DTM'S Bagels And Lox Week 12 NFL
By Dan Leach/Follow Dan on Twitter @DTMLEACH
As the NFL season heats up so does the DTM Prediction machine, which will be here for you each and every week to help you win your pick-em-pool, embarrass your friends, and just become a more whole football fan and human being.
I will take a look at five games each week with the best value and rate them on a sliding "Bagels and Lox" 1-10 scale. The fun continues and is getting serious.......
TAMPA BAY AT DETROIT 1 PM EST TV FOX RADIO 971 THE TICKET (LIONS -8)
This is a game that could define the Lions season if they lose and could be the start of a run to their first division title since 1993 as well. The Bucs simply are a bad football team, but somehow with smoke and mirrors have played three straight good football games in a row, with two against possible playoff teams in Miami and Seattle.
The Lions gave one away in a place they hadn't won since 1955 in Pittsburgh last week, but will come home focused and hungry playing at Ford Field for the first time in almost a month .
This is going to be a tight game the whole way as the Bucs are not going to fight as their confidence as grown over the past few weeks. Detroit will win the game , but with all the emotion of the past two week I would not be surprised at all if this goes down to the wire.
5.5 BAGELS AND LOX ON THE BUCS +8
DENVER AT NEW ENGLAND 8:30 PM EST TV FOX RADIO 971 THE TICKET (BRONCOS -2.5)
The Patriots might have gotten jobbed last week in Carolina at the hands of NFL officiating, but you know Bill Belichick will have his guys focused and ready as they are underdogs in back-to-back games for the first time since 2006 and are 15-2 ATS as a dog following a loss.
The problem is this is really not that great of a Pats team and this really is that good of a Broncos team. Peyton and company will be way too much for that overvalued Pats D.
6 BAGELS AND LOX ON THE BRONCOS -3
CAROLINA AT MIAMI 1 PM EST TV FOX (PANTHERS -4.5)
The Fins are a head scratching type of team cause they can look like a playoff squad and then go and lose to Tampa bay on Monday Night football. What I ca say is the Panthers are for real and they are using that top 5 defense and the heroics of Cam Cam Newton to become a legitimate NFC threat for the first time in years.
It continues today in South Beach as Miami simply won't be able to contain the Panthers O.
6.5 BAGELS AND LOX ON THE PANTHERS -4.5
TENNESSEE AT OAKLAND 4:05 PM EST TV CBS (TITANS -1.5)
Don't look now , but in a wacky AFC both these teams are still legitimately alive for a playoff berth with today being a de-facto elimination game for the loser. The Raiders are an enigma as they can show you their progress and then rip it right away from you.
The Titans have been the same way this season playing like a playoff team at times and a total disaster at others.
The one thing that Raiders have done well this year is play good football at home and they will continue that today as the Matt McGloin show continues after the nice game last week by the sub.
7.4 BAGELS AND LOX ON THE RAIDERS +1.5
DALLAS AT NEW YORK GIANTS 4:25 PM EST TV FOX (GIANTS -3)
Can you really buy into this G-men team? So many are right now it has to scare you as the Giants simply are not that good even with the win streak they have put together to get back to relevance.
The Cowboys aren't world beaters either , but always play NY tough and all the numbers are in their favor . The dog has covered 71% of Dallas games over the last 4 seasons (41-17 ATS), and any team off a 30+ point loss before a bye is 15-4 ATS in the last 19. Look for Dallas to put a stake in the G-Men's playoff hopes at the met-O-Lands.
8 BAGELS AND LOX ON THE COWBOYS +3
DTM'S ODDS TIDBIT OF THE WEEK-101ST Grey Cup gets going from Regina, Saskatchewan at 6 p.m. - the oldest football trophy in the Universe:) Saskatchewan Roughriders -7 over Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Season Stats
Last Week-2-3
Season to Date-25-21
Dan Leach is on the short list for possible Hilary Clinton 2016 running mates, was the first journalist to interview Dracula, is the basis for the gritty heroine Katniss in the Hunger Games book trilogy, and is a finalist for the first human manned mission to Neptune.
