Well, here they are:
| Away | Home | Guess | SC Line |
| Colts | Jags | Colts -3 | Colts -3.5 |
| Raiders | Ravens | Ravens -8 | Ravens -7.5 |
| Broncos | Panthers | Broncos -5.5 | Broncos -3.5 |
| Giants | Bengals | Giants -5 | Giants -4 |
| Titans | Dolphins | Dolphins -5.5 | Dolphins -6 |
| Lions | Vikes | Vikes -1 | Lions -2.5 |
| Bills | Pats | Pats -12 | Pats -11 |
| Falcons | Saints | Falcons -3.5 | Falcons -2.5 |
| Chargers | Bucs | Bucs -3 | Bucs -3 |
| Jets | Seahawks | Seahawks -6 | Seahawks -6.5 |
| Cowboys | Eagles | Eagles PK | Cowboys -1.5 |
| Rams | 49ers | 49ers -10.5 | 49ers -11 |
| Texans | Bears | Bears -3 | Bears -1 |
| Chiefs | Steelers | Steelers -13.5 | Steelers -12.5 |
Broncos @ Panthers
Everyone is high on the Broncos right now. Peyton found his groove. They’ve won each of their last 3 games by
more than a touchdown. They’re playing a
Panthers team who has 2 wins on the season.
This is a no-brainer, right? Take
the Broncos? INCORRECT, KIND MADAMES AND
SIRS!
After firing their GM, the Panthers had the Bears on the ropes IN
CHICAGO 2 weeks ago and then went into Washington and beat the Redskins with
ease. I don’t know if the Panthers
firing their GM simply motivated the players or if it actually had some trickledown
effect to the coaches and the play calling, but something is a lot different. The Panthers are once again that team that
even the best teams better not take lightly.
Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are the toughest QBs to pick
against because they understand the game so well, and they’re always fully prepared. Will Peyton carve up Carolina on Sunday? Peyton will be ready to play, but I think the
Broncos as a team will limp into Carolina, assume they’ll have an easy win, and
then find themselves in a one possession battle late in the game. I think a field goal wins this game one way
or the other.
If you’re taking the Panthers +3.5, you’re taking the correct
side.
Lions @ Vikings
Based on the line, I think Percy Harvin will either not play or
be used mostly as a decoy in this game.
The Lions have been playing better lately, and the Vikings have been playing
worse lately, but the Lions still don’t deserve to be favored in the Metrodome.
Who have the Lions beaten…?
They barely beat the Rams at home.
They beat the lowly Eagles in OT.
They beat the Seahawks which was a decent win, but it was at home, and
we all know the Seahawks are a MUCH better team at home than on the road. Then, the Lions beat the Jags. (Side note: The NFL needs to schedule the
Jags and the Chiefs in Week 18 and call it the Toilet Bowl. My guess of the line is PICKEM, and I’m going
to predict it ends in a 0-0 tie.) People
assume since the Lions have won 3 of their last 4 that they are the Lions of last
year. LOOK MORE CLOSELY PEOPLE! They don’t have a GOOD win!
So, pick the Vikings, right?
While I DO lean Vikings, it’s a tough pick to make and probably a game
you’re gonna want to stay away from, especially with the uncertainty of Harvin’s
health. Not that Christian Ponder should
ever be considered a “good” QB, but Harvin makes him and his stats look A LOT
better than Ponder deserves credit for.
Ponder struggles making the deeper throws (and the short ones half the
time). When Harvin is in there, Ponder
is so much more efficient because he throws swing passes and screens and lets
Harvin’s “YAC”ing pad his passing stats.
If Harvin is ineffective, to win the Vikings are going to need a HUGE
game on the ground, a big game from their defense, and they cannot turn the
ball over. If Harvin IS effective, the
Vikings is no doubt the right pick here.
Although the line makes me wonder, I have to believe Harvin will be
about 80%. Even after his injury last
week, he still came back in the game.
Take Vikings +2.5
Texans @ Bears
These teams are built very similar. Both have top 10 NFL QBs who can sling
it. Foster and Forte are 2 of the top 5
all-around RBs in the NFL. They might be
the 2 best pass catching backs in the league. Both teams have very solid defenses. And both teams have a superstar at wide
receiver in Andre Johnson and Brandon Marshall.
So, I figure what other choice does Vegas have than to favor the
home team by 3. Instead, Vegas says
Bears -1. So, either Vegas thinks the
Texans match up better with the Bears than the Bears do with the Texans, OR the
Texans have been given more national attention, and the corresponding bias
people have toward the Texans is factored into the line. Well, which is it? Since I just got done telling you I think the
teams are equal, I’ll say the answer is the latter.
To me, it just feels like people think the Bears rely too
heavily on their elderly defense. Sooner
or later that defense will break down, and the Bears will assume their role as simply
an above average team that will make the playoffs but won’t contend for the
Super Bowl. It’s at least my perception,
and at most the truth, that what I’ve just described seems to be the common
train of thought among the masses. I’m going to disagree with the people that
continue NOT BUYING the Bears. I think
the home team wins by at least 3 come Monday night. Keep in mind this game is at Soldier Field,
not in the comfortable confines of a dome like the Texans prefer.
By the way, could we have asked for a better Monday night
matchup? It’s AFC vs. NFC with arguably
the 2 best teams in the NFL facing off.
Take Bears -1…and then toss old Orville Redenbacher in the
insta-oven!
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