Week 14 2007 NFL Picks and Podcast

Wow… we’re almost at the end of another regular season. This week, it’s just Vin and Ryan and yet we somehow manage to talk for an extra 20 mins.

The featured games this week are Bucs @ Texans, Chargers @ Titans, and the Steelers @ Patriots. You can download the podcast directly (running time 80 mins) or subscribe to the feed.

If you use iTunes, just click here and then click subscribe and iTunes will take care of the rest.

NFL Week 14 2007 Picks

MATCHUP	Vegas  Vinny	BostonMac	Trevor	Billy
Bears @ Redskins	Bears	Bears	Bears	Bears
Dolphins @ Bills	Bills	Bills	Bills	Bills
Rams @ Bengals	Rams	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals
Cowboys @ Lions	Cowboys	Cowboys	Cowboys	Cowboys
Raiders @ Packers	Packers	Packers	Packers	Packers
Bucs @ Texans	Bucs	Bucs	Bucs	Bucs
Panthers @ Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars
Giants @ Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Giants
Chargers @ Titans	Chargers	Titans	Chargers	Chargers
Vikings @ Niners	Vikings	Vikings	Niners	Vikings
Cards @ Seahawks	Seahawks	Seahawks	Seahawks	Seahawks
Chiefs @ Broncos	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos
Browns @ Jets	Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns
Steelers @ Patriots	Patriots	Patriots	Steelers	Steelers
Colts @ Ravens	Colts	Colts	Colts	Colts
Saints @ Falcons	Saints	Saints	Falcons	Saints
Prev Week	7-9 (.438)	12-4 (.750)	9-7 (.563)	9-7 (.563)
Overall	118-74 (.615)	125-67 (.651)	112-80 (.583)	39-23 (.629)
LOCKS	5-8	8-5	6-3-1	2-1

Locks of the Week

[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: I know the Browns burned me to the tune of $110 last week but I’m getting right back on the saddle with them this week. If it were for the fact that the ref had no idea what a pushout was in the Cards game, the Browns would have won that game and won me a few bucks. A $220 swing is nothing to sneeze at. The officiating in the NFL continues to be a travesty. But I digress. The cure for a team that needs a win is seeing the NY Jets next up on the schedule. The only reason why this line is so close is because the Div III Miami Dolphins made them look like world beaters.

Derek Anderson had a subpar performance last week but I fully expect him to bounce back against the Jets. Look for Jamal Lewis to have a really good game against a very poor Jets run defense that won’t be able to bring additional help on run support because they will have to contend with Winslow, Braylon Edwards, and Joe Jurevicius. Don’t let the 40 points by the Jets last week fool you — the Jets are still the 24th ranked offense in the league. Even though the Browns are still the worst defense in the league, they will run up and down on the Jets and keep them off the field. I expect something in the neighborhood of a 42-21 game. Because I’m a little behind, I’m going to have to start going big. I’ll put $165 on the Browns (-3.5) to win $150. (Balance = $840)

BostonMac: This week, two members of the Bill Belichick coaching tree go head to head in Romeo Crennel and Eric Mangini. It’s pretty obvious after watching this season that last year’s Jets team was a fluke, and the Mangenious has come crashing down to Earth. Over in Cleveland, Crennel has probably saved his job thanks to the solid play of Derek Anderson and Jamal Lewis. Last week, the Browns got robbed on a horrendous end zone call by the officials. (You could argue, though, that a truly good team never would have allowed a mediocre team like Arizona to hang around all game, but that’s beside the point.) Meanwhile the Jets put up 40 on a Dolphins team that would lose to Dillon High and would give up 200+ yards rushing to a Tim Riggins/Smash Williams combo. According to a report on NFL.com, “the Jets are slowly building momentum.” Are you kidding me? The only thing the Jets are building is a case to fire Mangini’s flabby ass and send him out to teach typewriter maintenance at the Rocco Globbo School for Women. Anderson and the Browns bounce back and absolutely maul a Jets team which is simultaneously getting overconfident and wincing at the thought of the broom-sodomy they will be enduring at the hands of the Patriots next week. Give the 3 ½ points and consider it a Christmas gift from Vegas. I’ll put $110 to win $100 on the BROWNS (-3.5). (Balance = $1120)

Trevor F: Having the nuts to put your Lock of the Week on the biggest game of the
week worked for me in the Indy-Patriots tilt and it will work for me again
here. Pittsburgh getting 10.5 points is ludicrous. The recipe for beating
New England was displayed by two mediocre teams and the Steelers
capitalize on it. Pittsburgh is going to walk into Foxboro and punch New
England in the mouth. The perfect season dies on Sunday. $55 to win $50 on the Steelers (+11)
(Balance = $1075)

Billy Fellin: My lock of the week this week is in an AFC vs NFC South matchup as the Panthers roll into Jacksonville to take on the Jags. I’m gonna take the Jags at home this week. Carolina, though second in their division which really doesn’t say much, are at 5-7 and still lack a consistent starting QB. Does anyone else think that John Fox has a dart board or some kind of wheel in his office that he throws at/spins to determine the starting QB? Anyway, Maurice Jones-Drew should have a big day (Jacksonville has the 2nd best rushing attack in football) against the Panthers’ defense. I’ll take the Jags (-10.5) as they continue to make a strong case for postseason play. (Balance = $935)