Staff Picks: Backing the Colts

Staff Picks: Backing the Colts

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.

Last week was a rough one for the Staff. Only Pianowski was over .500, and he now sits all alone in first at 19-13. 

This week, we all like the Colts, and both DDD and Erickson made them their best bets. 

 EricksonPianowskiLissPayneDel Don
Titans -1.5 at JaguarsJaguarsJaguarsJaguarsTitansJaguars
Broncos +8 at PackersBroncosBroncosPackersBroncosPackers
Lions +7 at EaglesEaglesEaglesEaglesEaglesLions
Ravens +6.5 at ChiefsRavensRavensRavensRavensChiefs 
Bengals +6 at BillsBengalsBengalsBengalsBillsBengals
Falcons +2 at ColtsColtsColtsColtsColtsColts 
Raiders +8 at VikingsVikingsVikingsVikingsRaidersVikings 
Jets +22.5 at PatriotsJetsJetsJetsJetsPatriots
Dolphins +21 at CowboysCowboysDolphinsDolphinsDolphinsCowboys
Giants +6.5 at BuccaneersBuccaneersGiantsBuccaneersGiantsBuccaneers
Panthers -2.5 at CardinalsCardinalsCardinalsCardinalsPanthersCardinals 
Saints +4.5 at SeahawksSeahawksSaintsSeahawksSaintsSeahawks 
Texans +3 at ChargersChargersTexansChargersTexansChargers
Steelers +6.5 at 49ersSteelersSteelers49ersSteelers49ers
Rams -3 at BrownsRamsRamsBrownsBrownsBrowns 
Bears -4 at RedskinsBearsRedskinsRedskinsBearsBears
Best BetColtsVikingsBengalsBearsColts
Last week's Record8-810-66-106-107-9
2019 Record15-1719-1316-1614-1812-20
Best Bet Record0-21-11-11-10-2
Unanimous Pick Record2-2    
Majority Pick Record14-18    
2018 Record125-122-9134-113-9141-106-9N/A120-127-9
2017 Record117-125-14128-114-14117-125-14

Last week was a rough one for the Staff. Only Pianowski was over .500, and he now sits all alone in first at 19-13. 

This week, we all like the Colts, and both DDD and Erickson made them their best bets. 

 EricksonPianowskiLissPayneDel Don
Titans -1.5 at JaguarsJaguarsJaguarsJaguarsTitansJaguars
Broncos +8 at PackersBroncosBroncosPackersBroncosPackers
Lions +7 at EaglesEaglesEaglesEaglesEaglesLions
Ravens +6.5 at ChiefsRavensRavensRavensRavensChiefs 
Bengals +6 at BillsBengalsBengalsBengalsBillsBengals
Falcons +2 at ColtsColtsColtsColtsColtsColts 
Raiders +8 at VikingsVikingsVikingsVikingsRaidersVikings 
Jets +22.5 at PatriotsJetsJetsJetsJetsPatriots
Dolphins +21 at CowboysCowboysDolphinsDolphinsDolphinsCowboys
Giants +6.5 at BuccaneersBuccaneersGiantsBuccaneersGiantsBuccaneers
Panthers -2.5 at CardinalsCardinalsCardinalsCardinalsPanthersCardinals 
Saints +4.5 at SeahawksSeahawksSaintsSeahawksSaintsSeahawks 
Texans +3 at ChargersChargersTexansChargersTexansChargers
Steelers +6.5 at 49ersSteelersSteelers49ersSteelers49ers
Rams -3 at BrownsRamsRamsBrownsBrownsBrowns 
Bears -4 at RedskinsBearsRedskinsRedskinsBearsBears
Best BetColtsVikingsBengalsBearsColts
Last week's Record8-810-66-106-107-9
2019 Record15-1719-1316-1614-1812-20
Best Bet Record0-21-11-11-10-2
Unanimous Pick Record2-2    
Majority Pick Record14-18    
2018 Record125-122-9134-113-9141-106-9N/A120-127-9
2017 Record117-125-14128-114-14117-125-14N/A98-144-14
2016 Record140-111-5130-121-5123-128-5N/A132-119-5
2015 Record134-114-8120-128-8114-134-8N/A121-127-8
2014 Record123-128-5140-111-5135-116-5N/A128-123-5
2013 Record132-114-10118-128-10123-123-10N/A128-118-10
2012 Record110-140-6125-125-6121-129-6N/A123-127-6
2011 Record121-128-7134-115-7124-125-7N/A127-122-7
2010 Record129-122-5134-117-5126-125-5N/A134-117-5
2009 Record123-130-3132-121-3131-122-3N/A126-127-3
2008 Record132-114-10128-118-10124-122-10N/A130-116-10
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

This week we have one unanimous pick, the Colts. We went 1-1 on unanimous picks last week, winning with the Falcons and losing with the Bengals to bring our record to 2-2. We also went 6-10 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 14-18 on the year. We were 26-21-1 on unanimous picks and 132-115-9 on majority picks in 2018. 

WriterComment
EricksonI'm significantly off in four games between my line and the actual line - Colts/Falcons, Chargers/Texans, Seahawks/Saints and Jets/Pats. The latter is one that I regret -- it was just a bad estimate of the line rather than a strong feel for how the game is going to go. I'd rank my top choices as Colts, Chargers and Seahawks.
PianowskiOakland's Super Bowl was Week 1. Continue to power fade. 
LissI hate being on both 20-point dogs and the Redskins, and I wish I were on the Giants in Daniel Jones' first game, but the number is the number. I especially like the Bengals (roughly equal to the Bills) and think the Jaguars, Seahawks and  Browns are good value. The Cardinals-Panthers looks like a bad line with Cam Newton hurt, but that's what was still posted on the sites we use when I wrote Beating the Book. 
PayneRough week last week for sure. Not since 1987 have two or more teams been favored by at least three touchdowns. The teams favored that much always win outright but usually don't cover.
Del DonThe Colts' offensive line and system have overcome the loss of Andrew Luck in impressive fashion, and they should be giving at least the customary three points at home against a mediocre Atlanta squad. I also like the Chiefs, Vikings and Cardinals this week. 

The players:

• Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016 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, 2014 and 2017 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the Patriots.

• Chris Liss: RotoWire Managing Editor, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2018 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.

• Kevin Payne: Staff Writer, Writes our Waiver Wire column. 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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