|
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).
|
| |
Every week, the three "handicappers" at The Weekly Blitz will pick their three best NFL games against the spread (ATS).
Final results: Through Week 17, we have a combined record of 84-56-13 (60.0 percent) ATS.
|
|
|
See also:
- Weekly Fantasy Football Rankings: QB - RB - WR - TE
- NFL Schedule - Tickets - CFB Schedule - Tickets
- 2012 Mock Draft Databases: NFL - NBA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
DAILY WEEK 7 LINES FROM SPORTSBOOK.COM
|
|
|
SUMMARY OF PICKS BY CONTRIBUTORS
|
|
Week: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17
|
|
Picks are for entertainment purposes only.
|
Picks and spreads are as of Saturday, October 22nd at 7:47 a.m. ET
|
|
Lines used are always as of the time the pick was made.
|
Date/Time (ET)
|
Favorite
|
Spread
|
Underdog
|
|
|
Kevin
|
Dan
|
Sean
|
Sun, Oct 23 at 1:05 p.m.
|
Bears
|
1.0
|
BUCCANEERS
|
|
|
CHI -1
|
|
|
Sun, Oct 23 at 1:05 p.m.
|
PANTHERS
|
2.5
|
Redskins
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sun, Oct 23 at 1:05 p.m.
|
Chargers
|
1.0
|
JETS
|
|
|
|
|
SD -1
|
Sun, Oct 23 at 1:05 p.m.
|
BROWNS
|
3.0
|
Seahawks
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sun, Oct 23 at 1:05 p.m.
|
TITANS
|
3.0
|
Texans
|
|
|
|
TEN -3
|
TEN -3
|
Sun, Oct 23 at 1:05 p.m.
|
DOLPHINS
|
Pick
|
Broncos
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sun, Oct 23 at 1:05 p.m.
|
LIONS
|
3.5
|
Falcons
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sun, Oct 23 at 4:10 p.m.
|
RAIDERS
|
4.0
|
Chiefs
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sun, Oct 23 at 4:10 p.m.
|
Steelers
|
4.0
|
CARDINALS
|
|
|
PIT -4
|
PIT -4
|
PIT -4
|
Sun, Oct 23 at 4:20 p.m.
|
COWBOYS
|
13.0
|
Rams
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sun, Oct 23 at 4:20 p.m.
|
Packers
|
9.5
|
VIKINGS
|
|
|
|
GB -9.5
|
|
Sun, Oct 23 at 8:35 p.m.
|
SAINTS
|
13.5
|
Colts
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mon, Oct 24 at 8:40 p.m.
|
Ravens
|
8.0
|
JAGUARS
|
|
|
BAL -8
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following teams are on bye in Week 7: Buffalo, Cincinnati, New England, NY Giants, Philadelphia and San Francisco.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
CONTRIBUTOR
|
|
GAME 1
|
|
GAME 2
|
|
GAME 3
|
Kevin
2011 Record: 33-14-4 (70.2%)
|
|
Steelers (-4) at Cardinals
|
|
Ravens (-8) at Jaguars
|
|
Bears (-1) at Bucs (in London)
|
| |
Steelers -4
|
|
Ravens -8
|
|
Bears -1
|
| |
With an upgrade at quarterback, things were
going to be like "night and day" for the
Cardinals' offense. Instead, it has felt like
more of the same. Cardinals quarterback
Kevin Kolb, who was acquired in the offseason
via trade, has thrown only one touchdown and
five interceptions in his last three games. And
it won't get any easier this week. Pittsburgh's
rush defense hasn't been up to its own
standards, but their pass defense currently
ranks first in the NFL as they have allowed
157.7 passing yards per game. One of the
things that has surprised me about the
Steelers defense is they have created a
league-low three turnovers (one interception
and two forced fumbles) this season. That
could change this week as Kolb has thrown
only one touchdown and five interceptions in
his last three games. The Steelers may have
found some offensive balance with Rashard
Mendenhall having his 146-yard performance
last week. Currently the team ranks in the top
12 in both rushing and passing offense.
|
|
The Ravens, who have won three straight,
have outscored their opponents by a
combined score of 100-38 during that
span. Meanwhile, the Jaguars will look to
end their losing streak at five games. They
haven't lost six straight games since 1995,
their first season in the league. Maurice
Jones-Drew has been one of the few bright
spots for the Jaguars as he ranks third in
the NFL in rushing (572 yards). MJD has
been consistent -- no fewer than 84 rushing
yards in his first six games. However, only
two teams in the league allow fewer rushing
yards per game than the Ravens (76.6).
In addition, the Ravens have scored four
defensive touchdowns in five games while
creating 16 turnovers (six interceptions and
a league-best 10 forced fumbles). While
the Jaguars have run the ball well, they
rank last in the NFL in passing offense and
total offense. Perhaps it's a good thing that
the local blackout has not yet been lifted
for Monday Night Football.
|
|
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the "home
team," but the game is in London. With
the Bears having a larger fan base than the
Bucs, it wouldn't surprise me if the crowd is
pro-Chicago. While he played his best
game of the season last week, Bucs
quarterback Josh Freeman has been
inconsistent all season. Through six
games, Freeman has thrown more
interceptions (six) than touchdowns (five).
In fact, he has thrown as many
interceptions already as he threw in all of
2010. Although Bears quarterback Jay
Cutler can be inconsistent as well, I expect
the Bears to give the ball to running back
Matt Forte early and often. As great of a
rookie season as Forte had, he's having his
best season as pro and it's not even close.
Forte has 527 rushing yards and 381
receiving yards through six games, which
means he is on pace for more than 2,400
yards from scrimmage. Cutler has
completed more than 71 percent of passes
(49-of-69), has averaged 258 yards and
thrown three touchdowns and no
interceptions in his past two games.
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
Dan
2011 Record: 24-21-6 (53.3%)
|
|
Texans at Titans (-3)
|
|
Steelers (-4) at Cardinals
|
|
Packers (-9.5) at Vikings
|
| |
Titans -3
|
|
Steelers -4
|
|
Packers -9.5
|
| |
It's been a rough couple of weeks for the
Houston Texans, as they have lost two games
in a row, and two of their big stars in Andre
Johnson and Mario Williams in the process.
The Titans will come into this game rested off
the bye week, and will look to expand upon
their lead in the AFC South. I like the
numbers here for the Titans, as they are 7-3
against the spread in their last 10 against the
Texans. The Titans also boast a stout run
defense, as they have only allowed 3.8 yards
per carry and one touchdown on the ground
this year. I love the Titans giving the short
number at home, as I love Chris Johnson
going against a rush defense that allows 4.6
yards per carry so far.
|
|
OK so we are on to the big rematch of the
league championship game number 43, or
at least some resemblance of it. The
Steelers are still playing at a high level,
while the Cardinals are still searching for
capable replacement for the retired Kurt
Warner. The numbers certainly favor the
Steelers here, as they have gone 7-3
against the number in their last 10 against
a team with a losing record. The Cardinals
have also not fared well against the spread
when playing a team with a winning record,
as they have gone 6-14 in their last 20. I
don't trust Kevin Kolb going up against the
#1 ranked pass defense, and I love the
matchup of Roethlisberger going against
the Arizona pass defense that gives up 258
yards per game. Lay the four on the road
for Mike Wallace and Hines Ward to shred
the Arizona secondary, and for Mike Tomlin
to rock the aviators in the desert sun.
|
|
This is certainly a game of polar opposites,
as Green Bay has been the hottest team in
the league this year, while the Vikings have
been one of the most disappointing. The
Vikings will turn to their rookie QB in
Christian Ponder, as they look to provide a
new spark. Green Bay is on fire versus the
spread going 5-1 this year so far, while the
Vikings have gone 3-9-1 in their last 13
against the NFC. The Packers boast the
best offense in the league, and have
averaged a mind boggling 423 yards per
game so far this year, and I love Aaron
Rodgers going against the 25th ranked
passing defense in the Vikings. The
Packers also will take away Minnesota's
best weapon in Adrian Peterson, as the
Packers have only allowed 82.5 yards per
game on the ground so far this year. I will
give the 9 on the road to the Pack, as I
know the Vikings will struggle to score
points this week.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sean
2011 Record: 27-21-3 (56.3%)
|
|
Steelers (-4) at Cardinals
|
|
Texans at Titans (-3)
|
|
Chargers (-1) at Jets
|
| |
Steelers -4
|
|
Titans -3
|
|
Chargers -1
|
| |
I love the road favorite here. Arizona has
struggled this season especially new QB Kevin
Kolb, who I have been on the record saying
that he was not the answer in Arizona. The
Steelers played a sloppy game last week
against the dreadful Jaguars. I think Mike
Tomlin gets this team back on track, and they
play another great game like they did against
the Titans. Offensively for the Steelers
Mendenhall was back last week and he played
great. I think the Steelers offense will be
clicking on all cylinders this week and I think
they score 30 on the road to win. The Arizona
defense gives up 100 more yards, and 7
more points a game then the Steelers do.
This line should be closer to 5.5 in my
opinion, so I make the play now before it
moves. I think it opened low because of the
health concerns over Troy Polamalu, but
Polamalu is listed as Probable so I think he is
a safe bet for Sunday. Either way, the Steelers
offensively are too good for the Cards. 30-21
|
|
Tennessee has been a tricky team to figure
out this year. They lay an egg week 1
versus the Jags in a game everyone
expected them to win. Week 2, they beat
the Ravens in a game everyone thought
they would lose. Week 3, they look like
crap and barely squeak out a win versus
the Broncos at home. They battle Cleveland
on the road in Week 4, and the team looks
great again. High expectations surround
them Week 5 and Ben Roethlisberger's
mobility question and the Titans get
embarrassed. Do you see a pattern here?
This is a huge division game for both
teams. A win would give the Titans a nice
1.5 game lead in the division. Chris
Johnson has yet to get on track this
season. There have been some offensive
line issues as I have talked about, but CJ
owns the Texans. CJ averages 121 total
yards a game versus the Texans over his
career, and the Texans run defense is
mediocre. The other Johnson, Andre is
expected to be at least another week away
from returning to action, so the
AJ/Finnegan reunion will need to wait a few
more weeks. The Titans D steps up big at
home where they have only allowed 13.5
points a game there so far this season,
and Matt Schaub gets knocked around and
the Titans win big 27-14.
|
|
My third play was a tough one. I think this
may be underdog redemption week after a
bunch of big favorites won last week. It
wouldn't shock me to see Minnesota, St.
Louis and Jacksonville all cover and keep
games close this weekend. For the official
play I am going with the Chargers. The
Chargers had an extra week to prepare for
this game. Antonio Gates is practicing which
is great news. The jury is still out on if he
will play, but if he is practicing I think it is
safe to say that he will be back barring any
setbacks. The NY Jets are overrated. Their
defense went from being fearsome to
average. Revis is the only pro bowler on
that team. Antonio Cromartie is awful.
Offensively the Jets have no run game, and
Mark Sanchez is as inconsistent as they
come, plus they are on a short week
playing this past Monday. The Jets were
gifted a victory in Week 1 by Tony Romo,
and the other two teams they beat
Jags,Dolphins are 2 of the 3 worst teams in
the NFL. The Chargers are a better team
and they will show it this week with a 24-19
victory.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
