I went a solid 10-4 last week. I am now 89-55 for the season, for an overall winning percentage of approximately 62%.
Two of my four losses last week were in big upsets that surprised almost everybody: Minnesota beating the Giants, and Green Bay winning in Atlanta. And a third loss was due to Philadelphia's shocking collapse in the final minutes against Dallas on MNF.
The only pick I made last week that I really regret was Oakland over Denver. Denver is one of the NFL's elite teams this season. Sure, they were playing on the road against a division rival. But top-tier teams like the Broncos will still usually win in those situations.
Anyway, here are my picks for the NFL's Week 11:
Sunday, Nov. 20
Arizona 2-7 at St. Louis 4-5 - 1:00 p.m.
Arizona is winless on the road, and have lost three in a row. The Rams are 3-1 at home. I predict a high-scoring game. RAMS BY 9
Carolina 7-2 at Chicago 6-3 - 1:00 p.m.
The Bears give up fewer points (under 12 per game) than any other team in the NFL. But they are playing possibly the best team in the NFC this week, on the road. CAROLINA BY 4
Detroit 4-5 at Dallas 6-3 - 1:00 p.m.
Dallas has won two in a row, and are 3-1 at home. Detroit is 1-3 on the road this season, and all four of their wins have come against 2-7 or 3-6 teams. But, as a die-hard Lions fan, I simply cannot bring myself to pick against them, even if all signs point to yet another crushing defeat. DETROIT BY 1
Jacksonville 6-3 at Tennessee 2-7 - 1:00 p.m.
The Jaguars are possibly the weakest 6-3 team in the NFL. But they'll still be able to handle the horrid Titans. JACKSONVILLE BY 6
Miami 3-6 at Cleveland 3-6 - 1:00 p.m.
Both Miami and Cleveland are lousy teams, and both have the same lousy record. But Cleveland has the home-field advantage, so I'll go with them. BROWNS BY 3
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - RJ
Let the comments begin! :)
2 - The Theory
Arizona 2-7 at St. Louis 4-5... St Louis. but I don't think it will be a high scoring game. Or if it is it will be all points on st.louis' side.
Carolina 7-2 at Chicago 6-3... A hard pick. My head says Carolina... but my heart says Chicago. I think I'll pick the upset and say Chicago.
Detroit 4-5 at Dallas 6-3... I'll vote for the crushing defeat. Dallas will win.
Jacksonville 6-3 at Tennessee 2-7... Jacksonville. Though honestly, if the Titans win it would hardly be an upset.
Miami 3-6 at Cleveland 3-6... Every time i go with the Browns they hurt me. Everytime I vote against Miami they hurt me. I shall cut my losses and vote for Miami.
New Orleans 2-7 at New England 5-4... as much as I want NE to loose, it will be NO getting crushed.
Oakland 3-6 at Washington 5-4... If this wasn't in Washington I could in good consious pick the Raiders. But as it is the Skins shall get the nod from me. ****. I shall shed no tears, though, should the Skinnies loose.
Philadelphia 4-5 at N.Y. Giants 6-3... Giants. Andy Reid will drop a brick during this game.
Pittsburgh 7-2 at Baltimore 2-7... Ummm. Let me think. The Ravens? Nahhhh... Stealers by oodles.
Tampa Bay 6-3 at Atlanta 6-3... Tampa Bay has disappointed me a lot in past weeks. However, I think they can beat the Falcons... right? Right. They will win... but not by a lot.
Seattle 7-2 at San Francisco 2-7... Seattle has won five in a row... which means that it's about bloody time for a loss. San Fran.
Buffalo 4-5 at San Diego 5-4... I don't have a big opinion on this game. Uh. So I'll vote for the home team, San Diego. Besides, that city has a very fine zoo.
Indianapolis 9-0 at Cincinnati 7-2... Cincy will topple. Mainly because I like a good story, and an undefeated season is a pretty fine story indeed.
N.Y. Jets 2-7 at Denver 7-2... Denver.
Kansas City 5-4 at Houston 1-8... KC.
Minnesota 4-5 at Green Bay 2-7... The Packers are not as bad as their record. No. But the Vikings are better than the winless record I predicted they'd have. A tough call and I want them both to lose (and a game I'm not too likely to watch)... but I'll give the nod to Minnesota just because Culpepper isn't quarterbacking.
3 - RJ
Theory:
Wow! We differ on six games!
One of us is likely going to look kinda dumb by Sunday evening...
4 - Bennett
Who knows why. Mostly guesses here, with a little bit of thought.
St. Louis
Carolina
Dallas
Jacksonville
Miami
New England
Washington
NY Gints
Pittsburg
Atlanta
Seattle
San Diego
Indianapolis
Denver
Kansas City
Minnesotta
5 - The Theory
RJ- I may be in an underdog mood tonight. Come Sunday evening I may be crying into my beer*.
*symbolic, not actual... since despite my fondness of beer it's not allowed in the house.
6 - MCH
I predict that Chicago will win more games than Detroit, on the season.
7 - JAS
RJ
I'll challenge you. Here goes:
I challenge you to go back and figure your wins/losses for the entire season again against the spread that you give or the spread given by the daily line. You would not be doing as well. I count at least 7 games you got wrong last week based on your points alone. It's real easy to pick the winner, try doing it against the spread.
This is my challenge.
8 - RJ
"I predict that Chicago will win more games than Detroit, on the season."
Probably true. Of course you are making this pick after 9 games have been played...
9 - Emerson
Im keeping this week 11 short just because its an easy week and I predict to go 12-2.:)
St.Louis (no comment)
Chicago (If its as windy as it was last week, Delhomme's bombs are going to gifts to the fans.)
Dallas (Sorry RJ but the Lions are no match here)
Jacksonville
Miami
New England
Washington
N.Y. Giants
Pittsburgh
Atlanta
Seattle
San Diego
Indy (10-0, cinci is no match here)
Denver
Kansas City
Green Bay (I smell a shutout)
10 - Matthew T. Sussman
I don't think this week will get me out of the gutter in my company, especially not if I pick:
Rams
Bears
Cowboys
Bengals
Titans
Dolphins
Patriots
Redskins
Giants
Bucs
Seahawks
Chargers
Broncos
Steelers
Chiefs
Packers
11 - Bennett
JAS - Don't be shy, jump right in, and show us your picks!
RJ made it clear that this was a straight up win-loss affair, and the the points are simply what he thinks the spread will be.
That's the game we play.
12 - Temple Stark
It should be an easy 14-0 week for me this week :-) Also went 10-4 last week, somehow.
Arizona 2-7 at St. Louis 4-5
St. Louis is going to put a hurtin' on Arizona. They are feeling the pain from last week's loss against Seattle and it's a must win by the Rams, as they see Seattle only has 49er competition this week. The only wrinkle? They may try too hard and Arizona pride may start to kick in a little. RAMS by 3
Carolina 7-2 at Chicago 6-3
Gulp. Both teams are playing lights out this year - far ahead of expectations. Carolina expects to win so i predict the slight upset. BEARS by 5.
Detroit 4-5 at Dallas 6-3
RJ has an unfortunate affliction this week, which in previous years I would have shared as a Seattle fan. DALLAS by 17
Jacksonville 6-3 at Tennessee 2-7
The Titans have not looked good, but they haven't (always) looked like a 2-8 team this season. TITANS by 3, in OT.
Miami 3-6 at Cleveland 3-6
It's easy to forget Miami in the last two weeks. They almost dumped the upset on the league in week 10. MIAMI by 7.
New Orleans 2-7 at New England 5-4
They're going to miss the playoffs, but they'll get this one. PATRIOTS by 21.
Oakland 3-6 at Washington 5-4 - 1:00 p.m.
Moss has to be dumped back in the picture. when they did it last time - cruisin OAKLAND BY 9.
Philadelphia 4-5 at N.Y. Giants 6-3 - 1:00 p.m.
As RJ says, Oh, man! McNabbless. Owenless. Winless today. GIANTS BY 10
Pittsburgh 7-2 at Baltimore 2-7 - 1:00 p.m.
STEELERS BY 32
Tampa Bay 6-3 at Atlanta 6-3 - 1:00 p.m.
FALCONS BY 1
Seattle 7-2 at San Francisco 2-7 - 4:05 p.m.
49ers are another team which inexplicably puts the fear of God into the 'Hawks. But this year, the Hawks are much more focused and they can easily see past the first round this year. They will not be able to drop to to the Niners. SEAHAWKS BY 17
Buffalo 4-5 at San Diego 5-4
SAN DIEGO BY 9
Indianapolis 9-0 at Cincinnati 7-2
Detroit Piston's x-and-0 winning steak came to and end this week. It's time for the Colts to go down. BENGALS by 7
N.Y. Jets 2-7 at Denver 7-2
DENVER BY 10
Kansas City 5-4 at Houston 1-8 - 8:30 p.m.
KANSAS CITY BY 6
Monday, Nov. 21
Minnesota 4-5 at Green Bay 2-7 - 9:00 p.m.
Ouch. a tough-un. Green Bay bites though and Vikings have surprised me all season. VIKINGS by 20
(sorry for any typos)
13 - RJ
Final Scores:
Ravens 16, Steelers 13 (in OT) - RJ 0-1
Raiders 16, Redskins 13 - RJ 0-2
Jacksonville 31, Titans 28 - RJ 1-2
Arizona 38, Rams 28 - RJ 1-3
Giants 27, Eagles 17 - RJ 2-3
Cowboys 20, Lions 7 - RJ 2-4
Browns 22, Dolphins 0 - RJ 3-4
Patriots 24, New Orleans 17 - RJ 4-4
Bears 13, Panthers 3 - RJ 4-5
Tampa Bay 30, Atlanta 27 - RJ 4-6
I'm 4-6??? WTF???
14 - RJ
Here's how the ESPN "experts" are doing so far:
Theismann 4-6
Salisbury 5-5
Hoge 5-5
Jaworski 4-6
Schlereth 6-4
Allen 4-6
Mortensen 5-5
Golic 4-6
- - -
So maybe I shouldn't feel so bad...
15 - RJ
Here's where the BC.org pickers stand so far:
RJ 4-6
Theory 6-4
Bennett 4-6
Emerson 5-5
Sussman 5-5
Temple 5-5
16 - RJ
ESPN's "experts" are a combined 37-43, which is a winning percentage of 46%...
BC.org's pickers are a combined 29-31, which is a winning percentage of 48%...
;-)
17 - Temple Stark
I got Oakland and Bears ... (he says desperately.)
got the spread on the Eagles game, too.
Can't believe AZ pulled it out. Stealers - ptfff.
Lemme check if Hawks are on . ...
Er, 5-5 and listening to Begals make a game of it .. drumroll please :-)
18 - Temple Stark
steelers, too.
19 - RJ
Indy has put 35 points on the board against the Bengals...and it's only in the 2nd Quarter!
San Diego has scored 28 against Buffalo, and it's still not Halftime...
Denver is blanking the Jets 17-0 at Halftime...
And Seattle is only up 8 on San Fran with just a few seconds to go before Halftime...
20 - Temple Stark
Bengals put 34 points up against the Colts.
I was worried about that Seattle score - but they've pulled away now. Seattle should be creaming the 49ers, however.
21 - RJ
Right now:
Early in the 4th, Seattle is up 8 on SF...
SD is crushing the Bills by 31 early in the 4th...
Denver is up 20-0 on the Jets about halfway through the 4th...
And Indy is up by 8 on the Bengals late in the 3rd...
22 - RJ
Final Score:
Denver 27, Jets 0 - RJ 5-6...
23 - RJ
Final Score:
SD 48, Bills 10 - RJ 6-6...
24 - RJ
Final Score:
Seattle 27, SF 25 - RJ 7-6!
25 - Temple Stark
Ohhhh. My. God.
what did i say about "the Fear of God." in my "analysis."
Just shaking my head here and breathing that sigh of relief
TAS: 8-5
Looks like the Colts may take it home, but the Bengals put up a !@#$5 fight, no?