Neither rain nor snow nor sleet keeps these 'dogs from playing
Here are the lines for this Sunday's games in our charity pro football underdog pool. This is the last week of the regular season, and as is usual at this juncture, there are some teams who must win to make the playoffs; some teams that have nothing to win or lose because they've been so weak all season; and others that are coasting because they've clinched a top spot in the post-season. It may make for a difficult week for our prognosticators, and it's a crucial one. When the playoffs get here a week from now, there will be far fewer games and likely much closer point spreads.
Anyway, as usual, the object of our game is to pick an underdog (in caps) that will win its game outright, without the benefit of the spread:
13 KANSAS CITY at Denver
10.5 OAKLAND vs. Baltimore
10 CINCINNATI at NY Jets
8.5 NY GIANTS at Minnesota
7.5 NEW ENGLAND at Houston
7 INDIANAPOLIS at Buffalo
7 ST. LOUIS vs. San Francisco
4 SEATTLE vs. Tennessee
3.5 WASHINGTON at San Diego
3 DETROIT vs. Chicago
3 MIAMI vs. Pittsburgh
3 PHILADELPHIA at Dallas
3 GREEN BAY at Arizona
2 TAMPA BAY vs. Atlanta
1.5 JACKSONVILLE at Cleveland
No New Orleans at Carolina just yet -- but it may join the slate if a money line is available by Thursday.
Our standings are here. Readers, let's have some choice advice -- it's needed now more than ever. And good luck, players.
Comments (11)
Well, by the logic that almost had me pick TB over NO last week (hot division rivalry) I'll go with KC over Denver.
Philadelphia lost its center last week which would be big trouble for any team. But Andy Reid is a great coach and he has the situation patched up.
I'm seeing Philly winning against the Cowboys and earning the #2 slot in the NFC with the following week off.
Minnesota lost a hell of a lot last night in Chicago. There's a chance they will be dispirited and the Giants will play loose and get them.
The biggest recent shock for the Vikings is seeing that Winfield is way less than 100%.
I'll take CINCINNATI, even though they will likely rest their starters at some point in the game, it's a road game for the Bungles, and the New York Football Jets are playing for a playoff spot. I think the Bungles are going to be pissed that they didn't get a single player picked for the Pro Bowl. Plus, EightFive is talking serious smack about the Jets CB.
To the extent we think there is some rationality to picking a winning pooch, the prospect of teams not playing starters muddies the water. When it comes to dogs, we all know they rarely eschew a little mud in their water dish though. Thus, if New England loses, like they should, Bengals get the 3 seed(Chargers) rather than the 4 seed (Colts). Will they play starters longer to secure that outcome? I'm betting yes. (Bengals over Jets)That's my faux rational choice. genop
Now, genop's mom through a sense of loyalty feels she should walk her most productive dog, and once again leash up the Raiders over the Ravens. She's away right now at the beauty shop having the "Kiss" face mask applied to sport for the game.
May all you dogs win outright in 2010.
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 (11)
Well, by the logic that almost had me pick TB over NO last week (hot division rivalry) I'll go with KC over Denver.
Posted by George Anonymuncule Seldes | December 29, 2009 5:38 PM
I don't care if the Patriots sit Brady and bring back Steve Grogan, I'm going with New England to win.
Posted by hank Stern | December 29, 2009 5:50 PM
I will take INDY. The Bills could not beat the Indianapolis Pacers
Posted by sidney | December 29, 2009 6:15 PM
For those of you playing... Cincy or Philly would be the teams I think are most likely to pull it off
Posted by LucsAdvo | December 29, 2009 6:56 PM
Philadelphia lost its center last week which would be big trouble for any team. But Andy Reid is a great coach and he has the situation patched up.
I'm seeing Philly winning against the Cowboys and earning the #2 slot in the NFC with the following week off.
Minnesota lost a hell of a lot last night in Chicago. There's a chance they will be dispirited and the Giants will play loose and get them.
The biggest recent shock for the Vikings is seeing that Winfield is way less than 100%.
Posted by Bill McDonald | December 29, 2009 9:08 PM
I will take Kansas City.
Posted by annie | December 30, 2009 8:52 AM
I'd take NE, too. #3 seed at stake for them. Cinci will lay down, esp. if NE wins earlier in the day.
Posted by Mojo | December 30, 2009 1:42 PM
I'll take CINCINNATI, even though they will likely rest their starters at some point in the game, it's a road game for the Bungles, and the New York Football Jets are playing for a playoff spot. I think the Bungles are going to be pissed that they didn't get a single player picked for the Pro Bowl. Plus, EightFive is talking serious smack about the Jets CB.
Posted by Kevin | December 30, 2009 1:43 PM
I'm going for double-or-nothing. Give me KC over Denver.
Posted by Mark | December 30, 2009 8:31 PM
Ok, give me Cincy or give me death. At least as far as my standings in the pool are concerned.
Posted by jmh | December 31, 2009 10:25 AM
To the extent we think there is some rationality to picking a winning pooch, the prospect of teams not playing starters muddies the water. When it comes to dogs, we all know they rarely eschew a little mud in their water dish though. Thus, if New England loses, like they should, Bengals get the 3 seed(Chargers) rather than the 4 seed (Colts). Will they play starters longer to secure that outcome? I'm betting yes. (Bengals over Jets)That's my faux rational choice. genop
Now, genop's mom through a sense of loyalty feels she should walk her most productive dog, and once again leash up the Raiders over the Ravens. She's away right now at the beauty shop having the "Kiss" face mask applied to sport for the game.
May all you dogs win outright in 2010.
Posted by genop | December 31, 2009 12:56 PM