Alternative Picks: Week 8, 2018

by Tony & Andy | Oct 24, 2018 | 2018 Season, NFL Picks

This was actually a pretty good week for both Tonys and Andy, but in the alternative picks, it only really reflects well on Tony T.

He went 7-0 in his picks en route to a 9-5 week and his second consecutive win.

Here are the standings:

And here are the alternative picks for week eight. (more…)

Alternative Picks: Week 7, 2018

by Andy | Oct 19, 2018 | 2018 Season, NFL Picks

I think Tony’s season-opening winning streak in 2017 was longer than Andy’s was to open 2018 – though I admit, I don’t care enough to actually check. Regardless, Tony got off the schneid in week six with a 9-6 victory that pulls him within seven games of Andy.

Here are the standings:

And here are the picks: (more…)

Alternative picks: Week 6, 2018

by Tony & Andy | Oct 11, 2018 | 2018 Season, NFL Picks

What a difference a year makes. Andy stretches his win streak to five weeks. Can Tony pull himself from the doldrums?

Here are the standings:

And here are the picks:

1) Andy: Vikings over Cardinals – The tough part of the Vikings’ schedule is over. Now, let’s see if they can avoid having a letdown like they did against Buffalo.

2) Tony: Eagles over Giants – I decided to go 2nd and 3rd mainly because I need the extra game to make up ground. Or lose it even faster. The Giants blow.

3) Tony: Rams over Broncos – You could give Case Keenum back Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen and he couldn’t keep up with the Rams. Maybe if neither Cooper Kupp or Brandin Cooks come back from their concussions, but…I doubt it.

4) Andy: Packers over 49ers – CJ Beathard might not be that bad a backup but the Packers should still have their way with San Francisco.

5) Tony: Jaguars over Cowboys – Just had an interesting discussion about using Victory Points in a fantasy football league…

6) Andy: Texans over Bills – The Texans still haven’t looked quite as good offensively with Deshaun Watson as they did last year, but there were signs against Dallas that he might be connecting with Hopkins. If Houston is on, they should beat the Bills comfortably.

7) Tony: Bears over Dolphins – Remember when the Dolphins were 3-0 and finally going to take over the AFC East?  Pepperidge Farm remembers… (remember back in 2015 when I used that same lame bit? Pepperidge Farm remembers…)

8) Andy: Panthers over Redskins – Who knows what Washington team will show up? Carolina should win, but every now and then the Redskins throw a great game into the mix.

9) Tony: Falcons over the Buccaneers – The Buccaneers are who we thought they were. I’m not so sure they’re going to get let off the hook, though.

10) Andy: Seahawks over Raiders – Not sure if Jon Gruden will have success turning Oakland around this year.

11) Tony: Jets over Colts – The Colts are a confusing team…I used to criticize them for continuing to draft solid skill players to prop up Peyton Manning, at the expense of their defense (and eventually their offensive line)…now they don’t draft solid skill players…but they still can’t figure out the defense or offensive line. Love that the Colts eased Andrew Luck back in over the first five weeks by putting him on pace to shatter the record for most pass attempts in a season…

12) Andy: Chiefs over Patriots – I’ve been rethinking this one a bit over the last couple days.I may regret this pick. But Kansas City looks sooooooo good right now.

13) Tony: Ravens over Titans – I’m actually a bit surprised this game slipped this far down. I literally had no idea the Titans were 3-2 until I just looked them up to mock them for this bit.

14) Andy: Browns over Chargers – The LA Chargers should win, but the Browns are starting to come around a bit. Cleveland might actually start a winning streak.

15) Tony: Steelers over Bengals – I have no idea what to think here.  The Bengals have been putting up points, but still haven’t beaten anybody that I think has looked real impressive. Then again, the Steelers are 2-2-1, and they lost to a Ravens team that the Bengals beat. Maybe this really is Cincinnati’s year?

And then straight up:

And the picks:

Alternative Picks: Week 5, 2018

by Andy | Oct 4, 2018 | 2018 Season, NFL Picks

So, yeah, yawn. Another week, another win for Andy. This season continues to play out in the exact opposite way 2017 did… for what it’s worth: a sandwich and a beer, maybe.

Here are the standings:

And here are the picks: (more…)

Alternative picks: Week 4, 2018

by Tony & Andy | Sep 27, 2018 | 2018 Season, NFL Picks

If it’s double-or-nothing, Andy is catching up. Three weeks in, he’s built a six-game lead over Tony. He’s fairly certain he’ll start overthinking things soon, but he will enjoy it while he can.

Here are the standings:

And here are the picks: (more…)

Alternative picks: Week 3, 2018

by Tony & Andy | Sep 20, 2018 | 2018 Season, NFL Picks

Two questions pop into mind: Did Andy win two weeks in a row at any point last season? And does Andy still owe Tony lunch or is this a double-or-nothing proposition?

Andy pulled off an 8-7-1 record in a week of dreadful picking. It’d be nice if there were some obvious patterns developing, but so far it feels a lot like subterfuge. Patrick Mahomes breaking TD passing records? Ryan Fitzpatrick setting the league on fire? Do we believe it?

Here are the standings:

Here are the picks for week three.

1) Tony: Vikings over Bills – I’ll probably regret picking the home town team after they break my heart again…although at least if they lose to the Bills, I don’t have to worry about playoff heartbreak anymore…right?

2) Andy: Rams over Chargers – The Chargers just keep being the Chargers. Think they’re going to lose, they play well. Think they’re going to win … well, they beat Buffalo last week, which was almost inevitable, but I can’t get the Kansas City game in week one or most of the last two decades out of my head.

3) Andy: Eagles over Colts – Carson Wentz is back. He may be rusty, but Philadelphia is just clearly the better team in this game.

4) Tony: Texans over Giants – This is less about the Texans, and more about the Giants.

5) Andy: Patriots over Lions – The Lions are a dumpster fire. And while it seems like things may be heading in a bit of a downward direction for New England, it’s hard to envision Bill Belichick losing to one of his old proteges.

6) Tony: Bears over Cardinals – Khalil Mack may kill Sam Bradford.

7) Andy: Packers over Redskins – After week one I was ready to climb on the Washington bandwagon. Turns out the answer IS that the Cardinals are just that bad.

8) Tony: Chiefs over 49ers – San Francisco has looked decent. Kansas City has looked phenomenal. Not sure the defense can win them a game if/when the offense sputters, but so far, it hasn’t.

9) Andy: Jaguars over Titans – Jacksonville looks like it might be the next powerhouse in the AFC. Tennessee … still has some significant work to do.

10) Tony: Panthers over Bengals – I don’t remember the logic I had in picking this game here…not a good sign.

11) Andy: Ravens over Broncos – Went with the home team here and I don’t really feel good about it. Neither team has been particularly good so far.

12) Tony: Dolphins over Raiders – The Dolphins haven’t looked absolutely terrible, which means they have a step up on the Raiders. Plus, those west coast teams travelling east…unless it’s to Buffalo.

13) Andy: Steelers over Buccaneers – Uggh.

14) Tony: NY Jets over Browns – (Updating this post with comments Thursday night…) I swear I took the Browns?  I would have, if I’d known that Tyrod Taylor was going to get knocked out…that storyline had Hue Jackson written all over it.

15) Andy: Seahawks over Cowboys – The coin landed on heads.

16) Tony: Falcons over Saints – The coin landed on Tails?

Straight up picks so far:

And the picks: