When the pro football season rolls into December, things start to get pretty serious. And so it is with our charity pro football underdog pool, where we have several players vying for top honors. But there are still weeks to go, as we play all the way through the playoffs.
Here are this week's entries. Which of these underdogs (in caps) can win its game outright, without benefit of the point spread?
13 DETROIT at Cincinnati
13 CLEVELAND vs. San Diego
11.5 OAKLAND at Pittsburgh
9.5 WASHINGTON vs. New Orleans
9 ST. LOUIS at Chicago
7 TENNESSEE at Indianapolis
6.5 TAMPA BAY at Carolina
5.5 ATLANTA vs. Philadelphia
5 MIAMI vs. New England
5 KANSAS CITY vs. Denver
3 BUFFALO vs. NY Jets (Thursday, 5:20 p.m. PST)
3 BALTIMORE at Green Bay
2.5 NY GIANTS vs. Dallas
2 ARIZONA vs. Minnesota
Houston at Jacksonville and San Francisco at Seattle are both "pick 'ems," and so by rule they are off the table for us.
Players, let's have your picks. Kibitzers, let's have your advice. If you want Buffalo, I'll need you to declare that by the Thursday time noted next to that game. For all the others, the deadline is 11:59 p.m. Saturday. The current standings of our players are here. Good luck, everybody.
Comments (15)
How does Oakland have less chance of beating Pittsburgh than Washington has of beating New Orleans?
Oakland's beaten the Eagles(sob!) and the Bengals. Nobody's beaten the Saints and Drew had 5 touchdowns against the Pats in only 23 throws. 371 yards in only 17 completions. That's ridiculous. Over 21 yards a catch.
The Oakland game's pretty uncertain at this point. Most bookies are not yet quoting a money line on that one.
My sources currently give Washington an 18.6% chance of beating New Orleans. But having bet on them twice this year, I wouldn't go there again. Last week they had a solid defense... for three quarters.
Man, I'm getting rattled I'm so bad at this, so for every reason I can find for a pick, I'm imagining lots of reasons against.
Baltimore might edge Green Bay. Best I can do. That's the pick.
I was tempted by KC to punch way over weight class and bring down an inconsistent Denver but it seems like there are fewer and fewer of those level surprises every week -- or is that just my skewed perception?
Two weeks ago, Kansas City beat Pittsburgh and Oakland beat Cincinnati. Tampa Bay over Green Bay a month ago, Carolina over Arizona -- these things happen. Hang in there.
Pittsburgh is going to unleash hell and run all over one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. Plus, the Raiders are a traditional old rival that's bitten them as a weak opponent in the recent past (Cowher was coach), and LA Raiders fans Humphrey-ized a Steeler fan one day in the stands at LA Coliseum and left the young man a paraplegic, which the Steelers organization remembers to this day.
The Titans and Ravens could well prevail, but a better pick, I think, is TB over the Carolina Kittycats, who are disintegrating weekly and becoming paranoid, beat-up (Delhomme broken finger on throwing hand, etc.), and depressed, while the Bucs are having more fun on Sundays now and with "a renewed defense" came within seconds of winning another one against a favorite last week. Antonio Bryant should have a great day vs. CAR, too. NE will be expected to eat MIA alive after being embarrassed by NO on MNF, but it sure would be great to see them go down again. Miami just doesn't have the passing offense to do the trick, alas -- but, it's a weird-shaped ball that does bounce funny....
One of my favorite quotes was by John McKay, who was asked about the execution of his team and said that he was in favor of it. That was, I believe, during a winless season. They're almost as bad this year, but put me down for Tampa Bay this week anyway. Rick
Charamba, Douro 2008
Horse Heaven Hills, Cabernet 2010
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills Pinot Grigio 2011
Avignonesi, Montepulciano 2004
Lorelle, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011
Villa Antinori, Toscana 2007
Mercedes Eguren, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Lorelle, Columbia Valley Cabernet 2011
Purple Moon, Merlot 2011
Purple Moon, Chardonnnay 2011
Abacela, Vintner's Blend No. 12
Opula Red Blend 2010
Liberte, Pinot Noir 2010
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Indian Wells Red Blend 2010
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2011
King Estate, Pinot Noir 2011
Famille Perrin, Cotes du Rhone Villages 2010
Columbia Crest, Les Chevaux Red 2010
14 Hands, Hot to Trot White Blend
Familia Bianchi, Malbec 2009
Terrapin Cellars, Pinot Gris 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2009
Campo Viejo, Rioja, Termpranillo 2010
Ravenswood, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2010
Waterbrook, Reserve Merlot 2009
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills, Pinot Grigio 2011
Tarantas, Rose
Chateau Lajarre, Bordeaux 2009
La Vielle Ferme, Rose 2011
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio 2011
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir 2009
Lello, Douro Tinto 2009
Quinson Fils, Cotes de Provence Rose 2011
Anindor, Pinot Gris 2010
Buenas Ondas, Syrah Rose 2010
Les Fiefs d'Anglars, Malbec 2009
14 Hands, Pinot Gris 2011
Conundrum 2012
Condes de Albarei, Albariño 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2007
Penelope Sanchez, Garnacha Syrah 2010
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2007
Atalaya do Mar, Godello 2010
Vega Montan, Mencia
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2009
Portuga, Rose 2011
Revelation, Chardonnay, Pays d'Oc 2010
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 2005
Monte Alto, Tinto Reserva 2005
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cabernet, Indian Wells 2009
Espiral, Vinho Rose
Vin-Koru, Pinot Gris 2011
14 Hands, Hot to Trot Red 2009
Rodney Strong, Cabernet, Sonoma 2009
Abacela, Vintner's Blend #11
Portuga, White 2010
La Bourgeoisie, Red 2009
Januik, Red 2009
Three Rivers, River's Red 2008
Kirkland, Alexander Valley Merlot 2008
Muga, Rioja Rose 2010
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
The Occasional Book
Neil Young - Waging Heavy Peace
Mark Bego - Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul (2012 ed.)
Jenny Lawson - Let's Pretend This Never Happened
J.D. Salinger - Franny and Zooey
Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol
Timothy Egan - The Big Burn
Deborah Eisenberg - Transactions in a Foreign Currency
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. - Slaughterhouse Five
Kathryn Lance - Pandora's Genes
Cheryl Strayed - Wild
Fyodor Dostoyevsky - The Brothers Karamazov
Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
Colum McCann - Let the Great World Spin
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
David Sedaris - Holidays on Ice
Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt
Road Work
Miles run year to date: 21
At this date last year: 52
Total run in 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269
Comments (15)
How does Oakland have less chance of beating Pittsburgh than Washington has of beating New Orleans?
Oakland's beaten the Eagles(sob!) and the Bengals. Nobody's beaten the Saints and Drew had 5 touchdowns against the Pats in only 23 throws. 371 yards in only 17 completions. That's ridiculous. Over 21 yards a catch.
Posted by Bill McDonald | December 2, 2009 12:01 AM
The Oakland game's pretty uncertain at this point. Most bookies are not yet quoting a money line on that one.
My sources currently give Washington an 18.6% chance of beating New Orleans. But having bet on them twice this year, I wouldn't go there again. Last week they had a solid defense... for three quarters.
Posted by Jack Bog | December 2, 2009 12:10 AM
Man, I'm getting rattled I'm so bad at this, so for every reason I can find for a pick, I'm imagining lots of reasons against.
Baltimore might edge Green Bay. Best I can do. That's the pick.
I was tempted by KC to punch way over weight class and bring down an inconsistent Denver but it seems like there are fewer and fewer of those level surprises every week -- or is that just my skewed perception?
Posted by George Anonymuncule Seldes | December 2, 2009 12:21 AM
Two weeks ago, Kansas City beat Pittsburgh and Oakland beat Cincinnati. Tampa Bay over Green Bay a month ago, Carolina over Arizona -- these things happen. Hang in there.
Posted by Jack Bog | December 2, 2009 12:34 AM
I'm counting on the Ravens to make amends to me this week for intercepting Dixon last week in OT, so gimme Baltimore over Green Bay.
Posted by Hank Stern | December 2, 2009 6:09 AM
I'm going with the RED HOT TENNESSEE TITANS over Indy. Which is a ridiculous sentence to write about a 5-6 team I suppose.
Consider it picked, Jack.
Posted by Flynn | December 2, 2009 8:56 AM
Pittsburgh is going to unleash hell and run all over one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. Plus, the Raiders are a traditional old rival that's bitten them as a weak opponent in the recent past (Cowher was coach), and LA Raiders fans Humphrey-ized a Steeler fan one day in the stands at LA Coliseum and left the young man a paraplegic, which the Steelers organization remembers to this day.
The Titans and Ravens could well prevail, but a better pick, I think, is TB over the Carolina Kittycats, who are disintegrating weekly and becoming paranoid, beat-up (Delhomme broken finger on throwing hand, etc.), and depressed, while the Bucs are having more fun on Sundays now and with "a renewed defense" came within seconds of winning another one against a favorite last week. Antonio Bryant should have a great day vs. CAR, too. NE will be expected to eat MIA alive after being embarrassed by NO on MNF, but it sure would be great to see them go down again. Miami just doesn't have the passing offense to do the trick, alas -- but, it's a weird-shaped ball that does bounce funny....
Posted by Mojo | December 2, 2009 11:00 AM
I can't imagine many people around here watching the NFL game Thursday night.
Go Ducks!
Posted by Bad Brad | December 2, 2009 11:04 AM
I'll take Tampa Bay to beat the Panthers.
Posted by Gary K | December 2, 2009 11:32 AM
Damn those Colts. Thought I had actually made a smart play last week picking the Texans.... sigh.
For this week, I like Tampa Bay over Carolina. The Panthers did not look good against the Jets on Sunday.
Posted by jmh | December 2, 2009 12:10 PM
genop's mom will take the Bills over Jets Thurs. night and watch during commercial breaks in the Un-civil war.
Posted by genop | December 2, 2009 12:45 PM
I am taking WASHINGTON. Perfect season here I come!
Posted by Sid | December 2, 2009 4:01 PM
I'll take Atlanta.
Posted by annie | December 3, 2009 6:48 AM
If I didn't love them, I would pick St. Louis to upset my Bears.
Posted by Kevin | December 3, 2009 4:16 PM
One of my favorite quotes was by John McKay, who was asked about the execution of his team and said that he was in favor of it. That was, I believe, during a winless season. They're almost as bad this year, but put me down for Tampa Bay this week anyway. Rick
Posted by Rick | December 4, 2009 10:36 PM