So Vince McMahon sells 100 million dollars of WWE stock and now people are talking about a new XFL. I say hell yes. I will always remember those Saturdays in March when Papa Lach would turn on the XFL because the only thing else to do was freeze our ass off in the cold Wisconsin winter. Who can forget the white trash gimmicks, awful football and Jeff Brohm being a G.
Everyone remembers the classic 1961 film, we were forced to watch in 6th grade. Two gangs, the sharks and the jets, battle not only with weapons, but with their vocals as they sing their way to control of a Manhattan neighborhood. Well its 2018 now and the Sharks and the Jets are once again brawling. The San Jose Sharks and the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL that is. So with such a long and murderous history between these two, it should come as no surprise that some San Jose Sharks said that Winnipeg was their least favorite city to visit. Sharks forward Tomas Hertl and defense men Justin Braun and Tim Heed, called the city dark and cold and Braun even said that the hotel wifi is debatable.
So after the Sharks would go on to lose 4-1 to the Jets, the city of Winnipeg rallied to defend itself from these comments:
Dayna Spiring, president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg had some great knowledge to drop on the subject of weather by stating “Winnipeg is actually the second most sunny city in Canada with an annual average of 2,353 hours of sunshine.” And also stating that she “can understand that they don’t like Winnipeg. It’s never fun to lose.”
The mayor of Winnipeg Brian Bowman even got in on the fun by tweeting a nice “How to” guide to connect to the wifi in Winnipeg.
So naturally these two teams are both currently in playoff positions, so we can all hope that a playoff series between them is in the future.
Chris Fowler better watch out brother less he wants those 24 inch pythons to get you brother. I mean Terry thats his job but you do you brother also don’t do us like Gawker we don’t have millions to spend on a lawsuit.
$42 for a Redds $36 for a Miller Lite. That’s what the NCAA expected you to shell out for the NCAA college football championship tonight. Holy shit if a bartender ever said that’ll be 42 bucks for a beer idk if I would laugh or just immediately cry/vomit. Oh and 0 dollars goes to you know the guys actually playing. Don’t believe me see below.
I’m excited to announce that my friends Mike and Frank have hopped on the Bench and are now authors on this electrifying blog. You’ll get to learn more about them and their scorching hot takes on not only the blog, but….
(Drum Roll Please)
We started a podcast! Now instead of wasting brain cells reading our work, you can waste even more by listening to our shenanigans once a week on Views From The 315.
The weekly show will feature all kinds of hot takes, plenty of sports talk, and, my personal favorite, weekly stories from Mike.
I’m not saying this is the hottest new podcast of 2018, but that’s exactly what I’m saying.
You can listen to our first episode and follow the pod on SoundCloud by clicking the link below:
Welcome back to NFL Picks and Preview. After another one week hiatus, I have returned again, hopefully for good this time (honestly, no promises). I’ll quick recap my last couple weeks and dig into Week 15.
Last Week:
Week 13 Pick ‘Em: 10-6
Week 14 Pick ‘Em: 8-8
Week 13 Spread: 9-7
Season:
Pick ‘Em: 127-81
Spread: 42-38-5
Week 13 Bonus Bets:
-IND v JAX — Under — W
-LAR v ARZ — Over — W
Bonus bets are as up and down as your favorite Disney World rollercoaster but being 8-6 isn’t the worst thing. I’ll take what I can get.
DEN@IND
Here we are, we finally made it. The last installment of Thursday Night Football in 2017 and boy, did the NFL really set us up with a doozy. Both teams rank in the bottom seven in terms of points per game among the NFL, and bottom nine in scoring defense per game. Like I said before, a real doozy for the Thursday night finale this season. I have a little more faith in Denver here, as their defense got the shutout against the Jets last week.
If Madden predicted it, it has to be true right?
Pick ‘Em: Denver Broncos
Spread: Denver Broncos (-2.5)
CHI@DET
Thursday Night Football wrapping up means the return of Saturday games.
Ps. Can the Bears stop saying “da”. It’s not 1985 anymore.
2017’s first regular-season Saturday game picks up right where Thursday Night Football left off with another barn-burner. Chicago appears to be hitting their stride after blowing out Cincinnati last week, and narrowly losing to San Francisco the week before that. Detroit has been up and down in recent weeks, so a coin flip could probably predict this game better than I could (but I’m picking Chicago).
Pick ‘Em: Chicago Bears
Spread: Chicago Bears (+5.5)
LAC@KC
Speaking of teams hitting their strides, the Chargers have won four in-a-row. With the Chiefs losing four of their last five, the AFC West race has suddenly heated up with these two 7-6 teams. Eric Berry would have owned this game and shut down Phillip Rivers but he’s sitting on IR. I don’t see Kansas City’s pass rush or secondary slowing down Phillip Rivers. Chargers in a close one.
Pick ‘Em: Los Angeles Chargers
Spread: Los Angeles Chargers (-1)
GB@CAR
After 8 weeks of agony, he has returned. Aaron Rodgers is healthy and back starting for the Packers.
Even more intriguing, he’s not listed on the injury report, meaning he’s 100% healthy. Will I still shudder in fear when he takes his first hit on Sunday? Yes, but I’m still pumped for the king of the north to return. That being said, they have a tough task ahead going to Carolina to keep their playoff hopes alive. But, do you think I’m gonna pick against the GOAT?
Pick ‘Em: Green Bay Packers
Spread: Green Bay Packers (+3)
MIA@BUF
Miami has a nice little two-game win streak going including an impressive home win against New England on Monday night. Now they travel to the north where Buffalo is still fighting for their playoff lives. The Bills got an ugly, snow-filled win without Tyrod Taylor last week, and it was a high-quality snow game. If you don’t love a good snow game you’re not a true football fan.
I’ll give Buffalo the home advantage this week, but the result could be different when they meet in the regular season-finale in two weeks.
Pick ‘Em: Buffalo Bills
Spread: Miami Dolphins (+3.5)
BAL@CLE
As if not having a win was bad enough, Browns fans had their hearts ripped out again last week after blowing a fourth-quarter lead, and then eventually losing the game in overtime to Green Bay last week.
Now they’ll get right back on the horse against Baltimore, who is still in the crowded AFC wildcard picture. The Ravens put up quite the fight in Pittsburgh on Sunday night, and I expect the same energy in Cleveland this weekend.
Pick ‘Em: Baltimore Ravens
Spread: Baltimore Ravens (-7)
CIN@MIN
Getting blown out in Chicago does not bode well for Cincinnati as they travel to Minnesota to play the NFC North leading Vikings. If the Bears defense held the Bengals to seven points last week, imagine what the Vikings will be capable of. Are you picturing a shutout? I am. That won’t stop Cincinnati’s front seven from flying around the field trying to dish out concussions. They’re easily the dirtiest players in the game, a la Ric Flair.
Pick ‘Em: Minnesota Vikings
Spread: Minnesota Vikings (-10.5)
NYJ@NO
The New York Jets had a slim chance to win this game, but with their starting quarterback Josh McCown being placed on IR with a broken hand, their chances are nearly zero. New Orleans is coming off of a mini-bye, having 10 days of rest after their Thursday night loss to Atlanta. That means rookie sensation Alvin Kamara has recovered from his concussion, which ironically will give the Jets a major headache.
Pick ‘Em: New Orleans Saints
Spread: New Orleans Saints (-15.5)
PHI@NYG
Carson Wentz’ ACL is officially torn along with the hearts of Philadelphia fans. For pride’s sake, it would be best for New York to show up and give their best effort this game. A 61-yard field goal won the game for the Eagles the last time these two teams met, and I’m sure the Giants haven’t forgotten about that, but just in case….
While I think Philadelphia pulls off the win, it’ll be another close affair.
Pick ‘Em: Philadelphia Eagles
Spread: New York Giants (+7.5)
ARZ@WSH
Both Arizona and Washington are coming in to this game short-handed with players on both sides of the ball injured for both teams. Neither team is in playoff contention, so this game has NFL draft order implications, and that’s about it. Washington at home is the only slight advantage I give them, don’t expect too many points in this one.
Pick ‘Em: Washington Redskins
Spread: Arizona Cardinals (+4.5)
HOU@JAX
With a win, Jacksonville clinches their first playoff birth in a decade. That’s some heavy stakes for a team that was bad for that long. I never thought I’d see the day, but the Jaguars are the real deal this season with wins over Pittsburgh, Los Angeles (Chargers), and Seattle. Leonard Fournette had 100 yards in his pro debut week one against Houston, expect more of the same this time around. Just hope that the Jaguar fans in attendance don’t throw things at Jadaveon Clowney…
Pick ‘Em: Jacksonville Jaguars
Spread: Jacksonville Jaguars (-11)
LAR@SEA
The Rams traveling to Seattle will have the most impact on the NFC playoff picture this week, regardless of outcome. Playing in Seattle is tough business, just ask the Eagles. Los Angeles hasn’t had a win against a quality road opponent since taking care of business in Jacksonville week six. They’re looking to send a message in Seattle this weekend, and they will.
Pick ‘Em: Los Angeles Rams
Spread: Los Angeles Rams (+2.5)
NE@PIT
While Los Angeles and Seattle has the biggest impact on the NFC playoff picture, this game has the biggest impact on the AFC playoffs in terms of home-field advantage. That’s gonna be a big deal for Pittsburgh who has notoriously sputtered against New England in the AFC Championship game. The Steelers need this one, bad. They’ll use the extra motivation from Ryan Shazier to bring this one home.
Pick ‘Em: Pittsburgh Steelers
Spread: Pittsburgh Steelers (+3)
TEN@SF
San Francisco would love nothing more than to make the road to the playoffs difficult for Marcus Mariota and the Titans. Both teams are stringing together wins late in the season, but it’s too late for the 49ers. Tennessee should bounce back from an ugly loss last week at Arizona and firmly plant themselves in the AFC playoff picture.
Pick ‘Em: Tennessee Titans
Spread: Tennessee Titans (+1.5)
DAL@OAK
The Sunday night-cap features two teams fighting for their playoff lives. Both teams have struggled against quality opponents so this is the perfect late-season matchup to gauge where both teams stand. With the AFC playoff picture more open than the NFC, this game should mean more for Oakland, meaning they’ll get the win.
Pick ‘Em: Oakland Raiders
Spread: Oakland Raiders (+3)
ATL@TB
Three one-possession losses in a row is a tough pill to swallow for Tampa Bay, especially with Atlanta winning four of their last five and entering this game with 10 days of rest. It’ll be a tough mountain for Tampa Bay to climb, and I see them coming up short. Packer fans should be rooting for the Bucs if they want an easier path to the playoffs, but I don’t see it happening.
Pick ‘Em: Atlanta Falcons
Spread: Atlanta Falcons (-6)
Bonus Bets:
– I’ll keep it short and sweet this week. Cincinnati @ Minnesota, Under 42.
-New York Jets @ New Orleans Saints, Under 47.
After an unannounced Thanksgiving hiatus, I have returned. Because i’m not as committed as some of you may think I am, I only did pick ’em last week, no spread or bonus bets. So I posted pick ’em results from the previous two weeks, and spread/bonus bets from two weeks ago. Sound good? Great. Let’s get to Week 13.
Last Week:
Pick ‘Em:
Week 11: 7-7
Week 12: 13-3
Week 11 Spread: 8-4-2
Season:
Pick ‘Em: 109-67
Spread: 33-31-5
Week 11 Bonus Bets:
-KC v NYG — Over — L
-BAL v GB — Over — L
No more betting on the Packers. It never goes well for me. An 0-2 week of bonus bets leaves me at 6-6 with four weeks remaining in the season.
WSH@DAL
The NFC East is all but wrapped up for Philadelphia so these two teams are on the outside looking in. Sure, there’s still playoff hopes, but with the NFC over performing, it’s now or never for both teams. The Cowboys have lost three in-a-row and Dak Prescott has been exposed without Zeke. Washington should pounce on this opportunity as Kirk Cousins still aims to impress and finally earn his big-money contract.
Pick ‘Em: Washington Redskins
Spread: Washington Redskins (+2)
TB@GB
Green Bay had their hopes crushed last week on the field in Pittsburgh, but hope was restored when Aaron Rodgers was dropping dimes in pregame.
Speaking of injured players, Jameis Winston is returning for Tampa Bay this week. Despite that, I have hopes that Green Bay is finally turning the corner and becoming a decent team without Aaron Rodgers. Here’s to Brett Hundley’s first win at Lambeau.
Pick ‘Em: Green Bay Packers
Spread: Green Bay Packers (PK)
MIN@ATL
The Falcons FINALLY took my advice and threw it up to Julio Jones….a lot. This was the Julio Jones that I missed. Torching defenses and breaking ankles on the regular.
Jones and the Falcon offense will have a tougher test when they host the Vikings on Sunday, but I think they’re up to the task. Atlanta is sick of hearing about the Super Bowl hangover and have put themselves in a decent position to make the playoffs.
Pick ‘Em: Atlanta Falcons
Spread: Atlanta Falcons (-3)
NE@BUF
Remember this?
That seems like a lifetime ago for both teams. Matt Patricia has worked his magic again and has the Pats D on track to win the AFC. But first they have to survive a divisional matchup with Buffalo who looks to have righted their ship after a three-game losing streak. However, Bill Belichick doesn’t lose the AFC East.
Pick ‘Em: New England Patriots
Spread: Buffalo Bills (+8.5)
SF@CHI
San Fran fans are acting like Jimmy G is the second coming of God. I suppose when you’re team is 1-10 a decent quarterback may seem that way. Garoppolo hasn’t won me over just yet, and I think he could be a letdown in his first start with his new team. In a shocking twist, I think the Bears come away with the W. The 49ers have been kings of covering this year, expect it to be close.
Pick ‘Em: Chicago Bears
Spread: San Francisco 49ers (+3.5)
HOU@TEN
In a crowded AFC playoff picture, the Titans are still in control of the AFC South. They’ve won five out of their last six and their only home loss came in week one. Houston is on the exact opposite end of the spectrum losing four out of their last five and haven’t had a road win since week two. All signs point to Tennessee.
Pick ‘Em: Tennessee Titans
Spread: Houston Texans (+7)
DEN@MIA
Denver and Miami have both played hot potato at the quarterback position due to injury and incompetence. The defenses haven’t performed that well either. These cellar dwellers don’t have much to play for besides pride and the fear of losing a job. Denver has more at stake with John Elway breathing down the back of the organization. I think they can handle the heat (PUNS!).
Pick ‘Em: Denver Broncos
Spread: Denver Broncos (-1)
KC@NYJ
Revis island returns to New York, but this time he’ll be facing his former team as a member of the Chiefs.
Kansas City needs him to perform immediately if they want to stop their three-game skid. The New York Jets are the perfect team to end a skid against, however, the Jets have been tough to knock off at home. The Chiefs should squeak out a close one.
Pick ‘Em: Kansas City Chiefs
Spread: New York Jets (+4.5)
IND@JAX
After narrowly losing to Arizona last week, Jacksonville looks to bounce back. Indianapolis got blanked 27-0 at home when these teams met just over a month ago and gave up ten sacks in the contest. TEN. In case you don’t watch football often, that’s a lot. Expect a very similar result this time around.
Pick ‘Em: Jacksonville Jaguars
Spread: Jacksonville Jaguars (-9.5)
DET@BAL
Detroit is 4-1 on the road this season, but they have notoriously collapsed in December. Here’s a representation of what football looks like in December at Ford Field.
Both teams need to win now if they plan on making the playoffs this season. The Lions will build themselves up with one more win before the collapse comes.
Pick ‘Em: Detroit Lions
Spread: Detroit Lions (+3)
CLE@LAC
With the AFC West in shambles, the Los Angeles Chargers have stepped up and are getting hot at the right time. Things only get easier as they host the winless Cleveland Browns. The big story in Cleveland is the return of Josh Gordon. It wasn’t pretty getting back, and finding out what he did in high school and college? It’s incredible he performed the way he did.
Now clean (hopefully), Gordon should tear up the league again, but Los Angeles has the fire power to keep up with him.
Pick ‘Em: Los Angeles Chargers
Spread: Cleveland Browns (+14)
NYG@OAK
Before I can even offer predictions let’s review the storylines coming into this game:
So this game should be fun. Will Eli Manning even be active? Will Ben McAdoo get fired mid-game? Will the Raiders miss Michael Crabtree? STAY TUNED!
Pick ‘Em: Oakland Raiders
Spread: Oakland Raiders (-6.5)
CAR@NO
After the mess I described above, it’s nice to get back to a game with playoff implications. Cam Newton and Greg Olsen are both expected to suit up, but how much they’ll impact the game remains to be seen. New Orleans on the other hand is relatively healthy compared to the Panthers and need to take care of business at home, as the winner take control in the NFC South.
Pick ‘Em: New Orleans Saints
Spread: Carolina Panthers (+3)
LAR@ARZ
When these two met in week seven, it was all Rams, 33-0. Since then, each team has had their share of ups and downs (mostly up for the Rams and mostly down for the Cardinals), but Arizona is still technically in the NFC playoff hunt. That being said, they have Blaine Gabbert starting under center on Sunday. Not the best option for a turnover-forcing defense. Meanwhile, the Rams high-powered offense continues to chug along, averaging just under 30 points per game. Los Angeles should not only win, but cover the spread.
Pick ‘Em: Los Angeles Rams
Spread: Los Angeles Rams (-7)
PHI@SEA
Here’s how I feel about this potential NFC playoff matchup:
This game should be fun all-around, and prime time games in Seattle always deliver…
(Still very mad about this game, time doesn’t heal all wounds)
In their last five games, Philadelphia has not come across a formidable team, while Seattle has only faced one potential playoff team. This will be a great measuring stick for both teams coming down the stretch.
Pick ‘Em: Seattle Seahawks
Spread: Seattle Seahawks (+5)
PIT@CIN
The bad blood between these two teams is always must-see television, so having the game in the national spotlight to cap off week 13 is perfect. Pittsburgh will have their eye on New England’s game Sunday as each team is vying for home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs. Pittsburgh won’t squander their chance to keep pace or leap frog the Patriots in the race for first place in the AFC.
Pick ‘Em: Pittsburgh Steelers
Spread: Cincinnati Bengals (+5)
Bonus Bets:
-Since betting the overs didn’t do me any justice last week, I’ll take the under with Indianapolis at Jacksonville (41).
-Who am I kidding? A wise blogger once said, “Life is too short to bet the under.” The Rams and Cardinals will hit the over (45.5).
THE STREAK IS OVER. Whether it be betting skill or dumb luck, I had my first week above .500 against the spread. Another above .500 week in pick ’em is a success in my book, so needless to say, it was a good week.
Last Week:
Pick ‘Em: 9-5
Spread: 8-6
Season:
Pick ‘Em: 89-57
Spread: 25-27-3
Bonus Bets:
-NO v BUF — Over 46 — W
-DAL v ATL — Over 50.5 — L
Another 1-1 week leaves me at 6-4 which isn’t bad but as always, room for improvement. Let’s get into some picks.
TEN@PIT
On paper, this is one of the better Thursday night matchups this year. Both teams are coming in hot too, each boasting a four game win-streak. Pittsburgh will be better equipped to handle the short week with an impressive no-huddle offense, they’ll take care of business at home in a close one.
Pick ‘Em: Pittsburgh Steelers
Spread: Tennessee Titans (+7)
BAL@GB
Green Bay is the most unpredictable team in the league right now. Each week I flip-flop on whether they’re a playoff team, or should tank for a high draft pick. Baltimore has been equally unimpressive losing three out of their last four. If picking against Green Bay motivates them to win like it did last week, I will continue to do it.
Side note: Aaron Rodgers returned to the practice field doing some light work this week.
Pick ‘Em: Baltimore Ravens
Spread: Baltimore Ravens (-2)
DET@CHI
The Bears have shown flashes of potential, by way of their last three losses being by only one possession. With Detroit in the thick of the NFC Wild Card race, expect them to perform well, especially after a slow start against the Browns last week. Matthew Stafford is sneakily putting together a good year, and he should at at least two more touchdown passes this week.
Pick ‘Em: Detroit Lions
Spread: Detroit Lions (-3)
JAX@CLE
Two years ago this matchup would have easily been this weeks Toilet Bowl. Jacksonville has improved significantly while the Browns are still the laughing stock of the NFL. The Jaguars even had the guts to call a fake punt last week, and scored on it.
Every week I wonder when Hue Jackson will get fired, and an embarrassing home loss to Jacksonville could finally put them past the tipping point.
Pick ‘Em: Jacksonville Jaguars
Spread: Jacksonville Jaguars (-7.5)
TB@MIA
This game was originally supposed to be played in week one of the season but thanks to hurricane conditions it got pushed to this week. Both teams could really use this as their bye week, but Mother Nature had other plans. Talking about the weather delaying this game is more fun than talking about the actual game. It’s gonna be ugly.
Pick ‘Em: Miami Dolphins
Spread: Miami Dolphins (PK)
LAR@MIN
Finally, two division leading teams meeting in the regular season. It’s a sight that isn’t seen too many times this late in the NFL season. Plus the Rams explosive offense going head-to-head against the smash-mouth Vikings defense should be fun. The energy and atmosphere Sean McVay has brought to the Rams makes them a serious threat, NFC beware.
Pick ‘Em: Los Angeles Rams
Spread: Los Angeles Rams (+2)
WSH@NO
The Saints are another fun surprise in the NFL this season alongside the Rams. Both teams share the same record and plenty of offense. So returning home after trouncing the Bills does not bode well for Washington this week. The Redskins have proved they can compete with the best of the NFC, but can’t quite close the door on victories. Expect the same narrative this week.
Pick ‘Em: New Orleans Saints
Spread: Washington Redskins (+7.5)
KC@NYG
Every week people are expecting the New York Giants to turn it around and rally around their coach to get a win, especially this week after management said head coaching decisions won’t be made until after the season. Regardless, the Giants have Kansas City paying a visit, who is one of the better teams in the AFC. The Chiefs will roll even if Ben McaDoo’s head doesn’t.
Pick ‘Em: Kansas City Chiefs
Spread: Kansas City Chiefs (-10.5)
ARZ@HOU
Arizona is coming off of a mini-bye week after hosting Seattle last Thursday night. Houston is still trying to recover from the pounding they took in Los Angeles last week. This will be an ugly one with two backup quarterbacks starting. Adrian Peterson is one of the few playmakers on offense for either team, besides the obvious DeAndre Hopkins who has built rapport with backup Tom Savage. This game is the weekly tossup. I’ll take the Cardinals?
Pick ‘Em: Arizona Cardinals
Spread: Houston Texans (+1)
BUF@LAC
For some reason, Tyrod Taylor got benched. I understand getting wrecked at home against the Saints isn’t the best look, but is Nathan Peterman really the best option? Especially when your team is in the playoff hunt!?
I have no idea what the Bills are thinking. Meanwhile, the Chargers continue to play close, meaningful games. They will be rewarded with a win this week.
Pick ‘Em: Los Angeles Chargers
Spread: Los Angeles Chargers (PK)
CIN@DEN
The quarterback situation is a mess in Denver. This is how I picture head coach Vance Joseph deciphering his quarterback situation.
It’s a mess in Denver. Cincinnati hasn’t been playing much better, but at least their starters are relatively set-in-stone unlike Denver. Both teams boast strong defenses so expect this to be a low-scoring affair.
Pick ‘Em: Denver Broncos
Spread: Cincinnati Bengals (+2.5)
NE@OAK
Oakland is rested and recovered after their bye week, and you better believe they spent their bye week prepping for the Patriots. That being said, Tom Brady and the Patriots always come prepared, no matter the opponent. The atmosphere will be wild with the game being played in Mexico City, Mexico. The Raiders should capitalize on the pandemonium.
Pick ‘Em: Oakland Raiders
Spread: Oakland Raiders (+6.5)
PHI@DAL
The Eagles, like the Raiders, are rested and ready to go after their divisional opponent in Dallas. Zeke has finally accepted his five game suspension which isn’t good for the Cowboys playoff hopes. Dallas showed us last week what they are without Zeke, awful. Philadelphia will score, a lot, and will shut down the Dallas offense.
Pick ‘Em: Philadelphia Eagles
Spread: Philadelphia Eagles (-3.5)
ATL@SEA
A Monday Night Football game with playoff implications!? Rare. The Atlanta offense is banged up, but not as bad as the Seattle defense. That matchup isn’t nearly as exciting as it could be, but it’ll be fun nonetheless. The real question is if Atlanta’s pass rush can create as much pressure as they did last week against Dallas. I’ll take Seattle and a scrambling Russell Wilson in this game.
Pick ‘Em: Seattle Seahawks
Spread: Seattle Seahawks (-3)
Bonus Bets:
-The Chiefs and the Giants may not seem like two high-scoring teams, but for some reason I see fireworks ensuing. I’ll take the over. (44.5)
-Green Bay and Baltimore have the lowest over/under of the week at 38. I think both teams have more potential than that. Gimme the over one more time. (38)
Was it a good week? No. Was it a bad week? No. A 7-6 Pick ‘Em record isn’t ideal, but you can’t be mad going above .500. Another week going 5-7-1 against the spread only digs my hole deeper, but I’m gonna get to back on track, mark my words (please don’t because picking against the spread is hard).
Last Week:
Pick ‘Em: 7-6
Spread: 5-7-1
Season:
Pick ‘Em: 80-52
Spread: 17-21-3
Bonus Bets:
-TB v NO — Under 50 — W
-IND v HOU — Over 49 — L
DeShaun Watson tearing his ACL in practice last Thursday right after I released last week’s column didn’t help my second bonus bet. But it happened nonetheless and 5-3 isn’t a bad start for bonus bets.
SEA@ARI
Seattle wouldn’t have an offense without Russell Wilson. Every week he runs for his life as pass rushers attempt to chase him down. Arizona likely can’t keep him contained, just as Seattle’s banged-up defense likely won’t contain Adrian Peterson who impressed with his heavy workload last week. Seattle’s defense always finds a way to get turnovers, that’s why they’ll beat Arizona in an ugly one.
Pick ‘Em: Seattle Seahawks
Spread: Seattle Seahawks (-6.5)
GB@CHI
Here’s a look at fans in Green Bay.
And here’s a look at the Green Bay Packers.
Bryan Bulaga is injured and probably done for the season and Martellus Bennett was cut for failure to disclose a back injury. Oh and the defense hasn’t forced a punt in six quarters. SIX. That’s a game and a half. There’s a handful of college teams that could beat the Packers right now, so the Bears definitely will.
Pick ‘Em: Chicago Bears
Spread: Chicago Bears (-5)
NO@BUF
The Saints are red-hot and Buffalo is coming off a bad loss last Thursday night. That’s a recipe for Buffalo to grab a win at home. Expect a lot of offense, to the point that you might even see this game featured in Bonus Bets….stay tuned.
Pick ‘Em: Buffalo Bills
Spread: Buffalo Bills (+2.5)
CLE@DET
The worst team in the league going on the road to face a high-scoring offense and have given up 30 or more points in three of their last five games. What could go wrong….? Who will start at quarterback for the Browns? Who knows, but Matthew Stafford will have quite a day for the Lions.
Pick ‘Em: Detroit Lions
Spread: Detroit Lions (-12)
CIN@TEN
The stakes were raised in the AFC South when DeShaun Watson went down last week. Suddenly it became a two team race between the Titans and Jaguars. With the playoffs in sight Marcus Mariota and his team know they can’t lose at home. AJ Green won’t be suspended after throwing a punch last week at Jacksonville, and they’ll need him if they want any chance at beating Tennessee.
Pick ‘Em: Tennessee Titans
Spread: Cincinnati Bengals (+4.5)
PIT@IND
Pittsburgh is healthy and taking care of business. They’ve won four out of their last five games and are very healthy as a team after the bye week. That doesn’t bode well for the Colts, who broke a three-game losing streak against the Texans last weekend. Their success will be short lived after the Steelers visit this weekend.
Pick ‘Em: Pittsburgh Steelers
Spread: Pittsburgh Steelers (-10)
NYJ@TB
Here it is: Week 10’s Toilet Bowl. The Jets have over-performed this season while Tampa Bay has underwhelmed. Therefore, New York is favored on the road. Neither team has much to play for as both are virtually out of the playoff hunt. Expect a lot of empty seats at Raymond James Stadium and a Jets win.
Pick ‘Em: New York Jets
Spread: New York Jets (-2.5)
MIN@WAS
Minnesota has found themselves on a nice four-game winning streak, but three of those games were at home. Now they find themselves traveling to Washington to face-off against the Redskins who pulled off an upset in Seattle this week. What does this all translate to? I don’t know. This one is truly a 50-50 tossup. So I’ll take the Redskins and Kirk Cousins.
Pick ‘Em: Washington Redskins
Spread: Washington Redskins (+1.5)
LAC@JAX
Don’t sleep on the LA Chargers. They have a solid run game with Melvin Gordon (see tweet below), as well as playmakers on defense.
Jacksonville has a similar blueprint with Leonard Fournette (see tweet below) and a daunting secondary.
As surprising as it may sound, this should be a fun game on Sunday. Phillip Rivers leading a game-winning drive sounds about right.
Pick ‘Em: Los Angeles Chargers
Spread: Los Angeles Chargers (+4)
HOU@LA
The injury bug has slammed the Houston Texans. Losing DeShaun Watson was the straw that broke the proverbial camels back, which the team proved last week losing to Indianapolis.
The Rams are gonna have their way Sunday, and put up as many points as they desire.
Pick ‘Em: Los Angeles Rams
Spread: Los Angeles Rams (-12)
DAL@ATL
The Falcon offense is struggling in a big way, even after starting to get Julio Jones the ball more. What better way to right the ship than the terrible Cowboy defense. Don’t think they’re bad?
They’re bad. Now with Zeke Elliot once again suspended (maybe? He might just show up and play anyway), Dan Bailey injured, and Dez Bryant injured things are trending down for Dallas. This is a great chance for Atlanta to prove they are still a force in the NFC.
Pick ‘Em: Atlanta Falcons
Spread: Atlanta Falcons (-3)
NYG@SF
Did I mention Toilet Bowl before? Good news: THERE’S ANOTHER ONE! That being said, I think this is finally the week. This is the week San Francisco gets their first win. New York has given up on head coach Ben McAdoo and I think that point gets driven home this week. McAdoo is coaching for his job, but his team won’t be fighting as hard.
Pick ‘Em: San Francisco 49’ers
Spread: San Francisco 49’ers (+1)
NE@DEN
The once storied rivalry of Peyton Manning vs Tom Brady is dead, but that won’t stop NBC from trying to capitalize on the nostalgia of it in front of a national TV audience on Sunday night. That’s about the only reason this game was thrust into prime-time after the schedule release. Denver has lost four in-a-row, do you think Vance Joseph is still having the time of his life out there?
Pick ‘Em: New England Patriots
Spread: New England Patriots (-7.5)
MIA@CAR
Speaking of not-so-good prime-time games, Miami travels to Carolina Monday night. Picture Jay Cutler trying to pick apart the Panther defense. Comical right? Cam Newton and the Panthers are nipping at the Saints heels for the NFC South lead, and they won’t let Miami get in their way.
Pick ‘Em: Carolina Panthers
Spread: Carolina Panthers (-9)
Bonus Bets:
-Sure it seems like I take the New Orleans Saints and the over in their game every week, but does it work? Usually. So I’ll go to the well one more time. (Over 46)
-Atlanta’s offense has struggled while the Cowboys’ and Dak Prescott are red-hot on offense. I think both teams flash their offensive skill set. (Over 50.5)
WARNING: This isn’t a blog about why you should watch Stranger Things 2, it is a blog why it’s the greatest show of all-time. I’m assuming if you’re reading this, you’ve seen Stranger Things and Stranger Things 2. If you have not, go do that right now. Seriously, you won’t regret it. Spoilers WILL be included so read at your own risk. Maybe you haven’t seen it, but you want to live life on the edge and read this anyway, that’s cool too, but you’ve been warned.
Seriously, SPOILERS AHEAD.
1. The Music
In my 23 years of life I can think of only a handful of instances where the score in a show/movie really had an impact on me. The most recent was Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and the score of that movie was atrocious. So when that title sequence hit and I heard that intro music for Stranger Things 2, I got hyped. Besides the flawless intro music, the original music is always perfectly placed and adds to every scene. It can only be described as 80’s mystery, sci-fi, techno music. Other 80’s classic hits are used throughout the series which provide a rush of nostalgia, typically accompanied by a mini-karaoke session. If you see me wearing headphones the next few months, there’s a large chance I’m listening to a podcast or the Stranger Things soundtrack.
2. Steve Harrington AKA: Dad Steve
The first installment of Stranger Things portrayed Steve Harrington as a jock with little interest outside of sports and his girlfriend Nancy Wheeler. This led to him feuding with Jonathan Beyers, but in Stranger Things 2, Steve disregards Jonathan after being thrust into the sci-fi horrors in Hawkins thanks to Dustin. The Dustin-Steve bromance quickly develops and these two steal the show down the stretch. After things heat up in the final couple episodes, Steve is left to look after Dustin, Mike, Max, and Lucas and boy does he ever. He instantly becomes a hero after attempting to fight off Billy (he tried his best), and thrusts himself into super hero territory after leading the charge into the tunnels in the finale. Where his relationship with Nancy goes remains to be seen, and quite frankly I don’t care, just give me more Dad Steve providing questionable guidance for Dustin.
3. Bob Newby: Superhero
Speaking of Steve being a hero, the ultimate hero in Stranger Things 2 is Bob Newby. When I first saw him on-screen my very first words out of my mouth were, “oh my god that’s Rudy.” As Joyce’s new love interest, Bob presented himself as a nerd and a try-hard. He even does his best to be a father figure and help a struggling Will, which backfires in a huge way. Bob more than makes up for it by deciphering Will’s drawings, and his actions in the lab during episode eight. There was so much foreshadowing that he wouldn’t make it, but I was still crushed when he became demo-dog food. By the end of his time in Stranger Things 2, I was in love with the goof and he truly deserved better. Barb? No. I don’t wanna here it. #TeamBob RIP Bob Newby: Superhero.
4. The Science Actually Made Sense
The science and reasoning in sci-fi shows doesn’t have to make sense, that’s why it’s sci-fi. But the science of Stranger Things 2 is reasonable throughout. Now is an alternate dimension with shadow monsters and demogorgans realistic? Maybe not, it depends who you ask, but the virus invading Will and the evolution of Dart certainly do. The writers even did their best to describe the Upside Down with a “flea and acrobat” metaphor in the first season. Instead of reality being unrealistically stretched, the writers take the screen time to make sense of the supernatural occurrences and eventually overcome them (for now) in fictional Hawkins, Indiana.
5. There’s No Defined Genre
Is it mainly a science fiction story? Maybe, but there’s so much more to this series. Comedy, romance, horror, and action all play major roles in what makes this show so special. Dustin’s female woes, the Mike/El reunion, the Lucas/Max relationship, I could go on and on with storylines that unfold. Accompany those with frequent laughs and a shadow monster possessing a boy, and you get the general outline of Stranger Things 2. And it can eve be argued that those things only scratch the surface of what this show has to offer. This series truly has something for EVERYONE.
6. The Cliffhangers
Each and every episode ended right in the middle of the action, like this:
A big realization among characters, or a major event closed every episode, which usually bothers me. That being said, I didn’t mind the cliffhangers this season. There was a really nice flow from episode-to-episode, making it seem more like a long movie than an episodic series. It also helped that all the episodes were released at once and I could binge every episode without having to wait a week like shows on TV.
7. The Kids
The young cast make this show what it is, and they deserve every damn award nomination.
This scene alone. My god. The anger, the love, everything about it is so real and deserving of awards. The young stars also provide the humor, equally deserving of its own awards.
The Duffer brothers deserve all the recognition for putting together such a young, talented cast.
8. The Epilogue
Stranger Things 2 was wrapped up so nicely. The Duffer brothers took a good amount of time to wrap up each characters story-arc in the current season, while leaving some questions unanswered for the next installment. That’s a lost art in TV nowadays. Many current TV series end seasons with a main character’s fate up-in-the-air, in an attempt to draw you in for the next season. The Duffer brothers took a much better approach, letting us know exactly where each character stands, with endless potential for them to develop. Take Steve for example; hated by some in season one, loved by most at the end of season two. The last thing we see in this season two is the shadow monster towering over the school in the upside-down, leaving fans begging for season three only days after the release of Stranger Things 2.
This list is a minor look into what the show offers and what I enjoyed. It would be easy to write forever about how great the Stranger Things series is and what could be in store for Stranger Things 3. I’ll spare you the reading. Instead, go watch Stranger Things 2 (and Stranger Things if you haven’t yet) and enjoy the hell out of it.
View From The Bench 