smallchou.com/blog

NO (+2.5) at CHI
Cold weather and Chicago’s tough at home. They should be pretty jacked up in a game with huge playoff implications. Edit (3:13pm Pacific): actually, I made that pick and now have this sick feeling the Saints are going to run it up. I’m switching it up. After all, who has Chicago beaten?
Pick: NO

Sunday

GB (-2.5) at JAX
Two struggling teams, but the Jaguars are a disaster, losing games and skill position players left and right.
Pick: GB

DET (+17) at IND
Haven’t heard many folks jumping on the Indy bandwagon as a Super Bowl possibility yet, so I’ll stake my claim to it now.
Pick: IND

WAS (-7) at CIN
Cincinnati is terrible and the ‘Skins are angry.
Pick: WAS

TB (+3) at ATL
Apparently that Tampa defense CAN be run on. The Bucs haven’t played well on the road.
Pick: ATL

SF (+6.5) at MIA
In all likelihood, not having Gore will prove to be a huge issue, but Miami’s been having some trouble blowing folks out. If the spread looks like this in Vegas, I’ll probably tease this a point and pair it with the under on 41. Should be a pretty good defensive football game.
Pick:

SEA (-3) at STL
Both team have been awful, though St. Louis has been significantly worse. True story: in one of my old Madden franchises in college, I turned Seneca Wallace into a 5-time Pro Bowler for the 49ers at QB before he became too expensive to keep.
Pick: SEA

BUF (+7) at NYJ
I’m a firm believer you can’t win games with JP Losman. Jets are poised for a big bounce-back week after two pretty embarrassing losses on the road.
Pick: NYJ

TEN (-3) at HOU
I’ve been liking what Houston has been doing, but not this much.
Pick: TEN

PIT (+2.5) at BAL
I like both these teams, but at the end of the day you really just have to trust Big Ben a little more than a rookie going against the #1 defense, don’t you?
Pick: PIT

DEN (+7.5) at CAR
Feels like this game has ‘letdown’ written all over it.
Pick: DEN

SD (-5.5) at KC
I’m sticking with the Norv Turner Rule.
Pick: KC

MIN (+3) at ARI
Arizona seemingly has the right kind of offense (read: heavy on the pass) to attack the Minnesota defense. Their run defense is also surprisingly solid.
Pick: ARI

NWE (-7) at OAK
Even the battered Patriots should be able to run on Oakland. When you pair that with what will probably be an inability by the Raiders to take advantage of the Patriots’ injuries on defense…
Pick: NWE

NYG (+3) at DAL
No Brandon Jacobs, but probably a strong bounce-back game by the Giants in this one. Odd to see an 11-2 team getting 3 points.
Pick: NYG

Monday

CLE (+14) at PHI
This is me, not trusting the Eagles yet.
Pick: CLE