This is GIF representation on how I feel after my picks last week. 7-8 against the spread? Not great, but who needs the spread anyway? Am I still going to pick the spread every week? You’re damn right I am, because I’m on a war path to get back to .500 in that category.
Last Week:
Pick ‘Em: 12-3 (T-Best of Season)
Spread: 7–7-1
Season:
Pick ‘Em: 62-44
Spread: 12-16-1
BONUS BETS:
Clearly picking the spread isn’t my strong suit but Bonus Bets are hot in the streets. 3-1 so far this season. The Colts and the Jags hit the under, while the Cardinals got shut out, ruining a perfect season of Bonus Bets. Don’t fret, there will be more bonus bets and the quest for the 23-1 Bonus Bet record begins.
MIA @ BAL
Welcome back Thursday Night Football. After a few weeks of fun and competitive football on Thursday nights, we’re thrust back into the TNF we all love. That being, two underwhelming teams battling for my attention as I debate if it’s worth changing the channel. Miami is better without Jay Cutler and Baltimore has minimal to offer on offense. This one could get ugly folks.
Pick ‘Em: Miami Dolphins
Spread: Miami Dolphins (+3)
MIN@CLE
If the Dolphins and Ravens battling on Thursday night wasn’t enough for you, the NFL generously provided the Vikings and Browns from London kicking off at 8:30 AM CT on Sunday morning. The Football Gods are truly smiling down on us this week. Hue Jackson’s weekly starting quarterback announcement each week and keeping Cleveland in the news is the only reason he still has his job.
Pick ‘Em: Minnesota Vikings
Spread: Minnesota Vikings (-9.5)
OAK@BUF
I really can’t figure out the Raiders. When I think they’ll be hot, they lay an egg. When I think they’ll lay another egg and get booed out of Oakland, they shock the world and defeat Kansas City in prime-time. Will Oakland win this week? I sure don’t know, but I’m gonna say yes, even as the underdog on the road without Marshawn Lynch.
Pick ‘Em: Oakland Raiders
Spread: Oakland Raiders (+2.5)
IND@CIN
These two teams both have head coaches on the hot seat, so jobs could be on the line in this game. Nothing says “my team sucks” quite like firing a head coach or coordinator mid-season. AJ Green should have a monster game, other than that I expect minimal highlights from this one.
Pick ‘Em: Cincinnati Bengals
Spread: Cincinnati Bengals (-10)
LAC@NE
Has the fog cleared in New England yet? I brushed off Bill Belichick and the Patriots at home. Dare I make that same mistake again? No. I can’t bet against Tom Brady again, probably because he’ll cheat a to win. Phillip Rivers and the Chargers offense shouldn’t be written off though. They’re pretty good too.
Pick ‘Em: New England Patriots
Spread: Los Angeles Chargers (+7.5)
CHI@NO
Remember your first day of high school? You were intimidated, nervous, and tried way too hard to impress. That’s what Mitch Trubisky will look like Sunday. He will be facing off against a future Hall-of-Famer, so I can’t really blame him. The Saints high-powered, fast offense will run the Bears out of New Orleans.
Pick ‘Em: New Orleans Saints
Spread: New Orleans Saints (-9)
ATL@NYJ
If the Super Bowl hangover is a real thing, the Falcons are struggling to make it to brunch right now. Losers of three in-a-row, Atlanta’s offense is looking for answers. I mentioned last week how Julio Jones should wreck defenses regularly, and he showed flashes with a big-boy touchdown Sunday (seen below) but it hasn’t been enough. While the Jets have impressed, Atlanta wins here.
Pick ‘Em: Atlanta Falcons
Spread: Atlanta Falcons (-5)
SF@PHI
The masters of covering the spread have run out of luck. After getting smashed against Dallas last week, the 49’ers now have to go to Philadelphia and play the best team in the league (record-wise). This looks like a beat down in the making, no other way to put it. Never count the ‘Niners out to cover the spread though.
Pick ‘Em: Philadelphia Eagles
Spread: San Francisco 49’ers (+12.5)
CAR@TB
Not-so-Super Cam managed to lead his offense to three whole points against the Chicago Bears. You read that right, feel free to read it again. Just when the Panthers looked good they lose to the Bears, and gave up not one, but two, defensive touchdowns after turning the ball over. Tampa Bay has lost four out of five with their only win over the Giants, does that really count? Probably not. Time to put up or shut up Cam. Oh wait, he already did that too by refusing to speak to media.
Pick ‘Em: Carolina Panthers
Spread: Carolina Panthers (+2.5)
HOU@SEA
Seattle’s defense has been scary their last two games on the road, now the 12th man welcomes them home as they face a rookie quarterback, pretty good odds for the Seahawks despite a horrific offensive line. Both quarterbacks will probably have to run for their lives around the pocket, that’s why I give an experienced Russell Wilson the edge.
Pick ‘Em: Seattle Seahawks
Spread: Seattle Seahawks (-5.5)
DAL@WSH
Dallas is coming off of a 30 point win and has a relatively healthy team. Washington has been much more underwhelming, but both teams have a record of 3-3 nonetheless. I hate Zeke Elliot and his stupid crop-top jersey and stupid six-pack abs, but he’s a really really good football player.
Pick ‘Em: Dallas Cowboys
Spread: Washington Redskins (+2.5)
PIT@DET
Pittsburgh finally cracked the code (even though I cracked it first in last weeks blog). Give Le’Veon Bell the ball over, and over, and over, and over. AND IT WORKED! Giving their best player the ball 35 times wasn’t rocket science, but it worked wonders regardless. The Lions seemed to have hit peak December form, losing three out of their last four.
Pick ‘Em: Pittsburgh Steelers
Spread: Pittsburgh Steelers (-3)
DEN@KC
Never will I ever put my faith in Trevor Siemian again. I never thought I’d go down that road, but I did it once. Never again. I can, however, put my faith in Alex Smith and one of the best offenses in the league. It’s always fun when these two teams meet.
Pick ‘Em: Kansas City Chiefs
Spread: Denver Broncos (+7.5)
BONUS BETS:
-Miami has Matt Moore stepping in against a good defense, and Baltimore’s offense is bad as mentioned before. I’m gonna take the UNDER in this game (37.5).
-Oakland’s offense is coming off of a breakout week. Buffalo is doing the same. I see both teams trading shots in this one, hitting the OVER (45.5)
View From The Bench 