Get down off the couch
We didn't have a winner in last weekend's pro football underdog pool, but none of the players did, so that wasn't so bad. We picked it to be the week in which the Patriots finally took a loss; that was laughable.
This week, there are quite a few obvious losers, but maybe just one of them will shatter the conventional wisdom because their favored opponent will be looking past them. Remember, the 'dog (in caps) has to win its game outright -- the number is just here to denote how many points we will win if we pick it and it wins. Is there such a team on this list?
24 NEW YORK JETS at New England
12.5 ATLANTA at Tampa Bay
11 ST. LOUIS vs Green Bay
10.5 OAKLAND vs. Indianapolis
10 DETROIT at San Diego
10 PHILADELPHIA at Dallas
10 CHICAGO at Minnesota
8 SAN FRANCISCO vs. Cincinnati (Saturday)
7 CAROLINA vs. Seattle
5.5 BUFFALO at Cleveland
4.5 WASHINGTON at New York Giants
4 JACKSONVILLE at Pittsburgh
4 KANSAS CITY vs. Tennessee
3.5 ARIZONA at New Orleans
3.5 MIAMI vs. Baltimore
1 HOUSTON vs. Denver (Thursday)
Given how late in the game we are, there wouldn't be much interest in any of the last games on the list, but even they look tough. Philly, Chicago, Carolina, Washington? Of those, only Carolina is at home. To our untrained eye, we'd say Carolina. But this is based on about two hours of serious NFL game-watching the whole season. No wonder we're out of the money.
We'll take a winner, any amount, any week. Surely you can steer us in the right direction.
Comments (10)
The big point games that jumped out at me were Detroit over San Diego and Chicago over Minnesota. Some might say Carolina over Seattle because Seattle sucks when they play in the Eastern time zone and they have no incentive to win since they're already in the playoffs.
Posted by Usual Kevin | December 13, 2007 5:13 AM
In order:
5.5 BUFFALO at Cleveland
1 HOUSTON vs. Denver
4 JACKSONVILLE at Pittsburgh
4.5 WASHINGTON at New York Giants
Whatever happened to Sebastian? HE had some pretty good picks.
Posted by Steve | December 13, 2007 8:07 AM
I'm looking to see Buffalo beat the Browns. The Bill's quarterback may be one of the best surprises of the season.
Posted by Dave A. | December 13, 2007 9:35 AM
Chicago is starting Kyle Orton at QB for the first time since 2005-06, his rookie season, when he went 10-5, coming right out of my alma mater: Purdue (as a fourth round pick). He will be far smarter than he was then. I believe Cedric Benson is still hurt too, so Garret Wolfe will be the main running back. The Bears have nothing to play for, so I'm picking them, and I'm super-biased and have been really REALLY wrong this season.
Then Carolina, then Jacksonville.
Philly is really tempting though, but since the game is in Dallas, I would stay away from it.
Posted by Kevin | December 13, 2007 10:29 AM
Detroit over San Diego. Then again, I picked against New England last week, so beware my pick.
Posted by Mike | December 13, 2007 12:08 PM
buffalo and washington, both locks
Posted by poorfarmer | December 13, 2007 1:02 PM
Beware the Buffalo recommendations. Edwards may be a nice surprise, but that kid from Scappoose has the ?!Browns?! within spitting distance of the playoffs, and they're at home. Buffalo is going to need a miracle. They might get it because they have some playmakers and the Browns D sucks, but it's way more likely they lose by 17 than win by 3. They're far from a lock, even win with the points.
Go for the glory and take the Jets. If you're really out of the money, then at least you could be the one who picked the upset. If you want realistic long-shot odds, take the Eagles. If you want a winner, take Jacksonville.
Posted by huck | December 13, 2007 2:38 PM
Don't pick Carolina! Seattle is going to mop the field with them.
Go BIG and pick the Jets. The Pats are going down in a huge upset! I hate the Pats.
Posted by Not so expdx | December 13, 2007 10:25 PM
I do like that scrappy Buffalo team, and Clev has no defense whatsoever. Seems like a reasonable shot at an upset.
The Pats are NOT going down in an upset. Belichick may order a sideline hit on Mangini's MCL though.
Posted by Sebastian | December 13, 2007 11:23 PM
Well, Carolina and Jacksonville were both right, so hopefully that's a good sign for the Bears tomorrow. I think that would be the first time I was 3/3.
Posted by Kevin | December 16, 2007 3:55 PM