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A winning week is going to keep my record above .500 for tor the year as I cling to hope for a winning season picking NFL games against the point spread. Let’s see what we have this week.
Minnesota Vikings (-9) at Green Bay Packers
The Vikings defense is suffocating and they are playing for the No. 1 seed potentially. I don’t typically like big point spreads in divisional games, but after getting Aaron Rodgers back and losing him again I feel like that would be emotionally breaking.
Pick: Vikings
Detroit Lions (-5) at Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are very beat up on defense.
Pick: Lions
Los Angeles Chargers (-7) at New York Jets
The Jets have been playing up all year and have a couple of dangerous defensive players. I don’t trust the Chargers to win comfortably, they never win comfortably.
Pick: Chargers (-7)
Los Angeles Rams (-6.5) at Tennessee Titans
The Rams are terrific and the Titans are inconsistent but keep winning. They are 8-6 despite a -23 point differential.
Pick: Rams
Cleveland Browns (+6) at Chicago Bears
The Browns are running out of time if they are going to win a game this year. I don’t know if they can, but I don’t think it’ll be for lack of trying.
Pick: Browns
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+10) at Carolina Panthers
I like big point differentials in divisional games.
Pick: Buccaneers
Atlanta Falcons (+5.5) at New Orleans Saints
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Falcons won outright, so I’ll definitely take the points.
Pick: Falcons
Denver Broncos (+3.5) at Washington
Since the loss to the Giants, the Broncos have gone 2-7, but they are 2-0 in their last two games. They have a fairly talented team and I think they can keep this game close.
Pick: Broncos
Miami Dolphins (+10) at Kansas City Chiefs
Ten points is too many for a team that has been so inconsistent on offense all year.
Pick: Dolphins
Buffalo Bills (+12.5) at New England Patriots
The Bills need this game, but they can never beat the Patriots. Still, I think it’s possible they keep it close because they don’t get a whole lot of turnovers.
Pick: Bills
Jacksonville Jaguars (-4.5) at San Francisco 49ers
Good quarterback play makes a huge difference. The 49ers are a much better team with Jimmy G. The Jaguars’ defense, though, is a different animal. The Jaguars haveone of the best secondaries we’ve seen. I don’t think the 49ers have the offensive weapons to challenge the Jaguars on defense.
Pick: Jaguars
New York Giants (+4.5) at Arizona Cardinals
I’m hoping the Giants have another win in them, but they are so beat up. Landon Collins is soldiering on, but he’s banged up. The linebackers, defensive ends. Everyone is beat up. I don’t know if they can travel across country and defeat a solid, but unspectacular Cardinals team, but I hope they will keep it close. I’d also love to see another vintage performance from Eli Manning.
Pick: Giants
Seattle Seahawks (+5) at Dallas Cowboys
If Ezekiel Elliott is able to run on Seattle like Todd Gurley did the Cowboys will run all over the Seahawks, but I don’t think they will do that.
Pick: Seahawks
Pittsburgh Steelers (-9) at Houston Texans
The Texans defense is last in the league in points allowed. They sure miss J.J. Watt.
Pick: Steelers by more than 9
Oakland Raiders (+9) at Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles’ defense showed some warts against the Giants. If they want to win the Super Bowl they have to play much better.
Pick: Raiders
Season Record: 105-102-10