The Crystal Ball

 

Last week was pretty bad here going a miserable 6 – 8 straight up; hope yours went better.  Oddly I was above average against the 7 – 6 – 1; that brings the straight up the season record is now 90 for 144.  Against the spread we are finally back to average at 68 – 68 – 8 for the season.  The spread is taken as it was as of Tuesday morning when I put these picks together, your mileage may vary.

 

Now time for the standard disclaimers; I participate in a pick’em league and this represents my preliminary choices for that and is for amusement purposes only.  Changes are often made later in the week as more information comes in, particularly regarding injuries.  Because of the deadline for this column, changes are not reflected in the weekly or the running totals.  This is my opinion only, not the actual informed football judgment of anyone else here and I am solely responsible.

 

Week 11

 

Tampa Bay at Atlanta – Atlanta is coming off a home win that was either a defensive struggle or a display of offensive ineptitude.  Tampa Bay is coming off their bye week and despite a relatively soft offense the defense has been sound, Buccaneers win 20 – 14.

 

Arizona at Cincinnati – No one will be watching this game for the defense, there should be plenty of offensive action here.  The defenses here are both vulnerable so this is a game where the last team with the ball or the team with the turnover edge; Bengals win 27 – 24.

 

Cleveland at Baltimore – The Baltimore offense has been ineffective and the defense showing its age.  Cleveland has come together offensively, scoring pretty much at will with a defense that is every bit as generous, Cleveland wins 28 – 14.

 

New York Giants at Detroit – Detroit looked flat and ill prepared for their game last week; if it was a trap, they certainly fell into it.  New York Giants had a difficult time last week; the pass rush was not as effective as it needed to be to then but should be for this one, Giants win 28 – 24.

 

Carolina at Green Bay – Green Bay finally demonstrated a running game against one of the better rushing defenses in the league.  Carolina is working under a considerable handicap given their considerable injury report, Packers win 24 – 10.

 

Kansas City at Indianapolis – Kansas City has been struggling offensively to get anything going, though their defense has been surprisingly solid.  Indianapolis has lost two in row, both winnable games but their injury list keeps growing, Colts win 21 – 10.

 

San Diego at Jacksonville – San Diego is having its own set of injury problems on defense and the offense still seems to be challenged, the road will not get any easier.  Jacksonville is getting Garrard back and while they can be somewhat inconsistent, Jaguars win 21 – 14.

 

Oakland at Minnesota – Oakland has been poor against the rush and not doing well in the passing game.  Minnesota will be without Peterson but still has the offensive line to exploit Oakland and enough defense for this one, Vikings win 20 – 14.

 

New Orleans at Houston – New Orleans has found their offense, more or less but their defense still is a liability.  Houston is coming off their bye and may have both Schaub and Johnson back, potentially reviving their offense, Texans win 28 – 24.

 

Miami at Philadelphia – Miami is still winless after losing a close one last week, though they probably played their most complete game of the season.  Philadelphia has been about as up and down as is possible this season, even down, Eagles win 24 – 10.

 

Pittsburg at New York Jets – The New York Jets are coming off their bye week and they may be getting back some needed players.  Pittsburg dodged a bullet last week, they lead the NFL in every defensive category and will not be too challenged here, Steelers win 28 – 17.

 

Washington at Dallas – Washington has been reasonably successful though not especially productive, now injuries are starting to expose their lack of depth.  Dallas continues to roll through the NFC and appear to be the class of that conference; Dallas wins 28 – 27.

 

St Louis at San Francisco – San Francisco has been stagnant on offense and their defense has been on the field too much to be effective.  St Louis won their first game of the season; they have gotten back most of their offensive skill players, Rams win 28 – 24.

 

Chicago at Seattle – Chicago won on the west coast last week and return there against a decidedly more difficult opponent.  Seattle has been inconsistent but put together a complete game last week, Seahawks win 24 – 14.

 

New England at Buffalo – Buffalo had a narrow escape last week; their offense generally ineffective and stalling out, not helped particularly by the injury to Lynch.  New England is coming off their bye week and well rested, Patriots win 30 – 10.

 

Tennessee at Denver – Denver won last week, they have had a difficult season, the defensive front has been an issue and the offensive line has struggled.  The Tennessee defense has been the strength particularly the front seven, which matches up well this week, Titans win 21 – 20.

 

Dale “at” footballforecasters.com