NFL Picks Week Nine: Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL Picks Week Nine: Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh SteelersThe Baltimore Ravens are probably the better team if this game was played at a neutral site. Baltimore has more balance and probably has a better defense. That said, Pittsburgh wakes up for home games.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are capable of exploding at any time. Antonio Brown is one of the top weapons in football, Ben Roethlisberger is coming off an absurdly prolific passing performance, and the Steelers are far too hot to bet against right now.

My lean is to the Steelers, with computer support and good reason. This is always a tight, grinding rivalry game, so we temper our wagers considerably.

Steelers 27 – Ravens 20

NFL Picks: Monday Night Football – Redskins Cowboys

I am a little bit nervous about this big of a spread in a rivalry game. These teams know each other well. The Cowboys might very well be overrated… and, evaluating this one less professionally, isn’t Tony Romo due for one of those games?

The Redskins also don’t warrant a +9 wager in my eyes. They’re dropping pretty far down the quarterback depth chart for this one, with RG3 out at least one more week. They have a liability at quarterback on an already poor team.

The reason I don’t like Cowboys -9 is, while I expect them to dominated, there are a few key factors outlined above that make me think this one might be close. I like an open parlay here. The Cowboys ML is steep, but it makes for a good parlay play because at home, even if close, I think the Cowboys win. I don’t like a ...

NFL Picks Week 8: Thursday Night Football, Chargers at Broncos

Thursday Night Football Picks, Week Eight: Chargers Broncos

NFL Picks: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos

I liked this game when the spread came out around 7, but now that it’s up to ten it’s starting to lose value for me. The same appears to be true of the computer algorithm, which suggests a 91% likelihood of a money line win for the Broncos, but diminishing value in the spread and the line – particularly as it has moved.

This game, for me, comes down to a few basic factors. Unfortunately, some of them are rather intangible.

Home field on a short week always favors the home team. To travel into a noisy stadium and attempt to execute your offense in a hostile environment when you aren’t fully prepared to face a defensive scheme is incredibly difficult – especially when contrasted against the peaceful quiet the home team operates under. It directly impacts the game. That said, Peyton Manning ...

Free NFL Picks Contest ($200 Prizes): Niners Broncos Standings Update

NFL Picks Contest ($200 Prize Money): Peyton Manning Dominates

Well, a few of you got risky and it definitely didn’t work out. There is some serious clutter at the top as a result, especially with second place taking home some prize money, too. Pat O jumped out to the lead and needs only three more wins to take home the grand prize. Here are our NFL Picks Contest Standings after Week Seven:

Seven Wins

Pat O’Rielley

Six Wins

Mitch Longan ...

NFL Picks Week Seven, Sunday Night Football: Niners Broncos

NFL Picks Week Seven: San Francisco 49ers +6.5 at Denver Broncos

Contest Game, Sunday Night Football

For me, the only reason I’ll be watching this game is because Peyton Manning is two touchdowns shy of an NFL record. Additionally, that probably gives him an even bigger stage to perform on and he rarely lets us down on his home field.

That being said, while I don’t think the 49ers are all that good (and highly dysfunctional, San Francisco is playing excellent football lately. To think they can’t keep it within a touchdown is strange. +7 with the hook looks like ...

NFL Picks Week Five: Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants

NFL Picks, Week Five: Atlanta Falcons (+4) at New York Giants The Atlanta Falcons are coming off an embarrassing loss to the Minnesota Vikings where, quite simply, they could not stop the run. The New York Giants have a balanced attack and should be able to move the ball against this porous defense. Can they stop Atlanta, though?

I recognize that this bet carries risk, as the Atlanta Falcons showed no real signs of turning things around. That said, I don’t think this Giants defense has the ability to stop the high-powered Falcons. They too are balanced, but for me, the Falcons are a better offense.

If we’re going toe-to-toe in a shootout, do you trust Jennings or Jackson and the rest of the Falcons backs? Manning or Ryan? Jones and White or Cruz and Larry Donnell? I think, in the end, the Falcons have more talent. Getting four points, for me, is icing on the cake. This should be a ...

NFL Picks Week Three: Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints

NFL Picks Week Three: Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints This spread looks tricky to me. It’s a little too big for me to feel comfortable. The New Orleans Saints defense has been sloppy, and the offense hasn’t quite done enough. This game against the Minnesota Vikings could be tough, but 11 points seems like too many – with or without Adrian Peterson.

That said, the money line has some value for me. The computer says the New Orleans Saints have an 80% chance to win this game straight up. It’s their home opener, they won’t open 0-3, and the Saints ...

NFL Picks Contest, ($200 Prizes) Week Three: Bears Jets, Monday Night Football

NFL Picks Contest: Chicago Bears at New York Jets

Monday Night Football – Pick’em

This opened as a pick ’em and has now moved to -3 in favor of the New York Jets, but I’m going to make an executive decision here and keep it at a pick ’em line for the purposes of our contest. The Jets are well-coached and seem to be running the ball with incredible efficiency. The Bears offense is high-powered and exciting, and they’re coming off a big win. Can Rex Ryan shut down Chicago? Are the Jets better than we think? The computer shows some serious conflict in the algorithm, but for our purposes, money line / pick ’em, who do you guys have? To participate in our contest, as always, simply comment on the post pinned to our Facebook page.

Good luck. Last week saw the top get a little more cluttered. Let’s see what this week brings.

NFL Picks Week Three: Thursday Night Football, Bucs Falcons

NFL Picks Week Three: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons, Thursday Night Football

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, two years in a row now, appear to be that team that everyone was wrong about. Unfortunately, it’s the bad way. Once again, despite what seemed to be legitimate improvements, the Buccaneers are off to a really slow start. In this division, that simply won’t do.

The Atlanta Falcons, on the other hand, appear poised for a strange season. After battling back against the Saints, who I think are the better team despite their loss to the Browns, the Falcons didn’t put ...

NFL Picks Contest ($200 Prizes): Colts Eagles Standings Update

NFL Picks Contest ($200 Prizes): Eagles Colts Standings Update The Philadelphia Eagles got lucky on Monday Night Football, and so did our participants who picked Philadelphia with the points. I thought the Indianapolis Colts were robbed by a non-call pass interference, but that’s football and that’s why we love it. After an exciting game, here are where our standings are… Remember, first to ten wins the grand prize, and there is a consolation prize this time around.

Four Wins

Pat O’Rielley

Three Wins

Martin Sayago

Mitch Longan ...