Predictions For NFL Week 13 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!

The bye weeks are over.
Full slate of games this week including 3 today.
Most of them should be close. Everybody can win this week. I don't think I will be surprised by any of the winners. I may be surprised by the score or something like that. But I truly believe any team can win their match up.

With that said let's get to my picks:

GB – Det                     Det

Oak – Dal                    Dal

Pit – Bal                       Pit

TB – Car                      Car

Jac – Cle                      Jac

NE – Hou                    NE

Ten – Ind                     Ten

Chi – Min                     Chi

Mia – NYJ                   NYJ

Ari – Phi                       Ari

Atl – Buf                      Buf

Stl – SF                        SF

Den – KC                    KC

Cin – SD                      Cin

NYG – Was                 NYG

NO – Sea                    Sea

 

Green Bay at Detroit - Packers coming off a tie and the Lions trying to rebound from a loss; a loss where they were going to at least send it to overtime or win it if Megatron catches that last pass from Matthew Stafford. Overall I think Detroit breaks their Thanksgiving Day losing trend.

 

Oakland at Dallas - Both organizations have a rich history and tradition. Both teams have been struggling for some time now. Which Raiders team and which Cowboys team show up is anybody's guess. But I think the Cowboys have better talent overall and will play well today.

 

Pittsburgh at Baltimore - I love it when these two teams play. They play hard and aggressive football. I just wonder if a flag should be thrown during the coin toss for unsportsman like staring. I think the Steelers have found a little bit of their identity lately and seem to be improving. The Ravens are still inconsistent.

 

Time to get ready for the days events and watching the games.

Blessings to you

Results For NFL Week 12 2013

What a disastrous week of picks
There is nothing to say but it stinks

6-7-1
42.85%

which plummets my season record to 110-65-1 - 62.50%
That is not acceptable.

Something else that is not acceptable is a TIE!

This is a professional sports competition.
There is a winner.
There is a loser.

The argument I have heard for ending the game after 1 over time session is player safety followed by how often does it happen? As infrequent as it is, a tie is acceptable.

NO IT IS NOT!

If the thought is it doesn't happen very often so a tie is ok -
My response is, no more than it happens, play till there is a winner. It is not that much of a risk to player safety.

This is not peewee football where the goal is to teach fundamentals, sportsmanship, & promote physical fitness.
We are not worried about making sure everyone feels good about themselves.
This is not High School football
This is not College football.
We are not dealing with student athletes.
We are not talking about a family game of touch football after thanksgiving dinner;
We are not talking about a pickup game in the park;
We are talking about a multi-billion dollar industry;
with jobs on the line;
fans paying significant dollars to attend the game;
advertisers spending huge money for market share;
to watch 2 professional teams COMPETE!
One team should win.
The other team doesn't.

Try this to settle the outcome if you prefer:
At the end of the 1st overtime ask both teams if they want to concede the win to the other team.
If one team says yes - we concede - then fine; they get the loss.
Otherwise, play again;

Offer a coin toss and the winner of the coin toss wins the game
That is better than a tie.
Unfair? Play again.

Whether you make it a whole quarter or a shortened quarter I don't care.  But keep playing.

They should keep the kickoffs & punts and all the elements of the game intact. But keep playing until you have a winner.

In the immortal words of Herman Edwards:
"This is what is great about sports, this is what the greatest thing about sports is
you play to win the game
HELLO
YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME
you don't play it to just play it
that's the great thing about sports
you play to win
and I don't care if you don't have any wins
you go play to win
when you start telling me it doesn't matter,
Then we tie. Get Out!
'cuz it matters!"

Predictions For NFL Week 12 2013

My how quickly the season is passing. It's time for Week 12

NO – Atl                     NO

NYJ – Bal                   Bal

Pit – Cle                      Pit

TB – Det                     Det

Min – GB                    GB

Jac – Hou                    Hou

SD – KC                      KC

Car – Mia                    Car

Chi – Stl                      Chi

Ind – Ari                     Ari

Ten – Oak                   Oak

Dal – NYG                  NYG

Den – NE                    Den

SF – Was                    SF

Byes

Buf, Cin, Phi, Sea

Minnesota at Green Bay - Both teams have been struggling. If Adrian Peterson was completely healthy I would probably pick the Vikings. But he doesn't quite have the same burst right now. Packers QB will not throw 3 picks and therefore, they will get the win.

Jacksonville at Houston - The Texans have fallen so far down this year I considered taking the Jaguars in an upset. But I just can't. Houston has too much talent to lose this game at home.

Chicago at St Louis - Many Rams fans actually think they have a shot to beat the Bears without starting QB Jay Cutler. McCown has played well. Plus, St Louis has had a way of rejuvenating the oppositions running game this year. Unless things fall into place like they did a few weeks ago against Indianapolis, St Louis loses another game.

Indianapolis at Arizona - The Colts haven't been playing as well lately. The Cardinals are on the upswing. I'm taking the Cardinals at home as the Colts try to give the division away.

Tennessee at Oakland - The Titans have a chance to win the division this year if they could put it all together. But the trip to Oakland will cause them to forget what they are supposed to be doing and they lose this game to the Raiders. The NFL is just better when the Raiders are relevant.

Dallas at New York Giants - This is a game the Cowboys should win. They have more talent than the Giants. The Giants are just more consistent. When they are bad, they are bad. But once they start playing well, no one wants to play the Giants.

Denver at New England - A great Sunday night match up of 2 of the best QB's in the game. But the team whose defense makes the most plays will win this game. I am not expecting a lot of offensive fireworks. You won't want to miss any of the action though because it could be any play by any player.

San Francisco at Washington - The game puts two of last years rising QB stars on display. Again, I think defense makes a difference. I choose the forty-niners in this one.

Results For NFL Week 11 2013

I seem to be losing some steam. Ugh!
I went 9-6 this week.
60%
That brings my season totals to:
104-58 which is 64.19%

There were some close games this week.
It's easy to forget that every team is a professional team and capable of playing good enough football to win against any other team in the league.

After 11 weeks lets compare to the last 2 years

in 2013
162 games have been played
Visiting Teams have won 61   -   37.65%
Home Teams have won 101   -   62.34%

In 2012
160 games had been played
Visiting Teams had won 66   -   41.25%
Home Teams had won 93   -   58.12%
1 tie

I was 103-56-1 which is 64.37%

In 2011
160 games had been played
Visiting Teams had won 68   -   42.5%
Home Teams had won 92   -   57.5%

I was 109-51 which is 68.12%

I always want to know more details than I could ever possibly analyze or make sense out of. The more info I get the more muddled and confused it all becomes. I think it all comes back to intuition.

I don't know if that makes me happy or not. Part of me wants it to be all about logic and pure numbers. But there is a whole other part that wants it to be about an intangible; a gut feeling; something that is picked up between the numbers not visible to anyone else; But then, I want to be excellent at being able to pick that up. Obviously I'm not that good at it. But I love the challenge and rush of this every week.

Predictions for NFL Week 11 2013

I am excited to see how the games play out this week.

There are many interesting match ups.

I think some will be well played, hard fought games.

A couple will be high scoring and fast paced.

Others will be not so well played but very close slug fests.

I had a difficult time choosing the winners on several games.

Unfortunately I don't see a double digit win this week

So here are my picks:

Ind – Ten                     Ind

NYJ – Buf                   NYJ

Bal – Chi                     Chi

Cle – Cin                     Cin

Oak – Hou                   Hou

Ari – Jac                     Ari

Was – Phi                   Phi

Det – Pit                      Det

Atl – TB                      Atl

SD – Mia                    SD

SF – NO                      NO

GB – NYG                  NYG

Min – Sea                   Sea

KC – Den                    Den

NE – Car                     NE

Byes:

Dal, Stl

Indianapolis at Tennessee - Indy looked horrible last week. Without Reggie Wayne they will struggle on offense. But I think they squeak out a victory on the road.

Baltimore at Chicago - My Baltimore picks speak for themselves.

Washington at Philadelphia - I am expecting a lot of highlight reel plays from both offenses. Ultimately, I think Philadelphia has a better chance of slowing down the Redskins

Green Bay at New York Giants - This should be a close game but not of the same caliber of recent years. Packers aren't the same without Aaron "discount double-check" Rodgers

Kansas City at Denver - I am expecting a very close lower scoring game. The Chiefs defense could make it a very long, miserable night for Peyton. In the end, I'm choosing the home team but would not be surprised if KC wins.

Results For NFL Week 10 2013

I went 7-7 this week.

That is pretty bad.
50% UGH!

brings my season totals to:
95-52 which is 64.62%
a little lower than where I want to be. I have been on a downward trend lately. I need to turn it around.

Here is some interesting data
in 11 match ups, one team had both the Line & Power
of those only 4 won

6 times the home team had the Line & Power
of those only 2 won

The home team won 7 and the visiting team won 7
50%

I picked the visiting team 7 times and the home team 7 times
50%

of my 7 wins, 3 were visitors & 4 were home

3 had Line & Power but 2 of those were on the road

There were a few blowouts but there were several games that were very close.
I was highly interested and involved in them too lol

I'm still astounded at how Cincinnati completes the extremely low percentage hail mary pass play to put the game into overtime and then lose with a poor coaching decision ...

Why the Chicago coaching staff didn't make a change in quarterback earlier in the game;

and I'm glad that Jacksonville and Tampa Bay both won a game (even if it did cost me 2 picks)

predictions for week 11 to follow

Changed 1 game NFL Week 10 2013

All set for another week of NFL games?
You never know what is going to happen. That is why they play the games.
And it adds to the fun of watching them.

Was – Min                  Was

Sea – Atl                     Sea

Cin – Bal                     Cin

Det – Chi                    Chi

Phi – GB                     GB

Phi
I had forgotten that Aaron Rodgers was injured.

Stl – Ind                      Ind

Oak – NYG               NYG

Buf – Pit                     Pit

Jac – Ten                    Ten

Car – SF                     SF

Hou – Ari                    Ari

Den – SD                    Den

Dal – NO                    NO

Mia – TB                    Mia

Byes

Cle, KC, NE, NYJ

Washington at Minnesota - Washington seems to be playing a little better and ready to make a run at the division title. Adrian Peterson seems ready to run All Day. A lot of hum drum plays but a huge play could happen on the next snap. Washington prevails.

Seattle at Atlanta - Before the season started, I thought this would be the conference championship game. Seattle is holding up their end; Atlanta is just trying to get this year over with.

Cincinnati at Baltimore - It feels like I have been on the wrong side of Baltimore all year long.

Detroit at Chicago - These teams have come a long way from the old black & blue division days. This should be a high scoring fun to watch game. Cutler plays well enough to pull out a victory at home.

Carolina at San Francisco - Carolina seems to have found their offense over the last few weeks. However, they are playing a good defense this time. 49ers in a tough one.

Denver at San Diego - Usually a tough divisional game. I expect nothing less this time around. Denver has too much talent for San Diego to over come.

Dallas at New Orleans - I think the Saints have something to prove and will come out fired up. Dallas could play well and keep it close but it's time for one of those "valley" games that come out of no where. New Orleans wins big.

Predictions For NFL Week 10 2013

All set for another week of NFL games?
You never know what is going to happen. That is why they play the games.
And it adds to the fun of watching them.

Was – Min                  Was

Sea – Atl                     Sea

Cin – Bal                     Cin

Det – Chi                    Chi

Phi – GB                     GB

Stl – Ind                      Ind

Oak – NYG               NYG

Buf – Pit                     Pit

Jac – Ten                    Ten

Car – SF                     SF

Hou – Ari                    Ari

Den – SD                    Den

Dal – NO                    NO

Mia – TB                    Mia

Byes

Cle, KC, NE, NYJ

Washington at Minnesota - Washington seems to be playing a little better and ready to make a run at the division title. Adrian Peterson seems ready to run All Day. A lot of hum drum plays but a huge play could happen on the next snap. Washington prevails.

Seattle at Atlanta - Before the season started, I thought this would be the conference championship game. Seattle is holding up their end; Atlanta is just trying to get this year over with.

Cincinnati at Baltimore - It feels like I have been on the wrong side of Baltimore all year long.

Detroit at Chicago - These teams have come a long way from the old black & blue division days. This should be a high scoring fun to watch game. Cutler plays well enough to pull out a victory at home.

Carolina at San Francisco - Carolina seems to have found their offense over the last few weeks. However, they are playing a good defense this time. 49ers in a tough one.

Denver at San Diego - Usually a tough divisional game. I expect nothing less this time around. Denver has too much talent for San Diego to over come.

Dallas at New Orleans - I think the Saints have something to prove and will come out fired up. Dallas could play well and keep it close but it's time for one of those "valley" games that come out of no where. New Orleans wins big.

Results For NFL Week 9 2013

My worst week yet 7-6 for a lousy 53.84%
for the season that puts me at 88-45 which is 66.16%

I have to give credit to the NYJ for another win. They are in position to make the playoffs.

Washington & Philadelphia aren't conceding anything yet.

Baltimore continues to baffle me.

Tough loss for Green Bay - and I'm not referring to their record. Losing Aaron Rodgers with a fractured collarbone changes everything for them.

I hope to bounce back next weekend with a strong performance.