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Week 12 Preview

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The Turkey Bowl games are done, which leaves us with the rest of the games in our week 12 preview podcast.
Wade & Ryan look back at the two blow-out games we were treated to on Thursday night, as well as look ahead to the full run of games set for week 12 in the NFL.
There are a few teams looking to make some moves this week as the playoffs loom, and there are still a few plucky contenders out there looking to wreck havoc on the win columns of those looking to reach a bye in the first week.
Some of the big games the boys have there eyes on this week include:

Cardinals (6-4) vs Patriots (4-6)
Cardinals -2.5  +49.5

This could be the week that the Patriots are eliminated from the playoffs and Cam’s status for next week in jeopardy. Bill has failed to gel the team in the post TB12 days, so it might be time to pack it in and prepare for next season.
Cam Newton now runs like the Iron Giant, and he doesn’t have the running support to make the offence mush of a threat.
Kyler and the boys are fresh and feisty. They have a great scoring game, even if their D lets up almost as many points.
The weather could be  big factor here, but the Cardinals have enough of  squad to put this one to rest easily. Ryan & Wade both like Arizona.
Ryan- Cardinals 27 Patriots 20
Wade- Cardinals 31 Patriots 27

Browns (7-3) vs Jaguars (1-9)
Browns -6  +49

Cleveland is 7-3, but they sure don’t feel it. Like a used car you wonder what that clunky feeling is every time you turn right, they are barely starting and don’t look like they will go the distance.
Baker Mayfield has yet to fine his new OBJ, and his running game the only thing that’s keeping him the games, plus the occasional nice play from the D.
Jacksonville blows, and counters the Jets for their suck factor. Mike Glennon might be the best thing to get this team going again, as only their D has been making plays and rattling some of the top QBs to keep them close.
Wade & Ryan are both big on the Browns here, as they need a big W to start to feel like they can take down a team like the Steelers.
Ryan- Browns 24 Jags 20
Wade- Browns 30 Jags 18

Titans (7-3) vs Colts (7-3)
Colts-3  +51

The Colts are alive once again thanks to the return to health of most of their team, their comeback against the Packers showed that they have the mustard to spread it on when they need it.
Luckily for them they are playing the Titans….again. Way to go NFL to schedule two teams that so recently played, there will be little difference in the result.
Tennessee is still hurting across the board, as Tannehill struggles to find the time and openness to hit any receivers. Henry will be shown the same wall he was pushed into 2 weeks ago, as the Colts will just use the same playbook to rattle their bones.
Indianapolis is feeling the playoff smile now, with recent wins outplaying some of the struggles they had in the early part of the season.
Rivers is finally able to open up the field, and Taylor should improve on the previous performance of Nyheim Hines when they last played.
Ryan and Wade both like the Colts here, but with different results.
Ryan- Colts 24 Titans 23
Wade- Colts 30 Titans 24

Some of the other games that the boys like for your spread betting tips:

Ryan-Raiders, Giants, Panthers, Jets & Bears.
Wade-Falcons, Bills, Bucs, & Seahawks

That’s it for our week 12 preview podcast, hope you like it and keep listening. If you really like it, make sure you share it with your friends, after all-the best gift this holiday season is a free one.
We’re always looking for new guests and writers, so if you feel up for it please reach out and we will see what we can do. We reach over 130,000 people a week here, so your unpaid (for now) stuff will be at least published to more eyes than a local newspaper. That’s something.

Callum’s Thanksgiving

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THE PICKS SIX THANKSGIVING SPECIAL

Well, Corona has REALLY officially ruined 2020. As I was writing this, we’ve been hit by breaking news in Baltimore. Ravens-Steelers is postponed to Sunday… and we’re down to just TWO Thanksgiving football games. Sad. Obviously… there are much more important things. It’s absolutely the correct decision to keep everyone safe, but it is sad we’re losing a third of our Thanksgiving slate. 

As far as we’re concerned here at Picks Six, Sunday was a bit of a down day. An 8-5 record on the games was a bit disappointing – a couple of rogue upsets were thrown in there. I’ll update my season stats for this weekend’s column after these two games on Thursday. 

Anyway, on with the matter at hand. This is the first Thanksgiving I’ll have spent in the UK since 2012… I’m very sad about it, but determined to make the most of the day and make sure I do the 3 most important things on any Thanksgiving – Give many thanks, seriously over eat, and watch 9 hours of uninterrupted NFL football… guess it’s only gonna be about 6 hours this year. 

One of the bonuses of Thanksgiving football is that each game can receive your undivided attention. I usually live in the world of RedZone, and as a result miss out on some of the nuances of the “not so often on prime time” teams. So – a little bit different from the norm – let’s take a more in depth than usual look at both games on Thursday.

Houston Texans @ Detroit Lions

The Texans are still probably too far back realistically to get back into the AFC Playoff race, but beating the Patriots will always feel good. Surely Houston will be riding high following Sunday’s exploits? The Lions on the other hand… yikes. Matthew Stafford was shutout for the first time in his career, and not by one of the most elite defenses in the league. Happily, I donthink Detroit will shake off their atrocious offensive output vs Carolina on Sunday and help this one be a fun game. Both teams are better offensively than defensively, but the X-Factor in this matchup had to be Deshaun Watson. I correctly called a “Watson” game on Sunday as he pushed the Patriots deeper into the mire. Duke Johnson was held in check, but Brandin Cooks and Will Fuller are such a threat down the field that Houston can still be expected to score lots of points even without a typical run game. This game just feels like a classic Detroit Thanksgiving game where they’re just simply outmatched and not good enough to win. The return of Swift to their back field will help, but I don’t think their pass rush is good enough to stress Watson throughout the game. Houston should win this comfortably enough.

Washington Football Team @ Dallas Cowboys

Welcome back into playoff contention Dallas Cowboys. The big upset against Minnesota has breathed life into a season that looked a lost cause just a few weeks ago. On the other side of the coin… I am completely befuddled by the fact that Washington found a way to win 3 games this year – they might not win any more – but you have to credit Ron Rivera for instilling some drive and grit in this team. I think their defensive stats are a little skewed – Washington claims to have a top 5 pass defense, but the truth is teams have been up on them in almost every game and stuck with the run as a result – but Chase Young is already proving to be the game-wrecker he was advertised to be. The Cowboys hopes fall largely on being able to contain the Washington pass rush and give Andy Dalton time to find his weapons. Those weapons WILL find a way to be open, but that pocket needs to hold long enough for a play to develop. Yes, they should lean on Zeke, but when a pass is needed Dalton must be protected. Their defense appeared to take a big step forward against the Vikings and, with all due respect to Washington, Terry McLaurin and Antonio Gibson are nowhere near Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook. I’m taking the Cowboys every which way here and actually think they have enough left in the tank to get to 6-10, and win the NFC East. 

Picks

Okay, so, it’s a holiday… we deserve entertainment… we’re definitely backing both overs. Fill up with Turkey, then fill up with points. I’m a little biased with my past history of having lived in Texas, but it’s really hard not to see a double for the Lonestar State come Thursday. Texans and Cowboys both to win.

Thanksgiving Thursday Picks:

The Double Over –

Over 51.5 (Houston @ Detroit)

Over 46.0 (Washington @ Dallas)

The Texas Double Spread –

Houston Texans -3.0 

Dallas Cowboys -3.0

The Quad Touchdown Special –

Both Players to score a TD – TJ Hockenson & Brandin Cooks

Both Players to score a TD – Ezekiel Elliot & Antonio Gibson

£10 on this pays £165 depending on your bookmaker.

(Bonus Special Tip) – 

If you’re in the U.K., SkyBet are offering this at 16/1 which I LOVE with a capital L.O.V.E.

Brandin Cooks 100+ rec yds & Ezekiel Elliot 100+ rush yds.

Week 12 Sunday 

Obviously, thanks to the postponement, we now get Steelers-Ravens on Sunday, which adds itself to a pretty tasty slate already! Titans-Colts, Chiefs-Buccaneers & Packers-Bears (always guaranteed drama) as a Sunday nightcap is a very tasty way to spend an afternoon and evening. As always, I’m @callumjdsquires on Twitter and Instagram. Come say hi, and have a very happy Thanksgiving wherever you are. 

Callum Squires is a UK based writer and friend of NFL in London. 

Thanksgiving Podcast

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Gobble, gobble NFL fans, it’s time for the annual Thanksgiving podcast and we couldn’t be more excited.
Actually we could, but let’s not get into all that yet, as we know that everyone has had a pretty sucky 2020 thus far And if you haven’t, you must be a Steelers fan.
Wade & Ryan break down the terrible games we had in week 11, taking the time to reflect on all the players who screwed them on their bets.
They also preview the 3 games lined up for Thursday, although if you live in the UK the only REALLY good game takes place at 1:20 am Friday morning when the Steelers host the Ravens.
But we’ll get into all that.

Texans (3-7) vs Lions (4-6)
Texans -3  +51.5
5:30pm GMT

Once again the Motor City is hosting a Thanksgiving classic, although the guys think that the honour of hosting these games should switch if the team loses it in a contest. Wouldn’t it be more fun if your team earned a right to host Thanksgiving by winning it the year prior?
Houston is starting to get their groove together, and it only took 7 losses to do it. Their team is somewhat healthier, and the ghost of Bill O’Brien seems to have farted its way out the door.
Deshaun Watson looked better in his beating of the Patriots, but he is still taking way too much time in the pocket before making a decision. He needs to speed up his gameplay and hit targets earlier like big man Fuller if he wants a chance of getting an early lead here.
Detroit as a team is a reflection of the city itself. A paler, sicklier version of itself, beset by financial problems and a dwindling metropolis. They don’t work as hard as they use to, and as franchises go, could be one of the ones that moves first in the next decade.
Matt Stafford has club thumb, and the team is too riddled with ill to even make it through the rest of the season with their heads held high.
They will need their D huge in this game, as Watson looks to rampage across them with the help of Duke Johnson.
Ryan and Wade both like the Texans in a comfortable win here.
Ryan- Texans 27 Lions 12
Wade- Texans 30 Lions 21

Washington (3-7) vs Cowboys (3-7)
Cowboys -3  +46
9:30pm GMT

Dallas is also hosting another turkey bowl, although this year the title seems apt given the state of both of the teams playing in this game.
The Cowboys are bleeding money from the lack of fans, but it might have been a blessing given the injuries that they have suffered this season. Watching Dak get twisted would be enough to make any child fearful for years, not to mention what the Washington has suffered to their legs as well.
The Team has been staying in the hunt for the smelly NFC East title like a rat riding a giant turd down the sewer. Alex Smith brings a wince of anticipation every time he hobbles onto the pitch, as you wonder how long it is before he gets collapsed like a Buffalo tailgate table.
Their D keeps them in games, and if speedy McLaurin can find space, then the Team can stay in this and keep it close like most of their games this season.
Ginger Ninja Dalton is back, and it seems like his team respects him enough to stand up for him the next time someone decided to decapitate him midfield. The Cowboys have the most talented & healthy squad in this division, they just need to get the mojo rolling and this could be the game to kickstart it.
Ryan & Wade both like ‘Dem Boys in this game, although Wade thinks that they might open this game up if they get the lead and force Washington to pass more.
Ryan- Cowboys 24 Washington 20
Wade- Cowboys 28 Washington 20

Ravens (6-4) vs Steelers (10-0)
Steelers -4.5  +45
1:30am GMT Friday

The good thing about lockdown is not having to go to a sportsbar & hear the smarmy gip of a Steelers fan talking about a perfect season. We get it, you’re good, healthy, but you also have a lucky schedule. And Big Ben, who is known to turd it in big situations.
The Steelers host the limping Ravens in this late contest that is on at an enviable time here in the UK. Sadly most of us will have to watch this with our morning coffee, but it still looks to be a great game.
Baltimore is suffering after that beating at the hands of the Titans last week, and now they have to cower into the home of your biggest rival on the biggest stage of America.
Lamar Jackson isn’t the same without an impeccable offensive line. Guys are getting to him and rattling his confidence, leading to poor decision making. Not having a reliable running back also adds to the ills of this team that is looking to reclaim 2019 glory.
The Ravens are lacking on defense as well, with key injuries to some of their top players meaning Big Ben will have plenty of time to find one of his many receivers.
Pittsburgh just needs to hand the ball off to Conner and watch the points come in, with Ben throwing a few easy TDs given to him by his D.
Ryan likes the Ravens to comeback and slug the Steelers with their first loss of the season, Wade likes the idea, but still sees Pittsburgh rolling on to victory here.
Ryan- Ravens 27 Steelers 26
Wade- Steelers 24 Ravens 18

That’s it for this week so far on our Thanksgiving Podcast, we will be back with another podcast this week to preview Week 12 games, as well as review the turkey picks from Thursday.
Thanks for listening, please subscribe, share, laugh, love, and for God’s sake..sanitise.

Week 11 Upsets

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Week 11 is here, so let’s see if we can find out where Las Vegas may have missed a few steps. That’s right, it’s time for Wade’s Week 11 upsets.
Despite a stinky beating last week, I am rocking a 23-5 upsets record, which I am hoping to improve upon this week.
It was a wild week of wind in week 10, which affected some of my scores, but not as much as injuries did.
So what lines might you want to look at this week? Well, here ya go!

Falcons (3-6) vs Saints (7-2)
Saints -3.5  +51

Drew Brees is a broken man, although it wasn’t known how broken he was until this weekend. With 11 fractures, Brees is going to be sidelined for most of the rest of the regular season. That means Taysom Hill is taking over, leaving poor Jameis Winston perplexed.
Maybe they will finally have a QB that can throw for more than 12 yards?
Atlanta finally has her groove back, with Matt Ryan chucking loads of yards and Calvin Ridley continuing to frustrate the opposition.
It seems a little disrespectful to look over the Falcons given their recent play, and the fact that they have loads of players back from injury.
This line has dropped from -5 to -3.5, and may continue to drop.
I like the Falcons here to cover, and if Matty Ice is grooving, they could potentially even win.
Falcons Cover

Lions (4-5) vs Panthers (3-7)
Panthers -3  +49

This game is like driving down the highway, and your two kids are fighting nonstop in the back. You’re not sure if you want to pull the car over and smack them both, or just aim the engine at the semi coming down the road and pray for sweet release of all of you.
Detroit is more than injured, they are also lacking in direction and focus. How much more can you expect to shoulder on Matt Stafford before his wife has a Twitter meltdown?
Carolina is favoured by 3 despite losing Teddy Bridgewater and Christian McCaffery. Really? Is Robbie Anderson going to do all the work himself then?
The Panthers pass rush sucks, which means broken Stafford will have plenty of time to hit Jones or Hockenson.
Lions Win

Bengals (2-6-1) vs Washington (2-7)
Washington -1.5  +46.5

Joe Burrow can’t seem to catch a break this year. He has played incredibly despite a horrible O-line keeping the Bengals in games, they had no right to be close in.
Washington can’t get a leg up, literally. Their QBs suck, and their only salvation has been their defence, which keeps them in games.
Cincinnati has played loads of tough teams, so it’s fitting that they finally get a game against a weak opposition. While Joe Mixon is out, Bernard will be fine to distract away from all the balls tossed to Higgins and Boyd.
I like the Bengals to win this one in the nations capital.
Bengals Win

Packers (7-2) vs Colts (6-3)
Colts -1.5  +51.5

Green Bay as underdogs? Are you trying to piss off and motivate Rodgers?
Sure, the Colts have improved their play thanks to getting players back from injuries, but they haven’t demonstrated being favourites over the Packers.
Indy’s D and O line have both been playing incredible football lately, but Phillip Rivers hasn’t been that convincing. They will need to use more than Nyheim Hines to get the running game going, as that seems like the only way you’re going to hurt Green Bay.
I like Aaron to light up this dome, and hurt the Colts at home.
Packers Win

So how much will you win this week if you parlay my 4 picks into one handy bet?
Well on Bet365 a £10 bet gives you a return of £158.26, including a 15% bonus for multiple bets.

Make sure you also join our DraftKings League. Our league ‘NFL in London’ is a great place to try your hand at fantasy NFL. You can play for FREE or in some of our smaller contests as well. Once you build your confidence up, try your hand at some of the great contests in the DK lobby.
Join here:
https://dkn.gs/r/kwxDR0JIokKPkA6cPjCtNA

Stay safe, sane, and enjoy week 11!

Week 11 Podcast

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Week 10 was a wet and wild weekend, as bettors and fantasy enthusiasts alike were gut-punched by some tough games.
Wade & Ryan look back on the nasty week that was, and sum up their thoughts on what happened, and what it means for the season ahead.
Week 11 brings it with some interesting games with playoff implications, with questions for every division.
Will the Packers upset and dominate? Can the Steelers go 10-0 with ease? What’s up with Miami?
All of these and more in this week’s podcast.
Some of the games the guys look at include:

Falcons (3-6) vs Saints (7-2)
Saints -3.5  +51

Matt Ryan continues to lead the league in passing, torching defences in deficit as his team leaks even more points. Atlanta has strung a few wins together, and need to continue that focus in this divisional contest.
New Orleans is Brees-less this week, as Taysom Hill takes the reins in his first start of the season. He will need to be more than a flash in the pan this week to get the Saints sizzling on all fronts. Hopefully Hill will take some deep ball throws, something New Orleans his lacked with noodle-arm at the helm.
Ryan likes the Falcons for the upset win, while Wade thinks that Atlanta will cover.
Ryan- Falcons 27  Saints 23
Wade- Saints 26 Falcons 24

Eagles (3-5-1) vs Browns (6-3)
Browns -3.5  +48

Philly is nothing special this year, and Carson Wentz should be seriously worried about a job next season. They don’t have much clicking and after a beating by the Giants last week, you have to wonder what motivates the Eagles given their abhorrent play.
Baker Mayfield looks like he is zoned out this year, with a lack lustre effort in a home win last week. Sure, the wind sucked, but you should be able to get more than 10 points if you claim to be a calibre qb.
Ryan is big on a Philadelphia revenge in this game, and likes Wentz to put on a solid game. Wade isn’t as convinced, and likes the Browns to finally score at home and add another w to their tally.
Ryan- Eagles 20 Browns 17
Wade- Browns 27 Eagles 23

Titans (6-3) vs Ravens (6-3)
Ravens -6.5  +49

Tennessee has some major issues to address after such a commanding start. Relying solely on Henry isn’t the answer, as Tannehill is struggling with an offensive line that is making him work. Their own D has injuries as well, but they’ll need to pull together on this one to stop a stinky slide.
Baltimore is favoured by almost a touchdown after losing to Cam in the rain? The Ravens lost more than the game in Foxboro, as their D was besieged by injuries across all fronts. Luckily Tennessee doesn’t have the rushing squad, so Lamar will need to start running if he wants to confuse them.
Ryan likes the Titans on this one, and sees Henry having a big one. Wade agrees that the Titans are going to challenge and cover, but the Ravens should still win.
Ryan- Titans 27 Ravens 24
Wade- Ravens 24 Titans 21

Packers (7-2) vs Colts (6-3)
Colts -1.5  +51.5

Las Vegas has spotted the Colts in this one, obviously impressed by their recent wins after getting much of their team back from ill. They also saw what the Jags did to the Pack in week 10, and forsee more of the same visiting Indy.
Green Bay did struggle against Jacksonville, but you have to give credit to that fast front of the Jags, who rushed at Rodgers all game. The Packers may have been looking ahead to this game, as beating an AFC rival is a good show of strength heading into the stretch.
Indianapolis has looked good as of late, but Rivers hasn’t been that impressive. Hines has been a nifty addition, but they will need the speed of Taylor this week if they can hope to take advantage of the Packers weakness against the run.
Ryan and Wade both like Green Bay here, as Rodgers is never one you want to paint the underdog sign on when he’s feeling hot.
Ryan- Packers 28 Colts 20
Wade- Packer 30 Colts 26

That’s it for week 11 podcasting, make sure you subscribe to the podcast so that you are kept up to date with the latest news. We will be doing an earlier podcast this week for Thanksgiving, so make sure you look out for it.