I continue to just punish myself and my wallet with my picks as I went 7-9 last week bringing my yearly total to 104-95-5, I’m a mess…  It has become pretty obvious that you should be taking my reverse picks right about now.  We are getting into the thick of the playoff picture now and some teams like the Titans have already clinched while other teams like Miami are so close they can taste it.  Not all the betting lines are out yet, but as soon as they are available I will have the spreads up with my picks. 

Thursday, December 11th

New Orleans Saints
Chicago Bears  -3 45
My Pick:  The Saints pulled off an impressive win over the Falcons last week in the Dome, but when they travel to cold ass Solider field this week its going to be a different story.  The Bears seem to be getting something going, but it may be too late for them.  The same can be said for the Saints chances this year. Based on the fact that the Bears D is coming alive and the weather conditions, I think they put the stop on Reggie Bush and Brees and turn this into a ground and pound affair.  Give the points.

Sunday, December 14th

Washington Redskins  -6.5  36.5
Cincinnati Bengals
My Pick:  Washington has fallen on hard times and the Zorn supremacy will have to wait until next season to make a run unless something very unexpected happens.  The Bengals have made it very clear that they want a top draft pick and will use these last couple weeks to scout talent, take risks and make guys earn their jobs for next year.  I think the Clinton Portis tantrum has been swept under the rug and he will be getting alot of carries.  The Bengals don’t much offense to speak of and I think this game comes down to defense.  The komikaze play that the Bengals will demostrate may be enough to get the job done.  Take the points but wait until Saturday when you should be able to get 7. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Atlanta Falcons -3  44.5
My Pick:  The Falcons had their hearts broken last week at home in a shootout with the Saints.  Tampa got crushed against the Panthers.  Hmmm…Falcons already whipped the Panthers.  Tampa will need their defense to show up unlike last week, but I think the Michael Turner, Matt Ryan, and Roddy White combo will be too much for them and they won’t be able to keep up on offense, contraty to much belief, the Falcons D is pretty decent.  Give the points.

Tennessee Titans  -3.5  45
Houston Texans
My Pick:  The Titans have already clinched and gotten the first round bye.  I think the smart thing to do is play conservative football and rest your starters, that doesn’t mean its going to happen, but I wouldn’t expect alot of risk taking at this point.  Fisher will play his guys just enough to keep them in a rythem and them pull them.  The Texans on the other hand are an explosive team under the right circumstances and this is one of those times where they can really air it out and not be pressured.  While the Titans will still try to win and rightfully so, I don’t see them getting excited if they get down by a couple scores.  Houston at home is good.  Take the points.

Detriot Lions
Indianapolis Colts  -16.5  44.5
My Pick:  Indy is proving to be a flash in the pan team and I really can’t count on them to stick it to the other team anymore.  Detroit with Culpepper at the cue has been scoring alot lately and the Indy D can be caught slipping.  I think they can cover and the line will probably go to 17.  Take the points.

San Diego Chargers  -4  47.5
Kansas City Chiefs
My Pick:  Kansas City has been the thorn in alot of teams sides lately, Herm Edwards might something with this Thigpen kid or at least something to build on for next season and even LJ has been coming out to play.  The Chargers straight up suck and its Norv “The Team Killer” Turner that will deliver them to their demise, even LT is looking for a new team.  I think the Chiefs are getting better after the horrible run they have had the past few years and now that they have finally established who the QB is I think they get into a rythem.  Take the points.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Baltimore Ravens  -1  34.5
My Pick:  This is a hard one…The winner will take the lead in the division and they both have outstanding defenses.  Flacco is capable, but he’s no Big Ben and Derrick Mason is no Hines Ward.  I want to say that the Pittsburgh offense is key here, but I can’t underestimate the Ravens at home.  The spread at 1 is a bit misleading, because by all means that would make the pick Baltimore at home, but then think about the offense of each team and on paper Pitt should be favored.  It’s a coin toss, but I think Pitt just has more weapons to work with.  Take the point.

Green Bay Packers -1  45.5
Jacksonville Jaguars
My Pick:  The Packers under Rodgers have proven disappointing this year and after such a great start they let the Packer faithful down.  It is not all Rodgers fault, Ryan Grant and the defense have at times seemed to have disappeared and were no where around when they needed them.  I really don’t have anything good to say about Jacksonville either, they were supposed to be contenders this year and they totally screwed the pooch.  I think the only reason you take Green Bay in this one is that Grant actually had a decent game last week and the Jags continues to struggle to put anything together.  Give the point, it won’t matter that the game is in Jacksonville, just means it won’t be freezing cold.

Denver Broncos
Carolina Panthers  -7.5 48
My Pick:  Carolina stuck it to Tampa last week and Deangelo Williams is increadible, when paired with Jonathan Stewart the flimsy Bronco’s run D doesn’t have a chance.  I don’t think the Broncos have the offense to keep up with the Panthers and they are going to have a long day.  The Panthers who are leading the wildcard race do not seem to be slowing down and at home they are very effective this year.  Give the points, but buy it down to -7 and take the half point hook out of the equation.

Buffalo Bills
NY Jets -8  41
My Pick:  If the Jets don’t win this week then it is officially over for them, they have the talent in Brett ol Boy and Thomas Jones to get it done.  If the defense comes to play then its like taking candy from a baby, the key word there being IF…If they let Losman go in there and throw deep to Evans as he is fond of doing then I think the Jets have a tough day, but if they go in and establish the run, stop them on defense and Brett doesn’t turn it over then they should have no trouble at all disposing of the Buffalo HillBillies. I think they come to play if only for Favre to thumb his nose at Green Bay who is now done for the rest of the season under the new guy Rodgers.  Give the points. 

San Francisco 49′ers
Miami Dolphins  -6.5  43
My Pick:  Miami is good and could go to playoffs, San Fran is still bad, but can play spoiler…In Dolphin stadium the Fins have been waaay too good to let Mike Singletarys bunch go in and upset.  Give the points before it goes to -7.

Seattle Seahawks  -3  43
St. Louis Rams
My Pick:  I think the only reason the Seahawks are favored is because they have beat the Lambs 8 straight times and nearly got over the Pats at home, but it has nothing to do with the talent available to each team.  I think this is the stake in the heart for Mike Holmgren when he loses this week in St. Louis.  I am a lifelong Seahawks fan, but a staunch Holmgren hater and I hope they beat the pants off him just to rub salt in the wound that is Seattle’s season this year. Take the points.

Minnesota Vikings
Arizona Cardinals -3  47.5
My Pick:  The Cards have clinched, but I expect them to keep the starters in a rythem and Minnesota has never had much of a pass defense.  Minnesota needs a win, but even so I don’t think they have a chance to go to the post season, especially will Tavaris Jackson back in the saddle, they have no rythem and will depend on the 2 headed purple monster of AP and Chester Taylor.  Regardless, I think you score faster in the air and thats the Cards specialty.  Give the points.

New England Patriots  -7  40
Oakland Raiders
My Pick:  New England is chasing a wildcard spot and will be playing their hearts out.  Oakland on the other hand just wants to get a good look at all the talent and will be experimenting a bit.  The -7 seems like alot, but Cassell should have his head on straight and be able to pull it off in the air.  Sammy Morris is healthy and should be productive on the ground against the weak Raider defense.  The only thing bothering me is the aging NE defense and the way they can give up big plays, which is what Run DMC is all about.  If he is healthy he should give them all they can handle.  Take the points.

Sunday Night Football

NY Giants
Dallas Cowboys  -3  44
My Pick:  The Giants got a wakeup call last week when they got pounded by the Eagles.  The entire offense was out of synch and the loss of Plexiglass showed as the backup receivers dropped ball after ball.  He was not going to play last week anyways, but perhaps the distractions from the media concerning his self inflicted gunshot wound may have taken away their focus.  Brandon Jacobs is uncertain for this week he suffered an injury last week that may have reinjured his same knee that put him out a few weeks ago, keep checking the injury report.  The Cowboys had a great game against Pittsburgh up until the last 8 minutes when they decided they didn’t want to win anymore and allowed 17 unanswered points at the end of the 4th quarter.  Romo looked good for the most part and the defense was stout, but they just couldn’t put it all together at the end and of course TO had to tell everyone about it.  This week I think that in Dallas out of the cold the Boys’ will thrive, Romo does need to re-establish the pass attack as the Giants D will tighten up against the run and Marion Barber is no Westbrook so they should improve on that front.  Eli has got to find his rythem as well or it is going to be a long day for them.  Basically it looks like the Giants have lost a step or 2 while the Cowboys need to win every game left on the schedule to have a chance to see the post season.  Dallas will play harder and with the uncertainty surrounding the Giants offense you have to give the points.

Monday Night Football December 15th

Cleveland Browns
Philadelphia Eagles  -14  38
My Pick:  Philly stunned the football world last week with the pounding of the NY Gigantes.  The recently inconsistent Westbrook single handedly pounded the entire Giants team in the air and on the ground.  He had more yards than the entire Giants team combined!  Now do you think that Cleveland has a better a defense?  I didn’t think so.  It should be noted that the Giants were out of synch the entire game and it wasn’t so much the Philly D that stopped them.  This week I do look for Philly to play tough against the questionable Brownies and Westbrook should be healthy.  The Philly O line gave up alot of penetration to the Giants which put alot of pressure on McScrubb and I think the Browns do the same thing which could mean some turnovers.  They will stick to the same game plan centered around Westbrook, but McNabb needs to be making accurate throws to take the pressure of him or else he could be wiped out by the 4th quarter.  The Browns are back to no kinds of good as they failed to get into the endzone even once last week, granted it was against the Titans, but still I think that they are not playing 100%.  If they can’t get the pressure on McScrubb then its going to be a long day for them, I don’t like the double digit spread at -14, but enough teams covered 13.5 last week to make it a strong possibility.  McNabb is fighting for his job and Andy Reid is fighting for his reputation.  They will play very hard this week.  Give the points.

Click here for Live NFL Week 15 Betting Lines

Not a GamblersPalace.com member yet?  Click here for a FREE membership