Week 12 Picks

Standings through Week 11
Joe - 81-74
MM - 79-76

This 2010 Thanksgiving let's remember what's important. My birthday. Its the big 2-9 so I guess I really have to make this year count. Not that all mine haven't counted, I mean, come on. This last decade, spent mostly in college, is FILLED with memories I can't remember. And I plan on carrying that through this upcoming adventure/year. So Happy Birthday to me and let the picks continue to suck.

New England -6.5 @ Detroit
Joe: Det. Give thanks for Shaun Hill. Hope the Lions don't get the STUFFING beat out of them. New England is full of TURKEYS that could make this game SWEET POTATOES. PUMPKIN PIE, incidentally a recent study has shown Pumpkin Pie is the most arousing smell for men. That shouldn't make Thanksgiving that awkward. Maybe Tiger should have used that excuse last year...
MM: NE.
Final: NE by a lot. (J0-1, M1-0)

New Orleans -4 @ Dallas
Joe: Dal. I give thanks for Jon Kitna. He proves we don't need that 'H' in JoHn. What a waste. Some people still think Dallas can win out and make the playoffs, of course they are higher than Michael Irvin in a hotel room with a hooker. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!
MM: NO.
Final: NO by 3. (J1-1, M1-1)

Cincinnati +9 @ NY Jets
Joe: Cin. There is always a blowout on Thanksgiving and this will be it. Only Carson Palmer turns into Joe Montana when the Bengals get down by 21. So expect the score to go from 24-3 to a 31-24 final for the Jets.
MM: NYJ.
Final: NYJ by 16. (J1-2, M2-1)

Minnesota +1 @ Washington
Joe: Min. Its the curious case of the interim coach syndrome hypothesis.
MM: WASH. Whose team mascot is more racist? The Washington Redskins or the Cleveland Indians. These two teams obviously have the most racist mascots but which one is worse? The Redskins have the racist name but an honorable logo. The Indians have a plausible yet strangely embraced team name yet the logo is embarrasingly racist. The solution for each team? Change your team name. It's time. Keep the colors but change the name. The fans will learn to like it and merchandising will send profits soaring.
Final: MIN by 4. (J2-2, M2-2)

Pittsburgh -6.5 @ Buffalo
Joe: Buf. Why not??? Pittsburgh plays down to the Bills level in this one and Big Ben is distracted by all the hot chicks that fill the stands in Buffalo.
MM: BUF. The Bills always seem to try so darned hard.
Final: PIT by 3. (J3-2, M3-2)

Tennessee +6 @ Houston
Joe: Hou. Houston will climb back to 8-8 this season somehow. Best and worst 8-8 team the last few years.
MM: HOU. The Titans are a mess. And they're starting Rusty Smith. Do you really want a quarterback named Rusty? Wouldn't you rather have a brother Sharpe?
Final: HOU in a shutout. (J4-2, M4-2)

Jacksonville +7 @ NY Giants
Joe: Jax. Dunno about this one. Can't figure out either team. I could see any result in this game and not be surprised, well, unless Todd Bauman has to play.
MM: JAX. I usually bet against Jacksonville, Jinx's favorite team, and I'm usually wrong.
Final: NYG by 4. (J5-2, M5-2)

Carolina +9.5 @ Cleveland
Joe: Cle. That's a ton of points for the Brownies especially with Delhomme back in the saddle again (R'n'R HOF reference). Hopefully his high ankle doesn't effect his noodle arm. Peyton Hillis is going to have a big day.
MM: CLE. If they can beat the Saints and Patriots by 20... We can't say we're happy with the Browns season since they're out of the playoff hunt. But they've outperformed many expectations by being competitive every game this year and that bodes well for next year.
Final: CLE by 1. (J5-3, M5-3). My instinct was that the Browns would be playing in a nailbiter, not a blowout, but I chose according to peer pressure and cost myself a point.

Green Bay +1.5 @ Atlanta
Joe: Atl. Once someone beats Atlanta at home I will pick against them. Not yet.
MM: GB. The Packers have been strong lately while the Falcons are flatlining.
Final: ATL by 3. (J6-3, M5-4)

Philadelphia -3 @ Chicago
Joe: Phi. Chicago kinda scares me but Vick scares me more. Good battle between these surprisingly playoff bound teams.
MM: CHI. I'm valuing Soldier Field as worth even more than a field goal. I think the outdoor conditions will help the Bear defense to keep Mike Vick in check.
Final: CHI by 5. (J6-4, M6-4)

Tampa Bay +8 @ Baltimore
Joe: Bal. TB has not done well against upper level teams. This will not go well either.
MM: TB. Their head coach has the team believing in themselves. After hearing Raheem on Mike and Mike, he had me believing in them as well. I think they keep it close.
Final: BAL by 7. (J6-5, M7-4).

Miami -even- @ Oakland
Joe: Oak. Any relation to Don Majkowski?
MM: OAK. The Raiders are the fun pick this season. And today they go with Bruce Gradkowski, no relation to Steve Bartkowski.
Final: MIA big. (J6-6, M7-5). Third cousin to Ron Jaworski.

Kansas City +2.5 @ Seattle
Joe: KC. KC continues its playoff push. Cassel has been surprisingly good this year.
MM: SEA. Not sure how they do it but the Seahawks have been playing strong.
Final: KC big. (J7-6, M7-6)

St Louis +4 @ Denver
Joe: StL. McDaniels will not get the win and will be one step closer to fired.
MM: DEN. Coach McDaniels needs a win in a big way.
Final: STL by 3. (J8-6, M7-7)

San Diego +2.5 @ Indianapolis
Joe: SD. My new trend starting tonight, take Rivers with points. And when he has his top 2 WRs back. Vincent Jackson will make a difference.
MM: IND. The Colts are needing wins to preserve their playoff chances.
Final: SD wins big. (J9-6, M7-8)

San Francisco -1 @ Arizona
Joe: DA, I mean, Ari. DA has a HUGE game in prime time. 49ers keep falling.
MM: SF. Anybody else and I'd pick against the 49ers.
Final: SF big. (J9-7, M8-8)

Updated Standings:
Joe: 90-81 (.526)
Mike: 87-84 (.508)