2012-13 Picks - NFL - Week 12

"My heart says Giants. My head says Packers."

Sunday, November 25 - Game of the Week
GB @ NYG | Packers - My heart says Giants. My head says Packers. Historically, in big games this like this, going with Eli Manning is the obvious choice. He's knocked off Tom Brady in two Superbowls; he has an uncanny ability to make miracles happen late in games; he consistently comes up big when it matters most. But this week, for no other reason than keeping the NFC East race as close and interesting as possible, I think the Giants come up short. Yeah... It's better this way.

Thursday, November 22
HOU @ DET | Lions - The Texans are good. Better than the Falcons, but they are vulnerable. I feel like the Lions might capitalize on that this week.
WAS @ DAL | Cowboys - The Cowboys have a chance to truly get on a roll this week versus RG3...but he's out for blood.
NE @ NYJ | Patriots - #FreeTebow

Sunday, November 25
MIN @ CHI | Bears - Cutty or no Cutty, Chicago gets it done and gets back on track.
OAK @ CIN | Bengals - Dalton has played really well this year. 2:1 TD:INT ratio and over 2500 yards passing.
PIT @ CLE | Browns - Call me crazy, but I'm going with the Browns at home.
BUF @ IND | Colts - After their reality check against the Pats last week, Indy can get back on track.
TEN @ JAC | Titans - I'm inclined to pick Tennessee, mainly because the worse Jacsonville does this year, the more likely Tebow will be their starting QB. Wrong, I know.
DEN @ KC | Broncos - I feel like the Broncos are turning into one of the top teams in the AFC...guess that's the Peyton Manning effect.
SEA @ MIA | Seahawks - Their defense is still scary...much less so on the road, though.
ATL @ TB | Buccaneers - Another week to show how vulnerable to Falcons are.
BAL @ SD | Ravens - I really wanted to pick the Chargers at home...well, not really.
STL @ ARI | Cardinals - Amendola is a great fantasy pick up, but he doesn't change the outcome of games.
SF @ NO | Saints - Still going strong with Brees and the boys.

Monday, November 26
CAR @ PHI | Eagles - At the beginning of the year, this game would be circled on the calendar. Today, not so much.


Thanks for reading guys.

2012-13 Picks - NFL - Week 11

Photo Credit: Associated Press

Sunday, November 18 - Game of the Week
IND @ NE | Patriots - Picking the game of the week was more difficult than usual, with so many starting QB's out. Cutler for the Bears; Roethlisberger for the Steelers; Alex Smith for the 49ers. Those games won't be quite the same without the leaders at the helm.

However, both Luck and Brady are healthy for their respective teams. With Luck and the Colts on a roll and the Patriots looking in typical mid-season shape, the renewal of  this old rival starts a new chapter. Manning v. Brady is over (at least with Manning in a Colts uni). Now young Andrew Luck has the privilege of doing battle with Brady and co.

I don't think luck will be on his side. Pun intended.

Thursday, November 15
MIA @ BUF | Dolphins - Miami always surprises me, and this feels like a game they should lose.

Sunday, November 18
ARI @ ATL | Falcons - All is right with the world now that the Falcons have a loss on their record. I think they'll be re-calibrated to reality now.
TB @ CAR | Buccaneers - I haven't felt comfortable picking Cam to win a game in a while. Not going to start now against what seems to be a Bucs team that's building momentum.
CLE @ DAL | Cowboys - Back on track.
GB @ DET | Packers - I feel like the Packers should be losing sometime soon -- but not this Sunday.
JAC @ HOU | Texans - Last week was a struggle against the Bears. This week they should coast.
CIN @ KC | Bengals - Cincy take the AJ Green show on the road to KC.
NYJ @ STL | Rams - I felt a Rams win coming on last week v. the 49ers. They came out with a tie. With Tebow, things would be different.
PHI @ WAS | Redskins - Uber-Rookie versus a Redkins team that needs a "W" -- bad -- RG3 and the 'Skins roll.
NO @ OAK | Saints - Brees and the boys getting back on track slowly but surely. I feel like I've personally predicted they'd be like 9-1 with all this seasons's picks.
SD @ DEN | Broncos - Peyton just makes them a better team.
BAL @ PIT | Ravens - I can't see the Steelers taking down the Ravens without Big Ben.

Monday, November 19
CHI @ SF | 49ers - First time picking against the Bears this year. I just think the 49ers are more equipped to be without their starting QB -- especially when Chicago is on the road and the offense is out of rhythm.

Thanks for reading guys.

2012-13 Picks - NFL - Week 10

(Scott Strazzante/Tribune Photo)

Sunday, November 11 - Game of the Week
HOU @ CHI | Bears - You know how there's a point in the season where you go from being "a good team" to "a legitimate Superbowl contender"? This is that game; for both the Texans and the Bears. Both teams have similar recent history, too. The Texans were on the road to the big show right up until the last game of the season where they lost Matt Schaub for the playoffs. The same goes for the Bears. Injuries to Forte and Cutler shattered their chances before they really got rolling. Both teams are healthy and ready to clash their 7-1 records for a big test right at mid-season. Weather conditions, and the right blend of energy and offense should get the Bears their 8th win of the season.

Thursday, November 8
IND @ JAC | Colts - The team shaving its collective head in support of Coach Pagano indicates the sort of chemistry and passion that can carry throughout the entire season.

Sunday, November 11
SD @ TB | Buccaneers - This just feels weird, but apparently Doug Martin is a stud. I found myself having to look him up last week.
TEN @ MIA | Dolphins - Hartline is expecting to play and Tannehill has been playing unexpectedly well.
BUF @ NE | Patriots - Fresh off a bye week against the franchise whipping boys? Pats roll.
OAK @ BAL | Ravens - Totally different team without Ray, but Oakland is banged up and generally playing pretty poorly this year.
DEN @ CAR | Broncos - Crazy what impact one man can make. We saw it with Tebow and his presence  Now we see it with Peyton and his poise, pre-snap skills and experience. Two steps in the right direction for Denver.
NYG @ CIN | Giants - Giants have been a bit shaky these past few weeks, but getting a quick lead should allow them to put pressure on the QB.
DET @ MIN | Vikings - A.P., Ponder and company have looked good this season -- most importantly, better than the Lions. Where's Megatron?
ATL @ NO | Saints - Picking the Saints is probably why my overall season picking record is generally not up to par -- but I'm still not a believer in the Falcons and I have trouble picking against Brees.
NYJ @ SEA | Seahawks - Tebow Time, please?
DAL @ PHI | Cowboys - I feel better picking the Cowboys against the lowly Eagles. Two 3-5 teams with coaches and playoff aspirations on the chopping block. Should be fun.
STL @ SF | Rams - Call me crazy, but I'm picking the Rams...Just got a feelin'.

Monday, November 12
KC @ PIT | Steelers - Is Matt Cassell still even the QB? Steelers...

Thanks for reading guys.

2012-13 Picks - NFL - Week 9

"NOT SOLD. COWBOYS ROLL."

Sunday, November 4 - Game of the Week
DAL @ ATL | Cowboys - Here we go again. The Cowboys are playing in this weeks "Game of the Week". And of course, I can't get off the Romo-coaster just yet. Week in and week out, they're on the brink of something special. Last weeks failed connection between Romo and Bryant sums up their season pretty well. But handing the first loss of the season to the dirty birds would be a good way to cling on to their playoff hopes. On the other hand, we have Matty-Ice and the Falcons tearing through the elite of the -- wait -- who have the really beaten again? Chiefs; (1-7), Chargers; (4-4), Panthers; (1-6), Redskins; (3-5), Raiders; (3-4), Eagles; (3-4), and the Broncos (4-3). The only team with a winning record is the Broncos, whom they beat by only 6 in week 2 before Peyton was half-way settled in Denver. My summation: NOT SOLD. COWBOYS ROLL.

Thursday, November 1
KC @ SD | Chargers - Rivers and company have to get a win at home one of these days, right?

Sunday, November 4
DEN @ CIN | Broncos - I've been hesitant to pick the Broncos week in and week out. But much like Tebow, Manning has the ability to change a culture -- and throw the ball with elite level accuracy.
BAL @ CLE | Ravens - Weeden puts up big yardage week after week, but seems they struggle in the Red Zone, which leads to their struggles in the win column.
ARI @ GB | Packers - Because it's the Packers versus the Cards. Although the Cards "D" does have it's "moments".
BUF @ HOU | Texans - H-Town is still on a roll. Still waiting on a big game from A. Johnson (#80), though.
MIA @ IND | Colts - Just feeling Lucky.
DET @ JAC | Lions - I've got to say the loss of MJD will make it tough to pick the Jags anytime soon.
CHI @ TEN | Bears - Chris Johnson is still on my fantasy football blacklist. Which in real life translates to a Bears "W".
CAR @ WAS | Redskins - We might be prematurely anointing RG3 -- but I'll take the 'Skins at home against a struggling Panthers team any week.
TB @ OAK | Buccaneers - Road win for Martin, Freeman and Jackson. Quite the under-the-radar offensive trio.
MIN @ SEA | Seahawks - Only because of the twelfth man...
PIT @ NYG | Steelers - I pick against the G-Men, alot. But I've got a feeling Big Ben still wants to be better than Eli and the Giants know how to lose unexpectedly -- and win that way, too.

Monday, November 5
PHI @ NO | Eagles - This is one of the more spectacular toss-ups I've seen in a while. Both supremely underachieving squads with head coaches nearing the chopping block. My lucky (but unreliable) coin says, Philly.


Thanks for reading guys.