Just like everything else in 2020, somewhere along the line, my accounting of wins and losses for the season went haywire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe I’ll go back and fix it some time. Or maybe not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right now, I know I went 9-7 straight up and 8-8 against the spread in week 16. And I’m pretty sure I can do even worse picking the final 16 games of this absurd season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So here’s what not to expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Miami<\/a> (+1) at<\/strong> Buffalo<\/a><\/strong> Baltimore<\/a> (-14) at<\/strong> Cincinnati<\/a><\/strong> Pittsburgh<\/a> (+9) at<\/strong> Cleveland<\/a><\/strong> Minnesota<\/a> (-4) at<\/strong> Detroit<\/a><\/strong> NY Jets<\/a> (+3) at New England<\/a><\/strong> Dallas<\/a> (-1.5) at<\/strong> NY Giants<\/a><\/strong> Atlanta<\/a> (+7) at<\/strong> Tampa Bay<\/a><\/strong> Green Bay<\/a> (-4) at<\/strong> Chicago<\/a><\/strong> Las Vegas<\/a> (-2.5) at<\/strong> Denver<\/a><\/strong> Jacksonville<\/a> (+14) at<\/strong> Indianapolis<\/a><\/strong> LA Chargers<\/a> (-5) at Kansas City<\/a><\/strong> Arizona<\/a> (-3) at<\/strong> LA Rams<\/a><\/strong> Seattle<\/a> (-6.5) at<\/strong> San Francisco<\/a><\/strong> New Orleans<\/a> (-6) at<\/strong> Carolina<\/a><\/strong> Tennessee<\/a> (-7) at<\/strong> Houston<\/a><\/strong> Washington<\/a> (-4) at<\/strong> Philadelphia<\/a><\/strong>
Even though the difference between the two and three seeds has been minimized by the expanded postseason format, I still expect the Bills to play to win. Buffalo by a field goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ravens are in with a win. The Bengals are the Bengals. Baltimore by 13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The visitors are grabbing a sort of bye week where they can. The hosts are playing for a postseason berth. The Browns ought to have this one sewn up by halftime. I bet they won’t. But I bet the pull it together just in time, and come out on top by 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I never know how to pick a game like this. Neither team has anything to play for. And the Vikings are the “better” team, but the Lions are the home team. Ugh. Detroit by three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Somebody once said “you can’t not beat the Jets.” I don’t know if that’s still true. But it ought to be. Patriots by a touchdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Either the 6-9 visitors or the 5-10 home team will out of this game with a shot at taking the NFC East title. Because 2020 isn’t really over yet. New Jersey by three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A home win earns the Bucs a wild card round visit to the NFC East champion. That’s a nice little incentive. Tampa by 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A win here and the Packers get a week off and home field through the NFC playoffs. That should do it. Green Bay by three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’m not sure why the Raiders are giving points to any team in a road game. The Broncos are terrible, sure, but are they really that terrible? Denver by four.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are numerous postseason possibilities for the Colts. But none of them mean anything if the team doesn’t win. They’ll wrap this one up early. Indy by 20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With home field through the AFC playoffs already secured, the Chiefs are taking week 17 off. The Chargers will take advantage of the opportunity to end their season with a four-game win streak. Los Angeles by seven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Effectively a play-in game, which arguably is not the ideal time to be without your starting quarterback. Cardinals by a point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Seahawks don’t really have a shot at the NFC one seed. They’ll play like they do just the same. Seattle by a touchdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Saints are in mostly the same position as the Seahawks. Only they’re playing at home. New Orleans by 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Titans have something to play for. Tennessee by nine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brand X should probably win this one and capture the division. Which means they won’t. Eagles by six.<\/p>\n