NFL Season 2014: Week Ten Picks

My stats

Me

Week nine: 10-3

Season total: 87-47

ATS: 68-66

Prisco:

Week nine: 10-3

Season total: 90-44

ATS: 66-68

Exact spread:

me

Week nine: 0/13

Season: 2/134

Prisco

Week nine: 0/13

Season: 2/134

Exact score (game):

me

Week nine: 0

Season: 0/134

Prisco

Week nine: 0

Season: 1/134

Exact score (team):

me

Week nine: 1/26

Season:18/268

Prisco

Week nine: 2/26

Season: 9/268

Correct upset specials:

me:

4/9

Prisco:

N/A

It's week nine and the Arizona Cardinals have still only lost one game.

What? Don't be fooled kids, They have been lucky. They have the 23rd ranked offense and nineteenth ranked defense, they should be 4-4, at best. They have had three starting QB's and, in their one loss, they were demolished by Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Week three saw several blown calls in their favor which gave them a victory, they traveled to Dallas and got to face not Tony Romo, but Brandon Weeden. Romo plays, they lose that game. They have also played the Raiders and Redskins. Now, they face an opponent on the second game of a back-to-back... a situation which almost always results in victory for the home team.

The luck ends this week, Rams win in my upset special.

Against the spread, I am 68-66, whereas Pete Prisco is 66-68. Overall, I am three games behind Prisco, but I have chosen the correct number of team scores 18 times to Prisco's nine.

As we enter the true second half of the season (all teams have now played at least eight games) we have a pretty good idea of who is good and who is playing for draft position. What's in store this week?

Bye weeks: Texans, Colts, Vikings, Patriots, Redskins, Chargers

Cleveland (5-3) at Cincinnati (5-2-1)

The Browns have been one of the surprise teams in the NFL behind an adequate Bryan Hoyer and a tremendous ground attack. But, Cincinnati is still one of the toughest places to play on the road. The Bengals take it.

Browns 20 Bengals 24

result: Browns 24 Bengals 3

Kansas City (5-3) at Buffalo (5-3)

The Chiefs are in second in the AFC West and can put some distance between them and the idle Chargers with a win this week. Buffalo has been very good this year, but, missing their top two running backs and facing one of the top secondaries in football, I think the Chiefs squeak this one out.

Chiefs 23 Bills 19

result: Chiefs 17 Bills 13

Miami (5-3) at Detroit (6-2)

I thought Miami would make a playoff push this year and that's exactly what they're doing. The Lions, though, boast the NFL's best defense and coming off a bye week, that makes the difference here.

Dolphins 16 Lions 21

result: Dolphins 16 Lions 20

Dallas (6-3) @ Jacksonville (1-8)

Even if Brandon Weeden starts, the over rated Cowboys should beat the Jaguars in London. Blake Bortles and Co. will have a hard time moving the football and DeMarco Murray should control the clock.

Cowboys 27 Jaguars 14

result: Cowboys 31 Jaguars 17

San Francisco (4-4) @ New Orleans (4-4)

In a battle of teams with identical records, in recent weeks, the teams have been going in opposite directions. The Saints have had a more balanced offense while the Niners have had trouble scoring points (27 in their past two contests). I think the Saints outscore the Niners here in a close one.

49ers 17 Saints 20

result: 49ers 27 Saints 24

Tennessee (2-6) @ Ravens (5-4)

The Titans have lost a lot of close games but now their lack of talent is beginning to show. The Ravens have lost two straight, but they get right here.

Titans 17 Ravens 28

result: Titans 7 Ravens 21

Steelers (6-3) @ Jets (1-8)

The Jets boast a top five defense but their offense has been inept most of the season-- even with the acquisition of Percy Harvin. The Steelers are playing great football, but the Jets could slow them down enough to make this interesting.

Steelers 26 Jets 20

result: Steelers 13 Jets 20

Falcons (2-6) @ Buccaneers (1-7)

What happens when the 31^st ranked defense and the 32^nd ranked defense face off? Probly a lot of points, even with the Buccaneers seceond to last in total offense. I don't like Matt Ryan on the road, even against a terrible Bucs team.

Falcons 23 Buccaneers 27

result: Falcons 27 Buccaneers 17

Denver (6-2) at Oakland (0-8)

This has the makings of a blow out and, in the end, it will be. But, the Raiders have played tough and played a number of close games. Derek Carr is the real deal, but he can't keep up with Peyton Manning for long.

Broncos 38 Raiders 21

result: Broncos 42 Raiders 17

St. Louis (3-5) @ Arizona (7-1)

The Cardinals beat the Cowboys in Dallas... without Tony Romo. And now, they get to face a team on the second of a back-to-back. Their lucky season continues, and I will continue to pick against them out of sheer stubbornness because they are the worst 7-1 team in the history of the NFL. Upset special.

Rams 21 Cardinals 17

result: Rams 14 Cardinals 31

New York (3-5) @ Seattle (5-3)

Coming off a short week and travelling across the country doesn't bode well for the Giants. The Seahawks are banged up (but getting healthier) and not playing great football yet they are winning games. Seahawks control the clock with Marshawn and force a few turnovers behind a once again health Legion of Boom.

Giants 13 Seahawks 24

result: Giants 17 Seahawks 38

Chicago (3-5) @ Green Bay (5-3)

The Bears are reeling and now they must face a Green Bay team on the road that already skunked them at home. This won't be pretty. Aaron Rodgers, Eddie Lacy and company romp.

Bears 14 Packers 35

result: Bears 14 Packers 55

Carolina (3-5-1) @ Philadelphia (6-2)

Mark Sanchez will get his first start of the season against a struggling defense at home in prime time. Chip Kelley might be able to get some lemon juice out of this lemon. Cam Newton should have some room to throw the football, but, ultimately, the Eagles are the better team.

Panthers 21 Eagles 28

result: Panthers 21 Eagles 45

Thanks for Reading

A FREELANCE WRITER, HONORS STUDENT AND GOVER PRIZE FINALIST, JUSTIN W. PRICE (AKA, PDXKARAOKEGUY)IS A POET, SHORT STORY, BIOGRAPHY AND HUMOR WRITER. HIS POETRY COLLECTION,DIGGING TO CHINA, WAS RELEASED FEBRUARY 2ND, 2013 BY SWEATSHOPPE PUBLICATIONS AND IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM, BARNES AND NOBLE AND THROUGH YOUR LOCAL BOOKSELLER.

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