That’s right. No podcast this week. Why? Because the rest of the panel couldn’t take Ryan farvrelating Tom Brady for 20 minutes as he picks New England over the Jets. Or maybe we had some technical and skill difficulties and just mailed it in like the Cardinals did last week.
No Mr. Anderson, nothing funny at all about that, sir.
Also not funny were Ryan and Vin’s record against the spread last week despite a very good straight up showing. This week we’ll try to not shame ourselves as NFL prognosticators. Lucky Week 13 NFL Odds courtesy of betus.
NFL Week 13 2010 Picks
Straight Up
MATCHUP | Vegas Vinny | BostonMac | RJ | Peso* | Actual |
Texans @ Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | |
Niners @ Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | |
Saints @ Bengals | Saints | Saints | Saints | Bengals | |
Jaguars @ Titans | Jaguars | Jaguars | Titans | Titans | |
Broncos @ Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | |
Bears @ Lions | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | |
Redskins @ Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Redskins | |
Bills @ Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | |
Browns @ Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Browns | Browns | |
Raiders @ Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | |
Rams @ Cards | Rams | Rams | Rams | Cards | |
Cowboys @ Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | |
Panthers @ Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | |
Falcons @ Bucs | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Bucs | |
Steelers @ Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | |
Jets @ Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | |
Prev Week | 12-4 (.750) | 10-6 (.625) | 10-6 (.625) | 11-5 (.688) | |
Overall | 105-71 (.597) | 102-74 (.580) | 103-73 (.585) | 102-74 (.580) |
Against the Spread
MATCHUP | Vegas Vinny | BostonMac | RJ | Peso* | Actual |
Texans @ Eagles (-8) | Texans | Texans | Eagles | Eagles | |
Niners @ Packers (-9.5) | Packers | Packers | Packers | Niners | |
Saints @ Bengals (+7) | Saints | Saints | Saints | Bengals | |
Jaguars @ Titans (-3.5) | Jaguars | Jaguars | Titans | Titans | |
Broncos @ Chiefs (-9) | Broncos | Chiefs | Broncos | Chiefs | |
Bears @ Lions (+4) | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | |
Redskins @ Giants (-7.5) | Redskins | Giants | Redskins | Redskins | |
Bills @ Vikings (-5.5) | Vikings | Vikings | Bills | Bills | |
Browns @ Dolphins (-4) | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | |
Raiders @ Chargers (-13) | Chargers | Chargers | Raiders | Raiders | |
Rams @ Cards (+3.5) | Rams | Rams | Rams | Cards | |
Cowboys @ Colts (-5) | Cowboys | Cowboys | Colts | Colts | |
Panthers @ Seahawks (-6) | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | |
Falcons @ Bucs (+3) | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Bucs | |
Steelers @ Ravens (-3) | Ravens | Steelers | Ravens | Ravens | |
Jets @ Patriots (-3.5) | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | |
Prev Week | 4-11-1 (.267) | 3-12-1 (.200) | 8-7-1 (.533) | 7-8-1 (.467) | |
Overall | 77-93-6 (.453) | 87-83-6 (.512) | 82-88-6 (.482) | 71-99-6 (.418) |
* The peso is a coin flip of an old peso to pick the game.
Locks of the Week
Vegas Vinny: (5-7, Balance =$960). I feel so good about last week’s call of a late FG to win the Packers – Falcons game and predicting that Atlanta would win by 3 that I’m going to the well again. I said it last week and I’ll say it again: The Tampa Bay Bucs are a bunch of frauds. They’re a nice young up and coming team but they don’t belong with the big boys yet. If the Bucs were 5-6 or even 6-5, then the Falcons might have a letdown game after such a big win against the Packers. But the fact that they’re within spitting distance of the division means Atlanta has to pay attention. And when Atlanta pays attention, they’re outclass the Bucs so much they should be double digit favorites. I’ll put $110 on Atlanta (-3) to win $100. Can I lay 7 pts and get a better payout?
BostonMac: (4-7-1), Balance =$545) All the signs point to a Patriots win this week. Brady’s home streak. Belichick doesn’t lose to a divisional team twice in a season. The Jets’ somewhat fluky 9-2 record which includes at least three pulled-out-of-their-ass wins in their last possession. But, you say, what about the Jets stifling run defense? Didn’t they leave the Pats with Kevin Faulk as their leading rusher with 22 yards in the first meeting? To paraphrase the Rock, “It doesn’t MATTER what their run defense does!” That’s because ever since Randy Moss left for the greener pastures of wherever the hell he is now, the Pats offense is firing on all cylinders. Watching them dismantle the (not awful) Lions last Thursday was a thing of beauty. Everything points to a New England victory, which means of course that the Jets will probably win. Going with that logic, why not put $440 to win $400 on NEW ENGLAND (-3.5). You know why? Because when I come, I come with the thunder, bitches. “You feel me?” -Stringer Bell.
RJ: (6-3-1, Balance =$1180) All year I’ve been yapping about “Line Value,” as if to sound more like Jimmy the Greek. My record incicates otherwise. But I have been solid on my LOTW’s this year, and I got some LINE VALUE this week with the Colts not giving a ton of points despite being at home against a 3-8 team. Indy has not been playing well as of late obviously, having lost three of its last four. But those losses were to Philadelphia, New England and San Diego, three of the top teams in November. The Cowboys may still fancy themselves tops for some reason for playing well the last few weeks since Garrett took over, but in reality they’re still bottoms at 3-8 and going nowhere. Because of their recent struggles and injuries, the Colts have plummeted in Vegas’s eyes and the line is pretty low. The Colts’ injury report is looking a little less haggard with Collie, Hart, Brackett and possibly even possibly Addai being ready to go on Sunday. take advantage of a healthier Colts (-5) giving up less than a touchdown to Dallas. 55/50
Burton: (6-5, Balance =$915). These LOTW just get harder and harder and I keep winning and winning. Now, I’m gonna go against the Peso because that seems to be working for me. Sam Bradford has quickly developed into one of the best QBs in the NFL, and he leads the league in third down completions. Arizona’s third down defense, especially on 3rd and short and 3rd and long (but, strangely, not in between 3 and 6 yards) has been hammered all season by the pass. Moreover, if last week showed anything, the Cardinals are pitiful. Just pitiful. They’d lose by three TDs to the Panthers in Glendale if the Cards were spotted a 10-0 lead with the ball first and goal on the one at the start of the 4th quarter.
I don’t care that general wisdom is don’t trust a rookie quarterback on the road in December; that old belief has gone by the wayside in recent years with Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, and the Sanchize have all made statements away from home late to get their teams into the postseason as rookies. QB in the NFL is all about smarts, and Bradford has more of it than just about anyone. He reads defenses like a seasoned pro and even when he’s not on the field, you can see him studying what his defense and the other offense are doing. He’s always looking for a way to get better. There is no question that if he can stay healthy, he will be a superstar. No crappy NFC West team will stop him now. I’m putting $220 to win $200 on St. Louis (-3.5).