Week 8 Picks
Last week didn’t go well. Thanks to the Ravens and Jaguars playing the absolute worst game that I have ever fully watched from beginning to end (mostly because I had Ray Rice on my fantasy team, or maybe mostly because that game really was just flat out horrible…I haven’t decided yet), the Colts not showing up in New Orleans, the Chargers not knowing how to run a two minute drill to end the game, and the Browns and Seahawks combining for a stunning total of nine points… my record was 5-8. Somehow I have still managed to stay in the top ten percent on ESPN’s Pigskin Pick’em. The Packers are on their bye week this week so that means the NFL is effectively shut down until Week 9. In any case, here are my picks – home team in CAPS, ESPN’s spread is in parenthesis.
Colts (+9.5) over TITANS – This is the battle of two teams who didn’t show up in Week 7. The Colts lost 62-7 on the road and the Titans lost 41-7 at home. I’ll put the mandatory statement about Chris Johnson having his breakout week here: “If Chris Johnson doesn’t break out against this Colts defense that allowed 62 points last week, he never will!” Honestly this has to be the worst season that the Titans could’ve expected out of Johnson, short of him blowing out his knee on the first play of the season. Actually it might’ve been less painful to watch if that happened than have to sit through him averaging around 2.9 yards per carry.
Saints (-10.5) over RAMS – No matter how big the line is against the rams, lay the points. They’re such a reliable team.
Dolphins (+9.5) over GIANTS – Don’t take the points with Eli Manning if it is more than a touchdown.
PANTHERS (-3.5) over Vikings – While Christian Ponder did impress me last week; Cam Newton and Steve Smith are going to light up the Minnesota secondary. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Vikings tried a couple deep shots early, though. I still can’t believe that Cam is this good. It’s not that I didn’t think that he would ever be good, I just never thought that he’d ever be this good so fast. He will be a superstar in a few years.
RAVENS (-12.5) over Cardinals – The Ravens are pissed. They’re going to win by at least two touchdowns. Arizona stinks. I feel bad for Larry Fitzgerald. He’s such a good player and a good guy but he took that huge extension before finding out if Kevin Kolb was any good. Now the Cardinals are sitting at 1-5 and Fitzgerald has a slim chance to win anything for the rest of his career.
Jaguars (+9.5) over TEXANS – I think this is going to be a letdown game for Jacksonville. They beat the only playoff team that they’ll beat all year, and although it was really ugly they spent a lot of energy doing it. However, I don’t feel comfortable giving Matt Schaub 9.5-points. He’s Tony Romo without the star on his helmet.
BILLS (-5.5) over Redskins – Although the Bills’ magic has worn off slightly, I do feel confident that their offense can outscore any kind of combination of Rex Grossman and John Beck by at least a touchdown.
Lions (-3.5) over BRONCOS – I’m really nervous about this game because of one man: Tim Tebow. I know the guy isn’t a great quarterback, and although I’m a huge fan of his, I don’t think he’ll ever be a great quarterback from a mechanics standpoint. I do know that God loves Tim Tebow and that he always finds ways to win or make it respectable no matter how bad Denver is. The horrible first 55 minutes he had last week almost made the finish more amazing. If John Fox knows what’s good for him, he should run Tebow instead of having him sit back in the pocket and get pummeled by this Detroit front.
Bengals (-2.5) at SEAHAWKS – I know that Seattle has a great homefield advantage, but I just watched them score three points last week and the Bengals have a better defense than the Browns.
49ERS (-9.5) over Browns – As the other half of the aforementioned Seahawks game, I won’t be taking the points with a Cleveland team that only managed to score six points against a Seattle defense that doesn’t have one player that I can name. But I can’t believe I’m laying 9.5-points with Alex Smith.
STEELERS (+2.5) over Patriots – I know that Tom Brady OWNS the Steelers in Pittsburgh, I know. The Steelers have a great deep threat with Mike Wallace and a very solid receiving corps overall and the Patriots can’t stop anything through the air. I really want to see Vince Wilfork, Albert Haynesworth break through the line and try to bring down Big Ben. That would be about 1,500 pounds of NFL football players in the Pittsburgh backfield… give or take.
Cowboys (+3.5) over EAGLES – If DeMarco Murray is for real, he should have a good game against this atrocious Philly run defense. I think he is, so I’ll take the points with Dallas. I’m trying to think of it has taking the points because of Murray instead of worrying about taking the points with Romo.
CHIEFS (+3.5) over Chargers – San Diego has shown me absolutely nothing that would make me pick them in this game. Phillip Rivers is so bad that the Chargers fan base is wondering if he is hiding an injury. They have everything they could want on offense to be extremely successful against any defense but Rivers has been surprisingly inept at running it. I don’t know how the Chiefs have won three games to this point, and I don’t think they’re any good, but this pick is more out of spite for the Chargers than confidence in the Chiefs.
