October 25, 2018

SportsFilter NFL Pick 'Em Week 8: Blake Bortles Bad Place Edition: The NFL passes the halfway mark tonight as the Miami Dolphins visit the Houston Texans. In the SportsFilter Pick 'Em, Tron7's first place lead shrinks by 14 as Jagsnumberone and Truthhurts climb into second a mere 57 back. Ic23b wins the week with 91. Jacksonville has become football hell again. Make your picks.

How This Works

SportsFilter is running a season-long NFL Pick 'Em contest and awarding a prize to the season's winner: an official NFL Game Football ($99.99 value).

To play, pick who you think will win and by how many points. You then get points based on the result:

Picked the winner? You get 5 points
Picked the winner and a spread within the margin of error? You get 3 more points
Picked the winner and the exact spread? You get 2 more points

What's the Margin of Error?

A window around the spread that's defined as the following:

spread - round(0.3 * spread) <= Margin of Error <= spread + round(0.3 * spread)

You get rewarded for being close to the spread. The bigger the spread, the bigger the margin of error, so you don't have to be as accurate predicting a blowout as a close game.

Examples:

Actual SpreadMargin Starts atMargin Ends at
111
435
759
11814
201426
So if you picked Miami by 15, here's how you'd fare given certain outcomes:
OutcomeYour score
Miami by 208 points (winner + spread within MoE)
Miami by 105 points (winner only)
Miami by 1510 points (winner + nailed spread)
Miami by 50 points

Stone Cold Lead Pipe Locks

You can choose any game as a stone cold lead pipe lock. This doubles the points you win for that game, but if that team doesn't win, you lose 10 points (even if you get the spread). You can make as many picks a lock as you like or pick no locks at all.

The Small Print

In order to receive the prize, you must respond to our email within 14 days of the winner announcement. Make sure you have a valid email address on SportsFilter or contact me within that time period. The prize does not include international shipping, so in that situation you can pay the cost or receive an equivalent cash prize over Paypal.

Hall of Champions

2016-17: Ufez Jones
2017-18: Tron7
2018-19: Tron7

This Week's Games 1

Green Bay at Chicago on NBC (Thursday)
L.A. Rams at Carolina on Fox (Sunday)
Washington at Philadelphia on Fox (Sunday)
Buffalo at N.Y. Jets on CBS (Sunday)
Atlanta at Minnesota on Fox (Sunday)
Baltimore at Miami on CBS (Sunday)
Kansas City at Jacksonville on CBS (Sunday)
Tennessee at Cleveland on CBS (Sunday)
Indianapolis at L.A. Chargers on CBS (Sunday)
Cincinnati at Seattle on CBS (Sunday)
San Francisco at Tampa Bay on Fox (Sunday)
N.Y. Giants at Dallas on Fox (Sunday)
Detroit at Arizona on Fox (Sunday)
Pittsburgh at New England on NBC (Sunday)
Houston at New Orleans on ESPN (Monday)
Denver at Oakland on ESPN (Monday)

Picks must be submitted in this discussion before the game's kickoff. So if you miss Thursday night's opener you can still choose the Sunday and Monday games.

posted by rcade to football at 05:00 PM - 32 comments

LOCK Houston by 9 LOCK

posted by bender at 12:37 PM on October 25, 2018

Houston by 3

posted by tron7 at 04:35 PM on October 25, 2018

Houston by 7

posted by NoMich at 04:40 PM on October 25, 2018

Houston by 10

posted by ic23b at 04:54 PM on October 25, 2018

If you sent picks by alternate means and they are not reflected here, let me know.

posted by rcade at 05:01 PM on October 25, 2018

Houston by 7

posted by NoMich at 05:10 PM on October 25, 2018

Houston by 9

Philadelphia by 13 LOCK

Chicago by 6

Cincinnati by 14 LOCK

Detroit BY 4

Kansas City by 18 LOCK

Washington by 13 LOCK

Pittsburgh by 13

Baltimore by 3

Indianapolis by 10

Green Bay by 4

SF by 3

Minnesota by 6

New England By 23 LOCK

posted by tahoemoj at 05:15 PM on October 25, 2018

rcade, I sent you my picks by email to your sportsfilter email account Sunday morning. If you need a copy of them, just let me know.

posted by jagsnumberone at 05:15 PM on October 25, 2018

Houston by 3

posted by jagsnumberone at 05:16 PM on October 25, 2018

Houston by 10 (Thursday sports huddle)

Philadelphia by 17

Chicago by 14

Cincinnati by 4

Detroit by 4

Kansas City by 17

Washington by 10

Pittsburgh by 20

Carolina by 3

Indianapolis by 13

L.A. Chargers by 3

Arizona by 4

New Orleans by 6

New England by 28 (LOCK)

posted by ic23b at 05:18 PM on October 25, 2018

Houston BY 7

Philadelphia BY 7

Chicago BY 7

Cincinnati BY 4

Seattle BY 4

Kansas City BY 14 LOCK

Washington BY 7

Pittsburgh BY 7

Carolina BY 3

Indianapolis BY 7

L.A. Chargers BY 4

San Francisco BY 3

New Orleans BY 7

New England BY 9 LOCK

posted by cixelsyd at 05:24 PM on October 25, 2018

Houston by 17

posted by tommybiden at 05:32 PM on October 25, 2018

All 3 Fla. QB's now Ersetzt:

- Bortles: benched
- Tannehill: hurt
- Fitzmagic: benched

posted by beaverboard at 05:36 PM on October 25, 2018

Houston by 3
Jacksonville by 3
Chicago by 7
Cincinnati by 6
Seattle by 3
Kansas City by 7 - LOCK
Washington by 3
Pittsburgh by 10 - LOCK
Baltimore by 3
Indianapolis by 3
L.A. Rams by 7 - LOCK
Arizona by 3
New Orleans by 3
New England by 10 - LOCK

posted by tron7 at 05:40 PM on October 25, 2018

The schedule above is incorrect. The Packers play the LA Rams not the Chargers.

posted by tron7 at 05:42 PM on October 25, 2018

The Packers play the LA Rams not the Chargers.

Thanks, tron. Change my pick to LA Rams by 6.

posted by tahoemoj at 05:56 PM on October 25, 2018

Philadelphia by 17

N.Y. Jets by 4

Cincinnati by 10

Detroit by 4

Kansas City by 13

Washington by 20

Pittsburgh by 7

Carolina by 11

Oakland by 9

L.A. Rams by 8

San Francisco by 6

New Orleans by 2

New England by 30

posted by tommybiden at 06:52 PM on October 25, 2018

The schedule above is incorrect. The Packers play the LA Rams not the Chargers.

Thanks for the correction. It's fixed.

posted by rcade at 06:55 PM on October 25, 2018

rcade, I sent you my picks by email to your sportsfilter email account Sunday morning. If you need a copy of them, just let me know.

The scoring now reflects your picks, which put you into second place with Truthhurts.

What happened to the Jags defense? I have sad.

posted by rcade at 06:59 PM on October 25, 2018

Thanks for fixing. As far as the Jags defense? I don't have a clue. And now this week we're missing 3 DB's (only Ramsey of top 4 and the other three are undrafted rookies/ oh my). I get the offensive problems (pun intended). Supposed number 1 receiver (Lee) out for the year in preseason. 3 LT's out (playing a backup RG who has never played LT), 2 of 3 RBs out, top 3 TE's out, and top 2 offensive lineman left aren't practicing because of injuries (so they can play on Sunday), and a QB who's trying to do to much, which always gets him trouble. Bortles is not the problem (though, he's not the answer either). Rodgers and Brees would struggle. This isn't supporting Bortles, just don't think he's "the" reason for the struggles.

posted by jagsnumberone at 07:20 PM on October 25, 2018

Got to get this done quick.

Dolphins are tired out by the swim across the Gulf Houston by 16 LOCK

posted by Howard_T at 07:37 PM on October 25, 2018

Bortles: benched

He has already been unbenched and will start Sunday in London.

Bortles is playing badly, but he doesn't have much to throw to. Lee was lost for the entire season before the opener, leaving the hardly world-beating Keelan Cole, Dede Westbrook and Donte Moncrief, and we're on our fourth-string tight end. He also doesn't have Leonard Fournette giving defenses more to think about.

Miami by 3
Philadelphia by 7
Chicago by 8
Cincinnati by 3
Seattle by 3
Kansas City by 14 <-- lock
Washington by 7 <-- lock
Pittsburgh by 4
Carolina by 5
Oakland by 3
L.A. Rams by 10 <-- lock
Arizona by 3
New Orleans by 3
New England by 7 <-- lock

posted by rcade at 08:05 PM on October 25, 2018

I know Im late but I would have gone Miami by 7 I didn't look at the score

posted by truthhurts at 08:40 PM on October 25, 2018

I haven't looked at the score, so I'm taking Miami by 3.

posted by grum@work at 09:09 PM on October 25, 2018

Philadelphia by 13
Chicago by 7
Tampa Bay by 6
Detroit by 7
Kansas City by 11
Washington by 7
Pittsburgh by 10
Carolina by 8
Oakland by 3
L.A. Rams by 7
Arizona by 14
New Orleans by 7
New England by 17

posted by grum@work at 09:12 PM on October 25, 2018

Miami and Jacksonville should switch divisions.

The Dolphins could rekindle their once fierce rivalry with the Colts in the AFC South and Bortles would be guaranteed two sparkling outings per season in divisional games against the Pats.

posted by beaverboard at 12:22 AM on October 26, 2018

Speaking of your Jacksonville Jaguars: Jacksonville's airport is name for Randy "Macho Man" Savage in "The Good Place"

posted by NoMich at 07:40 AM on October 26, 2018

LOCK Houston by 9 LOCK (**If only my other picks were as good as my Thursday Night Lox, which are 8 for 8**)
LOCK Philadelphia by 13 LOCK
LOCK Chicago by 10 LOCK
Cincinnati by 5
Detroit by 3
LOCK Kansas City by 17 LOCK
N.Y. Giants by 3
LOCK Pittsburgh by 7 LOCK
Carolina by 6
Oakland by 1
L.A. Rams by 5
Arizona by 3
Minnesota by 6
New England by 5

posted by bender at 01:01 PM on October 26, 2018

Philadelphia at Jacksonville Eagles by 10
N.Y. Jets at Chicago Bears by 7
Tampa Bay at Cincinnati Bengals by 8
Seattle at Detroit Lions by 3
Denver at Kansas City Chiefs by 14 LOCK
Washington at N.Y. Giants Redskins by 7
Cleveland at Pittsburgh Steelers by 10
Baltimore at Carolina Ravens by 7
Indianapolis at Oakland Colts by 3
Green Bay at L.A. Rams Rams by 14 LOCK
San Francisco at Arizona 49ers by 3
New Orleans at Minnesota Vikings by 3
New England at Buffalo Patriots by 20 LOCK

posted by truthhurts at 12:50 AM on October 27, 2018

Saturday afternoon, I got out of bed late after staying up until 3:30 watching the World Series. Now as I ponder who Alex Cora has as a starter for tonight, I will return to the business at hand.

Again the NFL destroys the pristine turf of Wembley Stadium. Philadelphia by 10

An old rivalry that this year seems to have lost its savor. Kansas City by 11

AFC North will produce some more bruises. Pittsburgh by 13

Pirates sail on the Ohio River. They will sink. Cincinnati by 4

The big city guys against the Second City guys. Chicago by 17 LOCK

Birds and cats should be a good one. Carolina by 10

Another old rivalry pits a pair of also rans against each other. Washington by 12

Lions are at home, Seahawks aren't. That's all you need to know. Detroit by 9

Will the Black Hole swallow the horses? Oakland by 8

Prospectors try to strike gold in the desert. Arizona by 13

Los Angeles will be a busy sports town on Sunday. Los Angeles (National Conference) by 6

Here's another matchup worth watching. Minnesota by 4

The Mamas and Papas warned us: Monday Monday, can't trust that day Patriots heed the warning. New England by 16 LOCK

posted by Howard_T at 02:20 PM on October 27, 2018

Jayyzzuss... I sukk. But I never quit....mostly. Here we go.

Jags by 6 LOCK

Steelers by 16 LOCK

KC by 4 LOCK

Bears by 4 LOCK

Skins by 5

Lions by 8 LOCK

Bengals by 5

Carolina by 5 LOCK

Raiders by 6 LOCK

Cards by 2

Packers by 3

Saints by 9 LOCK

Pats by 20 LOCK

posted by 9mmHeater at 11:46 PM on October 27, 2018

Houston by 3 (earlier in thread)

Jacksonville by 4

Chicago by 7

Cincinnati by 10 LOCK

Detroit by 3

Kansas City by 12 LOCK

Washington by 4

Pittsburgh by 14

Carolina by 6

Indianapolis by 3

LA Rams by 19 LOCK

Arizona by 3

New Orleans by 6

New England by 17 LOCK

posted by jagsnumberone at 04:04 AM on October 28, 2018

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