It turned out to be a very solid week for my predicting, with 11-2 outright and 8-5 on the spread, plus my SFBOTW hitting comfortably. Shame Gnome blew her perfect record, but you can't win 'em all.
Week 9 looks like a cake walk in terms of the outrights, but let's take a closer look at the handicaps.
Week 8:
Outright = 11-2
Spread = 8-5
SFBOTW = 1-0
Animal Corner = 0-1
2013/14:
Outright = 80-40
Spread = 60-57-3
SFBOTW = 5-3
Animal Corner = 3-1
All Time:
Outright = 246-131
Spread = 200-171-6
SFBOTW = 13-11-1
Animal Corner = 7-3-1
Thursday Night
Bengals @ Dolphins +1 Sky Sports 1
Cincy well and truly smashed the Jets, and the Dolphins are fast losing sense of their pre and early season hype. Whilst away @ Miami on a short week isn't the easiest trip in the league, this is still one the Bengals should expect to win.
The spread is attractively low, and should be as despite being a better team they really haven't been (last week aside) blowing teams out. I love this game as basically a pick 'em.
Bengals -1
Sunday First Wave
Chiefs @ Bills +3
The Chiefs are officially 8-0. They are, technically at least, the best team in the league. This is some jump for the 2-14 worst team in football last year. What a difference a good coach and QB can make. At Buffalo this shouldn't be the game that tarnishes their perfect record, especially with the hosts coming off a blow out loss to the Saints.
Another attractive spread for a team that doesn't usually tend to win big. Chiefs all day here.
Chiefs -3
Falcons @ Panthers -9.5
Carolina are one of the strongest teams in the league right now, and a down and out Atlanta shouldn't be too much of a tougher test than what they've faced in recent weeks. That said, it's a divisional game so anything could happen.
9.5 is way too many points for a divisional match-up.
Falcons +9.5 (Panthers win)
Vikings @ Cowboys -10
Minnesota will be hoping they can get Freeman back, and on target, for this game. However even if he plays and is improved they face a tough test against a strong Cowboys side. Don't let last week's narrow loss to Detroit fool you, they are still a contender.
10 points is large, but the Vikings have been truly terrible lately.
Cowboys -10
Chargers @ Redskins +1
Very interesting match up here with a tough road test for an in form Chargers side. The Redskins are no pushovers despite their poor record, and are improving each week, but I still like San Diego's top 5 offence to make life difficult for a struggling 'Skins pass defence.
At essentially a pick 'em no surprises here.
Chargers -1
Saints @ Jets +5.5 Sky Sports 2
NY just got killed by the Bengals, but they have been wildly inconsistent this year so a strong turnaround at home isn't out of the question. However, the Saints are as tough an opposition you can find right now, and fresh off a beat down of Buffalo they should continue their winning ways here.
5.5 is a decent chunk of points, but I like NO to win by a score.
Saints -5.5
Titans @ Rams +3
The Rams defence played exceptionally versus the Seahawks, but their offence was equally poor. This game should be another tight defensive struggle, facing off against a consistently strong Titans side. I like Tennessee to continue their winning ways here against a Rams side that will struggle to score points for the rest of the season with Bradford out.
Titans -3
Sunday Second Wave
Eagles @ Raiders Pick 'em Sky Sports 2
Intriguing game with two very different sides facing off here. The Raiders have surpassed their historically low expectations at 3-4, and seem to have found a potential future star in Terrelle Pryor. The Eagles meanwhile have fallen off their early season promise, and last week's loss to the Giants makes this a close encounter. I like the Raiders to grab another W here, and Pryor to continue to impress.
Raiders
Buccaneers @ Seahawks -16.5
This is an open and shut case. Tampa are wallowing in joint last with a lame duck coach, Seattle are maybe the best team in football (even despite last week's struggle against St. Louis). Russell Wilson has never lost at home, and there's no chance it will be at the hands of Tampa.
16.5 is a huge spread, but one that I wouldn't bet against the Hawks covering.
Hawks -16.5
Ravens @ Browns +1
Less than electrifying divisional encounter between two of the duller teams in the league right now. I can't think of game that I'd be least enthused to watch this week, but that doesn't mean it won't be a close one. Despite that, I think Baltimore have the advantage here, with an offence that should score more readily even against a stout Browns D.
Ravens -1
Steelers @ Patriots -7
This shouldn't be a close one, with a struggling Pittsburgh side facing off against a Pats team coming off the back of a crucial divisional win versus Miami. NE have had their struggles, but with Gronk getting healthier every week, and the promise of Amendola back, Brady should have more to work with.
7 points is a decent spread, but one I'd expect the Pats to cover.
Patriots -7
Sunday Night
Colts @ Texans +1
A big divisional game, and one in which the Colts will be looking to tighten their stranglehold on the division and set the Texans back to perennial runners up. Case Keenum did not look terrible by any means in his début start 2 weeks ago, but this is a game that Luck and co. should not be losing if they want to prove they are a legitimate threat, and not still a few pieces away.
-1 is nothing, the Colts are legit.
Colts -1 SFBOTW
Monday Night
Bears @ Packers -10.5
Chicago's struggles without Cutler are set to continue, and the Pack will take advantage here, extending their lead in the division with a key home win. Even without a lot of his main targets, Rodgers is plenty capable of controlling this game.
10.5 is a big one and I think this could be kept within reach. It's a divisional game, and the Bears won't roll over even down their QB1.
Bears +10.5 (Packers to win)
No comments:
Post a Comment