Sunday, January 1, 2012

Week 17 New Years Picks

Eagles (-7.5) at Redskins
Building teams through free agency: you're doing it wrong. Either way, the Eagles have more talent all over the field than the Redskins. In a meaningless game, that's what I'm going with.
Pick: Eagles win, cover


Tampa Bay at Atlanta (-9)
Atlanta still has something to play for, while the Buccaneers have redefined the word "fluke" with their performance this year after going 10-6 last year.
Pick: Falcons win, cover

San Francisco (-11.5) at St. Louis
San Francisco is playing for a first round bye. The Rams are close to the Number One pick in the draft. Not hard to figure this one.
Pick: 49ers win, cover

Chicago at Minnesota (-2.5)
Josh McNown was slightly better than Caleb Hanie last week for the Bears. That sentence alone can pretty much sum up the dark turn the Bears season has taken. The Vikings, even without Adrian Peterson, have been playing better under Joe Webb lately.
Pick: Vikings win, cover

Detroit (-6.5) at Green Bay
Tough to figure this one, but with the Packers second stringers in for a good portion of the game, and with seeding possibilities for the Lions (they could avoid the Saints and play the Giants or Cowboys), I've got the Lions winning a close one.
Pick: Lions win, Packers cover

Dallas at NY Giants (-3)
The Giants finally seem to have screwed their heads on right, and in that mode, they're a dangerous team. The Cowboys lost their running game with DeMarco Murray's broken ankle, and you still can never trust Tony Romo, especially with an injury.
Pick: Giants win, cover

Carolina at New Orleans (-7)
Saints could be sitting guys by the second half of this one, but their first half effort should be enough to take the game- and who knows, the starters might be in the whole game. Cam Newton and the Panthers can keep it close, though.
Pick: Saints win, Panthers cover

Tennessee (-1) at Houston
The Texans are challenging last year's Seahawks as "worst division winner in the playoffs" now that all their playmakers are injured. TJ Yates isn't cutting it. Titans have a lot to play for, and seem like they could be the crappy sixth seed of this year's playoffs-meaning they'd play the Texans again.
Pick: Titans win, cover

Baltimore (-2.5) at Cincinnati
The Ravens play down to their opponents on the road, especially against physical teams. The Bengals are at home (offering two for one tickets!) and play especially physically. Andy Dalton is taking them to the playoffs! (Words I never thought I'd say.)
Pick: Bengals win, cover

Pittsburgh (-7) at Cleveland
Steelers still have a shot at a first round bye. The Browns are still terrible.
Pick: Steelers win, cover

Indianapolis at Jacksonville (-3)
The Colts should be able to fulfill their manifest destiny and clinch the number one overall pick. The Jaguars are probably really happy with the Blaine Gabbert pick right now.... (laughter)
Pick: Jaguars win, Colts cover

NY Jets at Miami (-3)
The Dolphins! They're definitely good enough to beat the overrated, overhyped Jets. I swear, if the stars align and the Jets are in the playoffs, I'm going to have a conniption fit.
Pick: Dolphins win, cover

Buffalo at New England (-10.5)
It would be awesome if the Bills found a way to sweep the Patriots this year and somewhat redeem what has been a trainwreck of a season. Unfortunately, they'll probably close out the season with another grim loss.
Pick: Patriots win, cover

San Diego at Oakland (-3)
This must be the most underachieving Chargers team of the past decade, and that's saying something. The Raiders are somehow still alive, and there would be nothing better than seeing Carson Palmer screw up a home playoff game with three interceptions.
Pick: Raiders win, cover

Kansas City at Denver (-2)
The Chiefs were able to shut down Aaron Rodgers; Tim Tebow was shut down by the Bills and Patriots, two of the worst defenses in the league. The Chiefs should be able to take care of Tebow and let Kyle Orton get his revenge.
Pick: Chiefs win, cover

Seattle at Arizona (-2.5)
Seattle figured out that they're a running team and rode Marshawn Lynch to near playoff contention. Arizona rode John Skelton to near playoff contention. I've gotta give it to Beast Mode here.
Pick: Seahawks win, cover

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