As
you well know, I was 6-8 last week putting
me dead even at
68-68-5 for the season. I made some good
bets, and some bets that didn't turn out so
well. Another week, another set of predictions.
This boat continues to sail. We're back to a
league without bye weeks, which means... More
games to win!
SUPER
DUPER PICKS Week 11
Chargers(-4)
@ Raiders - This is my game of the week. That
doesn't always mean good things, but this one
looks like a no-brainer. The Chargers have looked
like a contender week in and week out. The Raiders
have looked like a team without a go-to-guy,
and without leadership. Drew Brees has been
awesome, and there's no reason that should stop
this week against one of the leagues worst defenses.
Brees has been on fire, and with the health
of Ladainian Tomlinson getting better and better,
he should have tons of open field to work with.
Tomlinson should be big, but Brees will shred
the Raider D. Four points is nothing in this
one. Game Date: 11/21/04 16:05 ET
Falcons(-2.5)
@ Giants - The Giants are without Michael Strahand,
and are starting rookie Eli Manning. That should
be enough to take the 7-2 Falcons right there.
But, there is more. Aside from the game against
The Chiefs in week 7, the Falcons D has stymied
opposing rushers. If all The Giants have going
for them is Tiki Barbar, what should happen
this week? Obviously, with the benching of Warner,
The Giants have decided that Eli is the future,
and if the now has to suffer, then so be it.
It's either that, or they are real jealous of
what Big Ben has done for his team in Pittsburgh,
and want to give their rookie a shot to do the
same. Eli should have trouble against Atlanta.
The NY D should have trouble against Vick. This
is also a no-brainer.
Game Date: 11/21/04 16:15 ET
Steelers(-4)
@ Bengals - The Steelers are much better than
the Bengals. They have an offense that can beat
you in multiple ways, and a defense that can
shut any team down. Big Ben has gone 7-0 in
his first 7 starts. He hasn't been perfect,
but he is in an offense where he doesn't have
to throw 30 times to win. He just gets the job
done week after week and has proven to be a
leader. I expect Roethlisberger to air it out
against the Bengals who will try to load up
against the run. Then watch Bettis pound his
way through a sub par run defense anyway. The
Bengals have done all right of late, winning
two in a row. But, the Cowboys and the Redskins
aren't the Steelers, lets make that clear right
now. Game Date: 11/21/04 13:00 ET
Packers(-3)
@ Texans - I've been taking The Texans all year.
I don't know if they've convinced me to go with
someone else, lately, or if Brett Favre is just
playing too good. Either way, I'm taking the
Packers. Brett and Ahman have looked like a
couple of Super Heroes in recent weeks, and
David Carr has looked a lot like the rookie
he was three years ago. There is always a chance
for an upset here, but three points is too close
not to take the Packers. The Pack broke my balls
last week, but a win this week will at least
pay for the doctor bills. Game Date: 11/21/04
20:35 ET
Patriots(-3)
@ Chiefs - The Patriots defense isn't The Saints
defense. Derrick Blaylock will find that out
this Sunday. The Chiefs will also realize that
Derrick Blaylock is no Priest Holmes. He was
damn good last week, but like I said, those
were The Saints. Even against The Saints, and
with over 200 yards of offense from Blaylock,
the Chiefs still couldn't win. I don't know
what makes anybody think they'll stay in a game
with a championship team like The Pats. I sure
don't. Take the Patriots here. They should obliterate
an inferior defense.
Game Date: 11/22/04 21:05 ET
Lucky
Lester's Picks For Week Eleven
Redskins
@ Eagles(-10.5) - The Redskins against
anybody right now would look good if you took
the anybody. I've got to be honest, if the Eagles
were favored by 20 in this one, I would have
a hell of a time going with The Skins. They
are horrible offensively. Although they play
tough on the other side of the ball, their offense
gives up too much to ever give the D a chance.
The Eagles are too good and The Redskins are
too bad to go any other way with this game.
10.5 points is a lot, but the game is in Philly.
They are at least that much better then the
Redskins. Game Date: 11/21/04 16:15 ET
Rams(-1.5)
@ Bills - The Rams took the W against the Seahawks
last week. Although they are bad away from the
fast turf in St. Louis, and have been known
to be off and on, they are still much better
than The Bills. Buffalo was shown up by The
Patriots last week, when Cory Dillon rushed
for 144 yards against them. Drew Bledsoe got
the hook late, but this week it could be early.
I'm rooting for The Bills here, not because
I like them, but because they are giving their
#1 draft pick to the Cowboys next year. With
that said, I don't give them an honest chance
this weekend. They are bad, and The Rams are
decent, at least. I predict a Rams victory.
I also predict a JP Losman sighting early. I
also predict Losman will gain more rushing yards
than Bledsoe has in his career. I'm not sure
how many yards that is, but if it's more than
40 I'd be flabbergasted!
Game Date: 11/21/04 13:00 ET
Cowboys@
Ravens(- 8) - We all know how I feel
about The Cowboys, but I'm not sure The Ravens
can handle the 8 point spread. Then I realize
that even Kyle Boller will have a field day
against the Cowboy's beleaguered secondary.
Couple that with an angry Jamal Lewis and, hey,
the Ravens should actually move the ball this
week. Even more lopsided is the prospect of
Vinnie Testaverde and Eddie George coping with
the lethal Raven defense in Baltimore. Bill
Parcells has aged visibly trying to coach this
"stupid" Cowboy team. Don't expect
them to get smart this week against the Ravens.
Game Date: 11/21/04 13:00 ET
Jets(even)
@ Browns - The Jets showed that they can perform
last week against a tough Ravens team. Their
D was tight, holding Jamal Lewis to 70 yards
on 30 rushes. They also held Kyle Boller to
low numbers... okay, okay, who cares about that
last one, but they were tough. Quincy Carter
let it be known that he is no slouch. He can
handle the Jets while Pennington is out, especially
with Curtis Martin in the backfield. Curtis
ran for 110 yards last week against the Ravens.
He's a stud! The Browns should help the Jets
end their slide. NY is the better team here.
Game Date: 11/21/04 13:00 ET
Lions
@ Vikings(-7.5) - The Vikings have had
trouble winning ball games lately, but they've
been in every one besides the Giants game in
week 8. The Lions had a terrible game last week,
and if it weren't for punt returns they wouldn't
have produced a touchdown. They also lost to
the Redskins two weeks ago, and the Cowboys
the week before that. I can't see them playing
tight with a Vikings team that has something
to prove this week. The Lions are still a year
away, and the Vikings should demonstrate that
to them on Sunday. Culpepper will win without
Moss this week, and it should be by a large
margin. Game Date: 11/21/04 13:00 ET
Colts(-7.5)
@ Bears - The Colts stuck it to The Texans last
week. But where has Marvin Harrison gone? He
had 22 yards last week, for God's sake. Those
aren't numbers a number one receiver gets, (unless
you're David Terrell), and especially not receivers
who have been the best in the league for the
last three years. Look for Peyton to utilize
Marvin a little more against The Bears this
week. I'd bet he posts more touchdowns than
the Bears manage as a team. The Bears can't
ride Craig Krenzel another week. They will lose
this week, and I'm guessing the game is a laugher.
If The Bears win this game, I will be tempted
to scream at Grandma! Game Date: 11/21/04
13:00 ET
49ers
@ Buccaneers(-8) - I've said the Buccaneers
aren't good enough to be 7 point favorites against
anybody... but I forgot about the Niners. The
Bucs should shred a defense that has only gotten
worse as the season has progressed. Neither
Tim Rattay nor Ken Dorsey (especially not Ken
Dorsey) should be able to do jack against the
Bucs D that still brings it on Sunday. The Bucs
got beat by a good Falcons team last week, but
should find life easier in week 11. Pittman
will be back to gaining big yards, and Griese
(yes Brian Griese) will be tossing the pigskin
to rookie Mark Clayton.
Game Date: 11/21/04 13:00 ET
Broncos(-4) @ Saints - The Broncos beat
the crap out of Houston before their bye week.
Although they have been inconsistent at times
this season, Denver should be able to take advantage
of quite possibly the worst defense in football.
(That counts college) The Saints gave up 225
yards of offense to a backup running back last
week. Reuben Droughns should rush for upwards
of 175 yards in week 11. Jake Plummer will finally
have a good game on the road. The Saints, well,
my guess is they underachieve, disappoint fans,
and make plans to do the same thing again next
year. But hey… I'm only going by their
history. Game Date: 11/21/04 13:00 ET
Dolphins
@ Seahawks(-10) - Last week, The Seahawks
looked as bad as they have looked in years.
Hasselbeck brought me back to the days when
I was asking why Holmgren brought him to Seattle
in the first place. Last year he was great near
the end, and almost beat a good Green Bay team
in the playoffs. He was oozing with confidence,
and leading his team. This year, at least lately,
has been a little different. He has looked pathetic.
My thinking is, he can only go up from here.
He's a competitor, and he's playing against
the definition of a lost team. Miami's defense
is horrid against the run, which will allow
the leagues leading rusher, Shaun Alexander,
to be the man on Sunday. This will only help
Matt and The Hawks. Look for a winning streak
to start on Sunday. Game Date: 11/21/04 16:05
ET
Tennessee
@ Jacksonville (no line) - Last week
against The Bears, Tennessee gave up virtually
nothing as far as yardage is concerned. Keith
Bullock said himself, "The defense only
gave up 3 points." That wasn't all. They
held Craig Krenzel to a 17 quarterback rating.
They also limited The Bears to only 160 yards
of total offense. But, they still found a way
to lose. (An overtime safety… ouch) So,
with this in mind, and the fact that Jacksonville
always seems to find a way to win, I have to
take The Jags. Fred Taylor looked awesome last
week, and David Garrard looked good as well.
The Titans have found ways to lose all season;
I see that trend continuing on Sunday.
Game Date: 11/21/04 13:00 ET
Arizona
(no line) @ Carolina - Carolina finally
got a win last week. It was against a pathetic
49er squad, but it was a win. I guess someone
has to win those games. Arizona has played pretty
well all season. By giving the ball to "The
Emmitt Smith" they have gotten some W's
and with a late season surge could stumble into
the playoffs. Anquan Boldin is back, and things
are looking pretty good. They are 4-5, and look
tough under Dennis Green. Carolina has no running
back, their top receiver is out, their o-line
is depleted, and their defense is only a splinter
of the solid unit they were a year ago. Look
for Arizona to squeak this one out. Game
Date: 11/21/04 13:00 ET
WAGERING
SMART MAKES WATCHING NFL GAMES MORE FUN
Good
Luck with your NFL Football Wagering!
Lucky Lester
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