Week 14 NFL Picks

Take this time to gear up folks, the bowl season is coming and you will overdose on college pigskin like I will and enjoy it.

Barry Bonds answered the charges levied against him today and posted a 500K bail. I'm telling you now the feds are looking to make an example of him and this trial will get ugly.

Looking at the NFL I have one thing to ask...
Todd Collins??? Is he still in this league? Oh well, so much for my Thursday pick. I thought it quite amusing to hear that former presidential candidate Sen John Kerry penned a letter to NFL commish Roger Goddell urging him to make the NFL network game between the Pats and Giants in week 17 available to the masses. Do you think that the NFL really cares about a nice letter? No one will really get up in arms until the NFL start copping playoff games and the Super Bowl. You laugh, but it could happen. A decent week for me, had it not been for Joe Gibbs brainfart on timeouts, a bad call in the Cleveland game and Eli Manning deciding to be a 4th quarter hero I would have easily been 13-3. 10-6 is nothing to complain about, but some of these games are a call or two away from going my way (Don't remind me of my pick of Miami, please)
Odds are as usual provided for comparison and entertainment purposes only. I'm dead broke so don't call me asking for a loan if you bet these lines and get took.


Sunday, December 9

Panthers (5-7) @ Jaguars (8-4)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Jaguars by 10.5
Fast Fact This is the fourth meeting between the 1995 expansion class, the Jags lead 2-1.
These teams are going in opposite directions though they are coming off of atypical performances. The Jags look to keep their stake on a playoff spot while the Panthers are playing out the string. The Jags have more on the ball offensively and David Garrard is emerging nicely as a tough leader. Meanwhile the Panthers are a mess on the offensive side of the ball. The Jags should slog their way through this cat fight.
Pick-Jacksonville


Cowboys (11-1) @ Lions (6-6)
Ford Field, Detroit 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Cowboys by 10.5
Fast Fact Through luck of the schedule these teams have met each of the last 7 years splitting the last six meetings.
The Pokes are flying high after outgunning a solid Packers squad last Thursday and are well rested. The Motor City Kitties are coming apart fast, their offense has been figured out and their defense is getting regular beatdowns. Looking to wrap up a first round bye the Pokes will have no real worry here and Jon Kitna's preseason claim of ten wins for the Lions will officially be rendered null and void.
Pick-Dallas Lock of The Week

Dolphins (0-12) @ Bills (6-6)
Ralph Wilson Stadium; Orchard Park, NY 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Bills by 7
Fast Fact The Dolphins have lost 14 of 20 in Buffalo since 1987.
The Dolphins took a frightening beatdown from the Jets and have never been too good at playing in cold weather enviroments. I remember going to a Bills-Dolphins game in 1995 with a lot more on the line in this game and seeing Dan Marino coming out of the Buffalo Marriott, he had a look on his face as he perused the snowy setting that was priceless. The Dolphins lost that game and were loads more talented then. Neither team has a real solid offense but if MarShawn Lynch is a go for the Bills they will have a more decided edge.
Pick-Buffalo

NY Giants (8-4) @ Eagles (5-7)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Eagles by 3
Fast Fact Eagles RB Brian Westbrook leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage with 1,598.
The Eagles blew a golden chance to stay in the thick of the NFC Wild Card hunt with a heartbreaking late loss to the Seahawks. The G-Men got off the deck to beat the Bears in a game that they really should have lost. Eli Manning is a tough cat to figure out, but he has shown some heart in his last few games. Donovan McNabb might get the starting nod for the Eagles but the Giants will try to unleash a defensive fury at GangGreen similar to the 12 sack mauling they handed the Eagles back in September. The Giants are the better team and should win to keep their lead in the wild card secure.
Pick-New York Giants

Raiders (4-8 ) @ Packers (10-2)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Packers by 10.5
Fast Fact- Brett Favre makes his 250th consecutive start this week
The Raiders are coming in off a surprising beatdown of the Broncos while the Pack have had a few extra needed to days to get Favre healthy after getting whomped on by the Pokes. The Raiders are improving make no mistake, but are you really going to bet on a California team winning in the frozen tundra? I didn't think so.
Pick-Green Bay

Chargers (7-5) @ Titans (7-5)
LP Field, Nashville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Even
Fast Fact The Chargers have won four straight meetings in this series
A matchup of two very evenly matched teams, but the Chargers are in a much better position as leaders of the weak AFC West. The Titans look much better after getting hulking DT Albert Haynesworth and they will need him to slow down LaDainian Tomlinson who had a solid game at Kansas City and has the Chargers playing much more solid. This game is too close to call, but I'll bank on the Chargers pressuring Vince Young into a couple costly mistakes.
Pick-San Diego

Rams (3-9) @ Bengals (4-8 )
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Bengals by 7
Fast Fact This is the Rams first visit to Paul Brown Stadium
The Bengals are coming off a lethargic loss to the Steelers while the Rams are coming in winning 3 of 4 following an 0-8 start. The Bengals have historically haad trouble with good running backs and Steven Jackson has been playing well as of late. The Rams get up and down QB Marc Bulger back and he has been playing well too, but I cant shake the feeling that the Bengals are set to make another late season dash to the 8-8 mark. The Bengals have a good enough offense to make any defense wary and they will show that side again.
Pick-Cincinnati

Buccaneers (8-4) @ Texans (5-7)
Reliant Stadium, Houston 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Buccaneers by 3
Fast Fact This is the Bucs first visit to Reliant Stadium
The Bucs rallied late to beat the Saints and solidfied their grip on the NFC South. This has all the makings of a classic trap game for the Bucs as the Texans are just good enough to be dangerous while their pedestrian record belies that fact. The Bucs have too much on the line to let that happen as they can clinch their division with a win.
Pick-Tampa Bay


Cardinals (6-6) @ Seahawks (8-4)
Qwest Field, Seattle 4:05 (FOX)
Favorite Seahawks by 7
Fast Fact The Cards are looking for their first season sweep of the Seahawks since moving to the NFC West in 2002
The Seahawks have shook off a .500 start in the first half of the season to win four straight, surprisingly with little or no help from Shawn Alexander. The points will be plentiful as both teams can and will score. It is hard to take the Cards serious as playoff contenders, but the Seahawks are wary of the Cards and know that they can clinch the NFC West with a win. The Cards are fast improving but have yet to prove that they are ready for primetime.
Pick-Seattle

Vikings (6-6) @ 49ers (3-9)
Monster Park, San Francisco 4:05 (FOX)
Favorite Vikings by 8.5
Fast Fact The Vikings have averaged 37.3 points since getting shutout in Green Bay
The Vikings wrote off for dead four weeks ago have ripped off three wins in a row with a stout defense and a two pronged running attack. All of this bodes badly for the Niners who if Frank Gore cant get on track, will have to depend on Trent Dilfer to carry them...not good. If Adrian Peterson and/or Chester Taylor get cranked up the Vikings will roll.
Pick-Minnesota

Browns (7-5) @ NY Jets (3-9)
The Meadowlands; East Rutherford, NJ 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Browns by 3
Fast Fact The Browns have won all of their games when they have had a positive turnover ratio.
On paper this should be a walk for the Browns, but they have made a bad habit of losing winnable games and the Jets fresh off a beatdown of the Dolphins are just enough of a handful to be troublesome. The Jets will use their decent receiving corp to pound a weak Browns secondary that gives up yards and points at a frightenting clip. The Browns are capable offensively but is another team I can't take seriously. This is an ambush waiting to happen
Pick-New York Jets (Upset of the Week)


Chiefs (4-8 ) @ Broncos (5-7)
Invesco Field @ Mile High, Denver 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Broncos by 6.5
Fast Fact The Chiefs have never won at Invesco Field (0-6 since 2001)
This game looked so intriging at the start of the season, but now both teams are on playoff life support and look punchless. The Broncos are coming off a humiliating rout in Oakland while the Chiefs looked lost against the Chargers. Dont you think that Bronco fan is sorry that they ran Jake Plummer out of town so fast? Jay Cutler regresses more and more each week, but he will have the full time services of Travis Henry at his disposal. Henry has had two solid games against the Chiefs and if he has a third the Broncos win easy.
Pick-Denver


Pittsburgh (9-3) @ New England (12-0)
Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, MA 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Patriots by 10.5
Fast Fact The Patriots need 87 points (21.75 ppg) over the last four games to break the single season points record. The fewest points they have scored in one game is 24
The honks and wonks are lionizing the Steelers as the one team that could derail the Pats perfection hopes and they believe that they are destined to do it. Steelers DB Anthony Smith has guaranteed a win, but the Steelers were quick to quash that talk in fear of stirring the Pats who have looked less than formidable in their last two wins. The Pats have a great offense (#1 in points, total yards, offense and passing yards while the Steelers have a great defense (#1 in fewest points allowed, total defense and passing yards) This smacks of an upset call here, but the Steelers are weak outside of Ohio and Pennsylvainia and that will be their downfall (9-0 in those two states, 0-3 elsewhere) I'm not calling it a lock but the Pats will win
Pick-New England

Colts (10-2) @ Ravens (4-8 )
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Colts by 9
Fast Fact The Colts have won the last four meetings
The Ravens are still seething after their hotly contested loss to the Pats last Monday. While the Colts have righted their ship after bad back to back losses. The Colts are getting key parts back at the right time as Marvin Harrison should be a go for this game after missing seven games with a knee injury. The Ravens have a good defense to be sure but their offense is highly questionable and you are taking a big chance to count on Kyle Boller having a second solid game in a row.
Pick-Indianapolis


Monday, December 10

Saints (5-7) @ Falcons (3-9)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Saints by 4.5
Fast Fact The Falcons have lost three straight for the third time this year
ESPN goes from the great matchup to an absolute snoozer this week as these two string playing teams hook up. The Falcons have tried everyone short of your humble scribe at QB and turn to Chris Redman (Is HE still in this league???) out of football since 2004 to get the Falcons on track. The Saints who still harbor the faintest of playoff hopes are bad, but not this bad. They will get their offense healthy against a sad sack Falcons squad who are looking longingly toward the end of this pitful season.
Pick-New Orleans

Last Week: 10-6 (Lock Correct, Upset Incorrect)
Overall: 117-75 (11-2 Locks, 3-10 Upsets)