My picks

[ricardisimo]

I bag on Pete Prisco over at CBS, mostly because he deserves it, being a Bungholes fan. But I also think I could pick games better with a dartboard. Here are my picks, almost but not quite decided with a dartboard:

• Steelers 24 - Dolphins 10
• Falcons 21 - Cincy 17
• Ravens 20 - Bills 13
• Chiefs 14 - Jaguars 10
• Saints 21 - Browns 20
• Washington 14 - Bears 3
• 49ers 31 - Panthers 10
• Rams 17 - Buccaneers 14
• Titans 21 - Eagles 10
• Seahawks 24 - Cardinals 7
• Patriots 28 - Chargers 17
• Raiders 14 - Broncos 7
• Packers 21 - Vikings 17 {Bonus prediction: Favre will get knocked out badly, ending his consecutive games streak next week}
• Cowboys 20 - Giants 10

I figure all I have to do is beat Prisco's 49% success rate, then submit my results along with some examples of my writing from here and a few college English courses to CBSSportsline. With a little luck I could have his job in a few weeks.

Or not.

[ricardisimo]

Well, so far I'm doing better than 49%, I guess. One thing I can't help but notice and point out: monster scores everywhere, even by mediocre offenses. Goodell and co. got their wish. What a bunch of turds. Defense in the NFL is dead.

[ricardisimo]

So, Prisco's 7-6 for the week thus far, and he and I both picked Dallas to win tomorrow, so I won't be gaining any more on him.

Originally Posted by ricardisimo

• Steelers 24 - Dolphins 10
• Falcons 21 - Cincy 17
• Ravens 20 - Bills 13
• Chiefs 14 - Jaguars 10
• Saints 21 - Browns 20
• Washington 14 - Bears 3
• 49ers 31 - Panthers 10
• Rams 17 - Buccaneers 14
• Titans 21 - Eagles 10
• Seahawks 24 - Cardinals 7
• Patriots 28 - Chargers 17
• Raiders 14 - Broncos 7
• Packers 21 - Vikings 17 {Favre did lose the game for them, so maybe he won't start next week after all.}
• Cowboys 20 - Giants 10

Meanwhile I went 10-3. I am so going to love taking his job away from him.

The real point of this thread has become this, though: the scoring seems crazy. The league got the offensive boost it wanted when it slapped Harrison. I will bet they waive the fine now that it's done it's job.

[MattsMe]

I picked 10-5 this week. I had Favre Sr. over Favre Jr.
And I always pick against the patriots*.

I think some of these hacks are encouraged to make horrible picks. It gets people talking and coming back to see what bone head thing they will write next.

As they say, there's no such thing as bad publicity.

[ricardisimo]

Originally Posted by MattsMe

I picked 10-5 this week. I had Favre Sr. over Favre Jr.
And I always pick against the patriots*.

I think some of these hacks are encouraged to make horrible picks. It gets people talking and coming back to see what bone head thing they will write next.

As they say, there's no such thing as bad publicity.

Wow. You went 10-5 on the 13 games so far? That is amazing... I take it Roger Goodell penalized you with the extra two bad picks, huh?

So, was it 8-5 or 10-3?

[lionslicer]

Originally Posted by ricardisimo

Wow. You went 10-5 on the 13 games so far? That is amazing... I take it Roger Goodell penalized you with the extra two bad picks, huh?

So, was it 8-5 or 10-3?

I say he was 10-3 also just because if someone 5 is closer to 3 than 10 is to 8... On the keyboard anyways lol.

[MattsMe]

Originally Posted by ricardisimo

Wow. You went 10-5 on the 13 games so far? That is amazing... I take it Roger Goodell penalized you with the extra two bad picks, huh?

So, was it 8-5 or 10-3?

8-3, and not near enough sleep in the last few days.


No, I missed the same games you did, plus the Vikings and Chargers. 8-5.

Look ma, I can count!

[ricardisimo]

So let's recap, Matt. I think you can vouch for me when I say that I know nuthin' about nuthin', and yet I spanked Prisco without even trying. Why does this man have a job?

Secondly, am I imagining the boost in scoring this week, and the connection to Harrison's fine? Are there any bored actuaries out there who are willing to crunch the week's numbers for us? Thanks.

[lionslicer]

Last week the total scoring of all teams was 564, which is 40 points agame roughly.

Total scoring for this week is 626, and thats without the last game being played. Thats a jump in 62 points. Thats an average of 48 total points scored a game, which is a jump from the 40 points scored a game last week.

Though last week and this week both have had 6 games where atleast 1 team was held under 20 points. And you could argue that the Chiefs and Raiders games put the scoring overboard.

But if you go back to the first week, in 16 games, only 572 points were scored, which was 35 total points a game. You could argue that the NFL week to week is having higher and higher scores. Players are always fined every week for hits and possibly the 75k to Harrison and all the other fines that happened this week will spring the NFL to much higher scoring game in the next few weeks. Time will tell. But this week it has made a difference, causing some of the most dominant defense teams to give up over 20 points, which most top 10 defense allow less than 20 a game.

[MattsMe]

I think Prisco still has a job because of his fellatio skills. I can't personally vouch for this, but I know a guy who knows a guy.

And I don't think that you're imagining the spike in scoring. I'm sure we'll see a comparison of the numbers in the next few days. It does seem to be related to the fines, and a blind eye turned towards holding. (even more than usual)

What stumps me is why Hines didn't get the pass interference call when he was clearly bumped off his route. And if I remember correctly, it happened TWICE in the same play. This clearly goes against Goodell's goal of more fantasy points. What gives?