NFL Picks Week12

Before we get started:

1) The Jays paid BJ Ryan $47 Million for 5 years???? Does that make any sense? Is he that much better than Batista? From my un-informed perspective, BJ Ryan does not seem like a $9 million closer to me. Maybe those of you who watch AL East baseball full time can tell me differently.

2) Man, I'm feeling for the Iowa State fans around here. Two years in a row they had a chance to go to the Big 12 championship game by winning their last game - and blew it both times in OT. Last year vs. Missouri, this year vs. Kansas. Off to the Houston bowl for them...

Now the picks:

Cin 31, Bal 13. I have a feeling that the Cincinnati offense will remain clicking after last weeks's game and should score more than 20-24 points.

Buf 17, Car 16. At home, Buffalo is a different team, and has the players to follow's Chicago's blueprint on how to beat the Panthers.

KC 34, NE 24. The weather here scares me, but this should be a shootout.

Hou 23, Stl 20. Geesh, if Arizona can beat the Rams in St Louis, then this should be at least a good game.

TB 16, Chi 9. Where is the offense for the Bears going to come from? It's hard for me to jump on the Bears' bandwagon when the Browns beat them soundly, 20-10.

Cle 23, Min 17 (OT). The Vikings are the last team that we haven't played since the return. The predicted final score here is the same as a victory in 1989, when the Browns won on only the 2nd fake field goal in OT in NFL history. Mike Pagel, the holder, took the snap and passed to special teamer Van Wiaters for a 31 yard touchdown pass for the win. I believe this locked up a playoff spot for us that year - my first in Cleveland.

Was 27, SD 24. Washington is better than what was seen last week, and I'm beginning to be a believer in this "long west/east coast trips affecting teams" theory.

Ten 31, SF 20. Should be a high scoring affair.

Jax 24, Ariz 10. Could be a trap game, but Arizona shot their wad last week with the emotional win over the Rams.

Oak 24, Mia 13. Miami is awful . No pass defense, shaky run defense, and the offense is not solid.

Phi 20, GB 17. My God - I have no idea at all.

Sea 27, NYG 20. A classic this weekend, with Seattle making the statement. The NFC Championship game in Seattle? Can that be true?

NYJ 17, NO 14. Yikes. Can there be a worse Sunday Night game? (OK, it could be Arizona at Houston)

Ind 28, Pit 27. Pit will try to control the ball and they will score - but just not enough.

OK - best bets: 10-9 last week; overall: 95-85-8, but I went 1-2 on Thursday.
17 more:
Cin -9
Cin/Bal over 37
Buf +4
KC -3
KC/NE Over 50
Hou +3 1/2
TB -3
TB/Chi Under 32 1/2
Was +3
Was/SD Over 44
Ten/SF Over 42 1/2
JAx -3 1/2
Jax/Ariz Under 41 1/2
Oak -7
NYJ/NO under 37
Pit +8.5
Ind/Pit Over 47