Colts Authority NFL Picks Challenge Week 8
It's Saturday again, thank goodness. It's time to try to beat the Colts Authority writers at picking NFL games. Okay, it's time for family, yard work, and TV. But after that, it's time for NFL picks and bragging rights.
Currently, our own Josh Boeke is picking winners at an impressive 73% rate. We also had a reader, Dan Graham, go 12-1 (92%) last week (yep, I pay attention). So, while you're taking a break from watching college football, knitting, or ESPN 8 The Ocho, take a moment to add your NFL picks to the mix. You can leave them in the comments, on our Facebook page (Like us, please), or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
After the jump, I'll tell you who we picked to win this week, along with a quick run-down of this week's NFL games.
This week's staff picks:
 |
Josh Boeke 40-15 (30-11) |
MIN | SD | DET | GB | NYJ | CHI | ATL | IND | NE | PIT | KC | NYG | DEN | SF |
 |
Marcus Dugan 37-18 (26-15) |
MIN | SD | DET | GB | MIA | CHI | ATL | IND | NE | WAS | OAK | NYG | DEN | SF |
 |
Brent Fatig 25-17 (17-11) |
MIN | SD | SEA | GB | NYJ | CHI | PHI | IND | NE | WAS | OAK | NYG | DEN | SF |
 |
Greg Cowan 35-20 (26-15) |
MIN | SD | SEA | GB | NYJ | CHI | ATL | IND | NE | WAS | OAK | NYG | DEN | SF |
 |
Kyle Rodriguez 37-18 (27-14) |
TB | SD | DET | GB | NYJ | CHI | ATL | IND | NE | WAS | OAK | NYG | DEN | SF |
 |
Lou Pin 34-21 (25-16) |
MIN | SD | SEA | GB | NYJ | CHI | ATL | IND | STL | PIT | OAK | NYG | DEN | SF |
 |
Scott Kacsmar 36-19 (26-15) |
MIN | SD | SEA | GB | NYJ | CHI | ATL | IND | NE | PIT | OAK | NYG | DEN | SF |
 |
Laura Caloway 36-18 (26-14) |
MIN | SD | SEA | GB | NYJ | CHI | ATL | IND | NE | PIT | OAK | NYG | DEN | SF |
 |
Rohan Bhasin 36-18 (25-15) |
MIN | SD | DET | GB | NYJ | CHI | ATL | IND | NE | PIT | OAK | NYG | DEN | SF |
 |
Todd Smith 31-24 (22-19) |
MIN | SD | SEA | GB | MIA | CHI | ATL | IND | NE | WAS | KC | NYG | DEN | SF |
 |
Nate Dunlevy 25-15 (16-10) |
MIN | SD | SEA | GB | NYJ | CHI | PHI | TEN | NE | PIT | OAK | NYG | DEN | SF |
|
Marco Gutiérrez @BlueMark188-6 (0-0) |
MIN | SD | SEA | GB | MIA | CHI | PHI | TEN | STL | WAS | OAK | NYG | DEN | SF |
It seems like I could've auto-filled several of these. There are only a couple of games where there is much variation between staff members on the picks. I guess we'll either all do really well, or we'll all tank pretty badly.
Last week's top reader entries:
| Dan Graham | SF | BUF | DAL | HOU | IND | MIN | NYG | GB | NO | NE | OAK | PIT | CHI | 12-1 |
| dstorm22 | SF | BUF | CAR | HOU | IND | MIN | NYG | GB | NO | NE | OAK | CIN | CHI | 10-3 |
And that quick rundown I was talking about (all stats from ESPN.com):
|
TB @ MIN |
Did YOU expect Tampa Bay to roll up 416 yards and 36 points on the Vikings? |
| SD @ CLE | One of these teams possibly used an illegal substance during a loss and saw their PR director post an angry rant on their website. The other has a 29 year old rookie QB who keeps piling up the yards. |
| SEA @ DET | The reeling Lions are set to take on 4-3 (what?) Seattle at home. The Seahawks score very few points, but allow even less. We saw what a good defense can do to the Lions last week. This could be an ugly one. |
| JAC @ GB | And in Wisconsin, a mo-ped will be racing a street bike. Poor Jacksonville. When sportswriters start using words like "paltry" and "much-maligned," that's never good. |
| MIA @ NYJ | Retaliation? There has been a bit of a war of words leading up to this one. |
| CAR @ CHI |
A battle of opposite records and rookie-like QB stats. Say what you want about Cam Newton. Go ahead. I'll wait... He seems honest. But heart-felt answers won't beat the Bears right now. Will anything? |
| ATL @ PHI | If you haven't heard it a few times, Andy Reid is 13-0 after the bye in Philly. Unfortunately, they'll be playing the 6-0 2012 Falcons this time. |
| IND @ TEN | The Colts, who all but stopped playing offense last week, will be looking to end a 10-game road losing streak against a team that usually doesn't play defense. Something must give here. |
| NE @ STL | I like picking home teams, except when those teams are playing the Patriots. |
| WAS @ PIT | Who expected this to be a meeting between two very accurate quarterbacks? If one you knew in the offseason one of these teams would lead the league in rushing, would you have guessed Washington? |
| OAK @ KC | Shaky offenses will be taking on struggling defenses. Either someone will be able to claim they improved in one of those categories, or this game will be hideous to watch. |
| NYG @ DAL | Eli has been accurate (63%) and has played well for the 5-2 Giants. Romo has been even more accurate (67%), but has thrown 9 completions to the other team. And something about the Giants always winning in Dallas' new stadium. |
| NO @ DEN | Denver allows 331 yards per game. Not to be outdone, New Orleans gives up 466 a game. He certainly wouldn't say, but Peyton Manning has got to be a little excited about this. |
| SF @ ARI |
Tough, physical, gritty, nasty, old school, suffocating defense. That is all. |
We're picking straight up. No spread. I suppose you can use the honor system on the the Tampa Bay blowout of the Vikings if you'd like. Remember to add your picks via email ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ), comments, or Facebook.
If you feel like copying and pasting, here are the remaining games:
| San Diego at Cleveland |
| Seattle at Detroit |
| Jacksonville at Green Bay |
| Miami at N.Y. Jets |
| Carolina at Chicago |
| Atlanta at Philadelphia |
| Indianapolis at Tennessee |
| New England at St. Louis |
| Washington at Pittsburgh |
| Oakland at Kansas City |
| N.Y. Giants at Dallas |
| New Orleans at Denver |
| San Francisco at Arizona |
Good Luck and have a great weekend. Go Colts.
A little late to get the picks in, but here they are:
Vikings (bah!)
Jets
Chargers
Colts (WOOT!)
Patsies
Packers
Falcons
Steelers
Seahawks
Bears
Raiders
Giants
Broncos
49ers
It's interesting that so many of us are in agreement because I was very unsure about a lot of them. I guess I've felt that way every week though and have done okay. Surprised so many picked against Philadelphia and Andy Reid's perfect 13-0 record coming off a bye week (myself included). I suppose something has to give eventually.
Cleveland
Detroit
Green Bay
Miami
Chicago
Philadelphia
Indianapolis
St. Louis
Washington
Oakland
Dallas
Denver
San Francisco
