NFL YTD: 34-42 (-12.85*)
NFL Postseason: 0-0 (+0.00*)
NCAA Regular Season YTD: 49-45 (-3.40*)
2010-2011 NCAA Bowls YTD: 11-7 (+4.35*)
Top Plays (included above): 5-5 (-2.10*)
Green Bay(-9') over Chicago (1.5*)
- - After an arduous 16 game march in and through the M*A*S*H unit, the Packers welcome their ancient rival to Lambeau Field with their ticket to the postseason on the line . . . There's a simple reason why teams find themselves in "must win" spots late in the season and fail to deliver: it's because they weren't a playoff caliber team. I'll leave it to experts with more knowledge and insight than me to survey the NFL landscape and conclude Green Bay is going to crap their way out because they just isn't a playoff team . . . FWIW, I believe "no Pro Bowl for you" Aaron Rodgers (and his cohorts) have chucked it around for a QB rating of 113.0 at home this season, while the defense has limited visiting QB's to a 61.7 QB rating at Lambeau Field; Green Bay is 5-1-1 ATS in Week 17, and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games down the stretch this year, while Chicago is 2-6 ATS in Week 17, and 1-4 ATS in their five meetings with Rodgers at QB . . . If this truly was a Packers/Bears playoff game at Lambeau Field this week, and there was
that motivation on both sides, I'd be liking Green Bay all day at -3' or -4; as it is, the line is -9', and Lovie Smith has barely been able to get the words out or IMO keep a straight face all week when he's tried casting this game as a contest with really about equal motivation on both sides.
http://theredzone.org/BlogDescription/tabid/61/EntryId/13806/Report--Bears-may-play-some-backups-Sunday/Default.aspx It's quite a stretch to cap this rivalry game and conclude both teams have much the same agendas and motivation in the week leading up to this contest, and at kickoff . . . If the Falcons have won and the Giants and Buccs have lost, I still expect a week of playoff level preparation to carry Green Bay and their "next-man-in" season a long way on Sunday; if Atlanta and New Orleans have both lost, Green Bay still has "everything-or-nothing" on the line . . . Simply put, an arduous 16 game march in and through the M*A*S*H unit later, a "Huge playoff clinching win for Green Bay."
Tampa Bay(+9)(-130) over New Orleans (1*)
- - The weight is off, and the defending champions have survived everyone's best shot and made the playoffs in a dramatic Monday night win against a division rival. By halftime it may be obvious that this game means nothing to New Orleans, and it doesn't look like Tampa has a great shot at advancing. But familiar division foe Tampa has played well in the Super Dome and looks to avenge an earlier humiliation by the Super Bowl champs, and Tampa's season has consistently shown it has the team to get after that goal for 60 minutes this Sunday.
Detroit(-3)(-120) over Minnesota (1*)
- - Can't say the line offers much value, but the no longer lowly Lions come home to finish after, wait for it . . . "back-to-back road wins" . . . . and get them "pick-your-own-adjectives" Vikings off the shortest "road-to-road" week possible, and off their only "big" win since Dallas, and at the end point of a fairly brutal campaign . . . I'll take the legs and homestanding spirit of the fresh young club in this one.
Atlanta(-14) over Carolina (1*)
- - "It's been difficult to come in and practice every week, but with coach Fox, he motivates you to come in and practice,"
(Carolina) cornerback Richard Marshall said . . . There is a gap between these teams led respectively by Matty Ice and Jimmy Clausen that, under the circumstances, should widen to a gulf in terms of making plays at some point in the proceeding, with a backdoor entrance hopefully cast as a rather futile Week 17 endeavor.
St. Louis(-3)(+100) over Seattle (1*)
- - It's time to start the playoffs, and I'll be taking sides. This one is clear but shaky.
Indianapolis(-9') over Tennessee (1*)
- -
New York Giants(-3'):scared over Washington (1*)
- - Washington has been competitive down the stretch with flawed teams and teams under pressure; maybe this is just more of the same, but I cap it as much distinguishable, in terms of matchups and motivation. While the Giants are fragile and pressurized and flawed enough to carry some unwanted risks, I see value in letting them carry my cash.
:scared
GL
