Unlike last weekend, which produced some substantial winning underdogs, this week's slate of pro football games features some decidedly smaller rings for players in our charity game to reach for:
13.5 MINNESOTA at Green Bay
7 OAKLAND at San Diego (pick due Thursday at 5:20 p.m. Pacific)
6.5 SEATTLE vs. Baltimore
5.5 BUFFALO at Dallas
4 WASHINGTON at Miami
3.5 NEW YORK GIANTS at San Francisco
3 DETROIT at Chicago
3 TAMPA BAY vs. Houston
3 TENNESSEE at Carolina
3 INDIANAPOLIS vs. Jacksonville
3 DENVER at Kansas City
3 CINCINNATI vs. Pittsburgh
3 ST. LOUIS at Cleveland
2 NEW ENGLAND at New York Jets
No line yet on Eagles/Cardinals. New Orleans at Atlanta is a "pick-'em," and so by rule, it's off our board. Happy hunting, players!
Comments (4)
Can't see the Raiders pulling this one off, even at home.
No McFadden + Bad defense (Overall (27); Rush (29), Pass (20) + Super-motivated Chargers w/#4-rated pass offense and still in running for division championship in a tie with KC = San Diego win.
Look at the Buffalo-Dallas game instead. I think there will be a streetcar-load of whisperers here talking up that doggie.
Taking a hard look at the Vikings-Packers game for you high rollers, especially those of you that like betting against a streak (Packers 8-0 this season; current winning streak, dating back to last year:14).
"Best Bets"
(Last week: 1-1; overall 11-12, counting the Raiders-Chargers game on Thursday)
Slim pickin's this week with so many dogs on the road.
INDIANAPOLIS (+3) vs. Jacksonville -- At home against the struggling Jaguars, and with injured players recovering, the Colts should win their first game of their nightmare 2011 season. The home crowd will be pumped up in the loudest NFL venue, encouraged by the progress that the Colts have been making over the past two weeks.
"Upset Special"
(Last week 1-0; overall 2-6)
BUFFALO (+5.5) at Dallas -- Almost hard to believe that the spread is this high. Even with all of the talent and stars sprinkled around the Cowboys roster, especially defensive demon Demarcus Ware, they are such an inconsistent and poorly game-prepared and performing team that it's almost the mirror opposite of the Buffalo Bills. Even if Buffalo gets behind before half-time, they are such a spectacular team in all three phases (offense, defense, and special teams) that I do not expect them to lose this game to the Cryboys. Buffalo Bills coach, Chan Gailey, is determined to beat the team that fired him. This should be the last year that Dallas head coach Jason Garrett also handles the Offensive Coordinator duties, too.
MINNESOTA (+13.5) at Green Bay -- Is Green Bay ever going to lose a game this year? Not at home, at least not this week. Though if the Vikings can keep building on their past couple weeks' work, and get two or three turnovers, they might pull off a big surprise. As usual for anyone playing the Packers, it comes down to stellar play by the linebackers in coverage combined with getting heavy pressure on QB Aaron Rodgers.
SEATTLE (+6.5) at Baltimore is actually possible, if the Ravens have a let-down after their triumph over the Steelers in Pittsburgh last week. That could happen, especially since QB Joe Flacco is notoriously inconsistent. In this clash of bird-named teams, if the Seahawks get the Raven's feathers flying first by getting out to an early lead and taking the crowd out of the game -- think big kick returns, or a fumble by Ravens super back, Ray Rice, for example. If the Seahawks aren't leading at half-time, they'll be the wrong kind of early birds.
DETROIT (+3) at Chicago is a real gamble because the Lions don't have an impressive rushing game and will be outdoors throwing into a tough and resurgent Bears defense. Chicago will use ball-control offense to keep the ball away from the Lions passing attack. If Bears QB Jay Cutler has an average game (for him), the Bears should hold on, but may not beat the spread.
TAMPA BAY (+3) vs. Houston: The Texans' 1-2 rushing punch pits their No.3-ranked rushing offense against the Bucs' 26th-ranked rushing defense, and the Texans’ No. 1 defense has held three consecutive opponents to less than 175 yards of total offense. They’re just the ninth defense since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger to do that. 'nuff said.
Lastly, I'm laying off of the CINCINNATI (+3) vs. Pittsburgh game because even though the Bengals are the other surprise team in the AFC (Buffalo being the other), with a league-leading defense and a Rookie of the Year candidate in QB Andy Dalton -- and the Bengals often upset the Steelers in hard-fought games -- the Steelers will be intensely set on demolishing the Bengals and getting back on track to winning their division. The Steelers are now behind both the Ravens and the Bengals, and need this win to even stay in the AFC wild-card hunt. Rookie QB, meet NFL Hall of Famer Dick LaBeau and his men of steel. Here's an interesting stat: The Bengals haven't had a 100-yard rusher against the Steelers in seven years.
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
Hope Larson - A Wrinkle in Time, the Graphic Novel
Rudyard Kipling - Kim
Peter Ames Carlin - Bruce
Fran Cannon Slayton - When the Whistle Blows
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: 32
At this date last year: 66
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 (4)
Can't see the Raiders pulling this one off, even at home.
No McFadden + Bad defense (Overall (27); Rush (29), Pass (20) + Super-motivated Chargers w/#4-rated pass offense and still in running for division championship in a tie with KC = San Diego win.
Look at the Buffalo-Dallas game instead. I think there will be a streetcar-load of whisperers here talking up that doggie.
Taking a hard look at the Vikings-Packers game for you high rollers, especially those of you that like betting against a streak (Packers 8-0 this season; current winning streak, dating back to last year:14).
Green Bay Packers still 7 wins shy of matching NFL winning streak record
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20111109/PKR01/111109084/Packers-7-wins-shy-matching-NFL-record
Stay tuned for "Mojo's Best Bets" on Saturday. Last week: 2-1, including a correct pick in the "Upset Special" (Giants over Patriots, +8.5). Whew.
Posted by Mojo | November 10, 2011 7:55 AM
"Mojo's Best Bets"
Can That Dog Hunt? Edition
"Best Bets"
(Last week: 1-1; overall 11-12, counting the Raiders-Chargers game on Thursday)
Slim pickin's this week with so many dogs on the road.
INDIANAPOLIS (+3) vs. Jacksonville -- At home against the struggling Jaguars, and with injured players recovering, the Colts should win their first game of their nightmare 2011 season. The home crowd will be pumped up in the loudest NFL venue, encouraged by the progress that the Colts have been making over the past two weeks.
"Upset Special"
(Last week 1-0; overall 2-6)
BUFFALO (+5.5) at Dallas -- Almost hard to believe that the spread is this high. Even with all of the talent and stars sprinkled around the Cowboys roster, especially defensive demon Demarcus Ware, they are such an inconsistent and poorly game-prepared and performing team that it's almost the mirror opposite of the Buffalo Bills. Even if Buffalo gets behind before half-time, they are such a spectacular team in all three phases (offense, defense, and special teams) that I do not expect them to lose this game to the Cryboys. Buffalo Bills coach, Chan Gailey, is determined to beat the team that fired him. This should be the last year that Dallas head coach Jason Garrett also handles the Offensive Coordinator duties, too.
Chan Gailey should count his lucky stars Jerry fired him
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/11/13/3521195/chan-gailey-should-count-his-lucky.html
"Gamblers Corner"
MINNESOTA (+13.5) at Green Bay -- Is Green Bay ever going to lose a game this year? Not at home, at least not this week. Though if the Vikings can keep building on their past couple weeks' work, and get two or three turnovers, they might pull off a big surprise. As usual for anyone playing the Packers, it comes down to stellar play by the linebackers in coverage combined with getting heavy pressure on QB Aaron Rodgers.
SEATTLE (+6.5) at Baltimore is actually possible, if the Ravens have a let-down after their triumph over the Steelers in Pittsburgh last week. That could happen, especially since QB Joe Flacco is notoriously inconsistent. In this clash of bird-named teams, if the Seahawks get the Raven's feathers flying first by getting out to an early lead and taking the crowd out of the game -- think big kick returns, or a fumble by Ravens super back, Ray Rice, for example. If the Seahawks aren't leading at half-time, they'll be the wrong kind of early birds.
DETROIT (+3) at Chicago is a real gamble because the Lions don't have an impressive rushing game and will be outdoors throwing into a tough and resurgent Bears defense. Chicago will use ball-control offense to keep the ball away from the Lions passing attack. If Bears QB Jay Cutler has an average game (for him), the Bears should hold on, but may not beat the spread.
TAMPA BAY (+3) vs. Houston: The Texans' 1-2 rushing punch pits their No.3-ranked rushing offense against the Bucs' 26th-ranked rushing defense, and the Texans’ No. 1 defense has held three consecutive opponents to less than 175 yards of total offense. They’re just the ninth defense since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger to do that. 'nuff said.
Lastly, I'm laying off of the CINCINNATI (+3) vs. Pittsburgh game because even though the Bengals are the other surprise team in the AFC (Buffalo being the other), with a league-leading defense and a Rookie of the Year candidate in QB Andy Dalton -- and the Bengals often upset the Steelers in hard-fought games -- the Steelers will be intensely set on demolishing the Bengals and getting back on track to winning their division. The Steelers are now behind both the Ravens and the Bengals, and need this win to even stay in the AFC wild-card hunt. Rookie QB, meet NFL Hall of Famer Dick LaBeau and his men of steel. Here's an interesting stat: The Bengals haven't had a 100-yard rusher against the Steelers in seven years.
Posted by Mojo | November 13, 2011 8:55 AM
P.S. ~ Sorry to miss posting before now. Hard week to prog. Enjoy the 3-hour distractions today!
Posted by Mojo | November 13, 2011 8:57 AM
Cincinnati weather report with bad news for Bengals passing game: 40 mph winds.
Posted by Mojo | November 13, 2011 9:59 AM