Welcome back to the weekly journal entry where I match NFL-knowing against a friend of mine. What we'll be doing each week is picking our three sure-thing against the spread bets of the week, whoever does better that week gets a point and if we tie no one gets a point. If you're unfamiliar with the concept, a point spread is the margin of victory that Las Vegas oddsmakers determine the favorite will win by. In order to "cover the spread" a team favored to win by 4 points would have to win by 5 or more. Should they prevail in the real life game by 3 or less in that scenario, the underdog would be considered the winner. This concept applies to whatever the number assigned to the favorite is, on a game by game basis.


Current score: 3 3

I've tied the count up at the 11 week mark after falling behind early. I'm feeling pretty good about myself, let's do some more damage this week..


Pick 1
Miami Dolphins +2.5 to defeat Carolina Panthers
This pick is probably not the smartest in the world, but it's what I'm going with based on two factors. First and foremost, Miami has been hot for me, and their change in fortune has been instrumental in my recent success. I simply have to stick with the hot hand at this time. Secondly, on more solid football-based reasoning, Miami game-planned for Lamar Jackson flawlessly, and kept him bottled up and frustrated all game when they played. I think they'll be able to do the same against outdated prototype Lamar Jackson fresh out of involuntary retirement Cam Newton.
CORRECT

Pick 2
Minnesota Vikings +3.5 to defeat San Fransisco 49ers
It seems like a lot of people are expecting the 49ers to start playing good football but I just don't see it. The Vikings are going to scratch and claw their way into the playoffs and these are the types of games they're going to have to win to do it, so I think that they'll do it. The points give me insurance for a last second field goal loss, as an added bonus.
WRONG

Pick 3
Los Angeles Rams -1.5 to defeat Green Bay Packers
Well first and foremost I might as well give myself a rooting interest in the premier game of the weekend. The Rams have pushed all their chips in to the center of the table in an attempt to win it all this year, and if they're going to state their case as NFC favorites they'll have to win this game. Yes i know LA already beat the defending world champions, but I don't make the rules, LA must win tomorrow to legitimize themselves. I believe they will cuz I have a sneaking suspicion that ooooooold Covid Toe er ah no actually it's a fracture Aaron Rodgers still isn't right. If anything he'll be in a hurry to get the game over with so he can get back to doing his own research.
WRONG

PonePicks: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10053149/
Dolphins +2.5 > Panthers YES
Falcons -2.5 > Jaguars YES
Vikings +3.5 > 49ers NO

Damn, my hot streak is over. I only got one of my picks right and ponybutt got two of his, so I'm back down by 1. Overall score 4-3 in Zeus' favor.

GO BILLS!