The Week 12 picks come early this week as I won't be at a computer until Sunday (or sober until Monday). No spread for Monday night's Colts/Steelers game yet so I'll pick that one on Monday.
DETROIT +3 OVER ATLANTA
Here are my reasons:
1. The Lions always seem to play their best football on Thanksgiving.
2. The Falcons find themselves in a must win football game after losing two straight with a quarterback desperate to prove to America that he can throw. He will throw and wildly.
3. There's always a big star on Thanksgiving Day and it's going to be Roy Williams.
DENVER PK OVER DALLAS
Here are my reasons:
1. No football team should have play three games in eleven days. It's absurd and unfair to the Cowboys.
2. Bill Parcells looked exhausted after their win over the Lions last week. At times during the press conference, he looked downight depressed and I think his brother's death is weighing on him.
3. The Broncos are a terrific football team.
KANSAS CITY -3 OVER NEW ENGLAND
I'm pretty sure that the Chiefs are just better than the Patriots right now. Both teams will score and score often but I'm going to put my eggs in the basket with a running game.
CINCINNATI -9 OVER BALTIMORE
The Ravens have beaten Brooks Bollinger, Tommy Maddox and the Browns in Baltimore. They aren't any good and the Bengals will be flying all over the field Sunday.
CAROLINA -4 OVER BUFFALO
I don't like picking against Buffalo at home but Carolina has to make up for a horrid performance against the Bears last week. Also, the Bills defense has been the single most disappointing unit in the NFL this season. They're allowing 60 more yards, 50 more on the ground and almost 5 more points a game.
CHICAGO + OVER TAMPA BAY
I think Chris Simms is in a lot of trouble Sunday.
SAN DIEGO -3 OVER WASHINGTON
The loser of this game is going to have a meaningless December. And Washington, my friends, is going to lose this game.
CLEVELAND +4 OVER MINNESOTA
I don't think the Vikings are quite making the resurgence others do. The offense has been non-existent and Ruben Droughns has been nasty the last few weeks.
TENNESSEE -8 OVER SAN FRANCSICO
For no other reason that I really like Jeff Fisher. He's one of my favorite coaches in football and I think he's going to coach them up for this game.
HOUSTON +3.5 OVER ST. LOUIS
Second win for the Houston Texans.
JACKSONVILLE -3.5 OVER ARIZONA
I almost wrote that thing I write where I say I don't trust Jacksonville to win when they need to.
NEW YORK GIANTS +4.5 SEATTLE
Just use that here, instead.
OAKLAND -7 OVER MIAMI
If you lose 22-0 to the Browns, I can't pick you for three weeks. You're in time-out.
NEW ORLEANS -1.5 OVER NEW YORK JETS
This is on Sunday Night Football. ESPN. Note to self: don't watch this game.
and a final note on Chicago Bears @ Tampa Bay Bucs
Very good teams beat other very good teams in their own building. Great teams beat very good teams on the road. This is another test.
Here at DaBearsBlog, you are free to kill us or the Bears as you so wish. You are not free, however, to be an asshole. So if you spew racism or ill-meaning foul language (cursing about football is just fine) or anything of that ilk, your comments ain't gonna last long, jerk.