WEEK 12

The Guest Picker Update:  Are we starting to see a trend?  Don Sweeting +10 dominated John Beckert -50 last weekend.  Of course the flameout of the Steelers and their defense may be the reason for that.  The Steelers season is pretty simple at this point:  No Palumalu - No Playoffs.   With Don seemingly unbeatable now, the Savants have a secret weapon to test his skills this week.  Marcia Mayes has agreed to grace our site this weekend.  Marcia is a noted golf industry financial person having done a bit of everything over the years.  Of course her being a sports fanatic will probably be more useful this weekend.  Can Don stand the heat, and will he continue his trend of going against Cassidy’s Cows with his Raiders this week?  We’ll see - and good luck. 

This Week’s Headlines:  How the Mighty have Fallen - Part II. The Savants need to change this headline - and fast.  Although Frank woke up last week and is back in the fray, the other Savants are on a fast track to nowhere.  The short weekend should play right into the Savants wheel house and prevent the overthinking that has caused the current swoon.  At least it provides some hope.  Will we have a new leader after this weekend?  Stay tuned.

Week 11 Plus Final Week 12 Results
Dick              +50 -50 = 0
Tom                -30 +10 = -20
Rand               -10 +10 = 0
The Goreacle   -50 -50 = -100

This Week’s Guest Pickers

Marcia Mayes -10 versus Don Sweeting -10

This week’s picks
Dick: $50 on Jacksonville +3. Dick brings in a ringer to help him this week - a lawyer to be nephew Davis.  Will this turn his luck? Or, as rumored to have been heard at the picks lunch from another Savant - that pick is horrible. XXX In hindsight, Dick agrees that this pick was horrible.  The free fall continues unabated.

 Tom:  $20 on Green Bay -10.5.  Tom thinks any team that gives up 37 to Cleveland is going to have problems against a real offense from Green Bay. +++ Tom is off to a hot start - and wishes he had put the load on this pick so he can sleep the rest of the weekend.
        $10 on New England +3.  Tom finally gets his Pats pick back from Rand - will they be as good to him as they have been to Rand? XXX The Patriot defense looks far from Super against the Saints that definitely are looking Super.
        $10 on New England/New Orleans Over 56.  Tom is looking for a Monday night offensive display.  With Belichick’s confidence in his own defense, and no Saints defense, is 56 possible? XXX Let’s see 38 + 17 = 55 - Vegas is good.  34 first half points weren’t enough as the teams stopped scoring in the 2nd half.
          $10 on Cleveland +14. Tom picking Cleveland - what next, Detroit?  No, this is simply a belief that Cincy isn’t 14 points better than anyone. +++ Tom knows his stinking teams - and Cle stunk it up, but they did cover.

Rand: $30 on Minnesota -10.5.  Rand moves from the Kurt Warner bandwagon to the Brett Farve bandwagon.  Minnesota’s defense should make this one an easy win. +++ The Greatness of Farve is confirmed.  Easy pick comes through - for a change.   
        $20 on Atlanta/Tampa Bay Over 46.  Rand has been following that poor Atlanta defense get steadily worse - but will Tampa help this week after electing to not to score much last week? XXX Atlanta’s late TD helped, but not enough.
        
         Frank: $50 on NY Football Giants -6.5.  Frank hot off a win with his Eagles pick stays in division with the Giants this week.  Other than the 14 points in the 4th quarter to Atlanta last week, nothing to worry about on the road in Denver - right? XXX Frank shows that consistency is out the window as he can’t put 2 wins back to back.  So much for worst to first.  And what about those Giants?  Cassidy’s Cows are licking their chops for them next week.
             
             
This Week’s Guest Prognosticators - Marcia Mayes and Don Sweeting

Marcia:  $20 on Minnesota -10.5.  Marcia and Rand are on board with the Vikes this week.  Hard to believe that Jeff George aka Jay Cutler can pull the Bears out of the ditch. +++ Believing in Brett is rewarded.
          $10 on Cincy -14. Marcia takes the best team in the Ohio bowl.  Is she about to learn what Dick and Frank know about picking the Bungals? XXX Marcia learns the don’t pick the Bengals lesson - will they ever learn? 
           $10 on New England +3. Marcia, Don and Tom all like Belichick’s Pats this week.  Monday on ESPN will be watched by at least 3 people. XXX in an odd twist, the Pats laying an egg helps Marcia tie Don this week.
          $10 on Atlanta -12. Marcia shows her confidence in her home state Buc’s by picking Atlanta giving up a mere 12 in this one.  Tampa should cure the Falcons ills of late. +++ Atlanta’s late TD gets them the win - unfortunately only only counted for 7 points, not 16.

           Don:  $20 on Dallas -13.5.  Don goes with Cassidy’s Cows one week after riding his Raiders to victory.  What is up?  Trying to make piece with Cassidy, or the realization that the Raiders stink will show through this week. +++ Don nails this pick going against his own Rahdahs.  This was an easy one - well, if Dallas played with any consistency this was an easy one.
          $10 on Chicago +10.5. Did Don not see Jay Cutler last week?  Does he not know who is the QB of the Vikes?  He’s about to learn - or at least he’s listening to his son this week. XXX Don pays for picking a Jeff George led team.  Oh, Jay Cutler leads the Bears - whatever.
           $20 on New England +3. Don joins Tom on this pick.  We’ll see if New Orleans’ Monday Night Super Bowl is enough to beat the mighty Pats. XXX The Pats take down another believer.  The uniforms are the same, but the defense isn’t.
          

Note: The Sports Savants do not gamble with real money and do not endorse, recommend or promote doing so. The dollar figures above are in “pretend” money, as a way of measuring our success in the game. Not only is gambling illegal in many jurisdictions, it is also pretty dumb. In the end, the house always wins. That’s why the house has gold plated ceilings, dancing girls, magic shows and enormous fountains out front.

*Unlike last year, the guests will compete against each other.  The winner between the guest pickers each week will continue to pick the next week.  If they win that week, they keep going.  There is one asterisk to that sentence - we are attorneys you know - if a guest picker buys lunch for the Savants at the regular pick’em lunch, they will continue to the next week whether they beat the new guest picker or not.

** Perhaps the Savants have been spending a bit too much time concerning themselves with country club law, private clubs and resorts law, membership law, and related hospitality law matters.

Last Week’s Guest Picker’s Results

Don Sweeting +10 over John Beckert -50

WEEK 11

The Guest Picker Update:  For the second straight week, we are reminded that the object of the game is just to be better than your opponent.  Don Sweeting took down Guy Boyle -10 to -50 last week.  Don claims we haven’t seen his best yet, but he is already planning his Thanksgiving holiday without retaining his GP title.  Why is that?  Well, he knows we’re bringing out a first team GP as his competition this week.  We welcome John Beckert - noted printer, board member, Salesmanship Club member, and general all-around great guy.  John and his Pittsburgh Steelers must try to right the ship after last week’s Bengals loss.  Will he (and his team) be able to flip the switch back on this week.  What does Don have in store for John, and does he dare pick against Cassidy’s Cows a second straight week?  We’ll see - and good luck gentlemen. 

This Week’s Headlines:  How the Mighty have Fallen. The Savants would rather not talk about last week’s combined -130 in picks.  As Cassidy’s MO ran away from him, it apparently took the rest of the Savants MO with it. Cassidy continued his downward spiral as the Broncos lost to the Redskins - that’s right, the Redskins. The Goracle is squarely in the never trust the Cows again camp.  Rand is wondering how his picking prowess has gone down just as his team, the Titans, have started winning.  And, Tom continues to just shake his head and mutter, I’m losing to these guys.  Who’ll be the first to find their MO and take charge of this competition? 

Week 10
Dick              +100 -50 = +50
Tom                0 -30 = -30
Rand              +20 -30 = -10
The Goreacle   -100 +50 = -50

This Week’s Guest Pickers

John Beckert -50 versus Don Sweeting +10

This week’s picks
Dick: $50 on Cincy -9.5. Dick has crowned the Bengals as for real after their second win this season over the Steelers.  Does no Cedric Benson bother him?  No - it’s the Raiders.  Does benching JaMarcus bother him?  A little.  It is worth noting that he didn’t pick against the Redskins for the 2nd straight week. XXX Cassidy learns the lesson Frank learned earlier this year - deep down, they’re still the Bungals.

 Tom:  $10 on New York Football Giants - 6.5.  Tom thinks the Turner-less Falcons are just what the Giants need to turn their season around.  Perhaps a secondary and running game would help them more. XXX Following a trend for Tom’s day, a certain winner after 3 quarters has the winning team barely holding on, but definitely not covering.
        $10 on Dallas -11.  Tom shines up the crystal ball and sees the two-week offensive swoon by the Cows will all be forgotten after they play the Redskins.  But, Sherm’s bingo boys are off a 27 point week - watch out. XXX This just in, the Cows’ offense really is bad.
        $10 on Tennessee +4.5.  Tom believes in VY and the reinvigorated Titans.  Of course, Andre Johnson also believes that the Titans were put in the league to help him gain All-Pro status. +++ The Greatness of VY is confirmed - 10-0 and the playoffs next? 
          $10 on Oakland/Cincy Under 36. Tom thinks Cincy will play it close to the vest and the new Rahdah QB won’t score any points for the Bengals - thus, an under pick looks good. XXX Sitting pretty with 1 minute to go in the game and the total at 27 just to see the Bungals kiss this one goodbye.   
        $10 on Green Bay -6.5.  Tom buys into the Packer bandwagon after they take down the mighty Cows - or at least he doesn’t like the 49ers on the road against them. XXX The Packers big lead evaporates to 6 at the end.  That is correct, half a point below the cover. 

Rand: $10 on Arizona -9.  Rand jumps on the Kurt Warner bandwagon this week.  Of course, Arizona on the road has been solid gold this year. XXX Kurt Warner leaving stopped the Cardinal offense, and thus the cover.   
        $10 on New England -10.5.  Rand goes with Tom’s Patriots for the second straight week - a trend seems to be developing here.  Of course the fact that the Jets stink does help. +++ Perhaps Belichick thought this week was worth two wins.  At least that’s what it looked like as he poured it on the Jets.
        $10 on Pittsburgh -10.  Rand attempts to get on the new GP’s right side by picking John’s Steelers.  Will Big Ben decide to win by more than 3 for a change? XXX The Steelers lose to the Chiefs on John Beckert week.  That is one bad omen.
          $10 on New Orleans/Tampa Over 51. Rand likes the collision of a couple of over teams in this one.  Of course anytime you can get New Orleans around 50 - they might score that themselves. XXX Tampa stays out of the scoring keeping the total under.  
          $10 on Detroit/Cleveland Under 38.5. Rand once again places his faith in the truly incompetent Lions and Browns.  Isn’t there some physics theorum about what happens when two immovable offensive objects meet two highly moveable defensive objects? XXX As the first quarter hit 34, this miss was inevitiable.
        
         Frank: $50 on Philly -3.  Two weeks removed from the Eagles letting Frank down against the Cows, Frank jumps right back on that horse with Philly against Chicago.  The Bears do stink, and they’re led by the next Jeff George aka Jay Cutler, so Frank may be headed back to the win column. +++ Frank saves the Savants this week by nailing the Eagles pick.  I think we know who rediscovered their MO.
             
             
This Week’s Guest Prognosticators - John Beckert and Don Sweeting

John:  $50 on Pittsburgh/KC Under 40.  John sees the league’s #2 defense moving into the top spot after this game.  As long as Pittsburgh stays under 35, this looks good. XXX Let’s see where to start.  Steelers lost.  Steelers gave up another kickoff return.  Steelers couldn’t stop the Chiefs with the game on the line.  Other than that, things are fine.   

Don:  $20 on Oakland +9.5.  Don and Dick take opposite sides of this one.  Will Don’s old favorite team do him right, or will Cassidy shake his cold streak and take down Don’s Rahdahs? +++ Don showing he is here to stay with a bold underdog pick that turns out to be an outright winner.
          $10 on Washington +11. Did Don forget that the Redskins are playing the almighty Cows this weekend?  Two straight weeks he goes against Cassidy’s Cows - what does he think he’s doing - winning? +++ Don is making a living picking opposite Dick’s Cows.  Only Redskin ineptitude kept this from a second straight dog outright win.
           $10 on Chicago +3. Don goes opposite Frank on this one.  Now did Don make the pick because he knew Frank would take the Eagles, or is because Don’s son likes the Eagles?  XXX Don goes down with the Cutler Bears - but I bet his son is happy about this one.  
          $10 on Pittsburgh -10. Not only does a Savant try to get on John’s good side, John’s GP competitor does the same thing.  Will John pay for not showing the same amount of confidence as Rand and Don? XXX So much for being nice to the GP competition.  But, it didn’t really matter this week.

Note: The Sports Savants do not gamble with real money and do not endorse, recommend or promote doing so. The dollar figures above are in “pretend” money, as a way of measuring our success in the game. Not only is gambling illegal in many jurisdictions, it is also pretty dumb. In the end, the house always wins. That’s why the house has gold plated ceilings, dancing girls, magic shows and enormous fountains out front.

*Unlike last year, the guests will compete against each other.  The winner between the guest pickers each week will continue to pick the next week.  If they win that week, they keep going.  There is one asterisk to that sentence - we are attorneys you know - if a guest picker buys lunch for the Savants at the regular pick’em lunch, they will continue to the next week whether they beat the new guest picker or not.

** Perhaps the Savants have been spending a bit too much time concerning themselves with country club law, private clubs and resorts law, membership law, and related hospitality law matters.

Last Week’s Guest Picker’s Results

Don Sweeting -10 over Guy Boyle -50

WEEK 10 Plus Final Results

The Guest Picker Update:  Guy Boyle showed us you don’t have to be good - just better than your opponent - as he edged Rodger Bubb -10 to -30 last week.  This week looks to be a great matchup as Don Sweeting, EVP of Golf and Club Operations at the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina joins us.  Don has the tough duty of overseeing golf and club operations at the home of the 1999, 2005, and 2014 US Open site.  It is always a beautiful day in Pinehurst, so Don will have to find time to focus on football this weekend.  Will Don’s welcome be short-lived when Cassidy sees he picked against the Mighty Cows?  Will Guy’s confidence be shot after his Eagles folded against the Cows last Sunday night before a national TV audience?  We’ll see - and good luck gentlemen. 

This Week’s Headlines:  Did any of the Savant’s go +50 last week?  Well, one did - the most unlikely of the group at that - as Tom is the only successful Savant last weekend.  Can the rest of the Savants shake off this mid-season cold streak?  Have we seen the last of Cassidy’s MO this season?  Dick tried the 5 by $10 pick strategy last weekend, and suffered the death by a 1,000 cuts.  This week Dick will punt the wimpy pick 5 strategy and go back to putting the load on one game.  Frank who could be rising up the leaderboard if only he’d have stayed with the Cows last week.  But he didn’t, so he’ll try to put the jeannie back in the bottle this week.  Rand is in disbelief that while his Titans have renewed hope for the season, he is somehow only $10 ahead of the Tom.  Tom is basking in the glow after a rare winning week with renewed confidence for the rest of the season.  Who’ll take charge this weekend? 

Week 9
Dick              +150 -50 = +100
Tom               +20 -20 = 0
Rand              +30 -10 = +20
The Goreacle   -50 -50 = -100

This Week’s Guest Picker’s

Guy Boyle -50 versus Don Sweeting -10

This week’s picks
Dick: $50 on Denver -3.5. Dick knows the Redskins stink.  So, how is that Denver is only giving up 3.5 points in this one?  What does Vegas know?  This looks like a good pick - of course today is Friday and not Sunday so we’ll see. XXX The Redskins, they lost to the hated Redskins.  It is a sad day in Mudville, the Cows go down and Cassidy’s pick flames out.

 Tom:   $20 on New Orleans -13.5.  Tom expects the Rams to play like the Rams, and the Saints to quit messing around with the close games they’ve been playing lately. XXX Saints hang on and barely beat the Rams - that can’t be, can it?
          $10 on Atlanta -1.5. Tom stays on Atlanta the week after they reward him with a +50 pick.  But, can they win on the road in Carolina? XXX Some good news, Atlanta’s loss only cost Tom $10.
           $10 on Minnesota -17.  Only 17?  Surely Adrian Peterson without Brett the Great could cover 17 against the woeful Lions.   Push - the Vikings get to the number, and take out their starters.  Chances of Tavaris leading them to more points: ZERO.
          $10 on Arizona -8.5. Arizona stomped on the Seahawks in Seattle earlier this year as part of their 5-0 road start.  Can they stomp on them at home where they are 0-3? Tom thinks Kurt Warner and Company are back. +++ A 2nd half rally allows the Cardinals to win and cover.

Rand: $20 on Denver/Washington Under 37.  Rand has his two favorite under teams playing each other.  Of course Denver hasn’t been under the last couple of weeks, but they should find the Deadskins’ offense more to their liking this week. XXX The Redskins first time in the 20’s this year dooms this pick.   
        $10 on New England +3.  Rand goes with Tom’s Patriots in the AFC game of the week.  Is this confidence in the Pats, or is this punishment of Indy for not covering the last 2 weeks after Rand has picked them? +++ The Pats choke one away, but they still cover.
        $10 on NY Jets -7.  Rand jumps back on the Rex Ryan bandwagon - or at least notices that the Jack Del Rio trainwreck is on the way.  Which Jacksonville team shows up decides this one. XXX Beware of the Jags - and the Jet offense.
          $10 on Oakland/KC Under 36.5. Rand knows these two incompetent offenses will get no where near this number.  But, will the defenses and special teams score enough to go Over? +++ After scoring 23 in the first half, the teams show their colors with only 3 in the 2nd half.
        
         Frank: $50 on Cows -3.  The Goracle writes 100 times on the blackboard - I will not pick against the Cows, I will not pick against the Cows (you get the picture).  Can the Cows win on the road after the big Sunday night win also on the road? XXX Frank can now share the pain that Cassidy feels every season.  Add Frank to the list of non-Cowbelievers.
             
                This Week’s Guest Prognosticators - Guy Boyle and Don Sweeting

Guy:  $20 on Atlanta -1.5.  Guy and Tom agree on this one - Atlanta is better than Carolina. XXX Carolina puts it to the Falcons - at least after Michael Turner went out.
           $10 on Dallas -3.  Guy and Frank are all over the Cows against the no O-Line Packers. XXX The Cows forget to take the offense to Lambeau.
          $10 on Denver -3.5. Guy and Dick are all over picking against the team playing the Redskins - a very good play so far this season.   XXX Another NFC East fan watches the hated Redskins take their pick down.
          $10 on Philly +1.5. Guy is no fair weather fan as he show his confidence in the Eagles again this week. XXX The Eagles starting to show some consistency - unfortunately it is losing the game.  

Don:  $20 on Denver -3.5.  Both of our Guest Pickers are all over this anti-Redskin pick.  Will the Redskins rise from the dead his weekend?  XXX Hail to the Redskins.
          $10 on Green Bay +3. Did Don forget that the Packers are playing the almighty Cows this weekend?  Surely this is a mistake.  A pick against Cassidy’s ‘Boys and The Goracle.  The couple of Savants are partying in the streets over the perceived faux pas. +++ Don correctly predicts the demise of the Cows.
           $10 on New England +3. Don and Rand both go against the undefeated home team by jumping on the Patriot bandwagon.  It does look like the injured Colts don’t have enough to hang with the Pats this week. +++ Don on right side of this one as the Pat meltdown doesn’t cost the cover.   
          $10 on Pittsburgh -7. The Steelers won by an uncharacteristically large number on Monday night.  Will this game show us whether Cincy is for real, and are the Steelers Super? XXX Bengals take over control of the AFC North - and now they get the easy part of their schedule.

Note: The Sports Savants do not gamble with real money and do not endorse, recommend or promote doing so. The dollar figures above are in “pretend” money, as a way of measuring our success in the game. Not only is gambling illegal in many jurisdictions, it is also pretty dumb. In the end, the house always wins. That’s why the house has gold plated ceilings, dancing girls, magic shows and enormous fountains out front.

*Unlike last year, the guests will compete against each other.  The winner between the guest pickers each week will continue to pick the next week.  If they win that week, they keep going.  There is one asterisk to that sentence - we are attorneys you know - if a guest picker buys lunch for the Savants at the regular pick’em lunch, they will continue to the next week whether they beat the new guest picker or not.

** With the domination by Dick and Rand’s solid start, maybe the Savants don’t need to limit themselves to country club law, private clubs and resorts law, membership law, and related hospitality law matters.

Last Week’s Guest Picker’s Results

Guy Boyle -10 over Rodger Bubb -30

WEEK 9 Plus Final Results

The Guest Picker Update:  The Very Reverend Mike Kinman can’t extend his win streak to two as Rodger Bubb showed off with a perfect 5 for 5 week.  Thanks Mike - back to focusing on the big stuff.  So who do we choose for Rodger to take on this week.  None other than Guy Boyle.  Guy is a Philly guy - so what better time to bring him in than Cows vs. Eagles and the premature end of the World Series week.  Guy assures us he has shaken off the effects of the Phillies loss, and is ready to focus on football.  Guy’s day job is VP of Business Operations for Cox Communications in Georgia.  Rodger is out to show he can dock his boat just long enough to send in another perfect week of picks.  Good luck gentlemen. 

This Week’s Headlines:  It’s Official, The Goracle is Back.  This Week’s small print:  Dick takes his first miss on a pick since Week 2 of the season.  Quite a run for Mr. Cassidy, but from the casual observer it looks like Frank has snatched the momentum.  And what do you expect from Frank after regaining the MO?  Nothing short of getting in Dick’s grill with a pick of the Eagles -3 over Dick’s beloved Cows.  Did Dick answer with the other side of the bet?  You’ll have to see for yourselves below.  With Tom backsliding last week and Rand hanging out, what is in store for this week? 

Week 8 Standings + Week 9 Final
Dick             +200 -50 = +150
Tom               -30 +50 = +20
Rand            +80 -50 = +30
The Goreacle   0 -50 = -50

This Week’s Guest Picker’s

Guy Boyle -10 versus Rodger Bubb -30

This week’s picks
Dick: $10 on Dallas/Philly Over 47.5. Dick wakes up and thinks he’s Rand.  His first over/under pick in years.  Will his faith in the Phillips 3-4 giving up points to the Eagles be rewarded? XXX Dick will savor the Cow win, but this low scoring affair didn’t get close to the over.
          $10 on New Orleans/Carolina Over 51.5. Dick likes that Saint’s offense.  But will the Panthers contribute any scoring - Cassidy says NO on their own will get to 52. XXX The Panthers make the Saints sweat in this one, and keep the final score just under.
           $10 on New Orleans -13.5.  The Saints are off a Monday night close win - is this a let down week?  Probably, but does it really matter when the opponent is Carolina. XXX the final score looked like NO almost covered, but it was never an option.  
          $10 on Seattle/Detroit Under 43. Dick is out to show us all that he understands the Lions and Seahawks - the best bet is he along with the rest of the country won’t actually watch this game.  XXX Maybe Cassidy doesn’t understand bad football afterall.
          $10 on San Francisco -4. Dick gets in Rand’s grill on the anti-Titan bet.  Even Frank didn’t pick the 49ers here. XXX VY is back, so what is Dick doing picking the 49ers?            

Tom:   $50 on Atlanta -10.  Tom doesn’t like the picks this week, so what is the solution?  Go with the team playing the Redskins.  Atlanta put up the points against the Saints, here is a pick that Wash can’t put up enough points to stay within 10. +++ Tom nails the easy pick of the week, although the Redskins did surprise by scoring 17. 

Rand: $30 on Denver +3.  Rand likes the home dog against the overrated Steelers.  But, it is safe to go against Big Ben? XXX Rand pays for his confidence in the Broncos.  Here is a reminder: don’t bet against Big Ben.  
        $10 on Indy -9.  Rand shows the faith in the Colts even after they let him down last week.  Will the Texans show the league they are for real? XXX A missed field goal from overtime keeps Indy undefeated, but not covering.
        $10 on New England -10.5.  Rand goes with take the good team over the average team.  But what about the wildcat? XXX NE wins by 10, not 10 and a half however.
        
         Frank: $50 on Philly -3.  The Goracle regains his Mojo, and immediately turns his back on the team that earned him the win last week.  XXX The Goracle learns a valuable lesson about sticking with the one that brought you as the Cows are none to happy about Frank going with their opponent this week.
             
                This Week’s Guest Prognosticators - Guy Boyle and Rodger Bubb

Guy:  $10 on Philly -3.  Guy supports his teams against the Cows. Enough said. XXX Strange game, but a loss for the Eagles against the Cows.
           $10 on New Orleans -13.5.  The Super Saints continue their run, and Guy joins Dick on their bandwagon. XXX NO pulls out a win, and get close to the cover with a late TD, but still not enough. 
          $10 on Cincy +3. A home dog pick, and the Bengals are ready to prove they are for real off their bye week.  However, the Ravens are back on track, so this could be a good one. +++ Cincy is for real - on to the playoffs.  
          $10 on Indy -9. Guy joins Rand with picking the superior team in this matchup.  XXX Indy’s letdown was tough on this week’s pickers.
          $10 on Miami +10.5. Guy’s agreement with Rand lasts one pick as he goes opposite him on this one. +++ A half point to spare as Miami loses by 10. 

Rodger:  $20 on Philly -3.  Rodger joins Frank and Guy in going against the Cows.  Should we make something of 3 picks against the Cows and no pick by Dick in support of them? XXX Rodger joins Frank and Guy going down on this one.
          $10 on Miami +10.5. Rodger and Guy are on the same page on this one as well. Don’t they know Belichick had two weeks to prepare for the wildcat.  +++ Too many points - or at least too many half points.
           $10 on Indy -9. Rodger and Guy go 3 straight picks together - with a little more weight by Rodger on the Eagles.  What will be the distinguishing picks?  XXX The 3rd picker taken down by Indy this week. 
          $10 on Denver +3. Rodger goes with the Broncos as the team to show the Steelers are overrated (this week).  Will Rand and Rodger by right on this one? XXX Rodger also will be a believer in Big Ben now.

Note: The Sports Savants do not gamble with real money and do not endorse, recommend or promote doing so. The dollar figures above are in “pretend” money, as a way of measuring our success in the game. Not only is gambling illegal in many jurisdictions, it is also pretty dumb. In the end, the house always wins. That’s why the house has gold plated ceilings, dancing girls, magic shows and enormous fountains out front.

*Unlike last year, the guests will compete against each other.  The winner between the guest pickers each week will continue to pick the next week.  If they win that week, they keep going.  There is one asterisk to that sentence - we are attorneys you know - if a guest picker buys lunch for the Savants at the regular pick’em lunch, they will continue to the next week whether they beat the new guest picker or not.

** With the domination by Dick and Rand’s solid start, maybe the Savants don’t need to limit themselves to country club law, private clubs and resorts law, membership law, and related hospitality law matters.

Last Week’s Guest Picker’s Results

Rodger Bubb +50 over The Very Reverend Mike Kinman -50