You know the drill.
*= upset pick
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9) at Buffalo Bills (4-7)*:
Line: Bills favored by 6
Over/under: 42.5
My prediction: Jaguars- 23, Bills- 20… probably get this wrong, but I’m sticking with the Jags.
Jaguars cover
Over
Seattle Seahawks (6-5) at Chicago Bears (8-3):
Line: Bears favored by 3
Over/under: 37.5
My prediction: Bears- 27, Seahawks- 13.. Bears favored by only a field goal at home against a horrible road team? I’ll take it
Bears cover
Over
Indianapolis Colts (7-4) at Detroit Lions (4-7)*:
Line: Lions favored by 6.5
Over/under: 51
My prediction: Colts- 24, Lions- 23.. I was all set to take the Lions, but I thought the line would be something like two points. Not six and a half. Give me the upset.Colts cover
Under
Minnesota Vikings (6-5) at Green Bay Packers (7-4):
Line: Packers favored by 7.5
Over/under: 46.5
My prediction: Packers- 31, Vikings- 14.. Packers coming off an embarrassing Monday Night loss against a Minnesota team without Percy Harvin.
Packers cover
Under
Houston Texans (10-1) at Tennessee Titans (4-7):
Line: Texans favored by 6.5
Over/under: 47
My prediction: Texans- 35, Titans- 20.. Titans do not have a chance on defense, but the Texans D has faltered of late.
Texans cover
Over
Carolina Panthers (3-8) at Kansas City Chiefs (1-10)*:
Line: Panthers favored by 4.5
Over/under: 39
My prediction: Chiefs- 20, Panthers- 17.. I was already pondering picking this upset, because a 3-8 team being favored by 4.5 on the road rarely occurs. Then came the death of Chiefs starting linebacker Javon Belcher. I’m not going to go into detail about that, because it’s all over the news. But here’s to hoping that the Chiefs come out strong and win a game for their teammate.
Chiefs cover
Under
San Francisco 49ers (8-2-1) at St. Louis Rams (4-6-1):- Lock
Line: 49ers favored by 7.5
Over/under: 41
My prediction: 49ers- 27, Rams- 17.. Please not another tie. Based on the fact that this game was a tie the last time they played, I think the 49ers will not take this game for granted, and they’ll win easily, hence me locking it up.
49ers cover
Over
New England Patriots (8-3) at Miami Dolphins (5-6):
Line: Patriots favored by 7.5
Over/under: 51.5
My prediction: Patriots- 35, Dolphins- 24.. I believe the Dolphins will be able to put a few points up on the Pats, but not enough to keep up with Tom Brady. Four straight road favorites, including three by at least 6.5. Unbelievable.
Patriots cover
Over
Arizona Cardinals (4-7) at New York Jets (4-7):
Line: Jets favored by 6
Over/under: 36.5
My prediction: Jets- 17, Cardinals- 13.. Ugh
Cardinals cover
Under
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) at Denver Broncos (8-3):
Line: Broncos favored by 8
Over/under: 51
My prediction: Broncos- 28, Buccaneers- 24.. A matchup between two high-octane offenses. I see this one going over, but barely.
Buccaneers cover
Over
Cleveland Browns (3-8) at Oakland Raiders (3-8)*:
Line: Browns favored by 1.5
Over/under: 37.5
My prediction: Raiders- 23, Browns- 17.. This is just a gut feeling. The Raiders are at home after some awful losses, and the Browns are due for a letdown after their surprising win over the Steelers.
Raiders cover
Over
Cincinnati Bengals (6-5) at San Diego Chargers (4-7):
Line: Bengals favored by 1
Over/under: 46
My prediction: Bengals- 26, Chargers- 17.. The Bengals beat the teams they should. That streak will continue.
Bengals cover
Under
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) at Baltimore Ravens (9-2):
Line: Ravens favored by 9.5
Over/under: 36
My prediction: Ravens- 20, Steelers- 13.. With Charlie Batch starting for the Steelers, I understand why the spread is so big. But I don’t think the Ravens will beat their rivals by double digits.
Steelers cover
Under
Philadelphia Eagles (3-8) at Dallas Cowboys (5-6):
Line: Cowboys favored by 10.5
Over/under: 43.5
My prediction: Cowboys- 28, Eagles- 17.. I can’t help it.
Cowboys cover
Over
New York Giants (7-4) at Washington Redskins (5-6):
Line: Giants favored by 3
Over/under: 51My prediction: Giants- 28, Redskins- 27
Redskins cover
Over
Upset picks:
Jaguars over Bills
Raiders over Browns
Chiefs over Panthers
Colts over Lions
Lock of the week:
49ers over Rams
Now I will go on record…a bad effort by the Eagles and this will be the last game of the Andy Reid era.