11 Picks For NFL 2010 Week 11, Indianapolis at New England
Published Saturday, November 20, 2010 at 01:17:37 PM
Last week, for the third time in three seasons, we did a Browns game on the weekly NFL picks here. And for the third time, the Browns lost. I'm going to hold off on doing another Browns game for a little while.
This week's game is the top NFL match-up of the last decade or so, the Indianapolis Colts at the New England Patriots. The opening line was New England -3, but we're all just picking the game straight up.
This list was published on Saturday, November 20, 2010 at 01:17:37 PM under the category NFL Picks.
It currently has View Comments.
Published Saturday, November 20, 2010 at 01:17:37 PM
Last week, for the third time in three seasons, we did a Browns game on the weekly NFL picks here. And for the third time, the Browns lost. I'm going to hold off on doing another Browns game for a little while.
This week's game is the top NFL match-up of the last decade or so, the Indianapolis Colts at the New England Patriots. The opening line was New England -3, but we're all just picking the game straight up.
Tecmo Super Bowl simulation. (6-4) Jeff George versus Steve Grogan doesn't quite have the cache of Peyton Manning versus Tom Brady. But, in spite of themselves, George and Grogan put on a pretty good show.
Yes, they combined for four interceptions (George threw three) and two more fumbles. And yes, some drives stalled out and ended in field goals and missed field goals. But this was the Tecmo Super Bowl version of a quick shoot-out, with the Patriots making fewer mistakes and ultimately winning the battle.
Madden 11 simulation. (3-7) Manning is more known for his manly two-minute drill drives than Brady (or at least seems to have more of that reputation)... but Madden 11 actually gave us the opposite this week.
Peyton had a strong game, with three touchdown passes to Reggie Wayne. But the Patriots hung in. A few of the Patriots receivers broke out of weak secondary tackling to score, Brady led a game-winning drive, and a field goal as time ran out gave the win to the Patriots.- Laska, my parents' dog. (6-4) Laska is on a two-game win streak and suggests through nonverbal cues that she intends to keep it that way. Next week I'll get to see her in person (dog?) to determine if these nonverbal signs are real. This week she ate the treat that represents the Colts.
Accuscore. (8-2) In a game with a three-point line it's rare to see Accuscore make this definitive of a pick. I expected this one to be pretty even; instead, Accuscore sees the Patriots winning 59 percent of the time. They have Indy winning 40 percent of the time, and one percent of the time the game is called off by the ghost of Drew Bledsoe.
- ESPN's Sports Guy. (5-5) You'll never believe this, but he sees the Patriots beating the Colts. Really! He also had it with a four-point line, not the three-point line that started the week. I'm fairly sure they couldn't have made that line high enough to scare him off.
- 11 Points Reader Battle. (5-5) JNBernstein was the only reader to pick the Jets last week so he's back again and, once again, joined by two newcomers...
@jnbernstein: "I am going with the home Pats to win, but who knows this season."
@natelopez53: "Indy has a MASH unit & NE is getting their evil mojo back. put that on top of last yrs debacle for Belichick, I say: NE 34 IND 31"
@stargunclin: "Colts arent as sharp and the Patriots will take back the momentum in the series."
So with two votes, the Patriots are the reader pick for the week.
Internet psychic. (5-5) This Internet psychic costs me $1.99/min for a chat. He goes by the name Psychic Love Guru 7. He wouldn't pick football games for me, so I exploit our language barrier by phrasing my picks in the form of a "softer" question. For this week...
Our spiritual guide for the season.
"I'm planning to start a local militia. For my initial weapons budget, what would you recommend? I could buy several Colt 45s from my gun guy far away, or really spend it all at the Patriot missile dealer close to home. Which will help me succeed?"
After a bit of nonsense (taking up three expensive minutes), he looked into the future and saw that buying multiple guns was the best option for my up-and-coming militia. So the pick is the Colts.- Randier cheerleaders. (6-4) An interesting battle this week...
I love these Colts cheerleaders in this row, lifted directly from their website. I love that all five of them claim Indiana hometowns, two are dental hygienists, one's a dental hygiene student, one's a regular student, and one's unemployed. I love that they are basically indistinguishable from one another. I love them.
I also think the Patriots cheerleaders have gone soft. This photo was taken at their Halloween game. Those costumes are all weak. Very weak. Especially the one who's either Peter Pan or a leaf. That's supposed to make BenJarvus Green-Ellis grind all up on you? I'd rather get my teeth cleaned by the ladies from the Colts. They're the pick. - Turnover margin. (5-5) Keeping your turnovers down is supposed to win football games, right? Here's how they match up...
The Colts have 10 giveaways (including a very low four interceptions) and 16 takeaways, for a good +6 turnover margin on the season. The Patriots have nine giveaways and 15 takeaways... also for a +6. And we have a tie! So we go to the tiebreaker -- fourth down conversions.
New England has turned it over on downs three times this year. Indianapolis has turned it over on downs twice. So the pick is the Colts. - Higher team salary. (6-4) This year, the Patriots have a team salary of $123,196,291. Now that Randy Moss is gone, Tom Brady is the highest paid player on the team. Indianapolis has a total salary of $131,087,185. Peyton Manning is the highest paid player on the team. Unlike some teams overpaying strange players, this all makes sense. The Colts spend a bit more, so they're the pick.
- The opposite of my pick. (8-2) I feel like New England got a wake-up call when they lost to the Browns and have turned it completely around. Meanwhile Indy never feels dominant and Peyton has had a few shaky games in a row. This doesn't feel like a slump breaker. So I believe the Patriots will win at home, therefore my pick is the Colts.
This list was published on Saturday, November 20, 2010 at 01:17:37 PM under the category NFL Picks.
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Read more about 11 Points and Sam here.
For information about reprinting 11 Points content, or for quotes/interviews for your newspaper, magazine, website, TV program, or radio show, contact Sam via e-mail at
