I went 9-7 last week, which puts me at 98-62 for the season. That's a winning percentage of over 61%.
This week I'm making my picks a bit earlier than usual, due to the two Thursday games. Be sure to make your picks early as well!
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Thursday, Nov. 24
Atlanta 6-4 at Detroit 4-6 [12:30 p.m.]
It will surprise no one that I'm gonna go with my Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. But this pick may not be the example of loyalty-induced foolishness it probably seems. Atlanta has lost two in a row, and Detroit is 3-2 at home this year. Plus, the Lions usually seem to play a little better on Turkey Day (perhaps because it is often their only nationally-televised game of the season). So, DETROIT in a close one.
Denver 8-2 at Dallas 7-3 [4:15 p.m.]
This is a great matchup, and a tough one to pick. The Cowboys are 4-1 at home, while the Broncos are only 2-2 on the road. Both teams have won three in a row. I think DALLAS will win an exciting back-and-forth contest.
Sunday, Nov. 27
Baltimore 3-7 at Cincinnati 7-3 [1:00 p.m.]
Yeah, I know the Ravens pulled off a shocker last week against the Steelers. But that was only because Ben Roethlisberger didn't play. And unfortunately for Baltimore, Cincinnati's Carson Palmer is feeling just fine. BENGALS by a lot.
Carolina 7-3 at Buffalo 4-6 [1:00 p.m.]
Buffalo is winless on the road, but 4-1 at home. The weather in upstate NY should be chilly enough on Sunday to help put Carolina on a two-game skid. BUFFALO in a low-scoring game.
Chicago 7-3 at Tampa Bay 7-3 [1:00 p.m.]
Another quality matchup. The Bears have won six in a row, and have the best defense in the NFL, by far. Tampa Bay has won two in a row, but both games were close. I'll go with the BUCS in another close one.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Bennett
The shit games are harder to pick that the good games. What's up with that? Anyway, my fearless Eight Ball sez:
Atlanta
Denver
Cinci
Buffalo
Chicago
Minnesota
New England
San Diego
San Fran
St. Louis
Jacksonville
Oakland
Green Bay
Seattle
New Orleans
Indy - THIS will be a great game!
2 - zombyboy
Ahem.
Go Broncos.
Thank you.
3 - The Theory
Atlanta 6-4 at Detroit 4-6... This is a tough game. On one hand Atlanta is probably the better team as far as raw talent, but they've been on a bad, sloppy stretch as of late. I just have no gut reaction for this game.... and gut is how I get by in my picks. I think Atlanta... though I'd rather see Detroit do well.
Denver 8-2 at Dallas 7-3... I think Dallas will pull this one out but don't ask me why...
Baltimore 3-7 at Cincinnati 7-3... Ditto to RJ. Cincinnati.
Carolina 7-3 at Buffalo 4-6... Eeenie, meenie, miney, moe... A win the Bills shall find in Buffalo.
Chicago 7-3 at Tampa Bay 7-3... If they were playing in Chicago, I'd go with the Bears. However, I think home team advantage will be too much for them and Tampa Bay will get the V.
Cleveland 4-6 at Minnesota 5-5... Sad is the day when I can honestly say that Minnesota is the better team. But without Culpepper they are. Even if this game was in the Dog Pound, I'd give the Vickings the nod.
New England 6-4 at Kansas City 6-4... I innitially picked Kansas City in this game... but that is because I always confuse Kansas City and St Louis in my mind. If NE was playing StLouis, I'd give the Rams the nod. However, I don't feel like KC has what it takes, even at home. New England. (and I'm glad I noticed my mental error before posting my picks. heh.)
San Diego 6-4 at Washington 5-5... I think Washington will pull this one out... though they won't find it easy.
San Francisco 2-8 at Tennessee 2-8... I shall also ditto RJ about not really caring. However, I think that SanFran is the better team of the two.
St. Louis 4-6 at Houston 1-9... I just can't pick Houston. St. Louis is definitely the better team and I think they will get the win.
Jacksonville 7-3 at Arizona 3-7... Jacksonville.
Miami 3-7 at Oakland 4-6 ... I have no strong feelings one way or the other. I suppose Oakland will win, especially considering they have home field.
Green Bay 2-8 at Philadelphia 4-6... I am making it a habit to pick against Green Bay on default. And the Eagles have lost quite a few in a row here and will be looking for blood. Andy Reid will win, but that won't make him any happier.
N.Y. Giants 7-3 at Seattle 8-2... Seattle is overrated. There, I said it. Guess who I think will win this match? The Giants.
New Orleans 2-8 at N.Y. Jets 2-8... RJ's reasoning sounds solid enough. Go Jets.
Pittsburgh 7-3 at Indianapolis 10-0... Indy is definitely the better team. But will Pittsburg be seeing red after losing to mediocre-at-best Baltimore? Probably. Will that make a difference? No. There is no way Indy loses at home on Monday Night.
4 - Emerson
Lol I went 10-6 last week. My dad went 9-5 and won $125 in a pool where he works. Beat out 40 people and still losing 5 games. that is pretty weak, but he got lucky because it came down to total points on monday night and he had the closest with 39 as the Vikings won 20-17 (37) ;)
Week12 picks:
Atlanta by 21: Look for a huge rebound, I do think the Lions will be tough because they always do on t-day but they will go downhill as the game plays through.
Dallas by 3: This is going to be tough and a really challenge for both teams.
Cinci by 24: I liked the way they played last week, defense will rebound in this game. even though the Ravens pulled out an upset last week I smell a shutout for them this week.
Carolina by 7: Expect a close game but Carolina has a lot more talent than Buffalo. They will rebound and take control of their division.
Tampa by 3: Very great matchup here, but I like Tampa at home. they will definitely be fired up to stop the streaking bears and win 3 straight. Simms has finally got that monkey off his shoulder.
Minnesota by 3: Cleveland found some daylight last week but look for the vikings to make a huge comeback and get over the hump.
New England by 7: Expect a close one but the Patriots found some kind of rhythm again but its nothing like last the past two years. This is a real test for Kansas.
San Diego by 10: This is when the skins fall under 500, losing 3 straight, losing at home twice? how much more worse could this prediction get? their season is over meanwhile the chargers are fighting for the division. I think the Denver game this Thursday will have some affect on how the Chargers play on Sunday.
Tennessee by 10: Everyone keeps saying how the 49ers try so hard and that their coach really push them. All I think is that the 49ers are fighting for is to be the best 2-8 team in the NFL. I dont think either team wants to win this game. Bring on the draft.
St. Louis by 14: The Rams will pick up an easy win. But after this game I think both teams should be looking for new head coaches.
Jacksonville by 7: Arizona played tough last week, but its a little too late for that this late in the season. J-ville will pick up the easy win because they are fighting to stay alive in playoffs.
Oakland by 14: Ok I've given up on Miami, their whole team just sucks. While the Raiders are a lot better than their record(4-6) shows and will pick up an easy victory.
Green Bay by 3: Expect the Eagles to lose the rest of their games this year.. What happened to Gado last week? They Gaddo make big plays with him for the rest of the year.:)
Seattle by 13: I just don't think the Giants have what it takes to be a playoff team. I expect them to drop this one and a couple more as the season draws closer.
New Orleans by 7: The Saints are going to and pick up an easy win. They are difinitely the better team. Even though the Saints QB sucks, they at least stick with him for the whole game unlike the Jets.
Indy by 10: The Colts will pick up a tough win this week. BLAH BLAH BLAH 1972 this? Dolphins that? Get over it, they will get beat by Seattle(I think they play them)
5 - Temple Stark
Jeez Theory get on the Hawks bandwagon already wouldja? (grin)
My picks later Wednesday
6 - visualsimplicity
Ahem.
I second zombyboy.
Thank you.
7 - RJ
Suss! Temple!
Bob A. Booey?
We need picks, ASAP!
:-)
8 - Matthew T. Sussman
RJ, I just don't think I have it in me this week to pick the
Falcons
Broncos
Bengals
Panthers
Bucs
Vikings
Patriots
Skins
Titans
Rams
Jags
Fins
Eagles
Seahawks
Saints
Colts
9 - Temple Stark
Thursday, Nov. 24
3-2 Detroit record at home? Anti-WOW :-)
Atlanta by 50 (does that cover the spread?)
Denver 8-2 at Dallas 7-3
Um, yeah. Let's just say Dallas players are at home and on holidays that's a bad thing for game play. Both teams are on great tears though and my brain keeps on telling me to pick Dallas, but I won't. Indeed, should be a great game. Denver by 13.
10 - Temple Stark
Sunday, Nov. 27
Baltimore will ride high on their last-week victory for a couple of weeks. Even vaunted defense is less-vaunted. BENGALS by 3, because "half" the games last week were separated by 3.
--
Now this home record is a little more impressive. It's the only place they've won. When it's put like that, well Buffalo is still out of the running but psychologically haven't realized it yet. After today's crash course, they will. PANTHERS by 7.
--
Da Bears. Pumped and cruising in warm weather. Tampa Bay's defense also has collapsed in on itself lately.
-
The win against Green Bay was huge in that rivalry. They all think they can believe. I've done well picking Cleveland in upsets, but this week, Vikings baby. VIKINGS by 21
--
I have faith in the veteran Chiefs coaching staff who will be saying, these aren't the Texans. Cowboy uuuuup. CHIEFS by 1.
--
Skins on a slide
CHARGERS by 6.
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I'm rooting for the 49ers now they're past Seattle. That game was too too close last week. Neither team seems as bad as their record. Who has the most pride? At this point, that's not a consideration. TITANS by 16 in a high-scoring game.
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Rj is insane. (hey, he asked me to tell him) Rams still have something to lose, so they will win, especially against the Texans, who have a defense that couldn't stuff a Turkey and an offense that gets de-boned every week.
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If tickets weren't so ass-scalpingly expensive, I'd go see this game just for laughs. And to see the Cardinals lose. JAGS by 10.
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I feel Miami is going to have a break-out impressive game before the end of the year. Something the pundits will point to as hope for 2006. Ricky is coming along. But the Raiders have it goin' on. OAKTOWN by 25.
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Agree, sort of with RJ. The Eagles have no expectations and they'll be playing fast and loose on the way to the win, four sacks and two interceptions. EAGLES by 21
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Like da Hawks ya dig? SEATTLE by 32.
Alexander is this year's MVP. An arrogant cuss, but one who hasn't taken the Owens route on the field.
----
Orleans. They need a revival and the Jets is the weakest team they've played in a while. SAINTS by 9
Monday, Nov. 28
If this wasn't in Indianapolis I'd pick the Steelers. The Colt fans are going to get them over the hump. COLTS by 3 in overtime.
11 - RJ
Final Score:
Atlanta 27, Lions 7 - RJ 0-1...
12 - elsa
If the Broncos lose, my man is going to jump off the roof.
13 - Temple Stark
he's safe ... talk him down.
i'm 2-0.
14 - The Theory
The explitives were forming in my head during that overtime Bronco drive. Golly. Hideous.
1-1... sigh.
15 - Robert
Final Score:
Denver 24, Dallas 21 (in OT) - RJ 0-2...
16 - Bennett
After Emerson called the first game to within a point, and the late game was tied late in the forth... I really thought I would end up 1-1 and have to come here and throw out all kindsa praise at Emerson's accuracy.
Heh. I'm 2-0.
Temple, Suss, and I absolutely ROCK! And we have two days to glory in it.
17 - nate
jags
pats
chargers
panthers
eagles
vikings
titans
hawks
All should win
18 - RJ
Final Scores:
Carolina 13, Bils 9 - RJ 0-3
Chicago 13, TB 10 - RJ 0-4
KC 26, NE 16 - RJ 0-5
Quite a week!
19 - Bennett
Seems like Temple didn't pick the Pats/KC game... Quite a week indeed, JR.
20 - Temple Stark
Whew baby.
I am 8-0 with two teams - Rams and Chargers who just got OTs.
:-)
21 - Temple Stark
Look up. I picked the Chiefs by 1.
22 - Bennett
Oh wait, there it is, sorry.
23 - Bennett
Man, kickin some ASS, Temple!
I think I'm 6-2 with Temple report.
24 - Temple Stark
Chargers in OT. I even got the spread
9-0.
Rams . . . .
25 - Temple Stark
winners
atlanta
denver
bengals
panthers
bears
vikings
chiefs
chargers
titans