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Over the past few years, we have given the subscribers of Footballguys.com the Staff Confidence Pool Challenge, where numerous staffers try and pick the winners each week with a confidence ranking, and Jeff Pasquino’s “For The Win” column where Jeff attempts to pick each and every NFL game against the Las Vegas spread. Both of these have been very popular features, so this year Footballguys is proud to bring you the combination of the two. The Footballguys.com Staff Against the Spread Pool Challenge. Multiple staff members (23) will pick the winner of each NFL game against the Las Vegas line. As a tie-breaker, the person who is closest to the total points scored on the last Monday Night game will be the winner. Winners will be announced from week to week and the best overall record will be crowned Against the Spread Champion. Picks and ranks are due on Wednesday, so any late-breaking news may not be reflected in the choices.
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS
Here are the results from last week:
Road Team: | DEN | SF | CLE | JAC | CAR | PHI | PIT | LAR | BAL | CIN | KC | DAL | ATL | IND | NYJ | |||
Home Team: | SD | BUF | TEN | CHI | NO | WAS | MIA | DET | NYG | NE | OAK | GB | SEA | HOU | ARI | |||
Favorite: | DEN | BUF | TEN | CHI | CAR | PHI | PIT | DET | NYG | NE | OAK | GB | SEA | HOU | ARI | |||
Point Spread: | -2.5 | -7.5 | -6.5 | -1.5 | -3.5 | -2.5 | -7.5 | -2.5 | -2.5 | -8.5 | -1.5 | -4.5 | -6.5 | -3.5 | -7.5 | |||
Staffer | The Picks | MNF | LW | YtD | ||||||||||||||
Justin Bonnema | SD | BUF | CLE | JAC | NO | PHI | PIT | DET | NYG | NE | OAK | GB | SEA | IND | ARI | 48 | 10 | 40 |
Bear Heiser | DEN | BUF | TEN | JAC | NO | PHI | PIT | DET | NYG | NE | OAK | DAL | SEA | IND | ARI | 46 | 9 | 44 |
Mark Wimer | DEN | BUF | TEN | CHI | NO | PHI | PIT | DET | NYG | NE | KC | GB | ATL | IND | ARI | 35 | 9 | 49 |
Chris Feery | DEN | SF | TEN | JAC | NO | PHI | PIT | DET | NYG | CIN | OAK | DAL | ATL | IND | ARI | 48 | 8 | 46 |
Danny Tuccitto | SD | SF | TEN | CHI | NO | WAS | MIA | DET | NYG | CIN | OAK | DAL | SEA | IND | NYJ | 49 | 8 | 52 |
Devin Knotts | DEN | BUF | TEN | JAC | NO | PHI | MIA | LAR | NYG | NE | OAK | GB | SEA | IND | ARI | 41 | 8 | 42 |
James Brimacombe | DEN | BUF | TEN | JAC | NO | WAS | PIT | DET | NYG | NE | OAK | GB | SEA | HOU | ARI | 47 | 8 | 48 |
Jason Wood | SD | SF | CLE | JAC | CAR | PHI | PIT | DET | NYG | NE | OAK | GB | SEA | IND | ARI | 51 | 8 | 43 |
Justin Howe | DEN | BUF | CLE | CHI | NO | WAS | MIA | DET | BAL | CIN | OAK | DAL | ATL | HOU | NYJ | 46 | 8 | 52 |
Keith Roberts | DEN | BUF | TEN | CHI | NO | PHI | PIT | LAR | NYG | NE | OAK | DAL | ATL | IND | ARI | 46 | 8 | 42 |
Matt Bitonti | SD | BUF | TEN | JAC | CAR | PHI | PIT | DET | NYG | NE | OAK | GB | ATL | IND | NYJ | 46 | 8 | 42 |
Andy Hicks | DEN | SF | TEN | CHI | NO | WAS | PIT | DET | NYG | CIN | OAK | DAL | ATL | IND | NYJ | 38 | 7 | 46 |
Clayton Gray | DEN | SF | TEN | JAC | NO | WAS | PIT | LAR | NYG | NE | OAK | DAL | ATL | HOU | NYJ | 47 | 7 | 45 |
Dave Larkin | DEN | SF | TEN | CHI | NO | WAS | PIT | DET | NYG | NE | KC | GB | SEA | IND | NYJ | 42 | 7 | 44 |
John Mamula | DEN | BUF | TEN | JAC | CAR | PHI | PIT | DET | NYG | NE | KC | GB | ATL | HOU | NYJ | 35 | 7 | 44 |
Phil Alexander | DEN | BUF | CLE | CHI | CAR | WAS | MIA | DET | NYG | CIN | KC | GB | SEA | HOU | NYJ | 49 | 7 | 46 |
Aaron Rudnicki | SD | SF | TEN | CHI | NO | PHI | PIT | DET | NYG | NE | OAK | GB | SEA | IND | NYJ | 44 | 6 | 46 |
Alessandro Miglio | DEN | SF | TEN | CHI | NO | WAS | MIA | DET | NYG | CIN | OAK | GB | ATL | HOU | NYJ | 48 | 6 | 35 |
Andrew Garda | DEN | BUF | CLE | JAC | NO | PHI | PIT | DET | BAL | NE | OAK | GB | SEA | HOU | NYJ | 40 | 6 | 41 |
William Grant | DEN | BUF | TEN | CHI | CAR | PHI | PIT | LAR | NYG | NE | OAK | GB | ATL | IND | ARI | 44 | 6 | 40 |
Jeff Pasquino | DEN | BUF | TEN | JAC | CAR | PHI | PIT | LAR | BAL | NE | KC | GB | SEA | HOU | ARI | 44 | 5 | 44 |
Chris Kuczynski | DEN | SF | TEN | CHI | NO | PHI | PIT | DET | NYG | NE | OAK | GB | SEA | HOU | ARI | 48 | 5 | 41 |
Jeff Haseley | DEN | SF | CLE | CHI | NO | PHI | MIA | LAR | BAL | CIN | KC | GB | SEA | HOU | ARI | 50 | 5 | 37 |
This week had just one staff member (Justin Bonnema) hit the 10 win mark, and it should be pointed out that Justin did it with two teams on a bye, so that makes his 10-5 week all the more impressive. Two other staffers (Bear Heiser, Mark Wimer) were just one pick off at 9-6, and a logjam of eight Footballguys staff members finished Week 6 at 8-7. The rest of us, well - we have had better weeks than this past one. Overall the group is still struggling to find their way, as the team finished below .500 once again (166-179, 48.1%). Keep in mind that a lot can happen in a day or two, and the picks are due on Wednesday night, so it is not surprising to see the group below the mark overall. Hopefully this is the week that will mark the turning point for the staff on the way to a winning path for the rest of the season.
THIS WEEK'S PICKS
Here are the picks for this week:
Road Team: | CHI | NYG | BUF | WAS | OAK | NO | MIN | BAL | IND | CLE | SD | TB | NE | SEA | HOU | |
Home Team: | GB | LAR | MIA | DET | JAC | KC | PHI | NYJ | TEN | CIN | ATL | SF | PIT | ARI | DEN | |
Favorite: | GB | NYG | BUF | DET | JAC | KC | MIN | NYJ | TEN | CIN | ATL | TB | NE | ARI | DEN | |
Point Spread: | -9.5 | -2.5 | -2.5 | -1.5 | -1.5 | -6.5 | -2.5 | -1.5 | -2.5 | -9.5 | -6.5 | -1.5 | -7.5 | -2.5 | -7.5 | |
Staffer | The Picks | MNF | ||||||||||||||
Jeff Pasquino | GB | LAR | BUF | WAS | JAC | KC | MIN | BAL | TEN | CIN | SD | TB | NE | ARI | DEN | 43 |
Aaron Rudnicki | CHI | NYG | BUF | WAS | OAK | KC | MIN | BAL | IND | CIN | ATL | TB | NE | ARI | DEN | 39 |
Alessandro Miglio | CHI | LAR | MIA | DET | OAK | NO | MIN | NYJ | TEN | CIN | ATL | TB | PIT | SEA | DEN | 44 |
Andrew Garda | CHI | LAR | BUF | WAS | OAK | KC | MIN | BAL | IND | CIN | ATL | SF | NE | SEA | DEN | 60 |
Andy Hicks | CHI | LAR | MIA | DET | JAC | KC | PHI | NYJ | TEN | CIN | SD | SF | PIT | ARI | DEN | 35 |
Bear Heiser | CHI | NYG | BUF | DET | OAK | KC | MIN | BAL | TEN | CIN | ATL | TB | NE | ARI | DEN | 42 |
Chris Feery | CHI | NYG | BUF | WAS | OAK | NO | MIN | BAL | TEN | CLE | ATL | SF | NE | ARI | DEN | 40 |
Chris Kuczynski | CHI | NYG | BUF | DET | OAK | NO | MIN | BAL | IND | CIN | ATL | SF | NE | SEA | HOU | 44 |
Clayton Gray | CHI | LAR | BUF | DET | OAK | NO | MIN | NYJ | TEN | CIN | ATL | TB | NE | SEA | DEN | 37 |
Danny Tuccitto | CHI | NYG | MIA | WAS | OAK | NO | MIN | BAL | IND | CLE | ATL | SF | NE | SEA | DEN | 49 |
Dave Larkin | CHI | NYG | BUF | DET | OAK | NO | MIN | NYJ | IND | CIN | SD | SF | PIT | SEA | DEN | 45 |
Devin Knotts | CHI | LAR | BUF | DET | JAC | NO | MIN | BAL | IND | CLE | ATL | TB | NE | ARI | DEN | 44 |
James Brimacombe | GB | LAR | MIA | DET | JAC | NO | PHI | BAL | IND | CIN | SD | TB | NE | ARI | HOU | 43 |
Jason Wood | CHI | NYG | MIA | DET | OAK | NO | PHI | BAL | IND | CLE | SD | TB | NE | SEA | HOU | 38 |
Jeff Haseley | CHI | NYG | BUF | WAS | JAC | KC | MIN | BAL | TEN | CIN | SD | TB | NE | ARI | DEN | 36 |
John Mamula | CHI | LAR | BUF | DET | JAC | KC | MIN | NYJ | IND | CLE | SD | TB | NE | ARI | HOU | 42 |
Justin Bonnema | CHI | NYG | BUF | DET | OAK | NO | PHI | BAL | IND | CIN | ATL | TB | NE | ARI | HOU | 46 |
Justin Howe | CHI | LAR | BUF | DET | JAC | NO | MIN | NYJ | TEN | CLE | SD | TB | NE | SEA | HOU | 41 |
Keith Roberts | CHI | LAR | BUF | DET | JAC | NO | MIN | BAL | TEN | CIN | ATL | TB | NE | ARI | HOU | 38 |
Mark Wimer | CHI | NYG | BUF | DET | JAC | KC | MIN | BAL | TEN | CIN | ATL | TB | NE | ARI | DEN | 42 |
Matt Bitonti | CHI | NYG | BUF | DET | OAK | NO | MIN | BAL | TEN | CLE | ATL | TB | NE | SEA | HOU | 59 |
William Grant | CHI | LAR | BUF | WAS | OAK | NO | MIN | NYJ | TEN | CLE | SD | TB | NE | ARI | DEN | 44 |
Phil Alexander |
CONSENSUS WINNERS
With six weeks now behind us, we should be getting closer to some collective understanding as to which teams are good and which are bad. Of course, the point spread is the great equalizer, and Las Vegas does their job quite well. There is a little less agreement amongst the staff with their selections for Week 7, as only five teams received 16 or more of the 22 selections on the board for this week. Remarkably, all five of the teams are on the road, led by Chicago with 20 of 22 selections. This is most likely due to the line (+9.5), which is rather high considering some Las Vegas sportsbooks have the game at closer to a touchdown margin. New England (19 picks), Minnesota (18), Buffalo (17) and Tampa Bay are the next four majority picks, with all four teams travelling but representing road favorites. Detroit and Baltimore come in next with 15 selections, with the Lions hosting Washington but the Ravens being another road team that is a slight underdog against the Jets. The remaining eight contests are much closer calls, so Las Vegas would be happy to see that type of action on both sides of the number. Week 7 looks to be yet another interesting week, so let's see how it all plays out.
ODDS AND ENDS
We are only about a third of the way into the season, and the picks are due by Wednesday night. Most of the staff would agree that picking this weekend's games on Wednesday night is very difficult because you don't have much information about injuries and practice. If your league allows you to pick the later games separate from the rest, take advantage of it and make your Sunday and Monday picks as close to the weekend as possible.
A reminder that these picks are against the Las Vegas lines – so getting above 50% is respectable, above 53% gets you into the “profitable zone” (accounting for the Las Vegas house odds of taking 10% of every losing wager) – and anything above 60% is outstanding. That may sound easy enough, but it is much, much harder that it might seem.
Good luck this weekend!
Questions, suggestions and comments are always welcome to pasquino@footballguys.com.