smallchou.com/blog

NFL 2008 Picks: Week 13

Rough start to this week already with a 1-2 record on Thursday. Clearly the NFC West is even more of a joke than I previously thought.

Last week: 9-7
Overall Season Results: 97-77-2

Thursday posted Wednesday evening

TEN (-11) at DET
An ugly pair of games we’ve got early in the day. Given the current state of the franchise, shouldn’t we be banning Detroit from Thanksgiving day games?
Pick: TEN

SEA (+12.5) at DAL
A lot of points to cover. I may sound like a total homer, but without a couple of coverage breakdowns and bad calls last week, the Niners were in that game.
Pick: SEA

ARI (+3) at PHI
The Cardinals really hung with the Giants last weekend actually. And I don’t think Philadelphia’s problems magically go away with McNabb back in the saddle playing inspired football (which is not a certainty anyway). Late start time = good for the Cardinals
Pick: ARI

Sunday

DEN (+7.5) at NYJI can’t really recall a team being a 9-point favorite one week and a 7+ point dog the next, but that’s what happens when you get crushed by the Raiders. Anyone who watched that game has to be picking against Denver this week.
Pick: NYJ

SFO (+7) at BUF
If you think I’m enough of a homer to pick the Niners when they’re traveling cross-country to play an early game in the snow without their top two return men, remember that this is about trying to pick games right. Edwards plays well when he has time to operate and Buffalo’s used to the weather.
Pick: BUF

NO (+3.5) at TB
Saints are 1-4 on the road this season and Tampa Bay just happen to be undefeated at home. The Bucs are a really solid team defensively and should do a much better job of slowing down the Saints than the Packers did this week.
Pick: TB

CAR (+3) at GB
Both of these teams are now totally off the radar as far as playing to their expected potentials. I like a hungry Green Bay team at home against a Carolina squad that has not played well on the road all season.
Pick: GB

NYG (-3.5) at WAS
I don’t know how anyone who’s paying attention right now isn’t expecting the Giants to run over just about everyone. Maybe Portis goes nuts and Campbell & Co. move the ball, but it’s difficult to expect that at all.
Pick: NYG

MIA (-8) at STL
St. Louis is the worst of the NFC West. See above comment about the NFC West
Pick: MIA

BAL (-7) at CIN
Cincinnati’s reaching new levels for the term ‘decimated by injury’. Tough to imagine them moving the ball on the ground or through the air in this one.
Pick: BAL

IND (-5.0) at CLE
Peyton’s now looking like… Peyton Manning. Even 108-year old Marvin Harrison is getting hit in the hands with passes. Maybe Derek Anderson’ll give them a spark, but the Browns look to be in serious disarray.
Pick: IND

ATL (+5) at SD
Big win by the Falcons last week. It’s like Matt Ryan’s not even a rookie QB now. The NTR is now 8-3 on the season.
Pick: ATL

PIT (+1) at NWE
If Cassel puts up 400 yards on THIS team, then it’s probably time to start the ‘Trade Brady to San Francisco’ chants. Willie Parker might be out, but they should be able to move the ball on the ground regardless.
Pick: PIT

KC (+3) at OAK
The Chiefs have had a very rough schedule the last five weeks and they’ve already got a 23-8 loss to the Raiders this season. But they have a QB now and theoretically some balance on offense with Larry Johnson back. The Raiders aren’t as good as they looked last week.
Pick: KC

CHI (+3.5) at MIN
This game appears to be dead-even just about every way I look at it. Chicago seems like a bit more of a complete team and the Vikings pass offense is largely inconsistent. I’ll take the meager points here.
Pick: CHI

Monday

JAX (+3.5) at HOU
Both of these teams are playing fairly mediocre, but Jacksonville appears to be in much more disarray. Houston should be able to run on the Jaguars.
Pick: HOU

1 comment

1 Comment so far

  1. Bill Tsiu November 29th, 2008 8:12 pm

    The Lions are just falling down. I am feeling bad for them, I think 0-16 is what they are going to have.
    —-
    BTW, saw some cool widgets at statbeast.com. Check it!

Leave a reply