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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: | GB | CIN | BAL | ATL | SEA | AZ | SF | NYJ | JAX | HOU | DEN | KC | CAR | PHI | INDY | DAL | ||||
Home Team: | DET | CLE | MIA | TB | MIN | STL | CHI | NYG | TEN | BUF | SD | OAK | NO | NE | PIT | WASH | ||||
Favorite: | GB | CIN | MIA | TB | SEA | AZ | CHI | NYJ | TEN | BUF | DEN | KC | CAR | NE | PIT | WASH | ||||
Point Spread: | -3.5 | -7.5 | -5.5 | -2.5 | -0.5 | -5.5 | -7.5 | -2.5 | -2.5 | -3.5 | -4.5 | -3.5 | -7.5 | -9.5 | -7.5 | -4.5 | ||||
Staffer | The Picks | MNF | LW | YTD | Win% | |||||||||||||||
Maurile Tremblay | DET | CIN | BAL | TB | SEA | STL | SF | NYJ | JAX | BUF | DEN | OAK | NO | PHI | PIT | DAL | 45 | 12 | 104 | 54.1% |
Phil Alexander | GB | CIN | BAL | ATL | SEA | STL | SF | NYG | TEN | BUF | SD | KC | NO | PHI | PIT | WASH | 33 | 11 | 104 | 54.1% |
Alessandro Miglio | GB | CIN | BAL | TB | SEA | STL | SF | NYG | TEN | HOU | DEN | OAK | NO | PHI | INDY | WASH | 47 | 10 | 100 | 52.0% |
Andrew Garda | GB | CIN | BAL | ATL | SEA | AZ | CHI | NYJ | TEN | HOU | DEN | OAK | CAR | NE | PIT | DAL | 40 | 10 | 97 | 50.5% |
Chris Feery | DET | CIN | BAL | TB | MIN | AZ | SF | NYJ | JAX | BUF | DEN | KC | CAR | NE | INDY | DAL | 45 | 10 | 94 | 48.9% |
Jeff Pasquino | GB | CIN | BAL | ATL | SEA | AZ | CHI | NYJ | TEN | HOU | DEN | OAK | CAR | NE | PIT | WASH | 44 | 9 | 96 | 50.0% |
Bear Heiser | GB | CIN | MIA | TB | SEA | AZ | CHI | NYJ | JAX | HOU | DEN | KC | CAR | NE | PIT | WASH | 48 | 9 | 99 | 51.5% |
Danny Tuccitto | DET | CIN | MIA | TB | MIN | AZ | SF | NYJ | JAX | HOU | DEN | KC | CAR | PHI | INDY | WASH | 41 | 9 | 97 | 50.5% |
Dave Larkin | GB | CIN | BAL | TB | SEA | AZ | SF | NYJ | JAX | HOU | DEN | OAK | CAR | NE | INDY | WASH | 41 | 9 | 100 | 52.0% |
James Brimacombe | GB | CIN | MIA | ATL | SEA | AZ | SF | NYG | JAX | HOU | DEN | OAK | NO | NE | PIT | DAL | 50 | 9 | 90 | 46.8% |
Aaron Rudnicki | DET | CIN | BAL | TB | SEA | AZ | CHI | NYJ | JAX | HOU | SD | KC | NO | NE | INDY | WASH | 44 | 8 | 99 | 51.5% |
Dan Hindery | DET | CIN | MIA | TB | MIN | AZ | SF | NYJ | JAX | HOU | DEN | KC | CAR | PHI | INDY | WASH | 41 | 8 | 89 | 46.3% |
Jason Wood | GB | CIN | BAL | ATL | SEA | AZ | CHI | NYJ | JAX | HOU | DEN | OAK | NO | NE | INDY | WASH | 49 | 8 | 106 | 55.2% |
Justin Bonnema | GB | CIN | MIA | ATL | SEA | AZ | SF | NYG | JAX | HOU | DEN | OAK | NO | NE | PIT | WASH | 48 | 8 | 104 | 54.1% |
Justin Howe | DET | CIN | BAL | TB | SEA | STL | SF | NYJ | JAX | BUF | SD | OAK | CAR | NE | INDY | DAL | 43 | 8 | 108 | 56.2% |
Matt Bitonti | DET | CIN | MIA | TB | MIN | AZ | CHI | NYJ | JAX | BUF | DEN | KC | CAR | NE | PIT | WASH | 51 | 8 | 98 | 51.0% |
Andy Hicks | GB | CIN | BAL | TB | SEA | STL | CHI | NYJ | JAX | HOU | DEN | OAK | CAR | NE | INDY | WASH | 49 | 7 | 103 | 53.6% |
Clayton Gray | DET | CIN | BAL | TB | MIN | AZ | SF | NYG | TEN | HOU | SD | OAK | CAR | PHI | INDY | WASH | 38 | 7 | 97 | 50.5% |
Jeff Haseley | DET | CIN | BAL | ATL | SEA | STL | CHI | NYJ | TEN | HOU | DEN | OAK | CAR | NE | PIT | WASH | 43 | 7 | 92 | 47.9% |
Mark Wimer | GB | CIN | BAL | ATL | MIN | AZ | CHI | NYJ | JAX | HOU | DEN | OAK | CAR | NE | PIT | WASH | 38 | 7 | 96 | 50.0% |
Steve Holloway | DET | CIN | MIA | TB | MIN | AZ | CHI | NYG | TEN | HOU | DEN | KC | CAR | NE | PIT | WASH | 52 | 7 | 85 | 44.2% |
William Grant | DET | CIN | BAL | TB | SEA | AZ | SF | NYG | JAX | HOU | DEN | OAK | CAR | NE | INDY | WASH | 40 | 7 | 101 | 52.6% |
John Lee | DET | CIN | MIA | ATL | SEA | STL | SF | NYG | JAX | HOU | DEN | OAK | NO | NE | INDY | WASH | 46 | 5 | 101 | 52.6% |
Mauril Tremblay won Week 13 by getting 12 of 16 games right, beating Phil Alexander by one pick. That tightens the standings for the staff as both of them are now in a three-way tie with Justin Bonnema for third overall with 104 correct selections (54.2% correct). Jason Wood is alone in second with 106 correct (55.2%), while Justin Howe leads the group with 108 correct picks (56.3%). The staff did very well overall with most everyone getting at least seven games right and well over half getting eight or more, with a boost from everyone picking Cincinnati correctly. That total performance resulted in a solid Week 13 showing on another challenging weekend. The entire group finished 18 games above .500 (193-175, 52.4%). The good results kept the staff above 50% correct picks for the year at 2,260-2,156 (51.2%), which is not quite enough for the entire staff to be beating Las Vegas. Here's hoping that the winning ways continue for Week 14.
THIS WEEK'S PICKS
Here are the picks for this week:
Road Team: | MIN | DET | PIT | NO | INDY | SD | WASH | SF | TEN | ATL | SEA | BUF | OAK | DAL | NE | NYG | |
Home Team: | AZ | STL | CIN | TB | JAX | KC | CHI | CLE | NYJ | CAR | BAL | PHI | DEN | GB | HOU | MIA | |
Favorite: | AZ | STL | CIN | TB | JAX | KC | CHI | CLE | NYJ | CAR | SEA | PHI | DEN | GB | NE | MIA | |
Point Spread: | -7.5 | -1.5 | -3.5 | -3.5 | -0.5 | -10.5 | -3.5 | -1.5 | -7.5 | -7.5 | -7.5 | -0.5 | -7.5 | -7.5 | -3.5 | -0.5 | |
Staffer | The Picks | MNF | |||||||||||||||
Jeff Pasquino | AZ | DET | PIT | TB | JAX | KC | WASH | SF | NYJ | CAR | SEA | BUF | DEN | GB | NE | MIA | 43 |
Aaron Rudnicki | MIN | DET | PIT | NO | INDY | KC | WASH | SF | TEN | CAR | SEA | BUF | DEN | GB | NE | MIA | 45 |
Alessandro Miglio | AZ | STL | CIN | TB | INDY | SD | CHI | CLE | TEN | CAR | SEA | PHI | OAK | GB | NE | MIA | 47 |
Andrew Garda | AZ | DET | CIN | TB | INDY | SD | CHI | SF | NYJ | CAR | SEA | BUF | DEN | DAL | NE | NYG | 40 |
Andy Hicks | AZ | STL | CIN | TB | JAX | KC | CHI | CLE | NYJ | CAR | BAL | BUF | DEN | GB | HOU | MIA | 51 |
Bear Heiser | AZ | DET | CIN | TB | JAX | KC | WASH | SF | TEN | CAR | SEA | BUF | DEN | GB | HOU | MIA | 46 |
Chris Feery | MIN | DET | CIN | TB | JAX | KC | WASH | SF | NYJ | CAR | SEA | BUF | OAK | DAL | NE | NYG | 49 |
Clayton Gray | AZ | DET | CIN | TB | INDY | KC | CHI | SF | NYJ | CAR | SEA | BUF | DEN | GB | HOU | NYG | 47 |
Dan Hindery | AZ | DET | PIT | NO | JAX | SD | WASH | SF | TEN | CAR | SEA | PHI | OAK | GB | HOU | MIA | 42 |
Danny Tuccitto | AZ | STL | PIT | TB | JAX | SD | WASH | CLE | TEN | ATL | BAL | PHI | OAK | DAL | NE | MIA | 49 |
Dave Larkin | AZ | DET | PIT | TB | JAX | SD | WASH | CLE | NYJ | ATL | SEA | BUF | DEN | GB | NE | MIA | 44 |
James Brimacombe | MIN | DET | PIT | TB | INDY | SD | WASH | SF | NYJ | CAR | SEA | PHI | DEN | GB | NE | MIA | 48 |
Jason Wood | MIN | DET | PIT | NO | JAX | SD | CHI | SF | NYJ | ATL | SEA | PHI | OAK | GB | NE | NYG | 51 |
Jeff Haseley | AZ | DET | CIN | TB | INDY | KC | WASH | SF | TEN | CAR | BAL | BUF | OAK | DAL | NE | MIA | 48 |
John Lee | AZ | STL | PIT | TB | JAX | KC | WASH | CLE | TEN | CAR | BAL | BUF | OAK | GB | NE | NYG | 47 |
Justin Bonnema | AZ | DET | PIT | NO | JAX | SD | CHI | CLE | TEN | ATL | SEA | PHI | OAK | GB | NE | NYG | 52 |
Justin Howe | AZ | DET | PIT | TB | JAX | SD | WASH | SF | TEN | ATL | SEA | PHI | OAK | GB | NE | MIA | 48 |
Mark Wimer | AZ | DET | CIN | TB | JAX | KC | CHI | SF | NYJ | CAR | SEA | BUF | DEN | GB | HOU | MIA | 45 |
Matt Bitonti | AZ | DET | CIN | NO | JAX | KC | WASH | CLE | NYJ | CAR | SEA | BUF | DEN | GB | HOU | NYG | 42 |
Maurile Tremblay | AZ | STL | PIT | TB | JAX | SD | WASH | SF | TEN | ATL | BAL | BUF | OAK | DAL | HOU | MIA | 47 |
Phil Alexander | AZ | DET | PIT | NO | JAX | SD | CHI | CLE | TEN | CAR | SEA | PHI | OAK | GB | HOU | NYG | 36 |
Steve Holloway | AZ | STL | PIT | TB | JAX | SD | CHI | CLE | NYJ | CAR | SEA | BUF | DEN | GB | HOU | MIA | 44 |
William Grant | AZ | DET | PIT | TB | INDY | SD | WASH | CLE | TEN | CAR | SEA | BUF | DEN | DAL | NE | MIA | 46 |
CONSENSUS WINNERS
Most of the season is now behind us, and we had our first true consensus pick last week with the Bengals - and it paid off as they won and the entire staff received a win. This week there we did not have a full consensus, but Arizona (19) and Seattle (18) had a large amount of the staff on their side. Four teams were also selected 17 times (Detroit, Tampa Bay, Carolina and Green Bay) including our biggest underdog selection in the Lions. Jacksonville (16), Miami (15) and Buffalo (15) were the next most frequently chosen, and it is hard to call any of those teams true favorites or underdogs with the spread so close in each of their contests. Three more teams had 14 selections (Pittsburgh, Washington, New England) followed by 13 choices for both San Diego and San Francisco. Las Vegas would love these sets of picks with two games nearly dead even (Tennessee / New York Jets and Denver / Oakland) as the choices were split almost exactly in half for these contests. It should be very interesting to see how it plays out.
ODDS AND ENDS
We are getting deeper into the season so we should know more, but 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 52.3% 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.