Chihuahua Week in the NFL
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!
| Posted at 9:48 PM | Permalink |
|
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