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Week 15, and with only 3 weeks to go (counting this
one) you can very well say that the football regular
season is in the midst of it's stretch run. Don't fret,
there's still playoffs, and more time sensitive draft
to wrap your mind around this spring. But for now, lets
get at this NFL Picks thing, and see if I can't
come up with some solid reasons to take the teams I
do… Bingo, Bango, Bongo!
Thursday's
Game…
Denver
Broncos (+1.5) @ Houston
Texans:
(Line: Tuesday, 3:00am EST: TheGreek)
This
game should be an interesting one. The Broncos are fighting
for their playoff lives, and even without Matt Schaub,
the Texans are always trying to prove they belong. I'd
like to see the Texans fight and claw their way to .500
for the season, but with injuries, and no real rushing
game, I just don't see that happening. The Broncos are
freaks, and can't figure out if they want to be good
or not, but Selvin Young and Travis Henry can both be
solid rushing threats against the Texans, and I honestly
don't think the Texans defensive front will do well
against that chopp-em blocking scheme from the Broncos.
Demecco Ryans is magic, but even he won't be able to
shut down the running game in Denver. Jay Cutler is
beginning to figure it out, and seems to be at the top
of that quarterback class right about now. I'm taking
the Broncos on Thursday Night. (A side note, though,
I am 0-2 thus far since the NFL Network took over on
Thursday's)
Saturday's
Game…
Cincinnati
Bengals (-8) @ San
Francisco 49ers:
(Line: Tuesday, 3:00am EST: TheGreek)
The
Bengals are better on the road than they are at home,
and the 49ers are just brutal. They'll be starting…
________ (Insert name there) at quarterback, and unless
you are a football savvy soldier like me, I'm guessing
you wouldn't be able to tell me much about the youngster
that will be getting fed to the Tigers from Cincinnati.
The bottom line is, the Bengals are bad, but can they
be this bad? I don't think so, as this game seems pretty
simple to me. Take the team that can score points against
the team that can't - and don't try to out-think yourself
about which pick is "sharp" or road and home
team chances, or who and why such team has more to play
for. The 49ers are bad, and they won't win another game
this season.
Sunday's
Games…
Buffalo
Bills (+5.5) @ Cleveland
Browns:
(Line: Tuesday, 3:00am EST: TheGreek)
I
know the Browns were better defensively last week, but
can you really count that? They were playing against
the Jets, a team that was surely looking over the hill
towards next week's match-up with their divisional big
brothers. Anyway, the Browns won't be able to stop the
accurate passing of Trent Edwards and will get especially
diced up by the running backs in Buffalo. This is a
huge game for both teams, but the Bills are playing
better all around ball than the Browns right now. Gotta
take them to get an upset win on the road in Cleveland.
Green
Bay Packers @ St.
Louis Rams (+10):
(Line: Tuesday, 3:00am EST: TheGreek)
I
think the Rams could give the Packers some trouble,
but only if Marc Bulger is fully dressed and his mooshy
brain is ready to be productive. If he's not starting,
I'm taking no credit for this pick, regardless of how
it turns out. I think the Rams aren't a bad squad, and
could even walk out of St. Louis with a win over the
dominant Packers - but I'm not going that far just yet.
I'm just saying, the Rams aren't as bad as their record,
and if Green Bay comes in with the mind-set that they
are, they'll take some lumps on Sunday. I'll take the
home team with 10 points.
Jacksonville
Jaguars (+4) @ Pittsburgh
Steelers:
(Line: Tuesday, 3:00am EST: TheGreek)
The
Jaguars are the better team. I saw a scouting site that
already has a mock NFL draft ready to go, and they said
the Jaguars are looking for a quarterback early - puh-lease!
David Garrard is everything this team has every wanted,
and everything they need for the future. He plays ball
control offense, is smart, and takes care of the football.
He is a threat to throw deep, hit outs, and run the
ball if need be. He's physical and fast. Perfect for
Jacksonville. The Jaguars are just playing inspired
football right now, and the Steelers have been brutal
the last four games or so. They didn't have a chance
last week, and while they will play better at home,
I still think they fall to the Jags this Sunday. This
should be a close game, and I think it will come down
to the wire, but I like the 4 points with one of the
best teams in football.
New
York Jets @ New
England Patriots (-24):
(Line: Tuesday, 3:00am EST: TheGreek)
I
actually think the Patriots have a good chance of covering
this spread. When you consider Eric Mangini's history
with the Pats, and the fact that he was the one who
snitched Belichick out for "spy-gate" I'd
say this line is right on the button. I hate 24 point
spreads in the NFL, and I say stay away from it, but
I like the Patriots chances in this one much better
than I liked them against eh Eagles and Ravens (the
other big spreads they couldn't beat). The Pats are
back to dominating the game, and they have a huge reason
to be up and ready to poop all over the Jets. They are
at home, and you can bet the Jets, no matter what they
do in practice this week, won't be ready for the Patriots.
Still, 24 points, seems a little ridiculous, no?
Indianapolis
Colts (-10.5) @ Oakland
Raiders:
(Line: Tuesday, 3:00am EST: TheGreek)
I
have to take the big away favorite here, and I don't
like it all that much. The Raiders are just bad, and
the Colts are starting to pick it up everywhere. Their
defense has been pretty damn good all season long, and
now their offense, behind Prince Peyton, is rolling
on all cylinders (well all the healthy ones anyway).
I expect a huge running day from Addai, and probably
Kenton Keith, considering he'll get about 15 garbage
carries that could very well lead to a glorious day
for some fantasy football risk takers. I'm taking no
risks here, as I think the Raiders will be limited by
the Colts defense, and they won't be able to stop the
2nd team.
Philadelphia
Eagles (+10) @ Dallas
Cowboys:
(Line: Tuesday, 3:00am EST: TheGreek)
I
like the Eagles to keep this one relatively close. They
were already beat up by the Giants in Philly, so I think
they'll come back to Dallas and put up a big fight.
The Cowboys played pretty bad last week against the
Lions, and Philly's coaching staff can game plan with
the best of them. My guess is they'll learn a thing
or two from the Lions ground success, and instill a
little bit of their own with one of the best running
backs in football. Westy should have a better day this
time around, and while both teams will put up their
points, I think the Cowboys will win a close one late.
10 points is pretty ridiculous in this rivalry.
Monday Night Football Game
Chicago
Bears @ Minnesota
Vikings (-10):
(Line: Tuesday, 3:00am EST: TheGreek)
Kyle
Orton… Hmmm… He was 10-5 as a starter, but
you have to think this is a different Bears defense
than it has been in years' past. In fact, if you don't
think that, you're obviously lacing your Egg-Nog up
a little too strong, and you should tone it down a bit
before you get too woosy and experiment the strength
of your lighter on your dried out Christmas tree. But,
that doesn't mean that the Bears don't have a chance
- in fact, I think this game just stinks as far as value
is concerned. I'm taking the Vikings, because the Bears
can't really stop the run, and Minnesota has two very
good options on the ground, three if you count Tarvaris
Jackson. Kyle Orton won't do much with his arm, or you'd
think Lovie would have tried him earlier in the season,
before he went back to the Grossman option. Anyway,
We shall see. I'm betting on the Vikings here, because
they can stop the only thing the Bears do even close
to well, the run game. And honestly, they aren't very
good at running the ball either.
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