NFL 2014 Week 14 Predictions

Week 14 Predictions

Bengals -3 over Steelers, 24-20

-I don’t believe the Steelers are a good team, especially on defense. The Bengals at least have some pieces. Big game from Bell though, matched by Green.

Colts -3.5 over Browns, 28-24

-This has nothing to do with the Hoyer start, which I agree with. The Colts are just better and know they need to win a few more games even in their generally pathetic division. Hilton taken away by Haden though.  

Lions -9.5 over Bucs, 35-20

-Start your Lions WRs!

Texans -6 over Jags, 24-9

-Texans are a competent football team. That’s about what I got.

Vikings -6 over Jets, 27-6

-The Jets are not a competent football team. The Vikings are sneakily competent and a good sleeper for next year assuming some growth and more consistency. Love the Vikings DST here.

Saints -9.5 over Panthers, 34-13

-These teams are going in the opposite directions, and, as always, I’m riding NO.

Rams -3 over Ethnic Slurs, 23-12

-The Rams are like the Vikings, just need that QB. I would pay money to watch Mariota on this team.

Broncos -10 over Bills, 31-14

-I don’t like it, but this will indeed be ugly. The only hope is the mismatch between DEN’s OLine and the BUF DLine….but that doesn’t make up for all the issues EVERYWHERE else in Denver’s favor.

Raiders +8 over 49ers, 13-19

-Yes, I’m serious. The 49ers aren’t good, and are a few bad breaks from the team revolting on Jim Harbaugh. Just cover baby.

Seahawks +2 over Eagles, 24-20

-Seahawks are getting points in any scenario, and I’m taking them despite everything else going on. Mark Sanchez still terrifies me.

Patriots -3.5 over Chargers, 36-23

-Pats don’t lose two in a row.

Packers -12.5 over Falcons, 31-17

-Domed war weather team going to Green Bay in winter. Yup. Rodgers all but ends the MVP discussion with ANOTHER huge game.

Record last week:

Straight Up: 7-6

By Spread: 5-8

Record this year:

Straight Up: 96-56

By Spread: 78-73

Lifetime record:
Straight Up: 763-411
By Spread: 616-543

NFL 2014 Week 4 Predictions

Week 4 Predictions

Panthers +3.5 over Ravens, 24-23

-Steve Smith Revenge Game aside, the Panthers are a good enough team that 3.5 is just an auto selection.  

Packers -2 over Bears, 31-27

-Forte has a much better day than his season to date, but the Packers are R-E-L-A-X-E-D and will get on track. Jordy may have to have 300 yards to do so, but I’d take that.

Bills +3 over Texans, 21-20

-I don’t like either team, but I really don’t like Ryan Fitzpatrick. We see Mallett at some point this season, right?

Colts -7.5 over Titans, 27-16

-Week 1 seems to be a sham. The Titans are not good and the Colts are rounding into shape quickly.

Lions -2 over Jets, 34-15

-I don’t get it. The Jets are not good. The Lions are decent. No one can cover Megatron here. I see a romp.

Fins -3.5 over Raiders, 20-13

-Loser leaves town, coach-wise?

Steelers -7.5 over Bucs, 27-12

-Mike Glennon, I’m pulling for you.

Chargers -13 over Jags, 31-14

-Lock of the week for the Eliminator community, and Rivers should have a monster day.

Falcons -3 over Viks, 30-13

-3 points? Am I missing something?

Eagles +5 over 49ers, 24-23

-I don’t think the 49ers are good, and believe the Eagles are at least somewhat good. Chip Kelly +5 points seems like it is going to work out most weeks.

Saints -3 over Cowboys, 37-27

-It’s coming some week, and the Saints explosion might as well be this one. They own the Cowboys since Brees came to NOLA

Pats -3 over Chiefs, 24-20

-This is a really tough game to properly predict. However,  the Pats don’t typically lose prime time games, and I believe they have a line on the many Chiefs weaknesses to exploit. Brady gets the offense tooled into a better gear and they find a way to win this game.

Record last week:

Straight Up: 11-4

By Spread: 9-6

Record this year:

Straight Up: 25-15

By Spread: 19-21

Lifetime record:
Straight Up: 689-370
By Spread: 557-491

NFL 2013 Week 17 Predictions

Bengals -6 over Ravens, 24-16

-Bengals are playing for a possible bye, and the Ravens are coming apart a bit. I wouldn’t trust Flacco’s knee here, and since you can’t trust any of Ray Rice…

Pats -8.5 over Bills, 34-16

-Pats need this, and are rounding into form. They want to earn that week off.

Falcons +6 over Panthers, 17-20

-Falcons are playing everyone close, the Panthers are pretty injured, and it may be a low scoring game. Taking the points.

Steelers -7 over Browns, 24-7

-Steelers need this to have any shot at the playoffs, so they get it.

Packers -3 over Bears, 29-24

-Rodgers is back, and the Bears are ready to disintegrate.

Jags +11.5 over Colts, 20-24

-They hang in every game.

Texans +7.5 over Titans, 19-20

-Just too many points for a team this talented, even on the road.

Fins -5.5 over Jets, 20-13

-Jets have pulled a lot of magic tricks to get even this many wins, but the Dolphins need this to get into the playoffs.

Eagles -6 over Cowboys, 37-23

-This could actually be a big blowout.

-Strategic Eliminator Pick

Saints -13 over Bucs, 31-17

-A “take care of business” game for the Saints, which I think straightens them out and gets them primed for the first round. It is interesting, everyone has given up on this team. But they will probably beat the Bucs and then have a good chance at the Packers or Eagles. I am not counting this team out quite yet.

Chargers -9.5 over Chiefs, 30-10

-Meaningless game for the Chiefs, who haven’t been exactly stout on defense anyways.

Cards pk over 49ers, 17-15

-The Falcons played the Niners so tough, and the Cards need the win more desperately than San Francisco does.

Seahawks -10.5 over Rams, 24-10

-Still my favorite to win the whole thing, the Seahawks take care of business here and clinch home field throughout.

-Best Eliminator Pick

Record last week:

Straight Up: 6-5

By Spread: 4-7

Record this year:
Straight Up: 108-66
By Spread: 88-87

Lifetime record:
Straight Up: 647-349
By Spread: 525-460

2013 MLB Board Bets: Bliss vs. Orsi Round 4

Bliss: Since everyone is clamoring for a column, we should do this.

Orsi: No one is clamoring.

Bliss: Sure they are. Listen, there’s the clamor.

Orsi: Mike, we are extremely wrong all the time anyways.

Bliss: Hey! We both had the Giants in the WS last year!

Orsi: We also had the Marlins and Phillies succeeding, David Wright getting traded, and you even had Adrian Gonzalez as MVP.

Bliss: Okay, that happened....let’s just get past it. Time for Board Bets round 4! I lost a heartbreaking tilt versus the young Cuz from last year 10-7. We tied on many predictions, including where we had the Tigers. We both completely missed the A’s and Orioles. We did have the Giants in the WS, with Matt nailing them winning. I may or may not have supported Brett Lawrie for a 25-25 season (lost that) and I didn’t support Ryan Braun to go 30-30 (which he only got by one SB). I’ll get the next one Matt.

Orsi: You literally put words into my mouth.

Divisions

AL East: Rays for both

AL Central: Tigers for both

AL West: Angels for both

NL East: Nats for both

Orsi - I have an unhealthy amount of manlove for this team, so much so that I just typed manlove.

Bliss - And even made it one word.

NL Central: Reds for both

NL West: (finally, we disagree!)

Bliss - Giants

Orsi - Dodgers (you don’t spend that much money to lose)

AL Wild Cards:

Bliss - White Sox, Blue Jays

Orsi - Blue Jays, Rangers

NL Wild Cards:

Bliss - Pirates, Dodgers

Orsi -  Cardinals, Giants

ALCS:

Bliss - Rays over Tigers

Orsi - Tigers over Angels

NLCS:

Bliss - Reds over Nats

Orsi -  Nats over Reds

World Series:

Bliss - Rays over Reds

Orsi - Nats over Tigers

Leaders:

Home Runs:

Bliss - Jay Bruce

Orsi - Jose Bautista

Steals:

Bliss - Jose Reyes

Orsi - Emilio Bonifacio

RBIs:

Bliss - Jose Bautista

Orsi - Miguel Cabrera

Average:

Bliss - Buster Posey

Orsi - Joey Votto

OPS:

Bliss - Joey Votto

Orsi - Miguel Cabrera

Wins:

Bliss - Mark Buehrle

Orsi - Jered Weaver

Strikeouts:

Bliss - Kershaw

Orsi - Yu Darvish

Winners:

AL Cy Young:

Bliss - Chris Sale (nasty, dirty, amazing stuff)

Orsi - Justin Verlander (ummm he’s still filthy good)

NL Cy Young:

Bliss - Madison Bumgarner

Orsi - Clayton Kershaw

AL MVP:

Bliss - Evan Longoria (so close to taking Jose Bautista, but the wrist scares me)

Orsi - Miguel Cabrera (just give the man his due)

NL MVP:

Bliss - Joey Votto (I love everything about him. He was awesome, then he lost power so he learned to hit better. Now he has the power back too).

Orsi - Justin Upton (so much for no predictability, Mike ^)

Bliss - You picked Verlander for Cy Young. And Kershaw actually. Want an outside the box pick? Paul Goldschmidt.

AL ROY:

Bliss - Wil Myers (Hicks will play all year but Myers will be on a good team with protection)

Orsi - Jurickson Profar

NL ROY:

Bliss - Oscar Tavares (if he gets up in time to accrue counting stats. Splits will be awesome)

Orsi - Travis D’Arnaud (he is going to get an opportunity, at least)

AL Manager of the Year:

Bliss - Terry Francona, CLE (No other obvious candidates, and they will improve)

Orsi - Joe Girardi, NYY (if this team does anything without the stars)

NL Manager of the Year:

Bliss - Clint Hurdle, PIT

Orsi - Davey Johnson, WAS

Random Bets:

Worst Team in AL East:

Bliss - Red Sox (Yanks in 4th)

Orsi - Can I plead the 5th?

Bliss - Nice. I see what you did there.

Worst Team in the AL:

Bliss - Twins

Orsi - Astros (different league, same terrible team)

Worst Team in the NL:

Bliss - Cubs (bottoming out)  

Orsi - Marlins (I own your team hat, Mr. Loria. You let me down)

How many no hitters this year?:

Bliss - 4

Orsi - 3

Mike Trout MVP position under over 2.5:

Bliss - over

Orsi - under

Total Upton HRs under over 55:

Bliss - under

Orsi - over

Best Giants pitcher (player rater):

Bliss - Bumgarner

Orsi -  Cain

Greinke starts under over 27:

Bliss - Under

Orsi - Over

Total Granderson/Texeira/ARod/Jeter HRs:

Bliss - 65

Orsi - 55

Red Sox pitchers with 14 wins:

Bliss - 0

Orsi - 1

John Lackey ERA:

Bliss - 4.68

Orsi - 4.75

Best offense (runs scored):

Bliss - Reds

Orsi - Angels

Best defense (runs prevented):

Bliss - Tribe

Orsi - Rays

Best staff ERA:

Bliss - Giants

Orsi - Braves

Scott Kazmir starts:

Bliss - 13 (seems unlucky to ever pick a number)

Orsi - Too many (no seriously, this is my answer)

Most Angel’s HRs:

Bliss - Trumbo

Orsi - Hamilton

Best rookie starting pitcher (player rater):

Bliss - Julio Teheran

Orsi - Dylan Bundy

Earliest Callup:

Bliss - Travis D’Arnaud

Orsi - Jedd Gyorko

WAR Leader, pitcher:

Bliss - David Price

Orsi - Justin Verlander

WAR Leader, hitter:

Bliss - Joey Votto

Orsi - Robinson Cano

Bliss: Seems like a good place to end. WAR is the most important stat after all. Good luck Cuz. We’ll tally it up next year.