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Daki: Luka, I just realized that once the NBA starts we may never talk about anything else on this blog. I think this is a perfect time to bust out the time tested gimmick of exchanging e-mails and talk NFL picks (for maybe the last time until playoffs). Just to drive that point home I will sprinkle in random NBA tidbits throughout the post. But first, we might as well start with one of the games of the week in the NFL. The Atlanta Falcons going up against the Eagles of Philadelphia. How do you think your Eagles will do this week against the undefeated Falcons? The line has moved all the way to -3 and it seems that people are trusting Andy Reid off a bye-week vs. Andy Reid in any other game.
Atlanta (+3) At Philadelphia
I gotta say, I love the Eagles to win here, can't really explain why, but I just think that they are too talented to be so mediocre and with Andrew Bunym's knee injury, the people of Philadelphia need hope!
Luka: My favorite Eagles week this year was last week and we had it off. Everyone says the same thing when they talk about this team, that they could win by 40 or lose by 40 any given week and it's true. For this week though, I also am feeling an Eagles win. Reid is inexplicably great after bye weeks and a Falcons team that has practically clinched their division already (Let-Down game!!) adds up to a possible Philly victory that will get all their fans (myself included) praising the likes of Vick and Jackson as the second-coming of Montana and Rice. I'm personally excited to start calling a (hopefully) 4-3 team the Super-Bowl favorites next week. As for Bynum and the Sixers, I don't think any fan will tell you they were shocked when they started hearing Bynum injured stories. That comes with the territory but I do hope he gets better and we have an NBA season where the Atlantic Division is undoubtedly the strongest (maybe the Mayans were right).
Daki: Yes, for the first time in a long time it seems that the East actually managed to get stronger across the conference. Speaking of strong conferences, how about this NFC? I am making a slightly bold prediction that 11 wins might not be enough for the playoffs and that one team from the NFC East, North, and West will legitimately feel that they could have made the playoffs in almost any other season. Which is what makes games like these:
Carolina (+7.5) At Chicago
So important. Chicago has relatively few "easy" games left and has to win them all to a) keep up with Atlanta for home-field advantage and b) fend off teams like the Giants and Packers for a first-round bye. Am I crazy or does Carolina get random respect from Vegas? Chicago by 2+ touchdowns lock it down.
Luka:I agree with your point on Vegas' unfounded respect for the Panthers and think it has to come from the Cam Newton effect. But is he even that good? I mean don't get me wrong, hes incredibly gifted physically but his team is 1-5 and it seems like every week more and more stories of Cam throwing his teammates under the bus seem to surface. I too like the Bears to cover this game. Chicago is somehow a sneaky 5-1.
Daki: Chicago is playing the old San Antonio Spurs trick of not drawing any attention as they demolish the league.
Indianapolis (+3.5) At Tennessee
Is it possible that one of these two teams could sneak into the AFC playoffs? Have they caught the guy giving Chris Johnson steroids? That has to be the logical explanation of his sudden re-emergence as a running back who can beat teams by himself. Johnson scares me enough to pick the Titans at home here
Luka: Lance Armstrong's guy had to find a new client. As for the game I feel like it'll come down to whether or not you trust Chris Johnson's ability to string consistent games together (Matt Hasselbeck is starting for the Titans. Yes, you read that correctly) and personally I feel like until I see it again, I'm not jumping back onto that ship. So give me Luck and the Colts to somehow be 4-3 after this game. Quick, let's go to the next game though before I change my mind.
Jacksonville (-14.5) At Green Bay
Daki: *sigh* The Jaguars? We have to talk about one of the least interesting franchises in North American sports? CFL teams are more interesting than these guys. At least they get to be one of the teams that the Packers slaughter on their way back to 'Superbowl team' status. Why isn't David Stern running the NFL? He would have moved the Jaguars to Toronto years ago. Even better, nobody would have cared (unlike the Seattle Sonics fans). On that note what do you think of Stern announcing his retirement (15 months early?) I will always remember him as the guy who screwed the 02' Kings out of a title and as a stubborn old man who to this day refuses to acknowledge that his league has a massive officiating problem.
Luka: I just thought of something, how amazing would it be if the NFL adopted a relegation system with the CFL where the worst two teams in the NFL get replaced by the two best CFL teams each year? You're telling me this game wouldn't be more fun to talk about if Green Bay had to go to Saskatchewan to take on the Rough Riders instead? Goodell and CFL commissioner whose name I didn't even bother googling. Let's make this happen. Green Bay should demolish the Jags at home so i'll pick them to cover although I'm not feeling it's a lock they'll win by 2+ touchdowns. David Stern I'll always remember as this sort of grumpy old bully who despite some missteps (the microfiber ball? that was fun) has made the NBA a juggernaut of a league worldwide. All i ask from him before he retires is to move a team back to Seattle and to give the Kings the 02 title. The early 2000's Lakers were the most unlikable team in that era (Fuck Rick Fox) so who's saying no to this?
Daki: The people who are saying no to that are those moronic Laker fans who think that Kobe is the best player in the league today (sorry, he may not be top 5 anymore). I love the relegation idea, if anything it would single-handily save the CFL. Can you imagine if the Redskins had to go to Montreal (the team who they stole the Expos from) for a playoff game? Nazi Germany would receive a better welcome. If by some miracle anyone in the NFL/CFL is reading this make it happen! All we ask is for credit and royalties. Anyways, on to the next game:
Miami Dolphins (+3) At New York Jets
A perplexing line to me. I think that this Jets team is sneaky underrated and will take care of business in this key division game.
Luka: A good defense combined with a wacky offense and the dynamic duo of Sanchez and Tebow (kidding, obviously) spells trouble for the Dolphins this week. I'll take the Jets too although i wouldn't be surprised if I turn on the game in the second quarter to see a score of 24-0 for the Dolphins while the Jets fans boo Sanchez and plea for Tebow. Also, Rex Ryan has to be in the conversation for coach of the year right? I mean who's on this Jets team?
Daki: Absolutely.
New England (-7) Vs. Rams - From London England!
Perplexing that this game will be on at the same time that Chelsea takes on Man U and Liverpool plays Everton in the Merseyside derby. Just poor decision making from the NFL schedule makers here. I think that the Rams cover this week, the Patriots need to prove that they are a good team before spreads over 4 points are applied to them.
Luka: I`m taking the Patriots, Chelsea, and a draw in the Merseyside derby. I`m not sure anyone in London even cares that they get an NFL game each year. If the NFL was serious in expanding its popularity across the globe, you`d think that this game would be a bigger deal each year and yet it never is. Strange.
Daki: San Diego (-3) At Cleveland A.k.a: Free money!
Luka: It should tell you how bad the Chargers season is going that I was going to pick the Browns this week before reading that Trent Richardson might be out. Without Richardson I think that Cleveland's offense will be more reliant on Brandon Weeden and no one should have to bet on a team "more reliant on Brandon Weeden". So give me the mediocre Chargers on the road.
Daki: Seattle (+2.5) At Detroit
At first I almost wagered all I had on this game, then I realized that the game is being played in Detroit and not in Seattle. The fact of the matter is that the Seahawks are not a very good road team and I fully expect the Lions to cement that notion.
***The James Harden Trade put everything into flux for this post, so we shelved it and decided to stop here.
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