MUCK 5, WEEK 7 IN ADVANCE.....SWAMPY PREDICTIONSSSS

Attention ladies and germs! Swamper is going on a little hiatus and won't be around for a little bit so that being said, I am posting my picks well in advance. Going to keep them short and sweet as I do not have much time. Until next time my Swampets, I bid you adieu...

***JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS +6***

What’s that?! The Jags?!!! Gross, I know. However I am banking on a huge let down spot here from the Cleveland Browns. They just had a big game beating up on big brother, the Pittsburgh Steelers and blew them out of the water. Now they travel to Jacksonville to take on a winless Jaguars team with a rookie QB. This spells danger for Swampala. Despite the Jags woes, they are very well coached by Head Coach Gus Bradley and have some players on both sides of the ball. They continue to get better week to week while still in search of that first “dubbya.” I think it is possible they get it at home on Sunday versus the Brownies and they catch Hoyer and co. sleep walking and unprepared thinking this game will be a cakewalk. That being said, I will definitely take the 6 point cushion! Jaggies +6

***GREEN BAY PACKERS -7***

The Pack Attack is back. They put on a real gutsy performance last weekend in extremely humid and uncomfortable conditions down in Miami versus a very tough Dolphins team who gave it their best shot trying to win one for their Head Coach as he faced his old team. However the Packers won in dramatic fashion with a game ending drive in the final seconds as Aaron Rodgers overcame a very intense pass rush and saved the day with his arm and legs. The guy is Houdini with his ability to make something out of nothing. It really is incredible. That being said, they now head back home as they host a deflated and wounded Carolina Panthers team. The Panthers just played an entire overtime period versus the Cincinnati Bengals last weekend that ended in a tie. A TIE!!! You are kidding me right?! What is worse than a tie? I don’t know about you, but I almost rather lose than tie. Anyway, that extended game with a terrible ending had to take what little wind was left out of Carolina’s sails. They have to be drained, battered, and beaten after a war like that. Carolina has struggled on offense with a lack of weapons and now have a significant amount of players out. Now you are telling me with an already injury depleted backfield, the Panthers now have to head to Green Bay and try to go head to toe with Rodgers and the Cheese, nope, not gonna happen. They get blown out here in ugly fashion as they simply will not be able to keep up with the points. Lay the cheesy chalk here and take the Pack -7.

***MINNESOTA VIKINGS +6***

Teddy Bridgewater was served up a nice piece of humble pie last weekend against the Lions in his second NFL career start. The number 1 ranked defense took it to the rookie QB as they stifled their offense and sacked him a handful of times. The Purple People now head into Buffalo against another stout defensive front. The Vikings are very well coached and now that Teddy B got a taste of what it is like to be under fire like he was I am confident that he will make the adjustments this week and watch film to see where he went wrong and how to fix his mistakes so that they don/t repeat themselves this weekend against another tough pass rush. The Viking defense will be able to give Bills QB Kyle Orton enough trouble on the other side of the ball and force him into some mistakes as well. I think the Vikes come prepared and hang with Buffalo who was just beat up by big brother division foe, the New England Pats. They definitely gave that one all they had and are worn out. They may not be taking the Vikings as serious as they should because this is a very good team with loads of talent and great coaching on both sides of the ball. I like the Vikes to sneak a win here in Buffalo but again, I will gladly play it safe and grab the oh so generous points. Purple People Eaters +5.5!

***NEW YORK GIANTS +7***

The GMENNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!....were absolutely pathetic last weekend on Sunday Night Football as they went into Philadelphia to take on their divisional rival Eagle team and forgot to come to play. They pretty much showed up and that was about it. I am banking on the fact that this game woke them up out of their zombie like state and the Giants are always best with their backs against the wall in big spots. Spots like they have this Sunday coming up against another divisional opponent who is absolutely surging, the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants will head into “Jerry World” on Sunday and take on a Cowboys team who has all the confidence in the world right now. They just went into forbidden Seattle and took out the Super Bowl Champs in convincing fashion. It was actually must worse than the score suggests as the Boys are back in town and opened a can of whoopass on the champs! However this upcoming game is a divisional one, meaning it should be close. The Gmen did lose their go-to man in Victor Cruz as well last weekend but they gained talented rookie WR Odell Beckham Jr. AKA “ODB” as all the cool kids are calling him lately. The Dallas offensive line has been absolutely incredible thus far this season. They are doing something special there with that line and RB DeMarco Murray, there is no doubt about that just think the Giants have enough talent on the defensive side of the ball to hang with them when motivated to do so. I also think that Head Coach Tom Coughlin gets his squad ready and pumped and would love nothing more than to go into Dtown and possibly knock the Cowboys off their high horse. Either way, I like this one to be closer than the spread suggests.

***OAKLAND RAIDERS +4***

DAAA RAIIIIIIIDAAAAAZZZZZZ almost got their first win last Sunday against surging rival the San Diego Chargers. They battled them with everything that they had and played well but just fell short at the end and were unable to hold onto the win. Coming out of the bye week and after a Head Coaching change, new HC Tony Sporano had his team believing and playing with motivation and passion this past Sunday and it was fun to watch. DAA RAIIIIDAAAAAZ looked to be a somewhat new team and on offense especially, had a lot of success. The Chargers defense is no slouch and rookie QB Carr was able to throw on them effectively. I think we see more of the same in the Black Hole Sunday as the Arizona Cardinals come into Oaktown to take on the black and silver. I like Oakland to use last weeks game to build on and get after Cards QB Carson Palmer here who is not 100%. I think they get to him and possible take him out of the game leaving it up to a backup to decide. In which case I like DAA RAIIIIDAAAAZZZZ to get their first win. But once again, let’s take those dawgie bones with the +4! Oakland +4!!!

Welp, that about does it for this week’s Muck 5 ladies and germs. After a rough week last week, I like these picks to get us back on track this Sunday. The Swamp will be back in no time, as always feel free to reach out to me via e-mail or twitter to talk shop and I will answer as soon as I can. I don’t have the time to write up my picks for the Prime Time Spots but here they are:

SAN FRAN 49ERS +7

PITTSBURGH STEELERS -3.5

Cheers everyone! And enjoy the games!