Our week seventeen NFL picks VS the spread
As the NFL enters its final week of the regular season, our Annual NFL Pickoff VS the Spread is becoming intense. Our Buddy Snyder, who has held the lead since mid-season, continues to hold serve with a record of 126-105-8. Colin moved into second place in week 16 at 121-110-8. Reidy is two games behind Colin at 119-112-8 and Scott Stafford is catching up. He sits at 117-114-8, above .500 for the first time this year.
The contest continues through the Super Bowl, but week 17 presents the last chance for our pickers to work with a full sixteen game slate.
Here’s how the fellows see it going down in week 17.
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NY Jets @ Buffalo (-3.5)
Has there ever been a more talked about 6-9 team than Rex Ryan’s Jets? They’re one hell of a mess. In fact, they’re bad enough to be 3.5 point underdogs to the Bills in Buffalo. These two teams are playing for nothing but pride … and maybe their jobs.
Colin’s pick: Buffalo -3.5
Reidy’s pick: Buffalo -3.5
Snyder’s pick: Buffalo -3.5
Scott’s pick: NY Jets +3.5
Miami @ New England (-10.5)
The Patriots may or may not be playing for a playoff bye as they host their division rival Dolphins on Sunday afternoon. If Houston stumbles in Indy during the morning games New England will, with a win, be the #2 seed in the AFC. If, however, Houston beats the Colts, this game will be for no marbles. That makes it a tricky one to pick. Either way, it’s tough to see Miami beating the Pats.
Colin’s pick: New England -10.5
Reidy’s pick: New England -10.5
Snyder’s pick: New England -10.5
Scott’s pick: New England -10.5
Baltimore @ Cincinnati (-2.5)
The Bengals and the Ravens are locked into playoff spots, so this game is all about determining who might travel to play whom in the first week of the playoffs. It’s likely that they will face each other two weeks in a row. The Bengals are favored, but by less than the typical 3 points awarded to home teams. Vegas basically sees the Ravens as the better squad.
Colin’s pick: Cincinnati -2.5
Reidy’s pick: Cincinnati -2.5
Snyder’s pick: Cincinnati -2.5
Scott’s pick: Baltimore +2.5
Cleveland @ Pittsburgh (-4.5)
The playoffs won’t seem like the playoffs without the Steelers, who have been eliminated from contention and look to avoid being swept on the season by the Browns for the first time since 1998. AFC North division games are always hard hitting. This one should be fun despite the lack of post-season implications.
Colin’s pick: Pittsburgh -4.5
Reidy’s pick: Pittsburgh -4.5
Snyder’s pick: Pittsburgh -4.5
Scott’s pick: Pittsburgh -4.5
Indianapolis VS Houston (-7)
Having already won the AFC South, the Colts are playoff bound. They host the mighty Texans, who can end the 2012 regular season as the top seed in the AFC or fall as far as the third seed if things don’t go their way. The Colts cannot be budged from the fifth seed regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s game, but their head coach, Chuck Pagano will be back on their sidelines this week. That’s reason enough for Indy to play hard.
Colin’s pick: Indianapolis +7
Reidy’s pick: Indianapolis +7
Snyder’s pick: Indianapolis +7
Scott’s pick: Indianapolis +7
Jacksonville @ Tennessee (-4.5)
This game might as well be called the who-the-hell-cares bowl. Both AFC south teams involved are just plain awful and could return for 2013 with new coaches.
Colin’s pick: Jacksonville +4.5
Reidy’s pick: Jacksonville +4.5
Snyder’s pick: Tennessee -4.5
Scott’s pick: Tennessee -4.5
Philadelphia @ NY Giants (-7.5)
The Giants have lost five of their past seven games and need some help to get into the playoffs. First they have to hold serve over the Eagles who will come onto New Jersey with their old starting QB, Michael Vick, back at the helm. Vick is almost certainly a former-Eagle once this game ends, so he will be looking to show other teams that he can still play at a high level. The Eagles have nothing left to play for except perhaps to wish Andy Reid a fond farewell.
Colin’s pick: Philadelphia +7.5
Reidy’s pick: Philadelphia +7.5
Snyder’s pick: Philadelphia +7.5
Scott’s pick: Philadelphia +7.5
Dallas @ Washington (-3.5)
The Sunday night game also happens to be the game of the week. Whoever wins this one wins the AFC East and proceeds to the post-season. The loser will likely be eliminated from contention. It’s winner take all in this classic rivalry game.
Colin’s pick: Dallas +3.5
Reidy’s pick: Dallas +3.5
Snyder’s pick: Washington -3.5
Scott’s pick: Washington -3.5
Detroit VS Chicago (-3)
This game pits one disappointing team versus another. Chicago still has an outside shot at a playoff berth, but they have to take care of business in Detroit and get a little help from their rivals the Packers. Detroit is only looking to prove that they will be a force next year.
Colin’s pick: Chicago -3
Reidy’s pick: Detroit +3
Snyder’s pick: Detroit +3
Scott’s pick: Chicago -3
Minnesota VS Green Bay (-3.5)
This one is for the marbles. If the Vikings can beat the Packers at home they will make the post-season for the first time since 2009 and probably turn around and play the Packers again on Wild Card weekend. If, however, the Packers win, they will earn themselves a bye. Who could ask for more?
Colin’s pick: Minnesota +3.5
Reidy’s pick: Green Bay -3.5
Snyder’s pick: Green Bay -3.5
Scott’s pick: Green Bay -3.5
Tampa Bay @ Atlanta (-8.5)
The Falcons will be the top seed in the NFC win or lose. But they have a chance to go undefeated at home as they host their division rival Bucs in week 17. The Bucs have showed flashes of being decent, but have mostly been a disappointment to their fans this season.
Colin’s pick: Atlanta -8.5
Reidy’s pick: Tampa Bay +8.5
Snyder’s pick: Tampa Bay +8.5
Scott’s pick: Atlanta -8.5
Carolina @ New Orleans (-5.5)
This game pits two non-playoff teams who have shown vast improvement in the second half of the season against one another. Cam Newton has been on fire lately, as have been the Saints, who are finally out from under “bounty gate”.
Colin’s pick: New Orleans -5.5
Reidy’s pick: New Orleans -5.5
Snyder’s pick: New Orleans -5.5
Scott’s pick: New Orleans -5.5
Kansas City @ Denver (-16)
The Broncos have not been 16 point favorites since the late 90’s. It’s no surprise, however, that Vegas has no confidence in a Chiefs team that is ready to pack it in and brace for major changes in 2013.
Colin’s pick: Denver -16
Reidy’s pick: Denver -16
Snyder’s pick: Denver -16
Scott’s pick: Kansas City +16
Oakland @ San Diego (-7.5)
The terrible Raiders travel cross-state to clash with the awful Chargers in a week 17 match-up of also-rans. On the positive side, the game is not blacked out in SD.
Colin’s pick: San Diego -7.5
Reidy’s pick: San Diego -7.5
Snyder’s pick: San Diego -7.5
Scott’s pick: San Diego -7.5
Arizona @ San Francisco (-16.5)
This is the biggest line of the season!
Colin’s pick: Arizona +16.5
Reidy’s pick: Arizona +16.5
Snyder’s pick: San Francisco -16.5
Scott’s pick: San Francisco -16.5
St Louis @ Seattle (-11)
The Seahawks have an outside shot at winning their division, but even if they don’t they are playoff bound. They host the Rams, who have been predictably bad but surprisingly good at times. Seattle is the toughest place in the NFL to play, unfortunately it doesn’t look like any playoff games will be hosted there.
Colin’s pick: Seattle -11
Reidy’s pick: Seattle -11
Snyder’s pick: Seattle -11
Scott’s pick: Seattle -11
