NFL Predictions: Week 12

Better week, and now we have Thanksgiving Day to get this up. Hopefully I can finally get a Green Bay game right again after 4 weeks of missing on it. 
Last Week: 8-5-1
Overall: 78-76-6

Philadelphia Eagles @ Detroit Lions (DET -3) -> Detroit Lions
Carolina Panthers @ Dallas Cowboys (Even) -> Carolina Panthers
Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers (GB -8) -> Green Bay Packers
New Orleans Saints @ Houston Texans (HOU -3) -> Houston Texans
Minnesota Vikings @ Atlanta Falcons (ATL -1) -> Minnesota Vikings
St. Louis Rams @ Cincinnati Bengals (CIN -9) -> St. Louis Rams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Indianapolis Colts (IND -3) -> Indianapolis Colts
New York Giants @ Washington Redskins (NYG -2.5) -> New York Giants
Oakland Raiders @ Tennessee Titans (OAK -2) -> Oakland Raiders
Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs (KC -6.5) -> Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets (NYJ -3.5) -> New York Jets
San Diego Chargers @ Jacksonville Jaguars (JAX -4) -> Jacksonville Jaguars
Arizona Cardinals @ San Fransisco 49ers (ARI -10.5) -> Arizona Cardinals
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Seattle Seahawks (SEA -4) -> Pittsburgh Steelers
New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos (NE -3) -> New England Patriots
Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns (CLE -3) -> Cleveland Browns

A couple notes...
- I do think it's disrespectful to have the Panthers even with the Cowboys. I don't think they should be major favourites, but 3 or 4 points seems reasonable even with Romo back. It Should be a great game, but Cam has been playing incredibly and that defense is for real, so I lean the Panthers way.
- Minnesota and Atlanta, two teams I can't really figure out, but I''m going to give it up to Minnesota even though they are on the road.
- I'm disappointed Manziel isn't starting, just as a football fan he is way more fun to watch then McCown.
- Buffalo vs. KC should actually be a pretty enjoyable game. I think it will be a closer game than people seem to think, but Kansas City is the superior team in this game and they are at home. Expect a defensive battle with KC winning.
- Upset of the Week: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Seattle Seahawks. Seattle is a good team, but they are far from great. They also don't have the same home field advantage as they used to have, and Big Ben is just too good for their team to shut down, so if they are going to win, it will fall onto Russell Wilson's shoulders, which isn't the best thing to bet on this year.
- Lock of the Week: Dare I say it. Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers. I know, I know. It's dangerous to pick the Packers as a lock after just two weeks ago they lost to the Lions at home. My logic is there is no way they're going to lose to the Lions and Bears at home in the same year. Right? RIGHT?
- The greatest holiday of the year is this Thursday... All day football! So enjoy!

NFL Predictions: Week 11

Two consecutive bad weeks. All of the supposed "blowout" games last week were either upsets or extremely close. Hopefully this week can break the streak and get us back above .500. Hopefully...
Last Week: 5-9
Overall: 70-71-5

Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (JAX -3) -> Jacksonville Jaguars
Washington Redskins @ Carolina Panthers (CAR -7) -> Carolina Panthers
Oakland Raiders @ Detroit Lions (OAK -1.5) -> Oakland Raiders
Dallas Cowboys @ Miami Dolphins (Even) -> Dallas Cowboys
Indianapolis Colts @ Atlanta Falcons (ATL -6) -> Atlanta Falcons
St. Louis Rams @ Baltimore Ravens (BAL -2.5) -> St. Louis Rams
New York Jets @ Houston Texans (NYJ -2.5) -> Houston Texans
Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings (MIN -1) -> Minnesota Vikings
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Philadelphia Eagles (PHI -5.5) -> Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Denver Broncos @ Chicago Bears (CHI -1) -> Denver Broncos
Cincinnati Bengals @ Arizona Cardinals (ARI -5) -> Arizona Cardinals
San Fransisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks (SEA -12.5) -> Seattle Seahawks
Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers (KC -3) -> Kansas City Chiefs
Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots (NE -7) -> New England Patriots

A couple notes...
- The Seattle San Fran game is probably the hardest pick this week. The spread seems insane, but Seattle is still a tough team to beat at home and San Fran on the road has been so, so bad this year. I'm picking Seattle even with the crazy spread, but I won't be shocked in the slightest if San Fran keeps it close or even if they somehow win after their bye week.
- So I think the smartest thing for me to do is to pick against Green Bay until they figure their shit out. Last game was awful. Denver and Carolina were rough, but they are at least good teams. Detroit is not, and it was so bad. Minnesota at home after 5 wins in a row, that's going to be a tough one for Green Bay.
- I am weirdly on board for the Jaguars and Titans game on Thursday. Should be very entertaining. I think Jacksonville might be able to actually blow this one out, but I've been high on the Jags all year so who knows.
- Cincinnati vs. Arizona should be incredible. Game of the week potential here, and the trash talking has already started too. I don't think Cincinnati was necessarily exposed on Monday night against the Texans, but they'll definitely have to up their game A LOT to beat the Cardinals on the road.
- Romo's back! I'm not a Cowboys fan but it's just good for football to have one of the ore underrated QB's back healthy. Should be able to beat a lacklustre Dolphins squad.
- Upset of the Week: Denver Broncos @ Chicago Bears. Chicago is a substantially better team then I thought, but this is still Denver we're talking about. Manning is out, which might end up being good for them. As long as Osweiler doesn't put them in an enormous hole, this defense will find a way to win.
- Lock of the Week: Washington Redskins @ Carolina Panthers. Carolina is a great team, and I am completely on board. Washington has it's moments, but they capitalized on a very weak New Orleans defense and aren't that good. Carolina should handily beat them, and Carolina's defense should absolutely eat up Kirk Cousins and an inconsistent offense.

NFL Predictions: Week 10

Ugh, brutal week. This has to be a week where I revisit my outlooks on teams, as there were a handful of teams in which I am completely baffled by week-in/week-out. So much inconsistency out of teams this year, but that's what the NFL is. Hopefully I can bounce back from a rough week 9.
Week: 5-8
Overall: 65-62-5

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets (NYJ -2.5) -> New York Jets
Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers (GB -11.5) -> Green Bay Packers
Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TB -1.5) -> Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Carolina Panthers @ Tennessee Titans (CAR -4.5) -> Carolina Panthers
Chicago Bears @ St. Louis Rams (STL -7.5) -> Chicago Bears
New Orleans Saints @ Washington Redskins (NO -1) -> New Orleans Saints
Miami Dolphins @ Philadelphia Eagles (PHI -6.5) -> Philadelphia Eagles
Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers (PIT -5.5) -> Cleveland Browns
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Baltimore Ravens (BAL -5.5) -> Jacksonville Jaguars
Minnesota Vikings @ Oakland Raiders (OAK -3.5) -> Oakland Raiders
Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos (DEN -6.5) -> Denver Broncos
New England Patriots @ New York Giants (NE -7) -> New England Patriots
Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks (SEA -3) -> Arizona Cardinals
Houston Texans @ Cincinnati Bengals (CIN -11) -> Cincinnati Bengals

A couple notes...
- I have no idea what to think of the Saints, but when it comes down to it, I would still be surprised if they lose to Washington. Should be a high scoring game, but I think the Saints pull away with this one.
- Green Bay is in desperate need of a win, and it doesn't get much easier than facing the 1-7 Lions at home. Lambeau Field should provide some life into this Green Bay team after two tough losses to two great teams on the road, and I predict Rodgers to absolutely light up a struggling Lions defense.
- Carolina, New England and Cincinnati all have fairly easy games this week and should continue their undefeated seasons going into week 11 (although everybody always loves a Patriots Giants grudge match).
- Upset of the Week: Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks. This is also my game of the week, as these two teams should feel a sense of urgency in this game, as Arizona is now fighting for a first round bye with Green Bay, and winning in Seattle would go a long way to help that, and Seattle is a few more losses away from being ousted from playoff contention all together. Seattle feels like they've lost their home field dominance (see game versus Lions, one extremely close play and they lose to the worst team in the NFL) and Arizona is a more complete, talented team.
- Lock of the Week: Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers. I explained it above, but Rodgers is going to blow up Detroit's defense, and a struggling Lions offense is just what this Packers D needs to regain it's early season form.
- With Big Ben out, I think Cleveland will be able to keep it close with the Steelers. Although I still think it's ridiculous the Browns aren't playing Manziel, McCown has been good this year and he should outplay Landry Jones.
- Kansas City seems like a team to play Denver well (west coast offense, which alleviates pressure from the QB by getting the ball out of his hands quickly) but Denver is just too good. If Manning has an okay game, this one shouldn't be that close.

NFL Predictions: Week 9

Not a bad week, but four huge misses with the Packers, Jets, Lions and Titans all losing by a lot. Still solid, and next week there are some good spreads so hopefully we can pick up some momentum with a winning week.
Last Week: 6-6-2
Overall: 60-54-5

Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals (CIN -12) -> Cincinnati Bengals
Oakland Raiders @ Pittsburgh Steelers (PIT -4.5) -> Oakland Raiders
Jacksonville Jaguars @ New York Jets (NYJ -7.5) -> New York Jets
St. Louis Rams @ Minnesota Vikings (MIN -2) -> Minnesota Vikings
Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills (BUF -3) -> Miami Dolphins
Tennessee Titans @ New Orleans Saints (NO -8) -> New Orleans Saints
Washington Redskins @ New England Patriots (NE -14) -> New England Patriots
Green Bay Packers @ Carolina Panthers (GB -2.5) -> Green Bay Packers
Atlanta Falcons @ San Fransisco 49ers (ATL -7) -> Atlanta Falcons
New York Giants @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NYG -2.5) -> Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Denver Broncos @ Indianapolis Colts (DEN -5) -> Denver Broncos
Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys (PHI -2.5) -> Philadelphia Eagles
Chicago Bears @ San Diego Chargers (SD -4) -> San Diego Chargers

A couple notes...
- I haven't been able to get a Falcons pick right for a few weeks now, but San Fransisco has been atrocious as of late, so I think the Falcons should pull through this week and cover the spread.
- Oakland vs. Pittsburgh should be a great game, as the Raiders have proven to me that they are for real. I think this game will end up being a toss up, as both these teams have great offenses, but it should be close between them.
- The undefeated Bengals against Johnny F****** Football in week 9 on Thursday night. Just like we all drew up this past offseason right? Should be a slaughter by the Bengals, but for some reason that makes me think it will be close. Still putting my money on Cincinnati though.
- Green Bay vs. Carolina, hell yeah! That's what Sunday's should be. I'm expecting Green Bay to come out and try and punch Carolina in the mouth. Mainly so they can get the taste of blood out of their respective mouth's after Denver destroyed them in all facets of the game. Either way, two great teams facing off is what every football fan should want.
- Speaking of marquee games, the undefeated Broncos are facing off against the struggling Colts, but Manning is on the verge of breaking a huge record (passing yards), and it seems fitting that he would do it against his old team.
- Another toss-up for me, St. Louis against Minnesota, should be a hard hitting game. St. Louis' D-line matches up extremely well against Minnesota's O-line, but I think Minnesota's D is more well-rounded and will feast on Nick Foles. They're also at home, so that makes me lean there way. Either way, Gurley vs. Peterson should be incredibly exciting.