Eddie Utah's Merry Christmas Picks

I just got done breaking down tomorrow's games and am amazed at how many potentially lucrative picks are available. You can practically parlay the entire NFC East. A three-way tie means they all have to win. The Jets may be in Seattle, but the Seahawks just put their fifth starting offensive lineman on IR. Miami is a mere 3.5 point favorite in Kansas City and New England is home against a Cardinals team that hasn't won on the East Coast this year and is essentially locked into their playoff spot.

I also like Denver to clinch the AFC West over Buffalo and Tampa Bay to stay alive at home versus San Diego.

Here's the whole list:

CLEVELAND -3 over Cincinnati
ST. LOUIS +5 OVER San Francisco
TENNESSEE +2.5 over Pittsburgh
OAKLAND +7 over Houston
MINNESOTA -3 over Atlanta
WASHINGTON +5 over Philadelphia
Carolina +3.5 over GIANTS
CHICAGO -4 over Green Bay

Eddie in the Money Superpicks

New Orleans -7 over DETROIT
Miami -3.5 over Kansas City
NEW ENGLAND -8 over Arizona
Jets -3.5 over SEATTLE
TAMPA BAY -3.5 over San Diego
DENVER -6.5 over Buffalo

Week 14 NFL Picks

Bengals +13.5 over COLTS
BEARS -6.5 over Jaguars
PACKERS -7 over Texans
Browns +13.5 over TITANS
Vikings -10.5 over LIONS
Redskins +6 over RAVENS
GIANTS -7 over Eagles
Falcons +3 over SAINTS
Jets -4 over 49ERS
BILLS -1.5 over Dolphins
BRONCOS -9 over Chiefs
Rams +14 over CARDINALS
Cowboys +4 over STEELERS
Patriots -7 over SEAHAWKS
PANTHERS -3 over Buccaneers

Week 13: 7-9
Week 14: 1-0
Season: 90-98-4


Eddie in the Money Superpicks
Patriots -7 over SEAHAWKS
GIANTS -7 over Eagles
Jets -4 over 49ERS

Week 13: 3-1
Season: 28-15-2

Tonight's NFL Pick

Chargers -9 over Raiders

I gotta bolt and get back to my tax work. But first, let me offer a quick congrats to Chad and the Cowboys for piling on the poor Seahawks last week. Even Chad, the Seahawks' super good-luck charm, couldn't make a difference. Seattle has serious issues.

I'll be writing up a more detailed description of the mighty Cowboys and their "impressive" win in a few days, perhaps on Sunday.

Week 13 NFL Picks

Tennessee -11 over DETROIT
Seattle +12.5 over DALLAS
Arizona +3 over PHILADELPHIA
Indianapolis -5 over CLEVELAND
Baltimore -7 over CINCINNATI
Miami -9 over ST. LOUIS
BUFFALO -7 over San Francisco
Carolina -3 over GREEN BAY
TAMPA BAY -3.5 over New Orleans
NY Giants -3.5 over WASHINGTON
Atlanta +4.5 over SAN DIEGO
NEW ENGLAND -1 over Pittsburgh
NY JETS -7.5 over Denver
OAKLAND -3 over Kansas City
MINNESOTA -3.5 over Chicago
HOUSTON -3 over Jacksonville

Week 12 (overall): 8-7-1 (82-89-4)

Eddie in the Money Superpicks

Tennessee -11 over DETROIT
Seattle +12.5 over DALLAS
Baltimore -7 over CINCINNATI
NY Giants -3.5 over WASHINGTON

Week 12 (overall): 2-1 (25-14-2)

Special Thursday Night Eddie in the Money Superpick

I've been off in Orlando pretending to be a tax professional this week....more to come on Friday.

Here's tonight's pick: STEELERS -11 over Bengals.

Even though double-digit favorites are 2-12 ATS on the season, the Bengals are too bad and too beat up, especially after a long, arduous game on Sunday. In fact, this is an Eddie in the Money Superpick this week.

Week 11 (Overall): 9-7 (74-82-3)
Superpicks (Overall): 1-2 (23-13-2)

Week 11 Picks

FALCONS -6.5 over Broncos
Raiders +10 over DOLPHINS (reminder, double-digit dawgs are 12-2 on the season)
GIANTS -7 over Ravens
COLTS -8 over Texans
Titans -3 over JAGUARS
Bears +3.5 over PACKERS
Eagles -9 over BENGALS
Saints -5.5 over CHIEFS
Lions +14 over PANTHERS (see reminder above)
BUCS -4 over Vikings
49ERS -6.5 over Rams
Cardinals -3 over SEAHAWKS
STEELERS -5 over Chargers
Cowboys -1.5 over REDSKINS (without Portis, see comment on 5.3 to 1.8 yards per carry discrepancy here)
Browns +5 over BILLS

Week 10: 9-4
Week 11: 0-1
Overall: 65-75-3


Eddie in the Money Superpicks
COLTS -8 over Texans
49ERS -6.5 over Rams
FALCONS -6.5 over Broncos

Week 10: 3-0
Overall: 22-11-2

Tonight's NFL Pick and Post-Game Preview

First of all, a big YOU'RE WELCOME to all those who had funds in their gambling budget last week, as my Eddie in the Money Superpicks were a perfect three-for-three. Hopefully we can score some similar results this week. For tonight's pick, I like the home team (PATRIOTS -3 over Jets), but the real drama will come in the post-game exchange between former mentor, Bill Belichick, and the beligerent and rebellious once-supposed genius-in-waiting Eric Mangini. As you of course recall, it was Mangini who left the Patriots and took the one job Belichick admonished him not to take, head coach of the New York Jets. As if this weren't enough, Mangini and the Jets were also the ones who ratted out Belichick and the Patriots for their video-cheats last year. Luckily, for our viewing pleasure, we get to see these two coach against each other twice a year. The post-game exchange is always awkward. I wonder--would it really be such a big deal for Belichick to just run off to the locker room? Apparently that would amount to some sort of NFL coaching faux pas and a certain fine from the commissioner. So what drama awaits us tonight? The repressed and haughty grin from Belichick? The apologetic and droopy-eyed congratulations from Mangini? An attempted hug from Mangini, followed by shove from Belichick? Oh, the excitement! I can't wait for this game to be over.

Week 10 Overall: 9-4, 65-74-3 on the season
Week 10 Superpicks: 3-0, 22-11-2 on the season

Mid-Year NFL Rankings and Second Half Predictions

Only 11 teams currently have a losing record. Fifteen have a winning record, and six sit at 4-4. Optimistically, only seven teams are out of the running: Cincinnati, Kansas City, Oakland, Detroit, Seattle, San Francisco and St. Louis. With the exception of the AFC South, where the Titans lead with an 8-0 record, each of the remaining teams are within three games of the division leader. And all, including the Jaguars and Texans, are within two games of the wild-card lead. Much football is left to be played and surprises still await us. However, we certainly have a clearer picture of who might win the Superbowl than we did in September. So with that in mind, here are my Mid-Year Rankings and Second-Half Predictions:

Beefing Up Their College Scouting Departments
32. Detroit 0-8
31. Oakland 2-6
30. Cincinnati 1-8
29. Kansas City 1-7
28. St. Louis 2-6
27. San Francisco 2-6
26. Seattle 2-6

Panic Mode
25. Jacksonville 3-5
24. Houston 3-5
23. San Diego 3-5
22. Cleveland 3-6

Need Some Help
21. Denver 5-4
20. Miami 4-4
19. Minnesota 4-4
18. Dallas 5-4
17. Indianapolis 4-4
16. New Orleans 4-4
15. Green Bay 4-4

One-Win Postseason Ceiling
14. Atlanta 5-3
13. New York Jets 5-3
12. Buffalo
11. Baltimore 5-3
10. Arizona 5-3
9. Chicago 5-3
8. Philadelphia 5-3

The Contenders
7. New England 5-3
6. Tampa Bay 6-3
5. Washington 6-3
4. Carolina 6-2
3. Pittsburgh 6-2
2. New York Giants 7-1
1. Tennessee 8-0

Playoff Predictions
NFC Wildcard Playoffs: Washington over Arizona and Carolina over Chicago
AFC Wildcard Playoffs: San Diego over Buffalo and Indianapolis over Baltimore
NFC Divisional Playoffs: New York Giants over Carolina and Washington over Tampa Bay
AFC Divisional Playoffs: Tennessee over Indianapolis and San Diego over New England
Conference Championships: New York Giants over Washington and Tennessee over San Diego
Super Bowl: Tennessee over New York Giants