NFL Picks: Backing the Jets

NFL Picks: Backing the Jets

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.

This is the 16th year we've run this column - check the table below. Erickson, Pianowski and I have been at this since 2000. (I actually started Beating the Book in 1999.) This year we're gunning for Scott who delivered a 14-1-1 Week 17 to capture the 2014 title.

Like last year, we'll be tracking not only unanimous picks but also majority ones (three or more writers). The majority went 146-116-5 including the playoffs (55.7%), a pretty big number for picking 267 games.

For Week 1 we have three unanimous picks, and one of them, the Jets, is the best bet for three of us.

You can also listen to Stopa and me handicap the games on this week's East Coast Offense podcast.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Steelers +7 at PatriotsPatriots SteelersPatriotsPatriotsSteelers
Packers -6.5 at BearsBearsPackersPackersBearsBears
Chiefs +1 at TexansTexansTexansTexansChiefsTexans
Browns +3 at JetsJetsJetsJetsJetsJets
Colts -3 at BillsBillsBillsColtsBillsColts
Dolphins -4 at RedskinsRedskins RedskinsDolphinsRedskinsRedskins
Panthers -3.5 at JaguarsJaguars JaguarsJaguarsJaguarsJaguars
Seahawks -4 at RamsSeahawks RamsRamsRamsRams
Saints +2.5 at CardinalsCardinals CardinalsCardinalsCardinalsCardinals
Lions +3 at ChargersChargers ChargersLionsChargersChargers
Titans +3 at BuccaneersBuccaneersTitansBuccaneersBucsBuccaneers
Bengals -3.5 at RaidersRaiders BengalsBengalsRaidersRaiders
Ravens +4.5 at BroncosBroncosBroncosBroncosBroncosRavens
Giants +6 at
This is the 16th year we've run this column - check the table below. Erickson, Pianowski and I have been at this since 2000. (I actually started Beating the Book in 1999.) This year we're gunning for Scott who delivered a 14-1-1 Week 17 to capture the 2014 title.

Like last year, we'll be tracking not only unanimous picks but also majority ones (three or more writers). The majority went 146-116-5 including the playoffs (55.7%), a pretty big number for picking 267 games.

For Week 1 we have three unanimous picks, and one of them, the Jets, is the best bet for three of us.

You can also listen to Stopa and me handicap the games on this week's East Coast Offense podcast.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Steelers +7 at PatriotsPatriots SteelersPatriotsPatriotsSteelers
Packers -6.5 at BearsBearsPackersPackersBearsBears
Chiefs +1 at TexansTexansTexansTexansChiefsTexans
Browns +3 at JetsJetsJetsJetsJetsJets
Colts -3 at BillsBillsBillsColtsBillsColts
Dolphins -4 at RedskinsRedskins RedskinsDolphinsRedskinsRedskins
Panthers -3.5 at JaguarsJaguars JaguarsJaguarsJaguarsJaguars
Seahawks -4 at RamsSeahawks RamsRamsRamsRams
Saints +2.5 at CardinalsCardinals CardinalsCardinalsCardinalsCardinals
Lions +3 at ChargersChargers ChargersLionsChargersChargers
Titans +3 at BuccaneersBuccaneersTitansBuccaneersBucsBuccaneers
Bengals -3.5 at RaidersRaiders BengalsBengalsRaidersRaiders
Ravens +4.5 at BroncosBroncosBroncosBroncosBroncosRavens
Giants +6 at CowboysCowboys GiantsCowboysGiantsGiants
Eagles -3 at FalconsFalcons FalconsFalconsEaglesFalcons
Vikings -2.5 at 49ers49ersVikingsVikingsVikings49ers
Best BetTexansJetsJetsPatriotsJets
2014 Record123-128-5140-111-5135-116-5124-127-5128-123-5
2014 Best Bet Record10-117-1416-511-9-112-9
2014 Unanimous Pick Record20-15-1
2014 Majority Record146-116-5
2013 Record132-114-10118-128-10123-123-10111-135-10128-118-10
2012 Record110-140-6125-125-6121-129-6143-107-6123-127-6
2011 Record121-128-7134-115-7124-125-7123-126-7127-122-7
2010 Record129-122-5134-117-5126-125-5136-115-5134-117-5
2009 Record123-130-3132-121-3131-122-3130-123-3126-127-3
2008 Record132-114-10128-118-10124-122-10125-121-10130-116-10
2007 Record127-120118-129127-120N/A130-117
2006 Record118-129N/A139-108N/AN/A
2005 Record121-126N/A127-120N/AN/A
2004 Record124-124N/A130-118N/AN/A
2003 Record121-126118-129124-123N/AN/A
2002 Record113-136123-126141-108N/AN/A
2001 Record124-113117-120118-119N/AN/A
2000 Record123-117134-106141-99N/AN/A

Unanimous/Majority Picks

We have three unanimous picks this week, the Jets, Jaguars and Cardinals. We went 20-15-1 on unanimous picks and 146-116-5 (including playoffs) on majority picks (three or more writers) last season.

Comments:

WriterComment
Erickson I think at worst the Texans are the equal of the Chiefs and as such the line should be -3.
PianowskiThe Jets improved their offense modestly and the defense significantly. Have fun against Josh McCown. I don't see a bad team in the AFC East, but I could see the Browns winning four games or less.
LissIt worries me that three of us have the Jets as a best bet and that it's a unanimous pick. When something is too obvious, it's often wrong.
StopaWe never know for sure what to expect in Week 1, so I was all set to take points wherever I could, especially if the lines were big. Then I looked at the slate and saw 16 games, all with a spread at a TD or less, and several at a FG or less. So much for that strategy. ... I see an F-you game coming from Tom Brady and the Patriots. The Steelers awful defense is the perfect recipe for it, and without Le'Veon Bell and Martavis Bryant, Pittsburgh lacks the horses on offense to keep up. Brady and Roethlisberger might combine for 800 yards passing in what will be the first of many aerial shootouts for the Steelers this year. Patriots 45-28. ... Seattle's defense is down Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas is hurt (though he's playing, it's troubling that labrum issue isn't healed after a full offseason to do so), and they lost a couple guys to cuts/free agency. These are the types of "under the radar" things that won't affect Seattle's point spreads but will eventually catch up to them. Until I see evidence otherwise on the field, I'll be fading Seattle early on this season, particularly on the road.... I like the under in Jacksonville, as both teams lack explosive playmakers and should be content to play close to the vest.
Del Don I prefer to lean toward underdogs in Week 1, with so much uncertainty entering a new season. That seemed especially easy to do when it meant also taking 12 home teams... I don't love my best bet, though I will say the Jets did stand out among the rest..My favorite teaser of the week is actually using both games on the Monday night slate, bumping up the points for both dogs.

The players:

Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008, 2013 Staff Picks Champ. Writes the Weekly Rankings. Covers and roots for the Bengals.

Scott Pianowski: Fantasy expert for Yahoo! Sports, and also contributes to Rotowire.com. 2009, 2011 and 2014 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the Patriots.

Chris Liss: RotoWire Managing Editor, 2000, 2002, 2006 Staff Picks Champ, 2003, 2004 co-champ. Writes East Coast Offense, Beating the Book and the Survivor column in addition to Staff Picks. Covers and roots for the Giants.

Mark Stopa: Staff Writer, 2010, 2012 Staff Picks Champ, Writes Run 'N' Shoot. Roots for the Bills.

Dalton Del Don: Fantasy Expert for Yahoo! Sports, 2007 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the 49ers.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Liss
Chris Liss was RotoWire's Managing Editor and Host of RotoWire Fantasy Sports Today on Sirius XM radio from 2001-2022.
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