Select Barometer – Some (not all) NFL Picks
Cowboys vs. Bye: The good news – Dallas won’t lose this week. The bad news – Vegas has Bye as the favorite over the Cowboys by 3. And the line is expected to move to 2 by Saturday morning according to the betting trends. Yikes! I guess Bye has drafted better over the years. Hasn’t everyone?
Washington at Philadelphia: Which Philadelphia team is going to show up? Actually, which Nick Foles is going to show up? Barometer is betting that Philly goes back to the home woes that helped them lose to Dallas a few weeks ago (they should be ashamed). RGIII has his biggest game of the year and throws eight touchdown passes. OK, three. Washington 31, Philly 14
Baltimore at Chicago: Da Bears are tough at home and the Ravens haven’t really been the same without Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. Then again, the Texans weren’t the same WITH Ed Reed (your turn, Rex). Chicago gets its ground game going. Bears 22, Ravens 16 in a field goal haven
Oakland at Houston: Gary Kubiak makes his return to the sidelines and Wade Phillips is overwhelmed with gratitude. Now there’s a chance Fake Wade won’t be featured on the Musers this week. The Texans find the win column, a rarity in 2013. But this is the Raiders. Even the Cowboys could beat them. Maybe. Texans 27, Raiders 13
San Francisco at New Orleans: The Saints are practically unbeatable at home this year, while San Fran is not living up to their status as defending conference champs. The trends continue. Drew Brees carves ‘em up. Saints 30, 49ers 17
Green Bay at NY Giants: The NFL is a quarterback league, and the last two games for the Packers proves it. Really? The best you can do for a back-up QB is Seneca Wallace? Make that the last three games after this one. Don’t look now, but those Giants are back in contention in the NFC East. The last time I said that about a team they went 0-16. Giants 27, Packers 13
Kansas City at Denver (Sunday night): The Barometer’s favorite team – the Chiefs – put their unbeaten record on the line at the Broncos. Peyton Manning plays and Von Miller proves to be too much, as Denver hands KC its first loss. Broncos 34, Chiefs 20
New England at Carolina (Monday night): The Panthers’ defense impressed me big-time last week at San Francisco. Those boys have some athletes on that side of the ball! The Pats are still the Pats but the Panthers are my new darling team in the NFC. God help them. Panthers 26, Patriots 23
College Upsets
Duke over Miami – The Hurricanes might be the biggest fraud in the top 25 if it weren’t for OU and Ohio State. David Cutcliffe’s Blue Devils have it going on with a five-game win streak while the Canes have lost two in a row. Expect both streaks to continue.
Georgia over Auburn – Whoda thunk about a month ago that Georgia beating Auburn would be an “upset”? It’s only an upset (in my opinion) due to the teams’ rankings. The key – Todd Gurley is back from injury and controls the game for the Bulldogs. If Georgia’s run defense can slow down the zone read, they win by double-digits.
Stars Schedule Note
Thinking of taking in a Stars game soon? A good pick might be the Tuesday night game on Nov. 26 when the Anaheim Ducks come to town for their lone appearance of the season. It’s weird to write that, since the Ducks used to come to Dallas at least three times a season. This will be your last chance to see future hall-of-famer Teemu Selanne, as he has announced that this will be his final season. The Stars are playing well, and this one should be a good one.
