Two bigs, two littles for next-to-last 'dog week
It's Week 19 of our 20-week charity prof football underdog game -- the time has surely flown -- and here are the week's options for our predictors. But before we reveal them, let us remind players that this week, because we are in the playoffs and half the games are on Saturday, all picks are due by Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time.
Repeat: This week, all picks are due by Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time.
That said, here's what we are looking at:
9.5 BALTIMORE at Denver
9.5 HOUSTON at New England
3 GREEN BAY at San Francisco
1 SEATTLE at Atlanta
Now, to win points in our game, our players' teams must win their games outright. Our top five 'dog pickers get to send money to their favorite charities -- $1,340 all told. Only 8 points separate second from seventh place in our standings, and with two 9½-point 'dogs on the board, the picking is going to be interesting. There'll be only two games next week in the finale, and players could easily cancel each other out then; therefore, this week is crucial.
Oh, and did we mention? All picks are due by Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. Good luck, everybody!
| Posted at 11:45 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (4)
Amazing that the odds guys only have Atlanta one point over my Seaturkeys.
I'm a litle surprised that Seattle didn't stay on the east coast this week, say in Charloette, and use the Panthers facilities for prep.
Coming back west from DC Sunday and going back east to Atlanta Friday seems a little much.
Its going to be an interesting weekend.
Posted by Nonny Mouse | January 8, 2013 1:13 PM
Concussion-scarred Bernie Kosar finds relief with ‘groundbreaking’ treatment
By Marla Ridenour, Beacon Journal sports columnist (Jan. 11, 2013)
http://www.ohio.com/news/top-stories/concussion-scarred-bernie-kosar-finds-relief-with-groundbreaking-treatment-1.364083
Junior Seau had degenerative brain disease when he committed suicide
The National Institutes of Health says in a study that Seau, one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history, had chronic traumatic encephalopathy when he shot himself in May. More than 2,000 former players are suing the NFL over the issue of head injuries.
January 10, 2013|By Sam Farmer and Rosie Mestel, Los Angeles Times
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/10/sports/la-sp-junior-seau-20130111
Posted by Mojo | January 11, 2013 7:06 PM
Mojo's Best Bets
Oh Atlanta! Edition
Go Seahawks!
Allman Brothers Band - Hot 'Lanta - Closing Night At The Fillmore (6/27/71)**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iv2RrbWKv8
Little Feat - Oh, Atlanta from "Skin It Back - The Rockpalast Collection"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE1amt-aRxE
Best Bet
GREEN BAY (+3) at San Francisco -- This is the most obvious best bet in this contest this week. While most pundits say this comes down to the QBs and Green Bay's All-Pro and Super Bowl Champion Aaron Rogers is the no-brainer choice over first-year mid-season SF starter, Colin Kaepernick, it really is going to be won by the defense and special teams. Hence, the 3-pt. spread. When you take a bird's eye look at these two teams and the season they've had -- the Packers are running away under pretty full steam after a choppy start. Meanwhile, even the most rabid Niners' fan would admit that they're very nervous about this game and have deep doubts that their inconsistent team can overcome the confident and well-coached Packers.
Upset Special
BALTIMORE (+9.5) at Denver -- While Broncos QB Peyton Manning is having the Comeback Player of the Year year of of all years, and the Denver defense is playing very well, and they jumped on the Ravens in Baltimore a few weeks ago and plucked them good, this playoff matchup is going to be a much tougher game for Denver.
The key will be who wins on the turnover balance sheet, and Ravens QB Joe Flacco (meaning which Joe shows up). The Ravens defense will give the Broncos their toughest test this year in this game, especially in coverages, and on offense look for the Ravens combo of RB Ray Rice, WR Torrie Smith, and TE Dennis Pitta (who had 8 catches in the Broncos game -- they can't cover him). This is the big bet of the day today -- the line was already down to 8 in some books in Vegas last night due to the heavier play accumulating on the Ravens.
Is this Ray Lewis' last game? Maybe not!
(Imagine the eternal highlight reel splice of Lewis sacking Manning in this game.) Maybe not.
HOUSTON (+9.5) at New England -- Well, there's not much to say about how the Texans would win this one, but if J.J.Watt gets to Brady one time too many (and it may only take one), it could change the character of this game. If Houston can stop the Patriots running game early or at least frustrate its progress at key times, they may be able to hang onto the ball more and steadily get ahead of the Patriots and force Brady to toss it around more. The Texans have very good secondary players and might pick a couple off, even. May come down to Texans' kicker in the end. Or even the Patriots leg man.
* *Track 8: Hot 'Lanta. This is the closing night of The Fillmore East, a very special show that has flirted with an official release for over 30 years.
"The tape begins with Graham introducing the Allman Brothers Band as one of the best he's heard according to his untrained ears, and the band embark on a show that packs a lot into an eighty minute set. The opening numbers show some restraint and not until "In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed" does the band get into an elongated jam session reaching over twelve minutes. The show ends with a twenty minute "Whipping Post" and a seventeen minute encore "You Don't Love Me"/ "Final Serenade" where Duane Allman quotes Handel's "Joy To The World". "
Posted by Mojo | January 12, 2013 1:24 PM
Oops! typo: HOUSTON is the Gamblers' Corner choice. Too late, sorry. uh-oh.
Posted by Mojo | January 12, 2013 1:57 PM