TDL’s Sports, Wrestling, & Otherwise

After an impressive five win week last week, coincidently attached to the week in which I finally decided to look at my current standings, I’m off to an equally impressive start this week.

Thursday
Bears +3 at Redskins: Two weeks ago, this game looked like a real downer on the NFL Network schedule. Today it’s two teams really in a must win spot to keep any bit of playoff hopes alive. Sadly (or excitingly, depending on who you’re a fan of) the last playoff spot is still wide open in the NFC. At the very least the NFL managed to take another important game from its fans. Way to work it, guys… nothing like taking a game with possible playoff implications and making so the fewest people possible see it. All that said, I think Campbell falls apart under the Bears’ pass rush… even more than Grossman falls apart in a normal game. Bears outright.

Sunday

Dolphins +7 at Bills: Well, at least the Dolphins are back into into their comfortable underdog position. The Dolphins are really in a tough spot now. Every team they face aren’t going want to be the team that loses to them first… in fact, being underdogs was enough to fire the Jets into scoring 44 points. The Jets did that to them at home. Now they go on the road to Buffalo, where they never win anyway, and are supposed to stay within a touchdown? I don’t think so. Bills cover.

Rams +6 at Bengals: Is this really the first total garbage game of the season? Two teams with absolutely nothing left to play for in December? There had to be one previously that I’ve forgotten. I hate picking these games because it’s really left to guess what’s going to happen at the end of the day. I still can’t really pick the Rams and expect it to work out. Bengals cover.

Cowboys -10.5 at Lions: I just have to surrender and start picking the Cowboys when my first instinct tells me they’re going to cover a spread. With the Lions rapidly falling apart, I see no reason why Tony Romo won’t throw a few more of those “how the f*ck is he that wide open” passes to TO. Cowboys cover.

Raiders +10 at Packers: My Raiders crystal ball tells me *peers* Packers cover.

Bucs -2.5 at Texans: Bandwagon. Bucs cover.

Panthers +10 at Jaguars: Jaguars cover in the battle of the expansion cats.

Giants +3 at Eagles: I’m only half-surprised the Eagles are favored here. I’d be curious to know how the spread will shift when the final call is made on McNabb. If he’s playing, which way is the spread going to go? The Giants are actually going in to this game in pretty rough shape. Their pleasant surprise runningback is out for the season with a broken leg. Their number one receiver still really isn’t practicing. Their supposed number one runningback can’t seem to answer the bell from week to week. Worst: the Eagles are playing a must win game at home. I’d like to think the Giants will build on the success they had last week and just run from the no-huddle the entire game. I’d also like to think the Giants pass rush will be able to dominate the Eagles line just like earlier in the season. Giants outright.

Chargers -2 at Titans: The fact that the Chargers never show up for away games is a concern. It’s also a concern because the Chargers are my first instinct in a Titans game. Chargers cover.

Vikings -7 at Niners: The Vikings are going to start a push to the playoffs now and I’m not really sure if any of the crappy teams left on their schedule are going to be able to stop them. Vikings cover.

Cardinals +6.5 at Seahawks: Have the Seahawks beaten any good team by more than 4 this year? Cardinals +6.5.

Chiefs +6.5 at Broncos: Stick a fork in the Chiefs. Broncos cover.

Browns -3.5 at Jets: I find it amazing that the Browns are having a decent year and I have found them on television exactly once. Stupid have two local market teams. This spread would be a helluva lot worse had the Jets not put up 44 last week, which makes it an easy pick: Browns cover.

Steelers +14.5 at Patriots: This spread was 6 until word got to the Patriots that various Steelers started guaranteeing victory. It’s really a testament to the Patriots that the third best team in the AFC is a 2 touchdown dog to them. All that said, the Patriots defense is starting to wear down a bit. They’ve given up a total of 52 points the last two weeks. If this spread was 13.5, I’d probably pick the Patriots… but I’ll stab myself in the face if I end up picking the Patriots and they win 35-21. Steelers +14.5.

Colts -10 at Ravens: One of two things are going to happen to the Ravens this week. Either they will unify themselves, refocus, and make them realize that they almost beat the best team in the league and would have save for a bonehead move from the sideline. Or: the meltdown will continue into this week. Honestly, I don’t know which way it’s going to go. As my first though here is that the Ravens are going to cover, I have to go with Colts cover.

Monday

Falcons +5.5 at Saints: Ah the “we have no clue” spread. My first instinct is Saints cover… then I had start overthinking and thinking this game has something like 23-20 written all over it. When I overthink I usually lose. Saints cover.

As I was filling the sheet out, I realized I picked 13 of 16 favorites. This terrifies me for some reason.