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View My Picks: NFL Week 15

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Sorry I’m a bit late with my weekly NFL picks.  I went curling (insert joke here) for the first time last night and the experience did not disappoint.  I now understand why the “sport” is the official obsession of Canadians, Scandinavians, and upstate New Yorkers.  I have a friend who went to a high school in upstate New York where curling was a gym class requirement. My fondest memories of gym class include winning the 9th grade badminton tournament and “trust falls” on the outdoor adventure course. Ahhhh, the silly things we remember

And now, on to the Week 15 picks.

SAN DIEGO (-8.5) over San Francisco: You’ll have to believe me when I tell you that I made this pick well before Vincent Jackson ate the entire 49er secondary for dinner.

Kansas City (PK) over ST. LOUIS: This pick rests totally on the health of Matt Cassel.  If Brodie Croyle is the quarterback for the Chiefs on Sunday then I will graciously accept defeat.

Houston (+1.5) over TENNESSEE: I too subscribe to the whole “Titans have quit on Jeff Fisher” theory.

Jacksonville (+5) over Indianapolis:  This just has the feel of a 3 point game to me.

CAROLINA (-2.5) over Arizona: Remember when these two teams faced one another in the 2008 NFC Divisional Playoffs.  That was a loooooooong time ago.

Cleveland (+1.5) over CINCINNATI: People incorrectly assume that because I love sports that I will watch anything pertaining to sports on TV.  So, for the last time, no I do not watch the T.Ocho Show on Versus.

BUFFALO (+5.5) over Miami: I was kinda thinking Chad Henne was going to be a better NFL quarterback.  Dolphins fans were probably hoping for the same thing.

Philadelphia (+2.5) over NY GIANTS: Eli Manning seems like a really nice guy but boy, does he know how to give a really boring interview.

DALLAS (-6) over Washington: And now comes word that Donovan McNabb will not be starting for the Redskins this weekend.  Don’t expect the team to rally around Rex Grossman.

TAMPA BAY (-5.5) over Detroit: Bold prediction. The Lions will win the NFC North in 2011.

New Orleans (+1.5) over BALTIMORE: Is it still possible that the Super Bowl champs remain under the radar? A win against the Ravens ought to change that.

SEATTLE (+6) over Atlanta: Why do I continue to over value the Seahawks at home?

NY Jets (+6) over PITTSBURGH: No Polamalu for the Steelers. No Sal Alosi for the Jets.  I call it an even wash.

Denver (+7) over OAKLAND: Let’s take an informal poll. Best uniforms in the NFL? 1) Raiders 2) Colts 3) Bears 32) Jaguars

NEW ENGLAND (-12) over Green Bay: This would have been a 6.5 point spread if Aaron Rodgers were not concussed.

Chicago (-7) over MINNESOTA: Like the fact that this game is being played outdoors at the University of Minnesota.  Love the fact that because the game is being played on a college campus they can’t serve booze. Total points 33.

Last week: 8-8

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View My Picks: NFL Week 13

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Houston (+8) over PHILADELPHIA: The audio of Andre Johnson beating up Cortland Finnegan makes him even more likable.

MINNESOTA (-5.5) over Buffalo: Potentially no Adrian Peterson for the Vikings.  I wonder if God will find some time for Stevie Johnson this Sunday.

MIAMI (-4.5) over Cleveland: I was all set to blame Jake Delhomme for costing me my lock pick last week. That was until John Kasay bailed him out with a fortuitous last second wide right.

TENNESSEE (-1.5) over Jacksonville: Ugghhhhh.

Denver (+8.5) over KANSAS CITY: Why, why do I continue to go with the Broncos to cover on the road?

NY GIANTS (-7) over Washington: I sense the Giants are headed on a mini run to end the regular season.

Chicago (-4.5) over DETROIT: I feel like this line should be higher. Plus, Bears defense has totally won me over.

GREEN BAY (-9) over San Francisco: Aaron Rodgers could throw for over 450 yards this game.

New Orleans (-6.5) over CINCINNATI: Again, why aren’t we talking about the Saints a little bit more?

TAMPA BAY (+3) over Atlanta: NFC South is headed down to the wire.

Oakland (+13) over SAN DIEGO: Seems like a lot of points, even for a matchup between two teams headed in totally opposite directions.

Carolina (+6) over SEATTLE: Yikes! Something remarkable would have to happen for these highlights to ever make it on the air.

Dallas ( +5.5) over INDIANAPOLIS: Before the season began, this looked like a potential Super Bowl preview.  As it stands today, both teams could miss the playoffs entirely.

St. Louis (-3.5) over ARIZONA: We were all laughing with you Derek Anderson.

BALTIMORE (-3) over Pittsburgh: Walking boot or not, Ben Roethlisberger is going to get smacked around. Ravens are the better team on both sides of the ball.

NEW ENGLAND (-3.5) over NY Jets (52 total points): Game of the year…this week. For extra mojo the Pats will honor Tedy Bruschi during a halftime ceremony. As a Pats fan, I feel really good about this game.

Last week: 6-10

View My Picks: Week 12

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Love the Maui Invitational.  Great teams. Tons of games.  Tiny gymnasium.  When the tournament starts it means Thanksgiving cannot be far behind.

On to the NFL Week 12 picks.

New England (-6.5) over Detroit

The Lions should give us a competitive game this year.  I’m one who believes Detroit should always remain on Thanksgiving.

New Orleans (-3.5) over DALLAS

No one is talking about the champs.  Jason Garrett’s luck is about to run out.

Cincinnati (+9) over NY JETS

Jets win games late and by less than 7 points.

Minnesota (+1) over WASHINGTON

Can’t blame the coach if you lose this week Vikings.

Pittsburgh (-6.5) over BUFFALO

I sort of wish Richard Seymour hit Ben Roethlisberger a little harder last Sunday. [Read more…]

View My Picks: NFL Week 11

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I sure hope they didn’t pay face value for these seats! Judging from this vantage point, it’s fair to say that Wrigley Field was not built to house major college football games.  Today’s contest between Northwestern and Illinois was the first college football game played in the Friendly Confines since 1938.  Even though stadium seating wasn’t perfect, and the field itself had only one operable endzone, I still would have enjoyed being a part of the atmosphere in Wrigley today.

On to the NFL Week 11 picks!

Oakland (+8.5) over PITTSBURGH

The Raiders and their fans relish the “no respect” role.  Take the points. Keep Reading