2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: The Finals

After going a perfect 2 for 2 in my Conference Finals predictions, it's time for me to make my NBA Finals pick. It has been a largely entertaining NBA Playoffs up to this point, though we have yet to have a truly great series. Sure, there have been plenty of good games and exciting finishes along the way but we haven't that great 7 game series where the majority of the games could have gone either way. Perhaps we will get that great series with this 2006 Finals rematch.

NBA Finals
Heat vs. Mavericks
Heat in 6
Say what you will about LeBron James and the whole "Decision" fiasco, but the Heat are one step away from justifying all of the ridiculous hype. The amazing thing about the Heat is that they only need to be within a few points in the 4th quarter and their two stars are capable of carrying them to victory. The Mavericks have something that the Heat haven't faced yet, and that's a closer of their own in Dirk Nowitzki. Even though the Heat will throw everything they have at him, Dirk is essentially unguardable, making it that much harder for Miami to put the Mavs away. Still, the Big Two on the Heat are too strong and if they can continue to get contributions from the role players now and then, they will be neatly impossible to beat.

That is my pick for the NBA Finals. Let me know if you agree or disagree!

2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: Conference Finals

Even though we are already one game into the Eastern Conference Finals, it's still time for me to make my Conference Finals Predictions! After an exciting first round, the NBA Playoffs got even better in the second round, what with the huge Mavericks upset and the 7 game Thunder/Grizzlies series. With two more great series on tap for the Conference Finals, we could be headed for one heck of a finish. After going 3 for 4 on my second round predictions, here are my Conference Finals picks:

Western Conference
Thunder vs. Mavericks
Mavericks in 6
Things seem lined up for the Thunder to take the next step now that the Lakers and Spurs have been knocked off. Unfortunately for the Thunder, they are coming up against a Mavericks team that just played their best series in team history. The Mavs have it all right now, from the ridiculous three point shooting to the incredible point guard to the unstoppable superstar, which should all add up to more than OKC can handle. While this series does have a bit of a youth vs. experience vibe to it, I think both teams are ready for the big stage and it should be a great series. Count on Dirk not being denied another shot at a title.

Eastern Conference
Bulls vs. Heat
Heat in 6
This was my pick before Game 1 and I'm sticking to it. Sure, after how the Bulls manhandled them in Game 1, I would be smart to switch it to Heat in 7, but I'm banking on Miami just having a hangover from their win over the Celtics. Expect the real Heat to show up in Game 2 and pull out a tough road win. There is a lot to like with the Bulls, from their size, ability to guard just about anyone and, of course, the brilliance of Derrick Rose, but I've seen enough from the Heat to know that when they are on, they are the best team in the league. Winning 4 of the next 5 against Chicago is a tall order but if anyone can do it, it's Miami.

Those are my picks for the Conference Finals. Let me know if you agree or disagree!

2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: Round Two

After a day of rest, the second round of the NBA Playoffs are ready to kickoff with some great matchups. The best of them all is the Celtics/Heat matchup, which might be the best second round series we've had in many years. The first round had a number of great games but no series that went the distance so I'm hoping Miami and Boston give us an epic seven game series. After going 5 for 8 in the first round, here are my second round picks:

Western Conference:
Thunder (4) vs. Grizzlies (8)
Thunder in 5
The Grizzlies look like geniuses for tanking at the end of the season so they could face the Spurs. Unfortunately for them, they now have to play a team they don't match up well with in the Thunder. I scoffed at the idea of the Thunder making the NBA Finals when some were picking them in the preseason but now it appears that only the Lakers stand in their way.

Lakers (2) vs. Mavericks (3)
Lakers in 6
Dallas proved all the doubters (me included) wrong by handling the Blazers in the first round. Now, for the first time ever, Dirk will face Kobe in a playoff series. It's amazing to think these two have never faced each other but that doesn't mean I expect it to be much of a series. The Lakers big men are going to be more than the Mavs can handle.

Eastern Conference:
Bulls (1) vs. Hawks (5)
Bulls in 6
I'm not a big believer in the Bulls but I'm even less of a believer in the Hawks. Sure, they play great defense, but Chicago isn't going to get far if all they do is sit back and watch Derrick Rose go to work on offense.

Heat (2) vs. Celtics (3)
Heat in 7
The winner of this series will win the NBA Championship. Although they seemed to be sleepwalking through parts of their series against the Sixers, the Heat appear to be gelling together at just the right time. While they have zero bench, each player on Miami seems to have a better understanding of what their role needs to be for the team to win. In other words, LeBron is getting better about letting Dwyane Wade take over at the end of the game. I think the Celtics are going to run out of gas and the Heat are going to blow past them as the series goes deep.

Those are my picks for the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Let me know if you agree or disagree!

Flyers vs. Bruins: Second Round Breakdown of the rematch

On April 30, 2010, I wrote a post breaking down the Flyers and Bruins and their upcoming second round series. Exactly one year later, here I am again, writing a post breaking down a series between these same two teams. A lot has changed in the last year, particularly the expectations surrounding the Flyers, who are supposed to make another deep Stanley Cup run this year after playing the role of underdog last year. Much has changed with the Bruins as well, as they have spent the last year hoping to erase the nightmare of their postseason collapse against these same Flyers. Do the Bruins have what it takes to close out the Flyers this year? Let's take a closer look.

Offense: Depth is the name of the game for both teams, with Boston being the only team in the Eastern Conference that can even come close to matching the Flyers top three lines. Where the Bruins struggled in the playoffs to score, however, the Flyers did not, getting to stud goalie Ryan Miller early and often in 5 of the 7 games of their first round series. No team in the East can match what the Flyers bring to the table on offense, from playoff beast Danny Briere to young upstart James van Riemsdyk. Even without Jeff Carter, the Flyers can hurt you with basically any line. The Bruins have weapons of their own, like Patrice Bergeron and the ageless Mark Recchi, but they don't have one guy who should scare the Flyers and they haven't gotten much secondary scoring. With their depth making them virtually slump-proof, I give the edge on offense to the Flyers.

Defense: With Chris Pronger returning to the fold, the deep Flyers defense gets that much stronger. You could feel the impact that Pronger has immediately in the Sabres series as the Flyers played like a completely different team when he took the ice. The Bruins have a game-changer of their own in Zdeno Chara, but they don't have the complimentary pieces like Kimmo Timonen and Andrej Meszaros to back him up. With their ability to clamp down on multiple scoring lines, the Flyers have the edge on defense.

Goaltending: Tim Thomas vs. the Flyers goaltender carousel is a lopsided comparison. In this round, though, expect the Flyers to stick with Brian Boucher as their starter and not have a circus of netminders. Thomas is certainly the more talented goaltender, but if the Flyers play their usual strong defense in front of Boosh, all he has to do is be average and they should limit the Bruins to about two goals per game. While the Bruins have the big edge in net, the Flyers have plenty of experience beating superstar goaltenders; just ask Ryan Miller.

Special Teams: Both teams have struggled mightily with the man advantage, with the Bruins being one of the few teams worse than the Flyers on the power play. The penalty kill for each team has been pretty average, though the Bruins had the slight advantage in the first round. Call the special teams a wash.

One year after their epic series, these two teams square off once again for the right to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Things should be much different this time around, as the Flyers won't be giving away three games before deciding to start the series. With their depth and tremendous goaltending, the Bruins are a dangerous matchup for the Flyers, who are always prone to taking long lapses in games. Tim Thomas is good enough to win a game or two on his own for the Bruins but I don't see much else on their roster that the Flyers can't handle. I'm going with the Flyers to win the series in 6, especially after their awakening at the end of the first round against the Sabres. Honestly, if the Flyers can play anything like they did in Games 6 and 7 of the first round, Boston is going to have some serious trouble even winning one game.

2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: Round One

While the NBA Playoffs don't have the same excitement level as the NHL Playoffs, we are still in store for some intriguing series in the coming weeks. Especially interesting will be seeing just who gets out of the Eastern Conference, whether it be the upstart Bulls, the ancient Celtics, or the hated Heat. Here are my first round predictions with a quick thought on each series:

Western Conference
Spurs (1) vs. Grizzlies (8)
Spurs in 5
The Grizzlies did everything in their power to face the Spurs in the first round. They must be seeing something I don't because the Spurs not only play their usual great defense but they are also hitting three pointers at a ridiculous rate, making them a difficult team to knock off.

Lakers (2) vs. Hornets (7)
Lakers in 5
I'm being generous and giving the Hornets one game simply because of Chris Paul. This one could very easily be a sweep as the Lakers big men dominate inside.

Mavericks (3) vs. Blazers (6)
Blazers in 7
Wait, who is the favorite in this one? Maybe we are all too used to seeing the Mavs bow out early in the playoffs but this one has upset written all over it. No matter what, this one goes at least 6 games between two evenly matched opponents.

Thunder (4) vs. Nuggets (5)
Thunder in 6
This is potentially the best series of the first round with two highly entertaining teams. The Nuggets have been shockingly good since shipping Carmelo Anthony out of town, but I think they will be exposed in the playoffs when they have no go-to guy to feed the ball to down the stretch. The Thunder need to take the next step and get out of the first round.

Eastern Conference
Bulls (1) vs. Pacers (8)
Bulls in 5
The Bulls have made quite a jump, going from the 8th seed in the East last year to the 1st seed this year. Their reward is getting to spank the mediocre Pacers.

Heat (2) vs. Sixers (7)
Heat in 5
I went into greater depth on this series in my breakdown, but the Sixers just don't match up with the Heat. Best case scenario for the Sixers will be to stretch this out into a 7th game, but their lack of a clutch shooter at the end of the game will kill them in the end.

Celtics (3) vs. Knicks (6)
Celtics in 7
This one should be a fun, an old-fashioned Atlantic Division battle. The Celtics should get past the Knicks, but the longer the series goes, the more worn out they will be for their inevitable showdown with the Heat.

Orlando (4) vs. Hawks (5)
Magic in 6
With the way the Hawks stumbled into the playoffs, losing their final 6 games, there is almost no chance they pull off the upset over the Magic. It's funny how the Magic are suddenly an afterthought in the East this season, although they don't have much depth this time around.

Those are my picks for the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Let me know if you agree or disagree!

Sixers vs. Heat: First Round Breakdown

After one season away, the Sixers have climbed out of the abyss of the NBA and have gotten themselves back into the playoffs. Unfortunately, they are up against a Heat team that will likely be too much for them to handle. While I don't expect the Sixers to get blown out in any one game in the series, it will nevertheless likely be over quick. Here is my breakdown of the series.

Backcourt: While some argue that LeBron James is basically a point guard, the best backcourt player on either team, by a wide margin, is Dwayne Wade. Wade's numbers barely dipped this year even with the arrival of James, and he is still the number one option for the Heat when they really need a basket. Starting opposite Wade in the Heat backcourt is Mike Bibby, who is only useful to hit an occasional three and is a point guard in name only. The Sixers starting backcourt is solid, with Jrue Holiday continuing to come into his own and Jodie Meeks hitting nearly 40% of his three pointers. No matter how you arrange the pieces, though, the Heat have the clear advantage. EDGE: HEAT

Frontcourt: The advantage in the frontcourt is even bigger for the Heat, with James and Chris Bosh trumping anything the Sixers can throw at them. Despite all the negative press he receives, James is still a basketball freak of nature who can't be guarded by anyone. Andre Iguodala is a great defender, and he may even slow James down at times, but even Iggy at the top of his game has no shot at slowing down LeBron. As for Bosh, he is also takes his share of criticism for not being the superstar player he was labeled to be, but he is still putting up nearly 19 points and 8 boards a game, great numbers for the third best player on any team. The Heat start Zydrunas Ilgauskas at center, but he's just a big body and doesn't play a lot of minutes, much like Sixers starter Spencer Hawes. The Sixers frontcourt rounds out with Elton Brand, who has put up better numbers this year while dealing with nagging injuries. EDGE: HEAT

Bench: Finally, a spot where the Sixers have a clear advantage. With Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams coming off the bench, the Sixers have players that make a big impact when they enter the game. The Heat do not, with their best bench guys being one-dimensional, with shooters Mike Miller and James Jones and shot-blocker Joel Anthony being their biggest contributors. The Sixers bench will clearly do some damage when the Heat go to the bench, as Young has begun to develop into a star and even an injured Williams should be able to contribute. EDGE: SIXERS

Prediction: Against any other top Eastern Conference team, I would have believed that the Sixers could have done some damage and made their heavily favored opponent sweat out every win. While things won't be simple for the Heat, the Sixers just don't have the talent to matchup with James and Wade, and they don't have the offensive weapons to pull out close games in the end. For the Sixers, simply getting to the playoffs this season was probably enough, so there is no shame in bowing out quickly. They are still a team building for the future, so any experience they get in the playoffs now will only help them grow as a team down the round. HEAT IN FIVE

My Super Bowl XLV Prediction

Finally, we've reached the end. After 266 football games, a ton of hype and a handful of controversies, we're finally ready for the best two teams in the league to compete for the title. And make no mistake, unlike years past, these are the two best teams in the league, starting with their elite quarterbacks and defenses and going right through to their coaching. We really could be in store for anything in Super Bowl 45, including a high-scoring shootout like the two teams had last year or a low-scoring slugfest where the defenses take over. No matter what happens, you better enjoy the game because it could be the last NFL football you see for a long, long time.

After a season of picking every NFL game, here is my final pick of the year. Remember, all picks are made strictly based on who I think will win and do not take the spread into consideration.

Last Week: 2-0, 1.000
Playoff Overall: 6-4, .600

Super Bowl 45
Packers vs. Steelers
Not to toot my own horn too much, but way back in the preseason I picked the Packers the get to the Super Bowl. Of course, I didn't pick the Steelers to get to the Big Game, leaving them out of the playoffs completely in favor of the Ravens in the AFC North. As for who wins this one, much has been said about how even these two teams are but I have to give the edge to the Packers. If you look at the games that the Steelers defense has struggled this season, its against teams with high-powered offensive attacks. Sure, Pittsburgh can stop the run with the best of them, but they can have problems with teams that spread out and throw the ball all over the field. Count on the Packers to abandon the run early and force the Steelers out of their usual element. That being said, I don't see the Packers running away with this one as the Steelers offense should be able to put some points on the board. This game will be close enough that it will probably come down to who makes fewer turnovers. My pick: Packers 24, Steelers 20

That is my final pick of this NFL season. Check back next season for my picks for the 2011 season, if there is one! Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comments section.

2011 NFL Championship Round Predictions

After another weekend of good football, we are now down to four. Here are my picks for who will be going to Dallas. Remember, all picks are made strictly based on who I think will win and do not take the spread into consideration.

Record Last Week: 3-1, .750
Playoff Overall: 4-4, .500

Sunday Games:

NFC Championship
Packers @ Bears
You've heard it before but it bears repeating: these two teams have played each other 181 times in their long history and yet this is only the second time they will meet in the playoffs. That's remarkable. What's also remarkable is how quickly the Packers have gone from the 6th seed in the NFC to Super Bowl favorites. While everyone picked them in the preseason to go the distance, they stumbled at midseason as they dealt with injuries, losing to the lowly Redskins and the Dolphins in overtime. A late season injury to Aaron Rodgers set them back, too, which is how they became possibly the best 6th seed ever. These two teams have met twice this season and played close, low-scoring games, with each team winning at home. With the way Aaron Rodgers is playing right now and the Packers having at least some semblance of a running game, I expect them to put up plenty of points. It will be up to the Bears to keep up and I simply don't see it happening. My pick: Packers

AFC Championship
Jets @ Steelers
Despite all the bluster and all the controversy, Rex Ryan has done one hell of a job with the Jets, taking them to back-to-back AFC Championship games in his first two years as head coach. He has a way of getting his teams motivated to win games they have no business winning, like their upset over the Chargers last year and their unlikely win over the Patriots last week. If they want to pull of another upset this week, Mark Sanchez is once again going to have to play way above his ability and the Jets defense is going to have to create havoc for the Steelers banged-up offensive line. Ben Roethlisberger is going to have his hands full trying to perform his escape act against a hungry Jets defense but I like the Steelers chances of putting up some points because they have something the Patriots don't have: a deep threat. Mike Wallace should be able to spread the field, something the Pats couldn't do, and that will take the Jets out of what they did last week and force them to have some help deep. I expect this one to be close and low-scoring but I expect Pittsburgh to edge out the Jets after they put pressure on Sanchez and force him into a few bad turnovers. My pick: Steelers

Those are my picks for the Championship round of the NFL Playoffs. Check back in two weeks for my Super Bowl pick. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comments section!

2011 NFL Divisional Round Predictions

The Eagles were unfortunately eliminated in the first round (again), but that doesn't mean there isn't plenty of good football left. If the first round of the playoffs is any indication, we are in for a great couple of weeks of NFL action. Of course, it could also be our last NFL action for a long, long time if they don't get this labor situation figured out.

Despite my poor record in the first round and the fact that the Eagles have been knocked out, I will continue to make my weekly NFL picks throughout the playoffs. Remember, all picks are made strictly based on who I think will win and do not take the spread into consideration.

Record Last Week: 1-3, .250

Saturday Games:

Ravens @ Steelers
If history shows us anything, expect this to be a hard-fought, low-scoring battle with plenty of big hits. Based on their reputations, both teams are very similar. Both rely on a solid defense and a good but not great offense. Unfortunately for the Ravens, their offense hasn't exactly lived up to their reputation, though they have only allowed 27 total points to the Steelers in two meetings this year. If the Steelers offensive line can give Ben Roethlisberger any kind of protection, he should be able to find Mike Wallace deep and carve up the Ravens secondary. If the Steelers defense can shut down Ray Rice and Joe Flacco is forced to make plays, the Ravens won't be putting many points on the board. While I like the Steelers to win, this will definitely be a close game. My pick: Steelers

Packers @ Falcons
With the emergence of James Starks, the Packers suddenly don't have a weakness. When I picked the Eagles to beat the Pack last week, I assumed that the Birds defense didn't have to respect the run because Green Bay had such a one-dimensional offense. Now, with Starks ripping the Eagles for over a hundred yards and Aaron Rodgers able to pick apart any defense on the planet, the Packers offense looks unstoppable. Of course, there is the possibility that Starks had such a good game against the Eagles defense because they have had major problems stopping the run all year. The Falcons are a better overall team than the Eagles and have very few weaknesses. In fact, I struggle to even come up with anything the Falcons don't do well. They have a balanced offensive attack, an above average defense and they play very well at home. Despite all of that, I'm going to stick with my prediction from last week that the winner of the Packers/Eagles game would be representing the NFC in the Super Bowl. My pick: Packers

Sunday Games:

Seahawks @ Bears
Do I have to apologize after saying it was an "absolute joke" that the Seahawks made the playoffs? Absolutely not! Sure, the Seahawks played a great game and knocked out the defending champs, but, as we know in the NFL, any team can beat any other team in any given game. While I will give the Seahawks credit for playing their best football of the season at the right time, I don't think it's going to carry over for another week. The Bears aren't a great football team but their defense is leaps and bounds better than the Saints D and they certainly won't be allowing Matt Hasselbeck to carve them up. If the Packers couldn't score more than 10 points against the Bears in Week 17, what chance do Hasselbeck, Marshawn Lynch and Co. have of putting up big numbers? The only way Seattle wins this game is if Jay Cutler turns back into the turnover machine that he was earlier in the year, which actually has a legitimate chance of happening. This one could be a close game but the Seahawks run ends here. My pick: Bears

Jets @ Patriots
It's hard to have much faith in the Jets after they got drubbed by the Patriots in Week 13. Still, if you look way, way back to Week 2 and ignore the fact that Mark Sanchez has been pretty terrible this season, you can see how the Jets might have a chance in this one. While I expect this game to be much closer than the last time they played, the Pats are simply too good to lose to a team with as many weaknesses as the Jets. The gameplan for the Pats is actually pretty simple in this one: get up by a touchdown early and laugh as the feeble Jets offense tries to fight their way back into the game. My pick: Patriots

Those are my picks for the second round of the NFL Playoffs. Check back every round for my playoff predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comments section!

2011 NFL Wild Card Weekend Predictions

Finally, after 17 weeks of warming up, the NFL is ready for the Big Show. There are tons of intriguing storylines that could be played out in the coming weeks, from a Michael Vick return to Atlanta in the NFC Championship to a rematch between the Patriots and Ravens. No matter how it all plays out, one thing is for sure, the NFL has the best playoff system of any professional sport.

I will continue to make my weekly NFL picks throughout the playoffs. While my picks during the regular season were against the spread, my playoff picks are made strictly based on who I think will win and do not take the spread into consideration.

Record Last Week: 10-6, .625
Final Regular Season Record (against the spread): 135-121, .527

Saturday Games:

Saints (11-5) @ Seahawks (7-9)
I'm not sure what the solution should be but it's an absolute joke that a 7-9 team made the playoffs and is the home team in the first round. I don't know if you need to have fewer divisions or make a rule where you have to have at least 8 wins but the NFL looks really bad when a team as terrible as the Seahawks is three wins away from the Super Bowl. That said, since they somehow play decent at home, I don't think this will be a 30 point blowout. Even terrible teams can show up on any given Sunday, so while the Saints will likely win this one by two touchdowns, they may not annihilate the Seahawks like everyone thinks. My pick: Saints

Jets (11-5) @ Colts (10-6)
On paper, this looks like a classic good defense vs. good offense game. Look a little closer at the Jets defense, however, and you notice the 45 points the Patriots racked up against them and even the 38 points they gave up against a mediocre Bears offense. So, while the Colts have their own issues, especially with their lack of depth that has been exposed due to injuries, this is a pretty good matchup for Indianapolis. Besides, when it comes down to picking Peyton Manning at home vs. Mark Sanchez on the road, what kind of sane person is going to pick against the Colts? My pick: Colts

Sunday Games:

Ravens (12-4) @ Chiefs (10-6)
This is the third straight game where the road team has a better record than the home team. Seriously, NFL, can't you just let all the teams qualify and then seed them all based on record? The Chiefs looked earmarked as a one and done team, especially after how poorly they looked last week against the Raiders. The Ravens aren't great in any one area but they are a good team nearly everywhere; with a defense that is weaker than it has been in recent years, they will need their offense to pick things up if they want to make a Super Bowl run. My pick: Ravens

Packers (10-6) @ Eagles (10-6)
Nearly every expert is picking the Packers, so why am I going with the Eagles? Is it simply because I'm a biased Philly sports fan? Perhaps, but I think the demise of Michael Vick has been greatly exaggerated. Just a few weeks ago, Vick was the toast of the NFL, drawing serious consideration for the MVP award as he led a dominant Eagles offense to great heights. Now, after one bad game against the Vikings where he got banged up early on, Vick has suddenly morphed back into his old self? I don't buy it. Sure, the league has started to figure out how to slow Vick down with speedy pass-rushers but the Eagles have had two weeks to scheme up a counter and they should be ready. With one of the best defenses in the league and a quarterback licking his chops to pick apart a weak Eagles secondary, the Packers present a difficult matchup for the Birds. However, they also have an offense that is incredibly one-dimensional and a defense that is quick but not quite quick enough to keep up with the Eagles weapons, so I think the Packers will fall just short. That is, unless Vick gets hurt. My pick: Eagles

Those are my picks for the first round of the NFL Playoffs. Check back every round for my playoff predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comments section!

Playoff time: NFL Week 17 predictions

With playoff spots and playoff positioning still on the line, here are my picks for Week 17. At the end of the picks, I will break down what the playoff match-ups will look like if everything goes as I predict. Remember, picks this year are made against the spread and I'll be using the spread values that ESPN uses in their Pigskin Pick'em game.

Record Last Week: 10-6, .625
Overall Record: 125-115, .521

Sunday Day Games:

Panthers (2-13) @ Falcons (12-3, -14.5)
The Falcons still need this game to get the top seed in the NFC. The Panthers are just looking to end their season and have nothing to play for since their coach has basically already been canned. My pick: Falcons

Steelers (11-4) @ Browns (5-10, +6.5)
The Steelers need this one to get their first round bye. The Browns have been on a downward slide and I expect that to continue. My pick: Steelers

Vikings (6-9) @ Lions (5-10, -3.5)
Joe Webb looks like he might have a future in Minnesota; hopefully Brett Favre doesn't crash this game just so he can have one last start. My pick: Vikings

Raiders (7-8) @ Chiefs (10-5, -3.5)
The Chiefs are in either way but they want that 3rd seed so they should play to win. I like the game to be close but for the Chiefs to win. My pick: Raiders

Dolphins (7-8) @ Patriots (13-2, -3.5)
The Patriots don't really take games off so expect them to roll over the Dolphins. There really is no reason for the Pats to not play their starters for at least a half since they have a bye next week. My pick: Patriots

Bengals (4-11) @ Ravens (11-4, -9.5)
Since the Steelers play at the same time as the Ravens, Baltimore will have to play their hardest to win this game. My pick: Ravens

Bucs (9-6) @ Saints (11-4, -7.5)
Should the Packers and Giants both lose, the Bucs would get in. The Saints still have an outside shot at the top seed in the NFC so they will be playing to win. I like this one to be a close game. My pick: Bucs

Bills (4-11) @ Jets (10-5, -2.5)
The Jets are pretty much locked into the 6th seed in the AFC so I would expect them to take it easy this week. Still, the Jets backups should be able to beat the Bills. My pick: Jets

Bears (11-4) @ Packers (9-6, -10.5)
The line for this game is huge considering how even these teams are and the fact that both could have something to play for. The Bears could be locked into the 2nd seed before the game starts which would mean they would rest their starters early. My pick: Bears

Titans (6-9) @ Colts (9-6, -9.5)
The Colts could still be bounced from a playoff spot with a loss but they are almost a lock to roll over the Titans. My pick: Colts

Giants (9-6) @ Redskins (6-9, +3.5)
Expect the Giants to bounce back with a nice win to finish out their season. Too bad it will be too little, too late. My pick: Giants

Jaguars (8-7) @ Texans (5-10, -0.5)
The Jaguars still have a shot to make the playoffs if the Colts lose. With no MJD and no David Garrard, however, they have no shot. My pick: Texans

Cowboys (5-10) @ Eagles (10-5, -7.5)
With the Eagles resting their stars, the Cowboys should at least be able to make this a close game. Don't be surprised if Kevin Kolb has a huge game and that sets the Birds up for a good offseason trade. My pick: Cowboys

Cardinals (5-10) @ Niners (5-10, -6.5)
With Singletary out of the picture and nothing to play for, don't be surprised if the Niners have a great game. My pick: Niners

Chargers (8-7) @ Broncos (4-11, +3.5)
Look for the Chargers to finish the season strong and beat the Broncos by a wide margin. My pick: Chargers

Sunday Night Game:

Rams (7-8) @ Seahawks (6-9, +2.5)
For the sake of the NFL, the Rams had better win this game. Seattle has zero chance of beating the Saints next week while the Rams could at least keep it close. My pick: Rams

NFC Playoffs:
Byes: (1) Falcons, (2) Bears
First Round Match-ups: (6) Packers @ (3) Eagles, (5) Saints @ (4) Rams

AFC Playoffs:
Byes: (1) Patriots, (2) Steelers
First Round Match-ups: (6) Jets @ (3) Chiefs, (5) Ravens @ (4) Colts

Those are my picks for Week 17 of the NFL Season. Check back every Thursday during the postseason for my playoff predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comment section!

Football for the Holidays: NFL Week 16 Predictions

There isn't much that's better than the combination of Christmas and football Sunday on back to back days. Here are my Week 16 picks. Remember, picks this year are made against the spread and I'll be using the spread values that ESPN uses in their Pigskin Pick'em game.

Record Last Week: 8-8, .500
Overall Record: 115-109, .513

Thursday Night Game:

Panthers (2-12) @ Steelers (10-4, -13.5)
Nice win last week by the Panthers but the last thing they want to do is play themselves out of the number one pick. My pick: Steelers

Saturday Night Game:

Cowboys (5-9) @ Cardinals (4-10, +6.5)
What a terrible Christmas Day game. Unless the Cowboys are losing this one, I don't plan on watching for even a minute. My pick: Cowboys

Sunday Day Games:

Patriots (12-2) @ Bills (4-10, +8.5)
The line should be much, much higher. Expect the Patriots to make up for their close win last week with a blowout in Buffalo. My pick: Patriots

Jets (10-4) @ Bears (10-4, -1.5)
My initial hunch is to go with the Bears to win but there is so much more on the line for the Jets, who still need to win to get in the playoffs. My pick: Jets

Ravens (10-4) @ Browns (5-9, +3.5)
The Ravens will know how the Steelers fared on Thursday Night before the game but I expect them to walk all over the Browns no matter what. My pick: Ravens

Niners (5-9) @ Rams (6-8, -2.5)
For sake of all that is good in the world, the Rams had better win this game and eliminate the terrible Niners. I don't think the world is ready for a 7-9 playoff team. My pick: Rams

Lions (4-10) @ Dolphins (7-7, -3.5)
Given how terrible they have been at home, I'm surprised the Dolphins are favored at all. My pick: Lions

Redskins (5-9) @ Jaguars (8-6, -6.5)
Shockingly, Rex Grossman gives the Skins a fighting chance in this one. I like Washington to keep it close but still lose. My pick: Redskins

Titans (8-6) @ Chiefs (9-5, -5.5)
The Chiefs still need one more win to eliminate the Chargers so look for them to take care of business at home. My pick: Chiefs

Colts (8-6) @ Raiders (7-7, +3.5)
As good as the Raiders have suddenly become I don't make it a habit to go against Peyton Manning, especially with so much on the line. My pick: Colts

Texans (5-9) @ Broncos (3-11, +2.5)
The Broncos have packed it in this season and are hoping for the highest draft pick possible. My pick: Texans

Chargers (8-6) @ Bengals (3-11, +7.5)
San Diego still has an outside shot at a playoff spot even if the Chiefs win so expect them to roll over the Bengals, who have lost the will to play. My pick: Chargers

Seahawks (6-8) @ Bucs (8-6, -6.5)
No Seattle quarterback means no chance. My pick: Bucs

Giants (9-5) @ Packers (8-6, -2.5)
I'm guessing that Aaron Rodgers will play but I'm also guessing that the Giants will bounce back in a big way after their embarrassing loss last week. My pick: Giants

Sunday Night Game:

Vikings (5-9) @ Eagles (10-4, -13.5)
As exciting as last week was, let's all hope for a really boring 30 point blowout this week. With the Vikings likely turning to Joe Webb, there is no way Minnesota can score enough points to keep up. My pick: Eagles

Monday Night Game:

Saints (10-4) @ Falcons (12-2, -2.5)
I like the Saints to get the NFL's attention and win this one outright. New Orleans is poised to make some noise in the playoffs. My pick: Saints

Those are my picks for Week 16 of the NFL Season. Check back every Thursday during the season for the latest predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comment section!

Home stretch: NFL Week 15 Predictions

After following up my best week of the season with my worst (stupid Cowboys and their late cover), let's get right to the Week 15 picks. Remember, picks this year are made against the spread and I'll be using the spread values that ESPN uses in their Pigskin Pick'em game.

Record Last Week: 5-11, .313
Overall Record: 107-101, .514

Thursday Night Game:

Niners (5-8) @ Chargers (7-6, -8.5)
The Chargers annual late surge into the playoffs continues this week. Look for Alex Smith to turn back into a pumpkin after having a good game last week. My pick: Chargers

Sunday Day Games:

Browns (5-8) @ Bengals (2-11, -1.5)
If they can stop Peyton Hillis, the Bengals look poised to finally break their long, embarrassing losing streak. My pick: Bengals

Redskins (5-8) @ Cowboys (4-9, -6.5)
As any Eagles fan will tell you, the Cowboys are actually playing some decent football right now. The Redskins, on the other hand, are thinking about starting Rex Grossman. Enough said. My pick: Cowboys

Texans (5-8) @ Titans (5-8, -1.5)
Who's bright idea is it to have the Titans be favored in any game? My pick: Texans

Jaguars (8-5) @ Colts (7-6, -4.5)
I like the Colts to stake their claim on the division in this game but I don't see them winning by much more than a field goal. My pick: Jaguars

Chiefs (8-5) @ Rams (6-7, -1.5)
If there is no Matt Cassel, there is no way I'm picking the Chiefs to beat any decent team. The Rams are fighting for a playoff spot so they should put together a solid game at home. My pick: Rams

Bills (3-10) @ Dolphins (7-6, -5.5)
The Bills actually haven't been terrible for the last few weeks and I don't see the Dolphins putting up a ton of points. My pick: Bills

Lions (3-10) @ Bucs (8-5, -6.5)
The Lions have also been playing some pretty good football lately, although they have really been struggling to score. I can't see the Bucs winning by more than a field goal. My pick: Lions

Cardinals (4-9) @ Panthers (1-12, -2.5)
I'm not picking the Panthers for the rest of the season. Can anyone figure out why they are favored here? My pick: Cardinals

Saints (10-3) @ Ravens (9-4, -2.5)
The Ravens secondary is not what it once was, as proven by the Texans on Monday Night. Drew Brees is licking his chops. My pick: Saints

Eagles (9-4) @ Giants (9-4, -2.5)
With the NFC East on the line, the Eagles are going to have to go on the road to knock off the Giants. While the Eagles defense has been troubling in recent weeks, all signs point to the return of Asante Samuel, who has a few more Manning interceptions left in him. Expect a close game but I like the Eagles to win outright. My pick: Eagles

Falcons (11-2) @ Seahawks (6-7, +6.5)
Seattle has the best homefield advantage in football but they still aren't a good football team. With the Saints nipping at their heels, the Falcons need every win they can get. My pick: Falcons

Jets (9-4) @ Steelers (10-3, -6.5)
With the way the Jets offense has looked in recent weeks, is there even a chance they put up 10 points against the Steelers? I like Pittsburgh to win a low scoring game by a touchdown. My pick: Steelers

Broncos (3-10) @ Raiders (6-7, -6.5)
I think they've given up in Denver. Who would have thought the Raiders would be this close to .500 at this point in the season? My pick: Raiders

Sunday Night Game:

Packers (8-5) @ Patriots (11-2, -10.5)
This one has blowout written all over it, especially if Aaron Rodgers doesn't play. It sickens me that the Pats are once again the best team in football. My pick: Patriots

Monday Night Game:

Bears (9-4) @ Vikings (5-8, +3.5)
Its looking like the Vikings are going to be forced to start Joe Webb at quarterback. While I normally wouldn't like Jay Cutler's chances in snowy and freezing conditions, even he will find a way to lead the Bears to a commanding victory over a no-name QB. My pick: Bears

Those are my picks for Week 15 of the NFL Season. Check back every Thursday during the season for the latest predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comment section!

Dominating: NFL Week 14 Predictions

After my best week of the season last week, let's get right to the Week 14 picks. Remember, picks this year are made against the spread and I'll be using the spread values that ESPN uses in their Pigskin Pick'em game.

Record Last Week: 12-4, .750
Overall Record: 102-90, .531

Thursday Night Game:

Colts (6-6) @ Titans (5-7, +2.5)
The Colts can't possibly lose a 4th straight game, can they? With the way Peyton Manning is handing out interceptions, perhaps they can (but they won't). My pick: Colts

Sunday Day Games:

Browns (5-7) @ Bills (2-1, -1.5)
What am I missing here? Why are the Bills favored? Since when have they had any home field advantage? My pick: Browns

Packers (8-4) @ Lions (2-10, +6.5)
The Packers have kicked things into another gear at just the right time. As long as they don't suffer another lull like they did in the beginning of the Niners game, they should roll over Detroit. My pick: Packers

Giants (8-4) @ Vikings (5-7, +2.5)
Does anyone actually think there is even a remote chance Brett Favre doesn't start this game? Whether he starts or not, the Giants should win this one fairy easily. My pick: Giants

Bengals (2-10) @ Steelers (9-3, -9.5)
While the Bengals are a crappy team, I think they will show up in this rivalry game and at least keep it close. When they squared off a few weeks back, Cincinnati "only" lost by 6. My pick: Bengals

Bucs (7-5) @ Redskins (5-7, +2.5)
Just how much has Washington given up at this point? I like Tampa to win by at least a field goal against the Deadskins. My pick: Bucs

Falcons (10-2) @ Panthers (1-11, +7.5)
Hmm, think there is a mismatch here? Possibly the best team in the league vs. definitely the worst team in the league. I know anything can happen in football but the Falcons have to win this one by more than 10. My pick: Falcons

Raiders (6-6) @ Jaguars (7-5, -4.5)
That's a pretty big spread for a Raiders team that dominated against the Chargers last week. My pick: Raiders

Seahawks (6-6) @ Niners (4-8, -4.5)
Really, Niners, you are going to turn back to Alex Smith now? This is the move that is going to save your job, Mike Singletary? My pick: Seahawks

Rams (6-6) @ Saints (9-3, -8.5)
With the way the Rams have been playing up to their competition, it wouldn't shock me if they won this one outright, so of course I will take the points. My pick: Rams

Patriots (10-2) @ Bears (9-3, +3.5)
The Bears winning streak finally comes to an end this week. My pick: Patriots

Dolphins (6-6) @ Jets (9-3, -6.5)
After how they looked on Monday Night, it's very tempting to pick against the Jets this week. I just can't trust the Dolphins, though, so I think the Jets have a nice bounce-back game this week. My pick: Jets

Broncos (3-9) @ Cardinals (3-9, +3.5)
Congratulations, new Denver coach, you get to win your first game! My pick: Broncos

Chiefs (8-4) @ Chargers (6-6, -6.5)
While the spread is awfully high, I think the Chargers have one last gasp in them before they relinquish the division title. I like them to win this high-scoring game by at least a touchdown. My pick: Chargers

Sunday Night Game:

Eagles (8-4) @ Cowboys (4-8, +3.5)
While the Cowboys may not be quite as crappy as we thought they were, they still have a terrible secondary and no clue how to stop Michael Vick. I think the Eagles exorcise their Cowboys demons in a big way in this one. My pick: Eagles

Monday Night Game:

Ravens (8-4) @ Texans (5-7, +3.5)
Even Joe Flacco should be able to dice up the Texans secondary. My pick: Ravens

Those are my picks for Week 14 of the NFL Season. Check back every Thursday during the season for the latest predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comment section!

Beatdown: NFL week 13 Predictions

Let's get right to the Week 13 picks. Remember, picks this year are made against the spread and I'll be using the spread values that ESPN uses in their Pigskin Pick'em game.

Record Last Week: 9-7, .563
Overall Record: 90-86, .511

Thursday Night Game:

Texans (5-6) @ Eagles (7-4, -8.5)
This line continues to climb up as people realize that one of the top passing offenses in the league is going against the terrible Texans secondary. It's a short week but the Eagles should take care of this one at home. My pick: Eagles

Sunday Day Games:

Saints (8-3) @ Bengals (2-9, +6.5)
Both teams have been off since Thanksgiving, so there is no advantage there; the Saints are simply the much better team. My pick: Saints

Bears (8-3) @ Lions (2-9, +3.5)
As they showed last week against the Eagles, the Bears are for real. The Lions, on the other hand, are starting Drew Stanton this week. My pick: Bears

Niners (4-7) @ Packers (7-4, -9.5)
Any hope the Niners had of keeping this one close went out the window when Frank Gore got injured. My pick: Packers

Jaguars (6-5) @ Titans (5-6, -3.5)
Given their quarterback situation, I'm not sure why the Titans are favored against anyone, let alone a Jaguars team that has been surprisingly resilient. My pick: Jaguars

Broncos (3-8) @ Chiefs (7-4, -8.5)
The Chiefs are ready to get their revenge after they got whipped by the Broncos in Week 10. My pick: Chiefs

Browns (4-7) @ Dolphins (6-5, -4.5)
Peyton Hillis is just a beast. The Dolphins have been nothing but mediocre this season and have the look of an 8-8 team. My pick: Browns

Bills (2-9) @ Vikings (4-7, -6.5)
With or without Adrian Peterson, I like the Vikings to continue to ride a more conservative offense to a big win over the Bills. My pick: Vikings

Redskins (5-6) @ Giants (7-4, -7.5)
You can stick a fork in the Redskins, they are done for the year. My pick: Giants

Raiders (5-6) @ Chargers (6-5, -12.5)
These are two teams going in completely opposite directions. Sure, that spread is a little high for a team that has just one more win than their opponent, but the Chargers are playing like an elite team right now. My pick: Chargers

Falcons (9-2) @ Bucs (7-4, +3.5)
Remember when the Bucs thought they were the best team in the NFC? Have fun getting whipped by the real best team in the NFC, Tampa. My pick: Falcons

Panthers (1-10) @ Seahawks (5-6, -5.5)
Who is watching this game? I guess the Seahawks are still in contention in the putrid NFC West but you couldn't pay me to watch this one. My pick: Seahawks

Rams (5-6) @ Cardinals (3-8, +3.5)
Anyone who watched the Cardinals on Monday Night knows to never pick them again this year. My pick: Rams

Cowboys (3-8) @ Colts (6-5, -5.5)
Peyton Manning does not lose two in a row. Oh, wait, he already did? Ok, then Peyton Manning does not lose three in a row. My pick: Colts

Sunday Night Game:

Steelers (8-3) @ Ravens (8-3, -3.5)
The first of two primetime AFC showdowns, this one promises to be a physical game. Normally, I would side with the home team in this matchup but I think the Steelers are going to keep this one close or win outright. My pick: Steelers

Monday Night Game:

Jets (9-2) @ Patriots (9-2, -3.5)
Only a team like the Patriots could trade a stud like Randy Moss and not miss a beat on offense. My pick: Patriots

Those are my picks for Week 13 of the NFL Season. Check back every Thursday during the season for the latest predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comment section!

Turkey Day is here: NFL Week 12 Predictions

It's time for some Thanksgiving football! It would be nice if the games were a little better but there is nothing like stuffing your face and then watching some football. Here are my Week 12 picks. Remember, picks this year are made against the spread and I'll be using the spread values that ESPN uses in their Pigskin Pick'em game. I'm coming off my best week of the season so let's see if I can build on that momentum!

Record Last Week: 10-6, .625
Overall Record: 81-79, .506

Thanksgiving Games:

Patriots (8-2) @ Lions (2-8, +6.5)
This is the first of three likely Thanksgiving blowouts. I like the Patriots to win by at least two touchdowns. At what point can we take away the Thanksgiving Game from the Lions, anyway? My pick: Patriots

Saints (7-3) @ Cowboys (3-7, +3.5)
Sure, the Cowboys have looked better since Wade Phillips was fired, but their schedule in the coming weeks is going to make it very difficult to continue their upward swing. Somehow, the Saints have gone from Super Bowl winner to under the radar contender. My pick: Saints

Bengals (2-8) @ Jets (8-2, +9.5)
Given that the Jets never beat anyone by more than 7, this is the one Turkey Day game that I think will be within a touchdown. Of course, I doubt anyone will be watching this one after a full day of football and food. My pick: Bengals

Sunday Day Games:

Packers (7-3) @ Falcons (8-2, -2.5)
This game and the Sunday Night game are the two best games of the week. With these two teams and the Eagles battling to be the best in the NFC, expect a close game with a lot of points. I expect this game to go to whoever gets the ball last. My pick: Packers

Steelers (7-3) @ Bills (2-8, +6.5)
As impressed as I've been with the Bills in recent weeks, there is no way they hang with the Steelers. My pick: Steelers

Panthers (1-9) @ Browns (3-7, -10.5)
How bad has the Panthers season gotten that even the Browns are more than 10 point favorites against them? Despite how terrible they have looked, I like the Panthers to lose by just a touchdown. My pick: Panthers

Jaguars (6-4) @ Giants (6-4, -7.5)
As long as Eli Manning finds a way to not be a turnover machine, expect a nice bounceback game for the Giants. Still, even though I am no believer in the Jaguars, a 7.5 spread is a bit high. My pick: Jaguars

Vikings (3-7) @ Redskins (5-5, -2.5)
Can a new coach give the Vikings the same bump that the Cowboys got? Maybe, though I don't think anyone can make Brett Favre look 10 years younger. I have so little faith in the Redskins, though, that I have to go with Minnesota. My pick: Vikings

Titans (5-5) @ Texans (4-6, -6.5)
At first glance, I was going with the Titans because the Texans are just terrible right now. Then, I remembered that Rusty Smith is starting at quarterback. Even the Texans crappy defense can figure out a way to keep the Titans team off the board. My pick: Texans

Chiefs (6-4) @ Seahawks (5-5, +1.5)
If the Chiefs intend to hold off the Chargers and get themselves a playoff spot, they need to beat teams like the Seahawks. My pick: Chiefs

Dolphins (5-5) @ Raiders (5-5, -3.5)
The Dolphins schedule has been brutal and they don't catch any breaks as they go into Oakland and play a decent Raiders team. Then again, with how bad their offense has looked, it doesn't really matter who the Dolphins play. My pick: Raiders

Eagles (7-3) @ Bears (7-3, +3.5)
This will be a tough one for the Eagles, who have to go on the road and face a solid Bears defense. If the Bears watched even a second of footage of the Giants against the Eagles, expect Mike Vick to see plenty of blitzes. Still, I don't see the Bears doing anything on offense, so I like the Eagles to win a low-scoring game by a touchdown. My pick: Eagles

Bucs (7-3) @ Ravens (7-3, -7.5)
The reason the Bucs have 7 wins has been their easy schedule. Sure, they can beat teams like the Panthers, Bengals and Rams, but when it comes to playing good teams like the Steelers, Saints and Falcons, they just haven't been able to keep up. The Ravens area a good team so I expect the Bucs to lost but not by more than a touchdown. My pick: Bucs

Rams (4-6) @ Broncos (3-7, -3.5)
The Broncos defense is just brutal. Expect Sam Bradford and Steven Jackson to go off and for the Rams to pull off the win on the road. My pick: Rams

Sunday Night Game:

Chargers (5-5) @ Colts (6-4, -3.5)
The Colts certainly have had a tough schedule this year and things don't get any easier this week. With how things are shaping up in the AFC this year, it's looking like one of these two teams won't make the playoffs, so this is a huge game. I like the Chargers to at least keep it close. My pick: Chargers

Monday Night Game:

Niners (3-7) @ Cardinals (3-7, +1.5)
Oh, man, what an awful Monday Night Game. Who's going to watch this? My pick: Niners

Those are my picks for Week 12 of the NFL Season. Check back every Thursday during the season for the latest predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comment section!

Stretch run: NFL Week 11 Predictions

With the bye's all done for the year, we've finally reached the second half of the NFL season. With December right around the corner, that means the playoffs are soon to follow! Here are my Week 11 picks. Remember, picks this year are made against the spread and I'll be using the spread values that ESPN uses in their Pigskin Pick'em game. I finally made it over .500 for the season!

Record Last Week: 5-9, .357
Overall Record: 71-73, .493

Thursday Night Game:

Bears (6-3) @ Dolphins (5-4, -1.5)
It doesn't matter who the Dolphins start at quarterback, it could be Tyler Thigpen, Dan Marino or even Ronnie Brown, they will win this game by at least a field goal. My pick: Dolphins

Sunday Day Games:

Bills (1-8) @ Bengals (2-7, -5.5)
Anyone that has watched these two teams over the last few weeks knows that the Bills are the better team. The Bengals may still win but I expect a close game. My pick: Bills

Lions (2-7) @ Cowboys (2-7, -6.5)
The loser of this game should give up their Thanksgiving Day Game forever. As bad as the Cowboys are, I think they still find a way to beat the Lions by a touchdown. My pick: Cowboys

Ravens (6-3) @ Panthers (1-8, +10.5)
The Ravens are a lock to win this game but it's hard to see them going on the road and beating anyone by two scores even with extra time to prepare. The Panthers may stink but I think they keep this one close. My pick: Panthers

Browns (3-6) @ Jaguars (5-4, -1.5)
This is one of the tougher games of the week to pick. With the spread at 1.5, you are basically picking who you think will win the game between two evenly matched teams. With the way the Browns have been playing the last few weeks, it's tough to pick against them. My pick: Browns

Raiders (5-4) @ Steelers (6-3, -7.5)
I like the Steelers to win but the upstart Raiders to get the cover on the road. Winning, let alone winning by more than a touchdown, is suddenly difficult against the Raiders. My pick: Raiders

Redskins (4-5) @ Titans (5-4, -7.5)
For Donovan McNabb's sake, the Redskins better show up for this one. I do like the Titans to win the game but I see Washington bouncing back and keeping it close. My pick: Redskins

Cardinals (3-6) @ Chiefs (5-4, -7.5)
Another big spread but this time I think the home team covers. The Cardinals are just terrible, having lost 4 in a row to some pretty bad football teams. And to think, Arizona beat the Saints back in October. My pick: Chiefs

Packers (6-3) @ Vikings (3-6, +3.5)
These Brett Favre vs. his old team matchups have really lost their luster. With how the Vikings have played the last few weeks, I'm shocked that the line is only 3.5. What exactly does Brad Childress need to do to lose his job? My pick: Packers

Texans (4-5) @ Jets (7-2, -6.5)
The temptation is there to go with the Texans, who are beyond due for a win after losing three straight. The Jets are simply the better team, though, and they won't need overtime to prove it this week. My pick: Jets

Falcons (7-2) @ Rams (4-5, +3.5)
It's looking like we are headed for an all-Bird NFC Championship Game between the Falcons and Eagles. Look for Atlanta to win this one by a touchdown. My pick: Falcons

Bucs (6-3) @ Niners (3-6, -3.5)
Winners of 3 of their last 4 and in the worst division in football, we still can't write off the Niners. Despite their records being mirror images, I think the Niners are simply better than the Bucs right now. My pick: Niners

Seahawks (5-4) @ Saints (6-3, -11.5)
Seattle is the worst team with a winning record in the NFL. The Saints had an extra week to prepare. Enough said. My pick: Saints

Colts (6-3) @ Patriots (7-2, -3.5)
Ahh, the annual Colts/Patriots game. While the Patriots are riding high after their big win against the Steelers, I like the Colts to get up for this one and win outright. Remember when you couldn't count on Peyton Manning in a big game? My pick: Colts

Sunday Night Game:

Giants (6-3) @ Eagles (6-3, -3.5)
Before the season even began, I predicted that the Eagles and Giants would split their 2 games, with each team winning at home. Given how the Eagles played last week, I might be leaning towards the Birds winning both times these two teams play. Expect the speedy Giants defense to slow Michael Vick down a bit but the Eagles will still win by a touchdown. My pick: Eagles

Monday Night Game:

Broncos (3-6) @ Chargers (4-5, -9.5)
Because the Chiefs are actually a decent team, the path to the playoffs is going to be much harder for the Chargers this season. Given how strong the rest of the AFC is, we're almost to the point where the Chargers need to win out to make the postseason. My pick: Chargers

Those are my picks for Week 11 of the NFL Season. Check back every Thursday during the season for the latest predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comment section!
(AP PHOTO)

Thursday Night Football is back: NFL Week 10 Predictions

Thursday Night football is here! While it seems to start earlier and earlier every year, Thursday Night NFL games are always a welcome sight, especially when it's a game like Atlanta vs. Baltimore. Let's get right to the Week 10 picks. Remember, picks this year are made against the spread and I'll be using the spread values that ESPN uses in their Pigskin Pick'em game. I finally made it over .500 for the season!

Record Last Week: 8-5, .615
Overall Record: 66-64, .508

Byes: Chargers, Packers, Raiders, Saints

Thursday Night Game:

Ravens (6-2) @ Falcons (6-2, -1.5)
What we have here is a possible Super Bowl preview. These two teams are pretty similar, as each has a solid young quarterback, a stud running back and an above average defense. With how they played against the Eagles still fresh in my mind, I can't put the Falcons quite at the level of the Ravens. My pick: Ravens

Sunday Day Games:

Lions (2-6) @ Bills (0-8, -2.5)
It's your time, Bills! Okay, so I said the same thing last week, but with the Lions hurting at quarterback, the Bills have to finally win one, right? My pick: Bills

Vikings (3-5) @ Bears (5-3, +1.5)
Things are a mess in Minnesota but the Bears, despite their record, are just not a good football team. It wouldn't surprise me if Chicago finished with just 6 or 7 wins this year. My pick: Vikings

Jets (6-2) @ Browns (3-5, +3.5)
Do I dare pick against the Browns again? After whipping the Saints and the Patriots, you would have to be a fool to think the Browns would have any problem against the Jets. Then again, this is still the Browns we're talking about and they don't have two weeks to prepare this time. My pick: Jets

Bengals (2-6) @ Colts (5-3, -7.5)
Peyton Manning doesn't lose two games in a row and the Bengals are coming off a short week. Next. My pick: Colts

Titans (5-3) @ Dolphins (4-4, +0.5)
This was a tough game to pick until the Dolphins made their quarterback change from one Chad to another. Look for the Titans to get Randy Moss involved early which will open things up for Chris Johnson to run wild. My pick: Titans

Panthers (1-7) @ Bucs (5-3, -7.5)
Okay, so the Bucs aren't the best team in the NFC but the Panthers certainly are the worst. What a mess in Carolina, all that's left to watch now is how many quarterbacks they are going to go through. My pick: Bucs

Texans (4-4) @ Jaguars (4-4, -1.5)
Both of these teams could really use a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. While Matt Schaub hasn't exactly been playing great lately, I think he will do just enough to lead his team to a win. Of course, the Houston defense is going to have to make some stops, too, something they have failed to do all season long. My pick: Texans

Chiefs (5-3) @ Broncos (2-6, +0.5)
I'm really surprised that this line isn't higher. I know they are at home but have people not been watching the Broncos the last few weeks? My pick: Chiefs

Cowboys (1-7) @ Giants (6-2, -13.5)
With the way the Giants are clicking and the way the Cowboys have given up, this one should get ugly. My pick: Giants

Seahawks (4-4) @ Cardinals (3-5, -3.5)
This could be the toughest game to pick this week. On one side, you have a Cardinals team that has lost three straight; on the other, a Seahawks team that just got annihilated by the Raiders and Giants in back to back weeks. Since they basically did everything but beat the Vikings last week, I'll lean towards Arizona. My pick: Cardinals

Rams (4-4) @ Niners (2-6, -5.5)
I like the Niners to continue their uphill climb and win this game but not by anything more than a field goal. My pick: Rams

Sunday Night Game:

Patriots (6-2) @ Steelers (6-2, -4.5)
This one is easily the game of the week and could go either way. Since the Patriots offense looks broken without a deep threat like Randy Moss, you have to think the Steelers defense is going to keep Tom Brady off the board just enough to win. My pick: Steelers

Monday Night Game:

Eagles (5-3) @ Redskins (4-4, +3.5)
The NFL went three for three this week in their primetime games. Even though you may think I'm a homer, I don't see how anyone could pick against the Eagles given the way their offense is clicking and the ugly situation happening in Washington. Sure, the Redskins beat the Eagles back in Week 4, but if Michael Vick had played that entire game the outcome surely would have been very different. My pick: Eagles

Those are my picks for Week 10 of the NFL Season. Check back every Thursday during the season for the latest predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comment section!

Chasing greatness: NFL Week 9 Predictions

Let's get right to the Week 9 picks. Remember, picks this year are made against the spread and I'll be using the spread values that ESPN uses in their Pigskin Pick'em game. Inching closer to .500 on the season!

Record Last Week: 9-4, .692
Overall Record: 58-59, .496

Byes: Broncos, Jaguars, Niners, Rams, Redskins, Titans

Sunday Day Games:

Bucs (5-2) @ Falcons (5-2, -8.5)
The Bucs fade will start this week but I can't pick the Falcons to win by more than a touchdown. My pick: Bucs

Bears (4-3) @ Bills (0-7, +2.5)
It's finally your time, Bills. You've been getting closer and closer to that first win every week and you've got a bad Bears team coming to Toronto. It might be now or never. My pick: Bills

Patriots (6-1) @ Browns (2-5, +4.5)
The Pats haven't been great this year but they always seem find a way to win. The Browns are coming off a bye but that still isn't enough time for them to figure out how to beat New England. My pick: Patriots

Jets (5-2) @ Lions (2-5, +4.5)
After how the Jets played last week, this game is a tough one to predict. If they want to be a Super Bowl contender, the Jets must rebound. My pick: Jets

Cardinals (3-4) @ Vikings (2-5, -8.5)
Whoa, what exactly did the Vikings do to earn this spread? The Cardinals aren't good, either, but I can't see the Vikings winning by more than a touchdown. My pick: Cardinals

Saints (5-3) @ Panthers (1-6, +7.5)
The Saints are getting back on track. The Panthers have never been on track. My pick: Saints

Dolphins (4-3) @ Ravens (5-2, -5.5)
The Dolphins have had a rough schedule this season and things don't get any easier as they travel to Baltimore this week. My pick: Ravens

Chargers (3-5) @ Texans (4-3, +1.5)
I'm not sure what the oddsmakers are thinking on this one. The Texans are at home yet the Chargers, who have been maddeningly inconsistent, are the favorite? Maybe it's a trap but I gotta go with Houston. My pick: Texans

Giants (5-2) @ Seahawks (4-3, +5.5)
Coming off their bye, the Giants are looking to cement themselves as the best of the NFC. Seattle is a tough place to play but I say the Giants make a statement. My pick: Giants

Chiefs (5-2) @ Raiders (4-4, -2.5)
Who would have thunk that this was going to be a good game between two teams with a legitimate shot at making the playoffs? That the Chiefs are about to be 6-2 is nothing short of shocking. My pick: Chiefs

Colts (5-2) @ Eagles (4-3, -2.5)
This is another head-scratching line. I know the Colts haven't exactly been great this year but it's hard to justify going with the Eagles to win this game. Not with Peyton Manning ready to shred the Eagles shaky secondary. My pick: Colts

Sunday Night Game:

Cowboys (1-6) @ Packers (5-3, -7.5)
I wish I could actually feel bad for the Cowboys. Well, not really. My pick: Packers

Monday Night Game:

Steelers (5-2) @ Bengals (2-5, +4.5)
What a pathetic effort by the Bengals this season. What used to be a pretty good rivalry is going to get ugly this week as the Steelers whip Cincy for 60 minutes. My pick: Steelers

Those are my picks for Week 9 of the NFL Season. Check back every Thursday (or Friday) during the season for the latest predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comment section!