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Zoner’s Weekend Picks

admin — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:17:14 +0000

I may not be the king of NFL football picks, but it’s something I enjoy and haven’t done for a while. So here are three picks, just for you Zoner readers! One NCAA and 2 NFL…

Arkansas at Auburn Tigers Line – Arkansas + 2.5

The 17th ranked Auburn Tigers will travel to Arkansas on Saturday for an SEC showdown with the Razorbacks. The Tigers are 5-0 this season with a few wins against quality opponents, while Arkansas is 2-2 and has lost to the only two solid teams on their schedule. Auburn started off the year unranked but has climbed the charts fast, leading the way is their stellar running game which is averaging 253 yards per game. The Tigers are 4-1 against the spread and is simply too talented for the Razorbacks, take Auburn to cover on the road.

Carolina Panthers at The Washington Redskins Panthers -4

The Washington Redskins will travel to Bank of America Stadium to play the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The Redskins barely beat the winless Buccaneers last week, while the Panthers are coming off their bye week at 0-3. Despite last week’s win, Washington has been a franchise in turmoil since their loss to the Lions, and the team is starting to collapse under the pressure. The Panthers have played well at times this season, and they have too many weapons for the Redskins to contain. The extra week to prepare pays off for Carolina, take them to cover at home.

New England Patriots at Denver Broncos Broncos +3

Josh McDaniels will lead his Denver Broncos against his former mentor, Bill Belichick and the Patriots on Sunday at Mile High. Tom Brady looks more and more like his old self with every week that passes, and just led the Patriots to a hard-fought victory over an elite Baltimore team. The Broncos are undefeated, but their best win was against a mediocre Dallas team last week in the final minutes, and they also won on a fluke play against the Bengals in week one. By far the most overrated unbeaten team, the Broncos will come back to reality this week against the Pats who are 5-2 against the spread in their last 7 games. New England cools down the Broncos at Mile High, take them to cover.

BLOGGERS PIGSKIN PICKS

admin — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:34:54 +0000

Zoner Sports readers will have a chance to help me dominate Cuzoogle’s NFL Pigskin Picks challenge. At stake is money, free advertising, and blogger pride.

Here are the losing blogs we are competing against.

Blogs (in no particular order)

Yep Yep
The Sports Dungeon
Waiting for Next Year
The Sports Lounge
Tailgating Ideas
NESW Sports
The Blue Workhorse
My Sports Rumors
Inside Plays
Juiced Sports Blog
Buzz Pirates
GrandmasterB
Busted Coverage
The Chocolate Dog Blog
NE Patriots Draft
The Sports Dollar
Brahsome
Women Like Sports
Don Chavez
Banned in Hollywood
Mac Gs World
Macho Chip
Zoner Sports
CoverTwo
Sports Opinion

So check in each week to help me make my picks. We must have victory!

SUPER BOWL PREDICTIONS

admin — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 14:33:02 +0000

I suppose it’s about time to make a prediction for the game. I honestly won’t be surprised by any outcome. But I have to quote that man of men, Dennis Green. I think in most cases, maybe not Super Bowls, but in most cases teams are ‘who you thought they were’.

By that I mean I don’t expect the Colts to stop the run on Sunday. I don’t expect the Bears to completely shut down Manning & Co. I don’t expect Grossman to lose it for the Bears. I expect both Gould and Vinatieri to be factors. And in the end, all things being equal, I think the Bears win 27-20.

Give your prediction here. The closest gets a Dick Ruthven rookie card. Or something.

AND THE SUPER BOWL TEAMS ARE…

admin — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 21:23:21 +0000

Here’s who the Saints have beaten this year:

Cleveland, Green Bay, Atlanta (2), San Francisco, Tampa Bay (2), Dallas, Philly (2), Giants.

Who did they lose to? Carolina (2), Baltimore, Washington, Cincy, Pittsburgh.

Dome teams in conference championship games played outdoors? 0-8. Why is that? Try playing in a dome and then try to retain timing with receivers in the cold, snow and on grass. So how many picks do you think Brees will throw this week?

I’m worried. No question. But at home with snow accumulation possible, wind chill temps of 10 degrees and gusting to 30 mph, I have to pick the Bears. The “Bear Weather” is mostly myth. But the conditions are real and the stats don’t lie. Bears win 24-17.

Over in the AFC, lots of people are saying this is the year for Peyton Manning and the Colts. They also said that last year. And the year before. Sure, the Colts beat the Pats earlier in the season. That team is gone, replaced by an offensive machine. In their last 3 regular season games the Pats scored 40, 24 and 40 points. Then they piled up 37 on the Jets and 24 on the Chargers in the playoffs. Split the difference against the Colts and they get about 31. Do the Colts get 31 on the Pats this week? No.

Super Bowl Re-Shuffle! Pats vs. Bears, Part II.

Technorati tags: Colts / Chicago Bears / Patriots / Saints / NFL Playoffs

BEST WEEKEND OF NFL FOOTBALL EVER?

admin — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 18:46:18 +0000

Talking with colleague and dedicated Zoner reader PB, I realized that this just might be–at least leading up to it–the most exciting weekend of football ever. I can’t remember when I was so excited about the entire slate of games. To be sure, the Bears being a part of it has a lot to do with it. But look at the other games. On paper they are amazing. I’ve already predicted a 31-13 Bears thrashing. Here’s a look at the big weekend.

Colts at Ravens- The Ravens are back in the postseason with their fierce D and Steve McNair against Manning and the Colts. What happens to Manning’s image if he loses? Does Billick obtain the genius label if he gets back to the Big Game? Recall that Manning and McNair shared MVP honors in 2003. McNair and Jamal Lewis were buried by most over the past year or two. Now they both might make it back to Super Bowl.

Zoner pick: Ravens 20, Colts 14.

Eagles at Saints- The Eagles are arguably the hottest team in the league and the Saints are the feel-good story of the year. The Eagles try to get back to the Big Game sans McNabb and T.O. while Drew Brees and a slew of weapons play some of the most exciting football in the league. Hard not to see a shootout here. And that could be fun.

Zoner pick: Eagles magnificent story is done. Saints 31, Eagles 20.

Patriots at Chargers- Phil Simms says Philip Rivers experience is irrelevant. I’m not sure if we can actually quantify that, but I have to lean the other way. He’s playing his first playoff game against the new Joe Montana, Tom Brady. They are up against the coach of the millenium in Belichick. Think he might have a wrinkle or two for Rivers? Bet on it. Now the game might not call for Rivers to be a main factor. But if it does my bet is that the Pats take it. Of course, it didn’t bother Brady when he took over for Bledsoe.

Zoner pick: Patriots 27, Chargers 17.

Bring it up. Let me know what you think about these games.

Technorati tags: NFL / Bears / Seahawks / Patriots / Ravens / Chargers / Eagles / Saints/ Colts

WEEK 11 NFL PICKS

admin — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 18:38:55 +0000

Somehow I get these phone calls on my cell from these “odds experts”. They leave messages with a “free game”. They tell me to take this team or that or the over or under. Then they say to call them for more picks. The last 3 I have received have all been losers. I’m going to keep these messages on my phone and then put together a nice string of them and we’ll all have a good laugh.

I especially like the guys that offer your money back if their pick doesn’t win. Big deal! The people aren’t betting against these guys. Their money is long gone. What a joke. Let’s see them refund their money and their wager. Then I’d be a real believer.

On to the picks…

Last week: 3-0

Season Totals: 16-13-1

This Week:

Carolina -6 1/2. At home against the Rams and it’s the their time of the year. Seems they always get hot during the second half of the season.

Denver -2 1/2. Believe it. Playing in Denver is tough and they will win this game.

Tampa Bay -3. Mostly a hunch. And Washington without Portis and a rookie-ish QB.

Technorati tags: Week 11 NFL Picks

WEEK 10 NFL PICKS

admin — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 05:36:04 +0000

Week 10 already? Thanksgiving is right around the bend. That reminds me of Dan Dierdorf, affectionately AKA Mushmouth’s comment last week when the Bears fans startied making a lot of noise. He said “They sound like a bunch of people who were just told that the turkey is on the thanksgiving table.” What does that mean?

Oh yeah, we freak out, break chairs and scream and yell when dinner is ready on Thanksgiving. How long was Dierdorf waiting to use that line? Not long enough. Thankfully, I don’t think I’ll have to listen to him again this year.

On to the picks…

Last week: 2-1

Season Totals: 13-13-1

This Week:

Pack +5. Minnesota has an anemic offense.

San Fran +6. Detroit is wacko.

Bears +1. Oh yeah.

Technorati tags: Week 10 NFL Picks

WEEK 9 NFL PICKS

admin — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 18:16:45 +0000

Good thing no one is paying attention to these. I really, really hate the Panthers.

Last week: 0-3

Season Totals: 11-12-1

Back over the hump this week…

New Orleans -1. I love this pick.

San Fran +5. At home against the Vikings. I think they might be able to win this outright.

Rams -2. At home against the Chiefs. Dig it.

Technorati tags: Week 9 NFL Picks