Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos Wildcard Weekend Free Pick

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos Wildcard Weekend Free Pick: Denver’s defense is really solid and the Steelers have a beat up quarterback, their leading rusher on IR, and they aren’t very explosive anyway. The Steelers only scored 20 points per game this year. And yeah, there’s a little bit of the Tebow-factor in there. For a guy that has done great things in huge moments this year, I’m giving him a break from last week’s poor play, and the week before that, and…. Well, I’m saying he does enough to keep it within striking distance.

This just seems like the smart-money bet, which scares me a little bit, because smart bets are the toughest ones. It’s hard to call this a smart bet when you get a Broncos team that struggles to even get first downs going up against a Steelers team that is and has been one of the best defenses in all of football for years. Tim Tebow couldn’t put the Broncos on the board for more than 3 points in what was damn-near a must-win game for his Broncos. How can we expect him to score a couple touchdowns against the Steelers?

Tebowness, that’s what. His elbow is connected to his Tebow, and that’s good enough for me.

Alright, that’s not good enough, but the Steelers beat up offense is. Not many chances taken in this game should keep it under double digits.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos (+9)

Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants Sunday Night Football Free Pick

Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants Sunday Night Football Free Pick: This is how it should be. The Giants have pulled a few games out of their blue tailpipes and that’s why they are here. The Cowboys have squandered many an opportunity (just about every loss they’ve had all season long), and that is why they are here. The Cowboys’ defense hasn’t been able to stop anybody when it matters, but something tells me they’ll be a little big better in this one. Just call it a hunch, I guess, because there is absolutely not one single bit of evidence that I can find to suggest what I’m saying makes any kind of mathematical sense. I just expect good players to play better than they have been.

As for the offenses, both are in a weird spot. The Cowboys and Giants have both been able to put up good numbers, but consistency isn’t a strength of either team. We all know that Romo gets a little too much hate and love, which makes him the Titanic of NFL football. No, Titanic isn’t that bad GUYS and no Titanic isn’t even close to that good LADIES. Tony is better than his haters make him out to be, more clutch as well. But his lovers seem to forget a lot of his failures when making their claim to All-Pro status.

Eli Manning has been battered by me over the years, as I’ve always thought him to be WAY overrated – but right about now, I just think he’s real good. He’s had an amazing season and is the only reason this Giants team has a chance heading in to Week 17.

So who gets the nod? I like the Cowboys to pull this one out. I think Romo finally puts it together – but then again, maybe I’m a bigger fan of Titanic than you are…

Dallas Cowboys (+3) @ New York Giants

NFL Free Picks for Week 17 Football Matchups

Seattle Seahawks (+3) @ Arizona Cardinals
Tough one, but Pete Carol gets his guys to play hard and with nothing on the line for either side, I’ll always take a team he coaches. I like Lynch to have a big day to end a great year, even though the Cardinals defense has been tough down the stretch. I just like the Hawks a lot better in this one.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons (-11.5)
I was a little confused earlier this week, but the Falcons are in. They might not put out a full effort on Sunday, regardless, as it’s almost certain that with Green Bay resting, Detroit will win, and Atlanta will be destined for the 6 seed. Still, I can’t buy the Bucs right now. Did I mention that Tampa mailed it in 6 weeks ago?

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns (+7)
The Browns have a solid defense and the Steelers will be holding some guys out and trying to keep Ben in long enough to cover. Smells like a gross game plan that won’t work out. The Browns are good, but they’re tough, tough enough for +7 in this situation.

Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals (+2)
I know, I know, the Ravens have said the right things all week long, and they are looking for a first round bye and home field advantage, and this could be looked at as a playoff game for them if you squint your eyes, cock your head to the left, and keep the sun out of your eyes with your hands (like Tiger Woods when he’s putting). But the bottom line is that IT IS A PLAYOFF for the Bengals. They win, they continue, they lose, they’re out. I have to take the home team getting points, a good team, playing a loser out game against a team that is already in. Call it “want to”.

Against the Spread Free Football Picks for Week 17 NFL Match ups

San Francisco 49ers (-10.5) @ St. Louis Rams
The Rams are really bad, and I see the 49ers doing just enough and keeping their starters in just long enough to cover this spread. One touchdown and about 5 field goals should do the job offensively as the 49ers schemes and athleticism on defense will be strong enough to limit the Rams even more than normal. The 49ers are still playing for that first round bye, so an all out effort here will give them next week off for sure.

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers (+3.5)
Neither team is playing for anything. The Packers have better back-ups. They are also getting points at home. Seems like an easy bet for me.

San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders (-3)
This does reek of a game the Chargers would win. Means nothing, end of the season, they’ve already drastically underachieved and will almost certainly see their coach fired as soon as the season is over. Perfect time for those guys to play well. But I have to go with Oakland, everything on the line, they need to win and need help – but the playoffs are very much possible.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos (-3)
Yeah, I’m betting Tim Tebow. He’s clutch – they win and they’re in – this is the kind of game for him, right? He’ll probably play at least 2 good quarters because of how important this game is. Tim for 2 good ones is almost a guarantee over a team like KC.

Redskins @ Eagles, Jets @ Dolphins, Panthers @ Saints Free Football Picks

Washington Redskins (+10) @ Philadelphia Eagles
This game means nothing to anybody except possibly some jobs here and there (which is something I guess). Still, in terms of standings and playoffs, both of these teams poo’d away their seasons a while back, and now they’re just trying to find ways to fix pieces for next year. I feel like the Redskins are a tougher team, and with nothing on the line, they get the nod – getting 10 points is icing.

New York Jets (+2) @ Miami Dolphins
The Jets need a lot to find the playoffs, but don’t they seem like the luckiest team of all time? Bengals could very well lose to the Ravens and Tennessee could lose to Houston, if the Texans send out their starters, and Oakland could lose to anybody. ANYBODY. So it’s possibly, though unlikely – plus, they have to beat the Dolphins. I think Miami will be hurt with the absence of Reggie Bush, who has been very productive for them since taking over as the full-time #1 running back. I’ll take the lucky Jets.

Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints (-7.5)
The Saints are still playing for home field advantage and a first round bye. They can’t overcome the Packers for home field throughout, but with a 49ers loss and a Saints win, New Orleans will get next week off, and everyone knows, that’s a big deal. I think they let it all out on the Panthers, a team that knows very well how to shoot themselves in the cleat. The line is tough, but I think it gets covered.

Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars – Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings

Indianapolis Colts (+3.5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars
I think it’s borderline craziness for the Colts to actually win this game, but the Jaguars aren’t good and Blaine Gabbert is terrible (which adds to that not being good thing) and this game will have an awkward (not trying to win) feel to it. Bottom line, I’m just taking the points to give me some kind of hope…

Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings (pk)
I think the Bears have completely lost it. I know Bell has been good running for them, and maybe he’ll tear up a Vikings defense that hasn’t been the grittiest bunch this season. But it’s tough for me to believe that the Bears will put enough offense on the scoreboard to take out the Vikings who look very good when getting the bell to Percy Harvin 20+ times per game. I actually think that, without Cutler and Forte (and other injured Bears) the Vikings are a better team and they have a better feel coming into this game. For the Bears, they’ve basically seen their solid start crumble into this lost season. That’s not good. For the Vikings, they’ve had downs, and they’ve been out of it for a while, but they are still building on something with Ponder being a rookie QB and Joe Webb doing some nice things. They have a youthfulness to them that the Bears don’t, I think that wins it for them here.

Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots – Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans

Buffalo Bills (+11.5) @ New England Patriots
The Patriots have clinched a first round bye, but they could clinch home field throughout the playoffs with a win against the Bills. The Bills will certainly come to play in New England even though their season ends at this game, nothing would make them happier than helping the Patriots lose home field throughout. New England hasn’t been the kind of team that takes breaks and rests key players, but that could change a bit with Welker’s injury a couple years ago. Possibility of rest, and the fact that Buffalo can be very explosive, makes 11.5 seem like way too many here. I’ll take the dogs.

Tennessee Titans (-2.5) @ Houston Texans
The Titans aren’t playing for nothing this weekend. They need some forms of help but a wildcard spot is still very much possible. In all scenarios possible for them to make it, they have to win. But there playoff scenarios are weird, for certain, as they can get to the playoffs with a win and a Cinci, Jets, Raiders loss combo – a Cinci, Jets, Broncos loss combo – or a Cinci, Jets loss combo and if both Oakland and Denver win. Crazy. The bottom line is, they’ll be playing for something and Houston can’t do anything to up their chances. I would doubt we’ll see Arian Foster, and it will be back-up central for the Texans.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ San Francisco 49ers Monday Night Football Pick

Pittsburgh Steelers @ San Francisco 49ers Monday Night Football Pick: Hey!!! For the first time in what seems like forever, it’s an interesting Monday Night Football game. Who is the donkey punchee (yes, the guy being donkey punched) that picked the Monday Night Football schedule? It can’t be something the NFL just handed ESPN, there has to be some guy about to get fired for his terrible attempt to predict entertaining games for Monday Night. But wait, has he totally redeemed himself?

It’s easy to foresee the Steelers being here this time of year, I mean, they always are, right? But the 49ers? That’s brilliant work, donkey guy. Talk about believing in Harbaugh! This game has no relevant rivalry of late, and the 49ers went into the season starting Alex Smith at QB! No, I won’t forgive you for making me deal with the Hawks and Rams, the Chargers and Jaguars (Jacksonville twice, actually, who in their right mind would put the Jags on MNF twice? – did dude not know Jack Del Rio was still coaching the Jags?), the Patriots and Chiefs, the Packers and Vikings, gross. But this one is almost guaranteed to be good football, because, even in defeat, both of these teams play good football.

I like the 49ers for a couple reasons, playing at home on Monday Night, putting together a team that expects to win every game, coming off a disappointing loss, and not having a quarterback that hasn’t practiced all week and is barely hobbling around with a walking boot on. That last thing is big, because the Steelers have that in Big Ben. Ben lucked out and got 10 days to prepare for this one, but the 49ers are pretty tough defensively, and unless Ben is going to throw them into a win, I think they are in trouble. SF can beat up on the run game, and Pittsburgh has only ran well a couple weeks this season. I like the 49ers in a close one.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ San Francisco 49ers (-2.5)

Baltimore Ravens @ San Diego Chargers Sunday Night Football Pick

Baltimore Ravens @ San Diego Chargers Sunday Night Football Pick: I know what you’re saying, this is the Chargers’ month! December, baby, where the Chargers do their clever mascot name justice and CHARGE right into the playoffs! They do it every year! The start slow, fight back, and beat all odds – this is the Chargers’ month!!!

This is not the same Chargers, team, I’m sorry to tell all you baby blue fans out there. I’m not hating, I’m just telling you how it is. The Chargers are probably one loss away from a Norv Turner firing (and even if they don’t ever lose again, there’s a good chance he’s gone anyway – remember, this is an organization which has fired playoff coaches before). The only problem is, the Chargers haven’t really been underachieving, they just aren’t that good. They are hurt up front and the only reason that wasn’t on stage the last couple weeks is that they went up against defenses that can’t rush the passer to begin with.

Yes, I’m sorry if I’m not convinced of the Chargers’ December destiny after dominant offensive performances against Jacksonville and Buffalo. The Jaguars had a patch-work secondary together and Buffalo’s defense has just been flat out horrendous over the last handful of weeks. This is a different beast, a scary one, with Terrell Suggs leading the haunted house.

Baltimore Ravens (-1.5) @ San Diego Chargers

Dolphins @ Bills – Titans @ Colts – Redskins @ Giants NFL Free Picks

Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills (+1.5)
The Bills have been pretty bad, and the Dolphins have been pretty good. That being said, Matt Moore is questionable, the Dolphins line is beat up pretty bad, and the Bills have the talent to turn this thing around at some point – that’s how they were so good earlier in the year. Give me the Bills at home.

Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts (+7.5)
The Titans are the better team and even if Hasselbeck is out, Jake Locker has shown me a lot more than I thought he would this early in his career. I think he would give the Titans a good chance to beat a lot of teams. Understanding that the Titans are better in every faucet, the Colts still don’t want to go winless. I will take them until they pull off an upset!

Washington Redskins (+7) @ New York Giants
Doesn’t this just seem like the kind of game the Giants lose? At home, coming off a huge comeback win, against a pretty mediocre-bad Redskins team? It sure looks like that to me. Lots of Eli looking sad and lonely in the future. That could be the old Eli (this new and improved kid is pretty dang legit) but this is still the Giants. And they should have lost last week. When a team should have lost, and won, and are big favorites the next week, they almost never cover the spread. Go Redskins!

New England Patriots (-6) @ Denver Broncos
is getting too much respect here, he can’t score 21 in the last few minutes.

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