Bobs NFL Picks: Week 17

Im still alive, barely. Keith is 28-18-2 and I am 25-20-3, so I can still technically tie or win if Keith goes 0-3 to my 3-0. So these are big picks in a brutally tough week to make picks.

Pittsburgh (-6.5) @ Cleveland: Pittsburgh can lock up the division and a bye if they win and Baltimore loses, so I expect Pitt to take care of their business.

Giants (-4.5) @ Redskins: Why on earth would I pick Big Blue after the last 2 weeks? Well, first and foremost they are better than the Redskins. Second, they do still have a glimmer of hope for the playoffs. And third, they might be playing for Coughlins job.

Tampa Bay @ New Orleans (-7): I originally had Jacksonville with this 3rd pick until finding out MJD is out. Tampa Bay still has a playoff shot, but its a slim one and the Saints have a bye to play for. I'll take Brees.

Last Week: 2-1
Season: 25-20-3

Bobs NFL Picks: Week 16

Well, I really crapped the bed last week with an 0-3 showing. Keith and I have both had weeks where we rushed our picks, but none were as dumb as me doing it last week when I had pulled into a virtual tie with him. Now, I'm 2 games back with 2 weeks to go and I need to deliver the goods this week. Some lines look too good to be true, so I hope these are smart picks.

Ravens (-4) @ Browns: This is a tricky bet, but the Ravens could really benefit from a win today and the Browns have nothing left to play for.

Jets (+2.5) @ Chicago: I haven't believed in the Bears at any point this season, so why start now?

Patriots (-9) @ Buffalo: This was a last minute switch (I was toying b/t Miami or Oakland instead) but the fact is, the Pats wants to wrap up their regular season today and I expect them to do so. Cold weather and bad conditions have never slowed them down before so I expect today to be no different.

Last Week: 0-3
Season: 23-19-3

Bobs NFL Picks: Week 14

Well, it took 13 weeks but I have almost completely caught up to Keith after his blazing start. That makes this week uber important, and unfortunately, I just don't see a ton of lines that I love.

Oakland (+4) @ Jacksonville: I don't really buy into either of these teams, but I definitely think that the Raiders will keep the game around a FG.

Packers (-7) @ Detroit: Its crazy to me that the Pack are still playing for a playoff spot, and when they need to win, they usually win big.

Seattle (+5) @ San Fran: Originally, I picked San Fran minus the points but it just didn't seem like a good choice. At 6-6, Seattle needs to win games like this to lock up the division.

Last Week: 3-0
Season: 21-15-3

2-1 isn't going to cut it anymore if Keith keeps doing the same thing, so this week I'm picking 3 winners.

Cleveland (+6) @ Miami: This should be a close game and 2 fg's is enough for me to go with Cleveland.

Carolina @ Seattle (-4.5): Seems too easy.

Raiders (+13) @ San Diego: San Diego is super hot right now, but 13 is an enormous spread.

Last Week: 2-1
Season: 18-15-3

Bobs NFL Picks: Week 12

Happy Thanksgiving! Below are my picks for the week, including one game today to make things a bit more interesting when I'm sitting in front of the TV later on.

New England (-7) @ Detroit:

Minnesota (+1) @ Washington:

Pittsburgh (-6.5) @ Buffalo:

Last Week: 2-1
Season: 16-14-3

Bobs NFL Picks: Week 11

Not a fan of the lines this week and didn't really spend too much time looking at them, so no guarantees.

Detroit @ Dallas (-6.5): I got killed by Dallas all season, but I honestly believe that the new coach is going to turn their season around. In Dallas, less than a TD....sounds good to me.

Indy (+4) @ New England: The Colts have been miserable ATS this year, and New England has had some great wins (with the exception of that Cleveland loss) but I expect manning to keep it close enough to cover or win.

Cleveland (+2.5) @ Jacksonville: Coming off games against Pitt, New Orleans, New England and the Jets, the Browns realize they need to capitalize on the easier part of their schedule which starts today.

Last Week: 2-1
Season: 14-13-3

Bobs NFL Picks: Week 10

I rushed through my picks last week and I paid the price, so this week I'm getting them up early. Although I went 1-2, I'm at .500 for the year and in serious striking distance of Keith. Good lines this week make it tough to narrow down to 3, but I think Ive got the ones I want.

Jets (-3) @ Cleveland: I knew once I picked New England last week that it was a total trap. The same can be said for this week, but I doubt it. The Jets are significantly better than NE defensively and Cleveland is coming off 2 great wins, this is their let down week.

St. Louis (+6) @ San Francisco: Ive loved St Louis all year and i especially love this line. San Fran may be better than the 2-6 record, but I don't see them winning this convincingly, if at all.

Detroit @ Buffalo (-3): This is it. This is finally the week Buffalo gets a win after several brutal losses in a row. I actually like a few lines better than this one, but I want to be on board when they get their first win.

Last Week: 1-2
Season: 12-12-3

Bobs NFL Picks: Week 9

I am putting these picks up late, but they were made on time. Not like it helped that much this week. But I have climbed back to .500, which is impressive considering my dismal start. Its only a matter of time before I catch Keith. He can hear the footsteps.

*Win* Kansas City @ Oakland (+1): My favorite bet of the week almost didn't cover. But it did.

*Loss* New England (-4.5) @ Cleveland: Stupid, stupid pick. This was the easiest trap line to read of all time and I still bought into it. Stupid stupid.

*Loss* San Diego @ Houston (-3): I don't regret this bet. The Chargers were without 50% of their starting offense and have been dismal all year on the road and in general. I believe in the Texans. Well, believed.

Last Week: 3-0
Season: 11-10-3

This Week: 1-2
Season: 12-12-3

Bobs NFL Picks: Week 8

I'm slowly climbing towards .500. Maybe it'll happen this week, because I love many a line today.

Carolina @ St. Louis (-2.5): I'm sticking with my team of the season again this week even though I'm a little bit worried that Stewart will have the first Carolina breakout running game this year.

Packers (+6) @ Jets: Seems too easy.

Seahawks @ Raiders (-2.5): Could be a let down game for Oakland but I don't buy into Seattle regardless.

Last Week: 2-1
Season: 8-10-3

Bobs NFL Picks: Week 5

Well, I totally blew my opportunity to gain serious ground on Keith last week by churning in another 1-2 performance. That kind of stuff aint gonna get it done, so I hope to reverse the momentum this weekend although the lines are tricky.

Packers (-2.5) @ Washington: The Packers are 3-1, but the last 2 games havent been pretty. With Miami, Minnesota, Jets and Dallas coming up they'd love a win over Washington to get them in a good spot.

Falcons (-3) @ Cleveland: Another road game, but I think there will be a little hangover effect from last weeks Cleveland victory over Cincinatti.

Rams @ Detroit (-3): Detroit has to win sometime this season. They have had a few real brutal losses, and I expect that this week they finally get it done.

Last Week: 1-2
Season: 3-7-2

Bobs NFL Picks: Week 4

Another rough week down in the books. Time to shake it off and change the momentum. Here are my week 4 picks.

Chicago (+3.5) @ NY Giants: I am very surprised at this line. Although the Giants aren't as bad as they've been playing and the Bears aren't as good as they've been playing, I think giving them more than a field goal is too much.

Cincinnati (-2.5) @ Cleveland: This seems too easy so its probably going to be a loss for me.

Houston (-3.5) @ Oakland: This is a big game in my race to catch Keith. I understand his theories, but I am basing this pick purely on personnel.

Three road teams is never a good strategy.

Last Week: 1-2
Season: 2-5-2

Bobs NFL Picks: Week 2

I don't like the lines at all this week, not that it really matters after last weeks performance. But here are my picks.

**Kansas City (+2.5) @ Cleveland**: I'm sure Kansas City's win last week against the Chargers was at least in part, a fluke, but I'm not convinced that the Chiefs aren't an 8-8 team this year.

Philadelphia (-6.5) @ Detroit: I don't like to make a habit of picking road teams giving up almost a touchdown, but I think Stafford being out is a huge swing in this game. Shaun Hill is terrible and although the Eagles are also without their starting QB, Vick has a lot to prove and I think he will continue his redemption effort this weekend.

Houston @ Washington (+3): Argh, I regret this already. Houston is the better team and 3 points is not a lot, but in Washington I think this has all the makings of a let down game for Houston. Washington should keep it close, and the Houston defense showed that it was very vulnerable last weekend which could put Washington in a position to win late.

Season: 0-2-1
Pick of the week: 0-1

Bobs NFL Picks - Week 1

I finished my NFL picks last season with a record of 30-18-1, including my unpopular pick for the Saints to cover in the Superbowl. But that was just for glory, and this year, their are much higher stakes than glory. Keith and I will be going head to head with our NFL picks this season (3 a week) and the loser will have to suffer the consequences. In addition to an NFL jersey of the winners choice, a compromising photo will be posted to the blog where it shall remain from the close of this NFL season to the start of the 2011 season.

I will also be selecting my bet of the week as indicated by ** before and after the selection. So with a lot to play for, here are my picks.

**Cleveland @ Tampa Bay (-3)**
Although Tampa Bay is not a playoff team, they are not one of the 6 worst teams in football this year where Cleveland still very much is. This game will not be televised in Tampa and I think that will provide some added motivation for the Bucs.

Colts (-1.5) @ Houston
I realize these teams play each other very close, especially early in the season, but I just don't think this is the year that the Texans beat the Colts out of the gate.

Dallas (-3) @ Washington
I don't love this bet, but I think Dallas is one of the best teams in football until they prove otherwise. The Redskins are improved, but McNabb hasn't played all preseason and I think the offense will sputter early causing them to fall behind. They do not have the offense to play catch up with the Cowboys.

Last Season: 30-18-1
This Season: 0-0-0

Bobs Over/Under NFL Picks

I'm just getting around to looking at these lines now, and I really like 10 of them. I'll select my top 6 for the season to stay consistent with Keith & Pete.

Raiders - Under 6.5
I almost want to reload my account just so I can bet on this. I know they are a slightly improved team with a defense that keeps them in games, but its not like the line is at 4.5. For them to go over, they would have to win 7 games which they have not done since 2002. In fact, they haven't won 6 games since 2002. Tis a slam dunk.

49'ers - Under 9
I like the 49'ers this year, I really do. But I think worst case scenario with this bet is a push, because they are not winning 10 games. They play in a cupcake division, but even if they win all of their division games (which they wont), they still could finish at 9-7.

Giants - Over 8.5
I don't necessarily love the Giants this year, but I think the Eagles are down and the Skins haven't improved enough. They may go into their final game with 8 wins and need to beat Washington to get the over, but even then I wouldn't be worried.

Seahawks - Under 7
Im picking my second team to go under in this division and that may prove to be foolish, but the Seahawks have gone from mediocre to just plain bad. They are trotting out one of the worst wide receiver corps and running back duos in football to join their aging quarterback.

Colts - Over 11
They hit the rough part of their schedule in week 10 (New England, San Diego, Dallas) but by that point they may very well be 8-0. They have the schedule and talent to produce another 13 or 14 win season and keep in mind they would have hit this over every year since 2002.

Chargers - Under 10.5
I'm not sure I love this, because their schedule is actually pretty easy but their are just too many question marks with this chargers team. I know everyone loves Ryan Matthews, but how well he will perform at this level? And without Vincent Jackson taking some of the defensive focus, this team may sputter offensively.

NFL Regular Season Look Back

One of the fun things about having a blog is that you have an archive to go back and look at all the things you predicted before a season starts and you get be held accountable since it's all out there if people want to dig back and look. Since I don't imagine that people do want to look back, I'm going to do it for you. Overall it was an average season for me in the NFL:

Raleigh's Best Bets:
My 1-0-2 Week 17 got me to exactly .500 for the season.

Overall: 24-24-3
First Half: 11-13
Second Half: 13-11-3

Over/Under Game:
The original post can be found HERE

Again, a .500 result:

The short of it is that I correctly hit that Tampa (6.5) and Cleveland (6.5) would go under their number and that Baltimore (8.5) would go over theirs.

I was incorrect in thinking Dallas (9) and Houston (8.5) would go under their numbers and the Giants (9.5) would go over theirs.

2009 NFL Predictions:
The original post can be found HERE

Some of these are funny. I guess I must have been really high on James Davis. His 13 touches for 20 yards probably have to put him towards the top of the Offensive Rookie of the Year vote, right? What propaganda was I reading during the preseason? Bart Scott as Defensive Player of the year? Wrong Jet. Coach of the Year...Jim Mora Jr?

Picked a bad year to start the blog. If any of you went along with my picks or anything this year, I apologize for losing your vig.

Bobs NFL Picks Week 8

What can I say? I am on a roll. 4-0 last week brings me to 14-5 for the season. If anyone out there is using my picks please let me know by commenting on them or becoming a blog follower. Id like to know that my expertise is being appreciated by someone other than myself. That being said, I HATE the lines this week, but will do my best at keeping this train moving.

Tennessee -3 vs. Jacksonville: Boy is this a risky pick. They haven't won all season and in their last game they lost 59-0. Ouch. However, Vince Young takes over the offense this week at home against an average Jacksonville team. Both teams come off the bye, but no one needed it more than the Titans. I see them avenging their week 4 loss. Tenn 27-Jack 20

Minnesota +3 @ Packers: This is a tricky line. The Vikings are the better team but its in Green Bay and that place will be nuts with the return of whats his name. Im not sure who will win this, but it could very easily be decided by a late FG and if you're getting 3 points than you'd be looking at a push at worst.

Texans -3.5 @ Buffalo: I dont love this game at all, but I really dont like Buffalo. I would like this alot better if it were -3, or -2.5, but hey, Im not Vegas.

Last Week: 4-0
Season: 14-5