2006 NFL Week 12 Picks

We had a pretty good week last week here at Sportscolumn. Vegas Vinny and Boston Mac went 9-7 while Trevor and RJ went 11-5. Trevor has climbed back to tie Vegas Vinny with 103 correct on the season. The national average was 7.5 so we were above average. Yay. If you want to see how we stack up against all the experts, check out a very nifty expert picks compilation spreadsheet by our buddy Tokar.

The featured games this week are Denver @ Kansas City, New Orleans @ Atlanta, San Francisco @ St. Louis, and Chicago @ New England. You can download the podcast directly (running time 32 mins) or subscribe to the feed.

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Week 12 Picks

**The weekly winner from the Sportscolumn Weekly Pickem Contest will be featured as the fifth prognosticator.

Locks of the Week Sponsored by:

[Editor’s Note: This year, we’re making the Locks of the Week a little more interesting as we have a side bet amongst the four experts. The person with the most money at the end of the year in Locks betting takes home all the money. Disclaimer: The amounts discussed are for illustrative and entertainment purposes only. Gambling may be illegal in your locale.]

Vegas Vinny: First off, Herm Edwards, screw you. Second, I’m gonna do what you should never do. Bet against your own team. Hell, not even Pete Rose is low enough to do that. But the Eagles of 2006 are a gutless team with no heart. Even before McNabb went down to a season ending injury, the Eagles were playing like crap. Stupid penalties. Stupid plays. Stupid playcalling. It was as if the Raiders took over the organization. 7 years ago this week, the Eagles were killed by the Colts 44-17. Expect that type of repeat. Or if your memory is short, think back to last year when the Eagles on national TV got blown out 42-0 by the Seattle Seahawks. I’m putting $110 to win $100 on the Colts (-9) (Balance = $755)

BostonMac: San Francisco (+5.5) at St. Louis. I can’t believe I am going to put some of my hard-earned money on the 49ers (a team I picked to go 1-15 at the start of the season) to win on the road. But I like the way that the Niners are coming along, especially with the emergence of Frank Gore as a top-flight running back in the National Football League and Alex Smith as one of those “he can manage the game” backhand-compliment quarterbacks. The Rams are pretty much done, and the loss of Orlando Pace last week will hurt their offense even more. Trevor is right; Vegas hasn’t picked up on the Niners’ recent resurgence and as gamblers we have the obligation to make them pay. I’m putting $55 to win $50 on SAN FRANCISCO getting 5.5. (Balance = $1015)

Trevor F: I’m going to ride my beloved San Francisco 49ers for another week. I honestly cannot believe they are getting six points right now. Las Vegas is still clueless and it’s time to cash in your winnings from last week. This game is a convergence of two teams going in the opposite directions. The Rams have lost five straight games and looked like they just quit on the season last Sunday. The 49ers on the other hand have won three straight and are looking frisky by all accounts. When you toss in that the 49ers have beaten the Rams three straight times, it is a complete no-brainer. I’m plunking my money down on Frank Gore and the boys. It’s a must-win game for the 49ers as they need to steal two road games down the stretch. Coach Nolan knows this and will have them prepared. $55 to win $50 on the Niners (+6) over the Rams. (Balance = $1080)

RJ Warner: Whew! It feels good to finally win one. My five week losing streak is over, and despite me being way behind, my confidence is still high that I can get back in this thing. Now, with the Christmas season here, I get an early gift with Carolina at Washington. The ‘Skins have been a pretty pesky home dog this season (ask Jacksonville and Dallas), but that was before Joe Gibbs decided to render himself a lame duck (should I say turkey, considering?). By losing Clinton Portis and going with Jason Campbell as the starting QB, Gibbs and co. have signed, sealed, and delivered this season straight to the crapper. Carolina, on the other hand, is finally waking up. Charlotteers have to be ecstatic about the way their defense played last week agains the Rams. They shut out a team that was averaging 22 pts a game, allowed only 111 total yards, and had seven sacks and a safety. And all of this without Julius Peppers recording a single tackle. I will happily take the Panthers (-4) and I’ll put $220 down.
(Balance = $525)