Dave's Dime Week 17: Still Kicking

Dave's Dime

"Because Two Cents Just Isn't Enough"
www.davesdime.com

THE INTRO

Don't worry, I'm still alive!

For the first time in almost a decade, I wasn't able to send the Dime out last week. I was in Las Vegas with a broken laptop. It was heart-breaking.

Needless to say, you were all devastated as well. Email upon email came pouring into my mailbox, asking "where is the Dime?!?" and "are you okay?" and "It just isn't Sunday without the Dime".

Of course, none of those emails actually came in. Everyone just went on living their lives. The world just kept on spinning.

I'm going to ASSUME that you all meant to write, but you also had broken laptops. Or you were too busy with Christmas shopping. Or the emails ended up in my spam folder. It couldn't possibly be that the Dime isn't ACTUALLY all that important to your day-to-day life, so I'll leave that option off the table.

I tweeted out my picks Saturday night here (https://twitter.com/DavesDime/status/414729120333836288 and https://twitter.com/DavesDime/status/414729630117924864), and actually ended up going a solid 10-6 against the spread and 12-4 without the spread.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season with your friends and family, and wish you a very happy new year as well! Let's see if I can finish the season strong here!

THE RECORD

Week 16

Spread "Picks": 0 - 0 - 0 (N/A) 

Spread "Leans": 10 - 6 - 0 (.625) 

Spread "Coin Flips": 0 - 0 - 0 (N/A)

With the spread: 10 - 6 - 0 (.625)

Without the spread: 12

 - 4 - 0 (.750)

Week 15

Spread "Picks": 2 - 1 - 1 (.667) 

Spread "Leans": 4 - 5 - 1 (.444) 

Spread "Coin Flips": 1 - 1 - 0 (.500)

With the spread: 7 - 7 - 2 (.563)

Without the spread: 8

 - 8 - 0 (.500)

Season

Spread "Picks": 30 - 30 - 1 (.500) 

Spread "Leans": 68 - 67 - 6 (.504) 

Spread "Coin Flips": 16 - 20 - 0 (.444)

With the spread: 114 - 117 - 9 (.494)

Without the spread: 139 - 100 - 1 (.582)

THE PICKS

($) - Indicates a "Pick", which is a side that I feel strongly about

(/) - Indicates a "Lean", which is the side that I'm leaning towards 

(?) - Indicates a "Coin Flip", where I don't have much of an opinion

* - Indicates Outright Upset Pick

SUNDAY

(/) Carolina (-6.0) @ Atlanta (+6.0)

You could make a case for Atlanta here, that with no pressure at home the Falcons could make it a game against a team with much more to lose. But against a team as strong as Carolina, I have trouble going with that case. The Panthers are a much better team and should take care of business here.

PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Carolina

PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Carolina

(/) Baltimore (+6.5) @ Cincinnati (-6.5)

I think the Bengals are a threat to do some damage in the postseason, and they could enter the playoffs with momentum with a big win here. I think they'll do just that, ending the Ravens' playoff hopes in the process.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Cincinnati

PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Cincinnati

(?) Houston (+7.0) @ Tennessee (-7.0)

I'd like to think that against a mediocre Titans team, the Texans could at least manage to cover the spread. But who knows with this group? No strong opinion here.

PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Houston

PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Tennessee

(/) Jacksonville (+10.5) @ Indianapolis (-10.5)

Indianapolis played a lousy game in its last game against the Jaguars and won comfortably in a blowout. At home, I would imagine the result would be similar for the Colts this week.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Indianapolis

PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Indianapolis

($) NY Jets (+6.0) @ Miami (-6.0)

Reports indicate that this will be Rex Ryan's last game in New York, and the players should rally behind that fact. In addition to being able to play spoiler on a hated division rival, the Jets should be plenty motivated to make a game of this one.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: NY Jets

PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Miami

(/) Detroit (+2.5) @ Minnesota (-2.5)

Detroit has fizzled out down the stretch, but with the pressure to make the postseason off and Adrian Peterson out, the Lions should be able to manage a win against the Vikings.

PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Detroit

PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Detroit

($) Washington (+3.0) @ NY Giants (-3.0)

I'm honestly not sure why the Redskins are only a 3-point underdog in this spot. Terrible on both sides of the ball, the Redskins have looked like a team that is ready to call it a season, and this week should be no different.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: NY Giants

PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: NY Giants

(/) Cleveland (+6.5) @ Pittsburgh (-6.5)

The Browns have been in a tailspin down the stretch while the Steelers appear to be finishing strong. I don't love giving up 6.5 points in a division rivalry game, but the Steelers seem to be the side in this one.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Pittsburgh

PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Pittsburgh

($) Green Bay (-3.0) @ Chicago (+3.0)

Aaron Rodgers returns for the Packers, and he owes the Bears a little payback for injuring him in the first place. Assuming he stays healthy in this one, I don't see the Packers failing to get the job done against Chicago's terrible defense.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Green Bay

PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Green Bay

(/) Denver (-10.5) @ Oakland (+10.5)

Terrelle Pryor starting for the Raiders may give the team a bit of a boost, but it shouldn't actually affect the outcome of this game. With Denver playing for home field throughout the playoffs, look for the Broncos to clinch against the lowly Raiders.

PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Denver

PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Denver

(?) Buffalo (+7.5) @ New England (-7.5)

I never have the slightest idea with New England, and this game is no exception. The Patriots mess around against a weaker opponent and Buffalo makes a game of it? Your guess is as good as mine.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Buffalo

PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: New England

(/) Tampa Bay (+11.5) @ New Orleans (-11.5)

Simply put, the Saints are 7-0 straight up and 6-0-1 against the spread at home this season. How can you go against them in a game in which they are at home with their playoff hopes on the line?
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: New Orleans

PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: New Orleans

(?) San Francisco (-1.0) @ Arizona (+1.0)

Easily the toughest game on the board, this game features two of the hottest teams in football playing at an elite level on defense. At home, I think Arizona can squeeze out a win against the tough 49ers.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Arizona

PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Arizona

(/) Kansas City (+9.0) @ San Diego (-9.0)

The Chargers have looked solid down the stretch, but I'm not quite ready to give nine points to a team like Kansas City. San Diego should win at home, but I think it will be close.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Kansas City

PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: San Diego

(/) St. Louis (+11.5) @ Seattle (-11.5)

Fresh off of its first lost in 16 games at home, the Seahawks should be plenty fired up to get things back on track and clinch home field throughout in the postseason. St. Louis is playing well, but the Seahawks should outclass them on Sunday.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Seattle

PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Seattle

(?) Philadelphia (-7.0) @ Dallas (+7.0)

Part of me would love to pick Dallas, a team sick of finishing runner up after two straight years of being eliminated in Week 17. But what about this team without Tony Romo suggests that they can pull off the upset against a red hot Philadelphia team? I'm not seeing it.

 

PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Philadelphia

PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Philadelphia

THE COLLEGE NICKEL

 

FINAL RECORD: 41 – 41 – 2 (.500)

Good luck! Thanks for reading!

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