Boston. Los Angeles. They meet again.
The results of the Divisional Round were tough for fans like myself…
…but great for the average NFL fan.
While everyone loves a Cinderella story, it’s a treat to NFL fans that the final four teams alive are pretty undisputedly the four best teams in the league. Many people were high on the Colts, but the Chiefs took care of them easily and reminded everyone how good they are. The Cowboys loss was tough, as the Rams showed why they went 13-3 and ran all over the Cowboys defense which had just shut down the team with the most rushing yards this season. The home team proving they were the better team was the theme of the weekend, as the Pats smacked the Chargers early Sunday. The week concluded with the Eagles incredible run coming to an end at the hands of the Saints. While I would love more than anything for the Cowboys to be playing, I’m still very excited for the weekend upcoming.
Just like the regular season, the playoffs have been a struggle for me. I went 2-2 outright, and 1-3 against the spread. Here’s a look back at the picks I made (correct pick in blue, incorrect pick in red):
Colts at Chiefs (-4.5)
My Pick: Chiefs 27, Colts 20
Cowboys (+7) at Rams
My Pick: Cowboys 27, Rams 24
Chargers (+4) at Patriots
My Pick: Chargers 24, Patriots 21
Eagles at Saints (-8.5)
My Pick: Saints 31, Eagles 17
3 games to go.
Rams at Saints (-3)
Saints 28, Rams 24
Patriots at Chiefs (-3)
Chiefs 27, Patriots 20
That’s it for the Conference Championships, be back for Super Bowl LIII with prop bet picks included. Which two teams will win and earn a chance to repeat what they have all done at least once?
Wild-Card Weekend sure was wild…
…with 3 road teams winning and all 4 covering.
The Colts were by far the most impressive team of the weekend, making a statement in the early Saturday slate. The Saturday night game was arguably the best overall, with the Cowboys winning the BTB Bowl, but the Seahawks covering in an all time bad beat (more to come on that). The Chargers completely flipped the switch from Week 16 and held on late to beat the Ravens. The final game of the weekend was not the best, but had the best ending, with the Eagles scoring late before the double post field goal from Cody Parkey. The games will be less sloppy, but hope this weekend is just as wild.
The craziness led to a few bad beats and a tough weekend to pick winners. I went 1-3, both outright and against the spread. Here’s a look back at the picks I made (correct pick in blue, incorrect pick in red):
Colts at Texans (-1.5)
My Pick: Texans 27, Colts 21
Seahawks at Cowboys (-2.5)
My Pick: Cowboys 24, Seahawks 20
https://twitter.com/StuSource/status/1081771792304353280
Chargers at Ravens (-3)
My Pick: Ravens 23, Chargers 17
Eagles (+6.5) at Bears
My Pick: Bears 23. Eagles 20
We’re onto the second round.
Colts (+5.5) at Chiefs
Chiefs 31, Colts 28
Cowboys (+7) at Rams
Cowboys 27, Rams 24
Chargers (+4) at Patriots
Chargers 24, Patriots 21
Eagles at Saints (-8)
Saints 31, Eagles 17
That’s all for the Divisional Round, be back for Championship Sunday.
In January 1996, the Cowboys won their 3rd Super Bowl in 4 years. In July 1996, I was born. Can the Cowboys stun the Rams to go to the NFC Championship for the first time in my life?
In Week 17, the Indianapolis Colts won on Sunday Night Football to clinch the final spot in this year’s playoffs. Fitting.
While it sucks that there won’t be another full slate of football until September, these upcoming games are the one’s we will remember forever, especially if your team is involved. This year’s Wild Card matchups are among some of the most intriguing I can ever remember. It starts on Saturday afternoon with the Colts traveling to their division rival Texans in a matchup of two teams who turned around early season struggles to both win double digit games. Then on Saturday night, in arguably the most anticipated of the weekend, we have our 3rd Below the Belt Bowl (and first in the playoffs) between Bert’s Seahawks and my Cowboys. Just like the earlier matchup, both teams were afterthoughts early in the season, and are suddenly teams that no one wants to see. While it may not be as anticipated, the early matchup Sunday may be the best of them all, with the Chargers traveling to Baltimore to take on the Ravens, who they lost to at home just two weeks ago. And finally, we end the week with another great matchup, with the defending champion Eagles traveling to take on a very dangerous Bears team in the playoffs for the first time since 2010. If you can’t tell, I’m pretty excited.
To quickly recap Week 17, it was a little less unpredictable than anticipated. I went an okay 7-9 ATS, but went a season-high 13-3 outright. Here’s a look back at the picks I made (correct pick in blue, incorrect pick in red):
Lions at Packers (-7.5)
Cowboys (+7.5) at Giants
https://twitter.com/Bulldog_Graphic/status/1079513268341886977
Jets (+14) at Patriots
Jaguars (+7) at Texans
Panthers (+8) at Saints
Falcons (-2.5) at Bucs
Dolphins (+5.5) at Bills
Eagles (-6) at Redskins
Raiders at Chiefs (-14.5)
Chargers at Broncos (+7)
Bengals (+14) at Steelers
Bears at Vikings (-6)
Cardinals at Seahawks (-14.5)
Browns (+7) at Ravens
49ers at Rams (-10.5)
Colts at Titans (+5)
2018 Straight-Up: 156-98-2, 2018 vs. Spread: 109-136-11
Let’s make up for a tough regular season.
Colts at Texans (-1.5)
Texans 27, Colts 21
Seahawks at Cowboys (-2)
Cowboys 24, Seahawks 20
Chargers at Ravens (-3)
Ravens 23, Chargers 17
Eagles (+6.5) at Bears
Bears 23, Eagles 20
Now, here’s a look at how I think the playoffs will play out. These’s are not my final predictions, as the matchups could change and I could of course change my mind. And let’s be honest, if the Cowboys advance, you know I’m willing to live and die with them.
Wild-Card
Divisional
Conference Championships
Super Bowl LIII
That’s it for this weekend, hopefully these games are as great as I’m expecting them to be. Who will win the latest chapter of the Below the Belt Bowl between Bert’s Seahawks and my Cowboys?
If you are a big football fan like myself, there aren’t too many phrases worse than “Week 17”.
Last season felt like it went by fast, but this season was on level 12 on the treadmill. It feels great though as a Cowboys fan to be back in the playoffs at this time of year, after the painful season endured on and off the field last year. It even look like we’ll have a Below the Belt Bowl during Wild Card Weekend. You love to see it!
Even though I’ve struggled, writing these articles has been a part of the week I’ve looked forward to, so thanks to everyone who has read. It has definitely been a sophomore slump to say the least. It’s funny because I know so much more about gambling now than I did last year, between trends, fading the public, not making sucker picks, and so forth. Yet, my record is somehow worse. That’s just how gambling works. Like I said in the beginning of the season, there’s no chance whatsoever to make money if you bet on every game, that’s why the best gamblers only give you their top plays. For example, I’m in a spread pool where you make 5 picks a week. I’m 39-41 through Week 16, which is a losing percentage, but is good enough for 4th place in my league of about 20 people, and a much higher winning percentage than when I pick every game. That being said, hopefully I’ll be back making picks next season and winning more this time.
Week 16 was very similar to how much of the season has gone. Solid outright, but poor against the spread. I went 11-5 outright, but just 4-10-2 ATS. Here’s a look back at the picks I made (correct pick in blue, incorrect pick in red, push in green):
Redskins at Titans (-12)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ByCfy298XM
Ravens at Chargers (-4)
Packers (-3) at Jets
Giants at Colts (-10)
Bengals (+10) at Browns
Vikings at Lions (+6.5)
Falcons (-3) at Panthers
Texans (+2) at Eagles
Bills at Patriots (-13.5)
Jaguars at Dolphins (-3)
Bucs at Cowboys (-7)
Bears at 49ers (+3.5)
Rams at Cardinals (+14)
Steelers at Saints (-6.5)
Chiefs at Seahawks (+1)
Broncos (-2.5) at Raiders
2018 Straight-Up: 143-95-2, 2018 vs. Spread: 102-127-11
As for Week 17, we all know it’s extremely unpredictable, cause you never knows who’s playing and for how long, and you also don’t know what a lot of team’s motives are. I’ll do my best to point out which games to bet on and which ones to avoid.
Lions at Packers (-8)
Panthers (+6.5) at Saints
Cowboys (+5.5) at Giants
Falcons (-1) at Bucs
Jets (+13.5) at Patriots
Dolphins (+5.5) at Bills
Jaguars (+6.5) at Texans
49ers at Rams (-9.5)
Bears at Vikings (-4.5)
Eagles (-7) at Redskins
Bengals (+14.5) at Steelers
Chargers at Broncos (+6.5)
Cardinals at Seahawks (-13)
Raiders at Chiefs (-14)
Browns (+6) at Ravens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAitXjJiJsM
Colts at Titans (+3)
That’s all for the regular season, hope I go 16-0 to make my numbers for the season look better. I’ll be back next week for an in-depth look at every Wild-Card matchup, as well as my prediction for how the playoffs will shake out. Will Eagles fans be really happy at Vikings fans (and my) expense for the second straight season?
Well, safe to say that one could have gone a little better.
As great as the weekend and experience in Indianpolis was, the game was obviously a huge disappointment. While I’m not really worried and don’t think the Cowboys got dominated as badly as the media is trying to pin on them, it obviously stinks to go all the way there and see a huge down week. Besides the game, the stadium and atmosphere were awesome, and it was great to meet some players the day before, such as Demarcus Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford, Tyron Smith, and Brett Maher. At the end of the day though, the Cowboys are still highly likely to win the NFC East, and one game cannot erase the previous five.
If the Cowboys had won though, even that could not erase what was a bad Week 15 in picks. I went 7-9 straight up, and 4-11-1 against the spread. It has been a tough year for sure. Here’s a look back at the picks I made (correct pick in blue, incorrect pick in red, push in green):
Chargers at Chiefs (-4)
Texans at Jets (+7)
Browns at Broncos (-1.5)
Dolphins (+7.5) at Vikings
Lions (+3) at Bills
Redskins (+7) at Jaguars
Cowboys (+3) at Colts
Packers (+6) at Bears
Titans (-2.5) at Giants
Raiders (+3) at Bengals
Bucs at Ravens (-9)
Cardinals (+9) at Falcons
Seahawks (-4) at 49ers
Patriots (-2.5) at Steelers
Eagles at Rams (-13.5)
Saints at Panthers (+6)
2018 Straight-Up: 132-90-2, 2018 vs. Spread: 98-117-9
Last full slate of games where the majority of teams will be playing starters the whole game. Let’s make some money.
Redskins at Titans (-11)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs8LWjJqTGA
Ravens at Chargers (-3.5)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aJmewy5UYk
Bengals (+10) at Browns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsTIRZmJ2Y0
Bills at Patriots (-13.5)
Giants at Colts (-9.5)
Packers (-3) at Jets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfmsD9cKcD4
Vikings at Lions (+6.5)
Texans (+2.5) at Eagles
Bucs at Cowboys (-7)
Falcons (-3) at Panthers
Jaguars at Dolphins (-3.5)
Bears at 49ers (+4.5)
Rams at Cardinals (+14.5)
Steelers at Saints (-6.5)
Chiefs (-2.5) at Seahawks
Broncos (-3) at Raiders
That’s it for Week 16, be back next week for the final full slate of football this season. Will the Cleveland Browns make the playoffs this season?
Between my picks, fantasy, gambling, and just straight up interest in football, most weeks I’m interested in almost every single game. This week, I really only care for one.
As you’re reading this, I’m in Indianapolis for the highly anticipated Cowboys-Colts game. When we booked this trip earlier in the season, both teams were struggling, and we said “hey at least the Cowboys will win this one”. Now, the Cowboys have all but won the NFC East, and the Colts are fighting for a playoff spot after ending the Texans 9 game win streak. So while it’s not a do or die for the Cowboys, it’s still one of the best games of the week and gets magnified by its time in the season.
My Week 14 picks weren’t terrible, but they weren’t very good either. I went 7-8, both straight up and against the spread. Here’s a look back at the picks I made (correct pick in blue, incorrect pick in red):
Jaguars at Titans (-5.5)
Panthers (-1) at Browns
Saints at Bucs (+10)
Colts at Texans (-4)
Giants (-3) at Redskins
Ravens at Chiefs (-6.5)
Falcons at Packers (-4)
Jets at Bills (-4.5)
Dolphins (+9.5) at Patriots
https://twitter.com/barstoolsports/status/1071889058064945154
Broncos (-3) at 49ers
Bengals at Chargers (-16.5)
Lions at Cardinals (+2.5)
Steelers at Raiders (+10)
Eagles at Cowboys (-3)
Rams at Bears (+3)
Vikings (+3) at Seahawks
2018 Straight-Up: 125-80-2, 2018 vs. Spread: 94-105-8
Time to kill the Colts and your bookmaker in Week 15.
Chargers at Chiefs (-3.5)
Texans at Jets (+7)
Browns at Broncos (-2.5)
Titans (-1) at Giants
Bucs at Ravens (-7.5)
Packers (+5.5) at Bears
Lions (+2.5) at Bills
Raiders (+3) at Bengals
Cardinals (+10) at Falcons
Dolphins (+7.5) at Vikings
Cowboys (+3) at Colts
Redskins (+7.5) at Jaguars
Seahawks (-3.5) at 49ers
Patriots (-3) at Steelers
Eagles at Rams (-13)
Saints at Panthers (+6.5)
That’s it for Week 15, hope to head home with a Cowboys W. Will the Vikings get major revenge on the Dolphins for when former Marist Red Fox Terrence Fede won the game for Miami 4 years ago (and kept my dad alive in his suicide pool)?
In a year in which all of the league’s best teams have been winning with prolific offense, the Cowboys proved in Week 13 that defense can still win big games. The Cowboys rising defense held one of the most unstoppable single season offenses of all time to just 10 points. While I’m not convincing myself the Cowboys are going to go on a crazy run (yet), the turnaround this team has made has been awesome to watch.
So while the week started well with a Boys win and a spread win, the rest of the picks from last week weren’t great. I went a decent 10-6 outright, but I went just 5-11 against the spread. Here’s a look back at the picks I made (correct pick in blue, incorrect pick in red):
Saints at Cowboys (+7.5)
Ravens at Falcons (-2.5)
Bears (-3.5) at Giants
Cardinals at Packers (-13.5)
Rams at Lions (+10)
Broncos (-4) at Bengals
Browns (+4.5) at Texans
Bills at Dolphins (-3.5)
Panthers at Bucs (+3.5)
Colts (-4.5) at Jaguars
Chiefs (-14) at Raiders
Jets at Titans (-10)
49ers at Seahawks (-10)
Vikings (+6) at Patriots
Chargers at Steelers (-3)
Redskins (+6) at Eagles
2018 Straight-Up: 118-72-2, 2018 vs. Spread: 87-97-8
4 weeks left in the regular season, lets close on a high note.
Jaguars at Titans (-5.5)
Panthers (-1.5) at Browns
Saints at Bucs (+9.5)
Colts at Texans (-4.5)
Giants (-3.5) at Redskins
Ravens at Chiefs (-6.5)
Falcons at Packers (-4.5)
Jets at Bills (-3.5)
Patriots at Dolphins (+7.5)
Broncos (-3.5) at 49ers
Bengals at Chargers (-14)
Lions at Cardinals (+3)
Steelers at Raiders (+10)
Eagles at Cowboys (-3.5)
Rams at Bears (+3)
Vikings (+3) at Seahawks
That’s it for Week 14. Can the Cowboys defense keep it up?
When looking back at my picks this season, Week 12 will be one I remember…
…cause it was arguably my best week to date.
While this was not my best week against the spread, it was my best week overall. I went a good but not great 8-7 against the spread, but tied a season high going 12-3 outright. If you’re a degenerate gambler like my friend Jack Dugan and took all these picks, you would’ve made a lot of money. Here’s a look back at the picks I made (correct pick in blue, incorrect pick in red):
Bears at Lions (+3)
Redskins at Cowboys (-7)
Falcons (+13) at Saints
Patriots (-13) at Jets
Raiders at Ravens (-13)
Giants at Eagles (-5)
49ers at Bucs (-1.5)
Browns at Bengals (Pick ‘Em)
Seahawks at Panthers (-3)
Jaguars at Bills (+3)
Cardinals (+14) at Chargers
Dolphins at Colts (-9)
Steelers at Broncos (+3)
Packers at Vikings (-3.5)
Titans at Texans (-3.5)
2018 Straight-Up: 108-66-2, 2018 vs. Spread: 82-86-8
Time to take a bat to your bookmaker again in Week 13.
Cowboys (+7.5) at Saints
Ravens at Falcons (-1)
Bears (-3.5) at Giants
Cardinals at Packers (-14)
Rams at Lions (+10)
Broncos (-5.5) at Bengals
Browns (+5.5) at Texans
Bills at Dolphins (-3.5)
Colts (-4) at Jaguars
Panthers at Bucs (+3.5)
Chiefs (-15) at Raiders
Jets at Titans (-9)
Vikings (+5) at Patriots
49ers at Seahawks (-10)
Chargers at Steelers (-3)
Redskins (+6) at Eagles
That’s it for Week 13, be back for Week 14. Will the Redskins lose the cover in heartbreaking fashion on Monday Night again?
Well, that was fun.
One of the most anticipated regular season games I can ever remember not only lived up to the hype, but well exceeded it. I think everyone other than Rams fans were praying this masterpiece would not end and go to OT. Not only did these teams both go off offensively, but both scored defensive touchdowns, including 2 by the Rams. Barring a miraculous run by the Cowboys, there’s no doubt that I want a Chiefs-Rams or Chiefs-Saints matchup in the Super Bowl.
As for my picks, it was a bit of a weird week, but overall a good one record wise. I went 8-5 outright, and a wild 6-3-4 against the spread. 4 pushes! Here’s a look bad at the picks I made (correct pick in blue, incorrect pick in red, push in green):
Packers at Seahawks (-3)
Texans (-3) at Redskins
Bengals (+6.5) at Ravens
Steelers at Jaguars (+4)
Panthers at Lions (+4)
Cowboys (+3.5) at Falcons
Titans at Colts (-1.5)
Bucs (+3) at Giants
Raiders at Cardinals (-4.5)
Broncos (+7) at Chargers
Eagles (+7) at Saints
Vikings at Bears (-2.5)
Chiefs at Rams (-3)
2018 Straight-Up: 96-63-2, 2018 vs. Spread: 74-79-8
Thankful for football and winning money gambling.
Bears at Lions (+3)
Redskins at Cowboys (-7)
Falcons (+13) at Saints
Patriots (-10.5) at Jets
Raiders at Ravens (-10.5)
Giants at Eagles (-4.5)
49ers at Bucs (-2.5)
Browns at Bengals (-2.5)
Seahawks at Panthers (-3)
Jaguars at Bills (+3)
Cardinals (+13) at Chargers
Dolphins at Colts (-7.5)
Steelers at Broncos (+3)
Packers at Vikings (-3)
Titans (+6) at Texans
That’s all for Week 12. Can the Broncos score another magical upset at home against the Steelers?