|
Gotta
Go With Jesus on Christmas!
Week
16 promises to be a good one. There are playoff hopefuls,
playoff doubtfuls, and downright bad teams that don't
stand a whoring chance. This is where the questions
arise; which teams are going to hold 'em and which teams
are going to fold 'em? What's more important now is
what I'm going to do. I've got professional poker star,
Jesus Ferguson, in my fridge and he's got some secrets
for you. How can you turn down a guy named Jesus on
Christmas Week? Even if he is a compulsive gambler.
Buffalo
@ Cincinnati (-13.5) - The Bengals have clinched
their division, but that doesn't mean they're resting
their starters. Cincinnati can still finish the season
with the 2 spot in the AFC Playoffs. That would mean
every team aside from the Colts would have to come to
Cinci to take down the Bengals. They like that idea.
The Bengals can easily win out. They will destroy the
Bills this week in Cinci and they could be playing a
Kansas City team that has no chance to make the post
season in Week 17. Jesus said he'd hold the Bengals.
In fact, Jesus says come playoff time, the Bengals pose
the biggest threat to the Colts. Then again, he's just
a card player.
Game Date: 12/24/05 13:05 ET
Pittsburgh
(-7) @ Cleveland - If the Steelers win out, they'll
find themselves in the playoffs. The Browns have played
well of late, but there is no way they get in the way
of the Steel Show making it to the post season. They
just aren't that kind of team. They'll sneak by the
Raiders. They'll beat the Titans. They won't upset the
Steelers. Big Ben struggled to produce last week, but
with the way his defense played he didn't need to throw
touchdowns. This week, Ben will attempt to get his cannon
up to speed right before the playoffs. Take the Steelers
in a little game of smash mouth pig skin. Does any team
play as tough as Pittsburgh? Game Date: 12/24/05
13:05 ET
San
Diego (+1.5) @ Kansas City - The Chargers are trying
to wheel and deal their way into the playoffs, but they'll
need a big upset by someone else to get them in. That's
right. The Chargers could finish 11-5 and out of the
AFC playoff picture. If that be the case, (and Jesus
thinks it will be), the Chargers will be the only team
watching the playoffs who beat the Patriots and the
Colts. The Chargers have played in some tough games,
but that just seems downright screwy. Larry Johnson
will shine in this game. The Chargers have "the
best back in the league", so Larry will be at his
best to change that title. As the last couple weeks
have gone for the Chiefs, Larry's big game won't be
enough to clear up the AFC playoff picture. Drew Brees
will be the difference in this game, assuring a big
pay day for him this off season. Game Date: 12/24/05
13:05 ET
Tennessee
(+6) @ Miami - I was thinking Miami, but when I
went to the fridge I came back thinking Tennessee. This
is my (Jesus') thought process; Tennessee is 4-10, and
the Dolphins are 7-7. The Titans play pretty well against
average teams, and the Dolphins are definitely average.
Gus Frerotte might not play, which means Sage Rosenfels
is the starter. When Sage is the starter, good things
don't happen in Miami. Four of the Dolphins' seven wins
have been by less than 5 points. Tennessee is getting
6 points and coming off a good game against the best
team in the NFC. Steve McNair can still wing it. In
a tight one, I've been convinced, fold the Dolphins.
Game Date: 12/24/05 13:05 ET
Jacksonville
(-6) @ Houston - Jesus says, "Hold the Jags."
Who's to argue? The Texans have been playing much better
of late, and the Jaguars always have a tough time putting
the Texans away. These things won't matter on Saturday.
Throw out all history and all the previous games this
season. The Jaguars need to win this game to assure
their place in the playoffs. Sure, they played more
like pussy cats than Jaguars last week against the 49ers,
but that was last week. The Jags will dominate the Texans,
just as the Houston should hope. Expect Fred Taylor
to shine in a game he'll be relied on to move the ball.
David Garrard will find Jimmy Smith, Reggie Williams,
and Ernest Wilford for a couple scores as the Jaguars
pummel the Texans. Don't be confused by a couple out-of-character
games last week. These two teams will return to their
old selves.
Game Date: 12/24/05 13:05 ET
Detroit
(+3) @ New Orleans - I'm taking the Lions because,
well, Jesus told me I had to do it. I was like, "Should
I hold 'em or fold 'em Lions dog?" and he tells
me "Hold 'em!" I was a little surprised, so
I asked why. He gave me that look like not many people
ask him why, then said, "Joey Harrington is auditioning
for his next team. You've got to hold the Lions against
the down-and-out Saints." Then I was thinking Jesus'
got a good point. Joey gets the start this week in -
wherever the Saints are playing this week. Joey will
almost assuredly be allowed to look for a new team come
this off season. Joey has two games to prove he could
make it in this league. Next year will be Drew Brees
time for Joey. Will anyone take a flyer on Joey Duck?
The same goes for Charles Rogers. Game Date: 12/24/05
13:05 ET
Dallas
@ Carolina (-5) - The Panthers control the fate
of so many, including themselves. If they take down
the Cowboys, not only will they find themselves in the
playoffs, but they'll eliminate the Cowgirls as well.
Carolina has a better defense than Washington, and look
what the Skins did to Dallas. Julius Peppers will look
like a world class sprinter chasing after Drew Bledsoe
this weekend. Drew might not take 9 sacks in this contest.
Shit, he might not make it that deep into the game.
The way the Cowboys have been blocking combined with
the way Drew moves, has the Panthers foaming at the
mouth for this weekend's game. Desahun Foster is a big,
fast back. He'll be given plenty of opportunities to
end Dallas' playoff dreams. Steve Smith will be unguardable,
as he has been all year. Look for the Panthers to lambaste
the Cowboys in Carolina. Game Date: 12/24/05 13:05
ET
NY
Giants (+3) @ Washington - The New York football
Giants match up well against the Redskins. New York
allows Tiki Barber to carry much of the load. Washington
has really struggled to stop the run lately. Even in
last weeks dousing of Dallas, the Cowboys still had
good rushing totals. Tiki Barber rushed for 220 last
week. I don't expect a repeat performance of that magnitude,
but I do expect another giant week out of the little
guy. Eli Manning might impress this week with the Redskins
paying proper attention to Tiki. Amani Toomer could
find more than his share of passes. The same goes for
Jeremy Shockey. New York's defense stops the straight
ahead run pretty well, and that's what Washington does
on the ground. Don't think for a second that Mark Brunell
will toss 4 touchdowns like he did last week. Washington
has played their way back into the mix, but this game
belongs to the Giants. Game Date: 12/24/05 13:05
ET
Atlanta
@ Tampa Bay (-3) - The Falcons looked absolutely
terrible last week against the mighty Chicago Bears.
Nobody looked as bad as Mike Vick. Brian Urlacher hit
him hard early, and after that Vick couldn't get anything
done. I don't question Mike's winning percentage, but
is it possible that he's the problem in Atlanta? He's
one of the most dynamic players to ever play the position,
but he doesn't have the throwing ability that guys like
Donovan, Daunte, Randall, or even Kordell Stewart. That's
right, even Kordell threw better in his heyday. Vick
will have another chance to prove me wrong this week
against the Buc's, but I've got the NUTS, and something
tells me that Atlanta will fold 'em this year. Tampa
Bay controls their own playoff destiny. They've got
the better team in this contest. Cadillac Williams should
find plenty of rushing room against one of the worst
rushing defenses in the league. Williams has the power
to run outside and the toughness to get the tough yards.
Atlanta always struggles against running backs with
that kind of skill set. Don't expect that to change
any time soon.
Game Date: 12/24/05 13:05 ET
San
Francisco (+9) @ St. Louis - Jesus says "Fold
both these teams." I've got to agree, neither team
is much of a winning hand. But, like cards, in the sporting
business you don't have to have a winner to win. The
49ers are getting too many points to bet against them
this week in St. Louis. Plus, they're playing against
St. Louis. St. Louis is responsible for half of the
49ers' victories this year. Half of San Fran's 12 losses
have come by 8 points or less. Most of their big losses
have come to much better teams than the Rams. Look for
the Niners to play close throughout, while magically
losing at the end. (Ala Kris Brown's missed field goal
two weeks ago) The Rams don't have the quarterbacking
to get the job done. The Niners have played tough all
year, they'll continue that trend. Game Date: 12/24/05
13:05 ET
Philadelphia
(+1) @ Arizona - Here's a couple of Championship
contenders. Jesus asked me if he could hold the Eagles
for next year. I told him he couldn't. He decided to
hold 'em this week anyway. I agree. The real question
is, which team is a bigger disappointment? The Eagles
were picked to run away with the NFC crown. And it's
not like they were on that path before McNabb went down
for the year. The Cardinals were everyone's sleeping
pick to take the NFC West Division crown. Apparently,
they missed the memo. Philly still has Andy Reid, and
Reid still has one of the most explosive defenses in
football. If any team in the NFL has the corners and
safeties to match-up against Anquan Boldin and Larry
Fitzgerald, Philly does. With Kurt Warner done for the
season, the hopes of getting those two playmakers the
ball has greatly diminished. Expect the Eagles to do
just enough to win their second straight game. That
would be a winning streak. That would be Philadelphia's
second winning streak of the year. Who would have thought?
Jesus shows me a printed piece of paper dated before
the start of the season claiming the Eagles miss the
playoffs and says, he would have thought. This guy's
good!
Game Date: 12/24/05 16:10 ET
Indianapolis
@ Seattle (-7) - "Hold the Hawks. Seattle
would win in a heads up game even if the Colts cared
about the outcome of the game. Alexander's going to
be a Colt headache." (Ferguson) I don't know if
I agree with Fergy on the idea that the Hawks would
beat the Colts anyway, but I can't argue that the outcome
of this game will land in favor of Seattle. If Seattle
wins this week they clinch home-field throughout the
playoffs. That's big for Seattle. If Shaun Alexander
scores three more touchdowns this year he'll take home
the all time single season touchdown record. That's
big for Seattle and Shaun. In a game that means nothing
for the Colts, I can't expect more than a quarter out
of Peyton Manning and even less from Edge. The same
goes for Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Look for
the Hawks to put a pretty good smack down on the best
team in football's second string. Game Date: 12/24/05
16:15 ET
Oakland
@ Denver (-13) - The Broncos are still playing
for a couple of home games in the playoffs. It's between
Cincinnati and Denver, and both teams are 11-3. This
week should be an easy task for the Broncs. If Oakland
hadn't lost all hope before Week 15, they sure have
now. A couple big miscues led to a game winning field
goal by Phil Dawson last week in the game against Cleveland.
The Raiders just can't do anything right. Denver isn't
as good as people think, but they are a tower of greatness
and success when placed next to Oakland. Kerry Collins
is still a pile of crap and Randy Moss hasn't done much
to prove his worth. Lamont Jordan is having a solid
year, but Denver's defense is playing equally as good.
They'll have the upper hand on Saturday. Mike Anderson
will eclipse 1000 yards in this game, making him the
one billionth different back to gain a grand in Shanahan's
offense. Take the Broncos in what has the making of
a shellacking.
Game Date: 12/24/05 16:20 ET
Chicago
(-6.5) @ Green Bay - The Bears are a good football
team. I made it on the bandwagon last week, and Jesus
is on it with me this week. "Hold this hand! These
Bears might even win a playoff game with Rex on board."
Ferguson is right. Rex Grossman gives the Bears a piece
of the puzzle they have been playing without all year.
Rex can get the ball to off season signee, Mushin Muhammad
and speedster Bernard Berrien. Kyle just didn't have
the experience to do so. Chicago's defense is much better
than the Ravens. How does that sound Brett? Brett Favre
might go his fourth straight game without a touchdown
pass. Without Samkon Gado in the backfield, a shutout
in Green Bay sounds like a very good possibility. Give
it up to Lovie Smith. He handles everything with class
and makes the right decisions for his football team.
Good thing he doesn't listen to Joe Theisman. Bad thing
I have to hear that idiot talk. He must have said, "I
would leave Kyle Orton in," ten times during the
Bears - Falcons game last Sunday night. Then Rex came
in and played well. Theisman was still chattering away.
Would someone fire that asshole?
Game Date: 12/25/05 17:05 ET
Minnesota
(+3) @ Baltimore - When I asked Jesus what he'd
do with the Vikings, he said, he'd hold 'em at least
one more week. That makes perfect sense to me, hell,
it makes dollars. The Vikings are better than the Ravens.
Don't be tricked by Boller's big game and Jamal Lewis'
100 yard performance on Monday Night. Boller threw a
couple of passes, that if played right, would have been
interceptions instead of touchdowns. Boller still doesn't
have the velocity to make most NFL throws. Jamal is
still running tentative. Baltimore has played better
the last few weeks, but Minnesota still has a chance.
That alone should lead them over the Ravens. The Viking
defense is one of the league's best at getting takeaways.
Baltimore will help them out in that area, Jesus and
I are sure of it. Brad Johnson has had a Cinderella-type
year, he'll continue the comeback with a win in Baltimore.
Game Date: 12/25/05 20:40 ET
New
England @ NY Jets (+5) -This time Jesus and I
disagree. I don't think the Patriots have anything to
play for, in which case they'll sit Tom Brady in turn
giving away all chances of winning, even against the
lowly Jets. Ferguson thinks that Tom Brady's presence
on the sideline is enough to lead his team to victory.
My good buddy, and advisor, Jesus, has made some very
good arguments thus far, and he might have a point.
But I write articles and he plays cards, and I'm taking
the Jets. Bollinger is playing better lately, and the
Patriot second stringers aren't much to be scared of.
Little Doug Flutie will be out getting reps. That's
always good TV.
Game
Date: 12/26/04 21:10 ET
WAGERING
SMART MAKES WATCHING NFL GAMES MORE FUN
Good
Luck with your NFL Football Betting!
Lucky Lester - Free
Football Picks |
