A Fool and His Money on 2008 Futures [Win Totals and Over Unders]
Prior to the first snap this season, Chadam and Nick got together and picked a handful of teams that each compulsive gambler believed would perform above or below Vegasโ predicted win total. I locked these picks away in a vault, buried beneath the ground and protected by two very angry, alcoholic monkeys and a crafty ninja cat.
Now that the season is in Week 4, itโs probably safe for me to reveal their picks so that we can mock them as their predictions look like horrible calls later this season. If there is a tie, Nick and Chadam will face the monkeys in a death match with the ninja cat as referee.
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Keep in mind that all these picks were made prior to the first snap in Week 1 โ prior to Tom Bradyโs injury, the Chargersโ 0-2 start, Peyton Manningโs rusty emergence and Seattleโs loss of three receivers. It seems like that was three years ago, but itโs only been three weeks.
"Nickโs Futures for the 2008 NFL Season
Iโll admit that Chadam enjoys the future bets more than me, but I saw a few that looked too good to pass up. For those who donโt know, a future bet is when you pick โoverโ or โunderโ the win total that Vegas predicts they will have for the season.
Hereโs my list of future picks for this season with the number of games Vegas thinks they will win this season and my opinion on how many wins that team will actually get:
San Francisco 49ers โ 6 wins โ UNDER
There is no way the 49ers get six wins this season. Their easy games against Buffalo and Miami are both on the road, theyโve written off Alex Smith and everybody there is feeling the heat. Great teams rise up under pressure; bad teams fold and hope for next yearโs draft to save them.
Seattle Seahawks โ 8.5 wins โ OVER
Seattle is obviously past their Super Bowl prime of two years ago, but I believe Mike โThe Walrusโ Holmgren and Matt Hasselbeck still have enough in the tank to get nine wins. The Seahawks get at least five wins from their weak division alone plus games against Buffalo, Tampa Bay and both New Yorks. Throw in an upset of Philly or Washington, and BOOM! They just won me some money.
Denver Broncos โ 7.5 wins โ OVER
I was shocked to see Denver at 7.5 wins. I definitely think they will be a .500 team or better, even with San Diego in the division. They have a very winnable schedule, and their game at San Diego is the last game of the season when San Diego may not be playing starters as long as their playoff spot is locked up.
Minnesota Vikings โ 8.5 wins โ UNDER
I was hoping for this number to be higher since everybody seems to be so high on โPurple Jesusโ Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen and the up-and-coming Vikings. Yes, they are good in the trenches and have a stud running back, but what happens when Peterson gets injured and they have to count on their non-existent passing game. Also, their murderous schedule has games against the Colts, Titans, Saints, Houston and Jacksonville.
Carolina Panthers โ 7.5 wins โ OVER
I like these guys to rebound now that lovebirds Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith are back together, albeit starting in Week 3. I like their schedule and new RB Jonathan Stewart, and I just generally like to root for Steve Smith because he still gets nervous and throws up in a bucket before games.
"
Thatโs where Nick stands. The Seahawks and 49ers picks might come back to get him. Seeing where he feels the teams will fall this year, letโs see what Chadam has to offer.
"Chadamโs Futures for the 2008 NFL Season
Minnesota Vikings โ 8.5 games โ UNDER
If I was Vegas, I would set this number at 5.5 games. The Vikings will be terrible because Tarvaris Jackson will play like Tarvaris Jackson, and those fantasy football managers who draft Peterson ahead of Westbrook will get what they deserve. Enjoy the top-three draft pick next year, Vikings fans.
Jacksonville Jaguars โ 10 games โ OVER
I swear I chose my over/unders before I read Bill Simmonsโ NFL preview. Whatever. That dude got beat by his pregnant wife for two years in a row making picks. This division is murder row, but I really like the Jagsโ game plan โ tough D, explosive run game and a passing game strong enough to keep defenses honest. I think theyโll be a Wild Card shoo-in; unlike Bill, I donโt see them toppling the Colts just yet.
Seattle Seahawks โ 8.5 games โ UNDER
I guess someone has to win this division, right? Theyโll win the NFC West with seven wins and get mauled in the first round. It sucks to be you if you had a late July or early August draft and chose Matt Hasselbeck as your starting QB in fantasy football. No receivers or offensive line, and Julius Jones as your strongest offensive threat? Thanks, but no thanks.
Green Bay Packers โ 8.5 games โ OVER
This is my dark horse Super Bowl choice. I donโt think theyโll drop off at all with Rodgers. The defense is in the top five, and that offense is littered with quality players. Besides, you can count on getting at least five wins from their six NFC North games, right?
Kansas City Chiefs โ 5.5 games โ UNDER
Has there ever been a top-10 RB that people hate to own more than Larry Johnson? This guy could get 350 carries for 700 yards and 3 TDs, and nobody would bat an eye. If youโre starting QB makes you pine for the days of Damon Huard, you might as well start looking forward to spring training.
New York Jets โ 8 games โ OVER
B-R-E-T-T! Brett! Brett! Brett! This team has probably been talked about too much. We all know about the QB and offensive line upgrades. Just because those reasons for improvement are overplayed doesnโt make them any less true though. Theyโll get nine or ten wins and a Wild Card spot.
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Chadamโs Jacksonville and Jets might prove to be his downfall, but weโll see where things stand at the end of the season.
There you have it. Nick and Chadamโs future picks for 2008. Only time will tell who hits on all their futures. Stay tuned to the Fools. Iโm going to try and squeeze past the drunken monkeys to put these picks back in the vault for safekeeping before they wake up bitter and hungover.
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