When I looked at the games on the schedule this week for my survivor pool, there weren’t that many that stood out as clear winners, which means that this weekend should be a great one in the NFL. While there aren’t any marquee matchups, except Giants-Cowboys, there are a bunch of games that look to be really tight. Should be a great day on the couch with Sunday Ticket but a terrible week for Picks. Still, your friendly staff here at Sportscolumn is taking our best shot at calling the winners. If you want to see how Sportscolumn stacks up against the other experts, check out this excel file.
Week 5 Picks
MATCHUP | Vegas Vinny | Mile High | Guru Ganu | Mr. X |
Browns-Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers |
Lions-Falcons | Lions | Falcons | Lions | Falcons |
Dolphins-Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots |
Vikings-Texans | Vikings | Vikings | Texans | Texans |
Giants-Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Giants | Cowboys |
Raiders-Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts |
Bucs-Saints | Saints | Saints | Bucs | Saints |
Bills-Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets |
Jaguars-Chargers | Chargers | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars |
Cards-Niners | Niners | Niners | Niners | Cards |
Panthers-Broncos | Panthers | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos |
Rams-Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Rams |
Ravens-Redskins | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Redskins |
Titans-Packers | Packers | Packers | Titans | Packers |
Prev Week | 9-5 (.643) | 7-7 (.571) | 7-7 (.500) | 8-6 (.571) |
LOCKS | 4-0 | 4-0 | 1-3 | 1-3 |
Overall | 38-22 (.633) | 36-24(.600) | 35-25(.583) | 38-22 (.633) |
Locks of the Week
Vegas Vinny: You know what I like? Desperation. Not the desperation of say, 1:45 in the morning at your local bar, although that has its rewards, but the desperation of a trapped animal with 3 teeth left. Carolina can’t afford to fall 3.5 games behind Atlanta (if the Falcons win) so I expect them to play their best game of the season against a Denver team that hasn’t exactly been blowing people out. (And they have Oakland looming… always a good Jerry Springer moment.) On top of that, the Panthers are getting 5 1/2 points. Take the Panthers and the points.
Mile High: Chris Simms gets the reigns for the Bucs this weekend as they face off against the Saints (-3). Simms is….not good. The Saints are home and should remind the rookie of a Big 12 championship that was also indoors not that long ago where he was thrashed around and basically lost the game for his team. I like the Saints.
Mr. X: I’m wasting space giving you locks. I’m 1-3. That’s why I quit gambling. Anyway, I have seen a nice rebuilding out in…of all places…the dessert. ARIZONA has played all the teams on their schedule tough so far and should have beaten the FALCONS and took it to the Saints last weekend. That being said I think the 49ers are one of the worse teams in the NFL ever assembled. The Niners are favored but the Cards will win outright. Take the moneyline but for spread purposes take the Cards (+1) to cover.
Guru Ganu: Wait a second, didn’t Atlanta almost lose to Arizona? Now they are 6 1/2 point favorites at home against a rested Lions team. (Does a “rested” Lions team really matter?) No, but I am still picking the Lions, and I think they will win outright. After becoming the “King of Locks” last year I have really fallen off on this years locks. But I offer no excuses. The Lions start my run back to the top, or bury me in the cellar. We shall see.