NFL Picks

Patriots not the only big losers
February 6
Los Angeles Times
 
"Actor Todd Thomas is a transplanted New Yorker living in Southern California and he seldom gambles. But once Thomas found out that the Giants were double-digit underdogs to New England in this year's Super Bowl, he jumped at the chance to place his money on New York to win. It turned out to be a great decision when the Giants upset the Patriots, 17-14, on Sunday."
For Pats bettors, losing feeling nothing new
February 4
Boston Herald
 
"Disappointment surely is running deep this morning, as loyal Patriots fans cope with losing the Super Bowl, the perfect season, their team’s place in history. And the salt in the wound is the fact that they also lost more money."
Brady By A Bunch
February 3
New York Post
 
"The 1972 Dolphins didn't get a ton of respect from the marketplace, either. The Fins opened a slight (-1) choice over the Redskins in Super Bowl VII. But a couple of days before the game, a concerted market move resulted in the 'Skins achieving marginal favoritism."
Points Aplenty
February 3
New York Post
 
"The Giants will score their points, as the Eli who throttled the Pack can generate enough offense to provoke sustained Patriots counter-aggression. Over 54, where are you? (For one unit)."
Pats-Giants Generates Highest Over/Under
February 3
New York Post
 
"The Pats, coupled with the Giants, have generated the highest over/under betting line in Super Bowl history."
Post-Dispatch Super Bowl predictions
February 3
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning outduel Bill Belichick and Tom Brady? Please. Perfection is achieved in, of all places, Bill Bidwill's house. Patriots 33, Giants 17"
Albom, Sharp, Rosenberg and Cotsonika predict the big game and more
February 3
Detroit Free Press
 
"The Patriots are the football version of whack-a-mole. You slam them down one way, they beat you another. Too much, even for the courageous Giants."
Gerry Dulac's NFL Forecast: Super Bowl XLII
February 3
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"But the Patriots will not let this opportunity pass without one last shining moment of greatness. Like Tiger Woods, they will not only accomplish what nobody really thought possible, they will do so with a dominating display that will cap off a perfect season. Great teams do great things on big stages."
Mickelson Putting It On Patriots
February 3
New York Post
 
"So The Post asked Mickelson to exclusively break down the game and he obliged. He said he's somewhat torn between seeing history unfold with the Patriots completing the circle and finishing 19-0 and rooting for the underdog Giants. In the end, though, Mickelson say he wants to see history unfold."
Smart guys: Our staffers pick today's Super Bowl
February 3
PackersNews.com
 
"Give Bill Belichick two weeks to game plan for an opponent, and he's bound to come up with something special. He's sure to find a way to disrupt Eli Manning, who has been flawless in the playoffs."
Star-Ledger staff picks the Super Bowl
February 2
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Nobody expected the Giants to be here, including some of them -- even if they won't admit it publicly. So the fact that few expect them to win won't faze them. Still, the Patriots have way too many options on offense and a solid offensive line to give Tom Brady time to use them."
Tribune reporters pick 'em: Super Bowl XLII
February 2
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Giants will put up a great fight, and their pass rush will keep them in the game. As they've done all season, Tom Brady and the Pats' offense will make the plays when needed. Randy Moss hasn't done much in the playoffs, but that changes Sunday night."
Give Brady the boot and take the Giants
February 2
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Giants (+12) over Patriots: Defenses seem to have figured out Brady's game. Randy Moss has been neutered in the playoffs by defenses that don't rush the passer near as well as New York."
A prediction from a real expert
February 2
Orange County Register
 columnist Randy Youngman
"For the record, as soon as the Super Bowl point spread was published — it opened as high as 14 points in a couple of Las Vegas sports books, 131/2 points at most others and ultimately was bet down to 12 — I knew I liked the New York Giants and the points in Super Bowl XLII."
Winning Super Bowl wagers
February 1
Oakland Tribune
 columnist Dave Del Grande
"HERE'S WHAT TO expect Sunday, and a fantasy-style look at some of the Super Bowl props that'll have you lining up at the cashier's window Monday morning. Let's break the game down into four areas, creating 27 rooting interests. When the Patriots have the ball"
Vegas Vic's selection
February 1
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"No matter what happens with the Super Sunday selection, I'll finish at least a dozen games over .500, and the playoff run (8-1-1) has been making it very tough to fit my wallet - and I hope yours - in my back pocket."
News Staff Selections: The Super Bowl
February 1
Buffalo News
 
"The Buffalo News' NFL staff makes its picks in the National Football League: Bills beat writers Mark Gaughan and Allen Wilson, columnists Jerry Sullivan and Bob DiCesare, Sunday Playbook writer Milt Northrop and reporter Rodney McKissic."
Blue Streak: Las Vegas Awash In Giant Bets
January 29
New York Post
 
"The road warrior Giants picked up more than a few friends in Las Vegas on their way to Arizona."
It’s wise to back team, to a point
January 21
Boston Herald
 
"Some of you might have wised up a while ago, shortly after that scorching 8-0 start against the spread. Some of you might have needed more time, but yesterday was the time to put the pride away and take the other team."
A Favre-lous Way To Make Some Green
January 20
New York Post
 
"The Giants New York Giants are doing so many things dead-right, and got away with fielding a decimated secondary against the Cowboys because they covered the vital Dallas talent so well. But this is about Brett Favre and Eli Manning Eli Manning , both of whom played their college ball in Mississippi."
Back The Pack
January 20
New York Post
 
"PACKERS (-7) over Giants; Under 391/2: Trying to beat Brett Favre in January - at Lambeau - is tough enough."
Staff predicts on the Giant game
January 20
Bergen Record
 
"Packers 20, Giants 10 The magic ride for the Giants ends in a Green Bay deep freeze that Brett Favre navigates a bit better than Eli Manning."
Smart guys: Press-Gazette staffers predict today's outcome
January 20
PackersNews.com
 
"The Giants’ ride to the NFC championship game has indeed been magical. They have unified behind embattled coach Tom Coughlin. Winning nine straight games on the road is an impressive feat no matter how you look at it."
Weekly predictions: This looks a lot like 1997
January 19
PackersNews.com
 
"Giants at Packers: New York may be the second-hottest team next to the unbeaten Patriots, but the Giants may have met their match this time around. Eli Manning usually doesn’t perform well in adverse weather conditions so Sunday’s forecast isn’t good news for him."
Stone cold locks to play Super Sunday
January 19
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Green Bay has too much weather mojo and the national Favre lovefest isn't going to allow the Giants to get close to a cover here. Final score: Packers 26, Giants 12."
Green Day: Vegas Bettors Back The Pack
January 19
New York Post
 
"The cheeseheads are flooding Las Vegas with Packer money. 'We just went to 7½ [from 7] an hour ago,' Robert Walker, sports book director at the MGM Mirage, told The Post at 6:30 Eastern time last night."
Nevermind the Packers - real green is Las Vegas, baby
January 19
New York Daily News
 
"Gamblers will bet more than $35 million on Sunday's NFC Championship Game between the Giants and Packers - a contest that's turning out to be the biggest football betting draw outside of the Super Bowl, bookmakers and casino operators said."
All bets favor Green Bay Packers, at least for now
January 19
PackersNews.com
 
"Bookmakers who established the Green Bay Packers as a seven-point favorite to defeat the New York Giants on Sunday are expected to raise the spread to seven-and-a-half over the weekend to attract more bets on the Giants."
Greg Cote's NFL Playoffs picks
January 18
Miami Herald
 
"We're OK with 3-1 both ways in last week's playoff round, grand-marshaled by our big, outright-upset bull's-eye on Giants winning in Dallas. Also hit with underdog Jaguars and Chargers both covering. Didn't see Colts losing, though; hadn't even given that one a thought. By the way, how much laughter would have resulted at any point this season by the suggestion that the Manning still playing Jan. 20 would be Eli, not Peyton?"
Terry Bannon's NFL playoff picks
January 18
Chicago Tribune
 
"Last week's record: 2-2. Season record: 176-88. Chargers (13-5) at Patriots (17-0) TV/radio: 2 p.m. Sunday; WBBM-Ch. 2, WSCR-AM 670. Line: Patriots by 13 1/2. Last meeting: Patriots won 38-14 at New England on Sept. 16. Key stat: Patriots have scored at least 20 points in 23 straight games."
Gerry Dulac's NFL Forecast: Championship Edition!
January 17
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME GAME: San Diego Chargers (13-5) at New England Patriots (17-0), 3 p.m., Sunday"
THE LOOP'S NFL PICKS: WEEK 20
January 17
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"GIANTS AT PACKERS (-7) The wild card Giants have won nine in a row on the road, but they face an uphill task Sunday on the Frozen Tundra. Not only are they facing a team that beat them by 22 points earlier this season, but they're up against Brett Favre, who has winning another Super Bowl at the top of his "Bucket List." Pick: Packers by 3"
The Loop's NFL Picks
January 16
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"The wild card Giants have won nine in a row on the road, but they face an uphill task Sunday on the Frozen Tundra."
Today, It's Eli Down & Peyton Up
January 13
New York Post
 
"COWBOYS (-71/2) over Giants (Under 461/2): Given the cities involved, the NFC East is among the sexiest divisions in the NFL, and this may be the sexiest matchup to be had."
Giants' Joyride Coming To End
January 13
New York Post
 
"COWBOYS (-71/2) over Giants: Well-rounded, fresh playoff teams with superior downfield passing games enjoy significant advantages. Giants came through for Cat at Tampa after a shaky start, as Eli Manning Eli Manning demonstrated he enjoys greater upside in good weather, and key Big Blue offensive skill people are relatively healthy."