REMEMBER THE TITANS- STEELERS. NFL PICKS.
Fans have a reason to tune in this week
Many weeks, football fans find other things to watch on Thursday nights. The matchups aren’t exactly intriguing. This is a week to tune in. Pittsburgh is a 7- point favourite over Tennessee. It’s an important game for several reasons: ❚ Both teams lead their divisions, the 7-2 Steelers in the AFC North, the 6-3 Titans in a tie with Jacksonville atop the AFC South. ❚ Both are in good shape for wild- card slots, and this game could have tiebreaker ramifications. ❚ Both teams are on fourgame winning streaks. ❚ Each comes off tight tests against inferior opponents, Pittsburgh at Indianapolis, Tennessee at home to Cincinnati. It will be interesting to see how ( or if ) they rebound with stronger performances.
Titans coach Mike Mularkey isn’t concerned the short turnaround will affect his club. Playing the Steelers always gets a team’s attention.
“If we let that become a distraction, it can be, yes,” Mularkey said. “This team’s pretty mature and pretty good about handling different situations, and this won’t be any different.”
Unfortunately for Tennessee, it has not played particularly well on the road. So...
Steelers, 20-17 New England ( minus 6) vs. Oakland at Mexico City
It gets tiresome making the Patriots the top choice, but it also makes a lot of sense.
Best Bet: Patriots, 30-20 Arizona ( minus 2.5) at Houston
One of s e veral home underdogs we like this week.
Upset Special: Texans, 1913 Baltimore ( minus 2. 5) at Green Bay
Another home dog we will go with.
Packers, 17-16
Detroit ( minus 2.5) at Chicago And another. Bears, 17-16 Kansas City ( minus 9) at New York Giants OK, enough of that. Here’s a favourite ready to romp. Chiefs, 30-13 Los Angeles Rams ( plus 2.5) at Minnesota
Who would have projected this to be the highlight of Week 11?
Rams, 27-24 Philadelphia ( plus 3) at Dallas
The Cowboys can kiss the NFC East title and maybe a wild card goodbye if they lose.
Cowboys, 28-27 Atlanta ( plus 3) at Seattle
Dan Quinn against his mentor, Pete Carroll. Even though they are undermanned ...
Seahawks, 23-21 Jacksonville ( minus 7.5) at Cleveland
Just can’t pick the Browns to win.
Jaguars, 23-20 Tampa Bay ( plus 3) at Miami
This was Week 1 matchup postponed by Hurricane Irma.
Buccaneers, 20-16 Washington ( plus 8) at New Orleans
Saints have that risingup look, Redskins have that banged-up look.
Saints, 34-23 Buffalo ( plus 4.5) at Los Angeles Chargers
Did the prospect of finally making the playoffs scare the Bills into a QB change? The Bills have benched Tyrod Taylor in favour of rookie Nathan Peterman.
Chargers, 22-20 Cincinnati (plus 2.5) at Denver Remember when Denver was a tough place to play? Bengals, 17-16 Last week: Against spread (76). Straight up (8-5) Season Totals: Against spread ( 67- 69- 3). Straight up: (88-57) Best Bet: 6- 4 against spread, 8-2 straight up. Upset special: 6- 4 against spread, 6- 4 straight up.