Monday Night Pick: NYG(-3) at WAS
Published December 21, 2009 | 
We have the Giants who are still in the playoff hunt needing to probably win out this season coming into Washington against a heavily underrated team. The offense has struggled all year but the defense has been the Redskins backbone. The ‘Skins have also been underestimated with the spread. They’ve beat the spread in 5 straight ballgames and have kept some high powered offenses at bay.
However, the Giants are a Superbowl winning team at the core, with players who are still hungry and looking to make another playoff run. The veterans on the Giants will propel them to the victory. Giants win and easily cover the spread (-3).
Hopefully some of you were lucky enough early in the week to catch the spread at -1 favoring the giants.
Saturday Night Pick: DAL at NO
Published December 19, 2009 | 
Saints go into the game 13-0 this season looking to keep their perfection and keep up with the Colts. And if you aren’t living in a small secluded box somewhere in Guatemala, you’ve probably noticed its December. Well that means awful, just terrible things for the Cowboys as they are 4-8 since 2007 in December. Its worse than that though. They blow their playoffs seeding nearly every year and then go into the playoffs and wrap up the playoff game in a nice little bow and hand it over to their opponent for Christmas.
Well this time it may be different. Although the Cowboys lost another December game last week, this week they have a chance. The Cowboys clearly aren’t driven by playoff depth and success since they’ve had none. But maybe spoiling 65 guy’s lives by ruining their perfect season is just the thing to motivate Romo and the ‘Boys. By this point, the undefeated season is within reach for the Saints and starting to hit home just how important this feat could be. This could leave them looking ahead to week 17 and the Superbowl already.
I like the Saints to win still, but they are going to have to scrap for this one too. Trust the game will be within a TD at the end, and the Cowboys cover the 8 point spread and potential win a spoiler.
Indy-feated Season?
Published December 18, 2009 | 
Peyton Peyton Peyton. Is this guy good or what? He’s led the Colts to a 14-0 start, in which 7 of those were come from behind IN THE 4TH QUARTER. Which of course, another NFL record set by Manning and the Colts.
The question now is should they go for 16? I think the answer is absolutely, Yes. When have the colts ever done well after resting players going into the playoffs to keep them “fresh”? The answer is never. Manning’s lone Superbowl was one from one of his very few wildcard games. Since they have the first round bye in the playoffs solidified, there is no reason to rest anyways. Every year, the colts look great going into week 15 of the season and then something happens. They lose their edge. They get complacent and start resting players for the playoffs. Then they come out soft and unprepared mentally and physically after 2-3 weeks of rest without hard game action.
This time they have something to play for. The undefeated season that lives forever, and can never be topped. The Colts are so close, they ahve to go for it. Now that the Patiots have done it, not a single analyst and ‘expert’ are saying rest your players. Play full out. Dominate the last two game vs the Jets and Buffalo and go into the playoffs with the undefeated season, looking to make it 19.
I can’t decide if Manning is really that complacent with just a superbowl here. And think about the other records on the line. 23 regular season games in a row. If they can get it to 25 straight going into next year that record would likely go to 30 since they always start fast, being the best mentally prepared team early in the year. Manning is having a season for the ages and is on the cusp of all the major NFL QB records. An undefeated season, even if it doens’t result in a Superbowl win, would add to Manning’s elite status and strengthen his argument for best of all time.
Go for it Colts. You owe it to your players who have worked so hard to get it to 14-0, dont give them a let down going into the playoffs, AGAIN.
Thursday Night Pick: IND(-3) at JAC
Published December 17, 2009 | 
Peyton is still undefeated facing a division rival who have spoiled Colts undefeated seasons in the past. The Jaguars defense a few years ago would give Peyton trouble, put times have changed and Peyton owns the Jags team of late.
We are starting to hear whispers out of players in Indy indicating they want to go for the undefeated season. I mean, why not? All it does is keep up momentum going into playoffs. The Colts will rest their injured players in the final 3 weeks as much as possible.
But 3 points in this situation is just not enough to give the jaguars the betting edge. The Colts have the advantage in all of the major statistical categories that are causal to a win (with the exception of the large gap in rushing).
Look for the Colts defense to come through again and lead the colts to a 6 point victory.
Chris Henry Dies at 26
Published December 17, 2009 | 
Chris Henry, WR for Cincinnati has passed away following a domestic dispute with his girlfriend and being thrown from her truck bed at high speeds.
The impact on the Bengals players will be heavy. Henry has a troubled past with drugs, alcohol, and abuse but was said to be clean and on the way to a better life. It hasn’t been said what caused the dispute and led to Henry chasing after his girlfriend and jumping in her truck bed to eventually be thrown out.
This could impact the Bengals in a few ways. They play a big game with playoff implications against the 10-3 Chargers in just 3 days. The Bengals players could rally around the memory of their teammate and let this propel them to a Superbowl in his memory. It could also crumble the emotions and work ethics of the players, and be very dismal on the team’s success. The Bengals may be able to rally around this event and play some great football.
Henry had 12 receptions for 236 yards in 2009. Prayers go out to Henry’s family and the Bengals organization