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Random observation here …

We have a bit of an anomaly this week. Throughout most of the season we have to deal with bye weeks. Whether it is our fantasy teams or not being able to get more points in a week of a confidence pool, we have to deal with a stretch of the season where someone won’t be playing.

This week though, in the heart of it all, guess who has a bye week … … … bye weeks!

Yes, all 32 teams will be taking the field this weekend. It’s a good thing, too – after the last couple of weeks, we need more points!

Week 8 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

16 – DETROIT over Tennessee – No Hutchinson, no Jameson … not a problem this week.

15 – Baltimore over CLEVELAND – Would you stand in front of Derrick Henry? My BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that THE RAVENS WILL WIN THE SUPER BOWL.

14 – Kansas City over LAS VEGAS – Well thank goodness the Chiefs made a trade to FINALLY get an offensive weapon!

13 – DENVER over Carolina – The Broncos being this high at any point in the season can’t have been on anyone’s Bingo card.

12 – PITTSBURGH over New York Giants – Seems like the clock is officially ticking on the Danie Jones era.

11 – HOUSTON over Indianapolis – The Texans lost that week … don’t see that happening too often this season.

10 – LOS ANGELES CHARGERS over New Orleans – Hopefully you all see why Derek Carr should get more appreciation now.

9 – SAN FRANCISCO over Dallas – Oh boy do the 9ers need this one.

8 – Minnesota over LOS ANGELES RAMS – Receivers are all either being traded or are injured … ask the Rams about the latter.

7 – Buffalo over SEATTLE – Pretty sure this win might clinch the AFC East for the Bills.

6 – New York Jets over NEW ENGLAND – I think Davante Adams is just glad he doesn’t have to play the Steelers for a third straight week.

5 – CINCINNATI over Philadelphia – This was supposed to be Game of the Week material … yet here we are.

4 – Green Bay over JACKSONVILLE – No bye week after two weeks in London? Not ideal for the Jags.

3 – WASHINGTON over Chicago – This will be fun to watch this week…and for years to come.

2 – Atlanta over TAMPA BAY – Hard to win a game when you have basically no one to throw the ball to.

1 – MIAMI over Arizona – This should go up several lines if Tua ends up playing.

This has been a dramatic season to say the least.

While that is great while you’re watching the games on Sunday, it does make things a little difficult when filling out your confidence picks. We have had several weeks already where we are sure about maybe one or two games but then the rest are toss-ups.

This week, well, seems to be more of the same! So, now that we’re used to it, let’s just pick ‘em all right!

Week 7 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

15 – BUFFALO over Tennessee – The Bills make a move to improve their offense … FINALLY!!

14 – WASHINGTON over Carolina – Panthers fans have to shed a few tears every time they play a team with a young, high-pick QB that actually succeeds!

13 – Philadelphia over NEW YORK GIANTS – Hard to win a game at home when your quarterback apparently refuses to throw for a touchdown at home!

12 – LOS ANGELES RAMS over Las Vegas – Boy it’s fun being a Raiders fan!

11 – JACKSONVILLE over New England – When are they just going to announce the official creation of the London Jaguars?

10 – INDIANAPOLIS over Miami – It’s crazy how different the Dolphins offense is without Tua.

9 – ATLANTA over Seattle – One of those “it will be exciting but you don’t know why” games.

8 – Los Angeles Chargers over ARIZONA – We all know how ‘effective’ a non-MHJ Cardinals offense is.

7 – PITTSBURGH over New York Jets – The Jets have players, but the organization is what is keeping them down.

6 – Houston over GREEN BAY – The Texan look solid. My BOLD PREDICTION is that HOUSTON WILL MAKE THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME … … … AT LEAST.

5 – Detroit over MINNESOTA – This would be higher up the list if Hutchinson was still playing.

4 – SAN FRANCISCO over Kansas City – This game won’t be played in February so the 9ers have a chance.

3 – TAMPA BAY over Baltimore – It’s really weird to think that this could be a Super Bowl preview…but here we are!

2 – Cincinnati over CLEVELAND – It’s the Battle for Ohio! … which is something to battle over I guess.

1 – Denver over NEW ORLEANS – Some has to win this one I guess.

If you haven’t noticed by now, we are in the thick of a time that plays a role in the confidence pool, especially season-long pools – bye weeks!

This can play big in your season long pools. If you have had a solid start and are sitting comfortably towards the top of the standings, you are loving bye weeks as the top numbers aren’t in play! You can’t have 15 and 16 point games when there are only 14 games played in a week!

On the flip side, if you need to make up ground, you need to make sure you hit as many picks as you can in a week.

Lucky for you, you’re reading my picks, so you’re good to go ?

Week 6 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

14 – CHICAGO over Jacksonville – This is more about how close all the games are this week than how confident we should be about the Bears.

13 – Houston over NEW ENGLAND – Drake Maye will be a solid quarterback but won’t have the tools to put up enough points against Houston this week.

12 – PHILADELPHIA over Cleveland – Arguably a battle of the two most frustrating teams for their fan bases this season.

11 – BALTIMORE over Washington – The beltway battle is going to be fun to watch for a long time with Lamar vs Jayden

10 – GREEN BAY over Arizona – The Cardinals don’t have enough to win two big road games in a row.

9 – LAS VEGAS over Pittsburgh – FINALLY Aidan O’Connell is back under center where he belongs! My BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that THE RAIDERS WILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS.

8 – Buffalo over NEW YORK JETS – Obviously there are a lot of internal issues with the Jets that will overshadow much needed preparations for this week.

7 – SEATTLE over San Francisco – The Seahawks need this big win after last week’s big loss.

6 – DENVER over Los Angeles Chargers – The Broncos are winning games … … … I don’t know why.

5 – Tampa Bay over NEW ORLEANS – Our best to everyone in Florida.

4 – Detroit over DALLAS – The Lions have had this one circled on their calendars for a long time!

3 – TENNESSEE over Indianapolis – This is based on Anthony Richardson not playing. If he plays, switch to the Colts on this line.

2 – NEW YORK GIANTS over Cincinnati – As we know, the Giants should be on the one-point line if we think they’ll win … unless …

1 – CAROLINA over Atlanta – … we also think the Panthers will win in the same week as well.

As we head into week 5, we head into our first week of the International Series. To start things off this season we are sending the Jets and Vikings over to London in an effort to get scientists from another country to hopefully tell us how Sam Darnold is able to quarterback an undefeated team.

This means that our Sunday is getting an early start. So if you are like me and wait until Sunday morning to do your final fantasy/confidence tweaking, remember to set your alarm!

Week 5 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

14 – SEATTLE over New York Giants – If there is anyone in the country still in a Survival Pool, Seattle would be a solid pick this week.

13 – SAN FRANCISCO over Arizona – Unfortunately for the Cardinals the 9ers injury woes aren’t on defense.

12 – WASHINGTON over Cleveland – Jayden Daniels is looking solid. My BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that JAYDEN DANIELS WILL WIN OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR.

11 – KANSAS CITY over New Orleans – Derek Carr does have some success in Arrowhead…but it’s not like he’s with the Raiders anymore.

10 – CHICAGO over Carolina – Pretty sure you’ll be able to see the Panthers front office crying over seeing everything they gave to Chicago for their now-backup quarterback.

9 – MINNESOTA over New York Jets – Seriously, Sam Darnold?

8 – JACKSONVILLE over Indianapolis – Injuries will really hinder the Colts this week. That and the fact that they never win in Jacksonville.

7 – Baltimore over CINCINNATI – Remember the pre-season when this would have been an exciting game?

6 – Dallas over PITTSBURGH – No the Cowboys aren’t off to the start they probably hoped for, but they still have an offense that Justin Fields won’t be able to keep up with.

5 – HOUSTON over Buffalo – Stefon Diggs will have his new team properly hyped for this one!

4 – Las Vegas over DENVER – With or without a star receiver, the Raiders own the Broncos in Denver.

3 – Tampa Bay over ATLANTA – This should be a fun way to start the week.

2 – NEW ENGLAND over Miami – Without Tua, the Dolphins look as lost as Tua does when he gets hit.

1 – LOS ANGELES RAMS over Green Bay – Just like the 9ers game a couple weeks ago, the Rams will find a way to win this game they shouldn’t (and we picked it right last time too!)