Having picked South Carolina and Michigan State yesterday, today is sure to be a huge letdown. In fact, looking at the schedule this week, I find myself torn on a number of picks.
Here they are, with the caveat that I have little confidence this week. Last week I finished 10-4. On the season I’m 40-22.
Buffalo over Jacksonville (Buffalo has to win at least one game, don’t they? At home against a Jacksonville team that doesn’t travel well seems as good a place as any)
Cincy over Tampa
Atlanta over Cleveland (I’ve picked Cleveland several times this year, including in last week’s win over Cincy; and though I’m not sold on Atlanta, I still think they find a way to beat the Browns behind Jake Delhomme. If the Browns go with Seneca Wallace, I might flip that pick.)
Detroit over St Louis (a toss-up here)
Indy over KC (the last undefeated team is an 8pt underdog)
Green Bay over Washington (tough to run on Green Bay, and McNabb’s accuracy has always been a concern)
Carolina over Chicago (if you can’t beat a Todd Collins-led team at home, fold up the tent and go play golf. Having said that? I have no confidence in the pick)
Denver over Baltimore (looking for a miracle. The Broncos can’t run; Baltimore knows that; and Flacco is improving — and has a ton of weapons. All signs point to Baltimore at home, where Denver is 0-4. But I don’t pick against the Broncos. And yes, I think they have a real shot if the line can protect Orton, and the Broncos can somehow force the Ravens to at least honor the run).
Houston over NYG (Andre Johnson and Mario Williams are both active. Which NYG team shows up? Which Houston team? Little confidence in the pick, but there you have it).
New Orleans over Arizona
San Diego over Oakland (Hoping for an Oakland upset — and Michael Bush could have a good game; but San Diego should still be able to pull out a division road win, because Al Davis is still alive).
Dallas over Tennessee
Jets over Minnesota (will Moss make the difference? Revis is back for NY, and Rex Ryan is going to send the house against Favre.)
Philly over SF (Kolb is better than he showed last week; another toss-up game — and SF is due. But…)
So. There you have it. Thankfully, my pick ’em league lets me drop the worst 4 weeks. This one could be brutal.
Your picks?
Detroit over St Louis (a toss-up here)
sob
I think Detroit is better than their record shows, Carin. But St Louis has a good rookie QB, a good RB, and a good (so far) defense.
I think so too … but WE’RE LOSERS. We can outplay the other team, but the loser-fu is too strong. If things can tip one way or the other – they tip the other.
It really is unbelievable.
Detroit is the ultimate underdog that no one EVER roots for.
I don’t have a game to watch this weekend. Sacramento Mountain Lions have a bye week. They host the Las Vegas Locomotives next weekend but I won’t be home to watch it so I’ll have to find some way to not find out how it went until I can get home and fire up the TiVo.
So, fair warning to all of y’all next weekend: no UFL spoilers, y’hear?
Jacksonville, Cincy, Atlanta, St. Louis, Indy, Washington, Carolina, Baltimore, Houston, New Orleans, San Diego, Dallas, San Francisco and the Jets. It is a tough week, and your guess is as good as mine…for now.
St. Louis, I
Et tu, Pablo?
ugh, this don’t look fun:
JAC BUF
TB CIN
ATL CLE
STL DET
KC IND
GB WSH
CHI CAR
DEN BAL
NYG HOU
NO ARI
TEN DAL
SD OAK
PHI SF
MIN NYJ
Whoa! A KC sighting!
By the way? Your picks (both Pablo and Sdferr, and McGehee, too, now that I think about it) look better than mine as I look at them.
the KC is a shot in the dark what the heck just for fun upsetter is all, on which I’ve no confidence whatsoever. plus, I’m secretly in practice learning to root for the Buccaneers, the scoundrels, so, doomed to have got that one wrong.
Jacksonville over Buffalo
Cincy over Tampa
Atlanta over Cleveland
Rams over Lions (sorry Carin)
Indy over KC (this will be uncomfortably close for JD)
Redskins over Packers (very close game)
Chicago over Carolina
Ravens over Broncos (sorry Jeff, if I thought you could have made it to Baltimore I would have given you my season tickets for this one)
Giants over Houston
Saints over Cardinals
Tennessee over Dallas
San Diego over Oakland
49ers over Igglez
Jets over Vikings
Prognosticating is tough this week. Does that mean we have the utopian PARITY!, or, they all suck equally :)
Looking at the picks here, you can see how tough a week this is.
Jac
Cin
Atl
Det
Ind
GB
Car
Bal
NYG
NO
SD
Dal
Min
SF
Tiebreaker: Current Chicago Bear GM Jerry Angelo’s track record drafting and procuring offensive linemen.
Everything tells me to pick SF. And yet, I can’t bring myself to do it.
Guins —
Angelo gave Denver all his draft picks.
We appreciate it — and appreciate having Orton, too.
Just the ones I care about, AFC South and a few outliers:
Dallas over Tennessee (because I’m always about brutal honesty. VY can’t command any respect when he goes long, so the defenses are stacking up and waiting for CJ. Poor kid doesn’t have a chance, after running his fool mouth in the offseason, he’s a walking, talking bullseye. We lost Kevin Mawae at center and Alge Crumpler – the best blocking TE in the bidness – so CJ2K is now CJ1.3K at best. At least the kid will learn some humility.)
KC over Indy (well, I can hope, can’t I? KC is the only undefeated team left in the league, and Indy is full of pompous ass Peyton (the original teabagger) Manning)
Ravens over Broncos (whining Kyle Orton I’d like to see under about 1,000 lbs. of Ravens OL)
New Orleans over Arizona (a shame, but I have to face facts)
Jacksonville over Buffalo (a given)
Texans over Giants (because the AFC South lurves to needle those Giants)
I think it’s fair to expect KC to lose, especially with a point spread like that. If the handicappers think their undefeated record is a fluke, there’s a decent chance it is.
The Niners against the Iggles, I just don’t know. Since the end of the Seifert-Young era I haven’t been able to bring myself to expect anything from SF. And even that was a pale shadow of the Walsh-Montana years.
Houston seems to be having a decent season so far.
The fact that Orton said anything tells me everything. The guy is not a whiner. Which means Finnegan really is, as Brandon Lloyd termed him, “an angry little man.”
Who was just fined $10K for his cheap shot on Kuper.
Come over to the dark side Jeff; go with the Niners over the Igglez.
Kevin Kolb is really that bad…
But admittedly I’m prejudiced.
SF is tough at home. But if the Eagles can throttle up Gore, I think they force a few picks and win the game.
But again, I’m not convinced of any of my picks this week.
Falcoonies roll.
Gotta a lotta Ric Flair level over confidence on them boys.
Sugar Bowl!
What I’m not seeing is why the Skins should best the Pack? Is GB that bad?
Ain’t No I in team.
But there’s a u in cunt.
I have no idea how I missed that.
That’s from east bound and down. That’s one really fucked up show.
In a good way.
Yes, my dear. Me and half the world. But take heart, November 14th will be bringing the Lions to Buffalo before you know it.
These sorts of calls are getting out of hand, especially the stretches that are ‘roughing the passer‘ calls. Put these QB’s in dresses if they aren’t to be touched, or like a commenter says at that link, put nice little pink full-flags on their waists.
Cortland Finnegan does exactly what he’s coached to do. Fisher is a player’s coach, and Chuck Cecil has always been a monster. ‘Dirty’ is relative to the context; this is the NFL, for at least a while longer. Remember Bill Romanowski ?
It’s a toss up, but I’m figuring the Skins are at home, McNabb is on a roll and it isn’t the postseason, so it’s too early for him to choke.
I predict that GB will finally open up their offense and an age of great fear will dawn across the NFC.
The rest is inconsequential.
heh. In us inconsequentialists hope springs infernal.
As far as ‘Skins vs Pack,
Since the Packers running back got injured they’ve been the “air all night” offense. I don’t think that one-dimensionality(?) can be successful in the NFL. Look what happened to the Bears last week.
Whenever a defense doesn’t have to fear the run, and can pin thier ears back and go after the QB every play, it’s never good for the opposing team.
The Skins have ears? Damn.
Romanowski was dirty. Punching a guy without a helmet, like Finnegan did, is dirty.
Baltimore is a physical team. Tennessee is cheap.
Carolina needs to hand in its man card.
Hmmmmm. GB went up on the ‘Skins; but the reciever had to leave the game…
Jeyentz getting ready to go up 14-zip over Houston…
Yeah. This week is already forgettable.
Pinned to their own 1/2 yd line, the Bucs get a 61 yd run, only to see Freeman throw a totally unnecessary int on the very next play. Sheesh
We are dominating the Cheifs, but the score does not reflect that.
I figured it would be that way JD.
Jeyentz are trying to let Houston catch up; and make a monkey out of me…
They don’t realize I’m already a gorilla!
Stupid stupid stupid stupid penalty cost us a field goal at the half. Did you know Scoobee hit the 3rd longest field goal to win a game last week against us? They only showed that kick about 823049618932634987 times this week.
Those gutty,gritty, over acheiving Falcons.
Gronkowski just cost the Broncos this game.
I cannot stand field goal festivals like this game. 6 field goals combined, no touchdowns.
All field goals can still get ya the dubya JD.
Colts beat the Ravens a few years back in the AFC championship game with all field goals.
guinsPen’s picks are looking dead on. Mine? Not so much.
We beat that Ravens team all over the field too, Bob. It is my contention that field goals lose games. I know it is not true, but when you have a good offense, it is like leaving 4 points off the board.
Jake Delhome is gritty.
Isn’t gritty a word used to describe dirty oysters?
kinda glad about the Bucs leading but wonder where the Texans went. Yay Lions too, underduggles.
The Giants couldn’t score on anyone save Carolina. And now this?
Cleveland and KC are better than people think. So are the Broncos, but 100 yds in penalties will kill any team.
Ouch, Chicago flew to Charlotte and a Bears-Lions game broke out.
Counting on the Devil – yes Devil – Rays to take this game and then pinch two runs offa Lee for the series win.
What the hell happened to the Texans?
Colts hung on. Whew.
Parity rules.
Does GB choke? oy kee oy kee oy.
If we’re talking baseball in a football thread (well, why the hell not?), I’m really rooting for the SF Giants to win their series (sorry Donald; the Braves can never shed their Red Ted taint in my house).
Frankly, I’m shocked SF is even in the NLDS.
IN YOUR FACE H8TERS.
Yeah. This week is already forgettable.
Says you.
Mcgehee, I’m distantly related to Elanor Roosevelt. I don’t know how, but I am.
I just struggle on.
The Lions opened up a can of whoop-ass.
Titans just abused the Cowgirl secondary.
Cincy choked. So did Green Bay.
This week I take my first mulligan.
The Cincinnati Bungles just puked on themselves.
But you went for Detroit, Jeff. When no one else would … sniff sniff … I’ll never forget that.
You too guins.
The rest of you? [evil glare]
I saw Cincy choke, but here in NYC they wouldn’t show the ‘Skins/Pack overtime; somethig about the NFL rules.
Bitches.
Also shows how lame my picks were. I thought Cincy would walk all over the Bucs.
FWIW, I apologized in advance Carin,
Now I have that egg on my face too, along with Cincy.
The Tennessee Tits might just dominate the Cowgirls.
We’re not going to rest on our laurels. We’re going to try to winner ANOTHER game this season.
We’ve got the CAN DO spirit now.
WTF did Green Bay do?!
Lose, bless their hearts. This is clearly not my week, and that’s pretty much all I’ve got to hold on to right now.
Carin, it’s like Scott Brown is QB’ing the Lions. 44-6, and the Lions don’t have the 6? “It can’t be possible!”
theyI said. And then it happened.Titans are looking strong against Dallas.
I hate football.
3rd and 34 ?! The Cowgirlz appear headed towards a blowout.
Not many cowboys can stand their ground in the face of a hail of flaming thumbtacks.
And now, back to the Suburban Tire Postgame Show.
Good old numbers 55 & 87.
That was a great catch and run by Austin. Tied it up.
Denver has the worst fans in the league.
Illiterate, and yet supremely vocal — and convinced of their own genius? Why? Because they parrot what our local sports talk radio stations tell them, and they do so back to those very same local sports talk radio stations, who then congratulate them on their perspicacity.
It’s like a cycle of stupid that no one can stop. Like Democrats.
That goddamned Sanchez has been blowing his nose like some kinda Peruvian drug lord.
That Mike Jenkins has played one helluva strong game for the Titans today.
That was a most excellent comment, sdferr. Only a true fan will catch that.
Nice thing about the bye week is that the Seahawks can’t lose.
I’ve rooted for teams that could find a way.
(Reverting to my real name in honor of the erstwhile “mcgruder”)
JAC, CIN x, ATL, STL x, KC x, GB x, CHI, BAL, HOU x, NO, DAL x, SD x,
SF pending though looking x-ish now
MIN ”
evil day
– Unfortunately the Bolts weren’t blacked out today.
JD – Is Illinois for real? I have not watched them very closely, but the highlights sure look good. They are really messing up my picks for next week.
–I think you were right about Henry, but Purdue needs more help.
I love soccer
#75 – my favorite part of Bear season… Doug and O’B. Listening to them after a loss takes all the sting out of it and makes you smile.
#85 – The illini are getting better, as they have been recruiting well for a while (ie. lowering their standards) and have now hired very good coordinators who call everything while someone distracts Ron Zook. Still, they have a freshman QB who can give you a couple of turnovers faster than you can yell “WTF” at the TV…
Rupe – ditto what LtC John said, and I would add that given time in the new systems, I would expect much improvement next year. Now I sound like a Cubs fan. If by “for real” you mean no longer any easy game for their opponent, yes, they are. LeShore is a beast.
oops, No NO, so: NO x, SF x . . .
According to Zook, they’re getting a little bit better every week.
Zook is an idiot, not quite obama or meya levels of idiocy, but close. He is doing his best coaching by not coaching and letting others coach.
Thanks for the advice, but it looks like another year of anything can happen. I was trying to figure out when Purdue could pull an upset. Slim pickings. Illinois looks like they could beat anybody — or lose to anybody. This upcoming week I might just throw darts to pick the winners. Can’t hurt.
Are there any other Blackhawk fans on this sight? It may seem strange to be so excited about the beginning of a new season, but as anybody from Chicago can tell you, it’s been a long, suffering time. The previous owner took the Hawks off of free TV and charged forty bucks to watch their away games. Home games could not be shown in the Chicago area. You could not have done more to destroy the fan base if you tried. Every hockey fan around here was waiting for that S.O.B. owner to die. Two years after his death we have the cup.
I’m stuck watching the Cubs half the year. The Hawks are a much needed relief.
LTC John is your man for the Hawks Rupe.
Thanks sdferr – I’ve been trying to make a list of every profane adjective that I’ve heard over the years to describe Wertz (sp?). A person in the military should be able to help me on that.
On a side note – Some of the Veterans in our neighborhood were in the navy, and only started to tell their stories when they reached 70. These were without doubt the sickest, most perverted things I have ever heard, and they were great. Jeez, the guy next door landed at Inchon, but never talked about it. Take some time this Veterans day to listen. Great stuff right in your own neighborhood.
guinsPen – Buffone and Thayer have the simple prescription to help the Bears.
* Stop the run.
* Run the ball yourself.
After that everything is easy. It’s a simple plan, but hard to do.