Sliced Spread: 2010 NFL Football Week 17 Picks and Predictions

Columns, Top Story

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.

I can’t believe we are down to the last week of the regular season, and therefore we are down to the last week of the first-year run of SLICED SPREAD here on Inside Pulse Sports.

It’s been a fun ride and I appreciate everyone’s emails, comments and support.

For the last time in 2010, allow me to say…

Onto the breakdown!

SLICED SPREAD: NFL WEEK 16 BREAKDOWN

WEEK 16 ATS: 8-8
WEEK 16 LOCKS ATS: 1-2
WEEK 16 H2H SURVIVOR PICK: LOSS (Eagles lost to Vikings)

THIS SEASON ATS: 124-116
THIS SEASON LOCKS ATS: 23-25

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)
Atlanta (Week 14, Win)
Chicago (Week 15, Win)
Philadelphia (Week 16, Loss)

SLICED SPREAD: NFL WEEK 17 PICKS

Home teams are shown in CAPS
Point spreads shown in ().

SUNDAY:

ATLANTA (-14.5) over Carolina – The Falcons are simply better than the Panthers, and they will show it here because they simply will want to go into the Playoffs on a high note. Falcons win 33-10

NEW ORLEANS (-8.5) over Tampa Bay The Saints are on a roll and while the Bucs need this game, New Orleans will want it more. Saints win 31-20

Tennessee (+10.5) over INDIANAPOLIS The Titans will play close enough to cover, but there is no way Indy loses out on saving their season. Colts win 24-21

Buffalo (+1.5) over NY JETS The Jets have already backed into the Playoffs and I don’t see them playing their starters for a very long time. Bills win 21-20

Minnesota (+3.5) over DETROIT The Vikings played the Eagles tough on Tuesday, and I see that momentum carrying over into Detroit. Vikings win 27-24

Cincinnati (+9.5) over BALTIMORE The Bengals have showed some life lately, and so I think they keep it close. Ravens win 21-17

HOUSTON (+2.5) over Jacksonville The Texans will like nothing more than to end the Jags’ season here. The Hail Mary karma is returned here and the Texans take it in a close one. Texans win 28-27

*LOCK IT UP: NEW ENGLAND (-3.5) over Miami I don’t care what the experts say, the Patriots will play whoever they need to play for however long it takes to keep the good karma going at home. Patriots win 38-14

CLEVELAND (+5.5) over Pittsburgh The Browns will do what they couldn’t do last week and make things tough enough on the Steelers here to cover at home. Steelers win 17-16

KANSAS CITY (-3.5) over Oakland The Chiefs are no joke and they are going to show it here as they tune up for the big dance. The Chiefs will do the bulk of their damage in the first half and the backups will hold on to cover. Chiefs win 28-23

NY Giants (-3.5) over WASHINGTON If the Giants lose, they have no chance at the Playoffs and Tom Coughlin likely gets fired. In my opinion, that’s enough motivation right there. Scary part is that even if the G-Men notch their tenth win, Coughlin will likely get the boot anyway if they don’t sneak into the postseason. Giants win 20-10

Dallas (+7.5) over PHILADELPHIA The Cowboys will be fired up to end their season on a positive note, especially at Philly’s expense. I have a feeling Andy Reid rests everybody here so that playing three games in 12 or 13 days doesn’t seem so rough for the Eagles’ starters. Cowboys win 23-17

GREEN BAY (-10.5) over Chicago The Packers will be on a mission here to make the Playoffs, and I think the Bears just won’t do enough on the road to make this too hard for Green Bay to accomplish at home. Packers win 28-14

DENVER (+3.5) over San Diego In Tim Tebow we trust, in Norv Turner we don’t. Broncos win 24-23

*LOCK IT UP: Arizona (+6.5) over SAN FRANCISCO I absolutely love the Cardinals to cover 6.5 points as underdogs to the Niners, regardless of the outcome. Cardinals win 22-14

*LOCK IT UP/H2H SURVIVOR PICK: St. Louis (-2.5) over SEATTLE The NFC West is at stake in this division matchup, and I still can’t believe the winner of this one gets a home game next week when the Playoffs start. Let’s hope that it’s an 8-8 team with a decent rookie quarterback, at least. Rams win 27-13

That’s it for this week’s edition (and for this season’s first-year run) of SLICED SPREAD.

See you next year! – CB.

CB is an Editor for Pulse Wrestling and an original member of the Inside Pulse writing team covering the spectrum of pop culture including pro wrestling, sports, movies, music, radio and television.