Season Record 17-21 -21.4 units
Favs 6-11 -23.3 units
Dogs 8-8 -1.8 units
Totals 2-1 +1.7 units
Parlays 0-1 -2.0 units
Teaser 0-1 -2.0 units
Halftime 1-0 6.0 units
New England -3.5 7 units
Realize that this pick is on the side of the public, but the Bears season is done; the papers and the radio shows are already talking about the draft and this is when the 17 "road games" will start to take some effect. New England is everything that the Bears can't handle. Due to the Patriots conservative nature, they won't run outside the tackles, are effective in play action and run well designed screens (The Bears haven't figured out a defense to the screen pass in my lifetime.) For as good as Urlacher is when he has protection up front, he is still a finesse linebacker and when the opposition runs a dive play he avoids the lead blocker and tries to guess where the tailback is going. When he guesses right, it leads to a loss, but when he guesses wrong, the tailback is into the secondary with the fullback looking to release him as he never had to take on the Midbacker. Belichek will run up the middle until the Bears prove that they can stop it and I'm not sure that eight in the box will be enough.
OC Shoop wants to have a running offense and the offense has been too predictable this season too be effective. The Bears tried gadget plays and tried to be more aggressive last week, but that was due to the fact that they were playing the Eagles and had nothing to lose, because had they stayed conservative, they would have been shut out. This week, Shoop has to feel his chances of establishing a running game are pretty good considering it is the Patriots biggest weakness. The problem is that the Bears couldn't establish a run against the Vikings, the Packers nor against the Bills who all have weak run defenses. And remember, that the Bears are one hit away from having to put Burress in at QB.
A patient and methodical Patriot team will get a double-digit victory.
Cincinnati +5.5 5 units
Bengals offensive outburst wasn't an isolated incident, they've been coming on for four games and the defense has benefitted by not being put into bad situations. The Bengals speed and height on the outside against the Raven's inexperienced secondary will provide all the offense that the Bengals need.
Detroit +10 4 units
This game has let down written all over it. The Packers don't have to win another game and they will still win the NFC North. Look for the Lions to try and get to the Pack run defense to help out Harrington. I also expect the Packers to try and establish the run to keep Favre's hits to a minimum. Smash Mouth, close-to-the-chest football and a 7-point margin either way.
Miami +126 3 units
Wet, windy game that will partially take the QB's out of the game anyway. Lucas didn't look terrible Monday Night, his receivers have to have the responsibilty of catching the ball and they looked to be moving the ball effectively until the TOs did them in. Jets come back down to earth.
Favs 6-11 -23.3 units
Dogs 8-8 -1.8 units
Totals 2-1 +1.7 units
Parlays 0-1 -2.0 units
Teaser 0-1 -2.0 units
Halftime 1-0 6.0 units
New England -3.5 7 units
Realize that this pick is on the side of the public, but the Bears season is done; the papers and the radio shows are already talking about the draft and this is when the 17 "road games" will start to take some effect. New England is everything that the Bears can't handle. Due to the Patriots conservative nature, they won't run outside the tackles, are effective in play action and run well designed screens (The Bears haven't figured out a defense to the screen pass in my lifetime.) For as good as Urlacher is when he has protection up front, he is still a finesse linebacker and when the opposition runs a dive play he avoids the lead blocker and tries to guess where the tailback is going. When he guesses right, it leads to a loss, but when he guesses wrong, the tailback is into the secondary with the fullback looking to release him as he never had to take on the Midbacker. Belichek will run up the middle until the Bears prove that they can stop it and I'm not sure that eight in the box will be enough.
OC Shoop wants to have a running offense and the offense has been too predictable this season too be effective. The Bears tried gadget plays and tried to be more aggressive last week, but that was due to the fact that they were playing the Eagles and had nothing to lose, because had they stayed conservative, they would have been shut out. This week, Shoop has to feel his chances of establishing a running game are pretty good considering it is the Patriots biggest weakness. The problem is that the Bears couldn't establish a run against the Vikings, the Packers nor against the Bills who all have weak run defenses. And remember, that the Bears are one hit away from having to put Burress in at QB.
A patient and methodical Patriot team will get a double-digit victory.
Cincinnati +5.5 5 units
Bengals offensive outburst wasn't an isolated incident, they've been coming on for four games and the defense has benefitted by not being put into bad situations. The Bengals speed and height on the outside against the Raven's inexperienced secondary will provide all the offense that the Bengals need.
Detroit +10 4 units
This game has let down written all over it. The Packers don't have to win another game and they will still win the NFC North. Look for the Lions to try and get to the Pack run defense to help out Harrington. I also expect the Packers to try and establish the run to keep Favre's hits to a minimum. Smash Mouth, close-to-the-chest football and a 7-point margin either way.
Miami +126 3 units
Wet, windy game that will partially take the QB's out of the game anyway. Lucas didn't look terrible Monday Night, his receivers have to have the responsibilty of catching the ball and they looked to be moving the ball effectively until the TOs did them in. Jets come back down to earth.
