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

THE INTRO

What a snake bitten season!

My triumphant return to Zen picks landed me only 3 correct predictions out of 10, and an entire weekend spent in the bathroom, bed, or hospital with a stomach virus.

That’s the stuff champions are made of(…?)!

No matter. 3 more weeks of regular season football… just 3 more weeks.

3 weeks to get my with the spread and money picks totals above .500… and not mess up anything else in the process.

I’m due for a 13 – 3 week anyways, aren’t I???

No, I don’t think so either. But for some reason that eludes me, you’ve all stuck around this long… so a few more weeks won’t kill you!

Enjoy.

THE RECORD

Last Week
With the spread: 8 – 8 – 0 (.500)
Without the spread: 8 – 8 – 0 (.500)
$$Money Picks$$: 3 – 2 – 0 (.600)
^^Zen Picks^^: 3 – 7 – 0 (.300)
**Outright Upsets**: 3 – 2 – 0 (.600)

Season
With the spread: 99 – 101 – 8 (.495)
Without the spread: 128 – 80 – 0 (.615)
$$Money Picks$$: 21 – 26 – 1 (.447)
^^Zen Picks^^: 18 – 17 – 1 (.514)
**Outright Upsets**: 26 – 23 – 0 (.531)

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

Atlanta 17 6 – 6 (-3.0) @ Tampa Bay 6 3 – 9 (+3.0)
Despite their blundering mid-season, Atlanta will still probably end up in the playoffs in the pathetic NFC.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN $Atlanta
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN Atlanta

Baltimore 20 9 – 3 (+3.0) @ Kansas City 10 7 – 5 (-3.0)
I knew picking against Baltimore would be dangerous… they are quietly one of the AFC’s best.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS ^Kansas City
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: LOSS Kansas City

Minnesota 30 5 – 7 (+1.5) @ Detroit 20 2 – 10 (-1.5)
Eh, who cares?
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS ^Detroit
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: LOSS Detroit

N.Y. Giants 27 6 – 6 (+3.0) @ Carolina 13 6 – 6 (-3.0)
It’s about time that the Giants actually put a game together for a change.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN ^*$N.Y. Giants
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN *N.Y. Giants

Oakland 10 2 – 10 (+11.0) @ Cincinnati 27 7 – 5 (-11.0)
Well, all the pieces fit… Oakland really is just that bad.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS ^*$Oakland
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN Cincinnati

Philadelphia 21 6 – 6 (-1.5) @ Washington 19 4 – 8 (+1.5)
Ever so close, but Garcia’s Eagles have Phili fans feeling alright again.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN $Philadelphia
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN Philadelphia

Tennessee 26 5 – 7 @ Houston 20 4 – 8 (Pick’em)
If Tennessee were in the NFC, I’d start worrying about them making a late playoff push right about now.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS ^Houston
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: LOSS Houston

Green Bay 30 4 – 8 (+4.0) @ San Francisco 19 5 – 7 (-4.0)
Easy money… Favre inches closer to Marino’s all-time TD record that is his for the taking, if he stuck around for another year (which he won’t).
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN ^*Green Bay
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN Green Bay

Seattle 21 8 – 4 (-3.0) @ Arizona 27 3 – 9 (+3.0)
Well, I certainly didn’t see this coming. Seattle isn’t looking like much of a contender, even with their NFC-strong 8 – 5.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS $Seattle
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: LOSS Seattle

Buffalo 31 5 – 7 (+3.5) @ N.Y. Jets 13 7 – 5 (-3.5)
The Jets really couldn’t afford this loss if they wanted to keep their playoff dreams alive. They aren’t totally dead, but they are certainly in bad shape now.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN *Buffalo
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: LOSS N.Y. Jets

Denver 20 7 – 5 (+7.5) @ San Diego 48 10 – 2 (-7.5)
Just like the Raiders, this game lined up perfectly… but San Diego is just too damn good.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS ^*Denver
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: LOSS *Denver

New Orleans 42 8 – 4 (+7.0) @ Dallas 17 8 – 4 (-7.0)
WOW is all I can say. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year, and New Orleans might just be the most well rounded team in the NFC.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: ^Dallas
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Dallas

Chicago 42 10 – 2 (-6.0) @ St. Louis 27 5 – 7 (+6.0)
I was banking on the StL 27 part, not the Chicago 42 part.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: ^*St. Louis
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *St. Louis

DAMN, I’M GOOD

Indianapolis 17 10 – 2 @ Jacksonville 44 7 – 5 (Pick’em)
This game is really bugging me, because I do feel that Indianapolis is the better team. I also feel that going into hostile Jacksonville with a defense that can’t stop the run at all is certainly not a recipe for success. Hmm. I really have no idea. Jacksonville is sticking out at me… so I’ll take them, but this one is virtually a coin flip.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Jacksonville
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Jacksonville
– Doesn’t seem like too big a deal to the naked eye, but taking a shaky team against my man-crush Peyton was a pretty big step.

New England 0 9 – 3 (-3.5) @ Miami 21 5 – 7 (+3.5)
Now we come to betting against a team that has won 3 in a row. Also, why WOULDN’T the Dolphins be chomping at the bits to beat a division rival in front of the home crowd? New England is the better team but they aren’t unbeatable anymore, and I think Miami can take them this week.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: ^*Miami
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Miami
– Not only beat, but shut out!

THE PICKS

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

THURSDAY

San Francisco 5 – 8 (+9.5) @ Seattle 8 – 5 (-9.5)
It’s tough to pick against a team that is at home against a weaker opponent coming off of a loss against a weak opponent. Follow all that? Anyways, despite the fact that Seattle SHOULD blow SF out, I think SF’s running game is strong enough to keep this game close. Should be relatively low scoring, with Seattle winning by only a field goal or two.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *^San Fransisco
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Seattle

SATURDAY

Dallas 8 – 5 (-3.5) @ Atlanta 7 – 6 (+3.5)
Atlanta may be playing for their playoff lives, but I don’t think they’ve got the talent to stay on par with the Cowboys… especially not for 3 and a half points.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Dallas
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Dallas

SUNDAY

Cleveland 4 – 9 (+11.0) @ Baltimore 10 – 3 (-11.0)
This is a tough one. I don’t want to show any lack of respect to one of the AFC’s best, and Cleveland has been getting bullied around alot lately. Still, a division rival, a hard nosed team… I can’t help but think Cleveland is going to keep it respectable.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Cleveland
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Baltimore

Detroit 2 – 11 (+5.0) @ Green Bay 5 – 8 (-5.0)
The Raiders and the Lions have the same record for a reason. Green Bay meanwhile actually has the firepower to win games. At Lambau, Green Bay should have no problem taking this one.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: $Green Bay
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Green Bay

Houston 4 – 9 (+11.5) @ New England 9 – 4 (-11.5)
Coming off of a humiliating shutout loss to the Dolphins, the team on the other side of the “New England -11” line is irrelevent. New England will not let anyone dwell on their weakness, and Houston is in the wrong place at the wrong time.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: ^$New England
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: New England

Jacksonville 8 – 5 (-3.5) @ Tennessee 6 – 7 (+3.5)
I’m not buying into all the hype that the Titans are now amazing and unbeatable. Jacksonville is the better team. But they are the tense team – they NEED wins if they want to stay in the playoff picture. Meanwhile, Tennessee is at home, just playing for fun, and having a blast – and that makes them awfully dangerous.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *^Tennessee
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Tennessee

Miami 6 – 7 (+1.0) @ Buffalo 6 – 7 (-1.0)
There’s a reason why the team that just shut out the Patriots is an underdog this week. Buffalo has quietly put together a fairly respectable season, and while they aren’t going to woo you, they can beat you if you aren’t careful. I think Miami is careful, though – and they’ll take this game of pride, even in Buffalo.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Miami
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Miami

N.Y. Jets 7 – 6 (+3.0) @ Minnesota 6 – 7 (-3.0)
I’m going to keep this one simple. I like both of these teams and mean no disrespect to the Vikings, but the Jets are the better team, and they are going to go out and win this game this week.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *$N.Y. Jets
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *N.Y. Jets

Pittsburgh 6 – 7 (-2.5) @ Carolina 6 – 7 (+2.5)
Two teams that were shoo-ins for the playoffs are now playing a relatively meaningless pride game in week 15? What a shame. Carolina disappointed the home crowd with a loss last week, and has the chance to make it up to them this week. Please, Carolina, if you’ve got any heart whatsoever, now would be the time to use it.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *^Carolina
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Carolina

Tampa Bay 3 – 10 (+13.5) @ Chicago 11 – 2 (-13.5)
I’d love to take Tampa Bay in a slip up opportunity for the Bears here (ala Miami), but the skill differential between these two teams is laughable. I’ve gotta stick with the Bears.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Chicago
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Chicago

Washington 4 – 9 (+9.5) @ New Orleans 9 – 4 (-9.5)
Ok, New Orleans HAS to have an off day offensively eventually. It’s law of averages! Washington is not a good football team at all, but if they can run the ball effectively like I believe they can, and can make a big play on D or two, maybe they can keep this one close? Maybe?
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *^Washington
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: New Orleans

Denver 7 – 6 (-3.0) @ Arizona 4 – 9 (+3.0)
Sure Denver has fallen from grace, but their schedule has been absolutely vicious. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are gaining some momentum, but besides Seattle, they hadn’t played anyone too good in a while. I think the talent level of these two teams catches up this week, and Denver takes it easily.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: $Denver
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Denver

Philadelphia 7 – 6 (+5.5) @ N.Y. Giants 7 – 6 (-5.5)
While I’ll be rooting for the Eagles, this one is IN New York, and they do have the better team. Even still, I don’t see this one being a blowout – a late drive going either way seems like a fitting way to end this division rivalry game. So I’ll take the 5.5 points, but I think the Giants will pull it out.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Philadelphia
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: N.Y. Giants

St. Louis 5 – 8 (+2.5) @ Oakland 2 – 11 (-2.5)
Without fail, whichever way I pick in the Raider game, it goes the other way with the spread. Look through the archives. They haunt me both as my favorite team and as a gamble. Well you know what? I’ll take the Rams. Go ahead Raiders, prove me wrong like you always do. I dare you.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *St. Louis
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *St. Louis

Kansas City 7 – 6 (+9.0) @ San Diego 11 – 2 (-9.0)
I was leaning towards KC with the points, but remember, it was KC that handed SD one of their two losses. Now at home in SD, the Chargers have the chance to prove that no team is better than them, and turn this game into a statement. I think they’ll do just that.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: ^San Diego
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: San Diego

MONDAY

Cincinnati 8 – 5 (+3.0) @ Indianapolis 10 – 3 (-3.0)
Save the toughest game for last. I love both of these teams, and I really don’t know what to expect at all from this game. While the Bengals are clicking and the Colts are reeling, I HAVE to assume Peyton and the gang can pull a win out at home somehow. Their backs are against the wall. If they lose here, they’re pretty much done for.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Indianapolis
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Indianapolis

COLLEGE NICKEL: BOWL EDITION

With the spread: 0 – 0 – 0 (.000)
Without the spread: 0 – 0 (.000)
$$Money Picks$$: 0 – 0 – 0 (.000)
^^Zen Picks^^: 0 – 0 – 0 (.000)
**Outright Upsets**: 0 – 0 (.000)

All bowls are not created equal. In fact, many of them seem pretty stupid and downright meaningless. Others are huge. But with each bowl comes a betting opportunity; and I’ve never been one to turn that down, nor to make a fool of myself publically in the process. Lets see what I can do!

12 / 19 POINSETTIA BOWL
Northern Illinois Huskies 7 – 5 (+12.0) @ TCU Horned Frogs 10 – 2 (-12.0)
Ah yes, the illustrious Poinsettia Bowl. Ahem. Anyways, no tricks up my sleeve in the only bowl game that falls in this Dime. While TCU hasn’t beaten anyone too impressive, they are a pretty solid team certainly capible of putting up points, and they should be able to start my bowl season off right with a 2 TD+ victory.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: TCU Horned Frogs
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: TCU Horned Frogs

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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 – 11 – 0
USC TROJANS: 10 – 2 – 0
LOS ANGELES KINGS: 11 – 16 – 4

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