Week 17 Free NFL Picks… Plus NFL Notes

BATON ROUGE, LA – As the Sunday hack at MTM, it’s forced upon me to select NFL games against the spread for entertainment purposes only (yeah, okay). Today’s games are such a smörgåsbord of crap, I’d much rather be talking about resolutions and New Year’s Eve plans – of which I intend on having carnal knowledge – as soon as the one appears on tech devices to commemorate original sin. Speaking of sin, a 1-3 day was only my second losing week all year and the record is still good enough at 60% (38-25 overall) for you to be in the black. Here’s hoping these Week 17 Free NFL Picks are good enough considering the dreck on deck this week.

FAVORITE: On the first Sunday in February, Met Life Stadium is this year’s Super Bowl venue and to less fanfare this week’s Stupor Bowl pitting the bumbling Redskins against the less inept hometown NY Football Giants. A win today gets Big Blew to seven W’s and keeps them from hitting the double-digit loss mark. Added incentive is that they’re pitted versus a Washington team operating like the Obamacare website. Incumbent HC Mike Shanahan will be shown The Road to Tipperary as another mick, Tom Coughlin keeps a precarious grip on his gig. GIANTS -3 1/2

UNDERDOG: The Dallas Cowboys bring a butter knife in the form of Kyle Orton to today’s gunfight at Jerry World against the Eagles for the NFC East (jester’s) crown. Aside from requiring “Hello my name is” stickers, the ‘Boys defense is without the sharp point (LB Sean Lee) on an otherwise dull hunting blade. How much does oft-criticized Tony Romo mean to the Cowboys? The Vegas line opened at Dallas minus-2 1/2 until word broke about the QB’s back woes and now after a nine-point swing, America’s Schweem is getting six and a hook. At home the Cowboys lose but cover the number. DALLAS +6 1/2

OVER: Atlanta can’t stop the other team and is still competent enough on offense to make a run at the “over” in any game they play, as witnessed last Monday Night versus the Niners. To Mike Smith’s credit, the Falcons haven’t given up and are playing inside on the fast track of the Georgia Dome. Carolina visits with its sights set on NFC South coronation with a victory and even without Steve Smith should light up the scoreboard with regularity. CAR/ATL OVER 45 1/2.

UNDER: A few weeks ago Kansas City hosted San Diego in one of the more entertaining games of the year, as the points were plenty and the Chargers came away with the upset victory and registered the first of three straight home defeats by the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.  The Chiefs are locked into playoff position and are resting a number of personnel for the meaningless tilt against San Diego who needs help even if victorious.  Asking a group of backups to put up a fight against motivated regulars is a tall task and has this contest headed for the ‘under’.  KC/SD UNDER 45.

Please comment below and come back for West Coast Craig tomorrow – the only one of us that won’t be hungover from the MTM Staff Holiday Party at Bourbon Street today.