NFL Pro Football 2008 Week 13 Picks early games

NFL Pro Football 2008 Week 13 Picks

Untitled

Beat the NFL odds and college football lines with expert NFL picks and college football picks.

Sports handicapping:
Get NFL picks from Top Ten Cappers, the best football picks on the web.
toptencappers.com

Looking for great football picks?
Get free NFL picks and college football picks from Wunderdog Sports Picks.
www.freeunderdog.com

Fearless Rick's NFL Week 13 Picks - Early Games

Rick Gagliano | November 27 - December 1

All times Eastern - Click here for late Sunday and Monday night games.

Thursday, November 27

12:30 PM Tennessee (-11 1/2, 44) at Detroit - Even though Tennessee lost their first game of the season last week, they are still one of the main contenders for the AFC title. At 11-1, they have the South division pretty much wrapped up, though a couple more losses could bring their season finale vs. the Colts into play. That's why the Titans must win at Detroit, to resume their winning way and stay ahead of the pack. This is about as lopsided a game as there has been all season. The Lions haven't yet registered a W, so there's little reason to expect them to do it here. Is this a Las Vegas early Christmas gift? Hope so.

Prediction: Titans 30 Lions 10

4:15 PM Seattle at Dallas (-12 1/2, 46 1/2) - The Cowboys have gotten back on the right track with Tony Romo back and Roy Williams being integrated into the offense and wins in each of the last two weeks. That's great news for Dallas fans, but at the same time, the Seahawks have been making progress with Matt Hasslebeck at QB and most of their receivers once gain healthy. If Seattle had a running back, they'd be dangerous. For now, they'd have to contend with former Cowboy, Julius Jones, and Maurice Morris. If the defense can put a little pressure on Romo and keep TO from going ballistic, the Seahawks can keep this one close and have a chance to win or tie at the end, as they did last week vs. Washington.

Prediction: Cowboys 27 Seahawks 21

8:15 PM Arizona at Philadelphia (-3, 47) - The way the Eagles have been playing of late, there's little reason to have any faith in their ability to win another game this season. Last week's decision by coach Andy Reid, to pull Donovan McNabb at the start of the second half, has now been reversed. Apparently, Reid was trying to send a message to McNabb. Whether he got it or not remains questionable, but, in any case, he's performed horribly of late. completing just 52.6% in his last five games.

The real problem in Philly seems to be the play calling, which doesn't have any pattern. Also, the Eagles are once more under the influence of how to utilize Brian Westbrook. Running with the ball doesn't seem to be working. Westbrook has only gained 186 yards on 61 carries the past four weeks. If that pattern continues, this game will be over quickly. Arizona has the 2nd best pass offense in the league, the Eagles the 5th rated pass defense. Whichever team wins that battle wins this game, and given that the Philadelphia offense isn't going to exactly play ball control, Kurt Warner will have plenty of opportunity.

Prediction: Cardinals 24 Eagles 17

Sunday, November 30

1:00 PM San Francisco at Buffalo (-7, 43) - The Bills put on a show last week in Kansas City, routing the Chiefs with their highest point output since the 1960s, 54-31. While that's all well and good, they did give up 31 points to the Chiefs, so one has to wonder just how many the 49ers will score. The San Franciscans have had a string of rough opponents over the past six weeks, the only real softy being the Rams, and they beat them. The 49ers, despite their 3-8 record, are not a terrible team, just a notch below the middle, where the Bills reside. That makes this game a really questionable call. The Bills are 3-2 at home, the 'Niners 1-4 on the road, so there's not a huge edge, considering that two of those road losses - to Seattle and Arizona - were by 3 and 5, respectively. The onus is on Buffalo to prove they are playoff quality and keep winning. This game will be tougher than the line suggests.

Prediction: Bills 23 49ers 19

1:00 PM Baltimore (-7, 36) at Cincinnati- The Ravens did a number on Philadelphia, proving to many that the previous week's effort against the Giants was an accurate barometer of both the Ravens and Giants. The Giants are great; the Ravens are up-and-coming. The Bengals without Carson Palmer? Bad. 31st of 32 teams in scoring offense. 24th in scoring defense at 25.1 ppg. Baltimore only needs to get Ray Rice involved in the offense more often. He is the future at running back for the franchise. The defense is playing at a high level and should win this one with ease.

Prediction: Ravens 24 Bengals 6

1:00 PM Indianapolis (-5, 45) at Cleveland - Indy keeps on winning now that everyone on offense is healthy and on the same wavelength. Knowing the Peyton Manning is probably tired of being called "Eli's older brother", the Colts need to keep winning to get to the playoffs and make some serious noise. One gets the distinct impression that Indy is on the verge of a blowout effort and the Browns are likely to be victimized. At 4-7, the playoffs are a distant mirage for the Browns, especially after being hosed by Texas last week, 16-6, and the season over for Brady Quinn. Derek Anderson will start at QB for Cleveland, but that's not a big help.

Prediction: Colts 40 Browns 17

--- Story continues below ---

1:00 PM Carolina at Green Bay (-3, 43) - The Packers melted away in the second half of Monday night's adventure in New Orleans as Drew Brees simply ate them alive, throwing four TD passes. The Packers are not a good road team, having won only twice away from Lambeau Field in 6 tries. They are better at home, compiling a 3-2 record, but their 5-6 record now has them a game behind both the Bears and Vikings in the NFC North.

Visiting Carolina is having its own problems on defense, as the Falcons put up a 45-28 beating on them and the Panthers now are on the road again for the second straight week. They are in a less-precarious position than the Packers. At 8-3, they are still tied with Tampa Bay on top of the NFC South, and a loss keeps them firmly in the playoff picture for at least a wild card. The Packers are much better offensively, and though the Panthers have a slight edge on defense, Carolina is just 2-3 on the road. Edge to the Pack in a close one.

Prediction: Packers 31 Panthers 21

1:00 PM Miami (9, 44 1/2) at St. Louis - Apparently, there was some concern over whether to actually take action on any remaining Rams' games since they are somewhat of a give-away from Las Vegas to all bettors. Noting that, it would be a very warm day in hell before I'd take the Rams over anyone (well, maybe the Lions or Chiefs). The dolphins, however, are still in the playoff hunt and that means a win is in order.

Prediction: Dolphins 28 Rams 14

1:00 PM New Orleans at Tampa Bay (-3 1/2, 47 1/2) - Drew Brees is proving once again that he doesn't need stars around him to be successful as he continues his assault on Dan Marino's season passing mark. Brees passed for 323 yards and four touchdowns in Monday's 51-29 win over Green Bay. It was his eighth 300-yard passing game of the season. His 3,574 passing yards keeps him on pace to break Dan Marino¹s record of 5,084, set in 1984. If there's a defense designed to stop that kind of aerial assault, it's that of the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has the top NFC pass defense (174.6 yards per game) and knows the Saints' offense inside out. The issue here is how the Saints plan to stop Tampa's grinding offense. New Orleans is not one of the better defensive teams, so the pressure is on Brees to deliver again, big time. Reggie Bush may be back for this, which will only help Brees and give Tampa defenders one more reason to worry. The Saints won the first meeting this season, 24-20, in New Orleans. Tampa has only lost 3 times, by a total of 10 points, so there's plenty of reason for optimism, but, though the Bucs may win this one, the Saints are very dangerous at the end of the game.

Prediction: Buccaneers 31 Saints 30

1:00 PM NY Giants (-3 1/2, 41 1/2) at Washington - Every week, it just seems that the Giants get better and better. Last Sunday, they won their sixth straight, winning on the road at Arizona, 37-29, with their star running back, Brandon Jacobs, on the sideline, soon joined by Plaxico Burress, who left during the first quarter. Still, the Giants were able to prevail. New York downed the Redskins in week 1, 16-7, and seem even better than that now. While the Redskins have played well and are surely better on offense than at the start of the season, they're still not the team the Giants are. New York should win again, and again, and... well, there's this thing called the Super Bowl... You get the picture.

Prediction: Giants 33 Redskins 21

All times Eastern - Click here for late Sunday and Monday night games

Copyright 2008, 2009, Rick Gagliano, Downtown Magazine. All rights reserved. Downtown Magazine is located in the Uinted States of America and is not affiliated with the National Football League or the NCAA. For more information, contact us here. Use of this site is for entertainment purposes only.

Untitled

Sports Handicappers Lounge
Check out the web's best sports handicapping forum - get free service plays from Capper's Lounge.
www.capperslounge.com