Week 3- WestGate Supercontest Picks

***Disclaimer- these picks are for fun and to see how bad I do. If you wager - only bet what you can afford to lose. Always assume you’re going to lose. Never risk the mortgage, rent, or your kid’s college education. There is NO such thing as a sure thing- especially with my lousy picks. If you risk more than you can afford and lose- that’s on you. I told you so! In the Supercontest - you must pick 5 games each week- whether you like them or not. I may not like some games but I still have to pick 5 so keep that in mind. Their rules not mine.

The 2018 winner beat out 3,122 other participants. Typically it takes around a 65% winning pct to have a shot at winning it all. In 2018 the winner went 70% against the spread- just unbelievable! Anyway I just want to do this for fun and see how it goes.

Week 2 Results 4-1-0

Week 2 went similar to week 1. Got 4 of them right- was off on Baltimore. I can’t believe the Ravens didn’t blow a depleted Cardinals team off the map at home. New England and SF 49’ers won easily. Miami is horrible and those are the Bengals I know so well. Dallas was tighter than it should have been but they pulled through. They’re a playoff team -Washington was banged up to boot. The Browns line was locked in before Sam Darnold was ruled out with mono. Everyone was on them. Still I’ll take all the easy wins I can get. 8-2 through two weeks for 80% winning pct works for me. As the father in law in the movie The Hangover says- never leave Vegas on a heater. That said, I don’t have a great feeling about this week. There are some huge spreads out there. I refuse to pic the Tenn-Jack game. Every year i try to pick that game and every year I’m wrong.

Full Disclosure- I’m still ticked at Seattle for not covering vs Cincy. I’m just not a fan of Teddy Bridgewater. When all else fails give me the team with the better QB- Seattle. The Browns offensive line is getting depleted with injuries. Aaron Donald could break Baker Mayfield in two. I’ll reluctantly try the Rams on the road- ugh! The Broncos look terrible on offense. Give me one of the all-time greats in Aaron Rodgers at home. Hopefully I don’t get hooked by that half point. I guess we’ll also try the Vikings at home. The Raiders defense looked terrible last week- but the Chiefs will do that to teams. Crowd noise could be a factor for Raiders offense on the road in the dome. Dalvin Cook is going berserk this year. and Captain Kirk seems poised for a big game. Finally, Dallas in what is honestly one of the biggest spreads I’ve ever seen. They’re stronger in the trenches. They should wear down this Miami team, but laying 21.5- that’s a lot of wood. Kind of hoping Miami’s front office has lost the team and their will to win. We’ll see how this goes.

Season Results 8-2-0

***Picks subject to change prior to game time

Seattle (-4) vs New Orleans

LA Rams (-3) at Cleveland

Green Bay (-7.5) vs Denver

Minnesota (-8.5) vs Oakland

Dallas (-21.5) vs Miami

Week 2- WestGate Supercontest Picks

Week 1 Results 4-1-0

Only the Seahawks prevented a perfect week. I can’t believe the Bengals covered, on the road, without any semblance of an offensive line. KC and Baltimore crushed Jacksonville and Miami respectively like I figured. San Fran outlasted Tampa in an ugly game. Winston played terrible and was under pressure a lot. The Colts hooked the Chargers by the dreaded half point- hey’ I’ll take it. If I could maintain an 80% win percentage 1st place would be mine. Unfortunately it’s never that easy. Here are week 2’s picks.

Season Results 4-1-0

Week 2 Picks

New England (-18.5) at Miami

SF 49’ers (+2) at Cincy

Baltimore (-13) vs Arizona

Dallas (-5) at Washington

Cleveland (-2.5) at NY Jets

Week 1 Westgate Las Vegas Supercontest Picks

Note- these picks are for fun and to see how bad I do. If you wager - only bet what you can afford to lose. Always assume you’re going to lose. Never risk the mortgage, rent, or your kid’s college education. There is NO such thing as a sure thing- especially with my lousy picks. If you risk more than you can afford and lose- that’s on you. I told you so! In the Supercontest - you must pick 5 games each week- whether you like them or not. I may not like some games but I still have to pick 5 so keep that in mind. Their rules not mine.

The 2018 winner beat out 3,122 other participants. Typically it takes around a 65% winning pct to have a shot at winning it all. In 2018 the winner went 70% against the spread- just unbelievable! Anyway I just want to do this for fun and see how it goes.

Record 0-0-0

Seattle (-9.5) over Cin

Baltimore (-7) over Miami

Kansas City (-4) over Jacksonville

Indy (+6.5) over LA Chargers

SF 49’ers (pick em) over Tampa Bay

Mark's Week 5 picks

Did well in my pool in week 4 although i didn't post it.  Here are my picks for week 5.

NE (-10.5) at Clev-  Tom Brady is back and Bill Belicheck returns to the team t aht fired him.  Add in a healthy Gronk and this has the makings of a blowout.  Give me the Pats 

TB (+7) at Car-  Cam Newton is out for Carolina along with Doug Martin and Gerlad McCoy and several others out for Tampa.  This seems like a toss up so I'll take the points and hope the Bucs keep it close.

Cin (-1) at Dal- Andy Dalton returns to the state where he starred in college (TCU) and has something to prove.  Dallas is without Dez for the 2nd straight week.  I think Cincy's defense is better than the Cowboys so I'll take the visitors in a high scoring game.

Pit (-7) vs NY Jets-  The Jets are without Eric Decker and Darrelle Revis while the Steelers have Leveon Bell for the 2nd straight week.  I think Pitt has too much firepower for the Jets.  If Ryan Fitzpatrick has a bad start he could get benched.  Give me the Steelers at home.

Mark's week 3 picks

Last week 4-3

Season 6-8

I went 4-3 should have went 5-2.  How Green Bay lost to the Vikes is beyond me.  Sam Bradford had 8 days to learn the offense- 8!!!  The Vikes couldn't run the ball because their line is terrible and AP got hurt.  Didn't matter I still lost- ugh!! well try to do better this week.

Hou (-2.5) at New England-  I know it's in Foxboro and it's against Coach Belicheck but it's a 3rd string rookie.  You still need the horses to win the Kentucky Derby.  The Pats line is banged up as well .  This sets up well for the visiting Texans.  JJ Watt and JaDaveon Clowney should own the line of scrimmage.  

Pitt  (-4) at Philly-  One of the best teams in the league travels across the state to take on rookie Carson Wentz.  Wentz has been impressive, but the Steelers are a much different animal than the Bears or Browns.  The loss of all pro lineman Lane Johnson hurts the Eagles o-line.  Antonio Brown is due for a big week- mainly because I'm playing him in my fantasy league.  The zone blitz of Pittsburgh could cause some turnovers.  Give me the Steelers

Car (-7.5) vs Minn-  The Vikings have lost AP and their starting tackle Matt Kalil. A bad o-line gets worse.  Sam Bradford did well in his Vikings debut but he['s not very mobile and Carolina's front four should own the line of scrimmage.  I think the Vikes defense gets worn down and Cam and the Panthers pull away.

GB (-8) vs Det-  The Packers offense should rebound.  Detroit has a banged up defense losing Levy and Ansah and the retirement of Wr Calvin Johnson is a welcome site for Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers.  Jordy Nelson continues to get better and Aaron Rodgers is due for a big game.  Packers roll at Lambeau.

Dal (-7.5) vs Chi- Chicago's is banged up on both sides of the ball- especially on the line.  Trying to stop Zeke Elliott and the Cowboys all pro offensive line seems unlikely.  I think the Cowboys control the line of scrimmage and run at will.  Dak Prescott has poise of a savvy veteran and is due to connect with Dez Bryant.  For the Bears 2nd year wr Kevin White is very raw and not ready.  Give me Dallas at home.

Mark's Week 2 Picks

Last week 2-5-0

Season 2-5-0

Well last week was brutal.  I told you guys I'm terrible at this.  As Harry Caray used to say to a hitter in a slump- he's due.  Here are my week 2 picks.

Green Bay (-2) at Minn  The Packers have Aaron Rodgers at qb at the Vikes have either Shaun Hill or Sam Bradford.  I'll take the all pro Rodgers.

NY Giants (-4.5) vs New Orleans.   The Giants have an improved defense and a talented rookie in Sterling Shepard.  I don't see the Saints stopping them.  New York at least has a fighters chance of stopping the Saints thanks to an improved defense.  In addition, the Giants have Odell Beckham and the Saints don't.  I think the former LSU Tiger goes wild against his old state.  Give me the G-Men minus the points.

Carolina (-13) vs SF-  The Panthers are well rested and the 49'ers travel cross country on a short week.  I don't think there as good as the Rams made them look.  I'll take Cam and the Panthers to cover a big number.

Pitt (-3) vs Cincy-  These games are always tough.  The Steelers are at home and the Bengals are without Tyler Eifert, Vontaze Burfict, and their rookie corberback William Houston who's out for the year.  I'll go with Pitt in a close one.

Oak (-4.5) vs Atl-  The Raiders have an improved offensive line and Atlanta usually struggles on the road. The Falcons defense is terrible. Oakland should have their way with them.  Khalil Mack is a matchup nightmare for Atlanta.  I think Matt Ryan has a long day and the Raider Nation celebrates a 2-0 start.

Ariz (-6.5) vs TBay- The Cardinals looked awful against a Bradyless Patriot team.  Coversely, Tampa looked great on the road vs the Falcons.  David Johnson is a future star.  I think Arizona is better than they showed and Tampa is due for a letdown.  Give me the birds minus the points.

Hou (-2.5) vs KC-  The Chiefs are without two of their starting offensive lineman.  That's not recipe for success vs JJ Watt and JaDeveon Clowney.  Add to that mix a vastly improved Texans offense - give me Houston minus the points to knockoff the Chiefs

NFL- Week 1 Picks

**Disclaimer- Just for fun I'll pretend I'm in Vegas and these would be my picks.  Please do NOT bet any of your hard earned  money on them.  Think about it- if I was that good I'd be in Vegas betting them instead of typing them on my computer.  This is strictly for entertainment purposes only.

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Pitt (-3) @ Wash       Big Ben and the Steelers rip through a porous Redskins secondary.  

Ariz (-6) @ NE   Here's the story about a man named Garroppolo.  Hmnn...doesn't have the same ring to it.  Neither will the Patriots offense.  Ex-Patriot Chandler Jones has something to prove.  Cardinals roll in their opener.

Hou (-6) vs Chic   The Bears offensive line is a wreck.  They lost their starting center for the year and Kyle Long is hurt.  Add to that a banged up secondary and JJ Watt, DeAndre Hopkins, and Will Fuller should do well.

Sea (-10.5) vs Mia  The Legion of Boom spells the Legion of Doom for the fish.  10.5 is a big number for a team with a lousy offensive line, but the Dolphins offense looks horrible right now and traveling to other side of the country doesn't help.  Christine Michael is on a mission and Russell Wilson is too elusive.  Give me the birds.

GB (-4.5) at Jack   Last year was a disaster for the Pack.  Aaron Rodgers and Eddie Lacy get the offense back on track.

Car (-3) at Den.  Trevor who???  Give me Supercam in a revenge matchup from last years Super Bowl.

LA Rams (-2.5) at SF  The 49'ers are a train wreck- check that, make it a trolley wreck.  I don't love the Rams as much as I hate the Niners.