I feel stupid for asking, but what are the +/- numbers?
The team with a minus anything is favored to win by that margin. Plus means to lose by.
Inspired by Townie (the legendary TOL poster, not the memoir by Andre Dubus III),
Some have said I am he. Some say Elijah. :shocked:
I'm going to make my picks, except my reasoning is going to be much less sound than his (lines are from CBSSports pick-em leagues on the website, locked in on Tuesdays). All picks are against the spread (also, I have not watched a single minute of NFL coverage this season, and I don't plan on starting now):
I'm so proud of you I may weep.
Last night: SEA @ SF(+6.5). I had San Francisco because there's a little man in my brain who screams at me if I think Seattle can win by a touchdown.
You weren't alone. A lot of money going the other way in that one. I didn't, but a lot did.
Buf @ Jac(+4.5): I don't know anything about either one of these teams, other than Rex Ryan exists. This game is on at 9:30am ET? I don't like either of these teams to travel across any ocean, let alone the second largest one, but I'll take the Bills.
The line I had is Buf 4 with the money 57/43 in favor. Bortles is responsible for literally all of the Jaguars' offense. The only good news for Jacksonville is that Buffalo has done a consistently poor job of defending the pass. This one could turn into a shooting match. Rex needs this one and his team is good enough to manage it. I hope. Yeah. Should be. :noid:
NO @ Ind(-4.5): Are these teams from the worst division in their respective conferences? I know whichever one I pick is going to burn me, but just the same I'll go with the Colts.
The money is with you 63/37, if that's any comfort. So am I. :thumb: I have it as close as a fg or by as much as 11 in my model. The higher end comes up close to the money split so I'm riding this one with you as well.
Pit @ KC(+2.5): Pittsburgh has been winning games without Ben, but who cares? I'll take the Chiefs because I already have two favorites in a row.
:chuckle: This is one of those games to be wary of. A slim line tells you that from the jump and the only question is who is that line supposed to draw in? I have this a dead heat and that means I'm taking the Chiefs to win a close one at home.
NYJ @ NE(-9.5): Way, way too many points against a defense that good. Jets.
It's a big line, no doubt about it. Brady at home is 34 and 4 against divisional opponents. The only real question is that line...The Jets are the second stingiest team against the pass. New England is second at moving the ball through the air. But here's where I think you're getting pulled in. Look at the other side of the ballgame. Fitzpatrick has already thrown seven picks and the often overlooked Pats defense is quietly only four points back of the second place Jets.
I think Brady will score against the Jets. I'm less certain Fitz is going to. I say he turns the ball over a few times and this one gets ugly late. I'll take New England (hear that, Granite, I'm PICKING THE PATRIOTS). :chuckle:
Min @ Det(+2.5): :yawn: Vikings.
A shame they didn't play that one in London...or Siberia.
lain: But don't be surprised if this one ends up close enough to scare you. It's a game Detroit can win.
Hou @ Mia(-4.5): I'm not going to bother looking up how hot it's going to be in Miami, and that's the only factor that I can comprehend. Texans, because I have only had two cups of coffee this morning, which is as good a reason as any you'd get from Ron Jaworski.
Man this is taking forever... :hammer:
Horrible game to pick. Miami destroyed Ten last week and Ten is one of the better teams against the pass. Houston had better get into the backfield often because they're below average at defending down field. I'm taking Houston in the upset. Wait...no I'm not. Why would I do that? And where is my coffee. Miami.
Cle at StL(-4.5): Is Marc Bulger still under center for the Rams? No? I'll take the Browns then.
I keep waiting for McCown to implode like the journeyman he is...and he keeps taunting me. :noid: Silly McCown, taunts are for kids.
What? Oh, the game. That likely sucks. The Rams cover. Next.
Atl @ Ten(+4.5): This makes five road teams in a row. Falcons.
Interesting match up. Like I said, Ten knows how to limit the pass and that's the meat of Atlanta's offense. But the Falcons field more firepower on that end than Ten has seen so far...and Mariota may be dinged. If his mobility isn't what it has to be Atlanta should get in a make up game for the Saints game. Atlanta it is.
TB @ Was(-3.5): That's gotta suck, being just outside a field goal dog in Washington. Good thing Tampa Bay has the Rays. Wait. I'll take Bond-villain Dan Snyder.
An old truism, there are math books with fewer problems than Tampa Bay has...though Washington isn't exactly dusting off the trophy case these days. The money is moving Washington's way 58/42. I have them by six, so I'm as comfortable with this sort of dog of a game as I can be.
Oak @ SD(-4.5): Can you imagine these two teams sharing a stadium? :rotfl: Chargers.
I think they should just play half the defense and at least give the fans something to be excited about. Though, honestly, it's hard to tell they aren't if you only watch the scoreboard. TB is giving up around 30 a game and SD what, around 27? :smack: It's going to be a matter of who wants the loss more. And in that department the Raiders are hard to beat.
lain: Chargers.
Dal @ NYG(-5.5): As a person born in Massachusetts, the NFC east is the closet thing I have to a parallel to how other people feel about the AFC east. It's loathing. And it feels good. I'll take the Cowboys just so I can see combination Coughlin-Manning face on a Deadspin gif before the end of next week.
As a person born without a professional team in his state, let me be the first to shrug that off and take the Giants.
Okay, this is my reach game, since I have the top end at six, but if they can't beat the Cowboys by that with as much as Dallas is missing then it's time to blow the whole thing up and start again.
Phi @ Car(-3.5): Carolina has a football team? Sure I'll take 'em. The Cougars or whatever.
They have a pretty good football team. And it's the Panzers...I think. Huh. The program guide didn't have it either. Why not? Though I'm going to take the visiting Eagles to pull off the impossible upset. Because I think they can and because there should be at least one of those each week.
Bal @ Ari(-7.5): This bird battle is sure to be... on TV. Cardinals.
I'm not putting any line past Baltimore after last week. The Cardinals need to make a statement and they've been pretty effective at that in Arizona. 34-17
