NFL Picks Straight Up

Hey Peeps and anyone else checking in. A special "Hey" goes out to Hazel Mae.

So, its time to post this week's NFL picks in the straight up pool - the picks, while not as good as in years past in this pool, have been good enough to have me in first place in points (not to mention winning percentage at 64%). Before we get started...I should tell you that Renee checked in tonight with more thoughts on the MLB Winter Meetings. Keep scrolling at the end of this entry to see what's on her mind tonight.

16) CINCINNATI over Oakland - no brainer. Palmer and Ocho Cinco vs. Aaron Brooks and ??? (Randy Moss checked out weeks ago).

15) SAN DIEGO over Denver - I wonder what Mike Shanahan is thinking. I mean, Jake Plummer could have done what Cutler did. Denver couldn't score against a so-so Seattle defence...what is going to happen against San Diego? L.T. is going to shred the Denver D and set the single season TD record.

14) Chicago over ST. LOUIS - the Bears will take the game out of Grossman's hands and run the ball against a bad Rams D. Bulger wasn't very good against a bad Arizona D - its going to be MUCH worse this weekend.

13) New England over MIAMI - Miami's run is over. The Patriots may be struggling a bit - but they are a different team on the road...they just get it done.

12) SAN FRANCISCO over Green Bay - I won't do the Alex Smith vs. Brett Favre matchup. I'm going to look at the defences - and no question, the 49ers are better. Its time for Favre to hand the reins to someone else and ride off into the sunset.

11) PITTSBURGH over Cleveland - The Steelers are banged up on both sides of the ball - but I think their running game wins it tomorrow night.

10) N.Y. JETS over Buffalo - Pennington keeps finding ways to get it done - J.P. Losman keeps finding ways to lose. Bills fans keep pointing to how close they have been to winning - moral victories mean nothing in the NFL.

09) Seattle over ARIZONA - Shaun Alexander is back, too late to help Hazel Mae's Cowboys, but in time to help Seattle beat the Cardinals with a big game. It'll be a shootout, but Seattle prevails.

08) DALLAS over New Orleans - How bout them Cowboys? Romo will find some holes in that Saints D - Brees will find that Dallas' defence is one of the best in the league.

07) Philadelphia over WASHINGTON - what have I been saying all year? The Eagles are counterfeit, yes - but the Redskins are just plain bad. The Eagles just have more on offence than the Skins do.

06) DETROIT over Minnesota - Jon Kitna and Roy Williams may finally have a reason to jump around this weekend - they might actually beat the Vikings. After last week's performance against the Bears, you have to think the offence has ZERO confidence in Johnson.

05) Atlanta over TAMPA BAY - Jim Mora Jr. finally figured out who best to use Ron Mexico - DON'T LET HIM THROW THE BALL. Atlanta's offence will use the running game to wear Tampa down and keep the ball away from the Bucs.

04) Tennessee over HOUSTON - two teams going in different directions. I know Houston is a better team and home, but Vince Young has some serious MoJo going on right now.

03) KANSAS CITY over Baltimore - Hi, welcome to Thoughts of Hazel Mae...have you heard of her? Seriously, Green looks like he is back which can only help Larry Johnson. Going against the Chiefs at Arrowhead isn't a smart bet.

02) N.Y. Giants over CAROLINA - the Giants looked a little better against Dallas last week, the Panthers just looked bad against the Eagles. Take the Giants in the battle of Wild Card pretenders.

01) JACKSONVILLE over Indianapolis - the Colts have a history of playing poorly in Jacksonville, coming off two straight losses isn't going to help their cause. The Colts are on the downslope gang...don't trust them.

That's it for tonight gang...I have to make my picks in the spreads pool. Have a great one peeps!

Hazel, I hope things are groovy in your world.

Song of the Night on Hazelspeeps - Now Playing

Steal My Sunshine - Len

Peesth Out...Buh Bye!