We’re halfway through the NFL season and it’s actually getting harder to pick the games. Outside of the Packers (I just jinxed them), are there any great teams / sure things in the NFL this year? The Sunday night battle between the Steelers and the Ravens should answer a lot of questions in that regard. But in the NFC, the Niners might clinch their division before thanksgiving and nobody really knows it they are a legitimate contender. Meanwhile the NFC South is up for grabs and the Lions are the best wildcard team. Madness.
The featured games this week are Bucs at Saints, Jets at Bills, Packers at Chargers, and Ravens at Steelers.
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NFL Week 9 2011 Picks
Straight Up
| MATCHUP | Vegas Vinny | BostonMac | RJ | Burton | Actual |
| Dolphins @ Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Dolphins | |
| Niners @ Redskins | Niners | Niners | Niners | Niners | |
| Bucs @ Saints | Saints | Saints | Saints | Saints | |
| Seahawks @ Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | |
| Browns @ Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | |
| Falcons @ Colts | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | |
| Jets @ Bills | Bills | Bills | Jets | Jets | |
| Bengals @ Titans | Bengals | Bengals | Titans | Titans | |
| Broncos @ Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Broncos | |
| Packers @ Chargers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | |
| Rams @ Cards | Cards | Cards | Rams | Rams | |
| Giants @ Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Giants | |
| Ravens @ Steelers | Ravens | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | |
| Bears @ Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | |
| Prev Week | 8-5 | 11-2 | 9-4 | 8-5 | |
| Overall | 79-37 | 76-40 | 75-41 | 67-49 |
Against the Spread
| MATCHUP | Vegas Vinny | BostonMac | RJ | Burton | Actual |
| Dolphins @ Chiefs (-5) | Dolphins | Dolphins | Chiefs | Dolphins | |
| Niners @ Redskins (+3.5) | Niners | Niners | Niners | Niners | |
| Bucs @ Saints (-9) | Saints | Saints | Bucs | Saints | |
| Seahawks @ Cowboys (-14) | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Seahawks | |
| Browns @ Texans (-11) | Texans | Texans | Texans | Browns | |
| Falcons @ Colts (+7) | Colts | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | |
| Jets @ Bills (-1) | Bills | Bills | Jets | Jets | |
| Bengals @ Titans (-3) | Bengals | Bengals | Titans | Titans | |
| Broncos @ Raiders (-8) | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Broncos | |
| Packers @ Chargers (+6) | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | |
| Rams @ Cards (-3) | Cards | Cards | Rams | Rams | |
| Giants @ Patriots (-9.5) | Patriots | Patriots | Giants | Giants | |
| Ravens @ Steelers (-3.5) | Ravens | Ravens | Steelers | Steelers | |
| Bears @ Eagles (-8) | Bears | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | |
| Prev Week | 4-8-1 | 5-7-1 | 6-6-1 | 3-9-1 | |
| Overall | 57-56-3 | 57-56-3 | 61-52-3 | 53-60-3 |
Locks of the Week
Vegas Vinny: (2-6, Balance=$500) I’ve been jinxing the hell out of everyone so I apologize in advance for this Packers fans. But I gotta think that despite being at home, 6 point dog status for the Chargers has to tell you something. Philip Rivers all of the sudden has the look of a loser about him. That fumble against the Chiefs was absolutely one of the worst gag jobs since Tony Romo against the Seahawks. Packers have the look of a champion (well, ’cause they are) and despite playing down to their opponents sometimes, they still manage to win. And in most cases (5-2) cover. The Chargers find ways to lose and not cover (2-5 against the spread.) I’ve got $110 to win $100 on the Packers (-6).
BostonMac: (4-4, Balance=$1185) God the Redskins are bad. Besides the fact that a Mike Shanahan team got shut out for the first time ever last week, the Redskins now have to decide whether to stick with John “I’m a loser, baby, so why don’t you kill me” Beck or go back to Rex “At least I’m not the worst ex-Florida QB in the league right now” Grossman. The 49ers will run roughshod all over them, even on the road in a 1:00 East Coast game. The Redskins couldn’t do a thing with Fred Jackson and I would think that Frank Gore can cut them up the same way. I expected this line to be a lot higher than 3.5, so I’m considering this the equivalent of getting points. After a nice win last week, I’m going back to betting $55 to win $50 on SAN FRANCISCO (-3.5).
RJ: (2-5, Balance =$705) The last time I took the Eagles as a lock, they were in the middle of their what seems to be annual early season funk. Mike Vick and the offense was out of sync, LeSean McCoy was not being used enough and the defense was awful.
Whether the bye fixed all of that (Reid is like 237-0 after) or they’re just playing more up to their capabilities, the Eagles look a million times better than they did earlier in the season. Although the Bears are playing well, the <b>Eagles (-8)</b> seem to be getting on one of those rolls that tend to last for a little while. $110 on Philadelphia (-8)
Burton: (4-4, Balance =$1445) I’ve had a lot of luck this year reversing losing locks. Last week, I locked New Orleans against St. Louis, but obviously St. Louis won. For no reason other than past luck, I’m going to lock St. Louis this week (+3) against an Arizona team that doesn’t know how to clean up a game. Keeping it small at $55 to win $50, but a win will be a win.