Looking to rally after a tough week
Pro Picks is going golfing. More specifically, we’re taking a mulligan.
After asking our sidekick to sub in for last week and seeing him destroy whatever credibility we still had, we’re dismissing the 5-9-1 mark against the spread and, ugh, a 4-11 total straight up. Yep, 4-11 without the spread.
OK, we’ll still include the Week 6 debacle in the overall numbers. But we won’t forget who was responsible for them.
Speaking of ugliness, what the Packers and Bears have presented this season has been difficult to watch. Green Bay (No. 11 in AP Pro32) can’t make its offence click, and Chicago has mastered losing games it is in position to win.
The biggest concern in Green Bay is where did the real Aaron Rodgers go? Of course, A-Rod will repeat his mantra of “Relax,” and he’s probably right.
“I just think it’s accuracy,” he says. “I’ve missed a couple that I’m used to hitting. And you hit those and you take away the throwaways, being able to hit some things on some of those plays instead of extending and throwing the ball away and we’re right where we need to be.”
The Packers are favoured by 9½ over the Bears (No. 30, AP Pro32). On a short week, getting their offensive woes fixed is a tall task for the Packers. They’ll still win, but ... PACKERS, 20-16 KNOCKOUT LEAGUE TIP
This one really hurt because we were rolling through five weeks, then the Steelers went over the deep end. Not that we are taking the blame. Look to the Falcons this week. No. 22 San Diego (plus 5) at No. 5 Atlanta – Falcons were robbed at Seattle, will take it out on Chargers. BEST BET: FALCONS, 33-20 No. 13 Oakland (plus 2) at
No. 28 Jacksonville – Can’t fathom this line because Raiders don’t fear East Coast any more. UPSET SPECIAL: RAIDERS, 30-28 No. 2 New England (minus 7) at No. 8 Pittsburgh – No Big Ben, plenty of Tom Terrific. No contest, unfortunately. PATRIOTS, 31-13
No. 3 Seattle (plus 1) at
No. 14 Arizona – Huge NFC West showdown in October. Cardinals need it more right now. CARDINALS, 22-20 No. 15 Houston (plus 7) at
No. 6 Denver, Monday night – Brock Osweiler’s return to Denver. Can’t see Broncos losing three straight. BRONCOS, 21-16 No. 16 New York Giants (minus 2½) vs. No. 20 Los
Angeles at London – Schedule maker has not been kind to Rams. GIANTS, 23-21 No. 1 Minnesota (pick-em)
at No. 12 Philadelphia – Unbeaten Eagles lost momentum when they went on bye. Vikings won’t. VIKINGS, 20-17 No. 23 New Orleans (plus 7) at No. 10 Kansas City – Chiefs might be ready to string together some wins. CHIEFS, 26-23 No. 9 Washington (plus 2) at No. 17 Detroit – Can’t figure out either of these teams. LIONS, 27-26 No. 32 Cleveland (plus 9 ½) at No. 19 Cincinnati – The pillow fight of Ohio. BENGALS, 17-13
No. 7 Buffalo (minus 3)
at No. 15 Miami – Dolphins had their shocker in win over Pittsburgh. Bills are improving. BILLS, 22-10
No. 27 Indianapolis (pickem) at No. 21 Tennessee – Titans could wind up best team in this mediocre division. TITANS, 17-16
No. 18 Baltimore (pickem) at No. 29 New York Jets – Ravens lost at Meadowlands last week, win there this week. RAVENS, 19-15
No. 24 Tampa Bay (plus 1½) at No. 31 San Francisco – Niners might be worst team in NFL right now. BUCCANEERS, 27-17
Last Week: Against spread (5-9-1). Straight up: (4-11) Season Totals: Against spread (43-43-4). Straight up: (50-42) Best Bet: 3-3 against spread, 4-2 straight up. Upset Special: 3-3 against spread, 3-3 straight up.