2015 COAS Pigskin Pick 'Em: Week 11

The coalition is back for another week of NFL picks against the spread!

My Week 10 started out well enough, as I went 5-3 in the noon block of games to build a big lead against Adam, but I dropped all five games after that. Fortunately for me, everyone else struggled, and I ended up taking four of our seven disputed games. That narrows my deficit to nine, and with seven weeks to go, that's more than enough time to make a gallant comeback.

Now, this week I'll be doing something slightly different. Adam and his family got back from Disney World late last night, and I didn't want Adam to have to worry about any deadlines while on a family vacation. Thankfully, I have a backup plan this week, and I called in reinforcements. Grabbing the Bull Horns blogger and good friend Geoffrey Clark will graciously be joining me this week with his picks against the spread. Adam will return next week. Geoffy had this to say going in:

As has been the case all season, these picks are just as much for my mom’s confidence pool at work. We finally won for the first time this year last week, so the goal now is to make mincemeat out of the Roto Rooter Call Center two weeks in a row.

I don't know about you, readership, but I'm all for making mincemeat out of the Roto Rooter Call Center. Sounds like fun.

This week, Geoffy and I disagree on six games out of 14. Not too shabby. Geoffy, thank you for joining me this week! Let's get started.

Thursday Night

Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (-2.5)
Lucas: Jaguars. Taking the home favorite because AFC South, but also out of spite against that idiot mother who was offended by Cam Newton's touchdown celebration this past weekend. Don't like him celebrating? Keep him out of the end zone.

Geoffrey: Jaguars. I expect a defensive battle in this bad Thursday matchup, but Bortles will make just one more good play than Mariota, which will be the difference.

Sunday, Early Afternoon

Indianapolis Colts @ Atlanta Falcons (-6.5)
Lucas: Colts. I think we keep overrating the Falcons for some reason; they're not that good. Taking the points, even knowing that this is a Matt Hasselbeck-led offense.
Geoffrey: Falcons. Fresh off their in bye, the Falcons will start anew by handling the “co-leaders” of the bad AFC South, ending their two-game losing streak and strengthening their hold on that NFC Wild Card spot.

Denver Broncos @ Chicago Bears (-1.5)
Lucas: Bears. ...Don't bet against Brock Osweiler in daylight? I'm gonna bet against Brock Osweiler in daylight... or anytime just because he's an unknown, and Pure Jay is looking better.
Geoffrey: Bears. Unless Osweiler morphs into Colin Kaepernick in his first start, I can’t see the Bears having too tough a time in stopping him. Their offense has come alive and Cutler’s experience, to go with his recent newfound success, should be enough.

Dallas Cowboys @ Miami Dolphins (+0.5)
Lucas: Dolphins. Chalk it up to Romo being rusty. Also, Dez Bryant is a nutcase. How are he and Greg Hardy "leaders"?

Geoffrey: Dolphins. My, are the Cowboys a mess right now. A revolving door of quarterbacks and Miami’s undefeated record against the NFC can only spell doom.

Oakland Raiders @ Detroit Lions (+1.5)
Lucas: Raiders. Enjoy your first taste of Wisconsin victory in two dozen years, Detroit. I'm sure it tastes like cheese curds. Mmm... cheese curds...

Geoffrey: Raiders. The Lions are due for a letdown after their victory at Lambeau and I anticipate Oakland’s secondary giving Stafford problems throughout.

St. Louis Rams @ Baltimore Ravens (-1.5)
Lucas: Rams. I didn't expect the Rams to get blown out by the Bears, but I think they rebound this week. Even if the Ravens got hosed this past week, they still aren't a good football team.

Geoffrey: Rams. As bad as they looked last weekend, Baltimore is really running on fumes. New quarterback be damned, they’ll just get by with a slightly superior defense.

New York Jets @ Houston Texans (+2.5)
Lucas: Jets. I kind of want T.J. Yates to get hurt, if for no other reason than I want to see J.J. Watt come in to play emergency quarterback.

Geoffrey: Texans. Riding off the high of their Cincinnati win, they’ll keep the Jets’ offense stagnant and take control of the AFC South. That division’s gotta have at least one .500 team, right?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Philadelphia Eagles (-5.5)
Lucas: Buccaneers. The NFC East sucks. Granted, Tampa isn't that great either, but I feel like I should take the points here and hope Admiral Kelly's offense doesn't run roughshod over them.

Geoffrey: Eagles. With or without Bradford or Matthews, the Eagles will withstand after limiting Winston’s effectiveness. It won’t be easy, but I just can’t see Philly losing to Tampa at home.

Washington Redskins @ Carolina Panthers (-7.5)
Lucas: Panthers. Washington isn't putting up 47 points on Carolina's defense. Hell, I'm surprised they only gave up 14 last week. They're due for regression, though I'm becoming impressed by Kirk Cousins.
Geoffrey: Panthers. Everyone’s on the same page in Charlotte and the Redskins couldn’t have less harmony among them if they tried. Oh, and the better all-around talent should help too.

Sunday, Late Afternoon

Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers (+2.5)
Lucas: Chargers. I don't get these teams. Taking the points even though San Diego has a home field disadvantage.
Geoffrey: Chiefs. The Chargers are reeling and Kansas City is playing well of late. The defense will probably make the biggest difference, forcing San Diego’s offense into many of the same mistakes they’ve made this year.

Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings (-0.5)
Lucas: Vikings. The first two Packers' losses made sense: road games against very good to elite teams. Losing at home to Lions makes no sense to me, and still doesn't. There can only be one logical explanation: Curse of Ditka.

Geoffrey: Vikings. They’re catching the reeling Packers and injured Rodgers at the right time. Add a home game and you can be sure if Peterson doesn’t take control, someone else will.

Lucas note: Dang you, Ditka!!!!!!

San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks (-12.5)
Lucas: 49ers. Acknowledging that the 49ers are terrible... the Seahawks do not deserve to be favored by this much at home anymore. Period. Taking the points and looking forward to the one week belated beatdown that swings Seattle's season around.

Geoffrey: Seahawks. As far as they’ve fallen this year, it’s not so bad that they can’t stay out of last place. Too much talent on their side for it to happen.

Sunday Night

Cincinnati Bengals @ Arizona Cardinals (-3.5)
Lucas: Cardinals. In a modification of a gambling rule that might soon go the way of the dodo bird: Don't bet on The Red Ryder BB Gun at night.

Geoffrey: Bengals. A surprising loss to the Texans on MNF will cause them to refocus. This really could go either way, but I believe in Cincinnati for this year and they should be more motivated now than they otherwise might have been had they beaten Houston.

Monday Night

Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots (-7.5)
Lucas: Patriots.

told you not to count out touchdown tom

— Jon Bois (@jon_bois) November 16, 2015

Geoffrey: Patriots. After the Giants gave them a scare last week, they’ll double down and make sure there’s no doubt they’ll get to 10-0. Brady should have his way with the Bills regardless.

Records So Far
Lucas: 64-82 (5-9 last week)
Adam: 73-73 (4-10 last week)
Geoffrey: 69-77 (5-9 last week)
Scott: 66-80 (6-8 last week)