Week 15 Picks

Just slapping down the picks this week. Been busy lately. Home team in caps. (And yes, I know I already lost one).

JACKSONVILLE (+3) over Indianapolis

NEW ORLEANS (-7.5) over Dallas

PITTSBURGH (-2) over Green Bay

TENNESSEE (-5) over Miami

BUFFALO (+7) over New England

DETROIT (+13.5) over Arizona

PHILADELPHIA (-7.5) over San Francisco

Atlanta (+5) over NEW YORK JETS

Chicago (+11) over BALTIMORE

Cleveland (+2) over KANSAS CITY

Houston (-14) over ST. LOUIS

SAN DIEGO (-7) over Cincinnati

DENVER (-14) over Oakland

SEATTLE (-6.5) over Tampa Bay

CAROLINA (+9) over Minnesota

WASHINGTON (+3) over New York Giants

Last Week: 6-10

This Week: 0-1

Season: 109-103

Week 14 Picks

What a sorry excuse for competition last night. The Steelers should be ashamed of their performance and now have played themselves right out of the playoffs. As always home teams in caps.

INDIANAPOLIS (-7) over Denver

I've been burned enough trying to predict the Colts first loss of the year. Repeat after me: I will from this point forward not gamble against the Colts and Peyton Manning. A win for the Colts sets a record for regular season wins (22) and wraps up home field throughout the AFC Playoffs.

Cincinnati (+6.5) over MINNESOTA

The old man against a good defense in December. I've seen this one before and I know the ending. Give me the Bengals, who have the best defense in football and a chance to clinch the AFC North.

TAMPA BAY (+3) over New York Jets

Kellen Clemmons on the road. He has an opportunity to audition for teams for next year, but I don't expect much. The Bucs are competitive at home and the Jets haven't been the same since they lost Kris Jenkins for the year.

KANSAS CITY (PK) over Buffalo

... (those are my thoughts for this game)

CHICAGO (+3) over Green Bay

Trap game for the Packers. Last night proved that division games can be competitive; I think the Bears muster up enough pride to pull off the upset at home.

New Orleans (-10) over ATLANTA

I think the Falcons signed a couple guys off the street to play this week. The O-Line, QB, and running back position are all banged up. The Saints seem determined to go 16-0.

Detroit (+13.5) over BALTIMORE

I'm a sucker for these huge lines involving the Lions. The Ravens don't score a lot of points and Detroit might be able to get a touchdown or two and cover the big number.

Miami (+3) over JACKSONVILLE

Sadly, the Jaguars don't have a home field advantage especially in this game. The winner most likely gets the 6-seed in the AFC. I like the Dolphins running game and defense.

NEW ENGLAND (-13) over Carolina

Matt Moore on the road against Belichick. I'm giving him one more week before I jump off the bandwagon as everyone else seems to have already done so. If only Jake Delhomme were playing in this one, it'd be a lock.

Seattle (+6.5) over HOUSTON

Huge number here for two teams that have evidently mailed it in. Jim Mora gets more out of this players than Gary Kubiack, who is possibly coaching his final few games. I'll take the motivated, interested team.

TENNESSEE (-13) over St. Louis

Super Bowl rematch! Not quite. One team is playing meaningful games and the other is preparing for the draft.

Washington (+1) over OAKLAND

Who would ever gamble on this game? In a smaller subplot, it's Deangelo Hall's return to Oakland. I'm sure Al Davis is thrilled...if he's alive.

San Diego (+3) over DALLAS

Hey everyone, free points. The Chargers don't lose in December and the Cowboys don't win in December. The three points are just icing on the cake.

Philadelphia (+1) over NEW YORK GIANTS

The Giants secondary is still in shambles and the Eagles have a slew of weapons to use. Add to the fact that they pressure the QB and Eli's bad foot and I'm sensing another disaster for the Giants.

Arizona (-3.5) over SAN FRANCISCO

You would think Monday Night Football would get better choices of games. This is another stinker that is sure to draw putrid numbers.

Last Week: 10-6

This Week: 0-1

Season: 103-93

Thursday Night Pick

The NFL sure knows how to pick their Thursday night games. I count this as clunker number four in a row. The only intrigue is Mike Tomlin's post game press conference.

Pittsburgh (-9.5) over CLEVELAND

The Steelers HAVE to win this game. I know I've said that for the past 3 weeks, but this week it must happen. The Browns are inept as ever so the Steelers shouldn't miss Polamalu this week.

Last Week: 10-6

Season: 103-93

Catching up with the Hot Stove League

I've neglected baseball in this space for a while, but now that some things are starting to happen at the baseball Winter Meetings, I figured I'd check in with my thoughts.

* The Atlanta Braves signed Billy Wagner to a one-year deal to be their closer next year. It gives the Red Sox a first round pick and a compensation round pick. The Mets, who traded Wagner to the Red Sox for two organizational fillers get nothing. That's why they finish 4th with a high payroll and the Sox are in the playoffs every year.

* Not sure the Braves are thrilled now since Rafael Soriano accepted arbitration and will come back on a one-year deal around 7-8 million depending on his arb figure. The Braves will most likely try to trade him as that is one expensive 7th inning man. It'll be interesting to see how this affects the Braves pursuit of a bat while they try to unload some money.

* Randy Wolf, do you need a head examination? The Brewers have offered Wolf, a solid yet mediocre left-handed starter, a 3-year deal in the range of 30-33 million. I would have had a seizure and not been able to sign that deal if I was Wolf.

* The St. Louis Cardinals signed Brad Penny to a one-year deal. Two words: phe-nominal. (Sorry for the bad Jim Rome joke) This is a great deal and insurance for Joel Pineiro leaving. Dave Duncan does wonders with pitchers and Penny was close to dominant with the Giants in the last two months of the season.

* I'm sorry, I know everyone loves the Mariners signing of Chone Figgins, but I don't at all. Just a couple years ago, the baseball world was talking about Figgins as a super utility kind of guy. Now, he's worth 4 years and $36 million. What did I miss? He doesn't hit for power at a position that is expected to produce power. He's a good defender, but not better than who he is replacing. Where is the offense going to come from for this Mariners team? A 40-year old Ken Griffey, Jr.?

* The mega-deal between the Tigers, Yankees, and Diamondbacks is near complete. Curtis Granderson goes to the Yankees, Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy go to the Diamondbacks, and the Tigers receive Max Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth, Phil Coke, and Austin Jackson. I know I'm a bit biased, but I really like this deal for the Tigers. They get younger, cheaper, and better while giving up two players who are on the decline. Jackson's second half numbers were more in line with his career numbers and Granderson hit .249. He'll be better in New York, but he's never been a superstar caliber player. The Tigers get a pitcher in Scherzer who strikes out over a hitter an inning to go along with Verlander and Porcello. Also, Austin Jackson has the ability to be a solid regular center fielder and he's much cheaper than Granderson. I know why the Yankees made this deal. They play to win now and it also makes them younger, cheaper, and more athletic. Scott Boras might want to rethink his decision to ask for 4 years for Johnny Damon. I have no idea what the Diamondbacks are doing. They give up the best player in the trade (Scherzer) along with a young reliever who projects to be a closer in the future. They take on two players with less team control and who are worse pitchers in general. How many home runs will Ian Kennedy give up in that park? It's just another example of big market teams in the AL bettering themselves and a small market NL team trying something that on paper doesn't work.

Week 13 Picks

Well, last week was a disaster of epic proportions. Not much to say. As always home teams in caps.

KANSAS CITY (+6) over Denver

Did you know that the Broncos are 1-15 in December games at Arrowhead Stadium? I'm not sure what to do with this information, but it's there.

PITTSBURGH (-15) over Oakland

The Steelers are 6-5 and will waltz into the playoffs. Oakland is followed by Cleveland, which is followed by two home games.

JACKSONVILLE (+2) over Houston

Do Vegas odds makers watch these games?

Tennessee (+6.5) over INDIANAPOLIS

I'm officially a believer. Vince Young and Chris Johnson are doing something special with this team. I don't think they run off the 10 straight to finish the season, but it's possible they cover 10 straight.

Philadelphia (-5.5) over ATLANTA

Mike Vick back in Atlanta. It's a shame he won't actually be on the field for more than 3 plays. The Falcons P.A. Announcer will probably play "Who Let The Dogs Out" when he hits the field.

Detroit (+13) over CINCINNATI

The Bengals sneak by these bad teams and bring it against the good teams (see Cleveland last week). They'll sleep walk their way to another victory, but it won't be pretty.

WASHINGTON (+9.5) over New Orleans

The Skins have been sneaky competitive since Sherman Lewis took over the play calling duties. This could be the Saints' toughest game in pursuit of 16-0.

CAROLINA (-5) over Tampa Bay

This is a pick based on the fact that Matt Moore is playing and Jake Delhomme is not. An immediate positive influence on turnover margin.

St. Louis (+9) over CHICAGO

The Rams are bad. The Bears are just miserable.

San Diego (-13.5) over CLEVELAND

I don't know what else to say about Eric Mangini. I guess the way to sum it up best: Brady Quinn is the Browns' best receiver; and he's their QB.

SEATTLE (-1) over San Francisco

The Seahawks have played one game all year that has been decided by 10 points or less. Pick a side, but I think they'll play well at home.

Minnesota (-3.5) over ARIZONA

Two old quarterbacks, same old story. The Vikings always have their way with the Cardinals and that should continue.

NEW YORK GIANTS (+1.5) over Dallas

The G-Men getting points at home? Where do I sign up? It's December. And Dallas still has Tony Romo quarterbacking their team. Let the fall begin.

MIAMI (+4) over New England

Did anyone else see the Patriots' defense Monday Night? Old, slow, no pass rush. Miami always plays the Pats well at home and that will continue.

GREEN BAY (-3.5) over Baltimore

Dennis Dixon; Aaron Rodgers. If you struggle with the former, you're going to get crushed by the latter. The Ravens defense is the most overrated unit in football right now and Rodgers is firing on all cylinders.

Last Week: 6-10

This Week: 0-1

Season: 93-87

Thursday Night Pick

For all 3 people that might watch this game tonight, I'll make a quick selection. I have a quick suggestion for the NFL though: stop putting horrendous games on Thursday Night.

BUFFALO (+3) over New York Jets

This game is in Toronto because Ralph Wilson wants to grow his team's fan base. All he's doing is alienating the loyal Bills fans in Buffalo. Anyway, both teams stink. The Bills won the game in New York with defense and I expect more of the same tonight. If you don't want to fall asleep before 9:30 tonight, keep this game off your television set.

The Tebow Misconception

Well, I finally heard enough. All of the hoopla and hyperbole thrown around about Tim Tebow and his last home game today has finally triggered a response from me. John Saunders, someone I respect, just said that if Tim Tebow could win a third National Title this year, he may be considered the greatest college football player ever. Did Chris Leak somehow get erased from history? If I remember correctly, he was the QB for that Florida National Championship team. He was the player who torched Ohio St. Tim Tebow is a fine football player and an even better individual. However, we need to pull in the reigns when discussing him as the greatest college player ever. Leader? Maybe. But Barry Sanders, Earl Cambell, and a slew of others take objection when pundits refer to Tebow as the greatest player. And it's not even close.