***SWAMPALICIOUS SUNDAY WEEK 15, IN THE MUCK***
The SwampMan is on the move once again. This time I am currently in Detroit and will be attending the shalacking in Ford Field consisting of the Lions hosting the Vikings. I made the trip out yesterday and stopped in Canton along the way...it was pretty sweet! Anyway, that all being said I am currently in a hotel lobby using one of their computers so I am pretty limited and will keep this short and sweet. I also won't be around later so I will add in my SNF pick as well at the end here. t's Muck 5 time baby...and it's looking like a big dawgie dawg day, a Swamper favorite!
***TENNESEE TITANS +3***
This is the battle of the uglies as the lowly New York Jets head into Tennesee to take on an equally bad Titans team. That being said I will roll with the home team here in a clear fade of any NY Jets QB. Not that the Titans have anyone much better, but I do believe that Head Coach Ken Wisenhunt takes out some frustrations on this brutal Jets squad and will make a valiant effort to get a win. QB Jake Locker is starting in place of the injured Zach Mettenberger so I expect that to provide some spark for this offense whether it is by his arm or legs. The Titans know the Jets cannot throw and will try to ground and pound all game. They are also well aware that their old teammate Chris Johnson will be returning to his former stadium for the first time and they will key on him to make sure he doesn't have a nice homecoming like Rex probably has planned. The Jets are even more undermanned than the usual with some key injuries to their defensive line and WR Percy Harvin out and just not giving a crap in general at this point. He had a good game versus his old team last week and I think it is safe to say he has packed it in, sorry I have some fantasy team resentment toward Perce at this moment as he limps back to my bench mid-playoffs. Anyway, Titans in a snoozer.
***HOUSTON TEXANS +7***
A very important divisional battle here as the Houston Texans head into Lucas Oil Stadium to take on Andrew Luck and the Ponys (sounds like a band). The big issue here for the Texans is that since they have been in existance, they have never won in Indy. That factor coupled with the must-win scenario to keep their playoff hopes alive, I'm guessing they pull out all the stops today. That being said I have faith that JJ Watt and that defense will BRING IT today and will successfully be in Luck's face often, probably causing a turnover or two. As good as Luck is, he has been turnover prone when running for his life and with JJ Watt in a big game like this, I am going to go ahead and assume that there will be times where Luck is doing exactly that. The Colt's defense doesn't scare me one bit so journeyman Texan QB Fitzpatrick should be able to manage a decent game against them. Especially with veteran RB Arian Foster looking like his old self more and more each week and young standout WR DeAndre Hopkins playing lights out, they should be able to hang within the number here. Houston should keep this one close and make this a good game if not win outright for the first time to finally get that monkey off their back. AKA Texans with the points in this one.
***JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS +14***
I simply do not like this spot for Baltimore to be laying two touchdowns eventhough it is against a league bottomfeeder like the Jaguars. One must beware of teams like this at this point in the season. They literally have nothing better to do but to play spoiler for the rest of the season. Jags Head Coach Gus Bradley is a good leader and will have this team playing to the end. They are still figuring things out and we know there is much to be figured out with this team before they are even at a respectable level. However I do like them today here to give a big effort and catch the Ravens sleeping a bit coming off of a big and draining win last week against Miami. Baltimore has a key absence in the heart of their defense with the suspension of DT Ngata and their secondary is weak. I foresee this game as the kind where the Jags come out and kick the Ravens in the teeth from the start and then Baltimore wakes up late 2nd quarter to try and weather the storm for the remainder of the game, resulting in a small margin win in the end.
***CLEVELAND BROWNS -2.5***
Call me crazy, but I am a Johnny Football believer. I have been a big fan of this kid since his days at TX A&M but that is not why I am picking them today. Yes, it has something to do with it but my reasoning is mainly that Cleveland is simply a better team and a bad matchup for Cincy as proven the last time they met. Now the Browns are home and the city of Cleveland has been hit with a bolt of lightning with the news of Johnny Football getting the nod to start. If he has any luck at all in his NFL career, it will be in the beginning of it, while there is very limited tape on his play and the gameplan the Browns plan to utilize him in. They have the element of suprise on their side which can be very difficult for a mediocre defense like Cincy to handle, especially on the road in the elements of the Dog Pound. This game will have a playoff feel to it just like last week did where the Browns nearly and in my opinion should've, beaten the Colts. Howdy Doody aka Bengal's QB Andy Dalton has been known to struggle at times and in important games as this one and I believe the Browns defense will make this continue today. Manziel will surely make things happen with the return of TE Jordan Cameron and stud WR Josh Gordon ad libbing routes while he scrambles to buy time. This may turn out to be the most exciting game of the day. Don't be suprised if Cleveland wins out the rest of the season here and Manziel Mania truly begins with an attempted playoff run. Dog Pound erupts today as Cleveland fans finally get what they have been waiting so patiently for and the Brownies get the win.
***SAN DIEGO CHARGERS +4.5***
The Bolts have been dealt quite the unlucky hand as they arguably have the hardest remaining schedule. They are desperately trying to stay in the playoff race and secure a wildcard birth. To do so, they will need to play their best game today against their divisional big brother, the Denver Broncos. I don't know what happened to the Chargers last week as they blew a nice lead against the Patriots and blew a very important game that was theirs to win. Charger's QB Rivers rarely has two bad games in a row and I fully expect him to bounce back today against a much softer secondary. The Broncos have quietly been struggling a bit to beat teams easily as they are used to doing. Their recent wins have been somewhat close and I think a potent offense like the Chargers has what it takes to go toe to toe with them, especially in a must-win situation. San Diego will be pulling out all the stops today and do everything in their power to try and get this one. I think the Football Gods guide things to fall in their favor a bit to help make that possible. I am seeing a game ending FG and 2-3 pt win either way. Thunderbolts with the points at home in this one.
***SNF BONU SPECIAL: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES -3.5***
Cowgirls can't hang with the Philly offensive potency. The Eagles embarassed them on Thanksgiving and although I don't the score will read the same today, I do think they cover this number easily. Dallas just doesn't have enough to stop all that firepower. The Eagles can be very good defensively as well, and will bottle up Murray and effectively blitz Romo when he is forced to throw. Simply put, Philly wins this division at home tonight. Birds at home, CAAAHH-CKKAAAAAA!!!!!
