I jumped back on the “50 over” bandwagon this week after rolling to a 14-2 record last weekend. It’s a total long shot, but if I could 44-4 I am right there. Yea, right! But last week did two things for me – 1. I am primed for the playoffs and 2. Secured a better than .500 record in my best bets and most likely +.500 for the year.
This week: 0-0-1
Green Bay -2.0 over Jacksonville – Every year there are disappointing teams and every year those disappointing teams play one superb game down the stretch. It’s almost as if the players realize, “hey we only have a couple games left we better make them count.” For the Jags that game is next Thursday against the Colts, which means they will continue to disappoint this week.
Indianapolis -17.0 over Detroit – My prediction – the Colts storm to a 35-0 lead, but then relax enough to allow Calvin Johnson to go nuts at garbage time.
We need to figure out a way to weight touchdowns for fantasy purposes. I mean a game winning TD should count for more than a touchdown with 39 people in the stadium that brings your team to within 28 points, right? I almost sense that Calvin Johnson owners are actually rooting for the Colts to go up big, in hopes that the Lions can score a couple late TDs. Pathetic! Of course, I don’t own Johnson.
Cincinnati +6.5 over Washington – I think I am on to something with this “they’re begging people to bet on the” theory. Seriously, 6.5 is a ridiculous line.
Atlanta -3.0 over NorthEastern Florida U – The Bucs looked one of those “directional” schools against the Panthers. 301 yards rushing? Looks like what I said about the Bucs in the pre-season was dead on – “Everyone is buzzing about the Bucs defense returning to dominance, but what I see is they’re one year older”.
Miami -6 over San Francisco – Here is what I wrote about the Dolphins back in pre-season: “Look for them to improve by mid-year and be a great cover team in the second half”. I had no idea they would actually be a factor in the AFC East race.
Seattle -2.5 over St. Louis – I really, really wanted to take the Rams in this game, but the fact is I watched Marc Bulger up close last week and he is completely lost on the field. He basically is down to three throws – a swing pass, short middle pass and a fire as far as you can bomb. Anytime type of timing pass and he miss fires so badly, you would think he is blind.
NY Jets -7.5 over Buffalo – The “beginning you to take the points” line.
Tennessee -3 over Houston – I think the Texans should petition the NFL to see if they can play combine the second half of the 2007 season with the second half of this year. That should put them about 10-6 and headed to the playoffs.
Baltimore -2.5 over Pittsburgh – I am not 100% confident in this pick, but I do know that this will be a blood bath. I also know that next week both Baltimore and Pittsburgh will fall flat – my “two physical games in a row” theory.
Denver +7.5 over Carolina – This is the easiest money ever made. The Broncos might win this game out-right. For multitude of reasons – Carolina is on a short week, this is a sandwich game in between two prime-time games, the Panthers have not lost at home this year (well publicized last week) and the broncos actually match-up well with them.
Kansas City +6.0 over San Diego – So what the Chargers beat the crap out of the Raiders and now we are supposed to fear them.
Arizona -3 over Minnesota – What would the line be if Tavaris Jackson wasn’t starting? Minnesota would have to be favored, right? The only chance the Vikings have in this game is if Whisenhunt decides he wants to establish a running game. The Cardinals simply need to accept the fact that they are a pass-first, pass-second, pass-nth team. They cannot run the ball and they need to remove running plays from the cute, little colored coded coaches card. Just lineup with Arrington in the backfield, three wide and let Warner sling the ball!
Oakland -7 over New England – This is going to be very ugly, something along the lines of 20-15. With the 20 being made up of 6 field goals and a safety. And the 15, three field goals and a TD with a missed extra point. This game will be like watching two 80-year olds, uh, get it on!
Dallas -3.0 over NY Giants – I don’t know what to make of all this crap going on with the Cowboys. Allegedly, TO is pissed about not getting the ball. He called out Romo and Witten for being gay-lovers and drawing up plays in their hotel room together. Then allegedly Witten, obviously being “the man”, defended his, uh, female dog, and had words with Romo. Where the hell does Jessica Simpson fit into this love pentagon?
You know what, when you get this much distraction and the line stays as motionless as Art Shell’s face during any game, you know that somehow, some way this is going to work to the Cowboys advantage.
Philadelphia -14.0 over Cleveland – So I am watching NFL network Total Access last week when a commercial for “Five hour energy” comes on. And the spokesperson for this segment is Braylon Edwards. He is going on about this product and how it helps him with this and that. Then they cut to Braylon running a slant pattern in practice and catching a ball. Now if you blink you missed this portion, but it got me thinking how times did they have to shoot that clip until Edwards finally caught the ball – 5, 10, 20 times? I started thinking after about the 20th take, some computer geek walked over to the director and whispered in his ear “Dude, let me CGI the catch!”
Last Week: 14-2
Season: 108-97-1
Best Bet: Denver +7.5
Best Bets: 9-4-1
