Week 13 Review/Week 14 Preview:

For the Week/Season:
vs. W/L: (10-6)/130-62
vs. ATS: (9-7)/100-92
vs. Aggregate:  (8-8)/100-92

vs. ATS:
CBS Judge 106-86-0
CBS Brinson 100-92-0
Postcards 100-92-0ESPN Simmons 96-90-7
CBS Richard 94-98-0
CBS Freeman 92-100-0
Walter Football 91-95-8
CBS Prisco 89-103-0
USAT Saraceno 88-99-5

vs. W/L:
ESPN Accuscore 133-59
ESPN Pick 'em 131-61
Postcards 130-62USAT Nate Davis 129-63
PFT Rosenthal 129-63
USAT Pete O'Brien 129-63
ESPN Schlereth 128-64
USAT Gary Mihoces 128-64
USAT Jarrett Bell 127-65
USAT Tom Pedulla 126-66
ESPN Allen 125-67
USAT Jim Corbett 125-67
ESPN Wickersham 125-67
ESPN Golic 124-68
ESPN Hoge 123-68
USAT Jon Saraceno 122-70
USAT Robert Klemko 122-70
PFT Florio 119-73
ESPN Schefter 117-75
ESPN Mortensen 116-76

Week 14 Preview:

Welcome to Week 14 as the horses now enter the stretch run.

The Sunday Games:

At Ravens

-16.5

Indianapolis

40.5

The team that used to play in Baltimore returns to play against a team striving to win the AFC North title. Last week, the Ravens cruised to a two-touchdown win in Cleveland. How many tears do you think are being shed over the winless Indianapolis team in Baltimore? That’d be uh, none. The Indianapolis team was overwhelmed in Foxboro for three quarters before that awful Patriots’ defense allowed them to score three garbage time touchdowns. Most of the players weren’t even born when the Colts slinked out of town at midnight almost thirty years ago, so it’s just another game on the schedule. For the long-suffering residents of Baltimore, it remains a deep personal wound.

Projected Final Score: Ravens 24, Indianapolis 13

At Cincinnati

-3.5

Houston

37.5

 Give credit to Coach Kubiak and his staff for preparing rookie T.J. Yates for the Atlanta game. Yates stepped up big-time and, aided by a great defense, the Texans prevailed over the Falcons by a touchdown. This week presents another tough challenge for the Texans as they travel to the Queen City to face a Bengals’ team that has to be smarting after last week’s humiliating effort in Pittsburgh.

Projected Final Score: Cincinnati 24, Houston 20

At Green Bay

-10.5

Oakland

53

The Pack returns home after last week’s thrilling 38-35 last second win over the Giants. The Raiders were banged up and were smoked in Miami and it’s hard to see them being able to muster much of an effort in back-to-back road games. No matter who’s available to play for the Raiders, they need to play much smarter football. For Richard Seymour to get ejected for punching an opponent was a disgrace. Veteran leaders don’t act stupidly.

Projected Final Score: Green Bay 34, Oakland 21

At NY Jets

-9.5

Kansas City

36.5

Every time the so-called experts write off the Jets’ playoff chances, they always find a way of winning and keeping themselves in the conversation. Last week’s game in Washington was close for three quarters but the Jets bowled over the ‘Skins with a big fourth quarter. The Chiefs had essentially one play that worked against the Bears last week, but one play was all it took as they downed a quarterback-challenged Bears team by a touchdown. At least Mark Sanchez is in pretty good health this week while the Chiefs continue to flounder around with the Palko/Orton tandem.

Projected Final Score: NY Jets 24, Kansas City 13

At Detroit

-7.5

Minnesota

Off

The Vikings threw everything they could at Tim Tebow and the Broncos and still came up short. It’ll be difficult for them to bring the same level of intensity this week. The Lions not only lost in New Orleans on Sunday night, they played STUPID football along the way. Sure, they’ve made great strides but the lack of discipline will continue to cost them dearly until Coach Schwartz instills a greater degree of professionalism among his players. That was a putrid display on Sunday night.

Projected Final Score: Detroit 27, Minnesota 20

New Orleans

-3.5

At Tennessee

48.5

After two straight impressive home wins, Drew Brees and the Saints hit the road to Nashville and a date with the Titans, who are coming off of a nice road win in Buffalo. Chris Johnson has had two great performances and he’s looking like the CJ2K of old. This is a big game for both teams as the Titans still harbor playoff hopes while the Saints want to show the football world that they’re capable of playing well on the road.

Projected Final Score: New Orleans 24, Tennessee 21

At Miami

-3.5

Philadelphia

45

Look at that line: Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Who’d have thought that the alleged “Dream Team” would be ‘dogs to a team that started off the year 0-7? Miami has played some good football in recent weeks, and they haven’t quit on Coach Sparano at all despite their brutal start. On the other hand, several members of the Philadelphia team have indeed quit on the coach and teammates after last week’s debacle in Seattle. That was about as disgraceful a display of football as it gets. Now they have to travel cross-country again to play another road game. That’s a recipe for disaster. Vick is back in the lineup after missing the last few weeks with broken ribs and that has to count for something.

Projected Final Score: Miami 27, Philadelphia 20

New England

-8.5

At Washington

48

This is another seeming mismatch that will play out much tougher than the Vegas Boys’ line. We warned those foolish enough to bet on the outcome of football games not to bite on the -21 that was established for last week’s game with Indianapolis. The Pats went out to a 31-3 lead after three quarters before taking their foot off the gas pedal and allowing Dan Orlovsky to lead Indy to three fourth quarter touchdowns. Granted, the Patriots’ secondary is presently put together with chewing gum and chicken wire but that fourth quarter collapse was inexcusable.  The ‘Skins played the Jets tough last week for about three quarters before it all unraveled badly. This week, the focus for both teams will be playing for a “full 60”.

Projected Final Score: New England 31, Washington 20

Atlanta

-2.5

At Carolina

48

The Falcons’ season is slowly slipping away as they lost to a determined Texans’ team on the road last week and now have to face Cam Newton and the Panthers, who handed the Bucs more than their hats last week. If the Falcons continue to hold aspirations for the playoffs then this is a game in which they have to win. The Panthers’ defense is porous but that offense is developing into something else.

Projected Final Score: Atlanta 27, Carolina 24

Tampa Bay

-1.5

At Jacksonville

Off

If there was ever a game in which both teams simultaneously lose, this one would probably be it. Two dreadful teams playing out the string, waiting for the season to end mercifully. Josh Freeman didn’t play last week and his absence really hurt the Bucs. The Jags played on Monday night for the first time without Coach Del Rio and were blown off the field by Philip Rivers and the Chargers.

Projected Final Score: Tampa Bay 23, Jacksonville 17

San Francisco

-3.5

At Arizona

40

The 10-2 ‘Niners travel to the Valley of the Sun where the upset-minded Cardinals are looking to win back-to-back games. Last week, the Cards’ defense played tough and they ended up beating the Cowboys in overtime. This week presents a whole new set of challenges as the ‘Niners will ground and pound the rock and the defense will confuse the ever lovin’ daylights out of Kolb. Last week, the ‘Niners pummeled St. Louis into submission and while the margin of victory probably won’t equal last week’s, it ought to be substantial.

Projected Final Score: San Francisco 24, Arizona 17

At Denver

-3.5

Chicago

36

Tebowmania continues to grip the nation as the Broncos are now 6-1 in games which Tebow has started. After last week’s 35-32 thriller in Minnesota, the Broncs return home to face the Bears, who could only muster a field goal last week with Caleb Hanie at the controls. The Bears are in a tough spot here as they can’t rely on the other Wild Card contenders to lose, as happened last week.

Projected Final Score: Denver 23, Chicago 14

At San Diego

-6.5

Buffalo

47

Well, at least the Bills get an all-expenses paid trip to Paradise for the weekend. They had a tough go of things last week, losing at home to Tennessee by six points. Clearly, the wheels have fallen off the wagon in Buffalo. The Chargers return home after Monday night’s blowout win in Jacksonville. For the first time in six weeks, everything clicked for the Chargers on offense. Perhaps that output augurs well for this week.

Projected Final Score: San Diego 28, Buffalo 20

At Dallas

-3.5

NY Giants

49

This is a big game for both teams. At the moment, the Cowboys reside at the top of the NFC East at 7-5, one game ahead of the G-Men. Both teams lost last week, while the Giants were at the top of their game offensively, the Cowboys weren’t. “Mr. November” did not play at all well on the first weekend of December. Eli Manning did have a fabulous game against the Packers as a thrilling finish by Green Bay denied the Giants a well-deserved victory. Coach Coughlin’s defense has some ‘splainin’ to do as Rodgers torched them.

Projected Final Score: NY Giants 24, Dallas 21

Monday Night Preview:

At Seattle

-6.5

St. Louis

39.5

Why wasn’t this game flexed to Thursday night? Talk about an all-time low, MNF has hit the dregs with this matchup. The Rams are so bad that Sam Bradford doesn’t know how to fix the problem. Imagine that? Bradford’s recent comments must’ve gone over like a lead balloon in the Rams’ locker room. They were demolished 26-0 by San Francisco and now travel up the Coast to face the ‘Hawks and the rabid 13^th Man. The ‘Hawks would like to finish up at least at .500. Right now, they’re 5-7.  

Projected Final Score: Seattle 24, St. Louis 10