Well, I guess I was back to another miserable week of picking going 1-3 against the spread.  Arizona’s defense did not get the memo that they were still playing, and the Ravens shot themselves in the foot over and over again was aggravating.  I was just dead wrong on the Vikings.  Anyways on to this week’s picks:

Jets at Colts

Line: Colts -7.5

Can the Jets pull it off?

Why are the Colts giving seven and a half?  They have not looked good lately and Peyton Manning forgot how to hit a deep pass.  The Jets, meanwhile, have looked like they have been firing on all cylinders (minus their passing game, which remains as anemic as ever) and are playing with confidence.  They are not intimidated by Manning either as they hung with Peyton during their week 14 matchup.  Shonn Greene has exploded in this postseason and is proving nigh impossible for opposing defenses to contain.  One thing that may worry me is that Indy’ secondary can be very opportunistic and can get a takeaway or two from Sanchez.  Peyton’s wide outs were actually pretty open in the week sixteen matchup as well.   Still, I am riding the hot hand.

Prediction: Jets 20, Colts 17

Pick: Jets +7

Vikings at Saints

Line: Saints -3.5

These guys are the critical ones in this one

These teams seem to be nearly identical at this point.  Potent, pass first offenses with running games that are usually anemic.  Their defenses can be good but have had their off days recently.  I am not sure how injured Ray Edwards and Kevin Williams are, but I am assuming they will play but will not be 100%, which makes the Saints look like a better play.  The biggest thing is the Vikings’ road record this season, which is a middling 4-4, including losses to, the crappy Bears, a drubbing by the mediocre Panthers, a loss to the Steelers (note that none of the aforementioned teams made the playoffs), and to the Cardinals in a game in which they scored seventeen points.  I hate using home and away records as solid indicators, but in this case it seems to be the best one, with too many variables to play with.

Prediction: Vikings 14, Saints, 27

Pick: Saints -3.5

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