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

THE INTRO

Well the Patriots were down, but in the end they prevailed, and finished off a perfect regular season.

I too, am down. Will I prevail?

What I am going for is hardly perfect. After a damn nice run of 41 – 23 to get back in the mix, I’ve rattled off an 8 – 8 and a 6 – 10 week.

This time last year, I was coming off a 5 – 10 week and was 117 – 114 – 9. I finished 9 – 7 to cap off a 51% winning percentage against the spread; my worst career year.

Now, I find myself at 114 – 117 – 9. Oh what a difference 3 games makes. If I can somehow manage to get 10 wins in this confusing, who-is-resting-who-is-playing Week 17, I will cap off an improbable run to a personal goal of .500, in perhaps one of the most influential sports stories of the year (that no one has heard of or cares about besides maybe 4 of you).

The odds are stacked against me.

Two things are for sure. New Year’s Eve, I’m going to be drinking, and I’m going to be crying myself to sleep.

With 9 or less wins, I will be drinking away my sorrows, and the tears that flow will be of anguish, defeat, and failure.

With 10 or more wins, I will be drinking to victory, and the tears that flow will be of joy, pride, and self-respect.

Which will it be? Regardless, to whatever you are drinking and crying to this New Year’s Eve, have a great one everybody; and thank you so much for reading and sticking with me all season long.

THE RECORD

Last Week
With the spread: 6 – 10 – 0 (.375)
Without the spread: 11 – 5 – 0 (.686)
^^Zen Picks^^: 1 – 2 – 0 (.333)
**Outright Upsets**: 0 – 0 – 0 (N/A)

Season
With the spread: 114 – 117 – 9 (.494)
Without the spread: 147 – 93 – 0 (.613)
^^Zen Picks^^: 13 – 7 – 2 (.650)
**Outright Upsets**: 19 – 38 – 0 (.333)

THE PICKS
* – Indicates Upset Pick
^ – Indicates Zen Pick

SATURDAY

New England (-14.0) @ New York Giants (+14.0)
About 2 months ago, I said this would be the game that would give the Patriots their closest call; I was right, as if it didn’t top the Colts, Ravens and Eagles efforts, it certainly tied it.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: New York Giants (WIN)
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: New England (WIN)

SUNDAY

Buffalo (+7.5) @ Philadelphia (-7.5)
Hard to give this many points, but Buffalo has not looked good of late, and Philly is looking like the team they were supposed to be all year. They should send the home crowd out with a big win here.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Philadelphia
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Philadelphia

Carolina (-3.0) @ Tampa Bay (+3.0)
Hard to pick Carolina, but Coach Gruden has seen his fair share of injuries this year, and there is absolutely no reason to start anyone of value in this position.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Carolina
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Carolina

Cincinnati (-2.5) @ Miami (+2.5)
Cincinnati gave it everything they had last week, and with Miami feeling good about adding Parcells to the program AND having already clinched the number 1 pick in the draft, there is no reason they can’t play their hearts out at home here and get one more win.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Miami
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Miami

Dallas (+9.0) @ Washington (-9.0)
I’m taking Washington here simply because this spread says it all; clearly insiders know that Dallas will be resting EVERYONE here.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: ^Washington
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Washington

Detroit (+5.5) @ Green Bay (-5.5)
Hard to take Green Bay after the terrible performance they gave last week. Assuming the Packers rest their defensive starters (as they should), Detroit should be able to keep up; and maybe pull the “upset”.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Detroit
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Detroit

Jacksonville (+6.5) @ Houston (-6.5)
For the most physical team in the league and a very popular underdog pick heading into these playoffs, the Jags will gladly take the week off in preparation for San Diego or Pittsburgh next week.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Houston
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Houston

New Orleans (-1.0) @ Chicago (+1.0)
Have to like Chicago here after the beating they gave to Green Bay last week. True, that is a division rival; but all the same, New Orleans is pretty darn beatable.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Chicago
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Chicago

Pittsburgh (-3.0) @ Baltimore (+3.0)
Pittsburgh has just taken too many injuries to too many valuable players. There is absolutely no way they can afford to start anyone still healthy enough to be useful in the playoffs. Its hard to concede a game to a division rival heading into the playoffs, but I really don’t see them having much of a choice here. The question is; can pitiful Baltimore beat a team of backups?
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Baltimore
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Baltimore

Seattle (-1.0) @ Atlanta (+1.0)
I don’t mean to be mean, but I honestly believe that Seattle’s B-team is strong enough to beat Atlanta. Seneca Wallace should have a full playbook to mess around with this week, and Seattle should win regardless of resting their starters.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Seattle
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Seattle

San Francisco (+11.5) @ Cleveland (-11.5)
All Cleveland can do at this point is watch the scoreboard, because the only thing that matters to them is the Tennessee Titans game. After last week’s loss to Cinci though you figure they will try to win this one big for pride’s sake, don’t you? If Shaun Hill weren’t injured I’d consider SF here, but without their spark plug…
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Cleveland
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Cleveland

Tennessee (-5.0) @ Indianapolis (+5.0)
From what I have gathered, Indianapolis will start Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning. Factor in that the Titans as a favorite NEVER EVER seem to cover, I’ll give the Colts a cover at home; but assume Tennessee finds a way to win with a late FG or something.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Indianapolis
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Tennessee

Minnesota (-3.0) @ Denver (+3.0)
Despite an off week last week, I just can’t see the Vikings not running all over Denver this week; namely Adrian Peterson.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Minnesota
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Minnesota

San Diego (-8.5) @ Oakland (+8.5)
San Diego is playing for their Wild Card week match-up; If they get the #3 seed, they play Tennessee or Cleveland. #4 seed gets them Jacksonville. You think that isn’t motivation enough to play? Beating the rival Raiders and staying in groove might be. San Diego will start everyone and will make Jamarcus’s first start a rough one.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: San Diego
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: San Diego

St. Louis (+6.0) @ Arizona (-6.0)
If Atlanta could push Arizona to the very edge, I think St. Louis is capable of pushing them off of it.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *St. Louis
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *St. Louis

Kansas City (+6.0) @ New York Jets (-6.0)
Losers of 8 straight, the Chiefs will somehow find a way to get a win against the Jets; maybe using coach Herm Edwards as motivation?
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Kansas City
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Kansas City

Look like a 10 win week to you?

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