Parity rules the NFL, making the picking all the tougher! I should quit while I'm not too far behind! But my mama didn't raise no quitter, so here goes!

A couple of VERY intriguing match-ups this week. The AFC West squares off as the Broncos take on the Chiefs and Chargers play the Raiders. The Dolphins will have their hands full with the Bills. How will they fare with Ray Lucas at the helm? Vikes-Jets, Rams-Seahawks winners get only their second wins.

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 49ers at Saints, as selected by last weeks winner, Kennysf. This will be used for tiebreak purposes.

3. All picks are due by kickoff of the opening game of that weekend. Thankfully, there are no games until Sunday. So 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.

Here are this week's games, another 14 game week, with the Giants, Bengals, Patriots and Titans having a bye:

Sunday 10/20

1. Vikings at Jets
2. Broncos at Chiefs
3. Bills at Dolphins
4. Buccaneers at Eagles
5. Seahawks at Rams
6. Panthers at Falcons
7. Jaguars at Ravens
8. Bears at Lions
9. Chargers at Raiders
10. Texans at Browns
11. Redskins at Packers
12. 49ers at Saints (TIEBREAK GAME)
13. Cowboys at Cardinals

Monday 10/21

14. Colts at Steelers

Whoa! I had the toughest time with the picks this week. Some of them I just wanted to toss a coin or throw a dart. Should be some really good matchups, but I'll be more concerned with my Giants in the World Series.

Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First picks received from the following-

Jim@Outsports
Sportinlife
Billsf
DCBucky
MetsBoy

More picks from:

Meric
Azairforce
Pat125
Seph
CowboysHskrFan
gp43
EdChow
GoMonica

Just under 48 hours for you procrastinating prognosticators. You know who you are!!!

Additional picks received from:

MarinerDuckBoy
Alton (Newbie!!!)
Azairforce
triguy262
JoeinPhilly
Leoman
Kennysf
Brett4Fan
MCMikeNamara

More picks from:

Theo
GoldenStateDude
Gamecock
IUFan
ESPNBill
Phillyrunner
MunsonMan
PCC

And as always, my picks:

Jets
Broncos
Dolphins
Eagles
Rams
Panthers
Jaguars
Bears
Raiders
Browns
Packers
Saints (by 4)
Cardinals
Steelers

[ October 19, 2002: Message edited by: George_vikingfan ]

I think I just picked the fewest home teams I've ever picked since starting this insane game. I'm going down in flames.

I've followed the Home Team strategy this year from a statistical standpoint, and you wouldn't have any advantage using it - at least on a cumulative YTD basis.

Here's the stats (I think my math is correct, but I'm drinking wine and watching the World Series!):

1) 10-6 .625
2) 5-11 .313
3) 10-4 .714
4) 12-2 .857
5) 6-8 .429
6) 7-7 .500
YTD) 50-38 .568

Not too impressive! 3 good weeks out of 6, but the bad weeks were pretty bad. It's like a coin toss!

Just thought I would throw in my 2 bits.

I only got 1 road team

This is our most closely divided week of the season so far. Only one team has as few as 5 supporters. The Texans, you say? Nope! This week's least supported team-The Redskins with only 5 of 39 players taking Spurrier's boys in Lambeau against Le Pack.

The team with the second fewest backers? The Texans, you say? Nope! That would be the Chargers, who have 6 guys taking them against the Raiders. And the two Texas teams (Texans and Cowboys) are next with just 8 backers.

With so many closely split games in this season of parity, its hard to pick the Ballsy Prognosticator of the Week, but I will anyway. This week, it's Sportinlife, who picked the Redskins, Texans, Chargers and Lions. But I don't think ANY pick this week is really crazy.

But we are pretty closely split on many of Week 7's games:

Buccaneers 21, Eagles 18
Ravens 21, Jaguars 18
Colts 21, Steelers 18
Jets 22, Vikings 17
Saints 23, 49ers 16
Bears 26, Lions 13
Broncos 27, Chiefs 12
Falcons 28, Panthers 11
Dolphins 28, Bills 11
Rams 29, Seahawks 10

Good luck everybody and enjoy the games!

We've got 3 guys tied with 11-2 records with only the MNF game to be played. Two of them have the Steelers and one has the Colts, so tomorrow night's game will determine the winner!

If the Steelers win, who won the tie break?

I know which one has the Colts.

Shit, I just had my worst week ever! This is going to knock me down quite a bit.

Did I get my picks in time? Not that it matters I had a horrible week, but for YTD I'd still like to see where I stand! f**king Vikings WUZ UP???

well the only road team I picked was Buffalo

I picked the Steelers but I think only by 1 point, so whoever else did should win the tie breaker

Remember the tiebreak game was NO-SF, not the Monday nighter!

sorry George, I wasnt trying to piss you off, but it gets me all turned on when you get mad

You could never piss me off!!! However if it turns you on, well...