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 6

Desperation time. Including this weekend, there are 4 more games to be played. I need to win outright in our head to head competition 3 times in those 4 weekends. If I lose outright one more time, I officially lose, and there will be consequences for that loss. No better time than to trust ROAD UNDERDOGS in two of these three picks!


Pick 1
Tennessee Titans +1.5 to defeat Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh is just fraudulent enough to tease their fan base and just competent to be a risk to pick against. That said, I expect the banged up Titans to win this game, so I have to take then with the 1.5 point heartbreak insurance.
NOPE - Titans couldn't uh...outscore a decrepit and shambling Steelers offense

Pick 2
Cincinnati Bengals +3 to defeat Denver Broncos
Both of these teams have 7 wins and 6 losses, but the Bengals seem like the more legit team of the two, so the pick is going to them. I feel like 5 or 6 of those Bronco wins came in weeks that I picked against them, but here we are anyway.
YES - It was a back and forth game but Cincinatti prevailed in the end.

Pick 3
Cleveland Browns -3 to defeat Las Vegas Raiders
This game has become a Monday Matinee thanks to covid, but I don't think that the odd time will slow down a Browns team that seems to be building momentum. I like the Browns by 10 in this game.
NOPE - the Browns were severely limited in the first half as their backup's backups were thrust into action, and despite a surge in the 2nd half they fell short.

PonePicks: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10074654
Colts -2.5 > Patriots YES
Titans > Steelers NO
Bills -10.5 > Panthers YES

The picking is over. With another victory this week Zeus has a 4 point lead on me, and with only 3 weeks remaining he is the winner of the 2021 contest.

GO BILLS!