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.
After our second week of picks, Dev has taken over the top of the leaderboard.| Player | Overall (%) | Moneyline | Spread | Over/Under |
| *Dev* | 73.3 | 80 | 80 | 60 |
| Veech | 70.4 | 88.9 | 88.9 | 33.3 |
| Lancman | 66.7 | 77.8 | 77.8 | 44.4 |
| Zooch | 66.7 | 66.7 | 77.8 | 55.6 |
| Bates | 48.1 | 44.4 | 44.4 | 55.6 |
| Mathman | 44.4 | 44.4 | 44.4 | 44.4 |
| Consensus | 44.4 | 55.6 | 44.4 | 33.3 |
| AJ | 40.7 | 44.4 | 44.4 | 33.3 |
| Cam | 40.7 | 55.6 | 33.3 | 25 |
Without further ado, let’s take a look at this week’s games and the picks.
Indianapolis Colts (+6.5) at Buffalo Bills (O/U 51) (12:00 PM Saturday)
Bates’ Picks: Bills ML, Colts +6.5, O51
AJ’s Picks: Bills ML, Colts +6.5, U51Zooch’s Picks: Bills ML, Colts +6.5, O51
Cam’s Picks: Bills ML, Colts +6.5, O51
Veech’s Picks: Bills ML, Bills -6.5, U51
Veech’s Reasoning: Fraudulent Philip Rivers will get exposed as immobile in Buffalo’s cold weather.Lancman’s Picks: Bills ML, Bills -6.5, U51
Dev’s Picks: Bills ML, Colts +6.5, U51
Dev’s Reasoning: I think the Colts’ stingy defense stifles the Bills for a little bit and their offense keeps it interesting but I don’t see the red-hot Bills losing this one. It could absolutely be a blowout where the Bills break the over on their own, but my gut says it’s a relatively low scoring game like a 24-21 type W for the Buffalo Bills.
10K Consensus: Bills ML (8-0), Colts +6.5 (5-3), O/U tie (4-4)
LA Rams (+4) at Seattle Seahawks (O/U 42.5) (3:25 PM Saturday)
Mathman’s Picks: Rams ML, Rams +4, U42.5
Bates’ Picks: Seahawks ML, Seahawks -4, U42.5
AJ’s Picks: Seahawks ML, Seahawks -4, O42.5
Zooch’s Picks: Seahawks ML, Seahawks -4, U42.5
Cam’s Picks: Seahawks ML, Seahawks -4, O42.5
Veech’s Picks: Seahawks ML, Seahawks -4, U42.5
Veech’s Reasoning: No word yet officially on Goff. These Rams are not the high-scoring team from the Super Bowl a few years ago.
Lancman’s Picks: Seahawks ML, Rams +4, U42.5
Dev’s Picks: Rams ML, Rams +4, U42.5
Dev’s Reasoning: Rams may not have Goff, but that defense has been suffocating. Seattle’s D kinda figured it out by the end of the year too, so I think whichever team gets to 17 first wins this defensive battle. I’m giving the nod to McVay and his offense over a Seahawks offense that’s been up and down this year and Russ has not been great against the Rams D the last 2 years.
10K Consensus: Seahawks ML (6-2), Seahawks -3 (5-3), U42.5 (6-2)
Baltimore Ravens (-3) at Tennessee Titans (O/U 54.5) (12 PM Sunday)
Mathman’s Picks: Ravens ML, Ravens -3, U54.5
Bates’ Picks: Titans ML, Titans +3, O54.5
AJ’s Picks: Ravens ML, Ravens -3, U54.5
Zooch’s Picks: Titans ML, Titans +3, O54.5
Cam’s Picks: Ravens ML, Ravens -3, U54.5
Veech’s Picks: Ravens ML, Ravens -3, U54.5
Veech’s Reasoning: I dislike both of these teams. Jackson is an elite athlete but doesn’t have the QB mind. I expect so much running that it’ll be a matter of who can run more big plays on the ground. Revenge game for the Ravens after last year’s early exit.
Lancman’s Picks: Ravens ML, Ravens -3, O54.5
Dev’s Picks: Ravens ML, Ravens -3, O54.5
Dev’s Reasoning: Ravens are one of the hottest and most dangerous teams in football, and I have to imagine they want revenge after being embarrassed last year. I think Baltimore wins in a shoot out. The -3 line scares me a bit because I really do think it’s gonna be a field goal that wins it, but scared money don’t make money. If it was -2.5, I’d be all over it but I’ll settle for a push if it comes to that.
10K Consensus: Ravens ML (6-2), Ravens -3 (6-2), O/U tie (4-4)
Chicago Bears (+10.5) at New Orleans Saints (O/U 47) (3:25 PM Sunday)
Mathman’s Picks: Saints ML, Bears +10.5, O47
Bates’ Picks: Saints ML, Bears +10.5, O47
AJ’s Picks: Saints ML, Bears +10.5, O47
Zooch’s Picks: Saints ML, Bears +10.5, O47
Cam’s Picks: Saints ML, Bears +10.5, O47
Veech’s Picks: Saints ML, Bears +10.5, O47
Veech’s Reasoning: This line is too damn high. That’s all. The extra half point makes all the difference in the world, I expect to see a one-sided game but 10.5 is too large a spread for the playoffs.
Lancman’s Picks: Saints ML, Bears +10.5, U47
Dev’s Picks: Saints ML, Saints -10.5, U47
Dev’s Reasoning: The Saints need to get out of the first round of the playoffs, they have Michael Thomas back, Kamara’s been awesome, Brees is mostly healthy again. The offense should be clicking. The Bears offense is…well, we’ve seen them. They’re not good. The defense is good, so as long as Akiem Hicks balls out they have a chance to make the score look respectable, but I just don’t see Sean Payton taking his foot off the gas here.
10K Consensus: Saints ML (8-0), Bears +10.5 (7-1), O47 (6-2)
Cleveland Browns (+6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (O/U 47) (7:15 PM Sunday)
Mathman’s Picks: Steelers ML, Browns +6, U47
Bates’ Picks: Steelers ML, Steelers -6, O47
AJ’s Picks: Steelers ML, Steelers -6, U47
Zooch’s Picks: Steelers ML, Steelers -6, U47
Cam’s Picks: Browns ML, Browns +6, O47
Veech’s Picks: Steelers ML, Browns +6, U47
Veech’s Reasoning: Browns basically didn’t get to practice all week before a playoff game and not knowing who will be there or missing is going to be difficult to predict. If weather dictates a run-first or run-only game for both teams, I could see the Browns winning.
Lancman’s Picks: Steelers ML, Steelers -6, O47
Dev’s Picks: Steelers ML, Browns +6, O47
Dev’s Reasoning: Is it the most Browns thing ever to finally make the playoffs and then immediately lose your HC for the game to COVID? Definitely up there. Mike Priefer has been a play-caller before, Vikings fans may remember a competitive but ugly 17-15 loss to Dallas after Zimmer’s emergency eye surgery the night before the game. The Browns have more talent, and to be honest more confidence, right now. But I don’t think that’s enough to overcome a pretty experienced Steelers team. They keep it close, but Pittsburgh wins it in the final minutes. I don’t think the Special Teams will be *as* sloppy as they were for the Vikings when Priefer took over, since he had more time to prep the team, but I don’t anticipate any of their units looking as sharp as they have under Stefanski.
10K Consensus: Steelers ML (7-1), Spread tie (4-4), O/U tie (4-4)