Statleague.com

Get your knowledge on.

It’s Week 11 and the pickins are starting to get slim.  It’s time to look ahead to the end of the season and start picking strategically.  Remember, you don’t want to have a slew of division leaders in the final weeks as they rest players and prepare for the playoffs. 

Locks:

Arizona over St. Louis:  The trends here are hard to deny.  The Cardinals are 4-0 on the road and the Rams are bad no matter where they play.  I get a wee bit queasy picking the Cardinals in these pools.  They don’t always show up, especially against lesser teams.  Don’t worry about it this week.  Take Warner in his triumphant return to St. Louis.

New England over New York Jets:  The suddenly swaggerless Jets travel to Foxborough to face a pissed off Patriots team.  The Pats are smarting from last weeks Colts mess and are no doubt looking for payback for the smack talking win the Jets had in Week 2.  If you don’t think Belichick and co win this one in a big way, you haven’t been paying attention this past decade. 

Minnesota over Seattle:  The Vikes at home are a juggernaut.  Peterson will run wild, Favre will hop around like a little kid, and Jared Allen will put Matt Hasselbeck’s health in jeopardy.  If you haven’t used the Vikes yet, you are going to want to do it before they wrap up the North and start resting players.  The Bears next week is another great opportunity. 

Caution:

Cincinnati over Oakland:  Be careful with this one.  Oakland can really ugly up the game in their home stadium and have pulled a big upset on their home field.  The Bengals most consistent weapon Cedric Benson is most likely out for the game.  The Bengals are a legit team but save them if you can for home dates against the Browns and Lions in the next two weeks. 

Dallas over Washington:  The Cowboys should bounce back and win over the Redskins.  They are on the caution list due to the fact this is a rivalry game and because the Cowboys play the punchless Raiders on Thanksgiving.  Save the Cowboys for Turkey Day, no way they will lose that one.

Indy over Baltimore:  Indy will lose at some point this season.  They have a tough road game following their emotional comeback win over the Pats?  On paper, it could very well be this week.  See barcalounger’s wagers on Sunday.  I’m guessing he will like the Ravens in this one. 

New Orleans over Tampa Bay:  The Bucs are suddenly frisky with Josh Freeman at quarterback and the Saints seem to have hit the midseason doldrums.  Hopefully you have used the Saints before now.  They are going to torture survivor leaguers the rest of the season. 

Balls of Steel:

Jacksonville over Buffalo:  This is a decent play, I just don’t have the intestinal fortitude to try it.  The Jags are playing much better and the Bills are starting Ryan Fitzpatrick.  Sometimes a team will rally for it’s recently deposed coach, but I can’t imagine anyone would work up much emotion about Dick Jauron. 

Detroit over Cleveland:  Detroit is a better team but I wouldn’t bet my survivor life on it.  If the over/under was 9.5 I would strongly consider the under.  If you watch this game you should see a therapist.