Need a dog? Ask a cat (Jack Bog's Blog)

I've been on a terrible losing streak in the NFL underdog pool that I first entered a few months ago. Last week I took a stab with Indy over New England. Didn't happen. Despite the best advice I've received on this blog from various quarters, it's been quite a while since I've had a winner.

I fall further and further behind the leaders in the season-long pool. My 20-buck entry fee is in serious jeopardy. And so I've come up with a new strategy for picking games the rest of the season.

But I'm getting ahead of myself here. First, let's look at our choices for the weekend ahead (underdogs in caps):

12 ST. LOUIS at New Orleans
10 SAN FRANCISCO at Seattle
9 CLEVELAND at Pittsburgh
6 MINNESOTA at Green Bay
4.5 CINCINNATI at Baltimore
4.5 JACKSONVILLE at Tennessee
4 ATLANTA at Carolina
3.5 SAN DIEGO vs. Indianapolis
3 OAKLAND vs. Chicago
3 DENVER at Kansas City
2.5 PHILADELPHIA at Washington
2.5 MIAMI vs. Buffalo
1.5 NEW YORK GIANTS vs. Dallas
1 DETROIT at Arizona

If there's any way I'm going to catch up to the leaders in this thing, I'm going to have to start throwing the long ball, so to speak. I'm going to have to pick an underdog to win outright from one of the top four games each week. And given my lack of skill in sorting out good from bad advice in comments on this blog, I've got to turn to a new expert to guide my choices.

No worries. I've got just the guy:

And the technique for picking a winner? No problem:

Please do leave comments about which underdog team you think will win its game outright. But I hope you'll forgive me if I give my new system a try.

Comments (15)

Nice system you have going Jack, this would also be a great alternative to the Electoral College!.
What better way to pick a presidential contender.

Posted by Ron | November 7, 2007 4:47 AM

You're doing better than I am at picking winners...yeah, everybody is.

Is it okay if I bring Samson Q. Kitty over to play in your magic litterboxes?

Posted by teacherrefpoet | November 7, 2007 5:37 AM

Come on, Jack, this should be a no-brainer.

N Y Giants.

Posted by Don Smith | November 7, 2007 7:28 AM

The only underdog I like in the entire group is Detroit over Arizona, but that's not even worth picking. St. Louis doesn't have a shot. SF has the best chance of the four of pulling the upset, even with it being at Seattle. I'd say the other two are equal likelihood of pulling the upset, at very unlikely.

Indy almost had the win. It was a much closer game than most were thinking.

http://westhillswineblog.blogspot.com

Posted by John | November 7, 2007 7:50 AM

Indy almost had the win.

This ain't horseshoes.

Posted by Jack Bog | November 7, 2007 8:08 AM

Do not, I repeat, do not pick the Rams. I finally am going to a beloved Saints game this Sunday and I plead... wait, what is your record?... please, please pick the Rams, I am begging you.

Posted by travis b | November 7, 2007 8:49 AM

I like it! Report back your results.

Posted by tommyspoon | November 7, 2007 9:50 AM

Minnesota. I've been wrong more than once. Take the cat's advice.

Posted by Kevin | November 7, 2007 10:21 AM

49ers. The SeaChickens are about done after last weekend's debacle.

Minny might have a shot against the Packers. Favre can't keep winning without a running game behind him, can he?

Posted by Chad | November 7, 2007 10:31 AM

I gave you 7 last week, but did you take it? Nawwww. Now we all have to dig deep, including the cat! SF Monday night is not a bad choice. I also like, don't boo, Derek Anderson's Browns this week. Both the 9ers and Browns must play close to flawless. For that my gut says CLEVELAND first (Steelers mentally took a week off after their 75th anniv. game), then the 9ERS (remembering that Seattle still wants to atone for last year's game at Qwest. It will take 9er trickery again to win this one). No way the Rams win this week, and Green Bay is too tough to handle at Lambeau.

Posted by Mark Mason | November 7, 2007 11:24 AM

So far I've picked a winner in 5 of the 6 weeks that I've made a choice for a total of 16.5 points. If I'm playing my long term "play it safe tortoise method" my pick for the week is Cincinnati over Baltimore for +4.5. My long ball rabbit method pick for the week is Cleveland for +9 because they are the best choice out of the top 4. I don't think the banged up 3-4 Vikings (a dome team)are going to do so well against the 7-1 Packers on their home turf. My official pick is Cincinnati, but if you want a long ball pick go with Cleveland.

Posted by Usual Kevin | November 7, 2007 11:54 AM

Ugh, my picks have been brutal. I'll take the catbox pick, thanks. Please post it! The check is in the mail.

I like what I see from CLEV and PITT seems due for a letdown game, whatever that advice is worth (hint: it clumps!)

Posted by Sebastian | November 7, 2007 1:14 PM

I really hate to say this, but after last week, I don't think you can go wrong by picking Seattle to lose. And I do mean lose. The 'Niners will win outright.

Posted by Nonny Mouse | November 7, 2007 5:19 PM

The "signs" were a bit ambiguous, but Billy "went with" Cleveland.

Posted by Jack Bog | November 10, 2007 11:03 PM

Aaarghhh!!! Why couldn't he have gone in the Ram's quadrant? You would have picked up a whopping +12! Cleveland almost pulled it out but like you said...this isn't horse shoes.

Posted by Usual Kevin | November 12, 2007 5:34 AM

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Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Need a dog? Ask a cat

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