NFL - Week 13 predictions

After a short week of school, students get a long Thanksgiving weekend to eat heartily, be with family and watch football. The NFL scheduled three games for turkey day and the rest at normal times. However, us experts take Thanksgiving as a break and therefore did not pick those three games.

But here we are with the remaining slate of matchups. The Titans lost for the first time all season last week, ending the chances of another New England for this season. Meanwhile Detroit is keeping its 0-16 dreams alive to do what Miami couldn't do last season. The Skins face the Giants at FedEx this week in what will be a hard game to win. The Skins lost to the defending champions in the season opener with the West Coast offense looking like a dud.

On the pick front, Kevin stopped Anshul's momentum with a plus-one week to take a four-game lead into week 13. Time is winding down and this last stretch will decide who will take the SCO crown.

Standings:

	Last week	Season total
Anshul	11-5	113-63
Kevin	12-4	117-59
Sean	11-5	102-74

Sunday November 30, 2008

San Francisco 49ers (3-8) at Buffalo Bills (6-5)

Anshul	Kevin	Sean
Buffalo	Buffalo	Buffalo

Anshul says:
The 49ers have a strong fight in them, but not enough to pick up a win.

Kevin says:
The Bills should not be upset here, but you never know.

Sean says:
I know not what to say for this predictable game.
But I predict that the Bills will find that the 49ers are rather tame.

Baltimore Ravens (7-4) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-9-1)

Anshul	Kevin	Sean
Baltimore	Baltimore	Baltimore

Anshul says:
The Ravens defense came alive last week as Ed Reed showed why he is one of the most feared safeties in the league. The Bengals stand no chance here.

Kevin says:
The Bengals are terrible.

Sean says:
The Bengals are as ferocious as Ashton Kutcher and I predict that the Ravens will play quite a cruel butcher.

Indianapolis Colts (7-4) at Cleveland Browns (4-7)

Anshul	Kevin	Sean
Indianapolis	Indianapolis	Indianapolis

Anshul says:
Adios Brady Quinn, we hardly knew thee.

Kevin says:
I like the Colts when they are healthy, just like I like the Browns when they beat the Giants. Except the Giants were playing terribly and the Browns were playing at their best. Good luck, Kellen Winslow.

Sean says:
I like my non-Dallas teams the way I like my Skins fans: sullen and wallowing in defeat.
For this game however, the Browns appear to be the ones to be beat.

Carolina Panthers (8-3) at Green Bay Packers (5-6)

Anshul	Kevin	Sean
Carolina	Carolina	Carolina

Anshul says:
After the beating the Falcons put on the Panthers, I was tempted to pick against Carolina. But the Pack didn't fare much better against the Saints, so the Panthers should be able to pick up this win.

Kevin says:
I have no idea what Sean's been trying to say about the Panthers week after week, as he is simply out of touch with football, exemplified by his horrendous foresight in the NFL. But I do know that the Packers were crushed by the Saints and the Panthers are greater than the Saints.

Sean says:
I pick correctly 66% of the time, says my record.
But the fact is the Panthers will win, we are all in accord.

Miami Dolphins (6-5) at St. Louis Rams (2-9)

Anshul	Kevin	Sean
Miami	Miami	Miami

Anshul says:
Another disastrous season for the Rams.

Kevin says:
Maybe the Dolphins can secure a playoff spot this year after a 1-15 record last year. That would rival Blair football as the best comeback of the year.

Sean says:
The fact that the Rams beat both Dallas and Washington confounds me to no end.
For this game I predict that the Dolphins will not be the ones to bend.

New Orleans Saints (6-5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-3)

Anshul	Kevin	Sean
New Orleans	Tampa Bay	Tampa Bay

Anshul says:
Drew Brees is the best quarterback in football right now and the Saints are looking better again. Their defense has improved and their running game is stepping up to support their amazing pass offense.

Kevin says:
The Buccaneers are solid.

Sean says:
The Buccaneers are doing well, I'll grudgingly admit.
A Saints victory here, I'd likely omit.

New York Giants (10-1) at Washington Redskins (7-4)

Anshul	Kevin	Sean
Washington	Washington	New York

Anshul says:
A couple days after the one-year anniversary of the loss of Sean Taylor, nothing can stop the Skins.

Kevin says:
Giants, Redskins and Sean Howard oh my! They need to take this at home to put down those damn Cowboys.

Sean says:
Methinks Mr. Teng take my jokes too seriously. Oh well, I don't care.
But for this game, let's be real, the Giants will win this with much fanfare.

Atlanta Falcons (7-4) at San Diego Chargers (4-7)

Anshul	Kevin	Sean
Atlanta	Atlanta	Atlanta

Anshul says:
I still have faith in Atlanta. The Chargers are too inconsistent to do well this season and are too banged up.

Kevin says:
L.T. is sort of back. However, Matt Ryan is even more back. How I wish Michael Vick was the most back.

Sean says:
L.T. has moved from the Inferno to Purgatory.
But I doubt we'll find his actions anywhere near exculpatory.

Denver Broncos (6-5) at New York Jets (8-3)

Anshul	Kevin	Sean
New York	New York	New York

Anshul says:
J-E-T-S! JETS JETS JETS!

Kevin says:
The Broncos lost last week to the Raiders and the Jets crushed the Titans. With a home game in the bag just on momentum and overall skill, the Jets better not disappoint.

Sean says:
How the Jets beat the Titans I can scarcely understand.
But on now they're playing on their own field which they know like the back of their hand.

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) at New England Patriots (7-4)

Anshul	Kevin	Sean
Pittsburgh	New England	Pittsburgh

Anshul says:
Matt Cassel is the real deal, but the Steelers are too good on all sides of the ball.

Kevin says:
The Steelers are good, but the Patriots crushed last week. This should be a fun one.

Sean says:
Maybe it's time for me to stop hoping the Patriots will lose out of spite.
Just kidding, I hope the Steelers sink their teeth into the bite.

Kansas City Chiefs (1-10) at Oakland Raiders (3-8)

Anshul	Kevin	Sean
Oakland	Kansas City	Oakland

Anshul says:
Who's going to be watching this game?

Kevin says:
Yuck. Record isn't everything, especially with lesser teams.

Sean says:
The Chiefs are terrible, no denying that.
But to say Oakland will lose to them is simply wrong right off the bat.

Chicago Bears (6-5) at Minnesota Vikings (6-5)

Anshul	Kevin	Sean
Minnesota	Minnesota	Chicago

Anshul says:
In another key divisional game, the Vikings have the slight upper hand on offense. This should be a really good game, but Minnesota should pull away in the end.

Kevin says:
The Bears are prone to lose the divisional lead right here on a road game to their main competitor. I can feel it.

Sean says:
Rhyming is getting tiresome especially when the teams are so equal.
So I'll stop my rhyming scheme now (with Chicago winning) and maybe there will be a sequel.

Monday December 1, 2008

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-7) at Houston Texans (4-7)

Anshul	Kevin	Sean
Houston	Houston	Houston

Anshul says:
I can't take Sean's rhyming anymore,
The Texans should easily show the Jags the door.

Kevin says:
Andre Johnson or...nobody? Regardless, a loss from either of these teams will pretty much ensure another official elimination from playoff contention.

Sean says:
A game that matters little is worse than peanut brittle.
But I expect the Texans' resolve to fall off and dwindle.