Ernesto the Prediction Iguana returns from his yearly sabbatical to make this week’s NFL picks, but first we have to give a hearty congratulations to Faith the Prediction Cat whose 6-2 week, (2-2 in teasers) puts the GNN/AWITP tally at a solid 50-16 overall, 19-14 in teasers. She’d have been 7-1, 3-1 had the idiot Rams gone all “Stanford-Cal/Music City Miracle” in the game against the Eagles and surrendered a touchdown on the final play. The Rams looked like the Chargers did against the Steelers a couple years ago, fumbling and having it returned on them. Faith deserved better than that hard luck beat, but that’s football. Sometimes even the experts get screwed.
Still, she did quite well in relief of Ernesto, who has big paws to fill as we head towards the playoffs. As always, we do 2-team teasers here, so we can move the line six points either way. We use the lines from www.vegasinsider.com, HOME TEAM IN CAPS.
ROAD WARRIORS!
patriots +3.5 at STEELERS
ravens -1.5 at BROWNS
With the Steelers LB corps hurting and their secondary unable to cover a cheeseburger, the Patriots can name their score. I think they’ll name 41-17, with Gronkowski scoring three touchdowns. The Ravens defense is suspect, but the putrid Browns can’t find the end zone with a map and a priest.
OVER EASY!
JAGS-texans OVER 33
GIANTS-eagles OVER 34
“I get killed on these OVER/UNDERS!” one bookie lamented to me. My response is, “then stop making it s easy for us.” The Eagles may score 34 by themselves. So may the Jaguars. And 33-34 points is well below the NFL average of 43-44…to low for two offensive juggernauts like Philly and J’ville.
TAKE THE POINTS
lions -1/2 at BEARS
chargers +7 at CHIEFS
Chargers, this is your litmus test. Your season was over, and then – like a rabbit in a conjuring trick – there you were with your fate n your own hands. Was it all a tease? Like is usually is? Meanwhile we could ask exactly the same thing of the Lions.
