Week 12 Review/Week 13 Preview:

For The Week/Season
vs W/L: (12-4)/(124-52)
vs. ATS: (10-6)/(99-77)
vs. Aggregate: (8-8)/(81-95)

ATS vs. "Sportsline Experts"

PFN: 99-77-0
Richard 99-77-0
Judge 95-81-0
Urbano 85-91-0
Harmon 88-88-0
Prisco 86-90-0
Madden 75-101-0

W/L vs. “USA Today Experts”

PFN: 124-52
Sean Leahy 119-57
Pete O'Brien 118-58
Nate Davis 112-64
Tom Pedulla 121-55
Jarrett Bell 117-59
Gary Mihoces 122-54
Jim Corbett 104-72
Skip Wood 117-59

Week 13 Preview:

OK, so we kicked off Week 13 on a good note, but there are a number of challenging games on the rest of the slate, so let’s give it a go…

Denver -4.5 At Kansas City 38

The Chiefs were blasted off the field in San Diego last week and it’s very hard to see how they’ll be able to compete even with the fading Broncos (who are well rested after their Thanksgiving night win over the G-Men). Given the extra rest, the Broncos come into KC and are a touchdown better.

Projected Final Score: Denver 23, Kansas City 17

At Pittsburgh 13.5 Oakland 41

Maybe if Big Ben were still out of the lineup, maybe the Raiders would have a slight chance of beating the spread, but Pittsburgh lost on Monday night and will be in a highly agitated state when the Raiders visit in this renewal of the “Immaculate Reception” rivalry. Ain’t much of a “rivalry”, this year.

Projected Final Score: Pittsburgh 27, Oakland 10

At Jacksonville PK Houston 46.5

The Jags were hammered (again) out on the Coast while the Texans gave Indy quite a go last week before fading in the fourth quarter. The Jags (who defeated Houston on the road earlier this year) are a much better team at home and will be looking to rebound from last week’s sorry showing. But Jacksonville’s secondary is woeful and maybe Schaub can have a big day. Better that these teams just flip a coin and walk away because that’s all this game is.

Projected Final Score: Houston 23, Jacksonville 21

At Indianapolis -6.5 Tennessee 47

If this was the week for Indy to fall from the ranks of the unbeaten, this would be it. The Titans are now on a highly impressive run, winning their fifth in a row last week at last instant. Indy started out sluggish in Houston last week before overpowering the Texans at the end. Manning & Co. know that this week will be a much tougher test, much tougher than the Vegas Boys indicate.

Projected Final Score: Indianapolis 27, Tennessee 21

Philadelphia -4.5 At Atlanta 44.5

Both teams survived by the hairs of their chinny-chin-chins last week against much weaker opponents. This is a game that both teams need to win as they still entertain playoff hopes. Ryan may not be in the lineup this week and that may spell D-O-O-M for the home team. Even if DeSean Jackson doesn’t play for Philly, McNabb has enough weapons to get the job done, provided the Eagles come out with a consistent effort (something we can’t always depend on).

Projected Final Score: Philadelphia 24, Atlanta 17

At Cincinnati -12.5 Detroit 42

At first glance, this appears to be a blowout, but the Bengals sometimes play to the level of their competition as we saw a couple of weeks ago in their loss to Oakland. The Lions turned in their traditional Thanksgiving turkey last week and, with Stafford still hurting, there really isn’t much positive going on in Motown. They’ll play better than they did against Green Bay, but “almost” counts for naught in the NFL.

Projected Final Score: Cincinnati 27, Detroit 13

New Orleans -9.5 At Washington 48

After demolishing the Patriots on Monday night, the unbeaten Saints travel to the DC and a date with the ‘Skins, who beat New Orleans the last time these teams got together. After such a dominating win and with one less day to prepare, maybe the Saints won’t be as sharp as they played in Week 12. Will the Redskins pull the improbable upset? Uh…no.

Projected Final Score: New Orleans 24, Washington 17

At Carolina -6.5 Tampa Bay 41.5

Talk about a proverbial crapshoot here, the bad Panthers showed up in the Meadowlands last week and typically underwhelmed the Jets. Delhomme is now out for the season (not that it matters much) and they’ll have to make due against the Bucs, who played out their hearts in Atlanta last week. No one should have any confidence in Carolina this, or any other week. Yeah, the Panthers should be able to run the ball but no way should they be favored by this much.

Projected Final Score: Carolina 23, Tampa Bay 20

At Chicago -9 St. Louis 41

Ugh. This is yet another dud the schedule maker has presented for your viewing pleasure. Thank goodness that only certain markets in the Midwest will be treated to witness this one. Both teams stink, but it’s only the Rams (except for Steven Jackson) who are outright dreadful. But nine points? What are they smoking in Vegas?

Projected Final Score: Chicago 23, St. Louis 17

San Diego -12.5 At Cleveland 43

Last week, we saw what the Chargers can do against a bad team. This week, they take the show on the road to Cleveland. Shaun Rogers is now out for the season. Why should anything be different this week?

Projected Final Score: San Diego 31, Cleveland 13

At Seattle PK San Francisco 41

The rough n’ tough ‘Niners go up I-5 for a date with the struggling Seahawks. Although both teams aren’t that great it should be an entertaining divisional clash. First, there’s that whole “12th Man” thing in Seattle and the ‘Niners will come into every game with an edge. San Francisco is simply much tougher on both sides of the ball.

Projected Final Score: San Francisco 23, Seattle 21

Minnesota 4.5 At Arizona 48

Favre & Co. travel to the Valley of the Sun for a Sunday night date with the Cardinals. Warner may or may not play depending on whether he’s fully recovered from concussion symptoms. Obviously, if he plays he can wreak havoc on Minnesota’s pedestrian pass defense. If “Hollywood Matt” is in there, it’s a different story. Last week, Leinart played pretty well, but the Cards were denied at the last moment in Nashville, which wasn’t entirely unexpected while the Vikes blasted the Bears out of the Baggie Dome.

Projected Final Score: Minnesota 27, Arizona 20

Dallas -1 At NY Giants 45.5

This should be one of Sunday’s better games provided Eli Manning is able to play. The G-Men have been a big disappointment and will hopefully bring a better game than they did on Thanksgiving night in Denver, where they simply could not get untracked all night. Dallas has a division title within its grasp and will look at this as a golden opportunity to put a nail in the Giants’ coffin. But Romo underperforms in the month of December. This is the Giants’ last shot and they won’t let Coughlin down.

Projected Final Score: NY Giants 24, Dallas 23

New England -5.5 At Miami 47

Hate to admit it, but we saw the Patriots’ dismal showing against a quality opponent a mile away. Sorry yahoos, but their defense is simply not that good and they were perfectly exploited on Monday night. When is the last time that a Belichick-coached defense ever allowed a blown coverage like that? Where was Merriweather on that play? Unbelievable! Other than a “road” win in London, the Patriots haven’t won on the road so far this year. Now, they’re traveling to a venue that’s traditionally been a house of horrors for them. Miami totally collapsed last week in Buffalo and will return home with their pride stinging and looking to exact a little revenge on the Patriots. The problem for Miami is that there is no way that the Patriots’ offense will perform as badly this week.

Projected Final Score: New England 28, Miami 21