I went 2-2 on my picks last weekend, but as I wrote about in Monday Soup, it was a brilliant 2-2.
Two games this week, and two more brilliant picks.
COLTS at PATRIOTS (-7.0)
WHAT I THINK: I see two really strong narratives potentially playing out here. Are these Patriots like the 2012/2013 Spurs, making their last run at glory? That Spurs team lost in the finals to the Heat before avenging their loss the following year. Maybe Brady and Belicheck lose to the Seahawks in the Super Bowl this year, only to make it back next year and win?
Then again, maybe this is all about the rise of Andrew Luck? Did you realize he threw for 4700 yards and 40 TDs this season? That’s 3rd and 1st in the league. And wouldn’t it be the ultimate coronation of him as one of the elite QBs in the league if he won the Super Bowl by beating Manning, Brady, and Rodgers/Wilson? It would be quite a run.
I’ve done a 180 on the Colts and I think they can win this game. Boom Herron has made their running game formidable, the Hilton/Moncreif combo can stretch the field, and Andrew Luck might be a Top 5 Big Game Quarterback at this point.
Also, I picked the Patriots to make the Super Bowl before the season, and this has been such a bad year for my picks that there’s no way that happens.
THE PICK: Indianapolis 37, New England 31
PACKERS at SEAHAWKS (-7.5)
WHAT I THINK: Unless Aaron Rodgers buys a new calf on eBay this week I don’t see how he puts up a fight in this game. We didn’t know what to expect from him against the Cowboys last week, and while he was undeniably brilliant, he also provided Seattle with a Full HD scouting report of what he could and couldn’t do.
And as for those who think he’s not injured at all, that’s certainly a juicy conspiracy theory if it’s true. I just don’t think it is. Football players go to great lengths to NOT talk about injuries so that when you find out afterwards how banged up they were you hold them in higher esteem (see: Manning, Peyton). I just don’t by the story that Rodgers is making this injury up.
And what is there to say about the Seahawks? They’re playing very well, they’ve been here before, they know how to beat a healthy Rodgers, and they’re at home this weekend.
I think they win comfortably.
THE PICK: Seattle 35, Green Bay 20
Enjoy the games everyone!