2011-12 Picks - NFL - Week 8

Everyone is anxiously awaiting Part II of the Tim Tebow Saga, but he's actually not the biggest story of the week. We've got the Steelers v. the Patriots in what promises to be a battle; one that Tom Brady and co. have gotten the best of the past few years. The Chiefs versus the Chargers on Monday Night Football will be playing for first place in the AFC West. On Sunday Night Football, Romo and the Boys do battle with Vick and the Eagles after their bye-week. (Andy Reid doesn't lose after the bye-week). Looking forward to it.


Game of the Week - Sunday, October 30 
NE @ PIT

Comes as no real surprise that the Game of the Week is New England versus Pittsburgh. New England has looked vulnerable at times, especially on defense. Pittsburgh got off to a rough start but seems to be finding their groove. It's a tough call considering the game is being played in Pittsburgh, but I'm going to say New England pulls this one out anyway.

Sun, Oct 30
NO @ STL | New Orleans - I expect Brees and the boys to light up the world champion Cardinals.
MIA @ NYG | New York - I anticipate it'll be tough for the Jets to come back from what Tebow did to them last week.
ARI @ BAL | Baltimore - The Kevin Kolb experiment has failed. Sorry, Larry.
MIN @ CAR | Minnesota - Christian Ponder is pretty good. Adrian Peterson is really good. (And he's got the fumbling thing under control).
IND @ TEN | Tennessee - 62-7? Really?
JAC @ HOU | Houston - Jacksonville beat Baltimore last week. I call fluke.
DET @ DEN | Denver - Tebow Magic! 1 more time.
WAS @ BUF | Buffalo - Washington needs to put Rex back in the lineup.
CIN @ SEA | Cincinatti - Andy Dalton and the Bengals are looking pretty good. Marvin Lewis could be in the running for coach of the year.
CLE @ SF | San Francisco - They're pretty good.
DAL @ PHI | Dallas - Andy Reid has never lost after a bye week. There's a first time for everything.

Mon, Oct 31
SD @ KC | San Diego - Somehow, the Chiefs are playing on MNF for the division lead. I'm confused.

Byes: Falcons, Bears, Packers, Jets, Raiders, Buccaneers

Thanks for reading guys.

The Sporacle versus "The Experts" in Week 7

For 55 minutes, Tim Tebow was precisely what we thought he was. Then either the Dolphins let him off the hook or he really is the mythical, inexplicable "winner" that so many of us hope he is. Either way, I know I'll be watching Broncos games for the rest of the season. Either way, he'll be unforgettable.

And in other NFL news...

Colts 7 - Saints 62

Weekly Wrap-Up
The Sporacle's Picks in Week 7 | 7-6 (.538)
The Experts average in Week 7 | 73-56 (.565)

Thanks for reading.

2011-12 Picks - NFL - Week 7

Many new Qb's should be making debuts today. John Beck for the Redskins. Christian Ponder for the Vikings. Hopefully we'll get a look at Carson Palmer's return to football and of course...Tim Tebow.



Game of the Week - Sunday, October 23
DEN @ MIA

When you're making predictions week after week, it feels good when they're right on the money. After the Broncos Week 1 loss to Oakland with Kyle Orton at the helm, I predicted Tebow would be starting by about week 7. Not dusting my shoulders off or anything, (it should have been sooner) but that's pretty exact.

Like Skip Bayless, I'm not predicting Tim Tebow will be a pro-bowler, or throw for 4000 yards, but I do think he'll be a winner. The right blend of passion and hard work can create some amazing things. Let the reign of Tebow begin. Broncos get the win.

Thanks for your game of the week votes.

Sun, Oct 23
SD @ NYJ | San Diego - The Jets didn't impress me with last weeks Dolphins win; and Rex Ryans words probably won't help the Jets this week.
SEA @ CLE | Seattle - Whitehurst gets the start? Seahawks get the win.
ATL @ DET | Detroit - Lions look to get back on track against ailing Falcons team.
WAS @ CAR | Carolina - C'mon Cam...
CHI @ TB | Chicago - #CuttyDoesIt
HOU @ TEN | Houston - Matt Schuab is consistently good. I approve.
PIT @ ARI | Pittsburgh - Sorry Larry. How long is that contract?
KC @ OAK | Oakland - Hoping Palmer gets the start and has a big game.
GB @ MIN | Green Bay - I actually almost picked this game as an upset for young C. Ponder...then I woke up.
STL @ DAL | Dallas - The Cowboys are sooo underachieving this year. Way better than the record suggests.
IND @ NO | New Orleans - "You used to have an artist, now you have a guy tryin' to pretend to be a painter" - Cris Carter on the Colts
Mon, Oct 24
BAL @ JAC | Baltimore - The Ravens are silently one of the top, maybe 5, teams in the NFL this year

Byes: Bills, Bengals, Patriots, Giants, Eagles, 49ers

Thanks for reading guys. Be sure to subscribe for e-mail updates, at the top, right of the page.

The Sporacle versus "The Experts" in Week 6

The Eagles got it done.
Donovan McNabb is gone.
The Cowboys played a terrific game, but the Golden Boy still won.

Cam just can't get a win.
Green Bay did it again.
The Colts are whack, the Steelers are back and Hester is fast as sin.

Weekly Wrap-Up
The Sporacle's Week 6 Picks - 9-4 (.692 win %)
The Experts Week 6 Picks - 95-34 (.736 win %)

Thanks for reading.

2011-12 Picks - NFL - Week 6

At the end of the day we measure success in the NFL by wins and losses. Cam Newton has been nothing short of phenomenal for a rookie QB. He's got 1 win. Tony Romo has had his heroic moments with the Cowboys this year, but is sitting at 2-2 in third place in the NFC East. Philadelphia's roster looks like a winning ticket, but they're firmly at the bottom of their division with 1 "W". Push has come to shove. It's time to just win.

Game of the Week - Sunday, October 16
DAL @ NE

This is tough. In all honesty, I'm strongly leaning towards the Cowboys. I think they're tremendously underrated and Romo is way better than most give him credit for. I discussed this weekend with my bro the importance of QB's that just "make things happen". The Roethlisberger's, Cutler's, Romo's and dare I say it Rex Grossman's of the league. Now grant it, what they make happen might not always be in your teams best interests, but dammit, it'll be worth watching.

With that said, I'm taking Tom "The Golden Boy" Brady and New England in a close one.

Thanks for your Game of the Week votes this week for all who participated.

Sun, Oct 16
CAR @ ATL | Carolina - The Falcons feel fragile right now, time for Cam to get another "W".
SF @ DET | San Francisco - Since when does picking against the Lions seem crazy? Since when did picking the 49ers against a top team seem like a good idea?
IND @ CIN | Indy - I told my guy Landas just last week, never again will I trust Curtis Painter...And here I am, trusting Curtis Painter.
PHI @ WAS | Washington - Who's gonna be in the dog house after this week loss? (Pun intended)
STL @ GB | Green Bay - Yahoo Pick 'em had a funny stat this week. 0% of people picked the Rams against the Packers...(Last time I checked)
JAC @ PIT | Pittsburgh - Black and Yellow boys are back on track.
BUF @ NYG | New York - I changed my mind on this pick last minute after reading a Grantland article about Eli Manning. I like him a little more now.
CLE @ OAK | Oakland - da Raaaaaidas.
HOU @ BAL | Baltimore - No Andre. No Mario. No "W". Things falling apart for the Texans again.
NO @ TB | New Orleans - Breesus and co. have been hot since their Week 1 loss v. Green Bay
MIN @ CHI | Chicago - Just handle the business...and if Brandon Marshall is available, go get him. (P.s. #PayForte)

Mon, Oct 17
MIA @ NYJ | New York - 3 losses in a row should be more than enough to wake up the Jets.

Byes: Cardinals, Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers, Seahawks, Titans

Thanks for reading guys. Be sure to subscribe for e-mail updates, at the top, right of the page.

The Sporacle versus "The Experts" in Week 5

Sadly, my prediction for the Bears Monday Night Football game versus the Lions came true. Not entirely due to the transformer formerly known as Calvin Johnson, but a few big plays gashed the Bears beyond repair.

For me, the most meaningless play actually turned out to be on the last play of the game where Cutler and the Bears just barely failed to score. A TD would've made the final score 20-24, which would've been enough to cover the +6 point spread. But that's another story altogether. Gambling problems...

Speaking of gambling fails--shame on those poor schmucks who bet big on the Eagles Championship hopes this year...

Weekly Wrap-Up
My week 5 picks were painfully mediocre. (7-6)
The Experts on average were somewhere around 8-5

**Here's a preview of what I'm sure we're all excited about for next week.

TEBOW!!!

2011-12 Picks - NFL - Week 5

This week, we've got a ton of really meaningful games for teams, players and even organizations. We lost one of the football greats in Raiders owner, Al Davis. I didn't know much about him besides his intense passion for the game and his obsession with winning--two attributes I immensely respect.

R.I.P Al Davis - July 4, 1929 - October 8, 2011
"Just Win, Baby"

On the field, we've got Philadelphia, and arguably Pittsburgh with "must-win" games. Both teams came into the season with lofty ambitions and the starts have been less than spectacular.

QB heads are also on the platter, too. Namely, Donovan McNabb. He needs this win. Bad.

Then there's the Bears and Lions on MNF and of course the Jets & Patriots. Speaking of that game...


Game of the Week - Sunday, October 9 

**NYJ @ NE | New England

I honestly don't have much to say about this game that hasn't already been said. We've got old Jets playing for the Patriots (Shaun Ellis). New faces in new places (Plaxio for NY and Ocho for New England).

And of course we have Bart Scott.

Thanks for all your Game of the Week votes this week guys!

Sun, Oct 09
NO @ CAR | New Orleans - Cam should be taking notes this week against one of the leagues best.
PHI @ BUF | Buffalo - I'm wondering if the Bills have lost their fire--losing to the Bengals will do that to you. Big game for the Eagles.
SEA @ NYG | New York - Where have the Seahawks from last years playoffs gone. I miss the spoiler party.
CIN @ JAC | Cincinnati - Battle of the BQBL quarterbacks.
KC @ IND | Indy - They've been getting progressively better week by week. Perfect opponent for a first win.
TEN @ PIT | Pittsburgh - Boomer said it best: If not now, when.
ARI @ MIN | Arizona - This is the last straw for Donovan it seems.
OAK @ HOU | Houston - I want to pick the Raiders for obvious reasons, but I think the Texans get the "W" today.
TB @ SF | Tampa Bay - I'm not on the boat, but I'm on the Josh Freeman dock. The kid is clutch
SD @ DEN | San Diego - Ugh...2 more weeks til Tebow?
GB @ ATL | Green Bay - This game ought to be close--because of Julio Jones and Matty Ice.

Mon, Oct 10
CHI @ DET | Chicago - First time picking against the Bears...But I'm honestly not sure what to counter Megatron with. C'mon Devin. #TeamJayCutler

Byes: Ravens, Browns, Cowboys, Dolphins, Rams, Redskins

The Sporacle versus "The Experts" in Week 4

Happy Sunday Football fans,

A little late posting this week, but better late than never.

Surprising to say, the disappointment of the week had to be the Buffalo Bills. They were 3-0 going into last week before they dropped the ball against the Bengals. Offense, Bengals fans. I didn't even know who your QB (Andy Dalton) was until last week. (To clarify, I did mean to offend) =P

The Bears and their 70/30, Run/Pass strategy worked well last week against Cam Newton and the Panthers. Can't wait to see what the game plan is for Megatron. Not sure Cover 2 will cut it.

Weekly Wrap-Up
My Week 4 NFL Picks were (10-6) - (.625%).
Decent for a pedestrian, but near the bottom of the pack against the experts in Week 4.

Let's get back on track this week.

**Here's a clip of Megatron ruining my upset pick of the week. (Cowboys over Detroit)



Thanks for reading.

2011-12 Picks - NFL - Week 4

We've arrived at the one quarter mark for the 2011-12 NFL Season. Keeping pace with the competition so far, but as I said last week, I'm looking to pick 80% winners this season. How 'bout you? How have your picks been going so far? As always, I'd love to hear your picks/predictions in the comments below.

Happy Picking football fans!





Game of the Week - Sunday, October 2

**NYJ @ BAL | New York - This really should be a great game. Sancheezy and Plaxico are building chemistry. Flacco is getting more confidence. LT is getting older by the day but Revis is still locking receivers up. Boldin v. Revis should be a great match up to watch. This might be the game that really gets the Jets rolling.

Thanks for your Game of the Week votes, people.

Sun, Oct 02
DET @ DAL | Dallas - A lot of people are high on the Lions. I admit, I'm impressed...but not sold. They haven't really beaten any quality teams in my opinion--Tampa doesn't quite count. Call me prisoner of the moment, but I'm on the Romo train after MNF last week.
CAR @ CHI | Chicago - This is kind of a big game for the Bears. A 1-3 start would not be ideal after reaching the NFC Championship last year.
NO @ JAC | New Orleans - Blaine Gabbert isn't quite ripe yet.
TEN @ CLE | Cleveland - Chris Johnson is still missing.
BUF @ CIN | Buffalo - I can't explain last week. Nobody can, really.
MIN @ KC | Minnesota - I'm rooting for you, Donovan...
SF @ PHI | San Francisco -Yeah. That's happening. Philly is fragile right now and I don't think anyone knows just how much.
WAS @ STL | Washington - Sexy Rexy bounces back this week...I think.
PIT @ HOU | Pittsburgh -Pittsburgh's offense has been shakey, but I think they squeak out a close one.
ATL @ SEA | Atlanta - Must win. It's the Seahawks, Matty Ice. C'mon.
NYG @ ARI | New York -I'm kind of on the fence about this game
DEN @ GB | Green Bay -Where is Tebow???
NE @ OAK | New England - I think Tom Brady's haircut will scare the Raiders; hence Pats win.
MIA @ SD | San Diego - San Diego's pretty good this year. The 'Fins are just inconsistent.

Mon, Oct 03
IND @ TB | Tampa Bay -Tampa - 1. Foreheads - 0.


Thanks for reading.

**Denotes Game of the Week

Check out my Week 3 NFL Picks