Correct
Incorrect
Correct; Incorrect vs. Spread
Philadelphia (-2.5) over @Buffalo
@Indianapolis over (-2.5) Kansas City
Arizona over @Minnesota (-2.5)
@NY Giants (-10) over Seattle
@Pittsburgh (-3) over Tennessee
New Orleans (-6.5) over @Carolina
Cincinnati over @Jacksonville (-2.5)
Oakland over @Houston (-6)
@San Francisco (-3) over Tampa Bay
San Diego (-4) over @Denver
@New England (-9) over NY Jets*
Green Bay (-6) over @Atlanta
Monday Night (5-1) :
Chicago over @Detroit (-5.5)
Week 5 Record: 8-5
vs. Spread: 6-6-1
In regards to the sports world, I have way more to say than can fit into Twitter's 140 characters. It's Packers over everything all day every day. And the NFL Draft is better than Christmas. That is all.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Week 5 Picks/Spread
Philadelphia (-2.5) over @Buffalo
- The Eagles are among the most disappointing teams in the league thus far; The Dream Team has been more of a nightmare through 4 games. I think Philly will score at will on Buffalo's shaky Defense, but the Bills have enough on Offense to keep it close. Eagles win a close one.
@Indianapolis (-2.5) over Kansas City
- In their Monday Night matchup against Tampa, Indy looked a little better on Offense with Curtis Painter under center. The core of this team has been dismantled by injuries, but fortunately the Chiefs are a beatable team for the Colts. Colts win a close, ugly game.
Arizona over @Minnesota (-2.5)
Straight up: Arizona - I've put too much faith in the Vikings lately. I don't think their 0-4 record adequately reflects the talent level on their roster. However, after blowing so many leads this year I have to go with the hungry Arizona Cardinals coming off a controversial loss to the Giants. Minnesota plays them tough, but Arizona wins by a FG.
@NY Giants (-10) over Seattle
- This is my survivor pick of the week; I'm not fully aboard the Giants bandwagon, but I just can't see the lowly Seahawks traveling all the way from Washington state to New York and then beating the Giants. Big game from Hakeem Nicks, New York wins by 2 TD.
@Pittsburgh (-3) over Tennessee
- With James Harrison out and Rashard Mendenhall likely out as well, the Steelers better not take the Titans lightly this week. This was a tough game to pick because I'm not very high on Pitt right now, and Tennessee's playing well. Pitt's tough to beat at home though, and that was the deciding factor. Isaac Redman should have a productive day if Mendenhall doesn't go, PIT by 7.
New Orleans (-6.5) over @Carolina
- I said last week that Atlanta better be aware of a potential upset at Seattle, and they barely escaped with a 30-28 win. This game feels similar to me. I'm going with the Saints like I went with the Falcons, but I think Carolina has enough on Offense to give New Orleans a competitive game. Saints win by 7.
Cincinnati over @Jacksonville (-2.5)
Straight up: Cincinnati - This has more to do with how poor Jacksonville is on offense than it has to do with how good the Bengals may be. With that said, I've been impressed with Andy Dalton as a rookie starting QB. This is going to be an ugly game between these two sluggish Offenses, but I like the Bengals by a TD.
Oakland over @Houston (-6)
Straight up: Oakland - The Raiders catch a break by seeing the Texans in their first game without Andre Johnson in the lineup. R.I.P. Al Davis; it's easy to make an Al Davis joke about his personnel decisions within the past decade, but he did a lot of good for the Raiders organization. Oakland's a good enough team to push for a Wild Card this year. Raiders run all over the Texans; they win this game in Houston.
@San Francisco (-3) over Tampa Bay
- The 49ers are quietly 3-1 and having a pretty solid season. Tampa Bay won in not-so-impressive fashion on Monday Night against Indianapolis. In this one, the Bucs will have to play a lot better against a legit 49ers' Defense. Even though he's been slightly disappointing in the league so far, I have a good feeling about Michael Crabtree in this one. San Fran has just enough on Offense to win this game, 49ers win by 6.
San Diego (-4) over @Denver
- I considered the Chargers as my Week 5 survivor pick, but I'm trying to hold off on them until later in the year because they always seem to blow a game they should win early in the season. Denver's defense just isn't good by any stretch of the imagination, and the Chargers are capable of putting up a lot of points on anyone. Big days from Philip Rivers and Ryan Mathews, Chargers-35 over Broncos-24.
NY Jets over @New England (-9)
Straight up: New England - With Nick Mangold back in the lineup for the Jets and with Jerod Mayo out of the lineup for the Pats, I think Gang Green will be able to consistently move the ball on New England. The Jets have a good enough Defense to slow down the Pats' passing attack. I like the Pats to win, but I'll take the Jets to cover the spread. NE-27, NYJ-23.
Green Bay (-6) over @Atlanta
- From a fantasy standpoint, I like everyone involved the Passing Game for either team in this one. I think either Roddy White or Julio Jones will have a huge day, as the Falcons will be throwing the ball to keep pace with the Pack's Offense. Green Bay has too many weapons for the Falcons to completely stop; as much as Atlanta may think they're at the Packers' level, I completely disagree. Pack wins this one by a TD. Pack 34, Falcons 27.
Chicago over @Detroit (-5.5)
Straight up: Chicago - I'm really excited for this game. Detroit finally has a home game on Monday Night Football and they're 4-0 at the time, hosting the defending NFC North champion Bears. I think the Lions are much more of a legit threat in the NFC than the Bears are, but I think Detroit's Offense will be held back just a little by a stingy Bears Defense. Chicago makes you work for your points, so the explosive plays may not come easy. In a great game, I like CHI to win 27-26.
Week 5 Lock: NY Giants over Seattle
- The Eagles are among the most disappointing teams in the league thus far; The Dream Team has been more of a nightmare through 4 games. I think Philly will score at will on Buffalo's shaky Defense, but the Bills have enough on Offense to keep it close. Eagles win a close one.
@Indianapolis (-2.5) over Kansas City
- In their Monday Night matchup against Tampa, Indy looked a little better on Offense with Curtis Painter under center. The core of this team has been dismantled by injuries, but fortunately the Chiefs are a beatable team for the Colts. Colts win a close, ugly game.
Arizona over @Minnesota (-2.5)
Straight up: Arizona - I've put too much faith in the Vikings lately. I don't think their 0-4 record adequately reflects the talent level on their roster. However, after blowing so many leads this year I have to go with the hungry Arizona Cardinals coming off a controversial loss to the Giants. Minnesota plays them tough, but Arizona wins by a FG.
@NY Giants (-10) over Seattle
- This is my survivor pick of the week; I'm not fully aboard the Giants bandwagon, but I just can't see the lowly Seahawks traveling all the way from Washington state to New York and then beating the Giants. Big game from Hakeem Nicks, New York wins by 2 TD.
@Pittsburgh (-3) over Tennessee
- With James Harrison out and Rashard Mendenhall likely out as well, the Steelers better not take the Titans lightly this week. This was a tough game to pick because I'm not very high on Pitt right now, and Tennessee's playing well. Pitt's tough to beat at home though, and that was the deciding factor. Isaac Redman should have a productive day if Mendenhall doesn't go, PIT by 7.
New Orleans (-6.5) over @Carolina
- I said last week that Atlanta better be aware of a potential upset at Seattle, and they barely escaped with a 30-28 win. This game feels similar to me. I'm going with the Saints like I went with the Falcons, but I think Carolina has enough on Offense to give New Orleans a competitive game. Saints win by 7.
Cincinnati over @Jacksonville (-2.5)
Straight up: Cincinnati - This has more to do with how poor Jacksonville is on offense than it has to do with how good the Bengals may be. With that said, I've been impressed with Andy Dalton as a rookie starting QB. This is going to be an ugly game between these two sluggish Offenses, but I like the Bengals by a TD.
Oakland over @Houston (-6)
Straight up: Oakland - The Raiders catch a break by seeing the Texans in their first game without Andre Johnson in the lineup. R.I.P. Al Davis; it's easy to make an Al Davis joke about his personnel decisions within the past decade, but he did a lot of good for the Raiders organization. Oakland's a good enough team to push for a Wild Card this year. Raiders run all over the Texans; they win this game in Houston.
@San Francisco (-3) over Tampa Bay
- The 49ers are quietly 3-1 and having a pretty solid season. Tampa Bay won in not-so-impressive fashion on Monday Night against Indianapolis. In this one, the Bucs will have to play a lot better against a legit 49ers' Defense. Even though he's been slightly disappointing in the league so far, I have a good feeling about Michael Crabtree in this one. San Fran has just enough on Offense to win this game, 49ers win by 6.
San Diego (-4) over @Denver
- I considered the Chargers as my Week 5 survivor pick, but I'm trying to hold off on them until later in the year because they always seem to blow a game they should win early in the season. Denver's defense just isn't good by any stretch of the imagination, and the Chargers are capable of putting up a lot of points on anyone. Big days from Philip Rivers and Ryan Mathews, Chargers-35 over Broncos-24.
NY Jets over @New England (-9)
Straight up: New England - With Nick Mangold back in the lineup for the Jets and with Jerod Mayo out of the lineup for the Pats, I think Gang Green will be able to consistently move the ball on New England. The Jets have a good enough Defense to slow down the Pats' passing attack. I like the Pats to win, but I'll take the Jets to cover the spread. NE-27, NYJ-23.
Green Bay (-6) over @Atlanta
- From a fantasy standpoint, I like everyone involved the Passing Game for either team in this one. I think either Roddy White or Julio Jones will have a huge day, as the Falcons will be throwing the ball to keep pace with the Pack's Offense. Green Bay has too many weapons for the Falcons to completely stop; as much as Atlanta may think they're at the Packers' level, I completely disagree. Pack wins this one by a TD. Pack 34, Falcons 27.
Chicago over @Detroit (-5.5)
Straight up: Chicago - I'm really excited for this game. Detroit finally has a home game on Monday Night Football and they're 4-0 at the time, hosting the defending NFC North champion Bears. I think the Lions are much more of a legit threat in the NFC than the Bears are, but I think Detroit's Offense will be held back just a little by a stingy Bears Defense. Chicago makes you work for your points, so the explosive plays may not come easy. In a great game, I like CHI to win 27-26.
Week 5 Lock: NY Giants over Seattle
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Wisconsin - You Said it All.
The fine state of Wisconsin is about to explode.
How? The current, never-before-seen level of success among the state's athletic teams.
Wisconsin boasts the defending Super Bowl Champion, and 13-time World Champion, Green Bay Packers. The team appears stronger thus far in 2011 than they were at any point in the 2010 regular season. Through four games, QB Aaron Rodgers hasn't missed a step following his MVP performance in Super Bowl XLV. Rodgers has thrown 12 TD passes compared to just 2 INT, putting him on pace for 48 TD and only 8 INT in a full season. This team has leadership all over the field. Rodgers, Jennings, Woodson, Driver, and others act as a set of on-field eyes for Coach McCarthy. One of just two remaining undefeated teams in the league, the Pack is back and looking towards a repeat run to the Super Bowl.
At the college football level, the Wisconsin Badgers are being mentioned as a dark-horse National Championship contender. What more can you say about QB Russell Wilson? The guy has played 2 games as a Badger, and already has 2 athletic apparel companies named after him. Bucky had a high profile matchup on Saturday at Camp Randall against Nebraska; a 48-17 thrashing of the Huskers leaves little doubt as to who the better team is. UW has a better QB than they've ever had before, and perhaps a more confident team than they've had during their recent Rose Bowl runs... Anything short of a Rose Bowl would be a disappointment, and a potential National Championship appearance is a legitimate possibility.
And last, but certainly not least, the Milwaukee Brewers. Fear. The. Beer. The Brew Crew have jumped out to a 2-0 lead in their NLDS matchup against the Diamondbacks, and they look to complete the series sweep tonight in Arizona. Is there a more likable team in baseball than Milwaukee? The Brewers feature several big name players, but it's the under-the-radar acquisitions of Doug Melvin that may lead this team back to the World Series. Not many people across the baseball world had much to say about Milwaukee's mid-season acquisitions of Jerry Hairston Jr. and Nyjer Morgan. Hairston has been a huge improvement over Casey McGehee in the field, while Nyjer "Tony Plush" Morgan instantly became a fan favorite in Milwaukee. While there are several deserving candidates for NL MVP, all voters should quit their job if they choose anyone other than Milwaukee LF Ryan Braun. Braun and Prince Fielder are the engine that keeps the Brewers' offense going, while the pitching rotation has been consistenly good throughout the year. In my (somewhat biased) opinion, Milwaukee has enough balance between pitching and hitting to be the National League's representative in the World Series. This team is special.
It's a great time to be a supporter of Wisconsin sports. Across the world of professional sports, you'll see several cities that consistently see their teams win Championships. In the last 10 years, the city of Boston has seen 3 Super Bowls (Patriots), 2 World Series Championships (Red Sox), a Stanley Cup (Bruins), and an NBA Championship (Celtics.) That's seven championships in four major sports in the past decade. While I'm not complaining that the Big Bad Boston market has an unfair advantage over the smaller-market teams from Wisconsin, it's certainly fun to see such a high level of success among teams representing Sconnie. Nowhere else in the country is there a more unique sports story than there is currently in early October in Wisconsin. So... On Wisconsin, Feer the Beer, and Go Pack Go - Wisconsin is the Sports Capital of America.
How? The current, never-before-seen level of success among the state's athletic teams.
Wisconsin boasts the defending Super Bowl Champion, and 13-time World Champion, Green Bay Packers. The team appears stronger thus far in 2011 than they were at any point in the 2010 regular season. Through four games, QB Aaron Rodgers hasn't missed a step following his MVP performance in Super Bowl XLV. Rodgers has thrown 12 TD passes compared to just 2 INT, putting him on pace for 48 TD and only 8 INT in a full season. This team has leadership all over the field. Rodgers, Jennings, Woodson, Driver, and others act as a set of on-field eyes for Coach McCarthy. One of just two remaining undefeated teams in the league, the Pack is back and looking towards a repeat run to the Super Bowl.
At the college football level, the Wisconsin Badgers are being mentioned as a dark-horse National Championship contender. What more can you say about QB Russell Wilson? The guy has played 2 games as a Badger, and already has 2 athletic apparel companies named after him. Bucky had a high profile matchup on Saturday at Camp Randall against Nebraska; a 48-17 thrashing of the Huskers leaves little doubt as to who the better team is. UW has a better QB than they've ever had before, and perhaps a more confident team than they've had during their recent Rose Bowl runs... Anything short of a Rose Bowl would be a disappointment, and a potential National Championship appearance is a legitimate possibility.
And last, but certainly not least, the Milwaukee Brewers. Fear. The. Beer. The Brew Crew have jumped out to a 2-0 lead in their NLDS matchup against the Diamondbacks, and they look to complete the series sweep tonight in Arizona. Is there a more likable team in baseball than Milwaukee? The Brewers feature several big name players, but it's the under-the-radar acquisitions of Doug Melvin that may lead this team back to the World Series. Not many people across the baseball world had much to say about Milwaukee's mid-season acquisitions of Jerry Hairston Jr. and Nyjer Morgan. Hairston has been a huge improvement over Casey McGehee in the field, while Nyjer "Tony Plush" Morgan instantly became a fan favorite in Milwaukee. While there are several deserving candidates for NL MVP, all voters should quit their job if they choose anyone other than Milwaukee LF Ryan Braun. Braun and Prince Fielder are the engine that keeps the Brewers' offense going, while the pitching rotation has been consistenly good throughout the year. In my (somewhat biased) opinion, Milwaukee has enough balance between pitching and hitting to be the National League's representative in the World Series. This team is special.
It's a great time to be a supporter of Wisconsin sports. Across the world of professional sports, you'll see several cities that consistently see their teams win Championships. In the last 10 years, the city of Boston has seen 3 Super Bowls (Patriots), 2 World Series Championships (Red Sox), a Stanley Cup (Bruins), and an NBA Championship (Celtics.) That's seven championships in four major sports in the past decade. While I'm not complaining that the Big Bad Boston market has an unfair advantage over the smaller-market teams from Wisconsin, it's certainly fun to see such a high level of success among teams representing Sconnie. Nowhere else in the country is there a more unique sports story than there is currently in early October in Wisconsin. So... On Wisconsin, Feer the Beer, and Go Pack Go - Wisconsin is the Sports Capital of America.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Week 4 Picks: Results
Correct
Incorrect
Correct; incorrect vs. spread
Buffalo (-3) over @Cincinnati
Tennessee over @Cleveland (-1.5)
@Dallas (-1.5) over Detroit
Minnesota (-1.5) over @Kansas City
Washington (-1.5) over @St.Louis
@Philadelphia (-8.5) over San Francisco
New Orleans (-7) over @Jacksonville
@Houston (-4) over Pittsburgh
@Arizona over New York Giants (-1.5)
Atlanta (-4.5) over @Seattle
@Green Bay (-12.5) over Denver
New England (-4.5) over @Oakland
@San Diego (-7) over Miami
@Baltimore (-3.5) over New York Jets
Monday Night (5-0) :
@Tampa Bay (-10) over Indianapolis
Week 4 Record: 11-5
vs. Spread: 8-8
Sunday, October 2, 2011
My Pack Prediction: GB 34 DEN 16
One of my buddies is a big Chicago Bears fan, so every week I send him my prediction for the Packer game and the Bear game. Last week I nailed the final score (27-17), as well as a couple statistics. (I always try to predict the numbers for both QBs in each game.)
As far as the "good guys" go, I don't think the Broncos stand a chance today. As far as Da Bears go, I want to pick them as my "lock of the week" but I just can't do it with how poorly the Offensive Line has been playing. I also wouldn't be shocked if Cam Newton came out and laid an egg against a Defense that will make him be patient.
GB/CHI Predictions: 6-0 on the year (inc. head-to-head)
-- Rodgers: 305 Yards; 2 TD, 0 INT (TDs to Nelson, Finley)
-- Orton: 240 Yards; 1 TD, 2 INT (TD Decker, Picks by Peprah, Williams)
-- Starks: 110 Total Yards, 2 TD.
* The Broncos may keep it relatively close early, but eventually the superior team (Green Bay) will outshine Denver. Kyle Orton will likely be forced to try to lead his team from a large deficit, and the Pack will be able to pin their ears back and put Orton under pressure. While I like Jermichael Finley to have yet another huge impact today, it's almost unfair to single him out since he has a big game every week. As far as my X-Factor in this one, I like James Starks a lot in this game. I think he may find the endzone multiple times in the absence of Ryan Grant. Rodgers should put up big numbers against a Denver secondary that gave up 300+ yards to rookie QB Andy Dalton and aging QB Matt Hasselbeck. I expect a big first half for the Packers' QB, but a big lead will lead to a heavy dose of James Starks and the running game in the 2nd half. Pack wins this one easily.
Bears 27 > Panthers 20
-- Cutler: 275 Yards; 2 TD, 1 INT (TDs to Knox, Hester, Pick by Godfrey)
-- Newton: 260 Yards; 1 TD, 2 INT (TD Olsen, Picks by Jennings, Briggs)
-- Forte: 130 Total Yards, 1 TD
-- Cutler: 275 Yards; 2 TD, 1 INT (TDs to Knox, Hester, Pick by Godfrey)
-- Newton: 260 Yards; 1 TD, 2 INT (TD Olsen, Picks by Jennings, Briggs)
-- Forte: 130 Total Yards, 1 TD
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