Week 14 Picks, For Entertainment Purposes Only
By Jason Lisk
GAMES I LIKE
1. Cincinnati (+9) at PITTSBURGH, 1 pm. Cincinnati is an okay bad team, which is to say, they find ways to lose, but aren’t prone to getting blown off the field like, say, the Cardinals. This is a big line, the Bengals have played well in Pittsburgh recently, and the Steelers are coming off the emotional, and physically taxing big win at Baltimore.
2. Cleveland (PK) at BUFFALO, 1 pm. Weather could make passing difficult in this one, and that should play right into the hands of the Browns, with their good offensive line and Hillis, going against one of the worst run defenses in the league.
3. Miami (+6) at NY JETS, 4 pm. Ordinarily, I would be hesitant to take a warm weather team heading north into bad weather, but I think these two teams are much closer than this point spread and the Dolphins have played well on the road this year.
4. JACKSONVILLE (-3.5) vs. Oakland, 1 pm. Oakland is traveling across the country, in a spot for a letdown for an inconsistent team after a big victory.
5. WASHINGTON (+1) vs. Tampa Bay, 1 pm. Josh Freeman won’t have a chance to score a touchdown while Albert Haynesworth lays on the field right in front of him.
GAMES I LEAN
6. Philadelphia (-4) at DALLAS, Sunday night. The Eagles have been the best team in the league at turnover differential, while the Cowboys have turned into a turnover creating machine under Jason Garrett. I lean on the matchup of Vick and the receivers getting isolated on the Cowboy safeties for this pick.
7. CHICAGO (+3) vs. New England, 4 pm. I may have liked the Patriots initially, but given the reports of the wind conditions and precipitation, I think it’s going to be very hard for either team to pass much, and this should be a close affair.
8. CAROLINA (+7.5) vs. Atlanta, 1 pm. This is a classic blah game for a Falcons team that has won some big games against teams battling for a playoff spot.
9. HOUSTON (+3) vs. Baltimore, 1 pm. The Texans will win this one for Kubiak, so that he can get to 8-8.
10. SAN FRANCISCO (-5) vs. Seattle, 4 pm. If the 49ers win this one at home, the West becomes very interesting, well, that’s an overstatement, lets just say muddled, over the final three weeks.
GUESSES
11. Kansas City (+9.5) at SAN DIEGO, 4 pm. Brodie Croyle will start the game in place of Cassel, the Chargers haven’t exactly been the most consistent heavy favorite, and they are laying a big number again.
12. NEW ORLEANS (-9) vs. St. Louis, 1 pm. The Rams are playing their third straight on the road.
13. Denver (-4) at ARIZONA, 4 pm. Denver is slightly less horrible here, and will be playing to honor the legacy of Josh mcDaniels.
14. MINNESOTA (+3) vs. NY Giants, Monday night. The Giants will be distracted after spending a day in the entertainment capital of the world.
15. DETROIT (+7) vs. Green Bay, 1 pm.