NFL Week 13 picks

Loren and I split our games last week again, going 3-3. This week we're picking all three Thanksgivign games. I'm now up 42-29-1 why Loren trails at 33-38-1.

 

Chicago at Detroit

Derek - Detroit. While Detroit isn't a dominate team I can't go with Cutler right now. He's way too up an down, and more down recently.

Loren – Detroit. Chicago can’t beat good teams but have won their last two games. Detroit can’t beat good team and have lost their last two games. So…home team?

Philadelphia at Dallas

Derek - Dallas. I think you beat the Eagles by running the ball. Having the leagues leading rusher in Murray should be a good start.

Loren – Philadelphia. The point differential between these two teams is staggering and you know Kelly would like to go into Dallas and run the Cowboys out of the building. Plus, another excuse to pick against Dallas. Ugh, Dallas.

Seattle at San Francisco

Derek - Seattle. I'm not a fan of what I see out of the 49ers recently. I think Seattle will be able to move the ball on offense and control the game.

Loren – San Francisco. I’m not sold on Seattle at all. Seattle’s inconsistencies are less easily explained than the 49ers’ whose problems have stemmed primarily from injuries. While not fully healthy, they’re better off than the last few weeks.

New Orleans at Pittsburgh

Derek - Pittsburgh. The Saints cost me two in a row at home, I'm not picking them or any other NFC South team on the road.

Loren – Pittsburgh. Someone has to win the NFC South, right? Or can we all agree that the conference forfeits their playoff spot this year? Settled.

New England at Green Bay

Derek - New England. I like Green Bay, but the way the Pats are playing, I'm not holding out much hope.

Loren – New England. This should be fun.

Denver at Kansas City

Derek - Denver. Denver is a very good team with some large flaws, but right now they seem to put it together win they need it. Also no one seems to want to gaurd Thomas in the red zone.

Loren – Denver. Did the second half against the Dolphins shake loose the cobwebs for the Broncos? Will CJ Anderson lock down starting back duties with another performance like last week? Will Alex Smith throw a ball further than 6 yards? Hopefully, probably, and no.

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NFL Week 12 Picks

Loren and I split our games last week going 3-3. This puts me at 39-26-1 why Loren trails at 30-35-1.

Miami at Denver
Derek - Miami. Do I really think Miami will win? No but this is  Derek's team versus Loren's team game and I just have to go with my guys!
Loren – Denver. How different things begin look after the last two weeks. Suddenly there are questions about Denver’s depth and resilience coping with injuries. This week, they get the second best rated defense. Miami’s numbers are skewed by playing Buffalo (twice), Oakland, KC and Jacksonville. On the other hand, they did shut down Brady, Cutler and Rivers. No way to predict this, but Miami’s offense matches up poorly with Denver’s D. I’m taking the home team.

Detroit at New England
Derek - New England.The Pats are just chewing through people right now and I don't see that stopping for awhile. Probably the playoffs.
Loren – New England. Detroit has a puncher’s chance and a great ground defense. But the Pats don’t lose at home and have too many offensive dimensions.

Cincinnati at Houston
Derek - Houston. I think the Houston D will have a decent day against the up and doooowwwwnnnnn Andy Dolton.
Loren – Houston. Seems like I just can’t get a Cincy game right this year. So you should expect them to win by 40.

Arizona at Seattle
Derek - Seattle. I'm going with the home team here. Arizona has been playing well enough to win games but I think they'll split the season sereies with the home team each winning one.
Loren – Seattle. With Palmer in there for consistency, I’d have taken Arizona. Probably time for him to hang up the cleats while he can still walk.

Dallas at New York Giants
Derek - Dallas. The Cowboys will run the ball 35+ times and control this game from the begining.
Loren – Giants. Whatever. I’m not taking Dallas.

Baltimore at New Orleans
Derek - New Orleans. Won't take the Saints if they're on the road anymore but they're at home for this one and the Raven, while a quality team won't handle Graham.
Loren – New Orleans. Everyone thought they were back. This could be the most inconsistent frustrating year for gamblers. Seriously, there have to be a lot of desperate dudes in over their heads this year. Why New Orleans? Why not?

 

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NFL Week 11 Picks

Loren and I only differed on one game last week and although I had to pick agasint my team I extended my lead with a solid 5-1 week. This puts me at 36-23-1 why Loren trails at 27-32-1.

Cincinnati at New Orleans
Derek - New Orleans. Last week I stuck with the Saints at home and lost, but I'm goin gto give them some love again. The way Dolton played last week can't be overlooked and he needs to show something this week before you can feel confident with Cincinnati again.
Loren - New Orleans. Good god that division sucks. Looks like the Saints have solved some of their early season woes and get the struggling Bengals as reward.

San Francisco at N.Y. Giants
Derek - San Francisco. I don't like picking teams traveling across country but the 49ers just won in NO and that's a better team and tougher environment crowd wise. The 49ers also have to keep winning in order to make the playoffs.
Loren - San Francisco. Yeah yeah, west coast team traveling across the country blah blah. Have you seen the Giants? What a mess! Can't take the last ranked defense against even a mediocre team.

Seattle at Kansas City
Derek - Seattle. I could go either way on this game. But I just think Seattle can do a bit more than the Chiefs in all three phases. Then again Arrowhead is a tough place to play. I'm grasping at straws here.
Loren - Seattle. Look, twinsies! Both teams with decent defenses, excellent ground games and a complete lack of ability to throw the ball. An important, but likely boring, game. Again, taking the better defense.

Detroit at Arizona
Derek - Arizona. Detroit seems to pull of a lot of close ones but so do the Cards, I'll go with the home team and a who knows what you get back up QB.
Loren - Detroit. Would have taken the Cardinals here if Palmer was healthy. Still could be a coin flip game, and Bush is out, but Detroit should be able to chuck it successfully.

Philadelphia at Green Bay
Derek - Green Bay. Should be a good one, but the way Rodgers is playing makes me think even other good offensive teams won't be able to stay with the Pack.
Loren - Green Bay. Potentially the best matchup all weekend. I'm taking the home team, but only because they're the home team.

New England at Indianapolis.
Derek - Indianapolis. I think Luck will outduel Brady and will see the first one to 35 win this game.
Loren - New England. The Colts actually look better on paper but the Pats are killing it lately. Not that the Colts have been slouches. It just feels like Brady is back to some degree and he has the Colts number.

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NFL Week 10 Picks

Another solid week for me going 5-1, but Loren keeps falling behind with a 2-4 record last week. This puts me at 31-22-1 why Loren trails by a game at 23-30-1.

Miami at Detroit
Derek - Detroit. If the game was in Miami I'd take the Dolphns but even as a fan I don't see them as a playoff team and the return of Megatron could be big.
Loren - Miami. An upset special here. I like the way Miami is playing and their defense is really clicking. Dome game means their offense doesn't have to deal with the weather.

San Francisco at New Orleans
Derek - New Orleans. Saints at home and the 49ers are stumbling. How else are the Saints going to win the division with 8-9 wins if they don't win their home games. :)
Loren - New Orleans. Even though San Francisco is getting healthier on defense and is a dangerous team, New Orleans has the momentum and home field advantage. Manning tore apart the Niners this season, I expect Brees to do much of the same.

St. Louis at Arizona
Derek - Arizona. I'm not sure the Cardinals are planning to lose any more games. They're not the best team but they just keep winning. The Rams arn't an easy out but they can't beat the entire division back to back to back...can they?
Loren - Arizona. St Louis sure looks energized the last few games. Unfortunately, the Cardinals are waiting. May not even be close.
New York Giants at Seattle
Derek - Seattle. Giants going across the country to play a far superior team? Good luck Eli!
Loren - Seattle. Boy, things will get ugly in Seattle if the Seahawks blow this one. I'd kind of like to see that, actually. Probably won't happen, but I'll definitely be paying attention to this game.

Chicago at Green Bay
Derek - Green Bay. Packer were playing well heading into their bye week last week. I don't for see any slow starts here and lots of fantasy points will be put up in this one.
Loren - Green Bay. Chicago is a confusing damn team. Loads of talent, lots of yards, little to show for it. Forte is having a great year but everything else is completely schizophrenic. Another game that could be terribly fun to watch.

Carolina at Philadelphia
Derek - Philadelphia. If the Panthers are going to win they better hope that their D comes to the game as they thought it would have all year long. Don't let Sanchez beat you. Of course I'm sure that's why they have that McCoy guy.
Loren - Philadelphia. Honestly, I don't know what I'm doing here. What's the over/under on Sanchez interceptions? Carolina has a fighting chance.

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NFL Week 9 Picks

Now we're seeing the better picker seperate. I went 5-1 last week while Loren went 1-5. This puts me at 26-21-1 why Loren trails by a game at 21-26-1.

 

San Diego at Miami

Derek - Miami. Both of these teams seem to be up and down, but the Dolphins are always good for a win at home against a decent west coast teams. They won't turn it over as much as they're prone to do and Miller will get over 100 yards and lead them to victory.

Loren - Miami. I was ready to take San Diego until I realized the teams they've beaten are a combined 11-24. San Diego's signature win so far is against 4-3 Seattle at home. Doesn't sound much like a dark horse Super Bowl contender.

Arizona at Dallas

Derek - Arizona. Since Romo's out then the Cowboys will be way too much one diminstional. Murray's been good but already shoulders too much of the load. If your a Dallas fan your hope here is that you walk out of this game healthy.

Loren - Arizona. Having the lone blemish on your record be a loss to Denver isn't such a bad thing. With Romo out, the D-line can stack the box and try to lock down Murray.

Philadelphia at Houston

Derek - Philadelphia. The Eagles should be able to score enough to make Houston throw it and when the QB is a hairy Fitzpatrick that can only be good...for the defense.

Loren - Houston. I still don't know what to expect from the Eagles. Like San Diego, they'e proven they can beat the bad teams. Do they have an extra dimension to call on, a winning spirit to help them in tough games against tough teams? This matchup should help answer that question. Houston plays their best at home and you can bet Foster is looking forward to the sub-par Eagle's D.

St. Louis at San Francisco

Derek - San Francisco. The bye week came at a good time for the 49ers. They can regroup and get a bit healthier. They also get a home game agaisnt a middling Rams team. They should control the ball from the opening kick off.

Loren - San Francisco. With a chance to get healthier through their bye week, San Francisco should come out and blow the doors off St Louis.

Denver at New England

Derek - New England. Yeah no idea, it's in the snow and both teams like to pass...so. I picked agasint Loren's team, that's how I do.

Loren - Denver. Big, big game. Brady and the Pats look back on target and enjoy playing the foil to whatever team Manning is leading. But you still have to consider that the Pats barely beat the Jets and Raiders and have lost to the Dolphins and Chiefs. The Broncos have been more consistent and they have a defense that can actually make a difference in games.

Baltimore at Pittsburgh

Derek - Pittsburgh. Not sure about this one either, but I've done ok picking agaisnt the Ravens, so I'll keep it up. Brown is a stud at WR and I hope Fat Ben uses him well.

Loren - Baltimore. What a mess the AFC North is. You have a 4-2-1 team at the top of the standings because no one else has been able to put it all together and pull away. Even with the Steeler's offensive output last week, the Ravens have scored more points and allowed far fewer. Have to follow the stats in this one.

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