Week 13 Picks

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

Thursday Night Foosball:
Houston +8 at Philadelphia
Mike: HOU. Which game will score higher in the ratings? Thursday night NFL Football or the return of Mr James to Cleveland in Thursday night NBA Basketball?
Joe: Phi. Philly literally runs away with this one. Houston doesn't have a fighting chance. And the LeQuitter return will record waaaaaaaaaaaaay higher ratings.
Final: PHI by 10. (J1-0, M0-1) Texans blow a 4th qtr lead and my pick. Thanks, Schaub. And you were right about the ratings.

Sunday Football
Buffalo +5.5 at Minnesota
Mike: MIN. The Bills always seem to be close and then blow it at the end. The Vikings are rejuvinated with their new head coach and coast to a win.
Joe: MIN. Minnesota at home still isn't bad, while Favre in your home is kinda uncomfortable.
Final: MIN big. (J2-0, M1-1). Vikings prove they can win with Tavaras throwing the picks.

Cleveland +5 at Miami
Mike: CLE. I'm somewhat confident that the Browns won't even need the points. Well, then again, Jake will gift wrap at least 6 to the Dolphins so the 5 points is a nice cushion.
Joe: CLE. Gotta take the points. Peyton Hillis will get another 3 TDs but Jake will again make mistakes as this game very much resembles last weeks win over the Panthers.
Final: CLE by 3. (J3-0, M2-1). Jake tried to throw the game to the Dolphins but they dropped the late pick. Instead it was Henne handing it to the Brownies. Those early season losses killed what could have been an exciting season. (And no TDs for Hillis.)

Jacksonville +10 at Tennessee
Mike: JAX. The point spread is ridiculous. The Jags aren't that bad (wins are wins, Joe) and the Titans aren't that good. Kerry Collins isn't 100% so they're just one smack away from Rusty.
Joe: TEN. Only because I read your post and I'm going with 'wins aren't wins.'
Final: JAX by 11. (J3-1, M3-1). Big brother is right again. Wins are wins.

Denver +9 at Kansas City
Mike: DEN. The Broncos have been blown out more than I can count... but today they'll score enough to make it a reasonable loss.
Joe: KC. The Haley-McDaniels-Finger-Gate (always wanted to say that, never thought I would) will be resolved today in a big KC win as they push for the playoffs. Cassel a shocking MVP candidate.
Final: KC by 4. (J3-2, M4-1). Coach McDaniels should have kicked Haley in the groin instead of accepting that postgame hug.

Washington +7 at NY Giants
Mike: NYG. I changed my mind on this pick. The Redskins will be huddling around the heaters.
Joe: Was. Maybe this week the Giants will show who they are, one way or another.
Final: NYG by 24. (J3-3, M5-1). At least we're not Panther fans, Bengal fans or Redskin fans.

Chicago -4.5 at Detroit
Mike: CHI. Could be an upset but the Bear defense has been strong and Joe's least favorite quarterback will have a strong performance against a pitiful Detroit defense.
Joe: CHI. I finally believe Chicago is good. Uhlacher should be an MVP candidate if they make the playoffs.
Final: CHI by 4. (J3-4, M5-2). Let me add, "at least we're not Lion fans" to that list.

San Francisco +9.5 at Green Bay
Mike: GB. The 49ers are still a year away. The west coast team won't play well on the frozen tundra.
Joe: GB. Resounding win for the home team. Aaron Rodgers is an MVP candidate.
Final: GB by 18. (J4-4, M6-2). The 1929 Packers could have played the 4th qtr and still held off the hapless Niners.

New Orleans -6.5 at Cincinnati
Mike: CIN. New Orleans squeaks out a comeback win.
Joe: NO. And NO to your pick as well.
Final: NO by 4. (J4-5, M7-2). My short but sweet prediction couldn't have been more true.

Atlanta -3 at Tampa Bay
Mike: ATL. The Buccaneers have maxxed out.
Joe: TB. Believe in Josh Freeman.
Final: ATL by 4. (J4-6, M8-2). Josh Freeman has maxxed out.

Oakland +12.5 at San Diego
Mike: OAK. Hard to resist all those points. The Chargers have been improved, yes, but let's not forget Jason Campbell's hot streak earlier this season.
Joe: SD. Something like 42-20 here. Oakland has again become Oakland.
Final: OAK by 15. (J4-7, M9-2). Oakland is who we didn't think they were.

Carolina +6 at Seattle
Mike: SEA. It's tough for an east coast team to play well on the west coast, and vice versa.
Joe: SEA. Carolina can't beat the Browns or anyone else.
Final: SEA by 17. (J5-7, M10-2). Panthers started strong then turned into the Panthers.

Dallas +5 at Indianapolis
Mike: DAL. Cowboys have been playing better. Peyton is out of weapons.
Joe: IND. I'll still take Peyton at home.
Final: DAL by 3. (J5-8, M11-2). What's going on with Peyton? He threw as many TD passes to Cowboy defenders as his own receivers.

St Louis -3 at Arizona
Mike: STL. How can you not believe in Bradford?
Joe: STL. This pick is so much disbelief in DA.
Final: STL by 13. (J6-8, M12-2). DA might actually play better *with* a concussion...

Pittsburgh +3 at Baltimore
Mike: BAL. There are no winners in this game.
Joe: BAL. The winners are the kids who get more charity money from Harrison.
Final: PIT by 3. (J6-9, M12-3). At least there were injuries.

Monday Night Football
NY Jets +3 at New England
Mike: NE. Tough to pick against the Jets. Coach Bill is ready for some football.
Joe: NE. Its tough to ever pick the Jets. They are in for a harsh MNF reality.
Final: NE by a million. (J7-9, M13-3) The most amazing week of picking in Krukster history. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Updated Standings:
Joe: 97-90 (.519)
Mike: 100-87 (.535)