I know we are not even done with the week 12 contest, but since we've got two games on Thursday and the probability that some of prognosticators will be traveling or quite busy, I'm posting the new contest a bit earlier than usual.

We've got a couple of big games this week. We'll kickoff with the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots traveling to the Motor City to play the Lions. The Lions always seem to play better on Turkey Day. What bonehead move will Coach Marty make this week? After that we've got Steve Spurrier's version of the Redskins making their first visit to the Lone Star state. No matter now good or bad these teams are, they almost always play an exciting game.

On Sunday, the Packers get back to the friendly confines of Lambeau Field and will try and snap their two game losing streak as the Bears come to town. The Bears just ended their own 8 game slide. The Browns will try to keep pace in the AFC North as they host the hapless Panthers. The Steelers will try to keep their slim lead over the Browns as they travel to Jacksonville. The Jags are coming off a devastating loss to the Cowboys, while the Steelers had a close call against the Bungles.

The Colts will try to keep from suffering a letdown after their huge win in Denver as they host the Texans, who made the Giants look downright foolish. The Michael Vick-led Falcons Express rolls up north for a battle with the Vikings. Vick against the Vikings D should be fun to watch, unless you are a Viking fan! D'oh!
And the teams sandwiching Atlanta in the NFC South square off, with the Bucs visiting the Saints. In a key AFC West showdown, the Broncos travel to take on the Chargers. Both teams are tied at 7-4, but coming off tough losses. Also tied with them are the Raiders, who host a tough game of their own on Monday night against the resurgent Jets. This, folks, is our Game of the Week!!!



If you've not played before, you are still invited to join in this week. For those who have played, the rules are the same. And for those who would like to play its really quite easy. Each week, I will post the complete schedule of NFL games for the coming week. You simply predict the winner of each game. We don't need no stinkin' point spreads here! Here's how you do it:


1. Pick the winners in EACH game.

2. Predict how many points the team you pick to win the designated Game of the Week will win by. This week, its the Jets at Raiders, as selected by me. This will be used for tiebreak purposes.

3. All picks are due by kickoff of the opening game of that weekend. Your picks for the Thankgiving Day games are due by kickoff of the first game, 12:30 Eastern time. The rest of your picks are due by 1pm Eastern time Sunday.

4. Picks MUST be submitted either via the Private Message function or E-mail. My email address is geolovevikes@yahoo.com. I must ask that you do not post your picks here. That way I can ensure picks are submitted before the deadline. Please include your Outsports nickname with your picks! Any questions, email me.


PLEASE REMEMBER TO INCLUDE ALL 16 GAMES AS WELL AS THE POINT SPREAD FOR THE TIEBREAK GAME!!!

Here are the games:


THANKSGIVING DAY (Picks due by 12:30 Eastern time for these two games!!!)

1. Patriots at Lions
2. Redskins at Cowboys

Sunday 12/1

3. Titans at Giants
4. Dolphins at Bills
5. Bears at Packers
6. Cardinals at Chiefs
7. Ravens at Bengals
8. Panthers at Browns
9. Steelers at Jaguars
10. Falcons at Vikings
11. Texans at Colts
12. Broncos at Chargers
13. Rams at Eagles
14. Seahawks at 49ers
15. Buccaneers at Saints

Monday 12/2

16. Jets at Raiders (TIEBREAK GAME!!!)

[ November 25, 2002: Message edited by: George_vikingfan ]

Picks from:

MetsBoy
EdChow

UWFan
DCBucky

DenverFan (forgot to pick one game)
MarinerDuckBoy

Sportinlife
Azairforce

Thursday-only picks from:

IUFan
Jqueer

[ November 26, 2002: Message edited by: George_vikingfan ]

Here are the results for Week 12

WARNING: If you are especially squeamish, do not, I repeat, do not continue to read this post!

We had 39 players last week. Only 8 finished over .500! As a group, we were an abysmally awful, abundantly atrocious 290/624 for a .465 "winning" percentage. Mayday! Mayday!

We had a tie for first place. Suddenly-resurgent Cyd was correct on 11 of 16, as was Sportinlife, who made a nice rebound after struggling most of the season. But Cyd wins by virtue of coming "closest" in the tiebreak. He had the Niners by 3, while Sportinlife had them by 20.

Here are the results (and don't say I didn't warn you!!!)


11-5

Cyd@Outsports
Sportinlife

10-6

IndyMike
triguy262

9-7

Maddog
DCBucky
ATLJock
EdChow

8-8

ESPNBill
George_vikingfan
BigBucBoy
CowboysHskrFan
IUFan
MarinerDuckBoy
Phillyrunner
Leoman
Pat125
Azairforce
GoldenStateDude
Zeno
Lakersdabomb
UWFan

7-9

JoeinPhilly
Gamecock
MCMikeNamara
p2insdca
Billsf
Meric
Marc
Theo (Feeling the heat there, big guy?)
MetsBoy
PCC

6-10

MunsonMan
Kennysf
Jqueer

5-11 Sorry guys, but its my job!

Alton
DenverFan
Seph
GoMonica

Hopefully, we'll have a Lucky Week 13!!!

Hey George, I sent my pickem 13 in. Whatup!

I'm SOO twisted over screwing myself by not picking the home team to win.

Oh well. Happy T-day all! I feel like a big one.

How the hell I've won the last two weeks - I guess I'm finally hitting my stride

Hey Cyd, just a word of caution: Don't get too comfortable! I won two weeks ago, and look at me now...

Lots of picks to confirm from the following people:

Meric
Pat125

Theo
CowboysHskrFan

MunsonMan
Indy Mike

GoMonica
ATLJock

Leoman
JoeinPhilly (Thurs. only)

GoldenStateDude
Cyd

Triguy262
Billsf
ESPNBill

And my Turkey Day picks: Patriots & Cowboys

[ November 27, 2002: Message edited by: George_vikingfan ]

Go Cowgirls!

All right!

10 victories in a row against the hated Redskins!

[quote]Originally posted by George_vikingfan:
And my Turkey Day picks: Patriots & Cowboys
[QUOTE]

---

Nice way to start off the football weekend there, George -- kudos for your expertise (although something tells me you're not alone at being 2-0)....I missed the Skins game but if Spurrier did not blow the game (and a 20-10 second half lead against one of the most anemic offenses in the NFL) for his team with the most atrocious play calling in the 2nd half I've ever seen (along with a little help from Mr. Watson who literally handed Dallas a gift TD), I'd be a little happier now too....oh well, I guess it's taking the Visor longer to adjust to the pro game than some people thought (including Danny Snyder?) -- this loss sure can't be blamed on Danny Wuerfel, though, even if DC's playoff hopes are now officially down the tubes.

Does last weekend make me the first repeat winner? My luck is about to change: 1-1 after Thursday.

More picks to confirm:

Thanksgiving Picks Only:

Zeno
Lakersdabomb

Alton
p2insdca

Phillyrunner
BigBucBoy


All Picks From:

Seph
Marc

PCC
Gamecock
Maddog

I've received all remaining picks from everyone except Jqueer.

As for thr rest of my picks: Giants, Dolphins, Packers, Chiefs, Bengals, Browns, Steelers, Falcons, Colts, Broncos, Eagles, 49ers, Saints, Jets by 5

[quote]Originally posted by Cyd at Outsports:
Does last weekend make me the first repeat winner? My luck is about to change: 1-1 after Thursday.

---

Au contraire! We've had a couple of repeat winners. Kennysf has won twice this season. Jqueer and yours truly won twice last season, though you and I are the only back-to-back winners in Outsports Pick 'Em history!

Unfortunately, Cyd's bid to become the first three-peater fell by the wayside. But, I am happy to report that we are doing much better than last week (I guess we couldn't do much worse!). Anyhow, we've got three guys with 12-3 records going into tonight's Raiders-Jets game, with all siding with the Raiders. Meanwhile, there are two others with 11-4 marks who have the Jets. So the weekly title is still very much up for grabs! No disrespect to the guys who have the Raiders but, GOOOOO JETS!!!!!!

Recap of weekly winners:

Week 1-Gamecock 13-3

Week 2-Theo 12-4

Week 3-Billsf 13-1

Week 4-BigBucBoy 10-4

Week 5-MarinerDuckBoy 11-3

Week 6-Kennysf 11-3

Week 7-Phillyrunner 12-2

Week 8-p2insdca 11-3

Week 9-Seph & Kennysf 12-2

Week 10-Alton & CowboysHskrfan 11-3

Week 11-Cyd 15-1

Week 12-Cyd 11-5

Never thought I'd ever say this, but... Go Raiders! I hope they win by, oh, let's say... one TD.

Well Seph, you came within a point of your wish. And that was good enough to finish in a tie for first in this week's game with Phillyrunner at 13-3! Congratulations guys! Here are the standings for the week:

13-3

Seph (OAK by 7)
Phillyrunner (OAK by 7)
Alton (OAK by 3)

12-4

UWFan
DCBucky
Azairforce
Sportinlife
Meric
IndyMike
GoldenStateDude

11-5

BigBucBoy
p2insdca
Gamecock
Lakersdabomb
PCC
Jqueer
Pat125
CowboysHskrFan
MunsonMan
ATLJock
JoeinPhilly
Billsf

10-6

Zeno
George_vikingfan
Marc
DenverFan
MarinerDuckBoy
Theo
GoMonica
Cyd
triguy262

9-7

MetsBoy
EdChow
Leoman
ESPNBill

8-8

Maddog

7-9

IUFan

As a group, we were an admirable 396/592 for a .669 winning percentage. Nice job!

Hey Seph way to go we are co-champions! Cyd since I couldn't stand next to you at the medal stand I will settle for standing next to you as a two time winner.

Hey phillyrunner, what you said, me too! But it's starting to get pretty crowded up on that Double Winner platform; what we need now is our first Triple Crown!*

-----

* Smack talk disguised as friendly banter.