Charlie The Unicorns Week #7 Picks

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NFL Week 7 is here. I went 10-5 last week …..and now I’m (57-36 overall)….. week #6 did not go according to plan for the Seahawks. Are the Cowboys for real, I’m still not buying it.. the defense is playing way over their heads.
Ok, I’ll give the Chargers some 5-1 love they deserve. One of the top offenses and defenses in AFc. They have been beating all comers and looking good, even with some injuries to their RBs.

Let’s take a look at the match-ups for this week. The number of stars rank the 5 best games, in my opinion.

BYE WEEK: 5-1 Eagles and 1-5 Buccaneers

Thursday Night Football (Oct 16) EASTERN TIME Broadcast

NY Jets at New England 8:25PM CBS/NFL

Point Spread : -10 Patriots
O/U : 45.5

The Patriots are starting to round into form. The 2 TE sets are creeping into the playcalling more and more. I’m still not buying that they will make the SB, even though I predicted they will…. but they will knock off a “tomato can” team this week for another cheap AFCE victory. They also are hastening Sexy Rexy’s demise.

Prediction: 37 – 14 Patriots

Sunday Football (OCT 19)

Atlanta at Baltimore 1:00 PM FOX

Point Spread : -7.5 Ravens
O/U: 49.5

The Falcons have problems on the road this year (and every year). The Ravens played lights out last week. I’m concerned this might be a trap game for them, very concerned. Can QB Joe Flacco continue to get hot and carry the team to victory? It is time for another Steve Smith “big game”. Keep the ground and air attacks balanced, Ravens will win at home.

Prediction: 33 – 24 Ravens

Tennessee at Washington 1:00 PM CBS

Point Spread : -6 Redskins
O/U: 46.5

Two teams going the wrong direction. The Skins are in free fall, having been bashed 2 games in a row. The Titans are not exactly lighting the world on fire with mediocre QB play from Charlie “Clipboard Jesus” Whitehurst. It is 50/50 Locker will play…. but if the Skins get Morris and the rushing attack going; the Titans D will be shredded.

Prediction: 33 – 31 Skins

Seattle at St. Louis 1:00 PM FOX (*)

Point Spread : -7 Seahawks
O/U: 43.5

The Rams had a tough loss to the 49ers, they played them tough and the final score didn’t reflect how close the game was for 3.5 quarters. The love affair with QB Davis ended quickly after the hot start in the 49er game. The Rams dreadful DL play will again be on display… I mean 1 sack, seriously. The Seahawks will be prepared to play, which will include a 22+ carry day from Lynch. #bookit

Prediction: 31 – 17 Seahawks

Cleveland at Jacksonville 1:00 PM CBS

Point Spread : -5.5 Browns
0/U: 45

One of my favorite teams this season, the Browns are showing life on both offense and defense. QB Hoyer has played outstanding and has earned the stating job. I love the Tate/West/Crowell ground game.The Jaguars are falling apart on offense. The QB Bortles looks solid, but the talent around him is dreadful. I expect another strong day from him, but it will be for not. Three more weeks until WR Gordon comes back to the Browns… contenders.

Prediction: 28 – 24 Browns

Cincinnati at Indianapolis 1:00 PM CBS (****)

Point Spread : -3.5 Colts
0/U: 49

The Bengals failed me last week, at home. Now they go on the road and play a hot Colt QB Luck. You know Luck has been red hot, if you owned him in FF. The Colts defense has been playing solid football, getting plenty of pressure on opposing QBs. This will be a tough test for them, but with Bengals WR AJ Green expected to miss the game, they should have enough to keep the Bengals down.  Gut check for the Bengals.

Prediction: 37 – 34 Colts

Minnesota at Buffalo 1:00 PM FOX

Point Spread : -5.5 Bills
O/U: 42.5

This is a really hard game for me to figure out. I like the Vikings rushing attack behind McKinnon and Asiata, but the rookie QB Bridgewater has been up and down in his few starts this season. What the heck happened to WR Patterson anyhow? I reluctantly will go with the Bills due to RB Jackson and the strong pass rush from the Bills front 7 on defense. Oh I forgot, the Bills WR Watkins for a late TD to win?!

Prediction: 24 – 21 Bills

Miami at Chicago 1:00 PM CBS (**)

Point Spread : -3 Bears
O/U: 49

I love the Miami defense. Their front 4 have been outstanding at harassing QBs when they are in passing situations, specifically DE/LB Wake. I’m not totally sold on the rushing defense however. Which Bears QB Cutler we going to get…. gunslinger or turnover machine? Look for the Bears to get the TE Bennett and RB Forte more involved in passing attack in this game. I think it will be a lower scoring game with plenty of hard hits.

Prediction: 21 – 17 Bears

New Orleans at Detroit 1:00 PM FOX

Point Spread : -2.5 Lions
O/U: 48.5

This one is easy… or is it. The major problem is that the Lions might be missing both RB Bush and WR Johnson for this game… while the Saints will be missing TE Graham. These are three of the most explosive play makers in the NFL….. I very reluctantly go with the home team, due to the Saints playing like complete garbage on the road week after week, year after year.

Prediction: 27 – 20 Lions

Carolina at Green Bay 4:05 PM FOX (***)

Point Spread : -7 Packers
O/U: 48.5

The Panthers are making this a tough call for me. Last week, Cam Newton started to rush the ball.. for over 100 yards. The Packers have a major problem with mobile QB and with viable rushing attacks. Can the Packers get the ball in Rodgers hands enough to score TDs? Can the Panthers keep WRs Cobb and Nelson from going hog wild on their secondary? This feels like an upset waiting to happen, but I’ll go with the noodle and the home team on this one.

Prediction: 34 – 24 Packers

Kansas City at San Diego 4:25 PM FOX

Point Spread : -4 Chargers
O/U: 45.5

The Chargers have looked dynamic and electric. The defense is a little banged up, but they have been playing well as a unit. QB Rivers is having one of his best years ever… I look for him to keep up the clutch passes and magical touch he has had for the first 6 weeks. Lets give some love to TE Gates as well, he has been outstanding for the last 3-4 weeks. I’m looking for him to shine in this game. The Chiefs mounting injuries are wrecking their season and chances to win this game. RB Charles always gives them a chance…. but…

Prediction: 33 – 21 Chargers

Arizona at Oakland 4:25 PM FOX

Point Spread : -3.5 Cardinals
O/U: 44

The Raiders showed a lot of heart and passion in the game last week. They were completely outgunned and outmanned, but took the Chargers right to the edge… this game hinges on Cardinals QB Palmers health. If he plays, they will win. The concern for the Cardinals is that their secondary has been carved up like a turkey at Thanksgiving. I doubt Carr and the rag tag bunch of WRs (Jones and Holmes) in Oakland can make this a close game, but I think they will be more effective than Chris Keal would like. Can CB Peterson get his shit together and shut some fools down?

Prediction: 30 – 21 Cardinals

NY Giants at Dallas 4:25 PM FOX

Point Spread : -6.5 Cowboys
O/U: 48.5

This has let down written all over it. You go on the road and play a tough game and get a big win.. then come home to a lackluster home crowd. The Giants are a desperate bunch, having just got their doors blown off by the Eagles in a humiliating shut-out. I’m not going to start him in FF, but I think WR Beckham might come up huge in this game. A grudge match between NFCE foes…. Murray should get his 7th 100 yard rushing game in a row… a new NFL record. I’ll go out on a big limb… and say “good” ELI will show up in this game.

Prediction: 27 – 24 Giants

Sunday Night Football

San Francisco at Denver 8:30 PM NBC (*****)

Point Spread : -6.5 Broncos
O/U: 51.5

By far the best game of the weekend. The Broncos are at home. The two teams are pretty evenly matched on paper, but the 49er defense has at least one more major injury to contend with… that is going to sideline a third starting LB this week… Willis and his sprained toe. I think this means the Broncos will be able to rush the ball efficiently, nothing crazy.. but just enough to make play action effective for Manning… 80-100 yards. The guy to watch is E. Sanders, he has been electric as the 3rd or 4th WR E. Sanders, 4 of 5 games he has cracked 100 yards in 2014, but has not gotten a TD yet. Watch out for TE J. Thomas as well… hell, watchout for the ultimate weapon, WR Thomas. The 49ers will give them a good fight….

Prediction: 34 – 24 Broncos

Monday Night Football (OCT 20)

Houston at Pittsburgh 8:30 PM ESPN

Point Spread : -3.5 Steelers
O/U: 44.5

This looked like it would be a good game at the beginning of the season. The Texans season is sliding away, but RB Foster has put 2-3 decent games together ina row. The Texans defense has kept them from being totally blown out in every game this season. MVP candidate DE/LB JJ Watt has been a machine and wrecked multiple QBs this season. At least 20 tackles for loss and 3 TDs scored… The Steelers defense has been pretty bad overall. Injuries and age are catching up to them. The offense has not been executing at a high level either, normally I would say go with the home team….. but… Fitzpatrick

Prediction: 27 – 24 Steelers

 

In all honesty, there are really only two premium games this week…. the Bengals / Colts and the 49ers / Broncos… the rest are ho hum, unless you have FF players in them.

Peace out SKAsians.

CharlietheUnicorn
“Go Hawks”

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Charlie the Unicorn

The unicorn is a legendary animal that has been described since antiquity as a beast with a large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead.

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