From now until the end of the NFL season, we’re gonna host a roundtable here at 10,000 Takes. Each week, we’ll take a handful of the best games on the NFL slate and give our picks on the money line, spread, and over-under.
Here’s the leaderboard after our first week of picks, with Veech out to a huge lead:| Player | Overall (%) | Moneyline | Spread | Over/Under |
| *Veech* | 91.7 | 100 | 100 | 75 |
| Lancman | 66.7 | 75 | 75 | 50 |
| Zooch | 58.3 | 50 | 75 | 50 |
| Mathman | 33.3 | 25 | 25 | 50 |
| Bates | 16.7 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
| Consensus | 16.7 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| AJ | 8.33 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| Cam | 8.33 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
Without further ado, let’s take a look at this week’s games and the picks.
Green Bay Packers (-4.5) at Chicago Bears (O/U 50) (3:25 PM)
Mathman’s Picks: Packers ML, Packers -4.5, O50Bates’ Picks: Packers ML, Packers -4.5, O50
AJ’s Picks: Packers ML, Packers -4.5, U50Zooch’s Picks: Packers ML, Packers -4.5, U50
Zooch’s Reasoning: The Bears are not good, got extremely lucky at the beginning of the season and have played: the shitty Texans, the Vikings with a youth defense, and the team that clinched the #1 overall pick during this 3 game winning streak. Packers with a win clinch the number 1 seed and a first round bye, they are gonna show up against a division rival and will not only hit the moneyline but will cover comfortably.
Cam’s Picks: Packers ML, Packers -4.5, U50
Veech’s Picks: Packers ML, Packers -4.5, U50Veech’s Reasoning: The Packers just love to beat the Bears, plain and simple. Aaron Rodgers, specifically, loves to take it to his inter-conference rivals and in a year where he’s looking to add to his MVP resume, this is the perfect opportunity. I expect the scoring to happen in the first half and then taper off when the game is in the bag, which is why the under is a lock as well.
Lancman’s Picks: Packers ML, Packers -4.5, U50
Dev’s Picks: Packers ML, Packers -4.5, U50
10K Consensus: Packers ML (8-0), Packers -4.5 (8-0), U50 (6-2)
Arizona Cardinals (-3.5) at Las Angeles Rams (O/U 40.5) (3:25 PM)
Mathman’s Picks: Cardinals ML, Cardinals -3.5, O40.5
Bates’ Picks: Cardinals ML, Cardinals -3.5, O40.5
AJ’s Picks: Cardinals ML, Cardinals -3.5, O40.5
Zooch’s Picks: Cardinals ML, Cardinals -3.5, O40.5
Zooch’s Reasoning: With the news that the Rams will be without Cooper Kupp and Jared Goff this Sunday, I will be going with the Cards on both fronts. The Rams still have a legit defense but their offense has grown stagnant over the last couple of weeks and without their starting QB and a solid WR they will not be able to keep up with this Cardinal offense for 60 minutes and the Cards will pull away in the second half.
Cam’s Picks: Rams ML, Rams +3.5, O40.5
Veech’s Picks: Cardinals ML, Cardinals -3.5, O40.5
Veech’s Reasoning: Cardinals are in a “must-win” scenario if they want to make the playoffs. So are the Rams, but the cards are the team that traded for what they thought was the #1 WR in the league in the off-season. Kyler already confirmed that he’d be playing in the game this week, which adds another dimension to their offense. The turf in LA just looks fast and with a plethora of skilled players on both sides of the ball, I expect the game to be fast-paced, even without Cooper Kupp as a safety valve for Goff.
Lancman’s Picks: Cardinals ML, Cardinals -3.5, O40.5
Dev’s Picks: Rams ML, Rams +3.5, U40.5
10K Consensus: Cardinals ML (6-2), Cardinals -3.5 (6-2), O40.5 (7-1)
Pittsburgh Steelers (+9) at Cleveland Browns (O/U 42) (12 PM)
Mathman’s Picks: Browns ML, Steelers +9, U42
Bates’ Picks: Browns ML, Steelers +9, O42
AJ’s Picks: Browns ML, Steelers +9, O42
Zooch’s Picks: Browns ML, Steelers +9, O42
Zooch’s Reasoning: The Steelers will be resting some starters this week which makes me lean with Cleveland on the moneyline but they are also banged up so this should be a closer game. The Browns are looking to be back in the playoffs for the first time since 2002, they will be hungry to get in and that loss to the Jets last week will have the Browns fired up.
Cam’s Picks: Browns ML, Browns -9, O42
Veech’s Picks: Browns ML, Steelers +9, U42
Veech’s Reasoning: The Browns are in the most precarious of situations as far as their playoff hopes. Had they simply won last week against the hapless Jets, they’d be in a much better situation…but they didn’t. They’ll be playing against the ever-punchable face of Mason Rudolf, so I expect them to pull out the victory, but believe it will be relatively close since it’s a dramatic scenario and the fact that it’s a divisional matchup. Let’s just hope Garrett doesn’t commit another felony on the field against the Steelers while he’s a Walter Payton Man-Of-The-Year candidate.
Lancman’s Picks: Steelers ML, Steelers +9, O42
Dev’s Picks: Browns ML, Browns -9, O42
10K Consensus: Browns ML (7-1), Steelers +9 (6-2), O42 (6-2)
Miami Dolphins (+3) at Buffalo Bills (O/U 42.5) (12 PM)
Mathman’s Picks: Dolphins ML, Dolphins +3, O42.5
Bates’ Picks: Bills ML, Bills -3, O42.5
AJ’s Picks: Bills ML, Bills -3, O42.5
Zooch’s Picks: Bills ML, Bills -3, O42.5
Zooch’s Reasoning: The Bills are a dangerous team, they have shown all year they can go out and dominate or win a close dogfight type game. Miami is trying to get into the playoffs on the first year of a rebuild and will be without FItzmagic who led them to a W last week in a must-win. This Bills will get to Tua early and often, winning this season finale and cruising into the playoffs for a second straight year.
Cam’s Picks: Bills ML, Bills -3, O42.5
Veech’s Picks: Bills ML, Bills -3, U42.5
Veech’s Reasoning: The Bills simply don’t know when to say quit. It’s been so long since Buffalo has been in the driver’s seat of their own fate that I’m not certain they know what to do. They’re playing the Dolphins at home in January and I expect the weather to play a factor. Although the Dolphins need to win to have a chance to punch their ticket, I refuse to believe that Tua can do it as a kid from the SEC playing in cold weather after the coaching staff was adamant he is the starter in Miami.
Lancman’s Picks: Bills ML, Bills -3, O42.5
Dev’s Picks: Dolphins ML, Dolphins +3, O42.5
10K Consensus: Bills ML (6-2), Bills -3 (6-2), O42.5 (7-1)
Minnesota Vikings (-7) at Detroit Lions (O/U 54) (12 PM)
Mathman’s Picks: Vikings ML, Lions +7, U54
Bates’ Picks: Vikings ML, Lions +7, U54
AJ’s Picks: Vikings ML, Lions +7, U54
Zooch’s Picks: Vikings ML, Lions +7, O54
Zooch’s Reasoning: Yes the Lions are horrible but Minnesota’s defense has shown us that a high school team could score on them consistently over the past 3 weeks. The Vikes love keeping games close and this game will be no different. Ultimately, the Vikes will end the season 7-9 with a close season ending win against a very bad Detroit team.
Cam’s Picks: Vikings ML, Vikings -7, U54
Veech’s Picks: Vikings ML, Lions +7, U54
Veech’s Reasoning: Both seasons are over, they’ve REALISTICALLY been over for a long time. Three weeks into the season, it was obvious that neither of these teams was playoff contenders. With Dalvin Cook likely to miss the game due to a family emergency and Matthew Stafford still battling a severe rib injury, I would expect this game to be conservative in nature with a lot of crossing routes. As long as Irv Smith is a go for the Vikings, I expect him and Jefferson to be the difference for Minnesota in a close matchup. Both defenses have gaping holes that can be exposed easily, so look for some missed tackles to lead to long scoring plays. If he’s a go, Stafford will be using this as an audition for another club in the near future…I hear Indianapolis and their propensity for drafting linemen would be good for a guy like him.
Lancman’s Picks: Vikings ML, Lions +7, U54
Dev’s Picks: Vikings ML, Lions +7, O54
10K Consensus: Vikings ML (8-0), Lions +7 (7-1), U54 (6-2)