NFL Week 12 Picks

The CHAMP IS HERE! THE CHAMP IS HERE! Hey have beating Loren 3-1 last week I've regained the lead. I've got 41-25 record and Loren has a 40-26 mark. On to the picks!

Green Bay at Detroit
Derek – Green Bay. The Lions are a good team, not a great team they can score and when they get to the QB they can hurt him on D, but the Pack are on another level. Detroit could score 35 and lose by double digits early.
Loren – Green Bay. This is likely to be the most entertaining game of the weekend. Seriously, a Super Tecmo Bowl score is definitely possible. Green Bay just has more weapons and Detroit doesn’t have Aaron Rogers.

Tampa Bay at Tennessee
Derek – Tennessee. The Bucs are not looking good lately and I think the Titans D will handle Blount. And it looks like CJ is working his way in to form.
Loren – Tampa Bay. Going out on a limb here, but I like what Blount brings to the Tampa Bay offense. They hung in with Green Bay last week and I just don’t see them dropping 5 in a row. Tennessee still can’t get their ground game going and now there are worries about Hasselbeck. Tampa Bay surprises Tennessee.

San Francisco at Baltimore
Derek – Baltimore. If you read this blog you know my thoughts on teams playing across country. Couple that with the fact that the 49ers are going to have to rely on Alex Smith to move the ball this could go sideways in a hurry.
Loren – Baltimore. I really, really wanted to take San Francisco but there are three factors that weigh in favor of Baltimore. The 49ers’ passing D is pretty awful, so even though they might shut down Ray Rice, Flacco will have plenty of room to throw. Second, Baltimore’s D is so strong that San Francisco will struggle to move the ball at all. If they get down and have to rely on Alex Smith to throw them back into the game, it could get ugly. Finally, San Francisco is crossing three time zones. That’s going to sap their energy.

Chicago at Oakland
Derek – Oakland. If I'm the Oakland D I put 11 guys in the box. I'm not confident the Hottub Hanie can hit an open receiver. The Raiders D is to good for the Bears in this situation. Just make sure they don't kick to Harris.
Loren – Chicago. I like the groove Chicago has found, and they are quietly 7-3 and have won 5 in a row including an avenging, and convincing, victory against Detroit. Yes, Cutler is out, but that might actually work in favor of the Bears in the short term. Hanie will throw more passes in the flat, hopefully getting the ball into Forte’s hands and letting him use his speed and power.

Buffalo at NY Jets
Derek – NY Jets. The Bills look like the complete opposite from they way they started the season. They can throw at all and I think that's going to hurt Fred Jackson's ability to run.
Loren – NY Jets. The battle of two teams circling the drain. Really, whoever loses here is out of the playoff race. I have no confidence in either team, and hope that Buffalo wins, but I think the Jets’ D and playing at home carry the day.

Denver at San Diego
Derek – San Diego. Below Loren makes some good points. I'm going to go with odds. Sure Tebow is 4-1 this year as a starter. But that would make the odds of him losing that much better, frankly he's due.
Loren – Denver. I have to go with the statistics, and Tebow is 4-1 as a starter. I’m not picking against the guy with an 80% winning rate. That would be like picking against the Packers or the Pats! Okay, seriously though, San Diego is in shambles with open arguing on the sideline and questions already surfacing about a lost season. All the pressure is on San Diego to turn the tide against a Denver team playing with nothing to lose and a whole lot of heart.