I like Pittsburgh and (deep breath) the 49ers in my “Hunch of the Week.”
I’m building up serious momentum down the stretch. My college bonus pick (Navy) didn’t come through, but my regular pro picks went 11-5 last week and 21-11 over the past two weeks. Those performances bring my season-to-date record to 127-79-2 (.616).
I’ll need ten wins a week over the final three weeks to equal last year’s total of 157 winners.
(NOTE: All games will be played on Sunday afternoon unless otherwise noted.)
Kansas City 33, Los Angeles Chargers 27 (Thursday night): The final Thursday-night game features a big AFC West Division matchup with playoff implications. But I’ll hold fast to the truism that a road team– particularly one coming off one of the coasts–is at a significant disadvantage in games like this (despite the Chiefs’ injury problems). It should be an entertaining game.
Houston 26, New York Jets 13 (Saturday afternoon): I suppose the Texans’ long win streak had to come to an end sometime, but I didn’t think it would happen at home against the Colts. Houston hits the road where it should have no trouble with the woebegone Jets.
Denver 31, Cleveland 16 (Saturday night): Playoff-hungry Denver unexpectedly took a huge step backward last week with its loss at San Francisco. But I like how the Broncos play at home, and they shouldn’t have any problem with the Browns.
Baltimore 23, Tampa Bay 17: Ravens fans are praying that their team won’t suffer a damaging home loss to the Buccaneers. While the Ravens always make things suspenseful, they should take care of business.
Oakland 27, Cincinnati 13: These are two teams heading in opposite directions. The visiting Raiders are showing more signs of life than the fading Bengals, a team that has dropped all the way to last place in the AFC North.
Atlanta 19, Arizona 17: These teams are first in the alphabet and last in just about everything else. Neither club is playing well, so I’ll take the easy way out and pick the home team to win in what should be a very dull affair.
Detroit 24, Buffalo 9: Last week, the Lions went on the road and won. The Bills stayed home and lost. That makes this game nearly impossible to predict. I’d like to go with a tie here, but that would make little sense. But picking the Lions may be the same thing.
Chicago 20, Green Bay 10: This is the longest-running and (to me) the best archrivalry in the NFL. It’s also the Bears’ final home game of the year. If that defense can hold the Rams to six points, it should be able to do the job against Aaron Rodgers and Co.
Dallas 26, Indianapolis 17: Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones gets criticized often, and it’s usually justified. But the move to acquire Amari Cooper has paid huge dividends. Despite winning at Houston last week. I think the host Colts have run out of steam.
Jacksonville 23, Washington 6: Now that the college bowl season is underway, can we call this game the Dysfunction Bowl? Jacksonville has imploded, while the Redskins are predictably collapsing under the weight of injuries, a lack of depth and talent, and fans’ unrealistic expectations. Jags win.
Minnesota 31, Miami 20: For you older fans, this will not be a rematch of Super Bowl VIII, which the Dolphins won by throwing only seven passes the entire game. Miami has been living right lately, barely holding off Buffalo and getting a miracle to beat New England. This week the law of averages will catch up with the Dolphins. The Vikings, inept offensively v. the Seattle on Monday Night, should bounce back at home.
New York Giants 23, Tennessee 14: The Titans haven’t been able to stand prosperity this year. When it looks like they’re about to go on a tear, they take a step back. They will have had extra time off before this trip to New Jersey, and that (I’m afraid) looks like a recipe for disaster. The Giants are playing well even though it’s too late to save their season.
Pittsburgh 29, New England 27: This pick may not make much sense to many of you, considering how poorly the Steelers have been playing lately. But in the unpredictable world of NFL football, very little seems to make sense. I’ll take Pittsburgh to get a big bounce-back win at home against a Patriots team that’s looking a bit more wobbly than usual.
San Francisco 23, Seattle 20: This is my hunch pick of the week. The 49ers have found some footing with a young quarterback and solid targets, like George Kittle. Plus they’ll be at home. So I’ll pick SF to do what they did last week–upend a playoff-hungry team.
Los Angeles Rams 34, Philadelphia 17 (Sunday night): What do The Ides Of March, Wild Cherry, and Vicki Sue Robinson have in common with Philadelphia? They were one-hit wonders nobody remembers. The Eagles can forever brag about their 2018 title, but they did not defend it well at all. The Rams need a bounce-back effort after getting stifled in Chicago.
New Orleans 40, Carolina 23 (Monday night): The Panthers’ late-season collapse has been nothing short of stunning. The Saints have struggled recently as well, but they’ve built up plenty of wiggle room. New Orleans again hits on all cylinders.
