January 10, 2015

NerfballPro seizes the early lead, going four out of four on picks and getting two spreads within the margin of erroneousness. Two others get four out of four, and both spread nailers (hubba hubba) chose the wrong team, thus denying our contest its first three-point prognostication. Ic23b claims the early advantage in the coveted Costanza, helped by a one-game late discovery of the pick 'em post.

It was a stingy week for bonus points. Andrew Luck (Ind) led with 376 passing yards and five won that point, but no one had Baltimore as the top scoring team with 30 and no one predicted an interception by Antonio Cromartie (Ari), Luke Kuechly (Car), Tre Boston (Car), Terrell Suggs (Bal), Darian Stewart (Bal) or Kyle Wilbur (Dal).

Baltimore at New England (preview)

Carolina at Seattle (preview)

Dallas at Green Bay (preview)

Indianapolis at Denver (preview)

For bonus points (1 point each):

Pick the team that scores the most points this weekend.

Pick the running back who runs for the most yards.

Pick one player who gets a sack.

Pick the temperature (Fahrenheit) in Green Bay at kickoff.

posted by rcade at 09:37 AM on January 10, 2015

New England by 19

Seattle by 17

Green Bay by 12

Denver by 10

Most Points New England

Most Rushing Yards C.J. Anderson

Sack Clay Matthews

Temp 21F

posted by ic23b at 10:44 AM on January 10, 2015

NE by 3
Seattle by 24
Dallas by 6
Denver by 6

Most Points: NE

Rushing: CJ Anderson

Sack: Elvis Dumervil

GB Temp: 16

posted by Ufez Jones at 11:53 AM on January 10, 2015

Balmer by 5
Seattle by 9
Green Bay by 4
Denver by 12

Most points: Denver
Rushing: D Murray (DALLAS)
Sack: V Miller (DENVER)
Green Bay temperature: 264.817 Kelvin

posted by NoMich at 12:10 PM on January 10, 2015

Note: For the temperature bonus point, the actual temperature will be rounded to the nearest decimal.

posted by rcade at 01:25 PM on January 10, 2015

The goat I had intended to slaughter so I could spread the entrails for portents of success froze to death. Darn thing was frozen so solid I couldn't get at its guts. I guess I'll just ave to go on my instincts.

Baltimore at New England: Patriots' secondary defense deprives Flacco of early targets, forcing him to run around. While he throws well on the run, he will also throw some picks. Patriots' O line is healthy and ready, and NE runs the ball well. Brady is Brady. What else needs be said? New England by 17.

Carolina at Seattle: Sometime about the middle of the 3rd quarter, the announcers will say something to the effect of "Thank you, Carolina, for playing. Here are some lovely parting gifts". This one will be ugly. Seattle by 28.

Indianapolis at Denver: Will Manning's arm fall off in the 4th quarter? Will Colts' defense be able to stop the newly-created (well sort of recently discovered) Denver running game? The answer is No and No. Manning's arm is a bionic replacement, and Indy's defense is too small and light to stop a hard running attack. Denver by 12.

Dallas at Green Bay: It won't quite be an ice bowl, but it won't be a trip to the tropics either. Dallas will try to run the ball, and if they succeed, Packers will be hard put to keep up. The thing is, Cowboys might not be able to run. Depending on Tony Romo to be able to throw consistently well is like depending on Scarlett Johansson to be sharing your pillow every morning. Green Bay should be able to dictate what it wants to do on offense. Packers by 9.

Most points: This is a tougher call than it looks. Denver and NE could run up the score, but with the combination of a home crowd, a vicious defense, and a pretty solid attack, Seattle will light it up. My choice is Seattle.

Running Back Yardage: There are 4 teams with backs who could win this. I will eliminate 2 of them, New England (Blount) and Dallas (Murray), one by virtue of their style and the other because they won't be able to run successfully. That brings us to Anderson from Denver and Seattle's Marshawn Lynch. While the Lynch mob will excel, Lynch will not be the weapon upon which Seattle depends. With Manning's apparent arm difficulties and Colts' weakness against the run, the pick is clear. Anderson.

Who will get a sack: There will be many, and there might be a few who, after the game, pick up a sack at the grocery store for their "let's go home and grieve" party. My pick is a guy with the power and speed to break through and run down the QB. He might even get the double with a sack and an interception. My pick, from New England, Jamie Collins.

Now for the Green Bay weather: The temperature at game time will be 18 degrees Fahrenheit. Can I get double points for converting it to Celsius? Let's go with -8C or 18F.

posted by Howard_T at 02:46 PM on January 10, 2015

Also, we appreciate you doing this, but for the next week can we get at least a 1 day lead time? 4 of the top 6 scorers from last week didn't even get a pick in on time this week.

posted by hincandenza at 04:37 PM on January 10, 2015

Dammit. Seattle by 17 Indy by 3 Green Bay by 6 Points: Green Bay Rushing yards: Murray Sack: Dumerville Kickoff is 12 degrees

posted by tahoemoj at 08:42 PM on January 10, 2015

Also, we appreciate you doing this, but for the next week can we get at least a 1 day lead time?

That's the plan. It was the plan this week too, but the server was crashing all day. The post should be up Friday mornings.

posted by rcade at 09:09 AM on January 11, 2015

My logs don't show any comment deletions yesterday.

posted by rcade at 11:10 AM on January 11, 2015

The temperature at kickoff in Lambeau Field was 24 degrees Fahrenhut-hut-hut.

posted by rcade at 04:35 PM on January 11, 2015

I got the temperature by asking Google, "what is the temperature at Lambeau Field?"

posted by rcade at 09:07 PM on January 11, 2015