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Benn's Week 14 Picks

Benn Hodapp Written by Benn Hodapp, Wednesday December 03 2008
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Will I continue my meteoric rise to mediocrity this week or will I have another 5-11? Not sure, but at least the last couple of weeks have given me something in the W column. Two weeks in a row I was the only one to pick the Rams to cover and they went out and did so both times. Will I have the mental fortitude to do it again? Read on...

 

Raiders @ Chargers (-9.5)

Prediction - I am currently putting together the necessary paperwork to sue the Chargers for mental anguish. Norv Turner has ruined many a fantasy team this year, including several of mine. I'm pretty sure if I punched him in the melon I'd get my own statue outside Qualcomm or whatever that place is called now. The Raiders are just the worst. I'll take the incredibly disappointing Chargers.

Bengals @ Colts (-13.5)

Prediction - The important thing for the Colts is that they are winning. The small problem has been that they have been doing so while playing just well enough not to lose. Luckily, the Bengals cure all that ails other NFL teams. Honestly, do you see anyone laying a fingernail on Peyton this week? I don't. And that includes the dude with the stupid red hair that hangs down to his crack. I'd take the Colts by 30 in this one.

Jaguars @ Bears (-6.5)

Prediction - I wrote earlier this year that there was really no reason for the team to be as bad as they are. However, anyone who saw last Monday's game against the Texans can see that there are serious problems in Jug-u-wah land. The Bears looked simply terrible against the Vikings, but the Vikes are better than the Texans. It might be silly to do so, but I'll take the Bears.

Texans @ Packers (-6)

Prediction - This is a stone cold lock as far as I'm concerned. Yes, the Texans looked like they will be a pretty good team in the near future, but it was at home on the first Monday night game since like 1993 or something. It is unclear whether it will be Rosenfels or Schaub starting, but I don't think it matters in Lambeau. I got the Pack.

Browns @ Titans (-14)

Prediction - I almost never take teams with spreads this big. I almost never believe that one team is 14+ points better than another team before the game starts. But because the Browns have lost two quarterbacks for the season and will be starting either Ken Dorsey or the newly-signed Bruce Gradkowski, I am driven by all that I know about those guys (see: they suck) to go with the Titans.

Vikings (-8) @ Lions

Prediction - Well hell, the Lions are so bad you can actually smell it coming through the screen, but they aren't going 0-16, are they? I don't expect this to be the W that they will eventually get, but keeping it within nine at home is doable. I'll go out on that limb and chill with the Lions. Though I will do so with a bag over my head like all other Lions fans.

Redskins @ Ravens (-5.5)

Prediction - Clinton Portis' injuries have taken the Skins from contenders down to about ninth place in the NFC. They still have a chance at the playoffs if they can win a bunch of games in a row, but at 7-5 the postseason is hardly a slam dunk. The Ravens continue to play well enough to win in their awful division and will make the playoffs. But I don't think the Ravens deserve six points against a good team that will be clawing for its playoff life.

Eagles @ Giants (-7)

Prediction - The Giants are the best team in the NFC and quite possible the NFL right now. Not even when guys shoot themselves does it make much of a difference for them. But the Eagles came back and played a really good game last week after Donovan McNabb was buried alive by Philly fans and media. I stand firm in my NFC East philosophy; games are always close. The Eagles cover.

Falcons @ Saints (-3)

Prediction - I have the Saints. Yes, I am aware that said pick makes me a stupid individual, but I'm ok with it. Moving on...

Dolphins @ Bills (-1) (in Toronto)

Prediction - So the Bills, who started the year 5-1 and are since 1-5 (and just got stoned by the 49ers at home) are supposed to beat the still-improving Dolphins? And why would that happen? Not that it can't happen, but why are they favored to win? That's silly. J.P. Losman is a head case and Trent Edwards is hurt, so I have Ronnie Brown controlling the game. He is the Dolphins' quarterback, right?

Chiefs @ Broncos (-9)

Prediction - Can we contract both western divisions? Sure, my Niners are in the NFC West and I would miss them, but such is the crapitude of these divisions. Broncos. That's it. I am moving away from this game quickly so as to not vomit on my monitor.

Rams @ Cardinals (-14)

Prediction - Let's go for three in a row, my lovelies. The Cardinals score 90 points per game at home, but let's go with the minor upset. You boys deserve my gratitude. I believe you suck slightly less than you are supposed to. And that is the greatest gift of all.

Cowboys @ Steelers (-3)

Prediction - I love that the Cowboys bandwagon is up and active again even though they have shown nothing to me that makes it seem like they're back in this thing. They are being touted as the only challengers to the Giants in the NFC, but I would argue that I would rather play the Cowboys than the Vikings right now. Hell, I think the Cardinals are better. The Steelers are primed and ready. They win comfortably.

Patriots (-5) @ Seahawks

Prediction - The Seahawks couldn't stay within six points of the George Mason Patriots. I almost took this as the lock of the week, but I stayed my hand.

Buccaneers @ Panthers (-3)

Prediction - The Panthers are just running the ball too well right now to pick against them. DeAngelo Williams scored four TDs last week and is looking great here in the late season. Steve Smith is starting to get in on the action too, as he caught two bombs down to the 1-yard-line on Sunday.

Power Bet

Jets (-4) @ 49ers

Prediction - I hate to do this to my boys, but this is how it goes with Brett Favre: great game, good game, crappy game, atrocious game, he should retire game, great game, great game, great game, bad game, great game. He had a bad game last week, so you can see what is coming this week. I don't make the rules, I just follow them. Jets cover. This has been 'Hedging Your Bets with Benn Hodapp'.


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