Week 12 NFL picks

NFL continues after Thanksgiving feast

The rest of the NFL comes to life in post Thanksgiving games on Sunday and Monday. For Week 11, I finished at 9-5 so I'm 100-62 record wise at the moment. 

Not a lot of fanfare...let's pick 'em!

Tennessee @ Chicago

Titans 28-24

Jacksonville @ Buffalo

Bills 31-21

Cincinnati @ Baltimore

Kinda strange to see Bengals not near division lead this season.

Ravens 30-20

Arizona @ Atlanta

Which birds will get dirty?

Falcons 27-20

NY Giants @ Cleveland

Giants 31-14

Los Angeles @ New Orleans

Saints 24-17

San Francisco @ Miami

Dolphins 28-17

San Diego @ Houston

Surprise 'em Bolts

Chargers 28-27

Seattle @ Tampa Bay

Seahawks 23-14

Carolina @ Oakland

Panthers can't afford another loss...

Panthers 34-30

New England @ New York

Jets, Jets, Jets...

Jets 27-23

Kansas City @ Denver

Chiefs 27-21

Green Bay @ Philadelphia

What's up with the Cheeseheads?

Eagles 30-28

Back next week with more...

Final weekend for NCAA teams

Rivalries and playoff jostle highlight weekend

It's the final full weekend of NCAA football games with everything from bragging rights, bowl bids and possible playoff spots up for grabs. There a a few traditional rivalry games that have an extra edge this season so it is going to be interesting! I finished up at 22-3 for Week 12 putting my season record at 225-75 heading into this week. Ok....there are some big ones...let's pick 'em!

Kentucky @ Louisville (11)

The Wildcats will go bowling but a win here would be sweeter than any bowl bid...back up plan...win bowl game!

Louisville 34-20

Michigan (3) @ Ohio State (2)

Will the loser drop out of the Football Four? It will be a battle but my Spidey senses are telling me Michigan may survive and pull out the win.

Michigan 24-20

Auburn (13) @ Alabama(1)

Would love to see an Auburn upset...but in reality...

Alabama 30-21

Notre Dame @ USC (12)

Bowl game essentially for the Irish with the chance of spoiling USC's finish.

USC 35-21

Navy (25) @ SMU

Navy 30-17

West Virginia (18) @ Iowa State

WVa 41-18

Michigan State @ Penn State (7)

Things may fall into place and see Penn State got to Big 10 title game.

Penn State 28-20

Minnesota @ Wisconsin (6)

Quality win will do the Badgers good!

Wisconsin 26-21

Utah (22) @ Colorado (9)

The Buffs are on the way back!!

Colorado 30-20

South Carolina @ Clemson (4)

A win for the ACC vs SEC

Clemson 38-17

Tennessee (17) @ Vanderbilt

Can Vandy pull a surprise and go bowling...at home...why not!

Vandy 23-21

Rice @ Stanford (24)

Stanford 34-13

Florida (15) @ Florida State (14)

Hmm...Gators?

Florida 24-23

Virginia @ Va Tech

Good finishing win for Tech in the post Beamer era.

Va Tech 40-22

Duke @ Miami

Canes finish regular season on a positive note!

Miami 28-24

Boston College @ Wake Forest

Wake keeps BC from going bowling!

Wake 30-17

Florida International @ Old Dominion

ODU 34-24

Colorado State @ San Diego State 

SD State 41-21

Wyoming @ New Mexico

Both look to be going bowling!

Wyoming 32-24

That will do it for this week NCAA wise...enjoy the games!

Teams looking to advance back in Virginia

Crunch time for VHSL teams

Piedmont District teams are gone, Timesland teams are few as the 2016 VHSL playoffs head towards their respective championships

Not a lot is known by myself about some teams this week...but let's give it a shot and pick 'em!

Salem @ William Byrd

The Spartans pulled out an overtime win over Byrd earlier in the season and the result may be similar this time around with much more on the line.

In the end ...going with the playoff proven crew.

Salem 7

Staunton River @ Rustburg

Can anyone take Staunton River out of their comfort zone and make them pass the ball? these two have not met sin Staunton River left the Seminole district. It should be interesting ...gonna tip the home team.

Rustburg by 4

Blacksburg @ Heritage-Lynchburg

Blacksburg by 2

Fort Chiswell @ Galax

Galax by 8

Parry McCluer @ George Wythe

Wythe by 5

Sussex Central @ Altavista

Altavista by 3

That does it for known teams this week...enjoy the games.

Thanksgiving holiday picks

NFL/NCAA have many offerings

The NFL has their traditional offerings followed by several games featuring ranked teams in the NCAA for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday and Friday.

The NFL games are in the traditional sites of Dallas and Detroit with Indianapolis thrown in for the late game this season. The NCAA has on holiday offering with LSU visiting Texas A&M.

Ok, let's pick the early ones!!

NFL

Minnesota @ Detroit

This year it is for the division led so it means something in Detroit! The Vikings are looking to turn things around so now might be the time!

Vikings 28-24

Washington @ Dallas

Dallas is looking to keep their roll going and a big win on the holiday stage could be the ticket. Washington will come in looking to bring the Cowboys back to the pack in the NFC East....shock here....I'm tipping (jinxing) Jerry's Kids!

Cowboys 31-27

Pittsburgh @ Indianapolis

The Steelers need a back on track win and may get one on the road against the Colts.

Steelers 30-21

NCAA

LSU @ Texas A&M

Neither team is ranked but bowl positions are up for grabs

A&M 31-28

Houston (20) @ Memphis

Houston 34-24

Washington (5) @ Washington State (23)

This one will be typical rivalry game...rankings aside!

Washington 27-22

Boise State (19) @ Air Force

Upset may be in order!

Air Force 28-26

Nebraska (16) @ Iowa

Nebraska 23-20

Toledo @ Western Michigan (21)

The Rockets get the last shot at upsetting Western Michigan in the regular season...

Western Michigan 31-21

Back with more picks over the next couple of days...

NFL Week 11

Dallas , Minnesota and Oakland host big ones

Heading into the final weeks of the season, the Cowboys (Ravens), Vikings (Cardinals) and Raiders (Texans) host big games in the NFL this weekend. Dallas has a bit of a cushion inthe NFC East but would like to keep winning, Minnesota, in spite of their losing streak are tied for the NFC North lead and Oakland wants to keep pace with Kansas City in the AFC West so all are looking for home "W's". 

I was lucky to break even at 7-7 for Week 10 so I'm now 91-57 for the season so far.

Ok, here we go for Week 11...let's pick 'em!

Pittsburgh @ Cleveland

Steelers 34-13

Baltimore @ Dallas

If anyone can spring the surprise it may be the Ravens catching the Cowboys looking ahead to Thanksgiving!

Ravens 23-21

Jacksonville @ Detroit

The NFC North leading Lions???

Lions 27-20

Tennessee @ Indianapolis

Colts 30-28

Buffalo @ Cincinnati

Bengals 28-24

Tampa Bay @ Kansas City

Chiefs 30-21

Chicago @ NY Giants

Giants 24-14

Arizona @ Minnesota

This one may well be the game of the week.....could be low scoring or could be explosive. Going with the home crew in a "last team with the ball" one.

Vikings 24-21

Miami @ Los Angeles

Rams 17-13

New England @ San Francisco

Patriots 34-20

Philadelphia @ Seattle

Will be another knock down/drag out to the home team.

Seahawks 23-20

Green Bay @ Washington

Packers have to turn it around at some stage...don't they?

Packers 34-31

Houston @ Oakland

Will the Raiders hold up under the Monday night spotlight??

Raiders 27-21

Ok, that will do it for this week...enjoy the games!

NCAA Week 12 2016

More Scrambling to come...

With Louisville dropping their bundle in Houston, there's room to move up for a few teams as the NCAA football season finishes up over the next few weeks. 

I ended up a respectable 17-8 for Week 11 so I'm sitting on a 203-72 record for the season and hoping to better last week's mark this week.

Here we go, let's pick 'em!

Texas-San Antonio @ Texas A&M

C'mon Southern Conference teams....at least Aggies have a shot to bounce back after last week...

A&M 44-10

Oklahoma State (11) @ TCU

Danger....State....Danger!

TCU 34-30

Ohio State (2) @ Michigan State

Ohio State 35-20

Maryland @ Nebraska (18)

Nebraska 30-17

Wisconsin (7) @ Purdue

Wisconsin 31-13

Florida (23) @ LSU (16)

Hurricane make up game comes at a good point in season for bowl game scramble!

Florida 24-20

Oregon @ Utah (12)

Utah 38-28

Florida State (17) @ Syracuse

FSU 34-10

Buffalo @ Western Michigan (21)

The Broncos are two games from perfection!

Western Michigan 38-20

Washington State (22) @ Colorado (10) 

The Buffs are back!

Colorado 28-20

Missouri @ Tennessee (19)

Tennessee 30-21

Indiana @ Michigan (3)

Michigan 41-24

Stanford (24) @ Cal

Stanford 34-24

Clemson (4) @ Wake Forest

Clemson 35-14

Chattanooga @ Alabama (1)

Bama 51-6

Alabama A&M @ Auburn (15)

Auburn 50-12

Arizona State @ Washington (6)

Washington 30-17

Penn State (8) @ Rutgers

Penn State 33-7

Oklahoma (9) @ West Virginia (14)

Sooners need a win against the ranked Mountaineers on the road.

Oklahoma 31-27

USC (13) @ UCLA

Trojans would love to finish the season as a Top 10 team!

USC 35-24

Miami @ NC State

'Canes looking to finish season as a ranked team!

Miami 34-23

Va Tech @ Notre Dame

Va Tech 28-27

Navy @ East Carolina

Navy 30-27

That will do it for this week....enjoy the games!

Week 2 Virginia playoffs

Advance or go home continues in Virginia

North Stafford, Pulaski County and Northside surprised me last weekend in the first round of the VHSL post season.

Teams that had byes last weekend enter the fray this week as the action will heat up.

Ok, let's pick 'em!

Heritage-Leesburg @ William Byrd

Leesburg surprised GW-Danville last week but the Terriers will be waiting and ready!

Byrd by 10

Millbrook @ Salem

Salem by 9

Magna Vista @ Staunton River

Tough one on the road for the Warriors if they are going to continue towards a three-peat...

Magna Vista by 2

Martinsville @ Graham

Tough road trip for the Bulldogs.....they are building for the future though so if not this year...

Graham by 10

Union @ Dan River

Dan River by 13

Northside @ Heritage-Lynchburg

Heritage by 6

Blacksburg @ Brookville

Brookville by 6

Glenvar @ Richlands

Richlands by 4

Bruton @ Galax

Galax by 14

Giles @ Appomattox County

Appomattox by 16

Until next week, enjoy the games...

Early games 17 November

Louisville has early spotlight

The early action is not heavy this week NCAA wise with only Louisville and Boise State having games before Saturday among ranked teams.

The NFL offers a survival game between New Orleans and Carolina in Charlotte.

Ok, early games...let's pick 'em!

NCAA

Louisville (5) @ Houston

Earlier in the season, this one was pegged as a marquee game and possible road block for Houston. Oh well...fortunes have reversed and it is Louisville on the verge of the Football Four and hoping for the solid non conference win.

Louisville 40-28

UNLV @ Boise State (20)

Boise State should put another tick on their post season resume.

Boise State 34-14

NFL

New Orleans @ Carolina

The Panthers need to string together some wins to turn their season around. The Saints will be tricky but home field may get them past the post.

Panthers 28-23

Back with more over the next couple of days....

NFL Week 10

Dallas-Pittsburgh, Seattle-New England highlight week

This weekend sees big NFL games in Pittsburgh and Foxboro as the season goes through Week 10.

For Week 9, I rebounded slightly with a 9-4 record so I'm 84-50 for the season thus far.

Here we go for Week 10, let's pick 'em!

Green Bay @ Tennessee

Packers looking to end their slide!

Packers 31-17

Minnesota @ Washington

Vikings need one!

Vikings 30-28

Chicago @ Tampa Bay

Bucs 28-24

Kansas City @ Carolina

Panthers 21-17

Atlanta @ Philadelphia

Eagles to pull a surprise at home!

Eagles 34-31

Los Angeles @ NY Jets

Jets 23-21

Denver @ New Orleans

Saints 23-21

Houston @ Jacksonville

Texans 23-14

Miami @ San Diego

Chargers 24-21

Dallas @ Pittsburgh

Steelers need a turnaround win!

Steelers 27-24

San Francisco @ Arizona

Cardinals 20-10

Seattle @ New England

Time for the Pats to get a karma loss!

Seahawks 24-23

Cincinnati @ NY Giants

Giants 28-24

Until next week...

NCAA Week 11

Time to jostle for bowl bids

There aren't many games that pit two ranked teams this weekend but there are several that could have an affect on the Bowl season.

A 21-4 finish last week was my Week 10 bounce, I'm now at 186-64 on the season.

Ok, let's pick 'em!

Baylor @ Oklahoma (11)

Oklahoma 33-31

Mississippi State @ Alabama (1)

Alabama 28-17

West Virginia (16) @ Texas

Longhorns may have one upset left in them!

Texas 34-30

Penn State (10) @ Indiana

Penn State 24-13

Auburn (9) @ Georgia

Auburn 27-21

Pitt @ Clemson (2)

Clemson 33-13

Ga Tech @ Va Tech (14)

Va Tech 28-17

Illinois @ Wisconsin (7)

Wisconin 27-10

Texas Tech @ Oklahoma State (13)

Oklahoma State 35-24

Boise State (22) @ Hawaii

Boise State 28-20

Wake Forest @ Louisville (6)

Louisville 41-20

LSU (24) @ Arkansas (25)

Bowl Jostler....

LSU 23-21

Minnesota @ Nebraska (19)

Nebraska 30-14

Ole Miss @ Texas A&M (8)

A&M 24-21

USC (20) @ Washington (4)

The Trojans may scare...but no shock...

Washington 30-24

Michigan (3) @ Iowa

Michigan 27-17

Colorado (12) @ Arizona 

Colorado 35-21

Cal @ Washington State (23)

Wash St 40-31

Miami @ Virginia 

Miami 30-20

Southern Miss @ Old Dominion

ODU 24-21

Stanford @ Oregon 

Stanford 28-23

South Carolina @ Florida

Florida 23-13

Back with more next week...

Playoff time for Virginia teams

VHSL Teams hit the postseason

Back in Virginia, football teams will be playing for keeps as the 2016 playoffs start.

I finished at 8-2 for the week in my Blog Picks so my regular season tally was 89-21. I went 20-4 as a Fearless Forecaster to end the season at 232-46. There will be several Piedmont/Timesland teams in action so ... let's pick 'em!

Waynesboro @ Magna Vista

The three-peat quest begins for the Warriors!

Magna Vista by 17

Grundy @ Martinsville

The Bulldogs will advance!

Martinsville by 13

Tunstall @ Brookville

Trojans hoping to keep it close.

Brookville by 23

Heritage @ GW-Danville

GW by 16

Floyd County @ Dan River

Dan River by 22

North Stafford @ Patrick Henry

PH by 8

Pulaski County @ Amherst

Amherst by 10

Blacksburg @ Lord Botetourt

Blacksburg by 3

Gate City @ Glenvar

Glenvar by 9

Western Albermarle @ Staunton River

Staunton River by 12

Good luck to all of the Timesland crew!!

Early games Nov 10-11

College games highlight early schedule

There is a sprinkling of ranked matches in the NCAA on Thursday and Friday arounf the NFL's offering of Cleveland-Baltimore.

Not  lot of fanfare....let's pick 'em!

NCAA

UNC (17) @ Duke

Though the record doesn't show....the Blue Devils have been a tough out this season in spite of all of the injuries but attrition may be setting in.

UNC 34-24

Utah (15) @ Arizona State

Utah 30-22

Boston College @ Florida State (18)

After last week's scare, the Seminoles need a solid performance.

Florida State 40-17

NFL

Cleveland @ Baltimore

Ravens 30-17

Back with more over the next few days...

NFL Week 9 2016

Still time for turnarounds

Though staggered by byes, the NFL season has pretty much reached its halfway point. There are some teams underachieving, others getting healthy and some have surprised. 

Last week, I finished 9-4 for Week 8 putting my ledger at 75-46 for the season.

This week is highlighted by the renewal of the Ravens-Steelers rivalry so let's jump in and pick 'em

Pittsburgh @ Baltimore

Will be a tough one regardless of records.

Steelers 27-21

Dallas @ Cleveland

Cowboys 30-17

Jacksonville @ Kansas City

Chiefs 31-21

NY Jets @ Miami

The Jets need this one

Jets 24-20

Philadelphia @ NY Giants

Giants 27-24

Detroit @ Minnesota

Vikings 34-21

Carolina @ Los Angeles

Panthers 28-20

New Orleans @ san Francisco

Saints 34-24

Tennessee @ San Diego

Chargers 27-17

Indianapolis @ Green Bay

Packers 30-24

Denver @ Oakland

For the first time in ages....the Broncs and Raiders battle for the division lead! Going with the home team!

Raiders 23-21

Buffalo @ Seattle

Seahawks 19-14

That will do it for this week...enjoy the games!

Week 10 for NCAA

Ohio State-Nebraska game in spotlight

Nebraska pays a visit to Columbus to the on the Buckeyes in one of this week's feature games, Alabama visits Baton Rouge in another as the college football season enters crunch time...aka...November.

I finished barely above water for Week 9, a 13-12 finish has me at 165-60 on the season. 

Ok, let's pick 'em!

Vanderbilt @ Auburn (9)

Auburn 33-14

Louisville (7) @ Boston College

Louisville 41-21

Wisconsin (8) @ Northwestern

Wisconsin 27-22

Georgia Tech @ North Carolina (21)

UNC 34-23

Maryland @ Michigan (3)

Michigan 42-20

Syracuse @ Clemson (2)

Clemson 40-14

Va Tech (19) @ Duke

Tech 31-21

TCU @ Baylor (17)

Bears bounce back

Baylor 40-31

Florida (11) @ Arkansas

Florida 28-20

Arizona @ Washington State (25)

Washington St 30-17

Florida State (22) @ NC State

FSU 41-17

Kansas @ West Virginia (20)

WVa 34-14

Iowa @ Penn State (12)

Penn State 27-24

Alabama (1) @ LSU (13)

Do the Bengals have a scare in them??

Bama 30-20

Nebraska (10) @ Ohio State (6)

Tough road game for Nebraska in Columbus ...going with the home crew!

Ohio St 27-23

Washington (5) @ Cal

Wshington 38-30

Air Force @ Army

Army 27-22

Pitt @ Miami

Miami 28-24

Virginia @ Wake Forest

Virginia 23-21

BYU @ Cincinnati

Cincy 30-28

Marshall @ Old Dominion

ODU 27-17

Back later with NFL picks...