*** NFL PICKS / DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS ***

[Auggie]

Favorite / Line / Underdog (Home team in CAPS)

ATLANTA / -4.5 / Seattle

NEW ENGLAND / -16 / Houston

KANSAS CITY / -2.5 / Pittsburgh

DALLAS / -4 / Green Bay

Opening lines at http://www.footballlocks.com/nfl_lines.shtml.

Place your bets. First prize is bragging rights ...

Mine:

Atlanta
Houston (16 points -- no way)
Pittsburgh
Green Bay

I'm impressed the way the Packers adjusted their offense against N.Y. after the first quarter. I think they'll out-coach the Cowboys as well.

[True Dough]

1. Auggie, you're quick on the draw!

I'm going to hold off on making my picks until Thursday or Friday. There are some key injuries that could affect the outcomes of a couple of those games. First and foremost is Ben Roethlisberger and his ankle. He wore a boot during the post-game press conference. I'm sure he'll do his damnedest to start the game against K.C. but if he can't finish (or start) and Landry Jones is pressed into action, I think I'll go with the Chiefs, who have a solid defense.

Green Bay had a few players go down during their game against the Giants. Jordy Nelson's status is the most critical. I'm already leaning towards Dallas and the more Packers who are out, the more I'll be confidence of a Dallas victory.

We'll see what the probability of starters returning is as the week progresses.

[Auggie]

4. Official "NFL Picks" rules allow you to change up until the first kick-off of the week

We've played it that way for years because of the injury issues you cite. The spreads can change too. Plus, weather can play part.

[True Dough]

5. Is "NFL Picks" simply this thread?

Or is there another site where DUers officially register their picks?

When's the cutoff to change your mind? Right up till game time?

[Auggie]

6. Just this thread/group

This is something I was doing with the help of JonLP24 for a few years. We did the entire season and kept tally of the winners. Interest tailed off a few years ago starting with me. It was lot of work/time, even with JonLP24's help. This might have gotten more action in the Lounge but I never pushed it! Goblinmonger set up a Yahoo group for 2015 that automatically tallied results. It worked great, but not a lot of folks participated.

I bring this back for the playoffs just for the heck of it. The rules we played is that you could change your mind up until the first kick-off of the first game(s) of the week.

Records from the past below, back when the Sports group was more active. Good people here ...

Standings from 2010, regular season (17 weeks):

RK DUer (REC) PCT (WKS PLYD)
1. RagAss (125-102) .551 (1-11,13-17)
2. Goblinmonger (113-101) .528 (1-5,7,9-17)
3. PRETZEL (117-106) .525 (1-2,4-17)
4. chollybocker (123-117) .513 (1-17)
5. InternalDialogue (106-103) .507 (1,3-15,17)
6. Condem (119-121) .496 (1-17)
7. Scurrilous (82-84) .494 (1-12)
8. flvegan (118-122) .492 (1-17)
9. many a good man (110-115) .489 (1,4-17)
10. fishwax (88-92) .489 (1-13)
11. Auggie (116-124) .483 (1-17)
12. Forkboy (114-126) .475 (1-17)
13. brendan120678 (113-127) .471 (1-17)
14. Liberal_Dog (113-127) .471 (1-17)
15. Redbear (110-113) .469 (1-4,7-17)
16. JonLP24 (107-133) .446 (1-17)


2011 FINALS
-----------------------------
REGULAR SEASON / WINNING %
-----------------------------

Auggie / .555%
thelordofhell / .552%
many a good man / .545%
anakie / .534%
Condem / .525%
Doctor_J / .525%
trumad / .517%
JohnLP24 / .513%
Liberal_Dog / .508%
RockaFolwer / .504%
RagAss / .498%
Scurrilous / .498%*
InternalDialogue .496%
PRETZEL / .494%*

-----------------------------
SECOND TIER
-----------------------------

fivegan / .538%*
brendan120678 / .506%
joeybee12 / .479%
Goblinmonger / .462%


2012 standings, 17 weeks (record and winning %)

Auggie: 85-62 / .578
RagAss: 69-61 / .531
Internal Dialogue: 78-69 / .531
mythology: 77-10 / .524
thelordofhell: 71-67 / .514
Condem: 72-75 / .490
Liberal_Dog: 67-71 / .486
fivegan: 71-76 / .483
many a good man: 66-73 / .475
PRETZEL: 64-83 / .435
anakie: 63-84 / .429
RockaFolwer: 60-87 / .408
-------
JonLP24: 63-65 / .492

[True Dough]

7. Thanks for the background, Auggie

And congrats on your 2011 and 2012 success!

[PRETZEL]

8. I remember those days

they were alot of fun.

Was away last week and didn't get to join in, but for this week.

Seattle
New England
Pittsburgh
Dallas

[JonLP24]

12. I'm curious if you have the 2009 standings?

I want to reminisce and one for the record. I'm bookmarking this thread.

[Auggie]

13. If we did them in 2009 I didn't save them

Could they still be up at the old site???

On edit: Just checked. Archives go back to June 2011 only.

[JonLP24]

14. We did them, that was the first of 2 years doing the standings

Plus I did a little better that year but I'm pretty sure Condem won it.

This is the closest I can find, I don't know how to narrow the searchh
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=215x124181

[Auggie]

15. Good sleuthing ...

BOSSHOG ... wow!

[Brother Buzz]

2. My picks are straight wins - to Hell with covering the spread

Atlanta
New England
Kansas City - Jim Harbaugh's instincts on Alex Smith were correct and Trent Baalke is still an ass
Green Bay - The native Californian is the real deal, just like his hometown knows Velveeta is real cheese. Gourmet is subjective. https://localwiki.org/chico/Velveeta

[opiate69]

3. My picks.

Seahawks
Cheatriots
Pitt
Green Bay.

[JonLP24]

9. Picks

Atlanta
Houston (only picking them because I want them to win)
Kansas City
Dallas

[Auggie]

10. 16 points is a lot to give in a playoff game

Even in a blowout you've got to figure the underdog would score in garbage time just to save face.

[JonLP24]

11. I don't know the wild card is Osweiler

As an Arizona State fan felt he was good even as a freshman but felt he left too early but when Denver drafted him felt that was the best position for him. Learn from an all-time best and sit for a few years but this season he was very low in yards per attempt a and threw 2 ugly picks to Jacksonville and Savage led a comeback victory. I swear if Osweiler was left in the game Jacksonville would have blown them out. I do hope he redeems himself here.

What is interesting is Houston under O'Brien has the same offensive scheme as New England.

[True Dough]

16. I'm finally ready...

Seems Big Ben is good to go, so:

Atlanta
New England
Pittsburgh
Dallas

[hughee99]

17. I realize I'm a little late on this

But what the hell, I'll give it a shot.

Seattle
New England
KC
Green Bay (Dallas wins but doesn't cover)

[Auggie]

18. Good to see you hughee99

[Brother Buzz]

19. Ack, if I'd have gone with the spread, I'd have been in like Flynn.

[True Dough]

20. I got 3 out of 4 this week

Green Bay tripped me up, but that was a helluva great game so I don't resent them for it.

Turns out a lot of gamblers put money on the Pack and on the Steelers, leaving betting operations with some steep loses this weekend:

http://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/id/18487333/william-hill-says-sunday-was-worst-day-ever

[Auggie]

21. I got 3 out or 4 as well

Texans came close to giving me a sweep