BetDash NFL picks – week 10

BetDash NFL tipster Mac takes a look at the week ten Gridiron action, focusing on four games in particular.

NFL Week 10

You know the way in sports journalism, there is often a piece about a player or a team that’s doing well, a lead into an upcoming game, for example player X has scored in every round of the FA Cup so far, so on and so forth. You know the way it invariably backfires and the player gets injured or the team loses 0-9 the next game? Well, look away now, Colts fans, because it’s about to happen right here.

There’s something special happening in Indianapolis. A team that was meant to be rebuilding this season is instead starting to think playoffs, sitting pretty on 5-3 whilst other supposedly superior teams head in the opposite direction. Much of their success is down to the solid, steady play of number one draft pick Andrew Luck, who is on a pace to set rookie records for completions, yards and attempts. He threw for a stunning 433 yards last week in the Colt’s win over Miami. As anyone who watched him play in Stanford already knows, the kid is legit.

The Colts have no doubt been invigorated by coach Chuck Pagano’s battle against serious illness. His post-game speech last week has Hollywood movie producers literally frothing at the mouth. His team have responded nothing short of heroically, buying in en-masse to their project, playing their proverbials off for their coach, even shaving their hair in support.

The Broncos are no doubt enjoying their Peyton Manning experience, however that’s going to be a short run. The Colts would appear to be set up for a long, long time with Andrew Luck under center.

Although, we have of course completely hexed them after this!

Clever things we said last week
‘’ The Titans? They are a mess.’’
‘’ Andrew Luck is proving to be a potentially great NFL QB’’
‘’ No Maurice Jones Drew? No chance. The Jaguars have nothing to offer without their little dynamic bowling ball of a running back.’’

Not so clever things we said last week
‘’ The Vikings should at the very least keep this one competitive’’

Reasonable enough week last week, 7-6 ATS (against the spread) and 3-1 in the four highlighted games, what we like to refer to as our ‘Finest Four’. Here’s to another winning week of NFL picks. Good luck to all, and enjoy the games.

Season to date
Last week against the spread: 7-6
Overall record against the spread: 64-65-3
Finest Four against the spread last week: 3-1
Finest Four against the spread overall: 19-17
Winning percentage: 49.6%
The finest four percentage: 52.7%

The finest four.
Four picks to boost your bankroll

The Game: Detroit Lions At Minnesota Vikings
Current line: Detroit -1
The Science: Sneaky little Lions, prowling up on us like that. Detroit are a funny team, sometimes it is as if they themselves don’t know how good they can be, suddenly the light bulb goes on, and they look like World beaters. Two teams going in opposite directions here, the Vikings have been derailed by injuries whilst the Lions are roaring on all cylinders, getting healthier every week, and QB Mathew Stafford is finally remembering how to win. In the Lions and his case, it’s simple, run around in the pocket, look for Megatron, chuck the rock as far as you can and celebrate touchdown. And, repeat.
The Pick: Detroit -1

The Game: Houston Texans At Chicago Bears
Current line: Chicago -1
The Science: You think the Bears are going to let up the momentum the week one of the most famous Chicagoans took the White House for another four years? No Sir. Regular readers will recall this column’s borderline disdain for the Texan’s record, which we feel is built on the back of over rated results against terrible teams. You are SUPPOSED to beat Miami, Jacksonville, Tennessee, the pathetic Jets and the woeful Bills. What should be noted is that when they took on Green Bay, they got punched in the mouth 24-42. Meanwhile, some in Chicago are actually hinting that this Bears defence may actually be superior to the Monsters of the Midway defence of the mid-eighties. Chicago’s defenders have scored SEVEN touchdowns. That’s right, seven! They have won 6 in a row and in those wins have conceded an average of 12.6 points per game. The Bears, at home, against what we believe to be a team that has got fat off the riches of playing bad teams, with basically no handicap in your way. Do it!
The Pick: Chicago -1

The Game: Denver Broncos At Carolina Panthers
Current line: Denver -4
The Science: The Panthers are not done yet. It is too early to call time on the Cam Newton era. Their defence has rebuilt itself lately and it’s confidence is brimming. Newton too, looks on steadier ground than earlier in the season. He looked dynamic last week against the ‘Skins. At home, with the points, trust the Panthers to keep their season alive. Don’t laugh. With 9 NFC teams on 4 wins or less, the Panthers can still make the playoffs. They have to have this game for starters. Desperation is a powerful weapon in the NFL.
The Pick: Carolina +4

The Game: Indianapolis Colts At Jacksonville Jaguars
Current line: Indianapolis -3
The Science: We have waffled on about the Colt’s merits above, so we won’t overdo it, suffice to say they should have more than enough to see off this brutal Jaguars team, made all the worse by missing their one star, Maurice Jones Drew. No Drew? No deal. The Jags haven’t managed to keep games close either. In their 7 losses, only 2 were by 3 points. Everything else has been a blowout. Including probably tonight.
The Pick: Indianapolis -3

The rest.
Definitely. Probably. Maybe.

Oakland Raiders At Baltimore Ravens -8
Tennessee Titans +6 At Miami Dolphins
San Diego Chargers At Tampa Bay Buccaneers -3
New York Giants -4 At Cincinnati Bengals
Buffalo Bills At New England Patriots -11
Dallas Cowboys +1.5 At Philadelphia Eagles
St. Louis Rams +11 At San Francisco 49ers
New York Jets At Seattle Seahawks -6
Houston Texans At Chicago Bears -1
Kansas City Chiefs At Pittsburgh Steelers -12