'Dogs rest ye merry, gentlemen
Yes, Virginia, there is pro football on Christmas, and the Sunday after as well. Thus, it behooves the players in our charity pro football underdog pool to try to divine which underdog team (in caps below) can win its game outright, without benefit of the point spread:
14 TAMPA BAY at New Orleans
14 SEATTLE at Green Bay
14 ST. LOUIS at Arizona
13.5 KANSAS CITY at Cincinnati
12.5 DETROIT at San Francisco
9 BUFFALO at Atlanta
8 JACKSONVILLE at New England
7 DENVER at Philadelphia
7 CAROLINA at NY Giants
7 CHICAGO vs. Minnesota
6.5 WASHINGTON vs. Dallas
5 NY JETS at Indianapolis
3 OAKLAND at Cleveland
3 SAN DIEGO at Tennessee (Friday 4:30 PM PST)
3 HOUSTON at Miami
2.5 BALTIMORE at Pittsburgh
We still have quite a race going for bragging rights, and the right to designate the destination of our charity pool funds. The top three finishers receive those honors. Our standings are here; with the large points that players can rack up in some games this weekend, the identities of the final top three are far from clear. After this, there is one last week of regular season games, and then three weeks of playoffs.
Players, please note that the holiday may provide a huge distraction, and so please don't miss the deadline (strictly enforced) of 11:59 p.m. Saturday for me to have your pick in hand. If you choose San Diego, I must have that pick by kickoff time on Christmas afternoon (noted above).
It's a crucial weekend for the pool, and so readers' advice will no doubt be especially appreciated. Which teams have something to play for besides pride? Which teams have given up? Which teams are going to coast?
| Posted at 2:21 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (18)
I have to go with Washington at home upending a Dallas team looking past them to Philly.
Posted by George Anonymuncule Seldes | December 23, 2009 2:35 AM
I will take DENVER. Everyone else take Denver at your peril! Did I mention I am declaring low?
Posted by Sidney R. Finkel | December 23, 2009 5:10 AM
I'm taking Denver too
Posted by annie | December 23, 2009 6:44 AM
Much as I'd like to join the pig-pile on the Broncos, I'll take the Bears.
Posted by Hank Stern | December 23, 2009 8:01 AM
Give me DETROIT!
Posted by Kevin | December 23, 2009 8:41 AM
I'll take Detroit.
Posted by Gary Kelley | December 23, 2009 10:38 AM
Your correct Minnesota picks so far this season are hovering in the 7 percentile range.
Posted by D | December 23, 2009 12:00 PM
Give me a safe 2.5 points with Baltimore over Pittsburgh. At 8-6, the Ravens are currently the fifth-seed AFC team. Pittsburgh has a hard time winning games without Troy Polamalu and Chris Kemoeatu.
Posted by jmh | December 23, 2009 3:10 PM
If Brad Childress benches Favre, then Chicago might have easy pickins' with Minnesota.
Posted by umpire | December 23, 2009 5:22 PM
Picking against San Diego right now does not seem like a good idea. I don't understand why Tennessee is favored.
And I like Baltimore over Pittsburgh right now.
Posted by Nonny Mouse | December 23, 2009 6:16 PM
Nonny, I suspect the reason for the line on the Chargers-Titans game may that San Diego has already clinched its division title. With a playoff berth assured, the Chargers may be inclined to coast a bit and rest some key players.
Posted by jmh | December 24, 2009 9:53 AM
Whoa, better take a time out from festivities to bet the Chargers' second team can dog their way through to victory over the Titans. At least I'll learn my fate early. genop's mom, despite my advice to play it safe with San Diego, instead thinks the Texans are best in show this week. Dolphins get dogged by the Texans. Merry Christmas & an Awesome New Year - All. Genop & Mom.
Posted by genop | December 25, 2009 1:15 PM
I will try to undo this zero with KC over Cincy. Why not?
Posted by Flynn | December 25, 2009 9:00 PM
I'll take Buffalo, the ATL is reeling right now.
Posted by Michael welch | December 25, 2009 9:29 PM
Here's hoping Chicago is the WIN-dy city for me this week...put me down for the Bears.
Posted by Rick | December 25, 2009 9:32 PM
Hey there, still looking for some cred (and points) for my Oakland pick last week:
https://bojack.org/2009/12/dogs_all_weekend.html
Thanks!
Merry Christmas All!
Posted by Michael Welch | December 25, 2009 9:41 PM
Michael W.: Sorry I missed that impressive pick. It's been duly noted, and the standings corrected.
Posted by Jack Bog | December 26, 2009 1:50 AM
I'll try STL this week. Thanks.
Posted by Dan f | December 26, 2009 5:51 PM