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.
Last week, I was a whopping 8-8. I would have been 8-6 without the Sunday Night and Monday Night Football games, so thankfully we say goodbye to one of those and are graced with NFL action this Saturday night. Or, as I like to call it, Christmas Eve Eve.
Anyway … onto the picks!
SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
*LOCK IT UP: Atlanta (-3.5) over DETROIT — The Falcons scorched the Giants and burned me last week. I’m done going against them. Falcons win 31-20
SUNDAY:
*LOCK IT UP: GREEN BAY (-13.5) over Tennessee — The Titans were gifted a win by Mark Sanchez last week. Good luck in Green Bay in December. Packers win 34-10
*LOCK IT UP: Minnesota (+9.5) over HOUSTON— I love the desperate Vikings to cover as heavy underdogs. In Adrian Peterson I trust. Christian Ponder, not so much. Texans win 28-23
*H2H SURVIVOR PICK: TAMPA BAY (-3.5) over St. Louis— By now, you probably only have a handful of teams left. I was right with Miami over the Jags’ last week head to head, and I’ll take my chances with a decent Tampa team playing at home against a Rams’ squad that seems to really only save their best for the Niners. Bucs win 20-14
Washington (-4.5) over PHILADELPHIA— This is NOT an easy game for the Redskins. But they are hungry and I think they pull away late. Redskins win 28-20
New Orleans (+2.5) over DALLAS — Drew Brees is back to form just in time for the annual Tony Romo collapse. Saints win 34-27
NY Giants (-1.5) over BALTIMORE — I’ll give the Giants one more week to right this ship. I just can’t go against them in one of those sudden death games they tend to win behind Eli Manning. Giants win 24-20
Buffalo (+4.5) over MIAMI — I like the points more than I like the Bills to win outright. Dolphins win 19-16
Cincinnati (+4.5) over PITTSBURGH— The Bengals don’t historically beat the Steelers, but those points are too many for me to pass up when I think Cincy is the better team. Actually, now that I am thinking about it… Bengals win 26-20
CAROLINA (-9.5) over Oakland — I can’t gauge either team anymore, but Oakland can’t score touchdowns and the Panthers are hot, so… Panthers win 31-12
Indianapolis (-6.5) over KANSAS CITY — If you can’t beat the Chiefs, you don’t deserve to make the playoffs. Colts win 27-17
New England (-14.5) over JACKSONVILLE — Next. Patriots win 41-10
Cleveland (+13.5) over DENVER — I think the Browns will play just close enough to cover, but the game will never be in doubt. Broncos win 30-17
ARIZONA (+5.5) over Chicago — I just can’t ignore the Bears’ downward spiral, though I do think they eek this one out. Bears win 23-20
NY JETS (-1.5) over San Diego — Let the Greg McElroy era begin! Too little, too late, but… Jets win 23-21
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
SEATTLE (+0.5) over San Francisco — This is clearly the matchup of the week and I am glad it was flexed to Sunday night. The Seahawks won’t score 50 points against the Niners, and I love this matchup of young upstart QBs flanked by two workhorse running backs. This will be a fun one on Christmas Eve Eve, and when all is said and done… Seahawks win 34-31
That’s all for this week’s edition of SLICED SPREAD.
See you next week for the always fun and unpredictable Week 17 — AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS! — CB.
