NFL 2016 Week 16 RESULTS - Hedging the Straight Line

Week 16 -- Unpredictable Outcomes at the Stretch

1)  Miami Dolphins –  won 4 slots in a Projected toss-up while clinching a playoff spot.

2)  Washington Redskins – won 4 slots and with a win in Week 17 they make the playoffs.

3)  Atlanta Falcons – won 4 slots in a dominating performance and clinched the NFC South division.

NFL 2016 Week 11 RESULTS- Hedging the Straight Line

Week 11 -- four teams looking to change their playoff fortune.

1)  Washington Redskins –  a dominating performance, covering all 5 slots, to stay in the conversation for the division and playoffs.

2)  Miami Dolphins – another nice Road win, won 4 slots but not the OVER.

3)  Carolina Panthers – won 4 slots including the Under and kept their playoffs hopes alive.

NFL 2016 Week 6 RESULTS- Hedging the Straight Line

This Week’s theme was Return of the Underdogs, as 11 beat the Spread:

1)  Kansas City Chiefs – won 5 out of 5 slots

2)  Buffalo Bills – won the two projected and the Away ATS slot

3)  Dallas Cowboys – won the two ATS slots and the O/U

4)  Washington Redskins – won the two ATS slots and the O/U

5)  Miami Dolphins – won the two ATS slots and the O/U

Patriots Walk A Thin Line - NFL 2015 TNF 8

Miami at New England (-8; 51) is a tricky game to pick. The Patriots have won 3 games by 7 points, 1 game by 8 and two others by over 24 points.

Coupled with that, when the Dolphins lose, they do so by 14 points. Since firing their head coach before their Bye week, the Dolphins have won both their games.

Though these wins come against AFC South teams with losing records, the Dolphins scored 38 and 44 points, eclipsing their previous season-high by 18 points.

Going with the theory that the Dolphins have turned the corner, the Patriots only give up 21 points per game, while scoring  a league-leading 35.5 points per game.



The question for tonight's matchup: can New England score over 30 points against a Miami defense that gives up 23 points per game?

I pick Patriots (Over) because the game is at Gillette Stadium and the past two seasons, the HOME team has won with the Patriots winning by 10 or more.

Pick wisely, come back for Sunday's picks and enjoy the message in the song.

Week 4, 2011: Steelers vs Texans by EvenMoney

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Houston Texans is this week’s biggest game, in that it features two evenly matched teams that cannot afford a loss. Though the Texans can anticipate or hope their lone competitive division rival, the Tennessee Titans, will fade, the Steelers do not have that luxury. The Ravens will not wilt, and both Browns and Bengals have a shot at finishing at least .500. The latter means any misstep could knock the Steelers out of the division and/or wildcard race.

Courtesy of NflHighlightsTv

Pittsburgh has a relatively easy schedule where they can win 9 out of their remaining 13 games without having to go beyond their norm. But, the Ravens, who demolished the Steelers in Week 1 also benefit from such scheduling. This means Pittsburgh must defeat the Texans to keep pace or gain an advantage.

HIGHLIGHTS - Pittsburgh Steelers vs Indianapolis Week 3, 2011

To beat the Texans, the Steelers are going to have to score points, lots of them – 24 or more; something the Steelers have not done this season. Pittsburgh’s average of 18PPG (points per game) is a bit misleading since they have played in two blowouts in which the losing team scored in single digits – one loss (7pts); one win (0 points).

In that win against the St. Louis Rams, they “took their foot off the gas” in the 3^rd quarter. Their other game, a win with a score of 23-20, showed them in a battle, but it was against the Colts who are without star QB Peyton Manning. Basically it comes down to not being able to pinpoint, just which performance is the real Pittsburgh Steelers.

This game against the Houston Texans will give us that answer because the Texans have put up 23+ points in all games. They have done this in three disparate contests – 4^th quarter fade against powerhouse New Orleans; up and down game versus Miami; and a shellacking of the hapless Colts.

HIGHLIGHTS - Houston Texans vs. New Orleans Saints Week 3, 2011

This game will come down to Texans offense battling Steelers defense, specifically the Passing game: 12^th ranked Texans versus 1^st ranked passing defense. Listed as “probable" to play, the Texans RB Ben Tate’s production is a given, especially since the Steelers run defense roughly yields what he produces (4.6 yards per rush; nearly 100 yards per game).

Even with Tate (listed as probale) in the lineup, can Matt Schaub maintain his average: 274 ypg on 65% passing, and 2:1 TD/INT ratio?

NFL PICKS Week 4

Steelers (+3.5) Under (45) – Texans might win but covering while putting up lots of points? Only elite teams do that against the Steelers.

10/2 1:00 ET At Houston -3.5 Pittsburgh 45

http://www.footballlocks.com/nfl_lines.shtml @10/01/11 @ 11:05pm