Devo's Picks (9-11)

Time to sweep the picks this week and return to my rightful perch...at .500.

Baltimore (+7) over GIANTS

This is one of the more intriguing games on the schedule. So we know what the Giants bring to the table, but what about the Ravens? Yes, they're 6-3 and tied with the Steelers, but there is one HUGE difference between the Ravens and the Steelers that goes beyond the number of linebackers on each team charged with felonies. The Steelers have played 3 of their 4 NFC East opponents this year while the Ravens are encountering their first on Sunday. It's safe to assume that the Ravens will lose at least 2 of those 4 games, putting them at 8-5 with three more games to play. All of this is to say that the Ravens are good, but the Giants have beaten better this year. A few times. This should be a low scoring game, especially if the Meadowlands winds kick out the jams as they have been known to do. Eli is as capable as any other QB of losing a game all by himself, but I gotta think that there's a much more likely chance of Flacco doing that this week, going up against the Giants' pass rush, and soon-to-be Pro Bowler, Corey Webster. Giants win with about 75 rushing yards, Ravens cover.
Giants 14
Baltimore 10

Dallas (-1.5) over WASHINGTON

Will Homo show up ready to kick ass and take names? I don't know. But I do know that if the Cowboys lose this game, their season is over. If the Redskins lose this game, they'll still be in good position to get the wild card and take down Chicago or Arizona in the first round. It is a common but not-so-inaccurate cliche that the team that needs a win in the NFL is more likely to get it than the less needy. In a game like this, where both teams are fairly equal, I'm going with the desperate team.

Dallas 27
Washington 23

(Interesting sidenote: As a Giants fan, who do you root for? A Dallas win, if preceded by a Giants win, pretty much cements the Giants as the NFC East Champions this year. But a Redskins win means that this Dallas team, the most hateable team since the Legion of Doom Flyers, is pretty much down for the count. And we can talk all we want about hating all of the NFC East teams equally, but do people really hate the Redskins? Have they been good enough to hate?)