Welcome to SLICED SPREAD, the place on Inside Pulse Sports for weekly NFL picks against the spread, head to head survivor picks, and score prognostications.
Being that I am still absolutely stunned by the Patriots clobbering of the Jets on Monday Night Football by a final tally of 45-3, I am simply going to forget unlucky # Week 13 and move right along to hopefully greener pastures.
Actually, on second thought, I did predict the Cowboys to beat the Colts outright, so it wasn’t all bad this week as I went 9-7 ATS.
Onto the breakdown!
SLICED SPREAD: NFL WEEK 13 BREAKDOWN
WEEK 13 ATS: 9-7
WEEK 13 LOCKS ATS: 2-1
WEEK 13 H2H SURVIVOR PICK: LOSS (Raiders over Chargers)
THIS SEASON ATS: 101-91
THIS SEASON LOCKS ATS: 20-19
H2H SURVIVOR TEAMS USED:
Tennessee (Week 1, Win)
Green Bay (Week 2, Win)
New England (Week 3, Win)
New Orleans (Week 4, Win)
Indianapolis (Week 5, Win)
Pittsburgh (Week 6, Win)
Baltimore (Week 7, Win)
Kansas City (Week 8, Win)
NY Jets (Week 9, Win)
NY Giants (Week 10, Loss)
Dallas (Week 11, Win)
Cleveland (Week 12, Win)
San Diego (Week 13, Loss)
SLICED SPREAD: NFL WEEK 14 PICKS
Home teams are shown in CAPS
Point spreads shown in ().
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Indianapolis (-2.5) over TENNESSEE – Despite his recent struggles, I just can’t see Peyton Manning letting his team go on a serious losing streak with his season on the line. It also helps that his Colts are playing a Titans team that is simply self-destructing. Colts win 20-13
SUNDAY:
Cleveland (+1.5) over BUFFALO – I know the Browns aren’t world-beaters, but they have shown some grit this season and all I am asking them to do this week is run the ball down the Bills’ throats. I expect a low-scoring game with the Browns prevailing when all is said and done. Browns win 21-14
*H2H SURVIVOR PICK: Atlanta (-7.5) over CAROLINA – I was flabbergasted by the Chargers’ home loss to the Raiders last week, which gave me my second Survivor Pick loss of the season. That said, I love the NFC-leading Falcons here to win head to head easily and the 7.5-point spread does not scare me in the least. Falcons win 28-13
NY Giants (-2.5) over MINNESOTA – If Brett Favre decides to start this week I honestly think he might get carted of the field in the first quarter. The Giants’ pass rush will show no mercy no matter who is playing QB for the Vikings, and New York’s offense will do enough in both phases to win. Giants win 27-24
*LOCK IT UP: New England (-2.5) over CHICAGO – On Monday night, the Patriots battered my favorite team and forced me into believing that they are possibly the class of the entire NFL. The Bears have also proven themselves to be serious contenders recently, and this could actually be a Super Bowl preview, believe it or not. I think the difference here will be Tom Brady being the best player on the field, and I just can’t see Jay Cutler having a mistake-free game as he tries to keep pace with the lightning fast Pats’ offense. Patriots win 34-20
*LOCK IT UP: Green Bay (-6.5) over DETROIT – The Packers can win against anyone, and coming off last week’s loss to the Falcons I think they will be super-focused in this spot. When one team is clearly better than the other on both sides of the ball, there is no such thing as a trap game. Packers win 28-17
Tampa Bay (-0.5) over WASHINGTON – The Redskins have clearly given up on their head coach, while Tampa’s playoff hopes are fading quickly in the ultra-competitive NFC playoff picture. I think the Bucks stay more motivated than Washington and take it in a close one. Bucs win 23-21
Oakland (+4.5) over JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville has played very well and they deserve kudos for picking themselves up after a tough loss to the Giants to win this past Sunday. However, I love the points in this spot, you know, as long as the Raiders team that trounced San Diego last week shows up again. Jags win, but Raiders cover. Jaguars win 24-20
Cincinnati (+9.5) over PITTSBURGH – There will definitely be no love lost when the Steelers and Bengals square off on Sunday, and I sense a much closer matchup than 9.5 points. In fact, it will be scary close for the Steelers. Steelers win 24-23
*LOCK IT UP: St. Louis (+9.5) over NEW ORLEANS – Mark my words: If the Rams win the NFC West and make the Playoffs, they will NOT be pushovers. In fact, I have a funny feeling that St. Louis will pull off a huge upset and stun the unsuspecting Saints this week. The Saints never cover anyway, so I might as well go all the way with it. Rams win 30-28
Seattle (+4.5) over SAN FRANCISCO – Three words: Field goal game. Oh, and Seattle wins. Seahawks win 20-17
ARIZONA (+2.5) over Denver – Last week, I promised not to pick the Cardinals for the rest of the season. But the Broncos are even more pathetic, and Derek Anderson’s injury has opened the door for rookie quarterback John Skelton to get a chance behind center for the Cards. That’s enough for me to pick Arizona in the desert against a bad Broncos’ team. Cardinals win 26-16
Miami (+5.5) over NY JETS – There’s no way this game will not come down to the wire. Do the Jets even have any healthy defensive safeties left, or confidence too for that matter? The Dolphins will play tough and like they have done so many times against lesser teams this season, the Jets will escape either in the fourth quarter or overtime. Jets win 20-17
Kansas City (+7.5) over SAN DIEGO – Let me say this clearly and concisely: The Chiefs are better than the Chargers this season. Period. End of story. Chiefs win 31-27
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Philadelphia (-2.5) over DALLAS – Goodbye Dez Bryant. Welcome back Asante Samuel. That will make a huge difference here, along with that Michael Vick fellow, of course. Eagles win 35-24
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Baltimore (-2.5) over HOUSTON – Baltimore’s 13-10 loss to the Steelers on Sunday Night Football must have been a very tough loss for the Ravens to swallow. It won’t be a cakewalk, but I think they rebound against the Texans in yet another national game. Ravens win 24-21
That’s it for this week’s edition of SLICED SPREAD.
See you next week – CB.
