Monday Night Football game, Jon Gruden boldly proclaimed "Name me one free agent that has been a better pickup this year than Darren Sproles!" In less than half a second, Ron Jaworski smartly answered "Johnathan Joseph." The shut-down cornerback has done wonders for Houston's secondary and is part of the reason the Texans defense leads the league in fewest yards allowed.
Pick - Texans
ATS - Texans (+2.5)
Panthers at Buccaneers - I understand the argument that Andy Dalton should win Offensive Rookie of the Year over Cam Newton, but I don't agree with it. Although Dalton has the higher passer rating and more wins, he also has a much better defense to give him some leeway. He doesn't have to carry his team every Sunday. Newton does.
Pick - Panthers
Panthers at Buccaneers - I understand the argument that Andy Dalton should win Offensive Rookie of the Year over Cam Newton, but I don't agree with it. Although Dalton has the higher passer rating and more wins, he also has a much better defense to give him some leeway. He doesn't have to carry his team every Sunday. Newton does.
Pick - Panthers
ATS - Panthers (+3)
Broncos at Vikings - As I've said before, I think the Broncos' option ultimately won't be able to keep up with high-scoring passing offenses like the Patriots or Saints. Fortunately for Denver, Minnesota is not a high-scoring passing offense.
Pick - Broncos
ATS - Broncos (+1.5)
Rams at 49ers - The Rams are 2-9, yet somehow still have two games left against the 49ers. I'm interested to see if San Francisco right tackle Anthony Davis can rebound after a bad game against the Ravens. He'll have to contain Chris Long, who has been one of the best pass-rushing defensive ends in the league this year.
Pick - 49ers
ATS - Rams (+13)
Cowboys at Cardinals - Dallas has been living on the edge the last two weeks. Kevin Kolb may finally return for the Cardinals, although I'm not sure that's a good thing.
Pick - Cowboys
ATS - Cardinals (+4.5)
Packers at Giants - I said that the Giants didn't have the coverage skills to stop the Saints, and their chances against the Packers are equally dim. The outcome of this game doesn't mean as much as you'd think for New York. Win or lose, they'll have to sweep Dallas to make the playoffs.
Pick - Packers
ATS - Packers (-6.5)
Colts at Patriots - This is the first 20-point spread we've seen since the 2007 Patriots were running roughshod over the league. Only nine times in history has the line been this big for a game. The favorites won all nine of those matchups, but only covered twice.
Pick - Patriots
ATS - Colts (+20.5)
Lions at Saints - The recipe for beating New Orleans is to jump on them early and capitalize on opportunities when Drew Brees starts pressing. The Saints have been down two scores in each of their three losses, and seven of Brees' 11 interceptions have come when his team is behind. Detroit's Steven Tulloch can cover the middle better than any of the Giants' linebackers did, but the Lions pass rush will sorely miss Ndamukong Suh.
Packers at Giants - I said that the Giants didn't have the coverage skills to stop the Saints, and their chances against the Packers are equally dim. The outcome of this game doesn't mean as much as you'd think for New York. Win or lose, they'll have to sweep Dallas to make the playoffs.
Pick - Packers
ATS - Packers (-6.5)
Colts at Patriots - This is the first 20-point spread we've seen since the 2007 Patriots were running roughshod over the league. Only nine times in history has the line been this big for a game. The favorites won all nine of those matchups, but only covered twice.
Pick - Patriots
ATS - Colts (+20.5)
Lions at Saints - The recipe for beating New Orleans is to jump on them early and capitalize on opportunities when Drew Brees starts pressing. The Saints have been down two scores in each of their three losses, and seven of Brees' 11 interceptions have come when his team is behind. Detroit's Steven Tulloch can cover the middle better than any of the Giants' linebackers did, but the Lions pass rush will sorely miss Ndamukong Suh.
Pick - Saints
ATS - Lions (+9)
Come back Monday to see my pick for the Chargers-Jaguars game, and my thoughts on where the Jacksonville franchise is going. Happy football everyone.
Want to talk football? Follow me on Twitter at @BostonGiant.
Have a suggestion for an article? Email me at eternalsunshinepete@gmail.com.
Odds courtesy of USA Today.
Image found here.
Good pick going for the Saints!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Something tells me you'd say that every time I pick them.
ReplyDeleteDAMN STRAIGHT! I love my Saints :)
ReplyDelete