It's time to announce the lineup of this weekend's pro football games for purposes of our charity underdog pool. Before getting to that, however, an important notice to our players: All picks for this week must be in my hands by 11:59 p.m. on Friday night!
That said, here are the lines. Players must figure out which of these underdog teams (in caps) can win its game outright; winning picks get the number of points listed:
4 PHILADELPHIA at Dallas
3.5 BALTIMORE at New England
3 NY JETS at Cincinnati
2 GREEN BAY at Arizona
We'll have two more weeks after this -- four games next weekend, and two the weekend after that. The current standings of our players are here. Players, don't forget: Friday night is the deadline. Good luck.
And readers, whaddya think? All the 'dogs are on the road. Three games are rematches of last weekend. Green Bay looks good to me, but can the players do better than that?
Comments (15)
If last year is any indication, there should be some bigger spreads next week, but you never know.
This has been a tough year for favorites, that's for sure...Cinci's not the all-around impressive team that it was earlier in the year (injuries, etc.), and so the Jets (good running game, tough defense) look like the underpuppies to take this week (forget last week). The other picks seem too unlikely (even GB).
I say take the Eagles. Yes, it was tragic last week letting the 2 seed slip through their hands, and that kind of thing usually means the season is over, but this is the Eagles.
They can surprise.
I certainly don't begrudge the Vikings for having that 2 slot. They earned it. Many people felt Brett Favre would do okay in a diminished role. Nobody thought that at the age of 40, Brett would deliver the best statistics of his entire career. Remarkable.
Green Bay is a lock to win in my opinion. Philly is tempting but I am just not sure about them after this last week. Baltimore I think would be a good pick as well, the Pats just don't have the magic anymore.
My sure picks are NY Jets, Baltimore, and Green Bay. I like NY after their thumping of Cincy last week, expect Baltimore to double coverage Moss of the Brady Bunch, and Arizona no longer surprises anyone.
Honestly, I just like Green Bay because I went to high school with Aaron Rodgers. I have to root for the hometown Chico boy :)
The Philly vs. Dallas game will be a nail biter. I have rooted against a depleted Philly squad in the past to be proven wrong. Furthermore, with the drama queen out of Dallas, expect Tony Romo to throw the pig out of the ball to Austen and Witten.
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Comments (15)
If last year is any indication, there should be some bigger spreads next week, but you never know.
Posted by Jack Bog | January 5, 2010 11:43 PM
This has been a tough year for favorites, that's for sure...Cinci's not the all-around impressive team that it was earlier in the year (injuries, etc.), and so the Jets (good running game, tough defense) look like the underpuppies to take this week (forget last week). The other picks seem too unlikely (even GB).
Posted by Mojo | January 6, 2010 12:12 AM
I say take the Eagles. Yes, it was tragic last week letting the 2 seed slip through their hands, and that kind of thing usually means the season is over, but this is the Eagles.
They can surprise.
I certainly don't begrudge the Vikings for having that 2 slot. They earned it. Many people felt Brett Favre would do okay in a diminished role. Nobody thought that at the age of 40, Brett would deliver the best statistics of his entire career. Remarkable.
Posted by Bill McDonald | January 6, 2010 12:29 AM
Green Bay is a lock to win in my opinion. Philly is tempting but I am just not sure about them after this last week. Baltimore I think would be a good pick as well, the Pats just don't have the magic anymore.
Posted by Westside Guy | January 6, 2010 1:39 AM
My sure picks are NY Jets, Baltimore, and Green Bay. I like NY after their thumping of Cincy last week, expect Baltimore to double coverage Moss of the Brady Bunch, and Arizona no longer surprises anyone.
Honestly, I just like Green Bay because I went to high school with Aaron Rodgers. I have to root for the hometown Chico boy :)
The Philly vs. Dallas game will be a nail biter. I have rooted against a depleted Philly squad in the past to be proven wrong. Furthermore, with the drama queen out of Dallas, expect Tony Romo to throw the pig out of the ball to Austen and Witten.
Posted by RyanLeo | January 6, 2010 5:08 AM
I am going to take the Jets.
Posted by annie | January 6, 2010 6:22 AM
If I were playing and I am not, I see the Jets as a lock after last weeks utter domination of the same team.
Posted by LucsAdvo | January 6, 2010 6:27 AM
I will take PHILADELPHIA which should be enough to put me in the lead
Posted by sidney | January 6, 2010 7:25 AM
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, I took the Ravens.
Posted by Hank Stern | January 6, 2010 7:25 AM
Baltimore.
Posted by Kevin | January 6, 2010 8:43 AM
My pick is Philly. Off the schneid I go!
Posted by Flynn | January 8, 2010 1:19 PM
I'll take the Jets for 3.
Posted by jmh | January 8, 2010 4:37 PM
I need the Eagles!
Thanks
-Dan f
Posted by dan f | January 8, 2010 7:59 PM
I'm still picking Baltimore, I hope. My pick seems to have disappeared.
Posted by George Anonymuncule Seldes | January 8, 2010 11:55 PM
George, we have your pick. I don't know what happened to it, either.
Posted by Jack Bog | January 9, 2010 12:01 AM