2006 NFL Newsletter: Dave’s Dime Divisional Week

By , January 12, 2007

Dave’s Dime
“Because Two Cents Just Isn’t Enough”

THE INTRO

New playoff teams… new playoff games… new playoff atmosphere.

Same terrible picks.

Well, kind of.

Yes, I went an abysmal 1 – 3 with the spread, and yes, I went a dreadful 1 – 3 OVER/UNDER. But, last year I went 4 – 7 w/o the spread all together, and with this 4 – 0 weekend, I’d have to go out of my way to end up worse than last year.

Fortunately for me, the playoffs aren’t a lose-and-your-out. I can lose, lose, and lose some more, and I still get to pick all the way into the Super Bowl.

What are you going to do to stop me? Delete me?

In any case, the 8 divisional winners are all thats left. The creme of the crop. Should make for some good football, and some more tough picks. Just what I need.

THE RECORD

Season (Final)
With the spread: 126 – 121 – 9 (.510)
Without the spread: 154 – 102 – 0 (.602)
$$Money Picks$$: 27 – 30 – 1 (.474)
^^Zen Picks^^: 24 – 22 – 2 (.522)
**Outright Upsets**: 36 – 33 – 0 (.522)

Last Week
With the spread: 1 – 3 – 0 (.250)
Without the spread: 4 – 0 (1.000)
OVER/UNDER: 1 – 3 – 0 (.250)
$$Money Picks$$: 0 – 0 – 0 (N/A)
^^Zen Picks^^: 0 – 1 – 0 (.000)
**Outright Upsets**: 0 – 0 (N/A)

Playoffs
With the spread: 1 – 3 – 0 (.250)
Without the spread: 4 – 0 (1.000)
OVER/UNDER: 1 – 3 – 0 (.250)
$$Money Picks$$: 0 – 0 – 0 (N/A)
^^Zen Picks^^: 0 – 1 – 0 (.000)
**Outright Upsets**: 0 – 0 (N/A)

LAST WEEK’S RECAP OF DAVE’S BRILLIANCE AND FOOLISHNESS
(Often Foolishness)

#6 Kansas City 8 9 – 7 (+7.0) @ #3 Indianapolis 23 12 – 4 (-7.0)
The only game that went right for me. Pretty pathetic showing by the Chiefs.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN Indianapolis
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN Indianapolis
OVER/UNDER 51: WIN UNDER

#5 Dallas 20 9 – 7 (+3.0) @ #4 Seattle 21 9 – 7 (-3.0)
Gotta feel for Romo, who will have to win a championship to live down that blunder.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS Seattle
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN Seattle
OVER/UNDER 46.5: LOSS OVER

#5 New York Jets 16 10 – 6 (+8.5) @ #4 New England 37 12 – 4 (-8.5)
Closer than the final score looked, but Brady’s offense was too much for the Jets when it’s all said and done.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS *^New York Jets
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN New England
OVER/UNDER 37.5: LOSS UNDER

#6 New York Giants 20 8 – 8 (+7.0) @ #3 Philadelphia 23 10 – 6 (-7.0)
This game should have never come down to the last few seconds, but I doubt Philly cares too much.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS Philadelphia
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN Philadelphia
OVER/UNDER 46.5: LOSS OVER

THE PICKS

* – Indicates Upset Pick
$ – Indicates Money Pick
^ – Indicates Zen Pick

SATURDAY

#3 Indianapolis 13 – 4 (+4.0) @ #2 Baltimore 13 – 3 (-4.0)
It is tough for me to pick against the Colts, especially considering a few factors. First of all, they stopped LJ last week; and Jamal Lewis isn’t in the same realm as he is. Secondly, Peyton had a pretty bad game and still won – he should be extremely motivated to right his wrongs this week and come out with a strong game. Baltimore, however, has done more than enough this season to be considered the favorite. They are a very talented team, and they are no longer completely useless on offense. They have lost only one game at home this year – and that was with a sidelined Steve McNair. I personally hope that the Colts can break out of their road playoff funk, but couple the fact that Baltimore is an excellent team with the loud crowd throwing off Peyton’s at-the-line adjustments, and you’ve got yourself a solid pick in Baltimore.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: $Baltimore
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Baltimore
OVER/UNDER 42: UNDER

#3 Philadelphia 11 – 6 (+5.5) @ #2 New Orleans 10 – 6 (-5.5)
This should be a great game, and it is almost impossible to predict how it will turn out. Philly has all the momentum in the world, and they have all the makings of the kind of team that does damage in the playoffs – they are playing confident, fearless, and seemingly can do no wrong (besides fail to cover the spread for me). All that said, I don’t think they’ve played a team as good as New Orleans yet during their little hot streak. New Orleans is a great team on both sides of the ball – and with Lito Sheppard out for the Eagles as well, I’m not too sure they can stop the Saints’ offense. Home field advantage should pay huge dividends for the Saints, and I’m projecting them to win this game convincingly. Regardless of the winner, this will be the team I’ll be picking to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. We shall see.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: New Orleans
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: New Orleans
OVER/UNDER 49: OVER

SUNDAY

#4 Seattle 10 – 7 (+9.0) @ #1 Chicago 13 – 3 (-9.0)
Easily the worst game of the week, you get two of the most inconsistant teams left in the playoffs, neither one of them with a very good offense. Despite that, I’ll be taking the over, because both offenses should turn the ball over plenty, and make for very good field position going both ways. As for who will actually win? That depends on who makes more mistakes… but Chicago talentwise has the better defense, and they’ve got home field advantage, too. So, I’ll take the 9 points, but take Chicago to win the game.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Seattle
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Chicago
OVER/UNDER 37: $OVER

#4 New England Patriots 13 – 4 (+4.5) @ #1 San Diego 14 – 2 (-4.5)
In what has all the makings of the game of the week, the best team in the league (San Diego) faces the best playoff team of our time. It is a very slippery slope picking against the Chargers – they really are the best team in the NFL. I was joking with a friend of mine that San Diego should just play Baltimore for the Super Bowl right now, and not waste everyone else’s time. In the playoffs, though, the best teams aren’t always the teams that win. I think this will be one of those scenarios. I’m taking nothing away from San Diego; I merely think that if anyone has a very good shot of beating them, it is the Patriots. They match up well, and the Patriots just don’t lose games in the playoffs very often. This will be a big test for SD, because anything short of a Super Bowl would be a large disappointment.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *New England
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *New England
OVER/UNDER 46: OVER

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Questions? Comments? Love the Dime? Hate it? Should I cut it down to a nickel? SEND ME FEEDBACK!

MY TEAM’S RECORDS
OAKLAND RAIDERS: 2 – 14 – 0
USC TROJANS: 11 – 2 – 0
LOS ANGELES KINGS: 16 – 23 – 6

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DavesDime.com by Dave Consolazio