Peter Childs Week 13 NFL Picks
Lions +3.5
I have to take the points in what shapes up to be a
huge game for both teams. For the Lions, they have to win here to salvage their season. After starting out 6-2, they've lost 3 straight and are on the verge of a
complete collapse. As for the Vikings, their 5-6 and a loss here would pretty much end their playoff chances.
I think the Lions matchup well in this game. The Lions are ranked 9th in stopping the run. They are big up front and have are tough to push around. The Lions are weak against the pass, which won't be an issue against the 31st ranked passing offense. Look for the Lions to put 8 people in the box and make QB Tarvaris Jackson beat them.
On offense, while the Vikings are a great run stuffing defense they're
awful against the pass, ranked dead last on pass defense. That bodes well for Jon Kitna and company. I'm getting
3.5 points with a team that matches up better in this game. And remember, the Lions played last Thursday so they've had 10 days of rest and preparation for this game. It's a great spot for the Lions and I see them winning this game outright.
Eagles -3 -120
The Eagles looked
very good in their game against the Patriots and I expect them to bring the same type of effort in this game vs. the Seahawks. While the Eagles lost last week, they actually had a lot of good things happen for them. They saw teams like the Lions and Cardinals lose as well, which brings the Eagles back into the fold for a playoff spot.
The Eagles have 3 of the last 5 games at home, all very winnable games. They play the Saints on the road, but a win there would give them a leg up against that team for a playoff spot. The Eagles have outright wins against the Lions and Vikings, 2 other teams that are fighting for that last NFC playoff spot. Basically, the Eagles have the think they hold their own destiny in making the playoffs and it all starts here in this game vs. the Seahawks. A loss this week, the Eagles season is done.
As for the Seahawks, this is a
brutal spot for them. This is the 2nd of back to back road games, a long trip to St. Louis followed by an even longer trip to Philadelphia. This game is being played at 1pm eastern, which is always very difficult for West Coast teams. The Seahawks have gained some breathing room from the Cardinals last week, gaining a 2 game lead in the NFC West. This could be a big time letdown spot for the Seahawks. I think the Eagles roll to an easy victory here.
Patriots -20.5
We have the best team vs. the spread
laying 20.5 points against the worst team vs. the spread. The Patriots have to be upset with the way they played last week vs. the Eagles, I see them getting back on track in a big way this week.
The Ravens are not a good team, in fact they are
outright awful. They can't move the ball, ranking 24th on total offense with an anemic 294 yards a game. This team has lost 5 straight and has shown very little ability to score. They've only scored more than 14 points once in those 5 games, and twice were held to just 7 points. How are they going to score against a Patriots defense that gave up the most points they've given up all season? That defense will bring a
tremendous effort against an offense that can't get out of its own way.
And what happened to the Ravens once vaunted defense? This defense has given up 32, 33, 21 and 38 points in their last 4 games. How are they going to contain the most dynamic offense in NFL history? The Ravens were once a proud team, but they've shown very little life in over a month and that spells doom vs. this Patriots team. The Patriots have
dominated teams and are relentless in scoring points. They will roll in this game.
