This week is off to a typically unspectacular start thanks to my foolish belief that Raiders season wasn’t quite in the tank yet. Works out it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So for a second consecutive week, I’m 0-1 straight up and against the spread heading into the weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last week’s bad start gave way to an 8-8 finish, both straight up and with the points. (And what’s weird is that there were no splits. I either got a game right or got it wrong both ways.) That put me at 133-73-1 (.645) and 92-110-5 (.457) respectively through week fourteen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let’s see how much worse things can get. Here’s what not to expect over the next three days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buffalo<\/a> (-6) at<\/strong> Denver<\/a><\/strong> Carolina<\/a> (+8.5) at<\/strong> Green Bay<\/a><\/strong> Tampa Bay<\/a> (-6) at<\/strong> Atlanta<\/a><\/strong> San Francisco<\/a> (-3) at<\/strong> Dallas<\/a><\/strong> Detroit<\/a> (+10.5) at<\/strong> Tennessee<\/a><\/strong> Houston<\/a> (+7.5) at<\/strong> Indianapolis<\/a><\/strong> New England<\/a> (+2) at<\/strong> Miami<\/a><\/strong> Chicago<\/a> (+3) at<\/strong> Minnesota<\/a><\/strong> Seattle<\/a> (-5.5) at<\/strong> Washington<\/a><\/strong> Jacksonville<\/a> (+13) at<\/strong> Baltimore<\/a><\/strong> NY Jets<\/a> (+17.5) at<\/strong> LA Rams<\/a><\/strong> Philadelphia<\/a> (+6.5) at<\/strong> Arizona<\/a><\/strong> Kansas City<\/a> (-3) at<\/strong> New Orleans<\/a><\/strong> Cleveland<\/a> (-5) at<\/strong> NY Giants<\/a><\/strong> Pittsburgh<\/a> (-12.5) at<\/strong> Cincinnati<\/a><\/strong>
Buffalo will wrap up their first AFC East title in 25 years with a win here. The Bills are going to take the division even if they figure out a way to lose this one. But there’s very little risk of that. Bills by a touchdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I feel like the Panthers could have a shot at an upset here if they could just, you know, become a football team sometime before kickoff. That would be a surprise development. But you never know. Packers by 17.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Buccaneers look like a team that’s likely to hit a brick wall pretty early in the postseason. Until then, it should be fairly clear sailing. Tampa by four.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Does it matter? I guess the Niners might have a defense, at least comparatively speaking. I’m not convinced they have an offense, though, which can present problems. Still, let’s say San Fran. By a point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Something tells me the Lions’ complete lack of a run defense is likely to be a factor here. Titans by 20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Texans are toast. Colts by 13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Patriots have a tendency to struggle in Miami even in the best of seasons. This is not the best of seasons. Dolphins by a field goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both of these teams are done. The visitors are just a little bit doner. Vikings by four.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Seahawks are the better team. But they’re not nearly consistent enough to be giving more than a field goal on the road. Seattle by three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is gonna be ugly. Ravens take their foot off the gas in the second half and still come out ahead by 14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is gonna be uglier. Rams don’t take their foot off the gas. They win by 28.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Cardinals are a hard team to figure. The Eagles are just bad. Arizona by six.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I don’t know which of these teams wins on a neutral field (say the one in Tampa). On a not neutral field, I’m taking whichever team is at home. Saints by a point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Giants are getting better as the season wears on. But I don’t think they’ve quite caught up with the Browns. Cleveland by three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fire vs. wood matchup in my solstice bonfire likely will prove more competitive than this game. Steelers by 14.<\/p>\n