The Kid, the Cane, and the Old Timer's Picks: Week 12

I’ve been asked a few times over email who exactly the Hurricane is. For those of you who might be new, it is not an alum of the University of Miami, the ‘Cane is my brother Scott. Why is he called the Hurricane?

Let me explain it this way: Bill Cosby once had a bit where he called people who had only one child not real parents. His rationale is this: If something is broken in the house, you have one child, you know who did it. You don’t have to deal with the blank stares and excuses.

Well, my parents had two kids, and if something was broken in the house, they still knew who did it. The boy just had a knack of breaking things.

Ok, we are heading into the last six weeks of the season and our competition here is really starting to heat up. In Week 11 we finally had our first week where all three players were over the .500 mark. 

The Kid was the best of the bunch last week with a 9-6 record and took over sole possession of first place (which will most likely only last a week).

The Hurricane and the Old Timer were both 8-7. The O.T. needs to start making up some ground here as we pass the two-thirds point, but in the email he sent me with his picks, he had a good point as to why we are doing so bad.

The 2008 season is one in which the Tennessee Titans are undefeated, the San Diego Chargers went from the AFC Championship to two games under .500, the Dolphins went from 1-15 to 6-4, and the Arizona Cardinals look to win their first divisional title since 1893. 

As always these picks are for recreational purposes only, and after the standings are the picks that you can take to the bank (figuratively speaking of course).

The Kid:  69-67-5
The ‘Cane:  68-66-5
The O.T.:  62-74-5

CLEVELAND BROWNS -3 vs. Houston Texans

The Kid says: Texans. Houston has had some tough games against some good defensive teams. Cleveland is not a good defensive team.  With the injury to Brady Quinn, don’t expect a ton out of Cleveland this week, and look for Slaton to run wild and Rosenfels to have a quality start.

The Old Timer says: Houston plus three against disappointing Cleveland.

The Hurricane says: Houston. Newbee Quinn starts with an njured finger. Hot and cold Browns too inconsistent to give points.

Buffalo Bills -3 at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

The Kid says: Chiefs.  Buffalo is in a free fall and the Chiefs have been showing consistent signs of improvement.  In this game I will take the team on the come.

The Old Timer says: K.C. plus three at home is a good bet vs. Buffalo.

The Hurricane says: KC.  Bullies are in a downward spiral and KC has played a lot of close games. Thigpen and Co. worth taking a shot with at home.

TENNESSEE TITANS -5 vs. New York Jets

The Kid says: Titans.  I’ve picked them for 11 weeks, why stop now?  I’m really hoping the Jets get knocked off since I live in NY and am so sick of hearing about their big win over the Patriots and how they are going to win the division and get home field.  Isn’t this Week 12?  Long way to go Jets’ fans!

The Old Timer says: JETS plus five against Titans (Upset City?).

The Hurricane says: Tennessee.  Not buying into Gang Green. Tennessee defense with make Favre wish he took that retirement package offered by the Pack.

MIAMI DOLPHINS -1 vs. New England Patriots

The Kid says: Patriots.  I just don’t see the Patriots losing two in a row, losing to two divisional opponents in a row, or losing twice in a season to the Dolphins. The Wildcat ran wild on the Patriots the first time around, but I just don’t see it happening twice.

The Old Timer says: MIAMI minus one against the Pats. (When was the last time the fish were favored over NE?)

The Hurricane says: Pats.  Miami has shown amazing improvement, but Cassel is coming into his own right in front of our eyes and the Pats, although incredibly banged up, are still the Pats.

DALLAS COWBOYS -10 vs. San Francisco 49ers

The Kid says: 'Niners.  No way they win the game, but since they installed Shaun Hill at quarterback there has at least been some stability.  The Cowboys are still working their way back to where they were, so I think ten is a little too much.

The Old Timer says: 49ers +10, Dallas still doesn’t have it right.

The Hurricane says: Dallas. Cowboys offense has to start clicking if they are going to do anything in the playoffs. No better time than against SF.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers -9 at DETROIT LIONS

The Kid says: Lions.  I know the Lions haven’t won a game yet this year, but they have been getting a little closer, and the Buccaneers aren’t exactly a prolific offense.  We are most likely looking at 0-11, but I think nine is a little too much.

The Old Timer says: LIONS plus nine.

The Hurricane says: Detroit.  As horrible as they are, nine points is a lot to give a team at home.

BALTIMORE RAVENS -1 vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The Kid says: Ravens.  With the turmoil going on in Philly right now, I think that they need to have 100 percent focus to beat the Ravens. I don’t see them having that focus and I think Baltimore is going to smack McNabb in the mouth. Brian Westbrook is also not 100 percent and might not even play.

The Old Timer says: EAGLES plus one.

The Hurricane says: Philly.  The Giants exposed some huge problems with the Ravens. The Eagles are a poor man’s Giants and should be able to hang with Baltimore as well.

Chicago Bears -9 at ST. LOUIS RAMS

The Kid says: Rams.  I know the Rams are bad, but who the hell are the Bears to give nine points to anyone? Even without Stephen Jackson, the Rams should be able to put up enough points to keep in closer than nine.

The Old Timer says: ST LOUIS plus nine.

The Hurricane says: Chicago. Bears D may not be as strong as in the past, but still impressive. With Stephen Jackson, Rams’ offense looks a pretty harmless.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS -2 vs. Minnesota Vikings

The Kid says: Vikings.  This one was pretty much a coin flip to me. Both teams have been incredibly inconsistent this season and very tough to call.  It came down to the Vikings having the best player in this game in Adrian Peterson and he should be the difference.

The Old Timer says: JAX minus two.

The Hurricane says: Vikings. Battered Jags are going to have to step up to stop AP. Take Peterson and the points.

ATLANTA FALCONS -1 vs. Carolina Panthers

The Kid says: Panthers. I don’t see the Falcons being able to move the ball well against the tough Panthers defense and Jake Delhomme has got to be better than he’s been the past couple weeks. Panthers take control of the division.

The Old Timer says: CAROLINA plus one, as Atlanta comes back to earth.

The Hurricane says: Carolina.  Falcons have been consistent in beating weaker teams and losing to stronger ones. Carolina is a stronger one.

DENVER BRONCOS -10 vs. Oakland Raiders

The Kid says: Broncos. The Raiders defense is horrible and Jay Cutler should be able to pick them apart. The Broncos defense is far from special, but it isn’t like the Raiders can take advantage anyway. Even without much of a running game the Broncos should win this game going away.

The Old Timer says: DENVER -10 over Oakland.

The Hurricane says: Denver. Oakland is horrible. When your team is run by a guy who looks like a homeless octogenarian the future is not bright.

Washington Redskins -3 at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

The Kid says: ‘Skins. Washington is desperate and the Seahawks are playing for a draft pick at this point. I’ll take the team that needs it even if they are on the road.

The Old Timer says: 'SKINS minus three over stinky Seahawks. Weren’t they in the Super Bowl a couple of years ago?

The Hurricane says: Redskins.  A lot of the shine has come off the early over-hyped NFC East teams. Although the Redskins et al are not as dominant as thought, ’skins should still have no problem in this one.

New York Giants -3 at ARIZONA CARDINALS

The Kid says: Giants. I initially typed in the Cardinals here, but I don’t think the Cardinals will be able to stop the Giants running game.  Both quarterbacks should have good days but I think it is the ground game that will decide this one. The Giants have the better rushing attack, and their defense on the ground is among the best in football.

The Old Timer says: GIANTS over Arizona. Look out Kurt, here comes a real defense.

The Hurricane says: Arizona. Giants make a fool of me every week, but I’m against them again. Jacobs is a big question mark and the Jints are going to need all the offense they can muster against the high-scoring Cards.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS -3 vs. Indianapolis Colts

The Kid says: Colts.  It is officially over for San Diego after this week while the Colts are just rounding into shape. Indy needs this one to stay in the wild card race and the Chargers are basically playing spoiler at this point. Manning should pick this horrible defense apart.

The Old Timer says: INDY plus three. San Diego too iffy.

The Hurricane says: Colts.  Indy is quietly rounding into postseason form and may be a nice choice to be the AFC representative for the Super Bowl. Don’t fall asleep on them.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS -2 vs. Green Bay Packers

The Kid says: Packers.  The Saints defense has just been exploited too much over the past few weeks for me to pick them. 

I think this will be a high-scoring affair but the Packers’ pass defense is among the best in the league and I think they will have a better time stopping Brees than New Orleans will of stopping Rodgers.

The Old Timer says: Pack plus two.

The Hurricane says: Saints.  New Orleans has way too much firepower for the Packers who, although performing well in the first year of the post-Favre era, still have to show more consistency.

As always, your comments and questions (adds/drops, lineup advice, etc.) are welcome at [e-mail]. I guarantee a response within 18 hours.