It was a weird week for our picks: 3-2-1, bringing the season totals to 31-11-1. The Pats were the lone push for the week, let alone the season. Plus everyone who played the Steelers-Browns game got crossed-up when Ben Roethlisberger was forced into action.
Here's a sure-fire bar bet winner here for you: Who is the Steelers emergency QB? (Answer below.)
While Ernesto the Prediction Iguana is on the injured reserved list (he's nursing a bruised ego), Barstow the Prediction Cat will get one more start this week, before we head into the season's home stretch. Here are this week's winners...before they happen. And when you collect, tell your bookie he got beat by a house cat.
GREEN LIGHT!
Panthers (-1/2) at WASHINGTON
The Panthers are actually getting stronger as the season progresses, demolishing an overmatched Titans team last week by a breezy 17 points. Kirk Cousins is tough, and Washington ROLLED the Saints to the tune of 47-10, but N.O. has no pass defense and Carolina does.
VIKINGS-Packers OVER 39
It's rising star Teddy Bridgewater vs. Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers in this battle for the top spot in the NFC North. The surprising Vikings are living up to expectations for once, while the Packers have dropped their last three. Still, there should be enough offense to put up six combined TD between the two teams.
AMBER ALERT!
PATRIOTS (-1.5) vs. Bills
This must be the week they go down! They almost lost to the Giants...we'll beat them, says every Bills fan in the world. While most of the football world would love to see you be right, it's not happening in Foxboro.
CHARGERS-Chiefs UNDER 52.5
If you want to really punish your kids, skip time out and instead make him watch highlights of these two teams' offenses for four hours...they'll never act up again.
RED WARNING!
Broncos (+3) at BEARS
The Bears actually beat someone last week...if you count the Rams as "someone." With Peyton Manning out, the Broncos turn to Brock Osweiler, who, contrary to popular belief, was not a Bavarian clock maker.
DOLPHINS-Cowboys UNDER 52.5
The Cowpoke sank to a new low with a paltry six-point effort against the hapless Bucs. The Dolphins upended the Eagles last week for a surprise win, now look to make it a double by taking out another NFC East team. With two offenses that are...offensive...seven touchdowns combined is unlikely.
BONUS PICKS
[AUTHOR'S NOTE: With the lines on these two games likely to change due to injury updates and an intervening contest, as we near game time we will update you on these bonus picks.]
EAGLES (-1) vs Buccaneers
The Eagles missed a golden opportunity to take the division lead last week, but spit the bit against the Dolphins. Eagles QB Sam Bradford will be out with a separated shoulder. The Buccaneers have talent and will make this a nail-biter.
Bengals (+8.5) at CARDINALS
Wow, they must really need Cincinnati money because they are undefeated, yet underdogs going into the game. All that may change tonight as the Bengals play the Texans on MNF, so stay tuned for line updates here as well.
TRIVIA ANSWER
The Steelers' emergency QB - nearly pressed into action last week - is tight end Heath Miller.
