NFL Picks: Ravens and Giants

NFL Picks: Ravens and Giants

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.

Scott Pianowski picked up where he left off a year ago with a 10-5-1 opening week while the rest of us hovered around .500. Unanimous picks got off to a good start, going 2-1, and the majority checked in at 8-7-1.

This week we all like the Giants and the Ravens. And while Dalton Del Don (DDD) and Pianowski made the Cowboys their best bets, I took the other side of it with the Eagles.

To check out my handicapping podcast with DDD, click here.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Broncos +3 at ChiefsChiefsChiefsBroncosBroncosChiefs
Texans +3 at PanthersPanthersTexansTexansTexansPanthers
Buccaneers +9.5 at SaintsSaintsSaintsSaintsBuccaneersSaints
49ers +5.5 at SteelersSteelersSteelers49ers49ersSteelers
Lions +3 at VikingsLionsLionsLionsVikingsVikings
Patriots -1 at BillsBillsPatriotsBillsBillsPatriots
Cardinals -2 at BearsBearsBearsCardinalsCardinalsBears
Titans pick 'em at BrownsBrownsBrownsTitansBrownsTitans
Chargers +3.5 at BengalsBengalsChargersBengalsBengalsChargers
Rams -3.5 at RedskinsRedskinsRedskinsRedskinsRamsRedskins
Falcons +2.5 at GiantsGiantsGiantsGiantsGiantsGiants
Ravens -7 at RaidersRavensRavensRavensRavensRavens
Dolphins -6 at JaguarsJaguarsJaguarsJaguarsDolphinsJaguars
Cowboys +5 at EaglesCowboysCowboysEaglesCowboysCowboys
Seahawks +3.5 at PackersPackersSeahawksPackersPackersPackers
Jets +7 at ColtsJetsJetsColtsJetsColts
Best BetBrownsCowboysEaglesBuccaneersCowboys
Last Week's Record7-8-110-5-18-7-1
Scott Pianowski picked up where he left off a year ago with a 10-5-1 opening week while the rest of us hovered around .500. Unanimous picks got off to a good start, going 2-1, and the majority checked in at 8-7-1.

This week we all like the Giants and the Ravens. And while Dalton Del Don (DDD) and Pianowski made the Cowboys their best bets, I took the other side of it with the Eagles.

To check out my handicapping podcast with DDD, click here.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Broncos +3 at ChiefsChiefsChiefsBroncosBroncosChiefs
Texans +3 at PanthersPanthersTexansTexansTexansPanthers
Buccaneers +9.5 at SaintsSaintsSaintsSaintsBuccaneersSaints
49ers +5.5 at SteelersSteelersSteelers49ers49ersSteelers
Lions +3 at VikingsLionsLionsLionsVikingsVikings
Patriots -1 at BillsBillsPatriotsBillsBillsPatriots
Cardinals -2 at BearsBearsBearsCardinalsCardinalsBears
Titans pick 'em at BrownsBrownsBrownsTitansBrownsTitans
Chargers +3.5 at BengalsBengalsChargersBengalsBengalsChargers
Rams -3.5 at RedskinsRedskinsRedskinsRedskinsRamsRedskins
Falcons +2.5 at GiantsGiantsGiantsGiantsGiantsGiants
Ravens -7 at RaidersRavensRavensRavensRavensRavens
Dolphins -6 at JaguarsJaguarsJaguarsJaguarsDolphinsJaguars
Cowboys +5 at EaglesCowboysCowboysEaglesCowboysCowboys
Seahawks +3.5 at PackersPackersSeahawksPackersPackersPackers
Jets +7 at ColtsJetsJetsColtsJetsColts
Best BetBrownsCowboysEaglesBuccaneersCowboys
Last Week's Record7-8-110-5-18-7-18-7-17-8-1
Best Bet Record0-11-01-00-0-11-0
Unanimous Pick Record2-1
Majority Pick Record8-7-1
2014 Unanimous Pick Record20-15-1
2014 Majority Record146-116-5
2014 Record123-128-5140-111-5135-116-5124-127-5128-123-5
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 two unanimous picks this week, the Ravens and Giants. We went 2-1 on unanimous picks last week and 20-15-1 on them last year. We went 8-7-1 last week on majority picks (three or more writers) and 146-116-5 (including playoffs) on them last year.

Comments:

WriterComment
EricksonTitans as a road favorite after just one game? Mariota looked great, sure, but the Browns have a legitimate defense... I think I'm being a little contrarian this week, fading a lot of the teams that looked good in Week 1... I really struggled with Baltimore-Oakland. Both teams looked like mush on offense - is Oakland really the panacea for the Ravens? I'm paying a pretty high road price to find out.
PianowskiI cannot stand this card. I'd take 8-8 right now if it were offered to me. Of course, not liking a card has no predictive value - you can love your picks and get squashed, you can hate your picks and do wonderful. Ah, the snow globe NFL.
LissFunny to see two Cowboys best bets. Dallas has a below average defense and is missing by far its best runner and receiver from a year ago. Tony Romo and the offensive line are great, but that's all they have. I think Philly will take it to them at home. I also like the Lions getting the full three in Minnesota. This was a playoff team that barely lost to the Cowboys who barely lost to the Packers who barely lost to the Seahawks who barely lost to the Patriots. What have the Vikings done to be considered equals? Monday night's showing certainly didn't bolster their case, either.
StopaI need to see a lot more out of the Saints before I lay double digits. With Tampa coming off a bad loss, that has to be the right play... I was surprised to see the Bills only getting a point. That tells me one of three things: (1) Vegas is buying in on the Bills; (2) The Patriots D isn't very good; or (3) Vegas is begging Joe Public to take NE. All three reasons support my Bills choice - not that I'm the most neutral analyst. ... I also like the Niners. Pitt is missing weapons on offense and is terrible on D. That line is too high.
Del DonI went with more favorites than usual though did back the underdog Cowboys, who seem like an equal team to the Eagles yet are getting more than a field goal.

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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