The Week 15 Picks

Before we get to the Sunday games, a quick word about Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt, who passed away at age 74 this week. Hunt was not only an owner, but an innovator and a visionary. He was instrumental in the AFL-NFL merger and coined the phrase "Super Bowl." But his contribution to sports were not limited to football. He helped launch Major League Soccer, the North American Soccer League, and a traveling tennis circuit. He was also a part-owner of the Chicago Bulls and collected six NBA championship rings. Hunt’s impact on the sports world will live on in his legacy, and he will be missed.

Anyway, it’s Saturday night, and instead of watching the Cowboys-Falcons game on TV, I’m trying to follow it on the computer. So far, the Eagles are not getting any help from Ron Mexico, who is 0-2 with an interception that was returned for a TD and has a mere 9 rushing yards.

Sunday, December 17th, 2006

The Match-up: Tampa Bay (+13.5) @ Chicago
The Skinny: I know Rex Grossman had a decent game in St. Louis on Monday, and with their defense and special teams (especially Devin Hester), all Grossman has to do is be decent.
Straight Up: Chicago
Against the Spread: Chicago

The Match-up: Pittsburgh (Off) @ Carolina
The Skinny: Since stumbling out of the gate at 2-6, the Steelers have won four of five and get Carolina at a time where they’re sinking like a stone in the ocean.
Straight Up: Pittsburgh
Against the Spread: Pittsburgh

The Match-up: Detroit (+5.0) @ Green Bay
The Skinny: The Packers have beaten the Lions in Green Bay fourteen straight times. Brett Favre has never lost to Detroit in Lambeau. And, the Lions are 0-6 on the road this season. The way the NFL has gone this year, I was actually tempted to take the Lions. But I didn’t.
Straight Up: Green Bay
Against the Spread: Green Bay

The Match-up: Cleveland (+11.0) @ Baltimore
The Skinny: My sleeper team for this year? Still asleep, apparently.
Straight Up: Baltimore
Against the Spread: Baltimore

The Match-up: Jacksonville (-3.5) @ Tennessee
The Skinny: Until he loses again, I’ll find it hard to go against Vince Young, even against a quality opponent like the Jaguars (who have struggled on the road this season).
Straight Up: Tennessee
Against the Spread: Tennessee

The Match-up: New York Jets (+3.0) @ Minnesota
The Skinny: I think the Jets may have gotten full of themselves with so many people putting them in the playoffs, because they forgot they had to play the game against Buffalo last week. I don’t think they’ll make the same mistake in Minnesota.
Straight Up: New York Jets
Against the Spread: New York Jets

The Match-up: Houston (+11.5) @ New England
The Skinny: I’d be willing to wager that, rather than leaking audio tapes to the Texans, that neither Brady nor Belichick spoke at all this week.
Straight Up: New England
Against the Spread: New England

The Match-up: Washington (+9.5) @ New Orleans
The Skinny: The only real challenger to LaDanian Tomlinson’s MVP award is Drew Brees. Could you imagine if these guys were on the same team?
Straight Up: New Orleans
Against the Spread: New Orleans

The Match-up: Miami (+1.0) @ Buffalo
The Skinny: Florida team in Buffalo in December? I’ll take the Bills.
Straight Up: Buffalo
Against the Spread: Buffalo

The Match-up: Denver (-2.5) @ Arizona
The Skinny: Colorado team in Arizona in December? I’ll take the Broncos.
Straight Up: Denver
Against the Spread: Denver

The Match-up: St. Louis (+2.5) @ Oakland
The Skinny: I don’t like the fact that the Raiders are actually favored in this game. This one may come back to get me.
Straight Up: St. Louis
Against the Spread: St. Louis

The Match-up: Philadelphia (+5.5) @ New York Giants
The Skinny: Credit the Eagles front office for learning from last year’s mistakes and bringing in a quality back-up quarterback to play behind Donovan McNabb. Jeff Garcia is a winner, and the Eagles could really benefit from a win over the Giants.
Straight Up: Philadelphia
Against the Spread: Philadelphia

The Match-up: Kansas City (+8.5) @ San Diego
The Skinny: With my head (straight up) and my heart (against the spread).
Straight Up: San Diego
Against the Spread: Kansas City

Monday, December 18th, 2006

The Match-up: Cincinnati (+3.0) @ Indianapolis
The Skinny: This was my pre-season AFC championship game, and if not for the Chargers, it still might be.
Straight Up: Indianapolis
Against the Spread: Indianapolis