2012-13 Picks - NFL - Week 8

Sunday, October 28 - Game of the Week
NYG @ DAL | Cowboys
History alone is enough for this to be the game of the week. But with the Cowboys at a competitive 3-3 and the Giants now on a 3-game win streak after being at an even 2-2, this game has potential to shift the momentum. In a starkly competitive division, not unlike it's AFC counterpart, this game has some weight behind it...Which is why I'm picking Tony Romo -- again -- to get it done on a semi-grandiose stage. They've been on the cusp of stealing a few games, and I feel they'll cross the bridge on this one. *crosses fingers*

Thursday, October 25
TB @ MIN | Vikings - Serious threat to NFC North or the Arizona Cardinals from from 2 weeks ago? Leaning more towards the former, but with not as strong an adjective.

Sunday, October 28
CAR @ CHI | Bears - The last thing a struggling second year QB wants to see is a Chicago Bears front line, Urlacher & Briggs and dare I say it, a pretty scary Bears secondary.
SD @ CLE | Chargers - Only picking the Chargers because I always forget who's starting at QB for the Browns...that's a bad sign.
SEA @ DET | Seahawks - Both the Seahawks and Lions are coming off of atrocious weeks offensively -- Pete Carroll has a way of turning things around quickly after poor weeks... (To my knowledge, that statement has NO factual evidence behind it)
JAC @ GB | Packers - Packers win. But where's JerMichael Finley.
MIA @ NYJ | Jets - With a win here, seems our chances of seeing Tim Tebow starting at QB for the Jets are minimal for the rest of the season. =(
ATL @ PHI | Eagles - If there was a time for the Falcons to get a loss. Today seems fitting.
WAS @ PIT | Steelers - Pittsburgh is a little banged-up...But they're still the Steelers, right?
NE @ STL | Patriots - I'm anticipating 400+ yards of offense today from the Pats.
IND @ TEN | Titans - Hasselback changes the dynamic of this team. Adds veteran leadership to a team desperate for an identity.
OAK @ KC | Chiefs - Home team "W", here...
NO @ DEN | Saints - The fact that this was a tough call for me means that Peyton Manning is really back. The Saints are clearly a better team on paper. The lack of Sean Payton clearly hurts them, but they're undoubtedly better...but that is Peyton Manning on the other side of the ball. Should be a good one.

Monday, October 29
SF @ ARI | 49ers - This is exactly the kind of game that the 49ers with the old Alex Smith would lose back in the day -- I think they've evolved...Only a little bit, though.

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The Sporacle versus "The Experts" in Week 8

Skip Bayless' tweet toward the end of the Chargers' Monday Night Football pretty much sums up the kind of season Philip Rivers has been having as of late; And somehow the Chiefs are atop the AFC West. I can honestly say I didn't see that coming.

The Cowboys are consistently inconsistent--which is getting really bothersome considering I keep expecting them to turn things around. And well, Tebow was pretty horrific on Sunday. I'm hoping he has a really fast learning curve.

Weekly Wrap-Up
The Sporacle's Picks in Week 8 | 8-5 (.615)
The Experts average in Week 8 | 93-37 (.713)

P.s. Have you heard of Tebowing? It's gonna be a thing.

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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.