I can't imagine the roller coaster of emotions that people in Vegas went through to end Christmas weekend with that Raiders-Eagles game. Most were probably like my dad, who took Philly -8.5 in our picks pool, sadly disparaging the chances of a cover in the final minute with the game tied. I was mostly joking when I said they just needed to make the field goal and then make a return when Oakland inevitably has to do all the laterals on the last play just like Kansas City did against Washington on a similar Monday night in Week 4, BUT THEN IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED! However, the Vegas line had moved to -9 or even -10 late due to money coming in, so Doug Pederson's understandable but kind of pointless decision to take a knee on the extra point attempt rather than I guess risk any injuries ended up costing a bunch of late bettors money with just a 9 point win. Granted, it's a win or push that they really shouldn't have even been close to, but they must have went from despair to elation to "wait, wut?!"
That last one was my reaction to some of these lines because Week 17 is a crazy slate with teams having different agendas and holding players out for the final regular season game. I'll try to wade through the various situations quickly here, but not without purpose because another strong week got me even with the second place and just two behind the lead going into this finale. Last week: 12-4 Season total: 137-103 Browns +13.5 at Steelers
Pittsburgh still as a chance at the #1 seed, but all indications seems like they will surprisingly rest their starters or at least limit them since the Patriots are highly unlikely to be upset by the Jets. The Steelers backups could certainly beat Cleveland at home again like last year's inexplicable overtime game that gifted Myles Garrett to the Browns, but I'm not counting on them to cover. Lions -7.5 versus Packers
My lone loss in my straight up picks with friends last week, Detroit should bounce back against an undermanned Green Bay squad now that they're back at home.
If not for getting too cute last week with that dumb Browns pick, I'd be tied for second in my picks pool, but I won't let that take away from the Christmas cheer. Let's just focus on the fact that I'm still just three points out of first despite that mistake, instead. The stats are now 60-32 since Week 10, so here's to staying hot during this holiday season. Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas! Last week: 11-5 Season total: 125-99 Ravens -12.5 versus Colts
Let's just ignore the Colts franchise returning to Baltimore narrative since that clearly doesn't impact these games with the current teams, as evidenced by aforementioned Ravens in Cleveland game last week. The fact of the matter is that Joe Flacco and the Baltimore offense has found their groove and are facing an undermanned Indianapolis secondary on a Colts team that seemingly falls apart every second half. Vikings -2.5 at Packers
This is benefiting from the fact that CBS Sports doesn't update the lines after news happens during the week like Aaron Rodgers going back on IR because Green Bay was eliminated from the playoffs, but hey, I don't make the rules. If I'm going to suffer in fantasy football by losing the star QB I stashed just a week after Carson Wentz also went out, then so are the Packers! (It also doesn't hurt Minnesota's chances that their surprisingly steady passing game is facing the 26th ranked pass defense in terms of DVOA.)
Hard to contain my excitement that I’m seeing STAR WARS in a couple of hours. Going to miss seeing how my Denver -2.5 pick does, but if ever there was a TNF game to skip...
First of all, yes, I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Jedi with its character struggles, misdirection, and ups and downs. Second, the Thursday win means I'm now 50-27 against the spread since Week 10. Here's to hoping I don't screw up whatever is working.
Last week: 9-7 Season total: 114-94 Lions -5.5 versus Bears
Admittedly, this line is slightly higher than I expected after Detroit had to squeak out a win in Chicago four weeks ago, but I like them to take care of business now they're at home and stay in the playoff hunt. Chiefs +1.5 versus Chargers
This is really toss up since Kansas City won handily all the way back in Week 3, but LA has definitely been the better team of late. For as good as the Chargers are against the pass, though, they can be vulnerable on the ground against Kareem Hunt. Give me the home team here.
It wasn't pretty, but my Atlanta pick on Thursday broke my losing streak in prime time games. Let's hope that means my little hot streak (40-20 the last four weeks) will continue. When guessing what the lines would be to see how my feel for the week is, I actually nailed eight of them right on the money, so that either means I'll have a great week or am way overconfident in the favorites. Let's find out! Last week: 10-6 Season total: 105-87 Vikings -2.5 at Panthers
Minnesota's steady offense should have a much easier time moving the ball against a Carolina squad that has begun to spring leaks in the secondary than Cam Newton will face on the other side. Especially with Devin Funchess banged up and Greg Olsen still working his way back, points will probably be at a premium at home. Bengals -6.5 versus Bears
Missing Joe Mixon and a bunch of pieces on defense isn't encouraging, but Cincy has been playing well overall in recent weeks. And Chicago's defense has been banged up in its own right, so I'll side with the more experienced offense. Packers -3.5 at Browns
I can see why some may consider this a trap game for Green Bay with the imminent return of Aaron Rodgers in time for tougher opponents coming up, but with the spread this low, I just can't side with Mr. 1-27, Hue Jackson. Him somehow winning the power struggle over head of football operations Sashi Brown is probably worse than Sam Hinkie's ousting with the 76ers. Even if the roster was lacking in certain areas, Brown has put together enough nice pieces to win more than one game out of 28, and new hire John Dorsey, who was hired suspiciously fast, is set to reap the rewards of the extra draft picks and cap space the franchise has going forward. 49ers +2.5 at Texans
It's overly simplistic to compare Jimmy Garoppolo and Trent Taylor to Tom Brady and either Wes Welker or Julian Edelman, but the GOAT's understudy certainly looked good in his first start with his new club and had quite the connection with his small slot receiver to get the W. Those two and Marquise Goodwin should also be able to take advantage of this Houston defense this week unless JD Clowney can prove to be a one man wrecking crew.
That's it. That's the deal. After the surprising #FreeJah movement, this is all that was involved on Thursday in the long-anticipated move for 2015's 3rd overall pick, which goes to show you what the value was around the league for a defensive liability who isn't all that efficient on offense. Of course, since he had his fourth year option declined (a sensible move by Philly considering the $6,313,832 price tag), any team acquiring him is limited in their ability to re-sign him if things work out. It's probably not worth giving up much in a trade if you could be free to sign him this summer after all. Still, the fact that the 76ers had to throw in a decent draft pick, along with Stauskas to match salaries, to move him for a veteran big man off the bench is underwhelming. Booker is a good pro to have, won't affect their future cap situation, and will give them an actual positive contribution, unlike what they're trading away. But the fact that I still think of this play as his career highlight might tell you all you need to know.
Even if I've always been down on Okafor as a player, one can't help but like this move for Brooklyn given that the polarizing big man is still just about to turn 22. Once again, Sean Marks makes a move for a couple lottery tickets (Stauskas was the #8 pick himself in 2014 and only turned 24 in October) at a low cost to add upside to his young roster. Rookie Jarrett Allen has shown encouraging signs in his limited minutes, but he is their only young big man depending on what you classify Rondae Hollis-Jefferson as. Now Okafor joins the player selected one pick after him, D'Angelo Russell, as worthwhile gambles around their intriguing group of wings. Even if these additions don't stick around beyond this year, adding future draft capital helps, especially since the Nets previously didn't have a 2nd in 2019. Heck, there's a chance that pick could be the most valuable part of this trade depending on how the Knicks' rebuild looks by the end of next season. Having to waive the solid Sean Kilpatrick to create the roster spot and losing Booker's locker room presence are not insignificant repercussions, but overall you can't fault the process behind this move.
Well, it was a nice run. After starting 11-3 in Week 12, Thursday night's dud means I've now lost the last three, all in prime time. Guess that just means I'm due to go another run. Since I’m out of town this weekend, I’ll keep things short.
