Thanksgiving Picks

Week 11 was a nice bounceback week for Team Dave, as he increased his season lead to 10 after besting Team Gabe by two. Both men take 2-0 Thursday night records into this week's tripleheader so here's the website you should be most thankful for's take on Thanksgiving meat and potatoes.


LAST WEEK


Dave: 10-4
Gabe: 8-6


SEASON


Dave: 81-71-8
Gabe: 71-81-8


Packers (-6.5) at Lions


Dave: Lions - This is the game that Detroit has had circled all season. This is their Super Bowl and, after having to pull out the big guns to overwhelm Carolina, the momentum is on their side after Green Bay struggled to pull away from Tampa Bay. James Starks, the Pack's best runner, will probably sit this one, which means the Packers will need Ryan Grant to find his 2009 version for the run game to be less than stagnant. My money is still on Green Bay to steal this one and remain perfect but I think it comes down to the wire with Matt Stafford throwing a pick on the final drive to Tramon Williams. Pack by 6.


Gabe: Packers - Dave is right, this is the game the Lions have had circled on their calendar. This game is also the one that all of the talking haircuts have made their sexy pick for a Packers' loss. I don't see it happening. The Packers are firing on all cylinders. The Lions have a mean pass rush, but Aaron Rodgers isn't intimidated by that. He has all of the good things you want in a quarterback and none of the bad stuff, like the questionable decision making of Tony Romo, or the rapiness of Big Ben. The Lions are young and are just dumb enough to think they can win this game, but it ain't happening. The Packers show the upstarts that they been here befo', and win by 10.


Dolphins (+7) at Cowboys


Dave: Cowboys - As much a tradition as pumpkin pie and turkey is Dallas' brand of football on Thanksgiving day. This year, we get to calm down from the thrills of watching two real QB's in the early game in Matt Stafford and Aaron Rodgers by being subjected to two lames named Tony Romo and Matt Moore. Both teams are riding three-game win streaks. The key matchup here will be OLB DeMarcus Ware vs. OT Jake Long. If Ware can't continue to wreak havoc on backfields by blowing by the game's best offensive tackle, then this could be a tighter game than we expect. Miami's secondary is actually better than you think, too, so Romo's a threat for 3-INT game here. I think Dallas relies on DeMarco Murray and bores the crowd to 10-point win over a suddenly-motivated Phins squad.


Gabe: Cowboys - Now that they Dolphins have played their way right out of the Andrew Luck sweepstakes they seem to want to win games. Not today. On their best day, I'm not sure Dallas isn't the third or fourth best team in the league. The problem is, getting Dallas to play their best is about as difficult as getting Dave to buy a Young Money mixtape. Despite that, I think Dallas will play well against Miami. Despite the wins, the Phins still aren't good. Dallas has all of the weapons and I say they take an 11 point win.


Niners (+3) at Ravens


Dave: Niners - A win coupled with a Packers loss keeps San Fran's chances of snatching homefield advantage in the NFC away from Green Bay's clutches. The Niners haven't allowed a rushing TD all season and running the ball seems to be the only thing Baltimore does well consistantly. Ray Lewis might miss this game as well, further hindering one of the game's best defenses. I smell a defensive struggle here that comes down to the final drive but Jersey Joe Flacco doesn't come up big like he did against Pittsburgh. Niners by 3.


Gabe: Ravens - The Ravens play their best football when they are up against tough opponents. Right now the toughest opponents in the NFL not named the Green Bay Packers are the San Francisco 49ers. The Ravens will be motivated and looking to get on a winning streak. Also, let's not forget one of my favorite themes, the Niners have to travel across the country and play this game on really short rest. This will be a hard hitting smash-mouth game, but I think the Ravens pull it out, by 4.