NFL Week 13 Picks: Picking This Week's Surest Bets

While nothing is ever certain—especially during what has been a crazy 2011 NFL season—this weekend's schedule boasts two games that are absolute locks. There is no reason to believe the favorites in each game won't absolutely lay waste to their opponents. 

Here are my picks for this week's surest bets.

Indianapolis Colts (0-11) at New England Patriots (8-3)

I don't think I really need to go into a whole lot of detail here. We all know the Colts are headed for what could be one of the worst seasons in NFL history, and forgive me if I don't have confidence that a switch to Dan Orlovsky at quarterback will turn things around. Especially since Orlovsky logged a considerable amount of time under center for the Detroit Lions in 2008 when the team went 0-16.

The Colts are gaining just 280 yards per game on offense (31st in the NFL), while their defense is surrendering 389.4 per game (29th in the league). They will be facing a Patriots team that has won three straight and looks as good as it has all season.

The Patriots are second in the NFL in total offense (429.5 yards per game) and are scoring 30.1 points per game. Tom Brady is having another stellar season (105.1 quarterback rating) and he should absolutely destroy Indianapolis' secondary.

At home against the league's worst team the Patriots are one of the surest bests in NFL history this weekend.

Baltimore Ravens (8-3) at Cleveland Browns (4-7)

Right now the Baltimore Ravens are simply dominating the league defensively. As we've come to expect over the years, the Ravens are manhandling their competition and that has shown lately as they've won seven of their last nine games.

The Ravens rank third in total defense (allowing 292.3 yards per game) and points allowed (16.5 per game) while they also boast the league's fifth-best pass defense (200.8 yards per game) and third-best run defense (91.5 yards per game). That makes them the most balanced defensive unit in football right now. 

Offensively the Ravens do just enough to win games, which is fine when you have a defense that boasts guys like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Haloti Ngata. 

This weekend Baltimore faces a Browns team that ranks 28th in total offense (295.9 yards per game) and is 24th in passing yards (199.1 per game) and 29th in rushing yards (96.8 per game). Even with Lewis likely to miss the game with an injured toe, the Ravens should steamroll the Browns.