NFL Picks: Backing the Lions and Packers

NFL Picks: Backing the Lions and Packers

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.


A pretty good week for some of the staff, but why dwell on that? This whole business of who's in first, who's in last - it's really a bit tiresome when you think about it. I say we take a week off from recapping the standings - no one will mind, I'm sure.

In any event, a strange slate of games with no home dogs, no point spreads above 7.5 and a few quarterback injuries causing extra uncertainty. We do have two consensus picks: the Lions and Packers.

Enjoy the games

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Bills +7.5 at ChiefsBillsBillsChiefsChiefsBills
Jaguars +6.5 at CowboysCowboysCowboysCowboysJaguarsJaguars
Panthers +3 at RamsRamsRamsPanthersPanthersPanthers
Dolphins +2 at BengalsBengalsDolphinsBengalsBengalsBengals
Redskins +2 at LionsLionsLionsLionsLionsLions
Broncos +1 at 49ersBroncosBroncos49ersBroncosBroncos
Packers +5.5 at JetsPackersPackersPackersPackersPackers
Titans +3.5 at ChargersChargersTitansChargersChargersChargers
Buccaneers +3 at CardinalsCardinalsBuccaneersCardinalsBuccaneersCardinals
Vikings +5 at PatriotsVikingsVikingsPatriotsVikingsVikings
Seahawks +2.5 at RaidersRaidersRaidersRaidersSeahawksRaiders
Steelers pick 'em at SaintsSaintsSteelersSaintsSaintsSteelers
Texans +5.5 at ColtsColtsTexansColtsColtsTexans
Best BetRamsTexansChargersChiefsLions
Last Week's Record10-48-65-99-56-8
2010 Record53-47-453-47-449-51-459-41-452-48-4
Best Bet Record1-62-4-13-45-1-13-3-1
Consensus Pick Record17-11-1
2009


A pretty good week for some of the staff, but why dwell on that? This whole business of who's in first, who's in last - it's really a bit tiresome when you think about it. I say we take a week off from recapping the standings - no one will mind, I'm sure.

In any event, a strange slate of games with no home dogs, no point spreads above 7.5 and a few quarterback injuries causing extra uncertainty. We do have two consensus picks: the Lions and Packers.

Enjoy the games

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Bills +7.5 at ChiefsBillsBillsChiefsChiefsBills
Jaguars +6.5 at CowboysCowboysCowboysCowboysJaguarsJaguars
Panthers +3 at RamsRamsRamsPanthersPanthersPanthers
Dolphins +2 at BengalsBengalsDolphinsBengalsBengalsBengals
Redskins +2 at LionsLionsLionsLionsLionsLions
Broncos +1 at 49ersBroncosBroncos49ersBroncosBroncos
Packers +5.5 at JetsPackersPackersPackersPackersPackers
Titans +3.5 at ChargersChargersTitansChargersChargersChargers
Buccaneers +3 at CardinalsCardinalsBuccaneersCardinalsBuccaneersCardinals
Vikings +5 at PatriotsVikingsVikingsPatriotsVikingsVikings
Seahawks +2.5 at RaidersRaidersRaidersRaidersSeahawksRaiders
Steelers pick 'em at SaintsSaintsSteelersSaintsSaintsSteelers
Texans +5.5 at ColtsColtsTexansColtsColtsTexans
Best BetRamsTexansChargersChiefsLions
Last Week's Record10-48-65-99-56-8
2010 Record53-47-453-47-449-51-459-41-452-48-4
Best Bet Record1-62-4-13-45-1-13-3-1
Consensus Pick Record17-11-1
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

Consensus Picks

This week we have two consensus picks: the Lions and Packers.

Last week we went 3-1 on consensus picks, putting us at 17-11-1 on the year. We finished 2009 at 19-23-1 on consensus picks, and were 24-19-2 on them in 2008.

Comments:

WriterComment
EricksonBlech... There's a good chance for bloodshed with this slate. I thought about making the Cardinals my best bet. This is just their third home game of the year - I know that the QB situation is a mess, but I think the home field will make that defense a lot better at least.
PianowskiI hate this slate about 500 different ways. If I have a winning record at the end of it, I'll breathe a sigh of relief.
LissTough slate with no home dogs, but I like the Chargers, Cowboys and Saints this week. Warming up to the 49ers, too.
StopaI'm sticking with my plan of fading the public when it's a big disparity, and that means Saints, Chargers, Bengals and Lions. Interesting that the public is on the Redskins, but the line has moved 3 points in their favor since the opening. That suggests sharps bet big money on the Lions... It's a similar phenomenon with KC/Buf, as that line has gone down 3 points since opening even though a slight majority is on the Chiefs. But I see no way the Bills stop the Chiefs offense, and even coming off a loss, I'll sell the Bills high, at least their offense anyway... I like buying low on the Saints and Broncos and selling high on the Raiders and Titans. I also like how the line moved in Seattle's favor since it opened... The Bucs strike me as the type of team that can play a 17-16 game every week when they're facing similar competition, so I'll take the points there... I struggled with the Packers and Jaguars. Ultimately, I couldn't lay points with Jon Kitna and a Cowboys team that may quit on Wade Phillips, and if the Packers are the playoff team I think they are, they'll give the Jets a game.
Del Don I struggled coming up with a best bet this week and ultimately went with Detroit, who seems like an odd favorite at 1-5 and playing a 4-3 Redskins team. I actually worry about the return of Matthew Stafford, but the Lions are coming off a bye, and Washington has plenty of fleas - its defense is on pace to allow the second most yards in NFL history, and Donovan McNabb has finished with a QB rating under 80.0 in six of seven games this season.

The players:

Want to Read More?
Subscribe to RotoWire to see the full article.

We reserve some of our best content for our paid subscribers. Plus, if you choose to subscribe you can discuss this article with the author and the rest of the RotoWire community.

Get Instant Access To This Article Get Access To This Article
RotoWire Community
Join Our Subscriber-Only NFL Chat
Chat with our writers and other RotoWire NFL fans for all the pre-game info and in-game banter.
Join The Discussion
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.
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys NFL Betting Odds, Expert Picks & Props
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys NFL Betting Odds, Expert Picks & Props
NFL Game Previews: Thanksgiving Matchups
NFL Game Previews: Thanksgiving Matchups
Wide Receivers vs. Cornerbacks: Thanksgiving and Friday Matchups
Wide Receivers vs. Cornerbacks: Thanksgiving and Friday Matchups
Guillotine League Strategy: Drafting in a Six Team League
Guillotine League Strategy: Drafting in a Six Team League