I went 9-4 last week. That puts me at 72-58 for the season. For a comparison, check out the "experts" over at ESPN. Here are my picks for the NFL's Week Ten:
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11
Baltimore (6-2) at Atlanta (6-2) - 8:20 PM [LINE: Atlanta by 1.5]
This should be an excellent game, which of course I'll miss because my cable provider does not offer the NFL Network. Atlanta is undefeated at home.
RJ's Pick: Atlanta by 6
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14
Detroit (2-6) at Buffalo (0-8) - 1:00 PM [LINE: Buffalo by 3]
If you're a Detroit Lions fan, the first half of the season has brought some good news and some bad news. The good news: The Lions have been competitive in every game they've played, they can put a lot of points up on the board, and their defensive front four are solid. The bad news: Their franchise quarterback is apparently made out of balsa wood, and their head coach seems to think sending a 307-pound defensive tackle out to try extra points without warming up is a good idea.
If you're a Buffalo Bills fan, I'm so very, very sorry.
RJ's Pick: Detroit by 5
Minnesota (3-5) at Chicago (5-3) - 1:00 PM [LINE: Minnesota by 1]
The Vikings barely beat Arizona at home last week. Their other two victories this season: barely beating the Cowboys at home and beating the Lions at home. The combined record of the three teams they've defeated is 6-18. Minnesota is winless on the road this season. I have no idea why they are favored in this one, but do expect a close game.
RJ's Pick: Chicago by 3
New York Jets (6-2) at Cleveland (3-5) - 1:00 PM [LINE: Jets by 3]
The Browns have won two straight. Rookie QB Colt McCoy looked pretty good against the Patriots last week, but the Jets defense will offer a much greater challenge.
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Article comments
1 - STM
What game do you suggest I watch this week??
2 - zingzing
new england v pittsburg is a good game. two talented teams going at it.
minnesota v chicago is (of course) the game i'll be watching. one team has looked shitty beating a light schedule, the other has looked shitty beating a heavy schedule. both have their problems, but i think, despite rj's prediction, that minnesota will pull it out. but if you want to see a bad-luck team in action, minnesota v chicago may be it. watch! as qbs gets hit and throw interceptions. watch! as receivers and running backs cough it up. watch! as coaches call ridiculous gambles and shit doesn't pay off. watch! as easy tackles are missed and people run all over the field in e-w directions until there's no more e-w to go.
it'll be an interesting game. go vikes! they can't lose. or at least i'd never say they will. because they won't. our defense is too good. except about the giving up points thing. and our offense is too talented. except they can't get it together.
still, chicago sucks. nearly lost to buffalo last week. we got this.
3 - charlie doherty
Unfortunately (for Pats fans like me) RJ, I think you will be right about the Steelers beating the Patriots this week. They can only survive so long with all the key losses they have had already (they just lost their very good field goal kicker Gostkowski for the season).
4 - C2E
Forgot to post yesterday. I'm also 72-58.
Falcons over Ravens
Vikings over Bears
Jets over Browns
Buccaneers over Panthers
Titans over Dolphins
Colts over Bengals
Bills over Lions
Texans over Jaguars
Chiefs over Broncos
49ers over Rams
Giants over Cowboys
Cardinals over Seahawks
Steelers over Patriots
Eagles over Redskins
5 - Gray Hunter
The Giants beat the Cowboys by 7? Are you crazy? It'll be more like the Giants by 28. And I'm a Cowboys fan.
Oh, heavy sigh.
6 - RJ
Final Scores:
ATLANTA 26, BALTIMORE 21 - RJ 1-0 [1-0 ATS]
BILLS 14, LIONS 12 - RJ 1-1 [2-0 ATS]
BEARS 27, VIKINGS 13 - RJ 2-1 [3-0 ATS]
JETS 26, BROWNS 20 (in OT) - RJ 3-1 [4-0 ATS]
7 - RJ
FINAL SCORES:
MIAMI 29, TENNESSEE 17 - RJ 4-1 [5-0 ATS]
COLTS 23, BENGALS 17 - RJ 5-1 [5-1 ATS]
JACKSONVILLE 31, HOUSTON 24 - RJ 5-2 [5-2 ATS]
TAMPA BAY 31, CAROLINA 16 - RJ 6-2 [6-2 ATS]
8 - RJ
Gray Hunter:
Looks like we were both wrong...Dallas is kicking their ass!
9 - RJ
FINAL SCORES:
DENVER 49, KC 29 - RJ 6-3 [6-3 ATS]
SEATTLE 36, ARIZONA 18 - RJ 6-4 [6-4 ATS]
DALLAS 33, GIANTS 20 - RJ 6-5 [7-4 ATS]
SF 23, RAMS 20 (in OT) - RJ 6-6 [8-4 ATS]
NE 39, STEELERS 26 - RJ 6-7 [9-4 ATS]
EAGLES 59, REDSKINS 28 - RJ 7-7 [10-4 ATS]
10 - RJ
Nice to see I was basically right about this:
"Pittsburgh will win, unless Tom Brady throws for 300+ yards, which he hasn't been able to do all season."
Brady threw for 350 yards...and the Pats won.
11 - RJ
Through ten weeks:
79-65 straight-up
74-63-7 against the spread
12 - RJ
ESPN's NFL "experts" in Week Ten:
Allen 10-4
Golic 7-7
Hoge 7-7
Jaworski 9-4
Mortensen 5-9
Schefter 7-7
Schlereth 6-8
Wickersham 8-6
Accuscore 8-6
Pick 'em 6-8
13 - RJ
ESPN's NFL "experts" through ten weeks:
Allen 74-70
Golic 84-60
Hoge 79-65
Jaworski 84-49
Mortensen 88-56
Schefter 77-67
Schlereth 89-55
Wickersham 79-65
Accuscore 89-55
Pick 'em 84-60