Featured Fantasy Football Article

$tackin` Green Week 13

$tackin' Green - Week 13

Quick Picks and Hot Tips

There haven't been more unimpressive 8-3 teams in the history of the NFL than there are this year. Bengals and Cowboys? Even the Patriots are a shell of their former selves. Meanwhile, the rest of the league plays a schedule that maintains the likes of St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Oakland, Kansas City, Cleveland, etc. Yes, any pro team can beat you, but these teams are, in one word, pathetic.

The playoff races are heating up. We'll see what happens with the seeds. To be honest, I don't look forward to too many games this year. Only recently has the matchup of the former greats (Patriots) with their arch rivals (Colts) or the new kids on the block (Saints) been something to look forward too. Well, you know I am a big fan of Aaron Rodgers and on Monday Night he has it working against a Baltimore team fighting for its life. On Sunday night you have the wonderful Kurt Warner going up against the dangerous Favre, resurgent offense and Viking defense. Those should be very very fun to watch, without even having action, which is a rarity these days. We even get a great divisional matchup as the Cowboys take on the scrounging Giants.

Remember those pre season picks? Take a look back at them. Strangely, the once terrible looking Chargers are rounding into form again, and the Packers have had a few missteps but are looking OK right now too. I think ultimately the task is too much for these teams and that the home field will hold out for the Saints. I'm not a believer in the Colts at all, however odd that may sound. I still think when it matters Belichick and Brady will give them fits, shaky defense and all.

My prediction right now would be Saints over the Patriots or Chargers. Take that for what it's worth. Let's get to the picks:

New England -4 at Miami

I can't figure this line out for the life of me. Yes, New England did NOT cover in the last game against Miami at home. I feel like New England is pissed from losing to the top teams and still wants that #2 seed, however. Miami just isn't good. I don't see them stopping Brady. Their D used to be good, but now the team is just going with the flow. I think it should be New England -7 and I also think you should be all over this line. (Late entry: Apparently this is a must win at home for the Dolphins who are 5-6. Take your chances. They just flat out aren't good enough, and the lower line makes it worth taking. New England will score 24. Can the Dolphins get 20? I doubt it.)

Dallas at NY Giants UNDER 45.5

Dallas has a good defense and a great defensive coach. Eli Manning's planting foot has the plantar fasciitis, one of the worst ;playable" injuries. The weather will be cold but not frosty. Dallas has not done what they are used to doing against teams offensively, but they can and will run with Choice and Jones. New York knows they can't pass or rely on Manning too much so they'll have to rely on running the ball and defense. It will be a divisional battle. Dallas wins 24-17. The game goes under, more assuredly.

St. Louis at Chicago -8.5

The Bears are pissed. They have looked like crap. They are at home. Saint Louis is crap and on the road. Cutler will finally get it done, not that it will really mean anything. It just seems like what I call a ;false hope vindication" after bad losses and a bad season with a new Quarterback and a lot of (lost) hope. All of this makes me think Chicago takes it by double digits.

Small play of the week: Green Bay -3 over Baltimore on Monday Night. The Ravens looked like crap in barely beating a Pitt team without Roethlisberger at home and in a must win. Flacco just looked MEH. Rodgers should torch this secondary, but trusting the packers is always a dangerous things. Keep it small even if the above picks hit, which they will.

4 team 13 point teaser:

New England +9
Dallas/NY Giants UNDER 58.5
Chicago +4.5
Green Bay +10

Enjoy.

Last week: 2-0

Current season record: 22-15-1( .594) and 3-1 on teasers