NFL Week 8 picks

Since Loren and I picked the exact smae games last week there was no change. I'm still down three.

Green Bay at NY Jets

Derek - NY Jets. I don't belive in the Jets as a Super Bowl team. I do think they'll win this game, at home with a week off to prepare against a banged up Packers team.

Loren - NY Jets. Derek was saying this wasn't a playoff team before the season began. Now he says they aren't a Super Bowl team. In a couple of weeks he'll be talking about how there's no way this team could win 5 straight championships. I wonder if he has road rash from all this backsliding.

Pittsburgh at New Orleans

Derek - Pittsburgh. The Steelers got lucky last week but showed they have can have big plays now that Big Ben is back. The Saints havn't played well latley and until they get some RB's back they'll be hit and miss.

Loren - Pittsburgh. The Steelers are as tough and good as any team in the league. Unfortunately, the Saints have too many questions right now and not enough answers.

Houston at Indianapolis

Derek - Indianapolis. Houston won one against the Colts, I don't think they'll take two.

Loren - Indianapolis. The Colts have responded well from their early season scares and their offense is clicking. Houston is inconsistent and has a negative point differential on the road against a good team. Easy call even though the Texans might make it interesting.

Miami at Cincinnati

Derek - Miami. They're on the road which seems to be where they want to play. They also are coming off a lose and seem to win those games as well.

Loren - Cincinnati. Bengals break their three game losing streak against a Miami team trying to figure out how to score with their defense since the offense obviously needs help.

Tennessee at San Diego

Derek - Tennessee. Even with the cross country trip I see the Titans running game piling up over 150 yards versus a poor D.

Loren - Tennessee. The Titans have the best point differential in the league by 24 points. San Diego should be better once Vincent Jackson gets up to speed, but that's going to be a while and the season might be gone by then.

Denver at San Francisco

Derek - San Franciso. Hey if the Raiders can put up 59 on the Broncos the 49ers should be able to score 21 and that should be enought to best Baby Jesus's team.

Loren - Denver. The 49ers don't get home field advantage since this game is in England. Denver will work to plug some of the defensive holes highlighted last week and I'd rather trust Orton than Troy Smith.

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Crazy Blazer bet time

For the fourth season in a row the crew and fans of Portland Men on Sports are making crazy Blazer bets. The crazier the better. Anyone who's prediction comes true gets a nice $5 from everyone else.

Derek: Oden, Joel and Camby play a combined 210 games this season.
Loren: Brandon Roy 2010 NBA MVP
Chris: Blazers trade Brandon Roy
Ryan: Blazers win 63
Philipp: Blazers win the NBA Championship
Jacob: Once Oden comes back from injury he will not miss another game this season, the Blazers will also have the best home record in the NBA.

Put your bet in the comment section. No money for you however, just bragging rights. See you at the home opener.

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NFL Picks Week 7

Well Loren and I broke even last week, because the Ravens let the Pats back in to the game, idiots! Anyway...I'm still down by three.

Washington at Chicago

Derek - Chicago. Both these teams are hit and miss. I trust the Bears D and the return game at home.

Loren - Chicago. If the visiting team has a negative point differential and the home team has a positive point differential, you take the home team.

Philadelphia at Tennessee

Derek - Tennessee. Jackson being out of the game is going to have a bigger effect than some think. But this comes down to the Titans D and the RB of theirs.

Loren - Tennesse, The Titans are finally on a roll after being up and down in the early going. I trust their ability to control the clock via the ground game not give up the home run ball.

Pittsburgh at Miami

Derek - Pittsburgh. I'm a Fins fan but I'm not tooooo dumb. The Steelers are the better team and Big Ben is back. Strange note, if the Dolphins lose this one they'll be 0-3 at home and 3-0 on the road.

Loren - Pittsburgh. I'd like to take Miami this week but the Steelers D is just to much. Throw in an offense that clearly responded to the return of Roethlisberger and it's a no brainer.

New England at San Diego

Derek - New England. This could be a trap game but I've got to go with the better team. Brady can lead the Pats through what has become a suspect D and the Chargers O doesn't look that great so far.

Loren - New England. Who would have thought the Chargers would be in last place in the AFC West at this point in the year? But if you have mental lapses (and coverage lapses) on D, an ineffective ground game, and Norv Turner as your coach...it all adds up or, in this case, subtracts down.

Minnesota at Green Bay

Derek - Green Bay. The Packers aren't going to lose two in a row at home. And the crowed will be ALLLLLLLLLL over the Vikings.

Loren - Green Bay. I really tried to talk myself into the Vikings here. They have slightly better defensive numbers, They're coming off a big win and a bye week to prepare. They're offense is better with the addition of Moss. But I don't trust Favre in a close game and I think this might be close. Lambeau give the edge. Plus, I don't want to violate the rule I laid out in the Washington/Chicago game.

NY Giants at Dallas

Derek - NY Giants. I'm officially off the Dallas bandwagon, they screwed me over too much so I'm going with the Giants. Manning can gash the 'Boys D and I think he will.

Loren - Giants. I wish I could pick at least one different team this week but unfortunately I just don't believe any of the other teams are going to win their games. The Cowboys are terrible most of the time and when they're good on offense they're getting killed on defense, and vice versa. I don't trust the Giants that much either but at this point I have to take them over the Cowboys.

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NFL Week 6 picks

No more Dallas picks for me. I'm now down three.

Miami at Green Bay

Derek - Green Bay. I'm staying away from picking my own team. Rodgers should play and that right there should be enough to beat the Fins and start the end to their season.

Loren - Green Bay. I'm only taking the Pack because the game is at Lambeau. The Pack haven't taken the step to become an elite team like I thought they would, but beating a tough Miami team might give them the momentum they need.

Baltimore at New England

Derek - Baltimore. Perhaps I should know by now to stay away from my preseason picks. But I'm going to stick with the Ravens, I think they are learning to be a more offensive team and we'll see that in a few weeks.

Loren - New England. Pats at home and I actually think they'll have a more rounded offense without Moss demanding touches. Also, Hobo Bill will shake up his D a bit like he usually does when they're underperforming. No one commands his players to give all they have like Hobo Bill.

NY Jets at Denver

Derek - NY Jets. While Denver is a tough place to play, they are nothing more than a mid range team, if that. You should know by now I'm not a Jets fan but they are clearly the better team in this case.

Loren - NY Jets. I'd love to take my Broncos, especially considering the kind of year Orton is having. However, Lloyd and Gaffney will be blanketed by Revis and Cromartie. Denver has no running game to speak and a long day in front of them.

Dallas at Minnesota

Derek - Minnesota. Jeez who thought that both of these teams would have 1-3 records right now. I really have no idea what team to pick. So i'm going against my preseason pick here. Yup it's all science now.

Loren - Minnesota. Better talent, even if Favre is not playing. AP can put this team on his back for at least one game. Though, he hasn't done it yet this year. Hmmm....

Indianapolis at Washington

Derek - Indianapolis. I'm about 99% sure I'm taking the Colts for the rest of the year. I think Peyton will lead this team to big things this year, they've faced some adversity already and that's going to get them far this season.

Loren - Indianapolis. The Redskins are too inconsistent to pick them against a team like Indy. I like the 'Skins to come out of the NFC East, but I don't think they're ready to beat one of the upper echelon AFC teams.

Tennessee at Jacksonville

Derek - Tennessee. I think this could be a closer game than some folks think. That being said, or is it typed, the Titans are the better team and should be able to run all over the Jags.

Loren - Jacksonville. The Titans aren't as good as people think they are, and the Jags are better than people realize. Jags are at home on a two game win streak having taken out Indy and the Bills. The Titans have alternated wins and losses this season. Last game? Win.

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NFL Pick 'Em - Week 5

Derek and I split last week's games, with Derek correctly calling Baltimore over Pittsburgh while I got the benefit of his homer pick of Miami over New England. That means we head into this week's games with me in the lead by 2.

Green Bay @ Washington

Loren - Green Bay. Yes, the Pack barely escaped Detroit last week while the 'Skins put a licking on a good Philly team, but I think the Packers come out a little more prepared and with their egos a little more in check. I see another big game for Rodgers.

Derek -Green Bay. I think there's a better team here and I'm going to pick the Packers. They seem to be on the verge of going on a great run, I don't think the Redskins can hand with them all four quarters.

Denver @ Baltimore

Loren - Baltimore. Here's the thing, if I pick Denver they lose and if I pick their opponent they win. So I'm hedging my bets here hoping my reverse jinx will hold true but at the same time picking the team that seems most likely to win this game. Seriously, though, the Ravens secondary isn't anywhere near as good as past years and Orton has been on fire this year. Don't be surprised to see the Broncos miraculously pull this one out on the road.

Derek -Baltimore. Seriously, though Baltimore should win this game hands down. Come on this has to be the easy game of the week right, right?

Kansas City @ Indianapolis

Loren - Indianapolis. It's been a good run for the Chiefs, but all good things come to an end. The Colts are going to decimate the Chiefs and tarnish that unbeaten luster.

Derek -Indianapolis. Peyton + Mad + Determined = Big win. I'm not sure what the spread is in this game but I'd take the Colts all the way, I don't think this one is going to be close.

NY Giants @ Houston

Loren - Houston. One of the harder games to pick this week. Which Houston team will show up? Which Giants team will show up? I like the Texans (dumbest team name in all of sports) to pull it together this week, figure out a way to stop the Giants bull rush, and make some big plays down field.

Derek -Houston. Loren's right this is the hard game to pick this week I can see it going either way but I think Mario Williams can get to Manning and I think Andrea Johnson will have a big day.

Tennessee @ Dallas

Loren - Tennessee. I see the Titans finally gelling this week against a Dallas team that has spent their bye week trying to figure out a host of questions about their team. Chris Johnson has to break loose at some point and while the Dallas run D is better than average, you know CJ is chomping at the bit to get a big game under his belt.

Derek -Dallas. I might as well stick to the Cowboy bandwagon. It's a home game for a team that needs to win and playing at home, I think they can gang up on Johnson and make Young beat them.

Minnesota @ NY Jets

Loren - Minnesota. It may sound silly, but my pick for this game changed with the Moss trade. It's not that I think Moss has a game changing performance for the Vikes, but his acquisition has given pep to a team in need of a boost. A new attitude and a new weapon for Favre translate to win on the road against a tough team.

Derek -Minnesota. Again I'm taking the team that just came off the bye week, I'm not sure who's going to do it but I won't be surprised if Peterson runs through the Jets D.

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Oregon Vs. Stanford

We've heard for years now how Autzen stadium is a loud place to play perhaps one of the loudest college football stadiums in the country. I've attended many games from easy going to boisterous. I was at the Stanford game which pitted the number 4 team in the country versus the number 9 team. Going in this is a game you think would be on the loud side of things. While I found the game to be nice and loud on the Ducks side, I didn't think it was up there with lat years Civil War. But there were some folks who thought it was a bit too loud. The pic below is of a Stanford fan who'd plug his ears anytime there was a bit of noise in the stadium even the OOOOOOOOOOOOO before kickoffs. I guess their no so loud on the farm.

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Week 4 NFL picks

Well here we are in week 4 and after Loren and I split last weeks games I find myself in a usual place. Two picks down. Lets see if I can make up any ground this week.

Denver at Tennessee

Derek - Tennessee. I'm going t ogo with the home team here, I don't think either of these teams are that great and I know Young has had some trouble but I don't see Denver doing much on the ground.

Loren - Tennessee. I learned my lesson last week: don't be a homer. I likely won't remember that for very long, but it should keep me from losing ground this week.

Baltimore at Pittsburgh

Derek - Baltimore. I may be going out on a bit of a limb here but I don't think Pittsburgh can keep doing what they've been doing with Batch at QB. I still think the Ravens are a Super Bowl caliber team. I guess we'll find out.

Loren - Pittsburgh. The Steelers haven't lost yet, and they know they just need to win this week before they go into the bye and get Roethlisberger back. They have the home crowd on their side, too.

Washington at Philadelphia

Derek - Philadelphia. McNabb is back in town but his team isn't that good and Vick is having a mini resurgence right now. The Eagle fans should cheer McNabb in the intro boo him while playing and go home happy with the W.

Loren - Philadelphia. Too much offense, too hard to contain Vick, and a tough crowd on the road; Eagles going away.

Arizona at San Diego

Derek - San Diego. I know the Chargers arn't on top of their game right now but we all know that's going to change. The Cards are searching for something to get them going but they aren't going to find it here.

Loren - San Diego. Really? This game? I can't think of one positive thing to say about the Cardinals except I'm being forced to start Derek Anderson at QB2 in a fantasy league so I hope he has a big day. Yes, I'm preparing for a loss.

Chicago at NY Giants

Derek - Chicago. I like the Giants at home but I think the Bears are playing really well right now, not blowing teams away but finding big plays when needed. They'll put together another close win.

Loren - Chicago. The Giants aren't nearly as good as the Packers and the Bears hung in for the win last week. As long as Cutler doesn't get turnover happy...wait, now I'm second guessing myself...

New England at Miami

Derek - Miami. The Dolphins blew it for both Loren and I last week, but showed they can pass when needed. The pats D isn't that strong against the pass and Miami will be able to throw on New England to put up some points. If the O doesn't make mistakes they could win easy, but the main factor is the game is in South Florida.

Loren - New England. The Dolphins aren't ready to make the leap yet, and the Patriots aren't ready to give up the crown. Yes, there are serious defensive concerns for the Pats, but the Dolphins can't hang with them on offense and that receiving corps is going to have a field day.

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