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Our FREE NFL picks versus the spread are purely for entertainment purposes only. But, let's face it, being right (winning) is more fun than being wrong (losing).
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Every week, the three "handicappers" at The Weekly Blitz will pick their three best NFL games against the spread (ATS). While the three of us combined for a record of 80-70-3 (53.3%)
ATS in 2009, we were even better in 2008 with a combined record of 88-62-3 (58.7%) ATS.
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Our free Fantasy Football Contest (based on Monday Night Football matchups) is open: ENTER HERE. Newcomers welcome!
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CONTRIBUTOR
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GAME 1
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GAME 2
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GAME 3
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Kevin
2009 Record: 52.9% (27-24)
2008 Record: 63.3% (31-18-2)
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Giants at Colts (-5)
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Bucs at Panthers (-3)
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Chiefs at Browns (-3)
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Colts -5
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Panthers -3
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Chiefs +3
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When was the last time the Colts lost
back-to-back games to begin the season?
1998. In other words, the Colts haven't
started 0-2 since Peyton Manning's rookie
season. I know safety Bob Sanders is out --
for this game and many more -- and
Houston's Arian Foster ran all over the Colts
defense in Week 1. And the Giants will
certainly try to follow the Texans' blueprint for
success with Ahmad Bradshaw and, to a lesser
extent, Brandon Jacobs. Regardless I expect
the Colts to bounce back big in Week 2.
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The Panthers had two 1,000-yard rushers in
2009. The Bucs allowed the most rushing
yards in the NFL in 2009. Three points?
Really? The Bucs won their Week 1
matchup against the Browns partly due to
Eric Mangini's idiocy. Although the Browns
rushed the ball effectively, they threw it 15
times more than they ran it. Expect the
Panthers to take their cue from the Browns
and to run the ball. And then run it again.
And then run it some more against the
Bucs as they try to limit quarterback Matt
Moore's mistakes (he threw three
interceptions last week).
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The Browns should be able to run the ball
well against the Chiefs. That said, I have
little-to-no faith in coach Eric Mangini (see
Panthers-Bucs game). Meanwhile, the
Chiefs looked electric in their season
opener with the big-play ability of Jamaal
Charles, Dexter McCluster -- who set the
franchise record for longest punt return in
his NFL debut -- and Javier Arenas.
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Dan
2009 Record: 54.0% (27-23-1)
2008 Record: 60.0% (30-20-1)
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Bucs at Panthers (-3)
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Patriots (-3) at Jets
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Saints (-6) at 49ers
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Panthers -3
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Patriots -3
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Saints -6
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The Buccaneers come of a good road win in
Cleveland, while the Panthers had quite a few
miscues in New York and look to right their
ship. The Panthers will look to grind out the
game on the ground, while using DeAngelo
Williams as their primary focus. The Bucs are
still in a rebuilding mode, but will be able to
attack the Panthers passing game, as Matt
Moore looks to be a game time decision. The
Panthers have gone 4-1 in their last five vs
Tampa by gashing them on the ground, as in
those five games they have rushed for a total
of 943 yards. Carolina is still hot vs the NFC
going 8-1 against the spread in their last
nine, and also 5-0 vs the number when
playing in their own division. Look for a
healthy dose of DeAngelo Williams as he has
rushed for 6 touchdowns in his last 4 games
against the Bucs. Again in the early weeks,
look to lay the points when you have the
home team in a friendly matchup.
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In perhaps the most anticipated game of
week 2, this game certainly will deliver on
all of the pre-game hype. The Patriots
come in after torching last year's AFC North
winner, the Bengals, while the Jets offense
certainly lacked a spark after being nipped
by the Ravens at home. This game has
everything a rivalry needs, bad blood, trash
talk, and could have playoff implications on
the line. The Patriots will look to fill the air
with their high-powered offense, as the Jets
will look to counter with last year's No. 1
ranked defense. The Pats look fast and
aggressive on the defensive side of the
ball, while the Jets offense remained
grounded last week. The numbers certainly
point the Patriots way as they have won 8
of their last 9 in New Jersey, and are 10-4-1
against the spread vs the Jets. Not saying
that Moss will escape Revis Island, but
Welker, Gronkowski and Faulk will make for
an 0-2 start for the Jets.
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The Saints will march into this Monday Night
contest after spoiling Brett Favre's 4th
comeback appearance, while the 49ers will
look to regroup after getting their butts
kicked by the Seahawks. New Orleans will
have extra time to rest and prepare for this
tilt, as they will look to wreck the 49ers
opening night at home. New Orleans still
has the look of a team that is firing on all
cylinders, and even got Pierre Thomas
going against the Vikings stout run
defense. New Orleans has won 5 of the last
6 matchups, and are 10-2 in their last 12
against the number vs the 49ers. Also don't
forget that Drew Brees has never lost to
San Francisco as well. Look for the high-
powered Saints passing game to burn the
49ers. Lay the points again as the Saints
will add another butt-kicking to the 49ers
2010 season.
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Sean
2009 Record: 53.1% (26-23-2)
2008 Record: 52.9% (27-24)
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Patriots (-3) at Jets
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Giants at Colts (-5)
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Bears at Cowboys (-7)
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Jets +3
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Colts -5
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Cowboys -7
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Watch out for the Jets in this one. The
Patriots were crowned Super Bowl champs after
their thumping of the Bengals in Week 1, and
the Jets left people scratching their head after
a terrible offensive performance against the
Ravens. I am not ready to argue that Mark
Sanchez is a good starting QB, because he
isn't. He is probably in the bottom 3 of QBs
in the league right now. This is just one of
those must-have games for the Jets this
week, as history shows 0-2 teams do not
make the playoffs very often. (It is like 10%
or something low like that.) The Patriots
defense is suspect to the run, and Cincy would
have had more success running the ball if
they didn't get behind so early. The Jets D is
for real, and I think they will hold the Pats O
in check this week, and win an early must-win
game.
Jets 16-14
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Another Super Bowl contender staring at an
0-2 start and a tough climb back is the
Colts. The Giants looked pretty good
against Carolina last week, while Indy had
a ton of problems stopping Arian Foster
and the Texans last week. Come Monday
morning, we are going to be talking about
same old Colts, blah blah blah. Peyton
Manning is going to pass all over this
Giants defense who is weak in the
secondary. In the last Manning Bowl, the
Colts won by 5. I think they will by a much
wider margin in this one.
Colts 34-23
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We seem to have a theme this week going
with Super Bowl favorites who stumbled in
Week 1. The Bears escaped Week 1 with a
win even though that call was complete BS
at the end. The Cowboys looked pretty bad
versus the Redskins in Week 1, but the
'Skins always play the Cowboys tough.
Everyone is talking about this new Mike
Martz offense in Chicago. Well that offense
might work against a team like Detroit, but
against the best defense in the NFC, in my
opinion, they will find it hard to move the
ball. I expect Tony Romo and the Dallas
offense to have a big day, and lay a
smackdown on the Bears.
Cowboys 38-10
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